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Getting Cozy with Demons #3
Oh No! There's a Dragon in my Bookshop
My work frenemy stole my promotion, so I cashed in my shares and bought a bookshop with a possessive dragon problem. Oops.
Oh, and he’s an infuriatingly attractive dragon whose magic grows stronger with every book I stock. He insists the shop is his hoard and flat-out refuses to leave.
Fine. Guess I’ll put him to work.
Except his idea of “work” is reorganizing my shelves by vibes instead of my carefully planned system. Worse, his taste in literature is atrocious, and he forbids me from displaying modern romances, though I’ve definitely caught him reading them.
Now, shady looking men are asking questions about him. But for all our bickering, I can’t ignore what we a fierce love of stories that has made us into something more than just reluctant roommates. He says they’re dragon hunters, and the more they pressure me, the more I believe him. When they threaten to burn down my cozy little shop unless I turn him in, I realize something impossible…
I’m ready to become the knight in shining armor my dragon never expected.
Prepare for a slow-burn enemies to lovers with a possessively deranged, spiteful dragon and a meek to strong heroine in this cozy, small-town Wisconsin booklovers romance.
Oh, and he’s an infuriatingly attractive dragon whose magic grows stronger with every book I stock. He insists the shop is his hoard and flat-out refuses to leave.
Fine. Guess I’ll put him to work.
Except his idea of “work” is reorganizing my shelves by vibes instead of my carefully planned system. Worse, his taste in literature is atrocious, and he forbids me from displaying modern romances, though I’ve definitely caught him reading them.
Now, shady looking men are asking questions about him. But for all our bickering, I can’t ignore what we a fierce love of stories that has made us into something more than just reluctant roommates. He says they’re dragon hunters, and the more they pressure me, the more I believe him. When they threaten to burn down my cozy little shop unless I turn him in, I realize something impossible…
I’m ready to become the knight in shining armor my dragon never expected.
Prepare for a slow-burn enemies to lovers with a possessively deranged, spiteful dragon and a meek to strong heroine in this cozy, small-town Wisconsin booklovers romance.
449 pages, Paperback
Published June 16, 2026
About the author
Ember Holt
20 books330 followersEmber loves all things with heat! A glass of wine, a comfy, oversized sweater, and a spicy book next to a fireplace is her ideal night. She likes to read about powerful heroines and protective heroes, and write about them, too.
When she’s not writing, Ember is a fox in the henhouse, causing all kinds of hell. She enjoys making pasta while listening to big brass bands, taking long walks with her favorite audio books, playing D&D, and painting—but not very well.
Some of Ember’s favorite authors include Laura Thalassa, Shannon Mayer, and Raven Kennedy. Their powerful heroines inspire her daily to get out of bed and to do her best (or stay in it to keep reading!)
~~~
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When she’s not writing, Ember is a fox in the henhouse, causing all kinds of hell. She enjoys making pasta while listening to big brass bands, taking long walks with her favorite audio books, playing D&D, and painting—but not very well.
Some of Ember’s favorite authors include Laura Thalassa, Shannon Mayer, and Raven Kennedy. Their powerful heroines inspire her daily to get out of bed and to do her best (or stay in it to keep reading!)
~~~
Want a free novella? Sign up for my newsletter on my website!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
May 16, 2026
Thank you Ember Holt for the ARC opportunity☺️💙!!
I thoroughly enjoyed myself with this book! It was sweet & spicy & had me giggling and kicking my feet often 🤭
Not only are the characters so very lovable & genuinely hilarious but Cait made me feel seen like not other character ever has!
As someone who also struggles with horrible PCOS, PMDD and body image due to weight gain & nasty comments, Cait’s story & pain was heartwrenchingly familiar 🥺 seeing those darker thoughts vocalized hit close to home, but seeing her power through them both on her own & with help of Bastian brought me such a sense of peace.
I love that all that darkness was offset with some incredibly well thought out humour when she explained “Jerry” to Bastian (who was just utterly clueless about so many things 😬).
Honestly I just loved the humour throughout the entire book, it was fucking exquisite & I found myself covering my mouth multiple times to stifle my laughter when I read at night while my partner was asleep next to me 😂
I’m also very much envious of Cait for how fearless she was despite everything; the way she took charge of her life, told her toxic job to fuck off and went to chase her passion is something I literally dream of having the balls to do that everyday 🥲❤️🩹
I think Bastian was my favorite MMC in this series because he definitely reminded me of my own partner ; gentle, caring, devoted, uplifting, supportive, hilarious & obsessed with me in spite of all of my health issues & my substantial weight gain (apparently he loves the extra fluff 🤭).
Between his odd behaviours & cluelessness Bastian made me laugh so hard even though he’s a very grumpy lizard (sorry I meant dragon 😂).
And despite his gruff & sometimes domineering attitude he’s truly just the gentlest soul with a heart of gold. He’s lonely & different & scarred but just wants to be accepted & loved for who he is instead of used & abused for what treasure his nature has to offer. He just wants to love & protect & care for someone else like he does his hoard 🥺❤️🩹 He wants a home & a family & peace.
His gentleness had me melting into a puddle & crying my little eyeballs out…
The spice was absolutely CHEFS KISS 😮💨🫦🥵 honestly it was delightful seeing them take their time to tease & explore each-other 😏
My only caveat I would say is I found the ending a little rushed & disconnected from the original story, especially because the villains were suddenly a completely different kind to anything else we’d encountered so far 🫠
Also Oscar was a character with a lot of potential & while I loved everything we got from the little fur baby I would have really liked to get a bit more from him 🥺
Overall it was a wonderful cozy read & I highly recommend it if you want something bingeable, hilarious & full of heart 😌♥️
I thoroughly enjoyed myself with this book! It was sweet & spicy & had me giggling and kicking my feet often 🤭
Not only are the characters so very lovable & genuinely hilarious but Cait made me feel seen like not other character ever has!
As someone who also struggles with horrible PCOS, PMDD and body image due to weight gain & nasty comments, Cait’s story & pain was heartwrenchingly familiar 🥺 seeing those darker thoughts vocalized hit close to home, but seeing her power through them both on her own & with help of Bastian brought me such a sense of peace.
I love that all that darkness was offset with some incredibly well thought out humour when she explained “Jerry” to Bastian (who was just utterly clueless about so many things 😬).
Honestly I just loved the humour throughout the entire book, it was fucking exquisite & I found myself covering my mouth multiple times to stifle my laughter when I read at night while my partner was asleep next to me 😂
I’m also very much envious of Cait for how fearless she was despite everything; the way she took charge of her life, told her toxic job to fuck off and went to chase her passion is something I literally dream of having the balls to do that everyday 🥲❤️🩹
I think Bastian was my favorite MMC in this series because he definitely reminded me of my own partner ; gentle, caring, devoted, uplifting, supportive, hilarious & obsessed with me in spite of all of my health issues & my substantial weight gain (apparently he loves the extra fluff 🤭).
Between his odd behaviours & cluelessness Bastian made me laugh so hard even though he’s a very grumpy lizard (sorry I meant dragon 😂).
And despite his gruff & sometimes domineering attitude he’s truly just the gentlest soul with a heart of gold. He’s lonely & different & scarred but just wants to be accepted & loved for who he is instead of used & abused for what treasure his nature has to offer. He just wants to love & protect & care for someone else like he does his hoard 🥺❤️🩹 He wants a home & a family & peace.
His gentleness had me melting into a puddle & crying my little eyeballs out…
The spice was absolutely CHEFS KISS 😮💨🫦🥵 honestly it was delightful seeing them take their time to tease & explore each-other 😏
My only caveat I would say is I found the ending a little rushed & disconnected from the original story, especially because the villains were suddenly a completely different kind to anything else we’d encountered so far 🫠
Also Oscar was a character with a lot of potential & while I loved everything we got from the little fur baby I would have really liked to get a bit more from him 🥺
Overall it was a wonderful cozy read & I highly recommend it if you want something bingeable, hilarious & full of heart 😌♥️
August 21, 2026
I’m free!! I’M FREEEEE
RTC.
RTC.
May 8, 2026
Ok first of all… let me just say this book made me cry… like literal tears and not because it was sad or heartbreaking, no. The fact that the MFC was literally made more human and had literal real life woman issues. I connected with her struggles so much that I cried… because at some point of my life I was her and I still struggle but not in the same way. I don’t think I’ve connected with a character this much and I honestly loved this. And I loved Caitlin. Now onto the rest…lol I loved Bastian and his possessive “this is my hoard and you are my hoard now, pink flesh human” attitude. It had me giggling. It was funny and felt so real and had me hooked.
June 19, 2026
🐉”I want a giant 𝗱𝗿agon emerging from the awning of the front door, breathing fire!” Bastian grins. “You’re 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 with me, aren’t you?” I tsk. “Dragons are a staple in fantasy.” 🐉
▶︎▶︎▶︎▶︎★★★★★◀︎◀︎◀︎◀︎
𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗦
Oh No! There’s a Dragon in my Bookshop (Getting Cozy with Demons Book 3)
by Ember Holt
🐲 "You are the quintessence of lovable."🐲
🐉
𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗧
𝗦𝗘𝗫𝗬
𝗙𝗨𝗡𝗡𝗬
𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚
*𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗙'𝗦 𝗞𝗜𝗦𝗦 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗
🐉
•• 𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦 & 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗦:
•A magical bookshop
•Spicy times
•Flavored 💦
-A plus-size FMC
•A dragon with abandonment issues
•A special cat
•Special anatomy
•A cursed workplace situation
•A truly irresponsible number of feelings
•He caretakes
•Vibing body parts
•Don’t touch her
•She seriously upgrades
•He goes all in
•Trauma Healing
•Mental & physical issues rep
•”SOCK” 👀
& seriously so much more that I can’t begin to list them all 🐉
🐉
Pace 5
Plot 5
Main characters 5+
Secondary characters 5
Enjoyability 5
Ease of reading 5
Miscellaneous 4
Engagement 5
Setting 5
Ending 5
Other 5
Would recommend Hell Yes!
🐉
“I’m not the most beautiful woman in the realms.”
“You are to me,” he says.
🐉
𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗕𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀. ❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎
▶︎▶︎▶︎▶︎★★★★★◀︎◀︎◀︎◀︎
𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗦
Oh No! There’s a Dragon in my Bookshop (Getting Cozy with Demons Book 3)
by Ember Holt
🐲 "You are the quintessence of lovable."🐲
🐉
𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗧
𝗦𝗘𝗫𝗬
𝗙𝗨𝗡𝗡𝗬
𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚
*𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗙'𝗦 𝗞𝗜𝗦𝗦 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗
🐉
•• 𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦 & 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗦:
•A magical bookshop
•Spicy times
•Flavored 💦
-A plus-size FMC
•A dragon with abandonment issues
•A special cat
•Special anatomy
•A cursed workplace situation
•A truly irresponsible number of feelings
•He caretakes
•Vibing body parts
•Don’t touch her
•She seriously upgrades
•He goes all in
•Trauma Healing
•Mental & physical issues rep
•”SOCK” 👀
& seriously so much more that I can’t begin to list them all 🐉
🐉
Pace 5
Plot 5
Main characters 5+
Secondary characters 5
Enjoyability 5
Ease of reading 5
Miscellaneous 4
Engagement 5
Setting 5
Ending 5
Other 5
Would recommend Hell Yes!
🐉
“I’m not the most beautiful woman in the realms.”
“You are to me,” he says.
🐉
𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗕𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀. ❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎
July 2, 2026
Oh No! There’s A Dragon In My Bookshop by Ember Holt is easily my favorite book in the series! Watching Cait adjust to owning a bookshop that comes with a dragon shifter was such a fun premise, but what really stole my heart was the way they learned to cohabitate. Bastian is the definition of a book boyfriend. He’s attentive, nurturing, patient, and endlessly considerate. Their relationship develops with so much warmth and care. And the spice? Absolutely spicccccyyyy! It delivers all the chemistry while still feeling incredibly tender and emotionally intimate. What a fun read!
June 16, 2026
4.5⭐️
May 31, 2026
4.5
This was such a fun and cute read that any book dragon would love especially if you liked one where the cozy moments are strong but there are intense moments as well. So, I would not classify this as a cozy read as there are stakes in this book that I would say fall in the mid-range. Now this is a part of a series, but they are in my opinion true standalones so you can read them in any order as the only benefit would be going oh, I know you guys. So, the impact is small on the story. But of the three so far, I think this is my favorite bc what book lover doesn't want to open a bookstore or be surrounded by their own hoard of books.
As to the characters I loved how our MMC Bastian is not only a literal dragon but is also a literal book dragon and is just as obsessed with books as our FMC. So along with him totally getting our FMC's Cait's love of books he was also a sweetheart when it came to her especially during her darker and more painful moments due to her PCOS & PMDD and past hurt from her ex-fiancé. I am sure many readers would see themselves in Cait and the idea of a book dragon who can turn his hand in to a heating pad would is a dream come true. But he has his really fierce moments especially when it comes to Cait or his books, so he really was just sweet to her but grumpy or worse with others. With Cait she was screwed over at work and by her ex and it left its mark, so this new adventure was also a fresh start for her which takes a lot of courage. But she was a sweet, sassy and fierce character who sadly is at war with her own body and mind, and I know this is something many women unfortunately have to deal with bc of the lack of studies around women and our bodies. Thankfully she now has a dragon to help her through those dark moments and tell Jerry to fuck off. Their chemistry was just really cute, and they also had some great banter. I always know when I read a story by Ember the banter is going to be top notch.
As to the story I again love that it was about a girl opening her own book shop and finding a literal dragon. It was cute, charming and lots of fun and honestly, I think the book shop sounds just as magical which makes sense but even without the magic it sounded beautiful. Overall, this is a fun read that any book lover is sure to enjoy.
----
This book is about Cait who quit her job after her frenemy stole her presentation to get a promotion. So, when she sees a listing for a bookstore that is for sale she decides why not. So, she combines her savings and sells her shares in the company she just left and buys the cutest bookshop in Wisconsin. But little does she know that the bookshop comes with a dragon problem who is possessive over his book hoard. He claims that all the books are his and refuses to give them over let alone leave her shop. With no other options they come to an agreement that she allows her to fix up and open the book shop and with each book she stocks his magic only grows. Now having a dragon as a roommate has its challenges especially when he is very opinionated in how things should be shelved and what should be stocked as he has a claim to have a distaste for modern romances even as Cait catches him devouring them. But when people start to come around asking questions that could only mean they are looking for a dragon and even with all their bickering and jabs at one another she is not about to hand over her dragon. But it's only when they threaten to burn down her shop does she realize that is she is about to become a knight in shining armor who is coming to rescue the dragon.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a fun and cute read that any book dragon would love especially if you liked one where the cozy moments are strong but there are intense moments as well. So, I would not classify this as a cozy read as there are stakes in this book that I would say fall in the mid-range. Now this is a part of a series, but they are in my opinion true standalones so you can read them in any order as the only benefit would be going oh, I know you guys. So, the impact is small on the story. But of the three so far, I think this is my favorite bc what book lover doesn't want to open a bookstore or be surrounded by their own hoard of books.
As to the characters I loved how our MMC Bastian is not only a literal dragon but is also a literal book dragon and is just as obsessed with books as our FMC. So along with him totally getting our FMC's Cait's love of books he was also a sweetheart when it came to her especially during her darker and more painful moments due to her PCOS & PMDD and past hurt from her ex-fiancé. I am sure many readers would see themselves in Cait and the idea of a book dragon who can turn his hand in to a heating pad would is a dream come true. But he has his really fierce moments especially when it comes to Cait or his books, so he really was just sweet to her but grumpy or worse with others. With Cait she was screwed over at work and by her ex and it left its mark, so this new adventure was also a fresh start for her which takes a lot of courage. But she was a sweet, sassy and fierce character who sadly is at war with her own body and mind, and I know this is something many women unfortunately have to deal with bc of the lack of studies around women and our bodies. Thankfully she now has a dragon to help her through those dark moments and tell Jerry to fuck off. Their chemistry was just really cute, and they also had some great banter. I always know when I read a story by Ember the banter is going to be top notch.
As to the story I again love that it was about a girl opening her own book shop and finding a literal dragon. It was cute, charming and lots of fun and honestly, I think the book shop sounds just as magical which makes sense but even without the magic it sounded beautiful. Overall, this is a fun read that any book lover is sure to enjoy.
----
This book is about Cait who quit her job after her frenemy stole her presentation to get a promotion. So, when she sees a listing for a bookstore that is for sale she decides why not. So, she combines her savings and sells her shares in the company she just left and buys the cutest bookshop in Wisconsin. But little does she know that the bookshop comes with a dragon problem who is possessive over his book hoard. He claims that all the books are his and refuses to give them over let alone leave her shop. With no other options they come to an agreement that she allows her to fix up and open the book shop and with each book she stocks his magic only grows. Now having a dragon as a roommate has its challenges especially when he is very opinionated in how things should be shelved and what should be stocked as he has a claim to have a distaste for modern romances even as Cait catches him devouring them. But when people start to come around asking questions that could only mean they are looking for a dragon and even with all their bickering and jabs at one another she is not about to hand over her dragon. But it's only when they threaten to burn down her shop does she realize that is she is about to become a knight in shining armor who is coming to rescue the dragon.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This one is without a doubt my favourite in the series and might be one of my new fav monster romances.
Cait was a sweet baby angel who is out there living my dream of owning a bookshop. She cut the toxicity from her life and took a chance on an abandoned bookstore with a fearlessness I can only with to have.
Bastian was absolutely hilarious and possessive and definitely had the demeanour I assume a dragon would have. He was sweet and understandably scared of people using him and just wanted to be loved. Them meeting for the first time was absolutely hilarious and their banter was wonderful. I also liked how despite being a cosy monster romance, it touched on some real issues for women, which brought unexpected depth to this story.
This book is definitely the sweetest and the cosiest of the series so far and I cannot wait to see if we are getting a few more stories in this series.
Thank you so much to Ember Holt for the advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This one is without a doubt my favourite in the series and might be one of my new fav monster romances.
Cait was a sweet baby angel who is out there living my dream of owning a bookshop. She cut the toxicity from her life and took a chance on an abandoned bookstore with a fearlessness I can only with to have.
Bastian was absolutely hilarious and possessive and definitely had the demeanour I assume a dragon would have. He was sweet and understandably scared of people using him and just wanted to be loved. Them meeting for the first time was absolutely hilarious and their banter was wonderful. I also liked how despite being a cosy monster romance, it touched on some real issues for women, which brought unexpected depth to this story.
This book is definitely the sweetest and the cosiest of the series so far and I cannot wait to see if we are getting a few more stories in this series.
Thank you so much to Ember Holt for the advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 18, 2026
Caitlin's promotion is stolen by someone at work so she decides to take a leap and buy a bookshop, only it has a little bit of a lizard problem - nope, a dragon problem? As if that wasn't enough, apparently she has magic of her own and people are after her lizard-dragon boy and now her cat isn't even a normal cat?
✨ paranormal romantasy
😈🧙 demon x witch
🔥 slow burn
📚 book lovers
❤️🔥 enemies to f-buddies to lovers
🐈 cat familiar
Out of the 3 I think this is my favourite one in this series. I love how both of these characters are on their own healing journey & heal each other in special ways. The demons Caitlin faces resonate with some things I struggle with day to day so I was really connected to her. I also love the sprinkle of found family between Renee & Drew. We love supportive life-long friends. The HEAT between Caitlin & Bastian was absolutely insane, but the ending where all of the books come together??? Unmatched. This was so fun & I could read this series over & over again. You definitely need to read the previous books to appreciate this ending though. Overall, loved every second of all these books but this one takes first place for me!
✨ paranormal romantasy
😈🧙 demon x witch
🔥 slow burn
📚 book lovers
❤️🔥 enemies to f-buddies to lovers
🐈 cat familiar
Out of the 3 I think this is my favourite one in this series. I love how both of these characters are on their own healing journey & heal each other in special ways. The demons Caitlin faces resonate with some things I struggle with day to day so I was really connected to her. I also love the sprinkle of found family between Renee & Drew. We love supportive life-long friends. The HEAT between Caitlin & Bastian was absolutely insane, but the ending where all of the books come together??? Unmatched. This was so fun & I could read this series over & over again. You definitely need to read the previous books to appreciate this ending though. Overall, loved every second of all these books but this one takes first place for me!
July 24, 2026
Hmmm not much to say about this one honestly! It was a nice, sweet read, but nothing mind blowing yknow?
Caitlin got so lucky with her new friends and I absolutely adored them, both were great.
In the middle of the book I was feeling kinda 50/50 and was getting bit sidetracked with other things, but when they went to the faire and everything happened?! My gosh what an exciting twist! I enjoyed how their relationship developed even more and things went from 50 to 200.
And meeting the brothers and their witches? So fun!
I enjoyed how their relationship progressed - didnt feel rushed, was just fun, exploration. They both were so down for each other, it was sweet.
And the nest and mating part? Hot hot hot
Basically the most action is towards the end.
Enjoyed the book overall, it was sweet yet spicy and there are some action scenes that made it more lively.
Caitlin got so lucky with her new friends and I absolutely adored them, both were great.
In the middle of the book I was feeling kinda 50/50 and was getting bit sidetracked with other things, but when they went to the faire and everything happened?! My gosh what an exciting twist! I enjoyed how their relationship developed even more and things went from 50 to 200.
And meeting the brothers and their witches? So fun!
I enjoyed how their relationship progressed - didnt feel rushed, was just fun, exploration. They both were so down for each other, it was sweet.
And the nest and mating part? Hot hot hot
Basically the most action is towards the end.
Enjoyed the book overall, it was sweet yet spicy and there are some action scenes that made it more lively.
June 17, 2026
I absolutely adored this book. It was spicy with the perfect amount of romance and even had me kicking my feet at times. In this book you meet Cait who struggles with Pcos and a harsh past who decides to throw everything to the whim and start her very own bookstore but soon she came to realize maybe the bookstore wasn't just cheap because of it needing work, maybe it was cheap because it came with a dragon 😉 If you love magic, hot dragons, and the spicest of scenes then this book is for you. I highly recommend. I got this via the author and this is my voluntary review.
June 15, 2026
(🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️) Ahhhh I loved this!! I love finding new monster romance authors that I enjoy reading! I finished this book and immediately preordered a physical copy and the first two books in the series.
•
The premise of this book is so fun and interesting, and both main characters feel so deep. Plus, I mean— the MMC is a book hoarding dragon shifter?? SIGN ME UP. They both grow and develop something amazing by the end. There are a few really fun and spicy twists along the way (and one very salty sweet surprise 💦).
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I loved the end of the book and really want to see more of all these characters together!! There could be a group adventure extended epilogue or something?? Please 🙏🏽🤩
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I received an eARC from the author
•
The premise of this book is so fun and interesting, and both main characters feel so deep. Plus, I mean— the MMC is a book hoarding dragon shifter?? SIGN ME UP. They both grow and develop something amazing by the end. There are a few really fun and spicy twists along the way (and one very salty sweet surprise 💦).
•
I loved the end of the book and really want to see more of all these characters together!! There could be a group adventure extended epilogue or something?? Please 🙏🏽🤩
•
I received an eARC from the author
July 29, 2026
3.5 stars.
This series is honestly really cool. I Loved the book shop, and hoard. And Oscar! So, so cool.
I would love for at least one or two chapters from Bastian’s pov, though. This series is single pov and I always, always prefer dual.
This series is honestly really cool. I Loved the book shop, and hoard. And Oscar! So, so cool.
I would love for at least one or two chapters from Bastian’s pov, though. This series is single pov and I always, always prefer dual.
June 26, 2026
This was a solid monster romance! The small town vibes and cozy nature of the bookshop blended perfectly with all the spice and monster smut.
July 12, 2026
On the surface this is a fun paranormal romance story with a grumpy dragon shifter as the MMC and a young lady looking to make a new start as the MFC, along with forced proximity. There is plenty of humour and that character differences are used to good effect.
There is a surprising amount of violence, but you get a warning about this before reading so it needs to be accepted.
However beyond all this there is another layer where Caitlin's medical issues and the resulting effects on her body and self confidence are explored with great sensitivity.
There is a surprising amount of violence, but you get a warning about this before reading so it needs to be accepted.
However beyond all this there is another layer where Caitlin's medical issues and the resulting effects on her body and self confidence are explored with great sensitivity.
July 6, 2026
While I enjoyed this initially, with these two characters building their relationship alongside a bit of drama, this story took the oddest turn. Suddenly in the last 20% , felt like a sci-fi action book rather than a paranormal romance. It was very jarring and seemed out of left field.
Read
June 24, 2026Oh my! I completely forgot to wish DragonBS a Happy Birthday!!! Better late than never =)
This book was a huge emotional journey for me. Exposing my health experiences thought Caitlin was a bit scary, but I knew it would feel true--because it is.
Most of all, I didn't expect so many of you to feel seen and understood. I'm sorry, and I'm giving you the biggest hug.
The most difficult scene to write was when she's staring into the mist. I wrote that first pass in my "A-Okay" time and I knew it was just a ghost of reality. Like tasting something terrible and then trying to describe it two weeks later. There wasn't the right brain-body connection. So I waited for "Jerry" to come around and forced myself into the seat to rewrite the scene. Then I went and touched up several of her "Jerry" scenes over that week.
The easiest scene was the bathroom door. I had no idea it was going to go down that way until suddenly it was happening! I love when my characters surprise me. Such a delight, and I know I'm passing that on to you, dear reader.
Thank you so much for joining me in Cait's and Bastian's (and Oscar's!) story. I can't wait to see delight you all in the next one!
This book was a huge emotional journey for me. Exposing my health experiences thought Caitlin was a bit scary, but I knew it would feel true--because it is.
Most of all, I didn't expect so many of you to feel seen and understood. I'm sorry, and I'm giving you the biggest hug.
The most difficult scene to write was when she's staring into the mist. I wrote that first pass in my "A-Okay" time and I knew it was just a ghost of reality. Like tasting something terrible and then trying to describe it two weeks later. There wasn't the right brain-body connection. So I waited for "Jerry" to come around and forced myself into the seat to rewrite the scene. Then I went and touched up several of her "Jerry" scenes over that week.
The easiest scene was the bathroom door. I had no idea it was going to go down that way until suddenly it was happening! I love when my characters surprise me. Such a delight, and I know I'm passing that on to you, dear reader.
Thank you so much for joining me in Cait's and Bastian's (and Oscar's!) story. I can't wait to see delight you all in the next one!
July 4, 2026
This book was so promising. The premise was great, but the pacing was super uneven to the point where the last 20% felt like it was an entirely different book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC of Oh No! There’s a Dragon in my Bookshop, and I’m voluntarily leaving a review. Thank you so much Ember Holt! I was so excited to hop back into Ember’s ‘Getting Cozy with Demons’ series, and I wasn’t disappointed. This installment had all the cosy and spicy goodness that the previous books had, whilst remaining exciting and fresh with a new cast of characters.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ✩₊˚.⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊✧ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
✮ This book had it all. We had a grumpy but protective MMC, a sweet and brave FMC, coupled with an adorable, fluffy companion! What more could you want? There was magic, action and so many twists and turns. I was just happy to be here for the ride. Ember captures the essence of small towns so well, it’s like she bottles the feeling of belonging and community and uses it as the ink for the pen so writes these stories with. After reading her series so far, I can’t tell if I want to move into a hot spring with an Incubus, open a coffee shop with an Ifrit or take a gamble on a second chance at a bookstore with a dragon. I would like to take secret option number four: all of the above, please. This may make me greedy, but it’s better than being a liar 😂
✮ I commend Ember’s bravery in lending her own experiences of PMDD when writing Cait. Seeing these conditions represented in literature is really refreshing. It was horrible to see Cait struggling, but this is a reality for so many women. Ember wasn’t afraid to become vulnerable with us as readers, and that’s not something I take lightly. There was care and a lot of love poured into this. Cait didn’t see her own bravery from the start, but to me, taking a chance on a run-down bookstore, quitting your job and moving across the country is one of the bravest things you could do. Seeing her break free from her negative thoughts and extend the love she so freely gave to others, back to herself was satisfying. She had me cheering for her the whole way.
✮ Bastian was everything I could have wanted and more for Cait. He was grumpy and infuriating at times, but he riled Cait up in the best way. He pushed her when she needed encouragement and was gentle when she needed care. This man was so tender it broke my heart and put it back together again in one fell swoop. Honestly, he’s lucky he’s so hot because he tested my patience at times 😂 I adored Ember’s creativity when it came to the source of his powers. It feels like a metaphor for us readers, because I, too, feel the most powerful with a book in my hands and a story in my heart.
✮ This is a tale of second chances and found family. A book about how the right connections will just happen. Strangers will fall into life-long friendships like the missing piece of a puzzle. When something doesn’t work anymore, don’t waste your time and health trying to fit into boxes you’ve outgrown. You’re worth the effort it takes to start again. Taking a risk on a second chance could be the best thing you’ve ever done, you just have to dare to dream big.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ✩₊˚.⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊✧ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
✮ This book had it all. We had a grumpy but protective MMC, a sweet and brave FMC, coupled with an adorable, fluffy companion! What more could you want? There was magic, action and so many twists and turns. I was just happy to be here for the ride. Ember captures the essence of small towns so well, it’s like she bottles the feeling of belonging and community and uses it as the ink for the pen so writes these stories with. After reading her series so far, I can’t tell if I want to move into a hot spring with an Incubus, open a coffee shop with an Ifrit or take a gamble on a second chance at a bookstore with a dragon. I would like to take secret option number four: all of the above, please. This may make me greedy, but it’s better than being a liar 😂
✮ I commend Ember’s bravery in lending her own experiences of PMDD when writing Cait. Seeing these conditions represented in literature is really refreshing. It was horrible to see Cait struggling, but this is a reality for so many women. Ember wasn’t afraid to become vulnerable with us as readers, and that’s not something I take lightly. There was care and a lot of love poured into this. Cait didn’t see her own bravery from the start, but to me, taking a chance on a run-down bookstore, quitting your job and moving across the country is one of the bravest things you could do. Seeing her break free from her negative thoughts and extend the love she so freely gave to others, back to herself was satisfying. She had me cheering for her the whole way.
✮ Bastian was everything I could have wanted and more for Cait. He was grumpy and infuriating at times, but he riled Cait up in the best way. He pushed her when she needed encouragement and was gentle when she needed care. This man was so tender it broke my heart and put it back together again in one fell swoop. Honestly, he’s lucky he’s so hot because he tested my patience at times 😂 I adored Ember’s creativity when it came to the source of his powers. It feels like a metaphor for us readers, because I, too, feel the most powerful with a book in my hands and a story in my heart.
✮ This is a tale of second chances and found family. A book about how the right connections will just happen. Strangers will fall into life-long friendships like the missing piece of a puzzle. When something doesn’t work anymore, don’t waste your time and health trying to fit into boxes you’ve outgrown. You’re worth the effort it takes to start again. Taking a risk on a second chance could be the best thing you’ve ever done, you just have to dare to dream big.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is the third book in the Getting Cozy with Demons Series. As with the other's Oh No! There's a Dragon in my Bookshop can be read as a standalone or after books 1 and 2. I recommend reading all of them, they are all very enjoyable, but Bastian and Caitlin have to my favourite.
Caitlin's decision to upend her life is the best decision, despite it being a big unknown. She packs up Oscar, her very vocal feline companion, and starts a whole new life across the country. She opens a bookstore, meets Bastian and discovers she is so much more then what she had come to believe about herself.
I found Cait very relatable from her work history to her health journey and fight with that inner monologue. I didn't work the same job, but I had that boss, several times. Ember sharing part of her own struggles with PMDD and PCOS (now PMOS 🙂) through Cait was so relatable. The levity of referring to her bad thoughts as Jerry had cackling. I had years of depressive struggle with fertility issues, pain and more (fibroid and later endometriosis) and Dr.s saying exercise more, take tylenol, basically dismissive (simplistic explaination). My husband helped me cope with laughter and sharing in my dark, sarcastic humour. More and more woman are talking, it isn't like my mom's or even my generation. I see hope in the future for so many woman like our character Cait. Not everyone has a lovely partner like Bastian.
'He sees everything. He knows everything. He wants this. He wants me.'
I was cracking up throughout this book. The broody, overprotective, possessive and a bit misunderstood dragon. His lack of knowledge with common human phrases or day to day stuff leads to these delightful misinterpretations and he gets all possessive and protective. His speech pattern and flat delivery of his comments, perfect. I was 25% in and Bastion is clearly my favourite in the series.
To have a partner as perceptive as Bastian. Not just his ability to smell when your aroused, but to see when your inner monologue is being defeatist/mean and then he is there to help clear the self loathing.
“Jerry,” Bastian warns. “There’s no place for you here.”
I haven't even talked about the magic woven into their lives or their friends Renee and Andrew. This was a delicious small town vibes, slow burn, fantasy romance. I can't wait for Ember's next book.
And you know your limits, so read the author's content warnings. I received a copy of this book from Ember Holt, and this is my honest review.
Caitlin's decision to upend her life is the best decision, despite it being a big unknown. She packs up Oscar, her very vocal feline companion, and starts a whole new life across the country. She opens a bookstore, meets Bastian and discovers she is so much more then what she had come to believe about herself.
I found Cait very relatable from her work history to her health journey and fight with that inner monologue. I didn't work the same job, but I had that boss, several times. Ember sharing part of her own struggles with PMDD and PCOS (now PMOS 🙂) through Cait was so relatable. The levity of referring to her bad thoughts as Jerry had cackling. I had years of depressive struggle with fertility issues, pain and more (fibroid and later endometriosis) and Dr.s saying exercise more, take tylenol, basically dismissive (simplistic explaination). My husband helped me cope with laughter and sharing in my dark, sarcastic humour. More and more woman are talking, it isn't like my mom's or even my generation. I see hope in the future for so many woman like our character Cait. Not everyone has a lovely partner like Bastian.
'He sees everything. He knows everything. He wants this. He wants me.'
I was cracking up throughout this book. The broody, overprotective, possessive and a bit misunderstood dragon. His lack of knowledge with common human phrases or day to day stuff leads to these delightful misinterpretations and he gets all possessive and protective. His speech pattern and flat delivery of his comments, perfect. I was 25% in and Bastion is clearly my favourite in the series.
To have a partner as perceptive as Bastian. Not just his ability to smell when your aroused, but to see when your inner monologue is being defeatist/mean and then he is there to help clear the self loathing.
“Jerry,” Bastian warns. “There’s no place for you here.”
I haven't even talked about the magic woven into their lives or their friends Renee and Andrew. This was a delicious small town vibes, slow burn, fantasy romance. I can't wait for Ember's next book.
And you know your limits, so read the author's content warnings. I received a copy of this book from Ember Holt, and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you, Ember Holt, for the ARC. 💖
This book was absolutely delightful, cosy monster smut. It had a lot of heart, humour, spice, and grumpy dragon banter. I went into this book without knowing anything about this universe or this series. The fact that I started with book 3 first didn't make me feel like I was missing anything. There are some connections to the previous 2 books that are very specific, but I didn't feel lost or confused while reading them. I'm excited to read books 1 and 2 now.
The FMC, Cait, was hilarious, very relatable, and inspiring. I wish I could drop everything to buy an old bookshop and move to a small town with my cat. Cait is a plus-sized woman who struggles with confidence and PMDD and PMOS (formerly PCOS). I cannot fully relate to her medical struggles in those areas, but I can definitely relate to her struggles with her appearance and mental health. There were several times when I found myself tearing up because I knew exactly how Cait was feeling. Her love for books also made me feel connected to her in a special way.
Cait's relationship with Oscar was also too relatable. Any cat owner will understand.
Bastian, our resident grumpy dragon, was a delightful antisocial and fiercely protective self. I mean, he is a dragon with a hoard, so of course, he'd be very protective of what is his. As the story progresses, we see him soften and become more vulnerable with Cait, and that always gets me. The big, bad, grumpy dragon telling the Cait that she is the quintessence of lovable? YES, PLEASE. That quote will live rent-free in my mind for a long, long time.
This book has great characters, small-town vibes, magic, and is cosy af. I really loved how Cait and Bastian's relationship was built up and evolved over the course of the book. I wouldn't say this is a slow-burn story; it felt organic and real.
The spice in this was really great. I'm a monster smut lover and wasn't disappointed. The first spicy scene between them was so hot, even if they weren't... well, I won't spoil it. AND THEN THE FINAL SPICY SCENE. HOOO BOY. Yes, we love to see that dragon smut. And when I say dragon, I don't mean the 'fun-sized' kind; we're talking the full MONSTER fun size.
My only complaint about the book is that it felt a little rushed near the end. Too much happened too fast. I would have liked just a little bit of breathing room between some scenes. Besides that, I really loved this book and all the characters, especially Cait and Bastian.
This book was absolutely delightful, cosy monster smut. It had a lot of heart, humour, spice, and grumpy dragon banter. I went into this book without knowing anything about this universe or this series. The fact that I started with book 3 first didn't make me feel like I was missing anything. There are some connections to the previous 2 books that are very specific, but I didn't feel lost or confused while reading them. I'm excited to read books 1 and 2 now.
The FMC, Cait, was hilarious, very relatable, and inspiring. I wish I could drop everything to buy an old bookshop and move to a small town with my cat. Cait is a plus-sized woman who struggles with confidence and PMDD and PMOS (formerly PCOS). I cannot fully relate to her medical struggles in those areas, but I can definitely relate to her struggles with her appearance and mental health. There were several times when I found myself tearing up because I knew exactly how Cait was feeling. Her love for books also made me feel connected to her in a special way.
Cait's relationship with Oscar was also too relatable. Any cat owner will understand.
Bastian, our resident grumpy dragon, was a delightful antisocial and fiercely protective self. I mean, he is a dragon with a hoard, so of course, he'd be very protective of what is his. As the story progresses, we see him soften and become more vulnerable with Cait, and that always gets me. The big, bad, grumpy dragon telling the Cait that she is the quintessence of lovable? YES, PLEASE. That quote will live rent-free in my mind for a long, long time.
This book has great characters, small-town vibes, magic, and is cosy af. I really loved how Cait and Bastian's relationship was built up and evolved over the course of the book. I wouldn't say this is a slow-burn story; it felt organic and real.
The spice in this was really great. I'm a monster smut lover and wasn't disappointed. The first spicy scene between them was so hot, even if they weren't... well, I won't spoil it. AND THEN THE FINAL SPICY SCENE. HOOO BOY. Yes, we love to see that dragon smut. And when I say dragon, I don't mean the 'fun-sized' kind; we're talking the full MONSTER fun size.
My only complaint about the book is that it felt a little rushed near the end. Too much happened too fast. I would have liked just a little bit of breathing room between some scenes. Besides that, I really loved this book and all the characters, especially Cait and Bastian.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh No! There's a Dragon in my Bookshop is the third book in Holt's Getting Cozy with Demons series. This spicy, paranormal fantasy, monster romance features Caitlyn Kennedy and Bastian.
Caitlyn had enjoyed working for Waldorf Press. She heard about a possible promotion and threw herself into her work. When her colleague steals her work, and gets her promotion, she knows it is time to go. She takes her savings and purchases a run-down bookstore based on an online ad. She packs up her life and her beloved cat Oscar, and the two drive from LA to Dashburn, Wisconsin.
Caitlyn has grand plans for Second Chance Fantasy, and isn't afraid of hard work. When she arrives though, there is one relatively large hurdle to address: Bastian. Bastian is a dragon, the books are his hoard, and he has no intention of leaving. After a battle of wills, the two (or three including Oscar) agree to coexist in the bookstore. With time, the two learn more about each other, and their mutual attraction cannot be denied.
I enjoyed the story and the characters. Caitlyn is a strong and determined woman. She has thrown herself into her dream, and is taking the steps to bring it to life. I found aspects of her character to be relatable. Bastian is a complex hero. It took peeling away some of his layers for his true self to be revealed. While on the outside he may be seen as the big, scary dragon, under it all he was thoughtful, caring and considerate. I appreciated his devotion to Caitlyn, and how she slowly eked him out of his protective shell. The two shared a big love once they were able to fully open themselves up to one another.
My favourite line from the book was: "Uncertainty is the only place miracles can happen." I found it to be uplifting and inspirational.
Having read the prior instalments, it was great fun to see Sylvia and Apollo (Book 1), as well as Jade and Rhazan (Book 2) pop in for a special appearance. I was also very excited to see that a fourth book is planned: Oh No! There's an Imp in my Retro Arcade. I'm not sure when Holt plans to publish that one, but I'll definitely be keeping an eye out.
To all the monster lovers out there, be sure to check this one out!
Caitlyn had enjoyed working for Waldorf Press. She heard about a possible promotion and threw herself into her work. When her colleague steals her work, and gets her promotion, she knows it is time to go. She takes her savings and purchases a run-down bookstore based on an online ad. She packs up her life and her beloved cat Oscar, and the two drive from LA to Dashburn, Wisconsin.
Caitlyn has grand plans for Second Chance Fantasy, and isn't afraid of hard work. When she arrives though, there is one relatively large hurdle to address: Bastian. Bastian is a dragon, the books are his hoard, and he has no intention of leaving. After a battle of wills, the two (or three including Oscar) agree to coexist in the bookstore. With time, the two learn more about each other, and their mutual attraction cannot be denied.
I enjoyed the story and the characters. Caitlyn is a strong and determined woman. She has thrown herself into her dream, and is taking the steps to bring it to life. I found aspects of her character to be relatable. Bastian is a complex hero. It took peeling away some of his layers for his true self to be revealed. While on the outside he may be seen as the big, scary dragon, under it all he was thoughtful, caring and considerate. I appreciated his devotion to Caitlyn, and how she slowly eked him out of his protective shell. The two shared a big love once they were able to fully open themselves up to one another.
My favourite line from the book was: "Uncertainty is the only place miracles can happen." I found it to be uplifting and inspirational.
Having read the prior instalments, it was great fun to see Sylvia and Apollo (Book 1), as well as Jade and Rhazan (Book 2) pop in for a special appearance. I was also very excited to see that a fourth book is planned: Oh No! There's an Imp in my Retro Arcade. I'm not sure when Holt plans to publish that one, but I'll definitely be keeping an eye out.
To all the monster lovers out there, be sure to check this one out!
Review of advance copy received from Author
❤️ Personal Takeaway
This book is a wonderful combination of sweetness, self-love, kicking evil’s ass, and delicious dragon spice. After a failed relationship and a coworker steals her promotion, it was so soothing to watch Caitlin escape to her own book filled corner of the world to find herself again, and discovering so much more love for herself and her new found family along the way. Her sisterly bond with Renee was so healing for her, and I really enjoyed their messing around together. I especially loved watching Caitlin and Bastian grow close as friends first before the spice began, it gave both their characters a chance to work on themselves while being in such close proximity. Seeing them navigate their scars and dreams together was so wholesome, and Bastian’s alien grasp on things made for some hilarious moments
While there’s cozy, small town vibes, the threat of hunters and discovery is an overarching threat to our main characters. However, seeing Caitlin gain a grasp of her powers and growing her confidence along with them added so much to the journey. This is definitely a story for the book lovers, with a literal book dragon, book binding, and lots of modern fantasy references snuck into it.
I absolutely adored Oscar, her orange tabby cat who’s filled with so much snuggly love and sass, and I’m glad he played such a big role in this. The paranormal spice was also top tier, with so much variety and enthusiasm that I never knew what Bastian was going to do next… or with what part. Their firm foundation of friendship, trust, and respect made the degrading bedroom talk feel like it never crossed a line, and you can always feel how much Bastian adores her.
---
🧩 Tropes
- Rivals-to-Lovers
- Forced Proximity Roommates
- Cozy Small Town Fantasy
- Meek to Strong FMC
- Broody Book Dragon
- Creative, Bookbinding FMC
- Self-Love Journey
- PMDD & Plus Size Representation
- Visually Impaired MMC
---
🧭 Recommendation
For fans who love:
- Dragon fantasies
- Books!
- Cozy vibes mixed with mid-tier trouble
- Cute cat companions
——
Thank you so much to Ember Holt for the chance to read this story in advance, all opinions are my own ❤️
This book is a wonderful combination of sweetness, self-love, kicking evil’s ass, and delicious dragon spice. After a failed relationship and a coworker steals her promotion, it was so soothing to watch Caitlin escape to her own book filled corner of the world to find herself again, and discovering so much more love for herself and her new found family along the way. Her sisterly bond with Renee was so healing for her, and I really enjoyed their messing around together. I especially loved watching Caitlin and Bastian grow close as friends first before the spice began, it gave both their characters a chance to work on themselves while being in such close proximity. Seeing them navigate their scars and dreams together was so wholesome, and Bastian’s alien grasp on things made for some hilarious moments
While there’s cozy, small town vibes, the threat of hunters and discovery is an overarching threat to our main characters. However, seeing Caitlin gain a grasp of her powers and growing her confidence along with them added so much to the journey. This is definitely a story for the book lovers, with a literal book dragon, book binding, and lots of modern fantasy references snuck into it.
I absolutely adored Oscar, her orange tabby cat who’s filled with so much snuggly love and sass, and I’m glad he played such a big role in this. The paranormal spice was also top tier, with so much variety and enthusiasm that I never knew what Bastian was going to do next… or with what part. Their firm foundation of friendship, trust, and respect made the degrading bedroom talk feel like it never crossed a line, and you can always feel how much Bastian adores her.
---
🧩 Tropes
- Rivals-to-Lovers
- Forced Proximity Roommates
- Cozy Small Town Fantasy
- Meek to Strong FMC
- Broody Book Dragon
- Creative, Bookbinding FMC
- Self-Love Journey
- PMDD & Plus Size Representation
- Visually Impaired MMC
---
🧭 Recommendation
For fans who love:
- Dragon fantasies
- Books!
- Cozy vibes mixed with mid-tier trouble
- Cute cat companions
——
Thank you so much to Ember Holt for the chance to read this story in advance, all opinions are my own ❤️
July 6, 2026
4.5/5 stars
This is definitely my favorite book of the Getting Cozy with Demons series! Ember Holt delivers the perfect, sweet blend of cozy and spicy.
Our FMC, Cait, felt incredibly relatable. After being overlooked for a much-deserved promotion in favor of her work frenemy, she makes the bold move to quit, cash out her shares, and open her own bookshop in a small Wisconsin town. As a plus-sized woman who deals with PMDD and PMOS (formerly PCOS), Cait’s struggles felt profoundly authentic. Holt beautifully portrays the vulnerability and the sudden, overwhelming mental shifts that come with these conditions. Having been in those exact shoes myself, seeing Cait's frustrations and self-doubt on the page was incredibly validating. It made me feel less alone, and her finding her strength was truly touching.
And then there is our dragon MMC, Bastian. I loved him so much. He is exactly who Cait needs in her corner, constantly lifting her up and reminding her of her worth. He’s a classic grumpy book dragon who prefers his hoard to human company and resents anyone messing with the shop he lives in and Cait now owns. Watching him come out of his shell, show his own vulnerability, and reveal his massive heart was beautiful. Their relationship is a heartwarming slow-burn featuring reluctant forced proximity and a friends-to-lovers arc. And the buildup to the spice scenes is well worth the wait!
Holt always excels at creating stellar side characters. Cait’s growing friendship with Renee and her husband Andrew brought all the best found-family vibes. We also have Oscar, Cait’s cat, who rounds out the group with hilarious, relatable behaviors that every cat owner will immediately recognize and appreciate.
With its perfect mix of cozy comfort and spice, this is an absolute top recommendation. Holt masterfully balances the weight of real, serious personal topics while cheekily reminding us that we are, at the end of the day, reading monster smut. And the monster smut absolutely delivers on the feel-good vibes.
Thank you to Ember Holt for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
This is definitely my favorite book of the Getting Cozy with Demons series! Ember Holt delivers the perfect, sweet blend of cozy and spicy.
Our FMC, Cait, felt incredibly relatable. After being overlooked for a much-deserved promotion in favor of her work frenemy, she makes the bold move to quit, cash out her shares, and open her own bookshop in a small Wisconsin town. As a plus-sized woman who deals with PMDD and PMOS (formerly PCOS), Cait’s struggles felt profoundly authentic. Holt beautifully portrays the vulnerability and the sudden, overwhelming mental shifts that come with these conditions. Having been in those exact shoes myself, seeing Cait's frustrations and self-doubt on the page was incredibly validating. It made me feel less alone, and her finding her strength was truly touching.
And then there is our dragon MMC, Bastian. I loved him so much. He is exactly who Cait needs in her corner, constantly lifting her up and reminding her of her worth. He’s a classic grumpy book dragon who prefers his hoard to human company and resents anyone messing with the shop he lives in and Cait now owns. Watching him come out of his shell, show his own vulnerability, and reveal his massive heart was beautiful. Their relationship is a heartwarming slow-burn featuring reluctant forced proximity and a friends-to-lovers arc. And the buildup to the spice scenes is well worth the wait!
Holt always excels at creating stellar side characters. Cait’s growing friendship with Renee and her husband Andrew brought all the best found-family vibes. We also have Oscar, Cait’s cat, who rounds out the group with hilarious, relatable behaviors that every cat owner will immediately recognize and appreciate.
With its perfect mix of cozy comfort and spice, this is an absolute top recommendation. Holt masterfully balances the weight of real, serious personal topics while cheekily reminding us that we are, at the end of the day, reading monster smut. And the monster smut absolutely delivers on the feel-good vibes.
Thank you to Ember Holt for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This review is of an Advanced Copy provided by the author but the following is my unbiased opinion.
Let me start by saying AAHH I LOVE this series!! It’s just so perfect every time. I’ve never done an ARC before since I have ADHD and can’t always force myself to read a book by a deadline but knowing how much I enjoyed the first 2, I knew I’d devour this one. Dragon in my Bookshop might be my favorite (but admittedly I've said that about all of them so far.)
I really liked Caitlyn as an FMC. I could relate to her on several levels: wildly underappreciated at work, an awful ex, bookish, body issues, mental health struggles, likes Cucumber Melon body wash. Me IRL.
Bastian was MMC perfection. Grumpy, anti-social, but also fiercely protective of what’s his. He was sooo possessive. Dragons and their hoards am I right? Don’t touch his Dick if you know what’s good for you (iykyk 😂)
I loved the way he spoke. “You are the quintessence of lovable” ARE WE KIDDING?! But then he could also turn on a little degradation in the bedroom and damn it… I’m weak in the knees. I usually dislike the word whore but Bastian saying it melted me.
The spicy scenes were *chef’s kiss*. Had me looking like George Takei, hand to my chest saying “Oh *my*” (in the best way possible that is). From the first one on either side of the door to the uhh creative problem solving re: size difference at the end, I was into all of it.
I was happy to see appearances from the previous couples as well and more glimpses into the IBMA. The organization both intrigues me and makes me nervous as hell. I look forward to learning more as the series continues.
Overall 10/10, 5 Stars, A+++ would read again. I laughed, I cried, I wondered when Ember Holt will release the next one so I can preorder it immediately like I did this one. (The ARC sign up was just to get it early lmao I’m still paying for a copy on release so I can support the author)
Let me start by saying AAHH I LOVE this series!! It’s just so perfect every time. I’ve never done an ARC before since I have ADHD and can’t always force myself to read a book by a deadline but knowing how much I enjoyed the first 2, I knew I’d devour this one. Dragon in my Bookshop might be my favorite (but admittedly I've said that about all of them so far.)
I really liked Caitlyn as an FMC. I could relate to her on several levels: wildly underappreciated at work, an awful ex, bookish, body issues, mental health struggles, likes Cucumber Melon body wash. Me IRL.
Bastian was MMC perfection. Grumpy, anti-social, but also fiercely protective of what’s his. He was sooo possessive. Dragons and their hoards am I right? Don’t touch his Dick if you know what’s good for you (iykyk 😂)
I loved the way he spoke. “You are the quintessence of lovable” ARE WE KIDDING?! But then he could also turn on a little degradation in the bedroom and damn it… I’m weak in the knees. I usually dislike the word whore but Bastian saying it melted me.
The spicy scenes were *chef’s kiss*. Had me looking like George Takei, hand to my chest saying “Oh *my*” (in the best way possible that is). From the first one on either side of the door to the uhh creative problem solving re: size difference at the end, I was into all of it.
I was happy to see appearances from the previous couples as well and more glimpses into the IBMA. The organization both intrigues me and makes me nervous as hell. I look forward to learning more as the series continues.
Overall 10/10, 5 Stars, A+++ would read again. I laughed, I cried, I wondered when Ember Holt will release the next one so I can preorder it immediately like I did this one. (The ARC sign up was just to get it early lmao I’m still paying for a copy on release so I can support the author)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2026
Thank you Ember Holt for sending me this advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
OMG this was so good, and hands down my favorite in the series!
I adore Bastion and his glorious broodiness. He is so done with everyone's crap, and I love every second! The banter is top notch snarky goodness too. Underneath that grumpy exterior is a sweet soul that just needs some time to come out of his shell. He is still going to be a grumpy possessive bastard no matter what though. The poor guy has been hurt for so long and watching him discover what love is, is so deeply healing. It was fun with him having so many different forms he could take too. I still haven't decided which is my favorite yet!
Cait really resonated with me. I have PCOS and everything that goes along with it, and Ember described the hormone rollercoaster so well. It really is like having another person in your head telling you horrible things. Hormonal depression is awful, and having your brain constantly pick apart your body is so dang hard to live with.
It is such a good mix of cozy and spicy, and there were times it got so hot I'm surprised my Kindle didn't melt! The humor was fantastic, and walked that edge of gallows style dark humor at times too. Sometimes things are so bad you just have to laugh at it to survive and not let it eat you.
I loved Oscar the kitty too. He is so cute and I want to give him all the pets, like right now! I also loved seeing the other couples from the first two books again. It's so much fun to see how their relationships grow over time.
My only complaint was that the ending felt really rushed. It happened with the previous book in the series as well. So much happened all at once that it gave me whiplash, and I struggled to follow what was going on for a little bit.
Overall this is another fantastic addition to the series, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
OMG this was so good, and hands down my favorite in the series!
I adore Bastion and his glorious broodiness. He is so done with everyone's crap, and I love every second! The banter is top notch snarky goodness too. Underneath that grumpy exterior is a sweet soul that just needs some time to come out of his shell. He is still going to be a grumpy possessive bastard no matter what though. The poor guy has been hurt for so long and watching him discover what love is, is so deeply healing. It was fun with him having so many different forms he could take too. I still haven't decided which is my favorite yet!
Cait really resonated with me. I have PCOS and everything that goes along with it, and Ember described the hormone rollercoaster so well. It really is like having another person in your head telling you horrible things. Hormonal depression is awful, and having your brain constantly pick apart your body is so dang hard to live with.
It is such a good mix of cozy and spicy, and there were times it got so hot I'm surprised my Kindle didn't melt! The humor was fantastic, and walked that edge of gallows style dark humor at times too. Sometimes things are so bad you just have to laugh at it to survive and not let it eat you.
I loved Oscar the kitty too. He is so cute and I want to give him all the pets, like right now! I also loved seeing the other couples from the first two books again. It's so much fun to see how their relationships grow over time.
My only complaint was that the ending felt really rushed. It happened with the previous book in the series as well. So much happened all at once that it gave me whiplash, and I struggled to follow what was going on for a little bit.
Overall this is another fantastic addition to the series, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
June 16, 2026
When Caitlin's coworker steals her well put together sales pitch and tricks her way into her hard earned promotion, it's the last straw. A knee jerk quitting and spur of the moment purchase of a bookstore in quaint Wisconsin later, sends her across the country and into an unexpected adventure. She discovers her new bookstore is not only in need of expensive repairs but is apparently inhabitanted by a mystical creature. Bastian, the anti-social book dragon is desperately in need of somewhere safe to live. He has been hunted for centuries by a cult of dragon hunters intent on stealing his magic, permanently crippled by his last encounter with the hunters he has made the abandoned bookshop his lair. With both people out of options they become reluctant cohabitants as Cait tries to fulfill her dream of rehoming unwanted books. With the help of some truly quirky new friends and a slowly unthawing Bastian the Second Hand bookshop starts to bloom. And with the forced proximity Cait and Bastian's feelings are getting suddenly steamy, when all they can think about is each other....naked....in the bathtub 👀 . This book is sweet, sexy, steamy and laugh out loud funny, but it also deals with some darker themes many of us have also faced like depression, feeling unlovable, body dysmorphia, emotional abuse, PTSD, and disability. As they face these problems together and grow stronger and closer, their relationship unfolds slowly from friends to friends with benefits and maybe more when Bastian is ready to admit that they might be lovers or even fated mates. As the hunters close in on the town Cait and Bastian learn that sometimes the best people to rely on are the family that you found along the way. Readers are in for a treat of some dragon transformation, witty banter, super senses that can smell arousal, and some extra sexy sexy-time🌶️🌶️🌶️
June 18, 2026
Oh No! There’s a Dragon in my Bookshop is a beautiful and touching story that I warmly recommend to readers who want to feel their hearts clench and flutter. This book hit exactly the right nerve for me!
I went in thinking it would be cozy with some steam but don’t be fooled… you will get SO MUCH MORE.
First let me say the atmosphere was magical. Our FMC Cait wants a new beginning, a second chance and buys an old bookshop. It needs a lot of loving work but she doesn’t shy away from the challenge. What she doesn’t expect is Bastian, a dragon, a gorgeous scarred male who wants to protect his hoard.
Oh the banter and teasing was top tier 😮💨
The author managed to make me laugh with the dialogues, the misunderstandings and innuendos. I loved Cait’s new bestie Renee and her puns😂
Besides the humor, I sobbed my heart out at the MCs pasts. There is pain and trauma, much insecurity but it transforms into such a healing journey for both Cait and Bastian, and the reader too! The couple is so tender to eachother. They are respectful and caring.
You will fall in love with them.
My heart was feeling so warm seeing their interactions. The rose scene and when she woke up in pain🥺💕
Can I also take a moment to mention the beast…Yes I’m talking about the feline who has everyone wrapped around his little paw! How he and Bastian warm up to one another was precious.
Thank you for talking about certain topics concerning trauma, health issues and mental struggles with so much respect. It made me feel seen and understood, and I really think it‘s one of the best elements in your book!
Finally the steam was so rewarding and passionate… simply divine🔥
I want to cuddle not only our MCs but also this book and hoard it like the little heartfelt treasure it it🥰
Thank you Ember Holt for the ARC. I will read the other books in this series soon!!
I went in thinking it would be cozy with some steam but don’t be fooled… you will get SO MUCH MORE.
First let me say the atmosphere was magical. Our FMC Cait wants a new beginning, a second chance and buys an old bookshop. It needs a lot of loving work but she doesn’t shy away from the challenge. What she doesn’t expect is Bastian, a dragon, a gorgeous scarred male who wants to protect his hoard.
Oh the banter and teasing was top tier 😮💨
The author managed to make me laugh with the dialogues, the misunderstandings and innuendos. I loved Cait’s new bestie Renee and her puns😂
Besides the humor, I sobbed my heart out at the MCs pasts. There is pain and trauma, much insecurity but it transforms into such a healing journey for both Cait and Bastian, and the reader too! The couple is so tender to eachother. They are respectful and caring.
You will fall in love with them.
My heart was feeling so warm seeing their interactions. The rose scene and when she woke up in pain🥺💕
Can I also take a moment to mention the beast…Yes I’m talking about the feline who has everyone wrapped around his little paw! How he and Bastian warm up to one another was precious.
Thank you for talking about certain topics concerning trauma, health issues and mental struggles with so much respect. It made me feel seen and understood, and I really think it‘s one of the best elements in your book!
Finally the steam was so rewarding and passionate… simply divine🔥
I want to cuddle not only our MCs but also this book and hoard it like the little heartfelt treasure it it🥰
Thank you Ember Holt for the ARC. I will read the other books in this series soon!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Ember Holt for sending me an early copy of the book!
I expected to enjoy did, but not nearly as much as I actually did. I'm obsessed, and I now need 15 more books in the same universe.
I would categorise this book as cosy monster smut. I really enjoyed the setting of the story, in such a small town that many things aren't easy to get, and you need to make friends fast if you want to prosper - which, thankfully, Caitlin did. I loved seeing her make a female friend, and how they supported each other in this story.
I also have to say, though having a main character working in the book industry is a common trop, Ember Holt made a difference by having Caitlin work less commonly depicted jobs (as a publicist, and as a book binder), and I can tell that she either has personal experience in these two fields or did extensive research, because what she wrote checks out. This is the level of accuracy I want to see in books I read.
The spice was also very well written. I'm exacting and picky when it comes to smut, but this one met my standards. It's definitely written with the female gaze in mind, and I loved the fact that Caitlin often took the initiative. Also, the door scene? If you know, you know, but I LOVED it.
I also have to say that the representation of the main character's disabilities are very well done, in my opinion. I wouldn't be surprised if Ember Holt had been through a round or three of sensitivity reads, which is a practice I want to see get a lot more common. I share some medical issues with Caitlin, and I felt seen and represented.
If you're looking for me, I'm on my way to get the first two books in the series, and waiting for the next!
I expected to enjoy did, but not nearly as much as I actually did. I'm obsessed, and I now need 15 more books in the same universe.
I would categorise this book as cosy monster smut. I really enjoyed the setting of the story, in such a small town that many things aren't easy to get, and you need to make friends fast if you want to prosper - which, thankfully, Caitlin did. I loved seeing her make a female friend, and how they supported each other in this story.
I also have to say, though having a main character working in the book industry is a common trop, Ember Holt made a difference by having Caitlin work less commonly depicted jobs (as a publicist, and as a book binder), and I can tell that she either has personal experience in these two fields or did extensive research, because what she wrote checks out. This is the level of accuracy I want to see in books I read.
The spice was also very well written. I'm exacting and picky when it comes to smut, but this one met my standards. It's definitely written with the female gaze in mind, and I loved the fact that Caitlin often took the initiative. Also, the door scene? If you know, you know, but I LOVED it.
I also have to say that the representation of the main character's disabilities are very well done, in my opinion. I wouldn't be surprised if Ember Holt had been through a round or three of sensitivity reads, which is a practice I want to see get a lot more common. I share some medical issues with Caitlin, and I felt seen and represented.
If you're looking for me, I'm on my way to get the first two books in the series, and waiting for the next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
This book is the perfect blend of cozy bookstore enemies to lovers romance and crazy monster smut lol. The characters and their development take the front seat over the plot and I loved every moment of them. Caitlyn starts this story as a loner who doesn't really trust anyone, but by the end she becomes confident in who she is through learning to trust other people and allowing them to see her as she is. Bastian knows everything, until he doesn't. He knows next to nothing about interacting with a human female, but even less about living with one. Reluctantly he starts to learn because maybe he's starting to care about this "intruder." While the plot is a very sweet starting over and finding love story, just know the spice goes crazy. The tension is intense throughout the entire book, but when it snaps, oh boy does it get good. 😈
The discussion of PCOS (recently renamed to PMOS) and PMDD was really important to me. So many people go through life being told that their health issues are other people's inconvenience, so just suck it up. These conditions effect physical health which in turn effects mental health. These issues effect millions of people, and without talking about them and destigmatizing the conversation, the only thing that happens is suffering alone in silence. This story just goes to show that the right person will never make your health and experiences feel like a flaw, they're just part of what makes you who you are. You deserved to be loved for every part of you, not in spite of them.
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
This book is the perfect blend of cozy bookstore enemies to lovers romance and crazy monster smut lol. The characters and their development take the front seat over the plot and I loved every moment of them. Caitlyn starts this story as a loner who doesn't really trust anyone, but by the end she becomes confident in who she is through learning to trust other people and allowing them to see her as she is. Bastian knows everything, until he doesn't. He knows next to nothing about interacting with a human female, but even less about living with one. Reluctantly he starts to learn because maybe he's starting to care about this "intruder." While the plot is a very sweet starting over and finding love story, just know the spice goes crazy. The tension is intense throughout the entire book, but when it snaps, oh boy does it get good. 😈
The discussion of PCOS (recently renamed to PMOS) and PMDD was really important to me. So many people go through life being told that their health issues are other people's inconvenience, so just suck it up. These conditions effect physical health which in turn effects mental health. These issues effect millions of people, and without talking about them and destigmatizing the conversation, the only thing that happens is suffering alone in silence. This story just goes to show that the right person will never make your health and experiences feel like a flaw, they're just part of what makes you who you are. You deserved to be loved for every part of you, not in spite of them.
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