mmromancereviewed's review
5.0
I love this book... Calix is such a cinnamon roll sweetheart and Atticus is his complete opposite, but they work and OMG it's HOT!
I absolutely love how Odessa Hywell paces this story, unwrapping more and more about the Wolf as LittleRed becomes more invested...
I am hoping that the next book in the series helps us learn more about the discussion that the Camboys are having in their forum... and I can see a delicious MMM age gap story there potentially... PLEASE???
If you like your books to walk that knife edge of psycho stalker, you're definitely going to want to invest in Lovely in Red immediately!
I absolutely love how Odessa Hywell paces this story, unwrapping more and more about the Wolf as LittleRed becomes more invested...
I am hoping that the next book in the series helps us learn more about the discussion that the Camboys are having in their forum... and I can see a delicious MMM age gap story there potentially... PLEASE???
If you like your books to walk that knife edge of psycho stalker, you're definitely going to want to invest in Lovely in Red immediately!
lycangrrl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Stalking
Moderate: Homophobia and Blood
Minor: Cursing and Alcohol
cnc/rape roleplay (extremely brief at end of book)taylordoddridge's review against another edition
DNF at 53%.
This made me extremely uncomfortable. I was all for someone being obsessed over a camboy, but Atticus took it a little too far. This has a lot to do with his Antisocial Personality Disorder. Atticus stalked Calix for 7 months. He took pictures of him and put them on his wall. He literally broke into his house and watched him while he slept. He moved to a house just to be close to him after finding his identity by running his DNA from his underwear. And Calix thought it was sweet!!! He never once attempted to run for the hills. He was like aw <3. He’s just looking out for me :). What? Idk. This was just too weird for me, and I’m not going to continue. There was also a lot of sex, which isn’t bad, but it was like in every chapter.
In conclusion, I don’t think I like stalker books unless the stalker is the bad guy. But personal preference and all that. I’m glad others are enjoying it, though!!!
This made me extremely uncomfortable. I was all for someone being obsessed over a camboy, but Atticus took it a little too far. This has a lot to do with his Antisocial Personality Disorder. Atticus stalked Calix for 7 months. He took pictures of him and put them on his wall. He literally broke into his house and watched him while he slept. He moved to a house just to be close to him after finding his identity by running his DNA from his underwear. And Calix thought it was sweet!!! He never once attempted to run for the hills. He was like aw <3. He’s just looking out for me :). What? Idk. This was just too weird for me, and I’m not going to continue. There was also a lot of sex, which isn’t bad, but it was like in every chapter.
In conclusion, I don’t think I like stalker books unless the stalker is the bad guy. But personal preference and all that. I’m glad others are enjoying it, though!!!
amie7's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
elliebelle_'s review against another edition
3.0
3 stars
Twisted but not as dark as I thought it deserved to be.
CW:
Representation: MC with ASPD
This managed to be super toxic, but also very cute. It's a kind of strange balance and I guess I wished it was actually darker.
It contains full-on, unhinged stalking but Calix isn't really bothered by it so it's very low stakes. It is probably the cutest use of stalking I've seen in a book like this: Atticus has been secretly doing Calix's laundry and buying him milk and eggs. Where can I sign up for this??
The conflicts are also low stakes, one part because it doesn't concern Calix and Atticus directly, and the other part is just family drama.
There was great variety in the sex, but it never really grabbed my attention. I suppose though speaking of lack of dark content, the scene where made me pretty uncomfortable in a good dubcon kind of way.
I thought this was a lovely way to sum up relationship expectations:
I mostly liked the conclusion, in particular the fact that Calix does continue camming, but the, let's call it mystery, portion of the plot is entirely unresolved. We also never get the actual discussion between Atticus' father and Atticus about how he stalked Calix, which honestly would have been interesting. And the conflict with Calix's parents is also left hanging.
All in all, I liked it, but I just wished it delivered a bit more.
Sexual content: Loads of explicit content.
Kink:
Twisted but not as dark as I thought it deserved to be.
CW:
Spoiler
stalking, dubcon, blood play, CNC, homophobiaRepresentation: MC with ASPD
This managed to be super toxic, but also very cute. It's a kind of strange balance and I guess I wished it was actually darker.
It contains full-on, unhinged stalking but Calix isn't really bothered by it so it's very low stakes. It is probably the cutest use of stalking I've seen in a book like this: Atticus has been secretly doing Calix's laundry and buying him milk and eggs. Where can I sign up for this??
The conflicts are also low stakes, one part because it doesn't concern Calix and Atticus directly, and the other part is just family drama.
There was great variety in the sex, but it never really grabbed my attention. I suppose though speaking of lack of dark content, the scene where
Spoiler
Atticus interrupts Calix's livecam to claim him on camera without asking himI thought this was a lovely way to sum up relationship expectations:
“I don’t need to be the center of someone’s universe but I want whoever I’m with to want me, to take up room in my life and allow me the freedom to do the same.”
I mostly liked the conclusion, in particular the fact that Calix does continue camming, but the, let's call it mystery, portion of the plot is entirely unresolved. We also never get the actual discussion between Atticus' father and Atticus about how he stalked Calix, which honestly would have been interesting. And the conflict with Calix's parents is also left hanging.
All in all, I liked it, but I just wished it delivered a bit more.
Sexual content: Loads of explicit content.
Spoiler
frotting, rimming, anal sex (strict top/bottom), grinding orgasm, handjobs, blowjobsKink:
Spoiler
JOI, lingerie, orgasm denial, exhibitionism, voyeurism, dubcon, blood play, pain play, CNC, public sex, praise kink, primal playloverexreads's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
caiacassiopeia's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
enayqueerbooklover's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
“Stalking, dubious consent, homophobia, anti-sexwork attitudes, alcohol, discussion of sexual assault and rape, parental abuse Kinks: D/s, JOI (Jerking Off Instructions), lingerie and lace, orgasm control, exhibitionism, voyeurism, blood play, pain play, CNC, public sex, praise kink, light primal playteacupsandtropes's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I don't know why I was expecting this to be darker than it was. But it is not dark at all. I think the idea of a stalker had me envisioning a crazy dark and twisty romance, but this was surprisingly light hearted and angst free compared to what I was imagining. Like all Odessa Hywell books, Lovely in Red is extremely high heat, so read it in a cold bath or have some ice water nearby.
Calix (LittleRed) is a camboy and he builds a unique relationship with one of his viewers (TheWolf - Atticus). Atticus, is also a designer, who Calix has hired to create his brand for him. The reveal comes fairly early on in the book, so we don't need to wait forever for Atticus to reveal his identity. Calix is sweet, and fairly innocent, but also dirty as heck. Atticus is willing to deliver on anything he wants, and more. Be sure to check your trigger and content warnings. I'm not a huge fan of blood play so that was a little eh for me, but Odessa brings in a ton of other kinks that had me fanning myself whew.
Be sure to pick this one up on Smashwords when it releases if you're looking for something short and super steamy!
I don't know why I was expecting this to be darker than it was. But it is not dark at all. I think the idea of a stalker had me envisioning a crazy dark and twisty romance, but this was surprisingly light hearted and angst free compared to what I was imagining. Like all Odessa Hywell books, Lovely in Red is extremely high heat, so read it in a cold bath or have some ice water nearby.
Calix (LittleRed) is a camboy and he builds a unique relationship with one of his viewers (TheWolf - Atticus). Atticus, is also a designer, who Calix has hired to create his brand for him. The reveal comes fairly early on in the book, so we don't need to wait forever for Atticus to reveal his identity. Calix is sweet, and fairly innocent, but also dirty as heck. Atticus is willing to deliver on anything he wants, and more. Be sure to check your trigger and content warnings. I'm not a huge fan of blood play so that was a little eh for me, but Odessa brings in a ton of other kinks that had me fanning myself whew.
Be sure to pick this one up on Smashwords when it releases if you're looking for something short and super steamy!