Unwanted, Sofia Foster only knows pain when it comes to her pack. Considered a freak for her ability to heal, she has become their punching bag. They take their anger out on her, and she can’t leave because the alpha has ordered her to stay.
Caspian is addicted to the scent in the woods, and when he stumbles over a young female being beaten, he cannot just leave her alone. He attacks her pack, and Sofia finds herself free, finally able to live her life in the city.
Only, Caspian will never let Sofia go.
Years of abuse forces her to ignore the mating bond between them, but there is no mistaking the heat, the fire. They are destined to mate, even though someone from her pack lurks nearby.
With the full moon looming, Caspian vows to do everything to protect her, and he takes matters into his own hands. Will Sofia accept him as her mate, or will she continue to be the unwanted wolf?
Sam Crescent is passionate about fiction. She loves a good erotic romance and so it only made sense for her to spread her wings and start writing. She began writing in 2009 and finally got that first acceptance in 2011 by Total-E-Bound. She loved creating new characters and delving into the worlds that she creates. When she’s not panicking about a story or arguing with a character, she can be found in her kitchen creating all kinds of havoc. Like her stories the creations in the kitchen can be just as dubious but sometimes things turn out great.
This had an intriguing plot and I was excited to read it when I first read the blurb. But sadly it was too rushed for me to really enjoy it. The beginning felt like we started in the middle of an ongoing scene with little to no detail and from there it still didn't feel like we were getting all of the information. The relationship between Sofia and Caspian also seemed rushed and I just didn't see a connection between them.
I may still read more from this series, especially if there are more rejected mate books that come out, but after this one I think it will take something extra special to get me back to the series. That may sound harsh but the books are short and kind of pricey in my opinion considering they're barely over 100 pages for $3.99 so now that they're starting to feel rushed I think a break from the books is needed.
If you like over the top heroes, insta everything, and a virgin heroine, you’re going to love this!
I knew exactly what I was getting when I started this and, other than a bit more smexy times than I was expecting, it lived up to all my expectations. It’s been a long time since I read a book that had all the above attributes to it and I was more than ready to dig in.
This is definitely what I consider erotic romance. There are all kinds of sexploits taking place with a little story interwoven throughout. The hero is all that you expect of an alpha wolf who has just found his mate, she’s going into mating heat, and it’s a full moon. Add in that there’s a stranger lurking around, and this guy is in full on protection mode. Delicious.
This is a fast read and is perfect if you're looking for a little bite of something naughty and over the top.
This was my first read from this series and I easily read it as a standalone. It was a quick read with great chemistry and the alpha growly “mine” aspects I like in my shifter reads. I would have liked a better exploration of Sophia’s abilities but maybe that comes in future books.
If you're looking for something quick and enticing, this is it. Sam Crescent never fails to turn up the heat whilst still telling a story. Sophia isn't your most average female wolf and therefore, is well hated by her pack. No real reasons for the hatred but other than her being slightly different -super healing abilities beyond the wolf healing. but through this, she finds herself saved by Caspian, another wolf who has been marked unwanted by his previous pack and has since then formed his own through others like him. He doesn't consider himself as alpha but the friends and family that has become his own reveres him. Caspian takes in Sophia and we get to see the chemistry that is just sizzling between the two. Sophia takes advantage of her newfound freedom while Caspian is all about her 24/7. I like that he doesn't immediately scare her off with his caveman-likeness but allows her to get used to him first although their pull to each other is hard to deny. Caspian is also extremely caring and though he may seem weak as he can never keep control around Sophia, he is anything but. I also like the story of these unwanted wolves banding together to form something that they were robbed of. I just wish it was a little longer and got to see more of it. Nonetheless, it was a simple shifter romance which sometimes is all you need.
This was an interesting twist on the rejected mate trope, so I was really intrigued to read this one. With most of these books it's the Hero rejecting the heroine. However, in this one, it's the heroine rejecting the Hero. The thing is though I went into this expecting a rejected mate story which typically comes with a lot of angst, but that isn't really what you get here.
In the Unwanted Mate, Sofia has gown up in a pack where she is the literal punching bag for the pack. They have treated her horrifically and she is saved when Caspian and his crew come up on them and break the pack up, freeing Sofia from that life. Unknown to Sofia at the time, Caspian is her mate. Caspian tracks her down and finally comes forward only to have Sofia not recognize that he is her mate and at first she tries to push him away. The rest of the story is Sofia coming to terms with who she is, who Caspian is to her, and how they make a life and pack together. This didn't seem to have a lot of angst to it, despite the trope, and I think part of the issue was that it's written completely in the third person. In addition, it's fairly short so you don't get the deep dive into all the characters and what makes them tick.
I received an eARC of this book in return for an honest review.
I had no idea what I was going into when I started to read this book. I'm trash for the rejected mate trope and have read so many of these books.
Plot: Sofia has been abused by her pack since she was a child for being a freak. She heals unnaturally fast and her pack ostracise her for it.
Caspian is the alpha of outcasts. He stumbles across Sofia getting beaten by her pack and decides he will rescue her. He quickly discovers that she is his mate and in order to allow her space to grow and find herself, he allows her to leave.
The two can't stay away from each other for too long, however, especially when Caspian realises that she is nearing her first heat. Can Sofia overcome her fears and allow herself to be swept away by the dangerous alpha?
What I liked:
- The sexual tension - The dirty talking - The pack
Why 3 stars?
This book did not develop the characters or the plot; but I guess that is the downfall of most novellas.
I’m new to author Sam Crescent, and I see Unwanted Mate is book #15 The Alpha Shifter Collection. However, I generally enjoy books put out by Evernight Publishing, so I just went for it.
Honestly, I didn’t think I missed anything because this book read well as a stand-alone. It was a fast read, and while it didn’t have a lot of depth to it, it felt complete. We do get just the right amount backstory of both Sofia and Caspian, who I liked when he wasn’t being such a horndog. Personally, I would have like to have had a bit more meat and less heat, but it still was an entertaining quickie to lose myself in. I don’t plan on reading any of the previous book in the series. However, if the next book should come across my plate, I wouldn’t say no.
Stars: 3 I received this book from Netgalley. I was not compensated for the book other than the entertainment it provided. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
First things first; I like the cover of this book! Unwanted mate is the fifteenth book in the ‘’alpha shifter collection’’ series. This story is short, fast paced and an enjoyable read. I read this book in one sitting and was satisfied throughout. I found the writing style easy to follow, the characters likeable and the storyline enjoyable. Sofia is a wolf shifter with fast healing abilities. Because she is different she spent years being tortured by her pack. When Caspian saves her she is finally free. Caspian knows Sofia is his mate but will she see it too? The chemistry between Sofia and Caspian is clear to see and I liked them together. I liked how the pack accepted Sofia. I also liked the addition of George into Sofia’s life. I liked the ending and the epilogue for this story. The storyline for this book is easy to follow and it is an enjoyable read. I look forward to more books from this series.
This was a quick read for me. Sam Crescent books are a hit or miss for me and I'm afraid I'm kind of ambivalent to this story. I love the rejected mate trope in the PNR universe and I wouldn't really say that Unwanted Mate strictly falls into this trope. The H pretty much want the h from the get go, the moment he scent her, he's obsessed with her. So that's kind of a let down for me because I truly prefer where the H out-rightly rejects the h, even with their mating bond. For Unwanted mate, due to the abuse being done to the h (not by the H or his pack), she's very wary about committing. I have to say that Caspian is very patient with Sofia. The story is okay, I didn't hate it nor can I recommend it if you're looking for a Rejected Mate storyline.
Thanks NetGAlley for the copy, this is my unbiased review.
Sofia was treated like trash within her pack. Due to her gift, they were forever punishing her. It took an outside pack and a strong wolf to stop it all. There was something special about Caspian, the mating bond. She intended to fight it but Caspian wasn’t about to let his mate go. He knew she was special and would protect what was his. You have to love that ever unwanted soul is drawn to Cas. He brings them peace and freedom. Something none of them had. With Sofia it is Cas that finds peace and love. He can build a family with her and she can rule by his side as the Alpha Queen. It takes a great deal of healing in the heart and head for Sofia to realize what Cas brings to the table. We also find out about her past. It is touching really.
Sofia is a gifted werewolf, she has the ability of healing wounds. Unfortunately, instead of being praised, this makes living among her pack very difficult as she is repetedly hurt, abused and tormented. Her only chance of freedom comes in the form of her mate Caspian who, due to the visions of what she’s had to endured, seeks revenge on her pack and sets her free. Sofia however is now distrusing and doubtful as a defense mechanism. Will he be able to convince her she’s safe with him?
It was a quick and cute read. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A much more solid entry into the Alpha Shifter collection than the previous story. Sophia is abused by her pack for being able to heal quickly and cannot leave because her alpha has ordered her to stay and not fight back. Caspian is the alpha of a pack of "unwanteds" and stumbles upon his mate being beaten. He attacks her pack and gives Sophia her freedom but he cannot deny his need to be with his mate. Sophia ended up not being a pushover and Caspian was an alpha who loved Sophia and never thought he would find a mate. They were great together and there are plenty of sexy and spicy times to be had in this read.
The land of the lost just got a lot more exciting! I love how the author layered in each new twist to this story! It kept the story fresh and me intrigued until the last page. And the characters were fantastic! Each new person had their story to tell, and the alpha collected them like treasured first editions to enjoy and protect. This book was amazing and original and a fantastic addition to the Alpha Shifter collection! I’m looking forward to reading the next book soon.
Sofia y Caspian me gustaron mucho. Ame cuando Caspian quiere matar a toda la manada en la que vivía Sofía, merecían morir todos. Caspian me gustó mucho, a pesar de que no quiere ser un alfa, lo es, protege a los más cambiaformas que sufrieron, y fueron maltratados por malditos HDP crueles. Sofia, tiene el poder de sanar rápido, por lo cual la manada en la que se crio la usaba de saco de boxeo, maltratandola siempre, por orden del maldito alfa, después de tanto sufrimiento, cuando Caspian le dice que son compañeros no lo cree, por suerte Caspian es un hombre fuerte y con algo de paciencia. Me gustó la historia, tiene algo de drama que entretiene un poco y mucho romance.
This was good. I love that the heroine was a virgin and belonged only to the hero, and the smexy times were well-written, but the plot kinda fell apart for me. It didn’t make much sense as to why the h was abused by her evil pack and the whole subplot with the heroines brother was a bit of a head-scratcher, but I was able to ignore it. I’m here for the romance and the relationship between the hero and heroine. And since the heroine is claimed exclusively by the hero and wasn’t a skank who let other men into her body to use her like a dirty gym sock,, I was happy.
Safe. Hero’s past is briefly mentioned but he didn’t come off as a manwhore. Heroine is a virgin and belongs only to her hero. No others, no cheating or sharing or abuse. HEA with epilogue and babies
A quick read without too much drama, I enjoyed Sofia and Caspian's story. She's unwanted in her pack and wants to leave but the alpha won't let her. The whole pack gangs up on her until Caspian saves her. She is his mate but she's going to fight it after finally getting freedom. I do wish it would have been longer so we could get more information, especially on George. I'd love to see him get a story in the future!
Review of Unwanted Mate by Sam Crescent * * * * * Another fabulously steamy shifter romance with a curvy strong heroine and a protective alpha male. When Sofia is abandoned by her parents and to be left with an abusive pack, all she yearns for is freedom. She's a burden and a freak, and she's stuck, left to be a punching bag. That is until one tall scarred alpha comes into the rescue and claims he is her mate. He wants her. She's stubborn. But her heat is coming, so what is she possibly to do?
Eh, I was bored. I felt like there was no feelings in this book. This story was all about the trauma and then the mating heat. Not enough getting to know you, falling in love. The most feelings were in the last two chapters/epilogue. Then the fact that the FMC will out live the MMC was never addressed. A pivotal plot point and once it was thrown out there it just gets ignored. Smdh.
I kept putting this book down it was so boring. Good luck.
A good premise, but felt there was so much more to flesh out. I had so many questions after reading this and I feel the characters and plot had so much more potential. It’s quick and steamy but ultimately left me wanting more from the story.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.
Sofia is punished by her pack for being herself. She has a gift and they abuse her for it. Released from their cruelty she blossoms. Caspian finds his mate being tortured by her pack and is determined to free her but his wolf won’t let her go. Watching Sofia become the woman/wolf she was truly meant to be is fantastic. This is a wonderful, sweet and sexy read.
Smexy story. Love with a tail. Sophia is the broken one in the pack and her rescue is imminent. Story was simple with very little drama but it had tangents for unknown reasons. I felt this story could have been more developed and ironed out. Three stars.
This was a pretty quick read but it was fantastic! It had its emotional parts and the steam that we all love to read. Sofia and Caspian connection was smokin hot 🥵🥵! I loved it!! I'm so excited to see what Sam' is going to come up with next.
loved it .. Every word from start to finish .. Hot sweet sexy .. She was abused and he rescued her and set her free or so she thought, but he had been in love with her for a while .. His pack was made up of unwanted wolves ... I loved it .. Another great job Sam
Unwanted Mate by Sam Crescent is book 15 in The Alpha Shifter Collection. This is the story of Sofia and Caspian. Caspian find that Sofia is his mate but she has been so abused by her pack that she doesn't trust the mating process. This was a quick hot read.
Such a cute story!! Caspian and Sofia really pull you into this short story which we all know Sam Crescent is sooooo good at. That’s why I own all of the Alpha Shifter books! Must read!!
What a totally amazing book!! I loved it from beginning to end and I can't wait for the next book to come out! A definite must read!! Happy Reading!!! :)