A Bear Victory

Puck Bear Brides #1

by Anya Nowlan

A bear can puck up once... But can he capture the prize regardless of past mistakes?

Cannon Wright's an irredeemable bad boy hockey star, or that's at least what the tabloids know. The star of the Chicago Bluehawks, the werebear playmaker has been living a life of adrenaline and victory for years now, but something's always been missing. When he and his whole team is moved to Shifter Grove, he realizes there's only one thing that could make him happy - his mate. Good thing is, he already knows who she is. Bad thing is, she hates his guts.

Kimberley Thomas is really good at forgetting things she doesn't want to remember. Or so she thinks. But one werebear got under her skin years ago and try as she might, she hasn't been able to move on. Until, that is, a mysterious stranger starts talking to her over a dating app and everything seems to change! But when she finally decides to take him up on his offer and visit him, she comes face to face with the hockey bear of her dreams... and her nightmares!

Will these two defiant souls give one another a second chance, or is this hockey romance destined for a loss? Can Cannon get both his woman and his victory?

Each book in the Puck Bear Brides series can be read as a standalone. No cheating, a guaranteed happy ending and plenty of steamy Alpha bad boy loving await you in this novella!

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters, Amazon, Sports, Ebooks

87 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 16, 2016

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very slow

Very slow for a smaller book. To be honest you must reread a little to understand and get the gist of what was going on. Test they relocate. Then we skip to text messages. For the part I did read it was a lot of mumbo jumbo of Cannon not wanting to be in Idaho.

DNF

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book, very easy to read.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in Anya's new series Puck Bear Brides. I'm completely stoked that it takes place in Shifter Grove. Love that town of shifters. I really love the idea of this series. Hockey playing bear shifters. In this book we have bear shifter Cannon who screwed up the best thing now he's trying to get a second chance with Kimberly. Too bad for him she can't stand the sight of him, but she secretly still lusts after him. She won't risk her heart again, but can Cannon prove he's a changed man and worthy of her love? I really enjoyed this one and can't wait for more from this series.

[JoAnne Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Bear Victory Puck Bear Brides

I am voluntarily writing this review for a copy of this book through ARC. A short and sweet book about Conner and Kimberly.
Conner and Kimberly had a relationship along time ago which ended when Connor broke Kimberly's heart. He wants to see her again to explain what happened but Kimberly was having none of it. Connor has to go so far as having nice chats with her on the computer but, she believes it a man named Puck. Connor and his team have moved to Idaho and are using another name so he invites her to visit but, when she gets to Idaho and sees Connor all the hurt floods back in.....to find out what happens read the book

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Men can be so stupid sometimes, like letting their mate go and doing stupid things.
Now he finally comes to his senses and he tries to get her back.

She still feels the magic and the bond between them, but can she trust him never to hurt her again?
When they are together sparks fly and they are having a great time, but will that last?

For the answer you have to read the book, if you are into a good bear shifter hockey story, this is a great one.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bear on ice

A shifter's first love is tricked to the wilds of Idaho for frozen lake hockey and hot nights. This is a sweet story, with the power of true love and bear charm overcoming voices silences by fear and past hurts. I could almost hear the blades slicing the ice as they tore after the puck the scenes were so vivid.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kim once loved Cannon, he threw her love aside. Yes, he's a jerk, but now he's trying to make up for it.

I feel there could have been more to this book. You have to wait almost to the last page to find out what truly happened between them in the past, I would have liked to know more sooner. The story just didn't seem to flesh out to me.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty decent read. It's a short story so no fillers. Author does a great job depicting what a man in love will do to get a second chance with the woman he loves. It was odd to me though that the shifter element was missing.

[Jamoz23 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, sweetish, not memorable with little background.
Six years ago when they were kids, he screwed up. He made a stupid mistake, then compounded it over time.
She is tricked into meeting him, has sex with him the same night, he apologises and HEA.

[Jhyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Makes you utterly sputtering for words and scrambling for more, so have to find the rest of the series and complete it.

[Crystal Henning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hockey werebear

I am not much of a hockey fan but I did enjoy reading this book. I did not want to put it down.

[Yvonne Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bear Victory
BBW Hockey Werebear Mail-Order Bride
Second Chance Romance Puck Bear Brides Book 1
By Anya Nowlan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion in a review.

I have read a lot of Anya's books and I haven't been disappointed yet. I know every book isn't for everyone but if you enjoy shifter romance you will love reading this book. because I really enjoy reading Anya Nowlan that much. Bear Victory is the first in the Puck Bear Brides series. The storyline is raised high, because the books Anya publish are SPECTACULAR! as I've said before whatever this lady touches it's Golden. I love this book one of the series, I am so excited about for the next book in the series. The characters are well developed and well written. The dialogue is creative, you will like the interaction between the main characters, they leap off the page with life. The scenes are picturesque, vivid, beautiful and dynamic. Shifter Grove would be a great town to live in.

Kimberly Thomas is a human and her job is a PR representative for the Montreal Sabres. Kimberly actions show her maturity even when she is confronted with ex her didn't start kicking, screaming and calling him all kinds of names. Because her ex-boyfriend play another trick to get her in Shifter Grove with him.

Cannon Wright is a gorgeous bear shifter, who is star hockey player of the Chicago Blue Hawks. But when the team moves to Shifter Grove to skate and play hockey on the frozen lake. They aren't to happy, but they have no choice in the matter. Cannon isn't happy because he has been uses a dating app to anonymously reconnect with his ex-girlfriend Kimberly Thomas, because of fact he has been concealing his identity. Now he just wants cell service so he can get online to Sassydate.com so he can talk to Kimberly. Cannon hates that he hurt Kimmy when she was 18 and he was 19. But he would like to tell her he made a mistake. So the deception is necessary because he feels that given a half of a chance Kimmy would slammed the door in his face if she realizes who he is.

But Cannon persuades Kimberly to come and visit him at Shifter Grove. But Kimberly is still thinking she is there to see Puck. On her arrival in Shifter Grove she is caught in a snow storm. She is watching the game when she realizes that the person she has been talking to on Sassydate is Cannon. The chemistry between Cannon and Kimberly is scorching hot. But she is afraid that if she stay
she will fall in love all over again. What will Kimberly do Will she listen when Cannon? Yes! You will enjoy this light hearted love story If you like Anya's books. This is a SPECTACULAR Read! This story will give you a feeling of happiness and If you love shifter romance this is definitely a fabulous choice for your TBR list. I am hoping there will be a lot more exciting Shiftr stories.

If you believe in the world of shifters the possibilities are endless and fascinating.
I highly recommend this book!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Shifter's Grove has a new hockey team. One that is a surprise to the players and the town. Apparently a great place for new beginnings.

Cannon Wright is a bad boy (ok maybe not but in the tabloids he is and he will keep it that way to nurse his wound of loosing the one girl that means everything to him) and a bear that plays hockey. His life was turned upside down when he left the one girl who he now knows is his mate. Back then they were young and he was cocky and selfish, a bit. He is now chatting her up on SassyDate (a dating app) without her knowing it is him.

Kimberley Thomas tries hard to hide away her past hurt. No clear answer to why she was hurt in the first place. Cannon broke her heart and she can't forget it and doesn't want to forgive him. She starts chatting it up on SassyDate with a hockey player that she is just joking around with or so she thinks. She is not over Cannon after 10 years. Of course she is all grown up, smart, good looking, but not willing to let go of her heart again.

Kimmy (as Cannon calls her) decides to take a chance and go see this mystery guy from the dating app....and sparks fly, angry sparks from her and his heart coming together for him. He is not going to give up and is in for the fight of a lifetime, if he thought some of the hockey players were gruff and tough, he has underestimated Kimberley in her hurt and anger for him.

Little by little he wears her down and he is being very romantic and seductive the whole time, but she leaves. She can't stay knowing how he hurt her and to top it off they were just together - in bed....again (although the first time in 10 years mind you) he notices she is no longer in the stands and lets his bear loose to find her and finally explain. When he catches up with the truck taking her to the airport he tells her. Does she stay? Does he win her over? Do they have their happy ever after? You need to read this awesome book to find out. It is a quick and fun read, nothing overdone or drawn out, but total enjoyment through the whole book.

[Sherill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A BEAR VICTORY {PUCK BEAR BRIDES}- A CAPTIVATIVG ROMANTIC STORY.

This story focuses on; CANNON a traffic-stopping gorgeous, grizzly bear-shifter Captain of his hockey team; KIMBERLEY a sassy, curvaceous, independent green-eyed beauty, and PR rep for the Montreal Sabres hockey team.

What you'll find in this story; a cast of remarkably impressive and engaging characters, fantastic story-line, picturesque and powerful vivid scene descriptions, phenomenal banter, heart-rending moments, emotions spiral, camaraderie, heart-throbbing toe-curling sensual romance, and a melt your heart ending leaving you smiling and wanting more.

Before Cannon was a Pro hockey player and Kimberley was in college, the two were a loving couple until the day Cannon broke her heart with an unworthy explanation. Now that the coach of his team has relocated them to Shifter Grove, Idaho to teach them team work, Cannon believes this is the perfect place to start over. It has been years since they have seen each other, but Cannon is older now and believes wiser. He has been communicating with Kimberley for months via the SassyDate app putting up a picture hiding his identity. Cannon hopes he can lure her to Shifter Grove, make amends and prove that he is the only man for her.

WOW/SPECTACULAR-fast paced well written creative read by a truly gifted author. The characters come alive with exhilarating scene descriptions, intriguing plot, fantastic dialogue, and a bit of drama to keep you hooked from start to finish. The romance sizzles to a slow passionate burn, and is filled with adoration. I loved this story, as it was a most entertaining read. If you treasure shifter romance this is certainly a terrific book for your library. {I was gifted this book, and this is my completely honest review}. In the world of shifter romance the possibilities are endless and always fascinating. Without reservations I recommend this book.

[Mary Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again this was another excellent, well-written shifter story; as always, Anya’s stories have so much depth and feeling to them, they are just a pure pleasure to read. The Chicago Bluehawks hockey team were moving out of Chicago. They had known for a long time, but the new location was a secret, so imagine their surprise when they find themselves at a lake, stranded in the middle of nowhere, with their coach telling them they had to get back to their roots. Cannon feels a twinge of regret at getting uprooted, but he has his team with him and Shifter Grove begins to grow on him; he is enamoured with the wide open spaces, the fresh air and the fantastic mountains. Now his bear is demanding that Cannon fix everything he has broken from all those years ago. But it isn’t easy; he has hurt this girl badly. Kimberley has been working for the Sabres for 3 years, but has been a hockey fan all her life. No one has kept her interest or captivated her imagination like the faceless guy behind the generic data profile on SassyDate. She knows he is a bear and likes hockey. They have been texting daily now, flirting a little and getting to know one another. Kimberley made a promise when she was 18 to never date another hockey player, not after what the last one did to her, but at 25 she was reconsidering it. Cannon persuades Kimberley to visit him, but she wasn’t supposed to be the girl who shows up looking for one guy and finds the man who has completely broken her heart instead. It hadn’t even been the break up itself that hurt so much, but the betrayal. He had been her best friend, her closest confident and he hadn’t respected her enough to even give her an explanation. Cannon knows that Kimberley is his mate; now all he has to do is talk to her and set things right, but is it too late. This is certainly a book I would recommend. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Alice Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Bear Victory is the first book in the Puck Bear Bride series of books. This book is about Cannon and Kimberly. The book starts out with Cannon and his hockey team finding out that they have been relocated from Chicago to Shifters Grove Idaho, and right now they do not have a rink to practice on but a frozen lake. The main thing upsetting Cannon though, is the cell coverage, how can he check SassyDate and see if the woman he has been chatting with has written him back if there is no cell service? When we meet Kimberly she is supposed to be in a meeting, as she is on a PR team for the Montreal Sabres, a hockey team out of Montreal in the National Shifters Hockey League. But instead of paying attention to the meeting she is talking to PuckBear on SassyDate. He wants her to go to Idaho to for a date and her friend Serena thinks she should go and do her work remotely, as she is handling the PR and such that have cropped up due to the Chicago team taking a break and missing the next few games, due to their relocation. But Kimberly had promised herself to never date another Hockey player, not after the way that the first one had broken her heart. You will have to read on to see what happens when Kimberly figures out that PuckBear is that first Hockey player!


This book is awesome!! Just like many of Anya Nowlan’s books when I started reading this book, I had trouble putting it down. I love the way the characters are introduced and developed. This book is a must read for anyone who loves shifter romances. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes paranormal romances as well. My only caution is there is some explicit language, after all these guys are hockey players so what do you expect, as well as some steamy sex scenes. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen Voitik · Rating 3 out of 5]

>Book Review – A Bear Victory –

>This is the first book in the Puck Bear Brides series and ends in an HEA. Kimberley decides to meet a guy she has been texting online. Once she flies to a remote forest area to meet him, she realizes he is her hated ex-boyfriend. Cannon broke her heart, but the reader doesn't find out why until later in the story.

>Leaving Kimberley no other option but to stay with Cannon is important to the plot, but not in line with how Kimberley is described. She is a career girl, used to traveling. It was hard to accept she would fly to meet a stranger and not book a place to stay. Their quick hook up was believable, but having both Kimberley and Cannon clam up on clearing their past was a bit unrealistic.

>Having Cannon chase after Kimberley in bear form was very alpha. I wish there were more moments when Cannon had to assert himself around Kimberley. A few things in the book were unclear. Was Kimberley a shifter? Her father is described as coach of a non shifter hockey team, but whether he shifts or not was not said. Were shifters normal and accepted in the human communities? Nothing is mentioned besides just letting the reader know there are shifters.

>The story was unique and romantic, but Kimberley and Cannon needed more backstory and descriptions. There were also some serious editing errors. Editing errors tend to take a reader out of the story.

>This book is appropriate for an adult audience. I am a reviewer for Romance Authors that Rock and I am giving the story 3 hearts.

[Linda Levine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a second chance at love story. Cannon and Kimberly were involved when they were young and it ended badly. Kimberly still loves hockey but has kept away from dating hockey players until one guy contacts her on SassyDate and makes her think about reconsidering. She doesn't expect to see her ex. Cannon is a bear shifter and he knows he made a mistake when he ended it with Kimberly. He wants another chance and knows he will have to work hard for it.

I liked the story. It is a pretty quick read with a story that moves fast. I wish there had been a little more character development. I didn't feel like I had a good understanding/ connection with the main characters. Cannon is a very good hockey player but not so good at relationships. I wish I knew more about why he waited so long to try to rectify his mistake with Kimberly. If he was so concerned about hurting her by making a mistake about his feelings, why did he then deliberately make it look like he was cheating on her or moving very quickly to other women? There isn't a lot of information on Kimberly's life either after the split. Did she have any relationships? It seems odd that for six years she would not have dated and moved on.

I received a copy in return for a honest review.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pucky gets his woman

This is the first book in this new series of Shifter Grove Brides...One word...love, love, love it...okay one word 3x and then threw in it. I could not put this book down. I was enthralled with Cannon a.k.a. lucky and his mate Kimberly a.k.a kimmy. The chemistry they shared was explosive. He knew he messes up when he let his mate go when they were younger and he's regretted it ever since. He knew he had to use some trickery to get her back. So going on sassy dates was perfect. He showed enough that she would be impresses but not enough so she would know it was him. Kimberly had become smitten with pucky and knew she had to at least meet him. He made her insides tingle. Trying to leave him was the hardest thing she ever did but Cannon was not having that. He knew immediately she left the game and went all bear and went after his mate. Lucky for him he's an excellent hockey player because that move would gotten someone else fired. I'm not going to tell you everything. Pick up the book. Tanya Nowlan did it again.

[ZETTER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Facing One's Past!!!

Cannon Wright, the star of the Chicago Bluekawks who was christened a bad boy hockey by the media. Despite the fame and doing what he loves, Cannon always felt like something was missing. And he was right, he was missing his mate, the one woman that hated him more than anybody else (or did she?) ;).

Kimberley Thomas thought she was over the bear shifter who had stolen her heart and ripped it apart years ago but she was mistaken. When a stranger started talking to her on SassyDate she was ready to move on. That was until she met her mystery man.

Cannon had a lot to make up for where Kimberley was concerned, she wasn't about to let him off the hook that easily even though they never stopped loving each other.

A BEAR VICTORY was a fantastic read, it was a delight to see some characters from the previous series situated in Shifter Grove and introducing new ones. Anya Nowlan did it again, looking forward to more.

[Sonja Ratliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in return for an honest review. I was not sure about this book because I am not a person who enjoys hockey but Cannon changed my mind. After some trouble on the ice, the coach of the Chicago Bluehawks decides to change everything, from the place where they play to the names. They go from the Chicago Bluehawks to the Shifter Grove Shovelers
Cannon who is a member of SassyDate decides to invite his ‘friend’ to Shifter Grove to watch him play. So he invites MontrealSabers4life to visit him in Idaho. What could go wrong? Well just about everything.
First off Kimberley (MontrealSabers4life) was at one time Cannon’s girlfriend and broke her heart and she is not quite ready to forgive and forget. Cannon’s struggle to show that he is not the insensitive man that he was when he was young is emotional, sweet, with wonderful romance and an ending what will leave you cheering for them.

[Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a new series for Ms. Nowlan but they do bump into her Shifter Grove folks. It’s nice to catch up with them, too, however this is a standalone book. It was just more fun for me to know them. This is a very quick read, but a good story. It felt like the set up for the series so a lot of background is given to know what is going on. The hero, Cannon, is a hockey playing werebear who “chats” with an old girlfriend (unbeknownst to her) over the Shifter dating website. Our heroine is Kimberley and she does love her hockey. She is a PR person for a competing team and comes to Idaho, from Chicago, to meet this “new” guy. It’s fun, it’s quick, and I really enjoyed reading about these two. I’m looking forward to this new group of shifters.

[Karen Shortridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this for my honest review. Kimberly is a PR for Montreal Sabres and as much as she loves her job her boss Stella aka Viper makes it difficult. So when she receives a message from her SassyDate Puckbear asking her to go to Idaho to meet and watch a game she is all at once excited and nervous. Cannon Wright is a professional hockey player for the Chicago Bluehawks but due to problems on the ice there Coach has decided to change the playing field and brings them to Shifter Grove. Before Cannon was a Pro hockey player and Kimberley was in college, the two were a loving couple until the day Cannon broke her heart with an unworthy explanation, so what will happen when she realises who he is ........... If you treasure shifter romance this is certainly a terrific book for you and In the world of shifter romance the possibilities are endless and always fascinating, great read.

[Cassie Hess-dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannon knows he messed up years ago and is now ready to apologize to Kimberley. He just has to figure out a way to get her to come to Idaho and the dating service seems to be just what he needs. She has no idea that PuckBear is actually Cannon. The two talk through text for a while and Kimberley thinks that he might actually be the one. So she goes to Idaho to watch him play hockey. Once she gets there and realizes who she was actually texting with all this time she is angry, but can't deny the attraction between them. Will he finally man up and apologize for how he handled things or will he lose her forever?
This was a fast paced story that pulled you in and kept you wondering up until the end. Cannon is a sweet, hot guy and is focused on getting Kimmy to give him a second chance.
ARC provided for review

[Elizabeth/snoopypeach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cannon is a bear shifter and hockey player. His team has just moved to a rural city, Shifter Grove. After talking to a woman on Sassydate for a while, he convinces her to come see one of his games. He knows he has one chance to make an impression.

Kimberley works for a hockey team doing PR work. She's been talking to a player on Sassydate and is finally intrigued enough to go see him. She was not expecting the man she found!

This is a great story of second chances! The characters are a lot of fun. Kimberley is strong, successful, and passionate. Cannon is sexy, powerful, and smart. The story was just right between the passion, excitement of hockey, and a werebear finding his mate. You get to see some of the characters from other Shifter Grove books. This is a pretty quick read that is a stand alone with a HEA ending.


Received a copy for an honest review.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cold As Ice

This was O.K. I love Anya Nowlan's longer stories better. This is a new series for me...but it is way too short. They are great for beach reads or while waiting some where. Cannon Wright is a sexy wearbear hockey player who ends up in Shifter Grove with his whole team. They are going back go their roots per their coach. Cannon is a very confident player who has only one regret in his life that he needs to make right and he already has his plan in motion to do so.

Kimberly, is a PR person who has decided to go to Shifter Grove to meet her SassyDates guy...Pucky. She had no idea the man she would be meeting is the man she could do without in her mind...her ex.

I cannot say too much more because I would give the whole thing away.

[iliana G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.


I hardly rate a first book in a new series with a 5 star review but WOW!!!

I love the way Anya Nowlan writes and every single time she makes me smile with her stories.

Once again she managed to introduce us to a new set of characters to a well known location that
we have come to love!

Anya has found the magic recipe in her Shifter Grove town and its no wonder that every series she writes has that comfortable feeling of a known place that promises us to have fun.

I found myself finishing this book to fast yet it left me complete and happy and sated.

A great start to a promising series.

[Petula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cannon Wright is a hockey player for the National Shifter Hockey League and a grizzly bear. His coach has moved the team to the middle of nowhere. Better known as Shifter Grove. He feels if the shutters on his team are closer to nature their animals will be happier, and the men will play better.
Kimberley works on the P.R team of a Montreal hockey team. She has hooked up online with a mystery hockey player. She has decided to go to one on his games to see if she wants to get to know him better.
This seems to be more a sports romance than a shifter one. The story is about a second chance after one messed up big time. A fun read.

[CharmaineW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this complimentary arc copy from the author for an honest review
Cannon Wright is an ice hockey bad boy. After making a stupid mistake 6 years ago and losing his mate Kimberley Thomas, can he put things right?
Kimberley Thomas is now finally getting on with her life after a relationship gone wrong. Speaking to "Pucky" on SassyDate she decides to go see him secretly in Shifter Grove, Idaho. Only he seems rather familiar.....oh no no no.. It's Cannon. Both recognised by a tattoo.
Two people who still love each other, but a lot of confessions to be made, a lot of lovin to be had and a lot of happiness to be found.
Absolutely love this new hockey story. Can't wait to read book 2

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cannon and Kimberley met before but with Cannon on a hockey team and Kimberley working for a company that took her away from Shifter Grove. Kimberley wants to try and move on but she can't. Cannon is on a spiral slippery slope of destruction or so the tabloid says he takes to trying the one person that he has wanted for a long time. Now that he is talking to a girl on a dating app he begins to find love again. But will he find out who it is that he is talking to. Will Kimberley find out who she is talking too. Will they give each other another chance.