Hot for Headmonster: A cozy monster romance with camp chaos, forbidden longing, and a cello-playing headmonster who burns.

Hollow Hearth #4

by Tansy Applewood

I had one run a wholesome summer camp. Then the headmaster across the lake declared war. (For fans of monster boyfriends, chaotic magic, summer storms, and banter that ends in kissing.)

I swear, I was just trying to run a wholesome summer camp for the magically gifted youth of Wren's Hollow. Canoes, crafts, minimal explosions. Then one of my campers started sneaking across the lake to meet a monster boy from Headmaster Dorian Haleburn’s prep school for Wilderkind. Now Mr. Tall, Grim, and Overly Buttoned is accusing me of causing an interspecies scandal.

He calls me reckless.
I call him repressed.
He files reports.
I hide the evidence.

And when he’s not lecturing me about professionalism, he’s on his tower balcony playing cello solos so low and desperate they slide right under my skin. It’s hot. I hate that it’s hot.

Now we’re stuck working together to keep two teenagers’ love story from becoming a diplomatic incident. He says it’s about rules. I say it’s about hearts. And somewhere between his lecture on “proper conduct” and the part where he growled my name like a confession, I stopped pretending I didn’t want him to ruin me.

Welcome to Camp Chaos—where love breaks curfew, monsters kiss like promises, and even the most disciplined Emberthorn can’t survive a little flannel and defiance.

TROPES YOU’LL FIND

Grumpy Emberthorn headmaster x feral flannel-wearing camp directorEnemies to lovers (with delicious forced collaboration)Forbidden romance (their students start it… but they finish it)Cello-playing monster boy whose feelings hit the air like storm-weather.She drives him insane and he loves itSummer camp meets gothic prep schoolMonster scale-tatts that glow when he catches feelingsGnome cameos (because of course)Cozy chaos + high yearning + scorching tension“I hate that it’s hot” vibesEmotional damage AND emotional healingSpice storm-drenched, ruined-on-a-dock heatHe falls HARD (and tries not to—it goes terribly for him)
Book Four of The Hollow Hearth Series by Tansy
For readers who crave monster romance, camp mischief, gnome interference, and a headmaster who is far too hot for his own good.

Genres: Cozy Fantasy

264 pages, Paperback

Published February 22, 2026

Reviews

[Michelle Houghton · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, you absolutely need to read the series in order to appreciate this book. I started here with the fourth book and honestly was lost a lot for the first chunk of the book. Why you ask then does it deserve 5 stars? Well let me tell you it is brilliantly written. The humor is simply laugh out loud perfect. Seriously a talking fern and gnome bestie have futures in stand up comedy. The romance is beautiful. The characters are perfectly un-perfect and so “human”. I wish I knew them all better and that is on me for not starting at the start. The world Tansy Applewood has created is so rich and imaginative you will want to live here, know all the ins and outs, sit in the cafe, knit with the gnomes and more. Book 1-3 are going on my TBR list immediately.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bryan Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you!

I've been struggling with life and the difficulties it brings. This (and all the others) brought some joy back into my heart. The characters are so much fun! Will Gideon ever get his bond?

[Jen Sheldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
* Grumpy x sunshine
* He’s a headmaster
* She’s a camp counselor
* Mischievous magical side characters

Thank you to Book Sirens and Tandy Applewood for this eARC!
As always, I enjoy the quirky characters and witty banter from them especially as they meddle with the two main characters.

I liked that there was already some attraction hinted to with Daphne and Dorian in the previous book, which made this flirtation between them so fun! She’s so free spirited, while he is so strait-laced. But both enjoy their careers and care a lot about everyone they work with. He tries to deny his scale tatts so I love that he gives in first and how he did it, too!

In addition, the additional teenage flirtation with another possible soulbond was a good mirror to Daphne’s own fears and concerns, which made this ending especially sweet. Dorian sees the best in her and helps her heal her worries away. I really enjoyed this book, probably my fave in the series so far!

[Niomi King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my 4th visit to Wrens hollow and what can I say, I'm a sucker for the chaos. I feel like i owe it to Tansy at this point so here goes...

"OH MY GNOMES"

😂 This series couldn't disappoint you if it tried, with Gran and Letty and the always conveniently placed smut burrow in tow, the little chaos queens will always be there to ensure a soulbonded HEA.
With sassy camp director Daphne and uptight routine is key headmonster Dorian, personalities clash and couldn't be more different, but the one thing they are both absolute pros at, avoiding their true feelings. With the smut burrows new canoe shed location locked down, Letty is in prime position to work her usual match making magic.
It's hilarious, it's emotional and the fun just never ends.

***Thank you to Booksirens and the ever fabulous Tansy Applewood for the ARC. The above review is my honest opinion and has not been influenced in any way.

[Roxie's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Fantastic Monster Romance Series"

The setting in this series is a quirky summer camp. Called Camp Hollowpine owned and ran by a spunky chaos witch named Daphne. The camp is outside the charming ,and quirky town of Wren's Hollow. The home.of monsters,supernaturals, and unique humans.
The camp is about to open for the summer. Daphne is making last minute rounds. When she goes to the camp office to discover. A strange potted talking plant! She learns he is what is called a Grumblefern,and he is now her familiar. He bonds to her because she is as it says an emotionally blocked.
The reason she is blocked is she is fighting her heart from bonding with a sexy monster headmaster Dorian.
Dorian is headmaster of the Deepmere Academy for monsters. That is across the lake from the camp. It seems fate has plans for these two!
You will laugh so hard while reading this five star plus funny,sweet and scorching hot monster romance.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot for Headmonster
Tansy Applewood

I can never get enough of these books, they are HILARIOUS! The banter is some of the best I have read. I will say, I recommend reading all the books in order because you’ll appreciate them that much more.
Daphne is my chaos queen and Dorian tried so hard to be strait laced. Letty, my fave smutty instigator, did not disappoint me haha she is so stinking funny oh my goodness! You know a book is good when even the side characters are unforgettable. I will never get enough of the gnomes lol 😂 honestly it wouldn’t be the same without them.
Thank you BookSirens and Tansy Applewood for letting me return to this magical, spicy hilarious world!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been enjoying this series, there’s chaos, spice, a somewhat confusing plot, found family & all the gnomes & their drama✨

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

I did find myself wanting more of Dorian’s backstory, where there are so many metaphors, I do find it a struggle sometimes to work out what they’re actually talking about it.

I’m absolutely going to read more of these, I need more Letty in my life, Grum was a gem & I’m sooo looking forward to a Gideon book!

[Debdutch · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Hot for Headmonster” by Tansy Applewood

-A wildly imaginative and hilarious romance filled with quirky characters, meddling gnomes, and laugh-out-loud banter. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.

Daphne and Dorian’s opposites-attract chemistry is sweet, chaotic, and full of heart as they slowly stop denying their feelings. Though best read in series order, this book shines with its rich world-building, found family vibes, and a beautifully healing love story.

[♡~Demi P. Sewell~♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75🌟
I love everything Tansy Applewood writes! The prose is just pure poetry to my ears mixed in with smutty, naughty little gnomes running amok ❤️‍🔥🌶 (amok amok amok). I have been waiting for Daphne & Dorian's story since book 2 (where I started) and was lucky enough to be gifted an ARC by the author, so thank you! 🙏 I desperately need to read book 1 and then will gladly read them ALL again. These are quick reads with lots of spice, monsters, and smutburrows galore 😉

[Tohru · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book in the series, and it became clear that reading the books in order would have been beneficial. I struggled to fully understand the plot and could tell I was missing important context. While I appreciated the premise and found the character development solid, my lack of familiarity with the earlier installments makes it difficult to provide a fair assessment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Luna Layne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was comedy meets romance, chaos meets order and an FMC and MMC that are so wildly different you cannot help but fall in love with the pair of them! Tansy Applewood definitely built a unique world and I cannot wait to dive in deeper. I would personally read the first book before diving into this one to understand the world better but it can be read as a standalone.

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I giggled, I laughed, I swooned, and cheered them on. This was chaotically funny, and steamy as hell. I absolutely loved this book. Trying to hold rules together while breaking them, not sure that’s how it works. But omg, they had such a great time lol. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

[LizJ. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot for Headmonster Book 4 in The Hollow Heart Series by Tansy Applewood is sweet, steamy and funny. I really enjoyed these characters and kept me engaged.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Athena ReadsRomance · Rating 5 out of 5]

A burning hot enemies to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, tortured hero, monster romance with all the meddling gnomes and gossipy found family you could ever want. Plenty of yearning & spice to keep you as warm as a campfire! I enjoyed an advance reader copy of this book. Hot for Headmonster is another excellent instalment in the Hollow Hearth series!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was everything I wanted from this book! Probably my favorite in the series.