Mating Season

Mating Season #3

by Heather K. Carson

Tune in on August 30th for the finale of the 7th annual Mating Season...

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Shapeshifters, Supernatural, Werewolves

245 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 30, 2024

About the author

Heather K. Carson is the mother of two feral little boys by day and published author by night. When she isn't working on a new book or refereeing a wrestling match, she's covered in mud from playing in the garden or dancing around the kitchen and whipping up enough food to feed the monsters she created.

In her paranormal romance books, you'll find world building twists, lovable side characters, beastly males, and strong female leads who like to shake things up.

Heather currently resides in the Pacific Northwest and spends whatever free time she gets by running away to the mountains with her equally exhausted husband and the best chocolate lab in the whole world.

Find out more and sign up for her mailing list to get some bonus content @ www.heatherkcarson.com

Reviews

[Jessica Brittain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Im so disappointed

I was so excited for this book and it was a huge let down. Spoiler Warning, the whole thing was a tease with no finish. Nothing happened to Molly or the crew after everything they did, Aspen was back and forth on Ranger the whole book. I literally had no clue why they all just stayed on a mountain instead of trying to get to safety especially the starving girls. I loved the first 2 but this was just annoying, all over the place, made no sense and had a very blah ending.

[Lydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think I wanted to know that much about how wolves mate.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this series as a whole. It was so bingeable and I read all 3 books in one day.

I wish we would have seen more of the pack all together at the end, though. I was looking forward to that since the first book seeing as our FMC never had a pack where she felt welcome.

[Em · Rating 1 out of 5]

this could’ve wrapped up in book 2 tbh

[Jasmin E Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review in Progress. I have so much inklove to express.

Its a win for all the underestimated ones out there!

Found Family is 🤌
firstly a few minor spoilers, one of fav characters is the Cat...Jesse ( hes my book crush) lives to see another day - thankF. I hope he ends up in whychoose scenario in this world.

You know this is one the few times - I enjoyed the whole ensemble and didnt want just the pivoting to just be between Ranger & Aspen. Because the world built has more to give with endless stories yet to tell.

Its those carefully crafted humorous moments like Aspen's papas gruffness and recliner mi casa es su casa attitude.

Cindy beasty villainness,was just so refreshing - I hope there's be more story there,novella or a bonus chapter - There is certainly room for more shifter FMC villain gets the guy reads.

Unhinged primal dialogues from their wolves had me wringing my hands, like I too was a complicit cantankerous overconfident Wulfasshole.

oh its spicy like the best kind of knotty omegaverse but lets just call it Aspenverse
(So Bratty) or is it Rangerverse ?

Ill come back write on weekend about eveything else that went down - I'm not rushing, as I reckon I'm going to demand a release of a deleted scenes version - lets be honest there could have been two more books here and how Heather was able to condense it down is amazing.

I suspect as Aspen was really something else than we have had offered out here to read in a long long while- readers are going to be lil polarised - I seriously thought chapter 1 we were going find our Prison Savvy worker come teacher Aspen in a forced cage fight. but our Aspen is the kindest badass/ and eye roller out there - so I'm sure readers will have something to say on how this all played out- as she is so bloody likeable - we love her.


Jasmin E Reads

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot was really weak compared to the last two books, it was just the same thing over again. Aspen never really got what she wanted to be equals in their relationship and the kinky sex parts just did not fit with the book or with Rangers character. If he’s such a loving provider and wants to take care of her why is he enjoying hurting her with his gigantic penis, sex toys and spanking? The other two books were great though.

[Lynzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sad that this just got progressively worse. I had hope. Shame on me, I guess.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like the story disappeared once the spice appeared.

[Shyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Couldn’t ask for a better conclusion to a phenomenal trilogy! I wish I could give it more stars!

Heather does an amazing job of giving you a HEA for not just Aspen and Ranger, but some of the side characters you have grown attached to.

Get ready for one heck of a wild ride though! Book three starts right where book 2 left off. If you don’t remember what happened no worries Heather gives you recap at the start. Tension is high with the alphas’ unsure where the females are and mating season about to happen. I don’t want to spoil anything! You won’t want to put the final book down!

Heather delivers on all fronts you get drama, action, OTT protective alpha, sassy MFC (who has some of the best banter with her wolf!) and wowza spice!!

You won’t regret reading this trilogy! 🖤

[Dru · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Meh
🌶🌶 (fucking FINALLY, and also...meh)
🔥🔥

I went into Mating Season hoping for a strong ending to the trilogy but honestly, it was just okay. The series started off with a lot of promise, but with each book, the story and characters seemed to lose some of their spark. This last one had the action and steamy moments I expected, but the plot felt pretty predictable and the pacing was kind of all over the place.

Aspen and Ranger’s relationship didn’t really grow much beyond what we’ve already seen. Even though the stakes were higher, I just didn’t feel super invested this time. Some parts dragged, others felt rushed. It was a quick read and had some good moments, but overall it lacked the energy and depth I was hoping for after the first two books.

If you’re already into the series, you’ll probably want to finish it, but I wouldn’t suggest starting here or expecting anything mind-blowing. It just didn’t hold up like the beginning did.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mating Season - What a conclusion! I got this book late last night thinking it would be my weekend read but couldn't put it down! I am kind of jealous of the people who can read all three books in a row.

I love Aspen and Ranger and their story. We got to see more of Rangers leadership and how much he loves his pack and we got see Aspen grow and become so confident, both in what she wants in a relationship and in herself.

This book is spicier than the previous 2, and was built up well throughout out the books.

I am really hoping we get a Fallon story, I really loved her character and need to know her and Johns story. I also would love to know what happens with Opal.

[Janice Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was okay, it finished the series and we got the happy ending. I am no prude, I don’t mind sex in a book, and I guess whatever floats your boat when it comes to sex, but for me, some of it was over the top, gratuitous and too far.

[2TNWalkers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah, feels like part of the story is missing…each book is super short all 3 books could have been condensed into 1 book, this is the case of dragging out the story, but still did not even completed it..

[Nole4Life · Rating 2 out of 5]

PROS
- I didn’t like her as much in the third book but Fallon was the best character. I also like Aspen’s wolf.

CONS
- 90% of the book is Ranger chasing Aspen and them having sex.
- every issue and obstacle that Ranger and Aspen came across was glossed over with a weak conclusion. 1) Derek. He was a bad alpha to Aspen but he never faced consequences for his actions. He’s no longer Alpha at the end but we know nothing about what happened to him. 2) Revenge on Trulia pack. The whole reason Ranger went on the show was to get revenge on Chad and the Trulia pack. The conclusion to this was that he beat Chad in a cage, completely irrelevant to the book, and another wolf killed him. Since another wolf killed Chad nothing was resolved with the Trulia pack. WTF? 3) there were semi-mean girls in the book but nothing happens to them either. The mean girls end up mating just fine. On top of this, mean girl Cindy is a super large wolf but no one addresses why. 4) The show put people in jeopardy and was in cahoots with the Trulia pack. The only thing that happened to the show was that they paid Ranger and Aspen $2.5 million. This money is pocket change to a popular reality show. The producers also just carried on to the next season with no punishment.
- what was the point of kidnapping the girls. The alphas just tracked them down and everything went along as usual. There was no survival of the fittest or challenges among the female wolves. Aspen spent one night alone but she had food, water and shelter. The next day she comes across others and then are found right away by the male wolves. At one point Aspen even said that she could just hike down the mountain to a town and call for help.
- the big, bad showdown started as Chad and his entourage calling out Aspen and Ranger. This was a huge letdown. Chad’s buddies ended up leaving him and mating with female wolves and Chad was killed randomly by another wolf.
- Ranger and Aspen acted like it was a big responsibility to take the Alpha and Luna role of leading the wolves on the mating run. It consisted of them leading the wolves down a creek. This doesn’t seem like a big deal.
- this was a young adult book where the author threw in a couple of sex scenes to try and make it more adult. It was embarrassingly bad.

[Heidi Pope · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mating Season" is the spectacular finale that this incredible trilogy deserved. Serving as the third and final book, it takes all the tension, character development, and world-building from "Luna Trials" and "Alpha Games" and brings it all to a powerful and deeply satisfying conclusion. Heather K. Carson has truly saved the best for last.

This book is a masterwork of resolution. Every plot thread, every lingering question, and every character arc is addressed with care and precision. The final conflicts are epic, the emotional payoffs are immense, and the ending feels completely earned. It’s the kind of finale that leaves you breathless but also content, knowing the journey has reached its perfect end.

The growth of the main characters culminates beautifully in this installment. Their final trials are their most challenging yet, and seeing them face these obstacles with all the strength they've gained throughout the series is incredibly rewarding. The romance, which has been a core element from the beginning, reaches a passionate and fulfilling climax.

As the final piece of my two-day reading marathon of this trilogy, "Mating Season" was the perfect capstone. It’s a testament to Carson's storytelling that the quality never wavered, and the conclusion was just as strong, if not stronger, than the beginning. An emphatic 5-star rating for a flawless ending to a phenomenal series!

[Trey U · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

Solid book, but nothing to really wow me either.

What I loved about this book:
- Ivan crying. That was the cutest shit I’ve ever read. Ivan fan club member for life!
- Ranger cuddling up on Aspen while she’s sitting in bed. How the author described it was so adorable.
- Aspen comes into herself in this book and gets some of that independence back, while also growing into a Luna some. Ranger and Aspen grow together vs. him controlling everything.
- Continuation of Ranger’s dominance but also somewhat subbiness that he has for Aspen and Aspen alone.
- Clara’s storyline

What I didn’t like and/or was left wanting more:
- Would have loved to see more into Aspen becoming the pack Luna, showing her leadership skills, etc.
- Aspen not giving Ranger a matching mate mark…what?
- Payback for the way the producers handled everything was lackluster and extremely anticlimactic
- The Tulia/Chad situation was also somewhat anticlimactic/political in how it was handled. Love Cindy though…at least here!

Overall, a good wrap up book that also provided some surprises, but nothing to make me obsessed over the book. I felt like I wanted to see more justice played out.

[D K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining and captivating series that needs a magic touch of editing!

A was pleasantly surprised by this new series which I stumbled upon. A PNR with great characters, a highly engaging story of a “bachelor/bachelorette reality show for wolf-shifters” that includes great banter between the main characters, steamy scenes and a few surprises. Books one and two were a delight to read, even though they required a bit more polish and character depth. Unfortunately, this last book felt very rushed, confusing and very convoluted. It is a good thing that we mostly live in a digital era, since this book needs URGENT editing. If the author takes the time and effort to edit and republish this last book, I would recommend you read this series. This is a trilogy that needs to be read in order. I truly hope the author does take action because for me this last book was a bit of a let down. I gave it three stars (2.75 as of now because of the bad editing) because I truly enjoyed reading the first two books of the series.

[I’m a Paula too… Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mating Season, series book 3…

This was hysterically funny! Obviously there were some serious parts but this was a really good time!

Ok, seriously, this had some fun moments that I really enjoyed. I’ll tell you what wasn’t fun though… the humans only got sued. Molly should have met her maker for the crap she pulled. I hated that witch.

Our Alpha and Luna finally got it together, and Fallon and John need a book. I need the details. Edith didn’t know when to quit, until she almost got eviscerated. Chad didn’t quit and got what he deserved. Cindy wasn’t a major player but I ended up enjoying her!

The ending is great! Yay for Clara, who I adored. Things work out well for the most part. I have to say that I’m no fan of BDSM. It has never really appealed even though there are several authors in my library that do it well. This, at the end, kind of wrapped it up but our Luna really isn’t a submissive. It kind of works.

KU read of the series, and generally it was a lot of fun. Werewolf reality TV was fun.

[Buffy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is entirely about the shifters' mating ritual. Maybe it's because I'm not that into shifters, I'm confused why I'm reading so many details about the run itself. The wants and fears experienced by the characters do not make much sense to me, but they might be obvious to wolf shifters......

I like the smut and don't mind that this last book includes a lot of sexual scenes. However, their dynamics change from what's shown in the last book without much reasoning. Aspen in this book is portrayed as a brat. Although she and Ranger are partners, her submissiveness (with a sassy flavor) is obvious in bed. I'm glad to read this kind of playful dynamics, but Aspen seems to forget everything about her not wanting to submit instantly after she meets Ranger. This is a bit annoying.

Some other inconsequential dramas are unfolding in this book. For example, a large female wolf suddenly eats another wolf. I don't know what to think about that.

[Leigha · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't be bothered to write individual reviews for each book so here is a non-spoiler series review. The first book was a fun romp, the second book less so, and the third book was honestly unreadable. The story provides nothing new to the shifter romance genre other than being in a reality TV show setting. Aspen was fine - same ole supposed "trashy chick with a sassy mouth and kickass attitude" female we have come to know and tolerate. I can't even remember the male character's name, but he is sweet and besotted with the female lead almost instantly. The side characters are pretty meh, other than the main male character's sister, Fallon, who eventually also turned out rather ho-hum. If you have some free time and enjoy these type of stories, certainly give it a try. If this is your first shifter romance, I recommend trying something else.

[Olivia Lopes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cannot believe how fast I flew through this series. It’s never boring, it’s fast paced and so entertaining. This book in particular had me gasping, laughing and screaming out loud with some of crazy things that went down. Especially that one scene with a certain southern belle going a little insane. That was crazy.

I love when books pull audible reactions out of me. It’s such a fun experience. I really enjoyed this book but I do think it’s my least favourite in the series. It’s still so good but I just love the mysteriousness of book 1 the most. We had no idea where the story would go and I loved finding out.

This book definitely upped the heat. Like woah. There was too much for my liking but it still wasn’t overpowering the storyline.

This is such a fun shifter romance series that is so unique. I really recommend!

3,75 stars!

[Donna (BookDragonGirl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ranger and Aspen ROCK!!

I really enjoy this series!! There were a lot of interesting characters. But Ranger and Aspen’s story was super swoony!!

This series is spicy and spicier as it goes. I enjoyed it, but warnings for all those who don’t enjoy that. There some big time kink towards the end. Between these two fated mates it was perfect!

I hope for more from this world. I would love to see John and Fallon’s story. But I would REALLY like to see Ivan (he needs his love story), Clara, and I definitely need to see Opal get her happy ending. Aspen, I’m sure, will make it happen for her friends!! I’m glad Jesse didn’t totally let us down, I was worried.

This is HIGHLY recommended if you enjoy the spiciest Paranormal Romance, with a bit of mystery as to who is trying to hurt (or possibly kill) Aspen, the FMC!!

[Dallas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the Book, Loved the Series

This was a strong ending to a strong series. There was good tension (both romantically and plot-wise), all the right characters grew in all the right ways, and the HEA was very satisfying. The main characters were lovely (and I’m sad to see them “go”), but there are several other characters I hope we get to see more of. When the side characters are as interesting as the MCs is always a good sign to me and this book had it in droves. If you’re just stumbling across this book, go back to the first one (The Luna Trials) and dig right in; you won’t regret it. If you’ve read the other two already, then what are you waiting for? Crack this puppy open and enjoy the final leg of the journey.

[Yvonne Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ranger and Aspen

I loved this series. It was full of excitement and some unexpected twists and turns
The supporting characters were great and Clara was my favorite
She was so animated and was always there for Aspen
Fallon turned out to be another surprise character that you grew to love
Glad she found her HEA
The Mating Season show was OTT and Heather really created an unheard of world where it could happen
I loved the ending of Ranger and Aspen but would like to see a book about Clara now that she is free and Opal the Omega and let’s not forget Jesse
All characters that deserve their stories to be told (hint, hint)!
Great job Heather, looking forward to reading more from your catalog

[Shreya Chopra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brainrot

I read this series in like 2 days. My overall thoughts are that I liked Aspen’s personality (in the beginning) and the whole alpha tv show plot was interesting (at first). But, omg, it’s sooooooo dragged out. Could’ve been written in one book instead of 3. Also, for people who vowed for revenge and death so much, I expected more… revenge and death. Definitely a series you read for pass time, but I still think it could’ve easily been condensed, especially considering the plot literally didn’t even change throughout all three books. Very spice forward plot — not much else going on there.

[Cassandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sharing my thoughts on this series as a whole but the rating is just for book 3.

I really liked book 1. I enjoyed the characters, both main and side. I got a few chuckles from the wolves. And it was a pretty quick, satisfying read.

So I immediately picked up book 2. While many of my thoughts about the characters and length remained, I felt that the book could have been reduced in length and tacked onto book 1.

Then book 3 came and I spent most of it bored and a bit underwhelmed. I felt like I was set up for something exciting to happen but nothing ever did. It was really difficult to finish because I was so uninterested.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️s but more like 3.5…..

I just wasn’t as interested in this as the first two books. I wish the MFC would have had more bada** moments like some other characters. For a while I thought she was just going to keep stringing the MMC on about bonding. I just kept thinking how weak minded she was after a while. I even skipped a few pages 🫣. I knew there was going to be a lot of spicy moments since the other books were leading up to the women’s heat but idk it was kind of lacking….. idk why I think that but it was kind of blah to me….
Still an ok read to pass some time.

[Kathleen Bohle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and Entertaining

This was a totally enjoyable story with characters that were exciting, sexy and interesting. This storyline was different than other mating stories I’ve read.there was different personalities then you normally read in mating stories, which was nice to read. Aspen and Ranger characters are strong personalities that draw you in to their stories and how they finally get their H.E.A. Is just about perfect. Heath K. Carson is a wonderful writer with a great imagination and I look forward to reading more of her stories.

[Taylor Rimbey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Likes:
• Fated Mates with mind link connection
• Reality tv concept where everyone competes in trials

Dislikes:
• Aspen. Sorry girly but I still don’t like you. I find bratty FMCs to be a little annoying as it is. But she was just unlikable for me.
• I don’t care what pack laws are Cindy is a bad ass who deserves to be an Alpha at this point. I want a book from her POV
• I still feel like this series could have been one big book. I don’t feel like there was enough action or things going on for these to really stand on their own. Found myself getting bored.

[loosestocking · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

Couldn't finish it. The plot and the spice wasn't all that interesting. I still don't feel like the fmc and mmc got to know each other at all. I just didn't feel the emotional connection. I also felt like the author told me a lot of things instead of showing me things. The references to kink and Aspen being a history buff then a lit nerd just didn't stack up. Usually you see examples of these traits sprinkled throughout but they only showed as passing thoughts not so much in their actions.