A beautiful injured girl. A brutish orc hunter. When they're snowed-in for Christmas, will their forbidden passion be enough to warm cold enemy hearts, or will it prove too hot to handle?
RUE:
I’m promised to the son of my father’s enemy to pay off his debt. However, I detest Azrael and could never be his bride.
I run away into the forest to think, where I fall into a ravine and injure my leg.
A giant, green brute of a man finds me. He tells me he tends a reindeer farm and is searching for one of his reindeer who got lost. I’m sure he’s going to kill me. However, instead he takes me to his cabin and binds my wounds. He’s kind and gentle, and I find myself falling for him even though I know I shouldn’t.
To make matters worse, a snowstorm traps us in the orc’s cabin and Christmas is in two days. And I’m keeping a secret…one so big that if revealed could destroy everything…
NOEL:
The injured girl in my forest is a headache I don’t need right now. Not when one of my reindeer is missing and there’s a snowstorm coming. Both our necks will be on the line if I don’t find the creature soon.
But the girl needs me, and without my healing powers her wounds could prove fatal. I’m tempted to take her for myself, but then I learn she’s another man’s bride. However, if she doesn’t leave my cabin soon, I may not be able to stop myself from claiming her as my own gift come Christmas morning…
*Get ready for this fantasy holiday romance featuring all your favorite tropes:
- Orcs, elves, and more
- Steamy instalove
- Holiday romance
- Snowed-in
- Love triangle
- Family loyalty
- Animal rescue
- Christmas magic
- HEA
*********************************
Embark on an epic journey in Tempted by the Orc, a steamy novella in the Orcs Unbound series, where the line between fantasy and reality blurs, and where the greatest treasure of all may be found in the arms of a monster.
Mature Novella
In a world where the veil between realms has thinned, Orcs Unbound opens the door to a raw and unexpected kind of magic—one where alien landscapes collide with deeply human emotions. This cross-realm fantasy romance series quietly carves its own path, stepping away from well-worn tropes to explore the lives of characters often pushed to the sidelines: battle-worn orcs and women who've weathered more than just time.
Set against the vast and dangerous backdrop of Mirock—a world brimming with brutal beauty, ancient magic, and steel machines that soar—the stories in Orcs Unbound focus on connection born not of convenience, but of necessity. When humans like Hannah, burdened by mortality and regret, are flung through mysterious stone portals, they're forced to navigate not just the foreign terrain of another planet but the uncharted territory of trust, attraction, and hope.
Rather than rushing through battles and politics, this series lingers in the quiet moments: the glint of a tusked smile, the ache of past losses, the tentative brush of fingers between species who’ve never been taught to love each other. These are stories of healing, of finding safety in unexpected arms, and of strength that doesn’t come from swords or spells—but from vulnerability.
For readers craving slow-burn romance, immersive world-building, and a fresh take on fantasy that blends sci-fi adventure with emotional resonance, Orcs Unbound offers a journey worth taking—one where every scar tells a story, and every story might just change your definition of home.
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What Risingshadow readers think about this book
This was a very enjoyable book full of Christmas spirit and I enjoyed getting to know both Rue & Noel. They both had strong personalities and it was fun to watch as they grew closer and their relationship began to develop. I haven't read many books with reindeer shifters and it was a nice touch for a Christmas book. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
I received a free advanced reader copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
