Reviews
Rake I'd Like to F..., by Adriana Herrera, Joanna Shupe, Nicola Davidson, Eva Leigh, Sierra Simone
fringebookreviews's review against another edition
4.0
✨I would like a Rake please, or you know, all of them.✨
Joanna Shupe, Nicola Davidson, and Eva Leigh had my favs! I wasn’t very into the other two, but they were all good stories and many, many rakes.
Nicola Davidson had the story closest to what I read for work which means
Joanna Shupe, Nicola Davidson, and Eva Leigh had my favs! I wasn’t very into the other two, but they were all good stories and many, many rakes.
Nicola Davidson had the story closest to what I read for work which means
plottrysts's review
4.0
Get ready for a hefty anthology (5 novellas yassss) that's exactly what you think it's gonna be: erotic historicals please and thank you. It was just what we wanted to read during the most wonderful time of the year.
Sierra Simone - The Last Crimes of Peregrine Hind
MM with a little bondage - here we have a highwayman out for revenge. Unfortunately he kidnapped the wrong brother... or did he?
Eva Leigh - Two Rakes for Mrs. Sparkwell
MFM - Mrs. Sparkwell wants to ruin her reputation so she can stay unwed - cause her annoying husband's will lets her stepson marry her off to whoever he wants. Well if no one wants her, she solves that problem, right? But instead two hotties want her. (Probably our favorite of the collection!)
Nicola Davidson - A Rake, His Patron, & Their Muse
MMF - as the title says, we have a playwright, his aristocratic patron, and an older widow they meet while on a "writing retreat." Anything for a little inspiration, amirite?
Adriana Herrera - Monsieur X
MM in a sex club - secret identities can be great, until you want to actually get to know the other party. What happens when you do?
Joanna Shupe - Sold to the Duke
MF virginity auction - and she really wants to EARN that money! We though this was going to be a playful take on the trope, but it got a little dark there for a minute. Still super sexy though!
This objective review is based on a complimentary advanced copy of the book.
Sierra Simone - The Last Crimes of Peregrine Hind
MM with a little bondage - here we have a highwayman out for revenge. Unfortunately he kidnapped the wrong brother... or did he?
Eva Leigh - Two Rakes for Mrs. Sparkwell
MFM - Mrs. Sparkwell wants to ruin her reputation so she can stay unwed - cause her annoying husband's will lets her stepson marry her off to whoever he wants. Well if no one wants her, she solves that problem, right? But instead two hotties want her. (Probably our favorite of the collection!)
Nicola Davidson - A Rake, His Patron, & Their Muse
MMF - as the title says, we have a playwright, his aristocratic patron, and an older widow they meet while on a "writing retreat." Anything for a little inspiration, amirite?
Adriana Herrera - Monsieur X
MM in a sex club - secret identities can be great, until you want to actually get to know the other party. What happens when you do?
Joanna Shupe - Sold to the Duke
MF virginity auction - and she really wants to EARN that money! We though this was going to be a playful take on the trope, but it got a little dark there for a minute. Still super sexy though!
This objective review is based on a complimentary advanced copy of the book.
glo68's review
5.0
A wonderful collection that exceeded my expectations!
I must confess I came for the s-e-x – and who wouldn’t, with so many great steamy authors like that? – but I found so much more in this book. I found deep emotions, I found passion, I found excitement, but most of all I found LOVE in all its forms.
I just adored every one of these captivating novellas.
Sierra Simone’s and Helena Herrera’s are the first MM stories I ever read. I thought it would not be my cup of tea, so to speak, but instead I really enjoyed them very very much. Simone’s portrait of Peregrine and Sandy is brilliant and reminded me of the grumpy hero/sunshine heroine trope. I was amused by Sandy’s antics and Peregrine’s reaction to them, but also moved to tears by both characters’ desire to be loved for what they are.
As for Herrera’s novella, I was captivated by the story of an artist who’s in search of inspiration, but also of love, even if he still doesn’t know it. And Max is such an endearing character, so peculiar, so fragile, so lovable!
Nicola Davidson’s novella is great fun and a very steamy read, but there’s also tenderness beneath the façade. It’s basically the story of three people with different desires who are able to find each other and decide to share their life and not be bound by Society’s rules. Definitely one of her best!
As for Eva Leigh, she knows how to write about desire and passion! Her novella has wonderful graphic scenes, but the sexual tension is there even when her characters are simply talking to each other or just thinking about each other. She can evoke feelings with a turn of phrase and I really look forward to reading more of her.
Last but not least, Joanna Shupe pens a wonderful novella with a great heroine who finds herself in dire straits, but sees her new condition as an opportunity to grow. Eliza fights for her life and her sister’s health and becomes stronger in the process. So much so that the hero has to work very hard to convince her to trust him and let him help her! I really enjoyed the interaction between the characters in and outside the bedroom, and I also loved the fact that the hero is in love with Eliza’s mind even more than with her body and respects her greatly.
A thoroughly enjoyable read for lovers of steamy books with lots of feeling!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I must confess I came for the s-e-x – and who wouldn’t, with so many great steamy authors like that? – but I found so much more in this book. I found deep emotions, I found passion, I found excitement, but most of all I found LOVE in all its forms.
I just adored every one of these captivating novellas.
Sierra Simone’s and Helena Herrera’s are the first MM stories I ever read. I thought it would not be my cup of tea, so to speak, but instead I really enjoyed them very very much. Simone’s portrait of Peregrine and Sandy is brilliant and reminded me of the grumpy hero/sunshine heroine trope. I was amused by Sandy’s antics and Peregrine’s reaction to them, but also moved to tears by both characters’ desire to be loved for what they are.
As for Herrera’s novella, I was captivated by the story of an artist who’s in search of inspiration, but also of love, even if he still doesn’t know it. And Max is such an endearing character, so peculiar, so fragile, so lovable!
Nicola Davidson’s novella is great fun and a very steamy read, but there’s also tenderness beneath the façade. It’s basically the story of three people with different desires who are able to find each other and decide to share their life and not be bound by Society’s rules. Definitely one of her best!
As for Eva Leigh, she knows how to write about desire and passion! Her novella has wonderful graphic scenes, but the sexual tension is there even when her characters are simply talking to each other or just thinking about each other. She can evoke feelings with a turn of phrase and I really look forward to reading more of her.
Last but not least, Joanna Shupe pens a wonderful novella with a great heroine who finds herself in dire straits, but sees her new condition as an opportunity to grow. Eliza fights for her life and her sister’s health and becomes stronger in the process. So much so that the hero has to work very hard to convince her to trust him and let him help her! I really enjoyed the interaction between the characters in and outside the bedroom, and I also loved the fact that the hero is in love with Eliza’s mind even more than with her body and respects her greatly.
A thoroughly enjoyable read for lovers of steamy books with lots of feeling!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
ohladysamantha's review
Lost library hold and need to read two more of the stories Enjoyed what I got to.
natverse's review
dark
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
romancereadingreactions's review
4.0
Goodness, what an anthology! This was such a fun and steamy read, there really is something for everyone in here, though I shouldn't be surprised with such a fantastic group of authors!
It's actually surprising that these were all novellas because they all felt so well developed. The Last Crimes of Peregrine Hind had such a raw vulnerability to it, and Two Rakes for Mrs. Sparkwell is everything I could ever wish for if I was given a chance to have my way with a notorious rake and bare-knuckle boxer! A Rake, His Patron, & Their Muse had me thinking I need to edit my English countryside dreams, and Monsieur X was so utterly romantic and full of hope. Finally, Sold to the Duke was so full of strength and resiliency, and it had me emotional over math equations!
This is a fantastic way to discover new authors if you're unfamiliar with any of these wonderful women and their writing, and it's a great set to keep around when you're in the mood for a spicy treat!
Thank you so much to Candi Kane PR and the authors for the ARC!
It's actually surprising that these were all novellas because they all felt so well developed. The Last Crimes of Peregrine Hind had such a raw vulnerability to it, and Two Rakes for Mrs. Sparkwell is everything I could ever wish for if I was given a chance to have my way with a notorious rake and bare-knuckle boxer! A Rake, His Patron, & Their Muse had me thinking I need to edit my English countryside dreams, and Monsieur X was so utterly romantic and full of hope. Finally, Sold to the Duke was so full of strength and resiliency, and it had me emotional over math equations!
This is a fantastic way to discover new authors if you're unfamiliar with any of these wonderful women and their writing, and it's a great set to keep around when you're in the mood for a spicy treat!
Thank you so much to Candi Kane PR and the authors for the ARC!
saltycaroline's review
3.0
Overall this was a pretty disappointing anthology, though I will say Adriana Herrera and Joanna Shupe absolutely killed it. Sierra Simone's story was entertaining but not especially memorable, and I really didn't care for Eva Leigh's story. Nicola Davidson's writing style bothers me immensely, so hers was I'd say my least favorite of the bunch. I will also say I think I'm negatively biased, because so far I have yet to find erotica that I really enjoy–romance is more my thing than erotica, so that probably affected my enjoyment of this.
CW: sexual content, kidnapping, violence, emotional abuse, BDSM/kink, homophobia, death, grief, sexual assault
CW: sexual content, kidnapping, violence, emotional abuse, BDSM/kink, homophobia, death, grief, sexual assault
browningwithabook's review
emotional
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
That 4th story was a no for me after I saw “Daddy” 😂 the rest of the collection though? **Chef’s kiss**
forprd's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-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