The Mating

The Mating by charliej
Elise had no idea when she came home that day that she'd end up mated to a complete stranger. A new Alpha and the need for an alliance between packs have made her pawn

Banner Credit: Annie

Rosie Thinks: If you're looking for good, original werewolf stories that aren't horrible ripoffs of Twilight, charliej is the author to go to. 'The Mating' is the first in her werewolf series and it doesn't disappoint. charliej writes beautifully and with a lot of detail, so that the events can be pictured clearly in the reader's mind. The paragraphs were longer than most fictionpress stories, but there was no info dumping and the description was all appropriate and interesting.

I liked how the attraction between Kane and Elise isn't instantaneous. The two of them are forced to mate for a political alliance, with no regards to their feelings (especially since Elise is in love with someone else). Sure, there is a bit of chemistry there from the beginning, but their relationship progresses at a natural rate which was interesting to watch evolve. I loved Kane, especially since he wasn't overbearingly protective and unreasonably jealous. While he was a tad possessive at times, his character didn't slip into any overused cliches, which was refreshing. As a matter of fact, all the characters were well-rounded and not stereotypical in the least.

Another great thing about this story is that it's about much more than just the relationship between Kane and Elise. It gives the right amount of attention to them, but the reader also learns a lot about the intricacies of the pack. Also, the mystery and suspense of the plot keeps you hooked until the end. So if you think you're sick to death of werewolf stories that are all the same, you should definitely try this one for a breath of fresh air.