Grim by Layla Fae [Review]

Grim (Monster Ever After #2) by Layla Fae
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: October 24, 2025

Monster Ever After
1. Jack
2. Grim - Paperback | Kindle
3. Satan
4. Orc
5. Crow
6. Full Sack
7. Mr. Jingle
8. Bunny
9. Thick Beef
10. Jack 2

Layla Fae
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

When I’m hanging over a cliff and getting ready for death, the only way out is to promise the Grim Reaper anything he wants.
Because what’s a girl to do when her arms are going numb and she doesn’t want to become a pancake? Also, he is kind of gorgeous. I mean, apart from the terrifying skull he has instead of a head, his eye sockets filled with fire, his horns, and his prehensile tail.

When I fall to my death and Grim catches me to whisk me off to his lair, I am ready to look past the skull and the horns. But then, it turns out I’m not really saved. The only way for me to stay alive is to drink his essence. The essence that shoots out of the sinfully monstrous thing between his legs. Yup. That essence.

It tastes nothing like what I’ve expected.

Thoughts on Grim: Faced with an ignoble end, Beth does what anybody who's about to expire thanks to falling off a cliff while trying to help an abandoned goat would do. She tells her Grim Reaper she'll do anything to survive. He, quite naturally, sees this as a binding agreement and now Beth has to complete her side of the bargain since her Grim DID save her.

Well, he didn't actually save her. But she also isn't quite dead. And if she wants to keep being not dead, she needs to get a little physical with the dude who facilitated this. Which isn't as much as a hardship as one might think. Because her Grim? IS HOT.

He's also hot for Beth. In fact, binding the two of them together is kind of one of those things he's very happy to do.

A not so great trek up a mountain, a whirlwind seduction, a tasty surprise, a Grim who knows what he wants, and a lady who is willing to grab onto the best thing to happen to her with both hands. *thumbs up*

Hunted and Knotted by the Wolf by Imani Jay and Siena Stone [Review]

Hunted and Knotted by the Wolf (Knotty Fairytales #1) by Imani Jay and Siena Stone
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: November 11, 2025

Knotty Fairytales
1. Hunted and Knotted by the Wolf - Paperback | Kindle
2. Knotting Cinderella
3. Knotted by the Beast
4. Hunted & Knotted by the Minotaur King

Imani Jay
| Amazon |

Siena Stone
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Red’s plan is to drop off treats at her grandmother’s cabin, and maybe catch a glimpse of the Wolf everyone’s warned her about. But she’s about to discover that some legends are dangerously real—and impossibly tempting.

The Wolf doesn’t just want to catch her…he wants to claim her.

One sniff of her scent, and this alpha’s primal instincts roar to life. This curvy girl is his fated mate, his omega, and he’s ready to chase her down, knot her tight, and show her exactly what it means to be caught by the big bad wolf.

Thoughts on Hunted and Knotted by the Wolf: I enjoyed this book overall, but I did think there was a lot of repetition in how often both Red and Wolf thought of how she'd been claimed and was his now. Like, I absolutely get that this is supposed to be primal and a deep, driving urge and maybe both of them were lost in the moment and what was happening, but there was a lot of how he had claimed her and marked her and was now his.

Did it detract from my overall enjoyment of the book? The repetition took me out of it a little because I kept focusing on how he'd thought this exact same thing two paragraphs before (or the chapter before or the page before, you get the point), but I'm really here for Red getting caught by a big, bad wolf and I was definitely given that. So did it detract? Minimally, I'd say although I did notice it. (and I also get that there are only so many variations on how someone can claim the other is theirs, so take this entire review with a grain of salt.)

Enjoyable and I'll likely see how Cinderella fares so *thumbs up*

Healed by My Hyde by Honey Phillips [Review]

Healed by My Hyde (Fairhaven Falls #8) by Honey Phillips
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: November 16, 2025

Fairhaven Falls
1. Trouble for My Troll
2. Fireworks for My Dragon Boss
3. Mistletoe for My Minotaur
4. Valentine for My Vampire
5. Gift for My Ghost
6. Wedding for My Werewolf
7. Kiss for My Kraken
8. Healed by My Hyde - Paperback | Kindle
8.5. The Botanist and the Beast
9. Brownies for My Grumpy Bunny
10. Guarded by My Gargoyle

Related books:
(Part of the Sweet Monster Treats series)
Cupcakes for My Orc Enemy
The Single Mom and the Orc
Protected by the Orc
Bidding on the Orc Outcast

Honey Phillips
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

He’s the one man in town she’s been warned about. So why does he feel like the only safe place to be?

Pregnant and seeking a quiet place to start over, Chloe arrives in Fairhaven Falls hoping for a peaceful sanctuary. What she finds is Dr. Victor Jackson—a male as handsome as he is rigidly controlled. The town whispers about the darkness he keeps locked away, but Chloe sees past his forbidding exterior to the lonely male beneath.

Victor has spent his life caging the beast within him. Every emotion is suppressed, every minute scheduled. But the gentle female with the sad eyes and warm heart is a temptation he can’t resist. Her touch threatens to awaken the possessive, primal instincts he has fought for so long.

One passionate, reckless night shatters his carefully built defenses, leaving Victor convinced he has to push Chloe away to keep her safe. But when a historic blizzard traps them together in her isolated cabin, the storm outside is nothing compared to the one raging within him. And when disaster strikes, the only thing that can save Chloe is the very beast she’s been told to fear—and his monster has already decided she belongs to him.

Thoughts on Healed by My Hyde: We're back in Fairhaven Falls and Dr. Victor Jackson is up. His special someone? Pregnant, independent (although maybe not entirely by choice) Chloe who's new to town, but who finds her groove pretty quickly. Partly thanks to Flora who sets her up with a job that suits her organizational skills perfectly.

Said job also gives her insight into Victor. By which I mean she's cataloging and organizing the town archives and she stumbles over (not literally) a journal written by one of his ancestors that helps Chloe understand the immense pressure Victor puts on himself to keep his monstrous side contained. TO BE CLEAR, Victor's Hyde isn't a monster. I mean, sure, he's a little feral and he'll do what needs to be done to protect those who need protecting, but he's not out of control like Victor fears.

Chloe see that immediately. It takes time and patience AND a wicked blizzard before she gets it through Victor's head that she's not afraid of his Hyde because she knows neither side of him would ever hurt her. Let's just say that the good doc has to learn to trust himself before things can really start moving forward with these two.

Some familiar faces, Flora doing some matchmaking (as she does), a big blizzard, a doctor who keeps himself rigidly regimented, and a lady who is willing to risk everything to give her baby the best life possible. *thumbs up*

Hot Monster Summer by J. Ever [Review]

Hot Monster Summer by J. Ever
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: November 12, 2025

Purchase Links: Paperback | Kindle

J. Ever
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

I planned for s’mores, sunburns, and a peaceful summer by the lake.

A little solo soul-searching. A few regretful texts to my ex. Maybe a hot summer rebound. Not, uh… monster custody battles over who gets to eat me first.

(Literally. Probably. Hopefully.)

Turns out the “quaint cabin” I rented? Yeah, it’s smack in the middle of monster territory claimed by:

• A Kraken shifter who collects vintage romance novels and thinks personal space is optional.
• A forest troll with arms like oak trees and the world’s most dangerous smile.
• A jealous Dire wolf shifter who claims I’m his mate.

I wanted time to wallow.

Instead, I got monsters fighting over who gets to roast marshmallows—and me—first.

Now my “healing girl summer” looks more like: one massive monster pile-on, three possessive idiots who don’t know how to share, and about a thousand ways this could end in very questionable decisions.

Surviving the summer might require a lot of sunscreen, a lot of bad choices… and maybe letting myself get a little bit ruined.

Welcome to my Hot Monster Summer.

Where the men are feral, the cuddles are aggressive, and the s’mores are definitely very sticky.

Thoughts on Hot Monster Summer: Lily's rented an isolated, lakeside cabin in an attempt to get over her ex-fiancé cheating on her with her sister. Which is already terrible and it's made even worse when the two cheaters expect her to be happy for them. Umm, no? But thanks for playing. So. To give herself some space to deal with her heartbreak (on two fronts), Lily is looking to be alone so she can grieve and move on.

Guuuuyyyys. Lily's not exactly alone at the cabin. There's a hunky kraken in the lake, a patient troll in the forest, and a possessive wolf patrolling his territory. And they ALL like how Lily makes them feel. The thing is, she's not even doing anything to entice them. She's just being herself, dealing with her heartbreak (which she gets over fairly quickly thanks to her monsters), and trying to remember how to be happy (which also happens faster than she expected thanks to [you guessed it] her monsters).

Each of her suitors helps her see the world around her in different ways. Each makes her feel special and adored. She honestly doesn't know how she could ever choose between them and GUESS WHAT? They might be okay if she doesn't choose, at all. And Lily? IS REALLY OKAY WITH THAT.

An isolated locale, a kraken with adventurous tentacles, a forest troll with deep magic, a wolf with a bit of a possessive bent, and a lady who likes all of them just the way they are. *thumbs up*

Alien Orc for Christmas by Ursa Dax [Review]

Alien Orc for Christmas (Holiday Romances of Elora Station #2) by Ursa Dax
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: November 10, 2025

Holiday Romances of Elora Station
1. Chimera for Christmas
2. Alien Orc for Christmas - Paperback | Kindle

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides
1. Married to the Alien Cowboy

Ursa Dax
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The huge alien orc who runs the pub on Elora Station knows what he wants for Christmas: me.

MAGGIE
Seeing my friend Sophie find happiness on the bustling Elora Station is just the kick in the pants I need to follow my dreams. I’m finally going to open my own bakery. When a coveted rental space opens up on the festive commerce station, I jump at the chance.

I have my work cut out for me getting the bakery ready in time for Elora Station’s busiest season: Christmas. I don’t mind – I’m used to hard work.

What I’m not used to?

Having a flirtatious, grinning orc all up in my business. Literally. The absurdly-named Archibald runs the pub next to my bakery, and he spends more time in my shop than his own.

Sure, he’s attractive in a giant, muscly, boisterous sort of way. He’s also funny and kind and shockingly generous. But I need to focus. A girl’s gotta have priorities.

And those priorities absolutely do not include falling head over heels in love with an alien orc at Christmas.

Thoughts on Alien Orc for Christmas: We're back on Elora Station where a sweet, determined human woman is working on setting up her new bakery. As luck would have it, her location is right next to a pub and the charming orc who owns said pub is instantly smitten.

Archie is bold, adorably confident, and seems to be allergic to shirts. He also might be a wee bit competitive. Which means he's constantly around (to show Maggie he's good at helping out) and Maggie's shop is getting a much-needed overhaul in record time (admittedly, this is along with Sophie's alien husband, X, who rarely sleeps and likes keeping busy - having another male in Maggie's vicinity could also be a driving force behind Archie's competitiveness. You know, since he wants to be able to show Maggie he's the best choice for her.)

Let's just say that Archie makes himself useful and helps Maggie when she needs it most. Seeing as how Maggie was already attracted to the big orc, his generosity just kinda sealed the deal for her.

I must say I'm enjoying these humans and their aliens with their holiday romances on Elora. *thumbs up*

RtP's Week in Review (03/15/26)

Reading the Paranormal's Week in Review

• Saving Mr. Norcross by Anna Hackett [Review] - Mr. And Mrs. Norcross are at it again!
• The Goblin in the Sink Drain by Hailey Edwards [Review] - Dragon love!
• Chimera for Christmas by Ursa Dax [Review] - Holiday alien romance!
• Scales and Sensibility by Stephanie Burgis [Review] - Regency romance with DRAGONS!
• All I Wanted was to Read Books but I Became a Space Pirate Instead by Petra Palerno [Review] - BUBBLE BABES!
• Jack by Layla Fae [Review] - MONSTER romance!

Bookish Delights

• Books added to the pile
• None?!?
• Currently reading
• The Queen's Shadow by Adrian Blue

Jack by Layla Fae [Review]

Jack (Monster Ever After #1) by Layla Fae
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: October 23, 2025

Monster Ever After
1. Jack - Paperback | Kindle
2. Grim
3. Satan
4. Orc
5. Crow
6. Full Sack
7. Mr. Jingle
8. Bunny
9. Thick Beef
10. Jack 2

Layla Fae
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Jack is a monster full of tricks… with one very special treat in his pants.
Suzy is feeling lonely on Halloween. She performs a love spell, hoping to summon a nice, perfectly safe Mr. Hunky to keep her entertained… but she fails. The creature that answers her summons is neither nice nor safe, but oh boy, is he hunky!

Jack-o’-lantern is a devious ancient monster who once tricked the devil himself into granting him immortality. Now, Jack is here, a grinning pumpkin in the place of his head and a thing out of this world in his very bulging pants. The monster will have Suzy in every way he pleases, filling her close to bursting with his fertile seed… and nothing can hold him back.

Thoughts on Jack: No lie, this was EXACTLY the sort of monster-y unhinged sexiness I was looking for. It had a little holiday cheer (of the spooky kind) mixed in with a little magic. One pumpkin-headed hunk later and Suzy is is very much in her happy place. To be fair, Jack's in his happy place too. So it's a win from every angle.

BUT FIRST! Suzy is more than a little lonely and her spell to liven her love life up a bit brings her a hunk with a grinning pumpkin head and a whole lot of stamina. Which works for Suzy more than she imagined it would. Sure, Jack wasn't the man she'd envisioned, but he's muscle-y and sexy and the pumpkin head isn't nearly as off-putting as one might think.

On Jack's end, he's ready and willing to make Suzy his. It isn't long before the two are tangling up and making things happen. The only downside? Suzy's spell is only for one night. So if they want to take a stab at a future together, Suzy's going to have to be willing to throw caution to the wind and trust him to take care of her.

Some sexy spice (in more than one way), a witch who gets exactly what she desires, and a monster who thoroughly enjoys sowing his seeds. *thumbs up*