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Red
They don’t go into the woods…
Every full moon, the Beast rises within the woods. Every full moon, some poor soul is sent into that forsaken forest as a sacrifice. Every full moon, the village holds its collective breath that the sacrifice will be enough. Any other time, the woods are supposed to be safe, but no one dares take a chance.
Not until Sloane Whelan.
When she runs afoul of a whole different type of monster within the village walls, she must make a choice: stay and face certain death as the next sacrifice to the Beast, or flee into the cursed woods with the slim hope of finding the grandmother who abandoned her as a child before the full moon rises.
With nothing but her infamous red riding cloak on her back, Sloane makes the decision to run for her life, straight into the unknown.
She soon finds that the woods are far more vast than she imagined, and the Beast isn’t the only danger waiting. Just when all seems lost, a devilishly handsome stranger saves her life and offers her sanctuary within his home. Despite his best efforts, the fiery connection between them cannot be denied. But dark secrets and even darker magic surround Garrett and his home, secrets that could tear the first bit of happiness Sloane has ever known apart at the seams.
What will she risk to save the man she loves?
Everything.
Every full moon, the Beast rises within the woods. Every full moon, some poor soul is sent into that forsaken forest as a sacrifice. Every full moon, the village holds its collective breath that the sacrifice will be enough. Any other time, the woods are supposed to be safe, but no one dares take a chance.
Not until Sloane Whelan.
When she runs afoul of a whole different type of monster within the village walls, she must make a choice: stay and face certain death as the next sacrifice to the Beast, or flee into the cursed woods with the slim hope of finding the grandmother who abandoned her as a child before the full moon rises.
With nothing but her infamous red riding cloak on her back, Sloane makes the decision to run for her life, straight into the unknown.
She soon finds that the woods are far more vast than she imagined, and the Beast isn’t the only danger waiting. Just when all seems lost, a devilishly handsome stranger saves her life and offers her sanctuary within his home. Despite his best efforts, the fiery connection between them cannot be denied. But dark secrets and even darker magic surround Garrett and his home, secrets that could tear the first bit of happiness Sloane has ever known apart at the seams.
What will she risk to save the man she loves?
Everything.
307 pages, Paperback
Published April 26, 2022
60 people are currently reading
2518 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
March 31, 2022
ARC via Kindle that I received from the author. It’s an interesting and compelling retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with a bit of Beauty and the Beast tossed in.
Sloane aka Red lives in a village terrified by the beast that hides in the woods and kills on the full moon. Forced to run away into the woods, she sets out to find her grandmother but instead finds herself rescued by Garrett. Garrett takes her to his home a manor and romance ensues, but soon the beast comes between them.
The story is exhilarating, enchanting, and easy to read. I love Sloane and Garrett’s story. In the spice department, it rates a 4. Spicy and steamy the passion that grows between Sloane and Garrett is hot! KD Miller keeps the story flowing and captures your mind and heart as she twists and turns this fairytale into a new classic.
Spoiler - it’s a happily ever after!!! But seriously, the beast of the story is tragic and heartbreaking. You feel horrible for it once you learn the truth. The real evil deserves everything it gets and honestly I wish its ending has been more painful. But as this is a HEA love prevails!
Things I didn’t like: It ended….I wanted more!!!!
Triggers: Sexual Assault, Violence
Sloane aka Red lives in a village terrified by the beast that hides in the woods and kills on the full moon. Forced to run away into the woods, she sets out to find her grandmother but instead finds herself rescued by Garrett. Garrett takes her to his home a manor and romance ensues, but soon the beast comes between them.
The story is exhilarating, enchanting, and easy to read. I love Sloane and Garrett’s story. In the spice department, it rates a 4. Spicy and steamy the passion that grows between Sloane and Garrett is hot! KD Miller keeps the story flowing and captures your mind and heart as she twists and turns this fairytale into a new classic.
Spoiler - it’s a happily ever after!!! But seriously, the beast of the story is tragic and heartbreaking. You feel horrible for it once you learn the truth. The real evil deserves everything it gets and honestly I wish its ending has been more painful. But as this is a HEA love prevails!
Things I didn’t like: It ended….I wanted more!!!!
Triggers: Sexual Assault, Violence
June 21, 2022
Book Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
Red by K.D. Miller
Red Riding Hood with a little bit of a Beauty and the Beast twist.
All spice, a sprinkle of plot.
Male love interest is somewhere between a Viking and a Scottish Highlander with an extremely over exaggerated way of speaking that made the book hard to read at times. But… he’s a solid mass of muscle and temptation so I mean… it’s fine. 😂
If you want a quick smutty retelling here you go!
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
Red by K.D. Miller
Red Riding Hood with a little bit of a Beauty and the Beast twist.
All spice, a sprinkle of plot.
Male love interest is somewhere between a Viking and a Scottish Highlander with an extremely over exaggerated way of speaking that made the book hard to read at times. But… he’s a solid mass of muscle and temptation so I mean… it’s fine. 😂
If you want a quick smutty retelling here you go!
July 2, 2023
I got this book simply because it's a little red riding hood retelling. It's hard to explain but I have something with the tale of little red riding hood and I think it's because that tale has so much hidden meanings and almost writes the dark romance itself. We all sometimes long for the forbidden. We all sometimes like to go off road. We all can be lured away from our destination and path. I was therefore really curious about this book, even though it's been on my shelves for quite some time already.
In this case I personally think the cover of the book and the book itself don't really match. For some reason I was expecting a darker horror/thriller kind of story. Instead of got a fairytale that also could have been a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Not that it was an issue. I was pleasantly surprised that the story was much more romantic and much less dark than I had expected but I can imagine it's therefore also missing out on readers who would love this book!
Of course that doesn't mean there are no dark themes in this book. There is sexual assault in the beginning of the book and there's of course the issue of the monster killing someone every full moon. Then there's the curse and of course there are some really gruesome details once we learn more about it. But that still fits the original fairytale. That tale is about temptation, about predators and killers. And yet it does have a version with a happily ever after.
What I really liked about this book is that the characters really built a connection before giving into their physical urges. I really don't mind smut in books, but I'm the kind of person who wants the romance to be more than smut. I want there to be an emotional connection too, I want to see these characters having meaningful conversations and growing to trust each other. These characters did, which is exactly why the finale was possible and believable..
I will certainly check out other books by this author.
In this case I personally think the cover of the book and the book itself don't really match. For some reason I was expecting a darker horror/thriller kind of story. Instead of got a fairytale that also could have been a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Not that it was an issue. I was pleasantly surprised that the story was much more romantic and much less dark than I had expected but I can imagine it's therefore also missing out on readers who would love this book!
Of course that doesn't mean there are no dark themes in this book. There is sexual assault in the beginning of the book and there's of course the issue of the monster killing someone every full moon. Then there's the curse and of course there are some really gruesome details once we learn more about it. But that still fits the original fairytale. That tale is about temptation, about predators and killers. And yet it does have a version with a happily ever after.
What I really liked about this book is that the characters really built a connection before giving into their physical urges. I really don't mind smut in books, but I'm the kind of person who wants the romance to be more than smut. I want there to be an emotional connection too, I want to see these characters having meaningful conversations and growing to trust each other. These characters did, which is exactly why the finale was possible and believable..
I will certainly check out other books by this author.
April 2, 2022
I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ARC and it was AMAZING!! I devoured it in less than 24 hours!
The characters are well thought out and very likeable (or hateable depending on the character). The banter is witty and the love scenes are STEAMY!
I love the twist in the red riding hood tale and only wish that there was a way to make this into a series!
The characters are well thought out and very likeable (or hateable depending on the character). The banter is witty and the love scenes are STEAMY!
I love the twist in the red riding hood tale and only wish that there was a way to make this into a series!
May 19, 2022
My favorite Little Red Riding Hood retelling...ever.
June 5, 2023
Amazing retelling
This book was amazing and I could not put it down. It was well written (even if the editing was slightly lacking a few times). It has action, suspense, a ton of steam and romance. You will get a pretty accurate and spicy retelling of little red riding hood. She is naughty, fierce, stubborn, not tempered and humorous, I loved Red. The slow burn was EVERYTHING and I loved the magic and curses. Some twists I didn't predict and were shockingly surprising. Totally worth purchasing.
This book was amazing and I could not put it down. It was well written (even if the editing was slightly lacking a few times). It has action, suspense, a ton of steam and romance. You will get a pretty accurate and spicy retelling of little red riding hood. She is naughty, fierce, stubborn, not tempered and humorous, I loved Red. The slow burn was EVERYTHING and I loved the magic and curses. Some twists I didn't predict and were shockingly surprising. Totally worth purchasing.
April 2, 2022
This is a great Red Riding Hood retelling. It is a slow burn, sweet story with some surprising twists that I really enjoyed. It totally gave me M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village vibes. I really liked this book and definitely recommend it.
February 22, 2023
It's a Red Riding Hood retelling with spice.
⭐⭐⭐& 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I honestly enjoyed this book and still think about it but I knocked my rating down for two reasons:
1. I would've loved to have seen more full moon episodes/werewolf incidents in order to create an overall darker atmosphere
2. The ending kinda went in a direction I wasn't expecting. It wasn't bad though.
Overall, it was a great retelling and incorporated werewolves and built up a lot of angst between the 2 main characters.
What you can expect:
Red Riding Hood retelling
Werewolves
Witches
Lots of angst
Forced proximity
HEA
And best of all, it's a fairly quick read at 288 pages.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a spicy fairytale retelling.
⭐⭐⭐& 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I honestly enjoyed this book and still think about it but I knocked my rating down for two reasons:
1. I would've loved to have seen more full moon episodes/werewolf incidents in order to create an overall darker atmosphere
2. The ending kinda went in a direction I wasn't expecting. It wasn't bad though.
Overall, it was a great retelling and incorporated werewolves and built up a lot of angst between the 2 main characters.
What you can expect:
Red Riding Hood retelling
Werewolves
Witches
Lots of angst
Forced proximity
HEA
And best of all, it's a fairly quick read at 288 pages.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a spicy fairytale retelling.
April 18, 2022
ARC review. I LOVED this retelling of Red Riding Hood. This started out with M Night Shyamalan vibes with a village gripped by fear of the beast In the woods. I enjoyed the way Miller recast the characters of the woodsman, granny and the big bad wolf and made the story her own with a touch of Beauty and the Beast and some slow burn romance added in too.
I read this in a day!
I read this in a day!
August 10, 2025
If there's one thing that can make me dnf a story, it's an insufferable main character which is exactly what the fmc of this book was.
Insufferable.
Sloane, aka Red, had her good qualities If you looked hard enough. The most endearing thing about her being her affinity for animals, but otherwise, she was infuriatingly one dimensional, shallow and contradictory. This girl, acted like a brat. A bipolar brat at that, with a matching attitude and train of thought to boot.
The fact that she's the village pretty who curses her looks and generous curves because it brings all the boys to the yard and makes all the girls jealous is a trope all on it's own but one I've never taken a huge amount of issue with.
That's not to say that issues with this story did not abound.
At every the turn the author is quick to remind us that Sloane has had a hard life, all her life.
Oh I had a roof over my head but I was never quite warm, my grandmother didn't take responsibility for me and let me live slightly poorer than average while she lived in riches. I know I'm a beggar... Just a bar maid... A nobody... I'm far from a proper lady... I'm pathetic... I'm nothing...
She's forever self-depreciating and it's tiresome.
It is abundantly clear that the author REALLY wants to let you know (over and over again on every single page) that this girl has come from naught. I'm gathering this is so the reader can empathise and admire her fighting spirit in the face of such adversity (she's a downtrodden badass beech by the way but we'll get to that in a second), however, for all the narrative we get around this point, it never comes across as remotely authentic or noteworthy.
Yeah okay, you didn't have a proper bed but you still had a roof over your head, a safe place to sleep, food to sustain you, clothes on your back, a job, someone who cares enough to keep you alive and instill within you a sense of independence and self sufficiency that you may not have had had they coddled you. Your circumstances may not have been perfect and you weren't surrounded with splendor but you still had everything you needed.
Girl, newsflash. You're no where near Cinderella and you're not in a societal minority. You're in the majority.
And since when does going without a meal on occasion and working in a bar make you a beggar? Make you a nothing? And just because your grandmother is rich why does that make her automatically responsible for taking care of you as an adult?
The richsplaining tone by which Sloane's "poverty" was depicted in this book was so underdone and out of touch that it was maddening.
Written as if the author herself had grown up privileged, with no real idea of what being poor entailed but she maybe got sent to bed a couple times without dinner and her under floor heating on and then thought to herself "Ah yes, this must be what it's like to be poor"
Dude, no.
Where were the descriptions of holes and roughly sewn up tears in her clothing? The hand me downs from others? Where were the all consuming thoughts of hunger and the constant stomach pangs and pain that occur whenever hunger is left unchecked? The misted breaths she took in her freezing cold room as she curled up in a ball at night to conserve all her warmth?
I'm not saying the author had to illustrate it to her readers in exactly this way, but my point is this...
That this kind of glossing over of telling details may have been acceptable if the "Poor girl" persona hadn't been the very foundation that the author was trying to use as the make up of her main characters personality and belief system, but it was... so the failure to flesh these out in full left me decidedly unsympathetic towards Sloane's so-called plight and less inclined to forgive some of her more challenging personality traits.
It's not as if the author can say that it's a YA book written more simplistic for younger audiences because she makes it quite clear to her readers at the start that the story is for adults.
The potential for immersive world and character building was there but not utilised to its potential. Sloane could have been someone with interesting complexities and resounding depth. She's written in a way you can tell she's supposed to come across as a badass who gets her happy ever after despite all the (cough cough) adversity she's encountered, but instead she just comes across as an entitled and self absorbed little madam with a cruel steak unbecoming of someone you're trying to endear your readers to.
This is exampled almost straight away in the first couple of chapters when Sloan has an encounter with the village mean girl, Lizzy.
I lean in and whisper, "You don't want to begin this with me, Lizzy. Not today. You forget where I work. Your father is there more than his at home and he does so enjoy talking whole he's in his whiskey. I'll bet your friends don't know how many men your father has desperately tried to get to take your hand... How many have turned him down flat... Or that you're almost as penniless as I am, so he can't even pay one to take you off his hands." It's a cruel thing to say, but I don't care. She is a despicable person and I have no problem matching her inch by despicable inch.
Now I don't know about other readers but for me, having this kind of thing come out of a character after seeing some well paced character growth, or being first being provided with context of why she is the way she is, is fine. Having this come out of her within the first few chapters as an introduction to her character only makes her seem like just as much of a awful swot as that taunting village girl was. The way the author tries to reason that it's okay to beget cruelty with cruelty because Lizzy is a despicable person, as if dragging someone else's family circumstances aren't also despicable, is horrid.
Sloane's immaturity also left a lot to be desired.
Garrett, her Scottish forest dwelling yum yum, saves her life twice. Once from a wolf and once from 'the Beast' by generously giving her safe haven in his lavish home so she can see out the full moon before resuming her search for her grandmother, but when it comes time for her to fulfill her side of the bargain and leave she stomps her way out the door. All because they shared a kiss the night before and he gave her the cold shoulder the morning after.
Sweetie, all you shared was a kiss. It's not like he had pledged himself and all his belongings to you for all eternity at this point. He owes you a big fat zilch. Just be grateful for the hospitality & all the benefits it afforded to you and get your ass out of his house as was your original agreement!
But no, she exits the building like a petulant tart rather than a gracious woman with pride and when she can't find her grandmother she comes back to HIS home and like an Air bnb squatter you can't evict, takes back residence in the house even though Garrett (i.e. the owner of the house) clearly objects to it.
And when he asks her why she didn't go back to her village instead she retorts that "it's none of your concern"
So you show up at his manor, after a few days of knowing him, refusing to leave and demanding sanctuary and when he asks you for an explanation you tell him it's not his concern?
She also goes as far as to project her anger at being abused by the bad guy in her village onto Garrett. As if his snub of her insta feelings somehow amounted to the same level of mistreatment. Because logic.
And although it's never clarified I'm pretty sure Sloane had to have been an undiagnosed bipolar. One minute she was perfectly reasonable, thinking things like 'I remind myself that I am a guest here and that I need to act accordingly' the next, she's an insufferable brat who believes she's entitled to much more, then quick as a snap she's back to being the nice girl again "Oh no, let me take my plate it's the least I can do" or "No, I can't take your money that's too much!"
No, Sloane. You're the one who's too much.
Her inner thoughts also operated in a similar vein. You never knew what direction her thoughts were going to take. They were everywhere and nowhere all at once and the frequency and pace that her mood would change was confusing. In a single paragraph she would go from fear, to ease, to anger to intrigue to horniness then back again. We get it, she's conflicted, always conflicted, but could you stop with the constant emotional whiplash? It's dizzying and not in a positive way.
In terms of writing style, it is paced quite well though (Sloane's constant mood swings and jumpy inner monologue notwithstanding). The story itself held my interest even though it was quite predictable and there were elements of it infuriated me to no end. Garrett seemed to have all the makings of a promising and swoony book boyfriend. The chemistry between Sloane and Garrett wasn't bad either. But the authors repetitive first person POV was a bit rambly & her sentences always seemed to start with 'I'
'I remind myself. I whip my head forward again and will my legs to move faster. I slip several times on leaves and Moss, slick with dew. I grit my teeth and curse under my breath. I could die. I press forward even faster, somehow managing to stay upright and off of the things jaws. I skid to a stop when I realise that I've run right into a jagged rock-face. I had no idea there were mountains of cliffs here in the woods. I put my back to the stone, determined to face whatever is coming for me'
And that was only what I picked up on one half of a single page! There were definitely more creative writing choices the author could have made in terms of variety that would've showcased a broader vocabulary, whilst also staying true to the original meaning.
I can't speak to the whole book and if it got better as it progressed, or whether Sloane does become tolerable at some point as it definitely irritated me enough to leave a bad taste (thus the prompt dnf'ing) but I do think I went into it with higher expectations than I should have.
In my opinion, it's the type of story that you can enjoy, as long as you venture into it with little expectation and without a critical eye for detail.
So in summary...
ALL RIGHT if you're looking for a no-frills fairytale retelling that you don't want to think too much about.
BAD If you're looking for a story with real depth & a likeable / logical main protagonist.
Insufferable.
Sloane, aka Red, had her good qualities If you looked hard enough. The most endearing thing about her being her affinity for animals, but otherwise, she was infuriatingly one dimensional, shallow and contradictory. This girl, acted like a brat. A bipolar brat at that, with a matching attitude and train of thought to boot.
The fact that she's the village pretty who curses her looks and generous curves because it brings all the boys to the yard and makes all the girls jealous is a trope all on it's own but one I've never taken a huge amount of issue with.
That's not to say that issues with this story did not abound.
At every the turn the author is quick to remind us that Sloane has had a hard life, all her life.
Oh I had a roof over my head but I was never quite warm, my grandmother didn't take responsibility for me and let me live slightly poorer than average while she lived in riches. I know I'm a beggar... Just a bar maid... A nobody... I'm far from a proper lady... I'm pathetic... I'm nothing...
She's forever self-depreciating and it's tiresome.
It is abundantly clear that the author REALLY wants to let you know (over and over again on every single page) that this girl has come from naught. I'm gathering this is so the reader can empathise and admire her fighting spirit in the face of such adversity (she's a downtrodden badass beech by the way but we'll get to that in a second), however, for all the narrative we get around this point, it never comes across as remotely authentic or noteworthy.
Yeah okay, you didn't have a proper bed but you still had a roof over your head, a safe place to sleep, food to sustain you, clothes on your back, a job, someone who cares enough to keep you alive and instill within you a sense of independence and self sufficiency that you may not have had had they coddled you. Your circumstances may not have been perfect and you weren't surrounded with splendor but you still had everything you needed.
Girl, newsflash. You're no where near Cinderella and you're not in a societal minority. You're in the majority.
And since when does going without a meal on occasion and working in a bar make you a beggar? Make you a nothing? And just because your grandmother is rich why does that make her automatically responsible for taking care of you as an adult?
The richsplaining tone by which Sloane's "poverty" was depicted in this book was so underdone and out of touch that it was maddening.
Written as if the author herself had grown up privileged, with no real idea of what being poor entailed but she maybe got sent to bed a couple times without dinner and her under floor heating on and then thought to herself "Ah yes, this must be what it's like to be poor"
Dude, no.
Where were the descriptions of holes and roughly sewn up tears in her clothing? The hand me downs from others? Where were the all consuming thoughts of hunger and the constant stomach pangs and pain that occur whenever hunger is left unchecked? The misted breaths she took in her freezing cold room as she curled up in a ball at night to conserve all her warmth?
I'm not saying the author had to illustrate it to her readers in exactly this way, but my point is this...
That this kind of glossing over of telling details may have been acceptable if the "Poor girl" persona hadn't been the very foundation that the author was trying to use as the make up of her main characters personality and belief system, but it was... so the failure to flesh these out in full left me decidedly unsympathetic towards Sloane's so-called plight and less inclined to forgive some of her more challenging personality traits.
It's not as if the author can say that it's a YA book written more simplistic for younger audiences because she makes it quite clear to her readers at the start that the story is for adults.
The potential for immersive world and character building was there but not utilised to its potential. Sloane could have been someone with interesting complexities and resounding depth. She's written in a way you can tell she's supposed to come across as a badass who gets her happy ever after despite all the (cough cough) adversity she's encountered, but instead she just comes across as an entitled and self absorbed little madam with a cruel steak unbecoming of someone you're trying to endear your readers to.
This is exampled almost straight away in the first couple of chapters when Sloan has an encounter with the village mean girl, Lizzy.
I lean in and whisper, "You don't want to begin this with me, Lizzy. Not today. You forget where I work. Your father is there more than his at home and he does so enjoy talking whole he's in his whiskey. I'll bet your friends don't know how many men your father has desperately tried to get to take your hand... How many have turned him down flat... Or that you're almost as penniless as I am, so he can't even pay one to take you off his hands." It's a cruel thing to say, but I don't care. She is a despicable person and I have no problem matching her inch by despicable inch.
Now I don't know about other readers but for me, having this kind of thing come out of a character after seeing some well paced character growth, or being first being provided with context of why she is the way she is, is fine. Having this come out of her within the first few chapters as an introduction to her character only makes her seem like just as much of a awful swot as that taunting village girl was. The way the author tries to reason that it's okay to beget cruelty with cruelty because Lizzy is a despicable person, as if dragging someone else's family circumstances aren't also despicable, is horrid.
Sloane's immaturity also left a lot to be desired.
Garrett, her Scottish forest dwelling yum yum, saves her life twice. Once from a wolf and once from 'the Beast' by generously giving her safe haven in his lavish home so she can see out the full moon before resuming her search for her grandmother, but when it comes time for her to fulfill her side of the bargain and leave she stomps her way out the door. All because they shared a kiss the night before and he gave her the cold shoulder the morning after.
Sweetie, all you shared was a kiss. It's not like he had pledged himself and all his belongings to you for all eternity at this point. He owes you a big fat zilch. Just be grateful for the hospitality & all the benefits it afforded to you and get your ass out of his house as was your original agreement!
But no, she exits the building like a petulant tart rather than a gracious woman with pride and when she can't find her grandmother she comes back to HIS home and like an Air bnb squatter you can't evict, takes back residence in the house even though Garrett (i.e. the owner of the house) clearly objects to it.
And when he asks her why she didn't go back to her village instead she retorts that "it's none of your concern"
So you show up at his manor, after a few days of knowing him, refusing to leave and demanding sanctuary and when he asks you for an explanation you tell him it's not his concern?
She also goes as far as to project her anger at being abused by the bad guy in her village onto Garrett. As if his snub of her insta feelings somehow amounted to the same level of mistreatment. Because logic.
And although it's never clarified I'm pretty sure Sloane had to have been an undiagnosed bipolar. One minute she was perfectly reasonable, thinking things like 'I remind myself that I am a guest here and that I need to act accordingly' the next, she's an insufferable brat who believes she's entitled to much more, then quick as a snap she's back to being the nice girl again "Oh no, let me take my plate it's the least I can do" or "No, I can't take your money that's too much!"
No, Sloane. You're the one who's too much.
Her inner thoughts also operated in a similar vein. You never knew what direction her thoughts were going to take. They were everywhere and nowhere all at once and the frequency and pace that her mood would change was confusing. In a single paragraph she would go from fear, to ease, to anger to intrigue to horniness then back again. We get it, she's conflicted, always conflicted, but could you stop with the constant emotional whiplash? It's dizzying and not in a positive way.
In terms of writing style, it is paced quite well though (Sloane's constant mood swings and jumpy inner monologue notwithstanding). The story itself held my interest even though it was quite predictable and there were elements of it infuriated me to no end. Garrett seemed to have all the makings of a promising and swoony book boyfriend. The chemistry between Sloane and Garrett wasn't bad either. But the authors repetitive first person POV was a bit rambly & her sentences always seemed to start with 'I'
'I remind myself. I whip my head forward again and will my legs to move faster. I slip several times on leaves and Moss, slick with dew. I grit my teeth and curse under my breath. I could die. I press forward even faster, somehow managing to stay upright and off of the things jaws. I skid to a stop when I realise that I've run right into a jagged rock-face. I had no idea there were mountains of cliffs here in the woods. I put my back to the stone, determined to face whatever is coming for me'
And that was only what I picked up on one half of a single page! There were definitely more creative writing choices the author could have made in terms of variety that would've showcased a broader vocabulary, whilst also staying true to the original meaning.
I can't speak to the whole book and if it got better as it progressed, or whether Sloane does become tolerable at some point as it definitely irritated me enough to leave a bad taste (thus the prompt dnf'ing) but I do think I went into it with higher expectations than I should have.
In my opinion, it's the type of story that you can enjoy, as long as you venture into it with little expectation and without a critical eye for detail.
So in summary...
ALL RIGHT if you're looking for a no-frills fairytale retelling that you don't want to think too much about.
BAD If you're looking for a story with real depth & a likeable / logical main protagonist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2025
Everyone must know by now that I LOVE a fairytale retelling and what better to read a version of Little Red Rinding Hood with a twist .
I have read a few books by this author and I have loved the thick tension , the painfully sweet slow burn and a great story she gives ! I waited for every single “fuck it” moment and this author got me .. EVERY. SINGLE . TIME!
Sloane , Red , lived a life of a poor person . Living on rations , surviving a day at the time and lived in fear of the Beast . A sacrifice is demanded each month to appease the beast and it’s only a matter of time her name is called . But fate had other plans which had her running into the woods and into a mysterious man. But Sloane was no damsel ..
Garrett oozed of masculinity, power and sex . Behind all the chemistry and instant attraction there are dark secrets lurking in the woods . One Beast , one punishment being served for eternity . Between all that tension , their relationship had a gradual pace with banter , angst and gentle moments. I adored the heated temptations in the forbidden moments. The forced proximity was EVERYTHING !! Through the pain of the past they guided each other through their struggles, desperate for the other to gain peace . The way Garrett took control was swoon worthy ! Especially during her panic attack !!
This book was a struggle to put down ! I honestly had withdrawals when I had to put it down and go to work and be in mam mode.. and last but NOT least … THAT. TWIST ! WHAT?!! My jaw was on the floor! I need more !!
This author is the Queen of giving me new book boyfriends! Garrett is up there with Alaric and Austin ! If you’re wanting to find a hidden gem in the indie author world then you NEED to check out her books!
I have read a few books by this author and I have loved the thick tension , the painfully sweet slow burn and a great story she gives ! I waited for every single “fuck it” moment and this author got me .. EVERY. SINGLE . TIME!
Sloane , Red , lived a life of a poor person . Living on rations , surviving a day at the time and lived in fear of the Beast . A sacrifice is demanded each month to appease the beast and it’s only a matter of time her name is called . But fate had other plans which had her running into the woods and into a mysterious man. But Sloane was no damsel ..
Garrett oozed of masculinity, power and sex . Behind all the chemistry and instant attraction there are dark secrets lurking in the woods . One Beast , one punishment being served for eternity . Between all that tension , their relationship had a gradual pace with banter , angst and gentle moments. I adored the heated temptations in the forbidden moments. The forced proximity was EVERYTHING !! Through the pain of the past they guided each other through their struggles, desperate for the other to gain peace . The way Garrett took control was swoon worthy ! Especially during her panic attack !!
This book was a struggle to put down ! I honestly had withdrawals when I had to put it down and go to work and be in mam mode.. and last but NOT least … THAT. TWIST ! WHAT?!! My jaw was on the floor! I need more !!
This author is the Queen of giving me new book boyfriends! Garrett is up there with Alaric and Austin ! If you’re wanting to find a hidden gem in the indie author world then you NEED to check out her books!
June 18, 2023
My god this Little Red Riding Hood retelling is everything I didn’t know I needed!!
This story captures your attention from the very beginning. Sloane “Red” is such a strong, sassy heroine and I loved her character! She always stood up for herself even against difficult odds. Garrett is so gruff and sweet! Ughhh I just want to give him a hug!! He deserves only good things! And don’t even get me started on his accent. It was absolutely panty melting. Trust me! I really liked how well the intense longing and small little touches built up to an explosion of a first time between Sloane and Garrett. And the twist at the end!!! KD Miller knows how to write captivating romance that you can’t put down! She can do no wrong!!
This story captures your attention from the very beginning. Sloane “Red” is such a strong, sassy heroine and I loved her character! She always stood up for herself even against difficult odds. Garrett is so gruff and sweet! Ughhh I just want to give him a hug!! He deserves only good things! And don’t even get me started on his accent. It was absolutely panty melting. Trust me! I really liked how well the intense longing and small little touches built up to an explosion of a first time between Sloane and Garrett. And the twist at the end!!! KD Miller knows how to write captivating romance that you can’t put down! She can do no wrong!!
March 31, 2022
I received a Kindle copy in exchange for my honest review.
What I expected is a fairly standard fairytale retelling for adults. What I got was so much more.
Red (Sloane) is a poor girl living in a town that borders the Woods. No one goes into the Woods as it houses a terrible beast who has been killing villagers every full moon for as long as the town can recall.
Sloane flees the village a few days before the full moon searching for her grandmother who lives on the other side of the woods. She is rescued by Garrett and that's where the story really begins.
Sloane and Garrett have some seriously HOT chemistry but will what they share be enough to ensure them a HEA ending, Or will the beast come between them cause heartbreak?
What I expected is a fairly standard fairytale retelling for adults. What I got was so much more.
Red (Sloane) is a poor girl living in a town that borders the Woods. No one goes into the Woods as it houses a terrible beast who has been killing villagers every full moon for as long as the town can recall.
Sloane flees the village a few days before the full moon searching for her grandmother who lives on the other side of the woods. She is rescued by Garrett and that's where the story really begins.
Sloane and Garrett have some seriously HOT chemistry but will what they share be enough to ensure them a HEA ending, Or will the beast come between them cause heartbreak?
February 12, 2025
“Maybe he's the reason I always felt drawn to the woods, maybe fate or the gods or some other force was leading me here all this time.”
Red Riding Hood retelling! 🐺
Sloane has no other choice but to run away into the dreaded woods where a Beast lurks every full moon blood thirsty and hungry for the k!ll.
Cue dark and mysterious (drop dead gorgeous) stranger who saves her… lets her stay in his mansion until the Beast finishes its hunt on the full moon… and shows her how to get to safety afterwards.
I was a little turned off at first because it seemed to be waaay too fast paced (like the wanted to jump his bones and fall in love right off the bat?). Then I reminded myself “this is a fantasy book.”
The storyline and spice were great! Slightly predictable in some places. A spin at the end. Overall a pretty good read.
Song vibes:
🎶 “Moon” - Austin Giorgio
Red Riding Hood retelling! 🐺
Sloane has no other choice but to run away into the dreaded woods where a Beast lurks every full moon blood thirsty and hungry for the k!ll.
Cue dark and mysterious (drop dead gorgeous) stranger who saves her… lets her stay in his mansion until the Beast finishes its hunt on the full moon… and shows her how to get to safety afterwards.
I was a little turned off at first because it seemed to be waaay too fast paced (like the wanted to jump his bones and fall in love right off the bat?). Then I reminded myself “this is a fantasy book.”
The storyline and spice were great! Slightly predictable in some places. A spin at the end. Overall a pretty good read.
Song vibes:
🎶 “Moon” - Austin Giorgio
May 1, 2022
*ARC REVIEW: RECEIVED A COPY FROM THE AUTHOR FOR A HONEST REVIEW*
This book has to be one of the best Red Riding Hood retellings I have ever read.
If Little Red Riding Hood met Beauty and The Beast and add in the Scottish accent AND spice.
you would get this awesome book and it was such a good read. I enjoyed the suspense and the
storytelling was such a good read I finished the book in one sitting. I recommend reading it if your
looking for an epic fantasy romance retelling of an amazing story with a bit of spice in the mix.
i am excited to read more from this author in the future.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆/5
This book has to be one of the best Red Riding Hood retellings I have ever read.
If Little Red Riding Hood met Beauty and The Beast and add in the Scottish accent AND spice.
you would get this awesome book and it was such a good read. I enjoyed the suspense and the
storytelling was such a good read I finished the book in one sitting. I recommend reading it if your
looking for an epic fantasy romance retelling of an amazing story with a bit of spice in the mix.
i am excited to read more from this author in the future.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆/5
April 1, 2025
I know this is supposed to be a Red Riding hood retelling but this felt more like Beauty and the Beast. You had the Damsel in distress, running into the woods, come upon a mysteries man who leads her to basically a manor the size of a castle. A beast. Lots of spice. Some minor plot details.
Overall this was just okay. I did get bored at some point through out the book and felt that it could have been written better.
If you’re looking for a quick read with zero depth then this will work.
Overall this was just okay. I did get bored at some point through out the book and felt that it could have been written better.
If you’re looking for a quick read with zero depth then this will work.
January 8, 2024
LRRH is a hard tale to retell because it’s so short but i absolutely loved this. It was a bit too long but i loved all the twists and the nods to the story!
June 27, 2022
Wow I loved this book!!!! I love all things fairytale so this one was just amazing. You had little red ridding hood mixed with beauty and the beast 💕 so good would definitely recommend and re read!
June 16, 2022
Absolutely yes! But....
Absolutely a wonderful story. Definitely will be one I'll go back to. And I understand why.... but if I could change just one thing... it would be his accent. But that is my sole complaint. And yes there's some good loving 🌶 😂
Absolutely a wonderful story. Definitely will be one I'll go back to. And I understand why.... but if I could change just one thing... it would be his accent. But that is my sole complaint. And yes there's some good loving 🌶 😂
April 26, 2022
•Oh my God, where do I start????
•Garrett my one true love, where art thou??
•THE BEST LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD RETELLING IN TOWN and mind you, our Red is not little (well at least in some sense of the word)
•This book has taken over my life like ....... Come now it's been DAYS now. This is not a book, this is a RELIGION.
•Sloane was well, annoying at first but then halfway through the book I found that she's MY kind of annoying and I'm so here for it.
•Garrett can feed me to the Beast any time of the day and I'd say 'Thank You.'
•Conrad my old man, we stan ya.
•"Spread ye thighs for me, sweet Sloane." Like yes sir. Anytime. I know I would.
•THE CLIMAX WHOA MAN, IT KILLED ME. AND IM KINDA MAD AT THE AUTHOR FOR MAKING ME GO THROUGH IT BUT I WILL GATEKEEP K. D. MILLER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE REGARDLESS. She's tooooo precious.
•*continues sobbing over the pre-climax* no pun intended.
•The spice 🌶️✨✨ was DIVINE.
•Ooooffffff there is a 'witch' and she's a whole mood for real like, we'd be besties in some other world where she'd actually be more of a witch than a bitch.
•Hot stuff. Hot. Stuff. Hoooooootttttt stufff.
•Soulmatism >>>>>>>
•Goosebumps. Literal goosebumps.
•Petition for K. D. Miller to write more retellings with that twisted magic of hers. Its not a want. It's a NEED. I can totally picture falling in love with her version of princesses because the original fairytales don't have fiesty enough gals or sweet enough guys. Omg, imagine K. D's Cinderella ahjakalal I need it.
•FIVE GODDAMN STARS FOR THIS MASTERPIECE.
•Go read it before I unleash *my* beast upon you folks 🕯️🕯️🕯️☠️🕯️🕯️🕯️
•Garrett my one true love, where art thou??
•THE BEST LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD RETELLING IN TOWN and mind you, our Red is not little (well at least in some sense of the word)
•This book has taken over my life like ....... Come now it's been DAYS now. This is not a book, this is a RELIGION.
•Sloane was well, annoying at first but then halfway through the book I found that she's MY kind of annoying and I'm so here for it.
•Garrett can feed me to the Beast any time of the day and I'd say 'Thank You.'
•Conrad my old man, we stan ya.
•"Spread ye thighs for me, sweet Sloane." Like yes sir. Anytime. I know I would.
•THE CLIMAX WHOA MAN, IT KILLED ME. AND IM KINDA MAD AT THE AUTHOR FOR MAKING ME GO THROUGH IT BUT I WILL GATEKEEP K. D. MILLER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE REGARDLESS. She's tooooo precious.
•*continues sobbing over the pre-climax* no pun intended.
•The spice 🌶️✨✨ was DIVINE.
•Ooooffffff there is a 'witch' and she's a whole mood for real like, we'd be besties in some other world where she'd actually be more of a witch than a bitch.
•Hot stuff. Hot. Stuff. Hoooooootttttt stufff.
•Soulmatism >>>>>>>
•Goosebumps. Literal goosebumps.
•Petition for K. D. Miller to write more retellings with that twisted magic of hers. Its not a want. It's a NEED. I can totally picture falling in love with her version of princesses because the original fairytales don't have fiesty enough gals or sweet enough guys. Omg, imagine K. D's Cinderella ahjakalal I need it.
•FIVE GODDAMN STARS FOR THIS MASTERPIECE.
•Go read it before I unleash *my* beast upon you folks 🕯️🕯️🕯️☠️🕯️🕯️🕯️
May 3, 2022
There’s a reason people don’t go into the woods. Every full moon, another innocent soul is devoured by the Beast. The woods are technically safe the rest of the time, but no one dares enter them. At least, not until Sloane Whelan. Now that she’s on the run, Sloane decides that the woods are a safer bet than her village.
Along the way, she runs into a devastatingly attractive stranger who offers her a place to stay, and when she accepts his offer, Sloane doesn’t realize just how electric the chemistry between them would be. But even as she falls for Garrett, the secrets that surround his life continue to cause them conflict.
Holy. Freaking. Cow. I don’t know what I was expecting when I picked up “Red,” but it definitely wasn’t finding one of my top reads of 2022!!! I adored this mashup of a fairytale retelling; the world building was absolutely spectacular and the plot was extremely well written. I also really loved Conrad, Garrett’s butler and a father figure to both him and Sloane. But to be honest, I loved everything about this book.
Sloane. Can I be her?!?!? She’s so bold and confident and sassy; she knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it either. I loved how fiercely loyal she was to both Garrett and Conrad. Garrett. First of all, major swoon!!! This man is a literal dream. He is perfect fictional husband material. He’s kind, caring, and considerate, and of course devilishly handsome. You could see their chemistry from their very first interaction, and I loved watching their relationship develop over the course of the novel. Go read this right now!!!!
Along the way, she runs into a devastatingly attractive stranger who offers her a place to stay, and when she accepts his offer, Sloane doesn’t realize just how electric the chemistry between them would be. But even as she falls for Garrett, the secrets that surround his life continue to cause them conflict.
Holy. Freaking. Cow. I don’t know what I was expecting when I picked up “Red,” but it definitely wasn’t finding one of my top reads of 2022!!! I adored this mashup of a fairytale retelling; the world building was absolutely spectacular and the plot was extremely well written. I also really loved Conrad, Garrett’s butler and a father figure to both him and Sloane. But to be honest, I loved everything about this book.
Sloane. Can I be her?!?!? She’s so bold and confident and sassy; she knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it either. I loved how fiercely loyal she was to both Garrett and Conrad. Garrett. First of all, major swoon!!! This man is a literal dream. He is perfect fictional husband material. He’s kind, caring, and considerate, and of course devilishly handsome. You could see their chemistry from their very first interaction, and I loved watching their relationship develop over the course of the novel. Go read this right now!!!!
January 20, 2024
This is a magnificent retelling of Little Red Riding Hood! I was hooked from the moment I started reading it until the very end. The way K.D. Miller writes is mesmerizing and she has this amazing way of telling a enthralling story!
Sloane who goes by Red by everyone in the village. Her village is terrorized by "the Beast". Every full moon, someone is sacrificed to keep "the Beast" content.
Red finds herself in a bad situation and flees the village into the scary woods where she knows it resides. She meets handsome Garrett who she finds interesting and soon finds herself living with him in his manor which is protected by spells.
Both Garrett and Sloane are strong, wonderful characters that I enjoyed reading about. Their chemistry and attraction was so good! I rate the spiciness a 4/5! I definitely recommend this book and can't wait to see what else K.D. Miller writes!
Sloane who goes by Red by everyone in the village. Her village is terrorized by "the Beast". Every full moon, someone is sacrificed to keep "the Beast" content.
Red finds herself in a bad situation and flees the village into the scary woods where she knows it resides. She meets handsome Garrett who she finds interesting and soon finds herself living with him in his manor which is protected by spells.
Both Garrett and Sloane are strong, wonderful characters that I enjoyed reading about. Their chemistry and attraction was so good! I rate the spiciness a 4/5! I definitely recommend this book and can't wait to see what else K.D. Miller writes!
January 31, 2024
What big teeth it has. What a fantastic story. I’m not going to lie, Red Riding Hood retellings are my second favorite of all time, it’s why I was attracted to this book in the first place. I received this book as an ARC, in exchange for a honest review. Well I honestly loved it from the first page to the last.
Red is no damsel, not at all. She’s tough and smart and speaks her mind, even when she shouldn’t. Running into some bad luck, she sets off into the woods, despite the fear of The Beast, in search of finding her long lost grandmother. But what she finds is far different than anything she had expected.
When she meets up with more trouble in the woods only to be saved by a handsome stranger.
This is definitely a 5 star book.
Red is no damsel, not at all. She’s tough and smart and speaks her mind, even when she shouldn’t. Running into some bad luck, she sets off into the woods, despite the fear of The Beast, in search of finding her long lost grandmother. But what she finds is far different than anything she had expected.
When she meets up with more trouble in the woods only to be saved by a handsome stranger.
This is definitely a 5 star book.
April 27, 2022
What I expected: your run of the mill Red Riding Hood retelling. What I got: the greatest fairy tale retelling I’ve EVER read! Red has twists and turns that you won’t see coming. Sloane aka Red isn’t a “sit back and let bad sh** happen to me” kind of heroine. She refuses to go down without some kind of fight.
Red is a slowburn romance that leaves you wanting more once it’s over. All loose ends are perfectly tied up, yet you find yourself hoping there’s going to be a second book in which you get to see Sloane and Garrett’s love flourish, and what their lives are like after everything has happened.
Red is a slowburn romance that leaves you wanting more once it’s over. All loose ends are perfectly tied up, yet you find yourself hoping there’s going to be a second book in which you get to see Sloane and Garrett’s love flourish, and what their lives are like after everything has happened.
April 10, 2022
I am no damsel!
I would like to thank K.D. Miller for the possibility of being in her ARC squad and reading this retelling before the release. It has been a rollercoaster and I have loved it! From the strong heroine who is, as she herself puts it "no damsel" to the hero's thick accent (which did grow on me, not gonna lie), from the shores of the sea to the thick forest this story takes us to!
If you like sexy retellings of your favorite fairytales with heroines that are all but scared of getting their hands dirty, this is definitely a go-to! Thank me later!!!
I would like to thank K.D. Miller for the possibility of being in her ARC squad and reading this retelling before the release. It has been a rollercoaster and I have loved it! From the strong heroine who is, as she herself puts it "no damsel" to the hero's thick accent (which did grow on me, not gonna lie), from the shores of the sea to the thick forest this story takes us to!
If you like sexy retellings of your favorite fairytales with heroines that are all but scared of getting their hands dirty, this is definitely a go-to! Thank me later!!!
April 12, 2022
Phenomenal. K.D. Miller did it again. She writes such fantastic characters and knows just how to describe the world around them to make you feel like you are there with them. This book is perfect for anyone who loves fairytales. Dirtier and darker but oh so good. Emphasis on the dirtier part, so much spice, but not overwhelming to take away from the story. But the spice? Damn. 🔥
This is a book that makes you wish you were in the world with these characters. Sloane, Garrett and Conrad. They were perfect.
This is a book that makes you wish you were in the world with these characters. Sloane, Garrett and Conrad. They were perfect.
April 20, 2022
The perfect marriage between little red riding hood and beauty and the beast. 🌶🌶🌶🌶.
I don’t want to give anything away - just read it!
It’s an easy read, some really fun twists.
Every time I felt like the book was looking more like beauty and the beast, KDMiller would smack me in the face with the coolest red riding hood Easter egg. I’m in love. It’s a retelling/reimagining without feeling like it.
Also I got a broody male MC that is SO LIKABLE. So many of these broody men in NA fantasy are arseholes. Somehow Garrett broods in the most gentlemanly way.
I don’t want to give anything away - just read it!
It’s an easy read, some really fun twists.
Every time I felt like the book was looking more like beauty and the beast, KDMiller would smack me in the face with the coolest red riding hood Easter egg. I’m in love. It’s a retelling/reimagining without feeling like it.
Also I got a broody male MC that is SO LIKABLE. So many of these broody men in NA fantasy are arseholes. Somehow Garrett broods in the most gentlemanly way.
April 28, 2022
This story is what dark fairy tales are made of!! Wow!! Immediately I was sucked in to another world. Sloane is fierce, just and brave. Garrett is tough, strong and honorable. Both feel unworthy of love but so deeply want it. This is a delicious slow burn. I fell in love with seeing these two fall in love. It was beautiful! These kind of stories are my favorites. They just whisk me away to a world of magic and make me feel like a kid again, when magic, fairy tales and anything was possible! I can't wait to see what else KD Miller has in store because I want it all!
April 30, 2022
I was blown away by this book. I was expecting a kind of standard KU find. Decent writing, decent spice, entertaining but not wildly enthralling? Totally wrong. Though a semi-predictable plot in this genre, the spice is among the best I’ve ever read. Absolutely scrumptious stuff. The scene is set quickly, the excitement pulls you in right away, and you know who the cheer for. And Outlander lovers? Our MMC is Scottish! Dinna fash. I couldn’t put it down, and found myself desperate to find out what happens when life made me stop reading.
April 27, 2022
Received a free copy for an honest review.
It a retelling of little red riding hood. Sloane is from a village where they trapped by a beast in the woods they have to do a monthly sacrifice to keep it at bay.
Sloane on the ran goes into the wood and meet Garrett who rescue who but he is a very secret person.
Sloane a.ka red is a very untrusting person and had a hard life can she let her guard down?
Will Garrett secret destroy is chance at love?
It a retelling of little red riding hood. Sloane is from a village where they trapped by a beast in the woods they have to do a monthly sacrifice to keep it at bay.
Sloane on the ran goes into the wood and meet Garrett who rescue who but he is a very secret person.
Sloane a.ka red is a very untrusting person and had a hard life can she let her guard down?
Will Garrett secret destroy is chance at love?
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