Mate Bond

Shifters Unbound, Book 7

By: Jennifer Ashley

Narrated by: Cris Dukehart

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

To cement the leadership of his North Carolina Shiftertown, Bowman O'Donnell agreed to a "mating of convenience". Two powerful wolf shifters, he and Kenzie keep the pack in order and are adored by all.

Bowman would do anything to protect Kenzie, for in each other's arms they've found far more than friendship. But as strong as their attachment is, they still haven't formed the elusive mate bond - the almost magical joining of true mates.

Now, with a monster ravaging the countryside and threatening the Shiftertown community, some in the pack fear that a pair without a true mate bond isn't strong enough to lead. Bowman and Kenzie will have to rely on their instinctive trust in one another to save their Shifters - and the ensuing battle will either destroy them or give them the chance to seize the love they've always craved.

©2015 Jennifer Ashley (P)2015 Tantor

Mate Bond (Shifters Unbound #7)

Mate Bond is the seventh book in Jennifer Ashley's Shifters Unbound series and introduces us to a new Shiftertown in North Carolina. While we met Bowman in Tiger Magic and saw him again briefly in Wild Wolf, this is the first time we've met his mate, Kenzie, and the other Shifters in the North Carolina Shiftertown.

The brilliant thing about the Shifters Unbound series is that there are Shiftertown's all over the world. Ms. Ashley can take this series where ever she wants to take it and keep the series fresh by introducing new characters into the mix. The downside? Missing characters that I've grown to love over the course of the various books and novellas.

Bowman is the leader of the North Carolina Shiftertown and mated Kenzie fifteen years ago out of convenience. There was trouble within the Shiftertown and in order to unite two clans, Bowman chose to mate a woman that he did not feel a bond with. Sure he was really attracted to Kenzie and the mate bond doesn't always happen right away, but fifteen years later, they still aren't feeling the bond and it makes them weaker as a couple, clan, and Shiftertown.

Shifter law says that once a Shifter finds his or her true mate, they are able to walk away from the one that they are mated to. It's expected and something that both Bowman and Kenzie have grown to fear over the years. They love each other and their son, Ryan, but they both know that at some point one of them will find a true mate bond with another and their family will be torn apart.

As much as I liked Bowman and Kenzie as well as a few of the new Shifters introduced in Mate Bond, I felt like it was missing something. Maybe it's due to the fact that this is the first book in the series that has dealt with a couple who was already mated. The passion and buildup to that relationship wasn't there and was seriously missed. Also, the issue was Bowman and Kenzie's mate bond was written off in a way I felt was a cop out considering all that we've learned about the mate bond throughout the series. In turn, I felt let down with this installment.

I also want to add that the narration was inconsistent in Mate Bond. Cris Dukehart normally does a great job (even if her mispronunciation of Lupine throughout most of the series drove me nuts), but Kenzie is from Romania and some dialogue was spoken with an accent while other parts wasn't. It grated on my nerves.

All that said, Shifters Unbound is still my favorite paranormal romance series featuring Shifters and it did have a few great moments. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I love Ms. Ashley

I love everything that she does. This book doesn't disappoint. There are so many different pieces to the story, it keeps you on your toes.

Rediculously Good

Jennifer Ashley does not disappoint. Another Shifter's Unbound story that made laugh,cry get angry and yearn for a Mate bond such as theirs.

I truly enjoy this series.. Nice refeshener

I have read every installment in this series. This one is very much refreshing. Most of Ashely's shifter books are romances that hit you and take over very instinctive. This book the main character are basically in an arranged mating.
This books show the strength of the shifters in their desire for family and connection but differently. These characters are simply in love. Despite what fate my have in store for them they are connected by true attraction and loyalty. Which for me trumps lighting strike love at first sight without knowledge of the mate chosen for you. I like being introduced to the new characters and LOVE being able to read about STRONG women. Kenzie is MY favorite in this book along with Ryan her son. Mostly because she is intense in her love but rationale understanding you must appreciate and fight for what is important.
Down side I truely wish that the shifter were a little more knowledgeable on the human world and reacted in a most controlled manner when in trouble. With all there strength the forget the cunning of human nature. That makes for situations that had me saying REALLY YOU DIDNT SEE THAT COMING. Bowman always acted cool and reserved in shifter situations then when the humans are in control he looses all sense of reality. Come on..

awesome book

I'm happy they have Cris Dukehart narrating this book the complete series actually. She brings the picture out for you. loving all the shifter series books

Love the story

I read almost every book by this author in the series I love it she writes a good story and it follows along smoothly I love the love story I love the fighting the in the entry all of it make anybody would enjoy this book

Kind of flat...

I have really enjoyed this series and have anticipated each new installment. I thought the premise of this plot line was intriguing. I just felt the author didn't dig deep enough into the characters relationship to justify the derailing of the honeymoon into the rebirth of a deeper connection. Wish we had seen more of the deeper connections of a long term mating rather than the death of the honeymoon phase. That is of course my preference.

great book

loved the story line. loved the characters in this book. made me cry in a couple places. I definatley loved the ending to it. was an amazing story.

Liked it by the end

The story was slow to get started in the way I couldn’t get into it as quickly because I didn’t know the characters have not met any of these characters in any of the other books that would’ve helped by the end it was really a good book

Phenomenal Story!

Love, Love, Love this series. The Shifters Unbound has so much going on that you never really have a chance to get bored. This story in particular is full of excitement, but it's also very heartbreaking at times. I felt so much for Kenzie and Bowman. They have been through a lot and the one thing they desired seemed forever out of their reach, a constant shadow that hung over their lives. I love their little one, Ryan. He's smarter than other kids his age and it really shows sometimes. Gil/Ben almost made me not like him for what he tried in this one, but I understand why he did it. He's lonely and wants what everyone else wants. I really enjoyed visiting the new North Carolina Shiftertown. I look forward to reading more of this series.

I've read this book several times, but this was my first time listening to the audiobook. It was phenomenal. The heartbreaking moments were that much more saddening and the victories that much more exciting because the narrator brought everything to life on another level. I really enjoyed listening and look forward to more.

Well done to both the author and the narrator.