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Trapped with a Monster
Washed Up [With a Kraken]
Culinary student Quinn is excited to finally move up in her culinary career when she lands an internship of a lifetime on Coastal Cruises. It's the opportunity of a lifetime, and an adventure that will take her across the sea.
The only downside? It means spending the summer with her lazy rival, who's only there because his father is a famous chef. And he isn't afraid to play dirty...
...even if that means throwing her overboard.
Jorah isn’t like other krakens. While most prefer silence and independence, Jorah thrives on a hidden island, bustling with other paranormals. Yet, something is still missing from their life---until the ocean guides them to a human. Drawn to her determination and charm, Jorah has no intention of letting go.
Quinn wants to leave, but Jorah insists that she owes them a life debt...but that's no foundation for a relationship. Will they work through their differences and find a way to be together?
Or has this relationship--and Quinn's career--been washed up from the start?
Washed Up (With a Kraken) is a novella featuring a plus-size FMC and a sassy enby Kraken. This novella delivers a fast-burn romance, plenty of tentacles, and an HEA. While this is the second book in the Trapped with a Monster series, it can be read as a standalone.
The only downside? It means spending the summer with her lazy rival, who's only there because his father is a famous chef. And he isn't afraid to play dirty...
...even if that means throwing her overboard.
Jorah isn’t like other krakens. While most prefer silence and independence, Jorah thrives on a hidden island, bustling with other paranormals. Yet, something is still missing from their life---until the ocean guides them to a human. Drawn to her determination and charm, Jorah has no intention of letting go.
Quinn wants to leave, but Jorah insists that she owes them a life debt...but that's no foundation for a relationship. Will they work through their differences and find a way to be together?
Or has this relationship--and Quinn's career--been washed up from the start?
Washed Up (With a Kraken) is a novella featuring a plus-size FMC and a sassy enby Kraken. This novella delivers a fast-burn romance, plenty of tentacles, and an HEA. While this is the second book in the Trapped with a Monster series, it can be read as a standalone.
136 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 18, 2023
About the author
L.E. Eldridge
7 books114 followersLexie is a paranormal romance author and avid reader from Upstate New York. She runs an editing and PA company Morally Gray Author Services and lives with her husband, dog Layla, and cat Swiper. When she's not reading (which is rarely) you can find her playing video games or looking for amazing indie bookstores and vintage shops. Lexie writes campy books full of smut with simp-y monsters looking for love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
August 4, 2024
this book had potential but WHY WE GOIN' SO FUCKIN' FAST
if you've ever wanted to fuck squidward before, you would eat this up!!
i would never have read this book if it weren't for the (gorgeous) fat girl on the cover because tentacles are one of my icks in monster romances. if this book slowed the fuck down it might receive a higher rating from me, but the human main character was just sooooo accepting of a sea critter showing up at her door and even though they (non-binary love interest!) stole her away and she literally disappeared from the world, she was content to never going back without a goodbye? lots of plot holes and the main character blindly accepting her captivity (*ahhem* stockholm syndrome).
however i was expecting the writing of this to be cringe and it actually was pretty normal! so it gained back some stars for not being a completely unbearable read. i would skip this one though unless you want something SUPER fast. even though it's about a girl who can't swim falling in love with a sea monster.
if you've ever wanted to fuck squidward before, you would eat this up!!
i would never have read this book if it weren't for the (gorgeous) fat girl on the cover because tentacles are one of my icks in monster romances. if this book slowed the fuck down it might receive a higher rating from me, but the human main character was just sooooo accepting of a sea critter showing up at her door and even though they (non-binary love interest!) stole her away and she literally disappeared from the world, she was content to never going back without a goodbye? lots of plot holes and the main character blindly accepting her captivity (*ahhem* stockholm syndrome).
however i was expecting the writing of this to be cringe and it actually was pretty normal! so it gained back some stars for not being a completely unbearable read. i would skip this one though unless you want something SUPER fast. even though it's about a girl who can't swim falling in love with a sea monster.
June 28, 2024
На початку дратував Брендон, прям дуже сильно, від кінцівки зраділа.
September 24, 2023
3 stars - quick erotic monster romance with likable MCs. Larger body and non-binary rep. Also tentacles.
Not my normal fare but picked it up for free during the Stuff Your Kindle event a couple days ago.
Not my normal fare but picked it up for free during the Stuff Your Kindle event a couple days ago.
March 31, 2024
Washed Up With a Kraken is a sweet and steamy novella following Quinn, a culinary student interning on a cruise ship, and Jorah, a reserved and charming Kraken who rescues Quinn when she falls overboard. While similar to most smutty monster novellas, I loved how Quinn and Jorah got to know each other and become friends before diving into a physical/romantic relationship. Despite being fated mates and feeling an instant connection, Jorah was so patient with Quinn and willing to follow her lead. While I did enjoy their romance, I struggled to understand Quinn and how willingly she gave up her dreams and life to be with Jorah.
September 23, 2023
2.5 stars
Cute idea but the relationship is thin, with sex taking the place of emotional intimacy. We get hints that these intimate non-sex moments are happening off page but it would be much more effective to have them as part of the story.
The front matter credits an editor but this work definitely needed at least one more round as there's random switches between first and third person, typos, and most egregiously misgendering of the MC with they/them pronouns. Eep.
Content notes are listed at the front, notable for:
Cute idea but the relationship is thin, with sex taking the place of emotional intimacy. We get hints that these intimate non-sex moments are happening off page but it would be much more effective to have them as part of the story.
The front matter credits an editor but this work definitely needed at least one more round as there's random switches between first and third person, typos, and most egregiously misgendering of the MC with they/them pronouns. Eep.
Content notes are listed at the front, notable for:
January 3, 2024
Disappointed
This book was, for the most part, very well written, but I would have wanted to see more of what happened on the boat after Quinn was shoved off. Did someone notice she had gone missing? Was there a search party sent out? I also did not expect that she would so quickly give up her life's dream to live with her partner. I would have thought Quinn and Jorah could move together so she could work at the cruise ship.
To quote a part of another person's review who's many points I agreed with: "The front matter credits an editor but this work definitely needed at least one more round as there's random switches between first and third person, typos, and most egregiously misgendering of the MC with they/them pronouns." If the author really wanted to have a non-binary character/a character who uses they/them pronouns, why all of the misgendering?
I really wanted to thoroughly enjoy this because of the plus-sized fmc representation and that it's written by an indie author, and I really do like to support indie authors. Along with this, there is the fact that it was of the monster-romance/cryptid genre, and that's one of my favorite genres. Despite these, I just couldn't love this book.
This book was, for the most part, very well written, but I would have wanted to see more of what happened on the boat after Quinn was shoved off. Did someone notice she had gone missing? Was there a search party sent out? I also did not expect that she would so quickly give up her life's dream to live with her partner. I would have thought Quinn and Jorah could move together so she could work at the cruise ship.
To quote a part of another person's review who's many points I agreed with: "The front matter credits an editor but this work definitely needed at least one more round as there's random switches between first and third person, typos, and most egregiously misgendering of the MC with they/them pronouns." If the author really wanted to have a non-binary character/a character who uses they/them pronouns, why all of the misgendering?
I really wanted to thoroughly enjoy this because of the plus-sized fmc representation and that it's written by an indie author, and I really do like to support indie authors. Along with this, there is the fact that it was of the monster-romance/cryptid genre, and that's one of my favorite genres. Despite these, I just couldn't love this book.
August 19, 2023
I loved everything about this book! It’s no secret that I’m a monster romance lover but this book was just so perfect! The representation (having a nonbinary character and a plus size character) really made me love this book being a reader that is both plus size and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community! The spice mixed with cinnamon roll characters just really made this book feel so cozy to me… I’m not sure if that makes sense I mean it will if we’re the the same type of mentally ill. For most I would consider this a quick read (I’m dyslexic so it takes me a bit longer) but it definitely brought me out of my reading slump!! All in all it’s definitely worth a read! Thank you so much to the author for the ARC I genuinely loved this!
September 25, 2023
This was a "pick the worst book you can find on amazon" a friend gave to me, you know very well who you are. And what a profoundly disturbing experience this was, the best part was the first sentence, after which it was all downhill. This book actually made me disassociate from reading and reflect on my feelings I had been avoiding.
December 6, 2023
The concept was cute, but I feel like it could have been fleshed out and edited quite a bit.
It was nice to have a clear gender for both characters from their meeting, but it was also stilted, and then there was a lot of misgendering throughout the novella.
This would have been a really nice story if it was longer and the relationship was given more growth.
It was nice to have a clear gender for both characters from their meeting, but it was also stilted, and then there was a lot of misgendering throughout the novella.
This would have been a really nice story if it was longer and the relationship was given more growth.
September 21, 2023
That was, such a let down. It felt way more like a first draft than a finished book and the fact that even the author uses the wrong pronounces at multiple points just made that feeling stronger.
Sad because i was actually kinda excited when i read the summary, it just couldve been way better.
Sad because i was actually kinda excited when i read the summary, it just couldve been way better.
Shelved as 'dnf'
September 20, 2023I lost interest around 20%
December 13, 2023
The book was so lovely! I loved the non binary rep! And the sexy scenes were 😮💨😮💨😮💨
June 21, 2024
…………. 3.5 stars ………….
This was a quick, fun and summery read. I really enjoyed the story but it felt a little...superficial? I’m not sure if that’s the right word for it. It just felt like there was something missing. But I did really like the characters! Jorah was so sweet and Quinn was really cool. I loved them together and I would love to explore the rest of the island and its inhabitants in later books. Washed Up With A Kraken is getting 3.5 stars.
This was a quick, fun and summery read. I really enjoyed the story but it felt a little...superficial? I’m not sure if that’s the right word for it. It just felt like there was something missing. But I did really like the characters! Jorah was so sweet and Quinn was really cool. I loved them together and I would love to explore the rest of the island and its inhabitants in later books. Washed Up With A Kraken is getting 3.5 stars.
September 21, 2023
2,5 stars. It was a fun little read, but nothing special, not a lot of character development and a bit too much spice for me. It also could really have done with an editor to fix some of the he/she/they mix ups, the inconsistencies and the few switches from third to first perspective (and back).
April 1, 2024
2.9✨
Ever since reading the Deal with a Demon series I have been CRAVING paranormal smutty romance. Give me all the non-human love interests with wings, tentacles, horns, whatever I don’t care.
The problem is… this had all the potential and was not at all potenched. I think it had all the makings of a good ass time but it felt really stilted. Like??? Quinn goes missing from the human world and we don’t get any updates on that until the very end? And it’s not really explained away so it kept creeping up in the back of my mind. She was just gunna go along with this kidnapping?
The spice was pretty good but I won’t lie, but it kind of snuck up on me though. I was reading and kind of forgot this was going to be smutty and then BOOM, sex everywhere all the time. Not a really a complaint just a lil whiplash.
I was just really really hoping I’d be kicking my feet and giggling with this one but I didn’t end up doing either 😢 at the end of the day, the writing just didn’t do it for me like I hoped it would. I didn’t hate this, but it’s not a new fave either.
—
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📚 Instagram: @whataprilreads
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Ever since reading the Deal with a Demon series I have been CRAVING paranormal smutty romance. Give me all the non-human love interests with wings, tentacles, horns, whatever I don’t care.
The problem is… this had all the potential and was not at all potenched. I think it had all the makings of a good ass time but it felt really stilted. Like??? Quinn goes missing from the human world and we don’t get any updates on that until the very end? And it’s not really explained away so it kept creeping up in the back of my mind. She was just gunna go along with this kidnapping?
The spice was pretty good but I won’t lie, but it kind of snuck up on me though. I was reading and kind of forgot this was going to be smutty and then BOOM, sex everywhere all the time. Not a really a complaint just a lil whiplash.
I was just really really hoping I’d be kicking my feet and giggling with this one but I didn’t end up doing either 😢 at the end of the day, the writing just didn’t do it for me like I hoped it would. I didn’t hate this, but it’s not a new fave either.
—
✍🏽 Follow me on Goodreads for more reviews like this!
📚 Instagram: @whataprilreads
🐝 Keep tabs on me here, so you know when I start a new project! https://linktr.ee/whataprilreads
June 23, 2024
I've had this on my tbr for a while and I've finally gotten around to it on my novella binge!
Thoughts
This is a cute and steamy monster romance between and plus sized chef thrown overboard and the nobinary kraken who saves her. I liked how Jorah made Quinn feel special. Novellas tend to lack the time to make romance really work and explain exactly why two people are in love but I understood why they felt so strongly for each other and how they fit. I liked how the world-building was just enough so the world makes sense but not too much over explaining irrelevant stuff. I crave for some more conflict or stakes but everything seemed to work out perfectly without much angst or even rumination. Which is fine but didn't pull on my heart strings. I also think I'm not much of a tentacle enjoyer (sorry).
Tropes:
— Nbi / F
— Fated Mates
— Human x Kraken
Horn Level: 3/5🌶️
Format: Ebook
The Rating
I give this book a 3/5🌟 rating. A quick fluffy read!
Check out my socials here for more reviews!
Thoughts
This is a cute and steamy monster romance between and plus sized chef thrown overboard and the nobinary kraken who saves her. I liked how Jorah made Quinn feel special. Novellas tend to lack the time to make romance really work and explain exactly why two people are in love but I understood why they felt so strongly for each other and how they fit. I liked how the world-building was just enough so the world makes sense but not too much over explaining irrelevant stuff. I crave for some more conflict or stakes but everything seemed to work out perfectly without much angst or even rumination. Which is fine but didn't pull on my heart strings. I also think I'm not much of a tentacle enjoyer (sorry).
Tropes:
— Nbi / F
— Fated Mates
— Human x Kraken
Horn Level: 3/5🌶️
Format: Ebook
The Rating
I give this book a 3/5🌟 rating. A quick fluffy read!
Check out my socials here for more reviews!
June 26, 2024
A delightfully fun little read - perfect for the summer!
Low angst little romp that was sweet, fluffy, and all things cute. Both the MCs were lovely and I appreciated the plus size and non binary rep. While it’s fated mates/insta love-y, I found there was enough time spent cementing their friendship first before delving into the monster smut.
Only complaint is that it wrapped up a bit too quickly for my liking. I felt the ending was rushed (and came with some increasingly obvious spelling/grammar issues), and could have used a few more chapters to solidify their HEA, especially with some detail on how Quinn’s old “regular” life wrapped up.
Low angst little romp that was sweet, fluffy, and all things cute. Both the MCs were lovely and I appreciated the plus size and non binary rep. While it’s fated mates/insta love-y, I found there was enough time spent cementing their friendship first before delving into the monster smut.
Only complaint is that it wrapped up a bit too quickly for my liking. I felt the ending was rushed (and came with some increasingly obvious spelling/grammar issues), and could have used a few more chapters to solidify their HEA, especially with some detail on how Quinn’s old “regular” life wrapped up.
May 24, 2024
Listen it was cute, predictable, a little problematic, but fine but the main thing I keep thinking about is - EVERYONE on that cruise and in her life thinks she’s dead and she just never corrects them?? She was like “yeah it’s fine that I just devastated a lot of people by dying but I have this mystical island now so whatever”???? Also the love interest really wasn’t charming at all?? Like cool your entire personality is lying to her and buying things for her.
October 11, 2023
Listen.................. this was really cute. I didn't expect to think it was so adorable. Jorah was such a doll..
It was full of typos, and awkward phrases that structurally made no sense, but my goodness it was cute.
It was full of typos, and awkward phrases that structurally made no sense, but my goodness it was cute.
October 6, 2023
2.5 stars
This isn't bad, but I did feel pretty bored through most of the first 60% - the fact that this book is only 120 pages long and it took me like 3 days to finish kind of shows that 🙈
Also, I'm not one to usually mention any errors in the text if I notice them, but this one had 3 instances where the story jumps from third-person POV to first-person for only a sentence, and 1 instance of incorrect pronouns used for Jorah -- mistakes happen when writing, but they were all kind of jarring.
This isn't bad, but I did feel pretty bored through most of the first 60% - the fact that this book is only 120 pages long and it took me like 3 days to finish kind of shows that 🙈
Also, I'm not one to usually mention any errors in the text if I notice them, but this one had 3 instances where the story jumps from third-person POV to first-person for only a sentence, and 1 instance of incorrect pronouns used for Jorah -- mistakes happen when writing, but they were all kind of jarring.
September 30, 2023
This was just okay for me. I felt many parts in the book were a lot of telling, and I wanted more showing. Unfortunately, I didn’t really connect to the characters, so maybe that’s why I didn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to.
That being said, I’m interested in reading this author’s Snowed Inn with a Demon.
That being said, I’m interested in reading this author’s Snowed Inn with a Demon.
September 25, 2023
I liked the plot, but between the typos, one occasion where the kraken was misgendered by the author, and the minimal attempt at making the kraken nonbinary other than their pronouns (they wear a bit of eyeliner at the end, in every other instance they are in the stereotypical male role), and again, the author referring to the kraken as "him" in one instance, it just didn't hit home for me.
October 2, 2023
I am very glad I did NOT pay for this book. There is no amount of redemption for the Kraken main character who would say a life debt is owed and now puts them in a position of power but is connected enough to human world to establish pronoun usage. So they know enough to establish that they don’t identify as any gender and to establish how they identify but isn’t socially aware of inappropriate power play and Stockholm syndrome?
September 23, 2023
I was so excited to read this book and was really into it before the wording started to change that made no sense. They were describing the characters and suddenly it was like reading a different language. Very disappointing.
September 14, 2023
My final rating of this is 3.5 stars. It was extremely cute and I thought the characters were well written for a novella. Even though their relationship came about pretty quickly I really enjoyed it. I thought they had a cute dynamic. I also really enjoyed the non binary/ and plus size representation in our main characters. It’s always nice to see that sort of thing in book.
I loved the cooking aspect of the book. I’m a little bit disappointed she didn’t fight more to go back to her internship. I just feel like she worked really hard for it and she would have fought back a bit more instead of just accepting her fate.
I honestly thought the book would have more spicy scenes than it did. The ones that were written were pretty good. I think that this was my first book with tentacles involved. So that was a fun thing to read about. There were times that it felt a little cheesy but overall enjoyed!
I would recommend!
I loved the cooking aspect of the book. I’m a little bit disappointed she didn’t fight more to go back to her internship. I just feel like she worked really hard for it and she would have fought back a bit more instead of just accepting her fate.
I honestly thought the book would have more spicy scenes than it did. The ones that were written were pretty good. I think that this was my first book with tentacles involved. So that was a fun thing to read about. There were times that it felt a little cheesy but overall enjoyed!
I would recommend!
January 2, 2024
I loved this adorable cozy monster romance with a dash of smut. I did enjoy book 1 more. But I can’t wait to read more books in this series. I loved the non binary rep and plus sized rep. I loved that both the characters had insecurities. I also loved that Quinn didn’t sacrifice her wants/needs for love. In so many romance books the woman always sacrifices the things she enjoys for love as if a woman can’t possibly want a career and a husband/wife/partner.
I bought the physical copies of both books to have them as trophies on my bookshelf. I adore these cozy monster romances and I recommend them to anybody.
Jorah was a sweetheart and all he wants is the best for Quinn he spoils her non stop. And Quinn has never had a family. Neither of them do so they found their tiny lil family with eachother. And I also love that this author doesn’t add pregnancy tropes. I’m so tired of monster smut romances with the excessive pregnancy tropes. Women can be happy without having babies! A HEA in my personal opinion doesn’t involve babies!! It’s really not that big of a deal but I’ve been reading monster smut for a couple months now and this is the first author that I found that doesn’t add that trope. The pregnancy trope is redundant and annoying. I love kids but not in books. I personally don’t want kids so I don’t want my couples in the books I enjoy to have them either. Nothings wrong with not wanting to raise children!
Anyways adorable book. 100% recommend
I bought the physical copies of both books to have them as trophies on my bookshelf. I adore these cozy monster romances and I recommend them to anybody.
Jorah was a sweetheart and all he wants is the best for Quinn he spoils her non stop. And Quinn has never had a family. Neither of them do so they found their tiny lil family with eachother. And I also love that this author doesn’t add pregnancy tropes. I’m so tired of monster smut romances with the excessive pregnancy tropes. Women can be happy without having babies! A HEA in my personal opinion doesn’t involve babies!! It’s really not that big of a deal but I’ve been reading monster smut for a couple months now and this is the first author that I found that doesn’t add that trope. The pregnancy trope is redundant and annoying. I love kids but not in books. I personally don’t want kids so I don’t want my couples in the books I enjoy to have them either. Nothings wrong with not wanting to raise children!
Anyways adorable book. 100% recommend
Read
January 6, 2024🌊 Washed Up (with a Kraken) by L. E. Eldridge 🌊
Memorable Moments/Ideas:
✨ Overcoming Struggles
💜 Acceptances of Differences
✨ Cooking Together
💜 Cruise Ship Chaos
✨ Apron Wear
Honestly, I think my reading patterns make no sense to most people at this point — from a romcom to mystery thriller to detective read to monster romance: there is no explaining the mood reading/book club reading I’ve been doing haha
That said, what sold me on this storyline was the plus sized FMC, use of they/them pronouns for Jorah, and the fact it was on a boat, ONLY because my tandem read also featured a boat, and it seemed humorous to be reading two books featuring boats with WILDLY different storylines.
It was an overall quick read — less than an hour for me — and it was cute and cozy and spicy as all get out. Without spoiling too much, I love the connection that Quinn and Jorah develop. There is genuine connection and understanding, and I love that. I also love what happens to some of the side characters along the way — revenge is a dish best served cold for some. The story gives me writing vibes of Ash Raven and Ruby Dixon, so if those authors are your vibe, strongly recommend this book.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Recommend: Yes.
Audience: Monster romance lovers. Curious readers. People who love a good love story.
Memorable Moments/Ideas:
✨ Overcoming Struggles
💜 Acceptances of Differences
✨ Cooking Together
💜 Cruise Ship Chaos
✨ Apron Wear
Honestly, I think my reading patterns make no sense to most people at this point — from a romcom to mystery thriller to detective read to monster romance: there is no explaining the mood reading/book club reading I’ve been doing haha
That said, what sold me on this storyline was the plus sized FMC, use of they/them pronouns for Jorah, and the fact it was on a boat, ONLY because my tandem read also featured a boat, and it seemed humorous to be reading two books featuring boats with WILDLY different storylines.
It was an overall quick read — less than an hour for me — and it was cute and cozy and spicy as all get out. Without spoiling too much, I love the connection that Quinn and Jorah develop. There is genuine connection and understanding, and I love that. I also love what happens to some of the side characters along the way — revenge is a dish best served cold for some. The story gives me writing vibes of Ash Raven and Ruby Dixon, so if those authors are your vibe, strongly recommend this book.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Recommend: Yes.
Audience: Monster romance lovers. Curious readers. People who love a good love story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews