Those are the words rattling around in Louise’s head when her car breaks down on the side of the road. Stranded, she accepts help from a motorbike riding guy in tight leather pants. Not that she is interested in tight leather pants and the kind of men who wear them—oh no, she’s been there, done that, and got the baby to prove it.
It doesn’t matter that he is the perfect man for her. It’s obvious she’s not his mate, and there is no way she’s going to fall in unrequited love again—she’s been there, done that, and got the broken heart to prove it.
Zak has been around the world, trying to figure out who he is, and escape the man he almost was. He’s a bad boy turned good. But when he meets Louise, he wants to be all kind of bad, in bed at least. Yet there’s something about her that makes him hold back. Something that stops Zak from telling Louise that she is his true mate, the one who will love and protect her for the rest of her life.
However, they have more in common than either of them could guess. And when Louise’s past threatens her future happiness, Zak will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Even if it means becoming a bad boy once more.
Harmony Raines loves to write romance filled with magic and love. Her men are usually not so alpha, but they know how to treat their fated mates, or alien lovers well.
----------------------------------------------------- From the author: If you love shifter romances, sign up to my newsletter at http://www.harmonyraines.com/newslett... and you'll receive an exclusive subscriber only book - Fated & Mated: Love at First Site - absolutely free!
Just my way of saying thank you for giving my books a try.
We first met Louise in Doctor Daddy Bear, so while I’d strongly suggest reading the entire series in order, if you read Doctor Daddy Bear right before Bad Boy Bear you’ll find that one story flows easily and naturally into the next.
Louise has had a lot of emotional blows headed her way in the past few months. Just as she’s beginning to settle down into motherhood, making a life for herself and her daughter, Storm, another blow. Ollie, the shifter who’d been her friend, who had stayed with her during some of the most traumatic days of her life has found his mate. And that left her… where? Obviously she hadn’t been his mate, but she had hoped. Well, she was accustomed to people letting her down. So it was mom and daughter against the world now, with the help of Dean. What she couldn’t have known was that her future would come riding to the rescue – in so many more ways than simply stopping to help her broken down car at the side of the road.
Zak had left Bear Creek to seek his fortune, and more importantly, his place in this world years ago. Once the town bad boy, he’d been one of Dean’s kids and he owed everything he was today to Dean’s care. When he stopped to help a stranded motorist on the side of the road he hadn’t expected to feel the mate bond so strongly that it almost toppled him… unfortunately, this human didn’t feel the same thing as she looked at him with suspicious eyes. Well, he’s just going to have to change that because she was his mate and he’d win her over… eventually.
I completely loved Bad Boy Bear for many reasons. First, Louise and Zak were so perfect together. Oh, Louise is not willing to just jump on the mate bandwagon, and Zak will have to do some wooing, some convincing before she does believe him… but they fit. Both had harsh backgrounds, both had their dreams tossed and rebuilt and both wanted a forever love, even if Louise was afraid to trust in it. When danger comes after Louise and Storm, it’s Zak who keeps her calm, focuses on what needs done and supports her any way he can. A reformed bad boy, yes… but more like a man who has grown and knows what is important, his woman, his new baby no matter her DNA and their life together as a family.
I’d highly recommend this story and this series to any Paranormal Romance or Shifter Romance reader. Lively characters, issues you can relate to and secondary characters who make the stories come alive. Can’t ask for much more than that.
I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the connection between Louise and Zak and Fate sure knows what it’s doing matching these two considering they both had really sh*tty childhoods so can understand each other, they’ve both made mistakes and they both owe everything to Dean since he Fostered them. Louise is so strong but she thinks she’s a completely horrible person for abandoning Storm even if it was just a few days, she’s trying to do everything herself. I liked that she lets Dean look after Storm while she’s working it just goes to show how much she trusts him. I loved how much Dean loves and cares about all the kids he’s fostered over the years and has an especially strong bond with Zak and how much he loves and cares about Louise and Storm. I loved that Zak eased Louise into them being mates as firstly he didn’t know she knew about shifters when he met her and then when he found out that she is Storm’s mum and that Dean loves them both he wanted to talk to Dean first to see if Dean had an issue with him being with her but Louise took it the other way around thinking that Dean wouldn’t approve of her with him considering how much Dean cares about Zak. Man, Storm’s dad Ajax is a complete an utter a*sehole after ditching Louise after getting what he wanted and finding out about her being pregnant with Storm but especially finding out the only reason why he tracked them down and tried to get them back into his life. I’m glad that both Louise and Storm found the perfect man and father figure in Zak as he loves them both so much. I’m looking forward to reading Dean’s story next as he deserves his happily ever after. I’d definitely recommend this book, series, universe and author to everyone.
3.5 Stars. I really wanted to give this book 4 stars, but there were just issues I couldn't get over.
I liked but didn't like the MCs. There were parts that I felt disconnected from them because they didn't really come off as real or just seemed to lack depth.
My biggest dislike was the ending. I did not feel like the conclusion brought up the close of the story. It felt rushed and things left hanging as if someone just wanted to hurry up and get done with it all.
Setting: Bear Creek Genre: Shifter romance Louise is a young (18 years old) single mom still living with her daughter at her former foster father’s home while trying to get her life in order. She has self-esteem issues related to having been treated poorly by her parents and abandoned by her daughter’s father. She also feels shame that she briefly abandoned her daughter (at a hospital) as a newborn - detailed in the previous book in this series. Zak is another one of Dean’s former fosterlings who has come back to Bear Creek after traveling around the world for a couple of years, most recently in Australia playing guitar in a rock band, for which he also wrote songs. He is a Bear Shifter and, as is normal for Shifter’s, he recognized Louise as his fated mate as soon as he met her. Louise is fully human, so she doesn’t recognize an instant connection and her esteem issues keep her (briefly) from accepting that Zak could actually want her. There is a short conflict with Ajax, the motorcycle gang member who fathered Louise’s daughter. While the plot is okay - not very unique, but enjoyable enough - there are errors in the story. Not grammatical or even typo mistakes, but places where there is continuity or informational problems. It puts a stop to the flow when you get to a “huh? But didn’t it say...” moment. Also this, as well as other Harmony Raines stories, confuse me as to setting. The author uses British idioms and given the terrain described I thought, “oh, it must be Canada”. Also because there are no bears outside of zoos in Britain. Then Louise buys wine, but the legal age for that in Canada is 19. So my mind, which clings to logic even in a setting that has people who can turn into animals, gets a bit tangled up with these questions and inconsistencies. The biggest problem with this book though is the lack of a good editor to take care of all the problems I had with the text.
I can’t help but find these books to be OVER simplified with regards to plot premise and reality. There is no social services in the world that would have allowed as much as this one has. Granted these are not serious books but still. My other pet peeve is the dialogue, it’s rare when it flows naturally while in general it is very forced. It makes it annoying to read. Also, the shifter thing is BARELY mentioned in any of these books and so they really aren’t much of a paranormal romance IMO. It’s mostly used to explain the insta-love of the characters.
I absolutely love HEA books and I advice you give them a chance it you love them as much as me but NOT if paranormal romance is your thing. I’m going to continue on with this series and author simply because I’m invested in the community that is created in Bear Creek.
Delightful, sweet story of two people with harsh pasts finding each other and aiming for a smooth future. Louise is a single mom working her way to a confident life. She's staying with Dean, bear shifter, her father substitute and therapist. When Zac rides into her life she fears he's just another bad boy come to break her heart. His tight leather pants and motorcycle don't assuage that image. But he's determined to prove he's given up his bad boy ways and wants to be her true mate and real father to her daughter. When Louise's past comes riding into town it's up to Zac to proves he's the man she can trust, and he does it well.
A so-so story. I was disappointed that Zak shifted only once and that was at the beginning of the book. The villain Ajax was a caricature and was almost a throw-away character. Seriously?! He wanted Louise and the baby back because his lawyer advised him that if he had dependents, then he might escape jail. Too tired to say any more, but over all, this was an OK story.
******* Update now that I've slept. I do like this series and was glad that Louise found her "forever" person, but what if she *hadn't* liked Zak? How does the shifter/ mate thing work? Is it possible for there to be a "fated mate" that actually doesn't like his/ her mate?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I love Zak's character. He grew up with an abusive father, got put in foster care, then turned his life around. He didn't want to grow up to be like his dad. So he followed his foster dad Dean's advice and made something of himself. Louise's character wasn't as strong, she was self-defeating in the things she said and thought. With Zac and Dean helping her she was getting stronger. Storm's dad came back into the picture to cause trouble but we got a HEA ending. Can't wait for Dean's book. Love this authors stories. They always cheer me up.
9th book in the series. If you read the other story, you will remember meeting Louise who just had a baby. Well this one is about her finding her fated mate, a bear of course, but he is not what she anticipated finding, as she already had one bad boy in her life that hurt her, can her heart allow for her to try with another bad boy? Zak, you may remember him from a really on bear creek book working with Will, well, he's back and has something to prove, to Louise :-) Great read and look forward to the next one :-) Happy Reading
These are sweet feel good stories. About love, loss and finding family. I've taken a liking to Dean so I'm hoping for a happy ending for him. Storm entered life almost without and now the little one has more than anyone could ask for. Louise and Zak start their life together with a clean slate. The past made them who they are and they are ready to take on the future.
Another great book. This one has a really good story behind it. I remember Louise from the last book, pregnant and alone, she couldn't have Ollie, so she ended up with a bad biker boy and made mistakes but but she's back at Bear Creek with her daughter and meets Zak. I was really pleased with this book, my favorite so far out of this return series.
I don't normally read the reviews of the writers I enjoy reading. Because I'm going to read the book anyway no matter. Buttttt I did on this one. ( why I don't know). And it is ok that you did not like the book, but be honest in your review. This is another great book in this series. .
A lovely nice read that gives us a HEA for Louise and Storm. A bad boy returned home finds out he has two special ladies waiting for him. It turns out that Louise's saviour Dean has one of his past kids return home who just happens to be her mate. Zak is a bad bot who has turned his life around thanks to Deans influence. Meeting Louise when her car breaks down changes his life.
Kindle Unlimited standalone in series! Love this story and how it ties other characters into story line - bad boy returns home only to find his mate right under his nose!! She has a baby and doesn't need another bad boy in her life but fate has other ideas ;)
Louise is not running anymore. She is growing up, proving to be a great mom, and slowly gaining confidence in herself. One of Dean's "kids" has returned to Bear Creek. Zak was a bad boy, who has turned into a wonderful man. When they meet, things get a bit messy. Read the book to find out how they deal with the issues! Great series!
Louise is getting her life back on track and in walks Zak. The former bad boy. Zac can't believe all these years away and he returns to town and finds his mate. Even though she is a little leary of the mating. Another fantastic book in the Return to Bear Creek series.
No matter how your new life starts, hang on right because all relationships have some bumps in the road. Speaking as a single mom, the love you have your child takes top billing. The pressure Louise felt over everything is enough to make anyone have doubts. The love from Zak and under the watchful eye of Dean, she can handle what life throws at her.
Every books I've read from book 1 to book 9, it's an awesome read. I'm waiting for more, just can't get enough of Bear Creek and Bear Bluff. Thank you C. A. Harlow
Loved this book from.start to finished. Im really happy Louise got her HEA and Storm a new and much better dad than her sperm donor. And wonder if Dean will get a HEA too (hint hint). Can't wait for the next book.
I chose this rating because it was different then most of the books I hAve read , I liked the fact they both lived in the same foster home but different times in life raised by the same men but ended up together dispit there back grounds,
Awesome series. Love that Bear Creek is having Happy Ever Afters. Always a great read. Easy to follow and understand the writers ideas and creatively. Can't wait for more.
I adored this book. And love this series, reading about Louise I'm the last book I never thought about there being a story for her but I'm glad there is. Now I hope Deans book is next. If anyone deserves a happy ending its him.
I really enjoyed reading Louise & Sam's story very much. I even enjoyed that she had a second chance. Eagerly waiting for the author's next story hopefully it will be about Dean.
When I thought of a mate for Dean Suzie's mom is who came to mind and it seems I was right. I'm ready for the next, the next and I could read all the books from this series. They're really very good.
Louise is a single mother who doesn't have time for love. Zak, a former bad boy is back in Bear Creek looking for a fresh start. When Louise's past comes knocking these two will have to prove their love that Love can conquer all.
The story was good with familiar characters and a little drama. Two previous characters had found their mates as a sideline but their stories were never told. I am hoping that their stories are running congruent with this one in the next book.
Motorcycle ✅ Tight leather ✅ Long hair ✅ In a band ✅ Oozing sex appeal ✅ Bad Boy ✅ Reformed Bad Boy ✅ Big ol’ bear hiding a warm fuzzy Teddy Bear ✅ Awesome book everyone should read? ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
This book was filled with mystery and some suspense. It contained romance and drama from the beginning to the end. My favorite character was Dean because of the way he cares for other people. A great book to read.