Review: Bear Necessities by Tressie Lockwood

I got this book at the same time as Stripped Bear by Tressie Lockwood.  These two books are actually together in the print book simply titled 'Bear'.  I can't tell if they are the start of a series, or just two linked books at this time. In this story we are introduced to Simone, Ayana's cousin and the two new found cousins of one of Ayana's mate, Blaine.

Simone, after having issues with her mother's boyfriend putting the moves on Simone, decides to head down to North Carolina and visit her cousin Ayana.  Oddly enough, Blaine has found some long lost family and brought them to visit the day that Simone arrives unannounced   And these two twin brothers believe they are the mates to Simone.   Though one tries to fight his feelings for Simone, the other is more than happy to get right to the mating.  Simone herself isn't sure what is going on, and though attracted to both, is in no hurry to just agree to be their mate.

I read this book mainly because I read the first one and hoped that this one would be better.  It was, but not my much.  There was still the issue of things moving very fast and the timeline needed to be corrected in several places.  I had no idea where the author was going with Simone's character.  When we are first introduced to her, she is talking about leaving her mother and her parade of boyfriends, and I thought she was very young, like 17 or 18.  But then you find out Simone is 28.  This happened a several times in the book.  I would think the character was acting very young and/or immature and then something would happen to contradict that previous act.  It just felt like the author didn't know where she was going with the character.  I am giving this book a 2 on Goodreads.  I will be thinking long and hard before trying another book by this author.

When her mother's new boyfriend gets a little too free with his hands, Simone decides it's time to relocate. Without warning her cousin, she travels to Charlotte, North Carolina to see what kind of better life she can make for herself. To her surprise, her cousin Ayana--who's never been that good with the opposite sex--has not one but two sexy men sharing her bed. And the sounds of their loving on Ayana in the middle of the night has Simone wishing she had her own lover. Then she's wondering just what they put in the water down in the South because two more hot men show up at Ayana's. This time it's identical twins, and they're not looking for her cousin, but they have their sights set on Simone. Well, one of them anyway.

Artan has no problem claiming the mocha beauty as his mate, but his brother Fallyn refuses her. Fallyn knows the importance of finding a strong mate who can bear his children, especially since their clan is dying out. He has no use for a woman born and raised in the city with a fear of nature. The problem is he can't keep his eyes off of her, and every time she gets excited, he can't think straight. Pulling Simone out of one scrape after another is not in his plan. Things get really complicated when a female bear shifter from home shows up to claim Fallyn, and she has no problem killing Simone to get what she wants.

Review: Stripped Bear by Tressie Lockwood

I found this book on a Listopia on Goodreads called 'I'll Be Goldilocks! Were Bears and Bear Shifters in Romance'.  Since bears are my all time favorite shifter, I had oodles of fun on this list!  This is one of two books that I found on the list, that I hadn't read, that sounded interesting. I particularly prefer bear shifter books that aren't tied to the the trite Goldilocks story.

The story opens with Ayana, having moved away from her family in New York, to Charlotte, North Carolina and purchasing her own home.  She is an assistant to a web designer and does all her work from home via telecommuting, so she can live anywhere.  Ayana is ready for a new start in a new location, away from the family that can't seem to realize she is no longer the baby of the family.  Ayana is looking forward to her new house in a friendly neighborhood.

She soon meets one of her neighbors, Reece at the grocery store.  While he is flirting with her it comes out that they are neighbors.  Reece basically invites himself to a cookout the next day.  Once she gets home from the store, she meets her other neighbor, Blaine.  Since she is attracted to him as well, she decides to invite him to her BBQ as well. During the BBQ, the men show no jealousy of each other and basically announce to Ayana that they both want to have a relationship with her and are happy to share her.

I wanted to enjoy this book.  I liked the premise and hello, bears!  But I just had a hard time with it.  Things moved very quickly, almost unnaturally so.  There were times when it seemed there were contradictions in events.  Explanations are given for time passing, but the next scene takes place almost immediately following the previous one.  Then there was some confusion with the guys.  It just felt like it could have used a good editor and/or careful reviewer to make sure that these inconsistencies were caught before publishing.  There is some real potential here, but fighting with time line issues and the like just throw you out of a story.  I am giving this 2 stars on Goodreads.  It makes me sad when a book just doesn't live up to your expectations.

When Ayana moved into her first home in Charlotte, North Carolina, she thought nothing could be more perfect. The quiet little street was a sharp contrast to where she’d come from, and she loved it. What made her wonder though was when the ladies in the neighborhood speculated on whether Ayana would be competition. The verdict wasn’t favorable. Just when she began to question what kind of community she’d moved into, Ayana discovers that her home is snuggled right in the middle of two sexy men on both sides of her. And to the annoyance of the women on the block—including the local slut—she is the object of Reece’s and Blaine’s desires.

Reece and Blaine have a secret. They are not quite human. Ayana might be afraid to accept their ménage relationship, but they’re sure of what they feel about her. She is their mate, and they have no problem sharing the mocha beauty. The only thing left to do is convince Ayana that her new life isn’t complete until they are a permanent part of it.

Warning: This fiesty heroine pisses off every single and married woman in her quiet neighborhood by carrying on a sexual relationship with two hot bear shifters.