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Motham City Monsters #1
Mail Order Minotaur
A shy human. A minotaur sex worker. A powerful chemistry neither can deny.
Tour guide Ivy has always secretly fantasized about minotaurs. So when a Beast Hunters tour to Motham City goes horribly wrong, she’s thrilled to be rescued by wickedly handsome minotaur, Bryn. Until she finds out that he runs a male escort agency with the sole purpose of pleasuring humans.
And Ivy just isn’t that sort of girl…
Bryn isn’t looking for love. He sells it. Besides he’s too busy caring for his disabled mom and four brothers and sisters to have time for romance. But when a sweet and innocent human literally catapults into his life, Bryn might just have to change his mind about love…
Mail Order Minotaur is the first in The Motham City Monsters series. It’s a low angst sweet monster romance with plenty of spice and a guaranteed HEA, set in Motham City, a place where humans and monsters meet… and fall in love. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone.
Tour guide Ivy has always secretly fantasized about minotaurs. So when a Beast Hunters tour to Motham City goes horribly wrong, she’s thrilled to be rescued by wickedly handsome minotaur, Bryn. Until she finds out that he runs a male escort agency with the sole purpose of pleasuring humans.
And Ivy just isn’t that sort of girl…
Bryn isn’t looking for love. He sells it. Besides he’s too busy caring for his disabled mom and four brothers and sisters to have time for romance. But when a sweet and innocent human literally catapults into his life, Bryn might just have to change his mind about love…
Mail Order Minotaur is the first in The Motham City Monsters series. It’s a low angst sweet monster romance with plenty of spice and a guaranteed HEA, set in Motham City, a place where humans and monsters meet… and fall in love. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 9, 2023
542 people are currently reading
1056 people want to read
About the author
Lilith Stone
11 books150 followersLilith Stone spent her childhood checking for monsters under the bed. Now she writes sweet and steamy romances for grown-ups who’d prefer a monster in their bed than under it.
She suffers from an over-active imagination which means she’s constantly anxious unless making up stories in her head. She wrote and illustrated her first gothic novel at age 12 and hasn’t really stopped since.
English by birth, she now lives in Australia and keeps out of the sea where there are too many real life monsters.
She suffers from an over-active imagination which means she’s constantly anxious unless making up stories in her head. She wrote and illustrated her first gothic novel at age 12 and hasn’t really stopped since.
English by birth, she now lives in Australia and keeps out of the sea where there are too many real life monsters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews
August 25, 2023
4.5 stars!
Forget about a Mail Order Bride...I'll take a Mail Order Minotaur any day! Are you a fan of low-angst and sweet monster romances? Look no further because this was SUCH a fluffy and steamy read.
In a world of monsters and humans, Ivy is a tour guide and finds herself in the "seedier" part of town and runs into a Minotaur that sets all her senses on fire. Bryn owns an escort service in order to provide for his family and when he lays eyes on Ivy...his whole world is singled down to that very moment of connection.
Bryn is attracted to Ivy both physically and emotionally and believes her to be his Arud Dah or fated mate. He is scared to make the jump to more but also can't let Ivy walk out of his life for good. Bryn and Ivy begin the cutest courtship that is rooted in friendship and blossoms into a sexy and steamy connection.
Bryn was THE SWEETEST. I loved everything about his good guy personality with a subtle alphaness below the surface. Ivy was like the "girl next door" and had so much kindness to offer. The chemistry between these two were fire and the plot was engaging and cute as hell. I can't wait to see what's next for this author!
Forget about a Mail Order Bride...I'll take a Mail Order Minotaur any day! Are you a fan of low-angst and sweet monster romances? Look no further because this was SUCH a fluffy and steamy read.
In a world of monsters and humans, Ivy is a tour guide and finds herself in the "seedier" part of town and runs into a Minotaur that sets all her senses on fire. Bryn owns an escort service in order to provide for his family and when he lays eyes on Ivy...his whole world is singled down to that very moment of connection.
Bryn is attracted to Ivy both physically and emotionally and believes her to be his Arud Dah or fated mate. He is scared to make the jump to more but also can't let Ivy walk out of his life for good. Bryn and Ivy begin the cutest courtship that is rooted in friendship and blossoms into a sexy and steamy connection.
Bryn was THE SWEETEST. I loved everything about his good guy personality with a subtle alphaness below the surface. Ivy was like the "girl next door" and had so much kindness to offer. The chemistry between these two were fire and the plot was engaging and cute as hell. I can't wait to see what's next for this author!
September 13, 2023
I couldn't resist hopping on this train! I love the cover and the premise. This is definitely a cute little read.
Things I enjoyed:
* Both minotaur MMC Bryn and human FMC Ivy were developed characters with backgrounds, family, friends, hopes, dreams, and so on. It was easy to like them and root for them.
* The side characters were also pretty decent. There's more than a handful and the story is pretty short so they're not given a ton of depth or anything but enough to make them a nice addition. Bryn's family was great, for example, and I really liked Shona, the neighbor turned friend of Ivy's
* It was overall pretty cute, almost wholesome?
* There is fated mates with an immediate recognition/reaction but they take some time to get to know each other
* There's some dreaded miscommunication used as a source of tension/conflict in the story; However, it's solved immediately
* The worldbuilding! I am so very interested in learning more about the world created here, the history of this Great War and where the monsters came from and the buildup of Motham City and these weird ass hoity toity human cities - are there no other human towns? - and what is beyond the mountains?? so many questions!
* I am very much looking forward to seeing this as a continued series
Things that could use improvement:
* Unfortunately, EVERY source of tension/conflict in the story is resolved immediately. It moves a little too fast through every challenge or obstacle. I think really solid, engaging writing would let there be a little more tension threaded throughout the story to build up a better payoff in the end.
* Although Bryn and Ivy don't instantly jump each other's bones, it's still pretty fast. Even if they hook up quickly, I would have loved to have seen more of that time period where the relationship is new and they're getting to know each other and falling for each other. We're told they're talking every day but I want to SEE it. More of Shona and Ivy's chats. More of Bryn getting roasted by his coworkers and younger siblings. Let us see their feelings grow!
* What on earth happened to Shona? She sort of disappeared at the end of the book, like she wasn't plot relevant so she was out of mind or something. She could have been mentioned somewhere. She was an interesting character in and of herself so I wanted to know what happened with her!
* The timing felt a little weird at one point with the final relationship talk. Bryn drives an hour home and chats with his mom all of 5 minutes before Ivy shows up, but Ivy had seemingly spent way more than 5 minutes at her place before making the hour drive out to Bryn's.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Things I enjoyed:
* Both minotaur MMC Bryn and human FMC Ivy were developed characters with backgrounds, family, friends, hopes, dreams, and so on. It was easy to like them and root for them.
* The side characters were also pretty decent. There's more than a handful and the story is pretty short so they're not given a ton of depth or anything but enough to make them a nice addition. Bryn's family was great, for example, and I really liked Shona, the neighbor turned friend of Ivy's
* It was overall pretty cute, almost wholesome?
* There is fated mates with an immediate recognition/reaction but they take some time to get to know each other
* There's some dreaded miscommunication used as a source of tension/conflict in the story; However, it's solved immediately
* The worldbuilding! I am so very interested in learning more about the world created here, the history of this Great War and where the monsters came from and the buildup of Motham City and these weird ass hoity toity human cities - are there no other human towns? - and what is beyond the mountains?? so many questions!
* I am very much looking forward to seeing this as a continued series
Things that could use improvement:
* Unfortunately, EVERY source of tension/conflict in the story is resolved immediately. It moves a little too fast through every challenge or obstacle. I think really solid, engaging writing would let there be a little more tension threaded throughout the story to build up a better payoff in the end.
* Although Bryn and Ivy don't instantly jump each other's bones, it's still pretty fast. Even if they hook up quickly, I would have loved to have seen more of that time period where the relationship is new and they're getting to know each other and falling for each other. We're told they're talking every day but I want to SEE it. More of Shona and Ivy's chats. More of Bryn getting roasted by his coworkers and younger siblings. Let us see their feelings grow!
* What on earth happened to Shona? She sort of disappeared at the end of the book, like she wasn't plot relevant so she was out of mind or something. She could have been mentioned somewhere. She was an interesting character in and of herself so I wanted to know what happened with her!
* The timing felt a little weird at one point with the final relationship talk. Bryn drives an hour home and chats with his mom all of 5 minutes before Ivy shows up, but Ivy had seemingly spent way more than 5 minutes at her place before making the hour drive out to Bryn's.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 13, 2023
what did i just read and why did i like it?
thank you to booksirens and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
thank you to booksirens and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Read
July 1, 2025I DNF'd at 83%, but I'm not rating it because I feel like my reasons are a little superficial.
I'm not even writing a review because I honestly just don't care. I found it a little boring, way too freaking sweet, there are stupid kids in it, and it just wasn't monster-ish enough for me.
You can kind of tell by the cover it's going to be a fluffy fic, so it's kind of my fault
I'm not even writing a review because I honestly just don't care. I found it a little boring, way too freaking sweet, there are stupid kids in it, and it just wasn't monster-ish enough for me.
You can kind of tell by the cover it's going to be a fluffy fic, so it's kind of my fault
October 11, 2023
This might just be the most adorable monster romance I have ever read.
Fluffy and sweet and stinking cute, with a side of sexy steam, Mail Order Minotaur is the pure definition of a hug in a mug.
I found myself smiling all throughout reading it and somehow couldn't wipe that smile off my face even after turning the last page.
If you're my kind of girl who loves her mates big and burly, and cuddle worthy sweet and gentle, this one's for you.
A book to make you want your own Mail Order Minotaur with a thing for fluffy slippers.
Yep. I sure as hell do.
In short, my monster loving buddies, this book's a must read.
It may not be perfect, but it's the perfect cozy, adorably sweet and steamy read to put a smile on your lips and steamy warmth in your heart.
Fluffy and sweet and stinking cute, with a side of sexy steam, Mail Order Minotaur is the pure definition of a hug in a mug.
I found myself smiling all throughout reading it and somehow couldn't wipe that smile off my face even after turning the last page.
If you're my kind of girl who loves her mates big and burly, and cuddle worthy sweet and gentle, this one's for you.
A book to make you want your own Mail Order Minotaur with a thing for fluffy slippers.
Yep. I sure as hell do.
In short, my monster loving buddies, this book's a must read.
It may not be perfect, but it's the perfect cozy, adorably sweet and steamy read to put a smile on your lips and steamy warmth in your heart.
September 18, 2023
Oh. My. God. Where do I find a Minotaur of my own?? This book was absolutely exquisite. Perfectly written characters in a world so well-crafted I'm convinced it must be real. The story was equal parts sweet and super steamy. An absolute delight that left desperate for more. Will be reading EVERYTHING by this author.
December 1, 2024
Great setup with less execution than I'd hoped for. I love that he had his family to care for, and that she was from the uppity human side of town. They were fated mates, and I wanted to see more of their relationship develop before they were both in love with each other, which didn't happen. His family was wonderful though, and there were many side characters that would be fun to read about in future books.
❌ SPOILERS ❌
Her business fell out of the storyline once they started meeting about it, and he only ran his escort business, and hadn't actually been an escort for 5 years by the time the story begins (in case that's what brought you here--he's sadly not an escort anymore). Also for being the most famous escort of all time or something, the sex scenes were very vanilla and over with quickly each time....
But what really annoyed me was the quick and nonsensical turnaround her parents did. They spent the entire book being worried about monsters to a degree befitting their comfy life in the humans-only rich town, and then they were incredibly ignorant, belligerent, and racist when they first found a minotaur in their daughter's home. They even told her that monsters were "beneath them" as superior humans...only to confess that there was minotaur blood in their family that they had spent many generations hiding by cutting the horns and tails off any babies born with them. That is a deep and concerning level of hatred and racism that was then forgotten and brushed past because their daughter's love for a minotaur instantly (within a minute or two) "forced them" to accept that side of their history or something.
And then all was good. The parents were accepting of the minotaur boyfriend, their own lineage, and even his escort service. They came out to their neighbors, moved to a more accepting town, opened a clinic in the monster town, and fully embraced their heritage. Literally overnight everything changed and they no longer feared or hated monsters or thought they were beneath them.
I don't think I can accurately explain why that doesn't sit right with me. And yes, I know these are fictional monsters, but this immediate turnaround, complete with the minotaur being GRATEFUL for the parents' swift change of heart, with no hard feelings to them or to the FMC who let him act like a servant in front of them to let her save face, is something that only someone who hasn't experienced the impact of actual racism could write. The parents swooped in and saved the day by getting the medical appointments his mother needed and then by giving them the money they needed to buy out the tourism business. All was well for them after that and the struggles that the MMC had the entire book were suddenly moot.
Until those parts, this was still a 3-star read for me.
❌ SPOILERS ❌
Her business fell out of the storyline once they started meeting about it, and he only ran his escort business, and hadn't actually been an escort for 5 years by the time the story begins (in case that's what brought you here--he's sadly not an escort anymore). Also for being the most famous escort of all time or something, the sex scenes were very vanilla and over with quickly each time....
But what really annoyed me was the quick and nonsensical turnaround her parents did. They spent the entire book being worried about monsters to a degree befitting their comfy life in the humans-only rich town, and then they were incredibly ignorant, belligerent, and racist when they first found a minotaur in their daughter's home. They even told her that monsters were "beneath them" as superior humans...only to confess that there was minotaur blood in their family that they had spent many generations hiding by cutting the horns and tails off any babies born with them. That is a deep and concerning level of hatred and racism that was then forgotten and brushed past because their daughter's love for a minotaur instantly (within a minute or two) "forced them" to accept that side of their history or something.
And then all was good. The parents were accepting of the minotaur boyfriend, their own lineage, and even his escort service. They came out to their neighbors, moved to a more accepting town, opened a clinic in the monster town, and fully embraced their heritage. Literally overnight everything changed and they no longer feared or hated monsters or thought they were beneath them.
I don't think I can accurately explain why that doesn't sit right with me. And yes, I know these are fictional monsters, but this immediate turnaround, complete with the minotaur being GRATEFUL for the parents' swift change of heart, with no hard feelings to them or to the FMC who let him act like a servant in front of them to let her save face, is something that only someone who hasn't experienced the impact of actual racism could write. The parents swooped in and saved the day by getting the medical appointments his mother needed and then by giving them the money they needed to buy out the tourism business. All was well for them after that and the struggles that the MMC had the entire book were suddenly moot.
Until those parts, this was still a 3-star read for me.
September 5, 2023
I find a sweet monster romance to be a great escape, and this book definitely delivered!
Ivy is frustrated that Beast Hunters, the tour company she works for, is losing bookings to a new competitor that provides visits to the more questionable parts of Motham. She knows that changes need to happen to keep the company afloat, but her boss is stuck in the past and isn’t open to change.
When Ivy takes it upon herself to add a stop to the Purple Lantern District, she gets a little more than she expected when a fight breaks out between one of her clients and a sex worker and Ivy is caught in the crossfire. Her life changes in an instant when she is rescued and receives first aid from the minotaur her eyes were drawn to from the moment she arrived. But Bryn owns an escort agency dedicated to serving humans, and Ivy isn't that kind of girl!
Ivy and Bryn are characters that grabbed my heart immediately in this fated mates romance. Seeing the love and dedication Bryn has for his family, especially his relationship with his baby sister and his mother, show both his strength and his soft heart. I loved Ivy’s desire to experience life and grow beyond her narrow upbringing.
While this book is a sweet monster romance, it also deals with some difficult issues including the loss of a parent, poverty, racism/bigotry, caring for a disabled parent, and unequal access to quality medical care and education. The author does so leaving the reader with a sense of hope for the future as Ivy, Bryn, and their families work to be the change their world needs. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!
Mail Order Minotaur is perfect for fans of Ashley Bennett and C.M. Nascosta, so if you enjoy those authors, give this a try!
Thank you BookSirens and the author for providing me an advance copy. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Ivy is frustrated that Beast Hunters, the tour company she works for, is losing bookings to a new competitor that provides visits to the more questionable parts of Motham. She knows that changes need to happen to keep the company afloat, but her boss is stuck in the past and isn’t open to change.
When Ivy takes it upon herself to add a stop to the Purple Lantern District, she gets a little more than she expected when a fight breaks out between one of her clients and a sex worker and Ivy is caught in the crossfire. Her life changes in an instant when she is rescued and receives first aid from the minotaur her eyes were drawn to from the moment she arrived. But Bryn owns an escort agency dedicated to serving humans, and Ivy isn't that kind of girl!
Ivy and Bryn are characters that grabbed my heart immediately in this fated mates romance. Seeing the love and dedication Bryn has for his family, especially his relationship with his baby sister and his mother, show both his strength and his soft heart. I loved Ivy’s desire to experience life and grow beyond her narrow upbringing.
While this book is a sweet monster romance, it also deals with some difficult issues including the loss of a parent, poverty, racism/bigotry, caring for a disabled parent, and unequal access to quality medical care and education. The author does so leaving the reader with a sense of hope for the future as Ivy, Bryn, and their families work to be the change their world needs. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!
Mail Order Minotaur is perfect for fans of Ashley Bennett and C.M. Nascosta, so if you enjoy those authors, give this a try!
Thank you BookSirens and the author for providing me an advance copy. This is my honest and voluntary review.
September 30, 2023
*ARC Review* Opinions are my own
I look forward to reading more in the Motham City series! There’s so much potential here for some fantastic monster love and spice in this fun and exciting universe that Stone’s built. If you like a fated-mates trope that’s sweet but spicy, you’ll love this! It’s a light-hearted, relaxing read that will give you the warm and fuzzies.
My favorite things about this book:
The hesitancy between the FMC and MMC was so cute and not cringy at all, which I think is wonderful considering how cheesy can become. They are both so cute and hopeless romantics and you can practically feel how much they want one another.
Stone does a great job emphasizing how important family is to the MMC and the sacrifices that he’s made for them, and how much he loves them. It’s on the forefront of his mind all the time, especially when considering how to incorporate the FMC into his world and I FELT all of that.
The spice was somehow sweet and dirty at the same time. I think that’s because he’s a Minotaur and it’s not an easy ride, which I am here for! I’m a sucker for a pregnancy/breeding trope so if that’s your thing, you’re going to love this. And by the epilogue, he gets it IN.
A few things:
As this is a fated-mates trope, and I completely understand that there is bound to be some instant chemistry that can’t be helped but insta-love was a little unexpected. Stone did such a good job setting up both characters to be level-headed and practical, and I felt this wasn’t really within character for either of them. Yes, they are both also hopeless romantics at heart, but there just wasn’t much of an internal battle regarding their head and their heart once they became more than friends.
The FMC and MMC come from totally different worlds riddled with cultural and political tension, and come from different social classes, so it made sense that these would be the major conflicts to overcome. But both of these were easily resolved with Ivy’s parents’ instant acceptance of Bryn, and their hidden family history. Granted, that was a twist I didn’t see coming, but it was too convenient a fix for both obstacles and it made the issues and characters feel a little more shallow than it should have been.
The angst between them was so good, but just as it was starting to simmer, all of a sudden they took this giant leap into spice territory. I would preferred a few more chapters of angst to really kick it up a notch. However, this book was great on the spice when it did happen! I’m definitely into minotaurs in jeans LOL
Overall, I loved this story and this universe. I know Vlad and Shona have some sort of intersecting story— I CAN FEEL IT. I can’t wait for book 2!
I look forward to reading more in the Motham City series! There’s so much potential here for some fantastic monster love and spice in this fun and exciting universe that Stone’s built. If you like a fated-mates trope that’s sweet but spicy, you’ll love this! It’s a light-hearted, relaxing read that will give you the warm and fuzzies.
My favorite things about this book:
The hesitancy between the FMC and MMC was so cute and not cringy at all, which I think is wonderful considering how cheesy can become. They are both so cute and hopeless romantics and you can practically feel how much they want one another.
Stone does a great job emphasizing how important family is to the MMC and the sacrifices that he’s made for them, and how much he loves them. It’s on the forefront of his mind all the time, especially when considering how to incorporate the FMC into his world and I FELT all of that.
The spice was somehow sweet and dirty at the same time. I think that’s because he’s a Minotaur and it’s not an easy ride, which I am here for! I’m a sucker for a pregnancy/breeding trope so if that’s your thing, you’re going to love this. And by the epilogue, he gets it IN.
A few things:
As this is a fated-mates trope, and I completely understand that there is bound to be some instant chemistry that can’t be helped but insta-love was a little unexpected. Stone did such a good job setting up both characters to be level-headed and practical, and I felt this wasn’t really within character for either of them. Yes, they are both also hopeless romantics at heart, but there just wasn’t much of an internal battle regarding their head and their heart once they became more than friends.
The FMC and MMC come from totally different worlds riddled with cultural and political tension, and come from different social classes, so it made sense that these would be the major conflicts to overcome. But both of these were easily resolved with Ivy’s parents’ instant acceptance of Bryn, and their hidden family history. Granted, that was a twist I didn’t see coming, but it was too convenient a fix for both obstacles and it made the issues and characters feel a little more shallow than it should have been.
The angst between them was so good, but just as it was starting to simmer, all of a sudden they took this giant leap into spice territory. I would preferred a few more chapters of angst to really kick it up a notch. However, this book was great on the spice when it did happen! I’m definitely into minotaurs in jeans LOL
Overall, I loved this story and this universe. I know Vlad and Shona have some sort of intersecting story— I CAN FEEL IT. I can’t wait for book 2!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2023
3.0 / 5.0
Mail Order Minotaur by Lilith Stone is a cozy read monster smash fantasy romance with all the associated tropes.
I am not sure if the author is American, British, or Australian but there are sayings and turns of phrase in here that caused me to stumble over the meaning. Mostly it was in dialogue but there were hints of it in the text in general. It’s not high fantasy and confusing, so mostly you’ll get the idea from the surrounding context, but there were a couple that my mind said, “that’s a weird way to put it”, and I just kept reading.
This is insta-love and fated mates. The characters aren’t well developed, have very little interaction before jumping into one another pants, and there’s very contrived chemistry between them. It’s fine if your looking for mindless smut, it’s there in spades, but if you want a plot in a world with development and characters that are memorable, with actual tension that creates good drama and angst and amazing love (both emotional and physical), then this isn’t it.
Overall, not a bad waste of time. I want to read the next one about the neighbor and her real estate/fake mate business, so watch for that.
Until Next Time,
MC
Mail Order Minotaur by Lilith Stone is a cozy read monster smash fantasy romance with all the associated tropes.
I am not sure if the author is American, British, or Australian but there are sayings and turns of phrase in here that caused me to stumble over the meaning. Mostly it was in dialogue but there were hints of it in the text in general. It’s not high fantasy and confusing, so mostly you’ll get the idea from the surrounding context, but there were a couple that my mind said, “that’s a weird way to put it”, and I just kept reading.
This is insta-love and fated mates. The characters aren’t well developed, have very little interaction before jumping into one another pants, and there’s very contrived chemistry between them. It’s fine if your looking for mindless smut, it’s there in spades, but if you want a plot in a world with development and characters that are memorable, with actual tension that creates good drama and angst and amazing love (both emotional and physical), then this isn’t it.
Overall, not a bad waste of time. I want to read the next one about the neighbor and her real estate/fake mate business, so watch for that.
Until Next Time,
MC
October 8, 2023
Sweet, sexy and fun.
I enjoyed Lilith Stone's new steamy monster romance, I think I could go for a sweet minotaur like Bryn.
I enjoyed seeing Ivy grow in her confidence after she met Bryn and I liked that she was open to being shown that things and the people in Motham City aren't all that she believed them to be. Bryn really was gorgeously sexy and protective of Ivy and such a lovely family man to his mother and siblings. I enjoyed the sexy times between him and Ivy and loved the fated mate connection they both felt from the start.
I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed Lilith Stone's new steamy monster romance, I think I could go for a sweet minotaur like Bryn.
I enjoyed seeing Ivy grow in her confidence after she met Bryn and I liked that she was open to being shown that things and the people in Motham City aren't all that she believed them to be. Bryn really was gorgeously sexy and protective of Ivy and such a lovely family man to his mother and siblings. I enjoyed the sexy times between him and Ivy and loved the fated mate connection they both felt from the start.
I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 30, 2023
This book was great! I loved the characters a lot and I loved seeing them develop as the story progressed. I had to stifle my laughter a few times in my office at work because of this book even. The one thing I would’ve liked to see more of would have been Shona! After the last time we saw her we didn’t hear about her at all I don’t think! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 5, 2024
This book wasn't really for me, but I think it was very cute!
I like the way the author writes characters and the low angst is definitely my jam! This is just a little too much about the sex and getting married/pregnant for me. No shade, that's just not my thing! I bought the first three books in this series so I'll definitely continue at some point.
I like the way the author writes characters and the low angst is definitely my jam! This is just a little too much about the sex and getting married/pregnant for me. No shade, that's just not my thing! I bought the first three books in this series so I'll definitely continue at some point.
August 18, 2024
Wasn’t expecting much, kind of read as a joke but was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t bad. Turns out I’m not into monster love and the story moved along pretty fast but if you like a breezy romance this will hit the spot.
December 6, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
This was all cozy comfort with a touch of adorable monster sweetness. Our mail order Minotaur is a total cinnamon roll in the streets but gifted in the sheets 😅. It is soft, cuddly and has a charm to it. Nothing groundbreaking but a lovely feel good monster romance to curl up with.
This was all cozy comfort with a touch of adorable monster sweetness. Our mail order Minotaur is a total cinnamon roll in the streets but gifted in the sheets 😅. It is soft, cuddly and has a charm to it. Nothing groundbreaking but a lovely feel good monster romance to curl up with.
June 24, 2024
Such a dumb book lol but I knew from the synopsis it would be 😂
November 24, 2024
This was a fun little palette cleanser, and I will definitely be reading some more of the series. It’s insta lust/love, so proceed with caution if that’s not your cup of tea.
did-not-finish
October 2, 2025DNF at 2%. Her reactivity to the other company irritates me. As well as her general horniness towards any Minotaur. Moving on.
October 21, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I loved everything about this but the spice was a little more than I bargained for. It was too over the top towards the end and it pulled me out of the story. I wish there was more focus on the romance instead.
I loved everything about this but the spice was a little more than I bargained for. It was too over the top towards the end and it pulled me out of the story. I wish there was more focus on the romance instead.
October 8, 2024
This book wow where do i even begin? This was an amazing rollercoaster of a story where i fell head over heels for the entire book series. This book was the perfect introduction to the series and set up the best way possibile in order for me to just feel so connected to the whole set of characters.
While this book wasn’t my all time fave i felt so connected by our fmc who is this shy woman who is brought out of her shell by this beautiful Minotaur! Bryn was such an amazing Mc who was such a cinnamon roll of a man, you fall in love with them while watching them fall in love with each other. It is the perfect story with the best mix of romance and comedy.
This book is such a cosy monster romance book and perfect for anyone starting off on their journey of monster romance books!
While this book wasn’t my all time fave i felt so connected by our fmc who is this shy woman who is brought out of her shell by this beautiful Minotaur! Bryn was such an amazing Mc who was such a cinnamon roll of a man, you fall in love with them while watching them fall in love with each other. It is the perfect story with the best mix of romance and comedy.
This book is such a cosy monster romance book and perfect for anyone starting off on their journey of monster romance books!
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March 4, 2025
I guess I’m in my minotaur romance era and just can’t stop! There’s just something so good about minotaurs (it’s the size diff I’m betting) and mates. Mail Order Minotaur by Lilith Stone definitely hit the spot. It was a cute romance with decent spice. The pacing was pretty quick and the romance was definitely there. I loved that Ivy and Bryn took their time to get to know one another. There’s a bit at the end which honestly? Broke my heart. Bryn was just such a good guy, wanting to do everything right. Ivy could be a little annoying, but nothing overwhelming. This little world was also super intriguing and I immediately picked up the next book in the series. I think this might be a better introduction into monster romance than the Cambric Creek series. It’s the perfect blend of sweet and spice.
first reviewed at
first reviewed at
December 30, 2023
TROPES
* Fated mates
* Opposites attract
* Knight in shining armour
* Size difference
* Monster/human
THOUGHTS
Do you like sweet minotaurs? Do you like shy women breaking out of their shell? Do you like spice? Read this book! I smiled my way through it (even when I cried). I can’t even describe how much I loved this read, it was just the perfect low stakes, adorable read I needed. I am definitely buying a hard copy for my shelves and bingeing the next book asap! Do yourselves a favour and visit MOTHAM CITY (best name ever) today.
* Fated mates
* Opposites attract
* Knight in shining armour
* Size difference
* Monster/human
THOUGHTS
Do you like sweet minotaurs? Do you like shy women breaking out of their shell? Do you like spice? Read this book! I smiled my way through it (even when I cried). I can’t even describe how much I loved this read, it was just the perfect low stakes, adorable read I needed. I am definitely buying a hard copy for my shelves and bingeing the next book asap! Do yourselves a favour and visit MOTHAM CITY (best name ever) today.
October 3, 2023
This was such a fun, cute, cozy, sweet book!! Very low drama and low angst, and the conflicts that were there were realistic and handled well. Definitely the book for you if you want a sweet minotaur/monster romp with some spice and lots of good, happy feels. I was given an ARC for my honest review.
October 10, 2023
In this world the 'Monster's' are socially cleansed into a walled off area of town to keep them away from humans. Most human's wouldn't be seen dead going into this community unless it was on a tour bus, for sex or to see vampire tailors. The Monsters are prevented from leaving their cage unless under the guise of darkness.
In order to compete with her rival tour guide company, Ivy ends up on the wrong/right side of town and bumps into Bryn. He comes to her rescue when she is injured. It was insta-lust as Ivy has always had the hots for minotaur's. Ivy says she's shy but she's really not, she knows what she wants and is not afraid to ask for it. Bryn on the other hand is a sweet, caring family guy who can't stop thinking about her. He can only hope that he can have a relationship with Ivy, although they are surrounded by unrelenting prejudice.
This is a super sweet (but not actually) story, heavy on the HEA. In terms of plot, not a lot happens. Despite the author introducing significant racism issues in this world, which indicate it would be near impossible for the couple to stay together, absolutely everything magically falls into place for them without an ounce of struggle, then it's all sunshine & rainbows. One minute the parents are dogged racists, the next all their racist views are just poof….forgotten. Bryn is a proud minotaur, proud of his culture, but he instantly bows his head and becomes subservient when confronted by Ivy's parents. Meanwhile Ivy describes her parents as 'the nicest parents in the world', despite their racist views and the derogatory way they treat Bryn. Stone doesn't address any of this.
The author just wants you to focus on how cute the couple are together, and treat racism like it's a little distraction that can be side-stepped. Stone writes the story from both POV's but never really addresses how Bryn feels about the racism/social cleansing, apart from indicating that he 'might' be uncomfortable with it. If Stone is going to write about real life issues, she should address them realistically.
This story is very twisted, fallacious and unrealistic. I also feel this book is too influenced by author CM Nascosta.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In order to compete with her rival tour guide company, Ivy ends up on the wrong/right side of town and bumps into Bryn. He comes to her rescue when she is injured. It was insta-lust as Ivy has always had the hots for minotaur's. Ivy says she's shy but she's really not, she knows what she wants and is not afraid to ask for it. Bryn on the other hand is a sweet, caring family guy who can't stop thinking about her. He can only hope that he can have a relationship with Ivy, although they are surrounded by unrelenting prejudice.
This is a super sweet (but not actually) story, heavy on the HEA. In terms of plot, not a lot happens. Despite the author introducing significant racism issues in this world, which indicate it would be near impossible for the couple to stay together, absolutely everything magically falls into place for them without an ounce of struggle, then it's all sunshine & rainbows. One minute the parents are dogged racists, the next all their racist views are just poof….forgotten. Bryn is a proud minotaur, proud of his culture, but he instantly bows his head and becomes subservient when confronted by Ivy's parents. Meanwhile Ivy describes her parents as 'the nicest parents in the world', despite their racist views and the derogatory way they treat Bryn. Stone doesn't address any of this.
The author just wants you to focus on how cute the couple are together, and treat racism like it's a little distraction that can be side-stepped. Stone writes the story from both POV's but never really addresses how Bryn feels about the racism/social cleansing, apart from indicating that he 'might' be uncomfortable with it. If Stone is going to write about real life issues, she should address them realistically.
This story is very twisted, fallacious and unrealistic. I also feel this book is too influenced by author CM Nascosta.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 28, 2023
What a treat this book was and a great start to what I hope is a long series!
Basic premise: this takes place in what appears to be a futuristic, imagined world where, centuries before, monsters had risen up from the depths of the earth to live among humans. This sparked a Great War and decades of unrest between monsters and humans, with monsters pretty much being stuck in the city of Motham. Over time, conflict between the two groups calms and, when our story starts, has settled enough that our FMC is leading human tour groups into Motham to see the sights. When she decides to take a detour to the seedier Purple Lantern District, she meets the MMC, a handsome sweet Minotaur who runs a Minotaur escort business. Shenanigans ensue and they, of course, have lots of sweet, steamy, and spicy moments.
I’m pretty sure this is this author’s first book and wow, what a way to kick off. The writing was great, the characters were all loveable, and the socio-economic conflict between monsters and humans was realistic but not overbearing. I really loved seeing Ivy and Bryn’s relationship develop; even though it was a fated mate scenario there was plenty of character growth here.
SORT OF SPOILER AHEAD…
My only issue (and it was really not that big a problem for me) was that Ivy’s parents seemed to have an incredibly fast change of heart about the relationship. The reasoning behind it makes sense, but it did seem a little odd how fast the way they spoke about monsters changed. I could have done without the conflict whiplash.
But otherwise, this was a delight and I’m happy to recommend this book to others.
Basic premise: this takes place in what appears to be a futuristic, imagined world where, centuries before, monsters had risen up from the depths of the earth to live among humans. This sparked a Great War and decades of unrest between monsters and humans, with monsters pretty much being stuck in the city of Motham. Over time, conflict between the two groups calms and, when our story starts, has settled enough that our FMC is leading human tour groups into Motham to see the sights. When she decides to take a detour to the seedier Purple Lantern District, she meets the MMC, a handsome sweet Minotaur who runs a Minotaur escort business. Shenanigans ensue and they, of course, have lots of sweet, steamy, and spicy moments.
I’m pretty sure this is this author’s first book and wow, what a way to kick off. The writing was great, the characters were all loveable, and the socio-economic conflict between monsters and humans was realistic but not overbearing. I really loved seeing Ivy and Bryn’s relationship develop; even though it was a fated mate scenario there was plenty of character growth here.
SORT OF SPOILER AHEAD…
My only issue (and it was really not that big a problem for me) was that Ivy’s parents seemed to have an incredibly fast change of heart about the relationship. The reasoning behind it makes sense, but it did seem a little odd how fast the way they spoke about monsters changed. I could have done without the conflict whiplash.
But otherwise, this was a delight and I’m happy to recommend this book to others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2023
Honest ARC Review: This was such a sweet and wholesome monster romance. This story is about a minotaur and a human woman who are living two very different lives. Ivy grew up in a wealthy family and now works as a tour guide taking humans to the city monsters reside in. She is very shy, kind of a plain Jane, and enjoys her safe secure life. The problem is that the tourist company has major competition. Another tourist company goes into the more edgy parts of Motham, the monster city. Very much out of character, Ivy makes a bold decision and decides to take their bus to that area as well. Bryn is a Minotaur who runs an escort business. After he lost his father and his mother became disabled he had to step up and take care of his family. He doesn’t live a life of luxury but his family is the most important thing to him. When he first sees Ivy he is immediately curious about her. When the two bump into each other he feels a connection right away. The tension that builds between Ivy and Bryn is thick and delightful. As they get to know each other more they both can’t deny the strong pull they have for each other. Although they have a few bumps in the road they find happiness with each other and it was so sweet to read. This book was a very easy read that I really enjoyed. I especially loved the description of the monster town and all the side characters that we got a glimpse of. Definitely check this out if you are looking for a sweet monster romance that still delivers the spice.
October 19, 2023
3.5⭐️ 3🌶️
MOOD: lighthearted, emotional, adventurous
TROPES: fated mates, wrong side of the tracks, meet-cute
FAV QUOTE: He was a minotaur, not a romantic centaur for the gods' sake.
MAIN CHARACTERS: Ivy Deacon (human) and Bryn Miles (minotaur)
THE GOOD: I enjoyed the worldbuilding and there is a good introduction into the various locations of this story: Twill, Tween, Be-Tween, and Motham City (which I kept reading as Mothman City). There are a lot of background and side characters but there is also a decent description of those who are present in the story more. I love Monster romances and am partial to Minotaurs so I liked learning about this universe's monster history and lore.
THE NEUTRAL: Overall, this is a sweet and steamy story and can be read as such; however, there is a social subtext and that may or may not be for everyone. I'm a mood reader and it couldn't hold my attention so it took me a bit of time to finish it.
THE MEH: Even though there steamy/spicy scenes throughout the book, they got less description over the course of the story. I don't want to read "Bryn's lips spilled beautifful filthy words" I want the words, I'm just greedy like that. The last 15% of the book feels a little rushed as everything gets wrapped up but it's a cute HEA.
CW: Mentions of death of a parent, war & violence, inequality, racism
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
MOOD: lighthearted, emotional, adventurous
TROPES: fated mates, wrong side of the tracks, meet-cute
FAV QUOTE: He was a minotaur, not a romantic centaur for the gods' sake.
MAIN CHARACTERS: Ivy Deacon (human) and Bryn Miles (minotaur)
THE GOOD: I enjoyed the worldbuilding and there is a good introduction into the various locations of this story: Twill, Tween, Be-Tween, and Motham City (which I kept reading as Mothman City). There are a lot of background and side characters but there is also a decent description of those who are present in the story more. I love Monster romances and am partial to Minotaurs so I liked learning about this universe's monster history and lore.
THE NEUTRAL: Overall, this is a sweet and steamy story and can be read as such; however, there is a social subtext and that may or may not be for everyone. I'm a mood reader and it couldn't hold my attention so it took me a bit of time to finish it.
THE MEH: Even though there steamy/spicy scenes throughout the book, they got less description over the course of the story. I don't want to read "Bryn's lips spilled beautifful filthy words" I want the words, I'm just greedy like that. The last 15% of the book feels a little rushed as everything gets wrapped up but it's a cute HEA.
CW: Mentions of death of a parent, war & violence, inequality, racism
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 4, 2024
So I have to take a moment to find my words.
I have been a big fan of this writer's novels written under her other name. I wasn't sure if I wanted to delve into these books (there are going to be more than 1) as it isn't totally the paranormal fiction that I would usually read. I do love that Ms Stone has placed a warning at the front about the content of the book and makes the gentle suggestion to read elsewhere if this is not your style.
I have to say that the only reason I have only given it four stars is that the spice is probably not quite to my taste but the characters and storyline are as usual absolutely on point. The world building is great and I think I will probably keep hanging out in Motham City because I generally find the range of fantasy characters very cool.
Ivy is a cute character - we are certainly on her side from the first moment she gets hit by a tourist's bag when just trying to do the right thing. Bryn, is one very sexy minotaur, and worthy of Ivy's attention. Their path to true love is fairly fraught with obstacles and built on very strong chemistry. I actually really loved Mia, Bryn's little sister - she is just adorable. The supporting cast is really what makes this story work as you get to know them quite well.
While I did start to speed read some of the spicy bits, I did really like the overall story. I think that this author can't write a bad book, regardless of the genre or content.
I have been a big fan of this writer's novels written under her other name. I wasn't sure if I wanted to delve into these books (there are going to be more than 1) as it isn't totally the paranormal fiction that I would usually read. I do love that Ms Stone has placed a warning at the front about the content of the book and makes the gentle suggestion to read elsewhere if this is not your style.
I have to say that the only reason I have only given it four stars is that the spice is probably not quite to my taste but the characters and storyline are as usual absolutely on point. The world building is great and I think I will probably keep hanging out in Motham City because I generally find the range of fantasy characters very cool.
Ivy is a cute character - we are certainly on her side from the first moment she gets hit by a tourist's bag when just trying to do the right thing. Bryn, is one very sexy minotaur, and worthy of Ivy's attention. Their path to true love is fairly fraught with obstacles and built on very strong chemistry. I actually really loved Mia, Bryn's little sister - she is just adorable. The supporting cast is really what makes this story work as you get to know them quite well.
While I did start to speed read some of the spicy bits, I did really like the overall story. I think that this author can't write a bad book, regardless of the genre or content.
June 24, 2024
I was in the mood for a Minotaur romance, and so I came across this a few weeks ago and had left it on my radar and thankfully the mood was still there to check it out 🥰🙏🏻
This was a very cute, yet steamy, funny, spicy romance. It was also cosy, I demolished this in 4 days (could’ve got it done in a day or 2 for sure) and I was left pretty satisfied afterwards 👌🏻.
I hadn’t read a monster romance since February 2024 so it felt good to return to the trope/genre after a few months. It was a refreshing read for me. I liked our main characters, Bryn and Ivy, they had good chemistry and cute/sweet swoony moments. There were a few little twists along the way that I didn’t expect (Ivy’s character). And this was also my first time reading from Lilith, so I will definitely consider reading more from her in the future.
The world/setting of the story is intriguing to me so I might continue the rest of the series in the future, but as of right now of writing this review I was only in the mood for a Minotaur romance 🤗.
I don’t have any major negatives 😊, but if I had to dissect it? Then maybe it could’ve been a tad longer? maybe spend a little more time with our couple before establishing it to their families? But maybe that’s nitpicking? Other than that though I enjoyed it ✌🏻💖
4/5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-tropes/genres-
💘monster romance
🚐tour guide fmc
🤎escort minotaur mmc
✨fated mates
🥹sweet
💓low angst
🌶spicy/fluffy!
📚1st book in the series
🙏🏻HEA guarantee
This was a very cute, yet steamy, funny, spicy romance. It was also cosy, I demolished this in 4 days (could’ve got it done in a day or 2 for sure) and I was left pretty satisfied afterwards 👌🏻.
I hadn’t read a monster romance since February 2024 so it felt good to return to the trope/genre after a few months. It was a refreshing read for me. I liked our main characters, Bryn and Ivy, they had good chemistry and cute/sweet swoony moments. There were a few little twists along the way that I didn’t expect (Ivy’s character). And this was also my first time reading from Lilith, so I will definitely consider reading more from her in the future.
The world/setting of the story is intriguing to me so I might continue the rest of the series in the future, but as of right now of writing this review I was only in the mood for a Minotaur romance 🤗.
I don’t have any major negatives 😊, but if I had to dissect it? Then maybe it could’ve been a tad longer? maybe spend a little more time with our couple before establishing it to their families? But maybe that’s nitpicking? Other than that though I enjoyed it ✌🏻💖
4/5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-tropes/genres-
💘monster romance
🚐tour guide fmc
🤎escort minotaur mmc
✨fated mates
🥹sweet
💓low angst
🌶spicy/fluffy!
📚1st book in the series
🙏🏻HEA guarantee
dnf
November 22, 2024DNF at 10%, so no star rating. Calling the tour bus company "Monster Hunters", when they drive though a normal town with normal houses, stores, markets is so demeaning to the creatures that live there. They are supernatural, but they have the same intelligence, live incredibly similar lives in cities just like the humans.
Our female lead seems silly and judgemental.
The mom of the male lead being in a wheelchair and not taking care of her children is bs. It's been five years, she let's her eldest son take care of her health, her bills and all of her kids, down to a 5 year old. She has a carer that evidently doesn't help her get flour out of a cabinet, so mom falls on the ground. What is the carer doing then? Why isn't the kitchen adapted to her needs after 5 years? Why is she baking cookies and telling her son to help her other kids with their homework, taking a bath, feeding them dinner? My hubs is a caretaker for a quadriplegic man, and my mom is in a wheelchair. The author doesn't know shit about what she's writing. The guy cries hearing that his mom couldn't reach the flour, fell on the floor, and that the carer couldn't pick her up. That's all bullshit. I was so annoyed. She falls all of the time? With a carer and a 19 year old in the house? You CHEW HER OUT. That's how you break bones. That woman needs therapy. At 5 years in a wheelchair, she's doing it deliberately.
Can't read this.
Also the cover is so bad, it looks like a parody of this type of book.
Our female lead seems silly and judgemental.
The mom of the male lead being in a wheelchair and not taking care of her children is bs. It's been five years, she let's her eldest son take care of her health, her bills and all of her kids, down to a 5 year old. She has a carer that evidently doesn't help her get flour out of a cabinet, so mom falls on the ground. What is the carer doing then? Why isn't the kitchen adapted to her needs after 5 years? Why is she baking cookies and telling her son to help her other kids with their homework, taking a bath, feeding them dinner? My hubs is a caretaker for a quadriplegic man, and my mom is in a wheelchair. The author doesn't know shit about what she's writing. The guy cries hearing that his mom couldn't reach the flour, fell on the floor, and that the carer couldn't pick her up. That's all bullshit. I was so annoyed. She falls all of the time? With a carer and a 19 year old in the house? You CHEW HER OUT. That's how you break bones. That woman needs therapy. At 5 years in a wheelchair, she's doing it deliberately.
Can't read this.
Also the cover is so bad, it looks like a parody of this type of book.
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