Rowan Baneville wasn’t looking for a second chance.

He definitely wasn’t looking for a human innkeeper with honey-blonde curls and a to-do list longer than the Veil is wide.

But the moment Diana Merrick opened the Hearth & Hollow Inn—and the door to his old life—his wolf decided she was his. No takesies backsies.

Now the Council’s watching her, the town’s testing her, and Rowan’s old pack is sniffing around like she’s prey.
Which she’s not.
She’s the woman who talks to walls, makes tea for ghosts, and earned every damn one of his scars with a single smile.

He tried to stay away.  He tried to keep her safe.  He tried not to fall in love.  Terrible plan.

She doesn’t just want his help.  She wants his heart, his home, and his favorite tools.

Titles in the Shifter Mates of Hollow Oak series (connection to Hollow Oak Mates series) include:  Fetch Me a Mate ~

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Title:  Fetch Me a Mate
Series:  Shifter Mates of Hollow Oak #1
Author:  Kala Aster and Milly Taiden
Published:  September 25, 2025
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Fetch Me A Mate is the first title in the Shifter Mates of Hollow Oak (connected to the Mates of Hollow Oak series), bringing us into this new series with Diana and Rowan’s compelling romance.

Diana might be just a human, yet she has unique gifts… she can talk to houses, can know the history of every single room at the inn she’s about to reopen.  And much more.  Some of the “old guard” of Hollow Oak are judging her, others are helping her take her rightful place within the community.  One wolf shifter recognizes his mate and is tempted to turn around and run, like he always does, but this time is different; she is different, and staying might be hard, but she might be worth that and more.

Diana and Rowen’s story is a delightful introduction to this next phase of this community, a new series, and we’ll see if it’s a different direction in time.  Rowen is a wolf shifter with a past.  He made a choice once that changed his life.  Now, he’s a contractor helping with the upgrades and the renovations at the inn.  A challenging job since he knows that the new innkeeper, Diana, is his mate.  And he’s not acknowledging that fact.  He’s also a man who “listens” to old houses, understands the subtle ways they reach out for help over there in that dark corner, up here next to the ceiling tiles… no voices, but he senses what can be salvaged, what can be replaced through watching and, yes, listening.  But the past isn’t staying where it belongs, behind him.  And soon, Rowen will need to make another choice… only this time, there is more on the line than there ever was before.

I enjoyed Fetch Me A Mate very much.  We’ll see some familiar faces, meet some new ones as well… and get caught up in the charm of Hollow Oak once again.  Watching Diana stand tall and strong as she faced down the questions about her ability to reopen the inn, and her acceptance of Rowen, just as he is, was an emotional journey.  If you love a Shifter/Paranormal Romance that’s well-written, steamy, tender, and full of surprises, then you’d enjoy Fetch Me A Mate by Kala Aster & Milly Taiden.  I’m looking forward to getting wrapped up in the goings on in Hollow Oak once again.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review, giving my personal opinion about this book.*

If you love this author’s work, be sure to visit our Kala Aster page or our Milly Taiden page for reviews of other series, or just to discover series you might have missed.

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)