I feel trapped and need to escape. I am a grown woman, and my parents have ruled my world for far too long. When I am given the opportunity to become a mail-order bride, I agree without hesitation. Eliot is arrogant, and one of those strong, silent types who I just can’t stand.
But, he also has smoldering eyes and a god-like body. I can’t stop imagining all the things I want him to do to me. And then there’s his secret…
I’m ready to settle down with my one true love, but the dating agency got it wrong this time. Sure, Ashlyn is gorgeous and sexy, but she’s not my type at all. She talks constantly. She hates the outdoors. And, it’s obvious she’s never had to work for anything in her life.
If I can’t stand her, why do I stay awake at night thinking about how good she looks, tastes, and feels?
This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and sexual situations geared to an adult audience.
Titles in the Hidden Pines Shifters series include – Wolf’s Game – Dragon’s Refuge – Second Chance Shifter – Bear’s Fox –
Title: Wolf’s Game
Series: Hidden Pines Shifters #1
Author: Lola Gabriel
Published: December 20, 2020
My Rating: 4 stars
Wolf’s Game begins the Hidden Pines Shifters series with a mail-order bride type of story that ties two very unlikely people together as a perfect match. Well. That’s yet to be seen for Eliot and Ashlyn couldn’t be further from each other’s ideal – at least at first glance, time will tell if they end up that perfect sight unseen match. Especially when Eliot has one huge secret that he’s assuming Ashlyn already knows about… she doesn’t.
I liked the background of this couple for they really are opposites in just about every way possible. Not to mention, he’s a shifter, she’s pure human (not a bit of paranormal about her). Ashlyn has controlling, overbearing parents who have no clue how to actually listen to their daughter’s desires in life. No, they’re too busy telling her what she will do, who she will date, and that leash they have on her life is becoming a choking hazard. She takes a chance on a matchmaker site and this adventure is about to take her far from home and everything she knows as reality. If she doesn’t stand up for herself now she never will but at least she has somewhere to go for a while since she and the man she’s matched with must accept that they are engaged from their first meeting as part of the matchmaking agreement.
Eliot is tired of waiting for his mate to magically appear in front of him – or at least his wolf is. When Eliot finally gave in and called the matchmaker he didn’t hold out much hope but he’s committed now. The beautiful woman who shows up on his doorstep is nothing he expected as it’s obvious she isn’t comfortable in such a small town in the middle of nowhere with only woods to be seen. He’s also hoping that she’s chattering from nerves not that she is one of those people who needs to fill in open space with words, always talking about anything and nothing.
So, while I liked the premise of their story and will continue the series… I did not like Ashlyn or Eliot. Usually, I can get past an initial dislike as the story continues, but not this time. In their own ways, both were judgemental, dismissive, and said things to the other they knew would hurt (but they still said them). Perhaps as a secondary couple in a future part of this series I’ll think differently of this couple. But I could not like them enough to care if they got their happy ever after… yet, I enjoyed the idea of the story. Contradiction? Maybe but it makes sense to me. The story deserves the 4 stars rating I gave it, it’s on me that I couldn’t like some of the characters themselves.
In any event, while the actual couple may have not been ideal for me, I did enjoy Wolf’s Game enough to already have the next title on my e-reader ready to dive into. I’m curious since they were matched by a witch matchmaker just where the next story will take me. (I don’t give up on a series easily)
I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Available for the Kindle
