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The Holiday Shifter Mates #2
Christmas Polar Bear
Falling in love wasn’t the plan.
Cedar Mongoyak knows who she is and what she’s good at. She’s a polar-bear shifter, a go-getter, and part of the biggest shifter alliance in the Trinity.
She can handle anything. Or so she thinks before her new assignment in Eurio, Alaska.
Set the place straight? Done. Keep an eye on an unstable Alpha polar bear without falling head over heels for him? No promises.
Gale Blanc’s kind of sexy should be illegal, and his cub is too cute for this world. What’s a girl to do when she has to stay under the same roof as them and spend Christmas with them too? Give in. Probably.
—
Christmas Polar Bear is an MF romance.
Cedar Mongoyak knows who she is and what she’s good at. She’s a polar-bear shifter, a go-getter, and part of the biggest shifter alliance in the Trinity.
She can handle anything. Or so she thinks before her new assignment in Eurio, Alaska.
Set the place straight? Done. Keep an eye on an unstable Alpha polar bear without falling head over heels for him? No promises.
Gale Blanc’s kind of sexy should be illegal, and his cub is too cute for this world. What’s a girl to do when she has to stay under the same roof as them and spend Christmas with them too? Give in. Probably.
—
Christmas Polar Bear is an MF romance.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 28, 2018
113 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Kestra Pingree
78 books80 followersKestra Pingree is a creative who doesn’t know how to stop. They are first and foremost a writer and storyteller with an endless library of books in their head just waiting to be typed. They are also an artist and animator, as well as a singer, songwriter, and voice actor. One day they swear they’re going to make their own video game, too.
If it involves creating, they are there.
They can also be seen cuddling their cat, reading, or playing video games.
If it involves creating, they are there.
They can also be seen cuddling their cat, reading, or playing video games.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 12, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up
This was such a pleasant surprise! A polar bear shifter romance set around the holidays with nuanced characters, balanced power dynamics, a plus-size heroine, and a queer-norm village. I ended up really liking this.
This was such a pleasant surprise! A polar bear shifter romance set around the holidays with nuanced characters, balanced power dynamics, a plus-size heroine, and a queer-norm village. I ended up really liking this.
December 27, 2020
This was a lot of fun, and quite different to other shifter books I've read.
November 30, 2020
https://celebrityreaders.com/2020/11/...
3.5 stars — There were definitely a lot of fun elements, and I enjoyed the world (even though I may not have always understood what exactly Trinity is…perhaps I should have read book 1 first?). I will admit that the writing was a bit more basic than what I typically enjoy. Definitely not bad, but…I don’t know how to describe it.
Cedar was actually a pretty fun heroine. I really appreciated that she was very unapologetic about her wants and desires, it was super refreshing. I also really appreciated that she was totally comfortable in her plus sizeness, and could recognize her own beauty, but that didn’t mean that cutting comments on her size in the past hadn’t hurt and left a mark. That’s real. I feel that.
Gale was a bit harder to completely fall in love with for me. Grief is so complicated, and I don’t want to take anything away from him, but it was hard to see him still so absorbed 6 years later…and not only that, but his neglect of his cub was kind of heartbreaking. In some ways his turnaround seemed kind of fast, but then again sometimes all we need is the right catalyst.
I thought they worked well together after they got over some significant bumps in the road. I really liked their level of communication, and the sincerity in each of their apologies along the way.
I was super intrigued by some aspects of the world, mostly the secondary characters. I could see maybe wanting to check out Mateo and Austin’s story, or find out what happens with Yuri and Lance.
On the other hand there were elements that felt like they weren’t really necessary in the grand scheme of things, even if they were cool — primarily the Solsis stuff. But again, maybe I would feel differently if I’d read book 1?
The highlight of this book for me was 100% Ike. That cub was freaking ADORABLE and precocious, and just so easy to love.
So yeah, definitely a fun book, and I’m waffling between rounding up or down…it truly is a solid 3.5 for me.
3.5 stars — There were definitely a lot of fun elements, and I enjoyed the world (even though I may not have always understood what exactly Trinity is…perhaps I should have read book 1 first?). I will admit that the writing was a bit more basic than what I typically enjoy. Definitely not bad, but…I don’t know how to describe it.
Cedar was actually a pretty fun heroine. I really appreciated that she was very unapologetic about her wants and desires, it was super refreshing. I also really appreciated that she was totally comfortable in her plus sizeness, and could recognize her own beauty, but that didn’t mean that cutting comments on her size in the past hadn’t hurt and left a mark. That’s real. I feel that.
Gale was a bit harder to completely fall in love with for me. Grief is so complicated, and I don’t want to take anything away from him, but it was hard to see him still so absorbed 6 years later…and not only that, but his neglect of his cub was kind of heartbreaking. In some ways his turnaround seemed kind of fast, but then again sometimes all we need is the right catalyst.
I thought they worked well together after they got over some significant bumps in the road. I really liked their level of communication, and the sincerity in each of their apologies along the way.
I was super intrigued by some aspects of the world, mostly the secondary characters. I could see maybe wanting to check out Mateo and Austin’s story, or find out what happens with Yuri and Lance.
On the other hand there were elements that felt like they weren’t really necessary in the grand scheme of things, even if they were cool — primarily the Solsis stuff. But again, maybe I would feel differently if I’d read book 1?
The highlight of this book for me was 100% Ike. That cub was freaking ADORABLE and precocious, and just so easy to love.
So yeah, definitely a fun book, and I’m waffling between rounding up or down…it truly is a solid 3.5 for me.
December 22, 2021
I did not expect to like this as much as I did but I needed a title for another Holiday bingo and this was in Kobo Plus so I figured I'd give it a go and I was so surprised.
The world building was very interesting - I definitely have questions and had the sense that this is a series that is part of an already established series with the references to Trinity and the Circle and a Black Witch that is a hybrid witch/shifter, but it didn't deter from my enjoyment of the story.
I found Ike, Gale's 7 yo polar bear cub so charming, and liked the slowburn that was his relationship with Cedar. Eurio is a community of misfits, made up of different shifters including of course, polar bears, wolves, siberian tigers and birds among others.
While paranormal isn't my go-to sub-genre, I'd definitely come back to this series in the future if the mood/reading challenge called for it.
Dec/21: Nightmare before Christmas square of hottiedays bingo.
The world building was very interesting - I definitely have questions and had the sense that this is a series that is part of an already established series with the references to Trinity and the Circle and a Black Witch that is a hybrid witch/shifter, but it didn't deter from my enjoyment of the story.
I found Ike, Gale's 7 yo polar bear cub so charming, and liked the slowburn that was his relationship with Cedar. Eurio is a community of misfits, made up of different shifters including of course, polar bears, wolves, siberian tigers and birds among others.
While paranormal isn't my go-to sub-genre, I'd definitely come back to this series in the future if the mood/reading challenge called for it.
Dec/21: Nightmare before Christmas square of hottiedays bingo.
December 18, 2020
Christmas Polar Bear
While this is the second book in the trilogy, it was the first one I read.
I wasn't disappointed in starting with a Christmas story. It was really cute & the main characters were really likeable.
Cedar is sent by Trinity to check on the status of Gale, one of the two alphas of their stop off town in Alaska. She finds a polar bear shifter who still hasn't gotten over the death of his mate 6 years prior. He doesn't pay a ton of attention to his young son/cub either.
Cedar sets out to straighten up the town and finds herself wanting Gale more and more.
While this is the second book in the trilogy, it was the first one I read.
I wasn't disappointed in starting with a Christmas story. It was really cute & the main characters were really likeable.
Cedar is sent by Trinity to check on the status of Gale, one of the two alphas of their stop off town in Alaska. She finds a polar bear shifter who still hasn't gotten over the death of his mate 6 years prior. He doesn't pay a ton of attention to his young son/cub either.
Cedar sets out to straighten up the town and finds herself wanting Gale more and more.
November 29, 2022
You are worth the effort
This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I absolutely loved it. The author did a fantastic job of showing that you don’t have to get over your grief, but you do have to learn how to live beyond it. I love how one strong woman was able to resurrect a town, and give a family a rebirth. I enjoyed this cute little town for its openness and inclusivity. Each member we met had their own set of quirks and unique circumstances, but it just made me love them more. The holiday spirit is slow to emerge, but it was certainly something worth celebrating. I can’t wait to see what other books this author has in her library.
This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I absolutely loved it. The author did a fantastic job of showing that you don’t have to get over your grief, but you do have to learn how to live beyond it. I love how one strong woman was able to resurrect a town, and give a family a rebirth. I enjoyed this cute little town for its openness and inclusivity. Each member we met had their own set of quirks and unique circumstances, but it just made me love them more. The holiday spirit is slow to emerge, but it was certainly something worth celebrating. I can’t wait to see what other books this author has in her library.
January 12, 2021
"Falling in love wasn't the plan". Does one have more than one mate in a lifetime? A short, well-written story about love and compassion.
Cedar likes living in big cities, but here she is back in Alaska. She's here to get Eurio back in shape for the Trinity Shifters. She has no need for a mate. Then she sees him.
Gale is one of the Alphas in Eurio. He loathes Trinity. They are the reason he lost Iris. He feels he can't continue, even though he has a cub. That is until she walks into his life.
Cedar likes living in big cities, but here she is back in Alaska. She's here to get Eurio back in shape for the Trinity Shifters. She has no need for a mate. Then she sees him.
Gale is one of the Alphas in Eurio. He loathes Trinity. They are the reason he lost Iris. He feels he can't continue, even though he has a cub. That is until she walks into his life.
October 13, 2025
Family is also those we are called to
A very satisfying read. Interesting characters and a plot that kept my interest. I read it in one sitting. The HEA ending was handled deftly. I’d like to read a follow up book with Ike getting a sibling and growing up. Lots of good lessons are given in this book.
A very satisfying read. Interesting characters and a plot that kept my interest. I read it in one sitting. The HEA ending was handled deftly. I’d like to read a follow up book with Ike getting a sibling and growing up. Lots of good lessons are given in this book.
April 7, 2020
A nice Christmas story. I like that Cedar is a very strong woman who has an instinct to know what needs to be done and when it needs to be done and she gets it accomplished to include getting her man or polar bear. She has a great rapport with all the characters in the book.
December 2, 2020
Guilt
This is story about two people. Who need to move on. But find it hard to. Because they find that in common. And want to make the town mean more. They find they like being together.
This is story about two people. Who need to move on. But find it hard to. Because they find that in common. And want to make the town mean more. They find they like being together.
January 15, 2022
Christmas Polar Bear (The Holiday Shifter Mates Book 2)
The love story of Cedare and Gale. Cedare has come to a shifters territory. Cedare meets Gale, they are mate but he lost his mate and does not want another. Will he change his mind? Ok story.
The love story of Cedare and Gale. Cedare has come to a shifters territory. Cedare meets Gale, they are mate but he lost his mate and does not want another. Will he change his mind? Ok story.
December 19, 2018
This is a good read. A definite grieving story but with a lot of heart.
December 1, 2020
Christmas polar bear
Loved the storyline and the characters and couldn't put it down so it's a well deserved five stars and I would recommend this book to everyone
Loved the storyline and the characters and couldn't put it down so it's a well deserved five stars and I would recommend this book to everyone
December 7, 2020
You know what, this wasn’t terrible. Cheesy, kinda cringey, but I’ve read worse.
December 22, 2020
My first polar bear shifter book. Shifter politics.
March 17, 2021
Excellent
Good holiday read, light and breezy with a few gritty bits. Cedar is a clever girl, thank you Kestra for a very interesting read.💜
Good holiday read, light and breezy with a few gritty bits. Cedar is a clever girl, thank you Kestra for a very interesting read.💜
July 16, 2021
Review
Different type of shifter novel. Had trouble getting into the story but finished it. It could have been set anywhere and about regular people.
Different type of shifter novel. Had trouble getting into the story but finished it. It could have been set anywhere and about regular people.
December 26, 2021
Intriguing
This is a story of a love lost and coming to terms with the heartache to be able to move on
This is a story of a love lost and coming to terms with the heartache to be able to move on
November 3, 2024
Likeable characters and a decent story. I would have liked it more if they didn’t spend so much time thinking about sex!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews