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You get treated like a monster long enough, you start acting like one.
Derek has lived his whole life being seen as a monster. Even his friends were afraid of him at first. He became lonely and angry and he was struggling to stay in control. He knew it was only a matter of time until he was put down. That is, until a blue haired beauty walked into his life. She’s fearless and brazen and the first person ever not to shy away from him. If he can figure out how to get his inner bear back under control, he may be able to keep the one person who makes him feel human.
Growing up with an inner animal like hers, Liv is no stranger to being treated differently. Once she finally left home, she decided to live life on her own terms and screw anyone who had something to say about it. So when she sees a gentle giant being judged because he happens to be massive, she’s determined to protect him. She never thought she’d fall for him. And she never meant to hide her animal for this long. Now she needs to figure out how to come clean and trust that the sweet man who calls to her animal won’t cast her aside once he figures out what she is.
Derek has lived his whole life being seen as a monster. Even his friends were afraid of him at first. He became lonely and angry and he was struggling to stay in control. He knew it was only a matter of time until he was put down. That is, until a blue haired beauty walked into his life. She’s fearless and brazen and the first person ever not to shy away from him. If he can figure out how to get his inner bear back under control, he may be able to keep the one person who makes him feel human.
Growing up with an inner animal like hers, Liv is no stranger to being treated differently. Once she finally left home, she decided to live life on her own terms and screw anyone who had something to say about it. So when she sees a gentle giant being judged because he happens to be massive, she’s determined to protect him. She never thought she’d fall for him. And she never meant to hide her animal for this long. Now she needs to figure out how to come clean and trust that the sweet man who calls to her animal won’t cast her aside once he figures out what she is.
198 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2023
118 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
A.F. Montoya
34 books112 followersA.F. Montoya is a daydreamer turned writer who writes contemporary mafia romances. She’s been reading romance novels since her mother bought her one as a joke when she was a teen and now writes them and shares them with her mother, much to her chagrin. She enjoys reading in her spare time and supporting other authors. When she isn’t writing or thinking about new book ideas she is supporting her husband and kids.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 21, 2023
3.5 stars.
Really sweet, plus the spice was fun.
I love when the MMC is a virgin.
Really sweet, plus the spice was fun.
I love when the MMC is a virgin.
January 23, 2024
Honestly this book was a fun ride. A bear shifter that finds love? YEEES!
I thought this story was cute. My heart was all over the place. I liked the story and I recommend it to anyone that wants a short pick me up with shifters.
I thought this story was cute. My heart was all over the place. I liked the story and I recommend it to anyone that wants a short pick me up with shifters.
September 3, 2023
3.5⭐️, 4⭐️, 3⭐️, 2.5⭐️
This kinda went all over the place..
Starting at 3.5⭐️.
Our MMC gentle giant had a self destructive, pity streak that was a bit much at times in the beginning.
Lashing out at the FMC when she didn’t deserve it, making her have to chase him.
It made him less likeable than he would have been.
But he quickly got over himself, and revealed that beautiful softie hiding behind all that lethal potential. One of my fave stereotypes-tropes.
Add on the quirky, artistic, badass, protective, mothering FMC [tatt’s, fishnets, coloured hair, and piercings]…it’s my kind of story 😍 especially when we add the cherry on top, shapeshifters. 😆
Though, what kept it at the 4⭐️ at this point, was the lack of culture, history, or anything non human, but some barely [no pun intended], there instinctive behaviours.
It’s essentially people who can change forms.
Insta love; some fun side characters [we didn’t see enough of]; a very sweet, but too fast romance, and some smexy times that were all about the lust, and not enough about the tension and sizzle.
But then we are constantly being hit in the face with EVERYONE supposedly being ‘terrified’ of the MMC, just because of his size and the dominance coming off of him.
Everyone? Except of course for our special FMC. Hmmm 🤔
MMC works at his friends auto repair shop, where there is open and blatant bullying happening. Huh 😧🤨 I find that hard to swallow in todays standards and awareness… 🤔
Next we learn about a childhood incident…
Spoiler Alert 🚨🚨🚨🚨
He is bullied by his cousins, chased, cornered, and then attacked, where upon he defends himself.
Adults ‘finally’ get involved, and call ‘him’ dangerous, because he was able to beat the shit out of the cousin and had to be pulled off.
😳😲🙄🥱 He defended himself from an unproved attack, and as a child, lost his temper!! Come on!
The ENTIRE family goes along with this, and treats him like crap from there on.
Cue family get together: cousin is digging, deliberately baiting. When this fails, he attacks with several others…where upon alpha calls halt, and MMC is banned for fighting at the family event near youngin’s.
No consequence to cousins. 😳🤯
No one says anything about the double standards or nepotism [main instigating cousin is alphas son].
Even after MMC tells FMC about childhood incident, the hypocrisy isn’t brought up, only that he shouldn’t be blamed because he was a kid.
Seriously; kid who bully’s and attacks unprovoked, vs. kid who defends brutally when attacked. Who would you consider more dangerous? 🤨
3⭐️
It continues.
Cousin burns down MMC’s work place [auto shop], tries to burn down FMC’s business, threatens some teenagers with intent to blame attack on MMC, and attacks FMC, all to get at MMC.
[We never learn why the intense hate.]
Still no one calls out on the double standards and hypocrisy.
MMC has been so careful all his life, having to control himself, being threatened with being labelled dangerous and unstable, which could lead to him being put down. Shifter Law.
This cousin has attacked unprovoked, threatened others, arson, caused public scenes which could expose everyone….what happens to him?
He gets dragged home by daddy. 😳🤯🤬
W.T.F! 2.5⭐️
I loved large chunks of this. The dialogue was so easy, smooth, and entirely conversational. The plot, while too fast, was utterly enjoyable.
I loved the found family, just wished we had more interaction and development with them. All the hero characters were likeable, slightly flawed, and interesting.
The angst, for the main part, wasn’t overdone.
This could easily have at least been a 4⭐️ With a bit more work, more padding, world building, and pacing, a 5⭐️.
But those ever so brief, but utterly intense and consuming moments, stick with you almost stronger than any other parts!
They made NO sense, did not fit with the established story structure or character development, and were so infuriating and disrespectful to the readers 🤬🤯
Bad Author! Ban you from your word processor until you apologise and promise not to treat your readers or books so poorly anymore! 🙈🙉🙊
This kinda went all over the place..
Starting at 3.5⭐️.
Our MMC gentle giant had a self destructive, pity streak that was a bit much at times in the beginning.
Lashing out at the FMC when she didn’t deserve it, making her have to chase him.
It made him less likeable than he would have been.
But he quickly got over himself, and revealed that beautiful softie hiding behind all that lethal potential. One of my fave stereotypes-tropes.
Add on the quirky, artistic, badass, protective, mothering FMC [tatt’s, fishnets, coloured hair, and piercings]…it’s my kind of story 😍 especially when we add the cherry on top, shapeshifters. 😆
Though, what kept it at the 4⭐️ at this point, was the lack of culture, history, or anything non human, but some barely [no pun intended], there instinctive behaviours.
It’s essentially people who can change forms.
Insta love; some fun side characters [we didn’t see enough of]; a very sweet, but too fast romance, and some smexy times that were all about the lust, and not enough about the tension and sizzle.
But then we are constantly being hit in the face with EVERYONE supposedly being ‘terrified’ of the MMC, just because of his size and the dominance coming off of him.
Everyone? Except of course for our special FMC. Hmmm 🤔
MMC works at his friends auto repair shop, where there is open and blatant bullying happening. Huh 😧🤨 I find that hard to swallow in todays standards and awareness… 🤔
Next we learn about a childhood incident…
Spoiler Alert 🚨🚨🚨🚨
He is bullied by his cousins, chased, cornered, and then attacked, where upon he defends himself.
Adults ‘finally’ get involved, and call ‘him’ dangerous, because he was able to beat the shit out of the cousin and had to be pulled off.
😳😲🙄🥱 He defended himself from an unproved attack, and as a child, lost his temper!! Come on!
The ENTIRE family goes along with this, and treats him like crap from there on.
Cue family get together: cousin is digging, deliberately baiting. When this fails, he attacks with several others…where upon alpha calls halt, and MMC is banned for fighting at the family event near youngin’s.
No consequence to cousins. 😳🤯
No one says anything about the double standards or nepotism [main instigating cousin is alphas son].
Even after MMC tells FMC about childhood incident, the hypocrisy isn’t brought up, only that he shouldn’t be blamed because he was a kid.
Seriously; kid who bully’s and attacks unprovoked, vs. kid who defends brutally when attacked. Who would you consider more dangerous? 🤨
3⭐️
It continues.
Cousin burns down MMC’s work place [auto shop], tries to burn down FMC’s business, threatens some teenagers with intent to blame attack on MMC, and attacks FMC, all to get at MMC.
[We never learn why the intense hate.]
Still no one calls out on the double standards and hypocrisy.
MMC has been so careful all his life, having to control himself, being threatened with being labelled dangerous and unstable, which could lead to him being put down. Shifter Law.
This cousin has attacked unprovoked, threatened others, arson, caused public scenes which could expose everyone….what happens to him?
He gets dragged home by daddy. 😳🤯🤬
W.T.F! 2.5⭐️
I loved large chunks of this. The dialogue was so easy, smooth, and entirely conversational. The plot, while too fast, was utterly enjoyable.
I loved the found family, just wished we had more interaction and development with them. All the hero characters were likeable, slightly flawed, and interesting.
The angst, for the main part, wasn’t overdone.
This could easily have at least been a 4⭐️ With a bit more work, more padding, world building, and pacing, a 5⭐️.
But those ever so brief, but utterly intense and consuming moments, stick with you almost stronger than any other parts!
They made NO sense, did not fit with the established story structure or character development, and were so infuriating and disrespectful to the readers 🤬🤯
Bad Author! Ban you from your word processor until you apologise and promise not to treat your readers or books so poorly anymore! 🙈🙉🙊
July 11, 2024
I read this whole series start to finish in just a few days, and I enjoyed the heck out of it. It could use a little editing, but it didn't bother me enough to really impact the reading experience. I love blue collar characters in a small town, and throw in shifters and this series gave me everything I wanted.
Derek is a massive cinnamon roll who has a hard time connecting with people because they are afraid of him, but Liv grabs onto him as soon as they meet and doesn't let go. She is a total badass who will not allow anyone to hurt the man she loves. They are perfect together, each eager to protect the other, and their whole relationship was a delight. The found family hits hard here too, and every future book builds on the bonds these characters establish here.
Derek is a massive cinnamon roll who has a hard time connecting with people because they are afraid of him, but Liv grabs onto him as soon as they meet and doesn't let go. She is a total badass who will not allow anyone to hurt the man she loves. They are perfect together, each eager to protect the other, and their whole relationship was a delight. The found family hits hard here too, and every future book builds on the bonds these characters establish here.
January 19, 2023
Bear shifter
Derek is large in human and bear form. He's a mechanic and works in a garage with human and shifter. He meets his mate Liv a panther and tattoo artist. Just call her the Bear whisper.
Derek is large in human and bear form. He's a mechanic and works in a garage with human and shifter. He meets his mate Liv a panther and tattoo artist. Just call her the Bear whisper.
May 9, 2023
It’s unusual for a man to have a problem being big, so I liked that Derek had issues to deal with, I loved Luv she’s the perfect combination of strong and feisty that I love in an h. Love them together.
October 17, 2023
great book
Great book! Loved all the characters,it was sexy with out details. It had a lot of drama but I didn’t care for how the book was ended. That’s why I gave it 4 stars but I do recommend it and I’m definitely hooked.
Great book! Loved all the characters,it was sexy with out details. It had a lot of drama but I didn’t care for how the book was ended. That’s why I gave it 4 stars but I do recommend it and I’m definitely hooked.
March 19, 2024
This was a solid 5 stars I really enjoyed reading about Derek and Liv they are good together and while I rarely enjoy a book with 2 shifters as the couple this just worked well and I really enjoyed it!
May 17, 2024
Derek & Liv
I really enjoyed this little first book in the Blackridge Haven Shifters series. This motley crew of Shifters are entertaining and fun. I can’t wait to read the next book.
I really enjoyed this little first book in the Blackridge Haven Shifters series. This motley crew of Shifters are entertaining and fun. I can’t wait to read the next book.
January 14, 2023
“She is a beautiful mystery, my mate, and I couldn’t have gotten luckier if I tried.”
-Derek, from Derek by A.F. Montoya
-Derek, from Derek by A.F. Montoya
July 22, 2023
This book was awesome loved it.
💞🌟🌟🔥📚🌟💞🌟🔥🔥🌟📚
💞🌟🌟🔥📚🌟💞🌟🔥🔥🌟📚
December 23, 2023
apparently i really like the trope of super big men who are so big they scare people and no one wants to be around them. who knew, lol.
i loved Derek and Liv together. and how excited he was to date her and make sure he was doing everything right, it was so cute.
add in the found family of the pack they all create and you get a good first book in a series of interconnected standalones.
i loved Derek and Liv together. and how excited he was to date her and make sure he was doing everything right, it was so cute.
add in the found family of the pack they all create and you get a good first book in a series of interconnected standalones.
March 29, 2024
LOVED IT!
I love an author that can write between genres! They're already talented for being able to put pen to paper in the first place😘
I love an author that can write between genres! They're already talented for being able to put pen to paper in the first place😘
July 12, 2024
Fun and feel good, with strong women and men that are not an embarrassment!!!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews