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The Mating Game
Two wolf shifters reluctant to love discover there’s no fighting the call of the wild in this steamy romance by USA Today bestselling author Lana Ferguson.
Contractor Tess Covington has spent her entire life as a regular non-shifter human, so after she lands in the Denver ER with flu-like symptoms, it comes as a complete shock to be told that, no, she’s not sick—she’s actually a late-presenting omega wolf shifter. With her family in dire financial straits and a contract for her own television show on the line, she can’t afford not to complete the renovation job she came for. And given that her newly emerged wolf is in danger of going into heat, she’ll just have to do her best to follow the doctor’s advice to keep away from alpha shifters.
Alpha wolf Hunter Barrett has spent most of his adult life living by a routine, and a big part of that involves staying clear of omegas after having one stomp on his heart. So when the tiny contractor shows up at his place smelling like the one thing he’s determined to avoid, he thinks it must be some sort of cosmic joke. But with his lodge on the verge of failing and this sweet-smelling omega his only hope to turn things around . . . he’s left with few other options than to grin and bear it.
Set on avoiding each other as much as possible, they find things unexpectedly starting to heat up between them enough to thaw even the frostiest of hearts. Though even with the pair going head over paws for each other, there’s no changing that their fling has an expiration date. The more time they spend together, the more they realize they’re playing a dangerous game—one where the only thing on the line is their hearts.
Contractor Tess Covington has spent her entire life as a regular non-shifter human, so after she lands in the Denver ER with flu-like symptoms, it comes as a complete shock to be told that, no, she’s not sick—she’s actually a late-presenting omega wolf shifter. With her family in dire financial straits and a contract for her own television show on the line, she can’t afford not to complete the renovation job she came for. And given that her newly emerged wolf is in danger of going into heat, she’ll just have to do her best to follow the doctor’s advice to keep away from alpha shifters.
Alpha wolf Hunter Barrett has spent most of his adult life living by a routine, and a big part of that involves staying clear of omegas after having one stomp on his heart. So when the tiny contractor shows up at his place smelling like the one thing he’s determined to avoid, he thinks it must be some sort of cosmic joke. But with his lodge on the verge of failing and this sweet-smelling omega his only hope to turn things around . . . he’s left with few other options than to grin and bear it.
Set on avoiding each other as much as possible, they find things unexpectedly starting to heat up between them enough to thaw even the frostiest of hearts. Though even with the pair going head over paws for each other, there’s no changing that their fling has an expiration date. The more time they spend together, the more they realize they’re playing a dangerous game—one where the only thing on the line is their hearts.
400 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2025
130 people are currently reading
45810 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews
August 25, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing this ARC!
Lana Ferguson has DONE IT AGAIN. I was completely obsessed with The Fake Mate when it came out and I fear that this one was even better!!! I absolutely loved the romance in this one - the chemistry was CRAZY. The MMC in this was so grumpy at the same time as being incredibly down bad, and then add the cosy cabin vibes and the *kinda* 'we shouldn't' vibes?? Immaculate.
I always love Lana Ferguson's writing and this one was no different. I feel like she concocted these characters so gorgeously and they came across as so well suited to me. I loved the cameos from the previous book and also the addition of some new best friends!! The setting was absolutely wonderful and I could see this being a perfect winter read (which is when it comes out!!). As with The Fake Mate, I loved the paranormal romance vibes smushed with a really cute rom-com. This one is pretty heavy on the spice (as with a lot of Lana Fergusons's books) so beware if that isn't your thing.
Overall, I think this has solidified itself as one of my absolute favourite books of the year so far. I read this in one sitting over the course of my afternoon and I had THE best time. I would highly highly highly recommend for you to check it out once it's available!!
Lana Ferguson has DONE IT AGAIN. I was completely obsessed with The Fake Mate when it came out and I fear that this one was even better!!! I absolutely loved the romance in this one - the chemistry was CRAZY. The MMC in this was so grumpy at the same time as being incredibly down bad, and then add the cosy cabin vibes and the *kinda* 'we shouldn't' vibes?? Immaculate.
I always love Lana Ferguson's writing and this one was no different. I feel like she concocted these characters so gorgeously and they came across as so well suited to me. I loved the cameos from the previous book and also the addition of some new best friends!! The setting was absolutely wonderful and I could see this being a perfect winter read (which is when it comes out!!). As with The Fake Mate, I loved the paranormal romance vibes smushed with a really cute rom-com. This one is pretty heavy on the spice (as with a lot of Lana Fergusons's books) so beware if that isn't your thing.
Overall, I think this has solidified itself as one of my absolute favourite books of the year so far. I read this in one sitting over the course of my afternoon and I had THE best time. I would highly highly highly recommend for you to check it out once it's available!!
November 30, 2025
”She’s so warm, soft and sweet— it’s hard not to pull her closer, to let her warmth bleed into the coldest parts of me, thawing them, making them come back to life.”
reading omegaverse always bring forth such nostalgia for me, i started reading them along with a lot of other paranormal type romances when i was probably too young. i loved the lodge setting and the way it always manages to lead into a forced proximity situation between the characters. Hunter is old fashioned and a recluse, but that’s only because he’s been hurt before and that’s his way of protecting himself. Tess was a very likable fmc, someone who’s always compassionate and goes out of her way to help anyone around her. i’m glad that she finally let someone take over that role towards her this time and Hunter had no problem making sure she had someone to support her during her omega phases and just in general. i thought their chemistry was genuine and i also liked the whole “renovating” side of the story. the side characters were all fun too and i hope we get more books in this universe, it just had that charm and enough steamy moments in equal measure.
———
i loved the fake mate & i always read every Lana Ferguson book, so i’m excitedddd 🐾🤍
⇢ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Berkley Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
reading omegaverse always bring forth such nostalgia for me, i started reading them along with a lot of other paranormal type romances when i was probably too young. i loved the lodge setting and the way it always manages to lead into a forced proximity situation between the characters. Hunter is old fashioned and a recluse, but that’s only because he’s been hurt before and that’s his way of protecting himself. Tess was a very likable fmc, someone who’s always compassionate and goes out of her way to help anyone around her. i’m glad that she finally let someone take over that role towards her this time and Hunter had no problem making sure she had someone to support her during her omega phases and just in general. i thought their chemistry was genuine and i also liked the whole “renovating” side of the story. the side characters were all fun too and i hope we get more books in this universe, it just had that charm and enough steamy moments in equal measure.
———
i loved the fake mate & i always read every Lana Ferguson book, so i’m excitedddd 🐾🤍
⇢ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Berkley Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
November 24, 2025
“𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒎𝒆,” 𝑰 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓. 𝑯𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒔, 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒑, 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚. 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒅. “𝑶𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒂 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚, 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒑𝒊𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑻𝒆𝒔𝒔.”
GUYS GUYS GUYS OKAY SERIOUSLY THE HELL!!!!! I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! 💖 This was such a good time. I don’t know if I’m just a simple gal that loves wolf shifters, but I'm low-key obsessed.
The story is about Tess Covington, a contractor who, the day before starting a job discovers she's an omega and has to stay away from alphas until her body adapts to her new situation. She totally has it in the bag… except her new job aka her new boss is an alpha heheheheh 😏 HELLO FORCED PROXIMITY!!!
The author made the story hilarious like duh, of course Tess’s job is a lodge in the middle of a mountain where it's snowy and there’s a hot jacuzzi, and the tension between them with the banter is perfection.
NOT TO MENTION TESS HAS ALL HER wolf shifter senses all haywire, and who is the only one that can calm her? HEHEH THE ALPHA MANNNN our Hunter Barrett, who is the grumpy of the grump and dislikes omegas after the last one stomped his heart.
Oh Hunter… that man is an alpha indeed. Let me tell you, the way that man CARES FOR HER, especially in the mini heats, omfg. I was obsessed as well as with his mouth 🥵🥵
“𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝑰 . . . ?” “𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒆,” 𝑰 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒍, 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒘𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆.
The romance between them made the story so much sweeter. The way each of them had their own insecurities but little by little their walls began to break, and then the last wall being the sensual tension broke through HEHE ALL THE FEELINGS CAME THROUGH. And I loved every single second.
“𝑶𝒉?” 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒕, 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒍𝒚. “𝑺𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓, 𝒉𝒖𝒉?”
“𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓”
I recommend this book to those that love wolf shifters, spice, and just a good time!!!
FREAKING 5 stars!!!!
tropes
❄️ paranormal romance
❄️ forced proximity
❄️ mini heats
❄️ omega x alpha
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 ꪆৎ ˚⋅ my werewolf era isn't over hehe and Lana has never disappointed me.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘉𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊!!
GUYS GUYS GUYS OKAY SERIOUSLY THE HELL!!!!! I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! 💖 This was such a good time. I don’t know if I’m just a simple gal that loves wolf shifters, but I'm low-key obsessed.
The story is about Tess Covington, a contractor who, the day before starting a job discovers she's an omega and has to stay away from alphas until her body adapts to her new situation. She totally has it in the bag… except her new job aka her new boss is an alpha heheheheh 😏 HELLO FORCED PROXIMITY!!!
The author made the story hilarious like duh, of course Tess’s job is a lodge in the middle of a mountain where it's snowy and there’s a hot jacuzzi, and the tension between them with the banter is perfection.
NOT TO MENTION TESS HAS ALL HER wolf shifter senses all haywire, and who is the only one that can calm her? HEHEH THE ALPHA MANNNN our Hunter Barrett, who is the grumpy of the grump and dislikes omegas after the last one stomped his heart.
Oh Hunter… that man is an alpha indeed. Let me tell you, the way that man CARES FOR HER, especially in the mini heats, omfg. I was obsessed as well as with his mouth 🥵🥵
“𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝑰 . . . ?” “𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒆,” 𝑰 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒍, 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒘𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆.
The romance between them made the story so much sweeter. The way each of them had their own insecurities but little by little their walls began to break, and then the last wall being the sensual tension broke through HEHE ALL THE FEELINGS CAME THROUGH. And I loved every single second.
“𝑶𝒉?” 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒕, 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒍𝒚. “𝑺𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓, 𝒉𝒖𝒉?”
“𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓”
I recommend this book to those that love wolf shifters, spice, and just a good time!!!
FREAKING 5 stars!!!!
tropes
❄️ paranormal romance
❄️ forced proximity
❄️ mini heats
❄️ omega x alpha
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 ꪆৎ ˚⋅ my werewolf era isn't over hehe and Lana has never disappointed me.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘉𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊!!
August 6, 2025
Grumpy meets sunshine... with growls, heat, and a heart-melting twist! This story had everything I adore in a paranormal romance—snappy banter, smoldering chemistry, and just the right dose of emotional depth to make my heart ache in the best way.
We kick things off with a classic enemies-to-lovers vibe, but add in an Alpha/Omega dynamic that raises the stakes and the temperature. Hunter Barrett is the ultimate grump: a grizzly lumberjack type with an old soul, no time for tech, and zero tolerance for chaos—or at least that’s what he tells himself. But beneath all that broody muscle is a man with a soft center and a broken heart. He’s still reeling from the wounds left behind by another omega, and he’s vowed never to open that door again.
Enter Tess Covington, the cinnamon roll with a toolkit. A TikTok-famous home renovation queen with big dreams and an even bigger heart, she lands in a small town with the mission of restoring a dilapidated hotel—Hunter’s family business, no less. She’s sunshine incarnate, determined to revive the property and maybe even land an HGTV contract in the process. But things get complicated when Tess starts to experience her first Omega heat—and wouldn’t you know it, the man who drives her crazy also makes her body crave him like he’s oxygen.
Their tension is off the charts. Hunter tries to resist. Tess tries to keep things professional. But their chemistry is undeniable, chaotic, and totally delicious. What I loved most is that their relationship never felt forced—it evolved naturally through long looks, awkward moments, shared pain, and an aching tenderness that creeps up behind all the sarcasm and sparks.
Beneath all the steam (and trust me, there’s plenty), this book has heart. Hunter is grappling with grief and guilt after losing his parents, clinging to the past while fearing change. Tess is fighting to keep her dreams alive while her family leans on her more than ever. They're both doing everything they can to survive—but maybe, just maybe, they deserve more than just survival. Maybe they deserve joy.
The backdrop of the small-town hotel renovation gives it that cozy holiday movie feel—but with added shapeshifter spice. Think Hallmark meets Alpha Heat and you’ll get the vibe. There’s humor, heartbreak, healing, and a swoony romance that had me dog-earing pages and rereading scenes just to relive the magic. The way Hunter is so protective yet gentle with Tess as she navigates her first heat? Swoon. And that cinnamon-apple scent trope? Iconic. I will never recover.
I also adored the surprise cameo from Fake Mate—Mackenzie and Noah! Yay!. It felt like the series just keeps getting better, giving each couple their moment while tying everything together in such a satisfying way. I can’t wait to see who gets the spotlight next.
Overall, this book is a fun, flirty, emotionally rich, and ultra-steamy paranormal romance that balances tender moments with spicy tension like a pro. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves found family, slow-burn love, stubborn heroes, and heroines who refuse to back down.
A huge heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this hot-as-hell, delightfully addictive paranormal romance in exchange for my honest thoughts. I’m obsessed with this series—and I’m not even sorry about it.
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We kick things off with a classic enemies-to-lovers vibe, but add in an Alpha/Omega dynamic that raises the stakes and the temperature. Hunter Barrett is the ultimate grump: a grizzly lumberjack type with an old soul, no time for tech, and zero tolerance for chaos—or at least that’s what he tells himself. But beneath all that broody muscle is a man with a soft center and a broken heart. He’s still reeling from the wounds left behind by another omega, and he’s vowed never to open that door again.
Enter Tess Covington, the cinnamon roll with a toolkit. A TikTok-famous home renovation queen with big dreams and an even bigger heart, she lands in a small town with the mission of restoring a dilapidated hotel—Hunter’s family business, no less. She’s sunshine incarnate, determined to revive the property and maybe even land an HGTV contract in the process. But things get complicated when Tess starts to experience her first Omega heat—and wouldn’t you know it, the man who drives her crazy also makes her body crave him like he’s oxygen.
Their tension is off the charts. Hunter tries to resist. Tess tries to keep things professional. But their chemistry is undeniable, chaotic, and totally delicious. What I loved most is that their relationship never felt forced—it evolved naturally through long looks, awkward moments, shared pain, and an aching tenderness that creeps up behind all the sarcasm and sparks.
Beneath all the steam (and trust me, there’s plenty), this book has heart. Hunter is grappling with grief and guilt after losing his parents, clinging to the past while fearing change. Tess is fighting to keep her dreams alive while her family leans on her more than ever. They're both doing everything they can to survive—but maybe, just maybe, they deserve more than just survival. Maybe they deserve joy.
The backdrop of the small-town hotel renovation gives it that cozy holiday movie feel—but with added shapeshifter spice. Think Hallmark meets Alpha Heat and you’ll get the vibe. There’s humor, heartbreak, healing, and a swoony romance that had me dog-earing pages and rereading scenes just to relive the magic. The way Hunter is so protective yet gentle with Tess as she navigates her first heat? Swoon. And that cinnamon-apple scent trope? Iconic. I will never recover.
I also adored the surprise cameo from Fake Mate—Mackenzie and Noah! Yay!. It felt like the series just keeps getting better, giving each couple their moment while tying everything together in such a satisfying way. I can’t wait to see who gets the spotlight next.
Overall, this book is a fun, flirty, emotionally rich, and ultra-steamy paranormal romance that balances tender moments with spicy tension like a pro. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves found family, slow-burn love, stubborn heroes, and heroines who refuse to back down.
A huge heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this hot-as-hell, delightfully addictive paranormal romance in exchange for my honest thoughts. I’m obsessed with this series—and I’m not even sorry about it.
medium blog
to-read-sequels
March 17, 2025Alright. This is Lana Ferguson's final chance to win me over.
If this flops I'm officially chocking up The Fake Mate as a fluke.
If this flops I'm officially chocking up The Fake Mate as a fluke.
December 2, 2025
happy pub dayyyy🩵❄️
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!!
4.5 stars — because while the mating game was good, it was just not as good as the fake mate to me. in my opinion, the fake mate was the fanfic on ao3 you stumble upon at 3am, are blown away by the fantastic characters and well-written (smut) scenes, and then never find a fic that compares.
but please don’t get me wrong — i love lana ferguson and she’s my instant go-to, quirky smutty yet well-written author! and she definitely upped the smut (lol) in this book! i just felt the overall plot was very threadbare? and that tess and hunter were not necessarily my favorite couple. which is understandably a turn off for most readers, but tbh i was here for the MANY smutty scenes lol. also, i just love home renovation shows, so that sealed the deal too.
i’m excited to listen to the audio!!!
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!!
4.5 stars — because while the mating game was good, it was just not as good as the fake mate to me. in my opinion, the fake mate was the fanfic on ao3 you stumble upon at 3am, are blown away by the fantastic characters and well-written (smut) scenes, and then never find a fic that compares.
but please don’t get me wrong — i love lana ferguson and she’s my instant go-to, quirky smutty yet well-written author! and she definitely upped the smut (lol) in this book! i just felt the overall plot was very threadbare? and that tess and hunter were not necessarily my favorite couple. which is understandably a turn off for most readers, but tbh i was here for the MANY smutty scenes lol. also, i just love home renovation shows, so that sealed the deal too.
i’m excited to listen to the audio!!!
December 2, 2025
Happy Release Day!!
Very entertaining read that was missing some development.
By now Lana is absolutely an auto buy for me. Even if there are some issues that I have with her books, her writing and the sheer entertainment value always outweigh them.
Shifter romances are one of my favorites right now, but I'm not sure that I'm sold 100% on the omegaverse. At least in this book, the characters were CONSTANTLY wondering if their attraction was just biology or something more, so that's a little irksome to me and leads me to believe they would have similar relationship with literally any other alpha/omega because biology said so.
And because of that, I feel like their actual relationship didn't get enough development. The whole time she's in and out of heat, so A LOT of their relationship is centered around that so where do you find the time to actually have some semblance of a relationship?
But like I said, Lana's writing is SO GOOD. These characters were really fun and entertaining and they stood on their own quite well too. Would absolutely recommend for shifter romance readers 🩵
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing or this arc in exchange for an honest review!
Very entertaining read that was missing some development.
By now Lana is absolutely an auto buy for me. Even if there are some issues that I have with her books, her writing and the sheer entertainment value always outweigh them.
Shifter romances are one of my favorites right now, but I'm not sure that I'm sold 100% on the omegaverse. At least in this book, the characters were CONSTANTLY wondering if their attraction was just biology or something more, so that's a little irksome to me and leads me to believe they would have similar relationship with literally any other alpha/omega because biology said so.
And because of that, I feel like their actual relationship didn't get enough development. The whole time she's in and out of heat, so A LOT of their relationship is centered around that so where do you find the time to actually have some semblance of a relationship?
But like I said, Lana's writing is SO GOOD. These characters were really fun and entertaining and they stood on their own quite well too. Would absolutely recommend for shifter romance readers 🩵
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing or this arc in exchange for an honest review!
September 15, 2025
🐺 Bookish Thoughts
Absolutely loved this one! I am such a sucker for shifter romances and omegaverse, and this book had both. Lana Ferguson really delivered. This was an easy 5 star read for me, and honestly I liked it even more than The Fake Mate. Oh and the spice? 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Tess was such a baddie FMC and Hunter, our grumpy alpha, was not ready for her pushback. Their chemistry was obvious from the start and only got stronger. And when Tess goes into her first heat, of course Hunter is there 😏
🐾 What to Expect
• Wolf shifters
• Alpha MMC
• Omega FMC
• Forced proximity
• Renovation
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: December 2, 2025
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Absolutely loved this one! I am such a sucker for shifter romances and omegaverse, and this book had both. Lana Ferguson really delivered. This was an easy 5 star read for me, and honestly I liked it even more than The Fake Mate. Oh and the spice? 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Tess was such a baddie FMC and Hunter, our grumpy alpha, was not ready for her pushback. Their chemistry was obvious from the start and only got stronger. And when Tess goes into her first heat, of course Hunter is there 😏
🐾 What to Expect
• Wolf shifters
• Alpha MMC
• Omega FMC
• Forced proximity
• Renovation
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: December 2, 2025
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Read
November 14, 2025there are only 3 people in this world that can get me to brave a wolf shifter romance. remus john lupin, ali hazelwood and lana ferguson 🙂↕️
August 1, 2025
3.75 ★ — Sooo….
✓ Knotting
✓ Surprise Omega FMC
✓ Grumpy Alpha MMC
✓ Lots of Smutty Scenes
✓ Mutual Pining
✓ Surprise Heat
✓ Protective/Possessive MMC
Anyone going into this for the Omegaverse and the breezy, lighthearted romcom-y writing style of Lana Ferguson will likely be satisfied with what this book offers.
As someone who does enjoy all these elements, I can’t say that I didn’t have a good time with it — because I did! I liked the snowy small-town lodge setting, and I really enjoyed the premise of the FMC being contracted to renovate the grumpy MMC’s remote lodge, which is just such a fun setup!
What I noticed, though, is that I liked this markedly less than The Fake Mate, Ferguson’s prior shifter romance to this. It took me a bit to pinpoint exactly why, but I think it comes down to tension and build-up between the leads.
Tess Covington, the FMC, learns she’s an Omega at the very start of the book, right before heading off to her renovation job. And quite quickly after her first meeting with MMC, Hunter Barrett, their attraction escalates into something more.
This might just be personal preference, but I was a little disappointed at this. I wanted more yearning, more moments of them fighting their natural attraction to each other, more denial between them.
Yes, an Alpha/Omega dynamic naturally lends itself to biological pull and irresistible chemistry, but it’s also an organic way to create angst, tension, confusion — all aspects that could have added more intensity to their romantic dynamic, which felt missing here.
While The Fake Mate also featured characters who acknowledged their attraction fairly quickly, that book still managed a sharper, more interesting relationship between its protagonists and made better use of the Omega/Alpha tension.
Plainly, Tess and Hunter just weren’t very captivating together. I didn’t giggle at their interactions, I didn’t really feel this intense chemistry between them, and while there were tons of well-written sex scenes, I still felt like there was never any exciting tension, making their connection feel a little flat to me.
Another thing I couldn’t stop thinking about during my read: Tess’ total cluelessness about her new Omega designation.
Like I said, this is set up in the beginning, but as the book goes along, I sort of got a little annoyed with her. She doesn’t know what’s happening to her half the time, because she’s a new Omega. Okay, yes, understandable. But in the modern world this story is set in — a world with internet, books, even her own doctor that has made herself available for any medical questions — she never once thinks about trying to research more about this life-changing fact.
Not even once in the story did she think: ”hey, I should research some of this Omega stuff, because clearly my body is having some strange reactions.”
The lack of even basic curiosity about her own biology felt like an obvious plot device and started pulling me out of the story a few times.
It didn’t help that the supporting cast lacked depth as well. The side characters didn’t do much to flesh out the world or make it feel alive, most of them feeling quite static and barely playing into the story.
All this said, this book does deliver solid smut, cozy snowed-in vibes, and quirky, fun prose. I had a decent time reading it, even if it sometimes felt like it missed the mark, which is why I can’t rate it higher.
If you like shifter romance that’s devoid of pack politics, light on worldbuilding, and heavy on sex with an easy, playful vibe, this will probably hit for you! If you enjoy more of a slow burn, tension-filled romance, you might miss that aspect here.
______________________________________
Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
✓ Knotting
✓ Surprise Omega FMC
✓ Grumpy Alpha MMC
✓ Lots of Smutty Scenes
✓ Mutual Pining
✓ Surprise Heat
✓ Protective/Possessive MMC
Anyone going into this for the Omegaverse and the breezy, lighthearted romcom-y writing style of Lana Ferguson will likely be satisfied with what this book offers.
As someone who does enjoy all these elements, I can’t say that I didn’t have a good time with it — because I did! I liked the snowy small-town lodge setting, and I really enjoyed the premise of the FMC being contracted to renovate the grumpy MMC’s remote lodge, which is just such a fun setup!
What I noticed, though, is that I liked this markedly less than The Fake Mate, Ferguson’s prior shifter romance to this. It took me a bit to pinpoint exactly why, but I think it comes down to tension and build-up between the leads.
Tess Covington, the FMC, learns she’s an Omega at the very start of the book, right before heading off to her renovation job. And quite quickly after her first meeting with MMC, Hunter Barrett, their attraction escalates into something more.
This might just be personal preference, but I was a little disappointed at this. I wanted more yearning, more moments of them fighting their natural attraction to each other, more denial between them.
Yes, an Alpha/Omega dynamic naturally lends itself to biological pull and irresistible chemistry, but it’s also an organic way to create angst, tension, confusion — all aspects that could have added more intensity to their romantic dynamic, which felt missing here.
While The Fake Mate also featured characters who acknowledged their attraction fairly quickly, that book still managed a sharper, more interesting relationship between its protagonists and made better use of the Omega/Alpha tension.
Plainly, Tess and Hunter just weren’t very captivating together. I didn’t giggle at their interactions, I didn’t really feel this intense chemistry between them, and while there were tons of well-written sex scenes, I still felt like there was never any exciting tension, making their connection feel a little flat to me.
Another thing I couldn’t stop thinking about during my read: Tess’ total cluelessness about her new Omega designation.
Like I said, this is set up in the beginning, but as the book goes along, I sort of got a little annoyed with her. She doesn’t know what’s happening to her half the time, because she’s a new Omega. Okay, yes, understandable. But in the modern world this story is set in — a world with internet, books, even her own doctor that has made herself available for any medical questions — she never once thinks about trying to research more about this life-changing fact.
Not even once in the story did she think: ”hey, I should research some of this Omega stuff, because clearly my body is having some strange reactions.”
The lack of even basic curiosity about her own biology felt like an obvious plot device and started pulling me out of the story a few times.
It didn’t help that the supporting cast lacked depth as well. The side characters didn’t do much to flesh out the world or make it feel alive, most of them feeling quite static and barely playing into the story.
All this said, this book does deliver solid smut, cozy snowed-in vibes, and quirky, fun prose. I had a decent time reading it, even if it sometimes felt like it missed the mark, which is why I can’t rate it higher.
If you like shifter romance that’s devoid of pack politics, light on worldbuilding, and heavy on sex with an easy, playful vibe, this will probably hit for you! If you enjoy more of a slow burn, tension-filled romance, you might miss that aspect here.
______________________________________
Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
November 18, 2025
there is such a thing as too much spice, which I think was the case in this one. Their entire relationship seems built on spending a heat together, rather than genuine connection. Further, there were many repetitive words/phrases.
Overall, I liked it for what it was, but I just can’t seem to crack above three stars for this author !
Overall, I liked it for what it was, but I just can’t seem to crack above three stars for this author !
September 24, 2025
he’s hot. he’s huge. he’s a werewolf alpha.
no secret that I’ve been in a werewolf romance phase for the past year & Lana has delivered again with this one
A grumpy mountain man. The woman who’s renovating his mountain lodge. Forced proximity. Omegaverse. SNOWED IN!!!!!!
things to know:
- dual pov
- remote colorado lodge
- alpha x omega
- he’s down bad
- “we shouldn’t”
Honestly had everything I love about werewolf romances
4.5 ⭐️
no secret that I’ve been in a werewolf romance phase for the past year & Lana has delivered again with this one
A grumpy mountain man. The woman who’s renovating his mountain lodge. Forced proximity. Omegaverse. SNOWED IN!!!!!!
things to know:
- dual pov
- remote colorado lodge
- alpha x omega
- he’s down bad
- “we shouldn’t”
Honestly had everything I love about werewolf romances
4.5 ⭐️
December 3, 2025
This was a fun one! I love the way this author blends contemporary and paranormal/wolf shifter romances. While The Fake Mate is still my favorite by this author, this one was a fun time too. I read this after having a bit of a book slump and I enjoyed it, so that is something! This has forced proximity, she’s a new omega (well new to finding out that she’s actually an omega vs thinking she’s a beta) and he’s an alpha.
Tess is traveling and ends up at the doctor’s office after feeling a certain kind of way on her flight (flu-like symptoms). Here we get a little cameo of the heroine from The Fake Mate. While seeing the doctor Tess finds out she’s not a beta as she always thought, but instead is a late-presenting omega wolf shifter! To say she’s surprised and lost would be an understatement. She’s told to probably steer clear of alphas but ends up staying with one unbeknownst to both of them.
Hunter is gruff (in a good way lol) whose lodge is failing and Tess is a TikTok-famous contractor/renovator who desperately needs to get an HGTV gig (for family financial reasons) and is there to fix up his place. Their connection (biologically and otherwise) was very easy but I didn’t mind it. I think if anything the story was a bit long, but otherwise a fun easy time!
Tess is traveling and ends up at the doctor’s office after feeling a certain kind of way on her flight (flu-like symptoms). Here we get a little cameo of the heroine from The Fake Mate. While seeing the doctor Tess finds out she’s not a beta as she always thought, but instead is a late-presenting omega wolf shifter! To say she’s surprised and lost would be an understatement. She’s told to probably steer clear of alphas but ends up staying with one unbeknownst to both of them.
Hunter is gruff (in a good way lol) whose lodge is failing and Tess is a TikTok-famous contractor/renovator who desperately needs to get an HGTV gig (for family financial reasons) and is there to fix up his place. Their connection (biologically and otherwise) was very easy but I didn’t mind it. I think if anything the story was a bit long, but otherwise a fun easy time!
Currently reading
December 1, 2025A huge thank you to the Little, Brown Book Group Influencer program for providing me with a paperback copy.
August 18, 2025
4.5
Omigod. No words. Steamiest book yet Lana.
Hunter works at the Inn where Mackenzie and Noah went through some trying times (The Fake Mate). Hunter's Aunt wants the place remodeled so in walks Tess Covington who owns a family renovation company and is desperately trying to get herself on HGTV. Tess is also a late presenting Omega who has walked herself into an Inn with an Alpha off his meds. Sparks WILL fly.
Omigod. No words. Steamiest book yet Lana.
Hunter works at the Inn where Mackenzie and Noah went through some trying times (The Fake Mate). Hunter's Aunt wants the place remodeled so in walks Tess Covington who owns a family renovation company and is desperately trying to get herself on HGTV. Tess is also a late presenting Omega who has walked herself into an Inn with an Alpha off his meds. Sparks WILL fly.
Read
November 17, 2025too many mentions of fluids.
rtc 🥲
rtc 🥲
November 30, 2025
I’ve read a few wolf shifter books this year and after finishing this one I know I need to read a lot more in 2026! These books are SO FUN! And because Lana Ferguson wrote it, I knew to expect the best spice too! But that’s not all there is. The Mating Game has just as many heartfelt moments. My heart ached for Hunter when it came to his past, and I loved how despite it all Tess with all her sunshine was able to find a way to get into his heart. Their chemistry was UNDENIABLE and despite the inner protests, the heart simply knows what it wants and Lana wrote it PERFECTLY! It all felt so natural and real. Tess is an amazing character, and I adored watching her break down walls (in more than one way!).
If you’re in the mood for a fun, spicy, and endearing shifter romance you need to read this one! I fell for it hard and fast and couldn’t get enough of these two!
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙
❥ Wolf Shifter Romances
❥ Grumpy/Sunshine
❥ Forced Proximity
If you’re in the mood for a fun, spicy, and endearing shifter romance you need to read this one! I fell for it hard and fast and couldn’t get enough of these two!
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙
❥ Wolf Shifter Romances
❥ Grumpy/Sunshine
❥ Forced Proximity
August 1, 2025
3.5 This was a silly, goofy, fun time. I think this whole duology (interconnected standalone series?) is just really fun and nothing to be taken too seriously.
I’m really struggling right now with contemporary romances. It feels like none of them are thought-out, well-written, or original in any way and this, while obviously not perfect or a masterpiece of literature, was unique and silly enough that I read the entire thing in one sitting.
I actually don’t mind Lana Ferguson’s writing. It’s nothing special, but I think it’s an elevated version of the average, generic contemporary romance writing (first-person POV—sorry). I think she’s absolutely too cheesy and there are far too many pop culture references, but other than that, this is just a good palette cleanser.
In this we’re dealing with our fmc, Tess, who has just learned she’s an omega shifter after thinking she’s a beta for her whole life. She is fixing up a lodge owned by Hunter, an alpha, who was in the first book, The Fake Mate.
He helps her deal with this new shift (lol) in her lifestyle and obviously there’s hella sex, they fall in love, yada yada (complimentary) I really liked Hunter, y’all. He might be up there with my favorite book men of the year. He’s just a grumpy little sweetie pie with some trauma, but if there’s one thing he does with his whole chest, it’s take care of Tess when she’s going through it.
Picture the “taking care of the other person when they’re sick” trope, but make it smutty. Like, I’m sorry, that’s going to do it for me every time.
And like I said, this was nothing that reinvented the wheel, but I did actually have a lot of fun reading this. It took me like five hours and if there’s one thing I’m going to binge, it’s a smutty little omegaverse book.
Because at my core, I am a paranormal/monster romance girlie. So, I’d recommend! Just don’t expect anything mind-blowing. This is a fun, little read if you have a random day off and are also ovulating.
Thank you to Edelweiss for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I’m really struggling right now with contemporary romances. It feels like none of them are thought-out, well-written, or original in any way and this, while obviously not perfect or a masterpiece of literature, was unique and silly enough that I read the entire thing in one sitting.
I actually don’t mind Lana Ferguson’s writing. It’s nothing special, but I think it’s an elevated version of the average, generic contemporary romance writing (first-person POV—sorry). I think she’s absolutely too cheesy and there are far too many pop culture references, but other than that, this is just a good palette cleanser.
In this we’re dealing with our fmc, Tess, who has just learned she’s an omega shifter after thinking she’s a beta for her whole life. She is fixing up a lodge owned by Hunter, an alpha, who was in the first book, The Fake Mate.
He helps her deal with this new shift (lol) in her lifestyle and obviously there’s hella sex, they fall in love, yada yada (complimentary) I really liked Hunter, y’all. He might be up there with my favorite book men of the year. He’s just a grumpy little sweetie pie with some trauma, but if there’s one thing he does with his whole chest, it’s take care of Tess when she’s going through it.
Picture the “taking care of the other person when they’re sick” trope, but make it smutty. Like, I’m sorry, that’s going to do it for me every time.
And like I said, this was nothing that reinvented the wheel, but I did actually have a lot of fun reading this. It took me like five hours and if there’s one thing I’m going to binge, it’s a smutty little omegaverse book.
Because at my core, I am a paranormal/monster romance girlie. So, I’d recommend! Just don’t expect anything mind-blowing. This is a fun, little read if you have a random day off and are also ovulating.
Thank you to Edelweiss for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
November 7, 2025
It's like if your favorite Hallmark channel flick got hijacked by a pack of horny werewolves who read too much AO3 at 3 a.m. Tess, our sassy TikTok-renovator queen (she's trying to become a HGTV host), rolls up to Hunter's crumbling ski lodge in the snowy wilds of Colorado, ready to flip it for her interview for her own show. Hunters a Grumpy Alpha lumberjack incarnate, plaid-clad, brooding widower type who's basically a walking "no trespassing" sign, complete with a tragic backstory that tugs at your heartstrings, because of course.
Ferguson cranks the forced-proximity dial to eleven: we get a snowed in cabin, first heat chaos, and who can forget the trope of "we shouldn't but biology says yes" tension. The banter's gold. Tess calling out Hunter's "emotional flannel fortress" was cute.
Its generous, knotty, and way steamier than the predessessor, with this "taking care of you" trope that's sweet and "get a room already." Cameos from The Fake Mate crew feel like catching up with old pals at a shifter reunion.
Hunter's plaid obsession? Bro, it's like the book's sponsored by L.L.Bean; I kept waiting for a product placement footnote. Side characters are fun but flat as week-old snow, mostly there to nudge the plot.
If you're craving a cozy, smutty rom com that lovee omegaverse tropes, this'll scratch that itch. Just don't blame me if you start eyeing your neighbor's flannel suspiciously. Oh, and drinking game: every time "plaid" drops (or knotting, for the less brave), take a shot. You might get to get your stomach pumped, after, though.
Ferguson cranks the forced-proximity dial to eleven: we get a snowed in cabin, first heat chaos, and who can forget the trope of "we shouldn't but biology says yes" tension. The banter's gold. Tess calling out Hunter's "emotional flannel fortress" was cute.
Its generous, knotty, and way steamier than the predessessor, with this "taking care of you" trope that's sweet and "get a room already." Cameos from The Fake Mate crew feel like catching up with old pals at a shifter reunion.
Hunter's plaid obsession? Bro, it's like the book's sponsored by L.L.Bean; I kept waiting for a product placement footnote. Side characters are fun but flat as week-old snow, mostly there to nudge the plot.
If you're craving a cozy, smutty rom com that lovee omegaverse tropes, this'll scratch that itch. Just don't blame me if you start eyeing your neighbor's flannel suspiciously. Oh, and drinking game: every time "plaid" drops (or knotting, for the less brave), take a shot. You might get to get your stomach pumped, after, though.
November 10, 2025
I absolutely loved the first book in this series (the fake mate) so I was absolutely ecstatic that we would be getting another one in this world!!!
And boy was this one absolutely delicious. I’ve really learned a lot about myself in the last month & it’s that I am feral for Wolf shifter romances lmao
HUNTER WAS SO GROWLY & GRUMPY & A HOT LOWKEY LUMBERJACK!!!! Then you get Tess who is this cutie creative queen that finds out she’s an omega and now has to open her mind up to a whole new way of living!
And THE HEAT THAT FEMALE SHIFTERS EXPERIENCE IS ALWAYS HOT!!!! This one was just as I would’ve hoped 🥵🥵🥵 let’s just say if you like dry jumping or a dirty talking man who takes his alpha seriously then this is it for you! And knotting??? AND A HOT TUB SCENE. Omg I’m salivating just thinking about how hot it was to listen to this!
Type: audio (thanks PRH audio!!!)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
Forced proximity
Grumpy x sunshine
Knotting
Shifter romance
Snowed in
Contractor x lodge owner
And boy was this one absolutely delicious. I’ve really learned a lot about myself in the last month & it’s that I am feral for Wolf shifter romances lmao
HUNTER WAS SO GROWLY & GRUMPY & A HOT LOWKEY LUMBERJACK!!!! Then you get Tess who is this cutie creative queen that finds out she’s an omega and now has to open her mind up to a whole new way of living!
And THE HEAT THAT FEMALE SHIFTERS EXPERIENCE IS ALWAYS HOT!!!! This one was just as I would’ve hoped 🥵🥵🥵 let’s just say if you like dry jumping or a dirty talking man who takes his alpha seriously then this is it for you! And knotting??? AND A HOT TUB SCENE. Omg I’m salivating just thinking about how hot it was to listen to this!
Type: audio (thanks PRH audio!!!)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
Forced proximity
Grumpy x sunshine
Knotting
Shifter romance
Snowed in
Contractor x lodge owner
Read
March 5, 2025OMG 😱 I CAN'T WAIT
November 20, 2025
3.5 stars
Lana Ferguson always delivers the heat! This one ended up being more spice than plot, but sometimes my brain needs these lower stakes/less angst reads. It's set in the same world as The Fake Mate and there are brief cameos/mentions of that couple, but The Mating Game can definitely be read as a standalone.
The book revolves around Tess discovering that she's an omega and how she navigates her heats/this new reality. Thankfully, there's a grumpy alpha who can help her through her heats, who also happens to be the owner of the lodge she's just been hired to renovate. Like I said, there isn't much heavy lifting in this one and the few other side plots take a backseat to the heats/steam. One thing I liked about the relationship dynamic in this one is that I felt like Hunter really tried to respect Tess and her ability to consent. There's of course an instinctual push that they both feel, but I appreciated that it wasn't an automatic/no choice decision. The bit of drama at the end is relatively painless and resolves quickly.
I mainly listened to the audiobook of The Mating Game and it was such a treat to find out it was duet narration. Aaron Shedlock and Samantha Summers were amazing and holy smokes the spicy scenes were HOT HOT HOT! If you're looking for a fun and sexy shifter read, do yourself a favor and listen to The Mating Game.
Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 3.5 stars
CW: parent with health issues, financial concerns, death of parents (past), grief
*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*
Lana Ferguson always delivers the heat! This one ended up being more spice than plot, but sometimes my brain needs these lower stakes/less angst reads. It's set in the same world as The Fake Mate and there are brief cameos/mentions of that couple, but The Mating Game can definitely be read as a standalone.
The book revolves around Tess discovering that she's an omega and how she navigates her heats/this new reality. Thankfully, there's a grumpy alpha who can help her through her heats, who also happens to be the owner of the lodge she's just been hired to renovate. Like I said, there isn't much heavy lifting in this one and the few other side plots take a backseat to the heats/steam. One thing I liked about the relationship dynamic in this one is that I felt like Hunter really tried to respect Tess and her ability to consent. There's of course an instinctual push that they both feel, but I appreciated that it wasn't an automatic/no choice decision. The bit of drama at the end is relatively painless and resolves quickly.
I mainly listened to the audiobook of The Mating Game and it was such a treat to find out it was duet narration. Aaron Shedlock and Samantha Summers were amazing and holy smokes the spicy scenes were HOT HOT HOT! If you're looking for a fun and sexy shifter read, do yourself a favor and listen to The Mating Game.
Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 3.5 stars
CW: parent with health issues, financial concerns, death of parents (past), grief
*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*
November 29, 2025
˚ ༘♡ pre-read:
╰┈➤ i need more traditionally published omegaverse stories ASAP
⋆˚࿔ The Mating Game review 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
┆ ⤿ 💌 4 stars!
It's time to speak my truth, I have been and will always be a fan of omegaverse!! Everytime the word knot is used in a trad published book an angel gains its wings.
This read as a hallmark romance featuring shifters... and I was eating it up. It's a great winter read that just makes you feel warm and cozy. The tension between Tess and Hunter was great, and comedic beats were hilarious and hit well. The romance was delectable.
There was some moments where there didn't seem to be enough plot, so the pacing and story felt like it got almost too slow at some points. Other than that I had a great time!
｡ﾟ• ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈ ┈ ┈ ┈• ｡ﾟ
Thanks so much to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
｡ﾟ• ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈ ┈ ┈ ┈• ｡ﾟ
⤿ follow me on instagram!
╰┈➤ i need more traditionally published omegaverse stories ASAP
⋆˚࿔ The Mating Game review 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
┆ ⤿ 💌 4 stars!
It's time to speak my truth, I have been and will always be a fan of omegaverse!! Everytime the word knot is used in a trad published book an angel gains its wings.
This read as a hallmark romance featuring shifters... and I was eating it up. It's a great winter read that just makes you feel warm and cozy. The tension between Tess and Hunter was great, and comedic beats were hilarious and hit well. The romance was delectable.
There was some moments where there didn't seem to be enough plot, so the pacing and story felt like it got almost too slow at some points. Other than that I had a great time!
｡ﾟ• ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈ ┈ ┈ ┈• ｡ﾟ
Thanks so much to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
｡ﾟ• ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈ ┈ ┈ ┈• ｡ﾟ
⤿ follow me on instagram!
September 6, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy! This book releases December 2025
Stand Alone in the same universe as “The Fake Mate”, some inter connected characters, but you don’t have to have read the first to read the second. The tropes in this books are - omegaverse/wolf shifters, forced proximity and grumpy/sunshine.
Tess is a Ms.Fix it, renovating old run down spaces into rustic gems along with her three brothers. Her newest project brings her to the middle of nowhere to a ski lodge that has seen better days. Tess sees its potential - but first she will have to convince the owner Hunter to let her stay. Unknown to her, she was hired by his aunt to help and he’s not too keen on changing things. On top of that, they have a strong strange attraction to each other - you see, Tess just learned she is a late presenting omega wolf shifter. And Hunter is an alpha. They are biologically designed to be compatible - if only the grumpy rugged plaid wearing Hunter would give the determined and sassy Tess a chance. In this push and pull of attraction and caution, can either let the other in close enough for a chance at love?
Similar to the first, there is a lot of spice, for me, it got to be a little much and repetitive. I was starting to skim a bit to move past it. That being said it is well written overall, I just feel a little more time could be spent on plot and not spice to carry the story.
Stand Alone in the same universe as “The Fake Mate”, some inter connected characters, but you don’t have to have read the first to read the second. The tropes in this books are - omegaverse/wolf shifters, forced proximity and grumpy/sunshine.
Tess is a Ms.Fix it, renovating old run down spaces into rustic gems along with her three brothers. Her newest project brings her to the middle of nowhere to a ski lodge that has seen better days. Tess sees its potential - but first she will have to convince the owner Hunter to let her stay. Unknown to her, she was hired by his aunt to help and he’s not too keen on changing things. On top of that, they have a strong strange attraction to each other - you see, Tess just learned she is a late presenting omega wolf shifter. And Hunter is an alpha. They are biologically designed to be compatible - if only the grumpy rugged plaid wearing Hunter would give the determined and sassy Tess a chance. In this push and pull of attraction and caution, can either let the other in close enough for a chance at love?
Similar to the first, there is a lot of spice, for me, it got to be a little much and repetitive. I was starting to skim a bit to move past it. That being said it is well written overall, I just feel a little more time could be spent on plot and not spice to carry the story.
November 9, 2025
Thank you, @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for the gifted digital and audio copies! #berkley #berkleypartner #prhaudioinfluencer
Set in the same world as The Fake Mate where shifters are a regular part of society, Contractor Tess Covington and her brothers are all non-shifter humans on the verge of taking their wildly popular renovation-themed social media presence to the next level. Their new project is updating a lodge outside Denver. But the minute Tess touches down at Denver International, she heads to the hospital because she feels terrible. Instead of being diagnosed with the flu, Tess receives the shocking news that she’s actually a late-presenting Omega shifter. But she can’t let this life-altering news get in the way of the job at hand. Except when she arrives, she discovers that the owner is Alpha shifter Hunter Barrett. He’s content to live a quiet, isolated life but the Alpha-Omega pull is undeniable and as the weeks of working in close proximity progress, their attraction evolves from a magnetic need to a want, but there can’t be any future when she’s on the move job to job and he’s running the family business.
Lana consistently writes wildly entertaining books and if you liked The Fake Mate, you are going to eat this one up. It is full of shenanigans and a whole lot of spice. Like a lot. Which, you expect from a Lana Ferguson book. We met Hunter in The Fake Mate and this lodge is also the setting for a some of the pivotal components of that book as well. Hunter and Tess are both great. They have some interesting back stories. I’m hopeful that we’ll get another book in this series that plays off of some of the secondary characters in this book, because she spent a lot of time developing backstories for characters and it would be strange if that didn’t pay off somewhere else in this universe.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Aaron Shedlock and Samantha Summers shine in their duet performance, infusing so much into Tess and Hunter that made me love them even more than I think I would have if I only eyeball-read the story. (11h 48m)
Set in the same world as The Fake Mate where shifters are a regular part of society, Contractor Tess Covington and her brothers are all non-shifter humans on the verge of taking their wildly popular renovation-themed social media presence to the next level. Their new project is updating a lodge outside Denver. But the minute Tess touches down at Denver International, she heads to the hospital because she feels terrible. Instead of being diagnosed with the flu, Tess receives the shocking news that she’s actually a late-presenting Omega shifter. But she can’t let this life-altering news get in the way of the job at hand. Except when she arrives, she discovers that the owner is Alpha shifter Hunter Barrett. He’s content to live a quiet, isolated life but the Alpha-Omega pull is undeniable and as the weeks of working in close proximity progress, their attraction evolves from a magnetic need to a want, but there can’t be any future when she’s on the move job to job and he’s running the family business.
Lana consistently writes wildly entertaining books and if you liked The Fake Mate, you are going to eat this one up. It is full of shenanigans and a whole lot of spice. Like a lot. Which, you expect from a Lana Ferguson book. We met Hunter in The Fake Mate and this lodge is also the setting for a some of the pivotal components of that book as well. Hunter and Tess are both great. They have some interesting back stories. I’m hopeful that we’ll get another book in this series that plays off of some of the secondary characters in this book, because she spent a lot of time developing backstories for characters and it would be strange if that didn’t pay off somewhere else in this universe.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Aaron Shedlock and Samantha Summers shine in their duet performance, infusing so much into Tess and Hunter that made me love them even more than I think I would have if I only eyeball-read the story. (11h 48m)
November 30, 2025
4.5/5 (rounding up!)
I absolutely loved this one!
I know that sequels are often a little lackluster compared to the first in a series, but this one was fantastic (and might even be my favorite shifter romance of the year!).
I loved the dynamic between Tess and Hunter. We get a perfect grumpy lumberjack and a whip-smart contractor who runs her family business and it is just *chef's kiss* for me.
I enjoyed the little snippet of previous characters as well and thought that how they were added to the story was very well done. I am really hoping that Lana Ferguson will write another shifter romance for us, because she's given us something so amazing here!
A huge thank you to the publisher for the eARC.
I absolutely loved this one!
I know that sequels are often a little lackluster compared to the first in a series, but this one was fantastic (and might even be my favorite shifter romance of the year!).
I loved the dynamic between Tess and Hunter. We get a perfect grumpy lumberjack and a whip-smart contractor who runs her family business and it is just *chef's kiss* for me.
I enjoyed the little snippet of previous characters as well and thought that how they were added to the story was very well done. I am really hoping that Lana Ferguson will write another shifter romance for us, because she's given us something so amazing here!
A huge thank you to the publisher for the eARC.
December 2, 2025
My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was perfection. I hope Ada gets her own book but I’m also excited for a follow up to game changer.
December 3, 2025
4.5/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🌶️
So fun to return to this world that Lana dreamed up. 🪢🐺🐺
2.5/5 🌶️
So fun to return to this world that Lana dreamed up. 🪢🐺🐺
December 4, 2025
No plot, all HEAT, and KNOT that great 🥴
December 2, 2025
I’m a sucker for a shifter romance idk what yall want me to say 🤷🏻♀️.
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