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Toy Runners #2
The Toy King
Only the naughty list gets these toys…
Valente Correa lives for one thing—leading the Toy Run. He takes his duties delivering toys for the House of Correa very seriously, and as a Magi he never deviates from his mission. But when he’s tasked with transporting his brother’s future bride through the Andes, he doesn’t expect the walking, talking temptation that is Kessina Macias. When a snowstorm strands them together for two nights, Val can’t resist what the luscious, smart mouthed firebrand offers—even if it means betraying his brother, his father, and his house.
Kessina Macias only wants one thing: independence. After a sheltered life in the mountains with her overprotective father, she yearns for some breathing room. Agreeing to marry a son from the House of Correa isn’t ideal, but it will get her out from under her father’s watchful eye. The problem? The brother she agreed to marry is not the one she desires. Two scorching nights of passion with the broody, brawny Toy Runner change everything. And if she can convince him they’re a perfect match, she might get the best gift all—Val himself.
Valente Correa lives for one thing—leading the Toy Run. He takes his duties delivering toys for the House of Correa very seriously, and as a Magi he never deviates from his mission. But when he’s tasked with transporting his brother’s future bride through the Andes, he doesn’t expect the walking, talking temptation that is Kessina Macias. When a snowstorm strands them together for two nights, Val can’t resist what the luscious, smart mouthed firebrand offers—even if it means betraying his brother, his father, and his house.
Kessina Macias only wants one thing: independence. After a sheltered life in the mountains with her overprotective father, she yearns for some breathing room. Agreeing to marry a son from the House of Correa isn’t ideal, but it will get her out from under her father’s watchful eye. The problem? The brother she agreed to marry is not the one she desires. Two scorching nights of passion with the broody, brawny Toy Runner change everything. And if she can convince him they’re a perfect match, she might get the best gift all—Val himself.
114 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 10, 2021
About the author
Adriana Herrera
43 books1,365 followersUSA Today bestselling author ADRIANA HERRERA was born and raised in the Caribbean, but for the last 15 years has let her job (and her spouse) take her all over the world. She loves writing stories about people who look and sound like her people, getting unapologetic happy endings.
Her debut Dreamers, has been featured on Entertainment Weekly, NPR, the TODAY Show on NBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post and Oprah Magazine.
When she's not dreaming up love stories, planning logistically complex vacations with her family or hunting for discount Broadway tickets, she’s a social worker in New York City, working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Her debut Dreamers, has been featured on Entertainment Weekly, NPR, the TODAY Show on NBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post and Oprah Magazine.
When she's not dreaming up love stories, planning logistically complex vacations with her family or hunting for discount Broadway tickets, she’s a social worker in New York City, working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
December 10, 2022
Had the best time reading this.
4.5 ⭐️
4.5 ⭐️
April 20, 2022
Proof I need to read more from Adriana Herrera?? Definitely.
This novella is steamy as HELL. Bearded Viking buff POC hero with a man bun (I’m picturing the incomparable Jason Momoa) and a sex positive curvy POC heroine.
The pacing and plot is great (though as Natalie’s review points out the world isn’t exactly super clear… what is his actual job? How does he do it? How do the sky camels work? How many sex partners has he entertained in it that a self cleaning sex toy station was a necessity?).
I was more than willing to overlook any questions I had because… holy hotness. Holy devoted Viking Toy Runner. Gimme more.
This novella is steamy as HELL. Bearded Viking buff POC hero with a man bun (I’m picturing the incomparable Jason Momoa) and a sex positive curvy POC heroine.
The pacing and plot is great (though as Natalie’s review points out the world isn’t exactly super clear… what is his actual job? How does he do it? How do the sky camels work? How many sex partners has he entertained in it that a self cleaning sex toy station was a necessity?).
I was more than willing to overlook any questions I had because… holy hotness. Holy devoted Viking Toy Runner. Gimme more.
January 3, 2023
It gave what needed to be given.
Fated mates & toys use and all he wanted was to take care of her by feeding her and giving baths. Where can I find one?
Fated mates & toys use and all he wanted was to take care of her by feeding her and giving baths. Where can I find one?
December 20, 2021
I thought this was a contemporary romance until talks of fated mates and piercings that change temperature made me realize this is paranormal 😂 I came into this book expecting the hero to drive a truck to deliver toys to kids 😂 Instead, he's a viking look-alike who drives a sky camel to procure and distribute toys 😂 I was legit picturing camels on a sleigh until the hero finally deigned to explain what a sky camel was 😂
Val is a Toy Runner who's supposed to escort Kessina, his brother's betrothed, to her destination. But when they get snowbound together, Val quickly realizes that Kessina is his mate.
This was a quick and dirty novella. The world building is very weak, as proven by my initial confusion. Or maybe I'm just dumb 🥴 The only memorable thing about this novella is the sky camel 😂😂😂
Val is a Toy Runner who's supposed to escort Kessina, his brother's betrothed, to her destination. But when they get snowbound together, Val quickly realizes that Kessina is his mate.
This was a quick and dirty novella. The world building is very weak, as proven by my initial confusion. Or maybe I'm just dumb 🥴 The only memorable thing about this novella is the sky camel 😂😂😂
December 23, 2023
“The man is a pussy eating virtuoso.”
If you ever wanted to read a steamy holiday themed fated mates between a toy maker and one of the descendants of the three wise men, then look no more, you’ve arrived at your erotic destination. I listened to this on hoopla from my library, and I admittedly had a good ass time. Like I legitimately had fun reading this even though it was majority spice there was some story too and I thought it was fun and sweet. From the very start until the very end. There is some “Daddy” speak in this one during the spicy parts so if that isn’t your thing you may not love this one, but it truly isn’t my thing and usually audios with it make me cringe a little, but it just worked well here for me. I can’t explain it.
Anyway. This one made me giddy. Book one was a good time too, but something about this one was next level for me. On to book three.
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT89ypTdY/
If you ever wanted to read a steamy holiday themed fated mates between a toy maker and one of the descendants of the three wise men, then look no more, you’ve arrived at your erotic destination. I listened to this on hoopla from my library, and I admittedly had a good ass time. Like I legitimately had fun reading this even though it was majority spice there was some story too and I thought it was fun and sweet. From the very start until the very end. There is some “Daddy” speak in this one during the spicy parts so if that isn’t your thing you may not love this one, but it truly isn’t my thing and usually audios with it make me cringe a little, but it just worked well here for me. I can’t explain it.
Anyway. This one made me giddy. Book one was a good time too, but something about this one was next level for me. On to book three.
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT89ypTdY/
December 20, 2021
It seems like I'm the only person that didn't like this book.
To be clear, in general, I'm having a hard time with holiday reads this year, but for a novella, it sure was full of contradictions and strange pairings of tropes to me:
ex 1: The Heroine is a very sex-positive and experienced (with toys) virgin who has never been kissed.
ex 2: I think this is supposed to be a Christmas story. Santa is mentioned and the Hero is a Toy Runner, but besides that, you don't ever actually see a child's toy or elves or Santa herself or even mistletoe.
ex 3: The Hero (with unclear responsibilities regarding his toy delivery man services) wears a fur vest with swords strapped all to him. He even admits it's silly to be carrying weapons. I'm pretty sure they are just for show because he never fights with them.
ex 4: Apparently lucky Toy Runners can have mates. They also have pierced tongues and are trained to use it on the ladies. Let me repeat. Some unexplained tradition states that males in this role must have their tongues pierced and learn to give pleasure orally.
ex 5: Consent issues. Ok, the Hero checks like 100 times to make sure that the Heroine is agreeing to leave her home with the Hero (because now he is also playing Transporter roles) willingly. However, once he thinks they may be mates, he doesn't tell her what it will mean for her or the consequences of them banging.
ex 6: The consequences of mates banging for the first time: tattoos appear on his arm (hot) and can be anything to remind him of her family, such as the names of her lineage (ew, not hot).
ex 7: They become snowed-in inside of his airplane (there is a whiteout so he finds a cave to land inside of- pretty impressive flying skills for a whiteout). The airplane is supposed to be used for toy running (we still don't know what that entails) but comes equipped with: a skylight that turns into a mirror on the ceiling, a retractable hot tub with it's own snow collector and head source, a sex swing already mounted, a truck of toys (sterilizing station included). It's like if Batman's belt was a sex plane, it would be this. But seriously, how much time does this dude spend on this plane? I'm guessing a lot- might as well put those tongue ring skills to work.
ex 8: If any generic mom of teenagers was to write an erotic story, this would be it. It's like she knows her kid will have sex, so instead of fighting it, she will write about it but also try to sneak in all those motherly pieces of advice.
- It is full of anatomically correct words like minor labia.
- I mentioned how important consent was (at least in some cases).
- The Hero shows her the truck of sex toys and the same sentence has him showing off the sanitizing station that is build into it. (Side note- what's the going number of times a butt plug can be inserted into various partners before the sanitizing station just doesn't seem enough anymore?)
ex 9: Before they bang, they have the quick "I'm clean" convo, but it's pretty much a moot point because Toy Runners don't carry human diseases (even though I don't remember it being discussed that the Hero *isn't* human...)
So, basically, this 114 page story is full of Immortals After Dark and Ice Planet Barbarians hints, potential teaser background regarding a reverse harem, a virgin heroine, vague Christmas related theme, examples of consent (when it matters to the Hero), the correct names of ladies body parts, a fully stocked plane, tatted and sword packing (but not using) Hero, a Heroine who loves sex toys and they are used both together and separate, a Go-Go Gadget Plane, lastly, a touch of Jason Statham as the Transporter.
To be clear, in general, I'm having a hard time with holiday reads this year, but for a novella, it sure was full of contradictions and strange pairings of tropes to me:
ex 1: The Heroine is a very sex-positive and experienced (with toys) virgin who has never been kissed.
ex 2: I think this is supposed to be a Christmas story. Santa is mentioned and the Hero is a Toy Runner, but besides that, you don't ever actually see a child's toy or elves or Santa herself or even mistletoe.
ex 3: The Hero (with unclear responsibilities regarding his toy delivery man services) wears a fur vest with swords strapped all to him. He even admits it's silly to be carrying weapons. I'm pretty sure they are just for show because he never fights with them.
ex 4: Apparently lucky Toy Runners can have mates. They also have pierced tongues and are trained to use it on the ladies. Let me repeat. Some unexplained tradition states that males in this role must have their tongues pierced and learn to give pleasure orally.
ex 5: Consent issues. Ok, the Hero checks like 100 times to make sure that the Heroine is agreeing to leave her home with the Hero (because now he is also playing Transporter roles) willingly. However, once he thinks they may be mates, he doesn't tell her what it will mean for her or the consequences of them banging.
ex 6: The consequences of mates banging for the first time: tattoos appear on his arm (hot) and can be anything to remind him of her family, such as the names of her lineage (ew, not hot).
ex 7: They become snowed-in inside of his airplane (there is a whiteout so he finds a cave to land inside of- pretty impressive flying skills for a whiteout). The airplane is supposed to be used for toy running (we still don't know what that entails) but comes equipped with: a skylight that turns into a mirror on the ceiling, a retractable hot tub with it's own snow collector and head source, a sex swing already mounted, a truck of toys (sterilizing station included). It's like if Batman's belt was a sex plane, it would be this. But seriously, how much time does this dude spend on this plane? I'm guessing a lot- might as well put those tongue ring skills to work.
ex 8: If any generic mom of teenagers was to write an erotic story, this would be it. It's like she knows her kid will have sex, so instead of fighting it, she will write about it but also try to sneak in all those motherly pieces of advice.
- It is full of anatomically correct words like minor labia.
- I mentioned how important consent was (at least in some cases).
- The Hero shows her the truck of sex toys and the same sentence has him showing off the sanitizing station that is build into it. (Side note- what's the going number of times a butt plug can be inserted into various partners before the sanitizing station just doesn't seem enough anymore?)
ex 9: Before they bang, they have the quick "I'm clean" convo, but it's pretty much a moot point because Toy Runners don't carry human diseases (even though I don't remember it being discussed that the Hero *isn't* human...)
So, basically, this 114 page story is full of Immortals After Dark and Ice Planet Barbarians hints, potential teaser background regarding a reverse harem, a virgin heroine, vague Christmas related theme, examples of consent (when it matters to the Hero), the correct names of ladies body parts, a fully stocked plane, tatted and sword packing (but not using) Hero, a Heroine who loves sex toys and they are used both together and separate, a Go-Go Gadget Plane, lastly, a touch of Jason Statham as the Transporter.
December 30, 2021
Whew! If you want a super spicy, speculative holiday romance, The Toy King has got you covered! Snowed in a Christmas with a magical twist, a modern take on fated mates, loads of steam that certainly isn't vanilla, and caretaking by the hero. I've really been liking this series and I hope we get more in the future. Just note that this is more about the relationship and sexy times, less about the plot and world-building, which won't be everyone's cup of tea.
December 20, 2021
I need a cigarette. Holy smokes 🥵
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
December 29, 2021
This novella had me a little shook I mean I know the name is literally the toy king but that man had no business being so good at EVERYTHING whewwww 😮💨
This is about Kes a rebellious young woman whose father has decided to marry her off. She refuses to get married and so she strikes a plan to seduce her fiancé out of the arrangement. Only the person who arrives to escort her to her new home isn’t her fiancé it’s his brother Val. He literally walks in on her with her legs spread with a toy😩
I loved this from start to finish, the world building and differences in the clans plus the fated mates aspect made this so much more interesting. I don’t think I even need to say how filthy this really was. But with that it was also very wholesome & so so sweet. Val’s whole purpose in life once he finds his mate is to please her and take care of her like hello?!
This isn’t a cheesy Christmas novella it’s really interesting and super fun to read. I can’t wait to read the rest in the series. This is book 2 & im going to read book 1 now which is a FF😏
This is about Kes a rebellious young woman whose father has decided to marry her off. She refuses to get married and so she strikes a plan to seduce her fiancé out of the arrangement. Only the person who arrives to escort her to her new home isn’t her fiancé it’s his brother Val. He literally walks in on her with her legs spread with a toy😩
I loved this from start to finish, the world building and differences in the clans plus the fated mates aspect made this so much more interesting. I don’t think I even need to say how filthy this really was. But with that it was also very wholesome & so so sweet. Val’s whole purpose in life once he finds his mate is to please her and take care of her like hello?!
This isn’t a cheesy Christmas novella it’s really interesting and super fun to read. I can’t wait to read the rest in the series. This is book 2 & im going to read book 1 now which is a FF😏
December 14, 2021
This holiday novela is perfect for the season! Tis’ seasons O’s are on fire.
Holy steaminess! Adriana Herrera is the gift that keeps on giving. This holiday novela was so steamy but also so tender? I mean you get vibes, a sex swing, all kinds of penetration and wheeeew a sexy ass tongue ring that will make things interesting! Valente, is so tender yet dominating AF behind closed doors and I love the way he took care of Kessina. The fated mates of it all really just gave it the perfect tender feel.
Holy steaminess! Adriana Herrera is the gift that keeps on giving. This holiday novela was so steamy but also so tender? I mean you get vibes, a sex swing, all kinds of penetration and wheeeew a sexy ass tongue ring that will make things interesting! Valente, is so tender yet dominating AF behind closed doors and I love the way he took care of Kessina. The fated mates of it all really just gave it the perfect tender feel.
December 19, 2021
ADRIANA. This book is simply everything. It's bonkers bananas ridiculousness. If you need a very steamy vacation from reality- which let's be honest... in this economy?!... who doesn't?
Adriana goes absolutely all out in the Toy King and I was here for literally every second of it.
Adriana goes absolutely all out in the Toy King and I was here for literally every second of it.
December 22, 2023
5⭐️
4🌶️
My girl is in heat and she DID NOT come to play. She girlbossed her way to that hot Viking man dick. AS. SHE. SHOULD.
Ummm also I spent the majority of this book thinking sky camels were actual flying camels. They are not.
Tags: F/M, steamy holiday novella, magical Latino MMC, Latina FMC, forced proximity, brother’s fiancé, tongue piercing, fated mates, protective MMC, virgin heroine, daddy, s3x swing
4🌶️
My girl is in heat and she DID NOT come to play. She girlbossed her way to that hot Viking man dick. AS. SHE. SHOULD.
Ummm also I spent the majority of this book thinking sky camels were actual flying camels. They are not.
Tags: F/M, steamy holiday novella, magical Latino MMC, Latina FMC, forced proximity, brother’s fiancé, tongue piercing, fated mates, protective MMC, virgin heroine, daddy, s3x swing
December 28, 2022
The Toy King is another stellar erotic romance by masterful storyteller Adriana Herrera. Her style makes for a smooth pace and concise execution that had me loving every second I spent reading it. I loved the spirit of the Magi with its atmospheric feel, Adriana's lush storytelling, and the memorable and fated love story between Valente and Kessina. Bravo!!
December 15, 2023
Oh so THAT'S why it's called The Toy King 🤓
Do all of these books begin with one of them walking in on the other in the middle of their solo play? 😅 (I'm not complaining.)
Do I fully understand the lore? Nope. But I don't think that's the point here. Just a smutty good time for all and to all a good night.
Do all of these books begin with one of them walking in on the other in the middle of their solo play? 😅 (I'm not complaining.)
Do I fully understand the lore? Nope. But I don't think that's the point here. Just a smutty good time for all and to all a good night.
December 21, 2021
Fated mates and snowed in at Christmas?!?!?! Simply amazing
January 11, 2022
i didn’t like this one as much as HER NIGHT WITH SANTA, but i’m so happy i read this duet! ❤️
January 31, 2023
The smut was very good, but those mate and daddy kinks came crushing and ruined all the fun for me.
February 18, 2023
3.5 stars
This was a super steamy fantasy novella! I loved how sex positive the story was and how important consent was between the characters. There are lots and lots of sexy times and pretty much anything and everything sexually happens in this novella - toys, oral, anal, etc. I’m not into the whole daddy kink and some of the word choices felt awkward, but I loved how gone for each other Val and Kess were. A quick and sexy novella!
This was a super steamy fantasy novella! I loved how sex positive the story was and how important consent was between the characters. There are lots and lots of sexy times and pretty much anything and everything sexually happens in this novella - toys, oral, anal, etc. I’m not into the whole daddy kink and some of the word choices felt awkward, but I loved how gone for each other Val and Kess were. A quick and sexy novella!
December 15, 2021
Not as good as the first one but still obsessed with this series and can’t wait for the next one 😍
And still 🥵🥵🥵🥵 VERY HOT
One thing that I did not like and was kind of annoyed about was that in the first book AND in the second book, the characters meet in the SAME exact way. It was so blatantly obvious. I think that’s why I didn’t like it as much. I wanted a new moment when they first meet.
And still 🥵🥵🥵🥵 VERY HOT
One thing that I did not like and was kind of annoyed about was that in the first book AND in the second book, the characters meet in the SAME exact way. It was so blatantly obvious. I think that’s why I didn’t like it as much. I wanted a new moment when they first meet.
June 6, 2022
This was alright. Very steamy and cute in some parts, but also meh and urgh in others.
December 24, 2021
I can’t complain about an MMC who wants nothing more than to worship his mate! This was a delightful, tropey holiday romance. I loved learning more about the Magi, especially how the Entanglement works and their magical tattoos. Valente and Kessina made a great team! It was refreshing to have a virgin FMC who wants to make sex toys and was focused on helping people having fulfilling solo sex lives. But also: three cheers for what Val’s tongue and piercing can do.
Characters: Valente is a 26 year old Dominican-Scandinavian Magi and Toy Runner with a tongue piercing. Kessina is a 22 year old Peruvian-Scandinavian Toy Maker and aspiring sex toy designer.
Content notes: on page sex, sex toys (including a sex swing), light Daddy kink, anal play, rimming, ableist language, reference to past death of mothers (both were babies)
Disclosure: I’m friendly with the author.
Characters: Valente is a 26 year old Dominican-Scandinavian Magi and Toy Runner with a tongue piercing. Kessina is a 22 year old Peruvian-Scandinavian Toy Maker and aspiring sex toy designer.
Content notes: on page sex, sex toys (including a sex swing), light Daddy kink, anal play, rimming, ableist language, reference to past death of mothers (both were babies)
Disclosure: I’m friendly with the author.
November 21, 2022
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Whew shat! I don't know what to say about this book but DAYUM, I'll probably read it every month of 2022 just because... Whew shat! Valente and Kessina can fill an entire book with those shenanigans.😳😳
Whew shat! I don't know what to say about this book but DAYUM, I'll probably read it every month of 2022 just because... Whew shat! Valente and Kessina can fill an entire book with those shenanigans.😳😳
December 22, 2023
Damn, Adriana Herrera! 🥵
This one was a fated mates situation, which I’m usually not that into, but it worked fairly well in this story.
As with the first in this series, I really appreciate how Herrera writes consent. Like, it’s done in a subtle, yet sexy way. Even when the characters flat out ask for consent, it’s done in a way that increases the heat of the scene and I think that takes some skill, to write consent that way.
I am very pleasantly surprised by this little series and am looking forward to the third book!
This one was a fated mates situation, which I’m usually not that into, but it worked fairly well in this story.
As with the first in this series, I really appreciate how Herrera writes consent. Like, it’s done in a subtle, yet sexy way. Even when the characters flat out ask for consent, it’s done in a way that increases the heat of the scene and I think that takes some skill, to write consent that way.
I am very pleasantly surprised by this little series and am looking forward to the third book!
March 18, 2022
3.75
I enjoyed this. It’s a short and steamy novella, and it delivered what I expected. Did it have a great plot? No not really, but I liked the characters and I wasn’t disappointed while reading. The world building is a bit lacking, and I would have loved a little bit more explanation about the whole Toy Runners/Toy Makers thing because I though it was really interesting. I did like the talks about consent, and all of the sex-positivity that was in this novella.
I enjoyed this. It’s a short and steamy novella, and it delivered what I expected. Did it have a great plot? No not really, but I liked the characters and I wasn’t disappointed while reading. The world building is a bit lacking, and I would have loved a little bit more explanation about the whole Toy Runners/Toy Makers thing because I though it was really interesting. I did like the talks about consent, and all of the sex-positivity that was in this novella.
Read
April 27, 2023If I haven't made it clear before, I'm going to avoid rating erotica, although I will still write reviews. This novella is definitely erotica, with probably 85% of the book being smut. It was a fun time, but I'm glad it was short cause I definitely prefer romance (ie. story and character driven plots). If you're looking for a very sexy read and you have Kindle Unlimited, this novella might be for you.
December 20, 2021
I know one thing for sure: I cannot let Balthazar have this woman. He doesn’t deserve to lay a fucking finger on her. I’m also fairly sure I’d kill anyone who tries to touch her.
OH MY GOD. This book blew my expectations out of the water or sky (lol). I ABSOLUTELY ADORED this book. Adrianna Herrera is on my list of authors that I need to read more about. I loved her writing style and the way that she writes her heroines. I loved the fated mate's aspect in this book. This is a reread next year!
OH MY GOD. This book blew my expectations out of the water or sky (lol). I ABSOLUTELY ADORED this book. Adrianna Herrera is on my list of authors that I need to read more about. I loved her writing style and the way that she writes her heroines. I loved the fated mate's aspect in this book. This is a reread next year!
August 14, 2022
I love the thought of toy maker and toy runner families and scheming parents. Val is from the toy runner family and he loves his job. He is tasked with picking up his brother’s intended – who happens to be from the toy maker family. They get snowed in and get to know each other better and sparks fly.
December 17, 2021
WHAT LOL I LOVED THAT SO MUCH
December 20, 2021
Everything that Adriana Herrera touches turns to perfection. This was everything.
December 25, 2021
I liked this a lot better than the first one! The world is still weird to me though, I went in expecting contemporary so the whole mates thing took me by surprise.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews