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Bachelor Bears of Yakima Ridge #1
Bearly Begun
Feisty Erin Salter sacrificed her youth and dreams to make sure her motherless twin half-brothers had a home. She hasn’t had energy for a lover in years, but she’ll happily lay down her virtue for manly Leonard Benoit , if he will help keep her boys out of jail.
Desperate, bachelor bear-shifter Leonard Benoit hails from remote, womanless Yakima Ridge. Thisburly, handsome backwoodsman is in Portland hunting his life-mate. One meeting with BBW Erin ignites his shifter passions—permanently. To win his destined bride, he undertakes to take her kid brothers in hand.
With two suspicious young’uns scrutinizing his every move, how can Lenny woo this reserved city woman the way instinct tells him to? But dancing the bedtime waltz with his luscious, fated mate without revealing his shifter secret is a bad plan.
What’s a shifter to do when his one and only mate decides her dreams do not include marrying a man who turns into a nightmare?
Fair warning: This novella contains multiple scenes of rapturous passion between a woman-starved shifter and a man-hungry BBW. If the primal lust that can erupt between a bear and his fated mate disturbs your sensitivities, keep looking. Because the bears of Yakima Ridge believe a bear bond is best forged in bed.
Book One in the Bachelor Bears of Yakima Ridge series, Bearly Begun has a HEA with no cliffhangers, and can be read alone.
Desperate, bachelor bear-shifter Leonard Benoit hails from remote, womanless Yakima Ridge. Thisburly, handsome backwoodsman is in Portland hunting his life-mate. One meeting with BBW Erin ignites his shifter passions—permanently. To win his destined bride, he undertakes to take her kid brothers in hand.
With two suspicious young’uns scrutinizing his every move, how can Lenny woo this reserved city woman the way instinct tells him to? But dancing the bedtime waltz with his luscious, fated mate without revealing his shifter secret is a bad plan.
What’s a shifter to do when his one and only mate decides her dreams do not include marrying a man who turns into a nightmare?
Fair warning: This novella contains multiple scenes of rapturous passion between a woman-starved shifter and a man-hungry BBW. If the primal lust that can erupt between a bear and his fated mate disturbs your sensitivities, keep looking. Because the bears of Yakima Ridge believe a bear bond is best forged in bed.
Book One in the Bachelor Bears of Yakima Ridge series, Bearly Begun has a HEA with no cliffhangers, and can be read alone.
154 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2015
263 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
Isadora Montrose
52 books148 followersIsadora Montrose writes steamy paranormal romance about shifters of all stripes. Her books transport you to exotic locales and give you a little break from the commonplace. Her alpha male heroes are swept off their feet by strong-minded, feisty, curvy women. There’s a mini-vacation in every story.
Join her as dragons, bears, phoenixes and others romp through her feel-good romantic comedies in quest of their fated mates. Passion, adventure, humor and sizzling action await you.
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Join her as dragons, bears, phoenixes and others romp through her feel-good romantic comedies in quest of their fated mates. Passion, adventure, humor and sizzling action await you.
Visit Isadora on Facebook
Subscribe to Isadora's newsletter
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
March 23, 2017
Silly
This was cute and silly and awful all rolled into one. The classic white knight saves damsel in distress was oddly paired with an old fashioned backwoods werebear for a hero. That strange pairing was then mixed with some purely awful sex scenes that were SO bad I couldn't stop laughing while reading them...every silly euphemism for genitalia one could possibly think of mashed together into a few paragraphs. Honey-pots and silos and missiles and...oh my gosh, but this book would've been so much better if the author had gone further with the sweet old fashioned nature of the werebear and had them wait until marriage to have sex...and then left that sex to the imagination.
This was cute and silly and awful all rolled into one. The classic white knight saves damsel in distress was oddly paired with an old fashioned backwoods werebear for a hero. That strange pairing was then mixed with some purely awful sex scenes that were SO bad I couldn't stop laughing while reading them...every silly euphemism for genitalia one could possibly think of mashed together into a few paragraphs. Honey-pots and silos and missiles and...oh my gosh, but this book would've been so much better if the author had gone further with the sweet old fashioned nature of the werebear and had them wait until marriage to have sex...and then left that sex to the imagination.
September 15, 2016
Could not finish
There are typically three main criteria I use in reviewing a book : writer's ability to build a world/craft story, general writing grammar, and ability to be pulled into or believability of story/characters. I will admit, no, I was not able to finish the book. I honestly tried because I think deep down inside the storyline had possibility and it was different. If you are looking for typical mushy romance this isn't it, and I appreciated that take in presenting love in a real world type atmosphere albeit with shifters that sounded somewhat plausible.
So, why didn't I finish? Well, it boils down to the fact that I felt as though I were reading a book with too much colloquial dialog written by someone who referenced the thesaurus more than they should. I say this in part because there were instances where in the dictionary definition the terms, which some will have to look up, appear correct but not actually used in the correct context. No, I am not perfect in my verbiage all the time either, which is why I will typically let something go. However, in this case these issues coupled with some specific word usage I stopped at 66%. I have come to expect a lot of bear shifter book refer to use the "honey pot" reference, and I can usually let most references go with the male anatomy, but I stopped at "man pole" during an oral sex scene. It felt almost immature in the context. I say this only because that is my take, if you do not have an issue with that you might enjoy the book. As you can see from other reviews some had no issues, and liked the book.
Overall, I liked the characters, thought the author did a fairly decent job building the story, in the end it was the grammar and word usage that made me dislike the book.
There are typically three main criteria I use in reviewing a book : writer's ability to build a world/craft story, general writing grammar, and ability to be pulled into or believability of story/characters. I will admit, no, I was not able to finish the book. I honestly tried because I think deep down inside the storyline had possibility and it was different. If you are looking for typical mushy romance this isn't it, and I appreciated that take in presenting love in a real world type atmosphere albeit with shifters that sounded somewhat plausible.
So, why didn't I finish? Well, it boils down to the fact that I felt as though I were reading a book with too much colloquial dialog written by someone who referenced the thesaurus more than they should. I say this in part because there were instances where in the dictionary definition the terms, which some will have to look up, appear correct but not actually used in the correct context. No, I am not perfect in my verbiage all the time either, which is why I will typically let something go. However, in this case these issues coupled with some specific word usage I stopped at 66%. I have come to expect a lot of bear shifter book refer to use the "honey pot" reference, and I can usually let most references go with the male anatomy, but I stopped at "man pole" during an oral sex scene. It felt almost immature in the context. I say this only because that is my take, if you do not have an issue with that you might enjoy the book. As you can see from other reviews some had no issues, and liked the book.
Overall, I liked the characters, thought the author did a fairly decent job building the story, in the end it was the grammar and word usage that made me dislike the book.
December 8, 2017
Paranormal romance
This is a paranormal romance story that is about bear shifters, overall an interesting story. A young girl is put into the position of being a mother to her twin half brothers after her mother dies and their father is put into jail.
The boys become trouble makers and get out of hand. In walks in a handsome man who’s working on renovating a home and puts the boys to work. It’s an interesting idea and the storyline works, but there’s a lot of gaps in the storyline and the main characters didn’t have as much chemistry as I was hoping for or what were used to seeing in mater shifter books.
This is a paranormal romance story that is about bear shifters, overall an interesting story. A young girl is put into the position of being a mother to her twin half brothers after her mother dies and their father is put into jail.
The boys become trouble makers and get out of hand. In walks in a handsome man who’s working on renovating a home and puts the boys to work. It’s an interesting idea and the storyline works, but there’s a lot of gaps in the storyline and the main characters didn’t have as much chemistry as I was hoping for or what were used to seeing in mater shifter books.
January 7, 2019
I wanted to like this so much more than I ended up doing. I honestly liked Lenny, but I wish Erin had had a bit more backbone. For being described as 'feisty,' she really wasn't. At all. More tired and worn-out. Not that it wasn't understandable with her character's circumstances, but don't describe her as such if it's not her character.
Overall, the book is light-hearted and on the sillier side of shifter romances, even though they're dealing with drug dealers and lower-income finance worries and such. The kicker, the reason the silliness started losing the book stars, was the horrible sex scene vocabulary. Every corny euphemism for genitalia made an appearance. Honey-pot was to be expected (bear shifters, after all). Love rod and love stick in the same scene started pushing it. The worst was the missile/silo comparison. And those are all ones I remember off the top of my head - I wasn't even making notes! And as bad as the extremely corny vocab was, it was extra weird with how old-fashioned and courtly Lenny (and the other bears, actually) were.
The other reason I docked stars was the iffy closure. Yes, Lenny and Erin get their HEA, but I wish the ending had another scene or two. At least. So many questions that would have made for some fun reading. Instead, it just kinda ends.
Still, it was short and light, no cheating, no real angst, standalone, and HEA. A quick diversion, plus it was a free find on Kindle. And I'll probably read the next in the series too (also free at the moment), even if I run the risk of encountering more ridiculously cheesy euphemisms.
Overall, the book is light-hearted and on the sillier side of shifter romances, even though they're dealing with drug dealers and lower-income finance worries and such. The kicker, the reason the silliness started losing the book stars, was the horrible sex scene vocabulary. Every corny euphemism for genitalia made an appearance. Honey-pot was to be expected (bear shifters, after all). Love rod and love stick in the same scene started pushing it. The worst was the missile/silo comparison. And those are all ones I remember off the top of my head - I wasn't even making notes! And as bad as the extremely corny vocab was, it was extra weird with how old-fashioned and courtly Lenny (and the other bears, actually) were.
The other reason I docked stars was the iffy closure. Yes, Lenny and Erin get their HEA, but I wish the ending had another scene or two. At least. So many questions that would have made for some fun reading. Instead, it just kinda ends.
Still, it was short and light, no cheating, no real angst, standalone, and HEA. A quick diversion, plus it was a free find on Kindle. And I'll probably read the next in the series too (also free at the moment), even if I run the risk of encountering more ridiculously cheesy euphemisms.
October 18, 2018
The story of hardworking Erin and bear shifter Len was just not for me. Erin wears bad clothes, is constantly being referred to as overweight and is described as ‘feisty’ in the blurb even though, she exhibits no feistiness just neediness. Here is a timid, good ol damsel in distress tale.
Len is a no-nonsense, old-fashioned kind of guy that fixes your car in order to show his affections rather than woo you with fine words. He’s on the hunt for a homemaker of a wife to settle down with him in his small village and lead a simple life.
A bit too old fashioned for my tastes.
I hate a heroine who is not really financially stable, has a crap job - working on a sandwich factory line, wears bad clothes - be overweight by all means, but you can still be sexy, proud and wear flattering clothing. Own it girrrllll! Or not, as the case was here.
But ultimately, it was the fact that the h needed a man to help her out. I hated that she instantly deferred to Len over the care of her brothers, her safety, everything. She was just not aspirational to me. The blurb got me with feisty. The feisty did not deliver.
The sex scenes were more awkward than hot. I felt the author was trying to inject humour by referring to the H’s dick in so many florid ways: ‘love rod’, ‘love sausage’, ‘missile’ etc... but it just killed it for me.
At 74% I just decided to get out.
Len is a no-nonsense, old-fashioned kind of guy that fixes your car in order to show his affections rather than woo you with fine words. He’s on the hunt for a homemaker of a wife to settle down with him in his small village and lead a simple life.
A bit too old fashioned for my tastes.
I hate a heroine who is not really financially stable, has a crap job - working on a sandwich factory line, wears bad clothes - be overweight by all means, but you can still be sexy, proud and wear flattering clothing. Own it girrrllll! Or not, as the case was here.
But ultimately, it was the fact that the h needed a man to help her out. I hated that she instantly deferred to Len over the care of her brothers, her safety, everything. She was just not aspirational to me. The blurb got me with feisty. The feisty did not deliver.
The sex scenes were more awkward than hot. I felt the author was trying to inject humour by referring to the H’s dick in so many florid ways: ‘love rod’, ‘love sausage’, ‘missile’ etc... but it just killed it for me.
At 74% I just decided to get out.
April 29, 2019
I really wanted to like the book but didn’t like how it moved slow picked up and then just ended. I mean shouldn’t Erin know what is to come with her family?
February 27, 2017
Bearly begun at all!
This story started out slow and then seemed to start to pick up when suddenly the author smacks you out of the story with words that just pull you from your enjoyment. Words such as organ, love rod, her furnace, love stick/button, one eyed snake, and at one point his missile in her silo was even used. I could have done without all of these and would have loved the story, but these and the bad editing in places just took away from my enjoyment. It had a good storyline and I liked the characters, but then the ending! Wtf! So what was the reaction to the surprise thrown at the end?! It just stopped there!? Really??! Smh. Total letdown on that front. I'll try another from this author but this just wasn't as expected.
This story started out slow and then seemed to start to pick up when suddenly the author smacks you out of the story with words that just pull you from your enjoyment. Words such as organ, love rod, her furnace, love stick/button, one eyed snake, and at one point his missile in her silo was even used. I could have done without all of these and would have loved the story, but these and the bad editing in places just took away from my enjoyment. It had a good storyline and I liked the characters, but then the ending! Wtf! So what was the reaction to the surprise thrown at the end?! It just stopped there!? Really??! Smh. Total letdown on that front. I'll try another from this author but this just wasn't as expected.
December 26, 2015
Fantastic
This story was sweet, romantic, passionate, humorous, and enthralling. I loved the concept of two shifters going to a different area to find their mates, with one ending up taking his unruly mate's brothers under his wing. I loved Erin and Len's characters, as well as the characters of all the shifters and Erin's brothers. I can't wait to see how Joe fares in his own story.
This story was sweet, romantic, passionate, humorous, and enthralling. I loved the concept of two shifters going to a different area to find their mates, with one ending up taking his unruly mate's brothers under his wing. I loved Erin and Len's characters, as well as the characters of all the shifters and Erin's brothers. I can't wait to see how Joe fares in his own story.
May 21, 2016
I so loved this story, Lenny and Joe decided to go to Seattle and find mates because there just are none at Yakima Ridge, they buy a house to fix up. Lenny meets Erin after her twin brothers try to steal from Lenny and Joe, I really love how this book has a realistic story to it as well as the shifter element, there really are people in this world that have a heart like Lenny that wants to help kids not go into the system. I highly recommend this book!!!
May 19, 2016
I read the story as part of the Brides for the Bachelor Bears series. It is a well written story and sure to please fans of paranormal romances.
Erin has been devoted to her family and ignored her own personal needs. Lenny is a bear shifter searching for a mate. When these two meet, sparks fly.
I received a copy in return for a honest review.
Erin has been devoted to her family and ignored her own personal needs. Lenny is a bear shifter searching for a mate. When these two meet, sparks fly.
I received a copy in return for a honest review.
February 22, 2018
It was alright. Some parts where grate but others not so much. Some of the ways the h acted didn't make much sense. There where parts I found funny or sweet so that was good however overall I didn't really feel love between the MCs. I wish there was an epilogue or for it to not end how it did, it felt very cut off. :|
November 17, 2018
French town courting
When a bear wants to court a woman,he puts it all in the line.He even takes on a woman s two hellion brothers.Erin doesn't get it for the longest time.Len just keeps showing his desire and love in old fashioned ways until Erin can't say no...But no one bothered to tell Erin that Len and her growing brothers were bear shifters..How can she handle that?
When a bear wants to court a woman,he puts it all in the line.He even takes on a woman s two hellion brothers.Erin doesn't get it for the longest time.Len just keeps showing his desire and love in old fashioned ways until Erin can't say no...But no one bothered to tell Erin that Len and her growing brothers were bear shifters..How can she handle that?
July 31, 2016
This is a wonderful spin off from the fursuits series. The author captured my attention and wouldn’t let it go until the end of the book. I quite enjoyed it. Now its on to the next story in the series.
November 19, 2017
I really liked this story
Trying to raise her half brother was not easy . Their father gets out of prison and is a bad influence for her eleven year old brothers. But Len takes them in hand after they try to steal from him. We it all work out? Read the book
Trying to raise her half brother was not easy . Their father gets out of prison and is a bad influence for her eleven year old brothers. But Len takes them in hand after they try to steal from him. We it all work out? Read the book
July 13, 2018
Fun, feisty, fairly quick read
Bearly Begun is a pretty fun read with some story arcs and drama that keep things interesting. Some quirky colloquialisms added to the fun feel of the book. Plenty of steamy scenes to keep things going as well.
Bearly Begun is a pretty fun read with some story arcs and drama that keep things interesting. Some quirky colloquialisms added to the fun feel of the book. Plenty of steamy scenes to keep things going as well.
July 13, 2018
Beary good book!
This book was so fun and challenging? How do you raise two rebellious eleven year old brother's .... With the help of a big burly bear shifter, of coarse! Thank you Isadora Montrose.
This book was so fun and challenging? How do you raise two rebellious eleven year old brother's .... With the help of a big burly bear shifter, of coarse! Thank you Isadora Montrose.
November 1, 2018
Lovely
I enjoyed every word but now I feel the need to go back and read previous books that are connected. It's not like they're cliffhangers, I just find myself compelled to read an authors entire list when I find one I like. Enjoy!
I enjoyed every word but now I feel the need to go back and read previous books that are connected. It's not like they're cliffhangers, I just find myself compelled to read an authors entire list when I find one I like. Enjoy!
December 29, 2018
Busy
This story was very busy. Why were the boys bad to her? Why were they loyal to daddy and not her? What color are the boys bears? And since it's genetic why didn't they dad tell them?
This story was very busy. Why were the boys bad to her? Why were they loyal to daddy and not her? What color are the boys bears? And since it's genetic why didn't they dad tell them?
March 6, 2019
Bear Romance
Out of control element year old brothers being raised by the sister get caught stealing from two bear shifters. The brothers out them to work when one of the brother s realize the sister is his mate. Very cute story.
Out of control element year old brothers being raised by the sister get caught stealing from two bear shifters. The brothers out them to work when one of the brother s realize the sister is his mate. Very cute story.
November 14, 2016
Awesome
A great read. Liked it slouch read it twice. Great storyline,with awesome characters. Read the other two books in the series.
A great read. Liked it slouch read it twice. Great storyline,with awesome characters. Read the other two books in the series.
December 24, 2016
Great book
I loved reading this book. I could not put it down. I will be reading the next book in the series.
I loved reading this book. I could not put it down. I will be reading the next book in the series.
June 3, 2017
Really liked this book. It is book one is a series and I look forward to the next one.
May 9, 2018
3.25
Good story, over-the-top ridiculous sex scenes.
Good grief, I was snorting out loud.
Love rod
Boobies
Guided his missile into her silo
On and on
July 17, 2018
Love it!
I have always loved shifter romance novels and this bear shifter romance was awesome. Love the story line and the intense love scenes.
I have always loved shifter romance novels and this bear shifter romance was awesome. Love the story line and the intense love scenes.
October 13, 2018
Cute romance.
October 22, 2018
Good shifter romance
An odd mix of sweet and steamy, but a good storyline with a nice long relationship development. I liked the characters and the mentoring of the younger twins.
An odd mix of sweet and steamy, but a good storyline with a nice long relationship development. I liked the characters and the mentoring of the younger twins.
November 11, 2018
Oversexed for my taste, it's like once the author started they couldn't stop. Also felt a bit cheesy.
December 6, 2018
Fun book
This is a well written fun book with some drama and sweet passion. If you like a good shifter romance this is a must read but then so are all of Isadora's books.
This is a well written fun book with some drama and sweet passion. If you like a good shifter romance this is a must read but then so are all of Isadora's books.
December 14, 2018
Good...
Good story, well written with great characters and story line. Enough action and excitement, with some twists to keep you engaged.
Good story, well written with great characters and story line. Enough action and excitement, with some twists to keep you engaged.
January 12, 2019
Quick read
Quick and easy read. The story was a typical shifter romance, but a little on the boring side. Would be good to read at the beach or done so
I
Quick and easy read. The story was a typical shifter romance, but a little on the boring side. Would be good to read at the beach or done so
I
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews