ARC Review: Mad for a Mate by MaryJanice Davidson

Mad for a Mate
Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Series: BeWere My Heart (Book 3)
Publication: Sourcebooks Casablanca (April 26, 2022)

Description: Verity Lane might be a Shifter who can't shift (known as a "squib")―but woe betide anyone who tries to tell her who she is or what she's capable of. She's a proud member of a club for squibs out to prove themselves by participating in dangerous stunts. Which is probably how she ended up on this strange island...

Bear shifter Magnus Berne wants two things: to connect with his motherless goddaughter, and to find out who keeps dumping dead bodies on his property. When he discovers Verity on his island, he's determined to get some answers―but it's clear that whoever has been killing squibs is just as resolved to keep it quiet. And now that Verity is in the crosshairs, they'll have to move quickly to stay ahead, stay alive, and stay together.

My Thoughts: MAD FOR A MATE was humorous urban fantasy. Magnus Berne is a bear shifter who is in Minnesota to look after his goddaughter who has recently lost her mother - Magnus's excuse for not having a real relationship. He's living on an island in Lake Minnetonka and is currently wondering who is dropping department store mannequins on his lawn. 

Then, one day, instead of the daily mannequin, he finds Verity Lane. It seems she's ended up there after swimming six miles as part of a challenge from her club of squibs. Verity is out to prove, mostly to herself, that just because she can't shift into a bear form, she is still a powerful and worthy person. 

However, when two of the members of the club die, it becomes apparent that someone is murdering squibs. It is up to Verity and Magnus to find out who the killer is. 

Magnus and Verity are both prickly people and they are both busy denying that they even have a relationship even as they are both falling in love. The dialog is entertaining and witty.

There is a large cast of quirky characters in this story. Many of them were stars of earlier books in the series as noted in footnotes. I enjoyed learning some of their stories and seeing how they fitted into the plot of this story. I also liked the Twin Cities setting for this story and enjoyed seeing places I knew and had visited. 

It did take me a while to get into the flow of this story. The author has a quirky style that reminds me of Shelly Laurenston's urban fantasy stories. 

Favorite Quote:

"This isn't a movie, and I'm not a detective. I'm not gonna find something all the techs missed. I'm not compelled to involve myself because I think the cops aren't doing a good job. And if I come face-to-face with a serial killer, I would scream and scream and run away very, very fast."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from Edelweiss. You can buy your copy here.