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rjordan19's reviews
788 reviews
Barbarian's Redemption by Ruby Dixon
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
3.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: I don’t recall a lot, but probably a bit. It felt like a heavier story to me.
Perspective: First person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? I feel like a bit more character focused
When mains are first on page together:
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, pretty soon in the future
Format: borrowed library audiobook (Hoopla)
Should I read in order?
Ideally, yes. There’s been a lot of changes and world development over the series, as well as events referenced. Also Bek has been in a number of prior books and it will build his character (though maybe not in a good way, haha)
Basic plot:
Bek is tired of being mateless, and will do something that goes against everyone in the clan to resolve it.
Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- alien setting (Not Hoth)
- primitive lifestyle/survival themes
- alien hero/human heroine pairing
- you’re okay with quite a few content warnings including slavery, abuse, and child kidnapping
- slower burn – 3 full scenes but it’s after 70%
First line:
“Look alive, ladies,” Gail says softly in the corner of her cell.
My thoughts:
I struggled with this one. Maybe I took too long of a break in between this and the prior one? I barely remember who Bek is, though I guess that might be a good thing if he’s been a jerk in the prior books.
This one definitely has a more somber feel than some of the others. The heroine has a lot of trauma she is going through, understandably. And Bek just doesn’t GET IT for much of the story and that was really frustrating to see. To have him basically say and think things like, well I don’t get it or care but if everyone wants me to apologize then fine. I didn’t like that aspect to it and thought it went on a bit too long into the book. I wanted a turn around as soon as they got to the planet and he saw the shock collar.
As for his punishment, it was a bit weird that Vektal was so harsh with Raahosh but Bek only got ‘shunned’. I get it, the silent treatment can be psychologically damaging for sure, especially in a close knit clan like that, but it was just strange after reading the prior books and how they handled various male kidnapping behavior.
The ending picked up a bit for me and it ended happily. But overall it was a book I was rather happy to be done with and move on. I don’t think either Bek or Elle will be remembered strongly by me, though I was definitely curious about some of the women that arrived on the planet with Elle.
Cock/Hero Stats:
- horns
- blue skin
- extremely tall
- tail
- They have 4 fingers instead of 5
- They have a pinky sized bony protrusion at the base of their cock called a ‘spur’ used for clit or anal stimulation depending on position.
- Their cocks are hairless with velvety skin and darker blue than their blue skin.
- They have ridges on their tongues and cock
- Before they resonate, their semen is thinner and not as apt for baby making)
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- slavery is a big part of this story – the heroine was kidnapped and enslaved as a child, and then bought by the hero from slavery and kind of ‘freed’ though it takes him awhile to really get it.
- remembrance of abuse with former owners, being bit, suffering electric shock collars
- heroine has extreme trauma that results in not bathing, disordered and fearful eating, and mutism
- scenes of animal death, hunting, eating meat, and killing an animal to get the ‘cootie’ so the heroine and other women can survive on the planet
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex? No
74% - heroine self pleasure, fingering for her, hero self pleasure
“Even if you were not mine, I would think you beautiful.” His nose rubs against my cheek, his breath warm against my skin. “Soft, small, strong and so lovely.”
80% - brief remembered pleasure
85% - oral for her
“You’ve created a monster,” she agrees, tracing on finger along the arch of my horn.
“I wish to please my monster,” I tell her, and imagine laying her down on the furs, my mouth between her thighs. I want nothing more than this. Nothing.
94% - kisses, oral for her, missionary
I just bite down harder on the pillow, not trusting that I’ll be able to make coherent words at the moment.
He chuckles. “I think I shall find out for myself.” And with that, he gives me the first lick. Oh, god, his tongue, those ridges, his heat...I’m lost.
Readability: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: I don’t recall a lot, but probably a bit. It felt like a heavier story to me.
Perspective: First person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? I feel like a bit more character focused
When mains are first on page together:
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, pretty soon in the future
Format: borrowed library audiobook (Hoopla)
Should I read in order?
Ideally, yes. There’s been a lot of changes and world development over the series, as well as events referenced. Also Bek has been in a number of prior books and it will build his character (though maybe not in a good way, haha)
Basic plot:
Bek is tired of being mateless, and will do something that goes against everyone in the clan to resolve it.
Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- alien setting (Not Hoth)
- primitive lifestyle/survival themes
- alien hero/human heroine pairing
- you’re okay with quite a few content warnings including slavery, abuse, and child kidnapping
- slower burn – 3 full scenes but it’s after 70%
First line:
“Look alive, ladies,” Gail says softly in the corner of her cell.
My thoughts:
I struggled with this one. Maybe I took too long of a break in between this and the prior one? I barely remember who Bek is, though I guess that might be a good thing if he’s been a jerk in the prior books.
This one definitely has a more somber feel than some of the others. The heroine has a lot of trauma she is going through, understandably. And Bek just doesn’t GET IT for much of the story and that was really frustrating to see. To have him basically say and think things like, well I don’t get it or care but if everyone wants me to apologize then fine. I didn’t like that aspect to it and thought it went on a bit too long into the book. I wanted a turn around as soon as they got to the planet and he saw the shock collar.
As for his punishment, it was a bit weird that Vektal was so harsh with Raahosh but Bek only got ‘shunned’. I get it, the silent treatment can be psychologically damaging for sure, especially in a close knit clan like that, but it was just strange after reading the prior books and how they handled various male kidnapping behavior.
The ending picked up a bit for me and it ended happily. But overall it was a book I was rather happy to be done with and move on. I don’t think either Bek or Elle will be remembered strongly by me, though I was definitely curious about some of the women that arrived on the planet with Elle.
Cock/Hero Stats:
- horns
- blue skin
- extremely tall
- tail
- They have 4 fingers instead of 5
- They have a pinky sized bony protrusion at the base of their cock called a ‘spur’ used for clit or anal stimulation depending on position.
- Their cocks are hairless with velvety skin and darker blue than their blue skin.
- They have ridges on their tongues and cock
- Before they resonate, their semen is thinner and not as apt for baby making)
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- slavery is a big part of this story – the heroine was kidnapped and enslaved as a child, and then bought by the hero from slavery and kind of ‘freed’ though it takes him awhile to really get it.
- remembrance of abuse with former owners, being bit, suffering electric shock collars
- heroine has extreme trauma that results in not bathing, disordered and fearful eating, and mutism
- scenes of animal death, hunting, eating meat, and killing an animal to get the ‘cootie’ so the heroine and other women can survive on the planet
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex?
74% - heroine self pleasure, fingering for her, hero self pleasure
“Even if you were not mine, I would think you beautiful.” His nose rubs against my cheek, his breath warm against my skin. “Soft, small, strong and so lovely.”
80% - brief remembered pleasure
85% - oral for her
“You’ve created a monster,” she agrees, tracing on finger along the arch of my horn.
“I wish to please my monster,” I tell her, and imagine laying her down on the furs, my mouth between her thighs. I want nothing more than this. Nothing.
94% - kisses, oral for her, missionary
I just bite down harder on the pillow, not trusting that I’ll be able to make coherent words at the moment.
He chuckles. “I think I shall find out for myself.” And with that, he gives me the first lick. Oh, god, his tongue, those ridges, his heat...I’m lost.
The Scent of Snow by Giovanna Siniscalchi
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (She is a bit on the poetic side over explicit)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? a pretty balanced mix but maybe a bit more character focused
When mains are first on page together: Pretty soon in, chapter 2 or 11% (It’s a novella so it’s not too many pages in)
Cliffhanger: No, but the ending is a bit of a doozy regarding other characters (Cris, who will be getting a book in the future)
Epilogue: No
Format: read e-book version through kindle unlimited
Should I read in order?
This one is probably better after reading The Taste of Light, since it’s almost like an extended epilogue for that couple. And Pedro is a bit of a villain in the first book, The True Purpose of Vines, so reading the series in order would be delightful! Plus the mains from books 1 and 3 are side characters here. I think if I read this without the background, I wouldn’t get the same angst out of their relationship concerns.
Basic plot:
Anne tries to convince Pedro that a family is all she wants for Christmas
Give this a try if you want:
- 1874 time period
- Portugal setting in the countryside
- holiday house party
- age gap – the hero is 13 or so years older
- opposites attract – grump/sunshine vibes
- curse (a folktale about the bridge and a deal made)
- morally gray hero
- wanting a baby is a big plot point
- children in the story
- novella length
- higher steam – 3 scenes within a shorter page count – Siniscalchi’s scenes are fairly explicit on the foreplay, but penetration is very short and the scenes themselves are not overly long.
Ages:
- Heroine is 20 and hero is around 33
First line:
Pedro lifted his head from his correspondence as sunlight flooded the study, casting a warm glow on the Gobelin carpet.
My thoughts:
I find Siniscalchi’s writing so, so romantic. There is just something about her prose that is so beautiful. This novella ended up grabbing my heart and bringing back all my angsty, swoony thoughts about Pedro and Anne.
I do think this is better in order – being a novella, I think I wouldn’t care much about these mains without having read their story. But having read their story, I cared so much! I was drawn back into Pedro’s need to repress his darkness and see how maybe he’s protecting Anne a bit too much. Their relationship is so sweet and so special. I just love them.
Something I really adore are legends and folktales, maybe a touch of paranormal or magic – so I absolutely loved the addition of the mysterious murmuring river and the bridge here.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- mention of death and slaving
- parental death and grief mixed within a toxic family relationship
- missing children
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex: Hero withdraws for most scenes – safe sex/pregnancy is a main plot point of this story
12% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her, he gags and binds her wrists and does her from behind. Followed by another short scene
Her delicate jaw moved, adjusting to the foreign binding. Pedro clasped her wrists, holding them together in front of her. Silk slid against skin as he tied her.
She stood before him, waiting, submitting but not submissive, his downfall, his benediction, his angel.
59% - 🔥 blow job (incomplete), blindfold fun, light riding crop spanking, oral for her
He stood still, even blindfolded, fully alert.
She nudged his legs apart and shifted closer. With trembling fingers, she reached for the placket of his trousers.
“Ana.”
“You shouldn’t question my desires.”
91% - 🔥 bj (incomplete), her on top
Pedro tilted her head to the side, and for a second, he breathed the same air as her. “I would battle heaven and hell to keep you by my side.”
“You won’t have to. I’m here to stay.”
He traced her upper lip with his tongue. A taste was not enough, and he swept inside, craving more
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (She is a bit on the poetic side over explicit)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? a pretty balanced mix but maybe a bit more character focused
When mains are first on page together: Pretty soon in, chapter 2 or 11% (It’s a novella so it’s not too many pages in)
Cliffhanger: No, but the ending is a bit of a doozy regarding other characters (Cris, who will be getting a book in the future)
Epilogue: No
Format: read e-book version through kindle unlimited
Should I read in order?
This one is probably better after reading The Taste of Light, since it’s almost like an extended epilogue for that couple. And Pedro is a bit of a villain in the first book, The True Purpose of Vines, so reading the series in order would be delightful! Plus the mains from books 1 and 3 are side characters here. I think if I read this without the background, I wouldn’t get the same angst out of their relationship concerns.
Basic plot:
Anne tries to convince Pedro that a family is all she wants for Christmas
Give this a try if you want:
- 1874 time period
- Portugal setting in the countryside
- holiday house party
- age gap – the hero is 13 or so years older
- opposites attract – grump/sunshine vibes
- curse (a folktale about the bridge and a deal made)
- morally gray hero
- wanting a baby is a big plot point
- children in the story
- novella length
- higher steam – 3 scenes within a shorter page count – Siniscalchi’s scenes are fairly explicit on the foreplay, but penetration is very short and the scenes themselves are not overly long.
Ages:
- Heroine is 20 and hero is around 33
First line:
Pedro lifted his head from his correspondence as sunlight flooded the study, casting a warm glow on the Gobelin carpet.
My thoughts:
I find Siniscalchi’s writing so, so romantic. There is just something about her prose that is so beautiful. This novella ended up grabbing my heart and bringing back all my angsty, swoony thoughts about Pedro and Anne.
I do think this is better in order – being a novella, I think I wouldn’t care much about these mains without having read their story. But having read their story, I cared so much! I was drawn back into Pedro’s need to repress his darkness and see how maybe he’s protecting Anne a bit too much. Their relationship is so sweet and so special. I just love them.
Something I really adore are legends and folktales, maybe a touch of paranormal or magic – so I absolutely loved the addition of the mysterious murmuring river and the bridge here.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- mention of death and slaving
- parental death and grief mixed within a toxic family relationship
- missing children
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
12% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her, he gags and binds her wrists and does her from behind. Followed by another short scene
Her delicate jaw moved, adjusting to the foreign binding. Pedro clasped her wrists, holding them together in front of her. Silk slid against skin as he tied her.
She stood before him, waiting, submitting but not submissive, his downfall, his benediction, his angel.
59% - 🔥 blow job (incomplete), blindfold fun, light riding crop spanking, oral for her
He stood still, even blindfolded, fully alert.
She nudged his legs apart and shifted closer. With trembling fingers, she reached for the placket of his trousers.
“Ana.”
“You shouldn’t question my desires.”
91% - 🔥 bj (incomplete), her on top
Pedro tilted her head to the side, and for a second, he breathed the same air as her. “I would battle heaven and hell to keep you by my side.”
“You won’t have to. I’m here to stay.”
He traced her upper lip with his tongue. A taste was not enough, and he swept inside, craving more
Sign Here for Horns by V.K. Ludwig
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 (I wanted a bit more background on the characters)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: First person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? More character
When mains are first on page together: Almost immediately
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Not really, the last chapter kind of wraps up a bit though
Format: bought paperback
Should I read in order?
This is the first book in Ludwig’s Vandalar Concubines series.
Basic plot:
Lilly just wants help on the farm but ends up buying an alien concubine.
Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- alien setting (planet Agari II)
- 30+ divorced/widowed heroine
- alien hero / human heroine pairing
- light touch of language barrier in the beginning
- farmer heroine
- you have to be okay with content warnings for slavery (heroine owns the hero for part (most?) of the book)
- hero washes the heroine’s hair
- higher steam – 4 full scenes within a shorter page count (note the dubious consent due to the both the hero’s mating growl and the heroine being his owner)
Ages:
- Heroine is 31, didn’t catch hero
First line:
Ninety-something boobsweating degrees outside, and I’m the lunatic tugging my wool scarf higher.
My thoughts:
Oh my gosh the first half of this book was soooo good to me. I was so giddy reading it – the humor was hilarious and the steam was delicious. It had so many things I really love in romance. The light language barrier in the beginning. The first couple sex scenes were perfection to me. I really liked them both opening up to each other – they each have their own issues with trust and having a supportive environment.
The second half of the book slowed down for me a bit. And I did end up getting caught up on a few things. His slavery being first off. It lasted way too long into the book for me, and I really disliked how she had him wearing a collar on and off for most of the book. I know they had to build up trust around each other but I felt like it could have been changed a bit to eliminate that oppressive plot point and still held together the same way (maybe a bargain struck between them instead of a slave/owner relationship)
I did really like the writing and want to read more from Ludwig! This was my first by them.
Cock/Hero Stats:
- Hero is a Vandalar male
- braided hair, horns, tail with a claw at the tip
- the males cut and brand themselves to make themselves more enticing to females (hero has floral patterns over his chest and arms
- they have a mating growl that drives the females made with lust
- cock has ridges and protrusion at the base
- they have a mating bite that rouses their seed into making a baby
Quotes/thoughts: (Any mistakes are my own)
“Ei cain’d b’lieve ‘m doin this.”
My ears prick.
I spin around, heart pounding something ragged in my chest. Did the slaver deactivate the forcefield?
The female stands with her arms crossed in front of her chest, frowns lining her forehead. “Why ‘m ei gettn da slaive who jizzd on da floar?”
Her friend throws her hands up. “Cuz y’ar broak.”
“Right,” my female sighs.
My female.
---
“May I address her?” I take his grunt as a yes and turn toward my female. “You won’t regret this, woman. I’ve learned thousands of techniques to make you scream in pleasure. My hands, my tongue...it’s all yours. I won’t disappoint.”
Of course, she has no idea what I say.
That’s okay.
Tonight, I will prove myself worthy as her saikh, and tend to her primal urges like no male has ever done before. I will use my tongue to edge her to orgasm while I study her body’s reactions.
She tilts her head, eyes narrowed. “What’d ei say?”
The slaver sighs deeply, but smiles. “Hei said hei will werk hard.”
“Oah.” My female gives a nod of approval. “Good.”
“Yes,” I say and nod back. “In a few hours, you will scream my name.”
---
“Saikh?” Steph straightens her spine, breathing the remains of my growl out of her system. “What’s that exactly?”
“My sole purpose is to please my female,” I explain. “I cook. I clean. I converse. But mostly, I…” Vek them. Lick them. Spank them. Choke them. No, too direct. “Mostly, I do whatever it takes to bring them sexual pleasure and gratification.
---
“Don’t care about others. Only you.” Grabbing her hips, I flip her onto her stomach. “And I’m not done with you yet.”
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- slavery is a big point of this book – the hero is enslaved because he was turned away by 3 females on his planet. The heroine buys him and they have a slave/owner relationship for most of the book.
- abuse and trauma within slavery – the hero is basically a sex slave – he has had training to pleasure females and does wear a shock collar. He is desperate to please his owners
- there is a scene where the heroine has kept the hero’s collar on and it’s so bad it’s infected. And he wears it on and off through almost the whole book
- Poly sensitivity notice - I just wanted to point out there is a mention of ‘humans only taking one mate’ and also how the hero’s people will usually have poly relationships with many men and one woman and there is some fighting / jealousy and he was relieved to have 1 mate
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex? Heroine is on birth control
Pg 20 – 🔥 hero uses his mating growl on the heroine and she loses it, lust wise. This leads to oral for her on the couch
“That’s right.” Jax places my palms onto his shoulders, the scars decorating his skin raised and soft underneath my touch. “I will make you tremble against my mouth.”
He lifts his chin and guides my hands upward to where swirls start on his neck. Down a sculpted chest. Down across the ridged lines of muscle on his stomach, lower, lower, until they disappear underneath the towel.
Pg 54 – kiss
Pg 60 – 🔥 a bit of fear play, hand necklace, oral/fingering for her, doggy style
“Sure?”
A third nod. “Yes, I’m su-”
Jax grabs my throat with such force, my heart slams against my ribcage. He squeezes. Hard. One push and the back of my head presses against the cushion, his fingers clasping so tightly I stare at him in shock.
His hips bully my legs apart, and he lowers himself down, a tight ball forming from my guts. I suck in a sharp breath, adrenaline pumping through my veins like lava.
A spark of hunger ignites in his eyes as he whispers, “Fear. Right there in your belly.”
Pg 87 – a mention of past sex including a blow job (no details)
Pg 97 – 🔥 missionary
“I’m going to bury myself so deep inside you, there won’t be an inch on your body not knowing my touch.”
Pg 154 – 🔥 blow job (incomplete), fingering for her
“Do that lips bumping down my ridges thing,” I tug Lilly’s hand until she lowers to her knees. “Take me into your mouth.”
Total pages: 160
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 (I wanted a bit more background on the characters)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: First person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? More character
When mains are first on page together: Almost immediately
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Not really, the last chapter kind of wraps up a bit though
Format: bought paperback
Should I read in order?
This is the first book in Ludwig’s Vandalar Concubines series.
Basic plot:
Lilly just wants help on the farm but ends up buying an alien concubine.
Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- alien setting (planet Agari II)
- 30+ divorced/widowed heroine
- alien hero / human heroine pairing
- light touch of language barrier in the beginning
- farmer heroine
- you have to be okay with content warnings for slavery (heroine owns the hero for part (most?) of the book)
- hero washes the heroine’s hair
- higher steam – 4 full scenes within a shorter page count (note the dubious consent due to the both the hero’s mating growl and the heroine being his owner)
Ages:
- Heroine is 31, didn’t catch hero
First line:
Ninety-something boobsweating degrees outside, and I’m the lunatic tugging my wool scarf higher.
My thoughts:
Oh my gosh the first half of this book was soooo good to me. I was so giddy reading it – the humor was hilarious and the steam was delicious. It had so many things I really love in romance. The light language barrier in the beginning. The first couple sex scenes were perfection to me. I really liked them both opening up to each other – they each have their own issues with trust and having a supportive environment.
The second half of the book slowed down for me a bit. And I did end up getting caught up on a few things. His slavery being first off. It lasted way too long into the book for me, and I really disliked how she had him wearing a collar on and off for most of the book. I know they had to build up trust around each other but I felt like it could have been changed a bit to eliminate that oppressive plot point and still held together the same way (maybe a bargain struck between them instead of a slave/owner relationship)
I did really like the writing and want to read more from Ludwig! This was my first by them.
Cock/Hero Stats:
- Hero is a Vandalar male
- braided hair, horns, tail with a claw at the tip
- the males cut and brand themselves to make themselves more enticing to females (hero has floral patterns over his chest and arms
- they have a mating growl that drives the females made with lust
- cock has ridges and protrusion at the base
- they have a mating bite that rouses their seed into making a baby
Quotes/thoughts: (Any mistakes are my own)
“Ei cain’d b’lieve ‘m doin this.”
My ears prick.
I spin around, heart pounding something ragged in my chest. Did the slaver deactivate the forcefield?
The female stands with her arms crossed in front of her chest, frowns lining her forehead. “Why ‘m ei gettn da slaive who jizzd on da floar?”
Her friend throws her hands up. “Cuz y’ar broak.”
“Right,” my female sighs.
My female.
---
“May I address her?” I take his grunt as a yes and turn toward my female. “You won’t regret this, woman. I’ve learned thousands of techniques to make you scream in pleasure. My hands, my tongue...it’s all yours. I won’t disappoint.”
Of course, she has no idea what I say.
That’s okay.
Tonight, I will prove myself worthy as her saikh, and tend to her primal urges like no male has ever done before. I will use my tongue to edge her to orgasm while I study her body’s reactions.
She tilts her head, eyes narrowed. “What’d ei say?”
The slaver sighs deeply, but smiles. “Hei said hei will werk hard.”
“Oah.” My female gives a nod of approval. “Good.”
“Yes,” I say and nod back. “In a few hours, you will scream my name.”
---
“Saikh?” Steph straightens her spine, breathing the remains of my growl out of her system. “What’s that exactly?”
“My sole purpose is to please my female,” I explain. “I cook. I clean. I converse. But mostly, I…” Vek them. Lick them. Spank them. Choke them. No, too direct. “Mostly, I do whatever it takes to bring them sexual pleasure and gratification.
---
“Don’t care about others. Only you.” Grabbing her hips, I flip her onto her stomach. “And I’m not done with you yet.”
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- slavery is a big point of this book – the hero is enslaved because he was turned away by 3 females on his planet. The heroine buys him and they have a slave/owner relationship for most of the book.
- abuse and trauma within slavery – the hero is basically a sex slave – he has had training to pleasure females and does wear a shock collar. He is desperate to please his owners
- there is a scene where the heroine has kept the hero’s collar on and it’s so bad it’s infected. And he wears it on and off through almost the whole book
- Poly sensitivity notice - I just wanted to point out there is a mention of ‘humans only taking one mate’ and also how the hero’s people will usually have poly relationships with many men and one woman and there is some fighting / jealousy and he was relieved to have 1 mate
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex?
Pg 20 – 🔥 hero uses his mating growl on the heroine and she loses it, lust wise. This leads to oral for her on the couch
“That’s right.” Jax places my palms onto his shoulders, the scars decorating his skin raised and soft underneath my touch. “I will make you tremble against my mouth.”
He lifts his chin and guides my hands upward to where swirls start on his neck. Down a sculpted chest. Down across the ridged lines of muscle on his stomach, lower, lower, until they disappear underneath the towel.
Pg 54 – kiss
Pg 60 – 🔥 a bit of fear play, hand necklace, oral/fingering for her, doggy style
“Sure?”
A third nod. “Yes, I’m su-”
Jax grabs my throat with such force, my heart slams against my ribcage. He squeezes. Hard. One push and the back of my head presses against the cushion, his fingers clasping so tightly I stare at him in shock.
His hips bully my legs apart, and he lowers himself down, a tight ball forming from my guts. I suck in a sharp breath, adrenaline pumping through my veins like lava.
A spark of hunger ignites in his eyes as he whispers, “Fear. Right there in your belly.”
Pg 87 – a mention of past sex including a blow job (no details)
Pg 97 – 🔥 missionary
“I’m going to bury myself so deep inside you, there won’t be an inch on your body not knowing my touch.”
Pg 154 – 🔥 blow job (incomplete), fingering for her
“Do that lips bumping down my ridges thing,” I tug Lilly’s hand until she lowers to her knees. “Take me into your mouth.”
Total pages: 160
All I Wanted Was Sushi But I Got Abducted By Aliens Instead by Petra Palerno
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 (I feel like it was very plot focused and I didn’t know much about Opal as a person before her abduction)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥+
Humor: Oh, yes!
Perspective: First person from both hero and heroine (sometimes switching within the same chapter) (I think there’s like a chapter or two from a secondary character – Gra-eth (no idea how to spell that since I listened on audio))
More character focused or plot focused? Quite plot focused
When mains are first on page together: Almost immediately – first chapter
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after for the couple
Epilogue: Yes, 3 months later
Format: borrowed library audiobook (Hoopla)
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
This is the first book in Palerno’s Bubble Babes series.
Basic plot:
Opal is kidnapped and forced to dance for aliens entertainment when a traffic jam encounter changes her course in the best way.
Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- alien setting – it’s like a beach/party vibe planet
- curvy girl rep – described as huge hips, boobs and butt
- alien hero / human heroine
- class difference
- royalty – the hero is a prince
- very protective hero
- instalust
- size difference – he can comfortably rest his chin on the top of her head
- dirty talk
- double amnesia
- high tech setting
- fated mates
- higher steam – 6 scenes
First line:
I slam my foot hard into the space where I assume the alien’s balls will be, at the apex of his legs
My thoughts:
Yay for titled chapters! I seriously love those….
This book really caught my attention! The title, of course, is fun, but as I started listening I just found myself thinking it was so delightful! But also ridiculous. And unexpected in the best way. And a bit absurd? And so fucking sweet…
I just couldn’t predict this one and that was nice after reading so many kidnapped heroine you are now my mate alien romances. The steam was fun! The plot kind of crazy. It had a few things I maybe didn’t love, but overall it was so readable I just did not care. I will absolutely be reading more from this series!
Cock/Hero Stats:
- hero is humanoid with smooth gray skin, regal nose, brawny shoulders, blue eyes, and ears that go into a frill, white hair, and has gills
- 4 fingers
- he has a clit sucker that goes back door also
- he can breath underwater and give breath to others who need it
Endearments
The hero calls the heroine ‘little one’.
Quotes/thoughts: (Any mistakes are my own) more are under steamy scenes details at the end
“So, do you think I have an extra finger or are you missing one?” she giggles as she points out our small differences.
“It must be me who is at fault for I’ve never seen anything as perfect as you.”
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- kidnapping from earth
- forced shots that change hormones without consent and make them horny, forced to dance for others (basically enslaved)
- scenes of danger, death, murder on page, attempted murder, drowning…
- there is talk of an evil...species? They cause problems for the hero and heroine and there’s talk of basically taking out their whole race, genocide, which is rather disturbing
- poisoning
- parental death
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex? No
6% - 🔥 heroine masturbation that turns into voyeurism with the hero and a bit of a phone sex vibe? It’s like their communicators are connecting from different vehicles – which then turns into mutual masturbation.
“What’s your name, little human?” he asks.
I hesitate for a moment, but realize given the circumstances I’ve found myself in, telling a hot stranger my name is the least of my worries.
“Opal.”
“Opal. Do you want to come for me?” his mouth slowly smiles as he speaks.
27% - 🔥 fingering/oral for her
His voice softens, and he inhales as he leans close to me.
“Can I touch you?”
35% - 🔥 in the car – fingering for her, her on top
“I’ll be quiet as long as you promise to scream my name.”
51% - 🔥 blow job, while he’s restrained to a tree
Just as I’m about to ask her to cut me down, she drops to her knees in front of me and places her hands on my hips.
“Opal. What are you doing?” I ask.
“Giving you your reward.”
61% - 🔥 shower sex while the cruiser starts going really fast and presses them against the wall
“You think I can’t hold you down?” I ask her.
“Still mad that I kept you tied up?” Opal bites down softly on my finger. I smile and turn Opal to face the wall, maybe a little roughly after she brings up the bondage. The rows of jets sputters as they spray warm water down her body. I push her further down, putting her hips towards me.
75% - 🔥 exhibition wedding sex, followed by underwater sex not too far after
“I love you, you know. So fucking much.”
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 (I feel like it was very plot focused and I didn’t know much about Opal as a person before her abduction)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥+
Humor: Oh, yes!
Perspective: First person from both hero and heroine (sometimes switching within the same chapter) (I think there’s like a chapter or two from a secondary character – Gra-eth (no idea how to spell that since I listened on audio))
More character focused or plot focused? Quite plot focused
When mains are first on page together: Almost immediately – first chapter
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after for the couple
Epilogue: Yes, 3 months later
Format: borrowed library audiobook (Hoopla)
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
This is the first book in Palerno’s Bubble Babes series.
Basic plot:
Opal is kidnapped and forced to dance for aliens entertainment when a traffic jam encounter changes her course in the best way.
Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- alien setting – it’s like a beach/party vibe planet
- curvy girl rep – described as huge hips, boobs and butt
- alien hero / human heroine
- class difference
- royalty – the hero is a prince
- very protective hero
- instalust
- size difference – he can comfortably rest his chin on the top of her head
- dirty talk
- double amnesia
- high tech setting
- fated mates
- higher steam – 6 scenes
First line:
I slam my foot hard into the space where I assume the alien’s balls will be, at the apex of his legs
My thoughts:
Yay for titled chapters! I seriously love those….
This book really caught my attention! The title, of course, is fun, but as I started listening I just found myself thinking it was so delightful! But also ridiculous. And unexpected in the best way. And a bit absurd? And so fucking sweet…
I just couldn’t predict this one and that was nice after reading so many kidnapped heroine you are now my mate alien romances. The steam was fun! The plot kind of crazy. It had a few things I maybe didn’t love, but overall it was so readable I just did not care. I will absolutely be reading more from this series!
Cock/Hero Stats:
- hero is humanoid with smooth gray skin, regal nose, brawny shoulders, blue eyes, and ears that go into a frill, white hair, and has gills
- 4 fingers
- he has a clit sucker that goes back door also
- he can breath underwater and give breath to others who need it
Endearments
The hero calls the heroine ‘little one’.
Quotes/thoughts: (Any mistakes are my own) more are under steamy scenes details at the end
“So, do you think I have an extra finger or are you missing one?” she giggles as she points out our small differences.
“It must be me who is at fault for I’ve never seen anything as perfect as you.”
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- kidnapping from earth
- forced shots that change hormones without consent and make them horny, forced to dance for others (basically enslaved)
- scenes of danger, death, murder on page, attempted murder, drowning…
- there is talk of an evil...species? They cause problems for the hero and heroine and there’s talk of basically taking out their whole race, genocide, which is rather disturbing
- poisoning
- parental death
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex?
6% - 🔥 heroine masturbation that turns into voyeurism with the hero and a bit of a phone sex vibe? It’s like their communicators are connecting from different vehicles – which then turns into mutual masturbation.
“What’s your name, little human?” he asks.
I hesitate for a moment, but realize given the circumstances I’ve found myself in, telling a hot stranger my name is the least of my worries.
“Opal.”
“Opal. Do you want to come for me?” his mouth slowly smiles as he speaks.
27% - 🔥 fingering/oral for her
His voice softens, and he inhales as he leans close to me.
“Can I touch you?”
35% - 🔥 in the car – fingering for her, her on top
“I’ll be quiet as long as you promise to scream my name.”
51% - 🔥 blow job, while he’s restrained to a tree
Just as I’m about to ask her to cut me down, she drops to her knees in front of me and places her hands on my hips.
“Opal. What are you doing?” I ask.
“Giving you your reward.”
61% - 🔥 shower sex while the cruiser starts going really fast and presses them against the wall
“You think I can’t hold you down?” I ask her.
“Still mad that I kept you tied up?” Opal bites down softly on my finger. I smile and turn Opal to face the wall, maybe a little roughly after she brings up the bondage. The rows of jets sputters as they spray warm water down her body. I push her further down, putting her hips towards me.
75% - 🔥 exhibition wedding sex, followed by underwater sex not too far after
“I love you, you know. So fucking much.”
Sanctuary by Rebekah Weatherspoon
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋 (it was missing a bit of that emotional pull for me? But I rounded up)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥(At least 5, I may have missed some towards the end)
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: First person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? a bit more plot focused
When mains are first on page together: A bit in, chapter 4 or so
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, a few months later
Format: bought audiobook
Should I read in order?
I did not and found it fine. I’m not sure if or how the books in the series are related together (Let me know if you know!)
Basic plot:
Liz needs a safe place to hide for a bit and is offered a place at her friend’s brothers farm..
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- in hiding
- small town feel
- close proximity
- one bed
- pets – hero has 5 dogs
- fake relationship
- lawyer heroine
- farmer hero
- celibate hero
- higher steam – at least 5 full scenes and some kink elements (femdom, bondage, elements of control)
Ages:
- Hero is 35, didn’t catch heroine but would guess somewhat similar
First line:
It’s hot as fuck.
My thoughts:
I thought this one was...fine. I listened to the audio and did like the narration (though I struggled a bit with the female narrator’s male voices, but that’s pretty normal for me in audiobooks). I liked a lot of the tropes going on here – the small town feel, the close proximity, the fake relationship...and the steam was great but it just didn’t do it for me emotionally. Like there was just a bit missing – maybe because the heroine liked to be in control so much it felt more scripted? I’m not sure. Femdom isn’t a favorite for me, so it might have just been a disconnect there. Still I did like the writing style and would try another by Weatherspoon for sure.
I think those wanting an in control heroine with a fun small town, fake relationship setting will enjoy this. The dominatrix turned lawyer and the farmer 🤣
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- on page breaking and entering with intent to kill
- murder in self defense on page
- racism – police giving heroine a hard time/not believing/listening to her about her case
- heroine is fired over a sex tape being released
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex: Condoms used
Chapter 7 of 20 – Silas has a wet dream when they are sleeping together and she jerks him off
…it’s still a few more seconds before my brain processes that Silas’s arm is wrapped around my stomach, Silas’s mouth against the side of my neck...
Chapter 9 – She ties him to the bed and her on top sex
“Okay. I am ready.”
“I can see that.” The bulge in his jeans is straining to get out.
Chapter 10 – oral for her
“I want you again,” I tell her.
She swallows, then the tip of her tongue jets out again.
“I want to kiss those lips.”
Chapter 13 – sex tape – mutual masturbation play, then she lays on the bed and he grinds into her from behind
I hit record.
“Go stand right there,” I tell Silas, pointing to the foot of the bed.
Chapter 15 – oral for her, anal, BJ and handy in the car
“Should I just stop talking again?”
“No, you can talk, but it might be hard for you to say something when your mouth is full of my pussy.”
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋 (it was missing a bit of that emotional pull for me? But I rounded up)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥(At least 5, I may have missed some towards the end)
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: First person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? a bit more plot focused
When mains are first on page together: A bit in, chapter 4 or so
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, a few months later
Format: bought audiobook
Should I read in order?
I did not and found it fine. I’m not sure if or how the books in the series are related together (Let me know if you know!)
Basic plot:
Liz needs a safe place to hide for a bit and is offered a place at her friend’s brothers farm..
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- in hiding
- small town feel
- close proximity
- one bed
- pets – hero has 5 dogs
- fake relationship
- lawyer heroine
- farmer hero
- celibate hero
- higher steam – at least 5 full scenes and some kink elements (femdom, bondage, elements of control)
Ages:
- Hero is 35, didn’t catch heroine but would guess somewhat similar
First line:
It’s hot as fuck.
My thoughts:
I thought this one was...fine. I listened to the audio and did like the narration (though I struggled a bit with the female narrator’s male voices, but that’s pretty normal for me in audiobooks). I liked a lot of the tropes going on here – the small town feel, the close proximity, the fake relationship...and the steam was great but it just didn’t do it for me emotionally. Like there was just a bit missing – maybe because the heroine liked to be in control so much it felt more scripted? I’m not sure. Femdom isn’t a favorite for me, so it might have just been a disconnect there. Still I did like the writing style and would try another by Weatherspoon for sure.
I think those wanting an in control heroine with a fun small town, fake relationship setting will enjoy this. The dominatrix turned lawyer and the farmer 🤣
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- on page breaking and entering with intent to kill
- murder in self defense on page
- racism – police giving heroine a hard time/not believing/listening to her about her case
- heroine is fired over a sex tape being released
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
Chapter 7 of 20 – Silas has a wet dream when they are sleeping together and she jerks him off
…it’s still a few more seconds before my brain processes that Silas’s arm is wrapped around my stomach, Silas’s mouth against the side of my neck...
Chapter 9 – She ties him to the bed and her on top sex
“Okay. I am ready.”
“I can see that.” The bulge in his jeans is straining to get out.
Chapter 10 – oral for her
“I want you again,” I tell her.
She swallows, then the tip of her tongue jets out again.
“I want to kiss those lips.”
Chapter 13 – sex tape – mutual masturbation play, then she lays on the bed and he grinds into her from behind
I hit record.
“Go stand right there,” I tell Silas, pointing to the foot of the bed.
Chapter 15 – oral for her, anal, BJ and handy in the car
“Should I just stop talking again?”
“No, you can talk, but it might be hard for you to say something when your mouth is full of my pussy.”
A Lord's Guide to Mutiny, Marriage, and Mistletoe by Anne Knight
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? Maybe a bit more plot focused, but feels fairly equally balanced
When mains are first on page together: Not too far in, about 12% of the novella
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No, but you can get a steamy epilogue 30 years in the future? For newsletter sign ups.
Format: Voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book form
Should I read in order?
This is a stand alone novella (part of the How the Rake Stole Christmas novella set)
Basic plot:
Meredith runs into Lord Noel Frost during a flee from a Luddite meeting – not knowing he’s the very man she exchanged letters with during the war.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (1812)
- Yorkshire setting
- Luddite plot
- disability rep (hero) hero has hip issues and is missing two fingers from his hand from war
- tall hero – heroine’s head reaches his chin
- celibate hero
- brother’s friend
- war letters/epistolary (mostly off page, but some chapter headings feature sections of letters)
- widow heroine
- novella length
- class difference – lord hero (son of a Marquess) and cropper’s widow heroine
- holiday!
- soldier hero
- some elements of unrequited love (hero)
- GREAT author notes
- medium steam – 2 steam within a novella
Ages:
- Hero is 28, heroine is 23ish
First line:
Meredith Taylor Smith jolted from her seat at the table, startled by the men shouting downstairs.
My thoughts:
Oh, wow I adored this novella. Anne Knight is a new author, with a few novellas out, but this was my first by her and I will absolutely be following her writing journey!
First of all, this one had a Luddite centered plot that ended up really interesting me. I usually gravitate away from plots like these, preferring to focus on character and relationship centered romance without any political pull, but I found myself just fascinated with this one. I was researching on the side and on the edge of my seat with the real feeling of danger, the burn in my chest of right versus wrong and the fear for fellow humans quality of life.
But, but! Not only did Knight write a fascinating plot, but she put two absolutely wonderful characters within it and made me fall in love with them. She gave me some feels and longing, and so much sweetness between them. She gave me holiday cheer and the most adorable ending. She gave me holiday novella perfection.
Noel and Merry were amazing together. Noel’s unrequited longing for her really wrung my heart – the letters between them featured in the beginning of most chapters were one of my favorite parts. Merry is such a strong character and I loved how Noel really unites with her. We don’t have a battle between them or one bulldozing the other – we have two characters that united are even better and strong in the best way.
I also adored Knight’s steam. I really liked her writing style. Her author notes were detailed and eye opening. So, so eager to read more from her. She has another novella in The Regency Abduction Club so I’m going to have to grab that one that one too!
Endearments
The hero calls the heroine ‘love’ and ‘dearheart’
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:Any mistakes/typos are my own
When they are interrupted during their first kiss
Suddenly the man pulled back. His arms stayed around her, but he turned his head to look over her shoulder. “Bugger off,” he said in a distinct, clipped tone.
---
His arms wrapped around her and lifted, so she hung a good six inches off the ground. Merry squeaked and wrapped her arms around his neck, hanging on for dear life as she kissed him back. Dear lord, his man kissed with his whole body.
---
He’d carried her into the kitchen without her realizing. She settled on the wooden table, legs drawn up. She whined a little, reaching for him.
“Oh god, this is better than I imagined,” he groaned and bent over to fasten his lips to hers. He was kneeling now, and she had the higher ground. Her hands roamed through his hair, and his hands clasped her stockinged ankles, hot as a brand.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- mention of loss of husband three months prior
- war injuries for multiple characters, including missing limbs and fingers
- characters fight against unsafe labor practices
- heroine was married to someone twenty years her senior at the age of 21. The marriage wasn’t abusive but she was not loved in the relationship
- remembrance and scenes of violence, death
- fire and scenes of being trapped within
Author given content warnings:
Language: frequent
Sex: fully described sex with light dirty talk
Violence: on and off page, mention of death, unfair imprisonment, mention of war-related injuries, death threats
Other: mention of war, arson, execution, some ableism from antagonists
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex: Hero pulls out
14% - kiss
42% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her on the table
“It’s mistletoe,” she whispered.
“So it is,” he whispered back, eyes like blue flame.
66% - 🔥 kisses, must be quiet, fingering for her, bit of dirty talking heroine, missionary
”Are you eager?”
Merry withdrew her hands. “Do you dislike eager?”
“No.” His hands clasped hers. “I love eager.” He set her hands back to his cravat. “Show me you want me.”
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? Maybe a bit more plot focused, but feels fairly equally balanced
When mains are first on page together: Not too far in, about 12% of the novella
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No, but you can get a steamy epilogue 30 years in the future? For newsletter sign ups.
Format: Voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book form
Should I read in order?
This is a stand alone novella (part of the How the Rake Stole Christmas novella set)
Basic plot:
Meredith runs into Lord Noel Frost during a flee from a Luddite meeting – not knowing he’s the very man she exchanged letters with during the war.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (1812)
- Yorkshire setting
- Luddite plot
- disability rep (hero)
- tall hero – heroine’s head reaches his chin
- celibate hero
- brother’s friend
- war letters/epistolary (mostly off page, but some chapter headings feature sections of letters)
- widow heroine
- novella length
- class difference – lord hero (son of a Marquess) and cropper’s widow heroine
- holiday!
- soldier hero
- some elements of unrequited love (hero)
- GREAT author notes
- medium steam – 2 steam within a novella
Ages:
- Hero is 28, heroine is 23ish
First line:
Meredith Taylor Smith jolted from her seat at the table, startled by the men shouting downstairs.
My thoughts:
Oh, wow I adored this novella. Anne Knight is a new author, with a few novellas out, but this was my first by her and I will absolutely be following her writing journey!
First of all, this one had a Luddite centered plot that ended up really interesting me. I usually gravitate away from plots like these, preferring to focus on character and relationship centered romance without any political pull, but I found myself just fascinated with this one. I was researching on the side and on the edge of my seat with the real feeling of danger, the burn in my chest of right versus wrong and the fear for fellow humans quality of life.
But, but! Not only did Knight write a fascinating plot, but she put two absolutely wonderful characters within it and made me fall in love with them. She gave me some feels and longing, and so much sweetness between them. She gave me holiday cheer and the most adorable ending. She gave me holiday novella perfection.
Noel and Merry were amazing together. Noel’s unrequited longing for her really wrung my heart – the letters between them featured in the beginning of most chapters were one of my favorite parts. Merry is such a strong character and I loved how Noel really unites with her. We don’t have a battle between them or one bulldozing the other – we have two characters that united are even better and strong in the best way.
I also adored Knight’s steam. I really liked her writing style. Her author notes were detailed and eye opening. So, so eager to read more from her. She has another novella in The Regency Abduction Club so I’m going to have to grab that one that one too!
Endearments
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:Any mistakes/typos are my own
When they are interrupted during their first kiss
Suddenly the man pulled back. His arms stayed around her, but he turned his head to look over her shoulder. “Bugger off,” he said in a distinct, clipped tone.
---
His arms wrapped around her and lifted, so she hung a good six inches off the ground. Merry squeaked and wrapped her arms around his neck, hanging on for dear life as she kissed him back. Dear lord, his man kissed with his whole body.
---
He’d carried her into the kitchen without her realizing. She settled on the wooden table, legs drawn up. She whined a little, reaching for him.
“Oh god, this is better than I imagined,” he groaned and bent over to fasten his lips to hers. He was kneeling now, and she had the higher ground. Her hands roamed through his hair, and his hands clasped her stockinged ankles, hot as a brand.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- mention of loss of husband three months prior
- war injuries for multiple characters, including missing limbs and fingers
- characters fight against unsafe labor practices
- heroine was married to someone twenty years her senior at the age of 21. The marriage wasn’t abusive but she was not loved in the relationship
- remembrance and scenes of violence, death
- fire and scenes of being trapped within
Author given content warnings:
Language: frequent
Sex: fully described sex with light dirty talk
Violence: on and off page, mention of death, unfair imprisonment, mention of war-related injuries, death threats
Other: mention of war, arson, execution, some ableism from antagonists
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
14% - kiss
42% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her on the table
“It’s mistletoe,” she whispered.
“So it is,” he whispered back, eyes like blue flame.
66% - 🔥 kisses, must be quiet, fingering for her, bit of dirty talking heroine, missionary
”Are you eager?”
Merry withdrew her hands. “Do you dislike eager?”
“No.” His hands clasped hers. “I love eager.” He set her hands back to his cravat. “Show me you want me.”
Duke the Halls by Felicity Niven
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
When mains are first on page together: Immediately
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book form
Should I read in order?
This is a prequel novella to the Bed Me Books series.
Basic plot:
So I usually throw together my own thoughts on plot but I adored this opening SO MUCH that I’m just going to put it here…
The Duke of Kittredge is the rarest of men – a wealthy, tall and still-unmarried duke at the age of thrity-one. As such, he’s perennially at the top of the “Most Eligible Bachelor” list of the ton. And yet, he’s never gotten close to landing a wife. Young ladies don’t seem to like him. Scratch that. They revile him. And he’s in complete sympathy with their opinion of him.
Because he is, without questions, an insufferable clodpole.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1817
- Duke hero
- heroine loves Christmas
- celibate herothree years
- neologisms!
- opposites attract – bit of sunshine and grump feel
- hero has dimples
- bargain – for letting Franny and her brother stay for Christmas, she’ll help Kit with his lady problem
- bearded hero
- bit of a reverse sex lessons vibe
- novella length
- medium steam – 2 full scenes, though on is in the epilogue (in a novella length)
Ages:
- Hero is 31, didn’t catch heroine
First line:
No, no, no, no.
My thoughts:
This novella was just THE BEST. Really. I think this might be my favorite thing I’ve read all year. It was just delightful. Hilarious. Unique characters. And lots of hero perspective which is my favorite!
I found myself highlighting lines left and right – I just couldn’t get enough of these two. Their playful banter. I ate up how badly Kit wanted Franny but was rather clueless about how to behave. I adored being in his head and seeing him sort through those emotions and become a man worthy of her. But..it wasn’t just these two. It was the entire thing. Niven’s writing style has really grabbed me with this series and this one was just one of those books that the writing pulled me in and held me there in a cozy embrace. I like plenty of books, but rarely do I feel a book was an absolute pleasure to read cover to cover. This one hit that for me. It’s such a gem.
The time spent on kisses in this one is much appreciated by me – I adore first kisses and the fact that there’s some teaching elements in this one really makes Kit have some self reflection and he melted me with his thoughts about pleasing Franny. Still riding my high from Bed Me, Earl, I had no idea Niven would come by with another novel that leaves me grinning ear to ear and feeling giddy so soon. 😍
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:Any mistakes/typos are my own
She untied her boots. “Do you want to please me because I’m your teacher and you’re a good pupil?”
He scoffed.
“Or are you a selfish pig-widgeon and you think pleasing me will get you what you want?”
“I’m a selfish pig-widgeon.”
---
“Thank you,” she blurted.
The man nodded.
Oh. He hadn’t been angry at her for laughing. Smoldering was just his natural expression. And his blue-gray eyes now made her feel quite warm despite the chilly day.
---
“I’ve been in my stays for over a day. Fell asleep without taking them off. Would you mind...that is, would it bother you if I removed them?”
Every bit of blood in his head rushed to his cock and all he saw was red. Red nipples. His mouth went dry and his lips stuck to his teeth. Air could not enter his lungs.
But still, he tried to sound as if he discussed women’s undergarments, or the lack of them, all the time. “No. It wouldn’t bother. Me.”
It came out as a growl. But better that than a whimper.
---
“What’s next?”
“Kissing.”
Suddenly, he crowded her and her back was against the music room’s priceless, elaborate mural. Each of Kit’s enormous hands were flat on the painted wall on either side of her head, his arms caging her in. His breath, sweet with whisky and ginger biscuits, warmed her face.
---
He pushed away ‘arsehole’ and ‘clodpole’ and ‘I want to tup you’ and kept her words in his mind: you’re beautiful, I cherish you, I adore you.
He trembled himself now. He turned his head slightly, bent his head down, and put his lips to hers. You’re beautiful, I cherish you, I adore you.
---
Just before he ended the kiss, he licked the seam of her lips oh-so-very lightly. And she just very slightly parted her lips for him as he did so.
Ah. Good God. She must feel his cockstand pressing against her now.
He put his forehead to hers, not letting go of her. “I’m sorry about…”
She smiled. “Your maypole? I’m not. You flatterer, you.”
---
“Your buttocks are breathtakingly gorgeous,” he said. “Your buttocks derange me. They drive me mad.”
He heard a giggle. “You can’t blame my buttocks for that.”
He stepped up to her backside and pressed himself to her, his cock against her lower back. “You feel my derangement?”
She took in a shaky breath. “Is that your pet name for it?”
---
Was he pleasing her? She was so much quieter than he had expected. He was used to a woman making all kinds of sounds before and during the act. Loud yelps. Shouted oaths. Screaming.
---
“Give me the beast. Like when you carried me up the stairs and threw me on the bed. Fuck me like you wanted to then.”
He hesitated. She hadn’t liked that before. Was she trying to please him?
The next word came out on a deep, gutteral groan. “Now.”
He did his best. His bollocks were aching for release so he let every primitive part of him give power to his thrusts.
A growl burned in his chest and rose up and out of him with his grunts.
You’re beautiful. I adore fucking you. I fucking adore you. I fuck you. Mine.
---
He was sobbing and being put in a chair and Bevel was trying to lick his face and someone was shoving a whisky in his hand and he heard Dagenham saying ‘Lady Francesca’ and ‘has a terrible tendre’ and ‘never seen him like this’.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- alluded to assault/harassment on a state coach
- death of parents
- loss of title due to Catholic marriage not being recognized
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex: Hero pulls out (and has been celibate for almost 3 years)
39% - on page but short and a bit fantasy based/alluded to hero self pleasure
66% - 🔥kisses, touches, fingering for her, missionary
“Your buttocks are breathtakingly gorgeous,” he said. “Your buttocks derange me. They drive me mad.”
He heard a giggle. “You can’t blame my buttocks for that.”
He stepped up to her backside and pressed himself to her, his cock against her lower back. “You feel my derangement?”
She took in a shaky breath. “Is that your pet name for it?”
85% - kisses
89% - 🔥sit on my face oral for her
“Come here.” He roughly grabbed and dragged and she giggled until he got her upright, suspended above his face, her knees on either side of his head.
She looked down. “Kit?”
“Take hold of the headboard. The duke wants his dessert. Now.”
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
When mains are first on page together: Immediately
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book form
Should I read in order?
This is a prequel novella to the Bed Me Books series.
Basic plot:
So I usually throw together my own thoughts on plot but I adored this opening SO MUCH that I’m just going to put it here…
The Duke of Kittredge is the rarest of men – a wealthy, tall and still-unmarried duke at the age of thrity-one. As such, he’s perennially at the top of the “Most Eligible Bachelor” list of the ton. And yet, he’s never gotten close to landing a wife. Young ladies don’t seem to like him. Scratch that. They revile him. And he’s in complete sympathy with their opinion of him.
Because he is, without questions, an insufferable clodpole.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1817
- Duke hero
- heroine loves Christmas
- celibate hero
- neologisms!
- opposites attract – bit of sunshine and grump feel
- hero has dimples
- bargain – for letting Franny and her brother stay for Christmas, she’ll help Kit with his lady problem
- bearded hero
- bit of a reverse sex lessons vibe
- novella length
- medium steam – 2 full scenes, though on is in the epilogue (in a novella length)
Ages:
- Hero is 31, didn’t catch heroine
First line:
No, no, no, no.
My thoughts:
This novella was just THE BEST. Really. I think this might be my favorite thing I’ve read all year. It was just delightful. Hilarious. Unique characters. And lots of hero perspective which is my favorite!
I found myself highlighting lines left and right – I just couldn’t get enough of these two. Their playful banter. I ate up how badly Kit wanted Franny but was rather clueless about how to behave. I adored being in his head and seeing him sort through those emotions and become a man worthy of her. But..it wasn’t just these two. It was the entire thing. Niven’s writing style has really grabbed me with this series and this one was just one of those books that the writing pulled me in and held me there in a cozy embrace. I like plenty of books, but rarely do I feel a book was an absolute pleasure to read cover to cover. This one hit that for me. It’s such a gem.
The time spent on kisses in this one is much appreciated by me – I adore first kisses and the fact that there’s some teaching elements in this one really makes Kit have some self reflection and he melted me with his thoughts about pleasing Franny. Still riding my high from Bed Me, Earl, I had no idea Niven would come by with another novel that leaves me grinning ear to ear and feeling giddy so soon. 😍
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:Any mistakes/typos are my own
She untied her boots. “Do you want to please me because I’m your teacher and you’re a good pupil?”
He scoffed.
“Or are you a selfish pig-widgeon and you think pleasing me will get you what you want?”
“I’m a selfish pig-widgeon.”
---
“Thank you,” she blurted.
The man nodded.
Oh. He hadn’t been angry at her for laughing. Smoldering was just his natural expression. And his blue-gray eyes now made her feel quite warm despite the chilly day.
---
“I’ve been in my stays for over a day. Fell asleep without taking them off. Would you mind...that is, would it bother you if I removed them?”
Every bit of blood in his head rushed to his cock and all he saw was red. Red nipples. His mouth went dry and his lips stuck to his teeth. Air could not enter his lungs.
But still, he tried to sound as if he discussed women’s undergarments, or the lack of them, all the time. “No. It wouldn’t bother. Me.”
It came out as a growl. But better that than a whimper.
---
“What’s next?”
“Kissing.”
Suddenly, he crowded her and her back was against the music room’s priceless, elaborate mural. Each of Kit’s enormous hands were flat on the painted wall on either side of her head, his arms caging her in. His breath, sweet with whisky and ginger biscuits, warmed her face.
---
He pushed away ‘arsehole’ and ‘clodpole’ and ‘I want to tup you’ and kept her words in his mind: you’re beautiful, I cherish you, I adore you.
He trembled himself now. He turned his head slightly, bent his head down, and put his lips to hers. You’re beautiful, I cherish you, I adore you.
---
Just before he ended the kiss, he licked the seam of her lips oh-so-very lightly. And she just very slightly parted her lips for him as he did so.
Ah. Good God. She must feel his cockstand pressing against her now.
He put his forehead to hers, not letting go of her. “I’m sorry about…”
She smiled. “Your maypole? I’m not. You flatterer, you.”
---
“Your buttocks are breathtakingly gorgeous,” he said. “Your buttocks derange me. They drive me mad.”
He heard a giggle. “You can’t blame my buttocks for that.”
He stepped up to her backside and pressed himself to her, his cock against her lower back. “You feel my derangement?”
She took in a shaky breath. “Is that your pet name for it?”
---
Was he pleasing her? She was so much quieter than he had expected. He was used to a woman making all kinds of sounds before and during the act. Loud yelps. Shouted oaths. Screaming.
---
“Give me the beast. Like when you carried me up the stairs and threw me on the bed. Fuck me like you wanted to then.”
He hesitated. She hadn’t liked that before. Was she trying to please him?
The next word came out on a deep, gutteral groan. “Now.”
He did his best. His bollocks were aching for release so he let every primitive part of him give power to his thrusts.
A growl burned in his chest and rose up and out of him with his grunts.
You’re beautiful. I adore fucking you. I fucking adore you. I fuck you. Mine.
---
He was sobbing and being put in a chair and Bevel was trying to lick his face and someone was shoving a whisky in his hand and he heard Dagenham saying ‘Lady Francesca’ and ‘has a terrible tendre’ and ‘never seen him like this’.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- alluded to assault/harassment on a state coach
- death of parents
- loss of title due to Catholic marriage not being recognized
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
39% - on page but short and a bit fantasy based/alluded to hero self pleasure
66% - 🔥kisses, touches, fingering for her, missionary
“Your buttocks are breathtakingly gorgeous,” he said. “Your buttocks derange me. They drive me mad.”
He heard a giggle. “You can’t blame my buttocks for that.”
He stepped up to her backside and pressed himself to her, his cock against her lower back. “You feel my derangement?”
She took in a shaky breath. “Is that your pet name for it?”
85% - kisses
89% - 🔥sit on my face oral for her
“Come here.” He roughly grabbed and dragged and she giggled until he got her upright, suspended above his face, her knees on either side of his head.
She looked down. “Kit?”
“Take hold of the headboard. The duke wants his dessert. Now.”
It Had to Be a Duke by Vivienne Lorret
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Overall: 4.5 rounded ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑 (The first scene is a bit shorter)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes!
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
When mains are first on page together: Pretty soon in – about 8%
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy through NetGalley
Should I read in order?
This is the first book of Lorret’s The Liar’s Club.
Basic plot:
When the needling of Verity’s nemesis, who she has named The Tick, becomes too much, she tells a whopper of a lie. That she’s engaged. To a Duke. That is her family’s enemy...
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (my assumption)
- country and London setting (about half and half)
- ‘plain’ heroine
- anxiety rep (heroine)
- fake engagement – heroine tells a wallop of a lie and announces her betrothal to the Duke of Longhurst to a nemesis
- rival families vibes – the hero’s family severed ties with the heroine’s after a swindle that ended with the loss of the hero’s father’s fortune
- I would say it’s enemies to lovers? But definitely has that vibe – frenemies?
- elements of close proximity – the hero’s grandmother asks him to spend a week paying court to the heroine to help drive the scandal down of a broken betrothal (make it more believable) and then in the latter half brings the heroine to London as her companion so they are in the house together again.
- other woman aspects – the hero is * almost * engaged to someone else – he is courting her and there is an implied understanding
Ages:
- Heroine is 25 – I’m not sure about the hero but would guess around 30?
First line:
At the time, climbing out of the window seemed like the only practical option.
My thoughts:
Oh Vivienne Lorret just checks sooo many of my romance boxes every time! I enjoyed so much about this novel, but it had a few minors things I would have maybe preferred went a bit different.
The humor in this one I thought was perfection. It was just fun. Verity’s family of actors was such a joy. The closeness of the family (though Verity feels on the outside, you can still see the bond between her and parents, and her siblings – it is a special family dynamic) was appreciated by me – and yes there are some issues and some past trauma – her family is very...chaotic but overall so lovable.
Magnus’ grandmother is another character that I have a soft spot for. The feisty matriarch that tries pulling some strings behind the scenes, I love it.
Verity herself is one of those heroine’s that I just fell in love with. So full of life – the hero calls her feral and I felt I could just related to her and wanted to be her friend so badly. So, so caring and vulnerable.
Magnus took me a bit longer to come around to. He’s more closed off and starchy and definitely an opposite feel from Verity. And she just breaks down all his walls until he’s doing things that surprise himself, thinking things he’s coached himself not to, and wanting a love that is not at all a part of his well planned out life.
There’s something so swoony to me about Lorret’s writing. So many parts I pause over and savor and want to highlight. Their relationship was so much fun for me to read.
I am not a big fan of when one character is kind of ‘promised’ to another, or there’s other woman drama, but in this book all of that worked in a way that didn’t bother me. There wasn’t a ton of drama from it and it provided a bit of angst and uncertainty to their relationship.
I did think there was a part in the middle that drug a bit for me (it felt a bit slow in some parts), I do wish the steam was just a touch higher (2 scenes just felt kind of low here?? Maybe because the tension was so good) and the end where Verity made her feelings known I was pretty frustrated along with her lack of action – BUT the actual ending I thought was adorable and it brought a smile to my face.
I cannot wait for more in this series. Lorret has become one of my favorite HR authors. I’m going to have to read all her books I’ve missed while waiting for the next release.
Endearments
Hero calls the heroine ‘darling’ and ‘wildling’.
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts: Any mistakes/typos are my own
Then those gazes would drift to Verity and...discreetly fall away in obvious disappointment.
She referred to that as the last grape look. It was the look one gave to the squished violet globe at the bottom of the fruit bowl, after it had fallen from the stem and tumbled through the cracks between heaped oranges, pears and persimmons, left forgotten until an unsightly green fuzz formed on its skin.
Though, as far as Verity knew, she did not have an unsightly green fuzz on her skin. At least, not yet.
---
Then again, he was a veritable beast of a man, powerfully built in a way that wasn’t typical for a gentleman. At least, the ones she’d met. Though, strangely enough it wasn’t his size that made him intimidating, but the way he carried himself.
The tick. I am dying
The dinner was in six days. The Tick left for Londong in seven.
One week. That was all she needed. Just one week of letting this lie run wild. Then when the Tick was gone and too far away to snicker in her face, Verity would set everything rights.
---
There wasn’t any way she could hold on. Her arms were already slipping, legs whisking in the air.
“I’ve got you,” the duke said.
In that same instant she felt a strong hand curve around her calf to the back of her knee, past her garter ribbons and the ruffle trim of her drawers to her-
Oh, he is SEEING her and I love it
He continued as if he hadn’t heard her. “Your hair is a different color – nay, colors, for there are shades from barley wheat to chestnut with strands of burnished gold and cornsilk...”
I find these little things so utterly romantic. Yes. Linger over the letter. Stroke the letter. Keep the letter….
“You appeared to be reading something that pleased you. I thought it might have been a missive from your Miss Snow.”
“What, this?” he asked when she glanced to the card in his other hand. He quickly tucked it against his palm, disliking the unfounded rise of guilt he felt in the pit of his stomach. “This is nothing.”
And to prove it, he strode to the marble hearth, prepated to toss it into the fire. But as he held it over flames that licked hungrily over the three logs resting in the grate, the ink seemed to capture the light, inviting him to read the scrawl once more.
I adore tension building like this. The focus on each other
It wasn’t until that moment that he realized her shawl had slipped, giving way to the petal softness of her bare skin beneath his fingers and palms. And in the very same moment, he also realized that his thumb was stroking that very skin in gentle sweeps.
Dumbfounded by his own actions, he simply stared at the back-and-forth motion, his flesh swarthy and labor-roughened, hers pale and perfect. The barest shade of pink emerged beneath his touch.
Then his gaze drifted to her parted lips, to the flush blooming on her cheeks and to the question suspended in those unfathomable eyes.
----
Because of that-along with a rather traumatizing sock puppet show with the bumbling, droopy and lisping Lord Flaccid, and his alter ego the suave, athletic and much taller Lord Turgid – Verity had decided that it wouldn’t be altogether terrible to remain a spinster.
Give me all the jealousy
But he spoke first, goading her, looming beside her. “Surely, a woman of nearly six and twenty with her thoughts on the arts would summon someone she was attracted to. Now who could that be, I wonder.” Was it her imagination, or had his voice developed a rough edge? There was certainly a bite to his next words. “Another man in the village? A tenant, perhaps? A certain Mr. Law-”
“It was you. There! Are you satisfied? I pictured you naked,” she admitted just to shut him up.
And it worked, too.
---
Hell, you’re practically feral, climbing trees and whatnot, forever out of doors without proper attire, hair disheveled with strands in five hundred different hues, and don't even get me started on those changeable eyes of yours…”
---
He looked fierce, eyes blazing. And he didn’t wait for her to grasp his hand. Instead, he reached out, took her by the shoulders and lifted her.
“How dare y-”
He crushed his mouth to hers, silencing the last syllable on a deep growl.
---
“Regardless,” he said, “it is a man’s duty to prepare for the worst.”
“Which is precisely what you tell yourself before you look in the mirror each morning.”
“Peering through my keyhole, are you? I’m not surprised. Everywhere I turn, you are always there. Never giving me a moment’s peace.”
“Me? I have been avoiding you like the plague.”
“If these past days speak of your efforts, then the black death is surely upon me.”
---
Just a little longer, he told himself. And I won’t, absolutely will not, slide my hand along her ribcage to cup her full, lush breasts – damn he was already doing it. Well, I won’t caress – he cursed again as she thrust the perfect weight into his palm and made the most deliciously needy sounds.
He was helpless to resist.
Nevertheless, he told himself as his lips coasted down her throat, I will not unbutton her dressing gown. At least, not all the way. Very well, I’ll just try not the notice the inviting dusky peaks outlined through the thin cambric….
I LOVE when the heroes keep trinkets
She opened the book wider and saw a slender ribbon nestled against the margin. It took her a moment. Then she recalled throwing this very thing at him in this room. But no. It couldn’t be. “Is this...my hair ribbon?”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- some scenes of anxiety
- financially irresponsible father that put responsibility onto the hero
- bullying of the heroine including locking in a closet
- child abuse (heroine, by the governess)
- some scenes of danger, threatening with a gun including a gunshot wound
- death of family member
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex: No
39% - kiss
41% - kiss
67% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her on the sofa
It let something loose inside of him. Something raw and feral.
A garbled, indecipherable sound rumbled in his throat as his hands delved into the untamed tresses that had escaped her plait.
83% - 🔥 kisses, oral on the desk, missionary
“And just what do you intend to do with that,” she asked – or croaked, rather – ash she inched backward on the bed.
His grin was positively feral as his hungry eyes raked down her body. Then he prowled after her, his muscular shoulders rolling sinuously. “Wicked things.”
Snatching her foot, he dragged her underneath him. She made a half-hearted attempt to escape, but ended up having her hands pinned to the mattress above her head.
87% - implied blow job
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑 (The first scene is a bit shorter)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes!
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
When mains are first on page together: Pretty soon in – about 8%
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy through NetGalley
Should I read in order?
This is the first book of Lorret’s The Liar’s Club.
Basic plot:
When the needling of Verity’s nemesis, who she has named The Tick, becomes too much, she tells a whopper of a lie. That she’s engaged. To a Duke. That is her family’s enemy...
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (my assumption)
- country and London setting (about half and half)
- ‘plain’ heroine
- anxiety rep (heroine)
- fake engagement – heroine tells a wallop of a lie and announces her betrothal to the Duke of Longhurst to a nemesis
- rival families vibes – the hero’s family severed ties with the heroine’s after a swindle that ended with the loss of the hero’s father’s fortune
- I would say it’s enemies to lovers? But definitely has that vibe – frenemies?
- elements of close proximity – the hero’s grandmother asks him to spend a week paying court to the heroine to help drive the scandal down of a broken betrothal (make it more believable) and then in the latter half brings the heroine to London as her companion so they are in the house together again.
- other woman aspects – the hero is * almost * engaged to someone else – he is courting her and there is an implied understanding
Ages:
- Heroine is 25 – I’m not sure about the hero but would guess around 30?
First line:
At the time, climbing out of the window seemed like the only practical option.
My thoughts:
Oh Vivienne Lorret just checks sooo many of my romance boxes every time! I enjoyed so much about this novel, but it had a few minors things I would have maybe preferred went a bit different.
The humor in this one I thought was perfection. It was just fun. Verity’s family of actors was such a joy. The closeness of the family (though Verity feels on the outside, you can still see the bond between her and parents, and her siblings – it is a special family dynamic) was appreciated by me – and yes there are some issues and some past trauma – her family is very...chaotic but overall so lovable.
Magnus’ grandmother is another character that I have a soft spot for. The feisty matriarch that tries pulling some strings behind the scenes, I love it.
Verity herself is one of those heroine’s that I just fell in love with. So full of life – the hero calls her feral and I felt I could just related to her and wanted to be her friend so badly. So, so caring and vulnerable.
Magnus took me a bit longer to come around to. He’s more closed off and starchy and definitely an opposite feel from Verity. And she just breaks down all his walls until he’s doing things that surprise himself, thinking things he’s coached himself not to, and wanting a love that is not at all a part of his well planned out life.
There’s something so swoony to me about Lorret’s writing. So many parts I pause over and savor and want to highlight. Their relationship was so much fun for me to read.
I am not a big fan of when one character is kind of ‘promised’ to another, or there’s other woman drama, but in this book all of that worked in a way that didn’t bother me. There wasn’t a ton of drama from it and it provided a bit of angst and uncertainty to their relationship.
I did think there was a part in the middle that drug a bit for me (it felt a bit slow in some parts), I do wish the steam was just a touch higher (2 scenes just felt kind of low here?? Maybe because the tension was so good) and the end where Verity made her feelings known I was pretty frustrated along with her lack of action – BUT the actual ending I thought was adorable and it brought a smile to my face.
I cannot wait for more in this series. Lorret has become one of my favorite HR authors. I’m going to have to read all her books I’ve missed while waiting for the next release.
Endearments
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts: Any mistakes/typos are my own
Then those gazes would drift to Verity and...discreetly fall away in obvious disappointment.
She referred to that as the last grape look. It was the look one gave to the squished violet globe at the bottom of the fruit bowl, after it had fallen from the stem and tumbled through the cracks between heaped oranges, pears and persimmons, left forgotten until an unsightly green fuzz formed on its skin.
Though, as far as Verity knew, she did not have an unsightly green fuzz on her skin. At least, not yet.
---
Then again, he was a veritable beast of a man, powerfully built in a way that wasn’t typical for a gentleman. At least, the ones she’d met. Though, strangely enough it wasn’t his size that made him intimidating, but the way he carried himself.
The tick. I am dying
The dinner was in six days. The Tick left for Londong in seven.
One week. That was all she needed. Just one week of letting this lie run wild. Then when the Tick was gone and too far away to snicker in her face, Verity would set everything rights.
---
There wasn’t any way she could hold on. Her arms were already slipping, legs whisking in the air.
“I’ve got you,” the duke said.
In that same instant she felt a strong hand curve around her calf to the back of her knee, past her garter ribbons and the ruffle trim of her drawers to her-
Oh, he is SEEING her and I love it
He continued as if he hadn’t heard her. “Your hair is a different color – nay, colors, for there are shades from barley wheat to chestnut with strands of burnished gold and cornsilk...”
I find these little things so utterly romantic. Yes. Linger over the letter. Stroke the letter. Keep the letter….
“You appeared to be reading something that pleased you. I thought it might have been a missive from your Miss Snow.”
“What, this?” he asked when she glanced to the card in his other hand. He quickly tucked it against his palm, disliking the unfounded rise of guilt he felt in the pit of his stomach. “This is nothing.”
And to prove it, he strode to the marble hearth, prepated to toss it into the fire. But as he held it over flames that licked hungrily over the three logs resting in the grate, the ink seemed to capture the light, inviting him to read the scrawl once more.
I adore tension building like this. The focus on each other
It wasn’t until that moment that he realized her shawl had slipped, giving way to the petal softness of her bare skin beneath his fingers and palms. And in the very same moment, he also realized that his thumb was stroking that very skin in gentle sweeps.
Dumbfounded by his own actions, he simply stared at the back-and-forth motion, his flesh swarthy and labor-roughened, hers pale and perfect. The barest shade of pink emerged beneath his touch.
Then his gaze drifted to her parted lips, to the flush blooming on her cheeks and to the question suspended in those unfathomable eyes.
----
Because of that-along with a rather traumatizing sock puppet show with the bumbling, droopy and lisping Lord Flaccid, and his alter ego the suave, athletic and much taller Lord Turgid – Verity had decided that it wouldn’t be altogether terrible to remain a spinster.
Give me all the jealousy
But he spoke first, goading her, looming beside her. “Surely, a woman of nearly six and twenty with her thoughts on the arts would summon someone she was attracted to. Now who could that be, I wonder.” Was it her imagination, or had his voice developed a rough edge? There was certainly a bite to his next words. “Another man in the village? A tenant, perhaps? A certain Mr. Law-”
“It was you. There! Are you satisfied? I pictured you naked,” she admitted just to shut him up.
And it worked, too.
---
Hell, you’re practically feral, climbing trees and whatnot, forever out of doors without proper attire, hair disheveled with strands in five hundred different hues, and don't even get me started on those changeable eyes of yours…”
---
He looked fierce, eyes blazing. And he didn’t wait for her to grasp his hand. Instead, he reached out, took her by the shoulders and lifted her.
“How dare y-”
He crushed his mouth to hers, silencing the last syllable on a deep growl.
---
“Regardless,” he said, “it is a man’s duty to prepare for the worst.”
“Which is precisely what you tell yourself before you look in the mirror each morning.”
“Peering through my keyhole, are you? I’m not surprised. Everywhere I turn, you are always there. Never giving me a moment’s peace.”
“Me? I have been avoiding you like the plague.”
“If these past days speak of your efforts, then the black death is surely upon me.”
---
Just a little longer, he told himself. And I won’t, absolutely will not, slide my hand along her ribcage to cup her full, lush breasts – damn he was already doing it. Well, I won’t caress – he cursed again as she thrust the perfect weight into his palm and made the most deliciously needy sounds.
He was helpless to resist.
Nevertheless, he told himself as his lips coasted down her throat, I will not unbutton her dressing gown. At least, not all the way. Very well, I’ll just try not the notice the inviting dusky peaks outlined through the thin cambric….
I LOVE when the heroes keep trinkets
She opened the book wider and saw a slender ribbon nestled against the margin. It took her a moment. Then she recalled throwing this very thing at him in this room. But no. It couldn’t be. “Is this...my hair ribbon?”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- some scenes of anxiety
- financially irresponsible father that put responsibility onto the hero
- bullying of the heroine including locking in a closet
- child abuse (heroine, by the governess)
- some scenes of danger, threatening with a gun including a gunshot wound
- death of family member
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
39% - kiss
41% - kiss
67% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her on the sofa
It let something loose inside of him. Something raw and feral.
A garbled, indecipherable sound rumbled in his throat as his hands delved into the untamed tresses that had escaped her plait.
83% - 🔥 kisses, oral on the desk, missionary
“And just what do you intend to do with that,” she asked – or croaked, rather – ash she inched backward on the bed.
His grin was positively feral as his hungry eyes raked down her body. Then he prowled after her, his muscular shoulders rolling sinuously. “Wicked things.”
Snatching her foot, he dragged her underneath him. She made a half-hearted attempt to escape, but ended up having her hands pinned to the mattress above her head.
87% - implied blow job
Sakar by Ella Blake
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: First person with alternating chapters for hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? Lots of character focus
When mains are first on page together: Pretty soon in, about 12% in a shorter novel
Cliffhanger: No this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: It’s not labeled, but yes the last chapter wraps things up a few months later
Format: read e-book on Kindle Unlimited
Should I read in order?
Maybe start with Virilian Mail Order Mates series? (Trak is book 1) You CAN read this one alone – it’s very character focused and it gives the details so you understand the alien/Earth relationship, but I want to say it would be better after reading that series? I found myself wanting to go read it afterwards at least!
Basic plot:
Sekar attempts to make a quick stop on Earth to rescue an endangered animal carried by another spacecraft when he’s snowed in on Nessa’s 200 acre farm in Maine.
Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- Earth setting
- holiday romance
- shorter novel
- snowed in
- kids in the story – heroine has 2 daughters that are 8 and 11
- divorcee/widow heroine in her 40s
- royalty – hero is a prince
- average novella steam – 1 steam
Ages:
- Heroine is 40, didn’t see hero mentioned
First line:
Bring him back alive.
My thoughts:
This is a cute story! It’s pretty low angst, with Christmas and snowed in vibes. I liked the character focused story and liked the bit of tension building here.
I’m not a huge fan of children in my stories because I’m mean like that, but this worked out pretty cute. I was a touch overwhelmed at first with the world building of the alien race and Earth’s alliance and what was going on...I’m assuming that’s all already established once you’ve read Blake’s Virilian Mail Order Mates series, but it was simple enough over all.
I liked Blake’s writing and definitely want to try another by her and see how I feel.
Cock/Hero Stats:
- Hero has a tail
- Has light brown hair streaked with blond that’s shoulder length
- Golden skin with glue-gray markings
- Black skin around the eyes with light blue eyes
- 6’ 5” at least
- I think cock is normal!
- He changes into a primal form to protect his mate – eyes turn from blue to red (?), and forearms bulge with red vein-like markings, burns hot and incinerates clothing (he wears fireproof leather pants of course!), large flame covered horns, and body gets slightly larger, skin is molten armor
Quotes/thoughts: (Any mistakes are my own)
My imagination spiraled off, wondering what it would feel like to have his arms around me. What his mouth would feel like on mine. I imagined exploring that rigid stretch of muscled abdomen, testing the weight of that huge bulge below. My mouth went dry and my breasts tingled. Desire surprised me with dampness between my legs as my thoughts turned carnal.
Then, as if he could sense my arousal, his gaze snapped to mine, hot and sharp and aware. His nostrils flared and his head came up just a little, as if smelling something in the air other than the cinnamon-vanilla candle and the Christmas tree.
---
I added hot milk, stirred, and dropped a candy cane in each. I handed him one.
He took a cautious sip, then his eyes closed and his lips curved into a blissful smile. “This, on the other hand, is delicious.”
I took a sip of my own. “I’m glad you like it.”
His gaze moved over my face. Then dropped to my mouth. “It is not all I like.”
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- mention of death of parents 2 years prior
- heroine is divorced
- dead aliens found from crash
- death of husband mentioned
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex? No
46% - kiss
53% - kiss
59% - kisses, oral for her, missionary
98% - kiss
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: First person with alternating chapters for hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? Lots of character focus
When mains are first on page together: Pretty soon in, about 12% in a shorter novel
Cliffhanger: No this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: It’s not labeled, but yes the last chapter wraps things up a few months later
Format: read e-book on Kindle Unlimited
Should I read in order?
Maybe start with Virilian Mail Order Mates series? (Trak is book 1) You CAN read this one alone – it’s very character focused and it gives the details so you understand the alien/Earth relationship, but I want to say it would be better after reading that series? I found myself wanting to go read it afterwards at least!
Basic plot:
Sekar attempts to make a quick stop on Earth to rescue an endangered animal carried by another spacecraft when he’s snowed in on Nessa’s 200 acre farm in Maine.
Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- Earth setting
- holiday romance
- shorter novel
- snowed in
- kids in the story – heroine has 2 daughters that are 8 and 11
- divorcee/widow heroine in her 40s
- royalty – hero is a prince
- average novella steam – 1 steam
Ages:
- Heroine is 40, didn’t see hero mentioned
First line:
Bring him back alive.
My thoughts:
This is a cute story! It’s pretty low angst, with Christmas and snowed in vibes. I liked the character focused story and liked the bit of tension building here.
I’m not a huge fan of children in my stories because I’m mean like that, but this worked out pretty cute. I was a touch overwhelmed at first with the world building of the alien race and Earth’s alliance and what was going on...I’m assuming that’s all already established once you’ve read Blake’s Virilian Mail Order Mates series, but it was simple enough over all.
I liked Blake’s writing and definitely want to try another by her and see how I feel.
Cock/Hero Stats:
- Hero has a tail
- Has light brown hair streaked with blond that’s shoulder length
- Golden skin with glue-gray markings
- Black skin around the eyes with light blue eyes
- 6’ 5” at least
- I think cock is normal!
- He changes into a primal form to protect his mate – eyes turn from blue to red (?), and forearms bulge with red vein-like markings, burns hot and incinerates clothing (he wears fireproof leather pants of course!), large flame covered horns, and body gets slightly larger, skin is molten armor
Quotes/thoughts: (Any mistakes are my own)
My imagination spiraled off, wondering what it would feel like to have his arms around me. What his mouth would feel like on mine. I imagined exploring that rigid stretch of muscled abdomen, testing the weight of that huge bulge below. My mouth went dry and my breasts tingled. Desire surprised me with dampness between my legs as my thoughts turned carnal.
Then, as if he could sense my arousal, his gaze snapped to mine, hot and sharp and aware. His nostrils flared and his head came up just a little, as if smelling something in the air other than the cinnamon-vanilla candle and the Christmas tree.
---
I added hot milk, stirred, and dropped a candy cane in each. I handed him one.
He took a cautious sip, then his eyes closed and his lips curved into a blissful smile. “This, on the other hand, is delicious.”
I took a sip of my own. “I’m glad you like it.”
His gaze moved over my face. Then dropped to my mouth. “It is not all I like.”
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- mention of death of parents 2 years prior
- heroine is divorced
- dead aliens found from crash
- death of husband mentioned
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex?
46% - kiss
53% - kiss
59% - kisses, oral for her, missionary
98% - kiss
Pulling at the Stars by Beth Marie Read
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 (I feel like most of what you get to know from Nina is present events, but there is some background)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞
Sensuality: 💋💋 (Any scenes are super short and vague and lacking the emotional pull I want)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑 (some are even shorter)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥 (There’s a handful of on page scenes but nothing really detailed)
Humor: A bit
Perspective: First person only from the heroine
More character focused or plot focused? a mix but probably more plot focused
Cliffhanger: I mean, kind of? I guess not? I guess I would say it’s a happy for now.
Epilogue: No, and it does feel like it ends abruptly
Format: bought paperback
Should I read in order?
This is a stand alone novel
Basic plot:
This story follows Nina and her life trying to become an actress in New York
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary fiction (I usually review romance so want to note this is not a romance novel! It’s women’s fiction with romantic elements)
- aspiring actress heroine
- you’re okay with some content warnings including graphic on page rape as well as abuse, physical and mental
- a novel that gives you hope after living abuse
Ages:
- Nina is 21
First line:
I knocked.
My thoughts:
Oof I struggled with this novel. It’s all from Nina’s POV and can I just say that I really disliked her? I tried so hard to like her, but I just could not. From the way she repeatedly put herself in dangerous and unsafe situations, from the way she behaved and spoke to people…
We are only in Nina’s head, and what she does half the time just made no sense to me. This is a heavier book, with a lot of things Nina experiences and I found myself just not caring if she made it or not. I’m going to get into some specifics, so avoid for spoilers please.
I did want things wrapped up better at the end. I lot was left a bit uncertain. But I did overall like the ending...after everything that happened.
Specific things that didn’t work for me:
- We’re told Nina is usually safe with sex and uses condoms, but I wouldn’t say it was often. She is always worried about almost getting pregnant, or getting pregnant, having sex with strangers and then getting STD tested (there is some condom usage on page)
- Nina seems to just follow along with what everyone else tells her/wants her to do in life. Any time someone tries to get her to do what they want, she seems to give in, no matter if it puts her in danger or not. She doesn’t seem to have a sense of self or real goals for herself. Where did this anthropology desire come from? We still don’t even know she just randomly starts getting a degree in it at the end of the book when her character (at least to me) hasn’t shown an interest in that.
- Nina’s religion – like what is going on with that? Is she Jewish? Is she Christian? She seems to just float through life going wherever is convenient at the moment. She doesn’t seem to have a strong relationship with god, then goes to church, then is pretty severely abused through religion, then is going to church again, then is Jewish? At one point she is screaming, crying, railing into the rain against god and how can god do this to her, but a few sentences later with her current male friend seems to answer all of her religious angst that she just needs to listen closer to god.
- I was SO confused when Nina finally breaks from her severely abusive husband. Why did she have no one to call? Why didn’t she call her FATHER? Or even her old roommate? She was going to move to Hawaii randomly wtf….
- The fact that Nina repeatedly puts herself in danger is SO frustrating. She has a plan to get away from her abusive ex – who has literally threatened her life – but makes sure to encourage him by rewarding him repeatedly with communication, including sending him emails, pictures, giving him alone with with her purposefully when she never needed to let him into her apartment at all….So, so frustrating.
- I am not one to use TSTL heroine. But here it is.
- one of the villain-ish figures of the story is a gay man that rapes her....
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- pregnancy and birth on page
- scenes of graphic abuse on page including anal rape, religious abuse, mental and physical abuse
- plenty of religion and god focus
- scenes of employee abuse – Nina gets a job for massages and is encouraged to have sex with them (and does)
- scenes of cheating – Nina is cheated on my boyfriend at the time
- some minor scenes of smoking (tobacoo and weed)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex: Sometimes? There is some condom usage but she has unsafe sex multiple times resulting in pregnancy and STD checks
I didn’t mark all the scenes, sorry. There are quite a few with various men but all quite short
Readability: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 (I feel like most of what you get to know from Nina is present events, but there is some background)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞
Sensuality: 💋💋 (Any scenes are super short and vague and lacking the emotional pull I want)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑 (some are even shorter)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥 (There’s a handful of on page scenes but nothing really detailed)
Humor: A bit
Perspective: First person only from the heroine
More character focused or plot focused? a mix but probably more plot focused
Cliffhanger: I mean, kind of? I guess not? I guess I would say it’s a happy for now.
Epilogue: No, and it does feel like it ends abruptly
Format: bought paperback
Should I read in order?
This is a stand alone novel
Basic plot:
This story follows Nina and her life trying to become an actress in New York
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary fiction (I usually review romance so want to note this is not a romance novel! It’s women’s fiction with romantic elements)
- aspiring actress heroine
- you’re okay with some content warnings including graphic on page rape as well as abuse, physical and mental
- a novel that gives you hope after living abuse
Ages:
- Nina is 21
First line:
I knocked.
My thoughts:
Oof I struggled with this novel. It’s all from Nina’s POV and can I just say that I really disliked her? I tried so hard to like her, but I just could not. From the way she repeatedly put herself in dangerous and unsafe situations, from the way she behaved and spoke to people…
We are only in Nina’s head, and what she does half the time just made no sense to me. This is a heavier book, with a lot of things Nina experiences and I found myself just not caring if she made it or not. I’m going to get into some specifics, so avoid for spoilers please.
I did want things wrapped up better at the end. I lot was left a bit uncertain. But I did overall like the ending...after everything that happened.
Specific things that didn’t work for me:
- We’re told Nina is usually safe with sex and uses condoms, but I wouldn’t say it was often. She is always worried about almost getting pregnant, or getting pregnant, having sex with strangers and then getting STD tested (there is some condom usage on page)
- Nina seems to just follow along with what everyone else tells her/wants her to do in life. Any time someone tries to get her to do what they want, she seems to give in, no matter if it puts her in danger or not. She doesn’t seem to have a sense of self or real goals for herself. Where did this anthropology desire come from? We still don’t even know she just randomly starts getting a degree in it at the end of the book when her character (at least to me) hasn’t shown an interest in that.
- Nina’s religion – like what is going on with that? Is she Jewish? Is she Christian? She seems to just float through life going wherever is convenient at the moment. She doesn’t seem to have a strong relationship with god, then goes to church, then is pretty severely abused through religion, then is going to church again, then is Jewish? At one point she is screaming, crying, railing into the rain against god and how can god do this to her, but a few sentences later with her current male friend seems to answer all of her religious angst that she just needs to listen closer to god.
- I was SO confused when Nina finally breaks from her severely abusive husband. Why did she have no one to call? Why didn’t she call her FATHER? Or even her old roommate? She was going to move to Hawaii randomly wtf….
- The fact that Nina repeatedly puts herself in danger is SO frustrating. She has a plan to get away from her abusive ex – who has literally threatened her life – but makes sure to encourage him by rewarding him repeatedly with communication, including sending him emails, pictures, giving him alone with with her purposefully when she never needed to let him into her apartment at all….So, so frustrating.
- I am not one to use TSTL heroine. But here it is.
- one of the villain-ish figures of the story is a gay man that rapes her....
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- pregnancy and birth on page
- scenes of graphic abuse on page including anal rape, religious abuse, mental and physical abuse
- plenty of religion and god focus
- scenes of employee abuse – Nina gets a job for massages and is encouraged to have sex with them (and does)
- scenes of cheating – Nina is cheated on my boyfriend at the time
- some minor scenes of smoking (tobacoo and weed)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
I didn’t mark all the scenes, sorry. There are quite a few with various men but all quite short