Just the beginning

The Mate Games have started once again, but this time do any of the players even know they are playing?
Dahlia is such a fabulous character, she is snarky, socially awkward, & curvy what more could you ask for?
Tor, Cain, Kai & Caspian all have their work cut out for them. They all feel the pull, the desire, but will any of them make the first move? What happens when chains are loosened and the monsters that have been carefully locked down start to break free?

This was a phenomenal start to another series, with extraordinary performances by all the narrators.

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I laughed more than I expected to!

This has a bit of everything; mystery, suspense, steam and humour. The dialogue is funny on its own but the delivery and the performances across the board just elevated it that little bit higher. I genuinely laughed so much while I was listening. Every time Kai got an acronym, every time Caspian tried to sweet talk Dahlia and every time the dog did something to anyone apart from Dahlia. And the majority of Kiki's scenes; she is such a breath of fresh air and I loved her character. There are still some dark plotlines in this though so its not all fun and games for the characters; the ripper storyline has me intrigued and I'm wondering how that is all going to play out.

There are elements of insta lust/love but its not a straight forward fated mates tale and is on the slow burn side. I liked the fact that this is multi POV as Dahlia's inner monologues give you an insight into her self esteem but her interactions with the other characters through their eyes show how witty and confident she can be. Her relationships are all happening at difference paces too rather than straight up dominoes with Cain in particular holding back (and I love the reason why he is doing so as it speaks volumes about his character). His storyline is the one that engaged me the most after Dahlia herself.

I haven't read the other books in the series (and only one of the companion series) but Tor broke my heart and I loved his backstory; although this is a standalone I will be going back to read the other series for context as I love an Easter egg.

I really enjoyed the multi cast production especially as its in duet style; at this point Jason Clarke and JF Harding could read a menu to me and I'd be hanging on every word. James Joseph, John Hartley, Stella Hunter and Samantha Brentmoor were all new to me narrators and the chemistry between them all was on point throughout. The only small nitpick I have is that there was one character's accent which took me out a little but its only as I am Scottish myself. However as the character wasn't that prevalent it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment and I will definitely be continuing the series.

My interpretation of the star system;
3 stars - I enjoyed it; would read the author again
4 stars - I really liked it; I am invested and definitely want more from this author/series
5 stars - I loved it; I engaged with this book completely until I finished it and it is one I will re-read.

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

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The whole package

Ever wonder what would be like if you fell into some of the fantasy stories you read? Thats what this book is, just like you fell into all of the romantasy books at once and i loved every moment of it! And so much spice 🌶🌶🌶🌶 . Once i started this,i couldn't put it down and nearly finished the whole thing in 1 day. I'm so eager for the next book.

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Haunting Beauty

Good book from the very beginning. This book was really fun. I normally do not care for reverse harem or why choose, but I enjoyed this one. It was also very smexy. The narrators were outstanding in bringing the story to life. Each narrator was perfect for their role. I received this free copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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Fantastic fun and sexy as hell

WOW! An absolute powerhouse of voice actors here! This is a quality recording for a top notch PNR story. Having read the book I can say you really need to listen to this on audio. The way the characters are brought to life with their sexy accents and perfectly matched voices is a treat your senses will thank you for! The book is great but the audio will blow your socks off!.

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

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OMG!!!!!!

OMG!!!! That was beyond amazing. I’m so glad I preordered this. Absolutely outstanding!!! Narrated to perfection.

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Haunting Beauty Is Perfection!

We are finally back in the world of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 & I was here for it! I was so excited to dive back into this world. Only 𝙺. 𝙻𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚎 & 𝙼𝚎𝚐 𝙰𝚗𝚗𝚎 can hook me like this with a paranormal, why choose romance. They are a magnificent writing duo!

𝐖𝐚𝐫 & 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 have nothing on 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡! We dive straight into Blackwood Asylum and see Dahlia. She's there to heal her mental health....but is she really? 𝚂𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚊 𝙷𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛 brings her trademark charm, sassiness & whit as she breaths life into Dahlia, making her real.

𝙹𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙲𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚎 brings us Tor. He's such a yummy beast & his narrations for him are perfect! 𝚂𝚊𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚑𝚊 𝙱𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚖𝚘𝚘𝚛 & her epicness introduces us to Dr. Masterson & it couldn't have been performed better! She was 𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴! 𝙹.𝙵. 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 brings us Cain & as always, his performance was masterfully done! Kai, the dragon is performed by 𝙹𝚘𝚑𝚗 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚕𝚎𝚢 & I was there for it! Yes please! Of course, you 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 I'm saving a great for last: 𝙹𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝙹𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚙𝚑 is the best Hook ever!

Needless to say, I am hooked ( pun intended!) on this book & I just know the next one is going to be just as epic! These ladies bring the perfect villainous men together with beautifully chiseled females & delivers us perfection!

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One woman, four really hot men, ghosts and an asylum

If you’ve read the other Mate Games series then you won’t be surprised that this is another amazing offering. If you haven’t, the story will still make sense but you’ll definitely want to go back and listen to them. There’s certainly a darker tone to this series but the humour is still there. Without giving too much away; our book writing heroine finds herself in an asylum surrounded by the hottest supernatural men she never knew existed. What’s a girl to do when surrounded by a pirate captain, a dragon shifter, an actual Norse god and the mysterious man with no memories? Make the most of it, that’s what!

As with the other Mate Games series the full cast narration takes the story up a notch - or several. Stella is brilliant, every note and tone is just perfect. Then there are the men. Holy horsemen they are good! James Joseph is one of my all time favourites and his Caspian ( Hook) was sublime, he played the balance of arrogance and self assuredness and playful silliness like he was born for it. Jason Clarke was brilliant as the Norseman on the edge. JF Harding is always outstanding and this is no exception. I wasn’t sure about John Hartley as he was my least favourite in the Pestilence series but this has converted me, the more I think about it the more I realise that it was because I didn’t like his character before. Honestly the narration here is brilliantly performed and seriously hot. I could continue to gush about how good it was or I could go and listen to the next book so I’m going to go do that!.

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

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Why Choose Paranormal Romance

Haunting Beauty by Meg Anne and K. Loraine is a why choose paranormal romance that I listened to on audio narrated by Stella Hunter, J.F. Harding, Jason Clarke, John Hartley, James Joseph, and Samantha Brentmoor. This is the first book in The Mate Games: Death series.

I absolutely love the Mate Games World! Meg and Kim do an amazing job pulling me into the story. I am loving the chemistry between Dahlia, Tor, Hook, Kai, and Cain. I loved that we got all of their points of views throughout the book. It really brought the story to life.

The book ended on an amazing cliffhanger that left me begging for more. I can't wait for the next book in the series Hunted Beast to be released on February 19, 2024.

I absolutely love that they do a full cast of narrators for this series. It really brings the story to life.

I would recommend this series if you like paranormal romances, why choose romances, or fated mate's romances.

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#bestroundyet - Bring on the villains!!!!

To say I was excited for this new series in the Mate Games universe would be a dramatic understatement. As soon as it was hinted during the Pestilence series that Death would be the next round and the clues as to who would be the players.....I was HOOKED (pardon the pun). It is fair to say for the last few months I have been thinking about little else and pestering the creative geniuses K Loraine and Meg Anne for details and hints as to the casting.

They continue to level up on themselves and this story just shows how effortlessly they can create this beautifully evocative and sexy paranormal why choose romance that also has so much classic humour but also earnest heart to it. For this round we find ourselves whisked away to the entrancing but menacing Blackwood Asylum in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland and a backdrop of a sinister looming threat of a supernatural "Ripper" serial killer.

Its an absorbing and fascinating story which is threaded through with so many easter eggs and links to K Loraine and Meg Anne's other works and characters that this really is one for the fans. It is also a love letter for all those who fell in love with the villains and wanted to run off with them instead. But there is also an added extra to this story which immersive audio drama nerds will love, with audio effects in little extracts sprinkled throughout the book to really drill in the unsettling foreshadowing environment of this new world we are living in for this series.

They have once again managed to create a superb ensemble of characters you instantly relate to and get drawn in by, aided expertly by their stellar audio cast. Dahlia is probably my favourite of the main female characters so far in the Mate Games universe. She is effortlessly relatable as the adorable funny, sweet but awkward recluse writer who is tormented by her past and her ability to see ghosts. Of course, Queen Stella Hunter is the only one able to take on the mantle with her effortless charisma and talent and I just always want to listen to her. However, I was deliriously happy when Samantha Brentmoor made her debut in the universe and joined the cast in a delicious complement to Stella, by playing Dahlia's confident, sassy, slightly manic best friend and editor Kiki and as the mysterious Dr Masterson running the Blackwood Asylum. I have such an unashamedly hard girl crush on Samantha and it is not helped one bit listening to her in this. Sigh.

But it wouldn't be a Mate Games without the boys. And they don't slack on this one with the Jason Clarke finally getting to play the Beast of Novasgard, aka Tor Nordson twin of Alek. Anyone who ever obsessed about the Beast from Beauty and the Beast well....this one is for you. With his trademark deep gravely voice and an English accent and playing the giant softie desperately trying to battle control with his inner demon for his fated mate. Its everything.

James Joseph being given free reign once again to just run with it and create a larger than life instant fan favourite with his turn as the devilishly charming rouge fae pirate, Caspian Hook. He is a trickster but a seductive one and will lay waste to an array of fans.

John Hartley, the definition of method audio actor if I ever heard one, playing the tormented artist Scottish fae dragon Kai is something you just NEED in your life. He gives Tor a run for his money as an overly possessive slightly out of control beast who wants to lay siege to Dahlia's heart and take his gem back to his hoard.

J.F Harding gets to showcase a completely different weapon in his acting arsenal in this series by playing a completely different character than usual. He is the mysterious stranger Cain, with a lethal Southern drawl and lost memory but that doesn't stop him from being probably the most villainous of the whole harem.

All of this mixed together in a deliciously enticing cocktail of intriguing mystery, spinetingling suspense, four dominant alpha guys vying for the attentions of our lovely Dahlia, a sprinkling of intense heat and topped with wicked humour...you will never want it to stop.

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