Bear's Midlife Midwife (Shifter Nation: Fated Over Forty, #1) by Meg Ripley

Bear's Midlife Midwife (Shifter Nation: Fated Over Forty, #1) Reviews

• 
  Amos24601

  This story had so much potential but one thing and one thing only ruined that potential: TYLER.
  
  Liz was a strong female character in this story. She was living her life after a divorce and starting a new career path that she really loved. Then in comes Tyler like a bear in a china shop. Once Liz helps Ty’s sister-in-law, it should have been over. But fate had other plans. Ty’s clan doesn’t like a human knowing their secret. Ty steps up to protect her from a threat.
  
  He then spends his time pushing her away, being a grumpy mess and overall just being irritating. He’s prickly when Liz tries to help him and even lashes out at her in anger, telling her to stay out of his affairs. He is INSUFFERABLE. He is also a terrible protector to her. Ugh. He doesn’t acknowledge his bond with Liz until he thinks it’s too late. He didn’t make this a very enjoyable book.
  
  There is also a scene where Ty and his brother are talking about Liz trying to help with his guilt about his past. Ty tells his brother that she has no right to treat him like some thing she can fix. His brother says, and I quote, “Women like projects.” What a crock. This type of thinking is so anti-women, like we somehow don’t like complete men unless we can fix something about them. I hate this mentality and it made me sneer when I read it. Just gross.
  
  This was a so-so book for me. Maybe it’ll be a better book for someone else, but I won’t be recommending this one any time soon.
  
  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Angela (Angel's Book Nook)

  Bear’s Midlife Midwife is book one in the Shifter Nation: Fated Over Forty by Meg Ripley
  
  The story is ok. Nothing special nor does it stand out. Everything is so fast and instant. Its instant attraction/lust turned into love and fated mates. The basic synopsis was interesting, but it lacked any depth or character development. The relationship is rushed. The conflict is eh and the background is non-excitant. I didn’t mind the read, but it’s nothing to rave about.
  
  Rated: 2.5 Stars
• 
  Darcy

  I had to give Liz some credit for not freaking out when she learned about bear shifters. I'm sure it made the birth all the more crazy, but later when things got explained to her, she still didn't freak out. I laughed as both Liz and Tyler started to give the same speech after their one night together, funnier still was how that one night changed things between them. To the point where Tyler became a bit of loose cannon towards the end of the book and did some damage on a few dumbasses, who deserved everything they got.
  
  I liked how this one ended, liked seeing Liz settle into her new life and be so happy with Tyler.
• 
  Wendy

  Has almost all the elements I like. Sassy heroine over 40. Sexy times. Urban fantasy,
  No virgins though.
  
  Guess I didn’t love it if I don’t have much to say about it.
  Umm.. sexy romance while he protects her from danger…
• 
  Andréa

  An okay read
  
  Not where I thought this was going but Liz and Tyler were nice enough characters.
  
  I liked the introduction of reiki here and how it’s helpful to both human and bears.
  
  I thought the drama would be different and found it to be a bit anticlimactic after all the threats but that’s okay. Interesting series. I’ll probably read more from it in the future.
• 
  Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams

  Bear's Midlife Midwife (Shifter Nation: Fated Over Forty,)
  
  The love story of Liz and Tyler. Liz is going the a midlife change. She has been a midwife and now she is training as a new ages RN. One night Tyler came banging on her door. His sister-in-law was give born and was in trouble. She help and learn of the shifter world. Some of the shifter want her dead. Tyler will protect her. Can he? Great story.
• 
  Sarah Hamilton

  A 2.5 Read
  
  I wanted to enjoy this book - I liked the basic synopsis and while I don't usually read 'shifter romances', I was excited to give it try. The overall storyline just lacked the right flow - it seemed at times too rushed which made Liz and Tyler's relationship hard to believe (& I was okay with the whole 'fated for one another' storyline). I also felt like the additional plot was just lacking enough background and/or detail to work - it often seemed sudden and rushed. While I didn't mind the read, I don't see myself continuing the series.
• 
  Camille

  Made it to 22% and it’s just kind of boring.
• 
  Shelley

  Predictable and fated mates. Lots of energy healing and auras and stuff. It felt like the author was more interested in alternative medicine than in shifters.
• 
  Jenni Bishop

  An enjoyable read with Shifters and mates, and trouble around every corner. Nothing will keep these mates apart except miscommunication.
  
  The pages kept turning because I wanted to know what happened.
  
  These books are quick and easy reads.
  
  Keeping a secret has never been so big.
• 
  Josie

  Reiki
  
  What an interesting skill, it makes me want to run out and make an appointment. Loved the ending, the pain of love and loss demonstrated beautifully.
• 
  Dee

  The addition starts with the book cover….yeah…yeah…yeah don’t judge a book by its cover they say ….well we all do it and this one here it is the scratch to your itch or better yet the filling to your oreos! Within the first chapters you get the panoramic view of whom you’re dealing with! Liz sweet, intelligent, retired (or so she thought) midwife, because after her divorce she closed her practice in favor of becoming a healer knows nothing about shifters or their existence. Tyler sexy as all get out bear shifter with issues, when his sister-in-law goes into labor (desperate she may die trying to give birth), he wakes the healer demanding she come with him taken his sister-in-law to the hospital it out of the question but bringing a human to his brother’s (the alpha) is also a huge risk so of course she can’t refuse. But the things she learned that night will forever change her but upon arriving she realizes no one is doing anything they are all just standing around and a woman is in pain screaming. The midwife in her comes out remaining calm, taking over but when a bear cub instead of a baby comes out well let’s say she got the surprise of her life. Some of the clan members are thankful she helped the alpha’s mate, but they also understand how humans are so the only solution is to kill her and his brother the alpha makes him her bodyguard while he finds the ones out to kill her. Getting to know each other has both of them feeling things they aren’t supposed to, but will he keep her safe, will his brother solve the problem, and can there be more between them?
• 
  kymagirl

  Story: Liz, a strong and independent woman, is living her life after a divorce and starting a new career path as a midwife and Reiki healer. One night, Tyler, a bear shifter and the beta of his clan, urgently seeks her help when his sister-in-law faces complications during childbirth. Liz assists and witnesses the birth of a bear cub instead of a human baby, discovering the secret of the shapeshifting bear people. The clan wants to keep their existence hidden, and some members become a threat to Liz's life. Tyler, feeling responsible for Liz's safety, becomes her bodyguard and they grow closer while living together under the same roof. However, Tyler pushes her away, carrying the weight of his past and resisting their bond. Despite their attraction and the undeniable connection between them, they both struggle to accept their fate and embark on a relationship. As danger looms, Tyler must protect Liz from those who want to silence her, and Liz must learn to open her heart and overcome the challenges they face together.
  
  Audio: The pacing of the narrator was fine, good annunciation, though sometimes words seemed to go soft at them them. The narrator did a good job with voicing different male voices, but I rarely am happy when a male narrator is used to voice female characters' dialogue and this was no exception.
• 
  DJ

  A Midlife Romance and Bear Shifters --- Very Hot!
  
  
  As a woman who married a grumpy bear shifter myself,there is nothing I like better in paranormal romance is a story about Bear shifters! Well, unless it is a good deal on a new Kindle book! Bear's Mid-life Midwife by Meg Ripley fits both those requirements. It is a story about an accidental meeting between a human and a bear shifter and it is available through Kindle Unlimited. So, I could pick it up and read it immediately without waiting for my monthly book budget .
  This book got to me with the synopsis and didn't let go of me until I read the very last word about five to six hours later! Yes, I was so enthralled, I could not put it down. If you are a paranormal romance fan and you choose to pick this book up , I won't be surprised if you read it in one sitting, too!
  I found it very easy to relate to Meg's main character, Liz, a forty something woman, who has had a successful career and is now embarking on a new career with some trepidation. Meg Ripley seems to really understands what makes a woman like Liz tick. I felt she did a wonderful job of creating a multi- layered personality that truly reflects the emotions and behaviors of a "woman of a certain age". Liz was definitely a woman after my own heart. Wondering how I would handle the situations Liz found herself in, kept me reading way into the early morning hours.
  I never believed in the concept of soul-mates, finding it hard to conceive in there being only one man out there with my name tag on him. Miss him and I would remain forever single or settle for less than "perfect match" seemed like a fairy tale. However, older and wiser, just like Liz, I met my husband in less than ideal conditions and was overwhelmed by the feeling of "meant -to -be". Meg captures the feelings of fated mates beautifully. I was moved to tears when Liz says
  "It’s not about relying on someone else. It’s about that other person unlocking the entirety of your soul and making you finally understand who you really are." (pg 205). Magnificently put, Dear Meg!
  Being a strong woman,desperately wanting independence and wishing to be seen as an equal partner in a man's life, falling in love with an alpha male is not easy. Yet, I have found when that person is willing to sacrifice everything, even his whole life to make you happy, it makes it easier to love him completely. Meg Ripley captures that sentiment wonderfully in her development of Liz and Tyler's relationship.
  I also appreciated Meg's very hot and explicit sex scenes! While explicit ,she did not make me feel like a voyeur like many other romances do. At the same time ,she didn't treat the topic like women over forty were dried up and frigid or that sex after forty was as much a gymnastic routine as it was in my 20s! The emotional and physical balance was refreshing.
  Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and would love to see what other over forty women also think about it!
• 
  Bette

  Great Story & Listen🎧 Fascinating & Heartwarming!
  
  Bear’s Midlife Midwife
  Shifter Nation: Fated Over Forty
  By: Meg Ripley
  Narrated by: D.C. Cole
  Series: Shifter Nation: Fated Over Forty, Book 1
  
  I enjoyed this book immensely, the story hooked me in right away, grabbing my attention and captivating it straight to the end. Liz moved to the quiet countryside, she was getting away from midwifing and focusing on healing, so when a stranger comes banging on her door she had no choice but to answer it. Tyler's urgency is for his sister-in-law, who is having a problem giving birth to her child. Liz agrees to help her and she is astonished at what she saw, a woman gave birth to a bear. The clan has strict laws about letting outsiders know about them, but Tyler trusted her and told the others they could, too. Tyler works as a bodyguard so his visit home is short, and his brother Carlton, the alpha, reminds him he is the beta and he needs to spend more time at home, but he has his reasons for wanting to be away. When Carlton catches wind that Liz is in danger because some shifters are not happy she knows of their existence, so he asks Tyler to guard her. The two spend time together and the chemistry between them is undeniable and there is more of a connection, she is his fated mate. But he lets his own inner demons get the best of him and he pushes her away. He thought the threat against her was over, but there is a power play going on and some shifters are planning a coup. This is a fascinating and cleverly plotted paranormal shift romance and I loved the originality of the story, all its layers and how it all plays out., the world building is great too.  Meg Ripley, thank you for another fabulous story and emotional rollercoaster ride. 
  
  🎧📚🎧 And for the fabulous narration, Meg Ripley cast the perfect narrator to bring her characters and story to life. D.C. Cole is an entertaining storyteller and a versatile voice artist. He did a fantastic job covering the roles for all the characters, giving each their own distinct voice, making it easy to follow along and tell who is who. Cole had a complete understanding of the characters he was portraying and was believable in every role he played. He sets the perfect tone for the story, captures all the character’s emotions and projects them into his performance, making you feel every single one. Thank you for another fantastic listen.
• 
  Jamie Bee

  Didn’t Quite Do It For Me
  
  I absolutely adored the first book I listened to in this series, and I was very much looking forward to this installment, where we would learn more about the hero of the previous book's younger brother, the beta of their bear clan to the older brother's alpha, and get to immerse myself in his love story. While I liked how the human heroine was shocked to discover that shifters are real, I never warmed up to the hero. I also didn't like how quickly they got together intimately. Even in a novella, I like romances to follow what I consider a more natural rhythm, and getting intimate on the night of first meeting someone (especially a traumatic night) is not what I consider to be a natural arc in romantic fiction, even if we see it way too often in contemporary romance and speculative fiction, and of course, though it does happen in real life. I just like to have a bit more invested in the couple and their romance before they get busy. Personal preference. If you are already familiar with the first book and really liked it—as I did—just be warned that this book feels completely different in several ways, which may or may not appeal to you. I thought it was cool that the heroine is a practicing, professional Reiki healer. I've been a Reiki master for decades, and the way it is portrayed in this book is fairly realistic, with just a few minor details I would quibble with. I like how it is portrayed as an intuitive, gentle, healing practice… because it is! For those new to the series, I recommend reading or listening to the first series’ book first so that you can understand a bit of this world and the situation the heroine is walking into.
  
  2.5 stars
  
  I received a promo code for this audiobook, but that did not affect my review.
• 
  Grapie Deltaco

  Liz used to be a midwife but now aligns chakras from out of her house.
  
  One night, she gets a knock on the door and a hot guy is there telling her he needs a midwife or his sister in law will die with her baby so Liz goes.
  
  And then the lady gives birth to a bear.
  
  And then Liz and the dude have a one night stand.
  
  And then the dude has to be her bodyguard because bear shifter society can’t have human witnesses.
  
  Tyler goes above and beyond to be so annoying in the most 15 year old boy way possible despite being over the age of 40. The entire dynamic with Liz is just:
  
  “I’ll hurt you! Go away!!!”
  
  “Just let me in!!!”
  
  “But what if…I hurt you 😔”
  
  Blah blah blah a tragic past blah blah blah the most cartoonishly ridiculous villains with absurd dialogue blah blah blah info-dumping about reading auras and chakras and bear telepathy.
  
  The writing is juvenile and severely underdeveloped, the chemistry between our romance leads is nonexistent despite them insisting it’s there, and the plot is just all over the place with any sound logic thrown out the window.
  
  Overall, it’s very meh.
  
  CW: explicit sexual content, references to dead loved ones, grief, brief body shaming, violence, murder
• 
  PepperP0t

  Liz is happy since her divorce being single and building a practice treating patients with Reiki instead of traditional medicine but easily shifter her mind back to midwifery mode when someone bangs on her door for her help. She’s quickly driven through twists and turns at breakneck speed, his sister-in-law was having an extremely difficult birth.
  
  Celebrity bodyguard Tyler’s home for the birth of his brother’s child but the birthing isn’t going well; Tyler’s sent to fetch Liz. Mother and child are in distress when Liz arrives, muscle memory takes over but Liz isn’t prepared to see a healthy bear cub when they’re done. Liz and Tyler are silent on the ride to her home, analyzing the strong attraction between them before sharing a glorious night.
  
  The morning after a great night old guilt and resentments drove Tyler to build a life away from the clan pushes him to leave while his bear resists. Liz’s scientist mind is curious about shifters now but tries to shut that down. Parting with not promises, Tyler’s informed some of the bears are plotting Liz’s death to ensure she doesn’t tell their secret but Tyler can’t stand the thought of anyone else protecting Liz from threats. Okay, there had to be a conflict but did Tyler have to be such a jerk?
  Rating: 3.5stars
• 
  Willow field

  Bear's Midlife Midwife (Fated Over Forty) by Meg Ripley is an older adult shifter romance brought to life by Meg's dynamic and realistic writing and the strong performance of D.C. Cole. I admit I was a little bit worried because I didn't like the characterization of some of the females D.C. Cole did in the prequel novel by Meg, but I liked all the voices in this one, and they didn't rub me the wrong way; in fact, it was 10/10.
  
  That said, this story is about Liz, a strong, thoughtful healer, and Tyler, who is what I would consider a whiney brat that also happens to be a bodyguard and hiding from his true responsibilities, and one fateful event brings them together. After being shocked and, I'm sure, alarmed to deliver a baby bear, Liz responds well after Tyler spills the beans about shifters, and suddenly they are faced with a new challenge how much they are drawn to each other and what that could mean.
  
  Tyler was a struggle bus for me as a Male lead, but Liz and the world definitely make up for it.
  
  I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Tiffany

  Rating: 1.5 Stars
  
  I was interested in reading this only to be disappointed. There is so much potential to be an interesting story but this book only goes over the highlights of an essentially insta-love romance. Tyler is so macho male alpha in the way that he bosses Liz around which is annoying. As independent as Liz is she falls pretty quickly to the world that Tyler just threw her into. I think that the threat against Liz's life and then Tyler going all crazy and believing they actually killed her versus going to check was frustrating. He believed 4 idiots who are a part of the clan without fact-checking. Before that, Tyler and Liz had parted on less than pleasant terms. Also, their whole relationship was based on a foundation of her finding out about the clan, a one-night stand, and them denying themselves of this attraction that I honestly didn't see at all.
  
  I am hesitant to continue the series because this one was okay.
• 
  Patricia

  This audiobook was easy to listen to, though I suspect I would have had a harder time getting through it if I were reading with my eyeballs. Fortunately, it’s fairly short. I liked the FMC. Her motivations and actions made sense, and she was a generally kind and warm-hearted person. I found her reiki practice hard to buy into, but in a book about people who turn into bears maybe that shouldn’t be the thing that breaks my suspension of disbelief. The MMC, on the other hand, was self-absorbed, broody in a not-sexy way, and his thoughts and actions frequently made no sense. I don’t understand why his brother so desperately wants him to act as beta for the clan when the MMC shows no interest in the general welfare, only himself and to some extent his close family. I probably will not pick up any further books in this series.
  
• 
  Fiona

  A great story
  
  I really enjoyed reading this story about Tyler and Liz. Tyler, who is a bear shifter, shows up on the doorstep of Liz, who is a human midwife and reiki healer to ask for assistance with his sister in law who was having a difficult birth. But by bringing a human to a shifter community put Liz in danger when she witnessed the birth of a bear cub in place of a baby. Liz was shocked, but promised to keep it secret. But they didn’t realise that Liz was Tyler’s fated mate and he would do anything to protect her even though he was denying her in his life. But as we know, fate steps in and fixes it all and they have their happily ever after.
  
  I am voluntarily leaving my review for this book and this is my honest and fair opinion.
• 
  T Nelson

  HEA
  Standalone, interconnected characters
  *over 18 readers only*
  Shifter romance, over age 40 characters
  3rd person narration
  
  Trigger warnings
  Murder
  
  Liz is settled in for the night when Tyler comes pounding on her door. He needs her to help deliver his nephew, but when she does, she discovers the secret. His family is a clan of bear shifters, and the baby is born in bear form. Now, some of the Clan are upset about a human knowing their secret and are set out to silence her. Since his regular job is that of bodyguard, he takes over protecting her while trying not to fall back into her bed. But after a healing session, they get into an argument, and he decides to leave. While talking to his brother, the Alpha, 4 clan members come in bragging about killing her. His bear takes over, and no one can stop what he does. Will his human side come back, or is he lost to the grief of losing his mate?
  Each of these books follows one couple's journey to love. The characters carry over into other books, with very few typos or trigger issues.
• 
  Goddess of Chaos

  "My job is mostly just standing around and waiting for emergencies or for someone to need me."
  
  Tyler rushes in to Liz's life, needing her midwife skills and help, never imagining the events her kind heart and willingness to help others would set in motion.
  
  This done in one story embraces independence and self-reliance, but comes with a reminder not only that there is strength in numbers, but others can see things we can't, and can help us see things in another way.
  
  I love the theme of healing in this story, and was intrigued by the use of Reiki.
  
  I listened to this book in Audible in addition to reading portions in kindle unlimited, and really enjoyed the performance of Bear's Midlife Midwife.
• 
  Janet Hendricks

  She Knows Too Much
  
  When retired midwife Liz is called in to assist in a difficult delivery, she inadvertently learns that shifters are real. Now bear shifter Tyler has to protect the very human Liz from those who want to kill her because she knows too much. Both Liz and Tyler are struggling with the past, but one thing is clear, you can't run from Fate, but you can't hide forever. The strong, independent Liz has to learn to open her heart and the guilt ridden Tyler has to learn to forgive himself. Great characters, suspenseful story about the power of love. Read it today!