Two single dads. One accidental pregnancy. Many, many shifter children.Sam’s mate died four years ago, and penguin shifters mate for life. Sam is never allowed to love again. Even when he meets a kind and beautiful omega who his three children gravitate towards.After working with Lu for a year, Sam has fallen deeply in love with him. And Lu’s feelings for Sam are painfully obvious.Caught between … painfully obvious.
Caught between the desires of his heart, and the expectations of his culture, Sam must decide what he’s willing to pay to reclaim his own happiness.
A Mate for Lu is a sweet and angsty love story between two single dads. It has hurt/comfort, MPreg of the penguin egg variety, and cameos from characters in the first three Alaskan Pebble Gifters books. A Mate for Lu is book four in the series, and will only make sense if you’ve read the first three books.
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A Mate for Lu is one of my favorite books in the Alaskan Pebble Gifters series. Lu is such a sweet and hardworking omega – his struggle and drive to provide for his child is admirable. Then there is Sam’s protective and gentle love which is strong despite all his emotional turmoil. I love how wonderful of a couple they make.
The audiobook was narrated by Zachary Zaba who does a great job. I enjoyed his performance of the book and listening to the story.
This is the continuation of one of my favorite shifter/mpreg universes I’ve ever read. However, this time, it’s about Lu, Axel’s omega sibling (mentioned in passing in A Home for Ben), who’s love life is the subject of the story. This novel takes place about the same time (give or take a month) of Book 3. (Think of it squatting right on top of A Home for Ben.)
Lu finds himself attracted to a writer with whom he’s agreed to illustrate the alpha penguin shifter’s children’s book. Yes, another interspecies shifter romance story. A good thing, too, because characters from Books 1-3 show up and are significant characters involved in this book, too! (Including a crotchety furniture-budging tortoise!) Sam is a young widower with three kids of his own who finds himself extremely lonely and grief-stricken to obey the usual rules regarding the death of a mate. He’s attracted to Lu. Lu’s in love with him. Both know the impossibility of their having a real relationship as widowed penguins don’t find new mates. But what if Lu is Sam’s fated mate? Good question.
This is pretty much your average “a day in the lives of” penguin and polar bear shifters in Anchorage story and all the social mores that need to be dealt with or just plain ignored. Also, what do you do if one of your kids comes out and says that he’s an omega, not an alpha according to the tests? (This is the equivalent of saying that child is a transgender in this particular universe.) I think this is a subject that was itching to come out as Cy is more both alpha and omega rather than just one or the other. So why not transgender of secondary sexual status in this universe?
This novel isn’t one that you can easily gloss through and be done with it. You’ll miss important bits and pieces of this story, and that would be disastrous for the story line in general. So just buy it (since you should be buying this entire series because it’s definitely one to reread in the near future) and read it when you’re in the correct frame of mine. It’s worth it!
A Mate for Lu is the fouth book in the Alaskan Pebble Gifters series by Amy Bellows. Single dads navigating through raising their families, facing 5he fears of going against society norms, falling deeply in love, healing pains of the past and embracing a future complete with new babies. There is sweetness and angst, fun moments and heated ones too. There are wonderful elements to this story that had my heart happy. Sam and Lu, along with the friends and family around them, had me fully wrapped up into their story. I can not wait for next book.
As always a wonderful book. Well written very well thought out. The books can be read alone but they do build on each other so I recommend going in order. There are a few light triggers in this one. But they are handled beautifully just hang in there and remember that there will be a happy ending.
I really enjoyed this read, we saw a little of Lu’s story in book 3 but was great to get it in depth and both characters. This could be read as a stand alone but would for sure be better read in series order.
Lu and Sam and all the kids are just insta family! Also enjoyed the cameos from other series characters.
Great book. Wonderful characters and a strong story.
Highly recommended.
Can a polar bear and a penguin flaunt tradition and find happiness? Oh yeah!
What a stunning addition to the Alaskan Pebble Gifters saga. My old friends welcomed me with open arms. I sank back into this vibrant world, engulfed by its warmth and quirks. OMG you are gonna love this book!
Sam lost his mate, leaving him to raise three kids by himself. Penguins are mated for life, never to have a second chance at love. But working with Lu, a polar bear shifter, Sam realizes his feelings run deep. Lu & his daughter are finding comfort being around Sam & his children. Lu knows all about inter- species relationships. Can he forge one with Sam?
There is a second story here; the gender reveal of Sam’s oldest child, who is struggling with his designation. The subject is broached with respect & dignity.
Come along on the journey as Sam & Lu blend traditions, form family, make a baby, discovere a new power, and find HEA. And there is a pebble for Lu. Ooh, ooh, and sexy lingerie!
This is a touching, funny, sexy story. There are old friends popping up, and a quirky new one, too. I couldn’t wait to read this book. It exceeded my expectations. Get. It. Now!
Please read the other books in this series. You will be glad you did.
This book contains adult themes and language, mm sex and is intended for mature readers only.
Such a great book! I love Amy Bellows and this series!
I adored Sam and Lu. It’s great to see families true blend together. As for Jesse / Liam it was nice to see the acceptance and understanding as they came to their own understanding of how they feel inside. Love it.
Sam is lonely and Lu feels some needs in him. Lu as well feels like there is a part of his life that is missing. Allowing this to happen is part of feeling whole. There are other events that also allow this feeling of being whole that will of course lead to more interesting events going forward. I love that this is a complete story about this couple coming together yet there are peeks at other characters from other books and also hints of more things coming.
I listened to the audio version and it was very well done and enjoyable.
Lu! This story goes on at the same time Axel is getting his happy ever after so I was really looking forward to this one.
This relationship is complicated by kids. How you ask? Well duh. There are kids and that is always a complication. This story tackles blended families and found families. Sam is the widowed alpha who is just perfect. I was sighing over him. Lu is such a cutie pie trying to do his best as a single dad. These two are the most real characters of the series yet.
Sam has a decision to make. We know Lu will be all in. We just need Sam to get with the program. Pay attention to the bowling alley discussions with an easy going older penguin. Wink wink. A surprising thing happens that made me go, awww and feeds into the overall arc of darkness and deceit. And oh gosh! Lu’s nest is amazing! I about peed my pants laughing!!