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The Bear's Spicy Mate: A Cozy Bear Shifter Romance
Kirk's Story
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2026
53 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Harmony Raines
299 books704 followersHarmony Raines loves to write romance filled with magic and love. Her men are usually not so alpha, but they know how to treat their fated mates, or alien lovers well.
Email: harmony@harmonyraines.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harmonyraine...
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From the author:
If you love shifter romances, sign up to my newsletter at http://www.harmonyraines.com/newslett... and you'll receive an exclusive subscriber only book - Fated & Mated: Love at First Site - absolutely free!
Just my way of saying thank you for giving my books a try.
Email: harmony@harmonyraines.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harmonyraine...
-----------------------------------------------------
From the author:
If you love shifter romances, sign up to my newsletter at http://www.harmonyraines.com/newslett... and you'll receive an exclusive subscriber only book - Fated & Mated: Love at First Site - absolutely free!
Just my way of saying thank you for giving my books a try.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 19, 2026
Fiery addition to the Thornberg Restaurant series!
Isla has made a brand online and on social media of being a very harsh restaurant critic to support her and her son Percy. When they get to Bear Creek, she plans to do the same with Thornberg Restaurant. On the way there, they meet Kirk Thornberg, a chili grower. He shows her what he is building with his chilis. Isla would like to stop tearing down things, but would changing now lose the support she has gathered? Read this to find out!
The pace is fast and the tone is uncertain yet hopeful with a character centered storyline that has some steamy scenes. The characters are vibrant and endearing. Percy is a perfect addition to the story. And as always, I love the comments between Kirk and his bear! I don't mention this usually, but sometimes those are the funniest parts of the story. if you like shifter romances with delightful characters and interesting situations, and sometimes action, but not in this one, then these series are for you! At the very least, read Thornberg Ranch series in order, then Thornberg Vineyard series in order, and then Thornberg Restaurant series in order. But if you want to start at the beginning, start with the box set of Bear Creek Clan and Bear Bluff Clan. Then read the box set Return to Bear Bluff and the box sets and single stories in Return to Bear Creek series in order. There are a lot of bear shifters, but plenty of other ones as well. Then there are lots of other series set in and around Bear Creek for you to read! Enjoy!
Isla has made a brand online and on social media of being a very harsh restaurant critic to support her and her son Percy. When they get to Bear Creek, she plans to do the same with Thornberg Restaurant. On the way there, they meet Kirk Thornberg, a chili grower. He shows her what he is building with his chilis. Isla would like to stop tearing down things, but would changing now lose the support she has gathered? Read this to find out!
The pace is fast and the tone is uncertain yet hopeful with a character centered storyline that has some steamy scenes. The characters are vibrant and endearing. Percy is a perfect addition to the story. And as always, I love the comments between Kirk and his bear! I don't mention this usually, but sometimes those are the funniest parts of the story. if you like shifter romances with delightful characters and interesting situations, and sometimes action, but not in this one, then these series are for you! At the very least, read Thornberg Ranch series in order, then Thornberg Vineyard series in order, and then Thornberg Restaurant series in order. But if you want to start at the beginning, start with the box set of Bear Creek Clan and Bear Bluff Clan. Then read the box set Return to Bear Bluff and the box sets and single stories in Return to Bear Creek series in order. There are a lot of bear shifters, but plenty of other ones as well. Then there are lots of other series set in and around Bear Creek for you to read! Enjoy!
March 19, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, adored Percy, loved Kirk and thought Isla a nice person, until suddenly she wasn’t.
Not sure the mate bond should forgive all sins.
The truth of how she critiqued and criticised may have been truth and honesty, we all want an honest review that saves us an unpleasant experience, but it struck me as mean and cruel.
How many businesses has she caused to close, how many careers have been harmed? Chefs have bad days just like the rest of us mortals.
I understood how her reviewing job came to be, a snappy review of bad food when she was upset, but the meanness she continued on with must have been inherent.
Plus it felt really bad that she panned the no 2 restaurant in town, The Pinecone, right before singing the praises of the Thornberg restaurant. The family she is now part off.
So though I enjoyed this story overall, I was left with a bad taste in my mouth. Excuse the pun.
Isla gets a new life and HEA but I wonder about those years of reviews written.
I’d rather this aspect of the story was different/ softer but maybe there will be something in one of the brother’s books in relation to her past career.
Read through KU.
Not sure the mate bond should forgive all sins.
The truth of how she critiqued and criticised may have been truth and honesty, we all want an honest review that saves us an unpleasant experience, but it struck me as mean and cruel.
How many businesses has she caused to close, how many careers have been harmed? Chefs have bad days just like the rest of us mortals.
I understood how her reviewing job came to be, a snappy review of bad food when she was upset, but the meanness she continued on with must have been inherent.
Plus it felt really bad that she panned the no 2 restaurant in town, The Pinecone, right before singing the praises of the Thornberg restaurant. The family she is now part off.
So though I enjoyed this story overall, I was left with a bad taste in my mouth. Excuse the pun.
Isla gets a new life and HEA but I wonder about those years of reviews written.
I’d rather this aspect of the story was different/ softer but maybe there will be something in one of the brother’s books in relation to her past career.
Read through KU.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2026
Great Writing As Always
Writer Harmony Raines never fails to bring life to what she writes. I delight in how she also gives us a sense of what it is like to be a shifter, such as when Kirk's Bear says: "We need to run" and Kirk thought replies back about how the joy was flowing too fast and wild through him to fit in human form (inexact quote).
For those who enjoy spicy scenes there are enough such but they are an addition, not the main event. For those of us, me included, who tap past those pages, there is a plentiful, rich, and fully complete story to savor.
Young Percy is a delight and his mom's struggles dealing with a part of herself that just does not fit resonates with all of us who have experienced something similar. I loved the insiteful, caring comments by Percy and others slipped into the narrative.
4 stars because I really wanted story pages instead of intimacy pages.
Happy Reading!
Writer Harmony Raines never fails to bring life to what she writes. I delight in how she also gives us a sense of what it is like to be a shifter, such as when Kirk's Bear says: "We need to run" and Kirk thought replies back about how the joy was flowing too fast and wild through him to fit in human form (inexact quote).
For those who enjoy spicy scenes there are enough such but they are an addition, not the main event. For those of us, me included, who tap past those pages, there is a plentiful, rich, and fully complete story to savor.
Young Percy is a delight and his mom's struggles dealing with a part of herself that just does not fit resonates with all of us who have experienced something similar. I loved the insiteful, caring comments by Percy and others slipped into the narrative.
4 stars because I really wanted story pages instead of intimacy pages.
Happy Reading!
March 22, 2026
Kirk Thornberg broke away from the restaurant that his family owns and operates and grows his chilies. He loves to grow and experiment with hybrids but he is waiting for his fated mate.
Isla comes to Bear Creek with her son to write and critique several restaurants including the Thornberg family restaurant. Unfortunately Isla is known in social media circles as being blunt, finding all flaws and called the Restaurant Destroyer.
A must read in the Thornberg Restaurant series as Kirk and Isla navigate being fated mates and her reason for being in Bear Creek. Can the mate bond build rather than destroy?
Isla comes to Bear Creek with her son to write and critique several restaurants including the Thornberg family restaurant. Unfortunately Isla is known in social media circles as being blunt, finding all flaws and called the Restaurant Destroyer.
A must read in the Thornberg Restaurant series as Kirk and Isla navigate being fated mates and her reason for being in Bear Creek. Can the mate bond build rather than destroy?
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews