Review: Waking the Bear by Kerry Adrienne (@kerryadrienne)

Series: Shifter Wars
Publisher: Carina Press
Published: August 1, 2016
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: 212 pages


I am a huge fan of the Bear when it comes to shifters. Just call me Goldilocks, because bear shifters are Just Right! So whenever I see a bear book, I tend to not bother looking twice and just throw caution to the winds. This doesn't always work out the way I hope though. Such was the case for this book.

I wanted to really like this book. I mean, hello, there is a picture of a bear and the words Shifter Wars right on the front cover. Unfortunately, this one just didn't do it for me. I mean, it was all right. But I had some issues.

First off, our girl, Amy started out a bit spunky. Starting over after her loser boyfriend stole her ad campaign and her promotion, she is planning on focusing on her 'art'.  But it takes her weeks to unpack and get in the groove, and very little is said about her actual painting, other than the fact that it's "good". Pfft. Weak. I really would have liked to seen her art more developed, it might have given her more personality, especially since it's what she is supposed to be so passionate about.

Then there are the Bears. They are protecting the area and this sacred cave from the "lions". Yeah, not the big haired african kind apparently, more like the bobcat/cougar/mountain lion type. I was bummed about that. Plus all we really hear is that the Lions are bad, and the Bears are good. Why the hell can't they share? Don't know. Even the sacred spirit in the cave is meant for both of them. Sure, sure, the bad guy happened to be a lion, but I really didn't see why there was this whole big war going on. The rest of the lions didn't seem all that bad to me.  I needed some real reasons besides, 'because'.

I guess the whole war thing felt a bit contrived and not very well thought out to me.  Maybe that will change in the coming books. Eh, I don't know, but I probably won't read another in this series. This book got a 2 star ranking. It was okay, but nothing special.

Carina Press and Netgalley provided me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sexy shifter passion is awakened when two unlikely lovers are challenged by secrets, danger and an unstoppable need to claim one's mate…

For human Amy Francis, the secluded cabin in Deep Creek is the haven she needs to map out a fresh new start. She never expected her heart to be reawakened by a distraction like Griff Martin, commanding yet gentle, too ferociously sensual to ignore. It's clear that patrolling the forest is more than a job to Griff—it's a means of survival. But what Amy doesn't realize is she's reawakened the beast within him.

Griff's dormant hunger is stirred by this intoxicating woman…and threatened by the secret she must never learn. Duty-bound to defend his bear clan against an avenging pride of lion shifters, Griff's entire world is upended when he meets Amy. His animal need to claim his mate has taken hold, but that very desire could seal her fate as an unwitting pawn in battle.

Now, as a shifter war looms, Griff must decide between letting Amy go or following his most carnal instincts. To have her would change his life…but risk everything he knows and was born to protect.

Book one of the Shifter Wars series

Previously published, newly revised by author