Welcome to our new feature – THE MONSTER BOTHERER!

We are thrilled to welcome back our new reviewer Emma Penman, who exclusively reviews monster romance, and has returned for another week of Monster Bothering. We decided that as all her reviews have a specific aim, we’ll house them all in one handy feature-cage!

Whilst not necessarily bothering many monsters herself, Emma will be letting us know which monster romance books are worth bothering with…

Content warning: These books are explicit. 

Guys, I’ve finally found it, the holy grail. A romance book where the main couple actually communicate their wants, needs and any issues or problems. I know, unbelievable right, but I swear to all the gods and monsters, it’s true. Nothing could be hotter.

Right, moving on from that excitement, Getting it on with Gargoyles follows the story of triplets, recently orphaned and in desperate need of a girls trip. After finding a strange map in a thrift store, they follow it and head to ‘Ever, Massachusetts’. Idyllic, quaint and perfect in every way the girls settle in and then realise the inhabitants are not actually human. They’d probably run, if not for the first monster they meet, the gorgeous gas station owner and gargoyle, Shepherd.

This book mainly focuses on Thea, though the other sisters get plenty of attention. While the map was bait for one of the other sisters, the fated-mate of what is essentially the town mayor, Shepherd has recognised that Thea is his mate, and the whole town has come out in support of the sisters staying permanently. Apparently there’s something about them that isn’t quite human either, and the more the merrier. While the sisters find out more about the town and their possible future neighbours, Thea and Shepherd get to know each other.

While the tropes are the norm for this type of cosy monster romance, Mack really makes it her own and I found it quite refreshing, and not just for the whole communication thing I might have mentioned earlier. The sisters all have their individual characters and aren’t all immediately swept away by the magical town. There’s a threat that needs to be stopped, but it isn’t resolved in this book. The author hasn’t rounded things off nicely for us, there’s still questions, still action to be seen and we aren’t handed a happily ever after on a silver platter. “But it’s part of a series, you’ll get answers in the subsequent books” I hear you cry. Ah but in this genre, even books that are part of a long running series will still try to wrap things up in a neat little bow at the end. Gotta get that post orgasmic book feeling going. It doesn’t feel like a one night stand, I know me and this book have something going on and it’s worth the time it’ll take to get that pillow talk.

When it comes down to the down and dirty, Mack really knows her gargoyles. We’re using tails, wings and teeth, and horns are a mighty sensitive erogenous zone… good to know. Shepherd and Thea are mentally tearing each others clothes off from the minute they meet, hell even one of the first things Shepherd says to Thea is “I’ll come for you.” Literal? Maybe. Loaded. Yes. I’m sorry, double entendres are sexy and I’ll defend that to the death, but honestly, it’s just really good to read some good smut within a healthy relationship for once. There’s no angst, no drama, just good ol’ fashioned lust and love and all the good things that surround that. Mix it in with some magic, some monsters and a literal rock hard cock and I’m happy. Did I mention it also vibrates? Yeah.

I would bother with Getting it on with Gargoyles (are you surprised, I thought I was quite subtle with my feelings in this review). After finishing some pretty hard and heavy dark romance stuff I was needing something light and cosy, but still somewhat spicy, and this fit the bill completely. Now if you’ll excuse me I have a series to finish.

Available at Waterstones