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Cursed Mates

by Cara Marsi (Goodreads Author)

3.48 of 5 stars 3.48 · rating details · 21 ratings · 13 reviews

Nick Radford is a reluctant werewolf who's been fighting the Beast within for nearly 500 years. He's never killed a human, but the Beast is gaining strength and Nick may not be able to ward off his inner demon much longer.

Kyla Yaeger is an elite were-hunter with a scarred past. Her life's mission is to slay the werewolves that slaughtered her parents. Her quest has brought...more

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Published (first published December 20th 2010)

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Jun 17, 2011 Laurie (Bitten by Paranormal Romance) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: requests, paranormal-romance

Cursed Mates is a good paranormal romance read. I enjoyed the Native American aspects of the story and the way the author wrote the curse. While you get a good sexy suspense story I found a few things I didn’t enjoy so much. First let me state I enjoyed Nick he was a good hero and cared about everyone he could. What I didn’t care for was the heroine, Kyla, she was very dramatic at times and while she was portrayed strong, several times she passed out. She also had issues with falling for Nick, s...more

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Mar 17, 2011 Carmel (Rabid Reads) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: werewolves

Reviewed by Rabid Reads

Cursed Mates has everything that I look for in a werewolf book; a kick-ass female lead, a sexy were and a cool story. Not only does this novel have great action in and out of the bedroom but it also paints a bigger picture. One about destiny, true love and faith. However, in the end I was left with mixed feelings. There were a few elements that for me, really took away from the book. They weren't in my opinion necessary to the storyline and if they'd been missing I would h...more Reviewed by Rabid Reads

Cursed Mates has everything that I look for in a werewolf book; a kick-ass female lead, a sexy were and a cool story. Not only does this novel have great action in and out of the bedroom but it also paints a bigger picture. One about destiny, true love and faith. However, in the end I was left with mixed feelings. There were a few elements that for me, really took away from the book. They weren't in my opinion necessary to the storyline and if they'd been missing I would have enjoyed reading this novel a lot more.

The plot is original and I was pleased with its scope and depth. The author skillfully explores the past and adeptly ties the protagonists histories to the present. Everything that readers need to know in order to fully appreciate the story is covered in a way that's not only informative but also captivating. All of the main characters have colorful pasts and reasons for why they're living the lives that they are. The characters are well developed and you'll never feel lost. The pace fits the storyline well and all of the puzzle pieces show up and fit together in a natural order.

Nick Radford is definitely drool worthy. He's got the looks, the confidence and the whole knight in shining armor persona going for him. His past is a sad one and as a result he's just trying to do the best that he can to do some good in the world. Radford fully expects his immortal life to end in flames but, he plans to take the demon who's responsible for his lot in life with him as his final act. There's also plenty of hot and heavy action between Nick and Kyla. So not only is he a great man but he's also a great lover! Yes, I may have a tiny crush on Radford.

Aside from the great plot and yummy hero there are a few less than desirable elements in this book. I felt the story had a sort of native american side to it that didn't fit into the action very well. In the midst's of danger, Kyla would light candles, take a bath and consult her "spirit guide". Like most visions, they're cryptic and not very helpful. I just found it ridiculous that in the middle of a fate-of-the-world battle the heroine's big move is to soak in bubbles. Secondly, there's a lot of drama between Nick and Kyla. Which is not unusual in paranormal romance, but in this case I found it tiresome. They'd argue over the same issues over and over again. There was little to no growth on the romantic end of things. The relationship between the two main characters just went in an endless loop. Kyla and Radford felt like a Hollywood couple in that they're on-again/off-again through the whole book until the ending.

That being said, I did enjoy this book and think that it's a worthwhile read for fans of the genre. If spiritual visions are your thing then you'll definitely find something in this story for you. However, I found that this element took away from the tale and because of it I didn't enjoy this novel as much as I could have. Just when things were getting juicy the spirit guide would show up to throw some water on the fire. A good read overall but it had the potential to be great.(less)

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Aug 06, 2011 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, paranormal, non-erotic

Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

Lust and vengeance, redemption and mayhem come to a head in this riveting read full of demons, wolves and one very determined heroine.

Kyla is a werewolf hunter who is closing in on her prey. She tracks him to this little tiny town in Maine but she gets a lot more than she bargained for. She’s also prone to visions but this time they’re freaking her out because they’re different than she’s ever experienced. I figured out long before s...more Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

Lust and vengeance, redemption and mayhem come to a head in this riveting read full of demons, wolves and one very determined heroine.

Kyla is a werewolf hunter who is closing in on her prey. She tracks him to this little tiny town in Maine but she gets a lot more than she bargained for. She’s also prone to visions but this time they’re freaking her out because they’re different than she’s ever experienced. I figured out long before she did why that was. A couple of characters drop hints here and there, but Kyla is so focused on the hunt and her own internal conflicts, she can’t see the forest for the trees. Her emotions are pulled like taffy in many directions but they seem to be heading in one direction. I thought she was a strong personality, dedicated and loyal to her friend and co-worker, Todd.

The hero, Nick, is Kyla’s focus. He confuses her and confounds her, with good reason. Nick is in jeopardy from more than the silver bullets that the heroine has in her arsenal. He has been fighting the good fight for centuries. He is noble, caring, determined and defines ‘tortured hero’. He’s given up hope and knows this town is his last stand. He is going to make things right and if he has to die to do so, he will. What’s not to like about a guy who believes himself irredeemable and a lost cause but will fight for justice until the bitter end?

The big stumbling block between the hero and heroine is trust. Neither trusts the other, nor do they have faith in their attraction. There are way too many inconsistencies to their having an easy relationship because there is so much they can’t or won’t tell the other. It’s a great plot conflict, actually. But I thought it went on a bit too long. It seemed like it was presented in different ways but it all came down to meaning the same thing. After awhile, I did not enjoy watching them not trust each other, because it let things happen that I felt could have been avoided to some degree. By the time they finally revealed all, it was almost too late, and I was doing a lot of eye-rolling at that part. I wanted to bop Kyla on the head and yell, “Wake up!”, “Get over yourself!” and she eventually does, but not without her making a few stupid moves.

Don’t think Kyla is too stupid to live, she isn’t. She is just overly cocky and I wish there had been someone to give her a reality check. Todd, her friend, wasn’t it. I found out why at the end of the book. Their relationship made a lot more sense after the revelation. Meanwhile, for all her extensive training and years of being the ultimate hunter, she was not impressive. Let me put it this way, if she was hunting a werewolf that was hunting me? I’d want back up.

There were other secondary characters that had serious impact on the telling of this tale. Some were notable and interesting, some were just plain creepy and one I had thought was part of the evil plot, but actually wasn’t. There are some nasty deaths and some nefarious and hedonistic descriptions so it’s pretty intense at times. It has some great suspense and drama with good emotional connections so I had a good time reading this book. I like a book with substance and this book certainly had enough to keep me entertained.

As for the physical side of things between Nick and Kyla, a reader is going to get an eyeful. Seems Ms. Kyla knows what to do with silk ties and bed posts. And Nick sure knows his way around a woman’s body, much to the heroine’s satisfaction. Those scenes were well written and placed to good effect in the book. The bedroom door is wide open so readers will have need of a nice glass of ice water to help them get through it. It was fun.

Cursed Mates has a lot within to appeal to romantic suspense readers who enjoy stories with paranormal flair. It entertains, astounds and even gives a few goose bumps along the way. I’m glad I had a chance to read this tale and am happy with the happily ever after. It’s wonderful to see a tortured hero find his happy and Nick certainly earned his. He was my favorite character.

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Jul 09, 2011 P.L. rated it 5 of 5 stars

In the village of Heavensent, dark powers gather with murderous intent. Beset by visions and counseled by her spirit guide, Kayla Yaeger, were-huntress, along with her best friend and assistant Todd, arrive in Heavensent. Evil surrounds the village and with the full moon fast approaching, Kayla's visions intensify, warning her of a black werewolf, but with the dark force, a white werewolf also appears. Nick Radford, tortured by his past and harboring a dark secret, lives a secluded life in Heave...more

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Jun 28, 2011 aobibliophile™ rated it 3 of 5 stars

We should never try to deny the beast – the animal within us. - Dr. George Waggner, The Howling (1981)

Kyla Yaeger is an elite were-hunter. orphaned at an early age, she vows to slay the werewolf responsible for murdering her parents. together with her business partner and friend Todd Bailey, she is sent to Heavensent, Maine to investigate suspected werewolf activity. there, she meets the mysterious and very attractive Nick Radford. as she closes in on her target, Kyla is suddenly torn between lo...more We should never try to deny the beast – the animal within us. - Dr. George Waggner, The Howling (1981)

Kyla Yaeger is an elite were-hunter. orphaned at an early age, she vows to slay the werewolf responsible for murdering her parents. together with her business partner and friend Todd Bailey, she is sent to Heavensent, Maine to investigate suspected werewolf activity. there, she meets the mysterious and very attractive Nick Radford. as she closes in on her target, Kyla is suddenly torn between love and duty when she finally learns who and what Nick really is.
the first thing that struck me was author Cara Marsi's play with words. the village is named Heavensent but there is nothing heavenly about it. Kyla's last name is Yaeger which is an anglicization of der Jager - the German word for hunter. the law firm she works for is called Hunter-Wolf, Ltd. i found the latter very obvious and how the company managed to keep its profile safe and covert from its supernatural enemies eludes me. well, sometimes that which is right before one's very eyes can easily be overlooked or ignored.
this is exactly how i feel about Kyla as well. for all her skills and abilities, she realized too late the real identities of her enemies. she felt something was wrong. Heavensent felt so oppressive and menacing to her but she could not get her hands on on what it was. the locals are behaving unusually as well. there are also other paranormal entities that plague the quaint town of Maine.
Black Fox, Kyla's Navajo spirit guide was not much help at all. she would only reply in riddles and smile cryptically. aside from her troubled emotional psyche, Kyla was also seeing visions of the past which complicated her feelings for Nick and deepened the mystery surrounding her quest.
an ancient curse, magic, suspense, horror, redemption and true love are woven into the story. though i prefer vampires, this book raised my interest in shapeshifters and i look forward to learning more about them.
overall, it is a good read for lupine and romance devotees.

Disclosure of Material Connection: i am a member of the Book Lovin' Bitches E-book Tours and a copy was provided by the author. although payment may have been received by Book Lovin' Bitches E-book Tours, i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.(less)

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May 04, 2011 Donna (BLHmistress) rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am finding as read more different types of books that I am finding that kick ass type of females are becoming a fast favorite and Kyla is no exception. She is tough and feisty but still lets herself fall in love, my definition of a perfect character.

Most of you know that I am a vampire girl but Nick has me rethinking about werewolves. Dark and Broody ready for it to be over with and definitely had no intentions of falling for Kyla.

Can you imagine finding out the one you have fallen in love w...more

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Apr 26, 2011 Andrea Guy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, book-loving-bitches-ebook-tours, erotica, ebook, romance, paranormal

Cursed Mates is a really interesting take on the werewolf legend.

The heroine is a were-hunter. The hero is a werewolf, who really has had enough of his existence.

Girl meets wolf. Girl has to kill wolf, but Girl falls for wolf. Only the girl is the wolf hunting equivelant of Van Helsing or Buffy. Falling for a werewolf is something not in her game plan. Her backstory is reason enough why this shouldn't happen, but it does.

This is the kind of book that a reader will devour like candy. You know it...more

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Mar 06, 2011 Jennifer Labelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Nicholas Radford has been fighting the beast inside of him for over 500 years. The beast is getting stronger and it scares him because he could feel that something big is about to happen. He's the leagendary white wolf with the golden eyes. He's never harmed a human but is afraid that he won't be able to ward off his inner demon that has the urge to kill.

Kyla Yaeger is the best were-hunter there is. Traumatized at an early age by the cold blooded murder of her parents. She's vowed since then to...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Scott-robert Shenkman rated it 1 of 5 stars

This book made me cry. Not in a good way, but in a way that made me realize that no one would come along and save me from reading. It was just...horrible. Every single character in the book was a moron, and they all made at least 5 dumb ass mistakes during the course of the story. Some of the characters were so over-the-top cliche that I just wanted to beat them with a copy of Robert R. McCammon's "The Wolf's Hour", because that's what a werewolf book is supposed to be.

I actually deleted this bo...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Wenj rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2011, for-review

Review provided by Black Lagoon Reviews:

Cursed Mates by Cara Marsi has a little bit of something for everyone: werewolves, witches, demons and above all else a story about destiny and Love's ability to transcend death and even the hands of time. With lots of action and a wonderful sense of tension between the characters, this is a nice read with some fantastic elements of mystery and romance. But, while this may have been a good read, there were definitely some elements that left a lot to be des...more Review provided by Black Lagoon Reviews:

Cursed Mates by Cara Marsi has a little bit of something for everyone: werewolves, witches, demons and above all else a story about destiny and Love's ability to transcend death and even the hands of time. With lots of action and a wonderful sense of tension between the characters, this is a nice read with some fantastic elements of mystery and romance. But, while this may have been a good read, there were definitely some elements that left a lot to be desired.

But, I digress. Let me instead begin with those elements that I enjoyed. For instance, the wonderful array of layers within the story creating an interesting tapestry that perfectly melded the past with the present. This created a very unique edge of mystery to the story that perfectly intermingled an emotional quality as Kyla struggles to uncover the implicit message within the strange visions. The historical glimpses into the tragedy of Nick's past gives an interesting point of view helping to develop an intriguing, tortured character that you can't help but like. Likewise, Kyla's troubled past is also explored building an equally elaborate emotional quality that reinforces the kindred bond between these two troubled figures.

This intricate array of emotions flying around also helps to create a wonderful atmosphere of tension overlying a seemingly quaint setting of a small New England township. I really enjoyed the world building of the story and felt that Marsi did a wonderful job of capturing the small town of Heavenscent, though I would have enjoyed seeing it more deeply explored. Instead, we tend to spend most of the time exploring the woods that border Nick's castle home, but I certainly can't say that it was boring. In deed, Marsi created a wonderfully haunted atmosphere that held untold dangers and secrets making me more then a little eager to read further and uncover a few. And on that front, I can honestly say that I wasn't disappointed as Marsi masterfully weaves multiple plot lines that came together perfectly.

The characters, as can be surmised, were also nicely developed. Like I mentioned before they were given complex histories filled with great emotion that really pulls the reader into the story. But, there is also a great sense of vulnerability and strength about them both that I loved seeing explored as they battle to understand the magnetism that binds them with an unexplainable sense of trust and a bubbling chemistry that simmers just beneath the surface. But, while I loved the tension of the relationship, there was definitely some disappointment on the romance front. I was just never that wowed by it, the way that some relationships seem to simply jump off the page. There was simply too much drama in the way that Kyla and Nick made their connection so much harder then it had to be. Especially as they are constantly giving in. Two minutes later, they're back where they began. By the end of the novel I felt like I had whiplash with the constant back and forth between them. Definitely something that I didn't find appealing especially as it was the same arguments over and over and over again.

But, while that was a definite red mark for me, I really enjoyed the supernatural aspects of Marsi's world. The legends of the Black wolf and the White wolf was interesting and easily applicable to the characters. I also really enjoyed the demonic twist that was paired with the lycan lore. Also, the breadth of the battle of good versus evil was great but, I think that the ultimate showdown was a little more down played then it could have been despite the wonderful conclusion. More or less it came down to the fact that while there is a great sense of malice, there was just so much more that could have been explored here. I also enjoyed the more Native American aspects of Kyla's, but again, felt that this element was under explored as well. In the end it seemed to me like there were just too many elements that a lot of them were under sold leaving something of a lack luster end result. However, that isn't true of all of the supernatural elements because the aspect of reincarnation and destiny was nicely developed and honestly what I felt saved the story.

Overall, this was something of an enigmatic novel for me as there were a lot of great elements involved, but it seemed like the execution at times was a little off. In the end, this was a good read that was nicely written, with characters that were likable, in a plot that was interesting, but just didn't 'wow' me the way that I hoped it would.

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Mar 25, 2011 Miranda Lynn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review to come once it goes live on my blog.

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Apr 11, 2012 Cara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks

This was an excellent book. The plot was very intriguing. SHe put her own spin on the werewolf characteristics in her book. The bumps in the road that each character hit along the way made me wonder how and if things were going to work out and whether good would triumph over evil.
I'm glad that it had a happy ending after all the sadness and strife in the book.

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Aug 03, 2012 Cathiecaffey marked it as to-read

Put this one in my reader too to read this week. Can't wait!

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Shelves: howl-4-me

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Shelves: to-get

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Shelves: paranormal-romance, shapeshifters, werewolf

May 20, 2012 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, romance

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About Cara Marsi

Award-winning author of romantic suspense, paranormal romance, contemporary romance and short stories. A former corporate drone and cubicle dweller, I'm now freed from my fabric-covered world and can indulge my love of romance. I love to write about independent women and the hot men who love them. My books are available at online retailers. I also write short stories for the confession magazines....more

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