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Werewolves of Montana #8
The Mating Game
From NY Times bestselling author Bonnie Vanak comes another sexy, gripping installment in her Werewolves of Montana series...the story of Xavier, the immortal, powerful and tormented Crystal Wizard who longs for a love he cannot have.
Stripped of his memories by the goddess Danu, the powerful Crystal Wizard Xavier must find his way back to the woman he has loved, and lost. Only Ciara can aid him in helping him remember who he is, and what they shared. She never forgot the night of passion they shared and how they were forced to part. But an evil witch wants more than Xavier's memories restored. She wants the immortal wizard himself, and she will stop at nothing to destroy him and everything he holds dear, including the woman Xavier loves and can't remember...
Stripped of his memories by the goddess Danu, the powerful Crystal Wizard Xavier must find his way back to the woman he has loved, and lost. Only Ciara can aid him in helping him remember who he is, and what they shared. She never forgot the night of passion they shared and how they were forced to part. But an evil witch wants more than Xavier's memories restored. She wants the immortal wizard himself, and she will stop at nothing to destroy him and everything he holds dear, including the woman Xavier loves and can't remember...
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First published March 13, 2017
22 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Bonnie Vanak
136 books506 followersBonnie Vanak fell in love with romance novels during childhood. While cleaning a hall closet, she discovered her mother’s cache of paperbacks and started reading. Thus began a passion for romance and a lifelong dislike for housework.
After years of newspaper reporting, Bonnie became a writer for a major international charity. She travels to destitute countries such as Haiti to write about famine, disease and other issues affecting the poor. When the emotional strains of her job demanded a diversion, she turned to her childhood dream of writing romance novels.
She lives in Florida with her husband Frank and two dogs, where she happily writes books amid an ever-growing collection of dust bunnies.
After years of newspaper reporting, Bonnie became a writer for a major international charity. She travels to destitute countries such as Haiti to write about famine, disease and other issues affecting the poor. When the emotional strains of her job demanded a diversion, she turned to her childhood dream of writing romance novels.
She lives in Florida with her husband Frank and two dogs, where she happily writes books amid an ever-growing collection of dust bunnies.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 13, 2017
The Mating Game by Bonnie Vanak (Werewolves of Montana #8). Xavier the Crystal Wizard must lose everything he cherishes the most as a punishment dealt out by the goddess Danu. But love holds great power. And a love that can last through time, even more. A genuine tale of good versus evil, love lost and found. Xavier and Ciara must find their way back to each other in order to defeat the gathering darkness. As the story unfolds, the author illustrates expertly the many facets of the Crystal Wizard. He is the deliverer of justice, caring friend, and passionate lover. This paranormal romance enhances the Werewolves of Montana Series by delivering a few surprises throughout the story. This book can be read as a stand alone and the story doesn't feel unfinished at the conclusion but it does have interesting moments that set up for future stories. There isn't extensive world building throughout that leaves the reader lost and confused. I recommend this book if you're looking to escape for a while.
March 13, 2017
Bonnie Vanak has pitted a villainess goddess against a heroic passionate strong female Ogre with love of the Crystal Wizard the heart of it in her latest Werewolves of Montana story, The Mating Game. It is a tale of cruel curses, harsh punishments, hidden agendas and love through time making this an irresistible read.
Xavier and Ciara’s story is emotionally charged, passionate and yet sentimental. These characters were certainly engaging just the goddess Danu was certainly easy to despise. I especially appreciated the change in the female lead from the usual paranormal shifters. Their story is complete with the happily ever after being quite satisfactory. The author does set things into motion as to where the next story will lead but it is not necessary to have read this entire series to truly enjoy The Mating Game. One of my favorites in the series now so I can easily recommend it to paranormal fans or those who simply enjoy a great good versus evil story.
The author gave me a complimentary ARC of the book.
Xavier and Ciara’s story is emotionally charged, passionate and yet sentimental. These characters were certainly engaging just the goddess Danu was certainly easy to despise. I especially appreciated the change in the female lead from the usual paranormal shifters. Their story is complete with the happily ever after being quite satisfactory. The author does set things into motion as to where the next story will lead but it is not necessary to have read this entire series to truly enjoy The Mating Game. One of my favorites in the series now so I can easily recommend it to paranormal fans or those who simply enjoy a great good versus evil story.
The author gave me a complimentary ARC of the book.
March 14, 2017
I’ve been waiting a long time to read Xavier’s story…I’ve always kept a part of my heart for the enigmatic Crystal Wizard. The author has always written him with an aloofness and a touch of vulnerability, and this story gave me more of him. I’m good! We meet and read about his long ago love, Ciara. Their story has all the parts you would expect – Dark Wizards; crazy, nasty witches, X’s brethren Wizards, the goddess Danu – and a love story many hundred years in the works. I won’t tell you the story; read the blurb and then the book. What I will say is this: I loved this story and I loved Xavier. His and Ciara’s story will warm your heart, make you scream out to them to be careful, and make you laugh – especially when the other Wizards show up to give their two cents. I loved this story, sad that X’s story has been told, but I know he and Ciara will be back…after all, there are still Wizards to match…
March 15, 2017
I just loved Xavier story. The Great Crystal Wizard. Um yeah, so he thought until Goddess of Danu took his memory away. He had to find his way back to his life, but first he had to come back to his first love, the one who had taken his heart, and ripped it away.
He became a martyr and thought he didn't deserve love, he had to protect those he promised to protect.
I'm not going to go into it. Get it read it, I honestly don't feel you will be disappointed. It is well written with lot's of sex lol, romance, hate, angst, torment, and most of all confusion. Oh not for the reader, just Xavier ;)
He became a martyr and thought he didn't deserve love, he had to protect those he promised to protect.
I'm not going to go into it. Get it read it, I honestly don't feel you will be disappointed. It is well written with lot's of sex lol, romance, hate, angst, torment, and most of all confusion. Oh not for the reader, just Xavier ;)
March 15, 2017
OMG this series gets better with each book.
Xavier the Crystal Wizard is being punished by the Goddess Danu for sharing his powers with the other Wizards,,She has taken away his powers and he has no knowledge of who or what he is.
When he was a young mage he met a young Ogre girl. They have met in her past lives but at those times were not meant to be..She saw him die and in another life he watched her die...
Now is there time....
Great story, Bonnie has a way with her Werewolves..
Xavier the Crystal Wizard is being punished by the Goddess Danu for sharing his powers with the other Wizards,,She has taken away his powers and he has no knowledge of who or what he is.
When he was a young mage he met a young Ogre girl. They have met in her past lives but at those times were not meant to be..She saw him die and in another life he watched her die...
Now is there time....
Great story, Bonnie has a way with her Werewolves..
May 28, 2017
The power of love
Reincarnation is real in this story and these two souls have been bound since the beginning only waiting until now to join. To get there though they had to give up those things most precious to them, sometimes their life. Darkness is trying to make headway in the world and those who protect it must change and go stronger to defeat it.
Reincarnation is real in this story and these two souls have been bound since the beginning only waiting until now to join. To get there though they had to give up those things most precious to them, sometimes their life. Darkness is trying to make headway in the world and those who protect it must change and go stronger to defeat it.
March 15, 2017
This series of stories about the Wizards of the Brehon just keeps getting better. Vanak artfully combines big picture good and evil themes with a sweet, time after time love story set in a modern world populated by humans and a variety of paranormals.
A great read from a great series.
A great read from a great series.
May 16, 2017
Loved it
I love all the characters in this series and that each book is always including the previous characters. If love fantasy and all the magical beings rapped up in an awesome storyline then you'll love these books.
I love all the characters in this series and that each book is always including the previous characters. If love fantasy and all the magical beings rapped up in an awesome storyline then you'll love these books.
Read
March 19, 2017Such a lovely story. I love knowing that even though the wizards have so much responsibility on their shoulders that they have room in their hearts to truly love one woman.
November 18, 2018
3.5
Before Xavier was the Crystal Wizard, he was a simple mage in medieval times where he knew Ciara, an ogre who was always kind to him. In that lifetime, he sacrificed his life to save her and afterwards became the immortal Crystal Wizard. In the 1950's he meets a reincarnated Ciara, but cannot remember how he knows her. Unfortunately, after falling for her, he watches her death and begs Danu to remove the painful memories. Now, in the present time, he meets a reincarnated Ciara, who is now a nymph/shifter in her first heat and needs help finding a sex partner. Xavier has every intention of doing so, but doesn't understand that Ciara is his soul mate, and so he can't go through with it. He ends up helping her himself - but being very clear that no matter how much they love each other, he has a job to do and cannot have a future with Ciara. Afterwards, he leaves without saying goodbye. Ciara is hurt. When her mother is kidnapped and she is the only one who can save her, she calls for Xavier's help, but he doesn't respond. She must resort to drastic measures and stealing to get what she wants from him - her ring, which she'd given to him as a gift of love. When Xavier realizes she's stolen the ring, he gets ready to exact punishment, but before he can do so, the events of the previous book, where the three wizards save Tristan, happen and Xavier is punished, losing his memory. Xavier wanders around with his powers, but no memory and encounters Ciara, who is still trying to save her mother, but no needs a lock of Xavier's hair. She helps Xavier and falls more in love with him, but takes the hair and is taken prisoner by the witch who has her mother. Xavier regains his memory and goes to rescue Ciara, ready to risk all and do anything to be with her forever.
Okay. A good story, but definitely a long one. It felt long. Even writing this summary, I realized again just how long it is and how much happens. I was able to read it in one sitting though, so the story moved well enough to keep me interested. I liked Xavier way more than I liked Tristan. I also liked Ciara. So there's a plus - characters I like and want to see together. Tristan and Ciara have some great chemistry and their falling in love as quickly as they did felt very believable. I'm not sure about Ciara's reaction to Tristan leaving her...I mean, he did pretty much check with her constantly that she knew he was going to leave and that they couldn't be together, but then she reacted pretty badly to his leaving "without saying goodbye." So I'm curious whether she'd have been more mature about it all if he'd actually said goodbye... I also didn't care for the fact that Ciara was not celibate during her separation from Xavier (I think he was). Although, it was a refreshing change of pace to see the heroine doing this instead of the hero. I probably would have been okay with it if I hadn't been reminded with her constant references to her "other lovers" as a comparison to her experiences with Xavier. And also, Xavier never even learns or reacts to these "other lovers" so the only purpose they serve is for Ciara to know that Xavier was the best lover ever....which was kind of already a given.
The amnesia also serves as a pretty convenient vehicle for giving Xavier a reset. All his previous actions that had upset Ciara and his reservations about a relationship with Ciara are swept under the rug as he forgets all about that and doesn't have to reconcile those emotions. Ciara also forgets her upset at being "dumped" when she realizes Xavier can't remember, and that never really gets resolved. The action from this point on in the story is pretty good though, and fighting Andromeda and saving everybody that needs saving sped up the pace of the end pretty nicely. There's also a set up for Gideon's story, which I'm kinda excited to read. This was a pretty good installment here.
Before Xavier was the Crystal Wizard, he was a simple mage in medieval times where he knew Ciara, an ogre who was always kind to him. In that lifetime, he sacrificed his life to save her and afterwards became the immortal Crystal Wizard. In the 1950's he meets a reincarnated Ciara, but cannot remember how he knows her. Unfortunately, after falling for her, he watches her death and begs Danu to remove the painful memories. Now, in the present time, he meets a reincarnated Ciara, who is now a nymph/shifter in her first heat and needs help finding a sex partner. Xavier has every intention of doing so, but doesn't understand that Ciara is his soul mate, and so he can't go through with it. He ends up helping her himself - but being very clear that no matter how much they love each other, he has a job to do and cannot have a future with Ciara. Afterwards, he leaves without saying goodbye. Ciara is hurt. When her mother is kidnapped and she is the only one who can save her, she calls for Xavier's help, but he doesn't respond. She must resort to drastic measures and stealing to get what she wants from him - her ring, which she'd given to him as a gift of love. When Xavier realizes she's stolen the ring, he gets ready to exact punishment, but before he can do so, the events of the previous book, where the three wizards save Tristan, happen and Xavier is punished, losing his memory. Xavier wanders around with his powers, but no memory and encounters Ciara, who is still trying to save her mother, but no needs a lock of Xavier's hair. She helps Xavier and falls more in love with him, but takes the hair and is taken prisoner by the witch who has her mother. Xavier regains his memory and goes to rescue Ciara, ready to risk all and do anything to be with her forever.
Okay. A good story, but definitely a long one. It felt long. Even writing this summary, I realized again just how long it is and how much happens. I was able to read it in one sitting though, so the story moved well enough to keep me interested. I liked Xavier way more than I liked Tristan. I also liked Ciara. So there's a plus - characters I like and want to see together. Tristan and Ciara have some great chemistry and their falling in love as quickly as they did felt very believable. I'm not sure about Ciara's reaction to Tristan leaving her...I mean, he did pretty much check with her constantly that she knew he was going to leave and that they couldn't be together, but then she reacted pretty badly to his leaving "without saying goodbye." So I'm curious whether she'd have been more mature about it all if he'd actually said goodbye... I also didn't care for the fact that Ciara was not celibate during her separation from Xavier (I think he was). Although, it was a refreshing change of pace to see the heroine doing this instead of the hero. I probably would have been okay with it if I hadn't been reminded with her constant references to her "other lovers" as a comparison to her experiences with Xavier. And also, Xavier never even learns or reacts to these "other lovers" so the only purpose they serve is for Ciara to know that Xavier was the best lover ever....which was kind of already a given.
The amnesia also serves as a pretty convenient vehicle for giving Xavier a reset. All his previous actions that had upset Ciara and his reservations about a relationship with Ciara are swept under the rug as he forgets all about that and doesn't have to reconcile those emotions. Ciara also forgets her upset at being "dumped" when she realizes Xavier can't remember, and that never really gets resolved. The action from this point on in the story is pretty good though, and fighting Andromeda and saving everybody that needs saving sped up the pace of the end pretty nicely. There's also a set up for Gideon's story, which I'm kinda excited to read. This was a pretty good installment here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2017
Not feeling this series...
I was introduced to this series with a free Amazon read of the Mating Challenge and felt compelled to see if this series would be a hit or miss for me so I decided to buy a few of the early books in the series along with The Mating Game...mistake number one.
To say I didn't like the story would be appropriate enough and all that need be written, but I have to say the reason for my blatant dislike...the truth is I was totally confused for most of the book--may have something to do with skipping books 2, 3, 4 and 7 I'm guessing. However, after reading The Mating Heat, The Mating Chase, The Mating Challenge and The Mating Season, I wanted to read more about the Crystal Wizard's exploits and was pleased to see that he had a story of his own...mistake number two.
I've never really liked "time" stories with past and present eventually colliding as is what takes place with Xavier and Ciara. In one life she's an ogre, the next an innocent "other" in the fifties and lastly, a nymph/cougar shifter/witch and Xavier has fell in love with all three. That's all fine and good but the story just lacked the excitement I expected from the Crystal Wizard's tale...mistake number three.
Three strikes for this story as I was barely able to finish for lack of interest (took me four days to read 281 pages!). There is nothing fast paced about this fantasy as it drags on to its predictable conclusion. For that and many more reasons, my interest in this series has come to an abrupt end. But in fairness to the author, I did read these books out of order and found that the books proceeding book 8 were much more enjoyable.
On my Were Scale of Hotness, 2 stars.
I was introduced to this series with a free Amazon read of the Mating Challenge and felt compelled to see if this series would be a hit or miss for me so I decided to buy a few of the early books in the series along with The Mating Game...mistake number one.
To say I didn't like the story would be appropriate enough and all that need be written, but I have to say the reason for my blatant dislike...the truth is I was totally confused for most of the book--may have something to do with skipping books 2, 3, 4 and 7 I'm guessing. However, after reading The Mating Heat, The Mating Chase, The Mating Challenge and The Mating Season, I wanted to read more about the Crystal Wizard's exploits and was pleased to see that he had a story of his own...mistake number two.
I've never really liked "time" stories with past and present eventually colliding as is what takes place with Xavier and Ciara. In one life she's an ogre, the next an innocent "other" in the fifties and lastly, a nymph/cougar shifter/witch and Xavier has fell in love with all three. That's all fine and good but the story just lacked the excitement I expected from the Crystal Wizard's tale...mistake number three.
Three strikes for this story as I was barely able to finish for lack of interest (took me four days to read 281 pages!). There is nothing fast paced about this fantasy as it drags on to its predictable conclusion. For that and many more reasons, my interest in this series has come to an abrupt end. But in fairness to the author, I did read these books out of order and found that the books proceeding book 8 were much more enjoyable.
On my Were Scale of Hotness, 2 stars.
March 11, 2017
I like a good "love through time" story. Xavier and Ciara knew each other when she was an ogre and he was a mage. Xavier saved her life then. Hundreds of years later, they meet again and then are torn apart, again. He doesn't want love if this is how it is going to feel. So he asks that the memory be taken from him. Many years later, they meet again. Xavier helped another wizard and broke a law, so his punishment was to lose his memory. Ciara doesn't know what to do about the evil that is growing in their area and now Xavier doesn't remember who he is. How are they going to save everyone?
April 1, 2017
Nailed it
Once again transported back to the world of "others" with all your favorite. Can't wait for the story to continue and love, love, love the direction it's going to.
Once again transported back to the world of "others" with all your favorite. Can't wait for the story to continue and love, love, love the direction it's going to.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews