How to Claim a Human Mate

Monsterly Yours #6

by S.J. Sanders

Lynn Taylor: After fifteen years of marriage, I’m out. I’m finally free while my ex-husband has moved on to greener pastures. I don’t have much to my name outside of a failing coffee shop I inherited and my cat, Casper, but I’m determined to make it a success, even if that means scouting a new location for it. The last thing I want or need is to be dragged cross-portal to attend a harvest festival put on my brutish orcs. I can’t say no to my very determined best friend. Throw in an opportunity too good to pass up and I might just have to take a chance on a new future I never dreamed of. Even if I have to dodge a flirtatious orc with a gaudy fashion sense and a promise of forever in his eyes.

Bodi Ironclaw: As a bachelor orc in my prime, I can’t understand how it is that I’ve not found my mate. Surely it shouldn’t have been this hard to find my bloodbond? Sure, I have a few silvering hairs appearing, but I’m hearty as ever and determined to find my perfect one. With the harvest festival open to humans this year and bringing with it a delightful female with a passion for coffee who makes my blood sing, I’m starting to believe that this time things will turn around and I will be lucky in love. If only I can get my prickly female to see this warrior is the male meant for her.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Monsters, Monster Romance, M F Romance

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 8, 2021

About the author

S.J. Sanders is a mom of two toddlers and one adult living in Anchorage, Alaska. She has a BA degree in History, but spends most of her free time painting, sculpting, doing odd bits of historical research, and writing. While she has more research orientated writing under another pen name, her passion is sci-fi and paranormal romance of which she is an avid reader. After years of tinkering with the idea, and making her own stories up in her head, S.J has began to seriously pursue writing as an author of Sci-fi Romance utilizing her interests in how cultures diversify and what they would look like on a extraterrestrial platform to humans interacting with them and finding love.

She can be found on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Author-SJ-Sa...

And follow her blog at https://sjsandersromance.wordpress.com

Reviews

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

2022 Goal Update (2/20/22): Book #7 on my series to finish or DNF this year. I'll write a review eventually but it may be a while because I am already behind on my 2022 reviews. I am happy to be slowly checking off my backlist books I need to read.

Review (5/21/2022): It has been months since I read this because of a slump + not writing reviews. As a result, I’m gonna leave this at 3 stars though up reviewing my notes and remembering the book, it is probably more of a 2 star. Out of the entire series with all the species that have romances here, I think the Orc society is the most underwhelming for me.

As it had been nearly 2 years since I read The Orc Wife so I had none of the nostalgia or built up love for the universe on behalf of Sammi and Orgath. To be honest as I read this, I barely remembered their story so this one just was not awe inspiring. Now it was fun and I will finish up the series by reading Trick or Orc especially since this has me interested to now what happens with Lynn’s bestie, Kassie.

Since I accidentally prefaced the daylights out of this review let’s chat about the characters at the center of this romance.
Lynn newly divorced and finally ready to be free and move on. She was okay. Basically she read like any romance, 40 something divorcé without kids. Her and her cat, Casper now own a failing coffee shop that she is trying to make work and they are looking for new clientele que an orc harvest festival and bam she’s in a new world. She is initially very hesitant about Bodi which I loved since let’s be realistic, if I was newly divorced after 15 years I would be too.

Bodi He’s a bachelor in his “prime” but doesn’t get how he’s still mateless. Dammit he wants his bloodbond! He falls for Lynn instantly but needs to woo her. He is the captain of the guard thus by orc standards is a very nice catch. There are alot of misunderstandings so if that’ll bother you I’d give this a miss.

There is a bit of drama that I won’t spoil and you get your happy ending! I am moving on to Book 7 eventually.

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t like the first book in this series, but I’m glad I jumped to this one because it was a good read. Lynn was extremely biased against men in general so was less than impressed when Bodi showed his interest. She was fiery, grouchy, and lonely. Bodi was sunshiny, strong, and fiercely protective and possessive. He proved himself to Lynn through his actions and they had a sweet love story.

Spice: 3/5

Triggers: violence, gore, execution, poisoning, stalking (not by MCs), mention of cheating (not involving MCs), divorce, fat phobia, harassment, pregnancy

[Corda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining! Love the characters and the world.

[MB (What she read) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fun enough--cotton candy for the brain (nothing wrong with that, btw).

[shannon Stubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

They're kind of fun

These stories in this series are kind if fun. I lo ed the jokester Bodi falling in love with the no nonsense Lynn. It made for a really great story.

[JML · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really really want an Orc of my own😍😍😍😍

Lynn was married to a fake wanna be socialite who was all looks and no substance. When she begin renovating and running her mom's small cafe she realizes she needs more in her life. So when her best friend convinces her to attend the Orc festival and maybe relocate her business to the other side of the portal Lynn reluctantly gives to a chance. Bodi is captain of the guard and yes been looking for his one an on!y bloodhound mate for many many years when a bunch of new human tourists arrive for the festival and a beautiful, sassy h?once catches his eye and his heart. What proceeds is a funny, flirty fast paced story of two lonely souls that recognize each other.it takes a while lot of tempting, humor, misunderstandings with the right amount of delicious passion to bring this couple together. The monsterly yours series is one of my very favorite !I highly recommend reading this you won't be disappointed! I can't wait to read Kassie's story!💖🔥💖🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥🔥💖🔥💖💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥

[Ann Hupe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this Monsterly Yours Universe! Where do I sign up???

I knew this series was going to be great after the first two books I read. Finding it finally out in print a few days ago was like Christmas during Halloween (Halloween being my favorite holiday of the year!) So I've been up all night, finishing this book, only to be shanghaied into reading its "twin" Trick or Orc. (Glad I somehow lucked out reading this book first rather than messing it up and reading these two out of order.)

I really wanted Bodi to find a mate when I was first introduced to him. He was just pining for a blootbonded mate. So this is Bodi's and Lynn's love tale, Lynn being the archetypal betrayed woman by her husband who wanted to upgrade his trophy wife. I couldn't even wait for that to happen because Lynn deserved so much more than the jerk she started off with. Makes you wonder how things were going to even out between the fat world and the human world considering the wild influx of scorned human females coming through the portal.

I loved both Bodi and Lynn as the hero/heroine in this tale. Very believable. Very humorous in parts. But S.J. Sanders doesn't ignore the "little people" (less-than-main characters), and we get a chance to get to know them quite well as well. We also get a hint of new villains for future tales, too. I guess hatred amongst the "pure" never ever seems to go away no matter where or when you are. I am pleased that we're not seeing the same ol' templates of subplots as usual. There were times I was about to cringe... only to be surprised when something not anticipated happened. I hate over-predictable storylines. I also detest unrealistic storylines, too.

We're seeing a little more in world-crafting called the economics of new world discovery. Nothing ever happens without considering how someone will be making money off of someone. Here, Lynn decides to open up the first coffee shop in the fae world when she realizes she's losing too much money in her world and would eventually have to close down. Not wanting to fail, she just changes venue!

The more I read about this series, the more I want to be there, too! I cannot wait for even more books to be published!

Regarding editing, things are definitely improving in this department, even though a verbal read-through would have benefited the final product. (At least the writer is open to making changes after-the-fact!) I am pleased to see continued improvement since the beginning of her writing career. She's always willing to continue learning her craft, the sign of a talented writer!

Ratings (out of possible 5)
Character building: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
World building: 🌎 🌎 🌎 🌎 🌎
Relationship building: 💓 💓 💓 💓 💓
Romance: 💋 💋 💋 💋 💋
Heat/steam: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
Drama: 👀 👀 👀
Action: 🍿 🍿 🍿
Suspense: 💣
Dark: 💀
Triggers: Bad marriages, divorces.
POV: Multiple (2)
Ending: HEA
Length: Approximately 236 pages
Recommend: YES! YES! YES! 👍 👍

Thank you, Liz K, a reviewer on Amazon!

[Mx_Virg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5

This is the first book I read in the series. I was in need of something fluffy and light and sweet, and remembered this book about a human and an orc meeting at a harvest festival. How cute does that sound? Very cute!

❤️ Lynn and Bodi work really well as a couple. I wasn't really fond of Bodi at first (will talk about it later), but once they found their groove I saw how great of a couple they could be. Lynn is very capable and needs someone to just show up and be there, be her supporter. Bodi is a bit of a goofball that goes all over the place and needs someone to call him on his shit and ground him. They really make a good team.

👱‍♀️ I was very happy to read about an older heroine (it's nice to read something else then the typical 20 year-old doe-eyed young woman) who already has had her fair share of romantic drama with her ex-husband, and is now focused on living her life for her. I really liked that she didn't just fall in Bodi's arms and was focused on her own goals and her friend. As a result this slowed down the romance, wasn't the fast burn I expected (and was very happy about it).

👻 The setting was really nice. The orc village, the festival, the cottage,... it was very cozy.

☹️ My main issue is with Bodi, especially in the first half of the book. The whole "She is my woman, no one can even look at her" thing didn't work for me at all. It can be hot... when the woman in question knows about it and is ok with that. Bodi stakes a claim and basically no one is allowed to even try to court her (or just be friendly). Staking a claim on someone, making it very clear to everyone... except the person you're staking a claiming on? That's just gross. And his antics were really annoying at first too. It took a long while for me to warm up to him.

There are other smaller issues, tropes that I don't like, that made this read more of a "meh" for me (mediocre smut scenes, the orc sub plot was boring, the surprise pregnancy at the end). But I can also see how this is could be a great read for others.

[Alicia Zeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Orc Romance

This is a great romance with the hang ups, humor, and heat one would expect.
As a stand alone its good.
However, if you are like me and love to binge a completed series, then fair warning this book will aggravate with its errors.

Spoilers:



The time that has past is inconsistent throughout.
Era's firstborn is twenty. Therefore this novel should take place 20 years after Orcs Wife. There are too many references to it being 5, 7, or 10 years that its annoying.

The entire embodiment of orc culture established in Orcs Wife is flipped on its head. Every Orc can cook, its survival. Having the clan still be ignorant of human anatomy and physiology is ridiculous if Sammi has been their Clan Mistress for 20 years. Are you trying to get me to believe not once was she injured or sick? Also, where is Kate? Sammi's human bestie that lives with the clan 90% of the year?

The you have our precious orc tavern. Erra and Oleg are an adorable couple in Orcs Wife. She won him with her Meat pies. She taught Sammie to cook. Now she burns water and is the face of the tavern relegating Oleg to the kitchen as a trope diner cook? NOPE!

Where in the world did his mom come from?? In orcs wife Era had to care for her injured father. If the mom was still alive, where was she back then?

Also, I get that you need to make the storyline move, but a Captain of the guard would not be so stupid as to not recognize when his delfass was acting defensive. They are bred to ride and protect. Why would he not question that?


Like I said, enjoyable book as a stand alone or if you are reading each book with time in between. I'm just a detail nut...

[Bookscheep · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine. The main couple was cute together although the smut was underwhelming. There is some plot going on but it's very minimal. One thing that bothered me was there are a lot of occasions where characters act different from what I would expect from someone with their background. For example how Bodi ignores his delfass when it's acting defensive. There are some editorial issues as well. Ranging from sentences that don't work to things not working with the timeline. But still it read easily and had some fun parts. A couple things really annoyed me though. The fact that Lynn is recently divorced, which is mentioned constantly, while it already been three years. Like of course it takes time to get back at your feet, but in those three years she apparently has never been shopping or even spend a lot of time with her best friend in general. Also I didn't like how the main couple just ignored that the cat has been in the carrier for like the whole day and instead of letting him out they have sex. There is also a surprise pregnancy at the end that comes out of nowhere and gets like almost no reaction from the main couple.

[EJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

SJ Sander’s How to Claim a Human Mate is a feel-good story about a recently divorced woman who realizes her dreams by opening a coffee shop in a new town she fell in love with on vacation. At the same time, she is part of a cute love story. It’s like one of those Hallmark films. Only you get to this town via a magic portal. Oh, and it’s an orc village.

I’m a sucker for good world-crafting. That’s why I keep coming back to Sanders as an author. Part of her approach is exploring different, but fundamental questions people in general need to know to function in a given society. So we can look at questions like “how does money work between a portal connected worlds?” or “do humans move into the newly accessible fantasy world and how?” Then Sanders makes those questions directly a part of the plot’s events. It is an efficient and effective technique to world-building and plot event creation that I recommend for anyone as I love reading that stuff.

I think it is made all the better with Trick or Orc paired with it in almost the same sitting. It is what I did and it was the right call.

[ElfQueen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5-3.75 stars. I am so glad to have read Bodi's own story + that he got his own HEA. I rated it 3.5-3.75 because I was a little confused. I remember how some characters were described a certain way in the first book + then in this book, it seems like the polar opposite so I felt like this story didn't have much continuity + also I felt like it could have been edited better. I also found it odd how all of a sudden Lynn was really into Bodi even though she kept brushing him off in the first 40% of the book. Still a good story but not as captivating as the other books from monsterly yours series.

[Joy Kimelle Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Orc story

Our heroine has had a stifling life. She is finally free from an egotistical husband who has blown most of her inheritance on stuff she didn’t want. After two years of trying to keep her mother’s coffee shop going she must make some hard decisions.

When her friend talks her into going to an Orc festival she decides to see if maybe Orc land would be the best place for a new shop.

She meets a handsome orc Bodi. He is draw. To her immediately. He then gives her a run for her money while he courts her. I won’t spill all the adventures they have, but they do get a HEA. They also have plans to get his brother and her friend together.

[Jannie Cv · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story!
Burned out on men and romance, Lynn takes a chance on moving her coffee shop across the portal to an orc village. She and her friend, Kassie, get into some interesting escapades.
Bodi is her self-appointed guide and protector (and suitor). I adore him! He’s supremely confident and makes sure Lynn sees the quality of mate he would be. From Lynn’s viewpoint, this is a bit of a slow burn. Bodi has no doubts, but has to work hard to get past those barriers Lynn has in place.
A truly delightful romance, with some surprising twists!

[Kim K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing and fun

Lynn is ready for a change. Her husband has a pregnant girlfriend and Lynn has had enough.
Talked into going on vacation by Kassie, they travel to an Orc planet to enjoy a new experience.
That experience includes Bodi, the Orc Captain of the Guards. Bodi takes one look at Lynn and knows he has found his mate.
The chase is on, both sides using wiles and trickery to get where they both want to be: together, forever.
Throw in some Orc supremacists, Lynn's inability to cook, and an ornery cat, and you have a story for the ages.

[Romance Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved It ❤️

OH MY GOODNESS!!! S.J. Sanders has done it again! I love Sanders works. They are so imaginative and descriptive! I have read many of Sanders books and o have purchased several on audible. Please keep your fans supplied with your story telling talent! Bodi & Lynn were such a pleasure to read, pulled on my heartstrings in the first chapter but they get their HEA! Bodi was so outrageous with his choice of clothing to attract his lady. Lynn was hilarious in how she viewed his attire. I would definitely recommend this book!! I cannot wait for Kassie’s story.

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was a alright read

I liked it. It wasn’t my most liked of this author’s books but I did enjoy reading it. Some parts I had to push through. A lot of these kinds of books seem to be almost the same story and plot. I wasn’t to crazy about Lynn- I didn’t like her outlook about men. As if all men are the same- specially human men. It seems to be this running outlook in these kinds of book where the women falls in love with a different alien/ fantasy species and that all human men are terrible. Which is false, but anyway that’s my review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynn and Bodi

A nice slow burn romance between a human and an Orc. Lynn had a difficult divorce and makes a new life for herself. Her friend Kassie needs a vacation and talks Lynn into going with her to the home of the Orcs. And there she meets Bodi who immediately decides she is for him. He just has to convince her of that. Bodi is a wonderful, protective and gentle romantic who woos Lynn who is very careful about opening up to anyone after her failed marriage.

[SL Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laughed so much

What a character! But a sexy , loving one. Great story and awesome couple. Surprised that orc that caught her eye was an unexpected turn. Beautiful story. I really liked Bodi and was so happy he got his own story. He was a little much with his out fits ... that had my laughing so hard but his intentions worked. Just a really fun and good story. Reviewed by Who She Reads

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this story. SJ Sanders is a favorite author of mine and her writings prove why. Storyline was just amazing. Loved these characters. This is a standalone story in the series so you don’t need to read the others. But why would you not want to. Stories are just so good. No spoilers here. Definitely recommend reading. I loved it.

[EvaLovesRomance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyable book

I absolutely loved Bodi and Lynn's story. Especially because I felt it was a playful flirtation that had them falling for each other.
Lynn got what she most definitely deserved and wanted from Bodi in a husband and I enjoyed reading about him courting her too.
This was a really playful and funny read. I loved it!!

[I'm Fine, Just Tired · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm finding it really hard to happily finish the books in this series.

I'm bored. They're slow. They're not slow in the cozy, happy, cute way. Just slow in the wordy, repetitive way. I don't even care what happened.

The last two in this series are novellas and I'm hoping with the shorter format, Sanders will knock it out of the park.

[Millennium65 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 - Decent Orc Fluff

It was ok. An easy, uncomplicated read. I didn't really like the man-hating vibes, but it was a good way to set up the misjudgments in the beginning. I craved more romance, though. The FMC spent so much time pushing the MMC away in the beginning that the romance went from 0 to 60 real quick, and then the book was over.

[Letras y Café · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me sorprendió que la autora se dio la oportunidad de escribir sobre adultos de verdad, que la prota tenga 42 y que aun así quiero tener su final feliz, es lo más hermoso que leí.
Siempre pense que Bodi era un alborotado, y efectivamente lo era, lo que no sabía es que quería tener su lazo de sangre tan ferozmente. Me gustó mucho el libro.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so love big strong tusked orcs!

Then when they fall in love? Oh, yes! But not everyone is happy about humans being involved… The culture and world building is such fun. Interesting and just right. 😍

[Barbara Dunbar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coffee for the Orcs

Lynn is a coffee creator and when her coffee shop is losing "ground" to neighbourhood changes she takes the opportunity to introduce Orcs to the beverage. Bodi takes one whiff and flamboyant dress is his way of increasing his expo to Lynn.

[Janeda Easter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh

I just want to live in the worlds S. J. Sanders creates. You don't read her books you live them. It's like a swirl of magic enwraps you and whisps you away like a genie flowing into its bottle.
What a great fall treat, I gobbled it up and want more.

[Penny Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!!!!!

Very enjoyable novel! Loved and laughed out loud at Bodi’s “fashionable” attire to attract Lynn. This is the first book I’ve read in the Monsterly Yours series. Great read for Halloween.

[Eunice Andreas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, funny love story that starts with humor!

Laughter keeps coming as the love between independent woman and a handsome Orc grows. Its sweet and heartfelt romance at its best. Highly recommend this book to everyone who loves a feel good love story

[Rosa Maria Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

I loved everything about this book. You won't be disappointed in any way and it has humor, action, drama, second chance for love, and steamy hot romance with awesome characters. A must buy and so ready to read the next book in the series.