Finn strikes again! And this time it’s Nero’s turn to find his mate.  One accidental proposal. Two fated mates.  And a love that changes everything.

After a painful betrayal, culinary artist Sophie Truro is determined to rebuild her life—and her brand, Eat It Simple with Sophie. A weekend in Bear Creek promoting a wedding expo is the perfect escape: no pressure, no paparazzi, and no more spotlight-stealing exes.

Then Nero Thornberg stumbles at her feet—literally—with an engagement ring in his hand.  The viral moment that follows flips Sophie’s life upside down. Again.

She came to Bear Creek to focus on her career, not to fall for a brooding, impossibly handsome jeweler who makes her feel far too much.  Nothing about Nero Thornberg is simple.  And nothing about the way he makes her feel is either.

Falling at his mate’s feet wasn’t exactly how Nero Thornberg planned to meet the woman of his dreams.  But the moment his senses Sophie, he knows: she’s the one.  She’s also guarded, wary, and wounded. But somehow, he has to win her trust. And her heart.  But just as their bond begins to bloom into something deeper, Sophie’s past threatens to destroy the future they’re building.

Titles in the Bear Creek Forever: Thornberg Vineyard series include: The Bear’s Mail Order Mate ~ The Bear’s Blooming Mate ~ The Bear’s Reluctant Mate ~ The Bear’s Perfect Mate ~ The Bear’s Second Chance Mate ~ 

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

Title:  The Bear’s Perfect Mate
Series:  Bear Creek Forever: Thornberg Vineyard #4
Author:  Harmony Raines
Published:  July 17, 2025
My Rating:  4.5 stars

The Bear’s Perfect Mate is the fourth title in the Bear Creek Forever: Thornberg Vineyard series, and brings us Sophie’s and Nero’s complex romance. Sophie is a recipe creator, a cookbook ghostwriter, an influencer with her own following… but none of that mattered when the man she loved, trusted betrayed her with her PA, her friend.  But worse, it’s his cookbook she’s ghostwriting, creating recipes for him instead of herself.  She’s beyond devastated, now she’s lacking trust in herself, in anyone else, and building walls that will be difficult to scale.  She’s in Bear Creek for a wedding expo, not realizing that her entire life is about to change because of one man, one fated mate.

Nero is a jeweler who specializes in not only restoring older broken pieces, but also in creating new and exciting pieces, often special designs.  He’s just finished an engagement ring for a friend and is preparing to deliver it to the wedding expo… and his brother Finn has just texted the station number he’s to deliver it to.  And once again, Finn’s magical touch of matchmaking strikes as Nero is sent to the wrong station to completely embarrass himself in front of his mate, his mate who is furious and looking at him not with love but as though he’s the ultimate disaster to enter her life.  Not a good start for a fated mate bond.

I enjoyed The Bear’s Perfect Mate by Harmony Raines so much.  Sophie easily captured my heart as her walls slowly crumbled thanks to Nero’s steady influence of simply being there, and being himself.  Her confidence in herself, in her talent, has been badly bruised by her cheating ex, yet she’s beginning to come back to life, but it’s taking time and patience from Nero and his impatient bear.  I enjoyed watching their bond grow as Sophie regained her self-worth, and even in the face of confrontation, she stands tall, stubborn as she fights for what is hers.  If you love a well-written shifter romance full of all the emotions you could ask for, some steaminess, lots of humor, and a couple to root for, then you’d love Sophie and Nero.

I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

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

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)