Caffeinated Reviewer

Narrated by Aaron Shedlock & Samantha Summers, The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson shares a steamy, small-town, home renovation shifter romance that is perfect to curl your toes this holiday season.

Two wolf shifters reluctant to love discover there’s no fighting the call of the wild in this steamy romance by USA Today bestselling author Lana Ferguson.

Contractor Tess Covington has spent her entire life as a regular non-shifter human, so after she lands in the Denver ER with flu-like symptoms, it comes as a complete shock to be told that, no, she’s not sick—she’s actually a late-presenting omega wolf shifter. With her family in dire financial straits and a contract for her own television show on the line, she can’t afford not to complete the renovation job she came for. And given that her newly emerged wolf is in danger of going into heat, she’ll just have to do her best to follow the doctor’s advice to keep away from alpha shifters.

Alpha wolf Hunter Barrett has spent most of his adult life living by a routine, and a big part of that involves staying clear of omegas after having one stomp on his heart. So when the tiny contractor shows up at his place smelling like the one thing he’s determined to avoid, he thinks it must be some sort of cosmic joke. But with his lodge on the verge of failing and this sweet-smelling omega his only hope to turn things around . . . he’s left with few other options than to grin and bear it.

Set on avoiding each other as much as possible, they find things unexpectedly starting to heat up between them enough to thaw even the frostiest of hearts. Though even with the pair going head over paws for each other, there’s no changing that their fling has an expiration date. The more time they spend together, the more they realize they’re playing a dangerous game—one where the only thing on the line is their hearts.

I will admit to being an HGTV and home renovation addict. Throw in a shifter romance and winter resort setting and I was all in. The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson pulled me in as Contractor Tess Covington tackles one of her most important renovation jobs, just as she learns her non-shifting body is turning into a late-blooming Omega. It’ll all be okay… right?

Narrated by Aaron Shedlock & Samantha Summers, this story delivered a steamy, heart-felt romance that at its core is about trust and opening yourself up. I loved the met cute as Tess comes face to face with the grumpy lodge owner, Alpha wolf, Hunter Barrett. Hunter can smell that she is an Omega, and he isn’t happy. The tale that unfolds is delicious.

Miscommunication gave way to trust and openness in this tale. While Hunter’s words were prickly and it was obvious he carried past hurts, his actions had me melting for him. Tess is confused not only by her body but by the handsome grumpy lodge owner. Tess has big dreams, an unselfish heart and puts others first. She is also one heck of a contractor.

Secondary characters, from Hunter’s aunt to Tess’s siblings and BFF, added depth, humor and direction. If you are looking for a steamy paranormal romance this holiday season, you can’t go wrong with The Mating Game, particularly on audio. With both points of view, the narrators delivered and enhanced my overall enjoyment of the story.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Aaron Shedlock

Aaron Shedlock is a passionate and highly versatile voice artist with a broad range of styles and character voices in his repertoire. Known for his engaging and deep, resonant tones, he is the voice of several national and international commercial brands and a rising star in the world of audiobooks. A huge fan of classic and modern literature, he spends the majority of his time buried in a good book, either in print or audio, being inspired by his favorite authors and audiobook narrators with a hot cup of coffee close at hand.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2025 Audiobook Challenge

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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