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Bears are solitary creatures. Always have been, always will be. So then why is he so drawn to her?
Even from a young age, Owen knew his future would be a mostly solitary existence with a few brief encounters, one of which might one day result in a cub he would never watch grow and would never bond with. He's not a wolf shifter with their fated mates and pack mentality. He's a bear, and bears live alone.
But when he first smells Cordelia during his monthly trip to town, every part of his being craves her, craves her attention and craves keeping her all to himself. He won't share, something entirely against his nature, but it seems she's doing a lot to change his very nature.
But time is short, and life happens fast, so with winter approaching...
She's perfect. She's absolutely perfect. From her thick thighs to full breasts to belly made for bearing his cubs, she's perfect. And when the opportunity to keep her comes along...
She takes it, and Owen? Well, he's just a bear doing bear stuff.
Like chasing every last drop of honey.
The first book in a series of paranormal romances featuring plus-size heroines and the bear shifters who fall in love with them.
Even from a young age, Owen knew his future would be a mostly solitary existence with a few brief encounters, one of which might one day result in a cub he would never watch grow and would never bond with. He's not a wolf shifter with their fated mates and pack mentality. He's a bear, and bears live alone.
But when he first smells Cordelia during his monthly trip to town, every part of his being craves her, craves her attention and craves keeping her all to himself. He won't share, something entirely against his nature, but it seems she's doing a lot to change his very nature.
But time is short, and life happens fast, so with winter approaching...
She's perfect. She's absolutely perfect. From her thick thighs to full breasts to belly made for bearing his cubs, she's perfect. And when the opportunity to keep her comes along...
She takes it, and Owen? Well, he's just a bear doing bear stuff.
Like chasing every last drop of honey.
The first book in a series of paranormal romances featuring plus-size heroines and the bear shifters who fall in love with them.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 23, 2022
About the author
Elle M. Drew
13 books383 followersElle M Drew is an avid writer and reader of spicy fantasy and paranormal romance. Her career began with fanfiction and took off from there. Elle infuses a touch of magic into all of her work.
When she isn’t busy writing, Elle lives with her husband, two children, and one overgrown nanny dog in Southern California. She always has iced coffee and a stack of bullet journals on hand for impromptu writing and plotting sessions, and she always has instrumental music playing.
After twenty steamy and extraordinary years of writing fanfiction, she’s finally publishing her own books where a magical blend of fantasy and the paranormal mix with dark romance… with an adult, sexy spin, of course.
READER BIO IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING:
I'm a very easy to please reader - I read to escape. I read to enjoy. I'm a mood reader. I'm a binge reader. I love a book if it sparks a little joy and it turns pages.
My Star Chart:
★ I finished it. I wish I hadn't. You will not see this rating very often if ever.
★★ I finished it because FOMO. I'm glad it's over. You will rarely see this.
★★★ It's a read. I'll give the most thoughts on this, to help other readers decide if they want to read.
★★★★ Sparks joy, would not reread.
★★★★★ Sparks joy, gives serotonin, would read again.
When she isn’t busy writing, Elle lives with her husband, two children, and one overgrown nanny dog in Southern California. She always has iced coffee and a stack of bullet journals on hand for impromptu writing and plotting sessions, and she always has instrumental music playing.
After twenty steamy and extraordinary years of writing fanfiction, she’s finally publishing her own books where a magical blend of fantasy and the paranormal mix with dark romance… with an adult, sexy spin, of course.
READER BIO IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING:
I'm a very easy to please reader - I read to escape. I read to enjoy. I'm a mood reader. I'm a binge reader. I love a book if it sparks a little joy and it turns pages.
My Star Chart:
★ I finished it. I wish I hadn't. You will not see this rating very often if ever.
★★ I finished it because FOMO. I'm glad it's over. You will rarely see this.
★★★ It's a read. I'll give the most thoughts on this, to help other readers decide if they want to read.
★★★★ Sparks joy, would not reread.
★★★★★ Sparks joy, gives serotonin, would read again.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
July 29, 2024
i'm not gonna lie that i had low expectations going into this because i wasn't a huge fan of this author's other book, but i found this one endearingly cheesy and just downright easy to read. bear shifters is something new to me and i was definitely having to suspend my disbelief there as they're traipsing through the woods in a bear-drawn sled, but the silliness and simplicity of the writing was very complemented by ungodly smut.
i wish that this author would fully lean into magical worlds because the plot line of a human finding out that her partner is a shifter is sooo drawn out and corny. but i digress.
i didn't expect to want to read the sequel after this but 👀
i wish that this author would fully lean into magical worlds because the plot line of a human finding out that her partner is a shifter is sooo drawn out and corny. but i digress.
i didn't expect to want to read the sequel after this but 👀
September 23, 2022
OWEN IS LIVE!!!
Because I want to make sure everyone is aware of the content warnings before they start reading, they will be posted here below. Always take care of yourselves, friends.
Hope you enjoy!
CONTENT WARNINGS
Owen contains heavy sexual content meant for only readers over the age of 18. It does include breeding kink, forced orgasm, stretching and stuffing, and a hint of choking. There is a discussion about having children multiple times, and they do decide to try for them in the future. There is no miscommunication, but there is known self sabotage, along with self degradation. There is also a number of discussions about parental alienation. And, as with all of my books, there is fat girl realities, particularly the mention of struggles to find proper clothing when your body shape does not fit in straight sizes. If any of this might be something upsetting to you, please put yourself first!
Because I want to make sure everyone is aware of the content warnings before they start reading, they will be posted here below. Always take care of yourselves, friends.
Hope you enjoy!
CONTENT WARNINGS
Owen contains heavy sexual content meant for only readers over the age of 18. It does include breeding kink, forced orgasm, stretching and stuffing, and a hint of choking. There is a discussion about having children multiple times, and they do decide to try for them in the future. There is no miscommunication, but there is known self sabotage, along with self degradation. There is also a number of discussions about parental alienation. And, as with all of my books, there is fat girl realities, particularly the mention of struggles to find proper clothing when your body shape does not fit in straight sizes. If any of this might be something upsetting to you, please put yourself first!
May 14, 2023
Impulse read on KU that turned out to be pretty good!
Let’s not pretend any of us read shifter romance for the plot tho 👀😌
Let’s not pretend any of us read shifter romance for the plot tho 👀😌
September 11, 2022
Bestill my heart . . . Owen is just perfect. He's shy, sexy, beefy, and a bear, literally. How I love big guys! But what I loved most about Owen was for all his experience, he was still so innocent and Cordelia was just the perfect one to show him all the things he's been missing. This is definitely a book that will keep you warm on a cold winter's night! Or a chilly, fall evening. And, as always, I love Elle's body positivty. It is always a wonderful thing to read a book and see yourself represented so well.
I received a free advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2022
I love how much Owen worships Cordelia (fancy name), as he should, but I'm not really into Instalove. Their long get-to-know-each-other conversations were only mentioned, it didn't feel real to me.
Besides from this many things repeat again and again. Yes, he's old (35 is old now?!). He really really REALLY likes her smell. He's tall. He is lonely. Bears are supposed to be solitary but he's not like other bears nor other men. I already got it the first time it was mentioned...
The story is sweet and spicy, low Pleasure Dom vibes but nothing special.
I hope for Bethany and Cedrick.
Besides from this many things repeat again and again. Yes, he's old (35 is old now?!). He really really REALLY likes her smell. He's tall. He is lonely. Bears are supposed to be solitary but he's not like other bears nor other men. I already got it the first time it was mentioned...
The story is sweet and spicy, low Pleasure Dom vibes but nothing special.
I hope for Bethany and Cedrick.
September 10, 2022
What happens when a solitary bear-shifter catches a whiff of a delicious honey scent one day in town? This story. That’s what.
The tone and story telling of Elle M Drew’s latest book is totally different to the Garoureve series, and I’m here for it.
Bear-shifters might not have fated mates, but the bond and relationship Owen and Cordelia share is beautiful, warm, horny AF, and incredibly compelling to read.
I was fortunate to receive an ARC copy of this book, and can’t wait to add it to my collection.
The tone and story telling of Elle M Drew’s latest book is totally different to the Garoureve series, and I’m here for it.
Bear-shifters might not have fated mates, but the bond and relationship Owen and Cordelia share is beautiful, warm, horny AF, and incredibly compelling to read.
I was fortunate to receive an ARC copy of this book, and can’t wait to add it to my collection.
March 19, 2024
This was a cute shifter romance. The plot was fast paced and we didn’t truly have a lot of time to emotionally connect with the characters. The spice was over the top and at one point I thought she was going to get ‘it’ while he was in his bear form. Sorry to disappoint. It didn’t happen. Nonetheless, I do want to read the next book in the series.
September 15, 2022
Full review to come
October 12, 2022
Want a light smutty read? Here you go.
June 15, 2023
This is more paranormal romance than monster romance proper due to it being a bear shifter but it's a solid shifter romance. I'd heard great things about Owen and they were all true. It's sweet, fast-paced without feeling too fast, and the spice is great. Owen and Cordelia are both lovely characters and I enjoyed them enjoying each other.
Some more things I enjoyed in no particular order:
* Cordelia being plus size
* Cordelia's larger body being worshipped without being fetishized
* Owen being confused and then angry about the shittiness of women's clothing sizing and the way plus sizes are fucked over by the fashion industry
* Bear shifter is kinda cute
* Cordelia getting so damn excited over Owen having bath sheets instead of bath towels. Like damn girl, I understand
* Cordelia being an independent person prior to Owen and taking things into her own hands to get the relationship kicked off
* Cordelia chastising herself when she was pouting over Owen
* Owen's relationship with his brothers
* Owen wanting to support Cordelia's hobbies and interests and needs
* Owen calling himself an old bear (he's in his 30s, he's not old)
* Owen's bear reveal scene
* Owen's dirty talk
* Bethany's own relationship.. stuff.. and the way it unfolded to set it up for the next book
* Mrs Free casually understanding
That's non-exhaustive so, yeah, lots of great stuff. I could have done with a tidbit more of some of the side characters given the length of the story and (I know this will sound like blasphemy) a tad less smut in favor of a bit more of them bonding through other activities.
Be aware of the trigger warnings:
Some more things I enjoyed in no particular order:
* Cordelia being plus size
* Cordelia's larger body being worshipped without being fetishized
* Owen being confused and then angry about the shittiness of women's clothing sizing and the way plus sizes are fucked over by the fashion industry
* Bear shifter is kinda cute
* Cordelia getting so damn excited over Owen having bath sheets instead of bath towels. Like damn girl, I understand
* Cordelia being an independent person prior to Owen and taking things into her own hands to get the relationship kicked off
* Cordelia chastising herself when she was pouting over Owen
She had a personality, dammit! She was fun! She was a fun-loving, vivacious, intelligent, and creative woman! She existed before Owen, and she would continue existing without him! She didn’t need a man to fulfill her! She was so much more than a woman crying over a guy! She had goals, dammit! She wanted things! So why the fuck was she just sitting around crying about Owen?
* Owen's relationship with his brothers
* Owen wanting to support Cordelia's hobbies and interests and needs
* Owen calling himself an old bear (he's in his 30s, he's not old)
* Owen's bear reveal scene
* Owen's dirty talk
* Bethany's own relationship.. stuff.. and the way it unfolded to set it up for the next book
* Mrs Free casually understanding
That's non-exhaustive so, yeah, lots of great stuff. I could have done with a tidbit more of some of the side characters given the length of the story and (I know this will sound like blasphemy) a tad less smut in favor of a bit more of them bonding through other activities.
Be aware of the trigger warnings:
September 10, 2022
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I could not put this book down for the life of me. I have been waiting to read this bad boy since Elle M Drew announced a lumbersnack story. Who wouldn't love a burly, beautiful, grumpy bear who fights every instinct to get exactly what he wants.
The story follows Cordelia, who is starting over looking for something different. She's a bombshell who is determined to make Mr Mysterious fall into her. Owen stops in town for a supply run and gets struck with something even better than his beloved flannels. I love that Cordy embraces her sexual desires and leaves nothing on the table. She went after what she wanted and man did that lead her into some spicy spicy scenes.
Excuse me, while I blush tenfold because this book contained all the spice. Owen has a way with words especially when he starts throwing around good girls and mentions of dying between her thighs. I loved how they both worshipped each other and never brought the other down. And who doesn't love when a man has to admit he's an idiot while banging her brains out.
This book was a beautiful beginning to this new series and I can't wait to see what else Elle M Drew has in store.
I could not put this book down for the life of me. I have been waiting to read this bad boy since Elle M Drew announced a lumbersnack story. Who wouldn't love a burly, beautiful, grumpy bear who fights every instinct to get exactly what he wants.
The story follows Cordelia, who is starting over looking for something different. She's a bombshell who is determined to make Mr Mysterious fall into her. Owen stops in town for a supply run and gets struck with something even better than his beloved flannels. I love that Cordy embraces her sexual desires and leaves nothing on the table. She went after what she wanted and man did that lead her into some spicy spicy scenes.
Excuse me, while I blush tenfold because this book contained all the spice. Owen has a way with words especially when he starts throwing around good girls and mentions of dying between her thighs. I loved how they both worshipped each other and never brought the other down. And who doesn't love when a man has to admit he's an idiot while banging her brains out.
This book was a beautiful beginning to this new series and I can't wait to see what else Elle M Drew has in store.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2022
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Damn.
I've been a huge fan of Elle and Garoureve but I have to say I wasn't as excited for this one.
The bear and honey between the thighs gives me the biggest ick 😂
Nevermind, I was wrong!
I'm glad I started it righ away despite being 80% into another book. (The end of a series that I love but when I get a book by Elle, others be damned!)
I think this is her spiciest book yet and I was all here for it!
I loved the dual pov on this one! (It's my favorite)
I loved exploring the relationship without the fated mate trope since bears are solitary.
Also, the hand-picked flowers. I feel the same way. More personal, shows time and attention spent rather than money. This part is where I fell in love with both characters.
Looking forward to whatever else coming. If she can write it I'm reading it!
Damn.
I've been a huge fan of Elle and Garoureve but I have to say I wasn't as excited for this one.
The bear and honey between the thighs gives me the biggest ick 😂
Nevermind, I was wrong!
I'm glad I started it righ away despite being 80% into another book. (The end of a series that I love but when I get a book by Elle, others be damned!)
I think this is her spiciest book yet and I was all here for it!
I loved the dual pov on this one! (It's my favorite)
I loved exploring the relationship without the fated mate trope since bears are solitary.
Also, the hand-picked flowers. I feel the same way. More personal, shows time and attention spent rather than money. This part is where I fell in love with both characters.
Looking forward to whatever else coming. If she can write it I'm reading it!
September 13, 2022
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
🐻🥵🥵
OWEN! Wheeeeew!
I’m in love.
He is big, and broad, and a bit gruff. But he’s also shy, and somewhat innocent. He’s sexy and just, delicious. He might just knock Mardoc out of the spot as my favourite of Elle’s shifters
Cordelia is amazing. Her confidence, her sexuality! She had no issue telling Owen exactly what she wanted and what she liked.
This book definitely provides plenty kitty tingles if you catch my meaning lol. The spicy scenes were plentiful and perfect. So so perfect. 🔥🔥🔥
And while this book was very spicy, it was also sweet!
I definitely felt quite a few ‘aw’ and ‘squee!’ Moments that warmed my heart and made we want to swoon.
I loved this book! It will definitely join my collection of comfort reads. Thank you so much for the Advanced Reader Copy!
🐻🥵🥵
OWEN! Wheeeeew!
I’m in love.
He is big, and broad, and a bit gruff. But he’s also shy, and somewhat innocent. He’s sexy and just, delicious. He might just knock Mardoc out of the spot as my favourite of Elle’s shifters
Cordelia is amazing. Her confidence, her sexuality! She had no issue telling Owen exactly what she wanted and what she liked.
This book definitely provides plenty kitty tingles if you catch my meaning lol. The spicy scenes were plentiful and perfect. So so perfect. 🔥🔥🔥
And while this book was very spicy, it was also sweet!
I definitely felt quite a few ‘aw’ and ‘squee!’ Moments that warmed my heart and made we want to swoon.
I loved this book! It will definitely join my collection of comfort reads. Thank you so much for the Advanced Reader Copy!
September 13, 2022
I love the names Owen and Cordelia. Thank you for not giving her a nickname. I don't remember if you did. Anyhoo, it wouldn't matter. Every time I read Owen saying her name all I heard was him saying her full name.
I could feel the emotion when Owen talked about his father and how bears don't mate. My heart broke when he took Cordelia back into town. I knew he wouldn't be able to stay away. Their attraction to one another gave Hell a run for its hotness.
Their love was always present, but in their minds, they didn't want to mess up the relationship they started.
Their ILY's intensified their compatibility.
I cannot wait for Bethany and Cedrick's book!!!
I received an ARC for my honest opinion.
I could feel the emotion when Owen talked about his father and how bears don't mate. My heart broke when he took Cordelia back into town. I knew he wouldn't be able to stay away. Their attraction to one another gave Hell a run for its hotness.
Their love was always present, but in their minds, they didn't want to mess up the relationship they started.
Their ILY's intensified their compatibility.
I cannot wait for Bethany and Cedrick's book!!!
I received an ARC for my honest opinion.
October 4, 2022
Quirky Pair…
Owen is a bear of a man, grumpy and lonely, but he is actually a bear. Bear shifters are not supposed to want to be around others. They are meant to be solitary and to only mate occasionally to produce cubs.
When Owen scents his mate he starts thinking about wanting a mate and family. He’s shy and awkward after meeting Cordelia but he knows he wants more from her even if she’s just a human woman. Will she want him like he is?
They make a cute couple and their attraction to each other is hot and steamy.
Lots of breeding talk, no kids yet by the end but it’s in their future.
Hope we get to see glimpses of them in the next couple of books about Owens brothers.
Owen is a bear of a man, grumpy and lonely, but he is actually a bear. Bear shifters are not supposed to want to be around others. They are meant to be solitary and to only mate occasionally to produce cubs.
When Owen scents his mate he starts thinking about wanting a mate and family. He’s shy and awkward after meeting Cordelia but he knows he wants more from her even if she’s just a human woman. Will she want him like he is?
They make a cute couple and their attraction to each other is hot and steamy.
Lots of breeding talk, no kids yet by the end but it’s in their future.
Hope we get to see glimpses of them in the next couple of books about Owens brothers.
September 14, 2022
Wow, I have a new fav series from Elle. Cordelia is sexy, funny and confident in what she wants. When she meets Owen In town she decides he is who is wants and even climbs a snowy mountain to get stuck with him in his cabin. Owen is sweet and sexy and also a bear. He doesn’t think he can have a soulmate since bears are solitary creatures until he meets Cordelia and that idea goes to shit. This book is packed full, to the damn brim, with smut. I love the chemistry between the MCs and I am INTRIGUED about his brothers 👀👀 I am very thankful to have received an ARC of this awesome book and I can’t wait to buy a physical copy to display on my shelf 🫶🏼
September 16, 2022
What I loved:
- No miscommunication trope!!
- Owen — Grumpy lumbersnack with an oral fixation
- Cordelia — plus size queen not afraid to ask for what she wants
What I didn’t love:
- A bit repetitive
If you’re looking for cozy and smutty this is the one. A perfect fall read and a great intro to the world of bear shifters.
I finished this in one sitting and am in love with Bear Valley.
Owen grew up knowing his life would be one of solitude, as is the way of bears.
Cordelia left her life in the city for a slower, more fulfilling life in the mountains.
Together they are so freaking cute and their chemistry is on fire.
Thank you to Elle for the ARC
October 16, 2023
I liked the premise but the execution felt off. There should have a been a lot of dialogue. For most of the book Owen and Cordelia are in the woods in a small cabin with only each other for company. Don't TELL me they talked about xyz, let me READ their conversation about xyz. There were a lot of sexy times, as I knew there would, but I didn't like how they were written. The emotional part of the sex scenes felt overwrought and extreme. Cordelia had a lot of orgasms, but they didn't feel like they were enjoyable. Maybe that's this author's style. I'll have to see if I have better luck with another book.
Read
June 28, 2023DNF - 60% The story arc on this is not going to hold up for me. I’ve enjoyed it more or less to this point but since the couple is now together and the author hasn’t really set up another strong plot line, I’m not feeling like I care to continue. And all my half read books are giving me anxiety…so purge it is!
September 15, 2022
I really liked that the book was told in Owen's point of view. Really got you see how it is to be a bear, and how that would affect his relationships. I've read all of Elle's books and I just can't get enough!
September 25, 2022
I did not know I needed this kind of shifter book until now. It is quite literally one of my favourite books of Elle's. She's done it again where she creates a world with such amazing characters and adds this romance where you can't help but fall in love with how IN LOVE the men are with their women. In the Bear Valley book, Owen and Cordelia are the absolutely cutest together and every moment where he gets shy around her, made me smile to myself because of how darn cute he was (especially considering he's a big lumberjack bear living out in the mountain!).
They were honestly so perfect together, this book again slaps with body positivity that you can't help but love, and the characters had so much depth to them that you can't help but love them even more.
Looking for a new shifter series? Elle nailed it with Owen!
Thank you Elle & team for the ARC of this book!
They were honestly so perfect together, this book again slaps with body positivity that you can't help but love, and the characters had so much depth to them that you can't help but love them even more.
Looking for a new shifter series? Elle nailed it with Owen!
Thank you Elle & team for the ARC of this book!
October 31, 2022
Listen…peace and love to the idea of this but it was just so boring
Shelved as 'z-dnf-2023'
September 17, 2023DNF 1% don’t love the writing style, thought it was a novella.
April 28, 2024
Goodreads weigert mij een gif te geven dus *see gif of dude crossing finish line super happy just because the torture ended*
September 24, 2022
I love a good warm and fuzzy, grumpy/sunshine shifter romance and this hit all the spots!
The romance was cute and I loved that secrets were revealed early on in the story. Of course that didn’t help with their communication skills throughout but that’s typical of an Elle romance. The main characters are always making things worse before they get better haha.
I loved how clueless Owen was about everything human, especially his bafflement over clothing sizes, the sweet noodle. Cordelia was so very patient with her explanations and it really helped solidly the bond they were creating.
I loved the sneaky background plot with Cedric and Bethany too and cannot wait for the next book!!
The only things that really bothered me was the terrible communication and the characters spent a lot of time in their own minds. Sometimes the other mc would call them out on spacing out but it happened a lot on both POVs which drove me crazy. I still really enjoyed the story though, and can’t wait to continue the series! 4 stars from me!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The romance was cute and I loved that secrets were revealed early on in the story. Of course that didn’t help with their communication skills throughout but that’s typical of an Elle romance. The main characters are always making things worse before they get better haha.
I loved how clueless Owen was about everything human, especially his bafflement over clothing sizes, the sweet noodle. Cordelia was so very patient with her explanations and it really helped solidly the bond they were creating.
I loved the sneaky background plot with Cedric and Bethany too and cannot wait for the next book!!
The only things that really bothered me was the terrible communication and the characters spent a lot of time in their own minds. Sometimes the other mc would call them out on spacing out but it happened a lot on both POVs which drove me crazy. I still really enjoyed the story though, and can’t wait to continue the series! 4 stars from me!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 26, 2022
When I tell you I want to pack up my life and move to a place cold as fuck so I can find me an Owen!! Yall this book is everything!!
First of all Elle Drew is simply amazing! I never knew how much I wanted a shifter romance in my life until I started reading her books.
So here we have this lumberjack tall delicious tattooed bearded man name Owen. He is a lonely old bear set in his ways until he meets Cordelia comes into his life and changes EVERYTHING.
Yall I never knew I had a breeding kink until I read this book. The spicy was PERFECT and I loved every minute of it. I honestly can't wait for the second and third book from this series which she lines up in this book!
First of all Elle Drew is simply amazing! I never knew how much I wanted a shifter romance in my life until I started reading her books.
So here we have this lumberjack tall delicious tattooed bearded man name Owen. He is a lonely old bear set in his ways until he meets Cordelia comes into his life and changes EVERYTHING.
Yall I never knew I had a breeding kink until I read this book. The spicy was PERFECT and I loved every minute of it. I honestly can't wait for the second and third book from this series which she lines up in this book!
September 27, 2022
"Good bears get to eat the golden honey between thick thighs"
Ok, you probably want more than that in a review but, seriously, that single line should give you significant insight into this book.
I was concerned that after being so thoroughly invested in the Garoureve stories that I would struggle to connect with characters in a new town, but I needn't have worried.
Owen is sweet and vulnerable - very different feeling to the men we have met in Elles other books; not that there isn't a softness to the men of Garoureve, but the men of Bear Valley don't have the pressure/expectations of fate to find a mate - the social dynamics within the shifter community are changed because of this.
My heart swelled as the story developed and then began to crumble - despite knowing Elles writing style and that there would be a HEA.
For book 1 in a new series I'm already invested and messaged Elle to seek insight into the development of the series and who was next when I was 77% into this one!
I received a free advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ok, you probably want more than that in a review but, seriously, that single line should give you significant insight into this book.
I was concerned that after being so thoroughly invested in the Garoureve stories that I would struggle to connect with characters in a new town, but I needn't have worried.
Owen is sweet and vulnerable - very different feeling to the men we have met in Elles other books; not that there isn't a softness to the men of Garoureve, but the men of Bear Valley don't have the pressure/expectations of fate to find a mate - the social dynamics within the shifter community are changed because of this.
My heart swelled as the story developed and then began to crumble - despite knowing Elles writing style and that there would be a HEA.
For book 1 in a new series I'm already invested and messaged Elle to seek insight into the development of the series and who was next when I was 77% into this one!
I received a free advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2023
Made it to the end
So I made it to the end. Skimming a lot but it didn’t feel like I was missing much. Which is fine, it happens. But the book wasn’t for me this time.
So I made it to the end. Skimming a lot but it didn’t feel like I was missing much. Which is fine, it happens. But the book wasn’t for me this time.
April 18, 2024
If you are looking for a book that is 90% spice and 10% plot, then you have struck treasure. Owen by Elle M. Drew is the first book in her second series The Shifters of Bear Valley, and it is the fourth book of hers that she has written and that I have read. It is in the same universe as her first series The Shifters of Garoureve, but if you are not into wolf shifters, this book can certainly stand alone.
Unlike her other books, the main character is, the bear shifter, Owen, and we follow an evolution in what it means to be bear and a man. He grapples with an all too familiar problem: who he thinks he should be and who he wants to be. He’s socially awkward, sweet, strong, and a consent king who is rocking a dad bod.
His love interest, Cordelia, is a plus-size human who knows herself and is looking for a slower life. After being a city girl and living the 9 to 5, she moved to Bear Valley to be closer to her cousin and see if it feels more like home.
The book is full of spice that begins early on, as it has aspects of the instant-love trope. It explores various kinks but feels like a cozy romance. Grab a hot beverage, snuggle up in a blanket and enjoy a sweet love story perfect for the cold weather. It’s definitely not summer anymore!
Disclosure: I read a digital copy given to me in exchange for a review.
Unlike her other books, the main character is, the bear shifter, Owen, and we follow an evolution in what it means to be bear and a man. He grapples with an all too familiar problem: who he thinks he should be and who he wants to be. He’s socially awkward, sweet, strong, and a consent king who is rocking a dad bod.
His love interest, Cordelia, is a plus-size human who knows herself and is looking for a slower life. After being a city girl and living the 9 to 5, she moved to Bear Valley to be closer to her cousin and see if it feels more like home.
The book is full of spice that begins early on, as it has aspects of the instant-love trope. It explores various kinks but feels like a cozy romance. Grab a hot beverage, snuggle up in a blanket and enjoy a sweet love story perfect for the cold weather. It’s definitely not summer anymore!
Disclosure: I read a digital copy given to me in exchange for a review.
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