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Midlife Adventures of the Fae Realm #1
Claws & Cocktails: Midlife Paranormal Women's Fiction Fantasy
She's nearly forty, done with heartbreak, and definitely done with men. Until a blind date turns into a spy mission—and a fake marriage with a dangerously irresistible werewolf.
In the small town of Havenwood, Zera, a fiercely independent pixie, single mom, and bartender, faces the harsh reality of rejection when her werewolf ex deserts her for his pack and a new flame.
Swearing off men, she relies on her half sister for support, determined to rebuild her life. But when she's talked into one last blind date, she vows to hate whoever shows up.
To her horror, it's Maverick—a mysterious werewolf who's almost too perfect. Until the truth He’s a spy, the date is a setup, and to stay alive, Zera’s must pretend to be his wife.
*Originally featured in the acclaimed Beyond the Veil anthology, Claws & Cocktails now returns as book one in the Midlife Adventures of the Fae Realm series, a collection of steamy interconnected fantasy romances for grown-up women.
*This expanded edition includes stunning character artwork, an exclusive world map, and a never-before-seen bonus chapter that dives deeper into Zera and Maverick’s story. If you crave slow burn, enemies-to-lovers, fated mates, and fake-marriage romances with spice, this tale of passion and danger is sure to curl your toes.
In the small town of Havenwood, Zera, a fiercely independent pixie, single mom, and bartender, faces the harsh reality of rejection when her werewolf ex deserts her for his pack and a new flame.
Swearing off men, she relies on her half sister for support, determined to rebuild her life. But when she's talked into one last blind date, she vows to hate whoever shows up.
To her horror, it's Maverick—a mysterious werewolf who's almost too perfect. Until the truth He’s a spy, the date is a setup, and to stay alive, Zera’s must pretend to be his wife.
*Originally featured in the acclaimed Beyond the Veil anthology, Claws & Cocktails now returns as book one in the Midlife Adventures of the Fae Realm series, a collection of steamy interconnected fantasy romances for grown-up women.
*This expanded edition includes stunning character artwork, an exclusive world map, and a never-before-seen bonus chapter that dives deeper into Zera and Maverick’s story. If you crave slow burn, enemies-to-lovers, fated mates, and fake-marriage romances with spice, this tale of passion and danger is sure to curl your toes.
- GenresRomantasy
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2025
23 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
About the author
Tabitha Slick
4 books78 followersTabitha Slick (aka Tabi Slick) is an enchanting fantasy author who masterfully explores paranormal romance, dark fantasy, mysteries, and the magical world of the fae. Her imaginative storytelling and beautifully crafted characters grip readers from the first page. Within the Transitioned Universe, she has penned numerous books, including the exhilarating Tompkin’s School (A Supernatural Academy) series and the eagerly awaited Beast Hunter from the Fae Romance Realm. With a background in linguistics, Tabitha has a passion for language and literature that drives her captivating narratives. When not writing, she enjoys exploring new destinations, cherishing loved ones, and devouring novels and coffee while learning how to sew clothes from scratch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
September 20, 2025
Don’t ask me why I assigned Tina Fey and Steve Carell from Date Night as the main characters- but oddly enough it worked in my favor! 😂 Highly enjoyed.
October 5, 2025
This book was such a fun surprise! I loved that it followed older characters , it felt so refreshing to read about a single mom and a grumpy, guarded werewolf both trying to figure out life, love, and second chances.
Zera completely stole my heart. She’s fierce, funny, and doing everything she can to protect her son while rediscovering herself along the way. Maverick? Total bad-boy energy on the outside but a soft-hearted protector underneath (basically a golden retriever in wolf form). Their chemistry was so good the banter, the tension, the growth.
It’s got a little bit of everything: spy-mission chaos, fated mates, a dash of magic, and a romance that feels both mature and hopeful. It’s lighthearted but still has emotional depth, and I had such a good time with it.
If you love midlife fantasy romance with humor, heart, and characters who’ve lived a little, this one’s worth the read! Thanks to the nerd fam for the gifted arc.
Zera completely stole my heart. She’s fierce, funny, and doing everything she can to protect her son while rediscovering herself along the way. Maverick? Total bad-boy energy on the outside but a soft-hearted protector underneath (basically a golden retriever in wolf form). Their chemistry was so good the banter, the tension, the growth.
It’s got a little bit of everything: spy-mission chaos, fated mates, a dash of magic, and a romance that feels both mature and hopeful. It’s lighthearted but still has emotional depth, and I had such a good time with it.
If you love midlife fantasy romance with humor, heart, and characters who’ve lived a little, this one’s worth the read! Thanks to the nerd fam for the gifted arc.
October 19, 2025
What a fun read! This was a cute heartwarming, somewhat action packed, monster fantasy romcom! I’m a sucker for a romcom! I loved that the characters were middle aged. We have FMC Zera a pixie fae, single mom and MMC Maverick a protective spy werewolf. Both loathe each other’s kind, but can’t help falling in love. I loved the banter and chemistry between Zera and Maverick. If like found family, fake dating and slow burn romance this is a fun read. Thank you so much to The Nerd Fam and Tabitha Slick for an eARC of this book. I had a fun time reading.
September 6, 2025
this was such a refreshing surprise!
the main character, Zera, was so relatable in her actions. I loved her character throughout the entire book. Her having a son made this book refreshingly different.
The male lead and her both had bad past dating experiences and had to get over their trauma first.
I would've liked for them to take a bit longer to warm up to each other, the way they said "I love you" so soon just felt kind of weird, especially considering their past trauma.
Nevertheless, I loved their dynamic!! The entire "fated mates"-trope never gets old either.
Would totally recommend, especially if you're looking for something new!
the main character, Zera, was so relatable in her actions. I loved her character throughout the entire book. Her having a son made this book refreshingly different.
The male lead and her both had bad past dating experiences and had to get over their trauma first.
I would've liked for them to take a bit longer to warm up to each other, the way they said "I love you" so soon just felt kind of weird, especially considering their past trauma.
Nevertheless, I loved their dynamic!! The entire "fated mates"-trope never gets old either.
Would totally recommend, especially if you're looking for something new!
October 31, 2025
Tropes:
🧚🏻♀️ Single Mum Pixie FMC
🐺 Werewolf Spy MMC
💍 Fake Dating
🧑🧑🧒 Found Family
⚔️ Enemies to Lovers
❤️🔥 Slow Burn
I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this 🥰 This was an action packed, fun read! I adored the main characters and whole plot. Havenwood was a fantastic place with all sorts of supernatural beings like vampires, demons, sirens, werewolves, pixies and even an incubus! There was danger and high stakes. The slow burn is 👌🏻 It was lovely having an FMC in her mid-late 30s with a son and a family, that she protected fiercely 💕 Overall, a great read with a satisfying ending 🥰
My only negative was that at times I felt like there was quite a lot of repetition, like we were being reminded of things we didn’t need to be e.g he was a werewolf, or that he had ‘stormy grey eyes’. But it didn’t detract from the story and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
🧚🏻♀️ Single Mum Pixie FMC
🐺 Werewolf Spy MMC
💍 Fake Dating
🧑🧑🧒 Found Family
⚔️ Enemies to Lovers
❤️🔥 Slow Burn
I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this 🥰 This was an action packed, fun read! I adored the main characters and whole plot. Havenwood was a fantastic place with all sorts of supernatural beings like vampires, demons, sirens, werewolves, pixies and even an incubus! There was danger and high stakes. The slow burn is 👌🏻 It was lovely having an FMC in her mid-late 30s with a son and a family, that she protected fiercely 💕 Overall, a great read with a satisfying ending 🥰
My only negative was that at times I felt like there was quite a lot of repetition, like we were being reminded of things we didn’t need to be e.g he was a werewolf, or that he had ‘stormy grey eyes’. But it didn’t detract from the story and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
October 23, 2025
What’s an almost 40 year old pixie to do when her blind date is actually a werewolf spy and now she’s forced to pretend to be his wife??
This was such a fun and cozy read! I LOVE it when the characters are a little older (AKA close to my age.) This story is unique and full of action and just the right amount of chaos. Zera and Maverick had this great banter and tension between them. They both have their reasons for disliking pixies and werewolves…but
they have great chemistry and a connection and we really see that grow the more time they spend together.
I loved Zera, she is a single mom and smart and funny and independent. She’s tough and will do anything to keep her son safe. She’s also a talented chemist of sorts. Oh Maverick, he is this brooding werewolf but underneath his tough exterior he is very sweet. They both have walls up and it’s so satisfying to see them crumble!
✨What To Expect:
🍷Fantasy Romance
❤️🔥Enemies to Lovers
🍸Fake Dating / Marriage
💋Single Mom Pixie FMC
🐺Grumpy Werewolf Spy MMC
💅🏻She’s Almost 40
🔎Spy Shenanigans
🔥Slow Burn
🌙Fated Mates
💜Found Family
This was such a fun and cozy read! I LOVE it when the characters are a little older (AKA close to my age.) This story is unique and full of action and just the right amount of chaos. Zera and Maverick had this great banter and tension between them. They both have their reasons for disliking pixies and werewolves…but
they have great chemistry and a connection and we really see that grow the more time they spend together.
I loved Zera, she is a single mom and smart and funny and independent. She’s tough and will do anything to keep her son safe. She’s also a talented chemist of sorts. Oh Maverick, he is this brooding werewolf but underneath his tough exterior he is very sweet. They both have walls up and it’s so satisfying to see them crumble!
✨What To Expect:
🍷Fantasy Romance
❤️🔥Enemies to Lovers
🍸Fake Dating / Marriage
💋Single Mom Pixie FMC
🐺Grumpy Werewolf Spy MMC
💅🏻She’s Almost 40
🔎Spy Shenanigans
🔥Slow Burn
🌙Fated Mates
💜Found Family
October 21, 2025
I am always in awe of how some authors can give us stories jammed packed with world building, interesting characters, and a mixture of thrilling action mixed with relatable humor.
That is exactly what this author gives us in CLAWS & COCKTAILS.
This story follows a single mother to a half werewolf son who not only can mix up a mean cocktail but dabbles in lab work to find a solution to her pixie dust problem. * Love a woman in STEM!
Zera is a pixie, and her people who still possess the ability to create pixie dust are hunted for their magic, and she desperately wants to find an alternative to pixie dust to stop this black market use of her people.
Zera has been able to keep her magic hidden until she set up on a blind date with a Lunar werewolf who is actually a spy. She must now work with the one person she vowed to never trust again to save her son.
Although this book is around 360-ish pages, the pacing is fantastic. The reads like an action-packed fantasy rom'com. It's exciting, it's swoony, and the world is just so interesting.
There are so many characters we meet along this journal. From sirens to gnomes, vampires, and trolls... you are left wanting more in all the rights. ways.
A special note to all the interior character art. It's stunning and loved it sprinkled throughout this story!
That is exactly what this author gives us in CLAWS & COCKTAILS.
This story follows a single mother to a half werewolf son who not only can mix up a mean cocktail but dabbles in lab work to find a solution to her pixie dust problem. * Love a woman in STEM!
Zera is a pixie, and her people who still possess the ability to create pixie dust are hunted for their magic, and she desperately wants to find an alternative to pixie dust to stop this black market use of her people.
Zera has been able to keep her magic hidden until she set up on a blind date with a Lunar werewolf who is actually a spy. She must now work with the one person she vowed to never trust again to save her son.
Although this book is around 360-ish pages, the pacing is fantastic. The reads like an action-packed fantasy rom'com. It's exciting, it's swoony, and the world is just so interesting.
There are so many characters we meet along this journal. From sirens to gnomes, vampires, and trolls... you are left wanting more in all the rights. ways.
A special note to all the interior character art. It's stunning and loved it sprinkled throughout this story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2025
This book got me hooked from the very beginning. The action kicked off right away and I was hooked by who was after our heroes.
So let’s take a look at what’s going down. Zera is a single mom pixie, persuaded to go on a blind date by her half sister, using a dating app. When she gets there, her date turns out to be a werewolf. Not only does Zera hate werewolves (he ex and baby daddy was a werewolf who abandoned them for his pack), but this werewolf is hiding something from her (and he hates pixies for something they did to him in his past). Maverick, the werewolf in question, is actually a spy and in order to save both their lives on this date, he convinces Zera to pretend to be his wife. Things don’t go to plan and they end up having to work together to bring down the big bad guy, and even that has a twist to it.
I loved how this story kept you guessing all the way through. Yes, there is a romance storyline between Maverick and Zera but also the mystery and suspense of the storyline was entertaining and well written. I loved the characters, it was nice to see an older FMC having some kickass moves and not just letting a man take care of her, this pixie meant business when it came to protecting her son.
I can’t wait to see more of this series, hopefully there are a lot more badass FMC’s waiting to take on the bad guys, and maybe let a hot looking guy tag along.
So let’s take a look at what’s going down. Zera is a single mom pixie, persuaded to go on a blind date by her half sister, using a dating app. When she gets there, her date turns out to be a werewolf. Not only does Zera hate werewolves (he ex and baby daddy was a werewolf who abandoned them for his pack), but this werewolf is hiding something from her (and he hates pixies for something they did to him in his past). Maverick, the werewolf in question, is actually a spy and in order to save both their lives on this date, he convinces Zera to pretend to be his wife. Things don’t go to plan and they end up having to work together to bring down the big bad guy, and even that has a twist to it.
I loved how this story kept you guessing all the way through. Yes, there is a romance storyline between Maverick and Zera but also the mystery and suspense of the storyline was entertaining and well written. I loved the characters, it was nice to see an older FMC having some kickass moves and not just letting a man take care of her, this pixie meant business when it came to protecting her son.
I can’t wait to see more of this series, hopefully there are a lot more badass FMC’s waiting to take on the bad guys, and maybe let a hot looking guy tag along.
November 21, 2025
MMC - secret werewolf spy; FMC - single mom fairy raising her half werewolf son on her own. What happens when you get forced to go on a blinddate with a spy who’s currently working a mission on your date? 🙃
There were some fun parts to this and i think as a whole the story was different and interesting.
There were some fun parts to this and i think as a whole the story was different and interesting.
September 8, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. I didn't know what my emotions wanted to do. It was my first book by this author. I have a feeling I will be reading more. I can't wait to see what happens next in the series
October 14, 2025
Blurb:
This is a romantasy set in the small town of Havenwood featuring, Zera, a fiercely independent pixie, single mom, and bartender, who faces the harsh reality of rejection when her werewolf ex deserts her for his pack and a new flame. She's nearly forty, done with heartbreak, and definitely done with men... So, when she's talked into one last blind date, she vows to hate whoever shows up, and to her horror, it's Maverick-a mysterious werewolf who's almost too perfect. Unfortunately he's a spy, the date is a setup, and to stay alive, Zera's must pretend to be his wife.
“When she first met Maverick, she’d sworn to hate him, but now she couldn’t imagine her life without him.”
Review:
I enjoyed this story! The plot was unique and so were the characters. Maverick is a werewolf spy and Zera is a pixie and her magic was cool! It’s just not something you see all the time so that was refreshing. As was the fact that Zera is formidable and such a badass mama bear. I loved her fierceness and that she felt relatable! She’s almost 40 and a mom?! Yeah, I don’t have magical pixie dust but her inner monologue was so close to my own and I loved that. Also, she HATES werewolves and he DESPISES pixies and yet…they can’t help but catch feelings.
“She could have it. All of it and more. He would bend to her beck and call, kneel before her, and worship her body like the queen she was.”
If you love found family, fake marriage/dating, the single mom trope, slow burn romance, and enemies to lovers; this one is for you!
Thank you to the Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC 🖤
This is a romantasy set in the small town of Havenwood featuring, Zera, a fiercely independent pixie, single mom, and bartender, who faces the harsh reality of rejection when her werewolf ex deserts her for his pack and a new flame. She's nearly forty, done with heartbreak, and definitely done with men... So, when she's talked into one last blind date, she vows to hate whoever shows up, and to her horror, it's Maverick-a mysterious werewolf who's almost too perfect. Unfortunately he's a spy, the date is a setup, and to stay alive, Zera's must pretend to be his wife.
“When she first met Maverick, she’d sworn to hate him, but now she couldn’t imagine her life without him.”
Review:
I enjoyed this story! The plot was unique and so were the characters. Maverick is a werewolf spy and Zera is a pixie and her magic was cool! It’s just not something you see all the time so that was refreshing. As was the fact that Zera is formidable and such a badass mama bear. I loved her fierceness and that she felt relatable! She’s almost 40 and a mom?! Yeah, I don’t have magical pixie dust but her inner monologue was so close to my own and I loved that. Also, she HATES werewolves and he DESPISES pixies and yet…they can’t help but catch feelings.
“She could have it. All of it and more. He would bend to her beck and call, kneel before her, and worship her body like the queen she was.”
If you love found family, fake marriage/dating, the single mom trope, slow burn romance, and enemies to lovers; this one is for you!
Thank you to the Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC 🖤
October 4, 2025
Rating: 4/5
This is a fantasy rom-com about Zera, a 40-year-old single mom and pixie, and Maverick, a werewolf. Both meet for a blind date with secret motives and are carrying baggage from their past relationships. Neither one of them is happy about the instant attraction that sparks between them, and the story that follows balances rom-com banter, tension, and a fun layer of spy-mission intrigue, then lands on a heartwarming Hallmark-ish ending — but with a little edge.
What I enjoyed:
The chemistry and banter between Zera and Maverick.
Zera’s growth later in the story as she steps into her own strength.
I absolutely loved Maverick as a protective MMC. He gives off these bad boy vibes, but really is a golden retriever at heart — and who doesn’t love a golden retriever?
Overall, it’s a light, fun read that works really well as a palate cleanser.
What didn’t quite work for me:
The worldbuilding felt a little thin, with a lot of familiar elements from our world just given a magical twist.
Some of the names and nicknames between characters didn’t land for me.
In the beginning, I struggled to picture the characters as more than Pixar-like figures (especially with locations like Pixie Hollow), though that feeling faded as the story went on.
Who I’d recommend this to:
If you’re looking for a cute, fun, monster-romance-style rom-com with banter, sparks, and a protective MMC, this is a great pick — especially if you want something quick, heartwarming, and a little action-packed.
Lastly, thanks you NerdFamily and Tabitha Slick for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is a fantasy rom-com about Zera, a 40-year-old single mom and pixie, and Maverick, a werewolf. Both meet for a blind date with secret motives and are carrying baggage from their past relationships. Neither one of them is happy about the instant attraction that sparks between them, and the story that follows balances rom-com banter, tension, and a fun layer of spy-mission intrigue, then lands on a heartwarming Hallmark-ish ending — but with a little edge.
What I enjoyed:
The chemistry and banter between Zera and Maverick.
Zera’s growth later in the story as she steps into her own strength.
I absolutely loved Maverick as a protective MMC. He gives off these bad boy vibes, but really is a golden retriever at heart — and who doesn’t love a golden retriever?
Overall, it’s a light, fun read that works really well as a palate cleanser.
What didn’t quite work for me:
The worldbuilding felt a little thin, with a lot of familiar elements from our world just given a magical twist.
Some of the names and nicknames between characters didn’t land for me.
In the beginning, I struggled to picture the characters as more than Pixar-like figures (especially with locations like Pixie Hollow), though that feeling faded as the story went on.
Who I’d recommend this to:
If you’re looking for a cute, fun, monster-romance-style rom-com with banter, sparks, and a protective MMC, this is a great pick — especially if you want something quick, heartwarming, and a little action-packed.
Lastly, thanks you NerdFamily and Tabitha Slick for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 20, 2025
This book was a delightful surprise! You have Zera who is a single mom just going through the motions and trying to provide the best she can for her little boy. Her kind have been hunted for years for their pixie dust and now targets are set on her thanks to a date that turns into a life or death scenario. Tabitha Slick does a wonderful job portraying the lengths a mother would go to for her child. The worry when you’re separated and the unwavering selfless love.
Claws and Cocktails is a whirlwind of action and adventure as Zera meets Maverick. It is just supposed to be one mission and then she can get back to her normal mundane life. One mission that keeps making people realize you are more than where you come from and love can grow in the most unlikely of places.
If you want a fantasy that will make you swoon from the depth of true selfless love that is written within this is for you. Neither main character is perfect and both have made mistakes, this is not an instant love story. It is more like a fine wine and develops with time. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Claws and Cocktails is a whirlwind of action and adventure as Zera meets Maverick. It is just supposed to be one mission and then she can get back to her normal mundane life. One mission that keeps making people realize you are more than where you come from and love can grow in the most unlikely of places.
If you want a fantasy that will make you swoon from the depth of true selfless love that is written within this is for you. Neither main character is perfect and both have made mistakes, this is not an instant love story. It is more like a fine wine and develops with time. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
October 7, 2025
Claws & Cocktails was a very fast-paced fantasy romance about Zera, a pixie with a young son who is convinced to go on a blind internet date, and Maverick, an alpha werewolf spy whose cover was just blown.
Zera quickly gets pulled into the dangers of Maverick's when their date turns deadly and a druid followers her home and threatens her and her son. Maverick swoops in to the rescue and convinces Zera to leave her son with her sister while they take down the folks who are threatening them.
This story was action packed with so many different things throughout, that sometimes the timeline got confusing and some aspects of the story felt too rushed. There is also a VERY big emphasis on Zera being a mother and it is brought up frequently as a plot point without a lot of the emotional support and build up that it needed to be impactful.
Overall this was an action-packed easy fantasy romance read!
Thank you for the ARC, all opinions are my own!
Zera quickly gets pulled into the dangers of Maverick's when their date turns deadly and a druid followers her home and threatens her and her son. Maverick swoops in to the rescue and convinces Zera to leave her son with her sister while they take down the folks who are threatening them.
This story was action packed with so many different things throughout, that sometimes the timeline got confusing and some aspects of the story felt too rushed. There is also a VERY big emphasis on Zera being a mother and it is brought up frequently as a plot point without a lot of the emotional support and build up that it needed to be impactful.
Overall this was an action-packed easy fantasy romance read!
Thank you for the ARC, all opinions are my own!
Read
October 16, 2025DNF at 34%
The blurb sounded amazing, a blind date turned into a spy mission immediately got my attention and I was so excited to read this book, but unfortunately this wasn’t for me.
There was a lot going on with little to no explanation and I was just confused. Also, for me there was too much repetition, especially with what the characters were saying (Zera loving her child, Zera hating wolves but not being able to resist Maverick).
Thank you The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC! Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
The blurb sounded amazing, a blind date turned into a spy mission immediately got my attention and I was so excited to read this book, but unfortunately this wasn’t for me.
There was a lot going on with little to no explanation and I was just confused. Also, for me there was too much repetition, especially with what the characters were saying (Zera loving her child, Zera hating wolves but not being able to resist Maverick).
Thank you The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC! Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
October 7, 2025
I adored the whole tale woven through all of this book! Shifter, pixies, werewolves, it has a sprinkle of everything a romance fantasy book needs! It resonated with me on mum level, like NOTHING will EVER keep me from my kids. and if I was a violet eyed pixie I'd destroy the world for my family 😆 Will she destroy it too? Go read it and find out!
.
Single mum
Fake dating
Found family
Finding yourself
Slow burn
Fight training
"Amazes me how words from so long ago can inspire such change"
"All he saw, all he felt was her."
.
Single mum
Fake dating
Found family
Finding yourself
Slow burn
Fight training
"Amazes me how words from so long ago can inspire such change"
"All he saw, all he felt was her."
October 21, 2025
Zera and Maverick´s story was so good! I really loved that I could relate to character for once because I´m a single mom also. Zera was such a fun character and so relatable.
In overall the story flew by fast and was interesting all the way to the end. I liked that I did not get bored at all and the story just had me hooked. The ending was not predictable to me at all.
Oh and me again reading a book with a werewolf character and loving it :D
Now I really want to know what happens next!
In overall the story flew by fast and was interesting all the way to the end. I liked that I did not get bored at all and the story just had me hooked. The ending was not predictable to me at all.
Oh and me again reading a book with a werewolf character and loving it :D
Now I really want to know what happens next!
October 19, 2025
Thank you to the Nerd Fam for the ARC!
Zera is a pixie who is a single mom and bartends. Maverick is a spy werewolf who meets Zera when they match on a dating app. Chaos ensues at dinner when Maverick's cover is blown.
This was the perfect mix of fantasy, romance, and action!
Tropes:
fake marriage
slow burn
spy werewolf
pixie single mom
secret twist
middle age fmc
Zera is a pixie who is a single mom and bartends. Maverick is a spy werewolf who meets Zera when they match on a dating app. Chaos ensues at dinner when Maverick's cover is blown.
This was the perfect mix of fantasy, romance, and action!
Tropes:
fake marriage
slow burn
spy werewolf
pixie single mom
secret twist
middle age fmc
September 6, 2025
Such a cute love story with a wicked plot.
I really loved the characters in this story. Even the side characters were lovable and had some depth to them. Maverick is a lone wolf who is a spy. Zera is a pixie who is a single mother and bartender.
The plot was way more interesting than I thought it was going to be. Maverick unintentionally drags Zera into his mission and they both have to work together in order to keep Zera and her son safe. I don’t want to spoiler the plot since it has many tiers to it but I will say that Zera being a pixie is an important reason why she is in danger.
I did feel that at some points of the story it did get repetitive. It wasn’t too bad though. It also stopped about halfway through the book.
Tropes: Single mom, banter, magic, enemies to tentative allies to lovers, hidden past, fake marriage, fated mates, training scenes.
I really loved the characters in this story. Even the side characters were lovable and had some depth to them. Maverick is a lone wolf who is a spy. Zera is a pixie who is a single mother and bartender.
The plot was way more interesting than I thought it was going to be. Maverick unintentionally drags Zera into his mission and they both have to work together in order to keep Zera and her son safe. I don’t want to spoiler the plot since it has many tiers to it but I will say that Zera being a pixie is an important reason why she is in danger.
I did feel that at some points of the story it did get repetitive. It wasn’t too bad though. It also stopped about halfway through the book.
Tropes: Single mom, banter, magic, enemies to tentative allies to lovers, hidden past, fake marriage, fated mates, training scenes.
October 12, 2025
This book was such a fun time! A romantasy featuring a pixie and werewolf but wait… they are my age and she has a child ?! Finally a relatable character despite being a mythical creature. I enjoyed the drama and intrigue and of course the romance!
Thank you the Nerd Fam for gifted arc.
Thank you the Nerd Fam for gifted arc.
October 31, 2025
it just wasn't for me, but it might be for you!
September 8, 2025
OK, so this is a little bit cheesy but it’s in a cute way. I would say this is 4 1/2 stars for me. I really really enjoy that. This is older characters. I am very sick of seeing huge age gaps all the time or under age to only 18 to 23-year-old characters. The romance is very enduring and their personalities are both very strong which creates great banter. And I do like the spy twist. Overall, this was a good read.
October 20, 2025
This was good, quick read-written in 3rd person pov.
I definitely recommend to others!
I love that Zera is GROWN & a mom
Insta-Love--Pixies---Wolves--LOTS of
mystery--magic--high stakes!
Thank you for Nerd Fam and Tabitha Slick allowing me and ARC of this
book!
I definitely recommend to others!
I love that Zera is GROWN & a mom
Insta-Love--Pixies---Wolves--LOTS of
mystery--magic--high stakes!
Thank you for Nerd Fam and Tabitha Slick allowing me and ARC of this
book!
October 23, 2025
All i can say is i need more ❤️❤️
October 22, 2025
Claws & Cocktails turned out to be a pretty delightful book. It had banter, suspense, love, and overcoming trauma and learning to trust again.
Zera was amazing. A single mom doing everything she can to save her son❤️ watching her come into herself and learn to trust again was a great experience.
Maverick was hilarious. The cocky alpha male who was hiding all his past pain. I'm so happy he learned to trust and love again.
This book had some good tropes
📖forced proximity
📖fated Mates
📖single mom
📖where is she?
3.75🌟
1.5🌶
Zera was amazing. A single mom doing everything she can to save her son❤️ watching her come into herself and learn to trust again was a great experience.
Maverick was hilarious. The cocky alpha male who was hiding all his past pain. I'm so happy he learned to trust and love again.
This book had some good tropes
📖forced proximity
📖fated Mates
📖single mom
📖where is she?
3.75🌟
1.5🌶
October 13, 2025
I read this as an ARC & loved every second.
The main characters you follow are Maverick, a Lone werewolf whose left his pack & become a Spy & Zera an independent single pixie mum who ferociously protects her child with the help of her family as she tries works in a local tavern. the story starts as these two characters paths cross when they meet on a blind date & not everything goes to plan!!
The storyline is fast paced & I loved the references to a modern society with a paranormal twist, giving the story lighter vibes within the world building + relatability for the reader. The overlap of many different paranormal species was fun (i.e. vampires, sirens, witches, fae etc..), bringing a multitude of magic systems to the story giving variety - my favourite was the druid, in my head he was as small as Yoda but with sinister, stalker vibes. Not many books can give me the 'feels' but this one was very emotive, from pulling on my heart strings around family matters, to openly giggling when Tabitha references the time ticking by by saying "An hour & an entire bottle of hairspray later" was just writing gold!
Underneath all the action packed fight scenes, you also had love story bubbling under the surface which was the epitome of a slow burn & absolutely delicious with all the tension.
The world building was 2nd to none as you went from the suburbs to underground taverns, to luxurious ballrooms all of which you felt as if you were there - I just want to sample some of the fae cocktails served as they sounded delicious - Moonlit Mule, Nightshade Spritz & Pink Pixie.
The graphics interspersed throughout the book were gorgeous, reading on a kindle they were only black & white, so would love to see them in all their technicolour glory. Overall I would definitely recommend this read, as it is fun, but it does tackle some serious subjects which aren't always tackled in a fantasy setting.
The main characters you follow are Maverick, a Lone werewolf whose left his pack & become a Spy & Zera an independent single pixie mum who ferociously protects her child with the help of her family as she tries works in a local tavern. the story starts as these two characters paths cross when they meet on a blind date & not everything goes to plan!!
The storyline is fast paced & I loved the references to a modern society with a paranormal twist, giving the story lighter vibes within the world building + relatability for the reader. The overlap of many different paranormal species was fun (i.e. vampires, sirens, witches, fae etc..), bringing a multitude of magic systems to the story giving variety - my favourite was the druid, in my head he was as small as Yoda but with sinister, stalker vibes. Not many books can give me the 'feels' but this one was very emotive, from pulling on my heart strings around family matters, to openly giggling when Tabitha references the time ticking by by saying "An hour & an entire bottle of hairspray later" was just writing gold!
Underneath all the action packed fight scenes, you also had love story bubbling under the surface which was the epitome of a slow burn & absolutely delicious with all the tension.
The world building was 2nd to none as you went from the suburbs to underground taverns, to luxurious ballrooms all of which you felt as if you were there - I just want to sample some of the fae cocktails served as they sounded delicious - Moonlit Mule, Nightshade Spritz & Pink Pixie.
The graphics interspersed throughout the book were gorgeous, reading on a kindle they were only black & white, so would love to see them in all their technicolour glory. Overall I would definitely recommend this read, as it is fun, but it does tackle some serious subjects which aren't always tackled in a fantasy setting.
June 30, 2025
Claws and Cocktails is a laugh-out-loud, heart-melting, action-packed paranormal romance that proves love doesn’t have an expiration date—and sometimes, the best second chances come wrapped in claws and secrets.
Zera is an absolute gem of a heroine. Fierce, funny, and refreshingly mature, she’s the kind of pixie you want to have a drink with—especially if it’s at her bar, with sass and sarcasm on tap. A single mom burned by heartbreak and betrayal, Zera has written off men entirely… until fate throws her into the arms (and fake marriage) of Maverick, a dangerously charming werewolf with secrets of his own.
Maverick is the perfect match to Zera’s fire—steady, brooding, and unexpectedly sweet beneath his spy exterior. Their chemistry is electric, the banter is razor-sharp, and the forced proximity? Chef’s kiss. Watching them fake their way through a marriage while slowly unraveling their walls is equal parts hilarious and swoon-worthy.
Tabitha Slick masterfully balances humor, heat, and heart in a world brimming with supernatural charm. Havenwood feels alive, quirky, and rich with personality—populated by colorful side characters, magical mischief, and a surprising amount of espionage.
The fake relationship trope is executed to perfection here, but what truly sets Claws and Cocktails apart is its celebration of women who’ve been through it—and come out the other side with grit, grace, and a refusal to settle for less than they deserve.
This book is fun, sexy, and unapologetically empowering. If you love strong heroines, grumpy-sexy werewolves, and romance with a side of danger and delightful chaos, this one’s for you. Five stars, no question.
Zera is an absolute gem of a heroine. Fierce, funny, and refreshingly mature, she’s the kind of pixie you want to have a drink with—especially if it’s at her bar, with sass and sarcasm on tap. A single mom burned by heartbreak and betrayal, Zera has written off men entirely… until fate throws her into the arms (and fake marriage) of Maverick, a dangerously charming werewolf with secrets of his own.
Maverick is the perfect match to Zera’s fire—steady, brooding, and unexpectedly sweet beneath his spy exterior. Their chemistry is electric, the banter is razor-sharp, and the forced proximity? Chef’s kiss. Watching them fake their way through a marriage while slowly unraveling their walls is equal parts hilarious and swoon-worthy.
Tabitha Slick masterfully balances humor, heat, and heart in a world brimming with supernatural charm. Havenwood feels alive, quirky, and rich with personality—populated by colorful side characters, magical mischief, and a surprising amount of espionage.
The fake relationship trope is executed to perfection here, but what truly sets Claws and Cocktails apart is its celebration of women who’ve been through it—and come out the other side with grit, grace, and a refusal to settle for less than they deserve.
This book is fun, sexy, and unapologetically empowering. If you love strong heroines, grumpy-sexy werewolves, and romance with a side of danger and delightful chaos, this one’s for you. Five stars, no question.
October 25, 2025
3.75⭐️ (rounded up to 4)
This was a fun one! The story follows Zera, a late 30s pixie who is a single mother. After being burned by her ex, she has sworn off dating and werewolves. Her sister sets her up on a blind date that she begrudgingly goes on. Zera is understandably put off when she sees him and discovers he’s a werewolf, but hey, at least she’ll get a free dinner out of the deal. Maverick is a lone wolf alpha with a traumatic past involving pixies. They certainly aren’t compatible. During their disastrous dinner, Maverick reveals that he is a spy and his cover has just been blown. The whole date was a setup and she must pretend to be his wife to stay alive. Did I mention that pixies are also being hunted for their dust, and it’s being sold as a dangerous street 💊?
I enjoyed both Zera and Maverick. She was fierce and relatable! I appreciated how real and mature their relationship growth was. Their chemistry and banter were on point. The spy mission aspect was a fun twist! I do feel like there were moments in the book that were supposed to be serious/intense that felt a little bit cheesy to me.
This was a bit different than the romantasy books I usually read, but I enjoyed it nonetheless! It may have a bit more of a niche target audience than other books I’ve read, but I think it will definitely be well liked by said target audience. It was a unique story and a fun spooky season read for me! There was also artwork throughout the book that added to the fun! If you’re tired of young and whiny FMCs, have kids, or are just looking a romantasy book with a little something different, give this one a read! Thank you to the Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC!
This was a fun one! The story follows Zera, a late 30s pixie who is a single mother. After being burned by her ex, she has sworn off dating and werewolves. Her sister sets her up on a blind date that she begrudgingly goes on. Zera is understandably put off when she sees him and discovers he’s a werewolf, but hey, at least she’ll get a free dinner out of the deal. Maverick is a lone wolf alpha with a traumatic past involving pixies. They certainly aren’t compatible. During their disastrous dinner, Maverick reveals that he is a spy and his cover has just been blown. The whole date was a setup and she must pretend to be his wife to stay alive. Did I mention that pixies are also being hunted for their dust, and it’s being sold as a dangerous street 💊?
I enjoyed both Zera and Maverick. She was fierce and relatable! I appreciated how real and mature their relationship growth was. Their chemistry and banter were on point. The spy mission aspect was a fun twist! I do feel like there were moments in the book that were supposed to be serious/intense that felt a little bit cheesy to me.
This was a bit different than the romantasy books I usually read, but I enjoyed it nonetheless! It may have a bit more of a niche target audience than other books I’ve read, but I think it will definitely be well liked by said target audience. It was a unique story and a fun spooky season read for me! There was also artwork throughout the book that added to the fun! If you’re tired of young and whiny FMCs, have kids, or are just looking a romantasy book with a little something different, give this one a read! Thank you to the Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC!
October 10, 2025
Zera is a pixie that is a single mother working as a bartender. Pixies are hunted for their pixie dust that is a highly addictive drug so most pixies have either lost their dust or don't use their powers if they have them. Her ex was a werewolf that left her and her son. She has sworn off men. She eventually goes on a date that winds up being more than she bargained for and has to use her magic which exposes her. Now there are dangerous fae after her.
Maverick is a spy that is using the date as a cover and as the story progresses, they have to work together to bring down someone that threatens their lives.
I enjoyed Zera's character overall. She's strong, brave, determined, and sassy. She will do whatever is necessary to protect her child.
Maverick is the calm to her storm. I love when there's a yin/yang balance to a relationship. I love when a woman wows a man and keeps him on his toes.
I had a good time reading this book but I struggled with some things within the book. Mostly, just some dialogue repetitiveness, a few times I found myself having to reread to make something make sense, and maybe it's just me.
I just know there are people out there that will really enjoy this and gobble up the spy/bartender turned reluctant allies turned hesitant lovers... haha. Their flirty banter...
Overall, it's a fun, fast, easy read and sometimes we just need that. I am quite intrigued by a mysterious character and would pick up the next book just to find out more about them.
I received an eARC and these thoughts are my own.
Maverick is a spy that is using the date as a cover and as the story progresses, they have to work together to bring down someone that threatens their lives.
I enjoyed Zera's character overall. She's strong, brave, determined, and sassy. She will do whatever is necessary to protect her child.
Maverick is the calm to her storm. I love when there's a yin/yang balance to a relationship. I love when a woman wows a man and keeps him on his toes.
I had a good time reading this book but I struggled with some things within the book. Mostly, just some dialogue repetitiveness, a few times I found myself having to reread to make something make sense, and maybe it's just me.
I just know there are people out there that will really enjoy this and gobble up the spy/bartender turned reluctant allies turned hesitant lovers... haha. Their flirty banter...
Overall, it's a fun, fast, easy read and sometimes we just need that. I am quite intrigued by a mysterious character and would pick up the next book just to find out more about them.
I received an eARC and these thoughts are my own.
October 19, 2025
Huge thank you to the author and to the nerdfam for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review. I’m giving Claws and Cocktails a 3.5 star rating!
In this story we follow the life of Zera, a single mom who happens to be a pixie. Being almost 40 and after being rejected by her werewolf ex, Zera works hard to make sure that she never has to rely on a man ever again. However when her little sister sets her up on a date on, Zera goes with the mindset of just enjoying the food and wine but soon enough she is pulled into a spy mission with her date, Maverick, who asks her to play the role of his wife.
Overall, I had a fun time with this book. I love that our FMC was at a midlife age and was a single mom. Zera was so strong and didn’t have the patience for any sort of ridiculousness but in order to protect her baby, she still finds herself wrapped up in a chaotic spy mission. The fact that Zera is a pixie who hates werewolves and Maverick is a werewolf that hates pixies makes their dynamic that much better. I also loved how protective maverick was when it came to Zera and how he practically worshipped the ground Zera walked on. I also really loved seeing the images that were included in the book as they were so beautiful and brought Zera and Maverick to life. This book wasn’t over the top which made it a nice little easy read for spooky season.
In this story we follow the life of Zera, a single mom who happens to be a pixie. Being almost 40 and after being rejected by her werewolf ex, Zera works hard to make sure that she never has to rely on a man ever again. However when her little sister sets her up on a date on, Zera goes with the mindset of just enjoying the food and wine but soon enough she is pulled into a spy mission with her date, Maverick, who asks her to play the role of his wife.
Overall, I had a fun time with this book. I love that our FMC was at a midlife age and was a single mom. Zera was so strong and didn’t have the patience for any sort of ridiculousness but in order to protect her baby, she still finds herself wrapped up in a chaotic spy mission. The fact that Zera is a pixie who hates werewolves and Maverick is a werewolf that hates pixies makes their dynamic that much better. I also loved how protective maverick was when it came to Zera and how he practically worshipped the ground Zera walked on. I also really loved seeing the images that were included in the book as they were so beautiful and brought Zera and Maverick to life. This book wasn’t over the top which made it a nice little easy read for spooky season.
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