Kat is capable and has her shit together, or so she has everybody believe. When her boss assigns her to a new project—the biggest one yet—she's determined to prove herself. What she didn't expect was a client who not only needs a new online shop but also a place to stay. Where better than the spare bedroom she meant to rent out for ages? Kat is there every step of the way, helping Roy back on his feet. But is what blooms between them just rebound sex or something deeper? And will he still want her when the shadow surrounding him has finally lifted? The story of Roy Sinclair's life reads like a fairy tale. Half Indian, half Scottish, he was raised by his single mother in a small village on the edge of the Highlands. Not brainy but with plenty of brawn, he started working as a personal coach before founding first one, then another successful company and hustling his way up the ladder in the world of e-commerce. He's wealthy enough, has a beautiful partner, a new car and a luxurious lifestyle most people can only dream of. What nobody knows is that he's harbouring a dark secret. When he crosses paths with Kat McGowan, a no-nonsense software architect with a fondness for dogs, his carefully constructed world begins to crack. But cracks are, after all, how the light gets in. When Kat offers him a way out and her friendship, Roy finds himself at a crossroads in his life. Will he continue living a lie or face the truth and embrace a new beginning? And if he does, will Kat still be there to support him as he rebuilds his life from the ruin he's kept hidden for so long? TIGER BY THE TAIL is a human/ monster romance novel with sugar & spice and a guaranteed HEA. It's the second book in the CREATURES & CODING series and can be read as a standalone. We’re an interspecies agency devoted to creating the best apps possible for our amazing customers. What you get? Plenty of spice and everything nice, a cosy office space, great code and even greater coffee! Let’s create beta solutions for your business. You’ll get your money’s worth, we promise!
KU Read 300+ Pages (wouldn't display on kindle) Book 2 in series Workplace Romance Human X Tigris Domestic Abuse rep Hurt/Comfort Road Trip
The story in this book held depth and emotional vulnerability that stole the show. This book is more than just a romance or a smut book, it has heart too. Kat takes on Roy as a client and helps build him a website and online store for his clothing brand business APEX. They work closely and their weekly meetings become the highlight of both their weeks. What Kat soon comes to realise is that Roy is deeply unhappy in home life. The sweet and gentle Tigris is being abused, physically, verbally and mentally by his partner of 5 years and it shows with every flinch or flash of fear in his face when he thinks he has upset someone. This part of the story is so touching, he is so lovely but suffering so much and only when Kat makes him feel seen does he finally take the leap and moves out to become roomies with Kat. Well, you can guess what happens next... *heart eyes* ... The story is still filled with doubts and insecurities on both their parts. She believes he only wants her comfort til he's back in his feet, and he still has his ex's voice in his head, saying he's not good enough and Kat won't want to keep him. I think this is my favourite book I've read by Rhea so far, but I have more of her series to read, and I have high hopes now. I definitely recommend this book and the others in her collection.
I love books that address men being abused. Sweet Roy was in a terrible relationship and had zero self esteem. Kat was confident, bold, and compassionate. She was able to give him support in a dark time during and outside of their work. They were adorbs together. Where can I find a 7 ft tall tiger man???
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: cheating (not between MCs), physical and emotional abuse
I’m absolutely GAH over this book. Just read it on KU, and am about to purchase it. Loved Kat, she was great. Smart, savvy, a powerhouse at work. Roy was super sweet, shy, and smart. He also had a very dirty mouth!🥰 There are some DV triggers in this book and some bullying (not by the main characters but to one). I love how this was handled and the growth of the characters from this. Really wished we could have met Roy’s maa and I’m super hoping the author gives Judy a boyfriend!!! 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ It was spicy and whoa momma!! Soo good! I’m off to read the others in this series!!!
So I read about 75% of this book and then DNFd it… this wasn’t for me. Aside from the mistakes in verb tense and sentence construction which made it difficult it to read, the story lacked tension and the characters were one dimensional. There was an attempt of fleshing out motivation for Roy in domestic abuse, but the conflict fell flat and underdeveloped.
Rating: 5/5 Spice: 5/5 Trope: Monster romance (technically?) Plot: Meet Roy, a gentle and compassionate soul trapped in a harrowing cycle of abuse and neglect, yearning for solace and understanding in a world that has shown him little kindness. As the story unfolds, Roy's plight tugs at the heartstrings, evoking a deep sense of empathy and compassion for this wounded tiger of a man seeking refuge from his painful past.
Enter Kat, a beacon of light and strength in Roy's darkened world, whose kindness, care, and unwavering support breathe new life into his shattered spirit. Their connection, marked by tenderness and passion, blossoms into a bond that transcends pain and trauma, offering a glimpse of healing and love in the midst of turmoil.
The dynamic between Roy and Kat is nothing short of captivating, drawing readers into a narrative rich with emotional depth, poignant moments, and sizzling chemistry that ignites the page. Their journey together, navigating the complexities of abuse and recovery, showcases the power of love and understanding in overcoming adversity and rebuilding shattered lives.
Thoughts: this is my first book reading anything like this, and i LOVED it! Roy is such a sweetheart and I'm glad the author chose to show that men CAN be abused in a relationship and that it's okay to leave when it gets rough. I love how Kat is so supportive and how undeniable their love is.
Safety: Virgin/ Celebate: no Cheating/sharing: not between MCs Triggers: cheating (not between MCs), physical and emotional abuse HEA: yes but i wish there was more to it.
MILD SPOILERS AHEAD This was really great, we had a strong FMC who was good with communication and the MMC was the one in an abusive situation, which doesn't happen often. I love how dedicated they both were to their professions and to each other even when they hadn't put any labels on what they were to each other just yet. The spice was very well done and even though it happened quite often, we still got a decent story along with it. A few things that were cons for me were scenes that were a bit random, like two of the MMC's coworkers having a growl fest at each other, that was randomly inserted and then just never addressed. A big thing for me that happens with a lot of authors is they have a great story but their epilogue is super weak. To me, an epilogue is something that takes place at least a year or so from the official ending of the story, not weeks or 2 months later, to me that's just a continuation and exactly what happened in this book. It was only 2 months later and a party to celebrate a job well done, no insights on their relationship or even if they moved in together or something, we were left hanging and it was disappointing considering the rest of the story was so good. I was also expecting more to come of the ex since she was supposedly so awful, not just a weak intimidation from the FMC and some growls from her friends and that was the end forever from her. But overall I did enjoy this, the relationship between the main characters was sweet and spicy and gave me all the feels.
Roy is the sweetest, cuddliest, most cinnamon roll main character to ever cuddle and take care of the woman he loves! If you thought Ben, from Mane of my Existence: A Creatures & Coding Novel, was swoon worthy and #boyfriendgoals, then be prepared for Roy!
When the novel starts my heart was breaking for this beautiful tiger of a man, trapped in a loveless and emotionally and physically abusive relationship, not trusting that others will believe and respect him, should he reveal what he has been suffering through.
And then he meets Kat. Kind, sweet, caring, supportive (but has no issues standing up for and to people) Kat, who becomes his rudra, the sun that shines into his dark life.
I mean honestly, I dare you to read this book and NOT fall in love with both Roy and Kate! No, I double dare you.
Rhea is an automatic pre-order/buy author for me, and I love the world she is creating for her readers.
The cutest, Cinnamon Roll Tiger with a FILTHY mouth.
Meet Roy, a gentle and compassionate soul trapped in a harrowing cycle of abuse and neglect, yearning for solace and understanding in a world that has shown him little kindness. As the story unfolds, Roy's plight tugs at the heartstrings, evoking a deep sense of empathy and compassion for this wounded tiger of a man seeking refuge from his painful past.
Enter Kat, a beacon of light and strength in Roy's darkened world, whose kindness, care, and unwavering support breathe new life into his shattered spirit. Their connection, marked by tenderness and passion, blossoms into a bond that transcends pain and trauma, offering a glimpse of healing and love in the midst of turmoil.
The dynamic between Roy and Kat is nothing short of captivating, drawing readers into a narrative rich with emotional depth, poignant moments, and sizzling chemistry that ignites the page. Their journey together, navigating the complexities of abuse and recovery, showcases the power of love and understanding in overcoming adversity and rebuilding shattered lives.
Rhea Fox masterfully portrays the nuanced struggles of individuals impacted by abuse, shedding light on the importance of support, compassion, and resilience in the face of trauma. Through Roy and Kat's evolving relationship, she delves into themes of healing, self-discovery, and the transformative strength of love that knows no bounds.
I really did not like “Tiger by the Tail – A Creatures & Coding Novel” by Rhea Fox. The writing was good, it needed to be outlined with a more cohesive narrative.
It was the back-and-forth of the relationship that made me unable to root for the couple, Roy and Kat. Roy is in an abusive relationship. Kat is here to help, offering her spare room to her client / friend when he’s ready to end things. Kat and Roy like each other, decide they are only friends, knock boots, then independently resolve they are not going to cross any lines until the next opportunity to get it on. No discussions, just self-delusion about maintaining boundaries.
When the plot revolves around healing from a physically and verbally abusive relationship, the magic cure of intimacy is always a concern, but add to it a recognition of potential vulnerability then repeatedly acting in a manner they know is potentially problematic just left me with all kinds of yuck and I couldn’t even enjoy the smut.
To prevent the third-act breakup the tension is ‘the other person must not like me the way I like them’, but why either would think this is beyond me when they’re going at it like the exchange of bodily fluids will save the world.
ARC review- Quick synopsis: Kat and Roy team up to work on the online shop for his clothing brand, which specializes in making designs for creatures like Roy. He’s a big, beefy human-tiger hybrid with a heart of gold. They have an instant connection and Kat’s there for Roy when he needs a friend and a place to stay after getting out of a bad situation. But Roy’s self confidence is almost nonexistent after years of being torn down by someone who was supposed to build him up, and Kat figures she’s just a temporary comfort while Roy’s gettin back on his feet. But they’re both falling hard despite their worries. I’m currently trying to remember if I have ever had a full blow crush on a tiger before. Other fictional animals? Yes. All my life. I’m just not sure any of them were ever tigers. But now there’s Roy. And crushing on him I am. Which is apparently what I do when Rhea writes characters. Roy is so sweet and I wanted to wrap him up in warm, comforting hugs throughout the beginning of the book. And Kat, I adore her. She’s fierce and loyal and just awesome. The spicy scenes were 🥵🥵🥵. The road trip was adorable. I want to take a road trip with Roy! I loved everything about this book except the one character I wasn’t meant to 😉
Things you’ll find in this book: Workplace romance Cinnamon roll MMC Size difference FMC in STEM Road trip She has tattoos He has a nipple piercing He’s so fluffy! Roommates Open door spice Skinny dipping Barbed peen and toe beans He feeds her Mental health stuff Dirty talk and praise
Very cute and cozy but with a lot of depth as well. Roy presents as a strong tiger-man, who has his shit together as the boss of two companies, but his personal life is a mess. Kat is less of a mess, personally, but also very competent in her job. When work brings the two of them together it doesn't take long for some mutual attraction to build and then bubble over.
I liked both Roy and Kat a lot, and the supporting cast is as great here as it was in the first book. The supernatural characters are well-rounded, with personalities beyond "tiger-man", and none of them are particularly monstrous, so I hesitate to tag this book as a monster romance. I would say it feels more like a shifter book, but none of the feline main characters are able to shift forms, so that doesn't fit either. It's just a cozy contemporary romance where the hero just happens to be a giant tiger man!
I did spend the last part of the book holding my breath waiting for the other show to drop, but I'm happy to say this is a very low-angst book.
I could never have imagined getting teary eyed reading creature romance but Rhea Fox brought tears to my eyes more than once while reading.
Roy was so dang sweet and his story, the way in which he was treated by Abbie was so heartbreaking. Trigger warning - domestic violence is a real, scary thing. I thought that Rhea wrote about it in one of the most authentic, gut wrenching ways that I could feel Roys pain, his anxiety, his hurt. It made me see red when Abbie would degrade him or he would flinch under Kats touch.
And then Kat, sweet Kat and how she not only was a good friend to Roy but taught her sweet tiger boy that he was worthy of love and living authentically without having to hide his wants, needs was so puurfect (sorry, i coukdnt help myself).
This was beautifully written and i would give it infinity stars if i could.
Sometimes when I start a series, and I like the idea of what it could be I read the next book even if I didn't like the first one. That was not the case with this series. Unfortunately, the same problems I had with the first book are still present in this book. The spice to story ratio is oddly disproportionate. If you really like the spice scenes out of a paranormal romance this may be a good series for you! The characters in my opinion lack dimension and heart. Part of Roy's story arc is him recognizing and leaving an emotionally and physically abusive relationship. There is a lot of internal struggle from Roy about this relationship but the singular interaction he has with his ex-partner is so minor that feels like it could have been left out completely and no one would have noticed a difference. I just feel like there is so much missing from the characters that it feels like this series will always feel like "this could have had potential".
This was a good fill the time pallet cleanser type book but it did not impress. TBH there was no reason for there to be humanoid animals in this story. I get “monster” romance sells but it added nothing to this story the plot could have happened with any regular humans. That being said it was a good premiss and I appreciated what drew me to the book with that the MMC was the one who has dealt with emotional/relationship abuse. While this topic could have been explored more to make me really feel for Roy. But it was done well enough that it kept the story interesting and fresh. Kat (yes her name is KAT and she’s to fall for a tiger an on the nose naming of a character) is an awesome character who is very emotionally developed and smart. I liked how this is a series that reps women in the workplace and loving their jobs. All in all this is a book I would recommend to a friend who needed an easy book to read in between books that hit your feels too hard.
Please be aware this books covers some dark topics like physical and emotional abuse in a relationship.
Roy is by far my favorite MMC so far in the creatures and coding series. Roy needs love and friendship and someone who had his back; Kat is just the person he needs. This story follows both Kat and Roy while they work together on building a new website, shop and social media standing for Roys company. Roy is sweet and shy at first so thiers lots of tensions and subtle flirting between them as Roy battles with himself while coming to terms with the much needed end of his current relationship.
I likee Kat as an FMC because she's strong, knows what she likes and wants but is also kind and caring.
I can't wait to read the next book and see what couple it will follow.
This took me a bit longer to get through than the first book. I liked the romance that Roy and Kat ended up developing. And I give a big thumbs up to Rhea. There aren’t many books I’ve read where an author has a character go through any form of domestic violence. My heart went out to Roy many times. It was a good story. And I did enjoy it. But there were little things that got in my way to fully enjoy and immerse myself. One still being the constant winking between all characters in both books. I don’t know what it is, but I think just the amount of times it happens throughout the book takes me away from the story progressing in front of me. I don’t know anyone who winks that much. But that’s definitely on me and I would recommend this to anyone who would like to give it a whirl.
The marketing firm our FMC works for is launching a new line of product for the MMCs company. As the two get closer we learn about their personal circumstances.
We got to know the characters as the reader, but I still felt like there wasn’t enough information translated between the MCs themselves. The internal monologue thanks to the multiple POV was informing, but I thought there should’ve been more transfer through interaction. It was an interesting dynamic switch between the two MCs as they addressed the situation the MMC was dealing with.
The romance was a slow burn with a few heated moments, but once things kicked off it certainly got spicy.
There’s quite a few interesting characters in the universe, so I think I’ll be picking up the next book in the series.
Roy's company hires Beta to recreate their website and online store. Roy and Kat start working closely together and there is definitely some chemistry. However, one of them is in a bad relationship at the time that is sucking the life out of them. They have to figure out how to move on from abuse and fight for themselves.
Rhea does a wonderful job portraying the mindset of someone who suffers abuse and how it affects all parts of their life. She shows how outside support is important to being able to build yourself back up.
Once Roy and Kat get together, there are steamy scenes with barbs and fun. I enjoyed the second book in this series and look forward to seeing how this world continues to grow.
I think I need me a giant tiger man. This was definitely a fun read. I am a victim of DV myself so seeing that in a character in this book was really nice. It’s not often you see the after affects of it and see the internal stuff that goes on with ptsd and other illnesses that can affect do victims. I was really surprised as well to see that it wasn’t the female! And I am so happy it wasn’t. Kat is a very strong woman who always tries to support everything else and through out the book Roy and Kat learn how to support each other while they are both dealing with their own things. And it was such a perfect ending. I do totally hope to see in the future of the series all the characters from each books as parents. Because we hear more about lo and Ben in this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
When Kat is assigned to help Roy Sinclair to help his business with its internet presence, she knows working with the hot tigris could become a problem. Roy Sinclair is stuck in a toxic relationship. Having tried to fix it multiple times to no avail, meeting Kat is like a ray of sunshine on a cold winter's day. With Kat in his corner, Roy is finally able to break free from his toxic ex. Slowly he regains his confidence. Now he just needs to find out how to keep Kat for good.
Such a beautiful book about overcoming an abusive relationship. Kat and Roy are so sweet, cute and scorchingly hot together it melted my heart and made me sweat 🫠🥵
I know... you're thinking "another 5 star? Is this even a real review?"
Yes!! It is!! I review by vibes and feelings, and this was another super sweet (but still spicy) monster romance with an adorable tiger MMC who just needs hugs. I would cuddle with him any day!! I loved their relationship and how they both gave the space needed at the right times, but also knew when to push each other just a little too.
Highly recommend the Creatures and Codings series for anyone who wants to dip their toes in the vast ocean of monster romances. This is a great place to start! Rhea Fox has quickly become a go-to author and I'm on a mission to binge the entire backlist now!
I almost never read books with DV as they are triggering for me. However, I really enjoyed the first book in this series and so wanted to give this a try. I'm so glad that I did! I appreciated that nothing graphic (with regard to DV) was portrayed. It was more explained and only shown mildly. Second, the way that Kat was able to be there as a place to stay, as a comfort, and as more was a mirror to things from my own life.
Kat and Roy were adorable in so many ways. I loved Roy learning to laugh and trust himself again. Kat was so great for him. Also, her Pooka friends made me want to stand a cheer.
3.5⭐️ rounded up. I’m really tolerant of the words and phrases authors use in spicy scenes, but comparing the sound of him fucking her pussy to “running in wet flip flops” is just so ☠️ I’m sorry but this one gets to me and it does not spark joy 😭
All in all, cute story but I despise when authors have heavy backgrounds/trauma in their characters and completely brush over it. If you’re gonna include something like that, at least make it happen further in the past so it’s more believable that the characters have healed a bit and are in a better place for a relationship. I also don’t enjoy how one dimensional Abbie was.
This book was a bit of a departure from my usual reads—a monster romance, which I guess is close enough to the paranormal or shapeshifter genres I’ve read before. However, it felt a little too soft for my taste. Given the plot, I suppose the more gentle tone makes sense, but it just didn’t fully work for me. The story was interesting, but overall, it felt a bit bland. It was okay, but I didn’t connect with it enough to continue with the series. That said, I did enjoy the familial bonds and friendships - those elements were a nice touch.
This book is IMPORTANT 💗✨ Roy’s story is heart-wrenching and triumphant. So often, men aren’t truly seen as abuse victims, but this story bravely dives into the reality that so many big, strong, “tough guys” face in secret and alone. I cried reading about Roy’s abuse and his struggles navigating normalcy once free. And Kat… ugh, Kat. She is incredible and JUST what our cutie patootie cinnamon tiger roll needs.
The second Creatures & Coding book. I love this world. I adore Rhea’s characters they all feel like people I would be happy to know and spend time with irl.
- Utterly natural sexual fluidity I loved that it just - was. - Cute in a way that makes me want to kick my feet and want to curl up my duvet mountain with a cup of coffee.
It was great, I liked it as much if not more than the first in the series. I’m super excited for the next book.
Oh, this was a delight, truly soft and sweet story. I really enjoyed reading the love story between Kat and Roy and the slow burn romance really worked for them.
There are some triggers n this book so I would recommend checking those out before reading but none of them are too deep or explored in too much details. But always keep safe first. For me, I found it a perfect balance of serious and fluffy.
No sé bien si me gustó el libro o no. Porque me dio mucha pena Roy y el abuso que sufrió pero realmente tampoco me interesó mucho
Aparte el libro siento que tiene muchos errores, no era abby su esposa? Y en los tw nos dicen que se habla de tener bebés para salvar el matrimonio. Además de ciertas frases que no tenían mucho sentido
El spicy está bastante bastante bien fuera de los demás pero no conecte mucho con la historia
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Sweet and sexy in equal amounts, Tiger by the Tail excels as a sultry read! Kat was my favorite character in Mane of My Existence and Roy piqued my curiosity hardcore; both characters overdelivered in this sequel! I loved the representation for mental health as well as showcasing how anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse. The steam was off the charts, too! I’d recommend this read for any romance or fantasy fan.
I liked the second one more than the first one and I LOVED the second one. This author knows how to make you fall in love with these characters. Roy pulled on my heart strings and made me love him. The pacing of this book was just right. I felt like i couldn’t put it down/ stop reading. This love story makes monster/ no human romances seem like the go to. Im super excited to read more books in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.