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Forbidden Shifters #2

A Mate For Raphael

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He wants her...but his biggest secret stands in their way

Raphael Durant has a problem. All he wants is to get to know a woman in a real way… a relationship. But he holds a big secret that means he can’t actually let any woman know him. He’s a wolf shifter in a world where all shifters are required by law to be registered, monitored, and housed in government funded camps. He and his brothers have been keeping their secret and living outside the law for their entire lives. It never bothered him much until he watched his twin brother Seth fall in love with a woman who accepted him, shifter secret and all, and now loneliness has started to eat away at Raphael. His only problem, telling a woman his secret means telling his brothers’ secret as well, something he’d never do.

Natalie Chalk has been best friends with Raphael since elementary school and it hurts her to see him so lonely. When she gets unceremoniously dumped by someone she bet the farm on, Nat finds herself just as lonely as Raphael is. One weird night, the same idea occurs to both of them. What if they could be less lonely… together? They initiate a friends-with-benefits plan to assuage their horny/lonesome feelings with one another, but neither could have predicted what would have come next.

This is the second book in the "Forbidden Shifters" Series, but can also be read as a standalone. No cliffhangers. This full-length paranormal romance 80k word story contains strong sexual themes/language and is not intended for readers under the age of 18. FREE on Kindle unlimited

READ ALL OF SELENA SCOTTS' BOOKS?

The Dragon Realm
1 - Chosen by the Dragon
2 - The Dragon's Touch
3 - Dragon's Desire
4 - Dragon's Passion

Secret Shifters of Spokane
1 - Danil's Mate
2 - Emin's Mate
3 - Maxim's Mate
4 - Anton's Mate

Shifter Fever
1 - Ansel's Game
2 - Alec's Game
3 - Matt's Game
4 - Kain's Game
4 - Griff's Game

Shifters of the Seventh Moon
1 - The Shifter's Shadow
2 - The Shifter's Embrace
3 - The Shifter's Seduction
4 - The Shifter's Desire

Forbidden Shifters
1 - A Mate for Seth
2 - A Mate for Raphael

285 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 19, 2018

215 people are currently reading
131 people want to read

About the author

Selena Scott

41 books161 followers

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5 stars
326 (42%)
4 stars
238 (31%)
3 stars
171 (22%)
2 stars
23 (3%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
3,703 reviews330 followers
April 8, 2023
4.4 stars.

That’s a friends to lovers done well.

Sigh.

——

“A Natalie Moment. That’s what I call it in my head when I realize that the friend I’ve always loved and the woman I’m so fucking turned on for are the same person.”

——

Raph has been a player. A serial monogamist. He wants love but doesn’t believe he can have it because he’s hiding the secret of who he is. But I wasn’t a fan of the beginning and how much sex rules his life and that he’s just about having sex with women he doesn’t know. It’s explained somewhat because he realizes he needs to find someone to trust before he has sex now. And he turns to Natalie…

Natalie and he have been friends since 2nd grade and there’s no long-term pining here. Neither of them felt anything romantic. But she was just dumped and he “needs” sex while he’s trying to find a long term relationship.

I definitely felt like they were both idiots as they made their bargain to be friends with benefits. But, at the same time, I loved their honesty with each other and how they treasured each other. They had a deep emotional and physical connection before they started having sex. And then. Wham! They had sex and it became romance quickly. But there was still a lot of fear and they held off talking to each other about their growing feelings longer than I would have liked.

But… I loved this book. I love that we get to see views into other romances brewing for the older brother and for the mom. Tho they both act like total idiots too.

Super enjoyable and highly recommend.

The heroine hangs out with her ex(not really)boyfriend and he tries to get with her again. But other than the pre-heroine OW, there is no OW drama.
Profile Image for Sherry Koch.
483 reviews14 followers
December 20, 2018
Since Seth, Raphael’s twin brother, found his mate, Raphael starts to wonder if it’s possible for him to find that kind of love too. He decides to change his ways and try to find a woman that he can share his secret with. Little did he know the woman he’s searching for has been right under his nose since he was a child. Natalie has been best friends with Raphael since they were kids, she knows his family’s secret and considers them to be her family. Natalie has been having a rough go at the dating scene, especially after pining for a man for some time without him returning her feelings. She agrees to help Raphael find a wife. She’s just as surprised as Raphael at the outcome of their search.
I love these characters, I love that the other members of the family get chapters in the book, it really helps to get into the relations between the characters. I am really looking forward to the next books.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Olivia Clark.
303 reviews11 followers
June 21, 2023
I really liked the first book but I adore Raph and Nat! 😍

I found their story absolutely adorable and so romantic. I don’t read a lot of friends to lover stories, but maybe I need to after how precious I found this one!

We also get some looks into Bauer and Elizabeth & Jackson and Kaya. The later is the next book and I’m stoked for their story!

It was also very satisfying that we got to see Sarah and Seth’s wedding. I loved see part of their story continue on in this book. Hoping for a Raph/Nat wedding in the next!
Profile Image for Rachael.
612 reviews6 followers
October 12, 2022
Was good with laugh out loud moments.
The ending finished unsatisfactorily though.. cops show up and there's a naked man.. how are they not getting investigated?
Profile Image for Sara.
492 reviews
October 9, 2021
A Mate for Raphael, the second book in the Forbidden Shifters series, is absolutely amazing. I loved every second of it. It's brilliantly written, perfectly plotted, and engaging friends to lovers of paranormal romance. This time around, the story centers around Raphael, Seth's twin brother, finding his mate. Raphael is losing hope in finding a woman whom he can love, confide in and be his true nature without being rejected. Natalie, his childhood best friend, who is already aware of the brothers' secrets, decides to help him find a mate. I love how their story played out, their relationship, and the shock of finding out how deep their connection goes. Their journey is one of growth, friendship, passion, desire, and ultimately love.

The elements of suspense, the threat of the hunters, anti-shifters, and shifter discrimination looming over their heads were perfectly blended in with the romance component. I'm super excited and eagerly anticipating the third book in the series, Jackson and Kaya's story.

Another stellar performance by Craig A. Hart. As always. he did an outstanding job with the characters' personalities, emotions, and chemistry. He always brings Selena Scott's words to life. A Mate for Raphael is a highly enjoyable wolf shifter paranormal romance. It's very well-written with excellent narration, and I'm definitely recommending this audiobook.
Profile Image for Lydia.
1,124 reviews
October 26, 2023
Mythed at the time line; it was stated that Jackson attacking the girls was about a year ago (ok, fine but that is a rather big time jump for a series like this), then we hear about Bauwer (sp?) and his tenderness towards the boys over the years (YEARS not just one, which would be the correct amount of time since he was with them about a month and a half, MAYBE 2 months before the end of the book). So this will be interesting going forward

I don't understand why she is continuing to see Paul and hang out and talk and maybe even pursue something with him, at this point (prob half way through story) she needs to just get over it an move on

I will say I enjoyed this one more than the first, I liked Raf and Nat together, they were more fun that the two before them and I know they are more fun than the two that come next. And I like hearing about how they are learing to control their shift

Again the ending is very abrupt and the story didn't feel complete. And since this started a year after the end of the first one, there are still loose ties that have not been resolved with the first that I feel will never be, like Sarah's father. And now with this hunting group, which again setting this a YEAR later, and they were all worried about the hunters at the end of the first book, not a year has passed, it really makes that story line loose some of its urgency and makes the hunters seam not so big of a deal.
3,744 reviews43 followers
December 21, 2018
🐺Best friends find more than comfort in each other's arms😘
December 19, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
👍4.5🌟stars
❤🐺🔥A good shifter romance with several pairings in play, steamy encounters and a vigilante anti-shifter on the prowl. The main romance pairs Raphael and Natalie, two bosom buddies who concoct a plan to use each other to mutual benefit, while looking for long-term partners, with unexpected results. In this world author Selena Scott has created, known shifters are rounded up and kept in detention camps if not killed by vigilantes. The Durant brothers have kept their true wolf shifter nature hidden to all but their closest social circle to avoid persecution. I thought the writing was good, the main characters (Durant family and close friends), interesting, the plot engaging with some twists I did not see coming as the anti-shifter activists close in. A couple of the intimate encounters were a bit drawn out for my taste, but that aside, I truly enjoyed the story.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
248 reviews
July 26, 2022
When Rafe's twin brother, Seth, finds the love of his life, Rafe decides it's time to get serious about finding love of his own. When he talks to his best friend, Natalie, who has recently been spurned by the guy she is interested in, they decide to become best friends who have casual sex but NO romantic feelings while they each search for their forevers.

I loved this book! I am so glad that I decided to keep reading the series even though I didn't love the first book. I felt like Natalie and Rafe's characters were so much more developed than Seth and Sarah were during their book, allowing me to better connect with them both. I'm a sucker for the best friends to lovers trope, but this book did a fantastic job exploring the intricacies of the dynamic shift when best friends start having sex. I also loved how funny Rafe's character was and how well he and Natalie complimented each other. This book felt so much less rushed than the first and I can't wait to read Jackson's story next!!

Definitely worth reading!!
1,203 reviews8 followers
September 9, 2019
What a brilliant book

Omg what brilliant second book to the series Raph a man know for loving and leaving is stuck what to do as his latest woman has kicked him to the curb for him not telling her anything about his life and the family in it. Natalie has had a crush on Paul for ages he asked her out what she thought was a romantic meal to tell her that he only wanted to be friends and there was no spark she went to Raph as always as he was her best friend through their conversations they came with friends but benefits neither of them was prepared for the feelings this would stir in them. Only after a bad night when a hunter was deliberately making it look as though an animal had been mauled by a wolf and they had decided to leave did they admit their feelings to each other. Raph then decided he wasn’t going to run but fight for what he wanted.
Profile Image for Harlequin Madness.
861 reviews22 followers
August 18, 2020
I really like how Selena Scott has woven all the characters throughout all the books in this series. At least so far. I would definitely recommend that these books be read in order. Seth and Sarah are included in this book, as well as some scenes featuring Jackson and Kaya - who will be featured in the next book. All of these stories are told against the backdrop of an anti-shifter group that is trying to track down unregistered shifters.

Being a bit of a misanthrope myself, I can completely believe, if shifters were real, that a lot of people would want to round them up, put them into camps and/or let them be tortured and experimented on in labs. So it’s definitely a believable storyline. We don yet know how all that will play out, as it’s a common thread/enemy throughout the series. Can’t wait to get the next installment!
Profile Image for Vampire Eater.
175 reviews
October 21, 2024
Better than the first. Predictable but Really cute friends to lovers. But the ending left some big questions and could have been handled better. I’m dropping it a star for how poorly that last bit was executed. (More mild spoiler info on that below)

3.8⭐️- ending nonsense.

🚨Mild spoilers past this point🚨


Ok so I’m glad they got the police involved but that should have been done immediately! I was thinking this thing they found is illegal and trespassing, they DIDN’T need to be so involved. Have the cops waiting. Show the trap and sensor. Dead give away. That was stupid and risky how they involved they were. And how do you explain the naked man to the cops!!!??? Hello? Anyone?? Suspicious much??

Profile Image for Patricia Hoffstaetter.
3,160 reviews40 followers
December 21, 2018
I will admit that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this wolf shifter romance. The plot is intriguing & well-written with some suspense. The characters are unique with distinctive, individual personalities.
There is: wolf shifters, human females, a hunter, intrigue, suspense, twists & turns, some humor, danger, enemies, friendship, memories, attractions, disagreements, anger, dreams, longings, emotional turmoil, tension, confusion, verbal banter, jealousy, curiosity, disappointments, devious plans, decisions, heartache, entrapment, threats, injuries, law enforcement, mates, contentment, love, some steam & a satisfying ending.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading this genre.
Profile Image for Jannie Cv.
1,082 reviews29 followers
December 19, 2018
Another fine ‘Forbidden Shifters’ tale!
This is such a wonderful story! Each time I read another by this author, I think “Oh, this couple is the best yet.” Then a new story comes along... It’s not like they’re carbon copies either. Each person shows his or her unique personality, and even the way the couples blend together is different. Of course, that’s how people are, but sometimes storytellers can get into a bit of a rut. I admire the author’s ability to keep her writing fresh, different, exciting, and deeply romantic.
Profile Image for Anja.
1,261 reviews8 followers
January 27, 2019
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. That's actually a very nice story of best friends for over two decades becoming something more. All under the danger of the "shifter-situation" still out in the open and no real savety for their well-beeing... Raph and Nat are just incredible. The pace of the story is very good as well. It's the first book though you get to read about other couplings - or soon to be couplings - and that just makes you wonder whether Jackson's going to get his HEA...
Profile Image for Teresa .
1,908 reviews3 followers
June 20, 2021
Raphael and Nat

This is a sweet love storyline but for me I found it hard that they did not love love each other for 20 years, yes they always had a close bond but not sexual each talked to the other about one night stands etc.but then now they do it was sweet and it was clear in other books it was going to be this storyline for them with the hints but still very odd and kind of sweet.this book follows the family storyline also with hiding what they are so need to make sure you read book one first.
3,186 reviews47 followers
December 30, 2021
Craig A. Hart narration is perfect for this brilliant book. Making the listening experience a joy.


Raphael is a wolf shifter and the only person who knows is Natalie . They have been friends for years .
Even with his secret, he plays the field and has many girlfriends .
Raphael and Natalie are drawn together . Natalie will keep Raphael's secret has being a shifter is illegal and will be taken away to camps and used for research.
I loved the strength and loyalty of these two. A great sexy and full of action story.
Profile Image for Amanda Marlowe.
2,434 reviews25 followers
January 9, 2019
Raphael is a wolf shifter, Natalie has known him for years. He has had loads of girlfriends but hasn’t found anyone to share his secret with.
Natalie and he get together, but in secret.
But being a shifter is illegal, or at least if one is found it’s taken away for research.
Someone has found out details of the wolves and is determined to end them.
It’s a great read, and hopefully there will be another one with Jackson and Kaya.

Profile Image for Leslie Sanchez.
1,774 reviews2 followers
January 16, 2019
These two cracked me up. They were like an old married couple before they thought about dating. They were so funny. These guys are great, different but great. I like how Mom's life outside of her sons is sparking back to life. I can't wait for Jackson's story. I requested an advanced reader copy and am under no obligation to leave this review.
21 reviews
Read
November 29, 2021
Can't wait to read the next one

Great book, great page turner ...
Following nicely from book one, all the family are together, next romance is somewhat predictable, but has you rooting for the characters. Twists to the plot aplenty, some steamy sex scenes but overall a great story . Can't wait to read the next book and the sequel continuing the brothers romances
Profile Image for Elisa  Castro .
2,611 reviews2 followers
December 29, 2021
A Mate For Raphael is book two in the series by author Selena Scott. This one is eye opening- imagine everything you ever wanted is right there and has always been right there. Best friend - can finish your sentences- knows what your thinking and even loves everything about you. Yep HEA never felt so good.
Enjoy!!
4,497 reviews24 followers
December 19, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book 📚, it has a good storyline. The chemistry between Natalie and Raphael is wonderful. I can't wait for more from this author. I received this book as a FREE ARC copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.
805 reviews2 followers
January 3, 2019
One in danger because of one’s hatred of others differences!

I found this story very well written and still can’t believe that even today bias and hatred still exists! And it shows that even writers are in tune to it!
Profile Image for Christie Kennedy.
146 reviews1 follower
January 4, 2019
Cake and ice cream too❤

Nat and raph are best friends. Until they decide to take it to another level and learn that they will be together forever in every sense of the word
.I loved this book and cant wait for the next one!
Profile Image for Catriona Bain.
293 reviews1 follower
January 14, 2019
I recieved this book as an ARC and voluntarily left this review of the book.
This is another great instalment to this series, I would recommend it to anyone especially those who like paranormal romances. I can't wait for the next book.
Profile Image for Gale Albright.
2,938 reviews19 followers
January 29, 2019
I just loved Raphael in book one so getting his story next was awesome. I loved the interaction between the H/h and all the years of friendship only added to the story. The loyalty and love...sigh. I am looking forward to starting book three immediately.
Profile Image for Natalie.
4,806 reviews13 followers
February 3, 2019
A Mate For Raphael

I was hoping they would have caught the Hunter and doled out shifter justice. I never figured he would be his g the traps to frame shifters. I'm dying to see if Jackson gets Kaya.
Profile Image for Joetta Spurling.
Author 2 books7 followers
October 15, 2019
It's Raphael's turn!

A mate for Raphael: Forbidden shifters book 2
By Selena Scott
Kindle unlimited purchase
Raphael and Natalie have the best idea FWB that's what they want. They say it will NOT hurt their friendship. This is book 2 in this series. I've fallen in love with this family. Look forward to reading the next book in the set. This is a great book about a great family.
1,889 reviews5 followers
December 27, 2020
Slow to warm

First part was a bit too much. Especially the Stapler guy bit.
Would have been fine to leave him out. As well as her sisters love interest. Could have saved it for next book.
Enjoyed the book once they hooked up. Think they make great couple
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews

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