One Night with Her Grumpy Orc

Toothsome Monster Romance #3

by Jilli Waters

One sunshine librarian.

One grumpy, closed-off orc.

One way to keep warm.



A late season blizzard has surprised our small town, Moonfang Haven. When the snowplow truck loses control and crashes into the library, Grev, the grumpy orc patron, saves me.

Now we're trapped in the library during a blizzard with no heat.

There's only one way to keep warm.

But can one night of passion and necessity stand strong in the warmth of a new day?



One Night with her Grumpy Orc is a steamy, cozy, forced proximity, let's snuggle for warmth, small-town romance.
It is the third in the Toothsome Monster Romance series of stand-alone, sweet & spicy, cozy monster romance novellas. Guaranteed to have an HEA, intended for mature audiences.

Genres: Forced Proximity, Monster Romance, Monsters, Supernatural, Novella

103 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 11, 2025

About the author

I write swoony, sweet & spicy small-town romances full of sassy heroines and the hunks that fall for them.

Find my newsletter at: http://www.jilliwaters.com
Free novella at: https://BookHip.com/HPHQNVT

Reviews

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

A grumpy orc. A sunshine librarian. A book avalanche meet-cute?! Obsessed!
When Grev swooped in and saved Betty from being buried under books, I KNEW this was going to be adorable. Them get snowed in together with only one way to keep warm? Perfection.

😡 But let’s talk about JAKE. UGH. He literally tried to sabotage Betty and Grev, and worst of all, he went behind her back to her controlling parents! And don’t even get me started on them—bigots in a MONSTER TOWN?! 🙄 The audacity. I’m glad they came around in the end, but they had a long way to go.

✨ Overall, this was a cozy, feel-good read with a cutie orc and a librarian who deserved all the love. Highly recommend if you love:
📚 Forced proximity
💚 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏡 Small-town monster vibes.

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

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ebook. Purchased. 3.5 rounded down. A fine novella but it felt like too much was left at the surface with no explanation.

[Jennifer D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jilli Waters is a new author for me and I thoroughly enjoyed this short monster romance.
Grev (the youngest brother of a family of Orc’s, a builder, quiet and seemingly grumpy) has been visiting the library twice weekly for hours on end for months…since the new human Betty has been the librarian there…
Betty is single, and new to the monster haven island of Moonfang Haven…and she loves her new job as head librarian of this little island library that she is trying desperately to bring back to life…

When a late season blizzard strikes and the town plow plows right into the front of her library😳😬, her steadfast and handsome orc patron Grev is there to save her…And if she has a sexy dream about him while laying beneath him as she’s passed out after the front wall of the library crashes on top of her and Grev…oops??? Uh oh…now they’re stuck in the library alone overnight without power in a blizzard…however will they stay warm???🤭🥰

And what will happen when her childhood friend Jake calls her bigoted parents to tell them about this and they show up on her doorstep???!!!

Can their budding romance survive???

Oh…this book is so sweet…with a lot of sassy banter between Grev and Betty…The writing is great…The romance is sweet and hot…Grev is adorable….

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

[Lyndsay L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grev has been going to the library for over a year to not only get books to read but to see his favourite person Betty. There was something about this woman that has caught his attention. He has been trying to get up the courage to ask this beautiful woman out. They were close to closing when the snowplow slams into the library and Grev jumps on top of Betty to save her from the falling books and bookshelves. It was storming outside and now with the big window all broken from the snowplow hitting it they are having the wind and snow now coming into he building making things really cold. Grev and Betty set up a little area in the library to wait out the storm this night and try to stay warm. Being trapped in the library that night was a hot night for both of them and showing that there was much more between them. The chemistry was hot and sizzling between these two. The development of their relationship was a joy to read once you pick up this book you so can't put it down. The play between the 3 brothers and their mates was so much fun to read and laugh along the way. I can't wait to see what more this author has in mind for this series. We know there will be more surprises to come our way.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betty moved to Moonfang Haven a year ago to revive the library.She's still recovering from a bad relationship and isn't ready to meet anyone. AS she's waiting for the last patron to leave she hears the snow plow then she hears a squeel then darkness. When she wakes she's being covered by an orc blanket named Grev.
Grev is covering Betty with his body to keep her from getting hurt while the books and wood are falling. The snow plow careened into the library and he managed to throw himself over her to keep her safe.
The two are stuck in the library with the snow plow in front of the doors until the driver can get help.
Now the two need to try to stay warm as they await rescue. Betty is totally surprised and shocked when Grev says a lot of words. In the year he's been coming to the library he hardly if ever talks. He puts bookcases in front of the broken front window then takes them to the far wall and makes a nook to try to keep the wind out.
It seems Grev has been coming to the library to see Betty. Will this catastrophe give them the chance to find what they are each seeking?
A cute monster story.

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

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute enjoyable Orc romance story I'd read set in a quaint town of Moonfang Haven. This story is about Betty the librarian and Grev our Orc who was attracted to Betty that he hangs out among the library shelves watching her. Betty too has secretly been admiring Grev. Then one day a snowplow plows through the front library wall near closing time on a late season blizzard day. Grev rescues her. In her fantasy Betty gets the nerve to kiss him. Will being stuck together bring them together? This was my first book to read by this author and I found it was an engaging, well-written story with very likable characters. The story kept me entertained as I read their romance bloom. I'd definitely keep my eye out for more books to read by this author. I'd volunteer to read and review this copy I'd received.

[Caity · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a charming town on an island in the middle of winter where an orc and a librarian finally get together thanks to a snow plow driver’s accident.

This book wasn’t particularly long so the couple ends up together pretty quickly and aside from a few bumps in the road regarding the librarian’s bigoted parents everything goes very smoothly for our couple. It’s a very light read and while I enjoyed it I found I had to read sentences a few times to make sense of them which drew me out of the flow of the book.

Overall very cute monster romance and the teaser for the next book has me interested to see what happens next.

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

[Maaren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and heartwarming.

A librarian and a shy orc is a match made in bookish heaven and this was such a cute and cozy read. Even in the heat of the summer, this wintery book hit many good notes and I liked reading about this couple. I didn't even realize this was a third book in the series which tells me good things about this being a interconnected standalone series.

I do feel the book was contradicting itself in some points though and some of the reactions of the characters were brushed aside and never talked about again. It felt a little off and I would've wished those were either addressed (like how Betty reacts at the family dinner) or edited out. They kind of interrupted my flow but overall, it was nice read and I'm glad to have read it.

[Lisa Bing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet and steamy monster romance and I loved Betty and Grev together. He's been hanging in the library so he can see Betty every day but he hides in the stacks. She's been crushing on him but he never really talks to her... A late season storm has them locked in the library together - and cuddled up for warmth ;P I enjoyed how these two finally managed to let loose their feelings but was shocked at the drama that swirled around them. So entertaining, this was a page turner for me. Good fun!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweetly spicy monster romance. Betty, the town librarian, has fantasized about Grev, an orc, for the past year. Grev is a regular patron of the library, especially since Betty arrived in town. A late-season blizzard occurs, and Betty and Grev find themselves stranded in the library overnight. I love how Grev and Betty finally open up to each other and realize that the attraction is mutual—an excellent book with plenty of spice and a perfect HEA.

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

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Night with Her Grumpy Orc was a great introduction to a new to me author. I really like Jilli's writing style, the pacing of Grev and Betty's story was wonderful, It moves quickly because it's a short, but it's worth the read. The characters and the storyline is very well written filled with drama, fun banter, steam and everything a reader could love. I highly recommend this book and you won’t be disappointed!.

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

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, quick orc romance 💚📚

Jumped into this series with book 3 - can be read as a standalone, but just know that you learn the first two books’ couples. So the happy ending of books one and two aren’t a surprise, are they really ever though.

That said, I really liked this. It was a complete storyline with quite a few quirks and conflicts and some yummy spice all wrapped up in a little package. The issues with her parents and long time friend are fun little blips in this cute conundrum of a romance read.

I will definitely read the rest of this series!

[QueenMum1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betty is the perfect small town librarian.
Great is an orc who frequents the library but owns a construction company in town.
Tropes:
Monster, paranormal, orc, small town, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, quick read, secret crush, fated mates, OTT instalove HEA romance.

A huge thank you to Jilli Waters and Booksprout for providing me with an eARC book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Marie A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and Spicy. Honestly those were the first two words that came to mind. The characters are charming. I loved the small town vibes and I can’t believe this is my first monster romance!
This is a quick, fun read that will probably have you searching out more books from this author and this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions are my own.

#MonsterRomance #OrcRomance #SmallTown #ForcedProximity #JilliWaters #Booksprout

[Elisa Llewellyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secretly pining

These two have been secretly pining for one another long enough, so Mother Nature takes matters into her own hands, getting this pair snowed in at the library. Honestly, forget the hunky orc, this is my dream!

But this human librarian is an excellent partner for our grumpy handyman orc hero. Four stars.

[Christal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grev makes frequent trips to the local library because of Betty, the librarian but he hasn't asked her out for a date so fate has to take a hand. When the library is damaged by a snow plow, Betty and Grev are stuck in the cold library. How will they stay warm? This is a fun romantic story that takes their romance to the next level and ends happily.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute librarian/orc romance.. I liked it.. It is steamy-sweet and funny, with very likable characters..

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

[Amanda Ricchio · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hunky green grump and a small town librarian. A match made in a snowy wonderland and crashed library. I love this series!.

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

[ajscenic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read about how Grev and Betty’s romance bloomed. Betty is fun as accident prone librarian who wants to be romanced by avid reader Grev. This is very well written and free flowing book, that made me laugh throughout.

[Melanie Purcell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Grev and Betty and their chemistry! All of the characters are vibrant and add dimension to the story. This is a fabulous quick read in a great series!.

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

[Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ‘one bed, no heat, snowstorm outside’ trope gets a monster-sized upgrade! The tension between Grev and the librarian was delicious, and I loved how the story balanced tenderness with passion. I finished it in one sitting.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Building Together

Loved it! But they sure spent more than a night together. What I liked the most was their utter distain for bigotry, they shut her parents down with the quickness. Go Betty and Greive! It was a cute, hot romance.

[Deborah Darnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story! Great writing-!

[Escapist Romantic · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

[Rah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe a little under 4 stars. This is cute and fun enough.

[Anna Røsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was ok but wished it had more story between the characters

[Angelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. I love an orc romance tho. Just the right length to get through a road trip while the husband listens to sports.