#5starreads

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Morning Glory Milking Farm (review)

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My ninth ⭐️ 5 Star Reads of 2022 ⭐️ recap post goes to “Morning Glory Milking Farm” by @cmnascosta , the first in the incredible (if not a little infamous) Cambric Creek series. This was another read where I should’ve just trusted the MDK+ recommendations and picked it up the first time it was recommended to me. Don’t let the cover put you off — its an amazing book.

At the risk of being a little vague so I don’t ruin the book for you, the premise of MGMF truthfully wasn’t anything I ever saw myself picking up and I’m really glad that I gave it a shot because it was one of the most erotic, sexy reads of 2022.

🌶 Spice (K!nk & Variety of scenes): 4/5 💦 Steam (Detail & amount of scenes): 5/5 💕 Romance (relationship dynamics): 5/5 🌱 Character Growth/Arc: 5/5 📖 Plot: 5/5 🏳️‍🌈♿️ Inclusivity: 2/5 ⭐️ 5/5 Stars, would recommend

Snippet from my GoodReads Review: The financial & s3xual spoiling was spot on. I really enjoyed how much Rourke likes taking care of Violet, but also how respectful he is about it. Her comfort is first and foremost, she “holds all the cards” and he yields to her when it matters. He acknowledges that they’re at different points in their lives and careers, which you almost never see in romance novels, and he’s just an all around gentleman. He was also generous and careful in the bedroom, consent wasn’t an afterthought either, and the whole thing just felt… good? Like feel-good, but still very obviously erotica.

You can find the full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4873113834

While you’re checking that out make sure you add Morning Glory Milking Farm to your TBR! And as always if you have any questions let me know! <3

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A Soul to Keep (review)

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My eighth ⭐️ 5 Star Reads of 2022 ⭐️ recap post goes to “A Soul to Keep” by @opalreyne , the first in the Duskwalker Brides series.

This has been all over MDK and other monster reader groups as one of the most popularly recommended books since its release, and its well deserved imo. The story follows a human sacrifice that is outcasted from her village for ridiculous reasons beyond her control and the human-eating beast that she’s sacrificed to.

Now, I am a huge Magnus Bride fan and Orpheus is partially inspired by Elias, so when I saw the cover and found out the inspiration I HAD to read it. While the inspiration is clear, Opal Reyne was able to create an entirely unique character and wonderful (albeit a bit dark) world with side characters I am SO invested in and hope to see again later in the series, if not featured in their own stories.

🌶 Spice (K!nk & Variety of scenes): 3/5 — monsterf*cker goodness with unique anatomy 💦 Steam (Detail & amount of scenes): 5/5 — decent plot to smut ratio that left me wanting more instead of overwhelmed 💕 Romance (relationship dynamics): 5/5 — sweetest cinnamon roll human-eating monster I’ve read 🌱 Character Growth/Arc: 4/5 📖 Plot: 5/5 🏳️‍🌈♿️ Inclusivity: 1/5 ⭐️ 5/5 Stars, would recommend

Snippet from my GoodReads Review: The smut is great, it hits a lot of good notes for me: unexpected dirty talking, very fancy equipment, size difference (magical rearranging included), and an enormous talented tongue. The bathing scenes were great at ratcheting up the tension too.

You can find the full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4809291576

While you’re checking that out make sure you add A Soul to Keep to your TBR, the second installment is out soon! And as always if you have any questions let me know! <3

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Found by the Lake Monster (review)

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My sixth ⭐️ 5 Star Reads of 2022 ⭐️ recap post goes to “Found by the Lake Monster” by @author.lillian.lark , a novella in her Monstrous Matches series.

FbtLM flips a lot of the typical monster/paranormal romance tropes on their heads in a really fun way. We have our MMC, Adrian, going into potentially his last heat and he’s feeling the pressure of his biological clock ticking and then we have our FMC Amy who is not at all shy about her *ahem* special interests and toy collection that would make most people blush. There are other aspects that are reversed or flipped too but I don’t want to spoil the plot.

As with everything I’ve read by Lillian Lark, I really enjoyed this novella because it was her special brand of cozy monster fun. The characters are relatable and fun, the situation is both unique and familiar, and I loved that it was low angst.

🌶 Spice (K!nk & Variety of scenes): 4/5 💦 Steam (Detail & amount of scenes): 5/5 💕 Romance (relationship dynamics): 4/5 🌱 Character Growth/Arc: 3/5 📖 Plot: 5/5 🏳️‍🌈♿️ Inclusivity: 2/5 ⭐️ 5/5 Stars, would recommend!

Snippet from my GoodReads Review: The pace is quick but it works with her Love Bathhouse world and with the fated mates aspects. It’s very steamy, lots of laughs, and leaves you with a sappy feel good feeling that I’ve come to expect from Ms. Lark’s work. She’s become a one-click author for me because of her style of writing and her wonderful takes on monsters.

You can find the full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4726469459

While you’re checking that out make sure you add Found by the Lake Monster to your TBR! And as always if you have any questions let me know! <3

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Soul Eater (review)

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Today’s ⭐️ 5 Star Reads of 2022 ⭐️ is “Soul Eater”, the first in the Monstrous series by @authorlilymayne — this one had been recommended to me a handful of times but kept getting put off by ARC obligations and I’m glad that I finally had the time to read it because it was phenomenal. It wrecked me in the best way. I cried, I won’t lie.

Soul Eater is a monster MM fantasy romance set in an apocalyptic world where monsters have invaded through a rift and have laid waste to most of the States; our plucky MMC number 1 of course attracts the attention to the oldest, most deadly monster of them all and everything snowballs from there. I don’t want to spoil too much because its one of those books that you HAVE to read yourself but I absolutely love the quiet, terrifying death monster and naive, optimistic human dynamic so much. I also love that Lily Mayne threw out the script on how their bedroom dynamics worked, it was really refreshing.

🌶 Spice (K!nk & Variety of scenes): 4/5 — unique anatomy ftw! 💦 Steam (Detail & amount of scenes): 5/5 💕 Romance (relationship dynamics): 5+/5 — incredibly sweet and unexpectedly wholesome 🌱 Character Growth/Arc: 4/5 📖 Plot: 4/5 — great debut novel 🏳️‍🌈♿️ Inclusivity: 3/5 — MM romance ⭐️ 5/5 Stars, would recommend

Snippet from my GoodReads Review: This was everything I want in an MM romance, and everything I want in a monster romance; from the tenderness and the angst stemming from trouble with communication but finally *finally* getting things out in the open, to the “who hurt you, I will unalive them” and fierce protectiveness that makes my knees weak.

You can find the full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4917030581

While you’re there make sure you give Lily Mayne a follow and add Soul Eater to your TBR! And as always any questions, please lemme know ♥️

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Taken by the Lycanthrope (review)

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Okay so today’s is a little late because I really wanted to finish and share with you my most current ⭐️ 5 Star Reads of 2022 ⭐️ instead of a recap post because I really loved this book; “Taken by the Lycanthrope” by @chloe.parker.author

I came upon the teaser graphic above in the MDK! FB group (iykyk) and immediately borrowed it from KU because it checked so many boxes for me. But then I dive into it and it blows me away. It’s thought-provoking, it’s emotional, it’s deep. It’s steamy and sinful too like promised but also a beautiful story about love and faith.

🌶 Spice (K!nk & Variety of scenes): 3/5 💦 Steam (Detail & amount of scenes): 5/5 💕 Romance (relationship dynamics): 5/5 🌱 Character Growth/Arc: 5/5 ! 📖 Plot: 5/5 — didn’t want to put it down 🏳️‍🌈♿️ Inclusivity: 2/5 — non-white characters implied, addresses racism very briefly ⭐️ 5/5 Stars, would recommend

Snippet from my GoodReads Review: Reyes definitely takes a place in the book boyfriend line up; he’s the perfect balance of tough exterior and gooey center, he’s loyal to his family, his pack, and his faith, he works damn hard, he wants to help as many people as he can, and he’s a generous lover. He is also a consent king!! What?! 🥵 And I swear every time the author mentioned his salt & pepper appearance I had to fan myself.

You can find the full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4918070002

While you’re there make sure you add Tilda & Reyes’s story to your TBR! 😉

As always thank you for reading and if you have any questions, leave them below!

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Muscles & Monsters (review)

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My third ⭐️ 5 Star Reads of 2022 ⭐️ recap post goes to “Muscles & Monsters” by Ashley Bennett, the first of the Leviathan Fitness series — I loved this book so much that after reading the ebook through KU I immediately put the paperback on my wishlist. I will be re-reading this one, and I almost never re-read. Atlas was EVERYTHING. 🐺♥️

Muscles & Monsters was the sweetest, most delectable monsterlover read I’ve had the pleasure of reading thus far and the set up for the rest of the series has me on pins & needles waiting for the next one.

🌶 Spice (K!nk & Variety of scenes): 4/5 monster form 24/7, pr!mal, food play 💦 Steam (Detail & amount of scenes): 5/5 💕 Romance (relationship dynamics): 5/5 🌱 Character Growth/Arc: 5/5 📖 Plot: 5/5 — finished in one sitting I was so engrossed with the story 🏳️‍🌈♿️ Inclusivity: 3/5 — body positive, curvy FMC ⭐️ 5/5 Stars, would recommend

Snippet of my GoodReads review: I was a little hesitant when the project first came across my radar because ew, the gym and gym bros are usually horrible. But this took a really unexpected, really pleasant turn and I absolutely loved the body positivity.

You’ll definitely want to read this and soon you’ll also be simping for tail wagging too😻

You can find the full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4722390501

While you’re there make sure you add Muscles & Monsters to your TBR list! 😉

Thanks for reading! As always if you have any questions feel free to comment them below and please check out Ashley Bennett’s work! You won’t regret it 🥰

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The Surrounding Light (review)

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My second ⭐️ 5 Star Reads of 2022 ⭐️ recap post goes to “The Surrounding Light” by @siennaswiftauthor , the first of the Song of Souls series. This was another ARC opportunity but this was extra special as it was the author’s debut novel. I am a huge sucker for fated mates and am always dying to read more LGBTQIA+ characters, so when the ARC spot was offered I leapt for the chance.

The Surrounding Light was a super sweet RH/WhyChoose paranormal romance with polyam style intermingled relationships and a variety of paranormal creatures. My favorite part was the character growth and emotional intelligence of each member of the group. It honestly blew me away; everyone had something they worked on and grew through/with each other. It was full of real problems, some pretty heavy (like death) but handled so beautifully and it gave me such warm fuzzies.

🌶 Spice (K!nk & Variety of scenes): 2/5 — things were pretty vanilla compared to a lot of RH novels, but it was plenty steamy! 💦 Steam (Detail & amount of scenes): 5/5 💕 Romance (relationship dynamics): 5/5 🌱 Character Growth/Arc: 5/5 📖 Plot: 5/5 — well-paced, well-balanced, realistic/organic developments & relationships 🏳️‍🌈♿️ Inclusivity: 5/5 PolyAm, M/M, non-binary & lesbian characters also featured ⭐️ 5/5 Stars, would recommend

Snippet of my GoodReads review: Wow! What an incredible debut novel! Seriously major kudos to the author, I am so impressed. This book was everything promised and more, I loved it! Sienna Swift will be an author to watch for sure. I can’t wait to read the next book 🤩

You can find the full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4882485259

While you’re there make sure you add The Surrounding Light to your TBR list! 😉

Thanks again for hanging out! As always if you have any questions feel free to comment them below and please check out Sienna Swift’s work if what I detailed above tickles your fancy!

(Yes, I know these say 2022. I am posting my back reviews from my IG here so they might reach more people to read & love them.)

[onlythedarkestreads]

review - only the stains remain

5/5 Stars Pub Date: July 20, 2021 2021 Goodreads Goal: 78/150

Thank you so much to Ross Jeffrey for an advanced copy. So sorry for the belated goodreads review.

As cancer tears it's way through their mothers body, the only nightmare Jude and Kyle can imagine is her imminent death. It's painful to watch her suffer. To fall apart.

When she dies their world is shattered.

A solitary Polaroid, a final memory of the brothers in the days before she passed, is all Jude has left. A shimmer of the before. A picture he regrets not smiling for. The last glimmer of childhood before the real nightmare begins.

This book is hard and mean but balanced by writing that is truly beautiful, saving the reader from total annihilation. The depravity and torture these boys endure is absolutely horrific. What humans can do to each other is more terrifying than any boogeyman or specter.

If you read this it will break your heart. I can see this book being impossible for many readers with children.

Revenge isn't sweet in this one, it's bitter and nasty, like licking an ashtray. What does it take to kill a child?