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Monsters of Moonvale #1.5
Love Lights
A man spending the holidays alone…After my grandpa’s death, I’m back in my hometown for one last Christmas in the house I grew up in. But when mom cancels her flight to join me in saying goodbye, I’m left lonelier than ever—until a mothman saves me from a deadly decorating disaster.
As if learning monsters are real isn’t enough, he also claims I’m his mate. In his arms, I find the warmth and care I’ve always craved. But with only a few weeks in Moonvale before I have to go home, how can I avoid ending up even more heartbroken and alone when the holiday ends?
A mothman trusting his instincts…Like a moth to a flame, a house covered in bright holiday lights pulls me away from my usual path on my late-night walk home. After saving the distressed human who lives there from falling to his death, I realize something stronger drew me there. Something magical. A mate bond.
My heart and soul cry out for me to claim my precious, perfect mate as my own. But how can I ask him for anything more than a holiday fling when he doesn’t feel the same instinctual bond? Will I find a way to convince him to stay past December?
Love Lights is a M/M monster romance novella featuring a lonely human and a doting mothman, taking the coziness of a Hallmark holiday movie and adding a heavy dose of spice. While it is in the Monsters of Moonvale setting, Love Lights is a standalone story. This novella was written for Emily’s newsletter subscribers, but is also available in paperback!
As if learning monsters are real isn’t enough, he also claims I’m his mate. In his arms, I find the warmth and care I’ve always craved. But with only a few weeks in Moonvale before I have to go home, how can I avoid ending up even more heartbroken and alone when the holiday ends?
A mothman trusting his instincts…Like a moth to a flame, a house covered in bright holiday lights pulls me away from my usual path on my late-night walk home. After saving the distressed human who lives there from falling to his death, I realize something stronger drew me there. Something magical. A mate bond.
My heart and soul cry out for me to claim my precious, perfect mate as my own. But how can I ask him for anything more than a holiday fling when he doesn’t feel the same instinctual bond? Will I find a way to convince him to stay past December?
Love Lights is a M/M monster romance novella featuring a lonely human and a doting mothman, taking the coziness of a Hallmark holiday movie and adding a heavy dose of spice. While it is in the Monsters of Moonvale setting, Love Lights is a standalone story. This novella was written for Emily’s newsletter subscribers, but is also available in paperback!
110 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2023
17 people are currently reading
842 people want to read
About the author
Emily Antoinette
16 books923 followersEmily loves cozy, emotional, and spicy romances with a monstrous twist. When she isn’t musing on the merits of doting, dominant monsters, she reads an obscene amount of romance novels, and cultivates her eccentric recluse persona.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
December 17, 2023
After the passing of his grandfather, Caleb is back in Moonvale to celebrate one last Christmas before putting the house up for sale.
To top it off, his mother has flaked once again, leaving him feeling even more alone during the holiday season, but to get in the festive spirit, Caleb decorates the entire house in lights the way his grandfather used to.
All the bright Christmas lights attract Tomas, a local mothman, who swoops in and saves Caleb after a tiny decorating mishap involving a ladder. Never having exposed his mothman side to a human before, Tomas is thrown off by Caleb’s instant acceptance, but the more time spent around the human has him realizing that Caleb is his mate.
Honestly, Caleb and Tomas were adorable and I so would have loved a full story of them, but this novella will just have to do! This was my first introduction to Moovale, but I will definitely read the series if all the books are this cozy and spicy.
To top it off, his mother has flaked once again, leaving him feeling even more alone during the holiday season, but to get in the festive spirit, Caleb decorates the entire house in lights the way his grandfather used to.
All the bright Christmas lights attract Tomas, a local mothman, who swoops in and saves Caleb after a tiny decorating mishap involving a ladder. Never having exposed his mothman side to a human before, Tomas is thrown off by Caleb’s instant acceptance, but the more time spent around the human has him realizing that Caleb is his mate.
Honestly, Caleb and Tomas were adorable and I so would have loved a full story of them, but this novella will just have to do! This was my first introduction to Moovale, but I will definitely read the series if all the books are this cozy and spicy.
December 10, 2023
Cozy little Christmas story where sad boy meets the monster of his dreams. Couple had good chemistry.
I related a little too much to Caleb with his anxious depressed state. I don’t have the same backstory as him, but MAN did I feel for him during those gaslighting moments with his mom. The story was a bit instalove-y for my taste, but it was still well written.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: child abandonment (off page), emotional manipulation by parent, grief
I related a little too much to Caleb with his anxious depressed state. I don’t have the same backstory as him, but MAN did I feel for him during those gaslighting moments with his mom. The story was a bit instalove-y for my taste, but it was still well written.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: child abandonment (off page), emotional manipulation by parent, grief
April 5, 2025
This short read was super cute! It really had the right amount of everything, it was steamy ,sweet and hot.
I never read a monster book with some flying fuck ahah so this was definitely something! The only thing that was a bit too much for me was Caleb’s constant crying but it’s okay he is just emotional I guess.
I never read a monster book with some flying fuck ahah so this was definitely something! The only thing that was a bit too much for me was Caleb’s constant crying but it’s okay he is just emotional I guess.
December 5, 2024
This was super sweet. I'm a big fan of fly fucking.
December 16, 2025
Love Lights is still perfect - I love Tomas and Caleb so so so much.
Please note there are topics inside that may be challenging for some, read the TWs/CWs before diving in. you know you best.
Please note there are topics inside that may be challenging for some, read the TWs/CWs before diving in. you know you best.
dnf
June 10, 2024This started off super cute for me! I even grabbed some quotes to add to my review but then as soon as Tomas started being all dominant the dialogue felt off to me 🙈
December 10, 2024
“God, why does this feel so good? Why do you feel… why do you feel like home?”
How frickin’ cute was this Christmas novella?! 🥹
This is my first ever MM mothman read, and I absolutely adore Caleb & Tomas!
A lovely little palette cleanser for the festive season! 🎄
How frickin’ cute was this Christmas novella?! 🥹
This is my first ever MM mothman read, and I absolutely adore Caleb & Tomas!
A lovely little palette cleanser for the festive season! 🎄
December 20, 2023
Emily Antoinette has her own brand of monster romance, in which characters are super relatable from the get-go and you want them to conquer their HEA sooo bad. But there's always a bit of insecurities and a tiny dose of trauma to make them sweat for it. And because monsters are here to make us dream of someone taking care of us and making us happy even when we feel like crap, this novella feels like a warm hug. And there's super hot smut I can't get enough of. And the festive feel I am craving this time of year. All in less than 100 pages.
Also, we get a cameo from Mona, Max and Grace!
What more can this goblin ask for?
Also, we get a cameo from Mona, Max and Grace!
What more can this goblin ask for?
May 13, 2025
The cutest!
December 16, 2025
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Spice: 3/5🌶️
*spice ratings are relative to similar books in the same genre*
The Catalog: M/M, human x mothman, big boy MMC, Christmas lights meet cute, fated mates, “good boy,” monster peen, low angst - high fluff
Synopsis:
Caleb just wants to celebrate Christmas the way his late grandfather would have wanted, but his unreliable mother has left him alone again. Angry, he tried to fix some of the lights on his roof but fall off, right into the arms of a hunky mothman named Tomas.
Thoughts:
This is such a cozy, low-stakes holiday read!
Despite being overall fluffy, there was still really nice character development and I enjoyed the monster smut quite a bit.
Spice: 3/5🌶️
*spice ratings are relative to similar books in the same genre*
The Catalog: M/M, human x mothman, big boy MMC, Christmas lights meet cute, fated mates, “good boy,” monster peen, low angst - high fluff
Synopsis:
Caleb just wants to celebrate Christmas the way his late grandfather would have wanted, but his unreliable mother has left him alone again. Angry, he tried to fix some of the lights on his roof but fall off, right into the arms of a hunky mothman named Tomas.
Thoughts:
This is such a cozy, low-stakes holiday read!
Despite being overall fluffy, there was still really nice character development and I enjoyed the monster smut quite a bit.
October 27, 2024
Cute, cozy, relatable, and spicy!
I thought this was a really cute story! It's a MM cozy romance with characters who carry pain and they are layered well. What I'm doing reading winter holiday romance in October? Who knows!
Be sure to check the content notes but definitely give this a try. It's a great intro to Emily Antoinette's world.
⭐| 4
🌶️| 3
I thought this was a really cute story! It's a MM cozy romance with characters who carry pain and they are layered well. What I'm doing reading winter holiday romance in October? Who knows!
Be sure to check the content notes but definitely give this a try. It's a great intro to Emily Antoinette's world.
⭐| 4
🌶️| 3
December 14, 2023
I loved this 🥺💜
December 17, 2024
Fun insta-lovey holiday romance + monsters
December 18, 2024
Love Lights was sweet but honestly there was entirely too much crying…
June 29, 2025
Сладурска къса навела 👌
December 28, 2023
⭐️ overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚 plot intensity: 📚📚📚
🔥 burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
💋 spice: 💋💋💋
🍬 sweetness: 🍬🍬🍬🍬
🩵 the feels: 🩵🩵🩵
🤣 humour: 🤣🤣🤣
🍆 peen uniqueness: 🍆🍆🍆
👤 POV: 1st person — Dual POV
━━ † ━━
Oh, this was just the perfect fluffy, sweet and spicy novella to read at the end of the holiday season! This was the first book I’ve read by Emily Antoinette, and I have to say that I adore her writing style and can’t wait to read her other books—especially books within this ‘Monsters of Moonvale’ series!
“Love Lights” is a very enjoyable novella that captures a sweet, spicy and overall wholesome hallmark-esque romance (with a touch of monsters, of course!) within only a small amount of pages—and managed to create a decent plot too! Very well done!
I’ve not an OVERLY big fan of M/M books, but I have to say this is a beautiful romance! Calab and Tomas are complex characters that you can’t help but fall in love with and their love—though it is the more typical fated mates insta-love—is sweet, realistic and just plain ADORABLE!
The spice is very good too! Not TOO overly descriptive or explicit to ruin the softer vibes of the rest of the book but definitely spicy enough to classify this as a spicy, open-door monster romance. I also REALLY enjoyed the unique elements of Tomas’ peen with how it is specifically designed for some mid-air spicy scenes!
“Love Lights” is more on the lighter side theme wise, which makes it a great little cozy read, but there are a few content warnings that I will mention below that are underlying themes throughout the novella’s entirety. These themes are a bit more on the angsty side, but they aren’t too cumbersome to weigh the book down.
━━ † ━━
⚔️TRIGGER LIST⚔️
— Explicit M/M sex scenes
— Mentions/discussions of parental neglect
— Grief & loss of a family member
— Trauma by parents
— Mentions of oviposition and breeding (which doesn’t happen on page)
━━ † ━━
“Love Lights” is such a sweet, fluffy and spicy novella that’s just perfect for the holidays! The romance is beautiful, the setting/plot is great for such a short read and the characters are vibrant enough to fall in love with. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a sweet romance, fated mates, spicy monster action and big, strong, gorgeous mothmen! 5/5 stars!
📚 plot intensity: 📚📚📚
🔥 burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
💋 spice: 💋💋💋
🍬 sweetness: 🍬🍬🍬🍬
🩵 the feels: 🩵🩵🩵
🤣 humour: 🤣🤣🤣
🍆 peen uniqueness: 🍆🍆🍆
👤 POV: 1st person — Dual POV
━━ † ━━
Oh, this was just the perfect fluffy, sweet and spicy novella to read at the end of the holiday season! This was the first book I’ve read by Emily Antoinette, and I have to say that I adore her writing style and can’t wait to read her other books—especially books within this ‘Monsters of Moonvale’ series!
“Love Lights” is a very enjoyable novella that captures a sweet, spicy and overall wholesome hallmark-esque romance (with a touch of monsters, of course!) within only a small amount of pages—and managed to create a decent plot too! Very well done!
I’ve not an OVERLY big fan of M/M books, but I have to say this is a beautiful romance! Calab and Tomas are complex characters that you can’t help but fall in love with and their love—though it is the more typical fated mates insta-love—is sweet, realistic and just plain ADORABLE!
The spice is very good too! Not TOO overly descriptive or explicit to ruin the softer vibes of the rest of the book but definitely spicy enough to classify this as a spicy, open-door monster romance. I also REALLY enjoyed the unique elements of Tomas’ peen with how it is specifically designed for some mid-air spicy scenes!
“Love Lights” is more on the lighter side theme wise, which makes it a great little cozy read, but there are a few content warnings that I will mention below that are underlying themes throughout the novella’s entirety. These themes are a bit more on the angsty side, but they aren’t too cumbersome to weigh the book down.
━━ † ━━
⚔️TRIGGER LIST⚔️
— Explicit M/M sex scenes
— Mentions/discussions of parental neglect
— Grief & loss of a family member
— Trauma by parents
— Mentions of oviposition and breeding (which doesn’t happen on page)
━━ † ━━
“Love Lights” is such a sweet, fluffy and spicy novella that’s just perfect for the holidays! The romance is beautiful, the setting/plot is great for such a short read and the characters are vibrant enough to fall in love with. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a sweet romance, fated mates, spicy monster action and big, strong, gorgeous mothmen! 5/5 stars!
February 20, 2024
"This is the magic I've been searching for."
This story is not long enough and I'm mad about it. I need more Tomas and Caleb like I need breath. The naughty and nice things they say to each other had me squealing and kicking my feet. My favorite part is when Tomas stands up for Caleb, "But he doesn't need you to be his family anymore. He has me now." That's right Tomas! That's right! We can pick our family.
*Second read*
It's so fucking cute. God damn. I need a cleanser from a sad emotional book and this was just the thing. Caleb and Tomas are so beautiful which their unsureness, their newness, their lustfulness. Gosh, I think this will forever be my palette cleanser to get me out of a slump because of their kindness.
This story is not long enough and I'm mad about it. I need more Tomas and Caleb like I need breath. The naughty and nice things they say to each other had me squealing and kicking my feet. My favorite part is when Tomas stands up for Caleb, "But he doesn't need you to be his family anymore. He has me now." That's right Tomas! That's right! We can pick our family.
*Second read*
It's so fucking cute. God damn. I need a cleanser from a sad emotional book and this was just the thing. Caleb and Tomas are so beautiful which their unsureness, their newness, their lustfulness. Gosh, I think this will forever be my palette cleanser to get me out of a slump because of their kindness.
January 10, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this. It was super sweet with enough spice!
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December 14, 2024
4 ⭐️ I looooove all Emily Antoinette's books, and this one was no exception.
I've been having a very crappy week irl, and this book went lengths to making me feel better. Hospital stays are no joke, and I personally think that having to be connected to tubes while you sleep should be ilegal or something -ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY DON'T ALLOW YOU TO HOLD YOUR KINDLE PROPERLY TO KEEP READING YOUR MONSTER BOOKS! lolll
This book features a Mothman and a Human and it's an MM spicy romance with a small town feel and all the christmas cheer! It also has the fated mates trope, which I know some people don't like since the whole instalust and instalove is pretty much guaranteed, but I personally love it.
I read this when my mind was going a mile an minute trying to keep up with everything happening around me (and to me) but I do remember lots of details that I love, so trust me, it's really great!
Now I'm back home, recuperating and hopefully getting into the new sapphic book Emily has out already!!
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - So cute and pretty hot... you know, monster romance style with flying action included.
I've been having a very crappy week irl, and this book went lengths to making me feel better. Hospital stays are no joke, and I personally think that having to be connected to tubes while you sleep should be ilegal or something -ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY DON'T ALLOW YOU TO HOLD YOUR KINDLE PROPERLY TO KEEP READING YOUR MONSTER BOOKS! lolll
This book features a Mothman and a Human and it's an MM spicy romance with a small town feel and all the christmas cheer! It also has the fated mates trope, which I know some people don't like since the whole instalust and instalove is pretty much guaranteed, but I personally love it.
I read this when my mind was going a mile an minute trying to keep up with everything happening around me (and to me) but I do remember lots of details that I love, so trust me, it's really great!
Now I'm back home, recuperating and hopefully getting into the new sapphic book Emily has out already!!
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - So cute and pretty hot... you know, monster romance style with flying action included.
December 1, 2024
4⭐️ Grandpa matchmaking from the grave! | tropes: holiday romance, fated mates, small town | high steam | digital
“I’m not the Mothman. I’m, uh, a mothman.”
Overall Thoughts
I love the books set in this universe so I was excited to read this holiday novella! It features Caleb, who is a human who's back in Moonvale for one last Christmas celebration in honor of his grandfather and Tomas is an adorable barkeeper moth man. I live how sweet and nervous they were together while also being so flirty and so genuinely into each other! And as #1 mommy issue haver I liked the ending with Caleb and his mom and how he now has someone who truly loves and values him.
“I’m not the Mothman. I’m, uh, a mothman.”
Overall Thoughts
I love the books set in this universe so I was excited to read this holiday novella! It features Caleb, who is a human who's back in Moonvale for one last Christmas celebration in honor of his grandfather and Tomas is an adorable barkeeper moth man. I live how sweet and nervous they were together while also being so flirty and so genuinely into each other! And as #1 mommy issue haver I liked the ending with Caleb and his mom and how he now has someone who truly loves and values him.
December 11, 2023
My first MM romance! I’m so glad Emily was the first to pop my cherry because Caleb and Tomas were sweet but dirty all at the same time. I’ve never been one for the mothman monster but… I’m definitely coming around to it.
Caleb is so awkward but Tomas is patient and kind, but boy does he have a mouth on him. If you’re looking for something romantic and spicy, this wonderful novella is perfect.
*I received an ARC of this book but opinions are my own*
Caleb is so awkward but Tomas is patient and kind, but boy does he have a mouth on him. If you’re looking for something romantic and spicy, this wonderful novella is perfect.
*I received an ARC of this book but opinions are my own*
December 12, 2024
This was so cute! Such a cozy M/M monster (mothman) & human holiday read. Tomas and Caleb are absolutely adorable. I so related to Caleb with his anxiousness and awkwardness. They both were so trustworthy caring toward one another. This had the right amount of spice to keep you warm on a cold Christmas night 🎄 who does t love a spicy time while flying and looking at Christmas lights! I love this Moonvale series and can't wait to read more from Emily
December 11, 2023
This is a very lovely tale of two men, both a little insecure in their own way (Tomas for being a mothman, Caleb for being used to constant neglet), finding love.
I enjoyed the fated mates and insta-love tropes in this one and I think the parental neglect is addressed appropriately for the book and its themes. Also Tomas is the sweetest cinnamon roll and I adore Caleb beyond everything
I enjoyed the fated mates and insta-love tropes in this one and I think the parental neglect is addressed appropriately for the book and its themes. Also Tomas is the sweetest cinnamon roll and I adore Caleb beyond everything
December 18, 2023
WHEW Ms. Emily has done it again. This was the coziest monster romance I’ve read thus far, and I was kept warm in more ways than one 👀
I recommend this cute and festive novella to everyone who loves the fuzzy feeling of Hallmark romance with a heavy side of spice to go with it
I recommend this cute and festive novella to everyone who loves the fuzzy feeling of Hallmark romance with a heavy side of spice to go with it
December 29, 2023
(didn’t realize i forgot to put my review) i don’t normally read mm romance or christmas romances but this was so cute!! i loved getting to see characters from the other books as well. caleb and tomas were so stinking adorable and i loved their relationship. truly a feel good book
October 26, 2024
A light in the dark
Dont mind me sobbing over a sappy story of monster love and smut.
Gah this one was adorable. The main character are mothman and a human who is grieving.
It hit close to home and wirh holidays approaching it had me a mess.
The relationship and love was adorable and perfect.
Plot is 4 ⭐️
Spice is 4 🌶
Tw loss of parental figure & toxic family
Dont mind me sobbing over a sappy story of monster love and smut.
Gah this one was adorable. The main character are mothman and a human who is grieving.
It hit close to home and wirh holidays approaching it had me a mess.
The relationship and love was adorable and perfect.
Plot is 4 ⭐️
Spice is 4 🌶
Tw loss of parental figure & toxic family
December 24, 2023
so cute, sweet and sexy!
perfect holiday read <3
perfect holiday read <3
April 25, 2024
3.5 stars
January 5, 2025
Cute but mid
December 2, 2025
cool to see mothman as a love interest
Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews