Maybe I should rename this blog “Monster Romance Recommendations”. I pick stuff I know I’m probably going to like. Guess what? I know myself as a reader and I’m almost always right. Got some fun stuff from Stuff My Kindle Day that I should add to my TBR. Also, got Orctober coming!!!!! You know I got to do an Orc Monster Romance Field Guide Entry.
Reviews From This Past Week
Enthralling the Orc by Tracy Lauren
Release Date: November 5, 2019
Content Notes
Sexy Rogue MMC
Independent FMC
Road Trip Romance
Dysfunctional Siblings
Warfare Violence
Childhood Abuse Survivor
Enthralling the Orc is an adventurous trip through the world Tracy Lauren introduced us to in Tamed by the Troll. This book has a lot to love about its story. The main couple has a fun dynamic. The bad guy is complex. Then you get some sexy times thrown into the mix. It’s a good time and even better than Tamed by the Troll for this reader.
The MMC, Ash, is the charming rogue I love to love. He’s charismatic, complex, and a total sweetie pie under a tough-acting veneer. The FMC, Ellyn, possesses an independent personality and strong force of will. In Lauren’s hands, they come together like ice cream and hot fudge.
In the meantime, the baddie is the Orc King himself. To avoid getting too spoiler-y, this is where Lauren’s storytelling kicked up a notch. Whenever an author can combine plot and character development as seamlessly as the introduction of the Orc King, I think readers are bound to be in for a fun time even if they don’t think the book is “perfect”.
Captured by the Orc King by Tracy Lauren
Release Date: February 9, 2023
Content Notes
Redemption Arc
Abuse Survivor FMC
Childhood Abuse Survivors
Bad Boy MMC
Complex Villains Everywhere
Warfare Violence
Tracy Lauren made Captured by the Orc King her most ambitious installation of the Perished Woods series. The execution results in a romantic adventure story rather than an adventurous romance story. For that reason I won’t rate it “perfectly” but I still really enjoyed myself as a reader, if not a romance reader.
The problem but essential need of the story was multiple POVs of characters whose perspectives were ultimately useful to the story rather than central to the romance. In fact, the romance plot does not pick itself up in earnest until halfway through the book. Is there a lot of action going on? Yes. Does it matter to the overall events that would wrap up the core big story driving this series? Yes. I think the key here is that half of the book is important to the overall story of this book and even the series, but it isn’t key to the romance plot.
All of this being said, I couldn’t help but take story-crafting notes from Lauren. I couldn’t help but enjoy reading this book and this series. I even bought An Offer to the Orc because I NEED to know about Arron. Orctober is coming anyway and this reader intends to be prepared.
To Be Read
September is wrapping up and just as Orctober gets started, I’m naturally reading about…gargoyles! However, when Kate Prior asked for ARC readers, I couldn’t ignore the call. Orcs comes to my TBR as naturally as peanut butter meets jelly. So I’m not worried.
Housekeeping
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