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Tempting Monsters #1

A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor

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On the brink of losing her position as a maid and with no prospects to go on, the offer of a place at Rooksgrave Manor—a house of ill and unusual repute—sounds like a perfect fit for a young woman with Esther’s inclinations. Even better, the invitation comes by the hand of the handsome Dr. Underwood, a delicate gentleman with a ferocious alter ego who knows exactly what he wants from Esther.

Upon arrival the men and the daily decadence of the manor feel too good to be true for a girl of Esther’s station. There are rules to be followed, expectations to meet, and Esther is afraid she might be too wicked even for a place like Rooksgrave.

Temptations lurk around every shadowy corner and Esther has never been a girl able to resist. But the risk of disappointing her new gentlemen isn’t all that’s threatening Esther’s new position. Rooksgrave Manor’s protections for its unusual patrons are failing, the wards are crumbling, and Esther’s new and exquisitely pleasurable life may all come tumbling down.

Author's Note: I've returned to Rooksgrave Manor to polish and complete Esther's story (previously published in 2018) and rediscovered a whole world of monsters and devious young women that I absolutely adore!

376 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2021

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About the author

Kathryn Moon

32 books4,100 followers
Kathryn Moon is a country mouse who started dictating stories to her mother at an early age. The fascination with building new worlds and discovering the lives of the characters who grew in her head never faltered, and she graduated college with a fiction writing degree. She loves writing women were are strong in their vulnerability, romances that are as affectionate as they are challenging, and worlds that a reader sinks into and never wants to leave. When her hands aren't busy typing they're probably knitting sweaters or crimping pie crust in Ohio. She definitely believes in magic.

You can reach her on Facebook and at ohkathrynmoon@gmail.com

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5 stars
7,877 (36%)
4 stars
7,242 (34%)
3 stars
4,404 (20%)
2 stars
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488 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,966 reviews
Profile Image for ..
392 reviews41 followers
March 23, 2021
no plot just monster sex thats all i want in life
Profile Image for Warda.
1,258 reviews21.6k followers
Shelved as 'dnf'
December 31, 2022
Listen, I’m down for a woman living her best life and fuckin’ all the time - because why not - but shit. I was SO bored with this.

If you’re gonna write a 400+ page book, give me a story at least.

This might have made more sense as a novella. Or novella series.

It’s not a bad book. I liked the characters. I liked the writing. I know I’ll be reading more by Kathryn Moon.

But the boredom. Caused by back-to-back sex scenes.

Yeah, I know I shouldn’t be complaining but here we are.

DNF at page 220.
Profile Image for Lacey (laceybooklovers).
2,132 reviews11.7k followers
May 13, 2021
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to have sex with a vampire, sphinx shifter, (marble) golem, Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde (where Mr Hyde is a type of monster), and an invisible man, look no further. The steam is ridiculous and hot and fantastic. It’s pure monster smut, which was exactly what I was expecting. I can’t wait to read more of this RH series! 4.5 stars!


*****


I’m trying out some reverse harem books and OF COURSE I had to start with the monster romance RH lmao
Profile Image for D.L. Howe.
Author 20 books515 followers
June 2, 2021
The one thing they did right for women in the Victorian period was the cure for hysteria. If I was around back then, I’d be hysterical all the time. Oh me oh my, shall I visit the physician?! 🤣🙈

So, Esther is the epitome of a nympho. The girl loves sex so much, the thought of being with monsters doesn’t scare her. She’s excited to find out what a man with scales is packing. She’s curious if anything lives in the loch outside her window and gets giddy when she considers if it will come inside or more accurately inside her. Twenty-five pages in and I’m definitely a fan.

Appears to be a flush gig, sex with insatiable monsters, awesome room and board, camaraderie and gossip with the other girls, and you can’t get disease or pregnant.

My only complaint is Esther isn’t surprised about monsters existing. Nothing fazes her but no reaction. A little more world building would’ve made a big difference. A bit of world building as to why monsters exist, perhaps.

If you dig through all of the lust infused muck you’ll find a heart of emotion. One where Esther doesn’t know her own self worth and these monsters show it to her day by day.

I actually really adore all her lovers, they all bring something really great to the table. But the two who enjoy her together, hold a special place in my heart.

Jesus Christ! How did a man literally made of stone make me feel all the feels?!

I know I’ve said it a few times before but this time I mean it. This is the best RH I have ever read. Bring me all the sexy monsters!!!
Profile Image for Jessica .
2,242 reviews14.8k followers
September 29, 2021
Why did I not read this book sooner? This is the PERFECT monster reverse harem and I was obsessed with every second of it. The first thing I loved about this book was the men. They were all different paranormal creatures and were so well developed and fleshed out. I couldn't even begin to choose a favorite, but I loved how smitten they were with Esther. Their dynamics with one another were so interesting and I just couldn't get enough of how much they just wanted to spoil and adore Esther. While the relationships were my favorite, I also really loved the suspense plot that was going on for the second half of the book. There's a villain trying to get to Esther, which made the men that much more possessive and protective of her. I wasn't sure what was going to happen with that villain and, with the end of this book, I am dying to get to book two. I don't know if we'll get to see these characters in book two, but I'm excited to get back into this world! May 2022 can't come soon enough!!
Profile Image for Rambling Reader.
422 reviews68 followers
March 23, 2021
Weird d1cks & Victorian monsters. Marry me.
Also hardcore crossing my fingers that my boyfriend never actually sees this review.

My bookishly nerdy, English major heart has always had a special love for Victorian monsters in all shapes and forms, so I was 200% into this idea. Plus, I love when authors can take a base of something and make it their own- whether it be creature, trope, or historical period- and Moon has done exactly that. She grabbed the monsters that most only ever read about thanks to their high school syllabus or in the unpopular corners of Victorian literature classes and made them fun, funny, and definitely f*ckable.

A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor also did one other impossible thing: I have been broken of my dislike for the name Esther. No longer do I picture some white-haired grandma digging lint-covered candy out of her purse (though those grandmas can also be totally fabulous). Instead, I've got Moon's Esther who is this unashamedly sensual, kind-hearted, and just likable "lady of the evening," and I'm totally okay with this. I think she holds her own against Moon's other leading ladies and makes a good impression, which is nice to see since even though we'll be revisiting the Rooksgrave world, I don't believe we're going to be back in Esther's boudoir. We get to know Esther well enough to want her happiness, and that's enough to keep me hooked in.

Now, the other 50% of the reason that people chase after Moon's RH books: the men. Or in this case, the monsters. As per usual, I'm having a real hard time here. Can I pick a favorite? I mean, sure, if I must, but I actually like them all- our invisible man, the sphinx, the vampire, the Jekyll/Hyde doctor, the gollem/twist on Frankenstein. They've all got something alluring about them, whether it's major alpha tendencies, a little vulnerable insecurity, cockiness, or that slow and steady supportive type. I feel a little bit like I'm back in the 90s playing Pokemon when I read Moon's books. I just gotta ship them all.

With A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor, we've got oodles of smut. Especially with switching from Bryony, an FMC who had to grow into her sexuality, to Esther, who's just such a lovable little harlot (no shame), prepare yourself for some AGGRESSIVE social distancing so others can't read over your shoulder. We've got org*sm denial, hooks, threesomes, moresomes, voyeurism, exhibitionism, and I'm sure other isms that'll make you red in the face if your priest catches you reading this book. In short, there's a kink for everyone! A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor is the s3xual equivalent of one size fits all.

I'm a bit in love with this world. My only disappointment is that I have a hard time letting go of characters, so the greedy part of me wants to come back to this world, but it wants to come back and live it through Esther and her men. However, that's a me thing, not an anti-Moon thing. Though we do have an unresolved villain situation at the end of A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor, we get some closure on the character and relationship development with Esther and her men. Everyone has the chance to show some growth in how they see themselves, their desires, or how they fit into their monstrously adorable family. They get enough of a fitting HEA, and there's enough flexibility in how Moon rounded out the story that it would feel quite natural if we ran into these characters again even if it's not their story. And I hope we will!

#MonstersDoItBetter
Profile Image for Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile.
1,775 reviews401 followers
March 24, 2021
Welllllll this is NOT what I expected to be reading on a Wednesday morning at my desk I'll tell ya that😲🙈


I'm hitting y'all with the one thing I can't stand on gr...... A vague review😂😂😂😂😂. This is about a very wanton maid and her harem of monsters.


Every time I rate a book 5 stars I sit grinning like a fool lol, given the amount of books I read a 5 star rating is pretty rare from me but this one deserved it. I can't wait for more from this series and author

I'd really like my own harem of monsters 😔



No cheating
Very experienced h
RH
Lotssssssssss of steam
Exhibitionism




This is like a historical paranormal erotic RH 😂,way to cover all the bases Kathryn Moon😂
Profile Image for Francesca ☾.
53 reviews76 followers
September 26, 2021
I don’t wanna write a review cause honestly? I read it for the smut

Edit:
Ok you guys convinced me, I’m gonna review it

⚠️PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS IF YOU WANT TO READ THIS BOOK⚠️

Lets start by saying that I read this book to get out of a reading slump and I have to admit that luckily for me, it did its job.

At first everything was kinda rush but it is what it is I guess. Of course the plot is nonexistent

So, it starts with the MC masturbating (100 points for that) the next chapter she fu*ks the doctor who happens to be a monster.
That’s how she finds out about the existence of a whole new world full of monsters and she wants to bang them all.
So she moves to Rooksgrave manor, a place where gentlemen (monsters) can make appointments with ladies for.. you know what.

Our main character has the s*xual appetite of a teenager who reads fanfics on wattpad every night: all she can think about is s£x and I honestly can’t say I don’t relate to her (even if sadly I’m not a teenager anymore)
I love the fact that she’s not ashamed of it.
So she gladly moves and starts to work at the manor.

Every chapter has smut , I mean every single one. I don’t know how she managed I was a bit concerned for her at some point.

She has 5/6 men to entertain, her chosen monsters:

1. The doctor/Mr. Tanner: he’s like the Hulk,he transforms into a beast every now and then. So I'd like to remind the customers that there's a special two for the price of one offer on aisle ten. She loves both, the human average doctor, and his alter ego. The beast under his skin is a Dom and has a huge 🍆, like Huuuuuge. He’s rough but caring.
2. Booker: the golem and ex-butler. He’s made of marble. Yeah, that’s all I’m gonna say about him and I know that you know what our MC likes about him.
3. Auguste: the bisexual vampire and pastry chef in his spare time. He feeds her all the time and then he eats her, in more than one way. He likes thręesomes with his best mate the doctor and the main character.
4. Ezra: he’s cursed. He’s invisible. She gets railed in front of a mirror so the only thing she can see is herself being fu*ked by an invisible d!ck. (Bit narcissistic?)
5. Amon: the sphinx. He’s covered in fur, has wings and a tail. He’s intense, clearly a pleasure Dom. He torments her for hours BUT I’ll never forgive the author for giving him a tail and never let him use it in the right ways. We were robbed, could have had so much more.

This book has a little bit of everything:
- She gets fücked in a theatre, on the stage and the audience clearly enjoys the show. (I enjoyed it too, I was there with my popcorns)
- Orgies, threəsomes, dominance and submission.
-
OHH and if you have a praise kįnk this is the book for you.
I liked it, despite the monsters being rather tame
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Whitney Atkinson.
978 reviews12.8k followers
February 20, 2022
3.5 stars

so apparently my kindle is linked to my goodreads and snitched on me for starting this book. thankfully it was pretty good so i don't feel total shame. this has a great ratio of plot and emotional depth vs pure smut. i wish this were a series following all the same characters because you grow to love them all, but i'm definitely interested in the companion novel that comes out this year as well.
Profile Image for Kat valentine ( Katsbookcornerreads).
688 reviews1,102 followers
November 24, 2021
I'm not gonna lie their was a lot of fucking and sucking in this book!😅
But I did enjoy this totally smutty read! Esther is without a doubt a very horny lady! With all kinds of kinks and a love of monsters. From Ezra the invisible man to a Jonathan a dr. Jekyll/ hyde type to the sinful vampire Auguste to Amon a spinx with a barbed dick and finally Booker a golem made of marble by the house Madame. She's very busy! The storyline was pretty good and the characters unique and very imagitive with their love making its no wonder this reverse harem is so steamy. I will go on record saying that more then one time I got a hot flash! You'd have to be dead not to get alittle turned on when reading this Victorian based erotic romance. If hot smutty reads with very grown up themes and language is your thing along with loving paranormal creatures of all shapes and sizes check this out! This author has another book in the works coming soon with more from this world and I'm definitely putting it on my tbr pile! Until next time Luv's💕💋
Profile Image for Sakshi.
50 reviews27 followers
June 2, 2022
there’s literally a bisexual pastry chef vampire in here <3
Profile Image for Jenn (The Book Refuge).
2,107 reviews3,244 followers
June 29, 2021
This book was everything it promised to be and more. Honestly, I'm shocked how much I loved it. I don't enjoy Reverse Harem on the regular and I also have not read much Monster Romance. But the way that this story played out... it was soo sexy and fun and just a bit dangerous.

The monsters are on a low level of weird. They mostly only have sex in a human form, even though some of them do have monster alter egos.

The main character was in control the whole time and she owned her sexuality in a time when that was frowned upon. I mean... fucking monsters would probably always be frowned upon but still...

So, yeah... I'm giving this 5 stars. No regrets.
Profile Image for Marti .
258 reviews155 followers
October 5, 2022
The idea was a great one, I was really intrigued.
The end result left me a little wanting.

The story is slow, and considering this is mainly a book about a girl fucking monsters, one wonders how it manages to be so achingly slow.
The writing is pretty bad. I found a lot of the dialogue cringy. The smut was weird. I think it was too descriptive, focusing on each small movement, and it confused me. Some of them were fine, others were so cringy it was hard to ignore.

I really liked the idea. The originality of the monsters was fun.
Profile Image for Misha.
378 reviews151 followers
April 22, 2022
I’m so impressed with this book, what the fuck?! I was expecting porn but I got... intelligent porn?

It was gothic, charming and sexy. And FUN! There were so many good, smart bits of detail that added to the sex appeal of the story and to our emotional investment in the characters. I loved the campy, Sherlock Holmes-y London vibe of the manor. I LOVED how distinct and interesting all of the characters were. Esther, Booker, Ezra, Amon, Auguste, the good doctor... they were all such good characters. They jumped off the page. I hope there’s more to come.
Profile Image for Madison.
443 reviews5,927 followers
October 30, 2021
RTC - still deciding between 4-4.5

But AH I love Ezra and Auguste the most!! If you are hesitant because “monster romance” or “reverse harem” isn’t your thing… just trust me a give this a shot
Profile Image for Leo.
4,536 reviews484 followers
April 8, 2024
I finally finished the book, it felt quite a challenge. I like that it was so sex positive and smutt is fun to read about. However the where hardly any plot and I couldn't feel the connection between the characters. Just a lot of monster smutt with no plot. I need to have some kind of plot and characters arcs to be invested in a book and in smutt. I just didn't care for most of it.
Profile Image for Millie Cullen.
359 reviews
March 2, 2023
The legend says that Diana is still searching for the plot in this book…👀
Profile Image for Faith.
374 reviews50 followers
October 23, 2021
The cover: a fantasy book
The content: a brothel for monsters.
Profile Image for daria ❀.
325 reviews2,551 followers
January 22, 2023
wish it had stuck more to the monster mating rather than the shoehorned plot thrown in randomly at the end
Profile Image for Gab :).
192 reviews6 followers
March 4, 2023
About 98-99% smut and 1-2% plot but make it monster edition

I probably would’ve loved it if I was in the mood for it and I just wasn’t at this moment. But like the smut was damn. And don’t come at me, but I got bored. The smut scenes being right after another IDK HOW BUT YES I GOT BORED. I needed more of a story and not just them banging every chance they get. I knew going into it that it was gonna be pure smut but idk maybe it’s my fault for expecting it to have more plot than it did. Like it wasn’t bad. I liked some of the characters and it was fairly easy to read, I just thought for it being almost damn near 400 PAGES I’d get more plot ya know. And what plot there was it seemed to be pretty much rushed in at towards the end. Maybe teeny tiny sprinkled throughout but like it got thrown in there.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,966 reviews

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