When I saw this cosy, grumpy x sunshine, small town monster romance, of course I was going to want to read it, and it didn't disappoint.

Mal is an ORC who inherits his uncles pet shop and house when he passes away and Jasmine is the shop manager who is hoping that she can buy the pet shop because this has been her home for such a long time and she loves all the animals.

This book had everything you could want if you love your small town cosy romance and you enjoy monster romance as this had a perfect blend of the 2.

A cozy romance with a magical twist!

Jasmine works at a pet shop for magical creatures, and when the beloved owner passes away, she dreams of taking over the store. Enter Mal, a gruff orc and the unexpected heir, who plans to sell the shop and return to his life as a building contractor.

Reluctantly, Mal agrees to delay the sale and help Jasmine run the place until she secures a loan. As they spend more time together, sparks fly—and Mal finds himself torn between his old plans and the new life he’s building in Dewberry Falls.

With a baby dragon, a peaceful paranormal neighborhood, and a touch of magic, the setting is as charming as the slow-burn romance. The chemistry is sweet with a bit of open-door spice (just saying—orcs are legendary).

My only wish? More backstory how on earth humans and magical beings came to co-exist —it’s a delightful setup that begs for deeper lore.

A feel-good, heartwarming romance with fantasy flair. Great for fans of low-stakes, high-comfort stories. It’s not complex, but it doesn’t try to be—what it promises, it delivers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest opinion!

3/3.5

This is a cute story, and it works. However, it felt a bit dragging for me (hence the stars). This book felt like a mix of "what works in monster romance" slapped together. It does the job, but it could have been 100 pages less. Some parts felt a bit too much (the social media part mostly).
I disliked the miscommunication part between Mal and Jasmine; it felt unnecessary at times. There are some cute/swoon moments, and the writing is good so don't be agraid to give this book a read. It reads well and it's under 350 pages.

A note: this is 3rd person POV. Not that it changes anything, but just a FYI for people out there who prefer 1st person POV.

Pick it up if you like:
- Monster Romance
- Open door (but relatively mild)
- Found family
- Cute pets!