Owls and Other Assassins

by Megan Moores

A steamy and suspenseful contemporary romance, set in the forests of Sweden.

Gemma Lane is a freelance writer, the caretaker of one house plant, and is definitely not looking for love. Her life is predictable, contained, and under control. When Gemma lands a last-minute assignment to interview Swedish heartthrob Jonas Hellgren, a movie star she’s admired for decades, she knows she must take a leap of faith into the unknown.

Jonas Hellgren, known for his sex appeal, reclusive ways, and aversion to speaking with the press, doesn’t want to be interviewed. He hasn’t felt like speaking to anyone since the death of his wife eight years ago. He especially doesn’t want to share his life story with an unknown American writer, even if she does have hair the color of an Autumn sunset and a smile that threatens to thaw his frozen heart. Jonas knows he's required to complete the interview, but he doesn’t have to be nice about it.

When Gemma and Jonas find themselves stranded in the Swedish wilderness, they must contend with killer owls, a mysterious stalker, and with the walls they’ve built from grief and loss. Can they take a chance on each other to find their way out of the dark forest . . . and into love?

Genres: Romance

380 pages, ebook

First published April 1, 2025

About the author

Megan Moores writes cozy steamy romances that combine humor, edge, and happily ever afters.

She earned a B.A. in Creative Writing followed by a Master’s in Teaching (Secondary English) both from the University of Arkansas. She’s worked as an English teacher and freelance writer and editor.

As a mood reader, Megan switches between Literary Fiction, Romance, Nordic Noir, Memoirs, Police Procedurals, and Thrillers.

She currently lives in Indiana with her husband, four children, three cats, and one lonely fish.

Reviews

[JenInchiostro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had an immediate “buy in” with our FMC Gemma- loved her from the first page. Pretty much the first paragraph, actually. I started reading this alongside a few others and it took over my brain and crowded out the space for the other books until I finished!

I also found myself daydreaming constantly about the third main character- THE SETTING! Had to keep reminding myself that it was fiction, and I couldn’t just book the cabin. The scene was set beautifully.

It isn’t often that a romance novel can make me laugh, cry, feel truly creeped out while still being spicy. My only complaint is that there isn’t a sequel to immediately purchase!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Haley McKee · Rating 5 out of 5]

From lovable characters to love between characters, Owls and Other Assassins was extremely well written! My favorite element of the story was the way the author took the common trope of forced proximity and made it into something unique. Not only was this an enjoyable romance, but it stood out amongst others. I would definitely recommend to romance readers, especially those who feel the repetitiveness of the romance lit world plaguing them. This won't disappoint!

[Chanel]

DNF @14%. Wasn't holding my attention and I don't think I'll come back to it

[Jen ME Warrior · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read from this author and I will definitely read more.

Our heroine, Gemma, is given a last minute job of interviewing a reclusive actor Jonas.

Jonas has been hiding him self away following the death of his wife, 8 years previous, but is contractually obliged to do interviews.

Happenstance being what it is, they end up stuck in the Swedish wilderness alone.

This book deals with heavy themes, loss of a partner, patents and child (unborn). It also dives into mental health issues, how you can lose yourself to grief and get stuck in it. Gemma and Jonas both have to work through their baggage to start living again.

With a suspence plot I didn't expect, an emphasis on the healing power of nature and the underlying theme that there is no right way or timeline for healing from grief, this book was a good fast paced read. Well worth your time!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[K.C. Everly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully written story, and I am so impressed it's a debut novel. The author does exceptional work of painting vivid imagery in each scene, allowing for easy immersion as a reader.

I really enjoyed Gemma and Jonas as main characters and appreciated reading about "older" characters. The relatability of their struggles and misbeliefs carried the story without unnecessary drama or hair-pulling frustration with the characters themselves. Each had a heavy history in their own right, and the underlying loneliness was written well. The story wasn't dragged down by the weight of their pasts, but it believably shaped them into two people forced together in an isolated forest in Sweden who found comfort and love with one another.

I found Jonas as a MMC to be wonderful, his maturity in particular. He certainly had his moments of snapping, grumpiness, etc, but I really enjoyed the insight and acknowledgment of that. A MMC with self-awareness? I love it. He apologizes and addresses it? Thank you!

Gemma was delightful as well. Like with Jonas, I appreciated her self-reflection and insight, as well as her emotional maturity. She's a strong MFC, but it's shown in her actions throughout the story and in her narrative point of view. Sometimes books with a strong MFC feel forced (a "sassy" attitude or spitting fire or refusing help/assistance, etc). I love when it exists authentically in a story.

This was a story with rich, beautiful layers. The suspense was a fun twist as well. This was a fresh and interesting idea, executed well. I highly recommend giving it a read.

[Flor PL · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5
I really like the short chapters and the points of view of both of them, only sometimes they were very short and just when something was about to happen they changed the narrator.
I was really hooked on Gemma and Jonas's story, so much so that I had forgotten about the stalker, but when that part started I felt it kind of shoved in, I needed them before they disappear (GyJ) to have lived more with the other characters because those motives or Carl being so paternal felt out of place.
I don't think it's a suspenseful romance.
On the other hand: long live the scenes where the male lead apologizes!
The two of them felt real and close, that taking each other day by day, finding out what place they have in each other's lives outside was essential.

Pd: I think I'm in love with Katja.


°°°°°

Realmente me gustan los capítulos cortos y los puntos de vista de ambos, solo que a veces se me hacían muy cortos y justo cuando estaba por pasar algo me cambiaban el narrador.
Estaba muy enganchada a la historia de Gemma y Jonas, tanto así que me había olvidado del stalker, pero cuando esa parte comenzó la sentí como metida a la fuerza, necesitaba que antes de que desaparezcan (GyJ) hubiesen convivido más con los demás personajes por que esos motivos o Carl siendo tan paternal se sentía fuera de sitio.
No creo que sea un romance de suspenso.
Por otro lado: ¡Vivan las escenas donde el protagonista masculino se disculpa!
Ellos dos se sentían reales y cercanos, eso de tomarse el día a dia, descubrir que lugar tienen en la vida del otro afuera fue esencial.

Pd:Creo que estoy enamorada de Katja

[Ally Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cute little romance is eye catching from the cover and when you begin reading, you won’t be able to stop until you’ve finished the book. The story is a light romance between two characters who both have elements of a traumatic past for different reasons and how that past has shaped them into the person they are now. The “antagonists” were a cute twist that at first I thought, are we not going to get any closure on that incident(?) yet we did and it was done assassin style. 😉 The budding romance between the MCs was too cute and a slow burn worth the sizzle that came afterward. I especially enjoyed the age group the MCs were in. They handled themselves well for their situation and had it been teenagers, there is no way we could have gotten the same story. I do feel the ending could have been more but I believe that also may have changed the direction of the book so it was best to end where it did. Overall, the book is gripping, suspenseful and a great dose of romantic feels you might be missing from your life.

Plot ✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️

Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🌶️

Romance 💘💘💘💘💘

Silly Banter 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Dangerous Animals 🦉🦉🦉

{I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.}

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous Characters

I'm not a big fan of the grumpy-sunshine, or any

romance novel really. I chose this book based on the cover, the description, "stranded in the Swedish wilderness", and I love me some wilderness stranding! I read the book in a day. I especially enjoyed that the characters were mature, smart, witty adults in their 40s. I appreciated the 80s pop culture and literature references, so refreshing not to have to guess WTH a 20-something is talking about. Gemma had some issues, but was not stuck in a woe-is-me mood all day, had some anxiety, but wasn't crippled by it, grief, but not paralyzed. She could've been the grumpy, but wasn't. Now, Noah, he was the grumpy, but not so much that I hated him. So many grumpys are such assholes I get angry at the sunshines for being so needy that they take the abuse and meanness. Essentially, I loved the book because it was relevant and didn't piss me off. I'd love a sequel, or a spinoff, or at least another novel by this newcomer.

[Alexis Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can not express enough how much I loved reading this book!!! And the fact that this is Megan Moores FIRST published novel?! I will be religiously buying any book she publishes in the future. The characters were so uniquely likeable— and I loved that they were mature characters as most romance novels (that I’ve read anyway) focus on young adults. The complexities of more emotionally mature characters are so much more intriguing to read, in my opinion! Not only did I love the characters and storyline, but this is a book that you can really get lost in the scenery and feel transported right into the wilderness with Gemma and Jonas! Certain parts hit so close to home for me, I could really relate to Gemma’s maternal longing so to speak. Don’t take my word for it— READ THIS BOOK! Congratulations on your novel Megan, you are a very talented writer and I look forward to reading more from you! <3

[Madison LibraryBookFamily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into the book knowing very little about the author or subject matter. All I knew was that it covered two of my favorite tropes and the cover was darling.

Jonas Hellgren, a famous grumpy Swedish actor must deal with a last minute interview by an American author. He is understanbly less than thrilled. Gemma Lane is excited to learn more about Jonas, but quickly learns that Jonas has a dark past. Due to a big mixup the two are dropped off in the rustic woods right before a big storm. Sparks fly and adventure begins.

I found the writing fun. Jonas and Gemma had real attraction and fun moments together. Some spicy scenes but they felt appropriate to their relationship. However I didn't love the ending. It felt a bit rushed.

Thank you to Book Sirens and Megan Moores for providing me with a kindle copy. I am leaving this review honestly and voluntarily.

Spoilers- Grumpy sunshine - One bed
TW - death of spouse, miscarriage, dementia, death of parent, mental health episode

[Ulli Zaiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gemma is an american writer who is given the task of interviewing swedish actor Jonasduring a week-long trip to Sweden. Due to unforseen circumstances they end up alone in a wilderness resort and get to know each other better. As both of them have lost loved ones and are still dealing with a lot of grieve they have a lot in common and their relationship develops into more than just interviewer and actor.

I loved reading this book. It was well-written, fast-paced and full of relatable characters. I felt for both main characters and I could believe that being together in nature for a few days could help them heal. I thought the whole Freja angle was a bit unbelievable but I didn't mind too much.

All in all a lovely romance with elements loss, grieve and healing.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you, BookSirens, for providing me with an ARC for my review. I finished this book so quickly (I ignored so many other responsibilities). Owls and Other Assasins was such an interesting title that I felt that I had no choice but to pick it up.

The characters, Gemma and Jonas, were easy to like, which made all the angst between them feel a little forced, but it somehow worked. I enjoyed the fact that Jonas was able to communicate his feelings and that Gemma also was able to do the same. There were a few bits that felt icky to me, especially some characters who shall remain nameless to avoid spoilers, but overall, I enjoyed the book. I give this book a solid four out of five stars.

[Krysten · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read, and I enjoyed reading it, but it was just okay. I'm kind of ambivalent about it. I found parts of it to be a little too far fetched to be realistically believable. It was categorized under romantic suspense, but there isn't much suspense until the very end, so it felt like it was kind of just tacked on. The cover is cute too but makes me think of fantasy or YA. The author has promise—the story was well written, imaginative, and there were only a few grammatical errors/typos—and the book is getting good reviews on Goodreads, but I was personally underwhelmed.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars / One of my favorite elements of this novel is how relatable the characters were—I found something in each of them that made them truly come alive for me. The romance was really well done and sweet. The story deals with some heavy themes and topics in a really poignant and respectful way, which I appreciated. However, some parts of the story weren't realistic, and having to think about whether or not they were believable pulled me out of the narrative.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Karen Weir · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful read, it was so refreshing to read about main characters who were more mature and came with their own baggage. This baggage was intertwined into the story beautifully by the author where the story addressed many issues that can be faced by more mature adults entering a new relationship. The pace of the story was just right and I couldn’t help but love the characters. Cannot wait to see if there is another book!

[Sami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well flowing novel with perfect chapter breaks!

Gemma is a mess in all facets of life. Jonas is a curmudgeon who hasn’t dealt with his wife’s death in the 8 years since it has happened choosing to lock people out instead. Throw them together, alone, in a forest retreat where they will both need to lean on each other to survive and you have a thrilling, fun read with some steamy parts thrown in.

[Kellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very cute romance with a nice element of suspense added! Both of the main characters had interesting backgrounds and seemed to be fleshed out well. The setting added a lot of interesting scenes and was almost a character itself! The romance was well balanced with the more emotional and suspenseful parts of the story and I really enjoyed reading this! Plus the title is just really fun!

[Kammi Manchester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel! It was easy to read, engaging, and descriptive, leading me to add the forests of Sweden to my bucket travel list! The author did a great job portraying hard subjects like grief and loss, vulnerability and all of the things real humans struggle with daily! Very enjoyable read!

[Chelsea H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had me hooked until about 3/4 of the way through. The chemistry between the two main characters was fantastic and the spicy scenes were 🔥. The last 1/4 of the book seemed unnecessarily drawn out.The ending was definitely not what I expected and I felt it was out of place.

Overall, this was a fun read. The banter was great and I laughed out loud many times.

[divareada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Megan Moores is the queen of similes. Her descriptions are so deep and comforting. Loved these two characters and the setting she placed them in. I went into this book expecting more humor than depth. There's definitely humor and witty banter, but I was surprised by the deeper topics that were unearthed as well. Beautiful debut novel! Also 5 stars for Louis the plant :)

[Zoe Jae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

This book is a tale of over coming grief and finding oneself again.

With no sugarcoating of real emotions, the characters and journey is refreshing and feels real.

I couldn’t recommend this book enough.

[LizzyLa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, quirky, and moving, this is a steamy romance with a bit of suspense!

I would like to thank the author, Megan Moores, for allowing me to read an advance copy of Owls and Other Assassins and freely give my honest review here.

Gemma Lane lives in her old family home, alone except for Louis, the spider plant who silently keeps her company. Gemma begins this story with “no job, no love, no family, and no pants”! At 40 years old and a published author, Gemma’s life has become predictable and staid, until her best friend Rava calls to ask her to do an interview for Profile Magazine. Although Gemma had reservations about taking the job since she wasn’t a journalist, she knew that this was an opportunity that she had to take because it was subject of the interview was Jonas Hellgren, an actor who she’d admired for decades.

Jonas Hellgren had been reclusive since the death of his wife 8 years earlier, however, a new book and a new film due for release meant that he had to do interviews. When the Swedish journalist who was due to interview Jonas for Profile Magazine had to pull out, Jonas was less than impressed to discover that the magazine have arranged for an American writer to interview him during a trek, with a crew through the Swedish wilderness. Whilst he is contractually obliged to do the interview Jonas is not going to make it easy for the American and definitely does not plan to tell her his life story.

The chemistry between them is sizzling but Gemma has an article to write and frustratingly Jonas is determined to avoid being interviewed by her. Things take an unexpected turn when Gemma and Jonas find themselves stranded alone in the wilderness with not only killer owls to contend with but also the threat of someone stalking them. With only each other for company will Jonas’ defences remain up or will he start to open up to Gemma?

Owls and other Assassins is filled with humour but also has deals beautifully with issues of grief and bereavement. Gemma and Jonas have each experienced different types of loss and the raw and very real emotions of their grief are dealt with sensitivity by Moores. The narrative is told from both points of view and Gemma and Jonas’ characters are well developed. Whilst some aspects of the storyline were perhaps far-fetched, this is a fictional work and I found it compelling. Moores storytelling is wonderful and I loved this novel. I would definitely recommend Owls and other Assassins and look forward to future titles by Megan Moores.

[Mahi Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like the book but in middle its boring and i feel that author is just straching the story but i like the chemistry between main character and the details is also very good it is a good read .

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such excellent writing in this sweet and touching story. Loved the quirky humor! Absolutely wonderful, well drawn characters and a tender plot about two lonely, hurting souls. I really hope there are many books to come by this extremely talented new author. Wow.

[Maryjanezigzag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Place holder for review coming

TL;DR version - loved it. Read it in one sitting. 4-1/2 ⭐️

[Heather Nahrwold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been on my TBR list for awhile and I wish I would have read it sooner. This is a cute love story with just a splash of spice and also a sort of mystery.

[Stephanie Mylchreest · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow!

I couldn’t get enough of this book. So completely wonderful in every way. The way the author captured the characters and location was superb. I highly recommend it to everyone.