Midsummer Heat

Stratton Wolves #1

by Mina Carter

Ten years ago, werewolf Kelli Copeland ran from Stratton to avoid being claimed by the new pack alpha, Max Daniels. Since then, she's made a life for herself in the city, free of the pack and living amongst the humans. Happy with her life, she's never thought of going back, until her brother decides to get married. Now she has to go back, but surely a decade is enough for Max Daniels to forget about her?

Pack alpha Max Daniels could have the pick of the pack females in Stratton, but he doesn't want them. He only wants one woman, the one who ran from him years ago. The only woman he'll ever love. When he gets word that Kelli is back in town, he swears to do everything in his power to make sure she doesn't leave again. Up to and including kidnapping her…

But he isn't the only wolf in town with an agenda. And this time, Kelli's departure might be permanent.

Genres: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters, Romance, Fantasy, Werewolves, Erotica

73 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 11, 2012

About the author

Mina Carter is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of romance in many genres. She lives in the UK with her husband, daughter, a puppy who pays no attention to her whatsoever, and a bossy cat.

Reviews

[Debra Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Purch Amazon Dec. 24, 2017

This one had a few editing errors and typos, but nothing that interfered with the flow and enjoyment of the story.
I always enjoy reading Mina Carter's writing. Somehow she can pack more in her shorts than a LOT of authors can do in 400+ page novels.
Filled with action and great characters.
A quick, fun read.

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[Marta Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well if you are in the mood for a sexy shifter story than this should easily fit the bill. Kelli took exception to the new Alpha Max declaring he was going to claim her and has spent the last ten years well away from her Pack . Still she does care when her baby brother is getting married so returns pretty much convinced that big, bad Max has forgotten about her and got himself a family of his own. Kelli has no idea how much Max has wanted her to return and there's absolutely no way he intends to blow it this time !
If honest there wasn't really a lot going on until the very end. If you enjoy reading about chemistry than this couple have it in spades. It did seem as if Kelli suddenly changed her mind but I thought Max clearly really had deep feelings for her so as a hopeless romantic I can forgive a lot. Short and sexy read that whisked away an hour.

[Ivy Deluca · Rating 2 out of 5]

First book features Max, Stratton wolves alpha and Kelli, his fated mate. But she wanted it to be her choice. Max was going to claim her, Kelli said hells no, so she ran away. For 10 years. But when her brother’s wedding comes along, she decides to come back. And Max isn’t letting her go. And then shifter romance happens.

The Good, The Bad and Everything In Between

-Amazon freebie pickup
-short story (74 pgs), so quick read
-Does it count as insta-love if they’ve known each other forever? There’s not much build up, and it’s just accepted that they’re going to be together, even if Kelli fights it tooth and nail.
-She ran away for 10 years, changed her mind in 10 seconds. Seriously. I think it took one sentence for her to change her mind and realize he was giving her a choice. Even if it’s a novella, that just seemed too abrupt to be believable.

The Bottom Line
It’s kinda shrug-worthy. Didn’t hate it, didn’t love it. If you’re into shifter romances and you can get it for free, you may enjoy it.

[Coco.V]

💝 FREE on Amazon today (11/29/2017)! 💝

[Sheena ☆ Book Sheenanigans · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Kate V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and smutty. Loved the hero and the heroine was just ok.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten years ago wolf shifter Kelli Copeland left home after finding out new pack alpha Max Daniels planned to mate with her. Kelli has not been back since but now her brothers wedding is on the horizon and she is back. She figured Max would be married by now with a bunch of mini Max's but she couldn't be more wrong. Max has been waiting for Kelli to come back and he plans to mate with her, he just needs to get her to understand he is everything she needs and more.

Fun quicky, had romance and action. Wished the story was a bit longer but overall got a full story and the chemistry was great.

[Jess O. (From Jess to You)]

DNF. I didn't get far into this novella because I really hated how arrogant Max was and the "internal struggle" Kelli was pulling to be over the top.

Review By: From Me to You ... Video, Photography, & Book Reviews
https://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/
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[Angela (Angel's Book Nook) · Rating 3 out of 5]

~ 3 Mated by Midsummer Stars ~

Mated by Midsummer is book one in the Stratton Wolves series by Mina Carter.

I picked this one up as a freebie and as I’m writing this review. I am realizing it was not as good as I felt it was. I enjoyed Mated by Midsummer, but it was not outstanding.

Max knows what he wants and won’t let Kelli run again. Kelli is a strong independent female who is not sure what she wants.

Max and Kelli know each other from growing up. It’s kinda an insta-love story, but kinda not. There is not much build up between the two. They know they will be together even though Kelli want’s it to be her choice. We get some great hot sex. Some parts felt rushed and Kelli’s turn around from running from Max to accepting him felt fast, maybe to fast. The end was abrupt and anticlimactic.

Mated by Midsummer was enjoyable. If you are looking for a quick steamy romance with independent characters, then this one would be for you.

[Julotlinde · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was kinda fun to read. Liked the story and the couple. Didn’t really love how Max sometimes didn’t asked consent. Kinda not cool, even tho Kelly was okay with it in the end most of the time, still not cool.

[Joyce Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast PNR Shifter read with lots of action and heat - Nice start to a new series

For adults only (18+ years) Contains subject matter that may be offensive or a trigger for some including adult language, detailed intimate scenes and violence (kinda kidnapping, fighting and death)

There is quite a bit of world building considering the length of the story. Kelli and Max have good chemistry, but others could be more indepth. Maybe there are other series or stories by Mina Carter that provide more information about them. Regardless, it is a quick read if you are looking to relax with a PNR for a couple of hours to escape reality.

[Kerry Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

There have been plenty of novels by this author that I’ve enjoyed. However this one left me as a reader unsatisfied. Very little plot development, world building or character growth. As a matter of fact there is very little beyond what was laid out in the book synapses.

For me, as an author Mina Carter runs hot and cold. Sadly inconsistent weather it was worth picking up. I am not moved to proceed with this series.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mated by Midsummer ~ Stratton Wolves ~ Book 1

'Mated by Midsummer ' is a second chance romance wolf shifter style. It has another woman trying to cause problems and keep the mates apart, but... You will have to read it for the unique ending.

[Jenny Prose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paranormal Romance Short Story

Very good paranormal romance story featuring one POV about wolf shifters. It was a quick and easy read. Moeller written and easy to read.

[Þórey Jónsdóttir · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. It’s a quick read, didn’t hate it but didn’t like it either.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really hope this was cheap or free. Way too pushy & domineering for my taste. 🙄

[zoegrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max & Kelli were destined to be together, he knew that as far back as when they were kids. Waiting for her to come back, ten long years, he was grateful that she had.

Gotta love just how committed shifters are. If only humans took things as serious. Wow that was melancholy, huh? :-) But then that's why we read these Hot reads!! Right? The great sex & intense love.

Enjoy!! I did.

[SheLove2Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but not great. Parts of it felt a little rushed and the heroine's turnaround from running away to accepting him as her mate happened so fast I thought I had missed something.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[H J H…c · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

I read this on Radish ‘Mated to the Pack Alpha’ and I was immediately hooked by this new ( to me) author’s writing voice. When reading, her voice sounded good to my mind. The scenes were perfectly descriptive to play out in my head like a favorite movie - the way a book is meant to entertain.

I was extremely smitten by Max. He pined for her for ten mother-freaking years, and when he had her in his grasp again he tried to woo her instead of doing the alpha favored caveman moves. Well, at least until his wolf took over lol.

Kelli was cool too. In fact, a funny thing happened with me and this book. Normally I get so aggravated when a kiss totally undoes one of the main characters and they forget their stand on the situation. But it was so organically done in this story that I went with it, smile on my face and no questions asked.

The big bad she-wolf was completely mental. In fact, so much so that I wondered if she ever actually had a relationship with Max. Not that I would fault Max for that, it was 10 years and Kelli wasn’t a nun during that time. It’s just that she makes it sound like they were all hot and heavy before Kelli showed up, but during Max’s POV he implied otherwise. Which leads me to believe the be-atch needed some scripts stat.

The only reason I gave this delightful new book on my reread shelf a 4.5 instead of 5 (rounded up of course) is for a few minor items I selfishly wished were addressed:
* A sentence or two about how the bear alpha (???) took to his bears’ actions and consequences
* Again a simple sentence as to what Kelli actually did to cheat death
* Another scene or two with Kelli and her bro - I’m a sucker for good sibling relationships (and again 10yrs is a long time, did bro visit her often? How did they remain close?)

I plan to read the other two books in the series, and I’m hoping this isn’t the last we see the bears from Katy. I do love me a good bear shifter…

[Carrie O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this on Radish under the title Mated To The Pack Alpha, but it's the same story. A different type of wolf-shifter story than what I'm more familiar with, but it's an interesting twist, as it were. I enjoyed how the story began, and that it wasn't terribly long to get through... our main characters had a past, so they weren't starting from scratch in their relationship, and we could catch up along the way without being bogged down in exposition. And I truly liked both Kelli and Max. At least at this point in their lives, because both are mature enough that it doesn't feel like a teen wolf romance [which is a thing]. Enjoyable and quicker reading romance than some. Not shy about sex or sexual interest, but at least with a story that has a felt past already that doesn't seem entirely out of place.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelli left all of Stratton behind 10yrs ago. She wants to only attend her brother’s wedding and then leave. But Max, the alpha has plans for her. He has wanted her for his own for 10yrs and he plans to make it happen.

Kelli leaving because she wasn’t given a choice, ok understandable. Mas was being the Alpha and just stated she was it. He didn’t even romance her or let her know how he felt. First mistake for him. NOW, he has to fix all that to win her over. I thought when he overheard her conversation about not wanting him that he was going to take her then. Thank goodness that she was able to bring him through it. But also she realize a great deal about him. That he was always giving her a choice. It was her blind thoughts that she miss heard him.

[Melanie Lear · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much and the lead characters. Max is a sexy pack leader who has only ever wanted to claim his woman, Kellie as his mate. This story lost a star because I felt the story needed to be longer, so much more could have been added to make this a really great book and there was also some spelling errors and some unnecessary use of vulgar words during the sex scenes that did make me cringe. But, that doesn't alter the fact this was a good read and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. I will be buying book 2 and am looking forward to reading about Riley and Krystal. Thanks go to the author Nina Carter for the free read.

[Book Snob Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved Max, such a great guy...the fact that he was a total badass helped...just sayin. I didn’t like all the years they spent apart. 10 years is a long time to be away from your true mate and I never like couples to be separated...makes me sad. Kelli is back for her little brothers wedding and then Max is there trying to get her back and to stay. But you get a good story, lots of chemistry, hot as hell alpha...literally, he’s the alpha😉, a little crazy drama from one of the female pack members, and an epilogue. Hoping there are babies for these two in the next book (fingers crossed).

[miss l brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good quick read

I enjoyed this quick read, love a possessive alpha who knows what he wants and goes for it. Despite it being a quick read,there is a good story with some background. It would be excellent to see this story fleshed out and made into a full length novel that expands on the background some more, especially what's up with the dodgy cousins!

Only a few minor typos and mistakes noticed, but not enough to ruin the experience or take you out of the story.

I hope to read more about this couple in subsequent books.

[Sara Luck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, but Kelli got on my nerves. The whole thing about it not being her choice to be mated to max??? Ummm...he kept giving her a choice over and over again. It took until almost the end for her to figure it out. Also, it bugged me that it was never clear exactly what her occupation was...she has a PA but that's all we know, so what happened to her career? I know it's silly, and not a big deal, but that's where my mind goes.

[Rickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a first time read for me from this author and I am really glad I did. A hot alpha wolf who waited 10 years for the one woman he claimed. The chemistry was explosive, the characters on point, and kicking some ass never hurt .... well not much. However, you need to read this book....heck read the series since I'm a believer that the next one will be just as good. Maybe even have Max and Kelli do a cameo into the storyline. Kudos to Carter!

[Dar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming back home to meet your destiny? No, that isn't why Kelli came home, she is determined to make her own choices in life. Max is too, that she make her choices, but he wants her to choose him, same as before. She won't give him a chance, even with all those sexy sparks going off between them. Once Kelli gets her mind in motion, and sees Max for the man and the wolf he is, things are on track. Just a couple of trouble makers to set aside, and then this destined couple can be together!

[Betty Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short story. This is about Kelly Copeland, who is going home for her brothers wedding. She has been living amongst humans for years. She was running from Max, the pack alpha, who is her mate, but he wanted to claim her without her consent. She was not having it and left the pack. Once she gets back, its starts all over again but she also runs into trouble. Without Max's help, she might not make it out of the trouble. Lots of hurt feelings, drama. Recommend.

[Kathy L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a short book but a good read!

I had been craving a wolf shifter book for a while now and figured I would give this a try. Not sure if it’s because I finally got my hands on a shifter book or if the story was fun to read, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story.
4 1/2 star rating. It satisfied that craving that had started to fester. It wasn’t perfect, but what needed to be soothed was soothed after reading this.