5 Gloriously Kinky Stars 🌶️ | Age Gap (She’s Older!) | Beauty & the Beast Retelling | BDSM | Music Industry Romance

Mine by Clio Evans is a searing, emotionally rich exploration of kink, healing, and finding yourself beyond the boxes society tries to shove you into and I absolutely could not put it down!

From page one, I was hooked by Pepper. She is our badass, sharp, and guarded CEO of a record label who is used to controlling everything in her world. Enter Salt: a younger, masked singer/songwriter with a deep understanding of kink and a tender, commanding presence. Together, they make beautiful, kinky music, both literally and metaphorically.

Let’s talk about what Mine does so well:

🔥 Real kink done right. This isn’t surface level “soft dom” fluff. Salt is an experienced Dom who prioritizes consent, education, trust, and emotional safety and he walks Pepper through everything, giving her space to learn and truly explore. It was not only hot as hell but genuinely moving.

💕 Reverse age gap perfection. Pepper is 37 and Salt is 25, and the dynamic is just so good. I’m a slut for a younger man showing up and giving an older woman exactly what she needs. Power? Respect? Pleasure? Yes to all.

🎭 Beauty & the Beast retelling vibes. Salt is scarred, both emotionally and physically. His mysterious, masked persona paired with his gentle guidance makes him the perfect beast to Pepper’s beauty.

💔 Grief and healing. Both characters are navigating different kinds of loss and trauma, especially related to their families. Watching them open up and work through those wounds together made me tear up more than once.

🧠 Smart, feminist smut. This book doesn’t shy away from themes like ageism, patriarchy, decision fatigue, and personal autonomy. It’s unapologetically feminist and deeply validating to see Pepper fight to reclaim her body, her pleasure, and her identity.

Also, can we all agree Jeff is the WORST? Actual trash. Garbage human being. 

Salt is everything a dominant partner should be: patient, informed, and deeply invested in his submissive’s comfort and pleasure. He’s also just sexy as hell. Pepper’s journey of self-discovery, from buttoned up CEO to fully empowered submissive, was written with so much nuance and care.

Clio Evans never misses. EVER. I’d read anything she wrote, and this was amazing. This might be a new favorite. It’s filthy, it’s heartfelt, it’s everything. Thank you to Clio and Grey’s Promotions for the ARC. I feel blessed by the kinky gods.

Read this if you love:
✅ Reverse age gap (she’s older!)
✅ Musician x CEO
✅ Dom/sub with emotional depth
✅ Beauty & the Beast retelling
✅ Strong women finding power in submission
✅ A book that’s as smart as it is spicy

OBSESSED. 10/10. Will be rereading immediately. 🩷