Elves are real. And they're really, really into spreadsheets. And fitness. They can also appaFast burn and funny!
On Rudolph: "fuck that bitey bastard"
Elves are real. And they're really, really into spreadsheets. And fitness. They can also apparently draft a corporate email that will make your head hurt from all the jargon. *There was a typo in the above sentence - "you" instead of "your"
Santa? Not a husky, jolly older gentleman with rosy cheeks. Oh no. Santa? Product of my filthiest dreams. I would do terrible, terrible things to Saint Nichoas.
Great holiday novella, even though I'm a month late....more
"She huffs, stomping her little boot atop the ice. She's pouting with her pink little lip sticking out. She looLet me sum up this book with one quote:
"She huffs, stomping her little boot atop the ice. She's pouting with her pink little lip sticking out. She looks like a man's wet dream, and I shouldn't be watching her this way."
I downloaded because, hello, monsters... and the cute cover. But this kind of writing is a no.
Also the hero has a legit candy cane cock. ...more
This book started out really strong! I liked the altering POVs from "The Manager", "The Bodyguard", and "The Rockstar" - it was a workplace romance x1This book started out really strong! I liked the altering POVs from "The Manager", "The Bodyguard", and "The Rockstar" - it was a workplace romance x10.
The Manager (Marci) and The Bodyguard (Ryder) catch The Rockstar (Barney) in the tub with his headphones on and... he's got tentacles. TENTACLES. As they try (and fail) to play it cool like they saw nothing, the three of them have a magical day in New York, complete with disguises and a sold out concert.
So what went wrong?
I guess it just moved a little too fast into love-lust for me - not surprising since it's a novella, but it leaned too hard into insta-love instead of insta-lust. I could have bought lust and a love from friendship as they've worked together for years, but they literally went from being "just coworkers" to saying "I've wanted to ride you for years" in 24 hours. Also, the steam was just... awkward! I couldn't do it....more
I've been in a romance reading slump to end all romance reading slumps. I didn't read The Governess and the Orc (book 7 in the Orc Sworn series) when I've been in a romance reading slump to end all romance reading slumps. I didn't read The Governess and the Orc (book 7 in the Orc Sworn series) when it came out in early November, but when I saw this holiday MMF novella it seemed… less intimidating, maybe, than a full length book? And I was able to jump in - read - and love it.
The heroine of this book is a little older - in her 40s, I think. She's been a widow for over a decade and lately has a new visitor to her laundry business: Trygg, the father of a side character from The Maid and the Orcs. He's a silver fox (there's art of him on the author's Instagram/Discord as an orc Santa, definitely check it out) and after fooling around for a bit he invites her to spend Yule with him.
But, surprise, he also brings his boo! Who happens to be my favorite side orc, Ezog. He only got a one liner in either Rosa or Ella's book but I've loved him since I saw a fanart drawing of him (on Finley Fenn's Discord). Scarred sweet boy! (Well, man… I think he's older as well.)
This was high heat, fast burn, pretty low angst. It centered around holiday fun, down to a red ribbon on a green… you know. Super fun if you're looking for a monster holiday novella!!...more
Praise be to Ruby Dixon for creating the single greatest line in modern romance books: "Did you just compare eating my pussy to your favorite noodle?"Praise be to Ruby Dixon for creating the single greatest line in modern romance books: "Did you just compare eating my pussy to your favorite noodle?"
This book was really fun, exactly what I needed as I'm in the midst of a LONG romance book slump (non-fiction + self improvement is just hitting right now). Risda is always a fun planet to go back to, and I enjoyed the inclusion of a neighbor going through depression who just needed a friend. Maybe her son will pop up in a clone book?? Hm......more
I feel like Goldilocks because I read Everything's Better With Lisa first today and said it was too long... then I read this book (Gingerbread Kisses)I feel like Goldilocks because I read Everything's Better With Lisa first today and said it was too long... then I read this book (Gingerbread Kisses) and I'm going to complain it's too short... who do I think I am?!
This was cute. I liked the characters, and the quick dynamic between Mark and Liz's daughter, Maya. But the actual relationship was glossed over, because they had an initial date and then a few pages that summed up a few weeks up dating up to "I love you"'s. I don't need my characters to fall in love in a novella - you can leave that for the epilogue, or even open ended and not at all. But sometimes insta-love, especially with two brand new characters, feels... lacking....more
I think some people forget that erotica by definition means the smut is crucial to the story or at least furthering the stoA perfect erotica novella.
I think some people forget that erotica by definition means the smut is crucial to the story or at least furthering the story - the sex IS the plot in many cases. And this book did that so well.
This book was entirely from Emma’s POV. She’s been married to Grayson for 7 years and they have a wonderful, loving, kinky relationship filled with honesty and trust. Every year for Christmas they travel with Grayson’s best friend (I think since childhood, at least since high school) - Derek. There’s some simmering sexual tension between Emma and Derek, and Derek and Grayson.
So this Christmas, Grayson suggests he “gift” Emma to Derek.
Enter roleplaying, dirty talking, holy hot threesomes, a hot tub, and a surprising amount of feelings.
I thought the story was so well done, because clearly most of the book is spent with the three characters romping in one form or another, but in the midst of their games and fantasies and dirty talk we learn their history: that the timing was never right for Grayson and Derek, that Derek loves Grayson/Emma together, that there’s feelings all around this triangle.
My one complaint is that I wish we’d had just a touch more history between Emma/Derek - maybe just a paragraph talking about how they had bonded over xyz in years past, so it felt less like he was just a friend of her husband and more that she had built a friendship with him on her own. There was one scene where they mention they had talked late at night a few times in years past, but that was it.
Conversations about consent, fantasies, feelings, hard lines, communication, trust, jealousy were all well done...more
This was a really cute, short, holiday novella. FYI there is no steam, which I didn't realize until after I finished, but it was totally fine without This was a really cute, short, holiday novella. FYI there is no steam, which I didn't realize until after I finished, but it was totally fine without it.
It's a friends to lovers story with hero pining, and hero going home with the heroine to be her fake boyfriend for the holidays...
I do love a single parent romance, so I knew I was going to enjoy this one. There was an added emotional layer - it’s both Liz and John’s first ChristI do love a single parent romance, so I knew I was going to enjoy this one. There was an added emotional layer - it’s both Liz and John’s first Christmas without their spouses, who they each lost about six months ago. They’re accidentally double booked in the same cabin on the resort we saw in book 1 of the series, and they feel inexplicably drawn to one another.
Liz is a human with a shifter son who is also drawn to John, as a strong presence and potential teacher as they’re both wolf shifters.
Just a cute and low angst paranormal holiday romance!...more
Lovely holiday novella around the Elite Protection world, although we don’t get cameos from the other characters.
Jacob Shaw is the older brother of RoLovely holiday novella around the Elite Protection world, although we don’t get cameos from the other characters.
Jacob Shaw is the older brother of Robby, who was a hero in book #3 - he’s naive and sheltered after a life growing up in a cult where he was abused, and now in his mid-to-late-20’s he’s finally starting to live. But he’s a big ol’ virgin and he hates it.
So imagine his surprise when he wakes up in assless underwear and a slutty elf costume next to a near-naked Santa who he describes as “Tom Hardy but older” (meow) - aka Killian Connolly, who works for Elite and has had brief cameos in earlier books.
I thought the way Onley looped in backstories for each of them was super well done in such a short book. We got a satisfying story and a glimpse into the start of their relationship. It was steamy and sweet and had emotional payoff. I didn’t feel anything was rushed, awkward, or unusual - every bit of dialogue and character/relationship development was well done!
CW: abusive childhood, growing up in a cult (briefly recalled), death of a child...more
Proof I need to read more from Adriana Herrera?? Definitely.
This novella is steamy as HELL. Bearded Viking buff POC hero with a man bun (I’m picturinProof I need to read more from Adriana Herrera?? Definitely.
This novella is steamy as HELL. Bearded Viking buff POC hero with a man bun (I’m picturing the incomparable Jason Momoa) and a sex positive curvy POC heroine.
The pacing and plot is great (though as Natalie’s review points out the world isn’t exactly super clear… what is his actual job? How does he do it? How do the sky camels work? How many sex partners has he entertained in it that a self cleaning sex toy station was a necessity?).
I was more than willing to overlook any questions I had because… holy hotness. Holy devoted Viking Toy Runner. Gimme more....more
This short Christmas novella had lots of cute bits: the hero Cash sketching Bailey since first seeing her; the fact that he actually only drinks blackThis short Christmas novella had lots of cute bits: the hero Cash sketching Bailey since first seeing her; the fact that he actually only drinks black coffee; his mom calling him CASHEW NUT…
I liked the backstory for each of them - Bailey’s view on relationships, love, and happily ever after is skewed because she had a mom who always put men first, who chased guys that didn’t stick around when she got sick.
I think there was a potential for more angst in the plot but it was limited because it was a novella. Bailey and Cash agree to a no strings fling - hook up once - and then the shit hits the fan over Christmas. It felt quick, but thats the risk of novellas.
Did I wish Bailey made him grovel more? Yes, but I’m mean like that.
“Don’t become bitter with regrets, George. Celebrate what we had. Teach our son to love. See that he’s happy.” He nodded. She was right. He needed t
“Don’t become bitter with regrets, George. Celebrate what we had. Teach our son to love. See that he’s happy.” He nodded. She was right. He needed to carry on. For Killian’s sake. Killian St. John, Viscount Locksley. The precious heir she’d given him. “I miss you, Linnie, so damned much.” “I know, but I’m not so far away.”
This book made me choke up several times, which I wasn't expecting. I knew it would be sad, as we met the Marquess in book one of the Hellions of Havisham series... but dang. This was a short novella but it packed such a punch.
SUMMARY
George, the Marquess of Marsden, met Linnie, the baker's daughter, when he was 12 and she was 8. She was a constant source of comfort and love and friendship. As they got older, they both fell deeply in love - though they knew they couldn't be together due to their class differences.
It's just before Christmastime, and Marsden has returned home with his best friends - the Duke of Ashebury and the Earl of Greyling. His mother is throwing a Christmas ball and wants Marsden to pick a wife... he says he will consider one of the eligible women she's invited if he invites Linnie as well, so he can gift her one perfect night before they part.
THOUGHTS
This love story is bittersweet, because of the ending that - if you have read any of the Hellions of Havisham books - you know is coming. I'm going to assume it's common knowledge but - anything below this is a potential for spoilers.
I don't even know where to start. How about the fact that we meet both the elder Ashebury and Greyling? Their sons are who the Hellions of Havisham series is about. Seeing them joke and interact much as their sons did was heartbreaking because we know that Ashebury and Greyling (and their wives) were killed in a train accident before their sons turned 10.
And Linnie... just a perfect, sweet heroine. Novellas really work best for me when the groundwork of the relationship is there, and this one had that as they have been friends for over a decade. Setting it around Christmastime was just an added bonus to seeing them fall in love and marry. We all knew it was coming... but of course, Linnie passes away in childbirth of her and Locke's only child, Killian - Viscount Locksley.
From the Hellions of Havisham series, we know that the Marquess of Marsden is considered "mad" as he can 'hear' Linnie in the wind of the moors at their home. This has caused him to pause the clocks in the house on the time of her death, her room has been boarded up, and he has few servants to tend to the large home. In this book, we see it from his point of view - that he has visions of Linnie. Whether they're really him communicating with her spirit or him going crazy we don't know, but I'd like to believe he was able to communicate with her - if only so he wasn't lonely as he waited to join her over 35 years after her death.
Can you blame me for crying??
Not to mention the callback to his and Linnie's conversation before they got married, when she said she saw him having four sons - two dark haired, two fair. And he remembered this after the orphaned sons of Ashebury and Greyling were delivered.
What the devil was he going to do with four boys? I see you with four strapping sons. The memory of those words was like a sharp kick to the center of his chest. Linnie could not have been referring to these boys. A woman with wide hips was supposed to give him sons. Not death. But he knew in his heart that he would never again take a wife, that he would never again lie with another woman, that he wouldn’t fill another with his seed. The reality was that Linnie had seen him with four sons. And the last of them had just been delivered.
Lastly - Sarah. The fact that the maid he hired to help Linnie get ready for the Christmas ball stayed on year after year and to help raise the boys... yes, I choked up again at that. Especially when Marsden says that he made the mistake of asking some servants if they could see Linnie and they thought him mad, which is why no one wanted to work for him anymore.
This book broke my heart but I'm okay with it....more
This is a super short novella at 96 pages. For a short story or novella to work for me, I think I need the characters to have a pre-existing relationsThis is a super short novella at 96 pages. For a short story or novella to work for me, I think I need the characters to have a pre-existing relationship. Anything where the characters meet for the first time and need to get to know each other within the novella that spans a few days or weeks would be too drastic, too short without time for development.
This novella was kind of perfect. Penelope and Ethan have been friends since they were 10 and 13, respectively. They met shortly after her mother and his father died, and their family's have been fast friends ever since. Now that Ethan's brother and Penelope's sister have married (to different people), its just them and her father and his mother who live near each other both in the country and in town, and they dine together nearly every night.
Penelope is 25, and is realizing that her life has passed her by after her younger sister (married and with children) leaves after visiting. She wants more from life. Love, or an adventure. But Ethan is quite content to keep things the way they are... he's afraid of change, especially something that could ruin their friendship.
Had he thought of it? Had he thought of abandoning his carefully crafted order? Had he thought of risking their friendship, which gave him the greatest happiness of his life? Had he imagined every possible scenario of what could happen if he lost control and gave in to his craving for one taste of her lips? Only a million times....more
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