November 15, 2023
A vampire and an Alpha werewolf enter into a marriage of convenience in order to ease tensions between their species. As the only daughter of a prominent Vampyre councilman, Misery Lark has grown accustomed to having to playing the role that's demanded of her--and now, her father is ordering her to be a part of yet another truce agreement. In an effort to maintain goodwill between the Vampyres and their longtime nemeses the Weres, Misery must wed their Alpha, Lowe Moreland. But it turns out that Misery has her own motivations for agreeing to this political marriage, including finding answers about what happened to her best friend, who went missing after setting up a meeting in Were territory. Isolated from her kind and surrounded on all sides by the enemy after the wedding, Misery refuses to let herself forget about her real mission. It doesn't matter that Lowe is one of the most confounding and intense people she's ever met, or that the connection building between them doesn't feel like one born entirely of convenience. There's also the possibility that Lowe may already have a Were mate of his own, but in spite of their biological differences, they may turn out to be the missing piece in each other's lives. While this is Hazelwood's first paranormal romance, and the book does lean on some hallmark tropes of the genre, the contemporary setting lends itself to the author's trademark humor and makes the political plot more easily digestible. Misery and Lowe's slow-burn romance is appealing enough that readers will readily devour every moment between them and hunger to return to them whenever the story diverts from their scenes together. Sink your teeth into this delightful paranormal romance with a modern twist.

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Starred review from December 1, 2023

Misery Lark is a vampire hiding among humans. Filing her fangs down, wearing brown contacts to cover her violet irises, and working night shifts haven't been fun, but her privacy and independence are worth it. As it turns out, she wasn't hiding very well. Escorted home--by force--to a meeting with her father, Misery learns that she's the pawn in a vampire/werewolf alliance and will be married off to alpha werewolf Lowe Moreland. Marrying Lowe, moving to werewolf territory, and being surrounded by werewolves who immediately mistrust and dislike her; none of that matters to Misery. She has been looking for her missing best friend, who she believes is somewhere in werewolf territory. If getting married is what it takes to find her, Misery is all in. This paranormal romance, Hazelwood's (Love Theoretically) first foray into the subgenre, introduces modernized vampires and shifters. The worldbuilding is excellent and intricate, and the characters are well-drawn, with emotional depth and backstories that pull on readers' heartstrings. VERDICT Witty dialogue, plots within plots, and a surprising twist round out this excellent novel. Highly recommended.--Heather Miller Cover

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 22, 2024
Misery definitely doesn’t love company in this funny and thoughtful urban fantasy romance from Hazelwood (Love, Theoretically). As the daughter of a leading Vampyre council member, Misery Lark is used to being used. She spent ages eight through 18 as the collateral in an uneasy Vampyre-human alliance, essentially held hostage in the human world. Just when she’s finally free to live her life as a computer security expert, her best friend disappears and Misery is summoned back to her father, who aims to use her as collateral once more, this time in a Vampyre-Werewolf alliance that must be sealed with a marriage. She’s ready to refuse—until she realizes her future husband may be linked to her missing friend and she sees a chance to get answers. Alpha Lowe Moreland isn’t a stranger to duty, but even he’s a bit surprised with this marriage of inconvenience and how much he enjoys having a member of the much-hated Vampyre race in his territory. With the specter of an interspecies war on the horizon as well as threats from within, he has to balance attraction and protection while still holding on to his sanity. It’s a new subgenre for Hazelwood, and she navigates it well, slowly teasing out the sweet and spicy supernatural romance. This is a treat. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra Literary.

Starred review from January 1, 2024
Misery Lark has always been a pawn in the epic bloody conflicts among Vampyres, Weres, and Humans. As the young daughter of a prominent councilor, she was sent to live with Humans as the Collateral, a living guarantee of good behavior on the part of the Vampyres. After a fraught childhood, only saved by the friendship of Serena, her Human foster sister and best friend, Misery volunteered to marry Lowe Moreland, the the Alpha of the Southwest Were Pack. The marriage would not only help avert another bloody war, it would also allow her to secretly investigate Serena's disappearance. The three species fear and revile each other, resorting to diplomacy that always seems to require hostages. Hazelwood (Love, Theoretically, 2023), who cleverly includes a bit of real science in her romances, explains that their differences are the result of genetic mutations, not the occult. Lowe, not at all what Misery expected, is a loving guardian to his charming young sister, and Misery, to the surprise of the Weres in the household, does not attack every, or in fact, any neck she sees. This enthralling tale of political machinations, family secrets, enduring friendship, and the allure and fear of people who are "other" is a not to be missed romance.

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