Totally Basted

Shifter Speed Dating #2

by Zoey Indiana

Blindfolded speed dating for shifters, what could go wrong?

Years of putting my profession before my own needs left me with a deep burning need to find my fated mate, but my career isn't in the right place yet. Traveling the world and disappearing for days or weeks at a time for all terrain marathons isn't how I want to welcome my new mate into my life. Whoever she is, she deserves someone who will be there for her day and night.

Today, I climbed into my truck for the long drive home for the holidays, the only two months I take off from competing. How will I face the disappointment in my parent's faces when they realize I still haven't found my mate? Even worse, I haven't tried to find her.

But when I show up for Thanksgiving after ignoring my brother's ominous warning, my mom has a surprise that leaves me on the run from the shifter world's deadliest ops team.

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Shapeshifters, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Thanksgiving

59 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2020

About the author

Want to get notifications when USA Today Bestselling author Zoey Indiana has a new release? Sign up for Zoey's Zine https://www.zoeyindiana.com/subscribe for a free Dystopian Rebels ebook, new releases, giveaways and contests, exclusive content, and your eyes only sneak peeks.

Zoey Indiana was inspired by the idea that everyone deserves love and their own happily ever after, she loves to write about heroic heroines who go on amazing adventures while finding the love they deserve. After creating her first fictional planet where amazing creatures roamed at age ten, she was determined to prove love could be found in the stars. In addition to writing, she listens to eclectic music, practices Krav Maga, and takes on home improvement projects just for the fun of it.

Zoey loves to hear from her readers. You can find her here:
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Reviews

[Grapie Deltaco · Rating 1 out of 5]

Once again…what do you mean your “beast” yearns for her YOUR “BEAST” IS! A! TURKEY!!!!!

Also the kidnapping??? And the threat of murder??? For why! Anti-human racism! In 2024!???

Have some shame, shifter council! #AlwaysLearning #AlwaysGrowing

CW: explicit sexual content, kidnapping, violence, threat of murder

[Kimmylongtime · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You're my mate, and I'm yours. We've finally found the soul created to match our own when the old gods created the beginning of existence."

This series is getting better and better by each book. This is about a bird shifter who hasn’t found a mate and his mom sets him up to go speed dating. What she doesn’t know is that this place is about to get shut down by the council because it’s a bit illegal.

When Coop finds his mate at the event he doesn’t care about the rules. He has to save her and make her his.

I read this book on Scribd you can check it out there.

https://www.scribd.com/book/482694638

[Unrulyreadr Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so damn cute to read. Normally shifters other than the normal , wolf, bear etc. Are not what I like to read. But I honestly love reading these. I love the mystery of why the council says no. I can't wait to read the others. I bought the whole series off of Eden's book website.

So, let your mind open up and have a little fun reading about the more unusual shifter and their stories of finding love.


UnrulyReader

[Sara Sigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

***spoiler***Coop was a turkey and ran marathons for a living went home for thanksgiving. His mom made Coop and his adopted brother Scout go to a blindfold speed dating service to find their mates. But it got raided so they tried to get out in the tunnels Scout and 4 of the girls got caught Coop and Henrietta escaped for awhile but they were mated by the time the got caught. Everyone got released all good.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute Thanksgiving fated mates short story. It was probably a 3.5 rating for me. I enjoyed the characters and the differences between Cooper and Scout. I will say Cooper's animal wasn't my favorite but it worked with the story.

[Sydney M Neblett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone to be thankful for
This author has such a knack for putting an interesting spin to an otherwise mundane speed dating experience. I enjoyed the sassy lady and her unique shifter mate. There mating might have been a little bit rushed, but the author made it a fast and fun experience. I look forward to reading the next speed dating fiasco, I can’t imagine it being less than amazing.

[Sue MacKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah that was fast

I know it says speed dating but this one happened really fast.
But I suppose if you know you should grab it.

[CrazyGal609 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never thought I’d read about a Turkey Shifter😅😂 it was great!!! Quite the story actually, great imagination paired with keeping this realistic too…you know what I mean🙃 I’d love to hear a Turkey growl🤣… hmmm, soooo there’s a way to KNOW the ham isn’t a shifter, right?!!😱 🦃🦃🤎🦃🦃

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scout tried to warn his brother, Coop, to not come home because their mother is determined to find them mates. Coop took it all as a joke and continued toward home for Thanksgiving. His mom rushed him inside and asked if he had found a lady yet. His brother groaned. She started to tell him about an old industrial bar that was sold to a shifter. His brother sat with his face in his hands, having mumbled that he tried to warn Coop, but so far Coop couldn’t see the problem. Then his mom told him about the blindfold speed dating. Thanksgiving was in two days and she wants both of her sons to bring their mate to the table!

Coop looked around the bar at all of the predator shifters. If any of them got hungry, it was a sure bet that he would be on their menu! His brother told him not to worry. His wolf would protect his “little bird brain”, so Coop, a turkey shifter, kicked him in the shin. It was their turn now, but before they were blindfolded, the local Shifter Council stormed in to close down the event. But the third closed door was drawing Coop closer. He was pretty sure his actual mate was in there! He had to protect her. Coop knew of tunnels under the city and the former owner of this building had shown him how to access them. Coop went to rescue two of the women while Scout went to the other two. Henrietta (“Hattie”) was sassy and unwilling to follow them until he told her she was his. Not even knowing her name yet, she didn’t believe until he told her the bond had already started and he knew she could feel it just as he could. Standing so close together, she realized he was telling the truth. When they split the group to explore two tunnels that Scout didn’t like the look of, Hattie and Coop kissed, at least until they heard some noise down the tunnel. It had caved in. Hattie insisted on following him rather than waiting, but he told her to stay back since he was a shifter, faster, and more able to sustain damage than she was – and he would always protect her before himself. The tunnel was completely blocked, so their only choice was to proceed down this tunnel and hope it led outside or reconnected with the other. Would they get to safety? Would they be arrested at the exit point?

This was a well-written story that had me chuckling all the way. The personalities were perfect. Hattie had her own mind and was a strong woman, which is good when you deal with shifter males. And Coop was a sweetie. I liked him more and more as the reader got to know him. Grab your copy and enjoy an adorable story! See if they get their HEA or at least adjoining prison cells?

[lf · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you eat on Thanksgiving???

Totally Basted is the second book in The Shifter Speed Dating series. This story is about Coop and Hattie.
When Coop comes home a few days early to celebrate Thanksgiving with his parents his mother has a plan. You see his mother wants a house full of grandchildren. As neither Coop or his brother Scout bring home mates then she has decided they are going to go to the Shifter Speed Dating night being held at a new shifter bar in the industrial area of town. The bar was taken over recently by Felix and Luna, their story is Totally Spooked. Since they found each other at a speed dating event they Luna decided to run one also.
Hattie has known about shifters for years when she was saved by a shifter. He became a good friend and protector of Hattie, along with teaching her years of self-defense. Hattie decided to try and find a mate at the speed dating event, with a very special picture of how it would go.
Just as Coop and Scout are about to enter the first rooms there is a big commotion in the bar and it turns out the Shifter Council has sent in their Tactical Unit to take everyone into custody and stop the event. Coop has already scented that his mate is in one of the rooms so he knows he has to get them out in order to complete the bonding with her. So the two guys grab the girls from their rooms and head to a door which leads to old Prohibition tunnels under the city which Coop knew about.
Will Coop and Hattie get away or will they be caught by the council? If they do get away will they be safe for a couple of days and nights to complete the mating bond?

Now that I know the world that Zoey Indiana has put this series in I enjoyed this book more than the first. I found the story-line has it all - action, romance, family, OTT insta-love, mystery, drama, romance, hot and sexy chemistry and scenes and more. You will not believe what type of shifter Coop is........this one had me laughing out loud. Then add in more details being given about the mating ritual and the Shifter Council and the story builds on the first. This was a fun and entertaining read.

[Marion · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book of the series that I have read. It is easy to read and follow along without having read the first book. This is the story of Coop and Henrietta. Coop and his brother get signed up for the blindfold speed dating by their mother. She is tired of neither having a mate nor putting much effort into finding one. Just as the brothers are about to go in, the shifter police rush in to shut the unauthorized event down. Realizing that he can smell the scent of his fated mate, Coop gets his brother to help get all the women looking for shifters out. It is then that Coop meets Henrietta. Being on the run from shifter police, tunnel cave ins and out of the way cottages is the the beginning of their adventure.

This is a fun quick read. It also answers the question of what does a turkey shifter eat for Thanksgiving. It will make you smile.

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

[Marilyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coop does marathons but took two months off a year fir the holidays. He hasn’t looked for his mate as he was a turkey shifter but thought there was time later. But going home his mother has other ideas for him and his brother who was a wold shifter. They has two days to find their mate as she wants them at her Thanksgiving dinner! She makes them do to a blind folded blind speed dating event. They go and just as it’s time to start it gets raided! But Coop has a feeling his mate is there. Hattie and a couple other women are there and Coop and his brother tries to get them out so that they don’t get arrested. But Hattie and Coop find they are mates but will they get out and will his brother hind his mate?

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

[Kristine L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grabbed this story because it sounded really good for a short quick read. I totally enjoyed this story and at first I really had to think of what the name ment. When I found out what animal Coop was I had to crack up laughing. Scout and Coop are sent to a speed dating shifter event. They are blindfolded and then they are suppose to smell if their mate is there. At the same time they are raided and Coop smells that his mate is in one of the room. They take off running. Coop and Hattie are a fun couple. I love how she accepted that they were mates as she could also feel the mate bond. There is action, drama and an instant love like no other for a shifter when they find their fated mates. There was also some steam. I received an ARC copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute story about a shifter finding his human mate at an illegal speed dating event. When Coop comes home for the holidays he discovers his mother has signed him and his adopted brother up for a speed dating night at a local shifter bar. The real surprise was finding out that the women were all humans. The shifter council banned shifter/human matings, though they had never done anything once one was completed. Coop is sure his mate is in the bar as soon as he and Scout arrive but a surprise raid sends the two of them scrambling to get the four human women out through a secret tunnel systemw. Will Coop be able to complete the mating before he and his mate get caught by the council's goon squad? And just what kind of shifter is Coop?

I got a free copy of this audiobook from the author. My review is voluntary.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coop who is on his way to his parents for Thanksgiving is warned by his brother that it is a trap.
On his way to visit his parents for Thanksgiving Coop is told by his brother Scout to to turn back it was a trap. When he arrives he finds his mother who is desperate for her sons to be mated has arranged for them to attend a speed dating meeting where the males are blindfolded. They wait for their turn to be called and just after they are the building is raided by armed man dressed in black. He and Scout agree to take the women out and hide them and he hopes to save the woman whose scent indicates she is his mate.

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

[JLH · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know that shifter come in all shapes and sizes. This one almost take as the cake. So speed dating shifter style has its perks. The males need to be blindfolded, the women behind a “wall” and they basically get sniffed out. Shaking my head at this concept. But it works. But the council doesn’t want it. The old schoolers believes that there are limited if no places for human. Stopping the moving forward movement. Well, no full blooded shifters means the culture and species need to evolve to survive. Again, Hattie could be Coop’s mate. This feisty woman with some knowledge seeking more and growing bond? No cliffhanger

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

[Sara Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful book 2 in The Shifter Speed Dating Book Series is a short, steamy, standalone with a strong, fated mates and unique, irresistible characters. This very well written book has characters who are well crafted, fated mates with good personalities This has a great storyline and scenes that keep you entranced throughout. The Characters in this book have issues which they resolve and the characters develop as the story goes on. I cannot wait for other books from this Author. This is a short, steamy, shifter holiday romance that has daring adventures, bearded heroes, and fated mates.

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

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute lil read

If you’re looking for short and sweet, these stories can be pretty damned cute, though I admit that these shifters have had me cracking up laughing because they’re not your usual shifters. When you think shifter, you think large beasts, wolves, big cats and dragons, but this series is about the shifters you don’t think of. There is a bat, a turkey, a goose, and several others that are out of the norm when it comes to the shifter world. I find the stories are unique and cute, while making me giggle at the thought of being mated to something as mundane as a turkey, but always remember, a turkey can be a mean mofo when protecting his territory, mate, etc.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading about blindfolded speed dating with shifters and fated mates. Alas, this was slightly different than I was expecting, but not in a bad way. It was a quick read with some twists and turns that lead to the characters going through some trials. Coop and Hattie were a nice couple. Since it is a novella, you don't learn too much about them as people or as a mated couple. Just enough the whet your appetite for more.

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

[Lynn Partridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick fun read


What does a turkey shifter eat at thanksgiving ? find out this and more with this fun short story ...speed dating will never be the same again ! Packed full of twists and fun a great shifter romance when you want a story you can read in one sitting that still has all the things you want in it . Cant wait to find out more about this very unusual shifter family ... a wolf in a turkey pen ? Humans looking for mates ? A stuffy rule bound council ? A daring escape ? this has it all

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

[Cathylynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Thanksgiving time book. Scout and Coop are brothers, Scout a wolf and Coop a turkey. Their mother makes them go to a blindfolded speed shifter dating event. Coop does not want to settle down yet, but he does meet his mate in Hattie. This is a quick book but it was very enjoyable. I laughed and was entertained. The characters were great and the story was great. There was an incident that they had to escape and trouble followed. Great book.

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

[Caroline Doig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this short, entertaining and hilarious story that also has a bit of steam. Coop is a marathon runner who hasn’t bothered looking for his mate so he’s going to disappoint his mother this thanksgiving ahh but his mother has plans for Coop and his brother Scout and that’s to send them to a shifter speed dating night. The brothers go and Coop smells his mate but things go wrong when the council sends a unit to the bar to break it up and now this is where the fun begins. Fantastic story I loved it and I highly recommend this book it’s definitely well worth the read.

[Gabrielle Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second book of this series and it gives us Coop and Henrietta’s story. I liked the idea of the story but I was not too fond of the characters. Their story is a cute and quick one. This series is giving readers some different animal shifters than the usual. I didn’t like the pressure from Coop’s mother to find a mate and how she goes about making this happen. I also did not like the way Coop treats his brother when he is in need. There is a lot of quick mentions and looks into the way the council feels about shifters and humans. It would have been nice to see more of a backstory to this and what is happening in the shifter world. This is a fast-paced story full of heat with a mix of action and drama.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book with a steamy romance that I enjoyed reading. It's hot and steamy and pulls you in form the beginning and I couldn't stop reading. It's well written with hot and steamy shifters with plenty of action, suspense, drama, twists, turns, and an amazing hot romance you don't want to miss and a definite must read and I can't wait to read more form this author!!!

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

[tburbr · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
If you are looking for an entertaining read for your lunch break, look no further. This was a quick, fun read filled with some good character work along with an engaging story line. I would have liked to see this story made into a full length book and some more depth given to the characters and even the story line itself.

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

[Lisa Bing · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another fun read for the series and I'm really enjoying the lighthearted aspect of blindfolded shifters sniffing out their potential mates in an 'illegal' dating event. Of course, the shifter enforcers show up to close things down and everything goes sideways from there. This entertaining read will make you giggle, hit the edge of your seat and yeah, fan yourself to help with the heat ;) I can't wait to see who's next and how sideways their story will go. Good fun!

[Elizabeth McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coop and Scout came home for Thanksgiving and their mother was up to her scheming again trying to find them a mate. There was someone in town that was sponsoring speed dating events for shifter/ human mating. This fast and fun romance between Coop and his human mate Hattie was filled with danger, running, tight spaces, surprises, love and family. Fun read

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

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several books written by Zoey Indiana; she has done a great job at writing a good short story; she is becoming one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of books her books.

The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.

I loved the characters.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coop comes home to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family. What he did not count on was to be sent to a speed dating event, finding his mate and the police to enter premises at the same time.
A strange setting for a romance, but it works, as the couple goes on the run from the police.
Entertaining, crazy and fast paced, it is a fun book, an enjoyable short read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Adhana Tapia · Rating 3 out of 5]

They really put the SPEED in speed-dating. I blinked essentially and the audiobook was over and thanking me for listening. Coop/his turkey really wasted no time in claiming his human mate Hattie while on the run from the jealous shifter council (you know the dude I'm talking about). I'm hoping Coops adopted wolf brother finds his mate in a further book but I'm enjoying these unusual animal shifts these dudes all have lol.