Review: Mongrel (Outcast Mates #1) by Lee Colgin

Rating: 3.75🌈

Several elements drew me to this story. The dramatic cover, a new to me author, and the attraction of seeing how another writer would handle the popular supernatural mate/bonding coupling of a vampire and werewolf. Throw in a historical aspect and a mystery? The book seems ideal.

I enjoyed Mongrel. Lee Colgrin has so many great ideas and terrific story themes here.

Starting with Mongrel who’s name is Andreas. He’s a member of a pack that views him as a freak due to his genetic makeup and treats him accordingly. Except for a wonderful character named Ava, who stands in as a grandmother to him. The scenes between the two are done with heart and real warmth. In fact most scenes involving any family members are believable and heartwarming. This is a wonderful element for this writer.

The brief scenes with the Alpha reinforce the pack’s view of the inferior status the Mongrel plays there. Yet the Alpha insists that he be returned to the Pack after the mission is completed. More on this later.

The time period chosen is 1610 Hungary. Or what that area approximates. Colgin nicely included the political factions and wars into the narrative along with a fantastic literary/historical surprise that I absolutely adored.

I won’t spoil that, but major shout out here to her for that inclusion. It fit in so well here.

The main characters of Andreas and Bowie were well defined, their well crafted personalities and past histories helping to connect us to them and their relationship.

I liked their romance, thought they fit together well , especially as Andreas needed a pack, but the deep “love” as opposed to a mate bond felt a little quick here, given the timeframe.

The mystery of the missing girls , adding in Bowie’s emotional tie in, was a terrific one that I felt wasn’t quite played out to all its promises. The author missed a nice chance at the end to give her readers and several of her characters a cathartic moment of happiness because she forgot to deliver a promised character back home. It was an important part of the story.

And Colgin did this twice. Once for a child who started the mission. And lastly to finish off on any repercussions by not delivering Andreas back to his pack . An entire element about the Mongrel is never satisfied here but left dangling. The Alpha is determined to keep the Mongrel hidden, yet Andreas comes back, leaves again. Never confronts his Alpha about his status. However, the story seems to be finished.

Without actually finishing up some important storylines.

So I’m glad I read this book but I’m not giving it as high a rating as it could have had.

There’s at least two more novels. I’m onto the second about a incubus we meet in this story. I’ll let you know what I find.

If you like supernatural romances with an historical bent and a mystery to boot, this is the one for you.

Outcast Mates:

✓ Mongrel #1

◦ Changling #2

https://www.goodreads.com › showMongrel (Outcast Mates, #1) by Lee Colgin – Goodreads

Synopsis:

Mongrel, a creature more wolf than man, leads a lonely life on the fringes of pack society—until the night a handsome vampire shows up with a mysterious request.

Bowie, a vampire cursed to a life of endless nights, maintains close ties with his human family. When young girls in their village go missing, he must act quickly. But to find them, he’ll need to convince the local werewolf pack to loan him their best tracker—a wolf known as the Mongrel.

Though he hates the slur, Andras is used to being called Mongrel. When Bowie refuses to refer to him by anything but his given name, Andras can’t help a flicker of unexpected trust toward the stranger. He volunteers to help Bowie, risking banishment.

Can two tenderhearted men overcome their traumatic pasts and work together to rescue the girls before it’s too late? Or will the world’s most prolific killer snuff the flames of their passion along with the lives of the captives?

***

This steamy love story spans the country of Hungary as Andras and Bowie journey through cities and wilderness on their quest to right a villain’s wicked wrongs. Mongrel features a sweetly possessive werewolf, a cinnamon roll of a vampire, and the worst killer in history. A surprisingly fluffy MM Paranormal/Historical Romance considering the subject matter.

HEA guaranteed with loads of laughs along the way and no cliffhanger ending!