Promotional Shortlink: Books2Read.com/ColdSweat
Published: June 28th, 2024
Pairing: MF
Standalone: Yes (HEA)
Style: Paranormal / Sentient Object Romance / 18+
Related Format(s):
Related Art:
Cold Sweat Illustrated Cover & Spicy Variant by Kit Fox Art
Cold Sweat is a novella length sentient object romance book by author Vera Valentine. The two main romantic characters are Jules (a human college student) and Red (Jules' stepbrother, who is a large sentient glass pitcher of cherry-flavored punch).
Cold Sweat came about because Vera's author friend Beatrix Hollow messaged her a picture of an enamel pin from artist Dave Zackin, which read "I Had Sexual Intercourse with the KoolAid Man." Finding this absolutely hilarious, Vera decided immediately to "Rule 34" (aka every thought in existence has pornography of some sort attached to it) the idea and bring it to life on page. Never content to one-note her chaos, she mentally spun the wheel-o-tropes and landed on stepbrother romance, which was one she'd never tackled previously.
Content Considerations: This story contains step-siblings getting it on (they met as adults and have only been connected that way for a few years), a LOT of glass rod insertion, a LOT of punch in places it doesn’t usually go, discussions of anime, forced proximity (oh no stepbro we’re stuck in a sauna), overhearing parents getting it on, mention of parents imbibing alcohol, off-page drunken sex with a pallet of drink mix, unenrolling from college, sucralose, and Red Dye #40.
Blurb: Fleeing college pressure, Jules heads home to rest, recharge, and figure out a plan before fall break ends. Eager to spend time with her mother and stepfather, there's one presence she's less thrilled about seeing: Red.
The sentient, smirking pitcher of Cherry Chill-Assist Punch was a huge pain in the glass. He'd been getting under her skin for two years now, ever since their parents' wedding day. Red's taste in entertainment and weirdly suggestive commentary were driving her crazy, a destination she was capable of finding all on her own.
With big life decisions looming, his antics shake up Jules' already-fragile peace, steering her towards a leisurely evening in her mom's new sauna. It seems like the perfect remedy for stress...until Red invites himself along. Close, steamy confines have a way of outing secrets, and Red has a huge one he can't keep on ice any longer.
Will Jules be able to resist her thirst for the unknown, or will the truth about her stepbrother refresh her perspective entirely?