Books like 'The Gardener and the Water-horse'
Readers who enjoyed The Gardener and the Water-horse by Mallory Dunlin also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
fantasy paranormal shapeshifters non-human-hero virgin hero friends to lovers dual-pov m-f magic shy-hero
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Ash Bear by T.S. Joyce
Grim is the reluctant Alpha of the Rogue Pride Crew, and just trying to get from one day to the next without maiming his Crew. Controlling one animal is hard enough for shifters, but Grim is the only one in existence with two animals—a good lion and a monstrous lion named the Reaper... -
That Time I Got Drunk And Yeeted A Love Potion At A Werewolf by Kimberly Lemming
Anyone else ever thrown a drink at someone's head, only to miss entirely and hit a stranger behind them? Then have that stranger fall madly in love with you because it turned out that drink you threw was a love potion? No, just me? Well damn.Dealing with a pirate ship full of demons that just moved into town was hard enough... -
Outlaw Tiger by Terry Bolryder
Rated: 4.61 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsSave a horse, ride an outlaw tiger...As an orphan who was raised on Dragonclaw ranch, Dallas the tiger shifter is completely loyal to all the people and shifters who live there. So when a local story about gigantic monsters emerging from the ground draws unwanted attention, Dallas swears he'll protect his home and its secrets at all costs... -
Savage Hunger by Milly Taiden
Rated: 4.48 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsIsaline Primrose doesn’t let anyone cut the line at her mom’s bakery, no matter how tall or sexy he his. His custom suit, expensive haircut, and deep brown eyes are making her want things. Very dirty things. It’s totally fine to look even if he is a bossy jerk... -
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Bear Vet by Zoe Chant
Rated: 4.65 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsWho do you call when you spot a baby hellhorse? Shifter Vets!Judy desperately needs to find a home for her nineteen rescue horses. Waylon desperately needs to rein in his headstrong teenage daughter's quest to tame a wild hellhorse. And what both of them need most desperately is love... Waylon, a bear shifter and veterinarian for magical animals, instantly recognizes Judy as his mate... -
Her First Taste of Fire by Kristen Painter
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsShadowvale isn’t your typical small town America. The sun never shines, the gates decide who enters, magic abounds, and every resident bears some kind of curse.Most people think Nasha Black lives in Shadowvale because that’s where her father, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, lives. But Nasha has another reason for staying in Shadowvale and it’s not just the bakery she owns and operates... -
Paranormal Dating Agency Volume 1 by Milly Taiden
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsTalia Barca needs a date. Badly. She uses the services of the Paranormal Dating Agency hoping for a decent guy to take to a family wedding. A wedding her ex-husband has wormed his way into as a guest. Connor and Theron want Tally to complete their Alpha triad. She's sexy, curvy and funny. But she's human. And they're not sure she'll go for a relationship with two men at the same time... -
Paranormal Dating Agency Volume 2 by Milly Taiden
Rated: 4.54 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsTall, Dark and Panther Maya Zara is a curvy woman sick and tired of men who think she should settle. She loves her curves and wants to find someone who will love them too. When she meets Gerri Wilder and signs up for a date with a shifter, Maya has no idea what’s in store for her... -
Holiday Bride by T.S. Joyce
**Can be read as a standalone holiday story, or with T. S. Joyce's bestselling Wolf Brides series** Maya hasn’t been back to Colorado Springs in years. She’s home visiting for the holidays, but so much has changed. The boy she grew up with is nearly unrecognizable and his animal magnetism is stirring feelings in her that she can’t explain... -
Citrine by Terry Bolryder
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsCitrine, the last unmated gemstone dragon and mentor to the metal dragons, has finally gotten his story! Citrine Vanderguard has searched tirelessly for his mate. And now, hundreds of miles later, he's found her. She's on the brink of mating someone she can't possibly love, all for the sake of responsibility... -
Zinc Dragon by Terry Bolryder
The Zinc dragon has always known the toxic metals in his bloodstream could end him. But now, separated from his friends and barely clinging to the hope of rescue, he's finally resigned to his fate. At least he gets to spend his last days with a wonderfully kind, curvy woman that he would give anything to have met under different circumstances. Leanne doesn't know what to do... -
Baby It's Cold Out Bear by T.S. Joyce
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 16 ratings****Baby It's Cold Out Bear was part of the USA Today Bestselling anthology, A Very Alpha Christmas. It can absolutely be read as a standalone short story.**** Emry Mason doesn’t expect to be pulled out of an icy ditch by a registered bear shifter, and she certainly doesn’t expect her rescuer to be as alluring as Graylan Young... -
Midnight by Terry Bolryder
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsNathan Lancaster. Elusive billionaire. World-wide philanthropist. Monster. From the moment he was born, Nathan knew he couldn't let anyone know who, or what, he was, but that hasn't stopped him from trying to make his way in the world. And he's fine alone, seriously. Until a curvy, persistent reporter steps up and turns his whole world upside down... -
Cadmium Dragon by Terry Bolryder
The Cadmium dragon has found his mate, and now he’s on the hunt. The hunt for things to buy online so he has an excuse to see the curvy delivery woman that brings him his packages. And when a chance occurrence gives him the opportunity to get to know her better, he springs into action to show her just how much a dragon can offer—inside the bedroom and out... -
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The Threadbare Queen by Michelle Diener
A conqueror's victory is never assured . . . The Rising Wave may have taken control of Kassia, but hot on the heels of their victory, Luc receives word from one of his spies that the Jatan, emboldened by the Kassian army's withdrawal, have crossed the border...Categorized as:
magic sweet heroine high fantasy insta-love abduction dual-pov competent heroine possessive hero -
Wolfing Her Down by Milly Taiden
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsAva North is more comfortable talking to a dead man than a live one. Unfortunately, that also means it's that much harder to find love. She's in her forties and an introvert. Chasing down bad guys and being the best homicide Lieutenant is a piece of cake. Mmm cake. Finding a good man to share life with? That's another story... -
Her Destiny by Fiona Davenport
Peppa Leander was rising star in the Chicago restaurant scene, but she was tired of kitchen politics. And working with too many humans. The offer to become the head chef for a new restaurant in Timber Ridge came at the perfect time.Cason Kemp assumed he’d remain mateless for the rest of his life...Categorized as:
shapeshifters insta-love virgin hero dual-pov m-f first-person-pov paranormal fantasy -
Savage Basilisk by Terry Bolryder
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA basilisk with a secret, a wounded woman trying to protect the world and a ranch full of friends to help them…As a monster among monsters, Ajax is aware that most people are terrified of him. They should be. He’s a savage killer that makes no apologies for what he is. In spite of that, he still wants to find a mate... -
Dragon to the Rescue by Terry Bolryder
Rated: 4.54 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen a gorgeous, powerful dragon shifter kisses an innocent human musician in an alley, he knows their love will last forever... Mindy Owens doesn't live a glamorous life as a musician, but she loves what she does, even if it requires dealing with frustrating bandmates and frequent harassment. She doesn't even think about romance... -
River Wolf by Heather Long
Rated: 4.48 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsBrett Dalton, Alpha of Hudson River, isolated himself from his pack mates after one betrayed him. The once, easygoing Alpha has become taciturn, remote and unforgiving. His pack worries for him, but they too have suffered a devastating blow... -
Dark Alpha's Temptation: A Reaper Novel by Donna Grant
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsDark Alpha’s Temptation is a brand new paranormal romance in New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant's Reapers series that features a brotherhood of elite assassins and the women who bring them to their knees. There is no escaping a Reaper. I am an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death... -
Lucas's Prey, Riley's Pride, Book 6 by Sandra R. Neeley
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLucas is a Kodiak Bear shifter, and the last member of Riley’s Pride left without a mate. He spent the majority of his life thinking he didn’t want one. But then he watched all his family and friends finding and claiming theirs, starting families and basking in the love and peace having a mate can provide... -
The Dragon Prince's Secret by Elva Birch
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSecret doesn’t always mean safeKenth left the Alaskan palace to raise his secret daughter alone, outside of the spotlight of royalty, and away from the pressures of fame and celebrity. Her abduction drives him raging back for answers, straight to his estranged family...and his spell-fated mate... -
Claimed By The Barbarian Dragon by Terry Bolryder
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsA brand new dragon series from the dragon shifter queen herself. Terry Bolryder has written more than 40 well-beloved dragon shifter novels and returns with a fresh new take on dragons in Crystals, Curves and Castles... -
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Wolf's Midlife Nanny by Meg Ripley
Rated: 4.49 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI’m starting over at 43 and found the perfect nannying job.Too bad my hot new boss is my fated mate.When my mate of twenty years started growing distant,My best friend offered to give him advice.Little did I know she’d end up pregnant with his baby.I left Portland and my daycare job behind,Ready to start anew in my friend’s pack down in Eugene... -
Fate's Arrow by Michelle Diener
A dark force at workAva and Luc are asked to head north to Skäddar, a move necessary to save the alliance they have created with the mountainous country. Something terrible is killing Skäddar villagers and leaving messages behind with their bodies that the deaths will continue as long as the Skäddar are in alliance with the Rising Wave... -
Petals and Plot Twists by Jenny Proctor
Unlucky in love Sophie Stewart might need a miracle to find her one true love…or maybe just a little bit of magic.Sophie Stewart knows a lot about plants. The rooftop garden she tends and beautifies is ample evidence of that. What she doesn’t know is anything about love, not with her long track record of always picking the wrong guy... -
Books & Broadswords, Volume One by Jessie Mihalik
This novella-length volume includes two romantic fantasy stories set in a shared world, each with a guaranteed happily ever after, plus a new bonus epilogue.Books & BroadswordsThe only thing Feora likes more than stealing the king’s gold is using it to buy books. But when a handsome, persistent knight interrupts her day, Feora must decide if saving his life is worth revealing her true nature...Categorized as:
m-f insta-love competent heroine sweet-hero non-human-hero first-person-pov magic forced proximity -
Hector by Zoe Chant
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsCo-parenting a baby pegasus with the hottest guy you’ve ever met? That’s easy. Learning to love Vegemite? That’s hard. Myrtle thought her Australia trip was to study endangered moths... -
Cobalt Dragon by Terry Bolryder
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe Cobalt dragon is ready for a mate. At least, the bookish intellectual thinks he is. But when he and his crew are sent on a mission to rescue another dragon heart, only to find that she's already rescued herself, Cobalt will find that fate has someone much different than what he had in mind. Sylvie has always been a fighter... -
Purrfect for Me by Terry Bolryder
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHunter Raines thinks it might just be time to pick up stakes and head out. With his friends happily mated, the cougar inside is getting restless. That is, until a mysterious woman wanders into the bar one night, with more secrets than answers and a body that makes his animal sit up and take notice. Kelly Anderson is tired of running... -
Jackie's Journey: La Patron's Den by Sydney Addae
Rated: 4.80 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsJackie's Journey When you grow up in a quasi-military compound with the knowledge that the walls and security are in place to keep you safe from your father's enemies, you dream of a day when you escape those walls. When you grow up learning the importance and infallibility of pack, your life can take a dramatic turn when you see a different reality... -
La Patron's Den: Renee's Renegade by Sydney Addae
Rated: 4.80 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsRenee’s Renegade It’s time for the annual art show at the Art Museum Renee manages. Pack from all over the country has sent their work for this prestigious event hoping to make names for themselves as well as money. Renee’s lack of enthusiasm doesn’t dampen sales or attendance, her beauty and being the last unmated daughter of La Patron attracts attention... -
Redeeming the Bear by Terry Bolryder
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRyland Brolin is a walking time bomb. For years he's kept the monster inside him locked away, allowing him to create a vast business empire and interfere in benevolent ways in his brother's lives. Now that they are both happily mated, he has one last thing to do: shut down the Bear Canyon Brawl and end the violent legacy their father left behind... -
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Jaguar's Joy by Zoe Chant
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA small-town sheriff who’s bitten off more than she can chew… A Marine veteran who steps in to protect her… And a community that comes together to help its own. Sheriff Misty Dale wants nothing more than to keep her town safe and happy. A deer shifter isn’t the first thing people would expect for law enforcement, but she’s made it work—even if she’s ended up middle-aged and married to her job... -
Heart of Glass by P. Jameson
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThey call him Skittles because he inks his body with the colors he can't see. Enough colors to tell a story. Like a stained-glass window, the light only shines through when there is darkness. He needs darkness, and she comes to him as a photo of broken captive woman. But he will find her, and he will fix her. And perhaps... she will heal him too in the process... -
Mated To The Werewolf Next Door: Howls Romance by C.D. Gorri
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe's on the run from her ex-husband to protect her half-Shifter daughter. He's trying to clear his name after being falsely convicted of a crime. Fate has brought them to the same seaside town, but the rest is up to them... -
Wildest Dreams by Terry Bolryder
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsJerrek's book, #3 in the Rogue Dream Fae series... -
Dad's Irish Wolf Shifter Friend by Flora Ferrari
***Includes a link to receive a free, new story delivered to your inbox on Easter morning.*** Keeley Malone is a Mob princess who is none too pleased about being sent to Ireland to stay with her dad’s best friend...until she sees him. She has always loved fairy tales, but this time the princess might just get devoured by the big bad wolf... -
The Rending by Vanessa Nelson
The only place of safety for the desperate has been destroyed.Yvonne has finally found a place to settle, where her children can grow, and she can think about her own future. Even as she celebrates, a shock rings across the world. Someone has attacked the Sisters in the Stone Walls... -
Her Beta by Fiona Davenport
Driving a pregnant member of his pack to the hospital while she was in labor was an experience Leyton Vetle didn’t want to repeat. But then her pretty nurse turned out to be his fated mate, and he knew that he’d go through the knuckle-whitening ride a million times if that was what it took to have her by his side...Categorized as:
shapeshifters m-f virgin hero dual-pov first-person-pov insta-love paranormal fantasy -
A Crown of Cursed Hearts by Alaya Wells
A woman determined to forge a better future. A fae lord bound by magical chains to the wicked. A kingdom that must surrender to the past in order to begin anew. Vexxion and I have escaped Bledmire Court, but the king and his minions hunt us. It’s all I can do to remain strong... -
Dragon Next Door by Terry Bolryder
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsA dragon hiding among humans just found the one woman he can't resist...As a dragon on the run from others of his kind, Tristan has only one rule: don't get involved. But when he spots Kelsie Lawton, in way over her head with a couple of street thugs, there's no way he can walk away. Especially when the dragon in him, buried and smothered for a lifetime, insists he's found his mate... -
Lian / Roch by Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLIAN The Hunter: Lian isn’t a happy puma. He’s a lethal Hunter who should be out fighting the enemy, not babysitting a human scholar. Still, he’ll do whatever necessary to rid the world of the evil goddess, Shakpi. And there’s the bonus of spending a few hours away from his family of Nurturers who have been smothering him with love... -
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The Edge of Worlds by Martha Wells
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsAn expedition of groundlings from the Empire of Kish have traveled through the Three Worlds to the Indigo Cloud court of the Raksura, shape-shifting creatures of flight that live in large family groups. The groundlings have found a sealed ancient city at the edge of the shallow seas, near the deeps of the impassable Ocean... -
Heartless Villains by Marion Blackwood
The war between the dark mages has been settled and the new power hierarchy is in place, but the people of Eldar have at last figured out that their great hero is no longer in the city. Determined to take him back, they are mustering the whole city for battle while Lance’s friends race to reclaim an artifact that would leave the dark mages at a severe disadvantage... -
The Turncoat King by Michelle Diener
A thirst for revenge . . . Ava is committed to vengeance against the man responsible for the death of her parents. The same man, the Queen's Herald, who kept her prisoner for two years, until she escaped with Luc, a warlord bent on vengeance just as fierce as her own... -
Timber Wolf by Zoe Chant
Wolf shifter and carpenter Jake Rowly left his home town of Virtue straight out of high school and never planned to return. But a broken heart sends him back into the fold, because if there's one thing Virtue doesn't have, it's any chance of romantic complications. Then he meets newcomer Mabs Brannigan, and realizes fate has brought him home again…... -
Alpha Contender Boxed Set: BWWM Paranormal shifter romance BBW by Terry Bolryder
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsAll boxed sets on sale for .99 for a limited time! Misty has few expectations from life. Work, read, sleep. But when she hears from a complete stranger that she's actually a powerful, shape-shifting werewolf, her life changes forever. Lindon believes he already had his shot at love long ago. And lost it... -
Wallflower Seeks Mountain Man by Marley Michaels
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsSerena Black has never liked being the center of attention. She’s always been the girl swaying to the music at the side of the room, happy to watch everyone else. Having put her life on hold and moved back home to look after her father, she’s happy to read her beloved mountain man books and work at their family store. The less peopling involved, the better...
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