Elemental Mating by Milly Taiden Pages: 209
Series: A.L.F.A #1
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Source: ARC, NetGalley
Also in this series: Fearless Mating
Also by this author: Fearless Mating, The Big Alpha in Town, In the Mood Fur Love
Goodreads
Their existence was a secret the government stumbled upon. In exchange for continued autonomy, the paranormals entered an alliance with the government. Now they are A.L.F.A.: Alpha League Federal Agency, sworn to protect and serve humanity.
Brilliant scientist Melinda Caster has discovered a new strain of the Zika virus that stimulates synaptic growth in embryos, causing neuron development beyond normal human levels. Way beyond, like ESP-levels of cognitive abilities. When the lab is broken into, Melinda realizes that someone has been keeping tabs on her research and wants it for themselves. A happy accident destroys critical data before it can fall into the wrong hands, but unfortunately that makes Melinda and her perfect memory a target.
A.L.F.A sends in jaguar-shifter Agent Parish Hamel to discover who is after the virus and why. The beautiful scientist acts like catnip to his senses and throws his mating instincts into overdrive. And then she disappears along with the only sample of the virus…. Now Parish must canvas the darkest areas of the supernatural underground to rescue Melinda, and what he discovers is beyond a paranormal’s worst nightmare.
Elemental Mating is a quirky, light read that mixes humor, heat, and shifters! I loved that Melinda is a smart, independent woman who is driven in her career area. I also loved that Hamel wasn’t the brightest tool in the shed, but he had to fake it in order to protect her.
Hamel knows right away that Melinda is his mate, but he can’t say anything because he is on the job. Melinda is attracted to him (you get some insights into her thoughts about his hotness!) but just assumes its a simple attraction. Hamel knows its more. Melinda has discovered a strain of a virus that gives animals an extra sensory power of sorts. Hamel is suppose to be there to help her (he has NO idea what he is doing when it comes to the science stuff Melinda is working on). Really, he is there to keep her safe. As Melinda starts to realize the monumental impact of what she has discovered, she is under attack. Her lab and her home are ransacked but she has managed to keep the virus serum safe (mostly because she is a bit of a scatter brain who doesn’t label anything correctly).
Elemental Mating is odd, off the wall, and enjoyable as long are you are looking for a book that is serious and filled with hidden meaning and depth. Light and fun is the name of the game for this book, with some steam thrown in for good measure (and because its romance!). I enjoyed both Hamel and Melinda. While I am usually not a fan of the ‘inner monologue’ when used in a 3rd person story, it worked in Elemental Mating because its such a wacky story.
Fated mates, jaguar shifters, strange viruses, and steamy dream sex all combine in Elemental Mating as we meet the first couple of the A.L.F.A. world!
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: no
- Trope: shifters, fated mates
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
- HEA: View Spoiler »
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Ice Planet Barbarian by Ruby Dixon, Survival Instinct by Janie Crouch, Buck Naked by Evangeline Anderson …then you will probably like Elemental Mating!
Elemental Mating
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