I really enjoyed this witty and spicy foray into shifter romance; this is the book I would now suggest to someone who appreciates contemporary Romance but hasn't yet taken the step into reading more niche subgenres within it.
What is so great is the typical but always interesting Romance plot - two medical professionals having to fake date - with the supernatural twist; they work seamlessly, mixing the standard with the unique. The characters themselves were engaging, and I was rooting for them (helped by really wanting the nasty colleague of theirs to fail spectacularly).
Definitely recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and Piatkus for providing me with an eArc of this book.

3.75 stars rounded up

This book is hallmark movie meets omegaverse - predictable in the HEA way one would expect but, a fun and easy read nonetheless. I do think it was a bit drawn out in parts.

It was cute, it was spicy, there was soup - I can see why it's so popular among romance readers and omegaverse fans.

Part of my #novemberknockout for #Netgalley with BarbsBookland Ive Read The Fake Mate By Lana Ferguson

Wow i have absolutely devorred thos book and have loved reading evey second of it. I love Noah and his whole vibe and Mackenzine ahes a hoot.

I love the dual pov in this book and how we see how each of them from this arrangement is changing very quickly.

It made me laugh and swoon a fun read.

#thefakemate #netgalleybacklog #fantasybooks

This was really an enjoyable shifter/romance let down by the steamy scenes, which were just too many and too long.

The characters were well developed and there interaction was amusing.

Unfortunately by the end I was jumping pages just to finish it.

Another Reylo-coded book added to the collection. Hehehehe.

Fake Mate was a fun, easy read. Pretty much exactly what you expect it to be.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

Mackenzie is in a bit of a bind when she tells her grandmother, whose very insistent on her settling down, that she has a boyfriend. She manages to rope in hot but aloof doctor Noah Taylor to pose as her fake beau to appease her grandma but in turn must help Noah by pretending to be his mate to the hospital board and staff when his job is on the line. As the two become closer and begin to explore their bond, emotions start shifting.

This was fun and a bit sexy and I did like my time reading it. I liked Mackenzie and Noah - there was a bit of grumpy/sunshine pairing going on which I do enjoy, and I did find Noah very cute especially when we had his POV and we could see how anxious and how much second guessing he had going on which for a big, strong guy was a nice vulnerability to see.

The werewolf part in this for me was slightly disappointing as I would have liked to have seen more actual werewolf bits rather than it all be focused on the sexual nature of things. I would have liked to have known more about their shifting, growing up as a werewolf, how it worked more rather than just knowing about alpha/omega bond and knotting which is honestly quite gross.

While I liked this, I don't think there was much new in this one for me and I did feel like apart from the werewolf element and a few tweaks, the book was extremely similar to The Love Hypothesis from the scientific/medical setting, the type of characters, the friendship groups and even the 'villain' of the story. Also I've never known a book to overuse the word 'slick' so much.

3.5 rounded up. This was my first book by this author and while I enjoyed some parts of it others I struggled with if I am being honest. I found the start of the book to be okay but then it quickly turned to be very slow burn and far too long for what it was in my opinion. About 40% in the smut kicked in which I liked, but felt other aspects of the book were not as strong. I found the characters to be fun and likeable. I also discovered what Omega-verse is and I’m not 100% sure how I feel about it yet. Did I like it yes.. but it’s not something I’d necessarily seek out to read. It’s a cute book but overall it’s just okay. Nice but okay. Not something I will remember or would reach for personally.

I really liked this book, The relationship was so sweet and I love myself a Grumpy x Sunshine trope. Would read Lana's next book, I gel well with her writing and really enjoyed this cosy read.

I HAD to read this book after reading 'The Nanny'. I'm actually gutted this author only has 2 books out. It was so readable, funny, sexy and I genuinely couldn't put the book down. My fave author of the year so far, im excited to see what else she has up her sleeve.

I really loved this book up until 62% where I got bored. I loved the dynamics between the main characters, I could feel their interest growing in each other and could see this ending well. However it was just so slow by 60%, very samey. It would not make me want to not read the author again.

The Fake Mate was my first Lana Ferguson book but it will definitely not be my last!

This book was SO much fun, from start to finish. I would absolutely read more shifter/paranormal romances from Lana because I need moreeeee!

(A fluffy, smutty Mack/Noah epilogue book, anyone?)

It was the perfect blend of shifter and workplace romances, with fake dating, grumpy/sunshine AND dual POV? What more could a girl ask for.

Literally my only complaints are that I wish we saw more of Mack and Noah as wolves and that (view spoiler). I saw it coming a mile away and it's resolved relatively quickly, but I still kind of wish it wasn't included.

Still, I would definitely recommend you pick this up! I can see myself rereading this at some point in the future when I need something fun and quick.

↠ 5 stars

A steamy, outrageously fun, omegaverse romance.

The Fake Mate follows Mackenzie, a young doctor, attempting to avoid the dates inflicted on her by her grandmother. Enter, Noah Taylor. Alpha wolf and alpha doctor, Mackenzie’s spots a perfect opportunity. No one is as surprised as Noah and Mackenzie when their arrangement becomes more real than either of them had ever anticipated.

A fun book full of grumpy/sunshine, fake dating and workplace romance.

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson is a delightful blend of paranormal intrigue and contemporary romance. Mackenzie and Noah's agreement to pose as fake mates quickly escalates into a genuine connection, challenging their preconceptions and stirring unexpected emotions.
Ferguson crafts a captivating narrative with witty banter and steamy chemistry between the characters. While Noah's stoic demeanor and Mackenzie's determination add depth to the story, some readers may find Mackenzie's actions in the middle portion a tad selfish.
Additionally, the breakup in the third act may feel cliché, but it doesn't detract significantly from the overall enjoyment. Ferguson's novel offers an engaging twist on werewolf romance, making it a recommended read for fans of the genre.

The Fake Mate, by Lana Ferguson, was my first shifter/omegaverse romance and honestly I loved it! It would seem that I’m just unlocking new sub-genre after new sub-genre for myself this year which is so much fun.

Have you found any new genres you’re enjoying recently?

The Fake Mate is Mack and Noah’s story, they’re two Drs working in a hospital in Denver. Mack is having no luck dating and is keen to find a way to stop her Grandma sending her on more ill fated (and bizarre) dates. Whilst Noah has just had his hidden alpha status exposed, and being unmated, it threatens his position at the hospital. So, when the chatty, overly friendly ER doctor asks him to be her fake boyfriend the same day he's called to meet the board, it must be kismet, right? But when the fake-mate act turns to a very real friends-with-benefits arrangement, lines start to blur, and they quickly realise love is a whole different kind of animal.

The Fake Mate was a great read, the kind that is a whole lot of fun and that you won’t want to put down. Its got:
🐺 fake dating
🏨 grumpy/sunshine
🐺work place romance
🏨 duel POV
🐺 a surly MMC who comes out of his shell by spending time with the FMC
🏨 ‘touch her and I’ll tear off your arms’ energy
🐺 he falls first
🏨 shifters and all that comes with it (iykyk 🔥)
🐺MCs who help each other to realise what they’ve been missing/holding back on
🏨 a hilarious and quick witted FMC

Now I will say that the third act break is miscommunication but it worked in context and it was a case of best intention/poor execution from one character. To those who often avoid this trope don’t let it out you off, it was resolved really well.

Overall I really enjoyed this one and will definitely look forward to seeing what Ferguson writes next, whilst also bumping her debut The Nanny up my tbr pile.

I had a good time with this., my only critique is that I wished we had more time with them as wolves. It felt fairly omega only rather than shifters but I enjoyed it otherwise.

As much as i wanted to love this book i really couldn’t enjoy it and ended up skimming through most of it. There was no real relationship between the main characters and everything was based on their lust for one another which i understand but made the story fairly dull for how long of a read it was

I haven't really read any romantasy other that witches so I knew that werewolves would be something new. It just wasn't for me, I'm glad I gave the genre a try and the author but I wouldn't pick it up/recommend it.

I really really enjoyed this book! I am so happy that I was able to receive a copy of this ARC.

I know very little about the omega-verse as I haven't read many books in that area but I thoroughly enjoyed this! I really couldn't put this book down and absolutely devoured it!

This story follows Mackenzie (Mack), an Omega who is done with the dating scene after one too many disastrous dates set up by her grandmother. She's fed up of people hearing about her genetic status as an Omega and making assumptions about her sex life and habits and the judgement she faces for being born what she is. One day she stumbles across a solution to her problem, a fake boyfriend that she met at work. When spinning this story on a phone call to her nagging Gran in walks the most intimidating and surly surgeon in the hospital, and that's the name she gives her Gran, Noah Tyler. When she proposes the idea to him it turns out that he needs her help in return.

Noah is an Alpha, a designation just as a rare as being an Omega, and again a status that comes with its prejudices. This is why he didn't disclose it when he began his job at the hospital, however the board has received an anonymous tip informing them of his Alpha status. In order to keep his job secure Noah needs a fake mate so that the board believes that his alpha instincts won't take him over. So, the pair make a quid pro quo arrangement in which they have a fake relationship so that Mack's Gran will stop setting her up on dates and Noah can work towards moving to a more senior position at another hospital.

I really loved the grumpy x sunshine dynamic between the pair and the way that Mack brought Noah out of his shell. Mack's independent spirit and fierce personality make her a great character to read, and similarly Noah's awkwardness and slowness to open up make him charmingly adorable. Which makes the spicey scenes even more surprising and intense.

Generally I am not a fan of the miscommunication trope, and I would say that was my least favorite part of this book. However, I understand that for the sake of the plot it was important, it was necessary for the characters to have a falling out in order to really understand themselves and what they want.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, easy to get through and gripping as well. The blend of cuteness and spice was right up my street and I would love to read more books like this!

Oh my god i adored this book! The second i picked it up i could not put it down, everything about this was so good. I was hoooooked, i loved the storyline and the characters. + the spiceeeeeeeeee ;)))

This was a gripping read and I was intrigued by the characters. I will look out for more by this author.