*Review* Sentient Pen15 From Outer Space by Sabrina Cross

 

Title: Sentient Pen15 From Outer Space

Author: Sabrina Cross

Genre: Erotica

Published: March 15, 2025 

Pages: 92

Liam had spent a lot of his childhood obsessed with the legends of the local mines. The abandoned tunnels underground had driven dozens of workers insane and young Liam was desperate to get to the bottom of it. But he found more than he bargained for down there.

Infected by parasitic space mold, Liam has held himself away from relationships for years. When things spark between him and the girl next door, he has no choice but to reveal the truth: his manly appendage is also the bane of his existence.

Note: Sentient Pen15 from Outer Space is a comedy romance. Yes, there will be an HEA. No, it is not meant to be taken seriously. This book is intended for readers 18+. A full set of content notes will be available in the book and on my website.

I read this book just because the cover and title made me giggle. This is my honest review. 

I went into this book with really high hopes for a hilarious read, and unfortunately, it didn't deliver on that in the way that I'd hoped. In fact, I found it feeling like a far more serious read than sentient object erotica should be, in my opinion. The spicy scenes were okay, and did what I expect them to do passably well, but I wouldn't consider this a book to return to over and over again on that score. 

This is one of those books where you immediately know what you’re getting into. The premise is outrageous, absurd, and very clearly leaning into shock value and camp. And to be fair, there were moments where that worked for me. I can appreciate when a book fully commits to its ridiculousness, and there were a handful of scenes where I could see the humor it was going for—very tongue-in-cheek, very “don’t take this seriously,” and occasionally it did make me smirk. 

But the problem is that the execution just didn’t sustain that energy. And I felt like it was far more serious than sentient object erotica should be. 

All that said, I do think there’s a very specific audience for this. If you’re going in purely for the shock factor, the novelty, and the “what did I just read?” experience, you might get more out of it than I did. It’s the kind of book you read out of curiosity, maybe laugh at once or twice, and then immediately text a friend about because you can’t believe it exists.

Overall I give Sentient Pen15 From Outer Space 2.1748 out of 5 stars. 

Amazon

Sabrina Cross (she/her) is a neurospicy 80’s baby from the middle of nowhere Michigan, where she still lives with her cat. She came into her monster romance era early when she fell in love with Beast from the 1997’s X-Men animated series.

After discovering sentient object romance in early 2023, Sabrina decided to embrace what she calls her ‘Hold My Beer’ style of writing and gave into the lifelong dream of being an author. When not writing weird monster/sentient object smut, Sabrina can be found hanging out on social media (@authorsabrinacross), reading, or hoarding office supplies.

*Review* Merry Christmas You Filthy Animal by Meghan Quinn

Title: Merry Christmas You Filthy Animal

Author: Meghan Quinn

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Published: October 14, 2025 

Pages: 466

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn comes a brand new holiday rom-com with all the humor and heat her fans adore.

Nothing says I love you like trespassing, public humiliation, and a town-wide Christmas spectacle to win your crush back.

Atlas "Max" Maxheimer did not sign up for this. One minute, he's anxiously trying to keep his family's Christmas tree farm from imploding. The next? He's passed out in the snow after getting clocked by a suspiciously strong bottle of soda.

Enter Betty: new in town, full of holiday cheer, and helping her uncle open a rival tree farm next door. Max is convinced she's out to destroy everything Evergreen Farm stands for. Betty thinks Max might be one sleigh short of a winter parade.

Cue the holiday chaos.

Between blizzards, blown reputations, wildly misguided romantic plots, and one stolen ornament with a seriously tragic backstory, this small-town war turns into something far messier―and much more delicious―than either of them expected.

I read this book for the small Colorado Springs Book Club. This is my honest review. 

Merry Christmas You Filthy Animal by Meghan Quinn is exactly the kind of chaotic, banter-filled holiday romance I was hoping for and I strongly recommend reading it with Home Alone in mind. From the very beginning, the dynamic between the main characters is sharp, snarky, and just the right amount of antagonistic. If you’re here for enemies-to-lovers tension, this one really leans in—and has a lot of fun doing it.

The banter is easily the standout. It’s quick, witty, and often borderline ridiculous in the best way. There are multiple moments where their back-and-forth escalates into these over-the-top verbal sparring matches—like playful insults turning into full-blown competitions or arguments that feel less about the issue at hand and more about who can out-sass the other. It gives their chemistry a really strong foundation, so when things do start to shift, it feels earned.

And speaking of that shift—the enemies-to-lovers progression is super satisfying. You get those classic moments where annoyance starts blurring into something else: lingering looks that last a second too long, begrudging teamwork that turns surprisingly supportive, and those tiny cracks in the armor where they accidentally show they care. There’s a particular kind of scene (no spoilers!) where one character steps in to help the other in a way that completely contradicts all their earlier bickering, and it’s chef’s kiss for trope lovers.

That said, it’s not a perfect five-star for me. There are a few moments where things feel a little exaggerated or slightly repetitive—like the banter occasionally looping instead of building, or certain situations stretching just a bit longer than necessary for comedic effect. It didn’t ruin anything for me, but it did keep the story from feeling as tight as it could have been.

Overall, though, this was a really fun, feel-good holiday read. It’s flirty, funny, and full of that delicious tension that makes enemies-to-lovers so addictive. If you’re in the mood for something festive with a lot of personality and a couple who clearly enjoy driving each other crazy (until they don’t), this one is absolutely worth picking up.

Overall I give this book 4.1746 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Amazon Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.

*Book Review* Nocticadia by Keri Lake

 

Title: Nocticadia

Author: Keri Lake

Genre: Dark Academia

Published: April 25, 2023

Pages: 682

A dark, atmospheric tale of deadly secrets and forbidden love.

Mortui vivos docent.
The dead teach the living.

After watching my mother succumb to a mysterious illness, I promised myself two things. I’d find the cure for what ravaged her. And leave the godforsaken city where she abandoned me.

Four years later, I receive an acceptance letter from Dracadia University, one of the oldest, most prestigious schools in the country. Nestled on a secluded island off the coast of Maine, it’s rumored to be haunted by the souls of the mental patients exiled there centuries before. Those whose bones are said to make up the island’s white sandy shores.

And restless ghosts aren’t even its most daunting peculiarity.

Devryck Bramwell, known on campus as Doctor Death, is a brilliant pathologist in charge of the midnight lab. He’s also my devastatingly handsome professor, who seems to loathe tenacious first-years, like me. Except, his dark and enigmatic gaze tells me all the ways he’d devour me if given the chance, and his stolen kisses burn my lips with forbidden jealousy.

I crave his authority.
He aches for redemption.
Together, we’re toxic. Delicious fodder for the prying eyes hellbent on exhuming the rotted skeletons of our pasts.

For the dead have much to teach, and it’s only a matter of time before Dracadia’s most depraved secret is resurrected.

Nocticadia is a standalone dark academia gothic romance.

I read this book for The Next Chapter book club. This is my honest review. 

This is one of those books that I liked in the moment more than I loved in retrospect.

There’s definitely something here that kept me turning pages. The premise had promise, and there were stretches where I felt genuinely pulled in, curious about where things were going and invested enough to keep reading “just one more chapter.” When it worked, it really worked—those moments had a nice emotional pull and a sense of momentum that made me remember why I picked it up in the first place.

But…I also can’t ignore that there were quite a few sections where things just felt a little too drawn out. It created this uneven pacing where I’d go from engaged to slightly bored and then back again, which made it hard to fully settle into the story.

I also struggled with how certain elements played out. A few plot points didn’t hit as hard as they could have, and there were moments that should have carried more emotional weight but ended up falling a bit flat for me. I kept waiting for that deeper connection or that extra layer of development that never quite materialized.

That said, I don’t regret reading it. There’s enough here to make it a worthwhile experience, especially if you’re drawn to this kind of story or enjoy a slower, more reflective pace. It just didn’t fully live up to its potential for me.

Overall, I give Nocticadia 3.5728 out of 5 almost sexy stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Keri Lake writes gothic romance layered in vengeance, obsession and atmospheric worldbuilding. When she's not romanticizing villains or plotting peril, you'll find her wrangling family and dogs, sipping red wine, and fueling her next story with strong coffee and moody music.

*Book Club Review* Book Hangout Book Club

 Guys! I did it. This is the last book club review for me to post for this first round of competition. And except for ONE missed day, I wrote a review every day. This is basically my version of 75 hard right here (I promise, I understand how intense 75 hard is. That's the reason I'm never going to do it). And I should probably be working out right now because I got home from dinner with my parents earlier than I get home from book club on weeknights, so I have time. But our blind cat thought 2:30 in the morning was a great time to wake me up for food by repeatedly walking over my head, so I'm tired and not doing that. I'll get back to it tomorrow when instead of going out to eat I'll have to come home and cook. 

But for now, let's talk about another book club. 

Today I'm discussing the Book Hangout Book Club. I joined this group just after I quit my job at the discount bread store without having another job already lined up. And you're probably thinking that sounds like a bad time to join a new book club where you'll presumably be spending more money (at least on food and drinks at the meetings). And you'd be right. I said the same thing at the time. I found them, told my husband I wanted to join but it wasn't a good time because I'd have to buy the first book at least as the wait at the library was stupid long for The Thursday Murder Club. So my husband kidnapped me for a lunch date and then took me to Barnes and Noble where I was instructed to pick five books. Even though he complains about the number of books I own a lot, he's also my second biggest enabler (I'm the first). 

This group was a bit intimidating at my first meeting. They already had a fairly large core group, and most of them were in attendance it seemed. And while I love being in book clubs, I still get nervous when I go to a new one. But that has also made me a good book club ambassador. If I'm at a location for a meeting and see a person looking the way I always feel my first time attending a new group, I usually approach them to ask if they're there for book club. If they say yes, I drag them along to the group. Sometimes I even introduce myself first. With this group, my first meeting was at a location that opened right at the time the meeting was set to start, so I at least saw a few group members waiting outside making things less intimidating. I barely talked at the meeting though. 

This is another generic book club that reads in all genres and picks books for the year in November/December time frame. And while the book selections don't lean very heavily romantasy, the discussion after we talk about the book usually veers that direction real quick. Lot of romantasy fans in this group, so if that's your jam and you want recommendations, these ladies will deliver. There may be some spoilers about some of those books mentioned briefly, but they're pretty mild as everyone is fairly respectful on that score. It really only becomes a slight problem if a few people have read the same book and start discussing. 

This group pretty much always meets the last Sunday of the month in the morning (typically around 10 o'clock, but sometimes meetings start as late as noon depending on the location we're meeting). Because of this and Fountain Book Club sometimes meeting last Sunday of the month at one, I do occasionally miss Book Hangout meetings because the Fountain meetings are always closer to home (and that group is usually smaller so they need me more). 

And I think this is the first match-up pitting book clubs together that I actually have to decide between sometimes. So this will be interesting. Maybe I'll use it to inform my decision next time there's a conflict. 

Some of my favorite reads from this group include The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Red Rising by Pierce Brown, and Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid. 

Does this sound like a group you'd like to hangout with? - Katie 

*Book Club Review* Fountain Book Club

 I was supposed to get this post drafted this past weekend, but I did not do that. I did get some other book club administration stuff done though, so I'm counting that as a win. The people in the two book clubs I run were very impressed with me (as they should be!) But now I've set the bar rather high, and they're going to expect this level of excellence all the time.

And I would have gotten around to getting this written earlier tonight, except my parents are in town for a couple days after visiting my brother and sister-in-law, so my evenings are spoken for tonight and tomorrow. Then we'll return to our regularly scheduled chaos. 

But I'm also tired, so let's get to the next review. 

Today I'm focusing on the Fountain Book Club, which is technically not a Colorado Springs book club, but it is a Colorado Springs area book club. In reality, this should have been the first book club I found and joined because I live in Fountain, but it literally never came across my radar. And realistically, if I'd joined it first, I might not have ever joined another. But because my first book club in the area is a 30 minute drive away from my house, when I found others that were even slightly closer to home, that feature appealed to me. Not that I'm ever leaving that book club, because The Next Chapter is a significant portion of my friend group, and that extends beyond book club, and I just haven't had that same level of connection with a significant number of members of any of my other groups. 

This is one of my generic book clubs, and has seen a fair amount of overlap in book selection with both the big Colorado Springs Book Club and Book Hangout Book Club. And when you consider that my three thriller specific book clubs have seen no overlap, that's weird! These three groups have ALL the genres to choose from, and they're picking several of the same books. But, that makes it easier for me to attend 18 book clubs every month, because it means I don't always have to read 18 whole books every month. And the books that overlap tend to be pretty well-anticipated or popular newer releases. 

While this group has had some overlap with other groups, it also leans towards fantasy. Not heavily, but several of the members, myself included, really enjoy fantasy novels, which gives them a leg up when it comes time to voting. All of the books for the year have been selected since like November (maybe December, I've slept since then). And I do like that feature when the books picked are so popular because it makes it easier to obtain them either through the library or cheaper on sale on Amazon or potentially finding it at the thrift store. I don't think I even suggested any books for this group when it was open for suggestions (which means those were submitted in November while I was hiding from the authorities in Florida). 

This group usually means either the last Sunday of the month, or the first Sunday of the month (depending on how well the group as a whole is doing at finishing the book on time) at a brewery here in Fountain. Fortunately, we always meet at one, so even when it's the first Sunday, I can still make it to both Fountain and the smaller Colorado Springs Book Club. 

Some of my favorite books from this group include Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown, and Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. 

Does this sound like a group you'd want to invade? - Katie 

*Book Club Review* COS Smutty Book Club

 I had a moderately productive weekend which is a bit odd for me. I had a book club meeting both days, got my taxes done, did some dishes, washed some laundry, created events for the next three months for both of the book clubs that I run. I've posted another book club review and did some other cleaning around the house to prepare for my parents to be in town tomorrow (my house will not be perfect when they get here, but my house growing up never was either so...) 

And now, it's time to talk about another book club. Let's go. 

Tonight I'm discussing COS Smutty Book Club. In case it's not clear by the name, this group has a sole focus on the smuttiest of smut. And a big point of conversation at most meetings is if the books we read for that month gave good sex, which is an absolutely valid point of discussion for a group that reads all the smut. 

This group is the most chaotic of the book clubs that I'm a member of (which is really saying something considering how chaotic my group management skills are). While we typically meet the last Wednesday of the month, that isn't a hard and fast rule, largely because the woman who hosts our group in her home is sometimes gone on the last Wednesday of the month. But we always pick the next meeting date at the meeting, and it gets posted typically while we're still there. But the meetings themselves are chaotic in the best way possible. We don't always spend much time talking about either of the books we had read for that month (and when we have spent a lot of time talking about the selected book it was because it was bad! I'm looking at you The Pisces.) But there is always talk about smutty books in general, and what everyone is reading and doing in life. 

Because the group is hosted in the same home every month, the rest of us contribute potluck style, and that often means we're eating girl dinner with everyone bringing whatever they feel like. I always bring a veggie tray because it's easy for me to pick up on the way over after work and it means I don't have to think about what to contribute. But other contributions tend to be a bag of chips, a package of cookies or cupcakes, Rachel usually brings some form of protein, but it's largely finger food-ish options. Occasionally we theme our contributions based on what we're reading (the month we read Pounded by Produce we did salads for the meal. Being a midwesterner, I brought a selection of midwest salads like That Minnesota Mom would make). 

We mostly select books by voting as a group at each meeting on what we're going to read next. But sometimes Rachel wants to read non-MM hockey smut, and when that happens, we tend to read non-MM hockey smut. This group also picks two books every month now. We have our real book, which is a full length novel, and then we have our bonus book which is a short novella at best, typically in the vein of a Chuck Tingle book. This has been helpful as it means I can for sure finish at least one of the two books before the meeting. And sometimes the bonus books are the real stars of the show. 

Some of my favorite reads with this group include Hallowpeen by Holly Wilde, A Court of Sugar and Spice by Rebecca F. Kenney, and The Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score. 

While this is a group that I have no intention of leaving, because we do meet in someone's home, membership has been capped at this time. Which means, I can't ask if you'd want to join us because unfortunately, you can't sit with us. But I have also been considering starting a Fountain chapter for the folks that live on the south side of town (or in Fountain proper). But then I remember I already run two groups, and I'm not even organized enough to do that well. - Katie 

*Book Club Review* Deadly Chapters and Cafes Book Club

 This has been an eventful day for me so far, but not in a bad way. Got up early (for a Saturday at least) for Fantasy Book Club at 11. I was up early enough that I folded three weeks worth of laundry before I even needed to leave for book club. Then after the book club meeting, my husband and I got our taxes done. We have the best lady at H&R Block (she's wicked fast at it), but to see her for our taxes, we have to go on base. Fortunately my husband's job and veteran status gives us that option. Our return is very sad because we're in a grown up tax bracket, but we are getting a return. 

Then I came home, did a short cardio workout (I plan on doing another workout a bit later, but wanted to get some of my self-imposed administrative work done first), created the events for three months worth of book club meetings in two groups, and now we're here. And that means it's time to talk about another book club. 

Today we are focusing on the third of the thriller/mystery specific book clubs that I am a member of in the Springs (that made the list. There is also a Final Girls Book Club, but much like Shelf-Care, I haven't been able to make it to a meeting. The reason Shelf Care made the bracket and Final Girls didn't is the times for Final Girls meetings seem to have more conflicts, so I'm less likely to be able to attend). Although this is the third thriller group I joined, it's actually the first one to exist (to my knowledge). If it weren't for the fact that these groups in general are widely attended (with almost no overlap in attendees beyond me), I'd feel like a bit of ass for having started one.  The ladies who run the other groups are far better organized than I am. But there is clearly room for multiple, and they all meet on different days and at different times.

Deadly Chapters and Cafes is largely a democracy when it comes to book choices. We usually have a theme for the month picked for us (such as snowy setting for December, etc), and then anyone in the group can make suggestions that are on theme. Once all the suggestions are in, we vote. We have books picked a couple months out typically (which is good because thriller books are the hardest to get at the library it seems, without facing a decently long wait). I think we sometimes vote on the next meeting location, but I believe that is usually decided by Paula, who runs the group. Sometimes I like just being told where to be though, and not having to make choices. And since this group usually meets at coffee shops and I don't really drink coffee, it's much easier when they just tell me where to go. 

You would think that being in four different thriller book clubs, these would be the groups that see the most book selection overlap, because they're drawing from just one genre. You would also be very wrong. So far, there has not been a single book that was picked for more than one of these groups, within this genre set. Meanwhile, the big Colorado Springs Book Club, Book Hangout Book Club, and Fountain Book Club have all had several books overlap between the three, and I classify all of them as generic book clubs. If you love thrillers and want to talk about all the thrillers, but you don't want to repeat books between clubs, you can rest fairly assured that you won't see a lot of overlap in the local thriller groups as they stand right now. 

Some of my favorite reads from this group include The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James, They Never Learn by Layne Fargo, and Survive the Night by Riley Sager. 

Will you be joining us for a coffee and chat any time soon? - Katie