Stitched Up in You

Monster Bae #3

by Jacklyn Hyde

A talented hacker. A stoic supernatural.

He’s unused to the word no. She delights in tormenting him.

When Bernadette Crenshaw used questionable means to look into her best friend’s new vacation fling, she never thought it would disrupt the dealings of the world’s most eligible billionaire bachelor.

***

Frank N Stein has more than a few skeletons in his closet and swore off mingling with humans long ago. But when one hacks his company resulting in the release of a toxic formula that turns humans to ghouls, he has no choice but to force her to cooperate.

When literal sparks and pettiness flies, who will be the one left standing?

Stitched Up in You is a spicy enemies to lovers romance with a morally gray MMC, billionaire, and possessive tropes. (Can be read as a standalone but should be read as part of the series) intended for adults 18+


Tropes:

Quirky girl ppl dismiss but is super smart

Powerful man wielding his power for her.

Genres: Romance, Monster Romance, Paranormal, Enemies To Lovers, Monsters, Fantasy, Victor Frankenstein

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 18, 2025

About the author

Hello!! My name is Jacklyn Hyde and I write books geared toward readers who like romcom paranormal vibes. I like piña coladas short walks to my car Also a huge fan of carbs and everything smut related. I have cookies and would love new friends ❤️

Reviews

[Marie-Hélène · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bernadette had me rooting for her right from the start. She is the embodiment of girl power. Frank, on the other hand, is the king of Grump. He manages to hold onto the gruff personality he portrayed in the previous books with both hands, which is impressive if you take Bernadette’s insistence to be the biggest nuisance she can possibly be into account. It’s hilarious how he stays insistent that he has the upper hand, because Bernadette is winning. I loved Edgar Allan Paw’s intermezzos as well, he’s so used to her antics — cats are the best.

Honestly, I’m obsessed with Bernadette. The world Jacklyn built is wonderful and Frank does redeem himself after his antics in Vlad and Doyle’s books, but Bernie really is the star of the show here. I might just have a crush. They’re a wonderful fit though, and this book had me laughing out loud several times - this entire Monster Bae series brings so much joy.

[Kara McCrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please see this is an ARC review and the book was so kindly given to me by the author in exchange for my honest opinion.




I have been DYING waiting for this book ever since we were introduced to Frank. He is big, strong, and intimidating....oh and the richest man in the world.
He goes after the little red head who just so happened to have hacked into his company. And he wants back what he assumes she stole. But of course things do NOT go to plan.

I loooooved Frank in this book. As per usual with him, his stony cold exterior is our first introduction to him. Coming off as the arrogant and rude CEO who just wants his money. But through out the course of the book I love how he slowly has to give I'm to actual feelings and he melts...even if just alittle bit.

Bernadette was a joy. She's smart, she's clever, and she's sarcastic. She's a short little spit fire who absolutely adores her cat. The way she had Frank wrapped around her little finger from the get go. Ugh I just loved it.

Everything about this book is really what I've come to love about Jacklyn's writing. She makes you feel so immersed in the world she's built while keeping you laughing your butt off. The writing is great, the flow is great, the story is great. I loved every minute I spent with this book.

[Emms-hiatus(ish) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

I really enjoyed the FMC. The rest was off for me.

[Amalie Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacklyn Hyde looked at sanity and said NOPE.

This book is pure unhinged brilliance. I laughed, I gasped, I questioned my morals, and honestly? I loved every second of it. The plot makes zero sense in the best way possible, the humor is feral, and the emotional damage was DELICIOUS. If you’ve read the other books, you already sold your soul so you might as well keep going. Perfect spooky season chaos with main character energy and just enough trauma to keep it spicy

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ive been waiting to read this book since j hated Frank lol he was a jerk who was always grumpy and had it out for humans. And I wanted to kick him so bad in the last book. So he's met his match with Bernadette when she hacks his company but something happened. She accidentally let someone steal from Frank that's very important. And he isnt letting her go until she fixes what she messed up. So its hateish banter between the 2 and Bernie is such a hoot she makes sure Frank won't kill her she makes some moves that show the world there engaged 🤣🤣🤣
The more time Frank spends with Bernie the more he's falling and releasing her likes being around a human.
😭

And the drama and more charas. And him inform Bernie that there mates. 💕 its everything!!!


No ow/om drama, no cheating, Seocndary charas, drama, sexy times, no virgins

Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶.5

Slowishburn
Age gap
Praise kink
Monsterxhuman
Violence
Hacking
Glug glug 3000 aka Bernie lol
Size kink
Forced proximity
No 3rd act break up
Hea
Epilogue

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🤣🤣🤣🤣/5
🌶🌶🌶/5

Jacklyn Hyde has done it again! She had me so "Stitched Up In" Frank and Bernie's story, I devoured it in one day!

This is the third book of the Monster Bae series. The series is interconnected, but they can be read as standalones (though I highly recommend reading the others, too).

With this book, you get spice, angst, fun, and humor all rolled up into one very over-the-top paranormal romcom package!

Tropes/What to expect:
🌩Enemies to lovers
🐈‍⬛️Slow burn/tension
🌩Monster MMC/human FMC
🐈‍⬛️Morally grey MMC
🌩Size kink
🐈‍⬛️Banter/teasing
🌩Billionaire romance
🐈‍⬛️Fated mates
🌩Forced proximity
🐈‍⬛️Pierced 🍆 & 👅
🌩Fake engagement
🐈‍⬛️Grumpy/sunshine
🌩No 3rd act breakup


Bernadette Crenshaw, AKA Bernie, is the epitome of a fiery redheaded badass with a "take no prisoners" attitude. She is a pint-sized powerhouse hacker with enough feral energy to keep you laughing the entire story. Sometimes her sassy mouth gets ahead of her, and her survival instincts go right out the window.

Based on what we already knew of Frank Nathaniel Stein in the first book of the series, we knew it was going to take one strong, smart, and stubborn FMC to bring him to his knees (and oh, how satisfying it is to see it all unfold).

Frank, pharmaceutical company CEO billionaire, is a total grump but also a secret softy. He's bossy, broody, intense, and possessive, and Bernie is just the match for him. He's the character you love to hate in the beginning, but as you learn more of his backstory and get to know who he really is, you come to love him.

Frank and Bernie's chemistry is off the charts! It could cause a power surge (IYKYK). 😉 This read is perfect for spooky season! I already can't wait for Lachlan's book, coming in early 2026!

A few of my personal favorite quotes:

"I can see the headlines now: Frank Stein, bad boy billionaire, who has never once been spotted or photographed with a woman is about to tie the knot—or me in knots. Either way. Checkmate, b*tch." -Bernie

"Oh. She goes into a box alright, only it's labeled Pandora and is chock full of chaos and spite." -Frank

"He just Kool-Aid manned the wall. My heart melts as pleasure pulses in my middle. Da**it Bernie, this is no time for a lady boner." -Bernie

I received an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather myfriendsdontread · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a romance between a celebrity billionaire known as “Frank N. Stein” and the woman who hacked his company. Frank then has her kidnapped and makes her work for him to recover the resources her hacking cost him.

My favorite part of this was how surprisingly easy it was to get lost in. The writing was just so mindless, and the vibes are so comforting, that every time I picked it up, I would just fall into the story and forget my problems.

But it’s definitely not what I hoped it would be or expected. The MMC is not actually Frankenstein’s monster. Even though he’s green on the book cover and his name is “Frank N. Stein.” As a big Frankenstein fan, that made me sad.

His backstory also wasn’t fully fleshed out in a satisfying way either. It was just mentioned in passing around the 80% mark. So the ball was seriously dropped there.

The main characters also don’t seem like a good fit. I don’t believe they actually would fall in love with each other. I didn’t really like either of them, and I don’t see them actually being a couple.

I also caught several typos in the book while I read it.

“Your Coffin or Mine” was definitely the best one in this series.

These others aren’t particularly good, but I love that they’re paranormal, they’re kind of cozy, and they’re very easy reads. So I love the general vibes of this series and world despite my critiques.

[LacyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨ Thank you Jacklyn Hyde for the advanced copy 💕
This was so funny! I wrote down 5 different quotes that had me laughing out loud. Jacklyn Hyde writes FMCs that are the perfect mix of funny, smart, confident, and without shame of their own desires. They are true modern women.
The chemistry between the MMC and the FMC is absolutely delicious. The spice is top-tier.
Maybe it’s because I laugh so much during these books, that it makes them feel too short. Probably because I enjoy it so much, I don’t want them to end!

[Sandra Curney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew when I met Bernie that she’d end one of my favorite characters and boy was I right! She has so much sass and wasn’t afraid to give Frank a run for his money.
This story had me giggling from start to finish. I found myself not wanting to be an adult and do things like go to work, I just wanted to keep getting lost in the amazing world that Jacklyn had created. Absolutely recommend reading this story!

*I received an ARC for an honest review

[Reba Densley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was my favorite so far. The banter was enough to make me laugh till I almost peed myself.
Make sure you read the first two books in this series as those characters are talked about and seen a little in this one.

Bernadette is witty, pig headed, takes no crap from no one. And she loves to get even. She is a woman I wanna be. She doesn't care what anyone thinks. She has been sorta obsessed with Frank Stein since she first saw him on TV. And when she sees him in person, she practically drools. I mean who wouldn't with a man who is massive in size. Every girl needs her own monster.

Frank prefers to stay to himself. He's trying to help the supernatural but when something of his goes missing, he wants it back before it causes catastrophic consequences. And he finds out that Bernadette is where to start. But he doesn't realize that she is pig headed and stubborn. And soon he can't understand why he is drawn to her even when he wants to end her.

Frank wants her gone once she fixes the problem she caused. And Bernadette wants to ride him like a pony, because again who doesn't want to ride a monster.

One of my favorite passages from this book "She goes into a box alright, only it's labeled Pandora and is chock full of chaos and spite." Frank Stein

It's a book you definitely want to waste no time on reading.

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew that Frank's book would be worth waiting for. He is the mysterious man behind this big corporation. A man that Bernie was fascinated with until he kidnapped her. I literally loved her character. She was funny, smart and beautiful, and he was the perfect grumpy man for her. Yes, she drives him nuts most of the time, but it won't be that much fun reading their story. I know that time had to go by until he really saw her as a woman and his mate. It didn't take a lot of time for him to become obsessive towards her. She felt the same for him, because she was already mesmerized. As soon as he realized she was his mate, all he could think about was her.

Let me tell you something more... This book was really spicy. Everything that happened between them two was pure fire 🔥. There was plenty of kink and the smut was that good 🌶️.

I just wished for the book to be a bit longer so we could have more time with them as fated mates. Besides that, I really loved reading Bernie and Frank's love story.

***I received an ARC from the author and my review is given voluntarily***.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

[I was provided an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.]

•monster x human
•size difference
•billionaire romance
•hacker x ceo
•kidnapping
•fated mates
•he doesn’t mean to fall but when he does it’s HARD
•banter is 10/10

Bernadette takes no shit and I absolutely love her for it. she knows what she wants and she goes for it. that includes hacking a billion dollar company for her friend, and then fucking the ceo of said billion dollar company.
Frank is slow to warm to her, but man once he gets there he doesn’t just warm to her he gets HOT🥵
I just love a big monster man saying “mine”🙂‍↕️
the banter in this book had me actually laughing out loud. they were so damn funny.
can’t waittttt for the next book! I love this series so much.

5/5 ⭐️
2/5 spice rating🌶️

[Len · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look I’m going to say something a bit mean, maybe, but I think if you know dick all about how computer security works maybe you shouldn’t write a book about a hacker and a major cybersecurity breach at a corporation.

This was… cartoonishly inaccurate. Even a quick skim of some basic Wikipedia articles on what a firewall or a VPN is would have allowed for some realism, surely.

The story itself? Great. The romance? Engrossing. The smut? Sizzling.

But nothing breaks immersion for me as a reader like an author just throwing out techy jargon that they clearly don’t understand and haven’t bothered to learn about. Really sloppy.

[Mari Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve very much enjoyed Jacklyn Hyde’s Monster Bae series and was curious as to how she was going to make the bad guy of the first two books into a main character in this third installment. She does manage to humanize him and I also enjoyed the FMC, but ultimately this love story is a dark romance and that’s not my usual jam. There’s nothing inherently wrong with it and there are appropriate trigger warnings. It’s a different overall tone than the first two books. I’m still very much looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep she did it again, I’m obsessed 🩷

[Anna Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great! I loved the banter back and forth between Frank and Bernie. I also loved that Bernie’s top priority was animals (her cat, etc). I wonder if Jacklyn will do a book about Brom’s owner 🤔 that would be fantastic!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stitched Up in You ***ARC REVIEW ***

Tropes:
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Banter x Teasing
- Accidental Enemies with benefits to lovers
- Fated Mates
- Forced Proximity

Spice 3.5/5 🌶️

Now for Mr.Frank Stein & Ms. Bernadette Crenshaw. If you read books 1 and 2, you’ll know that Frank is an unapologetic a-hole who hates humans. That is, until he kidnaps and meets Bernie who happened to hack his company and cause a slew of problems for Frank, accidentally. This accident turned into the happiest surprise. From the get, you know you’re in for a good time. From the pacing, the banter, and the impulsive thoughts; Ms. Hyde keeps us on our toes with the plot and the incredible chemistry between our MMC & FMC. She outdid herself with this book!

Bernie is your super smart, witty, curvy, and very human FMC who has absolutely no problem pushing ALL of Frank’s buttons and then some. She gave just as much as she got and from the beginning had no problem challenging and going toe to toe with Frank when nearly everyone else is outright scared of him…. NOT Bernie. Her only goal was to climb him like a tree and let me tell you, she does that and then some. So much for Frank hating humans huh. Their love and care for others and animals is unparalleled. (Wait until you meet Brom 😬🤪) They’re so alike in so many ways but there differences are also their greatest strengths for one another.

The spice though!! The spice is spicing in this book. Our very scary Mr.Stein is pierced btw, giving Bernies tongue ring some fun too ….. Loved that they matched each others freak AND had no shame in it. WAIT, Frank also went from handling business with Bernie to ensuring her cat was fed & brushed (what a mannn) Our girl turned Mr. BIG BAD & SCARY to Mr. Teddy Bear just for her and it is the PERFECT mashup & balance. Dare I say, he redeemed himself!!!?

Now … what are you waiting for? GET TO READING!!! YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED. Plus, see for yourself how Frank’s powers unfold.

& to our amazing author, Jacklyn Hyde; THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH for the opportunity in having an ARC copy. You’re confidence in your writing style is definitely shown in this book.

[Samantha Willens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank and Bernadette are a fantastic couple! Their banter and tension was so good. Bernie did not back down from anything, even big, intimidating Frank. I can’t wait for the next book in the Monster Bae series

---

Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 💋💋💋
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Fizzle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too Angry and No romance

I read the two previous books in the series and this book was disappointing. In the previous books Frank came across to me as arrogant, ruthless,stubborn, grumpy but he always had Vlad and Doyle's best interest in his heart.
A well written book needs a solid relatable plot. A story that's believable , that develops it's characters and uses plot devices such as humor to uplift the story by changing the tone or to move the story along.
A good book should not rely on sex scenes or " supernatural" elements to keep the readers engaged. A supernatural book should be able to stand without any magic or gimmicks. The supernatural or paranormal should enhance but not be the main pillars of the story.
Sadly, this book fell short on all of the above. It didn't give enough depth or richness of development so if you had not read the previous books and been introduced to Frank you might really struggle to engage with either of the main characters as they both come off as stubborn and self absorbed. Possession is not love. Holding someone hostage is not romantic.
To the author's credit she does give a set of "trigger warnings" I know that this is a fictional story, but the current Resurgence of misogyny, the ever increasing sexual traffic, this is the type of book unfortunately can subconsciously minimalise relationship red flags that and give impressionable people the wrong idea as to what romance and love really look like.
The story itself had an angry vibe that persisted through the entire book. There's no truely "soft" moments. Too few amusing bits. It's more of a combat book than a romance book.

[Mika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read Jacklyn Hyde's other books and this is my favorite one yet! I love that the MFC is so independent and won't let people tell her what to do. This has so much grumpy sunshine its adorable plus a unicorn and a flaming horse?! I couldn't ask for a better book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[coffeeinlibraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I love Bernie & Frank so much!!

Frank is such a BRUTE and Bernie’s charm is his perfect match. 🥹 I did not peg him as being such a softy to be honest but man did it work in his favor on gaining redemption.

I absolutely adore Bernie. What a spitfire! Bless her for seeing through his walls and not once giving up on plowing through them.

B & F are giving Vlad and Aubrey a run for their money as my fav couple so far. 🙈

CANNOT wait for Lachlan’s book!! And I’m still super curious about Jekyll 👀

Thank you so much for the arc! 🩷

[Joque Bookreviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billionaire monster vs a monsterfudger

Oh my gosh, Bernie the FMC is my spirit animal, she's hilarious, smart, and a total monster fudger lol.

What's it about?
Bernie hacks a billionaire's company to check out the guy her bestie is hooking up with, only she accidentally lets a bad guy into the software behind her- who steals important files.

Frank, the billionaire monster who owns the company Bernie hacked, "white vans" her, and tells her she'll fix what she broke or he won't let her leave.

Most people would cave at this point, but Bernie isn't most ppl- she gives as good as she gets. Bernie goes toe to toe with the monster, poking the angry bear as often as possible, and also wanting to know what that 🍆 do. Arguing is their foreplay lol. Here's some of my fav dialogue:

Bernie:
"That man reminds me of the mountain from Game of Thrones, like you know he’s just got to be packing a behemoth of a di€k. If circumstances were different, I would be looking into some cleats to wear while I tackle him, but I very seriously doubt I’m on his good side at the moment. After tackling Frank: My 🐈's truly sated for once in her adult life as I lie stretched out across the dining table."

Frank:
"Not the case with this one. Oh. She goes into a box alright, only it's labeled Pandora and is chock full of chaos and spite....especially after being publicly affianced to a criminal. But what a criminal." (She shouted out they were getting married in front of the papz 🤣.)

If you're looking for a grumpy sunshine, monster romcom, this is the one! I giggled and cheesed my way through this book. But don't let that fool you, the spice is spicing too. 3/5 🌶️ (spicy af but it has plot too)

I've blazed through this entire series in a handful of days (def do audiobook for the first two if you can). Each book stands alone, with a new couple each book and their HEA, but also has overarching storylines and recurring side cast. I can't wait for more in the series! I'll def be continuing it. I'm dying for Loch's story, he's been stuck down there forever and dying for a mate.

Read what makes you happy- and then tell me about it lol 🖤

[Arielliasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Я очень часто говорю, что мне не везёт с книгами, где любимые второстепенные персонажи становятся главными. Это не преувеличение, и длится такое с самого начала читательского пути, а он ой как давно начался. Стоило, конечно, догадаться, что в каждом утверждении бывает своё «но», и как же сильно оно меня порадовало. Я ждала этот роман, надеялась и верила в лучшее, и ожидания оправдались. Не помешало даже то, что во второй части я зашипперила героя с другой девушкой. Простите-извините, теперь понятно, почему этого бы никогда не произошло, но искры между ними сохранились (это та ненависть, которая в любовь не превратится).

Бернадетт сове��шила одну маленькую ошибку, чтобы помочь подруге. Она об этом не знала и никак не ожидала, что, отправившись забрать кота от ветеринара, окажется похищенной. Два явно недружелюбно настроенных мужчины вырубают девушку, перемещают её на самолёте в другой город и впихивают в кабинет своего очень злого начальника. Весь страх покидает героиню, когда она видит, кому она понадобилась, ведь Фрэнк — её кумир. Богатый бизнесмен, филантроп и попросту самый красивый мужчина, конечно, по версии девушки. Именно он сообщает о том, что она совершила ошибку, и вовсе не маленькую и незначительную, а ту, которая лишила его части состояния и важной информации его компании. И теперь Бернадетт вынуждена во всём слушаться мужчину, по крайней мере, Фрэнк на этом настаивает, вот только он не понимает, что это его заперли с ней, а вовсе не наоборот.

Это было очень весело, взрывоопасно и горячо. Не обошлось без глупости, но это лишь позволило мне выплёскивать больше эмоций и зажгло интерес неведомых масштабов. Герой, не переносящий на дух людей и считающий девушку жалкой букашкой, испортившей его прекрасный бизнес. Героиня, желающая поставить его на колени за такое обращение и за похищение её лучшей подруги, которое произошло в прошлом. Где-то треть текста ненависть так и пылает между ними, и если со стороны героини это только слабый огонёк, на стороне героя — это самое настоящее пламя. Как бы я не любила и не считала Фрэнка самым невероятным персонажем серии, эту часть я читала очень злой. Ну, не без довольства из-за шикарного юмора и упёртости героини, но всё же выбесил знатно.

Думаю, по третьему кругу расписывать, как я влюблена в героя, не стоит. Персонажи у авторки в принципе все яркие, но вот этот полюбился при первом своём появлении, будучи там так-то антагонистом (он, кстати, не злодей, но это смотря с чьей стороны посмотреть). Что до героини, то она заинтересовала меня ещё в первой книге. Первое впечатление — забавная, второе — что ты творишь, женщина, последнее — твори, пожалуйста, дальше и как можно больше. Роман с лёгкостью можно поделить на две части: герои ненавидят друг друга и герои наконец-то поговорили. И вот эта первая часть поначалу показала мне героиню с не лучшей стороны. Я посчитала её глуповатой, но лишь до момента, пока не осознала, что в отличие от меня — читательницы, ей неизвестно, кто такой Фрэнк и чего точно не стоит делать. Поняв, что какие-то действия против героя не работают, героиня перестроилась и отыскала точки, на которые можно давить, не переставая, и да, я ей восхищаюсь.

Шикарные герои у нас имеются. Юмор им под стать, и им пропитан весь роман. Да, он специфический, но повезло, что именно такой мне и заходит. Романтическая линия яркая и проникающая в самое сердце. Никакой глупой драмы ближе к финалу не существует, хотя всё указывало на то, что она будет. Я, правда, ожидала, что сейчас из-за угла выскочит какой-нибудь злодей и заставит персонажей поволноваться, но прогадала.

И теперь будет признание — я читаю много романтических книг, и среди всего многообразия сложно найти те, где не было бы секс-сцен. Чаще всего встречаются именно те, где этих сцен наберётся на половину текста. И нет, я не имею ничего против этих моментов, но в большинстве своём после прочитывания первой, все остальные я безбожно скипаю. Делаю так только по причине, что кринжа там всегда предостаточно, и мне нужно понять, на каком уровне он в романе. Я так долго разглагольствовала только для того, чтобы похвалить писательницу за постельные сцены. Ни одной не пролистнула, и это несмотря на то, что троп разницу в размерах не люблю. Это было не просто хорошо, это было восхительно.

Ну что же, теперь только и остаётся, что надеяться на книгу о Лахлане. После шикарного Фрэнка он мой второй любимчик.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating 5⭐️
Spice 🌶🌶.5
Dual POV

Monster romcom
Billionaire x hacker
Grumpy x fiery
"Enemies" to lovers
Forced Proximity
Amazing banter
Lowkey cat dad
Large size difference
Mates
Pierced peen & tongue (her)
Forced Os/Multi Os
No 3rd act breakup
HEA

Stitched Up In You is book three in the Monsters Bae series, and once again, Jacklyn perfectly balances humor and heart. While the series is interconnected and can technically be read as a standalone, by this point I highly recommend reading the earlier books first. This installment might be my favorite so far as the banter is absolutely off the charts, with Bernie and her antics coming in as a very close second. Overall, everything about this series is pure fun: a feel-good, monster romance that never fails to entertain.

We’ve met both of our main characters before with Bernadette as Aubrey’s best friend in book one, and Frank, a monster and billionaire CEO, who was involved in some of the drama from the first two books. So, we already have a sense of how things might unfold between them, and let me tell you, it’s an absolute hoot. Would I have guessed these two would end up together? Not at all, but they totally work amazingly together. Bernie, loyal bestie to Aubrey, tried to do her due diligence and look into Vlad when they first started dating, which sent her down a rabbit hole involving Frank’s billion-dollar company. Her small hack ends up causing major problems for Frank, and it takes him months to trace the chaos back to Bernie... who had no idea she was causing such havoc. From there, the story ramps up with kidnapping, blackmail, and plenty of deliciously forced proximity as Frank tries to wrangle Bernie into helping him recoup his losses. Too bad for him, she’s pure chaos and spite, with a soft spot for big boys. She’s a nuisance, sure, but she’s exactly where she wants to be and having the time of her life.

Bernadette might be my favorite of the three women we’ve met so far, and that’s saying something, because I already love Aubrey and Whitley. Her sassy, petty attitude combined with her ability to appreciate the world around her, AND the fact that she’s a cat mom, made her incredibly fun and relatable. I loved her approach to life, especially given the tough situation she finds herself in. It was hilarious that it took her days to realize she couldn't get her hands on technology because she was so engrossed in exploring Frank’s mansion and all the cool things around it (hello Brom Bones!). She was living her best life under less-than-ideal circumstances, and her constant references to monsters and historical romances had me laughing nonstop.
Bernie is the embodiment of girl power: she’s a hacker who outshines Frank’s entire IT team of men, and I loved seeing a woman succeed in a male-dominated field. Her absolute desire to drive Frank bonkers while also wanting to boink him was refreshingly funny and unhinged at the same time. She’s feral for the man she wants and unapologetic about it and honestly, gotta love a woman who knows exactly what she wants and wants to live out ALL her fantasies.

Like Bernadette, I also love a big boy, and once she cracked Frank’s frosty, human-hating shell, he was absolutely delicious to read about. He’s the kind of character you love to hate until his backstory comes into focus, revealing a secret soft side. I’m not a fan of marketing everything as “enemies to lovers” anymore, and I wouldn’t classify this book that way... but for Frank, it’s pretty close. He genuinely despises humans (as he’s made clear in the first two books), and it takes a lot of pestering (and some skillful dick sucking from Bernie) for him to see her as more than just “human.” After all her pestering and shenanigans, it’s a rapid decline from loathing to lust and adoration, and Frank doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance in Hell against Bernie’s larger-than-life energy. Her presence finally thaws the cold, unflappable man, showing how love and companionship can change even someone as guarded as Frank. By the end, he redeems himself with both Bernie and with Vlad and Doyle for ALL the shit he pulled, and watching him soften under her influence is utterly satisfying.

I love the way Jacklyn has reimagined these classic horror characters in a modern setting, giving fun twists to their lore while still delivering their happily ever afters. This series is cozy, charming, and endlessly entertaining, and I absolutely cannot wait for book four with Lauchlan!

[Drea · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ Overall rating: 5/5
🌶️ Spice rating: 2.5/5
TW: Controlling MMC, Kidnapping

Ugh, hands down, 10 out of 10,000% loved this one!!! This book felt like the epitome of Jacklyn Hyde’s growth as an author sharper writing, deeper emotion, and characters that earned their endings. We’ve got a “he hated her, she was hopelessly thirsty for him,” plot with forced proximity and a fake engagement? So much packed in such a small book yet it smashed it all perfectly. This was the book I’d been looking forward to since I started the series, and it absolutely delivered.

I’m so glad I read the first two before this one, because it gave the story more context and understanding as to what's going on. I already knew who everyone was, what Frank’s deal was, and how far he had to fall before we got this version of him.

Our FMC, Bernadette, was fiery and grounded in all the right ways. She reacted appropriately to things, scared when she needed to be, defiant when it mattered, and horny 90% of the time. I loved that she stood up for herself and didn’t back down, even when she was completely out of her depth. She was sassy, chaotic, and just so much fun to be in her head. Her train of thoughts when it came to Frank? Yeah girl, same. And seriously, I cackled more times than I should have.

Like Whitley, Bernadette had no issues calling Frank out on his messes. She knew what battles to pick and unlike Whitley, she knew when to pick them. She understood give and take which made her a perfect foil to Frank.

As for Frank..... Where can I get my hands on him???? He's my favorite character. Morally Gray and he does not give a rat's behind either. He knows what he wants and will do anything to get it. Plus he’s self-aware, intense, and occasionally terrifying. I appreciated that rather than telling Bernadette about himself, he shows her. That moment was so powerful because he would never admit to all the responsibilities that he has, or ask for gratitude, and for a man that has everything? He was weirdly humble and willing to sacrifice. He also never hides what he is. He knows his flaws: he’s controlling, prideful, and used to getting his way. But by the end, what stood out most was his respect for Bernadette as his partner.

That’s the real growth here; it’s not about him suddenly becoming a good person, it’s about him learning to see his partner as an equal. He doesn’t love it, but he accepts it. That’s powerful.

My one minor gripe is that he never fully owned up to everything he did to Aubrey. Bernadette knew to hold him accountable and while yes, he never harmed her, she was terrified because he knew what buttons to press. By threatening her family and friends, he got what he wanted. My theory on that is that a big part of him didn’t want Bernadette to see what he’s capable of, and that avoidance is a flaw he still needs to confront. But I guess it tracks with the controlling nature...

Also… I can’t lie: the Hades vibes? So strong. It may or may not have been part of why I loved him so much.

Obviously we had our cast of side characters which we already loved, but Nero and Bruno were my favorite guards. The continued worldbuilding and connections between books tied everything through and nods to Vlad and Aubrey were satisfying. As expected, we got a little setup for Lachlan’s story and, surprised as I am about it, it has me very curious. I’ll definitely be adding that to my TBR.

Now the spice....

Definitely not as spicy as Howl You Doin’?, but the amount we got fit their story. I'm not gonna lie and say that I wasn't left wanting (when am I not), but I wasn't mad about it. The chemistry was great, the payoff satisfying, and yes, the vibrating… addition made its cameo (though part of me wanted to find out alllll that it can do).

TL;DR

The strongest book in the series by far. The banter and snark between these two was amazing with the tension building out of this world. Bernadette and Frank’s relationship has layers, and Hyde’s character growth shines through the most in this addition. If the trend continues, Lachlan’s book might just blow this one out of the water.

[Gleeful Goblin Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gleeful Goblin Review: Bernadette "Bernie" stole my heart from Page 1 with her white hat hacker antics on behalf of her grandmother's estate. It's easily apparent that Bernie has a strong sense of justice and responsibility, both of which resonated with me **hard** as the oldest child in my family with similarly irresponsible parents just like hers. She also has amazing taste in 1) Having a cat (and a big gray Ragdoll to boot!) and 2) Naming him Edgar Allan Paw. She also has her priorities in order because her response to being whisked away without her consent is just 10/10: "It’s also obvious I’m not dreaming because if I were, Edgar Allan Paw would be here. At that thought, I rush toward him, uncaring about the cuffs or anything else. “Oh my gosh, you have to help me get my cat,” I blurt."

Bernie is confident and comfortable with herself so that she knows what she wants and goes after it with singleminded determination, whether it's being the long arm of the law to bear on an embezzling accountant, telling a Stage 5 Clinger to take a hike or else, or looking for some no strings attached D....Bernie knows what's up and isn't going to be pushed into anything she doesn't choose without a fight. That is absolutely outstanding and Bernie is #Goals.

Frank is very much a typical Grumpy Gus who has no interest in even being around humans much less any type of more...personal involvement. He has spent so long being powerful and in control that the concept of a young human woman standing up to him and not backing down is utterly foreign to him: “So, you’ve said repeatedly. You want your cat back, and I need you to get my things back. Perhaps we could make a deal so that you can do what I brought you here to do, hmm?” I find myself saying. The volatile levels of current coursing through my body have the hair of my arms raising as the static electricity I naturally produce increases, as it does every time I withhold my baser self. An idea forms. I’ll give her cat over and do what I must to get the moonflower formula back. After that it will be fun breaking this woman. Even now she glares, contrasting with every other being that has been in her position since my creation. No one dares to challenge me."

I loved seeing these two clash, sparks flying first as adversaries and then romantically. This book was a total treat. 5/5 Stars

[Michi Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was one of the lucky readers to receive and ARC from this amazing author and I devoured this book in two days (cause life got in the way).

Let's jump into it:

Bernadette simply knows what she wants (🍆) and she will get it (🍆) exactly like she wants it and when she wants it, no matter what others have to say about it. Before 20%, she's already made it clear that she's a short and plump Queen, not afraid of kissing more than she can swallow. She's also not above using violence to set her boundaries. Add to that a complete truckload of fearlessness and you have reached the (correct) conclusion that she's a redhead. She's a devoted mother to a sweet cat, Edgar, who is not to be fucked with - not because he's a bad kitty, no, he's a sweetie, but his mother is a menace, as already established.

On the other corner (is this a fight? absolutely), we have Frank, the grumpy billionaire who hates humans but, for some reason, simply can't send Bernadette on her way.

By 24%, war is officially declared and Frank is seconds away from causing a blackout in NY. Meanwhile Bernadette is... playing Solitaire.

Yep, you read it right.

Also she just wanted her cat, if he had only given the girl her cat she wouldn't have d- nope, I retract that, she would've done it all anyway, maybe even worse cause she'd have had more headspace to come up with creative ways to fuck Frank up.

This is absolutely amazing, you get all the best tropes in one brilliant package: enemies-to-lovers, size difference, grumpy-sunshine, billionaire, magic, mates. ALL OF IT!!

Well, if I haven't yet convinced you about the absolute perfection that is this story, let me add this: this book is the answer to "What would happen if an author punched MarySue and sent her to her room and then wrote a (amazing) female character?"

This, all of this would happen.

And that character would land herself a delicious tall (very very tall, think taller than that) monster of man who just wants to love her (and he certainly knows how).

And, yes, he gives her her cat back. No animals were hurt in this story, just walls (that scene! yes, it just lives on my mind), and buildings, and grass, maybe tables.

Oh, there's also a horse, but he's fine.

Just read it, this all will make sense after you read this book!

5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[H-A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stitched Up In You by @jacklyn_hyde_author
(ARC Review)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


I throughly enjoyed this book! I’ve been waiting for Frank’s story for a while and this did not disappoint.

Is he moody and a touch violent in his hate of all humans? Yes. Of course he is. But it turns out all he needed to do was imprison his true mate beauty-and-the-beast-style in his Pemberley-esq manor and he gets over all the hate!

(Yes I know I reference two famously grumpy males that become obsessed with the women they love, it was not accidental 😘)

Bernie was the perfect match for Frank- she’s into paranormal beings, she’s a genius, she’s unhinged and I love her.

I especially love how brave her character is! She is so quick thinking that even the huge paranormal creatures around her stand back in awe.

You have to give this a go! It’s such a spooky season treat!

I don’t know what part of me (and most of you) broke at a young age but yes I do love it when he hates everyone but her. In fact I’m a big fan! And this takes that to the extreme, he goes from considering her murder to making sure she doesn’t get hurt wandering the grounds to worshipping her. What a cutie!

On a serious note I think Frank was the hardest character in this series to ‘redeem’ and yet it’s the most endearing character arc! He softens for her and that allows something in him to begin to heal which is beautiful.

This series is such a good time- I love the classics that these characters famously originate from (I even studied them for much longer than I should have done at university, justice for the creature, Dr. F is the only monster) and I really enjoy this charming and cozy world the author has created for us to enjoy them in a new light!

Thank you so much for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

Enjoy!

[Delisa Moniz · Rating 4 out of 5]

OH. MY. GOD I've been waiting for this one. Thank you for the arc, I have never sped through a book as fast as I did this one. I could not put it down, like why do I have to be an adult and do adult things.

***Slight SPOILERS ahead****


Giving this 4 out of 5 stars: I really enjoyed Frank & Bernies story. I love a FMC who is confident in herself and knows what she wants (Hint it's Frank Goliath c***). I love that we got more information about the mating bond, we met the infamous Odette, and interacted with her a bit. We have a Frank N Stein back story!! We met some more immortal creatures. I have to say this is one of Jacklyns more fleshed out books, but I felt like the ending was rushed. Bernie doesn't date seriously and we don't know why until late into act II but the explanation is that she got her heart broken by someone in college.. thats it. No more info on who this person is, what they did to break her heart and swear off relationships forever. I feel this was a missed opportunity for the reader to sympathize with her, especially because she got over her stance reallll quick.

I loved the height difference between the MMC and FMC, but the FMC actions, stomping her feet and putting her arms over her chest when she got mad she didn't get her way, kind of made the height difference weird for me. It was giving "I'm a child", not an adult.

There were still some plots left open, like what is Odette's plan/ purpose? Why are Vlad, Doyle, and Frank finding their mates all of a sudden? What happened in the past? ( we get a bit of an answer to this in book) Hopefully, these plots are resolved as the series continues.

Anywho.. Sitiched Up in You is available October 18th, 2025! I'll be buying a copy to add to my collection!

[Evyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶🌶🌶/5

What to expect:
🐈‍⬛ Adult Paranormal Fantasy RomCom
🌩 First Person ; Dual POV
🐈‍⬛ Hate to Love
🌩 one sided enemies
🐈‍⬛ slow burn romance
🌩 energy being MMC x Human FMC
🐈‍⬛ morally grey MMC
🌩 lots and lots of banter+teasing
🐈‍⬛ size difference

Trigger and Content warnings:
• sexually explicit content
• grieving death of grandparent
• Kidnapping
• minor Stalking (tracking devices)

a book is really well written when you go from hating a character to loving them the way Jacklyn Hyde did with good ol' Frank. After the first two books in the monster bae series I was wishing he'd get his comeuppance. And what can I say Bernadette delivered exactly that.
Bernie is such a strong-willed FMC, she knows what she wants and goes for it (even though sometimes she has the survival instict of Heihei from moana while doing it lol). I love the way she stands up for herself and is NOT afraid to demand what she wants. I kind of hated Frank at first, but once he gave in and dropped his bossy a-hole routine, he was such a sweetheart. And their chemistry? you could say it's... electric⚡️

I loved the book. Besides being a fun read, I am an absolute sucker for banter and tension which this delivered.
They had such a cute ending and the enemies to lovers was a good change. Jacklyn did a really great job of balancing the spice with the story. I really like that she always adds some clues for the next book but the focus still remains on the current couple.
That being said I'm so excited to see what happens in Lachlans book!

I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.