The Monster Botherer

    Big, strong, green and tusky are all words that will immediately catch my attention, so this book was a bit of a no brainer for me to read. Set in the fantasy-esque fae world of Alarria, we’re treated to all sorts of mystical and mythical creatures, but make no mistake, the focus is firmly on Orcs.  We start with our leading lady, Ashley, being in danger, and then rescued by a glowing orb (which just so happens to be the Moon Goddess), who simultaneously is alerting the gruff orc, Drakarr,  to the fact that his “Moon Bound Bride” is on her way, and he better go find her before anyone else can. It’s all very isekai, as Ashley finds her footing in this completely different world as well as learning and accepting that she is a witch and can fly. Oh, and that gorgeous orc? She’s already married to him and doesn’t know it yet. Matters aren’t helped by the fact that Ogres and frankly terrifying creatures called the “Slough” are after her for her magic.  Dravarr is...

  A lot of monster romance stories take place in the modern world, or at least a version of it. That’s great. I love the idea of bumping into a minotaur at my local coffee shop or my English professor being an orc, but deep down, I’m a fantasy girl. Always have been and always will, so the setting of “That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon” ticked so many boxes for me. Not a mobile phone in sight, just hordes of demons, a big bad lich and a spot of piracy to boot.  Cinnamon, our female lead, is a spice farmer with a taste for the strong stuff. After a night out at the local inn, she heads home only to stumble across a demon. After a brief scuffle she runs for safety only to get pounced on and pinned (not in the fun way this early on!) and reaching for something to defend herself bops the demon with a stick of cinnamon, which removes the curse that has been placed on him. From that point Cinnamon learns that her goddess is fake, what she knew about the world is a lie and she i...

  There are few things more satisfying than a cosy, smutty romance featuring a librarian. One of those things is a cosy, smutty romance featuring a librarian who reads monster fucker books and finds herself madly in love with a Chupacabra.  Librarian Odette, who suffers from MS has given up on ever finding love, filling her time with book boyfriends instead, until the handsome Chupacabra, Chente, walks through the library doors and changes her life. While they are instantly attracted to each other, they fall deeper and deeper for each other while Odette teaches Chente how to read. The story revolves heavily around trust and vulnerability. With Odette’s condition, she believes she is not worthy of attention or affection, she is destined to remain single and that’s ok, she’s used to it. Chente sees past what Odette feels are blocks and wants the woman she is, not the woman she thinks he should want. Chente’s vulnerability comes from his inability to read, which Odette treats as ...

  If Tolkien ever taught us anything it was trolls and sunshine don’t usually get along, but this book proves otherwise.  A chance encounter helps our two lovers meet. On her way to a party, Omeika’s car breaks down, in the rain. With no other option but to hitchhike she makes her way along the road to be soaked by a passing luxury car, which then stops to give her a lift. It isn’t until the incredibly handsome, incredibly big and incredibly wealthy troll, Hisondine, steps out. Sparks fly, but nothing is done about them until Hisondine finds out she works at a monster escort company, and he’s determined to get to know more about that pretty little human.  With passing homages to Pretty Woman, this is just such a sweet story. The grumpy, highly strung troll learning to let loose with his confident, fun loving woman. The scene at a rooftop restaurant is especially heart warming, he’s afraid of heights and she really wants a selfie with him. Despite his anxiety, he faces his...

  Swipe Right for Monsters didn’t initially appeal to me. As an elder millennial who had to hunt her man down deep in the forest with nothing but a big stick, the thought of modern technology - especially dating through it -  makes me clutch my imitation pearls, but the blurb intrigued me and I am so glad I read it.  While out celebrating the end of her studies with her best friends, Nicole is cajoled into downloading MONSTR, the dating app for monsters. Her lovelife has been lacking recently and her friends think this is just what she needs, bonus if she can hook herself up with a sugar daddy. The next morning she wakes with a hangover and more matches than she thinks she can handle, but she steels herself up for the task, what she doesn’t realise is that these monsters are more than happy to share if it means they also get a taste of her.  After a disastrous first date and some mild threat/drama her monsters move in with her, and this is where the book really start...

  I didn’t know I needed an overly possessive snake guy who wraps his tail around me in my life, but I guess I do.  Bound to the Naga is a standalone novel in The Monster Mates collection by author Ivy Sparks and honestly, it’s quite charming. Desperate for money, our main character, Aubrey, goes to a strange pawn shop owned by the naga Sundar to trade in her grandmother’s bracelet. After she fails to meet Sundar’s financial demands, she agrees to work for him for 5 weeks to pay off the loan and get her bracelet back. While Sundar is instantly smitten the moment Aubrey walks through the door, Aubrey is very curious about the massive snake man, mutual attraction is inevitably sparked.  Characterisation is done well in this book. Aubrey is your classic whirlwind mess of a gal. Gold of heart, hurt by people in her past and you know she has like 5 pizza boxes and an overdue library book from high school hidden under her bed.. Sundar is your classic academic type nerdy guy. He...

  Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon was a book always in my tbr pile, but to be honest, aliens really aren’t my thing. I get it, I get the draw honestly but they don’t do much for me, despite the fact I’m a massive Star Trek fan.  So I was quite happy when reading the book I realised that it felt just like watching an episode of my favourite sci-fi show. This alone may help me forgive the few Star Wars references and no mentions of the superior franchise. Our main character Georgie is abducted by aliens and imprisoned with several other women, taking them somewhere (this is left to our imaginations) when they crash land on a freezing planet with very few supplies. Georgie volunteers to leave the group and find some help. Her search lasts about five minutes before she is caught in a trap. A sexy aliens trap.  The rest of the plot focuses mainly on the relationship between Georgie and Vektal, our sexy blue alien. Their first mutual, conscious encounter involves some non c...

  I opened up “Morning Glory Milking Farm” expecting a certain type of book. A book of very little substance apart from repetitive bull-ball references, giant cocks and a few rutting jokes. What I found was very different. How can a book about a literal masturbation station for minotaurs (for Science! folks) be so wholesome? Well, C.M Nacosta has managed it. Her tagline on social media is “high heat, always sweet” and I couldn’t agree more. It’s almost sickly, but the heat  tampers it down to make it well balanced and very enjoyable.  Our main character Violet is your typical smart, full of anxiety, had dreams but can’t get anywhere kind of gal. On seeing a job opening at Morning Glory Milking Farm, she “grabs the bull by the horns” and applies, hoping to change her circumstances. Amongst other clients there, she meets Rourke, the very handsome, very well endowed Minotaur. There is character growth but it is subtle. She escapes what she thought she wanted and discovered w...