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His Unexpected Mate #1
His Unexpected Mate
Living in a small wooden cabin at the edge of a forest while solving the mystery of recent murders, Eli learns that the locals believe a man-beast is responsible. As an outsider, he is watched very closely, even though he is working with the local sheriff, a man whose effect upon him is uncomfortably arousing.
The forest near Eli’s cabin had only squirrels, deer, and other such animals inhabiting it, so the fact that two people had been killed by a wild beast clearly had the citizens worried. Why was Eli’s firm involved in such a case? Eli’s father and the county’s sheriff, Stanley Blake, were friends. Stanley had called Eli’s father, and after a flight that lasted a few hours and a short taxi drive later, Eli arrived in the area.
He looked at his wristwatch. Stanley would be coming up to the cabin in a few minutes to meet him. Eli patted his black hair down, but before he could walk out of the bathroom there was a knock at the front door. “Eli, are you there? Can I come in?” asked a voice, a voice that surprisingly made Eli’s heart jump excitedly.
Eli walked out of the bathroom and it took all of his willpower to stop his jaw from dropping. Standing in front of him was a handsome, black-haired, tall, well-built man, and the fact that he was in his sheriff’s uniform wasn’t helping the matter.
“You must be Eli?” the man smiled.
Eli tried not to stare. “Yes,” he nodded. “Stanley?”
“At your service,” Stanley smiled. “I’m so glad you could come.”
Eli was expecting Stanley to be older, much older than the young man standing in front of him. He was probably twenty-four or twenty-five years old.
“My pleasure,” Eli smiled back and shook Stanley’s hand. He couldn’t explain it but he could feel his body grow warm as Stanley took his hand in his. “So…so, the murders,” said Eli as he let go of Stanley’s hand. He didn’t make eye contact with Stanley. He felt uncomfortable, even a bit aroused. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen handsome men before, but something about Stanley felt different to him.
The forest near Eli’s cabin had only squirrels, deer, and other such animals inhabiting it, so the fact that two people had been killed by a wild beast clearly had the citizens worried. Why was Eli’s firm involved in such a case? Eli’s father and the county’s sheriff, Stanley Blake, were friends. Stanley had called Eli’s father, and after a flight that lasted a few hours and a short taxi drive later, Eli arrived in the area.
He looked at his wristwatch. Stanley would be coming up to the cabin in a few minutes to meet him. Eli patted his black hair down, but before he could walk out of the bathroom there was a knock at the front door. “Eli, are you there? Can I come in?” asked a voice, a voice that surprisingly made Eli’s heart jump excitedly.
Eli walked out of the bathroom and it took all of his willpower to stop his jaw from dropping. Standing in front of him was a handsome, black-haired, tall, well-built man, and the fact that he was in his sheriff’s uniform wasn’t helping the matter.
“You must be Eli?” the man smiled.
Eli tried not to stare. “Yes,” he nodded. “Stanley?”
“At your service,” Stanley smiled. “I’m so glad you could come.”
Eli was expecting Stanley to be older, much older than the young man standing in front of him. He was probably twenty-four or twenty-five years old.
“My pleasure,” Eli smiled back and shook Stanley’s hand. He couldn’t explain it but he could feel his body grow warm as Stanley took his hand in his. “So…so, the murders,” said Eli as he let go of Stanley’s hand. He didn’t make eye contact with Stanley. He felt uncomfortable, even a bit aroused. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen handsome men before, but something about Stanley felt different to him.
31 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 5, 2020
Sadly this one didn't work for me. I'm torn between wondering if the whole this is intentionally tongue-in-cheek, if the author was serious, or just having a bit of fun. There are funny bits, but the sex/plot ratio is too heavy on the sex for me.
I received a copy of His Unexpected Mate from NetGalley for the purpose of my honest review
I received a copy of His Unexpected Mate from NetGalley for the purpose of my honest review
December 2, 2019
Eli works as a PI for his father’s company and he goes to help one of his father's friends, a sheriff, investigate a series of strange deaths that the locals believe are caused by werewolves. When he meets the sheriff, Stanley, he’s instantly attracted to him.
The characters were interesting but I had trouble connecting with them. I think I needed more backstory to know them better. The plot was also interesting and had potential but the mystery of the deaths was solved too fast and in the end it was predictable. It was a fine book, I enjoyed reading it, it just felt rushed and ended abruptly.
A big thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
The characters were interesting but I had trouble connecting with them. I think I needed more backstory to know them better. The plot was also interesting and had potential but the mystery of the deaths was solved too fast and in the end it was predictable. It was a fine book, I enjoyed reading it, it just felt rushed and ended abruptly.
A big thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
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November 29, 2019I should have read the excerpt...
Not a series I'll be continuing with.
Not a series I'll be continuing with.
December 2, 2019
This novel is something new for me and holy moly. This is an M/M relationship with muscles, death, and fur! Fated mate concepts are my weakness! Eli and Stanley are so cute together. I will be keeping tabs on any other books from T.L.West.
January 4, 2020
I've read one other book by T.L. West and unfortunately, I came away from His Unexpected Mate feeling much the same way as I did when I finished reading A Fated Bond. *sigh*
I think a lot of my issue with His Unexpected Mate was that it was too short to give readers a chance to wrap their heads around what was happening between Eli and Stanley. Never mind all the supernatural danger, family drama and world building that was just as much a part of the story. If more pages were devoted to all the elements of the story, I might have enjoyed it more, because the premise was great and the writing flowed nicely. As with many, many short stories/novellas, I just needed more.
I received His Unexpected Mate in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I think a lot of my issue with His Unexpected Mate was that it was too short to give readers a chance to wrap their heads around what was happening between Eli and Stanley. Never mind all the supernatural danger, family drama and world building that was just as much a part of the story. If more pages were devoted to all the elements of the story, I might have enjoyed it more, because the premise was great and the writing flowed nicely. As with many, many short stories/novellas, I just needed more.
I received His Unexpected Mate in exchange for a fair and honest review.
January 3, 2016
Eli works as a private investigatory with his father, and he is sent to investigate a series of mysterious deaths in a small town. While moving into the small cabin that's been set aside for him during the investigaton, Eli meets the local sheriff, a man who piques his interest in some unusual ways. He quickly learns that the locals attribute the deaths to some sort of mythical man-beast, and it isn't long before many of them begin to suspect Eli as someone unknown to them who just showed up in town. But the sheriff proves to be a valuable ally, and Eli is about to have his world rocked in more ways than he could ever expect.
This is a short, quick read, but it offers up a complete an interesting story. There are certainly enough twists and turns here to keep readers guessing without it being so much that you feel like your feet aren't on the ground at all. I certainly had not called parts of the ending before we got there, which I always see as one of the hallmarks of good writing. When an author can take you somewhere unexpected but it feels right--that's the magic of storytelling. I do want more from these characters, though, which is the only reason I was disappointed by the length of this one.
This is a short, quick read, but it offers up a complete an interesting story. There are certainly enough twists and turns here to keep readers guessing without it being so much that you feel like your feet aren't on the ground at all. I certainly had not called parts of the ending before we got there, which I always see as one of the hallmarks of good writing. When an author can take you somewhere unexpected but it feels right--that's the magic of storytelling. I do want more from these characters, though, which is the only reason I was disappointed by the length of this one.
July 19, 2015
New author,new series ..refreshing story.
December 9, 2019
This book was provided to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review
This was so ridiculously bad. It's good that it was such a short book or I would have DNFed it 😂 You can read my live review down below to see what I thought as I was reading it.
Writing style: This was full of badly used tropes and this author doesn't seem to have heard of 'show-don't-tell'
Characters: They were all so BORINGGGG. I really couldn't connect with anyone and forgot their names constantly.
Story: Aaaah so bad 😭 I hated it. It's a wonder I didn't DNF this 😂 I prefer my werewolf books with a more in depth storyline and with better explanations. This was just so horrible.
This book was so bad and really a waste of time. Luckily it took me no more than two hours to get through it. One star and nothing more is what this book will get. Read my live review down below. ⬇️
Live review
I wrote this as I was reading the book. Contains spoilers.
- Getting hard immediately after someone walks in... SERIOUSLY
- "He sounded authoritative..." Uhm of course he does, he's the sheriff 😂
- Going to a murder scene and leaving almost immediately without doing any work 🤨
- Inviting a near stranger into your house after you've just seen a dead body 🤔
- Giving said stranger a massage because he just so happens to mention he's uncomfortable to a man he's only just met officially...
- And out of nowhere they (and I quote) "...then they both gave into their sexual desire." I mean seriously 🙄
- You do not drink tea in one giant gulp... You can't swallow that much hot tea at once 🤷🏻♀️
- Keeping the murder of a shop owner a secret in a small town? Not likely...
- It's apparently totally normal to suspect werewolves when you don't even know the damned species exist 🤨
- Yes, let's suck the Sheriff's dick while he's in his office at work and you just discussed the brutal murder of three people 😑
- Let's stab a woman who is trying to break my neck into her eye because I can totally still think straight when my life is threatened...
- And now two werewolves are fighting, or was it a manbeast and werewolf? No proper explanation given so idk 🤷🏻♀️
- I love him even if he's a murderous beastie... Yeah dude, you've got a problem.
- oh yes, the touch of a human mate can heal a werewolf unlike anything else... BIG NOPE
- uuuhhh we're suddenly changing the POV? Suddenly we're dealing with a werewolf couple? 🤔
- uuh so this Elain is Eric's wife but he's also screwing Roderick and she's well aware of that fact? 🤨
- Yes Stanley let's say I love you after you've only been together for what? Couple weeks? (there's no indication of time in this book so idk)
- "Werewolf licky-healy powers.." what are you, a child that can't use real words? And besides YIKES a where's saliva should not have the ability to heal *shudders*
- Wow, I don't think I've ever read a worse action scene...
Review
This was so ridiculously bad. It's good that it was such a short book or I would have DNFed it 😂 You can read my live review down below to see what I thought as I was reading it.
Writing style: This was full of badly used tropes and this author doesn't seem to have heard of 'show-don't-tell'
Characters: They were all so BORINGGGG. I really couldn't connect with anyone and forgot their names constantly.
Story: Aaaah so bad 😭 I hated it. It's a wonder I didn't DNF this 😂 I prefer my werewolf books with a more in depth storyline and with better explanations. This was just so horrible.
This book was so bad and really a waste of time. Luckily it took me no more than two hours to get through it. One star and nothing more is what this book will get. Read my live review down below. ⬇️
Live review
I wrote this as I was reading the book. Contains spoilers.
- Getting hard immediately after someone walks in... SERIOUSLY
- "He sounded authoritative..." Uhm of course he does, he's the sheriff 😂
- Going to a murder scene and leaving almost immediately without doing any work 🤨
- Inviting a near stranger into your house after you've just seen a dead body 🤔
- Giving said stranger a massage because he just so happens to mention he's uncomfortable to a man he's only just met officially...
- And out of nowhere they (and I quote) "...then they both gave into their sexual desire." I mean seriously 🙄
- You do not drink tea in one giant gulp... You can't swallow that much hot tea at once 🤷🏻♀️
- Keeping the murder of a shop owner a secret in a small town? Not likely...
- It's apparently totally normal to suspect werewolves when you don't even know the damned species exist 🤨
- Yes, let's suck the Sheriff's dick while he's in his office at work and you just discussed the brutal murder of three people 😑
- Let's stab a woman who is trying to break my neck into her eye because I can totally still think straight when my life is threatened...
- And now two werewolves are fighting, or was it a manbeast and werewolf? No proper explanation given so idk 🤷🏻♀️
- I love him even if he's a murderous beastie... Yeah dude, you've got a problem.
- oh yes, the touch of a human mate can heal a werewolf unlike anything else... BIG NOPE
- uuuhhh we're suddenly changing the POV? Suddenly we're dealing with a werewolf couple? 🤔
- uuh so this Elain is Eric's wife but he's also screwing Roderick and she's well aware of that fact? 🤨
- Yes Stanley let's say I love you after you've only been together for what? Couple weeks? (there's no indication of time in this book so idk)
- "Werewolf licky-healy powers.." what are you, a child that can't use real words? And besides YIKES a where's saliva should not have the ability to heal *shudders*
- Wow, I don't think I've ever read a worse action scene...
February 9, 2020
Original review: https://myshelfbooks.wordpress.com/20...
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I still don’t know what I have read. By the title alone, it would seem that this is the first book of the duology, but this new edition is a bit longer than that. If you check the plot of the second book, you will find something similar in this book; so I’m going to bet that this edition contains both stories. Although I could be wrong. I haven’t found anywhere a clue about it. In any case, I have zero reasons to pick any other book written by this author, so I don’t really care. Let’s see what is good or bad in this story!
In this book we follow Eli, a young human who works as a private investigator in his father company. He is charged with joining the sheriff of a small town in the investigation of some gruesome murders that are disturbing the simple lives of the locals. That sheriff is called Stanley and he is very glad of getting Eli’s help. When the investigator starts asking questions, he soon discovers that almost everyone there believes there is something supernatural going on. Eli would have laughed to the end of the days at that if not for a key detail: Stanley is a werewolf himself. Will that secret break the new connection between them or make them stronger?
I have never faced in my life a book with such a bad style like this. It is actually the first time that I can honestly say I do not like the author’s way of writing to the point I will avoid any other works by him as I would a virulent plague. Sometimes I wasn’t sure if I was reading a book or a telegram. Too short sentences narrated in a weird way that made the whole deal kind of unbearable. I have read in another review a perfect summarization of it: “Show, don’t tell“. Fort a book where there was a lot of things happening (inside and outside of beds), the story wasn’t fluid. It took an effort to keep reading it, due to the robotic way of narration. Gladly, the book is short. Otherwise, it would have become my first DNF in I can’t remember how many years.
And what is the deal with the constant need of writing the name of the characters? Eli this, Stanley that… It is SO annoying. I’m not sure if it is a real issue or if it is just an obsession of mine. What I know is that it has driven me crazy in a really bad way. Never before have I had such a distate for the name of the main characters. Sadly, the story itself doesn’t make up for that irritating style. The plots presented were good and interesting, but the execution is messy at best. Everything happens so fast and unexpectedly that I was incapable of following the thread. One moment Eli is investigating happily and in the next blink of my eyes there is blood everywhere and the murders are resolved. Something new and shiny is introduced… and resolved. The story doesn’t breath. In this case the frenzy is not good at all. Fast paced stories are great if the reader is in the same wagon, but this time we were kicked from the train almost at the beginning.
I’m not going to expend more than a sentence to talk about the characters. Eric and Stanley are dull, uncharismatic, unimaginative and with a rather plain personality. You can tell I’m not a big fan of the romance that blooms between them. As in the rest of the book, we are pushed into that relationship with little to none preamble. According to the author, the boilng chemistry among them was unbearable; so they had to have sex like rabbits to relieve it. Let me assure you that I didn’t see the tiniest of sparks in their meeting. At least the naughty scenes didn’t gross me out.
So, if this book is so bad… why have I marked it with two stars? I guess I see potential in the imagination of the author. Shifters in Romance tend to be a big cliché, so I have to congratulate him on trying to add some original or different elements into the mix. It didn’t work out as expected, but some recognition is deserved. Also the multiple plot threads are OK. Just horribly developed.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I still don’t know what I have read. By the title alone, it would seem that this is the first book of the duology, but this new edition is a bit longer than that. If you check the plot of the second book, you will find something similar in this book; so I’m going to bet that this edition contains both stories. Although I could be wrong. I haven’t found anywhere a clue about it. In any case, I have zero reasons to pick any other book written by this author, so I don’t really care. Let’s see what is good or bad in this story!
In this book we follow Eli, a young human who works as a private investigator in his father company. He is charged with joining the sheriff of a small town in the investigation of some gruesome murders that are disturbing the simple lives of the locals. That sheriff is called Stanley and he is very glad of getting Eli’s help. When the investigator starts asking questions, he soon discovers that almost everyone there believes there is something supernatural going on. Eli would have laughed to the end of the days at that if not for a key detail: Stanley is a werewolf himself. Will that secret break the new connection between them or make them stronger?
I have never faced in my life a book with such a bad style like this. It is actually the first time that I can honestly say I do not like the author’s way of writing to the point I will avoid any other works by him as I would a virulent plague. Sometimes I wasn’t sure if I was reading a book or a telegram. Too short sentences narrated in a weird way that made the whole deal kind of unbearable. I have read in another review a perfect summarization of it: “Show, don’t tell“. Fort a book where there was a lot of things happening (inside and outside of beds), the story wasn’t fluid. It took an effort to keep reading it, due to the robotic way of narration. Gladly, the book is short. Otherwise, it would have become my first DNF in I can’t remember how many years.
And what is the deal with the constant need of writing the name of the characters? Eli this, Stanley that… It is SO annoying. I’m not sure if it is a real issue or if it is just an obsession of mine. What I know is that it has driven me crazy in a really bad way. Never before have I had such a distate for the name of the main characters. Sadly, the story itself doesn’t make up for that irritating style. The plots presented were good and interesting, but the execution is messy at best. Everything happens so fast and unexpectedly that I was incapable of following the thread. One moment Eli is investigating happily and in the next blink of my eyes there is blood everywhere and the murders are resolved. Something new and shiny is introduced… and resolved. The story doesn’t breath. In this case the frenzy is not good at all. Fast paced stories are great if the reader is in the same wagon, but this time we were kicked from the train almost at the beginning.
I’m not going to expend more than a sentence to talk about the characters. Eric and Stanley are dull, uncharismatic, unimaginative and with a rather plain personality. You can tell I’m not a big fan of the romance that blooms between them. As in the rest of the book, we are pushed into that relationship with little to none preamble. According to the author, the boilng chemistry among them was unbearable; so they had to have sex like rabbits to relieve it. Let me assure you that I didn’t see the tiniest of sparks in their meeting. At least the naughty scenes didn’t gross me out.
So, if this book is so bad… why have I marked it with two stars? I guess I see potential in the imagination of the author. Shifters in Romance tend to be a big cliché, so I have to congratulate him on trying to add some original or different elements into the mix. It didn’t work out as expected, but some recognition is deserved. Also the multiple plot threads are OK. Just horribly developed.
December 2, 2019
Some very short books work really well, some do not. Unfortunately, this was one that didn't.
The story centres around two men meeting while working on a murder case. There is an instant attraction between them, which again sometimes works well, but in this case, I just didn't buy into it. The murder case doesn't really make much sense either. It gets solved halfway through the book and then there are some other problems that our two heroes face.
With this being such a very short book it was hard to keep track of what was happening and why. It would have benefitted from some world building and that may have also helped us to feel something for the characters. With a bit of fleshing out and a bit more work it probably wouldn't be a bad book. But, it lacks all of that. Just not for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The story centres around two men meeting while working on a murder case. There is an instant attraction between them, which again sometimes works well, but in this case, I just didn't buy into it. The murder case doesn't really make much sense either. It gets solved halfway through the book and then there are some other problems that our two heroes face.
With this being such a very short book it was hard to keep track of what was happening and why. It would have benefitted from some world building and that may have also helped us to feel something for the characters. With a bit of fleshing out and a bit more work it probably wouldn't be a bad book. But, it lacks all of that. Just not for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
December 3, 2019
Unfortunately, this story didn't really grab me. I found that the main relationship between Eli and Stanley progressed far too quickly. They barely knew a thing about each other, and they were already having sex.
I think this story could use some editing. There is some good writing in there…but the overuse of character names and cliché phrases kind of drowns it out.
There's the basis of an interesting mystery and I think I would have enjoyed it if the author had allowed it all to progress a little slower.
Not a good fit for me, but if you like paranormal mysteries and lots of sex… then give it a whirl!
I think this story could use some editing. There is some good writing in there…but the overuse of character names and cliché phrases kind of drowns it out.
There's the basis of an interesting mystery and I think I would have enjoyed it if the author had allowed it all to progress a little slower.
Not a good fit for me, but if you like paranormal mysteries and lots of sex… then give it a whirl!
April 4, 2020
Living in a small wooden cabin at the edge of a forest and working to solve the mystery of recent murders, young Eli Bright learns the locals believe a man-beast is responsible.
As an outsider, he is watched very closely as he works with the young local sheriff, Stanley Blake. But Eli knows there has to be a proper explanation. Paranormal creatures don’t exist, right?
I just didn’t like this book. I think everything just went to fast with no real character development. It was short and I still had a hard time finishing.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book
As an outsider, he is watched very closely as he works with the young local sheriff, Stanley Blake. But Eli knows there has to be a proper explanation. Paranormal creatures don’t exist, right?
I just didn’t like this book. I think everything just went to fast with no real character development. It was short and I still had a hard time finishing.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book
December 12, 2019
I did like Eli and Stanley but the story...not so much. I think that if it had been longer the story would have been much better, there would have been time to really flesh out the storyline and the characters. All in all it was an okay read.
*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGAlley*
*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGAlley*
December 31, 2019
This book is a quick read about a man trying to find himself but working and doing what he’s suppose to do as a PI. Investigating a few murders has brought him to Police Chief Stanley. The attraction is off the charts but the problem is the paranormal aspects going on.
All in all it was a good book, there are things I could have done without and could have done more with.
All in all it was a good book, there are things I could have done without and could have done more with.
December 11, 2019
Fun, mysterious and sexy!! A great romance with great characters and a very nice story to support them!!
January 10, 2020
I feel like there were a few too many plot points for such a short book. Problems and solutions came way too quick to really care about. Sudden POV switch at one point was strange.
January 20, 2020
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend to everyone.
January 20, 2020
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend to everyone.
December 11, 2019
I received this eARC for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was interesting. I enjoyed the relationship, although it was very insta-lovey. This is pretty expected from 'mate' fiction though, so I wasn't angry. The plot was a little all over the place and had no real conclusion, which I assume this must be a series.
All in all it was good, but just wish it has some depth to the story.
This was interesting. I enjoyed the relationship, although it was very insta-lovey. This is pretty expected from 'mate' fiction though, so I wasn't angry. The plot was a little all over the place and had no real conclusion, which I assume this must be a series.
All in all it was good, but just wish it has some depth to the story.
February 13, 2015
This is T.L. West's second work Ive read. While 'Dangerous Love' was a MM erotic mystery, His Unexpected Mate adds the paranormal into the same genres. Eli is the lead we get to know when they story starts. He comes to a small town to solve some murder cases and has an instant connection with Stanley. Just like his previous work there are hot sex scenes in every chapter. The story is quite fast and I think everything takes place in two days. It's only 12k words and just like his previous work i hoped it would've been longer. If you want sex scenes and an interesting paranormal mystery along with it the do read His Unexpected Mate by TL West. You will greatly enjoy it.
February 11, 2015
Setup of three gruesome murders didn't match the dinamics of this book at all. With only about 30 pages of the whole story the mistery backdrop just made their instant connection even less believable than it already was.
And one of the small details i found rediculous that stuck with me: why the hell did he leave a tub full of water to go to the sink to clean his chest? Something wrong with the water there? o_0
And one of the small details i found rediculous that stuck with me: why the hell did he leave a tub full of water to go to the sink to clean his chest? Something wrong with the water there? o_0
February 23, 2015
This book was just ok to me. It is a shifter book but tbh I think the book is so short that you don't really get into the story very much. It ended quite abruptly too. After Eric found out Stanley was a shifter there was absolutely no reaction. Just pure acceptance. Not even any fear. So that was a bit of a different approach.
Not a bad book just not overly interesting.
Not a bad book just not overly interesting.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews