Cocoon by Adrian Blue [Review]

Cocoon (Spring Fever #2) b Adrian Blue
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: October 28, 2025

Spring Fever
1. Midnight Prey
2. Cocoon - Kindle
3. Wildflowers
4. Dark Warren
5. Night Bloom

Adrian Blue
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Deep in the wilderness, entomologist Dr. Avery Reed stumbles across something that was never meant to be found. Now, trapped between scientific fascination and primal fear, she finds herself the focus of a being that sees her as more than just prey. As the line between terror and ecstasy blurs, she surrenders to an inhuman hunger that demands more than just her blood. In the silence of the forest, no one can hear her cries of fear—or pleasure.

Thoughts on Cocoon: A vacation (of sorts) is what Avery had in mind when she set out to spend some time in the wilds, but she got SO MUCH MORE than that. I mean, the lady did something no other scientist can claim to have done and she genuinely enjoyed it.

What brought her to the enjoyment part? Her curiosity and a butterfly. Following it into the wilderness isn't a hardship. Finding the massive cocoon hanging from a tree is maybe a little concerning, but her scientific mind is also excited about it. Then something emerges from the cocoon and now Avery is faced with being part of something much bigger than herself.

That sounds dirty, but really I just meant the creature that emerges needs Avery's help and NOT helping doesn't seem like an option for her. So she agrees and soon she's in the middle of something that rocks her world.

A giant creature with decidedly non-standard parts (to be fair, they're probably standard for it, those parts just aren't something most humans are used to), a sexy flight, and a lady who is willing to go the distance when something needs her to. GOOD TIMES!

Midnight Prey by Adrian Blue [Review]

Midnight Prey (Spring Fever #1) b Adrian Blue
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: October 26, 2025

Spring Fever
1. Midnight Prey - Kindle
2. Cocoon
3. Wildflowers
4. Dark Warren
5. Night Bloom

Adrian Blue
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Working the night shift at an abandoned office building, security guard Renee Carter expects nothing but empty rooms and quiet hallways. But when a violent storm reveals something lurking in the shadows—something with glowing red eyes and an inhuman form—her lonely nights take a dangerous turn. Trapped between terror and an unexpected, forbidden desire, Renee finds herself drawn to the mysterious creature that stalks the empty corridors. As their nocturnal encounters grow more intimate and intense, she must confront her darkest desires and the consequences of surrendering to them. With her rational mind fighting against her body's cravings, Renee faces an impossible choice: flee from the predatory passion that threatens to consume her, or embrace the dark pleasure only a monster can provide.

Thoughts on Midnight Prey: With her partner out sick, Renee is alone in the abandoned building she works security for and HOO-BOY does she end up having a very interesting shift. There's a storm raging outside and something inside the building that wants to get its hands on her.

To be honest, she's a little torn about this. Actually, she's full-on terrified at first. Because the thing in the building is decidedly not human and it's interested in her. Whether it wants to play with her or devour her (in a maybe non-sexy way) is debatable and Renee is a mess when she flees midway through the night.

But a lady has to pay the bills and her partner's still out, so the next night she's back in the building trying to convince herself everything from the night before was all in her imagination. Besides, even if there WAS something there, it's probably gone by now. Right? RIGHT?

Nope. The monster in the building is there and he's still interested in anything and everything Renee.

A weirdly creepy abandoned office building, a monster who pushes boundaries, and a lady who might not mind her boundaries being pushed. *thumbs up*

Taken by the Hellhounds by Adrian Blue [Review]

Taken by the Hellhounds by Adrian Blue
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 3, 2026

Purchase Links: Kindle

Adrian Blue
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Jessi was told not to take the shortcut through the cemetery. Unfortunately, she doesn’t believe the rumors about the monstrous beasts that live there. Until they show up to take their pound of flesh. Now, she is at the mercy of creatures who do not know the meaning of the word.

Thoughts on Taken by the Hellhounds: When Jessi opts to take a shortcut through the old cemetery, she learns exactly why the town (and her parents) warned her to avoid it. Hindsight is 20/20 and all that, though, because Jessi? She's good and caught.

Yeah, those beasts are driven. They know what they want and they don't stop until she's theirs. And then they don't stop even after because they're beasts on a mission. A little stalking, a little chasing, and three beasts who take what they want when their territory is invaded.

Sweet Azalea by Adrian Blue [Review]

Sweet Azalea by Adrian Blue
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 3, 2026

Purchase Links: Kindle

Adrian Blue
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Working the graveyard shift at a roadside diner, Willa Grace has grown numb to her dead-end life. But everything changes the night she discovers something monstrous has been watching her every move. The creature that emerges from the Appalachian darkness is massive, predatory, and utterly inhuman, yet his touch ignites a hunger she never knew existed. Night after night, their encounters grow bolder, more dangerous, as Willa Grace discovers the intoxicating thrill of surrendering to something that could destroy her. In the darkness between fear and craving, she'll discover that some hungers are too powerful to resist.

Thoughts on Sweet Azalea: Stuck in a rut (with a job she doesn't love and a quiet house that's not really a home), Willa Grace is about to have her world upended. It starts when her boss has a heart attack and she steps up to help a little more around the diner. Taking out the trash doesn't seem like a huge deal, but it kinda is. Because there's a creature watching her from the shadows.

Willa Grace is scared (rightly so), but she's also maybe a little intrigued. She doesn't think she should be, but her watcher is big and monstrous and...she keeps coming back. Partly because it's her job and partly because the big guy makes her feel things she doesn't quite understand.

It doesn't take long before Willa Grace is inviting the monster to her house. And then in her house. And, well, THINGS HAPPEN. GOOD TIMES!

Nightmare Acres by Dakota Wilde [Review]

Nightmare Acres (Nightmare Acres #2) by Dakota Wilde
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 2, 2026

Nightmare Acres
1. Hallows Fright
2. Nightmare Acres - Paperback | Kindle

Dakota Wilde
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

You can run, but you can't hide...

What was meant to be a fun girls’ trip away, turns into a deadly vacation where six friends discover the camp they’ve agreed to stay at is full of real-life monsters.

At Nightmare Acres, nothing is as it seems. The creatures that go bump in the night are on the hunt, determined to make you scream.

Thoughts on Nightmare Acres: The soul quota on Nightmare Acres has been lifted, but the monsters there have only slowed down on ending humans. They haven't exactly stopped. To be fair, the ones they're targeting now (or at least the one Maverick and Hendricks are targeting) are the worst of the worst for the most part. So the NA monsters might be doing a public service with their work.

That said, Lydia is not one of the wicked. She's sweet, doesn't quite feel like she fits in with the world around her, but would still sacrifice herself in a heartbeat to protect her friends. Maverick and Hendricks are mitten with her from the first look. And Jack? Well, Jack is feeling things he hasn't felt since he was a human and while he's not sure if he wants to share her with the two vampires, he's willing to try. You know, since the alternative is not being with her at all.

On Lydia's end, she's drawn to the three males who keep showing up around camp. She not thrilled with the whole "scare camp" portion of this vacation, but she liiiiikes Maverick, Hendricks, and Jack more than she expected. And? She's totally willing to give in to temptation with all three time and again.

A little danger (this is more than just a scare camp, you know), a little steam, a few outdoor encounters, two vampires who don't mind sharing, a fiercely protective monster with a pumpkin head, and a lady who thoroughly enjoys her time spent with the three of them. *thumbs up*

Jack's Head by Siggy Shade [Review]

Jack's Head by Siggy Shade
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 4, 2026

Purchase Links: Paperback | Kindle

Siggy Shade
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The headless horseman was hunting for his next victim.
Well, he found one. Me…
Halloween night is not the time to be out alone. I knew that. But I could either stay with my abusive, soon-to-be-ex fiancé or take my chances with the monster who haunts the roads.

I chose the monster.

He could’ve taken my head on the spot. I…distracted him.

Headless Jack was so pleased with my efforts that he made me a sexy proposal. If I stayed with him and satisfied his every dark desire, come morning, I’d leave with my head and his hidden treasure.

I could have said no. Maybe I should have.

I didn’t.

Now, it’s going to be hard, dirty work. But someone has to do it.

Might as well be me, right?

Thoughts on Jack's Head: Bess's fiancé puts her in an awkward terrible situation (her soon-to-be-ex is kind of terrible himself, so that tracks) and Bess takes off to get away from him (and the situation, which was super blech). Her path to escape takes her down the road Jack haunts. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Just kidding. Bess and Jack have some issues they need to work through before they get their happily ever after. The main one being that Jack is a ghost who takes heads on All Hallows Eve. He spares Bess only because she's a quick ducker (as in she ducks quickly) and she finds a way to turn his murderous rage in another direction.

Yup, Bess uses her feminine wiles on the big guy and he's totally game to spare her in return for some late night lovin'. That makes it sound very transactional, but Bess is into it. Very much so. Let's just say that Jack puts her through her paces, is a giver of the highest order, and doesn't leave his partner unsatisfied.

When her ex shows up to put her in her place, Jack protects her the only way he knows how. This also opens the door for something more permanent between them. You know, if Bess is interested. (Spoiler: she's interested.) Steamy, sex-ay, and full of surprises. *thumbs up*

Curses and Cornstalks by R.K. Pierce [Review]

Curses and Cornstalks (Falling for the Monster #1) by R.K. Pierce
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 11, 2026

Falling for the Monster
1. Curses and Cornstalks - Paperback | Kindle

R.K. Pierce
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A century-old curse. A sentient scarecrow. A city girl who’s in way over her head.

Cassie never imagined leaving the big city, but after dumping her cheating ex, she lands in the tiny town of Cold Springs. However, farm-life isn't as peaceful as she thought it would be.

Something is haunting the town and plaguing the locals… And she's determined to find out what it is.

Atticus has been cursed for over a hundred years, bound to a stake he can’t escape. But when a brave, wide-eyed woman stumbles upon him, he can't help but be intrigued.

She isn't like the others… And she might be his only shot at freedom.

With All Hallows’ Eve approaching, Cassie is unable to stay away from the scarecrow that haunts her dreams. Can they find a way to break the curse and be together, or will Atticus’ soul belong to the cornfield forever?

Thoughts on Curses and Cornstalks: Straight up, I liked this book overall, but I was a little thrown that we didn't learn more about the curse itself. I mean, I fully understand what Atticus said happened, but it felt like maybe there should be more (this part may be an entirely me thing, so do with it what you will). I was also expecting the three town rules to somehow tie together with the curse. I had a whole scenario built up revolving around apple pie and not entering town before noon on Sunday. ALAS.

Again, though, I liked the book. Atticus was a good man driven to bad things by circumstances (or the lady who cursed him, I guess) and Cassie saw beneath the monster to the heart of the man he was. Cassie was caught between trying to get over her previous relationship and her drive to keep herself from thinking about her cheating ex led her to do some questionable things that would have ensured she was not the final girl in a horror movie.

But she survived. And her kindness put her on the path to helping Atticus. Fun, sex-ay, and with enough out of the ordinary anatomical differences to make this monster-loving reader happy. *thumbs up*

The Monster's Prey Thing by Enid Camp [Review]

The Monster's Prey Thing (Protector to Predator #4) by Enid Camp
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 18, 2026

Protector to Predator
1. The Gargoyle's Prey Thing
2. The Werewolf's Prey Thing
3. The Vampire's Prey Thing
4. The Monster's Prey Thing - Kindle
5. The Demon's Prey Thing

Enid Camp
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

"i'm either going insane or i just discovered a new cryptid... and he gives the BEST head"

That was the title of the first post written about our city's newest urban legend, a giant himbo running the streets at night and giving people orgasms like he was engineered by the state tourism board. I, for one, cannot sit in this bar for a second longer without finding out just how good this monster really is.

Thoughts on The Monster's Prey Thing: Sabine is the next D&D girlie to find her special someone and he's a monster who REALLY enjoys giving. He's also eight feet tall (maybe taller?) and doesn't speak. But he's a giver. Such a giver.

So. Sabine is kind of obsessed with the monster dubbed Mouthman who, ahem, gives women screaming Os in dark alleys. She's takes long meandering walks home to see if she can catch his attention. And when she does? SHE'S ALL IN. To the point where she tries to hunt down his nest to get a little more of the Mouthman action.

I liked this monster (he was super un-monstrous in his actions, just kind of otherworldly in appearance). He was all about Sabine at first and once she showed him what he could get out of their encounters he was SUPER into that while also being careful and observant as to what worked for her. The careful part came from him being huge and proportionate. There's no point in breaking your favorite person the first time you do the deed, after all. *thumbs up*

The Vampire's Prey Thing by Enid Camp [Review]

The Vampire's Prey Thing (Protector to Predator #3) by Enid Camp
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 18, 2026

Protector to Predator
1. The Gargoyle's Prey Thing
2. The Werewolf's Prey Thing
3. The Vampire's Prey Thing - Kindle
4. The Monster's Prey Thing
5. The Demon's Prey Thing

Enid Camp
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

My vampire best friend promised to turn me at thirty, then vanished for a decade and left me human, horny, and heartbroken. Now I spend my birthdays roleplaying the pornographic version of our friendship with strangers—and the masked man I brought home tonight is very good at pretending to be the vampire I never got over.

It’s a tale as old as time: your self-exiled, over-protective vampire best friend disappears for a decade, then comes back as an unapologetically predatory lover with the moral compass of a starving cat. Next thing you know, you’re tied to your own bedposts being sexually and emotionally edged. Birthdays, am I right?

Here’s a tip: when your vampire tells you he wants to wait twenty years to turn you because he “likes MILFs,” do not—under any circumstances—trust him with your eternity.

Thoughts on The Vampire's Prey Thing: Ina is the next of the group to have her world rocked and she's kind of a wee bit haunted by the ten year absence of her best friend. Who happens to be a vampire. No matter how hard she tries to forget him, Samson is in her thoughts.

So when she sees a dark figure on her walk home, she invites him to follow her and play. While part of her imagines it's really Samson, she doesn't actually expect it to BE Samson. Except...it is. Now he's toying with her and explaining in a very roundabout way what he's been up to for the last ten years. Which is basically watching Ina from afar.

However, it is her birthday and he did promise that he'd do the deed on her thirtieth. So, you know, they do the deed. And then mayyyyybe he'll think about turning her.

The Werewolf's Prey Thing by Enid Camp [Review]

The Werewolf's Prey Thing (Protector to Predator #2) by Enid Camp
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 17, 2026

Protector to Predator
1. The Gargoyle's Prey Thing
2. The Werewolf's Prey Thing - Kindle
3. The Vampire's Prey Thing
4. The Monster's Prey Thing
5. The Demon's Prey Thing

Enid Camp
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

My crush works at a game store, but looks like he was developed by a team of horny scientists. I collect werewolf minis and it shows. This is a look-don't-touch relationship.

Ram was supposed to be a fantasy—the kind of guy you daydream about, not the one who shows up to save you. But when the full moon rises, the gentle giant I flirt with becomes unrecognizable… and the werewolf who’s been secretly protecting me starts hunting me instead.

There are desiccated frat boys in the streets, a gargoyle just stole my best friend, and the wolf who carried me into the woods says I’m safer with him than anywhere else so long as I don’t run.

Rules for surviving the night:

1. Don’t run.
2. Seriously, don’t run.
3. If you do run, expect to be caught.

Reader, I ran.

This Halloween, I didn’t just meet a wolf—I triggered his mating frenzy. If I survive the night, I’ll wake up claimed—heart, body, and soul—by the predator who used to be my protector.

Thoughts on The Werewolf's Prey Thing: Tabitha is the next D&D girlie to find her special someone and he's a werewolf with a strong protective instinct. Fortunately for everyone, Tabitha REALLY likes werewolves (the same way Agnes REALLY liked gargoyles) and she's not at all put off when Ram appears, saves her from some bad guys, and then goes furry.

Well, maybe the going furry pat was a bit of a shock, but she really didn't mind it.

Anywho. While Ram is trying to be all noble and keep his distance, Tabitha's hardcore crush is in full force. And maybe getting deeper than a crush. Which is a good thing since Ram already knows she's his special someone. So when he tells her not to run or he'll have to chase her, what does our girl do? Yup. She runs. And gets caught. And THOROUGHLY enjoys every minute of it.

Werewolves and gargoyles! Let's see who's up next in this series!

The Gargoyle's Prey Thing by Enid Camp [Review]

The Gargoyle's Prey Thing (Protector to Predator #1) by Enid Camp
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 17, 2026

Protector to Predator
1. The Gargoyle's Prey Thing - Kindle
2. The Werewolf's Prey Thing
3. The Vampire's Prey Thing
4. The Monster's Prey Thing
5. The Demon's Prey Thing

Enid Camp
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

I’m the girl who tries to seduce gargoyles at D&D night. Here's hoping practice makes perfect—because the one outside my window just woke up.

The stone guardian overlooking my bedroom was clearly carved to torture me. Four years of pining have spiraled into an obsession no human can sate. I can't even convince one to rail my character in D&D.

But when something inhuman stalks me through the night, my fantasy shatters—literally. The statue explodes into life, and suddenly the protector I adored is a predator driven by an instinct to claim his mate.

One daring stroke along his horns unintentionally ignites a frenzy neither of us can control. Desire turns feral, and devotion turns to something far more dangerous.

Now I can't tell if I’ve been rescued or marked… and whether I can handle what this gargoyle is about to give me.

Thoughts on The Gargoyle's Prey Thing: I liked this one. It was a short and sweet little nugget of a story with a lady who REALLY likes gargoyles. To the point where if a gargoyle (or gargoyles) pop up in her D&D game, she can't help but try to seduce them. Unfortunately, her seduction attempts don't tend to end well, but Agnes is undeterred. Her love of big, winged monsters will not be turned aside so easily.

It's kind of a good ting, too. Because the gargoyle perched across from the window of her apartment is kind of watching over her. And by kind of, I mean he totally is. So when she's harassed on the way home from a D&D game, he swoops in (literally) to take care of business. Then he swoops her away and Agnes gets to live out all her sexy fantasies.

Fun with a sexy gargoyle protector. Let's see what monster's next!

Claimed by the Orc Stepbrother by Zoe Krave [Review]

Claimed by the Orc Stepbrother (Green World Monster Stepbrothers #1) by Zoe Krave
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: April 6, 2026

Green World Monster Stepbrothers
1. Claimed by the Orc Stepbrother - Kindle
2. Knotted by the Werewolf Stepbrother
3. Taken by the Minotaur Stepbrother
4. Stuffed by the Dryad Stepbrother
5. Caught by the Drider Stepbrother

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Primal Monster Stepbrothers
1. Stepbrothers of the Green World

Zoe Krave
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

To escape the dying Earth, my mother married an Orc Warlord to find us a safe place in the Green World.

The portal brought us to a world filled with jungle and humidity, where primal instincts overrule everything.
My new stepbrother looks like a monster: he is huge, green, and doesn’t think washing in the same basin as his stepsister should be forbidden. My mind wishes to stay away, but my body craves what he has to give. And he has a lot to give...

Thoughts on Claimed by the Orc Stepbrother: The Green World is dangerous and foreign, but it's giving humans the chance to survive. Even if that means marrying warlords and all that. Oshby is out of her element, a little overwhelmed by everything, and REALLY overwhelmed by the big guy sliding into the bath with her.

Garum is (to be frank) all orc. He's big, he's green, and he doesn't mind getting naked in mixed company. Especially when the company in question is his skittish new human stepsis. As he pointed out, however, they're not related by blood, only circumstances. He's the kind of orc who isn't afraid to demand what he wants and he wants the little human giving him wide-eyed looks from across the bathing basin.

A strange new world with monsters who are very giving (and demanding). *thumbs up*

Stuffed by the Dryad Stepbrother by Zoe Krave [Review]

Stuffed by the Dryad Stepbrother (Green World Monster Stepbrothers #4) by Zoe Krave
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: April 5, 2026

Green World Monster Stepbrothers
1. Claimed by the Orc Stepbrother
2. Knotted by the Werewolf Stepbrother
3. Taken by the Minotaur Stepbrother
4. Stuffed by the Dryad Stepbrother - Kindle
5. Caught by the Drider Stepbrother

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Primal Monster Stepbrothers
1. Stepbrothers of the Green World

Zoe Krave
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Escaping from the dying Earth through the portals was only the beginning. To find us a safe place in the Green World, my mother married the Dryad High Elder.

My stepbrother, Thorne, is a force of nature. He is seven feet of muscle and living wood, with glowing emerald eyes that strip me bare. While other dryads are the calm of the forest, he is the storm. He watches me with a hunger that has nothing to do with family. He looks at me like a rare flower he intends to transplant into his own private garden. I tried to keep my distance, but when he decides it is time to claim what is his, escape becomes impossible. He is determined to root himself deep inside me.

Thoughts on Stuffed by the Dryad Stepbrother: Reading these out of order (because the spidery dude caught my eye first) and Thorne is a little...huh. I don't actually know how to put this. Lily very much initially wanted to escape from Thorne and everything he represented where Hallie was VERY into Arans and could freely admit it to herself before things progressed. I guess I'm trying to say that Thorne had to use the stick (*snerk*) before Lily would admit to both herself and him that she wanted exactly what he wanted.

Anywho. Lily is trying to escape the forest and her Dryad stepbrother's influence. She's convinced herself she'd be better off in a rumored human enclave, but before she reaches the borders of the Dryad land, Thorne catches up to her. And he uses her desires against her to get her to admit that she really didn't want to escape after all.

Things get physical, Lily learns just how creative Thorne can get with his ability to control the environment around him, and Lily has to come to terms with all the pent up feelings she has for her very dominant step.

Copperhead by Naomi Lucas [Review]

Copperhead (Naga Brides #8) by Naomi Lucas
Format: paperback
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: April 12, 2026

Naga Brides
1. Viper
2. King Cobra
3. Blue Coral
4. Death Adder
5. Boomslang
6. Cottonmouth
7. Titanoboa
8. Copperhead - Paperback | Kindle
9. Black Mamba

Naomi Lucas
|Website | Amazon|

Synopsis (Goodreads):

I do not want a bride. They are difficult to protect. And those males who are mated have homes—clans. I have neither.

My nest was destroyed. My territory usurped, and it is her peoples’ fault.

Julia’s. The unmated female soldier within Zaku’s home.

But when I discover nagas have arrived from across the land, and that she is going to choose one to help her get back to her people, I am unsettled by what she offers in return...

Then hundreds of ships arrive.

With the landscape changing, and the tides shifting, I must leave to find out what is going on.

Except I am not alone. Julia will come with me.

Because I do not want her to be with another. I refuse to imagine it. Even if the forest is dangerous, and it is entirely up to me to keep her safe, I will take her with me.

But what if there is no safer place for her than in my arms?

Thoughts on Copperhead: Oh my goodness. Krellix and Julia fought against the thing they had. Not by choice, mind you, but because they're both a little guarded (they play their cards SERIOUSLY close to the vest) and don't want to force a situation they didn't think the other wanted. There were other reasons, too. Ones I totally got. Krellix was still grieving the loss of his clan and his nest and didn't think it was fair to bond with Julia (or anyone!) when he had nothing to offer her. Julia was in something of the same boat. She'd been betrayed by her squadron and abandoned, but she was still going through the mental motions of being a soldier. She didn't want to form attachments because she saw her future on the front line of the war against the Ketts. Plus, the naga she was most drawn to was one that didn't seem interested.

Joke's on her, though, because Krellix was VERY interested. But since these two had some difficulties actually communicating with one another (not literally, they just didn't talk things out), they kept dancing around one another until they finally broke and convinced themselves that a few nights together would be enough.

Guys. GUYS. Nagas are not good at letting go. They're territorial about a lot of things and their special someone is TOP of that list. Krellix might *think* he can walk away (and he does everything he can to make it happen), but he's still heavily invested in Julia's safety. He wants her protected and he thinks the best place for that is within a human encampment, but the big guy is still out there. Making sure she's safe.

Things are happening on the Dreadnaut survivor front. There are hidden labs and baby nagas and THINGS happening. The humans are back on Earth (not by choice, but they are definitely back) and they have to figure out how to make things work with the new dominant species if they hope to continue surviving. MAN, I like this series!

Titanoboa by Naomi Lucas [Review]

Titanoboa (Naga Brides #7) by Naomi Lucas
Format: paperback
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: April 6, 2026

Naga Brides
1. Viper
2. King Cobra
3. Blue Coral
4. Death Adder
5. Boomslang
6. Cottonmouth
7. Titanoboa - Paperback | Kindle
8. Copperhead
9. Black Mamba

Naomi Lucas
|Website | Amazon|

Synopsis (Goodreads):

She is not supposed to be here, so how is she? This human woman, found outside my nest.

Is she from the sky like the metal crafts now flying around?

Is she from the forest where my enemies are?

Until she wakes, I do not know. And deciding what to do with her if she does…

That is going to be a problem.

Because if she is my enemy, I cannot let her leave, and if she is not…

The secrets I keep close can’t come to light.

But I will not kill her. I will not let a female—any female—come to harm.

So, I believe I only have one option…

I will need to convince her to trust me… to not fear me.

I will need to convince her to be MINE.

Thoughts on Titanoboa: Well dang. Syasku caused a bit of chaos when he busted out of his chains and went on a rampage to rescue his honey aboard the Dreadnaut. Sparking a rebellion, killing a few (more than a few, really) soldiers, and causing a mass exodus from the ship was only the beginning. Now there are thousands of refugees making their way planet-side, the Dreadnaut is gone, and the survivors have to figure out their next steps.

Sabrina is one of those survivors. She and her small crew made it off the ship (barely) and landed in the (mostly) deserted ruins of a city. Their plan is to scavenge some old Earth tech to trade for fuel and beat feet to somewhere more inhabited. It's not a terrible plan as plans go, but the city isn't entirely uninhabited. As Sabrina finds out when she stumbles a little too close to Darolus's lair.

Darolus is...not bad as jailors go. He doesn't want to hurt Sabrina, but he doesn't trust her not to give away his location to any of his enemies. He's also pretty clueless when it comes to what a human needs to survive. So while he's not a bad individual, he doesn't always do the right thing when it comes to caring for her. No worries, though, she sets him straight pretty quickly.

Soon the two are navigating a tentative sort of friendship. And then...well, their friendship takes a bit of a turn and becomes a relationship. Being that Darolus never expected to have ANY sort of relationship with a female given his perceived monstrousness (and that he's a naga with all the possessive instincts that go along with that), he gets very territorial about his little human. Which doesn't sit all that well with Sabrina.

They get past that though and deal with all the weirdness that rolls in their direction. And YESSSS I am so here for all these nagas finding their special someones and treating them to their special brand of possessiveness. *thumbs up*

I Punched an Alien and Now We're in Couples Therapy by Kimberly Lemming [Review]

I Punched an Alien and Now We're in Couples Therapy (Cosmic Chaos #2) by Kimberly Lemming
Format: ebook
Source: provided through NetGalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: July 11, 2026

Cosmic Chaos
1. I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com
2. I Punched and Alien and Now We're in Couples Therapy - Paperback | Kindle

Kimberly Lemming
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

It’s not in Blair’s nature to just give up. Not when she’s beamed up to a spaceship and then dropped on an alien planet. Not even when she’s in the middle of a forest fire surrounded by dinosaurs. And definitely not when she’s captured by an arrogant alien king. If King Osid thinks he can break her, he’s in for a shock. Blair lives by one motto: If you stay ready, you never have to get ready.

But absolutely nothing could have prepared her for finding out that she’s that arrogant King Osid’s mate.

Despite recent hiccups, the alien researchers are determined to get their breeding program back on track. With that in mind, Blair and Osid are bundled off to the research center for what they’re told is couples counseling. As they face a series of increasingly dangerous challenges, it soon becomes clear the research aliens may have confused an episode of The Bachelor with Survivor. Bonding over their common enemy, and shall we say...encouraged by love darts, Blair and Osid let down their walls (and take off their clothes). When they discover that there are—somehow—even more secret plans in the works, another hilarious, steamy, over-the-top adventure is in store.

Thoughts on I Punched an Alien and Now We're in Couples Therapy: Another couple are being gently guided toward matedom by bird aliens who are WOEFULLY unprepared for the reality of human ladies who ARE NOT going to sit back and take things gracefully. Nope, Earth girls hit hard and go for the soft spots.

They also destroy enclosures, make friends with dinosaurs, and burn down (with a little help) buildings. Because YEAH THEY DO.

Anywho. We met Blair in Dory's book and Blair is a lot. I want to say that I don't mean that in a bad way, but that lady is terrifying. Just straight up chaos with a side of gleeful destruction. BUT...Osid is kinda the same. He's a good leader overall (as in he really does want his people to thrive), but he rules through fear and he's a little bloodthirsty. I'm laughing because I understated that. He's a lot bloodthirsty. He's the guy who lops off heads and asks questions later.

He's also really into Blair and her chaos demon vibe. The two of them together are gale force winds that leave a path of destruction in their wake. Which might be exactly what the survivors from Osid's planet and the abducted Earth ladies need. Throw in Dory and her men and the combined can-do attitude of the other human abductees and THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.

Probably good things. Maybe slightly chaotic things. In fact, there might be a straight up uprising against the aliens facilitating all these unhinged meet-cutes. (Also, to be fair to those aliens, Dory and Blair did mess up all their plans by escaping, but what do you expect when you put a bunch of Earthers in an unknown situation. THINGS HAPPEN.)

Dinosaurs, a whole lot of plotting and planning, a little backstabbing, a lady who is very protective of her hair, and a couple who just might have been made for one another. *thumbs up*

Cottonmouth by Naomi Lucas [Review]

Cottonmouth (Naga Brides #6) by Naomi Lucas
Format: paperback
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: April 4, 2026

Naga Brides
1. Viper
2. King Cobra
3. Blue Coral
4. Death Adder
5. Boomslang
6. Cottonmouth - Paperback | Kindle
7. Titanoboa
8. Copperhead
9. Black Mamba

Naomi Lucas
|Website | Amazon|

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Ever since humans arrived, my world has changed. Tensions are high as we quarrel over territory, reforming our fractured clans.

I will have none of it. I did not capture a bride.

But then my world goes dark—and she appears.

A female so lovely she possesses my mind, a bride who blushes every time she catches my eye.

She is sweet.

She is young.

She is everything I am not.

Except nothing is as it seems. I’m no longer in the forest; I’m in a cage. I’m on a ship, far from my nest, wrapped in chains.

And the female?

She is my enemy.

Only… I’m the devious naga who does not care.

Thoughts on Cottonmouth: I really like this series and I absolutely ADORE how feral these naga are when it comes to their special someones. BUT, WOW, was I stressed about all the information being amassed by the scientist in charge of Syasku's imprisonment and "testing". And then there was the whole thing with Asera. Like, bro, no mate is worth the price you're paying to get a little V.

But that's down the road. First up, Syasku and Vivian. He was the naga captured in the previous book. She's on the medical (and I use that term loosely because A LOT of what was done to him was medical in name only) team assigned to manage him. She's also one of the children of the Dreadnaut's commander (who is NOT a good person in any way, shape, or form) and she's almost as trapped as Syasku is. Her dad's desperate to hang onto the power he has and her boss is just plain power-mad. She's caught in a place where her best bet is to remain unnoticed.

Frankly, being unnoticed gets throw out the window when Syasku speaks to her. She's the only one he'll communicate with which puts her in a tough position. A serious of events has her ending up imprisoned in his cell with him and, well, things escalate from there. Soon the two are enjoying their alone time A LOT.

But they're both still prisoners and the people in charge aren't about to let a valuable asset slip through their fingers. Let's just say things get messy and Vivian and Syasku have to fight their way to freedom.

(Also, Asera, no. Just no.)

A whole lot of danger (at pretty much every turn), a rebellion, a very bad woman using every drop of her power to take what she thinks she deserves, a naga who will carve a path through a ship to keep his mate safe (once he heals, that is), and a lady who has found someone worth burning down her world for. *thumbs up*

Caught by the Drider Stepbrother by Zoe Krave [Review]

Caught by the Drider Stepbrother (Green World Monster Stepbrothers #5) by Zoe Krave
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: April 5, 2026

Green World Monster Stepbrothers
1. Claimed by the Orc Stepbrother
2. Knotted by the Werewolf Stepbrother
3. Taken by the Minotaur Stepbrother
4. Stuffed by the Dryad Stepbrother
5. Caught by the Drider Stepbrother - Kindle

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Primal Monster Stepbrothers
1. Stepbrothers of the Green World

Zoe Krave
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

As we escaped the dying Earth through the portal, my mother married a Spider Lord to secure our place in the high canopy of the Green World.

That left me living in the shadow of my stepbrother. Arans is a terrifying masterpiece of bronze skin and black obsidian armor, a lethal predator who has spent five years keeping his distance. But when he finds me helpless and trembling in his trap, his restraint shatters. He doesn't want to release me. He wants to claim his prize.

Thoughts on Caught by the Drider Stepbrother: I do enjoy a good non-human hero in a romance and this one gave me that. Arans is half-man, half-spider and he has it baaaaaddddd for Hallie. To be fair, Hallie also had it bad for Arans. They've both been kind of (sort of) keeping this under wraps, but the intense looks can't be contained.

So when Hallie follows Arans one night and gets caught in his sticky web (not a euphemism, mind you, a literal web that is sticky), the two of them can't help but act on these repressed feelings. They both want it. They both have feelings for one another. Hallie is caught and unable to escape (not that she wants to) and THINGS HAPPEN.

Non-human heroes, my friends. They make sure their special someone is having a good time from beginning to end. *thumbs up*

Never Text a Minotaur by Honey Phillips [Review]

Never Text a Minotaur (Wrong Move, Right Monster #2) by Honey Phillips
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: March 31, 2026

Wrong Move, Right Monster
1. Never Kiss a Krampus
2. Never Text a Minotaur - Paperback | Kindle
3. Never Dance with a Demon
4. Never Invite a Vampire to Dinner
5. Never Photograph a Yeti

Honey Phillips
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

She wanted a ladder. She got a minotaur.

Clara Bellweather’s professional life is a meticulously organized system of color-coded calendars, perfectly cataloged books, and emergency backup bookmarks. Unfortunately, her personal life is a chaotic mess of tripping over air and failed online dates.

In desperate need of a ladder for a reading event, Clara does what any socially awkward librarian would do—she texts her handsome new neighbor. Or, at least, she thinks she texts him.

A series of awkward texts leads to an even more awkward meeting where she discovers that she’s actually been exchanging messages with a massive, horned minotaur. Rion is gruff, reclusive, and intimidating but he's also unexpectedly kind and ridiculously handsome.

After recruiting Rion to help with her event, she starts to realize that the grumpy minotaur might be the only male in town who isn't completely and utterly wrong for her.

The library needs a ladder. The town needs an event. And Clara needs to stop having feelings for a minotaur who's probably allergic to sunshine.

Thoughts on Never Text a Minotaur: Clara's a little bit accident-prone, has a tendency to overthink things, and just accidentally texted the wrong number when trying to ask her neighbor to borrow a ladder. Her texting buddy is a little terse, but a lot knowledgeable about how to fix things like precarious ladders. So, you know, I guess it all worked out for the library display Clara was trying to put together.

To be fair, it also worked out for her. Rion might be guarded and private, but Clara's sweet enthusiasm soon had him agreeing to a meeting. And when she finds out he's a minotaur, she doesn't run screaming in the opposite direction. In fact, she's a little fascinated by the idea of non-human individuals living their lives right under her nose.

And Rion's horns? She REALLY likes those.

Soon Clara's ladder emergency turns into the two cautiously dating and learning everything there is to learn about the other. Frankly, Clara likes everything about Rion except that he has to hide who he is. She thinks he's amazing and she just knows if everyday humans got to know him they'd say the same.

A whole lot of texting, a labyrinthine house, steamy kisses, a withering teacherly put-down, a talented minotaur who is careful in everything he does, and a lady who isn't afraid to embrace life and all it's oddities. *thumbs up*

Marc by Anna Hackett [Review]

Marc (Hunter Squad #3) by Anna Hackett
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: March 29, 2026

Hunter Squad
1. Jameson
2. North
3. Marc - Paperback | Kindle
4. Zeke

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Hell Squad
1. Marcus

Anna Hackett
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

We survived the invasion and beat the aliens. But they left something behind…

Killing monsters is what I do. Like my father before me, I fight side by side with my twin brother and my squad to protect our people.

Since the invasion, life is dangerous. I know how short it can be, so I live it to the fullest. I work hard on Hunter Squad, I party harder, I love a joke and a good time, and I never get tangled up in relationships. I watched my father’s grief at losing his brother. I almost lost my own twin. I’ll never let myself get in too deep.

Then our squad’s pilot crashes alone in monster-infested mountains.

Tiny, opinionated Colbie who’s the best pilot I know. A fierce redhead who never hesitates to stand up to me.

Everything changes. Every protective instinct I have is in overdrive. I have to find her and bring her home.

I’ll risk it all—monsters, raging rivers, dangerous terrain—but when the two of us are alone and fighting for survival, I realize that what’s most at risk is the one thing I’ve always guarded—my heart.

Thoughts on Marc: We're back with the HS crew as they work on making this alien ravaged Earth a little safer for the humans who've survived. This time around we have Marc and Colbie. He's convinced himself that caring for someone is outside his wheelhouse (because the world is a dangerous place and people inevitably get lost) and he pushes any and all inconvenient feelings he might have for Colbie down. She likes the big guy, but she's not willing to be just a notch on Marc's headboard.

Then Colbie's copter is brought down in monster-infested territory and suddenly they're both facing the idea that they might have missed out on something good by not acting on their feelings. Also, Colbie's alone, afraid, and fighting to stay alive long enough for Hunter Squad to find her. Which, you know, is rough.

But find her they do! Then, she and Marc end up separated from the rest of the group and have to seek shelter in the abandoned Blue Mountain base. Which is downright awesome because I LOVE revisiting decaying settings like that. On the downside, the base has its fair share of monsters that have taken up residence in it and Colbie and Marc have their hands full keeping themselves alive.

A little danger, some freaky new alien hybrids, familiar faces, a man who has to confront his fears before he loses the only woman he's ever had feelings for, and a lady who isn't willing to sit back if it means leaving her loved ones unprotected. *thumbs up*