Katie Shepard

Bear with Me Now

When Teagan Van Zijl suffers a panic attack that lands him in the hospital for a week, his sister Sloane decides to take him somewhere to get help.  She chooses a wilderness retreat in Montana that specializes in addiction therapy.  Teagan tries to tell everyone that he is not an addict, but nobody believes him, especially Darcy Albano, the retreat handywoman.  After she saves Teagan from an accidental encounter with a bear, Darcy is appointed as Teagan's sobriety companion, which creates a much closer relationship that prompts him to take her back with him to New York.

There are just way too many things going on in Bear With Me Now.  All of the main characters have so many problems that it seems impossible for them to find any kind of normality.  In addition, the story goes from the wilderness in Montana to the world of institutionalized fundraising in New York without settling any of the concerns raised at either location.  What adds to the confusion is implausibility of the events that occur throughout the novel.  Also, addiction, severe anxiety, and dyslexia are treated as plot devices rather than the serious problems that they are.  Overall, there are many good things that are unfortunately buried in the maelstrom created by the overabundance of issues and events in this story.

Lynn Braden

When Teagan Van Zijl suffers a panic attack that lands him in the hospital for a week, his sister Sloane decides to take him somewhere to get help.  She chooses a wilderness retreat in Montana that specializes in addiction therapy.  Teagan tries to tell everyone that he is not an addict, but nobody believes him, especially Darcy Albano, the retreat handywoman.  After she saves Teagan from an accidental encounter with a bear, Darcy is appointed as Teagan's sobriety companion, which creates a much closer relationship that prompts him to take her back with him to New York.

There are just way too many things going on in Bear With Me Now.  All of the main characters have so many problems that it seems impossible for them to find any kind of normality.  In addition, the story goes from the wilderness in Montana to the world of institutionalized fundraising in New York without settling any of the concerns raised at either location.  What adds to the confusion is implausibility of the events that occur throughout the novel.  Also, addiction, severe anxiety, and dyslexia are treated as plot devices rather than the serious problems that they are.  Overall, there are many good things that are unfortunately buried in the maelstrom created by the overabundance of issues and events in this story.

Bear with Me Now

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