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Horn in My Side
Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?
A cozy comfort read that proves grumpy orcs have soft hearts—Jasmine and Mal's banter crackles while the small-town monster community charm wraps around you like a warm blanket.
Synopsis
❤️🔥 Opposites always attract! 🔥❤️ 🦄 Monster romance 🦄 Grumpy-Sunshine 🦄 Smalltown romance 🦄 Banter and spice From bestselling paranormal and shifter romance author, Alicia Montgomery, comes a brand new, small town monster romance! Perfect for fans of Ruby Dixon and Tusk Love! ------------------------------ Welcome to Dewberry Falls, a quiet town where all kinds of monsters, magical creatures, and humans live together in (almost) perfect harmony. Jasmine Gonzalez loves her job. As manager of Fantastic Tails and Magical Scales Pet Shop, she takes care of a variety of mythical pets from all over the world- from three-headed puppies and Fenrir cubs to cute water horses. But when the owner of the store, and Jasmine's beloved mentor, unexpectedly passes away, the shop is at risk of being shut down. Grumpy and introverted Orc Mal makes a living as a contractor for witches, warlocks and all kinds of supernatural beings. It's a solitary life, but he likes it. When his uncle leaves him the small, annoyingly endearing magical pet shop, Mal doesn't plan on staying long enough to get to know the cute creatures inside... and he certainly doesn't count on the small, sunshiney pet shop manager begging him to sell to her. Six months. Jasmine asks for six months to come up with the money. And for some reason, Mal can't stand the idea of disappointing her, so they have a deal. But working in close proximity with a woman who smiles like the sun is harder than Mal planned, and with Jasmine determined to make him fall in love with Dewberry Falls... they might just fall for each other along the way. ------------------------------ READER REVIEWS FOR HORN IN MY 'I'm a huge fan of this book! I loved it so much. It's cute and fun-to-read.. with magic and mishaps.. But always with lots of love.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A very sweet and cute little town love story that will melt your heart away. Ms. Montgomery's ability to write is off the chart greatness. I recommend this awesome book to anyone who enjoys a easy reading.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Fully in my ORC ERA! This was cosy, sweet and everything I wanted and needed it to be! The writing style was easy to digest and addictive, loved it!'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Hot Orcs, cozy small town, what more can you want?! This is perfect for pretty much everyone in their orc era!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A delightful blend of romance and enchantment!'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'The cover and title of this book was what drew me to it. I really really enjoyed this one. It was sweet and spicy. I LOVE a grumpy sunshine romance.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
At a Glance
3.96 ★ GoodreadsTop TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.
MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.
Book Details
Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.
3.96 ★
Page CountHow long the commitment is.
338 pages
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.
2025
Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?
Paranormal Romance
PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.
M/F
POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).
Dual POV
Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.
Medium Burn
CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.
spoiler
AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.
AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.
Yes
FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.
Standard
NarratorThe voice in your ears.
N/A
Narrator Count
1
TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.
Mood & Vibe
MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.
Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.
Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.
medium
Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.
light
Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.
low
VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'
Characters
FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?
MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.
Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.
Spice Details 🌶️
Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.
Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.
Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.
World & Setting
World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.
Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.
Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.
RepresentationIdentity representation in the book. LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, body type, age and more.
Reading Context
Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.
Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.
anytimeWhen & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.
Short Takes
quick 280-character reactions for this book. drop a thought, rate the vibe, keep scrolling.
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