The Bat Ward's Watch: Alternative Cover Edition

Purple Oak Oasis #3

by Laura Greenwood, Ariana Jade

Cami knows how to say what she wants, but does she know how to get it?

When Cami is given a task that takes her to one of the guard towers, she meets someone who might be able to see through the mask she shows the world.

Sonia likes a quiet life where she does the night shift with her bat familiar, but when she meets Cami Brewster, she realises there might be more to life.

Can the two of them come out of their shells?

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The Bat Ward's Watch is a cozy fantasy romance with a grumpy sunshine sapphic romance, unusual magic, and a happy ever after.

Genres: Fantasy

182 pages, Paperback

Published June 18, 2025

About the author

Laura is a USA Today Bestselling Author of fantasy romance and urban fantasy. She lives in the UK, where most of her books are set, with her partner. When she's not writing, Laura can be found exploring worldwide cusine with her partner, drinking tea, and reading fantasy books. Laura specialises in quick reads, featuring healthy relationships and consent-positive moments, regardless of whether she's writing light-hearted romance, mythology-inspired modern fantasy, cozy fantasy or anything in between.

Discover one of Laura Greenwood's most popular series:
- The Apprentice of Anubis (mythology inspired modern/urban fantasy)
- Forgotten Gods (mythology inspired fantasy romance)
- Jinx Paranormal Dating Agency (mythology inspired paranormal rom-com)
- House of Blood and Roses (vampire romantasy)
- Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries (urban fantasy murder mystery)
- Scales of Justice (mythology inspired modern/urban fantasy)
- Purple Oak Oasis (cozy fantasy romance)
- Falhaven Castle (cozy fantasy romance)

You can find a full book list and more information on her website, or in her Facebook Reader Group.

Happy Reading!

Reviews

[cloverxheart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine.
I didn't dislike anything that was happening, it's just that barely anything DID happen.
I get that it's supposed to be a cozy fantasy but you still need some depth and substance for a book to be good.
I liked the characters well enough and Twinkle was super adorable.
I just needed more of the characters and their relationship.
The ending wasn't satisfying either.

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy from the authors and voluntarily reviewed it.

The Bat Ward's Watch is the third book in the Purple Oak Oasis series. This is such an awesome cozy fantasy romance series and I eagerly started this book shortly after receiving it. While I wasn't sure what to expect from about this reworked series at first, by now I love it and it reads like a new series. I might like this one even more than the original version of this series, the cozy fantasy setting just works so well and I really enjoyed the three books so far and am eagerly awaiting the next book.

The Bat Ward's Watch is Sonia and Cami's romance. Sonia is a night shift guard who protects the village of Purple Oak Oasis. Cami is from one of the Four Families that govern the village, she just took over the task of managing the guards from her older sister. At first I wasn't sure if I would like this book, Sonia's family is just awful to her and how they treat her and it made me feel uncomfortable reading about them, but luckily most of the book focuses on the romance and there aren't as many scenes involving Sonia's family.

The romance starts off with Sonia and Cami not liking each other after Cami changes things without checking with Sonia and Sonia gets angry at her. I really liked how they were both mature in how they resolved it an apologized and after that the romance starts getting really good. I really liked these two together. Cami is such a ray of sunshine with some chaos mixed in and I loved reading about her and seeing her from Sonia's point of view. She was such a great character and I really liked her. Sonia is great too, I liked how she takes pride in her work despite her family not being encouraging of her. I also liked how she treated the guards below her and was kind and considerate to them.

I liked seeing Sonia and Cami interact, they were just so fun to read about. Their banter was fun and I could really feel their connection. I liked how Cami lifted Sonia up and complimented her, especially as Sonia's own family didn't do that. There are plenty of sweet and fun scenes between them and I liked reading about them. The ending is sweet, although I was a bit sad to see the book end as I liked reading about them so much. I hope we get to see some more of them in future books like how previous couples get mentioned here.

I liked reading about Sonia being a Bat Ward, her bat twinkle was cute and I liked reading about their bond. The unique magic system in this series is very interesting, although I would love to read more about how it all works. The further I get in the series the more I slowly learn about the magic and I hope that trend continues in future books. The magic is pretty subtle at times, but I do think that works well here.

To summarize: I really liked this book. Sonia and Cami are both great characters and I loved seeing them grow closer and fall in love. I like their banter and seeing them interact with each other. Cami was such a ray of sunshine and I liked her chaos as well. I liked how the lifts Sonia up with her words and compliments. Sonia's family were not nice and I am glad there weren't too many scenes involving them. I also liked reading about Sonia being a ward and her bat, her bat was so cute! I look forward to the next book in this series!

[The Morbid Mama ☠︎︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely the best book in the series so far and had much more substance than the others which I loved. The only thing is that the endings are so abrupt it’s almost jarring lol! All in all, this has been a nice, short, and sweet book series 😊

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a long-time reader of Ariana Jade/Arizona Tape novels, but this was my first time reading a collaboration between them and their partner, Laura Greenwood. Rest assured, it was just as great as the others. The Bat Ward's Watch is book three and the first sapphic romance in the Purple Oak Oasis series.
The narrative focuses on the main characters and their relationships with each other and their families. The main characters are wonderfully different and likable. They initially meet with some friction, but this quickly dissipates as their admiration and affection grow. This novella, centered on the ward and the tea witch, is delightfully sweet, a bit spicy, and thoroughly entertaining.
This was my first entry in the series, so I suspect I may have missed some of the world-building developed in earlier installments. Nevertheless, the authors effectively painted a quaint and cozy picture despite the novella’s brevity. The authors successfully create a complete, and organic love story even in novella length.
I always find myself wanting to use the words cute, warm, fuzzy, quaint, cozy, sweet, and spicy when I read books that Ariana Jade has touched. They just make me happy. So, I will be recommending this one as well and this author stays firmly on my auto-read list for all the sapphic love.
#witch #oppositesattract #sapphicromance #blackcat/goldenretriever #workplaceromance #inofficespice #sweetandspicy #familyissues #teawitch #batfamiliar #nightshift #HEA
I received this free ARC from the authors. This is my honest opinion.

[TaniaRina Valdespino]

We mask what hurts us
Both our gals have something they perceive needs to be hidden.

Toxic families are unpalatable
Anyone want some diss with a side of gaslighting? It’s bad enough to be put down in one’s home; worse that it’s done by more than one person AND as a captive audience during family dinner. Sonja’s sister has been trained by their mother in bullying while the father acts as if he knows nothing. If only their snobbery ended at the family’s front door rather than their doing a version of “take-out” tormentor among the townsfolk. It saddens me when family isn’t the shelter it’s supposed to be.

Differences aren’t meant to be negative
I’ve many a book by these authors and they’re great about representation. But the inclusion this tale takes that to an entirely new level – Cami is the perfect poster child for ADHD. As I was reading, I kept thinking that Ari and Laura had somehow read my memories from “across the pond” and wove them into Cami’s personality.
My appreciation isn’t merely personal; it’s also practical. The more people understand how the NeuroDivergent brain functions, the less judgmental people will be towards us. ND isn’t a curse (nor a disorder), but rather a complement to how NT brains function – they are designed to work together just like our two gals are!


Some sage advice from the authors:
‘You shouldn't compare yourself to your siblings.’
When it comes to dancing, ‘it's not about being good, it's about having fun!’.


Love is always in the air in Purple Oak! Our next couple will be Grey Steeper and a newcomer to our lovely oasis in ‘The Cherry Dryad's Blossom’.

[Aurora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the full review with representation information and trigger warnings on my blog.

Sonja is trying to get a promotion to head of the night guard to prove to herself that her family is wrong about her being second-best at everything. Cami is trying to prove to her family that she is competent, but doesn’t know how to be the boss of the confident woman she meets. They get off on the wrong foot, but will they be able to fix their relationship and prove to their families that they are competent?

This was a really cute romance and a great addition to the Purple Oak Oasis series. Even though Cami is very socially awkward and causes plenty of second-hand embarrassment, she’s an adorable character and great to read about. Although this is set in a fantasy world that is different from ours and there were no explicit labels placed on her, I could easily see neurodivergent readers (specifically autistic or ADHD readers) relating to her. Cami’s inability to understand social interactions provides plenty of opportunities for funny conversations and banter with Sonja. She’s the sunshine of the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and helps bring Sonja out of her shell and realize that her family’s perceptions of her shouldn’t dictate her self-esteem.
Sonja is the grumpy one in this relationship, and it’s justified. The authors did a great job of depicting Sonja’s difficult dynamic with her family that consistently undermines her, and how that would impact Sonja’s perception of herself and her competence. Sonja is one of the people whose difficult past results in hyper-independence, and it’s great to read about Cami showing Sonja that she doesn’t have to do absolutely everything on her own. I don’t normally read that many coworker romances, but despite Cami technically being Sonja’s boss, Sonja is teaching her a lot of things and has plenty of her own power and authority. It’s technically a boss-employee romance, but it doesn’t have nearly as much of a power imbalance as a lot of boss-employee romances do.

This novel was a lot more character-focused than plot-focused, but we still got to see some interesting developments in Purple Oak Oasis like how things are developing with the alliance with Grower’s Cove. I also enjoyed the subsequent book in this series, The Cherry Dryad’s Blossom, which focuses more on the alliance between the two settlements, and would recommend that book as well.
I received a complimentary review copy from the authors. All opinions are my own.

[Chad Barrus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC coy from the author and though I wasn’t required to post a review I wanted to offer my honest impression after reading it.

Sonja has been angling to be the head guard on the night shift but hasn’t gotten any paperwork showing she has that position. Her new supervisor, the younger sister to her previous one, takes over and she doesn’t like the changes she makes initially but sees she has good intentions behind her. Surprising herself she finds she is attracted to her and finds the feeling is mutual.

This story shows two women, one who is completely ignored by her family though she tries to do everything like she should and the other who has good intentions but seems to mess things up anyway.Surprisingly these two click- two opposites, one outgoing and the other serious and removed from having fun, focusing just on her job. Friendship brings many benefits, among them the paperwork that Cami finds which leads to Sonja’s promotion she has been wanting. Sonja opens herself up and starts to have fun with Cami which she hasn’t allowed herself in the past to do.

This was a quick read which shows everyone needs friends! Going it alone is lonely and miserable especially when your family constantly puts you down as well!

I liked this story of friendship and love developing because of it and recommend this story to all those who like to read paranormal stories where same sex attraction exists between the characters.

[Clarise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Bat Ward’s Watch by Lauren Greenwood is a solid read with an interesting premise, though it didn’t quite stand out for me overall.

The setting and concept are engaging, with a darker, atmospheric tone that suits the story well. There’s a clear sense of intention behind the worldbuilding, and the author does a good job establishing the rules and stakes of the ward. When the plot leans into its mystery and tension, the story feels focused and compelling.

However, the pacing felt inconsistent. Some sections lingered longer than necessary, while others moved too quickly, which made the overall flow uneven. I also struggled to fully connect with the characters — while they had potential, they sometimes felt underdeveloped, making it harder to become emotionally invested in their journeys.

Overall, The Bat Ward’s Watch is an enjoyable but middle-of-the-road read for me. It has a strong atmosphere and a promising foundation, but it didn’t quite deliver the depth or momentum I was hoping for. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy darker fantasy concepts and slower, mood-driven storytelling.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in this series which I have enjoyed reading from book one. I enjoy this author's creative writing style that bring her characters to life and they are full of heart and soul. This is a cozy fantasy romance story that is engaging and hard to put down. This is a story about Cami and Sonia. Both of these character's need to learn that there is more to life. What will fate have in store for them? I enjoyed both of these characters and how connectable they are. They are strong women who know what they want but need to learn how to get it. I enjoyed what they brought to the story which just added to the entertainment value of the story. There is great growth and connection throughout which made it easy to read. I really enjoyed reading this fast paced story and one you don't want to miss. I highly recommend this book.

[Mystyc Metrik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great story! This may be my favorite in the Purple Oak Oasis series so far. Sonia, the head guard of the night watch, is struggling to feel seen by her family and balance her work during a period of short staffing. A winter flu epidemic has hit Purple Oak hard, and the recent treaty with Growers' Cove has made them busier than ever. When Chamomile Brewster (Cami) replaces her sister Jasmine with the guards, Sonia is apprehensive that this change may not be for the better. Initially, she chafes under Cami's well-meaning but misguided attempts at leadership, but, after the girls get to know each other, they find they like one another a great deal. This was a sweet F/F romance, with a cute little bat ward named Twinkle. I can't wait to see what happens next at the Purple Oak Oasis!

[Marcia - itsabookthing2021 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bat Ward's Watch was such a great read, I got all the cosy vibes I usually get from this series. I loved Sonja and Cami, they were so different but perfect for one an other. I really like Sonja as a character and I felt sympathy for her, her mother is awful and I really felt a connection with her. I was rooting for her in all aspects of her life. I really like her interactions with Cami. I love the Brewster family, they're all so cosy and I could picture how warm and welcoming they are. I really enjoy the writing style Laura Greenwood and Ariana Jade have, the book blends together really well and to say two authors have written the story it pieces together seemlessly. I love reading these novels, they have the cosy vibes but have a bit of spice sprinkled through. I love them!

[J Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cami and Sonja.

Cami Brewster wants to prove herself to her family and being supervisor of the guards is her chance. Sonja has worked hard to get promoted to the head guard position. Maybe then her family would approve of her. In the meantime, she is doing the duties of the position without the title. Cami Brewster is her new boss and keeps interfering with procedures that have been working well up until now. Sonja would not normally criticize a boss, but she makes an exception in this instance.

This is a sweet F/F romance. It’s easy to empathize with the characters. I received a free copy of this book, but my review is honest and voluntary.

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again this visit to the Purple Oak Oasis is a quick, but satisfying one. It’s not as steamy as the last one, but it has a hot office moment. I love the easy and laidback romances that seem like they would be rushed for the size of the book, but they don’t feel rushed. I really like Sonja and Cami together. I really wish we had been in the room when Sonja’s parents found out who Sonja was dating 😂.

I can’t wait for the next one. Each book can be read as a standalone, so jump in any time.

I received a free copy of this book, and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

[Victoria Golby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet romance between witches.

Sonja is second-in-command of the night guard and just wants to keep things running smoothly, hoping for the Head Guard's position, but she's not helped by her mother never telling her anything until the last minute.

When Camomile (Cami), from the leading Four Families, is put in charge of the guards by her sister sparks fly between her and Sonja as they keep getting in each other's way with Sonja resenting Cami and Cami just wanting to help.

Can they find a way to work together? A sweet and fun enemies-to-lovers romance.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sonja Porter lives in the shadow of her sister and despite her accomplishments, can never win her parents’ approval. Chamomile Brewster sees herself as less important than the other members of her family and is seeking to prove herself worthy of her founding family status. When these two meet, they get off on the wrong foot, as Cami makes changes to Sonja’s work environment without understanding why things are the way they are. Slowly however, as she sees Cami’s willingness to listen to her expertise, Sonja comes to see Cami in a different light. As they spend more time together on the night shift, romantic feelings develop, but could Cami feel the same?

The third book in the revamped Purple Oak Oasis follows Bat Ward and night shift guard, Sonja, and tea witch Cami as they fall for each other in an opposites attract story. My heart ached for Sonja as she was belittled by her family and treated poorly. events when she got her promotion and recognition for her hard work, her mother and sister were awful. Cami was such a breath of fresh air. Despite her own insecurity and internal comparison to sister Jasmine, Cami was still loved and accepted by her family. It was sweet to see Sonja so accepted by the Brewster family as well. I also enjoyed seeing Sonja’s bond with her bat, Twinkle. Definitely a cute and different familiar to have but perfect for Sonja.

[Jo Fouracre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book I loved seeing cami and sonja grow together and learning to work alongside each other. This book is wonderful cottage core with a bit of spice .. which I’ll admit to going past the spice bit as it’s FFC .. and that’s bit was a bit too much for me as I see the books in my head 🫣. I not against that at all it’s just not for me. I loved all the rest 🥰 can’t wait for the next book. I’ve really loved this series 🩷

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. Not my favorite from Tape but that may be because this is book three in a series and I haven’t read the previous two. It’s technically a stand alone but something about this that didn’t work for me. The pacing was glacial and I didn’t fully invest into the plot like I wanted to. Lovely characters and cute romance though.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sherryle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's return to the land of the animals & tea witches......

While Cami tries her hardest to make things better for herself, she meets Sonia. They knock heads at the first meeting. How can things be better between them both? They go to a special occasion & dance with each other. Then have the first kiss & declare their love a few days later..... What more can they want? Marriage, kids... Hmmmm.........

I really liked this story. It started off very slow & ended off with a bang of love.....

[Looby Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sonja works as a night shift guard which is handy as her familiar is a bat named Twinkle.
Chamomile, Cami to her close friends is a tea witch from one of the 4 families and is given the job of being in charge of the guards, taking over from her sister.
Sparks fly but in a bad way as Sonja resents Cami’s presence and Cami tries to help but ends up hindering.
Luckily this is a romance book so you know they’re going to sort themselves out. Great world building

[Jacqueline Halle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3 of the Purple Oak Oasis series featuring a witch and a ward (and her familiar). This book has cozy fantasy romance vibes and is fairly light reading. This is a FF story, there's some spice with this one after a slow start/build. We meet Cami (Jasmine's sister from book 2) and Sonja (who's family is full of narcissistic a-holes, like I'm seriously hoping Margot never gets her own story ARC). I like how the series is broken down into mini stories that interconnect. 3.75 rounded up

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changes and unexpected romance.
A very sweet work related romance. Poor Sonja has a hard time filling the expectations of her family. She just wants to be good at her job n be respected for it. Cami has a fairly easy going family and a lot more support from them as well. First impressions were a bit askew for the two but once they began to work together the spark was lit! Everything works out great for them.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only complaint I have about this book is that it was too short. I really enjoyed reading this book and it made me laugh out loud. Cami may be one of the founding families but she is still insecure and has the hardest time with flirting. Sonia comes from a long line of wards and also has a low self esteem due to her family. When these two get together it was funny yet heartwarming. I received a free book and the views and opinions are my own.

[Sophie Eaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book of the newly revamped, Purple Oak Oasis series. We meet Sonja Porter, a bat ward, and the second-in-command of the night guard, and Chamomile Brewster, who is a member of the Four Families, and is newly appointed to manage the guards. Sparks fly when they first meet and not in a good way. This enemies to lovers romance is quite fun to read, and alls well that ends well.

[LizJ. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bat Ward's Watch Book 3 of the (Purple Oak Oasis by Laura Greenwood and Ariana Jade created a very slow burn FF romance, which is not my thing but these authors write in such a way that the gender doesn't matter only the love and tenderness between the characters. I can't wait to read the next book!

I received an ARC from the author and am leaving my review freely.

[Christinaraven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this easy FF love story where the main characters start off on the wrong foot but find their way to happiness. Had me laughing at times. More spice then others in the series but good fun characters. Cami and Sonja were cute together.

[Monique Westwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the third book in the Purple Oak Oasis series. It's a f/f romantic story about Sonja and Cami. A fairly quick read with great characters. Although it is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone.

[Xiaoqing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this short and sweet romance! Cami from the distinguished tea witch family falls hard for her employee, the strong and brave night guard leader Sonia. I always appreciate imperfect characters, Cami's clumsiness and Sonia's low self esteem only make them more relatable and real!

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet funny story. I really liked Chamomile and Sonja together. The book was filled with gentle humor and I loved how much respect and affection they shared. I’m looking forward to seeing their relationship develop.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm voluntarily leaving a review after receiving a free copy. I liked the pairing of Cami and Sonia and how they complete each other. It was great how she appreciated Sonia for who she was and Cami's chaos brought more into Sonia's life. I liked how their relationship was building.

[Helen Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read by the duet becoming fadt favourites. This is the 3rd book in the series. Both FMC are opposites but thsts why it works. A cosy quaint read woth a little spice added in. I really loved that the familiar was a bat called Twinkle and not the traditional black cat. I want one.