GUARDIAN'S MATE is Book 9 in Jennifer Ashley's "Shifters Unbound" series. It's a good idea to read WILD THINGS and then WHITE TIGER before reading GUARDIAN'S MATE, since those two books introduce polar bear Shifter Zander Moncrieff. GUARDIAN'S MATE is a story about a young woman's struggle to be at peace with her destiny - with a unique love story, and a seafaring tale of danger thrown in. The depth in Jennifer Ashley's storytelling in her "Shifters Unbound" world seems to increase with each book. This is a book for paranormal romance fans, as well as any reader who appreciates a well-crafted story with multifaceted characters.

In GUARDIAN'S MATE, just as in previous "Shifters Unbound" stories, the characters encounter prejudice against Shifters. For Lupine Shifter Rae Lyall, she comes up against sexism as well as the usual prejudice against Shifters. In Shifter societies, female Shifters are not usually underestimated, because those that do can find themselves dead. However, in GUARDIAN'S MATE, the rarity of a female chosen to be a Guardian makes things difficult for Rae. The irony of Rae having to prove herself for a gig she didn't even want to begin with, makes for an interesting story. Jennifer Ashley puts a great twist on the classic "hero's quest" story.

This is not a story of love at first sight. Rae and Zander are both thrown into a situation they'd rather not be in, which makes them a little prickly at the outset. The teasing never gets mean-spirited, but the sexual tension steadily increases as Zander acts as Rae's Yoda and mentor for all things Shifter and mystical. I like that their very different perspectives on belonging and family get them to look at things from a different angle. The boat chase in the middle of the story adds excitement and strengthens the bond between Rae and Zander.

GUARDIAN'S MATE is a gripping tale of love and adventure with a strong heroine. There are so many things to love about GUARDIAN'S MATE. It's good to see familiar characters like Broderick and Mason, and have them be relevant to the story and add something new. I'm intrigued by the casual reference to vampires, because I'd to love to read about them -- either in Jennifer Ashley's "Shifters Unbound" series, or a new series. I'd love to read more about the new characters introduced in GUARDIAN'S MATE and eagerly await the next book by Jennifer Ashley.