Read Smut Bookstore

Read Smut #1

by Kate J. Blake

SOME THINGS ARE WORTH BREAKING FOR

Sophie
I inherited a bookstore that smells like old paper and cinnamon. I drink too much coffee. I run a smutty Book Club. And I need help to fix a few things before everything falls apart.
Grady Carter is quiet. Brooding. Built like a wall I should absolutely not want to climb. But every time something breaks, he shows up. Always one step ahead.
I don’t trust easy.
But I think I’m starting to trust him.
And that’s terrifying.

Grady
She’s soft. Loud. Smart-mouthed. Curvy as sin. She smells like vanilla and trouble.
From the second I walk into that bookstore, I know I’m screwed.
Sophie’s the kind of woman who makes a man want things—quiet things. Domestic things. Forever things. I’ve never wanted those. Not until her.
But when someone comes after her store—her home—they’re going to learn the hard
She’s mine now.
And I don’t f**king share.

READ SMUT BOOKSTORE is a short, spicy, insta-everything romcom with a Happily Ever After GUARANTEED!

Genres: Plus Size, Audiobook

134 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 25, 2025

About the author

Kate J. Blake writes spicy romance novellas for naughty readers who love hot heroes and happily-ever-afters.

Originally from Ukraine, Kate currently resides in Southern California, enjoying the warm weather all year round.

Kate used to work as a stylist, and loves everything about fashion. She's a fan of online shopping, and buys tons of useless stuff, trying to convince her husband that she possibly can't live without all of that.

Kate reads 100+ books a year, but still orders many more titles than she could ever possibly read. She loves binge-watching romance TV shows and always misses her writing deadlines.

Kate has visited 30+ countries, and is not planning to stop travelling any time soon. You can find out more about her trips through her social media accounts.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this. The characters were cute enough but it felt like they had backstory without backstory and his “she’s mine” just didn’t track for the characters. Cute but left feeling like something was missing

[Lena T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun fall novella, with the dreamiest book store and “touch her and die”, vibes romance.

[Kayy Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

And later, when the girls have gone home and the books are back in their tote and I'll curl in bed with my cat asleep at my feet, thinking about a man with rough hands, steady eyes and a voice I wouldn't mind hearing again.
.
.
This book honestly left me confused, it wasn't the worst thing I have read but honestly I found it too confusing to be good either. We had Sophie who was a good overall character but I will never understand letting a random man you barely know just take over your whole store without a word, it was like she forgot how to stand on her own two feet when he was around. Then we had Grady and I couldn't work out if he was a motorcycle biker or part of the Mafia. His character left me confused more than anything, he never took no for an answer and he never seemed to explain his actions either so it was a whole lot of miscommunication going on. I feel like this book was trying to be way too many tropes all at once and I think that if it had been stripped back to something more simple it would have flowed more. The writing was pretty easy to read and I read this book in a whole day I just think there was too many problems for me. That being said I don't actually know if I will continue this series or not, I just don't think it was for me.

[Curvy Girl Book Nerd (Jen S) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read Smut Bookstore is a steamy, opposites-attract, curvy girl gets her biker romantic comedy...and it is so good. This might be my favorite book by Kate to date. Sophie is a smart and sassy curvy girl with a bookstore. She and her girls have their smut book club. She inherited the bookstore from her grandma and everything seems to be falling apart. Further, a developer is trying to buy the property even though she has refused to sell it multiple times. Grady is a burly, hunky, broody biker and handyman. When he comes to fix the boiler he is immediately taken with the curvy beauty. When he finds out that she is being targeted to sell and things escalate, he is all in to protect his woman, even if she doesn't realize it yet. OMG, the chemistry was so hot. The banter was hysterical. I love her girl pals and can't wait for more stories. Please tell me that they are all getting books!! And Grady was a walking, smoldering, smokeshow. We also got a great HEA after the drama was resolved. This one had all the feels. I loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just okay for me. It may be a better read for someone else but it felt disjointed in some places. I didn’t really get their chemistry either. It was meant to be heated but something was off. Again, it might be better for someone else.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was repetitive, flat, and inconsistent. I like the idea of the plot, but this book reads like AI.

[Fruzsina Bagin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of the book via Booksprout, and the following review is entirely my own voluntary, and honest opinion.

This novella delivered exactly what it promised – and more. If your heart beats faster for small-town, spicy romance, for sassy heroines and grumpy, protective handymen who hide a dark glint behind their intense eyes, this book is for you.

At the heart of the story is Sophie, who inherits a charming, slightly chaotic bookshop from her grandmother – one that smells of cinnamon, chaos, and romance novels. The shop is not only her livelihood, but also her sanctuary. But someone is out to ruin the place, and Sophie. That's when Grady Carter, the handsome, reclusive handyman on a motorbike, appears, as if he always shows up just when everything is about to fall apart – literally and emotionally. Sophie is independent, distrustful, and passionately attached to her world. Grady, on the other hand, feels from the first moment he meets her that she's his.

“Read Smut Bookstore” is the perfect mix of tension, passion and heartfelt emotions. Their relationship builds slowly but powerfully, deepening with every scene they share, until it becomes an intense, opposites-attract type of explosion. It all works like a Hallmark movie, but with enough heat to burn the pages.

Grady's character is a real-life smoldering-hot heart melter. A grumpy, rugged biker who runs from emotion, but once he commits, there's no question: he'll protect you, no matter the cost. And Sophie is a smart, sassy, curvy beauty who refuses to bow to outside pressure – even when someone wants to buy her property at any cost.

The strength of the novella is not only the vibrant chemistry between the main characters, but also the likeability of the supporting cast – especially Sophie's book club friends, who bring humour, heart and community to the story. Their presence adds to the atmosphere of the book, and I'm already looking forward to reading about them.

Kate J. Blake's style is enjoyable and visual: the sharp dialogue, the ‘show, don't tell’ approach, and the atmosphere of the bookstore are so vivid that you can almost smell the cinnamon and the rustle of old shelves. The alternating point of view adds depth and dynamism to the plot, and the scenes always have movement, mood, or tension – sometimes all three at once.

My only criticism is that it ended too soon – I loved the characters and the world so much that I would have liked to stay in this bookshop for a while longer. This story is a true romantic comedy of the best kind: sweet, funny, sexy, and a little dangerous – just the way I like it.

[Nova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book that I am voluntarily reviewing.

Sophie inherited her grandmother’s bookstore and has been doing her best to keep it going but in between the ancient plumbing and the company who wants to force her to sell the store, things aren’t going to well, in fact the only good thing she has to look forward to is her naughty book club with her friends. Things take a turn for the worst when her plumbing throws a hissy fit and she is forced to contact a local handyman. Cole is no ordinary handyman and that is obvious from the start, from the moment that he walks in she feels safe, especially after the real estate company have upped their intimidation tactics. But can Sophie but her faith in someone that she has only just met and could what they share really be her future?

Grady knew from the moment he walked into the little rundown but undoubtedly loved bookstore that he had found what he has been searching for. Sophie is claimed from that moment on; she just didn’t know it yet. Determined to keep an eye on her after learning she is fighting a local developer who looks like they will stop at nothing to buy her bookstore, being a handyman, he keeps himself busy fixing all the things that Sophie had no idea needed fixing and using that time to prove that he is her man. But when the developers start playing dirty, he calls on his MC brothers for assistance. Will Grady get the woman of his dreams?

I just love this author. I read her short stories and never feel short changed; the stories are gripping and certainly deliver on the highly steamy scale. This was an amusing read that I highly recommend and as always I cannot wait to read what comes next. 4.5* Read

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie Lane was getting a strong sell from the developer who wanted her bookstore to build some condos. But she couldn't do it, not when that had been her grandmother’s bookstore and home—hers, too, for that matter. She and her cat served the community of customers who still came in and supported all the small business owners who didn't want big business coming in. When close to the end of the day the boiler goes out, so she had to put in a work order with a handyman. She didn't know it at the time, but it was going to be a life-changing phone call.

The handyman who took her call was Grady Cole. When he arrived at the plus-sized owner's bookstore it was after hours. There she was bent over her asset facing him, then she stood turned facing him, and she was barefoot, or as he put it, “She. Was. Barefoot.” When she turned around she grinned with her sweater half off one shoulder, and her messy bun barely hanging on. Sophie even disheveled and with her voice soft and a little breathless. He thought Sophie was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

He fixed all kinds of busted systems. Left afterwards no problem. But this—this is different. She’s different. Sophie Lane is standing in the middle of a messy little bookshop like she owns the world. Like she belongs to it. Like she’s never even heard of shrinking herself down. And he wants her. He wants to fix more than her boiler. He wants to do the floor, the walls, the whole g-damn planet just so she never looks worried again. Grady aims to stay. Which is a big problem for Bramwell Development Group who start strong-arming Sophie with scare tactics. Well, guess what Grady has a few of his own.

Such a good quick feel-good book. Loved all of Sophie’s friends.

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Vanilla, Voltage, and the Handyman Who Shows Up Right When Everything Falls Apart—Including Her Walls.

If your heart beats faster for small-town spice, sassy heroines, and protective handymen with a dark glint in their eyes, Loved it! Read Smut Bookstore by Kate J. Blake is the cozy-smutty read you didn’t know you needed.

Sophie inherited a charming little bookstore that smells like cinnamon, chaos, and steamy romance novels—but someone’s out to destroy it. Enter Grady Carter: the quiet, brooding handyman who always seems to show up right before things break—literally and emotionally.

She runs a smutty book club. He runs from feelings.
She trusts no one. He’s already claimed her as his.
Together, they’re a slow-burn storm waiting to explode.

But when mysterious sabotage threatens Sophie’s store—and her sanctuary—Grady makes one thing crystal clear: she’s his now, and he doesn’t f**king share.

✅ Grumpy x Sunshine
✅ Bookstore sabotage drama
✅ Sizzling slow burn → blazing steam
✅ Protective handyman hero with soft edges
✅ Found family & fierce love
✅ Smutty book club scenes you’ll want to highlight

Kate J. Blake delivers all the charm of a Hallmark movie—but adds enough heat to burn the pages. It’s cozy, spicy, and a little bit dangerous in the best way.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeffrey Aitken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella delivers a charming blend of steam, grit, and heartfelt emotion.

At its core, the story follows Sophie, an independent bookstore owner, and Grady, a silent protector with a soft spot for fixing broken things.

The plot, while familiar in its underdog-versus-developers arc, stands out due to the chemistry between its leads and the vivid small-town setting.

Blake’s character work shines. Sophie’s sharp wit and Grady’s muted strength ground the romance in emotional authenticity.

Their relationship builds, deepening with each shared scene.

Supporting characters, especially Sophie’s book club friends, add humour and heart, though their arcs remain somewhat static.

The writing style excels with crisp dialogue and strong “show, don’t tell” technique.

Descriptions feel immersive, especially within the cosy chaos of the bookstore.

Scenes brim with mood and movement.

The alternating perspectives add depth and variety.

Minor issues include some repetitive inner monologues and a climax that resolves a touch too fast.

Still, the book remains engaging throughout.

Overall, Read Smut Bookstore offers a satisfying, steamy sex scenes read with emotional weight and clever banter.

Romance readers will find much to enjoy.

[Tardisgiggler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute but I wish it was longer! The plot had such promise to be at least over 250 pages but it was cut short, I loved Grady just showing up constantly to fix stuff before he moves himself in lol, I loved his point of view to see how obsessed he was with Sophie. I loved the book puns too scattered throughout. My favorite bit is when they refer to him leaving things and rearranging as nesting, that killed me in the best way and really made me bummed we didn't get more. Her friends were ok but sometimes a bit too much; Maya almost seemed at times to be one step away from jealous with her comments about Grady, it made me kind of not like her. There were some errors though, like the wrong point of view listed, or she was the one making breakfast and then a few sentences later Grady says he's the one who made her breakfast so those made me pause and reread to make sure I understood right, but other than that my only complaint would be that it's too short. All of the situations had so much potential to develop into better scenes instead of the ending being magically fixed abruptly without any real conflict, which was disappointing. But over all I really did enjoy this one, however short it was.

[Plottwistpending · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie has inherited her grandmother’s bookstore, it’s a cozy and quaint neighbourhood spot but it’s falling apart. She is sweet, optimistic, and a little chaotic in the best way, and she is working hard to resist the developers trying to push her out. Grady is a quiet, brooding biker/handyman who instantly falls for Sophie when he comes to repair the boiler in her store. He starts “nesting”, quietly fixing and improving, protective and possessive.

I enjoyed the quick, easy read, the whole silent and deadly, overprotective biker vibe is not necessarily my thing but it was well written. While the chemistry and connection between the main characters is definitely instant, the buildup was well developed so it didn’t feel overly rushed. If you’re looking for a short and sweet small town romance then look no further!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mafia Wife · Rating 3 out of 5]

She loves her little inherited bookstore and wants to make it work though things seem to always go wrong. When he shows up to fix her latest repair, she can’t help but notice his hot muscles that belong on the cover of one of her books. When he keeps showing up, especially when things get challenging, and someone threatens her livelihood, she starts to realize there may be a happily ever after for her after all. He is a proud member of the local MC and runs his handyman construction business as well. When he takes the job for the spicy little bookstore owner, he realizes that he has found his one. This is a cute little story with some spice. The nerdy girl meets the hot hunky hero, and they live happily ever after. If you particularly like MC stories, this one probably isn’t for you. It’s pretty light on the club descriptors but but a fun story nonetheless.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie took over the bookstore after her grandmother passed away. There are land developers who begin to harass her to sale.
Grady is a general contractor and a member of the Iron Hearts MC. When Sophie’s bookstore needs some general repairs he begins showing up each day fixing things she didn’t even realize needed fixing.
Grady is taken by Sophie and claims her as his own. He is overprotective of her and both he and his MC brothers will protect her.
This was an enjoyable short read. The antics of the book club was everything.
When you have over protective, hot alpha MC brother, a judgmental cat and a book club always up for anything what’s there not to love. Looking forward to the Maya and Rafe’s next. The first three chapters was a tease of the hilarity to come.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marcia Gomes · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love your romances with spice, sass, and a side of laughter, Read Smut Bookstore is going to be your new obsession. This novella is everything a feel-good, opposites-attract story should be: tender, sexy, and utterly addictive.
What I loved most about this story was the chemistry. Kate J. Blake doesn’t just write attraction — she builds it, moment by moment, through witty banter, longing glances, and heart-pounding tension that makes you grin like a fool. Grady’s gruff tenderness perfectly balances Sophie’s sass.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a book just resonates with you. This is the most adorable book. The characters are so well developed. Her book club best friends are so developed it’s like you can imagine exactly how these meetings and encounters are going. I couldn’t stop laughing. Grady is the perfect protector and indulgent man. This book is worth the read. You can’t help but laugh at all the antics. In between the characters making the jump into a relationship, there is plenty of drama. This book is a must read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Read Smut Bookstore’ is a cozy, sweet, sexy, road bump sized drama, HEA guaranteed kind of love story. Grady is so sexy and, although Grady made her wait extra long, Sophie is so lucky.

*** Recommended ***

MMC:
* Grady
FMC:
* Sophie
HEA/Cliffhanger:
* HEA
Tropes:
* Small town romance
* InstaLove
* Biker MMC
* BBW FMC
* MF
Triggers:
* 18+
* Sex
* Intimidation
Burn Speed:
* Medium
Spice Level:
* 🌶️🌶️🌶️.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great story. It’s a fast paced read but it’s romantic, sweet and steamy, great characters and so well written. Loved Grady as the handyman and Sophie as the Smut Bookstore owner. Sophie has a group trying to force her to sell but wi5 Grady there no one will force her to do anything. This is a slow burn romance and I just wanted to be in Sophie’s shoes when Grady was making his moves. Loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[QueenMum1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much more fun than I expected it to be. Delightful!
Tropes:
Small town, hot biker, curvy woman, instalove, sweet, HEA romance, lite MC, protective hero, military veteran.
Grady is a quiet, broody handyman of sorts.
Sophie inherited a small town bookstore from her grandmother.

A special thank you to Kate J Blake and Booksprout for providing me with an eARC book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 - 4 stars.

I really enjoyed getting to know the characters in this, they were interesting and had good interactions. I also enjoyed the slow burn between Sophie and Grady and I believed in their connection and chemistry. Grady's love language made me smile and I thought the balance between the romance, drama and everyday life worked.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and liked the author’s writing style. Having said that, I was glad it was novella length because, as much as I liked the writing, I don’t think I would have appreciated an entire novel written that way. Short sentences, concise descriptions. You really don’t get much in the way of character development. And nothing detailed. But there’s a charm to the book nonetheless.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sarah Furlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The moment Grady meets Sophie he is done for.

He becomes so possessive over her when they aren’t even together and moves hisself into her life. I LOVE it, he cares for her so much when she thought she was alone. He shows her that he is there got her always now. From fixing things when she didn’t even know they needed fixed to just being present for her.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Andi Downs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who could not want to read a book with this title! :D Who could not want to read a book with this title! :D As it says, it's about a bookstore that Sophie has inherited. but it needs work and that's where Grady comes into the picture. It's a fun read and there is a slight angst with someone pops up to unsettle her life. A lovely quick read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable short, smutty story. Not as well done as Ms Blake's RH reads but worth your time. The characters were well matched and the snark was fun. The plot has some intrigue to it and was handled nicely. World building was immensity well developed. All in all a very good read. Recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie is a smart, sassy bookstore owner, Grady is the strong quiet type that comes to fix the boiler. He decides that she needs his help and begins fixing things to stay around and she enjoys the scenery and lets him. Although he is a member of an MC, this is NOT an MC book - it is short, sweet, a little snarky and a lot of fun.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Reader_for_LifeTLG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grady and Sophie - He's the smoking hot handyman who also protects what's his. She's a small business owner who's in the cross hairs of big business. She won't back down and he's right there, guarding her from threats the police merely annotate. A great shorty, steamy scenes so hawt, that kicks off what was a great series (I read the other two books already). I loved Maya (Saving Cosmic Ink) as she was head cheerleader for the MCs. The AI narrator didn't take much from the story.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, easy read—perfect when you just want to chill with something light.
The characters were likeable and sounds like a great group of friends. That said, Grady was a overbearing and a little too intense too quick.
But overall, still a really enjoyable read!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debra Soehner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie has an older bookstore and holds romance book meetings, Grady walks into the bookstore and although this is not his scene, he is struck by attraction and will do anything to help Sophie when someone wants her business. Great novel.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cherie Alvaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first time reading this authors books and I found this one to be both well written and enjoyable to read. It was funny with witty conversations. The hot alpha biker falls instantly and hard for Sophie! Its a great read!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.