What do you think?
Rate this book
Rugged Hearts #9
Possessed by the Mountain Man
A haunted lodge.
A grumpy mountain man.
A glitter-soaked hurricane of chaos.
Let the mayhem begin…
Aspen Taylor doesn’t do boring. So when she shows up alone to a "Haunted Couples' Retreat" with a pumpkin suitcase, six wigs, and a trunk full of Halloween décor, she’s not about to let reality—or a smoking hot mountain man—tell her no.
Too bad Thorne Maddox has made "no" his entire personality.
He’s the brooding caretaker of Devil’s Peak Lodge—shirtless, scowling, and allergic to joy. She’s sunshine dipped in sarcasm with a death grip on her glitter gun. He wants solitude. She wants fog machines, cobwebs, and a sexy witch costume that is absolutely against lodge policy.
Then a storm traps them inside
One bed
No heat
Explosive chemistry hotter than hell
And a truth-or-dare game that absolutely should have been illegal
He calls her chaos. She calls him emotionally constipated.
But when ghosts from the past claw their way loose and sparks turn to wildfire, Aspen and Thorne discover something
Love is the scariest thing of all.
Perfect for fans
✅ Banter so sharp it draws blood
✅ Grumpy/sunshine with claws
✅ Forced proximity + one bed
✅ Halloween spice, dirty talk, and wicked heat
✅ Mountain men who fall hard and possessive
Get ready. Things are about to get filthy, funny, and fanged.
Devil’s Peak is waiting…
A grumpy mountain man.
A glitter-soaked hurricane of chaos.
Let the mayhem begin…
Aspen Taylor doesn’t do boring. So when she shows up alone to a "Haunted Couples' Retreat" with a pumpkin suitcase, six wigs, and a trunk full of Halloween décor, she’s not about to let reality—or a smoking hot mountain man—tell her no.
Too bad Thorne Maddox has made "no" his entire personality.
He’s the brooding caretaker of Devil’s Peak Lodge—shirtless, scowling, and allergic to joy. She’s sunshine dipped in sarcasm with a death grip on her glitter gun. He wants solitude. She wants fog machines, cobwebs, and a sexy witch costume that is absolutely against lodge policy.
Then a storm traps them inside
One bed
No heat
Explosive chemistry hotter than hell
And a truth-or-dare game that absolutely should have been illegal
He calls her chaos. She calls him emotionally constipated.
But when ghosts from the past claw their way loose and sparks turn to wildfire, Aspen and Thorne discover something
Love is the scariest thing of all.
Perfect for fans
✅ Banter so sharp it draws blood
✅ Grumpy/sunshine with claws
✅ Forced proximity + one bed
✅ Halloween spice, dirty talk, and wicked heat
✅ Mountain men who fall hard and possessive
Get ready. Things are about to get filthy, funny, and fanged.
Devil’s Peak is waiting…
151 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 27, 2025
22 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Aria Cole
197 books1,374 followersAria Cole is the pen name of a USA Today bestselling author who published her first book in 2012 and began writing contemporary romance long before that.
Her books always feature possessive alpha men and the sassy, curvy, nerdy heroines who love them, along with a healthy dose of irresistible insta-love and happily-ever-afters sweet enough to make your teeth ache.
Follow Aria on Amazon for new release updates, or stalk her on social to see which daring book boyfriend she's writing next!
Newsletter - http://eepurl.com/ccGnRX
Instagram - http://bit.ly/2OzIWSA
Facebook - http://bit.ly/2d3UsDr
Twitter - http://bit.ly/2cppyRq
Her books always feature possessive alpha men and the sassy, curvy, nerdy heroines who love them, along with a healthy dose of irresistible insta-love and happily-ever-afters sweet enough to make your teeth ache.
Follow Aria on Amazon for new release updates, or stalk her on social to see which daring book boyfriend she's writing next!
Newsletter - http://eepurl.com/ccGnRX
Instagram - http://bit.ly/2OzIWSA
Facebook - http://bit.ly/2d3UsDr
Twitter - http://bit.ly/2cppyRq
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 31, 2025
Aspen brought chaos into Thorne’s well ordered, reclusive life; and I’m here for it! She is pure sass and chaos. Aspen shows up at a couples retreat solo after her cheating fiancé jilted her. The caretaker of the cabin, Thorne is a reclusive, grumpy mountain man. When a storm traps them in the cabin and the generator is on the fritz, they make their own sparks. Will these sparks turn into a lasting romance?
November 4, 2025
Halloween Madness
Possessed by the Mountain Man is a wonderfully hot and romantic Halloween story. Aspen and Thorne have banter that is both funny and passionate. Aspen's Halloween antics will make you laugh. Aspen's antics drive Thorne crazy. Their chemistry lights such a spark, you feel like combusting with them. Talk about sexy! It's an awesome love story with a lot of Halloween fun.
Possessed by the Mountain Man is a wonderfully hot and romantic Halloween story. Aspen and Thorne have banter that is both funny and passionate. Aspen's Halloween antics will make you laugh. Aspen's antics drive Thorne crazy. Their chemistry lights such a spark, you feel like combusting with them. Talk about sexy! It's an awesome love story with a lot of Halloween fun.
November 5, 2025
Aspen wins a Haunted Couples Retreat Weekend, but there's one problem she goes alone. Thorne is the caretaker of the Devil's Peak Lodge and is hosting the retreat. From the moment Aspen and Thorne meet, sparks fly, but they also clash, making this a fun read. From the crazy fun banter and great storyline to the steamy mountain man romance, this is a great addition to the Rugged Hearts series. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
March 13, 2026
Aspen (Influencer)
Thorne (35)
Aspen wins a couples haunted retreat online but goes alone because her fiancé dumped her. She meets the owner of the retreat Thorne and they banter with each other even though he is grumpy and doesn’t like any holiday because someone he cares about died so he stopped celebrating them
Dual V- She wanted to wait for marriage that’s why she never did anything with her ex sexually
Thorne (35)
Aspen wins a couples haunted retreat online but goes alone because her fiancé dumped her. She meets the owner of the retreat Thorne and they banter with each other even though he is grumpy and doesn’t like any holiday because someone he cares about died so he stopped celebrating them
Dual V- She wanted to wait for marriage that’s why she never did anything with her ex sexually
October 29, 2025
Aspen and Thorne are ultimate grumpy /sunshine duo! When she turns up to a haunted cpuples retreat at theblodge resort alone shes the ray of sunny chaos that caretaker Thorne doesnt need or want, but when a storm traps them together will sparks fly? Well written engaging steamy desires funny quick romance
November 4, 2025
Adorably Spooky
This was just the most fun novella ever! Aspen is soothing her feelings after being dumped by live streaming her stay at a spooky old fishing lodge. Thorne is caretaker of the lodge and grumpy is his middle name.
These two battle the weather, their decorating differences, and each other to reach their HEA. You will love that!
Highly recommended.
This was just the most fun novella ever! Aspen is soothing her feelings after being dumped by live streaming her stay at a spooky old fishing lodge. Thorne is caretaker of the lodge and grumpy is his middle name.
These two battle the weather, their decorating differences, and each other to reach their HEA. You will love that!
Highly recommended.
October 29, 2025
Aspen and Thorne. OMG this was pure chaos and I loved it. It was all over the place but also still made sense. I loved every minute. I couldn’t put it down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 30, 2025
The author has given us a wonderful enemies-to-lovers story that pulls us into the lives of Aspen and Thorne. The story keeps us turning the pages with connection, denial, chaos, forced proximity and steam.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews