ARC Review: Mating Instinct by Katie Reus

Mating Instinct by Katie Reus
Series: Moon Shifter #3
Published by Signet
Published on: March 5, 2013
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Werewolves
Pages: 368
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher

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As the beast within struggles to break free, he must learn to be what she needs...

Surviving for centuries, powerful lupine shifter Jayce Kazan managed to stay away from humans until he met Kat Saburova and was consumed by the need to protect her. But while Jayce shared his passion with the human seer, he refused to make her his bondmate—a refusal that caused the end of their relationship.

A year later, an attack that left Kat near death has resulted in another lupine shifter turning her. Furious that he wasn’t the one to save her, Jayce is determined to show Kat that he is the one she should rely on. But the newly turned shifter is still traumatized and worried that she’ll hurt those she loves, unless she can learn to control her inner wolf.

And as Jayce struggles to protect Kat from her own worst instincts and convince her to rekindle their love, the extremists who almost killed her are looking to finish the job…

The alpha-maleness of the Armstrong brothers featured in the two previous installments of Katie Reus’ series is undeniable but they have nothing on Jayce Kazan! I’ve been pining over this wolf since his character was first introduced and let me tell you, he did not disappoint! Mating Instinct is a testosterone laden, emotionally charged story that’s sure to get your motor running!

Kat Saburova is probably one of my favourite female leads so far in the Moon Shifter universe. She started this series off as human but she’s never appeared weak because of it. In fact, if anything, it makes her strength all the more admirable considering the hand that she’s been dealt. Despite what happened to her in the previous book she started this one off itching for a fight and she’s set her sights on her attackers, the APL (Antiparanormal League). Her new werewolf genes made her a little brazen at times to the point of recklessness but thankfully for her; she has one heck of a protector!

Reus’ enforcers are a unique subgroup of werewolves that are particularly badass and Jayce Kazan is the cream of the crop. He’s the embodiment of virility and damn sexy; from now on whenever I picture an alpha wolf I’m going to think of him. I love how he comes across as more animal than human and he’s hella scary in a fight. The relationship between Kazan and Saburova is rocky to say the least but as in most Paranormal Romances, their troubles stem from misunderstandings rather than genuine incompatibility.

There were a few inconsistencies in this installment that mildly irritated me. Brianna the fae warrior was one of them. She played a significant role in the previous book but in this one I couldn’t figure out what her purpose was. She pops up at the beginning of the story then all but disappears for the duration which made her side plot line (if you can even call it that) feel unfinished. The defeat of the APL was also anticlimactic considering they’ve been the main big bad in this series. I’m not sad to see them go because they were beginning to annoy me but I think the final showdown could have been more explosive.

A few hints are dropped as to which couple will be featured next in Avenger’s Mate and I look forward to seeing how Reus develops her new storyline now that the APL is ancient history. I’m under the impression that Katie’s vampires are about to give her werewolves a run for their money!

Books In This Series
My Review		My Review

Recommendation:	If you enjoy overprotective alphas, happy endings and sizzle then this one’s for you!
Like this, like that:	The How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf series by Molly Harper, The Changeling series by Dani Harper and the Werewolves in Love series by Kinsey Holley.

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