Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Prayers for the Prickly
SERIES: Heat, Prey, Love Multi-Author Series
AUTHOR: Layla Dorine
PUBLISHER: Desolate Press
LENGTH: 333 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 5, 2025
BLURB:
What happens when a prickly hedgehog shifter candymaker meets a grumbly wolverine shifter with a sweet tooth?
Loads of sticky sweet fun, that’s what.
Join us for Heat, Prey, Love, an omegaverse collaboration where prey shifters take center stage with a whole lot of heat and love. We can’t wait for you to devour these stories.
REVIEW:
This story had so many sweet moments that I’m surprised I don’t have a tooth ache. But, rest assured, candy was by my side throughout the whole book. Although it was no where near the level of August’s amazing and yummy creations!
Gregor, solitary wolverine shifter, is a bit of a Curmudgeon. He has a great talent in letting the driftwood that he gathers along the Maine shoreline for his unique and much sought after creations of art speak to him. However, peopling was not in his skill set. That’s why he has his younger and much more socially appropriate brother Olly mans the gallery while he remains hidden in his workshop in the back. But when a new customer comes in, inquiring about a specific piece he wants Gregor to design, all Gregor can think about is the the beautiful man and the amazing sweet scent coming from him. August, sunshiny hedgehog shifter, was looking for a unique present for his sister’s birthday when he meets the artist and can’t get him out of his head. So when Olly drops by his candy shop the next day he creates a box of treats for the man that seems to be his mate. But can a new-to-town prickly hedgehog shifter and a grumbly founding family wolverine shifter be mates and make it in the tiny coastal town where everyone is in your business…especially busy family?
These two really worked when I had huge doubts. Not only is one shifter a predator and the other his likely prey. But one is a sweet (literally!) sunshine and the other barely tolerated others unless it was required. But the Goddess truly got this pairing right. Gregor stepped up when realized that August was “his one/his mate” and showed his soft interior side that he hid well! And August fell for his man completely. I love that their tradition is hand fasting and we got to witness the entire ceremony. That was super special. 🥰
This book started out as part of the Heat, Prey, Love Multi-Author series but it’s become the first book in a whole new series it appears! Author Layla Dorine did such a wonderful job universe building of this quaint coastal community and its residents that you just need more of their story. I need Gregor’s little brother Olly to get his HEA too with August’s littermate Everett. Olly’s mom and August’s cousin Iris may have ruined their chances but I believe in true mates and the Goddess wouldn’t let this go so I have huge hope. And I need their friend’s Janie and Brendon’s story too!
RATING: 
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