Blush & Bindings
Blush & Bindings is a romance book podcast and community. In this podcast, we crack open the sensual, the swoon worthy, and the spicy world of romance novels. We hold nothing back, discussing everything that happens between the sheets of our favorite genre. Whether you're popping your first spicy chapter cherry, a habitual HEA seeker, or a cross-genre goddess you're in the right place. Listen along as we break down stigmas, lift up love stories, and get cozy with the pages that bind us together!
Blush & Bindings
Beastly Desires- Monster Romance
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In this episode of Blush & Bindings, your hosts Kacy, Lauren and Lindsey explore the thrilling realm of monster romances. They discuss a range of love stories featuring gargoyles, dragons, lizard men and more and touch the surface of some of the fascinating history around tentacle erotica. Book Club gets steamy in the Love Bathhouse with Stalked by the Kraken by Lillian Lark. The episode wraps up with a good stuffing of your shelves as your hosts recommend monster romances to add to your TBR.
This episode contains mature themes and explicit content recommended for those who are 18+. Listener discretion is advised.
About Us
We’re a couple of friends and sisters who bonded over a love of romance novels. After countless book discussions and shared book hangovers, we decided to create Blush & Bindings, a space to break down stigmas, lift up love stories and get cozy with the pages that bind us together.💕
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Legal Disclaimer: The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the hosts and not necessarily those of any affiliated authors, publishers, or platforms, and all content is for entertainment and informational purposes only—not professional or legal advice—and Blush & Bindings and its hosts are not liable for any decisions made based on this podcast’s content.
Hey everyone, and welcome to another episode of Blush and Bindings. I'm Lindsay here with my amazing co-host, Casey and Lauren. Today we're stepping into the wild and wicked world of monster romances,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853from protective gargoyles to mysterious krakens Monster Romance takes unconventional love to a whole new level. Think claws, scales and tentacles. Of course, stories that question the laws of physics. While delivering on that heart pounding chemistry,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853These tales are all about finding beauty in the uncommon and embracing the kind of love that defies societal norms. It's romance at its boldest, and we can't wait to explore what makes these stories so Thrillingly unique.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Okay, let's jump into Romance 1 0 1. What are some of your favorite tropes in monster romances? Which ones give you chills and thrills?
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853there's so many. I love monster romances. Tickle my tentacles. Hells yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853you with tentacles.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853I've seen two octopuses having sex,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I've seen turtles having sex.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853so I was on a night dive one time and I saw two octopuses when I thought were fighting, but no, they were getting it on it was beautiful.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Wait,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853The octopus is fucking,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853I think so
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853is it octopuses or
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Octopi
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Octopus.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Octopussy.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I could help myself,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I mean it, I've heard it several different ways. Octopi, octopuses, Octopussy. Take your pick,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853but yes. Beautiful octopus, tentacle sex. Lauren, are you looking up what it is?
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853don't they? They just intermingle their legs.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853uh, yeah. But what was really cool about it is,, a lot of octopi,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Sure.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853they have, camouflaging abilities, right?
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853So they're invisible while they fuck.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Well, so the octopus would move across the sea floor and they would get kind of into a new area of the sea floor,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm, they just change.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853in one of the octopuses and kind of move into the other one. It was really cool.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853it like underwater primal play?
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I mean, literally, primal play just means nature, right? So yes, you're not wrong
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853I feel like if it's like underwater primal play, it's gotta have the bottom, bottom, bottom, bottom like soundtrack.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853for some reason. I think it has to do with like a suffocation kink, you.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Hold your breath.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Actually, you know what? I read a book where, well there's several books actually
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Not just one.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853The two that come to mind, one was, does it hurt where he held her underwater, with the Sharks while he was
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Is that hd? Carlton. Okay.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Carlton. Yeah. The other one was, um, he was originally held underwater and it's, you can't breathe until you come. It was an interesting dynamic and like the tide was coming in. I can't remember what book that was
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853that sounds insane.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853of Salt and Bones.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853there's also a book where she does it with the C like
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853adult Moana.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Right. Wait, it just ruin Moana for me? No, but it came up on socials and now oh my gosh. I don't even know. But she like literally fucks the ocean
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I've read weirder things.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Master of Salt and Bone was by Carrie Lake, by the way.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853dark. romance.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I've heard of Care Lake.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853But in regards to tropes,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Monster
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853and Monster.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853monsters. Sorry guys.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853there.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I can talk forever about Monster Romance, but the number one trope is obviously Beauty and the Beast. That is, I mean, we grew up on Disney Princesses, beauty and the Beast is literally the OG monster romance. Right.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853a tale as all as time.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853It really, really is. I don't even think I need to explain
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853in that library.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah. You know.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853reading the Monster smut.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853She was reading by the fountain about a prince coming, you know, well not that type of coming, but like, you know, but obviously there's so many modern day versions of Beauty and the Beast. You have a AAR for one, cord of Thorns and roses. That is very obviously a beauty and the beast retelling that does not end obviously the same way that Beauty and the Beast ends. And then there is In Treat Me by Grace Draven. She is very good at doing monster esque men or humanoids, with a human woman typically. And they're so good fricking love Grace Draven.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Now there's something that's kind of always like tickled my brain as far as like what is considered a monster romance. I mean,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853do kind of the whole monster, shifts into man, or they are not human
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853don't resemble
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Humans. Mm-hmm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853you can kind of go like both ways with that, I think, and that
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853monster Romans can be this overarching. Theme, or sub genre But sometimes, it can be split into those two categories of like
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I almost take it as like Monster and then like Monster Light. Like if they have a human form,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm. Mm-hmm.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I know it is, but it isn't I think it's maybe more like how much play do you get into those monsters features, like in the romance if
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853But I wouldn't consider, for example, vampires to be in the monster category,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853No.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Because they're too humanoid, werewolf if it's a werewolf and not a shifter.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853yes.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I mean, there's lots of ways to get around it, but in my view, any monster romance is either a fully non humanoid being,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853have that form and they can either partially shift or fully shift into a human at some point. But typically, monster romances, if we get into the spicier side of romances, they will always have something involving their actual animal side involved in the spicy scenes. Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853what I was thinking., especially in those open door scenes, it has to involve the different anatomy
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853And being intimate, whether it's shown on the page or not, accepting the monstrous parts of that person
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Like, because I don't know that I have read shifter
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853where they have done it in their wolf form.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh man.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Well,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853but
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Werewolf versus,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853shifter? Yeah. Wolf shifter.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Like a wolf shifter. I,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853you
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853into bear shifter, you can get into other ones and I think they
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853there's a distinct line in my book between werewolves and wolf shifters.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Because like, I think werewolves, definitely, on a side note, I have definitely read a quite a few shifter romances where they do the deed in their animal phase as well, but like,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853it normally where they're both shifting?
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah, it's not typically, One monster, one human,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853human
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853distinctive with monster romances. 'cause it's not often you get monster romances between two monsters. Not that it can't happen.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853it's a why choose, so like for our Wicked Pleasures After Dark, we're covering Lady of R's grave manner. And, in her, why choose relationships. She has like a whole plethora of slash
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853They're all monsters.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah. But we have a vampire in there. We
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853That is true.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853man in there.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853That is true. He
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Jonathan, who's,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853is human at that time.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853You get sometimes that line that people jump over into Monster, but I agree. For true monster romance. they've gotta fuck the monster.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853It's a human and a monster usually, right?
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853or humanoid, like a witch. You know,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853like our bo peg, other than her magic,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853They're human. They just have magic.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah. And that's really the most that I see. I'm sure there's others where they're both monsters, but if they're not human, I usually see witches and monster or human and monster. I do think it can be enemies to lovers, but I also think it's more like, misunderstood. not necessarily enemies it's more like they fear or don't understand the monster.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah. For example, one of my favorite Ruby Dixon books is The Half Orcs Maiden Bride, which is obviously about a orc. it's part of the Aspect and anchor series, which everyone should read. It's an amazing series
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I wanna
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853about Gods. but there happens to be this little, like half novel in it, the Half Orc, made in Sprite, it's literally about an orc a half orc, obviously. And. He gets into basically an arranged marriage with this human woman who is kind of abused by her family, and she's terrified. Everyone's terrified of orcs because of their history of like storming villages and killing people and all the lore around them and how they're just brutal and she's just expecting her life to be a lot of sexual assault and whatever when she gets married and is taken away to his castle, and he ends up turning to be like this cinnamon roll golden retriever dude who just happens to have some, you know, thanks. In his mouth.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Well, that's like a, a soul to keep a part of. Uh, opal
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Walker brides like
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah. He's just a misunderstood man. Well, demon.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Demon. Yeah, He's a dusk walker. Like he's
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853humans. But in a way he just like wants someone to love him
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853stay with him because he is lonely and he's, a cinnamon roll. Like I feel like all the monsters are like the best cinnamon roll characters ever. cause they're just all monster on the outside and cute and delicious on the inside.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853wanna pull in like the definition of monster in the basic Google search history is an imaginary creature that is typically large, ugly, and frightening, But just because they're frightening. I feel like we've placed like a evil or bad connotation on that
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853right? But the lore of like the misunderstood monster goes all the way back to like, Frankenstein's monster, Where he was misunderstood, he was big, he was large, he was frightening, but ultimately he is a good guy,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Right.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Same with like Monsters, Inc.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah. Or hunch back of Notre Dame.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853It's rooted in this like, misunderstood creature just because they're large, they're different,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853really playing into how humans are judgy,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah, but maybe physically unappealing.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853It's, I think this kind of larger, theme or like social commentary on just because something is different doesn't mean it's not, lovable
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853judge a book by its cover.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah, don't judge a book by its cover. And I love that for this whole monster romance sub genre the larger social commentary is showing that these quote unquote, not traditionally appealing creatures, can find love as well and really hot sex.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853That on top of it?
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I partly love this genre because of the creative anatomy
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yes, you can talk about that. Yes. Let's talk about that.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853talk about it so bad.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853let's,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I would love to talk about monster mating rituals first.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Ooh. Okay.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Okay. I don't know if you know this, but
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853We don't
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853very popular in monster romances.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh, yeah.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Very popular. And I love the fact that in monster romances you get a lot of different anatomy because it makes those spicy scenes if it is one of those spicy books. And let me tell you, you're not gonna have a breeding trope in there unless it's a spicy book. It makes those spicy scenes really fun, I think. And it's, first of all, I love alien romance, so I love weird anatomy anyways, but Monster romances is what got me into alien romances. And then, I just love it. example, the Dragons Bride by Roberts, Katie Roberts is amazing. She has an entire series dedicated to different types of monsters who end up with human women. It'll be my recommendation for this episode anyways, but the dragon in this particular book has two penises. And let me tell you, his favorite thing to do is to literally chase you down and fuck you. He literally warns the main character. Don't run.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Because they're monsters. Like we talked about the OG primal play,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853predator,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853like, there's been primal play in monster romances before. Primal play was a thing in contemporary romance.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Right. Those are kind of some common, like little tropes for the characters. They're possessive. They're protective. They're primal. They got a breeding
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853But back to the anatomy. Lauren, you, took us away from the anatomy.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Okay. I'm sorry.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853they have scales.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Um,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853fur.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853wings. Talons.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853like the gargoyle
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Stone Vines.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Um, vibrating.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Tell us about the slit with the opening
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh yeah. The slit with the opening. So, so
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853But not the vagina.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I, literally, just read a book about, well Lindsay did too, about a dragon sort of creature
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Whose penises, which were also two, apparently dragons typically have two. I wonder if that has to do with something with lizards. I wonder if lizards have that in real life. But,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853look it up for
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853uh, yeah, please look it up.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853it.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853But you cannot see. His, junk as they say, um, until he is horny and it slides out of this slit and then suddenly there are his penai. Is it true,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah. Most male lizards have two penises.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853this makes so much more sense.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853called
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Hemipenes
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Ooh.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853oh,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853clearly
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853on either side of the cloaka
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853klaw chickens have claws. That's where the eggs
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Chickens,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Chickens have klaw, they're,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853are used for copulation and differ in size and shape between species.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853you know, that makes sense because the dragon, his two penises were different sizes.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853well, one was used for breeding and the
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853used for pleasure.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853And so clearly our, authors are doing research more so than we are,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Just what are lizard dicks like
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853so you can expect some, dual ishness in lizard type monsters.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853tool dickish.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I really like, the gargoyles. I've
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853lately now
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853those are good.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853like. and, this was also true in our off world sci-fi romances. The being able to make their penises or like part of their, anatomy vibrate.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853where it would press against like the female's clit. And then, the tails,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm. Yeah. Tails.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853But like where they can control the
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853They're like a third arm or another dick. It
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah. Mm-hmm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Casey, you read a alligator romance, didn't
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Did you know that alligators are always erect
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853No.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853because they have permanently erect penises that are hidden inside their body? Sorry, I'm on
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I need you to get off Google.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853down into a Google right now.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853This episode was brought to you by Lizard Penises on Lord's Google search.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853facts about penises.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh my God. Um,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853be covered in our mini episode. Let's talk about dick's. Stay tuned.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853But yeah, it's fun. It's kind of like opening one of those like surprise eggs when you read these books and being like, what kind of anatomy am I gonna get? You know?
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853gonna pop out at me?
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh, it's a snake in the can.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Anyways.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853did it. The snakes have out,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Things that have been ruined.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853if it's a why choose Monster Romance.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853we also have captive captor romance again, bringing it back to Beauty and the Beast.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah, very similar.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Whether it's for like her protection, like usually you find out like
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853captive to protect her. Or in like opal reigns the dust walker. It's like,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853sacrifice kind of.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853to love each other. That's a pretty, common theme, in our monster romances. I mean, that's part of the sacrificial heroine too. and then, ultimately you've got forbidden love.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh, yeah. Very forbidden.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853There's a taboo nature between the monster human relationship, right?
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm. Yeah, 'cause like I just read Ruby Dixon's new book. Obviously I love Ruby Dixon,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853She's
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853but she just came out with a book called Bull Moon Rising, which is really cool. I really enjoyed it. And in that book, they're basically archeologists that have to find ruins and there's a guild of people who try to find these ruins. And there are mine tours that are specifically there. They've always been used to save people in, like mine collapses or find people in the mines or something like that. And there's this one mine that of course meets the female and they go into an arranged marriage and everyone is shocked. She mated this. Mine a tour and she gets like slut shamed over it and all that But it's so typical. I mean, you see it in Beauty in the Beast, right? Everyone's like, how could you love the beast? because it is unconventional love, right? So you're with someone you're not supposed to be with. And monsters in a lot of ways, I think can represent you know, the Romeo, Juliet situation, you're just with someone you're not supposed to be with. You're with the bad boy or the villain, you know, so on and so forth.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853and it sounds like, Ruby Dixon wrote that book a little bit. With the, you say Minear, I say Minear, but, the
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853mta,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Potato,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I questioned myself when I said it.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853in the Labyrinth, In Greek mythology.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853They're in the labyrinth. they're guides, aren't they?
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Um,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I thought they were guides,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Guides
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853but
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853not as familiar with the Greek retelling but I think the mino are represented kind of like the demons that the main character needed to overcome.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853But the Mino tar really makes me think of those themes of like isolation and loneliness. You have these creatures, I guess can go two ways. Either there's a cool, magical community in safe Haven, that all of these creatures exist within, or even a small, part of town. Like I'm thinking Morning Glory Milking Farm,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853God, I love that book.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853So
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I love that book so much. It is not what you think it is. I swear to God.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853It is like the most heartfelt
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853cute.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853it is such a cute romance and I want to live in that town.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah. Everyone was so sweet.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah, it Or you get these creatures that are like isolated and off on their own and they don't have anyone to be with they're,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853They're outcasts, oriah in
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853They're they're lonely, and they just want someone to love them
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853going back to Hunchback or Notre
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853they may exist within the society, but they're on the outskirts of it. and you get that with like, immortality too.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853You know, often these sponsors or creatures, are immortal. And so that, comes with its own kind of baggage of, of loneliness. If you're not existing in a community with, other immortals, you watch, the people you care about pass on. So that's also an element of loneliness
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853and I think too, it, speaks to our female main characters, like capacity to Love. Like I just, I, I, I love our female main characters because it seems like their hearts are just like 10 times bigger. they just embrace these monsters and they're truly like, I will love you. It doesn't matter what, and honestly, they're turned on by their differences. They kind of questioned it, but they also embrace it, and I think that's really cool.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah. And they love the entire person,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm. Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853or entire beast.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853But
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853we've covered, the themes.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853anything else we wanna talk about in Romance 1 0 1 before we get into book club?
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853really want to talk about this book.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Okay. Book club. Go
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853All right. Heavy spoilers going forward. If you haven't read the book that we're about to talk about, which I'll announce in just a second, please go read it. For your own sake and mine.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853and
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853So, content warning for this book. There's breeding behavior, there's exhibitionism, there's voyeurism, there's mentions of infertility and human trafficking as well. so book club for this week is stocked by the Kraken by Lillian Lark. we dive into a world where myths come to life and love gets tentacle rose. A matchmaker at an unusual bathhouse has a talent for pairing others, but struggles to find her own happy ever after. Enter Gideon, a brooding kraken shifter, I wouldn't say he's a shifter. I would just say he's a kraken who can use magic to turn himself into being a human
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Yes.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853with an intense gaze and a protective streak as wide as the ocean. When fate brings them together, sparks and suction cups fly. Proving that even the most monstrous of creatures can bring the sweetest kind of romance. Get ready for magic, danger and a lot of heat in this very unique and steamy love story.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Suction cups. Talk about some unique hickeys.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853So, so many at the same time as well.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853set in a bathhouse. So it's steamy.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853very
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Alright, let's get some fun facts.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Some fun facts about romance. Do we hate that or do we love that?
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853it's all up to you.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853just stuck in my head forever. You're stuck with it.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853You at this point have dedicated yourself to this and you can't not so.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853no turning back.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Did you know we had talked about it, but Beauty and the Beast, basically the OG monster Romance
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853And centuries, later centuries. Beauty And the Beast is not hundreds of years old
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853It's old,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853pretty old. I mean, we're not talking about Disney's Beauty in the Beast.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853well, there is a French film called.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Label Labbe,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853which is Beauty and the Beast. I'm obviously pronouncing that incorrectly, but like, yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853An indetermined amount of time later, we're still spooning over the misunderstood grow types with big, huge Um, in recent years, I have seen an explosion in books, not just about. The monster that is really a man, but like we said, the true monster romance, with the popularity of, morning glory milking farm like we mentioned already and others, we are truly seeing the MCs loved for their beauty on the outside and the inside despite their different appearances. Speaking specifically to the Tentacle, romance
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853tent endowed.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853tent, typically endowed monsters. Yes, I liked that. Tentacle, erotica which is most popular in Japan, was first seen depicted in art. Most famously the dream of the Fisherman's Wife, which
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Hmm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853a woodblock printed design by the Japanese artist, Hokusai. It is included in a three volume book of sga Erotica first published in 1814. And this piece has actually become, hokusai's most famous shung design. And the. art itself depicts a young, amma diver entwined sexually with a pair of octopuses. Uh, fun facts about our lovely author of Stocked by the Kraken. She hails from one of Utah's Saltiest cities,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853If you really can't guess which one that is. I don't know how to help anyone.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853uh, has a cat enthusiast, she has three of them she affectionately refers to them as. Her three demons, I love that Lillian Joys crafting, sexy stories designed to twist readers up inside. She's known for her Monsters Matches
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853which blends paranormal romance with unique monster characters. I know Lindsay's already read a couple into this series. and then she also has very creative covers for her books, including, found by the Lake Monster,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853need to go look up this cover. It's so cool.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853which is actually, designed by Lillian herself. So that's pretty cool. She can write and she can draw.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853You know, it's really funny 'cause I remember when I first got TikTok, long, long ago, before Covid, one of the first people I ever followed was Lillian Lark. And I remember she was just about to publish Deceived by the Gargoyles, which was her first book, and now it's crazy how many books she has. She's really good and she's still very much on social media and I still follow her to this day, but I love her and she's so great. And I'm just, giddy. We read a Lily and Lark book, so
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Was
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853sorry. It's so good.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I wanna get into talking about this book because it popped my monster romance cherry.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh my God.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853in the best way possible. I think I have devoured, I have just run, rampant through the monster romance sub genre since reading this book. And I'm just like, give me more. I am in my monster romance era and I love it. I'm enjoying it here.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Well, Lindsay, do you wanna kick us off with your plot and pacing, overview
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853yes, yes. I read this book in like four hours maybe. Maybe like plus or minus a few minutes. I'm not kidding. think I texted Laura at like 2:00 AM and was like, I'm done with the book. She's like, didn't you just start it? Like, yes I did. And I finished it. I was so tired the next day. But this book moves fast in plot in spice. It's a mate at first sight energy from our MMC Kraken. despite how quickly I read this and how quickly things escalated and like the heat, the complexity, feel like it moved too fast.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853No.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853fast, but appropriately fast. It was this new thing for me because I am very slow burn. Multiple books this was great. I freaking loved the pace of it. There was the romance, the X situation, Gideon's job, the magic conundrum. But in a book that's only 240 ish pages, I thought it would be way too much. the puzzle pieces just kind of drop together and it creates a fantastic book. Maybe there was a few moments that were like a little predictable. Sure. But in the best ways, The only thing I got a little bit hung up on was like how much her ex affected her. I thought it would've been like this more emotional backstory. but I
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853He was just a douche.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I thought it was
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853bigger thing but I do think it was necessary for her initial resistance to Gideon and her character arc that was needed, Her
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853to that. But I was like, oh, just dick.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853No, he's just a dick.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I thought it was gonna be like this big, huge thing it wasn't.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853mean, it kind of ended up being in the end because she
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I mean,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853he was using
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah. yeah.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853To do the human trafficking next door,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853yes. he's ultimately well, the scum of scum,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah. I was really excited to read this book, because obviously I love Monster Romance a lot. It's one of my favorite sub-genres ever. Besides alien romances, I think, well, I guess Omega verse has to be up there too. I don't know.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Casey. Whoa, whoa, whoa.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Uh, but I knew immediately when I started reading it that I was going to love it. I think I texted you, Lynn's, and I was like, oh my God, I know, I know I'm going to like this book. And I think I was only like five pages in. And, it is definitely an Insta love, and then it turns very quickly into an Insta lust, which you know, is very typical I think in monster romances. the plot of the book I think is fairly simple. But. I thought it was really good and I kept thinking, when the climax of the book happened, I was like, can we get back to the other type of climaxes now? Like, and Lillian Lark obviously did not disappoint with that request 'cause she follows it up with something else. but it was a super fast read. I mean it is only what, 240 pages, something around that. and I did feel like the plot was secondary to the physical relationship between Gideon and Rose, but it was still there and it kept me reading obviously and trying to figure out what was going on with the bathhouse anyways. 'cause it was not clear in the beginning really at all. And I was like, well, it has to do with whatever Gideon's looking into. But like, other than that, I have no idea. but I've really, really enjoyed this book
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah, the pacing of this book was perfect and it didn't
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853rushed or too slow, it carried along nicely with the romance story at the forefront, but the mystery of both the magic drain and the nefarious creature trafficking ring
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853they were kind of like one and the same at the end.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853and it was like just predictable enough that I could foreshadow it a bit.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853sure.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853twist still got me in the end.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah. I wasn't expecting the boyfriend
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853be involved. For some reason I thought it was gonna be something. I thought it was gonna be his friend. Like Gideon's friend or like her, is it her brother in the bathhouse or cousin? It's her cousin in the bathhouse. Like, I was not expecting this boyfriend who's kind of the elusive ex that he does come back and he's like trying to get back with her because he obviously needs access to the bathhouse. But it's one of those things where it's like, oh, this, this is coming full circle.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah. And to the point where it was enough additional stuff going on where it didn't seem were kind of either going from like one SMU scene to the next
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853And for me, I like Frothed this book,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Fro.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853All
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I need you.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853a
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I need you to explain what that means.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh my God,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853You just went full rabies mode, like on your book.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853I loved it. Okay. This was my first dabble with tentacle romance and god
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh my God,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853damn. the pacing was lovely
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853was like a sweet and spicy romance for me, which is
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853I feel like the monster romance that I've read in the past, has just been like, really s muddy,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853dirty. this one was like really sweet. It was
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853It was sweet, but spicy.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853sweet With And Gideon was like, so cute.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853the
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853The pen he gives her.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh yeah. They gives their pen, his little cording
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah, he was like so in love with her, but it makes sense because it was like an instant love for him. Right? Because he like recognized her as like who he needed to be with, right?
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853and it was very on point with like, octopuses are cute. Um,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853giant octopus.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853they're cute little creatures. I've seen a lot of them. And they have their little pebble collection and they have their little area. I've seen a lot octopuses hide out in like old ceramic amphora on the sea floor and they pile their little stones out front. I mean, they're cute as hell. And I just got that vibe from Gideon. And also too, I love the premise of the bathhouse
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853system
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853there. The shame free love forward premise
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Bath was amazing. Like, I loved that.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah, it was such a unique premise, the fact that they took the sexual magic that came from people climaxing
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I loved
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853and having sex with each other, and that's what they used for payment to use the bathhouse,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853It was
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853which.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853positive and
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Super sex positive.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah. well, and getting into that cuteness and that emotional connection, like the sweet, but spicy I don't typically like insta love, but I almost feel like finding your mate kind of like skirts those rules of my
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Right,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I'm like,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853right.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853maybe it's too because like he fell first. I tend to like that more. and there was some initial resistance on her and that it worked for me. If they're both
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853like, oh my goodness, sometimes that's not my favorite. Not shaming it or anything. It's just, not what I go for. I like how at the end. Even though, they get together very quickly and everything kind of escalates quickly. They acknowledge that they still need to get to know each other
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853that made it feel more plausible that the monster needed to find his mate, that the romance was rushed. I really like how he claims her. He's like a mate, a partner like you are my greatest treasure. He is just so considerate of her and like you said, the courting gifts that he brings her.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I want someone to call me their greatest
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853right.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853treasure. The fuck?
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853And now that I have listened to Lauren's little rant on the adorableness of Octopi, it makes more sense that it's his greatest treasure. I
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853with you on what I think is cute. I think they're creepy looking, but.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853think they're cute. Octa Bay.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853my octopus teacher?
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I have. It's really, really cute.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853me
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I mean, they're just so intelligent.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853they
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853like, they're
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853me out just a little bit. Their eyeballs. It's the eyeballs
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Did you know that their brain goes down into their legs?
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853that's also gonna gimme nightmares. So
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I watch a lot of ocean documentaries, but yeah, it was definitely anta love for Gideon. and it was nice to see it from his perspective because he cherished her so much in his internal dialogue, right? When she clearly did not cherish herself because of the trauma she went through with her ex-boyfriend, where he clearly like did not value her So that's why she was like really resistant to someone just like well, if I'm gonna be in this bathhouse, I'd like to be with you in this bathhouse. Like, can you imagine? You know this really hot guy coming in and saying that to you? I can't. But it was a hundred percent faded mates, which is really cute that it was one thing that he felt the pole right away. And because she was doubting her powers, because her powers are to see if people belong together through their fate strings, right? That she didn't see it, that they clashed and that they weren't meant to be together, but he was dedicated the entire time. He was like, no, no, no, no. She's mine, which I was just like, oh, I love you, Gideon. And, I would say with the emotional connection between the two, it was physical first, emotional later I think Gideon was dedicated to her emotionally right off the bat, but obviously she wasn't she had to get used to that and learn to trust him as well. But, yeah, I did enjoy it. I think Lillian Lark did a really good job at the pacing of her book because her pace is the same throughout the entire book, the pace of their relationship, the pace of the plot, the pace of everything is just very, very, like bang, bang, bang, you know, they bang each other and whatnot. But like it's, it works so well for this particular book and yeah, I really enjoyed it. What about you, Lauren?
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah, there was no part that felt rushed.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853that stride the whole time and
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Right?
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853feel rushed in the beginning. It didn't feel rushed at the end.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853it was,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853I
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853it's fast without being rushed. sometimes it's hard to do, to be fast paced without being rushed, but I feel like
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853is key. Like you said, Casey is, it have a consistent pace? Is it done well? And that's where you get the good fast pace versus the, oh, this feels rushed.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853and ultimately with these romances, you're trying to build a plausible, relationship from meat, the development of it to love. Right.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853you have that insta love trope in there, which going back to what you said, Lindsay. It works in those faded mate type books or the shifter monster romances where it's like, oh, I know you're my
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm. Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853whereas if, you go into another genre, it may not be as plausible, which sometimes becomes a trip turnoff. Especially if you're like in a, contemporary romance where it's like people don't fall that fast. Maybe insta lust, but, it works in some of these other sub genres a bit better when you have that kind of mate mentality in mind. I really liked how hesitant she was at first, especially since it was unknown to her that, they were mates.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853made for like a more dynamic love story. Then also the cuteness factor of him courting her. I just, I love a, he's falls first romance. and I think maybe that speaks to, as a majority of the readers being women, you don't have to deal with much of, the rejection.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm. Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853know that, the partners is invested, In the beginning, and there's no like wishy-washy, oh, how does he feel about me?
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853That's one nice thing about a dual point of view book is you totally know how he feels right off the bat.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853the moment he sees her, he's like, yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853and it makes for some giggle kick feet
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Because she has no idea that he has these really intense feelings for her, right off the bat.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853And I
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853But
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853to say, uh, it's probably one of the reasons I love a good stalker romance because, you know,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853knew you were gonna take it there.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I mean, he does kind of stalk her. He does.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853by the kraken.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Literally.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853the
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah, he does.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853but yeah, that's probably why I love a good stalker
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853That's so funny.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853he is invested,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yep. You, you do know
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853he is gonna put in the time if he wanted to, he would, you know.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853really does make that saying true. Right.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Well, from stockers to spice, talk about the spicy spice. money spot the tentacle tickling.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Okay. Well, I'm, going to start because it's tentacle spice, I gotta say the part of the book. Where he wants to stuff as much of his tentacle in her that she can take was top tier spice. Top of the spice cabinet. It was so good. I was like, yeah, shove it in her like
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853More. Give her more.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853and I, I also wasn't expecting both the voyeurism and the exhibitionism in this book, because typically in monster romances, they're really overly protective of their partners nakedness and you know, other people seeing it. So that was a nice little like. Trek that I wasn't expecting to go down. And then, I really loved how much they were into consent in their spicy moments. They were very into acknowledging was she okay? Like, was she comfortable? Was he good? And you know, I love that because, if you have a breeding kink or want to know what a breeding kink is, this book is for you is all, I gotta say
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853the definition of a breeding kink.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853and to your point, Casey, was a perfect balance between the consent, Hey, you okay?
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853And the, you can take it,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853more. Like
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853be like,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853perfect balance. She's like, okay,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853okay. Ah,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I had not had much experience with tentacles, in my reading journey, until this book
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853in real life, no, I'm just kidding.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853or real life. Okay. Um, so I was like de tentacles, but my eyes were opened and think I'm gonna fall a little bit on the other side of, you guys on stuffing.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Lindsay,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I know. I'm gonna ruin it and here's why.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853you're not gonna ruin it for me. It's fine.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I'm gonna ruin our trifecta of loving the tentacle
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853No, that's fine.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I'm
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Is
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853to ruin this for anyone,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853it 'cause you're a mom?
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853well, it's because I have birthed humans out of my body and it just gave me a little bit of a, a weird flashback to having my first and I was like, oh, the stuffing, and I don't know. It was just not, it wasn't, I was like, that sounds painful.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853and I had this conversation offline because she told me that in the beginning, and I was like, yeah, but that was coming out. This is going
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Right.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I know. I
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Also much different time.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853some
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853like
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853neural crossovers when I was like, trying to
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853you're like, I have felt a human go through my vaginal canal and
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853valid.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853that. I
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853valid.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853right.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853it's also like, oh, piercings are really hot, and then you get that medical professional who's like, well, actually I've seen some, and some of those things
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Just, just neural crossing networks. Yeah. but what I did love about this book is I did not realize how much I liked reading. And I'm gonna clarify this with reading about the voyeurism and the exhibitionism. I was like, Ooh, new king unlocked,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853they were so sex positive about it. Everyone in the bathhouse was so supportive of either being a voyeurist or an exhibitionist, and it was so refreshing.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853so
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853also they were all, uh, consensually in it with the kink, so,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853it.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I still really liked the sex scenes. I liked the idea of the tentacles. but
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853liked the suction aspect of the tentacles,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853oh yeah, That was great.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Who wouldn't
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853was just the, stuffing, stuffing.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853as I'm like, shove it and Lizzie's like,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Mo.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853And this is, this is great. This is what I love. 'cause we can all be like, have like such different reactions to this same thing and it's like, whatever it's great.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Well, I'm gonna add an additional reaction the way I chanted. Put it in her butt, put it in her butt. In the epilogue,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853mean, to each other own, but for me, I wanted a tentacle in the ass. Okay. I wanted that for the main character, and she got it. And I, I was
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853That just reminds me of like
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853because if
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853so many,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853so many, of them, use 'em. 'em,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853em all.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Um, that just
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853em all.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853touch the butt from Friending
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Touch the pot.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah. I was like put it in her butt. Put it in her butt. Yeah. Uh, top tier, top spice,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh yeah, for sure.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853book.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh man.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I even bought, I even bought it for a friend, as a Christmas present, to read as his first intro to Monster Smut.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853amazing.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853and he loved Uh, he was texting me, detailed updates of while he was reading, which was fantastic. And it moved firmly up the ladder for me in terms of Monster Books. I'm a huge fan of this author and, I will definitely
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853You have to,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853in her
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853you have to read Deceive by the
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853really good.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853it was a great read. There's nothing I didn't like about this book.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah, I thought this book was super enjoyable, definitely one of my like, top 10 favorite monster romance books I've read just because it was so engaging throughout the entire book. And I think the pace of it really kept me hooked, which was really nice. Like the moment I actually sat down and read it, I just read it like I did not stop reading it.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853put it.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah, which I think says a lot. And it was exactly what I was looking for in my particular mood I was in when I read it. I obviously, I love Lily and Lark and I really can't wait for her to come up with more books. What about you, Lynn? What did you think?
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I mean this, sent me down my monster Romance rabbit hole. I have read more of her books. I'm nearly finished with an entire series, one of which I will recommend in our TBR section.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853have gone Dark Monster Romance. I've gone cutesy, meet cute monster romance, like if I just, ah, it's great. I love it. This book was fantastic. I am so glad that we picked it and that this is where I got to start. Because it did not disappoint. And sometimes you can pick up a book that might not be your favorite in a type of subgenre, and it kind of turns you off for that whole subgenre. And I'm so glad that did not happen for this book and, for the subgenre because I have explored so much and it's been great. But yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Well, it just goes to show two, you can try and try again and, just 'cause you pick up a book in Monster Romance, you don't like it.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853another
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853there's so many different ones
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853that, you can explore, the different pages and there might be something for you
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah. Well, and just to quote the book, you deserve to be wooed and this kraken means to woo you, so be wooed by your books.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853a book boyfriend or girlfriend
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853you, body and soul
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853TVI recommendations. Should we, Stuff the shelves this time
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah, we're gonna stuff
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853stuff. Um,
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I know you don't like it, but I'm going to stuff
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853stuff
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853everyone's shelf right now.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Okay. Okay.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853just not your uterus.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I'll stay away. It's okay. Thanks. my TBR recommendation is the Dragons Bride by Katie Roberts. It is the first in her a deal with the demon series. In that series, you get gargoyles, krakens, sucky by demons, and of course the dragon. and the, whole book follows Brear Rose, who knows that no one is going to come rescue her. She makes a deal with the demon for freedom in exchange for seven years of service. She ends up auctioned off to soul. A dragon whose intimidating appearance belies a seemingly gentle nature. despite his care and attention, Briar Rose remains cautious and willing to fall for him and determined to protect her heart as she navigates this treacherous and otherworldly situation. And of course, soul has two dicks. So,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853dragon man.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853cause he's a lizard, drag and he likes to chase her down. So it is the greatest series I think anyone who knows Katie Roberts. Loves her books. She's really good. She has the whole Neon God series
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I need
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853and then oh, it's so good.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853good.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853I know. Ugh.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853I've only read Deon Gods.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh, it gets so much better after Neon Gods.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853I loved it, but there's some, some good signs
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh yeah. But on my TBR is a book I've had for a little bit. It is. Called that time I got drunk and saved a demon by Kimberly Leming. It is about a protagonist named Cinnamon. She goes by sin, who rescues a demon in distress. And this unexpected intervention thrust her into a dangerous supernatural world where she must navigate treacherous alliances, face unforeseen consequences, and contend with an unexpected bond that forms between her and her demon. She saved, But Katie, Robert said she loved this book, so you know that if I am recommending a Katie, Robert book and she recommends this book, of course I'm going to read it. Like,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853course. And you know what, I'm, I'm a sucker for a really good character name
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah,
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853I love cinnamon, and like she goes
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853That's
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853yeah.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853fantastic.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853so cool?
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Lindsay, what about you?
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Okay, I'm gonna do a quick little, like Monster light one that I read recently. And the reason I call it Monster Light is because there's like one scene. he like partially shifts into monster form. And you get a little bit of monster action, but he's mostly in his human form, for most of this book and the scenes and that sort of thing. But it's under Locking Key by Lana Ferguson. If you're just getting into Monster Romance or you're not sure it's for you, I would check this out and see if you like it. I really enjoyed it. The FMC travels to Scotland to reunite with her estranged grandparents and ends up running into this MMC who kind of saves her. It turns out he is cursed to be a Lochness monster, at night. And, Nessie iss a dude in this book, which is fun. Change up. But if you want a true, like monster romance, I really enjoyed getting it on with the Gargoyles by Hazel Mack. it's the first in a series, I think it's The Haven ever after series. they can be read as standalones, but it is very interconnected. I would suggest reading them in order. three Sisters go on a road trip to find this place called Ever on this thrifted map that one of their sisters finds and they end up in this small town that is like a haven for monsters. This is the first book and it centers on the romance between Thea and Shepherd. Shepherd is a gargoyle. They are initially in their human forms because of like this protective, enchantment around the town. But as soon as like it's revealed, they revert to their monster form so they can see them as they truly are. It is so fun. the three sisters, equate themselves to the Sandon sisters, which is kind of cool. cutest freaking magical town. the houses pick their inhabitants and communicate like definitely getting some encanto vibes there, but it was so cool. And then there's also this overarching thing that they have to figure out. I really enjoyed it. It has some nice spice, little bit of a slow bird at first 'cause there's some world building, But got some good spice. and then on my TBR is Muscles and Monsters by Ashley Bennett. It is part of the, Leviathan fitness series. So all of the books center around this gym for monsters. And, uh, she's
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Oh.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853who there's like this huge mishap and is helped by this muscly, like alpha woven. And she wants to. Not be helpless. And so she signs up for this gym membership, to make herself more buff and fit and be able to help herself. And, let's just say I'm promised that her and the woven test all sorts of physical limitations between themselves. so I'm excited to read this one.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853I wanna read that one.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Lauren, how about you?
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853on my TBR is one that both of you read, I think, a soul
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853opal
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Mm-hmm.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853And basically the, FM crea has been shunned by her village and is known as the harbinger of bad Omens after the unfortunate slaughtering of her entire family.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Unfortunate.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Unfortunately. she offers herself as a sacrifice to the desk walker to basically avoid prison. the town doesn't really give her much of a choice and enter orus. The MMC who's misunderstood is just looking for love. I am excited to read this. Both you guys have said it is amazing. So that's on my TBR.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853liked it.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853honestly, as far as a wreck, I don't really have one for this
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853How crazy.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853How crazy. I feel like I've read some monster romances.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853But you really haven't dived into it.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853I haven't, sunken into the pool of, the monster. I haven't done the Monster Mash. There we go. Yeah. I haven't
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853the Monster Marsh.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853And though I've read some, none come to mind as a recommendation,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853That aren't already on our list.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853And that's okay.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853Yeah. But it sounds like I have a ton
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853many,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853you do.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853and I will very much recommend Stocked by the Kraken, by Lillian Lark. if, last, 45 minutes of discussion has not already convinced you, do it. Read it. Get stuffed,
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853on that
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853That should be the memo for today. Get stuffed.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853like, I know.
lindsey_1_03-06-2025_154853Well, on that note, that's our episode for today. If you enjoyed this episode and can't wait for more, please like and subscribe and maybe even leave a review. It helps other romance lovers find us. Our next episode is closing out our Wicked Pleasure series, and that means it's our after dark episode. That is, if you dare, journey with us to the darker side of the paranormal universe with our book club. Pick a Lady of Rooks Grave Manner by Catherine Moon. Thank you so much for listening and as always.
kacy_1_03-06-2025_154853Here at Plush and Bindings.
lauren-guest849_1_03-06-2025_154853We are breaking down stigmas, lifting up love stories, and getting cozy with the pages that bind us together.
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