He’s going to pick someone perfectly wrong for him—because fate isn’t in charge of his world!A stand alone title in a brand-new shifter trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Vivian Arend.As head of security for the family company, polar bear shifter Alex Borealis has intel warning something big is about to happen. His prime suspect? Tantalizing, infuriating Lara Lazuli, youngest daughter … suspect? Tantalizing, infuriating Lara Lazuli, youngest daughter of Borealis Gems’ main competitor. But when mating fever hits, he decides she’s the perfect one to turn to. They’ve got chemistry hot enough to melt the polar ice caps, but he doesn’t trust her enough for a permanent connection to form.
Being with Alex is one step shy of torture for Lara. As a wolf shifter, she scented the truth the instant she met him months ago—he’s her mate. But she’s not about to trap anyone into being with her, especially not a man who thinks she’s up to no good. Add in her own suspicions of wrong-doing in her pack and Lara’s caught between heaven and hell.
But tangled sheets lead to real communication, and a bond of friendship forms that neither expected. When Lara asks for help, Alex finds himself living in the pack house, scaring off random Alpha wolves and fighting at her side.
Because the mating fever knows a thing or two about fate and forever.
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I don’t read paranormal romance much anymore, but I’m on Vivian Arend’s review team, and when I was asked to review The Bear’s Fated Mate, I figured why not? I could use a little variety in my reading. This is the second book in a series, but I didn’t read book one, and this one stood quite well on its own. That said, I am curious about going back and reading The Bear’s Chosen Mate.
I’ll be honest, I don’t know if I’ve read a polar bear shifter book before. The Bear’s Fated Mate follows Alex, the aforementioned bear shifter, and Lara, a wolf shifter. I honestly didn’t know how this was going to work, being as they are different species… But, for the most part, they don’t show their animal sides much. I mean, they’re there since both Alex and Lara seem to “talk” to their animal sides a lot. It was quite interesting to read Ms. Arend’s take on the different species. Like the bears tend to be a bit more animalistic, but the wolves have a magic that is unfamiliar to the bears. In my mind, I just rather pictured all shifters as animalistic and not really varying except that there were different species.
Both Lara and Alex are alphas—dominant, strong, hard-headed. Lara can feel that Alex is her mate, but seeing as they’re enemies at the start of the book, she’s biding her time. As the blurb says, Alex is drawn to Lara, and when his mating fever hits, he goes to Lara for help, thinking she’s a safe bet not to get tied down. Fair warning, while this book isn’t erotica, there is a lot of sex that happens. But there’s also a lot of romance, those moments in between the sex, while Lara and Alex get to know each other and fall in love.
I was pleasantly surprised with The Bear’s Fated Mate… enough that I want to read the rest of the series, especially since there was a hint of what’s to come in The Bear’s Forever Mate during the prologue. If you like a good enemies to lovers story with a paranormal twist, this might be the one for you.
My review originally posted at Novels Alive.
Always a great feeling to get to experience another glimpse into an old familiar universe, like meeting good friends again. Even better when the storyline is fresh and adds to what you already know. Enjoyable, good romance filled with patience.
I love shifter romances, they are always so much fun, and this novel was no excerption. I mean, come on, who does not enjoy a polar bear shifter romance?!
Lara knows that Alex is her fated mate, but Alex does not know that…yet! There is quite a lot of sex in this book so if that is not your thing then this book would probably not be for you.
I thought the author did an amazing job bringing these characters to life, and it was really worth the time I spent dedicated to reading it. I will certainly be reading more books by this author in the future.
A fun book to read wonderful characters
Love this author
This book was too cute. Especially the images of his bear shopping on Amazon!! (You’ll have to read the book to find out why his bear did that!!). They were an adorable couple. She was strong and sure of herself (love that she handcuffed him and dropped him on the ground) and he was also very alpha but funny. Loved the fish in the kiddie pool….
The wolf knew it, the woman knew it, the bear knew it, but the man, well, the man was a wee bit clueless, until it smacked upside the head. The path to get there though, that was super fun, super sexy, and super romantic, once you got to look back at was happening. Until then, we get a grumpy man, an eager bear, a grumpy and worried woman, and an eager and anxious wolf, all trying to figure things out between them and competing with each other. We also get one of the most memorable dance scenes in a shifter club, and a polar bear who wanders around naked, or in bear form, smacking wolves out of the way
Loved Alex and Lara,.enemies, sort of, to mates shifter romance
Polar bear shifter, Alex Borealis,.middle brother, and security specialist for Borealis Gems, suspicious of Lara Lazuli. Wolf shifter, Lara has struck up a friendship with his little brothers mate Kaylee and his.big brothers PA, Amber. She is security specialist with their rival Midnight Ink and youngest sister to the Alpha.
Something suspicious is going on with the Orion Pack that has Lara worried. Her new friends have her back. Alex has caught wind of a threat to Borealis Gems and it looks like the Orion Pack may be involved. He plans to.keep is eye on the ninja she wolf, he bear totally in board, but not for the same reason.
When Alex’s mating fever hits his bear leads him to Lara. Lara can’t say know to the near she knows is her mate, even though he may break her heart.
Alex gets to know Lara. They team up to investigate her pack and alpha. He takes up residence at the Pack House.
Things aren’t what they seem. Alex and Lara are caught in an elaborate plot, devised by an unlikely trio.
A fun fast paced and steamy enemies,.kind of, to mates romance. Love Alex’s bear!
Alex is head of security for the family’s firm and he’s pretty sure that their main competitors are up to something. He’s been keeping an eye on Lara, the youngest daughter of the rival firm’s founding family, and he’s sure she’s hiding something which makes him determined to root out all of her secrets. The fact that they have great chemistry is just a bonus, especially since he can feel his mating fever coming on. Who better to burn off the fever with than a wolf shifter from a rival family who couldn’t possibly be his mate? Lara is worried that her family are about to do something stupid and start some kind of war with Borealis Gems. She’s been trying to find out what her sister is hiding but so far all she’s managed to achieve is catching Alex’s attention. Spending time with Alex is a unique kind of torture for her, all her wolf instincts tell her that he’s her fated mate but Alex has no interest in a long term relationship and she doesn’t want to get her heart broken no matter how much she longs to accept his advances. With Alex about to go into mating fever things are going to get complicated!
A very enjoyable series
Grandfather character is entertaining as he manipulates his grandsons.
*Cuddly Polar Bears
This book is super funny and sweet. The characters are strong. They each can hold their own. But strong enough to ask for help if they need it. I highly recommend this series.
I liked it a lot, shifters are not my favourite genre but Vivian Arend and a few other authors are well worth reading.
The storyline is good and the progression to a happy ending is steady.
No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
Good amount of dialogues makes the story easy to read and entertaining
Love scenes is hot and tasteful described.
The secondary characters is developed in to personalities I would like to know more about and that’s making the story intriguing. Some of the characters I’ve read about in the previous book. This is a series but you can read them as standalone.
Good 4 star read
This is Book 2 in the Borealis Bears series. Lara knows that Alex is her mate, but he wants nothing to do with her. She’s part of the competition and may even be doing something to hurt his family’s business. I’m going to say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Alex is a polar bear and Lara is a wolf so the two shouldn’t have anything to worry about as far as mating because of the different species and all. But they are just hot as the fourth of July every time they get together. Then Alex moves into the pack house and it’s just so much fun! I loved it so much. I highly recommend this book if you want a good fun read.
I enjoyed Alex and Lara’s story. Both were strong willed and willing to do what was necessary for their families/pack. Even though they were of different species, they had so much more in common than they had differences. Thanks to a polar bear’s mating fever, the road to a happily ever after came after a bumpy start.
Format: Kindle Edition
Alex a polar bear shifter head of security is sent to investigate their packs number one competitor. Lara is a wolf shifter who happens to be in that competitor pack. Already attracted to Lara he never expected to go into mating heat when he finally gets close to her and that they are mates. Nor does he suspect it while burning up the sheets. Though Lara knows and has been running from it for months. But that’s okay because fate won’t be denied for long nor will his grandfather’s mating degree. An enjoyable book with entertaining characters. I was gifted this book in exchange for a honest review.
Another book from Vivian Arend?? #YesPlease
What a fun series! I jumped into this as soon as it appeared on my e-reader knowing I’d get a sweet shifter romance that would make me smile, and The Bear’s Fate Mate did just that.
Alex Borealis is the next in the family to experience the “mating fever” and instead of his usual avoidance of females, he decides he’s going to go for it with Lara Lazuli, the daughter of the competition. What he doesn’t know is that she knows he’s her mate, but wants him to figure it out on his own. So it’s going to take some time for Alex’s head to get into the game, as he’s not really looking for a mate, even though he’s been told by his scheming grandfather that he has to get mated when the next mating fever hits.
What I absolutely adored about this series is the internal conversations between human and animal shifter! I had to chuckle every time and it is really the most charming aspect of this series. Vivian Arend does a great job of bringing the shifter into the story that are fun and entertaining.
Alex and Lara are terrific together as they find their way to their true destiny as mates. It takes a few turns to get there, and it’s worth every page!
If you are looking for a sweet shifter romance that is long on fun and short on major drama, this might the series for you. The Bear’s Fated Mate is a nice, compact story that is a quick read, and yet has all the paranormal elements that make it unique and fresh. I just love this series so far!
***5 Stars***
This was a fun, quick, smexy as sin read that was low on drama and had me grinning the entire time.
I adored Alex and Lara. Alex is a bit of a grump, but he comes by it honestly as he is all about protecting his family’s interests. But underneath it all is a man who cares deeply and a bear who is all kinds of fun. Lara is awesome! She’s sweet, sassy and can definitely hold her own in any situation. Their enemies to lovers journey wasn’t a lot of fun. I loved their bantering and simply how well matched they were on every level. There angsty drama was low ~ which I loved ~ but they had a few road bumps to deal with, but they were handled well and I’m very happy with how everything turned out for the two of them.
This is simply a fun, quick read that hooked me from the start. All of the characters ~ from the meddling grandfather to Alex and Lara’s own ‘animals’ ~ are all kinds of fun and I cannot wait to get my hands on Cooper’s book!
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
I remember these two from the previous book and their hilarious encounter. Well, grandfather is back in business mate-matching. They know they have chemistry but what comes next, if anything. They are both strong-willed, though turns out they work well together both in and out of the bedroom. I enjoyed reading this, love the characters and there’s never a dull moment.
I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation from the author.