Wolfkissed

by Mona Archer

What if Little Red Riding Hood ran away with the Big Bad Wolf?
I give you Rosamund Briar and Valerian the Frost Princess and the Wolf.

Rosamund lives in her room with her books and embroidery, watching the world from her window. After the wolf fae kidnapped and scarred her as a child, she hides, her only dream to meet the man she was promised to and live with him happily ever after.
The last thing she expects over dinner is for her stepfather’s hunting party to bring in a werewolf in a cage… and be told he’s meant to be her bodyguard.
As her reality unravels, Rosamund fights her horror at being forced into close proximity to one of the creatures who once tormented her.
But the werewolf, Valerian, doesn’t attack her. Doesn’t try to harm her. And when an attack is made on her life, he stands in the assailants’ way, protecting her.
Soon it will be time for her to set off and travel to meet her future husband—a kind lord, someone who might offer her a bright future.
But then why is Valerian all she can think of? Why does he set her blood on fire even as he gentles the scars in her mind?
Sooner or later, Rosamund will have to decide between her old enemy and her unknown future, scratch beneath the surface and decide whether she trusts her heart to choose right.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Shapeshifters, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Fae, Forced Proximity

514 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 28, 2026

Reviews

[lemmespoilyou.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐/5
What a great MMC in Valen, the werewolf bodyguard! He is treated sooo poorly by the humans as he’s captured and put in a cage and then restrained, and forced to be her bodyguard as she travels to her new husband. She was mauled and kidnapped by werewolves as a child so when her stepfather sets this all up, expecting the dark fae bodyguard to be unable to control himself and kill her on their travels, he’ll be rid of his stepdaughter for good. Rosie is horrified he’d do this to her and it’s just more humiliation she’s had to endure since her mother’s death. Ugh, it was perfect “wicked step-family” vibes in this story.
She makes a deal with Valen that he can go home once she’s delivered safely. Valen is a man of his word and viciously protects her at every turn from those who would shame her, hurt her, and worse. His patience, wit, and banter with her made this book so good. He helped this stubborn, fearful but resilient princess realize her strength and worth, and she helped him through his own pain and trauma. It was verrryyy steamy and I was so happy to see them BOTH fully accept their love for each other.
This was a very slow burn, addictive, and satisfyingly protective enemies-to-lovers story with the vibes of Red Riding Hood falling HARD for the Big Bad Sexy Smirky Sassy Wolf.

Thank you to the author and BookSprouts for the advanced reader copy, this review is given voluntarily.

[Kerri-louise Whitham Your_bookish_fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

**𝓝𝓞 𝓢𝓟𝓞𝓘𝓛𝓔𝓡𝓢**
⚜️𝔻𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕠𝕗- Wolfkissed

𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 Ds promotions 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰, 𝐢𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤.

⚜️ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤-
(out of 5 stars, my rating scale is at the end)
* 📚 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / 5
* 🌡️ 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲🌶🌶 / 5 -𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑦 𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑠
* Which books have I also given this same rating? (𝑠𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑦𝑙𝑒𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑤𝑛)
5⭐️ Fourth wing / Bound by inked flame / Anathama / The Lies of Lena / Of silver and Curses
4.5⭐️ Bitten / The Female / Quicksilver / Bride / Lights Out / A Bargain so Bloody
4⭐️ Spellcaster / One Dark Window / From Blood and Ash / Phantasma / Butcher & Blackbird
3⭐️We Who Will Die / The Wolf King / Daughter of No Worlds / The Ex Hex


⚜️𝕂𝕖𝕪 𝕀𝕟𝕗𝕠:
* Genre- Paranormal Fantasy romance
* 📖 514 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
* 𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 dual 𝗣𝗢𝗩
* 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲- 28 June 2026
* 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 or 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 driven? 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉ℯ𝓇
* 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲 & 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗻𝗼- Standone
* 𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 on 𝗞𝗨? ✅𝒴ℯ𝓈.
* 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗲- ℱ𝒶𝓈𝓉
* 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲? ✅𝒴ℯs, ℐ 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓇ℯ𝓂ℯ𝓂𝒷ℯ𝓇 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓋𝒾𝒷ℯ𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒻ℯℯ𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓇ℯ𝒶𝒹 𝓁ℯ𝒻𝓉 𝓂ℯ 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽!
* 𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? (Disability, plus size, mental health etc...)✅ body horror -scars
* ℳℴℴ𝒹𝓈; 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒚, 𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝑖𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍, 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒚, 𝑯𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍, 𝑯𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝑻𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 &𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈
* 𝒟𝒾𝒹 𝒾 ℯ𝓃𝒿ℴ𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈?✅
* 𝒲ℴ𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒾 𝓇ℯ𝒶𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 ℯ𝓁𝓈ℯ 𝒷𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽ℴ𝓇?✅
* 𝖂𝖍𝖔 𝖜𝖔𝖚𝖑𝖉 𝖎 𝖗𝖊𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖙𝖔?
* All my wolf shifter girlies who love a dirty mouth and a case of I love her so much that I’ll let her go, even if it kills me.



⚜️𝕊ℙ𝔼ℂ𝕀𝔼𝕊 𝕀ℕ 𝕊𝕋𝕆ℝ𝕐:
🧝‍♀️𝔽𝕒𝕖
Humans
🌕𝑊ℴ𝓁𝒻 𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠


⚜️𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝔽𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕤:
🍆ᏦᏁᎾᎿᎿᎨᏁᎶ
🤍𝑉𝑖𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑀𝐶
🔥𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧
🥵𝒟𝒾𝓇𝓉𝓎 𝒯𝒶𝓁𝓀
🙏𝐻𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡
🛏𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐝
🫦Oᴘᴘᴏsɪᴛᴇs Aᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛ
🗡 𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨
👩‍❤️‍👨𝙵𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚜
🌡𝕐𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝔸𝕟𝕘𝕤𝕥, 𝕋𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟


⚜️𝕋ℝ𝕆ℙ𝔼𝕊
🤩Epic Side Characters
🧩𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒚
❔Wʜᴏ ᴅɪᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ?!
💈 ᗷᗩᑎTᗴᖇ
☠️𝕋𝕠𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕟𝕕...
⏳𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬
💪𝒜𝓁𝓅𝒽𝒶 ℋℯ𝓇ℴ

✨ TᕼᗴᗰᗴՏ ✨ think Cinderella ran away with little red riding hoods wolf.


📝Cliff Notes Review-
I would never have said this was over 300 pages, it went so quickly! Wow this was good! I love hatred to lovers and I love a shifter book so throw in a traumatised and sheltered FMC and an evil family and I’m hooked!


🌍 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘:
As usual, Mona writes a beautiful story. The writing style is so easy to follow and her world building pulls you in with no info dumps or tangents. I enjoyed the little twists along the way and she had me doubting my feelings towards the main characters and second-guessing myself around what they would do when faced with certain situations in my opinion it’s the mark of an excellent writer that can develop a character make you fall in love or hate them and then on the next page have you doubting that entire viewpoint wondering if you’ve got it wrong all along and if they really would do the things they’re about to do.

For me the downside in this book was the miscommunication trope. I’m not a fan of miscommunication however it fit the story beautifully in the beginning but as we continued and feelings grew stronger it got extremely irritating that they wouldn’t just say what they meant. I think I feel this way because if they did say what they meant, I don’t feel it would’ve changed the story very much in fact it could’ve layered more yearning and tension into the mix.

I appreciated how this standalone was kept us a simple paranormal fantasy romance especially as this particular author is well-versed in creating extraordinarily deep and layered stories with multiple plants and twist law. This book is easy to read easy to fall into easy to follow and especially easy to kill yourself into thinking you’ll read just one more chapter as I’m a huge fan of this author. I did expect a few things that weren’t there for example I I was fully invested in the prophecy plot and awaited a certain twist that never came. I also predicted there would be a twist around the hunting party that was sent after her and perhaps a follow-up or a catch up of sorts on her family. I was sudden to not get more background on the Falor that captured the big bad werewolf as he seemed to be hiding a lot more than we were pretty too, and I expect his story to be extremely interesting.

This part is for you, Mona. Thank you for writing such a wonderful tale however I am now expecting a spinoff on the best friends because they seem not only hilarious but debauchery and cheeky in all the best ways. I need to see how they go about their days if they do in fact share their women and if they will find their soulmates, I absolutely love epic side characters and these pair are way up there in my all-time favourites so please I beg you. Give us this spinoff.

Also- I would have loved an extra scene on if and how she got her maids and boys back! I would have enjoyed reading about the step parents reactions to not only her not being dead but her ‘request’ of her staff, how they were treated after she left and their journey to and reactions of their new home!

🧝‍♂️ ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:
I absolutely fell in love with the MMC seriously where do I get one? His banter, his wit, his self deprecation and his love all came through beautifully as he battled with his own once and desires to put her first at all times. The FMC got a little bit annoying halfway through the repeated mantra of wanting to get to her betrothed was irritating at best. I wish it was written more like a revenge story that she wanted to get to him so she couldn’t act her revenge on her stepfather rather than a story of Hope that he would be her night in shining armour especially when all the evidence pointed against this outcome.



⏳ 𝕎𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕚 𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕠𝕣 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕?
Absolutely to both! My god, if it comes out on audio I’d have it on monthly! The yearning….

🪧𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
This is a sexy and spicy tale of a traumatised and sheltered girl who is literally thrown to the wolves


𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠;

𝕋𝕚𝕜𝕋𝕠𝕜
https://www.tiktok.com/@your_bookish_...

IᑎՏTᗩ
https://www.instagram.com/your_bookis...

 

***********************

𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕤:
⭐️ DNF

⭐️⭐️
I managed to finish it but it was rubbish. I won't keep a physical copy and won't recommend it, but  it's a shame as the plot could have made a good book in another author's hands

⭐️⭐️.5
It was OK. I wish I didn't start this one as it didn't do it for me as I struggled to read it. It had an interesting premise that fell flat but I had to see what happened in the end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don't regret reading it, and I will read the next one, but this one did have a few flaws. [These could be repetitive writing, gaps or plot holes, better character growth or world building, areas needing more detail]
Generally, the book lacked depth and became confusing. The plot resonated with me even though it annoyed me on the whole.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to the right people, but I wanted more! Sadly, it's easily forgettable with a few issues I just couldn't overlook/get past.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good book! I loved it, but... I needed more! I really did enjoy it, but it had a few parts that needed more detail or added history/background or lore. But that's because the story or characters were memorable, and the plot was strong with brilliant twists. I would re-read if I needed to catch up for the next book and would recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Great book! I truly wish the story had been thought about more, or the author had been given more time as this book is so close to brilliance! I will likely read again and will definitely be recommending it to all!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW! Absolutely amazing book! Well written with great characters and a plot so memorable that it will stay with me. I will definitely read this again, I will be recommending it and sharing it with the whole world! Also- I NEED A PHYSICAL COPY!

🔥⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥
This is my God level tier. The book must be perfectly memorable. Even after reading 50+ more books, I will remember character names and emotions along with the plot. If there is a special edition, then I need to own it! If there is a conversation on books- I'm talking about this!

 SPICE SCALE:
🌶️– segsual language and a little on-page action

🌶️🌶️– a lot of segsual language and some on-page open door action, may be occurring a couple of times

🌶️🌶️🌶️– a lot of explicit action and dirty talk, occurring frequently with 2/3 lurvers

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – super graphic and explicit, occurring 4 or more times, can be more grey and taboo themed.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – Kinks and Fet!shism, explicit and super graphic. It is likely to be tushy play, toys, playrooms, and more dark / taboo fantasies and realities.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO MUCH SEXUAL TENSION, NOT ENOUGH ACTION!
New author. An interesting gem I found.
Dove into this blind, and I enjoyed it very much.
It's a mixture of something new, something old and something borrowed.

ROSAMUND was fairly great until the 3/4 mark in where I wanted to tear my hair out. Needless to say, that portion knocked down a star for me. For a woman who was doing so well, she had to fuck it all up with her indoctrinated mindset of choosing safety over love. I couldn't blame her, no one could shrug off years of "culture" and "societal norms" just because they met someone right.

Attacked by wolves as a child, Rosie holds a deep trauma and aversion for the species. Her past left physical and mental scars that never healed because she was surrounded by manipulative and horrid people who did absolutely nothing to help. It was a toxic environment without love.

When her stepfather captures a wolfman and forces her to take the male as a bodyguard, Rosie struggles to face her fears, but curiously was also intrigued by the VERY VIRAL male. A man in a wolf mask? That's like a visual wet dream for an anime fan like me.

NGL, Valerian was HOT. Their first and subsequent meetings set the tone and pacing of their relationship. I WAS HOOKED, LINED AND SINKER. I anticipated every moment of how Rosie would treat her enemy, teetering between hatred, fear and compassion. I'm a sucker for heroines who treat their enemies by killing them with kindness and bravery, instead of bitchiness and cowardice.

Rosie and Valerian were amazing together. The virgin and the wolf. There were plenty of LOL and sweet moments, balanced with a healthy dose of sexual attraction. Sadly, we only had that ONE open door scene, but otherwise, I love me a good knotting scene. It's been a loooong time since I've encountered a true virgin who didn't know what sex entailed - in fiction. Poor Valerian was walking with a hard on every single day.

VALERIAN wasn't the usual type of alpha wolf I'd picked, but he was charming and thoughtful in his own way. Hot, protective, possessive and an utter gentleman beneath the fur. The most important thing of all? HE MADE ROSIE FEEL SAFE, HE HELPED HER HEAL AND LEARN TO LIVE AGAIN, and SHE TRUSTED HIM. I can't tell you how FRUSTRATED I was when she insisted on marrying the misogynistic, selfish, dick of a cunning prick who didn't appreciate her, called her ugly and all sorts of names.....UGHH! She ruined that moment for me.

OVERALL fret not. There was a good HEA, and Rosie did pull her head out of her arse and listened to her heart instead. I liked the refreshing and original voice it gave to the story, not another version of rinse and repeat novels in the market. Yes, it's NOTHING NEW, but I could appreciate the plot, the characters and how it was written. IT HAD MY ATTENTION, and personally, that counts for everything because I'm so quick to get bored.

[Kate Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wolfkissed by Mona Archer is Little Red Riding Hood’s worst nightmare. When the wolf is the safest option (not to mention the sexiest), why wouldn’t you follow him into the deep, dark woods?

After Rosamund’s is orphaned and kidnapped by werewolves as a child, she has spent her life traumatised, locked away and hiding her scars. Her stepfamily rejects her, and the only hope of a promising future is through her arranged marriage to Lord Eorl who she has idolised from his miniature. It is quickly revealed that her stepfather would see her murdered to avoid paying her dowery (although her reaction is very underwhelming when he confesses this, “hands clench in the skirt of my wet dress” doesn’t seem like a genuine response to this knowledge). In an attempt to kill her, Rose’s stepfather organises a werewolf, Valen, to act as her bodyguard and transport her to her new home, believing he will surely attack her. The two quickly fall in love and when her stepfather realises this, he attempts to pit them “against one another, for a laugh. Everyone will witness the wolf killing you” but they manage to escape. Together they travel across the country together, falling in love and healing Rosamund’s fear of werewolves, until she reaches her new husband’s home and needs to choose between the life she has always wanted, and the life she never imagined.

The story was an easy read, and I didn’t want to put the book down! The smut scenes were well balanced between the plotline and I liked the characters. Personally, a couple things pulled down the rating for me, mainly the “banter” language all the characters spoke, Valen came across as a rugby lad and their colloquial language felt out of place in the aristocratic world which was being portrayed. Even if just Valen’s linguistic choice was toned down, Rose’s family would surely be more well-spoken. The constant innuendo chatter became tiring and off putting, I’m never a fan of a guy whose every sentence must feature a sexual tone, it gives me the ick.

Additionally, I felt the ‘enemies to lovers’ trope died away after the first 25% of the novel, I would have liked them to have built their relationship slower for a true slow burn, but he was confessing his affection from so early on. I wanted him to despise her for his capture just as much as she feared him from her past, but they were comfortable with one another after a matter of days. In the beginning, Rose’s character was full of attitude, strong and sarcastic. But as soon as she entered the wild, all her retorts and responses became passive and mild. I wish her character has stayed true and held onto some of her attitude.

However, despite these issues I really enjoyed the read. The characters kept me invested and I liked them discovering how their pasts interlinked. Both had strong backstories and I enjoyed reading both their POVS, seeing their separate viewpoints. Unfortunately I’m just a vampire girl, Team Edward for Life!

Thank you to Booksprout for this ARC in exchange for a free review!

[Suzi McWhinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this Mona Archer story! A Dark Fae who falls first and a human woman who holds her dreams of a new life close to her heart. Hoping that leaving the only home she knew to marry a man she had never met would give her the HEA she dreamed of.
The slow burn between Valen and Rosie nearly killed me.....I did not put this book down until the epilogue, and that was because I fell asleep at 3am......I just needed to know how or if Valen wins Rosie's heart!
Rosie doesn't believe in fairy tales, but maybe this Big Bad Wolf is the one piece of her puzzle she didn't realise she needed.
When a Dark Fae Werewolf is brought to Rosie by her step father, who announces that he will be her bodyguard as she makes the journey to meet her betrothed, Lord Eorl, her life as she knows it changes....for better or worse is to be seen!
Rosie has a history with werewolves....A kidnapping and mauling as a child, leaving her scarred. Her mother losing her life whilst she fought to save her daughter.
Her step father wants her gone. Not to her new life waiting for her, but he plans on the Dark Fae werewolf attacking her. Ending his agreement with the Lord. He has other plans!
As her enemy, Rosie strikes a deal with Valen. She would ensure his release as soon as she made it to her new home with Lord Eorl. And he is to protect her and ensure her safety during the journey.
All Fae take their oaths seriously, and Valen is no exception.
As her father sends men to kill both her bodyguard and herself. Valen shows he needs no weapons to dispose of them.
She soon realises she needs to leave, but her stepfather has one more declaration.
He presents her with a sword and announces that Valen and Rosie must fight till the death...knowing that Rosie is no match for The Werewolf. The blade is also the one which killed Valen's mother. This causes Valen to begin the change into his wolf, much to the delight of her stepfather. But Valen kidnaps Rosie and runs. He intends to take her to her new home, as he promised.
As with all great love stories, Valen knew immediately that Rosie was meant for him. His Mate!
But being a human, Rosie has no idea. Never been in love or had someone love her, she is shy and not very sexually aware. Whereas Valen, of course is! The banter as they trek towards her future is hilarious! She is so oblivious of any of his innuendo's that you cannot help but have a laugh.
Poor Valen, with his blue b*lls and constant ere*tion leads to some interesting pillow talk between the two. His patience with Rosie is outstanding. He needs an award!
I was wanting and waiting...LOL Talk about slow burn.
As he falls hard, he tries to convince Rosie that life with her new Lord may not be what it seems.
She has a dream, and it does not change or falter. A dream of being the Lady of her new home and being in love with the Lord.
An epic story with plenty of twists that keep you invested in both Valen and his undying love for his mate and for Rosie. The girl whose feelings for her bodyguard start to change before she realises it is love.
And with an awesome conclusion they do finally reach their HEA Rosie finally not being as innocent as she was when the story began and Valen finally....finally makes Rosie his!!

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The monster on her leash became the man who set her free.

Rosamund spends years hiding behind high collars, locked doors, and a future she convinces herself will save her. Scarred by werewolves as a child and trapped in a home that treats her like a burden, she clings to the promise of a distant fiancé because hope is the only thing she has left.

Then her stepfather brings a captured werewolf into the manor and names him her bodyguard. Valerian is dangerous, muzzled, collared, and far too aware of every fear she tries to bury. He should be another nightmare, but he keeps standing between her and the people who want to use, shame, or control her.

Forced into the wilderness together, Rosamund starts to see the man beneath the monster. Valen is feral, teasing, possessive, and fiercely protective, but he's also carrying wounds that mirror her own. What begins with fear slowly becomes trust, longing, and a connection that challenges everything she thought she wanted.

Rosamund learns to stop surviving and start choosing herself, while Valen learns that devotion doesn't have to be earned through sacrifice alone. Together they build something stronger than fear, finding trust, intimacy, and belonging in places neither expects.

An ultra-steamy, enemies to lovers, werewolf bodyguard romantasy filled with forced proximity, hurt/comfort, primal attraction, fated mates, and emotional healing. It explores trauma, trust, identity, freedom, belonging, grief, self-worth, and the courage to choose a life that feels true instead of one that feels safe. It's about a woman learning that survival is not the same thing as living, a wolf who offers devotion without demanding surrender, and a love that transforms fear into freedom and finally feels like home.

The Elevator Pitch: A scarred young woman is forced to travel with the very werewolf she was taught to fear, only to discover that the monster at her side understands her better than anyone ever has. As old dreams crumble and hidden dangers close in, a journey meant to deliver her to safety becomes a choice between the life she planned and the man who makes her feel truly free. Blending danger, healing, desire, and hard-won trust, this romantasy turns a familiar fairytale on its head and asks what happens when the wolf is the safest place to land.

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥 Ultra-Steamy / Erotic Romance

[Amy Kay ♥️ Books are my daily therapy ♥️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOLFKISSED🐺
By: Mona Archer
Dark Fae Brides Series
Book 1
(Interconnected Standalones)

ARC REVIEW

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 Star Review
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5 Spice Rating
(Spice Rating Guide Below)

MY THOUGHTS:
Lady Rosamund Briar (22) and Lord Valerian Canagan’s story. Nicknamed Rosie and Valen.

I am so glad I found an early copy of this book because I truly enjoyed reading it! This book has so many fun tropes, but it also includes trauma healing for both main characters and has some intense emotional content that hits you right in the feels!

The two of them together are adorable. Here he is, an incessant flirt, saying inappropriate things to her constantly. He loves teasing her and making her blush. Then on the bother hand, she is sheltered, innocent, and oh so easy to tease! She is also touch-starved and rather curious about pleasure and how to explore it. She wants to make her future husband happy which is killing Valen inside.

Her scars have made her hide herself away, using dresses that cover all the way up to her chin. That does not cover the scars on her face, though. So, she simply never leaves the manor and the only person to have ever seen her scars is her ladies maid. She is also healing from the emotional side from the event that caused the scars. Following the death of her parents, she is now under guardianship of her step-father and his new wife. They do not have her best interests in mind.

He is also healing from trauma which prompted him to leave his home and family to go on a quest to find his mother. After being caught by Rosamund’s step-father’s men and caged, he is released to be her bodyguard as he takes her to wed her arranged husband.

The journey is long, but they end up realizing they are in no hurry to get there. The journey brings them together in a way that hints for forever. The story does end in a HEA!

FAVORITE QUOTE(S):
“‘Watch me.” “I am watching,” I say hoarsely. “Good Gods, woman... I am watching. How could I ever look away?’”

“Nobody can look at you as if they want to have you for dessert and not make you feel good about your appearance. He does that to me. He makes me feel beautiful. Makes me believe it. And let’s face it, a man’s body can’t really lie.”

“‘Good girl,” he says. “Faster. Run, little mouse, run as fast as you can. I’ll give you a head start, for all the good it will do. I am a wolf, after all, and I’ll catch you wherever you go.’”

“The freedom Valen has shown me is an illusion. Being a lady is to be a prisoner of society. To live in a cage. I never even noticed the bars before, but now... Now they are all I can see.”

TROPES:
MF
Shifter x Human
Fated Mates
Journey
Forbidden Love
Forced Proximity
V!rg!n x Rake
Angsty
Bodyguard
Scarred FMC
Kn0tting/Rut
One tree-One horse-One Bathtub-One Bed
Court Intrigue
Planned Arranged Marriage FMC
HEA

GENRE, POV, PAGE COUNT:
Fantasy Romance
Dual POV in 1st Person
514 Pages

SPICE LEVEL RATING GUIDE
🌶️ Glimpses and Kisses
🌶️🌶️Closed Door
🌶️🌶️🌶️Open Door
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️Open Door Explicit
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️Explicit and Plentiful
I have teenage daughters. This description seems more helpful than some.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW, NARRATORS & TIME LENGTH:
No audiobook information at this time of this review.

NOTE:
There are a few triggers so check those warnings if needed.

THANKS:
Thank you to Author Mona Archer and Booksprout for this amazing book! I loved reading it & look forward to reading future books by this author! Thank you!
 
Happy Reading! ♥

[L.J. Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are books you read and enjoy, and then there are books that burrow under your skin and refuse to leave. Wolfkissed by Mona Archer is firmly the latter.
At its heart, this is a story about Rosamund, a woman carrying the shadow of a childhood stolen by the dark fae, and Valerian, the dark fae werewolf assigned to protect her. It is an unlikely pairing, and Archer knows it. She uses that tension brilliantly, letting the push and pull between Rosamund and Valen simmer with the kind of slow-burn intensity that makes you want to shake the pages.
Valen is exactly the kind of hero this genre does best when it gets it right. He is dangerous and compelling, and watching him fall for Rosamund while she remains promised to the cold and calculating Lord Eorl is genuinely painful in the best possible way. Eorl is not interested in Rosamund, only in what she brings with her, and Archer does not let you forget it for a single chapter. The contrast between a man who sees only land and title, and one who sees every piece of the woman in front of him, is quietly devastating.
Rosamund herself is wonderful. She is not passive, not simply waiting to be chosen. Her journey to understanding what she truly feels is earned and real, and when the realisation finally comes, you will absolutely want to throw this book across the room. That is meant as the highest compliment.
Archer's imagination is extraordinary. The dark fae world she has built feels lived-in and layered, full of atmosphere and mythology that never overwhelms the story at its centre. Her prose is sharp and assured throughout, and the pacing keeps you turning pages long past when you should have put the light out.
Wolfkissed is a gorgeous, aching read for anyone who loves fantasy romance with genuine emotional weight. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[Izabella Chesney · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I want to say what an honor it is to be chosen for the ARC team for this book. Thank you to the author, Mona, for the chance to read this prior to release. I'm excited to share my honest thoughts regarding the book!

Wolfkissed is a fast-paced rollercoaster that I never wanted to end. It's like I started reading and then the next thing I know, I'm on the last chapter. The story was captivating, and I loved how it flowed throughout. The MMC is amazing, and I adored his personality and humor. I was laughing so much during the read. He’s a wolf shifter, and I've been trying to read more books with that theme, so it definitely satisfied that for me. Everyone says he give golden retriever vibes and 100000% he does! He’s a lover boy through and through.

The FMC's growth throughout the book is amazing. It's hard at times to read certain parts, as she can come off as very naive, and there may be times when you facepalm yourself over it. However, I loved her desire to learn and grow as a person. The growth was inspiring and so much fun to read about. She’s strong and stubborn, and completely gave off black cat energy which I was a fan of!

The journey they go on together is special and, at times, very intense… in fun ways and not-so-fun ways. They keep the reader sitting and wanting more until the very end. The yearning in this book is OFF the charts! I loved it! This was my first book by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved reading it and look forward to more of her work in the future.

If you're looking for wolf-shifter dark fae bodyguards and FMCs with sassy black cat energy, this is worth the read. I recommend this and rated it 4.5 stars in my rating book!

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if Little Red Riding Hood fell in love with the Big Bad Wolf? Not likely for Rosamund who was kidnapped and brutalized by werewolves when she was a little girl. Her scarred body fills her with shame. Her parents are dead, and her stepfather is marrying her off. To top it all off, her stepfather captures a werewolf and tells her the monster will be her bodyguard. Gripping fear consumes her. She doesn’t know what to do. The dark fae werewolf is named Valerian and is protective of her for some unknown reason. He agrees to wear a muzzle and makes a deal with her. Soon, they are on the run heading towards her fiancé. Valerian pushes her and challenges everything she thought she knew. His golden eyes send ripples of emotion through her body. When the journey is over, will she be able to let him go or is her destiny with the werewolf who calls her princess?

Wolfkissed is a scintillating romantasy I couldn’t put down. Mona Archer has outdone herself with Wolfkissed. She takes a classic fairytale and gives it a romantasy spin. The characters stole my heart while reading. The steamy scenes are VERY hot! The dialogue is snarky, sweet, and will melt your heart. There is a lot for Rosamund and Valerian to overcome. The ending made me cry. The drama and high stakes had me reading late into the night. We all have scars…it’s all a matter of how we see them. For some, they are ugly. For others, they are badges of courage. For the few, they are beautiful. Thank you, Mona, for reminding us of this poignant message. Highly recommend!

My Rating: 5++ stars.

Reviewed by: Nancy

This review first appeared: https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookhea...

[Ember P · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do when you are a noble lady who is terrified of wolf shifters because of an attack as a child and your evil stepfather forces a wolf as your bodyguard for the enjoyment of watching your fear? What do you do when the only home you have ever known becomes a prison? And the family that was supposed to protect you longs to see you dead? Maybe instead of running from the big, bad, wolf he is the only thing willing to save you when your world turns against you. Valen the dark fae shifter is willing to risk his own life to protect Rosemund even though she kept him collared, and chained, but one sniff of her scent was all he needed to know what she was to him. As they flee together Valen tries to draw her out of her frightened shell, as they banter, argue, and outrageously flirt, both of their walls start to come down as they share similar pasts of loss and violence. Valen does not look at her scars like they are disgusting and she stops seeing a viscous wolf but an increasingly handsome wolfman. A few shared baths and some tattered clothes later and Rosie sees that big teeth might not be the only large thing wolves have 🍆🫣😳 Valen needs to find the courage to tell her about the fated bond growing between them or risk losing her forever. And Rosie needs to see that the path of a noble lady she has always imagined isn't necessarily the road her heart yearns to travel now. Dear readers please be patient with this couple as they fumble a way through the obstacles of a budding bond and towards a hopefully happy future

[Laurie Bristow · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/🌶🌶
Rosamund is preparing to meet her husband, arranged marriage.  She is sent a werewolf bodyguard. Even though she has PTSD from a werewolf attack/kidnapping when she was a child.
Valerian was brought in by her stepfather (red flag) to escort her to her fiancé. But everyone is surprised when he takes that task seriously. He is dark fae and extremely dangerous. He is brought to Rosamund muzzled and chained.
The end up forging an alliance that is working for them, and she is beginning to feel no fear for him.
On their way to meet her fiance, he saves har life a few times as they both are in close proximity. They begin having feelings for each other.
The trek to her fiancés manor has been rough. And she arrives disheveled and dirty. Her welcome is less than ideal, but she eventually meets Lord Eorl, her betrothed. And the bustling and wedding preparations begin. She and Valen part ways.Even though neither of them want to at this point. And well as expected that didn't turn out well.
I do like how the author portrayed Rose as a virgin. It was done properly at least. I have never cared for the "experienced virgin" trope. A slow burn to say the least. It was a bit long, but came together in a way that I understood at the end.
And a thank you for a  great pre-read from Booksprout.

[Bookdragon77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all the banter between Rosie and Valen he gets her out of her shell. Valen is unashamed of his inappropriate comments and behaviour he is a wolf after all, Rosie acts scandalized when secretly she loves it and these scenes between them were beyond entertaining. I lived for those moments waiting to see how far they would go and utterly frustrated with both characters when they might have taken things further only to decide at the last minute to pretend nothing happened. I really enjoyed Valen’s playful side, his constant teasing of Rosie and how he can’t stand to be parted from her. When I found out the meaning behind Valen wearing the collar I had an awww moment. He’s just so adorable and says the sweetest things sometimes. Seeing Valen interact with his family and the friendship he has with Konstam and Darian you wouldn’t think he was lonely they’re practically brothers. Loved how they’d egg each other on and al, the banter and insults they exchanged between them one moment while being concerned and understanding of Valen and Rosie’s relationship the next. This was such a beautiful story I hope Konstam or Darian’s book is next these characters were fun I’d love to see them find their mates and maybe see more of Valen and Rosie.

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

[Soha Amer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional chemistry, fairytale atmosphere, and protective romance. Wolfkissed by Mona Archer is a hauntingly romantic fairytale-inspired fantasy that twists the Little Red Riding Hood story into something darker, softer, and far more emotionally intimate.

Rosamund begins the story trapped by fear, trauma, and the expectations placed on her future, making her emotional growth one of the strongest parts of the novel. The arrival of Valerian—the very kind of creature she has spent years fearing—creates immediate tension, but the story slowly transforms that fear into trust, longing, and undeniable emotional connection.

Valerian carries the perfect balance of danger and gentleness. Rather than forcing the romance, the story lets their bond build through protection, quiet understanding, and emotional healing, which makes the chemistry feel incredibly satisfying.

What stands out most:

* Little Red Riding Hood retelling
* protective werewolf bodyguard
* forced proximity
* emotional healing journey
* scarred heroine & gentle monster MMC
* fantasy romance atmosphere
* “who’s the real monster?” themes

The romance feels tender beneath the darker fantasy elements, making the emotional payoff hit even harder as Rosamund slowly learns to trust both Valerian and herself.

[Emma Fable & Fang · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was incredibly fortunate to receive an ARC copy of this book. Thank you, Mona, for the opportunity!

The premise of the book had me hooked from the get-go; I had so many questions I wanted the answers to that helped me push through the beginning of this book where I felt a little bit mired by some of the dialogue; The author soon finds her rhythm however and the story picks up and I became more and more interested in the story from the MMC's perspective, why is he this way? What motivates him? It becomes REALLY clear! I would have loved a lot more worldbuilding, which I felt was drip-fed as required, but we all have preferences, and perhaps it's done deliberately as a stylistic choice to mirror the FMC's sheltered existence, which would make sense.

The romance aspect of this book does NOT mess about; if you're looking for spice, you've found it! I certainly learned something from this book haha. People are very likely going to pick this book up and need an ice pack to simmer down this summer!

Overall 3.5-4 star read for me. There were many things I really enjoyed about the journey and characters, and some bits I enjoyed a little less.

Touch her & die
Forced Proximity
Slow Burn Romance
Trauma
SPICE
Werewolves

[Lena Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Rosamund was young her mother was killed by wolves and she was kidnapped and tortured. As a result, she's afraid to leave the house she lives in and especially afraid of the dark fae who turn into wolves. However, she must leave her home to travel to her future husband. So, she asked for a bodyguard for the trip. What she never expected was that her stepfather would capture Valen, a wolf, to be her bodyguard. But how can a wolf who was captured, caged and chained be her bodyguard? She's terrified of him. But then the unexpected happens. Even though he's basically a prisoner, and treated horribly, he saves her life. Multiple times. Someone wants her dead and the one person she was most afraid of becomes the only one she can trust.

I love how protective, caring and understanding Valen was. Rosamund had been traumatized when her mom died and she was kidnapped by wolves, and it took a while for her to start to trust him not to hurt her. But he was patient and I love how the love and trust was built between them.

This was a really good romantasy that I enjoyed reading, and I hope the author writes more stories in this world with the dark fae who are wolves.

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

[Charl Ormond · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I was lucky enough to get this as an ARC read of Booksprout after commenting on the authors comment and honestly I’m so happy I commented.

This book follows our FMC Rosamund who is a naive sheltered girl living with horrible people after her mother was killed by werewolves. And she was kidnapped and tortured during that time too. She is being sent to an arranged marriage and needs a bodyguard to protect her…. Enter our dark and broody… golden retriever…. Touch her and die werewolf… Valerian. Who has been captured and forced to look after her …. Or has he

Lots of twist with her family mean these pair have to travel together to get to her betrothed and along the way tension and chemistry starts to arise and bring our naive little princess out of her shell with the big bad wolf.

The story is fun, written well and is an interesting read and to be honest if you love werewolf books this is a MUST read for you.

The FMC is very very naive though so that is something to take into account and Valen is just so so into her and is a lot of dirty talk with a little smut thrown in.

Great book and great read thank you Mona

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This paranormal romance offers an interesting twist on the Little Red Riding Hood story. The heroine is destined to marry a wolf, but her greedy stepfather has no intention of paying her dowry and instead plots to have her killed. The bodyguard hired for the job, however, ends up falling for her, setting the romance in motion.

The premise is undeniably constructed, and there were several moments where I had to suspend my disbelief. Some of the characters' reactions felt surprisingly calm given the situations they found themselves in—for example, revelations about murder plots are accepted much more easily than I would have expected.

Despite that, the story works better than I anticipated because of its characters. Their personalities and interactions kept me invested, and I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop as the plot unfolded.

Overall, this is an entertaining paranormal romance with a fairy tale feel, memorable characters, and an enjoyable romantic storyline. If you don't mind a few plot conveniences, it's a fun and engaging read.

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

[Stacey Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy Mona’s story’s about the Nine Realms and this one was no different. This was a neat take on the Red Riding Hood trope (like the movie not the kids story book)

With the Fae magic corrupted the humans are thriving but slavery and jealousy are still abound.

Our FMC is very naive after self enforcing exclusion due to an attack by wolves in her youth. With a betrothed in a different estate this seems to be her only way to escape a horrid relationship with her step-family and the memories of her past.

The MMC is such a golden retriever (excuse the pun). He falls first and hard but spends the majority of the book trying to ‘get in her pants’. It’s amusing to ‘see’ him making comments that go completely over her head.

All in all this was a great read following their journey where feelings develop, there is plenty of banter and the FMC goes from a naive sheltered girl to someone who knows what she wants and is able to shake off old habits and stand up for herself.

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

[Katarzyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️

Thank you to DS Book Promotions and Mona Archer for an ARC!

This one was such a fun time. Our FMC, Rosamund, struggled with the trauma she suffered at the hands of werewolves as a child, yet was paired up with our MMC, Valen, a werewolf, as her bodyguard en route to her arranged husband by her cruel stepfather. Despite her initial fear, Rosamund is slowly won over by the charismatic Valen and blossoms into a strong and courageous woman over the course of the pair‘s perilous journey. While her naïveté got on my nerves at times, I still enjoyed her as a character and could feel her bond with Valen. He was charming, loving, and utterly devoted to Rosamund, his fated mate. He was cautious of her fear and helped her to overcome it on her terms and at her pace, which endeared me to him. The tension and yearning between the pair had me flying through the pages. The spice when we got there was detailed and well-written, especially Valen‘s rut. Overall, I loved this story and recommend picking it up if you like shifter romances!

*Check TWs if needed.*

[Destiny Soden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest review is 4.25 stars.

Thank you to Booksprout and Mona Archer for the digital ARC copy.

This story is told through a Dual-POV between our main FMC, Rosamund, and our MMC, Valen.

This is a shifter romantasy so the spice was around a 2.5 out of 5 on my personal scale. There were very explicit conversations, especially between Valen and Rosamund, with a few inquisitive bedrooms scenes. We did get a fully intimate scene at the end.

I have been in a pretty steep reading slump, but this was suck a quick, fun read that pushed the slump away. I was pulled in pretty quickly, especially during scenes with Valen and Rosamund and their banter. As much as she tried fighting it, Rosamund’s personality and wit were matched very well with Valen.

Since a prophecy was mentioned and there is still so much of that world that was unexplored, I would love to see more of their story! All in all, this story gave me a nice couple of days with my Kindle, pulled completely into a world of shifters and fae!

[Danita Beukes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so amazing, I could not put it down. Rosamund is a character that has been through some things in her past and even still goes through so much pain and sadness in this story, her character development is so good from someone that can barely stand wolfs to someone that not only choose them but is happy for the first time in her life about it.

The entire journey had me at the edge of my seat, I was wishing for them to not go to her fiance and just be happy together and I was so mad that she kept choosing the fiance over Valerian even I was frustrated by her but in the end I love that she stand up for herself and when she finally gave her entire heart to Valerian I was jumping for joy.

You will love the story if you like true mates, a wolf that in my eyes felt first and just kept on falling!.

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

[Coffeenbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Red Riding Hood retelling
- Enemies to lovers
- Fated mates
- Close proximity
- Slow burn

I love a good fairytale retelling. It's always fun to see the way authors rethink them. This is a loose retelling of Red Riding Hood. The premise is that Rosamund (Rosie) is promised in marriage and needs a bodyguard to escort her. However, the bodyguard her cruel stepfather selects is Valen, a werewolf he captured. As a young girl, Rosie was severerly m@1med by a werewolf, who also un@l1ved Rosie's mother. The stepfather has an agenda, which eventually comes to light....

At first, Rosie is terr1f1ed of Valen...and who wouldn't be? He is nearly feral, bound and angry. But after Valen s@ves Rosie, their dynamic starts to change....

What follows is a heart pounding adventure Rosie did not expect, but one that will change her life forever.

This was so good! I dove in and the day passed me by before I even realized it. Fantastic PNR!

[Xanthe De Backer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of the book and the main storyline, but there are quite some inconsistenties throughout it and near the end I felt the characters were going in circles for no apparent reason.

I liked their banter, but towards the end they literally only swoon, which became a bit annoying as quite some things still had to be explained. This also made the pacing at the end feel a bit weird.

The idea of stereotypical views was relevant for what is going in on the world today, but at one point I felt one of the main characters almost deliberately chose to revert to the steretypical views even after the character of the stygmatised race already showed several times he wasn't like the stereotypes portrayed him to be. Luckily that did eventually got better again.

It was a fun read, something to go to when you don't want to think too much.

[Amanda Bernardino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a standalone based in the nine worlds world and because I absolutely loved the Mythical Library Duet, I jumped at opportunity of reading this book. And it didn’t disappoint in the slightest. Rosamund is a scared and scarred young woman after surviving an attack to her home and growing up in an abusive household. Cue in Valen in all his rough straightforwardness, willingness to do anything in search of information and answers and to go through life behaving the way he thinks is right. Rosamund is forced to face her greatest fears, to question her long held beliefs and face head on the world’s cruelties with the help of the most unlikely companion. The character building is amazing and you find yourself rooting for them. This is a very good story that I was sorry to see it finished. I do hope Mona Archer gets around to return to this world.

[Shary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I thought the beginning was slow and I had a hard time connecting with the characters. I do appreciate the single POV in the exposition, and promptly got excited when the 2nd was introduced.

Once we're in the woods the slow burn begins. Valen is an honorable and patient gentlewolf and he yearns for Rosie the rest of the book. She's afraid of him , but Valen is very much consent-oriented . It's quite refreshing because this genre often features very dominant male characters.

The romance builds for their entire journey and we're not satisfied until the last chapter. Really kept me invested!

My ⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating means that I enjoyed the book but it left a lot to be desired. I would only recommend it to people that I think would love. I don’t regret reading this.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Mona Archer for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!

I couldn’t put this book down till I got to the end! The slow burn and chemistry between Rosamund and Valen. This might be the first book where I was annoyed with the FMC for some of the choices she makes because she just couldn’t see how much Valen loved her!! But I understand why it was done, because their relationship evolves through trauma, trust, protection and healing.

I loved how Rosamund went from a terrified to a confident woman who didn’t care about anyone else except for herself and her happiness. And Valen…he was just so very patient with Rosie even though he hurting just he could make sure Rosie was always happy.

This was a perfect standalone that was emotionally intimate and a beautiful romantic fantasy!

[Scarlet · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book you meet Rosamund who spent her life among high class society sheltered and a future with a lord that she believes will her happily ever after. Scarred from Wolfs attacking her as a child the high class (including her step family) mocks her and ridicules her for how she looks. She then meets Valerian a dark fae Shifter that her step dad told her to use as a body guard. She faces her fears, trials, and a long Journey within this book. You'll have to read for more. I absolutely loved this read, Rosamund and Valerians chemistry is everything you want in a slow burn. Valerians banter and wit was added the right touch when things got to tense. The world was written so beautifully and so descriptive that you will feel like you've lived it. If you love fated mates, cute Banter, and a slow burn for the ages then this is the read for you. I highly recommend!

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

ROSAMUND is preparing for a dinner her stepfather has arranged. To her horror he sent a hunt to get a dark fae...a werewolf. She was traumatized by the wolves when she was little and her mother killed. Now she is told it will be her bodyguard as she travels tp her future husband. Then she strikes a deal aith it.
Valen strikes a deal with Rosamund. He will be her bodyguard for freedom when delivers her to her future husband. He stops two men trying to kill her.
It seems to her that her stepfather is being a tad shady and more cruel. Then they leave on the journey. What happens on that journey will be eye opening and reveal much.
A fascinating story about an old fairy tale that will take the reader's breathe away.

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

[ajscenic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like other books this story is set in the Nine Worlds universe and is a great read.
It follows Rosamund and her lonely painful existence since her attack by a werewolf. Now she has lost both parents and this puts her more than ever under the thumb of her stepfather, who sees the opportunity to marry her off. He is calculating and cruel as her bodyguard is a werewolf. This is a mistake as Rosamund might be sheltered, but she is brave enough to see past what her bodyguard is, to who he really is inside.
This is a lovely romance between Rosamund and Valerian. I love the slow burn aspect as it kept me wanting more. This story is very well written with lush scenes, longing looks and dashing heroes.
This is a delightful read.