Mated to the Monster Under my Bed: A novel of Hidden Hollow

by Evangeline Anderson

The Monster under her bed isn’t leaving until she moans his name…

Hi, I'm Danni. I came to Hidden Hollow with nothing—no husband, no magic, no hope. Just a middle-aged widow clinging to a dead life and an eviction notice.
Then I found a key.
And a door to a town where it’s always autumn, the air smells like cinnamon and leaves, and magic isn’t just real—it’s waiting for me to claim it.

Now I have a cottage of my own, new friends, and the stirrings of power I never knew I had.
But there’s something else waiting for me too…
A Monster.

Shadow used to live under my bed when I was a scared little girl. Now he’s massive, growly, and very real—at least at night. He says he was born of my magic, shaped by my need, and he’s never stopped watching over me. Loving me. Wanting me.

And if I’m brave enough to love him back—to let him claim me in every way—he might become real for good.
But something dark is rising beyond the edges of Hidden Hollow, and the town’s protective magic is starting to fray. If I want to save the place that’s finally started to feel like home, I’ll have to stop hiding from my power.
And surrender to the monster who’s always belonged to me.
Because in Hidden Hollow...anything is possible.

What to expect in this cozy, spicy Monster love Curvy, middle-aged widow discovers she’s a witchProtective monster who’s loved her since childhoodFated mates & magical bondingCozy, small-town autumn settingSentient cottages, magical groceries, and Creature neighborsOral worship, tail play, and kn0ttingWomen uplifting women, female community, love and acceptanceDeep emotional intimacy, found family, and second chancesA spicy, comforting monster romance with teeth, tenderness, and heat Author's Note : There are currently 6 novels in the Hidden Hollow series
Sworn to the Orc
Dreaming of the Demon
Guarded by the Gargoyle
Loved by the Orc
Shared by the Werebears
Mated to the Monster Under my Bed
And be looking for…
Craved by the Kraken
&
Desired by the Dragon
Both coming soon!

Genres: Paranormal Romance

255 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2025

About the author

Evangeline Anderson is a registered MRI tech who would rather be writing. And yes, she is nerdy enough to have a bumper sticker that says “I’d rather be writing.” Honk if you see her! She is thirty-something and lives in Florida with a husband, a son, and two cats. She had been writing erotic fiction for her own gratification for a number of years before it occurred to her to try and get paid for it. To her delight, she found that it was actually possible to get money for having a dirty mind and she has been writing paranormal and Sci-fi erotica steadily ever since.

Reviews

[Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

I rate this book a 2 stars.
I will not be reading any of the related books in the series.

I was expecting a cozy story of the main character finding herself in Hidden Hollow. Yet that was not what I found. I found this story suffered from poor pacing and plot points that were not thought out or explored. I found I had to stop reading and put the book down when I came across these issues. The more often I put the book down, the more holes I found within the story. I wasn't able to relax into the cozy environment the book was trying to create.

The story assumes that you have already read the first 5 books. This explains the pacing in chapters 3 to 7. You are introduced to new characters telling Danni "I would love to explain what is happening, but I can't, I'm busy go see "this characters." We are then whisked away to meet a new character, who are call back to the other books. I did not read the other 5 books, which is why it left me feeling rushed and confused, which is not what I want when ready a cozier fantasy romance.

Danni's character feels realistic in this story. Her emotions and her choices feel real and well-rounded. She gets freaked out when new things happen and isn't afraid to speak to others to get help or ask questions.

Shadow is a poor character. His main character trait is how much he wants Danni.
There is little else to his character other than he has always been there for Danni, protecting her. There aren't many details of what his face/ hair look like, other than furry and muscular. That's it.
Any other details of what is the rom the Shadow Lands, what he did, why he is so driven to protect her. Nothing really stands out. It is noted that he worked in the shadows, haha, to get the keys back to Danni, but why would he have them anyway?

Another plot point that perplexed me was the keys that come from Craig. They are the keys to her Grandmother house in Hidden Hollow. It felt like an odd decision, it came from Craig and not in a bank vault.

My main and biggest issue with how they dealt with Craig, Danni's husband.

Danni is a 40 year old widow. She had lost Craig, her husband of nearly 20 years, to a 3 year battle with cancer.
I could not find how long Craig had been gone. It seems like it hasn't been too long since he passed, Danni falls into a routine of having to get home and care for her sick husband.
Roughly it's about 1 week to a month when you hold a funeral. Being generous, I estimate that it has been a month or 2 has passed since Craig's funeral.
ONE day passes, and she opens the door and ends up in Hidden Hollow. In the afternoon of the same day, Shadow is introduced. The evening rolls around, she drinks the memory tea we find that Shadow is her saviour from her childhood; they start to fall in love.
One single day passes, and start having sexual encounters.

There is NO buildup of any kind between Danni and Shadow from this point. Danni remembers how important Shadow was to her as a teen.

The story shirks the marriage because of the romance of the story. I just needed 1 paragraph where Craig, on his deathbed, tells Danni he loves her and wants her to find happiness in her life and open her heart to love someone else.
And Danni admitting to herself or her new friends that the cancer battle added strain to her mentally, she hasn't been intimate physically for the past 3 years, and is ready to move on to the next chapter of her life. Or hell, a bit of guilt of falling in love so quickly, which would be normal.

There is an avoidance of marriage, which is odd since it's the reason she was able to get back to Hidden Hollow. I understand that marriages aren't always perfect. There are folks who stay together for their own reasons, love not being one of the main factors. That being said Danni and Craig marriage in the story was not toxic, nor abusive and they were planning on a future and adopting kids. It really made me struggle with the story.

[Char · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seemed very predictable and alt like her other books… like there’s a formula that isn’t decorated from too much.

[Lory · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ A hauntingly romantic return to Hidden Hollow where magic, memory, and love intertwine.

We’re back in Hidden Hollow, that wonderfully strange little village where the paranormal feels perfectly normal. This time, the story follows Danni, a recently widowed woman whose life changes the moment a mysterious key appears leading her straight into a world she never knew was waiting for her.

Danni doesn’t realize she’s a witch, but the town does. Hidden Hollow holds her forgotten past, her grandmother’s cottage, and the secrets locked deep within her childhood memories. But what she doesn’t expect… is the something lurking under her bed a presence that will awaken memories, magic, and emotions she thought long buried.

This story is the perfect blend of spice, heart, and healing. It’s about rediscovering who you are, learning to love again, and realizing that sometimes monsters are the ones who protect your heart most fiercely. Danni’s Heartmate is tender, devoted, and everything a woman could hope for proof that true connection puts love and respect first.

The journey is full of twists, warmth, and those emotional gut punches Evangeline Anderson delivers so well. You’ll laugh, sigh, maybe tear up a bit… but don’t worry there’s a beautiful HEA waiting at the end. And as a bonus, we get to catch up with some of the ladies from previous books (which I always love).

A magical, emotional, and spicy tale about finding home both in a place and in a person. Hidden Hollow has never felt more alive.

📌 100% voluntary and uncompensated. Just one happily haunted reader swooning under the bed.

[BookishEchoes · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝕸𝓎𝕽ℯ𝖛𝒾𝖊𝓌
𝚁͢𝚊͢𝚝͢𝚒͢𝚗͢𝚐͢𝚜͢⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘉𝘦𝘥: 𝘈 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸

📖 255 ραgєѕ
🗓️ 𝕽ℯ𝖑ℯ𝖆𝓈𝖊 𝟙𝟘/𝟚𝟝/𝟚𝟝

𝐁𝐲: ᙓʋᥲᥒɠᥱꙆɩᥒᥱ ᗣᥒᑯᥱɾ⳽oᥒ

MCs: 𝔻𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕚, 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨'𝕤

𝑬𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑨𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑼𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝑩𝒆𝒅: 𝑨 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑯𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘

This is the sixth installment in the Hidden Hollow series, and wow — it does not disappoint! Evangeline Anderson has such a magical way of pulling us right back into this whimsical, autumn-kissed world where anything is possible. The emotional highs and lows had me hooked from the very first chapter.

Danni and Shadow’s connection is so beautifully written — tender, protective, and full of the kind of tension that gives you butterflies. I loved watching them grow not only together, but individually. The pacing is smooth, the story delivery on point, and I never once felt bored or lost. Every new scene made me eager to know what would happen next.

This series continues to be a perfect showcase of Evangeline’s talent. She creates stories that feel comforting, magical, and emotional all at once. Hidden Hollow just keeps getting better, and this book exceeded my expectations in every way. I’m already impatient for the next one!

If you love romance, magic, mystery, and a little monster-under-the-bed spice…this one’s calling your name. 😏🖤

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mated to the Monster Under My Bed or
Hidden Hollow and the Color Blue are two of my favorite things.

All Evangeline Anderson has to say is that she has written a new Hidden Hollow book, and I’m in line to get it. I love going to Hidden Hollow because only those who are led there and have a bit of magic in their systems are allowed there. Danni has been taking care of her husband ever since he developed cancer until he died. The house they shared has a mortgage that she can’t pay. When she checks in with their lawyer, all he has for her are two keys that she ends up using to arrive in Hidden Hollow. There ahe remembers Shadow, a giant with blue fur and her protector since childhood, who lives under her bed. I love the color blue and thought to myself how wonderful it would be to have a protector like Shadow under my bed. Between the two of them, I read some seriously steamy scenes as well as the angst and apprehension Ms. Anderson is famous for. Once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. I started one day and read through the night until the next day. Of the 6 Hidden Hollow books, this is my favorite one so far.

[LeeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danni and Shadow's story is full of extremely high highs and low lows.
He was her protector and safe place.
Shadow has waited decades to have Danni back in his life.
Danni soon realizes just how important Shadow is and always has been to her.
It's amazing what some special tea can help reveal.
As we read their story there are many emotions we go through.
Deep sadness
Terror
Lust
Love
Memories from the past that make everything seem like it's possible to be happy again.

I absolutely loved this story. As with the others in this series we get a full love story with a lot of spice mixed with love and lessons learned and a Heartmate that will always put the women first.
The realm Danni finds herself in may be new to her, but she comes to realize it is the only place she feels at home.
I am giving nothing more away.
Just be prepared to run through a whole gambit of emotions. However, know that HEA is a given.
It's the trip that gets bumpy.
Oh! We get to visit with the ladies from the previous books. I always love that.

[Leanne ~ Tales From The Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story takes us back to Hidden Hollow, a village of paranormal beings. Danni was recently widowed and a mysterious key has her appear in this magical town. She didn't know that she was a witch and her childhood memories are waiting to be unlocked. Her grandma's cottage reappears for her and she has a place to live that actually nurtures her.
However....she is not alone. There is something under her bed that will bring forth memories long forgotten.
Life is certainly changing for her and her journey is a little rocky. Will she have her HEA? What a fun story, I don't want to give anymore away but I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Brie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable Hidden Hollow book. When circumstances align, Danni finds her way back to the magical town and her grandmother's house. In so doing she remembers the monster under the bed from her childhood and finds he has never forgotten her. Shadow had been there all along waiting for her to return. Once her memories come back will her feelings as well. You will just have to read to find out. Enjoy!

[Mer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Hidden Hollow series and I have to say, I think this one if my favorite of the series so far. I just loved the two main characters from the beginning and how they evolved together. They were a pretty steamy couple together as well. I wish this one was longer, but for a shorter novel, it felt very fulfilling. Loved it!

[Jeanne Mead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evangeline has written wonderfully sensual fables for adults at a time when visiting Hidden Hollow is the perfect mini vacation for our overflowing minds!
Danni is very relatable, and her life is in turmoil.
Enter Shadow who has been waiting for the moment she can return.
Their story is one of remembering, conviction and having faith in oneself.
A Hidden Hollow Book of Fables maybe?

[Diane Selander- maglioli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mated to the Monster Under my Bed

I could not put this book down. I was so engrossed in this story and could not wait to find out how it was going to end. It was so well written and the descriptions of the scenery and buildings make you feel you are experiencing it too. I loved it. .

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Dani and Shadows story. I am truly l ok vi g the hidden hollow series where magical being have somewhere safe to come and find love and about their magic. Definitely worth a read. Amazing 😍

[Mystisith · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 🌟 Harmless fairytale for adult.
3 🌟 for the Harry Potter type of world building. The background of our witch was not clearly explained tho. She felt a bit too passive & "woe is me" for my taste.
2.50 🌟 for the bland sexy times (the wording in general & the perfunctory knotting).

[Sandra Singleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of Hidden Hallow. Danni went to Hidden Hollow and remembers Shadow, a blue giant from her childhood. Will they have a HEA? Can't wait for the next book.

[Lisa Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just in time for Halloween! A beautiful and magical Hidden Hollow is stirring up some feel good vibes again. Love fall? Hidden Hallow does too! its up to Danni to make her true love real!

[VersaceDreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

really loving these books. look forward to more in the series!

[Spitfire McGee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was all right. I love Hidden Hollow, I think it's my favorite out of all of Evangeline Andeson's series. It was just... not groundbreaking.