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Holiday Mates #5
Bear Creek Memorial Day
Sometimes, love is borne of joy and tears.
Following a devastating loss, Jared Emerson now spends his days at the potter’s wheel, quietly honing his craft and wondering what the future holds. As the holidays approach, he attends one of Bear Creek’s free concerts in the park and meets an intriguing bear shifter. Though he doesn’t realize it at the time, the brief encounter sets off a chain of events that will turn his entire world upside down.
While Rowan Kincaid enjoys his job at a local pub, he loves his seasonal role as one of Bear Creek’s famous dancing bears. One whiff of an enticing human stranger, however, leads to a convoluted search for his mate involving friends, relatives, and even the mayor! As clues come in, Rowan discovers that the man he’s looking for is right under his nose.
Bear Creek Memorial Day is a loss-to-love tale for fans of small town romance, shifters, and HEA’s. (Book five of the Holiday Mates series. Contains steamy MM content.)
This work is human authored, without the use of generative A.I.
Following a devastating loss, Jared Emerson now spends his days at the potter’s wheel, quietly honing his craft and wondering what the future holds. As the holidays approach, he attends one of Bear Creek’s free concerts in the park and meets an intriguing bear shifter. Though he doesn’t realize it at the time, the brief encounter sets off a chain of events that will turn his entire world upside down.
While Rowan Kincaid enjoys his job at a local pub, he loves his seasonal role as one of Bear Creek’s famous dancing bears. One whiff of an enticing human stranger, however, leads to a convoluted search for his mate involving friends, relatives, and even the mayor! As clues come in, Rowan discovers that the man he’s looking for is right under his nose.
Bear Creek Memorial Day is a loss-to-love tale for fans of small town romance, shifters, and HEA’s. (Book five of the Holiday Mates series. Contains steamy MM content.)
This work is human authored, without the use of generative A.I.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2026
About the author
Alexander Elliott
18 books76 followersAlexander writes in multiple genres, including romance, paranormal, medieval fantasy and science-fiction. His work is replete with themes of love, passion, family, humor, hope, and acceptance.
The author is known for imaginative storytelling, engaging characters, and fascinating worlds to explore. He strives for emotional depth, sizzling romance, and all the adventure, action, and intrigue necessary for a great read.
All of Alexander’s books are human-authored, without the use of generative artificial intelligence.
If you have enjoyed his work, he would love to hear from you!
Email: aelliottbooks@gmail.com
Website: https://aelliottbooks.com/
The author is known for imaginative storytelling, engaging characters, and fascinating worlds to explore. He strives for emotional depth, sizzling romance, and all the adventure, action, and intrigue necessary for a great read.
All of Alexander’s books are human-authored, without the use of generative artificial intelligence.
If you have enjoyed his work, he would love to hear from you!
Email: aelliottbooks@gmail.com
Website: https://aelliottbooks.com/
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 18, 2026
2.5⭐
Well this was a cozy lil romance.
To be honest, it was so "cozy", I was bored.
The story dragged on and on. To be frank, I felt like dnf-ing in the first third already.
The romance wasn't very romantic. They were like 'hey, I'm a shifter you are my mate, let's date'. That's it. No romance, no tension. The get to know parts were mostly brushed over. The rest of the story was literally just errands. Meeting with the mayor, realtor, business owners, construction foreman etc. Moving, packing, document signing, shopping, job interview, web site designing, whatever.
Just filled with annoying stuff you have to do irl if you move and maybe start a new business.
The whole time I thought "wow the late wife must have had a huge life insurance". He bought/made down payment on a new truck, a shop with apartment, house with lots of acreage and a chapel, new kilns, multiple different construction projects, new windows for multiple houses, new wiring, furniture, all kinds of devices with this money. It felt so unrealistic, like way more fantastical than a man that can shift into a bear.
The mcs were okay. I didn't mind them but also don't really like them that much.
Unfortunately there were no real character descriptions, I have a clearer vision of how Rowan's penis looks like, than his face.
Their relationship was very underwhelming. I mean they are clearly a cute couple but there was not enough yearning or just romantic moments in this book. I'm glad that the spicy scenes were hot and not so long that they could become boring. The sex scenes were very nice actually.
One thing that DISGUSTED me from the begining was the whole 'dancing bear' shtick. These are actual cruel practices still done today, not some cutesy fantasy thing.
The povs were jumping so much. There aren't just two but multiple (what I love) but they even changed sometimes from one sentence to the next. It was confusing.
I also didn't like the writing style that much. It felt very formal? I don't know if that is the right description but it's the best I can come up with.
That's totally a personal preference but I also prefer when the society doesn't know that shifter or paranormals exist. Here it's very normal and accepted.
I DID enjoy the pottery aspect though. It was interesting and I learned new things. Plus Potter is one of the sexiest jobs a man can have.
It wasn't a bad book, I was just bored and missing the romance. I was yearning for a third act breakup, so that anything interesting would happen and I usually hate them. It felt more like a slice of life book, even though they were a couple only for only few months at the end of the book and no epilogue.
Well this was a cozy lil romance.
To be honest, it was so "cozy", I was bored.
The story dragged on and on. To be frank, I felt like dnf-ing in the first third already.
The romance wasn't very romantic. They were like 'hey, I'm a shifter you are my mate, let's date'. That's it. No romance, no tension. The get to know parts were mostly brushed over. The rest of the story was literally just errands. Meeting with the mayor, realtor, business owners, construction foreman etc. Moving, packing, document signing, shopping, job interview, web site designing, whatever.
Just filled with annoying stuff you have to do irl if you move and maybe start a new business.
The whole time I thought "wow the late wife must have had a huge life insurance". He bought/made down payment on a new truck, a shop with apartment, house with lots of acreage and a chapel, new kilns, multiple different construction projects, new windows for multiple houses, new wiring, furniture, all kinds of devices with this money. It felt so unrealistic, like way more fantastical than a man that can shift into a bear.
The mcs were okay. I didn't mind them but also don't really like them that much.
Unfortunately there were no real character descriptions, I have a clearer vision of how Rowan's penis looks like, than his face.
Their relationship was very underwhelming. I mean they are clearly a cute couple but there was not enough yearning or just romantic moments in this book. I'm glad that the spicy scenes were hot and not so long that they could become boring. The sex scenes were very nice actually.
One thing that DISGUSTED me from the begining was the whole 'dancing bear' shtick. These are actual cruel practices still done today, not some cutesy fantasy thing.
The povs were jumping so much. There aren't just two but multiple (what I love) but they even changed sometimes from one sentence to the next. It was confusing.
I also didn't like the writing style that much. It felt very formal? I don't know if that is the right description but it's the best I can come up with.
That's totally a personal preference but I also prefer when the society doesn't know that shifter or paranormals exist. Here it's very normal and accepted.
I DID enjoy the pottery aspect though. It was interesting and I learned new things. Plus Potter is one of the sexiest jobs a man can have.
It wasn't a bad book, I was just bored and missing the romance. I was yearning for a third act breakup, so that anything interesting would happen and I usually hate them. It felt more like a slice of life book, even though they were a couple only for only few months at the end of the book and no epilogue.
June 16, 2026
BEAR CREEK MEMORIAL DAY is the fifth book in the Holiday Mates series, but you don't have to have read any of the previous ones. Characters from those books are in this one, but nothing that requires you to have read their story.
Jared was bisexual in his youth, but fell in love and married Lori. Unfortunately, their time together was short, and Jared is now living with his grief and learning how to carry on without her. He goes to the Christmas Faire in Bear Creek and is pulled on stage to do a dance with the Dancing Bears. Rowan is one of those bears, and his bear goes a little crazy when he scents Jared.
This is a low angst book, with Jared being understanding when Rowan's bear pushes, and Rowan giving Jared the time he needs. There are some s3xy scenes in here, but it is (as always) tastefully handled.
One thing I absolutely need to say - I love the amount of research that went into the pottery-making side of things. I had absolutely no idea about any of it, but I would definitely buy from Jared's store! I was honestly fascinated by it, and loved it when they could both work together.
Another great story from Mr Elliott, and definitely recommended by me.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 16, 2026
Jared was bisexual in his youth, but fell in love and married Lori. Unfortunately, their time together was short, and Jared is now living with his grief and learning how to carry on without her. He goes to the Christmas Faire in Bear Creek and is pulled on stage to do a dance with the Dancing Bears. Rowan is one of those bears, and his bear goes a little crazy when he scents Jared.
This is a low angst book, with Jared being understanding when Rowan's bear pushes, and Rowan giving Jared the time he needs. There are some s3xy scenes in here, but it is (as always) tastefully handled.
One thing I absolutely need to say - I love the amount of research that went into the pottery-making side of things. I had absolutely no idea about any of it, but I would definitely buy from Jared's store! I was honestly fascinated by it, and loved it when they could both work together.
Another great story from Mr Elliott, and definitely recommended by me.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 16, 2026
July 13, 2026
Sugary sweet
There is an addictive quality to this series! Every story varies but the sweetness and love of each couple rings true each time.
Rowan and Jared were sweet and their story one of patience and courtship.
There is an addictive quality to this series! Every story varies but the sweetness and love of each couple rings true each time.
Rowan and Jared were sweet and their story one of patience and courtship.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews