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Frightful Loves #3
Love vs The Scarecrow!
Nevermore County, 2000: Lori Hatake’s future isn’t going how she’d hoped. She’s broke, her boyfriend ran off with her cousin, and she just witnessed a grisly murder. A demonic Scarecrow killed a woman at the annual bonfire party, right in front of Lori’s eyes. The monster needs to be stopped, before it strikes again!
Unfortunately, no one believes her wild tale, except for Dashiell Mommet. The ex-football player is the town bad boy, distractingly handsome, and a notorious idiot. For some reason, Dash is willing to search the cornfields with Lori and she needs all the help she can get. In Mommetville, an evil force has been hunting women for a hundred years. As the new millennium dawns, it has its sights set on a fresh crop of victims. …And one of them is Lori.
Welcome to Nevermore County, where falling in love can be terrifying!
70,000 words
Happily ever after
Male/Female romance
Friends to lovers
Best friend’s brother
Sports star male main character
Although the books in the Frightful Loves series are all set in Nevermore County, the stories are not connected and can be read in any order.
Unfortunately, no one believes her wild tale, except for Dashiell Mommet. The ex-football player is the town bad boy, distractingly handsome, and a notorious idiot. For some reason, Dash is willing to search the cornfields with Lori and she needs all the help she can get. In Mommetville, an evil force has been hunting women for a hundred years. As the new millennium dawns, it has its sights set on a fresh crop of victims. …And one of them is Lori.
Welcome to Nevermore County, where falling in love can be terrifying!
70,000 words
Happily ever after
Male/Female romance
Friends to lovers
Best friend’s brother
Sports star male main character
Although the books in the Frightful Loves series are all set in Nevermore County, the stories are not connected and can be read in any order.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2024
81 people are currently reading
639 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
November 10, 2025
It was great!
I loved the vibe, somewhat rural 2000's Fear Street meets sweet and goofy romance. It's both really cute and scary.
The writing was solid, the plot interesting and the characters adorable. Probably the best I've read in the genre to date.
I will definitely try the other books in the series.
I loved the vibe, somewhat rural 2000's Fear Street meets sweet and goofy romance. It's both really cute and scary.
The writing was solid, the plot interesting and the characters adorable. Probably the best I've read in the genre to date.
I will definitely try the other books in the series.
Want to read
August 28, 2025Reason I added this to tbr:
Nancy said it has a scene where MMC takes care of his FMC's hair 🤭🫧
Nancy said it has a scene where MMC takes care of his FMC's hair 🤭🫧
October 4, 2025
It’s a spooky corn field but also a silly little romance
September 21, 2025
I read this book last year and decided to have a reread yesterday.
In Mommetville Nevermore County 2000, Lori Hatake’s life is going off the rails, her boyfriend ran off and got married to her cousin, she’s broke and she’s just witnessed a woman get murdered. After the annual bonfire on the lands of the Mommet’s Lora witnesses a demonic scarecrow kill a women as she is trying to walk home, Lora know the scarecrow must be stopped but no one believes her except for Dashiell Mommet. Dash is the town bad boy, ex foot player, disarmingly handsome and a notorious idiot but he is willing to help Lori search the cornfields, is Dash all he seems? An evil force has been hunting the women in Mommetville for a hundred years and he has Lori in his sights as his next victim.
I loved this book, Lori and Dash were just so cute I don’t know how she didn’t see that he was in love with her. They made a good double act, Dash is actually a lot smarter than he pretends to be with his genius level IQ but he acts the idiot as it suits his purpose. Lori’s cousin and her ex were real pieces of work, they deserved each other in my opinion as they were despicable. This was a really book, it was my first but this author and I loved the story. It was part thriller, part mystery and love story all in one, the first time I read it I was hooked and I have read this book multiple times. This book comes highly recommended by me and it’s one I will definitely read again.
In Mommetville Nevermore County 2000, Lori Hatake’s life is going off the rails, her boyfriend ran off and got married to her cousin, she’s broke and she’s just witnessed a woman get murdered. After the annual bonfire on the lands of the Mommet’s Lora witnesses a demonic scarecrow kill a women as she is trying to walk home, Lora know the scarecrow must be stopped but no one believes her except for Dashiell Mommet. Dash is the town bad boy, ex foot player, disarmingly handsome and a notorious idiot but he is willing to help Lori search the cornfields, is Dash all he seems? An evil force has been hunting the women in Mommetville for a hundred years and he has Lori in his sights as his next victim.
I loved this book, Lori and Dash were just so cute I don’t know how she didn’t see that he was in love with her. They made a good double act, Dash is actually a lot smarter than he pretends to be with his genius level IQ but he acts the idiot as it suits his purpose. Lori’s cousin and her ex were real pieces of work, they deserved each other in my opinion as they were despicable. This was a really book, it was my first but this author and I loved the story. It was part thriller, part mystery and love story all in one, the first time I read it I was hooked and I have read this book multiple times. This book comes highly recommended by me and it’s one I will definitely read again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2024
MF Friends to Lovers
Secret Childhood Crush
Smart Yet Oblivious FMC
Devoted & Protective MMC
Constant Teasing Banter
Scarecrow Meat Puppet
Small Town Murder Mystery
So Much Fun!
Oh my goodness this book was so much fun!! I had such a blast reading this. It has everything I love: a great mystery, fantastic banter and a totally swoony Himbo (or is he?). Throw in a terrifying Scarecrow with a creepy ass pennywise vibe and I’m totally sold!
As spooky and mysterious as this was, the love story between Lori and Dash shined throughout. Lori and Dash against the world. Dash has been in love with Lori since he was 10 and she was 13. He literally moved people throughout their lives like chess pieces. All with the end game in his mind: her becoming his. The way we see his plan coming to light is pretty freaking funny. I literally grinned and laughed through this whole story.
Also all this takes place in 2000 so the author inserts as much slang and 2000 references as possible…and for a genx like me, it’s super nostalgic. You youngsters can just view it as a historical romance 😂
Secret Childhood Crush
Smart Yet Oblivious FMC
Devoted & Protective MMC
Constant Teasing Banter
Scarecrow Meat Puppet
Small Town Murder Mystery
So Much Fun!
Oh my goodness this book was so much fun!! I had such a blast reading this. It has everything I love: a great mystery, fantastic banter and a totally swoony Himbo (or is he?). Throw in a terrifying Scarecrow with a creepy ass pennywise vibe and I’m totally sold!
As spooky and mysterious as this was, the love story between Lori and Dash shined throughout. Lori and Dash against the world. Dash has been in love with Lori since he was 10 and she was 13. He literally moved people throughout their lives like chess pieces. All with the end game in his mind: her becoming his. The way we see his plan coming to light is pretty freaking funny. I literally grinned and laughed through this whole story.
Also all this takes place in 2000 so the author inserts as much slang and 2000 references as possible…and for a genx like me, it’s super nostalgic. You youngsters can just view it as a historical romance 😂
May 30, 2025
To byla prześwietna halloween’owa książka
Zabawna, klimatyczna, tajemnicza, akcja z halloween
Muszę zaraz sięgnąć po kolejną książkę tej autorki!
*brat przyjaciółki
*ona starsza o prawie 3 lata
to historia o złym strachu na wróble atakującym małe miasteczko w 2000roku.
Lori jest świadkiem jak strach na wróble porywa dziewczynę z imprezy na polu kukurydzy(przybranej rodziny Dashiella). Dash jest jedynym który wierzy w to co czego świadkiem byla Lori dlatego decydują się sami poprowadzić śledztwo.
Lori i Dash byli przez kupę lat przyjaciółmi, a nawet sama bohaterka mówi, ze po pewnym czasie to on stał się jej najbliższą osobą.Jakby ktoś chciał sobie wyobrazić jak wyglada ich relacja to pierwszy o czym myśle to jak Lori broni Dashiella jak lwica nieważne czy winny czy niewinny, a on stoi z boku i jeszcze usmiecha sie dumny z tego jak ona zawsze stanie po jego stronie to bylo takie zabawne przysięgam, a zwłaszcza jeśli tymi osobami byli jacyś potencjalni partnerzy bohaterki, a on dawał z siebie wszystko żeby to sabotować. Kiedy widzimy jak jego plany wychodzą na jaw jest cholernie zabawne dosłownie cały czas się śmiałam.
His mouth curved and he dropped his hand from his face. “You are the one, sweetheart. My one and only.” His tone stayed serious, but the darkness lightened. “Only you, Lori.”
“I’m supposed to be the one protecting you.”
He glanced her way, hazel eyes serious. “You do protect me.” He gave her a squeeze. “And I protect you.”
She’d made chicken. It was dry. He had two helpings. When Lori made it, dry chicken wasn’t so bad, at all.
“I play with you.” His tone was intense. “But, I’m always serious, when I’m talking about us. Always, Lori.”
The other came up to grip the back of her neck, forcing her to make eye-contact with him, again. “Mine. And I’m yours. It’s Lori and Dash against the world. Understand?”
“You’re my one and only, Lori.”
“I would have been nothing at all, without you solving my problems. You saved me, as a kid. You were the one and only thing that stopped me from self-destructing. The one and only thing that kept me going.” His voice was low. “My one and onl
“Of the two of us, you’re the one always getting into trouble. You need to stay beside me, too.”
Dashiell kissed her temple. “Where else would I be?”
“You son of a bitch.” Jack hissed, so only Dash could hear. “You think I don’t see what you’re doing? Since high school, you’ve been after my girlfriend.”
“No, since high school, you’ve been after my wife.” Dashiell matched his whispered tone, his own temper sparking at all the years he’d had to put up with this complete clown.
“Are you insane? Lori’s not your wife!”
“Of course she is. She’s always been my wife. I just haven’t married her yet.” It was all perfectly clear to anyone paying attention.
“We’ve been in a real relationship, since we were kids. It’s Lori and Dash against the world. That’s why all your boyfriends always wanted me dead.” He paused. “Well, and also because I torched their lives. That Mark guy legit went insane, I think.”
“You stole what I need to survive.” Dashiell shrugged. “So, I’m stealing what you need to survive.”
Despite everything, Lori laughed. “I love you, Dashiell.” She told him, meaning it with everything in her. “So, so much.”
A grin spread across his face. “That’s lucky, because I’m incredibly, passionately, borderline criminally in love with you.” He paused his work to frame her face with his palms. “My mom always said Fields men have one and only passion in their lives. You are mine.”
Lori’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You said you needed to pick up a keepsake you left behind.” She reminded him.
“I did need to pick it up.” He lifted her right off her feet and started walking towards Mommet Creek, giving her a light toss. “And now I have.”
Her lips parted in sudden understanding. “Me?”
“Of course you. What else in this town matters to me?”
“So, you’ve known you were destined to be my husband, since you were ten?”
“Sweetheart, I had our whole future planned from the very first minute I saw you.” He kissed her. “Casually.”
Zabawna, klimatyczna, tajemnicza, akcja z halloween
Muszę zaraz sięgnąć po kolejną książkę tej autorki!
*brat przyjaciółki
*ona starsza o prawie 3 lata
to historia o złym strachu na wróble atakującym małe miasteczko w 2000roku.
Lori jest świadkiem jak strach na wróble porywa dziewczynę z imprezy na polu kukurydzy(przybranej rodziny Dashiella). Dash jest jedynym który wierzy w to co czego świadkiem byla Lori dlatego decydują się sami poprowadzić śledztwo.
Lori i Dash byli przez kupę lat przyjaciółmi, a nawet sama bohaterka mówi, ze po pewnym czasie to on stał się jej najbliższą osobą.Jakby ktoś chciał sobie wyobrazić jak wyglada ich relacja to pierwszy o czym myśle to jak Lori broni Dashiella jak lwica nieważne czy winny czy niewinny, a on stoi z boku i jeszcze usmiecha sie dumny z tego jak ona zawsze stanie po jego stronie to bylo takie zabawne przysięgam, a zwłaszcza jeśli tymi osobami byli jacyś potencjalni partnerzy bohaterki, a on dawał z siebie wszystko żeby to sabotować. Kiedy widzimy jak jego plany wychodzą na jaw jest cholernie zabawne dosłownie cały czas się śmiałam.
His mouth curved and he dropped his hand from his face. “You are the one, sweetheart. My one and only.” His tone stayed serious, but the darkness lightened. “Only you, Lori.”
“I’m supposed to be the one protecting you.”
He glanced her way, hazel eyes serious. “You do protect me.” He gave her a squeeze. “And I protect you.”
She’d made chicken. It was dry. He had two helpings. When Lori made it, dry chicken wasn’t so bad, at all.
“I play with you.” His tone was intense. “But, I’m always serious, when I’m talking about us. Always, Lori.”
The other came up to grip the back of her neck, forcing her to make eye-contact with him, again. “Mine. And I’m yours. It’s Lori and Dash against the world. Understand?”
“You’re my one and only, Lori.”
“I would have been nothing at all, without you solving my problems. You saved me, as a kid. You were the one and only thing that stopped me from self-destructing. The one and only thing that kept me going.” His voice was low. “My one and onl
“Of the two of us, you’re the one always getting into trouble. You need to stay beside me, too.”
Dashiell kissed her temple. “Where else would I be?”
“You son of a bitch.” Jack hissed, so only Dash could hear. “You think I don’t see what you’re doing? Since high school, you’ve been after my girlfriend.”
“No, since high school, you’ve been after my wife.” Dashiell matched his whispered tone, his own temper sparking at all the years he’d had to put up with this complete clown.
“Are you insane? Lori’s not your wife!”
“Of course she is. She’s always been my wife. I just haven’t married her yet.” It was all perfectly clear to anyone paying attention.
“We’ve been in a real relationship, since we were kids. It’s Lori and Dash against the world. That’s why all your boyfriends always wanted me dead.” He paused. “Well, and also because I torched their lives. That Mark guy legit went insane, I think.”
“You stole what I need to survive.” Dashiell shrugged. “So, I’m stealing what you need to survive.”
Despite everything, Lori laughed. “I love you, Dashiell.” She told him, meaning it with everything in her. “So, so much.”
A grin spread across his face. “That’s lucky, because I’m incredibly, passionately, borderline criminally in love with you.” He paused his work to frame her face with his palms. “My mom always said Fields men have one and only passion in their lives. You are mine.”
Lori’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You said you needed to pick up a keepsake you left behind.” She reminded him.
“I did need to pick it up.” He lifted her right off her feet and started walking towards Mommet Creek, giving her a light toss. “And now I have.”
Her lips parted in sudden understanding. “Me?”
“Of course you. What else in this town matters to me?”
“So, you’ve known you were destined to be my husband, since you were ten?”
“Sweetheart, I had our whole future planned from the very first minute I saw you.” He kissed her. “Casually.”
October 12, 2025
Dual V 😍. 3rd Dual POV. SUCH a good read! Especially for the Halloween season!
Lorelei: (25/Raven Haired/fmc) Nerd extraordinaire.
Dashiell: (23/Blonde/mmc) Hilarious class clown.
Lorelei: (25/Raven Haired/fmc) Nerd extraordinaire.
Dashiell: (23/Blonde/mmc) Hilarious class clown.
September 10, 2024
Love vs the scarecrow review!!
5 ⭐️ duel v’s!!!
I can’t even write everything I loved about this book cuz it was just so perfect!! I mean Cassandra Gannon books always get me, but this one was straight fabulous! Guy fell first and pinned for the girl (loved her character ! And his! I just Loved them both!!) and he high key always looked out for her and sabotaged guys who were interested in her/ her dates and ANYONE who messed w/ her. I swooned SO HARD!!! HARD SWOON BOOK! And the mystery with the family and the scarecrow! I was on the edge of my seat it was so good!
Some fav scenes/ quotes:
Dashiell had grabbed her up, without even thinking about it. Like his very first instinct had been to keep her safe, even as he was ankle-deep in rodents.
“Since high school, you’ve been after my girlfriend.” “No, since high school, you’ve been after my wife.”
“Are you insane? Lori’s not your wife!” “Of course she is. She’s always been my wife. I just haven’t married her yet.” It was all perfectly clear to anyone paying attention.
“Every single thing I have is yours, Lori. And if I don’t have it --and you want it-- I will get it for you. Just name it.”
Despite everything, Lori laughed. “I love you, Dashiell.” She told him, meaning it with everything in her. “So, so much.” A grin spread across his face. “That’s lucky, because I’m incredibly, passionately, borderline criminally in love with you.” He paused his work to frame her face with his palms. “My mom always said Fields men have one and only passion in their lives. You are mine.” “You are mine, too.” She smiled at him, close to tears.
Lori smiled. “So, you’ve known you were destined to be my husband, since you were ten?” “Sweetheart, I had our whole future planned from the very first minute I saw you.” He kissed her. “Casually.”
And my two absolute favs!!:
“You are the one, sweetheart. My one and only.” His tone stayed serious, but the darkness lightened. “Only you, Lori.”
“Mine. And I’m yours. It’s Lori and Dash against the world. Understand?”
#LoriandDashagainsttheWorld
5 ⭐️ duel v’s!!!
I can’t even write everything I loved about this book cuz it was just so perfect!! I mean Cassandra Gannon books always get me, but this one was straight fabulous! Guy fell first and pinned for the girl (loved her character ! And his! I just Loved them both!!) and he high key always looked out for her and sabotaged guys who were interested in her/ her dates and ANYONE who messed w/ her. I swooned SO HARD!!! HARD SWOON BOOK! And the mystery with the family and the scarecrow! I was on the edge of my seat it was so good!
Some fav scenes/ quotes:
Dashiell had grabbed her up, without even thinking about it. Like his very first instinct had been to keep her safe, even as he was ankle-deep in rodents.
“Since high school, you’ve been after my girlfriend.” “No, since high school, you’ve been after my wife.”
“Are you insane? Lori’s not your wife!” “Of course she is. She’s always been my wife. I just haven’t married her yet.” It was all perfectly clear to anyone paying attention.
“Every single thing I have is yours, Lori. And if I don’t have it --and you want it-- I will get it for you. Just name it.”
Despite everything, Lori laughed. “I love you, Dashiell.” She told him, meaning it with everything in her. “So, so much.” A grin spread across his face. “That’s lucky, because I’m incredibly, passionately, borderline criminally in love with you.” He paused his work to frame her face with his palms. “My mom always said Fields men have one and only passion in their lives. You are mine.” “You are mine, too.” She smiled at him, close to tears.
Lori smiled. “So, you’ve known you were destined to be my husband, since you were ten?” “Sweetheart, I had our whole future planned from the very first minute I saw you.” He kissed her. “Casually.”
And my two absolute favs!!:
“You are the one, sweetheart. My one and only.” His tone stayed serious, but the darkness lightened. “Only you, Lori.”
“Mine. And I’m yours. It’s Lori and Dash against the world. Understand?”
#LoriandDashagainsttheWorld
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2024
When will I learn that anything by this author is fucking good?
Read
December 2, 2024I genuinely wish I could tolerate reading friends to lovers like this, but I really can’t stand it. This was unfortunately not an enjoyable read for me and it’s my fault because I knew that I didn’t like the tropes going into to it.
I love you Ms Gannon, but I don’t like friends to lovers unless it’s done in a very specific way.
I love you Ms Gannon, but I don’t like friends to lovers unless it’s done in a very specific way.
October 30, 2024
This was cute and also fits well into the Halloween romance theme.
What can a boy do if he’s a couple of years younger than his crush? Of course—wait to grow up and, in the meantime, sabotage her dating possibilities. But when the opportunity strikes, he won’t hesitate for a moment. This was endearing and hilarious, mixed with a decent amount of horror suspense.
What can a boy do if he’s a couple of years younger than his crush? Of course—wait to grow up and, in the meantime, sabotage her dating possibilities. But when the opportunity strikes, he won’t hesitate for a moment. This was endearing and hilarious, mixed with a decent amount of horror suspense.
August 31, 2024
Dual virgins❤️❤️❤️❤️
September 10, 2024
Dash was so deceptively dumb. My boy played the long game fr
November 8, 2024
A cute, quick, funny read. Wanted this to turn up the spooky factor more tho. It's more quirky then spooky which is fine just not what I hoped for.
Dashiell is the best part of this whole book. Him and the millennial slang.
Dashiell is the best part of this whole book. Him and the millennial slang.
August 28, 2025
it really was adorable. quirky. funny. probably gonna binge this author.
there are some scrivener’s errors, and that’s a little frustrating bc it makes it challenging to take a talented author seriously. that said - i’m thankful i stumbled upon this recommendation and this very silly book.
there are some scrivener’s errors, and that’s a little frustrating bc it makes it challenging to take a talented author seriously. that said - i’m thankful i stumbled upon this recommendation and this very silly book.
December 31, 2024
3.75★
This was pure vibes. Loved it. Could’ve been a 4★ read if the main characters didn’t get together so fast!
This was pure vibes. Loved it. Could’ve been a 4★ read if the main characters didn’t get together so fast!
May 25, 2025
I love this author. A small town spooky story about a freaky demon scarecrow, a cursed farm, and the family that lived on it—complete with a chaos couple. I am here for the chaos though.
July 13, 2025
i love them, they had so much chemistry and the plot was perfect for a summerween read
October 21, 2025
Dash and Lori are adorable together
September 16, 2024
Cassandra Gannon’s work is just joy to read. Slightly terrifying and horror isn’t a genre I normally enjoy but it was so good! Defo revived me from my reading slump
March 11, 2025
So good! Spooky without being too scary, with an early 2000s setting to really complete the vibe. As someone actually alive during the 2000s it felt accurate but better? The MMC is one of my favorites of all time and I loved the vibe of her protecting him from the world when he absolutely doesn't need protection, and him just loving her so much for so long. I usually hate childhood friends to lovers but this was IT. Cassandra Gannon just did everything right. No notes.
December 25, 2024
A great, light, easy to read, short, slightly horror romance.
Fave aspects:
- Dash. He was the best. Loved her from the moment he saw her at 10 years old and never stopped. I personally have a soft spot for undervalued characters. Dash was that. Genius level IQ who figured out early that to survive in Mommetville he had to play dumb. I loved how irrevocably he was Lori’s. I actually really love that Dash has loved her and looked after her his whole time he’s known her. I doubly love that Dash has had her back this whole time. He NEVER doubts her. He always does what she wants. His whole life is structured around Lorelei, and he never doubts it.
“His long term goal had always been and would always be taking everything Lorelei Hatake would give him.”
And this quote:
“Dashiell finished his chicken thigh. Yeah… It was pretty good, actually. He liked the herbs. Lots of rosemary. “I don’t know who killed Cal.” He repeated and helped himself to more potatoes. They were underdone. Turned out, he loved underdone potatoes.”
Omgosh, he wore Lorelei coloured glasses and was proud of it. Anything she did he loved. She cooked a crap dinner, he literally loved it! 😂
He sabotages all interested men around her. He’s strong. Smart. Rich. Good looking. Dash makes this book 👌🏽
- The little horror moments with the scarecrow gripped me. It was written very well, because let’s face it, I have watched movies like this and also been in a cornfield, never had a heart pounding reaction as I did when this scarecrow appeared. It didn’t even do anything super scary, but damn it all if I wasn’t hyper aware when it turned up.
The climax was actually a little anticlimactic, but because the romance progressed well, and the hints at horror, plus the slight unknown with the missing characters melded well, it all formed a nice tidy little book. Perfect for an in between.
Cons:
- Simplistic. It was what I was feeling like reading at the time, so it didn’t bother me, but I can see that it could be a problem
Fave aspects:
- Dash. He was the best. Loved her from the moment he saw her at 10 years old and never stopped. I personally have a soft spot for undervalued characters. Dash was that. Genius level IQ who figured out early that to survive in Mommetville he had to play dumb. I loved how irrevocably he was Lori’s. I actually really love that Dash has loved her and looked after her his whole time he’s known her. I doubly love that Dash has had her back this whole time. He NEVER doubts her. He always does what she wants. His whole life is structured around Lorelei, and he never doubts it.
“His long term goal had always been and would always be taking everything Lorelei Hatake would give him.”
And this quote:
“Dashiell finished his chicken thigh. Yeah… It was pretty good, actually. He liked the herbs. Lots of rosemary. “I don’t know who killed Cal.” He repeated and helped himself to more potatoes. They were underdone. Turned out, he loved underdone potatoes.”
Omgosh, he wore Lorelei coloured glasses and was proud of it. Anything she did he loved. She cooked a crap dinner, he literally loved it! 😂
He sabotages all interested men around her. He’s strong. Smart. Rich. Good looking. Dash makes this book 👌🏽
- The little horror moments with the scarecrow gripped me. It was written very well, because let’s face it, I have watched movies like this and also been in a cornfield, never had a heart pounding reaction as I did when this scarecrow appeared. It didn’t even do anything super scary, but damn it all if I wasn’t hyper aware when it turned up.
The climax was actually a little anticlimactic, but because the romance progressed well, and the hints at horror, plus the slight unknown with the missing characters melded well, it all formed a nice tidy little book. Perfect for an in between.
Cons:
- Simplistic. It was what I was feeling like reading at the time, so it didn’t bother me, but I can see that it could be a problem
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2024
3.5 🌟 rounded up
Lori (h) and Dashiell (H) have a profound connection. It started when Lori took Dash under her wing when she was 16 and he was 13, and it’s only grown stronger over the years. When a mysterious supernatural threat surfaces on Dashiell’s (step)family farm, they’re the only ones willing to do some real investigating. As tensions grow, so too does the inevitability of their relationship developing into something more.
This was such a fun, horror-ish romance. Dash was almost perfect and Lori was a great match for him in every way. I really enjoyed almost everything about this and I’m excited to see if the next book works for me too. A few small notes, it seems to be a bit of a theme with this author, where she makes the h incredibly intelligent and yet infuriatingly naive. Often this comes in the form of blindness to the nature of the people around her or the ways of the world and it can be very frustrating to read. That being said, perhaps this is a conscious choice and simply something that is a personal issue for me. I also feel that the scenes in this lasted for too long, and would benefit from an edit and some cuts so that they don’t begin to drag. Otherwise I absolutely loved this and will continue to read this authors works!
Safety:
Dual virgin.
No true ow drama - the H purposefully misleads the h and their town into believing he is a manwhore of epic proportions, and I believe he had gone on many dates with ow over the years. He had no intention of ever taking them further, but still. This bugged me a bit and if you are super safety conscious it might annoy you too.
No true om drama - the h’s ex who had run off with her cousin ended up wanting her back.
Lori (h) and Dashiell (H) have a profound connection. It started when Lori took Dash under her wing when she was 16 and he was 13, and it’s only grown stronger over the years. When a mysterious supernatural threat surfaces on Dashiell’s (step)family farm, they’re the only ones willing to do some real investigating. As tensions grow, so too does the inevitability of their relationship developing into something more.
This was such a fun, horror-ish romance. Dash was almost perfect and Lori was a great match for him in every way. I really enjoyed almost everything about this and I’m excited to see if the next book works for me too. A few small notes, it seems to be a bit of a theme with this author, where she makes the h incredibly intelligent and yet infuriatingly naive. Often this comes in the form of blindness to the nature of the people around her or the ways of the world and it can be very frustrating to read. That being said, perhaps this is a conscious choice and simply something that is a personal issue for me. I also feel that the scenes in this lasted for too long, and would benefit from an edit and some cuts so that they don’t begin to drag. Otherwise I absolutely loved this and will continue to read this authors works!
Safety:
Dual virgin.
No true ow drama - the H purposefully misleads the h and their town into believing he is a manwhore of epic proportions, and I believe he had gone on many dates with ow over the years. He had no intention of ever taking them further, but still. This bugged me a bit and if you are super safety conscious it might annoy you too.
No true om drama - the h’s ex who had run off with her cousin ended up wanting her back.
March 1, 2025
I've been waiting so long for this book and it was everything I hoped it would it be. A true blast to the past with all the 90s/00s references and I think Dash might be one of my favourite Heros she's ever written.
October 29, 2024
Hella dope
Honestly, at this point, I may as well just go-ahead and give all her books 5 🌟
I've never been disappointed. The main characters always have such interesting personalities and I cant help but love how much they love each other.
Honestly, at this point, I may as well just go-ahead and give all her books 5 🌟
I've never been disappointed. The main characters always have such interesting personalities and I cant help but love how much they love each other.
November 3, 2024
Cassandra Gannon can do no wrong, she is a goddess of words. I love a male lead whose first priority is his woman, and damn does Gannon write a male lead. Downside is I am now momentarily terrified of scarecrows. You win some, you loose some.
not-for-me
September 2, 2024self note:
It’s in third-person multi POV. Those kinds of books are always hard for me to follow. I would still recommend!
It’s in third-person multi POV. Those kinds of books are always hard for me to follow. I would still recommend!
September 10, 2025
Why 5 stars?
Because of how many times I have re- read this book, that's why. I've re- read it so many times I have since lost count.
It doesn't matter that I know what happens next and how it ends.
Honestly, it's the two main characters that I am always happy to re- introduce myself to.
So here we have Lori, an entomologist who can only find work as the waitress in the only diner in Mommetville.
Then we have Dash, the return of the prodigal trouble- maker and believed- by- everyone blockhead.
Everyone except Lori. Lori thinks Dash is capable of doing anything he sets his mind to.
She used to be his tutor back when she was seventeen and when he was fourteen.
Lori was Dash's older step- sister's best friend.
Dash is protective of Lori and Lori is just as protective of him. They have a shared history.
So obviously this is a horror- comedy romance.
Or at least that's what I classify it as.
I won't be giving away any spoilers.
The Scarecrow is not the hero of this tale, but it is definitely the monster of the story.
I say that because there are a- plenty of monster romances out there. This is not one of them. So if that what you are looking for here, then this book won't live up to that expectation.
Both the hero and heroine are human beings. I know, that should be obvious, right?
Well when you are in the horror- romance subgenre, no. That is not always so obvious, or the case.
Anyhoodles!
The hero is wonderfully, delightfully refreshing! Dash is so refreshing a hero! Seriously, he's like a myth in Romancelandia. A hero that is actually in love with the heroine and shows it every turn throughout the book with his thoughts and deeds concerning Lori.
He's not one of those "alpha- holes".
However he's not exactly law- abiding, either.
He does what he has to do to keep Lori safe- from a- holes like her ex and monsters alike.
This is not high literature.
It's romance fiction but not anywhere near to "Jane Eyre" or "Pride and Prejudice" .
But that's no knock against it. I'm just saying you won't find this on any "Required Reading" list. This is pure entertainment, for the pleasure of escaping the doldrums of real life.
If you like Christopher Moore or A. Lee Martinez and want something more of the romantic end of that spectrum then you may want to consider giving Cassandra Gannon or her sister, Elizabeth Gannon, a try.
Elizabeth Gannon wrote "Love vs The Beast" which is the first book in this loosely connected trilogy (of sorts) featuring the citizens of Nevermore County throughout the ages.
I have read all the books in the "Love v" series and I now own all of them.
Spicy reads with explicit love scenes. Rated R language. Not a lot of Rob Zombie- esque scenes however. So if you a squishy stomach you should be fine reading this one and the others in the series.
Because of how many times I have re- read this book, that's why. I've re- read it so many times I have since lost count.
It doesn't matter that I know what happens next and how it ends.
Honestly, it's the two main characters that I am always happy to re- introduce myself to.
So here we have Lori, an entomologist who can only find work as the waitress in the only diner in Mommetville.
Then we have Dash, the return of the prodigal trouble- maker and believed- by- everyone blockhead.
Everyone except Lori. Lori thinks Dash is capable of doing anything he sets his mind to.
She used to be his tutor back when she was seventeen and when he was fourteen.
Lori was Dash's older step- sister's best friend.
Dash is protective of Lori and Lori is just as protective of him. They have a shared history.
So obviously this is a horror- comedy romance.
Or at least that's what I classify it as.
I won't be giving away any spoilers.
The Scarecrow is not the hero of this tale, but it is definitely the monster of the story.
I say that because there are a- plenty of monster romances out there. This is not one of them. So if that what you are looking for here, then this book won't live up to that expectation.
Both the hero and heroine are human beings. I know, that should be obvious, right?
Well when you are in the horror- romance subgenre, no. That is not always so obvious, or the case.
Anyhoodles!
The hero is wonderfully, delightfully refreshing! Dash is so refreshing a hero! Seriously, he's like a myth in Romancelandia. A hero that is actually in love with the heroine and shows it every turn throughout the book with his thoughts and deeds concerning Lori.
He's not one of those "alpha- holes".
However he's not exactly law- abiding, either.
He does what he has to do to keep Lori safe- from a- holes like her ex and monsters alike.
This is not high literature.
It's romance fiction but not anywhere near to "Jane Eyre" or "Pride and Prejudice" .
But that's no knock against it. I'm just saying you won't find this on any "Required Reading" list. This is pure entertainment, for the pleasure of escaping the doldrums of real life.
If you like Christopher Moore or A. Lee Martinez and want something more of the romantic end of that spectrum then you may want to consider giving Cassandra Gannon or her sister, Elizabeth Gannon, a try.
Elizabeth Gannon wrote "Love vs The Beast" which is the first book in this loosely connected trilogy (of sorts) featuring the citizens of Nevermore County throughout the ages.
I have read all the books in the "Love v" series and I now own all of them.
Spicy reads with explicit love scenes. Rated R language. Not a lot of Rob Zombie- esque scenes however. So if you a squishy stomach you should be fine reading this one and the others in the series.
December 5, 2024
What I liked:
- Dash. I loved him. I disliked him at first, but it wasn’t long before I started to like him. He was charming and funny. My favourite moments of him: ““After so many years of silently yearning, being able to touch her was nothing short of a miracle.”, and “Well hey, Sis! When did you go crazy?”,
- Dash’s feelings for Lori. I genuinely need a man as obsessed with me as he is with Lori…
- Both of them being virgins. I thought it was cute, refreshing and sweet. I also thought Lori’s reasoning was pretty relatable. Me too, girl, me too 😜
What I disliked:
- It was inconsistent. Dash’s time playing football was glossed over and left a major gap in his backstory.
- Jack. God, what an annoying piece of shit.
- Inappropriate and poorly timed conversations. There were some downright weird moments, such as when Dash proclaimed that Lori was the only woman he slept with… while Rusty was grieving the death of his fiancée. Damn, I wasn’t mad at the revelation, but time and place 👀 I know it’s fiction, but shit like this just takes me out of the story and seems absolutely ridiculous.
- No epilogue. They just rode off into the sunset…?
- The ending felt like a mess. What exactly did Lori’s cousin (forgot her name) say to the townspeople about the whole incident? How would they have reacted? Would they have suspected it to be Dash and Lori instead because of how they simply disappeared and Jack also disappeared? What would Lori and Dash’s lives been like in Seattle? Tf happened to Valarie?
- Lori’s treatment of Dash was jarring at times and also very contradictory. She would reassure him that she didn’t think he was dumb: ‘“You’re not an idiot.” She said forcefully.’ and, “Lori had never believed he was stupid.”, but her actions showed otherwise: “A little perturbed at him, she arched a brow at him. “And you know you’ve used the words “sanguine” and “scintillating” in the last ten minutes?”’, “Wait, did you just use the word ‘rhetorical?’”, “That’s… kind of a brilliant idea.” Since when did Dash have brilliant ideas?” and lastly, this is how she reacts when he tells her he knows the recipe to making flipping PANCAKES, “It’s shocking to me that you know what any of those things are.” Yeah… she’s shocked he knows what eggs, flour and butter are 😐 Maybe she joking, but with the way she talks about him, I doubt it 💀
- I wasn’t a fan of the writing and the dialogue felt awkward at times.
- Also, I can’t believe that the scarecrow died so easily 😭 mf was hunting them for a hundred years then he just died when he had flour dashed on him.
Ehh, this was a 2.5/5. Not great, but I managed to get through it.
- Dash. I loved him. I disliked him at first, but it wasn’t long before I started to like him. He was charming and funny. My favourite moments of him: ““After so many years of silently yearning, being able to touch her was nothing short of a miracle.”, and “Well hey, Sis! When did you go crazy?”,
- Dash’s feelings for Lori. I genuinely need a man as obsessed with me as he is with Lori…
- Both of them being virgins. I thought it was cute, refreshing and sweet. I also thought Lori’s reasoning was pretty relatable. Me too, girl, me too 😜
What I disliked:
- It was inconsistent. Dash’s time playing football was glossed over and left a major gap in his backstory.
- Jack. God, what an annoying piece of shit.
- Inappropriate and poorly timed conversations. There were some downright weird moments, such as when Dash proclaimed that Lori was the only woman he slept with… while Rusty was grieving the death of his fiancée. Damn, I wasn’t mad at the revelation, but time and place 👀 I know it’s fiction, but shit like this just takes me out of the story and seems absolutely ridiculous.
- No epilogue. They just rode off into the sunset…?
- The ending felt like a mess. What exactly did Lori’s cousin (forgot her name) say to the townspeople about the whole incident? How would they have reacted? Would they have suspected it to be Dash and Lori instead because of how they simply disappeared and Jack also disappeared? What would Lori and Dash’s lives been like in Seattle? Tf happened to Valarie?
- Lori’s treatment of Dash was jarring at times and also very contradictory. She would reassure him that she didn’t think he was dumb: ‘“You’re not an idiot.” She said forcefully.’ and, “Lori had never believed he was stupid.”, but her actions showed otherwise: “A little perturbed at him, she arched a brow at him. “And you know you’ve used the words “sanguine” and “scintillating” in the last ten minutes?”’, “Wait, did you just use the word ‘rhetorical?’”, “That’s… kind of a brilliant idea.” Since when did Dash have brilliant ideas?” and lastly, this is how she reacts when he tells her he knows the recipe to making flipping PANCAKES, “It’s shocking to me that you know what any of those things are.” Yeah… she’s shocked he knows what eggs, flour and butter are 😐 Maybe she joking, but with the way she talks about him, I doubt it 💀
- I wasn’t a fan of the writing and the dialogue felt awkward at times.
- Also, I can’t believe that the scarecrow died so easily 😭 mf was hunting them for a hundred years then he just died when he had flour dashed on him.
Ehh, this was a 2.5/5. Not great, but I managed to get through it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2025
This was actually a re-read, and I loved it this time as much as I did the first time I read it.
We start the story out meeting Abigail Mommet, who is running for her life from a mysterious scarecrow creature. Then next chapter jumps us ahead to I think 1999, where we meet Lori and Dash. The ENTIRE town thinks that Dash is an absolute moron, except for Lori who was his tutor while they were growing up. We find out that Lori met Dash when she was 13, and he was 10. Unbeknownst to her, he's been obsessed with her since then. According to one of the other characters, Dash is sweet to Lori and an off the chain pit bull to everyone else. Which, honestly is pretty accurate. Truthfully he is one of my favorite mmcs, that I have read. Sure, he's obsessed with her, and protective but he isn't controlling. And I love how he knows her, and knows how to calm her anxiety. I love that no matter what he does Lori is there to defend him, she is 100% his ally in everything. I also love that she doesn't understand the depth of her feelings for him and thinks they are embarking on a casual situationship. They are both such well written characters. I love how well they know each other, and have each other's backs.
Ok, back to the scarecrow. He is so genuinely creepy, and there is this air of mystery about him. Where did he come from? How to get rid of him? Why those specific victims? It's those questions that Lori and Dash are trying to solve while Dash is back in town to grab a keepsake before he leaves again. The sheriff is Lori's ex who slept with her cousin, and fumbling the investigation and being jealous of Lori/Dash.
This book creeped me out at times, and also made me laugh out loud. I will 100% read this book again. We have those small town drama, a mysterious entity, and a devoted mmc. I absolutely love everything Cassandra Gannon writes, and I completely recommend this one.
We start the story out meeting Abigail Mommet, who is running for her life from a mysterious scarecrow creature. Then next chapter jumps us ahead to I think 1999, where we meet Lori and Dash. The ENTIRE town thinks that Dash is an absolute moron, except for Lori who was his tutor while they were growing up. We find out that Lori met Dash when she was 13, and he was 10. Unbeknownst to her, he's been obsessed with her since then. According to one of the other characters, Dash is sweet to Lori and an off the chain pit bull to everyone else. Which, honestly is pretty accurate. Truthfully he is one of my favorite mmcs, that I have read. Sure, he's obsessed with her, and protective but he isn't controlling. And I love how he knows her, and knows how to calm her anxiety. I love that no matter what he does Lori is there to defend him, she is 100% his ally in everything. I also love that she doesn't understand the depth of her feelings for him and thinks they are embarking on a casual situationship. They are both such well written characters. I love how well they know each other, and have each other's backs.
Ok, back to the scarecrow. He is so genuinely creepy, and there is this air of mystery about him. Where did he come from? How to get rid of him? Why those specific victims? It's those questions that Lori and Dash are trying to solve while Dash is back in town to grab a keepsake before he leaves again. The sheriff is Lori's ex who slept with her cousin, and fumbling the investigation and being jealous of Lori/Dash.
This book creeped me out at times, and also made me laugh out loud. I will 100% read this book again. We have those small town drama, a mysterious entity, and a devoted mmc. I absolutely love everything Cassandra Gannon writes, and I completely recommend this one.
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