Falling for a Villainous Vampire by Charlotte Stein [Review]

Falling for a Villainous Vampire (The Sanctuary for Supernatural Creatures #3) by Charlotte Stein
Format: ebook
Source: provided through NetGalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: September 11, 2026

The Sanctuary for Supernatural Creatures
1. How to Help a Hungry Werewolf
2. Dealing with a Desperate Demon
3. Falling for a Villainous Vampire - Paperback | Kindle

Charlotte Stein
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Marley Maples is sure she's finally evaded her vampire mortal enemy. Halsten has stalked her across oceans of time, and many, many lives. But now she's arrived at the age of thirty in Hollow Brook, with no sign of him. So she’s devastated when he suddenly shows and yet again tries to make her life hell. Until her two witchy best friends suggest a spell to make him forget all about her.

There’s just one issue: he forgets his whole existence with it. All Halsten now remembers is being a big, hot, vampire Viking. And all he sees when he looks at Marley is his beloved little witch, his saviour, the light of his life. He goes from being a horror that haunts her nightmares, to a man who loves her and will protect her at all costs. And as much as she’s skeptical, she can’t help finding his fish-out-of-water, warrior ways and his desire to defend her endearing.

Maybe even a little sexy. In fact, it’s starting feel very sexy indeed.

And if she’s not careful, she’s going to lose herself to a man she swore to hate. A man who might return to her eternal enemy, at any moment…

Thoughts on Falling for a Villainous Vampire: Look. I don't know what is it about the supernatural men who end up in Hollow Brook, but they are so delightfully soft. In a good way. They're just sweet and kind and full of this joyful awe over finding someone who sees them and wants to spend time with them (among other things) and I AM HERE FOR IT.

That said, Halsten doesn't appear to be either sweet or soft or joyfully awed when we first meet him. Look, it's complicated, okay? Marley sees him a certain way and her memories of their past encounters are just muddled enough that she fully believes he's a vampire who has his hate on for her. She doesn't know why. She doesn't know how to stop him. She's just stuck in this never-ending cycle of having him show up and her life implodes.

Then she and her friends cast a spell to make him forget her (so they can both get on with their lives) and suddenly she has this joyful, incredibly sweet vampire giving her heart eyes. And she REALLY doesn't know what to do about that. Her body is kind of onboard doing things, but he's her ENEMY, right? And she shouldn't be feeling all these soft emotions for her ENEMY. But he's also beautiful and kind and she likes pretty much everything about him.

A whole lot of baggage (because past lives give you that when you remember them), a very unfriendly man, more than a few close calls, witchy friends who are DELIGHTED to have Marley finally admit she's one of them, a vampire with the soul of a poet, and a witch who finally gets a chance to see what's been chasing her across time. OH MY HEART.

Creep by L. Taylor [Review]

Creep by L. Taylor
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: October 24, 2025

Purchase Links: Paperback | Kindle

L. Taylor
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

I thought I put the past behind me. The bullies of high school, the awkward shyness that kept me close to home up until graduation. Things have been great for my junior year of college, especially now that my step-brother doesn't live at home.

Chase. The antagonist of my life since our parents had gotten married eight years ago. My step-brother has gone out of his way to make sure I never felt welcome after me and my mom had moved into his house. Always watching me with those cold, expressionless eyes of his.

I'd expected the same when he arrived today for his annual visit home from med school for Halloween, but no.

Instead he gives me an ultimatum. One night in the woods---me, him, and his best friend.

Say no, and we go back to how things have always been between us. Tense, unbearably so.

Or...say yes. Agree to one night in their hands, and let them ruin me for good.

Thoughts on Creep: Leigh has a bit of a complicated relationship with her step-brother. He's intense and unnerving, he puts her on edge just by being near and she's sure he doesn't like her. This, as it turns out is the opposite of true. In fact, Chase might be a little obsessed with his sweet step-sis.

Now he, his best friend, and Leigh are home alone during a fall break and Chase is trying his hardest to keep his obsession under control. Then he and Danny read Leigh's naughty stories and suddenly all bets are off. He's willing to give her all the things she fantasizes about and let his obsession break free.

Chase and Danny are intense and a little unhinged, but they make sure they give Leigh everything she needs. Which means a chase or two, a whole lot of pleasure, and two men who are all in with both her and each other.

I must admit I wasn't expecting to like this scenario as much as I did, but way to go Leigh. You found two someones willing to go to some extreme lengths to give you what you crave. *thumbs up*

Monster in the Mist by Honey Phillips [Review]

Monster in the Mist (Alien Abduction Standalone) by Honey Phillips
Format: ebook
Source: free through author's newsletter
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: November 1, 2025

Alien Abduction Standalone
1. Monster in the Mist - Kindle

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Alien Abduction
1. Anna and the Alien

Honey Phillips
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis:

Kim can’t catch a break. First she’s abducted by aliens, then her desperate attempt to escape ends when she crash lands on a mysterious alien planet.

Every night the mists come, and every night they become more frightening. The most terrifying part is her response to the seductive voice that calls to her from within the mist.

Exiled to the jungle many years ago, Tiva feels his mind slipping away. But then a strange, beautiful female appears - her presence a beacon in the darkness - and their connection calls him back.

Kim doesn’t think she needs help. Tiva doesn’t think he needs rescuing. They’re both wrong!

A sweet and spicy standalone romance set in the Alien Abduction universe!

Thoughts on Monster in the Mist: As one of the (multitudes of) abducted Earth women, Kim is in a tough spot. Maybe not quite as tough as she would have been if she hadn't fought her new owner (and won when he bashed his head on a console), but she's in a broken ship on a dangerous planet and she has only herself to rely on.

Except, that might not be exactly correct. There's another being on this planet, so she's not entirely alone. Tiva is kind of a mess, though. He's trapped in his own prison and he's not sure the female he dreams about is real or a product of his fracturing mind. Unfortunately, the distance between them and the dangerous mist that creeps in every night means they can only meet in their dreams. To be fair, they had to both accept that the other WAS real before they could explore this connection, but eventually they started getting to know one another during their late night talks. And those talks turned into something more, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE!

That something more makes Tiva think he's put Kim's life in danger and he pulls away. Now Kim is faced with staying safe in a shuttle that she can't repair and will (probably) eventually die on her or trying to reach the male who makes her feel all sorts of things. Guess what? She chooses Tiva and his prison over being alone and YESSSS!

I enjoyed all the installments in the AA series and am thrilled to have a sweet (and spicy) snippet of another human woman finding her special someone as she works to survive. *thumbs up*

RtP's Week in Review (10/25/26)

Reading the Paranormal's Week in Review

• Pounded in the Patch by Dana LeeAnn [Review] - Twisty love!
• Stalk by Hedley Hallow [Review] - Chase-y chase masked men!
• Nightbloom by Adrian Blue [Review] - Monstrous love!
• On Your Knees by Jaye Pratt [Review] - Masked men love!
• Savage Stalkers by Jaye Pratt [Review] - More masked men love!
• Run and Hide by A. Rayne [Review] - Chase-y Chase romance!

Bookish Delights

• Books added to the pile
• None!
• Currently reading
• The Retired Assassin's Guide to Amateur Theatrics by Naomi Kuttner

Run and Hide by A. Rayne [Review]

Run and Hide by A. Rayne
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: October 31, 2025

Purchase Links: Paperback | Kindle

A. Rayne
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The last thing I wanted was to walk through a creepy corn maze with my best friend on Halloween night.

But the second we walk through the entrance, we get separated. Leaving me to face my fears alone.

Only to be found by two masked men who have no intention of letting me go.

Thoughts on Run and Hide: Straight up, I didn't dislike this book, but I also didn't understand how Mia went from being terrified of even ENTERING the corn maze to being all in with the two guys who cornered her in it. Especially when one of them got off on terrifying her. To each their own, I guess.

Anywho. Mia is being forced to try out the local corn maze by her best friend. She doesn't want to. She's super not into it. Yet, she's a good enough friend to do it. Which puts her higher on the friend scale than her BFF who basically shamed/bullied her into going even though it was pretty clear Mia isn't into the scare factor. While procrastinating actually going into the maze, Mia bumps into Kian and Cyrus and, well, they might get a little obsessed with her.

You know, to the point of warning off the other scare actors so I they can have her all to themselves.

Like I said, I didn't dislike this book, I just couldn't make the connection between her utter terror at the idea of being scared vs how she was okay with Cy scaring her with a chainsaw during sexy times.

Savage Stalkers by Jaye Pratt [Review]

Savage Stalkers (Masked Men #9) by Jaye Pratt
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: November 1, 2025

Masked Men
1. Don't Get Caught
2. Nowhere to Hide
3. Are You Scared?
4. You're Ours Now
5. Hold Your Breath
6. Run For Us
7. Dirty Cowboys
8. On Your Knees
9. Savage Stalkers - Paperback | Kindle
10. Filthy Puckers
11. Brutal Bodyguards
12. Puck Me Dead

Jaye Pratt
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

I’ve always wanted to be stalked. Turns out, I already am.

Signing that contract was supposed to give me control, masked strangers, the illusion of danger, and a fantasy I could walk away from. Except the men who answered weren’t strangers at all.

They chased me through cemeteries, cornered me in libraries, and left notes on my pillow while I slept.

I thought it was a game I controlled.

Then the masks came off.

They intercepted my contract. Hacked the website and manipulated everything to make me theirs. One of them has been watching me for months before I ever signed anything.

I should run, scream, or at the very least feel violated.

Instead, I feel alive.

Because while the rest of the world wants me polished and perfect, they want me to be theirs just how I am.

And the most terrifying part? I want them too.

Thoughts on Savage Stalkers: Next up in the masked men brouhaha I've been devouring is Skye and her men. Skye who thinks she's getting a safe, (moderately) sanitized chance to live out her fantasies of being chased and stalked. Except...no. I mean, it's safe for the most part because Silas would straight up slip into feral beast mode if anything happened to her, but it's very real and raw and she has no idea the men chasing her aren't part of the request she signed a contract for. (To be fair, she signed a contract WITH the men since they hacked her request, so I guess she's getting exactly what she signed the contract for.)

So. Skye. She feels smothered and trapped in the life her mother is pushing her toward, but she doesn't see a way to break free. Signing up to have her fantasies come to life (even if it's just one time she gets to let go) is her chance to do something for herself that doesn't come with high society expectations. She did NOT expect Silas, Kain, and Zay. Silas is full-on obsessed with her and has to hold himself back from doing things that might cross a line he can't come back from. He's also the one who puts things in motion when he sees her request for a little chasing.

Zay and Kain are Silas's touchstone. They keep him grounded. They keep him from spiraling too hard. They keep his obsession with Skye from getting out of hand. And once they join Silas in giving Skye what she wants, they all start to share in that obsession. Because Skye? She fits with them. Perfectly. TO BE FAIR, it takes Kain a while to admit that. He has to see how her mother treats her before he realizes she's not the spoiled little rich girl he initially thought she was.

A little hacking, a little chasing, a little naughty library time, a trio who didn't know they were looking for a fourth until she slid into their orbit, and a lady who finds her place with the three men who rock her world in the best way. GOOD STUFF!

On Your Knees by Jaye Pratt [Review]

On Your Knees (Masked Men #8) by Jaye Pratt
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: November 1, 2025

Masked Men
1. Don't Get Caught
2. Nowhere to Hide
3. Are You Scared?
4. You're Ours Now
5. Hold Your Breath
6. Run For Us
7. Dirty Cowboys
8. On Your Knees - Paperback | Kindle
9. Savage Stalkers
10. Filthy Puckers
11. Brutal Bodyguards
12. Puck Me Dead

Jaye Pratt
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The View4U competition was supposed to be fun. A way to help someone live out their fantasy, with no strings or feelings. But then I started to want more from him. I crave it. Crave him.

I didn’t expect to fall for the man who offered me a place to stay. Or the broody one who keeps pushing me away even as his eyes plead for me not to go. Then there’s the one who started it all, who makes me feel seen in a way I’ve never been before.

I should leave before they do. Love doesn’t stick in my world. People leave, and I’ve learned it’s safer not to hold on. Yet when I slip on my mask, I’m not the girl with baggage. I’m the one in control. No past, no fear. Just the game, the chase, the power.

So what happens when I don’t want to run anymore? When these men, all so different and dangerous to my heart, make me want to stay?

I thought I was the one doing the chasing. But now I think I’m the one being caught.

Thoughts on On Your Knees: I wasn't sure I'd enjoy the lady being one of the masked this time, but HOO-BOY did it work. Aspen is full of sass and snark and she enjoys pushing buttons. Especially Ridge's buttons. The guy might tell her he isn't interested, but she sees right through him.

But before we get to that, View4U had been mentioned in passing in previous books, but now we get to meet the mind behind it. Zeland. He's generous, loves hard, and maybe gets a little smitten with Aspen the first time she sasses him. How do they meet, you ask? Well! One of Ridge's autonomous vehicles picks her up on accident, she has a panic attack when she realizes she trapped in a driverless car, and she stress-vomits all over the back seat. Which is probably not the best introduction a person could make, but it really didn't faze Zeland.

Speaking of Ridge, he likes things ordered and Aspen ABSOLUTELY tests that. She pushes and pulls and basically does the exact opposite of what he expects. He's into Zeland (he doesn't like putting labels on things, but he's REALLY into Zeland) and Zeland's into Aspen so she's kinda his now by default. He's the cautious one of the trio, making order out of their chaos and he's the one to make sure all the details are in place so they're safe when they get the wild urge to act on their ideas.

One of those ideas being featuring Aspen as a masked woman on View4U. Which brings us to Arlo. Arlo who has befriended Aspen online, but doesn't know who she is. Aspen likes the shy sweetheart and wants to help him break out of his shell. A series of events lead to Arlo being chased (by choice) by an anonymous Aspen and Zeland and this is exactly what they all want, but the anonymity is also a bit of a burden. Because they're both falling for the sweet, shy guy and he doesn't know who they are in real life (did I mention that he now works for Ridge because Ridge in his infinitely cautious way wants to make sure his two partners are safe and the best way to do that is to be able to keep tabs on the guy they're chasing? Yeah, it's complicated).

Anywho. I really ended up liking this one. Ridge is convinced what he has with Zeland is enough. Then Aspen comes into their lives and he reluctantly expands his bubble of people to include her. Then Arlo slides in with them and now the guy is just living his best poly life and it's possible he still has no idea how all this happened. (Blame Aspen. She's a force of nature and even a guy like Ridge gets swept under when she goes for what she wants.)

Bottom line: Really liked this one. BIG *thumbs up*