Marked By The Possessive Polar Bear

Heat & Ink #4

by Olivia T. Turner

Adrian Cross was never supposed to walk back into my life—especially not looking like that.

Towering. Tattooed. With eyes that burn hotter than his tattoo gun.

He’s my brother’s best friend. A polar bear shifter. My lifelong crush.

And the new artist filling in at our shop while Magnus is out.

He says I’m his fated mate. That he’s known since we were kids.

He says that he’s waited long enough and he’s done pretending.

Now, he’s all grown up, and he’s not just putting tattoos on skin.

He’s leaving something deeper. Something permanent.

Because tattoos aren’t the only mark he’s making.

He’s claiming me.

Body, heart, soul, and every filthy thought in between.



Welcome to Heat & Ink where hot possessive tattoo artists leave their mark in more ways than one.

The Heat & Ink series mixes Contemporary, Sci Fi Romance, and Paranormal in three standalone stories by best-selling STEAMY authors, Hope Ford, Michele Mills, and Olivia T. Turner.

Genres: Shapeshifters, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Friends To Lovers, Novella, Fantasy

100 pages, Paperback

Published July 18, 2025

About the author

An Olivia T. Turner book is like a great first date. It starts with some fun and laughs, then things start to heat up. Pretty soon, it gets really hot and steamy, until finally, you’re left smiling and satisfied. Unlike your date, the book will not call you the next morning, but you can always read it again!

Always wild, over-the-top alpha males, insta-love, safe, virgin heroines, and a fun steamy ride guaranteed!

Try one, they’re like candy. You can’t have just one.

Would you like to try one for free? Sign up to my newsletter for up to date news on OTT releases and to get a free exclusive book (Obsessed): https://www.oliviatturner.com/newslet...

www.OliviaTTurner.com

Reviews

[Jen ♥]

Ehhh, idk. I didn't feel the chemistry. It's meh. 🤷‍♀️

Tbh, I'm more intrigued about Magnus and I think his book is about to be released (next month??).

Anyway, this might work for some.

[whatinthehea · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun read!

Shifter Romance
Back Home
Brothers Best Friend
Childhood Crush
Fated Mates
Mate Bite

Adrian returns home after getting a call from his best friend. And finds out his best friends little sister is his mate.

[Lexi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, there was just basically no drama or tension or anything lying around in this book. He's told to come back, he does. He almost immediately says they're mates, she says yup. People show up to fight, they fight. The end.

[Kate V · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 smut-scale stars!

[Hanna Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a part of the Heat & Ink series and focuses on Adrian and Victoria. Victoria runs a tattoo shop with her two brothers but when one of her brothers starts to lose control of his bear he leaves Victoria and her other brother to run things. When he leaves, her brother contacts his best friend, Adrian, who left town years before to come help out at the shop. As soon as he comes back, Adrian and Victoria discover that they are mates. When danger comes for Adrian and Victoria due to Adrian's past, they are both fiercely protective of each other and both know that they have something worth fighting for. This was a great story and a great addition to the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[KY Book Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marked by the Possessive Polar Bear by Olivia T. Turner is part of the multi-author Heat & Ink Series. 

Victoria has had a crush on her brother's best friend and polar bear shifter Adrian since she was a child. After some drama that she didn't understand took place, Adrian left town abruptly and has been gone for years. But when Magnus, her brother, starts having serious trouble controlling his inner grizzly, he asks Adrian to take over for him in their tattoo business while he takes his leave for a while to keep everyone safe. Now, Victoria is all grown-up and they are about to discover what Adrian suspected all along, that his best friend's little sister is his fated mate.  He is also about to learn that the danger he once left is still very much alive and well.


I enjoyed this story very much. Like all over Turner's books the couples are well matched with undeniable chemistry and a great plot as well.  This is a novella that can be read in a couple of hours. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. 

ARC was provided by Booksprout, and this is my honest review. 

[Aspen G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marked by the Possessive Polar Bear is an alpha-feral intense love story with an action-packed plot. Victoria and Adrian light it up in the sexiest ways with their overwhelming fated-mates attraction. I love how independent and boss-lady Victoria is, how she stands by Adrian’s side no matter what, and how he respects her wishes and loves having her there. The subplot drama with Mace and Knox is fire—and polar bear shifter Adrian faces it head on with ruthless determination to protect his loved ones at all costs. I thoroughly loved this shifter romance and could not put it down. OTT is dynamite at delivering on hot, safe romance with passion and possessiveness, and she has done it again with gorgeousness!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was something off about the story. The FMC is a bear shifter and the MMC a polar bear shifter, when the MMC returns after years away to work in her tattoo studio they both know that they want each other and wait the whole work day until her brother (co-owner) and the other colleagues are gone. Then the MMC tells her they are mates and because he said it she then also realizes it. And from then on everything is easy peasy weren't it for the action plot that doesn't fit the setting and the characters. That the FMC didn't realize that her crush is her mate was weird also. And there was no world building.

[Barbara Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adrian is a polar bear shifter and tattoo artist. He had to leave town in a hurry nine years ago. Leaving everything he loved behind, including his best friend and his best friend’s siblings. One of those happens to be Victoria who he thinks about often.
Victoria is the youngest sibling and a grizzly bear shifter. Her brother’s best friend; Adrian, is the only man she has ever loved. When her brother’s bear goes feral he calls Adrian to assist at the tattoo shop.
When Adrian returns his suspicions are confirmed, Victoria is his mate.
When danger comes lurking they will learn what happens when you mess with a possessive bear’s mate.
I absolutely love this entire series. Adrian didn’t realize how much he missed out while he was gone. Now that he is back and has Victoria he will let nothing come between them.
Victoria is fierce and she will also do what is necessary to protect her mate as well.

[Trixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the first meeting between our main characters after he had been away for so long! I can picture that moment perfectly – you know, the kind where it feels like the whole world fades away and it's just the two of them? So romantic! But I couldn’t help but chuckle when they realized other people were crashing their special moment. 😊

I really appreciated how there was instant recognition between them, with no denial about their bond. It was great to see the male lead acknowledge that his mate is more than capable of holding her own in a fight!

Now I'm really curious about the other brother! I'm going to check my Kindle to see if I’ve already read Julian’s story, but I’ll have to be patient for Magnus’s tale.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[RxReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marked by the Possessive Polar Bear is a fun, steamy ride that brings the heat—both in the tattoo parlor and in the heart. Adrian Cross is the ultimate fantasy: a protective, inked-up polar bear shifter who’s been holding back his feelings for years. Now that he’s back in town, he’s not hiding anything, and his fated-mate energy is strong enough to melt glaciers.

This brother’s best friend trope with a paranormal twist adds just the right amount of tension and spice. The heroine is feisty and relatable, especially as she tries to resist someone who clearly knows she’s his. If you love shifter romances with alpha vibes, sizzling chemistry, and the kind of happily-ever-after that feels both wild and sweet, this one delivers in all the right ways.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

First the cover is 🔥🔥🔥
Adrain Cross is a polar shifter and her older brother’s Magnus best friend in addition to being her lifelong crush.
Victoria is a grizzly bear shifter and an amazing tattoo artist, she owns and works in a tattoo shop with her brother’s.
Magnus is having an extremely difficult time controlling his grizzly bear 🐻 and after an outburst decides to leave for a while.
Adrain steps in to fill her brother’s place in the shop and once he sees Victoria again the chemistry is off the explosive. These two are perfect together.
Fated mates will not be denied and the wolf pack that threatened Adrain once will not stand a chance the second time around.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Bing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another engaging addition to the series and I loved Victoria. She knew who she wanted since she was a teen, and when Adrian comes back into town, well, she's not sure how to react. He however, knows the moment he sees her that she's his mate. No wonder she'd been on his mind all these years ;) Of course, the mystery of why he left town and basically disappeared, comes back to haunt him... These two may have burned up the sheets together, but they also stood by each other, through thick and thin. Expect a ton of action in this one, but a ton of hot spice, too, making it a one-sit reading ride for me. Good fun!

[Rainbowlovesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Were back in the heat and ink universe with Olivia's fated mate, shifter romance between Adrian and Victoria.

Her brothers best friend has always been her crush despite the 8year age gap. But when he disappeared without so much as a good bye, try as she might Adrian is always in the back of her mind. So imagine her shock when he returns home not only more handsome, taller and broader but as her fated mate.

However what made Adrian leave and is he here to stay or will he disappear again.

Novella, instalove, fated mates, shifter romance 4/5 stars nice easy read.

[QueenMum1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Victoria is a tattoo artist and little sister of Magnus and Julian. They all own their franchise of Heat & Ink together.
Adrian is a tattoo artist and best friend to Magnus.
Tropes:
Fated mates, paranormal, shifter, polar bear, grizzly bear, small town, protective obsessive alpha hero, tattoos, best friends sister, off-limits, OTT instalove, HEA romance.

A special thank you to Oliva T Turner and Booksprout for providing me with an eARC book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lyndsay L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good from the very first page that I turned. The chemistry between Adrian and Victoria was hot and fiery. I loved every moment of this story from Adrian coming back and realizing that Victoria was his mate. The plot was well-written and so can't wait to see what more these amazing authors will bring us with this series. This is a must read. From the well rounded characters, to the hot chemistry and the story that keeps you enthralled to the end and you still want more even when its finished.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing chemistry between Adrian and Vic, and they'll need all of it. Neither forgot the other even though threats kept them apart for years. When her brother's crisis draws them back together, they're explosive. BUT, the threats aren't gone, and now there's even more on the line.
This story sucks you in fast (it's OTT - of course it does!), the action and drama are non-stop, and the ending is unapologetically Turner. Check out these hawt, inked-up shifters at their finest!

I voluntarily reviewed a gift copy of this book. Happy Reading Y'all 📚

[J.p · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another instalment of the Heart & Ink series, Victoria is a grizzly bear who has had a lifetime crush on her brother Magnus best friend Adrian but he left a few years ago without explanation, now Adrian who is a polar bear shifter is back to help the family and to claim what’s rightfully his, his mate! A fantastically written ott story full of drama, pent up passion and heat. Vic and Adrian are a formidable couple that have waited years for each other. I’m so excited to have read this and I await Magnus’s story, my heart breaks for him and for what he has endured.

[Lisa Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Victoria had a crush on her brother's best friend, who was a little older than, her but one day something happened and he disappeared. Now he is back, working at their tattoo parlor, filling in for her brother Marcus. Adrian knows as soon as he sees grown up Victoria, she is his fated mate but the reason he left years ago is still able to make trouble. Her will have to protect his mate from the upcoming storm.

This is a steamy read, Adrian is not as OTT as some of her other characters.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book! Victoria is a grizzly bear shifter who works at the family tattoo shop with her two brothers. Adrian is her oldest brother's best friend, also a polar bear shifter, and comes back to help at the shop when needed. Victoria harbors a crush on Adrian and is about to discover he feels the same. I love this plot and the steam it includes. There's plenty of action and a great happy ending. Excellent book!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melissa Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is part of a multi authors (Michelle Mills and Hope Ford) series called Heat & Ink. I loved Victoria and Adrian. Fated Mates is one of my favorite tropes especially when both are shifters. They are the perfect mates to each other. Protective, loyal, and oh so dirty. Great addition to the series. 5 stars for me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most shifter books, or at least the ones I have read, feature a shifter and a non shifter and part of the build up is how to explain the shifter world to the other character. This story is full on shifter, and is over the top, out of this world wonderful. Great chemistry, lots of heat, intense interactions and such a great ending!!!!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debdutch · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Marked by the Possessive Polar Bear” by Olivia T. Turner

-Adrian is all growl and no chill when he claims Victoria as his fated mate. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.

This alpha polar bear shifter delivers fierce devotion and explosive chemistry.
Fast-paced, feral, and filled with steamy moments and action-packed danger.
A quick, satisfying read with intensity and possessiveness. I loved it!

[Jenia Tortora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adrian and Victoria were close until he disappeared from their hometown when she was 13. Now he’s back and they are both happy to give in to the mate bond. Adrian still has some old danger swirling about but when it matters most they rise above the danger to fight for their future. Love the series and the characters!! A totally deserving HEA for Victoria and Adrian.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

He's carved from her dirtiest dreams!

Adrian returns home after eight years and finds Victoria...his fated mate. She's still in his home town, waiting for him, like every fantasy he's ever had!
Sexy, steamy and sizzling hot Adrian and Vic are perfect mates who will defend each other to the death if needed, but prefer laughing, loving, tattooing and lots of dirty talkin'.
I read this on Kindle Unlimited.

[Nicole M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the world of Heat & Ink... Polar Bear edition. I must say.. my heart is breaking for Magnus, and I can't wait for his story and to see him finally find his mate 🥺. But in the meantime... Victoria is here with all her sass and personality, and I loved seeing her not only find her mate but stand by his side as chaos and drama came to town. I was on the edge of my seat as the volume on that action was turned up. This was such a good read!

[Nicolette · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you’re into romance I think it’s right up your alley. I’m not the biggest fan of typical MF romance but I really loved the action scenes. I liked the opening as an attention grabber. The pace is a little too fast but it is a novella so there’s nothing wrong with that. I also like how shifting works, where while technically separate identities, there is communication/understanding between the human and beast forms

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years of Waiting

When Victoria’s oldest brother starts to go feral he flees their tattoo shop for everyone’s safety and sends his best friend Adrian to help in his place. Victoria has had a crush on Adrian since she was a girl but at 8 years old he was gone before she grew up now that he is back it is instantly obvious they are mates and waste no time claiming each other in this fun read.

[Savannah Cherniwchan · Rating 3 out of 5]

✅Bear shifters
✅Fated mates
✅Childhood crush
✅Brothers best friend.


OKAY BUT HELLO??? 😳 A SEVEN-FOOT-TALL POLAR BEAR SHIFTER JUST CLAIMED ME WITH HIS GROWL AND NOW I’M REEVALUATING ALL MY LIFE CHOICES.
This man said: “You’re mine.”

Olivia T. Turner didn’t write a book, she wrote a FEVER DREAM and I was HAPPY to be dragged along. The plot? Who cares. The logic? Nonexistent. The vibes? Immaculate. We’ve got insta-obsession, overprotective growls, and enough steam to fog up the Arctic tundra.

[Christal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the steamy reunion between Victoria and Adrian. Victoria had a crush on Adrian her entire life. Adrian always knew she was his mate but she was too young and she was his best friend's sister. When they meet again as Adrian fills in for Marnus at the tattoo shop, all grown up, the attraction between them is off the charts. This is a short read, a steamy romance, a steamy bonus and a very happy ending.