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Monstrous Matches #2.5
Ensnared by the Werewolf
A heartbroken witch, a cursed werewolf, and a fated encounter under the full moon.
Belinda loves curse breaking. When a man shows up at her shop asking for help, she’s delighted to assist.
Who wouldn’t help their fated mate after all?
Things go from bad to worse and now she’s left on the rebound. Perhaps riding the local lake monster through his heat will be enough to patch up her wounded soul and get her life out of the rut it’s fallen in.
Getting lost in the woods on the way to her date was not a part of the plan.
What also isn’t a part of the plan? Belinda has unfinished business coming for her with an entirely different type of rut in mind.
Can she outrun what hunts her? Does she want to?
Ensnared by the Werewolf takes place in the same world and night as Found by the Lake Monster and includes chasing, knotting, and breeding.
This is the longer version of Captured by the Werewolf, formerly published in the Into the Woods anthology.
Belinda loves curse breaking. When a man shows up at her shop asking for help, she’s delighted to assist.
Who wouldn’t help their fated mate after all?
Things go from bad to worse and now she’s left on the rebound. Perhaps riding the local lake monster through his heat will be enough to patch up her wounded soul and get her life out of the rut it’s fallen in.
Getting lost in the woods on the way to her date was not a part of the plan.
What also isn’t a part of the plan? Belinda has unfinished business coming for her with an entirely different type of rut in mind.
Can she outrun what hunts her? Does she want to?
Ensnared by the Werewolf takes place in the same world and night as Found by the Lake Monster and includes chasing, knotting, and breeding.
This is the longer version of Captured by the Werewolf, formerly published in the Into the Woods anthology.
76 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2022
265 people are currently reading
4392 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 472 reviews
November 1, 2022
Not as spicy as I thought it would be??? 🧐 I feel like my spice expectations are just off the charts at this point when it comes to monster smut.
Also, our girl was basically begging to get down and dirty in the dirt and he said "no, you don't know what you want. I know what you want and it's not a MONSTER, MICHELLE!"
😐
Sir we all want a beast man at this point. Bye.
Also, our girl was basically begging to get down and dirty in the dirt and he said "no, you don't know what you want. I know what you want and it's not a MONSTER, MICHELLE!"
😐
Sir we all want a beast man at this point. Bye.
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October 5, 2023
3.5 ⭐️ Witch x Wolf Rejected Mates Novella!
This was so cute but really angsty for such a short little book! I loved Belinda and Jack's story.
Jack lived his life happily as a werewolf until one fated night, he found himself stuck in an in-between form, unable to shift to either fully human or wolf. He's gone to several magical practitioners to try and rid him of the curse but has been given no solution. That is until one day he walks into a magical store and finds the most beautiful witch sitting behind the counter.
Belinda learns about Jack being her mate fairly quickly, but they both focus on breaking his curse first. I think that may have been the first 'wtf are you guys doing!?' moment that I found throughout this novella. And there were many, let me tell you. Especially when it came to Jack. His resistance to their bond and his struggles with the in-between form's physical appearance were grating. Belinda forgave a bit too fast after that stunt in the woods, IMO.
There are some steamy scenes, but they're mostly at the end. The 3 peppers are because there's a focus on primal play, a knot and breeding involved in the spice!
🌶🌶🌶/5
This was so cute but really angsty for such a short little book! I loved Belinda and Jack's story.
Jack lived his life happily as a werewolf until one fated night, he found himself stuck in an in-between form, unable to shift to either fully human or wolf. He's gone to several magical practitioners to try and rid him of the curse but has been given no solution. That is until one day he walks into a magical store and finds the most beautiful witch sitting behind the counter.
Belinda learns about Jack being her mate fairly quickly, but they both focus on breaking his curse first. I think that may have been the first 'wtf are you guys doing!?' moment that I found throughout this novella. And there were many, let me tell you. Especially when it came to Jack. His resistance to their bond and his struggles with the in-between form's physical appearance were grating. Belinda forgave a bit too fast after that stunt in the woods, IMO.
There are some steamy scenes, but they're mostly at the end. The 3 peppers are because there's a focus on primal play, a knot and breeding involved in the spice!
🌶🌶🌶/5
December 2, 2022
The ground couldn't be comfortable 🌲
December 2, 2023
⭐⭐⭐
3 stars.
➕ What I liked :
Some parts were interesting and had real potential.
➖ What I disliked:
Nothing is really explored in-depth.
(Not the main characters or the plot they both needed more depth and development.)
Rushed.
(Even for a novella this plot is rushed and so is the romantic build-up and chemistry.)
The story is too short.
(More details and more world-building etc. was needed and this story would have been really good/interesting if the story was longer and/or more comprehensive.)
That the hero/mmc kept pushing the heroine/fmc away and not trying to communicate/listen and instead felt sorry for himself and thought the heroine/fmc did not want a “monster” even though she told him she did many times. (His insecurities dragged on to long for such a short story.)
Repetitive and underdeveloped.
Formulaic in the character description/character choice.
October 30, 2022
If you love insecure heroes, then this is for you.
Me? Not so much. Especially when it's not even a big deal. Our girl here digs the fur and tail and his... sharp teeth. Him? 'Oh no, I'm a monster. Get away from me.'
hmmm. nope.
Aside from that though, everything is as campy as I want.
Me? Not so much. Especially when it's not even a big deal. Our girl here digs the fur and tail and his... sharp teeth. Him? 'Oh no, I'm a monster. Get away from me.'
hmmm. nope.
Aside from that though, everything is as campy as I want.
January 21, 2023
Quick, spicy, Fated Mates, knotting, fucking in the woods. Delightful
4 stars
2.5 on the spice scale
4 stars
2.5 on the spice scale
August 7, 2023
RATING: ⭐⭐.875 (2.875 stars)
Rating System (1-5):
Writing = 3.5
Plot = 3
Characters = 2.5
Romance = 2.5
SPICE SCALE (1-5): 🔥.5
Trope/Setting Highlights
✔ Witch (FMC) x wolf shifter (MMC)
✔ Sunshine FMC x broody, angsty MMC dynamics
✔ Part of a story universe from this author, but can act as standalone
Christina’s Corner: Does this book contain any personal tropes/elements/warnings I usually avoid? (Includes: love triangle, unnecessary third-act breakup, unplanned pregnancy, hung up on dead/ex partner, cheating, tragic ending, extensive DV/abuse, etc.) Some might be super niche but some I know others like to know about beforehand as well. Will add spoiler warnings as needed!)
✘ Safe
Review:
Not sure if I have any hot takes to add, some of the top reviews pretty much say exactly how I feel about this story. It was cute and an especially quick read. With how small (but growing!) our monster romance world is, I’ll grab that glass of water and chug down every last drop I can. Sometimes it’s a win, sometimes it’s just a quick palette cleanser to add to the GR 2023 count (which I would classify this as), and sometimes you lose.
However, and I know this relates to the curse of the novella, I couldn’t invest myself in the characters, and they felt very surface level for me. Especially the MMC. The brooding and angst over his “condition” got old fast.
Also, for this book, with all the tropes and kinks it could've possibly explored, it all felt relatively tame??? Not that that would be a universal complaint, it just had me personally miffed LOL.
I’ll read more by this author about her monster creations for sure!
Rating System (1-5):
Writing = 3.5
Plot = 3
Characters = 2.5
Romance = 2.5
SPICE SCALE (1-5): 🔥.5
Trope/Setting Highlights
✔ Witch (FMC) x wolf shifter (MMC)
✔ Sunshine FMC x broody, angsty MMC dynamics
✔ Part of a story universe from this author, but can act as standalone
Christina’s Corner: Does this book contain any personal tropes/elements/warnings I usually avoid? (Includes: love triangle, unnecessary third-act breakup, unplanned pregnancy, hung up on dead/ex partner, cheating, tragic ending, extensive DV/abuse, etc.) Some might be super niche but some I know others like to know about beforehand as well. Will add spoiler warnings as needed!)
✘ Safe
Review:
Not sure if I have any hot takes to add, some of the top reviews pretty much say exactly how I feel about this story. It was cute and an especially quick read. With how small (but growing!) our monster romance world is, I’ll grab that glass of water and chug down every last drop I can. Sometimes it’s a win, sometimes it’s just a quick palette cleanser to add to the GR 2023 count (which I would classify this as), and sometimes you lose.
However, and I know this relates to the curse of the novella, I couldn’t invest myself in the characters, and they felt very surface level for me. Especially the MMC. The brooding and angst over his “condition” got old fast.
Also, for this book, with all the tropes and kinks it could've possibly explored, it all felt relatively tame??? Not that that would be a universal complaint, it just had me personally miffed LOL.
I’ll read more by this author about her monster creations for sure!
September 22, 2024
★2.72 stars★
well, that was a book. 🤷🏻♂️
i didn't hate it. i didn't love it. i kind of just experienced it.
well, that was a book. 🤷🏻♂️
i didn't hate it. i didn't love it. i kind of just experienced it.
October 1, 2023
Holy primal play Batman.
October 16, 2022
4/5 ⭐️s
I read this back when it was released in the Into the Woods anthology, and I think the few additions Lillian made here really helped to add more depth to the story (as much as can be for 75 pages)
Getting a chapter from Jack’s POV helped me understand what motivates him to make the choices he does regarding Belinda. (It also gave me 2 lines of interaction with Broderick from Deceived by the Gargoyles, which I was excited about!)
I also felt Belinda and Jack’s chemistry a bit more this time around. That scene where she’s feeling for his magic in the darkness of her back room? *fans myself* And the epilogue was absolute perfection. It was great getting to see them interacting with old favorites while also establishing their HEA!
Overall, this was a perfect, quick read for October. I can’t wait to revisit this world again when Entranced by the Basilisks comes out!
Spice: 2/5 🌶 just because there wasn’t a lot, but what was there was GOOD 🥵🔥
I read this back when it was released in the Into the Woods anthology, and I think the few additions Lillian made here really helped to add more depth to the story (as much as can be for 75 pages)
Getting a chapter from Jack’s POV helped me understand what motivates him to make the choices he does regarding Belinda. (It also gave me 2 lines of interaction with Broderick from Deceived by the Gargoyles, which I was excited about!)
I also felt Belinda and Jack’s chemistry a bit more this time around. That scene where she’s feeling for his magic in the darkness of her back room? *fans myself* And the epilogue was absolute perfection. It was great getting to see them interacting with old favorites while also establishing their HEA!
Overall, this was a perfect, quick read for October. I can’t wait to revisit this world again when Entranced by the Basilisks comes out!
Spice: 2/5 🌶 just because there wasn’t a lot, but what was there was GOOD 🥵🔥
April 13, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up.
Quick read! I really liked the FMC. The MMC annoyed me a little.
Quick read! I really liked the FMC. The MMC annoyed me a little.
October 12, 2022
Ensnared by the Werewolf is the newest addition to Lillian Lark’s Love Bathhouse monster romance series. I have adored the previous books in the series: Stalked by the Kraken, Found by the Lake Monster, and Deceived by the Gargoyles. This read includes: witch/monster pairing, chasing/primal, knotting, rejected mate, and breeding. This story is actually an extended version of what was originally shared in the Into the Woods multi-author anthology, now with dual POV.
This is a shorter read and takes place the same night as the previous book in the series, Found by a Lake Monster. If you’ve read that story, then you know Belinda was originally headed out on a date setup by the matchmaker with the hero of that book, which of course everything worked out perfectly since he found his perfect match in his story and now we find out what kept Belinda from showing up for the date…and who was following her.
We flashback to one month prior to the night Belinda is out. Belinda is a witch and owns her own magic shop when one day Jack walks into her shop needing help. Jack is currently stuck between forms, while he was trying to shift back into human form something strange happened and he’s kind of in between a human and a wolf now. Now unable to shift and feeling wary of his monstrous form, Jack has been frequenting many witches for help when he shows up at Belinda’s shop. Upon meeting, Belinda realizes immediately that she’s found her mate and just wants to help Jack any way she can.
This was a super sweet, slightly angsty monster romance. While both Belinda and Jack realize they’re mates right away, he’s very apprehensive about starting up any relationship with her when he sees himself as just a “monster”. While she’s helping him, they start to go out on coffee dates and lunch dates and just spend time together. He tries to push her away and doesn’t want to give her any false hope of a future while he’s trapped in this in-between form. You definitely see some angst of seeing him almost give in and then pull back. I liked the fun little cameo of the Bramblewick gargoyle family and an update of how they’re doing.
Thank you to the author for an e-ARC. All thoughts in this review are my own. Ensnared by the Wolf has a publish date of October 16, 2022.
This is a shorter read and takes place the same night as the previous book in the series, Found by a Lake Monster. If you’ve read that story, then you know Belinda was originally headed out on a date setup by the matchmaker with the hero of that book, which of course everything worked out perfectly since he found his perfect match in his story and now we find out what kept Belinda from showing up for the date…and who was following her.
We flashback to one month prior to the night Belinda is out. Belinda is a witch and owns her own magic shop when one day Jack walks into her shop needing help. Jack is currently stuck between forms, while he was trying to shift back into human form something strange happened and he’s kind of in between a human and a wolf now. Now unable to shift and feeling wary of his monstrous form, Jack has been frequenting many witches for help when he shows up at Belinda’s shop. Upon meeting, Belinda realizes immediately that she’s found her mate and just wants to help Jack any way she can.
This was a super sweet, slightly angsty monster romance. While both Belinda and Jack realize they’re mates right away, he’s very apprehensive about starting up any relationship with her when he sees himself as just a “monster”. While she’s helping him, they start to go out on coffee dates and lunch dates and just spend time together. He tries to push her away and doesn’t want to give her any false hope of a future while he’s trapped in this in-between form. You definitely see some angst of seeing him almost give in and then pull back. I liked the fun little cameo of the Bramblewick gargoyle family and an update of how they’re doing.
Thank you to the author for an e-ARC. All thoughts in this review are my own. Ensnared by the Wolf has a publish date of October 16, 2022.
October 16, 2022
4.5/5⭐️ (rounding up to 5)
I received an arc of this novella from the author and I’m leaning an honest review. Thank you to Lillian Lark for this opportunity!
Lillian Lark is one the few authors I will drop everything for in order to read her next installment. This was a great spooky read for October (or really anytime when you’re in the mood for werewolves 👀).
It was spicy and covered a good short plot. One of my favorite part had to be when the Grace and her gargoyles made cameos 🥺♥️ Belinda and Jack were so cute and steamy through this story 🥰
While I would’ve liked a few more spicy scenes, the quality of the scenes we received were so freaking good (like always). I cant wait for Lillian’s next release!!!
I received an arc of this novella from the author and I’m leaning an honest review. Thank you to Lillian Lark for this opportunity!
Lillian Lark is one the few authors I will drop everything for in order to read her next installment. This was a great spooky read for October (or really anytime when you’re in the mood for werewolves 👀).
It was spicy and covered a good short plot. One of my favorite part had to be when the Grace and her gargoyles made cameos 🥺♥️ Belinda and Jack were so cute and steamy through this story 🥰
While I would’ve liked a few more spicy scenes, the quality of the scenes we received were so freaking good (like always). I cant wait for Lillian’s next release!!!
April 15, 2024
Short and spicy. This one wasn't as weird as the one with the egg 😂 also, we go to see characters from Decieved by the Gargoyles so that was cool.
October 26, 2023
A short novella about a werewolf and a witch finding out they're fated mates!
Read
May 6, 2024If you know me, don’t ask 👀
November 16, 2023
I adore the cozy fantasy vibes in the first half of this! The way Belinda does embroidery and also happens to see magic as threads? So clever.
And then the second half with the monster smut~ This wasn't as fast burn as I expected a smutty monster fucking romance to be, but still quite solid.
I didn't care for the rejected mates storyline to be honest. Maybe it's because I barely knew Jack enough to really feel for him, but I do very much enjoy a jealous mate finally caves because she's about to go hook up with another guy.
There's also cameos from our beloved gargoyles so that's always delightful. :) I don't know what I'm going to do with myself once I exhaust all the books in the Monstrous Matches series.
And then the second half with the monster smut~ This wasn't as fast burn as I expected a smutty monster fucking romance to be, but still quite solid.
I didn't care for the rejected mates storyline to be honest. Maybe it's because I barely knew Jack enough to really feel for him, but I do very much enjoy a jealous mate finally caves because she's about to go hook up with another guy.
There's also cameos from our beloved gargoyles so that's always delightful. :) I don't know what I'm going to do with myself once I exhaust all the books in the Monstrous Matches series.
October 17, 2022
4.5
like the previous novella in this series this one was an absolute blast and such a quick read.
I loved seeing them come together as a couple and figure out communication. Plus a mix of my favorite tropes just make this near perfection for me.
like the previous novella in this series this one was an absolute blast and such a quick read.
I loved seeing them come together as a couple and figure out communication. Plus a mix of my favorite tropes just make this near perfection for me.
July 18, 2023
nicee
January 28, 2023
Disappointing. The story itself was too good to be told in such few pages. Didn't like Jack's insecurities to drag as much as they did and, well, it was not as spicy as I thought it'd be :/
Read
August 15, 2024Ok ya not a huge fan of werewolves but the tail wagging was funny
November 16, 2022
an insecure man? sign me up! jokes aside, this was good, i needed some LIGHT angst, and this was appreciated
June 7, 2024
book 4 and I’ll never stop reading Lillian Lark
Managed a fourth book in a span of days. This one is short and I definitely could use more, but I loved Jack and Belinda (they pair better than Bel would have with Adrian). Knotting is fun, so is the half-shift breeding. Lots of primal action in this one, too.
Managed a fourth book in a span of days. This one is short and I definitely could use more, but I loved Jack and Belinda (they pair better than Bel would have with Adrian). Knotting is fun, so is the half-shift breeding. Lots of primal action in this one, too.
June 3, 2023
”i’m still a monster under it.”
“but i want your monster,” i whispered.” ♡₊˚
this was good but i guess i was expecting more? to me this felt like the mildest spice so far in this series, which was a smidge disappointing. i’m also not really a fan of insecure heros, and jack is definitely one of those. idk how many times bel told him to get over it and i was right there with her. still a fun, quick read! this series is so entertaining and i’m excited to pick up the next one!
“but i want your monster,” i whispered.” ♡₊˚
this was good but i guess i was expecting more? to me this felt like the mildest spice so far in this series, which was a smidge disappointing. i’m also not really a fan of insecure heros, and jack is definitely one of those. idk how many times bel told him to get over it and i was right there with her. still a fun, quick read! this series is so entertaining and i’m excited to pick up the next one!
January 23, 2023
4☆ Review:
“Something is hunting me.”
I’m so weak to the soul-mate trope and I love a werewolf story.
Considering how short this was, it had a great storyline and was hot af. I read it in one sitting. (Plus we got to see a little bit of our poly couple from Deceived by the Gargoyles!)
Highly recommend!
“Something is hunting me.”
I’m so weak to the soul-mate trope and I love a werewolf story.
Considering how short this was, it had a great storyline and was hot af. I read it in one sitting. (Plus we got to see a little bit of our poly couple from Deceived by the Gargoyles!)
Highly recommend!
November 9, 2023
I enjoyed reading another book from Lark that when I found this one, I had a good idea of what I was getting but I should have paid attention to the page count 😁 That's on me and not the author because she wrote some pretty good modern characters in Belinda and Jack.
Jack comes into Belinda's life because he wants help with a curse and she might be his last chance as other witches have tried and he's pretty much given up. Belinda realizes early on that they're Fated Mates so she's going to do what she can for her mate. In a few pages they have their ups and downs and Jack being hung up on his insecurities lets her go which is really what this novella explains through time lapses as this one takes place in the same world and night as Found by the Lake Monster, which I need to read.
In a quick span, Lark covers week's worth in a few sentences so she covers a lot of story ground to progress the story, also well done, but I wish there as a little more because it feels like there's a little more depth to these two but I enjoyed it overall. It was a quick read about fated mates that includes some werewolf tropes like chasing, knotting, and breeding so if not your thing, you were warned.
Jack comes into Belinda's life because he wants help with a curse and she might be his last chance as other witches have tried and he's pretty much given up. Belinda realizes early on that they're Fated Mates so she's going to do what she can for her mate. In a few pages they have their ups and downs and Jack being hung up on his insecurities lets her go which is really what this novella explains through time lapses as this one takes place in the same world and night as Found by the Lake Monster, which I need to read.
In a quick span, Lark covers week's worth in a few sentences so she covers a lot of story ground to progress the story, also well done, but I wish there as a little more because it feels like there's a little more depth to these two but I enjoyed it overall. It was a quick read about fated mates that includes some werewolf tropes like chasing, knotting, and breeding so if not your thing, you were warned.
October 13, 2022
A witch trying to help a monster break a curse + mutual insta-attraction?!
Don’t make me explain why that’s so hotttt
I was SO excited to learn more about the witch who was originally set up with our sweetie, dirty-talking hero from Found by the Lake Monster.
Even though this story was less than 100 pages, I still found a solid balance of plot, yearning, tension, and, of course, delicious chase scenes. (But also I’d read 200+ additional pages of Belinda & Jack..jUsT sAyiNg)
I’m typically not a fan of the rejected mates trope but in this household we trust in Lillian Lark. And, surprise surprise, even the sting of angsty rejection was digestible thanks to the carefully crafted words of my PNR queen.
I’m a sucker for character cameos & I was beyond giddy to catch up with the Bramblewick fam again!!!
In conclusion, another short, sweet, and steamy addition to the magical Lark universe!
*TW/CW- As listed by the author: chasing, sex with a monster, knotting, rejected mate, babies, breeding, & a tiny bit of non-consensual oral (Content Warnings can also be found at the beginning of the book)*
Thank you to Lillian Lark for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Don’t make me explain why that’s so hotttt
I was SO excited to learn more about the witch who was originally set up with our sweetie, dirty-talking hero from Found by the Lake Monster.
Even though this story was less than 100 pages, I still found a solid balance of plot, yearning, tension, and, of course, delicious chase scenes. (But also I’d read 200+ additional pages of Belinda & Jack..jUsT sAyiNg)
I’m typically not a fan of the rejected mates trope but in this household we trust in Lillian Lark. And, surprise surprise, even the sting of angsty rejection was digestible thanks to the carefully crafted words of my PNR queen.
I’m a sucker for character cameos & I was beyond giddy to catch up with the Bramblewick fam again!!!
In conclusion, another short, sweet, and steamy addition to the magical Lark universe!
*TW/CW- As listed by the author: chasing, sex with a monster, knotting, rejected mate, babies, breeding, & a tiny bit of non-consensual oral (Content Warnings can also be found at the beginning of the book)*
Thank you to Lillian Lark for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 20, 2022
This had such a potential to be a slow-burn angst fest but alas... The smut also felt a bit rushed... It all felt rushed just in general (even for novella standards). The chemistry between the leads IS there though, and I wish we got more time to properly build it up ☹
All in all, this felt like an outline for a really REALLY intriguing novel 🤷🏻♀️
All in all, this felt like an outline for a really REALLY intriguing novel 🤷🏻♀️
Displaying 1 - 29 of 472 reviews