In GARRIDAN’S MATE by Rebecca Hefner, Garridan, who is a commander in the army, has been tasked with training the first class of female warriors. Among them is Siora, a fierce fighter who is loyal to her father and wants to lead her own battalion in the upcoming conflict against the demon Bakari. I’ve followed this series since the beginning and one thing I really love is the way the world of vampires and slayers has evolved over time, with couples from older books getting mated and having children we’ve gotten to watch grow up and pair off, and also watching social progress come to the kingdom, like the kick-butt vampire/slayer women demanding their males allow them to fight alongside them in battle. It’s also fun getting to see characters from previous books pop up, and I really liked seeing Latimus in this one! Siora and Garridan have a fierce chemistry sparking during training, and especially during their special private training sessions where things get heated. 🔥❤🔥 I also really liked that Siora is depicted as muscular and statuesque in build, as a true warrior. There’s some jealousy at first over some of the other women in the book she considers more traditional mates for Garridan, but when these two come together it is scorching.🔥🔥🔥 This is a deliciously steamy PNR that left me eager to read the next book in the series. Side plots involving scheming parents trying a bit of matchmaking introduced some characters I’m hoping we might see in a future novella! ( )