Bear Naked

by R.J. Eliason, Rachel Eliason

Amanda Burnson is a typical teen with all the typical problems: excess weight, struggles with body odor, random people trying to kill her . . . oh, and her boyfriend just might be a werewolf. At seventeen, Amanda, who has been raised by her neo-pagan uncle, has more friends at the local Renaissance faire than at her high school. Most of her summers are spent at faires, festivals, and Aunt Maggie's farm. There is something new going on in the heart of America, in the small Iowa town that Amanda calls home. The whole town is changing-a tough way to begin a school year. New kids alongside the old; new attitudes colliding with the usual annoying old ones; menacing new faces alongside comforting ones. . . things will never be the same once this brew is boiled.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult

260 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

R. J. Eliason writes immersive science fiction and fantasy stories that feature diverse characters. Her writing spans many sub-genres from alien contact, apocalyptic stories and epic fantasy. She also writes in a wide variety of formats, from full length novels to an ongoing serialized adventure. Her writing can be found in digital and print formats anywhere online that books are sold. Or check out her website at rj.eliason.com and sign up for a free book.

Reviews

[Sharyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally read Young Adult fiction, nor am I an avid reader of paranormal and/or shapeshifter stories, but I was very pleasantly surprised by "Bear Naked" and will be reading more of this genre in the future. The book proved to be a very entertaining read, the main characters are all likable and the element of suspense keeps you guessing right up to the-big-showdown at the end. On top of that, the book is very well written. R. J. Eliason has certainly set the scene for further volumes in this series and I'm looking forward to reading about what the fascinating characters she has created will get up to next.

If you're looking for a unique and delightful read I thoroughly recommend you delve into the pages of "Bear Naked".

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion.

[Lynxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bear naked is a different type of shifter story. Very much still in Rachel's chosen genre of YA, this book shows very clearly how one small thing can set you apart from others when at high school.

Gender, sexuality and being ostracised for things you can't help were some of the main themes within this paranormal YA book.

Being one of the first books I've read with gender queer characters, I thought things might get confusing, but Rachel did a great job of not only ensuring that the characters were all in order, but also showing the reader the beauty of being confident in your sexuality, no matter how much it might rankle the general public and other characters in the book.

Amanda's character was strong, yet conflicted, awkward yet surprisingly confident and brilliantly cast in the story. She portrayed the strengths any kid who was bullied at school wished they'd had, as well as displaying all those normal teenaged emotions. She was a mess of emotions at time, made rash decisions and followed her gut, even when it lead down some dark troubling paths.

Some of the story was a bit cliche (mostly the information about the wolves), but with a few different aspects thrown in, it kept me reading. I did get a little bored with all the school day information, this reached my threshold of annoying at about 45-50%, but shortly after that, the action began in ernest and I soon forgot about the banality of school. If I were to edit this, I'd consider trying to shorten the length of time spent covering Amanda and her friends at school. It might drop some readers early on.

All in all, this was a little quirky, and a little queer, but Bear Naked should appeal to most readers.

A few things I noticed:

15% - ...he can't (get) enough of this...
62% - she admired his his (delete second his) slender...

**Note: I was provided an electronic copy of this book in return for an honest review**

[IndieHeart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. I applaud the inclusion of gay and "genderqueer" teenage characters and the neo-pagan lifestyle descriptions, but so much time was spent setting up how "different" Amanda was because of her pagan beliefs and interesting friends that nothing much happened for the first half of the book. Basically, she talks a lot about what her cross-dressing friends are wearing, wonders why a guy is talking to her, and gets upset about body hair and people thinking she's smelly. And there are two or three times or so that she sees one of several men she gets creeped out by. They don't really do anything to her, they just look creepy. There are other small hints that there is going to be trouble later on, but nothing ominous enough to really build a feeling of tension about Amanda's safety.

At about halfway through, the meat of the story begins and the creepy guys start to attack people. She and other kids in her town are actually under threat, her friends all have secrets they are keeping, and there is a well-written and exciting battle later on. The author just used way to many words to get to where the story actually began. However, I do recommend the book for pre-teens and teens who are desperate for LGBT-friendly fantasy novels and also for YA readers who don't mind a lot of setup to the story before it gets rolling.

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.

[Reggie_Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very torn with this novel. What saved this novel were the minor characters. I thought the first 3/4ths were really slow, but once the action happened and i found out information, I cared more. Interested in the second novel to see where things go. I had major issues with Amanda being very bratty and not understanding her own friends' gender identity. I'm assuming it was meant to be because she was young, but some of it was never corrected for the reader. Finally, (and this kind of goes back to the slow start), I found the "reveal" to be so incredibly obvious that it frustrated me to not get clarification until very late. Also, the title ruins part of it too. Overall, the novel itself wasn't bad, I just wish it had been presented in a different way. It might have even worked better as a novella.

[April Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel Eliason is my friend, so when she asked if I would review her new book Bear Naked in exchange for a copy I of course said yes.

I am very glad I did! What a fun read! The main character Amanda is in high school. And like many high school aged girls she struggles with self changes. Little does she know the great changes in store for her.
There are many twists in this book, Amanda being orphaned at 7 years old, her best friend's new girl friend, murders of teenaged girls, strange and frightening men in town, a new love, and more.

This is the first in a series, and I can't wait for future books!

[Janet L. Hage · Rating 5 out of 5]

High school was never fun until.....

Going to high school is never fun when when you have an aroma you cannot cover up, you are a big girl, and you are hest friends with a gay. This makes going to high school, like walking a mind field until another friend with a bad attitude that has changed. Boyfriend, New friends, and some nasty people following her. Suspense, action, romance are at the core of this YA. Well-written,. Well developed characterization. Great for high school teens and adults due to violence and sub plot.

[Haven Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I signed up for this book on the goodreads first reads giveaway and won!

Rachel Eliason wrote a great book that many teens can relate to: social problems, troubles with hygiene, and the first real love. The characters were all well developed and likable. The suspense in the book kept me turning the pages. I loved it so much that I'm passing it to my daughter to read when she gets a little older.

[Destiny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story reads as a young adult book but that's not a bad thing! I think that it's wonderful to have an author discuss body image, gender, and transgender issues as normal-ish things while in a supernatural universe.

I would have preferred a bit more suspense or foreshadowing but others may think it unnecessary. I would definitely recommend this book, especially to readers who are glbtqia oriented.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shapeshifting takes on a whole new form in this first novel in the Bear Naked "shape-strong" series. The characters are fabulous, just so original, and the storyline shifts (pardon the pun) just enough to keep you guessing throughout. It's a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to seeing what she puts together for Book #2, which I understand is not too far behind.

DO IT.

[Rachel Eliason]

Pre-orders available at:
http://www.thewordverve.com/bear-naked/

Or

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...