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Sap & Spile

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In the unfamiliar forests of Vermont, Mila finds herself out of her comfort zone in more ways than one. While cleaning up the mess her estranged husband left behind, a late spring snow storm threatens her life. Her unlikely rescuers aren’t just living in the woods, they’re an intrinsic part of them. Old bonds, new debts, and ancient magic flow like snowmelt in this short, steamy tale of love and lust among the trees. Notes on content contained in this There are references to marital cheating (previous, not perpetrated by the main characters), marital estrangement, homicide, divorce, a fatal car accident, death, ingestion of fun bodily fluids (both while aware and while unaware), praise, and group activities.The two main male characters have a prior loving, established relationship with one another. If you have any questions or concerns about story content, please feel free to reach out to the author on social media!

50 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 14, 2022

55 people are currently reading
401 people want to read

About the author

Vera Valentine

46 books900 followers

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5 stars
176 (27%)
4 stars
214 (33%)
3 stars
162 (25%)
2 stars
62 (9%)
1 star
18 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
Profile Image for Alex.
447 reviews41 followers
May 24, 2023
From the woman who brought us balloon animal shifter ménage now comes a mmf dryad romance. Delightful.

In this you’ll find things such as:
-barksworn as a pet name
-tree shifting
-come that tastes like sap
-magic fertility rituals

So who can say no to all of that?

Slow burn (which is relative in 50 pages).

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV: Multiple 1st
Profile Image for Lori R..
1,410 reviews71 followers
December 3, 2023
I read this because I was intrigued. And because…Vera Valentine. Unique story, interesting and lovable characters, and excellent writing. I’ve come to realize if Vera writes it, I will read it. No matter what the story is about.
Profile Image for Rachel.
51 reviews1 follower
January 10, 2025
Vera Valentine never ceases to amaze me … & make me say “what the fuck?” out loud to myself as I’m reading.

This was one of the strangest stories that I’ve ever read from Vera. The novelty & what-the-fuckness of it all was genuinely enjoyable. Did it make any sense whatsoever? No. Was it entertaining (albeit a bit disturbing) beyond belief? YES!
Profile Image for Ash (so there’s this book).
584 reviews78 followers
December 1, 2023
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance, Novella
3/5🌶️

Tropes and themes: Dryads & mythology, MMF, hurt/care, age -gap, monster f*cking, forced proximity / snowed in cabin

Thoughts:
I loved this 😂 It was short and to the point and I really enjoyed the lore and slightly world building. A very well done novella!!
Profile Image for Poppy || Monster Lover.
1,807 reviews500 followers
October 21, 2023
Cute - wish it was longer!

These characters were all unique and interesting and I wanted MORE. They were sweet together and went through a lot to get to where they ended up.

Spice: 3/5

Triggers: car accident (off page), cheating (not by MCs), inadvertent consumption of semen
Profile Image for Destiny.
158 reviews
May 22, 2024
i swear this is the last book of hers i will read
maybe
Profile Image for Alix.
154 reviews10 followers
November 3, 2024
I was so confused the whole time
Profile Image for Dani.
1,688 reviews138 followers
January 1, 2024
What you'll get:
Monsters - kind off? They're tree shifters
Lumbersexual
Magic
Bisexual rep

Setting: Vermont

This was the most romantic book about a woman banging a couple of murderous trees that I've ever read. They were held under a curse by Mila's estranged husband until his "completely accidental" death forces her up to Vermont to learn a whole lot about syrup very quickly or she'll be completely broke. I would definitely say she learned how to tap for syrup.
Profile Image for Krista.
1,121 reviews31 followers
February 19, 2023
3 stars for making me laugh out loud at 77% while yelling NO! nononononono! OMG. The title of this story intrigued me as well as the premise (dryads) but I was NOT expecting THIS! Yes- spoiler ahead.

"Blunted and polished smooth at the penetrating edge, the hollow metal tube ended in a rounded, tapered point at the other end. Her eyes widened as she spotted it in my hand, and I let my gaze wander her still-clothed body with predatory heat.
“We’ve never had the pleasure of a mortal female before - my books tell me you have sap of your own to sample.”

They used a spile on her! LOLOLOLOL. I can't. Of all the ways a story can go, this was very unexpected. Props for creativity.
Profile Image for Krystal Spooner.
221 reviews15 followers
September 27, 2023
When a get a text that says “This seems like a Krystal book” you know I’m going to read it.

I had no idea what to expect, but it was so cozy.

I even learned something. I had no idea what a Spile was until I googled it. It’s the nozzle to harvest sap from maple trees to make syrup. The more you know.

If you want a short story with Dryads and a snowstorm I 10/10 recommend this quick read.
Profile Image for Ryn.
151 reviews4 followers
January 1, 2023
great little story

I have learned to expect nothing less from this writer!! She is beyond talented and a must-read!! Vera is an example of finding someone you enjoy and enjoying all they write!!
Profile Image for ☾⋆⁺ Nurse After Dark.
1,033 reviews15 followers
December 30, 2023
Why the hell did I think I could run a goddamn maple syrup farm?

I wish this book was longer! The were delicious and their pre-existing relationship as they brought in our FMC was fun! I'll never be sick of that trope <3

The snow-wind sang its beautiful song outside, a melody that stirred my soul but promised death for the fragile human on our bed.

The continuity with the setting and monster-type was well written and it reminded me why I enjoyed Vera Valentine's works! The characters felt very unique and some of the prose was really lovely. Overall, a cute, short read!
Profile Image for Ursula Johnson.
2,030 reviews20 followers
March 28, 2024
Romance Among the Trees

This was a short story about a poly romance in the woods. It was sweet with spice. Note that spice is at the end of the book, the setup takes most of the story. Didn’t like this one as much as Unhinged.
Profile Image for Morgan Conner.
202 reviews37 followers
May 23, 2024
It is what it says it is. But the ending is truly "unhinged" joke intended. We go from decent story and plot to straight chaos that is fed to you with "just accept that this makes sense." The description is right on the money though, you're not "barking up the wrong tree"....ok I will stop.
Profile Image for Julia.
71 reviews7 followers
May 8, 2024
I swear I read once that dryads could only be women?
Profile Image for Marie-Lyne (Gonewithflynn).
620 reviews13 followers
January 13, 2024
Bahahahaha an entertaining little story about tree shifters and one lucky lady who learns how to tap for tree sap like nobody else. This story was heartwarming and also a lil wild lollll.

Content warning: sexual content, murder
Profile Image for Amanda.
804 reviews184 followers
December 17, 2022
A little cartoonish and corny in parts, but enjoyable and cute overall. Would love to have seen this expanded a bit more to allow for more character and plot. I wanted more of it.
Profile Image for I'm Fine, Just Tired.
1,215 reviews18 followers
January 21, 2023
Sap and Spile

HERO Sier and Alsam are male tree dryads. Sier is the younger of the two and he is kinder, with a soft heart. Alsam is the oldest and more strict. He had a human friend years ago who taught him how to read and he taught Sier. Sier and Alsam are mated.

HEROINE Mila is married to her husband Caleb. Caleb left her two years prior to continue his relationship with a Russian woman named Svetlana. Mila was heartbroken and was left alone to pick up the pieces that Caleb left behind. And a lot of debt. Caleb and Svetlana died in a car accident and now Mila packed up her life to move to where Caleb and Svetlana started a maple syrup business. She needs to succeed in keeping the business afloat so she is not put into financial ruin, again.

REPRESENTATION LGBTQ+ rep in the form of two masculine tree spirits mating and finding a third, a human woman, to mate with.

OVERALL THOUGHTS This was an okay novella. It took a little to get into but we got there.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE It could have been longer and we could have seen some character development. At Least more of the relationship between Sier and Alsam

FAVORITE QUOTES: “We’ve never had the pleasure of a mortal female before - my books tell me you have sap of your own to sample.”
“I intend to harvest it. You’ll sweeten my tea, little fawn, just as Sier does.”


SAFETY Safe

AGE: I don't think they mentioned age but Mila seems older, 30s. Sier and Alsam are tree spirits so I assume they are more than a hundred years old.

SEXUAL HISTORY: Mila had a husband prior, but hadn’t had sex for two years. Sier and Alsam are a mated pair and they both talked fondly of their matings.

CONDOMS: Nope, she got that sap

HEAT LEVEL: 2/5 Not very smutty. One Scene. Alsam tapped her vagina though with a metal spile, which was a new one for me.

PUSH/PULL: Nope.

SEPARATION: Nope

CHEATING: The FMC estranged husband cheated on her in the past.

OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No

SEX SCENE WITH OW/OM: No

ABUSE: No

POSSIBLE PET PEEVES/TRIGGERS References to marital cheating (previous. Not perpetuated by the main characters) marital estrangement, homicide, divorce, a fatal car accident, death, ingestion of fun bodily fluids (both while aware and while unaware), praise and group activities.

HEA/HFN:
Profile Image for Kelli Santistevan.
1,045 reviews35 followers
December 24, 2023
In the unfamiliar forests of Vermont, Mila finds herself out of her comfort zone in more ways than one. While cleaning up the mess her estranged husband left behind, a late spring snow storm threatens her life. Her unlikely rescuers aren’t just living in the woods, however: they’re an intrinsic part of them. Old bonds, new debts, and ancient magic flow like snowmelt in this short, steamy tale of love and lust among the trees.

I read this book on Kindle Unlimited. I like nature so I enjoyed reading this book. It’s a fun, quick read and it’s perfect for Christmas time.
Profile Image for Raven.
954 reviews1 follower
December 18, 2024
The spice could have been spicier, and I'm a little sad that I didn't get that much of it.

There was so much back story with this one. Back story and build up. Considering how short this was, i would have liked more of the spice and less of the backstory and build up.

However I loved the characters and premise so much that, if we were doing that much back story, I would have been fine with a whole ass novella or novel at that point.

I just wanted more. More of the characters and how they're doing. More of the spice.

This was just too short for me!
Profile Image for Briony.
53 reviews
January 26, 2023
A really interesting story that includes things you wouldn’t really think about or see in other books. I love how unique the storyline is and that there’s nothing out there like it.
It’s a mmf situation, with both men having different personalities, one being the obedient sweet type and the other being the dominating but sweet type.
It’s a quick read, one that i do wish was longer to get more spicy scenes of them together since we only really got one 💔 but overall a really enjoyable book
513 reviews9 followers
March 15, 2023
Sweet and spicy tale

I absolutely loved this tale. Finding love in unexpected places is a favorite of mine. I definately can't blame Mia for getting a little excited at the MM driad couple. I loved whimsical feel as Valentine describes their home, grove, and surrounding nature. This tale is wonderful combo of sweet and spicy. I highly recommend this story for fans of paranormal romance.
Profile Image for Ciru.
1,723 reviews
December 17, 2022
3.5 Stars.

Loved the start as Mila's backstory is being revealed and she's raging against her ex. The set up was good.

When Alsam+Sier are brought into the mix, the tone of the book shifts in terms of the prose. And her modern point of view/tone of voice gets lost in it.

Tapping/untapping shenanigans ensue. Then, basically they lived happily ever after.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews

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