What do you think?
Rate this book
Brides of Lonesome Creek Orcs #5
Grinchy Orc Cowboy
They warned me orcs are possessive, but they didn’t mention how addictive it feels when one decides you’re his.
Carla: I have three weeks to organize Lonesome Creek’s rodeo program. This major consulting contract could be a make-or-break moment for my career. The problem? The grumpy orc cowboy in charge thinks I’m a know-it-all and that I've never been on a horse, let alone a sorhox. He’s not wrong about the riding part.
But somewhere between arguing about sorhox safety protocols and watching him be surprisingly gentle with kids, I’m falling for seven feet of stubborn orc competence. Too bad my contract ends December 26th. How do you convince the most guarded male you’ve ever met that you’re worth taking a chance on?
Becken: The last thing I need is a human consultant disrupting my program with “industry standards” that don’t apply to sorhoxes. I came to the surface to escape my broken heart, not deal with a woman who thinks she can revolutionize our cozy western town in less than a month.
But Carla’s strong-willed, determined, and throwing herself into every Christmas activity like she’s cramming a lifetime of holidays into a very brief time. I survived losing my first mate by avoiding attachments. So why am I planning the perfect Christmas morning for a woman who’s leaving, one who may take my heart along with her when she goes?
Grinchy Orc Cowboy is Book 5 in the Brides of the Lonesome Creek Orcs Series. A cozy monster romance featuring fated mates, only one bed, forced proximity, steamy heat, and a hero who defends the woman he loves. Expect size difference, protective instincts, and a found family of orc cowboys ready to ride into battle for one of their own.
Brides of the Lonesome Creek Orcs in
Fake Dating an Orc Cowboy (part of Sweet Monster Treats)
Saddling the Orc Cowboy (freebie with newsletter sign-up)
Wrangling the Orc Cowboy
Rough Riding Orc Cowboy
Buck Wild Orc Cowboy
Sweet-Talking Orc Cowboy
Grinchy Orc Cowboy
Giddy Up Orc Cowboy
Carla: I have three weeks to organize Lonesome Creek’s rodeo program. This major consulting contract could be a make-or-break moment for my career. The problem? The grumpy orc cowboy in charge thinks I’m a know-it-all and that I've never been on a horse, let alone a sorhox. He’s not wrong about the riding part.
But somewhere between arguing about sorhox safety protocols and watching him be surprisingly gentle with kids, I’m falling for seven feet of stubborn orc competence. Too bad my contract ends December 26th. How do you convince the most guarded male you’ve ever met that you’re worth taking a chance on?
Becken: The last thing I need is a human consultant disrupting my program with “industry standards” that don’t apply to sorhoxes. I came to the surface to escape my broken heart, not deal with a woman who thinks she can revolutionize our cozy western town in less than a month.
But Carla’s strong-willed, determined, and throwing herself into every Christmas activity like she’s cramming a lifetime of holidays into a very brief time. I survived losing my first mate by avoiding attachments. So why am I planning the perfect Christmas morning for a woman who’s leaving, one who may take my heart along with her when she goes?
Grinchy Orc Cowboy is Book 5 in the Brides of the Lonesome Creek Orcs Series. A cozy monster romance featuring fated mates, only one bed, forced proximity, steamy heat, and a hero who defends the woman he loves. Expect size difference, protective instincts, and a found family of orc cowboys ready to ride into battle for one of their own.
Brides of the Lonesome Creek Orcs in
Fake Dating an Orc Cowboy (part of Sweet Monster Treats)
Saddling the Orc Cowboy (freebie with newsletter sign-up)
Wrangling the Orc Cowboy
Rough Riding Orc Cowboy
Buck Wild Orc Cowboy
Sweet-Talking Orc Cowboy
Grinchy Orc Cowboy
Giddy Up Orc Cowboy
- GenresRomanceMonster Romance
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2025
62 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Ava Ross
172 books773 followersAVA ROSS fell for men with unusual features when she first watched Star Wars, where alien creatures have gone mainstream. She lives in New England with her husband (who is sadly not an alien, though he is still cute in his own way), her kids, and assorted pets, including a yorkie pup and three cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 16, 2025
Brides of the Lonesome Creek Orcs Series :
✅0.5 Saddling the Orc Cowboy (January 1, 2025) - 3.5 ⭐
-GREEL BRONISH and JESSI
spin off vol. 12 "Fake Dating an Orc Cowboy"
belonging to the series Sweet Monster Treats
✅ 1. Wrangling the Orc Cowboy (2025) - 3.6 ⭐
-TARK BRONISH and GRACIE WEEKS 🤠👍
✅ 2. Rough Riding Orc Cowboy (2025) -4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
-RUUGAR BRONISH and BETH - Camping was fun 🥰
✅ 3. Buck Wild Orc Cowboy (2025) - 4 🧁🧁🧁🧁
-SEL BRONISH and HOLLY ENGLLE - sweet cinnamon cupcakes 💕
✅ 4. Sweet Talking Orc Cowboy (2025) - 4 👨🎨 👨🎨 👨🎨 👨🎨
HAIL BRONISH and ALLIE - Shy orc potter and his assistant in distress 🤩
✅ 5. Grinchy Orc Cowboy (2025) - 5🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻
BECKEN and CARLA - A great Christmas addition to the series 🥰
❌ 6. Giddy Up Orc Cowboy (2026)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CY98PFKQ?...
✅0.5 Saddling the Orc Cowboy (January 1, 2025) - 3.5 ⭐
-GREEL BRONISH and JESSI
spin off vol. 12 "Fake Dating an Orc Cowboy"
belonging to the series Sweet Monster Treats
✅ 1. Wrangling the Orc Cowboy (2025) - 3.6 ⭐
-TARK BRONISH and GRACIE WEEKS 🤠👍
✅ 2. Rough Riding Orc Cowboy (2025) -4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
-RUUGAR BRONISH and BETH - Camping was fun 🥰
✅ 3. Buck Wild Orc Cowboy (2025) - 4 🧁🧁🧁🧁
-SEL BRONISH and HOLLY ENGLLE - sweet cinnamon cupcakes 💕
✅ 4. Sweet Talking Orc Cowboy (2025) - 4 👨🎨 👨🎨 👨🎨 👨🎨
HAIL BRONISH and ALLIE - Shy orc potter and his assistant in distress 🤩
✅ 5. Grinchy Orc Cowboy (2025) - 5🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻
BECKEN and CARLA - A great Christmas addition to the series 🥰
❌ 6. Giddy Up Orc Cowboy (2026)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CY98PFKQ?...
November 10, 2025
💚 “You’ll always be enough, just as you are.”
~~~
Carla is so wonderful! Despite the loss and neglect in her life, Carla is so kind, compassionate and nice. And I loved that she put her heart in everything she did. Even more, I loved her determination, professionalism and willingness to work hard. Carla is amazing and I loved her so, so much!
And Becken is such a remarkable male! Becken is big, strong, hardworking and quite grumpy. But there’s more to him than meets the eye. Because underneath his stoic facade is a male who’s lost his mate, and, yet, is so caring, incredibly thoughtful, protective and charming. Becken is one incredible orc cowboy and I couldn’t help but adore every single thing about him!
I absolutely loved everything that happened between Carla and Becken! Carla goes to Lonesome Creek as a consultant to help organize the new rodeo program. And she and Becken definitely don’t start on the right foot. But the more time they spend together, the more things between them start to change. I absolutely adored Becken and Carla together! Their chemistry was fantastic from the start and I loved their banters and light bickering. Even more, I loved that the more time they spent in each other’s company, the more they started to understand each other. And somewhere between being stranded in a snowstorm and preparing for the Christmas celebrations, their relationship starts to change and become something neither of them expected, something real. There were a few bumps on Carla and Becken’s journey towards happiness and important decisions needed to be made. But it was all worth it in the end. Because those two were absolutely perfect for each other and more than deserved to find happiness and love together!
In addition, Christmas in Lonesome Creek was such a wonderful experience. With each new story, I love this community more and more. Even more, I loved that we got a few glimpses of the other couples. And there were a few wonderful surprises, too.
Overall, Grinchy Orc Cowboy is another amazing addition to the series and I loved every single page of it!
~~~
Carla is so wonderful! Despite the loss and neglect in her life, Carla is so kind, compassionate and nice. And I loved that she put her heart in everything she did. Even more, I loved her determination, professionalism and willingness to work hard. Carla is amazing and I loved her so, so much!
And Becken is such a remarkable male! Becken is big, strong, hardworking and quite grumpy. But there’s more to him than meets the eye. Because underneath his stoic facade is a male who’s lost his mate, and, yet, is so caring, incredibly thoughtful, protective and charming. Becken is one incredible orc cowboy and I couldn’t help but adore every single thing about him!
I absolutely loved everything that happened between Carla and Becken! Carla goes to Lonesome Creek as a consultant to help organize the new rodeo program. And she and Becken definitely don’t start on the right foot. But the more time they spend together, the more things between them start to change. I absolutely adored Becken and Carla together! Their chemistry was fantastic from the start and I loved their banters and light bickering. Even more, I loved that the more time they spent in each other’s company, the more they started to understand each other. And somewhere between being stranded in a snowstorm and preparing for the Christmas celebrations, their relationship starts to change and become something neither of them expected, something real. There were a few bumps on Carla and Becken’s journey towards happiness and important decisions needed to be made. But it was all worth it in the end. Because those two were absolutely perfect for each other and more than deserved to find happiness and love together!
In addition, Christmas in Lonesome Creek was such a wonderful experience. With each new story, I love this community more and more. Even more, I loved that we got a few glimpses of the other couples. And there were a few wonderful surprises, too.
Overall, Grinchy Orc Cowboy is another amazing addition to the series and I loved every single page of it!
December 22, 2025
I loved it!
Carla didn't have anything dangerous hunting her, but she came from a cold beginning, that began after losing both parents, at five. Sent to live with an aunt, who was married, and wealthy, but had no place for a child in her lifestyle. Learning quickly to not be a child, was the best way to not cause the negative reactions from her aunt. As she grew, she developed a gift for organizing things around her, for optimum efficiency. She began growing a reputation in her job, and her goal was to have her own company doing this for her own clients. Beckan was on the surface to help his cousins, and leave the memories of losing his mate to an illness. He just wanted to work with the Shoroxes, and be left alone. Since Carla was brought in to help establish an effective way to run their rodeo, he's not sure how to work with this human female, who is waking something in him, he never felt with his late mate. There are great parts that put them in situations where they are alone, she needs help because of an injury, and of course, the classic situation, there's only one bed! I loved the gradual growth of their feelings. There is a very sweet occasion of a big first, for one of our already mated couples, and it really stirs deep feelings in both Carla, and Becken. Wonderful HEA ending. Trish. A.
Carla didn't have anything dangerous hunting her, but she came from a cold beginning, that began after losing both parents, at five. Sent to live with an aunt, who was married, and wealthy, but had no place for a child in her lifestyle. Learning quickly to not be a child, was the best way to not cause the negative reactions from her aunt. As she grew, she developed a gift for organizing things around her, for optimum efficiency. She began growing a reputation in her job, and her goal was to have her own company doing this for her own clients. Beckan was on the surface to help his cousins, and leave the memories of losing his mate to an illness. He just wanted to work with the Shoroxes, and be left alone. Since Carla was brought in to help establish an effective way to run their rodeo, he's not sure how to work with this human female, who is waking something in him, he never felt with his late mate. There are great parts that put them in situations where they are alone, she needs help because of an injury, and of course, the classic situation, there's only one bed! I loved the gradual growth of their feelings. There is a very sweet occasion of a big first, for one of our already mated couples, and it really stirs deep feelings in both Carla, and Becken. Wonderful HEA ending. Trish. A.
January 26, 2026
Love and healing
I loved Becken and Carla’s forced proximity, only one bed, monster-human, fated mates holiday romance. It had a good mix of sweet, spicy, and real life issues. Becken and Carla are both portrayed as real, relatable people who have deep grief scars and flaws, but are really just trying to do their best as messy beings. All their past pain and insecurities made me want to just reach into the story and hug on them. Becken is a grumpy widowed orc. His cousins recently built Lonesome Creek Ranch, a Wild West tourist attraction town and he came to be in charge of the rodeo and training sorhoxes. Carla is a human woman who helps to manage rodeos and their safety programs. The orc rodeo is her first solo endeavor and she’s hoping it leads to starting her own firm. When they are stranded in an unexpected blizzard and mating marks appear neither one is ready for a lifetime commitment. To get to their HEA they’ll be truth telling, baggage unpacking and leaps of faith. I love this little orc western town.
I loved Becken and Carla’s forced proximity, only one bed, monster-human, fated mates holiday romance. It had a good mix of sweet, spicy, and real life issues. Becken and Carla are both portrayed as real, relatable people who have deep grief scars and flaws, but are really just trying to do their best as messy beings. All their past pain and insecurities made me want to just reach into the story and hug on them. Becken is a grumpy widowed orc. His cousins recently built Lonesome Creek Ranch, a Wild West tourist attraction town and he came to be in charge of the rodeo and training sorhoxes. Carla is a human woman who helps to manage rodeos and their safety programs. The orc rodeo is her first solo endeavor and she’s hoping it leads to starting her own firm. When they are stranded in an unexpected blizzard and mating marks appear neither one is ready for a lifetime commitment. To get to their HEA they’ll be truth telling, baggage unpacking and leaps of faith. I love this little orc western town.
November 7, 2025
How I loved this book. Both Carla and Becken are wonderful, complex characters. Each has their own reason to pull against the mating marks and the feelings growing between them. The struggle of their hearts and the fear that each face made this a very compelling book. I adore Grinchy Becken. And the sunshine that protects Carla's heart fools most people but not her mate. Add in all of the Christmas things and it has put me in a holiday mood. Christmas at Lonesome Creek is magical. I also loved getting to check in with all of the other couples! How I wish Lonesome Creek were a real place. Ava Ross has a knack for writing places that I want to live in, whether they are on Earth or a distant planet. She writes characters who are perfectly flawed. Her stories captivate and take you on a ride you never want to end. Just wonderful.
December 18, 2025
The ultimate cozy holiday monster romance… full of warmth, second chances, and found family. Carla is kind, determined, and all heart, while Becken is a grumpy, big-orc cowboy with a broken heart and the softest, most protective soul underneath.
🎄🐎💚 Orcs + Grinch energy + Cowboys = the HOLIDAY TRIFECTA 💚🐎🎄
The banter, forced proximity, snowstorm moments, and slow-burn chemistry were perfection. Watching them go from friction to something real, especially during Christmas in Lonesome Creek, was pure magic. Bittersweet at times, but the ending makes it all worth it.
“Loving someone meant risking loss, and we’d both learned how devastating that could be.”
💚 Grinchy Orc Cowboy by Ava Ross
Holiday Monster Romance | Only One Bed | 326 pp | 🎄🎄🎄🎄 (4/5)
💚 “You’ll always be enough, just as you are.”
🎄🐎💚 Orcs + Grinch energy + Cowboys = the HOLIDAY TRIFECTA 💚🐎🎄
The banter, forced proximity, snowstorm moments, and slow-burn chemistry were perfection. Watching them go from friction to something real, especially during Christmas in Lonesome Creek, was pure magic. Bittersweet at times, but the ending makes it all worth it.
“Loving someone meant risking loss, and we’d both learned how devastating that could be.”
💚 Grinchy Orc Cowboy by Ava Ross
Holiday Monster Romance | Only One Bed | 326 pp | 🎄🎄🎄🎄 (4/5)
💚 “You’ll always be enough, just as you are.”
November 7, 2025
Grinchy Orc Cowboy by Ava Ross is the 5th book in Ava’s Brides of Lonesome Creek Orcs series. It’s a sweet, steamy read with holiday flair and a HEA. I love Ava’s style of writing, and her world building is second to none. Both Carla and Becken have painful pasts, but find understanding and so much more in, not only each other, but the community of family and friends in Lonesome Creek as well. Such a lovely story!
November 10, 2025
What an amazing Christmas story with amazing characters and a well developed storyline. As instinctive as being fated is, sometimes it takes more than markings to truly understand the deeper meaning that it holds.
Carla and Becken both carry scars in one form or another. Their appreciation for each other evolves exponentially through patience, understanding, and with the magic of the season playing a helping hand.
November 11, 2025
Ava Ross has another sweet Brides of Lonesome Creek book, Grinchy Orc Cowboy. Carla is in town to help plan the rodeo events Becken wants to implement. She's only supposed to stay fir a few weeksxabd then move on to a larger contract grateful will make her career. But the two get snowed in a remote cabin and the mating marks appear after they get romantic. Will she find her forever home and love instead of moving on?
November 11, 2025
This is another fab addition to the series and I loved seeing Becken and Carla open up to each other and to love. Both have baggage and are hesitant but as they work together on the rodeo, they find understanding and trust. Their journey to an HEA had challenges but they were perfect for each other. I loved seeing their sweet and steamy romance unfold and that it was set around the holidays. So good and I can’t wait for the next book
December 11, 2025
A truly fun and amazing series- Brides of the Lonesome Creek Orcs. This story is about Carla and Becken. She's an event planner working at the ranch. He's a widow wanting to avoid a connection. But the mate marks say otherwise. A lovely story full of seeing life anew, fighting against and then for that special connection and Christmas. I loved this story and the well deserved HEA.
December 16, 2025
Becken and Carla
This the season and this book hit just the spot! I love Carla's vibe, She is everywhere and Becken doesn't trust her much, it's not personal, he doesn't want to break his heart again but its a Lost battle when he sees her working so hard to make every thing perfect. He just wants to make her happy and for her to Stay... It's so cute! I just loved it.
This the season and this book hit just the spot! I love Carla's vibe, She is everywhere and Becken doesn't trust her much, it's not personal, he doesn't want to break his heart again but its a Lost battle when he sees her working so hard to make every thing perfect. He just wants to make her happy and for her to Stay... It's so cute! I just loved it.
November 10, 2025
This is a lovely Christmas story, full of warmth and hope. It beautifully captures love, second chances, and the joy of finding home and belonging. While there are bittersweet moments that might tug at your heartstrings, the joyful ending truly makes it all worthwhile.
November 11, 2025
A lovely read featuring a widowed grump and a lady who never really had a home life. Lots of troupes in this read - older man, younger woman, stuck in a cabin in a snowstorm with only one bed, etc. - which makes for a fun read. Add the Christmas holiday and it makes it even more special.
November 13, 2025
love Orc stories
Once again I laughed smiled, and found years coursing down my face. It’s always obvious there will be a happy ending, but getting there through Orcish ways is wonderful.
Once again I laughed smiled, and found years coursing down my face. It’s always obvious there will be a happy ending, but getting there through Orcish ways is wonderful.
November 18, 2025
Amazing
This series gets better with every book! I loved this one the most! A grumpy Orc who lost his mate to illness and a competent event planner who never had a loving family create a wonderful mix
This series gets better with every book! I loved this one the most! A grumpy Orc who lost his mate to illness and a competent event planner who never had a loving family create a wonderful mix
November 23, 2025
Wow! Grinchy Orc
I loved Becken and Carla's story! I just want to stay wrapped up in this story and this series. It makes me so happy when I read them. I wish they just kept going. Love love love a story by Ava Ross!
I loved Becken and Carla's story! I just want to stay wrapped up in this story and this series. It makes me so happy when I read them. I wish they just kept going. Love love love a story by Ava Ross!
December 5, 2025
Great story to read
I wish this place existed for real. I feel connected to Carla in a lot of ways and I'm glad that she was able to find her person,family and home. It made me happy. Which is something I have little of thank you for this story.
I wish this place existed for real. I feel connected to Carla in a lot of ways and I'm glad that she was able to find her person,family and home. It made me happy. Which is something I have little of thank you for this story.
December 9, 2025
Good read🌟
Yep, another book worth reading. This series is wonderful. Carla thought she had everything planned out but magic gold rings changed that. Becken might have also had a part! Enjoy
Yep, another book worth reading. This series is wonderful. Carla thought she had everything planned out but magic gold rings changed that. Becken might have also had a part! Enjoy
February 4, 2026
That was entertaining. Maybe a bit on the longer side, but I still binge-read it.
Pick it up for:
- Monster Romance BUT make them orc cowboys (best of both worlds)
- Fated Mates and mate marks
- Christmas vibes (and it's 100% cute)
- Becken is swooooooooon
Pick it up for:
- Monster Romance BUT make them orc cowboys (best of both worlds)
- Fated Mates and mate marks
- Christmas vibes (and it's 100% cute)
- Becken is swooooooooon
November 6, 2025
Sweet, heartfelt, and fun-to-read... with a grumpy orc cowboy..
November 15, 2025
Awwwwww! Such a sweet romance! Loved it— wish this series had a dozen more stories to come!!!
Read
November 17, 2025This was a really good book. I love the Becken and Carla. I highly recommend all the books in this series.
November 12, 2025
After a lonely unloved childhood Carla keeps people at arms length. Never staying very long in one place to form attachments. Then she comes to Lonesome Cove and everything changes. She is embraced by the whole community and finds her fated mate. Sweet story. Hunky Orc mate.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews