His Royal Mate

Unexpected Mates #2

by Brea Alepoú

True mates are found in the most unlikely of places.

Kash is Royalty

Kash doesn’t want to believe Dezi is his fated mate. But that’s okay. Dezi is patient and if the fates are going to grant him a beautiful man he’s more than willing to work for it.

Dezi is majestic

Kash had no plans on being mated, especially not to a lion shifter who feels too good to be true. He needs to be wary of Dezi’s charming smile and his warm hugs, but it’s hard to stay on guard when just being around Dezi calms him.


Tender moments, surprises, and reunions. The good and bad, they are in this together.


(His Royal Mate MM Mpreg shifter romance food, love, and happiness. Novel of pure adorable love. Not Stand Alone book. Please read His Bewildered Mate first.)

Genres: M M Romance, Shapeshifters, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, LGBT, Omegaverse

319 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2020

About the author

Brea Alepoú realized her dream was to write and tell stories after spending five years in college getting a degree. She has since been writing and letting her imagination free. She thought she would only write contemporary at first but soon found her love for making worlds. So now she writes it all. With her wild imagination, expect lots of different stories, from fairies ruling to vampires killing everyone, to the sweet loving between two men, passion between two fierce women, or the love of multiple partners. She believes that everyone deserves love even if not all of her characters get it right away. Love is passionate, hot, needy, confusing, painful, fulfilling, and all-consuming.
(pnr, contemporary, fantasy, erotica, romance, shifter mpreg, & rh)
There will be a book for everyone.
Insanity is Contagious.
Brea Alepoú

Reviews

[Len Evans Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better and better! OMG the FEELS! The love, the chosen and physical families and the way they all love each other is so incredible! And the sex is like off the scale HOT!!!! But above all it's the people the author has created in this book that just blows me away! I have come to adore these guys! On top of all that the author does a bang up job of inserting humor everywhere throughout this book to the point where I swear I am either laughing and/or crying throughout reading it! My hat is off to her!

[Barbara➰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5*

This was a sweet one. I loved Dezi and Kash together. However, I do think it could have been shortened. I left and read another book and came back to it.

There's a lot of sex...yes, I'm complaining about the number of sex scenes 😳. We get a little dialogue/action, then a sex scene, then dialogue/action, then another sex scene possibly two if it's the morning after as well. Some sex scenes were 4 pages or more! It would have cut down on the number of pages. As it was, I started skimming the sex scenes! I don't like to do that. I love sex scenes in my books, but I want them to be meaningful and well placed. Otherwise it's just gratuitous and boring. That's why I can't rate it higher and I hate that because otherwise, it was a good mate story.

I love Dillan and Rhy and they get a little surprise in this one.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Significantly more boring than book 1 but my expectations were probably too high. Continuing straight from book 1 we have Kash, Dillain's friend, meeting with Dezi, Dillian's new alpha. Kash and Dezi are mates and eventually bond. Kash is from a very large pride and is next in line so he's "practically royalty". So no actual monarchy or kingdoms involved to my great disappointment. The plot pretty much circles around Kash's old community accepting his new mate and life. The sex is hot, but I just wanted something more from the plot. The first book was so funny and charming with the cat pov and book 2 just felt dull in comparison. Also Ms. Alepou seriously needs an editor to deal with all the grammatical errors littering her work. Like seriously I'd do it for free. But she needs to get someone on that. DNF 72%.

[Ζωή Παππά · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most books with shifters are about wolves and packs and I do love them but it was so so very interesting to read a bout a pride. All the members had unique personalities and intriguing story-lines and I can’t wait to see how the story evolves. Dillan is adorable and he steals every scene he’s in but I loved everybody else too. Kash and Dezi the couple this book focuses on was great together. I enjoyed Dezi’s silly jokes and I loved how Kash took care of everyone. I also liked how the author handled the story-line about Kash’s old pride. I enjoyed the book very much and I’m looking forward for the next one! I need to find out what’s wrong with Morgan!

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review

[Ann Hupe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better story this time!

This second book in the Unexpected Mates series proved to be a far better read than Book 1. Probably because we had better relationship development, not only with Rhy and Dillan, but now Dezi and Kash. Unlike other recent series in which each book was totally dedicated to a couple, the novel could stand alone without much explanation. Not this series. Consider it a continuation of the story at large. Not a problem. I like these continued series that required a proper order for continuity because you don't lose out on the characters you just met. Yay!

There is a problem I'm seeing. I'm not seeing the characters very well. It's like the majority of the description was done in Book One with this book with minimal picturing. I hate this. Exposition is exposition, including a reminder of what someone looks like, not a just a hint here and there what someone's hair looks like. Uh... scratch that. Try eyes. Big on eyes, this book is.

Another issue I'm having is that I'm already jumping over the sex scenes. Mostly gratuitous now. I can only read so much blow-by-blow sex scenes. So I'm disappointed. Lack of creativity because even though they are different, that's the problem. Predictably predictable. No repeat of the same kind of sex. And just because you write about sex doesn't mean you're writing about intimacy.

But I will continue to read this story on KU because the universe is a little original, and I am very curious to see how Book Three ends up. If it doesn't improve or pique my curiosity, I'll go read something else.

Ratings (out of possible 5)
Character building: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
World building: 🌎 🌎 🌎 🌎
Relationship building: 💓 💓 💓 💓
Romance: 💋 💋 💋 💋
Heat/steam: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
Drama: 👀 👀 👀
Action: 🍿 🍿 🍿
Suspense: 💣 💣
Dark: 💀
Triggers: Rotten in-laws. Unrequited love. Just the usual yucky stuff.
POV: Multiple (2)
Ending: HEA
Length: Approximately 354 pages
Recommend: YES 👍

Thank you, Liz K, a reviewer on Amazon!

[Resch Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this might be my favorite book out of the entire series. Dezi and Kash were both just such dynamic and strong characters that you couldn't help but fall in love with them. Throw in a few surprise plot-twists and the mischievous Bliss Pride and I couldn't put the book down. 

We see Dezi and Kash are meant to be mates at the end of His Bewildered Mate. This story picks up right where they left off. Kash is hung up on how his exes have treated him but Dezi is determined to show Kash that they could have it all. And eventually the do work things out for the better and bond. But Kash is keeping a big secret and when his brother shows up to town, everything is revealed.

Not only that, Dillan is still pregnant and they don't know how the birth will work and if he will be okay. So half the pride travels to where Kash is from and we learn why he left town real fast. Kash's father is the absolute worst and his mother is a sheep. But I think this is needed as Dezi has to show Kash he wants him for him and not who Kash is. It brings closure to a lot of the little hang-ups that Kash still had. Overall, everything works out for the best.

Some side notes, the editing on these stories, well lets just say it needs a few more pass throughs. And my second critique is that there needs to be a better balance between sex scenes and dialogue. I am all for sex scenes but when they fit with the story's flow. Some of these scenes felt like they were slapped in after the fact and didn't fit. It disrupted the story and felt very abrupt. What could have been a heart-felt tender moment turned into a sex scene and just took me out of the story.  

[... · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5☆ rounded up. Some inconsistencies with Book 1 were mildly annoying, but mostly my rating dropped because - as other reviewers have noted - this book was so packed with extraneous sex scenes that it became a serious chore to read, even with all the skimming and skipping I did around the sex. The overarching series plot is still interesting and I plan on continuing, but this one was definitely a slog to get through.

[Badh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your Highness

I really hate Kash's dad. He never really listened to Kash, and drove him away.

Dezi is definitely an alpha through and through. He wants to take care of his pride, especially Kash.

[Monica P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 I’m really glad I found this series! If you like shifter mpreg, I recommend this series :) I’m excited for the next one!

[Diane Dannenfeldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Judy Ferrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Royalty

Kash is feline royalty. He is fated mate to Dezi. Trouble comes when his brother comes for a visit. Good reading!

[martina (the life of a chaotic reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think there’s crack or something in this because i don’t like it but i also can’t stop reading it.
but i will definitely take a break before the next one.

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

ok completely different experience reading it than listening, like I did for the first book.

1. this author desperately needs an editor. the writing was... not good lol
2. what even was the plot. the first half was nice and I liked it, but then I was just like ??? ah yes let's focus on Dillan--no baby you're so stressed let's do a staycation--oh no I have to face my old pride--"I love you" "I love you too" kdjnjkdfndnkjdkn rinse and repeat
3. SO MUCH SEX. OH MY GOD. I never thought I would encounter so many books with *too* much sex but somehow I keep finding them 😭😭😭😭 1 or 2 scenes for funsies is fine but every other chapter?! when the 2ha girlies say "there is no 2ha without the sex scenes" they were actually talking about this book lmfaooooooo
4. I will be that person again and say what was the point of teasing the reverse dynamic if that's clearly never going to happen in the book. it actually annoyed me, I hate it when writers make the couple vers for ~woke points~, KASH SUBMITTED TO DEZI AND CAN GET PREGNANT. WHAT IS THE POINT. anyway that was when I started skimming because I was willing to forgive all of the above until then lmao

unsure if I'll continue this series but maybe the other novels will have actual plots and less sex?? lol famous last words

[August June 💘 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dont know why Kash's family was set out as some villainy people through out the book when they were decent. I expected Kash to have some backbone and more stronger. His reasons for not taking up Alpha position in his parents' group were not explained well. He was so reluctant for it and strangely stressed/panicked to even think about it but he is shown as some good Alpha mate in Dezi's pride. Both didnt match.

Kash was portrayed as some damsel in distress as the story progressed which me no likey.

[Ken Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alpha Mate

This second in a series continues the story of the Bliss pride. Alepou has created an alt-world where shifters still hide, and challenges still determine the hierarchy. If this second volume, two mpreg occurrences as true mates prove that the mating exists, and men can, with especially torrid bed scenes, get pregnant.
An intriguing series, I'll move on to my third in the series soon.

[Alicia Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite

I ended up speeding through this one. It just was way too long with far too many sex scenes. I got very impatient with the movement of the story and just skipped to the end. I liked the two men but this just was too long with not enough story to keep my attention.

[Patdbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of the series and I was not let down. Fated mates story sees Kesh meet his fated mate Dezi and the patient journey Kesh undertakes to get his Cat. Read and enjoy.

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

P

[M]

dnf meh

[Sara López Villar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series. It is like nothing I had read before. The male pregnancies was kind of weird at the beginning, but now, I kind of like it.

[Larisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

3.5

[Sarahreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

His Royal Mate

With a title like "His Royal Mate" it makes you wonder about Kash's past. It did not disappoint. Dezi is such a good mate, him and Last are perfect together I love this story so much I need yo start the next book right now. I need to know Morgan's past.

[S a n d r a · Rating 3 out of 5]

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3.5 🌟

This was so much better than the first book. Basically bacause the plot was already started and we take is right where book one ended.

While Dillan and Rhy's story lacked plot aside from the fated mates thing, this one has many thing going on.

For starters, we have the romance between Dezi and Kash. Lion and cougar, they feel the pull toward each other as soon as they are in the same room. Kash acknowledges they are fated mates, but some past bad experiences hinder him from accepting Dezi right away. The lion, however, sets his mind in conquering him and proving himself.

Things start going smoothly between the two when someone from Kash's past life appears and put everything upside down. Past secrets he wanted to forget are revealed and he fears losing everything, but the whole pride is right there for him along the way.

Also, we continue witnessing Dillan and Rhy's story. And of course, there are Morgan and Kenny too, our next main characters. I can't wait to read more about this two, not only because of that exciting ending (I so need their book!!), but also because they are not your usual fated mates: Morgan resists their bond for some unknown reason and the distance is killing Kenny little by little.

Once again, I can't help but think there are too many sexy moments. Some really good ones, yeah, but to some point it becomes the same all over again when there's no need for more explicit scenes.

I'm liking this series and I will continue reading it. I like how we discover new things alongside the characters, how the author tries to explain every fantastical thing and how she gives them her own twist to make the story different from other similar ones.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were quite a few things that were seemingly missing from book one and while that wasn't exactly the best way to begin, it put us on the path to this story where both men had depth, interesting backgrounds, and a jumping off point that gave us a way to find answers and a way forward for this pride. It's absolutely a continuing series and something I can't exactly say stands on its own because of the number of unanswered questions, but if you were to start here rather than book one I'd say that's absolutely fine. Overall though, this is a series that takes a little while to get off the ground, but when it does it picks up speed very quickly.

Dez and Kash are both interesting on their own because they have very different perspectives despite the similarities in their position that we learn about nearly halfway through the book. I enjoyed the way both men took to their roles because it felt that they weren't fated mates just because that's the trope here, but that each person individually desired a life that could fit a certain type of partner and they fit those roles exactly right. They were a great pair and I'm excited to see how they handle everything that's coming their way.

As a supporting cast we've got a varied crew and there are quite a few things that are drawing me back to the series despite not thinking I liked it in the very beginning. The first book had more of a mystery element, this book has a set up for not just the series but the roles each person plays and will play from here on out, and we're in for some drama and angst in book three. I think it's safe to say I'm glad I gave the series a shot and I'll be back for more. There are definitely some issues in the story, the writing, the individuals, but there's something different that intrigues me and I'm willing to read more to find out exactly what that is.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fate smiles

Living the intertwined nature of these stories! As evidenced in the last book, Kash and Dezi are fated mates. However, this doesn't mean a guaranteed smooth path. Kash is hesitant to mate with a past that leaves him untrusting of relationships and love (and his own lovability). Dezi isn't forceful or brash and is willing to take the time to have his mate see the love and trust he can build, and show his worth. However, Kash has more secrets in his past and it could destroy any chance of being together.

Continuing on from the first book there is more about Dillan and his pregnancy as well. It turns out that not only does Logan know some about it but there is a very large feline Coalition pack that has knowledge as well. Dillan coming through his pregnancy safe becomes paramount, while bringing all of the fated mates of the Bliss pack into focus of this very large Coalition. The continued possibility of pregnancies for the mates makes this important, while also testing the bonds that each of the mates and even the pride has with each other.

This book really took the time to develop Dezi and Kash and their relationship. Not only how they are together and the bedroom antics, their family life and leadership style as well. With Dezi being alpha Kash is alpha-mate, which is leading the pride in its own right. They need to see how they work together to ensure that they can continue to lead the Bliss pride to the safe haven that it has become. Looking forward to seeing that leadership continue in the series!

[Bronwyn Heeley]

I feel a great need to apologies.
DNF @10%
I just can’t. I have tried so hard to read this over the weekend. It’s put me in a slump.
Things that I could overlook in the first book I couldn’t with this one. The repetitive word usage, the repetitive sentence structures. the reparative paragraphs.
The fact that shifters aren’t known to humans in the world and he lives far enough away from them not to see them, but he roared so loud the house shacked and yet not a thought about the humans hearing them. I’m guessing lions are native to wherever this place is?
Sigh. Another problem was that the book literally starts off where book 1 ends and I found that it made the story drag on. So maybe I needed a break before starting this one up. I honestly have until the end of the month before a review is up and want to hold onto it and see if I’ll get back into it but having it open is making it so I can’t pick anything else up.

Sitting here, I still want to know what’s happening. I want to know how Kenny and Morgan get on. I want to know more about Logan (our info dumper). I want to know more about Kash and who he is but I just can’t get into it. I can’t read more then two pages before all the problems rush at me and have me needing to walk away (and I can’t pick anything new up for the rest of the day)

I feel horrible posting this, but I got an ARC of this book for an honest review and I wanted to give reasons why I couldn’t read this book. The guilt is a big thing right now.

[Monika · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3.5 Stars

I enjoyed this one a bit more than book one. I connected better and because it starts off immediately after His Bewildered Mate it felt like I was still reading book one LOL. I think these stories are going to end up being like one really long story divided into a series of books, which is absolutely necessary. You certainly can't read this one without having read His Bewildered Mate and I'm sure that's how it will end up being going forward.

Overall this was very sweet and it touched my heart in many ways.

QUICK THOUGHTS
-- Paranormal -- various shifters -- mpreg -- fated mates -- some really sweet moments -- touched my heart -- returning to family (for a short time) -- more violence in this book -- more sex in this one too (I would have preferred less) -- Dillan & Rhy have their baby -- loved the MCs... Dezi & Kash -- the end of the book is somewhat satisfying but it's not the end -- story continues in the next one -- NOT a stand alone -- looking forward to Morgan and Kenny's story

[Claudia Lezár · Rating 4 out of 5]

PLEASE READ MY RATING SYSTEM!!!

To my ratings:
A 3,5* is clicked with a 4* but in review marked as 3,5*:

5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow-Away-book like ‘Jesse's Smile’ or ‘Joey’ from Angelique Jurd, ‘Save the the 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 books and Davidson Kings 'Haven Hart'-series)
it's like an A

3,5* - a really good book, which will be reread a few times (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 (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 absolute NO-GO). It's like failure in the
whole line, dismissed, repeat the class

[Deb Swietek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your fated mate is the pack Alpha. Are you ready for this?

I was so excited for this second book to come out. It picks up where book one ended. I was drawn back into the world of Dezi's pack from the first pages. All our friends are back. Some still harbor secrets, and try to fight Fate. Others accept their roles with grace. I love this book!
When we last saw Dezi & Kash they were fighting for dominance in the back yard. Kash's mountain lion puts up a good fight, but he is no match for Dezi's maned alpha lion. Submitting to his fated mate is the right thing to do. As Kash takes on the role of alpha mate, Dezi steers the pack through their troubles. They all try to help when one half of a fated pair disappears. While Dezi & Kash get their HEA, the story isn't over. It will continue in the next book. I can't wait!
If you haven't read book one, please get it. You will fall in love with the series just like I did.
This book contains adult themes and language, mm sex and is intended for mature readers only.

[Patricia Hoffstaetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an entertaining Mpreg shifter romance that captured my attention within the first few pages. The plot is interesting with some unexpected events & situations. The characters are fairly well-developed & have unique individual personalities with good chemistry between them. There is good support from the secondary characters.
There is: a male mountain lion “cougar” shifter (Kash) has absolutely no intentions of being claimed or mated but a full-maned alpha male lion shifter (Dezi) is determined to get his man, various kinds of shifters, a feline Coalition, family issues, pride politics, intrigue, drama, fated mates, friendship, humor, secrets, intrigue, suspense, drama, twists & turns, adventure, action, danger, challenges, conflict, violence, death, memories, defiance, denial, confrontations, memories, attempted manipulations, surprises, love, steamy scenes, contentment & a satisfying conclusion for this couple with a interesting ending. I enjoyed reading this Mpreg shifter romance & look forward to future books from this author.