Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: The Selkie’s Coat
SERIES: Waves of Fate
AUTHOR: Drea Roman
NARRATOR: Michael Ferraiuolo
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 8 hours and 3 minutes
RELEASE DATE: November 9, 2023
BLURB:
A marshmallow selkie with more heart than sense and a stubborn human with a guarded heart fall in love in this first story from the Waves of Fate universe.
“Oops! You dropped your coat!” With these words, waiter Daniel Collins turns selkie Gregory Samson’s life upside down. Because that coat is not some fancy heirloom fur. No, it is Gregory’s selkie pelt, which magically connects him with his seal animal inside. When Gregory hears Daniel’s voice, he knows the human is his mate. Too bad Daniel has more than a few misgivings about trusting his heart to a selkie, because the magical seal shifters have one of the worst player reputations of all shifter kind—and Daniel fears a broken heart.
How will Gregory convince Daniel to give him a chance? It wouldn’t be so hard if Gregory’s mother and everyone else would just stop meddling! Brought together by the magic of Gregory’s coat, can the pair weather insecurities, an interfering mother, meddling friends, and a disgruntled inner animal?
The Selkie’s Coat is a slow-burn MM romance with a guaranteed HEA. It is this first installment of the Waves of Fate omegaverse universe and can be listened to as a stand-alone story.
REVIEW:
Gregory Samson is a Selkie who unexpectedly meets his mate one evening while he is out to dinner with his mother. Daniel Collins, a waiter at the restaurant catches Gregory’s pelt before it hits the ground and returns it to Gregory. When Gregory hears his voice, he recognizes his fated mate. As a water shifter, he recognizes his mate by sound, not scent. His mother realizes who Daniel is as well and decides to meddle to make sure her son follows up on this wonderful reveal.
Daniel has no idea what is going on. He is a rare human male omega. This isn’t something he’s totally comfortable with. But his bestie and coworker Henri knows how he feels. The way he knows is not a pleasant story, but eventually Henri reveals his past to Daniel in explanation. This both helps and disturbs Daniel. He’s not sure what to do. He doesn’t want to be with someone simply because he can provide a child. He knows nothing of Selkies and what he discovers in researching does not make him happy. He’s determined to keep Gregory at arm’s length.
Gregory is furious with his mother who continues to interfere. He realizes early on that he is going to have to woo Daniel. He’s got to explain the truth about Selkies. As they grow closer though, they bond is starting to affect both of them. Being apart bring anxiety and worry. Daniel retreats and tells Gregory he needs more time. That time is productive though and when he returns, he and Gregory continue to get to know one another. The bond is strengthening and before long, it’s clear that they are truly fates and most complete their bond to be happy.
This is the start of a new to me series and a new to me author. I am a huge fan of Michael Ferraiuolo’s and that drew me to this audio. Overall I really enjoyed this story. Gregory is adorable in that he’s trying to keep from overwhelming Daniel. Daniel is skeptical of the fated mates thing, even though he feels the pull towards Gregory. Daniel has several things to overcome – including the bad press Selkies have gotten in folklore, his bestie’s terrible experience with a manipulative Selkie and his own discomfort with being a human Omega with no previous knowledge of the possibility of mating with a shifter. Then there is Gregory’s mother who is quite overbearing when it comes to Gregory getting together with his mate. She’s worried for her only child who has not looked after himself in the past and she’s determined to make sure this works. Luckily Daniel is made of stronger stuff and despite a bit of a rough beginning and several bouts of doubt both of himself and of Gregory, he manages to make the right decision.
Mr. Ferraiuolo does a fantastic job of performing the emotional swings of this story. Both Daniel and Gregory experience highs and lows, doubts and anguish and finally joy and love as the work through the fears and distractions that come up. Henri is a an absolute delight as Daniel’s bestie and I cannot wait for his story 🙂 Winston, Gregory’s bestie and valet who has been by his side his whole life is also a solid friend who is happy that his friend has found his fated mate. He gets a lucky surprise at Gregory’s wedding as well 😉 A thoroughly delightful performance with a lot of characters who were voices perfectly and distinctly with this narrator’s characteristic flair for accents. Recommended. And I can’t wait for the next book 😉
RATING: 
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