Katy Hawkins is desperate to find her family. A bear shifter who grew up in the foster care system, she exhausts all known avenues at her disposal until she finally reaches out to Dr Devin Edwards, the world famous geneticist who helped bring the Caspian tigers back from the brink of extinction.
It's not a shock to Devin to learn about the existence of bear shifters, but the arrival of Katy at Tiger's Eye brings its own set of challenges. While she studies Katy's DNA in an effort to trace her ancestors, she's also balancing married life with Rex, their four children, and continuing her search for more Caspian tiger shifters.
When Katy returns home armed with knowledge and support from Devin and Rex, she and her partner, River, set out to track down a rare bear population on a remote island off the coast of British Columbia.
Can two people half a world apart find the same resolution through entirely different means? And what will the answers mean to Katy?
A sapphic shifter novel that takes ‘found family’ quite literally.
OMG! What an incredible book! We follow Katy a bear shifter and her loving partner River, also a bear shifter as Katy tries to find her family. Katy grew up in the foster care system and misses having family. She turns to renowned geneticist Dr. Devin Edward's and is invited to Scotland for a 2 week vacation to try to find her family. Devin gives Katy testing kits to swab prints when she's back in Canada. The description of the Canadian wilderness is so visual. This is an awesome , inspiring book! A FAVORITE! I highly recommend it! Deserves more than 5 stars!
T.J. Dallas is back writing under her slightly tamer pseudonym Taryn J. Dallas with the release of The Last Spirit Bear. For those who love the sexy in her erotica, don’t fret - there is still plenty in these pages to keep any reader satisfied.
In the sequel to The Last Caspian, Devin and Rex are settled and busy running Tiger’s Eye while continuing to expand they’re not so little family. With three cubs and one on the way, the couple are juggling rescues, research, and a whole lot of love.
Katy and River are Bear shifters from Canada who have a beautiful and healthy relationship. Katy grew up in foster care and is searching for her family. She reaches out to the famous Dr Devin Edwards with hopes she might be able to help.
Devin and Rex welcome Katy into their home and work on unravelling the mystery of what kind of bear she is and how she might track down family members. When Katy returns home, River joins her in her search, and it isn’t long before she begins to find the answers she has spent so much of her life searching for.
To begin with, it was incredibly fresh to read about two established couples, which is a rarity, and Dallas has blended both Katy and River’s, and Devin and Rex’s relationships within the storyline, so nothing feels like it is incomplete. The science aspect of the story is strong, and expertly constructed, and even though I know absolutely nothing about genealogy, DNA markers and so on, I found myself curious enough to re-read over sections I didn’t fully understand.
I honestly can never fault Dallas’ ability to tell a gripping story that feels like she has dedicated years to putting down onto paper. The storyline is intense and rich, her characters are strong and ambitious, and the relationships are uniquely developed with room for cultivation and change.
Wow, omg what an incredible carry-on this story just blows me away I couldn't put it down I loved the main characters their connection to each other it was unbelievably flawless a must-read congratulations
I love this story line and all the characters we have been introduced to so far. Rex and Devin have become some of my favorite characters of all times. I loved learning about River and hints!, they are awesome new characters. The spice was great, especially when I keep in mind that the story is not supposed to be erotica, still fire! My only complaint, not even a real complaint, is the amount of technical DNA jargon. I know Devin is super smart and it is funny when she causes the character's eyes to glaze over, but I feel like there was a lot in this book. I don't know if the technical stuff is right or not, I would think it was just based on the amount of research TJ puts into everything, but I kind of lost the thread a bit during some of the longer scenes. My only other critique, maybe even request, is a bit more development of the characters that have already been introduced. I want to know more about Felix's family and about Liu and Abby...maybe additional books in the series...hint hint! Overall, I loved the book, I just glossed over a bit of the more technical items. Keep them coming TJ!
So, let's be clear about this - unlike the first book, The Last Spirit Bear is not a romance (or even romance adjacent). Yes, there are two main couples (Rex/Devin, and Katy/River), but they are already established (and yes, there are quite a few spice scenes). Rather, this is a cozy found family story, in the literal sense - it is all about the search for family. Katy's in particular, but there are more discoveries than just that. Oh, and it is also about the growth of families, given that the book takes place a number of years after the first one.
There is a lot of detail and description in this one, told in a slice of life fashion. There's a little action, lots of interaction, and many happy moments for the characters. It's an enjoyable read for what it is, and it is nice to see what is happening to these characters. I think, though, it is a matter of being aware of what type of story is being told here.
I read this bear shifter book with some friends and we're all going to give our thoughts on this lovely book. I can tell so much research went into the book. All the info about dna and genetics shows a lot of hard work done by TJ Dallas and I appreciate facts here.
My good friend Paddington Bear enjoyed the relationship between bear shifters River and Katy. So loving and so Canadian!
Teddy Bear liked the mentioning of different bear characters like Baloo and even info about the history of the Teddy Bear.
My friend Winnie the Pooh loved the fact that all the shifters ate often and ate well. :)
and Ted star of the movie Ted by Seth MacFarlane really enjoyed the spicy scenes between Devin and Rex the tiger shifter but he really loved the spice shared by the bear shifters River and Katy. We're just saying that we loved the gentle shifters in TJ's world and it definitely deserves 5 stars
The Last Spirit Bear" is the second installment in T.J. Dallas's "Erudite Shifters" series, a sapphic romance that intertwines elements of fantasy and science fiction. The narrative centers on Katy Hawkins, a bear shifter who, after growing up in foster care, seeks to reconnect with her long-lost family. Her journey leads her to Tiger's Eye, where she encounters Devin, a geneticist whose research into shifter genetics becomes pivotal to Katy's quest. The story has been praised for its engaging plot and the chemistry between the protagonists. In summary, "The Last Spirit Bear" offers a compelling blend of romance and fantasy, enriched by well-developed characters and an intriguing plot. It is a noteworthy addition to the "Erudite Shifters" series and a recommended read for fans of sapphic fiction.
I absolutely loved book 2 in the shifter series! If you haven’t read book 1 it’s okay but you’ll know a lot more about Rex, Devin, and the sanctuary if you do. Katy is a bear shifter looking for her family. Being separated from them and different from other bear shifters she’s met has been hard on her. Her partner, also a bear shifter is extremely supportive and understands Katy’s need to know where she comes from. Enlisting the help of the one person she thinks can help her where others have failed, Katy sets off on her last ditch effort to discover her and her family’s history and, hopefully, find some living family as well. While the story is focused on finding blood family, the continued importance of found family in one’s life is also huge. Love the continued peek in Rex and Devin’s life after The Last Caspian. Katy is a wonderful character and love her and her journey.
I absolutely loved this book. Tiger-shifters and bear-shifters galore. Heaven! It was a refreshing take on shifters and whilst not particularly gruesome did include realism about diets etc. A lovely, and mostly gentle, story about Katy seeking out Dr D’s expertise to try and track down her polar bear family. Rather her than me, except she’s not a polar bear so no bear cannibalism - phew! All the regular side characters from the first book are here and it was lovely to catch up with everyone. Vivid descriptions of the Canadian wilderness really bring the story to life as Katy and her bear-shifter partner River go off on a search for Katy’s long lost relations. Rex has another baby and the kids bring lightness and wonderful kid humour to the book. Brilliant!
So many kiddos springing outta these shifters- they gonna repopulate all the reserves, preserves, parks and forests!
Well, needless to say, I loved Katy and River. Repeat storyline from first book of being the last/lost shifter and finding family by accident and through the magic of science. Smiled like a ridiculous human when introduced to the Tiger brood- missed Rex and Devin and they have many pages dedicated to their love and fam and framily that it was a great treat.
Steamy scenes run amuck as they sprinkle themselves over and through chapters sooooo.. keep an eye out for over the shoulder readers haha! All in all- highly recommend this book because it just makes ya smile all big and feel all warm and cuddled.
The second in a series and it’s was just as good as the first. Rex and Devin are back. To be this was about finding your true self and also an almost-treasure hunt to find where your fit in. Katy and her partner River are from Canada and both are bear shifters. Katy thinks she is a polar bear but she contacts Devin and Rex to find out for sure. I really enjoyed this story a lot. Devin’s DNA study is fascinating, yes some might find it a little dry but when you think it, it is amazing. Finding out who you really are and being surrounded by love is a great story! Do yourself a favour and get this book, I’m sure you will enjoy it!
This is an incredible follow-up to the first book in this series! We catch up with Devin and Rex, the main characters from The Last Caspian, and also meet new characters, Katy and River. I loved getting the chance to see how favorite characters have settled into their lives, and to see them using their skills to help others. Dallas balanced the dual- perspective, dual-location narrative between both sets of characters impeccably. I highly recommend both this novel and The Last Caspian, and am hoping for more in this series!
This is not your usual shifter book. It’s filled with heart warming moments, sweet interactions and lots of love. I really enjoyed the amount of research that so clearly went into writing this book and I absolutely loved how inclusive the characters are. It was such an easy read and the whole thing just warmed my heart! This book really brought to life a sweeter, softer shifter story and I enjoyed it immensely.
Trying to save a nearly extinct species has kept our heroines busy. 5 years after The Last Caspian ended, we find Rexleigh and Devin with 3 children and a 4th on the way. I actually loved that the bearer of the children is the butch of the family. Turns out shifters are well aware of Rex and Devin, and their work is very highly regarded. This was a beautiful story of found family, and of finding family.
This book is about family Rex the Tiger shifter and wife Devlin the world famous genetic scientist and introduced to the world of bear shifters in the form of Katy who turns out to be a rare spirit bear, She along with the rest of world of shifters soon discover that there are more of her lost family. This is the second book in the shifter series and is just as good as the first,if you haven't read them yet I highly recommend you do.
I've read several books by T.J. Dallas and every single one has been an amazing read. The Last Spirit Bear is a continuation story of Devin and Rex with new characters River and Katy. I enjoyed not only getting to read how Devin and Rex's family has grown but also get to meet new shifters. I could barely put the book down. Definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading future books by T. J. Dallas.
If you haven’t read this series yet, you need to get on it! If you’re looking for a good book with moderate spice The Last Spirit Bear is up your alley. I’ve read all books from TJ and I will continue to do so. Love the dynamics from all the characters and I really love she continues with the characters from the first book!
What an absolutely amazing book TJ done it again fantastic characters once so much more of this and brand-new characters of Katie and River and the story is amazing to read read Read cannot wait for more of the shifters so so good love every moment of it
Taryn J Dallas has another winner in her Erudite shifter series as she continues the story of Rexleigh and her quest to help repopulate her Caspian tiger species while running the Tiger Eye Sanctuary where they rescue all species of tigers.
In The Last Spirit Bear we go on a fun adventure of discovery, family addition and extended family. Devin is a brilliant geneticist who doesn't know she is a secret hero to entire population of shifters. I wonder if we will get a shifter story with a badger in the future?
This is a different kind of HEA story. This one takes us on the journey of finding lost family and I was thrilled to lose myself in their quests.
Taryn's grasp of the physical reactions of sex between characters leans hard into what makes those scenes exciting. With this series being on the lighter side of sex, she concentrates on feelings involved in intimacy rather than the role playing, BDSM and polyamory of her Pride and Wrath trilogies and the corresponding anthologies.
It is a successor to the Last Caspian but sadly it doesnt have the same aspects. It doesnt focus on a cute developing romance or exciting drama, its more just a slice of life novel.
Which would be fine on its own but sadly makes it a not so great #2 in the series
In debt look into science of eDNA and the complexity of figuring out who is related to who. Katy was given up by a mother who had no one to turn to after losing her job. A better life,maybe, she will survive and be better. Trusting in the Scottish geneticist Dr. Devin. Not only do surprises appear but maybe a lost family? Enjoy!