REVIEW: The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson

The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson: Tess has always believed she was just an ordinary human trying to keep her family afloat and her career from slipping through her fingers. So when a quick trip to the Denver ER turns into a life altering revelation that she isn’t sick at all but in fact a late-presenting omega wolf shifter…her entire world tilts.

With her family’s finances hanging by a thread and a potential TV deal on the horizon, Tess doesn’t have the luxury of falling apart. She’s here to finish a renovation, keep her head down and absolutely avoid any and all alpha shifters… especially with her newly awakened wolf threatening to go into heat. Hunter on the other hand has made peace with his quiet, structured life…and that peace hinges on staying far, far away from omegas. After having one break his heart years ago he has absolutely zero interest in getting involved with another!

So when the tiny no-nonsense contractor steps into his lodge smelling like the one thing he’s sworn off, it feels like fate having a twisted laugh at his expense. But with his business on its last legs and Tess being his only real shot at saving it, Hunter is forced to swallow his pride and weather the storm. Determined to keep their distance Tess and Hunter quickly discover the universe has other plans for them…

I went into The Mating Game not sure what to expect, but did I just end up enjoying it far more than I anticipated. This book surprised me in the best way possible with balancing warmth, humour and a whole lot of chemistry with a storyline that felt both comforting and engaging. Ferguson did a great job in crafting this cute little mountain town and the two shifters that are desperately trying to deny their feelings for each other which that will instantly draw you in!

Tess and Hunter are the perfect blend of opposites that somehow just click. Tess was practical, determined and fiercely independent which I really liked about her character. Though her suddenly learning that she is an omega shifter adds a vulnerability to her character that just made her feel a bit more relatable and enduring. I have to say that I found myself rather invested in her journey as she learned how to manage her new ability. Hunter on the other hand was structured, cautious and used to keeping his heart under lock and key after past hurts. This only made getting to see him quite literally knocked down by his attraction to Tess all the more delicious.

I loved every single moment that we got of these two, their chemistry was electric from the moment they met, but what makes their relationship really work is the balance between tension and tenderness. They start out trying to avoid each other, but the forced proximity of the lodge and Tess’s newly awakened omega instincts makes that impossible. We get to see their sizzling attraction, playful banter and the undeniable pull forming between them. Hunter’s protective instincts and Tess’s determination create a dynamic where they challenge each other while also supporting one another, making their romance feel earned, believable and simply delightful.

Simply put I ended up enjoying The Mating Game a whole lot more than I had expected! Ferguson did a great job in crafting this cute, slow burn shifter romcom that will worm its way into your heart right from the very first chapter.

Book Info:

Publication: December 2, 2025 | Berkley |

Contractor Tess Covington has spent her entire life as a regular non-shifter human, so after she lands in the Denver ER with flu-like symptoms, it comes as a complete shock to be told that, no, she’s not sick—she’s actually a late-presenting omega wolf shifter. With her family in dire financial straits and a contract for her own television show on the line, she can’t afford not to complete the renovation job she came for. And given that her newly emerged wolf is in danger of going into heat, she’ll just have to do her best to follow the doctor’s advice to keep away from alpha shifters.

Alpha wolf Hunter Barrett has spent most of his adult life living by a routine, and a big part of that involves staying clear of omegas after having one stomp on his heart. So when the tiny contractor shows up at his place smelling like the one thing he’s determined to avoid, he thinks it must be some sort of cosmic joke. But with his lodge on the verge of failing and this sweet-smelling omega his only hope to turn things around . . . he’s left with few other options than to grin and bear it.

Set on avoiding each other as much as possible, they find things unexpectedly starting to heat up between them enough to thaw even the frostiest of hearts. Though even with the pair going head over paws for each other, there’s no changing that their fling has an expiration date. The more time they spend together, the more they realize they’re playing a dangerous game—one where the only thing on the line is their hearts.