Making Out With Mermaids: A Small Town Monster Romance

Haven Ever After #7

by Hazel Mack

A little freedom is all I want. That and a friend or two. But I settle for escaping to Higher Grounds coffee shop instead. I lose myself in my artwork, and for a few hours each day I can forget about how trapped I feel in the merkingdom, the unwanted and inconvenient niece of an angry, bitter king. If I could find a way to support myself, I could leave the lake—and Uncle Caralorn—and start fresh somewhere else.

The fates must have a sense of humor, because Ever’s newest resident, an ancient vampire, offers to hire me to redo the town’s welcome packet. Betmal is over-the-top charming one minute and possessively dominant the next and it’s far too easy to get lost in those flashing crimson eyes. Business meetings filled with heated looks and suggestive banter quickly prove one thing-Betmal is more than my temporary boss and more than my first friend. And he’s more than happy to be the sexiest of professors in his bedroom.

Yet when my uncle tells me he’s found a suitor and I’m to be shipped off within weeks, my desperation to escape hits an all time high. Unfortunately, leaving the lake isn’t as easy as it seems. Caralorn will do anything to ensure my marriage goes off without a hitch, even if it means locking me in the lake prison until my wedding day. I’m stuck between fighting him and tearing the merkingdom apart or accepting my fate and doing my duty.

Betmal says we only have one life to live, one chance at a forever love. He says we have to take that chance even if it brings Caralorn’s wrath down on the rest of Ever. But I don’t want anyone to be in my uncle’s crosshairs.

Duty wars with desire in the ultimate battle for my future. I can only hope we don’t lose to the depths of my uncle’s misery.

Genres: Fantasy, Vampires, Romance, Monsters, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Monster Romance

322 pages, Paperback

Published April 22, 2025

About the author

Hazel Mack writes small town cozy but scorching monster romance. High heat but lots of sweet is the name of the game. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with Mr. Mack, Baby Mack and a dog named Andy. Hazel Mack is the sticky sweet alter ego of dark(ish) romance author Anna Fury.

Reviews

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my faves of the series!

🧜‍♀️ Bookish Thoughts
I loved this one! I haven’t been a huge fan of the last two in the series so this was a nice surprise. Feels a lot more like the first 4 books of the series!

[Romancing the Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ever. I love this series. And I am honestly not going to ever rate it poorly because it brings me so much joy.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Making Out With Mermaids by Hazel Mack

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Haven Ever After character series. Book 7.

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book ARC on Kindle. 🆓 on KU.

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Monster romance

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Age gap, disability rep, fated mates.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Betmal has dissolved his relationship and retired to Ever for some peace. But on his first day in his new home he meets Amatheia, a disabled mermaid who sneaks away from the lake to explore the world.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I will never get how Hazel Mack debuted this cozy monster world, and has had me hooked and completely feral for these books. We’re on book seven! And I’m still setting calendar reminders and beginning for ARCs and buying her bundle copies every release.

Listen, if you haven’t picked up the series yet, do it. I honestly feel like most of them read better together and in order. How else will you learn to love daddy Betmal and get excited about Amatheia?

I won’t go nuts on this review, but I can promise you the story is as beautifully written as the cover.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I was a little on the fence about this book. I liked both main characters, but the way Ama’s amputation was dealt with sometimes left a bad taste in my mouth. Betmal was sexy and OTT, which I was a fan of. Ama grew into herself and her confidence. I would have liked to see her grapple more with her guilt about her parents’ death.

Spice: 3/5

Triggers: emotional abuse, ableism, grief, shark attack (past), death of parents (past), political upheaval, threat of drowning, child abuse (past), divorce

[Kaylee (underaninkspell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way Hazel always has me kicking, giggling, crying, and screaming over her books is the best. And this newest release I can confidently say is my favorite 😍😍

I have always been a vampire and mermaid lover but to see them together was definitely something I didn't know I needed. And of course we've got an age gap with Betmal being an older and well-known vampire gentleman in the world 😏

Its amazing to see him get another chance and true happiness and love and for Ama to get the life she has always wanted and deserved. This is also the first time we get to fully explore the mermaids of this world as well which was super interesting!

What I think I truly loved on top of everything else, was that this story is about coming into yourself and that it's truly never to late to do so! Watching Betmal and Ama come into themselves with the support and love of each other was absolutely perfect. And as an added bonus, can you imagine the vamp/mermaid spice 🔥🔥 it's epic I promise!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Giles · Rating 4 out of 5]

i can confirm they did make out. though i am still a little confused on mermaid vagina anatomy.

[Robyn G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betmal gave me butterflies!
Betmal has been around for thousands of years and stuck in a loveless triad so now he's in Ever with his son, Abmet the former keeper of Ever.
Amatheia has been through alot in her life and having to deal with a painful leg from an ill fitting prosthetic and an overbearing uncle that is trying to sell her off to another suitor in a clan, she just likes to get away from the lake and get coffee and draw at higher grounds when she bumps into Betmal and he starts off with the charm straightaway.
I say it about all of them but I loved these two together!
They was the perfect fit for each other and it was so nice seeing the other residents of Ever and so excited for what's to come!

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS IS THE SECOND TO LAST BOOK IN THE SERIES????

Making Out With Mermaids is by far the best book in the Haven Ever After series so far. The amount of growth as an author Hazel Mack has had throughout this series has been so lovely to see. This series has been such a comfort to me and a guilty pleasure read I've enjoyed greatly, and I cannot believe I only have one more book before I have to say goodbye to new stories set in Ever.

This book follows newly single Betmal, a two thousand+ years old vampire, known mostly in the series for being the hero of book four, Waltzing with Witches, the Keeper's father, and Amatheia, a mermaid kept under metaphorical lock and key from her uncle the Mereking to Ever's lake and mermaid clan. Ama comes up to the surface to grab cups of coffee and observe a life she cannot have. After an accident at age 10 orphaning her, her uncle has kept her and made sure she knows of the pain she's caused. Ama is a bird with clipped wings, waiting to soar.

Betmal moves to Ever to be closer to his son and away from his ex-mates, who never felt like home to him. When he goes to the cafe and comes across Ama, he knows two things immediately: he needs her to paint the new Ever welcome book, and she's his mate. He offers her a million dollars to paint the book, and Ama takes it because she'll finally have enough money to set herself and her younger cousin free.

I loved this book so much. I was nervous to read this one for absolutely no reason, but this was genuinely my favorite book so far. It also felt the most slowburn out of all of the Haven Ever After books, and there was such a good plot when it came to Ama and the forbidden/ secret romance they go through. I loved that this was the first book (I think!) that takes us outside of Ever and anything to do with the Haven systems.

I really love how far this series has come. It's more than smutty monster romance, it genuinely has so much heart and coziness. I don't read monster romance other than this series, but I genuinely think this is one of my favorite series of all time, solely because it makes me feel so comfortable. The way these characters also handle insecurities makes it feel personable,e too.

I plan on doing my own custom-built bookshelves soon, and I hope I can finally add this series to my shelves. I unironically love them, and if you're scared of monster romance, I think this series is a wonderful place to start.

That being said, I would recommend at least reading book six, Slaying with Sylphs before you read this one so you can meet Amatheia, if you absolutely don't want to read the rest, but personally I think the entire series is best read in order and should be read that way.

[Kate McDougall Sackler · Rating 2 out of 5]

As the seventh 📖book in a series of which I haven’t read any others, I’m sure this 📖book has many fans but I am not one of them. For some reason I was super creeped out by how much older the MMC was, even though he’s a vampire and they’re always so much older. It took a really long time for anything to happen and I just couldn’t get into it. Meh.
Mythical creatures reading challenge-mermaid

[Misty's Book Space · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is the 7th book in the Haven Ever After series by Hazel Mack and I've been buddy reading pretty much every book with Malli and Destiny. I was excited to read this book especially after hearing that the FMC was an amputee. If you've been following me for any amount of time, then you are aware that I am a double amputee. I'm currently wheelchair bound but I have worn prosthetic legs before, so I have some firsthand knowledge. I had high expectations going into this one but unfortunately it let me down. This review will probably contain some spoilers so if you want to read this one please don't read past this point.

First off it took way to long for things to really start happening. I would say things didn't pick up for me until I was halfway through the book and for a romance that is just way too long for something to happen. I don't mind slow burn but there has to be something. This had some very light flirting and that was it and till the halfway point and then we were full speed ahead with the romance. The spicy scenes were definitely hot just like all of the other books in this series and I loved that. My only complaint about the spicy scenes was that sometimes they were having sex at the most inopportune time. I loved Ama and Betmal as characters together and separate and I loved that we got some time with side characters from other books in this series. 

What didn't work for me is the amputee rep. I know that the world she has created isn't real and magic is a really big part of it, so I get why she used in here however to me it felt like she was romanticizing being an amputee. Ama's disability is the result of an accident while I was born with mine, so the circumstances are different for us. Prosthetics can definitely cause pain if they don't feel right but I've never had shooting pain like is describe in this book. I'm not saying that her experience isn't possible because no two people will have the same experience.  What I don't agree with is how easily everything was fixed for her. That's not realistic in the slightest. It's trial and error with getting the fit right and sometimes you have to walk on them for a day or two for any problems to arise. I just don't like how she handled this topic at all. It comes off as being the easiest thing in the world and it's really not. Also, when she was describing the prosthetics that Ama uses, I couldn't picture them at all. Maybe I'm being too picky, but I don't really think I am. It just rubs me the wrong way. I do plan on reading the final book in this series coming out at the end of July.

[Malli (Chapter Malliumpkin) · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ Getting It On With Gargoyles ★★★★★
✨ Tangling with Trolls ★★★
✨ Partying with Pixies ★★★★★
✨ Waltzing with Witches ★★★★★
✨ Wrestling with Werewolves 2.5 ★
✨ Slaying with Sylphs ★★★★★
✨ Victory for Vampires novella 2.5 ★

Actual Rating: 2.5 ⭐


Content/Trigger Warnings: Survivor guilt, accident (in the past), psychological abuse, bullying, loss of parents (recounted), violence, death, grief, ableism, toxic familial relationships, alcohol, blood, injuries, explicit sex scenes, anxiety, chronic pain, scene of drowning, primal kink

Am I screaming into the void about how disappointed I am about one of my most anticipated books of 2025? Yes, yes I am. I was so excited about this book because we get disability rep and Betmal was getting his own story! I loved Betmal in the 4th book in this series and I wanted to see more of him. However, I'm just left with a ton of conflicting feelings and honestly feeling incredibly hesitant to pick up the final book or any other book that may take place in this universe.

For starters, this shouldn't have taken me as long as it did to read, but the more I was reading this book the more I found that there wasn't really anything getting me to care about the characters' relationship or even the story itself. There were so many key things that felt like they came into place or started to pick up way too late in the story for my taste. It almost felt like the pacing of a high fantasy book and I'm sorry but that just doesn't work for the kind of story the author was trying to convey to the reader.

My biggest issue with this book was how the amputee/disability rep was handled. I fully understand magic plays a heavy role in this world. However, I have always said that if you're going to have a representation that isn't your own experience then you need to really research and talk to people. And I personally think the approach the author took of having magic make everything magical easy and magically fix for Ama is a HUGE slap to the face of the amputee and disability community. As someone who does have a disability, everything is trial and error of what works best for each individual person. And for this author to have a "one and done", no errors or complications kind of approach for Ama's new prosthetic just didn't sit right for me. I also have Misty's review linked below who also has great insight to this topic.

I also wasn't a fan of how the entire book one of Ama's cousins in highly aggressive and a bully to Ama, and then at the end of the book the bullying gets swept under the rug because "we're family" and "it doesn't matter." This also didn't sit well with me because you shouldn't be forgiving someone who has bullied and treated you incredibly horrible for such a long time. Forgiving toxic, abusive behavior due to being family is absolutely wild behavior to me and this is not the kind of message that should be constantly shown throughout a book.


Overall, the only things that I really loved about this book was a lot of the great quotes I was pulling, seeing a lot of my favorite side characters, and Betmal. Betmal was a freaking blessing in this book. Aside from these three things, I didn't have a fun time with this book. I was not live, laugh, loving my reading experience. I'm incredibly nervous to start the final book in this series because I just can't picture this series ending on a good note for me, personally, after how a lot of the books in this series have gone for me.



Buddy read with Destiny & Misty ♥


All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.


Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne

[Hayley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as the others. I’m not a fan of insta love and Ama seemed like a child compared to Betmal (I mean, there was a 2000 year age gap). I also couldn’t get over the fact that Ama had “cilia” inside her that suctioned onto Betmal’s penis to pull him inside her. Cilia are hair like structures in the body that move things away, not towards, and they definitely don’t have a suction function. I think the author meant like suction cups common in marine organisms? I guess that doesn’t sound good but a made up word would’ve been better. Oh the pain of being a biologist 😅

[Belmira · Rating 2 out of 5]

The world building and lore make less and less sense as the series goes on, yet somehow I keep reading.

[t1ffs03 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It makes me wanna cry that I’ll never have a Betmal 🥲

This book was SO GOOD! I absolutely loved it.

I knew the second Betmal was introduced that I’d love him. To me, it was truly seen that he was different from his mates. He was such a romantic and so attentive (better than any male I’ve ever met). His bond with Abe and Morgan was so wholesome, it’s so good to see Abe happy.

Ama was such a strong woman. I loved how she slowly grew out of her shell and became stronger. It was so wonderful to watch her become more confident and brave. She truly fit with Betmal as mates. It was amazing to see them both be artists. I definitely loved the disability representation.

Also LOVED seeing Iggy & Diavolo, they’re my favorite side characters I swear.

[Michelle R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg! I love this cozy monster romance!! And the subtle age gap! YAS!! I was a little confused with some of the plot then I found it o started with book 7 but oh well! The plot and the romance were adorable!! A vampire and a mermaid!! So cute!! It was so cozy! Honestly, it was so much better than I expected! The ending was adorable!

1.5/5🌶️

[Adrienne Klassen · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4. This was cute! Its definitely a big age gap, as he is an ancient vampire (also the father of a previous character), and she is a 30 yr old mermaid. The age difference was pretty evident. But in saying that, it was still really romantic. Theres just something about fated mates that makes any relationship that much more amazing.

[Heather]

DNFed around the mid way point - its not the book, its me. I have not been in to the last few books in the Haven Ever After series despite how much I loved the first few.

[Ashley Rebitzke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll be honest, I’m confused about the logistics of how they did it when he had a tail

[kate (austenattachment) · Rating 4 out of 5]

the way i want to live in haven SO badly 😭

[LunaLibro · Rating 3 out of 5]

To me, this was just basic cute. I was really vibing and enjoying it in the beginning. Newly divorced dad meets a shy artist girl at a cafe and is smitten. Really cute! I loved Betmal’s relationship with his son and daughter-in-law as well. It was going soooo well but I JUST WISHED IT WAS MORE OF A SLOW BURN. It seemed to be at first, and then towards the middle the romance and the plot was 0-100. The conflict wasn’t even much of a conflict. As this is supposed to be a cozy monster romance the uncle bad king subplot felt unnecessary to me. FOR ME, I was just fine with Amatheia’s insecurities about her disabilities and growing from that and learning to move on from her guilt with Betmal. It would have been a perfect internal conflict that was a slight bump in the road for their romance. Overall, it was okay to me.

[Beth’s Book Collection · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If possession means being there for you always, yes. You’ve never had someone in your corner until you’ve had me at your back.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

What you’ll find in this book:
- Forced Proximity Protection Situation
- Hurt/Comfort
- Her First Time + “Lessons”
- I Finally Found You
- She Wears A Prosthesis
- Mermaid x Vampire
- He’ll Charm Your Pants Off
- Vengeful Stabby Hero
- Enormous Age Gap (100’s of Years)

I would say I adored this book as much as the rest of the series, but adored at this point is an understatement, obsessed is a more apt term. This series is one of my absolute favourites, containing a perfectly balanced blends of everything I love in a book, combining a cozy fantasy monster town with fabulous spice and an intriguing plot line full of characters that will keep you coming back for more. Every single book in this series gets better, and this book was no exception to the rule, daddy Betmal has a mouth that is pure charm and I loved Ama’s character development as she finds herself. I honestly did not think I would ever read a book where a vampire and mermaid fall in love but here we, and now I am in love there’s no going back. If you’re looking for a new monster romance series, set in a gorgeous cozy fantasy town filled with a diverse cast of monster characters then I honestly cannot recommend this series enough.

We begin this story with Betmal, and ancient vampire (but trust me he doesn’t look ancient), who is starting over in the hidden monster town if Ever. Freed from his previous unfortunate romantic entanglement, he now has plenty of time to spend with those who are dear to him. However, his well laid plans for a quiet life are thrown into disarray when Betmal catches the scent of a gorgeous mermaid. Amatheia, also known as Ama, lives a life of solitude and restriction due to her overbearing uncle, she has little freedom and joy in her life. Little does she know that Betmal is about to open up a whole new world to her through a project to develop Ever’s welcome packets by utilising her artistic skills. As the two become closer, it becomes abundantly clear that this is not a pacing fancy for either of them, but with the complications of Ama’s uncle, the king, as well as a suitor that has been chosen for her there is more than enough to overcome. This quickly becomes a case of whether Betmal and Ama can work together to fight for her freedom and uncover darker motivations at work for their happily ever after.

Betmal is so incredibly charming, he’s been around for centuries and he knows exactly how to use his charm to his benefit. If there’s a blush to be had, you can guarantee Betmal with make it appear on your cheeks, as sensual as this male is he is incredibly respectful with his actions and motivations. I also loved that he is not afraid to go after what he wants, after being around for as long as he has he takes absolutely nothing for granted and it not afraid to treat his female like an absolute queen. As soon as Betmal becomes possessive I am instantly all hot under the collar, in a fight he is the kind of person you want in your corner, he will always have your back. Amatheia, is so sweet, but don’t be mistaken this lovely female has a darker saucy side, especially when it comes to protecting what is hers. She strives to not let her disability with her leg define her, and wants people to see her for who she is and I respect her so much for that. I cannot begin to explain how wonderful it is to read as Ama’s character evolves, and as she finds herself and who she truly wants to be. You get to see the change from someone who has to find joy in the little things, to someone who finds joy in everything, living her best life. These two together is something else entirely, sparks fly between them and despite the slow burn the romance and tension is there at every opportunity and it is glorious! I enjoyed reading as these two fell in love with one another, exploring their differences and realising how well they fit together.

I loved how we get it further explore other Havens in this story, and I cannot wait to read more. Getting an insight into the differences between the Havens and how they are tailored to the residents who live there is such a unique concept I will never get over. The plot surrounding the political machinations within the mermaid kingdom and how by protecting Ama, the residents of Ever band together to keep her safe from her scheming and controlling uncle. We continued throughout this book getting cameos of characters we know and love from other books within the series. The pacing was fast and non stop which I loved and worked perfectly with the character and the plot. In terms of the spice, Hazel always delivers one ensuring that the spice considers the anatomy of the monsters involved and that depending on the couple or group it has the unique quirks and kinks. The balance of spice to plot was perfect, and that slow burn was something else that definitely kept me hungry for more.

I already cannot wait for the next book in the series, Hazel gave us a little teaser at the end of this book and it already has left me craving more.

Thank you so much to the author for sending me an e-ARC to read and review early. 🫶🏻

Author: Hazel Mack
Series: Haven Ever After
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: April 29th, 2025

[amanda kt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another sweet, steamy and easily consumable entry into the Haven Ever After universe. Once again I loved getting to see a new part of Ever with the mer kingdom and royal family. Amatheia was an delight; she’s naive, but observant, compassionate and sassy. Her journey letting go of guilt and self-punishment, and embracing her own desires - both sexual and for her life - was surprisingly emotional. Betmal was of course a perfect daddy 🫠 Maybe a little too polished for my preferences? But it’s hard not to root for his happy ending after being miserable with his previous mates.

Amatheia has grown up under her uncle’s thumb ever since the accident that killed her parents. Given he’s the king of the merfolk there isn’t much she can do about it, aside from brief daily visits to the local coffee shop. On one such visit she runs into new Ever resident, Betmal. The Keeper’s father, Betmal has recently separated from his toxic mates and is looking for a fresh start. He does not expect an enchanting mermaid to awaken something he never knew he wanted.

💙 Vampire x mermaid
💙 Fated mates
💙 Disability rep
💙 His 2nd chance at love
💙 Age gap
💙 Inexperienced FMC
💙 Let me teach you
💙 Touch her and die
💙 Open door spice, level 🌶️🌶️🌶️

If you love world-building that’s rich, easy to follow with a hefty dose of whimsy, you’ll love this series.

Betmal is the perfect man - elegant, supportive, confident, a little feral. The food scene was 🔥 And it was so fun watching such a composed character lose control with his mate.

Betmal working with Amatheia to create art for the welcome packet only enhances the idea that the main character of the series is actually the magical haven itself!

[May (toastyreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our vampire daddy dreams have finally come true! And it’s even on KU (heheh has to say it, it rhymes!)

Thank you Hazel for the ARC, I was no expecting it but desperately needed it! Hallow’s Cove has become an absolute comfort for me! I can always rely on the books making you laugh, cry, and squirm.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
——-
Mildish spoilers below!

Betmal. THIS MAN !!!! GET YOU A MAN THAT IS SO IN LOVE WITH YOU HE IS WILLING TO CHANGE HIS BIOLOGY TO CARRY YOUR CHILDREN !! Yes it was just a suggestion but I S C R E A M E D!! That is love !!! I also love how poetic and romantic he was 😭 He really did fit the ancient vampire stereotypes in only the best of ways 🥺👉👈.

I love how BETMAL approached his relationship and courting of Ama. With her being younger, and inexperienced, he was so kind, patient, and was willing to educate. He is just so supportive, and just willing to do anything to enhance her life. I love how open he was to her exploring sexuality and what it means to finally be free from the Merkingdom 😭. And that epilogue? WHEW!!

Ama!! What a freaking baby girl. I love her a lot, and wanted to protect her even more. I am so happy she found such a great strength in herself. I love how she stood up for herself even when Betmal was ready to do so for her.

I am so excited for the next book from Haven Ever After, I AM THRILLED TO FINALLY HAVE CATHERINE’S BOOK!!! But I am so scared for the series to be over 🥺

Can I please get that ticket to Ever now?

[Carlislethesucker uwu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good entry in the Haven Ever After series. Although ngl the "Thalassa this or that" after a while got reallllllyyyyyy tiring to read. Like I get it you're shocked, surprised, etc.

Also like not like monster to monster age differences matter but like......no one was like wow this THOUSANDS OLD VAMPIRE is dating/with a mermaid of mystery age? but whatever i'm just glad it didnt turn into a weird ageplay thing.

I enjoyed reading about the mermaids since that is a monster that people usually romanticize. I also appreciated that the author got creative and I guess non-disabled mermaids have 2 tails (based on what I was reading). Although I have 2 questions, if they have 2 fins that are the equivalent of 2 human legs when they shift then why didnt the FMC have like a stump fin or something equivalent to her leg cutting off below the knee in human form?

The plot was casual but exciting enough where I didn't know what was going to happen although I noticed early on that the Malakat character and the fiance obv had a thing. but also...... im not a huge fan of malakat suddenly having a change of heart towards the fmc. Like I get that she needed to play up some acting but her character felt very 1 sided. but for the sake of plot her character really doesnt have an influence to me either way lol

I will probably pick this series and the related books in physical form once the author is done with the last book.

[ThatsSomeGoodSmut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amatheia just wanted a little freedom—maybe a friend, a place to breathe outside the merkingdom’s icy grip, and a few hours to lose herself in her art. What she got instead was Betmal: ancient, seductive, and impossible to ignore. He hires her for a job, but it’s clear from the start that he wants much more than her skill with a paint brush.

Betmal is all silk and fangs. Their chemistry crackles from the first meeting, with stolen glances turning into hot-as-hell business meetings and eventually, toe-curling bedroom scenes that had me fanning myself more than once.

But this isn’t just a spicy vampire-meets-mermaid romance. Ama’s battle for autonomy against her controlling uncle adds depth and urgency to every scene. Her pain—emotional and physical—feels raw and real. And Betmal? He’s the exact kind of partner she deserves: protective without stifling, tender but feral when it counts.

I adored seeing more of Ever and its magical community, and the stakes in this installment felt higher than ever. With twists, angst, and one seriously satisfying final stand, this story made me laugh, ache, swoon, and blush—sometimes all at once.

One of my favorite couples in the Ever series yet. The spice is decadent, the romance is empowering, and the ending is pure wish fulfillment. Betmal and Ama are proof that you don’t have to settle for duty when you can have forever love.

Thank you so much to the author for sharing this ARC with me!

[SheR Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world in which Hazel has created is chef's kiss. This book is my first read of the Haven Ever After series, and I truly adored it. Who doesn't love beautiful, sheltered, shy and trauma holding mermaids, and delectable, astute, elegant and excessively wealthy shadow daddies who - despite their proper manners - have no problem with cutting a b**ch for their fated mate? Also, we love disability representation!

Betmal is absolutely feral for Amatheia, but despite knowing she is his fated mate, he doesn't try to force her to accept him. He courts her, slowly and respectfully winning over her affections until she accepts what they are. The two come to learn who they are not only as individuals, but also as lovers and mates - and seeing two beings who have for so long suffered at the hands of unhappiness finally find happiness is such a pleasant and heartwarming experience.

Also, when you finish the book, you are able to grab a bonus epilogue via online and LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING! The spice that takes place in that additional story surpasses what was in the book for me. Something about it made my mouth drop open (probably because it opened up a completely different level of their sexual relationship than we read in the book).

A beautifully written monster romance with lots of love, heart, and a delicious sprinkle of spice.

[spidermse · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I want to hunt you, ma siréne, like the dangerous predator I am. I want you to run and hide, and I want to find you. And when I do...." I roll my second eyelid over my eyes as she smiles at me. "When I do, darling, I want to take you harder than I've done yet."

Ok DADDY Betmal. The mouth on that vampire had me continuously melting in a puddle. If he wasn't saying something absolutely filthy, he was being sweet and swoony. I'm so happy he got away from his problematic partners and found happiness. He and Ama both deserved to have a loving and supportive relationship.

Loved being able to see the merkingdom! Even though this is almost the end of the series we are still discovering new parts of Ever! It was so sweet seeing past characters and still having a town that is there for each other. I want to live in Ever so badly....

Even though Ever is a beautiful and low key haven as usual there is always something going on. And oh boy did the angst get me in this one! I didn't know when the showdown was going to happen and I was so anxious waiting for the merking to do whatever he was planning. Hazel absolutely shocked me with that plot twist at the end!

We get a little sneak peek of Catherine's book and I am already so hyped for it! Get that minotaur peen girl!

[Cobalt's Son · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars

Betmal, a vampire, is reeling from a recent breakup with his polyamorous partners. To heal, he moves to the town where his son lives. His only plan is to be close to his son and daughter-in-law. But their happiness ends up reminding him of something he once had — a love that felt real. That is, until he meets Amatheia, a mermaid who turns his world upside down. She makes him feel everything he once felt for his ex-mates. But her past, and her family’s legacy, are far from simple. Betmal will need more than charm to stay close to her — and maybe, just maybe, fix both of their hearts.

I absolutely love this series. It’s always refreshing to return to this world and these characters, and this book was no exception. The characters are vibrant and the story is fun. That said, I expected more from the central conflict. These books are known for their cozy vibe, but this one felt even cozier than usual. I kept waiting for key scenes to happen... and they didn’t. A bit of a letdown — but aside from that, still a solid read. The side characters were just as delightful as ever.

[Natasha Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say about this series? Oh, yeah, it just keeps getting better and better. I’m sad the next book is the last book in the series.

I love a good age gap romance, and I love it even more when the FMC is over 30!!! I loved how Betmal, before knowing Amatheia was his mate, had an instant connection to her through her artwork, being an artist himself, and I loved how blunt he was with her and how she was eager to learn so much of everything from him and other monsters from Ever. Oh, and did I mention there was limb-loss rep? I was sad that she felt guilt over her parents’ deaths and even more pissed that her uncle blamed her for their deaths. I had a theory of what really happened with her parents, buuuuuut, turns out it wasn’t true. This story definitely showed the importance of what it means for someone to have your back and in your corner and that family can be either through blood, or just your small town. Even through your step-daughter-in-law.

“I will fight tooth and nail for her to decide how she wants to live every moment of every day.”
-Betmal, ch. 19
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another fun, cozy monster romance in the Haven Ever After series. While the books can be read as standalones, this one ties in closely with several others, so I wouldn’t recommend reading it out of order.

The vampire MMC, Betmal, is the father of Abe, the former Keeper of Ever Haven. Recently separated from his mates, Betmal quickly falls for the mermaid FMC, Amatheia.

Both main characters are artists, and Betmal offers Amatheia the artistic opportunity of a lifetime. Their romance is incredibly sweet, with plenty of family drama and past trauma to work through. The chemistry is extra steamy, and they’re absolutely adorable together.

Another great addition to the Haven Ever After series. Misbehaving with Minotaurs, book 8, is coming out July 2025! I’m going to be so sad when the series ends.

Spice: 4.5/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
My Enjoyment:4.5/5

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC Reader**
Ma’am I don’t know what to do with you anymore, this was another really good one. I just wanted them to both to have a happy ending so bad, these poor babies deserved each other and I’m so glad.

I’ve a huge fan of the Ever series and I have to say I loved the writing of this one. As usual the spice is spicing and thank goodness Betmel got out of his shit ass abusive relationship and finally was able to do explore the world with someone who deserves it. Ama broke my heart but I’m so happy to see her venture out on stable feet with Betmel’s support.

I wish someone would pay me millions of dollars for my paintings… like damn. Another wonderful Ever love story. I just don’t want it to end!!