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Soldier Bears #1
Big Bad Bear
In the mountains above Bearstone Village, a legend has found his mate.
His name is Zeus, and for years he brought the thunder as an elite special forces squad leader and undercover bear shifter. Now that he’s out of the service and living quietly in the woods above a remote mountain town, he has just one mission left. Win over the heart of the curvy waitress that his bear knows is his mate. Too bad Zeus knows more about combat than dating, and he hasn’t yet managed to ask her out.
Carly is just trying to make the best of things. Bad luck in love and in life has landed her in Bearstone Village, stuck with debts from a former relationship and making her way as a waitress. She enjoys the rare moments when she sees Zeus Wilson, a sexy recluse who comes down from the mountain sometimes to drink at the bar and fix Carly with a heated gaze in his sparkling blue eyes. Even if it seems like he’s never going to make a move.
But when a local motorcycle gang threatens Carly, Zeus is forced to intervene and take her back to his cabin where he can keep her safe. With the beautiful mountains around them, it's not long before sparks are flying between the bear and his sexy mate. But Zeus is afraid to tell Carly the truth about what he is, and the men who want to take her are quickly catching up.
But he isn’t called Zeus for nothing, and if anyone threatens his mate, this big bad bear is fully capable of striking them down.
His name is Zeus, and for years he brought the thunder as an elite special forces squad leader and undercover bear shifter. Now that he’s out of the service and living quietly in the woods above a remote mountain town, he has just one mission left. Win over the heart of the curvy waitress that his bear knows is his mate. Too bad Zeus knows more about combat than dating, and he hasn’t yet managed to ask her out.
Carly is just trying to make the best of things. Bad luck in love and in life has landed her in Bearstone Village, stuck with debts from a former relationship and making her way as a waitress. She enjoys the rare moments when she sees Zeus Wilson, a sexy recluse who comes down from the mountain sometimes to drink at the bar and fix Carly with a heated gaze in his sparkling blue eyes. Even if it seems like he’s never going to make a move.
But when a local motorcycle gang threatens Carly, Zeus is forced to intervene and take her back to his cabin where he can keep her safe. With the beautiful mountains around them, it's not long before sparks are flying between the bear and his sexy mate. But Zeus is afraid to tell Carly the truth about what he is, and the men who want to take her are quickly catching up.
But he isn’t called Zeus for nothing, and if anyone threatens his mate, this big bad bear is fully capable of striking them down.
177 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 22, 2015
346 people are currently reading
513 people want to read
About the author
Terry Bolryder
149 books1,251 followersTerry is the author of over forty bestselling shifter romances. She spends her spare time dreaming of dragons, playing with her pets, and watching sunsets from her home in the mountains alongside her husband (who she suspects would make a great bear shifter). She loves the wild outdoors, her fans, all readers, and getting lost in a great book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
September 2, 2016
1 Amateur writing and plot line Hearts :(
September 24, 2016
Bear shifters
Ex-Military
Lumberjack-living-in-the-woods-type
GIMME SOME OF THAT. I need a ex-military bear-shifter. Okay okay, maybe not a shifter like my boy Zeus. But still. GET ME ONE MEOW. I mean I live RIGHT NEXT TO A BASE! I'M SINGLE LIKE A PRINGLE! LURRRRVE MEEEEE!
Ex-Military
Lumberjack-living-in-the-woods-type
GIMME SOME OF THAT. I need a ex-military bear-shifter. Okay okay, maybe not a shifter like my boy Zeus. But still. GET ME ONE MEOW. I mean I live RIGHT NEXT TO A BASE! I'M SINGLE LIKE A PRINGLE! LURRRRVE MEEEEE!
January 7, 2021
This was recommended to me and I quote "I tried to find one with a bear shifter that was not supernatural smut. Much harder than it sounds. This series looked nice though with a nice setting." Bear was the challenge. I kinda feel like the "not supernatural smut" was not achieved here, but I *will* way it could have been worse.
This book is very short. In fact, it is shorter than some of the short stories I have recently read. As such, there is very little happening. The MCs are instaloved before the story begins so all we see is the ending of their story. There is ONE plot point. Exactly one. There is no mystery. There is no true conflict. There is a little bit of action of the not sexual variety and whole lot of the sexual variety. There are some friendships which are not well explored at all. Again, this is a VERY short novel. Not much happens.
It was Ok. Nothing great. Didn't waste a lot of my time. I finished it while I might have tossed it aside had it been much longer. (My eyes can only roll so far before I am done.) Of course, it was even shorter for me because there was a lot of page skipping.
I just finished another book I loved - this worked as a filler to make me interested in another book that I probably won't love as much.
This book is very short. In fact, it is shorter than some of the short stories I have recently read. As such, there is very little happening. The MCs are instaloved before the story begins so all we see is the ending of their story. There is ONE plot point. Exactly one. There is no mystery. There is no true conflict. There is a little bit of action of the not sexual variety and whole lot of the sexual variety. There are some friendships which are not well explored at all. Again, this is a VERY short novel. Not much happens.
It was Ok. Nothing great. Didn't waste a lot of my time. I finished it while I might have tossed it aside had it been much longer. (My eyes can only roll so far before I am done.) Of course, it was even shorter for me because there was a lot of page skipping.
I just finished another book I loved - this worked as a filler to make me interested in another book that I probably won't love as much.
August 20, 2015
This was just an ok shifter romance for me. the insta-love and the fact that I barely got a glimpse of the characters kept me from truly enjoying it..I honestly have no interest to continue this particular series but I'm sure I'll read more of this writers future work.
September 6, 2015
It was a quick fun read :)
December 10, 2015
Just too simplistic, like high school level writing, with sex scenes thrown in. The action scenes were good.
August 4, 2016
Review upcoming
August 6, 2021
3.5 stars
August 1, 2015
3.95 Stars!!!
Enjoyable, loveable, good story. Yes it is Love at first sight but aren't most of these shifter books? "My inner bear knew right away." And like most shifter stories the female has "curves" which is shifter speak for - I am not perfect and have some extra poundage here and there. And yes....a short story/novella. But this author really created characters who were likeable, loveable and interesting. I wasn't board by the story line either.
Plot: Girl, Carly, is a waitress in bar, kinda left there in town to pay off debts of previous boyfriend. Zeus, Bear/he-man (ex-military & recluse) comes in to bar once in a while...he is sitting there drinking his whiskey and Carly overhears boss & biker gang members threaten him for protection money....they realize she overhears and decide to take her out. Lucky for her that her future mate is in the bar and he rescues her....but that is not enough to deter the gang who come after her. They are running/terrorizing the town. It is up to Zeus and his shifter bear friends to save the town and Carly from these bad ass biker gang members. He does keeps her safe, rescues her again and struggles with telling her about himself....both can't keep their hands off each other and start to fall for each other.
I really liked it....look forward to book 2 which is about Ares (who was a secondary character and friend of Zeus in this book) There is also a very elusive bear shifter Hades too-he is alluded to but we never really meet.
Enjoyable, loveable, good story. Yes it is Love at first sight but aren't most of these shifter books? "My inner bear knew right away." And like most shifter stories the female has "curves" which is shifter speak for - I am not perfect and have some extra poundage here and there. And yes....a short story/novella. But this author really created characters who were likeable, loveable and interesting. I wasn't board by the story line either.
Plot: Girl, Carly, is a waitress in bar, kinda left there in town to pay off debts of previous boyfriend. Zeus, Bear/he-man (ex-military & recluse) comes in to bar once in a while...he is sitting there drinking his whiskey and Carly overhears boss & biker gang members threaten him for protection money....they realize she overhears and decide to take her out. Lucky for her that her future mate is in the bar and he rescues her....but that is not enough to deter the gang who come after her. They are running/terrorizing the town. It is up to Zeus and his shifter bear friends to save the town and Carly from these bad ass biker gang members. He does keeps her safe, rescues her again and struggles with telling her about himself....both can't keep their hands off each other and start to fall for each other.
I really liked it....look forward to book 2 which is about Ares (who was a secondary character and friend of Zeus in this book) There is also a very elusive bear shifter Hades too-he is alluded to but we never really meet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2015
This book is hilaribad. Looking at the reviews on here and Amazon one might actually be expecting this to be a decent story - but you would be wrong. Apparently bears are hot right now, at least if the books available on Kindle Unlimited are any indication, so I figured why the heck not give it a chance?! So yes, this was my first bear shifter book and my first book by this author.
Oddly enough, this book read like an outline of a book. Like the author sat down and made a list of the scenes that would happen and then just wrote those with minimal connectivity or dialogue. I mean, I had a LOT of questions... and I'm sure any girl who got rescued by this strapping lad of a bear would also have a lot of questions - and most certainly would not just go with the flow and do this 'mating forever' ritual thing after 48 hours of knowing the dude. I will say that this was entertaining, if poorly written and insufficiently fleshed out and edited.
Oddly enough, this book read like an outline of a book. Like the author sat down and made a list of the scenes that would happen and then just wrote those with minimal connectivity or dialogue. I mean, I had a LOT of questions... and I'm sure any girl who got rescued by this strapping lad of a bear would also have a lot of questions - and most certainly would not just go with the flow and do this 'mating forever' ritual thing after 48 hours of knowing the dude. I will say that this was entertaining, if poorly written and insufficiently fleshed out and edited.
July 29, 2015
Supremely disappointed since this book is from a favorite author of mine. The girl it's vapid, and the writing fell flat for me. I ended up skipping through parts of the book. Hope this is just an aberration, because I normally love this author's work.
August 1, 2015
Sweet story!
Such a sweet story! Love Alpha male shifters! I'll definitely get the next book! Nothing wrong with a big strong male protecting his mate! Loved it!
Such a sweet story! Love Alpha male shifters! I'll definitely get the next book! Nothing wrong with a big strong male protecting his mate! Loved it!
September 8, 2015
I didn't love it, didn't hate it. It has potential, if there was more depth to the story. Not much you can fit in 140+ pages
May 31, 2020
The writing wasn't bad, but there just wasn't anything to the story.
Carly works in a bar, and Zeus is a bear shifter living in the area who has discovered that she is his mate. Zeus visits the bar occasionally to see her, but he's afraid of moving things forward and scaring her off.
On one of his visits, Carly overhears a conversation between her boss and the local motorcycle gang. They try to grab her, but Zeus protects her, and then takes her to his home to hide her.
The book definitely falls in the insta-love shifter category. There's not really much relationship bulding at all. So much time is focused on the ridiculous evil motorcycle gang plot, that honestly never ended up making much sense, and there's just not much to the story beyond Zeus wanting to protect Carly.
There just wasn't anything new or special here. It felt like a bunch of other shifter books I've already read 🤷♀️.
Carly works in a bar, and Zeus is a bear shifter living in the area who has discovered that she is his mate. Zeus visits the bar occasionally to see her, but he's afraid of moving things forward and scaring her off.
On one of his visits, Carly overhears a conversation between her boss and the local motorcycle gang. They try to grab her, but Zeus protects her, and then takes her to his home to hide her.
The book definitely falls in the insta-love shifter category. There's not really much relationship bulding at all. So much time is focused on the ridiculous evil motorcycle gang plot, that honestly never ended up making much sense, and there's just not much to the story beyond Zeus wanting to protect Carly.
There just wasn't anything new or special here. It felt like a bunch of other shifter books I've already read 🤷♀️.
June 27, 2018
This book was written like a mind map. In short little bits with not much development, back story or depth to it.
Boy meets Girl, hits her over the head like a man-bear, drags her back to his and keeps her safe. Rarr me man.
Sigh. This wasn't for me.
Boy meets Girl, hits her over the head like a man-bear, drags her back to his and keeps her safe. Rarr me man.
Sigh. This wasn't for me.
December 2, 2019
Terry's latest bear series kicks off with a bang. The cover alone made this book a winner for me. The writing only adds to my enjoyment. One thing I noticed though - the ladies are hardly ever on the covers. From what I've read so far, only Double Dragons shows the females. ??
January 22, 2020
Big, bad, HOT
A nicely done bedtime story. Some good action to go with the hot romance. Bears are just so cuddly, but this one had more than a few rough edges. Good thing his 'destine' mate was okay with those edges.
A nicely done bedtime story. Some good action to go with the hot romance. Bears are just so cuddly, but this one had more than a few rough edges. Good thing his 'destine' mate was okay with those edges.
January 25, 2020
😍
Ok , I so loved this book, but I gotta say. The minute I read the name of the town they live in all I could think about and picture was The Bearinstien Bears by Dr Seuss. They are my favorite and I suppose why I love bear shifters so much.
Ok , I so loved this book, but I gotta say. The minute I read the name of the town they live in all I could think about and picture was The Bearinstien Bears by Dr Seuss. They are my favorite and I suppose why I love bear shifters so much.
February 5, 2020
Great read
Captivating from start to finish. Sexy hot guys and smart beautiful women. Gripping from the start that I couldn't put it down. And to top it all happy ever after. A must read
Captivating from start to finish. Sexy hot guys and smart beautiful women. Gripping from the start that I couldn't put it down. And to top it all happy ever after. A must read
March 5, 2017
Kinda boring
I had to force myself to finish this book. It was ok in the middle but then it became predictable and born. I would not recommend this author.
I had to force myself to finish this book. It was ok in the middle but then it became predictable and born. I would not recommend this author.
July 8, 2017
Short and safe. Like a palate cleanser after reading more angsty books.
October 20, 2017
Zeus and Carly what a sweet story and a gorgeous couple
August 10, 2018
2 1/2 stars. I don't know why but this book was just not a GOOD read. It has sexyish hero with sexy side kick. Maybe the heroine wasn't interesting enough for me. Yep I'll just go with that.
February 10, 2021
Great little read
A great little read. Characters you enjoy following a journey you enjoy reading about. I just love bear shifters how the are so protective
A great little read. Characters you enjoy following a journey you enjoy reading about. I just love bear shifters how the are so protective
May 25, 2021
Oh man. Zeus is a strong, silent alpha. Is brunch daddy the term to apply to him? Either way, good, steamy read.
July 8, 2022
Awesome💥
OMG, this book📙 was outstanding, I couldn't put it down. It was filled with friendship, loyalty, drama, action, romance💖 and love. On to the next book in this series!
OMG, this book📙 was outstanding, I couldn't put it down. It was filled with friendship, loyalty, drama, action, romance💖 and love. On to the next book in this series!
July 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 12, 2019
I Loved it.
Another great book. I Loved the action and after reading Paige Tylor's about army men. This one was really good. I could easily imagine what I was reading in my head. Loved it 💞💞💞💞💖💖💖💖💕💕💕💕💋💋💋💋💘💘💘💘💗💗💗😻😻😻😻😻😻😘😘😘😘😘👍👍👍👍👍👍
Another great book. I Loved the action and after reading Paige Tylor's about army men. This one was really good. I could easily imagine what I was reading in my head. Loved it 💞💞💞💞💖💖💖💖💕💕💕💕💋💋💋💋💘💘💘💘💗💗💗😻😻😻😻😻😻😘😘😘😘😘👍👍👍👍👍👍
August 28, 2015
She was everything he’d ever dreamed of. 5 BEAR PAWS UP
OH ZEUS, you Big Bad Bear, you!! WOW! Just...WOW! I cannot believe how intensely hot & sexy this story is while being funny, super romantic and ever-so-sweet at the same time!! It's a cliché, I know, and one I say often, but it has NEVER fit so perfectly before as it does now - Terry, you have truly outdone yourself with this one! I abso-frickin-lutely LOVED this story of Zeus & Carly's! This is a FANTASTIC story with great characters, the perfect shifter love story that had me from the cover. I immediately felt like I knew Carly, even was her a tiny bit, but definitely someone I wish I was more like in fact. Well, except for the bad luck growing up part, but considering where it led her... (I cannot wait to see Ares find his Mate and I really want to know Hades too!) I always love to see the big tough Alpha go all mushy for his mate. It adds another layer to the story and to the character as well, makes it more real. Of course, you do not ever want to become between a bear and his mate, but you would be crazy to come between a bear shifter named Zeus and his mate!! “Now they’d have to deal with the big, bad bear!” I LOVED the fact that there was a lot more shifter in it too! I think that is my favorite part about shifters - the relationship that the human has with the animal. Well, actually that is my SECOND most favorite feature of shifters, the first is the whole mate thing! I love that whole concept of the one person that fate, destiny, the gods, etc. has picked for you and has been made especially just. for. you. And you. for. them. Zeus would be that one for me. He is just so PAWFECT, so soft, so hard, so sweet, so grizzly. I think he would growl on me very quickly. I could bear the hardship of waking up to him every morning. It would be so beartastic to spend eternity with him. Furever & ever. Okay, I will stop the cheesiness and get down to the nitty grizzly, the bear bones of the story. HAAHAAHAHAAA *wipes tears from eyes* But seriously now, Terry has once again caught & held both my attention & my heart! For all of these reasons and more, Terry proves time and again, just how phenomenally talented she is! She has fast become one of my favorite authors and has become one of only a handful of my go-to shifter romance authors whose books I will be reading over & over, for many, many years to come!
OH ZEUS, you Big Bad Bear, you!! WOW! Just...WOW! I cannot believe how intensely hot & sexy this story is while being funny, super romantic and ever-so-sweet at the same time!! It's a cliché, I know, and one I say often, but it has NEVER fit so perfectly before as it does now - Terry, you have truly outdone yourself with this one! I abso-frickin-lutely LOVED this story of Zeus & Carly's! This is a FANTASTIC story with great characters, the perfect shifter love story that had me from the cover. I immediately felt like I knew Carly, even was her a tiny bit, but definitely someone I wish I was more like in fact. Well, except for the bad luck growing up part, but considering where it led her... (I cannot wait to see Ares find his Mate and I really want to know Hades too!) I always love to see the big tough Alpha go all mushy for his mate. It adds another layer to the story and to the character as well, makes it more real. Of course, you do not ever want to become between a bear and his mate, but you would be crazy to come between a bear shifter named Zeus and his mate!! “Now they’d have to deal with the big, bad bear!” I LOVED the fact that there was a lot more shifter in it too! I think that is my favorite part about shifters - the relationship that the human has with the animal. Well, actually that is my SECOND most favorite feature of shifters, the first is the whole mate thing! I love that whole concept of the one person that fate, destiny, the gods, etc. has picked for you and has been made especially just. for. you. And you. for. them. Zeus would be that one for me. He is just so PAWFECT, so soft, so hard, so sweet, so grizzly. I think he would growl on me very quickly. I could bear the hardship of waking up to him every morning. It would be so beartastic to spend eternity with him. Furever & ever. Okay, I will stop the cheesiness and get down to the nitty grizzly, the bear bones of the story. HAAHAAHAHAAA *wipes tears from eyes* But seriously now, Terry has once again caught & held both my attention & my heart! For all of these reasons and more, Terry proves time and again, just how phenomenally talented she is! She has fast become one of my favorite authors and has become one of only a handful of my go-to shifter romance authors whose books I will be reading over & over, for many, many years to come!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews