Bear and Fox

Baking Bears #1

by Hollis Shiloh

Dane is a lonely bear shifter who doesn't know if he'll ever find a mate. Then one day he finds himself defending a fox from a brutal wolf attack. He's found his mate—and the fox shifter is scared of him.

Will Dane ever earn the trust of his mate, a shy, handsome, suspicious man who's had little reason to ever trust anyone?

Contains a honey-loving bear, a sweet, suspicious fox, gay uncles, a tiny bit of shifter politics, and enough food to shake a stick at.

Heat level: very low
~32,000 words

Genres: Paranormal, M M Romance, Shapeshifters, Romance, Abuse, LGBT, Fantasy

100 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 15, 2015

Reviews

[Aղցela W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short quick read that I wanted to like better I have been wanting to read this book for awhile and I disappointed. Dane is a lonely bear shifter who doesn't know if he'll ever find a mate. While visiting his uncles in bear form he saves his mate a fox shifter that was attacked by some wolves. I think for me it was too sweet considering the book I read before this one. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more like 2 1/2 for me. I liked Dane a lot and wanted him to get his happy. Tomas had a really rough time of things, but he took it out on Dane for too long for me to balance their HEA with the rest of the story.

[namericanwordcat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice little dollop of a story.

Dane is a sweetie. I love gentle giants and bear shifters. I like fox shifters too.

Tomas is so stand offish for such a long time that we lose some the romance.

However, I enjoyed this achey read anyway.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay-I have to say that I found this story charming as hell! A simple love story, simply told and it just made me smile.

[Hc · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is something for a laid back lazy day to read. It can not be considered a passionate or sexy book. A lot of the time is spent getting Tomas (fox) to warm up to Dane (bear). Once they finally come together the reader is informed but not a participant of activities. It came across as more boring without a sexual element to give some flair.

2.5

[Claudia Lezár · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*

PLEASE READ MY RATING SYSTEM!!!

To my ratings:
A 3,5* is clicked with a 4* but in review marked as 3,5*:

5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow-Away-book like ‘Jesse's Smile’ or ‘Joey’ from Angelique Jurd, ‘Save the the kids’ series
from EM Leya, ‘Love’s Tethered Heart’ from C.L. Etta or ‘Liberty’ from Seth King),
it's like an A+

4* - very good and will be often reread and is a WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises (like most of Andrew Grey books and Davidson Kings 'Haven Hart'-series)
it's like an A

3,5* - a really good book, which will be reread a few times (most romances where you can enjoy for relaxing and during waiting times in
hospitals). I can recommend them definitively!
It's like an B+

3* - it could be more then a one-time-reader (2-3 times a year),
it's like a B

2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time-reader (I wouldn't recommend it heartily, but it was ok)
It's like a C-, D

1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (too many mistakes, not nice plot, illogical, so an absolute NO-GO). It's like failure in the
whole line, dismissed, repeat the class

[olie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 estrelas
Gostei da história, mas confesso que fiquei irritado em vários momentos com os personagens, apesar disso, o que me fez dar 3,5 estrelas é que eu esperava um pouco mais do desenvolvimento da história depois que eles ficam juntos.

[Denise GremoryKohta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her shifter stories. Also, the heat level matches the characters. Can't wait for the next one. All of her books are great.

[Regencyfan93 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed seeing wary Tomas and reliable Dane learn to relate to each other.

[Altivo Overo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light and sweet, like the pastries in Dane's shop. Easy read, but could use more background to support and explain behaviors of numerous characters.

[Meggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is one word, which comes to my mind, silly. Everything in this story was sweetly and nicely boring. I wont even start how the fox shifter behaved, just..., IDIOCY.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, Loving, Sad

I rarely give 5 stars, so don't let that stop you from giving this story a read. This author is one of my favorite short story authors.

In this short story she's managed to convey how:

- sad some people are when it is hard to meet that special someone, but how sweet and loving it is when you do.

- sad and difficult some have it without an intact family, but how sweet and loving it is when new families (and friends) come together.

- sad our society can be towards each other, but how bittersweet life can be by making things a little better for someone else.

And through this short story, I'm reminded again our world can be sad, but also (if you put your heart into it) sweet and loving.

So read this story for a sweet loving couple that manages to find each other in a not so perfect world.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sweet, short shifter story.

I liked the dual nature of the shifters, especially bears. It made the mythology interesting and a little different from other shifter books.

I liked that Dane struggled with his temper a bit. Otherwise, he would've been TOO perfect. I'll admit that I wasn't a huge Tomas fan. I understood his reticence and motivations, but since we readers are privy to Dane's thoughts and feelings it made it hard not to want to give Tomas a kick in the behind at denying someone who was so clearly a good guy. I kept wanting to say "give him a chance, already!"

There were a few minor editing issues (using "fowl" instead of "foul" for something that smells bad, for example). They didn't bother me, but I did notice them.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would definitely read more set in this universe.

[Katrina Passick Lumsden · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a couple of okay stories from Shiloh, but the last two have just been complete and utter disappointments. Neither character in this was likable. I mean, at all. Even without really getting to know them well, I didn't like them. And few things irritate me more than when authors don't fucking pay attention to what the hell they're writing.

"That night, after midnight, he got a call from Tomas."

After Tomas hangs up and Dane is rushing to the rescue...

"The phone rang, and he picked it up, only to swear and almost fling it across the car when it was only an automated telemarketing call."

Telemarketers calling after midnight? An automated message after midnight?

*Sigh*

Needless to say... Removed from Kindle

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet and fun. This is one of Hollis's low heat books, just sweet and loving. One of the first things that stood out for me about the book was the way the character's inner animal translated into their human appearance and characteristics. Dane loves honey and salmon and is a big guy; Tomas is skittish and fine-boned. I thought that the author did a good job of making us feel Dane's frustration over his mate's doubt and stand-offishness; we know Dane's intent are pure and come from a place of love but Tomas just won't seem to give him a chance. Tomas's living situation and pride are poignant and add a lot to the story. I think all these things combine to make the eventual happy ending even more satisfying. I see that there this will be a series and I can't wait to read more.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I didn't read the description correctly, but this was written at a children's level, rated G. It was a feel good story about attraction and overcoming fears.
Tenses and plurals were sometimes confused, and there were a couple extra letters and incorrect words. Reign was used for rein, and less for fewer.

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet


I enjoyed reading this Shifter story because it was different.
There was some angst....
a skittish mate Tomas
Sweet gentle giant Dane he's not your typical bearshifter.

it was just a sweet/easy read .

[Rachel Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dane was adorable, I loved how he wanted honey and graham crackers and honey buns. I wish there had been a bit more heat in this story, and I felt like so many things were told "off screen" and summarized.

[Arch Bala · Rating 3 out of 5]

I both loved Dane and Thomas and I totally dig how Dane was very respectful of Thomas wishes and took his time with his "mate."

A short read with no major conflict but enjoyable nonetheless.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

[Debfirpo · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good

I just love this authors books. They are so sweet and perfect for that rainy day when all you want to do is cuddle up and gave a good love story. I really enjoyed this guys. Dane was such a sweet guy. Tomas really shy. Together they make the perfect couple.

[Kristy Maitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was cute shape shifter story.

[Ramsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5stars

[David Durkit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Romance

This is a sweet novel of shy romance. The bear and the Fox saga deserve another book if not a trilogy. Not her best writing but a touching story overcoming prejudices.

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Mj · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good but found myself skimming throughout.