Checked Out by the Orc

Knotted By The Monsters #3

by Imani Jay

The whole town is scared of him. The new girl isn't.

Sven Greymark wanted Esme Williams the second she walked into his library. But this stubborn, growly orc has been holding himself back, wanting to do things "right."

Then Esme's heat hits early...

A small town library. A Feral alpha. One very claimed omega. 🔥
Checked Out by the Orc is a filthy, fast-burn, instalove instalust monster romance with a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, size difference, forced proximity, boss/employee tension, fated mates, omegaverse heat, knotting, breeding, and a possessive orc hero who claims his curvy girl.
No cheating, no cliffhanger, and guaranteed HEA.
If you like your monsters obsessed, your heroines worshipped, and your spice hot enough to melt your e-reader, this one's for you 😉

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fiction

100 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2026

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author Imani Jay writes sweet and spicy romance with instalove, instalust, and little to no drama. Just curvy queens who get claimed by their hunky alpha males. Whether it’s in the boardroom, the mafia, OmegaVerse, or with a forbidden twist, Imani’s stories deliver high heat and heart. Ready for your next dirty pleasure? Imani’s got you covered!

Reviews

[Jo Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it

I just finished Checked Out by the Orc and oh my! I actually loved it lol. This was my first OTT/Omegaverse experience, and I’m officially hooked on this new universe. I don’t usually gravitate toward romance, so this was definitely an accidental read for me, but it was cute, different, and easy to fly through. I’ll absolutely be adding more of this genre to my library. And yes… I downloaded the bonus chapter.

[Petra Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.6; sweet and earthy, and for once the library setting wasn’t laughable!

Also, I *adore* the cover.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Checked Out By The Orc is a steamy Alpha/Omega monster romance that finds FMC Esme Williams starting a new job at the Greymark Public library as its Senior librarian. When she meets her new boss his scent alone has her omega senses going off, and difficult to hide. For his part Orc Sven Greymark whose grumpy reputation proceeds him has just found his long awaited for mate, and his thoughts can only come up with one word MINE!
Loved this insta-love, Hawt, short read as Sven tries REAL hard to take things slow with Esme because he wanted to court her the right way. He also needed to prepare her for his -oh boy- equipment size, and then she goes into an early heat… let the knotting commence!
Boy did I laugh loudly finding out Esme had been thinking ahead with that Savage Destroyer toy.
Good writing in an entertaining story that had moments of sweetness, Alpha dynamics, family dynamics, and plenty of humor all coming together in a well crafted read that had me following along with glee as I felt their passion and a librarian named Esme tamed her grumpy Orc Sven. HEA.

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

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Checked Out By The Orc by Imani Jay is a fun, spicy, and completely addictive monster romance that delivers exactly what fans like me of omegaverse stories are looking for. With an irresistible orc hero, a strong-willed heroine, and plenty of chemistry, this quick read is perfect for anyone wanting an escape into a world of fated attraction and forbidden desire. From the beginning I enjoyed how the romance between the characters developed with the intense pull and instant connection that the omegaverse trope is known for. The orc hero brings the perfect combination of strength, protectiveness, and possessive devotion, while the heroine added personality and confidence that keeps the story engaging. Overall, Checked Out By The Orc was a satisfying omegaverse romance filled with heat, humor, and an unforgettable orc hero.

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

[Antoinette Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esme and Sven! 🔥🔥🔥🔥


OMG, this series is going to send me to the ER for dehydration! Lol. Just when I thought I could catch my breath after reading Amara Bonds' and Amaya Black's books, here comes Imani Jay's book. You want to talk about a scorcher? Bae Bae Esme and Sven need several fire extinguishers ready at all times. Not only was the chemistry unbelievably strong and the heat way off the charts, but the spice level was so high I think it surpassed the hottest 🌶 on the Scoville scale!

There were so many things I loved about this book. But one of the biggest reasons I loved this book was how this couple had me laughing so hard! Sven's interaction with his family had me dying! Especially his brothers Bjorn, Vidar, and Kase. They had no filter whatsoever. There's nothing like seeing a grumpy alpha Orc smiling because he finally found happiness with his sunshine human Omega. And that epilogue? Alright, Esme and Sven! This book is most definitely a must-read.

[MB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imani Jay is truly the queen of steamy instalove stories, and Checked Out by the Orc is absolute perfection! If you want a fast, filthy, ultra-satisfying monster romance that delivers maximum heat without sacrificing all the sweet, swoon-worthy vibes, this is an absolute must-read.

The dynamic between Sven and Esme is electric right out of the gate. Sven is this massive, growly, stubborn orc librarian who has been trying so hard to be good and hold back—until Esme’s heat hits early, and all his restraint completely snaps. The size difference, the small-town library setting, and the sheer intensity of the omegaverse heat and knotting tropes make this an unputdownable quick burn. Watching a terrifyingly possessive, feral alpha completely worship his curvy heroine is top-tier satisfaction. It’s wild, absurdly spicy, and leaves you with the biggest grin (and a melted e-reader).

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

[Tysha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fast-burn, fun, deliciously spicy, short story.

Esme is an omega human librarian, and Sven is an alpha orc, and her boss. As soon as the two scent each other they know there is a connection there, although while Sven is sure she is HIS omega, Esme takes a bit of gentle convincing.

Esme was such a sweet character, her trying to go through her heat alone, because they'd only been on three dates, was a little bit heartbreaking (I've read enough omegaverse to know it's a Bad Idea to try to go it solo), but thankfully Sven has such a big heart, he showed up to help without even knowing what was really going on.

If you're after a spicy, fast read, and enjoy a feral alpha orc, give this a go.

I received an ARC of this ebook from the author, via BookSprout, and I'm voluntarily leaving this review.

[Claire Turvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story that could have done with a bit more polishing

I did enjoy this story, but it felt as if it was rushed to publish. There was a lot of slang, a lot of exclamation marks, and the f-bomb was extremely liberally used for everything from an expletive, to a verb, to an adverb. It would have been nice to read a bigger variety of vocab.
Having said that, it was a nice quick bite of smut, which ticks a lot of kink boxes - so if you like ‘em big, not-so-human, obsessive, devoted and errr…plentiful…this book is for you!

Full disclosure: I was given an ARC of the book, however this review is my own honest opinion.

[Ljay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sven with his goofy self trying to woo Esme. He's cute, sweet, funny, dumb and soooo awkward. The asking of her for various casual outing was a series of suggestions and statements. No finesse whatsoever. I loved every minute of it.

Esme was like a flower blooming in the town, with her life, with Sven. However, the inner musing she has about Sven's approach to her was so funny.

Sven's crazy family was perfect. And Pickle was perfect.

They get on the same page after a minute and get their happy happy.

A very pleasant, easy and fast read.

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

[Ms. Le]

I have not read an omegaverse story where the alpha is an orc. I’ve not read many stories where the MMC is an orc. If these stories were like this one I would be reading them more in the future. Esme left her home and family behind to start a new job as a senior librarian in Greymark. Sven is the head of the library and everyone is scared of him. When he scents Esme and realises she is his mate, it takes huge restraint for him not to claim her right then and there. Loved it when he makes himself take it slow and properly court Esme, loved when he bought her a pastry because she looked at it, loved it when…you just have to read for yourself.

[Lisa Bing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a highly entertaining read that follows human gal, Esme, and orc, Sven as they work their way together. Her first day at work at the library has her scenting her new boss and knowing he's the alpha for her. However, she tries to play it cool, and he's very definitely exercising great restraint at not grabbing her and running away with her from his first scent of her ;) However, he woos her nicely, and his family has great fun teasing their grumpy brother over his new mate-to-be. Expect to get caught up in the courtship, humour, chemistry, family and spice when you dive into this fun read. Loved it!

[Vitoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could write a list of things I enjoyed in the book, but I can summarise everything in the truck scene. It had everything to leave the reader hot and bothered; it was fast and so steamy... Esme and Sven are perfect together; they balance each other, and their chemistry really explodes after the fair, and you can practically feel their desperation.
The story is really well written; it has all the things nicely dosed (it's funny, hot, and sweet) and Imani Jay did it again: she gave us a few more characters to wish were real.

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

[Katie Larcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable and Delicious!

Short and sweet, just as it should be. Super cute couple and Sven being awkward is so adorable.
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 for spiciness. I love the effort he puts into preparing her to take him. Made it so much more believable.
This was a lovely palette cleanser between darker romances for me.
I love all things Omegaverse but this one managed to include those concepts without it overpowering the whole world. Loved it!
Only deducted one star because she ends up pregnant immediately and they hadn’t had that kind of conversation beforehand or anything about what she consents to during her heat. Super minor thing overall but I’m a bit of a stickler for it.

[Lyndi (mibookobsession) · Rating 3 out of 5]

What can I say lol? I needed an orc book for a reading challenge and this fun cover and the fact that it's based on librarians pulled me in. Sven Greymark is huge, growly, and green and everyone in town is scared of him. But not the new girl. From the moment they met he knew Esme Williams was his forever, but he's determined to take it slow. But she's just a determined to make him hers...
This story was a super spicy, instalove, crazy monster romance novella.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

[Lyndsay L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esme moved to this small town and left family and everything she knew behind for this new job at the library. She never knew she would find her Alpha Mate the day she started. Sven was shocked when he walked in to give the run down at his work and he smells his omega. It took everything in him to not grab her and take her home with him. He was determined to do this slow. This was well-written and a lot of fun to read! The way these two got together made for a really good read! The chemistry was hot and spicy and you can't help but really like these characters. This is a must read!

[Cass Donoghue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Checked Out by the Orc! It was sweet, spicy, and a total page-turner. I loved that the hero knew she was his mate from the start but chose to earn her trust by showing her how caring and patient he was, letting her set the pace. The heroine wasn't a pushover either - she knew what she wanted, and their chemistry was fantastic. If you love sweet monster romances with plenty of spice, I definitely recommend this one!.

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

[Meg F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Checked Out by the Orc is a sweet, spicy, instalove monster romance featuring Esme, a children's librarian, who recently has moved to the monster friendly town of Greymark to start a new job. At her first staff meeting, she locks eyes with Sven, our Alpha orc and head of the library, and sparks fly. In a true omegaverse story, we have fated mates and instalove, which Imani Jay excels at writing. This story is fun, spicy, and an easy read guaranteed to get your heart pumping. I love Sven's giant family and how easily they accept human Esme into their fold.

[Kaya Branch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. Sven and Esme were absolutely cute together. I really liked all the care he showcased as he courted her lol. It was so sweet. Esme was great as well, with the fiery bits of her coming forth at times. I enjoyed not only their dynamic but also their families too. I connected with Sven's family because I'm one of nine siblings and they really love to embarrass you lol. A definite read and so enjoyable.

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

[Etasha Ruggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of an advanced copy received from the author

Is this book spicy? Absolutely!!! But beyond that I loved the development of the relationship between Esme and Sven. They both knew that the other was meant for them but where as she operated in mild denial, he was intentional about taking it slow. When they finally leaned all the way in, their relationship solidified instantly. Esme wanted for nothing and Sven protected her with everything in him. Imani Jay's writing always keeps me locked in from beginning to end. This story is quick but lacks nothing.relationship

[Booksy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esme moves far from home to start a new life all on her own, she’s optimistic and omega. Sven is seven feet of alpha orc, he’s big and grumbly and has just found his omega. He knows Esme is his when he sees her but he’s determined to make sure she’s ready for a man like him in all ways. He won’t share, Esme is his and he’ll make sure everyone knows it. Told from dual POV this is a short but complete tale of an alpha finding a fully claiming their omega.

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

[Georgina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could NOT put this book down!!!

I got mad being called to eat.... to do anything that interrupted me. I don't know if it was the change or the chemistry between these two, but I was HOT just reading. Did I say I couldn't put it down! Your cheeks will be tight with all the smiles you'll have from smiling about what going on in between the heat.

Will definitely be re-reading and will have the travel fans going to cool things down!.

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

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a feel-good, hot-and-spicy romance, and I enjoyed it so much!!! Sven is the ginormous Orc who is the boss at the library. Esme is the new employee who is hit hard from the first minute she looks at Sven. The grumpy giant orc is exactly what she wants. She's about to find out that he wants her too. Esme is the only person who's not afraid of him. I absolutely love this story! Excellent book that I will be reading again.

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

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sven is huge and commands a room before he even enters it. Esme is the new employee. It is love at first sight for him and suddenly the giant Orc is fumbling his words around her. I loved how Imani Jay had Sven taking it slow even though he wanted to just mate with her. The dates were cute and his awkwardness was entertaining. This is a great read and a fun sexy romance. I received a copy of this book from BookSprout and voluntarily give my review.

[Aura · Rating 5 out of 5]

orc-tastic!

Ok, Sven and Esme are super duper cute. This story has very little angst and all the sweetness and sexiness and filthiness you need for a quick read.
The sex scenes are great but not over the top which surprised me bc it’s an orc with a huge…orc part. The knotting was something unique too, I’ve never read that but it was cool. This was a fun little summertime sexy read!

[GetLitWithRae · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a book lover, I absolutely adored the library setting! 📚

This was a short, sweet, and entertaining romance that was easy to fly through. Sven and Esme had instant, sizzling chemistry, and their attraction to each other jumped right off the page.

If you’re looking for a quick, fun monster romance with plenty of heat and a cozy library backdrop, this one is definitely worth checking out (pun intended 😜).

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

[Yvonne Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic

I'm absolutely enjoying Monsterverse. Check Out by ORC by Imani Jay is enjoyable with characters that will keep you turning the pages. It's full of spice and humor, you won't put your reader down until the end. This book will surprise you with the storyline, I enjoyed the secondary characters as well as the main characters. If you enjoy a paranormal romantasy with great spice this is one you will enjoy. Happy Reading!

[Reba Densley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming quick little read but it is so cute and I loved it. It's instant for Sven and for Esme even when she's not 100% what's going on. Sven is sexy and so big that everyone literally quiets when he's in a room. But not Esme. This was a cute read that I really enjoyed and made me smile. It will be a reread mutiple times for sure.

[Angi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esme moved by herself to a new town for new job. What she finds is a huge grumpy orc who looks at her and shows a tender side no one else has seen. This is a short steamy excellent read about an omega being mated to her her alpha. It’s a fun adorable read.

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

[Earth Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally devoured this wonderful story.
You're all going to love this quick read. With Sven the grumpy Orc and Esme his new library assistant.
It's fast paced, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine dynamic all wrapped in a bundle of fun, knotting 😉 and breeding. As this huge handsome Orc claims his beautiful curvy mate. 🤗💜
Imani does not disappoint.
I highly recommend this Omegaverse Monster Romance.

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

[Roslyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esme moves away from home to take a new job in another library. Her boss Sven takes one look at her and the heat is on. Esme is also attracted to Sven and at first didn't realize that he had the hots for her. Sven knows that she is the one for him and makes a plan to woe her step by step. I love how this relationship develops.