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Monstrous New York #2

The Vampire in the Orchard

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I thought my chance at a happily ever after died along with my husband four years ago. But maybe I was wrong.

I wasn’t expecting a knock at my door. And I certainly wasn’t expecting a handsome-as-hell vampire to be on the other side. Viktor says he’s my new nanny, hired by my sweet but meddling brother-in-law.

The truth is, I’m drowning. In motherhood. In running a business. In life. So maybe Viktor arrived at the perfect time?

With each passing day, he heals the parts of me that were scarred when Roman died. What he doesn’t know is that I’m on the verge of losing the last remaining piece of my late our apple orchard.

He has secrets of his own, in the form of an overbearing father who has Viktor’s future mapped out. A future he doesn’t want.

I’ll have to learn to trust someone else with my bruised heart. And, together, we’ll have to lean on each other to save my orchard and keep Viktor from a suffocating future.

The Vampire in the Orchard is a low-angst, sweet, and spicy monster x human romance novel with a guaranteed HEA. It is intended for readers ages 18+.

It is the second book in the Monstrous New York world and can be read as a standalone.

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 18, 2025

26 people are currently reading
137 people want to read

About the author

E.M. Sauber

10 books40 followers
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Born and raised in the Midwest, reading has always been a part of her life. A way to escape when the real world gets to be too much.

E.M. currently lives in Minnesota with her wonderful husband, two children, and two dogs.

When she isn't writing steamy shifter stories, you can find her cuddled on the couch under a fuzzy blanket with her kindle.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for Biblio.
Author 8 books226 followers
July 6, 2025
EM Sauber does it again! Viktor and Maggie were SO SWEET together. Maggie is a strong single mom who doesn't need help (except she does) and when her sweet BIL send Viktor to assist she can't help but fall for him. Viktor stepped in and fell just as hard for Maggie and her daughter. We love a bonus daddy! EM always brings the feels and a romance you won't forget. One of my favorite vampire reads and author.


Profile Image for Kara McCrea.
130 reviews6 followers
July 6, 2025
I am SO beyond excited that I can finally talk about how much I LOVED The Vampire in the Orchard by emsauber 🩷 I got the honor of beta reading this back in April and I can't tell you ENOUGH how much I loved this book. That's probably a given with how much I love everything Emily writes, but Viktor and Maggie were just EVERYTHING.

If you read the first book in the series (The Dragon in the Corner Office) then you'd recognize Maggie as the ex sister in law of Cyrus! This book is a glimpse into her life dealing with a struggling orchard, the grief of losing her husband and the struggles of being a single mother ... all while she seems to be more and more attracted to the new nanny Cyrus hired to help her out over the summer. Viktor.

While I don't (and hopefully never do) know what it is like to lose your significant other early as Maggie has, this book really does hit you in the feels with how strongly you can feel her grief, her confusion at trying to move on, and her struggles. There are a few moments in this book that just choked me right up and I felt like I was there, almost peaking in on a moment maybe I shouldn't have been. And then there is Viktor. This man not only steps into his new job with complete professionalism (even when he realizes he has the hots for his employer) but he is the sturdy rock she seems to need in many areas of her life she doesn't even realize she is struggling with. My lips are sealed but there is a moment in this book that involves Viktor that i still think about months later and I just don't think I will EVER get over. He was incredible.

Overall this book is an incredible look into what it is like to love and to lose, and how you can stand back up again in your life. Maggie is a trooper who will cry and then wipe her tears, pull up her bootstraps and get the job done, even in the face of adversity.

10000000/5⭐
4/5🌶️
Profile Image for McKayla.
250 reviews5 followers
June 17, 2025
I loved every second of this book! This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites! We met Maggie, our FMC, in book one of the Monstrous New York series! She is a widowed single mom who is barely keeping herself afloat while managing an apple orchard her late husband bought.

Her brother in law, Cyrus, decides to hire a nanny to help her out. Cue Viktor, a hot vampire from the city who has been nannying for years. He is pretty immediately attracted to Maggie and their chemistry is so palpable. It was so refreshing to finally have a nanny MMC and single parent FMC after years of reading the reverse.

The spice was SPICING. The mouth Viktor has on him…. Made me blush the entire time. I LOVED that he brought out more bratty tendencies with Maggie and that she felt secure and safe enough to explore more kink.

Overall, really enjoyed this addition to the series!! CANNOT WAIT for book three! Thank you so much for the ARC!
Profile Image for Mott (Foxandcatspress).
111 reviews3 followers
June 24, 2025
The Vampire In The Orchard
(Monstrous New York Book 2)
By E. M. Sauber

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I am not the biggest fan of vampire romance but it was so hard not to fall for the way Viktor, our vampire nanny, dotes on Lily and Maggie.
And the romance was touching in the way he respected Maggie’s past and love her, helping her heal and reminding her how loved she is.
And Maggie was a great character and amazing mum! I love how gentle she was but not afraid to stand up for those she loved.

This book was the delightful sequel to The Dragon In The Corner Office with cameos of my favourite characters in that book and new characters that are setting up the next book!
I am so excited to read about Sweet Orchard Dreams’s grumpy Minotaur Forman and Viktor’s beautiful and fun twin sister 💕

If you like Vampires that cook, single mother with an adorable little girl and an apple orchard and nanny romance then you should give this one a read!
Profile Image for Spinster Pam.
181 reviews12 followers
July 14, 2025
This book was so good. It was big on feelings & sweet moments and absolutely delicious on spice. It had me giggling, crying, snort laughing, and clutching my heart from sweetness overwhelm.

Maggie is a human in her thirties, raising her daughter & running their orchard alone following the unexpected passing of her husband four years ago.

Viktor is a vampire who is nearly 100 and works as a nanny despite his father's objections and pressure to do "more". He is hired by Maggie's brother-in-law to nanny during the orchard's busy season.

They meet when he shows up at her door. She is not happy because she is a strong, independent woman who doesn't need help. Except, she does. She desperately does. She is stretched to her limits (and not in the fun way) and cannot keep going at the pace she has. There is instant attraction for both of them. They try to ignore it. He focuses on being an amazing nanny, she focuses on her orchard & finances. But both are easily & frequently distracted by the other until they just can't ignore anymore. It is so good!

Maggie is stunning. She is an amazing mom who is dealing with so much heartbreak but still makes her daughter know she is the priority. But she desperately needs a rest & someone to show her she is the priority. Her journey of grief, exploration and learning how to allow the past & present to coexist instead of it being either/or will touch (possibly crush) your heart.

Viktor. Oh Viktor. He is the sweetest & kindest being. His love for his girls is so strong & so fierce. He doesn't want to replace anyone, he just wants his place. And watching him get it is really beautiful. And his spicy likes & talk? So good!

I adore EM's books. Her writing really works for my brain and connects with my heart. Her stories are sweet, spicy & hopeful. Perfection!

I received this as an ARC which had zero impact on my review. My review is based entirely on the contents of the book.
Profile Image for ♥ WishfulMiss ♥ .
1,439 reviews115 followers
July 18, 2025
I'm a sucker for the nanny trope in romance but this is my first manny romance and Viktor was the perfect character to play this role! The way he swoops in to offer support, encouragement and just plain spoil his girls was some of the best parts of this story. I know I can expect a sweet romance from E.M. but Maggie and Viktor pleasantly surprised me with how strongly they pulled at my emotions.

Maggie is a single mom who lost her first love four years ago and has done everything in her power to hold it together, on her own. For her daughter, for her brother in low, for herself. But trying to keep her late husband's dream of the apple orchard alive it taking it's tole on her. In an attempt to lighten her load, Cyrus hires a manny and meeting Viktor changes things for Maggie, in ways she wasn't expecting.

The journey of grief, healing and new beginnings in this book were so heartfelt and emotionally gripping. I loved that both our MCs came together as a united front and were there to support each other through the thick and thin. Bonus for the cameos of past characters and the fun hints of the next couple in this series!

If you're looking for a sweet and spicy monster romance with relatable characters and cozy vibes, I can't recommend this author or this series enough!
Profile Image for Jessica.
365 reviews
September 29, 2025
This was a cozy story about a struggling single Mom and the vampire nanny sent to help her. Maggie lost her husband a few years ago and is still reeling. She is trying to jeep the apple orchard they ran afloat but times are tough. Her brother in law sent and paid for a nanny from an agency. Viktor shows up on her doorstep ready to help and even her daughter takes a liking to him. He’s good at his job and genuinely enjoys making life easier for Maggie. Under the surface they both are having feelings for one another that they are trying to keep at bay.

This was more fluffy and cozy rather than spicy. Everything felt super convenient, low stakes, and superficial. The angst/pining was barely there aside from a couple of discreet crotch readjustments. I also found inconsistencies in the story. Specifically multiple mentions of Viktor’s heart beating but then at the end (spoiler) when he decides to give up his immortality to be with Maggie his heart starts beating again. Color me confused.

“…she already owns my heart. Every single beat is for her.”
“…brace my hands on his chest, his heart beating just as fast as mine.”
“…she doesn't notice how fast my heart is beating.”

“I press my ear closer to his chest. Thump. Thump. His heart.... It's beating again.”

Ultimately this was just ok. Do I recommend? Sure, if you want cozy apple orchard vibes with a mild paranormal romance mixed in. Overall, this wasn’t for me but did end up being a quick read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Gleeful Goblin Reviews.
639 reviews20 followers
August 5, 2025
Gleeful Goblin Review: This is Book 2 of the Monstrous New York series and I love it just as much as I did Book 1! Our FMC Maggie has a solid tie back to The Dragons In The Corner Office because she's the ex-sister-in law of Cyrus. The focus of Book 2 is the story of a widowed single mom who is doing everything she can to manage being "both parents" as well as the owner of an apple orchard that like many small business farms, is struggling. Her late husband bought the farm (sadly in more than one way) so part of Maggie's difficulty is that she of course wants to support her family but also honor her late husband's dream and having this orchard as a rememberance/memorial to his memory. But all of these competing responsibilities are a LOT for one woman to handle. One thing that's relatively easy to fix is when Cyrus hires a sizzling and sweet nanny (Viktor) to help Maggie out at least for the summer. Viktor and Maggie have spectacular chemistry that only builds and deepens as the story goes on. There's good ramp up of tension without it feeling like that drags on or having tropes like bad communication based breakups.

If you love stories about family in all of its many forms, small towns, and big loves then this is 100% the story for you. 5/5 Stars
Profile Image for monika_is_booked.
370 reviews13 followers
July 17, 2025
Maggie has been in survival mode for years. After her husband passed unexpectedly, she just tried to scramble through life, giving everything she had to her daughter and her apple orchard. But things are about to change, when an unfairly handsome vampire nanny turns up at her doorstep. Hired by Maggie's brother-in-law to look after Lilly, Viktor turns out to be so much more than just someone to keep Lilly occupied. Will Maggie be able to open up her heart to another love?

Oh boy, oh boy. I was so excited for Maggie's story and soooooo happy with it. These two are perfect for each other!!! Viktor giving Maggie all the time and space she needs to let her guards down and come to terms with the fact that there might be someone else for her after four years of grieving and Maggie finally letting someone in again after such a long time of just surviving, but not really living. I laughed, I swooned, I cried a little and I had to fan myself because, the mouth on that vampire? Yum!!

If you like monster romance, go pick up this amazing series, thank me later!! Now I hear, there's a snowstorm coming to New York? 👀
7 reviews
August 11, 2025
I just wrapped this one, and wow, what a delight! If you're craving a romance that’s sweet, spicy, and low on angst, this novel delivers in spades. It centres on Maggie, and from the moment you meet her, you’re rooting for her to find that perfect blend of heart and heat.

The romance is monster‑meets‑human perfection. It’s smooth, emotionally satisfying, and guided by chemistry you can practically feel between the pages.

The prose is polished and immersive, the kind that transports you straight into the buzz of the city and the hush of the orchard. It's clear Sauber knows how to strike just the right tone: alluring without going overboard, emotional without being melodramatic.

This one lands solidly in the “easy, addictive escape” category. Expect cozy evenings, spicy moments, and a story that wraps around your heart with genuine sweetness. If you’re looking to unwind with a monster romance that’s all gap-toothed charm and zero angst, The Vampire in the Orchard is a must.
Profile Image for Michelle Lebron.
251 reviews14 followers
July 2, 2025
This book is super sweet—Viktor and Maggie have officially become one of my favorite couples!
We’re back with book two in the Monstrous of New York series, and this time we follow Maggie, a widowed single mom. Her brother-in-law hires a nanny to help her out… but she definitely wasn’t expecting a sexy vampire to walk into her life and steal her heart from the very first moment.

Maggie is the kind of FMC who doesn’t need saving—she’s strong, resilient, and refuses to give up, even when life gets tough. At first, she’s not exactly thrilled about having a nanny forced on her, but Viktor quickly becomes essential to both her and her daughter. Their little one adores him, and honestly, so will you.

It’s a beautiful story about second chances at love, about finding a family when you least expect it—and yes, the spice is very much present and deliciously satisfying 🔥🧛‍♂️
Profile Image for DemetraP.
5,897 reviews
July 22, 2025
I liked it but a few things bugged me spoilers Spoilers.
.spoilers

First, he is an experienced nanny yet repeatedly works in a suit with a fancy dress shirt and vest. It felt wrong.

Second, the heroine lost her husband a few years ago. She regularly cries over him and his memory. I felt like she was not ready to be in a new relationship.

She has money problems. Her apple orchard is in foreclosure. She tells no one. Even though her brother in law is rich and has repeatedly offered to help her financially. Nope, she wants to fix it herself.

The vampire hero loves to bake. He has multiple piercings "down there". He also likes adult toys and butt stuff. He also keeps fighting with his father over how he does not want to join his dad's investment firm. I had whiplash. He was assertive in the bedroom but nor with his dad.
Profile Image for Mama's Reading List .
107 reviews5 followers
July 22, 2025
I really enjoyed the way Maggie felt so real. She was so relatable as a mom! She loves Lily with everything she has and just wants the best life for her. She also wants her to know Roman's legacy and is trying to hold onto their dream of the apple orchard but being one person is so hard!

Viktor is the support system Maggie needs not just as a nanny but as a person and a woman. Viktor really steps up and helps Maggie deal with her grief and stress. He also helps her realize it's okay to focus on herself.

This sweet Vampire/Single Mom second chance romance was a cozy read with lots of spice! We even got a little check in from Cyrus and Annie which was fun! I absolutely loved Lily's spunky personality and her; kids say the funniest things, contributions to the story!

I read this book as an ARC and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Kamiye.
254 reviews8 followers
July 16, 2025
Get your monster romance fix with Viktor and Maggie. This is a cute story. A bit of sadness in there too (mentions of grief, loss of partner).

Viktor is a winner:
- He's a vampire
- He cooks
- He bakes
- He does laundry

What else do we need?

I enjoyed this read. The book has an HEA. The characters are all amazing, and I want their stories (all of them). This is open-door (when there is a door) and there is also blood (he's a vampire...). That was a nice break from reality.

A note: I've won this ebook in a giveaway organised on Insta by the author. It doesn't change the fact that I was eagerly waiting for the publication and will be reading all future books from the series.
Profile Image for ElleBearBooks.
77 reviews4 followers
July 18, 2025
I've wondered since Book 1 when we would find out more about Maggie! Her story is a bittersweet one, but heartfelt all the same as she overcomes her challenges. Running an orchard, raising her lovely daughter, and keeping herself together is hard. Until she meets Viktor.

A vampire nanny that arrived on her doorstep at just the right time! He's the help that she didn't know she needed! He sees the areas she's struggling in, is super attentive, and helps her manage her heavy load. What they both didn't expect was to fall for each other, and wonder what that meant for their summer arrangement.

These two cuties! I loved watching them grow, fall in love, and navigate decisions together! Definitely very cozy, and lots of city boy meets country girl charm 💜
Profile Image for Britt 🐺.
462 reviews16 followers
July 18, 2025
I absolutely adored Viktor and Maggie! (And Lily of course) This book was filled with laughter, love, healing and so much more. And the spice…🥵 I mean, he makes her count his piercings as they slide in…let that sink in…

Viktor also fit right in with Maggie and Lily despite their differences. I loved seeing their family come together. The moments with Lily were so sweet. She truly felt like a character her age and not a young child spitting wisdom left and right. I could feel E.M.’s love for her own children shining through in this story and I loved every moment.

We also get introduced to some fun new characters who I am eager to learn more about, I did peep some interesting info in the newsletter 👀
Profile Image for Erica G..
262 reviews8 followers
October 4, 2025
Maggie and Victor's love story was the perfect novel to kick off my Fall Reads! I mean, an apple orchard and a vampire...what more could a girl ask for!

Just like every book I read by E.M. Sauber, I couldn't put it down! Maggie and Lily (Maggie's daughter) have had a tough go since losing her husband years ago, but Viktor swoops in and almost immediately becomes a stable and loving support system for both of them.
This one will really pull on your Heartstrings!

But, don't forget its a romance, and with that comes an "after-hours" side of Viktor that Maggie can't resist.

This book has it all, a bad-ass FMC, a delicious vampire MMC and amazing side characters!

Highly recommend! Especially for your Fall TBR! 🍂
Profile Image for Grace Leonora Griffiths.
159 reviews2 followers
June 26, 2025
Oooh this was hot. We return to the Monstrous New York series for a scorching story.
A widowed single mum, and a sexy vampire who decides she's his.
The plot is super sweet, I love how Viktor loves his job of caring for Lily, Maggie's daughter. His care of Maggie is also sweet but absolutely steamy when they realise there's a connection.
I mean who wouldn't want a Viktor. He's stylish, can cook ,do laundry and iron.
Maggie is a wonderful mother trying to navigate motherhood and a business. She deserves some special treatment and she finds it in Viktor.
Fantastic story and I can't wait to return for the next story
20 reviews
July 23, 2025
When I say I loved this book, I really mean I LOVED this book! This was my first book by E.M. Sauber and I will definitely be picking up more.

The books was very well written (only found one spelling error and no grammar issues) and the story flowed well. I genuinely was kicking and squealing many times as the banter was so perfect and Viktor might be the best book boyfriend I've ever read. Also love that Maggie was tough and independent even as she was going through hell. She is no damsel in distress.

Viktor's love for Maggie and her daughter was absolutely swoon worthy and the personal things you learn about him (no spoilers!), just wow! You need to read this book!
Profile Image for Robyn G.
Author 1 book47 followers
June 19, 2025
I'm not normally a fan of the dead spouse trope but E.M Sauber pulled it off so well!
And the fact it was single MUM & Nanny had me giddy, i loved the switched roles and I love love loved Viktor!
Maggie was a struggling single mum with a failing Orchard but when he brother in law hires a nanny for her she doesn't like it at first but realises it will actually be a huge help.
I loved the chemistry between Viktor and Maggie and sweet Lilly to top it off.
I also loved seeing Cyrus and Annie again!
I am so excited for the next book!
Profile Image for LaHobbitCurvy_.
65 reviews4 followers
July 13, 2025
5⭐️ ARC reading

Sapete quanto ho amato Antoinette e Cyrus, e anche Maggie e Viktor non sono stati da meno. Insomma, quante volte vi capita di leggere di un “tato” vampiro che nasconde un pipistrello col piercing nelle mutande? Io vi dirò, Maggie la capisco perfettamente. Ma, come il primo libro, anche questo parla di temi importanti, come il lutto e il chiedere aiuto quando è necessario, ed è secondo me uno dei punti di forza di questa serie. Insomma, The Vampire in the Orchard ti insegna che non è mai troppo tardi per innamorarti di nuovo, e che sta solo a noi decidere della nostra vita.
Profile Image for Katie Brackett .
21 reviews1 follower
July 28, 2025
I was so excited to be able to read Maggie and Viktor's story! They are completely adorable. Almost as adorable as Maggie's young daughter, Lily. The story is sweet and spicy, but also will tug at your heart. I may have shed a tear at how sweet Viktor is during a particular picnic. This vampire is definitely cinnamon roll material, but truly a dominating monster in the sheets. There were a couple of times where I caught myself saying "Damn!🥵"at what comes out of his mouth! Maggie and Viktor are perfect balance for each other! I can't wait to read the next book!
Profile Image for CurvyGirlBookGuide.
26 reviews5 followers
September 19, 2025
This vampire cinnamon roll x single mom boss lady romance had all the things I wanted. Maggie is a strong, beautiful, complex lead who experiences the loss of her husband so rawley. Victor meets her with family pressures of his own to be someone he does not want to be. They are exactly what each other needs. I would classify Victor as a soft Dom and I just loved that. Maggie’s determination and ambition was inspiring and Victor’s support of her was swoon-worthy. This was such a great addition to the series by E.M. Sauber! Definitely pick it up on July 18th.
Profile Image for Rebekah.
80 reviews3 followers
June 16, 2025
Another superb book in the Monstrous New York series! I first fell in love with the main characters of the first book but these two are just as lovable. While a different dynamic you still get the same spice, sassy attitudes and inner trauma reveals that leave you wanting more. The love between the two is superb and there is a lot of relatable items in here including being a parent, step parent or widower. Loooooved it.
Profile Image for Darktwistybookworm.
398 reviews13 followers
June 30, 2025
This series just keeps getting better!
It gave me all the feels - it's spicy but has all the warm & fuzzies too. You could feel Maggies heartbreak and torment, but Viktor comes along and soothes all those ragged edges and broken pieces in the most beautiful way. He really melted my heart with his patience & kindness before heating things up with his dirty mouth!
I loved every moment of this book, and im excited for what's to come next - I do love a grumpy Minotaur!
Profile Image for Nat BookNerd.
87 reviews9 followers
November 16, 2025
it was good

The story was good. Very cute and spicy. I enjoyed their banter and how sweet little lily is. But can we stop using “clean” as a way to relay sti status? Also there’s a quite a few mistakes. Like using “country” when I’m assuming “city” was intended and switching to 3rd person in random places. But overall I recommend
165 reviews2 followers
July 18, 2025
4.5 stars!
I knew I was going to love this book! I could not wait to read this and once I started i couldnt stop. It was written so well. I adored Maggie and lily and Viktor! The way Viktor is with lily just completely melted my heart. He won me over immediately with how much he cared for his girls. Maggie is such a strong character, I really admired how she wanted to help herself and not rely on others and how she stood up for Viktor. They are so perfect for each other. I loved the ending and can't wait for the next book!! Thank you so much for letting me read an ARC! I really enjoyed it!
Profile Image for Sarah-Louise.
124 reviews
October 20, 2025
Lads, he had a pierced dick and he made her count the piercings as they did stuff. That's all you need to know, because it sold me even harder on the book. Yes it's cute and sexy and fun all in one. But I love a pierced peen.
Profile Image for RogueMarina.
164 reviews11 followers
July 18, 2025
This read was sweet and cozy. I loved how the love after loss played out and how respectful the MMC was. The FMC was so relatable and down to earth.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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