rougesreads's reviews
17 reviews

No Sugar Coating It by D.J. Russo

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
ARC REVIEW
🍬Candy used as toys and bondage
🍬Monster woman with fancy anatomy
🍬Femdom punishes the Alphahole
🍬Frequent Check-ins (consent is sexy!)

Reading about *two* morally grey people was definitely new! Faith is a literal demon and isn't shy about torture and punishment, but she's incredibly kind about it with Byron. Byron is a huge jerk and a womanizer, but Faith brings out his ooey gooey vulnerable center. And the candy flavored BDSM was so much fun to read!

I super recommend this as a sweet lil treat for Valentine's Day, especially if you like the underappreciated Female Monster subgenre! 

Love Potions and Paperwork by Bex Deveau

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The only problem I have with this short story is that it's JUST a short story. When I got to the end, I had a huge craving for more. I am looking forward to more Claws & Cappuccinos stories.
It's incredibly fast paced with the set up of a lust-potion oopsie, but I think that's allowed when the page count is a hilarious 69. This story is as hot as Maeve's coffee.

Maneater by Emily Antoinette

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is probably the coziest, sweetest mostly-spice book I've ever read. There is a lot of wonderful communication between the more sexually experienced Elle and the virgin Shane, a lot of acceptance from both sides about the self-perceived flaws of the other, and the almost but not quite insta-love on both sides makes the romance lighthearted and cozy. I really fell in love with Emily Antoinette's writing in Behold Her, and this is a Halloween candy sweet story in the same world-

(they're Max's parents! That's so cute!)

I was also really happy about them both being bisexual, and the conversation about bisexual stigma against bisexual men specifically. And, as a bisexual woman myself, Elle's experiences of how people view her Succubus nature really resonated with me. I've had partners also think I was promiscuous just because of my "nature". I think that the acceptance and understanding that you can be bisexual (and/or a succubus!) and still want a meaningful, monogamous relationship was a balm on my heart. 

On the Care and Keeping of Orcs by Kass O'Shire

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

To start, I want to discuss Orcs in Monster Romance. I have read way too many books where an Orc is an allegory for a negative stereotype of a black man or indigenous person , or an insensitive hodge podge of the two. This book is NOT like that. Orcs in this world have a culture that is distinct from real life allegories, and their physiology is unique from humans in our world AND in the fantasy world Kass O'Shire has crafted. I cannot express how refreshing it is to read about Orcs being fantasy Orcs instead of having to navigate whether or not what I am reading is being intentionally or unintentionally racist.

Now then, On the Care and Keeping of Orcs by Kass O'Shire is amazing, angsty, and incredibly sweet. Both the angst and the sweetness had me kicking my feet like a teenager while I was reading, the struggles are believable given how fleshed out Catrine and Torsten both are, and I was never confused about where the angsty situations came from. The spice is also top tier, Torsten knows how to dirty talk and Kass O'Shire knows how to use intimacy as character development moments. This book was an emotional ride to Happily Ever After that I wanted to be on because I cared about the characters dearly. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment

Behold Her by Emily Antoinette

dark emotional hopeful reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I'm in Love with Mothman by Paige Lavoie

hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I'm also in Love with Mothman.

This book is like being wrapped up in a blanket and is best enjoyed with your favorite hot beverage. I chose hot cocoa and tea while I was reading. It has peak fall vibes and is a wonderful character focused story that I gobbled up in two sittings.

I adore the main characters. Grumpy on the outside, but cinnamon roll ooey gooey sweet on the inside is my particular weakness, and Moth is all that and more. Heather is incredibly relatable and doesn't judge any books by their covers.

I enjoyed the spicy scenes a lot 🌶🌶🌶 but I think I needed the sweet tender scenes in my life more than anything right now and wow did this book practically give me a toothache (in a good way).

Doves & Demons by Clio Evans

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

WOW. This was actually my first book by Clio Evans, suggested to me by a friend because I like steampunk, the 1920s, and plague doctors. Slam dunk suggestion, now I'm hooked.

I'll try to review without any story spoilers because that was just as enticing as the smut:

THE CHARACTERS
Irene: Smart, capable, a heroine I really enjoyed living vicariously through
James: Mean and bossy but sweet deep down
Charles: Darkly caring
Morte: OH MY GOD, MORTE. He started out as my least favorite but somehow ended up as my most favorite of the three of them. I can't even describe my feelings articulately.

I came from reverse harem books where it was honestly difficult to tell the difference between the men to this wonderful experience where everyone is distinctly their own fleshed out entity, and I also enjoyed that the men had deep connections with each other and not just Irene. I loved Irene having agency in her situation, I loved the obsession the lads had for her. The sex is amazing and creative. This book is dark but if you think you can handle the trigger warnings (which are helpfully at the beginning) READ IT because it's the best thing I've read in years.