Touching Fate

A Collection of Strays #2

by Toby Wise

Meeting my true mate is supposed to be the best day of my life, but when I step in front of Elwood’s door, expecting to jump into my alpha’s arms and live happily ever after, I am sorely disappointed. I have no idea why my mate doesn’t want me but I’m determined to keep him in my life, even if it’s just as my friend. How long can I take keeping my alpha at arm’s length before it breaks me? ~Frankie

What is it about the adorable red-headed boy that draws me in and has my dragon wanting? I can’t help but realize Frankie is everything I’ve ever wanted in a mate. Everyday it gets harder to remember I’m supposed to be holding back my feelings because we’re only friends. When we do finally touch, I know it’ll be explosive and change both of our lives forever. ~Elwood

This 35k novella, which is book two in A Collection of Strays, is guaranteed to give you the mpreg, shifters, and happily ever after you love. Touching Fate is filled with knotty fun, shiny eggs, friends to lovers, true mates, and laugh out loud shenanigans and is intended for those 18 or over.

Genres: M M Romance, Omegaverse, Shapeshifters, Friends To Lovers, Paranormal, Fantasy, Dragons

145 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 12, 2019

About the author

Toby Wise is a stay at home parent who hails from a tiny town in Wisconsin. Contrary to popular Wisconsin stereotypes, he’s not a cheese-head who enjoys beer but rather an introvert who spends all his time on the internet, drinking coffee, spending time with his kid, and cooing about his adorable cat, Pikachu.

In April of 2019, A Collection of Strays was born after the world of fanfiction drew him back into his love of writing. Now he’s writing all things omegaverse as long as it includes silly moments and found family.

Reviews

[Len Evans Jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I rated this the same number of stars as book one, this one was definitely a notch about that book. Just not enough to get 5 stars. I really loved this book and it was totally because of the two MCs. Elwood and Frankie are adorableness personified (yeah I know Elwood would likely flame me for calling him that) but needless to say that the moment I read that he wore glasses and why I was all soft for him. He and Frankie was so sweet together and not only had me crying more than a few times, they made me giggle a bit as well. I am really looking forward to seeing how Isaiah's love story goes next!

[Barbara➰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet and low angst mate story. It was a little different take on how dragons recognize their mates. It was also a definite improvement writing wise from book one.

[Angi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
The second book in this series was super cute and fluffy once again. This time we get to see Elwood finding his mate.
There was a lot of fluff in this but also many good moments to laugh about.
I like Frankie so damn much. His cute way of cussing was freakin adorable.
Besides that it was again great to get to meet all the other characters again. I love this found family so much.
Elwood and Frankie were very cute together.
However overall I have to admit that I didn’t love this book as much as the first one.
While I do love books without much drama this one felt a little boring.
For example there was this thing with Jeff which has been blown up but in the end was quite a let down.
I still liked this book and I am looking forward to the next book.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc provided courtesy of LesCourt
All reviews are voluntary and my honest opinion.

Frankie, a cute fox shifter, smells his mate, Elwood the day he moves into his new campus dorm. Unfortunately, when he goes to check it out, Elwood thinks Frankie is looking for his twin brother. Is there a reason dragon shifters are so oblivious?

Cute hoarding habits, oblivious mates, one visually impared dragon, one nest building fox, and a cute hea, make this novella a winning combo for any shifter fan. I was particularly fond of Frankie.

[Rellim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: There’s a box set of the complete series. KU.

Book 2 in Toby Wise’s A Collection of Strays series. While each book covers a different couple’s relationship – there’s comments, events, etc that make these best enjoyed in order starting with Before Fate.

I admit Elwood and his twin, Rhett, were my immediate favorites in book 1, Ageless Fate. I loved the introduction of Frankie – Frankie the fox! How cute is that? Friends-to-mates-to-lovers was a fun way to get to know these two better and as a couple. They’re both so sweet and once they finally get on the same page about being mates, so much fun. Especially Frankie’s alternate swear words. As always the interactions with the rest of the pack are a riot.

Enjoying these quick reads and looking forward to jumping right into Isaiah’s story, Fate’s Perfect Timing.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touching Fate is the second story in the Collection of Strays series - a series that so far is following the adoptive and collective family between Charlie and Dakota, the two MCs from the first story.

I enjoyed this story more than the first one, I was so happy to feel like there was improvement between the first and second story in the writing, the pace, and worldbuilding. I love that this deals with a variety of shifters and also representations. I especially can't wait for our unicorn to get their story!

This story is between Frankie, a young fox, and Elwood, an immortal dragon, who meet while at college. Why an immortal 200+ year old dragon is at college is anyone's guess, but it made for an enjoyable story. I love that Frankie and Elwood became friends before both being able to acknowledge that they are mates, it made for a sweet reveal.

Looking forward to more in this series. Although this could stand alone, I'd recommend reading the first book first, as we meet all of these characters in that story.

I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Cee Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`The 🦊 and the 🐉★*´¨✫*

Before reading this book, I invite you to break out the first two books in this series A Collection of Strays Prequel: Before Fate and A Collection of Strays Book One: Ageless Fate to better understand the characters the author has brought to life.

I absolutely loved omega Frankie, the red headed, tall, non cursing man who had me laughing with all his words.
"What the french toast."
"what the shitzu is going on with me?"
"Fudge muffins."
"Oh Mylanta."
He had so many euphemisms that a book could be written...wait, it was. The fox shifter realised that his mate did not recognise him, but he was ready to befriend him in order to stay close.

Elwood was a very old dragon shifter. After his adopted father had found his mate, the family were on high alert that any one could be next. After suffering a fate years prior that almost caused him his eye and his life, Elwood was happy to find his forever.

A good tale was written of going from strangers to friends to lovers. Building a family and understanding each others culture.

I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author through LesCourt.

[caroline wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book by the author and This is my honest opinion.
Book 2 in this series and one I was looking forward to. Elwood the Dragon and Frankie the fox. Case of mis-indentity at first, unaware of being his fated mate and a slow burn from friends to lovers.
I really liked that this was totally different from book one and was not Insta love wam bang Thank you sir but one where they slowly devolved from friends to in a relationship. The concept of different species being able to tell fated mates by different senses was good. What hasn't changed is this authors way of building up a really good band of family which touches your heart and the comadarie between them. Chuckled quite a bit from this book and liked that these characters personalities came shining through. This is a sweet really heartening book but had a bit of angst from within Elwood and his brothers past.
Elwood and his pretties😍 really made me laugh, and Frankie sardonic humour about it💎
Just a good interesting concept that involved dragons and how it adapted to freddie. Funny and sweet.

[P-san~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it! I loved the scene where the little dragon babies were born. I liked learning more about how this couple would work during the years ahead too.
I must say I can't wait to read the book about Cameron and Rhett.

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is such an adorably sweet story... good mates.. good angst while trying to become mates.. good love.. and so much fun to read. i loved it and i cannot wait for more of this series.

[Hannah Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved Elwood & Frankie!!

The story picks up right where book 1 finishes, I love the differences in the different types of shifters.

We get to see all the characters from book 1, loved seeing Dakota & Charlie with their growing family.

Can’t wait for more 😍

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

ReRead: Still adored Frankie & Elwood 🥰

[I received a digital arc for an honest review]

Touching Fate is the second book in Toby Wise's A Collection of Strays series. Each book is filled with shifters, mates, mpreg and happily ever afters. I enjoyed this one way more than the first book in the series. I had been dying for it ever since the sneak peek at the end of the first book.

Touching Fate tells the story of Frankie and Elwood. A fox and a dragon, I mean could there be a better shifter pairing. I think not ! Foxes are the absolute cutest and dragons are bad ass. Frankie was adorable and my heart hurt for him when Elwood didn't discover their mating bond at the same time as him. When they finally do get together after building a friendship first their passion is perfect.

"Now that I have permission to touch and kiss him I don't think I'll ever be able to stop."

I think the fact that the main characters if the stray family had already been introduced and explained in the first book helped this book greatly. I know these characters so their behaviors were expected and I anticipated their quirkiness. I was invested from page one and couldn't get enough of Frankie and Elwood's journey. My only complaint was that I wish it was longer. I liked the slow growth of their friendship but then once they acknowledge the mating bond they legit go from friends to lovers to parents in the span of a day.

Touching Fate was fun, fluffy, sweet and sexy which is exactly what I wanted from the book. I'm looking forward to the next book when our unique unicorn shifter gets to find the mate they have been waiting for.

[wordsandblankspaces · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok read, needs editing

Definitely needs some editing. The characters were enjoyable. I'm a little confused about how everything in this world works. In the first book, Dakota went into heat after meeting Charlie and it didn't seem to end until he was pregnant. Frankie did not go into heat immediately after scenting that Elwood was his mate and he got pregnant outside of his heat. Is it just different because that's the way the author wanted these stories to go or is there an actual reason for it? I wanted to like this more than I did. I am unsure about continuing the series.

[❤Sharonica-Logic❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

💖Family is MORE Than Blood!💖


A Prequel was available for FREE download with the ARC, so I read that first. It gives a little background on each of the fosters. I think it adds to the overall story of both books so far and recommend it. I am writing this with the assumption that it will be offered with the book's release. 💕


Touching Fate is about the Dragon 🐉shifter twin, Elwood and his journey in finding, befriending, and falling for his fated-one, Frankie, a fox shifter.

The two don't hit it off at first. However, nothing good comes easy or free. So, with time, patience and a little help here and there from pushy and nosy siblings backing each brother, Elwood and Frankie become friends.

Even though the two are fated, it is nice to see the relationship grow from real feelings and not just because Fate deemed it so. The friends to lovers trope Toby Wise creates here wrapped around me like my favorite blanket. It was nice, and warm, with characters that made me smile, and my heart felt a part of the family. Through both the struggles and the victories.

I was charmed by Toby's first book a couple months ago, and he has made me a real fan with this one. I love his writing style and the believability he lends to his shifter world. The Story of the Burke Pack isn't so much about each shifter as it is about each person as a whole. They come into this misfit family broken from the world, and the love and acceptance they find is something we need more of in this life.

Thank you for the tiny reminders, Toby! You have a fan in me! I look forward to reading about the amazing Isaiah. They bring me such joy, and unicorns just happen to be some of my most favorite people. 💕🌈💕

4 family-is-more-than-blood-stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟


I received a free copy of this book via LesCourt and am voluntarily leaving a review.💋

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet, romantic novella. I was intrigued by Elwood and Rhett in book one, so I was thrilled when Elwood's story came out.

Frankie and Elwood don't get off on the right foot. Apparently, different shifter species don't know enough about each other to avoid misunderstandings and hurt feelings.

Frankie is a fox, with the ability to scent his mate like many other shifters. However, Elwood is a dragon, and they only recognize their mate through touch. When Frankie sniffs Elwood out, Elwood assumes he is looking for Rhett, and dismisses him out of hand.

However, Lady Fate will not be ignored, and they both find ways to be around each other. Our MCs get to know each other as friends before mating, and my favorite part of the love story is WHEN Elwood tells Frankie he loves him.

I have to admit that I haven't read an extensive amount of dragon shifter mpreg romance, but I thought the author was creative and did a great job with the pregnancy, delivery, and the birth.

The past catches up with Elwood, but not in the way I expected. In fact, I won't be terribly surprised to see more of this character in future installments.

The family of strays has grown larger, and at least for our MCs, we have a HFN, if not a HEA. I hate committing myself in the middle of a series.

Happy reading!

* I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving my honest review. *

[Claudia Lezár · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5*

PLEASE READ MY RATING SYSTEM!!!

To my ratings:

5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow-
Away-book like
‘Jesse's Smile' or ‚Joey’ from Angelique Jurd,
‘Save the at he kids' series from EM Leya,
‘Love’s Tethered Heart’ from C.L. Etta or
'Liberty' from Seth King),
it's like an A+

4* - very good and will be often reread and is a
WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises
(like most of Andrew Grey’s books)
it's like an A

3,5* - a really good book, which will be reread a few
times a year (most romances where you can
enjoy for relaxing and during waiting times in
hospitals). I can recommend them definitively!
It's like an B+

3* - it could be more then a one-time-reader,
maybe 2-3 times a year. It’s like a B

2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time-
reader (i wouldn't recommend it heartily, but
it was ok). It's like a C-, D

1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (too
many mistakes, not nice plot, illogical, so an
absolut NO-GO). It's like failure in the whole
line, dismissed, repeat the class

[Julianne Macneil · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this book as part of an arc program. This is the second book of the A Collection of Strays series. In this book, dragon shifter Elwood meets fox shifter Frankie at college when Frankie moves into their dorm. Frankie moves into the dorm and smells his mate right away. He goes and knocks at the door and meets Elwood, his mate, but Elwood doesn't recognize Frankie as his mate. Elwood thinks Frankie is a former hook up of his twin brother Rhett. Dragon shifters don't recognize their mates from smell like other shifters, they use touch. When Frankie thinks Elwood rejected him, he settles for being friends. Elwood is attracted to Frankie, but thinks Frankie is only interested in being friends. They grow close, but it only as friends. When Elwood invited Frankie to go to his brother's graduation and meet the rest of his family, Frankie falls in love with them all and wishes they were his family too. I love this series. This was a sweet story about friends. Elwood was sweet and he really liked Frankie, but he never touched him to realize they were mates. Frankie loved Elwood and thought he would only ever be friends with him. This series makes me laugh and i think Elwood family are great. I can't wait for the next book.

[Xanthe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful series this is turning into! So enjoyable to read with a great family of characters and an engaging plot line for the MC's to go through to reach their HEA.
This book focuses on Elwood, dragon son of Dakota (book 1), and Frankie, a fox shifter transfer to the university and now living a couple doors down from his fated mate. Unfortunately dragons don't have the sense of smell that others do so their beginning doesn't get off to the best of starts but what develops between them I think leads to an even stronger bond and relationship. Frankie is just adorable with his replacement curse words, all child friendly as he's training to be a teacher and he's such a kind and loving omega. Elwood is the quieter twin and is happy working his way through college but becomes enamoured by Frankie.
The whole family have such a fun and loving feel to them, so supportive but bicker just like we all do. There's support, friendship, romance, love and care throughout the whole book and it's a fairly quick read that has all the feels. I'm so looking forward to the next story that Toby has for us in this series.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[Jozey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains friend to lovers trope. We discover Elwood and Frankie.

Their relationship starts off on the wrong foot being given to a confusion. Frankie thinks Elwood has rejected him, but decides to become his friend. Better to have him in your life than not at all.

Follow the story, where they question their feelings, and the risk to take to take the leap to confess his feelings towards the other, the courage.

We also discover another delicate subject in relation to the interracial life between shifters and the heartbreaking decisions they have to make, decisions that are not found in other shifter books, really unique to this author, it broke my heart a little. Never seen something like this before.

We also discover Jeff, a strange, terrifying being, who put all my senses on alert.

This book contains: bestfriend to lovers, shifters, heat, knot, fate mate, mpreg, nesting, eggs...

Contains also a delicate, sweet, fluffy and romantic couple, full of emotions, hope, a funny writing style that makes us laugh, an overflowing imagination for all these swears and of course a hea.

[els✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

- an MM shifter romance! omegaverse, dragon x fox shifter, fated mates, instalove, college romance, surprise pregnancy!
- Elwood!!! that was so horrible and rude, i was ROOTING FOR YOU
- no one hurts my lil fox 😤
- Frankie forgave WAY TOO QUICK!!! like make him grovel a bit
- i find it very hard to believe that they didn’t touch ONCE in the months they were besties like not even accidentally?? COME ONNN
- felt so bad for when Frankie went into heat :( he just needed his mate!!
- okay Elwood’s gotten his head out of his arse i love that
- Dakota letting Frankie know how dragons work killed me😂
- GREAT first sex scene
- we got the love confessions and surprise pregnancy before the 50% mark in the book
- i love that they’ve got one of the homes in the forest!!
- hehehe he’s gonna have dragon babies!!
- NESTING!!!! WE GOT NESTING PEOPLE
- well i did not see that coming with Jeff but glad it was that tbh!
- that whole egg thing with Elwood was SO FUNNY
- loved the hatching scenes!!
- i wish we’d seen Frankie as his fox :(
- the epilogue was super cute and we get Isaiah next!!!!

[Erin]

Fun little twist for this one: the fox shifter can immediately sense his mate just like all the other shifters, but dragons can't sense their mates until they touch them, so Elwood rejects his mate thinking that Frankie is one of his brother's discarded hookups. Also, Elwood is the nerdy-looking, calm twin, but he's the one with a peen piercing.

So, also in this one, dragons live immortal-adjacent lives, and their mates can be bonded to their life force so they never have to be separated. Their dragon offspring can also live forever, but any fox children would grow old and die like the rest of the fox shifters, so Elwood and Frankie decide not to have more children after their one egg. Which, fine, they are completely entitled to have the number of kids they want and no more. But also, I don't love the avoidance component of this decision, because they could still have really beautiful lives with their mortal children - who could also have their own beautiful lives - and fixating on the death component as a reason not to enjoy the love and life component doesn't sit right with me.

[Phoenix13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in a series I've so far found very entertaining and enjoyable. (Definitely go back and read the first book first if you haven't yet!)

Firstly I really enjoyed Elwood and Frankie as individual characters and together. Frankie was very endearing especially, I really felt for him when he didn't understand why Elwood hadn't caught on to things at first. And even better that they are two of my favorite varieties of shifter!
Secondly this is one of my new favorite families/packs. I absolutely adore 'chosen family' stories and this one tugs on my heartstrings. I can't wait until each person finds their HEA-am very anxious for book 3 and the story hinted towards the end of this one.
Every character is interesting and their interactions done perfectly. The family is filled with touches of humor, annoyance, stress, but above all, love and care, just like reality (hopefully anyway!)

Overall a very enjoyable, fairly lighthearted book and series, light on angst but heavy on connections and love. Great read.

[Patricia Hoffstaetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this delightful shifter romance, it is the second book in the series “a Collection of Strays” There are some character crossovers but this book is standalone. The story-line and plot is well-written & entertaining. The characters are well-developed with a variety of traits and different sides to their personalities, there is good support from the secondary characters.
There is: a omega fox shifter (Frankie) unintentionally discovers his alpha mate (a dragon shifter, Elwood) but is brushed aside, when Elwood makes a incorrect assumption, Elwood’s twin brother (Rhett), a various kind of shifters, mild twists, some humor, drama, sibling rivalry, discovery, misunderstandings, realization, memories, mischievousness, a unexpected surprise, verbal banter, a family get-together, unease, complications, confrontation, compromises, happiness, laughter, love, steamy scene & a sweet happy epilogue. There is a tantalizing glimpse of the next book in the series.

[Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching Fate, the second book in Toby Wise's A Collection of Strays series, is a sweet, unique shifter romance.

I'm not a huge fan of shifter stories, but I did enjoy this one with it's vast array of animals represented.

My favorite part of this book is the humor. There are tons of great one liners that had me laughing out loud.

The writing is well done, with a fun storyline. Ellwood and Frankie meet at college. I enjoy that the dragon shifter Frankie doesn't recognize Ellwood as his mate, making for a nice twist. Instead of instantly living happily ever after, they build a friendship as Ellwood tries to get his fated mate to recognize him.

At it's heart, Touching Fate is a tale of family. And the family is wonderful, complete with fun bickering. Having not read the first book in the series, I was still able to fully enjoy this book. However, I would love to go back and read the first one just because I enjoyed this one so much.

[Georgiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Fate doesn’t make mistakes.”

Overall this was a super sweet story about a fox shifter, Frankie, and a dragon shifter, Elwood. The two didn't have the instant connection when typically finding their mate, but there is still a spark. So, the two become friends letting the attraction grow. Then a little secret is revealed. I loved how this all played out!

I really enjoyed this story much more than the first one and found myself engrossed in both Frankie and Elwood’s lives. I also enjoyed that the rest of Elwood’s family was so involved in this story as well.

The only thing that bothered me was Jeff. He reacted a certain way when finding out about Frankie that made me think he was a bad guy, then BAM!, he’s completely different. For some reason this didn’t sit right with me.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book but it goes live on June 12.

This is book 2 in the collection of stays series which follows a chosen family of shifters finding mates and having babies. Each book follows a new couple but if you don't read in order be prepared for spoilers from the previous book.

I love this crazy family and I really enjoyed book 2. The issues I had with book 1 seem to have been resolved in book 2 which I appreciated. I felt like the writing was smooth and flowed naturally. I also loved the MPREG story which had a few curveballs to keep it interesting. The sexy time was unique-who doesn't like for an alpha to be claimed by an omega and the creative body piercings were hot.

Overall, a great addition to this series and I'm dying for book 3!

[Rachwithheadinabook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dragons, Foxes and Eggs

This second novella in this incredibly sweet shifter series. Frankie is a Fox shifter and knows his mate at first sniff, however Elwood and his brother are Dragon shifters so can only find their mates through touch, which leads to a misunderstanding. The characters are as well developed in this book as the first, we catch up with the rest of the family, as well as how Elwood and Rhett came to be adopted by Dakota, which hopefully means that we find out all the kids back stories as the series progresses.
This is a sweet, fun filled read with some heartbreaking moments but plenty of tender ones to make up for it.
I thoroughly enjoy this series and can't wait for what comes next.

[Dixiecowgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable and fun read about a sweet Dragon and a delightful fox being mates. Engaging and interesting read that will make you smile and enjoy these characters.

Elwood and Frankie are so enjoyable together and there are some really fun moments. I loved the visit back to Charlie and Dokata and their made family.
i enjoyed the creative mpreg and the claiming was special.

This is the second book in the A Collection of Strays series and you really should read book one, Ageless Fate before you read this one. You will want the background and character development from book one to really appreciate this book.

I was gifted this book from the LesCourt Author Services and i freely give my honest opinion and review.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

💕 Dorm mates and friends: will their attraction take them to a shifter HEA?😯
June 12, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
3.5-4🌟 stars
Interesting world building around a mix of shifters with a range of gifts and deficiencies, like dragon Elwood's inability to scent his mate. Personally, I like a story with a bit more drama and tension; this was less rollercoaster, more slightly bumpy train ride with some humor found in the antics of Elwood's boisterous family. The one foreboding element in this story turned out to be ... nothing really, almost irrelevant. Summed in few words, this is a story of happy (supernatural) families and the idea that family is what you make it, not necessarily genetic.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Sarita Chapdelaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet, hilarious and entertaining story with great characters and it is an excellent addition to the A Collection of Strays series. Frankie is amazing and I could not stop laughing at his unique and quirky way with words. Elwood is wonderful as well and I love his delightful and diverse family. They are such a cute couple and I love how their friendship evolves from friendship to a lot more once Elwood realizes why he is so drawn to Frankie. There is a bit of a misunderstanding when they first meet and they have a few surprises in store for them but it will all be worth it in the end. The secondary characters add so much to this story and I can't wait to read the next book in this fun series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.