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Pumpkin Hollow
Moth to a Flame
A curse twisted every word she spoke. She’d given up all hope. Until he–quite literally–crashed into her life.
Lucia Atropas has the most dangerous garden in Pumpkin Hollow and a curse she can’t escape.. Every word she speaks twists in the ears of those around her, a parting gift from her family for speaking up about their patenting of folk remedies. She's done trying to be understood. Her night-blooming flowers never ask her to explain herself, and she busies herself in her work, even as the loneliness creeps closer every night.
She didn't account for a six-foot-something mothman with wings, a leather jacket, and a ridiculously strong affinity for lamps.
Hawk Acheron just does the deliveries. He doesn't settle down, always on the move for good reasons he doesn't talk about. But when a broken Soul Bloom dusts them both with its spores, suddenly he can feel everything Lucia is feeling and for the first time in years, someone actually understands her.
Now they're stuck within each other until Halloween, when the veil thins enough to break the bond for good. Surely nothing could come from two emotionally stunted people spending the most magically potent time of the year forced to stay near someone who can read their every feeling like a book. No reason why this should become anything more than a temporary inconvenience.
Except the counter-spell requires them to both truly want it broken. As Halloween approaches, can either of them say that's truly the case. For a witch who's been betrayed by everyone she trusted and a mothman who's cut himself off to protect those he loves, choosing to trust is scarier than any Halloween fright.
As the veil thins, one fateful delivery leads to a whole lot more than a broken greenhouse window.
Lucia Atropas has the most dangerous garden in Pumpkin Hollow and a curse she can’t escape.. Every word she speaks twists in the ears of those around her, a parting gift from her family for speaking up about their patenting of folk remedies. She's done trying to be understood. Her night-blooming flowers never ask her to explain herself, and she busies herself in her work, even as the loneliness creeps closer every night.
She didn't account for a six-foot-something mothman with wings, a leather jacket, and a ridiculously strong affinity for lamps.
Hawk Acheron just does the deliveries. He doesn't settle down, always on the move for good reasons he doesn't talk about. But when a broken Soul Bloom dusts them both with its spores, suddenly he can feel everything Lucia is feeling and for the first time in years, someone actually understands her.
Now they're stuck within each other until Halloween, when the veil thins enough to break the bond for good. Surely nothing could come from two emotionally stunted people spending the most magically potent time of the year forced to stay near someone who can read their every feeling like a book. No reason why this should become anything more than a temporary inconvenience.
Except the counter-spell requires them to both truly want it broken. As Halloween approaches, can either of them say that's truly the case. For a witch who's been betrayed by everyone she trusted and a mothman who's cut himself off to protect those he loves, choosing to trust is scarier than any Halloween fright.
As the veil thins, one fateful delivery leads to a whole lot more than a broken greenhouse window.
169 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
October 5, 2026
This was so adorable and such a perfect cozy Halloween read! Lucia is a witch trying to break her own curse when Hawk, a mothman, ends up ruining her plans. I really enjoyed their dynamic and this was such a fun little novella. The romance was a little too insta-love for me, but I still enjoyed it overall. I also loved having a dominant FMC for a change.
October 3, 2026
Of all the Crytpids in this world, the mothman has always been my favorite. I have even visited that infamous caked up statue in Point Pleasant.
Well of course when one of my favorite authors decides to write a mothman romance novella, I knew I was in for a treat. I loved the dynamic between Lucia and Hawk. Who knew the mothman liked being dominated?! It's quick, its steamy, and it will have you tossing your mothballs.
Well of course when one of my favorite authors decides to write a mothman romance novella, I knew I was in for a treat. I loved the dynamic between Lucia and Hawk. Who knew the mothman liked being dominated?! It's quick, its steamy, and it will have you tossing your mothballs.
October 10, 2026
If I could make her shine like that again, I would do everything in my power to make it happen. Get to the light.
First off the moth jokes and names top notch. This was way more cutesy than I originally thought but I still enjoyed myself.
It made me want to read more of this world. And the good boy moments were chefs kiss.
First off the moth jokes and names top notch. This was way more cutesy than I originally thought but I still enjoyed myself.
It made me want to read more of this world. And the good boy moments were chefs kiss.
October 9, 2026
Mothman is hot. You can fight me.
October 5, 2026
Hot AF. I just knew it would be a 5 star read for me. —first thoughts
My review: I’ve been reading the Pumpkin Hollow novellas with a quickness—and how could I not??? All of them have been amazing so far! In this essay, you all are going to learn about how I’m a lil freak(affectionate) about my favorite cryptid, Mothman 😌. Compliments, kudos, my cc (bc I definitely pre-ordered a copy lmao), and a billion stars to Ava Thorne for this snack of a book!!!
This story follows Lucia, our FMC, who is a green witch that has been cursed by her own family member to essentially be unable to speak to anyone. What someone hears is definitely not what Lucia actually says. Because of this, she’s become an outcast in the town, basically no one really knows aside from wise, meddling Gertrude. Thank goodness Hawk, our MMC, just couldn’t help himself and crashed into her greenhouse, ruined the counter-spell, and found himself bonded to Lucia!! He can understand what she says perfectly and from this we see a beautiful little relationship blossom. Also, they have AMAZING chemistry, which both of them can feel through the bond heheheh. Things get spicy since they both can feel everything and it is QUITE tasty. Amazing micro-tropes( cough-cough…vineplay), Hawk’s wings 🤤, antennae, etc.😮💨👍🏻, Lucia just being a smart STEM knockout. They are so hot together lmao. I ATE it up!!! A green witch x Mothman combo has gotta be one of my favorites.
I also adoredddddd the devotion that Hawk develops towards Lucia because she so needs someone on her side. This helps her learn how to open up to people again too. There’s even humor to be found as they navigate how to break the curse Lucia is under! The Moth themed names for Hawk and his siblings were amazing—the way I snort-laughed since I wasn’t expecting them 😂. The John Denver reference too lmao. And finally, Lucia’s moral compass when it comes to medicines for magical folk— amazingggggg. She has my whole heart.I cannot wait for my physical copy to arrive and join the others I’m slowly collecting 😌👍🏻.
My review: I’ve been reading the Pumpkin Hollow novellas with a quickness—and how could I not??? All of them have been amazing so far! In this essay, you all are going to learn about how I’m a lil freak(affectionate) about my favorite cryptid, Mothman 😌. Compliments, kudos, my cc (bc I definitely pre-ordered a copy lmao), and a billion stars to Ava Thorne for this snack of a book!!!
This story follows Lucia, our FMC, who is a green witch that has been cursed by her own family member to essentially be unable to speak to anyone. What someone hears is definitely not what Lucia actually says. Because of this, she’s become an outcast in the town, basically no one really knows aside from wise, meddling Gertrude. Thank goodness Hawk, our MMC, just couldn’t help himself and crashed into her greenhouse, ruined the counter-spell, and found himself bonded to Lucia!! He can understand what she says perfectly and from this we see a beautiful little relationship blossom. Also, they have AMAZING chemistry, which both of them can feel through the bond heheheh. Things get spicy since they both can feel everything and it is QUITE tasty. Amazing micro-tropes( cough-cough…vineplay), Hawk’s wings 🤤, antennae, etc.😮💨👍🏻, Lucia just being a smart STEM knockout. They are so hot together lmao. I ATE it up!!! A green witch x Mothman combo has gotta be one of my favorites.
I also adoredddddd the devotion that Hawk develops towards Lucia because she so needs someone on her side. This helps her learn how to open up to people again too. There’s even humor to be found as they navigate how to break the curse Lucia is under! The Moth themed names for Hawk and his siblings were amazing—the way I snort-laughed since I wasn’t expecting them 😂. The John Denver reference too lmao. And finally, Lucia’s moral compass when it comes to medicines for magical folk— amazingggggg. She has my whole heart.I cannot wait for my physical copy to arrive and join the others I’m slowly collecting 😌👍🏻.
October 9, 2026
Lucia has been cursed for the past 5 years. Anytime she speaks, she hears what she is supposed to be saying, however everyone else hears her words all twisted and horrifying. She is a green witch, and has been working with a Soul Bloom that only blooms once in hopes of using the pollen to help break her curse. All is going well, until Hawk comes crashing in and they end up bonding instead of breaking a curse.
Hawk was just out trying to finish his final deliveries of the night, and when he sees Lucia glowing from the spell she is performing, he can't help me drawn to it, even if it means he accidently crashes through her window. He is a mothman after all. With them being bonded, they can't go further than 20 feet from each other, and they can feel all, and I do mean ALL emotions from each other.
I had so much fun reading this short, sweet, and spicy book. Lucia and Hawk are so cute together, and help balance one another out. Hawk has always had to take care of his younger siblings, so he enjoyed being bossed around by Lucia. Amongst other things that is. He is the goodest boy after all. Despite Lucia not being able to talk to anyone for the past 5 years, and her spirit slowly getting kicked down, she only ever wanted to help people, and had the biggest heart. Watching her walls come down with Hawk and finally findings someone who sees her was so rewarding. Did I mention that the spice was spicing? And SHE ties HIM up? I love when that happens 🤭
Hawk was just out trying to finish his final deliveries of the night, and when he sees Lucia glowing from the spell she is performing, he can't help me drawn to it, even if it means he accidently crashes through her window. He is a mothman after all. With them being bonded, they can't go further than 20 feet from each other, and they can feel all, and I do mean ALL emotions from each other.
I had so much fun reading this short, sweet, and spicy book. Lucia and Hawk are so cute together, and help balance one another out. Hawk has always had to take care of his younger siblings, so he enjoyed being bossed around by Lucia. Amongst other things that is. He is the goodest boy after all. Despite Lucia not being able to talk to anyone for the past 5 years, and her spirit slowly getting kicked down, she only ever wanted to help people, and had the biggest heart. Watching her walls come down with Hawk and finally findings someone who sees her was so rewarding. Did I mention that the spice was spicing? And SHE ties HIM up? I love when that happens 🤭
October 12, 2026
You tell me Ava Thorne writes it, then you tell me his a big ole simp who crawls to her and comes in his pants and I'm there immediately.
And they're both hot as hell, helloo???
Lucia was cursed and now lives a life of solitude, as the curse twists all her words negatively. She's withdrawn from the world around her trying to say everyone from her cutting words. But 5 years is a long time to be alone. She's hoping she's finally found the ritual that will break her curse.
While preforming the ritual, mothman Hawke can't help but be drawn to the light coming from her and her ceremony space. He crashes in, ruining the ritual and inadvertently bonding himself to Lucia. Now they have until Halloween to break the bond. But what happens when an unwanted bond turns into something neither of them want to let go of?
- He's so sweet
- Dom mommy
- She ties him up with vines
- knotting
- extra fun tongue
And they're both hot as hell, helloo???
Lucia was cursed and now lives a life of solitude, as the curse twists all her words negatively. She's withdrawn from the world around her trying to say everyone from her cutting words. But 5 years is a long time to be alone. She's hoping she's finally found the ritual that will break her curse.
While preforming the ritual, mothman Hawke can't help but be drawn to the light coming from her and her ceremony space. He crashes in, ruining the ritual and inadvertently bonding himself to Lucia. Now they have until Halloween to break the bond. But what happens when an unwanted bond turns into something neither of them want to let go of?
- He's so sweet
- Dom mommy
- She ties him up with vines
- knotting
- extra fun tongue
October 9, 2026
Y’all know I LOVE Mothman… but make him a hot, pierced, and tatted Mothman on a motorcycle… and just like that my brain has short circuited lol
Seriously this couple had me in all my feels!
Between the super toxic relationship the FMC had with her family…to the MMC stepping up to rise and take care of all of his siblings.
From the very beginning I was rooting for these two!
Despite their situation… they had this undeniable chemistry. They were drawn to each other like a moth to a flame.( you see what I did there?!)
And when they let their guards down and gave into their desires LAWD have MERCY it was HAWT!
What started as this temporary meet cute bond, turned into this beautiful forever!
Seriously this couple had me in all my feels!
Between the super toxic relationship the FMC had with her family…to the MMC stepping up to rise and take care of all of his siblings.
From the very beginning I was rooting for these two!
Despite their situation… they had this undeniable chemistry. They were drawn to each other like a moth to a flame.( you see what I did there?!)
And when they let their guards down and gave into their desires LAWD have MERCY it was HAWT!
What started as this temporary meet cute bond, turned into this beautiful forever!
October 5, 2026
Perfect book to start off my October spooky season reading! The spice was well written (fast burn) and through the book was short the MMC and FMC were surprisingly well characterized and fleshed out alongside an interesting plot.
October 9, 2026
Hottest mothman made hotter by having a good boy praise kink🥵
Review of advance copy received from Author
I usually don’t write reviews but I devour this book in ONE sitting! I just couldn’t stop. It was perfect, no notes.
October 1, 2026
A statement on big pharma, a man who eats, and a bat-cat. Seriously. I’d take an entire series of these two.
October 10, 2026
Moth to a Flame by Ava Thorne
★★★★★ — 5 FUCKING STARS! 🦋🔥
A SUBMISSIVE MOTHMAN WITH TATTOOS AND A MOTORCYCLE?! EXCUSE ME WHILE I LOSE EVERY LAST SHRED OF MY DIGNITY 🥵😭
SOOOOOOO. I WAS OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK.
Like, genuinely, embarrassingly, kicking-my-feet-and-giggling OBSESSED.
Because what do you MEAN we're getting a giant mothman who rides a motorcycle, has tattoos, wears leather, and is a SUBMISSIVE LITTLE GOOD BOY?!?!
Ava Thorne, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?! 😩
Apparently, my taste in fictional men has officially expanded to include oversized insects with emotional baggage and a praise-worthy attitude.
And you know what? I'M NOT EVEN ASHAMED.
The man has wings, tattoos, a motorcycle, and a willingness to submit. WHAT MORE COULD A GIRL POSSIBLY WANT?!
Anywayyyyy, before I start barking at a fictional moth, let's discuss the actual plot 🤣
Our FMC, Lucia Atropa, is a green witch who lives in Pumpkin Hollow, surrounded by her beloved plants and an assortment of magical botanical nightmares. And I absolutely LOVED HER.
She's prickly, independent, bossy, and has a very understandable reason for preferring plants over people. You see, Lucia's own family cursed her after she opposed their attempts to patent traditional folk remedies. The curse twists her words in other people's ears, making it practically impossible for her to communicate properly.
So naturally, Lucia has withdrawn from people and spends most of her time with her plants. Honestly? Understandable. Plants don't deliberately misunderstand you, betray you, or make you question your remaining brain cells.
And then we have Hawk Acheron.
HAWK. FUCKING. ACHERON.
Our enormous, tattooed, motorcycle-riding mothman delivery driver.
A man who is quite literally attracted to light.
And apparently, my new favorite fictional boyfriend 🫠
Lucia is preparing an incredibly important ritual involving a rare, once-in-a-lifetime blooming flower. She's got everything planned, everything arranged, and she needs the candles and light for the ritual.
Enter Hawk, our unfortunate delivery guy.
And this is where everything goes spectacularly to shit 😭🤣
Because Hawk, being a MOTH, is drawn toward the light.
And this enormous winged idiot CRASHES THROUGH HER GREENHOUSE.
SIR?!
THE DOOR WAS RIGHT THERE?!?!
Lucia's carefully planned ritual? RUINED.
Her greenhouse? DAMAGED.
Her patience? SIX FEET UNDER.
And Hawk? Well, he's just accidentally introduced himself to the woman who's about to change his entire life by committing what can only be described as a botanical hit-and-run.
HE WAS LITERALLY A MOTH TO HER FLAME.
I'M SCREAMING 😭😭😭
The title is so ridiculously perfect that I genuinely cannot get over it.
But the disaster doesn't end there.
Ohhhhh no.
Because during the chaos, the magical flower releases its pollen, creating an unexpected bond between Lucia and Hawk.
And suddenly, Hawk can FEEL HER EMOTIONS.
Not just guess what she's feeling. Not just try to interpret her cursed words.
HE CAN ACTUALLY FEEL THEM.
Which is especially significant because Lucia has spent so much of her life being misunderstood.
And now this enormous mothman who just demolished her greenhouse might be the first person in years who can truly understand her.
EXCUSE ME WHILE I GET EMOTIONAL OVER A FUCKING MOTH.
Of course, neither of them exactly signed up for a magical emotional attachment, so now they're stuck trying to figure out how to counter the spell.
Which means spending time together.
Lots and lots of time together.
And naturally, things start getting interesting 👀
Because underneath all the chaos, the ruined ritual, the magical pollen, and the emotional complications, these two have CHEMISTRY.
And I don't mean a little spark.
I mean someone needs to confiscate the candles because we're about to have a whole different kind of fire.
AND THEN THERE'S THE SEX.
OH.
MY.
FUCKING.
GOD.
🥵🥵🥵
I knew I was reading monster romance. I knew there would probably be some interesting anatomical developments.
BUT HAWK'S VERY UNIQUE ANATOMY?!
SIR, WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE WORKING WITH HERE?! 👀
The creativity. The possibilities. The sheer audacity of monster romance authors to look at the human body and say, Cute, but what if we made some adjustments?
I WAS INVESTED.
FOR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES, OBVIOUSLY.
Someone has to appreciate the biological diversity of fictional mothmen, and apparently that someone is me.
But do you know what REALLY did it for me?
HAWK IS A SUB.
A SUBMISSIVE MOTHMAN.
A GOOD BOY.
A MAN WHO WANTS TO PLEASE HIS WOMAN.
I AM UNWELL😩
Listen, I love a dominant fictional man as much as the next morally questionable romance reader, but there is something absolutely DELICIOUS about a big, intimidating-looking man who just wants to be good for his girl.
THE CONTRAST?!
THE DYNAMIC?!
THE FACT THAT LUCIA IS THIS BOSSY LITTLE WITCH AND HAWK IS THIS MASSIVE MOTHMAN WHO IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO LET HER TAKE CHARGE?!
PUT ME IN THE FUCKING GROUND.
And what made it even better was that I genuinely loved them together outside the bedroom.
Because yes, the spice was SPICING, but their emotional connection was what made the romance so satisfying.
Lucia is a woman who's been punished for speaking her mind, isolated by a curse, and made to feel as though being understood is an impossible luxury.
And Hawk is someone who has spent so much of his life moving from place to place, taking care of others and keeping himself emotionally guarded.
They're both carrying their own baggage.
And somehow, through one disastrous delivery and an accidental magical bond, they find someone who sees beyond all of it.
I loved that their relationship wasn't simply about physical attraction. The emotional bond might have forced them into each other's lives, but the feelings that developed were so much more than magical convenience.
There's something genuinely lovely about a romance where being understood is such a central part of falling in love. And I particularly loved that Lucia didn't have to become an entirely different person to be loved.
She could be bossy. She could be prickly. She could be frustrated and stubborn and occasionally ready to murder the oversized moth who destroyed her greenhouse.
And Hawk could still adore her.
SHE GOT HERSELF A MAN WHO COULD FEEL HER EMOTIONS AND STILL WANTED TO STICK AROUND. THAT'S ROMANCE, BABY 😭❤️
I also loved how delightfully ridiculous the entire premise was.
Because on paper, we're talking about a witch, a mothman, an unfortunate greenhouse incident, magical flower pollen, and a supernatural emotional bond.
That sounds like the beginning of an insurance claim, not a love story.
AND YET HERE WE ARE.
I was laughing, swooning, blushing, and questioning whether I should be concerned about my attraction to a fictional insect.
The answer is no, by the way.
I've made peace with it.
My standards now apparently include wings and a motorcycle🤷🏻♀️
And honestly, this is exactly what I want from a cozy paranormal monster romance.
Give me the ridiculous supernatural circumstances. Give me the magical mishaps. Give me characters with actual emotional depth. Give me chemistry that makes me want to scream into my pillow.
And, most importantly, GIVE ME A MAN WHO KNOWS HOW TO BE A GOOD BOY 🫠
The romance was adorable, the spice was delicious, the characters were lovable, and the entire experience was just so much FUN.
Did I expect to fall this hard for a mothman?
Absolutely fucking not.
Did I spend an unreasonable amount of time obsessing over him?
YES.
Would I read an entire additional book consisting of Lucia bossing Hawk around while he enthusiastically worships the ground she walks on?
WITHOUT HESITATION.
Final thoughts:
Lucia wanted to perform a magical ritual.
Hawk wanted to deliver some candles.
Instead, he crashed through her greenhouse, accidentally bonded himself to a witch, and somehow flew directly into my fictional boyfriend hall of fame.
THE MAN CAME TO DELIVER LIGHT AND ENDED UP BEING THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE ENTIRE FUCKING BOOK 😭🦋
Five stars for the romance.
Five stars for Lucia.
Five stars for the absolutely unhinged premise.
And approximately seven thousand stars for Hawk Acheron and his very interesting anatomical situation.
★★★★★ — 5 FUCKING STARS.
Never thought I'd say this, but apparently the way to my heart is through a submissive, tattooed mothman on a motorcycle.
No thoughts. Just Hawk. And a sudden appreciation for entomology. 🥵🦋🔥
★★★★★ — 5 FUCKING STARS! 🦋🔥
A SUBMISSIVE MOTHMAN WITH TATTOOS AND A MOTORCYCLE?! EXCUSE ME WHILE I LOSE EVERY LAST SHRED OF MY DIGNITY 🥵😭
SOOOOOOO. I WAS OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK.
Like, genuinely, embarrassingly, kicking-my-feet-and-giggling OBSESSED.
Because what do you MEAN we're getting a giant mothman who rides a motorcycle, has tattoos, wears leather, and is a SUBMISSIVE LITTLE GOOD BOY?!?!
Ava Thorne, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?! 😩
Apparently, my taste in fictional men has officially expanded to include oversized insects with emotional baggage and a praise-worthy attitude.
And you know what? I'M NOT EVEN ASHAMED.
The man has wings, tattoos, a motorcycle, and a willingness to submit. WHAT MORE COULD A GIRL POSSIBLY WANT?!
Anywayyyyy, before I start barking at a fictional moth, let's discuss the actual plot 🤣
Our FMC, Lucia Atropa, is a green witch who lives in Pumpkin Hollow, surrounded by her beloved plants and an assortment of magical botanical nightmares. And I absolutely LOVED HER.
She's prickly, independent, bossy, and has a very understandable reason for preferring plants over people. You see, Lucia's own family cursed her after she opposed their attempts to patent traditional folk remedies. The curse twists her words in other people's ears, making it practically impossible for her to communicate properly.
So naturally, Lucia has withdrawn from people and spends most of her time with her plants. Honestly? Understandable. Plants don't deliberately misunderstand you, betray you, or make you question your remaining brain cells.
And then we have Hawk Acheron.
HAWK. FUCKING. ACHERON.
Our enormous, tattooed, motorcycle-riding mothman delivery driver.
A man who is quite literally attracted to light.
And apparently, my new favorite fictional boyfriend 🫠
Lucia is preparing an incredibly important ritual involving a rare, once-in-a-lifetime blooming flower. She's got everything planned, everything arranged, and she needs the candles and light for the ritual.
Enter Hawk, our unfortunate delivery guy.
And this is where everything goes spectacularly to shit 😭🤣
Because Hawk, being a MOTH, is drawn toward the light.
And this enormous winged idiot CRASHES THROUGH HER GREENHOUSE.
SIR?!
THE DOOR WAS RIGHT THERE?!?!
Lucia's carefully planned ritual? RUINED.
Her greenhouse? DAMAGED.
Her patience? SIX FEET UNDER.
And Hawk? Well, he's just accidentally introduced himself to the woman who's about to change his entire life by committing what can only be described as a botanical hit-and-run.
HE WAS LITERALLY A MOTH TO HER FLAME.
I'M SCREAMING 😭😭😭
The title is so ridiculously perfect that I genuinely cannot get over it.
But the disaster doesn't end there.
Ohhhhh no.
Because during the chaos, the magical flower releases its pollen, creating an unexpected bond between Lucia and Hawk.
And suddenly, Hawk can FEEL HER EMOTIONS.
Not just guess what she's feeling. Not just try to interpret her cursed words.
HE CAN ACTUALLY FEEL THEM.
Which is especially significant because Lucia has spent so much of her life being misunderstood.
And now this enormous mothman who just demolished her greenhouse might be the first person in years who can truly understand her.
EXCUSE ME WHILE I GET EMOTIONAL OVER A FUCKING MOTH.
Of course, neither of them exactly signed up for a magical emotional attachment, so now they're stuck trying to figure out how to counter the spell.
Which means spending time together.
Lots and lots of time together.
And naturally, things start getting interesting 👀
Because underneath all the chaos, the ruined ritual, the magical pollen, and the emotional complications, these two have CHEMISTRY.
And I don't mean a little spark.
I mean someone needs to confiscate the candles because we're about to have a whole different kind of fire.
AND THEN THERE'S THE SEX.
OH.
MY.
FUCKING.
GOD.
🥵🥵🥵
I knew I was reading monster romance. I knew there would probably be some interesting anatomical developments.
BUT HAWK'S VERY UNIQUE ANATOMY?!
SIR, WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE WORKING WITH HERE?! 👀
The creativity. The possibilities. The sheer audacity of monster romance authors to look at the human body and say, Cute, but what if we made some adjustments?
I WAS INVESTED.
FOR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES, OBVIOUSLY.
Someone has to appreciate the biological diversity of fictional mothmen, and apparently that someone is me.
But do you know what REALLY did it for me?
HAWK IS A SUB.
A SUBMISSIVE MOTHMAN.
A GOOD BOY.
A MAN WHO WANTS TO PLEASE HIS WOMAN.
I AM UNWELL😩
Listen, I love a dominant fictional man as much as the next morally questionable romance reader, but there is something absolutely DELICIOUS about a big, intimidating-looking man who just wants to be good for his girl.
THE CONTRAST?!
THE DYNAMIC?!
THE FACT THAT LUCIA IS THIS BOSSY LITTLE WITCH AND HAWK IS THIS MASSIVE MOTHMAN WHO IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO LET HER TAKE CHARGE?!
PUT ME IN THE FUCKING GROUND.
And what made it even better was that I genuinely loved them together outside the bedroom.
Because yes, the spice was SPICING, but their emotional connection was what made the romance so satisfying.
Lucia is a woman who's been punished for speaking her mind, isolated by a curse, and made to feel as though being understood is an impossible luxury.
And Hawk is someone who has spent so much of his life moving from place to place, taking care of others and keeping himself emotionally guarded.
They're both carrying their own baggage.
And somehow, through one disastrous delivery and an accidental magical bond, they find someone who sees beyond all of it.
I loved that their relationship wasn't simply about physical attraction. The emotional bond might have forced them into each other's lives, but the feelings that developed were so much more than magical convenience.
There's something genuinely lovely about a romance where being understood is such a central part of falling in love. And I particularly loved that Lucia didn't have to become an entirely different person to be loved.
She could be bossy. She could be prickly. She could be frustrated and stubborn and occasionally ready to murder the oversized moth who destroyed her greenhouse.
And Hawk could still adore her.
SHE GOT HERSELF A MAN WHO COULD FEEL HER EMOTIONS AND STILL WANTED TO STICK AROUND. THAT'S ROMANCE, BABY 😭❤️
I also loved how delightfully ridiculous the entire premise was.
Because on paper, we're talking about a witch, a mothman, an unfortunate greenhouse incident, magical flower pollen, and a supernatural emotional bond.
That sounds like the beginning of an insurance claim, not a love story.
AND YET HERE WE ARE.
I was laughing, swooning, blushing, and questioning whether I should be concerned about my attraction to a fictional insect.
The answer is no, by the way.
I've made peace with it.
My standards now apparently include wings and a motorcycle🤷🏻♀️
And honestly, this is exactly what I want from a cozy paranormal monster romance.
Give me the ridiculous supernatural circumstances. Give me the magical mishaps. Give me characters with actual emotional depth. Give me chemistry that makes me want to scream into my pillow.
And, most importantly, GIVE ME A MAN WHO KNOWS HOW TO BE A GOOD BOY 🫠
The romance was adorable, the spice was delicious, the characters were lovable, and the entire experience was just so much FUN.
Did I expect to fall this hard for a mothman?
Absolutely fucking not.
Did I spend an unreasonable amount of time obsessing over him?
YES.
Would I read an entire additional book consisting of Lucia bossing Hawk around while he enthusiastically worships the ground she walks on?
WITHOUT HESITATION.
Final thoughts:
Lucia wanted to perform a magical ritual.
Hawk wanted to deliver some candles.
Instead, he crashed through her greenhouse, accidentally bonded himself to a witch, and somehow flew directly into my fictional boyfriend hall of fame.
THE MAN CAME TO DELIVER LIGHT AND ENDED UP BEING THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE ENTIRE FUCKING BOOK 😭🦋
Five stars for the romance.
Five stars for Lucia.
Five stars for the absolutely unhinged premise.
And approximately seven thousand stars for Hawk Acheron and his very interesting anatomical situation.
★★★★★ — 5 FUCKING STARS.
Never thought I'd say this, but apparently the way to my heart is through a submissive, tattooed mothman on a motorcycle.
No thoughts. Just Hawk. And a sudden appreciation for entomology. 🥵🦋🔥
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2026
5⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
Dual POV
Paranormal romance
Small town Fall season
Green witch x half human/mothman
Curse breaking
Forced proximity
Mutual caretaking
Bossy FMC
Sweet as honey MMC
Piercings everywhere
Domme/sub vibes
"Good boy"
Vine/rope play
Special, sexy mothman attributes
HEA
I have a weakness for Mothman romances. Anytime one pops up as a suggested read, there is a very good chance it's going on my TBR. Add in an author I've already been enjoying, a brand-new release, a quick novella that happens to have a fall setting, and some very hot character art of the Mothman in question, and I was sold. This novella checked off several boxes, and as promised, it's a fast, fun read.
Lucia is a brilliant green witch living a cursed and increasingly isolated life when Hawk, the human/mothman hybrid delivery guy, enters the picture. When a rare plant unexpectedly bonds them together in a ritual gone wrong, they suddenly have to figure out what this connection means while trying to break it before it becomes permanent.
This biggest reason this novella worked so well sre the characters and their relationship. They're both driven, intelligent, deeply caring people who want to help others in their own ways, and they're both accustomed to being the responsible one in the room. Lucia uses her knowledge of magic/medicine to help people. Hawk has spent most of his life helping take care of his family as the oldest of seven brothers, always putting his mom and siblings first. So there was something incredibly satisfying about watching two people who are so used to handling everything on their own finally find someone who makes them feel seen, understood, and safe.
Their connection worked especially well for me because Hawk isn't just fascinated by Lucia's intelligence,although he absolutely is. He's drawn to her in every possible sense. Their emotional bond lets him feel just how lonely and isolated she has been, and once he realizes how much she's been carrying by herself, he is determined to lighten that load however he can. He wants to make her laugh, distract her when she gets stuck in her head, and give her little moments where she doesn't have to carry everything alone. And Lucia is equally captivated by him. She loves the whole package; the piercings, Mothman features, all of it, but what really gets her is how genuinely good he is. She's spent years surrounded by people who were calculating, competitive, and willing to use one another, so his quiet thoughtfulness and complete lack of ulterior motives are almost foreign to her. The little things he does throughout show her that his kindness is genuine.
I enjoyed the way their bond temporarily pulled Hawk away from his family and gave him the opportunity to realize that his brothers were actually capable of handling themselves without him. He's been the responsible older brother for so long that stepping away from them was something he'd barely allowed himself to consider, and watching them surprise him by being perfectly capable was such a nice little reminder that sometimes loving people also means letting them stand on their own. And, selfishly, it was nice seeing Hawk realize that he was allowed to have a life that wasn't entirely about taking care of everyone else.
I loved how much they genuinely liked each other, too. There was so much positive interaction between them. Hawk was absolutely down bad for Lucia's bossy side, which worked beautifully because bossy is basically her natural state, and she appreciated having someone who could meet that energy without being threatened by it. When she got caught up in her own head, he knew how to pull her back out, make her laugh, or simply give her a mental break. There is some angst because Lucia's loneliness and isolation are very real and very painful, but the overall story still felt relatively low-stakes.
The romance itself hit so many of my favorite things: forced proximity, acts of service, quality time, mutual caretaking, emotional connection, a soft-hearted MMC, and two people who simply want to be seen and loved for who they actually are. And, the spicy scenes were hot, and made hotter because of their emotional bond. Lucia's green magic makes for some particularly creative moments, and Hawk's Mothman attributes are utterly delightful. He's such a good boy.
Lucia is also exactly the kind of FMC I tend to love. She's brilliant, highly educated, strong-willed, and deeply principled, and that intelligence is never treated as something she needs to tone down to make other people comfortable. Three books into reading Ava Thorne, I'm starting to notice a pattern with her heroines, and I am very much here for it.
I'm also really enjoying the way Thorne weaves bigger real-world issues into her stories without ever losing sight of the fact that she's writing romance first. There is a very clear fuck Big Pharma thread running through this one, and it fits Lucia perfectly. Her experiences with her family's pharmaceutical empire force her to confront what corporate greed and exploitation can mean for ordinary people who simply need access to medicine, and her sense of justice is a huge part of who she is. I love that Thorne can take issues like corporate greed, exploitation, and the desire to push back against powerful institutions and weave them naturally into a paranormal romance without turning the book into a political lecture. The issues are there, they matter, and they inform the characters, but the story remains a romance first. I really appreciate that balance, and it's becoming one of the things I particularly enjoy about her writing.
I highly enjoyed how much Mothman lore and moth biology were woven into Hawk's character and family. He's the oldest of seven brothers, with the siblings displaying varying degrees of Mothman traits, and there are little details throughout that made him feel like an actual moth-inspired paranormal character rather than just a hot guy with wings. The connections to the famous Mothman lore were fun, and I loved all the little moth-specific details throughout the story. The distressed squeaking was particularly adorable.
More specifically, one of my favorite little details was how Hawk actually uses the classic Mothman tendency to lurk as a way to help Lucia get out of the house. She’s anxious about attending a festival because of her curse and how difficult interacting with people has become, so instead of pushing her into a situation she isn’t comfortable with, Hawk teaches her the art of lurking like a proper cryptid. It is objectively ridiculous, and I loved it. It’s such a small, silly use of Mothman lore, but it also becomes this really sweet bonding moment. He finds a way to get her out into the world without asking her to do something that feels impossible, and they get to experience the festival together in the most Mothman way possible: from the shadows.
There were a couple of moments where I just wanted a little more. A couple of scenes could have benefited from a bit more room to breathe and a little more emotional payoff, but neither took away from my enjoyment. They were very much moments where I simply wished I had gotten a few more pages.
If you like cozy paranormal romances, cryptids, fall vibes, magical bonds, relatable characters, Moth to a Flame is a damn good time. I will apparently continue to show up every time someone puts Mothman in a romance, and Ava Thorne has given me absolutely no reason to stop.
🌶🌶🌶
Dual POV
Paranormal romance
Small town Fall season
Green witch x half human/mothman
Curse breaking
Forced proximity
Mutual caretaking
Bossy FMC
Sweet as honey MMC
Piercings everywhere
Domme/sub vibes
"Good boy"
Vine/rope play
Special, sexy mothman attributes
HEA
I have a weakness for Mothman romances. Anytime one pops up as a suggested read, there is a very good chance it's going on my TBR. Add in an author I've already been enjoying, a brand-new release, a quick novella that happens to have a fall setting, and some very hot character art of the Mothman in question, and I was sold. This novella checked off several boxes, and as promised, it's a fast, fun read.
Lucia is a brilliant green witch living a cursed and increasingly isolated life when Hawk, the human/mothman hybrid delivery guy, enters the picture. When a rare plant unexpectedly bonds them together in a ritual gone wrong, they suddenly have to figure out what this connection means while trying to break it before it becomes permanent.
This biggest reason this novella worked so well sre the characters and their relationship. They're both driven, intelligent, deeply caring people who want to help others in their own ways, and they're both accustomed to being the responsible one in the room. Lucia uses her knowledge of magic/medicine to help people. Hawk has spent most of his life helping take care of his family as the oldest of seven brothers, always putting his mom and siblings first. So there was something incredibly satisfying about watching two people who are so used to handling everything on their own finally find someone who makes them feel seen, understood, and safe.
Their connection worked especially well for me because Hawk isn't just fascinated by Lucia's intelligence,although he absolutely is. He's drawn to her in every possible sense. Their emotional bond lets him feel just how lonely and isolated she has been, and once he realizes how much she's been carrying by herself, he is determined to lighten that load however he can. He wants to make her laugh, distract her when she gets stuck in her head, and give her little moments where she doesn't have to carry everything alone. And Lucia is equally captivated by him. She loves the whole package; the piercings, Mothman features, all of it, but what really gets her is how genuinely good he is. She's spent years surrounded by people who were calculating, competitive, and willing to use one another, so his quiet thoughtfulness and complete lack of ulterior motives are almost foreign to her. The little things he does throughout show her that his kindness is genuine.
I enjoyed the way their bond temporarily pulled Hawk away from his family and gave him the opportunity to realize that his brothers were actually capable of handling themselves without him. He's been the responsible older brother for so long that stepping away from them was something he'd barely allowed himself to consider, and watching them surprise him by being perfectly capable was such a nice little reminder that sometimes loving people also means letting them stand on their own. And, selfishly, it was nice seeing Hawk realize that he was allowed to have a life that wasn't entirely about taking care of everyone else.
I loved how much they genuinely liked each other, too. There was so much positive interaction between them. Hawk was absolutely down bad for Lucia's bossy side, which worked beautifully because bossy is basically her natural state, and she appreciated having someone who could meet that energy without being threatened by it. When she got caught up in her own head, he knew how to pull her back out, make her laugh, or simply give her a mental break. There is some angst because Lucia's loneliness and isolation are very real and very painful, but the overall story still felt relatively low-stakes.
The romance itself hit so many of my favorite things: forced proximity, acts of service, quality time, mutual caretaking, emotional connection, a soft-hearted MMC, and two people who simply want to be seen and loved for who they actually are. And, the spicy scenes were hot, and made hotter because of their emotional bond. Lucia's green magic makes for some particularly creative moments, and Hawk's Mothman attributes are utterly delightful. He's such a good boy.
Lucia is also exactly the kind of FMC I tend to love. She's brilliant, highly educated, strong-willed, and deeply principled, and that intelligence is never treated as something she needs to tone down to make other people comfortable. Three books into reading Ava Thorne, I'm starting to notice a pattern with her heroines, and I am very much here for it.
I'm also really enjoying the way Thorne weaves bigger real-world issues into her stories without ever losing sight of the fact that she's writing romance first. There is a very clear fuck Big Pharma thread running through this one, and it fits Lucia perfectly. Her experiences with her family's pharmaceutical empire force her to confront what corporate greed and exploitation can mean for ordinary people who simply need access to medicine, and her sense of justice is a huge part of who she is. I love that Thorne can take issues like corporate greed, exploitation, and the desire to push back against powerful institutions and weave them naturally into a paranormal romance without turning the book into a political lecture. The issues are there, they matter, and they inform the characters, but the story remains a romance first. I really appreciate that balance, and it's becoming one of the things I particularly enjoy about her writing.
I highly enjoyed how much Mothman lore and moth biology were woven into Hawk's character and family. He's the oldest of seven brothers, with the siblings displaying varying degrees of Mothman traits, and there are little details throughout that made him feel like an actual moth-inspired paranormal character rather than just a hot guy with wings. The connections to the famous Mothman lore were fun, and I loved all the little moth-specific details throughout the story. The distressed squeaking was particularly adorable.
More specifically, one of my favorite little details was how Hawk actually uses the classic Mothman tendency to lurk as a way to help Lucia get out of the house. She’s anxious about attending a festival because of her curse and how difficult interacting with people has become, so instead of pushing her into a situation she isn’t comfortable with, Hawk teaches her the art of lurking like a proper cryptid. It is objectively ridiculous, and I loved it. It’s such a small, silly use of Mothman lore, but it also becomes this really sweet bonding moment. He finds a way to get her out into the world without asking her to do something that feels impossible, and they get to experience the festival together in the most Mothman way possible: from the shadows.
There were a couple of moments where I just wanted a little more. A couple of scenes could have benefited from a bit more room to breathe and a little more emotional payoff, but neither took away from my enjoyment. They were very much moments where I simply wished I had gotten a few more pages.
If you like cozy paranormal romances, cryptids, fall vibes, magical bonds, relatable characters, Moth to a Flame is a damn good time. I will apparently continue to show up every time someone puts Mothman in a romance, and Ava Thorne has given me absolutely no reason to stop.
October 9, 2026
A cinnamon roll cryptid and a lonely witch unexpectedly crash into one another and quickly find that their lives feel a lot less lonely.
Lucia Atropa used to be a part of a prestigious family until she was cursed five years ago to never be able to express her thoughts. No matter what she says, everyone only hears vile words that she would never utter. Desperate to break the curse, she is finally ready to do a ritual that is years in the making. When a handsome mothman by the name of Hawk Acheron crashes through her greenhouse’s wall, the two find themselves magical entangled with each another. Consequently, Lucia and Hawk can sense each other’s feelings and can only go within a twenty foot radius of one another. Lucia has two curses to attend with now, but she finds that life is a lot less lonely because Hawk can actually hear what she is saying. They may only have two weeks to figure out how to fix their situation, but two weeks is plenty of time to catch feelings for someone when one is around them constantly.
I recently read “Beaches and Bites” by Thorne and thought it was really fun, so I was looking forward to this installment in the “Pumpkin Hollow” series immensely. I’ve also never read a romance featuring a mothman hybrid, so I was super stoked for that, too.
One thing that stuck out to me right away is despite how kickbutt these characters seem, they are actually so sweet on the inside. Lucia seems grumpy and harsh, but she’s been living in a world of solitude for five years, so who can blame her? Hawk has tattoos and piercing and rides a motorcycle, but he’s truly a cinnamon roll. Thorne seems to be drawn towards sharp characters with harsh backstories, but I love how fluffy these two were on the inside!
Lucia has truly been through a ton. I can’t believe anyone would be so cruel as to put a curse like that on another person. To know that it was someone she once loved makes it hurt all that much more. The fact that Lucia literally can’t talk to anyone without them completely hearing different words made for a very interesting minor conflict, as she can only communicate accurately with Hawk and nobody else. The fact that people can’t read her writing and people can’t repeat her words for her makes the curse very thorough and her situation all that more devastating as she is truly isolated from the rest of the world. Lucia’s isolation makes her relationship with Hawk that much sweeter.
For as long as he can remember, Hawk has given his all into taking care of his six younger brothers. When finally given the chance to take a breather, Hawk begins to realize that his family is fine without his constant supervision. His brothers are mostly all adults now, so he doesn’t need to micromanage their every move. It’s nice that he finally realizes that he is lonely and that he deserves to live his own life, too.
Lucia and Hawk are so cute together! I am such a huge fan of forced proximity when it is due to a magical spell gone wrong. Seriously, I am an absolute sucker for when the romantic pair can only go a certain distance from one another; it makes the forced proximity all that sweeter for some reason. Lucia and Hawk are very respectful of each other’s boundaries, but it’s really hard to deny their attraction for one another when they can literally feel each other’s emotions. The way these two support each other is also so sweet. Lucia has been so alone, but Hawk defends her in front of her family without a second thought. He sees who Lucia truly is, not the curse that has tainted her existence for years. I must say, these two have such fiery chemistry, but they support it with sweet moments towards one another.
Thorne is the queen of casual sex turns to a deep connection! Lucia and Hawk begin sleeping with one another with no strings attached, but it’s only inevitable that they will fall head over heels in love in two weeks time. The spice was real steamy in this one, but I enjoyed how one could see their relationship deepening each time as they got to know each other more, too.
This one is set a bit on the outskirts of Pumpkin Hollow, so this one feels a little different than the other books. I thought the isolation only made the romance that much hotter, but it also paled the town’s importance a bit. It didn’t bother me at all though.
I found myself scratching my head when characters started talking about shifter autoimmune disorders. It tickled something in the back of my brain but I couldn’t place why, as it wasn’t mentioned in the previous installments of this series. That’s because it was actually mentioned in Thorne’s other book “Beaches and Bites”! I wasn’t expecting a little crossover moment, but I absolutely loved seeing Mia Perez and Marcus Webb briefly apppearing in this one. I’d read an entire book about these two, so I’ll take the crumbs I can get.
Overall, “Moth to a Flame” was such a fun cozy paranormal read. I loved Lucia and Hawk as characters, and their chemistry with one another was scorching! The forced proximity was scrumptious and I absolutely ate up all of their interactions caused by the backfiring spell. This book is such a sweet one that includes great themes such as using one’s voice for good, standing up for what’s right, and seizing what one wants before it is too late. Ava Thorne has proven to me that she is great at writing fast-paced, sexy romances that still have me falling in love with the characters. I look forward to checking out more of her books in the future!
Lucia Atropa used to be a part of a prestigious family until she was cursed five years ago to never be able to express her thoughts. No matter what she says, everyone only hears vile words that she would never utter. Desperate to break the curse, she is finally ready to do a ritual that is years in the making. When a handsome mothman by the name of Hawk Acheron crashes through her greenhouse’s wall, the two find themselves magical entangled with each another. Consequently, Lucia and Hawk can sense each other’s feelings and can only go within a twenty foot radius of one another. Lucia has two curses to attend with now, but she finds that life is a lot less lonely because Hawk can actually hear what she is saying. They may only have two weeks to figure out how to fix their situation, but two weeks is plenty of time to catch feelings for someone when one is around them constantly.
I recently read “Beaches and Bites” by Thorne and thought it was really fun, so I was looking forward to this installment in the “Pumpkin Hollow” series immensely. I’ve also never read a romance featuring a mothman hybrid, so I was super stoked for that, too.
One thing that stuck out to me right away is despite how kickbutt these characters seem, they are actually so sweet on the inside. Lucia seems grumpy and harsh, but she’s been living in a world of solitude for five years, so who can blame her? Hawk has tattoos and piercing and rides a motorcycle, but he’s truly a cinnamon roll. Thorne seems to be drawn towards sharp characters with harsh backstories, but I love how fluffy these two were on the inside!
Lucia has truly been through a ton. I can’t believe anyone would be so cruel as to put a curse like that on another person. To know that it was someone she once loved makes it hurt all that much more. The fact that Lucia literally can’t talk to anyone without them completely hearing different words made for a very interesting minor conflict, as she can only communicate accurately with Hawk and nobody else. The fact that people can’t read her writing and people can’t repeat her words for her makes the curse very thorough and her situation all that more devastating as she is truly isolated from the rest of the world. Lucia’s isolation makes her relationship with Hawk that much sweeter.
For as long as he can remember, Hawk has given his all into taking care of his six younger brothers. When finally given the chance to take a breather, Hawk begins to realize that his family is fine without his constant supervision. His brothers are mostly all adults now, so he doesn’t need to micromanage their every move. It’s nice that he finally realizes that he is lonely and that he deserves to live his own life, too.
Lucia and Hawk are so cute together! I am such a huge fan of forced proximity when it is due to a magical spell gone wrong. Seriously, I am an absolute sucker for when the romantic pair can only go a certain distance from one another; it makes the forced proximity all that sweeter for some reason. Lucia and Hawk are very respectful of each other’s boundaries, but it’s really hard to deny their attraction for one another when they can literally feel each other’s emotions. The way these two support each other is also so sweet. Lucia has been so alone, but Hawk defends her in front of her family without a second thought. He sees who Lucia truly is, not the curse that has tainted her existence for years. I must say, these two have such fiery chemistry, but they support it with sweet moments towards one another.
Thorne is the queen of casual sex turns to a deep connection! Lucia and Hawk begin sleeping with one another with no strings attached, but it’s only inevitable that they will fall head over heels in love in two weeks time. The spice was real steamy in this one, but I enjoyed how one could see their relationship deepening each time as they got to know each other more, too.
This one is set a bit on the outskirts of Pumpkin Hollow, so this one feels a little different than the other books. I thought the isolation only made the romance that much hotter, but it also paled the town’s importance a bit. It didn’t bother me at all though.
I found myself scratching my head when characters started talking about shifter autoimmune disorders. It tickled something in the back of my brain but I couldn’t place why, as it wasn’t mentioned in the previous installments of this series. That’s because it was actually mentioned in Thorne’s other book “Beaches and Bites”! I wasn’t expecting a little crossover moment, but I absolutely loved seeing Mia Perez and Marcus Webb briefly apppearing in this one. I’d read an entire book about these two, so I’ll take the crumbs I can get.
Overall, “Moth to a Flame” was such a fun cozy paranormal read. I loved Lucia and Hawk as characters, and their chemistry with one another was scorching! The forced proximity was scrumptious and I absolutely ate up all of their interactions caused by the backfiring spell. This book is such a sweet one that includes great themes such as using one’s voice for good, standing up for what’s right, and seizing what one wants before it is too late. Ava Thorne has proven to me that she is great at writing fast-paced, sexy romances that still have me falling in love with the characters. I look forward to checking out more of her books in the future!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for an eARC!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lucia was cursed, making it impossible for her to talk to anyone. Hawk is the son of the Mothman who is used to having to take care of everyone. A rare plant gives them a bond they can’t control, but it only turns into something they’ve both been looking for.
I love everything about this. The cool plants, the Mothman, the cursebreaking. It’s the perfect combination of fall vibes, caretaking, and two baddies finding their person. I love fantasy and paranormal stories featuring magical plants, and the Moon Queen flower is awesome. I wish I could just spend an evening in Lucia’s greenhouse, learning about everything she’s growing.
I’m a long-time fan of Mothman, and I love all the callbacks to the lore here. It’s such a fun way to incorporate a cryptid into a paranormal story. Hearing about Hawk’s family, and the differences in the moth gene expression among him and his brothers was super cool, and my brain was trying to make a Punnett square to figure out what could be the most dominant gene. It’s obviously the wings.
Both Lucia and Hawk are caretakers, and it’s always wonderful to see two people like this find the person who will take care of them. Lucia has been on her own for so long, whereas Hawk has had so much weight on his shoulders, and it’s nice to see them both realize that they can put the trust in someone else.
Ava Thorne is an author I can always count on to both make me teary with someone finding their person while they’re taking down a part of our capitalistic hellscape. There’s been calling out big corps for putting microplastics into the ocean and greenwashing, reindeer shifters fighting against unfair labor practices with Santa, and now it’s standing up to big pharma. I love that Lucia is standing up for what’s right, and that others recognize that and want to help her succeed.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lucia was cursed, making it impossible for her to talk to anyone. Hawk is the son of the Mothman who is used to having to take care of everyone. A rare plant gives them a bond they can’t control, but it only turns into something they’ve both been looking for.
I love everything about this. The cool plants, the Mothman, the cursebreaking. It’s the perfect combination of fall vibes, caretaking, and two baddies finding their person. I love fantasy and paranormal stories featuring magical plants, and the Moon Queen flower is awesome. I wish I could just spend an evening in Lucia’s greenhouse, learning about everything she’s growing.
I’m a long-time fan of Mothman, and I love all the callbacks to the lore here. It’s such a fun way to incorporate a cryptid into a paranormal story. Hearing about Hawk’s family, and the differences in the moth gene expression among him and his brothers was super cool, and my brain was trying to make a Punnett square to figure out what could be the most dominant gene. It’s obviously the wings.
Both Lucia and Hawk are caretakers, and it’s always wonderful to see two people like this find the person who will take care of them. Lucia has been on her own for so long, whereas Hawk has had so much weight on his shoulders, and it’s nice to see them both realize that they can put the trust in someone else.
Ava Thorne is an author I can always count on to both make me teary with someone finding their person while they’re taking down a part of our capitalistic hellscape. There’s been calling out big corps for putting microplastics into the ocean and greenwashing, reindeer shifters fighting against unfair labor practices with Santa, and now it’s standing up to big pharma. I love that Lucia is standing up for what’s right, and that others recognize that and want to help her succeed.
October 12, 2026
🇬🇧
I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS TO BE SO FUN AND SWEET?! 😭🖤
Seriously, what a lovely surprise!
I went into this one expecting a quick, entertaining novella, but I wasn’t prepared to actually get attached to these characters. And yet, HERE WE ARE.
I have to confess, Hawk absolutely got me. 🥹
And you know what impressed me the most? Despite being a novella, I genuinely connected with the characters! Which, as we all know, isn’t always easy when you have such a limited number of pages to work with. But somehow, this one managed to make me care, smile, and enjoy every little moment.
NOW. CAN WE PLEASE DISCUSS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART?!
THE FUCKING NAMES. 😂
MOTHGOMERY?! TiMOTHy?! MOTHEW?!
I AM DECEASED. 💀
Honestly, the names alone deserve an award. CHEF’S FUCKING KISS. 🤌😂
4 solid stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🇵🇹
EU NÃO ESTAVA NADA À ESPERA QUE ISTO FOSSE TÃO DIVERTIDO E QUERIDO?! 😭🖤
A sério, que surpresa tão boa!
Entrei nesta leitura à espera de uma novella rápida e divertida, mas não estava preparada para acabar genuinamente apegada às personagens. E, no entanto, AQUI ESTAMOS NÓS.
Tenho de confessar que o Hawk me conquistou completamente. 🥹
E sabem o que mais me impressionou? Apesar de ser uma novella, consegui realmente criar uma ligação com as personagens! E, como sabemos, isso nem sempre é fácil quando temos tão poucas páginas para trabalhar. Mas, de alguma forma, esta história conseguiu fazer-me importar com elas, sorrir e aproveitar cada pequeno momento.
AGORA. PODEMOS FALAR DA PARTE MAIS IMPORTANTE?!
OS FUCKING NOMES. 😂
MOTHGOMERY?! TiMOTHy?! MOTHEW?!
EU MORRI. 💀
Honestamente, só os nomes já mereciam um prémio. CHEF’S FUCKING KISS. 🤌😂
4 estrelas bem sólidas! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS TO BE SO FUN AND SWEET?! 😭🖤
Seriously, what a lovely surprise!
I went into this one expecting a quick, entertaining novella, but I wasn’t prepared to actually get attached to these characters. And yet, HERE WE ARE.
I have to confess, Hawk absolutely got me. 🥹
And you know what impressed me the most? Despite being a novella, I genuinely connected with the characters! Which, as we all know, isn’t always easy when you have such a limited number of pages to work with. But somehow, this one managed to make me care, smile, and enjoy every little moment.
NOW. CAN WE PLEASE DISCUSS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART?!
THE FUCKING NAMES. 😂
MOTHGOMERY?! TiMOTHy?! MOTHEW?!
I AM DECEASED. 💀
Honestly, the names alone deserve an award. CHEF’S FUCKING KISS. 🤌😂
4 solid stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🇵🇹
EU NÃO ESTAVA NADA À ESPERA QUE ISTO FOSSE TÃO DIVERTIDO E QUERIDO?! 😭🖤
A sério, que surpresa tão boa!
Entrei nesta leitura à espera de uma novella rápida e divertida, mas não estava preparada para acabar genuinamente apegada às personagens. E, no entanto, AQUI ESTAMOS NÓS.
Tenho de confessar que o Hawk me conquistou completamente. 🥹
E sabem o que mais me impressionou? Apesar de ser uma novella, consegui realmente criar uma ligação com as personagens! E, como sabemos, isso nem sempre é fácil quando temos tão poucas páginas para trabalhar. Mas, de alguma forma, esta história conseguiu fazer-me importar com elas, sorrir e aproveitar cada pequeno momento.
AGORA. PODEMOS FALAR DA PARTE MAIS IMPORTANTE?!
OS FUCKING NOMES. 😂
MOTHGOMERY?! TiMOTHy?! MOTHEW?!
EU MORRI. 💀
Honestamente, só os nomes já mereciam um prémio. CHEF’S FUCKING KISS. 🤌😂
4 estrelas bem sólidas! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2026
Thank you Ava Thorne for the ARC!
This is a fun spooky season romance read, featuring a grumpy cursed greenwitch and a helpful (in more ways than one ;) half-cryptid mothman with Ava Thorne's signature down with big corporations subplot. Lucia has a nasty curse on her that twists her words every time she says anything, but in the middle of a ritual to try and rid herself of said curse, she ends up accidentally bonded to Hawk, the delivery mothman who had crashed into the ritual. The two of them have instant chemistry from the bond, but even though this is a fast-burn, it really works because of course Lucia would be drawn to someone who can finally hear what she's saying, and of course Hawk would be drawn to someone who can finally lift the burdens off his shoulders and not have him be the only responsible one in his life. The smut is excellent as always, with creative use of green magic and cryptid biology, and the two of them getting together for real was also very sweet. I also very much enjoyed Hawk's many brothers and the setting of Pumpkin Hollow in general, I would have read tons about them.
The one downside to this novella is its length; the pacing actually works really well given the length of the story, but it would have been nice to get some things more fleshed out, from Lucia's brother and mother, to just more scenes with Motthew :DDD All in all, great addition to the Pumpkin Hollow universe, and you should definitely check this out for a Halloween romance!
This is a fun spooky season romance read, featuring a grumpy cursed greenwitch and a helpful (in more ways than one ;) half-cryptid mothman with Ava Thorne's signature down with big corporations subplot. Lucia has a nasty curse on her that twists her words every time she says anything, but in the middle of a ritual to try and rid herself of said curse, she ends up accidentally bonded to Hawk, the delivery mothman who had crashed into the ritual. The two of them have instant chemistry from the bond, but even though this is a fast-burn, it really works because of course Lucia would be drawn to someone who can finally hear what she's saying, and of course Hawk would be drawn to someone who can finally lift the burdens off his shoulders and not have him be the only responsible one in his life. The smut is excellent as always, with creative use of green magic and cryptid biology, and the two of them getting together for real was also very sweet. I also very much enjoyed Hawk's many brothers and the setting of Pumpkin Hollow in general, I would have read tons about them.
The one downside to this novella is its length; the pacing actually works really well given the length of the story, but it would have been nice to get some things more fleshed out, from Lucia's brother and mother, to just more scenes with Motthew :DDD All in all, great addition to the Pumpkin Hollow universe, and you should definitely check this out for a Halloween romance!
October 6, 2026
The Moth to a Flame novella is one of the cutest little spicy paranormal romance books I’ve read this year and it’s perfect for this spooky time of year.
We meet the main character Lucia, who is a witch that lives in Pumpkin Hollow and she is working a spell to end a curse on herself. And then a part-mothman delivery driver named Hawk shows up, messing up the spell, and getting him and Lucia caught in the kickback of the messed up spell.
They have many days together trying to fix the broken spell and the previous curse. In the process and hijinks that they encounter, they end up falling for each other. The scenes and scenarios between them are adorable as well as sexy and spicy. It’s a short novella, so it doesn’t take too long to get spicy, but it makes sense for the plot and the structure of the story, so I didn’t mind the immediate burn of their romance. I’m also a sucker for stories involving any kind of forced proximity and any awkwardness that the characters have to endure because of it.
Hawk is such a surprise little cinnamon roll, sweetheart as well, and I just want to hug him. I had seen some of the promos mentioning him being “a good boy” and it surprised me just how much I loved the character and his sweet, submissiveness.
Overall, it is cute, short, spicy, and a perfect read for the Halloween season for all the monster and shifter romance fans.
We meet the main character Lucia, who is a witch that lives in Pumpkin Hollow and she is working a spell to end a curse on herself. And then a part-mothman delivery driver named Hawk shows up, messing up the spell, and getting him and Lucia caught in the kickback of the messed up spell.
They have many days together trying to fix the broken spell and the previous curse. In the process and hijinks that they encounter, they end up falling for each other. The scenes and scenarios between them are adorable as well as sexy and spicy. It’s a short novella, so it doesn’t take too long to get spicy, but it makes sense for the plot and the structure of the story, so I didn’t mind the immediate burn of their romance. I’m also a sucker for stories involving any kind of forced proximity and any awkwardness that the characters have to endure because of it.
Hawk is such a surprise little cinnamon roll, sweetheart as well, and I just want to hug him. I had seen some of the promos mentioning him being “a good boy” and it surprised me just how much I loved the character and his sweet, submissiveness.
Overall, it is cute, short, spicy, and a perfect read for the Halloween season for all the monster and shifter romance fans.
October 4, 2026
Rating:
6/5 🌟 🌶🌶
Who knew I needed a mothman added to my list of book boyfriends!
This was such a fun and spicy read perfect for spooky season! I devoured this book in one day, and I'm left wanting more of Lucia and Hawk's story. This book had me laughing, in tears, and constantly aroused in such a short amount of time. It was like a slap to the face full of emotion, lol.
I normally never experience this many emotions at once while reading, but Ava is a literal witch when it comes to writing! I'm obsessed with Hawk and how Ava created his character to be the perfect "bad boy" but who likes to be tied up and bossed around?!!! Did I mention he rides a motorcycle, has wings, and is pierced...👀🔥
I loved this sweet and spicy novella so much! I like how Ava incorporates bigger issues and struggles into her books along with the spice. It gives the story and characters so much more depth. I can't wait for what Ava has in store next!
6/5 🌟 🌶🌶
Who knew I needed a mothman added to my list of book boyfriends!
This was such a fun and spicy read perfect for spooky season! I devoured this book in one day, and I'm left wanting more of Lucia and Hawk's story. This book had me laughing, in tears, and constantly aroused in such a short amount of time. It was like a slap to the face full of emotion, lol.
I normally never experience this many emotions at once while reading, but Ava is a literal witch when it comes to writing! I'm obsessed with Hawk and how Ava created his character to be the perfect "bad boy" but who likes to be tied up and bossed around?!!! Did I mention he rides a motorcycle, has wings, and is pierced...👀🔥
I loved this sweet and spicy novella so much! I like how Ava incorporates bigger issues and struggles into her books along with the spice. It gives the story and characters so much more depth. I can't wait for what Ava has in store next!
October 8, 2026
This was such a fun little monster romance surprise.
I went in expecting a quick spooky read and got a delightfully weird little story with Hawk and Lucia bringing a completely different flavor of "monster" romance to the table.
Hawk is exactly the kind of MMC I didn’t know I needed: a scary cryptid who is basically standing there saying, “Please tell me what to do,” while Lucia is more than happy to take the reins. Honestly? A+ dynamic. Sometimes you just need a man who is also babygirl.
Lucia was such a fun FMC because she knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. Their dynamic worked because it wasn’t just about the spice (although yes, the spice was delicious). There was a fun balance between their personalities that made their relationship offbalance without being uncomfy. You boss him around Lucia!
Also, I need to talk about the Moth family names because I was absolutely losing it. Motthew? I’m sorry. I love a pun, but the names took me out. 😂
I went in expecting a quick spooky read and got a delightfully weird little story with Hawk and Lucia bringing a completely different flavor of "monster" romance to the table.
Hawk is exactly the kind of MMC I didn’t know I needed: a scary cryptid who is basically standing there saying, “Please tell me what to do,” while Lucia is more than happy to take the reins. Honestly? A+ dynamic. Sometimes you just need a man who is also babygirl.
Lucia was such a fun FMC because she knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. Their dynamic worked because it wasn’t just about the spice (although yes, the spice was delicious). There was a fun balance between their personalities that made their relationship offbalance without being uncomfy. You boss him around Lucia!
Also, I need to talk about the Moth family names because I was absolutely losing it. Motthew? I’m sorry. I love a pun, but the names took me out. 😂
October 6, 2026
Okay that was super cute!!❤️❤️ a world full of witches, shifters, and monsters who live all together peacefully 🥰 a witch who is cursed so that everything that comes out of her mouth would be opposite what she wants, and is a social pariah, tries to break her curse only to be interrupted and accidentally soul bonded to a half moth man. He is drawn to her light and falls for her fast and she falls for him, but her insecurities stop her from fully letting herself fall. She doesn’t want him to leave, but they always leave her. This is also spicy but soooo good! My boy has a serious praise kink and loves to be told what to do and restrained, good thing she has magic that can that😉😉 it ends so sweet with the breaking of the accidental bond and her curse (because duh) but their relationship is so sweet and wholesome I love it.
October 10, 2026
This book was perfectly exactly what I wanted. There are moth puns and a quirky paranormal town and a black cat witch with a green thumb and best of all, a luscious half Mothman.
Hawk is total perfection. Tattoos, piercings, good attitude, responsible by nature, attracted to bright lights, needs excessive amounts of honey, and he has lovely wings. He’s everything you’re looking for in a hunky half moth. And Ava planted some surprises too! But really it’s the responsible older brother with the golden retriever vibes that sold it.
Lucia is great too. She’s sunshine wrapped in a black cat locked by a curse. Her trust issues match well with Hawk’s unrelenting faith and aw. Plus her familiar is a kitty with bat wings!
The spice is magical (literally) and I was happily surprised by some of the additions and the general dynamic between the two.
Hawk is total perfection. Tattoos, piercings, good attitude, responsible by nature, attracted to bright lights, needs excessive amounts of honey, and he has lovely wings. He’s everything you’re looking for in a hunky half moth. And Ava planted some surprises too! But really it’s the responsible older brother with the golden retriever vibes that sold it.
Lucia is great too. She’s sunshine wrapped in a black cat locked by a curse. Her trust issues match well with Hawk’s unrelenting faith and aw. Plus her familiar is a kitty with bat wings!
The spice is magical (literally) and I was happily surprised by some of the additions and the general dynamic between the two.
October 9, 2026
When I tell you Ava is an auto read author - I could not mean that more seriously. Every single thing she puts out I absolutely devour and this was no exception. I really, *really* loved this and the more I read from the Pumpkin Hollow collection as a whole the more I wish I could move there.
The idea of having a tongue twist curse where everything you say out loud is heard completely opposite of how you meant it (aka mean and nasty af lol) is an actual nightmare. My biggest life trigger is feeling misunderstood or mischaracterized so I felt for our FMC big time. As a day one moth man lover I really enjoyed the MMC and their relationship collectively. Literally down so bad, and I’m down even more.
Ava can literally do no wrong. I loved this so big.
The idea of having a tongue twist curse where everything you say out loud is heard completely opposite of how you meant it (aka mean and nasty af lol) is an actual nightmare. My biggest life trigger is feeling misunderstood or mischaracterized so I felt for our FMC big time. As a day one moth man lover I really enjoyed the MMC and their relationship collectively. Literally down so bad, and I’m down even more.
Ava can literally do no wrong. I loved this so big.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Read if you like Shifter / Witch romance.
Read if you like short novellas.
Read if you like smut.
Ok so the MMC is freaking adorable. I never once thought I would like a male that is more "golden retriever, follows orders" but Hawk is just that, and is super sweet on top of it all.
I've always loved a strong FMC, and Lucia is one who didn't see herself that way at first, until Hawk.
Oh btw, the shifter aspect, Moth - Hawk, I learned something I knew nothing about hawk moths. And oh my goodness *blush* hahaha
With that being said, I loved this book. Short sweet simple, I want more. Enough said!
Read if you like short novellas.
Read if you like smut.
Ok so the MMC is freaking adorable. I never once thought I would like a male that is more "golden retriever, follows orders" but Hawk is just that, and is super sweet on top of it all.
I've always loved a strong FMC, and Lucia is one who didn't see herself that way at first, until Hawk.
Oh btw, the shifter aspect, Moth - Hawk, I learned something I knew nothing about hawk moths. And oh my goodness *blush* hahaha
With that being said, I loved this book. Short sweet simple, I want more. Enough said!
October 2, 2026
Shes his light
Loved this series. But this book was super sweet and loved it!
Loved the mothman MMC - read few mothman books and they dont disappoint!
He is just trying to make ends meet for his 6 brothers. He makes a delivery at night to a witch he wasnt expecting.
She is a cursed witch just trying to break her curse - till a mothman breaks through her greenhouse.
Now they have an unexpected flower triggered bond on top of a curse to deal with.
Loved this book and another hit by Ava.
Book quote:
She had always been the flame I was running toward, and I’d show her a devotion like this world had never seen. She was my sun, and I was Icarus.
Loved this series. But this book was super sweet and loved it!
Loved the mothman MMC - read few mothman books and they dont disappoint!
He is just trying to make ends meet for his 6 brothers. He makes a delivery at night to a witch he wasnt expecting.
She is a cursed witch just trying to break her curse - till a mothman breaks through her greenhouse.
Now they have an unexpected flower triggered bond on top of a curse to deal with.
Loved this book and another hit by Ava.
Book quote:
She had always been the flame I was running toward, and I’d show her a devotion like this world had never seen. She was my sun, and I was Icarus.
October 3, 2026
First, Ava makes me fall for a shark shifter and now...mothman??? YES!
This was such a perfect way to start October! This Novella is short, sweet and cozy! I also really appreciate the role reversal. Usually, when an MMC is tatted, pierced and rides a motorcycle he is "daddy" but Hawk needs something different in his life and he is daddy in the way her cares for Lucia.
I also loved the fmc and how she uses her powers for the benefit of others when it would be easier not to.
While I appreciated the short book because sometimes I need something short and sweet, I loved the characters and the town so much, I wouldn't mind reading more about Hawk, Lucia, and Hawk's brothers!
This was such a perfect way to start October! This Novella is short, sweet and cozy! I also really appreciate the role reversal. Usually, when an MMC is tatted, pierced and rides a motorcycle he is "daddy" but Hawk needs something different in his life and he is daddy in the way her cares for Lucia.
I also loved the fmc and how she uses her powers for the benefit of others when it would be easier not to.
While I appreciated the short book because sometimes I need something short and sweet, I loved the characters and the town so much, I wouldn't mind reading more about Hawk, Lucia, and Hawk's brothers!
Review of advance copy received from Author
📚 ARC REVIEW 📚
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ava is a queen when it comes to paranormal standalones & this one is no exception!! A DEFINITE MUST-READ especially if you’re looking for a quick bewitching storyline, cozy seasonal with witches or paranormal and a romance with some delicious spice to obsess over!!
This was the 1st Mothman story I’ve read & let me tell you....Hawk (the MMC) now has me obsessed!! From the beginning, I was swooning over his antics as he FALLS HARD for Lucia (the FMC) and literally treats her like the flame he would burn up in!!
SHE’S THE BOSS AND HE IS THE SIMP - which was HOT and played on their connection build-up so well!! Plus there’s kinks, lots of begging & he’s pierced - I was drowning in their chemistry and steam together!! Lucia was a badass. She didn’t deserve the pain thrusts on her but I loved seeing her push back & fight for what’s right, ultimately getting her happy ending and finding someone who truly SEES her and would stay for her!!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ava is a queen when it comes to paranormal standalones & this one is no exception!! A DEFINITE MUST-READ especially if you’re looking for a quick bewitching storyline, cozy seasonal with witches or paranormal and a romance with some delicious spice to obsess over!!
This was the 1st Mothman story I’ve read & let me tell you....Hawk (the MMC) now has me obsessed!! From the beginning, I was swooning over his antics as he FALLS HARD for Lucia (the FMC) and literally treats her like the flame he would burn up in!!
SHE’S THE BOSS AND HE IS THE SIMP - which was HOT and played on their connection build-up so well!! Plus there’s kinks, lots of begging & he’s pierced - I was drowning in their chemistry and steam together!! Lucia was a badass. She didn’t deserve the pain thrusts on her but I loved seeing her push back & fight for what’s right, ultimately getting her happy ending and finding someone who truly SEES her and would stay for her!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advanced copy of this book from the author
Oh my gosh!! This book was absolutely amazing! Another amazing read from Thorne!! The chemistry between Lucia and Hawk was absolutely amazing! Lucia healed something in me in some of the interactions as well as Hawk. They were both amazing and I will be holding this book so close to my heart. The banter and laughs that came from this book were great and I highly recommend it. It’s a quick read and honestly I wish there was more but she wrapped it up so perfectly for this novella and I appreciate that so much! Thank you Ava!!
Oh my gosh!! This book was absolutely amazing! Another amazing read from Thorne!! The chemistry between Lucia and Hawk was absolutely amazing! Lucia healed something in me in some of the interactions as well as Hawk. They were both amazing and I will be holding this book so close to my heart. The banter and laughs that came from this book were great and I highly recommend it. It’s a quick read and honestly I wish there was more but she wrapped it up so perfectly for this novella and I appreciate that so much! Thank you Ava!!
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