I screwed up my first solo potion and now the customer is covered in hives. If that disaster wasn’t bad enough, knowing it might get my family’s potions house gobbled up by a competitor is the icing on the cake. What I didn’t expect was for my father to ship me off to the Wild West monster haven of Pine Gulch as punishment. He calls it an opportunity to learn. Pfft. Pine Gulch is a temporary setback—I’ll get back to the city in a New York minute.
Except things don’t go as planned when a mysterious sickness befalls the haven’s animals. Before I know it I’m smack dab in the middle of an investigation. Unfortunately, Furyon Zayle, the ranger in charge of the investigation, is a smoking-hot dark elf with an unnatural amount of charm. Him staring at me might be hot if I wasn’t being accused of somehow manufacturing the illness.
I’m a fish out of water in the worst possible way, but the pull between Furyon and me is stronger than the threat of my guilt. He introduces me to the beautiful corners of Pine Gulch—hidden pumpkin mazes, a herd of wild mustangs, a magical auction house, and the saucy town herself.
Our connection deepens as I start to fall in love with the wildness of this country haven and its people…one specifically. But good things don’t last as the investigation closes in on me. I know I’m innocent, but can Furyon and I find the culprit before I end up behind bars?
Hazel Mack writes small town cozy but scorching monster romance. High heat but lots of sweet is the name of the game. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with Mr. Mack, Baby Mack and a dog named Andy. Hazel Mack is the sticky sweet alter ego of dark(ish) romance author Anna Fury.
I love cowboy romances and paranormal/monster romances, so Western paranormal/fantasy romances are a mashup I always jump on when I find them! And when I saw Samantha Brentmoor was one of the two narrators, I knew I wanted to listen to the audiobook version of the book! It's dual narration, with Brentmoor as amazing as ever and new-to-me narrator Oliver Highpoint doing a great job with the American West accents.
There's no miscommunication here between the two main characters, which is great to see! They both acted their ages and the drama comes from the plot, rather than from the main characters overreacting to things.
I didn't know that Live Love Lasso was a spinoff of an extensive series of books, but the book opens with a very useful Foreword that gives a great explanation of the fantasy world. The Foreword mentions that you don't need to read the other books to read this new one, and after listening to Live Love Lasso, I definitely agree with that. It gave me all the context I needed to enjoy this story.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Listener Copy from Podium Entertainment but this is my voluntary and honest review.
This was a cute & sexy monster romance (& add some cowboy to the mix too). It was a good listen! I think the narrators really elevated and brought life to this story!
🧪 Monster Romance 🤠 Vampire x Dark Elf 🧪 Mystery 🤠 Cowboy x City Girl
At this point, Hazel Mack can take me anywhere and I will follow without question. But Pine Gulch? She's made another great world for us to dive into.
📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Live Love Lasso by Hazel Mack
📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Pine Gulch Ever After character series. Book 1.
📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book ARC on Kindle. 🆓️ on KU.
📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Monster romance
📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Opposites attract, fated mates, fish out of water, blood play, suspense, small town, found family.
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Lemon is banished to Pine Gulch after a potions mishap, where she immediately finds herself embroiled in an investigation into mysterious issues with the local wildlife. The ranger investigating her, Furyon, can't help but blur the lines as he gets to know this city girl.
🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I've been raving about Hazel Mack's haven series since it started, and the Haven Ever After series is still one of my favorite monster recs. So when she announced we'd be traveling to Montana for a western-style adventure in a new haven, I was all in. Add to that this gorgeous cover, and I knew there was no chance I wasn't going to enjoy it.
Furyon and Lemon were a great introduction to the PG. Lemon was a fish out of water, with a sassy attitude and glitter boots, she was unapologetically herself. And the way she fell in love with Pine Gulch made it easy for the readers to be right along side her.
But listen, we have to talk about Furyon Zale. Furyon is the quintessential man written by a women. He loves animals, has swoony tattoos, is one of the best dirty talkers I've read. Man, these two are all fire when they give into the tension.
And just like the other series, Hazel Mack does a great job of setting up a cast of characters you can't help but be invested in. I can't wait to escapt to Pine Gulch for more.
Hazel has this way with stories, it makes you feel like you know the characters from page one, care about them and feel with them. The moment I knew she was giving us a new haven I was first in line to read this.
Country monsters? HELL YEAH! Not only did we get a new charming downtown with moody buildings and hidden gems, but also country boys. The sheriff has me in a chokehold and he’s not even our MMC! But safe to say Furyon did have me hooked, his personality alone was the perfect tease, funny, sunshine man with a hidden past and huge heart. His love for animals alone would have done me in, but the way he treats Lemon? Down bad. I want him for myself, horns and all.
Lemon was that bitch. She was resilient, refreshing and so kind. Even faced with adversity and new challenges she was nothing but sweet. Her love for PG developed beautifully and his relationship with Furyon was so incredibly meaningful it felt real. She needed PG and it was amazing to watch how they changed each other.
Now…don’t think I didn’t notice the hints for the next books (I’m delulu and I think everyone needs a book) lol.
Hazel, thank you so much for the opportunity to read this early!
Quotes:
"Let's be clear. I am investigating you, Miss Knox. But I also can't keep my hands off you,"
"I asked you out. You said yes. Then you went home to freshen up and put on a dress that'd knock me fuckin' dead. You wanna get railed into my headboard. Tell me you don't."
"You been thinkin' about riding me as much as I've been thinkin' about lettin' you?"
"I promised to do naughty things to you in this jail, Lemon. You wanna get arrested, city girl?"
"I couldn't forget you if I tried, Lemon. You're the only thing on my mind all day. That ain't ever gonna change."
But Lemon? She brought the light back into my world, and she shines it into all the darkest corners of my heart. I'll protect that with body and soul until the day I leave this earth.
I loved this so much! I have never, ever read a monster romance. It was crazy! The fucking degradation, and sex, and everything in this book is 10/10! I signed up for this barely knowing anything about this author, but this has definitely introduced me to a whole new world, and I have no regrets! Lemon and Furyon are absolutely fantastic together, and not only that, but their growth, banter, and connection are top-tier! The way Hazel Mack wrote this book made it so easy for me—and will be so easy for other readers—to fall in love with this world and be clamouring for more! Hazel does a great job introducing you to new characters and having you guessing the next story!
Can we also address that Furyon has the sluttiest, filthiest mouth ever! Lord, the things he said were just… phewww. I am in love! This book was cozy, smutty, and entertaining in ways I didn’t know were possible. Our narrators are also absolutely phenomenal. You can catch each emotion, each pressure point within the story. I truly felt that when our narrators were talking, I was either watching a movie or was in their heads. Let’s call it what it is… A MOVIE IN YOUR HEAD! Ms. Brentmoor and Mr. Highpoint—BRAVO. BRAVO, my dears!
I can say there are no notes for this story! i couldn’t get enough and i still want more from them in the best ways! i mean come on people how can we get over lemon and furyon! so well written, excellent production and i have nothing more to say expect please give us more!
Lemon is a vampire who is an expert potion maker. A mistake at her family potion house in NYC and her father sends her to rural Pine Gultch. Furyon is a dark elf who is a ranger. A tall dark, and handsome cinnamon roll.
I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook. The narrators are so talented and really brought the characters to life.
This is an amazing read with plenty of spice, which is definitely nice. The world building is unique and it was easy to picture in my mind. It's modern, but with various beings having their own place on earth with humans. Lemon and Furyon's connection is instant and fire. I really like their dynamic and glad there's little angst and appreciate the mature, adult rationale and behavior.
It's a day in the life monster romance with family drama and small town mystery where wildlife are being poisoned. Who and why would they want to harm animals? What happens when it's time for Lemon to go back to NYC?
Narrated by Samantha Brentmoor and Oliver Highpoint
My first Monster Romance and I’m so glad I was Lucky enough to receive a copy! This was a funny, mysterious romance story and I loved it so much.
Lemon narrated by the incredibly talented Samatha Brentmoor a shamed vampire potion master is sent to Pine Gulch by her father as punishment. She’s dreading being banished to the country under the ruse of “training” she becomes the interest of the local Sherrif Dark Elf Furyon narrated brilliantly by Oliver Highpoint first as an intriguing newcomer and then as a possible suspect. The mysterious side plot that is set to destroy the small paradise of the Gulch had me hooked and while they try to solve this mystery they find themselves unable to resist each other.
It was a little spicy, fully of smart mouth funny monster side characters of all kinds. I’ll definitely be adding this genre and more Hazel Mack to my TBR.
If you like cute, fun, magical and free, definitely pick up Live Love Lasso! I have read all of the Haven Ever After series and have absolutely fallen in love with their stories and characters.
Pine Gulch is another fun piece of the monster Haven systems with its witty banter, irresistible charm with characters that will make you swoon. If you love fated mates, monsters spice and everything nice pick up Live Love Lasso! If you've never read any of the Haven series by Hazel Mack and want to start with level of Lasso I suggest you start with All My Hexes to introduce you into the new magical world of monster living.
If you love a spicy monster romance this will keep you warm.
Hahaha this was such a great book! I needed this cleansing of a book for a read! The giggles and oooo’s that I did in this book was so worth it haha! I definitely love this couple, they totally are top level couple worthy!
I got this as an ALC and it was absolutely amazing! The only thing that could have made it better was being done in duet. But when you have Samantha Brentmoor reading, you don’t mind bc she is absolutely amazing for both sides of characters. This was the first book with Oliver Highpoint but I think he definitely made my radar for narrators, his voice is very easy to listen to!! I absolutely loved this audio!!
Cowboy RomCom Cowboy x Socialite Fated mates Small town Opposites attract Dual POV - 1st person
Dual narration - Samantha Brentmoor & Oliver Highpoint As always Samantha is fantastic. This I think was my first time hearing Oliver Highpoint, I enjoyed his performance.
Such a fun twist on your typical cowboy or small town romance. In this one your also getting a paranormal side.
These characters were such a fun couple to read. My first Hazel Mack book and I can firmly say this will not be my last.
Welp i knew I would love this book. Prolly cause it’s another Ever-ish series book but also because it was fantastic and Hazel Mack wrote it 😋
This was so cute, I’m not usually a cowboy book girlie but this was really fun, I love a monster book and there’s always some mystery to be had around the smut!
Poor Lemon dealing with her family bs but man did she hit the jackpot finding Furyou 💕 those two little trauma babies deserve the world.
Plus the spice as usual *chefs kiss* I can’t wait for more of this series to come out. I’m obsessed!