Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for providing me with an advanced listener copy of this book.

This book was exactly what I needed—a cozy, comforting read that hit all the right notes. The Orc and the Innkeeper is a delightful monster romance that blends cozy fantasy with just the right amount of spice. Featuring a spunky human innkeeper and a brooding orc brewmaster thrown into a fake engagement, the story delivers strong fake dating and second-chance romance vibes, with a fun touch of the fated mates trope. The pacing is brisk and engaging, making it an easy, enjoyable listen from start to finish. Both characters go on meaningful personal journeys that add emotional depth to their relationship, making their connection feel earned and satisfying. The narration by Jack Calihan and Rose Dioro is stellar—each voice brings their character to life with warmth and personality, and I’d happily listen to more audiobooks from either of them. With the perfect runtime and an irresistible blend of cozy and spicy, this monster romance is a total win. A wholehearted 100% recommendation!

Cute, cozy, and a great palate cleanser

Such a sweet read and loved the audio. It was cozy and exactly what i needed after a heavy read. It was a little fast paced, and I’m normally a slow burn girlie, but that didn’t deter me in any way from loving this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A delightful blend of spice, sass, and second chances!

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ALC of The Orc and the Innkeeper by Cora Crane, narrated by Jack Calihan and Rose Dioro. This romantasy gem had me grinning, swooning, and fanning myself all at once!

We’ve got all the good stuff here:
🛏️ Forced proximity? Check.
💥 Enemies to lovers? Absolutely.
🍺 Grumpy Orc brewmaster who falls first? Oh, hell yes.
💍 Fake engagement with real feelings? You already know.

Thorak and our feisty innkeeper heroine have sizzling chemistry and banter that made me laugh out loud. Their past tension (hello, high school torment) bubbles into something much hotter once they're stuck under the same (slightly infested) roof. I loved watching Thorak melt for her while pretending it was all “just business”—sir, you’re down bad and we love to see it.

Jack Calihan’s orc voice? Perfection.
Rose Dioro? Nailed the sass and heart.
Together? Chefs kiss. The narration made this story even more immersive, and I was sad to leave the cozy (albeit pest-ridden) inn behind when it ended.

If you’re in the mood for something whimsical, witty, and wildly steamy with a side of magical chaos and orc-sized heart, The Orc and the Innkeeper is a must-listen.

This is a solid romance. The individual journeys for both characters were written well. The narrators were great and I would listen to more audiobooks that include either narrators. Perfect total audiobook time and the faster pace of the story makes the time go even faster.

Thank you Netgalley, and Tantor Audio for the Advanced Listeners Copy!

I’m a sucker for a good monster romance! While fake dating/engagement is not my favorite trope, I do love a second chance romance!

I loved the strong, mostly independent FMC and the down bad MMC!

This was a quick, cute, cozy, and spicy listen and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series, especially since the book is narrated by both a male and a female!

Thank you Netgalley and Tantor Audio for the free alc. My opinions are being left voluntarily. I love a spicy cozy monster romance. I loved the fake dating, former bully, fated mates tropes. This was narrated perfectly I love both I am in need of more audios done by both narrators. I love the side characters the pet boar what a fun spicy read.. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Suggest giving it a try if you read open door romance.

5/5☆

I love a monster romance and this was my first one with Orcs.

I went in expecting a short, cozy, low stakes kind of read and it’s mostly what I got: The human inn keeper, the hot Orc and their second chance small town romance.

Overall, the plot had potential and I did mostly enjoy the first two thirds of it. The world building is simple enough and I like how it addresses the issues that come with a set up like this.

I was intrigued, especially by the MMC, who has a lot of development and/or groveling to do. The premise of him having been her bully in high school generally works and can be an intriguing set-up for a second chance romance. I did believe him and, over the course of the book, was able to understand his actions, now and in the past.
(Until in the last 10% when we suddenly got a totally different explanation that was not needed and felt like a contradiction to his earlier reasoning.)

The third arc conflict didn’t come out of nowhere, yet it felt a bit misplaced. The lack of trust was a good foundation for that sort of arc but I think the implementation felt like a conflict just for the plot’s sake.

The FMC was vastly underdeveloped in my opinion.
I don’t know who she is. I don’t know why she made the decisions she made, I don’t know where the sudden forgiveness came from. She went back and forth between mistrust and conviction and it was frankly a bit tiring.

I think, this translated into my issues with the dynamic of these two, even if I did believe their emotions and motifs.

For once, the MMC always mentioned his own distress when he apologized. How hard it was on him. In the power dynamic they used to have, this is something that in my opinion took away from his redemption and could have been avoided while maintaining consistency in his character.

My biggest problem however was with the FMCs environment and blind encouragement that felt less like support and more like furthering the plot and pushing her along for the sake of it. Again and again, she was told the exact same thing by every friend, coworker and family member whenever she communicated her worries. To not let fear stop her from something something so great.

And maybe that’s just me but it didn’t feel like it was written from the POV of someone who has experienced bullying. It was no unreasonable fear holding her back, it was valid distrust that, in my opinion, could and should have been addressed and worked out rather than dismissed and shoved aside.

I was all for them making up and finding their way but I feel like this might have needed a bit more depth.

The writing style itself was comfortable and matched the tone and vibe of the book. I very much enjoyed the narration.

Overall, The Orc and the Innkeeper might not have been my favorite. Even though, it is a quick and cozy audiobook and I think it could be perfect for those that love the small town drama, sweet monster romance and second chance redemption arcs.

---

Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio and the author for an ALC of this book
1 like

I actually really liked this!

Mariah is a human and owns an inn. however its infested and needs to be fumigated. Only problem with this is she doesn't have the money for it.
Thor is an orc and Mariah's childhood bully. But his changed and he wants to expand his business into the human lands but to do that he must convince a human investor to help, the problem is if Thor isn't human or doesn't have a human contact for him to do business with the investor doesn't want to know.

Mariah strikes a deal that will benefit them both ''ll be your fiancée and you pay for the inn to be fumigated' DEAL.

lines blur and feelings both kept hidden are revealed!!

This book describes the perfect example of boys being mean to girls because they like them and Kids will only treat others how their parents do.


Thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

This was a cute cozy read. 😊 I loved the setting and the cozy inn vibes. It was giving hallmark movie and I totally ate it up. The narration was great and the cover is just too adorable!! My only complaint is 3rd act breakups make me sad. 😭😭 other than that it was great!!

This book was so cozy and fun. Despite it having a trope I don't necessarily gravitate towards, this book never failed to deliver. I would totally read something else by this author.

The narrators also did such an amazing job on this audiobook. They brought this book to life and really heightened my reading experience.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio, and author Cora Crane for this Advanced Listener Copy in exchange for my honest review.

Utterly charming, warm, and surprisingly heartfelt.

The Orc and the Innkeeper was everything I hoped for in a cozy fantasy romance—and then some. The writing is smooth and engaging, with a great balance of humor, heart, and just enough tension to keep the pages turning.

The author did a fantastic job building emotional depth in both the main characters. I genuinely felt for them—their insecurities, their desires, the slow, tender unfolding of their connection. Watching them learn to trust and understand each other was not only adorable, but incredibly satisfying.

Also: the banter? Top-tier. The setting? Cozy without being cloying. The romance? Sweet in the best way.

Highly recommend this if you're looking for a comforting read with substance—equal parts cute, clever, and genuinely moving.

I was so excited for my first audiobook ARC and I was not disappointed! I am a big fan of monster romance and this book is right up there for me with some of my faves. It was cozy and sweet and just the right amount of spice! I love the character growth and social tie-ins to real life.

The narrators (Jack Callihan and Rose Dioro) were cast perfectly for their parts, and I really enjoyed their performances, they both really shine in the genre. The only feedback I would give is that the female narrator’s P’s and T’s hit a little too hard and it would catch me off guard since I was wearing headphones. But it was not enough to where it would make me not want to listen.

I would say if you are a fan of Ruby Dixon, C.M Nascosta, Katee Robert and love a cozy romance, you should definitely give this one a go!

Lastly, I really hope we get Echo’s story soon! :)

This was a very cozy, but very average romantic fantasy starring a human FMC and an orc MMC - their interspecies relationship was clearly not what I had problems with, but moreso the sheer audacity and double-standards of THIS MAN.

I was charmed by this cute love story between an Orc and a Human.

Thorak is an orc who owns a brewery and is trying to expand into the human world. Mariah is an innkeeper whose place is in need of some serious repairs. Thorak and mariah went to school together and he is actually her childhood bully - what Mariah doesn’t know is that Thorak has been secretly in love with her for years.

When an important investor questions Thorak’s qualifications to expand to the human world, Thorak panics and blurts out that he has a human fiancée.
Does he really though?!?!
Spoiler: he does not.

Don't worry though, this is a fake dating/engagement trope. Mariah overhears the meeting, and the two strike a deal—she’ll pretend to be his fiancée and help him impress the investor, and he’ll pay for her inn’s repairs.

There are smalltown shenanigans, miscommunications and some cringey-but-fun moments (as expected with a cozy, Hallmark-esque romance), but I had a good time. It is an adorable love story with a sweet Happily-Ever-After.

Tropes/Themes:
*former bully romance
*fake engagement/dating
*miscommunication
*monster/human prejudism
*spicy
*small town romance
*HEA

4/5 stars - Would fake date an orc again.

***Thank you to Cora Crane and Tantor Audio for the ARC copy of the audiobook***

If you are looking for a feel good, super cute, magical book that is a quick read then the town of Elderberry Falls is waiting for you! This book is very well written and a quick read (or listen). Following the story of Mariah and her former high school bully, Thorak in a fake engagement scheme. The world building is so seamlessly woven into the story so it all flows so well.

The Audiobook is very well done. Rose Dioro and Jack Calihan do an amazing job in bringing these characters to life. It is very easy to lose track of time while getting lost in this story with the way that they create it.

A cosy fantasy that's easy to read and brings a nice fake engagement trope along with a human/orc romance. I liked the premise of the story, and seeing how Mariah and Thorak had to move passed their bad high school interactions in order to work together to achieve a business opportunity for Thorak and save Mariah's inn from its financial troubles. It was interesting to see how prejudice was woven into this story, and the hope given that those who are prejudiced can be educated and change their perceptions. In terms of the romance, I didn't find it particularly well developed and it was a little cringey at times - I didn't feel any chemistry between these two so had to completely skip the spicy scenes which was a real shame as I thought the concept of this book was really promising but the romance didn't hit the mark for me.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

This was a perfect read/listen after the torment I’ve gone through with previous books. <i>The Orc and the Innkeeper</i> is an entertaining cozy fantasy, sugar and spice and everything nice! I ended up listening through the whole book in less than 3 days and had a great time.

I loved the setting of a small town where creatures and humans live together, fantastical whimsy mixing in with modern technology. Tropes such as fake engagement and both main characters being secretly down bad for each other are some that I absolutely love!

That being said, I felt like the whole issue of Thorak (MMC) being Maraiah’s (FMC) bully back when they were in school was brushed away too quickly. This stops me from giving it more stars.

At the same time though, I was surprised to see topics of familial expectations, nature vs nurture when it comes to prejudices etc, so that was definitely a plus!

Now excuse me while I go and put on some D&D tavern music...

<i>Thank you to Cora Cane, Tantor Audio and NetGalley for providing this ALC in exchange for an honest review!</i>

A sweet, spicy monster romance between an orc and the human he bullied in high school. Diving into the One Who Got Away trope, forgiveness kinks, and of course, interspecies romance. A quick, cozy, smutty read.

I love fake relationships but bully romances usually really don't work for me. I did find that this one worked slightly better for me—I think because it didn't dwell as much on the bullying as a lot of them do. That being said (spoilers ahead) because of the bullying past, I did need him to be the one to make the first move after the third act breakup—she was very justified in assuming the worst from him. But I did think it handled the bullying and the fantasy prejudice better than a lot of books do. I'd definitely read more in the series.
I also really liked the narration. I loved Rose Dioro's narration, and though I sometimes struggled a bit with how Jack Calihan voiced women (a common complaint of mine for many narrators, definitely not specific to him) I LOVED his voice overall.

This is exactly the kind of audiobook I needed after a long work week. This is such a cozy story, and I found myself relaxed immediately. Rose Diorro's voice is also very calming/soothing. Jack Calihan did an excellent job narrorating Thorak. His voice is like melted butter, and I hope to listen to more audiobooks with him narrorating in the future. The cover of this book is so well done and fits right into that cozy theme.

I enjoyed how the fake dating trope was done in this story. I like how things worked out for Mariah and Thorak helped her get rid of pixie dust mites. I could definitely understand how an orc could be mean because they don't know how to express their feelings. I liked how Mariah was so quick to help Thorak with his brewing business and tried to learn as much as she could. Thank you to Netgalley, Tantor Audio, and Cora Crane for an ARC of this audiobook. This review is my own honest opinion.