Bear Hugs

Rating:
Summary: Timeless Tales review
Review: By TT reviewer Sam [full review on our website]

Hunter Blackwell spends most of his day in a bear suit for his lead role in a popular children's show, Bidwell Bear. He loves children, but dreams of becoming a professional singer. Paige Holbrook loathes life in the fast lane. She has been a celebrity's wife, and it cost her her marriage. When her son ends up in a coma after a car accident, she turns to the hero little Jamie idolises, Bidwell Bear. Hunter finds himself getting increasingly involved in the life of Paige and Jamie. Can Paige handle another relationship where the media will watch their every move?

I don't know about you, but I have had it up to here (hand to throat-level) with cardboard people with cardboard emotions having a life that not even soap operas can match. If one of the characters in a romance is a celebrity, you can be sure that you are going to be disgruntled and disgusted by their behavior sooner or later. And when that happens, read Bear Hugs, and your faith in celebrities' humanity will be restored.

This story is highly enjoyable. The characters have depth; the plot is believable, flows effortlessly and holds the reader's attention. The couple have respect for each other, and they are on equal standing. Paige is a wonderful mother. The passages which describe her concern and anguish over her son are very touching. But the best character by far is Hunter. He is not racing after money and fame.
What delighted me was his sheer niceness. Every woman should have a Hunter Blackwell in her life. It is so refreshing to read about an artist who knows what the real goals are in life, not drugs, babes and fun, but honesty, a clean life and love. He has true qualms about what to do with his life; gain satisfaction by making children happy or pursue his dream. It is not often that these kinds of choices are analyzed with such good results in romance novels. Bear Hugs is in many ways an untraditional romance, placing so much emphasis on choices. Ms. McBlain pulls it off beautifully, though. There are many pitfalls when writing this kind of romance, and Ms. McBlain has avoided them all. Next time you hear someone complain of the quality of e-books, give them Bear Hugs.