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Magical Mates #3
I Kid You Not
an alternate cover edition can be found here
Zachary Perry is willing to do whatever it takes to win the heart of his mysterious, gruff, and oh-so-gorgeous forest ranger neighbor, even if it means transforming his very bookish, nerdy self into someone (gulp!) outdoorsy so he can fit into Roan’s world.
But when Roan saves him from a seduction plan gone awry, Zachary quickly learns that a fondness for woodland fun is the very least of their differences, for Roan is no mere forest ranger, he’s a forest guardian – a magical creature duty-bound to guard both the land and an entire population of supernatural creatures Zachary never knew existed.
Meanwhile, Zachary… well. He’s very, very human. And that’s something he cannot change, no matter how powerful and intense the connection between them may be.
When something dark and dangerous looms deep in the forest, threatening a pack of children, Zachary insists on leaving the safety of his home and fighting alongside the man he loves.
But when the danger is past, will he be able to find his place in the supernatural world he’s discovered, and to trust that Roan wants him exactly as he is?
Zachary Perry is willing to do whatever it takes to win the heart of his mysterious, gruff, and oh-so-gorgeous forest ranger neighbor, even if it means transforming his very bookish, nerdy self into someone (gulp!) outdoorsy so he can fit into Roan’s world.
But when Roan saves him from a seduction plan gone awry, Zachary quickly learns that a fondness for woodland fun is the very least of their differences, for Roan is no mere forest ranger, he’s a forest guardian – a magical creature duty-bound to guard both the land and an entire population of supernatural creatures Zachary never knew existed.
Meanwhile, Zachary… well. He’s very, very human. And that’s something he cannot change, no matter how powerful and intense the connection between them may be.
When something dark and dangerous looms deep in the forest, threatening a pack of children, Zachary insists on leaving the safety of his home and fighting alongside the man he loves.
But when the danger is past, will he be able to find his place in the supernatural world he’s discovered, and to trust that Roan wants him exactly as he is?
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2022
285 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
Macy Blake
55 books702 followersMacy Blake believes in unicorns and fairies, in moonbeams and stardust, and that happily ever after comes in all colors of the rainbow. When she’s not busy at the day job, she loses herself in paranormal romance, living vicariously through her favorite sexy fictional heroes. These days you can often find her pounding away at the keyboard, trying to capture the magic of her own worlds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
November 1, 2022
OMG, Ollie, Ollie, OLLIE!!!
Okay, I ain't gonna lie, Zachary and Roan's story wasn't quite holding up to my past absolute LOVE of the prior Chosen One universe books.
Then the skies parted, the angels sang, and Ollie, Nick, Toby, and the rest of the gang showed up on-page to rescue my level of enjoyment. And I may have peed myself at that point. Just a little. 😜
Before then, the story was perfectly fine, but my level of excitement was at maybe a five. After that point? Tens all across the board, y'all!
If you were like me while reading the last of the Chosen One series and thought, "Who the fuck are these two randos?" when a giant, magical stag and his human showed up out of the blue during one of the major battles, well, this book answered that exact question.
I do really wish that Zachary's potential had been expanded on more fully, though, so I'm hoping we get that explanation in one of the future books.
Also, Ollie's fruitless pursuit of a certain tiger shifter was brought up again in this story, so I'm holding out hope that he'll get his own book soon. I'm sooooooooo here for that when it happens. 😁
I would've probably still recommended this new book for fans of the Chosen One universe, but with the addition of Ollie and Nick's pack, I for sure *enthusiastically* recommend it to fans of the series and would rate it at around 4.25 stars.
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February 2, 2023
3-3.5 stars
Definitely was a filler book, felt like nothing really changed in the universe.. it was just the previous book told in Roan and Zachary’s pov.
It was ehh, I just want Ollie’s book, and really hoping it lives up to the expectations!
Definitely was a filler book, felt like nothing really changed in the universe.. it was just the previous book told in Roan and Zachary’s pov.
It was ehh, I just want Ollie’s book, and really hoping it lives up to the expectations!
November 7, 2022
I feel like giving this book 0 stars just for Monica and the WTAF was that scene where she shows up to Roan's house - someone she has never met - and TASES HIM FOR NO REASON other than Zach did not respond to her texts. Then she DOES NOT apologize, and the men apparently spend the entire rest of the day kissing her ass to ensure that she likes Roan. It wasn't funny, it wasn't fitting with the story's tone and it bothered me to no end. I was hoping she would be dispatched painfully by some supernatural entity, but no, she is still there in the end with Zach making sure to placate her by staying in touch as she yanks his leash. Let's reverse things here. Let's say Roan is looking for Zach, shows up at Monica's door and just tases her, then basically says Zach made him do it because he didn't answer his calls. How do you think that would go over?
Rant aside, I didn't enjoy this story as much as the others. Roan and Zach meet and mate quickly, but there wasn't any advancement on any overarching plot lines. I did like that they integrated into Nick's compound so we saw a lot of the prior characters and spent quite a bit of time with Ollie, whose book will be next. I didn't feel like I got to know the couple much, and Zachary's potential psychic abilities really didn't come into play or get fleshed out, so I'm not sure why it was included. So 2 Goodreads "just okay" stars for me.
Rant aside, I didn't enjoy this story as much as the others. Roan and Zach meet and mate quickly, but there wasn't any advancement on any overarching plot lines. I did like that they integrated into Nick's compound so we saw a lot of the prior characters and spent quite a bit of time with Ollie, whose book will be next. I didn't feel like I got to know the couple much, and Zachary's potential psychic abilities really didn't come into play or get fleshed out, so I'm not sure why it was included. So 2 Goodreads "just okay" stars for me.
April 4, 2023
Uggg and I have to wait a YEAR for the next one! The one I’m salivating over?!? 😒
Suggested Reading Order
Sweet Nothings – Prequel – The Chosen One
The Trouble With Love – Nothing But Trouble, Book 1
Santa Trouble – Nothing But Trouble, Book 2
All or Nothing – The Chosen One, Book 1
Nothing Ventured – The Chosen One, Book 2
Hell on Earth – Hellhound Champions, Book 1
Double or Nothing
Next to Nothing – The Chosen One, Book 3
Hell To Pay – Hellhound Champions, Book 2
Give Him Hell – Hellhound Champions, Book 3
Nothing Gained – The Chosen One, Book 4
Stop at Nothing – The Chosen One, Book 5
Sweet Spot
All Kidding Aside – Magical Mates, Book 1
Stop Kidding Around – Magical Mates, Book 2
I Kid You Not – Magical Mates, Book 3
Sugar Honey Iced Tea – Magical Mates, Book 3.5
Hell Breaks Loose – Hellhound Champions, Book 4
Logan – Chosen Champions, Book 1
Gideon – Chosen Champions, Book 2
Jamal – Chosen Champions, Book 2.5
Cosmo and the King
Aleron – Chosen Champions, Book 3
Scout – Chosen Champions, Book 4
With Kid Gloves – Magical Mates, Book 4
Suggested Reading Order
Sweet Nothings – Prequel – The Chosen One
The Trouble With Love – Nothing But Trouble, Book 1
Santa Trouble – Nothing But Trouble, Book 2
All or Nothing – The Chosen One, Book 1
Nothing Ventured – The Chosen One, Book 2
Hell on Earth – Hellhound Champions, Book 1
Double or Nothing
Next to Nothing – The Chosen One, Book 3
Hell To Pay – Hellhound Champions, Book 2
Give Him Hell – Hellhound Champions, Book 3
Nothing Gained – The Chosen One, Book 4
Stop at Nothing – The Chosen One, Book 5
Sweet Spot
All Kidding Aside – Magical Mates, Book 1
Stop Kidding Around – Magical Mates, Book 2
I Kid You Not – Magical Mates, Book 3
Sugar Honey Iced Tea – Magical Mates, Book 3.5
Hell Breaks Loose – Hellhound Champions, Book 4
Logan – Chosen Champions, Book 1
Gideon – Chosen Champions, Book 2
Jamal – Chosen Champions, Book 2.5
Cosmo and the King
Aleron – Chosen Champions, Book 3
Scout – Chosen Champions, Book 4
With Kid Gloves – Magical Mates, Book 4
October 26, 2022
I'm a fan of this series. The quirky characters, the easy-to-follow story line, the recurrence of well-loved characters, the well-known structure of a paranormal romance with pack and mates and a lot of kids usually makes the stories a joyful escape and a pleasant experience while the reading lasts. Some of the characters like Ollie even stay with me afterwards until the next book of the series.
This time it's different. The new characters still blend in perfectly, although Zachary's quirkiness feels a bit exerted in the first part of the book and Taser-Monica is better to be ignored, but it's an uncommon structure, sometimes not really focused and the story doesn't add anything substantial or new to the overall storyline - if you don't count that it's the first time we have a couple who's happy that no kid is chosing them (understandable when looking at their work life but it just thwarts an integral part of what this series is about, at least for me). It feels like Bronwyn Heeley is saying: it's a filler episode to shorten the wait for Ollie's book, and that's not fair to Roan and his nosy trees.
This time it's different. The new characters still blend in perfectly, although Zachary's quirkiness feels a bit exerted in the first part of the book and Taser-Monica is better to be ignored, but it's an uncommon structure, sometimes not really focused and the story doesn't add anything substantial or new to the overall storyline - if you don't count that it's the first time we have a couple who's happy that no kid is chosing them (understandable when looking at their work life but it just thwarts an integral part of what this series is about, at least for me). It feels like Bronwyn Heeley is saying: it's a filler episode to shorten the wait for Ollie's book, and that's not fair to Roan and his nosy trees.
January 25, 2025
While I love the Chosen One universe, this was just ok. It took me forever to read; it just wasn't holding my attention. Still, it was good visiting with everyone.
November 4, 2022
Lovely to be back in this world...
You don't realize how much you miss something until you are popped back into the world you love.
While not exactly necessary, I do suggest reading all the books of the series. Just to understand what is going on outside of the main couple, mind. It did a good job mostly standing on its own. Just keep in mind most of the books that came before all kind of happen at the same time. It can be confusing, so go search for the reading order.
Slight spoilers ahead
Ok, so in here we have Zachary, a human with a touch of magic that was not touched on much, and Roan, a forest guardian who shifts into a massive stag. These two showed up in the previous books during that massive fight that occurred at Nick's compound.
Zachary wanted to get to know Roan, so he came up with this massive complicated plan to do so. When he is hurt while on a hike in the woods, Roan helps him back and BOOM, mates are connected.
I had some issues with this one, like the fact that Zachary's magic was glossed over, Roan comes back all beefed up with no explanation, and seriously? They don't want kids? In a series set up in the world of kids who need homes. This one also had some spelling errors. Not enough to take me out, but enough to catch the eye.
The one thing this book did that made me laugh was how the things that happened in previous books were summarized. That was done well and funny.
I cannot wait until Ollie's story. I hope we get to know about this cat shifter that apparently is into him.
You don't realize how much you miss something until you are popped back into the world you love.
While not exactly necessary, I do suggest reading all the books of the series. Just to understand what is going on outside of the main couple, mind. It did a good job mostly standing on its own. Just keep in mind most of the books that came before all kind of happen at the same time. It can be confusing, so go search for the reading order.
Slight spoilers ahead
Ok, so in here we have Zachary, a human with a touch of magic that was not touched on much, and Roan, a forest guardian who shifts into a massive stag. These two showed up in the previous books during that massive fight that occurred at Nick's compound.
Zachary wanted to get to know Roan, so he came up with this massive complicated plan to do so. When he is hurt while on a hike in the woods, Roan helps him back and BOOM, mates are connected.
I had some issues with this one, like the fact that Zachary's magic was glossed over, Roan comes back all beefed up with no explanation, and seriously? They don't want kids? In a series set up in the world of kids who need homes. This one also had some spelling errors. Not enough to take me out, but enough to catch the eye.
The one thing this book did that made me laugh was how the things that happened in previous books were summarized. That was done well and funny.
I cannot wait until Ollie's story. I hope we get to know about this cat shifter that apparently is into him.
November 8, 2022
I loved this book
I just adore Macy Blake's Chosen Universe, she can't go wrong for me with it as a setting.
This one was a delight though as human Zachary finds his path crossing with that of stag shifter and Forest Guardian Roan.
There's a lot goes on at the beginning of this book with Zach getting more than he bargained for on his hike in the woods.
With fated mates it's always easier to establish a connection but here I think Macy had an even stronger attraction set up before we saw their paths cross.
Both men are wonderful, I loved Roan and his sense of duty and caring nature and Zachary was a ball of energy perfectly suited to bring light and joy to his forest.
The narrative also slides into the events of the later Hellhound and new Companions series' so it was fun to catch up with Nick and the Smith pack as well as the kids and the Jerricks.
With hints of who's up next being very much appreciated, I'm still loving every bit of this world.
I just adore Macy Blake's Chosen Universe, she can't go wrong for me with it as a setting.
This one was a delight though as human Zachary finds his path crossing with that of stag shifter and Forest Guardian Roan.
There's a lot goes on at the beginning of this book with Zach getting more than he bargained for on his hike in the woods.
With fated mates it's always easier to establish a connection but here I think Macy had an even stronger attraction set up before we saw their paths cross.
Both men are wonderful, I loved Roan and his sense of duty and caring nature and Zachary was a ball of energy perfectly suited to bring light and joy to his forest.
The narrative also slides into the events of the later Hellhound and new Companions series' so it was fun to catch up with Nick and the Smith pack as well as the kids and the Jerricks.
With hints of who's up next being very much appreciated, I'm still loving every bit of this world.
November 9, 2022
Maybe I should have refreshed my brain first. I don’t remember these two showing up in the last book but in one of my friend’s reviews he mentions it so I’m guessing it happened. It also seems that maybe this was already published as a short story too? I totally missed that.
Anyway…
Ok, so, the beginning just totally confused me. It’s like the setup for Zachary was like we were already in the know. Like he moved and what his plans were etc. Also, what does he do? Does he just go to school? How does he have so much money? I just didn’t feel like I got to know who he was before I was thrown right in. His Mom is mentioned based on his name but there is no other mention of family or where he comes from. Honestly, I wish instead of the opening with Monica and the Outdoor store maybe we got to see the move in, the meet and the couple of interactions between him and Roan. Maybe I’d have gotten a better feel and understanding that way.
I don’t know. I just didn’t love this one. I like the idea of Roan and that new addition to all the other others in this world but aside from that it didn’t seem to add much to the overall story arc. I mean, Roan was not in the know at all and seemed so dismissive whenever someone was trying to tell him. It seems that Merry interacted with some of the others and you’d think she’d learn some things and share them? I don’t know. Add to that, like I mentioned above, I just never got a good feel for Zachary. There were some things that get figured out about him, but they too aren’t really fleshed out, like at all.
It did pick up a little once we got to the Compound and a lot of the characters we are familiar with showed up but even then, only a little. There were so many questions to ask and so much to learn or try to understand but instead they left. And then, Roan’s responsibilities just kind of changed the tone of the story and not in a good way.
I don’t know. I love this whole Universe but just wasn’t totally on board with this one. I didn’t hate it but it just didn’t give me the joy that I normally get when revisiting this world.
Anyway…
Ok, so, the beginning just totally confused me. It’s like the setup for Zachary was like we were already in the know. Like he moved and what his plans were etc. Also, what does he do? Does he just go to school? How does he have so much money? I just didn’t feel like I got to know who he was before I was thrown right in. His Mom is mentioned based on his name but there is no other mention of family or where he comes from. Honestly, I wish instead of the opening with Monica and the Outdoor store maybe we got to see the move in, the meet and the couple of interactions between him and Roan. Maybe I’d have gotten a better feel and understanding that way.
I don’t know. I just didn’t love this one. I like the idea of Roan and that new addition to all the other others in this world but aside from that it didn’t seem to add much to the overall story arc. I mean, Roan was not in the know at all and seemed so dismissive whenever someone was trying to tell him. It seems that Merry interacted with some of the others and you’d think she’d learn some things and share them? I don’t know. Add to that, like I mentioned above, I just never got a good feel for Zachary. There were some things that get figured out about him, but they too aren’t really fleshed out, like at all.
It did pick up a little once we got to the Compound and a lot of the characters we are familiar with showed up but even then, only a little. There were so many questions to ask and so much to learn or try to understand but instead they left. And then, Roan’s responsibilities just kind of changed the tone of the story and not in a good way.
I don’t know. I love this whole Universe but just wasn’t totally on board with this one. I didn’t hate it but it just didn’t give me the joy that I normally get when revisiting this world.
November 3, 2022
I wanted something easy because for once, I am behind of my goals. This one IS easy. The insta love (lust/connection/whatever) is ridiculously fast. There's the gazillion characters from other books that make my head spin. But I enjoy the trees' teasing Roan and Zachary. I enjoy the kids - and so happy seeing OLLIE in this book (not much Gus Gus though, pout). So yeah, finish this one quickly.
March 3, 2024
Originally read February 2024
Eh...this was probably my least favorite of all the books I've read in this intertwined universe. I know why I started it a while back and stopped. I just didn't feel much of a connection between Zachary and Roan. I don't know...it just wasn't as good to me. It seemed more of Zachary coming into his own than a lot of romance. And I hated the separation even if it was understandable. I loved seeing Nick and the kids again though.
Eh...this was probably my least favorite of all the books I've read in this intertwined universe. I know why I started it a while back and stopped. I just didn't feel much of a connection between Zachary and Roan. I don't know...it just wasn't as good to me. It seemed more of Zachary coming into his own than a lot of romance. And I hated the separation even if it was understandable. I loved seeing Nick and the kids again though.
June 6, 2024
Very fast-paced in the romance department.
I loved Zachary's 'interactions' with the trees and his spirit in general.
However, since this is part of the magical mates series, I had hoped to see the pack and the compound earlier than after the halfway mark.
Overall, it had the feeling if a filler-book to explain some bigger things, but I thought it was cute even if it was not my favorite in the series.
I loved Zachary's 'interactions' with the trees and his spirit in general.
However, since this is part of the magical mates series, I had hoped to see the pack and the compound earlier than after the halfway mark.
Overall, it had the feeling if a filler-book to explain some bigger things, but I thought it was cute even if it was not my favorite in the series.
October 28, 2022
I'm marking this down from 4 almost entirely because of the female friend. What is with these women that infantalize men and would DARE come in another person's house and TASER them while their friend is naked in the shower, obviously perfectly fine. It makes me berserk and I can not believe that needing to have a grown man phone you every day or you drive a few hours and physically attack his neighbor/lover? That would be the end of my friendship, not coddling her and giving in to her demands that she be your mommy and you are 10 years old. Ugh. Can you tell I hated that part? LOL
OTHER than that, I enjoyed it and I appreciated it that they don't want kids while still part of the whole kid universe. Not everyone wants that and given Roan's "job" it makes sense. I thought Zachery's running at the mouth was a bit OTT at the beginning but that settled down. I did feel badly that Roan left him so soon after. It was fun to see Nick and some of the other characters from other books/series and get a glimpse of Ollie's mate for future books.
So on the whole I enjoyed it and read it fairly quickly but I'll just block out Monica from my memory. Thank god she kind of vanished after the disastrous entrance into Roan's world.
OTHER than that, I enjoyed it and I appreciated it that they don't want kids while still part of the whole kid universe. Not everyone wants that and given Roan's "job" it makes sense. I thought Zachery's running at the mouth was a bit OTT at the beginning but that settled down. I did feel badly that Roan left him so soon after. It was fun to see Nick and some of the other characters from other books/series and get a glimpse of Ollie's mate for future books.
So on the whole I enjoyed it and read it fairly quickly but I'll just block out Monica from my memory. Thank god she kind of vanished after the disastrous entrance into Roan's world.
October 27, 2022
I'll start by saying I have lots of love for this series, this universe really, so keeping that in mind - this is my least favorite. Here's the thing, I get it, mates, magic is coming back, all good stuff, but the coming together of the two main characters of this book seemed so incredibly rushed. It was absolutely insta-love, but even that was like warp speed, so it didn't really give time for a build up, to really see them as individuals before they were a couple. Honestly I could not connect to either character, because I knew absolutely nothing about them, especially Roan. It was just toooo insta-love for me I guess. In fact, Zachary felt like a forced character, like the author tried too hard to make him funny and it just went over the line too fast.
I was glad to be back with Nick and the kids, and omg Gus, I missed him. Still crazy excited about Ollie's book, and I will continue to read this series and the next, but this one missed the mark for me.
I was glad to be back with Nick and the kids, and omg Gus, I missed him. Still crazy excited about Ollie's book, and I will continue to read this series and the next, but this one missed the mark for me.
November 4, 2022
It's not that the book was that bad, I just found the series that it's in, title, and cover font, to be misleading. I wish it was mentioned in the blurb, (or even just at some point before the second to last chapter) that the MCs don't want kids. I spent almost the entire book going, 'okay, but when are they going to meet their kid?' That expectation definitely distracted from the rest of the story (which, to be fair, I didn't find very interesting. It covers events we already know the outcomes of, and I don't really think it added much).
November 2, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
I Kid You Not is the third book in the Magical Mates series, which is a spin-off series in Macy Blake’s Chosen One universe. It does need to be read in order with the series, as a portion of the timeline is concurrent to the previous book. It also works best, in my opinion, when read in order with the larger universe stories, but that’s not strictly necessary. This book is also a reimagined version of a short story Blake previously released as part of an anthology. There is a name change to one of the MCs, and only small parts of the original are present here, so rest assured it’s basically like a whole new book.
This story is in-line with Blake’s larger world building, although it introduces a whole new type of paranormal that we’ve never seen before. Many of the elements that the author has built throughout this extensive world are present and consistent. There is a huge cast of secondary characters, many of whom readers know and love, so it’s always nice to see them again. But that’s also one of the reasons that it really does need to be read in order.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
4 stars
I Kid You Not is the third book in the Magical Mates series, which is a spin-off series in Macy Blake’s Chosen One universe. It does need to be read in order with the series, as a portion of the timeline is concurrent to the previous book. It also works best, in my opinion, when read in order with the larger universe stories, but that’s not strictly necessary. This book is also a reimagined version of a short story Blake previously released as part of an anthology. There is a name change to one of the MCs, and only small parts of the original are present here, so rest assured it’s basically like a whole new book.
This story is in-line with Blake’s larger world building, although it introduces a whole new type of paranormal that we’ve never seen before. Many of the elements that the author has built throughout this extensive world are present and consistent. There is a huge cast of secondary characters, many of whom readers know and love, so it’s always nice to see them again. But that’s also one of the reasons that it really does need to be read in order.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
October 22, 2022
The latest addition to the magical mates series certainly doesn't disappoint! I love this world. Roan and Zachery have briefly been mentioned before in a couple of books. But their story is sweet, the sex hot and there are lots of regulars ahem Ollie and Nick popping in to make things interesting. I couldn't put it down. It's fantastic.
November 4, 2022
I'm gonna say once the series is done, I need to go back and have a re-read. I'm losing track of who is who. Love protective Nick. This one felt half half. It didn't feel like the kids were going to come into it at all. And then they suddenly were. Poor Leshy. Had some cute and funny moments, Roan getting tasered, Zachary's no filter ramble and the kids dressing as lions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2022
4.5 stars!!
I loved Roan and Zachary! It was great to see Nick and his pack again. I’m so looking forward spending more time with these characters!
I loved Roan and Zachary! It was great to see Nick and his pack again. I’m so looking forward spending more time with these characters!
October 24, 2022
I enjoyed this book. however I did so because I'm a fan over the series more than anything. this book felt very much like a filler episode, and maybe, if we are lucky, later on these characters are needed and that's why the book needed to happen, but we'll have to wait and see about that. It felt a little rushed and that it just basically skim over everything, who they were, what they were and even their relationship. for me I wished it started at the fight and moved forward but honestly I get it, I do, it just never felt necessary and honest why should it. why can't we just have a sweet romance that was nothing more than a romance? I love filler eps, it's just it also never felt complete but I know we will see them again and hopefully we'll learn more about the magic of the human but for now it's a nice breath in a fast moving series
October 25, 2022
I devoured this one so freaking fast. I absolutely loved it.
Zachary was adorable and his nervous rambling made me laugh. Roan and Zachary were a perfect combo of sweet and hot.
A great addition to the Magical Mates series!
*I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
Zachary was adorable and his nervous rambling made me laugh. Roan and Zachary were a perfect combo of sweet and hot.
A great addition to the Magical Mates series!
*I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
October 26, 2022
sweet romance
Rating: 3.5🌈
I Kid You Not , third in the Magical Mates series by Macy Blake, is a sweet romance that’s jammed full of characters and events from previous novels and series.
Spoilers Ahead beware!
If you’re not familiar with The Chosen One universe and connected series, then the characters you meet and events that occur or are mentioned here will not make any sense. There’s simply too many names, types of beings, relationships, and hugely important events that impact this story to keep track of , even for those of us that have read all those books.
It’s one of the reasons I liked this story but wasn’t exactly crazy about it. I felt there was a lot more exposition that was either missing from the main romance or piled on too heavy from the universe storylines around it.
The romance between the guardian of the woods Roan and dietitian Zachary Perry is a sweet one in itself. But we never got any background of what a Guardian of the Wood was, how he got his power, why he was charged up, any of the important particulars left out of the story because it was taken up by Alpha Nick, the kids, the compound etc. I do love them all btw but here they seem to overpower the central romance.
Same goes for Zachary . He’s a terrific guy with aspects to his personality and physical ailments that eventually leads into the discovery he’s got a bit of magical abilities. That’s a major factor, especially in a relationship with a being that’s long-lived or immortal (something else not brought up). But that aspect is never further explored other than identifying it vaguely. A real miss because, again, the storyline went elsewhere.
Towards Nick and the kids and how they choose their own families.
Which, more spoilers, brings me to another odd thing about this story. All the other books have been about couples and these magical children finding each other. Forming families.
Roan and Zachary break that pattern . No kids in a story about kids. Yes, it’s in the title. It’s understandable but weirdly not satisfying given this series and that the kids are everywhere here.
So it’s a sweet romance but overwhelmed by storylines and characters from other books so that for me important elements of these characters are left out.
It’s not unexpected for this universe. Sometimes it works and sometimes it’s less successful.
Read it and see where you stand.
Magical Mates series:
- [x] All Kidding Aside #1
- [x] Stop Kidding Around #2
- [x] I Kid You Not #3
- [ ] With Kid Gloves #4 - Aug 1, 2023
Rating: 3.5🌈
I Kid You Not , third in the Magical Mates series by Macy Blake, is a sweet romance that’s jammed full of characters and events from previous novels and series.
Spoilers Ahead beware!
If you’re not familiar with The Chosen One universe and connected series, then the characters you meet and events that occur or are mentioned here will not make any sense. There’s simply too many names, types of beings, relationships, and hugely important events that impact this story to keep track of , even for those of us that have read all those books.
It’s one of the reasons I liked this story but wasn’t exactly crazy about it. I felt there was a lot more exposition that was either missing from the main romance or piled on too heavy from the universe storylines around it.
The romance between the guardian of the woods Roan and dietitian Zachary Perry is a sweet one in itself. But we never got any background of what a Guardian of the Wood was, how he got his power, why he was charged up, any of the important particulars left out of the story because it was taken up by Alpha Nick, the kids, the compound etc. I do love them all btw but here they seem to overpower the central romance.
Same goes for Zachary . He’s a terrific guy with aspects to his personality and physical ailments that eventually leads into the discovery he’s got a bit of magical abilities. That’s a major factor, especially in a relationship with a being that’s long-lived or immortal (something else not brought up). But that aspect is never further explored other than identifying it vaguely. A real miss because, again, the storyline went elsewhere.
Towards Nick and the kids and how they choose their own families.
Which, more spoilers, brings me to another odd thing about this story. All the other books have been about couples and these magical children finding each other. Forming families.
Roan and Zachary break that pattern . No kids in a story about kids. Yes, it’s in the title. It’s understandable but weirdly not satisfying given this series and that the kids are everywhere here.
So it’s a sweet romance but overwhelmed by storylines and characters from other books so that for me important elements of these characters are left out.
It’s not unexpected for this universe. Sometimes it works and sometimes it’s less successful.
Read it and see where you stand.
Magical Mates series:
- [x] All Kidding Aside #1
- [x] Stop Kidding Around #2
- [x] I Kid You Not #3
- [ ] With Kid Gloves #4 - Aug 1, 2023
October 25, 2022
How Macy Blake keeps so many characters and storyline straight in her head baffles me. I was reading this story wondering how it would fit into the rest of the series as it seems removed from it at first, and then all of a sudden there’s the “Ah! That’s what happened!” moment. Zachary and Roan were very interesting characters, and I loved how they brought a new dynamic and viewpoint to the same story. This book overlaps in timeline with book 2 ‘Stop Kidding Around’ so we get all of their backstory before they’re briefly mentioned in book 2. I wish we’d had more information regarding Zachary’s headaches and what they mean, and even developing that in some way. Maybe that happens in later books? But I felt it was a bit of a missed opportunity. I also am looking forward to seeing more of Roan’s magic use since it’s very different from all the different paranormal creatures we have met up til now. This is not a standalone as the stories continue from the rest of the series (and Macy’s other series set in the same universe). I freaking love any and all scenes with Ollie and really can’t wait to see him get his HEA eventually. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
January 11, 2023
I love the chosen universe by Macy Blake. But I especially love the Magical Mates series.
It's probably the adorableness of the kids, the protectiveness and adorably grumpy Nick and his Viking mate (as someone calls him). The concept that kids are the ones to pick their adoptive parents and not the other way around is great.
I kid you not different from the previous ones in this series. This does not start at the Smith Academy like the others. About Half the book is focused around Zach and Roans meet and relationship. We meet witches and other magical creatures. We find out that Zach has a very strong intuition and gut feelings which is not a big part of the story, only one small time does he really use it.
The second part of the book they meet and help the Smith Academy and circumstances leads to tbem becoming pack and helping out with the kids.
The story is full of humour and I like both Roan and Zach. Their story is sweet and funny. This story is good as always with Macy Blake. But it feels did a little detached from the series. Maybe because so much of the story was away from Smith academy. But Zach and Roan fits with the familiar characters and I am looking forward to seeing them again the next one (Ollies book)
It's probably the adorableness of the kids, the protectiveness and adorably grumpy Nick and his Viking mate (as someone calls him). The concept that kids are the ones to pick their adoptive parents and not the other way around is great.
I kid you not different from the previous ones in this series. This does not start at the Smith Academy like the others. About Half the book is focused around Zach and Roans meet and relationship. We meet witches and other magical creatures. We find out that Zach has a very strong intuition and gut feelings which is not a big part of the story, only one small time does he really use it.
The second part of the book they meet and help the Smith Academy and circumstances leads to tbem becoming pack and helping out with the kids.
The story is full of humour and I like both Roan and Zach. Their story is sweet and funny. This story is good as always with Macy Blake. But it feels did a little detached from the series. Maybe because so much of the story was away from Smith academy. But Zach and Roan fits with the familiar characters and I am looking forward to seeing them again the next one (Ollies book)
October 26, 2022
I was so excited for the next book in the Magical Mates series and this one honestly did not disappoint. It was so different to the other books in the series so far, not anything like what I went into it expecting story line wise.
Zachary and Roan together are hilarious, so comfortable from the beginning, but their story also tugged at my heat strings.
And I loved how the addition of these two characters opens up so many more future possibilities within the Magical Mates series and the whole Chosen One universe.
Zachary and Roan together are hilarious, so comfortable from the beginning, but their story also tugged at my heat strings.
And I loved how the addition of these two characters opens up so many more future possibilities within the Magical Mates series and the whole Chosen One universe.
October 30, 2022
4 stars for Roan and Zachary
This wasn't quite 5 stars for me. It seemed less hmm intricate than others and I didn't feel we got a lot extra in the backstory/overall story arc as in others but I did love Roan and Zachary.
However would have liked to see more of Zachary's magic/psychic ability mentioned and how Roan planned to move through his forest quicker was kinds glossed over.
This wasn't quite 5 stars for me. It seemed less hmm intricate than others and I didn't feel we got a lot extra in the backstory/overall story arc as in others but I did love Roan and Zachary.
However would have liked to see more of Zachary's magic/psychic ability mentioned and how Roan planned to move through his forest quicker was kinds glossed over.
November 11, 2022
Objectively, this book was alright, and I probably would have liked it better if it was part of a different series. As it stands, this felt like an unwanted spinoff rather than a crucial installment in the story of Nick's pack and its kids (who weren't even in the first half of the book). Here's hoping the long-awaited story of Ollie doesn't disappoint.
November 8, 2022
Forest Guardian
Super cute. I love nerdy guys that have plans to seduce the guy they like. Zachary is such an adorable guy. I love how he just rolls with all the weirdness that gets thrown at him. Roan is the perfect guy. Down to Earth and a total sweetheart.
Super cute. I love nerdy guys that have plans to seduce the guy they like. Zachary is such an adorable guy. I love how he just rolls with all the weirdness that gets thrown at him. Roan is the perfect guy. Down to Earth and a total sweetheart.
March 4, 2023
Magical Mates is probably my favorite series within the Chosen universe, so I was so surprised and disappointed to find that over 60% of this book takes place away from the Smith pack.
Maybe a case of unmet expectations, but I also found Zackary and Roan's romance lackluster.
Maybe a case of unmet expectations, but I also found Zackary and Roan's romance lackluster.
March 1, 2023
Yay! I'm glad I got the backstory of who Roan and Zachary were. This was a great story just like the rest of this universe of stories. Zachary, Toby, and Ollie were a great trio of friends. It was cool seeing a forest guardian, also. Loved this installment. The only thing I wish I got to see was Zachary telling his bestie that he was moving again. How does he keep her away from his new home without her questioning it? Oh well, cute story all around.
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