WILD BEAR by Scarlett Grove

Title:  WILD BEAR

Series:  Rescue Bears #2

Author:  Scarlett Grove

Publisher:  Scarlett Grove

Publish Date:   03.19.2016

Category /Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content

Grammar/editing:  B – a few small errors

Received from:  Amazon purchase

Goodreads link: Wild Bear

Date completed: 07.15.2019

Description from the publisher:

A bad bear …
Shane Keenan has survived everything life’s thrown at him.  Growing up with an abusive stepfather who broke his bear’s mind left Shane unable to fully control his shifts.  He went from famous chef to being forced to fight in a human war because of the wild bear inside him.

Now he’s finally back home on Fate Mountain -- and his toughest challenge yet is waiting.

Bruised hearts ...
Lily Mason has her own scars from growing up with an alcoholic mother.  She’s loved Shane for years, and when a human/shifter dating site pairs them, she finally tells Shane the shocking truth about their last night together.

Shane can’t risk being around Lily or her son Theo, not when he can’t control his bear.  But Lily knows she and Shane are true mates -- and she’s tired of waiting for him to claim her.

Fateful choices
When Theo runs away, Shane knows he’ll do anything to bring him back.  Can he find a way to heal his bear, save the child … and persuade his mate to give him another chance?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WILD BEAR is the second book in the Rescue Bears series.  Each could stand on its own, but even better when read as a series and in conjunction with the rest of the Fate Mountain series.

I love the simple, sweet love that shines through in this story.  It doesn’t matter how much life tries to break you, if you allow love to lead, then it can all get better.  The story is emotion filled.  How can it not be, when the two main characters come from backgrounds filled with abuse, but together they are able to claim their fated-mates – each other.

Every time I have a break in my scheduled reading, I grab a book from Scarlett Grove.  These are my relaxing time choices.

Rescue Bears Series:

1.      Chief Bear

2.      Wild Bear

3.      Big Bear

4.      Brew Bear

5.      Ski Bear

6.      Geek Bear

Also from Scarlett Grove

·         The Alpha’s Curse

·         Alpha Fated:  Called by the Alpha

·         Beauty and the Bad Bearlionaire

·         Cowboy Bear’s Christmas Surprise

·         Education of a Fae

·         Lion’s Halloween Baby

·         Mate for the Feral Barbarians

Bear Patrol Series:

1.      Commander Bear

2.      Detective Bear

3.      Cadet Bear

4.      Tech Bear

5.      Deputy Bear

Bear Wardens Series:

1.      Bear Witness

2.      Bearly Believing

3.      His to Bear

Billionaire Make-Maker Series:

1.      Dragon’s Fake Bride

Braving Darkness Series:

1.      Marked by the Alpha Wolf (released in three books)

2.      Touched by the Dragon Lord (released in three books)

3.      Desired by the Archangel (released in two books)

Brides of Draxos Series:

1.      The White Queen

2.      Space Dragon

Dark Sun Series:

1.      The Event

2.      Alpha Dragon’s Virgin Bride

Draconians Series:

1.      Alien Commander’s Bride

2.      Alien Warrior’s Mate

3.      Alien Fighter’s Woman

4.      Alien General’s Wife

5.      Alien Architect’s Bride

Dragon Guardians Series:

1.      Kian:  House of Flames

2.      Dax:  House of Flames

3.      Aiden:  House of Flames

4.      Cato:  House of Flames

5.      Storm Harem:  House of Storms

6.      Hanish:  House of Storms

7.      Raiden:  House of Storms

8.      Zephyr:  House of Storms

Dragon Princes of Endor Series:

1.      Taken

2.      Changed

3.      Choices

Elemental Dragons Series:

1.      Fire Dragon’s Baby

2.      Air Dragon’s Baby

3.      Water Dragon’s Baby

4.      Earth Dragon’s Baby

Fate Valley Mystery series:

1.      Hero Bear

2.      Holiday Bear

3.      Celebration Bear

4.      Candy Bear

5.      Baker Bear

MacKenna Family Series:

1.      This Mess We’re In

Midnight Sun Shifters Series:

1.      Bear His Love

2.      Bear His Baby

Mystic Harbor Series:

1.      Unbearably Stranded

2.      Her Two Alphas

3.      Cat Scratch Fever

4.      His Lion Blood

Spirit Moon series:

1.      Howl

2.      Crave

3.      Claimed

Timber Bear Ranch Series:

1.      Boss Bear

2.      Saw Bear

3.      Mountain Bear

4.      Mechanic Bear

West Coast Witches Series:

1.      Warrior, Witch, and Raven

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CONSPIRE by S.E. Hall & Erin Noelle

Title:  CONSPIRE

Series:  N/A

Author:  S.E. Hall & Erin Noelle

Publisher:  S.E. Hall & Erin Noelle

Publish Date:   08.25.2014

Category /Genre:  Suspense Romance

Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content

Grammar/editing:  B – a few small errors

Received from:  Ramie Kerschen (as a gift)

Goodreads link: Conspire

Date completed: 08.05.2019

Description from the publisher:

He wants answers.
She wants freedom.
The search is over...when they CONSPIRE.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONSPIRE is a standalone contemporary suspense romance. 

Steamy romance, but simple suspense.  It was obvious whodunit from the beginning; it was just a matter of proving it, first to Jocelyn and then to the authorities.

If you have never read anything else by S.E. Hall, then start here.  This may be her best.  The addition of Erin Noelle is most noted with scripture and song titles.  Otherwise, they work together seamlessly.

I loved this story of Graham/Bryce and Jocelyn, two beautiful people who seemed to be made for each other.  They both gave their all in everything they did.  They both knew that Graham’s brother did not commit suicide and were determined to chase the secrets and lies to uncover the ugly truths.

I also loved the two best secondary characters – Alyssa, Jocelyn’s best friend and secretary, and Reagan, Bryce’s roommate.  They are each unique in their own ways and provided the grins that kept the story from becoming too maudlin or only about the steam.

Together, this was everything I wanted in an escape between book covers.  I only wish there were more.

Note:  While I received this book as a gifted copy, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

Also from S.E. Hall:

·         Accidentally on Purpose (written with Ashley Suzanne)

·         Blown (written with Angela Graham)

·         Conspire (written with Erin Noelle)

·         Filthy Foreign Exchange

·         Filthy Foreign Exchange 2 (written with Angela Graham)

·         Full Body Check

·         Handled (written with Angela Graham)

·         Handled 2 (written with Angela Graham)

·         Laid Over

·         Matched (written with Angela Graham)

·         One Naughty Night (written with Angela Graham)

·         Packaged (written with Angela Graham)

·         Pick Your Passion (written with Hilary Storm)

·         Pick Your Pleasure (written with Hilary Storm)

·         Pick Your Poison (written with Hilary Storm)

·         Quarterback Sack (written with Hilary Storm)

·         Stirred Up (written with Angela Graham)

·         Stirred Up 2 (written with Angela Graham)

·         Unstable

·         Yes, Officers

Evolve Series:

1.      Emerge

2.      Embrace

2.5 Entangled

3.      Entice

Sawyer Beckett’s Baby Mama Drama Guide for Dummies

4.      Endure

4.5  Entwined

Sawyer Beckett’s Guide for Tools Looking to Date My Daughter

A Crew Christmas

Finally Found Series:

1.      Pretty Instinct

2.      Pretty Remedy

Full Circle Series:

1.      Embody

Princess Presley Duet:

1.      Elusive

2.      Exclusive

Also from Erin Noelle:

• 9 Ways to Fall
• Everything
• The Hidden Life
• Megaballs
• MILF:  Wrong Kind of Love
• The Perfect Life
• PUMA
• Surviving Us
• Unleashed

Book Boyfriend Series:

1.      Metamorphosis

2.      Ambrosia

3.      Euphoria

3.5  Timeless

Dusk Til Dawn Series:

1.      When the Sun Goes Down

2.      As the Dawn Breaks

Expire Series:

1.      Exp1re

2.      Etern1ty

Fire on the Mountain Series:

1.      Spark

2.      Flame

3.      Ember

Luminous Series:

1.      Translucent

2.      Transparent

 

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MRS. SAINT NICK by Caroline Mickelson

Title:  MRS. SAINT NICK

Series:  Christmas Central #2

Author:  Caroline Mickelson

Publisher:  Bon Accord Press

Publish Date:   11.15.2013

Category /Genre:  Holiday Romance

Recommended for:  14 + due to romance

Grammar/editing:  B – a few small errors

Received from:  Caroline Mickelson (as a gifted copy)

Goodreads link: Mrs. Saint Nick

Date completed: 09.08.2019

Description from the publisher:

When Santa offers efficiency expert Holly Jamison a job at the North Pole, she’s delighted to accept.  It’s not that she loves the Christmas holidays.  Far from it.  Everywhere she looks, from the piles of presents to the thousands of cheery elves hard at work, Holly sees ways to improve the whole operation.  Even Nick Claus, Santa's charming son, fails to draw Holly into the holiday spirit.  

Holly has to admit that Nick’s charismatic and handsome, but his fun-loving side doesn’t mask his lack of a work ethic.  It’s only when Holly cancels Nick’s pet project, and jeopardizes Christmas for thousands of children, that she realizes that the man she discounts as a total slacker might be the only one who can teach her about the joy of Christmas.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MRS. SAINT NICK is the second book in the Christmas Central series.  These can be read in any order, but are best enjoyed in the order of release.

A candy-cane sweet romance to be read at any time of the year!  This is a clean/sweet romance that has a fast-moving storyline. 

I love holiday reads all year long and will always find room for one offered by Caroline Mickelson.  I was once again not disappointed.  This story is all about learning to trust and communicate - the two biggies in any relationship – mixed in with true Christmas magic.

The ending was the best part and will stick in my mind for a long time.  I encourage anyone who loves Christmas to pick up this, or any, book from this series.

Note:  While I received this book as a gifted copy via Booksprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

Christmas Central Series:

1.      Miss Kane’s Christmas

2.      Mrs. Saint Nick

3.      The Return of Kris Kringle

4.      The North Pole Prize

5.      The Christmas Makeover

6.      Eve’s Christmas Wedding

7.      A Very Marisol Christmas

Also from Caroline Mickelson:

·         A Love So True

·         A Pine Island Christmas

·         Witch Christmas

Miss Prim & Proper Mysteries:

1.      Summer in the Bayou

2.      One Night in the Bayou

3.      A Bayou Wedding

4.      A Sinful Mistake

Santa Rosa Royal Romance Series:

1.      A Royal Chef

2.      A Royal Christmas Wish

Sophia Mancini Mysteries Series:

1.      From Mangia to Murder

2.      Lights Out in Little Italy

Special Gifts Series:

1.      Witch Weigh

2.      Magic Wand Ranch

3.      Mermaid Inc.

4.      Maid for Love

Your Invitation to Romance Series:

1.      The Wedding Favor

2.      The Wedding Chapel

3.      The Wedding Charade

The Royals of Monterra Series:

1.      Christmas in Monterra

2.      Midnight in Monterra

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