The Artsy Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf by Lola Glass [Review]

The Artsy Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf (Mate Hunted #2) by Lola Glass
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: February 5, 2026

Mate Hunted
1. The Bookish Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf
2. The Artsy Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf - Kindle
3. The Independent Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf
4. The Friendly Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf
5. The Logical Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf
6. The Hungry Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf

Lola Glass
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

My friend was abducted by a werewolf, so I went looking for her—and ended up mated to one too.

Should I have seen this coming?

Probably.

Because this isn't the first time I've been trapped in a mate bond with some guy I don't know.

My last mate was an abusive a-hole, and I have no desire to repeat that nightmare.

But this guy is different.

He's shy.

Sweet, too.

I find myself having fun teasing him. And talking to him. And just hanging out with him.

Fate made him my second chance, and honestly?

I think it might actually be right this time.

Thoughts on The Artsy Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf: After rejecting her last (abusive) mate, Stella is a werewolf in hiding. Or at least she's laying low. When Abby shacked up with a werewolf from the feral pack, Stella feared the worst. That she being held against her will and the wolf holding her was just as bad as the wolf Stella ran from.

So she heads out to Moon Ridge to rescue her friend. And...her wolf decides the sexy guy with fuzzy pajama pants was EXACTLY the type she wanted for a mate. So she goes all furry and now she's stuck in wolf form with a sweet guy she doesn't know and a friend who is VERY pleased with her werewolf honey (and absolutely didn't need any rescuing).

On Graham's end, he's been rejected once and barely survived it. He doesn't know that he can go through that again if Stella decides to walk away. The good news? Stella's wolf has already chosen him, so he's NOT going to get rejected again. They just have to wait out the hunt until her wolf decides he's trustworthy enough for her bite.

A long hunt that ends up giving these two a chance to get to know one another (even though one of them is in their furry form), a guy who is wildly considerate and caring, and a lady who might initially be a little gun shy about mating, but her wolf knows what she wants. *thumbs up*

Valentine's Slay by Navessa Allen [Review]

Valentine's Slay (The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances #6) by Navessa Allen
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: February 5, 2026

The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances
1. Accidentally Yours
2. Time Will Tell
3. Second Act Romance
4. A Play for Love
5. Death to Valentine's Day
6. Valentine's Slay - Kindle

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
The Improbable Meet-Cute
1. The Exception to the Rule

Navessa Allen
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Louisiana gravedigger Noah Evans’s Valentine’s night shift takes an unexpected turn when his high school crush starts screaming from her freshly dug grave. Whoever tried to bury Emma six feet under is in for a nasty surprise—they should have checked for a pulse because she’s got unfinished business, starting with the hot gravedigger who just saved her life. As they unearth a deadly family conspiracy, Noah and Emma discover that old flames burn even hotter the second time around—especially when someone’s trying to kill them.

Thoughts on Valentine's Slay: Talk about second chances. Not only do Noah and Emma get a chance to explore a relationship with one another, Emma gets a literal second chance at life after being buried alive by her horrible husband. No lie, Emma DEFINITELY traded up when she and Noah became a thing.

But before they reached the thing portion of their relationship, Noah had to dig Emma out of her grave. Which was kind of traumatizing on a whole lot of levels for Emma. When the only person she can trust is the guy who literally dug her up, Emma held onto Noah pretty tightly. And if she maybe got an eyeful of his hot bod when he was showering, all the better to celebrate life, I guess.

On top of these two getting to know one another in a physical sense, they also have to figure out how to make Emma's terrible husband pay for what he did to her. Which involves a little B&E, as you might imagine.

Being buried on V-Day doesn't sound like a promising start to a romance, but Noah and Emma MAKE IT WORK. So nicely. *thumbs up*

Death to Valentine's Day by Catherine Cowles [Review]

Death to Valentine's Day (The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances #5) by Catherine Cowles
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: February 4, 2026

The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances
1. Accidentally Yours
2. Time Will Tell
3. Second Act Romance
4. A Play for Love
5. Death to Valentine's Day - Kindle
6. Valentine's Slay

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
The Improbable Meet-Cute
1. The Exception to the Rule

Catherine Cowles
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

After her boyfriend’s betrayal, the last thing Maia St. James wants is to celebrate Valentine’s Day. And when her friends force her out for a Death to Valentine’s Day masquerade ball at a mountain lodge, the last thing she expects is to kiss a masked stranger, especially when he ends up being her ex’s older brother. But that’s the least of her problems. When a guest is found murdered, the party becomes a mystery. And Maia must unmask a killer before her second chance at romance is cut short.

Thoughts on Death to Valentine's Day: An anti-V-Day party (sorry, masquerade ball) sounds like just the thing for Maia. She's not a big fan of the holiday thanks to her ex and his wandering eye. Or, I guess his wandering parts. Looking isn't terrible, but actually banging it out with her cousin? No thank you. Anywho. Maia isn't a fan of this couples holiday and she only goes because her friends drag her along.

What she doesn't expect? To see her ex (yuck), panic a little and grab a hunky guy to lock lips with without actually checking who she was grabbing. Turns out the guy whose kiss rocked her world is none other than her ex's brother. Who is hot. And into Maia. In fact, Decker was into Maia before his brother was into Maia. In fact, Decker's attraction to her might have been what caused Jackson to start dating Maia in the first place. (Look, Jackson is a self-absorbed idiot who wants what everyone else has, including the girl his brother has a thing for. Total douchenozzle behavior on every level.)

A little sibling rivalry (mostly on Jackson's end), a kiss that showed Maia what she'd been missing, a murdered guest, a sleazy host, NOT ENOUGH ROOMS SO OH NO MAIA WILL NEED TO SHARE WITH DECKER!, a man who only wants Maia happy, and a lady who has to decide if she'd rather run from this thing between her and Deck or grab onto it with both hands. *thumbs up*

Guarded by the Reaper by Cara Wylde [Review]

Guarded by the Reaper (Monster Security Agency #8) by Cara Wylde
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: February 8, 2026

Monster Security Agency
1. Guarded by the Golem
2. Guarded by the Snake
3. Guarded by the Spider
4. Guarded by the Kraken
5. Guarded by the Leshy
6. Guarded by the Vodnik
7. Guarded by the Nightmare
8. Guarded by the Reaper - Paperback | Kindle
9. Guarded by the Phantom
10. Guarded by the Krampus
11. Guarded by the Yeti
12. Guarded by the AI
13. Guarded by the Symbiote
14. Guarded by the Steel Seraph
15. Guarded by the Clanker

Cara Wylde
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

There’s only death for her, and eternity for me.

My client, Millie, made the wrong deal - her soul for her sister's life. Now she must pay up, and she's ready, but she needs fourteen days to take care of one last thing. The creature who's waiting to dine on her soul won’t give her an extension, so Millie hires me to guard and protect her for the little time she has left on this earth. Who better to delay her death if not the Grim Reaper himself?

I’m a bag of bones, flesh held together by a magic cloak. For decades, I’ve wandered, aimless, lost, disenchanted with the world… But as I spend time with this mortal woman, forced close by my duty to her, Millie gradually reminds me who I am and what my purpose is.

Now that I found her, I can’t lose her. For her, I will break the rules of the universe, fight the soul eater that wants to devour her, and deceive death itself.

Thoughts on Guarded by the Reaper: Millie is in a difficult situation and while it is (mostly) of her own doing, she had very good reasons for making the bargain she made. She's not even trying to get out of the bargain, she just wants enough time to settle one tiny little affair before she hands herself over to the creature who's going to eat her soul.

The entity she made the bargain with isn't really known for giving extensions, though, so Millie has to hire Grim to keep her safe until she's done what needs to be done. Grim doesn't want the job, pretty much turns it down at first, but somehow ends up doing exactly what Millie needs him to do after meeting her. Which is to say, he's attempting to protect her from some very bad creatures who want nothing more than to drag her back to their mistress.

The thing that springs up between Millie and Grim is unexpected for both of them. Grim can't imagine how someone as beautiful and kind as Millie could want someone who's the walking undead, Millie likes Grim (more than likes, really), but knows her time is limited. So she pushes all her doubts aside and decides to explore these feelings she has for the reaper before her time is up.

Secrets, bargains, prophecies, a reaper who needs a purpose, and a lady who is willing to risk it all for the people she loves. Oh, and a cat. A sweet, maybe a little naughty cat who happens to be in the right place at the right time to put things in motion. *thumbs up*

No Matter the Cost by Anna Hackett [Review]

No Matter the Cost (Unsanctioned #2) by Anna Hackett
Format: paperback
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: February 3, 2026

Unsanctioned
1. Burn the World Down
2. No Matter the Cost - Paperback | Special Edition | Kindle

Related Series:
(Find all the reviews for the series under the 1st review)
Team 52
1. Mission: Her Protection

Anna Hackett
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

I’ll make her mine, if she doesn’t kill me first.

Bastian

I came from nothing and became known as the Reaper. The most feared CIA assassin in the business. Then I retired, faked my death, and now spend my time running my casino.

But there’s one part of my past I can’t let go—the tiny female assassin who’s vowed to kill me.

We were mentored by the same man, a man we both considered a father, but there’s nothing brotherly about what I feel for Lark.

Now, we’re enemies and she won’t rest until I’m dead.

I won’t rest until she’s mine.

Lark

I have one mission—kill Bastian Thorne.

I lost everything when my parents were murdered. Until a grizzled CIA agent took me in and molded me into a deadly assassin.

Then Bastian executed him.

My plan: infiltrate Bastian’s luxurious life and take him down. But he proves hard to kill and forces me to face an ugly, tangled truth.

Secrets from my past collide with my blood-drenched present. I find myself in the sights of a dangerous killer. One with twisted reasons for wanting me dead.

Now, the only man I can trust is my enemy.

But I know getting close to Bastian is the biggest risk of all.

Thoughts on No Matter the Cost: We're back with the second of the ex-assassins and Bastian definitely has his hands full with Lark. Her past is as dark and dangerous as his and she's determined to kill him for killing her mentor. Look, theirs is a complicated relationship with lots of fighting and knives.

To say that Bastian has his hands full with Lark might be an understatement. She keeps trying to kill him and he needs to explain why he did what he did. But explaining will hurt Lark and he doesn't really want to do that. So they're caught in this push and pull against one another, but Bastian knows he has to step up and give Lark the explanations she deserves.

As Lark grapples with the bombshell Bastian dropped on her, she also has this inconvenient (at least in her eyes) attraction to the sexy ex-assassin. Plus, there's this serial killer who just might be targeting her for reasons that tie back in to why she had been gunning for Bastian in the first place.

Yeah, these two are complicated.

The fight. They have sexy times. Lark has a tough time realizing she can rely on anyone. Bastian is a little bossy. These two plus Bastian's crew of deadly friends work to make sure no one else will die at the hands of the person targeting Lark. I must say I like these deadly men and the women who fall for them. PLUS! We got to see a familiar face or two (Team 52!) and I always enjoy that!

RtP's Week in Review (06/07/26)

Reading the Paranormal's Week in Review

• Beast Business by Ilona Andrews [Review] - Augustine! Diana!
• The Mermaid in the Shot Glass by Hailey Edwards [Review] - Shapeshifting love!
• Guarded by the Nightmare by Cassie Alexander [Review] - Monster love!
• Second Act Romance by Julie Soto [Review] - A second chance at loooooove!
• A Play for Love by Trilina Pucci [Review] - Another second chance!!
• Saved by my Demon by X. Callisto [Review] - Demon love!

Bookish Delights

• Books added to the pile
• Lover Forbidden (Black Dagger Brotherhood #23) by J.R. Ward
• Currently reading
• Wild Fire by Ilona Andrews

Saved by My Demon by X. Callisto [Review]

Saved by My Demon (Demon Fated Mates #2) by X. Callisto
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: February 4, 2026

Demon Fated Mates
1. Possessed by My Demon
2. Saved by My Demon - Kindle
3. Deal with My Demon
4. Sacrificed to My Demon
5. Bound to My Demon
6. Summoning My Demon
7. Falling for My Demon
8. Snowed In with My Demon

X. Callisto
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

I inherited my grandmother's house and her enemies. Demon hunters want me dead, convinced I've gone dark. Problem is, I can't control the magic I inherited, and "I'm just untrained, not evil" isn't much of a defense when they're holding blessed blades.

Desperate, I used Grandma's rosary to summon a guardian angel for protection. What I got was Kayne—fallen, dangerous, and pissed about being bound to protect me despite his banishment from Heaven.

He fell for lusting after mortals. One touch and I understand why. His touch is divine ecstasy, and when his black wings wrap around me, I feel both corrupted and saved.

The hunters want me dead. Heaven cast him out. But together? We're unstoppable.

"You summoned a fallen angel, little witch. Let me show you why I fell."

I asked for divine protection. I got a fallen angel with black wings and a glowing... y'know. Sometimes prayers are answered better than expected.

Thoughts on Saved by My Demon: When you're being hunted for something outside your control, you're a lot desperate, and you attempt to summon a guardian angel and get a fallen angel instead, I guess you just have to throw caution to the wind, say Screw it and accept that you got the better end of the deal. Especially if the summoned sexiness ends up being your fated mate.

So. Rebecca is dealing with a slight case of being hunted. She's at her wit's end, doesn't expect to live much longer with the way the hunters are escalating, and ends up with a fallen angel as a guardian. A fallen angel who REALLY likes human ladies. Seeing as he's all the physical things Rebecca could want in a male, she's game to get frisky with him.

So they frisk. And then they frisk some more. There is so much frisking and glowing and knotting that they're actually caught in the act when the hunters arrive. Which is maybe great timing on the hunters' part. I don't know. That said, Rebecca and Kayne aren't thrilled with being interrupted.

Enjoyable overall and pretty much what I was looking for when I picked it up.