CBR13Bingo: Rec’d by katie71483
I know I’m late to the party as literally everyone was talking about this last month, but, wow, this book! That cover does not do it justice. I mean, yes, there’s lots of milking of giant monster cocks, but there’s also millennial job angst, a sweet relationship buildup, and lots of coffee.
Violet is pretty much your typical millennial: overeducated, underemployed and drowning in student loan debt. And it’s not like living in the city is cheap, either! Just as it seems like her only option is to move back into the loft over her parents’ garage, she finds an ad for a job (with full benefits no less!) as a milking technician for a pharmaceutical company. It seems almost too good to be true, and, well… it turns out that minotaur semen is the key ingredient in erectile dysfunction pills, but harvesting that requires some, um, manual help. It’s not exactly what Violet expected, but it’s a job, and she’s determined to be good at it. For the most part, it’s pretty clinical, but there’s one client that she can’t get out of her head.
Violet’s impossible to dislike. Her idea of splurging is buying fresh produce and maybe even non-generic orange juice, and she’s got a great work ethic of doing her best every time. The idea of her She’s also curious and open-minded, fascinated by the other species that call Cambric Creek home. Cambric Creek isn’t entirely utopian, but different species coexist relatively peacefully and humans are the minority, unlike where she grew up and the city she lives in now. When she meets a vampire, for instance, her first thoughts aren’t worries that she’s going to be attacked but excitement that they share the same sort of job. She loves people-watching in the coffee shop, exploring the various foods offered at the grocery store, and, most especially, enthralled by the architecture in the older portion of the town. There’s bits in there that hint at the privilege imbalance (that the non-human food at the store in the city is all on the bottom shelf, culture clashes between different species) but it’s not explored as fully as I would’ve liked.
“Violet was certain she was going to perish from terminally unmet sexpectations.”
Violet’s mortified by her crush on one of her clients but, at the same time, seeing him is the highlight of her week. She’s completely and adorably awkward about it, especially when she finally runs into him outside work. The buildup is delicious – she doesn’t even know his name for a good chunk of the book! – and their chemistry builds to a boiling point. It’s horny, but very sweet “omg I’m crushing on him!” as well. I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever read a story with a penis described in such loving detail. There’s quite a bit of size and bodily fluid kink (at one point, an experienced Violet considers a 18oz contribution a piddly amount). And, of course, there’s also the A+ dirty talk (apparently buttoned-up minotaurs get wild when they let loose). The power dynamic (in terms of both money and that he’s her client) is handled thoughtfully, as is the discussion of whether or not Violet’s job is sex work.
The only con was that the time frames in the chapters shifted back and forth in a confusing way. For instance, the start of a chapter might jump forward a few weeks since the end of the last chapter, but then would jump back and cover what happened in those last few weeks.
Overall, this was a great mix of world building, a sweet slow-burn relationship, and some pretty hot kink. Also, apparently the next book in the series will have a mothman hero!!!! Please take my money now.