BOOK DETAILS
BOOK 1 – Currently available for 99c
Book Title: Hard to Bear (Law of the Wild Book 1)
Author and Publisher: J. Ashburn
Cover Artist: Covers by Christian
Length: About 214 Pages
Release Date: September 19, 2023
Tense/POV: Third Person Past Tense
Genres: MM Paranormal and Urban Fantasy
Tropes: Friends to lovers, small town romance, workplace love, simple murder mystery, Bear Men, Bear Tribe/Family, Chosen Family
Themes: Self Forgiveness, defending those he loves, taking chances on love, honor and duty to his people and his lover
Heat Rating: 4 flames
The stories are best read in order. There is a hint at more but it is a Happy For Now Ending.
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Sheriff. Tribesman. Werebear.
Everything Ben knows about love and life is about to change.
Blurb
His name’s Ben Kodiak. He’s a werebear but not your typical one. First off, he’s into dudes and loves to hang with other bears, of the big and burly kind. Deal with it. Second, he has a job to do, and doesn’t have time for twinks or players. He’s the guy who makes sure no werebear hurts a human in the wild and vice versa. He enforces the law of his tribes and investigates any transgressions. If a shifter gets a little rowdy they get to deal with him.
It was business as usual until the attack happened. This time on one of Ben’s own kind. Not the kind of thing he’s used to. Who in their right mind would mess with a werebear? It was his job to find out and that was going to be really hard, because the new human ranger assigned to the forest is a complete distraction and he has set Ben’s heart on fire.
But something just isn’t right. There’s something off about this murder and the timing of Garret, the new ranger, is just a bit coincidental. Does he trust this man with his shifter secret and his affections or should he keep him on his list of suspects?
Find out in Hard to Bear. The Law of the Wild book 1. The new series by J. Ashburn!
BOOK 2
Book Title: Bear with Me (Law of the Wild Book 2)
Author and Publisher: J. Ashburn
Cover Artist: Covers by Christian
Length: About 146 Pages
Release Date: July 10, 2025
Genre: MM Paranormal and Urban Fantasy
Tropes: Villain trying to break the heroes up, Main Character facing his past, Magic, Mystery, Bear Men, Bear tribes/Family, Chosen Family
Themes: Defending family and friends from danger, investigating mysterious murders, Forgiveness
Heat Rating: 3 flames
Ends on a slight cliffhanger, but also a Happy For Now Ending.
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Winter in the Forest Mountains
Blurb
Sheriff Ben Kodiak and his new love, Garrett, hunker down to enjoy a long, enchanting winter nestled in the warmth of each other until their bliss is once again interrupted by mysterious new murders.
Ben’s people, his werebear tribe, sleep in hibernation except for Lily, the new shaman. Visions and dreams wake and haunt her: danger, killings–something monstrous is coming and the only person she can turn to is Ben.
After the events of the previous spring, Ben thought things would return to normal in the quiet forest towns of the mountaintops. He was wrong. He will need all of his shifter powers and resourcefulness to brace for what’s coming, for not only does it threaten the love of his life, his people and his town but the entire world.
EXCERPT FROM HARD TO BEAR
Beyond the roads the pines filled the horizon and a couple of mountain peaks rose in the misty sky. Ben’s heart warmed at the beauty all around him. He hoped it would stay that way. One more sniff of the air and he decided to head back to the office.
He drove along forest roads, taking his time, listening to the rush of the river not far from the edge of the tree line, and spotted a brown bear rustling just behind some brush, between the trees. His keen sight picked up the movement that most people wouldn’t see. He recognized Lily, one of the mama werebears of Briar River. She’d probably only been up from her winter hibernation for a few weeks and was getting acclimated to the weather and fetching some fish for dinner.
Ben didn’t have the luxury of a hibernation, being a sheriff in the Pinecrest Mountains was a year-round job. That was okay with him. He loved his job and couldn’t imagine anyone else doing it. He had a unique position and felt while he was in charge, the mountains would stay safe.
He pulled back the small county sheriff’s office to discover the head forest ranger’s truck waiting for him. Two rangers stepped out of the truck the moment he emerged from his Jeep. He recognized Jay but the other guy was new. They smiled at him and walked right over.
“Hey Ben,” Jay said. “This is the new guy, Garrett Adams.”
“Already?” Ben said with smile and a chuckle. “Frank just retired two weeks ago. Man, you guys don’t waste any time.”
“Not at all,” Jay said. “Garrett was on our list. He’d been trying to be a ranger in the Pinecrest Mountains for years.”
“Really?” Ben put out his hand to Garrett, suddenly noticing how handsome he was. His strawberry blond hair and beard caught the sunlight and practically glowed like the embers of a campfire.
“Nice to me you,” Garret said, his voice smooth and deep and… sexy. Ben liked it.
“Ben Kodiak. Welcome to the mountains.” He shook Garrett’s hand with a good firm shake. The guy had some strength in him too. Not that Ben was noticing. No, not at all but Garrett was a bit nervous. Ben could smell it on him. It was to be expected—a new job, new place. There was something more. Something…vulnerable that he picked up in the man’s scent, almost as if he was: restrained. “It’s good to have you.”
“Thanks. It’s beautiful here. I’m so glad I was able to find property here when the job opened up.”
“Oh yeah, where’ve you settled?”
“In Coldbrook,” Garret replied, as his eyes glinted. “Off of Old Cross road.”
“Ah yes, a little lower on the mountain.”
“Yeah.” Garrett nodded. “But the ride to the ranger station is amazing.”
“It is. No doubt about it. You picked the best place I know of to find work.”
“Thanks. I think I’m gonna like it here.”
Ben stared at Garrett for a few moments, soaking in his heaving chest and big arms and the way his smile curled to the right of his face and …
“We should probably get back,” Jay said. “Just wanted to introduce you to the newbie, Ben. We’ll be seeing ya.”
“I’m sure you will, Jay. Take it easy out there and never hesitate to call if you need anything.”
“Thanks.” Jay had to practically drag Garrett back to the truck as he also stood still and stared awkwardly at the sheriff.
Garrett turned and followed Jay as Ben enjoyed the view before stepping inside the station.
Well… Ben thought as he sat in his chair. Things just got a whole lot more interesting around here.
J. Ashburn is your source for exciting, sensual, gay paranormal fiction featuring unique stories, magical characters and wild settings. Werewolves, witches, polymorphs, psychic warriors, phantoms, creatures of the night and more dominate the worlds of J. Ashburn. Follow the paths of romance and the supernatural entwined with hearts and minds of men who love men.
You won’t want to miss a single moment of the secret lives of handsome, smoldering characters and the writer who weaves their tales. Pull back the veil and gaze upon the men of J. Ashburn!
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