Her Solstice Bear Mate

by Arizona Tape

Tess always dreads when the holiday season rolls around, especially because she has nobody to celebrate it with. A promise to her late mother brings her to the lake of fate where she runs into some familiar faces, including her childhood friend who seems eager to reconnect.

Bear shifter Amanda has been looking for her fated mate but nothing has ever felt right. That's until she meets Tess again and feels instant butterflies. She's eager to see if their connection is as strong as ever but it seems that time has changed some things between them. Can she help Tess find that holiday cheer that she's missing or will they grow apart again?
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Her Solstice Bear Mate is a paranormal fated mates romance featuring a bear shifter and her mate. It includes a standalone romance and a dash of steamy goodness. It is part of the Crescent Lake Bears series

104 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 25, 2025

About the author

Arizona Tape lives her dream life hanging out with her dog and writing stories all day.

Her favourite books to write are urban fantasy and paranormal romances with queer leads, stories that she wished were around when she was younger.

When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking up a storm in the kitchen, watching shows that make her cry, or trying her hand at her new hobby of the week.

She currently lives in the United Kingdom with her girlfriend and her adorable dog who is the star of her newsletter. Sign up here for adorable pictures, free books, and news about her books: www.arizonatape.com/subscribe



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Her books are available on all retailers and can be requested from most public libraries.

Reviews

[Autumn Aria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last book of the Crescent Lake Bears subseries and the overall Crescent Lake series.

I enjoyed this the most of all the Crescent Lake Bears books. It pulled to me in ways the other books never did.

A story of childhood friends bumping into each other without realizing who each other were. A series of events that turned out to be serendipitous and perhaps the workings of fate as well.

A wonderful story about finding love when you least expect it or want it and of found family.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Solstice Bear Mate is the 8th and final installment of the Crescent Lake Bears series by Arizona Tape. Each book is a standalone novella that is interconnected.
The series follows shifters, kin, and humans in Crescent Lake as they find out what fate has in store for them.
Still grieving her mother's passing, Tess returns to Crescent Lake to fulfill a promise she made. She unexpectedly reconnects with a childhood friend, and fate has its way with them.
Amanda, a bear shifter, joins her friends at the Solstice festival and accidentally bumps Tess into the lake, even though Tess had no plans of entering the water this year.
Her Solstice Bear Mate is a cute, sweet, and cozy holiday romance. The main pairing is lovely. Both characters are likable. Tess finds just what she needs in the large, welcoming Honeywell family to repair her heart after the death of her mother and the cold shoulder from the rest of her small family.
The overarching world of the shifters is well done and immersive. The rituals and events are fun and offer tender moments of bonding for couples and families.
If I were to offer one minor criticism, it would be that certain words felt overused. I started to notice the repetition.
I always enjoy books by this author and will recommend them for sweet, happily ever afters that will leave you with warm and fuzzies. Perfect for in between heavier reads; a great palate cleanser.
#shifters #bearshifter #fatedmates #smalltown #holidays #largefamily #winter #accidentalmate #childhoodfriends #friendstolovers #grief
I received an ARC from the author. This is my honest opinion.

[Stacey ˗ ღ ˎˊ˗ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable sapphic shifter romance set in a chilly holiday season! The characters Tess (human) and Amanda (shifter) reunite as adults and remember their shared childhood adventures, then later discover they are now fated mates. Open-door FF spice towards the end of the novella (🌶️🌶️) is the cherry on top of this sweet story! I have to go back and read all the stories that came before this in the series. This book is #8 and the final episode.

Thank you to the author for the e-arc for review consideration!

[Jacqueline Halle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy and cute read about a sapphic paranormal romance that has fated mates and bear shifters.This is part of a series by the author but can also be read as a standalone. HEA guaranteed. Holidays, family and best friends tropes.

[TaniaRina Valdespino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parents and their shenanigans
Tess’s respecting her late mother’s wishes to visit Crescent Lake on the Solstice seems to be an extension of gentle nudging that many a parent do for us. Keeping promises to our dearly departed is only one way of many to cherish their memories. Tess placed a pic of her Mum in ‘the honour spot on the fridge’ and I also have a few places around my common area for various family members. It’s a comfort when so far away from them all…

Festive seasons can spotlight our darkness, especially when spending alone like Tess. I’m so happy that she’s back in with the Honeywell family. I was fortunate to spend childhood winter holidays with my cousins’ extended family and wish that everyone could reflect back on such wonderful shared memories.


I don’t know if this is my usual “Some sage advice from the author” or “Fave line”:
‘If you want something, you have to work for it.’ IYKYK 😊


May we all find ourselves like Tess and are ‘winning in life’ throughout the entire year.


While this is the end of an era for the Crescent Lake world, one can still indulge in some (or all) of the goodies mentioned in this book - spiced hot chocolate, salt and vinegar crisps, brownies, elderflower cordial...even fake champagne.

[Looby Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childhood friends meet up again in this last book in the Crescent Lake shifter series. Tess has suffered heartache, losing her mum and having no one on her family who cares about her. Amanda on the other hand is a member of the Honeywells, practically shifter royalty with relations galore and rowdy meet ups often.
Chalk and cheese yet when they accidentally fall in the lake, will the past be all that they have in common? I’m so sad this series is ending. I love these shifter books and the characters in them.

[Sherryle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tess & Amanda

This story about these characters seems to be romantic, funny & a hell of a lot going on in their lives. The past comes up & they remembering things from their younger selves. I really liked this story. It's got all the warm fuzzies & I especially like the part where Amanda proposed to Tess, it's really sweet.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable shifter romance set in the holiday season. Tess and Amanda meeting again for the first time in a very long time was it fate or is that just something people say. I enjoyed the book and I found the story flowed well.

I received this book as an arc from the author and this is my honest opinion.

[Jessica Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read any of this series before, but this one was easy to dive into. Tess and Amanda were easy characters to root for, and they made a cute couple. I'm also just relieved that there wasn't any 'third act breakup,' because I hate that trope. Definitely worth picking up!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love holiday romance that has steam, family, and lots of food. Her Solstice Bear Mate has all of these and more.

“Thank you, Vampari Press, for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.”

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fate, is it really real or just a saying. I don't know but I do think that there are some things that are just to be no matter what. I loved the story. The unexpected reunion of two children fated to be. I cried reading this one.

[Carolyn Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes Fate just provides an opportunity. This time, it adds a push. Loved this couple, enjoyed the rom com romp vibe, and was very satisfied with this finale.

[Jen Keyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

sad this is the last one. but all good things must come to an end.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very nice, light read. Very sweet story about childhood friends finding each other and finding out they were always meant for more. A little angst, but overall a very pleasant read.

[Sophie Eaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful end to the Crescent Lake series, both bear and dragon sides. Now I will have to go back and read the previous stories in the series.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the last book in the Crescent Lake series, and I really enjoyed it, both the dragon shifter and the bear shifter ones. "Her Solstice Bear Mate" was a cute, easy holiday read. Tess goes back to Crescent Lake for the solstice and accidentally falls into the lake. Right away, Tess starts running into the old familiar saying: sometimes to find your way forward, you have to go back, and this is a good example of that. I really liked Amanda and her easygoing attitude, and even though there was some sadness with Tess and her family, it didn't really weigh down the book. It actually seemed to be the one thing that tied the whole book together. I'd definitely recommend this if you're looking for a quick holiday read.

I received an arc