A Werewolf Mate for Christmas

An MM Monster Christmas #0

by Gigi Rivers

A wounded werewolf. A witch who nurses him back to health. What happens when the witch turns out to be the werewolf’s mate?


Hearth witch Briar has a tendency to care for wounded animals. But he’s never come across an injured werewolf before. Still, Briar can’t abandon a hurt creature, even if said creature is a terrifying werewolf with claws and teeth that could rip a small witch apart in seconds.



When Wulfric’s pack cast him out and attacked him, he fled. Bleeding and wounded, he caught a whiff of a glorious scent, the scent of his mate. He followed it to a cave, where he collapsed. When he woke, he found his mate caring for him. Wulfric is beyond charmed by the sweet witch.



But Briar is so easily flustered and blushes so prettily. And he has no idea that the werewolf he rescued is actually his mate. Will Briar accept him? Or will he reject Wulfric, just like his pack?


A Werewolf Mate for Christmas is a cosy fantasy romance with plenty of spice. It features fated mates, hurt/comfort, size difference, knotting, lots of werewolf cuddles, and a guaranteed HEA. This is the prequel to the An MM Monster Christmas series.

Note- This book is available for free on the author's webpage.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Christmas, Paranormal, M M Romance, Magic, Holiday

150 pages, ebook

First published October 1, 2024

About the author

Gigi spent her childhood daydreaming and living inside the imaginary worlds in her mind. As an author, she now shares these worlds with her readers.

Born and raised in Australia, she now resides in Berlin, Germany. She is mixed race, being half-Filipino and part Welsh. She is a traveller, potter, gym enthusiast, nature and animal lover, an avid consumer of stories, and now, a writer.

Gigi writes mm fantasy romance. Her debut series is A Naiad Romance.

Reviews

[BookSafety Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.

His mate scratched behind his ears, and Wulfric’s eyes drooped. “You’re just like a big puppy who loves pats.” Wulfric snapped his eyes open. He huffed. His mate laughed. “I’m sorry. You’re very scary. Very tough.”

A quick and somewhat entertaining read. I didn’t quite jibe with the writing in the beginning so it took me a moment to get into it. There were plenty of cute moments when Wulfric was shifted, but there wasn’t much of a plot I could get into.

Completely okay little book.

It loses a half star for winking assholes 😉🍑

His arsehole winked, begging Wulfric to fuck him.

⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Werewolf
Witch
Paranormal romance
Novella
Fated mates
Pigeon familiar
Virgin MC
Multiple orgasms
Fast feelings

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Knotting
Explicit sexual content
Mention of death of family (past)
Injured MC
MC sexually harassed by minor SCs

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual
Genre: Paranormal romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: 25 and 28
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: No (Smashwords)
Pages: 139
Happy ending: Yes


“I’m so sorry.” Briar dropped his gaze, lowering the lantern. “I didn’t mean to stare.” “Look if you like.” Wulfric smirked. “I like it when your pretty eyes watch me.”



You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Briar & Wulfric
Rating: 3.7 ⭐

- Werewolf/Witch
- Fated Mates
- Paranormal
- Christmas Season
- Size Difference
- Hurt/Comfort
- Lots of Cuddles

This is the first book in a series of Christmas novels about a family of witches running their bakery and finding their love during the Christmas season. Up first is Briar, a hearth and kitchen witch that likes to spend most of his time in the woods expanding his healing spells. I honestly don't blame him taking some "me time" when there's ten siblings together ALL THE TIME!!! I'm tired for you Briar!

One day when Briar arrives at his cave in the woods, he realizes that some of his stuff is knocked over or pulled down. Once he realizes that the werewolf in his cave is injured, he's determined to help it even though it's probably dangerous. Little does he know that this werewolf is actually his fated mate. Wulfric's story is so sad and I wanted to hug him the whole time I read through this story. I loved that he was a huge cuddle bug in his human and wolf form. I liked that he didn't pressure Briar into the mating either, especially since the witch has some self-confidence issues to work through. He waits to tell the witch how special he is and what they mean to each other and just lets them get to know each other.

You get a glimpse into the other couples for this series, and it will be interesting to see how they all end up together.

I received a free copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Content Warnings:
- Graphic sexual content between consenting adults
- Explicit language
- Attempted SA to MC (not by other MC; brief and saved by other MC)
- Knotting, no MPREG
- Dealing with trauma caused by violent attack, injuries, and being exiled from pack
- Mentions of parental deaths (past, off-page)


Verse: No
HEA: Yes
POV: Dual
Breakup: No
Cheating: No
OM/OW Drama: No
Ages: 25 & 28

[Fay MMBookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars an okay story for a fast fated mates story.

[Flick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweet series!

I started with Lachlan’s book (connected but also a stand-alone) and was super excited for Briar’s book and it did not disappoint! Briar’s book is just as heartwarming but less angsty. There’s not the same level of pining which I actually really liked because it felt balanced that way. Briar and Wulfric were so cute. Wulfric’s this enormous fluffy puppy who absolutely adored Briar and Briar has this Forest nymph spirit to him that is so cute. He’s not foolish or irresponsible, he’s more spritely and connected to nature which just means he sometimes doesn’t focus on things like baking. I love that he has Wulfric who adores him and is interested in learning all things that interest Briar but is also able to protect him. Again, Gigi nailed that Christmassy spirit with Briar finding a smoother path with Grady and also finding his place in the world. It’s warm and cozy, like cocoa in front of the fire and it just leaves you feeling happy.

[Sharon L · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You’re just like a big puppy who loves pats.”

What a great Christmas time story by Gigi Rivers. This is part of the series called An MM Monster Christmas. This series revolves around a family of hearth and kitchen witches who own a bakery that keeps the family afloat. Within the series some of the sibling brothers will find their monster mate and get their story told.

This story revolves around one of the brothers, Briar, and an injured werewolf, Wulfric. Both of these characters have experienced quite a bit of pain/loss and neither feels like they are good enough for one another. We get to meet Briar's siblings which are teasers for the upcoming books in the series.

There is sadness, pain, and devastation, along with much joy, happiness, and acceptance. I had tears in a couple of spots.

Size difference, hurt/comfort, never trust an unscrupulous sorcerer, brings the sweet along with the heat

[Elizabeth D · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 It was fun to see what Briar was getting up to while Lachlan and Kit were falling in love in the last short. This is another sweet Christmas story of mates meeting at the right time. I loved how caring Briar was, even when he was scared, determined to help another being in pain. And I liked how even feverish and hurt, Wulfric listened to Briar when it came to Archimedes, etc.

It was lovely to see Briar figure out what his calling was and find the happiness that hadn’t quite been within reach before. His forest cave was awesome. Wulfric and Briar both cared for and protected one another so clearly. I was amused by the spell that Briar cast—it sure explains a lot, lol.

Looking forward to more in the series!

I received an ARC from the author. This is my honest review.

[Kassu · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐

Cute and all-around nice Christmasy werewolf-romance. Probably because it was mostly your basic werewolf mate stuff, I wasn't awed or anything, but it's sweet.

I also enjoy this setting and the family of baking witches. This is a freebie novella and a nice glimpse to the series. (And Wulfric's not one of the toxic-alpha-bs-werewolves.) I can recommend this to any friend of cosy or fantasy romances.

[la review bleu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything in this book. You have a great story with a good plot, characters you only can love, and the best of heat and spice you wish for in a werewolf shifter/fated mates story (knotting, no Mpreg, ). The writing is lovely, and gets you right into christmas-mood. Wulfric and Briar are wonderful together, and they have a beautiful HEA.

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Series: An MM Monster Romance #0.5
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it

This was a very enjoyable Christmas story. I loved how sweet and innocent Briar was and that he had a pigeon for a familiar. Wulfric was extremely protective but also gentle and sweet with Briar. They were just really cute together.

I am interested in potentially reading more of this series and seeing some of Briar’s ten siblings fall in love with other paranormal creatures.

TW: death of parents mentioned; sexual harassment (not by MMC)

[... · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5☆

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Simplistic writing, simplistic emotions, simplistic plot. The shmex scenes were ludicrous. At least the book was free to read.

[(╯`▭´）╯︵ ǝɔnɒꓷ · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5*

[Damian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet Christmas story.

I read this one before and enjoyed it. Briar is a sweet kitchen witch, and I would say a little homely. He doesn't ask for much, only that one day, he would find love. Wulfric is a werewolf who has been bitten and beaten by his pack. He's exiled because his brother considered him a threat. Wulfric escapes and finds a cave, which he settles into to heal. What he senses is that this cave belongs to his fated mate.

[Michelle N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the series of Christmas novels about a family of hearth and kitchen witches who find love during the Christmas season. If you love fantasy novels and Christmas romance this is a great read for you.
Briar is one of ten siblings who are hearth and kitchen witches that run a bakery together. He is quiet, kind, loves his family but feels more at home in the forest than he does in the city where he lives. He will often escape to a cave in the forest to find some peace and quiet from his crowded home above the bakery.
It is there, in this cave that Briar finds an injured werewolf. Never one to leave an injured animal to suffer, Briar cares for the beast, knowing it could easily kill him. The werewolf, is Wulfric who was attacked and exiled from his pack. He caught on to Briar’s scent, knowing that it was the scent of his mate, and followed it to the cave.
As Wulfric heals, he regains the ability to shift to his human form. Briar now has to handle his attraction and developing feelings for the large, handsome, man that is sharing space with him in the cave. While Wulfric knows Briar is meant to be his, Briar is too uncertain and unsure of himself to think he could gain Wulfric’s attention. Wulfric has to convince Briar of how special he really is and how they are predetermined mates.
This is a wonderful holiday story. We are introduced to all of the siblings in Briar’s family. We get a sneak peek at their significant others but nothing about the stories themselves. A Werewolf Mate for Christmas is a romantic and spicy holiday novella. It cute to see how much Wulfric needs his connection to Briar. He is always holding him or cuddling him, despite being a big, werewolf. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received an ARC for my honest review.

[Penumbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Werewolf Mate for Christmas is the introductory story to the, ‘An MM Monster Christmas,’ series. It stars Briar, a hearth witch, and Wulfric, a werewolf. It’s told in third person from Briar and Wulfric pov.

I read The Orc Who Hated Christmas before I read this book so I was familiar with Briar’s family. This story and others in this series run concurrently with Book One so it doesn’t matter if they are read out of order. For me, reading Book One first hooked me into the series. A Werewolf Mate for Christmas is a sweet story, but not as in-depth as Book One. This also has more sex in it rather than character building or action.

The blurb does a good job of explaining the basic plot. Briar is sweet, impulsive, and a bit absent minded about helping at the bakery since he prefers spending time in nature and at his cave. Wulfric was attacked by his previous pack because his brother feared him. Wulfric barely survived. As I mentioned the two have lots of sex, Briar teaches Wulfric crocheting and other skills that Wulfric is eager to learn to contribute to his new pack, which is Briar’s family. They seemed to work as a couple, but I didn’t get the deep connection between the two like I did with Cas and Graal in Book One.

A Werewolf Mate for Christmas is a sweet, fast, Christmas story. I give this 3 Stars and recommend this for a holiday read.

[Jeanette Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This new series by Gigi Rivers is off to a good start. Briar, a hearth and kitchen witch, finds an injured and unconscious werewolf in his witch's cave. Exiled from his pack after a brutal beating, Wulfric catches a scent and follows it to a cave.
I have to say I was a little confused by the descriptions the author used in their first encounter. She mentions that the werewolf used his hands to grip and restrain Briar. He wasn't shifted to human or partially shifted. Reread the paragraph, still not getting it. I guess it was just writer's license.
The story is rather sweet. There's a bit of angst. Wolves live in packs, and unsure if Briar will accept the mating, Wulfric tortures himself with all the "what ifs". At the same time, Briar is worried that such a gorgeous man couldn't possibly want a plain, ordinary hearth and kitchen witch. Oh, the angst!
Briar has nine siblings, eight of whom live together and work in the family bakery. For some reason the author has decided to run the series concurrently. It gets a bit mixed up with 'this is s0-and-so and this is their mate' when the reader hasn't read that particular story.
It was a rather sweet story. Fast moving, Briar and Wulfric go from meeting and mating in four days.
I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my review.

[Mikaela (risqué.romance) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Werewolf Mate for Christmas by Gigi Rivers
Arc
4/5 ✨🌟

𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘞𝘶𝘭𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤’𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥. “𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘱𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘴.” 𝘞𝘶𝘭𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯. 𝘏𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘥. 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘥. “𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺. 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘺. 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩.” 𝘞𝘶𝘭𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤’𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥. 𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮? 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘞𝘶𝘭𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤’𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘞𝘶𝘭𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦. 𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴. 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦’𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩.

This book was super sweet. Wulfric and Briar were everything I hoped for and more. I loved how Briar nursed Wulfric back to help due to the circumstances of his pack banishing him and hurting him.

I about died laughing when Wulfric almost ate Briar’s familiar but in the end, he realized that he was apart of his life.

The way that Wulfric protected Briar from those boys was everything. And the way that he told Briar that they were mates was the perfect way to lock their love in because they were mad for one another.

I’m so glad they Briar and his other brother finally hashed things out. He just wanted him to be happy and that’s all that mattered.

All in all, I cannot wait to read the next book in this sweet series.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A WEREWOLF MATE FOR CHRISTMAS sets the scene nicely for this family of ten. Yep, you read that right... TEN!!! Briar lost his parents when he was twelve and has lived by his brother Grady's ever since, but the restrictions are chafing at him. He just wants to spend time in the forest, foraging for food and ingredients for his spells. Wulfric is a werewolf exiled from his pack as his brother thinks him a threat. Wulfric scents his mate and makes his way to him, even though he is severely injured.

What a great novella! Told from Briar's perspective, you get to know how he feels about his family, as well as his thoughts on Wulfric. It is fast-paced and steamy in places, but there is an acknowledgement of that in the story itself, so all is as it should be. You also find out just how and why certain members of the family have found love in this Christmas season.

I can't wait to read more about this family and how the others also met their mates. A short and steamy read that I definitely recommend.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
9 Oct, 2024

[Luz Rivas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine telling your eldest brother you are rescuing a “big dog” when in reality it’s not a dog—it's a massive, possessive werewolf who also happens to be your fated mate. That’s Briar’s life now, and honestly, it’s as cozy as it is spicy. Wulfric, our green flag werewolf, is so sweet it almost hurts. Despite his past pack drama (seriously, they’re the worst), he’s alright because he has found his true pack and family. Better yet, his destined mate.

The best part? Briar doesn’t even realize he’s been rescuing his mate. There are so many cute moments, like when Wulfric tried to eat Briar's bird familiar, Archimedes. Briar also manages to accidentally cast a love spell for half of his siblings, proving that witch shenanigans are alive and well.

Christmas vibes? Check.

Hot spring scene? Double check.

And let’s not forget the possessive werewolf energy mixed with a soft, blushing witch—it's the perfect combo for that steamy, feel-good romance.

If you're into found family, witchy chaos, and the undeniable allure of a cozy werewolf mate, you’ll want to curl up with this one. And yes, there's a guaranteed HEA, so you can breathe easy and just enjoy the ride. 🐺✨

The best part? You can find this book for free in the author's website!

[SophiaH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really sweet and charming story. Liked the characters and cameos of the siblings and Kit. What I was missing was closure about Wulfrics former pack and brother. They could not have lived all that far off. Wouldn't they know he was still alive simply because some of his former pack coming and attending the christmas market? Aren't there consequences?
I'm also not quite sure about the world and time they live in. I think I have to turn off my thinking brain a but more. Some things going through my head were: how can they all live from the one bakery, how can 2 people survive from selling some collected herbs and a couple of days work a week, does the forest not belong to anybody that they can simply move there, aren’t there permits etc. to consider when building things and does the surrounding land just become theirs because they built there. But these questions did,in the end, not take away from the enjoyment of this novella.

[Heather Duff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Ugh, I really love this cozy (with some spice) MM monster holiday series. The world is simple but interesting, and the family of kitchen witches are sweet and kind.

I love hearing Wulfric’s thoughts when he’s ‘stuck’ in his wolf state while healing. How excited he is for his fated mate, but also the loss of his pack. He immediately screams devoted and gentle (unless you mess with his mate!).

Briar is equally lovely. He’s close with his large family, but is also longing for something of his own, so a fated mate is perfect for our nature-loving witch.

There’s also a bit of an origin story for this series inside as well, which is adorable and funny.

[Katriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt bad for Wulfric, he got exiled and attacked by his own brother and left for dead. Thankfully, his mate's cave was nearby and there his mate found him and nursed him back to health with help from his magic. Briar's character I found to be adorable, he's just so caring and determined to help animals that need his help, even when helping them could put him in danger. I'm glad Briar and Wulfric found each other, they both needed a bit of extra love and support.

What a cute short story to start off a new series about a family of witches! I found this to be an adorable story about a witch who loves animals and who provides care for those who need it, and a werewolf who's been exiled and is in need of love.

I'm excited to read more about Briar's family and the ones they have fallen in love with, their characters intrigue me!

[rosdoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet little witch. Briar is adorable and it was nice to see him find his mate who could show him how beautiful he really is. Wulfric has that possessiveness and jealousness that I love to see in strong characters, when it isn’t taken to an extreme. There were a couple instances where his protectiveness was able to shine brightly.

Wulfric had a rough go of it before he found his little witch. Briar helped him heal and find a new pack. I’d like to have seen some retribution for what Wulfric went through, but it was nice that the author kept the story focused on Briar and Wulfric’s journey together. These two mates had some serious chemistry and spicy times.

Some of Briar’s siblings and their relationships intrigued me. I am looking forward to learning more about them. If they remain close-knit, then I hope to catch up more with Briar and Wulfric, too.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a lovely novella and I wish it had been longer as I loved both the MCs.
Briar was a genuine good guy who loved nature and animals, he had a big heart and when he came across Wulfric he couldn't do anything but help him heal.
Wulfric was broken, physically and emotionally, but he met Briar and realised he was his mate then things changed for him for the better.
I enjoyed this book very much, it was sweet and especially cute when they were together and Wulfric was in wolf form. Their moments together were very romantic and, even though the plot was simple, I just loved how everything happened. This is one of those novels that are entertaining, easy to read and that leaves the reading with a feel-good emotion.
Also, let's not forget that it's set at Christmas, which is a plus. I wish I could have walked around the Christmas market with Briar and Wulfric.

[Showarst · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Werewolf Mate for Christmas by Gigi Rogers is part of the MM Monster Christmas. I really enjoyed this low-angst story about Briar, a kitchen and hearth witch, finding his mate Wulfric, an injured werewolf. I loved that Wulfric knew immediately that Briar was his fated mate and that after the betrayal of his brother he had something to look forward to. It was also sweet how Briar was all in once he learned that Wulfric was his mate. I was sort of expecting to see his brother come back, but I guess in some ways I am glad he didn’t. Wulfric is happy with his mate and new pack (family). He doesn’t need his disloyal brother. I enjoyed meeting the rest of the family and seeing how they find love.

I received an ARC from GRR for my honest review

[L H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Briar finds Wulfric in the cave where he goes to spend time in the forest. Wulfric was drawn there by the scent of his mate and that is where he gets the help he needs from Briar. Wulfric was cast out by his brother, the alpha of his pack, and attacked by the members so he is in need of care and healing. Briar when he finds Wulfric does what he can to help which results in him first helping a werewolf and then coming back to the cave to find an attractive male to whom he is drawn. They are both drawn to one another and Briar not only helps Wulfric to heal physically but he brings Wulfric into his large and growing family and gives him the pack Wulfric needs to thrive. This was such a sweet story.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[DC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, but pretty much just ok. The language and syntax made it feel like I was reading an old fairytale. You don’t come across words like “learnt” “smelt” or “whilst” very often and when you come across “quieten” it is a definite giveaway that author is British or Aussie. I did find it a bit difficult to visualize the world in which this took place. And I always find it interesting when you have a fantasy or supernatural world where they celebrate Christmas.
Briar was kind of a bland character but Wulfric was practically adorable. I was confused about his forms though. There were repeated references to a werewolf having a wolf form and a human form. Yet whenever Wulfric was in wolf form, he was able to grasp or hold as if he were humanoid, not really wolf.

[Angela Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like Gigi Rivers. She writes characters who don’t always have an easy life and there are struggles that have to work through. It’s writing with heart and I enjoy that.
Wulfric is hurting so bad when he finally meets his mate, I love how he sees the silver lining in what happened to him. He is just a gooey cinnamon roll. And Briar is his perfect match. So loving and giving and wanting to heal. It’s a wonderful match and I loved reading them falling in love and getting together. It does move quickly, which I expect with werewolf mate stories and we get a happily ever after in time for Christmas. There are some great steamy scenes and makes me want to read more of the series.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

An OK story. This is Book Zero (and the introduction) that laid the ground to a new series titled A MM Monster Christmas by this author. It involves Hearth witch Briar and a wounded werewolf, called Wolfric, who Briar nurses back to full recovering. I was expecting more of an intriguing theme of why Wolfric's alpha brother banished him from their pack and ordered other pack members to attack him but that wasn't the case. This emphasizes the close-knit family of bakers that Briar belonged to. A sweet story but didn't live up to my expectations. This us my honest opinion of this book.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet and Christmassy fated mates novella. An enjoyable quick read and like most fated mates book the mates quickly. I liked Briar and Wulfric together, Briar was really not confident in himself and Wulfric had been through a lot so I was glad to see them getting their HEA. The other books seem to be all running at the same time, but you don’t learn much of their stories in this book so if you want to know more you then have to read the rest (a good tactic to keep a reader enjoying one of the books engaged in reading the others).