bunnerz's review
2.0
I had originally picked up the anthology due to the mention of fantasy/PNR and omegaverse in the synopsis and the inclusion of some authors that I recognized.
After going through the book, I should have passed on this anthology in hindsight since I was not really into most of the themes and kinks. There was a lot of age gap and immaturity in the stories... But if you want your straightforward taboo kinky smut without much plot or deep development (and lots of virgins), then this book is for you. I did learn about what I was definitely not into and authors and series to avoid in the future.
---
His Incentive by Genni Bee
81 pages
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ / DNF
Tags: contemporary-romance, new-adult
This story followed an arranged marriage between the 22-year-old virgin FMC Wren and 43-year-old billionaire MC Loren, proposed by Wren's grandfather Ted to keep his legacy in the family when selling his company to Loren. The couple had to produce a grandchild within the year as part of Ted's terms. Wren was raised to look forward to being a wife with children while Loren was single due to his abrasive workaholic personality.
Personally, I wasn't a fan of the insta-lust and crude dominant behavior, and the addition of the age gap pushed it into the nty stack for me. DNF at Chapter 4 of 12 after the pair first met at Ted's new rural house and were instantly lusting for each other.
---
The Omega Next Door by Elizabeth Austin
67 pages
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ / DNF
Tags: alpha-omega, shifters, academy, new-adult, menage
This story was set in the author's A Step Between Realms universe. The almost 19-year-old wolf shifter beta virgin FMC Melody revealed as an omega instead after she met her spirit-bonded 26-year-old Alpha shifter neighbors while attending college and living at home with her parents. She planned on secretly spending first omega heat with her hot neighbors while her parents were out of town.
The immature horny FMC with lusty older self-described "man whores" was not my cup of tea. DNF at Chapter 3 of 9 when the men were discussing their plan to sleep with their young fated-mate omega neighbor.
---
Perception by J.M. Shipley
77 pages
* skipped *
This story was a dark romance teaser for an upcoming novel. Triggers included stalking, somnophilia, dub-con and birth control manipulation and "more" (undetailed in the blurb). Many of those explicitly stated were not to my taste.
---
Mastered by the Orc by L.V. Lane
23 pages
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: slaves, orcs
This was a short story in the author's Coveted Prey: Sweet Monsters universe. It followed the virgin human slave Pipa after she literally ran into the young orc Murl while trying to escape. Her human overseer caught up and was about to punish her escape attempt with a fatal whipping as an example, but after her begging, Murl took her punishment instead and attempted to claim her if he could breed her by dawn. It was basically a very perfunctory rutting - not really my preferred kind of romance, but this is the first short story I managed to finish in the anthology....
---
Seduced the Fae King by Kayla St James
76 pages
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: sex-workers, fae, goblins, magic
This story followed the kitchen wench FMC Liana after she learned that her local fae king was looking for a royal surrogate to bear his child. Liana was very naive and was pathetically desperate in her attempt to figure out how to to cross paths with the king for the chance to improve her lifestyle. She ended up making a deal with goblin apothecary to gain access to the brothel the king would visit.
Liana was honestly so dumb and didn't even care to learn first what the favor would cost her or even what would happen to her after she bore the king's child. She continued to bully her way with no class to get what she wanted, even with the king, and somehow ended up being the sole royal concubine. The insta-lust on the part of king to the point of skipping royal duties was excessive. The pair fell in love through repeated sex rather than any other type of character development, which was very unsatisfying to me.
The ending was very abrupt, and the story stopped before Liana gave birth or got a true HEA with the defeat of the villain. I was left quite irritated by the end due to the pacing and lack of closure.
---
No Accident by Maggie Alabaster & Jo Bradley
29 pages
* skipped *
This was a story about the author's Brantley family. I skipped due to my lack of interest in pure contemporary romance.
---
Our Illicit Desires by Tate Monroe & Rory Ireland
68 pages
* skipped *
This was a story about the taboo relationship between MC and his brother's stepdaughter Zoey. I skipped this due to the pure contemporary theme and age gap.
---
Her Demon Keeper by T.L. Reeve & Michele Ryan
59 pages
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: mafia, prisons, assassins, demons, shifters
This story followed the human 24-year-old senator's daughter Roslin after she was held hostage by the local mafia due to her father breaking his demon contract.
It was unclear to me until halfway through the story that the criminal group Demons were actually physical demons and that Roslin knew the MC Ian was a demon shifter. The smut between Roslin and Ian and final battle scene between Ian and his hired boss over Roslin both came out of nowhere, and the graphic gratuitous violence and torture for revenge was a little much for me. I was not a fan of the overall pacing and character development.
---
Always You by Laura Lovett
76 pages
* skipped *
This was book one from the author's Seahorse Tavern series. From the blurb, this was a second-chance romance involving the FMC Branley with the MC Lucas after he ditched her after their prom before finding out she was pregnant. I skipped due to my lack of interest in pure contemporary romance.
---
Spring Blossoms by Kitt Lynn
99 pages
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: alpha-omega
This story followed the 21-year-old virgin omega FMC Lily as she married the alpha Rowan after he courted for a few months before offering to claim her. We were told that she was previous attacked by an alpha and traumatized, but it took most of the story until she spit out what happened, even after she was already mated and threatened by her abuser.
The virgin consummation scene was a little over the top for me. Lily was so incredibly innocent and helpless and had no self motivation to learn and improve herself that it got on my nerves. I also found it super confusing that this ABO world had wolves and beasts inside each person, but nobody ever shifted in the story from what I could tell. I didn't understand the point of having inner wolves at all.
Overall, it was very shallow and dramatic for my taste, and I didn't really care for the characters or the setting.
---
The Devil's Bargain by M.J. Marstens
25 pages
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ / DNF
Tags: demons, magic
DNF at Chapter 2 of 6 after Lucifer visited the MC Natalia to get what he was owed. I didn't find the bratty immature humor funny and had no interest in reading more about their relationship. Honestly, I think this author just isn't for me - I can't recall ever super liking anything I've read by this author so far and will probably avoid their writing in the future.
After going through the book, I should have passed on this anthology in hindsight since I was not really into most of the themes and kinks. There was a lot of age gap and immaturity in the stories... But if you want your straightforward taboo kinky smut without much plot or deep development (and lots of virgins), then this book is for you. I did learn about what I was definitely not into and authors and series to avoid in the future.
---
His Incentive by Genni Bee
81 pages
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ / DNF
Tags: contemporary-romance, new-adult
This story followed an arranged marriage between the 22-year-old virgin FMC Wren and 43-year-old billionaire MC Loren, proposed by Wren's grandfather Ted to keep his legacy in the family when selling his company to Loren. The couple had to produce a grandchild within the year as part of Ted's terms. Wren was raised to look forward to being a wife with children while Loren was single due to his abrasive workaholic personality.
Personally, I wasn't a fan of the insta-lust and crude dominant behavior, and the addition of the age gap pushed it into the nty stack for me. DNF at Chapter 4 of 12 after the pair first met at Ted's new rural house and were instantly lusting for each other.
---
The Omega Next Door by Elizabeth Austin
67 pages
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ / DNF
Tags: alpha-omega, shifters, academy, new-adult, menage
This story was set in the author's A Step Between Realms universe. The almost 19-year-old wolf shifter beta virgin FMC Melody revealed as an omega instead after she met her spirit-bonded 26-year-old Alpha shifter neighbors while attending college and living at home with her parents. She planned on secretly spending first omega heat with her hot neighbors while her parents were out of town.
The immature horny FMC with lusty older self-described "man whores" was not my cup of tea. DNF at Chapter 3 of 9 when the men were discussing their plan to sleep with their young fated-mate omega neighbor.
---
Perception by J.M. Shipley
77 pages
* skipped *
This story was a dark romance teaser for an upcoming novel. Triggers included stalking, somnophilia, dub-con and birth control manipulation and "more" (undetailed in the blurb). Many of those explicitly stated were not to my taste.
---
Mastered by the Orc by L.V. Lane
23 pages
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: slaves, orcs
This was a short story in the author's Coveted Prey: Sweet Monsters universe. It followed the virgin human slave Pipa after she literally ran into the young orc Murl while trying to escape. Her human overseer caught up and was about to punish her escape attempt with a fatal whipping as an example, but after her begging, Murl took her punishment instead and attempted to claim her if he could breed her by dawn. It was basically a very perfunctory rutting - not really my preferred kind of romance, but this is the first short story I managed to finish in the anthology....
---
Seduced the Fae King by Kayla St James
76 pages
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: sex-workers, fae, goblins, magic
This story followed the kitchen wench FMC Liana after she learned that her local fae king was looking for a royal surrogate to bear his child. Liana was very naive and was pathetically desperate in her attempt to figure out how to to cross paths with the king for the chance to improve her lifestyle. She ended up making a deal with goblin apothecary to gain access to the brothel the king would visit.
Liana was honestly so dumb and didn't even care to learn first what the favor would cost her or even what would happen to her after she bore the king's child. She continued to bully her way with no class to get what she wanted, even with the king, and somehow ended up being the sole royal concubine. The insta-lust on the part of king to the point of skipping royal duties was excessive. The pair fell in love through repeated sex rather than any other type of character development, which was very unsatisfying to me.
The ending was very abrupt, and the story stopped before Liana gave birth or got a true HEA with the defeat of the villain. I was left quite irritated by the end due to the pacing and lack of closure.
---
No Accident by Maggie Alabaster & Jo Bradley
29 pages
* skipped *
This was a story about the author's Brantley family. I skipped due to my lack of interest in pure contemporary romance.
---
Our Illicit Desires by Tate Monroe & Rory Ireland
68 pages
* skipped *
This was a story about the taboo relationship between MC and his brother's stepdaughter Zoey. I skipped this due to the pure contemporary theme and age gap.
---
Her Demon Keeper by T.L. Reeve & Michele Ryan
59 pages
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: mafia, prisons, assassins, demons, shifters
This story followed the human 24-year-old senator's daughter Roslin after she was held hostage by the local mafia due to her father breaking his demon contract.
It was unclear to me until halfway through the story that the criminal group Demons were actually physical demons and that Roslin knew the MC Ian was a demon shifter. The smut between Roslin and Ian and final battle scene between Ian and his hired boss over Roslin both came out of nowhere, and the graphic gratuitous violence and torture for revenge was a little much for me. I was not a fan of the overall pacing and character development.
---
Always You by Laura Lovett
76 pages
* skipped *
This was book one from the author's Seahorse Tavern series. From the blurb, this was a second-chance romance involving the FMC Branley with the MC Lucas after he ditched her after their prom before finding out she was pregnant. I skipped due to my lack of interest in pure contemporary romance.
---
Spring Blossoms by Kitt Lynn
99 pages
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: alpha-omega
This story followed the 21-year-old virgin omega FMC Lily as she married the alpha Rowan after he courted for a few months before offering to claim her. We were told that she was previous attacked by an alpha and traumatized, but it took most of the story until she spit out what happened, even after she was already mated and threatened by her abuser.
The virgin consummation scene was a little over the top for me. Lily was so incredibly innocent and helpless and had no self motivation to learn and improve herself that it got on my nerves. I also found it super confusing that this ABO world had wolves and beasts inside each person, but nobody ever shifted in the story from what I could tell. I didn't understand the point of having inner wolves at all.
Overall, it was very shallow and dramatic for my taste, and I didn't really care for the characters or the setting.
---
The Devil's Bargain by M.J. Marstens
25 pages
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ / DNF
Tags: demons, magic
DNF at Chapter 2 of 6 after Lucifer visited the MC Natalia to get what he was owed. I didn't find the bratty immature humor funny and had no interest in reading more about their relationship. Honestly, I think this author just isn't for me - I can't recall ever super liking anything I've read by this author so far and will probably avoid their writing in the future.
brit_readsbookks's review
4.0
Our Illicit Desires
Tate Monroe & Rory Ireland
Part of the BRED : A Charity Anthology
**Review**
I loved this novella! I can not want for more of this duo! Im blown away by the push and pull of the relationship. Their forced proximity is fire and you can feel the tension coming off!
Silas and Zoey are amazing together! I love the taboo slight age gap here! Silas is totally over the top possessive over Zoey. Especially going all caveman on her at her job. Zoey is a little brat with her “Uncle”! It makes me laugh and I love that she gets him so riled up!
I cant wait for more of them! This was such a tease!
Tate Monroe & Rory Ireland
Part of the BRED : A Charity Anthology
**Review**
I loved this novella! I can not want for more of this duo! Im blown away by the push and pull of the relationship. Their forced proximity is fire and you can feel the tension coming off!
Silas and Zoey are amazing together! I love the taboo slight age gap here! Silas is totally over the top possessive over Zoey. Especially going all caveman on her at her job. Zoey is a little brat with her “Uncle”! It makes me laugh and I love that she gets him so riled up!
I cant wait for more of them! This was such a tease!
caffeineandbookreviews's review
2.0
Yeah, um... I don't know why I even read this other than it ended up on my kindle. Breeding kink not unlocked.
readingwithfefe's review
4.0
OUR ILLICIT DESIRES - Rory Ireland & Tate Monroe
1st person/dual pov
Spice: 4/5
Oh boy I cannot wait to read more of Silas and Zoey! This was such a fun read and I devoured it!
Zoey is betrayed by her boyfriend, a man she thought she could trust, and forced to move back home. With her mom and stepdad out of town she temporarily takes up residence with her stepdads younger brother, Silas.
Silas agreed to house Zoey until she can get her situation sorted out but he didn’t realize how much having her in his space would effect him. He knows it’s wrong and tries to ignore her but when he’s pushed to his limit waiting for her to walk through the door late one night that’s all it takes. He’s barreling across that line and taking matters into his own hands when it comes to Zoey.
These two together are explosive! The teasing and the push/pull is so good. But the kink… oh my the breeding kink this man has!
1st person/dual pov
Spice: 4/5
Oh boy I cannot wait to read more of Silas and Zoey! This was such a fun read and I devoured it!
Zoey is betrayed by her boyfriend, a man she thought she could trust, and forced to move back home. With her mom and stepdad out of town she temporarily takes up residence with her stepdads younger brother, Silas.
Silas agreed to house Zoey until she can get her situation sorted out but he didn’t realize how much having her in his space would effect him. He knows it’s wrong and tries to ignore her but when he’s pushed to his limit waiting for her to walk through the door late one night that’s all it takes. He’s barreling across that line and taking matters into his own hands when it comes to Zoey.
These two together are explosive! The teasing and the push/pull is so good. But the kink… oh my the breeding kink this man has!
jreadsdarkromance's review
5.0
Our Illicit Desires - Rory Ireland & Tate Monroe
AHHHH! I cannot wait for more Silas and Zoey. Our Illicit Desires in the BRED Anthology is a little snippet into the introduction to these two. Silas is all dark and broody and possessive, just the way I like 'em. Zoey is feisty and is trying to get her life back on track.
These two have so much tension and when the damn breaks...
AHHHH! I cannot wait for more Silas and Zoey. Our Illicit Desires in the BRED Anthology is a little snippet into the introduction to these two. Silas is all dark and broody and possessive, just the way I like 'em. Zoey is feisty and is trying to get her life back on track.
These two have so much tension and when the damn breaks...
merrycain's review
3.75
I really enjoyed most of these stories. One of the better anthologies I’ve read. There were definitely some spelling issue, but worth reading! I’m all about the cause so thank you authors.
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