NO IFS, ANDS, OR BEARS ABOUT IT is Book 1 in Celia Kyle's Grayslake series. This book is about a town of werebears. Bear shapeshifters are rapidly becoming one of my favorite kinds of shifters. Who wouldn't love a big, cuddly teddy bear? Sheriff Ty Abrams, the hero, is the Itan (leader) of the local werebear community. Mia Baker, the heroine, is part werebear and is thrown into Ty's orbit when a shifter cub lands on her doorstep.

I like that once Ty realizes how dangerous it would be to give young Parker to his uncle, Ty doesn't make a strong effort to separate Mia from Parker. Parker and his precarious situation becomes something to bind Ty and Mia together rather than divide them. I think Celia Kyle does a great job of balancing the light, fun moments, the gritty action sequences, and the sexy, erotic moments. Ty and Mia are both very strong personalities, but I never really felt like Ty tried to steamroll Mia. Even though I don't think she always saw it that way, I think Ty is protective without being a controlling jerk. I like that he felt the connection between them early on and acted accordingly. I think Ty comes across as sweet and possessive rather than possessive and acting out in negative ways.

Ty's leadership is contrasted nicely with the leadership of the Cutler Itan. It becomes obvious that Ty is a more fair and caring Itan to his people. Mia's family dynamics and history makes for an interesting subplot and gives her character more depth. I like the supportive relationship between Mia and her father. The violence described in the fight scenes is not for the squeamish. There are some real villains in NO IFS, ANDS, OR BEARS ABOUT IT, and the shifters respond with bestial savagery.

NO IFS, ANDS, OR BEARS ABOUT IT by Celia Kyle is a very sexy, fun shifter romance full of intense action scenes, erotic moments, and great characters. A lot of the supporting characters interest me, and I look forward to reading about them in the future -- especially Ty's brother Isaac, wolf pack Alpha Reid Bennett, and Southeast Itan Terrence Jensen. I anxiously await the next installment in this exciting paranormal series!

Book Summary

The first day of Mia's new life in Grayslake, Georgia is not going as planned. The house her grandfather left her looks ready to crumble, boxes cover every inch of the floor and- oh-there's a bear cub in her pantry. It gets worse when the cub's uncle comes by and busts out his fur and claws while on her front porch. Then it gets loads better because suddenly there's a hot hunk of badge-wearing werebear on her lawn ready to rescue her. Yum. Of course, he has to ruin things by trying to take the cub out of her hands. Ha! The cub is hers... No ifs, ands, or bears about it.

Werebear Ty can't seem to get the curvaceous, delectable Mia to understand that, even if she is one-quarter werebear, she isn't keeping the cub. Ty is the Grayslake Itan, the clan's leader, and the little werebear is going home with him... Unless it isn't. It's her smile. If she'd stop smiling and being gorgeous, his inner-bear would support him and Ty would get his way. But the beast wants to make their woman happy, so it's perfectly content to let her do as she pleases. Then things change. Threats arise, danger comes close, and Ty demands she return to his den. No ifs, ands, or mates about that.

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