Paired Off

The Mating Grounds

By: Ciree Hawthorn

Narrated by: Laura Horowitz

Sean and Ana are competitive to a fault. Can they team up to find love or will the government step in to referee?

Ana has been living in her sisters’ shadow for years when the choosing ceremony comes around. Much as she loves them—now that she’s been given a coveted spot at the Mating Grounds—she’s determined to finally make a life for herself outside of their notoriety.

Sean is good looking, a professional handball player and a secret virgin. Unfortunately, his home Zone is running out of eligible women, so it’s become one of the Chosen or bust. Can he push past his nerves and let love in or will he be sidelined when his competition blows him away?

Paired Off is a spicy, interconnected stand-alone in The Mating Grounds series. If you like opposites attract, big himbo energy and an inexperienced MMC, then you’ll love this dystopian romance novella.

Listen to Paired Off to immerse yourself in Ciree Hawthorn’s world of sexy short reads today!

©2023 Ciree Hawthorn (P)2023 Ciree Hawthorn

Dystopian Rom Com

Audio Review: The narrator was clear and easy to understand. They did a good job of telling the story.
Story Review: The story was bite-sized and cute. It’s probably the most fun dystopian story I’ve ever read.
Stats (by Cat):
MMC/FMC- Sean and Ana
Genre- Dystopian Rom Com
Premise- in a post apocalyptic world, young men and women are selected to be put into a dating pool for breeding purposes.
Length- under 2 hours
Heat- later in the book.
Series? Y
Triggers- they spend way too much time in the gym when they could be doing anything more fun, like getting a tooth filled.
Tropes- May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favor, Himbo, Virgin Hero, Noah’s Ark, Gym Rats, Not-So-Surprise Pregnancy.

Paired Off!

Like "Our Year in Cria", this is a short and quick read/listen and a sexy spin on Hunger Games. It is a stand alone but there are connections with the other story. The story is about Ana and Sean who are paired off with each other. Their story is cute and fun.

worth the read

Paired off is a continuation of the mating ground series. The story keeps you entertained and has a good pace throughout the story.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Ana and Sean’s Story

I've now listened to the prequel, the first book, and this book of The Mating Grounds series. I absolutely adore the premise, which kind of feels like a Hunger Games without the violence and is all about matching couples to commit to each other over the course of a year. What makes it like The Hunger Games is that a man and a woman are chosen from each of the world's population centers in order, and they come to a central place to find someone to marry. A catastrophic event has wiped out much of the population, so to encourage genetic diversity, the mating grounds happen each year for The Chosen. So far, each story has focused on one particular couple, though by now, I'm getting a much better sense of the ensemble cast and all that is going on between them. I'll admit I was a bit confused at the start of the last book when so many characters were introduced, and it wasn't entirely clear who the couple was going to be for a while, as multiple people were looking like they were coupling up. This book felt much more straightforward, and even though it's very short, it had some sweet moments in the romance. Because the book is so short and yet the story takes place over a year, so much is skipped or glossed over. I liked these characters enough that I wish this were a longer story so we could see more of their interactions and how they came to have feelings for each other. While I wasn't quite sure how I felt about this series with the first two books—as they are so short, and I wished they had more plot and character development and showed more of the romantic arc—I enjoyed this book so much and the world the author has created that I am very much looking forward to new books in the series.

engaging

Paired Off by Ciree Hawthorn is an engaging and refreshing addition to The Mating Grounds series, blending a dystopian backdrop with romance and self-discovery. Ana and Sean’s journey is both entertaining and relatable, thanks to well-crafted characters and Hawthorn’s engaging writing style. The narration is on point, capturing their personalities—Ana’s determined independence and Sean’s hidden insecurities—with clarity and warmth.

The story follows Ana, who’s eager to escape her sisters’ shadows, and Sean, a good-hearted athlete with hidden vulnerabilities. Their chemistry is electric, and their competitive banter keeps the energy high and the romance believable. Sean’s secret inexperience adds a unique layer, giving the story a fresh twist as the two navigate their feelings in the high-stakes environment of the Mating Grounds.

With a solid mix of wit, warmth, and an “opposites attract” dynamic, Paired Off is a standout in the series, ideal for fans of spicy dystopian romance with relatable characters and a touch of heart. Five stars for a well-written, expertly narrated listen!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

“Well, I’ve Come To Seduce You…”

Shawn and Anna have been chosen, along with 12 other young people. They’re awkward and excited, trying their best to find someone to be their mate. This story is sweet, a bit juvenile, or maybe just youthful, with a cute ending. I enjoyed this story for the most part, and Laura Horowitz does an excellent just of narrating it. I will say, calling the characters ‘children’ was a bit off-putting, since I had assumed that they would (or should) be young adults. A short and simple read.

opposites

Book 2 in a series of a dystopian world after many of the population dies. A couple switch point of view as they get to know each other and the rest of the group.

Golden Retriever Gym Hunk yes please!

Who doesn’t want a hunky gym partner? The chemistry between Ana and Sean is sizzling. Ana is always out shadowed by her sister and Sean is a professional hand ball player. They both have feelings to work out, but once they start living together, things get a little spicy. Sean is a muscular, adorable golden retriever and will do anything for Ana. I mean, who doesn’t want a man to do her laundry and fold it for her and leave cute notes in her dresser?! SO FREAKING PRECIOUS omg. They are such a cute couple and I absolutely loved this cozy little novella!

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Sean and Ana

Part of the Mating Grounds another well written short story in this series. Sean and Ana both have things to overcome if they are to get a happy ending. I enjoyed listening to Laura Horowitz narrate their story.

It was pretty good

I really enjoyed listening to this. It was super unique and entertaining. The only issue i had, was it seemed like for every character but the main female (Ana) When they “ joked or teased” the narrator made it sound all monotone, so i couldn’t really get the vibe that someone was teasing instead of being mean. Other than that i really enjoyed it. I liked Sean and Ana, and their story was interesting .