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Hook, Line, and Tentacle

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He’s the grumpy, reclusive bait shop owner with a dark secret.
She’s new in town and renting his attic room.
The one everyone warned her away from.
Down bad doesn’t begin to cover it.
From the second he finds her trying to break down his door, she’s got him...
Hook, line, and tentacle.

A high heat, low stakes, big feelings tentacle monster novella with plenty of smut and a HUGE... happily ever after!

106 pages, ebook

Published July 22, 2025

47 people are currently reading
140 people want to read

About the author

Dove Soleil

8 books42 followers
Dove Soleil writes cozy, low stakes, high heat monster romance, paranormal romance, romantasy, and sci-fi romance with occasional feelings, lots of levity, and big ol'... happily ever afters!
She really likes to write witty banter, red hot spice, and edge it with just enough angst and emotion.
Things you'll find in Dove's books: lots of consent, realistic bodies, silliness, queer rep, neurodivergent and mental health rep, lots of spice.
Things you won't find in Dove's books: washboard abs, really deep plot/worldbuilding, absolutely soul-crushing angst*.

*Okay, she can't promise that. Dove loves angst. But if you want angst, you're best to check out Evita Wren's work, as Dove Soleil is a pen name of contemporary romance author Evita Wren.

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5 stars
112 (41%)
4 stars
88 (32%)
3 stars
48 (17%)
2 stars
19 (7%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
Profile Image for Paula Valadez.
114 reviews5 followers
November 14, 2025
Me costó mucho el inicio tanto que casi lo abandono pero ya después lo leí bien.

Sus personalidades no las entendía, eran muy confusas pero... Cumple lo que promete, no tiene trama alguna aunque me gustó el final 😏
Profile Image for sydney 𓇼 (reading slump).
117 reviews47 followers
July 23, 2025
➳ 4 ★

So, this was my first experience with a tentacled MC. I was excited when Dove reached out asking if I’d be interested in reading this smutty tentacle novella, and it did not disappoint!!

For a smutty book in general, the spice was pretty vanilla (epilogue spices it up just a bit). But you’re warned before reading that there are open door spicy scenes in 5 out of the 6 chapters, not including the epilogue.
If you know prior to reading that it’s a smutty tentacle romance, this novella hits it spot on. It’s your typical PNP, but with tentacles!! 🦑


Thank you so much to Dove Soleil for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Bianca Callanan.
55 reviews1 follower
July 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

If you want smut with like hardly any plot and you happen to love monster romances…this book is for you!!
Looooved this little novella! Sometimes you just want a smutty book with hardly any plot and this one delivered!! I looooved Cal’s character!! He was…😮‍💨🤭🫠🥵
Evita always writes such great stories and her writing is sooooo good!!! The way she describes things, the detail and how she strings words together is just so admiring!! I’ll read anything from her!!
The smut in this book was…😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨 all I’m gonna say is tentacle! Literally every chapter had smut in it so if you’re rlly wanting to read a monster romance with just smut and a sprinkle of plot this book is for sure for you!!

I just want to thank Evita Wren for allowing me to receive the ARC for this book!! ☺️💕
Profile Image for Jen.
271 reviews2 followers
July 24, 2025
This is atmospheric smut. The smut is the plot, and everything else is setting the vibes.

The MCs are the only characters we meet. They are in this gloomy coastal town. The only sounds are the storms and the crashing waves. The creaking floorboards and the wind.

I wouldn't say that I particularly liked this book, I think I needed a little more happening. I felt like I was experiencing this book, more than reading it. Like I could imagine this creaky apartment and the constant storms. But I didn't feel connected to the characters as much. I also think I expected a little more "softness" from Cal. Like he cries when he thinks he's hurt her. And he tries out being a sub in the epilogue. But I didn't quite feel like "soft boy" was how I'd describe him. I dunno, maybe that was just me.
Profile Image for Dayna.
92 reviews44 followers
July 15, 2025
Arc Review

Okay, so… I was not prepared for how filthy fun this little tentacle monster novella was going to be — and honestly? I’m obsessed.

This was my first dip into tentacle/kraken romance, and let me just say: I’m ready to dive headfirst into the deep end. Cal (our delightfully deviant tentacle man) had one hell of a mouth on him — seductive, sinful, and downright dirty in the best way. The banter? Perfection. The spice? 🔥🔥🔥 Off the charts. Plot? Barely there — but let’s be real, I wasn’t here for the storyline. I was here for the monster smut, and Dove Soliel delivered.

Short, steamy, and unapologetically monstrous, Hook, Line, and Tentacle is a filthy little escape for anyone who loves their romance more… tentacled. No shame in my kraken-loving game. 💦

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Especially if you’re looking to dip your toes (or entire body) into monster romance without the slow burn. Just be warned: Cal talks dirty, and you will want a tentacle man of your own.
Profile Image for Roni Collins.
43 reviews7 followers
July 11, 2025
The amount of stars I wanted to give this book doesn’t exist on this platform so we are settling for 5. If I could give it 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ I would as well. 🥵

This is a short, quick novella I gobbled down in a matter of a couple hours and trust me I will now be reading anything this author puts out. It is 6 chapters and she had me hooked (yes I accept the pun) within the first.

While the story does not have much world building like others, the characters make up for it. You do get short snippets into their past and I am hoping for more in the book(s) to follow. The tension between Neviah and Cal was palpable. There were several moments I had to pause due to the physical heart 💓palpitations. They are real characters and you can feel them deep not just placed on the pages for names. I cried, screamed, giggled, feet kicked and thigh clenched🤤 my way through this tentacle smut and I would and will do it again!

Let me say I was blessed with this read as an e-ARC read by the author and I cannot thank them enough. This review is voluntary and of my own accord.
Profile Image for Andi Downs.
1,446 reviews14 followers
July 10, 2025
Woke at 4am, saw this Arc and downloaded, then read! ❤️❤️❤️ it was soooo good! A wonderful early morning read and with characters that draw emotion with a touch of humour. Neviah rents an attic space, that just happens to be above Cal's shop. He's chosen to be a recluse and finds having Neviah in his space, unsettling. He's grumpy but that just draws her attention, along with his sheer size and looks. 😊 He's not human, though she's drawn to him.
As is Cal to her, in a way he never felt possible. I loved their banter and reading as they grew such strong bonds and desires. Cal was such a big softie when he relaxed and allowed their bond to grow. The low point had me willing him to grab her and his fear of loss, was so great They made a fantastic couple and 😁😉😍 their reversal 'play' at the end! Now that was a first, that I've read with a tentacled mate!! You'll just have to grab this to find out and enjoy. 🤩🤩 I'm praying you will have more for readers to enjoy, Dove!!
Profile Image for Misty Ortiz.
69 reviews7 followers
July 13, 2025
I really loved this little tentacle novella. Even though it only had 120 pages it had everything you could want in an insta-love little tentacle book. Even though I got an ARC from Dove (thanks) this is still my honest opinion, I definitely would’ve loved it whether it was 100 pages or 300 pages. Can’t wait to read more from this author.
Profile Image for Wayward Skyril.
242 reviews78 followers
August 27, 2025
This tentacle romance is soo deliciously written. It somehow manages to avoid a LOT of cliches in both story and writing style while still holding on to some of the most delectable tropes in monster romance. This definitely has notes of true mates and insta-love, for instance, but done WELL. The main characters don't quite fall for each other or even like each other when they first meet, and while that changes very quickly, I found myself so absorbed by the DRAW these characters have for each other and the yearning between them, that I was as ready for them to admit things too soon as they were.

The SPICE in this is just about everything I was looking for in this type of read, and the tentacles DID NOT DISAPPOINT. They're EVERYWHERE, and with the writing so good, I could see them and sense them and knew just how they were moving, touching, clinging, and reacting. This particular tentacle "monster" is more or less an anthropomorphic man with the addition of tentacles, but with a couple of extra surprises besides, and I found I actually REALLY liked this concept rather than more of a half man/half octopus style of monster I've read before - and, again, it was just done REALLY WELL. Hook, Line, and Tentacle also took the truth of "consent is sexy" and proved it again and again. It's one of my favorite things to see in books, especially ones where you don't always expect it due to niche genre cliches, but it is overtly present here with consideration constantly given and requested from both parties.

There are two reasons this got a four star rather than a five. One is kind of big - being that I felt the "argument" and (brief) third act breakup and successive reaction of a main character taking an extreme risk and not caring whether they made it out alive... well, EXTREME and an unnecessary overreaction had they, instead, continued to communicate as well as they thus far had and hence forth did. The other reason is entirely petty and subjective, but I'm just not a fan of the "little -" pet name trope. In fact, I hate it, and I think any pet name would be better without the "little" in front of it, but I digress. These - mostly the first - pulled my score down a bit, but I loved the novella.

From start to finish, Hook, Line, and Tentacle was written in an emotive and delicious style that drew every image it was trying to. The characters were charming, the atmosphere was RIPE, and the spice was sooo raw and delectable. Not only would I recommend this book to any tentacle lovers out there, but I also plan to watch for this author from now on. Not only do I like her style, but she writes like she's trying to kill me in the most swoony way possible, and I will always come back for THAT delicious torture!!
Profile Image for Kate.
52 reviews1 follower
July 31, 2025
I chose to read Hook, Line, and Tentacle after an email exchange with the author. She reached out about another ARC, and as we chatted about my review and content preferences, I suggested checking this one out to see if it fit my reading tastes. Sometimes you just gotta try something new, right?

Boy, was I surprised! Normally, I wouldn’t seek out anything like this, but I’m so glad this little gem found its way onto my radar.

What I loved:
I really enjoyed Dove’s writing style — it’s descriptive and mesmerizing. I could practically feel the salt air and the sting of the wind through her words. She had me itching to find a charming beach town just to soak it all in!

Though the story centers on just two characters, they felt well-developed, and I enjoyed watching their dynamic unfold. If you’re into tropes, there’s definitely a delightful grumpy vs. sunshine vibe here — one of my all-time favorites!

The pacing was spot on, and the steamy scenes felt balanced and natural. They never felt thrown in just to be “smut.” Even with several intimate moments, the story remained grounded and enhanced by them. Skipping those scenes wouldn’t mean missing the core story.

What I didn't love:
What I didn’t love? Honestly, it was too short! I would have loved a full-length novel with these characters to dive deeper into Cal’s backstory, which still feels a bit mysterious to me.

I found myself wanting more of their journey and how they navigate life together after finding each other. And more depth to the pull of the ocean — but I’ll leave it at that to avoid spoilers!

Maybe it’s not a “dislike” per se, just that I wish this gem were longer.

Rating:
I’m giving Hook, Line, and Tentacle a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I loved every minute, even though it’s way out of my usual comfort zone and genre. Still, it charmed me enough to make me want to explore more like it.

Spice level rating:
I'm giving this a 3 out of 5 peppers — warm and steamy. There are on-page sex scenes, but nothing overly graphic. Moderate language throughout, with maybe 1-2 especially explicit scenes. The spicy moments are well-balanced with plot and character growth.

Recommendation:
I’d recommend this to friends who enjoy monster or tentacle-themed smut — it’s the perfect addition to their collections. Plus, after my interaction with the author and reading this novella, I have a feeling Dove Soleil is going to become an auto-read author for me.

Compelling Sentence:
A wet, wild, and wonderfully grumpy tentacle romance that’ll have you hooked from the first page.
Profile Image for booklover.mall.
75 reviews
July 14, 2025
What to say… One this is my first tentacle smut read, and I absolutely love love it !!!

Dove thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book !!! I can not wait for more to come I’ll be stalking your page and waiting lol…

Dove… Dove… what have you done to me! I was laughing and had my heart hurting at that part in the book you know what part. I thought I knew a little to except when reading but oh NO ! Dove you threw me for a loop and so much more with all that spicy, flighty dirty talk and details ! Omg the details in this book I so enjoyed it and I want so much more!

Calder/Cal a man that owned a bait shop who rents an attic, but didn’t talk or smile much. Until she came into the picture and the dam broke and it was all about her.

Neviah a woman trying to hide and rent the attic space that everyone warned her about because like who would do something that people warn you about. She met him and she felt something and it was different feeling. She is a fire to mess with and she loved his reaction to her antics.

Then one day it crumps and tension between the two crumple and things that happen that are hot a steamy that had me squirming and clenching my thighs together lol… I know tmi but Dove you got me. The love, feeling, smell that he has for her and when he hurts(not intentionally) her it breaks not only him but her as well until she wants to do something to feel something. Now I will leave it here so you can GO READ!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Anastey.
504 reviews9 followers
July 23, 2025
Thank you Dove Soleil for sending me this advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was so hot, I read it straight through without stopping. Holy moly that was intense.

It was a lightning fast read, and I'm shocked at how much glorious filth can be shoved into 106 pages. The banter between Cal and Neviah was full on bratty goodness. It had me laughing so hard I was crying at a few points.

It wasn't all spice. There was some great plot, deep emotions, and some incredible tension. The ending was spectacular, and totally unexpected. What a perfect send off for a beautiful HEA.
Profile Image for Morgan Taylor.
147 reviews8 followers
August 14, 2025
This was a fun little adventure. I really liked the journey that Cal and Neviah go on. They are both just two people that are on a journey of acceptance and self discovery. I love that consent is at every part of their spicy time. Consent is such a nice thing to read and it makes those times all the more better. The ending of this book had me giggling and kicking my feet, and just grinning like an idiot. Cause what???!!! I loved it so much, so adventurous, so just loving too.
And while this book is mainly focused on the spicy time, I love that there is still so much depth to the characters that you can't help but fall in love. I'm so excited for the sequel to this book.
Profile Image for Ciru.
1,723 reviews
August 20, 2025
“I want to become an expert in you.”


3.5 stars. Like the cover. The final, scorching chapter added the .5 otherwise it would have been a 3 star read for me because of the third act breakup that was so unnecessary.

I learnt a new word. Atavistic. Love that for my vocabulary. Apart from that, the story is hot, two seemingly lonely people finding each other, only difference is one of them has tentacles.

The story/plot was very light, which I understood and enjoyed, however there are a few holes such as what was Neviah running from and finally what will happen to future them (he has a longer lifespan) hasn't been answered. Also the bdsm how to's with the safe wording etc, love them, appreciate them but they annoyed me because it read like floating sub text when you are watching a show and additional context is given to the side.

All in all, enjoyed this. Will be reading the next book.
Profile Image for Mabel.
32 reviews
July 12, 2025
⭐️: 4.5
🌶️:3.5
My first ever tentacle book & it was amazing. Setting standards very high.
It was beautifully written and the characters have great chemistry and are sooooo respectful with each other —except when they are not ;) 🔥
Neviah, the fmc was so relatable & Cal was the absolutely cutest everrrr (also extremely hottttt).
It’s very hard to write round characters in only 100-ish pages, but Dove does it and she does it well 🫶
This was an unexpectedly wholesome read.
What to expect:
🦑Lonely tentacle monster bait shop owner + chaotic new girl in town
💙Forced proximity (she rents a room from him)
🦑Low stakes with light angst and high heat
💙Bonding + instalove
🦑Age gap (he looks 43, she's 28)
💙Tentacles, and lots of tentacle smut
🦑Realistic bodies (no abs here)
💙Big 🍆 with... not entirely human features
3 reviews
July 22, 2025
Sweet and Spicy

Although this book is short you fall in love with the characters so quickly. Absolutely fire and I can't wait to read more from Dove.
Profile Image for Megan Mckee.
78 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2025
My first tentacled MC and omg omg it did NOT disappoint 😍😍😍🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵
Profile Image for Courtney.
28 reviews
July 10, 2025
I received a ARC copy on this and I am so grateful for this story. I really loved reading this novella but for me I wish there was more book than Novella . For me I feel I know more of what the male character looks like than Neviah (love the name ). I just started getting into reading this author and would 100% read more after this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Madison.
464 reviews14 followers
July 11, 2025
A fun easy read, filled with tentacle loving smut and two super adorable characters.

Thank you Dove for the ARC.
Profile Image for Grace.
235 reviews2 followers
August 4, 2025
Sweet and Spicy Novella, Absolutely Adored!

I just finished the brand-new release from Dove Soleil, and wow! This novella is filled with emotional connections, personal growth, bonding, tentacles, love, and plenty of spice. Cal is our grumpy, dadbod-wielding, bait shop-owning male lead who isn’t entirely human and is completely unaware of how handsome he is. Neviah is our quirky, cute, and surprisingly adventurous female lead who tries hard to maintain an upbeat, sunny disposition, even though she struggles with feelings of sadness and loneliness. When Neviah rents Cal’s spare room, their chemistry quickly becomes too strong to ignore. Despite their differences in age and the number of tentacles, Cal and Neviah's broken pieces fit together perfectly. I can't wait to see what Dove Soleil writes next!
Profile Image for Brenda.
19 reviews1 follower
July 26, 2025
My first time reading anything from this author but definitely won't be my last.

Short, spicy, and perfect for a quick read.

That epilogue! 💋 Yes, please!
Profile Image for Serena Books.
1,982 reviews106 followers
August 22, 2025
NOOO
Un giro exagerado en la mitad lo arruinó para mi.





•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers.
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen.




Hook, Line and Tentacle de Dove Soleil

Argumento:

Él es el gruñón y solitario dueño de una tienda de cebos con un oscuro secreto.

Ella es nueva en la ciudad y alquila su ático.

De la que todos le advirtieron que no se alejara.

Maldita sea, no es suficiente.

Desde el momento en que la encuentra intentando derribar su puerta, lo tiene atrapado... ¡Anzuelo, sedal y tentáculo!



Mi humilde opinión:


Un romance corto de monstruos, atracción instantánea, héroe virgen, spicy con tentáculos y nudo, pueblo costero.

Cal es un gigante solitario con un gran secreto oculto debajo de su sudadera: tentáculos. Él es un Kraken de mas de cien años, el único de su especie que quizás exista y jamás formó un vinculo con ninguna mujer hasta que conoce a la bióloga marina Neviah. Cuando ella llega a su tienda siente una conexión con ella pero se esfuerza por ignorarla. Un beso lo cambia todo y ahora están vinculados de una forma que ninguno esperó.

Neviah y Cal eran bastante opuestos, ella era atrevida mientras que él era mas reservado, pero cuando seden a la pasión fueron sinceros con sus deseos, no había mil vueltas, ellos hicieron lo que sentían y aceptaron el vinculo que los unía. Todo parecía ir bien hasta que sucedió… uno de sus tentáculos la aprieta con un poco más de fuerza, se da a entender que no la lastima realmente tanto, como que él no lo pudo controlar y esto le causa a Cal tal horror, vergüenza y arrepentimiento que abandona a Neviah. Todo pasó tan rápido, con tal dramatismo que me pregunté cómo pasaron de estar felices y decirse Te amo a separarse con tremenda angustia en el mismo momento!

Todo lo que sigue fue lo que menos me gustó porque me pareció extremo. Tres días después, Neviah intenta llamar la atención de Cal metiéndose al mar. Piensa que si él no viene por ella como lo hizo una vez no vale la pena vivir. Es más, desde que la dejó, en su depresión no comió ni se bañó. Cuando Cal le dice que pensó que la perdió, pensé que si no era al mar, Neviah seguramente se iba a matar de hambre porque él no iba a volver con ella.

Neviah me parecía una mujer fuerte y que decidiera que no valía la pena vivir no coincidía con su personalidad, pensé que no iba a dejar que Cal la empujara lejos, que insistiría, lo buscaría para hacerle entender que no le hizo un daño real, arreglar las cosas hablando. Es que no, NO pude superar lo que ella hizo!

Esperaba más de Cal, más con su edad, terminó siendo un idiota porque dijo que lo que sucedió entre ellos fue un error y dejó a Neviah en lugar de quedarse para resolver las cosas. No amigo, no te mereces nada, te fuiste por días, sabiendo que le estabas haciendo daño a la mujer que supuestamente amabas y después tampoco volviste para arreglarlo! Yo no podía creer que Neviah termina consolándolo a él cuando fue ella la que casi murió ahogada. Ni siquiera se para a pensar en lo que pudo haber pasado si él no la rescataba del mar. Ella solo pensaba en pedirle que tuvieran sexo? WTF! Con los días que pasó sin comer su cuerpo debería haber estado débil y ni hablar después de estar sumergida tanto tiempo en el agua fría del mar!

Toda la situación al final me superó. No le vi el sentido. Fue realmente una pena que se arruinara el romance metiendo en medio un intento de suicidio, podría haber separación y angustia sin que la heroína tenga que hacer algo tan desmedido y encima para rematarla hace un chiste sobre eso?

Una pena porque hubiera sido un romance de monstruo divertido y erótico con traviesos tentáculos incluidos.


Profile Image for Nadja.
440 reviews123 followers
July 20, 2025
2.75⭐️
3🌶️

Okay, was this a good book? Honestly, no. Was it enjoyable? Eh, not exactly—but also… kind of? Let me explain. Sometimes you pick up a book knowing it’s going to be pure chaos wrapped in seaweed and coated in slippery, spicy nonsense. That’s this book. It’s like ordering gas station sushi: you know it’s a bad idea, but there’s a certain thrill in going through with it anyway. And, to be fair, Hook, Line, Tentacle delivers exactly what it promises: a monster romance with tentacles, vibes, and very little plot-based logic.

That said, I have questions. So many questions. Like: Why did our FMC (Fishy Main Chick?) move to this seaside town in the first place? Was she just out for a moody stroll one day and thought, “You know what’s missing in my life? Cephalopod peen.” And what’s this magical “tether” between her and Cal? A mate bond? An emotional support kink? WiFi? I need clarity.

Speaking of Cal… where, exactly, are those tentacles coming from? He has normal legs. She’s unbuttoning jeans. Meanwhile, the tentacles are just free-roaming like they have their own Airbnb. I went into this thinking he’d be built like Ursula, but no! Legs. Human legs. And tentacles... maybe sprouting from his lats? Shoulder blades? Honestly, I would’ve paid extra for a labeled stick figure diagram. I just needed one page that said: “Tentacle placement: here.”

And then there’s Cal’s backstory. Or lack thereof. The man got drunk 120+ years ago and woke up as a moist eldritch thirst trap. That’s it. No cursed artifact, no ancient sea god deal gone wrong—just vibes and bad decisions. Even a vague explanation would’ve helped.

Now let’s talk epilogue. Yes, the spice was fun. I was here for the schmeksy time. But I was not ready for Cal’s post-plot glow-down. Long hair that needs a tie? My body physically recoiled. Full-on ick activated. And he gained a lot of weight—and look, I want to be clear: I am not judging the weight. In real life, this stuff is normal, natural, and absolutely fine. Bodies change. Life happens. I don’t bat an eye at it outside of fiction. But when I’m reading tentacle romance, I’m not here for realism. I want jacked, chiseled, fantasy-grade men. Muscles on muscles. Abs that look like they were carved by ancient gods. A dong that needs its own zip code. You get the idea. So when Cal shows up in the epilogue with a soft belly and hair long enough to need a tie, my immersion took a hit. Especially the hair—that gave me a full-body shudder. I do not like my tentacle men looking like they’re one ukulele away from starting a sea shanty band. Give me buzzed, brooding, battle-scarred. Not beachy boho with a man bun.

Also, side note, her reaction after they had a fight? Straight-up tried to yeet herself into the afterlife. That escalated so fast, and it felt like the emotional equivalent of a toddler flipping the Monopoly board when they land on Boardwalk. I get being upset, but whew, girl.

In conclusion, is it good? No. Is it fun? In a “drunk at 2am reading smut with one eye open” kind of way, sure. This book is self-aware nonsense with zero plot, too many tentacles, and not enough basic answers. But hey, if you’re into chaotic sea creatures with emotional baggage and mystery anatomy… dive in. Just pack a snorkel and suspend all disbelief.
314 reviews3 followers
August 5, 2025
Genre: Spicy Monster Romance (yes, TENTACLE hotness 😏)
Rating: 🐙🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 + an ocean's worth of steam

Who doesn’t love a spicy monster romance that literally drags you under with its heat and heart? 😩💘 Hook, Line, and Tentacle is the kind of novella that wraps you in its... ahem…appendages and refuses to let go—until you're breathless, blushing, and begging for more 😳💦

Neviah is a sassy, sunshine firecracker of a woman, crashing into this sleepy coastal town with nothing but her dreams and an affinity for marine life 🌊🔬. She's on a mission to start over, but instead of peace and quiet, she gets Cal—a damaged, broody bait shop owner who is so reclusive it practically screams "I have a secret!" 😏

Spoiler: HE DOES. And it has tentacles. 🐙😈

The moment she catches him in his indoor spa—tentacles out, dark aura brooding—the switch flips. Her marine biology brain starts mapping out the possibilities, and let's just say... those thoughts aren't exactly academic 😳🔥

She doesn’t tiptoe around his grumpy energy—nope, she bulldozes right through his carefully guarded walls like a red flag in a bullfight 🐂🚩. And Cal? Oh, he never stood a chance.

✨ This novella is low stakes, high heat, big FEELS. ✨

There’s something so tender in the way Neviah sees him—not as a monster, not as a mystery, but as a man who needs someone to stay. And the way Cal fights to protect her, even as he battles with whether to let her into his world (and his waters), had me clenching my chest 😭❤️

💥 Final Chapter Warning: You’re going to need a fan, an ice bath, or both 🧊🔥 because the climax (pun 100% intended) is off the charts. It’s filthy, freeing, and shockingly emotional. That HUGE happily ever after? Oh, it delivers 😏🥹
336 reviews
July 17, 2025
Hook, Line and Tentacle is the story of Cal and Neviah and is an age gap, monster romance novella.

Neviah comes to town in a small fishing village looking for quiet and to get away. Against everyone's suggestion, she rents the room above the bait shop for her time in town. When she cannot get the door to her apartment open, her broody landlord shows up, startling her and helps her into the apartment. But there is something that she cannot explain about him and the inexplicable draw to him that she feels.

Cal has lived in town for a long time, alone and not wishing to be bothered, not by anyone. When Neviah shows up to rent the room above his bait shop, something in her calls to him like he has never experienced.

When I signed up for the ARC of this book, I was not sure what to expect exactly and when I started to read it, I was pleasantly surprised. While the concept is outside of my normal genres of reading, I like to stay open to new authors and types of books and I was not disappointed with Hook, Line and Tentacle. The love story between Cal and Neviah is very sweet and the emotional depth that Dove was able to write for Cal and his feelings was very well done. There is a lot of smut scenes in this book and to not spoil anything, just use your imagination given the title and book description. The scenes are HOT and may make you question yourself in the best of ways, lol. If you want something light hearted with some poignant moments of big feelings, this is the perfect book for you. Enjoy!

I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
2 reviews
August 3, 2025
Hook, Line, and Tentacle was a lovely read. It was the perfect palate cleanser after reading a dark, heavy, and lengthy book. Hook, Line, and Tentacle is a short and smutty read with a great sense of humor. The witty banter between the FMC (Neviah) and MMC (Cal) left me giggling at 1am. For a shorter novella, you're not getting a lot of plot outside of the smut, but it's there if you squint. I appreciate some plot with my smut, so I'm glad it was there. Just know ahead of time you're not going to get in-depth worldbuilding.

As far as the smut goes? 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Hot. Hot hot hot. I was here for all of it. Loved the combination of tentacles and knotting. I appreciated how descriptive Dove was in her writing. You could really picture the scenes unfolding. And that epilogue. Talk about saving the best for last. Get to the end of this book. You'll thank me later.

I enjoy how natural consent and communication were portrayed in this book. It was easy to see how much the main characters respected one another. LOVE the body appreciation! It was so refreshing to have a MMC with a tummy and for Neviah to be all over him. It was beautiful to witness the security and comfort Cal and Neviah found in one another.

The only downside of this book is how short it was! A part of me never wanted to leave the sleepy, salty seaside town where we find our main characters. If you're a fan of monster romance, Hook, Line, and Tentacle will leave you hooked and longing for more.

I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review. I am looking forward to reading more of Dove's work in the future!
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353 reviews16 followers
July 29, 2025
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5

Okayyyyyy this little novella came in hot with the tentacle smut and I was here for it! I gobbled this up in a few hours! Would I be mad if I ended up in this small, dreary coastal town if my landlord was secretly possessing tentacles and ready to use them on me after the shock wears off of discovering said tentacles? Nope *pops the p*

🐙Instalove Tentacle Smut
💙Age Gap (he miiiiight be over 150, but who’s counting? It’s magic & she’s almost 30)
🐙Forced Proximity
💙Light Angst
🐙Sassy & Bratty FMC aka “little trespasser”
💙Reclusive, Broody & Tentacled MMC
🐙All the Tentacles, Special 🍆 w/ Knotting & lots of Consent

Cal is the grumpy, reclusive bait shop owner in baggy hoodies and always wet, even if it’s not raining. Neviah is new in town and renting the attic room above the shop that everyone warned her away from. But, Neviah is determined to figure things out on her own…and from the moment she meets Cal? He’s on her hook.

Neviah’s inner thoughts will have you giggling and you’ll just be thinking “same,” because she’s not wrong, and her lack of filter in certain situations tests Cal’s resolve 🤭🤭🤭 Cal tries to fight the pull he feels to Neviah, but she doesn’t let him and we’re all better for it because the spice? SPICED *cue the stupid amount of filthy things I highlighted*

The smut is the plot, with some big feelings thrown in for some razzle dazzle, and if you’re in need of a tentacle escape? Here you go 👀🔥
Profile Image for **✿❀ Q ❀✿**.
49 reviews18 followers
August 18, 2025
DNF 84%

This was weird but that’s not why I’m rating this the way I am. There were so many other things that made this so impossible for me to finish

First, the insta-love thing. I hate it but every time I see that the title is less than 200 pages I know what it’s going to be.

🚨🚨SPOILERS BELOW🚨🚨

Neviah is a suicidal marine biologist that moves to some gray boring coastal village and rents out the attic of a bait shop owned by a mysterious recluse named Cal.

Cal is the 162 year old virgin, tentacle man…..

No. Not a kraken. He literally is a man with tentacles just sticking out of his body and he doesn’t even remember how he got like that though he does remember that he wasn’t born that way and has had to learn about his affliction and how to live with it on his own.

The spice wasn’t as spicy as it could’ve been in my opinion. There was far too much dialogue and hardly any of it was sexy. The tone gave more desperate trauma bonding than anything else. I mean FFS, the girl tried to kill herself twice due to her inability to handle her emotions.

Honestly we could’ve had a really smutty novella with a plot if Cal actually had a backstory and Neviah gave us more information about her own life prior to arriving at his bait shop. Maybe her attempts to drown herself would’ve made more sense. We love a good smutty book without a plot but the smut wasn’t smutting soooo I’m not entirely sure what the hell I just read or why. 🫠
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