The Witch’s Familiar is the first book in the ‘Familiar Mates’ series. This stars Jude Sullivan, a witch, and Rob aka ‘Mack’ Mackenzie, mechanic and bear shifter. This is told in third person from both Jude and Mack’s pov.



First the cover. I think the cover models are a pretty good representation of the characters. Jude maybe could be a little softer looking since he’s from the city and more GQ, but the cover isn’t that far off.

The blurb does a decent job of describing the plot. There are some parts of the book where I wonder why the author wrote the story that way. Was it just to create a conflict that the Coven sends Jude alone to Mercy to find out what’s killing the cows? Ordinarily an organization trains newbies and has them work with a mentor to help them with assignments. So, the first questions are, ‘Why did the Coven send Jude in with no mentor? Did they want him to fail?’ One of the witches said if they knew what Jude had to battle, they wouldn’t have sent him, but I don’t believe that. I also didn’t like that the author created many questions about the Coven and about the witches in charge of Jude’s case, but didn’t give adequate answers to what the Coven was, and why did the male witch have a bitter smell according to Mack? I’m sure the author set up the questions to be answered in the following books, but I don’t think the method worked well. Each of the following books involves other characters, not Jude and Mack. So, Jude and Mack end up raising questions, but end up NOT getting answers to their questions. This story ends up feeling like a cliff-hanger because it leaves Jude and Mack hanging without answers. I don’t like cliff-hangers. It doesn’t compel me to read any of the future stories because the series doesn’t continue with the current couple finding out answers to their questions. I’m guessing each future book raises questions the other couples find out, but then aren’t answered fully before going on to the next book and next couple. Each story will then end in a sort of unanswered cliff-hanger about the Coven and witches that none of the couples will receive complete answers to. Even though I thought the author did an interesting job with the plot in terms of what was killing the cows and how Mack and Jude go about working together to solve the mystery and how they start to discover their powers after they are bonded, I doubt I’ll read the following books, unless they are free, because of the way the author raises Coven and witch questions, but doesn’t answer them for each couple.

One thing I didn’t like about the style of writing, was there was too much repetition. Repetition about having Jude’s magic stripped and about Jude thinking he couldn’t wait to get back to the city. There wasn’t a reason to have Jude monologue about those two topics for at least half of the book. As for the monologue, there was a lot of it at the beginning of the book.

Jude was an electro mage that the Coven didn’t know what to do with. He’s super powerful and can short out electricity in a city which the Coven was tired of covering up. Jude was impulsive and liked to figure out ways to get around the rules. It’s possible the Coven set Jude up in order for him to join the Coven so they could keep an eye on him. He was too much of a loose cannon. Shipping him off to Mercy, a small town with wide open spaces around him, was safer than a city. Jude ends up liking the openness where he can just let go with his electricity. I didn’t like the way Jude jumped to conclusions that Mack was the cow killer just because he was a bear. I think the author made Jude act like that because the author wished to create conflict between Jude and Mack. But all it showed, was that Jude wasn’t smart and he wasn’t a nice person. Another inconsistency the author made, was Mack’s personality. When he was in the bar seeing Jude for the first time to talk with him, Mack’s character came across as insecure, not talkative, possibly shy, and that men never preferred him, they liked Mack’s friend more. But suddenly after Jude attacked him, the next day Mack’s personality made a 180 degree turn. Even his physical description seemed different. He was this big, broody, tough bear now with a bad temper. Massive personality change that I remembered throughout the whole book. So, there are some odd behaviors and personality shifts happening with both characters that I didn’t like. Jude and Mack eventually work out their differences. However, another thing I didn’t care for was they weren’t going to live with each other it seemed. Jude would be away most of the time on Coven assignments and just return to Mercy in between. And that suited Mack fine. Which again brought up more questions. If they are bonded, and bonding enhances both of their abilities as demonstrated in the story, then how does it help Jude if his familiar is not with him when he does his assignments? There are some odd holes in this plot the author doesn’t explain.

I thought the plot for The Witch’s Familiar was interesting. Where it fell short was the inconsistencies with Jude and Mack’s personalities, with creating questions about the Coven and the witches, but not giving this book pair answers to their questions, but then continuing the series with other couples. It makes this book feel like a cliff-hanger for me. Because of these reasons, I give this book, 3 Stars. The holes in this story didn’t feel necessarily unplanned, but planned, but not planned out well. If the rest of the series is written this way, I don’t see myself reading the following books.


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I wasn't sure I wanted to read anything about “cow mutilating” or any other animal mutilating.... but what the heck? It’s Halloween season and maybe the cows were lucky enough to escape. The cows weren't the only ones with problems...our two main characters were destined to be together as mates...but someone in the “Destiny Office” must have been on vacation.... because they hated each other. One of them was in danger of losing his magical powers because...ready for this??? He uses his electrical abilities...his magical power... to rig a jackpot win in Vegas. That brings him to the Coven's chopping block???? Who’s going to take care of the cow slaughtering, cow chewing monster??? Coven 1, Cows 0. While the monster was devouring cows it should have put the editor and proofreader on the menu also. Oh wait...maybe it did and that was why the book was filled with miss-constructed sentences and misspelled words. I hate to see authors work hard on a book and have the people that should be looking out for their interest let them down like this. I gave the book 3 stars for the authors hard work and it wasn’t a totally bad idea. Oh yeah...the cows are safe now.

Fun and fast moving. Fated mates with just enough push and pull against the bond to believe that the romance is more than just destiny.
A fish out of water vibe for Jude as he navigates his first investigation and being in the country (poor city boy).
Great banter and chemistry.
Solid plot. (And I don't trust that male witch at the Coven).
Thoroughly enjoyable. ( )

Fun and fast moving. Fated mates with just enough push and pull against the bond to believe that the romance is more than just destiny.
A fish out of water vibe for Jude as he navigates his first investigation and being in the country (poor city boy).
Great banter and chemistry.
Solid plot. (And I don't trust that male witch at the Coven).
Thoroughly enjoyable. ( )

I really like the premise of a paranormal investigator and a lot of different supernatural beings with a "coven" as the supervising body. It is also interesting that the human population isn't aware of any supernatural powers and the need to keep this population hidden. Lots of potential for suspenseful stories in the series. The romance felt a bit lukewarm, the couple just didn't seem to fit well. Maybe there will be some follow-up and further development in the next installments. ( )