Bear with Me Now

Shepard’s flawed but enjoyable debut explores the unexpected romance between an aspiring park ranger and a big-city workaholic. The last thing clinically depressed Teagan wants to do after a weeklong hospital stay is attend rehab at a Montana wellness retreat, but his sister insists that a month away from his stressful job will improve his mental health. Retreat employee Darcy is frustrated to be doing maintenance work instead of wildlife education. When Teagan goes missing from the premises, she uses her wildlife knowledge to track him and save him from a bear attack, instantly bonding the pair. Teagan’s more interested in hard work than the new age healing offered by the resort, so Darcy, who falsely believes him to be an alcoholic, takes him under her wing. But just when things might heat up between the two, Teagan is called back to New York for work. He doesn’t want to leave Darcy behind, so when his sister offers to hire her as his “sober companion,” he lets the lie slide. This deception is hard to get past, and though the couple do work well together, the ending leaves Teagan with lots of room to grow. It’s not perfect, but anyone looking for romance in the great outdoors will find some charm here. (May)