She belonged to my brother. Now she belongs to me.
I came home to honor his memory. Instead, I end up in his orchard, raising his son, watching his widow bend for fruit with that soft little body she swore would never be mine.
But grief doesn’t scare me. Loss forged me. And I’ve waited long enough.
She wants to pretend we’re just surviving. But I see the way her hands shake when I get too close. The way her legs press together when I speak low.
I’m not him. I don’t ask. I take. And when I finally bite into her?
I don’t stop.
Even if it ruins everything he left behind.
Let her tend to her fruits all she wants. She’ll soon realize… her garden has a new owner.
Read on for monster-sized size difference, dead husband’s brother, forced proximity on a fruit farm, and a minotaur who finally gets what his brother never could. HEA Guaranteed!
Celeste King is the author behind the Worlds of Protheka, a collection of interconnected series that promise dark fantasy, intense romance, and washboard abs. When it comes to her stories, there are sure to brooding alphas, sassy humans, and plenty of spice to look forward to.
With the ever growing fantasy worlds, the 'what ifs' are endless, and that is what excites her the most. Even she doesn't know just how far these characters will go, but she's gladly along for the ride.
You can always find her fearlessly diving into an adventure (in this world or another), typically with her husband, and partner in crime, at her side.
She helps keep the excitement alive for the rest us with each of her Prothekan works, where there are no heroes coming to save you and being kidnapped...isn't so bad when your captor is this hot.
It was sweet and teary but the timeline was wonky and it bothered me. At one point during a three day period (the tree pruning) the baby went from 2 months to 1 month and then to 3 months old.
Some love stories sweep you off your feet, others break your heart before stitching it back together—and The Minotaur’s Little Peach does both in the most tender, gut-wrenching way.
We first meet Soreya at the gates of the city, selling fruit under the hot sun when she encounters Korrun, a gentle minotaur who trains warriors in the coliseum. Their love story blooms instantly, two souls who fall hard and fast and then build a life together. For two years, their happiness is simple, steady, and sweet—until tragedy strikes. When Korrun is killed during a fight, Soreya’s world shatters. Pregnant and grieving, she spirals into heartbreak, trying to hold on when it feels like everything she loves has been taken away.
Then comes Daegan. Korrun’s brother, a sailor, arrives just as Soreya gives birth to baby Tarran. He expects to meet his brother’s growing family—only to learn of Korrun’s death and find his nephew freshly born. What follows is a slow, aching transformation. Daegan steps into the space left behind, not to replace Korrun, but to be there—for Soreya, for Tarran, for the fragile family that needs him. His easy humor and unwavering presence become a lifeline for Soreya, even as she resists the warmth sparking between them.
Her guilt is palpable, her fear raw: how can she allow herself to love again, especially the brother of the man she lost? But grief and love aren’t opposites—they’re entwined. When Soreya and Daegan finally share a kiss, it’s not just passion, but possibility. And when he’s kidnapped by the vengeful brother of Korrun’s killer, the truth finally hits her—she can’t let him slip away.
This book isn’t just about romance—it’s about resilience, healing, and the bravery it takes to open your heart again after unimaginable loss. Celeste King writes with tenderness, giving us a story that acknowledges grief’s weight while also celebrating love’s power to return, unexpectedly and beautifully.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Simply wonderful read, wonderful characters and scenario that held me riveted Simply wonderful read, wonderful characters and scenario that held me riveted This was a wonderful read it was a heartfelt read that knew love and loss and then the growing care and nurture from another as Soreya and her baby have to begin again after the loss of her love Korrun a gentle giant of a minotaur that had been killed during a fight. Soreya had felt that finally her world was treating her and the love of her life kindly and then out of the blue he had been killed, Korrun had accidently been killed during training and now not only was she alone again but she was also carrying his baby and was at a total loss!! Pregnant and grieving Soreya is totally surprised when his brother Daegan arrives and discovers the predicament that Soreya is in. He helps her over the following two years and during this time the life they have built together Some love stories sweep you off your feet, others break your heart before stitching it back together—and The Minotaur’s Little Peach does both in the most tender, gut-wrenching way. Daegan knows that he cannot replace his brother but since the baby Tarran has arrived he has been helping with some of the parenting duties and he loves his nephew dearly. Soreya is scared to allow herself to love again but when her son is kidnapped and the only person that can offer any help is her brother in law and she realises that she cannot allow this man with a wonderful kind heart to slip away, she is sure that Korrun would be happy to know she and his son were both loved and cared for by his brother who is a good and loyal man. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the wonderful writing.
I loved this book. Great world building and wonderful characters. Dead husband's brother/dead brother's wife trope is one I only rarely come across, so I was really looking forward to this book! I loved both Soreya and Daegan.
My heart shattered for Soreya and Korrun after reading how they met, fell in love, were so happy for their baby. I swear I sobbed reading his death and had to take a break. I rarely get that emotional reading books, and this was my first of Celeste's that had that effect on me.
'The world has the audacity to continue existing even though the most important part of mine just ended. And somewhere in the growing darkness of my grief, a smaller fear takes root and begins to grow— that this baby, this last gift he'll ever give me, might not survive the violence of my breaking heart.'
She was all but a ghost of herself until Taran was born- and Korrun's brother Daegan arrived just afterwards. It was sweet to see his point of view of the scene and holding his nephew. But heartbreaking again for him to learn of his brother's death. He stepped up and offered to stay and help her and the baby, as he'd already intended to remain close to his family. Daegan was patient, caring, and sweet. I really loved him.
This romance was such a beautiful journey of love, loss, healing, and finding love and family again. I highly recommend grabbing this book! 5 stars
I love the concept of the brother’s widow and overall the story is interesting. Three stars because I did finish it.
But the editing is so bad. The beginning of chapter 16 and 17 is identical like a copy/paste error. There are the same paragraphs repeated throughout. The baby is three months old then two months old. His sea-glass eyes are described way too often. It says her friend brought the news about her husband and then later says the messenger. She teaches him about tree care but then it says he taught her. SO MANY needed edits that pulled me from what could’ve been an immersive experience.
-A beautifully written, soul-stirring story of resilience and second chances. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts. Soreya’s world shatters when she loses Korrun, the gentle minotaur she loved deeply. Grieving and raising their child, she finds quiet strength in Daegan, Korrun’s loyal brother.
Their slow-burn connection balances heartbreak with healing, love with loss. I highly recommend this emotional story.
I especially appreciate the poignant scene remembering Korrun.
Big fan of Celeste King – the day her books post they are already downloaded. I want to let everyone know this is a great read. I was drawn in and I smiled at the love I could see in each line with Korrun and then broke my heart and I cried when Soreya did, and I felt her grief. I can say it’s been a while since I felt so connected to a character. Then to get her second chance at love with his brother, Daegan. It was great to see her be able to open her heart for the second time. It’s a great read and have the tissues handy on this one, you will cry, I did.
Lovely story about Soreya and how she met, fell in love, and mourned for Korrun, Daegan’s brother and how Daegan ended up falling and wanting her as his own was an engaging well written story with wonderful characters that kept me turning the pages. You definitely felt Daegan desires and his emotions as he coaxes Soreya to reconnect. This emotional story was a wonderful Protheka story, and I'm highly recommend this copy I'd received and volunteer to read and review.
Another very enjoyable read from this author and in this book, we have Soreya and Daegan. He returns home to honour his fallen brother Korrun and look after his brother's wife and son. Daegan is the opposite of his brother. Having lost her husband, Soreya now has to heal while raising their son. Her relationship with Daegan grows over time. There was plenty of emotion, but it was all worth it in the end. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is another tale set in the world of Protheka. In this sweet story, a solitary minotaur sea captain and his widowed human sister-in-law find comfort, companionship, and finally love, after their grief.
I really liked this book. The characters are strong and supportive, respectful of the trauma of loss each has sustained. They grow a steady foundation of trust that leads to their HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have to say Ms. King knows how to pull on your heart strings. Get ready to cry with the MFC when tragedy strikes, and she loses her husband. I needed a lot of tissues. Then there was the grieving, and giving birth, just when her brother in law shows up. There is a lot of angst, and slow healing. Another highly tense scene, and more tissues. They finally do get their HEA ending though! Trish. A.
This story was such a beautiful story about grief and love and healing. I absolutely did not expect it especially after reading the blurb which read more like a brother stealing from another imo. This was not that at all. Definitely didn’t expect to cry either and I did that probably too much.
This story made me cry for most of the book, it was a very emotional story with spousal death and moving forward with a child that the father didn't get to meet. Finding love again and becoming a family that honored her past. I don't know where the peach reference comes from in the title but it makes no sense.
Warning…….. Have a box of tissues! This is an emotional book of loss, grief, hurt, love, trust, etc. This was well written, couldn’t really put it down. Recommend for sure. Give it a try when you don’t have anything to do. You might cry too.