REVIEW: More Chances to Stay by Ryder O'Malley (Bears of Firefly Valley #5)

- February 15, 2026

MORE CHANCES TO STAY

Bears of Firefly Valley - Book Five

by Ryder O’Malley

Release Date: February 13, 2026

Review

Tattoo-covered bear comes back to his hometown to face his demons - finds love and home. But it wasn’t without some emotional struggle and resentment.

Growing up in Firely wasn’t easy for Charlie, so he left as soon as he could. Now he’s come home to help his mother in the wake of his father's death. To say he’s reluctant to be there is an understatement.

But upon his return, he runs into Nick, one very dejected visitor who says he’s hiding away thanks to being cursed after a series of disastrous life events.

These two find hope in each other, and support one another through their turmoil, and find love at the end.

Lesson: Always be prepared for a bear attack!

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Synopsis

In Firefly Valley, getting lost might be the only way to find home.

I came back to Firefly to help Mum. That was it. Clean up the house, fix what needed fixing, and leave before the town dragged me into their gossip. I had no interest in reconnecting. No need to be part of anything. I left Firefly in the rearview mirror for a good reason. Or so I thought.

I am not the only lost soul trying to make sense of life. Nick is an outsider, and I still do not know what brought him here, but he sees me. Not the baggage. Not the whispers about my past. Just me. I tried to keep him at arm’s length. I failed. And now I am starting to think these quiet moments feel a little less lonely with someone else in them.

I am not looking for a fresh start. I am not trying to fix anything. But something about this man, and yes, even Firefly, keeps pulling me in.

I thought I had put it all behind me. Then Nick showed up. And now I am starting to wonder if after all this time, the real problem with Firefly was me.

More Chances to Stay is a M/M, heartwarming low-angst romance with an HFN and no cliffhangers. It features the hilarity of small towns and plenty of steam, but not always in that order. This is book five in the Bears of Firefly Valley.

About Ryder O’Malley

Superheroes stories are at core of Ryder O’Malley’s origin story. Refusing to read as a child, everything changed with the first stack of comics. He has always been a fan of forbidden romances within the pages of comics. It should be expected that he’d turn around and start writing his own stories filled with sexy, super, man-on-man action. Ryder’s novels draw on his own experiences as a gay man in search of love.

Ryder lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. When he’s not writing, he can be found working on client book covers (which means he’s admiring the abs of muscular men with a little bit of chest hair.)

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