In a town where shadows whisper and herbs scream, falling for the local bear shifter was probably Mara’s least chaotic choice.

Griff Cooper just wanted a quiet life in the woods with his magical daughter, a bottomless supply of coffee, and zero eldritch forest disturbances. Instead, he got a snarky herbal witch with flower crowns, a precocious six-year-old who talks to shadows, and a mysterious “pretty lady” trying to rewrite the town’s reality like it’s her personal soap opera.

Mara Voss thought Mistwhisper Falls would be a safe place to heal, not a hotspot for haunted lavender sachets, ancient bloodline conspiracies, and bear shifters with broody eyes and protective instincts dialed to eleven. But the moment she locks eyes with a growly single dad and his chaos-magic daughter? Yeah. She’s done for.

Between shadow puppets with opinions, sentient herbs, and a harvest festival that turns into a showdown for the fate of magical society, Griff and Mara are just trying to hold the line and keep the peace.

They’re strong enough to save the town.  Keeping it buttoned-up around each other? That’s the hard part.

Titles in the Mistwhisper Falls series include: Hex You Very Much ~ Let’s Talk About Hex ~ Hexy Bear ~

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Title:  Hexy Bear
Series:  Mistwhisper Falls #3
Author:  Milly Taiden
Published:  July 27, 2025
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Hexy Bear is the third story in the Mistwhisper Falls series and delivers an intense situation that brings together a fae-touched, herbal witch, Mara, and a bear shifter, Griff, along with his daughter, Tilly, whose magic is rather chaotic at the moment.  I found their story to be the most intense of this series, so far.  Really, the series (trilogy) could end right here, and it would make sense and be completely satisfying.  But, I do hope there are more adventures in Mistwhisper Falls to enjoy.

Mara has left behind her herbal shop in the big city to make a fresh start in this small, magical town after some disturbing issues sent her searching for a new home.  Soon, she’ll be wrapped up in a young girl’s chaotic magic and her father’s compelling pull.  Griff is quite content as a single father; after his wife’s tragic death, he has no interest in romantic notions.  Yet, fate has other plans for him and Tilly when Mara, his mate, enters their lives.  As Tilly’s magic turns more chaotic, and she begins to see “shadow people” and converse with the “pretty lady,” the danger this town and its residents are in becomes quite apparent.

The romantic side of this story felt a little lighter as the intensity of the villain and the danger she brings took over the focus of most of this story… which works perfectly, actually.  I loved every aspect of Hexy Bear by Milly Taiden.  The story is well-written, easily drew me into this world, and Mara and Griff simply work as a couple, even though Griff has some issues to deal with.  The star of this one is young Tilly.  She will charm her way into your heart with a playful child and a more mature-for-her-age aura.  If you love a paranormal/shifter romance with intensity, danger, passion, and a community that stands together to fight for their town, then you’d love this one.

I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

If you love this author’s work, be sure to visit our Milly Taiden page for reviews of other series, or just to discover series you might have missed.

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)