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Secret Babies for Prothekan Dark Elves #1
The Dark Elf's Secret Baby
I will not let this dark elf noble hurt my child!
Kerym was my dark elf overseer. I gave into his charms.
But when I found out I was pregnant, I knew I had to leave and go far away.
He needed to grow up without fear.
And Kerym? He didn’t love me.
Dark elves are monsters who view humans as animals.
Who knew what he’d do when he found out I was pregnant.
Three years have passed and I’ve raised my son, Jasper without worry.
Until the day my new overseer takes over the town I live in.
It’s Kerym. He’s found us.
He sees me. He sees Jasper.
And I know this is not a coincidence.
He’s been searching for us.
Does he love me?
Did he ever?
Or are we just inconveniences he needs to wipe out on his path to power?
Why is he here?
Kerym was my dark elf overseer. I gave into his charms.
But when I found out I was pregnant, I knew I had to leave and go far away.
He needed to grow up without fear.
And Kerym? He didn’t love me.
Dark elves are monsters who view humans as animals.
Who knew what he’d do when he found out I was pregnant.
Three years have passed and I’ve raised my son, Jasper without worry.
Until the day my new overseer takes over the town I live in.
It’s Kerym. He’s found us.
He sees me. He sees Jasper.
And I know this is not a coincidence.
He’s been searching for us.
Does he love me?
Did he ever?
Or are we just inconveniences he needs to wipe out on his path to power?
Why is he here?
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2023
1882 people are currently reading
1597 people want to read
About the author
Celeste King
308 books276 followersCeleste 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
May 14, 2023
I. Am. Pissed.
BEWARE!! Rant and spoilers ahead!
But before I go into what I hated about this one, let me list what I loved.
Hero and heroine are faithful and celibate during their separation.
Hero wasn’t a manwhore.
Hero was the heroine’s one and only, she hadn’t spread her legs and allowed some loser to crawl between them and break her in, even tho their first time isn’t shown.
Their baby, jasper, was adorable.
Ok, with the good stuff out of the way, here’s why I had to give this one star.
We’re dropped into the middle of the story, where the hero and heroine have already been in a relationship. We never see the relationship build. We never see their first time together.
The heroine leaves the hero. Doesn’t tell the hero she’s pregnant, doesn’t give him a choice, simply assumes that he won’t want his baby. And when the hero finds heroine, HE IS TREATED AS THE VILLAIN!!! She also acts like the hero wanting to be part of HIS SONS LIFE is somehow overstepping his bounds.
NEVER does the heroine acknowledge what a fucked up decision she made, she never takes responsibility for depriving her son of his father and the hero his son, never grovels, instead it’s the hero who is made out as if HE did something wrong. And that could’ve worked, IF the hero had been the one to leave. The entire plot, including the heroine’s reticence and fear and animosity would have ONLY made sense if the hero had been the one to take off and leave a pregnant heroine behind. (And honestly it would’ve been super easy to do that plot—the hero is a soldier, simply relocate him and have him reassigned without him having the chance to speak to the heroine. That would’ve been a clean and simple plot element that would’ve made sense with the way the heroine acted. Instead the author woke up and chose stupidity.)
It’s utterly disgusting and tiring to read a book where the heroine is completely in the wrong and instead the hero is treated as if he has something to apologize for. And considering how ruthless and supposedly savage the dark elves are clAimed to be, this hero was a pathetic, spineless beta guppy soy boy. He didn’t have any aspects of a dark elf character to him. He SHOULD HAVE been demanding with the heroine and carted her off to his home, he should’ve been enraged and infuriated at the heroines betrayal, but instead he is a pathetic puling mess groveling at her feet.
I love secret baby trope and it’s too bad this one was botched because it could’ve been good if just a little thought was put into it and if it had the sense to know which main character had fucked up and needed to grovel.
Safe. Hero isn’t a manwhore and is celibate during separation. Heroine is a virgin, belongs only to her hero. No others, no sharing or cheating or abuse. HEA with small epilogue
.
BEWARE!! Rant and spoilers ahead!
But before I go into what I hated about this one, let me list what I loved.
Hero and heroine are faithful and celibate during their separation.
Hero wasn’t a manwhore.
Hero was the heroine’s one and only, she hadn’t spread her legs and allowed some loser to crawl between them and break her in, even tho their first time isn’t shown.
Their baby, jasper, was adorable.
Ok, with the good stuff out of the way, here’s why I had to give this one star.
We’re dropped into the middle of the story, where the hero and heroine have already been in a relationship. We never see the relationship build. We never see their first time together.
The heroine leaves the hero. Doesn’t tell the hero she’s pregnant, doesn’t give him a choice, simply assumes that he won’t want his baby. And when the hero finds heroine, HE IS TREATED AS THE VILLAIN!!! She also acts like the hero wanting to be part of HIS SONS LIFE is somehow overstepping his bounds.
NEVER does the heroine acknowledge what a fucked up decision she made, she never takes responsibility for depriving her son of his father and the hero his son, never grovels, instead it’s the hero who is made out as if HE did something wrong. And that could’ve worked, IF the hero had been the one to leave. The entire plot, including the heroine’s reticence and fear and animosity would have ONLY made sense if the hero had been the one to take off and leave a pregnant heroine behind. (And honestly it would’ve been super easy to do that plot—the hero is a soldier, simply relocate him and have him reassigned without him having the chance to speak to the heroine. That would’ve been a clean and simple plot element that would’ve made sense with the way the heroine acted. Instead the author woke up and chose stupidity.)
It’s utterly disgusting and tiring to read a book where the heroine is completely in the wrong and instead the hero is treated as if he has something to apologize for. And considering how ruthless and supposedly savage the dark elves are clAimed to be, this hero was a pathetic, spineless beta guppy soy boy. He didn’t have any aspects of a dark elf character to him. He SHOULD HAVE been demanding with the heroine and carted her off to his home, he should’ve been enraged and infuriated at the heroines betrayal, but instead he is a pathetic puling mess groveling at her feet.
I love secret baby trope and it’s too bad this one was botched because it could’ve been good if just a little thought was put into it and if it had the sense to know which main character had fucked up and needed to grovel.
Safe. Hero isn’t a manwhore and is celibate during separation. Heroine is a virgin, belongs only to her hero. No others, no sharing or cheating or abuse. HEA with small epilogue
.
February 4, 2023
Woman hides son from Father, somehow he's the bad-guy
I'm going to get 💩for saying this, but it needs to be said regardless.
Layla IS F@#$ WRONG FOR WHAT SHE DID.
First of all, the moment she found out she was pregnant, she immediately disappeared herself. Somehow, she rationalizes that Kem is the bad guy and at fault for getting pregnant when she jumped him for his 🍆 and purposefully had him 💦 inside during the deed. She knew very well the risks she was taking. They both did. The only difference is that Kem was working behind the scenes to save her and make her his mate, but she left before any communication happened.
The way Layla turned the situation on Kem, as if he did something wrong, burned so deeply that I couldn't let go of what she did. Layla doesn't even face real repercussions for her actions either because she gets everything she wants. Somehow, all the blame gets put on Kem and he has to either fix the problems thrown at him or prove his worthiness to her on multiple occasions. The final nail in the coffin to me was Layla's persistence in the idea that Kem had no claim to THEIR SON.
This had me pulling out my hair, wanting to scream at this woman.
It's all so azz backwards! It's 100% modern feminism at its worst, hitting every checklist the organization currently subscribes to:
* fmc can do no wrong
* fmc is a goddess and must be worshipped
* fmc's bad decisions are never her fault, she has 0 accountability
* the mmc is good only for sexual gratification and personal amusement
* her body her choice, until she wants to be objectified — only that's okay because it's empowering to her inner womanhood and also key sexual expression for her
* there's no such thing as sexually objectifying men because they want it anyway
* men are meant to be subservient to women, especially when the woman is 😈 and he must follow sexual instruction to the T, otherwise it's SA ( the opposite, however, is **not** considered SA)
The list goes on and on. This sort of scenario saturates so many modern-day romance novels, and it's honestly sickening. These poor men, written by women, are still not perfect enough. It's like there's this unreachable standard that keeps morphing and evolving into bigger, more complex, and upsetting beasts.
Terribly done.
I'm going to get 💩for saying this, but it needs to be said regardless.
Layla IS F@#$ WRONG FOR WHAT SHE DID.
First of all, the moment she found out she was pregnant, she immediately disappeared herself. Somehow, she rationalizes that Kem is the bad guy and at fault for getting pregnant when she jumped him for his 🍆 and purposefully had him 💦 inside during the deed. She knew very well the risks she was taking. They both did. The only difference is that Kem was working behind the scenes to save her and make her his mate, but she left before any communication happened.
The way Layla turned the situation on Kem, as if he did something wrong, burned so deeply that I couldn't let go of what she did. Layla doesn't even face real repercussions for her actions either because she gets everything she wants. Somehow, all the blame gets put on Kem and he has to either fix the problems thrown at him or prove his worthiness to her on multiple occasions. The final nail in the coffin to me was Layla's persistence in the idea that Kem had no claim to THEIR SON.
This had me pulling out my hair, wanting to scream at this woman.
It's all so azz backwards! It's 100% modern feminism at its worst, hitting every checklist the organization currently subscribes to:
* fmc can do no wrong
* fmc is a goddess and must be worshipped
* fmc's bad decisions are never her fault, she has 0 accountability
* the mmc is good only for sexual gratification and personal amusement
* her body her choice, until she wants to be objectified — only that's okay because it's empowering to her inner womanhood and also key sexual expression for her
* there's no such thing as sexually objectifying men because they want it anyway
* men are meant to be subservient to women, especially when the woman is 😈 and he must follow sexual instruction to the T, otherwise it's SA ( the opposite, however, is **not** considered SA)
The list goes on and on. This sort of scenario saturates so many modern-day romance novels, and it's honestly sickening. These poor men, written by women, are still not perfect enough. It's like there's this unreachable standard that keeps morphing and evolving into bigger, more complex, and upsetting beasts.
Terribly done.
January 31, 2023
DNF at 52%
I don’t understand the many 5 ⭐️ reviews unless they’re once again from Booksprout (and there are rarely accurate reviews from there). I don’t understand how this woman chose to sleep with a dark elf, ran away as soon as she found out she was pregnant and then held it against him. The author literally turned him into a pile of mush for the FMC and it still wasn’t enough. I have no desire to read crap like this and am honestly sick of the “sassy strong heroines” who are basically mean girls in disguise. I’ve tried to read many books by Ms King within the last few months and have given up before finishing them. I’m unfollowing the author and won’t try to read anymore by her.
I don’t understand the many 5 ⭐️ reviews unless they’re once again from Booksprout (and there are rarely accurate reviews from there). I don’t understand how this woman chose to sleep with a dark elf, ran away as soon as she found out she was pregnant and then held it against him. The author literally turned him into a pile of mush for the FMC and it still wasn’t enough. I have no desire to read crap like this and am honestly sick of the “sassy strong heroines” who are basically mean girls in disguise. I’ve tried to read many books by Ms King within the last few months and have given up before finishing them. I’m unfollowing the author and won’t try to read anymore by her.
May 27, 2024
i read this for a potential video that i don't think will pan out because it was just too boring :(
June 30, 2025
Narrators talk too slowly. I upped it to 1.2x speed and it was better!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙❤️
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋🙂🙃😍
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration
In the shadowed depths of Protheka’s mines, where humans toil under the distant gaze of dark elves, a story of forbidden love and sacrifice unfolds. It is a slow-burning, emotionally charged tale that explores what it means to choose love—or freedom—when the two may not coexist.
Layla, orphaned by a collapse the elves chose not to prevent, survives in Camp Horizon—a mining outpost with fewer chains than most, but chains nonetheless. Her nights are lonely, her options limited, and her future uncertain. Kerym, a dark elf soldier born of nobility, harbors no illusions about duty. The moment he falls for Layla, ambition fades into silence. Yet love in a fractured world like theirs doesn’t bloom; it breaks.
One night changes everything. A kiss, a night of closeness, and then months later—pregnancy. Layla flees, not from fear, but with fierce resolve to protect her child from the cruel stigma of a mixed heritage. Kerym, left behind, is told nothing. When he learns the truth years later, what remains isn’t bitterness—it’s devotion. He risks scandal and status to find her again.
Though steeped in sensuality, this isn’t just a romance. It’s about the legacies we inherit and the ones we fight to rewrite. The world-building paints a chilling contrast between illusionary freedom and systemic power. While some plot beats—particularly the time skip—could benefit from deeper emotional unpacking, the bond between Layla and Kerym remains compelling and nuanced.
The setup is dripping with emotional depth and quiet tension. Layla’s resilience and guarded hope are especially striking given the trauma of losing her parents and the harshness of her world. And Kerym? A perfect storm of forbidden longing and rebellion against expectation. There’s so much going on beneath the surface—it is not just star-crossed romance, its legacy, shame, power imbalance, and quiet defiance.
I liked the story; the character development was terrific, and the two main characters were very likable. I loved the fact that Kerym was so nervous to find Layla when he gets to the city where she moved, that he can hardly walk off the ship. His legs are unsteady below him at the thought of what he might find. Plus, the fact that he has not stopped loving her or thinking about her in all that time. I also really enjoyed how intelligent and what a hard worker Kerym was, he wants to make things better for elf/human relations and has great ideas on improving things in the mining camps. I also loved the fact that the little boy, Jasper has magic.
This audiobook was narrated from multiple perspectives, done in dual narration by Eva Caine and Todd McClaren. Eva Caine has a nice, soft voice that is very pleasant. Though I’m not sure I like her tempo, and she is a bit monotone, there are no real highs or lows. Todd McClaren has an ok voice; he is not one of my favorites but isn’t the worst either. Though he does sound older than these characters and his voice for female characters sounds like an 80-year-old. He also speaks at a kind of slow monotone tempo that bothers me. Since both narrators have such a slow tempo, I increased the speed and it sounded much better.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙❤️
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋🙂🙃😍
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration
In the shadowed depths of Protheka’s mines, where humans toil under the distant gaze of dark elves, a story of forbidden love and sacrifice unfolds. It is a slow-burning, emotionally charged tale that explores what it means to choose love—or freedom—when the two may not coexist.
Layla, orphaned by a collapse the elves chose not to prevent, survives in Camp Horizon—a mining outpost with fewer chains than most, but chains nonetheless. Her nights are lonely, her options limited, and her future uncertain. Kerym, a dark elf soldier born of nobility, harbors no illusions about duty. The moment he falls for Layla, ambition fades into silence. Yet love in a fractured world like theirs doesn’t bloom; it breaks.
One night changes everything. A kiss, a night of closeness, and then months later—pregnancy. Layla flees, not from fear, but with fierce resolve to protect her child from the cruel stigma of a mixed heritage. Kerym, left behind, is told nothing. When he learns the truth years later, what remains isn’t bitterness—it’s devotion. He risks scandal and status to find her again.
Though steeped in sensuality, this isn’t just a romance. It’s about the legacies we inherit and the ones we fight to rewrite. The world-building paints a chilling contrast between illusionary freedom and systemic power. While some plot beats—particularly the time skip—could benefit from deeper emotional unpacking, the bond between Layla and Kerym remains compelling and nuanced.
The setup is dripping with emotional depth and quiet tension. Layla’s resilience and guarded hope are especially striking given the trauma of losing her parents and the harshness of her world. And Kerym? A perfect storm of forbidden longing and rebellion against expectation. There’s so much going on beneath the surface—it is not just star-crossed romance, its legacy, shame, power imbalance, and quiet defiance.
I liked the story; the character development was terrific, and the two main characters were very likable. I loved the fact that Kerym was so nervous to find Layla when he gets to the city where she moved, that he can hardly walk off the ship. His legs are unsteady below him at the thought of what he might find. Plus, the fact that he has not stopped loving her or thinking about her in all that time. I also really enjoyed how intelligent and what a hard worker Kerym was, he wants to make things better for elf/human relations and has great ideas on improving things in the mining camps. I also loved the fact that the little boy, Jasper has magic.
This audiobook was narrated from multiple perspectives, done in dual narration by Eva Caine and Todd McClaren. Eva Caine has a nice, soft voice that is very pleasant. Though I’m not sure I like her tempo, and she is a bit monotone, there are no real highs or lows. Todd McClaren has an ok voice; he is not one of my favorites but isn’t the worst either. Though he does sound older than these characters and his voice for female characters sounds like an 80-year-old. He also speaks at a kind of slow monotone tempo that bothers me. Since both narrators have such a slow tempo, I increased the speed and it sounded much better.
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January 24, 2023
Layla works at Camp Horizon within her town mines digging for kirialite, a raw stone, that the dark elf overseers value. As a human she has little options other than working from sunrise until sunset in the mines unless she takes on an apprenticeship for a specific trade such as baking, medicine, or sewing. The camp is separated into different quarters with the dark elves situated on the West and the human on the East. Her parents got her out of Orthani when she was ten to avoid the more cruel treatment that runs rampant in the continental cities. After moving she was suddenly orphaned when both her parents died within the mines during a normal work day.
With her only comfort being her cousin and her aunt and uncle she easily falls in love with a new dark elf overseer. The young Kerym is new to his job and eager to strike up a “friends with benefits” arrangement that allows him and Layla to indulge in sexcapades regularly after work. Since relationships between dark elves and humans are frowned upon. Layla continues to see Kerym in secret to fulfill her sexual desires and push away her loneliness for an exciting life outside of the mining town. When she suddenly ends up pregnant the reader isn’t really surprised. Although Layla seems to have forgotten how her body works when semen is involved.
Layla takes it upon herself to not speak with Kerym about any of this and assumes her desire to keep the baby will only be one sided. Not having any resources, money, or connections she still decides to keep the half-breed baby because we can’t have this plot without the baby! She works out a plan with the female doctor who tells her about the pregnancy to fudge her medical records and write down that she has a deadly illness from the mine dust and needs to be relocated. In doing so, she instantaneously disappears and Kerym is both hurt and confused as he had no intention of not having a long term relationship with Layla but hadn’t gotten around to telling her fearing she would also want to keep things casual.
A quick book with not much substance. I don’t hesitate to say this plot is every man’s worst nightmare.
With her only comfort being her cousin and her aunt and uncle she easily falls in love with a new dark elf overseer. The young Kerym is new to his job and eager to strike up a “friends with benefits” arrangement that allows him and Layla to indulge in sexcapades regularly after work. Since relationships between dark elves and humans are frowned upon. Layla continues to see Kerym in secret to fulfill her sexual desires and push away her loneliness for an exciting life outside of the mining town. When she suddenly ends up pregnant the reader isn’t really surprised. Although Layla seems to have forgotten how her body works when semen is involved.
Layla takes it upon herself to not speak with Kerym about any of this and assumes her desire to keep the baby will only be one sided. Not having any resources, money, or connections she still decides to keep the half-breed baby because we can’t have this plot without the baby! She works out a plan with the female doctor who tells her about the pregnancy to fudge her medical records and write down that she has a deadly illness from the mine dust and needs to be relocated. In doing so, she instantaneously disappears and Kerym is both hurt and confused as he had no intention of not having a long term relationship with Layla but hadn’t gotten around to telling her fearing she would also want to keep things casual.
A quick book with not much substance. I don’t hesitate to say this plot is every man’s worst nightmare.
February 24, 2023
DNF’d at 55%
Okay…this book was not for me.
The writing style and syntax really threw me off - it didn’t really fit the vibe of the world and it pulled me out of the story. The details the author added about the world were both too much and not enough - the random made-up names for things, but then the modern-sounding idioms and phrases made it feel very disjointed.
Sometimes it felt like the author was rushing to get to certain plot points, and some scenes felt bare-bones and flat because of this.
“Spice” levels are so subjective, but to me, the (one) spicy scene I read was meh. I feel like we never got to “know” the characters and they never really developed into characters I was interested in, let alone invested in.
When the book starts, the characters already have a relationship, and we get barely any insight about how they came together or anything like that. We are “told” but not “shown” the depth of their feelings. And while the Whole Point™️ is that the dark elves and humans are not supposed to be together, there is no background?? I understand that there are many other books set in this world, but I don’t understand the dynamics. And it’s heavily implied that the humans are slaves and/or treated like slaves, but it is treated with such kid-gloves that it renders the whole crux of the “forbidden love” irrelevant.
I was SO confused because the summary makes it sound like Kerym is a dark character that is cruel and mistreats humans, but then the entire first part of the book is the setup of how he is “not like the rest” and is actually very soft and sweet? And then Layla unilaterally decides to flee and not tell Kerym about the baby (whom she names Jasper Whitlock, I am getting twilight flashbacks) but again, this doesn’t make sense with how Kerym has been portrayed/how the human and dark elf dynamic has been portrayed? And then she acts so angry at Kerym like he did something wrong when he shows up and discovers he has a son and *shockingly* wants to know his son? I don’t understand where her anger comes from, and I do not have the patience to even attempt to read it.
If I missed the part about this book having elves and magic and other fantasy creature (which are only mentioned in passing??? why?!) I would have thought it was about two teenagers who had a Dramatic Miscommunication™️ and one fled to Florida.
Overall, I think this is an interesting idea, but the execution was not there at all.
February 9, 2023
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The story itself was good, but I think it was the two main characters that I found abit wishywashy. I wish the author had made them more likeable, they both came across as weak.
The story itself was good, but I think it was the two main characters that I found abit wishywashy. I wish the author had made them more likeable, they both came across as weak.
October 1, 2024
DNF
It was boring…….once again instagram/tiktok ad misleading 🤷🏼♀️
My math also is not adding. When she got pregnant and went hiding - there is no baby. Then the next chapter is 2 years later and the kid is nearly 2 and half years old. How 🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
It was boring…….once again instagram/tiktok ad misleading 🤷🏼♀️
My math also is not adding. When she got pregnant and went hiding - there is no baby. Then the next chapter is 2 years later and the kid is nearly 2 and half years old. How 🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
October 29, 2023
I wanted to fall in love
Dark Elf ruled world was a dark world, but the elements of the story did not carry the darkness through.
I did like that Layla was strong and dertemined. She has a backbone and stood up for others. I did not like that she was a selfish coward when it came to Kerym. She could have talked to him and allow for a real rejections of her. Then she made things compounded by running when she knew she was pregnant. This part of her action, I understood. I did not like that she was so angry with Kerym when he showed up. He had not idea.
Kerym, I did like. I liked that he was ambitious but not cruel. I liked that he was determined to find Layla when she ran. Even though he did not know she ran. I liked that he was strong in his convictions. I liked that he was determined to be a part of the child's life and that of Layla.
I did like that writing. I just wanted a little more of the darkside of this new world.
Dark Elf ruled world was a dark world, but the elements of the story did not carry the darkness through.
I did like that Layla was strong and dertemined. She has a backbone and stood up for others. I did not like that she was a selfish coward when it came to Kerym. She could have talked to him and allow for a real rejections of her. Then she made things compounded by running when she knew she was pregnant. This part of her action, I understood. I did not like that she was so angry with Kerym when he showed up. He had not idea.
Kerym, I did like. I liked that he was ambitious but not cruel. I liked that he was determined to find Layla when she ran. Even though he did not know she ran. I liked that he was strong in his convictions. I liked that he was determined to be a part of the child's life and that of Layla.
I did like that writing. I just wanted a little more of the darkside of this new world.
Read
September 13, 2023If you like sweet fantasy romance with cinnamon roll MMCs and the secret baby trope I rec this. The writing was surprisingly decent.
The MMC was too sweet for me, dnf. No rating.
The MMC was too sweet for me, dnf. No rating.
January 26, 2023
A Decision to be Made . . .
This story is about Dark Elf overseer Kerym and a human, Layla. When she finds that she is pregnant, Layla can’t take a chance on telling Kerym. She assumes he really doesn’t love her and she does not want any harm to come to her baby. So she leaves him behind. She didn’t really give him a chance to tell her how he felt about her.
A few years later, Kerym finds her and meets his son, Jasper, for the first time. Will they choose to stay together and be a family, despite the attitude of others toward such a mating? Will they be willing to overcome the difficulties they may face if they choose each other? Or will he walk away from them?
This story is about Dark Elf overseer Kerym and a human, Layla. When she finds that she is pregnant, Layla can’t take a chance on telling Kerym. She assumes he really doesn’t love her and she does not want any harm to come to her baby. So she leaves him behind. She didn’t really give him a chance to tell her how he felt about her.
A few years later, Kerym finds her and meets his son, Jasper, for the first time. Will they choose to stay together and be a family, despite the attitude of others toward such a mating? Will they be willing to overcome the difficulties they may face if they choose each other? Or will he walk away from them?
January 12, 2023
10000000/10 I could hardly put the book down finish the book in two days had hardly any sleep loved the the way the book pulled me in and made me feel as if I was the characters or if I was watching a movie and had me on the edge of my seat with the romance going back between the two on top of the family oriented aspect of it. I like the way that it left you on the edge of your seat as if realizing certain people have different qualities different breeds have different qualities I love reading about the Protheka tales and can't wait for a second book to this one. I would recommend Celeste King to anyone who likes the paranormal love stories that have a bit of spice in the suspense of them that leaves you on the edge of your seat wanting to know more. In this book you feel as if you're with the characters when it comes to their chapters as if sitting there waiting to know what happens wanting to see how they battle their emotions or fix their emotions or fix their relationships it is phenomenal.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 29, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. Great world building. I absolutely loved Kerym. I was drawn to him from the start and really liked the initial relationship between him and Layla. Though I have to admit, Layla really made me angry and at times I grew to hate her. I was disappointed in her decisions and attitude and it really only brought my heart out more for Kerym and how devoted he was to her and the strong love he felt for his son. Her coldness and anger really prevented me from ever warming up to her in spite of the happy ending. I loved little Jasper and thought him so sweet. Despite my opinion of Layla, this was a very good read and I can't wait for the next book. And let me say- the cover for this book is absolutely gorgeous and one of my favorites out of all of Celeste's novels. 4 stars.
March 13, 2023
The secret baby trope works for me when there's a good reason the baby was kept a secret. The fact that he was an elf and it was forbidden seemed like a good enough reason until I started reading the book. Turns out he was a total peach and treated her like gold. She was fully in love with him and he her, but she panicked and disappeared after learning she was pregnant. When he finds her two years later and realizes she had their baby, she's pissed at him for showing up and upsetting her life.
The writing was good and I enjoyed him and their child enough to keep reading, but she pretty much ruined the story for me.
Rating: 2 out of 5
The writing was good and I enjoyed him and their child enough to keep reading, but she pretty much ruined the story for me.
Rating: 2 out of 5
February 26, 2023
2.5 out of 5
July 23, 2023
Slow start. But things got a bit better once the action picked up some. Layla and Kerym were having a secret affair. Layla gets pregnant and runs off without telling Kerym. Fast forward a few years and Kerym finally finds Layla. And their son. There’s a little tension but Kerym and Layla work things out. Short and to the point. I think the story had potential, but it just never really took off for me.
January 22, 2023
Layla is a human woman who lives and works in a mining community owned by the dark elves. Life is hard there and humans are looked down on. Layla has a bright spot in her life. She has made friends with benefits with Kerym, a dark elf soldier. They have a secret passionate affair. Layla knows that she will be shunned for being with a dark elf and Kerym knows his parents would never approve of his relationship with a human. It was just supposed to be a short term love affair with no commitments but they fell in love. Dark elves never stay in the mining town for long, they transfer to better posts elsewhere. Layla is sure that Kerym is going to ask for transfer so when she learns that she is pregnant with his child, she is determined to give that baby a better life. The healer arranges for her to get a transfer to a community that is more accepting of mixed relationships by lying on the application that she has TB. Layla leaves Kerym without a word and starts a new life with her coming baby.
A couple of happy years on the island, there is a visit by the new dark elf lieutenant. To her shock, the lieutenant is Kerym. He has found her and their son. He wants to make a life together but Layla is afraid.
Kerym is the second son of a very important elf family. He has always felt a lot of pressure from his family to follow in his older brother's footsteps and get an important position in the service. They also want to arrange his marriage into one of the best families. Kerym has done his best to please his family even though he feels like he is a poor second. He was never truly happy until he meets Layla. Being with her just feels right. He knows he loves her but she would never be accepted by his family. It is transfer time and he has to make a decision whether to ask for a transfer to please his family or follow his heart and stay with Layla. He follows his heart but is surprised to find out that she has been transferred. He stays in the mining town and finally becomes the lieutenant. He searches the records to find out where Layla has gone. It takes months but he finally finds that she was transferred because she had a disease that kills in a year. He goes to the settlement and is shocked to find Layla still alive and that she had his child. Now he just has to convince her that he is serious about making them a family.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A couple of happy years on the island, there is a visit by the new dark elf lieutenant. To her shock, the lieutenant is Kerym. He has found her and their son. He wants to make a life together but Layla is afraid.
Kerym is the second son of a very important elf family. He has always felt a lot of pressure from his family to follow in his older brother's footsteps and get an important position in the service. They also want to arrange his marriage into one of the best families. Kerym has done his best to please his family even though he feels like he is a poor second. He was never truly happy until he meets Layla. Being with her just feels right. He knows he loves her but she would never be accepted by his family. It is transfer time and he has to make a decision whether to ask for a transfer to please his family or follow his heart and stay with Layla. He follows his heart but is surprised to find out that she has been transferred. He stays in the mining town and finally becomes the lieutenant. He searches the records to find out where Layla has gone. It takes months but he finally finds that she was transferred because she had a disease that kills in a year. He goes to the settlement and is shocked to find Layla still alive and that she had his child. Now he just has to convince her that he is serious about making them a family.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 11, 2023
I judged this book by its cover. We never see a baby. The elf has black hair, wears pin striped pants, a button up shirt, and brocade vest. There were also SO many errors and continuity issues that it is apparent there was no editor involved. That is an issue for me because it pulls me out of the story.
SPOILERS:
A majority of the other reviewers are upset about the FMC's actions regarding the MC. I get it. Even though we do get both points of view, the MC felt more like the main character of this story and he seemed to have no flaws.
Maybe my perspective is different because I am mixed. I know what my parents went through so I understood her choice. She even explained why she did what she did. He told her their relationship was just physical and that he had aspirations. They were akin to a Caucasian politician's son and a Black maid in the US South. He'd made her no promises and she knew her child would be ostracized. She even says in the book she made the best decision for her son, just like her parents did for her.
When he shows up she's hurt. She wants nothing more than to be with him but it isn't accepted in their world. She already knew his family wouldn't welcome her and this was the safest place for her child. Her apprehension to let him see the son was proven valid when we see how obsessed the child immediately becomes. You want to protect your child from pain...physical and emotional. She and her child could be killed for being with the MC. That was a very real fear of the FMC. The MC says he will protect them, and because she left he was able to obtain a position to do so. Even so, he still thought his father would send assassins to kill the FMC and the child.
It ends with a HEA because the author chose to have the MC's father "come around" so quickly and we never see what their life is like after the wedding. Prejudice did not just vanish. They will still face hardships and slurs but the FMC decided it was worth it.
SPOILERS:
A majority of the other reviewers are upset about the FMC's actions regarding the MC. I get it. Even though we do get both points of view, the MC felt more like the main character of this story and he seemed to have no flaws.
Maybe my perspective is different because I am mixed. I know what my parents went through so I understood her choice. She even explained why she did what she did. He told her their relationship was just physical and that he had aspirations. They were akin to a Caucasian politician's son and a Black maid in the US South. He'd made her no promises and she knew her child would be ostracized. She even says in the book she made the best decision for her son, just like her parents did for her.
When he shows up she's hurt. She wants nothing more than to be with him but it isn't accepted in their world. She already knew his family wouldn't welcome her and this was the safest place for her child. Her apprehension to let him see the son was proven valid when we see how obsessed the child immediately becomes. You want to protect your child from pain...physical and emotional. She and her child could be killed for being with the MC. That was a very real fear of the FMC. The MC says he will protect them, and because she left he was able to obtain a position to do so. Even so, he still thought his father would send assassins to kill the FMC and the child.
It ends with a HEA because the author chose to have the MC's father "come around" so quickly and we never see what their life is like after the wedding. Prejudice did not just vanish. They will still face hardships and slurs but the FMC decided it was worth it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2023
This could have been so good but the author missed the mark. DNF 60%
Layla is a human working in mine that is run by dark elves. She is having a secret relationship with one of the soldiers, Kerym. She finds out she is pregnant and the healer arranges for her to leave on pretense that she has lung sickness and can no longer work in mines. The dark elves look down on humans and only have them as slaves or play things. She didn't want to endanger her hybrid child so she leaves. Kerym deeply loves her however and spends the next few years looking for her. He finds both of them, a little 2 year old boy (not a baby like in the cover) and love of his life. This is where I stopped reading.
"I will not let this dark elf noble hurt my child!" This makes ZERO sense based on how author set-up the story.
I stopped reading because Layla's character was too annoying and inconsistent with the story line. She left to give her hybrid child a better life but when she sees Kerym she is angry at him. It was unnecessary. The whole interaction was ridiculous because she tried to make him look bad when he didn't do anything. There was no reason for her to go off on him. Wouldn't she be afraid he would punish her for talking to him like that? Wouldn't she think he would punish her by "hurting" the child? Even the summary says that she won't let him hurt her child as if he is some monster. If she was truly afraid she wouldn't act like this was about her (it isn't, it is about thier child). Also, she even talked to her new bff about him and her new bff swooned over him and was certain he was truly in love with her. Leyla just inserted a bunch of bs assumptions out of nowhere. She made a choice and is trying to transfer the blame. This is not a deadbeat dad situation. Could have made her character strong mama...she didn't need any other reason than that.
The story outline didn't flow. The main issue being this society of dark elves that see humans as less than them. This tone doesn't carry everywhere and only comes out at times. Leyla's character was unlikable to me.
Layla is a human working in mine that is run by dark elves. She is having a secret relationship with one of the soldiers, Kerym. She finds out she is pregnant and the healer arranges for her to leave on pretense that she has lung sickness and can no longer work in mines. The dark elves look down on humans and only have them as slaves or play things. She didn't want to endanger her hybrid child so she leaves. Kerym deeply loves her however and spends the next few years looking for her. He finds both of them, a little 2 year old boy (not a baby like in the cover) and love of his life. This is where I stopped reading.
"I will not let this dark elf noble hurt my child!" This makes ZERO sense based on how author set-up the story.
I stopped reading because Layla's character was too annoying and inconsistent with the story line. She left to give her hybrid child a better life but when she sees Kerym she is angry at him. It was unnecessary. The whole interaction was ridiculous because she tried to make him look bad when he didn't do anything. There was no reason for her to go off on him. Wouldn't she be afraid he would punish her for talking to him like that? Wouldn't she think he would punish her by "hurting" the child? Even the summary says that she won't let him hurt her child as if he is some monster. If she was truly afraid she wouldn't act like this was about her (it isn't, it is about thier child). Also, she even talked to her new bff about him and her new bff swooned over him and was certain he was truly in love with her. Leyla just inserted a bunch of bs assumptions out of nowhere. She made a choice and is trying to transfer the blame. This is not a deadbeat dad situation. Could have made her character strong mama...she didn't need any other reason than that.
The story outline didn't flow. The main issue being this society of dark elves that see humans as less than them. This tone doesn't carry everywhere and only comes out at times. Leyla's character was unlikable to me.
April 20, 2023
Not for me.
I’m want to be fair here, give, as much as possible, an unbiased review.
I think much of my problems with this, is based on personal taste, and it’s quite probable, that there will be many who utterly enjoy this…
However, for me, I found the FMC to be too immature. The world the story was built in, was much darker, much more complex than the characters revealed.
They tended to focus on the shallow, or only touched on other issues to create angst, and then ignored them when no longer useful.
You have a world based on subjugation, bordering on slavery, and yet they are carrying on about careers, status, personal desire… while all relevant, it just feels like something that should cone … second maybe?
Much of the time, her anger didn’t make sense. She leaves him without notice, hides the truth from him, but when he finds her, she’s angry at him? Claiming he rejected her?
She had the right to be angry at the system, and his part in it, but that never comes up?
The whole story was like this. There was real reasons for fear and anger, but these were constantly overlooked, for more shallow, illogical ones..
I can only guess that the author didn’t want to deal with these issue?
But then, why create this type of world?
The conclusion feels just as shallow, but also rushed. Those bigger, scarier issues, are suddenly pushed under the rug, many aspects miraculously resolved within a couple of pages (that had previously taken a whole book to discuss).
Last issue, and this is one regarding the quality of the book, and not a personal preference.
It’s in need of serious editing. It’s full of so much repetition, even to the point of repeating itself within the next paragraph.
Take out the repetition, and you would lose a good third of the book.
There is a very intriguing idea within this, but it is never realised. Instead, focusing on a very immature fantasy romance.
This was not for me. Better luck to those who enjoy this style.
I’m want to be fair here, give, as much as possible, an unbiased review.
I think much of my problems with this, is based on personal taste, and it’s quite probable, that there will be many who utterly enjoy this…
However, for me, I found the FMC to be too immature. The world the story was built in, was much darker, much more complex than the characters revealed.
They tended to focus on the shallow, or only touched on other issues to create angst, and then ignored them when no longer useful.
You have a world based on subjugation, bordering on slavery, and yet they are carrying on about careers, status, personal desire… while all relevant, it just feels like something that should cone … second maybe?
Much of the time, her anger didn’t make sense. She leaves him without notice, hides the truth from him, but when he finds her, she’s angry at him? Claiming he rejected her?
She had the right to be angry at the system, and his part in it, but that never comes up?
The whole story was like this. There was real reasons for fear and anger, but these were constantly overlooked, for more shallow, illogical ones..
I can only guess that the author didn’t want to deal with these issue?
But then, why create this type of world?
The conclusion feels just as shallow, but also rushed. Those bigger, scarier issues, are suddenly pushed under the rug, many aspects miraculously resolved within a couple of pages (that had previously taken a whole book to discuss).
Last issue, and this is one regarding the quality of the book, and not a personal preference.
It’s in need of serious editing. It’s full of so much repetition, even to the point of repeating itself within the next paragraph.
Take out the repetition, and you would lose a good third of the book.
There is a very intriguing idea within this, but it is never realised. Instead, focusing on a very immature fantasy romance.
This was not for me. Better luck to those who enjoy this style.
July 29, 2023
When I read the blurb, I did expect something else. Not that the dark elf was truly dedicated to her from the start, and that she just ran away without him telling that she was pregnant, because she just assumed things instead of talking it out.
Sure, there is a divide between humans and dark elves. And therefore there are issues. I can understand, to some degree, where she is coming from. And why their relationship was kept secret at first. But both were in love with each other.
And I didn't really see bad instances for her or her child. Sure, it was mentioned that it was due to the places they were. But even in the end, there was never any issues.
Furthermore, the whole conflict/story was a series of misunderstandings and miscommunications. Like when he finds them, and they both have a monologue about that they have to talk about what had happened and their son. I didn't see an issue on Kerym's part, because he was genuine and his reasoning and questions were solid. I mean, I would ask about my child, too, if I see them after not knowing about them in the first place? But Layla? She accused him of things, is unreasonably angry of him for showing up and ask question, even though she didn't have a reason to disbelieve him. She was the one who ran away without giving him a chance to step up. Or to prove his love in any way.
And she is the person who constantly pushes him away and keep Jasper from his father. While he tries his best to show her his feelings and so on.
I was annoyed with the story in the end. I finished it, since it was a short book for me. But I'm not sure, I want to read more. The other books in the series seem to follow a similar theme of miscommunications and doubts and what not. So, I'm not into that. And it doesn't seem like I would miss anything interesting.
I mean, in the end, there were no issues at all with her being human, and Jasper being half-elf. But okay.
Sure, there is a divide between humans and dark elves. And therefore there are issues. I can understand, to some degree, where she is coming from. And why their relationship was kept secret at first. But both were in love with each other.
And I didn't really see bad instances for her or her child. Sure, it was mentioned that it was due to the places they were. But even in the end, there was never any issues.
Furthermore, the whole conflict/story was a series of misunderstandings and miscommunications. Like when he finds them, and they both have a monologue about that they have to talk about what had happened and their son. I didn't see an issue on Kerym's part, because he was genuine and his reasoning and questions were solid. I mean, I would ask about my child, too, if I see them after not knowing about them in the first place? But Layla? She accused him of things, is unreasonably angry of him for showing up and ask question, even though she didn't have a reason to disbelieve him. She was the one who ran away without giving him a chance to step up. Or to prove his love in any way.
And she is the person who constantly pushes him away and keep Jasper from his father. While he tries his best to show her his feelings and so on.
I was annoyed with the story in the end. I finished it, since it was a short book for me. But I'm not sure, I want to read more. The other books in the series seem to follow a similar theme of miscommunications and doubts and what not. So, I'm not into that. And it doesn't seem like I would miss anything interesting.
I mean, in the end, there were no issues at all with her being human, and Jasper being half-elf. But okay.
February 1, 2023
This was a great book and like that the male lead finally realized that he loved the human female but to late. Layla is a human that works for the mining company who is overseen by a Dark elf Kerym who is so sexy that I cannot help myself and we start an affair and I’m falling in love with him and now I’m pregnant and it’s not good or safe for me or our child so I need to leave and the medic has me moved saying I was sick. Now in a new town Layla gives birth to a son Jasper and after 3 yrs they are getting a new overseer and it Kerym he has found me. Kerym is Dark elf and is from a wealthy family and they want him to marry and settle down but he only wants Layla the human but his family won’t allow him marry her at all and that’s when he realizes his true feelings for her and goes to tell her but she is gone and he is told that she is sick and was sent away and he decides to track her down anyway but to no avail. And now taking on a new promotion 3yrs later in a new town as the overseer he see Layla alive and well with a little boy who looks just like him and he learns that it is his son Jasper and that’s why she left. Kerym tells Layla that he loves her and wants to be a family and when Jasper learn that Kerym is his dad he is so excited that is melts Layla’s heart. There is so many obstacles for them to overcome especially with his family and there are miss understanding, insecurities, mistrust, drama, fear, anger but also love. How does it all turn out and do the get there family and a HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 25, 2023
I'm not a fan of the miscommunication trope and that's exactly what this book is about. I was confused about Layla's reaction when she saw Kerym again for the first time in two years. We're told her reason for leaving without a word is because she wants to get her son somewhere safe and that she thinks Kerym isn't interested in anything more than a physical relationship (which is just her assumption she never actually asked Kerym if he wanted more or had feelings for her).
My mind is a mess. Should I pack a bag? Should we run? Has he even connected Jasper to this whole mess?
Why would she even consider hiding when there is no danger? Seems like she just wanted to keep their son from Kerym.
“And you have no right to just show up here demanding answers, Kerym,” she shoots back
Actually he does?
"Going behind my back and knowingly disrespecting my wishes for my child, all in an attempt to play daddy with a child he’s never so much as spoken to? This is a new level, even for a dark elf."
She went behind his back for years, first of all. She says "play daddy" like he knew of his child's existence and chose to ignore him.
I really cannot stand characters who are in the wrong, know that they are wrong, yet continue to be defensive and find fault in others but not themselves.
Layla is an okay character but I don't really care for her, she came off as bitchy and rude a lot of the time. I found Kerym far from the average Dark Elf written in every other Celeste King series. He's kind, caring, courageous and likable.
My mind is a mess. Should I pack a bag? Should we run? Has he even connected Jasper to this whole mess?
Why would she even consider hiding when there is no danger? Seems like she just wanted to keep their son from Kerym.
“And you have no right to just show up here demanding answers, Kerym,” she shoots back
Actually he does?
"Going behind my back and knowingly disrespecting my wishes for my child, all in an attempt to play daddy with a child he’s never so much as spoken to? This is a new level, even for a dark elf."
She went behind his back for years, first of all. She says "play daddy" like he knew of his child's existence and chose to ignore him.
I really cannot stand characters who are in the wrong, know that they are wrong, yet continue to be defensive and find fault in others but not themselves.
Layla is an okay character but I don't really care for her, she came off as bitchy and rude a lot of the time. I found Kerym far from the average Dark Elf written in every other Celeste King series. He's kind, caring, courageous and likable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2023
SMH...
I was looking forward to this storyline. The synopsis sounded good and the plot intriguing. Sadly, this was poorly implemented. Our hero is everything everything. He's honorable, noble, fiercely protective, loving, kind and handsome. His mannerisms and thoughtfulness are swoon worthy. Our heroine? She is a total disappointment. She makes choices for herself without regard for anyone else (including the Hero and father of her baby who she supposedly loves). She disappears, lies about her reasoning for leaving, shocks him with a child who looks like him and denies is his, gets mad at him for finding her and wanting to talk to her. She's actually childish and belligerent towards him. Then confesses the child is his and vows he'll never get her to leave with him and their son. She won't allow him to mess up her sons life. The Son is angry, depressed, and throws a 24 hour tantrum where she realizes that she does love him (I don't believe her by now because her actions have been so ridiculous to this point). Very exhausting to read this story. For an adult woman to behave so immature and act like a bratty teenager, I wondered if a teen wrote this. I also thought maybe two different people wrote this story because the personality change in the heroine was like receiving whiplash. It was so sudden and harsh. She acted so selfishly immature. It was so awful that I just started to skim to get to the end to get it over with. I will not sit through another book in this series for fear of another poorly executed plot.
I was looking forward to this storyline. The synopsis sounded good and the plot intriguing. Sadly, this was poorly implemented. Our hero is everything everything. He's honorable, noble, fiercely protective, loving, kind and handsome. His mannerisms and thoughtfulness are swoon worthy. Our heroine? She is a total disappointment. She makes choices for herself without regard for anyone else (including the Hero and father of her baby who she supposedly loves). She disappears, lies about her reasoning for leaving, shocks him with a child who looks like him and denies is his, gets mad at him for finding her and wanting to talk to her. She's actually childish and belligerent towards him. Then confesses the child is his and vows he'll never get her to leave with him and their son. She won't allow him to mess up her sons life. The Son is angry, depressed, and throws a 24 hour tantrum where she realizes that she does love him (I don't believe her by now because her actions have been so ridiculous to this point). Very exhausting to read this story. For an adult woman to behave so immature and act like a bratty teenager, I wondered if a teen wrote this. I also thought maybe two different people wrote this story because the personality change in the heroine was like receiving whiplash. It was so sudden and harsh. She acted so selfishly immature. It was so awful that I just started to skim to get to the end to get it over with. I will not sit through another book in this series for fear of another poorly executed plot.
June 12, 2023
Surprisingly sweet.
So the blurb made me think this was going to be a lot darker than it was.
The world is a harsh one that refers to the poor treatment of humans, and how women are playthings but that is never once the case in this book.
Kerym is a cinnamon roll. He is soo super sweet and is head over heels in love with Layla. The way he mourns her departure and never stops looking for her…swoon. 🥰 But he does have his moments where he flexes a bit and shows his dark elf nature to those who would hurt his loved ones.
There is a bit of a misunderstanding between the main characters that leads to Layla running. She is doing what she thinks is right for her and her baby. If only she’d talked to Kerym…
This is a sweet m/f romantic fantasy with dark elves and humans set in a somewhat developed world (no cars or electricity, think castle era). Magic and second chance romance with a feel of soul mates, and hidden baby.
Loved the cute family moments and how Jasper plays a major role in the plot and is not just said as ‘here’s a baby’ but is interacted with by both Kerym and Layla.
Dual povs, with Harper having a chapter at the end, told in 1st person.
Main characters-
Kerym- dark elf male, guard than Lieutenant
Layla- human female
Jasper- their son and half breed with magic and elf features
Harper and Adelaide- their friend from the island and her daughter
Steam-hot
So the blurb made me think this was going to be a lot darker than it was.
The world is a harsh one that refers to the poor treatment of humans, and how women are playthings but that is never once the case in this book.
Kerym is a cinnamon roll. He is soo super sweet and is head over heels in love with Layla. The way he mourns her departure and never stops looking for her…swoon. 🥰 But he does have his moments where he flexes a bit and shows his dark elf nature to those who would hurt his loved ones.
There is a bit of a misunderstanding between the main characters that leads to Layla running. She is doing what she thinks is right for her and her baby. If only she’d talked to Kerym…
This is a sweet m/f romantic fantasy with dark elves and humans set in a somewhat developed world (no cars or electricity, think castle era). Magic and second chance romance with a feel of soul mates, and hidden baby.
Loved the cute family moments and how Jasper plays a major role in the plot and is not just said as ‘here’s a baby’ but is interacted with by both Kerym and Layla.
Dual povs, with Harper having a chapter at the end, told in 1st person.
Main characters-
Kerym- dark elf male, guard than Lieutenant
Layla- human female
Jasper- their son and half breed with magic and elf features
Harper and Adelaide- their friend from the island and her daughter
Steam-hot
May 22, 2023
a great quick and spicy read!
This was a perfect little bite size read! I love secret baby tropes! This one was set in a world of dark elves with magic where humans are slaves and work in the mines under overseers, it’s quite a scary setting the Romance our Layla finds is in some sexy time with a gorgeous and kind Dark Elf who she had a run in with. What starts as just some sexy romps to blow off steam and fill their same old everyday life turns to feeling that they never speak on. Our girl gets pregnant and runs away while our Elf spends years looking for her, when he finally gets lead and follows it her finds her with a babe. I enjoy it, it was cute, it was steamy. The miss understandings they had were hard on the heart and while you get upset at the book and the characters… remember love is not always easy. And I would be scared too to wind up pregnant when I’m a pretty much in a confinement camp and I have no family to turn too and my baby dad has a very prestigious family that wont think well of lesser being having his child. I liked it! It had a HEA and leads you into the next book which looks like will be her friends book, it got me so I’m off to read it!
This was a perfect little bite size read! I love secret baby tropes! This one was set in a world of dark elves with magic where humans are slaves and work in the mines under overseers, it’s quite a scary setting the Romance our Layla finds is in some sexy time with a gorgeous and kind Dark Elf who she had a run in with. What starts as just some sexy romps to blow off steam and fill their same old everyday life turns to feeling that they never speak on. Our girl gets pregnant and runs away while our Elf spends years looking for her, when he finally gets lead and follows it her finds her with a babe. I enjoy it, it was cute, it was steamy. The miss understandings they had were hard on the heart and while you get upset at the book and the characters… remember love is not always easy. And I would be scared too to wind up pregnant when I’m a pretty much in a confinement camp and I have no family to turn too and my baby dad has a very prestigious family that wont think well of lesser being having his child. I liked it! It had a HEA and leads you into the next book which looks like will be her friends book, it got me so I’m off to read it!
March 28, 2024
Read this on a whim and decided to read the rest of the series, too, which I will get around to doing. But as of now, it had completely flopped on its face.
First off, I loved reading about Kerym and Layla's relationship in the begining. There was a lot to wrap my head around, but since there were things that weren't fleshed out well enough, I didn't bother questioning them.
However, a good portion of the way through the novel up until she realizes she's pregnant and decides to dip, it got boring and very self-explanatory. The fact the novel skipped over her reaching her new home, meeting new people, and the birthing process was absolutely wild. It was pretty bland, basic romance after that, honestly. Not even spicy---the beginning wasn't spicy either.
The fact both the main characters do nothing but bicker at each other and attempt to dig up the other's ulterior motives drove me insane. They kept jabbing at one another, pushing the other away, and doing everything in their power to figure out if the other was simply doing things for the sake of doing them, or genuinely loved spending time with one another rather than blatant obligation in regards to their relationship through their child. Miscommunication and lack of it went hard with this one.
First off, I loved reading about Kerym and Layla's relationship in the begining. There was a lot to wrap my head around, but since there were things that weren't fleshed out well enough, I didn't bother questioning them.
However, a good portion of the way through the novel up until she realizes she's pregnant and decides to dip, it got boring and very self-explanatory. The fact the novel skipped over her reaching her new home, meeting new people, and the birthing process was absolutely wild. It was pretty bland, basic romance after that, honestly. Not even spicy---the beginning wasn't spicy either.
The fact both the main characters do nothing but bicker at each other and attempt to dig up the other's ulterior motives drove me insane. They kept jabbing at one another, pushing the other away, and doing everything in their power to figure out if the other was simply doing things for the sake of doing them, or genuinely loved spending time with one another rather than blatant obligation in regards to their relationship through their child. Miscommunication and lack of it went hard with this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2023
OK
A accidental pregnancy fantasy romance in a world where dark elves rule over human workers. The heroine, 24-year-old at start Layla Whitlock, is an orphan who lives with her aunt and uncle and works in a mine. The hero, dark elf Kerym Torsys, is the second son of prestigious family and feels the weight of their expectations of him.
I had a few issues with this one, but overall it is a decent fantasy romance that is mostly about the obstacles between the main characters (discrimination against mixed-race couples) rather than much about the characters themselves. After reading the synopsis I expected a much darker world than I found this to be set in. It was more along the lines of background darkness (all humans essentially slaves) rather than something like a threat of assault around every corner. I didn't find the synopsis at all accurate (a pet peeve of mine). The characters were pretty superficial and little editing errors here and there throughout didn't help.
*****Spoiler Alert*****
This Book Includes
Violence. None really.
Sex. MF sex, bite hard enough to draw blood.
A accidental pregnancy fantasy romance in a world where dark elves rule over human workers. The heroine, 24-year-old at start Layla Whitlock, is an orphan who lives with her aunt and uncle and works in a mine. The hero, dark elf Kerym Torsys, is the second son of prestigious family and feels the weight of their expectations of him.
I had a few issues with this one, but overall it is a decent fantasy romance that is mostly about the obstacles between the main characters (discrimination against mixed-race couples) rather than much about the characters themselves. After reading the synopsis I expected a much darker world than I found this to be set in. It was more along the lines of background darkness (all humans essentially slaves) rather than something like a threat of assault around every corner. I didn't find the synopsis at all accurate (a pet peeve of mine). The characters were pretty superficial and little editing errors here and there throughout didn't help.
*****Spoiler Alert*****
This Book Includes
Violence. None really.
Sex. MF sex, bite hard enough to draw blood.
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