Katniss Greaves came to Hollow Oak chasing a missing girl — and walked straight into the arms of something ancient, angry, and breathtakingly alive.

The town wasn’t on any map. The mist watched her. And the man across the street? He didn’t smile. He growled.

Emmett Hollowell doesn’t like strangers. Doesn’t like questions. Doesn’t like the way the seer with the sharp tongue and haunted eyes makes his wolf pace like it remembers her.

He tells her to stay out of the woods. She doesn’t listen. Now the Veil has opened, the past is bleeding through, and the only thing more dangerous than what’s waking beneath Hollow Oak… is what’s waking inside them.

Because the girl he was sent to protect is his mate.

And the monster who broke him once wants her next.

Titles in the Hollow Oak Mates series include: Love at First Roar ~ Mate Night Snack ~ Claws for Celebration ~

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

Title:  Mate Night Snack
Series:  Hollow Oak Mates #2
Author:  Kala Aster & Milly Taiden
Published:  July 31, 2025
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Mate Night Snack is the second title in the Hollow Oak Mates series, and brings us Katniss and Emmett’s sizzling and danger-filled romance.

Katniss is searching for answers, never thinking that she’d discover a hidden, magical town or learn that she’s not as “normal” as she believed.  She’s in Hollow Oak to solve a cold case, a missing girl from years ago who just vanished without a clue.  Her podcasts help people find answers, to find closure… she just never realized how coming to this small town would ultimately change her life as she knew it.  

Emmitt knows that Katniss is his mate, but he’s just not believing or accepting it.  He’ll try to keep her out of the places, dangerous places she has no business exploring.  But protecting this stubborn, sarcastic, determined human is a far more difficult task than he ever thought possible.  She’s stirring up an ancient danger, one that could easily get her killed.

I enjoyed Mate Night Snack by Kala Aster and Milly Taiden so much.  Their story is filled with snark, danger, secrets, and a bond that will not be broken.  If you love a well-written, intense, and emotional paranormal/shifter romance that will keep you on edge throughout, then you’d love this one.  Katniss is an amazing character, with stubbornness and determination that few could stand against.  Emmitt is full of guilt over his past and will fight the bond between them, but eventually protecting Katniss isn’t enough… he needs to stand with her and end an enemy who will destroy everything they care about without a second thought.  A riveting story that you won’t want to miss.

*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 love this author’s work, be sure to visit our Kala Aster page or our Milly Taiden page for reviews of other series, or just to discover series you might have missed.

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)