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Creatures & Coding #1
Mane of my Existence
for nerdy women, beefy men and immaculate software solutions
Elora always guessed she would end up as a crazy cat lady. Who could have known that the cat in question was a huge Lion man?
Hyperfocus and the urge to prove everybody who ever doubted her wrong made Elora work her butt off to become senior developer at BetaworthIT, one of the UK's top software agencies. Her boss adores her for her work ethic and dedication, and Elora has one thing on her mind: climbing the corporate ladder straight to the top.
When she is entrusted with the most important project of her career, the promotion she dreams of is suddenly within reach. The only thing standing in her way is impressing her important client. That, and being stuck in her office day after day with her lion-human hybrid colleague. Ben Foster is hot and funny, and volunteers to take over the phone calls she hates so much—he’s practically perfect in every way.
Ex-cop Ben likes his job at Betaworth just fine, one of the perks being his colleague Elora. She is kind, smart and beautiful, and his Lion pines for her. What would a woman like her want with him though? As a code monkey in his mid-thirties living alone with two cats, he isn’t exactly prime marriage material.
When they are forced to work closely together, their professional relationship suddenly takes a romantic turn. Can Ben and Elora overcome their doubts and fears, and find happiness where they never thought to look—right in front of them?
MANE OF MY EXISTENCE is a human/ monster romance novel with sugar & spice, and a guaranteed HEA.
It's the first book in the CREATURES & CODING series and can be read as a standalone.
++++++++++
CW: Death of a parent/accident Negligence/bad parenting Dark net (not on page) Assault (police, knife, ambulance)/resulting trauma and anxiety Bike accident/hospital Accident of a child/broken bone/loss of consciousness (not on page) Cheating (no committed relationship, grey area)
Elora always guessed she would end up as a crazy cat lady. Who could have known that the cat in question was a huge Lion man?
Hyperfocus and the urge to prove everybody who ever doubted her wrong made Elora work her butt off to become senior developer at BetaworthIT, one of the UK's top software agencies. Her boss adores her for her work ethic and dedication, and Elora has one thing on her mind: climbing the corporate ladder straight to the top.
When she is entrusted with the most important project of her career, the promotion she dreams of is suddenly within reach. The only thing standing in her way is impressing her important client. That, and being stuck in her office day after day with her lion-human hybrid colleague. Ben Foster is hot and funny, and volunteers to take over the phone calls she hates so much—he’s practically perfect in every way.
Ex-cop Ben likes his job at Betaworth just fine, one of the perks being his colleague Elora. She is kind, smart and beautiful, and his Lion pines for her. What would a woman like her want with him though? As a code monkey in his mid-thirties living alone with two cats, he isn’t exactly prime marriage material.
When they are forced to work closely together, their professional relationship suddenly takes a romantic turn. Can Ben and Elora overcome their doubts and fears, and find happiness where they never thought to look—right in front of them?
MANE OF MY EXISTENCE is a human/ monster romance novel with sugar & spice, and a guaranteed HEA.
It's the first book in the CREATURES & CODING series and can be read as a standalone.
++++++++++
CW: Death of a parent/accident Negligence/bad parenting Dark net (not on page) Assault (police, knife, ambulance)/resulting trauma and anxiety Bike accident/hospital Accident of a child/broken bone/loss of consciousness (not on page) Cheating (no committed relationship, grey area)
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2023
513 people are currently reading
1258 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
did-not-finish
November 20, 2023DNF @28% - I'm finally calling it. Ben kinda grossed me out as a character. I was not rooting for him at all. The office romance also wasn't really there for me. It still seemed more like lust than romance and it felt sort of based on nothing. I was also mildly annoyed at the confusing job Elora had. Was she an amazing top tier programmer or a project manager? Sure you can have someone do both but if she's that good at programming, why would you waste her time doing PM work someone else could do?
Here's my notes I took while reading:
I didn't love Lo as a nickname for Elora. Pure personal preference there.
If Ben is a lion-human hybrid with one parent a lion and the other human... uh. his dad wasn't an actual lion though right? Like he was sentient?
Ben came off as kind of creepy and gross.
"As they always did when I contemplated my age, my thoughts wandered back to Elora. At the thought of her, my cock twitched again. He liked her as much as I did. God, she was so gorgeous. And so bloody young, too."
ew? what the actual fuck? who the fuck says this? giant red flag. straight to jail.
"Ben followed me a short while later, bringing with him the warm musk of his wet fur, the smell of rain, and fresh coffee. If heaven had a scent, I was sure that had to be it."
Rain and coffee? Yes. Wet fur? Girl, Lol. No.
Also when she was daydreaming about licking his fur? Um, no ma'am, licking fur is NOT fun.
"I still had no idea when the way I saw him had changed so drastically. He’d always been just Ben, my colleague. I kept finding more things I liked about him, or that did it for me, every day."
This is 17% of the way through the book and it's the sort of thing I would have liked to have actually seen happen instead of being told it happened after the fact. WHY do you like Ben. WHAT HAPPENED. SHOW ME.
Here's my notes I took while reading:
I didn't love Lo as a nickname for Elora. Pure personal preference there.
If Ben is a lion-human hybrid with one parent a lion and the other human... uh. his dad wasn't an actual lion though right? Like he was sentient?
Ben came off as kind of creepy and gross.
"As they always did when I contemplated my age, my thoughts wandered back to Elora. At the thought of her, my cock twitched again. He liked her as much as I did. God, she was so gorgeous. And so bloody young, too."
ew? what the actual fuck? who the fuck says this? giant red flag. straight to jail.
"Ben followed me a short while later, bringing with him the warm musk of his wet fur, the smell of rain, and fresh coffee. If heaven had a scent, I was sure that had to be it."
Rain and coffee? Yes. Wet fur? Girl, Lol. No.
Also when she was daydreaming about licking his fur? Um, no ma'am, licking fur is NOT fun.
"I still had no idea when the way I saw him had changed so drastically. He’d always been just Ben, my colleague. I kept finding more things I liked about him, or that did it for me, every day."
This is 17% of the way through the book and it's the sort of thing I would have liked to have actually seen happen instead of being told it happened after the fact. WHY do you like Ben. WHAT HAPPENED. SHOW ME.
July 8, 2023
I loved seeing a ND FMC (obvs) and Ben was such a good bean 🥹 It was a very high heat slow burn but you really see them fall in love. I go feral for hurt/comfort every time, loved that too! Mostly though I loved the world building that went into this and how realistic it felt. Like maybe that's my own neurodivergency showing but when an author can make you feel like you're witnessing a real place and real people on top of delivering top-tier smut that just hits different.
I did find it hilarious that Ben has two cats. It's like if a person has little monkeys for pets and I'm here for it
I did find it hilarious that Ben has two cats. It's like if a person has little monkeys for pets and I'm here for it
July 28, 2025
I kinda wanna be a crazy cat lady now too...
Kindle Read
268 Pages
Workplace Romance
Human X Leonid
Forced Proximity
Age Gap
Hurt/Comfort
Neurodiverse Rep
Ben has been crushing on his work colleague Lo since he started working at the same company but now they are working close on a big project, he is surrounded by her every day and it's becoming harder to hide his feelings for her.
Lo has never had a Leonid lover, but it's not just curiosity that has her attracted to Ben.It's his entire alpha presence and caring nature that has her craving him. But she has commitment issues dating back to her mother's death and breakdown of her family. She's used to being alone.
This romance has spice but is paired up lovely with the cosy vibes that make this a comfort read with a lot of feels. Ben may be a Lion shifter but he gives off some cuddley cat vibes that make him all snuggly and perfect for Lo, who could use some love and affection in her life.
Kindle Read
268 Pages
Workplace Romance
Human X Leonid
Forced Proximity
Age Gap
Hurt/Comfort
Neurodiverse Rep
Ben has been crushing on his work colleague Lo since he started working at the same company but now they are working close on a big project, he is surrounded by her every day and it's becoming harder to hide his feelings for her.
Lo has never had a Leonid lover, but it's not just curiosity that has her attracted to Ben.It's his entire alpha presence and caring nature that has her craving him. But she has commitment issues dating back to her mother's death and breakdown of her family. She's used to being alone.
This romance has spice but is paired up lovely with the cosy vibes that make this a comfort read with a lot of feels. Ben may be a Lion shifter but he gives off some cuddley cat vibes that make him all snuggly and perfect for Lo, who could use some love and affection in her life.
January 7, 2024
Cozy
Lo and Ben we’re such a cute little couple. They both had their hang ups, but fit together. Lo needed someone to ground her and Ben needed someone to see and accept all parts of him.
It’s always nice to see ND representation in romance books. I would have preferred a less stereotypical profession, but it was balanced out with her ADHD.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: grief, bike accident, poor parenting, physical assault (off page)
Lo and Ben we’re such a cute little couple. They both had their hang ups, but fit together. Lo needed someone to ground her and Ben needed someone to see and accept all parts of him.
It’s always nice to see ND representation in romance books. I would have preferred a less stereotypical profession, but it was balanced out with her ADHD.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: grief, bike accident, poor parenting, physical assault (off page)
July 6, 2025
3 stars
Cute book, but I felt like a lot was unresolved. The jealousy from Kat that Ben felt. The work promotion and the complications of a work romance. The ending just felt rushed and left a lot of unanswered questions specific to this couple.
Cute book, but I felt like a lot was unresolved. The jealousy from Kat that Ben felt. The work promotion and the complications of a work romance. The ending just felt rushed and left a lot of unanswered questions specific to this couple.
July 1, 2023
this literally gave what needed to be gave for a lion shifter romance 🤪 all the feels came through!! all i could think about was benny ben boo boo looking like kovu 😮💨🤭
who do i call to get my own obsessed lion???
who do i call to get my own obsessed lion???
January 2, 2024
Thought this was going to be a fast burn, but it was a slow one between two adorable characters that both have the hots for one another until they make a move finally.
June 3, 2025
No comment
June 27, 2023
This book was everything I needed from a lion romance, it was beautifully crafted, with amazing characters and great chemistry. I'm still not over this gorgeous and perfectly representative of the story inside. It was sweet, steamy and so so swoony.
August 13, 2023
Lovely
4.5 stars with a mane!
This was truly so lovely and soft and wonderful.
As someone who works in IT, I’m always drawn to stories that has nerds in it. It makes me all warm and fuzzy and this was no exception!
It’s a slow burn romance, friends/co-workers to lovers between Elora and Ben. They work together on a big coding project but there have been feelings for the past two years they’ve worked together. Once they spend even more time together, both start to realize there could really be something in there. Watching the love blossom was so cute but also I adored the pining and the insecurities both of them had. That’s what I live for.
It’s surprisingly low-angst for me (I went in thinking it might be an emotional fest) and I’m glad it was. This felt like a lovely palate cleanser and I could just ooh and aah over their relationship. And the spice was wonderfully spicy!
Ben is truly one gorgeous gentleman and mmmmm, that mane is just gorgeous. Five by five, would groom and pet and grip all day long.
4.5 stars with a mane!
This was truly so lovely and soft and wonderful.
As someone who works in IT, I’m always drawn to stories that has nerds in it. It makes me all warm and fuzzy and this was no exception!
It’s a slow burn romance, friends/co-workers to lovers between Elora and Ben. They work together on a big coding project but there have been feelings for the past two years they’ve worked together. Once they spend even more time together, both start to realize there could really be something in there. Watching the love blossom was so cute but also I adored the pining and the insecurities both of them had. That’s what I live for.
It’s surprisingly low-angst for me (I went in thinking it might be an emotional fest) and I’m glad it was. This felt like a lovely palate cleanser and I could just ooh and aah over their relationship. And the spice was wonderfully spicy!
Ben is truly one gorgeous gentleman and mmmmm, that mane is just gorgeous. Five by five, would groom and pet and grip all day long.
February 1, 2025
It was fine I guess but kinda boring at the same time. Elora just didn't make sense to me as a character, particularly when it came to Colton. If she's really not interested in him, what's the actual point? I mean the sex was clearly bad and since she doesn't really do relationships... I mean..? I don't know, I just can't relate to that. Also, if I had to read one more time about her father or her mom's death being a factor... I don't know, it just felt odd with the amount of times it was mentioned.
I was also not really convinced Ben's thoughts were that coming from a man. I don't know if I'm explaining that right but his character read more female than male, like the author was trying too hard to make him PC (?). And I mean 30 something (think he is 35) is way too young to be bitching and complaining about his workout. My dad still plays sports in his 70s with two knee surgeries. HE has a reason to complain about pain but a 35 year old male without any seemingly lasting injuries is a bit weird. Not to mention his thoughts about Elora and how at the beginning the author felt the need to have his inner thoughts relayed about how he didn't think of her as an object and all the friggen times he pulled back from kissing her, until finally at 55% of the book he does only to pull away completely with the "this isn't right" line. I get the guy wants a relationship but he's not going to get one if he doesn't grow a pair.
It also felt long, or maybe I just wasn't really into it. I actually had to take a pause about half way through because it was just ok and I wanted to get back to another series I was reading
I was also not really convinced Ben's thoughts were that coming from a man. I don't know if I'm explaining that right but his character read more female than male, like the author was trying too hard to make him PC (?). And I mean 30 something (think he is 35) is way too young to be bitching and complaining about his workout. My dad still plays sports in his 70s with two knee surgeries. HE has a reason to complain about pain but a 35 year old male without any seemingly lasting injuries is a bit weird. Not to mention his thoughts about Elora and how at the beginning the author felt the need to have his inner thoughts relayed about how he didn't think of her as an object and all the friggen times he pulled back from kissing her, until finally at 55% of the book he does only to pull away completely with the "this isn't right" line. I get the guy wants a relationship but he's not going to get one if he doesn't grow a pair.
It also felt long, or maybe I just wasn't really into it. I actually had to take a pause about half way through because it was just ok and I wanted to get back to another series I was reading
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2024
Tech jobs, monsters, humans and tension. Lo, our neurospicy human, is the lead on the next big project. She's your bug specialist and can fix a code like no ones business. Ben our leonid, works at Betatech and has the hots for Lo. While he struggles with savior complex and feels for Lo while tag teaming a project together things get real for them both. There is delicious medium burn and yearning then you get rewarded with hot spice. I love that Lo was so curious about all the feline shifters (You'll see what I mean when you read it) and then got her big cat. Found family moments wrapped up with a happily ever after.I'm sure I'll get to see snippets of my precious Ben in future books. Loved this so much! My first Rhea Fox book and I'm obsessed.
February 12, 2025
DNF at 8%. Though I only read 3% as the beginning 5% was pages of glossary terms and some didn’t even have explanations. Also I feel the author should trust the audience to be smart enough to know what a CEO stands for. Felt like the author needed to look these up so they added these for other people too.
FMC is so cringe and dull. Her introduction made me put down the book. It’s a weird mix of not like other girls and girl power. The writing was flat relied on telling instead of showing. I marked about 5 paragraphs within the 3% I would have personally rewritten. Felt like a first draft. I was really excited to read this as I’m a fan of monster romances, but I do not recommend.
The playlist aspect was nice since I think more authors should do that.
FMC is so cringe and dull. Her introduction made me put down the book. It’s a weird mix of not like other girls and girl power. The writing was flat relied on telling instead of showing. I marked about 5 paragraphs within the 3% I would have personally rewritten. Felt like a first draft. I was really excited to read this as I’m a fan of monster romances, but I do not recommend.
The playlist aspect was nice since I think more authors should do that.
August 18, 2023
so bad i’m laughing actually😭 nothing made sense, the lines were so weird like did you even try? you’re convincing no one that they’re gonna find a lion head attractive btw. stopped having fun when it just became terrible half way through and started skimming
October 15, 2024
B-O-R-I-N-G
Why do I make myself suffer?!
1/5
Why do I make myself suffer?!
1/5
March 1, 2025
2.5- I don’t know I wasn’ vibing with it but I will read the others to hope they are better.
July 19, 2025
A few commenters seem to have a problem with the MMC, but I mainly had a problem with the FMC.
The book begins with her entertaining her male friend-with-benefits while she tries to think about something to pass time until he finishes. She finds him disgusting and rudely sends him away after he is done. She laments about the fact that the sex with him is so bad, that he takes long to finish, that she does not like his sweat, doesn't like to have him around for anything but sex and that she needs the release (girl, what release???) so she is fine being used by him (he also does not treat her well and sex that bad is a mistreatment in itself) and using him in return (what is she getting out of it?).
Did anything of that sound like a FRIENDSHIP with benefits? No.
Why should a reader care about or like the FMC when her first scene is her playing dead fish to a man she doesn't like but who she could end it with, because she is an independent grown up? And speaking about ending it with the guy: the FMC sends the MMC who she had an intimate scene and a few chapters later a sex scene with to greet the friends with benefits half naked at her door to tell him it's over. Real grown up stuff. And this happens at 76%! This is so so late in the book.
Following the sex scene the main characters more or less start their relationship. While the MMC is all in, the FMC struggles like only a typical fuckboy would with: something happened in my past and now I am like this and take it out on others and lamenting about attractive people (a colleague and his two friends that refused her proposal for a threesome in the past and her female colleague that is her best friend that she would start something with).
And how weird is it that the MMC is "possessive" and doesn't like it when men that are interested in the FMC speak to her, but then is okay with her not ending her fwb thing while they are doing stuff and he doesn't get jealous and " understands"? Whaaaat. That makes no sense for the character.
Also, he is disgusted by a business partner touching his assistant under the table in a restaurant, but then there are multiple intimate and sex scenes in public between him and the FMC.
There were so many moments where I wished that the main characters would communicate more instead of going just based on facial expressions and getting it wrong. It was annoying.
Since everyone has a type and sexual preferences it didn't irk me that the MMC has always dated humans in the past. And his thoughts about her being too young (10 year age gap between her being 25 and him being 35) weren't weird, because he was thinking about the age gap as something negative.
The book begins with her entertaining her male friend-with-benefits while she tries to think about something to pass time until he finishes. She finds him disgusting and rudely sends him away after he is done. She laments about the fact that the sex with him is so bad, that he takes long to finish, that she does not like his sweat, doesn't like to have him around for anything but sex and that she needs the release (girl, what release???) so she is fine being used by him (he also does not treat her well and sex that bad is a mistreatment in itself) and using him in return (what is she getting out of it?).
Did anything of that sound like a FRIENDSHIP with benefits? No.
Why should a reader care about or like the FMC when her first scene is her playing dead fish to a man she doesn't like but who she could end it with, because she is an independent grown up? And speaking about ending it with the guy: the FMC sends the MMC who she had an intimate scene and a few chapters later a sex scene with to greet the friends with benefits half naked at her door to tell him it's over. Real grown up stuff. And this happens at 76%! This is so so late in the book.
Following the sex scene the main characters more or less start their relationship. While the MMC is all in, the FMC struggles like only a typical fuckboy would with: something happened in my past and now I am like this and take it out on others and lamenting about attractive people (a colleague and his two friends that refused her proposal for a threesome in the past and her female colleague that is her best friend that she would start something with).
And how weird is it that the MMC is "possessive" and doesn't like it when men that are interested in the FMC speak to her, but then is okay with her not ending her fwb thing while they are doing stuff and he doesn't get jealous and " understands"? Whaaaat. That makes no sense for the character.
Also, he is disgusted by a business partner touching his assistant under the table in a restaurant, but then there are multiple intimate and sex scenes in public between him and the FMC.
There were so many moments where I wished that the main characters would communicate more instead of going just based on facial expressions and getting it wrong. It was annoying.
Since everyone has a type and sexual preferences it didn't irk me that the MMC has always dated humans in the past. And his thoughts about her being too young (10 year age gap between her being 25 and him being 35) weren't weird, because he was thinking about the age gap as something negative.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2025
1 star for the 18% I managed to get through. Ben is so gross and I kept hoping it would get better, but then he'd say the next gross thing and I couldn't overlook it anymore.
Super fetishy and weird about only dating human women and how soft and better they are to any Leonid like him. Ummm dancing on a stereotype much?
He also loooooooovvvvesssss and I mean LOVES how young she is. He makes weird gross comments about it several times while also talking about how much she needs a father and he would love to be her fatherly figure. Ummm the f? Go to therapy. It wasn't even like "hey I have a Daddy kink and I'd love to be that..." NO. IT was Lo needs a father. mmk.
Both characters also randomly started shitting on all the books their boss has in their office. Like "ancient, old dusty books" and "doesn't everyone use e-readers now a days anyway" Thanks author for making sure I never purchase your print books nor even read your ebooks ever again! What a weird thing to write as an author. No thanks.
It got more weird and gross and Ben used to be a cop and started talking about that and I just couldn't take it anymore.
Super fetishy and weird about only dating human women and how soft and better they are to any Leonid like him. Ummm dancing on a stereotype much?
He also loooooooovvvvesssss and I mean LOVES how young she is. He makes weird gross comments about it several times while also talking about how much she needs a father and he would love to be her fatherly figure. Ummm the f? Go to therapy. It wasn't even like "hey I have a Daddy kink and I'd love to be that..." NO. IT was Lo needs a father. mmk.
Both characters also randomly started shitting on all the books their boss has in their office. Like "ancient, old dusty books" and "doesn't everyone use e-readers now a days anyway" Thanks author for making sure I never purchase your print books nor even read your ebooks ever again! What a weird thing to write as an author. No thanks.
It got more weird and gross and Ben used to be a cop and started talking about that and I just couldn't take it anymore.
January 20, 2024
Raise your hand if you ever had a crush on Simba? Or Scar? How about Beast from Beauty and the Beast? ::raiseshand:: I am going to say, we all at some point did. Well, Mane of my Existence was bringing all those vibes and more.
I love a good “monster romance” and this book had those vibes. Ben was a walking, talking, lion babes.. and yes, he had a umm.. barbed, fancy peen.
I thought Benji was an absolute sweetheart annd he was a cat dad.. this was just too funny and I was here for it. I loved how this book also touched on serious moments as well and I thought Rhea did an excellent job with how her characters worked through the “drama” of it all.
Ben and Lo are so puuuurfect (i couldnt help myself) for each other and I was rooting for them . And now i cant wait to read the other books in this series🦁
I love a good “monster romance” and this book had those vibes. Ben was a walking, talking, lion babes.. and yes, he had a umm.. barbed, fancy peen.
I thought Benji was an absolute sweetheart annd he was a cat dad.. this was just too funny and I was here for it. I loved how this book also touched on serious moments as well and I thought Rhea did an excellent job with how her characters worked through the “drama” of it all.
Ben and Lo are so puuuurfect (i couldnt help myself) for each other and I was rooting for them . And now i cant wait to read the other books in this series🦁
February 24, 2024
Assolutamente amato.
Uno slow burn (ma senza soffrire troppo) con i fiocchi.
Mi sono piaciute molto le tematiche trattate, anche se non in modo approfondito o morboso. Lo spicy è decisamente COINVOLGENTE 👀
La loro storia coccolosa e semplice mi ha scaldato il cuore. Una storia senza sentimenti negativi, senza enemies, senza complicazioni.
Più spesso che no preferisco sicuramente una storia tranquilla come questa che una difficile e sofferta.
Viva i monster romance 😏
Sempre siano lodati i libri inter-species romance 🤭
Uno slow burn (ma senza soffrire troppo) con i fiocchi.
Mi sono piaciute molto le tematiche trattate, anche se non in modo approfondito o morboso. Lo spicy è decisamente COINVOLGENTE 👀
La loro storia coccolosa e semplice mi ha scaldato il cuore. Una storia senza sentimenti negativi, senza enemies, senza complicazioni.
Più spesso che no preferisco sicuramente una storia tranquilla come questa che una difficile e sofferta.
Viva i monster romance 😏
Sempre siano lodati i libri inter-species romance 🤭
July 16, 2023
Cute and Cozy
The cover caught my attention and then I fell in love with the story. Watching Elite and Leon navigating their challenges for the sake of love was so heartwarming. It was a very sweet read and one you'll want to put on your list.
The cover caught my attention and then I fell in love with the story. Watching Elite and Leon navigating their challenges for the sake of love was so heartwarming. It was a very sweet read and one you'll want to put on your list.
August 6, 2023
This book was so cute! Very spicy but also cute and cuddly, I loved it! The main characters were so explosive together, I couldn't get enough of them. The writing style was great, full of humour and passion. I just found a new favourite author!
Read
September 18, 2023If someone ever told me I'd read a lion porn book to make sure I wasn't hallucinating its existence, I'd never would have believed them. Yet here I am.
Sigh.
Someone take internet away from me.
Your turn now bestie.
Sigh.
Someone take internet away from me.
Your turn now bestie.
February 15, 2025
The piiiiiiining omg! The s€xual tension was off the charts! I absolutely adored this, and read it in a day. Can't wait to read the next one!!
March 6, 2025
This was so cuteeeeee
September 29, 2023
SO CUTE
I love everything about this book, it had just enough tension and will they/won’t they. The spice is quite nice and I need a Ben asap! So excited for book two!
I love everything about this book, it had just enough tension and will they/won’t they. The spice is quite nice and I need a Ben asap! So excited for book two!
July 4, 2023
Absolutely adorable and cozy.
Let me start by saying that Ben is the perfect book boyfriend and that I want him.
Okay, now that's out of the way let's get to the review itself:
This was such a sweet story! I adored Ben and Elora, and seeing them fall in love (and lust) was such a fun journey. The author had clearly put a lot of thought into the world she's created, and I really appreciated it. There was a plethora of different "monsters" in this story, and I loved that they weren't just the usual gargoyles and vampires (although I do love those too).
At the end of the book Elora and Ben felt like old friends I had to say goodbye to, but I was so happy for the ending they got.
This book felt very heartfelt. Heartwarming smut, i guess? The spice was great, but the love story was even better. The story was uncomplicated and had no unnecessary drama or 3rd act breakups, which I very much appreciated.
The only issue I had was with grammar and sentence structure in some parts, but it didn't bother me too much, especially the further I got into the book.
Great debut novel, I liked this a lot and can't wait for more books in this universe! I'd recommend this to anyone who likes their romances very cozy and sweet, with a big side of monsters. And cats - both big and small. Can we start a petition for real boyfriends that purr to soothe you? Please 🙏
Let me start by saying that Ben is the perfect book boyfriend and that I want him.
Okay, now that's out of the way let's get to the review itself:
This was such a sweet story! I adored Ben and Elora, and seeing them fall in love (and lust) was such a fun journey. The author had clearly put a lot of thought into the world she's created, and I really appreciated it. There was a plethora of different "monsters" in this story, and I loved that they weren't just the usual gargoyles and vampires (although I do love those too).
At the end of the book Elora and Ben felt like old friends I had to say goodbye to, but I was so happy for the ending they got.
This book felt very heartfelt. Heartwarming smut, i guess? The spice was great, but the love story was even better. The story was uncomplicated and had no unnecessary drama or 3rd act breakups, which I very much appreciated.
The only issue I had was with grammar and sentence structure in some parts, but it didn't bother me too much, especially the further I got into the book.
Great debut novel, I liked this a lot and can't wait for more books in this universe! I'd recommend this to anyone who likes their romances very cozy and sweet, with a big side of monsters. And cats - both big and small. Can we start a petition for real boyfriends that purr to soothe you? Please 🙏
June 26, 2025
I wanted to love this book, but I just didn't. I didn't love the writing. I had to read several parts multiple times to try to figure out what the author was trying to say before just shrugging and moving on. The story didn't completely make sense, like at one point the MMC pulls away from kissing the FMC, but then regrets it because he wants her so bad and doesn't understand why he did that. As a reader how am I supposed to know why he's pulling away when his internal monologue say the exact opposite the whole time. They are given countless opportunities to communicate about it, but just don't. It was frustrating. I only kept reading because I wanted to see the main characters get together, but once they finally did I lost all interest.
January 29, 2024
A very cute, geeky love story. I love the romantasy world the author created and couldn’t put it down. Read the whole thing in an entire evening. The slow burn was a little too slow, in my honest opinion. There was a lot of tension and build up, but nothing substantial until 66% of the way through the book. Which is a lot of book to go through to get to the good stuff.
I do have an issue that I just can’t let go though. I’m all about fantasy; love the genre, and I get that it’s fictional, where an open imagination is needed. However, I cannot get over the fact that a barbed penis doesn’t cause a phenomenal amount of pain for the person involved. The definition of a barb is literally “a sharp projection extending backward (as from the point of an arrow or fishhook) and preventing easy extraction.” Highlight there is that it prevents easy extraction. This author writes a great sex scene, but I feel like realistically it would have been the FMC impaled on a barbed penis, screaming in pain, unable to move because they PREVENT EASY REMOVAL. Rant over.
Also - having sex in the small wooded area outside of a children’s hospital? A little cringey.
I would recommend reading! Like I said, despite the issues I have with it, I couldn’t put it down and read the whole thing in one sitting.
I do have an issue that I just can’t let go though. I’m all about fantasy; love the genre, and I get that it’s fictional, where an open imagination is needed. However, I cannot get over the fact that a barbed penis doesn’t cause a phenomenal amount of pain for the person involved. The definition of a barb is literally “a sharp projection extending backward (as from the point of an arrow or fishhook) and preventing easy extraction.” Highlight there is that it prevents easy extraction. This author writes a great sex scene, but I feel like realistically it would have been the FMC impaled on a barbed penis, screaming in pain, unable to move because they PREVENT EASY REMOVAL. Rant over.
Also - having sex in the small wooded area outside of a children’s hospital? A little cringey.
I would recommend reading! Like I said, despite the issues I have with it, I couldn’t put it down and read the whole thing in one sitting.
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