Forty-seven. Divorced. Temporarily locked out of a luxury cabin, freezing, in my underwear.
I came to Mirror Lake for peace. Solitude. A chance to figure out who I am now that my kids are grown and my marriage is over.
Instead, I got rescued by a bear.
Not a wild one, a careful one. Intelligent. Controlled. The kind who makes sure I don’t freeze to death before carrying me home.
Because after the Convergence, it turns out the monsters didn’t just come crashing through from other worlds.
Some of them had been here all along.
Calum is a bear shifter who’s spent decades in the shadows, watching humanity pretend it was alone. When a snowstorm strands me in his path, one night is all it takes to remind us both what it feels like to be seen, chosen, and wanted, without apology.
This was never meant to be safe.
But when a man who’s lived carefully his entire life finally opens his arms, walking away isn’t the brave choice.
Staying is.
A cozy, steamy monster romance featuring a perimenopausal heroine who refuses to shrink, a bear shifter who’s done hiding, forced proximity during a snowstorm, and proof that the world we thought we knew was never empty at all.
This story unfolds over one intense, intimate night and leans hard into fast-burn desire. Contains explicit content, size difference, soft-dominant bear energy, and emotional connection forged quickly under extraordinary circumstances. Readers who prefer slow-build or closed-door romance may wish to pass.
Raised on a healthy mix of Scooby Doo and Dark Shadows, it's no surprise that she grew up writing about the things that go bump in the night. Stephany Simmons is the author of Voodoo Dues, Vampire Blues and the upcoming Black Magic. She crafts an urban fantasy series filled with magic, mayhem, and a touch of humor. With a passion for creating rich, supernatural worlds and unforgettable characters, Stephany draws readers into thrilling adventures where the ordinary meets the extraordinary. She finds great joy in turning convention on its ear, twisting tropes and adding her own spin to conventional ideas.When she’s not writing, she’s usually exploring thrift stores, studying folklore, or working on her skoolie.
I received this book as an ARC through BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was by far the shortest book in the series. Which is saying something considering the fact that they are all around 100 pages long. But despite how short this book was I found it to have the strongest build up out of the three books.
It was a much slower burn compared to the other books, which allowed for the characters to build a better connection. I appreciated the extra breathing room compared to the faster pacing of the previous books. That said, I do wish the story had been slightly longer. But this book is still an amazing read.
Overall, it’s clear the author’s writing continues to improve with each book, and I’m genuinely excited to see what they release next.
Okay, I did NOT expect to be laughing and swooning over a 47-year-old heroine stuck in her underwear in the snow… but here we are. 😂
She comes to Mirror Lake for peace and self-reflection… instead, she gets rescued by a bear. Not a literal wild bear—but a bear shifter. Intelligent, careful, swoony, and exactly the kind of man who makes you forget the world outside the snowstorm. ❄️🐻
Forced proximity + snowstorm = steamy, cozy vibes. And can we talk about how refreshing it is to have a heroine who refuses to shrink just because she’s perimenopausal? Age doesn’t equal invisibility here, thank goodness.
It’s part fantasy, part romance, and all heart. Calum is broody, protective, and finally letting himself be seen—and the chemistry? Instant. 🔥
If you’re here for sexy shifters, snowy cabin closeness, and a heroine who knows her worth, this one’s a must-read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The meet-cute setup at the start of the book outrageously pushed the bounds of likelihood, earning a scoffing laugh or two. I loved the considerate attitude of the MMC, and his mindfulness of personal boundaries and consent. The nationalities of the side characters did make it challenging to remain grounded in the setting, but also added interest and colour to the story.
Full disclosure: I was given an ARC of the book, however this review is my own honest opinion.
This cozy but steamy novella tells of a mature FMC and lonely bear shifter thrown together by circumstances. I was invested in their story from the start and hoped they would find their happy ever after. I liked the way both characters were honest about what they wanted in a relationship and were intent on finding happiness at a turning point in life.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It’s sweet and short, unique for the female protagonist and the inclusion of a hot flush as a plot point. It’s quick to start and then to turn into a full fledged relationship which isn’t my favourite but it matches the circumstances. The surprise English butler and French maid was an interesting choice to make and I’m not sure how much it actually worked with the plot.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the ARC.
This was such a fun, cozy read, it genuinely gave me the warm fuzzies. I went in expecting a quick shifter romance and came out smiling the whole way through. It was the perfect introduction to this author, and I’ll absolutely be reading more.
The story begins with the FMC heading to a remote cabin after the Convergence, only to get snowbound during a brutal storm. Enter the MMC: a bear shifter who rescues her and offers shelter. What starts as forced proximity during a blizzard quickly turns into something tender, steamy, hilarious and unexpectedly sweet. The setup is simple, but it works beautifully, snowy isolation, instant chemistry, and two lonely souls finding comfort in each other.
What I loved most was the tone. It’s sexy without being over-the-top, emotional without feeling heavy, and cozy in that perfect winter-romance way that just hits right. The characters were easy to root for, and the romance delivered exactly what it promised: warmth, connection, and a satisfying happily-ever-after. A great first read from Stephany Simmons, and definitely not my last.
Thank you BookSirens and Stephany Simmons for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This book was such a funny/sweet shifter story. Their meet cute was quite comical but then it transitioned to a very sweet story. I LOVED that both MCs were mature and already had past lives and kids and this was a new beginning for them both. I appreciated how sweet and consensual and hot their chemistry was. And I loved how open the ending was for the reader to imagine their future happiness without giving us every detail. My biggest drawback for this book was how little we actually know about the characters besides the fact that they are older and have grown kids already. The FMC states that she doesn’t know who she is now that she’s not constantly taking care of kids anymore, something I’m sure is relatable to older moms, but then the author doesn’t give us any other information about her likes, interests, or work so then all she is to the reader is a older mom. The MMC similarly gets no more interests other than an older father who shape shifts into a bear and has money. Nothing about what he does for work or why there were extra side characters of his maid/butler. I’d have preferred more focus on the MCs in such a short story and at least make them seem more dynamic, instead of just stand-ins for whoever was reading, but the book was plenty enjoyable regardless.
Overall, the concept is very cute and the insta-lust/love romance is very sweet. It’s perfectly cozy and winter and delivers the description of the book to a T. A fun snowy short read!
I liked this one a lot more than the previous book, so I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.
The story definitely made more sense this time around, even if it was still a little messed up. My biggest thing is the over-dramatization of the hot flashes, it’s honestly killing me! I have never in my life had a hot flash so bad that I felt the need to run naked out of my house to fling myself into the snow. Nobody does that! It was unrealistic to the point of being comical, though I did still enjoy the chemistry between the characters.
Then "Papa Bear" shows up, and all of a sudden he’s totally into her and turns out to be a billionaire. They’re banging and drinking hot chocolate together all within the same 24 hours. Nobody moves at that pace in real life! It was just too much for me, even though it was a much better read than the one with the grocery store guy + witch in book 2.
I wish the best of luck to the author because they definitely have a very distinct and unique voice, especially with those repeat "hot flashes from hell". I’m just not sure it’s necessarily my cup of tea moving forward, but I'm glad I gave it a shot.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Midge is in her late forties and is a lovely, divorced, mother of two. Perfectly rational and able to cope with whatever is thrown at her, so when she found herself overheating (even after stripping down to her underwear), she found a convenient solution and plunged outside into the snow to cool down. She then found herself locked out ... stuck outside the luxury cabin that she'd booked for some time to unwind, "away from it all".
Calum is a bear shifter, in his early fifties, whose children have, likewise, grown up and moved away. His ideal "time off" was to amble through the woods in his bear form however that ideal didn't include the presence of a semi-clad woman freezing in the snow.
The humour present throughout is first class; the romance is passionate whilst remaining gentle. Personally, I would have enjoyed several more chapters (the book is only about 60 pages, justly sold as a "quickie") however there is nothing "missing" as such, it's just my desire to have more of a good thing!
(I was fortunate to receive an ARC however the above is, as ever, my own opinion.)
The story is funny,exciting and steamy hot! A Mysterious event happened. What people called the Convergence. When Paranormals shows up everywhere, and landscapes change. Now shifters, and other paranormals live amongst humans. Midge is a spunky middle aged divorcee. She rents a cabin in the middle of nowhere during winter. Then the worse thing happens Midge has a severe hot flash! It is so bad she strips down, and goes outside in the snow. She discovers a huge problem. Midge locked herself out. Now she must find a way back in or freeze to death. As she ties to find a way back in Midge knocked herself out! Calum is a sexy Black Bear shifter. He has lived near the lake for years. Hidden from human eyes. He has built a Stunning home for himself in the middle of nowhere. While is outside in his bear form. Something catches his bears attention. He follows where it leads them. They come across a half naked woman out cold in the snow. He takes her back to his home. Did fate arrange for them to meet? Will Midge bring tire life back into Calum??
I really enjoyed this book. The author knows how to write. You’re immediately engrossed in the story, and even though this is a novella, you don’t feel like anything is being rushed.
I loved the characters. Midge felt relatable as a character and also felt like a 47-year-old woman. So many times, you read a book with an older female protagonist, and she’s written like she’s a member of “Gossip Girl”.
I also appreciated how the love story unfolded. It felt deep in a way that is surprising for so short a book. Another testament to the writing.
I was a bit confused about the cave/butler situation, but I wonder if, because I started with the third book, there is a piece of backstory I may be missing.
This is a beautifully written book, with great characters, and some snow-melting scenes. Highly recommend!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
CONTENT WARNINGS Graphic: Sexual content Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Thank you BookSirens and Stephany Simmons for sending me this advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was an awesome quick read, and I love that it featured characters in their 40's and 50's. It talks about how lonely it can be when you are on your own after a failed marriage and the kids are adults now.
It also goes through body changes, and the hot flash scene was so dang good! I know exactly how awful hot flashes can be, and diving into a snowbank would feel great.
The spice was top notch, and so cozy and sweet. They are perfect for each other, and it's so nice to read a story about starting over and finding love again even though you are older. It gives us hope that things can always get better.
Overall this was a great little book snack that you can read in about an hour.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Tropes: * Both newly single * Single parents of older children * He’s a bear shifter * She’s recently divorced
Thank you to Book Sirens and Stephany Simmons for this eARC! All opinions are of my own. I enjoy this quick and steamy romances, and this was a fast burn with a side of sweet warmth, too.
I liked that both Midge and Calum were dealing with similar feelings about their lives before their chance meeting. He gives Batman meets the Beast vibes, and I like he’s got a mysterious allure to him! It helps Midge leave her comfort zone and take a chance on him veryyy quickly. Not only does he save her, but he treats her like she should always have been cared for. Along with that warm chocolate 😉, this was a nice and quick little novella to warm me up during a cold winter night 💙
Snowbound w/the Bear’ is a well written character driven read. The author, Stephanie Simmons, is unapologetically up front regarding the lack of true plot. Personally, I enjoy her version of books in between heavy plot lines and 400+ pages.
Midge’s ownership of her hot flashes are hilarious, and her descriptions are painfully accurate. Calum just takes them in stride—just as she does his … well, we gotta let y’all read that for yourself.
A free copy of a Convergence Quickie? Yes, please!
I have read the first two books in this series already, and I have to say that I LOVE the idea of magic suddenly being real.
Due to a hilarious set of circumstances, Calum had to chance to rescue Midge, whether she wanted it or not. I can understand her fears at the time. I know that I would be terrified. I'm glad that she decided to allow it to happen. I bet she is, too.
It was one heck of a night, that's for sure! My only problem is that I don't get to see how things shape up for them. I guess that's the point of a short story, though.
Stephany is writing and I'm reading, that's the reality of this series!
Although this is the shortest book in the series so far, we can see the connection that forms between the characters, and we were introduced to a new category, now a shifter. Both are at a more mature point in their lives and I think that's what makes the reader relate to them; we also want to see ourselves portrayed in the stories as main characters! (LOL)
Will only the men in these stories be those coming from another universe with the convergence, or can we expect female characters coming from there as well? Looking forward to the next story.
This Novella was exactly as advertised and was a perfect pick me up between other reads. Two empty nesters finding each other at the best moment. This was just like a warm cup of cocoa. I haven't read the first two, but now I need to back track and add those to my list too!
While I am content with this as a Novella, I would have happily continued from where it left off. Watching them grow into their new self's and building their relationship. Finding freedom in a person who accepts you as you are and is patient and supportive to help you become more. 💕
A middle-aged peri-menopausal woman meets a sexy bear shifter, need I say more?
Thank you to Stephany Simmons, and BookSirens for the ARC of this book.
Midge locks herself out of her cozy cabin while trying to cool down from a hot flash. In comes Calum, the bear shifter to save the day. This is a short and sweet read about Midge getting the love and attention she deserves, while Calum learns sometimes regular humans can treat shifters normally too. I enjoyed this read, as I have many of Stephany's books.
I’m really enjoying this series with older MCs that have lived lives & they are mentioned along with other things that aren’t typically mentioned in romance books - mainly menopause, but it’s refreshing to have these things mentioned in positive ways.
I’m sooo up for reading more shifter romance by Stephany in future!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If you need a relatively short story that has shifters Including a bear shifter, who is all the green flags, you need to read this! Both Calum and Midge are older with their kids grown up. It's refreshing to have a fmc who is closer to my age. And honestly, what happens to her to get locked out if the cabin would totally happen to me! A few more years and I will be right there! Great writing/editing, great spice, and an all around good story!
I love these stories wish they were a bit longer. This sounds like a world that it would be absolutely facinating to live in. Being with someone who really appreciates you for who you are and wants to be with you. Callum sounds wonderful and Midge sounds like someone who has had to make do all of her life. They both deserve someone very special in their lives.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was selected as a Arc reader for this short read. The main female character was quite relatable, this was the first read that had a female character that wasn’t young, perky, and trying to figure out life. This was a well seasoned woman who life experience taught her who she was, but then spit her out and now she needed to redefine what that looked like. Sometimes starting over at 40 something isn’t glamorous, but we’re still women and can still be beautiful and desirable. Book highlighted just that. Oh and a dash of steam! Whew!!
I would first like to say that I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A fast-paced bear-shifter romance with lots of spice, green flags and understanding. Would totally recommend for those into quick reads and wholesome/cozy vibes. I read it in under 30 minutes, although I would have preferred a longer book with more plot. Overall, quick and lovely read, and I can't wait for more convergence quickies.
This book is my first read in Stephany's Convergence series and I'm absolutely hooked! I can't wait to go back and read more!
As a lady in her late 30s, I find myself looking for romance stories with more mature MCs and this delivered! Midge is the perfect leading lady, she stole my heart from the very first page. I mean...jumping in the snow was brilliant! Calum is the sexy and sophisticated silver fox we are all looking for! His respectful yearning is top tier!
So far, everything I have read from this author has been stellar! She has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Very intelligent, witty, humorous, consistently solid writing, page turner plots, characters with depth, open door steam, fun paranormal fantasy world building. Highly recommend this short, sweet, satisfying read along with their other books and stories.
*****ARC REVIEW***** I absolutely adore stories with older characters, especially when the FMC is older, and Midge is going through what is possibly one of the worst times a woman can experience. Even just thinking about hot flushes fills me with dread🥵
But then there’s Calum, being chill AF about it all, and honestly who doesn’t love a big bear shifter who’s supportive, steady, and utterly delicious?
This was such a lovely, delightful read and absolutely perfect for a cold winter’s evening.
Super cute! I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy for free.
It’s an easy, cute read. I enjoyed reading this very much. It’s more of a slow burn compared to the other two. I appreciated the honestly between them both and the feelings.
It was a cozy, cute story!
It was nice to have something short to obsess over for a while where I didn’t have to think! I definitely recommend anything from Stephany Simmons!