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A Taste of Honey
In the mood to try something sweet? How about a collection of stories about bears and the special men in their lives? Guys don’t have to be in their twenties, perfectly sculpted, and hairless to be hot. Bears are real men with real bodies—and that doesn’t always mean a perfect six-pack or an immaculately smooth chest. With bears, it can mean more man to love. The men in this anthology are chubs, cubs, grizzlies, pandas, polar bears, and more—all looking for a connection. And beneath their burly physiques are hearts of gold. Explore the bear scene and beyond with these big, hairy guys and the men who find them irresistibly sexy.
The Bear Fetish by John Amory
The Bear Next Door by Jack Byrne
The Bear at the Bar by J. Scott Coatsworth
Barefoot by Lillian Francis
Just Breathe by John Genest
Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye
Golden Bear by G.P. Keith
Hunting A Fairy Tale with a Very Hairy Ending by Edmond Manning
The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself by Robert B. McDiarmid
Truck Stop by Christopher Hawthorne Moss
Banyan Court by Samuel Scott Preston
Amped by Zoe X. Rider
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain by Michael Rupured
Life's Tiny Surprises by Tara Spears
The Bear Fetish by John Amory
The Bear Next Door by Jack Byrne
The Bear at the Bar by J. Scott Coatsworth
Barefoot by Lillian Francis
Just Breathe by John Genest
Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye
Golden Bear by G.P. Keith
Hunting A Fairy Tale with a Very Hairy Ending by Edmond Manning
The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself by Robert B. McDiarmid
Truck Stop by Christopher Hawthorne Moss
Banyan Court by Samuel Scott Preston
Amped by Zoe X. Rider
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain by Michael Rupured
Life's Tiny Surprises by Tara Spears
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2014
8 people are currently reading
381 people want to read
About the author
B.G. Thomas
77 books239 followersB.G. Thomas lives in Kansas City with his husband for nearly fifteen years and was legally married in 2014. Ehey have a fabulous little dog, Sarah Jane. He sees his wonderful daughter just often enough to miss her when she isn't there! He has a romantic soul and is extraordinarily lucky to have many friends.
He loves science fiction & fantasy, horror, romance and more, has gone to SF&F conventions his entire adult life, and been lucky enough to meet many of his favorite writers. He is a “Star Trek” and Joss Whedon fan from way back!
He has written all his life, it is where he finds his joy. In the 90’s, he wrote for gay magazines, but stopped because they wanted him to cut out story and romance, and write only sex.
Then through a few friends, he discovered the growing market of M/M Romance and was thrilled beyond words. FINALLY, a way to write the stories he always wanted to write. Adventure, romantic comedy, science fiction, and more, but with gay characters. And he wouldn't have to fade to black! People wanted to read the erotic as well. Plot and sex! HURRAY!
B.G. Thomas very much believes in The Law of Attraction and that "thoughts become things." A lot of things all started happening at once. He heard the words, "Leap, and the net will appear," and something re-kindled inside. He sent out a story and was thrilled when it was almost immediately accepted.
He believes that we are divine expressions of the Universe, each and everyone. "It is never too late!,” he states. “Pursue your dreams! They will come true!"
He loves science fiction & fantasy, horror, romance and more, has gone to SF&F conventions his entire adult life, and been lucky enough to meet many of his favorite writers. He is a “Star Trek” and Joss Whedon fan from way back!
He has written all his life, it is where he finds his joy. In the 90’s, he wrote for gay magazines, but stopped because they wanted him to cut out story and romance, and write only sex.
Then through a few friends, he discovered the growing market of M/M Romance and was thrilled beyond words. FINALLY, a way to write the stories he always wanted to write. Adventure, romantic comedy, science fiction, and more, but with gay characters. And he wouldn't have to fade to black! People wanted to read the erotic as well. Plot and sex! HURRAY!
B.G. Thomas very much believes in The Law of Attraction and that "thoughts become things." A lot of things all started happening at once. He heard the words, "Leap, and the net will appear," and something re-kindled inside. He sent out a story and was thrilled when it was almost immediately accepted.
He believes that we are divine expressions of the Universe, each and everyone. "It is never too late!,” he states. “Pursue your dreams! They will come true!"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
September 15, 2014
You know what I like? Anthologies with blurbs that list each story with a mini blurb attached. This particular anthology doesn’t have that, so I’m going to do it for you, the readers. You're welcome.
Author B.G. Thomas, who along with Anne Regan is the editor of this anthology, starts things out with his personal story of coming out bear. Like many men he doesn’t live up to the physical gay standard and he had a hard time connecting with men when he first came out. Eventually he discovered his place among the bears. It’s a great introduction to the anthology but what I liked most about it was this statement:
[T]he one thing [bears] have in common is we aren’t hung up on what most of gay culture, or the world for that matter, qualifies and quantifies as hot or sexy. We are beautiful and sexy in our own way....Because that’s what being a bear is all about. It’s more than size. It is accepting ourselves and each other for who and what we are.I love that. It’s something I hope we can all relate to – man, woman or bear. Mr. Thomas is the author of Summer Lover.
Truck Stop by Christopher Hawthorne Moss 3.5 stars
Cleve and Sully are recent veterans of WWII. Sully’s a truck driver who frequents Cleve’s Gas and Grub. They get to know each other better when a snow storm hits the area, trapping them in together. Anything about war veterans seems designed to make me teary-eyed and this story is no different. Moss is the author of Where My Love Lies Dreaming.
Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye 3.75 stars
Neil is a geeky, skinny guy (naturally) who lives with his sister and helps take care of her three children. Imagine his joy one day when three studly bears move in across the street. However it’s Brett, the biggest bear of all, who captures his interest. Another sweet and funny story from the author of The Blinding Light.
Life’s Tiny Surprises by Tara Spears 3.25 stars
Mac is celebrating his 30th birthday alone at his favorite Italian restaurant. Mac won’t be lonely for long, however as twinky waiter Jerrod has quite the crush on him. This is a very sweet story with a definite HEA. Tara Spears is the author of The Darker Side of Trey Grey.
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain by Michael Rupured 2.5 stars
Two men meet in Washington DC and immediately get down and dirty. One looks like Kevin Sorbo with a lot more hair. Not my thing but there is an interesting paranormal twist. Michael Rupured is the author of Happy Independence Day.
Just Breathe by John Genest 3 stars
The Valentine’s Day after losing his boyfriend, Will has to take an overnight CPAP test (study for sleep apnea). His night gets a lot more interesting when his sleep technician, Les, turns out to be the exact type of bear he likes best. Extra credit for making me tear up at one point – also, whoever thought of finding a date during a CPAP test? John Genest also has a story in Tales from the Den: Wild and Weird Stories for Bears.
Barefoot by Lillian Francis 3.5 stars
Finn volunteers at a homeless shelter and has a crush on Sam, who works at the local supermarket where Finn finds cheap food. There’s a major misunderstanding which would’ve been annoying in a longer book, but was pretty cute in a short story. Also nice was the British setting. Lillian Francis is also the author of Lovers Entwined.
Golden Bear by G.P. Keith 3.25 stars
Norm’s roommate's gone, leaving him all alone in a big house when a storm hits Toronto. Things start to look less lonely when Norm meets Hydro worker (and bear cub) Winston, who may not be as straight as Norm thinks. This is a sweet story about body image and the nature of attraction. G.P. Keith is also the author of Out in the Back Woods.
Banyan Court by Samuel Scott Preston 3.75 stars
Dan, a 60 year old professor, returns home to Hawaii for a vacation where he meets Hank, a 30 year old surfing instructor and Iraq War veteran. Can Dan overcome his insecurities to accept Hank’s love? The vulnerabilities of both characters were moving. Samuel Scott Preston also has a story in the anthology Dr. Feelgood.
The Bear at the Bar by J. Scott Coatsworth 3 stars
Dex is everything a gay man is supposed to be – beautiful, built and hairless where it counts. He’s also an arrogant asshole. After nastily turning down a bear at a club, imagine his surprise when he wakes up in a bear’s body the next morning. I liked this story although at least one action after he switched bodies still bothered me. Still, a great start for who I believe is a first time published author. You can find J. Scott Coatsworth on Facebook.
Amped by Zoe X. Rider 4 stars
Toby is 20 years old and not quite out, maybe not even entirely out to himself. He’s drawn to Wolf, a hot sounding and monosyllabic older man who he often sees at punk clubs (is that what you call them? clearly I have no idea what I’m talking about). Not something I’d normally read, there is some drug use, but just so well done. I really enjoyed it. Zoe X. Rider is also the author of Puncture.
The Bear Next Door by Jack Byrne 3 stars
Bryce has a crush on his neighbor, Rob. Just as their new relationship is going well, Bryce sees Rob with another man. Can their relationship survive a Big Misunderstanding? This was a pretty cute story that takes place on a ranch in Australia. Normally the Big Misunderstanding plot point would annoy me, but it’s fine in a short story. Jack Byrne is also the author of The Billabong.
The Bear Fetish by John Amory 3.5 stars
Robert’s a closeted, New York corporate lawyer visiting Albuquerque on business. First in need of food and then in need of a strong drink, he wanders into a club on Bear night. There he meets artist Louis. Can Louis teach Robert to be more open and less guarded? This is a charming story that also deals with Louis’s Zuni background, which I enjoyed. John Amory also has a short story in Please Don't Feed the Alligators.
The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself by Robert B. McDiarmid 3 stars
Bill has recently been dumped for an adorable twink. His friends arrange a trip to Palm Springs in the hope that a good fuck will help his moping/bitterness. There he meets Arthur, who may be of great help in that department. This is a funny story but it’s put together oddly. It starts in the present, jumps back to Bill’s vacation, jumps back to Bill’s roommate, then jumps forward to the vacation. I had to go back to the beginning before deciding that it wasn’t a romance, but a story about Bill getting over a past romance. McDiarmid is also the author of The House of Wolves.
Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale With a Very Hairy Ending by Edmond Manning 4.25 stars
This is a wonderful story and I feel like an idiot trying to sum it up in one sentence. Nevertheless...this is the story of Tyler, a young man in Chicago, pursuing a hot bear with the help of his friend Derrick. There! Now you know. This is my first Edmond Manning read and I will be coming back for more. Manning is also the author of Filthy Acquisitions.
My average score for this book doesn’t quite reach 3.5 stars but I’m defying mathematics and rounding up to 4 stars. Some stories are better than others (naturally), but they’re all enjoyable. And I just love the idea behind this anthology. Listen, I love pretty boys and hot men – I love muscular, hairless bodies with brooding bedroom eyes. But I get tired of seeing it or reading about it over and over and over again. There are all different types of bodies and all different types of men in this book and I enjoy reading about each and every one.
January 30, 2015
Bears, cubs, chubs, polar bears, koala bears: furry; manly; bellies galore.
WOOF!
These stories celebrate men in all shapes and sizes.
Many have a bear paired with a twink (Renae Kaye's Bear Chasing); quite a few have an age gap (Zoe Rider's Amped). Yet others are GFY/OFY (John Amory's The Bear Fetish) or contain paranormal elements (Michael Rupured's The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain).
One is historical and really damn sad, not a romance at all (Christopher Hawthorne Moss' Truck Stop ). Most have little steam or fade to black (John Amory's The Bear Fetish).
For a complete summary of all the stories in this anthology, see Rosa's fabulous review.
Most of the stories in this anthology hovered around ~2.75 to 3.5~ stars for me.
I particularly enjoyed the following (all 4 stars):
Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye
(There was a lot of "woofing" in this one. *giggle* I loved the juxtaposition of shy, geeky twink with burly, outgoing bear. Too cute all around!)
Life's Tiny Surprises by Tara Spears
(Insta love of the best kind; there was a glorious HEA that may have made my eyes water a little bit.)
Barefoot by Lillian Francis
(Sweet in spades with a lovely British setting; both the MCs were such good guys. This one will warm your heart!)
WOOF!
These stories celebrate men in all shapes and sizes.
Many have a bear paired with a twink (Renae Kaye's Bear Chasing); quite a few have an age gap (Zoe Rider's Amped). Yet others are GFY/OFY (John Amory's The Bear Fetish) or contain paranormal elements (Michael Rupured's The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain).
One is historical and really damn sad, not a romance at all (Christopher Hawthorne Moss' Truck Stop ). Most have little steam or fade to black (John Amory's The Bear Fetish).
For a complete summary of all the stories in this anthology, see Rosa's fabulous review.
Most of the stories in this anthology hovered around ~2.75 to 3.5~ stars for me.
I particularly enjoyed the following (all 4 stars):
Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye
(There was a lot of "woofing" in this one. *giggle* I loved the juxtaposition of shy, geeky twink with burly, outgoing bear. Too cute all around!)
Life's Tiny Surprises by Tara Spears
(Insta love of the best kind; there was a glorious HEA that may have made my eyes water a little bit.)
Barefoot by Lillian Francis
(Sweet in spades with a lovely British setting; both the MCs were such good guys. This one will warm your heart!)
July 25, 2017
This anthology of stories is a learning experience ! Any question you've ever had about "bears" and more are here for your learning pleasure. Beautiful bears...regular bears, cubs, Daddys, leather, polar, muscle, panda, black, pocket, ginger, grizzly, etc. Woof.
All of these short stories give us a chance to sample new writers.
Fun. Informative. Sexy.
Truck Stop - Post WWII, Cleve owns a diner and Sully is a stranded trucker, each looking for
comfort on a winter's stormy night.
* Bear Chaser - In Australia, Neil's new neighbors are big, burly, bears who restore race cars.
Skinny, nerdy, Neil is fascinated by his new friends, and Brett really does it for him.
Life's Tiny Surprises - Mac is a big bear, school teacher. On his lonely birthday, he goes to a
restaurant and his tiny waiter hits on him, and has been crushing on him for years.
Bear King of Snowbird Mountain - Jeremy is in town for his landscaping seminar, and meets
Donald, a hunky bear who comes to his room, and Jeremy discovers Don's a werebear.
Just Breathe - On Valentine's night, Will had to take a sleep study test. Our bear may need a CPAP
machine to help him breathe better while asleep. When the sleep tech came in, Les,
a bald, bearded, graying Daddy bear in scrubs, Will is smiling. After the study they
head to the diner for breakfast, then bed at Les's.
* Barefoot - When Finn, a tall, rugby player, Ginger, is always buying discounted food, Sam, the
cute, short, grocery guy thinks he's homeless. In reality, Finn manages the
homeless shelter, and the confusion leads to more.
Golden Bear - This started out so cute, with shy Norm bringing the city worker a mug of
hot cocoa after the destructive storm. They have some meals, etc. and ends abruptly.
Maybe I just missed the intent.
Banyon Court - In Hawaii, teacher Dan, and Hank, a Marine surfing instructor meet. Lots of
historical event descriptions, ceremonial rites, and dance interpretation are the
main focus of this pair. More spiritual in their heritage. I had to look up SO many
words, and there was unusual language, details of history, cultural references
galore. I admit I was lost in it.
The Bear and the Bar - A "freaky Friday" fairy tale. After an altercation at a bar, Dex was
mean to a bear, a chubby guy, Dex wakes up balding, fat, and in a strange house.
Lesson learned.
Amped - Toby, 20, and older bear, Wolf, are hot together. It's a different story,
a BJ in the alley, then a walk, these sexy men go home to Wolf's. * I wanted MORE !
* The Bear Next Door - Older, big, hairy cattleman, Rob, has had visits from neighbor,
Bryce, younger, toned, blonde. Bryce is pursuing him and are moving along
great until there is a misunderstanding, when Rob's long, lost son arrives.
Bryce sees them hug and thinks Rob is cheating. Super great short story,
*my favorite of the set. Cute ! Well written and wonderful.
The Bear Fetish - Tall, mustached, big beefy Louis, meets suit and tie, Robert, who's a closeted
corporate lawyer in town for a merger. Robert wanders into a bar and finds artist,
Louis. They hit it off and go to Louis's place for a memorable night !
* Do-It-Yourself Guide To Getting Over Yourself - Bill, reeling from a break-up, goes to Palm
Springs for July 4th, where he meets a graying bear at the pool, Arthur.
After great conversation they retire for the evening. * another favorite.
* Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale with a very hairy ending - A fairy tale of the Great White Bear hunt.
Tyler the Twink is hunting Mike the construction worker, the coveted
Great White Bear. But Tyler finds out what he really wants is right under
his nose, his best friend. Imaginative, * fun short story !
========================
ENJOY ! All are cute in their own way, these are all short tales of
beginnings. and I learned a lot about "bears" from the terrific Prologue.
================================
All of these short stories give us a chance to sample new writers.
Fun. Informative. Sexy.
Truck Stop - Post WWII, Cleve owns a diner and Sully is a stranded trucker, each looking for
comfort on a winter's stormy night.
* Bear Chaser - In Australia, Neil's new neighbors are big, burly, bears who restore race cars.
Skinny, nerdy, Neil is fascinated by his new friends, and Brett really does it for him.
Life's Tiny Surprises - Mac is a big bear, school teacher. On his lonely birthday, he goes to a
restaurant and his tiny waiter hits on him, and has been crushing on him for years.
Bear King of Snowbird Mountain - Jeremy is in town for his landscaping seminar, and meets
Donald, a hunky bear who comes to his room, and Jeremy discovers Don's a werebear.
Just Breathe - On Valentine's night, Will had to take a sleep study test. Our bear may need a CPAP
machine to help him breathe better while asleep. When the sleep tech came in, Les,
a bald, bearded, graying Daddy bear in scrubs, Will is smiling. After the study they
head to the diner for breakfast, then bed at Les's.
* Barefoot - When Finn, a tall, rugby player, Ginger, is always buying discounted food, Sam, the
cute, short, grocery guy thinks he's homeless. In reality, Finn manages the
homeless shelter, and the confusion leads to more.
Golden Bear - This started out so cute, with shy Norm bringing the city worker a mug of
hot cocoa after the destructive storm. They have some meals, etc. and ends abruptly.
Maybe I just missed the intent.
Banyon Court - In Hawaii, teacher Dan, and Hank, a Marine surfing instructor meet. Lots of
historical event descriptions, ceremonial rites, and dance interpretation are the
main focus of this pair. More spiritual in their heritage. I had to look up SO many
words, and there was unusual language, details of history, cultural references
galore. I admit I was lost in it.
The Bear and the Bar - A "freaky Friday" fairy tale. After an altercation at a bar, Dex was
mean to a bear, a chubby guy, Dex wakes up balding, fat, and in a strange house.
Lesson learned.
Amped - Toby, 20, and older bear, Wolf, are hot together. It's a different story,
a BJ in the alley, then a walk, these sexy men go home to Wolf's. * I wanted MORE !
* The Bear Next Door - Older, big, hairy cattleman, Rob, has had visits from neighbor,
Bryce, younger, toned, blonde. Bryce is pursuing him and are moving along
great until there is a misunderstanding, when Rob's long, lost son arrives.
Bryce sees them hug and thinks Rob is cheating. Super great short story,
*my favorite of the set. Cute ! Well written and wonderful.
The Bear Fetish - Tall, mustached, big beefy Louis, meets suit and tie, Robert, who's a closeted
corporate lawyer in town for a merger. Robert wanders into a bar and finds artist,
Louis. They hit it off and go to Louis's place for a memorable night !
* Do-It-Yourself Guide To Getting Over Yourself - Bill, reeling from a break-up, goes to Palm
Springs for July 4th, where he meets a graying bear at the pool, Arthur.
After great conversation they retire for the evening. * another favorite.
* Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale with a very hairy ending - A fairy tale of the Great White Bear hunt.
Tyler the Twink is hunting Mike the construction worker, the coveted
Great White Bear. But Tyler finds out what he really wants is right under
his nose, his best friend. Imaginative, * fun short story !
========================
ENJOY ! All are cute in their own way, these are all short tales of
beginnings. and I learned a lot about "bears" from the terrific Prologue.
================================
September 16, 2016
There are more than the usual number of male authors in this anthology, so there is more than the usual amount of lovingly-detailed crotch sweat and semen.
Truck Stop by Christopher Hawthorne Moss 2 stars
Grim and kind of dull in a way that screams literary fiction.
Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye 2 stars
Heavy-handed and info-dumpy, like a documentary on the modern Australian bear.
Life’s Tiny Surprises by Tara Spears 3 stars
Sweet like a Hallmark card, although the title doesn't make any sense.
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain by Michael Rupured 3 stars
Automatic 3 star minimum for one character telling a hotel clerk, unprompted, that rinsing with vinegar would make her hair shiny. The story's okay too.
Just Breathe by John Genest 2.5 stars
You can't say a sleep clinic is a clichéd setting, anyway.
Barefoot by Lillian Francis 3 stars
A series of rom-com misunderstandings that stretch credulity too far, but still a good-natured, lefty-pinko romance.
Golden Bear by G.P. Keith 2 stars
Again, somewhat heavy-handed, but nice enough.
Banyan Court by Samuel Scott Preston 1 star
Academic discourses into roman history, kabuki theatre, and anthropology by way of dance. Tiresome beyond belief. And then that mithril simile which I'm still getting over.
The Bear at the Bar by J. Scott Coatsworth 1 star
Oh wow. I shared a couple of quotes from this story with some friends and nearly lost one of them to apoplexy. It's a Freaky Friday deal where a selfish but beautiful asshole switches bodies with a kindly bear (Through Methods) and learns A Lesson.
Amped by Zoe X. Rider 2 stars
Made me feel all middle-aged and suburban and judgemental. I'm okay with that.
The Bear Next Door by Jack Byrne 1 star
Dumb. Misunderstandings and people being stupid all over the place.
The Bear Fetish by John Amory 2 stars?
I don't know. It was fine, but kind of remote.
The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself by Robert B. McDiarmid 3 stars
This story is, as George Costanza would say "extraordinarily gay...steeped in gayness". If it were any gayer its name would be Gay Gayerson. Women writing M/M never approach this degree of gayitude. It's refreshing, honestly, but is it good?
Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale With a Very Hairy Ending by Edmond Manning 4 stars
Far and away the best of the bunch. Funny and wise.
Truck Stop by Christopher Hawthorne Moss 2 stars
Grim and kind of dull in a way that screams literary fiction.
Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye 2 stars
Heavy-handed and info-dumpy, like a documentary on the modern Australian bear.
Life’s Tiny Surprises by Tara Spears 3 stars
Sweet like a Hallmark card, although the title doesn't make any sense.
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain by Michael Rupured 3 stars
Automatic 3 star minimum for one character telling a hotel clerk, unprompted, that rinsing with vinegar would make her hair shiny. The story's okay too.
Just Breathe by John Genest 2.5 stars
You can't say a sleep clinic is a clichéd setting, anyway.
Barefoot by Lillian Francis 3 stars
A series of rom-com misunderstandings that stretch credulity too far, but still a good-natured, lefty-pinko romance.
Golden Bear by G.P. Keith 2 stars
Again, somewhat heavy-handed, but nice enough.
Banyan Court by Samuel Scott Preston 1 star
Academic discourses into roman history, kabuki theatre, and anthropology by way of dance. Tiresome beyond belief. And then that mithril simile which I'm still getting over.
The Bear at the Bar by J. Scott Coatsworth 1 star
Oh wow. I shared a couple of quotes from this story with some friends and nearly lost one of them to apoplexy. It's a Freaky Friday deal where a selfish but beautiful asshole switches bodies with a kindly bear (Through Methods) and learns A Lesson.
Amped by Zoe X. Rider 2 stars
Made me feel all middle-aged and suburban and judgemental. I'm okay with that.
The Bear Next Door by Jack Byrne 1 star
Dumb. Misunderstandings and people being stupid all over the place.
The Bear Fetish by John Amory 2 stars?
I don't know. It was fine, but kind of remote.
The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself by Robert B. McDiarmid 3 stars
This story is, as George Costanza would say "extraordinarily gay...steeped in gayness". If it were any gayer its name would be Gay Gayerson. Women writing M/M never approach this degree of gayitude. It's refreshing, honestly, but is it good?
Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale With a Very Hairy Ending by Edmond Manning 4 stars
Far and away the best of the bunch. Funny and wise.
Want to read
July 27, 2019It's taking me awhile but I'm finally working my way through this one (or at least I'm trying). I'll just tic them off as I go... a work in progress.
4 Stars: Edmond Manning's
Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale with a very hairy ending - A fairy tale of the Great White Bear hunt.
Very cleverly written and it's got Manning's style all over it. I laughed and smiled the whole way through.
4 Stars: Edmond Manning's
Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale with a very hairy ending - A fairy tale of the Great White Bear hunt.
Very cleverly written and it's got Manning's style all over it. I laughed and smiled the whole way through.
December 7, 2014
Solid four stars. Recommended for those tired of the svelte, hairless, twink reads. This is about gay MEN.
October 2, 2014
So Just What is a Bear – BG Thomas
This is a very sincere prologue with a touching personal story that really sets the tone for this anthology. The basic theme about this entire, delightful book, is body acceptance, loving who you want, being who you are, and stop fighting against what “should/could be” and accept what is.
Truck Stop by Hawthorn Moss
A 1949 love story about a man who runs a truck stop, finding love with a guy who really never would have identified as gay if it hadn’t been for a freak snow-storm and the right man to show him how wrong sterotypes could be. Very sweet.
Bear Chasing – Renae Kaye
A full story involving a small gay “chaser” who didn’t know that’s who he was. When some Bears move in next door it’s instant attraction that leads to something very sweet and tender. There’s even some pretty hot sex, too! Excellent and a full story using a minimum of words.
Life’s Tiny Surprises – Tara Spears
A big brute of a man thinks life for him is to be solitary when along comes a former student, now fully grown, but still quite tiny, with a big heart. The two hit it off and it seems as though love will surely follow.
The Bear Kin of Snowbird Mountain – Michael Rupured
A funny modern fairy tale of a man/bear descended from ancients who finds his true love on the streets of DC. Another full story with an epilogue and all.
Just Breathe- John Genest
A sad, essentially widowed man goes in for a sleep test in order to qualify for a life saving CPAP device. There he meets someone who can appreciate him for who he is and really understands where he’s coming from.
Barefoot – Lillan Francis
A misunderstanding between a scruffy looking man who works at a shelter and the manager of the local supermarket almost halts a budding romance, but when the two figure things out, more than love happens and a compassionate set of hearts is truly rewarded.
Golden Bear – GP Keith
A sweet IT guy offers a cup of cocoa to a city-worker during an ice storm and the two start a relationship that looks like it could definitely last a lifetime.
Banyan Court - Samuel Scott Preston
An aging Classics Professor travels to his homeland of Hawaii and dares to learn surfing for the first time at 60. His surf master turns out to be an old soul in a younger body and the very, very moving story that follows will have you crying and sighing.
The Bear at the Bar – J. Scott Coatsworth
Another story that uses a few words to create a full and rounded story about a vain “gym bunny” who ends up realizing that there is more to life than just how you look. A distinct nod to “Freaky Fiday” with a grown-up, gay twist.
Amped- Zoe X Rider
A short story about a night at a concert where a big ole bear and a newly minted gay boy find that they might have more in common than they thought.
The Bear Next Door – Jack Byrne
A sweet youngish rancher falls for the hard-headed older bear next door. A few misunderstandings keep them apart, but when the two finally clear the air, a sweet love remains. Another full story written is few words.
The Bear Fetish- John Amory
Fetish in this sense is an artifact, not a kink. Robert meets Luis in a gay bar on a business trip to New Mexico. Luis shows Robert how to lighten up and get in touch with his true self and the two show hints at maybe something more than a one night stand.
The Do-it-yourself guide to getting over yourself – Robert B. McDiamid
When a terrible break up makes your friends send you on vacation to “get over yourself” what do you do? Well, you read a self-help book to do just that. The book and the man catch the eye of a coveted bear at the same resort and the two find common ground that could lead to something more permanent.
Hunting Bear: A fairy tale with a very hairy ending- Edmond Manning
A funny story written in the style of a fairy tale about a twink named Tyler who falls for the unattainable Bear, dubbed “The Great White Bear” because no one ever seems to catch his attentions. With the help of his amazing best friend Derrick, Tyler manages to snare a date with the Great White Bear only to realize that maybe, it was someone else he really wanted to be dating all along. This is another full story that manages to incorporate an epilogue.
All of these stories, all of them is 6 out of 5. Some of them are little more than snippets in the life of their characters, others are fully formed stories that tell a complete tale, but all of them are deeply touching.
As a woman, I am used to male characters mostly being pretty self-confident and not overly body conscious. However, these stories show a painfully different story. These are guys who – especially in the stereotypical world of gay love – don’t fit in. They are big, hairy, ungainly, and not at all what you think of when you think “gay man”. Unless… you know about bears. Then, they fit right in. And what a wonderful world to have available to you! These guys let it all hang out and are proud to be who they are, and offer no apologies for their looks. In fact they revel in it. How liberating!
I was deeply touched by the pain in so many of these stories, it really drives home the point that in our world so much of our self-esteem is wrapped up in our vision of what constitutes “physical perfection” and just how damaging that is.
I loved everyone of these stories and will warn you ahead of time that many will bring tears if not outright bawling.
I highly recommend this book and give it 6 of 5 hearts.
July 10, 2017
Truck Stop - 2 stars
Bear Chasing - 5 stars
Life's Tiny Surprises - 3 stars
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain - DNF (The MC got on my nerves totally and then the first meeting, unbelievable, and that was just enough)
Just Breathe - DNF (The whole set-up has nothing romantic and both MCs are not attractive)
Barefoot - 4 stars
Golden Bear - 2 stars
Banyan Court - 2 stars
The Bear at the Bar - DNF
Amped - 2 stars
The Bear Next Door - 2 stars (it was a good read until the big misunderstanding, then it got stupid)
The Bear Fetish - 3 stars
The Do-It-Yourself Guide... - 2 stars
Hunting Bear: A ... - 4 stars
2,5 stars overall
Bear Chasing - 5 stars
Life's Tiny Surprises - 3 stars
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain - DNF (The MC got on my nerves totally and then the first meeting, unbelievable, and that was just enough)
Just Breathe - DNF (The whole set-up has nothing romantic and both MCs are not attractive)
Barefoot - 4 stars
Golden Bear - 2 stars
Banyan Court - 2 stars
The Bear at the Bar - DNF
Amped - 2 stars
The Bear Next Door - 2 stars (it was a good read until the big misunderstanding, then it got stupid)
The Bear Fetish - 3 stars
The Do-It-Yourself Guide... - 2 stars
Hunting Bear: A ... - 4 stars
2,5 stars overall
Read
March 30, 2015Oh look, I've got a story in this anthology :)
My contribution is titled Barefoot.
Started reading 19th Aug.
Loved BG Thomas' intro. Made me laugh and made me think.
My favourites:
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain
Golden Bear
My contribution is titled Barefoot.
Started reading 19th Aug.
Loved BG Thomas' intro. Made me laugh and made me think.
My favourites:
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain
Golden Bear
August 19, 2014
As happens with anthologies, this was hit or miss. I had several that I really liked, and others that I skimmed. Overall, this was pretty good. It was nice to have some bear loving going on.
September 13, 2014
Note: This book was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.
Truck Stop by Christopher Hawthorne Moss
This one was an odd little story about two guys stranded in a diner in a snowstorm in the 1940’s or early 50’s. It honestly didn’t seem like a romance until the last page and it wasn’t a particularly engaging story.
Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye
A very nice story about Neil, a young geek living with his sister to help her care for her twins and infant. He spies three hot bears moving in across the street, and one of them immediately catches his eye so he increases the time he spends looking out his window, watching these bears work on their cars. When he finally meets Brett, the bear he dreams of the most, he’s everything he’s hoped for, and for some reason, Brett actually thinks Neil’s cute! After they go to a “bear” party, Neil’s eyes are opened to the desirability of bears, and he realizes he wants to keep his bear long term. It’s a pleasant surprise when he finds out the feeling is mutual. I really liked this one, and I appreciated the potential HEA for the MCs.
Life’s Tiny Surprises by Tara Spears
A cute story about Jerrod, a little twink who’s waiting tables in a restaurant when the man he’s crushed on for seven years shows up for dinner. Mac is celebrating his thirtieth birthday, alone as usual. He’s a big ol’ bear, too big to attract any hot guys so he’s given up on it. When Jarrod makes a pass at him, he can’t believe it at first, but later, shortly after they get to his apartment all his birthday wishes come true. The author leaps ahead to two weeks, two months, two years and then twenty years. It’s a great way to wrap us up in a HEA. Very well done.
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain by Michael Rupered
What happens when you meet a bear in downtown DC? A bear who is the perfect male specimen and seems to be waiting there just for you? Well, you give in, of course. In this story, Jeremy meets Donald and enjoys his time with him but finds it strange that Donald seems to be so determined that he’s destined for him. When pressed, Donald breaks down and explains that he’s actually a bear during the full moon and that he’s descended from the Bear King. He would have been king himself, but chose to fulfill the destiny foretold by his grandmother in which he would meet Jeremy, his lifemate. This is a cute short story in which Jeremy is proved wrong in his belief that Donald is just making up the story, and comes to accept the fact that he really does need Donald in his life. There’s a lot of story here, packed in a few pages. Very well done.
Just Breathe by John Genest
This one is a sweet story about a chubby who goes for sleep apnea testing and finds out his technician is a bear who loves chubbies. Romance could be on the horizon if he lets himself believe he’s loveable enough, and if he can get over his recent lover’s death. Too short to be fulfilling, yet it was well-written and would be a great beginning to a novella.
Barefoot by Lillian Francis
I liked this short story about a guy who works in a homeless shelter but is mistaken as a homeless man by Sam, the cute guy at the local supermarket. Eventually, through a series of misunderstandings, Sam shows up to volunteer at the shelter and the two end up together, in more than just the job. There’s a lot of story in a few pages in this one too. Very well done.
Golden Bear by G.P. Keith
Norm is stranded in a blackout but invites the bear he meets that day, a power company worker, to keep him company once the two have had some time to talk and get to know each other a bit. Winston has the most beautiful smile, with his gorgeous golden-hair reflecting the sunlight, that he impresses Norm right away. And when Norm realizes he’s both chubby and golden, his only regret is that Winston is straight. At least he thinks he is— until the night he finds out that Winston is bi and the attraction between the two is mutual. These guys are HFN as the story ends with the chance of a HEA in their future. Very nice story.
Banyan Court by Samuel Scott Preston
This one is a very complex story involving Japanese folk culture and the start of a romance during a visit to Hawaii. There to celebrate his sixtieth birthday, Dan Kumagai meets Hank when he is given the gift of surfing lessons by his nephew. Hank is about thirty years old and very attractive to Dan, despite the age gap. The men explore their interests and Dan thinks Hank may be attracted to him but a misunderstanding separates them before they even have a chance to find out. Months later, Hank seeks out Dan back on the mainland and the two finally begin to allow their attraction to develop. They ultimately have a nice HEA, wrapped up in a short epilogue. This story was very detailed and complex, and I was lost trying to follow the comparisons of real time to folklore for a while, however I appreciate the depth of detail and ultimately enjoyed it very much.
The Bear at the Bar by J. Scott Coatsworth
Dex is a hot guy with a healthy ego, who shows disdain for bears, until he suddenly finds himself in a bear’s body. It seems Colin, the bear he put down at the bar last night somehow pulled a Freaky Friday switch on him, and he is now occupying Colin’s life—and his body— his fat, hairy body! Dex/Colin seeks help from his former boyfriend, a guy who still cares about him, despite his annoying ego. There’s a sweet HEA as he comes to terms with what’s important in life. One of the better stories in the book.
Amped by Zoe X. Rider
This is a very short story about two guys, Toby and Wolf, attending a heavy metal club to hear bands perform live. After a quick hand job outside behind the bar, Wolf, the object of Toby’s desire, invites him back to his house for further action. To be honest, I felt the story was too short and there was too little dialogue between them to get engaged in the characters at all. This one was disappointing.
The Bear Next Door by Jack Byrne
Rob and Bryce have neighboring ranches and Bryce, young and golden, thinks Rob, an older, big, hairy bear, is hot. When the two finally get together, it’s smooth sailing until Bryce spots Rob hugging another young man in his driveway. A series of misunderstandings ensues, and the two need some help from family to finally get their heads and hearts to match. I liked this one more than most of the others. The characters were engaging and the story had great potential for developing a full novel.
The Bear Fetish by John Amory
Louis and Robert meet when Robert arrives in Albuquerque on business. Robert’s an uptight corporate lawyer, and at first doesn’t want anything to do with Louis, but Louis’s friendly manner and free spirit eventually capture him and the two spend the night together. This short ends with a HFN and the promise of a very interesting story for these two men. I’d love to read a full novel about their journey to happiness. Very well written with engaging characters.
The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself by Robert B. McDiarmid
Bill is recovering from being dumped by the man he moved to San Francisco for and has taken the advice of friends to have a mini vacation in Palm Springs in the off-season. Hanging out at the pool, he spots a bear wearing a bathing suit with “pisspig” in big block letters across the front. Besides having fun watching everyone flirt with the guy, he’s reading a self-help book called The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself. Pisspig, aka Arthur, tells Bill how much that book helped him and invites Bill to dinner. As the two get to know each other, it’s evident that Bill may have found someone worth keeping this time. The story ends with a potential for a future for the couple. I liked this author’s style. It was an easy story to read and the characters were engaging.
Hunting Bear: A Fairytale With a Very Hairy Ending by Edmond Manning
Told in a modern fairytale style, this is the story of Tyler, a twink, and his best friend Derrick, a bear. Tyler has the hots for the guy he refers to as the Great White Bear and has found a way to meet him and ask him out. Derrick, who was once Tyler’s boyfriend and lover, at least for one night, tags along for moral support. Unfortunately, Tyler isn’t successful and is, in fact, humiliated, but Derrick remains supportive, and the next day Tyler finds out just how much Derrick cares for him. Since all good fairytales have a happy ending, Tyler does find his true love, just not where he originally looked. This one has some very nice characters, including a host of secondary characters, but the storytelling wasn’t in a style that appealed to me.
Summary:
Overall, I enjoyed most of the stories, some much more than others. If the purpose of the book was to instill in readers a new appreciation for bears, the authors have done their job. I really wish there was a bear in my life right now! I recommend it to those readers who enjoy short stories and want to expand their reading horizons. There’s everything in here from angst to humor, and will be well worth the purchase.
Truck Stop by Christopher Hawthorne Moss
This one was an odd little story about two guys stranded in a diner in a snowstorm in the 1940’s or early 50’s. It honestly didn’t seem like a romance until the last page and it wasn’t a particularly engaging story.
Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye
A very nice story about Neil, a young geek living with his sister to help her care for her twins and infant. He spies three hot bears moving in across the street, and one of them immediately catches his eye so he increases the time he spends looking out his window, watching these bears work on their cars. When he finally meets Brett, the bear he dreams of the most, he’s everything he’s hoped for, and for some reason, Brett actually thinks Neil’s cute! After they go to a “bear” party, Neil’s eyes are opened to the desirability of bears, and he realizes he wants to keep his bear long term. It’s a pleasant surprise when he finds out the feeling is mutual. I really liked this one, and I appreciated the potential HEA for the MCs.
Life’s Tiny Surprises by Tara Spears
A cute story about Jerrod, a little twink who’s waiting tables in a restaurant when the man he’s crushed on for seven years shows up for dinner. Mac is celebrating his thirtieth birthday, alone as usual. He’s a big ol’ bear, too big to attract any hot guys so he’s given up on it. When Jarrod makes a pass at him, he can’t believe it at first, but later, shortly after they get to his apartment all his birthday wishes come true. The author leaps ahead to two weeks, two months, two years and then twenty years. It’s a great way to wrap us up in a HEA. Very well done.
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain by Michael Rupered
What happens when you meet a bear in downtown DC? A bear who is the perfect male specimen and seems to be waiting there just for you? Well, you give in, of course. In this story, Jeremy meets Donald and enjoys his time with him but finds it strange that Donald seems to be so determined that he’s destined for him. When pressed, Donald breaks down and explains that he’s actually a bear during the full moon and that he’s descended from the Bear King. He would have been king himself, but chose to fulfill the destiny foretold by his grandmother in which he would meet Jeremy, his lifemate. This is a cute short story in which Jeremy is proved wrong in his belief that Donald is just making up the story, and comes to accept the fact that he really does need Donald in his life. There’s a lot of story here, packed in a few pages. Very well done.
Just Breathe by John Genest
This one is a sweet story about a chubby who goes for sleep apnea testing and finds out his technician is a bear who loves chubbies. Romance could be on the horizon if he lets himself believe he’s loveable enough, and if he can get over his recent lover’s death. Too short to be fulfilling, yet it was well-written and would be a great beginning to a novella.
Barefoot by Lillian Francis
I liked this short story about a guy who works in a homeless shelter but is mistaken as a homeless man by Sam, the cute guy at the local supermarket. Eventually, through a series of misunderstandings, Sam shows up to volunteer at the shelter and the two end up together, in more than just the job. There’s a lot of story in a few pages in this one too. Very well done.
Golden Bear by G.P. Keith
Norm is stranded in a blackout but invites the bear he meets that day, a power company worker, to keep him company once the two have had some time to talk and get to know each other a bit. Winston has the most beautiful smile, with his gorgeous golden-hair reflecting the sunlight, that he impresses Norm right away. And when Norm realizes he’s both chubby and golden, his only regret is that Winston is straight. At least he thinks he is— until the night he finds out that Winston is bi and the attraction between the two is mutual. These guys are HFN as the story ends with the chance of a HEA in their future. Very nice story.
Banyan Court by Samuel Scott Preston
This one is a very complex story involving Japanese folk culture and the start of a romance during a visit to Hawaii. There to celebrate his sixtieth birthday, Dan Kumagai meets Hank when he is given the gift of surfing lessons by his nephew. Hank is about thirty years old and very attractive to Dan, despite the age gap. The men explore their interests and Dan thinks Hank may be attracted to him but a misunderstanding separates them before they even have a chance to find out. Months later, Hank seeks out Dan back on the mainland and the two finally begin to allow their attraction to develop. They ultimately have a nice HEA, wrapped up in a short epilogue. This story was very detailed and complex, and I was lost trying to follow the comparisons of real time to folklore for a while, however I appreciate the depth of detail and ultimately enjoyed it very much.
The Bear at the Bar by J. Scott Coatsworth
Dex is a hot guy with a healthy ego, who shows disdain for bears, until he suddenly finds himself in a bear’s body. It seems Colin, the bear he put down at the bar last night somehow pulled a Freaky Friday switch on him, and he is now occupying Colin’s life—and his body— his fat, hairy body! Dex/Colin seeks help from his former boyfriend, a guy who still cares about him, despite his annoying ego. There’s a sweet HEA as he comes to terms with what’s important in life. One of the better stories in the book.
Amped by Zoe X. Rider
This is a very short story about two guys, Toby and Wolf, attending a heavy metal club to hear bands perform live. After a quick hand job outside behind the bar, Wolf, the object of Toby’s desire, invites him back to his house for further action. To be honest, I felt the story was too short and there was too little dialogue between them to get engaged in the characters at all. This one was disappointing.
The Bear Next Door by Jack Byrne
Rob and Bryce have neighboring ranches and Bryce, young and golden, thinks Rob, an older, big, hairy bear, is hot. When the two finally get together, it’s smooth sailing until Bryce spots Rob hugging another young man in his driveway. A series of misunderstandings ensues, and the two need some help from family to finally get their heads and hearts to match. I liked this one more than most of the others. The characters were engaging and the story had great potential for developing a full novel.
The Bear Fetish by John Amory
Louis and Robert meet when Robert arrives in Albuquerque on business. Robert’s an uptight corporate lawyer, and at first doesn’t want anything to do with Louis, but Louis’s friendly manner and free spirit eventually capture him and the two spend the night together. This short ends with a HFN and the promise of a very interesting story for these two men. I’d love to read a full novel about their journey to happiness. Very well written with engaging characters.
The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself by Robert B. McDiarmid
Bill is recovering from being dumped by the man he moved to San Francisco for and has taken the advice of friends to have a mini vacation in Palm Springs in the off-season. Hanging out at the pool, he spots a bear wearing a bathing suit with “pisspig” in big block letters across the front. Besides having fun watching everyone flirt with the guy, he’s reading a self-help book called The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself. Pisspig, aka Arthur, tells Bill how much that book helped him and invites Bill to dinner. As the two get to know each other, it’s evident that Bill may have found someone worth keeping this time. The story ends with a potential for a future for the couple. I liked this author’s style. It was an easy story to read and the characters were engaging.
Hunting Bear: A Fairytale With a Very Hairy Ending by Edmond Manning
Told in a modern fairytale style, this is the story of Tyler, a twink, and his best friend Derrick, a bear. Tyler has the hots for the guy he refers to as the Great White Bear and has found a way to meet him and ask him out. Derrick, who was once Tyler’s boyfriend and lover, at least for one night, tags along for moral support. Unfortunately, Tyler isn’t successful and is, in fact, humiliated, but Derrick remains supportive, and the next day Tyler finds out just how much Derrick cares for him. Since all good fairytales have a happy ending, Tyler does find his true love, just not where he originally looked. This one has some very nice characters, including a host of secondary characters, but the storytelling wasn’t in a style that appealed to me.
Summary:
Overall, I enjoyed most of the stories, some much more than others. If the purpose of the book was to instill in readers a new appreciation for bears, the authors have done their job. I really wish there was a bear in my life right now! I recommend it to those readers who enjoy short stories and want to expand their reading horizons. There’s everything in here from angst to humor, and will be well worth the purchase.
May 4, 2016
I tend to stay away from reviewing anthologies, mainly because they take so damn long to get thru. But I’m also a sucker for anything that I don’t see a lot of in this genre, and when I saw that this anthology, full of bears and the guys that love ‘em, I couldn’t pass it up. And let’s face it, that cover is freaking hot. I’m pretty sure it could get me to do a whole host of things I wouldn’t normally even think of.
Underneath the cover, however, is something I didn’t expect. Good, funny, heartfelt–-and probably a touch odd at times–-stories. I am in the habit of expecting very little from anthologies, especially ones that don’t have a lot of authors that I know and love. I think it might be a defense mechanism. If you don’t expect a lot, then when it comes crashing down in whirlwind of overused clichés and choppy writing…well then you can’t really be all that disappointed. But it also means that sometimes you get blown away. Sometimes stories sweep you off your feet in the most unexpected ways. Sometimes you find yourself falling quite a bit in love with something you didn’t think would move you in the slightest.
And that is pretty much what happened here.
Yes, there are some stories I liked more than others. Some stories that made me want to shake the MC and beg him to run away from the crazy dude who thinks he’s a bear-shifter. But on the whole this was a really enjoyable read. And while I fully expected to love the couple of authors in here that I knew, it was the ones that I have never heard of, or never liked before, that blew me away.
So, because I don’t really want to write a review for all fourteen stories (because I don’t want to spend all day writing this and not making blueberry muffins like I intend to), I picked out three stories that surprised me in some way, to share with you. But there are so many more stories in this anthology that I loved, so I really do think that you should read them all. Even the one with the nut-case bear-shifter.
(Oh, and I would just add real quick: Don’t skip the intro to this anthology. It was very interesting and will probably give you enough background info-–if you know nothing about the bear culture–-to set you up for some of the stories in the book. Plus I just really liked it, and if I liked it, that is something pretty good.)
“Amped” by Zoe X. Rider (4 stars)
At the ripe ol age of 20.95 years old, Toby is bit pissed at the world–-especially the parts that won’t sell him a fucking beer. At a concert to see Firesiren, a band he likes, he runs into Wolf…who is a bit of an enigma. A hot, round, hairy enigma. With the warm-up bands sucking (and clearly not in any way that is good) Toby decides to take his chances with Wolf. And hey, if nothing else, maybe he can get the dude to buy him that fucking beer.
This story was a bit grittier than the kind I normally go for. Drugs, sex, loud music that probably makes no sense at all but everyone will love anyways…this is so not my scene. But there was something about all that grit that made it mesmerizing. While I don’t really care for getting high on speed, drinking piddling beer out of plastic cups and then giving some head in the alley next to the tour bus…Toby and Wolf clearly do. And that makes it worth reading. It might not be something I get really, but it was something I enjoyed reading.
“Golden Bear” by G.P. Keith (5 stars)
A snowstorm has come into town, his friend has gone out of town, and Norm is stuck in their house all on his lonesome. That is until last night’s storm brought part of a tree down on the shed out back (killing Norm’s internet) and Winston comes to help fix his wood problem. Winston may not be what Norm normally craves in a man, but Bear might just be his new flavor.
Yeah, this was my favorite story in the anthology. There is nothing overtly spectacular about this short story, but I just found myself loving it anyways. The way that Norm finds himself falling for Winston-–even though he has never found bears to be what he finds attractive, before-–is just perfect. The way he oscillates between seeing Winston as hot, and finding himself disappointed when he sees his flaws, just feels so real. It wasn’t a perfect romance between them. No one swooned and pledged eternal devotion at first sight…but it was a thousand times better than that could ever be. The two guys just fit each other, even if it took them a bit to realize how much.
And, my god, that blowjob was freaking hot. Just the way Norm reacted to Winston and his body just blew me away.
“Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale With a Very Happy Ending” by Edmond Manning (4.5 stars)
Tyler may have only seen his perfect bear once in a piano bar, but he is convinced the man is ‘it.’ And if he is going to need to hunt that bear down and make him see that Tyler is perfect for him too, well that is no problem at all. With a little help from his old friend, Derrick, and his new friends, the three coffee bears, Tyler is sure to capture, win, and keep his Great White Bear. Little does Tyler know the path to true love has more twists and turns than twizzler caught in a merry-go-round.
I am, it must be admitted, not a big fan of Edmond Manning’s stories. There is nothing wrong with them, they just don’t click with me the way other authors’ stories do. So color me surprised when I found myself absolutely in love with this story. I had a hard time getting into it, at first. The whole ‘fairytale’ talk was a bit grating, but as the story progressed, that stopped mattering. Because it is a really good story. Just when I think it is going one way, it turns and takes a different path, the right path, and blows me away. I love that. Because I didn’t see it coming. Because it made me freaking cry. Because, when it comes down to it, surprising me is all I really ask of a story but so rarely get. And this one surprised me. A lot.
Overall, this was a really good anthology. A lot of the stories were fun to read, and even the few that sat at middling, were interesting in some way. When I did the whole math thing to find out the average star rating for this book it landed somewhere around 3.8, but I am going to round up just because of that cover. Which I still love. I enjoyed reading this, and I hope you do to.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Underneath the cover, however, is something I didn’t expect. Good, funny, heartfelt–-and probably a touch odd at times–-stories. I am in the habit of expecting very little from anthologies, especially ones that don’t have a lot of authors that I know and love. I think it might be a defense mechanism. If you don’t expect a lot, then when it comes crashing down in whirlwind of overused clichés and choppy writing…well then you can’t really be all that disappointed. But it also means that sometimes you get blown away. Sometimes stories sweep you off your feet in the most unexpected ways. Sometimes you find yourself falling quite a bit in love with something you didn’t think would move you in the slightest.
And that is pretty much what happened here.
Yes, there are some stories I liked more than others. Some stories that made me want to shake the MC and beg him to run away from the crazy dude who thinks he’s a bear-shifter. But on the whole this was a really enjoyable read. And while I fully expected to love the couple of authors in here that I knew, it was the ones that I have never heard of, or never liked before, that blew me away.
So, because I don’t really want to write a review for all fourteen stories (because I don’t want to spend all day writing this and not making blueberry muffins like I intend to), I picked out three stories that surprised me in some way, to share with you. But there are so many more stories in this anthology that I loved, so I really do think that you should read them all. Even the one with the nut-case bear-shifter.
(Oh, and I would just add real quick: Don’t skip the intro to this anthology. It was very interesting and will probably give you enough background info-–if you know nothing about the bear culture–-to set you up for some of the stories in the book. Plus I just really liked it, and if I liked it, that is something pretty good.)
“Amped” by Zoe X. Rider (4 stars)
At the ripe ol age of 20.95 years old, Toby is bit pissed at the world–-especially the parts that won’t sell him a fucking beer. At a concert to see Firesiren, a band he likes, he runs into Wolf…who is a bit of an enigma. A hot, round, hairy enigma. With the warm-up bands sucking (and clearly not in any way that is good) Toby decides to take his chances with Wolf. And hey, if nothing else, maybe he can get the dude to buy him that fucking beer.
This story was a bit grittier than the kind I normally go for. Drugs, sex, loud music that probably makes no sense at all but everyone will love anyways…this is so not my scene. But there was something about all that grit that made it mesmerizing. While I don’t really care for getting high on speed, drinking piddling beer out of plastic cups and then giving some head in the alley next to the tour bus…Toby and Wolf clearly do. And that makes it worth reading. It might not be something I get really, but it was something I enjoyed reading.
“Golden Bear” by G.P. Keith (5 stars)
A snowstorm has come into town, his friend has gone out of town, and Norm is stuck in their house all on his lonesome. That is until last night’s storm brought part of a tree down on the shed out back (killing Norm’s internet) and Winston comes to help fix his wood problem. Winston may not be what Norm normally craves in a man, but Bear might just be his new flavor.
Yeah, this was my favorite story in the anthology. There is nothing overtly spectacular about this short story, but I just found myself loving it anyways. The way that Norm finds himself falling for Winston-–even though he has never found bears to be what he finds attractive, before-–is just perfect. The way he oscillates between seeing Winston as hot, and finding himself disappointed when he sees his flaws, just feels so real. It wasn’t a perfect romance between them. No one swooned and pledged eternal devotion at first sight…but it was a thousand times better than that could ever be. The two guys just fit each other, even if it took them a bit to realize how much.
And, my god, that blowjob was freaking hot. Just the way Norm reacted to Winston and his body just blew me away.
“Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale With a Very Happy Ending” by Edmond Manning (4.5 stars)
Tyler may have only seen his perfect bear once in a piano bar, but he is convinced the man is ‘it.’ And if he is going to need to hunt that bear down and make him see that Tyler is perfect for him too, well that is no problem at all. With a little help from his old friend, Derrick, and his new friends, the three coffee bears, Tyler is sure to capture, win, and keep his Great White Bear. Little does Tyler know the path to true love has more twists and turns than twizzler caught in a merry-go-round.
I am, it must be admitted, not a big fan of Edmond Manning’s stories. There is nothing wrong with them, they just don’t click with me the way other authors’ stories do. So color me surprised when I found myself absolutely in love with this story. I had a hard time getting into it, at first. The whole ‘fairytale’ talk was a bit grating, but as the story progressed, that stopped mattering. Because it is a really good story. Just when I think it is going one way, it turns and takes a different path, the right path, and blows me away. I love that. Because I didn’t see it coming. Because it made me freaking cry. Because, when it comes down to it, surprising me is all I really ask of a story but so rarely get. And this one surprised me. A lot.
Overall, this was a really good anthology. A lot of the stories were fun to read, and even the few that sat at middling, were interesting in some way. When I did the whole math thing to find out the average star rating for this book it landed somewhere around 3.8, but I am going to round up just because of that cover. Which I still love. I enjoyed reading this, and I hope you do to.
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August 21, 2014
one of the best, well rounded anthologies i've read in some time. i enjoyed every story, and i'd have loved for all of these to be whole stand alone novels.
Truck Stop: 3.5*
Bear Chasing: 4*
Life's Tiny Surprises: 4*
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain: 4*
Just Breathe: 3.5*
Barefoot: 4.5*
Golden Bear: 4
Banyan Court: 5* (this story made me cry!)
The Bear at the Bar: 3.5*
Amped: 3.5*
The Bear Next Door: 4*
The Bear Fetish: 3.5*
The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself: 4*
Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale With a Very Hairy Ending: 5*
Truck Stop: 3.5*
Bear Chasing: 4*
Life's Tiny Surprises: 4*
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain: 4*
Just Breathe: 3.5*
Barefoot: 4.5*
Golden Bear: 4
Banyan Court: 5* (this story made me cry!)
The Bear at the Bar: 3.5*
Amped: 3.5*
The Bear Next Door: 4*
The Bear Fetish: 3.5*
The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself: 4*
Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale With a Very Hairy Ending: 5*
Want to read
July 31, 2014*grin* From not a short story writer to probably having the shortest story in here! Too funny, and so happy!
November 5, 2016
I had two chief worries when buying this book: (1) It would be mindless smut of which can be obtained for free on the internet with potentially greater quality and (2) It would feature what I would call cliche stories featuring one bear/chub men (usually with low self esteem) getting together with a conventually handsome man.
The forward gave me some hope that it would not fall victim to my worries, alas I was a fool for even there there were signs.
Now this book is not mindless smut, while it has some explicit content it is not present in every story and when it is it is not the central focus.
In hindsight I would have preferred mindless smut if it avoided the pitfall of "Worry 2" which was pretty much this entire collection. There was one story were two bearish guys were the focus of the story (a Daddyish Polar Bear and a Chubby Cub to be exact) and one other were I could argue that one of them was not "conveniently" attractive [although the story did stress how skinny he was(either way it was a good story and I loved the nebulous ending)]. I understand that everyone is entitled to their personal preferences but it is slightly disheartening that the majority of these stories deal with those under the bear spectrum falling for conventually attractive men which seems counter to the whole bear-community not caring about image and embracing natural masculinity.
There is also one story that I could not make any sense of which I would attribute to it being a translation (I think). It did not help that it suffered from "Worry 2."
I would not recommend this book as it turned out to be a mammoth disappointment, but I can see and respect why somebody else might enjoy them.
The forward gave me some hope that it would not fall victim to my worries, alas I was a fool for even there there were signs.
Now this book is not mindless smut, while it has some explicit content it is not present in every story and when it is it is not the central focus.
In hindsight I would have preferred mindless smut if it avoided the pitfall of "Worry 2" which was pretty much this entire collection. There was one story were two bearish guys were the focus of the story (a Daddyish Polar Bear and a Chubby Cub to be exact) and one other were I could argue that one of them was not "conveniently" attractive [although the story did stress how skinny he was(either way it was a good story and I loved the nebulous ending)]. I understand that everyone is entitled to their personal preferences but it is slightly disheartening that the majority of these stories deal with those under the bear spectrum falling for conventually attractive men which seems counter to the whole bear-community not caring about image and embracing natural masculinity.
There is also one story that I could not make any sense of which I would attribute to it being a translation (I think). It did not help that it suffered from "Worry 2."
I would not recommend this book as it turned out to be a mammoth disappointment, but I can see and respect why somebody else might enjoy them.
May 25, 2016
I'll give this 4 stars all together! Because while the most stories were about 3 - 3.5 stars, this collection is so great balanced and rouded up in itself.
Highly recommended!!!
Truck Stop by Christopher Hawthorne Moss - 3 stars
Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye - 4 stars
Life’s Tiny Surprises by Tara Spears - 4 stars
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain by Michael Rupured - 2.5 stars
Just Breathe by John Genest - 3 stars
Barefoot by Lillian Francis - 3.5 stars
Golden Bear by G.P. Keith - 3.5 stars
Banyan Court by Samuel Scott Preston - 2.5 stars
The Bear at the Bar by J. Scott Coatsworth - 4 stars
Amped by Zoe X. Rider - 2.5 stars
The Bear Next Door by Jack Byrne - 3.5 stars
The Bear Fetish by John Amory - 2.5 stars
The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself by Robert B. McDiarmid - 3.5 stars
Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale With a Very Hairy Ending by Edmond Manning - 4.5 stars
Highly recommended!!!
Truck Stop by Christopher Hawthorne Moss - 3 stars
Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye - 4 stars
Life’s Tiny Surprises by Tara Spears - 4 stars
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain by Michael Rupured - 2.5 stars
Just Breathe by John Genest - 3 stars
Barefoot by Lillian Francis - 3.5 stars
Golden Bear by G.P. Keith - 3.5 stars
Banyan Court by Samuel Scott Preston - 2.5 stars
The Bear at the Bar by J. Scott Coatsworth - 4 stars
Amped by Zoe X. Rider - 2.5 stars
The Bear Next Door by Jack Byrne - 3.5 stars
The Bear Fetish by John Amory - 2.5 stars
The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself by Robert B. McDiarmid - 3.5 stars
Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale With a Very Hairy Ending by Edmond Manning - 4.5 stars
October 29, 2014
3.5 stars
An anthology focused on bears, their loves and the people that love them. It’s a good mixture and as with most anthologies there were some great stories and some that I didn’t like as much. Overall it’s a pretty strong mix although it did get a little repetitive. It was interesting to read some of these stories, especially the ones told from the “bear” POV and to find that the authors were male because in some cases their body image issues felt like so many I read in women’s stories. The stories are well written, my biggest objection to all anthologies is that typically the stories are too short!
An anthology focused on bears, their loves and the people that love them. It’s a good mixture and as with most anthologies there were some great stories and some that I didn’t like as much. Overall it’s a pretty strong mix although it did get a little repetitive. It was interesting to read some of these stories, especially the ones told from the “bear” POV and to find that the authors were male because in some cases their body image issues felt like so many I read in women’s stories. The stories are well written, my biggest objection to all anthologies is that typically the stories are too short!
February 26, 2016
Really enjoyed this anthology of stories. The ones that stood out for me were Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye, Barefoot by Lillian Francis, Amped by Zoe X. Rider and Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale With a Very Hairy Ending, which I thought was the best of the bunch.
August 15, 2016
*Truck Stop*
I wasn’t sure about this one at first; we have Cleve who owned a small diner next to a truck stop/gas station. Injured in the war, leaving him with a limp and a bit more weight than he’d like, he seems so lonely. Being out probably isn’t an option because when he meets Sully; the truck driver stranded because of the snow, he seems horrified when Sully figures it out. I didn’t like the way Sully reacted and then turned right around and became curious about him.... I didn’t think they were cute together though, and I liked that Cleve found someone real instead of the magazine he embarrassingly ordered for the shirtless men and their muscles. He was sweet and I hated the idea of him being alone; although it was short and didn’t give me a HEA that I love; it alluded to a possibility of more than Cleve’s loneliness before Sully showed up. I’d give this one a 4!
*Bear Chasing*
This one I thought was VERY cute! Neil was living with his (single mother of three children) twin sister. Getting free room and board in exchange for babysitting duties he was like the perfect Manny. Brett; moved in across the street with his two friends who I believe are a couple, Gavin and Frank? I think his name was. Either way; Neil didn’t have the first clue about Bears or the different types of them or their admirers, which he very much was. After Brett ran over one of Neil’s nieces scooters, he arranges to let the girl help out washing his cars to make pocket money to buy a new scooter; since it was her fault for leaving it in the road and that’s a big no-no. Brett was cute with the kids, I liked that. Of course it gave him the opportunity to spend time with Neil, so bonus. They got to know each other and even though it was quite quick; I really loved how Brett was just a big softy, despite his burly, hairy, bear status. I really liked it. 5 stars for me with this one!
*Life's Tiny Surprises*
I loved this one too…. Mac; teacher and giant teddy bear was alone on his birthday after his brother cancelled yet again and couldn’t even spare a half hour for his brother, he decides to go eat there byhimself anyway; better than being alone at home. I felt so sorry for him, he was shy and quiet, although loud when he needed to be, like when someone was getting bullied at his school; which is why people gave him a wide berth. He was big but quiet and I guess it put some people off, which it shouldn’t have because he was very sweet. I wanted to go hug him and bring him home with me. He seems quite nervous when his server Jerrod starts standing too close and seems to be flirting with him; little does he know that Jerrod was a former student years ago and never got over his crush on the big, hairy, bear of a teacher. He’s wanted him bad since the day he started subbing for his regular teacher when he was in school while she was out after having a baby. He tried in vain to find him over the years; online through the school’s website but never even so much as found an e-mail address for him. It was pure chance he came into the restaurant that night and Jerrod wasn’t letting him get away again. Not only did he go home with him and make it a birthday Mac would never forget; he also made the rest of his life worth living as well. I loved seeing the two of them years and years later; Mac deserved the sweet little Jerrod and I was happy Jerrod finally got his man. Loved this one! 5 stars!
*The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain* I don’t feel comfortable rating this one because I’m not a fan of paranormal/shifter/psychic reads. I don’t like them at all and I understand I’m a minority here with this lol but I just didn’t like it and found myself really skimming it more than paying attention to it. Sorry.
*Just Breathe*
Will is undergoing a sleep study to figure out his sleep apnea. He wants to qualify for one of those machines that helps you breathe while sleeping. People have been quite rude about it in terms of people that he’s went home with and I hated that he went through the one thing that brought it to his attention, that guy was rude! Anyway; this is where he meets Les. Les is the overnight observer for Will and a sleepless night lets them get to know each other. It was cute and I didn’t know of “Ginger Bears” before then LOL very cute! I would have liked to have seen more than just inside the sleep place but was glad that they gave the impression that they’d be seeing each other again. 3.5 for me with this one.
*Barefoot*
Finn is a volunteer for the local Shelter; he doesn’t just feed and help the homeless, he really cares about them; which is how he gets himself in the predicament of being shoeless, late and flustered when he goes to the local market to get some cheap food to fix for his guests. Sam works at said market and the couple times he see’s Finn, he’s taken with him; he wants to help him, sure and he does, offering food, shoes, and a hat to keep him from being cold; see…. Because he’d first saw Finn when he was shoeless and very late and not very put together, Sam mistakes him for being homeless instead of the runner of the shelter that he actually is. He didn’t care though, he understood people being down on their luck and he was attracted enough to Finn to want to take him on a date; which he asked him to do in form of coffee. It was all a big misunderstanding but a very cute one at that; I really liked these two together and it was cute how everything worked out. 4 for this one!
*Golden Bear*
This one was about Winston and Norm. Norm, living with his friend Chris after a bad breakup, he didn’t like the idea of living alone; but when Chris goes on a couple week holiday leaving Norm home alone and battling a really bad round of winter storms; he loses his internet due to some downed powerlines. Half the city is without power and while Norm isn’t yet, the city workers still come around to check who’s without and who has it…. That’s where he meets Winston. Winston is outside surveying damages when Norm brings him some warm hot chocolate. He seems radiant to Norm; the way he smiles lights up his entire face and Norm likes that. Coming back later that night to check on Norm and maybe help him out with some wood that needs cut up on a tree limb that could cause damage, they find themselves half naked and soaking wet. Winston is really self conscious and I hated to see that because he seemed so sweet. Norm wasn’t at first attracted to him because of his heavier build but it didn’t take long for him to start seeing Winston through eyes of a bear chaser. He’s more than interested. I liked the way these two were together and I liked that they both gave each other a chance. Winston with opening up and accepting the attention and Norm with accepting someone outside the norm. It was a cute, short read and I wouldn’t mind reading more about these two! 4 stars for this one!
*Banyan Court*
I’ve read so many comments about how amazing and tear-inducing this one was but I just couldn’t get into it. I found myself skimming more than anything and aside from the names and words I couldn’t pronounce I was just like, meh… I’m over it. I’m glad they had a good ending though, I’m sure it was very sweet and I’m a sucker for a HEA
*The Bear at the Bar*
Okay…. Again with the paranormal; I’m not a fan but this one was kind of hilarious to me. Dex is a jerk; plain and simple, he’s vain and conceited and arrogant and obnoxious and I couldn’t stand him at all. Not even a little bit, he had absolutely zero redeeming qualities. Going to a club and blowing off a bear he’d seen at the bar in the most rude and hateful way; some freaky Friday stuff happens and he and the bear switch places for the day. Dex, bringing his ex David in to help; try to find the guy at the bar and figure out if it was a curse or something that transformed Dex into this sloppy unattractive badling man. I don’t know, I just thought he got what he deserved; I wish everyone was looked like what they represented on the inside. Because, Dex was ugly inside and out and I think he should have stayed that way lol. Wasn’t a fan. And then he ended up with David at the end….. just meh. 2 stars for me with this one.
*Amped*
This one was about Toby and Wold…. I feel like a jerk for not liking the last couple, but I guess I’m just picky about my reads. This one had drugs and crappy rock music at a club with live music. Wolf, I didn’t know what to think of; sure he seemed hot, but kind of douche and Toby just…. I didn’t like him at all, I didn’t feel any connection between them at all and it just wasn’t my type of read. 2 stars for this one too. Sorry!
*The Bear Next Door*
Bryce and Rob live next door to one another. Rob, older and very much the hairy bear that these stories are centered around; he seems to have an attitude to back up the roughness. A rancher and seemingly alone more often than not, he meets Bryce. I get that Bryce lives next door but why was he in his office that first time he snapped at him? That made me sad; Bryce seemed to call up a lot of backbone to ask Rob out and the way he brushed him off would have been hurtful. Thankfully, he doesn’t give up so easily… I also didn’t blame him for thinking the wrong thing when Rob said he didn’t have a son but then his son showed up and he has one… I’d have been mad too… I like how Rob’s son Michael is so accepting and understanding and quite fed up with his dads attitude after the misunderstanding and pushes them back together. I do wish that the guys who kept beating up Bryce got a little karmatic justice, but…. Whatever I guess…. 4 stars for this one
*The Bear Fetish*
This one is about Louis and Robert… Yep, another Robert… Seems to be a trending name here lol I felt like this one was just about two dudes who hook up when one dude goes out of town and finds himself in a gay bar. I didn’t feel any real connection between them; they weren’t really looking for much other than company it seemed while Robert was in town; Louis is a local after all. It was just a short read about the two of them getting together; nothing really memorable, not even a HFN. Didn’t hate it, but there just wasn’t anything to it. 2 stars
*The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself*
This one was cute and very entertaining; I found myself giggling several times; I can’t tell if it’s because it was really just that cutsie or if it’s because I’ve been up for close to 31 hours with no sleep lol Very cute though, I wouldn’t mind reading more about these two.
*Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale With a Very Hairy Ending*
I didn’t care for the writing style in this one. I didn’t like the fairy tale, magical love story it was supposed to be; it was like it was trying to hard to be enchanting… didn’t like it at all. What I did like was Dougee, Roger and Larry; they were very cute fairy gay godmothers lol, they wanted to help Tyler catch the elusive, great white bear, otherwise known as Mike; who Tyler had seen and been attracted to but never spoke to. Apparently, Mike doesn’t hook up or even have relationships, which is why they call him the great white bear or something like that; he’s supposed to be unobtainable. Uncatchable, so they invite Tyler to a pool party in hopes that Mike will attend. Oh.. and Tyler has puppies. Two of them, Pitter and Patter… you really can’t go wrong with a story involving puppies! Tyler, not knowing anyone other than his fairy gay godmothers; drug his bestie Derek along; Derek is also a bear… Tyler, is a twink.. which is very much my favorite together… but anyway, back to the story lol
Let me just say I do like the “Bear” trope… I can’t stand all the “woofing”… if I heard someone woof, or woof at me, I’d laugh my face off…. I can’t take anyone seriously, who woofs. I just can’t. And it’s in this story quite a bit as well as I think one other one but only briefly. I don’t understand the appeal and I don’t like it…. That’s probably just me but hey…. This is my review so I’m being honest about it. When Tyler finally got to meet Mike; his blurting out how Mike should date him was so cute; I was like, aww, I’d totally give him a chance; I was so sad that Mike turned him down, I was devastated for him. Sidenote: Derek is an epic wingman.
Then… I get sideswiped when Mike says he’s interested, and then sideswiped again when he says he’s not and the reason he asked Tyler out. My heart broke a little bit for him and I could see how humiliating it would be at the time. But, then I kind of loved Derek. He’s not only a really awesome friend but he puts his own happiness on the backburner to help his friend; even though it has to hurt to do that; to see the man your in love with lust after someone else and then set them up…. I thought the ending was a little wonky… I got tired of being called “gentle readers”….I didn’t like the psychic elements and it emphasized some fantasy like, fairytale voice that I didn’t like (even though, yes I know; that’s the name of the story, still… didn’t like it)…. But the overall story, I really did like. It was cute and I wouldn’t mind reading more about these two. Very cute!
Merged review:
*Truck Stop*
I wasn’t sure about this one at first; we have Cleve who owned a small diner next to a truck stop/gas station. Injured in the war, leaving him with a limp and a bit more weight than he’d like, he seems so lonely. Being out probably isn’t an option because when he meets Sully; the truck driver stranded because of the snow, he seems horrified when Sully figures it out. I didn’t like the way Sully reacted and then turned right around and became curious about him.... I didn’t think they were cute together though, and I liked that Cleve found someone real instead of the magazine he embarrassingly ordered for the shirtless men and their muscles. He was sweet and I hated the idea of him being alone; although it was short and didn’t give me a HEA that I love; it alluded to a possibility of more than Cleve’s loneliness before Sully showed up. I’d give this one a 4!
*Bear Chasing*
This one I thought was VERY cute! Neil was living with his (single mother of three children) twin sister. Getting free room and board in exchange for babysitting duties he was like the perfect Manny. Brett; moved in across the street with his two friends who I believe are a couple, Gavin and Frank? I think his name was. Either way; Neil didn’t have the first clue about Bears or the different types of them or their admirers, which he very much was. After Brett ran over one of Neil’s nieces scooters, he arranges to let the girl help out washing his cars to make pocket money to buy a new scooter; since it was her fault for leaving it in the road and that’s a big no-no. Brett was cute with the kids, I liked that. Of course it gave him the opportunity to spend time with Neil, so bonus. They got to know each other and even though it was quite quick; I really loved how Brett was just a big softy, despite his burly, hairy, bear status. I really liked it. 5 stars for me with this one!
*Life's Tiny Surprises*
I loved this one too…. Mac; teacher and giant teddy bear was alone on his birthday after his brother cancelled yet again and couldn’t even spare a half hour for his brother, he decides to go eat there byhimself anyway; better than being alone at home. I felt so sorry for him, he was shy and quiet, although loud when he needed to be, like when someone was getting bullied at his school; which is why people gave him a wide berth. He was big but quiet and I guess it put some people off, which it shouldn’t have because he was very sweet. I wanted to go hug him and bring him home with me. He seems quite nervous when his server Jerrod starts standing too close and seems to be flirting with him; little does he know that Jerrod was a former student years ago and never got over his crush on the big, hairy, bear of a teacher. He’s wanted him bad since the day he started subbing for his regular teacher when he was in school while she was out after having a baby. He tried in vain to find him over the years; online through the school’s website but never even so much as found an e-mail address for him. It was pure chance he came into the restaurant that night and Jerrod wasn’t letting him get away again. Not only did he go home with him and make it a birthday Mac would never forget; he also made the rest of his life worth living as well. I loved seeing the two of them years and years later; Mac deserved the sweet little Jerrod and I was happy Jerrod finally got his man. Loved this one! 5 stars!
*The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain* I don’t feel comfortable rating this one because I’m not a fan of paranormal/shifter/psychic reads. I don’t like them at all and I understand I’m a minority here with this lol but I just didn’t like it and found myself really skimming it more than paying attention to it. Sorry.
*Just Breathe*
Will is undergoing a sleep study to figure out his sleep apnea. He wants to qualify for one of those machines that helps you breathe while sleeping. People have been quite rude about it in terms of people that he’s went home with and I hated that he went through the one thing that brought it to his attention, that guy was rude! Anyway; this is where he meets Les. Les is the overnight observer for Will and a sleepless night lets them get to know each other. It was cute and I didn’t know of “Ginger Bears” before then LOL very cute! I would have liked to have seen more than just inside the sleep place but was glad that they gave the impression that they’d be seeing each other again. 3.5 for me with this one.
*Barefoot*
Finn is a volunteer for the local Shelter; he doesn’t just feed and help the homeless, he really cares about them; which is how he gets himself in the predicament of being shoeless, late and flustered when he goes to the local market to get some cheap food to fix for his guests. Sam works at said market and the couple times he see’s Finn, he’s taken with him; he wants to help him, sure and he does, offering food, shoes, and a hat to keep him from being cold; see…. Because he’d first saw Finn when he was shoeless and very late and not very put together, Sam mistakes him for being homeless instead of the runner of the shelter that he actually is. He didn’t care though, he understood people being down on their luck and he was attracted enough to Finn to want to take him on a date; which he asked him to do in form of coffee. It was all a big misunderstanding but a very cute one at that; I really liked these two together and it was cute how everything worked out. 4 for this one!
*Golden Bear*
This one was about Winston and Norm. Norm, living with his friend Chris after a bad breakup, he didn’t like the idea of living alone; but when Chris goes on a couple week holiday leaving Norm home alone and battling a really bad round of winter storms; he loses his internet due to some downed powerlines. Half the city is without power and while Norm isn’t yet, the city workers still come around to check who’s without and who has it…. That’s where he meets Winston. Winston is outside surveying damages when Norm brings him some warm hot chocolate. He seems radiant to Norm; the way he smiles lights up his entire face and Norm likes that. Coming back later that night to check on Norm and maybe help him out with some wood that needs cut up on a tree limb that could cause damage, they find themselves half naked and soaking wet. Winston is really self conscious and I hated to see that because he seemed so sweet. Norm wasn’t at first attracted to him because of his heavier build but it didn’t take long for him to start seeing Winston through eyes of a bear chaser. He’s more than interested. I liked the way these two were together and I liked that they both gave each other a chance. Winston with opening up and accepting the attention and Norm with accepting someone outs
August 25, 2014
Review: A Taste of Honey by Anne Regan (Editor), B.G. Thomas(Editor)
Here I am again, reading another anthology. Getting addicted here.... This time, it's about bears as edited by by Anne Regan and B.G. Thomas, the latter having given an introduction that not only prepares the readers, giving them a glimpse of what to expect, but also subject same readers to have a giggling fit. Great intro!
Bears. Lots and lots of bears. Even bears that are not bears like otters and koalas.
As such, when it comes to anthologies, expect to read a variety of stories that differ in both plot as well as writing style. Some are sure hits and some are sure misses - but that would really depend on the reader, not the author. To each their own and each one wrote something that gives enjoyment. So yes, there is something for everybody here.
There are fourteen stories here but not all of them struck a chord in me. Here are the ones that did, not listed in order of preference.
Truck Stop by Christopher Hawthorne Moss I would probably say is the sweetest of all the stories here. It was not what I expected but it more than satisfied the romantic in me.
Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye is a funny, romantic, sweet and highly informative story about bears. All I can say is WOOF! Ms Renae and now I can smile happy :D This was a good one - and it's an Aussie tale too so that made it better.
The Bear At The Bar by J. Scott Coatsworth was a real surprise. It was thought provoking and served as a huge lesson. This was really good!
The Bear Next Door by Jack Byrne. Now this was a great romance. I really love Erotic Older Heroes and reading one where the whole story just gels perfectly with all of the elements in and accounted for in just a few words? Just perfect!
The Bear Fetish by John Amory is a May-December romance that maaaay just extend to New Year or further. This has a potential for a much longer novel and I would really love how Robert's and Lusio's relationship would play out.
Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale with a Very Hairy Ending by Edmond Manning has a fairy tale feel to it but with a twist. The search for The Great White Bear is on the go. How it ends is surprising for love may just be hiding in the bushes right beside Tyler.
That is my list, but I know each reader will have their own opinions. Recommended to take to bed.
Here I am again, reading another anthology. Getting addicted here.... This time, it's about bears as edited by by Anne Regan and B.G. Thomas, the latter having given an introduction that not only prepares the readers, giving them a glimpse of what to expect, but also subject same readers to have a giggling fit. Great intro!
Bears. Lots and lots of bears. Even bears that are not bears like otters and koalas.
As such, when it comes to anthologies, expect to read a variety of stories that differ in both plot as well as writing style. Some are sure hits and some are sure misses - but that would really depend on the reader, not the author. To each their own and each one wrote something that gives enjoyment. So yes, there is something for everybody here.
There are fourteen stories here but not all of them struck a chord in me. Here are the ones that did, not listed in order of preference.
Truck Stop by Christopher Hawthorne Moss I would probably say is the sweetest of all the stories here. It was not what I expected but it more than satisfied the romantic in me.
Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye is a funny, romantic, sweet and highly informative story about bears. All I can say is WOOF! Ms Renae and now I can smile happy :D This was a good one - and it's an Aussie tale too so that made it better.
The Bear At The Bar by J. Scott Coatsworth was a real surprise. It was thought provoking and served as a huge lesson. This was really good!
The Bear Next Door by Jack Byrne. Now this was a great romance. I really love Erotic Older Heroes and reading one where the whole story just gels perfectly with all of the elements in and accounted for in just a few words? Just perfect!
The Bear Fetish by John Amory is a May-December romance that maaaay just extend to New Year or further. This has a potential for a much longer novel and I would really love how Robert's and Lusio's relationship would play out.
Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale with a Very Hairy Ending by Edmond Manning has a fairy tale feel to it but with a twist. The search for The Great White Bear is on the go. How it ends is surprising for love may just be hiding in the bushes right beside Tyler.
That is my list, but I know each reader will have their own opinions. Recommended to take to bed.
August 27, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
A Taste of Honey is an anthology filled with bears. Each story features at least one big, sexy, hairy bear of all different kinds. I really enjoy stories with non traditional heroes, so I was excited to see a whole anthology of men who don’t always meet our typical romance novel ideas of attractiveness, but who are sexy and wonderful nonetheless.
The anthology has 14 stories and they manage to be surprisingly diverse considering the quantity and that they all deal with similar types of men. It is a nice mix of authors I have read and folks who are new to me and overall I enjoyed the anthology quite a lot. My only general issue is how many stories focus on just the bare beginnings of a relationship between the men. Obviously it is hard to show a full relationship, from meeting to an HEA, in short story format (though I have seen it done well many times, including here). But I did feel like some of these stories end abruptly or have very little happen to really grow a connection between the characters. I would have also have loved to see a better mix of stories across the spectrum from just getting to know each other to falling in love and getting their HEA.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
A Taste of Honey is an anthology filled with bears. Each story features at least one big, sexy, hairy bear of all different kinds. I really enjoy stories with non traditional heroes, so I was excited to see a whole anthology of men who don’t always meet our typical romance novel ideas of attractiveness, but who are sexy and wonderful nonetheless.
The anthology has 14 stories and they manage to be surprisingly diverse considering the quantity and that they all deal with similar types of men. It is a nice mix of authors I have read and folks who are new to me and overall I enjoyed the anthology quite a lot. My only general issue is how many stories focus on just the bare beginnings of a relationship between the men. Obviously it is hard to show a full relationship, from meeting to an HEA, in short story format (though I have seen it done well many times, including here). But I did feel like some of these stories end abruptly or have very little happen to really grow a connection between the characters. I would have also have loved to see a better mix of stories across the spectrum from just getting to know each other to falling in love and getting their HEA.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
August 21, 2014
4,25stars
When I saw this anthology in the coming soon area at DSP I was at the same time overjoyed and a bit unsure.
The last because it were more or less stories from authors I haven't read before.
But I'm glad I bought it and I really can say: Go, buy it and try it yourself!
It's definitely different from the books I've read so far in the genre...and I've read my fair share ;)
Here we can see people that are not flawless, unbelievable fit gym-rats with muscles of steel and perfect bodies without any hair. Or only twenty-ish characters. No, we read about people we meet every day in life...everywhere. People like you and me!
I really enjoyed reading this. I could hardly put it down to catch a bit of sleep.
And now that I've finished it, I caught myself thinking if I could/should read it again...now. Yeah, makes no sense, I can remember the stories perfectly at the moment ;)
Like it is often with anthologies there are stories you like more than others. It's the same here for me. Some were simply a bit too short for my liking and others were satisfying for me but I would still gladly read more!
When I saw this anthology in the coming soon area at DSP I was at the same time overjoyed and a bit unsure.
The last because it were more or less stories from authors I haven't read before.
But I'm glad I bought it and I really can say: Go, buy it and try it yourself!
It's definitely different from the books I've read so far in the genre...and I've read my fair share ;)
Here we can see people that are not flawless, unbelievable fit gym-rats with muscles of steel and perfect bodies without any hair. Or only twenty-ish characters. No, we read about people we meet every day in life...everywhere. People like you and me!
I really enjoyed reading this. I could hardly put it down to catch a bit of sleep.
And now that I've finished it, I caught myself thinking if I could/should read it again...now. Yeah, makes no sense, I can remember the stories perfectly at the moment ;)
Like it is often with anthologies there are stories you like more than others. It's the same here for me. Some were simply a bit too short for my liking and others were satisfying for me but I would still gladly read more!
October 3, 2014
A pleasant but mostly forgettable anthology about bears.
I was very excited by the bear theme of this anthology but most of the stories were either boring or unsatisfying by ending far too soon. A disappointing experience when I had been so looking forward to this.
There were some standouts in the anthology though:
- Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye, a cute story about a geeky, skinny guy who lives across the street from three bears (no menage, sorry!)
- Barefoot by Lillian Francis was adorable in it's execution of the Great Misunderstanding trope.
- Amped by Zoe X. Rider was surprisingly enthralling. Despite it's very short length, this was the second most memorable and close to satisfying.
- Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale With a Very Hairy Ending by Edmond Manning is probably my favorite from this anthology. It's a bit weird, but there's a charm to his writing that appeals to me.
I was very excited by the bear theme of this anthology but most of the stories were either boring or unsatisfying by ending far too soon. A disappointing experience when I had been so looking forward to this.
There were some standouts in the anthology though:
- Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye, a cute story about a geeky, skinny guy who lives across the street from three bears (no menage, sorry!)
- Barefoot by Lillian Francis was adorable in it's execution of the Great Misunderstanding trope.
- Amped by Zoe X. Rider was surprisingly enthralling. Despite it's very short length, this was the second most memorable and close to satisfying.
- Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale With a Very Hairy Ending by Edmond Manning is probably my favorite from this anthology. It's a bit weird, but there's a charm to his writing that appeals to me.
March 3, 2017
A very nice anthology that does well what anthologies do: allow readers a certain promiscuity with new authors they might not otherwise bed down with. Some of the stories will appeal more than others, of course. But readers aren't required to sit for all the courses of an author's prix-fixe menu; it's hors d'oeuvres.
I thought it was a nice variety, too. If one is going to indulge in the literary equivalent of speed-dating, variety is nice. I found it worked better for me to keep the pace slow: no more than one story a day kept the voices from turning into an anthological cacophony. There are some strong voices here.
Favourites? Probably "Hunting Bear" and "Banyan Court."
And heaven help me, I've got another bloody shopping list.
I thought it was a nice variety, too. If one is going to indulge in the literary equivalent of speed-dating, variety is nice. I found it worked better for me to keep the pace slow: no more than one story a day kept the voices from turning into an anthological cacophony. There are some strong voices here.
Favourites? Probably "Hunting Bear" and "Banyan Court."
And heaven help me, I've got another bloody shopping list.
June 26, 2016
Truck Stop by Christopher Hawthorne Moss - 2,5 stars
Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye - 2,5 stars
Life’s Tiny Surprises by Tara Spears - 3 stars
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain by Michael Ruptured - 1,5 stars
Just Breathe by John Genet - 3, 5 stars
Barefoot by Lillian Francis - 3 stars
Golden Bear by G.P. Keith - 2 stars
Banyan Court by Samuel Scott Preston - 2, 5 stars
The Bear at the Bar by J. Scott Chatsworth - 3,5 stars
Amped by Zoe X. Rider - 2 stars
The Bear Next Door by Jack Byrne - 2 stars
The Bear Fetish by John Amory - 3 stars
The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself by Robert B. McDiarmid - 1 star
Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale with a Very Hairy Ending by Edmond Manning- 4 stars
Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye - 2,5 stars
Life’s Tiny Surprises by Tara Spears - 3 stars
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain by Michael Ruptured - 1,5 stars
Just Breathe by John Genet - 3, 5 stars
Barefoot by Lillian Francis - 3 stars
Golden Bear by G.P. Keith - 2 stars
Banyan Court by Samuel Scott Preston - 2, 5 stars
The Bear at the Bar by J. Scott Chatsworth - 3,5 stars
Amped by Zoe X. Rider - 2 stars
The Bear Next Door by Jack Byrne - 2 stars
The Bear Fetish by John Amory - 3 stars
The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself by Robert B. McDiarmid - 1 star
Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale with a Very Hairy Ending by Edmond Manning- 4 stars
October 3, 2016
Truck Stop, Christopher Hawthorne Moss, 2 stars
Bear Chasing, Renae Kaye, 3 stars
Life's Tiny Surprises, Tara Spears, 3 stars
The Bear of Snowbird Mountain, Michael Pupured, 2 stars
Just Breathe, John Genest, 2 stars
Barefoot, Lillian francis, 3 stars
Golden Bear, G.P. Keith, 3 stars
Banyan Court, Samuel Scott Preston, 1 star
The Bear at the Bar, J. Scott Coatsworth, 1 star
Amped, Zoe X. rider, 2 stars
The Bear Next Door, Jack Byrne, 3 stars
The Bear Fetish, John Amory, 2 stars
The Do -It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself, Robert B. McDiarmid, 2 stars
Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale With A Very Hairy Ending, Edmond Manning, 3 stars
Bear Chasing, Renae Kaye, 3 stars
Life's Tiny Surprises, Tara Spears, 3 stars
The Bear of Snowbird Mountain, Michael Pupured, 2 stars
Just Breathe, John Genest, 2 stars
Barefoot, Lillian francis, 3 stars
Golden Bear, G.P. Keith, 3 stars
Banyan Court, Samuel Scott Preston, 1 star
The Bear at the Bar, J. Scott Coatsworth, 1 star
Amped, Zoe X. rider, 2 stars
The Bear Next Door, Jack Byrne, 3 stars
The Bear Fetish, John Amory, 2 stars
The Do -It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself, Robert B. McDiarmid, 2 stars
Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale With A Very Hairy Ending, Edmond Manning, 3 stars
October 1, 2014
Bears for Dummies
My other title I had was "I Dare You To Woof"(at a hottie or your special someone). I did. And he was NOT about it. Go figure.
Overall I greatly enjoyed a majority of the stories. The prologue is a MUST unless you are a season bear hunter.
A couple of stories were a stood out for me and widen my authors to look for.
Top 3 in no particular order:
1. Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye
2. Golden Bear by GP Keith
3. Hunting Bear: A Fairytale With a Very Hairy Ending by Edmond Manning
Bottom 2:
1. Banyan Court
2. Truck Stop
My other title I had was "I Dare You To Woof"(at a hottie or your special someone). I did. And he was NOT about it. Go figure.
Overall I greatly enjoyed a majority of the stories. The prologue is a MUST unless you are a season bear hunter.
A couple of stories were a stood out for me and widen my authors to look for.
Top 3 in no particular order:
1. Bear Chasing by Renae Kaye
2. Golden Bear by GP Keith
3. Hunting Bear: A Fairytale With a Very Hairy Ending by Edmond Manning
Bottom 2:
1. Banyan Court
2. Truck Stop
October 17, 2014
It’s great to have stories concerning the beloved but hardly exposed bear culture of the gay community. All of these stories are different but follow a similar theme of praising the small part of homosexuality that involves large, hairy and masculine men. There’s a great mix of stories that contain humor, romance, drama or combinations of the three. Some are more subtly sweet while others are openly erotic. The editing is great and everyone involved in contributing the stories to this anthology is worthy of praise.
February 8, 2016
GORGEOUS cover!!
Truck Stop: 3.5 Stars
Bear Chasing: 5 Stars!
Life's Tiny Surprises: 4.5 Stars
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain: 3.5 Stars
Just Breathe: 4 Stars
Barefoot: 4.5 Stars
Golden Bear: 4 Stars
Banyan Court: 4 Stars
The Bear at the Bar: 3.5 Stars
Amped: 3 Stars
The Bear Next Door: 3.5 Stars mtt
The Bear Fetish: 3.5 Stars
The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself: 3.5 Stars
Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale With a Very Hairy Ending: 4.5 Stars
Truck Stop: 3.5 Stars
Bear Chasing: 5 Stars!
Life's Tiny Surprises: 4.5 Stars
The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain: 3.5 Stars
Just Breathe: 4 Stars
Barefoot: 4.5 Stars
Golden Bear: 4 Stars
Banyan Court: 4 Stars
The Bear at the Bar: 3.5 Stars
Amped: 3 Stars
The Bear Next Door: 3.5 Stars mtt
The Bear Fetish: 3.5 Stars
The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Getting Over Yourself: 3.5 Stars
Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale With a Very Hairy Ending: 4.5 Stars
September 13, 2014
holy angels of m/m books, anthologies, bears, cubs and twinks! please, those who read this ugly review: don't miss this book!!!! beautifully written and edited is already a 7/10, add the stories are sweet, hot and hairy it becomes 9/10 then add a little magic and you have a 10/10 masterpiece of literature that you don't want to miss! go ahead, read it, love it... :)
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