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Blood Lust #3
Mated
Be small. Be invisible. It’s an odd life mantra for a fragile human woman in a world of monsters. But Jane’s blood contains a touch of vampire magic, which makes her a target. With her faster-than-normal healing time, she’s an ideal punching bag for the abusive vampire she’s been living with, the one she thought might protect her this time.
Paul owes a debt to the werewolf alpha, and Cole doesn’t care how he gets flesh or coin. $10,000 or Jane? The human is a small price to pay to be debt-free.
Cole is attractive and warm---so different from the coldness and death Jane has grown used to. If the werewolves didn’t have a worse reputation than the vampires, being taken by the alpha might feel like rescue, but Cole’s growing possessive nature, makes Jane fear he’ll only abuse her like the others. If he doesn’t, could becoming an alpha’s mate free her from the vampires for good?
Blood Lust (book 1) (Kept, Claimed, Mated)
Save My Soul (book 2)
The Catalyst (book 3)
Life Cycle (book 4)
Cat Fight
Dark Mercy (prelude to Hadrian and Angeline's book... the upcoming book 5)
Paul owes a debt to the werewolf alpha, and Cole doesn’t care how he gets flesh or coin. $10,000 or Jane? The human is a small price to pay to be debt-free.
Cole is attractive and warm---so different from the coldness and death Jane has grown used to. If the werewolves didn’t have a worse reputation than the vampires, being taken by the alpha might feel like rescue, but Cole’s growing possessive nature, makes Jane fear he’ll only abuse her like the others. If he doesn’t, could becoming an alpha’s mate free her from the vampires for good?
Blood Lust (book 1) (Kept, Claimed, Mated)
Save My Soul (book 2)
The Catalyst (book 3)
Life Cycle (book 4)
Cat Fight
Dark Mercy (prelude to Hadrian and Angeline's book... the upcoming book 5)
108 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2010
12 people are currently reading
600 people want to read
About the author
Zoe Winters
26 books504 followersAuthor of paranormal romance and urban fantasy.
Book 6 in the Preternaturals series Available for Pre-order now at Amazon Kindle and Kobo Books.
Author Bio:
Zoe Winters writes quirky and sometimes dark paranormal romance and fantasy. Her favorite colors are rainbow and clear.
She is known for her preternaturals series which combines romance front story with larger urban fantasy back story which develops over the course of several books.
Her world contains: demons, vampires, werewolves, werecats, and other shapeshifters, magic users such as witches and wizards, angels, and humans who are unaware of the magical world around them.
Zoe can be found at zoewintersbooks.com To subscribe to her newsletter, fill out the contact form.
Fun supplementary material for the preternaturals series can be found at theriantype.com
Book 6 in the Preternaturals series Available for Pre-order now at Amazon Kindle and Kobo Books.
Author Bio:
Zoe Winters writes quirky and sometimes dark paranormal romance and fantasy. Her favorite colors are rainbow and clear.
She is known for her preternaturals series which combines romance front story with larger urban fantasy back story which develops over the course of several books.
Her world contains: demons, vampires, werewolves, werecats, and other shapeshifters, magic users such as witches and wizards, angels, and humans who are unaware of the magical world around them.
Zoe can be found at zoewintersbooks.com To subscribe to her newsletter, fill out the contact form.
Fun supplementary material for the preternaturals series can be found at theriantype.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 29, 2010
This time I got smart. I waited until I had plenty of daylight left in the day to start this book. I learned early on that I can't read Zoe Winters' stuff right before bed because her books keep me up.
I enjoyed this one a lot. (I still love Anthony and Charlee in Claimed the most.) I love seeing the same characters pop up in Zoe Winters' books. It's like seeing old friends again, and for those who loved the first two books, you'll be delighted to see those main characters appear in this story.
Anyway, onto this book... I can't remember a time when any paranormal book mentioned vampires as being cold. (Okay, maybe that's because I rarely ever read them.) But this is one example of how her world makes sense. Of course, vampires would be cold. They're "dead". Everything in this world makes perfect sense. It all interconnects, and there are no contradictions. You really feel as if you're there.
I adored Cole and loved seeing Jane again. She was far more than the vampire groopie she was suspected of being in Claimed, and I was glad to see her own story since I did like her. Cole offers his protection, and soon he realizes that she's supposed to be his mate. There's something I really enjoy about all of the characters Zoe Winters creates. The men never force themselves on the women, and yet, they're strong types. The women, likewise, are also strong, but they have that tenderness and desire to be loved and protected.
And the ending was one of the best I've ever read. You have to read it to know what I'm talking about, but there was the question of whether or not waiting for her "okay" to mark her as his mate was going to make Cole do something he shouldn't do. Sorry, but I can't be anymore specific than that.
Oh, someone in the pack does want to hurt Jane, and I love who turned out to be the bad guy. Awesome job!
I enjoyed this one a lot. (I still love Anthony and Charlee in Claimed the most.) I love seeing the same characters pop up in Zoe Winters' books. It's like seeing old friends again, and for those who loved the first two books, you'll be delighted to see those main characters appear in this story.
Anyway, onto this book... I can't remember a time when any paranormal book mentioned vampires as being cold. (Okay, maybe that's because I rarely ever read them.) But this is one example of how her world makes sense. Of course, vampires would be cold. They're "dead". Everything in this world makes perfect sense. It all interconnects, and there are no contradictions. You really feel as if you're there.
I adored Cole and loved seeing Jane again. She was far more than the vampire groopie she was suspected of being in Claimed, and I was glad to see her own story since I did like her. Cole offers his protection, and soon he realizes that she's supposed to be his mate. There's something I really enjoy about all of the characters Zoe Winters creates. The men never force themselves on the women, and yet, they're strong types. The women, likewise, are also strong, but they have that tenderness and desire to be loved and protected.
And the ending was one of the best I've ever read. You have to read it to know what I'm talking about, but there was the question of whether or not waiting for her "okay" to mark her as his mate was going to make Cole do something he shouldn't do. Sorry, but I can't be anymore specific than that.
Oh, someone in the pack does want to hurt Jane, and I love who turned out to be the bad guy. Awesome job!
October 21, 2010
Another great read! Now I would normally say with 100% certainty that I am a vampire girl, but the more protective, sensitive, hot Werewolves I watch & read about, the more I'm starting to have a bit of a identity crisis. LOL. Oh well...I guess it doesn't hurt to love 'em all!?
November 15, 2010
Previously Published on my blog: Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life
Blood Lust is a compilation of three Paranormal novellas, all part of Zoe Winters’ The Preternaturals Series. Each one tells the story of a couple and their journey into their Happily Ever After. All the stories are set in the same world and some characters cross over between them at times.
I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I tend to enjoy a shorter story now and then but I do prefer full length novels. I feel it is hard to make a HEA work in less than that.
However, I feel that Zoe has done an amazing job in introducing us to these characters, this world and telling their stories. I loved the mix of supernatural races that Zoe has written. We have Vampires, Cat Shifters, Werewolves, Witches, Warlocks, Demons and so much more.
Kept is the story of Greta, a cat therian (shifter), and Dayne, a very dangerous sorcerer. Greta’s life is in danger when she finds out that her tribe plans to sacrifice her because of something she has no control over, Dayne is the only one who can keep her safe. Dayne is HOT and his bad boy reputation gives him the privacy he needs, that is until Greta comes into his life and steals his heart.
Claimed is all about Anthony and Charlee. Charlee is Greta’s best friend and co-worker and for a while she has been flirting almost daily with this very hot man that keeps showing up at the store where she works. Anthony can’t seem to resist stopping by and flirting with Charlee, specially since her blood seema to draw him more than any other person’s blood has. But one night, Anthony loses control and does the imaginable, he drinks from Charlee. Ashamed of what he has done, Anthony erases her memory of the night, but something goes wrong and she wakes up the next day not remembering anything at all. Now, the only one who can help her claim her life back is the Vampire who took it all away in the first place.
We meet Jane in Claimed, when Greta meets her as one of Anthony’s adversaries’ girl. In Mated, Jane is now the being mistreated by another vampire and Cole, the local Werewolf Alpha, saves her by taking her as payment for gambling debts. Jane has been in Vampire’s radars for as long as she can remember, something about her just attracts them, but now she has the chance to leave that all behind. However, she is not sure how safe she is, hiding away in a Werewolf den, where one of them seems to be enjoying human meat.
I really enjoyed all these stories, but my favorite was Mated! I love a shifter and Cole is just a great specimen of the race LOL.
All in all, Blood Lust is a full plate for any Paranormal Romance lover out there! The romance is great, but it never overshadows the story, I think Zoe did a great job in balancing that out and I can’t wait for more books from her!
Blood Lust is a compilation of three Paranormal novellas, all part of Zoe Winters’ The Preternaturals Series. Each one tells the story of a couple and their journey into their Happily Ever After. All the stories are set in the same world and some characters cross over between them at times.
I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I tend to enjoy a shorter story now and then but I do prefer full length novels. I feel it is hard to make a HEA work in less than that.
However, I feel that Zoe has done an amazing job in introducing us to these characters, this world and telling their stories. I loved the mix of supernatural races that Zoe has written. We have Vampires, Cat Shifters, Werewolves, Witches, Warlocks, Demons and so much more.
Kept is the story of Greta, a cat therian (shifter), and Dayne, a very dangerous sorcerer. Greta’s life is in danger when she finds out that her tribe plans to sacrifice her because of something she has no control over, Dayne is the only one who can keep her safe. Dayne is HOT and his bad boy reputation gives him the privacy he needs, that is until Greta comes into his life and steals his heart.
Claimed is all about Anthony and Charlee. Charlee is Greta’s best friend and co-worker and for a while she has been flirting almost daily with this very hot man that keeps showing up at the store where she works. Anthony can’t seem to resist stopping by and flirting with Charlee, specially since her blood seema to draw him more than any other person’s blood has. But one night, Anthony loses control and does the imaginable, he drinks from Charlee. Ashamed of what he has done, Anthony erases her memory of the night, but something goes wrong and she wakes up the next day not remembering anything at all. Now, the only one who can help her claim her life back is the Vampire who took it all away in the first place.
We meet Jane in Claimed, when Greta meets her as one of Anthony’s adversaries’ girl. In Mated, Jane is now the being mistreated by another vampire and Cole, the local Werewolf Alpha, saves her by taking her as payment for gambling debts. Jane has been in Vampire’s radars for as long as she can remember, something about her just attracts them, but now she has the chance to leave that all behind. However, she is not sure how safe she is, hiding away in a Werewolf den, where one of them seems to be enjoying human meat.
I really enjoyed all these stories, but my favorite was Mated! I love a shifter and Cole is just a great specimen of the race LOL.
All in all, Blood Lust is a full plate for any Paranormal Romance lover out there! The romance is great, but it never overshadows the story, I think Zoe did a great job in balancing that out and I can’t wait for more books from her!
June 5, 2010
Jane has been able to sense vampires since she was a child and this has meant she has lived her life in danger from the vampires who don't like the fact that she can see them. She has been forced to become a vampire groupie in the hope that one of them will turn her so her life will no longer be at risk. Abused and beaten by the vampire she had hoped would protect her it only gets worse when he gives her to the werewolf alpha Cole as payment for his gambling debt. She knows the rules of the vampire world and knows how to survive but finding herself at the mercy of a werewolf she has no idea what will happen to her. She has always believed that the werewolves are even worse than the vampires but can Cole prove she was wrong? And what will happen if the pack member who wants Jane dead manages to get hold of her?
Although I loved the first 2 novellas in this series I have to say that Mated was my absolute favorite. We were introduced to vampire groupie Jane in Claimed when she became friends with Charlee. I didn't think she was a particularly interesting character but as soon as I got to know her better in Mated she quickly became my favorite heroine in the series. She has been to hell and back but is a survivor and desperately wants to find somewhere she is safe and accepted. I absolutely adored Cole! He is a strong alpha who quickly recognises that Jane is his mate and wants to protect her. Understanding what she has been through he doesn't want to rush her or force her into anything so goes against all of his instincts by not immediately marking her as his mate. He is so sweet as he tries to gain Jane's trust & I dare you not to fall for him yourself.
Overall I would definitely rate this as a must read trilogy for fans of paranormal romance. Even if you're new to this genre I'd recommend giving it a try. I love Zoe's writing style and having seen what she can accomplish with these novellas I can't wait to get my hands on the full length novel that is due out this winter. I love the world she has created and am looking forward to immersing myself in it again in the future. My only warning would be not to start reading unless you have time to finish the whole story - I've read each of these novellas in just 1 sitting and devoured all 3 in less than 24 hours!
Although I loved the first 2 novellas in this series I have to say that Mated was my absolute favorite. We were introduced to vampire groupie Jane in Claimed when she became friends with Charlee. I didn't think she was a particularly interesting character but as soon as I got to know her better in Mated she quickly became my favorite heroine in the series. She has been to hell and back but is a survivor and desperately wants to find somewhere she is safe and accepted. I absolutely adored Cole! He is a strong alpha who quickly recognises that Jane is his mate and wants to protect her. Understanding what she has been through he doesn't want to rush her or force her into anything so goes against all of his instincts by not immediately marking her as his mate. He is so sweet as he tries to gain Jane's trust & I dare you not to fall for him yourself.
Overall I would definitely rate this as a must read trilogy for fans of paranormal romance. Even if you're new to this genre I'd recommend giving it a try. I love Zoe's writing style and having seen what she can accomplish with these novellas I can't wait to get my hands on the full length novel that is due out this winter. I love the world she has created and am looking forward to immersing myself in it again in the future. My only warning would be not to start reading unless you have time to finish the whole story - I've read each of these novellas in just 1 sitting and devoured all 3 in less than 24 hours!
June 2, 2010
I’ve always been more of a vampire girl than a werewolf girl. I suppose that’s because I was exposed to vampires first, but it took me a while to get into the whole wolf world. And boy, am I ever sad that it took me so long to get into it.
We originally met Jane in Claimed, when she was pretending to be a vampire groupie in order to save her own life. She hooked up with Paul, who initially seemed like an ok guy (for a vampire fledge) but ended up being a complete douchebag. Cole saved her, but in order to do so, he had to kind of take her hostage as payment for debts Paul incurred. Told you. Douchebag.
If you know nothing else about me, you know that I have a soft spot for growly bad boys who have a hidden soft side. Cole is no exception to this rule. He’s fiercely protective of what’s his, and he feels that Jane is his pretty much immediately (although he fights the hell out of that feeling – which is totally understandable, since he’s a werewolf & she’s human).
Jane is awesome. She’s terrified for her life (she’s living with a freaking werewolf, for crying out loud! You would be too!), but she’s still a strong person. She’s been through so much in her relatively short life, but she’s still going strong. She adapts to whatever situation she’s in to survive, and I admire the hell out of her for that.
The one thing that bothered me was how many times the mating thing was repeated. I know that it’s important to the storyline and ties into the title, but after a while, I get tired of seeing the same word repeated over & over again. I’m kind of a picky brat that way.
Mated is my favorite of the Blood Lust trilogy/anthology, without a doubt. I’m super excited to see more of the Preternaturals Series. Save My Soul is the second book, and tells Cain’s story, who was introduced in Mated. He seems a little on the slimy side now, but I know he’s got an interesting story to tell, and I know Zoe will do a wonderful job of telling it.
We originally met Jane in Claimed, when she was pretending to be a vampire groupie in order to save her own life. She hooked up with Paul, who initially seemed like an ok guy (for a vampire fledge) but ended up being a complete douchebag. Cole saved her, but in order to do so, he had to kind of take her hostage as payment for debts Paul incurred. Told you. Douchebag.
If you know nothing else about me, you know that I have a soft spot for growly bad boys who have a hidden soft side. Cole is no exception to this rule. He’s fiercely protective of what’s his, and he feels that Jane is his pretty much immediately (although he fights the hell out of that feeling – which is totally understandable, since he’s a werewolf & she’s human).
Jane is awesome. She’s terrified for her life (she’s living with a freaking werewolf, for crying out loud! You would be too!), but she’s still a strong person. She’s been through so much in her relatively short life, but she’s still going strong. She adapts to whatever situation she’s in to survive, and I admire the hell out of her for that.
The one thing that bothered me was how many times the mating thing was repeated. I know that it’s important to the storyline and ties into the title, but after a while, I get tired of seeing the same word repeated over & over again. I’m kind of a picky brat that way.
Mated is my favorite of the Blood Lust trilogy/anthology, without a doubt. I’m super excited to see more of the Preternaturals Series. Save My Soul is the second book, and tells Cain’s story, who was introduced in Mated. He seems a little on the slimy side now, but I know he’s got an interesting story to tell, and I know Zoe will do a wonderful job of telling it.
January 21, 2011
Once again, Zoe has shocked me with her ability to tell the oldest story in the book (boy meets girl) and actually keep it interesting. I seriously doubt a plain romance novel would keep my attention the way she did (not that I am going to test that out). The Blood Lust story keeps evolving and Mated beautifully continues the tradition.
The wolves’ subculture within Cary Town is just as meticulously crafted as the ones from the first two Blood Lust entries. You will be drawn into it along with Jane and walk with her as she slowly releases her prejudices about the wolves. The interactions among this world and its characters melds seamlessly into the plot with nothing feeling out of place.
It is a difficult job to use legendary creatures and not devolve them into hackneyed archetypes, but Zoe walks that line like a pro. Her tremendous talent to bring them to life will fill you with genuine empathy for their plights as they become more like good friends than fictional people. You will not find boring, flat development here. Zoe only writes with 100% pure 3D characterization.
The plot was good and well thought out. It moved along with good pacing for the most part, but there were a few moments that I felt it begin to stall just a little in the middle. It is really not much to complain about as the encompassing world soaks up the plot’s deficiencies. The build to the final climatic scene was so riveting it had me glued to the screen. The sheer emotion fueling the two main characters’ battle with fated love was written so excellently I began questioning whether or not I have actually ever really been in love before.
Mated is worthy as the final chapter in the Blood Lust trilogy. It is a great read that is ridiculously under-priced for its quality. I am by no means a paranormal romance authority, but I can safely recommend it to anyone who needs something deeper than Twilight to test the genre out.
The wolves’ subculture within Cary Town is just as meticulously crafted as the ones from the first two Blood Lust entries. You will be drawn into it along with Jane and walk with her as she slowly releases her prejudices about the wolves. The interactions among this world and its characters melds seamlessly into the plot with nothing feeling out of place.
It is a difficult job to use legendary creatures and not devolve them into hackneyed archetypes, but Zoe walks that line like a pro. Her tremendous talent to bring them to life will fill you with genuine empathy for their plights as they become more like good friends than fictional people. You will not find boring, flat development here. Zoe only writes with 100% pure 3D characterization.
The plot was good and well thought out. It moved along with good pacing for the most part, but there were a few moments that I felt it begin to stall just a little in the middle. It is really not much to complain about as the encompassing world soaks up the plot’s deficiencies. The build to the final climatic scene was so riveting it had me glued to the screen. The sheer emotion fueling the two main characters’ battle with fated love was written so excellently I began questioning whether or not I have actually ever really been in love before.
Mated is worthy as the final chapter in the Blood Lust trilogy. It is a great read that is ridiculously under-priced for its quality. I am by no means a paranormal romance authority, but I can safely recommend it to anyone who needs something deeper than Twilight to test the genre out.
August 30, 2010
Mated by Zoe Winters is Cole and Jane's story. Cole is an alpha to his wolf pack and Jane a human who is able to see the true face of vampires. Having had to pretend to be a vampire groupie to stay safe, she is taken by Cole in lieu of the debt vampire Paul owes him.
When i first initially saw Paul and Jane in 'Claimed' i really liked him, i thought this book would be their story, his character took a 180 from cheeky cocky likeable vamp to abusive and ready to pimp out his girlfriend to the highest bidder. i was kind of sad about the character change for Paul, but then i met Cole and it was Paul Who?
Cole is everything you want in an Alpha Male. Loyal, Protective, Gentle when needed, strong and with an alluring pull that will leave you wanting more from this wolf. (can you tell i kind of like him? ha!)
Unsure of why he is keeping a tight hold on human Jane, he's almost prepared to go to war with the Vampires over her, he shows the girl kindness and a gentle strength she hasn't had before. Always having been afraid of the vamps Jane is also confused when the merest of touches of Cole has her aroused (the girl aint stupid, Cole is hot!)
Sounds pretty much like a typical werewolf story meets girl falls in love..right? nope! toss into the mix a wolf pack member murdering humans, portals that lead to the demon realm, meeting a very interesting demon by the name of Cain (Need to see more of him!) a jealous omega, sizzling tension, scorching sexy times and a wolf that can tear jeans clean from your body before you can even blink, and what you get is another engaging read from the supernatural world Zoe Winters has built.
I really enjoyed 'Mated' just enough tension, intrigued and romance to whet my appetite for more of this series.
When i first initially saw Paul and Jane in 'Claimed' i really liked him, i thought this book would be their story, his character took a 180 from cheeky cocky likeable vamp to abusive and ready to pimp out his girlfriend to the highest bidder. i was kind of sad about the character change for Paul, but then i met Cole and it was Paul Who?
Cole is everything you want in an Alpha Male. Loyal, Protective, Gentle when needed, strong and with an alluring pull that will leave you wanting more from this wolf. (can you tell i kind of like him? ha!)
Unsure of why he is keeping a tight hold on human Jane, he's almost prepared to go to war with the Vampires over her, he shows the girl kindness and a gentle strength she hasn't had before. Always having been afraid of the vamps Jane is also confused when the merest of touches of Cole has her aroused (the girl aint stupid, Cole is hot!)
Sounds pretty much like a typical werewolf story meets girl falls in love..right? nope! toss into the mix a wolf pack member murdering humans, portals that lead to the demon realm, meeting a very interesting demon by the name of Cain (Need to see more of him!) a jealous omega, sizzling tension, scorching sexy times and a wolf that can tear jeans clean from your body before you can even blink, and what you get is another engaging read from the supernatural world Zoe Winters has built.
I really enjoyed 'Mated' just enough tension, intrigued and romance to whet my appetite for more of this series.
July 13, 2012
Review also posted on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer: http://reenajacobs.com/blog/2010/10/n...
I quickly learned Jane was not the same wild girl she was in Claimed. Yes, I knew Jane was disturbed in a broken kind of way. I expected the right incident to set her off, and she’d go out like a blazing flame taking everyone around her with her. I was wrong. So very wrong.
I’m not sure if the spark I thought I saw in Jane was more bravado or if Paul had beaten all sense of self-worth out of her by the time I got to Mated. Truly, it saddened me to see what became of Jane. But her story isn’t unique. Men batter women all across the country. And for some reason or another the women feel as if they have no other choice but to accept it. That was Jane. Trapped in an abuse relationship with no place to turn. Her only way to fight back was to survive another day.
I found Cole to be very straightforward. I’m not sure if this was a werewolf trait with the species being forthcoming with their emotions and such or what. But it worked. I liked that there were no games in love. In many ways, it’d make life easier if people were so honest with their feelings.
Ms. Winters mentioned in the past her Blood Lust series were standalone. I’d say definitely yes with this book. The novella starts months? after Claimed and is so focused on Jane and Cole, there’s no time for back story from the other novellas in the series. Of the three books, I’d have to say this was my favorite.
I quickly learned Jane was not the same wild girl she was in Claimed. Yes, I knew Jane was disturbed in a broken kind of way. I expected the right incident to set her off, and she’d go out like a blazing flame taking everyone around her with her. I was wrong. So very wrong.
I’m not sure if the spark I thought I saw in Jane was more bravado or if Paul had beaten all sense of self-worth out of her by the time I got to Mated. Truly, it saddened me to see what became of Jane. But her story isn’t unique. Men batter women all across the country. And for some reason or another the women feel as if they have no other choice but to accept it. That was Jane. Trapped in an abuse relationship with no place to turn. Her only way to fight back was to survive another day.
I found Cole to be very straightforward. I’m not sure if this was a werewolf trait with the species being forthcoming with their emotions and such or what. But it worked. I liked that there were no games in love. In many ways, it’d make life easier if people were so honest with their feelings.
Ms. Winters mentioned in the past her Blood Lust series were standalone. I’d say definitely yes with this book. The novella starts months? after Claimed and is so focused on Jane and Cole, there’s no time for back story from the other novellas in the series. Of the three books, I’d have to say this was my favorite.
August 22, 2010
"Mated" is easily Zoe's best work to date, in my opinion. But I have to admit bias - werewolves are my all-time favorite paranormal shifters, and Cole, the alpha dog here is about as sexy and tough as they come. I fell for him myself about 3 seconds after he showed up on the page, and it only got better from there!
Jane is a very complex and emotionally screwed up woman with limited choices due to the hand she's been dealt in life. I think Zoe did an excellent job developing her from the little glimpses we saw in "Claimed" to the slightly neurotic but adaptable character who finally gets a decent shot at her own happily ever after. The emotional range she goes through is so real I felt like I was right there with her amidst the confusion she has to navigate.
This novella is very complex and deals with complex issues through the beautifully transparent prose that is a Zoe Winters trademark. If you like paranormal romance, you need to experience this unique and magical new world for yourself. You'll be enchanted, as I was. I'm eagerly looking forward to whatever comes next.
Jane is a very complex and emotionally screwed up woman with limited choices due to the hand she's been dealt in life. I think Zoe did an excellent job developing her from the little glimpses we saw in "Claimed" to the slightly neurotic but adaptable character who finally gets a decent shot at her own happily ever after. The emotional range she goes through is so real I felt like I was right there with her amidst the confusion she has to navigate.
This novella is very complex and deals with complex issues through the beautifully transparent prose that is a Zoe Winters trademark. If you like paranormal romance, you need to experience this unique and magical new world for yourself. You'll be enchanted, as I was. I'm eagerly looking forward to whatever comes next.
January 31, 2011
I really enjoyed this trilogy of Novellas. The 1st was rather short but highly engrossing. The last 2 were much longer and more involved. I enjoyed the character development & the story line. This was an excellent start to a series that I hope the author will continue.
February 18, 2015
This is the 3rd book of Blood Lust and it's about werewolves, humans and vamps. An ok read.
March 21, 2018
Why did they do Paul like that? He was frigging loyal and that's how he goes down? Because you hae a human mate now?! Then she has a chance to get even and it lasted all but one paragraph? While he was asleep?! The Omega was just ridiculous.
May 21, 2017
Yeah
The best of the series. I absolutely adore Cole. He has his flaws and that is what makes him so appealing.
The best of the series. I absolutely adore Cole. He has his flaws and that is what makes him so appealing.
July 10, 2010
In the previous novella "Claimed", Jane was dating the vampire Paul, who seemed like an alright guy. You soon find out how awful he is -- at the beginning of "Mated", Paul has incurred a load of debts and decides to literally use Jane to pay them off. Cole takes her as a hostage/guarantee and she ends up living with him for the duration... but Cole's pack don't make living arrangements simple.
"Mated" was a fun and entertaining read, the kind of light-hearted fiction which you devour in one sitting. The werewolf society is rather different: I love how they live in underground cave systems of a sort, and their magical protection (thanks to Cain the incubus) is pretty unique. Of course the usual pack politics remain, making "Mated" an instant hit with werewolf fans.
However, I have to say that despite enjoying the story, "Mated" was my least favourite of the Blood Lust trilogy. The characters and plot didn't quite capture me, and I wonder whether it's because all three novellas share a similar plot that, with familiarity, loses its effectiveness. In all three the heroine is endangered by a preternatural force beyond her control. Then the male lead, reluctantly at first, takes the female under his wing to protect her. The two proceed to live in close quarters, leading to arguments and sexual tension. They get together, solve the looming menace, and live HEA. It's a formula that works, but I couldn't help noticing the similarities when reading the three novellas back-to-back.
The other issue I had was with the characters. Now, I like Cole. He's one of those dark and dangerous bad boys who's a sweetheart inside, a sexy combination. But I wish he was darker, more conflicted, perhaps more like vampire Anthony from "Claimed". Jane, on the other hand... I didn't really connect with her. She lacks the sparkle that Winters' characters normally have, the snarkiness. Yes, she's got the darkest history, and I admire her strength despite all the adversity, but she felt more passive compared to Winters' other heroines.
Despite my nit-picking, I must reaffirm that I enjoyed reading "Mated" -- it was a fun, light-hearted read with great world-building. I especially liked the hell dimension, where Cain the incubus was, and look forward to reading more about that in the sequel to the Blood Lust trilogy, "Save My Soul".
"Mated" was a fun and entertaining read, the kind of light-hearted fiction which you devour in one sitting. The werewolf society is rather different: I love how they live in underground cave systems of a sort, and their magical protection (thanks to Cain the incubus) is pretty unique. Of course the usual pack politics remain, making "Mated" an instant hit with werewolf fans.
However, I have to say that despite enjoying the story, "Mated" was my least favourite of the Blood Lust trilogy. The characters and plot didn't quite capture me, and I wonder whether it's because all three novellas share a similar plot that, with familiarity, loses its effectiveness. In all three the heroine is endangered by a preternatural force beyond her control. Then the male lead, reluctantly at first, takes the female under his wing to protect her. The two proceed to live in close quarters, leading to arguments and sexual tension. They get together, solve the looming menace, and live HEA. It's a formula that works, but I couldn't help noticing the similarities when reading the three novellas back-to-back.
The other issue I had was with the characters. Now, I like Cole. He's one of those dark and dangerous bad boys who's a sweetheart inside, a sexy combination. But I wish he was darker, more conflicted, perhaps more like vampire Anthony from "Claimed". Jane, on the other hand... I didn't really connect with her. She lacks the sparkle that Winters' characters normally have, the snarkiness. Yes, she's got the darkest history, and I admire her strength despite all the adversity, but she felt more passive compared to Winters' other heroines.
Despite my nit-picking, I must reaffirm that I enjoyed reading "Mated" -- it was a fun, light-hearted read with great world-building. I especially liked the hell dimension, where Cain the incubus was, and look forward to reading more about that in the sequel to the Blood Lust trilogy, "Save My Soul".
June 1, 2012
Just finished this Novella, part 3 of the BloodLust trilogy of Zoe Winter's.
I have to say that overall I really enjoyed it. While there was some minor things that annoyed me about the writing,they were not enough to stop me from really enjoying the story of Jane and Cole.
Jane although human has vampire blood in her which gives her the predicament of not being completely like a human and not being completely kindred.
Jane appears in Claimed, but she comes off as somewhat vapid, so when she first appears in Mated I wasn't too sure about it, however Zoe did a great job really filling in the depths of this character. I really liked understanding her past and it made me actually think about others I mistook for being a bit shallow, only to later find out that they'd gone through hell. It made Jane feel like a real genuine protagonist that you wanted to cheer for.
Cole is the alpha of his pack and despite the hard (and toned) outer shell he is obviously a big softie. He finds himself very drawn to Jane and not wanting to frighten her, despite the fact that what brought them together was him taking her captive caveman style (hehehe).
I felt like their love story was more real to me than Anthony's and Charlee's in Claimed, and both Cole and Jane had a bit more dimension to them.
The few things that I guess jarred me a little while reading was that sometimes things would happen rather quickly with no sort of foreshadowing or real motivation for happening.
*spoiler alert*
For example. If you knew deep down that you were safe with this person, and knew that it was a full moon, why run outside? I couldn't really see any true point in this happening but it felt like the author only did it to nudge the plot line to move along.
This however doesn't make her a bad writer. In fact I really do enjoy her writing and I have seen other authors do the same. It was just something I noticed that confused me a bit.
The genuine characters and an intriguing story are all there, mixed with some amusing dialogue and just a bit of spiciness. As I said, Overall a good story that I really enjoyed.
I have to say that overall I really enjoyed it. While there was some minor things that annoyed me about the writing,they were not enough to stop me from really enjoying the story of Jane and Cole.
Jane although human has vampire blood in her which gives her the predicament of not being completely like a human and not being completely kindred.
Jane appears in Claimed, but she comes off as somewhat vapid, so when she first appears in Mated I wasn't too sure about it, however Zoe did a great job really filling in the depths of this character. I really liked understanding her past and it made me actually think about others I mistook for being a bit shallow, only to later find out that they'd gone through hell. It made Jane feel like a real genuine protagonist that you wanted to cheer for.
Cole is the alpha of his pack and despite the hard (and toned) outer shell he is obviously a big softie. He finds himself very drawn to Jane and not wanting to frighten her, despite the fact that what brought them together was him taking her captive caveman style (hehehe).
I felt like their love story was more real to me than Anthony's and Charlee's in Claimed, and both Cole and Jane had a bit more dimension to them.
The few things that I guess jarred me a little while reading was that sometimes things would happen rather quickly with no sort of foreshadowing or real motivation for happening.
*spoiler alert*
For example. If you knew deep down that you were safe with this person, and knew that it was a full moon, why run outside? I couldn't really see any true point in this happening but it felt like the author only did it to nudge the plot line to move along.
This however doesn't make her a bad writer. In fact I really do enjoy her writing and I have seen other authors do the same. It was just something I noticed that confused me a bit.
The genuine characters and an intriguing story are all there, mixed with some amusing dialogue and just a bit of spiciness. As I said, Overall a good story that I really enjoyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2012
The Blurb: Because of the vampiric blood that has run through her veins since birth, Jane has been a target for vampires who resent a human being “kindred.” She’s forced to disguise herself as a vampire groupie to appease them and safeguard her life. When she’s abruptly given to Cole, the leader of the werewolf pack, to satisfy a gambling debt, she discovers the blood running through her veins has a far greater impact on her destiny than she ever imagined.
I have to confess that this is the first werewolf book I’ve ever read and I never understood how anyone could write a romance around one. Then I read this novella and met Cole Riley, the Alpha of the local werewolf pack in Cary Town.
Pardon me for a second, I have to go wipe the drool off my chin.
Uh....where was I? Oh yeah.
Wow. This story knocked my socks off. I can’t even complain that it was too short because it has all the elements of a full novel...which is pretty hard to do in a novella. But Zoe’s got it down. This story rocked. I actually read it twice because it was THAT good and I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Okay, I read it twice because the interaction between Jane and Cole, not to mention learning about a werewolf pack, and watching all the threads spin out and then wind back together - including bringing in characters from the previous books and introducing several new ones - had me totally hooked.
It has everything: adventure, mystery, intrigue, fear, interesting, fully fleshed out characters, new takes on old traditional thinking about preternatural creatures, a little blood and guts and gore on the floor, a pace that keeps you turning the pages, and a real romance with believable conflict. (Did I mention Cole?) I can’t say enough good things about this book. Go get it and read it now.
I loved the first book in this series. I liked the second one a lot. This one...awesome. Best yet. Zoe’s writing just keeps getting better.
This is the third novella in the Preternatural Series. You can buy the anthology Blood Lust , which includes all three books or pick them up individually.
I have to confess that this is the first werewolf book I’ve ever read and I never understood how anyone could write a romance around one. Then I read this novella and met Cole Riley, the Alpha of the local werewolf pack in Cary Town.
Pardon me for a second, I have to go wipe the drool off my chin.
Uh....where was I? Oh yeah.
Wow. This story knocked my socks off. I can’t even complain that it was too short because it has all the elements of a full novel...which is pretty hard to do in a novella. But Zoe’s got it down. This story rocked. I actually read it twice because it was THAT good and I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Okay, I read it twice because the interaction between Jane and Cole, not to mention learning about a werewolf pack, and watching all the threads spin out and then wind back together - including bringing in characters from the previous books and introducing several new ones - had me totally hooked.
It has everything: adventure, mystery, intrigue, fear, interesting, fully fleshed out characters, new takes on old traditional thinking about preternatural creatures, a little blood and guts and gore on the floor, a pace that keeps you turning the pages, and a real romance with believable conflict. (Did I mention Cole?) I can’t say enough good things about this book. Go get it and read it now.
I loved the first book in this series. I liked the second one a lot. This one...awesome. Best yet. Zoe’s writing just keeps getting better.
This is the third novella in the Preternatural Series. You can buy the anthology Blood Lust , which includes all three books or pick them up individually.
March 1, 2015
2.5
Of the three books in the Blood Lust anthology, this was the best. But that's not saying much. It still simply wasn't very good...for most the same reasons as the previous story. There is simply no emotional development. Jane is being kept essentially hostage, she is angry about this and afraid of Cole and then from one paragraph to another she's suddenly in love. Of course, you see it coming, because that's what happens in this sort of book. But it's still far from satisfying.
Also, there still isn't any foreplay in the sex. She's hot and bothered, begging, by virtue of simply being close to the man and all he has to do is shove it in for her to orgasm. So lacking in the erotic department.
But worst of all, the only character development that exists is in highlighting how very victimised Jane is. Nope, that's not the sort of thing that makes me happy with a book. Even worse, Jane does all the cliché and predictable TSTL shit that I hate. All in all, she, and therefor the book, is a fail for me.
Of the three books in the Blood Lust anthology, this was the best. But that's not saying much. It still simply wasn't very good...for most the same reasons as the previous story. There is simply no emotional development. Jane is being kept essentially hostage, she is angry about this and afraid of Cole and then from one paragraph to another she's suddenly in love. Of course, you see it coming, because that's what happens in this sort of book. But it's still far from satisfying.
Also, there still isn't any foreplay in the sex. She's hot and bothered, begging, by virtue of simply being close to the man and all he has to do is shove it in for her to orgasm. So lacking in the erotic department.
But worst of all, the only character development that exists is in highlighting how very victimised Jane is. Nope, that's not the sort of thing that makes me happy with a book. Even worse, Jane does all the cliché and predictable TSTL shit that I hate. All in all, she, and therefor the book, is a fail for me.
June 15, 2011
Another great book. I was actually thinking this would be Paul and Janes story and was a little sad to see Paul turn out to be such an ass. Who would have thought? But well Cole is so much better anyways so it was like good bye Paul, Hello Cole!!
I really have a thing for alphas! They just are so strong, protective and well yummy!! And Cole is exactly that!! We get to see a whole new side of Jane. Learn what she can do why she needed to be by the vamps and see her past. It really surprised me to see how broken she was. She seemed so strong before.
I liked seeing their relationship grow. Cole was sweet and patient and Jane was able to recover before jumping in. Oh and yes I got my sex scenes.lol. (last book I didn't :( )
Great set of books!! I can not wait to read the one with Cain! I loved seeing him in all these books. I actually read Save My Soul first then came back to read these 3. Anyways Great Books!!
I really have a thing for alphas! They just are so strong, protective and well yummy!! And Cole is exactly that!! We get to see a whole new side of Jane. Learn what she can do why she needed to be by the vamps and see her past. It really surprised me to see how broken she was. She seemed so strong before.
I liked seeing their relationship grow. Cole was sweet and patient and Jane was able to recover before jumping in. Oh and yes I got my sex scenes.lol. (last book I didn't :( )
Great set of books!! I can not wait to read the one with Cain! I loved seeing him in all these books. I actually read Save My Soul first then came back to read these 3. Anyways Great Books!!
November 10, 2014
Mated has a sweet spot in my heart. I tend to like the bad boys and IMO, werewolf are the ones in the PNR world.
We met Jane in the previous book and I had the original opinion that she was a pretty tough chick. In Mated, I see a completely different side to her and she’s a bit more fragile than I originally thought. Cole is suppose to be this big bad Alpha wolf but when it comes to Jane, I think he’s a sweetie. There’s action and danger and it isn’t all caused by Jane’s special skills. This story is my favorite because we get to see a little bit of what has happened in the past as well as a taste of what is yet to come in the Preternaturals.
Now I’m all warmed up and ready to really get on with the complete series. Anyone who plans on following this series needs to read this trilogy.
The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine and in no way was I compensated.
Stars– 4, Flames – 3
We met Jane in the previous book and I had the original opinion that she was a pretty tough chick. In Mated, I see a completely different side to her and she’s a bit more fragile than I originally thought. Cole is suppose to be this big bad Alpha wolf but when it comes to Jane, I think he’s a sweetie. There’s action and danger and it isn’t all caused by Jane’s special skills. This story is my favorite because we get to see a little bit of what has happened in the past as well as a taste of what is yet to come in the Preternaturals.
Now I’m all warmed up and ready to really get on with the complete series. Anyone who plans on following this series needs to read this trilogy.
The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine and in no way was I compensated.
Stars– 4, Flames – 3
November 11, 2011
Mated begins several months after the events of Claimed. Jane has lived her whole life afraid of vampires because of vampiric blood that runs in her veins; it allows her to see vampires and they don’t like it. She disguises herself as a vampire groupie in the hopes that the vampires won’t outright kill her. Jane is the pet of an abusive vampire and when he gets in a bind she is given away to satisfy a gambling debt. Jane is taken in by Cole, a werewolf, who sees it as his duty to keep her away from the vampires that have ruined her life.
This is by far the best story in the Blood Lust series. I enjoyed reading more about the creatures in this universe. Although I definitely see a pattern of the women being stuck alone in the homes of the men, in all three stories of this series so far.
This is by far the best story in the Blood Lust series. I enjoyed reading more about the creatures in this universe. Although I definitely see a pattern of the women being stuck alone in the homes of the men, in all three stories of this series so far.
July 28, 2012
I normally don't review the books I have read for fear that I won't do it or the author justice. However after finishing this book a few minutes ago I felt compelled to rave about it! :)
I read another of Zoe Winters books yesterday (Save My Soul) & even though I rarely buy books (love myself a freebie) I decided that because I had enjoyed Save My Soul so much that I should buy a few of Zoe's other books. I am really pleased I did, as it was money well spent in my opinion. This book made me laugh & made me lick my lips quite a few times... what normal book can do that? The plot is good & racy at all the right points. I think that Zoe is a fantastic writer & I will make sure I buy all her future books :) I am now of to read claimed (A Paranormal Romance in the Blood Lust trilogy, 2) - I am SURE it will not disappoint :)
I read another of Zoe Winters books yesterday (Save My Soul) & even though I rarely buy books (love myself a freebie) I decided that because I had enjoyed Save My Soul so much that I should buy a few of Zoe's other books. I am really pleased I did, as it was money well spent in my opinion. This book made me laugh & made me lick my lips quite a few times... what normal book can do that? The plot is good & racy at all the right points. I think that Zoe is a fantastic writer & I will make sure I buy all her future books :) I am now of to read claimed (A Paranormal Romance in the Blood Lust trilogy, 2) - I am SURE it will not disappoint :)
June 30, 2010
The excerpt for this book is what interested me in the entire series. Werewolves. And a captive girl. Lovely. I'm still really, really enjoying the mythology set down here. As an added plus, that mythology is expanded further when we're introduced to a hell dimension and the incubi and succubi who inhabit it. Does this point toward more books in the series? I certainly hope so.
Jane, one of the secondary characters from Claimed, is taken by the Alpha of the local werewolf pack to take care of a debt by the vampire she's aligned herself with. The good news is that the werewolf is a good guy, despite the reputation he's built up for himself, and he only wants to protect Jane. The bad news? Not all the wolves in the pack are keen on allowing a human into their midst.
Jane, one of the secondary characters from Claimed, is taken by the Alpha of the local werewolf pack to take care of a debt by the vampire she's aligned herself with. The good news is that the werewolf is a good guy, despite the reputation he's built up for himself, and he only wants to protect Jane. The bad news? Not all the wolves in the pack are keen on allowing a human into their midst.
August 17, 2010
* * * 3/4
--These books in 6 words:
romantic new paranormal world to love
--Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?
I had never heard of the series prior to Stella’s (Ex Libris) giveaway of the three novellas that kick off Zoe Winter’s Blood Lust series. I really enjoyed these books and was VERY happy to hear that they were just the beginning of a new series! I actually thought that these would make good novels. There was a little steam in two of the stories, but overall they were just great paranormal love stories.
I’d also like to take a minute to say how amazing Zoe’s website is and how they even have a full TherianType.com site (from the books). Very impressive!!
--Read the full review here : http://www.25hourbooks.com/2010/08/bl...
--These books in 6 words:
romantic new paranormal world to love
--Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?
I had never heard of the series prior to Stella’s (Ex Libris) giveaway of the three novellas that kick off Zoe Winter’s Blood Lust series. I really enjoyed these books and was VERY happy to hear that they were just the beginning of a new series! I actually thought that these would make good novels. There was a little steam in two of the stories, but overall they were just great paranormal love stories.
I’d also like to take a minute to say how amazing Zoe’s website is and how they even have a full TherianType.com site (from the books). Very impressive!!
--Read the full review here : http://www.25hourbooks.com/2010/08/bl...
June 19, 2011
Sigh. I sooo wanted this book to be more! I thought the story was good but some of it was just not enough explanation and the romance just wasn't spicy enough for me. I think the baddie for this story didn't really make sense to me.
Will I read more by this author? Maybe if I can borrow but probably not buy.
Will I read more by this author? Maybe if I can borrow but probably not buy.
August 26, 2016
I really enjoyed this one. I didn't think I would because I didn't originally care for the character Jane, but she proved to be interesting and the story took a turn I wasn't expecting when I started reading it. I am however, disappointed with where the author took the character Paul. All-in-all it probably isn't one I'll re-read if that is any indicator.
June 17, 2016
With two babies running around most of my reviews are typed one handed lol and made short.
I reaaly loved reading about Jane I was glad sge found honest true love... I wish the story line was longerrrr though
I reaaly loved reading about Jane I was glad sge found honest true love... I wish the story line was longerrrr though
September 3, 2016
Again, enjoyed Zoe Winter's writing style and how she connects her characters to others in previous novellas. I like how there's backgrounds to each of her characters and they don't read as only interacting with each other. There are actually other people who exist in their world.
February 16, 2015
This one was better than the first two. I know these were novellas, but there wasn't much development of characters or empathy. This one was more believable and entertaining than the last one. My book had the first 3 stories. I doubt if I will go further with the series.
October 14, 2010
my fav one out of all 3.Loved the story and is well written :0)
September 10, 2016
This one was better than the last one. I just love werewolves. :) I like how characters from each story carried over to the next book.
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