Olivia Riley is one of my favorite sci-fi/alien romances authors and I usually can expect a 4 or 5 star read from her. Unfortunately, this one didn't Olivia Riley is one of my favorite sci-fi/alien romances authors and I usually can expect a 4 or 5 star read from her. Unfortunately, this one didn't connect with me. I enjoyed the concept, but the romance felt verrrry insta-love, which was a bit bizarre considering the hero seemed so naive and sheltered due to living in isolation for most of his life. He almost came across as child-like in the beginning, so I would've preferred more of a slow burn and a longer overall book to help me transition into seeing him as a romance hero.
However, I realize that even a favorite author isn't going to write a hit for every single book, so while this one just wasn't for me, I'm still beyond excited to see what Riley writes next!
*A huge thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review*...more
Tropes: ~monster romance ~age gap ~sex worker hero ~lessons in seduction ~rich hero
This was an interesting one. Victoria is a PhD student whose dissertatioTropes: ~monster romance ~age gap ~sex worker hero ~lessons in seduction ~rich hero
This was an interesting one. Victoria is a PhD student whose dissertation is focused on monster sexuality, and Elias is a mothfae who takes an interest in her project (and her) and decides to assist. Along the way, they decided to enter a no-strings-attached sexual relationship, but of course in these books emotions always end up developing haha.
There were some parts that dragged a bit, and it was very smut heavy when I at times wanted more of the domestic scenes between them, but I kinda adored how both of them were so logical about falling in love. I could see how some folks could see them both as being too cold or clinical, but I found it a bit relatable tbh lol. I also appreciated that Victoria didn't easily achieve orgasm, and that Elias respected her wishes about just wanting to enjoy sex without the pressure of an orgasm.
I saw a review mention how they didn't like the fact that he'll probably outlive her, but I appreciated that we just didn't even really acknowledge that or need to find some magic "fix" to her being a mortal human. Just because one of them might not live forever doesn't mean that they shouldn't still enjoy loving one another, especially when Victoria should hopefully have quite a few decades of life left. I will admit that the threesome scene at the end felt...odd. It just was very disjointed and not at all sexy in the way I'd have wanted a threesome scene to be for them, and I'm confused why it was even included except to show that they have an open relationship when it comes to sexual encounters.
I definitely think that I prefer Kathryn Moon's why choose romances, but this series has been a smutty little palette cleanser for me that I overall have enjoyed.
If this book was Taylor Swift lyrics:
"And the touch of a hand lit the fuse Of a chain reaction of countermoves To assess the equation of you Checkmate, I couldn't lose"...more
I saw another review say the hero gives Deadpool vibes, and that honestly describes him perfectly. No other words need to be said haha.
If this book was Taylor Swift lyrics:
"Knew he was a killer first time that I saw him Wonder how many girls he had loved and left haunted But if he's a ghost, then I can be a phantom”...more
Tropes: ~monster romance ~enemies to lovers ~workplace romance ~forced proximity ~royalty (one hero is a fae prince) ~downstairs hardware
I adore this serieTropes: ~monster romance ~enemies to lovers ~workplace romance ~forced proximity ~royalty (one hero is a fae prince) ~downstairs hardware
I adore this series from Lily Mayne! I will admit that I didn't love this one quite as much as books 2 and 3, but it was mostly due to some power dynamics that made me a bit uncomfy in the first half. Vince and Crossbody have always been antagonistic towards one another, but you find out that it was really one of them who started the feud due to immediately judging the other the second they joined the company (I'm not going to say which one just in case folks think it's a spoiler). And that same hero who started the bullying is also the one that, when they find themselves in sexual situations, is the dominant one who plays into the other's humiliation kink. I think it was just difficult for me to separate the degrading talk during sexy times with the degrading talk outside of it, but I was SO glad that said hero apologized and groveled a bit (and showed how strongly he's on the other one's side) by the end of the book.
I will say that I'm extremelyyyy curious about the couple who will be in book 5, and didn't all expect those two to be the next couple...or a couple at all. But I'm VERY excited and will be picking it up as soon as it releases!
If this book was Taylor Swift lyrics:
"This is looking like a contest Of who can act like they care less But I liked it better when you were on my side"...more
Tropes: ~grumpy x sunshine ~neighbors ~workplace romance ~forced proximity ~bi awakening ~rom com ~famous hero (wrestler) ~size difference
I am LOVING this serTropes: ~grumpy x sunshine ~neighbors ~workplace romance ~forced proximity ~bi awakening ~rom com ~famous hero (wrestler) ~size difference
I am LOVING this series by Lily Mayne! I'll admit that book 1 was my least favorite and felt a bit over the top, but books 2 and 3 have been absolutely fantastic! I'm also a sucker for the neighbors trope, and the way that Rafe was so utterly annoyed with everything Dan did next door (loud music, messy lawn, frequent one night stands) added to their tension really well. Add in that not only was Rafe stuck listening to Dan's antics when he was at home, but then starts a new job and doesn't realize that they'll be coworkers and stuck at the same place during the day as well, and you have a recipe for the ultimate 24/7 forced proximity situation lol.
There were also some hilarious scenes in this (the jack o' lantern OMG) that perfectly balanced the emotional aspects. These are like smutty, comedic comfort reads to me at this point, and I hope Lily continues the series for many books to come!
If this book was Taylor Swift lyrics
"Is it cool that I said all that? Is it chill that you're in my head? 'Cause I know that it's delicate"...more
Omg this was AMAZING! I adored Seb and Larkin so so much, and even after over 400 pages with them, I didn't want the book to end! The sex lessons were ...more
Tropes: ~monster romance ~small town romance ~grumpy x sunshine ~mystery elements
I've read every Lana Ferguson book and they're always a 4 or 5 star for mTropes: ~monster romance ~small town romance ~grumpy x sunshine ~mystery elements
I've read every Lana Ferguson book and they're always a 4 or 5 star for me. I've noticed that I prefer her contemporaries over her paranormal ones, but something about her writing just always connects with me. She also gets brownie points for writing a hero who is a monster I've yet to read about in a romance haha. I thought the book did a great job of blending the romance with emotional family history (both the hero and heroine's) and the mystery of how to break a curse. Also, the way she incorporated the hero's monster side into some of the smut scenes was ...more
Tropes: ~monster romance ~prison romance ~kidnapping ~forced proximity ~doctor x patient ~nerdy heroine ~scarred, tattooed, and pierced hero ~one bed
Okay, bTropes: ~monster romance ~prison romance ~kidnapping ~forced proximity ~doctor x patient ~nerdy heroine ~scarred, tattooed, and pierced hero ~one bed
Okay, but I loved this! I was immediately sucked into the dynamic between Lucy and Victor, and was kept glued to the pages by the fact that the first half of the book is them interacting as doctor and patient at the facility, but then in the second half we have Victor on the run with Lucy as his captive. Victor being a Frankenstein type monster was super unique, and add in his tortured bad boy persona with the tattoos and piercings, and I was way more invested in this hero than I originally expected when I first saw he was a zombie haha. I'm beyond excited to see what Skyla Gray writes next, and am hoping some other side characters we've met might get their own monster romances!
If this book was Taylor Swift lyrics
"Time, mystical time Cutting me open, then healing me fine"...more
3.5⭐️ rounded up because for a debut, I'm impressed! I really liTropes: ~monster hero ~prison romance ~forced proximity ~forbidden romance ~size difference
3.5⭐️ rounded up because for a debut, I'm impressed! I really like the set-up of this series and that the monsters we met are pretty unique. The heroine, Mara, is returning to her hometown after graduating from college with no job prospects. But then she's offered a job at the mysterious facility in her town that everyone is afraid to discuss, because no one knows what goes on inside. Mara quickly finds out that there's a good reason for all the secrecy, but that something is also not right with how the place is being operated.
I will say that the "dream sex" trope isn't my favorite, and I knew going in that we'd be getting a lot of that because the hero is a nightmare monster. Since he's a prisoner in this facility he can only physically interact with the heroine in her dreams for most of the book. I also didn't feel much romance build-up between them, but when the action hit in the second half I was hooked on what was going on within the facility. I felt like this book was more setting readers up for the rest of the series, so I can forgive that the romance felt a bit weak when the plot itself made me instantly want to dive into book 2. I'm excited to see some of these other monsters get their romances in future books!
If this book was Taylor Swift lyrics:
"In the middle of the nimght, in my dreams You should see the things we do, baby (mmm)" ...more
Tropes: ~monster romance ~sunshine x sunshine ~rich monster hero ~nerdy human hero ~a bit instalove ~downstairs hardware hero ~steamy af
Okay, so this was a bTropes: ~monster romance ~sunshine x sunshine ~rich monster hero ~nerdy human hero ~a bit instalove ~downstairs hardware hero ~steamy af
Okay, so this was a bit of a wild one haha. If you've read Lily Mayne's Monstrous series, this is nothing like that. It's very lighthearted with pretty much no angst, lottttsssss of smut, and lots of immature humor (i.e. fart and ball jokes). It was a good way to balance out the other, darker reads I was in the middle of, though I will admit that it probably could've been shaved down a tiny bit in the last chunk. I'm verrrrry curious about the couple that will be in book 2, and plan to pick it up as soon as it releases!
If this song was Taylor Swift lyrics:
"Swear to be overdramatic and true to my lover And you'll save all your dirtiest jokes for me" ...more
Tropes: ~monster romance (gargoyle x werewolf) ~grumpy x sunshine ~sex worker hero ~rock star heroine ~big city romance ~fated mates ~cinnamon roll hero
This Tropes: ~monster romance (gargoyle x werewolf) ~grumpy x sunshine ~sex worker hero ~rock star heroine ~big city romance ~fated mates ~cinnamon roll hero
This one was so cute! Which feels strange to say about a book that is mostly smut, but Kathryn Moon always finds a way to add in the feels! The heroine, Hannah, was recently turned into a werewolf against her will, and her attacker has not yet been caught. She's struggling to accept this new part of herself and the changes that occur around the full moon. Due to her strength and increase in hormones, she's afraid that she'll hurt human men, so goes to a monster brothel where she's paired up with a gargoyle named Rafe. Since gargoyles are made of tougher stuff (literally), he tends to be paired with clients who are rougher in the sack, and so is a perfect match for Hannah's werewolf side. However, Hannah doesn't want to hurt Rafe and instead the two navigate how to handle her werewolf instincts in an enjoyable way for both of them.
I was impressed that despite this being very smut-focused, we still got to know the two characters well, and I really felt for them. Hannah because of her struggle to cope with the aftermath of her assault, and Rafe because at the start of the novel he's realizing that he doesn't actually enjoy constantly being a punching bag for clients and wants more. I felt so bad for him when he said how just because he physically is impenetrable and can't be wounded, that doesn't mean that he can't fully feel the pain of someone trying to injure him. Watching them both learn to relax and have fun with sex again was a beautiful (and steamy) journey!
If this book was Taylor Swift lyrics:
"My baby's fly like a jet stream High above the whole scene, loves me like I'm brand new"...more