Looking for love isn't easy when you're an antisocial troll.
Gunnar has existed near the border of the monster world in the wilds of Iceland for centuries only straying into the human world occasionally out of boredom. He finds many of their belongings they’ve dropped while exploring. One of those items was a phone and after attempting to figure out how it works, Gunnar finds an app that intrigues him, Monster Match.
Flynn Davies has worked in the lumber industry since he was old enough to apply, but working in the woods can be lonely, and he spends more and more time scrolling the mysterious app he’s heard so much about. When he begins to chat with a mysterious creature, he wonders if there could be a perfect match for him that’s not human.
The past decade has been lonely for Gunnar, and he longs for someone to share his life with, even if that means changing his life. When he arrives at Elder Ridge, he quickly realizes how different life is here, but maybe the annoying human he’s been chatting with can help him learn more about this strange new world.
I don't understand the raving reviews and the high notes. The characters are cute but the writing is not good. It feels really robotic, i thought at first it was a style effect for Gunnar point of view because he's a troll but it's the same for Flynn. The writing feels very clunky, there's a lot of typos, there are a lot of repetitions, it's like nobody beta/alpha read the book. The plot is not done well and resolved too quickly without us reading what was happening but learning it later so it falls completely flat. I really want to like it because hell yeah for human x monster but it was definitely not good
Trolling For Love is part of the multi author Monster Match season two series. Each book can be read as a standalone but why not enjoy the whole series. This is the story of Gunnar a troll and Flynn a human who are brought together by the Monster Match App. This was just a fun cute read. I loved this book so much. There is enough of everything to keep the story interesting. BL Maxwell is an amazing author and I look forward to the next book she writes. If you get the audio narration, Guy Veryzer does a wonderful job of narrating this book. I can't wait to listen to the next book he does. I would definitely recommend this book and series.
Monsters and humans have become aware of each other and now after a long period of animosity have begun coming together to forge a new path. Gunner is a troll and he's lonely. He's traveled through a portal into the human realm and is just starting his first job with a forestry company when he meets Flynn. Flynn is curious about the troll. He knows monsters are living and working in the area nearby but he's never known one personally. Neither of them expected the attraction they feel. Gunner was hoping to find his mate and he may have just done that. Dealing with the continued hatred of a few adds intrigue to this sweet paranormal romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Thank you BookSprout, and B.L. Maxwell for sending me this advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is such a sweet monster romance novella. Both Gunnar and Flynn are adorable cinnamon rolls, and you can feel the love radiate off the pages. The spice is very nice, and fit perfectly with the characters.
I have been enjoying all the Monster Match stories I've read so far, and plan on getting the others too!
3,5 stars This is a cute, sweet, and fun little read. Gunnar is a troll, and moves to a town that has a lot of trees around. Flynn works in lumber, where Gunnar starts working as well. Both are immediately drawn to each other, and move from coworkers to friends to more quite quickly. But there's also danger around... I really liked Ben as a side character.
Story: When Gunnar, a gruff and solitary troll from Iceland, crosses into the human world looking for a fresh start, he doesn’t expect much—certainly not a mate. But everything changes when he meets Flynn, a down-to-earth forest worker with a strong sense of purpose and a quietly guarded heart. As Gunnar tries to adapt to modern human life—from worksite banter to pizza and dating apps —Flynn finds himself drawn to the troll’s honesty, strength, and surprising vulnerability. Their bond deepens quickly, but not everyone welcomes monsters into human spaces, and the return of Flynn’s monster-hunting uncle threatens everything they’ve built. Facing violence, prejudice, and danger from both realms , Gunnar and Flynn have to decide what they’re willing to fight for—and who they want by their side when things fall apart. A steamy, grumpy/sunshine vibes, monster, MM romance, with equal parts heart, heat, and humor, exploring trust, trauma, healing, identity, choosing connection over fear, belonging, taking chances, found family, and the power of being truly seen for who you are.
Audio: Narrated by Guy Veryzer, the audiobook brings Gunnar and Flynn’s story to life in a thoughtful and expressive way. His performance captures both the emotional depth and lighter moments well, giving each character a distinct voice. His narration is really enjoyable and the overall quality is solid. Whether you're listening for the first time or revisiting the story, this version makes for a cozy and engaging listen.
A nice addition to an always enjoyable multi author series. The switch from the MCs slowly becoming friends to suddenly becoming more was particularly abrupt. This series is all about the insta-love, but this was particularly sudden. An interesting plot, including some dangerous situations, and a very careful troll with lots of potential to be unexpectedly sweet.
3-3,25/5 After a disappointing experience with another B.L. Maxwell/Guy Veryzer audiobook combo, I hesitated before diving into Trolling For Love. But to my surprise, the beginning pulled me in. I was charmed by the cozy small-town setting and the sweet, slightly awkward romance brewing between a human and his fish-out-of-water monster coworker. It was cute, had heart, and I genuinely enjoyed the vibes.
But then... the shift.
The moment the first sex scene hit, the tone veered hard into another direction. Suddenly, we had a monster hunter, black market organ trade, undercover agents, and mate bonds—like, what just happened? The book got way too ambitious too fast, and instead of building on the charm it started with, it collapsed under a heap of info-dumping and genre mashups that didn’t land for me.
Honestly, if it had stayed a simple small-town monster romance, I would’ve loved it. Sometimes, less really is more.
Gunnar has two things drawing him to what may change his life. He has lived in Iceland for a very long time but he misses the trees. He has an affinity for the woods and he is also lonely. His friend Einar arrived with some news for him about the human world. Humans have decided to allow monsters in if they agree to follow the laws. And a number of humans were willing to accept a monster for a mate. Since Einar knew Gunnar was lonely, he might want to visit the human world. A trip through the portal will take him there.
Flynn Davies was hiking through the woods as he tagged which trees should be saved or cut down. With his forestry degree, he now gets to make those decisions. The foreman walked up to ask if he had a problem with his hiring a troll. Not all the townsfolk liked monsters, but Frank wanted to be sure Flynn would give Gunnar a chance. When Flynn realized Gunnar could communicate with the trees and all of nature, he was astonished. Then he asked Gunnar that if he ever chose the wrong tree to cut down, let him know so they can keep the forest strong. Looking at him, Flynn saw a gentleness and intelligence that fascinated him. He had so many questions he would love to ask Gunnar. Chatting back and forth on the “Monster Match” site was a good start in getting his questions answered… but he seemed to have a million more. As they worked on the next section of trees, Gunnar was stacking the logs as he usually did because he was so good at it. But for some reason, the logs collapsed and he was trapped underneath. He wasn’t hurt but Flynn couldn’t figure how the accident occurred. He found a footprint, but they all wore similar boots, so there was no way to tell if the logs had been pushed over deliberately.
Flynn took Gunnar to town to show him how to cash his paycheck and do his laundry for the week. As they sat in the laundromat, Flynn leaned in and kissed Gunnar. He started to apologize, but Gunnar kissed him back, aware that humans are breakable but willing to be patient as they enjoy just being together. When Gunnar’s stomach growled, Flynn took him down the street to introduce him to pizza! While Gunnar sat at their table, Flynn went back to get drinks as Gunnar saw a man staring at him with pure hate in his eyes. Flynn told him that was Vince Drummond, unfortunately his uncle, who was nothing but trouble. Would Gunnar find this out soon? Would the hateful man interfere with his happiness? And how far would he be willing to go to get rid of the monster?
'For a moment he looked at me not like I was a troll, but like that didn’t matter. At that moment, I wanted him to look at me like that again.'
I loved this book. Good world building and wonderful characters. I loved both Gunnar and Flynn.
As a troll, Gunnar is lonely, but I liked that he traveled to the human world not solely for companionship, but also for the trees. His world had almost none left after they were all cut down a very long time ago. This especially makes sense when we learn he can connect with nature and feel its emotion. I can't imagine being able to do that, but no longer have any nature to form that connection with. Upon learning one of the places humans and monsters could live together was near a vast forest, he set out immediately a knew he'd never return.
Flynn worked in the lumbar industry and you could tell he really loved his job and protected the forest by making sure healthy trees stayed safe, precautions were taken against potential fires, and areas were given space to grow. I also liked that he was humble enough that even though he had a good sense of what trees to cut, he still asked Gunnar to tell him if he ever picked the wrong one. He wanted to make the forest stronger not weaker. He was also lonely and would love to have a companion.
It was sweet seeing their relationship grow. I also liked how well Gunnar handled himself around people when he was used to being alone for so long. He and Flynn made a perfect match. I also really liked the supporting characters. 5 stars.
Loneliness is awful for one troll. All Gunnar wants is a mate, a community. Is the Human world where he needs to be?
After walking through the portal, Gunnar spent a year learning human ways and laws. Once he was able to leave the research center, he became a forest worker. This is the most perfect job for him. He can feel the trees in the forest, he knows when they are healthy or sick. It’s in this job that he meets Flynn Davies, his new supervisor. Flynn is immediately smitten by Gunnar. They both have a love for the forest and that helps their friendship to grow. Soon though they learn that are still those in Elder Ridge that are unhappy with monsters in their town.
Love it!!! Monster Match season two is going so well. There are new monsters, new situations, and old friends to visit. I loved that BL Maxwell painted such a beautiful picture of Gunnar. He didn’t leave the monster realm because he hated it or it was dangerous, he needed more and his only friend Einar wanted him to find that more. Having characters we already know like the Bosco family and Jason’s Ricky in the story made it feel more homey. I really enjoy that in this series. I love all the characters that seem to come back or pop up in each new book. I love how BL Maxwell threw a wrench in the plot. I kept thinking about who the bad guy might be and what might happen next. I love it when my curiosity keeps me flicking page after page. Now I’m just waiting for the next book.
Trolling for Love is a standalone MM monster/paranormal romance by the fabulous BL Maxwell. This is a sweet and charming small town romance, that has trolls and other paranormal species integrating with humans - and finding their true mates between the species.
Gunnar is a troll who lives on the edge of the paranormal realm and the human world, in a cave isolated in Iceland. However, he knows that to find true contentment that he needs to makes it out in the world. Being a troll, he loves nature and so relocates to an idyllic mountain town, where he gets a job with the local logging company.
Flynn Davies is a human and has made himself comfortable in his life and his work. He is lonely, but a small town isn't necessarily the best place to meet eligible gay men. But with the addition of various monster species in town, he give the dating app Monster Matches a go.
Gunnar and Flynn not only work together, they have now been matched together on the app. While their romance together is so sweet and I love the entire vibe between them, there is also drama surrounding them. The drama is perfect, and shows Gunnar and Flynn teaming up and working together, which feels totally different to their work where Flynn is training Gunnar.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Are you ready for some more Guy Veryzer and the start of a new season of Monster Match stories? Trolling for Love is here.
Since I don't think anyone knows what a troll should sound like I want to say that I think Guy Veryzer does a great job of deciding and interpreting the voice of Gunnar. After all a lonely and reclusive Troll probably doesn't even know the sound of their own voice very well either! Gunnar's situation is however about to change, eventually for the better even if it doesn't seem that way at first! It is thanks to his discovery of a discarded adventurers pack and their phone that he discovers the Monster Match app.
Flynn has been working in logging since he was able to work really but it can be a lonely role, the woods a lonely place to live and so he finds himself checking out the Monster Match app which he has heard so many good things of and that leads him to chatting with Gunnar. As we have a troll and a human in this story it is easier to differentiate between the voices as there is only the single narrator. Guy Veryzer ensures we always know who is talking, injects the right amount of feeling and emotions into his storytelling and brings the story to life. I recommend having a listen. A fun and unusual story.
Trolling For Love is BL Maxwell's contribution to the multi author Monster Match season two series. Gunnar is a troll living on the edge of the monster realm where it touches Iceland. He comes to Elder Ridge looking for a mate. He meets human Flynn, a conservationist for the lumber company they work for. They bond over their love for trees. It's a sweet story with fated mate and size difference tropes. The two are quick to bed and sharing their lives. A nice bit of spice. The prior to lovemaking portion of the story is nice and relaxed. But it gets a bit rushed after. Their second camping trip esp. Ben, Gunnar's first friend is an absolute delight. A golden retriever-ish personality. Very accepting and full of questions about monsters. The danger element was meh. A missed opportunity and the resolution too abrupt. It was a sweet and quick read. Not Maxwell's best, but it is an original, and mostly fun story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What a wonderful monster romance by BL Maxwell. Wouldn't it be cool to live in a world where monsters walk among us?
This book is part of a multi-authored series called Monster Match. I haven't read any of the other books in this series but I probably will now. This book by BL Maxwell is the only one available in audio at this time. When I saw this pop up on Booksprout I figured I'd give it a try and I'm glad I did.
Guy Veryzer did a great job with all the different voices and he nailed Gunnar's voice. I did speed up the narration, as I do with all the books I listen to that are narrated by Guy, his drawl is a bit too slow for me.
Gunnar is a troll from Iceland that has been living an isolated life. He's been very lonely and decides he wants/needs to find his mate. He faces several obstacles and prejudices when starting a new job and a new life in this very human world.
Learning new things, new friends and family, communing with trees, fated mates, the perfect match
This book is part of the multi-authored Monster Match Season 2 series. Each book is a standalone read. This is the story of Gunnar and Flynn. Gunnar is a troll with an affinity for trees. He has lived a long live totally alone and he is lonely. He decides to go to earth and try and find a companion. Once his assimilation training is done, he assigned to work with a forestry crew. Flynn is a human and the man in charge of the crew. He has never met a monster before and he is interested in learning all about Gunnar. Both have signed up for the Monster Match App. Flynn uses that as a way to get to know Gunnar without any stress. This is their story. I especially liked how Gunnar and Ben interacted. Ben was like a large puppy and I think that was exactly what Gunnar needed. The book is well written and easy to read. I really enjoyed it. It is a fun read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Trolls need love too! Gunnar was alone and lonely in the monster realm. As an Icelandic troll having lived around little to no trees, his wish for trees was almost equal to his desire for a mate and friends and family so when he was led to a portal to the human world by another troll, he didn’t have to think twice, he had nothing to lose by leaving and possibly everything to gain.
This was an incredibly sweet love story, differences between the two notwithstanding. Flynn and Gunnar were adorable! I would have loved for the book to have lasted much longer once the mystery had been solved because they were just so good together.
There was nothing especially heavy about the book, it was light and sweet with just a tad of drama to keep it moving forward but I loved it and recommend it to anyone who even remotely enjoys monster romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Gunnar and Flynn were very sweet and cute together. Gunnar heads to the human world because he’s lonely and there is nothing left for him in the monster realm. He also loves nature and trees so he takes a job with a forestry company. Flynn works for that company and they hit it right off. I did love how patient and sweet Flynn was as Gunnar is still learning about how to live in the human world. And beneath his stern demeanor Gunnar is very much a sweetheart. He doesn’t trust easily but when he gives his heart it’s all about Flynn. They were great together and I loved seeing them after they were a couple too. Just a few small things lowered the rating. The danger they face is settled a bit anticlimactically. And while there was some chemistry between the main characters I’m just used to a bit more in her stories. Still really great and I would recommend.
I did receive an ARC from Booksprout and this is my honest opinion.
I enjoyed listening to Trolling For Love. It was quirky, sweet, spicy and fun! My nature loving self connected to Gunnar and Flynn right away. I loved the idea of the Monster app and Monster integration. I wouldn’t mind finding myself a monster mate :)
I thought Guy Veryzer’s voice was a great match for Gunnar and he did an excellent job bringing the emotions to life. I was easily able to distinguish different characters in this one. There are large gaps / breaks between the chapters that made the pacing a bit off but I have a feeling this is an editing issue and not the narrators fault.
Ah I love a good monster/human mate story and this sure did not disappoint! Gunnar is very basic and takes words at face value but he's innocent and sweet, just looking for his mate. Flynn enjoys the outdoors and working hard. When one day a troll, new to the human world is assigned to his work crew he starts talking to him and is intrigued by the differences between them.
A story of finding someone to share your life with while protecting them when someone threatens your life together and those you care about. Some mystery and danger involved but nothing scary.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Delightfully adventurous! Gunnar, is a troll living relatively alone in Iceland. He's lonely. He crossses the portal and spends a year in training. He gets a job at the lumbar camp and feels an infinity with Flynn, his boss. They share a love of the forest and nature. Delightful story reading of Gunnar becoming acclimated with the human world and making friends. He is a really nice troll and I look forward to hearing his adventures. Flynn, is a nice guy that is open to friendships with monsters and a bit more with Gunnar maybe. Good story. Nicely done. I received an ARC and amv oluntarily leaving a review.
Two people from two very different worlds coming together and finding love.
This might be a story about a troll and human but it mirrors how we treat people in our world. Just like Flynn and Ben treated Gunnar as just another coworker, that’s how people should treat each other no matter the color of their skin, their sexual orientation, their gender identification, their religion, political affiliation or country of origin.
Love is love and this book proves it.
Also, it’s hot and spicy as well!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Trolling for Love by B.L. Maxwell is a wonderful match making romance for monsters. Guy Veryzer did an excellent job with the narration. The story is entertaining, romantic, comedy, paranormal, funny, and more. Gunnar is a troll who is lonely but one day he picks up a phone someone lost and finds an app named monster match a dating app for monsters. Flynn Davies works in the lumber industry and is lonely too. He uses the same app and starts messaging Gunnar. They soon decide to meet. Will a relationship develop between them or are they just to different to coexist?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I started with the ebook first. I wasn't able to finish due to me losing interest quickly. Finn and Gunner's instalove I wasn't feeling too much. It was disappointing b/c I love monster romances and this one has a troll. I saw that the audiobook was available and thought I would like it better and well...I forced myself to finish. Really to see the outcome of how the evil character was defeated. The HEA was OK. Now the narration...I don't know...the narrator was OK also...a little draggy and dull. All in all not bad but not great either.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love reading more about the monsters that come, and the ones that are already in town but I haven’t read about before, it’s awesome. My favorites part is how Ben is so curious and accepting of Gunnar. There are some obstacles that make the story better, but no long, drawn out conflict that takes away from the romance. The action part is just enough, like a pinch of salt, perfect to enhance the flavor. I’ve read all the other stories of this world, and cannot wait to read more!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Just loved this story. Gunnar is a troll who is lonely living in Iceland, his friend shows him how to go through a portal to the human world. After a year in the transition hub learning how to live with humans he starts working with a logging crew. He meets Flynn whose job is to choose which tree needs removing and is surprised to find is friendly to him. Their road to love has a hiccup or two but they get there in this entertaining page-turner.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really liked Gunnar and Flynn together. Both were lonely and wanted that someone special. They both have a love for the forest and nature. They have really good chemistry together. Their sexyntimes were hot. 🔥 The story was good. I liked that there was a fantasy/romance with a mystery weaved in too. I liked that the villain got his comeuppance in an appropriate manner. This was rapidly edging towards a 5 🌟 read IMO but from 70% on it was too rushed. We didn't get to see the villains punishment but was told about it twice. Definitely worth the read.
This was such a cute and unique story! Gunnar and Flynn were both sweethearts and absolutely adorable together! Gunnar was just a gentle giant who wanted love and companionship and found exactly that! They had to do some damage control to keep each other and other monsters safe but everything turned out well. A very enjoyable story!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A cute, simple, and sweet story. I liked the lighthearted take on a lonely troll looking for love through a dating app—such a fun and original idea! Gunnar and Flynn’s connection felt natural and easy, though the story stays pretty low-angst and straightforward.
If you’re in the mood for something gentle, quick, and a little whimsical, this is a cozy read that leaves you smiling.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was my first Troll read! I adored Gunnar. He was such a gentle big ole Troll and he was lonely. My heart went out to him that he was kind of surprised by Flynn's interest and affections. He did not know what to make of this human at first! There were a few obstacles they had to get past, but their romance was pure and sweet! I have to add that I love this cover of Gunnar and Flynn!