Operation Bear: A Gay Shifter Romance

By: Espen Arcadia

Narrated by: Allen Jeffries

Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

Sometimes, when you’re desperate enough, poking the bear is exactly what’s needed.

Ethan

Even a shifter needs rest after a grueling operation, but I’m not going to get it. I’ve just been handed a new mission. I’m staring at an image of a British POW in need of rescue and my heart is thumping. How can a simple photograph do that to me?

Suddenly, I realize this mission has to succeed.... I’m going to get you out of there James; I promise. And I always keep my promises.  

James

War is hell. Being a POW has nearly broken me but I won’t give in, despite the pain and torture I’ve had to endure from my captors. Dreams of home and a hot, muscled, blue-eyed rescuer have kept me going this long...that and my British resolve. 

Then, just as think I might be better off dead, I see him, running towards me, dodging bullets. I must still be dreaming, right?  

It’s a long way to the border and safety. Ethan and James must fight their way through hell, bullets and bombs, and learn to put their trust in one another, if they want to make it out alive.

©2020 Espen Arcadia (P)2020 Books Unite People, LLC

Definitely not what I expected, but so, so good!

I expected a typical shifter romance where the shifter part of Ethan is his predominant aspect and the “extraction” plot part is put somehow second place.
Instead what I got is a really interesting and well-written war-story, where you are right there with Ethan and James, in the midst of the Azerbaijani woods, fleeing for safety with Turks soldiers shooting at you. You are really transported into the thick of things in this book. At some points I really felt like thee were bullets flying over my head!
And the love that develops between this two man is strong and grows organically, yes there’s instant attraction, and there’s flirting and banter, but they’re both too trained and focused of making it out alive to act on impulse, so when they act on their feelings, it’s because there’s already something real between them.
Allen Jeffries is a new to me narrator, and I liked what he did with the voices: two completely different accents for American Ethan and Brit James.

love sparks in a desolate time and place

After all the death, destruction. and hardships of war., there was a small flickering spark that turned into an all out burning love. Ethan and James's story is gripping, raw, intense, and beautiful . Loved it. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest review. The narrator did a great job.

Narrator didn’t do it for me

The story was fine but I couldn’t finish it. I can see narrator being great for some people but it wasn’t for me. His basic speech was done in the same way that other narrators do fight or sex scenes. He was dramatic even when the characters were eating eggs. The British accent wasn’t really bad but I think it came off bad because of the voice he chose to use. I’m going to try reading this title on my kindle. DNF

Ethan and James

I really enjoyed this book. Both author and narrator are new to me but that won't be for long. Ethan and 2 team mates are sent in to retrieve POW James, along the way Ethan losses his team mates but gets the job done, falling for James whilst doing his mission.

Good.

Bear Shifter Ethan is sent on a mission to rescue British Solider James. What starts out as a team mission turns into a solo. Luck is on Ethan's side though when he finds James. As they navigate through enemy territory to Russia though, things take turns for both the better and the worse.

I had a few conflicted feelings about this book. I feel like the shifter part should have had a bit more punch to it but it was okay as it stands. I really didn't enjoy the narrator's British accent. Again, it was okay but not my favorite. This book was okay. Military romance books are my jam generally no matter what theme they find themselves in. Despite all the death and wounds and stuff I found myself thinking of this book having more of a fluffy feel to it. Will probably listen to it again.

Behind enemy lines...

Ethan and two others are tasked with rescuing James a POW and getting him to safety.
This was a very action packed book. It’s full of drama and passion. At times I felt like I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for what happened next. The narrator did a really good job. But unfortunately, I didn’t like the British voice he used.

Military bear shifter rescue

Ethan leads an elite military team to rescue a British soldier held captive and tortured by Turkish forces. The enemy are no match for Ethan who can shift into bear form. Having rescued James, Ethan must get James across enemy lines without being distracted by their growing feelings for each other. There are many glowing reviews for this story but I found it fair rather than good - I didn’t warm to the two main characters or feel convinced about their military credentials. 🎧 Allen Jeffries has the perfect voice for action novels, it’s rich and deep. When he voiced the American characters it was perfect. However, his Turkish voice sounded Afrikaner and the two British voices made for extremely uncomfortable listening, it kept pulling me out of the book and made it hard to continue.