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Bear Mates Over Forty #1

Midlife Bear Twins

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It was meant to be a one-night stand to distract forty-something Josie from her nasty divorce. Instead, the handsome stranger left her pregnant. And soon Josie found out that neither he nor the twins are entirely human.

Josie
Dr. Josephine Kenny is facing a midlife crisis. Literally.

Her beloved husband cheated on her and divorced her, leaving her with a crappy car and barely any money to keep her clinic up and running. She is convinced she’ll never love again.

That is until a strange encounter on a deserted mountain road turns her world upside down even more.

Beaten and left alone to die, devilishly handsome Trace begs her not to involve the ER or the authorities in order to save his life.

As a doctor, Josie is obligated to help, and for the first time ever she does something reckless: despite her fears. She takes the man back to her home to nurse him back to health.

Surprisingly, he recovers much faster than any medical textbook predicts.

His rough, primal charm attracts her like a magnet. As if he is casting a spell to reopen her heart.

The night of passion they share is the best night of her life. But the next day he vanishes without a trace, leaving her pregnant - with twins.

One year later, her life is about to be turned upside down all over again when their father, Trace, suddenly shows up once more…

Trace
Leaving Josie almost ripped Trace’s heart out.

For a year, he longed for her day and night. But he knew they could never be together. The world of the bear shifters is cloaked from human eyes, and his deadly family secrets keep him away even from his own clan.

When fate brings Josie into his life again. Trace makes a shocking discovery. She has twins. Are they his?
And if they are – Josie and her newborns are in grave danger.

Can Trace find a way to keep them safe, both from his enemies and from himself?

259 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 13, 2023

1022 people are currently reading
160 people want to read

About the author

Aline Ash

50 books77 followers

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5 stars
566 (55%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
Profile Image for Karen Nastasio.
2,661 reviews19 followers
March 1, 2023
I really like this book and all the characters that made up this story had me turning the pages and could I’ve smacked her ex husband I would have because he just keeps coming to take more from her. Dr Josephine is just getting out of a nasty divorce with her ex who cheated on her and has taken everything from her and she almost looses her clinic to him. So now on he way home she almost runs over what she thinks is a bear turns out to be a naked man and it’s her oath to help so she takes him back to her home where she nurses him back to health and she is surprised he heals very fast and now she wonders what it would be like to have a one night stand. Trace is a bear shifter that’s out searching for two clan members when he is attacked and left for dead when a gorgeous female stops to help him and when he looks at her he knows she is his mate but in his world she is human and not allowed but his attraction to her has him wanting one night before he must leave to keep her safe. After they have an amazing night together he is gone in the morning. Some weeks later Josie finds out is pregnant with twins with no way of finding out where the father is living and so fast forward 1yr she runs into Trace again and the attraction is still there and when he notices she has twin boys he knows that his sons are very much in danger and he must protect his family at all costs. Does she finally get rid of her ex from her life and can they have a future together or not.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Laura Moylan.
1,519 reviews
February 18, 2023
Trace is a bear shifter, who is looking for Aeron and Alec, two of his young clan mates. Aeron is younger brother of the alpha. They are in downtown Seattle when the two young bear shifters or found by Trace. Samuel is The Clan alpha. The boys are in a bad way, so Trace tries to bring them to a clinic to someone he knows won’t let the secret out. However, the woman he is looking for, is on pregnancy leave. Trace realizes that the children she gave birth to were his and that the mother survived, which is rare.

Almost a year ago Dr. Joseph and Kenny had gotten a divorce and she was 40 years old, she saves trace who is badly injured. They fall for each other and he leaves not realizing she’s pregnant. Josephine was Trace’s first everything. The twin boys names are Xandross, and Wylder. When Trace reunites with them, he tells her that she must take the twins and live with him for their safety. He has to show her his other form for her to believe him. The clan has no doctors in it so little things can kill them if they don’t automatically heal. This causes a lot of problems because they don’t want outsiders there. However, the old ways are dying and Samuel has a plan. And old enemy of Trace shows up and major problems occur.
This book was a great read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Evelyn Dotson.
2,066 reviews17 followers
April 20, 2023
Josephine studied to be a doctor and married a rich man for fourteen years; he cheated, got the girl pregnant and divorced her. When she had opened a clinic to help the poor, his family took away their funding. On the drive to her home from the shared cabin, she saw a severely injured man on the road; she thought she saw a bear~ She took him to her home, treated him, and spent the one night with him; his name was Trace. Fast forward one year later, Trace was in the city rescuing the alpha’s, Samuel, brothers; they took some drugs and had been drinking. When he goes to the clinic Josephine ran, he discovered she was out on maternity leave and instantly knew it was his child. After taking them back to the clan, he sought her out. They had twin boys and he revealed his secret. He took her back to the clan so they can have a doctor but refused to be with her or the boys because of his bloodline. He also was going to keep them safe from the enemies he had accrued. Refusing to give up, Josephine showed him what he believed was untrue. Samuel, meanwhile, learned to late he had had a brother; he was killed along with the wife and their mother. It left him with three nephews to raise. While gone, someone broke in and took Jos and the boys…now Trace and the others will have to save them. What will happen?
Profile Image for Jo Anne.
947 reviews10 followers
January 30, 2024
Forty-something Doctor Josephine Kenny, while driving home at night, thinks she sees a bear running towards her car. She hits it but when she gets out of the car, she sees a very big, very handsome man, badly beaten. As she checks him for damage, he asks her not to take him to a hospital. She's a doctor, so she takes him home, stitches him up, and since he's a shifter, he heals quickly. Enough so that they have hot, crazy sex, and then he's gone in the morning. All she knows is his first name, Trace, and can't be found.
She finds herself pregnant, with twins. And alone.
Until one day, almost a year later, Trace and two teen cubs he is mentoring, end up at her clinic, hoping that she can stitch up one of the teens. He discovers she is on maternity leave and doing the math, realizes he's the father.
The book was fun, a quick read, sexy but not too graphic. The problem I had was Trace was so down on himself that he is merely shuffling through life. A lot of the book is him whining about how horrible his father was, how he's horrible because he mauled a fellow bear shifter as teens (the other bear was a bully) and Josephine spends most of the book trying to convince him to leave his sad life behind and enjoy his beautiful doctor girlfriend and adorable twin baby bears.
The book is not a bad way to spend a rainy Sunday.
Profile Image for Goddess of Chaos.
2,856 reviews12 followers
February 15, 2023
"He had to keep her safe from his enemies and safe from him."

Josephine is a doctor who is trying to first do no harm, second keep her life from imploding post-divorce, and third has a heart a pure gold.

Trace just might be the embodiment of the adage "we're our own worst critic", add to that an inability to forgive himself for past mistakes and transgressions, and he does not have a particularly good view if himself. Fortunately Josephine judges him by his actions and gets to know the man he truly is, not the beast he fear he will be.

This done in one kindle unlimited story is a delight. It explores self-doubt and fear, the inner strength we so often have to call on, the strength of friendship and community/clan, and putting in the work to make dreams come true (paired with discovering that sometimes others can suggest a tweak or two to your best laid plans that make dreams suddenly feel like heaven on Earth.)
1,353 reviews12 followers
February 16, 2023
If Trace needed an angel (which he definitely did) he probably did not anticipate that she'd almost run him over first. Then again given the state he was in it might have been the final nail in the coffin. His past actions and those of his father's have made him believe that he is deserving of nothing. No comforts, kindness, friendship and certainly not love either. He has done a truly great job of cutting himself off and for blaming himself when in truth it was an accident. Josdidn't think that her ex could hurt her any more than he already had but she was wrong. Not long after she finds a huge male with life-threatning wounds laying in the road, her ex comes around to tell her that all funding for her clinic is being cancelled. Jos could no more leave Trace when he needed her help than she could resist when he came back for her. She knew a good man when she saw one, she just had to get him to see it too.
1,466 reviews3 followers
August 7, 2023
Josie is a fearless doctor who always does the right thing. When she finds a naked man, a bear shifter named Trace, she knows she must help although she doesn't understand her immediate attraction to him, especially after her painful divorce. After treating him, she does something she has never done before - takes him to her bed. He's gone the next morning and it's not long before she knows she's pregnant. Trace has not been able to forget her. He doesn't feel he's good enough for her because of the violence of his father plus humans don't know of shifters. Then fate brings them together again and he sees Josie has twins. Now Trace needs to find a way to keep them and his bear shifter clan safe. Lots of action, steamy romance and some unexpected twists and turns ending in a happily ever after.
915 reviews1 follower
February 16, 2023
If any story ever made my heart ache more, I can’t remember. Trace wants to protect Josie not only from his enemies but from what he thinks is the darkness that lurks inside of him. The heritage from his father. He thinks that their one night of passion will have to be his one memory for the rest of his life. Josie knows that Trace is a good man and won’t stop till she makes his see what she sees. Hopefully it will be enough and hopefully before his enemies come. Wonderful storyline can’t wait for the next one. Trace and Josephine are great together and I love that they are older, it makes their story that much more poignant. Loved it!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Charmaine Nouwen.
5,468 reviews23 followers
February 16, 2023
A great shifter romance story of Trace and Josephine..A bear shifter and the doctor..Dr.Josephine is a divorce woman after she found out that her husband cheat on her with his asistant that he impregnate..she wanted to build a clinic to help people,one night while driving she found a man beaten to death in the side of the road who needs help.;the attraction is strong and they couldn't help it spending a wonderful time together but Trace need to go for josephine sake because someone is after him and he wanted for Josephine to be safe eventhough its going to be hurt like hell and not knowing he left not only Josephine but also their unborn child..

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for kymagirl.
6,278 reviews89 followers
February 18, 2023
Divorcee Josephine, a clinic doctor, nearly hits what she though was a bear on a remote road, but instead she finds a naked and injured man, Trace (H), whom she reluctantly brings to her home to recover when he refuses an ambulance. He very quickly recovers and the pair share one night together before he leaves. Josephine later she realizes she’s pregnant with twins but has no way on contacting Trace, until he resurfaces in her life. Trace convinces her that she and the twins are in danger from the same persons who nearly killed him previously and that they’ll be safer coming to the remote location his clan comes home. But even there, she may not be safe from the clan or from Trace himself. A lovely mature shifter romance with plenty of steam, danger, angst, and clan dynamics.
5,665 reviews63 followers
February 15, 2023
Bear shifter Trace had an abusive father and pack alpha, which made him worry that he would also be like that, so he kept himself safely away from the main pack to protect everyone. Doctor Josephine enters his life in a unique way and a year later they are brought back together for other reasons. Loved the characters, their backstories, deep feelings, and strengths. The pack members are so wonderful and varied in personalities. The storyline has danger, secrets, revelations, steam, family surprises, children, much needed clinics and much more. Unexpected ending but it was terrific.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
2,711 reviews7 followers
February 20, 2023
One night coming home she thought she hit a bear but found a man instead who was running from his tormentors. Trace told her no hospital or police so she stopped at her clinic and doctored him herself. Before he left they had a great night but left her pregnant, Trace had to go to Seattle to get a couple of the boys that got drunk and had drugs stopped at the clinic and found that Josie was on maternity leave. So came back for her and the twins the clan started the clinic up again was accepted as a doctor and Trace’s mate. Good book!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
162 reviews
April 6, 2023
Mid life bear, twins

Let me start off by saying I really enjoyed this book me up most of the night trying to finish it but unfortunately I couldn’t and I was trying it was that interesting. It felt like I was there. I enjoyed the terms, the drama part suspense. I enjoy the passion of the most so invigorating not what I did not enjoy. It felt like it was added on to your story at the last minute, so I can make it. It felt like you’re trying to make it more interesting this time, dragging on. I’ts like pieces you kept on adding to the story to drag it out more know that part I didn’t like.
Profile Image for Ann Bingham.
200 reviews
April 15, 2023
Great story

If you like shifter stories, this is a great one. Great love story, A few surprises, and a few scary parts. Some great characters, with an interesting bad story, and we all love babies.

Two people at a cross roads in their lives, meet and have an instant connection. Some might think she's crazy trusting a man she just met. He gives her every reason to think he's A dangerous man, but her instincts tell her he won't hurt her. After one night of love making he leaves her, pregnant and wanting more from him. Will she be able to find him? Will he be able to open up to her?
1,240 reviews3 followers
August 8, 2023
Excellent First in Series

This story is an excellent first book in the series. The storyline is serious and does a good job in creating back stories for the main characters. The clan of bear shifters has no interaction with humans until one bear shifter in his forties meets a doctor who feels special to him. He can't forget her. She's a human and a physician and the mother of his unexpected twin baby boys. If she can fit into his world, maybe other humans can too. Will the rest of the clan members be willing to open the clan to humans? Only time will tell. Grab a copy of this book and enjoy!
1,007 reviews9 followers
September 14, 2023
Second chance bear mate

Absolutely loved this book and would thoroughly recommend it hoping that others enjoy it as much as I did. A beautiful mature woman recently divorced from a cheating husband finds a hurt man who is really a bear shifter. After a night of healing and loving he leaves not knowing that she became pregnant with twins. Can he convince her to come with him first because he feels she and his cubs need to be protected. Also because his cubs need to be with the clan and away from other humans. Will Jos believe and go with Trace and then convince him that he is not a danger to her, his sons or the clan members.


Profile Image for Georgen Charnes.
Author 3 books7 followers
December 16, 2023
Not a bad premise - there's shifter communities, this one is bears. All male. They are in danger of dying out because they want to keep secret, and not tell the women they date. Women who get pregnant often die, and if they don't, the bears steal or buy the kids. So here's Trace, damaged bear shifter with low self esteem, and Josephine, damaged dr with low self esteem. Lots of baggage on both sides.

Unfortunately, the book is marred by way, way too much internal dialog, and way, way too much rehashing of emotional conflicts. I found myself skimming through long paragraphs, and thinking, okay, I get it, you're sad/guilty/conflicted. Move along.
3,227 reviews25 followers
February 16, 2023
Josephine nearly runs over a figure and finds it is an injured man.
Dr Josephine Kenny was on her way back from the cabin that her ex-husband owned having gone to remove all her belongings. Driving the narrow mountain road she swerves to miss a figure in her headlights.When she gets out she finds a man covered in blood who asks her not to call for help so she puts him in her car and takes him to her clinic.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Berta Greenleaf Richardson.
1,294 reviews4 followers
February 16, 2023
This is the first book of Aline Ash's that I have read but it won't be the last. I truly loved this story. Shifter books are some of my favorites. Trace and Josephine's story was utterly adorable. It was nice to see an alpha shifter with foibles and doubt about himself. Josephine is a human who fell for a shifter and worked hard to convince him he was so worth being loved. I highly recommend this story to all who love shifter books.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
569 reviews4 followers
October 15, 2023
This was a sweet, quick read.

What I liked most about this book is that it didn’t fall into the classic ‘miscommunication’ trope where the MC’s don’t share their feelings and make assumptions about the other. This was refreshingly different, with the FMC being understanding and the MMC eventually coming around.

That being said, the story was still missing something for me. There was also a lot of repetitive internal monologue that I skimmed over. But overall it was a cute story.

The ending gave me enough closure that I don’t feel the need to read the next book.
Profile Image for Trish.
1,074 reviews5 followers
February 7, 2024
Excellent story

The story was equally sweet, and angsty. The self imposed punishment, and Isolation kept Trace from having anything warm, and loving in his life. The crazed shifter from a difficult first transition to becoming his bear, captured him, and almost killed him. Escaped, and critically injured, he almost crashed into Jocelyns car, she takes care of him, and a night of passion is a complete life changing Miracle. Beautiful story building, and I loved the happy ending.
768 reviews3 followers
March 12, 2024
Sad beginnings

When these two strangers meet they are both at a low point in their lives, they the human female, recently single doctor, finds an injured man on the side of the rode one who doesn't want to go to a hospital. Caring for him alone is hard but he heals quickly and they fall into bed together. The next day they separate, but neither forget the other. Chance brings them together but it isn't easy. Pain isn't over yet. Good adult read.
477 reviews
April 8, 2024
How many kids?!?!

Josephine had a fulfilling life as a Dr., but her marriage died with her husbands infidelity. Him encouraging the loss of financial support for a clinic she started is devastating.
Most of Trace's life has been lived in fear. Fear of his father, fear of his bear's rage, and fear of hurting others. His clan respected his self-imposed solitude, but still considered a valuable member of the clan.
Their chance meeting changes everything!!
232 reviews3 followers
April 18, 2023
This is the first time I have read a book by Aline Ash and I enjoyed it tremendously. Both the main characters were 40+ which is a definite twist to paranormal romance. I hope there are more books to the series and that all of them are as enjoyable as this one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
553 reviews1 follower
June 11, 2023
Falling For You

It had action from the beginning to the end. There was a lot of drama, tragedy, trauma and depression. What I liked is how the couple finally managed to work out their differences. Trace was very hard headed but had a good heart. This is my second time reading this book and it’s still very exciting.
2,788 reviews2 followers
November 5, 2023
Trace and Josephine

A moment in time that changes lives. Escaping from enemies, Trace is found naked and injured on the road. Josephine uses her medical skills to assist Trace not realizing how her life is going to change from this encounter.
Could not put down once I started reading this well written book.
164 reviews
January 1, 2024
Unbearably hard to stop reading.

This shifter series has a different approach to shifter clans which is what I look for in these types of stories.
The only thing that that bores me is the sometimes redundant thoughts of the characters. The story is great and doesn't need them and would keep the interest without them.
Profile Image for Rachel.
92 reviews9 followers
February 7, 2024
overall the plot isn't too bad, but the execution left something to be desired. The book isn't even that long but at times it felt overly repetitive. There were also times when things were meant to be dark and mysterious but not executed well. Characters needed a little more development than stereotypes.
Profile Image for Ally May.
Author 2,090 books8 followers
February 13, 2024
Trace and Jos

This book was a great love story. I was reading another book before this one and I just couldn’t get into it. I got this book on KU, a different kind of book, and I was so happy I did. I couldn’t put the book down. I love when a story flows and holds your interest. Now I’ll have to see what other books this author has.
Profile Image for Ronnie.
86 reviews
March 24, 2024
Twins!

I love a good shifter story and this one is great. Life can be hard but love makes all the difference. Add children and you have the makings of a family. The characters in this book are like our own friends and family and the ones we love. The story is well written. Definitely would recommend and always the loving is awesome.
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