All hurt, no comfort. Jk, there's comfort but goodness, there's a lotta hurt to get through first.
If you came here for sexy-fun-times, look elsewhere.All hurt, no comfort. Jk, there's comfort but goodness, there's a lotta hurt to get through first.
If you came here for sexy-fun-times, look elsewhere. This book is about trauma and healing. (okay, fine, a smidge of spiciness but it's spiciness painted in the shade morally-grey) It's emotional and sad but also so, so, sooo sweet because it's also about finding unconventional love in the darkest of circumstances.
Dakota and Allister's characters were written beautifully! I'm so glad that it's dual POV because getting both of their inner thoughts and seeing how they viewed the other and how their relationship developed was so charming.
If you're a fan of hurt/comfort and you want a book that is essentially just hurt/comfort from cover to cover, this is the book for you. But for the love of god, check your triggers....more
Fingers the size of a dick & dick the size of an arm. That's the plot. Smash.
This was honestly better than I expected. It's insta-lovey but like WHO Fingers the size of a dick & dick the size of an arm. That's the plot. Smash.
This was honestly better than I expected. It's insta-lovey but like WHO CARES; the sex is hot and the story is actually REALLY interesting. The cover and premise were giving PWP but there's a surprising amount of unique world-building that makes everything so much more fun! ...more
*Eternally waiting for the day I get abducted by sexy aliens that just wanna take care of me and rail me six ways to Sunday*
Until that glorious day, I*Eternally waiting for the day I get abducted by sexy aliens that just wanna take care of me and rail me six ways to Sunday*
Until that glorious day, I guess I'll just have to settle for living vicariously through amazing stories.
In this particular story, Reuben gets abducted (lucky bastard) and shipped off to the planet of U'suhk which, while technologically primitive, is abundant in natural resources and sexy red lizard aliens (who, by the way, scratch my itchy lizard brain juuust right).
While this is a story that has been told before, Eryn Hawk makes it her own with bright and colorful characters and a fascinating world built on the wonderfully underutilized concept of: just having fun. From the physical attributes to the nomenclature (the pleasure planet F'ukyuu was a particular favorite of mine), she clearly just let her imagination run silly and rampant in the streets and I think the book was all the better for it.
I LOVE when a book feels like you've fallen into a character's stream of consciousness and are just here for the amusingly chaotic loop-de-loop ride. Partly because I particularly like it when authors drop all sense of propriety in favor of letting loose and partly because Reuben's entire inner dialogue sounds exactly like mine. I already enjoy when a book allows me to turn off my brain, so it's even more gratifying when that book's verbiage gives me a feeling of comfortable familiarity.
As far as the plot goes, it had everything that I could've wanted in an alien romance. It's traumatized-broken-boi meets hard-exterior-soft-interior alien with a cinnamon roll heart and y'all knoooow how I feel about broken bois (myyyy preeecciiouuuussss). Vo'ak was fucking adorable and I loved that he was emotionally intelligent & perceptive and not just a primal caveman. Though, his primal parts are nothing to scoff at either - you won't hear me complaining...especially when it comes to anything involving a knot.
If you're looking for all the fun and all the tropes (no thoughts, just vibes) - look no further.
Rating: 4.5 rounded up to 5!
✧While I received a free e-arc from GRR, all thoughts are my own.✧...more
Green Flag: Characters with a clinical psych diagnosis.
Ah, it feels so good to be back in ChaniLand and she did not disappoint.
We got glimpses of RinGreen Flag: Characters with a clinical psych diagnosis.
Ah, it feels so good to be back in ChaniLand and she did not disappoint.
We got glimpses of Rin, Sila, & Kel back in Echo but lemme tell ya - that wasn't even the tippy tip of the iceberg. I'm so glad that we're following the same story and timeline but with different characters! It was so much fun to find the little easter eggs of what was concurrently happening in Echo with Rabbit and Baikal as this story progressed.
And boy, did it progress. I'm fucking obsessed with Rin & Kel's dynamic and really, everything about them. Even their physical attributes! Kel's fucking corset vests!? Jesus christ on a cracker - that was hot. Rin & Sila's heterochromia, Kel's eye, even the tiny detail of Sila's earring - I said this in my last review but I liiiive for the little things. Some might say it's overkill but, for me, it paints a vivid picture of these characters in my mind's eye and I wouldn't change a thing.
Speaking of overkill - there was a lot less murder in this one and a lot more drama but with a character like Kelevra (who is drama incarnate), it's perfectly acceptable. Fuck it, we love the drama. Besides, I'm predicting that Sila's book will satisfy any homicidal cravings we may be left with.
But you know what there was plenty of? FUCKING HOTTER THAN HELL SEX. Where the FUCK do I order a G-Tester 450? Don't ask, just read it. ...more
Everything Chani has been putting out in the past year has become my new favorite flavor of book. It's liI never met a trigger warning I didn't like.
Everything Chani has been putting out in the past year has become my new favorite flavor of book. It's like when you walk into an ice cream shop and there's all these crazy new flavors but your eyes keep glancing back to your tried-and-true. You know you're gonna get it. You may ask for samples to flirt with some of the other flavors but come on, be real, you know what your heart really wants. For me, that's apparently literally anything that this woman writes. (Coincidentally, my actual tried-and-true ice cream flavor is mint chocolate chip - I implore you to read the book and find out why I would even bring that up; you won't regret it.)
Rabbit, a musician who plays a beautifully unique instrument called a beiska, catches the eye of Baikal, the planet's mafia prince and a wolf if I've ever seen one. The hunt begins before our little bunny even knows he's being pursued and by the time he catches on, it's far too late as the wolf chases him around the tree and straight down into his sweet little rabbit hole.
There is so. much. to the story - tons of tiny little details that I'm stupidly obsessed with: the gorgeous elements of the beiska, the planetary relationship between Imperials and the mafia, Baikal and his dad, the history of Shouts, the glowing trees, even the fucking school uniforms. I could quite literally go on and on about the attention to detail that Chani puts into all of her books and EVERYTHING is just fucking *chef's kiss*.
Idk who the real devil is, Baikal or Chani Lynn fuckin' Feener, cause listen, I would unquestionably sell my soul to her for nothing in exchange other than for her to continue writing these deliciously dark books. While not as dark as previous books, it still left me happily sated (yet inexplicably starving for more)....more
In which a sweet but naive prince gets double-dicked-down by a dragon.
There were quite a few little surprises in this book that I wasn't expecting. WhIn which a sweet but naive prince gets double-dicked-down by a dragon.
There were quite a few little surprises in this book that I wasn't expecting. What I did expect was lots of dragon smut; the authors definitely delivered on that front. It was hot. What I didn't expect were some surprisingly sweet scenes and a couple of really dark scenes.
As far as the dark scenes go (please read the TWs if that's your jam), they caught me off guard just a bit. I didn't mind them all that much because I actually like some darkness but the abruptness of them had me literally saying "well damn" out loud to myself. And it nearly made the story feel disjointed because none of the really bad stuff had to happen, it was just darkness for darkness' sake. Again, I personally don't mind it, but other people might. You've been warned.
Still, I enjoyed the plot a lot more than I anticipated! Probably because there was just more plot than I expected, period. I thought this was going to be PWP but there's a decent amount actual storyline. The only thing that I didn't particularly like was how the entire plot relied so heavily on Larkin being adorably/annoyingly naive. This poor sweet idiot gets himself into so much trouble.
I loved Jade. He's the silliest most ridiculous dragon that there ever was. I loved how he didn't give a fuck about anything and then suddenly all he gave a fuck about was Larkin. Even though it's super non/dub-con in the beginning, they're stinkin' adorable together by the end.
You know how sometimes you read a book and just wish you got that liiittle bit more? Adara Wolf clearly knowThe cherry on top of this glorious series.
You know how sometimes you read a book and just wish you got that liiittle bit more? Adara Wolf clearly knows how to give the people what they want, because this is that little bit more.
This is basically back-to-back short snippets that amount to a veritable kink encyclopedia...a kinkclopedia, if you will. Figging, caning, double penetration, pony play, human furniture, somnophilia - you name it, it's probably in here.
We also get to see scenes that were referenced to in the previous books + different POVs - not just Alex & Tracht, which was such a fun little treat (I was especially delighted by Jeremy & Kai's section).
I am truly so sad that the series is over but one, I'm just being greedy because I think we got way more than most authors ever give, and two, I am absolutely coming back to reread the entire series in the very near future. ...more
What others find disconcerting apparently has me giggling like a schoolgirl in the middle of the night.
The way that I LAUGHED in this one!! Tracht on What others find disconcerting apparently has me giggling like a schoolgirl in the middle of the night.
The way that I LAUGHED in this one!! Tracht on drugs + Alex unleashing his inner "HULK SMASH" is my new favorite thing. Second only to Tracht trying to fight his obvious sentimentality and Alex's obliviousness to the fact. I love them, your honor....more
In which we have hurt/comfort but the comfort is more hurt.
After the first book, I would have sold my soul to get Tracht's POV and I guess I don't havIn which we have hurt/comfort but the comfort is more hurt.
After the first book, I would have sold my soul to get Tracht's POV and I guess I don't have to cause ADARA HAS DELIVERED UNTO US THE GLORIOUSLY FUCKED UP THOUGHTS OF JOHANNES TRACHT.
Tracht doesn't give a fuck about anything but Alex and I don't give a fuck about anything but them....more
This book is fucked up and apparently, so am I, cause I would lick the words off the floor if that was the only way to consume it.
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My taste in bThis book is fucked up and apparently, so am I, cause I would lick the words off the floor if that was the only way to consume it.
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My taste in books is just getting more and more depraved. Tracht is a manipulative asshole with the cunning of a fox and Alex is an emotionally stunted rabid bunny rabbit.
Are they good people? Absolutely the fuck not.
Am I infatuated with them regardless? You better believe it.
These characters are not "likable" in any traditional sense. And forget morally grey - this is the moral equivalent of a black hole. Any moral objections I could possibly raise are sucked in and obliterated; crushed into a spacetime singularity with no hope of escape.
I love that we have Parsons as a character to represent a more typical "good guy" mindset or "vanilla" as Tracht would call it. Having his perspective in the storyline makes all the icky stuff even more deliciously icky. His yuck is my yum.
And how very yummy it is. *smirks in sadist*...more
Y'all, this is straight up clit-lit. If you came here for anything else, you will be vastly disappointed. We get riPlot? Who's she? We don't know her.
Y'all, this is straight up clit-lit. If you came here for anything else, you will be vastly disappointed. We get right into it from the jump and then it's just straight-sailing PWP through to the very end. Not even a little mad at it.
Interestingly, the world that's set up has a little more to it than I anticipated - there actually is more of a foundation for plot than I expected. There's just enough to get away with not really needing more. As much as I enjoyed the smut (and boy did I), I do kind of wish that the author took more advantage of the unique world they set up. That, and I wish there was also a bit more of an emotional connection between our MCs cause the orcs were kind of adorable and I wanted to see more of that.
But Aramis has plans for at least one more book in this world, which I'm expecting will follow the same overall structure (i.e. porn) - but there will probably be more tiny tastes of plot in the background.
Overall, this book is exactly what it claims to be: a quick & dirty romp in the swamp. Come on in, the water's fine. ...more
This book has a violent chokehold on me and all I can do is beg for it to squeeze tighter.
I am absolutely floored. Shadow Yor, a.k.a. Shade, is an intThis book has a violent chokehold on me and all I can do is beg for it to squeeze tighter.
I am absolutely floored. Shadow Yor, a.k.a. Shade, is an interplanetary detective with a loose hold on his empathic powers and an even weaker hold on his self-deprecating tendencies. Following the meager breadcrumbs left behind in a string of murders has him falling right into the alluring clutches of Apollo - a charming art reporter that just happens to moonlight as a psychopathic serial killer. I am dangerously enamored with flawed characters, so when these two living embodiments of a psychiatrist's wet dream come together? Holy-fucking-shit.
This book feels like a love letter to every sick, depraved, and filthy hidden desire I've ever had and I'm not afraid to admit it. What can I say, I like my romances how I like my coffee - dark, bitter, and strong enough to get my blood pumping. And this is just to my taste; there's a perfect balance of darkness and sweetness in this story. But listen, this is not traditional sweetness. It's not gentle touches and honeyed words; it's a white-knuckled grip - possessive and manipulative and fucked up. If that's not your jam, move right along. If it is: hi, let's be friends.
This is the second book I've read by Chani Lynn Feener (the first was also amazing) and after this delectable masterpiece, it most certainly will not be the last. I have been unquestionably conditioned - if Chani is ringing the bell, you better believe that I am salivating on command.
Thank you to BookSirens for the advanced readers copy. All thoughts are my own....more
I AM IN DEEP PHYSICAL PAIN AND IT HURTS SO. FUCKING. GOOD.
Wow. River and Rain. Rain and River. How do I find the words to describe how much I love thiI AM IN DEEP PHYSICAL PAIN AND IT HURTS SO. FUCKING. GOOD.
Wow. River and Rain. Rain and River. How do I find the words to describe how much I love this book?
The second - the very second that these two boys meet, there's an instant spark; if you can even call it that. The word "spark" is woefully inaccurate, when what they have is a veritable lightning storm. They're both two-sided magnets, spinning in the storm with fleeting moments of attraction and repulsion. But when they finally snap together and connect!? Drawn to each other like untamable forces of nature? FUCK. ME.
There is a special place in my heart reserved for the most flawed and fucked up characters, and Rain just earned the biggest spot right in the center. My heart absolutely bleeds for him. And don't even get me started on River. Sweet, determined, dazzling River.
This beautiful book is fucking perfection and no one can tell me otherwise. And thank everything in the universe that I have the second book to start immediately because C.E. Ricci just dosed me with the most powerful drug of her own creation and you can officially consider me a willing addict. On to book two - shoot me up, baby....more
A book where you have to verify your age before purchasing!? Sign. me. the. fuck. up.
Is Secondhand Stockholm Syndrome a thing? Cause if a trained profA book where you have to verify your age before purchasing!? Sign. me. the. fuck. up.
Is Secondhand Stockholm Syndrome a thing? Cause if a trained professional psychoanalyzed me after finishing this book, I'm pretty sure I'd be diagnosed & committed.
The blurb mentions that this book is "mostly kink" and if you're interested in reading, I would keep that in mind. Personally, I gobbled it up like a rich & decadent piece of chocolate cake because, at times, it felt like someone took all my kinks (& kind of even my love languages? lmao), threw them all into a book, and tied it up with leather straps & a pretty pink bow.
Because the book is so kink-heavy, you kinda have to be into the different kinks to enjoy it because the actual sex scenes aren't this drawn-out and detailed affair like some smut scenes are. Don't get me wrong, they're still hot as all hell, but the writing style doesn't make them stand out from the rest of the story because they're not really meant to stand out. The sex scenes aren't the "goal" of the story; the whole ass book is just one long kink-scene and, to be honest, I wouldn't have it any other way.
I read somewhere that this book is not listed on Amazon because it's too dark - idk if that's true and I don't know what this says about me, but it actually could have been a lot darker and I would have loved it just as much (Fair warning: I am the type of reader who has never been dissuaded/triggered by damn near anything, so please make sure to check CWs prior to reading if you are not that type of reader, because this still has very heavy themes).
As dark as it was, we still get our HEA, which is a requirement for me as a reader (I'm telling you, this book feels like it was written for me). Also, I'm also a huge slut for all things fluff and interestingly, this had plenty of it - as long as your definition of fluff/love extends to "murderous psychopath's favorite toy". Which, lucky me, mine very much does.
As far as the storyline goes, I loved it! I don't want to give anything away but like I said, this book is kink-driven; so even though there's a clear plot, there are quite a few questions that go unanswered. For me, I feel like I didn't really need the answers to those questions to enjoy the story cause I still had a fan-fucking-tastic time. Everleigh is frickin' adorable and Ocean is, well, Daddy. *drools in sub*
If you're a lil freaky-deak like me, give this one a try....more
THAT SMUT!! SO. FUCKING. HOT. If I was only rating the smut, without a doubt this would be a 5-star read.
In addition to the glorious sex scenes we've THAT SMUT!! SO. FUCKING. HOT. If I was only rating the smut, without a doubt this would be a 5-star read.
In addition to the glorious sex scenes we've got cursed mermen, sea witches, some insta-lust, magical dildos and so much more! There's even some lovely fluff thrown in, which of course, I'm a sucker for.
The only small issue I had was with the writing style. There were a lot of modern colloquialisms thrown in that kind of took away from the late 17th century/early 18th century vibes - like, when Fernando called Arian "babe", I literally heard a record scratch in my head. There was also something about the way the plot unfolded that felt a little hastened? I can appreciate insta-love and insta-lust, but the flow of the narrative just felt a smidge rough. But, knowing that this was Aramis Jordan's debut novel, I'm willing to cut some slack.
Plus, this is one of those books that are literally just here for a good time and I did have a very good time.
Christmas ain't over til I say it's over; I think I'm entitled to one more small gift featuring Krampus' massive, ahem, whip.
What a fun lil smutty reaChristmas ain't over til I say it's over; I think I'm entitled to one more small gift featuring Krampus' massive, ahem, whip.
What a fun lil smutty read this was. The sex scenes were extra spicy and really well-written! I particularly liked the chapters about the Krampus and Dara - tbh I wish their story was a fully-fledged novel. I would eat that shit up in two shakes of a reindeer's tail.
The rest of the chapters were very much PWP - still just as well-written, but didn't wow me.
If you're looking for some quick 'n dirty smut with a scoop of holiday cheer topped with spicy-cinnamon-spunk, look no further. ...more