About the Book

Romance isn't dead . . . but her new co-worker might be, in this charming paranormal romcom for fans of Jenna Levine and Lana Ferguson.

Molly Mason is not a team player. She may do more work than the rest of her team, but when it comes time for promotion, an outside hire is chosen over her. To add insult to injury, she's tasked with training him. This is easier said than done, though, when he has the digital literacy of a toddler and is, infuriatingly, the hottest man she's ever laid eyes on.

Elijah Thorne's reintegration into human society is going swimmingly. He scammed his way into a job, bought new clothes, and successfully convinced a myriad of New Yorkers that he is human, not a vampire. The one person he can't win over, though, is his intimidating colleague Molly.

When Molly discovers Elijah's secret, he realizes that being human isn't as easy as he thought. She'll help him act the part if he'll help her get promoted, but when they fall into a colleagues-with-benefits arrangement, can they keep things professional?

Review

Fangs with Benefits had a unique and interesting concept. It blended supernatural with a romantic sitcom. Was it successful? Somewhat. What ultimately became the downfall was the male lead, Elijah. For a vampire who's been alive as long as Elijah, he was surprisingly uninformed. You're telling me that after all these years, he hasn't figured out how to use a computer? Or mastered a skill that would make him qualified for a job? Out of all the jobs he could have pursued, why did it have to be the one Molly wanted?

I really didn't love that Elijah compelled Molly's boss to give him the promotion. He could have easily started in an entry-level position and worked his way up. Instead, he stole an opportunity from someone who had actually earned it. Then he had the nerve to ask that same person to help him do the job. The weaponized incompetence was frustrating. Molly should have been much meaner to him. She got over the job stealing far too quickly for my liking.

Despite the job stealing, Elijah was wildly supportive of Molly. That was nice to see, and an important motivator for her to accomplish her dreams.

Molly and Elijah had some genuinely good moments together. I did enjoy their relationship at times. However, I felt the book spent too much time setting up the romance instead of letting the relationship develop. The vampire aspect also felt underutilized, especially given the potential to explore Elijah's experiences and perspective after living for so long.

One of my favorite parts of the book was Molly's personal growth. I loved watching her learn to prioritize her own needs and make decisions about what she wanted for herself. Her journey was one of the more satisfying aspects of the story.

Interestingly, I think my favorite version of Molly and Elijah's relationship came in the final chapters. I would have loved to read that story and experience Molly helping him navigate his new reality. That felt like a much more interesting direction for their relationship.

Final Thoughts

Fangs with Benefits was a low-stakes romance with an interesting premise and some enjoyable moments. I liked parts of Molly and Elijah’s relationship. Though at times, I wanted more of the romance. I also wanted more supernatural elements and much more accountability from Elijah.

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About the Book

For janitor Hannah Harvey, cleaning up messes is the family business. Literally. When she finds herself pregnant from a one night stand with a stranger, she decides that a baby is one mess she’ll take on alone.

Out of her depth, but determined, Hannah decides to save herself the drama of ever telling the father. This seemed easy enough when he was only Barry Wright, hockey all-star living across the country, but becomes impossible when he gets traded to her city and trains in the very facility she cleans.

After crossing paths with a very pregnant Hannah, Barry is eager to help. But how do you help someone hellbent on proving they can take care of everything alone?

Desperate to keep him at arm’s length—but failing more with each of his attempts to care for her—Hannah will have to decide if love is worth the mess.

Review

Bar Down Baby! was my first book by Kath Richards, and we are starting on a high note. I really loved it. It was funny, heartfelt, and incredibly comforting. One of my favorite things about this book was Hannah’s relationship with her oldest sister, Kate. Hannah’s overall family dynamic was top-tier; however, I found her and Kate’s relationship to be absolutely fantastic. I enjoyed every one of their scenes. I would be first in line for a book about Kate.

Hannah was stubborn and determined to prove that she could be independent. That was never frustrating. Her fears felt genuine, and Richards did a wonderful job of developing her character. I loved watching her gradually open up and lean on others without feeling guilty.

I will admit that Barry occasionally toed the line of being a little too perfect. I would have loved to see more flaws or challenges from his perspective. Especially since readers are told that he has a history with OCD. Having his POV might have added another layer to his character and allowed us to see how he navigated those struggles. Additionally, the story felt more hockey-adjacent rather than hockey-centered. His friendship with the other hockey players didn’t feel fleshed out, and there were times when I almost forgot that he was a professional hockey player. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I loved Barry and how supportive and adorably obsessed he was with Hannah.

Final Thoughts

Bar Down Baby! was a great introduction to Kath Richards for me. Although there were some things that didn’t quite work for me, there are still so many strengths within this story. It’s filled with heart, family, and personal growth. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author in the future. Thank you to Kath Richards for providing this arc! Bar Down Baby! will be released on June 18, 2026.

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