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Romancing His Stone #1
Titan: A Gargoyle Daddy Dom Romance
Living, breathing gargoyles shouldn’t exist. Julianna should be running for the door. But the way he looks at her… and touches her… awakens new desires.
When former child star Julianna Novak loses everything to her shady managers, she’ll do whatever it takes to win her independence back, even if it means rushing to find a new sugar daddy. When Titan, a wealthy businessman, makes her an offer she can’t refuse, she soon realizes he may not be what he seems. His curved horns, massive wings, and ribbed prehensile tail are, however, more than she ever bargained for.
Leader of the last surviving gargoyles, Titan knows what desperation looks like, and he recognizes it in Julianna. The heavy weight she carries is one he’s able to bear—and one he finds he wants to.
Julianna needs a Daddy, and Titan is ready to be the firm hand—and more—she needs.
When his missing supernatural artifact and her financial troubles unexpectedly align, Titan and Julianna find that a single night together won’t be enough. Confronted by old enemies, the diverging paths they once followed may no longer be the destiny their hearts desire.
When former child star Julianna Novak loses everything to her shady managers, she’ll do whatever it takes to win her independence back, even if it means rushing to find a new sugar daddy. When Titan, a wealthy businessman, makes her an offer she can’t refuse, she soon realizes he may not be what he seems. His curved horns, massive wings, and ribbed prehensile tail are, however, more than she ever bargained for.
Leader of the last surviving gargoyles, Titan knows what desperation looks like, and he recognizes it in Julianna. The heavy weight she carries is one he’s able to bear—and one he finds he wants to.
Julianna needs a Daddy, and Titan is ready to be the firm hand—and more—she needs.
When his missing supernatural artifact and her financial troubles unexpectedly align, Titan and Julianna find that a single night together won’t be enough. Confronted by old enemies, the diverging paths they once followed may no longer be the destiny their hearts desire.
Audio CD
First published June 15, 2022
1652 people are currently reading
7943 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Graves
9 books862 followersJillian Graves is an author of paranormal and monster romance. Jillian lives in Southern California with her partner, Bill, and their three cats, Gomez, Salem, and Luna. When not writing, she can be found trolling the Halloween section of Target for home decor or starting a new craft project she will promptly grow bored of and forget about halfway through.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,129 reviews
June 20, 2022
How dare these authors write these books and make me look like such a pervert 😭
February 16, 2024
holy shit. HOLY. SHIT. I had to remember that I was a lesbian after reading this book it was just so flipping good. When I got this book up on my Tik Tok page I was like "I'm sold" and then I saw the art on twitter and holy cheeseballs!! The writing was so good and even though the ARC was the uncorrected version there was minimal errors like her writing was just THAT good. The characters were so cute and when it wasn't steamy the plot was actually worthwhile and it even had some fluff i just love them so much :((
Go read this book when it comes out it is so good like I can't even express how much I loved it
The plot was SO GOOD
I typically don't read as many monster books and even sugar daddy books but I was just so hooked and now I am addicted. This book had some trigger warnings but the more the better, yknow? The world building was spectacular and actually had some fantasy put into it without just confusing the reader which most authors seem to struggle with.
Go read this book when it comes out it is so good like I can't even express how much I loved it
The plot was SO GOOD
I typically don't read as many monster books and even sugar daddy books but I was just so hooked and now I am addicted. This book had some trigger warnings but the more the better, yknow? The world building was spectacular and actually had some fantasy put into it without just confusing the reader which most authors seem to struggle with.
July 21, 2022
Okay. This book was well-written and entertaining and had some hot Daddy moments but OH MY GOD DO I HAVE A BONE TO PICK.
Julianna is a former child actress who has spent 10 years trying to get her money back from her thieving mother and manager. She is broke af. So broke she has turned to being a sugar baby to pay her rent and bills and lawyer to continue to lose her case. The ex-manager is winning. And he wants to put her under a conservatorship.
She ends up w billionaire daddy gargoyle who not only steals and destroys all evidence against her but threatens the loser and then beats him to a pulp when he calls her a Slut.
Is Julianna grateful? No. She's pissed that he got her ex manager off her back. She wanted to do it all by herself. But like...girl. You weren't succeeding! 10 years of trying! 10 years of bills! Everyone admitted they had enough information to put you under a conservatorship and you're mad that he literally eliminated the problem for you and saved your ass and refused to let that guy degrade you further?
She then literally puts herself in grave danger as revenge. Almost dues. As revenge for him...solving her problem? Cool. Makes total sense.
I'm sorry. The book was good overall but this left such a sour taste in my mouth. I'm kinda sick of heroines who would rather die in a ditch then accept help.
Julianna is a former child actress who has spent 10 years trying to get her money back from her thieving mother and manager. She is broke af. So broke she has turned to being a sugar baby to pay her rent and bills and lawyer to continue to lose her case. The ex-manager is winning. And he wants to put her under a conservatorship.
She ends up w billionaire daddy gargoyle who not only steals and destroys all evidence against her but threatens the loser and then beats him to a pulp when he calls her a Slut.
Is Julianna grateful? No. She's pissed that he got her ex manager off her back. She wanted to do it all by herself. But like...girl. You weren't succeeding! 10 years of trying! 10 years of bills! Everyone admitted they had enough information to put you under a conservatorship and you're mad that he literally eliminated the problem for you and saved your ass and refused to let that guy degrade you further?
She then literally puts herself in grave danger as revenge. Almost dues. As revenge for him...solving her problem? Cool. Makes total sense.
I'm sorry. The book was good overall but this left such a sour taste in my mouth. I'm kinda sick of heroines who would rather die in a ditch then accept help.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2024
Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥+
Humor: A bit
Perspective: First person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? A pretty balanced mix of both but maybe a bit more plot focused
When mains are first on page together: forgot to note this! I don’t think it was too far in though
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes
Format: listened to the audiobook from library (Hoopla)
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
This is book 1 of Graves’ Romancing His Stone series.
Basic plot:
Behind on rent and living in a mountain of debt, Julianna can’t turn down Titan’s absurdly generous payments to be her Daddy – though she didn’t bargain for him also being a gargoyle.
Give this a try if you want:
- monster romance
- contemporary setting
- gargoyle hero / human heroine
- child free couple
- sex worker heroine
- bit of a mystery/planned burglary
- bit of instalust
- size difference – heroine is tall, but the hero is very large in gargoyle form
- very protective hero
- higher steam – 8 scenes with kink (tail play/bondage, ,praise, Daddy/baby girl dynamics, spanking)
Ages:
- Heroine is 30, hero looks 40 in human glamour, but is over 600 ;)
First line:
Fat rivulets of rain flood the grooves of my granite back and drop off the tips of my claws and horns.
My thoughts:
I was not sure what to expect before diving into this one. I would have said I am not really interested in Daddy kink romance, but ummmm very much loved it!
There was something so amazing about how absolutely protective Titan is. So, so protective and always thinking about her and her comfort. He spoils her and I adore it. There’s something about watching Titan go from an absolutely brutal attack to protect the heroine to pampering her with the utmost care.
Julianna I loved too. She’s very adaptable because she’s had to be. And as hard as it was for me to read about her super toxic and abusive family, the comeuppance for them is so satisfying.
The world building here was interesting to me – loved the whole gargoyle gang Titan has going on 😂 I’m definitely curious about more from this world and would read more in the series when they come out!
Endearments
Cock/Hero Stats:
Quotes/thoughts: (Any mistakes are my own)
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdowns mean, where to find me, and book clubs
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥+
Humor: A bit
Perspective: First person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? A pretty balanced mix of both but maybe a bit more plot focused
When mains are first on page together: forgot to note this! I don’t think it was too far in though
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes
Format: listened to the audiobook from library (Hoopla)
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
This is book 1 of Graves’ Romancing His Stone series.
Basic plot:
Behind on rent and living in a mountain of debt, Julianna can’t turn down Titan’s absurdly generous payments to be her Daddy – though she didn’t bargain for him also being a gargoyle.
Give this a try if you want:
- monster romance
- contemporary setting
- gargoyle hero / human heroine
- child free couple
- sex worker heroine
- bit of a mystery/planned burglary
- bit of instalust
- size difference – heroine is tall, but the hero is very large in gargoyle form
- very protective hero
- higher steam – 8 scenes with kink (tail play/bondage, ,praise, Daddy/baby girl dynamics, spanking)
Ages:
- Heroine is 30, hero looks 40 in human glamour, but is over 600 ;)
First line:
Fat rivulets of rain flood the grooves of my granite back and drop off the tips of my claws and horns.
My thoughts:
I was not sure what to expect before diving into this one. I would have said I am not really interested in Daddy kink romance, but ummmm very much loved it!
There was something so amazing about how absolutely protective Titan is. So, so protective and always thinking about her and her comfort. He spoils her and I adore it. There’s something about watching Titan go from an absolutely brutal attack to protect the heroine to pampering her with the utmost care.
Julianna I loved too. She’s very adaptable because she’s had to be. And as hard as it was for me to read about her super toxic and abusive family, the comeuppance for them is so satisfying.
The world building here was interesting to me – loved the whole gargoyle gang Titan has going on 😂 I’m definitely curious about more from this world and would read more in the series when they come out!
Endearments
Cock/Hero Stats:
Quotes/thoughts: (Any mistakes are my own)
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdowns mean, where to find me, and book clubs
July 7, 2022
3.5 it’s one of those books you read and just know you are going to devour the entire series that will follow. Also I’m living for all the gargoyle books we are getting lately. It feeds my kinky little soul
June 30, 2022
Okay, hear me out. This book had 6 star steam. So. Hot. 🥵 Holy crap, the praise kink. Us romance readers are over here losing our minds if a book has one or two Good Girls. Meanwhile this book had so many, I lost count. Titan’s Dom energy was everything—so bossy, so dirty, but so caring. It was a potent mixture. And that’s from someone whose Freud-infected brain still cringes at dirty talk involving the word ‘Daddy.’ Monster peen, butt stuff, a tail that gets involved, and lots of 💦, I can’t even with how steamy this was.
But. I hated literally everything else 🤣 Some of it was purely a me-thing. I dislike ‘Find the Object’ subplots in any book and I don’t enjoy financially abusive mother stories. The info dumping was out of control and completely unnecessary. And there were ~many~ nonsensical plot points.
I also didn’t like the Sugar Daddy element. My least favourite romance plotline is the ‘we’re sleeping together but keeping it casual’ (in this case, keeping it compensatory) because you know I’m trash for unresolved sexual tension. But also, romance is truly dead if this counts as a romance plot. This wasn’t a relationship between Julianna and Titan—it was between Julianna and Titan’s wallet. Is it even an HEA if she’d dump him if he became poor? Titan’s arc was about choosing her but she was choosing money until the bitter end. When the ILYs happened, I was so confused.
But. I hated literally everything else 🤣 Some of it was purely a me-thing. I dislike ‘Find the Object’ subplots in any book and I don’t enjoy financially abusive mother stories. The info dumping was out of control and completely unnecessary. And there were ~many~ nonsensical plot points.
I also didn’t like the Sugar Daddy element. My least favourite romance plotline is the ‘we’re sleeping together but keeping it casual’ (in this case, keeping it compensatory) because you know I’m trash for unresolved sexual tension. But also, romance is truly dead if this counts as a romance plot. This wasn’t a relationship between Julianna and Titan—it was between Julianna and Titan’s wallet. Is it even an HEA if she’d dump him if he became poor? Titan’s arc was about choosing her but she was choosing money until the bitter end. When the ILYs happened, I was so confused.
June 21, 2022
I didnt know I would love this book alot!!!
Titan been on a mission trying to find a item him and his brotherhood have been looking for for ages and he sees a opening when the date he was spying on copy a address. So now he has a plan get Jules to give him the paper. And that's what he ask on there first sugar date Jules is confused with all the questions and she's annoyed that this date is about getting info on someone else. She has her own problem with her mother and ex manager to be dealing with this. But there is a spark between them they have a night together and well a big suprise when she tries to steal from him and well out comes the gargoyle!!!!
Monster fucking!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Jules now finding out about monster and making a deal with daddy Titan and his brotherhood and she gets money to help her out of her mess. The spice is yummy and boy did Titan act like a good daddy dom. But there was some ups and downs and problems but that didn't stop Titan from stalking his girl and getting possessive over her. I loved it and we saw a enemy for our guys.
I wanna see the other brothers get there hea. Amd I think Eden and Rook are next.
No ow drama tiny om drama (ex dates), no cheating, slight secondary character, drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶.5
Slowinsta
Push away from H
Age gap
Violence
Daddy kink
Tiny edge play
Monster fucking
Tiny Seperation (he would stalk)
Anal play/sex
Spankings
Praise kink
Tail play
No condom
Hea
Epilogue
Titan been on a mission trying to find a item him and his brotherhood have been looking for for ages and he sees a opening when the date he was spying on copy a address. So now he has a plan get Jules to give him the paper. And that's what he ask on there first sugar date Jules is confused with all the questions and she's annoyed that this date is about getting info on someone else. She has her own problem with her mother and ex manager to be dealing with this. But there is a spark between them they have a night together and well a big suprise when she tries to steal from him and well out comes the gargoyle!!!!
Monster fucking!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Jules now finding out about monster and making a deal with daddy Titan and his brotherhood and she gets money to help her out of her mess. The spice is yummy and boy did Titan act like a good daddy dom. But there was some ups and downs and problems but that didn't stop Titan from stalking his girl and getting possessive over her. I loved it and we saw a enemy for our guys.
I wanna see the other brothers get there hea. Amd I think Eden and Rook are next.
No ow drama tiny om drama (ex dates), no cheating, slight secondary character, drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶.5
Slowinsta
Push away from H
Age gap
Violence
Daddy kink
Tiny edge play
Monster fucking
Tiny Seperation (he would stalk)
Anal play/sex
Spankings
Praise kink
Tail play
No condom
Hea
Epilogue
July 9, 2023
1.5
Tengo un problema y ha sido esta novela. Por un lado, no me han gustado nada los protagonistas. Admito tener bastante paciencia (cuando me interesa, claro) pero lo de estos personajes se pasa de castaño oscuro, eran demasiado insoportables. Además, siento que el argumento de esta novela no está hecho para mí. A quien le guste este tipo de argumento de Sugar Daddy se los recomiendo, si no, ya puedes ir buscando otra novela.
Por otro lado, entiendo que sea un libro de erótica y de repente de la nada ya estén teniendo sexo. No sé, me esperaba al menos un poco de desarrollo, un mínimo. Aunque teniendo en cuenta que ella es Sugar baby tiene sentido. No lo sé. Sinceramente no sé cómo va ese mundo y tampoco me voy a poner ahora indagar el tema. Al final estaba ya asqueada de tanta escena sexual que solo quería saber que ocurría con la historia, aunque tampoco es nada del otro mundo.
En fin, he sacado dos conclusiones de esta novela: la primera que este argumento si puedo evitarlo no lo leo, y, en segundo lugar, me he dado cuenta que las gárgolas como “monstruos” me gustan. Tienen su toque, aunque al final no dejan de ser una derivación de los “demonios” y son humanoides ( ya me entienden no nos pongamos exquisitos).
Tengo un problema y ha sido esta novela. Por un lado, no me han gustado nada los protagonistas. Admito tener bastante paciencia (cuando me interesa, claro) pero lo de estos personajes se pasa de castaño oscuro, eran demasiado insoportables. Además, siento que el argumento de esta novela no está hecho para mí. A quien le guste este tipo de argumento de Sugar Daddy se los recomiendo, si no, ya puedes ir buscando otra novela.
Por otro lado, entiendo que sea un libro de erótica y de repente de la nada ya estén teniendo sexo. No sé, me esperaba al menos un poco de desarrollo, un mínimo. Aunque teniendo en cuenta que ella es Sugar baby tiene sentido. No lo sé. Sinceramente no sé cómo va ese mundo y tampoco me voy a poner ahora indagar el tema. Al final estaba ya asqueada de tanta escena sexual que solo quería saber que ocurría con la historia, aunque tampoco es nada del otro mundo.
En fin, he sacado dos conclusiones de esta novela: la primera que este argumento si puedo evitarlo no lo leo, y, en segundo lugar, me he dado cuenta que las gárgolas como “monstruos” me gustan. Tienen su toque, aunque al final no dejan de ser una derivación de los “demonios” y son humanoides ( ya me entienden no nos pongamos exquisitos).
October 30, 2022
I was so excited to read a gargoyle romance book, but unfortunately, it didn't work out for me as well as I hoped it would. The first half was pretty fun, though a little repetitive, but once the second half hit, both characters started grating on my nerves and it went downhill from there.
I get that Titan is a full-on "Daddy" (which is fine—I might not like the nickname, but I dig the mannerisms), but he reaches a certain point where, despite being respectful of Julianna's needs and consent in the bedroom, he shows no regard whatsoever for her boundaries outside of the bedroom, and it pissed me off. Julianna reacted just as angrily as I expected her to, so that wasn't the problem, but she was so childish about the entire ordeal that it made it difficult to empathize with her, either—leaving me annoyed with both of them.
One of these days, I'll find the gargoyle romance my lifelong Gargoyles-adoring heart deserves, but today wasn't that day.
Buddy read with Malli 💖
✨ Content warnings for:
———
twitter | booktok | bookstagram | blog
I get that Titan is a full-on "Daddy" (which is fine—I might not like the nickname, but I dig the mannerisms), but he reaches a certain point where, despite being respectful of Julianna's needs and consent in the bedroom, he shows no regard whatsoever for her boundaries outside of the bedroom, and it pissed me off. Julianna reacted just as angrily as I expected her to, so that wasn't the problem, but she was so childish about the entire ordeal that it made it difficult to empathize with her, either—leaving me annoyed with both of them.
One of these days, I'll find the gargoyle romance my lifelong Gargoyles-adoring heart deserves, but today wasn't that day.
Buddy read with Malli 💖
✨ Content warnings for:
———
twitter | booktok | bookstagram | blog
September 23, 2022
I had a great time with this spicy monster Romance. Great Daddy kink and interesting plot. Got a little ridiculous and not because of the gargoyles... haha!
4 stars
4 on the spice scale
4 stars
4 on the spice scale
Read
June 23, 2022dnf @ 46%
I FEEL SO BAD NOT FINISHING THIS BOOK BECAUSE I WAS SO EXCITED!!!
But anyways, I wanted to love this book, I truly did. I did like aspects of it, Jules and her profession not shed in a negative light, for one. I just personally never felt the intensity between Titan and Jules. The chemistry wasn't there, I wasn't dying for them to rip each others' clothes off, nothing, nada. I also felt nothing reading their s*x scenes!!! HOW COULD I NOTT!!!?? Everything felt "meh" to me, especially the romance and that was the main reason I picked this up.
I will say, the mythology surrounding these gargoyles was darn interesting, their origins, their purpose, but for it to be a romance book and for me to not care about the romance, is a problem. I might try this author's other works once they're released because I did enjoy aspects of this story. And maybe another set of characters will have the chemistry unlike this couple.
I FEEL SO BAD NOT FINISHING THIS BOOK BECAUSE I WAS SO EXCITED!!!
But anyways, I wanted to love this book, I truly did. I did like aspects of it, Jules and her profession not shed in a negative light, for one. I just personally never felt the intensity between Titan and Jules. The chemistry wasn't there, I wasn't dying for them to rip each others' clothes off, nothing, nada. I also felt nothing reading their s*x scenes!!! HOW COULD I NOTT!!!?? Everything felt "meh" to me, especially the romance and that was the main reason I picked this up.
I will say, the mythology surrounding these gargoyles was darn interesting, their origins, their purpose, but for it to be a romance book and for me to not care about the romance, is a problem. I might try this author's other works once they're released because I did enjoy aspects of this story. And maybe another set of characters will have the chemistry unlike this couple.
December 28, 2022
2,5 stars rounded up
September 27, 2023
You know when the horror scene has got you so burnt out that you just want a romance, but romance between humans seems a little much? Apparently monster romance has your back (thank you monster romance you're a real one!). I'm seriously not a romance reader so I have no idea if this one was a good one for the genre, but I thought it was fun for the most part.
Do I *get* the Daddy Dom thing? Absolutely not. Am I still sex repulsed? Absolutely. Did I still have fun? Yes, it was cute at times and I thought the spice wasn't too gross for me even though there's a fair bit of it. Was this review a mess? Totally, you're welcome.
Do I *get* the Daddy Dom thing? Absolutely not. Am I still sex repulsed? Absolutely. Did I still have fun? Yes, it was cute at times and I thought the spice wasn't too gross for me even though there's a fair bit of it. Was this review a mess? Totally, you're welcome.
June 17, 2022
4/5⭐️
3/5🌶
First book Jillian’s Gargoyle’s series and can’t wait for the other books! The first one follows Titan and Jules. Jules is a child actress who turns to being a sugar baby since her mother has locked up her funds. Titan is the ultimate Daddy Dom and becomes her sugar daddy.
Titan is also a gargoyle who is on the hunt for the “keystone” that protects something very valuable to the Strange community.
They both need each other to find the keystone and for financial support. What starts off as an arrangement quickly becomes a slow budding relationship.
I loved the dynamic between Titan and Jules - this was not insta love and appreciated it for this story! Their relationship really was genuine and Titan was the ultimate daddy.
The goodies
Daddy/Brat
Tail play
🍑 play
Spanking
Choking
Received an arc in exchange for an honest review
3/5🌶
First book Jillian’s Gargoyle’s series and can’t wait for the other books! The first one follows Titan and Jules. Jules is a child actress who turns to being a sugar baby since her mother has locked up her funds. Titan is the ultimate Daddy Dom and becomes her sugar daddy.
Titan is also a gargoyle who is on the hunt for the “keystone” that protects something very valuable to the Strange community.
They both need each other to find the keystone and for financial support. What starts off as an arrangement quickly becomes a slow budding relationship.
I loved the dynamic between Titan and Jules - this was not insta love and appreciated it for this story! Their relationship really was genuine and Titan was the ultimate daddy.
The goodies
Daddy/Brat
Tail play
🍑 play
Spanking
Choking
Received an arc in exchange for an honest review
June 15, 2022
Firstly, a huge thank you to the author for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Secondly, if - like me - any of you watched Gargoyles growing up and were a little bit too into Goliath… then this book is for you. Titan is practical, protective, composed, and … boy does he love to spoil.
We often see the juxtaposition of women and monsters in media on account of them both being essentially hated by society. Considering this, the sexual tension that often results comes from the monster being the only male in the woman’s life who sees her for what she is and is her equal. He understands what it is to be downtrodden and despised, he does not belong to the society that shames and oppresses her. Despite being a super fun piece of fluff and super spicy, Titan touches on this idea very well! The commentary on finances, on sex work and sex positivity - it’s subtle but important.
We have Julianna, a protagonist with too much on her shoulders and impending debts that she has to make the money to pay off. In the other corner, we have Titan who has strong protective instincts - he was created to protect - and more money than he knows what to do with. It’s a match made in heaven. Or a match made in the Relic Room for this purpose. Maybe I’m just someone who craves being taken care of, but I really enjoyed this as a piece of fantasy fiction that is so wonderful to escape into.
It’s spicy (obviously) but also unexpectedly vulnerable. We have some interesting world building happening in this book and a nice set up for future ones in this world! I’m excited to see what comes next for Rook!
*******minor spoilers ahead**********
I removed one star because, personally, I love an epilogue with marriage and kids and that white picket domesticity. The author made it super clear that, that kind of happy ending wasn’t on the cards for our couple here. I enjoyed it anyways but that would have just been perfect for me.
**end of spoilers**
Secondly, if - like me - any of you watched Gargoyles growing up and were a little bit too into Goliath… then this book is for you. Titan is practical, protective, composed, and … boy does he love to spoil.
We often see the juxtaposition of women and monsters in media on account of them both being essentially hated by society. Considering this, the sexual tension that often results comes from the monster being the only male in the woman’s life who sees her for what she is and is her equal. He understands what it is to be downtrodden and despised, he does not belong to the society that shames and oppresses her. Despite being a super fun piece of fluff and super spicy, Titan touches on this idea very well! The commentary on finances, on sex work and sex positivity - it’s subtle but important.
We have Julianna, a protagonist with too much on her shoulders and impending debts that she has to make the money to pay off. In the other corner, we have Titan who has strong protective instincts - he was created to protect - and more money than he knows what to do with. It’s a match made in heaven. Or a match made in the Relic Room for this purpose. Maybe I’m just someone who craves being taken care of, but I really enjoyed this as a piece of fantasy fiction that is so wonderful to escape into.
It’s spicy (obviously) but also unexpectedly vulnerable. We have some interesting world building happening in this book and a nice set up for future ones in this world! I’m excited to see what comes next for Rook!
*******minor spoilers ahead**********
I removed one star because, personally, I love an epilogue with marriage and kids and that white picket domesticity. The author made it super clear that, that kind of happy ending wasn’t on the cards for our couple here. I enjoyed it anyways but that would have just been perfect for me.
**end of spoilers**
July 1, 2022
There is a saying…..
You don't judge a book by its cover.......
And that's it.
Only the cover of the book is good.
DNF
You don't judge a book by its cover.......
And that's it.
Only the cover of the book is good.
DNF
February 9, 2023
5 stars is not enough for this book.
At 25% in, I immediately went and purchased a paperback copy. I NEVER do that before I finish a book, I reserve my paperback purchases for books that I will reread or have touched me deeply. This one is both. It is my precious, and I both want to have it on display as a prized collection item, and carry it with me everywhere.
I was really nervous about writing this review, because I feel like nothing I could say would do it justice, it is so amazing, so fantastic, I can’t even express in words how much I loved it! 😭 It reached something in me, deep into the darkest corners of my soul, and brought them to light in a warm, horny hug. I have a huge praise/daddy/little kink. Big time. And this book made me feel so seen.
When I think about this book, I feel so much emotion. The same way I felt about Ice Planet Barbarians the first time I read it. It just was everything I needed and then some. This book healed me through the pages, on so many levels. Julianna’s mom is very similar to my mom, a psycho bitch, that would use her daughter to get what she wants, and reading about the struggles and triumphs, seeing someone else have almost word for word experiences, I always find incredibly cathartic.
I loved Jules. I loved that everything she did wasn’t perfect, and sometimes it wasn’t pretty. sometimes she was petty, sometimes she had emotions she didn’t know what to do with, and that was just so real. Her struggles with trust and relying on people just touched me deep, bullseye, to the heart. I loved seeing an empowered sex worker who loved her job, and then fall in love with the ULTIMATE daddy gargoyle 🥵.
TITAN. WAS. PERFECTION. I was a big fan of the tv show Gargoyles, and have the DVDs that I still watch to this day. When I tell you this book was a balm to my soullllllllll! Titan was the perfect daddy, but he was also complex and tortured, with the world on his shoulders. God I was pissed at the witches that made him- how torturous to create a being that would be beholden to the pull of an intense magical item. And then to give this being the ability to have wants, desires, beyond the pull, but still be a prisoner to it? It’s practically like a drug. This just seems incredibly cruel to me. But GAH the angst! I loved it 🫠.
I loved reading about these two imperfect and complex souls, and see them find each other in an unconventional way. This is going to be a reread for me for sure, and obviously the paperback is on its way here to be added to my peen collection 😈💚.
👽🍆😈
At 25% in, I immediately went and purchased a paperback copy. I NEVER do that before I finish a book, I reserve my paperback purchases for books that I will reread or have touched me deeply. This one is both. It is my precious, and I both want to have it on display as a prized collection item, and carry it with me everywhere.
I was really nervous about writing this review, because I feel like nothing I could say would do it justice, it is so amazing, so fantastic, I can’t even express in words how much I loved it! 😭 It reached something in me, deep into the darkest corners of my soul, and brought them to light in a warm, horny hug. I have a huge praise/daddy/little kink. Big time. And this book made me feel so seen.
When I think about this book, I feel so much emotion. The same way I felt about Ice Planet Barbarians the first time I read it. It just was everything I needed and then some. This book healed me through the pages, on so many levels. Julianna’s mom is very similar to my mom, a psycho bitch, that would use her daughter to get what she wants, and reading about the struggles and triumphs, seeing someone else have almost word for word experiences, I always find incredibly cathartic.
I loved Jules. I loved that everything she did wasn’t perfect, and sometimes it wasn’t pretty. sometimes she was petty, sometimes she had emotions she didn’t know what to do with, and that was just so real. Her struggles with trust and relying on people just touched me deep, bullseye, to the heart. I loved seeing an empowered sex worker who loved her job, and then fall in love with the ULTIMATE daddy gargoyle 🥵.
TITAN. WAS. PERFECTION. I was a big fan of the tv show Gargoyles, and have the DVDs that I still watch to this day. When I tell you this book was a balm to my soullllllllll! Titan was the perfect daddy, but he was also complex and tortured, with the world on his shoulders. God I was pissed at the witches that made him- how torturous to create a being that would be beholden to the pull of an intense magical item. And then to give this being the ability to have wants, desires, beyond the pull, but still be a prisoner to it? It’s practically like a drug. This just seems incredibly cruel to me. But GAH the angst! I loved it 🫠.
I loved reading about these two imperfect and complex souls, and see them find each other in an unconventional way. This is going to be a reread for me for sure, and obviously the paperback is on its way here to be added to my peen collection 😈💚.
👽🍆😈
June 27, 2022
An honest ARC review.
This is going to hurt and will contain spoilers.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'll start by saying it was well written, easy to read and had a clear tone of voice.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it the way everyone else seemed too. For me the characters were flat and predictable. The plot was at first promising and then disappointing. Everything moved at a snails pace that I almost DNF'd.
I love monster, insta love, Dom/sub romances but there was little romance here. Yes, lots of spice but little romance. The "connection" between the 2 main characters was superficial and I saw no real character growth by the end of the story. Sure, they admitted to being wrong and in love but it was very anticlimactic. This was very hard to get through due to being so bored.
Not sure I will read book 2.
This is going to hurt and will contain spoilers.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'll start by saying it was well written, easy to read and had a clear tone of voice.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it the way everyone else seemed too. For me the characters were flat and predictable. The plot was at first promising and then disappointing. Everything moved at a snails pace that I almost DNF'd.
I love monster, insta love, Dom/sub romances but there was little romance here. Yes, lots of spice but little romance. The "connection" between the 2 main characters was superficial and I saw no real character growth by the end of the story. Sure, they admitted to being wrong and in love but it was very anticlimactic. This was very hard to get through due to being so bored.
Not sure I will read book 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2022
I struggled with how to rate this. Up until about 50% I was really enjoying this.
I feel like Jules held out WAY too long with her stubborn pride and trying to act like someone she wasn’t. Titan was nothing but upfront and honest with her. He took better care of her than all the other people in her life and I feel like she took it for granted.
She was annoying af after a while and her reaction to him helping her made no sense.
The smut was really good though. This would’ve been perfect with a different heroine. Preferably one who was more understanding and less self involved.
I feel like Jules held out WAY too long with her stubborn pride and trying to act like someone she wasn’t. Titan was nothing but upfront and honest with her. He took better care of her than all the other people in her life and I feel like she took it for granted.
She was annoying af after a while and her reaction to him helping her made no sense.
The smut was really good though. This would’ve been perfect with a different heroine. Preferably one who was more understanding and less self involved.
August 26, 2022
I need a real-life gargoyle immediately!!!!
Full review to come!
Full review to come!
Did not finish
June 27, 2022DNF@26% 79/302
I’m just gonna go ahead and put this down.
I might decide to pick it up again later but right now I’m just not feeling their dynamic.
With the money aspect, it’s just not feeling authentic to me and I don’t like that.
And I’m not in the mood to wait and see if their dynamic grows and evolves.
Maybe I will be later, like I said.
This book has a lot of elements that I like to read about, and just one or two that I’m not sold on, so we’ll see.
I’m just gonna go ahead and put this down.
I might decide to pick it up again later but right now I’m just not feeling their dynamic.
With the money aspect, it’s just not feeling authentic to me and I don’t like that.
And I’m not in the mood to wait and see if their dynamic grows and evolves.
Maybe I will be later, like I said.
This book has a lot of elements that I like to read about, and just one or two that I’m not sold on, so we’ll see.
Did not finish
July 10, 2022dnf @ Chapter 4
This writing style just wasn't for me, too many icks
This writing style just wasn't for me, too many icks
October 7, 2024
thoroughly entertaining. liked the FMC’s backstory and how she got into sugar babying
June 15, 2022
Absolutely positively 500% yes to Titan and everything he is as a daddy dom.
It’s always tough for me to find a good story with that basis, something that engages me without being corny or cringy. But this delivered. We have a story that’s sexy while also being hella vulnerable. It’s a very solid mix of the two as well.
There’s also more work building then I was expecting but I loved it? There’s set up for this large and strange world that has so much possibility while also giving us a solid basis if the author wanted to explore Titans brothers in any real way. And it was all handled so smoothly that it doesn’t feel like we are missing a piece of the story but there’s easily so much potential to be realized. The author expertly drew us in and gave us just enough to get hooked for more.
I will say the sex scenes delivered in big ways, BIG ways 😄 And while the story of Titan and Jules in the confines of this book felt complete there’s also possibility there for more. This author has so much skill and I can’t wait to read more from her.
It’s always tough for me to find a good story with that basis, something that engages me without being corny or cringy. But this delivered. We have a story that’s sexy while also being hella vulnerable. It’s a very solid mix of the two as well.
There’s also more work building then I was expecting but I loved it? There’s set up for this large and strange world that has so much possibility while also giving us a solid basis if the author wanted to explore Titans brothers in any real way. And it was all handled so smoothly that it doesn’t feel like we are missing a piece of the story but there’s easily so much potential to be realized. The author expertly drew us in and gave us just enough to get hooked for more.
I will say the sex scenes delivered in big ways, BIG ways 😄 And while the story of Titan and Jules in the confines of this book felt complete there’s also possibility there for more. This author has so much skill and I can’t wait to read more from her.
May 17, 2024
DNF: I unfortunately DNF at ~15%. I think there were too many things that prevented me from enjoying it, which I'm sad because I really wanted to read a gargoyle monster romance book. The main issues I had:
-The constant contradictions arising. For example, she comments that she can't possibly get a 'normal job' because being a sugar baby allows her 'control and to live exactly how she saw fit', HOWEVER!!!! - she complains INCESSENTLY about things like being unable to pay rent, being kicked out, etc. etc. That doesn't sound like she's very 'in control'. It sounds like she needs to re-evaluate her life choices of being laterally the same as a prostitute, occupation wise, if you consider a 'sugar baby' even an occupation - me? It sounds like a free loader. Good lord, get a job.
-There were phrases and situations that felt like it was set up to be a low-budget porno mixed with smut book cliches
-Her boobs are essentially a side character, considering how often they are mentioned or stared at
-When she finally does seem to land an actual sugar baby/sugar daddy situation, she fights it the whole way. Her WHOLE goal seems to be to figure out how to pay rent and her lawyer by the end of the month, but she can't POSSIBLY imagine that any relationship with Titan may bear fruit and benefit her on a financial scale despite the constant evidence
-Her being 'turned on' by being paid and the sound of a cash app ding was definitely a 'turn off'.
-I unfortunately can't take a book seriously when the characters call each other 'daddy' and 'baby girl'. This last one was my bad, since I probably should have known that was what was going to be in the book based on the description. The whole set-up to her calling him 'daddy' for the first time was absolutely the most cringiest thing I had ever read.
-The constant contradictions arising. For example, she comments that she can't possibly get a 'normal job' because being a sugar baby allows her 'control and to live exactly how she saw fit', HOWEVER!!!! - she complains INCESSENTLY about things like being unable to pay rent, being kicked out, etc. etc. That doesn't sound like she's very 'in control'. It sounds like she needs to re-evaluate her life choices of being laterally the same as a prostitute, occupation wise, if you consider a 'sugar baby' even an occupation - me? It sounds like a free loader. Good lord, get a job.
-There were phrases and situations that felt like it was set up to be a low-budget porno mixed with smut book cliches
-Her boobs are essentially a side character, considering how often they are mentioned or stared at
-When she finally does seem to land an actual sugar baby/sugar daddy situation, she fights it the whole way. Her WHOLE goal seems to be to figure out how to pay rent and her lawyer by the end of the month, but she can't POSSIBLY imagine that any relationship with Titan may bear fruit and benefit her on a financial scale despite the constant evidence
-Her being 'turned on' by being paid and the sound of a cash app ding was definitely a 'turn off'.
-I unfortunately can't take a book seriously when the characters call each other 'daddy' and 'baby girl'. This last one was my bad, since I probably should have known that was what was going to be in the book based on the description. The whole set-up to her calling him 'daddy' for the first time was absolutely the most cringiest thing I had ever read.
May 23, 2022
3.5 stars! Overall I must say I was impressed and ENJOYED this read immensely! We all know I love a monster romance, and this was my first gargoyle (god, if childhood me could see me now she’d be so proud 🥹). I loved Titan!
Things I liked a lot: Titan’s protective/possessive nature, the CAVE (iykyk), titan’s relationship with the brotherhood, positive commentary on sex work, some of the dry jokes
Things I didn’t care for as much: Jules’s backstory wasn’t particularly compelling to me, almost too many side characters (the coven? Meh), the heist plot got a little bit boring before it got GOOOOOD, the pull thing changing wasn’t explained super clearly
I would def recommend this to someone looking to read a monster romance! Titan was a sweetheart and I really liked the way he and Jules provoked each other. I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review and all thoughts above are my own!
Things I liked a lot: Titan’s protective/possessive nature, the CAVE (iykyk), titan’s relationship with the brotherhood, positive commentary on sex work, some of the dry jokes
Things I didn’t care for as much: Jules’s backstory wasn’t particularly compelling to me, almost too many side characters (the coven? Meh), the heist plot got a little bit boring before it got GOOOOOD, the pull thing changing wasn’t explained super clearly
I would def recommend this to someone looking to read a monster romance! Titan was a sweetheart and I really liked the way he and Jules provoked each other. I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review and all thoughts above are my own!
January 23, 2023
I don't like when the fmc is in desperate need of help but lets her stubbornness and pride push help away. And when the help comes anyway and the fmc is absurdly ungrateful and ridicules the person giving her the hand she needed? Yeaaaah, no thanks. Titan deserves better.
That dislike aside, I thought the magic system was interesting, the smut was decent (In one scene, the mmc punishes fmc via spanking and doesn't let her orgasm! Thank you. Punishment done the way I want it done lol), and I love a MMC that wants nothing more than to spoil his woman.
TLDR: Plot: intriguing; Pacing: dragged; Heroine: strongly disliked.
If you're looking for a daddy dom high heat (to the point that it borders on too much smut *gasp*) gargoyle monster romance, this might be your jam. But if you want all that with a reasonable fmc? I'd look elsewhere.
Rating 2.5 rounded up to 3. *Being a touch lenient because this is the author's first full-fledge publication.
That dislike aside, I thought the magic system was interesting, the smut was decent (In one scene, the mmc punishes fmc via spanking and doesn't let her orgasm! Thank you. Punishment done the way I want it done lol), and I love a MMC that wants nothing more than to spoil his woman.
TLDR: Plot: intriguing; Pacing: dragged; Heroine: strongly disliked.
If you're looking for a daddy dom high heat (to the point that it borders on too much smut *gasp*) gargoyle monster romance, this might be your jam. But if you want all that with a reasonable fmc? I'd look elsewhere.
Rating 2.5 rounded up to 3. *Being a touch lenient because this is the author's first full-fledge publication.
November 11, 2022
The first 57% was good, but…
The heroine behaves like a spoiled child. She is stupid and doesn't think about the consequences. She has no humility or self-criticism at all. She wanted to hit him wtf. Definitely she is the pettiest girl ever.
1 star for spicy scenes. 2 for gargoyles especially Daddy
The heroine behaves like a spoiled child. She is stupid and doesn't think about the consequences. She has no humility or self-criticism at all. She wanted to hit him wtf. Definitely she is the pettiest girl ever.
1 star for spicy scenes. 2 for gargoyles especially Daddy
July 9, 2023
as a certified monster fucker this book did not keep my attention at all, the plot was boring and the smut was forgettable, couldn't force myself to finish it
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