Hey !

I have just sent Guarded by the Clanker ARCs through Bookfunnel, so make sure to check your inbox and grab your copy before the link expires! Reminder: you're on my permanent ARC Team, but that doesn't mean you have to read every book I send you. If this one doesn't sound like your jam, feel free to skip it 💜

Clanker Love 💜

If you don't know whether this book is for you, let me tell you about it. It's a standalone in the Monster Security Agency series. The book is around 300 pages long, ends in a HEA, and is spicy like all my books. We have mild one-sided enemies to lovers (our FMC has deep trauma that makes her loathe AI and robots), a cyborg bodyguard who falls first, forced proximity (perfect for one bed trope lovers!), laugh-out-loud banter, and that deliciously spicy robot hardware.

As for trigger warnings, let me paste the contents of my Author's Note here so you're fully informed before you commit.

Hey, Beautiful!

Thank you for picking up Guarded by the Clanker. I’m not going to lie: this book is very special to me because it has everything I love: smart technologies, Japan, weight lifting, and enormous monster hardware. I hope you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I loved writing it.

Apart from all the good stuff, there is some triggering content in this book, most notably mentions of teen suicide. Please protect your mental health.

You may also expect violence, a mention of animal death, toxic online bro culture, and a man trying to mansplain a woman’s workout to her at the gym. Also, a dog almost dies on page. I know, I am testing your limits here. Just trust me—the dog survives and goes on to have a long, fulfilling life.

As a special note, I have included three paragraphs (138 words) of text generated by ChatGPT in Chapter 15. I should mention that getting those paragraphs required very specific prompting and some virtual arm-wrestling, because ChatGPT does not sound like that by default. You’ll see what I mean when you get there. (The paragraphs are italicized for your convenience.)

While we’re on the topic, I’d like to state officially that I do not use AI tools in my writing unless otherwise specified. All my work—apart from those 138 words, bless them—was written, physically typed, and occasionally sworn at by me.

That isn’t to say I have anything against AI writing. I read and enjoyed Cassie Alexander’s Guarded by the AI and applaud her creative choices. AI technology has been a source of joy and delight to me in the last two years. Yes, text generated by AI tools can sound terrible. It can also sound amazing in the hands of a skilled writer such as Cassie.

Now, back to the book! This is a slowish burn when it comes to spice, with the first scene happening in chapter 15. I suppose it kind of continues in chapters 16 and 17. If hot cyborg on human spice grosses you out, definitely skip chapters 20, 21, 22, 28, and 29.

I think that’s all. Have fun!

Quick Rule Reminder

1. Please do not upload your ARC anywhere. It's for your personal use only.
2. There is no review deadline (but there is a DOWNLOAD deadline - the link expires a week from now!)
3. Reviewing is not obligatory but it will give me joy <3
4. I expect full honesty, so all star ratings are allowed and encouraged.

You can review on any platform of your choosing, including Amazon, Goodreads, StoryGraph, BookBub, or any other I haven't listed. Instagram, TikTok, and other social media reviews are also welcome.

I hope you have a great time with this book if you choose to read it!

Lots of love,

~Layla