Librarian Bear by Zoe Chant

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sarah is looking for love under the covers…of a good book!

As a small-town librarian, Sarah has her hands full with projects that range from running an in-library day care to planning her best friend’s wedding. Romance is a complication she doesn’t need…until he walks in.

Archivist Matthew is a big-city bear shifter looking forward to a quiet, short-term project in Virtue before heading to his dream job in New York. He didn’t count on Virtue’s vibrant, sexy librarian stealing his heart with a single glance….

Matthew never meant to stay; Sarah never meant to fall. But as they investigate a mystery from Virtue’s past together, neither wants to turn the page on a blossoming summer romance that just might last a lifetime.

A Nomadic Bear Meets His Match in Virtue

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 😋🙂🤨
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration

Audiobook Review: Librarian Bear (Virtue Shifters)

Author: Zoe Chant
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Narrators: Madeleine Dauer and Erik Bloomquist

Characters & Background Information

Sarah has spent most of her life in the small town of Virtue, where the local library has always been her sanctuary. A childhood reading prodigy, she devoured nearly every book on the shelves before leaving for college and earning her master’s degree in library science. Now back home as the head librarian, Sarah juggles an overflowing schedule—running the library, operating a daycare within it, and volunteering for countless town events. Romance has never quite worked out for her, but she fills her days with purpose and community.

Matt, a bear shifter and traveling library archivist, lives a very different life. With no permanent home, he moves from town to town, restoring and cataloging historical collections and establishing preservation policies. His nomadic lifestyle leaves little room for relationships. But everything shifts when he arrives in Virtue and instantly recognizes Sarah as his fated mate—something he never expected and isn’t sure how to handle.

As Matt and Sarah work side by side, they uncover strange gaps and shadows in Virtue’s early history. Their shared curiosity draws them deeper into the mystery, and into each other’s lives.

Highlights

• I appreciated that Matt didn’t drag out his secret—he reveals his shifter nature fairly early, even if he waits longer to admit the fated-mate bond.
• The inclusion of a town mystery gave the story an engaging extra layer and allowed the characters to connect through shared purpose.

Limitations

• The pacing dragged at times. While the characters continued to move forward, the plot itself felt slow, and the mystery surrounding Virtue’s origins wasn’t as compelling or eventful as I hoped.

Narration

Told in dual POV with dual narration, this audiobook features Madeleine Dauer and Erik Bloomquist—both new to me and both well-suited to their roles. Bloomquist’s deep, raspy tone fits a gruff bear shifter perfectly, while Dauer’s intelligent, warm delivery complements Sarah’s character and profession.

Final Assessment

Overall, this was a gentle, small‑town shifter romance with likable leads and a cozy mystery element that added charm, even if the plot didn’t always maintain momentum. The romance is sweet, the world is comforting, and the narration elevates the experience. While I wished for a bit more excitement and depth in the mystery, the story still delivers a pleasant, easy listen—especially for readers who enjoy low‑angst paranormal romance with a wholesome vibe.

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