This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
About The Book
He rejected me, and then he realized I’m the center of his world. Bummer.
Una
I keep my head down. In this backwards pack, females rank low, and my bad leg makes me damaged goods. It doesn’t help that I’ve never shifted. I don’t mind the late twenties single life, though. No one’s paying any attention as I build an illicit farmer’s market empire.
My roomies and I are doing it for ourselves, and if life under Killian Kelly is stifling, at least it’s predictable. We can deal.
But when biology finally kicks in, I lose my mind. I claim our alpha as my mate. And he rejects me in front of the whole pack.
It’s all good. It only hurts when I breathe. I’ll survive. That’s what I do.
Who wants an arrogant jerk for a mate, anyway? I’ve got a business to run.
Killian
To lead this pack out of the dark ages, I’ve had to be hard. Merciless. I don’t flinch, and I don’t make mistakes.
Una Hayes isn’t my mate.
My wolf might have some kind of strange infatuation, but if she were mine, I’d know it. And I can walk away, can’t I?
And if I keep coming back? If she starts living in my head?
I’m the strongest male in five generations. My pack scrambles to do my bidding. I can bring one quiet female back in line. No one can possibly be as stubborn as I am.
There’s no way I’ve ruined the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
I’m the Quarry pack alpha. I don’t lose.
The Tyrant Alpha’s Rejected Mate is a full-grown shifter romance. No cheating. HEA guaranteed. Intended for adult readers only.
To him, I am perfect. The most important thing in the world.
I do have his heart in my hands.
My Review
First Impressions
I first heard about this book from the “Smart Women Read Romance” Podcast and I have seen it all over bookstagram. So honestly, I knew that I wanted to read this. And if you are curious about this I guarantee that the way that Juliette and Jessen talk about this book had me instantly one-clicking this one (Its also in KU, so if you are looking for a solid read I recommend it) I was so intrigued by the set up of this story and I just knew that it would be for me, I do love the alpha male of a pack being mated to someone on the lower end of the pack and I was fascinated to see this story unfold. I was pretty hooked once I started reading this one here and I was fascinated by the way that this couple comes together and the pack dynamics were so interesting. It does have elements of masculinity and a patriarchal society which I was ALL for. This also was a book that didn’t shove feminism down your throat, it was a more classic age type of feminism balanced into the story and tended to flow pretty well with everything. I also loved seeing the romance build the way that it does. If you are looking for some solid telling of a shifter romance, look no further than this one here.
Summary
The story sets off with our heroine Una, who is lame, she got an injured leg when she was just a girl when a shifter male got lunar madness and she protected a baby from harm but in the process was severely injured and her leg never fully healed from the attack, She and the other loner females are secluded from the pack and as they aren’t mated, or have a male family member, they help serve the pack the meals. But the females have been working their own side work so that that they can be more independent even though it’s against the pack laws, and to make their own money. During a dinner where Una is helping the other females serve the pack the meal, her wolf comes to the realization that the cocky arrogant alpha of their pack is their mate when another female touches him. Una shifts into her wolf and attacks the female who is way more dominant and powerful than she is and she is almost killed in the fight. Her mate acts like she is crazy in claiming that they are mates as they have known each other since they were children and they would have known, In heat and being rejected by her mate, Una goes into the woods to find solace, when an older female who has magical abilities, removes the bond and she is able to find peace again. But slowly Killian starts to realize the truth that they are mates and has to work his way back into Una’s good graces and prove to her he is sincere but it’s not an easy road for either of them, especially with dissenters in the pack looking to destroy everything that Killian has built.
You don’t need to win an alpha challenge. an alpha belongs to you
What I Loved
I absolutely loved this book so much, I really was so intrigued by the fact that the hero rejects his mate. We don’t see this type of setup too often in shifter romance and I was so fascinated in seeing how Killian would prove to Una he was genuine. He is so stubborn and I loved seeing him come to the truth. I really was fascinated by the world-building that we are introduced into though here…and also loved how crafty Una and the other females are. I love that they build their own business so that they can have things like cell phones and grow their own food and sell it in the human markets, I know by the sound of this world, its sounds very restrictive to women, but considering under Kilian’s fathers rules, women had no rights and they were practically living caveman style of thinking, there has been lots of change that Killian has been responsible for. I really loved that this book had a duo POV and we get to see Killian’s perspective and what a good man he truly is,. He didn’t have the best father in the world, and he just wants his pack to be safe and whole but I also respected how he doesn’t get upset when the females want more like enjoying playing video games and the like. The romance was beyond so sweet at times, and I loved how nurturing Killian is for Una. He is actually pretty respectful even if his alpha tendencies get in the way at times. And also we see some hidden secrets revealed about the history behind Killian and Una that goes back to when they were kids and it was so darling. Its definitely a story that will keep you on your toes.
I need not to have fucked up the best thing that’s ever happened in my life before it even happened.
What I Struggled With
Nothing too specific, there were small moments where the pacing slowed a bit which keeps the rating from a full five-star read.
Overall View
I found this story to be such an entertaining ride that I had so much fun with, I couldn’t resist the romance that is built within this story, it offers such intimacy, laughter and deep layered facets you won’t expect!!
He whispers in my ear, “Everything I’ve ever done, I’ve done for you, Una Hayes.”
Title: The Tyrant Alpha’s Rejected Mate
Author: Cate C. Wells
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Length: 320 Pages
Book Links
Amazon| Goodreads| LibraryThing| StoryGraph| Literal Club
Book Evaluation
Storytelling Quality: 4.5
Story Itself: 4.5
Character Development: 4.5
Writing Style: 4
World Building 5
Feels + The Romantic Heart 4
Pacing 5
Plot 4
Cover Art 3
Ending 5
Book Ratings
Overall Rating of the Book
Steam Level
Simmering—soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warm- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin’ up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.
Trigger Warnings
Violence, Bullying, Death
Series Order
Five Packs
The Tyrant Alpha’s Rejected Mate-Pub 2021 #1 in the Series
The Heir Apparent’s Rejected Mate-Pub 2022 #2 in the Series
The Lone Wolf’s Rejected Mate-Pub 2022 #3 in the Series
About Cate
Cate C. Wells writes everything from motorcycle club to mafia to small town to paranormal romance. Whatever the subgenre, readers can expect character-driven stories that are raw, real, and emotionally satisfying. Cate’s into messy love, flaws, long roads to redemption, grace, and happy ever after, in books and in life.
Along with stories, she’s collected a husband and three children along the way. She lives in Baltimore when she’s not exploring the world with the family.
I just recently read this book too. I don’t read a lot of paranormal so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I liked it quite a bit. My KU dance card is full at the moment but as sure as a spot opened up, I’ll be dancing to the tune of the next book. I really appreciated that while the hero is clearly an Alpha, he’s willing to admit how wrong he’s been to his mate and listen to and implement her ideas.
I’m loving this recommendation! You already know I love my PNR and am always looking for what to read next. You better believe this has been added to the list 🙂 Great review!! xo
Oh, I’m so glad I saw this! I’ve been craving a good shifter romance and this sounds like one I would enjoy. Great review, Renee!