Clio Evans

I stumbled upon a gem recently. I’ve found yet another author who knows how to balance the fire and tenderness of a passionate romance. Meet Salt and Pepper. Their names are quirky, but so are their lives.

These two characters are anything but one-dimensional. Both are flawed, complex, and captivating as they navigate their individual losses and traumas tied to family. It’s a rollercoaster ride watching them support each other while confronting some pretty nasty feedback about their show more relationship.

It’s fabulous to see Pepper reclaim her body, pleasure, and identity amidst all the chaos surrounding her life. Watching her evolve from a fierce, buttoned-up CEO of a record label into an empowered submissive was done with such nuance and care. It felt real and relatable. And then there’s Salt, the sexy masked musician who embodies every quality you’d want in a dominant partner—he’s patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in Pepper’s comfort, completely ignoring the naysayers around them.

What I love most is how the book explores a reverse age gap romance with such finesse. Clio Evans truly brings to light the challenges tied to ageism, feminism, and personal autonomy. There are many kink elements which makes the story both steamy and moving as Pepper learns to let go of her boss woman persona and embrace the moment under Salt’s careful guidance.

Now, let’s talk about my one little beef “the third-act breakup.” Ugh! Look, I get it. Salt has a tragic history that shapes how he approaches relationships, but honestly, I felt like there was enough trust built for him to realize Pepper would never do what he suspected. Seriously, she was reluctantly at an event with the person she despises most, and that didn’t ring any alarm bells for him? Come on, Salt! And don’t get me started on Pepper’s friends and colleagues. Where was the support? She deserved to have at least someone cheering her on instead of judging her choices.

Despite that little hiccup, if you’re hunting for a read that challenges societal norms, explores profound love in unconventional ways, and celebrates personal growth, look no further! This book is a must-read! Grab your copy and prepare to swoon over the electric chemistry between Pepper and Salt. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

Thank you to Ms. Evans for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

For more of my reviews, visit The Eclectic Review. show less

This book will have a permanent home in my heart. Why choose is my favorite romance subgenre/trope, but why choose books can be so hard to perfect due to multiple relationship partners. Clio has mastered the art of writing Why Choose. I got mad, sad, and happy alongside each of the main characters, truly showing me that this why choose is more than just spice. But also LOTS of spice ;) I am so happy that I bought and read this book, but am scared that I may have just fueled a Clio Evans book show more addiction! show less

Thieves and Monsters: Three Fates Mafia Series
by Clio Evans and Opal Fairchild
178 pages
Currently on Kindle Unlimited, in the US.
5/5 stars

Genre:
Romance, Fantasy, Erotica, Paranormal, Greek Mythos, Fated Mates,

Possible Trigger Warnings:
Death, murder, blood, kidnapping, theft, BDSM, bondage, fully shift sex, no condom sex, mate marking, choking, size difference, mm, mmmw, monsters, anal, breath play, knife play, guns, breeding, dom/sub, collaring, wolf, shifting, degradation, praise kink, show more graphic violence, graphic sex, knotting, mm, mmmw, oral, double penetration, triple penetration, voyeurism,

THIS IS A ARC REVIEW, and may have spoilers.

When I tell you, that I fell in love with Damon, Minos, Aaecus and Ashley the moment each were introduced, I am in no way joking. Clio and Opal have a way of making you become each character from the start. I was attached and wanted to know what would happen next.

Damon, Minos, and Aaecus are three monsters, that were cursed to become Cerberus. I have seen lots of takes on the Hades mythos, and each one touches on Cerberus, but I have not seen (if there are some PLEASE SHARE) any where the story is about them. Not just about how they came to be, but who and what they are today, and what they are capable of becoming tomorrow.

Damon, and Minos, over the years have become partners, lovers, mates. They have marked each other, and loved each other in ways that no one else has or could. Until...

There is always that until.. But, it is all about how you take the story from there. Clio and Opal wrap you inside of Ashley, a art thief who has been tasked to steal from Damon, Minos, and Aaecus. While she hates monsters, she works in their world and knows about them. This story does not tell us why she hates monsters, but I hope one day that there will be a tale about why this is. Because I have a feeling, her backstory, will be a page turner.

This tale to me, is first and foremost a tale of fated mates. A tale of three men, three monsters, who were never whole as they were missing a piece. They were missing Ashley. And, even though she did not realize it, she was missing them. Add in the background of the three monsters, being Mafia leaders for the Three Fates, and being cursed to be Cerberus when in their fully shifted monster form.. Y’all, it is a wild ride, and one that I think people will not only enjoy, but will devour with the same gusto that Minos does of Ashley.

Clio and Opal do a outstanding job, with consent, with on going consent and check ins. You don’t always see consent, despicably on going, when BDSM in put into media. As someone who is in the BDSM community, I LOVE when consent, boundaries, safe words, safe gestures, etc are not only used but talked about. Talking about these things in real life, and in media do NOT take away from the spicy, or the energy of the scene. If anything, it adds to it.

There is a moment in chapter 10, I believe, when Aaecus asks Ashley, “Do you want me?”. That moment, of asking for consent, be vulnerable, was a moment I will not forget. If this strong, evil, blood thirsty monster, could be so soft and open.. Fuck, then we all can. We can all ask, get that consent, get on going consent, talk about wants and needs, talk about boundaries. Moments like this in media, can remind us, how hot, how pussy dripping and cock hardening, consent can get us.

When Damon, who just hated Ashley from the moment she was in their presence, broke. When he allowed himself to be open to the connection that the four of them had. It was hot. When Damon growled that that he and Minos could hear Ashley’s screams of pleasure. It was electric. Clio and Opal know how to be erotic without always being explicit. Which do not get me wrong here, I am all for explicit.

At one point, when Minos and Aaecus were tending to Ashley, Damon asked to speak with her alone. Again, getting consent. Not just from Minos and Aaecus, but also from Ashley. And Minos and Aaecus also waited for consent from Ashley before they left her alone with Damon. Consent is hot, and these two know how to write it.

Damon while alone with Ashley, ended up telling her how they came to be cursed, and connected in the way that they were. When he shared that backstory. When he apologized for how he had treated her. It pulled on your heart strings. It reminded you that even evil dark brooding dominate monsters can be soft and change, learn from their mistakes. It is something that you do not always see in this genre. But, when you do, and it is does right, it makes the book one of those tales that you will not only reread, but will want to share,

Yea, that is hot male on male sex. Yes, there is bondage. Yes, there is three men on Ashley. But, this tale is not just spice and kink, and that is wonderfully hot. When you can weave kink, sex, and mating into a mafia fated mate love story. Y’all, I down.

- Destynnee show less

You are never disappointed with a Clio Evans book. I say this every book I rate of theirs and that is because it is true. I have yet to come across a book that I don’t enjoy overall. They are kinky but not too kinky. They are spicy but not to the point that it is too much they contain enough story to make it that you are reading just smut. In this you have one of the MMC that was a villain in a previous book finding their fated mate and becoming part of the mafia. This whole world is just show more amazing. It is so interesting to see the take on the mythology and how we adapt the stories we grew up watching and hearing change and become love stories….all this to say they aren’t accurate obviously I just like seeing the random facts and if its a creature or story I never heard to guess what is the similarity and how they will be changed.

I apologize I got side tracked this is an MM and size difference and kinky with is very delicious. It is a stand-alone but I would highly recommend reading them in order or you would miss so many little things and backstory for the story line unfolding the way it does. show less