His Orc Lady: A Monster Fantasy Romance

Bellhaven Clan #8

by Zoe Ashwood

I’ve missed my one chance to find my fated mate…

The moment I saw the captain, I knew. His scent unlocked a hidden part of me, a promise of a future filled with love and affection.

But the Fates are cruel–they matched me to a human man who could never be mine, for his duty binds him to the southern lands while I must remain here, at the Black Bear Hill.

As winter closes in, a human delegation arrives at my home, and with it, the man who’s been haunting my dreams and waking thoughts. He’s everything I remember from that first brief glimpse of him–honorable, kind, and unbearably handsome.

Yet the captain–Owen–is still bound by his service to the duke whose intentions toward our clan may be less than good. He’s a soldier first and will return to his post in the human kingdom once spring arrives and the snow melts in the mountains.

And I will be left here, broken-hearted and alone.

So I’ll keep my distance, no matter how difficult it may be. It’s better for us both. If only he didn’t have the knack for popping up whenever I am…

His Orc Lady is a cozy orc fantasy romance set in the world of the Black Bear Clan. It features an orc heroine we all know and love, and her very human mate, a pairing that results in interesting discoveries and challenges the couple must overcome. While this book is a standalone–this couple gets their HEA–it’s also the eighth book in the series, so you’ll likely enjoy it more if you have read the prior stories already.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Monster Romance, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Monsters, Fantasy Romance

270 pages, Paperback

Published November 6, 2024

About the author

Zoe Ashwood writes sexy paranormal romance for women who believe in magic and true love.

She's in love with the art of making up stories - and making her characters fall in love.

Get a FREE orc romance by joining her newsletter !

You can also find her on: Facebook - Instagram - Pinterest.

Reviews

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
So much of the beginning of this book was repetitive, namely the internal dialogue. Owen and Mara were super cute together though. She’s such a sweetie pie.

Spice: 3/5

Triggers: parent death (past), anxiety, grief, mention of war

[Clairsreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

In the much anticipated conclusion to Captain Hawke and our beloved Mara. Taking place at the same time the events of Her Orc Gentlemen, Mara immediately knew who Owen was to her but decides not to say anything to give him the opportunity to choose her instead of feeling like he owed her something. When neither of them can seem to deny their attraction to each other Mara decides to start opening up to Owen in an effort to figure out if they can truly make air relationship work.

I LOVE THESE TWO. Mara has been one of my faves throughout this series and I could not wait for her to get her fated mate happy ending. And Owen? I know I’m an orc girly but that man is a MAN, ok???? I think these two took first place for my favorite of the series!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I cannot wait for the next orc series!! These cozy monster romances are the perfect palette cleansers, rainy day curl up with a book reads or something to take my mind off of the existential doom 🖤

[Elena Rodríguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

“You showed me your home and accepted me, even though you were clearly unhappy with me… ”.

Llevaba tiempo esperando esta novela desde hace bastantes entregas. Ahora, ¿mereció la pena? En verdad, sí, pero tenía las expectativas bastantes altas y una vez que he terminado la novela me supo a poco. Una pena.

“I wasn’t unhappy. I just didn’t know how to behave to behave around you”.

[꧁ᙏᗣᙃⱿꙆᗣ꧂ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Bear Clan - 9 book series
0.5 Her Orc Mate ✅ 4⭐⭐⭐⭐
1.Her Orc King: A Monster Fantasy Romance ✅ 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2.Her Orc Guardian ✅ 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Her Orc Warrior ✅ 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Her Orc Protector ✅ 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5.Her Orc Husband ✅ 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6. Her Orc Blacksmiths ✅ 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
7. Her Orc Gentleman ✅ 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
8. His Orc Lady - Publication November 8, 2024 ✅ 4.5 ⭐

SPIN OFF - Boar Clan Brides Series :
1 The Orc's Thief (2025)

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tropes: monster romance, fated mates, trauma healing, slow burn and human MMC x orc FMC.
Rating: 5✨

I fell in love with Mara as soon as we met her in the first installment of this series, and I have been rooting for her happy ending ever since.
Owen and Mara's growing relationship was a beautiful sight to witness. He was so patient with her, and I loved seeing him be there for her during her healing journey.

The only negative thing about this book is that it ended too soon! Oh, and that he smells like anise. Sorry, but I’m definitely not a fan of it.

It was refreshing to read a story where the FMC was the monster, while the MMC was the human.

This is the eighth and final installment in the "Black Bear Clan series". It can be read as a standalone, but it will be more enjoyable if you have read the previous books.

I can’t wait to dive right back into this world with the brand new series that will be coming out in 2025!

[Kamelia Vasilieva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Мале толкова време я чакааааах 😫😫😫 И си заслужаваше 👌

[Sopha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always been content to live in the underground palace, in the darkness and torchlight, but now, I wish I could look upon Captain Hawke’s face in the sun to see how his eyes compare to the clear summer sky.

—

Rating: 5/5
Spice: 2/5
POV: Single 1st

It is finally time for our favourite orc lady to find her happiness and boy, did sweet Mara wreck my emotions.

We have seen Mara since book 1, always helpful and ready to assist the new human mates as the steward of the Hill. When she finally catches scent of her own mate, he is not an orc, but a human male: the Captain of the guards who is bound to return to his duties in Ultrup. The Fates definitely made a mistake this time as she simply cannot and will not leave the safety of the Hill.

Oh, Mara… it was heartbreaking to learn about her trauma and how it has affected her. Owen had a hard time just trying to accost her, but with his patience and thoughtfulness, Mara did not stand a chance. He was sweet and supportive, exactly the kind of mate she needed. Their journey had many detours but it made it even more worthwhile and beautiful.

I love epilogues and even more when there are TWO, with one teasing what’s in store for a certain unmated orc 👀👀

[Ruby Dalegendaryreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I miss this series sm and reading this felt like coming home.

One of my anticipated releases of 2024 and it didn't disappoint.

Mara's the steward at Black Bear Clan and when she saw the human captain, she instantly knew that she's his mate. She ran to protect herself and the captain went back to the human land. However, a human delegation arrived at her home and the captain's with them.

I instantly love Mara from the first book of this series, and lowkey been rooting for her own happiness and mate. We saw glimpses of her throughout the series and the last book fed us tidbits and snippets of what's happening between Mara and Owen since it's also happening simultaneously so I knew I wanted to read her book.

Oh wow, I usually don't like the push-and-pull situation they were in but I understand Mara's hesitation as to why she's not giving in and why she kept it from Owen. I love that as we go along, we also saw Mara and her own past and trauma.

It was really endearing to see two adults getting clumsy and blushing and just everything was so cute, I was giggling and kicking my feet.

I love how the author managed to set the pace without it being dragging and frustrating on the reader's part. It was neatly tied up in the end, and I really love that we now saw the whole picture of what's happening with them considering the book also had the same timeline as the last book.

I will def miss this series, so it's time for me to reread them.

[Mimi evers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!!! It was a breath of fresh air💕💕 I enjoyed watching the little banter they had in the beginning, the inability to stay away from one another and watching how mara got to overcome issues from her past. My only critique is that i had to wait 30% of the book for them to finally give into actually get some form of connection. I wasn’t a fan of constant conversation but avoiding the main topic that should have been the first thing said. Knowing that this was something other Orcs in previous books (except for ozark) made clear immediately made me wonder why couldn’t Mara just say it. But this was the read of the year!!! Zoe Ashwood deserves more recognition

[Callie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ I was excited for Mara’s book since she’s a character throughout the series but was a little let down by her story.

Overall I always feel like this series could be deeper or have more plot and this one was no different.

Mara finds her mate in the human Owen, who’s there as a guard to Willow. The first half just annoyed me because she runs away from him, knowing he’ll have to go back to human lands. But I just felt like she immediately jumped to this unhappy conclusion without thinking of alternatives.

I felt like Owen didn’t have much of a personality, and wanted way more of getting to know him. I did like how he treated her and how he wanted to help her with her issues with agoraphobia, etc.

The plot included events from other books with some of Mara’s history thrown in, so I was hoping for a little more oomph.

Overall, I thought the angst and events that took place could’ve been more compelling. I still enjoy this world and side characters, and will probably read future books in the related series coming out!

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mara (h), a steadfast orc steward devoted to her clan, encounters Owen (H), a human captain who has come to deliver a message to the clan’s king, never expecting her life to change. Bound by clan duties and haunted by fears of the outside world, Mara’s attraction to Owen feels both fated and impossible. For Owen, a loyal soldier used to life in the human lands, his growing bond with Mara is as unexpected as it is intense. Despite their differences, their connection is undeniable, and they find themselves navigating cultural divides, clan obligations, and the daunting reality of a future together. As Mara struggles with her fears and her past, Owen’s support helps her break free from the walls that have kept her from the world beyond. With the support of friends and family, together, Mara and Owen look forward to a future that bridges both of their worlds. Sweet and steamy orc-human romance, exploring love, trust, fears, barriers, and a commitment to build a life together.

[Kathreadsall · Rating 5 out of 5]

His Orc Lady is the perfect ending to this wonderful orc romance series!!

If you love monster/orc romances, but want a lighter read, definetly check out the Black Bear Clan by Zoe Ashwood! These books are quick reads that will have you smiling as you learn about each couple and see how everything connects!

So happy to finally get Mara's story! This lady orc has been a favorite since book one, so glad to see her happy ending! Owen is such a gentleman, and so infatuated from the start, he is a great match for Mara!

Really enjoyed this orc romance!
(the female is an orc, and the man is human btw)

[Alex (HEABookNerd)]

DNF

It pains me to not finish HIS ORC LADY because I've been looking forward to Mara's story since the very beginning of this series. But I don't know who this Mara is because she's nothing like the strong, independent, and confident orc woman we've seen in every book leading up to this. I was not enjoying her POV and while I understand people can be a lot more vulnerable under the surface it felt like a bait and switch. Also, this follows the same timeline as HER ORC GENTLEMAN and it's repeating a lot of the scenes (at least at the beginning).

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maras book was everything I had hoped it would be and man did I WAIT for this one and then decided to inhale it in a day. 10/10

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mara finds her mate.

I'm glad that Mara found her mate. Owen has proved to be an upstanding alliance protector. This story was a long time coming.

[Liz (LoverOfBooks80) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been so excited for Mara’s story and this didn’t disappoint. I absolutely loved it and just couldn’t get enough.

I love the fated mates and the instant knowing. I loved how Owen had similar feelings. He’s so understanding, so loving, so protective.

Got all the feels with Mara and Owen, felt like being home. I just love this clan.

Must read x

[Lissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a bit to get into the story, but once I did, I was hooked. I love that Mara gets her love story, and it ties up the Black Bear Clan books nicely.

(Also, who is Arlon? Did I forget his character? I'm looking forward to reading the new series, whoever he is!)

[Lani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was just alright which bums me out since I've been excited to read Mara and Owen's story. This honestly could have been a novella. The angst and drama were low and it was just a very sweet story. Also it takes place in the exact same timeline as Willow and Ozork's story, so it feels like I'm reading the same book just from a different perspective

[Dee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me be the first to say that my rating is a bit unfair. If you're on book 8 of this series, you know what you're getting. Unfortunately for this book, I had just finished reading the final book in the Lochlann Fueds series (By Robin D. Mahle and Elle Madison) the day before. Going from that book/series to this one is like going from a Thanksgiving feast to a Hot Pocket. It's just...not even stomach filling.

But that's what this series is--super light, super simple.

What I did enjoy about this book: actual story. Sure it was light story but when I read all of my other reviews for this book, what stood out was how lacking of story and romance the others had. This didn't really have much romance, but it did at least have a bit more story. Just suffer through the first 20% where you read over and over how much the FMC is avoiding the MMC.

If you're hoping for the smut level you see in the other books, you'll be disappointed. But I'm content with well-done fade to black (see afore mentioned series) so the three scenes were plenty.

[Merrin · Rating 2 out of 5]

All of the other books are from the humans first person POV and this one is from the orc’s and y’all there’s just nothing special about a regular degular human dude. I wanted to hear about the orc lady from his perspective. And one chapter of her facing her agoraphobia ain’t it.

[Maari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy the final installment in the series, it even made me cry once which is highly unusual but welcome. The story was touching and spoke to me.
I also highly enjoyed that in this one, it's not the FMC who is expected to abandon their career, community and habit of life for the sake of the mate bond. Mara had some agency, great!
And Owen ofc is super cinnamon roll and supports her.

Still, some points which could have been a bit better imo:
- I didn't appreciate lying by omission because that's deceiveing. I felt that the aspect of withholding crucial information should have received more gravity than it did during the plot.

- Too much foreshadowing!
1) Some aspects of Mara's confession felt a bit anticlimatic as they could have easily been already guessed by both the reader and Owen beforehand. I understand that she needed to say it all out loud about her past but I'm not totally on board with the choice of making the reader follow every single syllable of the story if these actually didn't hold much news value. For instance, it was extremely obvious that when a person goes out in that state of mind, not dressed properly for the weather, to an unclear destination, then by the time they would have been found by others, it would have been already too late.
2) Beforehand, the reader was led to expect a highly dramatic scene when Mara and Owen had yet another of their 'here's-the-truth' date but the scene wasn't exactly earth-shattering. The reader was to believe that the stakes would have been high during the confessions, and I get that part of it was due to Mara's anxious monologues but as an outcome, the only drama was actually their schedule conflict and interruptions by others. The 2-days-and-nights long confession session could have also been achieved in a shorter time period.

- There was one moment where I personally would have expected a bit heavier and more substantial declaration from the side of the captain apart from 'how do you think I feel, the same' while being quite occupied with other activities while saying it. To me, it felt rather underwhelming compared to the overall intense tone leading to that scene, as it dwarfed next to what Mara was confessing to him. But the scene was balanced later on in the book with the ending and the epilogue 1.

- Speaking about Ep 1, I for one did not feel thrilled about the introduction of those male commands there. And the mechanics of everything started to bore me. I felt that the dom stuff did not suit the kind of dynamics that Mara and Owen had, he wasn't the type. It's especially off when everything about the relationship contrasts these vibes. (Either the author can't resist including what appear to be her own private preferences in various books in the series, which would be, yikes, or is that uncritical repetition of depictions of these gender normative acts really so popular among readers?)

- It was unclear to me why the novel had to be so packed timewise. There seemed to be no real reason to follow the formula of the rest of the series. This novel could easily have distributed its events in a less tight schedule and make it an actual slow burn because it would have suited the plot so well. (Because currently, as I understand it, the events still take place within just one week. That's no slow burn at all.)

Otherwise than that, it was altogether a rather comforting and positive read.

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Series: Bellhaven Clan #8
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it

Mara believes she missed her one chance to be with her fated mate. But one day in winter, the human captain arrives again as an escort for Lady Willow. Now she has to decide if she takes this second chance or keeps him at a distance since he will only be staying for the winter.

First, Mara and Owen’s story takes place at the same time as Ozork and Willow’s (Her Orc Gentleman) story so there is overlap on events. But, while there is overlap, the focus is only on these two and we get a completely different perspective of what is happening. It is the same scenes though which was a bit disappointing.

Mara and Owen’s story is one that I have been eager to read since we saw their first meeting. These two clearly are fated mates but we have had to wait months to see if they will actually become a couple or deny their chance at happiness. There was a lot of push and pull between these two because Owen's time with the clan was supposed to be temporary. I completely understand why there was the push and pull because there was no guarantee Owen could stay and Mara didn’t want to get heartbroken, but I did get a bit tired of it after a while.

Mara was a very interesting orc and our first female orc POV we have gotten. I really liked her and her determination to take care of her clan. We do learn some very upsetting things about her past though and how that has affected her, and her feelings about the clan. I wasn’t expecting these reveals and it made me really feel for her. But, I was glad to see that once the truth was revealed everyone took steps to help her deal with her trauma.

I really enjoyed these two and how their relationship played out. It was great seeing another orc find their fated mate and it working out despite everything trying to push them apart. I also really enjoyed that we got a little snipped of a secondary set of fated mates from the humans, and I would love to read that story.

Overall, this was another great orc romance. I have really enjoyed this series and the Bellhaven clan members. I would read more of this series.

TW: death of parents; suicide of a parent; grief; mental illness; emotional abuse of a child; agoraphobia;

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was truly a sweet romantic tale between an orc lady and a human man. It is refreshing to see stories about a monster FMC, especially one not conventionally attractive "by human standards."

For the majority of the series, each book involves a MF pairing with a male orc and a female human. Dedicated readers are familiar with the concept and dynamics of fated mates through the first seven books, along with orc customs, traditions, and anatomy. Now we get to finally see how those traditions and details apply through the female perspective. For example, orcs are very assertive once they identify their mate and go to claim them or insert themselves in their mates' favors right off the bat. Mara is much more tentative and unsure, fighting against those natural instincts because her mate is a human male...with his own traditions, customs, and biological urges.

Mara has been involved from the series from the very beginning helping each human bride acclimate as part of the Black Bear Clan and I am so happy we got to finally see her story unfold. Little glimpses of her meeting and interactions with Owen are hinted throughout the series, starting with Owen's introduction in "Her Orc Gentleman" and reading "His Orc Lady" is like revisiting the series and our favorite couples and making a beautiful summary and conclusion to this series.

I recommend this cozy romance with mutual pining from fated mates where it truly is love at first scent. Guaranteed happily-ever-after, this is a great book for any girl who has never felt conventionally pretty or feminine and goes to make her own beauty in the world and eventually find someone who appreciates her for who she is.

[Toni Glitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant finish to this wonderful, escapist romantasy series.

What a fantastic way to wrap up this series. I’ve been waiting for this story since we were first introduced to Mara and I was not disappointed. She’s always been the one to care for others and now she’s finally found the one to care for her.

This is a sweet, funny, intense, spicy romance with an orc FMC and human MMC. I loved getting to know more about these two characters; about Mara’s turbulent history and how she created a role for herself in the orc clan, and how Captain Owen was instantly smitten even though Mara ran from her feelings.

I was sad that this is the end of the series but delighted to see that there will be a new spin-off series coming. I can’t wait.

This is a superb series of orc romance books and it’s my absolute favourite. I love the author’s writing style, its so easy to read. I love the characters and their development throughout the stories. It’s pure escapist fantasy and I cannot get enough of it.

All the books in this series can be read as standalones but I would recommend reading them in series order. Chances are, if you love a good monster romance with a fair bit of heat and a happy ever after, then you will want to read the whole series anyway.

The reading order for this series so far:

Her Orc King (Black Bear Clan, Book 1)
Her Orc Guardian (Black Bear Clan, Book 2)
Her Orc Warrior (Black Bear Clan, Book 3)
Her Orc Protector (Black Bear Clan, Book 4)
Her Orc Husband (Black Bear Clan, Book 5)
Her Orc Gentleman (Black Bear Clan, Book 6)
Her Orc Blacksmiths (Black Bear Clan, Book 7)
His Orc Lady (Black Bear Clan, Book 8)

[Tima · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Mara, the female orc lead, didn’t know how to deal with the knowledge that her fated mate, Owen, the male human lead, is the a captain in the neighbouring land’s army. Now he’s returned to the orc mountain as the leader of the security escort for the ambassador. But Mara knows that Owen will need to return, and she remembers how her father’s death destroyed her mother, so she tries to avoid forming a connection with Owen. Unfortunately, fate is unavoidable, and her fellow Orcs are happy to help fate along!

This story is female lead POV (except for the last chapter), well written and edited, and a sweet and steamy, female orc/male human, fantasy romance that I have been waiting for! I empathised with Mara’s concerns and fears, though I found her approach frustrating at the beginning of the tale, and I appreciated the way her character developed. I enjoyed the story once the characters started actively communicating with each other. I enjoyed Owen’s willingness to explore what was happening and his care and support for Mara as she worked through her issues. I enjoyed the supportive secondary characters and the way they rallied around Mara. This story overlaps with the previous one (Her Orc Gentleman), and Mara has been an important background character in previous stories so, whilst the story stands alone, it is enhanced by having read the series. I was glad to see Mara find her mate and am looking forward to where the author takes this setting in future.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

We finally get Mara and the Captain’s story! I love this world that Zoe has created and have been waiting to hear more about Mara’s backstory and for her to find her mate.

Mara has been there from the beginning and as steward of the hill she has been such a constant through this series. She is the organizer and the planner that holds the Black Bear Clan together. In this book we get to learn more about Mara’s family and her past, including a huge secret that not even her closest family and friends knew.

That secret and the deep fears and insecurities around it are part of what has been holding her back from pursuing anything with Owen (the Captain) even though she recognizes him as her mate upon seeing (and scenting) him for the first time. I loved learning that Owen scented her almost immediately as well and that to him, she smells like his favorite dessert!

In His Orc Lady, we get to see glimpses of our favorite Black Bear Clan mates and I loved that Mara was surrounded by so much appreciation and loving support by her clanspeople. Owen was patient and gentlemanly and so sweet with her. I was so happy that we got a chapter in his pov as well.

This has become one of my comfort series and it’s been such a great journey. We get all of the cozy vibes and Zoe really draws a wonderful picture of life under the hill and the surrounding forests, and world beyond. Looking forward to the spinoff series that was announced for 2025, The Orc Clan Brides. Hopefully we get to see Neekar venture into the world to find his mate.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoe Ashwood is one of my absolute favorite paranormal spicy writers. Every character is written as their own individual being and not just a means to move the plot forward. From book 1 I wanted to know every side characters story and "His Orc Lady" gives us Mara's story (finally). We knew about her fated mate (Owen) from previous books (you really should read this series in order but technically it is a stand alone) and I once started this story I did not set it down until I was done.

What I love:
Switcharoo - this time we get a female Orc and her love is a human man
Spice - focused on our FMC, I definitely enjoyed getting this from her POV
No virgin story line - This almost always gives me the ick
Well written - the story and the spice work together; you can feel the longing between Mara and Owen
Friendships - Mara has true friends both Orc and human, men and women
No toxic MMC - sometimes you just need a man that isn't an alpha-hole
Knotting - From the female Orc perspective. Ashwood handled the no knot perfectly.
HEA

What I didn't love:
- there were a couple places that felt sluggish or repetitive
- Limited Dual POV - we don't really get to hear how Owen (MMC) feels until the end of the book

If you love an Orc that falls hard and first and will do anything and everything for their love then you need to read the entire Black Bear Clan Series.

I received a free copy of the book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gleeful Goblin Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gleeful Goblin Review: I've loved all the entries in this series but I wasn't prepared for how much this one would tug on my heartstrings. I'm weak in the knees for lady monsters, especially since there tend to be less of them than their male counterparts, but this book especially stole my heart. Mara has been so wonderful and supportive of her friends and clanmates as they each find love and companionship but she wasn't prepared for love to find her and especially not with a human man! Her fated is named Owen and he's a captain of the guard who she doesn't think would ever stay in the mountains with her and thinks that he could never feel the bond between them. So what ensues is just such an awkward dance back and forth, filled with miscommunication and assumptions for a solid chunk of time. But the breakthrough that happens, when it finally does come is well earned and worthwhile. I found it especially rewarding when we find out exactly why Mara doesn't believe there's a future for herself and Owen, why she thinks she can never leave the mountain. I loved this series and this story. I can't wait to see what's next for this author. 5/5 Stars.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fates are never wrong... But the human captain cannot be my mate.

5 stars

I have to say that this was my favorite book of the entire Black Bear Clan series! I've been waiting for Mara and Owen's story for so long, and their disastrous, tumultuous, and steamy courtship did not disappoint. My heart broke for Mara in the first few chapters after she first met her fated mate. Both Mara and Owen had obligations that worked to keep them apart, but the bond between an orc and her mate was as undeniable as the blooming passion between them. Even though she was hesitant to accept the mate-bond, neither Mara nor Owen were able to stay away from each other, and their passion and love bled through the pages of their romance. As much as I've loved the other couples so far, I absolutely adored watching Mara and Owen finally get their HEA, and I look forward to more orc stories from Zoe🖤

Tropes: fated mates, star-crossed lovers, warrior hero, reluctant heroine, forced proximity, second chance romance, opposites attract, awkward meet-cute, secret pining, she falls first/he falls harder, found family, STEAMY🔥

[JML · Rating 4 out of 5]

4&1/2 fabulous🌟's for His Orc Lady🔥🌟💖

I loved this story! Mara finally gets the man of her dreams a gorgeous human Captain of the guard! Mara has been in every book since the very beginning of the series. Always there to help , lend a hand and accept all the mates that made their home with the Bear clan. No one ever really new how her past and her parents death affected her. No one really new how leaving the old King and following her cousin made her life have meaning. The only thing missing was a mate someone to love cherish and share her life with. But as always the trauma of the last got in the way until she met Owen. Owen is human Captain of the guard who came to the Hill to investigate how the Orcs live. That's when he first met Mara and he's never been able bro forget het. When Lady Willow needed Us escort back to the Hill he jumped at the chance to go hoping to see Mara again. When they meet again sparks fly between them but the past haunts Mara and makes her doubt her decisions. Can Owen win his Lady Orc, and show her that he truly is the mate she's always wanted? You must read and find out! Highly recommend! Fabulous series! 💖🌟🔥💖🌟🔥💖🌟🔥💖🌟🔥🌟💖🔥🌟💖🔥🌟🔥