Fated Contest!
Jul
24
2008

So for those of you who enjoy my Cascadia Wolves, there’s a new book coming out called Fated. This one is Megan getting her HEA at long last. I love fated mate stories but they can’t all be the same or it gets boring. So what happens if you get your fated mate but it’s not easy? What happens if a proud and powerful werewolf mates with a man who has hidden from what he truly is for most of his life?

Blurby Bit: Just because Fate brings you your perfect mate doesn’t mean it’ll be easy.

Could there be any worse fate than a road trip from Seattle to L.A.—with one’s mother—to attend a wedding? Why yes, when one isn’t married yet, like Megan Warden. Toss in a grandmother and a carload of already married sisters and it’s a recipe for sneaking sips of “special” coffee while someone else drives.

Shane Rosario has better things to do than attend a wedding where his father’s relatives will be at him nonstop about getting married and having children. If it weren’t for seeing his anchor bond, Layla, he’d have taken a pass on the entire weekend. It would be easy, since he’s become adept at hiding who and what he is.

When the two weren’t even looking, Fate steps in and before they know it, their bond is sealed. Bonded pair, married in the eyes of their people. Two people tied together in every way. Trouble is, Shane’s not sure he wants all that comes with Megan. And Megan’s certain she’s not willing to live outside her pack, pretending to be human.

The distance between them is more than geographical. It’s a widening gulf rapidly filling with resentment…an emotional divide only acceptance could bridge. Can Shane can accept himself to cross it? Only if they let love take control.

I loved writing Fated. It was a challenge because it was emotional and I did spend some time crying as I wrote it. But I hope it turned out well and I hope you all enjoy it too.

I received my author copies earlier this week so I thought a contest might be in order. SO – if you’d like to win an ARC of Fated all you need to do is tell me why you like fated mate stories, or why you don’t.

I’ll choose a winner at random from the comments Friday July 25 at noon pacific. Good luck!

32 comments to “Fated Contest!”

  1. Tina S.
    July 24th, 2008 at 6:47 am · Link

    Oddly, I have never really thought about whether I like fated mates or don’t. In the romance genre ultimately the pair is meant to be together and will have a HEA (in most case). For the most part with fated mates, if they know they are fated and accept it, you don’t have all the constant angst about whether it is the right person or not and then the story line isn’t primarily about winning their mate. Which can be nice since relationship issues can be a real headache.



  2. Christine
    July 24th, 2008 at 6:51 am · Link

    Let’s face it there is something so romantic about two people who are meant to be but must work through their issues to reach their happily ever after. Why else would we be reading romances if we didn’t believe in this stuff. From the burb it looks like I’m going to be crying a little.



  3. Lori
    July 24th, 2008 at 7:23 am · Link

    Hmm…. toughie. For you know that as a rule, I don’t usually enjoy those types. But, damn you Lauren, you have dragged me kicking and screaming into your world. I don’t know that I can ever forgive you, for I am spending even more book $$ than ever before!

    I think that there is usually less angst (to quote Tina above) spent falling in love, and more spent learning to live together, how to learn the give and take of a relationship, what makes a relationship work, and that intrigues me and makes the story more interesting to me.



  4. Nicole
    July 24th, 2008 at 8:53 am · Link

    The optimism of knowing there’s someone for everyone.



  5. Crystal B.
    July 24th, 2008 at 8:53 am · Link

    I like fated mate stories because the relationships are so intense. The couples know that that they are “it” for each other and they don’t have to deal with a lot of the issues that others face in relationships.



  6. Bonnie Rose Leigh
    July 24th, 2008 at 10:17 am · Link

    I enjoy fated mate stories because in the end everyone gets their HEA. In real life, we don’t know if we’ll ever meet that perfect match, so these type of stories give me that happy feeling most of us search for all our lives.



  7. Heather
    July 24th, 2008 at 10:22 am · Link

    Fated mates is a sign of optimism for people who have been in crappy relationships. Besides the feel food emotion of when 2 people find each other and do anything to stay together can not be beat.



  8. Joy Roett
    July 24th, 2008 at 10:23 am · Link

    I love everything you write 😀



  9. Linda Bass
    July 24th, 2008 at 10:56 am · Link

    :mrgreen: HI LAUREN!

    SECOND TIME WAS THE CHARM!

    OOOOOOH REALLY WANT THIS!



  10. Ember
    July 24th, 2008 at 11:00 am · Link

    Yay!!! Megan’s story!!

    Fated Mates stories hook me in because there is absolutely no question these two will end up together. (Romance books so often leave that HEA in doubt, we all know :mrgreen: )

    But really, I love seeing how two people who know they’re going to end up together from the start come to grips with how that is going to rock their world. And it sounds like Megan and Shane have a rocky road to travel.

    Can’t wait to read this!



  11. karen
    July 24th, 2008 at 11:48 am · Link

    I like the fated mate stories because to me it’s doesn’t seem like a story it is more like real life, you get so deeply involved that you forget that these are fictional characters and not real people.

    Everytime I read Lauren Dane books it’s always like the first time because when you first start reading it you realised that you missed parts of the story in a rush to finish it.
    Even if I don’t win a copy at least I know that come the 12th August I will be rushing home to get my packet of minstrels and a bottle of juice to go with my delectable book.



  12. Pamk
    July 24th, 2008 at 11:49 am · Link

    I don’t usually but yours usually has it so that even though they are quote fated unquote they don’t have to like it and fight it tooth and nail. Makes for an interesting read especially when the heroine is giving the hero hell lol



  13. DawnM
    July 24th, 2008 at 12:44 pm · Link

    Actually I quite like them because you quite often have one of the pair fighting against the prophecy and it adds an extra element to the story.



  14. jessi
    July 24th, 2008 at 1:05 pm · Link

    Love them because usually one of them doesn’t believe in it and the other works twice as hard to show them that its real.



  15. Tracy Lenz-Pessin
    July 24th, 2008 at 3:35 pm · Link

    Fated mate stories and so romantic and intense. There’s usually also a bio-chemical and/or psychic aspect as well which makes the couple that much stronger.



  16. april s
    July 24th, 2008 at 4:01 pm · Link

    I love the fact that you see two people who are so completely opposite meet and the chemistry is sooooo intense that they cant help falling in love and then BAM- they resist the allure of FATE and the passion is sooo steamy that it literally burns them alive-it teaches them that they have to work harder than most because of the fact they realize they wouldnt date if it wasnt for the bio-chem-to take a term from someone else….I love your stories Lauren, because you make me deleve so deep that when the story is over, I have cried and I have burned right along with the characters 😀 You make the characters work for a truly happier ending and I thank you for that!!!!!



  17. Cathy M
    July 24th, 2008 at 4:48 pm · Link

    I love fated mate stories. There is just something so romantic about the idea of a soul mate out there, waiting for that special connection, who will love you passionately, who will enrich your life in every way, who will totally “get” you, and be an amazing partner, both in and out of bed.

    You’ve brought us such a great series, Lauren, and I can’t wait to read Fated.



  18. Tinab
    July 24th, 2008 at 5:40 pm · Link

    😈 I love the idea of someone out there just for you, and that your destined to find them. very very romantic idea. I think in reality though love is something you work at rather than the idea it comes to you, i think friendship turns into a love thing with respect for the other person in time.
    but in my stories i like the romantic love idea i wanna be swept away



  19. Amy S.
    July 24th, 2008 at 6:28 pm · Link

    I love these books and I love the cover for Fated Mates.



  20. Rhian Cahill
    July 24th, 2008 at 8:02 pm · Link

    It’s hard not to love something you live every day. I took one look at my Hubby and it was just his, ahhhh…. there he is. No big fan fare but I gotta say the fireworks that we’ve produced getting to where we are have been anything but easy. But beneath it all is that connection that never goes away, no matter what you do or where you go they’re part of you. Always.
    RC



  21. sarah f
    July 24th, 2008 at 9:08 pm · Link

    I love fated mate stories because I love the idea that the struggles people go through are meant to bring people to the person they were meant to be with. I love the idea of a couple meant to be.



  22. Susan
    July 24th, 2008 at 9:47 pm · Link

    Lauren,

    I love fated mate stories because most times one or both or all three fight against it. The don’t want to believe or they mistake attraction for irritation (rubbing the wrong way instead of the right way). Usually its two strong personalities that have to learn to accept & compromise.

    I’ve read (out of order) a couple of your wolf stories (just finished Ascension) and when I saw 8/12 coming soon I had to go back and get the rest so I would be up to date. I have so enjoyed reading these.

    Thank you,
    Susan



  23. Caffey
    July 24th, 2008 at 9:53 pm · Link

    Lauren, the blues of this cover is so beautiful! Love it! You know that you mention FATED MATES being a special book of yours because it was so emotional for you. I feel this for these fated mates stories I have read. I just feel that when they found the very ‘one’ that there’s such a strong tie, that sometimes its so much to adjust with because it so much changes their lives. And too, the mating, may it be special words and ceremony that they go through, just really connects me to the characters. I know with the Cascadia Wolves books, I become so attached throughtout the story as the love keeps growing and adjusting for both. I just find it each unique!



  24. Carrie Flack
    July 25th, 2008 at 5:28 am · Link

    MMM…I think I love the fated mate stories so much is because you usually end up with to completely diffirent personalities which always makes the stories great… I’m not opposed to the boy meets girls falls in love lives happily-ever-after but with fated-mate u know there’s gonna be drama and conflict when people are “forced together” instead of “falling” for eachother.



  25. Ceci
    July 25th, 2008 at 8:21 am · Link

    I love fated mate stories. There is something so very yummy about that chemistry, that pull, nothing you can do to resist each other bond! When that “mine” runs through their heads…its to die for. There is something that satisfies the soul with the fated mates. Thank you for writing them!



  26. Liz Cranage
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:52 am · Link

    I like them because I do believe there is someone destined to be your match. Even though I didn’t get my HEA the first time I think there is a Fated Mate somewhere out there for me



  27. laurendane
    July 25th, 2008 at 12:41 pm · Link

    @ Tina – as a writer, I can yes, move past that sort of angst and focus elsewhere. It’s a fun way to change things up!

    @ Christine – the last three books I’ve written have all been very emotional for me! I know *I* cried when I wrote one scene in particular.

    @ Nicole – yeah, that’s a good way to look at it!



  28. laurendane
    July 25th, 2008 at 12:52 pm · Link

    @ Lori *cackles* I’ve lured you to the dark side!!

    @ Crystal – yes, good one!

    @ Bonnie – yeah, I like that too



  29. laurendane
    July 25th, 2008 at 12:55 pm · Link

    @ heather – awww!

    @ Joy – You’re so good for my ego. Thanks!

    @ Linda – glad you were able to get in.

    @ Ember – thank you! And yeah, rocky but they do work it out in the end



  30. laurendane
    July 25th, 2008 at 12:57 pm · Link

    @ Karen – thank you for those very kind words

    @ Pam – LOL!

    @ Dawn – yeah I like that too!

    @ jessi – good point!

    @ Tracy – yes, very much



  31. laurendane
    July 25th, 2008 at 12:59 pm · Link

    @ April – I need to do these contests more often, you are all so sweet. Thanks for the kind words, hon.

    @ Cathy – Yes, exactly!

    @ Tina – it’s sort of nice to be swept away by a story I think.

    @ Amy – I love Dawn’s work!

    @ Rhian – Oh so sweet!



  32. laurendane
    July 25th, 2008 at 1:02 pm · Link

    @ Sarah – good point

    @ Susan – thanks!

    @ Caffey – aw, well thanks.

    @ Carrie – yes, there’s a lot of rich ground for conflict in a fated mate story

    @ Ceci – yeah, I love that irresistible thing

    @ Liz – I hope so too!