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No Planning For Love: A Steamy Small-Town Monster Romance
Welcome to Monstera Bluff, a quaint, coastal small town with a monstrously big secret.
After Cara Bishop’s terrible year of heartache and upheaval, she finally lands her dream job as a city planner… in a place that just so happens to be inhabited by monsters and witches she never knew existed. Go figure they’d grapple with the same urban planning issues as everyone else! As the shock of their existence wears off, she’s determined to land on her feet once and for all in this unusual yet charming place that feels so far away from everything she’s trying to escape. Except, a brooding gargoyle named Ben—who is frustratingly unavoidable both at work and outside of it—as well as some odious local power brokers seem quite unhappy with her sudden appearance in their hidden, magickal town.
Ben Garde-Pierre thought his humdrum road construction project for the town would proceed like any other. That is, until Cara—a human uninitiated with his world— arrives with a shiny new job at town hall, shaking up his entire life. Her presence proves to be an unexpected though not unwelcome complication. Ben soon recognizes he must protect her from a series of escalating forces that would drive her away, including his own burgeoning attraction to her.
Despite these obstacles, will Cara reclaim her career and make a life for herself in Monstera Bluff? Or will this be yet another mistake in her rollercoaster of a year?
This story
❤️MCs in their 30s
❤️Slow burn romance
❤️He falls first
❤️Secret cinnamon roll MMC
❤️Sweet and Spicy
❤️Fish out of water
❤️Found family
❤️Mid-sized FMC
❤️Dual POV
❤️Hidden, magickal small town with witches and monsters
❤️Guaranteed HEA
No Planning For Love is a spicy, small-town, slow burn monster romance told from dual perspectives. It’s the first book in a series of interconnected standalone novels that are best enjoyed in series order. Each story, focusing on a different couple, is set underneath the tree canopies of Monstera Bluff in coastal Georgia, just waiting for you to visit.
Perfect for readers of spicy paranormal, fantasy, cozy, and small-town romance. Fans of Ashley Bennett, Hazel Mack, C.M. Nascosta, and Lyonne Riley will love this fish out of water tale of finding love and fulfillment in a magickal small town where a big city urban planner never expected to end up.
Content warnings are available on the author’s website.
No AI was used to write this book or to create any of its artwork.
After Cara Bishop’s terrible year of heartache and upheaval, she finally lands her dream job as a city planner… in a place that just so happens to be inhabited by monsters and witches she never knew existed. Go figure they’d grapple with the same urban planning issues as everyone else! As the shock of their existence wears off, she’s determined to land on her feet once and for all in this unusual yet charming place that feels so far away from everything she’s trying to escape. Except, a brooding gargoyle named Ben—who is frustratingly unavoidable both at work and outside of it—as well as some odious local power brokers seem quite unhappy with her sudden appearance in their hidden, magickal town.
Ben Garde-Pierre thought his humdrum road construction project for the town would proceed like any other. That is, until Cara—a human uninitiated with his world— arrives with a shiny new job at town hall, shaking up his entire life. Her presence proves to be an unexpected though not unwelcome complication. Ben soon recognizes he must protect her from a series of escalating forces that would drive her away, including his own burgeoning attraction to her.
Despite these obstacles, will Cara reclaim her career and make a life for herself in Monstera Bluff? Or will this be yet another mistake in her rollercoaster of a year?
This story
❤️MCs in their 30s
❤️Slow burn romance
❤️He falls first
❤️Secret cinnamon roll MMC
❤️Sweet and Spicy
❤️Fish out of water
❤️Found family
❤️Mid-sized FMC
❤️Dual POV
❤️Hidden, magickal small town with witches and monsters
❤️Guaranteed HEA
No Planning For Love is a spicy, small-town, slow burn monster romance told from dual perspectives. It’s the first book in a series of interconnected standalone novels that are best enjoyed in series order. Each story, focusing on a different couple, is set underneath the tree canopies of Monstera Bluff in coastal Georgia, just waiting for you to visit.
Perfect for readers of spicy paranormal, fantasy, cozy, and small-town romance. Fans of Ashley Bennett, Hazel Mack, C.M. Nascosta, and Lyonne Riley will love this fish out of water tale of finding love and fulfillment in a magickal small town where a big city urban planner never expected to end up.
Content warnings are available on the author’s website.
No AI was used to write this book or to create any of its artwork.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2025
15 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Katie Haypenny
2 booksKatie delights in a good story, especially when it weaves in a powerful dose of swoonworthy romance. After years of work in the corporate world, she's now putting her creative skills to better use. She’s often found typing away on her laptop in coffee shops, pouring her heart into captivating tales set in a whimsical, made-up little place called Monstera Bluff. Currently, she enjoys life in picturesque Savannah, Georgia, where she shares her days with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 29, 2025
Thank you Katy Haypenny for reaching out and sending me a copy for review! This was so cute! It’s about Cara who moves to a mysterious small town in South Georgia that is a haven town for monster or Whispered Folk. She goes for her dream job as a city planner and finds the fresh start she needs. She finds the kind of grumpy but secret cinnamon roll Ben who runs the construction company that does most of the construction for the town. Ben is the definition of “he falls first and hard” and it’s too sweet! Sadly there are force within the town and in Cara’s past that want to make things difficult for her but with Ben and her new friends she be able to face it! I love this small town so much and I can’t wait for the series to continue and to get Ada’s story and hopefully Clancy’s too! Highly recommend!
December 10, 2025
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Spice: 2/5🌶️
*spice ratings are relative to similar books in the same genre*
E-copy kindly gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Catalog: F/M, human x gargoyle, secret town of monsters, dual timelines, mid-size FMC, prophecy, FMC hired to be the city planner, strained colleagues to lovers, slow burn, MCs in their 30s, lots of lore, tail play, grabbing him by the horns, danger & mystery
CWs: cheating (historical), toxic work environment, toxic relationship, fat phobia & weight loss culture (could be triggering for those recovering from ED), narcissist ex, assault (physical, nearly sexual)
Synopsis:
After Cara’s horrid breakup, she’s been looking for a new start, but nothing has worked out. When she gets the offer to be a city planner, her dream job, for a small town, she’s ecstatic and accepts immediately. However, the town is shrouded in mystery, and when she arrives it becomes apparent why: Monstera Bluff is a hidden town where paranormal beings and monsters go for sanctuary.
Thoughts:
No Planning for Love is a paranormal romance featuring an idyllic town where monsters go to live outside of human society. I really loved the idea of Monstera Bluff and its mission to be a home for the supernatural. The story follows Cara, a human that was blindly brought into the fold, and Ben, a gargoyle that thinks she’s better off if he fights his attraction for her.
Their romance is a reluctant colleagues to lovers arc, in which some miscommunication silts their working and personal relationship.
What I Enjoyed:
• Monsters Bluff and its mission
• The humorous side characters (namely Clancy)
• The discussion of urban planning as it pertains to social justice issues
• The overall vibe of the book
• The dual timelines
What Didn’t Totally Work For Me:
• Despite being advertised as slow burn, the MCs are involved by the end of week one, story time. It didn’t feel slow burn at all, and when the characters overcame their main miscommunication, their physical relationship happened immediately
• I did not feel the romantic burn between the MCs. There wasn’t much buildup to their relationship, no pining, no tense moments. It felt like a switch was abruptly flipped. I was missing chemistry.
• I’m so sorry, because I know this is stylistic, but I didn’t enjoy the use of “mayhaps”
• The story, overall, could have used an information edit. The amount of detailed info (about city planning, about monsters, about magick, about…everything) was very thick, and at times, bogged the story down immensely. While details can be incredibly helpful and delicious, in this instance, the story didn’t leave breathing room.
• It was disappointing that the FMC was midsized, had on page discussions about her weight, described how she basically had an eating disorder multiple times, continued to make harmful comments about her own body, and NEVER had a self-realization moment. There were one too many comments about “if I keep eating like this, I’ll gain weight!” to be comfortable. It felt an awful lot like the message was one of diet culture, weight loss, and body shaming.
• While I understand that, IRL, a human thrown into a supernatural town could be frightened, I felt the FMC’s reaction was a little too much (sad face).
• The FMC’s story arc felt incomplete. She has so much trauma to work through and the story kinda left it with a HEA despite that?
Spice: 2/5🌶️
*spice ratings are relative to similar books in the same genre*
E-copy kindly gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Catalog: F/M, human x gargoyle, secret town of monsters, dual timelines, mid-size FMC, prophecy, FMC hired to be the city planner, strained colleagues to lovers, slow burn, MCs in their 30s, lots of lore, tail play, grabbing him by the horns, danger & mystery
CWs: cheating (historical), toxic work environment, toxic relationship, fat phobia & weight loss culture (could be triggering for those recovering from ED), narcissist ex, assault (physical, nearly sexual)
Synopsis:
After Cara’s horrid breakup, she’s been looking for a new start, but nothing has worked out. When she gets the offer to be a city planner, her dream job, for a small town, she’s ecstatic and accepts immediately. However, the town is shrouded in mystery, and when she arrives it becomes apparent why: Monstera Bluff is a hidden town where paranormal beings and monsters go for sanctuary.
Thoughts:
No Planning for Love is a paranormal romance featuring an idyllic town where monsters go to live outside of human society. I really loved the idea of Monstera Bluff and its mission to be a home for the supernatural. The story follows Cara, a human that was blindly brought into the fold, and Ben, a gargoyle that thinks she’s better off if he fights his attraction for her.
Their romance is a reluctant colleagues to lovers arc, in which some miscommunication silts their working and personal relationship.
What I Enjoyed:
• Monsters Bluff and its mission
• The humorous side characters (namely Clancy)
• The discussion of urban planning as it pertains to social justice issues
• The overall vibe of the book
• The dual timelines
What Didn’t Totally Work For Me:
• Despite being advertised as slow burn, the MCs are involved by the end of week one, story time. It didn’t feel slow burn at all, and when the characters overcame their main miscommunication, their physical relationship happened immediately
• I did not feel the romantic burn between the MCs. There wasn’t much buildup to their relationship, no pining, no tense moments. It felt like a switch was abruptly flipped. I was missing chemistry.
• I’m so sorry, because I know this is stylistic, but I didn’t enjoy the use of “mayhaps”
• The story, overall, could have used an information edit. The amount of detailed info (about city planning, about monsters, about magick, about…everything) was very thick, and at times, bogged the story down immensely. While details can be incredibly helpful and delicious, in this instance, the story didn’t leave breathing room.
• It was disappointing that the FMC was midsized, had on page discussions about her weight, described how she basically had an eating disorder multiple times, continued to make harmful comments about her own body, and NEVER had a self-realization moment. There were one too many comments about “if I keep eating like this, I’ll gain weight!” to be comfortable. It felt an awful lot like the message was one of diet culture, weight loss, and body shaming.
• While I understand that, IRL, a human thrown into a supernatural town could be frightened, I felt the FMC’s reaction was a little too much (sad face).
• The FMC’s story arc felt incomplete. She has so much trauma to work through and the story kinda left it with a HEA despite that?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2025
This small town monster romance was really enjoyable, super sweet, and lighthearted while also deeply emotional.
Cara, human urban planner, is hired by the town of Monstera Bluff after a failed attempt to launch in Atlanta (as a transplant to Atlanta, I get it) and after traumatic personal and professional incidents in Chicago. This girl has been done dirty in the past, but a fresh start in a small Georgia coastal town might be exactly what she needs.
She’s shocked to discover that Monstera Bluff is a haven community for the Whispering Folk, what we call monsters, that she never even knew for real. I love the name Whispering Folk for these beings. It’s so poetic. While most of the town is welcoming and embraces her presence, not everyone is happy to have a human among them. Hide among these is Ben, the gargoyle owner of the construction company contracted to do the infrastructure work supporting new development as the town expands.
Cara was such a sweet protagonist, jumpy at the existence of the monster community, but quick to find “her” people and to show her professional and personal worth. And Ben’s motivations - and desires - quickly become clear. There’s some growing suspense, evil warlocks and fae, and one heck of a Samhain celebration where everything comes to a head.
The worldbuilding unfolds naturally as we’re introduced to Monstera Bluff and the history of the Whispering Folk through Cara’s eyes. Pacing is moderate. There were a few times where I was frustrated with Cara’s fear of her new world, especially towards the end (girl, he uses his tail during spicy times, but you’re nervous about flying?), but honestly, how would any of us react? The burn is slow, but when it finally goes ablaze, it’s deliciously spicy and they are ALL in.
Overall, I really enjoyed it and fingers crossed Rose leaves her amazing Chicago apartment and we get a sequel in this world!
Cara, human urban planner, is hired by the town of Monstera Bluff after a failed attempt to launch in Atlanta (as a transplant to Atlanta, I get it) and after traumatic personal and professional incidents in Chicago. This girl has been done dirty in the past, but a fresh start in a small Georgia coastal town might be exactly what she needs.
She’s shocked to discover that Monstera Bluff is a haven community for the Whispering Folk, what we call monsters, that she never even knew for real. I love the name Whispering Folk for these beings. It’s so poetic. While most of the town is welcoming and embraces her presence, not everyone is happy to have a human among them. Hide among these is Ben, the gargoyle owner of the construction company contracted to do the infrastructure work supporting new development as the town expands.
Cara was such a sweet protagonist, jumpy at the existence of the monster community, but quick to find “her” people and to show her professional and personal worth. And Ben’s motivations - and desires - quickly become clear. There’s some growing suspense, evil warlocks and fae, and one heck of a Samhain celebration where everything comes to a head.
The worldbuilding unfolds naturally as we’re introduced to Monstera Bluff and the history of the Whispering Folk through Cara’s eyes. Pacing is moderate. There were a few times where I was frustrated with Cara’s fear of her new world, especially towards the end (girl, he uses his tail during spicy times, but you’re nervous about flying?), but honestly, how would any of us react? The burn is slow, but when it finally goes ablaze, it’s deliciously spicy and they are ALL in.
Overall, I really enjoyed it and fingers crossed Rose leaves her amazing Chicago apartment and we get a sequel in this world!
November 25, 2025
This book was an incredibly fun, spicy read. Urban Planner Cara lands a dream job after after hitting an emotional rock bottom. The catch? It's in the middle of nowhere Georgia in some town she can't even find on a map. We soon learn the reason Monstera Bluff is so mysterious--its full of ACTUAL monsters. But don't worry,they're (mostly) nice. The author did a wonderful job creating a small town filled with monster folk, all of whom have their own unique personalities and characteristics. The dynamics among the Whispered Folk was probably my favorite thing--from the centaur/man-ho mayor who loves puns to the reserved but secretly sweet gargoyle contractor, everyone felt real and as a reader you wanted to know how they'd react to the evolving situation in town. The theme of "fish out of water" was written really well, and I found myself sympathizing with Cara more than once. The spicy scenes were definitely steamy and had feelings along with the smut, which I always appreciate. The author left open the possibility for Cara's girl group to also find a monster man of their own, and I can see more than a few romances set in this town. Will Rose end up with/tame Clancy? Will the forestry department wolven get a lady love? What about Ben's younger brother? I'll certainly look forward to more in this series. An engaging, low-stakes read I could definitely see myself rereading.
November 29, 2025
What would you do if you got hired for what seems like a dream job? Take it, obviously.
But would you still take it if that dream job was in a monster town called Monstera Bluff?
…yeah, same. I’d have questions.
Cara is having an absolutely terrible year, so when she’s pushed into what looks like the perfect opportunity, she grabs it, only to realize she just accepted a city planning position in an actual monster town. Once she stops panicking (valid), she starts falling in love with Monstera Bluff and becomes determined to help shape it into an urban paradise without losing its charm.
Enter Ben: a brooding, quietly devoted gargoyle who figures out pretty quickly that Cara might be exactly what he’s been waiting for. Their connection blooms into a slow-burn, all-consuming, once-in-a-lifetime sort of love,
the kind that sneaks up on you and refuses to let go. Add in small-town monster drama and an MMC who will protect his girl at any cost? I was sold.
I was not prepared for how freaking adorable this book would be.
The chemistry? Immediate, who doesn’t love a little instalust.
The banter? Top-tier.
The spice? Spicing, and delightfully so.
This is one of those romances where the universe clearly has a plan, even if the characters absolutely do not, but they slowly learn not to ignore fate. Haypenny blends charm, humor, suspense, heart, and spice so well that I fell for these two instantly.
A monster romance with big feelings, big heart, and a gargoyle you will absolutely fall hard for. I loved this. 🧡📚
But would you still take it if that dream job was in a monster town called Monstera Bluff?
…yeah, same. I’d have questions.
Cara is having an absolutely terrible year, so when she’s pushed into what looks like the perfect opportunity, she grabs it, only to realize she just accepted a city planning position in an actual monster town. Once she stops panicking (valid), she starts falling in love with Monstera Bluff and becomes determined to help shape it into an urban paradise without losing its charm.
Enter Ben: a brooding, quietly devoted gargoyle who figures out pretty quickly that Cara might be exactly what he’s been waiting for. Their connection blooms into a slow-burn, all-consuming, once-in-a-lifetime sort of love,
the kind that sneaks up on you and refuses to let go. Add in small-town monster drama and an MMC who will protect his girl at any cost? I was sold.
I was not prepared for how freaking adorable this book would be.
The chemistry? Immediate, who doesn’t love a little instalust.
The banter? Top-tier.
The spice? Spicing, and delightfully so.
This is one of those romances where the universe clearly has a plan, even if the characters absolutely do not, but they slowly learn not to ignore fate. Haypenny blends charm, humor, suspense, heart, and spice so well that I fell for these two instantly.
A monster romance with big feelings, big heart, and a gargoyle you will absolutely fall hard for. I loved this. 🧡📚
December 3, 2025
please see that this isn't an arc review, however I was given this book for free by the author in exchange for my unbiased opinion 🩷
I REALLY enjoyed this book. Not only is the FMCs name cara (so ofc as a Kara I loved that!) but I really did feel like starting off the book it was just going to be something 'small town' and 'cozy' but it was so much more than that.
Cara was smart and determined. Passionate about her work, and as I think we'd all be, a bit apprehensive about moving to a new place and not really knowing what she was getting herself into.
And our MMC Ben? Omg don't get me started on him I am obsessed. He comes off as this cold aloof guy and then you actually get to know him and he's just so stinking sweet I loved him.
As I said starting off the book really did give odd small town cozy vibes, but the bigger (and more serious) overarching plot is really what kept me so interested in knowing what was going on. And can't say I expected the outcome we got!
This book was really great and I can't wait to read the next one in the series because I'm dying for that second chance romance man 😂🩷
I REALLY enjoyed this book. Not only is the FMCs name cara (so ofc as a Kara I loved that!) but I really did feel like starting off the book it was just going to be something 'small town' and 'cozy' but it was so much more than that.
Cara was smart and determined. Passionate about her work, and as I think we'd all be, a bit apprehensive about moving to a new place and not really knowing what she was getting herself into.
And our MMC Ben? Omg don't get me started on him I am obsessed. He comes off as this cold aloof guy and then you actually get to know him and he's just so stinking sweet I loved him.
As I said starting off the book really did give odd small town cozy vibes, but the bigger (and more serious) overarching plot is really what kept me so interested in knowing what was going on. And can't say I expected the outcome we got!
This book was really great and I can't wait to read the next one in the series because I'm dying for that second chance romance man 😂🩷
December 15, 2025
"May the moon and stars above bless us in hearth, home, and love"
🩷 MCs in their 30s
💜 Slow Burn
🩷 Hidden Monster Town
💜 He Falls First
🩷Human x Gargoyle
Cara has some really messed up things happen to her in the human world, mostly revolving around her ex Mark. Cara finds herself in an off the map town called Monstera Bluff. She lands her dream job as a city planner in a town that is mostly inhabited by monsters. Mark's parents were just as awful as Mark was. I see where he got his lovely personality from.
In comes Cara's super hot gargoyle coworker, Ben. I felt like there was a lot of miscommunication between the two which led to me not really feeling the biggest spark between them at first. Once they really tried to get to know one another, it felt like they were made for each other.
I think it's neat that you have every kind of monster/paranormal creature living in the same city peacefully. Each creature seems to have their schedule and habits and everything goes smooth. I also loved that the FMC is in her 30s! I was surprised by the twist towards the end. I enjoyed the book overall and it was a cozy paranormal romance with a bit of spice 🔥
🩷 MCs in their 30s
💜 Slow Burn
🩷 Hidden Monster Town
💜 He Falls First
🩷Human x Gargoyle
Cara has some really messed up things happen to her in the human world, mostly revolving around her ex Mark. Cara finds herself in an off the map town called Monstera Bluff. She lands her dream job as a city planner in a town that is mostly inhabited by monsters. Mark's parents were just as awful as Mark was. I see where he got his lovely personality from.
In comes Cara's super hot gargoyle coworker, Ben. I felt like there was a lot of miscommunication between the two which led to me not really feeling the biggest spark between them at first. Once they really tried to get to know one another, it felt like they were made for each other.
I think it's neat that you have every kind of monster/paranormal creature living in the same city peacefully. Each creature seems to have their schedule and habits and everything goes smooth. I also loved that the FMC is in her 30s! I was surprised by the twist towards the end. I enjoyed the book overall and it was a cozy paranormal romance with a bit of spice 🔥
November 18, 2025
Guys. This book was SOOO good!! I'm a sucker for a small town romance, especially so when that small town is full of incredible magic wielders and monsters. This book was so well written and captivating that I can't believe this is the authors debut novel. It not only has the cozy fantasy vibes one would hope for but a seriously engaging plot and of course a HEA. I really enjoyed the suspense and mystery our MMCs were dealing with throughout the story. I'm so excited to see more in this series and from this author!
November 22, 2025
I love finding a small monster town romance, just all these monsters going about their day to day life without humans knowing is just so fascinating!
Cara gets hired to help out this small town but when she gets there she realised something was very different.
Ben, was understandable skeptical about Clancy bringing in a human but once he spent more time with her he couldn't stop!
I loved the whole charm of the town and Ada and Clancy!
Cara's ex peed me off like no tomorrow but that was the aim of the game so it hit the mark LOL
I can't wait to revisit this town!
Cara gets hired to help out this small town but when she gets there she realised something was very different.
Ben, was understandable skeptical about Clancy bringing in a human but once he spent more time with her he couldn't stop!
I loved the whole charm of the town and Ada and Clancy!
Cara's ex peed me off like no tomorrow but that was the aim of the game so it hit the mark LOL
I can't wait to revisit this town!
November 18, 2025
This book had a lot going on and it took me awhile to settle in, but once I got there it was pretty good. It has a nice slowburn angst paranormal romance feel, with a storyline that will kept me pretty interested. It looks like more stories to come in this world. Definitely recommend giving it a read 📚.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews