I have to say, I’m a sucker for a good bear shifter romance! Setting up a new paranormal world is always a challenge, but Kathy Lyons tackled world-building, action, mystery, and of course, ROMANCE with aplomb. Her ability to deftly world build while pushing along the connection between our hero and heroine and was masterful.

This book follows our feisty baker heroine, Becca, who is trying to balance running a business and raising her teenage nephew. She is surprised (to say the least) when her nephew goes missing, and his sexy camp counselor Carl (the hero) shows up to help find him. She doesn’t know that the hero is actually an alpha bear shifter, and her nephew is about to shift into a bear for the first time.

Not only did this book have a strong and interesting plot, but it balanced intense shifter moments with levity and romance. Becca’s reactions to a shifter world revelation felt real, and I loved watching her find her place in the pack. I also liked the fact that Carl wasn’t entirely sure of his role as alpha. Becca and Carl were a true partnership by the end and were easy to root for.

Because Becca and Carl had such a great connection, I wanted a little more romance between them. As I said, Ms. Lyons was balancing a lot, and I am just always greedy for more romance. I also wish we had been introduced to Becca’s nephew before he went missing. I had a hard time investing in his disappearance because he didn’t mean anything to me as a character.

Overall, this was my first book by Kathy Lyons, and it absolutely won’t be my last. I love finding new-to-me paranormal romance authors! I am looking forward to following the overarching suspense plot into the next book.

**I received a free copy of this book in order to provide an honest review**

I love shifter romance.

Perfectly paced, and with equal parts mystery and romance.

This did not disappoint at all. Smart and sizzling hot,

I would love to read the rest of this series and would happily read anything else from this author!

Carl is an alpha working to keep young teens safe during and after their first shifts. He has been watching Theo and his aunt for years. When Theo is missing, the shifter community comes together to help him and assist Becca, neither who know anything about shifters. There are new twists to this shifter adventure and the romance is sweet and passionate. I look forward to more in this series.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was your average alpha shape shifter romance. With an alpha bear shifter more animal than man. When Carl meets Becca he's trying to convince her that her adopted son is a shifter. In the process he discovers she's his true mate and all he thinks about is possessing her. Of course she gives in and the rest is history. What's missing is a lack of true affection and understanding of her feelings. He often pushes his sexual wants and desires on her not really allowing her to make many decisions on her own. Then again this is typical of this genre so I shouldn't be too surprised.
Overall just not my cup of tea.

Becca owns a bakery and is raising her teenage nephew. When he disappears, she doesn’t know what to do. Until a huge, handsome man shows up in her bakery. Carl is a grizzly shifter and the Maximus of his clan. He has been keeping an eye on Theo, Becca’s nephew, and proceeds to tell her about shifters. She thinks he’s insane and has no choice but to kidnap her. He takes her back to his home and tries to convince her they are not crazy. The more time they spend together, the harder they fall but Carl thinks she sees him as a monster. Can Becca knock down the walls around Carl’s heart and be one big happy family?
It was really hard to explain this because I didn’t want to give anything away. Sex and secrets with a little cliffhanger.

* Voluntarily read and reviewed for NetGalley *

Bound by Shadows is an incredibly satisfying journey that will keep you enthralled and delighted every step of the way. I was completely captivated and thrilled by the amazing storyline and fascinating characters that I had a hard time putting this book down. There was a natural flow and give and take in this book that left wanting so much more. My mind and heart were thoroughly entertained and engrossed. This is a fantastic story that you will not want to miss out on.

Cal is the alpha of his grizzly clan, and his life is one complicated trial after another. He wants more out of life, but he isn't sure he deserves it. When one special woman is pulled into his chaotic life, she turns everything on its nose. Becca just wants to build a good life and live it. When her son suddenly disappears, that life is threatened, and she will stop at nothing to get him back. When strange circumstances pull Cal and Becca together, they must both decide what matters most and what they will risk everything for. In a race against the clock, will they find what they need before it's too late, or will they deny what their heart longs for due to the harsh opinions of others?

Watching sweet hope and beautiful love grow between Call and Becca left me cheering them on. I wanted these two incredible people to have the courage and heart to reach out and grab onto the most precious thing they ever wanted. Your heart cannot live and thrive on the opinions of others. It can only live and bloom from the promise and hope of love. What a breath taking love that grows within these mesmerizing pages that left me hopeful and wishing for more!

This is the first book that I have read by Kathy Lyons, but it will not be my last. I enjoyed her original take on shifters and their community, and I loved how close knit they all were. This story left me wonderously happy with a smile on my face. I can't wait to read more about these amazing characters and enjoy more stories by this incredible author!

This book was too short, and I mean that in a good way: I finished it in one setting and can't wait to read more.

The blurb mentioned this being reminiscent of Nalini Singh, so of course I was on board from the get go - I'm a sucker for that shifter romance vibe, and Nalini Singh is one of my absolute favorites. The premise was decent and I didn't have any qualms with the writing style - it was certainly well written. Unfortunately, the use of the bear shifter trope was very heavy handed and borderline cringeworthy, in my honest opinion. Carl as the brooding, arrogant "alpha-bear" was anything but charming - he was violent and aggressive, and though he didn't physically harm the MC at all, he acted like an outright Neanderthal most of the time. He kidnaps her, physically restrains her, fantasizes about impregnating her when they have spoken maybe a dozen words to eachother. There's a lot of purring and growling in everyday normal scenes, which is common for the genre but felt overplayed and unnecessary in the context. The scene where Becca asks Carl to summon his "bear" and she is talking to Carl in human form but mentally as a "bear" was very cringey and I had to put the book down for a while. And the steamy scenes just couldn't make up for the general unease I had reading it.

I think maybe I had more of a problem with the love interest Carl more than anything. I enjoyed the side characters and would read a follow up in the series to see where the romance goes with someone else.

Thank you to netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

This was a fun romance read! Shifters, danger, and of course, romance! The story was fun and well paced. I liked the changing povs and the protagonist and the love interest were both fun characters. It wrapped up nicely and I can’t wait to read the second book! Becca is a tough and caring character while Carl was a sweet but strong love interest. An overall fun romance read!