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Dragons of Cinderhollow #2
The Panther's Pretend Mate
Omega seeks Marriage of Convenience.
Adventurous and flirty Raja longs for freedom. But since Raja is both an exotic black panther and a rare omega, his traditional clan worries that he’ll fall victim to poaching - or worse. The clan chief issues a decree. If Raja wants to leave the village, he must marry an alpha - one that will protect him.
Frustrated, Raja turns to a shifter dating site. A fake marriage is his ticket to freedom. All he needs is an alpha who will lie for him - one who will pretend to be his mate.
Alpha seeks Happily Ever After.
Alpha dragon Lorenzo didn’t expect much when he put up an online dating profile. He believes love happens naturally and can’t be rushed. But when his younger brother takes a mate before him, Lorenzo begins to doubt if he’ll ever find an omega of his own.
After turning down countless omegas on the site, Lorenzo’s uncertainty deepens. It’s only when an unusual black panther shifter begs him for a fake marriage that Lorenzo first feels a spark of something more.
Lorenzo and Raja both know a real relationship is off the table. But how long can Lorenzo hide his true feelings? And how long can Raja deny what his heart honestly wants?
The Panther’s Pretend Mate is a full-length novel with steamy scenes, a HEA, and no cliffhangers. It is the second book in the Dragons of Cinderhollow series.
Adventurous and flirty Raja longs for freedom. But since Raja is both an exotic black panther and a rare omega, his traditional clan worries that he’ll fall victim to poaching - or worse. The clan chief issues a decree. If Raja wants to leave the village, he must marry an alpha - one that will protect him.
Frustrated, Raja turns to a shifter dating site. A fake marriage is his ticket to freedom. All he needs is an alpha who will lie for him - one who will pretend to be his mate.
Alpha seeks Happily Ever After.
Alpha dragon Lorenzo didn’t expect much when he put up an online dating profile. He believes love happens naturally and can’t be rushed. But when his younger brother takes a mate before him, Lorenzo begins to doubt if he’ll ever find an omega of his own.
After turning down countless omegas on the site, Lorenzo’s uncertainty deepens. It’s only when an unusual black panther shifter begs him for a fake marriage that Lorenzo first feels a spark of something more.
Lorenzo and Raja both know a real relationship is off the table. But how long can Lorenzo hide his true feelings? And how long can Raja deny what his heart honestly wants?
The Panther’s Pretend Mate is a full-length novel with steamy scenes, a HEA, and no cliffhangers. It is the second book in the Dragons of Cinderhollow series.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2018
131 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Hawke Oakley
91 books449 followersHawke is a M/M author who loves the world of MPREG and shifters. In his spare time he enjoys hiking with his dog, hanging out with his boyfriend, and playing video games.
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Send him an email: hawkeoakley@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 2, 2021
I love the story in this book... it is well done and the continued world building is excellent. Overall it is just slightly below the first book so have rated it 4 stars.
August 8, 2018
3.5 Stars
April 14, 2022
Nagyon vártam Lorenzo történetét, mert komolyan megszerettem a sárkány alfát az előző kötetben. Jó volt, de számomra kissé gyengébbre sikeredett, mint Dantéék története.
Lorenzo látva öccse és a párja boldogságát valamint a gyermeküket, rájön, hogy ő is ezt akarja. Azonban sehogy sem találja azt az omegát, akit a magáénak szeretne tudni.
Amikor Dante felveti, hogy talán ki kellene próbálnia az új online randioldalt, először hevesen tiltakozik, de végül csak beregisztrálja magát. Soha nem gondolta volna, hogy így sikerül rátalálnia a párjára.
Raja a fekete párduc omega bármit megtenne, hogy végre ott hagyhassa a szülőfaluját és végre láthassa a világot. Azonban ennek hatalmas akadálya van: mivel Raja ritka fajta alakváltó, nem hogy világot nem láthat, de a falu közvetlen környékét se hagyhatja el. Nem csoda, hogy előbb-utóbb bajba keveredik.
Amikor rájön, hogy az egyetlen módja, hogy megszabaduljon az, ha az egész falu köztük a klán vezetője - az apja - és az anyja is azt hiszi, hogy Raja kötelékre lépett valakivel, úgy dönt, hogy regisztrál a randioldalra.
Lorenzo és Raja az első pillanattól nagyon jól megértik egymást online. Azonban amikor találkoznak kiderül, hogy semmi sem olyan egyszerű: különösen, amikor közbeszól a vágy, a szerelem és az életpár köteléke.
Maga a történet jó volt és szerettem olvasni, azonban Raját nagyon sokszor fel tudtam volna képelni. Végig olyan érzésem volt, hogy Lorenzo sokkal jobb omegát érdemelt volna, noha Raja nem rossz és gonosz, de én nagyon önzőnek tartottam a hozzáállását.
Az viszont pozitívum, hogy több vicces jelenet is volt, amiken nagyon jókat kuncogtam. És nagyon jó volt újra olvasni Dantéról, Gabrielről és a kis Noah-ról.
Lorenzo látva öccse és a párja boldogságát valamint a gyermeküket, rájön, hogy ő is ezt akarja. Azonban sehogy sem találja azt az omegát, akit a magáénak szeretne tudni.
Amikor Dante felveti, hogy talán ki kellene próbálnia az új online randioldalt, először hevesen tiltakozik, de végül csak beregisztrálja magát. Soha nem gondolta volna, hogy így sikerül rátalálnia a párjára.
Raja a fekete párduc omega bármit megtenne, hogy végre ott hagyhassa a szülőfaluját és végre láthassa a világot. Azonban ennek hatalmas akadálya van: mivel Raja ritka fajta alakváltó, nem hogy világot nem láthat, de a falu közvetlen környékét se hagyhatja el. Nem csoda, hogy előbb-utóbb bajba keveredik.
Amikor rájön, hogy az egyetlen módja, hogy megszabaduljon az, ha az egész falu köztük a klán vezetője - az apja - és az anyja is azt hiszi, hogy Raja kötelékre lépett valakivel, úgy dönt, hogy regisztrál a randioldalra.
Lorenzo és Raja az első pillanattól nagyon jól megértik egymást online. Azonban amikor találkoznak kiderül, hogy semmi sem olyan egyszerű: különösen, amikor közbeszól a vágy, a szerelem és az életpár köteléke.
Maga a történet jó volt és szerettem olvasni, azonban Raját nagyon sokszor fel tudtam volna képelni. Végig olyan érzésem volt, hogy Lorenzo sokkal jobb omegát érdemelt volna, noha Raja nem rossz és gonosz, de én nagyon önzőnek tartottam a hozzáállását.
Az viszont pozitívum, hogy több vicces jelenet is volt, amiken nagyon jókat kuncogtam. És nagyon jó volt újra olvasni Dantéról, Gabrielről és a kis Noah-ról.
December 13, 2021
Not nearly as good as the first book...
I had a hard time at first warming up to Raja. As he mentions at the end of the book he's very naive and immature. Which is understandable I suppose since he's never left his little village. But Gabriel was in a similar situation and is almost the same age yet acted way more mature. Also, isn't Raja the cat's name in Disney's Alladin cartoon?
Anyway, by the time I'd finally warmed up to Raja they'd arrived at Cinderhollow and Raja was about a month pregnant. At the end of the first book and the beginning of this book, before Lorenzo even met Raja, Gabriel was pregnant. The author must have somehow forgotten because a second baby isn't mentioned again until the very end of this book when Lorenzo and Raja's baby is around 8 months old it says Gabriel is just showing his second pregnancy. So basically from the point they returned I was just utterly confused and distracted trying to understand what happened to the baby.
Regardless of my confusion, I really like this series and am looking forward to the next book.
I had a hard time at first warming up to Raja. As he mentions at the end of the book he's very naive and immature. Which is understandable I suppose since he's never left his little village. But Gabriel was in a similar situation and is almost the same age yet acted way more mature. Also, isn't Raja the cat's name in Disney's Alladin cartoon?
Anyway, by the time I'd finally warmed up to Raja they'd arrived at Cinderhollow and Raja was about a month pregnant. At the end of the first book and the beginning of this book, before Lorenzo even met Raja, Gabriel was pregnant. The author must have somehow forgotten because a second baby isn't mentioned again until the very end of this book when Lorenzo and Raja's baby is around 8 months old it says Gabriel is just showing his second pregnancy. So basically from the point they returned I was just utterly confused and distracted trying to understand what happened to the baby.
Regardless of my confusion, I really like this series and am looking forward to the next book.
March 9, 2022
2.5 stars
Definitely not a favorite and one I struggled to finish. I don't want to totally rip on the book but there were a few things worth mentioning.
First, Raja is not a very likeable character and that's mainly due to his immaturity which does improve but not until the very end of the book.
Second, there are some inconsistencies that just don't make sense. Raja is supposed to be sheltered within his village but had no issues using a computer and chat shorthand like lol. How was he able to be on the internet anyway? Gabriel is already pregnant with his second child at the beginning of this book. A few months after Charlotte is born, he's still pregnant? How? In the first book his pregnancy was only 5 or 6 months but in this one his apparently going to be pregnant for a year.
Third, I don't like the fact that finding and realizing someone is your fated mate isn't the same for everyone but that's just for me personally and I'm sure that might be a great thing for some readers.
I will keep reading this series and this author.
Definitely not a favorite and one I struggled to finish. I don't want to totally rip on the book but there were a few things worth mentioning.
First, Raja is not a very likeable character and that's mainly due to his immaturity which does improve but not until the very end of the book.
Second, there are some inconsistencies that just don't make sense. Raja is supposed to be sheltered within his village but had no issues using a computer and chat shorthand like lol. How was he able to be on the internet anyway? Gabriel is already pregnant with his second child at the beginning of this book. A few months after Charlotte is born, he's still pregnant? How? In the first book his pregnancy was only 5 or 6 months but in this one his apparently going to be pregnant for a year.
Third, I don't like the fact that finding and realizing someone is your fated mate isn't the same for everyone but that's just for me personally and I'm sure that might be a great thing for some readers.
I will keep reading this series and this author.
August 11, 2018
☺ A JOURNEY TO LOVE❤FAMILY❤FRIENDS❤ and ❤ A HAPPY ENDING ... 💜
📑 THE PANTHER'S PRETEND MATE is the second book of Hawke Oakley's DRAGONS OF CINDERHOLLOW series. This book features Lorenzo and Raja.
🐲🐺 We met Lorenzo in Book 1. 💕He is an alpha hybrid dragon-wolf shifter from Cinderhollow who is wishing to meet his mate, find love, and begin a family of his own.
🐆 Raja is a rare omega black panther shifter from a small village of leopard shifters in a rainforest. 🌍He is searching for an alpha who is willing to be in a fake marriage with him to help him gain freedom from his protective family so he can leave his village and explore the outside world. 📜At the beginning of this story, he is fairly immature, self-centered, and rebellious.
💫💞 This story focuses on Lorenzo & Raja as they begin their journey toward happily ever after...
...........
....🌠....🐉I am hoping Book 3 will be Ryu's story...💓
📑 THE PANTHER'S PRETEND MATE is the second book of Hawke Oakley's DRAGONS OF CINDERHOLLOW series. This book features Lorenzo and Raja.
🐲🐺 We met Lorenzo in Book 1. 💕He is an alpha hybrid dragon-wolf shifter from Cinderhollow who is wishing to meet his mate, find love, and begin a family of his own.
🐆 Raja is a rare omega black panther shifter from a small village of leopard shifters in a rainforest. 🌍He is searching for an alpha who is willing to be in a fake marriage with him to help him gain freedom from his protective family so he can leave his village and explore the outside world. 📜At the beginning of this story, he is fairly immature, self-centered, and rebellious.
💫💞 This story focuses on Lorenzo & Raja as they begin their journey toward happily ever after...
...........
....🌠....🐉I am hoping Book 3 will be Ryu's story...💓
August 3, 2018
Fake Mates to Fated Mates
Raja is the only omega in his leopard clan... And the only black panther. This makes him very rare and in danger of poachers if he left his territory. His parents tell him he may only have the freedom to keave if he has a big strong Alpha mate by his side. So he hatched a plan, goes online and searches for a fake mate.
Lorenzo wants his Happily Ever After. He's jealous of his brother and his mate and the family they are growing. So with his brother's encouragement he goes online to search for his mate.
The two men find each other and decide to take a marriage so Raja can find his freedom.... But what happens when it all starts to feel real and Raja's HEAT makes a surprise appearance on the "fake" honeymoon?
Raja and Lorenzo are fun, sweet and sexy characters and their love story is adorable but hot.
Definitely recommend.
Raja is the only omega in his leopard clan... And the only black panther. This makes him very rare and in danger of poachers if he left his territory. His parents tell him he may only have the freedom to keave if he has a big strong Alpha mate by his side. So he hatched a plan, goes online and searches for a fake mate.
Lorenzo wants his Happily Ever After. He's jealous of his brother and his mate and the family they are growing. So with his brother's encouragement he goes online to search for his mate.
The two men find each other and decide to take a marriage so Raja can find his freedom.... But what happens when it all starts to feel real and Raja's HEAT makes a surprise appearance on the "fake" honeymoon?
Raja and Lorenzo are fun, sweet and sexy characters and their love story is adorable but hot.
Definitely recommend.
June 24, 2021
Fake it until you make it. I liked the exotic settings in this book and how the twenty-year-old rare black Omega Leopard showed a level of immaturity due to his very sheltered life. He wanted the freedom experienced by the Betas and Alphas in his tribe. It was unfair but real danger alert. He was determined to gain his freedom by any means necessary.
This is a funny book from the standpoint of both the Alpha Dragon and the Omega Leopard. There were quite a few laugh-out-loud moments. But there were some poignant times as well. This was a coming-of-age story and a realization that lies really end up hurting both parties the liar and the ones lied to.
Cultural differences led to some misunderstandings. But family love triumphs over all. Having an experienced Omega dad to turn to was helpful.
This is a funny book from the standpoint of both the Alpha Dragon and the Omega Leopard. There were quite a few laugh-out-loud moments. But there were some poignant times as well. This was a coming-of-age story and a realization that lies really end up hurting both parties the liar and the ones lied to.
Cultural differences led to some misunderstandings. But family love triumphs over all. Having an experienced Omega dad to turn to was helpful.
August 7, 2018
Such a fun story! Shifters, magic, poachers, fated mates and so much more! I loved the world-building, shifters in all shapes and forms from dragons, black leopards, wild boar to wolves and more.
i loved how Raja and Lorenzo grow together and learn to love. Raja is so young and he learns to trust his heart. The MC's are very different men, however together they find their HEA.
i love the idea of flying with my dragon mate! Wow!
I was gifted this book from the author and i freely give my review.
i loved how Raja and Lorenzo grow together and learn to love. Raja is so young and he learns to trust his heart. The MC's are very different men, however together they find their HEA.
i love the idea of flying with my dragon mate! Wow!
I was gifted this book from the author and i freely give my review.
January 21, 2021
I like this story but not quite as much as the first one. I felt like Raja was way to immature and a spoiled brat. The first half of the story was pretty good but parts of it toward the end I was not a fan of. I was also confused since the beginning of the story talks about Gabriel and Dante expecting a second child(says he is a few months pregnant) but then it is never mentioned again until the very end when Gabriel talks about being pregnant. That must be the longest pregnancy in history. I am hoping the third story will be better,
May 18, 2024
I didn't like this one as much. I don't think I warmed up to Raja as much as I wanted to. Also, there was some miscommunication going on after the 50% point that made me angry; basically blaming Lorenzo for everything that happened, which irked me. Raja should have apologized sooner, but I guess I'm glad he apologized at all. That being said, there was a bunch to still enjoy about this. I liked seeing other tribes and there was a severe lack of conflict in this one, poachers aside. On to Scar and Ryu's book.
July 20, 2025
La actitud que tuvo Raya con los cazadores furtivod, el chantaje y todo eso, en un principio me pareció súper inverosímil, pero después me puse a pensar que cada cultura es diferente y se toman las cosas diferentes y pude llegar un poco a entenderlo. Algo que me dejó desconcertada es que Raya tuvo a su bebé primero que Gabriel, donde este se embarazó antes, no tiene sentido. En el libro anterior dicen que el embarazo es de 6 meses pero en este libro Gabriel está embarazado como de 10 meses más o menos
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2021
I really didn’t like Raja. At first his recklessness was just about him and I didn’t mind so much. Then he started seriously blurring the lines with Lorenzo who he knows was looking for something serious from his dating app profile. While still insisting that their whole relationship is fake. The kicker was putting his unborn child in serious danger rather than have his (loving, but overprotective) family find out that the relationship was fake.
August 9, 2018
Raja wishes to escape his over-protective parents and thinks the only way he can do this is to find a fake mate. He goes on a dating website and this is how he meets Lorenzo.
Lorenzo is looking for his happy ever after and when he sees Raja's profile he thinks Raja may be the one.
This is a neat romantic MPreg story which is easy to read and has a great storyline.
Lorenzo is looking for his happy ever after and when he sees Raja's profile he thinks Raja may be the one.
This is a neat romantic MPreg story which is easy to read and has a great storyline.
August 30, 2018
Excellent writing
I really enjoyed this story line it brought two shifters together who started out their relationship to fool everyone into thinking their marriage was real. I love the Cinderhollow dragons and shape shifters. The variety of babies due to their second form since their parents are two different types of shifter is a really great concept from the usual.
I really enjoyed this story line it brought two shifters together who started out their relationship to fool everyone into thinking their marriage was real. I love the Cinderhollow dragons and shape shifters. The variety of babies due to their second form since their parents are two different types of shifter is a really great concept from the usual.
August 8, 2023
Nope, I didn't care for Raja at all. I effectively DNF'd, but technically skimmed a few paragraphs in the last few chapters just to see if anything interesting actually happened. (It didn't.)
I am interested in Ryu and Scar's story, so despite my disappointment with this one. I'm going to give the next a try 🤞
I am interested in Ryu and Scar's story, so despite my disappointment with this one. I'm going to give the next a try 🤞
October 23, 2024
Ok, so these aren't deep, overly complicated stories--more like fanfic-- but the storylines are usually cute and I enjoy them. However, this one wasn't well thought out. Gabe was pregnant at the end of the last book, yet somehow, in this book, Raj got pregnant and gave birth, and Gabe still hasn't delivered by the end lol This story wasn't my fav.
August 20, 2018
A fun book to read
I was excited to see book 2 of this series out and I am so glad it was Lorenzo story. Raja was pretty spoiled in the beginning and I can't say I liked him. During the book he grows into a great young man. S good book. Can't wait for number 3.
I was excited to see book 2 of this series out and I am so glad it was Lorenzo story. Raja was pretty spoiled in the beginning and I can't say I liked him. During the book he grows into a great young man. S good book. Can't wait for number 3.
May 12, 2019
Good book
This was the second in the series, and was a good read. Raja was so naive and self centered on the beginning. But he changed and grew ....matured into someone that I didn't see coming. This was a good book and I can't wait for the next in the series.
This was the second in the series, and was a good read. Raja was so naive and self centered on the beginning. But he changed and grew ....matured into someone that I didn't see coming. This was a good book and I can't wait for the next in the series.
December 4, 2019
Be careful what lies you tell. They might just come true.
This was a good story. What starts out as a lie turns to bite Raja and Lorenzo right in the ass. As life and lie soon become a reality neither of them saw coming.
This was a good story. What starts out as a lie turns to bite Raja and Lorenzo right in the ass. As life and lie soon become a reality neither of them saw coming.
June 21, 2023
Fake or not fake boyfriend
Book 2 in this series is just as amazing as book 1. A prince who’s lead a sheltered life all his life. A dragon who aches for his fated mate. Add in a dating app, you get a fake boyfriend, a fake wedding and not so fake love. HEA is so perfect.
Book 2 in this series is just as amazing as book 1. A prince who’s lead a sheltered life all his life. A dragon who aches for his fated mate. Add in a dating app, you get a fake boyfriend, a fake wedding and not so fake love. HEA is so perfect.
August 13, 2018
this was adorably sweet.. with a bit of angst thrown into it.. it was amazing.. it was sweet. it was sexy and it was all around a fun story to read :)
August 21, 2018
Cute little story.
September 8, 2018
The Panther's Pretend Mate
Raja was such a diva. So annoying for wanting everything his way, although he made the perfect mate for Lorenzo. I enjoyed reading this book.
Raja was such a diva. So annoying for wanting everything his way, although he made the perfect mate for Lorenzo. I enjoyed reading this book.
September 8, 2018
Loved it
I've read a lot of shifter books but this one was so much fun and so loving to read. One of the best shifter books I've ever read
I've read a lot of shifter books but this one was so much fun and so loving to read. One of the best shifter books I've ever read
May 19, 2019
Great
Loved the book. Loving the series. It’s a HEA shifter story with all kinds of creatures in it. A great read
Loved the book. Loving the series. It’s a HEA shifter story with all kinds of creatures in it. A great read
June 17, 2020
Loved it
Great build of romance and i love how you could feel their emotions. Overall great Plot & loved all the characters
Great build of romance and i love how you could feel their emotions. Overall great Plot & loved all the characters
September 29, 2020
Definitely better than the 1st book. Eventhough Raja was a bit reckless but Lorenzo was a good match for him and he was a family man, I loved that about Lorenzo.
April 16, 2022
Nice addition
This fake marriage story was a nice addition to the Dragons of Cinderhollow series. I'm looking forward to read more.
This fake marriage story was a nice addition to the Dragons of Cinderhollow series. I'm looking forward to read more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews