Jamie Bee's Reviews > Next Door Midlife Bear

Fall-Themed Fated over Forty Love Story

I've listened to many, if not all, of the books in this series, and I like the author's midlife mates formula. The couples do seem to jump into bed, or in this case, get intimate against a building, a bit too quickly, usually making things awkward between them for a while. That happened in this book. Considering the stories are relatively short, I think they would be more fun if they had more relationship build-up before they “do the deed,” giving the couple more happy on-screen time together. The way it's written, they spend too much time apart, brooding over the awkwardness and lack of potential as a future couple. Romances are so much more delightful when the couple has a lot of shared time together, not distanced because of awkwardness or doubts. Let us see their attraction beyond lust; let us size up their potential, even if they can’t see it!

The hero lost his wife to cancer a year ago, and this is the first time he's hooked up with or been attracted to a woman since her death. This makes him feel a bit guilty, of course. He has three charming children, including twin 6-year-olds, a boy and a girl. Even though he's a bit gruff and the children have gone through their own stages of grieving for their mother, the children are well adjusted and actually kind hearted. The heroine gets injured early in the story, and when the children see her struggling to get her pumpkins ready for sale, they give up their play to help her! She never had children, but they get along very well, and their scenes show she has a natural motherly bent. (I particularly loved how she kept trick-or-treating going and even made it better for the kids after a minor injury!) These books have a dangerous element as well as the romance and family/clan drama. In this book, the heroine has inherited a house and pumpkin patch the neighbors desperately want to buy—so desperately they're willing to injure others, destroy property, and perhaps even kill. Yikes! This situation comes to a very dramatic climax that leaves the heroine stunned. Let's just say it's very clear the hero is not just a man! She also comes to appreciate what being a part of his special community means. They do take care of their own.

If you enjoy reading or listening to steamy shifter romances and appreciate love stories starring middle-aged characters, you will probably enjoy this book. If you've read or listened to other books in this series, you'll know what to expect, even though the circumstances change. If you're new to the series, you won't be confused if you start with this book, as it can easily stand alone. As I stated at the start of this review, the stories in this series are a bit formulaic, but that isn't necessarily bad if the formula is good! I find myself looking forward to new audiobooks in the series, snapping them up (and listening to them quickly!) as soon as I see them at a book review site.

I received a promo code for this audiobook, but that did not affect my review.