August 21, Everyday Heroes: Dancing Bearfoot by Elva Birch is a confection, a short paranormal romance set in Alaska between single dad Leland/Lee, who owns a construction company, and his daughter’s preschool teacher, Patricia. Lee is a big bear of a man who can turn into, you guessed it, a bear; Patricia struggles to stay afloat by working as a waitress when she’s not teaching.
Lee knows Patricia is his soulmate as soon as they meet. Patricia doesn’t get the greatest first impression of him, but their interactions via his daughter Clara, and their experience subsequently of being trapped together in a snowstorm, quickly lead to a low-angst resolution with some humor when his shifting ability is revealed. I actually read this earlier in the year because I was in the mood for something light, and was pretty happy with my choice.
This story is part of a long series, “Green Valley Shifters.”