This paperback is an omnibus collection of Balar & Imogen's novella + Soren & Maeve's novella + a surprise short story.

Nothing has gone as it should…

Balar led his band of five brothers from the warring savannahs in the south to the human land of Eirea on the promise of two things: safety and mates. In the growing village outside the human city of Dundúran, they’ve found the first. Yet, year after year, Balar watches as others find their destined mate, but never he nor any of his brothers. What could an orc or fae have that he, Balar, a manticore in his prime, does not?

Everything is starting to go wrong…

Imogen is a woman alone, and she likes it that way. Burdened with a large red birthmark upon her face, she’s kept herself apart from others. With just her dog, donkey, and goats, she’s built a good life for herself out in the wilds beyond the village. Everything is just as it should be—until one morning, she finds a big manticore sleeping on her land.

Life can change on a whim of fate…

Imogen doesn’t like people. Or visitors. And especially not suitors. Too bad for her, this overgrown housecat has decided she’s his mate, no matter what she says.
Balar hasn’t come this far, talked to this many women, and waited this long to be denied. He’ll have his mate, prickles and all. Now, just to convince her. And keep his nosy brothers in line long enough to woo her.

Back to the beginning…

Maeve Brádaigh never meant to come back home to her family’s estate. She thought her ambition and good looks would make a life for herself in the exciting capital of Gleanná, but after years of feeling small, she’s back home, her tail between her legs. At least she has a degree to show for it, as well as a position at the new school for human and otherly children.
Still, coming home opens old wounds—and worse, everyone at home knows just who Maeve used to be, not who she’s trying to become. Almost everyone, that is…

The past leaves scars…

Although it’s been years now, Soren has yet to feel he truly belongs in the peaceful village he and his manticore brothers helped build of humans and otherlies. One by one, his brothers are making lives for themselves, finding mates, looking to the future. Shamed and exiled from their former pride and left with scars on his face, Soren has never thought much about the future. He doesn’t have dreams, he doesn’t long for a mate. That is, until he meets a certain schoolteacher…

Spring always brings fresh blooms…

Soren has no experience with hopes and dreams, let alone romance. Maeve has no idea what to do with a man—er, lion-man so earnest. Neither expected the bond and attraction snapping between them, yet both know this is too special to ignore.
But love isn’t always easy, and the past doesn’t always stay there…

Fans of Ruby Dixon, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and cat jokes will love this cozy, romping monster romance novella! Check sewendelauthor.com for content and trigger warnings. Mature content intended for readers 18+.
This is a novella in the world of the Monstrous World series. Can be read alone but best enjoyed after books 2 and 3, Ironling and Sweetling.