Book Review: For the Bear's Eyes Only (Grizzlies Gone Wild) by Kathy Lyons

For the Bear's Eyes Only is the third book in the Grizzlies Gone Wild series by Kathy Lyons. While it would be helpful to have read one or both of the previous books, I do not think it necessary to enjoy this read. Those that know the series will certainly get more out of it because of the larger story arc, but newcomers will not be left completely out in the cold. The first book was The Bear Who Loved Me, and the second book was License to Shift (which I somehow missed reading).

Life as Alan Carman knew it is over. After he was captured and tortured by a mysterious enemy, the lawyer's latent grizzly-shifter DNA was triggered. The old Alan is gone, and in his place is a terrifying vicious beast that lives and breathes for revenge. He will track down the person who did this to him-and it'll be the last thing he ever does. Tonya Kappes refuses to let Alan run headlong to his death. A bear-shifting deputy-and the Gladwin Clan's beta-Tonya faces Alan with one weapon: the love that's lingered between them since they were kids. But the idealistic man she knew has changed into something raw, primal, and unbelievably sexy. And, if Alan can't learn to love the beast inside himself, maybe he can love the animal in her.

For the Bear's Eyes Only is a good installment of the series, an I was eager to see how Alan and Tonya come together. Alan has been altered, and he is now a shifter, but not the bear he always wanted to be. He is a monster, and is willing to kill to prevent the woman that made him this way from hurting anyone else. Then comes Tonya, the woman he has always loved but could never have, trying to bring him home and convince him he is not the monster he fears. Together they search for the person behind the experiments and in the process find themselves. Alan needs to come to terms with his new life, and learn not to hate himself while Tonya needs to come to terms with her emotions and the pain Alan is going through. I love that despite the wild nature they now share, the pair actually talk things out and deal with their problems rather than jumping into bed and forgetting about them- though there is plenty of that too. They actually work on the emotional aspect of their issues, both shared and individual. This always earns respect from me for the author.

For the Bear's Eyes Only is a good read, but not one that wowed me. It is a must read for fans of the author or series, but those that are not invested in the story might not enjoy it as much as the rest of us.

Book Review: River Bear (Blue Bear Rescue) by Terra Wolf

River Bear is the second book in the Blue Bear Rescue series by Terra Wolf. I have not read the first book, but feel like I did not miss too much.

Polar Bear Shifter Jake has always wanted a real family. People to love and care about him, nothing like his foster father who saw him as nothing more than a punching bag. He testified against the monster and put him away for good, or so he thought. Delilah is an orphan, she knows the struggle of being alone all too well, but when she meets Jake suddenly she has everything she ever wanted. Until someone threatens to take it all away. Jake has to defend his mate against his one true enemy. His own family. But will he be able to keep her safe, when he has to defeat his own demons as well? 

River Bear is an enjoyable, quick read. Delilah comes to the small town with the promise of investigating a case for a group of shifters, who have always fascinated her. She needs the money, and when she sees Jake she needs to work extra hard to keep her rule of no dating on the case. She is smart, determined, and self reliant- which always drives an overprotective were-bear crazy. She is fascinated by the job, and her partner while she hunts for the people behind the complaints and problems the rescue crew has been facing. Jake is worried when he sees Delilah, because of a vision a friend had of someone matching her description dying by his hands. he wants to protect her,. wants to keep her close, but also wants her at a safe distance so that the vision cannot come true- a combination that is not really possible. I like that the pair actually talk to each other, and share past traumas and issues that might effect them in the long run. While the romance wraps up a little too neatly at the end, that is not unexpected in paranormal romance involving shifters that include any mention of mates.

River Bear is a fast and fun story. I did think the final wrap up a little too neat and tidy, I still enjoyed the read and will be looking at other books from the author.