Pride was just fourteen when his dad caught him and Joe, a ranch hand, in the barn fooling around. His dad, a preacher, whipped the skin from Pride’s back and caused the death of Joe. Not long after that his dad died and Pride was forced to join the Confederate Army where he served for four years and then was imprisoned in a northern prison camp for two years. The following years were spent doing back breaking labor on ranches in order to save money.  

Just when Pride bought a new horse, a new coat and a new gun and has quit his job in search of a better life he is attacked in his sleep, tied to a tree and left for dead with all his new possessions stolen. Pride is saved by a huge mountain of a man who takes Pride into his home.  

Bear has lived in his remote mountain home alone for years. His entire family was murdered by a man who wanted their ranch land. Bear took his vengeance on the murderer and was forced to flee. When Bear came upon a man tied to a tree about to be attacked by a mountain lion he could tell the man was a good person. Bear just has a knack for reading people. Bear and Pride become snowed in at Bear’s cabin and the two men become best friends.

It is not long before Pride and Bear become lovers and fall in love.  Things are not all well in their world though. A man from Bear’s past is determined to see Bear dead. 

In Bear Country is a terrific book. Set in the late 1860’s, Kiernan Kelly stays true to the speech of the time and expertly leads readers on an exciting journey. Bear is a compelling character. He is an honest man who had never been with a man. Bear takes Pride in without a second thought. Pride seems to have the worst luck and yet he doesn’t allow that to get him down. The love between the two men begins as friendship and acceptance and evolves into passion. In Bear Country is a book I will read again and again!

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