Fated over Forty: The Complete Series Collection

Shifter Nation, Book 12

De: Meg Ripley

Narrado por: D.C. Cole

Unleash the magic of second chances and sizzling shifter passion with Fated Over Forty: The Complete Series Collection, where it's never too late to find your fated mate!

Dive into a captivating world of relatable mature heroines, swoonworthy shifters, and steamy romance that proves love only gets better with age. If you adore fated mates and heart-melting happily ever afters, this series is your next binge obsession.

Books included:

Book 1: Bear's Midlife Midwife

Book 2: Bear's Midlife Baby

Book 3: Bear's Midlife Matchmaker

Book 4: Bear's Midlife Second Chance

Book 5: Bear's Midlife Psychic

Book 6: Dragon's Midlife Soulmate

Book 7: Bear's Midlife Surrogate

Book 8: Bear's Midlife Witch

Book 9: Cursed Midlife Bear

Book 10: Next Door Midlife Bear

Book 11: Bear's Midlife Christmas

WARNING! Listeners 18+ only. Steamy shifter love scenes inside! Each story in this collection is a standalone with a guaranteed happily ever after. No cheating or cliffhangers.

©2021, 2024 Meg Ripley (P)2025 Meg Ripley

Solid collection

Narration Review- the narrator has a really nice acting style and does both male and female voices very well. Definitely clear and easy to understand.
Story review- this is a solid collection and very much worth spending a credit on. There are eleven books in which the main romantic characters are both over the age of forty and are fated mates. All of the books are very good, with characters who are easy to relate to (especially if, like me, you are over forty, and believe me, it’s wonderful to have representation).
The book that really stands out to me is CURSED MIDLIFE BEAR. That is a five-star book with the tropes of One Night Stand and Surprise Pregnancy. The characters must figure out how to break a multi-generational curse to save their baby’s future. I liked that one especially, but I enjoyed all of the books in this collection.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Loved it

I totaled loved this awesome set of books. It will give you hours of enjoyment. The characters will grab you and not let you go. The narrators will make you feel as if you are part of the characters lives. They are full of surprises, twists, passion and so much more.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Arc review/audible

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. This box set you will enjoy each character as the meet their mates through ups and downs.

A Great Collection

Fated over Forty: The Complete Series Collection, if you are going to listen to this collection give yourself about 10 days as it is about 54 hours long. I enjoyed listening to the eleven different stories in this great collection. They are all worth listening to as each couple couple in their 40's work towards their happy ending. I enjoyed listening to D.C. Cole narrate these stories.

Great series of books!

Not only are these books cohesive within the world building but they are great standalone books. Each book though in the series and within its created world but each has a level of detachment so the reader isn't completely lost if they go out of order or cherry pick them. I recommend Meg's books all the time.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I want to be fated!!

After this I want more than anything to be fated to a bear! The story was so well done with all the over 40 issue being written about. Very much worth the listen

I like how one book fed into the other the next book. I like the touches of magic and psychic and shifter and witch

I’ve read the complete series one after the other and I loved it. I like how you tied the one book into the next book into the next book. I would recommend this to anybody and everybody.

Hot and steamy collection of shifter romances

Hot and steamy collection of shifter romances, exploring love, resilience, connection, rediscovery, family, and second chances. Each tale features strong, mature characters finding their second chance at life and love, woven into a world of shifters, proving that it’s never too late to find your place or your person. Contains 11 books from the series, but does not include the prequel, "Alpha's Midlife Baby."

Bear's Midlife Midwife:

Story: Liz, a strong and independent woman, is living her life after a divorce and starting a new career path as a midwife and Reiki healer. One night, Tyler, a bear shifter and the beta of his clan, urgently seeks her help when his sister-in-law faces complications during childbirth. Liz assists and witnesses the birth of a bear cub instead of a human baby, discovering the secret of the shapeshifting bear people. The clan wants to keep their existence hidden, and some members become a threat to Liz's life. Tyler, feeling responsible for Liz's safety, becomes her bodyguard and they grow closer while living together under the same roof. However, Tyler pushes her away, carrying the weight of his past and resisting their bond. Despite their attraction and the undeniable connection between them, they both struggle to accept their fate and embark on a relationship. As danger looms, Tyler must protect Liz from those who want to silence her, and Liz must learn to open her heart and overcome the challenges they face together.

Audio: The pacing of the narrator, D.C. Cole, was fine, good annunciation, though sometimes words seemed to go soft at the end. The narrator did a good job with voicing different male voices, but I rarely am happy when a male narrator is used to voice female characters' dialogue and this was no exception.


Bear's Midlife Baby:

Story: Jenna (h45) moves to a new town after a breakup to start a new life and open her own business. On New Year's Eve, she meets Chase (H35) and they have a passionate night together, but the next morning, Jenna leaves before Chase returns, assuming he's not interested in her. To her surprise, Jenna discovers that she's pregnant, and even more shockingly, she learns that Chase is a bear shifter. When she meets Chase again for a business meeting, she mistakenly believes he's involved with another woman and decides to keep her pregnancy a secret. Meanwhile, Chase is determined to pursue a relationship with Jenna and build his dream brewery, but his ex keeps interfering. Misunderstandings and insecurities threaten to keep them apart, and Jenna worries about the pregnancy and Chase being a shifter. Lovely OWYM shifter, fated mates, secret baby romance with plenty of heat and relationship angst.

Audio: The pacing of the narrator was fine, good annunciation, though sometimes words seemed to go soft at times. The narrator, D.C. Cole, did a good job with voicing different male voices, but I prefer when a female narrator is used to voice female characters' dialogue, and this was no exception.


Bear's Midlife Matchmaker:

Story: Newly divorced and navigating life as an empty nester, Carrie (h) is ready for a fresh start and she's swapped the bustle of city life for the charm of small-town Carlton, Oregon. Hosting a Valentine’s Day speed dating event seemed like a perfect way to promote her therapy practice, until she meets Pax (H), who sparks a connection Carrie wasn’t expecting. As a bear shifter from a close-knit clan, Pax has big secrets and has spent years avoiding complications, especially romantic ones. But Carrie’s warmth and strength prove irresistible, drawing him to her even as a dangerous feud with a rival clan threatens to unravel everything. When their worlds collide in a battle of survival, Carrie discovers the truth about Pax and has to face her fears about trust and the unknown, even as Pax struggles with his feelings of rejection and the challenges of blending his shifter life with his love for a human. Hot and steamy midlife bear shifter, second chance romance, exploring unexpected love, new beginnings, vulnerabilities, commitment, forgiveness, courage, acceptance, and overcoming differences.

Audio: Narrator D.C. Cole does a great job with Pax and other male voices, and a good job with Carrie's voice - I personally prefer a female narrator is used to voice female voices. The audio quality is good and there were no issues.


Bear's Midlife Second Chance:

Story: Single mother Rebecca's (h) life is anything but simple when she returns to her small hometown of Carlton, Oregon, to care for her aging parents, manage their confectionery shop, and guide her teenage daughter, Madison. The last thing she expected was to cross paths with Dean (H), her high school sweetheart, who now leads a clan of shifters, whose charm is only rivaled by the secrets he keeps, including that he's a bear shifter. When Rebecca’s long-buried shifter nature is revealed in a moment of danger, she’s forced to face a side of herself she never knew existed. With Dean’s patient guidance, she learns to navigate her new reality, all while juggling family, business, and the challenges of small-town life. As old flames reignite and Rebecca steps into her true identity, she and Dean have to overcome rivalries, personal doubts, and their past. Hot and steamy fated mates, bear shifter romance, exploring love, connection, transformation, second chances, self-discovery, forgiveness, unity, and belonging.

Audio: Narrator D.C. Cole does a great job with Dean and other male voices, and a good job with Rebecca's voice - I personally prefer a female narrator is used to voice female voices. The audio quality is good and there were no issues.


Bear's Midlife Psychic:

Story: Kelly (h) never expected her quiet life as a psychic medium to lead to anything extraordinary. But when firefighter and single father, to teenagers Chloe and Parker, Hugh (H) seeks her help to uncover the truth about a deadly fire, Kelly’s world is turned upside down. Her gift becomes the key to uncovering the truth about a mysterious fire that claimed the life of Hugh’s friend, Daniel, while drawing her closer to the brooding, protective Hugh and his complicated world. As Kelly and Hugh delve into secrets that threaten to unravel their lives, they have to face the undeniable connection between them. With hostile rival clans, the challenge of blending their lives and families, and Hugh’s bear shifter identity looming in the background, Kelly has to decide if she’s ready to embrace not only her abilities but a relationship with Hugh. Hot and steamy midlife, bear shifter romance, exploring love, connection, second chances, supernatural intrigue, belonging, resilience, support, and healing.

Audio: Narrator D.C. Cole does a great job with Hugh and other male voices, and a good job with Kelly and other female voices - I personally prefer a duet style where a male narrator and female narrator are used. The audio quality is good and there were no issues.


Dragon's Midlife Soulmate:

Story: Recently divorced and looking for a fresh start, Lisa (h) is ready to start over and she settles into the small town of Carlton, Oregon, hoping for a quiet, independent life. But everything changes when she meets August (H), the town’s fire chief with an air of mystery and a past he’s kept buried for centuries. August, a dragon shifter haunted by the loss of his clan and mate, never expected to feel love again. Yet something about Lisa awakens his dragon and a connection he thought was lost forever. When Lisa uncovers a shocking truth about her past life, their bond deepens, but it also brings danger as old enemies resurface with vengeance on their minds. As August and Lisa navigate love, loss, and the challenges of blending two worlds, they have to decide if their bond is strong enough to overcome the forces working against them. Hot and steamy fated mates, dragon shifter romance, exploring rediscovered love, connection, second chances, insecurities, healing, solace, hope, and family.

Audio: Narrator D.C. Cole does a great job with August and other male voices, and a good job with Lisa's voice - I personally prefer a female narrator is used to voice female voices. The audio quality is good and there were no issues.


Bear's Midlife Surrogate:

Story: Bear shifter Amy (h41) dreams of starting a food truck business and responds to an ad seeking a surrogate after her ex-husband's reckless behavior leaves her burdened with financial struggles. Evan (H), a bear shifter in his mid-40s who hasn't found his mate, places an ad seeking a surrogate to fulfill his dream of having a cub. When they meet, the unexpected happens – Amy and Evan discover that they are fated mates. Despite Amy's initial reluctance to the idea of a committed relationship due to her focus on independence and her food truck dreams, she agrees to be Evan's surrogate for the financial support it offers. As Amy's pregnancy progresses and she works on her food truck, they navigate challenges, including threats from a shady character in the food truck community. Amy and Evan's story unfolds with a mix of steamy shifter love scenes, romance, humor, danger, and the struggle to balance personal dreams and newfound love. Amy's journey from a difficult past to a hopeful future, combined with Evan's determination to protect his newfound family, creates a tale of love, independence, and unexpected joy. Hot and steamy midlife, fated mates, bear shifters romance with plenty of challenges and struggles as Amy and Evan reach for their HEA.

Audio: Narrator D.C. Cole does a great job with Evan and other male voices, and a good job with Amy's voice - I personally prefer a female narrator is used to voice female voices. The audio quality is good and there were no issues.


Bear's Midlife Witch:

Story: Shannon (h), a widowed witch, moves to Carlton with her two half-breed teenagers to live with her eccentric aunt. Struggling to make ends meet, she lands a job as a waitress at The Warehouse, where she meets Drew (H), the head chef, and a fellow single parent. Despite their instant attraction, Shannon is wary of Drew's bad boy image and discovers he's a bear shifter like her late husband. When she uncovers a connection between Drew and her husband's death, tensions rise. However, the situation takes a surprising turn when Shannon's supposedly deceased husband shows up alive with a new family. As secrets unravel and pasts collide, Shannon and Drew must navigate trust, betrayal, and newfound revelations to forge a future together. Hot and steamy witch-bear shifter, later in life, fated mates romance about resilience, overcoming challenges, and the complexities of family dynamics in the midst of magical upheaval.

Audio: Narrator D.C. Cole does a great job with Drew and other male voices, and a good job with Shannon’s voice - I personally prefer a female narrator is used to voice female voices. The audio quality is good and there were no issues.


Cursed Midlife Bear:

Story: After her divorce, Michelle (h) moves to a new town, Carlton, to start afresh as a middle school teacher. Celebrating her newfound freedom, Michelle ends up arrested for mooning patrons at a winery after a wild night. The arresting officer, Landon (H), is unexpectedly kind, taking care of her and later driving her home. An unexpected connection sparks between them, leading to a passionate encounter, which results in Michelle getting pregnant at the age of 40. However, Landon is not just any local law enforcement officer, he is also a bear shifter, and his family has been cursed for generations. This curse poses a significant threat to their unborn child, who might turn feral upon their first shift, a fate that Landon's brother has suffered. As Michelle navigates her new life, the reality of shifters, curses, and hidden dangers unfold, bringing complexities to her relationship with Landon. Together, they must confront his family's past, deal with a feral relative, and seek a way to break the curse that looms over their future. Hot and steamy bear shifter romance weaving together midlife transformations, supernatural challenges, new beginnings, family, humor, and finding love.

Audio: Narrator D.C. Cole does a great job with Landon and other male voices, and a good job with Michelle and other female voices - I personally prefer a duet style where a male narrator and female narrator are used. The audio quality is good and there were no issues.


Next Door Midlife Bear:

Story: Tricia (h) inherits a rundown farmhouse with a pumpkin patch in the small town of Carlton and sees it as a chance for a fresh start, though she worries about the challenge of restoring the farmhouse and managing the pumpkin crop. Soon after moving in, Tricia meets her neighbor, Duke (H), a widowed police chief with a mysterious aura, and finds herself drawn to him, as he is to her. However, Tricia quickly learns that Duke's life is filled with responsibilities as the father of three young children, Mason, Mia, and Oliver, and as the town’s protector. As Tricia and Duke grow closer, Tricia finds herself entangled in a dangerous feud between two rival clans, the Thompsons and the Johnstons, and when Tricia refuses to sell, her life is in danger, and Duke will have to come to her aid. The generations-long feud takes on new meaning when Tricia discovers that Duke and the other members of his clan are bear shifters, shattering her understanding of the world. As the threats against her escalate, Tricia must decide whether to stay and fight for her new home or return to the safety of her old life. Hot and steamy midlife, bear shifter romance, exploring love, loyalty, danger, new beginnings, found family, community and finding a place where you truly belong, even if it’s not where you expected.

Audio: Narrator D.C. Cole does a great job with Duke and other male voices, and a good job with Tricia's voice - I personally prefer a female narrator is used to voice female voices. The audio quality is good and there were no issues.


Bear's Midlife Christmas:

Story: Tara (h) moves to the small town of Carlton for a fresh start as she focuses on making a success of her late aunt's winery and rebuilding her life after a failed marriage. But she finds herself full of unresolved emotions when her high school crush, Corey (H), who mysteriously disappeared years ago, comes back into her life. Corey isn’t just the one who got away—he’s a bear shifter with a dark past, one that includes years spent under a curse that forced him into a feral existence. As the Christmas season unfolds, Tara and Corey are drawn back to one another, but their rekindled romance is far from simple. Corey’s return brings old secrets, dangerous enemies, and the revelation of a world Tara never knew existed. Faced with the truth about Corey’s shifter nature and the violence he was forced to commit, Tara must decide if she can accept the man—and bear—Corey has become. Christmastime second-chance shifter romance, exploring love, forgiveness, family, and the courage to embrace the unexpected.

Audio: Narrator D.C. Cole does a great job with Corey and other male voices, and a good job with Tara's voice - I personally prefer a duet style where a male narrator and female narrator are used.. The audio quality is good and there were no issues.

Great Shifter Collection

Meg Ripley is one of my "go to" authors for shifter stories, and this collection is a great compilation of her writing talent. The hero shifters are just the right mix of broody, caring, and protective. Their mates are fiesty, yet nurturing and willing to be swept off their feet (eventually). D. C. Cole's narration talents make listening to these well crafted stories even more fun.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

A collection for my close to 40 heart

First i love that fact that the MC in these stories are above the age of 40. Hearing stories where life doesn't end because they reached 40 and are forgotten lol. warmed my heart. Then on top of that you add the fantasy aspect with shifters and witches OMG yes this was so entertaining.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.