Yay! Cinnamon roll heroes!!! With morally grey love interests just around every corner, cute and sweet heroes are the minority. Let’s dive into this book list with the best cinnamon and golden retriever heroes in fantasy romance!!Ā (And some contemporary titles as well!!)
Table of Contents
Cinnamon roll heroes categories
I’ve divided this Book List in 3 different cinnamon roll heroes categories
Cinnamon roll hero ( with touch her and you die vibes)Ā
Cinnamon roll heroes are kind and sweetheroes. They are often empathetic human beings who will melt your heart and show great signs of thoughtfulness.
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A cinnamon roll hero can be of the sunshine type with an easygoing personality or be more reserved and grumpy.
In this category, you will find books featuring this trope AND, in addition, with ‘touch her and you die’ vibes.
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This means that they’re sweet and loyal, but they can be possessive, jealous, and ruthless when the heroine is in danger. Also, they totally transform in bed (if there is any spicy scene) and take command of anything regarding intimacy.
Golden retriever heroes ( with a wicked side )
Golden retriever heroes are a subtype trope inside the cinnamon hero category. They have all the traits of a cinnamon roll but are more…’clingy’.
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In this case, they are not only sweet and kind but also follow the heroine everywhere. They want to spend a lot of time with the FMC and are always happy to see her, like a literal golden retriever puppy.
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If you are into manga, you can see some similarities between golden retrievers and male yanderes (although male yandere in manhwa are very obsessive and toxic, they have a lot in common).
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So we have our golden retrievers, but in these books, they definitely have a wicked side!Ā
They are sweet and clingy with the heroine, but they want something in return…
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THey’re somwhat “dense” and follow the heroine everywhere, getting completely crazy if someone touches her.
I think I love this category even more than cinnamon rolls… and it’s so hard to spot!!
Classical cinnamon Roll Heroes ( “protect him at all costs vibes”)Ā
These guys are the classic good and sweet popular characters. Cinnamon roll heroes are always thinking of the heroine, are kind and treat her well.
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If pressured, a cinnamon roll will always choose the heroine but will try to assess the situation (contrary to morally grey characters who are a little bit more impulsive).
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They’re the typical characters you encounter and immediately make you think ‘Protect him at all costs!!’
Classical cinnamon roll heroes are total green flags, but they are fierce protectors and have some of the best lines in fantasy romance books.
Cinnamon Roll Heroes ( with touch her and you die vibes )
I decided that Orion Lake needed to die after the second time he saved my life.
Everyone loves Orion Lake. EveryoneĀ else, that is. Far as Iām concerned, he can keep his flashy combat magic to himself. Iām not joining his pack of adoring fans.
Ā Iām probably the most dangerous thing in the place. Just give me a chance and Iāll level mountains and kill untold millions, make myself the dark queen of the world.
Most of the other students in here would be delighted if Orion killed me like one more evil thing thatās crawled out of the drains. Sometimes I think they want me to turn into the evil witch they assume I am.Ā
But the Scholomance isnāt getting what it wants from me. And neither is Orion Lake.
Why Orion Lake is a cinnamon roll ( no spoilers )
Ā “I wouldn’t hold myself that cheap, to marry a man who’d love me less than everything else he had, even if what he had was a winter kingdom.ā
Spinning Silver is considered by many as good or better than Uprooted, the popular fantasy romance standalone by the same author. (Although some readers differ and like Uprooted more.)
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Spinning Silver is a true enemies to lovers fantasy book, with the MMC constantly trying to kill Miryem if she doesn’t uphold her part of the deal (which is totally unfair for her, but hey… the guy is a King…)
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Spinning Silver is perfect for readers who love fairytale fantasy romance stories (heheh that would be me) with wicked characters.
Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf–her wolf–is a chilling presence she can’t seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It’s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human–or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.
Why Sam is a cinnamon roll
āYou two are too cute,ā the counter girl said, setting two cups piled with whipped cream on the counter. She had a sort of lopsided, open smile that made me think she laughed a lot. āSeriously. How long have you been going out?ā
Sam let go of my hands to get his wallet and took out some bills. āSix years.ā
I wrinkled my nose to cover a laugh. Of course he would count the time that weād been two entirely different species.”Ā
In the mood for a good old YA urban fantasy? Shiver has truly stood the test of time, aging even better than Twilight in my opinion, and it puts a unique twist on the classic premise of ‘Girl falls in love with a werewolf.’
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Sam is a werewolf, but he first crossed paths with Grace when he was in wolf form. Grace sort of ‘adopted’ him and became infatuated with this beautiful animal with yellow eyes. Years later, she encounters a mysterious boy with the same yellow eyes.
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Sam perfectly fits the ‘cinnamon roll’ criteria. I was initially hesitant to place him in the ‘cinnamon rolls with a touch her and you die’ vibes category, but there are numerous actions in the book that justify putting him here rather than just in the standard ‘cinnamon roll’ category.
Every enchantment has a price….
Isobel is an artistic prodigy with a dangerous set of clients: the immortal fair folk. Yet when she receives her first royal patronāRook, a fairy princeāshe makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyesāa weakness that could cost him his life.
Furious, Rook escorts Isabel to his kingdom to stand trial for her crime, but their journey is full of danger. Forced to depend on each other for survival, will their alliance blossom into something more? After all, love violates the fair folksā ruthless laws…but are some matters worth the risk?
Why Rook is a cinnamon roll
Do you have any critical thinking skills at all?ā He stared straight ahead in full hauteur. āOf course I do. I am aāā āYes, I know. Youāre a prince. Never mind.ā I got the distinct feeling heād never heard the term critical thinking before in his life.ā
“I deeply regret that An Enchantment of Ravens is a standalone and not part of a series. It’s one of my favorite books EVER.
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Rook is not just GOALS but the perfect cinnamon roll. He is so special that, for me, he deserves a category of his own. Imagine combining the ‘hate to love’ (or better yet, ‘thorn to love’) dynamic from Cardan (The Cruel Prince) with Rowan Kitt’s (Divine Rivals) personality and manners. Yeah, that’s Rook. Read this… or better not. You’ll likely fall into a reading slump and feel conflicted because it’s only a standalone xD
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A desperate prince.
A daring outlaw.
A dangerous flirtation.
Ā A mysterious sickness is ravaging the land and the cure, Moonflower Elixir, is only available for the wealthy. So every night, Tessa defies the royal edicts and sneaks out, stealing Moonflower petals and leaving the elixir for those in need.
In the palace of Kandala, Prince Corrick serves as the King’s Justice, meting out vicious punishments and striking fear into the hearts of agitators and outlaws.Ā
But when an act of unspeakable cruelty brings the royal and the outlaw face to face, the natural enemies are faced with an impossible choice–and a surprising spark. Will they follow their instincts to destroy each other? Or will they save the kingdom together . . . and let that spark ignite?
Why Prince Corrick is your next cinnamon roll hero
āIāll never be free of this. Of who I am. This will be my life as Kingās Justice: Cruel Corrick, the most feared man in the kingdom, and somehow also the most alone.ā
Ohh, a conflicted love interest… I just love heroes with multiple layers, and Prince Corrick has many faces, each more intriguing than the last. Brigid Kemmerer’s characters share similarities across her series, but, in my opinion, Corrick is the best of them all.
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He’s a complete cinnamon roll hero, but only for Tessa, and he definitely won’t hesitate to eliminate anyone who poses a threat to her. Perfection.
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Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.
As a huntsman of the Church, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. But when Lou pulls a wicked stunt, the two are forced into an impossible situationāmarriage.
Lou, unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, must make a choice. And love makes fools of us all.
Why you should read it
āYou’re to be my wife.” Catching up to her in two strides, I reached out to grab her arm, but stopped short of touching her. “That means you’ll obey me.”
“Does it?” She raised her brows, still grinning. ” I suppose that means you’ll honor and protect me, then? If we’re adhering to the dusty old roles of your patriarchy?”
I shortened my pace to match hers. “Yes.”
Serpent & Dove is a rare unicorn case. It possesses that ‘je ne sais quoi’ that makes a fantasy romance exceptionalāit just clicks when you read it. A significant part of its charm is the result of the arranged marriage trope present in the book and Reid Diggory’s personality.
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Without giving away any spoilers, let’s just say that Reid is a pure and kind soul who undergoes a transformation of sorts because, even though they are mortal enemies, he can’t help but fall in love with Louise.
It’s a reverse grumpy sunshine and hate-to-love story at its finest.
All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeerās Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorceryāmagical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather.
Then an act of sabotage releases the libraryās most dangerous grimoire, and Elisabeth is implicated in the crime. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.
As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything sheās been taughtāabout sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.
Why you should read it
āNathaniel looked at her sidelong. “Scrivener, I know I cut a devilishly handsome figure lying here on the floor all covered in blood—-which I hear some girls find quite appealing, strangely enough, and if you’re one of them I’m not going to judge—but please stop crying. It’s only a flesh wound. I’ll be back to fighting evil any moment now.ā
Nathaniel Thorn shares a lot of similarities with one of my favorite golden retrievers, heroes (on this book list as well, of course), Wendell Bamblely from ‘Emily’s Encyclopedia of Faeries.’
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However, whereas Wendell is more like a puppy dog who follows Emily everywhere, Nathaniel fits more into the cinnamon roll category. He is not as ‘intense’ as Wendell, but the banter and personalities are very similar. It’s a complete delight to read his lines, especially when he teases the heroine.
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Golden Retrievers Heroes ( with a wicked side )
Unable to shift for three months, Mateo Cruz knows all too well. His wolf has taken up residence in his head, taunting him night and day with vividly violent and carnal thoughts. Convinced he’s cursed, he needs the help of a powerful witch before he literally goes insane.Ā
āEvie Savoie has always obeyed the house rule of her coven: no werewolves. They’re known for being moody and volatile. So, when a distempered, dangerous werewolf strolls into the bar and almost strangles one of her late-night customers, she’s ready to bounce him through the door. But the desperation in his eyes when he begs her to help him softens her heart and convinces her to bend the rules.Ā
āWhat Evie doesn’t know is that Mateo’s wolf has a mind of his own. And now that she’s in his sights, he wants only one thing. Her
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Why Mateo Cruz is a golden retriever hero
āYou know, for a big, bad werewolf, you sure are sweet.ā
Mateo is THE definition of a golden retriever hero. You can practically imagine him wagging his tail and constantly smiling at Evie.
He’s sweet and charming, but his inner wolf… is not, hehehe. He definitely has some more ‘wicked’ plans for Evie, and Mateo can’t help but agree with his werewolf side ( who constantly talks in his head)
Athena Edgeworth was raised by ruthless mercenaries, and she knows how to get what she wants. When ex-assassin Kon tries to seduce Athena and steal a magical manuscript for his boss, he sets in motion a rivalry that will push them both to their limits.
As they compete for the most powerful mystical relics around the world, Athena and Kon become addicted to the thrill of the chase and to each other. But when their obsession with the magical relics leads them into a trap, they must put their rivalry aside and work together to survive.
Why you should read it
āYesterday you were angry at my lack of assistance. Today you bite my head off for helping. You are the most contrary person I have ever known.”
That took the wind out of me. Being labelled contrary by Wendell Bambleby would stop any sensible person in her tracks.ā
Ohhh, picking a quote from this book without spoiling anything was HARD. It has some delightful banter, and Wendell Bamblely… let’s make a monument for this man, please…
Wendell can’t resist teasing Emily every chance he gets. He also can’t stay away from her, so when she decides to go to Hrafnsvik to study the Folk in situ, Wendell, of course, follows her.
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You’ll have to read the book to discover his wicked sideātelling it is a big spoiler, but I can assure you he has one.
Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. Sheās a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apartāsheās in New York City, and heās in their small hometownābut every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.Ā
Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven’t spoken since.Ā
Poppy has everything she should want, but sheās stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation togetherālay everything on the table, make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees.Ā
Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong?
Why Alex is a golden retriever hero
āBecause I know you, he says tenderly, “and I remember what you sound like when you like something.ā
“If you’re in the mood for a classic friends-to-lovers rom-com, People We Meet on Vacation is THE one.
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Our boy Alex can’t stay away from Poppy. He always gives in to Poppy’s exotic destination choices for vacations and has to deal with her girlfriend’s jealousy because, well, he spends a lot of time with Poppy, and they get along really well.
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But, like in any friends-to-lovers situation, everyone and their mom can feel the chemistry… except the protagonists, haha.
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The slow burn in People We Meet on Vacation is real, and Alex’s struggle to be ‘good’ and not ruin their friendship is delightful.
Two weeks before Christmas and all through Manhattan, shop windows are decorated in red and green satin. I’m standing alone in front of the famous Vivant department store, when a charming man named Aiden asks my opinion of the dĆ©cor.
It’s a tragedy in tinsel, I say, unable to lie. He asks for a better idea with a twinkle in his eye. Did I know he owned the place? No. He put me on the spot. Now I’m working for that man, trying to ignore that he’s hot. But as a down on her luck girl with a difficult past, I know an opportunity when I see oneāand I have to make it last.
I’ll put my heart and soul into dressing his holiday windows. I’ll work without stopping. And when we lose the battle with temptation, I’ll try and remember I’m just window shopping.
Why you should read it
āDonāt let
the bow tie fool you, Stella. Iām not always nice,ā he says, a deep burr in
his voice. āWhen the situation calls for it, I can be downright rough.ā
I need Tessa Bailey to write 10 more books with characters like Aiden. I just can’t get enough of him. This book is so rare and beloved by the entire community. A classic holiday read, you’ll see this one recommended everywhere, and for good reason.
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Aiden is just too good to be true. With his bubbly and somewhat eccentric personality, you’ll never guess that behind all that, he is anything but sweet under the sheets… and that’s what makes him perfect. His POV in the book is fantastic.
They were never meant to be together. As a generalās daughter, seventeen-year-old Kestrel enjoys an extravagant and privileged life. Arin has nothing but the clothes on his back. Then Kestrel makes an impulsive decision that binds Arin to her. Though they try to fight it, they canāt help but fall in love. In order to be together, they must betray their people . . . but to be loyal to their country, they must betray each other.
Why you should read it
āCassian leaned to whisper in her ear, āThe first time I saw that look on your face, you were still human. Still human, and I nearly went to my knees before you.ā
Okay, I know I should try to be as objective as possible regarding books and opinions, but I didn’t like A Court of Silver Flames (sorry!).
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However, I know that there are a lot of Cassian and Nesta fans out there, so it’s my duty to tell all of you lovely readers who have yet to read this book that Cassian fills the golden retriever role to a T.
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He is sweet, he tries to understand Nesta, and he is patient with her (although you might think she doesn’t deserve it). And his wicked side… well, let’s say that Nesta is the grumpy one, but Cassian knows how to get through to her, especially regarding intimacy matters…hehe
When Cassia seeks out a Hesperine, he could end her mortal life in a heartbeat. But she has no fear of his magic or his fangs. She knows the real monster is the human king, her father. If he finds out sheās bargaining with his enemy, heāll send her to the executioner.
As a Hesperine diplomat, Lio must negotiate with mortals who hate him. Cassia is different, but politics aren’t why she captivates the gentle immortal. He wants more than her blood, and if he canāt resist the temptation, heāll provoke the war he’s trying to prevent.
Why you should read it
Blood Mercy is a hidden gem in Kindle Unlimited. Similar to The Plated Prisoner series in terms of slow burn, you will find in Blood Mercy the sweetest hero. Lio is kind, understanding, and he doesn’t have a clue about his feelings… it’s so adorable to see him falling harder and harder for Cassia without even realizing it.
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If you’re looking for a good, steamy, slow-burn romance, this is your pick. Be aware that this is SUPER SLOW BURN, so be prepared for the tension!
Straight Cinnamon Roll Heroes with no evil in their souls ( protect him at all costs vibes )
Eighteen-year-old Iris dreams that one day her writing will make a difference. A war between gods is raging, and sheās landed a prestigious job at theĀ Oath Gazette.
But at home, sheās barely holding it together. Her brother is missing on the frontline. Her mother is lost in a haze of addiction. And each night Iris pours her heart out in letters to her brother.
Letters that will never be answered. Or so she thinksā¦
Theyāve made their way into the hands of the last person Iris trusts: Roman Kitt. Her cold, unforgiving rival at the paper.
Why Roman Kitt is a cinnamon roll hero
āYouāre distracting me, Kitt.ā āIām pleased to hear it. Now you know how Iāve felt all this bloody time, Iris.ā
Divine Rivals… I remember when I first read it, it had been a month since its release. I finished and thought, ‘This one is going to be huge… has to be…’ And I was SO RIGHT.
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Divine Rivals won Goodreads Best Young Adult Fiction Book of 2023, and it is totally deserved.
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Roman Kitt fills this category perfectly. His personality is like a breath of fresh air after all the morally grey love interests in fantasy romances. He is kind, funny, and oh god… I’ve never seen a hero go to the extent he does in this book for the heroine.
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A word of advice: be prepared for one of the most EPIC cliffhangers since The Ballad of Never After. You’ve been warned!
Ruby Santos knew exactly what she was getting herself into when she signed up to write a soldier overseas.
The guidelines were simple: one letter or email a week for the length of his or her deployment. Care packages were optional.
Been there, done that. She thought she knew what to expect.
What she didnāt count on was falling in love with the guy.
Why Aaron is a cinnamon roll hero
āMostly though, Rubes, I want to go back in time and beat every single personās ass whoās ever made you doubt yourself, because the girl who makes me smile ātil my face hurts even on a shit day needs to see that in herself. I feel like I owe it to you.ā Aaronā
“I have a soft spot for books with epistolary elements, and Dear Aaron is one of the best slow burns featuring this narrative style. Ruby writes letters to military personnel on duty, and the one she has been assigned is Aaron.
Aaron is definitely a cinnamon roll, and I can dare to say he got on my nerves sometimes because he was definitely too nice with her. But in the end, the boy finally realized what had to be done, hahaha.
Face your demons…or feed them. The dashing young king, Nikolai Lantsov, has always had a gift for the impossible.Ā Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, Nikolai must find a way to refill Ravkaās coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.
Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha general, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him.Ā
Why Nikolai Iantov is a cinnamon roll hero
āSay something spiteful.ā
āWhy?ā she asked faintly.
āBecause Iām fairly certain I’m hallucinating and in my dreams you’re much nicer.ā
āYou’re an idiot, Nikolai.ā
King of Scars is a very special book. In order for you to read it, you need to go through the entire Shadow and Bone trilogy AND Six of Crows to fully understand it. It’s like a spin-off from another spin-off… but hey, it’s Leigh Bardugo. I think she didn’t give a f*ck and just wanted to write a duology for her favorite character, Nikolai, and she did just that.
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So, why am I recommending this? Well, because Nikolai basically saved the Shadow and Bone trilogy for me.
He is Leigh Bardugo’s Gojo Satoru. We meet him in the second book in Shadow and Bone (Siege and Storm), and he literally enters the series to save it (Alina and Mal were not doing a good job so far after what happened to the Darkling).
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We meet him again in the Six of Crows duology, and finally, he gets his own series.
Nikolai is funny, and ingenious, and together with Zoya, the banter is delightful.
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Their relationship is a classical reverse grumpy sunshine, and although I wasn’t satisfied with the second book, King of Scars is totally worth the read if you loved this character in the previous series
By day, LucĆan brews potions and illuminates manuscripts in service to the monastery that took him in as a child, wielding magic based in his faith and his purity. By night, he dreams of the world outside the cloister–a world he knows only in books and scrolls…
A mercenary known as the She-Wolf hunts for a shipment of stolen manuscripts. When she needs a mage to track them down, she chooses LucĆan for both his adorable blushes and his magic.Ā
Inexorably drawn to the She-Wolf’s strength, surprising kindness, and heated touches, LucĆan fights temptation at every turn. His holy magic is both vital to their mission and dependent upon his purity. How can he serve both her and the Lord if he gives in to his desire?Ā
Why Lucian is a total cinnamon roll
LucĆan is honored and awestruck and intimidated all at once and he wants to always feel this way, never wants to stop. He desperately wants to serve the She-Wolf in ways he doesn’t even understand yet but he feels it in every part of his soul.”Ā
And the best for last!! If you’ve reached this part of the post, you are rewarded with this little gem which definitely needs more reviews ASAP!!
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With an awfully generic cover, His Secret Illuminations is a Queer F/M fantasy romance like no other. Told only from Lucien’s POV (our soft cinnamon roll who wants to be dominated by the She-wolf), this is a refreshing romance featuring a tall, muscular woman and a shy, inexperienced, and slightly frail monk.
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What more can a girl ask for?
My Top picks: Cinnamon Roll and Golden Retriever Heroes
So hard to choose only two!! Reverse grumpy sunshine and cinnamon roll heroes are definitely among my favorite tropes (maybe at the same level as enemies to lovers or even more).
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But if I have to recommend only two that perfectly embody this category, I’ll definitely choose these two.
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Window Shopping is the perfect example of how to write a perfect cinnamon roll hero with a wicked side. And ‘Wolf Gone Wild’ is literally a golden retriever puppy who has… ulterior motives.
