MATE BOND is Book seven in Jennifer Ashley's Shifters
Unbound series. I usually like anything written by
Jennifer Ashley, but I love MATE BOND. MATE BOND is
incredibly different from her other books about Shifters
because this story is about two people who have been in a
long-term relationship for the past fifteen years and have
a
child together. However, Kenzie and Bowman O'Donnell are
no Ward and June Cleaver. Kenzie and Bowman's
relationship is full of passion, love, and a visceral
coordination between the two of them that is a pleasure
to read about.
There is a mystery involving a sort of Frankenstein's
monster in MATE BOND, but the focus is on the
relationship between wolf Shifters Kenzie and Bowman. I
love these two, and I love them together. Although
they've been mated for fifteen years, and have a twelve
year
old son, they endure a constant worry that their
relationship might one day fall apart because of never
experiencing the "mate bond". The worry is that without
this magical adhesive that draws people together,
somebody who is a fated mate will come along and tear
their family apart. Having the story told from both
points of view, and hearing their internal dialogue about
how intensely they care about each other makes the
emotional impact of MATE BOND all the more powerful.
Jennifer Ashley nails it once again, with these complex
and amazing characters.
This North Carolina Shiftertown is a nice addition to
Jennifer Ashley's Shifters Unbound series. Even
though
they get a little prickly from time to time with each
other, they work together when it counts. I love so many
of the new characters that play supporting roles in MATE
BOND. Even Kenzie's wily uncle Cristian grows on you as
the story progresses. The plot involving the monstrous
shifter is fascinating and moves the story forward
without obscuring the romance and emotional issues going
on with Kenzie and Bowman. I like that the villain in
this story is a shadowy figure, keeping you guessing as
to his identity and motivations until the end.
MATE BOND delivers the goods in a big way -- sexy solid
romance, great characters, and inventive story-telling.
This is why I'm a Jennifer Ashley fan. I can't wait until
the next installment in this amazing and always
satisfying series!
Together but unbound, they must learn what it means to
love
completely, in the latest novel from the New York Times
bestselling author of Wild Wolf.
To cement the leadership of his North Carolina
Shiftertown,
Bowman O’Donnell agreed to a “mating of convenience.” Two
powerful wolf shifters, he and Kenzie keep the pack in
order
and are adored by all. Bowman would do anything to protect
Kenzie, for in each other’s arms they’ve found far more
than
friendship. But as strong as their attachment is, they
still
haven’t formed the elusive mate bond—the almost magical
joining of true mates.
Now with a monster ravaging the countryside and
threatening
the Shiftertown community, some in the pack fear that a
pair
without a true mate bond isn’t strong enough to lead.
Bowman
and Kenzie will have to rely on their instinctive trust in
one another to save their Shifters—and the ensuing battle
will either destroy them or give them the chance to seize
the love they’ve always craved.