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Balancing Act: A Small Town Mothman Romance (Towerbrook series: Book 1)
Moving to Towerbrook was my chance at a new life, but I find myself being chased instead of chasing a dream.
Welcome to Towerbrook, a charming small town with one small Monsters outnumber humans 5 to 1. In this book, you'll meet Audra, a spirited young woman with dreams of opening her own bakery. But there's one hurdle in her she needs a job. Her luck turns when she lands a waitressing gig at The Pour, where she unexpectedly finds herself smitten with a tall, dark, and delightfully nerdy mothman. There's only one small problem—this charming creature is adorably awkward and tends to flee right when the going gets good between them.
When Audra needs help launching her in-home bakery, this elusive mothman becomes her only hope, with his financial and business services. Soon their budding connection is shadowed by a deeper mystery, as Audra discovers that darkness lurks in Towerbrook, seemingly trailing her every step. Join Audra on a journey of dreams, love, and mystery as she navigates the peculiarities of small-town life and the unexpected twists of her heart. Will she and the mothman find a way to overcome the shadows together?
Balancing Act book is a monster + human romance with a guaranteed HEA where she falls first. It is book 1 in the Towerbrook series but can be read as a standalone.
Welcome to Towerbrook, a charming small town with one small Monsters outnumber humans 5 to 1. In this book, you'll meet Audra, a spirited young woman with dreams of opening her own bakery. But there's one hurdle in her she needs a job. Her luck turns when she lands a waitressing gig at The Pour, where she unexpectedly finds herself smitten with a tall, dark, and delightfully nerdy mothman. There's only one small problem—this charming creature is adorably awkward and tends to flee right when the going gets good between them.
When Audra needs help launching her in-home bakery, this elusive mothman becomes her only hope, with his financial and business services. Soon their budding connection is shadowed by a deeper mystery, as Audra discovers that darkness lurks in Towerbrook, seemingly trailing her every step. Join Audra on a journey of dreams, love, and mystery as she navigates the peculiarities of small-town life and the unexpected twists of her heart. Will she and the mothman find a way to overcome the shadows together?
Balancing Act book is a monster + human romance with a guaranteed HEA where she falls first. It is book 1 in the Towerbrook series but can be read as a standalone.
88 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 8, 2025
6 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 13, 2025
DNF. For some strange reason I’m trying to read ALL the Mothman books.
March 2, 2025
3.75 ⭐
It was my first time reading a monster romance so it was a very interesting book on that aspect but I don't have much say in this genre
It was really fast paced so I read it quickly and to me that's always a good thing, it was really easy to read
I really liked Ellis (MMC) he was so cute!! I felt so bad for him when he said that people usually stay away from him because they're scared by his looks :(
(He's a moth man!!)
I also loved Audra (FMC) and her passion for baking<33
I'm so curious about the background characters too, I want to know more about Millie and Sienna.
If you want to read this TW: spice, stalking
It was my first time reading a monster romance so it was a very interesting book on that aspect but I don't have much say in this genre
It was really fast paced so I read it quickly and to me that's always a good thing, it was really easy to read
I really liked Ellis (MMC) he was so cute!! I felt so bad for him when he said that people usually stay away from him because they're scared by his looks :(
(He's a moth man!!)
I also loved Audra (FMC) and her passion for baking<33
I'm so curious about the background characters too, I want to know more about Millie and Sienna.
If you want to read this TW: spice, stalking
February 22, 2025
It’s cute. I do think the author tried to cover too much for a novella. I was expecting a cozy romance with a mothman but danger kind of came out of nowhere. The use of trite daddy dom phrases like “use your words” and “take it all” felt out of place from an inexperienced MMC. This is the author’s debut I believe and I did think it was darling overall. Will be fun to see if she adds to this world.
February 18, 2025
Gleeful Goblin Review: I adore a good moth-person story and one of my favorite things is when the author describes what the moth looks like because it always sounds cozy/spooky. "The towering, reedy, figure holds me in a dip, his wings cocooned around me, shrouding us in near darkness. He shifts his wings slightly and light streams in from the opening above his head, lighting his face in a soft glow. Feathery, soft-looking antennae lay backward close to his head, piercing red and amber eyes seeming to glow, wide with surprise, angular jaw locked tight, his browline glasses slid down precariously low on his nose. A mothman. I could barely make out the gulp as he swallowed because of the grey tuft of fluff, almost like a short mane, starting at his Adam’s apple that trailed down into the neck of his sweater. His velvety gray hand splayed across my back is holding me up, while his other is around the back of my neck, holding me steady." A Mothman with glasses you say? Yes please. Our FMC Audra even describes our MMC Ellis as "awkward" and he self describes as "an introvert" both of which (in a monster MMC) I find absolutely charming. Ellis is so adorkable I can't hardly stand it and Audra is super on board too so this was a book I blew through in one sitting and my only complaint is I wanted more. And the story is beautifully complete so if my only complaint is I want more of these characters that's pretty dang good! 5/5 Stars
March 4, 2025
ARC REVIEW!!!!
4/5 stars
3.5/5 spice
First I want to thank Bookworm Books PR for the Arc and now let's get to my review!
I went into Balancing Act expecting a fun, lighthearted monster romance, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much depth Paden Greenman packed into this story! Audra is such a relatable protagonist, she is determined, witty, and just trying to chase her dream of owning a bakery while navigating life in a town where monsters outnumber humans. And then there’s the Mothman… swoony, sweet, and adorably awkward. Their dynamic had me grinning, especially with the whole, he flees when things get good bit (seriously, it was both frustrating and endearing in the best way).
What really stood out, though, was the balance (pun intended) between romance, mystery, and small-town charm. The cozy vibes of Towerbrook made me want to move there immediately—minus the lurking darkness, of course. The pacing did slow a bit in places, and I wanted just a little more development in certain areas, but overall, it kept me hooked from start to finish.
If you love quirky, heartfelt monster romances with a dash of suspense and a guaranteed happily ever after, this one’s definitely worth picking up. I’ll be keeping an eye out for more from the Towerbrook series!
4/5 stars
3.5/5 spice
First I want to thank Bookworm Books PR for the Arc and now let's get to my review!
I went into Balancing Act expecting a fun, lighthearted monster romance, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much depth Paden Greenman packed into this story! Audra is such a relatable protagonist, she is determined, witty, and just trying to chase her dream of owning a bakery while navigating life in a town where monsters outnumber humans. And then there’s the Mothman… swoony, sweet, and adorably awkward. Their dynamic had me grinning, especially with the whole, he flees when things get good bit (seriously, it was both frustrating and endearing in the best way).
What really stood out, though, was the balance (pun intended) between romance, mystery, and small-town charm. The cozy vibes of Towerbrook made me want to move there immediately—minus the lurking darkness, of course. The pacing did slow a bit in places, and I wanted just a little more development in certain areas, but overall, it kept me hooked from start to finish.
If you love quirky, heartfelt monster romances with a dash of suspense and a guaranteed happily ever after, this one’s definitely worth picking up. I’ll be keeping an eye out for more from the Towerbrook series!
February 7, 2025
4/5 Stars for this one!! I am a sucker for a Mothman romance and this one checked all the boxes!
This checked all the boxes for me:
Fated Mates
Awkward/Virgin MMC
Small Town (Towerbrook)
This book started with Audra (FMC 25Y) starting over and getting a job instantly at a bar where she LITERALLY bumps into Ellis (MMC Mothman). From there, their attraction is instant. Ellis knows he feels something deeper for her and (her as a human) feels something stronger than she has ever before. The spice in this book is quality spice and I loved the roll reversal that he was inexperienced and she wasn't. We meet some fun side characters, who I cant wait to get their stories. The suspense in this book runs from start to finish and honestly I was SHOCKED with who the "villain" was.
The only thing that could have made this better was a little more details about how obsessed the Stalker was with her. I don't feel like we got enough of the "stalker" details until the end.
This checked all the boxes for me:
Fated Mates
Awkward/Virgin MMC
Small Town (Towerbrook)
This book started with Audra (FMC 25Y) starting over and getting a job instantly at a bar where she LITERALLY bumps into Ellis (MMC Mothman). From there, their attraction is instant. Ellis knows he feels something deeper for her and (her as a human) feels something stronger than she has ever before. The spice in this book is quality spice and I loved the roll reversal that he was inexperienced and she wasn't. We meet some fun side characters, who I cant wait to get their stories. The suspense in this book runs from start to finish and honestly I was SHOCKED with who the "villain" was.
The only thing that could have made this better was a little more details about how obsessed the Stalker was with her. I don't feel like we got enough of the "stalker" details until the end.
February 16, 2025
I loved it from start to finish. Ellis and Audra are so freaking cute. Ellis is adorable. I can’t wait to have more from the unique residents of Towerbrook.
Ellis is a mothman. He’s introverted, shy, quiet and is a whiz at numbers. He’s aware that most humans find him offputting so he just stays away. He keeps himself shut off from others.
Audra, is a human woman who moves to Towerbrook for a fresh start. She has a secret dream and she feels like she can accomplish it here.
Ellis and Audra have such sweet meet cute moment. They both feel drawn to the other but Ellis doesn’t want to scare away the beautiful human. Audra on the other hand, is like, ya, he’s hot…I’m gonna shoot my shot. Ellis is so sweet and kind and Audra has a quiet confidence and strength. They are perfect for each other. Teaching one another and exploring new things together.
Their path to love was a little bumpy in spots, but now they know they can communicate better and learn from their hangups.
Ellis is a mothman. He’s introverted, shy, quiet and is a whiz at numbers. He’s aware that most humans find him offputting so he just stays away. He keeps himself shut off from others.
Audra, is a human woman who moves to Towerbrook for a fresh start. She has a secret dream and she feels like she can accomplish it here.
Ellis and Audra have such sweet meet cute moment. They both feel drawn to the other but Ellis doesn’t want to scare away the beautiful human. Audra on the other hand, is like, ya, he’s hot…I’m gonna shoot my shot. Ellis is so sweet and kind and Audra has a quiet confidence and strength. They are perfect for each other. Teaching one another and exploring new things together.
Their path to love was a little bumpy in spots, but now they know they can communicate better and learn from their hangups.
March 7, 2025
Greenman's debut is a romantasy novella, which I would have preferred as a novel - I wanted more story!
Audra is the newest resident of Towerbrook, a town that is home to monsters and humans. Day one, she lucks into a waitressing job at a local restaurant, The Pour. Deciding she wants to start her own bakery business, as well, she is referred to The Pour's accountant, Ellis.
Ellis is a Mothman. He is a very shy Mothman who is not accustomed to people not being scared by him.
Not only is Audra not scared, she is definitely attracted to Ellis. But she has a bigger problem, she has a stalker.
Who is stalking Audra and why? Will Ellis save the day? Will Audra and Ellis their own HEA? You'll have to read to find out.
I'm glad to see this is Book 1 in a series, as I would like to know more about this town and its other inhabitants.
Thank you to Book Worms Books PR for sending me this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Audra is the newest resident of Towerbrook, a town that is home to monsters and humans. Day one, she lucks into a waitressing job at a local restaurant, The Pour. Deciding she wants to start her own bakery business, as well, she is referred to The Pour's accountant, Ellis.
Ellis is a Mothman. He is a very shy Mothman who is not accustomed to people not being scared by him.
Not only is Audra not scared, she is definitely attracted to Ellis. But she has a bigger problem, she has a stalker.
Who is stalking Audra and why? Will Ellis save the day? Will Audra and Ellis their own HEA? You'll have to read to find out.
I'm glad to see this is Book 1 in a series, as I would like to know more about this town and its other inhabitants.
Thank you to Book Worms Books PR for sending me this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2025
*ARC*
Thank you to the author for letting me read this advanced copy. The thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
3.5/4 🌶️
Officially a lover of Mothman!
Audra and Ellis are my new OTP!
Towerbrook a quaint little small town monster haven is my new daydream I wanna live in.
Audra comes to the town for a fresh start and gains so much more. Her dream to open an in home bakery and bring sweets to her new town.
She meets Ellis an introvert accountant who happens to be a Mothman. She sends his antenna for a whirl.
I especially loved a hand flex scene that reminded me of Mr. Darcy.
The humor in this was great and the cute romance had me kicking my feet a couple times. All in all this book has been a happy highlight.
Thank you to the author for letting me read this advanced copy. The thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
3.5/4 🌶️
Officially a lover of Mothman!
Audra and Ellis are my new OTP!
Towerbrook a quaint little small town monster haven is my new daydream I wanna live in.
Audra comes to the town for a fresh start and gains so much more. Her dream to open an in home bakery and bring sweets to her new town.
She meets Ellis an introvert accountant who happens to be a Mothman. She sends his antenna for a whirl.
I especially loved a hand flex scene that reminded me of Mr. Darcy.
The humor in this was great and the cute romance had me kicking my feet a couple times. All in all this book has been a happy highlight.
March 12, 2025
This was my first ever time reading a monster romance and I really enjoyed it 🪰
It was a short faced paced story and I would highly recommend.
I loveddd both of the MCs and there characters where described amazingly and I felt like I got to know them both really well.
The FMC (Audra) is a human and moves to a small town and wants to pursue her dream job as a baker and the MMC (Ellis) is a mothman accountant.
I felt like there was a major part missing from the story after we found out who was stalking Audra and it would of been nice to see how the FMCs bestfriend reacted, if you know you know 👀
Tropes:
🪰 Monster X Human
👩🍳 Small town vibes
🪰 Comical internal monologue
👩🍳 She bakes for him
🪰 He’s inexperienced
👩🍳 She’s his client
🪰 Spicy
It was a short faced paced story and I would highly recommend.
I loveddd both of the MCs and there characters where described amazingly and I felt like I got to know them both really well.
The FMC (Audra) is a human and moves to a small town and wants to pursue her dream job as a baker and the MMC (Ellis) is a mothman accountant.
I felt like there was a major part missing from the story after we found out who was stalking Audra and it would of been nice to see how the FMCs bestfriend reacted, if you know you know 👀
Tropes:
🪰 Monster X Human
👩🍳 Small town vibes
🪰 Comical internal monologue
👩🍳 She bakes for him
🪰 He’s inexperienced
👩🍳 She’s his client
🪰 Spicy
March 22, 2025
“She’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.”
OMG! First off all, I love the cover of this book soooo much! It's what drew me in to read this book. I loved Audra and Ellis so much! They are so cute together, and I devoured this book in one sitting. This novella is a human x mothman romance, my first mothman monster romance, and I loved it! This was a cozy small town romance book with a sprinkle of HOT AF spice!! Ellis was so cute with his shy tendencies that I couldn't help fall in love with him. I have no notes, and I can't wait to see what Paden Greenman writes next!
OMG! First off all, I love the cover of this book soooo much! It's what drew me in to read this book. I loved Audra and Ellis so much! They are so cute together, and I devoured this book in one sitting. This novella is a human x mothman romance, my first mothman monster romance, and I loved it! This was a cozy small town romance book with a sprinkle of HOT AF spice!! Ellis was so cute with his shy tendencies that I couldn't help fall in love with him. I have no notes, and I can't wait to see what Paden Greenman writes next!
February 6, 2025
This book is absolutely adorable! It takes place in Towerbrook. A cute little town full of monsters, with humans in the minority. Audra arrives, hoping to start her new life, quickly makes friends, and gets a job. At this job, she runs into an instantly mesmerizing mothman named Ellis.
This story has twists and turns, and had me laughing! The spice is 👌. I see you Mr. Darcy hand flex! 😘 Highly recommend!
This story has twists and turns, and had me laughing! The spice is 👌. I see you Mr. Darcy hand flex! 😘 Highly recommend!
February 22, 2025
Being a monster/mothman fan, I knew I had to read this ARC.
I honestly didn’t know what to think when I started reading it, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this whole story, to the point where I wished it was longer.
A cozy, cute and steamy monster story with a side of fear and unexpected danger. The characters were absolutely wonderful and the story plot was interesting till the end.
A quick read that leaves you wanting more. That’s for sure!
I honestly didn’t know what to think when I started reading it, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this whole story, to the point where I wished it was longer.
A cozy, cute and steamy monster story with a side of fear and unexpected danger. The characters were absolutely wonderful and the story plot was interesting till the end.
A quick read that leaves you wanting more. That’s for sure!
September 28, 2025
Paden had me from the get go simply with ✨Mothman✨
But seriously, Balancing Act was a great read! Audra’s journey to a new town to chase her dreams of operating her own bakery is right in her reach, and the adorkable accountant Mothman Ellis has all the answers to her questions. But there’s something dark at play, and it definitely doesn’t want them together.
Check out Balancing Act if you like:
🧁Mothman x Human
🧁Nerdy Shy MMC
🧁Small Town Vibes
🧁Fated Mates
But seriously, Balancing Act was a great read! Audra’s journey to a new town to chase her dreams of operating her own bakery is right in her reach, and the adorkable accountant Mothman Ellis has all the answers to her questions. But there’s something dark at play, and it definitely doesn’t want them together.
Check out Balancing Act if you like:
🧁Mothman x Human
🧁Nerdy Shy MMC
🧁Small Town Vibes
🧁Fated Mates
February 26, 2025
“She’s not just a “girl.” She’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.”
I didn’t really know what to expect when first opening up Balancing Act from author Paden Greenman, but I am officially obsessed. This beautiful novel has a cute town, relatable characters, a hilarious dialogue, and some crazy twists! It truly was a sincere romance book and I appreciated every minute reading it!
I didn’t really know what to expect when first opening up Balancing Act from author Paden Greenman, but I am officially obsessed. This beautiful novel has a cute town, relatable characters, a hilarious dialogue, and some crazy twists! It truly was a sincere romance book and I appreciated every minute reading it!
February 8, 2025
I absolutely flew through this adorable romance ❤️ I love how cute & awkward both characters were & how lovely the town sounded. I wish there was more! Highly recommend if you liked the Cambric Creek series
February 13, 2025
This was a super sweet and cute read! I flew(pun intended) through this so fast and couldn't put it down! I love mothmen and thought this one did such a good job I can't wait to read more of this series!
February 15, 2025
the cutest small town monster romance
This cute and fast paced book is exactly what I needed! I absolutely loved the characters and I wasn’t expecting the plot twist! I can’t wait for the next books of the series🫶🏻
This cute and fast paced book is exactly what I needed! I absolutely loved the characters and I wasn’t expecting the plot twist! I can’t wait for the next books of the series🫶🏻
February 17, 2025
Great book! Lovely small town romance with a mmc that is equal parts awwww cute and whewwww boy I need me a mothman.
Enjoyed this quick read, definitely recommend and looking forward to the next book!
Enjoyed this quick read, definitely recommend and looking forward to the next book!
February 8, 2025
A very fast paced and fluffy mothman romance with plenty of spice. I enjoyed it a lot and look forward yo reading more about this towns residents!
February 11, 2025
So good!
This is a quick but great read! Excellent use of the word proboscis! The fmc and mmc chemistry was adorable
This is a quick but great read! Excellent use of the word proboscis! The fmc and mmc chemistry was adorable
February 26, 2025
A spicey little monster Novella! A fun read 📚
March 1, 2025
Got this book as an arc and not my typical type of read but I was intrigued with it !
March 9, 2025
HOW CUTE. I loved this storyline so much. These characters are incredibly charismatic and lovable.
I really enjoyed this. I only wish it was a full length book instead of a novella!
So so good!
I really enjoyed this. I only wish it was a full length book instead of a novella!
So so good!
July 14, 2025
Audra and Ellis and the Author Paden make me want a whole series about towerbrook! I'm not a monster girlie but I still couldnt put the book down! Some things I absolutely loved about the book; the main characters don't have any major disagreements due to lack of communication, nobody defends the villain, Ellis is a freaking cinnamon roll, Audra is a full adult women who has more confidence in herself than I do, the whole town seems so sweet. I didn't notice any violent scenes (I *AM* a mafia girly, my pov may be skewed).
What i disliked about the book; I was sure I knew who the villain was, I was wrong. I hate being wrong. I also personally did not enjoy the explicit scenes but that was 100% due to me having never read a monster book before! The explicit scenes were definitely spicy and intriguing!
But other than a slight pout about my detective skills (and my personal taste for monsters) this book was amazing and a cozy read in comparison to my usual books. I am considering reading more if this town becomes a series!
What i disliked about the book; I was sure I knew who the villain was, I was wrong. I hate being wrong. I also personally did not enjoy the explicit scenes but that was 100% due to me having never read a monster book before! The explicit scenes were definitely spicy and intriguing!
But other than a slight pout about my detective skills (and my personal taste for monsters) this book was amazing and a cozy read in comparison to my usual books. I am considering reading more if this town becomes a series!
April 14, 2025
OMG!! I was so excited for this book and it didn’t disappoint!! Nerdy and awkward Mothman, yes please!! Ellis is a new monster book boyfriend obsession with his caring ways that put Audra at the center of his world!!! Love the representation of a curvy FMC and love how from the get go they are madly attracted to one another!! The spice is spicing and has the extra fun a monster romance should have! The book was very fast paced and did feel a lil rushed at some parts but It still followed a good story line! I feel that may be because it’s a novella though! There was a twist I didn’t see coming either! Loved the added suspense in the plot! I’m hoping the author continues the series cause I’d love to see more of either the main character and other side characters!
July 31, 2025
4.5 stars
Fated mates
Small town romance with monsters and humans. Yes please.
Audra moves to the small town of Towerbrook for a fresh start. She gets a job and The Pour where she meets our Mothman MMC Eliss.
I really enjoyed reading this. Highly recommend.
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a eARC.
Fated mates
Small town romance with monsters and humans. Yes please.
Audra moves to the small town of Towerbrook for a fresh start. She gets a job and The Pour where she meets our Mothman MMC Eliss.
I really enjoyed reading this. Highly recommend.
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a eARC.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews