The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson

This was such a fun, silly, enjoyable read that it was read in one day on vacation because it was so hard to put down. Thank you to my wonderful family who understood reading all day at the beach really is my perfect vacation. Werewolves are real, sadly no other supernatural creatures were mentioned to know if they are real too, and have integrated into society with little if any problems. This is the typical fake dating/relationship rom-com with a hiccup before the couple gets their happily ever after. This was such a good story and so enjoyable to read it may make one want to consider the author’s next two books coming out this year The Game Changer and Under Loch and Key. Mackenzie is an ER doctor who also happens to be an Omega, with a grandmother that is setting her up in an effort to get Mackenzie mated and a family. Noah is the head of cardiology at the same hospital, and his secret of his Alpha status has just been exposed to the board and he needs to pretend to be mated so that they see him as less of a loss canon and a family man. Of course Mackenzie and Noah fall in love while they are fake dating and everyone but them can see it. 

 

Character List/Book Summary:

Mackenzie Carter = a werewolf, Omega, 29 years old, ER doctor, asks Noah for a picture together so that she can help stop her grandmother from setting her up on another blind date. Agrees to fake date Noah so the board will not fire him, and he will also meet her grandma so Mackenzie can get a few months of her grandma not setting her up. Mackenzie even agrees to help Noah seem more approachable to some of the staff. 

Noah Taylor = interventional cardiologist, Alpha, 36 years old. Asks Mack to be his fake mate for the board who just found out that he is an Alpha and are worried about the stereotype of single Alphas who are aggressive and not long term employees. Was offered a chief of staff position in another state prior to the fake relationship agreement with Mack. Is forced into accepting the chief of staff position by the person who outed his Alpha status to the board and found out about the fake relationship, threatens to tell and destroy Mack’s career if Noah does not leave the hospital. 

Moria = Mack’s grandma, raised her since she was 12 and her parents died. Wants her to find a mate and have a family. Thrilled to meet Noah and outs that Mack is an Omega during their dinner. Realizes that Mack and Noah are faking a relationship to her and her husband, but also realizes how much they care about each other. 

Parker – Mack’s best friend, works in IT at the hospital. Gay and dating a yoga teacher, human. Feels Mack’s deal with Noah is bad judgment. Starts to suspect their is more between those two than a fake relationship. Helps Mack sneak into a closed area to meet up with Noah when things start to feel real between the two. Also helps Mack figure out who outed Noah to the board and how he found out. 

Paul Ackard – 30 years older than Noah and his best friend and mentor. Realizes Mack and Noah are fake mated after seeing them at a party for a hospital employee and thinks they are too convincing to be fake. Tells Noah he is curious how this relationship will work out. 

Dennis Martin – colleague of Noah’s and jealous that Noah is the head of the department instead of him. Blackmails Noah into taking the Chief of Staff position out of state or else he will ruin Mack’s career when he outs the two of them for fake dating. Noah dumps Mack to protect her, but with Parker’s help Noah and Mack turn in Dennis for a HIPAA violation and threaten to sue unless Dennis faces punishment and Noah can keep his job. 

 

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