Bound by the Alpha: A Polar Bear Shifter Rejected Mates Cozy Romance

by Ashlea Michelle

I wanted a fresh start. A wild adventure.

What I got was sold.

On a whim, I signed up for a mail-order bride service, tired of my boring city life. It felt thrilling, dangerous…until I hit accept on a mysterious profile and realized too late that the fine print said no refunds, no returns, no exchanges.

Now I’m stranded in a remote Alaskan village, surrounded by strangers who look at me like I don’t belong. Especially him.
Damian Hawk … the Alpha. A man as cold and untouchable as the ice that cages this place.

He didn’t order me. He doesn’t want me….But every time our eyes meet, there’s something there. A tension I can’t explain. Like I was meant for him.

I thought I could leave if it didn’t work out. I was wrong.
Because in Glacier Valley, mates aren’t chosen. They’re bound by fate. And Hawk?

He’s fighting fate with everything he has.

But fate isn’t giving up on me.
And neither am I.

396 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 20, 2025

Reviews

[AW · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clean, slow-burn shifter romance with plenty of tension and heart. Harper signs up as a mail-order bride and unexpectedly discovers she’s fated to Hawk, a brooding polar bear alpha who wants nothing to do with a mate. The single narration captures the emotional push-pull perfectly. Well-written, well-narrated, and a satisfying listen.

Thanks to CC Kline for the audiobook review copy.

[Janet Smith McHardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harper gets more than she bargained for when she becomes a mail order bride. Hawk is mean moody with a side order grumpy and his communication skill are basic. Can the have a relation ship when there are so many secrets surrounding his pack. This is a slow burn, high angst and soul searching romance.
The narration is good.

[Donna J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great lines, Frustrating Characters

This is one of those books that takes patience to read. I was very frustrated with both the FLC & MLC and their indecisiveness. It made foe a l I ng drawn out story. Also, there were inconsistencies in the storyline making it frustrating as well.

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the narration from CC Kline

This is a a clean, slow-burn shifter romance. Harper becomes a mail order bride to Hawk who is slightly grumpy polar bear . One problem they are fated mates but our bear shifter wants nothing to do with his mate. This book is has tension and romance.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun

Spooky mail order bride ad that no sane person would ever answer. Boom! Life as you knew it is over.

[Mandy Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you need a sign from above that you are with the one and it doesn’t come, all you can do is wing it!! A great performance.