Horn in My Side

by Alicia Montgomery

Opposites always attract!

Jasmine Gonzales loves her job. As manager of Fantastic Tails and Magical Scales Pet Shop, she takes care of a variety of mythical pets from all over the world- from gargoyle puppies, Fenrir cubs, to dragon clutches, and cute water horses. But when the owner of the store, and Jasmine's beloved mentor, unexpectedly passes away, the shop is at risk of being shut down.


Grumpy and introverted Orc Mal makes a living as a contractor for witches, warlocks and all kinds of supernatural beings. It's a solitary life, but he likes it. When his uncle leaves him the small, annoyingly endearing magical pet shop, Mal didn't plan on staying long enough to get to know the cute creatures inside... and he certainly didn't intend on the small, sunshiney pet shop manager begging him to sell to her.

Six months. Jasmine asks for six months to come up with the money. And for some reason, Mal can't stand the idea of disappointing her, so they have a deal.

But working in close proximity with a woman who smiles like the sun is harder than Mal planned, and Jasmine is determined to make him fall in love with Dewberry Falls... but they might just fall for each other along the way.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Monster Romance, Grumpy Sunshine

336 pages, Paperback

Published January 20, 2026

Reviews

[ChipmunksandDandelion (Cinnamon&Pine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy romance with a magical twist!

Jasmine works at a pet shop for magical creatures, and when the beloved owner passes away, she dreams of taking over the store. Enter Mal, a gruff orc and the unexpected heir, who plans to sell the shop and return to his life as a building contractor.

Reluctantly, Mal agrees to delay the sale and help Jasmine run the place until she secures a loan. As they spend more time together, sparks fly—and Mal finds himself torn between his old plans and the new life he’s building in Dewberry Falls.

With a baby dragon, a peaceful paranormal neighborhood, and a touch of magic, the setting is as charming as the slow-burn romance. The chemistry is sweet with a bit of open-door spice (just saying—orcs are legendary).

My only wish? More backstory how on earth humans and magical beings came to co-exist —it’s a delightful setup that begs for deeper lore.

A feel-good, heartwarming romance with fantasy flair. Great for fans of low-stakes, high-comfort stories. It’s not complex, but it doesn’t try to be—what it promises, it delivers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest opinion!

[Laura Braginsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I glaub Monster Romance isch mis neue Ding.
Es isch eifach zu cute i cannot...

D Jasmine managed e kleins Tiergschäft für magischi Gschöpf. Plötzlich stirbt dr Inhaber und si Neffe kunnt, zum alles regle. Dr mürrischi Ork isch sofort verzauberet vo dr Jasmin und hilft ihre s Gschäft uff vordermann bringe, damit sies ka abkuafe.
Eifach zwei sehr süssi Erwachseni, wo einigermasse ahständig mitenand kommuniziere, aber absolut delusional sin was ihri Gfühl ahgoht. Es isch mega gmüetlich, sau härzig und au spicy.
Ich has uff jedefall sehr gnosse🤭

[Zaneb · Rating 3 out of 5]

“For orcs, home isn't a place. We believe we have two homes: our homeland where our people sprang from and our heart-home—ashak'roca—which we carry with us wherever we are.”

jasmine and mal's first meeting? top tier ✨️

this book has dual povs which i love and appreciate. i haven't fully delved into monster romances yet, so i wanted to give this one a try.

the couple have a “lust at first sight” thing going on, and that is totally okay. mal is tall and hot, and jasmine wonders if he's green all over—which, honestly, same!

however, there were things i didn't like. the pacing of the book was slow and dragged in a few places, particularly in the first half, and many conversations felt like fillers.
there's the school assembly scene where jasmine and mal’s thoughts while facing a room full of children felt… unethical? two adults had no control whatsoever over their desires and i'm? is this a species thing?? 🤨

i wanted to cringe when jasmine wanted to see mal because of the fire and i was?? girl what are you expecting to do here? i suppose the moment was supposed to be romantic, but having watched too many first responder shows, i just couldn't buy it.

those negatives aside, the second half of the book was much more interesting and fun.
the fact that mal and jasmine both claimed they’d stay professional but failed anyway? we love predictable plots. there's also clawed or clawdia which was such a cute little addition to add to the story. this character was so sweet and even went so far as to give jasmine their favourite things when she was feeling down 😭

mal finding his place in the town was unexpected but welcomed. i lowkey thought we'd have some work calls and then it'll be all jasmine and the pet shop—not the case actually! instead, he gets involved with the community and has his own thing going on, just like jasmine.

i'm very curious about the world the author created, so it's a shame we didn't explore it more. overall, a good time and i'm happy i received this arc from netgalley.

—3.25

[Here_Lies_the_Bookdragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vrig, the owner of Fantastic Tails and Magical Scales Pet Shop has passed away, leaving store manager Jasmine unsure of what will happen to the job, shop and pets she loves. Grumpy orc contractor Mal, on the other hand, doesn't quite know what to do with the small pet shop he's just inherited. He just wants to sell it and continue his life. But when Jasmine asks for some time to get the money to buy the shop, he finds himself agreeing...

This is an adorable small town romance set in a magical world. I loved the pets, the characters, the world and the writing. Unfortunately, the romance just never really clicked for me, it felt a bit too insta-lovey and I didn't buy into the couple as a result - which is fairly crucial in a romance novel. Other than that, i had a great time and would happily pick up a sequel (ideally starring Kap). If you enjoyed the Baby Dragon Cafe and wouldn't mind adding some more magical pets, spice, and an orc to the mix, this one's for you!

Many thanks to Headline for letting me read this through Netgalley - all opinions are my own.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Headline for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Horn in My Side is a cosy, small town fantasy romance that's so sweet it'll give you a toothache.

Perfect for fans of The Baby Dragon Cafe. Hallmark meets monster romance.

This was a cute story that I did enjoy. I really enjoyed all the cute magical creatures. Jasmine has the dream job!

Despite being adorable and easy to read, I did find it dragged. The first 50% is an extremely slow build up and then the latter half just goes full throttle. Pacing is an important factor for me to enjoy a book and if this was 100pages less it may have been 4 stars.

Read this if you love:

⚔️ All the monster romance tropes
⚔️ Swoony moments
⚔️ Adorable magical creatures
⚔️ Small town romances

[Steph Bingo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Horn in my side is a very cute romance with some nice plot points, world building and fairly good spice. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Some of the prose didnt flow as well as it could have and in sections it got a little repetitive so it wasnt perfect but over all I wouldnt hesitate to recommend it to any romantasy lover.

[Mackenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute start to the fall/Halloween season with this cozy romance. Pacing seemed a bit off at times, but I enjoyed the characters and story.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jasmine has the most incredible job working with mystical creatures at a magical pet shop, but when ownership changes hands to a grumpy Orc named Mal, Jasmine fears her dream is slipping away

Mal gives her 6 months to come up with the money to buy the shop from him, and reluctantly agrees to put his life on hold to help her run the place until the sale is complete

But suddenly Mal isn’t rushing to return to his life outside of Dewbury Falls, and Jasmine is thinking maybe Mal isn’t as grumpy as she originally thought

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁
🐉 Small town monster romance
🐾 Mythical creatures as pets
🐦‍🔥 Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ Magical twist
🐉 Low stakes
🐾 Cosy vibes
🐦‍🔥 Feet kicking (sometimes cringey) humour
✨ Very sweet and a bit spicy

𝗙𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲
𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘰𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘰𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘑𝘢𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘵. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘳𝘤 𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘬. 𝘐𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.

Check out my review on Instagram 🐉🐾🐦‍🔥✨ https://www.instagram.com/p/DagKoymNM...

[Kamiye · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/3.5

This is a cute story, and it works. However, it felt a bit dragging for me (hence the stars). This book felt like a mix of "what works in monster romance" slapped together. It does the job, but it could have been 100 pages less. Some parts felt a bit too much (the social media part mostly).
I disliked the miscommunication part between Mal and Jasmine; it felt unnecessary at times. There are some cute/swoon moments, and the writing is good so don't be agraid to give this book a read. It reads well and it's under 350 pages.

A note: this is 3rd person POV. Not that it changes anything, but just a FYI for people out there who prefer 1st person POV.

Pick it up if you like:
- Monster Romance
- Open door (but relatively mild)
- Found family
- Cute pets!

Thank you to Headline | Headline Eternal via Netgalley for the opportunity to get an e-ARC. This review is my own, and I'm leaving it voluntarily.

[Mia fawnsandfairytales · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cosy urban romantasy had the perfect set-up but unfortunately fell a bit flat for me. I was left questioning a lot and just felt uncomfortable by the love interests.

Mal and Jasmine's conversations were very awkward and stunted, and I didn't find there to be any chemistry between them. They didn't get to know each other at all, and the insta-love felt out of place.

The first half of this book was very slow to progress and repetitive - with the characters going back and forth in their heads with their indecision on what to do with the pet shop. The plot didn't engage me, and I don't think it was very strong. Nothing really happened during the story; the characters just came into work each day and did the same tasks tediously and repetitively. It would have been good to see the characters in different environments or participating in activities. The small-town setting was basically completely unexplored. The two characters just side stepped each other and repeated the same day over and over.

I also found that a lot of the actions the characters took were over described, making scenes longer or more monotonous than they needed to be.

Then there was the magic system, which was very underdeveloped and left me wanting a lot more. I found myself a little confused by the modern technology aspect when combined with magic and mythical creatures and would have loved more detail to this world building. I would have also liked to have more understanding of how magic meshed with the non-magic side of the world.

I found myself wondering how prevalent magic was in the modern world they lived in, and to what extent people were aware of it/ educated on it if they weren't magic themselves. There's a moment where Mal admits he's never heard of a tree giant before. This took me out of the story because I began to wonder how people couldn't be aware of a giant species. Mal is an orc who has magic and occasionally uses his magic to do repairs, however, it is never described how this magic works, what it looks or feels like, or what the limitations are.

Perhaps if the romance had been stronger, I wouldn't have minded the lack of development in the world building and magic system. This book was lighthearted and definitely could have been fun, but it felt a little lacking.

My final critique was a scene where Mal and Jasmine were having a 'moment' that I found to be quite inappropriate - maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I find this actually happens often in romance novels - where they were lusting over one another while at a school in front of many children during a presentation. The male love interest mentions afterwards that he'd had to (direct quote) "remind himself many times they had an audience, otherwise, he would have been sporting a semi the entire time." I don't think children should be anywhere near a scene that takes on that kind of s*xual tone.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

*I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) for free in exchange for an honest review*

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a long-time reader of Alicia Montgomery, and when I saw this new release, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this story. Alicia has a vivid way with words that puts the reader into the story. Horn in My Side was the perfect summer cozy romance (that’s what I’m calling it) to fall into. The entire town of Dewberry Falls felt like a magical place with unique residents of varying magical abilities living together.

Jasmine is keeping the local pet shop running after the passing of its owner, Virg. Mal, Virg’s nephew, comes to town to settle Virg's affairs. He didn’t plan on staying or Jasmine being Jasmine. What I loved most about Jasmine, was her growth in this story. As we read, Mal helps her to really blossom, trusting herself and her intuition in caring for the animals. I felt like Jasmine was adrift, not feeling like she truly belonged in the beginning. By the end, she finds her place, and it is swoon-worthy and heart-melting.

Mal the Orc arrives in Dewberry Falls intent on getting in and getting out. I LOVED his grumpy exterior that dissolved whenever Jasmine was near. He is the perfect grump with a soft squishy center for those he loves. Reading how he fell for Jasmine had me grinning and squealing in spots, kicking my feet with excitement.

There are so many moments throughout that move the flow and pace of the story well. They each build to culminate in an ending that will melt your heart. The steamy scenes here are H O T and you will need a fan. It’s a delicious slow burn that you want to snuggle under a blanket with some hot chocolate and indulge.

Alicia’s ability to create a unique world always leaves me coming back to read more of her stories. I haven’t read a cozy orc romance like this one, and I truly hope we see more of Dewberry Falls in the future.

This story was a five-star read for me, as I read it in a day, related to the emotions of the characters, and felt like all the plot lines were followed through to a wonderful ending. This story had humor beautifully splashed in between serious moments that I feel readers can relate to. If you are looking for your next magical read, I hope you will pick up Horn in my Side.

[Amelia]

The idea of a cosy small town monster romance drew me in, but unfortunately this just didn’t work for me and I DNF’d after chapter 5 (and those are relatively long chapters, roughly 19% or page x).

I think this book would be great for readers who enjoy a slow burn romance driven plot, want to dip their toes into monster riddance, and love a cosy fantasy-esc read with low stakes. However, that’s not me.

Plot:
As mentioned, this is a low stakes romance forward story, and as such very little happened at all, with a lot of conversations feeling like filler and repetitive descriptions of their day to day. A few other reviews point out that this picks up in the second half, hence why I can see why some would enjoy this. Personally, I just like my books to be fast paced from the get go.

World-building & Magic:
It was pretty clear that this was our world with magic and monsters added in, however there was very little explanation of the magic system or species. I would have loved to see more on how the magic and monsters meshed with the non-magic human world as well as the combination of magic and tech/everyday things.

Characters & Romance:
Though acknowledged that they both find the other hot, I didn’t feel any connection between the characters and had no investment into their relationship. Given this was a romance forward book, I’d have liked more chemistry and will they won’t they off the bat.

As stated, this was a me problem, and I think the right audience will love it.

Thank you to Net Galley and Headline Eternal for the eARC.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC!

If you're looking for a fun and light-hearted paranormal romance, this should be on your TBR list.

Our two main characters are Jasmine and Mal. Jasmine is a Filipino-American whose dad moved her to the US when she was young, and she's since ended up working at a magical animal pet shop in a small town that features a mixed community of all races. Jasmine is human, but Mal is an orc who has come to sort out his now deceased uncle's assets that he's inherited. He wants to sell the shop, but agrees to give Jasmine six months to come up with the funds, and an orc never breaks his promise.

This is very low stakes, and it mainly focuses on characterisation. We get to learn about Jasmine and her dad, alongside her concerns and wants. We also learn about Mal and his love of building and architecture. I would have liked to delve deeper into the paranormal aspect of this, as it's the current world, but with added magical creatures. Of course, that's not the story's aim, so it's fine that it doesn't delve into that. Maybe in the future we'll see that?

The romance was pretty sweet, but it has its spicy moments that those looking for a little more will enjoy. The characters are pretty good at communicating with each other and act like adults instead of being childish like some books might have. Overall, I enjoyed this and would definitely read more from this author in the future!

[Leighton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Headline and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Horn in My Side by Alicia Montgomery is a cozy fantasy romance revolving around Jasmine, a manager of a magical pet shop, and Mal, an orc who works as a contractor and has inherited the land on which Jasmine's pet shop is located. Mal wants to get rid of the shop, sell the land, and be done with it quickly. However, Jasmine has other ideas. She asks him to stay for 6 months so that she can come up with the money to buy the land from him, and surprisingly, Mal agrees. However, more than a business exchange is in store for the pair. Can opposites attract?

Overall, Horn in My Side is a dual first-person POV cozy fantasy romance that will satisfy your cravings for multiple genres. One highlight of this book is how funny and hilarious it is. I found myself giggling while reading this book. I did take off 1 star, because sometimes it was not funny and more cringey, like when Jasmine says she was going to knock on every door in a hotel until she found Mal. I took off another star because it was very, very spicy, which is something that I did not expect from something labeled "cozy," That was my mistake though, and I'm sure that many readers will be a fan of the spice. If you're intrigued by the synopsis above, or if you're a fan of fantasy and romance in general, you can check out this book, which is available now!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grumpy x Sunshine, small town, monster romance? Yes please! I just knew that I would enjoy this one, and it definitely did not disappoint!

This was such a cute and easy read, I just breezed through reading it. I loved the idea of a small town magical pet shop, and Jasmine, our sunshine FMC was perfect character to run it. She was so loveable and down to earth! Mal, our grumpy MMC is the new owner of the pet shop, and the dynamic between the two of them felt very natural. I would say that it was pretty much an insta lust kind of chemistry, but it really worked, and I very much enjoyed Mals POV chapters.

Although I did really enjoy the book, there was one section where I really cringed for our FMC, and to be honest, the book probably could have done without it. (She really didn’t have to go to the scene of the fire, felt very much like a teenager wanting to go to their boyfriend’s workplace just to watch them.)

However I really did enjoy the book, and the story definitely flourished during the second half. (Who knew Mal had such a filthy mouth) 😏 I love all things magical creatures too, so that was a huge bonus for me!

•Monster Romance
•Small Town
•Insta Lust
•Forced Proximity
•Grumpy x Sunshine
•Cute Magical Creatures
•Cosy Paranormal Romance
•Open Door Spice

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review

[Cerian · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 ⭐️

Jasmine is working at a magical pet shop in the small town of Dewberry Falls and finally feels like she’s found somewhere to call home when the owner (and her friend) dies, leaving the fate of the pet shop, and Jasmine, in the air.
Mal is an orc from a builder clan and travels all over the world as a contractor, working on specialist builds. So when he unexpectedly inherits his Uncle’s small town pet shop, he intends to sell up and move on to his next project. But a big pair of doe eyes send those plans crashing down. Jasmine asks Mal to give her time so that she can get a loan to buy the pet shop from him and he decides to stay in town until everything’s resolved.

Jasmine and Mal have chemistry from the get go but both of them fight against it - hard. At first, a bit of miscommunication means that they definitely don’t think that the other likes them - spoiler alert, they’re both wrong. And then they try and be sensible and not indulge in any more steamy kisses since Mal won’t be staying and Jasmine has put roots down in Dewberry Falls. Spoiler alert, again - they definitely give in to more kissing.

There’s definitely grumpy x sunshine vibes here as Jasmine is super sweet, whereas Mal is definitely on the reserved side but they’re not just one note caricatures of the trope. I loved how Mal supports Jasmine with the pet shop and starts to find his own place in the community.

The pacing felt a bit sluggish at times and I could have done with a bit more communication between Mal and Jasmine - they really would have benefitted from an open conversation on more than one occasion. However, the vibe of this book was super sweet and cosy, whilst also delivering on spice. I loved the magical town setting and the backdrop of the pet shop. And who doesn’t love a cute baby dragon that’s the size of a dog??

It definitely feels like there’s scope for more books set in Dewberry Falls and I’d be more than happy to make a return visit.

[Rhianne Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horn in My Side was exactly what I needed to get me out of my fantasy slump. It felt like the perfect cozy read to curl up with as the weather starts to turn. I had the best time with this book, and it was such a refreshing, palate-cleansing story.

This has all the charm I could want in a paranormal romance: a magical pet shop full of quirky creatures, a small town community that feels instantly welcoming, and a grumpy x sunshine romance that just hits the spot. Jasmine was such an endearing character—warm, grounded, and passionate about the shop—and Mal’s gruff exterior slowly giving way to genuine care made their dynamic so satisfying to read. Their chemistry had the right balance of sweetness and spice, with some moments that made me giggle and others that had me kicking my feet.

The low-stakes, cozy tone really worked for me. It’s more about character growth, relationships, and atmosphere than high fantasy lore, and that’s exactly why it was so comforting. That said, I wouldn’t complain if future books dig a little deeper into the worldbuilding of how humans and magical beings coexist, because it’s such a fun setup.

Overall, this was delightful, heartwarming, and just plain fun. If you’re after a cozy fantasy romance with magical creatures, grumpy x sunshine banter, and a comforting small-town vibe, I highly recommend this one. It left me smiling from start to finish.

[Cordysbooknook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a grumpy x sunshine romance. And I also love a monster romance. So as soon as I saw this, I knew I needed to read it.

Jasmine is our sunshine character who manages a magical pet shop and has been running is since the owner passed.
Mal is an Orc who has inherited his Uncles pet shop and has had to travel to the small town it’s in to handle the sale of the shop.
When Jasmine says she wants to buy the shop from him, he decides to stick around for 6 months whilst she saves up the money for a loan.
Did someone say forced proximity👀

I loved this book. I thought it was a cute and easy read with really loveable characters. Not just the main characters, but also the side characters in the small town and especially the animals in the pet shop!
The romance between the characters was believe able and has a natural, rational build up of tension and then romance.

Overall a good read and I recommend it!

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, low angst, high chemistry, low spice open door monster romance!

Mal and Jasmine may not meet under the best of circumstances but they're both wondering just how friendly they can be whilst essentially working together. Mal may be an Orc but his clan is all about building, not making war. He's never happier than when he's swinging his hammer but staying in town, doing up the pet shop is just a temporary thing until the decision is made on his dream job. Jasmine may be human and have a bit of a tumbleweed past but she loves the pet shop and the magical animals took to her really well and she's enjoying living the small town life.

There was much to love with this book: found family vibes, workplace romance, monster romance, small town but there were a few niggles however. I would loved to have learned more about the world lore - how are Orcs and the other magical beings on a modern day Earth? The pacing in a few parts slowed a wee bit. I actually enjoyed the social media scenes - let's face it we all know a few folk who have become SM famous for doing less than Mal!

The volunteer fire service was a great addition and I loved the scenes were Jasmine was worried about Mal. Becoming de facto parents of the mis-sold egg was a fun concept too.

I'm totally down for another trip to Dewberry Falls!

[Thilini · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Horn in My Side" is such a charming romantasy that features a human FMC and an Orc as MMC. It’s an easy, cozy read with beautiful vibes throughout.
If you’re looking for something light, magical, and heartfelt, this one’s definitely worth picking up. It has banter, a magical petshop, small town vibes and spice 🔥.
If i still haven't convince you, please see our Orc's thoughts below.🤩
"Those brown doe eyes held his gaze, sending his hearts into a gallop. When she'd asked for his help this morning, he couldn't say no.
In fact, he found himself unable to say no to any of her requests.
'Can you fnish the new locking spells, Mal?
Yes, Jasmine.
Can you change the hay in the griffin pen, Mal?
Of course, Jasmine!
Gaku help him, he actually liked doing all those things for her. Jasmine could ask him to hunt down a hydra and nail its head to the wall ask was if she wanted a six-headed or nine-headed one.
The only question he'd ask
How had he got himself into this situation"

[BB · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars

Good lord did I skim. I'd call it a requirement.

"Enemies to lovers" because for the first third of the book Jasmine literally runs away from him because she thinks his tone is blunt and that hurts her feelings. Meanwhile she lusts after him(and he makes moon eyes).

Yes I agree that does not count/qualify for that trope and is somewhat annoying. The whole point of enemies to lovers is the development that happens to grow the characters and the relationship. Having them talk without her fleeing does not count.

Both the characters and the writing style feel like they're geared towards a younger audience- you take out the oral/sex and boom it's a book for middle schoolers

I wasn't even upset by the third act break up because it's so generically formulaic that it's like yep, check the box you did it, moving on

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars - More of a thorn in my side than anything

Unfortunately this was nearly a dnf for me but I decided to power through to see how everything played out. This could be a great book for the right person, just was not my cup of tea.
The characters are insta-lust but also insanely grumpy with one another - did not feel like an enemies to lovers situation at all. They both seem to just take everything that the other person says the wrong way and that gets tedious and annoying.
One plot line is the FMC tries to grow the social media of the pet shop by taking unsolicited photos of the MMC Orc as he interacts with the pets/shop which he's then coind "Zaddy Orc" - big cringey yikes from me.

Thank you to Headline Eternal & Netgalley for providing an ARC copy of this book.

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book because of the cute purple cover and the magic promised, and I didn’t realize it was more romance than fantasy. I saw it described as enemies to lovers after I bought it, but I would argue it was acquaintances to lovers, which is surely not the same. There was some growth in the characters, but not much. Some of it was cringy to read, but perhaps that’s because I don’t really read romance books. I can’t decide whether to give it 2⭐️s or 3⭐️s, so I went with the higher number because I did read it quickly and didn’t mind reading it.

ETA: I’ve just looked at the author’s profile, and I want to be clear that if this book had a cover like the others in her profile, I would have known what it was immediately. Mine is a light purple, cartoony cover with small pixies, an orc holding a baby dragon, and a human woman holding a Cerberus puppy.

[Cam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story. It was a quick & easy read and I really enjoyed how much of a secret softie Mal was, underneath his big grumpy orc outside. One look at Jasmine and he was fully gone, unable to deny her anything and willing to change his entire life to make her happy. It took me a minute to get into the book and especially the paranormal element, as at first I didn’t think it added much to the story, but once it started to make more sense and I really liked it. Jasmine was such a sweet and soft FMC, it was lovely to see her bloom and become more confident in herself and her abilities throughout the book and thanks to Mal’s support.

*I received an ARC of this book, this is my honest opinion*

[Jess 😻 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

Thank you to netgalley for an arc of this book!

This was a fun enjoyable read that I needed; I loved seeing all of the different creatures they had in the shop and especially loved Clawdia. All the different characters that Dewberry Falls has is great and you can see why so many people are drawn here.

Mal & Jasmine’s romance was really nice and although the dreaded miscommunication trope came up I’m glad they both realised they were being idiots and came together.

Some of the language used was a bit YA for me (surprising considering it’s also quite smutty) so it did take me out of it a bit, and it felt like the author wanted to go a bit deeper with the characters but it never fully went. But still a fun book!

[Bryanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Adorable magical creatures, an enchanted shop, and a big dose of romance is what makes this book such fun to read. Horn in My Side is a cute and sometimes spicy romantasy that is a light read perfect for a dose of coziness.

The relationship between Jasmine and Mal is pretty straightforward - they are both instantly attracted to one another, but his grumpy and awkward personality leads to several misunderstandings. Despite this, they resolve most issues quickly and respectfully so I ended up finding the dynamic sweet.

I particularly liked seeing Mal slowly start to fit into the town, and it would have been great to see even more of this special community. Perhaps future books??

[Alanna KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet romance, that I really enjoyed reading Jasmine and Mal get to know each other and fall in love. I was a big fan of the setting of this book, and the world-building with the different types of characters living in this small town- I'd be keen to read more in this world.
I did think there was some pacing issues with the story, and I didn't personally enjoy some of the miscommunication moments between the main two.

Overall I'd give this book 3.75 stars, and I'll be keeping an eye out for any more books set in this town. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of this author, having read nearly all her shifter series. This latest book, though different, did not disappoint. It contains the character development and detailed world building that I associate with her work.

Jasmine and Mal are an unlikely couple who initially fight their attraction. I love how Mal uses his skills to improve the shop for Jasmine and encourages her to explore her affinity to care for rare creatures and develop her latent talent. Clawdia and Jasmine have a very special connection and I hope there are more stories to come about this special town and we get to see how she matures.

[Sophie Boyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley & Headline Eternal, for approving this ARC.

When I saw this cosy, grumpy x sunshine, small town monster romance, of course I was going to want to read it, and it didn't disappoint.

Mal is an ORC who inherits his uncles pet shop and house when he passes away and Jasmine is the shop manager who is hoping that she can buy the pet shop because this has been her home for such a long time and she loves all the animals.

This book had everything you could want if you love your small town cosy romance and you enjoy monster romance as this had a perfect blend of the 2.

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Jasmine's boss dies and leaves his magical pet shop to his only surviving relative - grumpy Orc Mal - she isn't sure how things are going to go. But the broody, gorgeous Orc has her feeling all kind of things before long ...

This book is sweet and spicy and I loved it. The characters are really lovely and the magical animals were my absolute favourite part. A fun read for any romance lover!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review