Just One Bite

by S.L. Cokeley

Doxlothia University is home to the most elite vampire and werewolf communities and Olivia Osborne—an ambitious human ballerina—has come to university with her sisters. There’s just one problem—they aren’t in the blood donation program and their sweet blood puts a target on their backs. Insert Parker Owens, one of the most sought after men on campus, and a vampire/werewolf hybrid. His solution? Convincing her to fake date him to satisfy his pack and give her and her sisters the protection they need. 


After ensuring her sisters are safe, Olivia gets to focus on her own desires, but that’s hard when Parker keeps making appearances in her dreams, and both of them have an unexplained attraction to each other.


Is the relationship really fake if they can’t keep their hands off each other when they’re alone?


Just One Bite is a new adult paranormal romance and the first in a series of interconnected standalones set in a new world where werewolves, vampires, and humans coexist peacefully.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Romantasy, Paranormal Romance, Fake Dating

346 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2025

About the author

Samantha Cokeley was raised in a small town in Oklahoma. Growing up, she always had an active imagination and an interest in crafting stories. She developed a love for writing after college when she discovered anime and fan fiction. If she isn’t spending time painting colorful sea creatures, you can find her with family, including her pug named Kylo. The This Blood that Binds Us series ends this year. But you can expect many more stories with vampires, heartwarming found family, and fluff to come.

Reviews

[enola (semi-hiatus)]

soft dnf at 47%, but i'll be back trust😌

pre-read:
i had it on my kindle and it was the only one where i read a chapter and didn't immediately get bored
(thank you to everybody who commented on my poll i'll 100% use the answers in the future)

[Iqra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

This was SO fun. Like the first 50% of the book I was bingeing like no tomorrow. The pacing kinda slowed with the second half but I still enjoyed it sm. I had different expectations going in and this was nothing like what I was thinking. Not in a bad way at all but just very different.

The writing is what keeps this from reaching the 4 stars. It’s very simple writing. A lot of telling, less showing. Despite that I still found myself enjoying it.

I genuinely had the best time. I’ve not been able to read a book within two days since what feels like the start of the year. All I’d wanna do was read about Parker and Olivia.

Overall, a fun fast paced read!

ೃ⁀➷ Thank you sm to the author for the ARC! ♥︎

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

She’s a human ballerina and he’s a vampire/werewolf hybrid alpha team captain 🫦🫦🫦

I’ve been fiending after this book since the first teaser 🙏

[meggthereader · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5⭐️

I really wanted to be obsessed with this book as much as I thought I would have been, but there was just too much going on. Maybe it was just the authors writing style? But I felt this had more of a YA feel to it than it did as an adult romance.

The plot was such a great idea, and the fact that I kept seeing this book everywhere and I got the ARC made me so excited to read it. When I first started it, I was really into it, but as the chapters went on it seemed that the story jumps around a lot and you are moved from one thing to the next so I had to go back and read to make sure I didn’t skip anything.

The characters which I loved some aspects of them, just seemed really immature to me. The sisters were really annoying and immature and at times I found myself rolling my eyes at every interaction you had with them. There is also a lot of minor characters to try and keep up with as well, that is something to keep in mind. I had to keep going back and see who was who. I also wished the author played more on how they have known each other pretty much all of their life and have been seeing each other in their dreams. While Parker was both Vampire and werewolf, I felt like his vampire side was barely mentioned. It was also never really explained why her and her sister’s blood was so unique to people, that I really wanted to know.

Lastly, how can you have a werewolf romance and not have any knotting?! My sad perverted heart was disappointed with this. Super sad about this book not being a hit for me, but I know others will love it the way I wanted to!

Tropes :
Vampire/Werewolf hybrid x Human
Fake relationship
Jock x Ballerina
Fated Mates
He falls first
Golden Retriever x Black cat

*Thank you to S.L. Cokeley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!*

[joni ౨ৎ]

the way i just dropped $50 on a SE for this-


okay ate this up rtc!


–––



in the mood for a vampire book and this caught my eye !

[｡.•*¨*•♬✧maeve ✧♬•*¨*•.｡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️5/5 WOW THIS WAS GOOD. it had the perfect mix of everything- fated mates, sports, suspense, fantasy, and so much more!!!!!!!! i finished this in under a day…..so addicting:)) the plot twists are insaneeee! just when you think it’s over there’s more😩

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

🌶️3/5 this is FULL of yearning and definitely gives slow burn vibes…..there is plenty of tension and spice!!! please review the triggers!

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

supernatural university (humans/wolves/vampires/etc.)
jock x ballerina
alpha vampire werewolf hybrid x human with special blood
fated mates
fake dating with benefits
scenting
biting
marking
possessive mmc
slow burn vibes
plot twists
yearning
drugging
violence
hostage situation
grief/loss
blood play
panic attacks
manipulation
HEA
explicit sexual content…..18+ read!!
etc.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

+100 points for the beautiful cover🥹

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

i literally cannot wait for the other books to come out!!! this is an interconnected standalone series:)

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

i would definitely recommend this to my girlies who yearn for a vampire or werewolf….or maybe both;) message me if you want to chat!!🖤✨

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus}]

Ballerina FMC x Sport MMC in an elite school for werewolves, vampires and humans? SIGN ME UP!
 

[Olga Rudnitska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tropes
- paranormal university
- human, werewolves, vampire coexist
- he is hybrid were/vampire
- she is a human, ballet obsession
- fake dating
- it always was you

I can't describe how happy I was to hear I was chosen to be part of the ARC team! I love everything that S. L. Cokeley writes. And now this, another vampire story. Can's miss it!!

So, the book is set in a word where human, werewolves and vampire (after a period of blood war) coexist. There is even a Donor Program, all legal now.
Doxlothia University is ready for all of them.
Four school houses (yeah, like in HP or ZA)

Olivia is one of three sisters who've finally enrolled in the school. She aims to join the top ballet troupe, Emma dreams of becoming a chef. And Evangeline, don't actually want to be here. But I bet someone may convince her to stay).

First day of school, and two soulmates meets. Olivia and Parker. Am undeniable connection sparks between them. Osborne sisters need protection from greedy vampires, Parker need a mate. Easy-peasy.

If I say the Author writes only a green flag MCs, would you believe me? You have to - there is no other choice, really.
Parker is a cinnamon retriever. And still, he has a wild part, animal part. And in bed he won't be shy.

There is little stalker plot, blackmail. Just read it!

Perfect, lovely spicy novel.

Can't wait to read about Emma

[clicktojointhemafia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars ・❥・why am i disappointed in the fact there was no knotting??? (i am ashamed of myself)

Just One Bite follows Olivia (human) and Parker (were/vamp hybrid) who enter a fake relationship for the sake of Olivia and her sisters' protection.

What to expect~
🐺he falls first (and pathetically harder)
💜golden retriever x black cat
🐺fake relationship
💜fated mates
🐺ballerina x sports player

My thoughts~

I feel like I kind of lost brain cells because I unexpectedly found the writing too simple and underwhelming. The dialogue was questionable/straight up bad. It's the sort of book that made me just think that it's daft for the most of it. I didn't really want to finish but after the ending conflict was introduced (which is an annoying subplot I HATE) I was like fuck this I'll skim read now.

The romance was insta-lovey. It wasn't blatant insta love, but at the same time I still feel like they don't know eachother much. She took some time to accept her feelings but when she did it was just done so randomly in my opinion.

What I did like though is how cute they were kinda. Parker is the biggest green flag but maybe too green 'cause it was to the point where it's too blatantly unrealistic for me to even pretend it's real. I would have actually liked for them to have a longer honeymoon phase in their relationship because the sudden tone shift annoyed me lmfao— this began as a cutesy romance but then suddenly there was other stuff happening at the end that I feel like made this world so random. The subplot conflict at the end is the sort that makes you annoyed at the character but like I was just annoyed it was USED, like I swear everyone hates this trope 💀💀💀💀.

Gosh this book just pissed me off at the end. The characters were okay. definitely unique but I feel like the writing did them disservice and the cover makes the book seem wayyy more spiceir than it is. It's baaaarely spicy. They are THE vanilla-est were/vamp x human couple.

There was this build up for like completing the mating bond or whatever but it was like the simplest ritual ever (slightly disappointing) and even worse: no knotting?? Isn't knotting a staple in werewolf romances lmfao. I was audibly shocked when it didn't happen. The spice however, most certainly did serve.

Overall, I didn't enjoy the book. But I also feel like I might not be the target audience for this one as my interests didn't align with alot of this book.

2 stars

Thank you to the author who gave me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Dayna | daynas.bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

WEREWOLVES ARE SO BACK BABY - but especially since he’s a werewolf / vampire hybrid 🙂‍↕️

this book had me hooked from page 1 and i couldn’t help but binge read it! the perfect mix of fantasy academy setting, shifter romance, and DRAMAAAA

the romance in this was so refreshing and exactly what i needed. fake dating / mating to protect the new girl with sweet af blood at an academy for vampires and werewolves?? he’s so selfless!! parker is the perfect mix of dark sunshine and “sweet only for her”. the way he was immediately SO down bad for olivia had me weak and i can’t get over how relentlessly he pursued her. if he wanted to he would 👏🏼

there’s something about feral wolf shifters and pack dynamics that makes ME feral, and this book felt like crack (complimentary).


this is my first time reading SL Cokeley, and i’m in love!!! thank you so much to sam for the ARC 💖

[Lea ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️
special thanks to the person who recommended me this! 💕
i think i was a bit to harsh while reading bc i hate fake dating and (unfortunately for me) last three books ive read were -a) fake dating b) miscommunication c) third act breakup- and this book was the same, THO a little bit better bc i really liked the vibe! parker was cute and the overall paranormal academic setting was really interesting, but AGAIN, those three tropes just dont do it for me 😭

[❀ daisy ❀ · Rating 1 out of 5]

⭐️ (1) DNF @ 51%
I just couldn’t keep forcing myself to read this. I honestly picked it up because I thought the cover was kinda cute and it was giving gothic vibes, but it’s honestly been so disappointing. You do not need a lot of reading comprehension to read this book, it is written as if it’s for middle schoolers or something. There’s also like barely any plot, it’s just he’s obsessed with her and she’s equally as obsessed but playing hard to get. It is extremely cringe and corny from page 1 to page 167 where i just couldn’t keep doing this to myself. This book made me feel like I was wayyyy to old to be reading it, I won’t be finishing this

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

₊⊹⁀➴ 3.5 stars

plot ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Olivia Osborne is a human who is attending Doxlothia University, which houses only the most elite vampires and werewolves. Olivia and her two sisters, Emma and Eva, all have sweet blood, which immediately puts a huge target on them. since they're not under the protection of the blood donation program, all eyes are on them. parker owens, is an elite hybrid (werewolf and vampire) and is being pressured into securing a mate. parker and olivia agree to fake date in order to satisfy his pack, and in exchange, parker vows to protect olivia and her sisters. their relationship is supposed to be all for show to the public, but what happens behind closed doors? their fake relationship starts to evolve into something more...

thoughts ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
this was a cute and easy read. it is very much insta-lust from parker's side of things. the writing isn't anything overly complicated, which made it very easy to read. i love a good paranormal romance, and the pacing was to my liking, but i can definitely see how some people thought everything was moving too fast. i personally really enjoyed the pacing and how down bad parker was from the start. maybe i'm absolutely feral, but i fear i was waiting for the knotting...like how you're gonna have parker be an alpha werewolf hybrid and have ZERO knotting scene. im being dramatic but still...

there were so many adorable moments throughout this book that had me gasping and having to put down my kindle. like y'all don't understand. parker was SO DOWN BAD. he did everything for her.

my favorite moments ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

"i didn't have anywhere else to go"
"that's okay." i rub her arm. "you can lay in my bed with me whenever you want, and i'll hold you."

-- olivia is afraid of storms, and she forgot her headphones in the studio and she walks across the hall to parker's room. he immediately lets her in and gives her headphones and cuddles her. *sobbing* someone sedate me. this may be niche as hell, but this scene reminded me of OHSHC when haruhi was scared, and hikaru gave her headphones and comforted her...UGH I LOVE!!

"please, show me"
" oh, baby, i'll show you whatever you want me to."

SOMEONE SEDATE ME. i'm a "baby" connoisseur. always so down bad. i'd simply pass tf out.

also, the blood drinking scenes were absolute PERFECTION.

tropes:
.✦ ݁˖ jock alpha hyrbid mmc x ballerina human fmc
.✦ ݁˖ fated mates
.✦ ݁˖ he falls first and HARD
.✦ ݁˖ golden retriever x black cat
.✦ ݁˖ fake dating

i'm very excited for emma and dacre's book. the tension, and i just know the banter is going to be so much fun!!!

[Libby K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75? ⭐️
The cover got me, the words inside did not.

[Monica (switching platforms) · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 51%
Disclaimer: These are my personal thoughts and opinions. Others may enjoy this book differently.

For those who’d rather skip my longer review, here are the main points explaining why I DNF’d the book and why it didn’t work for me. I’m really sorry to have to write this kind of review, especially since this book was one of my most anticipated reads of the month, but it literally left me disappointed.
1. writing style & narrative are too simple for an academic setting. This doesn’t mean that I generally dislike this type of writing, in this case, it felt overly simplistic. The dialogues are also weak and don’t fit the characters, whether university students or faculty members. More than once I cringed because the dialogues didn’t match the weight of the scene and came across as flat in both content and tone.
2. worldbuilding ? I’m not sure what exactly I was expecting, given that the story is set in a university, but I would have appreciated more details about Parker’s background or even about the university itself. Aside from the initial setup, however, most of the narrative revolves around the romance between the two protagonists. Perhaps if I had continued, I would have discovered more, but who knows?
3. conflicts are shallow and don’t have time to properly develop. Throughout the whole story, I came across maybe two or three conflict situations, and none of them left any real impact on me;
4. characters are underdeveloped and lack depth. They didn’t leave much of an impression on me, mostly because of the way the story was presented. Parker is genuinely a good hybrid, but unfortunately, his character doesn’t go much beyond that. Olivia, on the other hand, gave me the impression of being too absorbed in her own ballet world, and aside from the ball and her sisters, she didn’t seem to care much about what was happening around her, which doesn’t make much sense if you’re attending a paranormal university. I can at least give some credit to the secondary characters like Zant, who felt more promising;
5. the romance didn’t leave a significant impact due to all the previously mentioned issues, which is really a shame because, as it was presented, the story had the potential to be unique and engaging.


Here’s the detailed explanation (with some spoilers) of why this book didn’t work for me and why I had to put it on my DNF list.

Putting this book on my DNF list breaks my heart because it was a read I had been looking forward to this month. Maybe I fell into the trap of its beautiful aesthetic or the promising plot, but my expectations were sadly let down… I tried to push through the story, hoping it might improve or that my opinion would change, but nothing did. So here’s a detailed explanation (yes, because I need to vent about these points) of the reasons why, personally, this book didn’t entertain me and why I had to stop reading it.

Writing style: the story is set in an academic environment, yet the narrative feels far too simple and lacks evocative detail. The writing reminded me a lot of Kennedy’s style in the Off-Campus series, but at least Kennedy used her style to her advantage and made it enjoyable, something that didn’t happen here. I’m not saying that this type of style shouldn’t be used, but the way it was executed here left the story feeling flat.
The way info dumps were handled, always explained by a character rather than discovered firsthand, made exploring this world uninteresting. Most of the dialogues were weak, and moments that demanded depth or emotional weight were glossed over or skipped entirely.
Even the scenes suffered the same treatment. SPOILER What I particularly struggled with was the way the scene where the protagonist, Olivia, is attacked by a vampire (he bites her without her consent) was written and developed. Here’s the context: Olivia and her sisters come from the human world and have never encountered supernatural beings except for their parents. When they arrive at DO, their father doesn’t want them to join the Blood Donor Center because he’s afraid they’ll meet the same fate as their mother. However, by doing so, they become easy targets for vampires. When Olivia is saved by Parker (MMC) and later discusses it with her sisters, the event is narrated in a surprisingly calm way, as if nothing significant had happened. Even when Olivia mentions it to the director, who says she will file a report, the matter is never revisited except for a two-line remark. Shouldn’t there be a proper procedure for those who opt out of the program rather than leaving them as targets? Not to mention that the vampire who attacked Olivia is a council member, which makes the situation even worse. Eventually, the situation is “resolved” in a less bureaucratic way, but the combination of Olivia’s apparent indifference and the system’s lack of care left me very perplexed.END SPOILER
The problem is that there are so many scenes like this throughout the story, where there should be more room for character thoughts and refinement, yet the narrative stays at a very basic level, instead prioritizing the romantic aspect of the two protagonists.
Another scene that left me speechless (and not in a good way) was the fake dating, a central part of the story’s development. Not only are the two characters “discovered,” or at least suspected of having a fake relationship, just two weeks after announcing it, but they continue to talk about it openly, bringing it up without even trying to hint at it or use another way to address the topic. Excuse me, but you’re in a school of werewolves and vampires—if there were only humans around, this would have been discovered immediately. The point of the story was clearly to revolve around the fake relationship trope, but it was discovered before even 40% of the book. It frustrates me because the story could have been interesting to continue, but I just can’t get through this type of writing and presentation.

Worldbuilding: I’m not exactly sure what I was expecting, given that the story is set in a university, but I would have appreciated more details about Parker’s background and about the university itself. While I enjoyed the presentation and the way Doxlothia University manages its students and activities, I still didn’t have a clear understanding of what kinds of lessons are actually taught or what practical, work-related purposes they serve. Aside from the initial setup, most of the narrative revolves around the romance between the two protagonists. The classes seem similar to those in the human world, but I had hoped for more unique or distinctive activities that could make the setting truly stand out. Perhaps if I had continued, I would have discovered more, but who knows?

Conflict & Pacing: the conflicts never really feel like conflicts because they aren’t given enough time or space to develop. Key plot points—Olivia’s attack, the fake dating, and the Blood Donor Program issue—are handled too quickly, leaving the story flat and unengaging. The pacing is inconsistent, with some moments rushed and others dragging, while the tone and mood often fall flat when suspense or danger is expected. Overall, the promising premise doesn’t live up to its potential, making it hard to stay invested and contributing to my decision to DNF.

Characters: starting with the secondary characters, there isn’t much to say. Olivia’s sisters had a very brief engagement in the story, and while I generally liked them, they seemed a bit lost in this world. I wonder if they will get more development later in the series. Zant , the vampire and Parker’s best friend, I actually liked. He’s stereotypical, but personally, I found him enjoyable. Octavia , despite her brief appearance, was also a pleasant and interesting character. As for the father of the Osborne sisters , honestly, he came across as somewhat hypocritical. Sending his daughters into a world he knows personally “to protect them,” without giving them even basic information, was hard to swallow for me. Also, why all three of them, if in the end only one actually wanted to go?

Olivia : I thought I would like Olivia, since she seemed to have the most open mind toward the world she was entering and appeared to have clear ideas. However, her development was practically nonexistent. She is supposed to be the sister who protects the others, yet she comes across as reluctant to accept help and stubborn in her choices. Since she isn’t part of the Blood Donor Program by her father’s decision, shouldn’t there be another way to manage the situation and prevent her from being an easy target? The solution comes through the fake dating, but does it guarantee full protection for Olivia’s sisters as well? From how it’s presented, it seems that the only “protected” one is Olivia herself.

Additionally, she feels too caught up in the ball—both as a personal escape and as a way to feel closer to her mother. Aside from the ball and her sisters, Olivia didn’t seem to care much about what was happening around her, which doesn’t make much sense if you’re attending a paranormal university.

Parker : honestly, I didn’t understand how he ended up as the captain of the Rage (a sport inspired by hockey) or as a born alpha when it’s clear he’s a lone wolf. Maybe his development will come later, but for now, he just seems like a good guy trying to juggle his responsibilities as a student and a pack member. The only thing that really sets him apart is that he’s a hybrid; aside from that, he feels remarkably human.

The Romance: the idea of “fated mates” doesn’t bother me, as it’s common in paranormal romance, but the way Parker and Olivia’s relationship developed felt too quick. They meet, fake-date, and soon after become intimate, leaving little room for a natural slow burn. Some shy, hesitant moments would have made their connection feel more authentic.

In the end, despite its intriguing premise and visually appealing presentation, this book didn’t manage to hold my attention. While there were a few enjoyable moments and secondary characters I liked, the story overall fell flat for me. It’s disappointing, as it had the potential to be engaging and unique, and it frustrates me even more because it includes all the tropes that usually interest me, but I just couldn’t find anything that made the reading enjoyable.

Thank you to S.L. Cokeley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Helen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to S. L. Cokeley and team for the ARC.

The artwork and tropes drew me in but unfortunately, it was ultimately a miss for me for the most part. I could definitely see why other readers would enjoy this though - it is a quick read with a sweet af and green flag MMC.

I loved the whole supernatural university aspect and reading all the scenting/biting scenes - but other than that, I felt the whole book was messy. Super fast paced and a lot of the time, it felt like so many ideas were trying to be shoved in yet most were left like an unfinished thought and we moved onto the next thing.

- Info dumping and world building through lengthy monologues from other characters which didn't read naturally in conversation
- The sisters were featured quite prominently for the first quarter of the book then their entire characters were ignored for the rest of the book
- Lots of antagonists introduced but the big bad guy at the end was so random since he barely had any air time
- I personally didn't get what made the FMC so special to have paparazzi following her
- I just didn't believe in the romance as it didn't seem to grow beyond the 'fated mates' bind
- The third act break up was kinda dumb; FMC acted immaturely for someone in university

Would not read again nor would continue with the series.

Overall rating: 2.5/5

[⋆˙sanyae˙⋆]

soft dnf at 10%
the writing is kinda bad 🙈 and there is insta-lust. i'm going to come back to this when I'm in the mood for those 2 things because i really wanted to love this one

[ari ⁠♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t really enjoy this one. The writing style just wasn’t for me

[yueting ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

﹙ three stars ﹚

just one bite is a win for primal play and golden retriever mmc lovers (aka me). this book is exactly as it seems from the half-werewolf, half-vampire mmc and sweet-blooded ballerina fmc description—a spicy paranormal romance at a boarding school filled with werewolves, vampires, and those they prey on. it's brimming with possessive insta-love, heightened drama, and a wild whirlwind of a plot.

parker and olivia's connection is immediate, and even before we learn about all the ways that they are fated, it is clear that they're meant to be together. their attraction, and the feelings that follow, happen in quick succession despite both of them trying to keep each other at arms length. i really enjoyed the ways that parker's possessiveness took form in their initial meetings, less dominating and controlling and more protective and helpful. and i found their dynamic to be one that i really enjoy in romances: a fake dating scheme that quickly evolves into real feelings once they open up to each other.

parker in particular was a very surprising mmc. i thought he would be a lot more feral and forceful than he really was, but he ended up being such a softy and complete putty in olivia's hands. he was a total sweetheart and model fake boyfriend, which was really refreshing to see in a relationship with werewolf dynamics. olivia's role in her family and relationship with her sisters and father also made her character more nuanced. though the choices she made at times were so frustrating, i could also understand her motivations and why she had so many walls.

the plot in this book was crazy—both in a good and bad way. i live for messy storylines, and i was thriving over the very 2010s drama a la gossip girl slash vampire academy that this book was serving. it was filled with drunken parties with very dubious moral choices, he said she said rumor mill social media posts, and young adults on unbelievably massive power trips that i haven't had a good, proper dose of in years. it was both exciting and ridiculous at the same time. and it just so happened to work for me in this instance, but it is definitely only for those who wish to relive the heyday wildness of those plots.

certain elements that didn't quite click for me: when parker and olivia's relationship leaned more into the fated trope than their current, tangible dynamic; a mystery aspect to the story that dipped in and out of the plot seemingly whenever convenient; the cast of side characters, apart from olivia's sisters, who were hard for me to differentiate and remember at times. though all of it was counter balanced by an insane plot twist at the end of the book that i didn't see coming and made me audibly gasp.

there was so much about this book that i already knew i was going to enjoy going in, and i'm very pleased that i was right about a lot of it. i definitely would recommend this to those who, like me, know they enjoy dramatic and intense paranormal romances with a bit of insta-love and a story that revolves around that relationship.

— thank you so much to s.l. cokeley for the e-arc to review!

[Malin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a perfect book for autumn, especially when you love a werewolf / vampire book. This was such a perfect mix of cute, mysterious, hot and intense. Absolutely loved reading it!

Parker is everything. So protective (like really protective!), flirty, great banter, OBSESSIVE, kind and assertive.

“You are going to smell like me … you could shower, but I like it.”

I loved seeing how Parker and Olivia’s fake relationship evolved. It’s such an intriguing story, and I also really enjoyed how close Olivia and her sisters are (am I sniffing the possibility of another interconnected standalone??).

Had such a fun time reading this. Thank you so much S. L. Cokeley for an ARC!

4.5 🌟

““It’s you,” he says, with no trace of doubt. “It’s always been you, Olivia.” I’m full. Infinite. Safe. Home.”

[Quincy L · Rating 4 out of 5]

The set up for "Just One Bite" was fantastic and I found myself lost in the world and connecting with the characters. Sadly, towards the end I got pretty lost. I think that the first half was just so great that the end just felt rushed and cramped. The pacing definitely got off track. I enjoyed the characters, but where this book really shined was the world building. I did not expect it to have have as much depth as it did. It also was a great balance, still managing to be simple and understandable. Overall I did enjoy my reading journey with this book but was still wanting more after a slightly disappointing ending.

[iitsslaraa :) 🌸 · Rating 5 out of 5]

sabía que este libro iba a ser un 10/10 desde el primer capítulo. “when you know, you know” dicen, esa fui yo. la adicción que tengo yo con estos dos no es normal, necesito más de ellos. el libro es súper gracioso y están los dos loquísimos, no sé qué dice de mí que me gusten tanto… 🤭😋
en fin, los amo demasiado 💕

[Morgan Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 25%. I should be having a silly goofy time and I’m just not vibing. Writing and sentence structure are fairly poor. “Have you never gotten bitten before” was one among many poor sentences… aside from writing there’s instalust right off the bat in chapter one. I’m finding myself rolling my eyes at the FMC and MMCs interactions… sorry fam. Not for me. And I cant in good conscience recommend. But I know there will be plenty of people who will eat this up.

[Laura+･｡* · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I don't want anyone to think about touching you. I need all of you to myself"
First of all, I'd like to thank you for the eARC of the book 💜
This book has been a really fun read, I pretty much ate my way through it in a short amount of time. It had a nice academic setting, was spicy and it had werevolves so naturally I was really hyped to read it. And that cover art is just straight up gorgeous. So here is my spoiler free review! Starp in, it will be long.
You will like this book if you like... ✮⋆˙
🐺werevolwes and vampires
📖an academic setting
💜fake dating tropes
🔥men that Y E A R N
🌶️spicy scenes that involve werewolf elements like biting and marking
The story ✮⋆˙
The story follows Olivia, a ballerina and Parker, a werewolf/vampire hybrid Rage (basically werewolf hockey lol) player. The moment Olivia sets foot in Doxlothia University, Parker is obsessed with her. Not much later, they start to fake date (for reasons I won't give away, we're spoiler free here) but SURPRISE SURPRISE, there might be more to their relationship than fake dating.

So, I'm not the biggest fan of instalove in books, I like slow burn, tension and painful amounts of yearning and because of that, I wasn't really vibing with the book in the beginning but it kind of just grew on me and I started to like it a lot. The story itself wasn't really my favourite part of this book, I won't lie. It was your typical academic romance with sports included and most of the drama and tension involved in the story didn't really feel too intriguing I guess? Sometimes it felt like I'm back in high school with all the petty drama lol.

I liked the progression of Olivia's and Parker's relationship throughout the story and I was a big fan of all of Parker's wolfy things. I do wish this book tapped more into the paranormal side of the story and there were more werewolf/vampire action but hey I take what I can get. I loved how much Parker was yearning for Olivia. A man that will beg for a woman. Yup, sign me up. Their chemistry was good, I really liked how the bond of mates was incorporated in the romance oh and did I mention that it was spicy ?

However. The ending did feel a bit messy, it was my least favourite part of the book. It kind of felt like the author wanted to end the story with a big climax and make it exciting but it felt really random and a bit out of place sadly and it took away from the book for me.

The characters ✮⋆˙
Parker was undeniably my favourite, and no, not because he's a hot werewolf. His character was really nice, kind of like a gentle giant. He was a bit hotheaded but also full of love and really protective of the people he cares for. He was always considerate about Olivia's past bad experiences and tried his best to always make her comfortable and feel loved. Next to these, he was so ambitious about his dreams as well. Green forest of a man.

I'm sorry but I didn't really like Olivia. In the beginning I was fully with her, she wanted to make her dream of becoming a ballerina come true and was working so hard towards that and she was also so caring about Parker. However at the end of the book she started to seriously lose me with her whole "Woe is me" act and the ocean of self pity. It kind of just became annoying and even though her character started off strong, this ruined her for me a little.

As for the side characters, they were kind of forgettable. They didn't really have much depth to them and I pretty much forgot about them two chapters after they got introduced. Because of this the drama was kind of hard to follow too because I was always like .
Final thoughts ✮⋆˙
This book was a fun paranormal romance story, it's a nice read to get out of reading slumps or if you need a quick and easy read. Overall the story was good even though the conflicts didn't always make the most sense, however I was here for the romance which was good in my opinion.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an arc for the book in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first book by S.L Cokeley and I was OBSESSED.
I started following her when she was going to release "This blood that binds us" because I was sucked in by a vampire story with pretty pastel covers. Still, I haven't read it because I had the most awful reading slump and only now I'm getting back into the rhythm of devouring books. When I saw this, I immediately had to apply for the opportunity of an e-arc, and was lucky enough to get it.
Oh I'm so glad this was my first book by her.
This was so good!!! I don't know what is bigger, my obsession with Parker or his with Olivia.
I swear every scene with him got me salivating. I loved the flirting between them, how natural it felt, and how it wasn't cringe.
The plot got me intrigued and I was also so invested in the other sisters lives so much that I just can't wait until we get their books, I want them yesterday!
I really liked this book a lot and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to read it early. This was a great way to start my month.

[maggie sheldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Y’all I ate this up honestly. I needed something to help me get back from a slump and this did it! There were a few times I had to go back and reread but this isn’t normally a deal breaker for me so it didn’t bother me. However if you are someone who does find that bothersome you then there is always the possibility you won’t enjoy this.
I finished this book in about a day and a half which with everything going on in my personal life was exactly what I needed. Parker and Olivia had such great chemistry I found my self on the edge of my seat multiple times. The spice was spicing and over all I had an absolute blast! I will be purchasing this one for my shelf! It’s absolutely stunning!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ARC READ THIS!

[KayTheBookLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love loved it!

This was my first S.L. Cokeley book and what a fun ride that was! I will definitely be reading more+

This was paranormal romance with vampire/shifter hybrid and the human ballerina he falls for!

Parker and Olivia's story was fun, thrilling and sweet! I loved the pull he had to protect her and her sisters (but especially her).

This falls in paranormal romance but also with an academic setting. They go to a university that is for vampires, weres and humans.

I really loved the main characters and I can't wait to read more by S.L. Cokeley

[☆Jordan☆ {King Clit's vers.} · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book and the way that it flowed. The characters were great, and I loved the story. I did kind of expect a lot of what happened, but some things were like "woah what just happened?" this book was very enjoyable and if you're in a reading slump, the fast pace is good to get out of it.

[Valerie Berthelette · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO EXCITED I GOT THE ARC!!!!
Werewolf/vampire team captain x Ballerina in a school for humans, werewolves and vampires???? im sooo excited. + can we talk about the cover???? stunning

this was so fun and cosy and spicy. the perfect book to start my fall reading!

[Payton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel so lucky that I got to read this as an ARC because what a book! I finished in one sitting and can’t wait for more books in this world!
Set in an elite magical university setting with werewolves, vampires and humans. The men are HOT and the tension and yearning is everything. Sprinkle in some fake dating (that is anything but fake) and a protective MMC and this book has it all. The plot is plotting and will leave you guessing pretty much right up until the end. There were so many dynamics between characters in this book that I loved. “Mine” “Just kiss me” “Did you eat today” Grrrr there’s so much in this book to love so
Definitely needs to be added to your TBR!

The MMC Parker is definitely down bad for Olivia and while she might be doing everything to fight the connection he definitely is not! It’s definitely got some spice and you won’t help but have kick your feet moments at these two. Enjoy reading guys and I can’t wait for the next books in this series ☺️

[Gracyn Neely · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to s.l. cokeley for an ARC copy of this book!!

this was so fun and so paced paced and i loved how unique the storyline was, hogwarts-like houses at a spooky school but with vampires, werewolf’s and humans so fun! but sometimes the plot didn’t line up and felt like there were too many villains/suspects in the mystery that happened

i adored olivia and parker’s romance, i could kinda guess what was going to happen but it was so fun watching them meet and fall in love and navigate the issues thrown at them

🌶️be warned that this is very spicy🌶️