Cross to Bear

Ursa Shifters #5

by Sam Hall

When your boyfriend is a dud, but his brother and his pack are your perfect match…
“You’re our fated mate,” Bjorn tells me. It’s every woman’s fantasy, isn’t it? To hear a big, tattooed bear shifter tell you that you’re the only one for him and his sleuth. So why aren’t I falling all over myself to accept the bond? Sounds great, but I’m not ready to be anyone’s girlfriend, mate, anything. My selfish ex left me hurt, exhausted, and burned out. I just want to have a little fun for once—not hook up with his hot brothers. Rather than take “no” for an answer, these sexy shifters offer me a proposal. If I surrender control to them, they’ll give me all the pleasure I crave. Take me places I’d never dare go. Fix my life, my heart… even my trust issues. No strings attached, of course. But if there are no strings, how do they keep pulling me closer and closer?And what will happen when I no longer want to back away? I’m about to find out whether this is a match made in heaven, or this relationship is another cross to bear. This is an Ursa Shifter STANDALONE with a HEA and no cliffhanger.

Genres: Shapeshifters, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Why Choose, Omegaverse, Paranormal Romance

450 pages, Paperback

First published March 9, 2024

About the author

Australian author of paranormal RH novels

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Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I'm completely addicted to this series and it makes my heart happy to get a new one every time but wow, I wasn't expecting this plot. I'm learning more and more that the bear community isn't as perfect as they seem.


Thanks to Sam I've learned a new word, situationship and if that doesn't describe Maddie's and her ex Jesse's relationship to a tee I don't know what does. Maddie is a strong female who has a handle on most of her crap and it just frustrated me that she accepted a relationship that was subpar in almost every way.


Like knights in shining armor, the sleuth are coming to the rescue. Bjorn, Crash, Hawk, and Razor are bikers, foodies, mechanics, artists, you know the cool kids, but also responsible business owners and all-around great guys. They're a dream and they treat Maddie with reverence while giving her a safe place to land and someone who has her back, two things she never had.


Oh, I loved this plot. A pair of brothers (one shifter, one not), plus a "who saw her first" situation combined with fated mates equals explosive drama that had me yelling at the pages. At times this story just hurt a little. I think this is the first time that I felt really bad for a sleuth. Maddie is a mess, I love her but I didn't agree with some of her choices plus there the whole unique situation they find themselves in, and the betrayal. There were two, one I didn't see coming but it fits while the other, after I saw the situation for what it was (and the utter disappointment I felt) I knew it was coming and boy did it spectacularly.


I was invested in Cross to Bear before I even started this book, Sam just sucks me in. Every situation and background in the Ursa series is different, it's not the same ole, same ole. The only thing in common are bear shifters and their culture and those HEAs that I love. Other than that all the situations are wildly different but Sam surprised me with this one. There were a bunch of new characters introduced and I can't wait to see how the series expands.

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Wish That I Had Jesse’s Girl



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💚💜❤️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: ☺️🤣🙁😘🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration

🦸🏼‍♀️ Heroine Spotlight: Maddie
Maddie’s arc begins with a slow burn of frustration. Jesse, once the irresistible biker heartthrob her friends swooned over, has devolved into a beer-scented man-child she’s constantly cleaning up after. His sex appeal lingers, but her attraction? Long gone. What complicates things is her love for his family—especially Bjorn, Jesse’s older brother and the walking embodiment of a Viking fantasy. Unlike Jesse, Bjorn radiates maturity, strength, and the kind of quiet intensity that makes Maddie question everything. The bear shifter dynamic adds a layer of intrigue, but it’s Maddie’s emotional awakening that drives the story.

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🦸🏻‍♂️ Hero Spotlight: Bjorn, Razor, Hawk, Crash
Bjorn and his sleuth—tattooed, leather-clad biker bear shifters—are the kind of fantasy fuel that deserves their own calendar. They run a garage, a bar, and a tattoo shop, but their real mission? Waiting patiently for Maddie, their fated mate, to realize she deserves better. Bound by loyalty and restraint, they never cross the line while she’s with Jesse, but they quietly support her, offering stability and care in contrast to Jesse’s chaos. Their silent pact to wait it out adds tension and tenderness to the slow-burn setup.

---

🔥 Plot Snapshot
The breaking point comes wrapped in smoke—literally. Maddie wakes to a fire alarm and a trashed kitchen, courtesy of Jesse’s latest mess. After scrubbing the house top to bottom for an inspection, she’s hit with another blow: Jesse forgot to mention his mom’s birthday dinner. At the family gathering, the truth hits hard. Jesse will never grow up, and staying with him means a lifetime of emotional labor and loneliness. Her decision to leave is painful but necessary—and Bjorn and his sleuth are there, ready to catch her when she falls.

---

❤️‍🔥 What Worked

• The heat is undeniable. Once the slow build pays off, the chemistry between Maddie and her bears is electric.
• The pacing post-breakup drags a bit, but the emotional payoff makes sticking with it worthwhile.
• At its core, this is a relationship-driven story. Side plots—family dynamics, Jesse’s antics—add texture, but the heart is Maddie’s journey toward love and self-worth.

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🤨 Room for More

• Bjorn, Razor, Hawk, and Crash could’ve used more individual development early on. The focus on Maddie’s emotional baggage sometimes overshadowed their arcs.
• Crash being a switch in the BDSM dynamic didn’t quite align with the dominant energy I prefer in this genre.
• Maddie’s oversharing with her friends felt off-brand. Some intimate moments are best kept sacred between mates.

---

🎧 Narration Vibes
Sofia Lette and Dorje Swallow return with their signature dual narration, and they continue to impress. Sofia’s soft, feminine delivery captures Maddie’s vulnerability, while Dorje’s steady tenor grounds the male POVs. His lack of distinct character voices surprisingly works, letting the emotional tone carry the weight. Their Australian accents add authenticity and charm, especially with the story’s setting.

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📝 Final Thoughts
This story is a slow-burn emotional reclamation wrapped in biker heat and bear shifter lore.

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[Mini_bookreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up 🐻
One of my favourite FMC's in Ursa Shifter books 💪🏻

[Mandy Robitaille · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great addition to Sam Hall's bear shifter series!

At the beginning of this story, Maddie is stuck in a dead end relationship. My heart ached for her but I loved when she realized she deserved better! Her character growth was so great in this book!

Bjorn and his sleuth were amazing. I loved them so much and their dedication to helping Maddie see that deserves the world was great. Each one of them was Swoon-Worthy, but I think Bjorn is my fav.

The fated mates theme was also written well - it wasn't just instalove and the sleuth and Maddie had to work to make their relationships work. And oooo the spice was spicing!!! Some seriously delicious scenes!

Definitely recommend this one!

Tropes:
- Bear Shifters
- Why Choose
- Fated Mates
- Ex's Brother
- Found Family
- Hot, Tatted Bikers

[kase · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did. It just ended up slogging and feeling like no matter how much I read, I wasn’t getting closer to the end. And then BAM it ends on a weird note and jumps to a 5 year later epilogue.

We had constant external conflicts from basically everyone in their lives and that just made it so damn exhausting. And I feel like we don’t get any real resolutions which is disappointing and leaves me feeling like I’m hanging. For this being 500 pages long, getting a few page epilogue feels like a slap in the face and we are just supposed to pretend everything worked out because we are told it did via the Romance Book HEA 101 where they have twins.

[Nemo (The ☾Moonlight☾ Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite liked that this was a good girl/bad boys with hearts of gold dynamic.

I think my biggest issue is that after the accident, everything seemed to wrap up at about 70% leading to the rest of the book feeling more like filler to me. I feel that everything that Maddie did for the sleuth AFTER the accident should have occurred BEFORE the accident. The sleuth had two showdowns with the parents that could have been just the one at the fundraiser. The two showdowns with Maddie's parents could have been just one at the hospital. It felt like the scenes after the accident and before the fundraiser were out of order.

I really wanted to like Maddie, she appeared competent in most areas of her life except her relationship, and when she ended it with Jesse she just let the sleuth call ALL the shots and boss her around. The author kept saying it's because Maddie didn't want to 'think, only feel,' but I HATED that Maddie was such a submissive. In earlier books, having the sleuth care for overworked/overwhelmed/mental-load-carrying women worked really well, but in this book I didn't feel that it worked very well. I hated that she was crawling around on her hands and knees to suck one of the guys off while her broken leg was still in a cast, and I hated that she let so many other characters goad her into action like claiming one of the guys by using public sex. I get that the author was trying to say that Maddie was once a good girl who stuffed herself into the moulds built for her by other people, and the sleuth were freeing her to be her more authentic self due to being bad boy bikers, but I would have liked to see Maddie more in charge and knowing what she wants. I don't think the majority of other readers feel that same way though, so I totally understand why the author wrote it this way, and I'm not letting it affect my rating.

I loved the way the sleuth took care of her. I think this may be my favourite sleuth? NOT because they're bikers. I liked how much care and thoughtfulness they put into everything.

[Pene|ope • Temp Hyperfixation: WC & OMV · Rating 2 out of 5]

Still deeeeep in my why choose era, no end in sight.

I normally love this author's books, but the more I digest what I read, the less I like it. It was great in the first half, and then I just started to hate the FMC and their surface level relationships didn't help at all.

‼️ Spoilers ‼️

This woman goes home with her boyfriend who is the biggest manchild I've ever read, who doesn't have a responsible bone in his body, and proceeds to ignore the fated mate pull towards how brother and his brother's sleuth for three whole years. Meanwhile, they wait on her hand and foot in any way they can because they know she's meant to be theirs.

I can accept this twist, and for a little while, the story was good.

But then she just kind of strings them along after breaking up with the brother, and at some point they develop relationships and feelings, but we never really see that on page because what really happens on page is that they connect sexually, which isn't the same thing....

And she lets everyone around her goad her into things, like when the bar manager tells her she has to act like a shifter and claim her man to keep the OW from thinking they can come for her, so she seduces him onto bonding with her before she's ready...then runs away the next morning because they haven't actually developed their relationship that far.

Or when two others talk her into being a domme for one of her guys and she goes into it without a safe word, and without ever talking about boundaries beforehand.

Just like the one of her guys who is a dom doesn't use safe words with her either or talk about boundaries....

This woman who had been a doormat for the brother for 3 years while he openly flirted with other women and ignored her in public, made her be the responsible one and the money maker in the relationship, and was just a horrible and immature person overall, is suddenly everything these other guys need??? This includes suddenly standing up to women who confront her, winning when they attack her with mysterious fighting skills from her school days, suddenly being confident in her own body when her insecurities are thrown in her face, wanting to be a domme when she knows nothing about it, wanting the control back that she told them she didn't want, etc. It's exhausting. And actually the more I write all this out, I realize I'm lowering my rating even more.

Also let's talk about tattoo hygiene please? She goaded her one mate into giving her a tattoo without even sanitizing the area from the client that had just left because she was jealous and didn't believe him when he said he didn't get off on tattooing other women. All he did was change his gloves and then he tattooing her while periodically moving around the vibrator she had in and then climbing on top of her to finish,,, how is that sanitary? And that was only the first time! They did it again, but because she wanted to feel his skin, he did it with no gloves (after running his hands all over her skin), and then finished on top of her again. I just can't. I'm sure it's sexy for some to picture but nahhhh that's not for me.

Lastly, the nail in the coffin for me was ending the story so abruptly with zero resolution with the family that played such a huge part in it. We end on a huge confrontation and we don't see if the community the mother turned against them realized she was lying, we don't see if the mother ever changed her ways, if the fathers finally stood up for their son, etc. We just end on them driving away angrily. We get a tiny bit of resolution with the FMC's mother, then that's it. We don't see what they have to deal with or work through with anyone else because for the past 20% of the book, they're in their own getting to know you/bonding cocoon that was dragged out longer than it should have been if they'd just gotten to know each other earlier in the book, then they have the confrontation at 98%, and that's it. Short epilogue and then we're left hanging.

Edit: ong I just remembered how her guys (one especially, but a few others a couple times) kept thinking internally about other women they had been with, and how they'd learned the skills they were using with her FMC. Like it was OFTEN. They'd think about how much they liked certain things with other women and couldn't wait to do it with the FMC. The one that was the worst about thinking that even deep dived into his first domme and how he loved submitting to her, as he was getting ready to the submit to the FMC. Like,,,, you can show how much experience they have without making it about all the women they've been with before smh. The only saving grace was that one of her mates was purposely a virgin, and while I'm not about purity culture at all, the way he was so intentional about only ever wanting his mate to touch him was so sweet.

[Kimberly / Love Notes Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quickie review: 3.25 stars. This book was only okay for me. It felt too long and drug out. The guys were too similar, the story was slow and I lost interest. The story didn't end up being bad, but I didn't really love any of the characters.

[Michelle Claypot_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great addition to the series. I really enjoyed the genuine development of each relationship with the guys within the sleuth. Great exploration of each of their dynamics.

[Pinkitnl]

I love Sam Hall and this series, but unfortunately after 25% this is a DNF for me :(

[Corinne · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are way more things I dislike with this book than I like.

I just feel like the magic is gone.

I was very excited to read about for MC bear shifters. But this fell so flat. And it dragged on foreveeeeeer.

2/5 stars

[Curvy Girls Read Romance]

DNF @ 25%

Could not get into this one. Felt like I was still waiting for it to start 1/4 of the way through.

[Lissa J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rtc

[Meagan Grauel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Sam Hall's books - no one does bear shifters quite like her! This one is no exception and includes a plus size FMC. Which, as a plus size person, I love. Thick thighs save lives and all that. I loved everything about this - from the storyline of how this sleuth has been pining for their mate for years, but love and respected her enough to wait for her to choose them, to how they stand up to their families; no matter what the cost ends up being, as long as they have each other. It's a very in depth origin story of how Maddie ends up with her forever pack and how they overcome obstacles that would see them separated. I for one, am here for all the developments and how she grows her relationship with each guy. Though my favorite relationship building to read might have been Hawk & Maddie.

While you really hate Jesse at the beginning, and honestly don't get how Maddie stayed with him for years, I'm glad that he eventually gets his act together and knows that he needs to change. While it might take him awhile to get there, I like that he was given a kind of redemption arc. And that Bjorn and his sleuth didn't cave when he was asking for work and enable him.

Since this book is a Sam Hall book, you know that she knows her way around smut. And daaammn, this book did not disappoint. I do wish that there had been less talk of feelings overall, because dang, you can only overthink shit so much and these characters love to overthink so much. A lot more of the book could have been dedicated to more sex scenes. Because while their was so much detail in the emotional and feelings aspect of the book, some of the sex scenes could have used more details/descriptions, in my opinion. Still loved it, don't get me wrong. But I did knock my rating from a 5/5 stars to a 4/5 stars because of all of the explanation of the overthinking, and how Crash's "switch" ordeal was handled. I'm totally down with a good sub/dom/switch storyline. However, Crash's switch was introduced fairly late in the story and not handled well I don't think. Whatever "training" Razor gave to Maddie just seemed self serving and wasn't really a good explanation at all. Hawk is also right, Maddie should have had a much more in depth conversation with Crash about what he needed/wanted out of being her sub and possibly even gone to some type of training. It's not something to be taken lightly and I feel like it was just skimmed over in the book. And in their "scene" where Maddie was the dominate, it focused on how she was "getting back at " Crash for what he did to her in the movie theater and didn't even let him finish as a sub in that scene. Being dominate doesn't seem like it's supposed to be fueled by revenge like that I think it portrays that community in a weird light with things like this and gives false information. Feels like the kind of thing that would be more hurtful than helpful. As I'm not part of the sub/dom community, I could be wrong - but this is all just my opinion, I don't claim to actually know anything.

I have said this in past in other reviews and I'm about to say it again. Why in the hell do women in this type of book try and run away from a fucking good thing?? A group of men who want to cater to my every need and expect nothing in return? OH MY GOD, I SHOULD RUN AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE!!! Jesus. Makes me want to throttle them through the pages. And running back to her house and wanting space after she fucks one of them publicly and takes her first mark? Which she KNOWS is tying them to her for the rest of her life and the equivalent of marriage to them. AFTER she does that, then she has second thoughts and wants space? Umm ... be accountable for the shit you chose. I can't believe the sleuth encouraged her to do that shit. Ugh.

As a final thought for this book ... fuck Nelly. What an absolute piece of twatty garbage. I can't even understand her motives. She seemed like a good person at first, and even took Jesse in when he needed a home. (Whatever the backstory there is ... the author alludes to it a lot, but we never get a full explanation) But that's where it stops. And I am very glad that Bjorn ultimately cuts her out of his life. She deserved it after all of the shit she pulled.

Love this book and all books by Sam Hall, honestly. Definitely worth the read! And I cannot stress this enough ... make sure that you download the bonus epilogue after you're done reading the story. It's awesome and is pretty much 75% smut! Thanks for doing the readers this awesome service!

[Adrianell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the plot, the whole being with a wrong guy for years, before learning that his older brother and his sleuth were her fated mates and all the drama around it was great.
Bjorn, Hawk and Crash were amazing, Razor was a bit too much for me. They all had their dominating and possessive moments, but Razor's felt the worse to me, made me kinda icky. When she told them that she wanted to take a time for herself, do whatever she wanted and not care about anyone else's feelings I interpreted it a whole lot different than the guys did. I was pissed that Razor instantly went into domineering arsehole mode. I would be fucking fuming if I told the guys I'm not ready for anything with them and then they hold me down and pleasure me no matter if I'm ready or not.
Maddie with her good girl gone bad made me cringe a bit. I understand wanting to let loose and be wild sometimes, but from being Miss Prim and Proper to giving a blowjob and fucking in a busy bar because some bitches said that you didn't belong there was idiotic. Especially with her work in a big company that kept a pristine image. She seemed like a successful and competent woman and then she got so submissive to the guys that it irked me. Which normal person would cook a whole huge dinner and crawl under the table to give blowjobs with a bloody broken leg? I get being submissive or giving to your partner, but what the fuck was that?

[Sarah_A6210 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read

Not my favourite book of the series I’ve read so far. Ironic as a quote from this book is what pulled me in and I decided to start at the beginning before reading this one.

I’m not really sure what didn’t pull me about this one. I think the FMC a little, I understood her apprehension when finding out her fated mates were her ex boyfriends brother and his sleuth but she also already knew about fated mates. All the other FMC’s they had to learn about it from nothing and it was more understanding that they were a little more reluctant or slower.

Also, the fact that Bjorn’s mother is a fated mate to a sleuth and her reaction. It didn’t connect with me. Don’t get me wrong, I get some people are just self centred and say and do all the wrong things, for me personally I just couldn’t connect.

I still really enjoyed the book, I would have liked more on the MMC’s as they waited so long being patient and doing the right thing, I felt like they deserved more

3⭐️2.5🌶️

[Kmw1989 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who doesn’t love a “he falls first” trope, and this is x4. For some reason this book was slow going for me…took three times longer to finish than usual. But the story was decent? Sucks all the mcs had such a rough time. I felt like the epilogue with the mom was a big out of left field…I know it was a time jump but I think it would have been better to leave the mom out or show more of the character development leading to that time. Not my favorite from this author but not bad.

[C. Mercie M Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously, if your boyfriend of three years doesn’t contribute to any of the bills, leaves everything a mess at home, leaves you at home, & you do not even want him to touch you anymore….you’ve already left, just cut the cord! Maddie’s best friend has been telling her to kick him to the curb for months, but she’s scared to be alone again, & hates confrontation. It doesn’t help, that when she gets to Jesse’s mums for her birthday, after he almost destroyed their kitchen, & she had to buy everything, that she hears him telling “the guys” how to get out of doing any cooking for family gatherings is to destroy it.

The moment that she decides it’s over….then Jesse’s brothers sleuth start crowding around her. Oh hell no! She’s just gotten rid of a man, the last thing she wants is four hulking bear shifters to screw up her world! The sleuth knows, they’ve known for years, that she’s their dated mate. They’ve had years to plan what to do the moment she kicks Jesse to the curb, & the chase has to silent, secret, & supportive before she realizes that there’s no escaping their bond. Besides the fact that Maddie’s own mum, has no respect for her, & treats her poorly for her size & life choices, now Jesse’s mum is spreading to the shifter community, that she dropped Jesse for his brothers sleuth for malicious reasons. How is Maddie supposed to find a happy ending when the bear community, as well as her own, isn’t supportive of her choices. Very good book, especially for finding your happy ending, with your people, & moving forward. As always the characters are so well fleshed out, that I’m sure I can almost see them, & the world building, describes their work, play, & home environments so vividly. The only thing I’m sad for, is that as you wrap up the series, even the women that had such a hard time with their sleuths before Maddie, are not supportive of her & her sleuth. I’d assume that they’d be the ones to support her the most.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Ursa Shifter books! While they follow a tried and true (albeit predictable) flow, they are my go-to when I want to destress and have a good read without all the angst.

This one started with Maddie and her boyfriend Jesse not having the best relationship. It's more like she takes care of him while he's out with the boys getting drunk or smoking weed. You could really feel her despair pouring from the pages.
Only when she kicks him to the curb does she find out that several men are just waiting for her to say yes to being heard, pampered, and loved.

Seriously, I need some shifters of my own.

This book was about family, not the one you are born with but the one you gather and have by your side.
I loved Maddie's character growth. The book touched on many real-life issues, like conditioning from parents and trauma. The author didn't sugarcoat it, and I really liked having that side of life represented as well.
Oh, and let's not forget that just because she's an accountant, it doesn't mean she can't kick ass... omg, I absolutely loved that scene! :D

The men, Bjorn, Razor, Crash, and Hawk, were amazing. They're not perfect, of course not. They have their fears and demons to overcome, but they will always put their fated mate first. Going from being sidelined to having a chance is something they never thought would happen; they put in the work to get their HEA.

Again... I need some men like these! :D

The pacing and flow were a bit like the tide, with some occasional slower sections, but overall, it was smooth sailing from start to finish.

While the books in this series are standalone, some beloved characters did pop up in the book, and it was so lovely seeing them again :D

I love these books and highly recommend anything Sam writes tbh :D

[Jenny From The Bog · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt like two separate books. I enjoyed the first half with its hurt- comfort vibes, rescue, finding- her- backbone, and devoted fated mates tropes.

The latter half of the book was entirely different and annoyed the hell out of me. One of my biggest pet peeves is when mmcs know they have a fated mate somewhere, and sleep around anyways. That would have been bad enough, but the guys were constantly thinking about or referencing their past experience. But, wait, it gets worse- they'd also lump their mate in with those other women in their thoughts. 'Liked it when a girl did...', 'nothing better than when a girl did...', NOT 'liked it when their mate did...'.

As much as the first half of the book set the story up as them wanting to show Maddie what it was like to be put first, the second half made it clear she wasn't anywhere near being their first in anything, and that their thoughts were very often not entirely on her.

Honestly, the 2nd half of the book could be summed up as her figuring out how best to please them individually (one of the guys also made reference to how she would have to get creative in figuring out how to please them all every night) , and the one guy finally standing up to his mother.

Side note- his mother was portrayed so wonderfully in the first half of the book, then written almost like an entirely different character later on.

There was never any satisfying resolution for any of the conflicts that occurred between the sleuthe and the many antagonists.

Seriously, the second half of this very very long book, was like nails on a chalk board.

Coming back to add on that it was very confusing how the chapters weren't labeled as to whose point of view of was, so you had to figure it out from context.

[Ash (so there’s this book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance (bear shifters)
Spice: 3/5 🌶️

This is book five in Sam Hall’s Ursa Shifters series. While this series exists in the same universe, and has interconnected stories, I believe you could read this as a stand-alone.

Tropes & themes: RH, bear shifters with unique peens, fated mates, toxic relationships (familial and romantic), motorcycle bar / club vibes, big tattooed biker MMCs, hurt/care, inexperienced MMC, kink: pierced 🍆, edging, public sex, cock warming, prostate play, light Dom/sub and Domme/sub scenes, sexy tattoo sessions

Sleuth:
Maddie, Bjorn, Crash (Cayden), Hawk, Razor (Rafe)

Thoughts:
I really love this series by Sam Hall.
Every book is so good, and even though the themes are similar book to book (bear shifters can only ever love their fated mate, and therefore do anything to please her), each story feels fresh! I think the concept for this one was very interesting and allowed for some serious pining.

I think these MMCs are some of my favs in this series. Bjorn, Rafe, Crash and Hawk are doting mates, but also had an air of danger to them that was very exciting. I loved the little insertions of MC culture and the biker bar, and I’m always a sucker for artsy MMCs, of which this book has two. Maddie and her men were a pleasure to read!

Also, a huge shoutout to Sam for always writing trauma, healing and kink with such care and respect.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cross to Bear

I always appreciate plus size MFCs. The author did a great job describing the MFC’s first relationship and why it didn't work out with that man-baby. She also does a fabulous job describing why the man-baby ends up the way he does. The whole story about the complications about his mother and his dads was really well done. She has a definite talent for describing dysfunctional families (which is most families) in a way that is cathartic. As the characters move through their emotions and transform their psychological limits, so can the reader.

I think Hawk was my favorite of the four MMCs. His thoughts on family were right on the mark imo.

“This was the lie of families, I’d quickly discovered…. Everyone lied to each other all of the time. From ‘yes, you look amazing in that’ when they really didn’t to ‘don’t worry, things will start picking up’ even though there was no hard evidence it would. People lied and lied and that’s what their bonds were based upon….”

I appreciated the bdsm aspects of the relationships and how they helped develop the characters and show their caring for each other.

Favorite lines: “Working through your lunchtime is for suckers. Act your wage.”

And

“You’re whatever you want to be on any given day.”

And

“I’m sure my parents would’ve been horrified to know their exacting standards and sparing use of compliments had created a praise kink in me, but here we were.”

[Destynnee Realta · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You’re gonna walk out there like the queen you are,” I ordered, swatting her on the butt to get her moving. “The fact you sat on your throne for a while.” I stroked my face. “Well, that’s what queens do.”
-Razor


Cross to Bear
Ursa Shifters
Book 5
By Sam Hall
503 pages

Currently available on Kindle Unlimited
Publication date March 09th, 2024

I received a copy of this book from the author, and this is my review. Please, watch out for possible spoilers, including but not limited to, TW/CN/Etc.

Sam Hall did it once again, with Cross to Bear. Her Ursa Bear shifter series, may just be my favorite series of hers. It might be my love of bears, but it may also be the way that Sam is able to writer characters thar feel completely real, and whole. You cry for and with them. You smile and ache with them as well.

This maybe the 5th book in this interconnected series, but I think it is my favorite. And, I think that Hawk and Crash, are my favorite Bear Shifters yet.

These books can be read as stand-alones, but I highly suggest reading each one in order. You get to see how this amazing world grows and how Sam creates such wonderful, and at times mean and evil characters.

This book gives you spice, fated mates, parents who think they know best, bikers, strong bear shifters, fmc who is not only finding herself but standing up to those who try and keep her down, and finding love for yourself and those around you.

5 / 5 🌟
5 / 5 🌶
1 / 5 ☠️
EBook - ARC
-Destynnee

Possible TW, Tropes, and Genres
Romance, Bear Shifter, Brothers Girlfriend, Fated Mates, Bonded Mates, Family Drama, Light BDSM, Explicit Sex Scenes, Anal, Oral, Vaginal, FMMMM, Interconnected Series, Standalone, Bikers, Eating Disorder (kind of seen not really spoken about), Public Sex Acts, Edging, Praise Kink, and possibly so much more.

[Ashley Shvetsova · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent and BIG read. This book started out on the slower side for me (I’m thinking it may have felt that way based on what a mammoth of a book this was *love that though). It also took me a bit to get invested in the book because I just hated Jesse. I have too many friends that have been in this situation and I’ve seen it play out that I didn’t want to read it. BUT I am so GLAD I pushed through!!!! Sam is a wizard when it comes to building relatable characters and all of the details as it plays like a movie in my head and almost makes me feel like I’m right there with them! I love the car and mouse relationship between our main and the guys. I was frustrated with how “isolated” she became due to crappy friends and family around her but I’m glad she pulled through with the support of her new sleuth. I was dissatisfied in the shifters community and really hope they redeem themselves in a future story with a strong and well delivered apology for not supporting her especially the other ladies we’ve met thus far in the series. As always Sam didn’t disappoint with the steam and the tension building and I couldn’t have asked or written a better 5th book in this series! I’m ready for more! ;)

[Estee Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bear shifter why choose romance

No cheating. HEA plus bonus 5yrs down the line (if you click on it)
No Spoilers, this definitely couldve gotten kinkier but it was well balanced with their feelings and desires meshing.
Honestly I had a hard time clicking with the fmc at first I wasn't sure she seemed to bond with her "sleuth" they knew she was their mate but she didn't seem to feel that which is different from most shifter mate books.
I did like that Jesse wasn't a cheater or terrible guy, just a mama's boy the idea she didn't break up with him because all the wrong things weren't wrong enough hit home. She deserved better but he needed to grow up.

Some things weren't HEA s or resolved.
The bonus six chapters tell the future but also show how Maddie works too hard during tax season. Each guy feels sad and like they lose her for months, she snaps etc maybe that's real life but it's hard to like her and kills the HEA a bit for me. I read these to escape reality,so meh.
The end 5yrs later doesn't mention her changing jobs or slowing down either.
Four star for the 4/5 spice, need to read the bonus to get all that spice.
I liked the book plan to read the rest of Sam Halls books.

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing story by Sam Hall. I absolutely love the these Bears and the mates. This one is no different. We have Maddie, who is this sweet and caring lady that is always doing everything she can for the ones she cares for but, is not fully appreciated by them. Bjorn, Crash, Hawk, and Razor are your epitome of what a mate should be. They are incredibly patient and protective. I absolutely love how protective they are of Maddie even when she doesn’t know what she wants. This story was an emotional roller coaster that you feel all throughout the story. It drew me in and didn’t let go. I loved Roxy and she kick butt attitude. I would love to see a cross over with her. I think it would be amazing. Roxy definitely helps Maddie at times and she really needed the help with her thoughts. We see at times the way people think and act towards Maddie and her mates that have you feeling their pain and anger. It has you on that journey right alongside them as the have to deal with all the mess the people try to bring into their lives. I absolutely could not put this amazing story down. I loved how it ended. It is absolutely a must read and definitely doesn’t disappoint.

[TheheartofBrigid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cross To Bear is book five in the Ursa Shifters series by Sam Hall.

💜 fated mates
💜 Bear shifters
💜 family drama
💜 found family
💜 🌶🌶🌶🌶 spice

Maddie is startled awake with her alarm, but wait, it’s Saturday. Rushing out of her room she realizes that it’s the smoke detector. Hurrying to figure out what’s happening and to stop the screeching, she looks around at the mess that was made out of her once pristinely cleaned kitchen. About the same time, her boyfriend of three years, Jesse, comes in from outside. Is this what there life is like now? Why would he be cooking anything this early on a Saturday? Why was he outside instead of taking care of the smoke alarm?

This was such a great story. While this is the fifth book in the series, each book is a stand alone. But they are connected by being in the same area. So you do have some cross over moments, but nothing that you have to have prior knowledge of. But I love it, because it makes the stories all that much richer. This was such a fun twist on the fated mate story as well. I have loved every book in this series. I can’t wait to see what other stories will come out in this world.

[Shannan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cross to Bear is the 5th book in the Ursa Shifters universe and I think with each new installment, the series just keeps getting better. The world building and character depth and progression is always phenomenal from this author and Cross To Bear is no exception. The characters just feel so real and in many instances, relatable in so many ways.

Our leading lady Maddie starts the book off in a relationship with Jesse, who quite literally doesn't have a clue who she is as a person and is more than happy to leave any and all responsibilities up to her and treats Maddie like a doormat. When our girl decides she has had enough, I cheered. I mean out loud. You go girl!!!!

Now enter the sleuth. Bjorn, Crash, Hawk and Razor have been sitting on the sidelines for some time now watching and waiting for their fated mate and they are done waiting. Inevitably, sparks fly and we have fireworks, in more ways than one.

There does appear to be a little wiggle room for a kind of spin off, whether Jesse gets a redemption story or he just happens to walk of a cliff, remains to be seen. I know I would love to hear Roxy or Cress's stories. I'm just here for all the stories!!!

[Book Life With Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cross To Bear, the fifth book in the Ursa series by Sam Hall was the perfect addition to this series of feisty curvy heroines and the alpha tatted and sexy af bear shifters that steal their hearts! If you’re familiar with Sam’s work then you know she’s absolutely amazing at creating unique and captivating worlds with characters that pull you right in and

This story starts out slightly different in the fact that this time our heroine Maddie is already with a guy from a bear shifter family—however let’s just say he’s definitely lacking in more ways than one. But don’t worry because his brothers, which may be familiar if you’ve been around a bit, are more than willing to step up and fill the void. Even if Maddie thinks it’s not what she wants. However when certain proposals are made they’re hard to resist. And let’s just say there’s plenty of hot steamy chemistry and smexy time so she can’t hold out for long!

I love how her sleuth is absolutely dedicated to her and help her be the fierce and strong woman she was meant to be. If you’re a fan of Sam’s Ursa Shifters you’re going to definitely want this one!

[Amanda Crossland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book in the series. There was hardly any real secret keeping, which is the worst anxiety inducing things authors can do to readers. We got to read multiple point of views with heavy focus on the female lead character, it would have been easy for Sam to let Maddie keep the secret that the mother in law showed up and threatened blackmail to keep her away from her family. That easily could have been a trigger for Maddie to pull away and I was So surprised that didn’t happen for her. This is an incredible read, everything felt so natural that it was easy to pretend I was the main character experiencing all these experiences. There was no jumping into relationships without that build up, which is a typical M.O in standalones. We got to see how she came to the decision to get out of a relationship, staying single for a bit before getting back into dating. The man child had plenty of moments that allowed the reader to root for Maddie and the sleuth. It wasn’t clear in the beginning he was adopted which was a little confusing, additionally I wish we had a bit more of a smack down on those chicks from the bar wanting to taste the men of her future, or maybe more of a smack down with the mother in law? Maddie did have to put up with their BS a bunch of times, it would have been nice to see her claws come out more than once. I related to Maddie, and it was awesome that they didn’t keep secrets from each other, big ones, besides that they were mates. They were all truthful with one another and it just added another element to the story that we don’t normally see. They all flow super well once the biggest secret of them being fated mates is out. I wish there was more to read. Cant wait to read what’s next.