natbatzz's review against another edition
5.0
Hands down one of my top reads of the year. Can't wait for more!!!!
c_dog's review against another edition
5.0
Fun reimagining of My Fair Lady. I also found it thought provoking; how much do we judge others based on looks? How much of our life is controlled by our upbringing? Plus Suzie and Ford had great chemistry!
tostita's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
There are several scenes in this book that are much darker than anything else I’ve seen in any Green Valley book, but the writing was so gripping that I could not put it down during those parts. Since Suzie is trapped working for a criminal motorcycle club and has been for many years, the darkness is appropriate to her situation. However, these scenes may be too much for some readers, so check content warnings as appropriate. Overall, I loved the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Violence, Sexual assault, Classism, Confinement, and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Sexual content
Minor: Drug abuse, Murder, Abandonment, and Death of parent
Spoiler
Two bikers assault the female main character, grope her intimate areas, and attempt to drag her into the woods for the purpose of raping her. Later, the same bikers kidnap her, choke her almost to unconsciousness, and she is trapped in a tiny space with another biker who cuts off her clothing and hair, cuts her with a knife, and intends to force her into work as a prostitute.what_rachel_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Why was this the cutest and angsty retelling of My Fair Lady??
Ford was so sweet and played a wonderful and protective professor helping Susie to get her life in better order from her place in life as a stripper and indebted to a scary MC gang.
They fought for each other and there was glorious tension and drama when her boss/sceevy MC gang member tried to control her and force her into prostitution at his club.
Highly recommend the audio version as their accents and inflection truly made the story heartfelt and memorable. It was especially adorable in the beginning hearing the starched professor get tongue tied and try to keep a professional demeanor as she danced and stripped for him.
Ford was so sweet and played a wonderful and protective professor helping Susie to get her life in better order from her place in life as a stripper and indebted to a scary MC gang.
They fought for each other and there was glorious tension and drama when her boss/sceevy MC gang member tried to control her and force her into prostitution at his club.
Highly recommend the audio version as their accents and inflection truly made the story heartfelt and memorable. It was especially adorable in the beginning hearing the starched professor get tongue tied and try to keep a professional demeanor as she danced and stripped for him.
regierest's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! I love a redemption story and this does not disappoint. The relationship between Suzie and Ford was a joy to read as they each overcame incredible odds and found each other. I can't wait to read the next one!
iggyebab's review against another edition
3.0
There are so many things that I loved about this book. Of course, My fair lady is an awesome movie and I couldn't wait to see where this retelling would go.
I loved Ford and Suzie. Suzie has such a bad reputation. Does she deserve it? Yes. Does anyone think she can change?
This book made me angry at Jethro. I know he was in the middle of his own drama and craziness but he was not nice to Suzie. I kind of want Suzie and Sienna to be friends and to get back at Jethro in some way.
Ford is the perfect professor with a dark side. He had a rough upbringing and has decided that he has to keep a part of himself shut off .
For me, the book lost stars toward the end. It got a bit more crazy than I wanted and it felt like it lost some of the connection toward the end. I enjoyed the book but it didn't quite live up to it's potential.
I loved Ford and Suzie. Suzie has such a bad reputation. Does she deserve it? Yes. Does anyone think she can change?
This book made me angry at Jethro. I know he was in the middle of his own drama and craziness but he was not nice to Suzie. I kind of want Suzie and Sienna to be friends and to get back at Jethro in some way.
Ford is the perfect professor with a dark side. He had a rough upbringing and has decided that he has to keep a part of himself shut off .
For me, the book lost stars toward the end. It got a bit more crazy than I wanted and it felt like it lost some of the connection toward the end. I enjoyed the book but it didn't quite live up to it's potential.
izziede's review against another edition
4.0
This book is part of the smarty pants romance series which is connected to Penny Reid Winston brothers series.
The connection to that series in the women of each book are Jethro's exes.
This is an interesting book for Jethro fans as it shows the devastation left behind by his work for the Wraiths.
Jethro fans may find it hard to tally those actions with the Hero they have come to love in the Winston series.
I found the book a bit hard to get into at first.
To me it felt a long time before we got on with it.
Maybe it's because not being in the US I don't fully understand how grants and funding works.
The Hero comes across as a buttoned up grump but he is actually really caring but is unable to express himself.
The heroine at first seems quite weak but she is actually very strong and has plenty of backbone.
It seemed to be based on Pygmalion or my fair lady story and I really enjoyed it.
Some parts were heartbreaking but there was lots of humour too.
His roommate is hilarious and there were plenty of secondary characters introduced to fill the series.
There are locations mentioned in Green Valley that connects the series to Pennyverse and off screen things relations to Razor.
For the safety gang.
There are no intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
The heroine is a dancer at a strip club she has certain boundaries she will not cross but she is manhandled at times. She is scantily dressed and endures men's attention in her role at certain times.
Her past contained different behaviour but it is vague and long behind her.
There is nothing intimate but there is a threat of rape and an attack though nothing ends up happening. But one scene is heartbreaking.
No other woman drama.
There is some redemption for Jethro of sorts at the very end.
HEA in form of HFN but we will likely see the couple in future books as the women have formed a club.
The connection to that series in the women of each book are Jethro's exes.
This is an interesting book for Jethro fans as it shows the devastation left behind by his work for the Wraiths.
Jethro fans may find it hard to tally those actions with the Hero they have come to love in the Winston series.
I found the book a bit hard to get into at first.
To me it felt a long time before we got on with it.
Maybe it's because not being in the US I don't fully understand how grants and funding works.
The Hero comes across as a buttoned up grump but he is actually really caring but is unable to express himself.
The heroine at first seems quite weak but she is actually very strong and has plenty of backbone.
It seemed to be based on Pygmalion or my fair lady story and I really enjoyed it.
Some parts were heartbreaking but there was lots of humour too.
His roommate is hilarious and there were plenty of secondary characters introduced to fill the series.
There are locations mentioned in Green Valley that connects the series to Pennyverse and off screen things relations to Razor.
For the safety gang.
There are no intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
The heroine is a dancer at a strip club she has certain boundaries she will not cross but she is manhandled at times. She is scantily dressed and endures men's attention in her role at certain times.
Her past contained different behaviour but it is vague and long behind her.
There is nothing intimate but there is a threat of rape and an attack though nothing ends up happening. But one scene is heartbreaking.
No other woman drama.
There is some redemption for Jethro of sorts at the very end.
HEA in form of HFN but we will likely see the couple in future books as the women have formed a club.
katkinney's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this addition to the Smartypants Romance series. In this “My Fair Lady” retelling, Ford, a professor, needs funding for his grant studying how social class and perception set you on a certain course from an early age, making it hard to break out and rise above no matter how hard you try. Susie knows all about that, having been abandoned by her mother, left to care for her alcoholic father, and forced to strip for the Iron Wraiths, and then a second motorcycle club.
The plot is a bit complicated to explain, but basically, Ford has to pass Susie off as not a stripper to secure funding. And of course, they fall for each other. This one was super cute, with two likeable, strong, flawed characters. And side characters I’m really hoping we might see again in future books. Also, I especially liked the way this one tied in bits of Green Valley lore. Will definitely be reading Piper Sheldon’s next Smartypants Romance book!
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
The plot is a bit complicated to explain, but basically, Ford has to pass Susie off as not a stripper to secure funding. And of course, they fall for each other. This one was super cute, with two likeable, strong, flawed characters. And side characters I’m really hoping we might see again in future books. Also, I especially liked the way this one tied in bits of Green Valley lore. Will definitely be reading Piper Sheldon’s next Smartypants Romance book!
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
megkstyler's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! It was a bit of a slow burn but it held my attention! I loved the chemistry between Susie and Ford! It’s a touch of My Fair Lady meets Pretty Woman! I love a book that can deliver humor and suspense and this book did both! This was my first Piper Sheldon book and it won’t be my last!