He broke my heart a decade ago.  Now he’s back, growling something about sabotage, council politics, and mate bonds I didn’t ask for.

I run Hollow Oak’s only shifter tavern. Built it with my claws, my blood, and enough sass to keep rogue lions and nosy fae out of my business.

But apparently, my business is suddenly his.

Dante Deleuve is bigger now. Meaner. More golden than I remember, and twice as good at making my knees forget why I hate him.

He says I’m his.  I say he’s late.

Because this time, I’m not the scared lioness he walked away from.

This time, I’ll defend my town, burn my uncle’s pride to the ground, and maybe—maybe—let the one male I swore off prove he’s worth kneeling for.

If he survives me.

Titles in the Shifter Mates of Hollow Oak series (connection to Hollow Oak Mates series) include:  Fetch Me a Mate ~ Panthering After You ~ License to Howl ~ Ain’t Lion, I Love You ~

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Title:  Ain’t Lion, I Love You
Series:  Shifter Mates of Hollow Oak #4
Author:  Kala Aster and Milly Taiden
Published:  December 11, 2025
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Ain’t Lion, I Love You is the fourth title in the Shifter Mates of Hollow Oak series (a spin-off/connection to the Hollow Oak Mates series).  Maeve and Dante’s story is intense; it’s been more than a decade in the making before it came to this defining moment.  Once, Maeve, her cousin, Callum, and the man she loved, Dante, were in the same dysfunctional, turning evil pride.  She and Callum left, searching for freedom and a far different life away from the chaos of an out-of-control traditionalist leadership, and lions who follow his heinous plans like sheep to the slaughter.  For his own reasons, Dante stayed in the pride with the loyalty that he’s famous for on the line, believing that he could “fix” what had turned a good pride into one filled with evil.  That choice meant that he left his friends, the young woman he loved, and chose to remain loyal to their pride.  He was oh so very wrong.  His decision broke Maeve, perhaps made her into the fiercely independent woman she is today.  Yet, she’s closed herself off from any relationship beyond friendship with the residents of Hollow Oak.  She’s built the town’s only shifter tavern with her own blood, sweat, and tears… and she believes she’s perfectly fine alone.  She’s also so very wrong.

Dante has arrived in Hollow Oak on a mission.  One he’ll have to hide from the one person he should (finally) be completely truthful with…Maeve.  But the woman he never stopped loving is in danger…and Dante is just the lion to protect her, whether she wants that protection or not.  Old wounds are about to be reopened, lives are about to change, and two people will finally need to acknowledge what has always been lingering between them… mates, whether they admit that to themselves or each other, is the puzzle amid the chaos that’s about to be unleashed on Hollow Oak.

I loved everything about Ain’t Lion, I Love You by Kala Aster & Milly Taiden… the intensity, the passion, the danger, and even the complications that two very stubborn people brought to their situation.  If you’ve also read the Hollow Oak Mates series, you’ll find lots of familiar faces in Maeve and Dante’s emotional journey back to each other.  The villain here is so easy to loathe on every level possible.  The battles to come are epic, the love and passion between two stubborn mates is, well, complicated yet strong, and the community of Hollow Oak shines in their loyalty to each other.  Their story is well-written, emotional, engaging, and satisfying in so many ways.  The danger is very real… but so is the love.  I’d highly recommend this Shifter Romance, or the entire series, to any reader who loves a good, solid paranormal romance, with relatable characters, and a story that will keep you on edge throughout.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review, giving my personal opinion about this book.*

If you enjoy these authors’ work, be sure to visit our Kala Aster page or our Milly Taiden page for reviews of other series, or simply to discover series you might have missed.

This title is available at Amazon