Her Orc Warrior

Bellhaven Clan #3

by Zoe Ashwood

I escaped a life of crime to save my daughter…

But my plan for making it to a safer town has gone awry. The driver of the wagon we snuck on isn’t human at all, and now we’re stuck in a traveling caravan of massive orc merchants.

And the driver who first noticed me? He claims I’m his fated mate. The one person destined to be everything to him.

He says we’re safe. That he’ll protect me and my little girl from the men following us. But I know better than to trust pretty lies. Life has taught me that I can’t rely on anyone but myself, and I intend to keep it that way.

But orcs are a warrior race, and if I can learn from them, I will. And my mate is the perfect man to teach me everything he knows about combat…and perhaps about love.

Her Orc Warrior is an orc fantasy romance with a large, scarred hero and a fiery, cautious heroine who needs to learn to trust again. You’ll love this story if you enjoy reading about size difference issues, wounded heroes, and single mothers who would do anything to protect their kiddos. This is the third book in a series of standalones - each book can be read separately and features a happily-ever-after for the main couple.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Monster Romance, Monsters, Paranormal, Fantasy Romance, Paranormal Romance

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 11, 2022

About the author

Zoe Ashwood writes sexy paranormal romance for women who believe in magic and true love.

She's in love with the art of making up stories - and making her characters fall in love.

Get a FREE orc romance by joining her newsletter !

You can also find her on: Facebook - Instagram - Pinterest.

Reviews

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story with a single mom running away from a terrible situation and a scarred warrior who was dealing with self-image issues. Hazel was fiery, untrusting, and dedicated to her daughter, Wren. Vark was depressed, a little grouchy, and compassionate. Their meeting was a bit of a disaster, but the mate bond smoothed a lot of rough edges. I would have liked Hazel to take more time learning to trust Vark, especially given her background and what she was running from, but it fit with the pattern of the previous books.

Spice: 4/5

Triggers: mentions of slavery, violence, gore, beheading, poverty, child physical assault (off page, not by MCs), parent death (off page)

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After seeing what happened to Vark in book 1 I've been waiting for his story, so I was really excited to read HER ORC WARRIOR. I loved watching Vark and Hazel circle each other, both trying to keep their walls up and not let anyone get close. They make a great couple even though it takes them a bit to work through their feelings. And Wren, Hazel's daughter, was really adorable and the way all the orcs took care of her was so sweet. Another great addition to the series!

Content Warning: past abuse

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Favorite Quotes:

“But the moment I scented you, my life gained a new Northern star. A new meaning. You are my family now. As is Wren, because you love her. And if you want, I can be your family, too.”

[Elizabeth]

DNF at 67%. There’s nothing terribly wrong about this book. I’m just bored. I like the world but I want more from a story than this.

[Elena Rodríguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5
Seré breve.
Ha sido al mismo tiempo el que más me ha gustado de los tres primeros y al mismo tiempo el que más me ha decepcionado. Siento que me esperaba más profundidad del personaje masculino, aunque, a decir verdad, tampoco puedo pedirle peras al olmo a estas historias.

Sigo recomendándolos encarecidamente.

[Kimmylongtime · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has put me through such an emotional rollercoaster !! It was so worth it !!

This is book number three is such a fabulous series. I took a long time in between as I haven’t been reading as much as I would like but I’m trying to get back into the real swing of things.

Vark is a warrior who has lost so much in such a short time. The life he once knew is over now as he is now permanently disabled by his last battle. Vark is on a standard trip that the supply crew always goes on when a stranger and her daughter hops onto the cargo carriage. Vark takes one look at this woman and her baby and knows he is keeping them forever.

Hazel is a young woman on the run from a notorious gang and cutthroat leader and doesn’t know what’s left or right. She hops onto the back of this carriage because it’s clean, the horses are in wonderful condition and the hold is extremely covered and shaded.

What she doesn’t know is that in the midst of the drama this may be the answer to all of her prayers. Hazel just wants somewhere safe to lay her head for the night and a bit of food. What she receives with these friendly band of orcs is a true family one she’s never had and a chance to change her little families life around.

This book had a lot of twist and turns as our FMC is on the run. That however does not take away from the fire that ignites between Vark and Hazel. The ways they discover each other and their passions is electric and the fire they ultimately make could never burn out once it’s lit.

[Kait · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great addition to the series!

Hazel will do whatever she needs to protect her young daughter Wren. When she realizes the wagon she left on is owned by Orcs, she’s nervous given the rumors of their reputation. Vark knew the minute he met her that she was his mate. He will protect them from whatever they’re running from, no matter if they leave him after.

Vark is such a gentle giant. I love how sweet he is with Wren and ready to accept her as his own. His relationship with Hazel is fire. 🔥

I LOVED seeing more of Gorvor and Dawn from book 1. 😍 I think they’re still my favorite couple in this series.

[spidermse · Rating 5 out of 5]

going through rereads of this series because it's my favorite orc romance 💚

"Thinking of ways to murder me?" Vark asks, taking up the reins again. "I might be," I mutter, annoyed that he figured me out. He leans back against the wagon, the picture of calm. "Ah, a woman after my own heart."

I love all these orcs so much. I love that the FMC already has a child on her own - I don't see that very often in monster romance. Not only does Vark accept Hazel but he accepts Wren no questions asked.

If I met my orc mate and he was Vark...I don't know if I'd be able to hold out for so long. That's a swoony male.

[Clairsreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️


I swear these books just keep getting better and better. If you have not tried a monster romance I URGE YOU to give the Black Bear Clan orcs a try….they will change you!!!

Hazel has always had to scrounge and fight during her life and taking care of her daughter is her highest priority. When she decides to hitch a ride on Vark’s wagon escaping from her overbearing and dangerous former friend and employer she winds up on a journey she never expected. Once Vark lays on her he realizes immediately that she is his mate and he cannot let her go. When he makes a deal with her in exchange to try and keep her nearby their connection and chemistry blossoms into something that Vark could only dream of and Hazel had no idea existed.

These two had such undeniable energy and compatibility for each other that I was absolutely loving every second of this journey. Seeing Hazel finally find a safe spot for her and her daughter Wren to land was the sweetest thing. Especially knowing Vark as well as we do throughout the first few clan novels. This was also the spiciest of the series so far in my opinion….and I was NOT complaining 🥵

I did not see the twist with Wren coming whatsoever and it only made me on the edge of my seat for the remainder of the story. I loved the way all of these characters interacted with each other and how not only Hazel had to grow and learn but Vark did as well. These two broken individuals found love in each other in the sweetest way and I never wanted their story to end.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Please do yourself a favor and if you’re considering trying out a monster romance- let it be this series.

[Kate V · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

Her Orc Warrior is the third book in the Black Bear Clan series and features Hazel and Vark. You'll remember Vark as the warrior that lost an eye trying to protect his queen and since that day never felt like he was worth much. Until the day he stumbles upon his mate, Hazel, when she's hiding in the back of his wagon with her daughter.

Hazel is running from her past and Vark will do anything to protect his mate. Will she let him? Hazel is hesitant to let Vark in but the more time she spends with him, the more her guards fall.

“You’re really asking me if I want to touch you? Hazel, I would kill for the privilege.”

Vark is such a big and fierce teddy bear. I loved how Vark and Hazel complimented each other and the way they fell in love was so endearing.

“Imagine how good it’ll feel when I fill your pussy with my thick cock. You’ll take me so well, pet. I can smell how wet you are.”

While a tad formulaic, this series has been such a pleasure to read. It was action packed and spicy and I really enjoyed it.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Black Bear Clan series by Zoe Ashwood. Normally I wouldn’t start a series at book 3, but this is an ARC and I’m on a deadline. That said, books in this series read well on their own. While there are references to characters from other books, the stories stand alone fine.

As I’ve mentioned in most of my monster romance reviews, I read Ruby Dixon’s entire catalog over the course of a year and have been chasing that vibe ever since. I’m looking for well written stories with cinnamon roll male main characters and interesting female leads. They can be grumpy. They can have issues they need to work through. In fact, I prefer it. But I don’t like the whole alphahole trope that seems to be wildly popular. That extreme possessiveness and jealousy just doesn’t do it for me. I don’t want to read about men who are unkind to women, even if they don’t mean to be. I have come across that with other orc or alien series and didn’t continue beyond the first books of those series. It’s so nice to come across orcs that are kind and loving but still fierce warriors bent on protecting their own. Ashwood’s Black Bear Clan checks off a lot of boxes for me.

This is the story of a woman (Hazel) who grabs her young child (Wren) and runs in hopes of escaping her life of crime and abuse and sparing her daughter of the same. They hide in covered wagon, hitching a ride out of town unnoticed by her gang boss and authorities. She is not unnoticed by the driver though, an orc named Vark. Naturally Hazel is frightened and plans to run from him as soon as possible. She only knows orcs by the stories she’d grown up hearing and none paint orcs in a positive light. It takes her a while to trust the orcs, especially after Vark tells her that she is his fated mate, but she gives it a chance.

I loved most of the characters. Hazel is strong and independent. She finds herself attracted to Vark but doesn’t jump straight to the HEA. She struggles with her feelings. Vark is kind and attentive in all things. He is also dealing with his own feelings of inadequacy. He knows that she is his mate but does not push her. He never tells her that this is how it is and she has to deal with it, as is often the case in other fated mates type stories. He and the other orcs slip into caregiver roles for Wren naturally. There is no big conversation about it, it just happens. Hazel and Wren need help and the orcs take them in happily. Vark is drawn to Hazel by the fated mates thing, but there is never any condition on her to cooperate in exchange for their safety. I also liked that it doesn’t end in pregnancy. A fated mate that isn’t all about popping out more babies is my kind of HEA.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book. It left me feeling happy and hopeful and that’s the best way to feel after reading a romance book. I’ll be going back to read the first two and following the series as it moves forward.


Big thanks to Zoe Ashwood and Booksprout for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Grey Story · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded to 4

This one was... a little all over the place in terms of whether I liked it or not. I definitely found myself skimming the spice scenes because I found them boring so it felt like it slumped in the middle when the humping increased but then the story picked back up again towards the end.

Things I enjoyed:
* Vark (male mc who'd been injured in book 1 and was distancing himself from friends in book 2) got his happy ending
* Hazel (female mc) was a single mom trying to do right by her daughter
* Wren (the daughter) was precocious and cute; enjoyed her little special ending
* Seeing some of the same characters again and developing some of them a bit more (Ozork and Korr are next in the series and were both in this book)
* Introduction to Ritta - getting another named female orc
* Justice to the asshole bad guy
* The description of orc Lirg's family reunion:

"We stop for lunch at a village off the main road, and I discover that in these lands, humans and orcs live peacefully side by side. Orc children run around the wagons, and Lirg, the driver who’d spoken to me this morning, picks up a couple of green-skinned boys and sets them on his shoulders. His orc wife follows close behind, carrying a baby swaddled in a soft-looking blanket, and kisses him soundly right there in the village square."

Well isn't that wholesome.

Things I did not enjoy:
* Already said I found the spicy scenes to be kinda boring. It feels repetitive already and this is only book 3.
* Also they were trying to constantly horizontal mamba outside at night in the cold and I can't relate. I will simply never be that horny.
* Also can't relate: night bathing in the freezing river. Hypothermia?
* Vark's approach and attitude at the beginning was a little unnecessarily jerkish. Not a lot, and it was clearly meant to be a result of his own self-loathing, but it just felt off.
* Vark's inability to communicate towards the beginning was extra wtf because it was confusing and dumb. It didn't add anything but unnecessary confusion.
* Hazel expressed concerns about feeling like she was pushing Wren off on other people and frankly, I agree. It felt like as soon as she accepted the orcs' help, she had minimal time with her daughter anymore until her daughter became plot relevant again.
* Wren's special ending was nice BUT it could have been done so much better. The hints should have been woven in throughout the story leading up to the discussion about the orcs' suspicion and then the big reveal. Instead, it was all covered in the span of a few pages so it didn't have any time to simmer. It wasn't a satisfying buildup, it was a blip of "oh, that's neat" and felt like Wren was an afterthought.

I told myself while reading this that I'd put a in pin the series and return to it later but then the ending got me interested in starting the next book for Korr. It's the last one published until the next one comes out in December anyway sooo... what's one more?

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Orc Warrior is book 3 in the Black Bear Clan series. This is the first book that I have read from this series which is unusual for me because I usually don't start in the middle of a series. I always feel obligated to start with the first book but I am happy with my decision of switching things up and diving into this one instead. These books are all standalone so even though it's the third book in the series I didn't feel that I was lost or missing out on anything. Characters from previous books do make an appearance but you won't be lost if you haven't read the other books. This book follows Hazel and Vark. This book starts with Hazel and her daughter, Wren, sneaking into the back of this wagon because Hazel is trying to escape. She realizes that the life that she leads is not cut out for her four-year-old daughter and she wants to leave to make a better living for herself and her daughter. The driver of the wagon is Vark, he finds out that they are hiding in the back of his wagon and it all begins from there.

I loved Vark and how protective he was over Wren and Hazel. I loved seeing Vark taking Wren under his wing and treating her as if she were his child. All of the other orcs in the clan loved Wren and were always there for her and I viewed them as her uncles. Whenever Hazel and Vark would argue in the beginning, instead of letting her walk away mad he would try to understand where she is coming from and talk things out with her. I love seeing that in my romance books instead of the miscommunication trope. There was no third act break up which I adore the author for. I'm such a sucker for the found family trope and this book delivered!

The only issues that I had with this story is that I wish Hazel and Vark would have spent more time getting to know each other before their relationship developed into something more intimate. Their relationship did move on the faster-paced side of things which would usually bother me if it was any other type of relationship but it didn't in this one because Hazel and Vark were fated mates. Fated mates tend to be the only situation where I will accept the relationship as being fast-paced. I loved Vark as a character but I was hoping that I would have found out more about him and his backstory in this book. Maybe his backstory has already been discussed in one of the other books in the series and the author didn't feel like mentioning it again. In the beginning, I felt that Vark was trying to get to know more things about her and understand her better but Hazel wasn't returning the same energy until towards the middle part of the book. In Hazel's inner monologue, she would keep talking about how she is scared of him but then when he asks her about it she keeps lying to him and saying that she's not but he could scent her fear so he knew that she was lying. Even though I did have some issues with the story, I looked past it because I was having such a fun time with the characters and I loved reading about Hazel and Vark's love story.

I read this book in two sittings and it was such a quick and fun ride! I'm so happy that I decided to kick off the series with this one. I will be continuing with this series because I loved the introduction to the other characters that I got in this story. Korr's book is next and I can't wait to read it! Korr gives me quiet and mysterious vibes so I can't wait to find out more about him. I also wonder if the author is planning on giving Wren a book when she is older because from things that we find out about her in this one, I'm even more curious about her. I love her as a character and I would love to see who she gets matched up with in the future.

If you love these tropes, you will love this book:
💫Orc Romance
💫Single Mother
💫Protective Hero
💫Found Family

[Lisa Bing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fab addition to the series and I'm loving that each book follows a different path. In this book, human Hazel stows away on Orc Vark's cart with a little girl. Of course, he finds her but he realizes she's his fated mate. However, this broken but wonderful orc isn't all in her face with demands. She was so brave and determined and that gelled well with Vark's personality. As they spent time together, their chemistry sizzled but danger wasn't that far away. Expect drama, suspense, bad guys and steamy romance to catch and hold your attention when you crack this baby open. I can't wait for the next book to come out :D

[Debbie Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vark & Hazel ❤️

I'm really enjoying this book series so far. I'm super happy for Vark because he's had a tough time, and things are finally looking up for him. I can't wait to find out more, especially about Wren as she gets older. I'm also curious to see how things go between Vark and Hazel, and if Hazel made any new friends when she arrived at the Hill. Overall, I liked the book a lot. I hope the next one answers some of my questions.

[Arctic_Banshee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a pleasure to read since I was hoping Vark would get his HEA. I liked the fmc and the premise of her daughter.

What kind of was a let down was that #####SPOILERS#####
We never find out more about Wren’s dad. Didn’t know if he knew she existed or who he was except for that he was fae. He didn’t go looking for her mom when she left? What’s the story, morning glory???

Also, Wren is 4 years old, but speaks with the eloquence of an 8 year old. 🤨

[Sopha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it!

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spice: 3.5/5 🌶️

Another great addition to the series. I am so happy Vark found his mate and a new purpose after what transpired in Book 1. Hazel is a good match for him and Wren is the cutest. The revelation about her was definitely a surprise!

[She Reads So Much · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t decide if this was 4.5 or 5 but I’m in a weird mood so🤷🏻‍♀️ it was great! I love scarred heroes🥺♥️

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

This was good. It did feel a bit dull compared to book 1&2 but I enjoyed my time with it! Vark was such a sweet heart. Looking forward to book 4!

[Emilia Redington · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Lane Hinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book of the series so far! The relationship between Hazel and Vark was absolutely wonderful.

[Mobo🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this story

[Sude İlter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Çok beğendim hadsizce beğendim

[Kaci · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Tima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hazel, the female human lead, is smuggling her adopted daughter, Wren, out of the town where she’s been part of a gang of thieves because the leader is determined to make Wren join in. The cart she’s stowing away in belongs to Vark, the male orc lead. Vark and his companions are getting supplies for their orc people and their senses are better than humans; he knows almost immediately he’s got company and that Hazel is his true mate. But he is scarred from previous battles and doesn’t feel he deserves a mate, where Hazel is certain males can’t be trusted and that she doesn’t want to go near him. But travel forces proximity and her daughter does love him… and then there’s the gang leader she’s escaping from…

This story is female lead POV, well written and edited, and a great addition to the series. Vark has been a secondary character in previous stories, where he was originally damaged - reading those stories enhances this one but this story still stands alone. I enjoyed Hazel’s determination to save this child she had raised from birth and her grudging acceptance that help would be ideal and sometimes necessary. I was amused by Vark’s struggle to accept the existence of his mate and his own protective instincts. I enjoyed their developing relationship and Wren’s real involvement in their lives as more than a peripheral character. I enjoyed the secondary character integration and the individual character development, especially having watched Vark over the previous stories. I enjoyed their intimate scenes and the gradual building of trust, as well as the happiness of the ending, free from past encumbrances and ready for new challenges.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.

[what.rachel.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

She’s raising her best friend’s daughter and he wants to be her mate, take care of her, and his clan all love on her daughter.

This little found family is so sweet. And the daughter’s background was a delightful plot point.

We get him wanting her to have her independence and choice, especially since she’s been abused in the past by men, and he doesn’t think he deserves her since he’s scarred and only has one working eye.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hazel is on the run with her daughter Wren from her old street gang. They steal away into the back of a wagon in order to clear the gates of the city. Hazel intends to slip out once they are out of sight of the city gates, but the driver of the wagon, and orc, finds them before they even start to move. Instead of hauling them out and revealing them to their pursuers, he pays off the guards to get through the gate unchecked, and offers them a bag of food.

Hungry, dirty, and tired, Hazel takes it to feed herself and Wren, not trusting or understanding why he is going out of his way to help them. She still intends to leave so the driver, Vark offers her a deal. If she can get the jump n him and land a blow, he'll give them his entire money pouch, which holds a considerable amount of gold...

Safe to say she can't do it, yet, and strikes up a deal with the orc caravan that she will earn her keep for both herself and her daughter doing whatever needs doing, which is mostly dishes. The Orc's welcome her with open arms because, it turns out, that Hazel is Vark's mate.

So what did I think

I am officially convinced that Ashwood is a bit of a formula writer. Her plot points are pretty uniform throughout her books in this series. I think this is the biggest one, so far, that has any sort of drama to it...and it's still pretty low key. You would think that Hazel would be a little more worried about the possibility of being followed by a bunch of power and money hungry men, but she seems rather chill about it until someone tells her, on the home stretch of their journey to the Hill, that they are being pursued by a group of human men.

Still, I think Hazel is my favorite character in this series so far. She's got trust issues due to her past and her 'profession'. She's tenacious, fiery, devoted to her daughter, and not overly afraid to say what she thinks. Her daughter is super sweet, with abilities Hazel just dismissed until the orcs start pointing out things to her. I wish this book had an epilogue like many of the others do so we could 'see' how Wren and Hazel got on in the orc community. Instead you only get small snippets of Hazel mentioned, in passing, in later books. sigh

Vark is more angsty. While he's a good guy, like all the orc men seem to be, he is dead set that he will never be a warrior again due to his injuries, even though he's still really good at it. I found it a bit ridiculous that it takes a pretty human lady to make him see that he can if he tries and it doesn't have to be his career path anymore if he doesn't want it to be. Why did he never think of the solution before?

Anyhow, this book had more oral and hand spice then the others I read. While there is still full intimate spice peppered in there, I couldn't honestly say it was something to write home about, so to speak.

Things to note:
death of a mother shortly after birth
pregnancy
smut
weapons training
hunting of a deer
some violence/blood/death of two bad guys
talk of human trafficking and slave trading
thieving
animal abuse (not too graphic and the horses get a happy ending too)

[Chené Van der Merwe · Rating 5 out of 5]

💙💚 Book Review 💚💙

Title: Her Orc Warrior
Author: Zoe Ashwood
Pages: 237
Release date: 11 November 2022

Thank you to the author for providing an ARC through Booksprout.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

~
Hazel is running, trying to protect her daughter, Wren from the live the used to live. In order to escape past the city walls, she gets on a wagon of an obviously wealthy merchant.

Except, the merchant is a big, green Orc, with gentle hands and a low and gravelly voice. She knows she shouldn't trust anyone, especially not with her daughter in tow, but her instincts tell her to trust the band of orcs and it's not long before they prove themselves to be trustworthy.

The more time she spends with the troop, the more it feels like home, especially Vark, who claimed her as his mate.
~

Okay so we know I'm obsessed with this series so that's nothing new, but goodness did I enjoy these new characters.

Hazel was such a fun, but tragic, character. She never backed down from a challenge (which is how Vark kept her with the group a bit longer) stubborn to the bone, protective over her daughter, but kind, hardworking and supremely lovable. And don't get me started on how adorable Wren is.

Vark, who is a character we follow from book 1 and has had a hard time of it, is one of my favourite characters and I adored seeing him find happiness and his place within the community again. He is so soft with Hazel, it was just too cute.

I always have a soft spot for heroes who believe they're not worthy of their love interest and Vark is no exception. I adored his journey of rediscovering who he is, with the help of Wren and Hazel.

All around amazing characters, a fast-paced, engaging plot and snippets of the books to come, this story is so much fun to read and a definite recommend in my eyes. It can be read as a standalone, but events from the previous books make their appearance.

~ A definite recommend when in the mood for a fun, fast-paced Orc romance. ~

💙💚

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Series: Bellhaven Clan #3
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it

Hazel is determined to escape with her daughter and make her way to a safer town. She finally finds her opportunity when she sneaks into a caravan wagon. What she doesn’t expect is for the caravan to be run by orc merchants or to find out that the driver, Vark, is claiming her as his mate.

Like the previous books, this was another enjoyable fated mates romance. I have been eager to read Vark’s story since the events in the first book. Vark’s injuries have led him to believe he is unfit to be a warrior and in turn, not fit to be a mate. While we see him try to keep his distance because of this belief, he can’t really do it, which was good. I enjoyed Vark a lot, especially once Hazel started to get through his negative beliefs and realize he was still a deadly warrior.

Hazel is a strong woman who has led a life of a thief to survive. She adopted her daughter, Wren, when her mother passed and has spent the past four years taking care of her. I loved how strong and determined Hazel was. She was determined to be independent and to protect herself, which is always a microtrope that I enjoy. I especially loved that Vark didn’t question it and went to teach her how to fight.

These two spent a lot of the book circling each other in an effort to keep both of their walls up. Hazel has never trusted a man so she struggles to believe everything is straightforward with Vark, and the other orcs. Vark struggles to believe he is worthy of a mate and worthy to teach her to be a warrior. I enjoyed their relationship even with all the push and pull.

Overall, this was another enjoyable orc romance. I have been enjoying this series and can’t wait to see who will find their mate next.

TW: Mentions of child abuse, physical abuse, starvation, stealing, sex work, death of parent/friend from complications of childbirth;

[Caity · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't read Her Orc King, I highly recommend it before this one! That is where you first meet Vark. I had been waiting to read his book and was so happy to see him get his HEA. I adore Vark, and when he was injured and started to withdraw in Her Orc Husband, it broke my heart.

This book starts after he has recovered from his injury. Vark is back working but no longer as one of the Queen's Guard; he now cares for the animals. Vark is currently on a supply run with several other Orcs when Hazel and her daughter Wren sneak into his caravan as they attempt to escape the city and the shady people they once considered their family. He (with his Orc sense of smell) figures out he's got stowaways immediately, but also scents that Hazel is his mate!

Hazel is excellent; I liked her. She is a mom trying her hardest to do her best for her daughter, even when dealing with miserable circumstances! She feels drawn to Vark and safe around him and his group (even if she tries to stab him). I love it when an author can write about a strong-willed woman who can fall for her man but not be annoying or make it seem like she is helpless.

My favorite bit of this book was how Vark struggles to feel worthy of Hazel; since his injury, he no longer feels like he is someone she would be proud to call her mate. It broke my heart to read that he even thought he was working so hard to care for Hazel and Wren and give them whatever he could. I loved that he cared about Wren and understood how important she was.

This book was so cute and cozy; I love the little family! Ozork is fantastic, and I immediately loved him. He was sweet and kind, and I liked his interactions with MCs.

The spice in ALL of these Orc books is top-notch, but this one was so good, lol.

[Toni Glitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fight and Flight. A spicy monster romance.

I am really enjoying this series. This is the third book in this paranormal monster romance series but each book can be read as a standalone. The story is set in a fantasy world of Orcs and humans. There are very descriptive scenes of a sexual nature between consenting adults.

Zoe Ashwood has an appealing style of writing; it’s easy to get lost in her books. The worldbuilding is great and the characters are relatable. I've read several of her other books and I've enjoyed them all.

Hazel is on the run from the local mafia. She’s stabbed her boss and she may not survive the repercussions of that. Her only option is to take her young daughter and run. The only way out of the city walls is to stay hidden in the back of a wagon, so the corrupt guards can’t report her escape.

Vark is surprised to discover a couple of stowaways in his wagon. He is even more surprised when he realises that one of them is his mate; something he had given up hope of. He will protect her at all costs but she is flighty, scared and trusts no-one. He will have to try and find a way to convince her to stay.

This is a fun and spicy monster romance. If that’s your thing, then you’ll love this series.

The reading order for this series so far:

Her Orc King (Black Bear Clan, Book 1)
Her Orc Guardian (Black Bear Clan, Book 2)
Her Orc Warrior (Black Bear Clan, Book 3)