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Wild Side #1

What a Bear Wants

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As a man with the ability to shift into fifteen hundred pounds of honey-loving, occasionally cranky grizzly, Ransom McKenna was used to people moving when he said move—or when he chuffed because the chuffing usually did the trick—at least until he comes across one of the most fierce, adorably ornery canines that he’s ever met, Fallon Wilder. Ransom finds himself fascinated by the way she can thoroughly lay waste to a man’s ego with no more than a succinctly stated email and a concise threat to one’s person. At first glance he thought all he wanted was to buy her extremely impressive lodge after it catches his hard to earn attention in a popular magazine for their kind but the moment he meets Miss Wilder face to face he knows what he really wants—her. And no matter how many times she barks and snarls and snaps, he knows he’ll have her. Because in his mind, it’s all about what a bear wants…

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 20, 2013

41 people are currently reading
387 people want to read

About the author

Nikki Winter

49 books127 followers
When Nikki wrote her first story in the tenth grade, she knew without a doubt she was destined for greatness. Now if she could just convince everyone else...
Buckling down, she‟s taken the time to polish what she refers to as her "writing superiority." She hopes that the tales she has created grab the readers‟ attention, and make them devoted slaves to her will fans.

If you want to let her know just how absolutely, positively awesome she is, you can always e-mail her at nikkiwinter19@gmail.com, friend her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nikkiwinter19 or follow her on Twitter as @NikkiWinter19.

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5 stars
204 (36%)
4 stars
214 (38%)
3 stars
100 (17%)
2 stars
30 (5%)
1 star
14 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
Profile Image for Sandra.
84 reviews12 followers
December 6, 2013
One of my book buddies on goodread recommended this book and I'm so glad she did. This was a great book! It incorporated all my favorite genres. It was a Rom-com,PNR, and an interracial romance all rolled up in one! I loved all the hilarious banter between all the characters. I hope she comes out with another book with Cree and Maddox's story. If she does I'm sure it will be epic!
Profile Image for PepperP0t .
5,108 reviews86 followers
March 16, 2014
(Digital & 3.75 Stars Really)

Fallon Winter (wolf shifter), has made a success of her clan and her clan's vacation resort for shifters. Ransom McKenna (bear shifter), ruthless businessman doesn't like being unseated from the number one spot for vacationing shifters offers to buy her resort. Fallon is having none of it and resists the gifts Ransom sends along with his offers. Giving in to the teasing of her best friend, Cree, Fallon extends an invitation to Ransom to come and enjoy the resort as she listens to his latest proposal face to face. Ransom has been teased mercilessly by his brother, Maddox, that his interest isn't so much in the resort but in Fallon herself. Meanwhile the neighboring red wolf clan's alpha family, the Jericho brothers, is torn about wresting the land from Fallon's control and bringing it back within their family control - no matter that it was lost to the Winter's family generations ago.

From the moment Fallon and Ransom meet, he is determined that she be his mate and she is rather attracted to the cocky and arrogant grizzly. As Fallon and Ransom's romance progresses, Cree resists Maddox' attempts at anything, while the Jericho brothers internal issues escalate over attacking Fallon's clan.

The synopsis for this read held quite the appeal for me. Strong alpha female, bear shifters, interspecies/interracial romance and did I say bear shifters?!?! The primary and secondary characters were fairly well fleshed out and the snarky dialogue was both amusing and cute more often than not. Fallon bordered on obnoxious in her quest to be all alpha, all the time, while Ransom had charm to spare. Fallon's clan and Maddox were all quite personable and fit well in their roles as wel. I really liked the idea of a shifter resort which could be a great setting if this turned out to be a series with this read as the origin story. The storyline was interesting enough with good possibilities for additional tie-ins. Somehow the flow of the story got lost and left the transitions feeling choppy. I'd read another entry for this series because I think that issue could be taken care of with more familiarity.
Profile Image for TinaNoir.
1,892 reviews339 followers
February 25, 2014
This is a double review with Beauty and the Barracuda because they are both by the same author, I read them in close proximity and my feelings for the books are both very much the same.

Both books have very similar strengths and weaknesses

I liked the author's writing style. She writes in a very humorous style that is incredibly reminiscent of Shelly Laurenston. I love LOL humor in romance and feel that we don't get enough and this author really delivers in spades. Her writing in very sharp and witty. The words are like little funny bullets that puncture as you read.

I also really enjoyed her basic set ups in both books, both the backgrounds and the professions of the main characters.

lso in both book the chemistry, both emotional and sexual between the hero/heroine was excellent.

However, as much as I liked these things they weren't enough to really elevate either of these books to a place where I just flat out loved them.

Probably, imo, the biggest weakness of both books was that I don't think the author gave her characters distinct voices. They all sounded exactly alike. They all spoke alike. They -- to the person -- were all sharply snarky, quite witted, expert verbal fencers. Characters who had never met each sounded exactly alike.

My Full Review Here
Profile Image for Dina.
277 reviews33 followers
July 11, 2019
This book is so heavily influenced by Shelly Laurenston's writing, that it looks like borderline plagiarism, and kind of creepy. Ms Winter appropriated almost everything from the world Laurenston created, but the quality of writing is not even close to the same level. Bo0k reads like bad fan fiction. It's funny, I have to give her that., but still - WTF!
Profile Image for Ivy Deluca.
2,383 reviews330 followers
May 17, 2018
Ransom McKenna, grizzly bear shifter/entrepreneur, is determined to meet the wolf who knocked him off his perch as the top dog (heh) of shifter resorts and buy her property. Fallon Wilder, wolf shifter/alpha/owner of said shifter-centric luxury resort, is tired of this pushy grizzly pursuing her pack’s property, sending her candy and flowers, and bugging the ever loving hell out of her. So she tells him. In an email. Sparks fly. The two meet, and why yes, if you’ve ever heard of a shifter rom in your life, you know the drill. Romance happens.
description
The Good, The Bad, and Everything In Between
The Good
I was enjoying the discussion on Romance Twitter about different shifter romances, when Trish (https://twitter.com/NE_rom_reader) mentioned Nikki Winter and how her books have the same humor, and great shifters and I was intrigued.

Honestly, you had me at shifter. Add in that her writing style is similar to my favorite author of all time, Shelly Laurenston, and I was in Shifter Shangri-la. This recommendation was all that and a bag of chips.

Ransom and Fallon’s relationship is filled with great Firsts (meet, kiss, love scene), funny lines, very good chemistry, good racial diversity amongst the characters , lots of potential to expand this ‘verse and some genuine action and tension. It was an easy read that made me want to read more of Ms. Winter’s backlist.

The Bad and Everything in Between
The initial conflict was a bit over the top, the reactions played for comedic effect occasionally a bit much, and some need for editing, but nothing that truly detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story.


description
The Bottom Line 4 stars
I really liked it, it’s a style of writing and tropes that I love, so I don’t hesitate to recommend it. I’m diving into the next book in the series asap.




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Profile Image for The_Book_Queen.
1,687 reviews282 followers
November 4, 2018
I do enjoy Nikki's writing voice a lot. But, at least with this book, an editor -- or perhaps, a stronger editor -- was needed. It was enough to pull me out of the flow of the story at times, and that's never a good thing.


Beyond that, this was another snarky shifter romance with a kickass heroine who makes most men cry in fear. Um, yes, please!


This is my second time reading Winter, both PNRs with shifters. I know she has a few contemporaries and I'm curious to try one and see how it compares. Because I definitely saw a lot of the same things in both PNRs, and while I liked both books, I wonder if that means all her books are repetitive like that?
Profile Image for Cleoblacktra.
264 reviews21 followers
August 29, 2018
This book was sexy witty and fun! The primary and secondary characters had great chemistry and camaraderie!

It's 1am so my brain is mush but i know I luhhhhed this book.
Sad to see that this is only a two book series.

However I low key wanna start book 2 right now 0_o lol
Oh and book 1 in Verochka pride series sounds good too! Damn you Nikki winter for falling in my lap in the middle of the night !!

I am a new fan Miss Winters ... great shifter series to rival/compliment TS Joyce's work :-)
Profile Image for Nessie Smith.
48 reviews1 follower
August 2, 2015
Started out really good, you have this strong alpha female who is so bad-ass that she can rule the craziest wolves with no male alpha. Who knock her enemy’s around so easy she doesn’t even sweat.....

then this same alpha female changed to quickly o me. She gave in to the bear on HIS terms without a fight/ague. and that’s what bothers me the most. she doesn’t have any sarcastic or sassy thing to say she just walks around bitching and moaning at people till the bear takes her and just as fast she is a whole different character. no longer feisty, a bit to submissive. and the first fight after screwing the bear she is easily distracted (this om a woman who has been leading he pack o 30 o yeas and knows how to stay calm under pressure ) and by being distracted she is quickly taken down by a singular wolf and just lays there waiting or him to give the killing blow. basicly after being fucked she tuns into a damn sissy that now all o a sudden can no longer fight, needs to be saved and faints!! WT just happened. I was 90% done but after that fight I thew the book screaming my frustration as another author thinks the only time a woman can be feisty and strong is when there's no male around but once thees a damn dick see likes LOOK out! because its no longer the character that made u laugh its the newer horrible version that makes u want to rip your hair out
Profile Image for Emily.
5,880 reviews551 followers
July 27, 2016
When grizzly Ransom McKenna saw that Fallon Wilder beat him on a poll for vacation destinies, he became curious about the woman who ran the lodge. His curiosity had him reaching out trying to see if he can purchase the land only to be rebuffed, shot down, and compared to Lucifer himself. Now Ransom was fascinated.

Fallon is infuriated by whatever Ransom is doing. He emails her, sends her presents, and drives her completely nuts. When she finally agrees to let him come to her lodge, she realizes quickly she made a mistake. Ransom is her mate and so she does what any off balance alpha wolf does, she avoids him like the plague. Ransom though has other ideas and plans to claim his mate.

Hilarious. What a treat, reminded me a bit of Shelly Laurenston with the witty banter and entertaining characters. Definitely picking up more from this author, I laughed a lot and was entertained from beginning to end.
Profile Image for The BookChick .
1,454 reviews425 followers
December 25, 2013
I typically enjoy shapeshifter romances and bears are among my favorites. However, I found this book exceptionally difficult to read. I understand that Fallon was an "alpha" but she was so mean that it bordered on abusive. I just didn't care for her at all. Her relationship with Ransom felt forced and I never got the feeling that they actually liked each other...at all. Lust, sure but not like. Another reviewer compared the author's writing to Shelly Laurenston, but I have to disagree. Laurentson writes stories that are fluid and naturally funny while this book has a staccato feel with contrived humor. At least to me.

I wish the author the best but this was not my cuppa.
Profile Image for Puna.
1,327 reviews15 followers
May 20, 2014
Up until about the halfway mark I was REALLY enjoying this book. It was lol funny. Then it started to get repetitive, someone would annoy Fallon she'd threaten them, then do nothing and everyone would laugh. Hahaha. It got even worse once she and Ransom got together, she went from an alpha (kinda sorta) to a wuss that was okay with being carried over a guy's shoulder while being spanked in public. She's supposed to be some hard ass alpha that can take down anyone to a dumb shit that easily gets ambushed.

Never had a book that I liked at the start turn into one I could barely finish. The start would have gotten 3-4 stars & the second half maybe 1.
31 reviews
November 30, 2013
Very good.....

I loved the characters in this book. the dialogue was funny and witty. Very spicy scenes, between Fallon and Ransom. There is some drama involving another pack, but this primarily a love story. this is one of ms. winter's better stories.
622 reviews6 followers
May 27, 2014
Loved this book. Would highly recommend it to anyone who like to read paranormal romance. It was highly entertaining. Loved the interaction Fallon had with her crazy pack. Cannot wait to see if you are writing another story about Cree and Maddox.
Profile Image for Shaquaila.
237 reviews33 followers
May 20, 2015
This paranormal read was amazingly funny, this author write amazing comedy.
Profile Image for shanya.
4 reviews
June 6, 2018
Bears and wolves... shifters, oh my!

It’s a cute story that has a happy ever after... for almost everyone. The bad guys get kill in this story and there are other people that can get together but the main characters get their HEA and there aren’t cliffhangers. The emails between the two main characters start the story and it’s super fun. There are some glitches with formatting but as the story line goes, you would wish there was more. Super fun read.
5 reviews
February 9, 2019
This was an awesome read. The writing and storyline were fantastic. Didn't want to put it down. It was funny and enjoyable. The writer has such a great sense of humor and it came through in their writing skills. I smiled and laughed through out. Just picked up another of her books and it doesn't disappoint. My new favorite author!
Profile Image for Lannawill Caruth.
36 reviews
July 8, 2022
I liked it. Felt a little meh or disjointed at times, but the characters were so fun it made up for it. Would've liked to see a little more depth in some of the side characters, but I guess that's what spin-offs are for.
Profile Image for B.
145 reviews
March 30, 2021
Loved this...

Love story!!! This was definitely a good read. Maybe get a proofreader but great book! I'm already reading the sequel.
Profile Image for eRomantix.
75 reviews2 followers
March 9, 2014
Ok, so I was looking for something fun to read. I have been doing dark and emotional lately and was just a bit sick of it. Also I haven't reviewed any PNR recently so "What A Bear Wants" seemed to fit the brief. It did too right from the first page, funny! This seems to be a standalone and I can't see any other books Nikki Winter has written that included shifter's but then this is the first book of her's I have read. If this is the first then a little more world building would have been good. It seems like shifter's are accepted in the community? They have shifter resorts and magazines so it seems like it but that is never really explained.

I really loved how the animal within these two translated through their characters. Ransom, a bear shifter. Being the slow but determined type. Addicted to honey, meat and sleep. Where as Fallon is the vicious she-wolf that will do anything for her pack. She is wary of opening up to any guy but her femininity comes through as well as her strength. Love, a strong women in romance. These two are so cute together and the chemistry and back and froth banter flows easily. A few small things didn't add up for me, and I do mean small.

So Fallon is this kick arse fighter that has already put down challenge after challenge. But then she finds her self in a situation towards the end of the book where it looks like she might get beaten. We just spent the whole book hears how tough she was but then the bad guys get the jump on her. She had already beaten these guys up once, it seemed too easy. Also the weird sexual tension with the alpha of the neighbouring pack seemed a bit strange too. Really though "What A Bear Wants" is some funny, nicely written escapism for an hour or so and possibly a good start to a series.
Profile Image for Jaycee.
542 reviews
January 6, 2014
Seriously, seriously hilarious characters with some of the best banter I've read in ages.

Not a complex tale for certain, just a straightforward romance approached from the humorous side. I imagine that can be a dangerous tactic for an author, because I've personally only read a few who could sustain the level throughout a book before it became trite. I imagine author Nikki Winter modeled heroine Fallon and/or BFF Cree after herself, because it was just way too natural a dialogue that permeated this book. Strong females for sure, but with a perfectly acceptable gooey, girly centre.

Ransom and his "big, magical bear co--", can star in my Alpha fantasies anytime he wants to, and I WILL provide beaucoup de honey!

The supporting cast were all gems of equal humour-stature, but also characters and friends to be respected as individual characters. Maddox and Cree deserve stories as do Anoki, Makya and hold the presses: Brody!

Bottom line: a good laugh worth 5 stars for that alone, a welcome change in being so, and while not a particularly deep story, definitely a feel-good one. And don't we all just need a story to make us feel good once in a while?

Bottom, bottom line: A hearty recommend, and expect to file in your re-read pile. With honey...
Profile Image for Stephanie Pittman.
249 reviews5 followers
February 3, 2015
Bears oh my!!!!!

I gave this book a 5 star rating because it deserves it dammit!!!! HA! Ransom and Fallon oh my their love for one another overpowered me and I had to cheer them on. What is love if you don't have doubts, what is love if you do not step out on faith???? This book has mayhem, foolishness, love, murder of a sadistic bastard and the understanding by the herione that just because you don't think u have time for love does not mean love does not have time for you. I will be recommending this book and this author to all my paranormal sisters and brothers. Thank you Nikki for writing a great story line and making me want to find this place in Colorado!!!
Profile Image for Lauren.
144 reviews
July 17, 2016
The non-romance driven plot in this novel could have been removed entirely without affecting much of anything. Still, I laughed out loud at some of the dialogue, which bumped this up from a 2 star to a 2.5 star read in my opinion. I do wish, however, that the editor or beta readers or whomever could have cut down on the run on sentences. There were several places where I had to read a 'sentence' (i.e. paragraph) three or four times to double check the length and content.
1 review
February 5, 2014
OMG! I have never laughed so hard! I love the interaction between not just the main characters, but all the characters in the novel. The banter back and forth sounds a lot like what I grew up with and now what my own daughters engage in. A great feel good read! I can't wait to read more from Nikki if this is her writing style.
1,613 reviews13 followers
March 28, 2015
This book is written with a very aggressive writing style that is applied to all the characters and has the effect of making all the characters come across have having the same personality. Yes, it's upbeat and amusing in places but just falls down in terms of really strengthening any real connection the reader might make with the characters. Fun read, not much to it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews

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