Part of Claw Haven, book 3
First published 2026
Vi Harper runs Sweethelm Bookstore in Claw Haven, Alaska, where monsters walk among humans. She fixes everyone's problems and keeps the shop running, but inside she feels like a mess. Nick Wicker, a cocky orc, believes Vi is his fated mate. Every conversation between them ends badly, with Vi growing more irritated by his presence. Nick tries to win her over by stress-baking and even joining the local book club. When he brings Vi apology brownies, they share one passionate night together. Vi, normally cautious and sensible, surprises herself by proposing a friends-with-benefits arrangement with the orc she once considered her enemy. For Nick, the physical relationship exceeds his hopes, but he wants more. He knows Vi doesn't believe in fated mates or destiny. Nick must find a way to prove that fate chose correctly when it brought them together.
Genres: romance, fantasy, adult, adult-fiction, fantasy-romance, contemporary-romance
Vibes: heartwarming, humorous, intimate, romantic, slow-burn, witty
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fated-mates, forced-proximity, friends-with-benefits
Setting: Sweethelm Bookstore, Claw Haven, Alaska
336 pages · Paperback · Harlequin
Content warnings: explicit-sexual-content