Bear Tenacity: Pleasant Valley Shifters

By Marlie Monroe

Never get between a bear and his honey.

A new beginning…

Zoe Redman has a bright future ahead of her as the new kindergarten teacher at Pleasant Valley Elementary school. After a rough start in life, things are finally looking up for her. They only get better when a sexy shifter takes an interest in her.

A chance encounter…

The moment Toby Gideon meets Zoe, he knows he’s found his mate. The curvy blonde is smart, gorgeous, and as sweet as honey. All it takes is one taste of her lips to cement his determination to claim the plus-sized beauty for his own.

An unbreakable bond…

Life is sweet until a deadly foe makes his presence known in grisly fashion. Toby vows to protect Zoe no matter the cost, but even the most diligent bear can't foresee everything. When Zoe's abducted, Toby will stop at nothing to rescue his mate—even if it means risking his own life to save hers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marlie Monroe Books
• Release date: Feb 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386624523

Book preview

About Bear Tenacity

––––––––

Never get between a bear and his honey.

A new beginning...

Zoe Redman has a bright future ahead of her as the new kindergarten teacher at Pleasant Valley Elementary school. After a rough start in life, things are finally looking up for her. They only get better when a sexy shifter takes an interest in her.

A chance encounter...

The moment Toby Gideon meets Zoe, he knows he’s found his mate. The curvy blonde is smart, gorgeous, and as sweet as honey. All it takes is one taste of her lips to cement his determination to claim the plus-sized beauty for his own.

An unbreakable bond...

Life is sweet until a deadly foe makes his presence known in grisly fashion. Toby vows to protect Zoe no matter the cost, but even the most diligent bear can't foresee everything. When Zoe's abducted, Toby will stop at nothing to rescue his mate—even if it means risking his own life to save hers.

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All rights reserved. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

Copyright © 2016 by Marlie Monroe

Edited by Jersey Devil Editing

This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book contains sexually explicit content which is suitable only for mature adults.

Bear Tenacity

Pleasant Valley Shifters

Marlie Monroe

Chapter One

Thursday was shaping up to be the best day of the week for Toby Gideon. He got to pick his niece and nephew up from elementary school, spoil them rotten for a couple of hours until their surprise party was set up and all their little buddies arrived, and then finish up the evening stuffed full of grilled meat and cake while surrounded by friends and family. It didn't get much better than good food and family as far as he was concerned.

He followed his sister-in-law’s instructions on where to park and entered the building through the main entrance. He was a little early, but figured that could be a good thing. He’d just sign the twins out and avoid the evening rush of buses and parents picking up their kids.

A glance around the bright interior revealed a huge display of children’s fall-themed artwork on the wall to his left and the main office doorway directly to his right. Despite having attended Pleasant Valley Elementary, he wasn’t familiar with this building. It was fairly new, having been built around five or six years earlier after part of the old school’s roof collapsed during a bad storm.

He made his way into the office, spoke with the receptionist, and signed the kids out. After securing directions, he headed toward their classroom with a little extra bounce in his step. He adored the twins and couldn’t wait to see their little faces light up when all their friends and family shouted surprise later. They were going to be thrilled with the party.

However, before he could get them to the main event, he had to play it cool and keep them busy until five o’clock—which gave him around two hours to keep them occupied.

He found the right room without any trouble and peeked through the door to see the kids sitting on a colorful rug in a semicircle around the teacher, who appeared to be reading them a story. Not wanting to interrupt story time, he pulled out his phone and glanced down at the screen. School ended in fifteen minutes.

When he glanced back up, the teacher was closing the book and talking to the children. Pleased with the good timing, he rapped on the door and opened it without waiting for a response. I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’m here to pick up Claire and Chris.

He inhaled and froze as a bewitching aroma circled around him and directed his attention to the woman at the center of the room. She smelled of wild honeysuckle, succulent berries, and pure female musk.

Uncle Toby! The twins jumped up off the floor, ran over to him, and threw their little arms around his legs. Hi Uncle Toby!

The impact drew his focus away from the teacher and onto the birthday boy and girl. Toby smiled down at them and ruffled Chris’s shaggy brown hair. Hey! There’s my birthday boy and girl! Why don’t you go get your things together so we can get out of here?

Okay. They scampered off toward the cubbies at the back of the room to collect their belongings.

The teacher clapped her hands. That’s a good idea. Why don’t you all go and gather your things and then bring them back to the carpet. It’s almost time to go home.

The children shouted and cheered and scrambled after Chris and Claire. Their exuberance amused Toby. What he wouldn’t give to have half that much energy these days.

The hot blonde teacher strode toward Toby with a smile. Hi. I’m Zoe Redman. You’re Chris and Claire’s uncle?

Yes. I’m Toby Gideon. I’m their dad’s brother. Dying for an excuse to touch her, he held out his hand.

She took the bait and shook his hand. Nice to meet you. Chris and Claire are a pleasure to teach. They’re great kids.

The instant their skin touched, a bolt of electricity shot up his arm. Startled by the shock, he barely heard the first part of what she’d said. He just pumped her hand up and down and kept smiling, while his heart raced and the beast inside him stirred and clawed to break free. He marveled at the softness of her