Unbreakable Bond: Fated Mates Duet Book 1, Jess Bryant

Unbreakable Bond (Fated Mates Duet Book 1) by [Bryant, Jess]

Objectively speaking there's a lot of things that could be worked on in this book.  But I kind of don't really care.  The overall feelings I had while reading this story were positive.  Sure, there are a lot of inner monologues, and yeah, Rafe throws a lot of inner pity parties full of self-incrimination and insecurity.  What I loved was the interplay between him and Zoey, the steam was well-written, and Zoey is all kinds of great with her innate sense of justice, her strength, and her immense desire to belong and to love.

The beginning gives us an emotionally complicated situation with years of friendship and longing and love all mixed up in the heads and hearts of both Zoey and the Pack Alpha, Michael.  But from one moment to the next, their entire world is tossed on its head as she locks eyes with the long-lost brother, her fated mate.  No one in the group takes the revelation well.

 Unbreakable Bond: Fated Mates Duet Book 1, Jess Bryant

Watching them all work through things was more heartwarming than anything else.  While I think a few well-placed "put yourself in my shoes" comments would have truncated some of the longer, more repetitive conversations, it was clear that everyone cared a great deal for one another.  Those feelings were the foundation for all the more tense moments.  It definitely decreased the feelings of angst that could have overtaken all their interactions.

Zoey and Rafe experience the shifter fated mate brand of insta-love and super enhanced lust that is extremely common in this genre.  I generally push the thoughts of "that's way too fast of a relationship progression" to the back of my mind, I mean, this is pretty much erotic fantasy you know?  So when their connection is immediate and intense, I don't have a problem with it, but the real surprise here is the logic, reason, and determination of faith in fate that dominates the initial haze of hormones and pheromones.

 Unbreakable Bond: Fated Mates Duet Book 1, Jess Bryant

A lot of the revelations and decisions come from lengthy inner dialogues, but when they actually talk things out they do so logically, honestly, with an emotional openness that I wasn't expecting.  There was a bit of the "I kept it from you to protect you" mentality but each and every time Zoey came out guns blazing for anyone who thought to pull that on her or to treat her in any way other than an equal, a competent partner and friend.  She was articulate and feisty in all the best ways.

Needless to say, I'm a fan.  I'm not oblivious to the issues with the writing of the story or the structure of it, but I enjoyed far more than any of that detracted so I'm good with it.  I'm absolutely in for the follow up in Unbelievable Faith because I want to find out what happens with Michael's future with the damaged, submissive Luna.  If the female lead's going to surprise me the same way Zoey did I'm going to be a very happy reader.

*$2.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!
 Unbreakable Bond: Fated Mates Duet Book 1, Jess Bryant

Sometimes fate gets it all wrong.

Zoey Kent has lived with that fact ever since she turned eighteen and learned that the man she loved could never be hers. He’s a born shifter, a wolf, and she’s a mere human. Fate doesn’t care if on paper they’re a perfect pair. She isn’t his fated mate and she’s resigned herself to the knowledge that someday, she’ll have to watch Michael mate with another. It’s never crossed her mind that there might be someone else out there for her, that she would be the one to mate another, to choose another over everything she’s ever known or wanted.

Sometimes fate gets it all right.

Rafe Hudson left his pack behind years ago. Physically and mentally scarred from an attack that left his parents and twin dead, he walked away from his responsibilities as Alpha. He never intended to return but lone wolf or not, he can’t leave Michael open to an attack he’s learned is coming for his only brother. What he didn’t know was that going home would mean scenting his mate, the one person in the world that could make him whole again, that could give him everything he thought he’d lost. His pack, his home and his family.

But fate always has a plan.

There’s no way Michael’s brother is her future, is there? Just like there’s no way that the girl his brother has loved since they were kids, was always meant to be his, right? 

Only fate knows why they were brought together but there is one thing for sure, the sparks between Zoey and Rafe are undeniable. The bond between them is unbreakable. And together… they’ll change the face of the pack forever.

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