The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson
on December 2, 2025
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Romance / Paranormal / General, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy
Pages: 400
Format: Paperback
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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.
This is the sequel to The Fake Mate and was SO good! Lana does such a good job with her character development where they don’t feel rushed. Hunter is struggling with the grief he can’t let go of when a tiny hurricane named Tess shows up on his doorstep with a plan to fix the lodge up. As their feelings grow, the chaos of Tessa’s new distinction ramps up, and the unpacking of both their hang ups, the story ebbs and flows in such a natural way that is SO good! In addition to the top tier spice, I particularly loved watching Tess make Hunter, who is normally quite stubborn and moody, melt with a single glance in his direction. I also really enjoyed watching Hunter fussed over Tess as she experienced her first heat given that she normally doesn’t allow others to take care of her. In being vulnerable herself, Hunter begins to open up about his past and the guilt he holds on to. The two find solace in each other and I could not have been more satisfied with the ending despite the slump it put me into.
4.5 stars for this novel. I really enjoyed this book. I liked that it connected to some of the characters in The Fake Mate, but it isn’t necessary to read before. It incorporated a bunch of fun tropes, grumpy/sunshine, snowed in, friends with benefits. But ultimately it’s about two likable characters getting cozy in an idyllic snowy lodge, learning about each other, navigating shifter life, and working through their own hang-ups. Overall, this was another fun shifter omegaverse romance. I hope to see more in this universe, Ada the BFF in this book, definitely feels like she might be next in line for a HEA.
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