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Shifters Forever #1
Protection
Grizzly bear shifter Grant Waters wants one woman—Curvy Chelsea O'Reilly. He's wanted her since they met. Except he's worried his secret may be too much for her. It may be what sets her running.
Curvaceous Chelsea works at a salon in Bear Canyon Valley. She gets butterflies when Grant's around. But she's got her own baggage. Plus, she thinks that Grant would be better off with the local, stunning, curvy, widowed-way-too-early Mae Forester.
If hot sex skeeves you out, you may want to pass on this book.
If freaky, downright dirty sexy talk bothers you, yeah, for sure you gotta pass on this one.
We believe in sex--hot, dirty, delicious sex.
Yup, make it sweaty, too. It's not just sex, it's about the romance.
But good romance has sex, and we keep the doors open! Oh, and the lights on! ;)
This BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance for adults only.
Curvaceous Chelsea works at a salon in Bear Canyon Valley. She gets butterflies when Grant's around. But she's got her own baggage. Plus, she thinks that Grant would be better off with the local, stunning, curvy, widowed-way-too-early Mae Forester.
If hot sex skeeves you out, you may want to pass on this book.
If freaky, downright dirty sexy talk bothers you, yeah, for sure you gotta pass on this one.
We believe in sex--hot, dirty, delicious sex.
Yup, make it sweaty, too. It's not just sex, it's about the romance.
But good romance has sex, and we keep the doors open! Oh, and the lights on! ;)
This BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance for adults only.
111 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2015
311 people are currently reading
1055 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
September 24, 2016
3.75/5
Hot. Sexy. Action-packed. Fast-paced.
This was my first read from this author so I had no expectations going into it, honestly, I knew nothing about this one. I dove into it blind and good thing I did, because it was such a pleasurable reading experience. This novella totally took me by surprise!
Grant Waters, a grizzly bear shifter, wanted Chelsea O'Reilly since he first met her. If he wasn't worried that his secret would make her run away, he would have made a move on her a long time ago. But it wasn't only him who had a secret; his dream woman had her own one, too.
Despite the fact that this was a short story, it contained an actual plot—a gripping one. There was almost no filler here. It was very impressive that this book had only 186 pages but there was so much happening in it. There were some scorching hot moments that I wouldn't recommend reading in public, and there were also some nail-biting moments that I found myself on the edge of my seat the whole time. However, I felt there was not enough time for them to develop their love relationship. Everything happened in a very short period of time (after Grant finally asked Chelsea out for dinner). I think they fell in love with each other too fast and too easily, and it seemed somewhat far-fetched to me.
This book was full of many things that I like in paranormal romance stories. It should really be a winner for me, but...
The only thing that stopped me from giving this book 5 stars was Chelsea. She annoyed me most of the time and I didn't much enjoy her character. I like smart and strong heroines but Chelsea is just too weak for my personal taste.
By the way, Protection had me glued to every single page right from the start to the end. It was a great start to the series. If you love reading paranormal romance stories with suspense elements, then this one is for you.
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** This book was given to me on instaFreebie.
** You can download it free from Amazon for your kindle.
Hot. Sexy. Action-packed. Fast-paced.
This was my first read from this author so I had no expectations going into it, honestly, I knew nothing about this one. I dove into it blind and good thing I did, because it was such a pleasurable reading experience. This novella totally took me by surprise!
Grant Waters, a grizzly bear shifter, wanted Chelsea O'Reilly since he first met her. If he wasn't worried that his secret would make her run away, he would have made a move on her a long time ago. But it wasn't only him who had a secret; his dream woman had her own one, too.
Despite the fact that this was a short story, it contained an actual plot—a gripping one. There was almost no filler here. It was very impressive that this book had only 186 pages but there was so much happening in it. There were some scorching hot moments that I wouldn't recommend reading in public, and there were also some nail-biting moments that I found myself on the edge of my seat the whole time. However, I felt there was not enough time for them to develop their love relationship. Everything happened in a very short period of time (after Grant finally asked Chelsea out for dinner). I think they fell in love with each other too fast and too easily, and it seemed somewhat far-fetched to me.
This book was full of many things that I like in paranormal romance stories. It should really be a winner for me, but...
The only thing that stopped me from giving this book 5 stars was Chelsea. She annoyed me most of the time and I didn't much enjoy her character. I like smart and strong heroines but Chelsea is just too weak for my personal taste.
By the way, Protection had me glued to every single page right from the start to the end. It was a great start to the series. If you love reading paranormal romance stories with suspense elements, then this one is for you.
----------------------------------------------
** This book was given to me on instaFreebie.
** You can download it free from Amazon for your kindle.
February 5, 2017
2.5*
This is a quick shifter romance, it actually felt much shorter than it's 186 pages (although it does end at 68%). Grant is a six foot four inch bear shifter and he knows Chelsea is his mate but she's human and he's not found the courage to actually ask her out let alone tell her he's a shifter.
Chelsea is running from her past and while she feels an incredible attraction towards Grant she knows he'd be better suited with Mae her boss. Both are attractive and slim unlike Chelsea who is curvy.
Grant was cute as the huge powerful shifter nervous about asking Chelsea out. Chelsea was more than a little annoying with all the constant self doubt the way she gave in to bullying so easily.
It took ages for these two to get together which didn't work for me considering it's such a short book.
I have to say I didn't understand Jeff's part at all.
March 14, 2016
1 1/2
If you want a very insecure female protagonist that makes very poor decisions based on not offending anyone, even against her instincts and fears, then... this might be the book for you. She makes very stupid decisions that put her in prime position to be taken advantage of or raped. The reason it doesn't happen is only by coincidence. Then when she is rescued, instead of admitting that she thinks her boss is with the man she is interested in and asking, she decides to run away. This is a spoiler but... I really disliked the character, really, really, disliked her. She is a doormat, allowing people to pressure her into things, and idiotic by believing things about people without asking and then making stupid decisions based upon the assumption. This was such a short story that some things have to be done very quickly and for this, the author decided to force the issues upfront but it only made for a week willed and dumb character that I didn't connect with at all. Of course there is insta love and that just made it worse for me because I didn't like the woman.
So I will try the next as I have the boxed set, but I'm not holding my breath. I've heard that they get better so will hope. They are so short that it shouldn't matter too much but I don't want to waste 1-2 hours either. I thought this was erotica but really it is paranormal romance with a scene or two of pretty quick descriptive sex. But not really the main theme. 1/2 to Grant as the hero.
If you want a very insecure female protagonist that makes very poor decisions based on not offending anyone, even against her instincts and fears, then... this might be the book for you. She makes very stupid decisions that put her in prime position to be taken advantage of or raped. The reason it doesn't happen is only by coincidence. Then when she is rescued, instead of admitting that she thinks her boss is with the man she is interested in and asking, she decides to run away. This is a spoiler but... I really disliked the character, really, really, disliked her. She is a doormat, allowing people to pressure her into things, and idiotic by believing things about people without asking and then making stupid decisions based upon the assumption. This was such a short story that some things have to be done very quickly and for this, the author decided to force the issues upfront but it only made for a week willed and dumb character that I didn't connect with at all. Of course there is insta love and that just made it worse for me because I didn't like the woman.
So I will try the next as I have the boxed set, but I'm not holding my breath. I've heard that they get better so will hope. They are so short that it shouldn't matter too much but I don't want to waste 1-2 hours either. I thought this was erotica but really it is paranormal romance with a scene or two of pretty quick descriptive sex. But not really the main theme. 1/2 to Grant as the hero.
July 15, 2025
Protection by Elle Thorne
Genres: Adult (though I hesitate to call it that), Paranormal, Romance, and a whole new category, TSTL. Meaning the entire story & all the characters are TSTL.
-0 stars is my true rating.
This book was horrendous.
The dialog, the characters, the story, every aspect of it was unBearable.
I thought I would never get through it.
It was so bad it was actually painful to read.
It was NOT painful due to darkness or anything like triggers. Nope.
It was the story itself. The way it was written. The characters, especially the main female, had to have had their brains eaten by some kind of parasite and they are trying to make us believe their actions have some sort of viability to them.
It makes your brain hurt with all the truly stupid things they think and do.
All this authors books on my shelf are going into my reject shelves.
Take my advice and save yourself from this painful experience.
Don't read them unless you are a sadist and enjoy causing your brain pain.
Genres: Adult (though I hesitate to call it that), Paranormal, Romance, and a whole new category, TSTL. Meaning the entire story & all the characters are TSTL.
-0 stars is my true rating.
This book was horrendous.
The dialog, the characters, the story, every aspect of it was unBearable.
I thought I would never get through it.
It was so bad it was actually painful to read.
It was NOT painful due to darkness or anything like triggers. Nope.
It was the story itself. The way it was written. The characters, especially the main female, had to have had their brains eaten by some kind of parasite and they are trying to make us believe their actions have some sort of viability to them.
It makes your brain hurt with all the truly stupid things they think and do.
All this authors books on my shelf are going into my reject shelves.
Take my advice and save yourself from this painful experience.
Don't read them unless you are a sadist and enjoy causing your brain pain.
May 6, 2016
Thank goodness this was free. It was kind of horrible. The editing was fine, etc. It was the characters. They are all too stupid to live. Chelsea, the heroine, does not have an intuitive bone in her body. She has no sense of self-preservation or respect. Jeff, a main-ish character, is a realtor, and he's smarmy. Grant is the hero and he's a bear shifter. He can smell fear on Chelsea when Jeff is around and finds it odd, but thinks nothing of leaving her with Jeff. So Jeff speaks to Chelsea in the most disrepectful way:
“What’s to think about? A down-and-out, broke hairdresser would turn down a successful man like me? Do you know who I am?”
She immediately apologizes for upsetting him and then agrees to what he wants (for her to go out with him) because she doesn't want to make a scene or be a "bother". When he picks her up that evening after she's finished working, she tries to beg off the date, but he's tampered with her car so that it won't start. He (and the circumstances) basically forces her to accept a ride from him. He stops for hot chocolate for her, which he's drugged. She, of course, drinks it. Once the drug begins to take effect, he attempts to sexually assault her. He gets as far as grabbing her breast before she's able to control her hand enough to get her car door open and falls out of a moving vehicle.
What else? Grant finds her on the side of the road, unconscious because she hit a tree, after she's escaped Jeff. He takes her to a cave to warm her up. He does have enough sense to want to take her to a hospital, but she absolutely refuses. Then, while she's still groggy from the drug Jeff had given her, Grant gives her oral sex. Perfect timing.
Chelsea later goes "missing". Instead of contacting the police, Grant decides to handle it. People *die* and there is no police involvement. There are no questions.
Sure, this is a paranormal romance about a bear shifter and his human mate. I can willingly suspend disbelief for that. But, they exist in this world. The author did not set up some alternate reality where people behave differently for some reason. I can't get over the characters being too stupid to live.
“What’s to think about? A down-and-out, broke hairdresser would turn down a successful man like me? Do you know who I am?”
She immediately apologizes for upsetting him and then agrees to what he wants (for her to go out with him) because she doesn't want to make a scene or be a "bother". When he picks her up that evening after she's finished working, she tries to beg off the date, but he's tampered with her car so that it won't start. He (and the circumstances) basically forces her to accept a ride from him. He stops for hot chocolate for her, which he's drugged. She, of course, drinks it. Once the drug begins to take effect, he attempts to sexually assault her. He gets as far as grabbing her breast before she's able to control her hand enough to get her car door open and falls out of a moving vehicle.
What else? Grant finds her on the side of the road, unconscious because she hit a tree, after she's escaped Jeff. He takes her to a cave to warm her up. He does have enough sense to want to take her to a hospital, but she absolutely refuses. Then, while she's still groggy from the drug Jeff had given her, Grant gives her oral sex. Perfect timing.
Chelsea later goes "missing". Instead of contacting the police, Grant decides to handle it. People *die* and there is no police involvement. There are no questions.
Sure, this is a paranormal romance about a bear shifter and his human mate. I can willingly suspend disbelief for that. But, they exist in this world. The author did not set up some alternate reality where people behave differently for some reason. I can't get over the characters being too stupid to live.
March 24, 2016
**2.5 Stars**
I read this short shifter story a while back. For some reason I didn't rate it here on GR so I decided to do a re-read. I know I enjoyed it the first time. This time, it didn't impact me quite as much.
Chelsea is on the run. She has settled in Bear Canyon Valley for the time being. She meets Grant at the hair salon she works at. Grant, a bear shifter, has been visiting Chelsea to get his hair cut for months, every three weeks. They have danced around their attraction to each other. She is the mate he has always wanted. They finally get a push in the right direction though, it wasn't a "good" push.
I liked Grant. He seemed sweet and caring. Chelsea got on my nerves a bit. I felt she was too easily bullied by the bad guy. It caused her to make some dumb decisions.
One thing that bugged me is it's almost 80% before Chelsea and Grant actually get together and straighten everything out. In a short story, that is way too long IMO.
This was just okay. Nothing out of the ordinary or special. I think at the time I originally read it I liked it well enough and I liked it okay now there just wasn't anything "spectacular" about it.
Safety Gang:
I read this short shifter story a while back. For some reason I didn't rate it here on GR so I decided to do a re-read. I know I enjoyed it the first time. This time, it didn't impact me quite as much.
Chelsea is on the run. She has settled in Bear Canyon Valley for the time being. She meets Grant at the hair salon she works at. Grant, a bear shifter, has been visiting Chelsea to get his hair cut for months, every three weeks. They have danced around their attraction to each other. She is the mate he has always wanted. They finally get a push in the right direction though, it wasn't a "good" push.
I liked Grant. He seemed sweet and caring. Chelsea got on my nerves a bit. I felt she was too easily bullied by the bad guy. It caused her to make some dumb decisions.
One thing that bugged me is it's almost 80% before Chelsea and Grant actually get together and straighten everything out. In a short story, that is way too long IMO.
This was just okay. Nothing out of the ordinary or special. I think at the time I originally read it I liked it well enough and I liked it okay now there just wasn't anything "spectacular" about it.
Safety Gang:
February 14, 2019
Nice easy read, just what I needed!
September 18, 2022
The couple: Grant and Chelsea
Romance trope: Shifters
Series: Shifters Forever
Length: 186 pages
Plot: Chelsea works as a hairdresser at a local salon, and Grant is a bear shifter (although Chelsea doesn't know that). Grant comes in for a haircut every few weeks because he has a crush on Chelsea. She likes him also, but is reserved. There's another guy who causes problems for some reason (that we never really find out) and then there's another guy who causes problems. All the problems are solved after a final confrontation.
Commentary: Fair to middling character development. I got hints of who they were, but not enough. Grant especially could have used some elaboration. He was a leader in their community - what did that mean? These shifters had longevity? Any other "powers?" What about the matebond? It was mentioned, but only briefly. And Chelsea - did she gain some confidence? Go back on the grid? There were unanswered questions related to the characters.
I thought the ending was a little weird. There was no real epilogue - that last little bit took place very soon after the action ended, but the ending to the whole story was the appearance of another mysterious shifter, and Chelsea kind of shrugging her shoulders, saying, "wonder if he's sticking around." It was a lead-in to the next books, of course (and five chapters of the next book were included in the back of this one), but it was odd to end Chelsea and Grant's story this way, in my opinion.
eta: if you read the box set, it flows a little better.
Romance trope: Shifters
Series: Shifters Forever
Length: 186 pages
Plot: Chelsea works as a hairdresser at a local salon, and Grant is a bear shifter (although Chelsea doesn't know that). Grant comes in for a haircut every few weeks because he has a crush on Chelsea. She likes him also, but is reserved. There's another guy who causes problems for some reason (that we never really find out) and then there's another guy who causes problems. All the problems are solved after a final confrontation.
Commentary: Fair to middling character development. I got hints of who they were, but not enough. Grant especially could have used some elaboration. He was a leader in their community - what did that mean? These shifters had longevity? Any other "powers?" What about the matebond? It was mentioned, but only briefly. And Chelsea - did she gain some confidence? Go back on the grid? There were unanswered questions related to the characters.
I thought the ending was a little weird. There was no real epilogue - that last little bit took place very soon after the action ended, but the ending to the whole story was the appearance of another mysterious shifter, and Chelsea kind of shrugging her shoulders, saying, "wonder if he's sticking around." It was a lead-in to the next books, of course (and five chapters of the next book were included in the back of this one), but it was odd to end Chelsea and Grant's story this way, in my opinion.
eta: if you read the box set, it flows a little better.
July 6, 2015
This was a really good book. Grant Waters is a grizzly bear shifter who wants only one woman. He has wanted Chelsea O'Reilly since he first met her. Chelsea works at a salon in Bear Canyon Valley. She gets butterflies when Grant's around Chelsea has a lot of baggage and thinks that Grant would be better off with someone else. Grant is worried that his secret would freak her out. This was a very short hot quick read I mean the sex scenes were hot. This was my first time reading this author. This book had a few errors in it, but it was nothing that stopped me from reading this book although it was the cause of me giving it 4 stars. I love reading about hot shifters with hot sex. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
January 19, 2017
Wow this was bad. The heroine had so many insecurities and such low self esteem. She was a doormat. The hero, though alpha and protective, could've had more substance. I liked their story easily enough (hence the two stars) but all the other crazy-ass stuff such as a rohypnol laced hot chocolate toting villain and a murderous ex boyfriend turning up, was just so unbelievable. One of those scenarios was crazy enough especially in such a short story but two?!?! And yes, I know he's a bear shifter but this story is short and if I had to read another time he has to suppress a bear roar or a bear instinct, I would've ripped the pages out (if this hadn't of been an e-book!). Seriously. Avoid this. Now I know why this book was free.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2016
It was a good book but to short. I have enjoyed the writing style and I wished there was more to the story that what I got.
Chelsea was most of the time a weak heroine and that didn't help the overall story. I would have loved a stronger female character to match Grant.
I liked Grant. As usual the shifter male is beautiful and strong while the female is chubby and naive - hence my talk about clichee.
Overall was a short story who needed more details and depth but it was enough to for a quick read.
Chelsea was most of the time a weak heroine and that didn't help the overall story. I would have loved a stronger female character to match Grant.
I liked Grant. As usual the shifter male is beautiful and strong while the female is chubby and naive - hence my talk about clichee.
Overall was a short story who needed more details and depth but it was enough to for a quick read.
May 25, 2017
Hiding away from her past Chelsea moves to Bear Canyon Valley to start over. Feeling comfortable in her new home with her new boss, Chelsea starts to live again.
Grant Waters a friendly resident has decided he needs a haircut every 3 weeks, whether he needs it or not, because he is attracted to the new stylist working for his friend Mae.
It seems the attraction goes both ways, but do they have a chance at real love?
Between misunderstandings, and evil that finds its way to their quiet little town, Chelsea may just run. Will Grant be able to stop her and keep this newfound Love regardless of they bumps placed in their way?
Grab Author Elle Thorne's Shifters Forever Worlds and follow the lives and loves of these amazing Shifters and their incredible Mates. Well Done🌺❤️
Grant Waters a friendly resident has decided he needs a haircut every 3 weeks, whether he needs it or not, because he is attracted to the new stylist working for his friend Mae.
It seems the attraction goes both ways, but do they have a chance at real love?
Between misunderstandings, and evil that finds its way to their quiet little town, Chelsea may just run. Will Grant be able to stop her and keep this newfound Love regardless of they bumps placed in their way?
Grab Author Elle Thorne's Shifters Forever Worlds and follow the lives and loves of these amazing Shifters and their incredible Mates. Well Done🌺❤️
January 5, 2017
Chelsea is on the run from her dangerous ex-boyfriend and has found a quiet place to cut hair and hide from him. For being a small town Bear Canyon Valley has lots of eye candy but she only has eyes for Grant who comes in often to have his hair cut. The attraction is mutual and when Grant finally asks her out she jumps at the chance to go out with him.
However, she has another client that is also interested in her and she doesn't want to make trouble she agree's to go out with him too even though she doesn't want to. Before Chelsea can cancel with Jeff he shows up at the shop, determined to keep their date and when her car won't start she's forced to accept the ride home from him. Only Jeff has other plans which include hot chocolate and a drive that will change her life forever.
I like Chelsea she's on the run from an abusive ex and has landed right in the heart of shifter country. She's a good girl who just needs the right bear to sweep her off her feet and Grant is just that bear. The chemistry between the two is on fire, they have a steamy connection.
Protection is the first installment in the Shifters Forever Series. I've actually read this series out of order but I know who Chelsea and Grant are from other books. I was excited to get a chance to finally hear their story which is sweet. I feel like I was really able to connect with Chelsea as we've both had a similar ex-boyfriend at one time and a good guy won our hearts. I love the bear shifter concept it's very unique and who doesn't love a steamy happy ever after romance. I enjoyed the author's writing style she has a smooth story telling style that is easy to get lost in and creating a hard to put down book.
However, she has another client that is also interested in her and she doesn't want to make trouble she agree's to go out with him too even though she doesn't want to. Before Chelsea can cancel with Jeff he shows up at the shop, determined to keep their date and when her car won't start she's forced to accept the ride home from him. Only Jeff has other plans which include hot chocolate and a drive that will change her life forever.
I like Chelsea she's on the run from an abusive ex and has landed right in the heart of shifter country. She's a good girl who just needs the right bear to sweep her off her feet and Grant is just that bear. The chemistry between the two is on fire, they have a steamy connection.
Protection is the first installment in the Shifters Forever Series. I've actually read this series out of order but I know who Chelsea and Grant are from other books. I was excited to get a chance to finally hear their story which is sweet. I feel like I was really able to connect with Chelsea as we've both had a similar ex-boyfriend at one time and a good guy won our hearts. I love the bear shifter concept it's very unique and who doesn't love a steamy happy ever after romance. I enjoyed the author's writing style she has a smooth story telling style that is easy to get lost in and creating a hard to put down book.
February 9, 2017
Made it to chapter 10 and the first paragraph disgusted me so much I closed the book. If it had been a physical book I would have tossed it. (Likely into a pile so someone else can enjoy this grossness.)
May 20, 2015
Chelsea is a girl living in the small town of Bear Canyon Valley hiding from a very troubling past. She is very paranoid of everything around her and jumps at her own shadow. What she doesn't know is that she has made her home in bear shifter territory and the hunk she day dreams about is is one of them.
Grant Waters is an Alpha werebear and Chief of his Clan.. He's a big bear, but he doesn't feel so big when he sees Chelsea, he can't even get the nerve to ask her out!
But Chelsea's paranoia may very well be the death of her, will she let down her walls and tell Grant what she is running from, or will her fears bring trouble?
Lots of secrets, intrigue and sizzling passion await the reader. This is a great series and can be read as a standalone.. This is the first time I have read one of Ms. Thorn's books, but certainly won't be the last since I loved it and am on my way to the read the next.
I was gifted this book by the author for an honest review.
Grant Waters is an Alpha werebear and Chief of his Clan.. He's a big bear, but he doesn't feel so big when he sees Chelsea, he can't even get the nerve to ask her out!
But Chelsea's paranoia may very well be the death of her, will she let down her walls and tell Grant what she is running from, or will her fears bring trouble?
Lots of secrets, intrigue and sizzling passion await the reader. This is a great series and can be read as a standalone.. This is the first time I have read one of Ms. Thorn's books, but certainly won't be the last since I loved it and am on my way to the read the next.
I was gifted this book by the author for an honest review.
May 3, 2015
This was a fairly good book. It started well and the author's style of writing was quite easy to read.
I did feel that Chelsea was bordering on being too stupid to live at a couple of points. A stronger, smarter heroine would have improved the story. Also, I felt that the book was a little short and rushed. There were a few places where I felt there should have been more explanation. In a couple of places, I was a little confused.
Overall, though, it was a reasonable book and pleasant enough to pass a little time. It was good, but with a little more work it could have been better.
I did feel that Chelsea was bordering on being too stupid to live at a couple of points. A stronger, smarter heroine would have improved the story. Also, I felt that the book was a little short and rushed. There were a few places where I felt there should have been more explanation. In a couple of places, I was a little confused.
Overall, though, it was a reasonable book and pleasant enough to pass a little time. It was good, but with a little more work it could have been better.
May 16, 2015
FABULOUS READ
I enjoyed reading this book the first in this series. Once I started reading this book I became enthralled with the story. One strong handsome shifter! yes! One BBW that's needs rescuing from not one but two evil guys! Yes! There is suspense, romance, murder and Hot scorching sex. The dialogue flows at good pace and well written. This is a great beginning for a series and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
I enjoyed reading this book the first in this series. Once I started reading this book I became enthralled with the story. One strong handsome shifter! yes! One BBW that's needs rescuing from not one but two evil guys! Yes! There is suspense, romance, murder and Hot scorching sex. The dialogue flows at good pace and well written. This is a great beginning for a series and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
January 18, 2017
1.5 stars. This book was too boring to hate...I don't understand so many high ratings. The chatacters are flat and one dimensional...the story is all over the place and the herione is TSTL. Seriously, so glad I didn't pay for it. If you want a good shifter book, try Molly Harper, Christine Warren, or Patricia Briggs. Plus Jessica Sims has a couple of awesome bear shifter books.
June 14, 2015
Love it!!!!
I love this one!! It means now I have to get all the others!! I just live bear shifters, and reading about bear shifters makes me very happy!! Alpha male bear shifter finds his mate, but the road to gap pines has potholes!!
I love this one!! It means now I have to get all the others!! I just live bear shifters, and reading about bear shifters makes me very happy!! Alpha male bear shifter finds his mate, but the road to gap pines has potholes!!
June 12, 2016
Great read,
Chelsea has the hots for Grant, but when she finally acts on this something gets in the way.
Abducting her and next to that her past comes back for her too.
Book with a lot of evil in it, but luckily Grant is there for her.
How? For that you have to read the book.
Chelsea has the hots for Grant, but when she finally acts on this something gets in the way.
Abducting her and next to that her past comes back for her too.
Book with a lot of evil in it, but luckily Grant is there for her.
How? For that you have to read the book.
May 20, 2016
3 1/2 stars
August 20, 2016
I have many issues with this story, but perhaps the most important would be with the writing itself. It read like a first draft, and a poorly constructed one at that, and I just couldn't get past it.
November 27, 2025
So I picked up the box set of this series some time ago and I cannot remember why I did, but I won’t be rushing to continue reading this series.
The writing, overall, was reasonable. I did note a few things (listed below) that another edit would fix. But my main issues were around characterisation, story and some serious red flags in terms of consent and taking advantage of someone in a compromised state.
The main female character, Chelsea, was borderline Too Stupid To Live (TSTL) and made the most idiotic decisions that were clearly not based on reality but some perceived version of reality that the reader was not privy to.
Jeff’s character was so stupidly ‘bad’ that it just came across as dumb. He was a caricature of a bad guy, so bad he was all bad. His motives were not revealed and because he was so one dimensional, he had no impact at all on the story.
Our hero, Grant, should have been a source of warm fuzzies and smutty excitement, but he also failed to deliver.
Mae and Grant’s stupid decisions throughout the book served only to allow the shenanigans to happen and that smacked of TSTL territory.
The story overall lacked any real substance. Characters are all either TSTL or cardboard cutouts and serve little more than to fill a gap and then you also have consent issues and promotion of toxic behaviours as sexy. Not a good mix at all!
Some things I noticed:
8% - …wanted to the (delete the) commit the couplebond...
- Chelsea was already wrapped in the sleeping bag, why re-wrap her when he arrived at the cabin?
16% - “He’ll will (delete will) need a place…
The writing, overall, was reasonable. I did note a few things (listed below) that another edit would fix. But my main issues were around characterisation, story and some serious red flags in terms of consent and taking advantage of someone in a compromised state.
The main female character, Chelsea, was borderline Too Stupid To Live (TSTL) and made the most idiotic decisions that were clearly not based on reality but some perceived version of reality that the reader was not privy to.
Jeff’s character was so stupidly ‘bad’ that it just came across as dumb. He was a caricature of a bad guy, so bad he was all bad. His motives were not revealed and because he was so one dimensional, he had no impact at all on the story.
Our hero, Grant, should have been a source of warm fuzzies and smutty excitement, but he also failed to deliver.
Mae and Grant’s stupid decisions throughout the book served only to allow the shenanigans to happen and that smacked of TSTL territory.
The story overall lacked any real substance. Characters are all either TSTL or cardboard cutouts and serve little more than to fill a gap and then you also have consent issues and promotion of toxic behaviours as sexy. Not a good mix at all!
Some things I noticed:
8% - …wanted to the (delete the) commit the couplebond...
- Chelsea was already wrapped in the sleeping bag, why re-wrap her when he arrived at the cabin?
16% - “He’ll will (delete will) need a place…
June 20, 2023
(1.5 stars)
When the text is discussing private parts twitching by sentence nine, readers know what to expect from a read. This is an erotica shifter novella and delivers on that premise. It’s straightforward and easy to breeze through. Sadly, it is not as fun as the blurb summary suggests. A meddling matchmaker boss, a man fighting his instincts to give a woman time to accept his truth, and small-town politics is enough to seem interesting. Among the cliches and standard tropes, there are good ideas which lack development. In general the story lacks coherency. A victim of domestic abuse on the run from a known stalker has no self-preservation measures in place or weapons on her. There is no reaction to a man becoming a bear. The couple’s first physical encounter occurs when Chelsea is drugged and injured before they’ve had a real date. There is no explanation for how her ex suddenly found her, why Jeff thought he could get away with abduction and rape, or how two bodies are made to disappear. For some it will be mindless filler, but didn’t quite work for me.
When the text is discussing private parts twitching by sentence nine, readers know what to expect from a read. This is an erotica shifter novella and delivers on that premise. It’s straightforward and easy to breeze through. Sadly, it is not as fun as the blurb summary suggests. A meddling matchmaker boss, a man fighting his instincts to give a woman time to accept his truth, and small-town politics is enough to seem interesting. Among the cliches and standard tropes, there are good ideas which lack development. In general the story lacks coherency. A victim of domestic abuse on the run from a known stalker has no self-preservation measures in place or weapons on her. There is no reaction to a man becoming a bear. The couple’s first physical encounter occurs when Chelsea is drugged and injured before they’ve had a real date. There is no explanation for how her ex suddenly found her, why Jeff thought he could get away with abduction and rape, or how two bodies are made to disappear. For some it will be mindless filler, but didn’t quite work for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2017
Okay. So I'm going to give this book 2 stars as the Author's writing style and editing isn't too bad (honestly it was the cover that sold me). One of my issues is the characters, or should I say mostly Chelsea. Sorry but I'm amazed the woman survived until adulthood. I won't go into it as I think many of the other reviews have covered her 'issues'.
My biggest gripe though is Chapter 10.
I'm sorry. If that chapter had been deleted the book could have possibly rated a 3 from me. I honestly had to go back and re-read the scene as it seemed to come out of nowhere. I really thought Chelsea had to have been hallucinating or something.
Book 1 in a six part box series. God help me. All I can say is thank goodness it was free.
My biggest gripe though is Chapter 10.
I'm sorry. If that chapter had been deleted the book could have possibly rated a 3 from me. I honestly had to go back and re-read the scene as it seemed to come out of nowhere. I really thought Chelsea had to have been hallucinating or something.
Book 1 in a six part box series. God help me. All I can say is thank goodness it was free.
May 4, 2020
Ridiculous.. I hate writing non-constructive reviews, but yeah, there’s just no positive spin here.. I tried this one since it would have been the start of a long list of potential books to read and I’ve been looking for new series to sink into. I got almost half way through it before I literally just went “NO.” I mean, I was willing to overlook subpar plot lines, insufferably insecure MCs, over-the-top “villains,” and even cringe-worthy attempts at drama... but Grant suddenly feeling up Chelz? For real?? What kind of “good guy” finds a drugged-against-her-will, possibly concussed, likely hypothermic woman passed out on the side of the road in winter and then thinks it’d be appropriate to start having sex with her the moment she’s thawed out a bit? Puh-lease. I just couldn’t. Couldn’t read beyond that sudden let’s-input-a-sex-scene-here-yeah?-even-if-it’s-totally-wrong.
DNF.
DNF.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2017
A quick, Saturday afternoon shifter read that had a bit of everything; sex, bad guys, an alpha hottie & a promise of exciting things to come.
Unfortunately, the heroine wasn't my favorite... Her ongoing insecurities & her many comments about how her boss (not her) should be with the Hero, drove me absolutely bonkers. Luckily, the Hero was sweet & sexy. He knew what he wanted & he went for it. Thank gods.
I only wish that this story was more fleshed out. I understand that shifters move fast but this just wasn't long enough. I needed more everything. #detailswh*re
I have the boxed set, so I will more than likely be checking out the next book in the series, Seduction, but it's not at the top of my to-read list quite yet. :)
Unfortunately, the heroine wasn't my favorite... Her ongoing insecurities & her many comments about how her boss (not her) should be with the Hero, drove me absolutely bonkers. Luckily, the Hero was sweet & sexy. He knew what he wanted & he went for it. Thank gods.
I only wish that this story was more fleshed out. I understand that shifters move fast but this just wasn't long enough. I needed more everything. #detailswh*re
I have the boxed set, so I will more than likely be checking out the next book in the series, Seduction, but it's not at the top of my to-read list quite yet. :)
September 23, 2019
The book was really boring. At first, I thought the chapters were short but, you know, that doesn't really matter as long as there are enough to give me a good story. But the whole story takes place in under 24hours. The Grant and Chelsea don't even get to go on a date.
Grant is a guy who goes to the hairdresser more often than he needs to and takes forever to grow the balls to ask out Chelsea. Chelsea is the kind of girl you can walk right over, doesn't dare say no to anyone. She assumes she knows about the relationship between people, and rather than facing her problems, she runs.
Although I have the entire boxset, I am not going to read any of the other stories. If the characters are similar to this book, I might just break my tablet.
Grant is a guy who goes to the hairdresser more often than he needs to and takes forever to grow the balls to ask out Chelsea. Chelsea is the kind of girl you can walk right over, doesn't dare say no to anyone. She assumes she knows about the relationship between people, and rather than facing her problems, she runs.
Although I have the entire boxset, I am not going to read any of the other stories. If the characters are similar to this book, I might just break my tablet.
October 19, 2023
Whew! Hot and steamy!! Grant sounds like the kind of guy I would fall head over heels for at a first meeting! I can see why Chelsea falls for him! Hubba Hubba! My heart aches for anyone who has endured, is in the midst of enduring, or who will endure abuse from a partner. Chelsea absolutely has the physical presence and attitude and bearing of someone who has been in an abusive situation. While I want to scream at her not to get in the car with Jeff, let alone not to even agree to going out with him, she responds to him as only someone who has been beaten down does. I have to admit that I felt a bit blood-thirsty when it came time to deal with Jeff and Chelsea's ex-boyfriend. No love lost there!!
November 1, 2023
The primary female character is terrible; she is incredibly credulous and a doormat for a woman who is capable of far greater intelligence and strength. The plot was terrible and really brief, and I detest it when women are portrayed in such a negative light. Don't get your hopes up; there isn't any spice. I spent an hour listening to the audiobook that I used through YouTube. The audiobook is only performed by a female voice. 1.25 times the reading speed to go. To reach my reading objective, I will still listen to the remainder of the series, but I will not buy it. For me, it would be a one-and-done.
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