Host Reader Profile

Lauren “The Dark Queen of Chaos”

Hello Dear Sweet Listeners,

My name is Lauren, by day I am a 30-something scientist living in the PNW with my husband and corgi, Pippin (yes, from LOTR), but by night I am the Dark Queen of Chaos, getting lost between the pages of steamy and epic love stories. I like to think I am the feisty heroine of my own story and I am here to lead you into your next great read.

I am the lead host of Blush & Bindings- After Dark, a special segment of our podcast where we dive deep into the world of Dark Romance, kink heavy plot lines, and all those steamy scenes that earn us our explicit (E) rating. So get ready for your descent into darkness because my tastes and TBR definitely live in the shadows.

Favorite Sub-Genres

  • Dark Contemporary Romance (Mafia/MC/Stalker)

  • Romantasy

  • Paranormal/Shifter Romance

  • Contemporary Cowboy Romance

  • Myths & Legends Retellings (Fairy Tales/Gods)

Favorite Tropes

  • Touch her and Die / Protective MMC(s)

  • Found Family

  • Forbidden Love

  • Strong Stabby FMC

  • Enemies to Lovers

Trope Turn Offs

  • Insta-love

  • Miscommunication

  • Fade to Black/Closed Door

All Time Favorite Romance Reads

I love the Twisted and Kings of Sin Series by Ana Huang. The interconnected standalones in contemporary romance give me more storyline for the characters that I crave when I finish reading about their love story. I like the sneak peeks, or mini epilogues you get in later books. Ana Huang does a beautiful job in both her series weaving storylines together, giving subtle cameos to past couples.

My all time favorite Romantasy reads are any and all of the Mass-verse Books, but especially Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, I love my FMCs just a bit unhinged and stabby. There is a reason people have gone bananas for her books. She creates such amazing and dynamic charaters, epic worlds, and heartbreakingly beautiful storylines. I consider myself a super fan, just ask me about my bookish tattoos.

My favorite romance series without spice would have to be A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy) by Deborah Harkness. Give me an epic paranormal romance that spans time, incredibly well researched and accurate historical references, and a tall dark and handsome MMC, and I'm all in.

Favorite Romance Book Quotes

Of course I’ve got to pull in a SMJ quote, but choosing one is unbelievably difficult. I think it would have to be “ You do not yield”, first said by Aelin in Kingdom of Ash and then said again in A Court of Wings and Ruin. Just such an epic and powerful quote that speaks to the characters persistence, perseverance, and strength.

I am also a sucker for dirty talk in my romance books, which will feature heavily in my book ratings and picks. Praise or degradation, I like it all in a good book boyfriend/girlfriend. #STFUATTDLAGG

What to Expect From Lauren’s TBR Recommendations

If I recommend a book to you, 8 times of 10 it will be a Dark Romance. I do always ask my reader friends their trigger warnings, or insist they read the trigger/content warnings before jumping into one of my recommendations. On my list, my dark romance recs will include mafia, motorcycle club, stalker, shadow daddies, piercings, unhinged MMCs or FMCs, hand necklaces, sometimes very kink heavy content, and most likely more than one trigger warning. My TBR is full of trigger warnings, and sometimes thats how I pick my next read.

Now, the other 20% of my recommendations? Very different, as my tastes are SUPER broad. I love a sweet but spicy contemporary Cowboy or Sports romances, with a dirty talking MMC or multiple.

I love a good reverse harem/why-choose of any genre, but I am a fan of a MMF or FFM dynamic in my menage, I love it when they all love each other. But, give me a good ole MMMFM reverse harem, any day, it will always get me blush’n.

Paranormal romances are some of my favorites. I like some element of magic like witches or shifters (dragon and wolf are the best IMO).

Last but certainly not least- I am always down for a Fantasy book with a powerful and often stabby FMC, found family, beautiful world building that takes me far far away.

Other Notes About Lauren’s Reading Preferences

I am very much a mood reader and tend to layer fantasy romances and contemporary romances so I don’t get burnt out on fantasy world building. I will often continue with a series once started if it keeps my interest and I like to start from the beginning of a series even if its an interconnected standalone. I read and listen to books, sometimes I will choose to listen to an audiobook over reading if it’s by one of my favorite narrators, and especially if it’s duet style narration. You’ll find my audiobook recommendations will feature the same narrators over and over. Looking at you Teddy Hamilton.

I like my why-choose or reverse harem stories to have ⚔️ although not required. And I like my spice, SPICY and my kinks KINKY. You’ll probably unlock some kinks with my TBR list, so consider yourself warned. Also, its more likely than not, my recs have trigger warnings, so please consider those and keep your mental health safe.

Thats not to say, I cant still enjoy a romance with little to no spice, as long as the story is captivating and its fantasy or paranormal. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness is a perfect example of a romance with fade to black that completely ensnared me and holds a place high on my best series ever list.

Happy Reading my Blushies! And remember, Good Girls read smut and Consent is kinky!

😏🍆🔥🍑⚔️🤬😈🔪

Photos by Cheeky Fox Photography