laurenjodi's review against another edition
3.0
Mate Bond
3 Stars
While the book is enjoyable overall, it seems that Jennifer Ashley has lost the focus of her series. Too many shifts in location and inclusion of new and unrelated characters, which appears to be the direction of the future installments as well, have made it difficult to retain interest.
In terms of this specific installment, Bowman and Kenzie's romance is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. On the one hand, they have incredible chemistry and their obvious love for one another and for their cub is palpable. On the other hand, the lack of the mate-bond has resulted in an inability to communicate with one another. It is difficult to accept that a couple that has been together for 15 years and shares a child has never had a proper conversation about their future or love for each other.
The suspense plot involving the beast attacking the Shiftertown and the machinations of the individual responsible is convoluted and disjointed. There are simply too many unconnected threads and points at play to form a cohesive picture of events.
In sum, despite the promising romance and interesting world, the loss of focus has me seriously considering discontinuing this series.
3 Stars
While the book is enjoyable overall, it seems that Jennifer Ashley has lost the focus of her series. Too many shifts in location and inclusion of new and unrelated characters, which appears to be the direction of the future installments as well, have made it difficult to retain interest.
In terms of this specific installment, Bowman and Kenzie's romance is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. On the one hand, they have incredible chemistry and their obvious love for one another and for their cub is palpable. On the other hand, the lack of the mate-bond has resulted in an inability to communicate with one another. It is difficult to accept that a couple that has been together for 15 years and shares a child has never had a proper conversation about their future or love for each other.
The suspense plot involving the beast attacking the Shiftertown and the machinations of the individual responsible is convoluted and disjointed. There are simply too many unconnected threads and points at play to form a cohesive picture of events.
In sum, despite the promising romance and interesting world, the loss of focus has me seriously considering discontinuing this series.
thegeekyblogger's review against another edition
5.0
Listened for Review (Tantor)
Overall Rating: 5.00
Story Rating: 5.00
Character Rating: 5.00
Audio Rating: 4.00
First Thought when Finished: Mate Bond by Jennifer Ashley is now my favorite in the series. Would have never guessed that going in but WOW what a story!
Quick Thoughts: You know that moment when you could just say "NAILED IT" in a review and it would encompass all you feel? That is me with Mate Bond. It is no secret that I pretty much binged this series this year. Mate Bond was the cream of the crop! The fact that Jennifer could take Bowman and make him lovable to me was just amazing. She found the perfect female for him and their story just gelled. PLUS: all the overall storyline push forward! It was shifter heaven for me and I hate that I am caught up. Hold me NOW!
Audio Thoughts:
This is the first one in the series that I have listened too. Chris did a pretty darn good job. I would have liked a little bit more "alpha" male sounding but otherwise pacing/emotions were nailed!
Final Thoughts:Why did I have to catch up!
Overall Rating: 5.00
Story Rating: 5.00
Character Rating: 5.00
Audio Rating: 4.00
First Thought when Finished: Mate Bond by Jennifer Ashley is now my favorite in the series. Would have never guessed that going in but WOW what a story!
Quick Thoughts: You know that moment when you could just say "NAILED IT" in a review and it would encompass all you feel? That is me with Mate Bond. It is no secret that I pretty much binged this series this year. Mate Bond was the cream of the crop! The fact that Jennifer could take Bowman and make him lovable to me was just amazing. She found the perfect female for him and their story just gelled. PLUS: all the overall storyline push forward! It was shifter heaven for me and I hate that I am caught up. Hold me NOW!
Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Cris Dukehart / Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins
This is the first one in the series that I have listened too. Chris did a pretty darn good job. I would have liked a little bit more "alpha" male sounding but otherwise pacing/emotions were nailed!
Final Thoughts:Why did I have to catch up!
bookwife's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
It wasn't terrible. I just wasn't into it. I like romances where I get to see them fall in love. This couple was already in love with a cub. Like all of Jennifer Ashley books the characters were all very well developed and the world was amazing. This book just wasn't what I enjoy reading most. So it didn't really hold my attention BUT it was still a great book. It was entertaining and with lots of drama.
It wasn't terrible. I just wasn't into it. I like romances where I get to see them fall in love. This couple was already in love with a cub. Like all of Jennifer Ashley books the characters were all very well developed and the world was amazing. This book just wasn't what I enjoy reading most. So it didn't really hold my attention BUT it was still a great book. It was entertaining and with lots of drama.
katleap's review against another edition
3.0
Bowman was such a jerk to Tiger. But he was better in this book. I think I'd actually like to go back to this shiftertown again.
duskvamp's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, it was nice to be not following an unmated shifter but a mated couple on their adventure against the evil that was trying to destroy them. And mystical monsters are always an awesome bit of flavor in a story
rclz's review against another edition
4.0
I really like her books but they always start out slow. It takes a third of the book before I start burning through the rest of it.
bookwormlala's review against another edition
3.0
Disappointing addition to the seriez
Kenzie is Bowman's mate and shows his pecker to another woman in the first few pages. Not a good way to start the book no matter what the reason. This whole book was basically Kenzie and Bowman and their lives as the alpha couple. They hardly interact with each other. There is nothing sweet or romantic about their relationship. They have been together for years, so no development. No meeting or falling in love. This book dragged on with little romance. Too much mystery solving and Fae/shifter history lessons not enough love or affection.
Kenzie is Bowman's mate and shows his pecker to another woman in the first few pages. Not a good way to start the book no matter what the reason. This whole book was basically Kenzie and Bowman and their lives as the alpha couple. They hardly interact with each other. There is nothing sweet or romantic about their relationship. They have been together for years, so no development. No meeting or falling in love. This book dragged on with little romance. Too much mystery solving and Fae/shifter history lessons not enough love or affection.
amyiw's review against another edition
4.0
4 1/2
I really liked this one's storyline except that it got a bit convoluted at the end. The complexity took away from the story. The romance was very good and the new characters make interesting possibilities for directions.
So the two main characters have been mated 15 years but have yet to feel any mate bond. They are crazy about one another but both worry about loosing the other to a "true" mate. They compliment each other throughout the book which was nice to see on a long standing couple. It was more a sweet romance. The plot line had a pretty sick character, psychopathic, without any empathy. I cannot see this happening from the circumstances as the plot makes it seem. Like he went crazy, no he must have always been like that... evil. It was a good storyline, just a little too many additions and twists in the end for my tastes. Read in one day.
I really liked this one's storyline except that it got a bit convoluted at the end. The complexity took away from the story. The romance was very good and the new characters make interesting possibilities for directions.
So the two main characters have been mated 15 years but have yet to feel any mate bond. They are crazy about one another but both worry about loosing the other to a "true" mate. They compliment each other throughout the book which was nice to see on a long standing couple. It was more a sweet romance. The plot line had a pretty sick character, psychopathic, without any empathy. I cannot see this happening from the circumstances as the plot makes it seem. Like he went crazy, no he must have always been like that... evil. It was a good storyline, just a little too many additions and twists in the end for my tastes. Read in one day.
tanyad74's review against another edition
5.0
Kenzie and Bowman are truly one of my favorite couples in this series. They frustrated me to no end, but I also adored what they had. They walked that fine line, with the mate bond just inches from their fingers, but the love between the two shone through so brightly. Their relationship was so strong, I just couldn't believe there was no mate bond there.
I think, don't quote me on this, but I think this is the first book we have with the North Carolina Shiftertown. Meaning we have some new characters we are getting to know which will keep you guessing on loyalties. Some characters will surprise you. Some in good ways and others in bad. I thought from reading the synopsis that we were going to be dealing mostly with pack internal problems, but it turns out we do have a mystery and storyline that goes beyond pack dynamics and risks the lives of our main characters. It seems the Austin and Nevada shifters aren't the only packs dealing with un-Shifter-like problems.
Wow, the situations that happened in this book kept me hooked. I was just holding my breath in so many areas, scared for what was going to happen to this couple and pack. I have to say that Mate Bond was one of my favorite of this series. There was so much emotion and action woven together to create an amazing story that sticks out in my mind out of all the books in this series.
As usual Cris Dukehart does an amazing job. I am sucked into the story and I have absolutely no problems with her narration that would take me out of the story. She kept me mesmerized and totally immersed.
This review was originally posted on Rantings of a Reading Addict
I think, don't quote me on this, but I think this is the first book we have with the North Carolina Shiftertown. Meaning we have some new characters we are getting to know which will keep you guessing on loyalties. Some characters will surprise you. Some in good ways and others in bad. I thought from reading the synopsis that we were going to be dealing mostly with pack internal problems, but it turns out we do have a mystery and storyline that goes beyond pack dynamics and risks the lives of our main characters. It seems the Austin and Nevada shifters aren't the only packs dealing with un-Shifter-like problems.
Wow, the situations that happened in this book kept me hooked. I was just holding my breath in so many areas, scared for what was going to happen to this couple and pack. I have to say that Mate Bond was one of my favorite of this series. There was so much emotion and action woven together to create an amazing story that sticks out in my mind out of all the books in this series.
As usual Cris Dukehart does an amazing job. I am sucked into the story and I have absolutely no problems with her narration that would take me out of the story. She kept me mesmerized and totally immersed.
The Series
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nelsonseye's review against another edition
3.0
The tension really picked up in the last third of this one.