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Scales & Steam #2
Flighty Hearts & Broken Parts
Beryl is a Sylph barista who loves flirting, sparkle, and keeping things breezy. Relationships? Not his thing. But Kjartan—a quiet, broad-shouldered Orc carpenter with a missing finger and a soft smile—makes his heart flutter like it’s caught in a windstorm.One failed hookup should’ve been the end of it. Instead, Beryl finds himself agreeing to a real date…that somehow turns into shopping for a bed. Because Kjartan’s been sleeping on a couch. And suddenly, things are feeling a lot less casual.
Kjartan doesn’t believe in second chances. But bright, bold, and unpredictable Beryl sees through the walls he’s spent years building. And maybe, just maybe, this is more than a fling.
Flighty Hearts & Broken Parts is a cozy, low-stakes, open-door MM monster romance
💚 A touch-starved Orc with an impressive set of tools
💚 A flirty Sylph with an unhealthy obsession with Norwegian furniture
💚 “Will it fit?” furniture shopping moments
💚 Soft dom vibes and cinnamon roll spice
💚 From failed hookup to slow, sweet love
Sometimes love starts with a flat-pack bed and a second chance.
Flighty Hearts & Broken Parts is a cozy MM monster romance featuring a silent Orc with a broken heart, a flirty Sylph who talks a mile a minute, chore play, shared home improvement projects, and a low-stakes love story filled with warmth, healing, and a guaranteed HEA. It's book 2 in SCALES & STEAM.
Kjartan doesn’t believe in second chances. But bright, bold, and unpredictable Beryl sees through the walls he’s spent years building. And maybe, just maybe, this is more than a fling.
Flighty Hearts & Broken Parts is a cozy, low-stakes, open-door MM monster romance
💚 A touch-starved Orc with an impressive set of tools
💚 A flirty Sylph with an unhealthy obsession with Norwegian furniture
💚 “Will it fit?” furniture shopping moments
💚 Soft dom vibes and cinnamon roll spice
💚 From failed hookup to slow, sweet love
Sometimes love starts with a flat-pack bed and a second chance.
Flighty Hearts & Broken Parts is a cozy MM monster romance featuring a silent Orc with a broken heart, a flirty Sylph who talks a mile a minute, chore play, shared home improvement projects, and a low-stakes love story filled with warmth, healing, and a guaranteed HEA. It's book 2 in SCALES & STEAM.
117 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 28, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 16, 2025
The Grumpy yet sweet It's had me "Awwwww"ing 3.5
KU Read
113 Page Novella
Fantasy
Monster Romance
Slyph x Orc
Grumpy x Sunshine
For such a short book they author has managed to pack in a lot of feeling. Beryl (Bee) is a flighty Barista who doesn't do serious until he meets Kjartan, the carpenter that helped renovate the cafe he works at.
Kjartan is touch starved,socially awkward and had battles scars and PTSD. Relationships have Not been his thing but with Bee he wants it all. Bee helps build a life with Kjartan and their future looks so cosy and lovely I hope they make cameos in future books.
KU Read
113 Page Novella
Fantasy
Monster Romance
Slyph x Orc
Grumpy x Sunshine
For such a short book they author has managed to pack in a lot of feeling. Beryl (Bee) is a flighty Barista who doesn't do serious until he meets Kjartan, the carpenter that helped renovate the cafe he works at.
Kjartan is touch starved,socially awkward and had battles scars and PTSD. Relationships have Not been his thing but with Bee he wants it all. Bee helps build a life with Kjartan and their future looks so cosy and lovely I hope they make cameos in future books.
Did Not Finish
August 20, 2025DNF 18%
I usually love books with orcs, but didn't vibe with this.
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- monster romance
- sylph + orc
- grumpy x sunshine
- size difference
- instant attraction
CW: PTSD due to war trauma, disfigurement due to war injuries, death of a friend, chronic pain, social anxiety
I usually love books with orcs, but didn't vibe with this.
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- monster romance
- sylph + orc
- grumpy x sunshine
- size difference
- instant attraction
CW: PTSD due to war trauma, disfigurement due to war injuries, death of a friend, chronic pain, social anxiety
July 13, 2025
This was really cute! And I loved the MCs together. From the blurb I had assumed that B mightve been a bit of a commitment-phobe but that wasn't the case at all. They were both adorable and perfect for each other.
But, this felt more like a rough draft in some places. There were typos and even some sentences with the wrong POV in that chapter
But, this felt more like a rough draft in some places. There were typos and even some sentences with the wrong POV in that chapter
July 26, 2025
Perfect
I am obsessed with the way this author writes MM romance. It's always swoon- worthy. These two were just the cutest. They had an instant attraction to one another that I love. The love and care they both took not only with eachother but themselves is something beautiful and I love to see more of in books in the future.
I am obsessed with the way this author writes MM romance. It's always swoon- worthy. These two were just the cutest. They had an instant attraction to one another that I love. The love and care they both took not only with eachother but themselves is something beautiful and I love to see more of in books in the future.
August 12, 2026
Series: Scales & Steam #2
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
Beryl prefers to keep things casual and isn’t looking for a relationship. But when he hits it off with the hunky Kjartan, everything changes. Their failed casual hookup ends up with the proposal of dating, and within weeks they are living together.
I will admit this book was slightly disappointing for me after reading the first book. I liked both Beryl and Kjartan, but I found that we don’t get a lot of actual relationship development shown between these two. We get told they are talking a lot and see them together on the weekends, but that is mainly focused on the sex. I was expecting a bit more of them getting to know each other, especially after book one.
That said, I did like Beryl and Kjartan. They were very cute and adorable together. Their relationship was very fast and steamy. I also loved how quickly and hard these two fell for each other. I just wanted to see a bit more of the development happening, not just be told their relationship was changing. Another issue was that I wanted more of Kjartan’s backstory. He references being in a war and getting injured in it, but it’s never explained what the war was for or how his injuries occurred.
Overall, while this did lack relationship development and backstory, I still enjoyed it and plan to read the next one.
TW: brief past references to war/battle;
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
Beryl prefers to keep things casual and isn’t looking for a relationship. But when he hits it off with the hunky Kjartan, everything changes. Their failed casual hookup ends up with the proposal of dating, and within weeks they are living together.
I will admit this book was slightly disappointing for me after reading the first book. I liked both Beryl and Kjartan, but I found that we don’t get a lot of actual relationship development shown between these two. We get told they are talking a lot and see them together on the weekends, but that is mainly focused on the sex. I was expecting a bit more of them getting to know each other, especially after book one.
That said, I did like Beryl and Kjartan. They were very cute and adorable together. Their relationship was very fast and steamy. I also loved how quickly and hard these two fell for each other. I just wanted to see a bit more of the development happening, not just be told their relationship was changing. Another issue was that I wanted more of Kjartan’s backstory. He references being in a war and getting injured in it, but it’s never explained what the war was for or how his injuries occurred.
Overall, while this did lack relationship development and backstory, I still enjoyed it and plan to read the next one.
TW: brief past references to war/battle;
June 15, 2025
Thank you to the author for a free e-ARC! This is my honest review!
Flighty Hearts follows Bee and Kjartan. What started off as a potential one-night stand turned into a date....that turned into furniture shopping....that turned into more?
Bee and Kjartan are absolutely adorable together! I love them both and how quickly they both fall for each other! Bee gives light and love to Kjartan when he didn't think it was possible and that makes my heart MELT!
If you're wanting swoony, feel-good, cozy romance I highly recommend!
Flighty Hearts follows Bee and Kjartan. What started off as a potential one-night stand turned into a date....that turned into furniture shopping....that turned into more?
Bee and Kjartan are absolutely adorable together! I love them both and how quickly they both fall for each other! Bee gives light and love to Kjartan when he didn't think it was possible and that makes my heart MELT!
If you're wanting swoony, feel-good, cozy romance I highly recommend!
March 8, 2026
Genre - Monster Romance/Novella
Rating - ⭐️/5
Spice - 🌶️/5
Dual POV
MM
Main Characters
> Beryl Nowen - Sylph/Barista
> Kjartan Otharsson - Orc/Warrior Turned Carpenter
This one I struggled with.
I DNFed the first book "Purple Scales & Coffee Tales" because I struggled with the random info bombing every 30 seconds. I decided to give this one a chance just incase it was different but sadly, it wasn't ☹️I found this one to be very rushed and the story didn't have the natural flow that you'd expect from a book.
I'm going to take a break from this author and maybe come back at a later date. I do have the "Creatures & Coding" series on my shelf but I'm not entirely sure if I'm going to read them.
This story ends with a HEA for this couple. There is an Epilogue
Triggers/Tropes
▫️Anal
▫️Bites
▫️Blowjob
▫️No Cheating/Sharing
▫️No OW/OM Drama
▫️No Protection
▫️PTSD from the war (Kjartan)
▫️Size Difference
▫️Social Anxiety
▫️Swords Cross ⚔️
▫️Sylph/Orc
▫️War Injuries (Kjartan - Neck Scar/Missing Finger/Walks with a limp)
Rating - ⭐️/5
Spice - 🌶️/5
Dual POV
MM
Main Characters
> Beryl Nowen - Sylph/Barista
> Kjartan Otharsson - Orc/Warrior Turned Carpenter
This one I struggled with.
I DNFed the first book "Purple Scales & Coffee Tales" because I struggled with the random info bombing every 30 seconds. I decided to give this one a chance just incase it was different but sadly, it wasn't ☹️I found this one to be very rushed and the story didn't have the natural flow that you'd expect from a book.
I'm going to take a break from this author and maybe come back at a later date. I do have the "Creatures & Coding" series on my shelf but I'm not entirely sure if I'm going to read them.
This story ends with a HEA for this couple. There is an Epilogue
Triggers/Tropes
▫️Anal
▫️Bites
▫️Blowjob
▫️No Cheating/Sharing
▫️No OW/OM Drama
▫️No Protection
▫️PTSD from the war (Kjartan)
▫️Size Difference
▫️Social Anxiety
▫️Swords Cross ⚔️
▫️Sylph/Orc
▫️War Injuries (Kjartan - Neck Scar/Missing Finger/Walks with a limp)
July 2, 2025
“I love doing life with you.”
Beryl's a barista who met an orc carpenter, Kjartan and they decided to date despite the distance.
The cover caught my eye because there's nothing more I love than to be catfished by a beautiful cover, add that it's a MM romance with an orc? Count me in.
It's short, fun and very straight to the point.
I did not know that this was the second book in the series, and coincidentally, I read the first book last December when I went to the dentist and lo and behold, I was reading the second book in the dentist too. I love that for me.
Now, I love me some MM add that we got a monster romance, I just knew this book's gonna be fun, flirty and sweet.
I haven't read a lot of this author's work, it's that I don't think the writing style is for me because it felt like the author's telling me the story instead of painting the picture, but that's just me.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series though, maybe once I go to the dentist again lol.
Beryl's a barista who met an orc carpenter, Kjartan and they decided to date despite the distance.
The cover caught my eye because there's nothing more I love than to be catfished by a beautiful cover, add that it's a MM romance with an orc? Count me in.
It's short, fun and very straight to the point.
I did not know that this was the second book in the series, and coincidentally, I read the first book last December when I went to the dentist and lo and behold, I was reading the second book in the dentist too. I love that for me.
Now, I love me some MM add that we got a monster romance, I just knew this book's gonna be fun, flirty and sweet.
I haven't read a lot of this author's work, it's that I don't think the writing style is for me because it felt like the author's telling me the story instead of painting the picture, but that's just me.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series though, maybe once I go to the dentist again lol.
June 18, 2025
This was such a cute read! It was so cozy but extremely spicy at the same time. One moment our lovely MMCs are holding hands and shopping for furniture and the next Beryl is getting pounded into the mattress by Kjartan. I personally loved all the domestic moments, shopping for furniture and having big, scarred Kjartan sticking close and following behind Beryl was my favorite. I loved how Beryl’s confidence slowly drew out Kjartan’s, in and out of the bedroom as well. Seeing them both settle into each other and feel safe and vulnerable was perfect. I honestly was craving more domestic moments between the two of them. I would’ve loved to see them shopping for their cabin together or going on more dates. But this a perfect read if you want face paced, cozy, short, with domestic furniture shopping and high spice to boot. It was a great edition to the series and the Rheaverse!
August 21, 2025
DNF 55%
rating 2.5 stars
I don't understand where their insta-love came from. They have some kind of background, but it's irrelevant. I constantly forget that this is fantasy setting because everything in it is so mundane: bus rides, coffee shops, purchasing furniture. (also orc-mc doesn't know where to buy a bed that will fit him, but has orc-sized condoms on hand. huh. priorities.)
they say all the words you can read in romance stories, but i don't feel anything reading them.
maybe i wasn't in mood for cozy mindless story, maybe the book wasn't good enough to put me in that mood, maybe its maybeline. anyway, it didn't work for me although I liked twink-mc's style. (yeah i don't remember their names or twink's race. didn't really care to.)
gosh i feel like hater. it wasn't THAT bad, but it wasn't good.
rating 2.5 stars
I don't understand where their insta-love came from. They have some kind of background, but it's irrelevant. I constantly forget that this is fantasy setting because everything in it is so mundane: bus rides, coffee shops, purchasing furniture. (also orc-mc doesn't know where to buy a bed that will fit him, but has orc-sized condoms on hand. huh. priorities.)
they say all the words you can read in romance stories, but i don't feel anything reading them.
maybe i wasn't in mood for cozy mindless story, maybe the book wasn't good enough to put me in that mood, maybe its maybeline. anyway, it didn't work for me although I liked twink-mc's style. (yeah i don't remember their names or twink's race. didn't really care to.)
gosh i feel like hater. it wasn't THAT bad, but it wasn't good.
June 14, 2025
This was such a delicious morsel of a book!! Each time I read something by Rhea Fox it makes me believe more in the absolute fairytale that love can be!
These two characters are so different, Kjartan is so broken, and you can just FEEL the hopefulness they both have each step of their courtship. They are both so deep into each other from the very beginning but so cautious to get their hopes up or that the other might judge how they are feeling if it’s expressed openly.
What both beautiful men want is just to be cherished and loved by each other and IT JUST WORKS with the two of them.
The little cameo from Rhys was a fun bit too since I really liked their story as well. As always, 10/10 and can’t recommend Rhea enough to other readers!
These two characters are so different, Kjartan is so broken, and you can just FEEL the hopefulness they both have each step of their courtship. They are both so deep into each other from the very beginning but so cautious to get their hopes up or that the other might judge how they are feeling if it’s expressed openly.
What both beautiful men want is just to be cherished and loved by each other and IT JUST WORKS with the two of them.
The little cameo from Rhys was a fun bit too since I really liked their story as well. As always, 10/10 and can’t recommend Rhea enough to other readers!
August 1, 2025
I really wanted to like the book, but I couldn't. There was nothing there. Everything was so superficial. After reading it, I still don't know much about Kjartan or Beryl. And they skip over them actually falling in love.
I've read short books that had a complete story, this isn't one of them. This is the entire book:
I guess the sex was good.
angst 0.5/5
heat 3.5/5
story 2.5
POV dual
I've read short books that had a complete story, this isn't one of them. This is the entire book:
I guess the sex was good.
angst 0.5/5
heat 3.5/5
story 2.5
POV dual
June 23, 2025
When Beryl first lays his eyes on Kjartan, he feels an instant connection to the hulking orc. But what was supposed to be a quick adventure turns into so much more when Kjartan asks him to take it slow.
I don't know what Rhea puts into her characters but it's insta love every single time I start one of her books 🥰
There's a delicious size difference, a cute furniture shopping date, hurt/comfort and two sweet creatures falling hard and fast for each other.
Simply put: Another perfect cozy, quick and hoooot read for this summer 🥰
I don't know what Rhea puts into her characters but it's insta love every single time I start one of her books 🥰
There's a delicious size difference, a cute furniture shopping date, hurt/comfort and two sweet creatures falling hard and fast for each other.
Simply put: Another perfect cozy, quick and hoooot read for this summer 🥰
June 12, 2025
⭐ARC Review⭐
Full of frothy sweetness and sassy spice! A coffee shop meet cute between a carpenter and a barista leads to a weekend of furniture shopping and fun that feels more like domestic bliss than a single hookup. I couldn't get enough of these two cuties and their swooning for each other, the sweet flirting and so much care between them felt like a warm fuzzy blanket on a rainy day. This may be my new favorite series from Rhea because who doesn't love coffee, pastries, and spice!?
Full of frothy sweetness and sassy spice! A coffee shop meet cute between a carpenter and a barista leads to a weekend of furniture shopping and fun that feels more like domestic bliss than a single hookup. I couldn't get enough of these two cuties and their swooning for each other, the sweet flirting and so much care between them felt like a warm fuzzy blanket on a rainy day. This may be my new favorite series from Rhea because who doesn't love coffee, pastries, and spice!?
June 28, 2025
This story feels like a warm blanket on a cold day!
Beryl and Kjartan are incredibly cute together, although they couldn't be more different. Kjartan is quiet and brooding, while Beryl flits and sparkles. Their connection is instant, but they take their time with each other. I loved the slice-of-life moments with them shopping for furniture and having breakfast together. A sweet, spicy, and cozy romance!
Beryl and Kjartan are incredibly cute together, although they couldn't be more different. Kjartan is quiet and brooding, while Beryl flits and sparkles. Their connection is instant, but they take their time with each other. I loved the slice-of-life moments with them shopping for furniture and having breakfast together. A sweet, spicy, and cozy romance!
September 12, 2025
Ingredients for this drink: One pushy sylph, one nervous orc, two pumps of lube, a sprinkle of screws. Steam the milk and serve the drink scalding hot.
Kjartan and Beryl were seriously hot. From their first flirt over a coffee bar to building furniture together, all of the cuddles in between, and then their orgasmic happily ever after, these two had a very quick but no less swoony story. Very cute follow up to Scales and Steam book 1.
Kjartan and Beryl were seriously hot. From their first flirt over a coffee bar to building furniture together, all of the cuddles in between, and then their orgasmic happily ever after, these two had a very quick but no less swoony story. Very cute follow up to Scales and Steam book 1.
July 30, 2025
Usually really enjoy Rhea Fox’s books (especially the MM ones) but this was lacking throughout, no plot to speak of, no character development, and even kept switching POV within paragraphs.
This read like AI tried to copy Rhea Fox.
This read like AI tried to copy Rhea Fox.
August 21, 2025
I enjoyed this one. It’s a quick short read, u didn’t read the first in the series but you don’t need to. Both characters have issues that they work through for the relationship, the Orc is just delightful!!!
October 2, 2025
Rhea Fox truly is one of the best at writing sweet and cozy fantasy Monster Romance !
I loved both Beryl and Kjartan, two truly lovely MMCs who find comfort and their home with each other.
I will never stop recommending any of the books and Novellas in Rhea'sverse 🙌
I loved both Beryl and Kjartan, two truly lovely MMCs who find comfort and their home with each other.
I will never stop recommending any of the books and Novellas in Rhea'sverse 🙌
October 20, 2025
ok.
A lot less story the the first one, but tit all worked out for the characters in the end. Beryl and Kjartan found what they needed in each other. Thankful there was no 3rd act breakup, just a quiet rated mating that morphed into forever.
A lot less story the the first one, but tit all worked out for the characters in the end. Beryl and Kjartan found what they needed in each other. Thankful there was no 3rd act breakup, just a quiet rated mating that morphed into forever.
October 24, 2025
Adorable characters
The one liners were adorable. The characters were adorable. In a ‘love at first sight’ type story-they meet. They fall in lust. They agree it’s too fast. Then, not fast enough. Maeve makes an appearance. And another cafe with a couple’s name is born.
The one liners were adorable. The characters were adorable. In a ‘love at first sight’ type story-they meet. They fall in lust. They agree it’s too fast. Then, not fast enough. Maeve makes an appearance. And another cafe with a couple’s name is born.
April 21, 2026
This novella was just absolutely adorable and basically zero angst or stakes! I loved these two MMCs!
Tropes/content:
MM
Orc x Sylph
Insecure Orc
Confident Sylph
Hurt x comfort
Failed h00kup turned relationship
Content warning:
MMC deals with PTSD and injury from batt€l
Tropes/content:
MM
Orc x Sylph
Insecure Orc
Confident Sylph
Hurt x comfort
Failed h00kup turned relationship
Content warning:
MMC deals with PTSD and injury from batt€l
June 24, 2025
Absolutely adored Bee and Kjartan
Quick meet, fun dates, hot 🥵 smexy time 😮💨 and happy for now!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2025
So cute!
Another fantastic story from Rhea Fox! The characters are unique and lovable and their dynamic is to die for. Absolutely adorable!
Another fantastic story from Rhea Fox! The characters are unique and lovable and their dynamic is to die for. Absolutely adorable!
December 3, 2025
A cute & light but spicy read.
May 11, 2026
No comment i was never here
July 26, 2026
3.5/5
August 25, 2025
| Flighty Hearts and Broken Parts | ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a fun and adorable MM romance. The characters were endearing. I love a big mountain of a man (orc) who is so tender and sensitive. Counter that with a sassy sprite 😏 perfection.
This was a fun and adorable MM romance. The characters were endearing. I love a big mountain of a man (orc) who is so tender and sensitive. Counter that with a sassy sprite 😏 perfection.
July 23, 2025
Rhea's books never cease to make me smile. I always enjoy her characters and stories. They're beautiful and honest and make me happy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews