So I Married a Werewolf

The Mating Game #1

by Kristen Strassel

I married a wolf for "the good of the pack." Ask me how that worked out. Now I'm a rejected mate with three kids, and a wolf in sequins and fierce heels is on my doorstep, promising she can breathe life into the dreams that died that day... if I’m willing to put my fate in her well-manicured claws.

I’ll get three questions.

Why did my ex tuck tail and leave me with a giant mess? What is he trying to prove by coming back? And am I brave enough to defy my pack and choose myself?

Oh, enough about him already. He had his chance. I’m ready for a new life.

Bibi le Bonnet is my fairy dragmother. The fabulous wolf will give me a total life makeover and the mating ceremony of my dreams... All I have to do is become a contestant on The Mating Game and choose a mate sight unseen after asking a few flirty questions in front of a live audience.

Three potential suitors.

After a shocking twist on stage, my chosen wolf is revealed as none other than superstar Logan Mathis. I’ve spent so many nights fantasizing about the famous actor, and now he's on The Mating Game wooing the biggest homebody mom ever: me. Can I trust this wolf when he says he’s willing to claim me, or is it all an act to revive his career?

And three dates to find my forever.

Every date with Logan is time in the spotlight. I want to believe the fantasy, but am I fooling myself? Because my ex is back, and he'll drag my pack into open war before he lets any other wolf have me.

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters, Werewolves, Fantasy, Romantasy

396 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 2, 2022

About the author

Kristen Strassel is far cooler than she’ll make herself sound in this bio. She enjoys spending time with the voices in her head—nudging the characters toward those bad decisions and a happily ever after. When she’s not writing, she’s often still in the land of make-believe—doing makeup for film and television. And when she’s not doing any of that, she enjoys making her house look like a Pinterest board, watching football, and road trips to the middle of nowhere.

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Reviews

[Shifter Haven]

Reviewed at Shifter Haven

So I Married A Werewolf kicks off The Mating Game series with a romance that has everything that I enjoy in a Paranormal/Shifter Romance. And if you’ve read The Real Werewives series, you’ll want to go on this next adventure with Bibi le Bonnet! While the cover description tells you everything you want to know before picking up Logan and Cindy’s story what it doesn’t tell you is what a whirlwind romance you’re about to dive into that’s full of laughter and tears, danger and betrayal, sizzling chemistry, and a couple you can’t help but root for to find their forever mate in each other.

I adored Cindy. She’s a mom of three whose worthless jerk of a husband has run away from his responsibilities after losing a challenge against the pack’s Alpha. Pedro doesn’t know how to do anything but be a royal, entitled pain to everyone he encounters. He might have slinked into the forest where he can plan his mischief, and pull strings unseen – but he’s left the woman who married him, even though they were not mates for the good of the pack and his three small children to face the displeasure of their pack alone. What a jerk, a dangerous, deranged jerk.

Cindy is convinced that she’s going to face the rest of her life without her fated mate. She has children to raise, a small pack town that basically has turned their back on her because of Pedro’s actions… and the last thing she saw herself as was an attractive woman who deserves happiness. Bibi le Bonnet changed that when Cindy was picked to launch the new The Mating Game reality show and Bibi is about to change her world.

Logan is a famous actor who is facing some career challenges. He’s infamous as the lead actor in a program where he turns into his wolf in front of the cameras… but lately, his wolf has been absent, and Logan is facing not only personal troubles but career ones as well. His manager signed him up for The Mating Game, Logan believes he’s working from a script and that couldn’t be further from the truth. His wolf stirs when approaching the set where Cindy is waiting behind a dividing wall… and Logan is about to learn that wolf or not he’ll fight to keep Cindy, his fated mate at his side.

With cameras filming, danger approaching, kids being, well, kids Cindy and Logan are about to fall hard for each other. I loved that Logan opened up to Cindy about what was going on with his wolf. It’s impossible to start a real future with secrets between them. Cindy simply blossoms in So I Married A Werewolf. It was a delightfully fun journey to watch her come into her own, and face down an ex, her packmates, and even her own insecurities to have the future she and her kids deserve with Logan. We’ll get a few hints about who the show’s next couple will be, spend some time with the fierce, fashionable Bibi (who I loved almost as much as the main characters), and watch a pack begin a rebirth because of the actions of others. Begin – they aren’t perfect yet but they’re at least trying now.

I had fun in this world, and I cannot wait to get my hands on So I Won A Werelion.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author via Booksprout. The opinions expressed in this review are my own – good, bad, or indifferent. I was not financially compensated for this review and no expectation of a positive review was promised.*

[Tania]

It was entertaining at 1st, but then it got very repetitive. Honestly I was pretty bored.

[Kelsie Gahan]

This was the first book I read by this author and I enjoyed this book. Wouldn't be something I normally pick.

It was interesting.. I am not fond of gay/drag story lines , which is what I thought it was going for ; a bit at the first few chapters ; because its not my cup of tea but this was very well wrote. I like the drag character. I will read book two.

[Denise]

Cute, romantic story. Cindy's dirt-bag husband left her and their three kids after orchestrating a failed coup against the pack Alpha. She has decided that, since Pedro wasn't her real mate anyway, it is time to find the wolf that is meant for her. Bibi has declared herself Cindy's fairy dragmother and is determined to give Cindy a life makeover and find her a mate who will stick. But will Cindy be able to stick to her guns when her pack turns against her for trying to start a new life?

Logan Mathis has made his career shifting into his wolf form on the big screen and when his wolf decided to revolt he agreed to accept a gig as a contestant on a new reality show called 'The Mating Game.' His agent tries to convince him to back out at the last minute but his wolf insists that they do the interview. When Cindy picks him, sight unseen, as her prospective mate, he is excited. Finally, a role he had no script for but can't wait to play. But will Cindy still want him when she finds out his secret?

Plenty of action in this one. Pedro may be down but he is not out. The Montana pack is sniffing around Bibi. And Cindy's twins insist on 'marking their territory.' You will laugh, and maybe even cry a little, before it is all over. I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.

[Beverly]

This story aligns with how things are irl for women going through divorce and fighting their ex to begin a new life. Pedro infuriated me. How he could walk away from not only his wife but his preciouskids!! What a low life. I empathized with Logan for the uphill battle he had just trying to court Cindy. Pedro showed what a bully and coward he was,and proved it big time at the end of the story (wedding). True love never runs smoothly but Logan and Cindy won the grand prize- each other and a life together.

[Katie]

2.5 stars rounded up.

Such a cute premise but not well executed. This is hard to follow if you haven’t read any of her previous books (I hadn’t) and seemed to be filled with superfluous information about secondary and tertiary characters. Made extra hard to stay engaged with because of the three narrators (why was Bibi one?? Is this whole series meant to follow her?). Also, and maybe I’m just reading too much into this, but the fact that the evil ex-husband was the only person with a Latino name left a sour taste in my mouth.

[Lisa Bing]

This was an exciting series opener and it really took me around the emotional block, as it were. Giggles, tears, edge of my seat suspense and fan required steamy romance were all out in full play as I sped through this well written story. Fated mates, drama, sass, a jerk of an ex and true love all abound in this fun read and I can't wait for the next one to come out :D

[Nicky]

That’s had a fun start, but it fizzled out. I realized some way into it that this is a spin off of another series and it didn’t really do well as a standalone in my opinion. I kind of lost interest halfway through and it was a bit of a struggle to finish.

[Jamoz23]

Second time trying to read this.
Just started and a proofreading error in the first line. I am so tired of authors not taking the time to proofread properly, or ask some arc readers to send in errors to them.
But as I couldn’t make it through the first chapter, oh well.
DNF.

[Dana aka ♥Belladonna♥]

2.5 Stars

This a spin-off series. I may have enjoyed this more if I had read the previous books first.

[Evie Blackstaff]

She-wolf? Lady-bits? Really? They throw you in the deep end to start with lots of information with little to no context then throw in stuff like that? I was disappointed.

[Maaren]

I found the story a fast-paced but a fun one! I really liked Logan and Cindy and found their individual struggles to be human and realistic. Especially with Cindy and her kids and the state of the house was something I could definitely relate to and I liked that it was shown. We need more of that in books. I found also that the fated mates -trope worked so well for this couple and I could definitely see the sparks between our main couple from the start.

Bibi was amazing! I adored her from the start and she is the dragmother we all need. NEED! And her protective streak is just chefs kiss. I have to go back and read the Real werewives now because I need more Bibi in my life (and I want to know all about her and Hugo).

[LeMiliere]

When Cindy's horrid husband orchestrated a coup against their pack Alpha, a coup which failed, he fled leaving not only her but their three kids behind. Pedro wasn't much of a mate anyway, so she decided the time had come to find the right wolf for her. Onto the scene comes Bibi, who is determined to aid her find her fated mate. But when her pack turns against her for trying to start a new life will she follow through with her plans?

Logan's career is shifting into his wolf form on the big screen but then his wolf decided not to co-operate unless he agrees to be a contestant on a new reality show called 'The Mating Game.' When Cindy picks him, sight unseen, as her prospective mate, he's excited because now there's no script he can be himself, he can't wait. His only worry is if Cindy will still want him when she finds out his secret?

An enjoyable, cute, romantic story that has lots of action, great characters, and some emotional moments too. It's a great beginning to this new series.

[Margaret]

Cindy agrees to choose her mate on The Mating Games but is shocked when she sees her choice.
Bibi le Bonnet is ready to film the first episode of The Mating Game featuring Cindy Charon who took a mate for the good of the pack but who abandon her months before leaving her on her own with three young children. To her Bibi is her fairy dragmother giving her hope of finding her fated mate. She asks three contenters three questions and chooses Number Two. When he appears she is shocked to realize that the man she has chosen is movie star Logan Mathis. An exciting wolf shifter romance.

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

[Emily Pennington]

Cindy and Logan's Story . . .

Cindy took a mate for the good of the pack. Instead her jerk of a husband Pedro left her with 3 kids. So Bibi le Bonnet becomes fairy “dragmother” to Cindy, promising a makeover and a new mate. She will have to be a contestant on “The Mating Game” but her choice has to be made “sight-unseen”. She ends up with superstar Logan Mathis, a famous actor. He and Cindy both seem happy with the outcome. But she’s not completely sure he is serious. But will her old pack give her grief over wanting to start over? Will her jerk ex come back to prevent her happiness? Will Cindy and Logan finally get that HEA?

[Julie]

I wasn't sure I would like this book with a fairy dragmother and Bachelorette theme with fated mates and how that would work. But I was pleasantly surprised and couldn't put it down.

Single mom abandoned with 3 kids under 4 beaten down by disapproval of her pack when they should have held her up and helped. As a last ditched effort to improve her life she goes on the the mating game. She didn't expect to be mated to a Hollywood heartthrob or that he had secrets of his own. I laughed at the antics and can't wait to read the next book.

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

[Sara Sigler]

Cindy was mated for the good of the pack but Pedro rejected her no one in the pack wanted to help her with anything. Bibi decided that Cindy would be her first match on her show The Mating Game. Cindy had ask three men questions and then say who she wanted and picked Logan an actor who had lost his wolf. They had an adventurous mating and the children loved him too, the pack accepted him. Good book!.

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

[Denise]

This is a NON-SPOILER REVIEW of So I Married a Werewolf by Kristen Strassel. This first book in The Mating Game series is an awesome start to this spin-off series! If you read and loved The Real Werewives series, you should love this series as well. If you haven't read The Real Werewives... Why Not?! You're missing some good stuff here! Cute, funny, sexy and just plain fun!

This honest and voluntary review was made possible by reading a copy through Booksprout.

[Charis Lavoie]

If you have not the Real Werewives of Colorado series, you will have a difficult time following the storyline since it is referenced quite significantly.
Since this is the first book I have read by this author, I had a hard time understanding a lot of the context and worldbuilding that occurred in the previous series.
This book hit the trashy reality vibes though. I personally did not relate to the characters, but it was still a fun and sweet read.

[Alisha Martin]

this was supposed to be the first in the series but there is clearly a lot of backstory from a different series that would be great to know because there are just a lot of unanswered questions in the plot at this point. The character development in this story was meh. None of them really had any depth for me. overall it was a hard meh in my book

[Marianne]

This is a super fun shifter/reality show romance.. I liked it a lot! It's funny and original, with steam and sass..

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

[Erin]

I was honestly so excited about the premise of this, but the triple POV was a crowd. I want an entire book written for Bibi, but having that third view made reading this book tough for me. There was too much going on.

[Laura Richards]

I can't believe I finished this... just no

[Rosario]

So many errors, and the story felt like it was made up like a teenager fantasy.
Forced myself to finish it and I regret every second I wasted on it

[Anne]

can't finish. just too boring.

[Monica (switching platforms)]

3.5

“It wasn’t about having a mate. It was so much more than that. I wasn’t afraid to take chances. I wasn’t afraid to stand on this stage and take what was mine.”


I honestly expected to find the classic reality show story and instead, I was pleasantly surprised by what I read.
At first, I felt lost because there were references to situations that had nothing to do with this story, but after seeing it, I realized it was the continuation. I don't know if I can put it this way but apart from Bibi le Bonnet, the host who has taken care of this program in the past, there is nothing else. However, I would have liked to have a disclaimer at the beginning of the story rather than at the end. But this is just a small criticism of me.

Based on the cover and the plot, I initially believed that “The Mating Game” was the magnet that would have attracted the two protagonists, but apparently, the real cog is Bibi Le Bonnet of which I didn’t imagine finding a POV between the two characters. And the longer the story went on, the more I found her "insertion" sensible because you see her point of view on the program she continues to cultivate and how she wants to plant the seed for future couples. In addition, her chemistry with Hugo makes me wish to read her happy ending. And it was enjoyable to observe how things are handled behind the scenes.

The story focuses not so much on the couple but more on fears, uncertainties, and "on the moment" of the two characters: Cindy is a single mother who got stuck with a werewolf who is neither worthy as a father nor as a member of the pack and doesn't believe that participating in a reality show her situation will change, on the other there is Logan, a werewolf actor who ended up taking part in the program as a breakthrough for his career. I will be short 'cause I don't want to make spoilers but it was a pleasant read because despite the purpose being to find the other half, you first work on yourself.

Just because the author focused on this I found the relationship between Logan and the children of Cindy "light" because of the time that has passed. I don’t remember well, but it seems like two weeks have passed and the time that Cindy and Logan spent together has been relatively short. I understand that we’re in a paranormal romance so there is a different type of connection, but the link between the children of Cindy and Logan? Was so-so. From this point of view, it would have been interesting to see how this new family was formed in an epilogue.

It's surely an enjoyable story and I sincerely look forward to reading this series because the future couples are so interesting and being able to see them in the first story just only increases my curiosity about them.

[Alejandra Guerrero]

So, it’s bad. I was confused a lot of the time, not only because there’s an ungodly amount of characters who are mentioned and given a backstory who don’t matter at all to the story, but because pretty much every character sounds the same. There’s three POVs (I can’t imagine why BIbi has one here, but she does, so we are following her drama too, which adds to the confusion) and all three sound the same. One would think a young mother of three would sound different from a jaded Drag Queen and an actor trying to save his career, but no. And not only the MCs sound the same, secondary characters talk like them too, which makes dialogue very hard to follow, since there isn’t anything to signal who the hell is talking most of the time. A line of dialogue appeared and I had to guess who the hell was talking, if it was a response to the previous dialogue or a continuation of it. Because everyone sounded the same, even the five year old twins sounded just like the adults. And there was so much talking! It started okay, with the show being described and things happening, though the info dumping was heavy and kinda clunky. But then Cindy chose Logan and they talked and talked and talked some more… until I got fed up.
Oh, and there's nothing werewolves except they say they are wolves. Logan can't even shift, because of an "incident" we don't really know about (I'm pretty sure it's going to be a big reveal later in the book, but I can't continue, and the way things were going it was going to be a let down anyway). I saw no difference between this and a bad romcom set in a non-paranormal stting, except MCs seemed deranged, listening to voices in their heads. Which TBH could have been just their inner voices, their wolves sounded exaclty the same as everyone else.
I have better things to read. DNF 35%

[Tabitha]

I was expecting more of a quick romcom style pacing, and while the timeline of the novel does fit with that, the many scenes and POV characters make the book feel a little slow. It’s incredibly cute and uplifting. Bibi, the drag queen and reality show host, steals the show quite a bit, much as she tries to center the contestants and their story. I confess to being a little confused about her character’s gender identity though; if she’s always in drag, always uses she/her pronouns, and doesn’t like being referred to by her male name, isn’t she really a trans woman? Or at least transfeminine. Not sure I’m happy with that portrayal without further clarification. I would recommend this book for a lighthearted read.

[Kit]

Read : December 5, 2022
Rating :3,5 Stars

I don't read a lot of wolf shifter books and then usually when they're part of a group of supernaturals rather than just about wolf shifters.
This mainly because a big portion of them have a lot of violence against women and that's not really my preferred reading material.

This does but not, as in, its seems as its supposed to be seen, as something bad, that shouldn't happen and I liked how this ended.

The male mc was sweet enough and the female mc was slowly reclaiming her own and I really liked that.
I think I would have liked a bit more personality from the male mc.

[Trish]

I loved it!

So much happening in this story. Great characters. I loved how Cindy was a single mom, frazzled, and worn out by raising 3 kids with little to no support from her pack fellow members. The happy ending she gets is worth the wait. The star of the book was the Fabulous Fairy Drag Mother, BiBi. I loved everything about this character. I would love to see her work her magic on a single woman in her sixties. Old enough to have lived, but still has enough time to start fresh again.