Pretty Monsters (Josh of the Damned, #1) in Riptide Publishing

Nov 04, 2011 Kassa rated it liked it

This is the first Andrea Speed story I’ve read and it makes me want to start on her backlist immediately. The story is only a few pages, barely enough to grab your attention but it does. The premise is pretty simple and it’s one I’ve seen before but that doesn’t mitigate the cute and fun details the author included. It’s a nice little story that whets your appetite but it’s not long enough or meaty enough *cough* to satisfy just yet.

The story begins with the protagonist, Josh, at an all night Q This is the first Andrea Speed story I’ve read and it makes me want to start on her backlist immediately. The story is only a few pages, barely enough to grab your attention but it does. The premise is pretty simple and it’s one I’ve seen before but that doesn’t mitigate the cute and fun details the author included. It’s a nice little story that whets your appetite but it’s not long enough or meaty enough *cough* to satisfy just yet.

The story begins with the protagonist, Josh, at an all night Quik-Mart. What makes this particular late night spot special is that it has a dimension opening to hell and thus attracts all kinds of monsters. In this opening vignette, we see a lizard, zombie, and a vampire. Basically Josh is the only human in a sea of monsters and quite frankly, he likes it that way. Especially when his hot guy turns into a pretty monster, something he didn’t think was possible.

Since the story is so short it feels more like the first chapter of a book than the first book in a series. Clearly this will be a series of short stories but I wonder if that will be satisfying enough. There is so much potential and possibility to the world, even if it’s a familiar one, that I’m not sure a series of very short stories can really adequately dive into that world building or satisfy on a romantic/erotic level. I’m very curious to see where the series goes from here. The main character, his love interest, and the bare bones of the concept are all introduced while adding a few laughs so this short is fun to read above all.

The writing is humorous, delightful, and just a touch steamy. There’s an obvious affection for the narrator, a somewhat hapless regular guy that can’t even flirt affectively. Coupled with the nice monster touches and inherent humor in the situation, the quickie is easy and fun to read. It obviously has more questions than answers joining the non-existent characterization so it’s not a perfect story out of the box. Perhaps in the larger context of the series, it’ll work better but for now it’s a nice introduction that leaves me wanting to read more.
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Dec 24, 2011 Cecile rated it it was amazing

This story comes in at 15 pages and it is leading towards a very intriguing series to come...

Andrea Speed is a new to me author, and I have to say I love her sense of writing. Even though this was short story... She had me wanting know what if Hot Guy was going to make Josh's night?! Josh has seen some unsightly monsters that you only thought go bump in your nightmares... But what Josh didn't realize was there are truly some Pretty Monsters out there. And I'm going to mean and say you will have ...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Cryselle rated it liked it

Shelves: paranormal, riptide

Stories generally have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Even stories in series. If they don't have those elements, they are either not terribly well written or they are something else, no matter what they are called. Perhaps a vignette, or a chapter of a larger work. Pretty Monsters from Andrea Speed is a beautifully written something else.

There is little to the story that doesn't appear in the blurb, and frankly, quite a bit of promise of plot that appears in the blurb and not the story. The ...more

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Aug 23, 2011 Amara rated it really liked it

4.5 stars

This is my first time reading anything by Andrea Speed, and what a little treat it was. This little goodie was quite a fun and entertaining read for me. I just love the world she’s created; Josh working the night shift at the Quick Mart with the Hell Vortex in the parking lot, catering to a clientele of monsters that step right on out… to buy junk food. Very original, well written, with great characters and quite humorous, she had me chuckling through the whole story.

Chuckle worthy…

“Thw ...more

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Nov 18, 2011 Absynthe rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, supernatural-mystical

My biggest complaint is the same as other people's. This is way too short. It should be a full length book and this short story would be a great first chapter. ...more

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Oct 02, 2011 Kari Gregg rated it it was amazing

Shelves: glbt, paranormal, 2011

Any story that includes burrito-eating zombies gets high marks from me, LOL!!! I may be predisposed to insta-love for this story, having spent a summer in college working at a convenient store, but...Hee hee hee, loved this! Hot Guy is awesome. ;D

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Sep 29, 2011 BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme rated it liked it

Shelves: m-m, author-gift, paranormal, oblreview, zombies

Where is the rest of it? I was afraid this was going to be about killing zombies and all that. Instead, it's a humourous m/m romance. And Hot Lips Guy? He has fangs. mmm ...more

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