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Barvale Clan Tales #1

Polar Opposites

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She's got a thing for bad boys, and he's as bad as they come!

Bowie Atiqtalaaq was new to Barvale, but not to the prejudices of man and Shifter alike. He'd heard the vicious slurs against him for the way he'd been conceived for most of his life. Keeping everyone at bay is a full-time job, but with his reputation for being wild and brash, Bowie never expected to care about what anyone else thought of him ever again. Until he laid eyes on her.

Roxanne Winters, the legendary ice queen herself, journeys to Barvale during the Holiday Lights Festival to seek rights for her Skulk to run on Clan lands during the winter solstice. Her father, Alpha Fox of their Skulk, is depending on her to act with the grace and flawless manners that had been pounded into her brain since birth to get the rights for their annual mating celebration.

Will Roxanne be the good girl Daddy always told her to be, or will she let her hair down and go wild with naughty Polar Bear Shifter, Bowie, her guide for the week?

159 pages, ebook

First published December 24, 2019

192 people are currently reading
227 people want to read

About the author

C.D. Gorri

383 books1,914 followers
C.D. Gorri is a USA Today Bestselling author of steamy contemporary & paranormal romance & urban fantasy.

She is the creator of the Grazi Kelly Universe.

Join her mailing list here: https://www.cdgorri.com/newsletter

An avid reader with a profound love for books and literature, when she is not writing or taking care of her family, she can usually be found with a book or tablet in hand. C.D. lives in her home state of New Jersey where many of her characters or stories are based. Her tales are fast paced yet detailed with satisfying conclusions.

If you enjoy powerful heroines and loyal heroes who face relatable problems in both contemporary and supernatural settings, journey into C.D. Gorri's Universe today.

You will find sassy, curvy heroines and sexy, love-driven heroes who find their HEAs between the pages. Werewolves, Bears, Dragons, Tigers, Witches, Romani, Lynxes, Foxes, Thunderbirds, Vampires, and many more Shifters and supernatural creatures dwell within her worlds. The most important thing is every mate in this universe is fated, loyal, and true lovers always get their happily-ever-afters.

Want to know how it all began? Enter the Grazi Kelly Universe with Wolf Moon: A Grazi Kelly Novel or pick up Charley's Christmas Wolf and dive into the Macconwood Pack Novel Series today.

For a complete list of C.D. Gorri's books visit her website here:

https://www.cdgorri.com/complete-book...

Thank you and happy reading!

del mare alla stella,
C.D. Gorri

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5 stars
299 (59%)
4 stars
129 (25%)
3 stars
58 (11%)
2 stars
14 (2%)
1 star
4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
Profile Image for Sydney M Neblett.
2,661 reviews26 followers
December 6, 2019
Better than a vacation
So good! I love how the author took Bowie completely by surprise when she introduced Roxie to the clan. He is one of my favorite kind of characters, alpha to the core and yet this hidden soft center that not many get the chance to see. Maybe that’s why he saw the real fox behind the facade. No matter the reason, the author takes these two on a merry chase to their home and their HEA. I don’t know what the author has in store for the rest of the clan, but I can’t wait to see the women that will tame the triplets.
Profile Image for Fran.
2,467 reviews4 followers
September 25, 2025
This is an excellent story. Roxie is the daughter of the alpha of her Fox Skulk. But she finally has a vacation where she meets Bowie and orphan Polar bear shifter and Enforcer for the Barvale Clan. When they meet can opposites attract? These two do. I loved this story fast and steamy and a fun read. I loved it.
Profile Image for Teresa Bowen.
104 reviews2 followers
January 26, 2020
Bowie and his triplet cousins were banned from their Clan of Polar Bear shifters and sent to the Barvale Clan and have have became part of the Barvale Clan Enforcer Security Unit. Except for his cousins he never expected anyone to think of him as anyone worthy until he met her. Roxanne is on a mission for her father to ask for their Skulk to run on Clan land during winter soltice. Bowie is to be her guide. Will sparks fly and love unfold? Read the book to find out. I loved the story and I can't wait to see what will happen with the triplets.
Profile Image for lisa jung.
5,454 reviews44 followers
December 25, 2019
Polar bear

He's a polar bear enforcer and she's the Ice Queen. Roxanne is a Fox shifter and about to meet her mate during the holiday.
210 reviews4 followers
October 24, 2025
Great Story; Talented and Honest Writer; 50% Erotica

I freely admit I thoroughly enjoyed the quality of writing, the layered plot, Roxanne's awakening to her inner strength, and the realistic portrayal of all the people in this book. Bowie was not an easy character to write, yet Writer Gorri effectively avoided making him a stereotypical rough and rude shifter who *omg* discovers his inner goodness (snark intended). He is made real with Writer Gorri's words, from his childhood isolaton to his understanding of other shifters and differing shifter social patterns to his loyalty to and caring for his current pack. Like Roxie, Bowie has layers and an intrinsic code of ethics, all of which we get to discover as the story develops. I love all that!

I also appreciate Writer Gorri's honesty about the content of her books. That's not as common as I would like; for that, I truly respect Writer Gorri. I was interested enough in the story to blindly hope for minimal intimacy. Oops. This book is about 50% beautifully written lovemaking scenes. Well, that's why I explore a new author via Kindle Unlimited. I'm grateful for the joy of the story, but since I have no interest in my book people's intimate moments, I will not go back and buy this book.

Three stars for great writing and a great story. Two stars off for shrinking the story to make room for a huge amount of detailed sexual intimacy.

Happy, informed reading!

~~Polar Opposites: Barvale Clan~~
Profile Image for Mandy (MP Book Reviews).
4,930 reviews45 followers
November 27, 2021
Polar bear shifter Bowie Atiqtalaaq is new to Barvale and had coped with slurs and prejudice about how he was conceived his entire life. As a self-defence mechanism, he was brash and a bit wild to keep everyone away from him. He never cared about what anyone might think about him until he met ice queen and fox shifter Roxanne Winters who has come to Barvale to negotiate rights to cross Barvale lands for her Skulk during the winter solstice on behalf of her father. Will Roxanne be the good girl her Daddy always told her to be or will she let her hair down and go wild with the naughty with Bowie who is her guide for the week?

I enjoyed this story as to how Bowie and Roxanne met, their adventures and how they came together and admitted that they were mates all around the time of the winter solstice and run-up to Christmas. I loved their final acceptance and the way that Roxanne was when her father turned up which was just great. Easy to read and understand. Contains explicit sexual content.
Profile Image for Jamoz23.
5,352 reviews46 followers
May 11, 2020
Loses a star for the sheer amount of errors not picked up.
Entertaining tale but the amount of errors, oh boy. They started with the first line and continued throughout.
Hated that poor Bowie suffered as he did. His happenstance of birth is not his fault and his mother was a coward. His old clan didn’t deserve any of these men and I am sure losing four prime males will be a blow for that old clan in the long run.
Roxanne and her doormat attitude annoyed me at first. Who leaves a holiday to do something so minor. The fact she couldn’t even see how she was being used, weak.
Enjoyed spending time in Barvale again with the known characters from other series.
Will read the books about the triplet cousins.
Read through Kindle Unlimited.
Profile Image for Pam.
848 reviews
June 30, 2022
This is the first book in The Barvale Clan Series by C.D. Gorri. Bowie is a polar bear shifter who has had a hard time fitting in due to how he was conceived. Bowie and his three cousins are leaving their clan and moving to a new one. In the Barvale Clan Bowie is an enforcer and he has been asked to pick up a very important person from the airport. Roxanne has been sent by her Alpha father to get permission for her Skulk to run on Clan lands during the winter solstice. Roxanne has never been involved with a run due to the perception of her Skulk that she is an Ice Queen. The sparks fly between Bowie and Roxanne, then Roxanne asks Bowie for a favor. I love this book, the characters are great and the story is original. If you love shifters this is a must read.
Profile Image for Ana.
2,038 reviews6 followers
November 30, 2021
Bowie a polar bear shifter was never accepted and always put down by his clan in Alaska. Always being rebellious and picking fights because of this, he and his triplet cousins are thrown out of their clan, and they wind up in Barvale. They are taken in by the Barvale Clan as Enforcers and begin a new life.

Fox shifter Roxanne was always looked down upon, because of her size and stoic personality, the Ice Queen she was called.

Bowie and Roxie are the perfect odd couple, their two worlds come together in this well written journey that was a joy to read.

Keeps you pulled in and gives you characters you like and can't wait to read about.
864 reviews4 followers
February 9, 2022
Fated mates!

A breathtaking, beautiful strong foxy woman and an mistreated, handsome icy broken bear of a man, find each other! One a princess, one an unwanted mistreated man! Yet both had never known love, acceptation, or respect until each other! Will their love be strong enough? Can they find the courage to claim each other? To be a true fated mate is a once in a lifetime chance!! An amazing adventure is found in these pages! It reaches out and grabs you from the first word! Once you start reading you won’t stop until you finish! A delightful and exciting love story!
1,886 reviews2 followers
January 18, 2024
Wonderful drama and steamy filled fated mate story.
Roxanne (fox shifter),aka the Ice Queen, was a curvy,strong, cable woman that made her father/alpha feel threatened, but it wasn't until Bowie pointed it out to her that she saw her true worth. Her family had her beaten and burden down with work and insults under the guise of " for the good of the clan" .
Roxanne's father was a piece of work. I could have smacked to next week for her.
Bowie ( polar bear shifter) was an outcast of his clan but had more moral code and compassion than his alpha and son. My heart went out to him and his three cousins when they were banned from their old clan.
1,416 reviews11 followers
June 29, 2025
Fated to be Mates

A misunderstood orphan Polar Bear about to find his fated mate in a sexy Vixen!

Loved this entertaining read in the first of this series which featured much loved characters from a another series and how they all interacted and made the storyline, fun, warm, caring and loving.

Bowie and Roxanne both had issues but from the moment they met the attraction was instant.

Full of witty and sizzling moments you’ll fall in love with this couple as you follow their journey into love and their own HEA.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Desert Lumens.
621 reviews11 followers
December 23, 2020
Omg so sweet!

I loved this book so much! Bowie and Roxie made such a wonderful couple! Her dad was an absolute POS and ugh I hate it when a man puts down a woman for her intellect and her size. They’re nothing but weak boys. Who wouldn’t want a super smart, thick and attractive woman at their side? Hell, sign a brotha up! 100%!! Bowie sure did change his tune quick lol. I loved this story from beginning to end. Also poor Sheila lol. I wasn’t expecting her demise to go down like that 🤣. Gorri sure can write em!!! On to the next amazing tale! 5 stars from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Sara Spark.
Author 5 books21 followers
March 7, 2020
Frankly, I couldn't put it down. Read it start to finish in one sitting. I loved how you could feel Bowie's pain and the connection between the two of them was touching, warm and enlightening. --No spoilers here--but they both learn some things about themselves. Sexy and fun to read. The world Gorri has created is fascinating and I will admit, yes, I started reading some of the previous books. -->Fan Girl<-- Thank you, CD Gorri!
198 reviews6 followers
March 21, 2020
The attraction was hot and heavy!

This book was gifted by the author for a honest review. Bowie and Roxanne has instant attraction. They both never been shown or given love but they figured it out when it came along. The build up of their relationship was nice slow and hot. I really enjoyed how they discovered the beauty of themselves through the interaction with each other. Can't wait to read more of this series. Bring on the triplets!
1,240 reviews3 followers
August 21, 2020
Hot Polar Bear/Vixen Romance

Bears are my favorite shifter! No ifs, ands or buts about it. This book has a bear shifter who checks all my boxes. He's big and growly; strong and protective; sexy and loving. His vixen is perfect for him. She's strong and sassy; sweet and loving; smart and capable. They're both worried about their place in their world. But together, they'll find their way. And isn't getting there, half the fun? Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Elaine Kirby.
972 reviews2 followers
January 9, 2021
Ice Queen Gets Melted

Roxanne, a fox Alpha of her own right, but her family/skulk calls her an Ice Queen. This use her Alpha qualities to make deals with other Clans &/or Prides but she’ll never be the Alpha in her skulk.

Bowie the polar bear has been an outcast all of his life that’s how he ended up in NJ with his cousins. But, that’s all about to change once he meets his mate.

Find out how a polar bear originally from Alaska & an Ice Queen of a skulk get together.
Profile Image for Shelley G.
864 reviews8 followers
December 31, 2021
a great book I thoroughly enjoyed reading due to the great characters and wonderful plot. this book took two damaged ppl who thought they had nothing to offer a mate that came together under unusual circumstances and discovered that not only were they not the ppl they thought they were but that they were strong and worthwhile and had lots to offer all while finding their fated mate and a wonderful new family.
165 reviews
October 7, 2025
Fated mates rule!

A homeless, rejected misfit and his triplet cousins find acceptance and affirmation in a New Jersey clan. He finds his forever mate in an alpha fox vixen. This is the story of their struggle to belong and finbyd ano home together. It is a tale of confronting obstacles with bravery, risk taking, and supportive love. Yes, it's a little sappy, but the happy hormones engendered are worth it.
1,556 reviews4 followers
December 19, 2020
Foxy tale

Its a cute foxy tale. The thought of a fox and polar bear mating is just not feasible. But the shifters in this story are cute. Not wanting to talk about the fated mate seemed wrong. I liked the cubs and how they enjoyed the other bears.
I liked the bear family. The fox alpha was not so nice and hopefully will learn and change.
Profile Image for Susan.
872 reviews1 follower
December 26, 2020
On the outside

Bowie and Rosanna story is how to strong people find each other and over come their past. Bowie has had a rough start from the day he was born and fought for everything he has ever got, but Rosanna has never had to fight for anything except her freedom her clan walls all over her. Together these to two will find they're fated mates!
Profile Image for Diane Selander- maglioli.
739 reviews1 follower
January 4, 2021
Polar Opposites

This book is a quick but very well written story about two different types of shifters who find peace, love, stability and excitement. They are both loners and considered outsiders. But the attraction and mating call can not be denied. I really enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Georgie Anderson.
78 reviews
January 27, 2024
Cute little romance if you like the insta-love/mate trope. I liked the MCs; they weren't fully fleshed out because the book was short, but they weren't flat. There was too much inner monologue at times, but it helped the MC's self-realisation so it can be forgiven. Far too much emphasis on her being a virgin. Something about the language (innocent, untried, untouched) makes me cringe so hard.
Profile Image for Rhane.
502 reviews3 followers
April 15, 2024
Woman in love finds her inner warrior

The dialogue between characters was very good. The back story for Bowie was both sad and infuriating. His ability to excel despite a hard beginning gave him the strength and insight to recognize the full potential of Roxanne and their fated mating. Finding acceptance and ease in the Barvale Clan works out for all concerned.
347 reviews
October 2, 2025
What a great story. It had me laughing from the start how they met. Bowie is trying to make a good life for himself and his cousins. Roxie has a job to do, plus she has a request. It's sweet how Bowie helps her become her own person and they finally get together. Barvale is the place to be with all those happy bears.
Profile Image for Debra.
379 reviews
June 16, 2020
Great book

This is a great book, loved that Bowie was able to go from having nothing to having everything when he found his mate in Roxanne. Most definitely recommend reading this book.
Profile Image for Pamela.
1,253 reviews11 followers
September 28, 2020
Great read

Bowie never been accepted, Roxanne always looked down upon. Their two worlds come together in this well written journey that was a joy to read. Keeps you pulled in gives you characters you can like can't wait to read more
429 reviews
December 6, 2020
I love Polar Bears

C.D. Gorri has given us another clan story where the characters and their back story are fully fleshed out. I was happy when Bowie left his old can to find a better life with the new one. His meeting Roxie further proved a good thing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews

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