What do you think?
Rate this book
Pine Gulch Ever After #1
Live Love Lasso
Lemon
I screwed up my first solo potion, and now the customer is covered in hives. If that disaster wasn't bad enough, knowing it might get my family's potions house gobbled up by a competitor is the icing on the cake. What I didn't expect was for my father to ship me off to the Wild West monster haven of Pine Gulch as punishment. He calls it an opportunity to learn. Pfft. Pine Gulch is a temporary setback—I'll get back to the city in a New York minute.
Except things don't go as planned when a mysterious sickness befalls the haven's animals. Before I know it, I'm smack dab in the middle of an investigation. Unfortunately, Furyon Zayle, the ranger in charge of the investigation, is a smoking-hot dark elf with an unnatural amount of charm. His staring at me might be hot if I wasn't being accused of somehow manufacturing the illness.
I'm a fish out of water in the worst possible way, but the pull between Furyon and me is stronger than the threat of my guilt. He introduces me to the beautiful corners of Pine Gulch—hidden pumpkin mazes, a herd of wild mustangs, a magical auction house, and the saucy town itself.
Our connection deepens as I start to fall in love with the wildness of this country haven and its people… one specifically. But good things don't last as the investigation closes in on me. I know I'm innocent, but can Furyon and I find the culprit before I end up behind bars?
I screwed up my first solo potion, and now the customer is covered in hives. If that disaster wasn't bad enough, knowing it might get my family's potions house gobbled up by a competitor is the icing on the cake. What I didn't expect was for my father to ship me off to the Wild West monster haven of Pine Gulch as punishment. He calls it an opportunity to learn. Pfft. Pine Gulch is a temporary setback—I'll get back to the city in a New York minute.
Except things don't go as planned when a mysterious sickness befalls the haven's animals. Before I know it, I'm smack dab in the middle of an investigation. Unfortunately, Furyon Zayle, the ranger in charge of the investigation, is a smoking-hot dark elf with an unnatural amount of charm. His staring at me might be hot if I wasn't being accused of somehow manufacturing the illness.
I'm a fish out of water in the worst possible way, but the pull between Furyon and me is stronger than the threat of my guilt. He introduces me to the beautiful corners of Pine Gulch—hidden pumpkin mazes, a herd of wild mustangs, a magical auction house, and the saucy town itself.
Our connection deepens as I start to fall in love with the wildness of this country haven and its people… one specifically. But good things don't last as the investigation closes in on me. I know I'm innocent, but can Furyon and I find the culprit before I end up behind bars?
Audible Audio
First published February 28, 2026
About the author
Hazel Mack
13 books423 followersHazel Mack writes small town cozy but scorching monster romance. High heat but lots of sweet is the name of the game. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with Mr. Mack, Baby Mack and a dog named Andy. Hazel Mack is the sticky sweet alter ego of dark(ish) romance author Anna Fury.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
February 24, 2026
Such a fun, spicy time. Vibes were immaculate all around.
Plot was plotting yet half of the book was still spicy — and I didn’t mind one bit because Furyon is YUMMY. Normally I get bored by instalust or after the first spicy scene but this actually had a good story and plot and I just kept going. I needed more of them. I loved Lemon and her character and how she found where she wanted to be.
The found family aspect? Ugh that always gets me. Finding your person? Yea that does me in every time.
Standing up to your family? That trope will always make books BETTER. I love it. LOVE IT. GO LEM. TELL EM.
I also really loved Pine Gulch itself. Small towns are adorable. Small Towns with personalities? Yep. Count me in. I WANT THOSE SHUTTERS FLAPPIN AT ME.
Overall,
4.5 ⭐️
4 🌶️
(amount of scenes, blood play, biting, marking, etc)
Thank you so much to Hazel and team for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book!
Plot was plotting yet half of the book was still spicy — and I didn’t mind one bit because Furyon is YUMMY. Normally I get bored by instalust or after the first spicy scene but this actually had a good story and plot and I just kept going. I needed more of them. I loved Lemon and her character and how she found where she wanted to be.
The found family aspect? Ugh that always gets me. Finding your person? Yea that does me in every time.
Standing up to your family? That trope will always make books BETTER. I love it. LOVE IT. GO LEM. TELL EM.
I also really loved Pine Gulch itself. Small towns are adorable. Small Towns with personalities? Yep. Count me in. I WANT THOSE SHUTTERS FLAPPIN AT ME.
Overall,
4.5 ⭐️
4 🌶️
(amount of scenes, blood play, biting, marking, etc)
Thank you so much to Hazel and team for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book!
February 27, 2026
➵ monster cowboy romcom
➵ dark elf mmc
➵ vampire & potion maker fmc
➵ falling in love and solving a mystery
Romcoms are always hit or miss for me. In this case I don't really like the writing. It just not my cup of tea or maybe I wasn't in the right mood. Also here's insta-love which I don't like. Overall it was boring, no tension, no development, even vampire smut didn't save this book.
But arts and comics inside the book are delicious.
➵ dark elf mmc
➵ vampire & potion maker fmc
➵ falling in love and solving a mystery
Romcoms are always hit or miss for me. In this case I don't really like the writing. It just not my cup of tea or maybe I wasn't in the right mood. Also here's insta-love which I don't like. Overall it was boring, no tension, no development, even vampire smut didn't save this book.
But arts and comics inside the book are delicious.
March 31, 2026
3.75⭐
Live Love Lasso was such an easy, fun little palate cleanser for me. Low stakes, quick to get through, playful in its set-up, and just generally the kind of book that knows exactly what mood it wants to create. You’ve got a glamorous city vampire getting shipped off to monster cowboy country, a dusty magical small-town haven with a mind of its own, and a gruff, capable dark elf welcome committee who is basically one raised brow away from becoming the entire problem. That whole fish-out-of-water set-up was charming (even if not new), and Pine Gulch as a setting really did a lot of work in making this feel light, cosy, and digestible 😅
What worked especially well for me was how readable this was. It has that breezy quality where you can just slip into it without having to wrestle with the book first. Lemon arriving in Pine Gulch in all her ruffles and glitter-boot energy, immediately clashing with the town’s practical cowboy vibe, was fun from the start, and Furyon has exactly the kind of grounded, competent energy that plays well against someone as visibly out of her element as Lemon. Their dynamic is built on contrast, and that contrast is entertaining right away.
My main gripe, though, is also the thing that kept this from landing even higher for me: the attraction goes from zero to yes please very fast. And look, I get why. This book is not pretending to be a glacial slow burn. It knows it is sexy, it knows the chemistry is supposed to hit quickly, and it leans into that. But I do think there was a little more potential in the early stages for teasing, banter, and that delicious push-pull before everything tipped fully into smut. Because the ingredients were there. Lemon is dramatic and sparkly and city-practical in all the wrong ways, Furyon is dry and amused and very clearly intrigued, and I think a little more time letting them needle each other at the beginning would have made the eventual payoff even better.
That said, once the book commits to the spice, it really does know what it is doing. And this is where I had a lot of fun. I really liked the way the power dynamic was not just one-note. There is a clear charge between them, but it is not static. It shifts, balances, and occasionally flips in ways that kept the spicy scenes from feeling repetitive. That made a big difference for me. The dominance and degradation elements are there, yes, but what made them work is that they are framed through trust, communication, and mutual enthusiasm rather than just shock value. The book is actually pretty explicit about that, and I appreciated it.
Honestly, that was probably my favourite part of the romance: not that it was deep in some devastating emotional way, but that it was playful and mutually engaged. The spice has genuine energy to it. It feels like both characters are actively in the scene, not just being dragged along by the trope machinery, and the switching of control gave the whole thing more spark. It is one of those cases where the sexual dynamic feels like part of the entertainment value of the pairing, not a separate feature bolted on afterwards.
And I did enjoy the sweetness underneath all of that. There is a sillier, softer current running through this book that I think keeps it from becoming too flat or too mechanical. Furyon’s slightly ridiculous charm, the town atmosphere, the welcome-book scavenger-hunt energy, even little moments of banter and affection later on all help the romance feel buoyant rather than overly intense. The book never felt like it was asking to be taken too seriously, and I actually think that works in its favour.
So yes, this was a good time. Not life-changing and definitely more insta-lust than I ideally wanted, but still a really enjoyable monster cowboy palate cleanser with a fun set-up, a charming magical town, and sex scenes that actually understood how to play with power instead of just declaring it hot and moving on. Sometimes that is exactly the reading mood, and Live Love Lasso hit it pretty well.
Live Love Lasso was such an easy, fun little palate cleanser for me. Low stakes, quick to get through, playful in its set-up, and just generally the kind of book that knows exactly what mood it wants to create. You’ve got a glamorous city vampire getting shipped off to monster cowboy country, a dusty magical small-town haven with a mind of its own, and a gruff, capable dark elf welcome committee who is basically one raised brow away from becoming the entire problem. That whole fish-out-of-water set-up was charming (even if not new), and Pine Gulch as a setting really did a lot of work in making this feel light, cosy, and digestible 😅
What worked especially well for me was how readable this was. It has that breezy quality where you can just slip into it without having to wrestle with the book first. Lemon arriving in Pine Gulch in all her ruffles and glitter-boot energy, immediately clashing with the town’s practical cowboy vibe, was fun from the start, and Furyon has exactly the kind of grounded, competent energy that plays well against someone as visibly out of her element as Lemon. Their dynamic is built on contrast, and that contrast is entertaining right away.
My main gripe, though, is also the thing that kept this from landing even higher for me: the attraction goes from zero to yes please very fast. And look, I get why. This book is not pretending to be a glacial slow burn. It knows it is sexy, it knows the chemistry is supposed to hit quickly, and it leans into that. But I do think there was a little more potential in the early stages for teasing, banter, and that delicious push-pull before everything tipped fully into smut. Because the ingredients were there. Lemon is dramatic and sparkly and city-practical in all the wrong ways, Furyon is dry and amused and very clearly intrigued, and I think a little more time letting them needle each other at the beginning would have made the eventual payoff even better.
That said, once the book commits to the spice, it really does know what it is doing. And this is where I had a lot of fun. I really liked the way the power dynamic was not just one-note. There is a clear charge between them, but it is not static. It shifts, balances, and occasionally flips in ways that kept the spicy scenes from feeling repetitive. That made a big difference for me. The dominance and degradation elements are there, yes, but what made them work is that they are framed through trust, communication, and mutual enthusiasm rather than just shock value. The book is actually pretty explicit about that, and I appreciated it.
Honestly, that was probably my favourite part of the romance: not that it was deep in some devastating emotional way, but that it was playful and mutually engaged. The spice has genuine energy to it. It feels like both characters are actively in the scene, not just being dragged along by the trope machinery, and the switching of control gave the whole thing more spark. It is one of those cases where the sexual dynamic feels like part of the entertainment value of the pairing, not a separate feature bolted on afterwards.
And I did enjoy the sweetness underneath all of that. There is a sillier, softer current running through this book that I think keeps it from becoming too flat or too mechanical. Furyon’s slightly ridiculous charm, the town atmosphere, the welcome-book scavenger-hunt energy, even little moments of banter and affection later on all help the romance feel buoyant rather than overly intense. The book never felt like it was asking to be taken too seriously, and I actually think that works in its favour.
So yes, this was a good time. Not life-changing and definitely more insta-lust than I ideally wanted, but still a really enjoyable monster cowboy palate cleanser with a fun set-up, a charming magical town, and sex scenes that actually understood how to play with power instead of just declaring it hot and moving on. Sometimes that is exactly the reading mood, and Live Love Lasso hit it pretty well.
![Profile Image for Andrea ☾ [is inconsistently consistant].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1642113904i/116166019._UY200_CR2,0,200,200_.jpg)
March 8, 2026
4.75 ⭐️ What a f*cking fenomenal start to this series!
I was slightly sceptical about the whole city girl moves to the countryside thing, but I loved Lemon so, so much! And obviously Furyon was pretty perfect himself.
The only reason I'm not giving this the full 5 stars is because I genuinely wanted to see some violence when it came to her and her family. I wanted Lemon to smash a potions book in her brother's head. But I guess the whole trying to be civil thing is nice or whatever... *sigh*
I love Hazel Mack, and I was so nervous about leaving Ever, well, forever but I'm so happy we keep getting amazing stories, just in a new and interesting place! And I cannot wait for Bluebell and Hadrian's book!!
I was slightly sceptical about the whole city girl moves to the countryside thing, but I loved Lemon so, so much! And obviously Furyon was pretty perfect himself.
The only reason I'm not giving this the full 5 stars is because I genuinely wanted to see some violence when it came to her and her family. I wanted Lemon to smash a potions book in her brother's head. But I guess the whole trying to be civil thing is nice or whatever... *sigh*
I love Hazel Mack, and I was so nervous about leaving Ever, well, forever but I'm so happy we keep getting amazing stories, just in a new and interesting place! And I cannot wait for Bluebell and Hadrian's book!!
February 4, 2026
Gosh I would have a hard time choosing which Haven to live in because while I'm so in love with Ever, Pine Gulch has stolen my heart, too. It's a totally different Haven but has the same charming, cozy feels. Monster cowboys > human cowboys.
I didn't find myself relating to Lemon very much because I'm no where near as confident and social as she is but I enjoyed seeing her take charge and make the most of her new circumstances. And of course I would have fallen as easily and quickly for Furyon as she did. Who wouldn't?? Swoony, tatted Dark Elf with the filthiest mouth in the West. I loved their chemistry and banter.
We got lots of mystery and angst, magic, and spice plus a ton of amazing side characters that I hope we get more of in future books! **cough cough Rygold**
I didn't find myself relating to Lemon very much because I'm no where near as confident and social as she is but I enjoyed seeing her take charge and make the most of her new circumstances. And of course I would have fallen as easily and quickly for Furyon as she did. Who wouldn't?? Swoony, tatted Dark Elf with the filthiest mouth in the West. I loved their chemistry and banter.
We got lots of mystery and angst, magic, and spice plus a ton of amazing side characters that I hope we get more of in future books! **cough cough Rygold**
Did Not Finish
March 13, 2026dnf @ 65%
cowboy monsters sounded so fun in theory 😔
cowboy monsters sounded so fun in theory 😔
March 11, 2026
This was a sweet & naughty little book. Super low angst and cute, and that made it a perfect palette cleanser. Its very much a city girl moves to the country kind of story, even though Lemon (the FMC) is forced there by her dear old dad.
Lemon is definitely a girly girl vampire, down to her adorably sparkling boots and that meshes well with Cowboy Furyon the Dark Elf with an affinity for animals. But make no mistake, these two have some crazy chemistry and things get pretty kinky, pretty fast. Furyon has a bit of a mouth on him.
Its just a good read overall, with some great characters, and very little drama or angst. It'll just take you to your happy place.
Monster RomCom
Small Town
Vampire & Dark Elf
City Girl/Country Boy
Primal Play
(She Chases Him!)
Sweet & Filthy
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Lemon is definitely a girly girl vampire, down to her adorably sparkling boots and that meshes well with Cowboy Furyon the Dark Elf with an affinity for animals. But make no mistake, these two have some crazy chemistry and things get pretty kinky, pretty fast. Furyon has a bit of a mouth on him.
Its just a good read overall, with some great characters, and very little drama or angst. It'll just take you to your happy place.
Monster RomCom
Small Town
Vampire & Dark Elf
City Girl/Country Boy
Primal Play
(She Chases Him!)
Sweet & Filthy
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
February 23, 2026
Y’all know I love a good monster romance, but throw in a country accent, a cowboy hat, and dirty pair of work boots, and I’m all yours.
As a first-time Hazel Mack reader “Live, Love, Lasso” did not disappoint! This book is hilarious, sexy, and constantly had me asking myself, “who’s the villain here?”.
I LOVED the chemistry between Lemon & Furyon. Their banter had me cackling, and the spice had me blushing, sweating, & needy. Seriously it’s so delicious!
Have your mop and an extra pair of panties ready because it’s about to get HOT! Don’t say I didn’t want ya.
A huge thank you to Hazel Mack & the team at Podium for allowing me to listen to Live, Love, Lasso before release day!
As a first-time Hazel Mack reader “Live, Love, Lasso” did not disappoint! This book is hilarious, sexy, and constantly had me asking myself, “who’s the villain here?”.
I LOVED the chemistry between Lemon & Furyon. Their banter had me cackling, and the spice had me blushing, sweating, & needy. Seriously it’s so delicious!
Have your mop and an extra pair of panties ready because it’s about to get HOT! Don’t say I didn’t want ya.
A huge thank you to Hazel Mack & the team at Podium for allowing me to listen to Live, Love, Lasso before release day!
February 24, 2026
“You’re stuck with me now, Furyon. If we bust up, you’ll never be able to forget me...
...“I couldn’t forget you if I tried, Lemon".
I've never read a Hazel Mack book I didn't love and I know I am always in for a good time with her writing.
You are in for a treat with this paranormal-cowboy- monster romance crossover.
Welcome to Pine Gultch, where the sun is shining, the dark elf ranger is smoking hot, and chaos erupts immediately.
The moment Lemon arrives in Pine Gultch she is suspect number 1 in an investigation. How can it be that all the animals are getting sick the same time the potions making vampire arrives?!
Furyon, the dark elf ranger is determined to get the bottom of this mystery...and Lemon. *wiggles eyebrows
Can this city girl prove her innocence without falling head over boots for her horned cowboy?!
This was just a good time and and a great read. Hazels books are always filled with the perfect amount of heart, spice, and they impossible to put down without binging them!
...“I couldn’t forget you if I tried, Lemon".
I've never read a Hazel Mack book I didn't love and I know I am always in for a good time with her writing.
You are in for a treat with this paranormal-cowboy- monster romance crossover.
Welcome to Pine Gultch, where the sun is shining, the dark elf ranger is smoking hot, and chaos erupts immediately.
The moment Lemon arrives in Pine Gultch she is suspect number 1 in an investigation. How can it be that all the animals are getting sick the same time the potions making vampire arrives?!
Furyon, the dark elf ranger is determined to get the bottom of this mystery...and Lemon. *wiggles eyebrows
Can this city girl prove her innocence without falling head over boots for her horned cowboy?!
This was just a good time and and a great read. Hazels books are always filled with the perfect amount of heart, spice, and they impossible to put down without binging them!
April 29, 2026
This was so incredibly romantic, hot, and overall a great time!! I loved this western town the author created to drop our city girl Lemon off to. I loved the mystery aspect going on in the background that gave our characters an excuse to spend more time together and get cozy. Furyon is such a green flag MMC!! He says what he wants, means what he says, doesn’t play games, doesn’t mess around. He’s confident, capable and an overall loyal and generous lover!! 😳 I so much enjoyed seeing Lemon and Furyon’s romance and the smutty scenes were divine!! I hope the author writes another interconnected standalone series and I can wait to dig into the next one!! I also really loved the audiobook and the narrators were so fun 😝
April 22, 2026
4.5⭐️
🍋 LIVE, LOVE LASSO 🍋
Hot Damn! This was romantic, cute and just casually filthy. I’m in love with both Lemon & Furyon, they are perfect for each other and explore a smorgasbord of yummy kinks together. Yes, it’s a little instalusty but a real connection is formed and the small town mystery element was super cool. I’m in love with the quirky town, the sidekicks, minor characters and I need the rest of the series. The writing was addictive and audio casting was sensational.
Yeeeehaw!
Wild West Monster Romance | Mystery | Cozy Small Town Vibes | Fated Mates | Vampire FMC x Dark Elf MMC | Hurt/Comfort | Found Family | Series Starter | Spicy | HEA | Dual Narration |🎧8hr40
🍋 LIVE, LOVE LASSO 🍋
Hot Damn! This was romantic, cute and just casually filthy. I’m in love with both Lemon & Furyon, they are perfect for each other and explore a smorgasbord of yummy kinks together. Yes, it’s a little instalusty but a real connection is formed and the small town mystery element was super cool. I’m in love with the quirky town, the sidekicks, minor characters and I need the rest of the series. The writing was addictive and audio casting was sensational.
Yeeeehaw!
Wild West Monster Romance | Mystery | Cozy Small Town Vibes | Fated Mates | Vampire FMC x Dark Elf MMC | Hurt/Comfort | Found Family | Series Starter | Spicy | HEA | Dual Narration |🎧8hr40
March 4, 2026
I loved the HEA series by Hazel Mack so I knew I’d like this book. What I wasn’t prepared for was how much I loved cowboy monsters. It was funny, spicy and had a great story. Excited to be in a new Haven and proud to say I’m a Gulcher.
January 29, 2026
Ive never met a Hazel Mack book that I didn’t absolutely devour and love. THIS SERIES IS ALREADY SO FREAKING GOOD AHHH!
Want to Read
August 26, 2025YOURE JOKING??????
THANK YOU HAZEL MACK
THANK YOU HAZEL MACK
April 27, 2026
A wonderful blend of mystery, belonging and found family. My sentiment still stands about this series, I’m already packed and on my way to PG! I adore everything about this town. Hazel Mack is the queen of cosy, small towns, full of wonder and joy.
.°˖⋆ ℧ 𓃗 .°˖⋆ 𓃓 𓃔 𓃓 𓃖.°˖⋆ ℧ 𓃗 .°˖⋆
℧ The Gulch fills my heart with warmth like the waning rays of a beautiful sunset. The town felt so alive, it truly was a character all in its own right. It was an amazingly fun twist to have the buildings be alive and sentient. Not in a way that they walk or talk, but in the way they feel. The buildings experience happiness and joy right alongside the PG residents. They wave their shutters at passers by and welcome those with kindness in their hearts with open arms? Windows? Doors?
℧ The magic in this world is refreshing and fun. I especially loved that Furyon’s magic grows stronger through his tattoos. He’s the ranger in charge of the welfare of all PGs animals. He is covered in creature tattoos that he uses to check the health and happiness of the corresponding animal. That’s so cool! The world is full of different monsters, different magic systems and it feels so alive.
℧ Lemon and Furyon were a great match for one another. As soon as Furyon saw Lemons bright, sparkly cowboy boots he was a goner (against his better judgment). This book is heavy on the insta-love which I’m not mad at. Sometimes when I’m down, or overwhelmed I gravitate to this trope for all the good feels it can give me. This did not disappoint in that department! Lemon and Furyon were a great pair in every way and complimented each other in ways no one else could. They were fiercely supportive of one another and so proudly in each other’s corners. My favourite part of their dynamic is that Furyon will never ever let anyone dull Lemon’s sparkle.
℧ The mystery element was great as well, it was the carrot on a stick that lead us through the story. It was a good balance for the cosy and sweet moments. I don’t think it was too predictable, there were a few twists and turns. Even if I was able to guess something, it never happened in quite the way I had predicted, which I appreciated. The stakes were a bit higher than a usual cosy paranormal romance but it was a welcome change.
℧ I cannot wait for the next installment of this series. I need to return to The Gulch more than I need air or water at this point. I am so excited to discover what hidden beauty the PG will show us next time ✨
.°˖⋆ ℧ 𓃗 .°˖⋆ 𓃓 𓃔 𓃓 𓃖.°˖⋆ ℧ 𓃗 .°˖⋆
℧ The Gulch fills my heart with warmth like the waning rays of a beautiful sunset. The town felt so alive, it truly was a character all in its own right. It was an amazingly fun twist to have the buildings be alive and sentient. Not in a way that they walk or talk, but in the way they feel. The buildings experience happiness and joy right alongside the PG residents. They wave their shutters at passers by and welcome those with kindness in their hearts with open arms? Windows? Doors?
℧ The magic in this world is refreshing and fun. I especially loved that Furyon’s magic grows stronger through his tattoos. He’s the ranger in charge of the welfare of all PGs animals. He is covered in creature tattoos that he uses to check the health and happiness of the corresponding animal. That’s so cool! The world is full of different monsters, different magic systems and it feels so alive.
℧ Lemon and Furyon were a great match for one another. As soon as Furyon saw Lemons bright, sparkly cowboy boots he was a goner (against his better judgment). This book is heavy on the insta-love which I’m not mad at. Sometimes when I’m down, or overwhelmed I gravitate to this trope for all the good feels it can give me. This did not disappoint in that department! Lemon and Furyon were a great pair in every way and complimented each other in ways no one else could. They were fiercely supportive of one another and so proudly in each other’s corners. My favourite part of their dynamic is that Furyon will never ever let anyone dull Lemon’s sparkle.
℧ The mystery element was great as well, it was the carrot on a stick that lead us through the story. It was a good balance for the cosy and sweet moments. I don’t think it was too predictable, there were a few twists and turns. Even if I was able to guess something, it never happened in quite the way I had predicted, which I appreciated. The stakes were a bit higher than a usual cosy paranormal romance but it was a welcome change.
℧ I cannot wait for the next installment of this series. I need to return to The Gulch more than I need air or water at this point. I am so excited to discover what hidden beauty the PG will show us next time ✨
March 5, 2026
This is going to be such a rambly review because I'm basically a crazy fangirl right now!
So for starters I really liked the characters and worldbuilding. This is a fish out of water story like Tessa Bailey's It Happened One Summer. Lemon is a city girl in a small town but she's not snobby or completely obtuse when it comes to doing things on her own or in a small town. She has what I (as a vegan Los Angeleno) conside a perfect amount of standards: we all deserve proper coffee shop options even in small towns thank you very much. She also finds herself adjusting to the nosey townsfolks and different way of living.
I love when a monster novel has an interesting plot and this one has a bit of a mystery - one that is also the catalyst to her forced proximity with her love interest. A Dark Elf is an interesting monster and I liked how both Furyon and Lemon were blood drinkers. This book plays with scent and lust and teeth and all the fun vampire things. When things first escalate between the main characters I felt like it was really sudden and I didn't fully expect things to happen at that moment, but boy am I glad they did because I was sucked in from then on!
Furyon literally cannot resist Lemon and it's addicting to read about. The way they are drawn to each other and tempted to bite each other and can't stop smelling each other. I was basically screaming because of how obsessed I am. Cannot get enough of these two.
This book is fun and spicy and has some found family vibes and it was wonderful! The spice levels are pretty high in this one and we even get teased for some more books in this series. I cannot wait to go back to Pine Gulch!
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy!
So for starters I really liked the characters and worldbuilding. This is a fish out of water story like Tessa Bailey's It Happened One Summer. Lemon is a city girl in a small town but she's not snobby or completely obtuse when it comes to doing things on her own or in a small town. She has what I (as a vegan Los Angeleno) conside a perfect amount of standards: we all deserve proper coffee shop options even in small towns thank you very much. She also finds herself adjusting to the nosey townsfolks and different way of living.
I love when a monster novel has an interesting plot and this one has a bit of a mystery - one that is also the catalyst to her forced proximity with her love interest. A Dark Elf is an interesting monster and I liked how both Furyon and Lemon were blood drinkers. This book plays with scent and lust and teeth and all the fun vampire things. When things first escalate between the main characters I felt like it was really sudden and I didn't fully expect things to happen at that moment, but boy am I glad they did because I was sucked in from then on!
Furyon literally cannot resist Lemon and it's addicting to read about. The way they are drawn to each other and tempted to bite each other and can't stop smelling each other. I was basically screaming because of how obsessed I am. Cannot get enough of these two.
This book is fun and spicy and has some found family vibes and it was wonderful! The spice levels are pretty high in this one and we even get teased for some more books in this series. I cannot wait to go back to Pine Gulch!
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy!
March 10, 2026
haven ever after is one of my comfort series and i was so happy to be back in the haven world and to discover pine gulch alongside lemon!
the characters truly make this story. lemon is such a cool character and i found myself rooting for her from the start. and i loved the focus on friendship in lemon's pov, the support system her friends bring her brought a huge smile to my face.
it took me a bit to understand furyon but i also loved him once we got to know him better. he is truly a caring and loving character and i enjoyed being in his point of view.
while a bit quick, the romance was fun! i appreciated how the emotional side developed between them as they opened up to each other. they were so sweet. both characters were so protective of the other and that's something i adore in romance.
the descriptions of pine gulch were stunning, and really brought the haven to life! all the characters and the community built within it were a delight and i cannot wait to discover even more.
(the comic interludes were so cute!)
the mystery element was a nice touch to bring the characters together and i was invested in figuring it out. the tension it added was great!
overall, i love getting to know a new haven, it has so much to offer, and i cannot wait to see more! live love lasso truly was a joy to read! 🩷
a big thank you to hazel mack for eARC!
the characters truly make this story. lemon is such a cool character and i found myself rooting for her from the start. and i loved the focus on friendship in lemon's pov, the support system her friends bring her brought a huge smile to my face.
it took me a bit to understand furyon but i also loved him once we got to know him better. he is truly a caring and loving character and i enjoyed being in his point of view.
while a bit quick, the romance was fun! i appreciated how the emotional side developed between them as they opened up to each other. they were so sweet. both characters were so protective of the other and that's something i adore in romance.
the descriptions of pine gulch were stunning, and really brought the haven to life! all the characters and the community built within it were a delight and i cannot wait to discover even more.
(the comic interludes were so cute!)
the mystery element was a nice touch to bring the characters together and i was invested in figuring it out. the tension it added was great!
overall, i love getting to know a new haven, it has so much to offer, and i cannot wait to see more! live love lasso truly was a joy to read! 🩷
a big thank you to hazel mack for eARC!
April 7, 2026
City girl and a country boy
Live Love Lasso was such a cute start to Hazel Mack’s new Pine Gulch series, and listen… I am already packing my imaginary bags to move to PG. The town is giving cozy‑country‑magic with a side of “what is that glowing in the corner and why do I love it.”
Lemon? My girl is a full‑on sparkly city vampire who did not sign up for small‑town life especially not because of her brother’s nonsense. And Furyon? This dark troll has been minding his business for SIXTY years, not a single spark for anybody, and then Lemon walks in and suddenly he’s looking alive again. The way he gets thrown off by his own feelings had me smiling like a fool.
Their chemistry is sweet, awkward in the best way, and once they stop pretending they don’t want each other… yeah, it works. It works real well.
Hazel Mack’s world‑building stays elite. The train system, the hidden magical pockets, the little surprises tucked all over Pine Gulch it feels like a place you want to wander through slowly. And the MAP? I’m sorry, but a map in a fantasy‑romance is my personal love language.
Also, the side characters are already lining up like “hey girl, my book next.” Bluebell? The Pine Gulch bestie? The Minotaur? I see the vision and I’m ready.
A cozy, magical, small‑town paranormal romance that made me grin the whole way through.
Live Love Lasso was such a cute start to Hazel Mack’s new Pine Gulch series, and listen… I am already packing my imaginary bags to move to PG. The town is giving cozy‑country‑magic with a side of “what is that glowing in the corner and why do I love it.”
Lemon? My girl is a full‑on sparkly city vampire who did not sign up for small‑town life especially not because of her brother’s nonsense. And Furyon? This dark troll has been minding his business for SIXTY years, not a single spark for anybody, and then Lemon walks in and suddenly he’s looking alive again. The way he gets thrown off by his own feelings had me smiling like a fool.
Their chemistry is sweet, awkward in the best way, and once they stop pretending they don’t want each other… yeah, it works. It works real well.
Hazel Mack’s world‑building stays elite. The train system, the hidden magical pockets, the little surprises tucked all over Pine Gulch it feels like a place you want to wander through slowly. And the MAP? I’m sorry, but a map in a fantasy‑romance is my personal love language.
Also, the side characters are already lining up like “hey girl, my book next.” Bluebell? The Pine Gulch bestie? The Minotaur? I see the vision and I’m ready.
A cozy, magical, small‑town paranormal romance that made me grin the whole way through.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I love cowboy romances and paranormal/monster romances, so Western paranormal/fantasy romances are a mashup I always jump on when I find them! And when I saw Samantha Brentmoor was one of the two narrators, I knew I wanted to listen to the audiobook version of the book! It's dual narration, with Brentmoor as amazing as ever and new-to-me narrator Oliver Highpoint doing a great job with the American West accents.
There's no miscommunication here between the two main characters, which is great to see! They both acted their ages and the drama comes from the plot, rather than from the main characters overreacting to things.
I didn't know that Live Love Lasso was a spinoff of an extensive series of books, but the book opens with a very useful Foreword that gives a great explanation of the fantasy world. The Foreword mentions that you don't need to read the other books to read this new one, and after listening to Live Love Lasso, I definitely agree with that. It gave me all the context I needed to enjoy this story.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Listener Copy from Podium Entertainment but this is my voluntary and honest review.
There's no miscommunication here between the two main characters, which is great to see! They both acted their ages and the drama comes from the plot, rather than from the main characters overreacting to things.
I didn't know that Live Love Lasso was a spinoff of an extensive series of books, but the book opens with a very useful Foreword that gives a great explanation of the fantasy world. The Foreword mentions that you don't need to read the other books to read this new one, and after listening to Live Love Lasso, I definitely agree with that. It gave me all the context I needed to enjoy this story.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Listener Copy from Podium Entertainment but this is my voluntary and honest review.
March 1, 2026
I really didn't know what to expect going into this, but I bloody loved it! So much so, that it was my top read for February.
This was a mystery inside a monster romance and it was great! The writing is so engaging and easy to consume. I never felt overwhelmed by the immense world building as the author kept repeating facts that were super important or drip-fed the information as the story went on, keeping me informed, and enjoying the journey!
Samantha Brentmoor is my tippy top female narrator for a reason - how she manages to make her voice sweet and sensual one moment and hot and gravelly and manly the next? I have no idea. She nails every bit of emotion, her comedic timing is excellent, and her range is amazing!
Oliver Highpoint's performance was equally amazing! Pretty sure this is my first time hearing him, but it sure as sh*t won't be the last! His gravel and slight southern drawl were swoon worthy for sure, and he matched Samantha's performance so perfectly - I kept forgetting this was in dual!
My format: eBook 📱 #ARC / Audiobook 🎧 #ALC / Physical Book 📚
Performers: Samantha Brentmoor, Oliver Highpoint
Production: Podium Audio
Narration style: Dual
Main relationship: Duaric / MF
Spice level: 4
Petnames: City girl, country boy
What To Expect (tropes, rep present, k!nks etc):
🩷 City Girl & Country Boy
🩷 He’s Investigating Her
🩷 Opposites Attract
🩷 Fated Mates
🩷 Small Town
🩷 Both Switches
🩷 Vampire FMC x Dark Elf MMC
This was a mystery inside a monster romance and it was great! The writing is so engaging and easy to consume. I never felt overwhelmed by the immense world building as the author kept repeating facts that were super important or drip-fed the information as the story went on, keeping me informed, and enjoying the journey!
Samantha Brentmoor is my tippy top female narrator for a reason - how she manages to make her voice sweet and sensual one moment and hot and gravelly and manly the next? I have no idea. She nails every bit of emotion, her comedic timing is excellent, and her range is amazing!
Oliver Highpoint's performance was equally amazing! Pretty sure this is my first time hearing him, but it sure as sh*t won't be the last! His gravel and slight southern drawl were swoon worthy for sure, and he matched Samantha's performance so perfectly - I kept forgetting this was in dual!
My format: eBook 📱 #ARC / Audiobook 🎧 #ALC / Physical Book 📚
Performers: Samantha Brentmoor, Oliver Highpoint
Production: Podium Audio
Narration style: Dual
Main relationship: Duaric / MF
Spice level: 4
Petnames: City girl, country boy
What To Expect (tropes, rep present, k!nks etc):
🩷 City Girl & Country Boy
🩷 He’s Investigating Her
🩷 Opposites Attract
🩷 Fated Mates
🩷 Small Town
🩷 Both Switches
🩷 Vampire FMC x Dark Elf MMC
May 14, 2026
Small town monsters meet cowboy romance? Sign me tf up!!! I read Getting It On with Gargoyles and knew I immediately had to read Live Love Lasso next because I was eyeballing Hazel Mack's special edition of it and let me tell you, I knew I'd love it but I loved it even more than that (if that's possible). I am now addicted to Hazel Mack's small town monster romances. Something about them is just so cozy and comforting but these characters have FILTHY mouths I tell ya and I am here for it!!! Once Furyon got over Lemon being an outsider and realized how much he liked Lemon, that dark elf was down BAD. I loved Lemon so much too. Her and her sparkly clothes and personality, I could totally see why everyone loved her. The relationship between the two of them with Furyon's flirting and how he made her feel the way she deserved to feel...ugh. I adored them so much. I cannot wait for the next book in this series and go back to Haven and read more of those books! Like I said, I may or may not be absolutely obsessed with Hazel Mack now.
February 25, 2026
“You ain't a foregone conclusion, Lemon. But the draw between us is obvious. I asked you out. You said yes. Then you went home to freshen up and put on a dress that’d knock me fuckin’ dead. You wanna get railed into my headboard. Tell me you don’t.”
Hot, adorable, a mishmash of all the fun things you'd imagine from a monster romance set in the Wild West.
The world is unique yet the monsters are pretty run of the mill (minotaurs, gargoyles, vampires, etc) so if you're new to monster stuff, this is good to dip your toes in the water.
And if you're into the cowboy twang, your thumbs are sure to be turnt up.
Hot, adorable, a mishmash of all the fun things you'd imagine from a monster romance set in the Wild West.
The world is unique yet the monsters are pretty run of the mill (minotaurs, gargoyles, vampires, etc) so if you're new to monster stuff, this is good to dip your toes in the water.
And if you're into the cowboy twang, your thumbs are sure to be turnt up.
March 1, 2026
Sitting between 2-3 stars for me.
I’m so conflicted because there were parts that I loved and then parts where I got so bored in that I wanted to DNF multiple times.
The story lacked tension despite it having an underlying mystery plot which could have been interesting. I also found the dialogue to be a bit awkward and unnatural. I swear there was somebody winking, smirking or chuckling every couple of pages.
The town was interesting and some of the side characters were intriguing so I think the series has potential, but this one fell felt for me personally. If you’re into very low stakes insta lust romance then it may be for you.
I’m so conflicted because there were parts that I loved and then parts where I got so bored in that I wanted to DNF multiple times.
The story lacked tension despite it having an underlying mystery plot which could have been interesting. I also found the dialogue to be a bit awkward and unnatural. I swear there was somebody winking, smirking or chuckling every couple of pages.
The town was interesting and some of the side characters were intriguing so I think the series has potential, but this one fell felt for me personally. If you’re into very low stakes insta lust romance then it may be for you.
January 31, 2026
ALC Review
3.5/5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶️
Narrators: Samantha Brentmoor & Oliver Highpoint
This was a cute & sexy monster romance (& add some cowboy to the mix too). It was a good listen! I think the narrators really elevated and brought life to this story!
🧪 Monster Romance
🤠 Vampire x Dark Elf
🧪 Mystery
🤠 Cowboy x City Girl
Thank you to Podium for the ALC!
3.5/5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶️
Narrators: Samantha Brentmoor & Oliver Highpoint
This was a cute & sexy monster romance (& add some cowboy to the mix too). It was a good listen! I think the narrators really elevated and brought life to this story!
🧪 Monster Romance
🤠 Vampire x Dark Elf
🧪 Mystery
🤠 Cowboy x City Girl
Thank you to Podium for the ALC!
March 8, 2026
4.5⭐
the chemistry between Lemon and Furyon was on fire from the moment they met, the city girl and the country ranger dynamic was absolutely spot on! I adored this book, the characters were well written, the spice was hooooot and the storyline was addictive, definitely recommend 🖤
the chemistry between Lemon and Furyon was on fire from the moment they met, the city girl and the country ranger dynamic was absolutely spot on! I adored this book, the characters were well written, the spice was hooooot and the storyline was addictive, definitely recommend 🖤
March 15, 2026
cute but a lil underdeveloped plot wise. also the MMCs name is Furyon which I kept reading as Funyon so that didn't help
March 17, 2026
Very cute.
Great pallet cleanser.
Great pallet cleanser.
March 18, 2026
I have a few unresolved questions that I’m hoping will come up in the next book but overall, loved it. I miss Ever but PG is so far so good. I love Mabel!!!!
May 4, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ Cute & binge worthy! Coming back for a review later.
March 13, 2026
3.25⭐️ 4🌶️ pure monster smut with a dash of mystery on the side🙂↕️
this held my attention, but wasn’t anything to write home about. i’ll probably continue the series when i need something different to avoid a slump, but it was a bit predictable. it also could’ve benefited from some deeper emotional moments between the main characters, and even slightly more significant connections with the side characters that they were friends with.
this held my attention, but wasn’t anything to write home about. i’ll probably continue the series when i need something different to avoid a slump, but it was a bit predictable. it also could’ve benefited from some deeper emotional moments between the main characters, and even slightly more significant connections with the side characters that they were friends with.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews