Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Mark’s Chosen

SERIES: Creekside Township Rivals (Book 4)

AUTHOR: JT Fader

PUBLISHER: Steambath Press

LENGTH: 120 pages

RELEASE DATE: January 15, 2024

BLURB:

Two towns divided by more than just distance. Two packs with different ways of life. But when their paths cross, will it lead to unity or destruction?

Mark, the level-headed leader of the pack in Riverton, the cousin of Creekside, has been in charge for over 25 years. His pack is his family, and he takes his role as a legacy leader seriously. During a trip into Riverton for supplies, Mark comes to the rescue of a young Omega male named Reese who is struggling to simply get home to Creekside after a shopping trip.

Reese has been through a lot, dealing with recent losses that have left him feeling alone and hopeless. He knows he shouldn’t have been out in his old car with snow in the forecast. But he has a reason for wanting organic berries and farm eggs he can only find in Riverton. When Mark offers him a ride home, he never expected it to change his life forever.

As they journey to Creekside together, Mark makes a startling discovery about Reese. How he chooses to proceed will affect both of their lives. Will they find a way to overcome their differences and find love, or will their conflicting pack traditions tear them apart?

REVIEW:

I have grown extremely fond of this series and this newest book was a very much welcomed surprise.

Reese isn’t having an easy time. First he discovers he’s pregnant, which was joyous news, but soon after his fated mate was tragically killed in an unfortunate automobile accident. Then, out on a run to try to overcome his immense sorrow, his front paw is mangled in an old hunting trap that resulted in a partial amputation. Now his car decides to not work and he is trapped it the neighboring town of Riverton. He just wanted some darn organic berries and farm fresh eggs since the raw meat wasn’t working with his pregnancy. And they only have those things at the market in Riverton. When an older wolf offers to drive him back he is cautious but thankful. At fifty-three Mark, leader of the Riverton Pack, has never met “the one”. Not his fated mate nor his chosen one. And this second-in-command beta has been after him more now that he needs to sire a potential heir but there is just no one. That all changes when he helps out a omega with car trouble and gives the pregnant omega, from one of the other packs, a ride home. But can a pregnant, widowed omega from a progressive pack and alpha pack leader from a staunch “old ways only” pack make a go of it without blowing everything up?

Oh my goodness! How could your heart not go out for dear sweet Reese. Having your fated mate ripped from your life in such a tragic way was heart breaking. Being pregnant with his pup gives a little solace. But then his life-altering injury was almost too much. That poor man couldn’t take one more bad thing happening to him. Then add in Mark, who had thought that the possibility of a mate had missed him. Although they weren’t fated they were definitely mates for life. The chemistry between these two what explosive. I loved getting to read all of Mark’s firsts and how much he enjoyed each and every one of them with his eye-opening self discovery. And there was no doubt it was true love for these men. Mark’s level of self sacrifice showed to everyone that he was All-in with Reese. I loved how East Creekside Pack is so progressive and welcoming. That’s how a pack blooms and grows. Riverton will fade into obscurity if they don’t do something positive soon.

I hadn’t realized that we were going to get more books in this series beyond the three brothers so this was an unexpected and very pleasant surprise. And I love that this series is diverse in their matings. This is not a “Cookie Cutter” series where there is a formula that has to followed strictly but allows couple to find their mates – either fated or chosen – and they can be as conventional or unconventional as can be and still be totally accepted. And, as much as I loved the brothers and the first three books in this series,  and really loved getting to see a few of them here, I think Reese and Mark totally stole my heart 🫶 Now I need Mark’s brother’s story next!

RATING:

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