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Mist Hollow Monsters #2
Centaur's Canvas Crush
When bookish curator Lila Seabrook commissions a reclusive centaur artist for Mist Hollow's gallery mural, she never expects their paint-splattered sessions to ignite a passion that stretches far beyond the canvas.
Brooding centaur painter Kai Riverhoof conceals his powerful equine form behind illusions, but nothing hides the instant chemistry when Lila's curious sketches trace too close to his rippling flanks. As rival gallery owner Vic Vance sabotages their work with fog-cursed relics that animate paintings into living nightmares, Lila discovers her latent oracle gift, visions triggered by Kai's enchanted paints that reveal fragments of the town's ancient sea curse.
From studio oil-slick worship to meadow gallops under moonlight, their grumpy/sunshine pairing explores every inch of his dual nature, tail-coiling tension, stamina-testing marathons, and size-difference passion that leaves Lila breathless and claimed. With cameos from Ellie's cozy bakery (fresh scones fuel their stakeouts) and warnings from the cursed harbor captain, this duo must channel their combined powers through a climactic mural ritual to banish the fog wraith threatening their art—and their future.
Packed with centaur-specific heat, artist-muse devotion, and found-family warmth, this standalone delivers an HEA partnership that expands Mist Hollow's magic while teasing nautical adventures ahead.
High heat small town monster romance — grumpy centaur artist x sunshine oracle curator. Hoofbeats, stamina, tail play. Happily ever after guaranteed. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Content warnings available in front matter. 18+
Brooding centaur painter Kai Riverhoof conceals his powerful equine form behind illusions, but nothing hides the instant chemistry when Lila's curious sketches trace too close to his rippling flanks. As rival gallery owner Vic Vance sabotages their work with fog-cursed relics that animate paintings into living nightmares, Lila discovers her latent oracle gift, visions triggered by Kai's enchanted paints that reveal fragments of the town's ancient sea curse.
From studio oil-slick worship to meadow gallops under moonlight, their grumpy/sunshine pairing explores every inch of his dual nature, tail-coiling tension, stamina-testing marathons, and size-difference passion that leaves Lila breathless and claimed. With cameos from Ellie's cozy bakery (fresh scones fuel their stakeouts) and warnings from the cursed harbor captain, this duo must channel their combined powers through a climactic mural ritual to banish the fog wraith threatening their art—and their future.
Packed with centaur-specific heat, artist-muse devotion, and found-family warmth, this standalone delivers an HEA partnership that expands Mist Hollow's magic while teasing nautical adventures ahead.
High heat small town monster romance — grumpy centaur artist x sunshine oracle curator. Hoofbeats, stamina, tail play. Happily ever after guaranteed. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Content warnings available in front matter. 18+
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 16, 2026
About the author
CP D
22 books4 followersAbout the author
CPD writes the kind of romance that asks: what if your soulmate had scales? Or a tail? Or absolutely magnificent horns?
The creator of the Mist Hollow Monsters series, CPD brings readers cozy small-town romances packed with mythic creatures, charming settings, and the kind of slow-burn chemistry that makes you need to fan yourself. From minotaur bakers to kraken sea captains, every book is a love story first and an adventure second.
A firm believer that the best romances happen in fog-drenched towns where magic is just part of the postcode, CPD is passionate about stories that are equal parts heart, heat, and humour.
If you love your romance a little unconventional and a lot swoony, you're in the right place.
CPD writes the kind of romance that asks: what if your soulmate had scales? Or a tail? Or absolutely magnificent horns?
The creator of the Mist Hollow Monsters series, CPD brings readers cozy small-town romances packed with mythic creatures, charming settings, and the kind of slow-burn chemistry that makes you need to fan yourself. From minotaur bakers to kraken sea captains, every book is a love story first and an adventure second.
A firm believer that the best romances happen in fog-drenched towns where magic is just part of the postcode, CPD is passionate about stories that are equal parts heart, heat, and humour.
If you love your romance a little unconventional and a lot swoony, you're in the right place.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 7, 2026
Okay, the first book was better
Good story for the main characters but a little too much metaphysical prose. I did finish the book, but it was a struggle.
Good story for the main characters but a little too much metaphysical prose. I did finish the book, but it was a struggle.
May 16, 2026
inconsistent to the very end.
This started off well enough, though I was perplexed to see the same villain in this book from book 1 and no mention of his character in that book. Time was irrelevant and things were just off. The 2nd to late chapter one the characters went from a him to a her for the whole chapter. Also why did this make it seem like no one knew Kai was a Centaur.. I remember book 1! and Theo isn't a Minatour huh?
So many little things threw me out of the story. I finished just because.
This started off well enough, though I was perplexed to see the same villain in this book from book 1 and no mention of his character in that book. Time was irrelevant and things were just off. The 2nd to late chapter one the characters went from a him to a her for the whole chapter. Also why did this make it seem like no one knew Kai was a Centaur.. I remember book 1! and Theo isn't a Minatour huh?
So many little things threw me out of the story. I finished just because.
March 30, 2026
Kai Riverhoof a reclusive local artist/painter unwittingly catches the eye and notice of Lila Seabrook newest curator to Mist Hallow thanks to new awakening oracle abilities she sees beyond..and knows Kai is more than what he seems and this is their journey and it was quite the ride!
Just the cover had me interested in this book and I was not disappointed! I’ll be honest I was a bit nervous 😅 when I realized that this was the second book in a series…but I can confidently say that I was not lost at all….IN FACT this one made me even more interested in the first one!
I ABSOLUTELY ADORE the mural painting …just WOW!
I can picture it in my mind …the unique colors that no paint store could ever replicate and the magical shimmery movements that make you blink twice and do double takes because MAGIC!
I could totally be friends with the characters in this book. A New to me author that I will be on the lookout for !
**I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review**
Favorite lines:
And truth, I was learning, came in many forms in Mist Hollow.
I forgot what it felt like to belong somewhere.
“A voice, grounded in a heartbeat, telling the truth in paint.”
The sun continued its descent with the indifference of all celestial bodies toward the small, specific agonies of the creatures who live beneath them.
The point was the commitment to show up tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that, in the accumulated dailiness that is the true substance of a shared life.
“It shows Mist Hollow’s true face, and that face is extraordinary.”
Just the cover had me interested in this book and I was not disappointed! I’ll be honest I was a bit nervous 😅 when I realized that this was the second book in a series…but I can confidently say that I was not lost at all….IN FACT this one made me even more interested in the first one!
I ABSOLUTELY ADORE the mural painting …just WOW!
I can picture it in my mind …the unique colors that no paint store could ever replicate and the magical shimmery movements that make you blink twice and do double takes because MAGIC!
I could totally be friends with the characters in this book. A New to me author that I will be on the lookout for !
**I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review**
Favorite lines:
And truth, I was learning, came in many forms in Mist Hollow.
I forgot what it felt like to belong somewhere.
“A voice, grounded in a heartbeat, telling the truth in paint.”
The sun continued its descent with the indifference of all celestial bodies toward the small, specific agonies of the creatures who live beneath them.
The point was the commitment to show up tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that, in the accumulated dailiness that is the true substance of a shared life.
“It shows Mist Hollow’s true face, and that face is extraordinary.”
February 21, 2026
The way this series is developing and continues its mystery through the first and second book has made for a really good story. I loved the chemistry between these two and how it all developed. The way these two moved together to paint their mural made for a really good read!! The way the author wrote in the couple from the first series made for a more enhanced read. I cannot wait to see where this whole series takes us.
May 12, 2026
After the first one, I was expecting a very similar story and did receive it, but above all else I was ready for some good centaur read! I unfortunately was let down. Maybe I'm just overly analytical of it but the anatomy is not mathing and no amount of small magic could fix it for me. How is the horse body tail (that moves with a mind of its own) reaching the female character in front of the man? It just didn't compute for me and I tried to over look it but was not able to.
March 1, 2026
This was such a great story! These two were so sweet. I loved the way the author incorporated the painting into this story. It was perfect. The way these two worked together and created something so beautiful. I’m really intrigued with these stories and author gave me wanting to read everything.
March 20, 2026
My only beef with this book is there is a whole section where Captain Logan is referred to as She and Her when he has been referred to as a male for the whole previous book and majority of this book. Then for the end of the book he is back to being referred to as a male. Just a pet peeve of mine because it made it a little distracting and hard to focus on the story because I couldn't figure out who was talking or being referred to. Otherwise a great book!
July 14, 2026
Good but....
The story itself was good, but there was no cohesion with the first book. Vic went from being a bakery owner to an art gallery owner. Which is it? Or is it both? Some clarity would have been nice.
The story itself was good, but there was no cohesion with the first book. Vic went from being a bakery owner to an art gallery owner. Which is it? Or is it both? Some clarity would have been nice.
March 8, 2026
Wonderful
August 3, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance: ❤️❤️❤️
Spicy: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 1/2
Romance: ❤️❤️❤️
Spicy: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 1/2
June 29, 2026
I tried hard to like it. DNF at 28%.
There's a template or checklist at play here. That's clear. The storyline is nearly identical to the first book. The villain, who already seems to have unknown powers, is following the exact same process that was used in the first book, which didn't work. So is this the deal? Every book features the exact same plot, with the same all-powerful villain doing the same things?
The spice is weird and not hot just at the 22% point. And the constant paint alliterations were giving me a headache.
There's a template or checklist at play here. That's clear. The storyline is nearly identical to the first book. The villain, who already seems to have unknown powers, is following the exact same process that was used in the first book, which didn't work. So is this the deal? Every book features the exact same plot, with the same all-powerful villain doing the same things?
The spice is weird and not hot just at the 22% point. And the constant paint alliterations were giving me a headache.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews