Take a photo of a barcode or cover
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (I do wish the scenes were just a bit longer - they seemed a bit short to me)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (I didn’t count the steamy scenes the two of them read from books – but that would probably double the steam count so it might feel steamier to you)
Humor: Yes
Perspective: first person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: pretty soon in – chapter 2 of 31
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after for the mains
Epilogue: Yes, a year later
Format: listened to an audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: Another book was recommended to me in our FB group A Love Less Ordinary by this author and when I checked Hoopla for it that title wasn’t available but this one was and I loved the title and cover.
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a chupacabra hero and human heroine
Should I read in order?
I picked this one up alone and found it fine! There might have been mention of others from the series, I’m not sure but this book really focused on the main couple and was fine alone.
Basic plot:
Chente is hanging out at the library because he hopes to learn to read – the librarian that catches his eye is a bonus...
Give this a try if you want:
- monster romance
- futuristic Earth setting? Very contemporary feeling but monsters are here and have cities
- Canadian setting
- monster hero / human heroine
- chupacabra hero
- librarian heroine
- disability rep – heroine has MS and uses a wheelchair
- she teaches him to read
- plus size heroine
- he reads her dirty scenes from monster romance
- dual virgins
- super protective and gentle hero – he researches MS and tries to make everything as pleasurable and painfree as possible for her
- fated mates
- mid to higher steam – 4ish full scenes – there are also spicy scenes read from books the heroine likes – I didn’t count those as scenes here but the book might feel hotter than this because of it
Ages:
- I didn’t catch them specifically but I have a note that one of them is almost 30
First line:
The only movement was the rapid rise and fall of his monstrous chest.
My thoughts:
I REALLY enjoyed this read. I’ve read a handful of monster romances these past couple weeks and this has been one of my favorites. The narration really helped because I loved both narrators, especially the male narration. I found this book funny and sweet and enjoyable.
Our hero is illiterate, and hanging around the library because learning to read would really help with his job...and our heroine is the librarian. This leads to some sweet encounters and getting to know each other sessions...I liked that this was a slower burn – nothing solid between them until after the halfway mark – and that helped build up tension for me and their relationship. I do wish the intimate scenes were just a touch longer - there were a few where I was like wait it's done?? It felt a little abrubt sometimes after such good lead up. But I thought their relationship was super romantic and sweet.
I will definitely be trying more from this author and series!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first!
Average rating from me: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one!
Cock/Hero Stats:
- hero is a chupacabra
- he has large, reptilian red eyes, shimmering scales, claws and doesn’t wear clothes
- Hero doesn’t really need foreplay – he has self lubrication
- he’s interested in sex more so for making a family, not just for recreation – his sex drive wasn’t high until he meets the heroine, who’s his mate
- he has a vibrating tail
- hero has a mating slit where his cock is hidden
- his green cock is vibrant, huge, and has barbs along it that are flexible
- their bites are pleasurable like a vampires
- they have forked tongues that can smell
- his semen is red
- he has a prehensile tail that he uses
- chuppas mate for life
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- there are some scenes of the heroine dealing with pain from her MS and complications including eye pain, weakness and dizziness and is does culminate in a hospital visit where her life is threatened
Author content warnings? Didn’t hear anything on audio
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: No? But they are both virgins and the heroine can’t get pregnant
How’s the consent? It’s good – he asks frequently
Pregnancy/children in story? I can’t remember the details, but the heroine mentions she can’t have children
30% (chapter 10) – kisses (and another later in the chapter)
48% (chapter 15) – kiss, play with prehensile tail
57% (chapter 18) – 🔥he holds her, licks her ear and neck, tail penetration
65% (capter 20) – 🔥 oral for her
70% (chapter 24) – 🔥 breast play, leads to reading a sexy scene from a book, his tail pleasures her, spooning sex
80% (chapter 25) – a partial with the start of a scene but the heroine is in pain
96% (chapter 30) – 🔥 handy for him, sex
100% (epilogue) – a brief scene
Total chapters: 30 plus an epilogue
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (I do wish the scenes were just a bit longer - they seemed a bit short to me)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (I didn’t count the steamy scenes the two of them read from books – but that would probably double the steam count so it might feel steamier to you)
Humor: Yes
Perspective: first person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: pretty soon in – chapter 2 of 31
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after for the mains
Epilogue: Yes, a year later
Format: listened to an audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: Another book was recommended to me in our FB group A Love Less Ordinary by this author and when I checked Hoopla for it that title wasn’t available but this one was and I loved the title and cover.
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a chupacabra hero and human heroine
Should I read in order?
I picked this one up alone and found it fine! There might have been mention of others from the series, I’m not sure but this book really focused on the main couple and was fine alone.
Basic plot:
Chente is hanging out at the library because he hopes to learn to read – the librarian that catches his eye is a bonus...
Give this a try if you want:
- monster romance
- futuristic Earth setting? Very contemporary feeling but monsters are here and have cities
- Canadian setting
- monster hero / human heroine
- chupacabra hero
- librarian heroine
- disability rep – heroine has MS and uses a wheelchair
- she teaches him to read
- plus size heroine
- he reads her dirty scenes from monster romance
- dual virgins
- super protective and gentle hero – he researches MS and tries to make everything as pleasurable and painfree as possible for her
- fated mates
- mid to higher steam – 4ish full scenes – there are also spicy scenes read from books the heroine likes – I didn’t count those as scenes here but the book might feel hotter than this because of it
Ages:
- I didn’t catch them specifically but I have a note that one of them is almost 30
First line:
The only movement was the rapid rise and fall of his monstrous chest.
My thoughts:
I REALLY enjoyed this read. I’ve read a handful of monster romances these past couple weeks and this has been one of my favorites. The narration really helped because I loved both narrators, especially the male narration. I found this book funny and sweet and enjoyable.
Our hero is illiterate, and hanging around the library because learning to read would really help with his job...and our heroine is the librarian. This leads to some sweet encounters and getting to know each other sessions...I liked that this was a slower burn – nothing solid between them until after the halfway mark – and that helped build up tension for me and their relationship. I do wish the intimate scenes were just a touch longer - there were a few where I was like wait it's done?? It felt a little abrubt sometimes after such good lead up. But I thought their relationship was super romantic and sweet.
I will definitely be trying more from this author and series!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first!
Average rating from me: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one!
Cock/Hero Stats:
- hero is a chupacabra
- he has large, reptilian red eyes, shimmering scales, claws and doesn’t wear clothes
- Hero doesn’t really need foreplay – he has self lubrication
- he’s interested in sex more so for making a family, not just for recreation – his sex drive wasn’t high until he meets the heroine, who’s his mate
- he has a vibrating tail
- hero has a mating slit where his cock is hidden
- his green cock is vibrant, huge, and has barbs along it that are flexible
- their bites are pleasurable like a vampires
- they have forked tongues that can smell
- his semen is red
- he has a prehensile tail that he uses
- chuppas mate for life
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- there are some scenes of the heroine dealing with pain from her MS and complications including eye pain, weakness and dizziness and is does culminate in a hospital visit where her life is threatened
Author content warnings? Didn’t hear anything on audio
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
30% (chapter 10) – kisses (and another later in the chapter)
48% (chapter 15) – kiss, play with prehensile tail
57% (chapter 18) – 🔥he holds her, licks her ear and neck, tail penetration
65% (capter 20) – 🔥 oral for her
70% (chapter 24) – 🔥 breast play, leads to reading a sexy scene from a book, his tail pleasures her, spooning sex
80% (chapter 25) – a partial with the start of a scene but the heroine is in pain
96% (chapter 30) – 🔥 handy for him, sex
100% (epilogue) – a brief scene
Total chapters: 30 plus an epilogue
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥+
Humor: Yes, and the side characters are a delight!
Perspective: First person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium to fast
When mains are first on page together: Takes just a bit – 7%
Cliffhanger: This ends with a happily ever after for the mains but there is a bit of a plot cliffy for the future book (kind of like a stressful phone call the book ends on regarding the next characters)
Epilogue: Yes, 11.5 months later
Format: listened to the audiobook from my library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: @imromanticallyinvolved has brought it to my attention a few times and when I found it on Hoopla I had to try it!
Mains: This is a M/F romance between a cisgendered hero and heroine (I think both mains may be bi? There’s jokes and references to partners that seems inclusive and other people joining in on sex – but this is an assumption of mine. At the very least, the book is LGBT+ positive)
Should I read in order?
This is the first book in Anders’ Kink Camp.
Basic plot:
When a fantasy is posted on the board during Kink Camp, Grace realizes she can live her own fantasy anonymously….
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- Kink Camp setting – the camp where all the fun happens
- heroine learns to fulfill her fantasies
- size difference – heroine isn’t small but he’s huge
- masquerade
- secret identity
- primal play, praise, throat play, masks, hair holding….
- higher steam – 6ish full scenes
Ages:
- hero is 33, didn’t catch heroine
First line:
Male primal hunter seeks female prey for a one time anonymous hunt.
My thoughts:
I LOVE the idea of this series/book. Kink Camp sounds like so much fun – and the way it was done was so enticing. Rules and safety aspects set up but the freedom to explore – the side characters were delightful. The humor, the fun...I loved it all.
And primal play is one of my favorites. Masks. Secret identities. I love all that so this book was right up my alley. I was surprised how much I fell in to this story – I was just looking for a good time honestly and while I got that, I also got some delicious angst and relationship development in the latter half. I loved getting to know Grace and Liev and really loved Liev’s vulnerability and slow opening up to a relationship again.
I’m definitely going to be grabbing the next one in the series!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating from me: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- partner death
Author content warnings? Nothing on audio but there’s a mention on goodreads you can find them on the author website
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: Condoms used, heroine is on the pill (third scene he doesn’t have a condom so they stop), then eventually do it without a condom
How’s the consent? It’s good – there’s the element of fear and control but it’s kink camp and everything is consensual and there’s safe words
Pregnancy/children in story? No pregnancy on page – I cant recall if the want/desire for children someday is there but I think it is
9% - 🔥 primal play in the woods – nipple play, doggy
29% - 🔥 another primal play in the woods – oral for her, sit on my face oral
52% - 🔥 again in the woods – bj
55% - 🔥 dry humping-ish
65% - 🔥 hero jerks off in the shower
90% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her, anal
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥+
Humor: Yes, and the side characters are a delight!
Perspective: First person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium to fast
When mains are first on page together: Takes just a bit – 7%
Cliffhanger: This ends with a happily ever after for the mains but there is a bit of a plot cliffy for the future book (kind of like a stressful phone call the book ends on regarding the next characters)
Epilogue: Yes, 11.5 months later
Format: listened to the audiobook from my library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: @imromanticallyinvolved has brought it to my attention a few times and when I found it on Hoopla I had to try it!
Mains: This is a M/F romance between a cisgendered hero and heroine (I think both mains may be bi? There’s jokes and references to partners that seems inclusive and other people joining in on sex – but this is an assumption of mine. At the very least, the book is LGBT+ positive)
Should I read in order?
This is the first book in Anders’ Kink Camp.
Basic plot:
When a fantasy is posted on the board during Kink Camp, Grace realizes she can live her own fantasy anonymously….
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- Kink Camp setting – the camp where all the fun happens
- heroine learns to fulfill her fantasies
- size difference – heroine isn’t small but he’s huge
- masquerade
- secret identity
- primal play, praise, throat play, masks, hair holding….
- higher steam – 6ish full scenes
Ages:
- hero is 33, didn’t catch heroine
First line:
Male primal hunter seeks female prey for a one time anonymous hunt.
My thoughts:
I LOVE the idea of this series/book. Kink Camp sounds like so much fun – and the way it was done was so enticing. Rules and safety aspects set up but the freedom to explore – the side characters were delightful. The humor, the fun...I loved it all.
And primal play is one of my favorites. Masks. Secret identities. I love all that so this book was right up my alley. I was surprised how much I fell in to this story – I was just looking for a good time honestly and while I got that, I also got some delicious angst and relationship development in the latter half. I loved getting to know Grace and Liev and really loved Liev’s vulnerability and slow opening up to a relationship again.
I’m definitely going to be grabbing the next one in the series!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating from me: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- partner death
Author content warnings? Nothing on audio but there’s a mention on goodreads you can find them on the author website
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
9% - 🔥 primal play in the woods – nipple play, doggy
29% - 🔥 another primal play in the woods – oral for her, sit on my face oral
52% - 🔥 again in the woods – bj
55% - 🔥 dry humping-ish
65% - 🔥 hero jerks off in the shower
90% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her, anal
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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 the hero and heroine (alternating chapters)
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to medium
When mains are first on page together: They are on page pretty soon in...like 5% or so but don’t really interact knowingly with each other until 30% and don’t really talk to each other until 37%
Cliffhanger: This ends with a happily ever after for the mains
Epilogue: Yes
Format: listened to an audiobook from my library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: it was recommended on my post asking for monster romance in our FB group A Love Less Ordinary
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a monster (mahr) hero and human heroine
Should I read in order?
This is the first of Dare’s Freedom, Love, Monsters series.
Basic plot:
Addison is pulled into a new to her world when Traeyr finds her nightmares delicious.
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary setting
- monster romance
- monster hero / human heroine
- Boston setting
- hero is a mahr
- heroine works at a fish market
- graphic designer heroine
- hero feeds on human nightmares
- shadow daddy
- protective hero
- full figured heroine
- at least 4 steam – I might have missed some
Ages:
- didn’t catch them
First line:
The gaudy blue house with its peeling paint and crooked shutters taunted Addison from the driveway.
My thoughts:
I am sad I struggled with this one! I think part of it was….it was just weird to me lol. Which might be great for others and just a me thing. But I also was feeling like I was waiting forever for the heroine and her to actually be together and interact and that always makes me salty.
I also just wanted a bit more...world building? Like I didn’t really understand this world of monsters. Mahrs would ride peoples chest when they were having nightmares? And sometimes break their bones? So is this Boston but people randomly are dead in their apartments, chests crushed? And how the hero rescues her from a hag or whatever that would have killed her it’s kind of like...expected like this is a common occurrence. I just wanted a bit more understanding of all this PNR activity happening!
I did like the mains okay. But overall I just didn’t get super into this story. I didn’t really love the plot and the mains were separated for so much of the book that I was left wishing for more from them.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating from me: 3 stars
Favorite book: This by default
Cock/Hero Stats:
- hero feeds on human’s nightmares
- he can fly through human realms, can travel through keyholes
- hero has horns and claws
- he can control shadows
- he could only become mortal with a binding ritual that would bind him to her bedroom (of course!)
- 8 feet tall with soft fur along his body
- huge cock
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- remembrances of domestic abuse/violence in her family
- remembrance of a bad relationship and break up
- abusive boss
Author given content warnings: Didn’t notice any on audio but she has some listed on goodreads
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: No?
How’s the consent? There’s dubious elements because he’s addicted to her nightmares and body before she has even been aware of him – he feeds on her in sleep but the acts are consensual
Pregnancy/children in story? I don’t think so?
12% - 🔥 heroine self pleasure (short)
46% - 🔥 heroine self pleasure at work (again, pretty short)
53% - 🔥 oral for her
78% - 🔥 oral for her, bj, missionary
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 the hero and heroine (alternating chapters)
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to medium
When mains are first on page together: They are on page pretty soon in...like 5% or so but don’t really interact knowingly with each other until 30% and don’t really talk to each other until 37%
Cliffhanger: This ends with a happily ever after for the mains
Epilogue: Yes
Format: listened to an audiobook from my library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: it was recommended on my post asking for monster romance in our FB group A Love Less Ordinary
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a monster (mahr) hero and human heroine
Should I read in order?
This is the first of Dare’s Freedom, Love, Monsters series.
Basic plot:
Addison is pulled into a new to her world when Traeyr finds her nightmares delicious.
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary setting
- monster romance
- monster hero / human heroine
- Boston setting
- hero is a mahr
- heroine works at a fish market
- graphic designer heroine
- hero feeds on human nightmares
- shadow daddy
- protective hero
- full figured heroine
- at least 4 steam – I might have missed some
Ages:
- didn’t catch them
First line:
The gaudy blue house with its peeling paint and crooked shutters taunted Addison from the driveway.
My thoughts:
I am sad I struggled with this one! I think part of it was….it was just weird to me lol. Which might be great for others and just a me thing. But I also was feeling like I was waiting forever for the heroine and her to actually be together and interact and that always makes me salty.
I also just wanted a bit more...world building? Like I didn’t really understand this world of monsters. Mahrs would ride peoples chest when they were having nightmares? And sometimes break their bones? So is this Boston but people randomly are dead in their apartments, chests crushed? And how the hero rescues her from a hag or whatever that would have killed her it’s kind of like...expected like this is a common occurrence. I just wanted a bit more understanding of all this PNR activity happening!
I did like the mains okay. But overall I just didn’t get super into this story. I didn’t really love the plot and the mains were separated for so much of the book that I was left wishing for more from them.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating from me: 3 stars
Favorite book: This by default
Cock/Hero Stats:
- hero feeds on human’s nightmares
- he can fly through human realms, can travel through keyholes
- hero has horns and claws
- he can control shadows
- he could only become mortal with a binding ritual that would bind him to her bedroom (of course!)
- 8 feet tall with soft fur along his body
- huge cock
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- remembrances of domestic abuse/violence in her family
- remembrance of a bad relationship and break up
- abusive boss
Author given content warnings: Didn’t notice any on audio but she has some listed on goodreads
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
12% - 🔥 heroine self pleasure (short)
46% - 🔥 heroine self pleasure at work (again, pretty short)
53% - 🔥 oral for her
78% - 🔥 oral for her, bj, missionary
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
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? plot
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: very soon in
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes
Format: listened to the audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: I saw the bookset on Hoopla and have wanted to try Golden Angel forever!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
I personally think it’s probably best to read her Domestic Discipline Quartet first – this is like a spin off of that and my first Golden Angel – I felt like I was being told a lot of background about events and characters I didn’t care about because I didn’t read those books – I also wonder if I would have gotten to know Philip more in those books? So I can’t say it’s totally necessary but I personally wished I had started there after reading this one.
Basic plot:
Philip and Cordelia fall into married life and learn to manage her stepdaughter and hidden passions.
Give this a try if you want:
- historical romance – didn’t catch a year
- Marquess hero
- widow heroine
- heroine has a step-daughter
- kink elements include a domestic discipline and spanking
- higher steam – 6ish full scenes
Ages:
- didn’t catch either but think the heroine is mid 20s?
First line:
Happily married.
My thoughts:
I struggled with this one almost from the beginning because it felt like there was a lot of recap and telling and not showing the story. It left me wishing I had started with the Domestic Discipline Quartet because I didn’t know the side characters who were talked about frequently and also felt like the story started really abruptly and maybe I would have known at least Philip more if I had read that series? It was just a hard start for me.
And I never grew to love it because my annoyance with Gabrielle – I just really struggle with toxic family members being a big plot point (I lived it for too long and it’s definitely just a me thing!) so I was ready for her to go away. I did like both mains overall but the relationship and story just didn’t grab me. Also I was listening to the audio and I think it sounded quite echoey to me for some reason so that was harder for me and a bit distracting.
I’ll definitely be trying more Golden Angel but I’ll go back to another series and give it a go and I’ll probably read the next one to eliminate narrator disconnect.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating from me: 3 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- remembrances of a bad relationship
Author content warnings? Didn’t hear any on audio
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: No
How’s the consent? It’s good overall – it’s a domestic discipline relationship so there’s some level of punishment and dubious elements in that regard but we get a lot from the heroine’s POV that she is enjoying the events
Pregnancy/children in story? I don’t recall pregnancy but there may be a mention of possible future children – heroine has a stepdaughter that is a main character with decent page time
Chapter 2 – 🔥kisses, missionary (followed by some more mentions of sex but nothing too developed)
Chapter 4 – 🔥spanking, missionary
Chapter 5 – 🔥spanking, fingering for her, bent over the desk sex
Chapter 8 – 🔥bj, followed a bit later by breast play, anal play (fingering), missionary
Chapter 10 – 🔥sex
Chapter 14 - 🔥anal
Total chapters: 18
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? plot
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: very soon in
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes
Format: listened to the audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: I saw the bookset on Hoopla and have wanted to try Golden Angel forever!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
I personally think it’s probably best to read her Domestic Discipline Quartet first – this is like a spin off of that and my first Golden Angel – I felt like I was being told a lot of background about events and characters I didn’t care about because I didn’t read those books – I also wonder if I would have gotten to know Philip more in those books? So I can’t say it’s totally necessary but I personally wished I had started there after reading this one.
Basic plot:
Philip and Cordelia fall into married life and learn to manage her stepdaughter and hidden passions.
Give this a try if you want:
- historical romance – didn’t catch a year
- Marquess hero
- widow heroine
- heroine has a step-daughter
- kink elements include a domestic discipline and spanking
- higher steam – 6ish full scenes
Ages:
- didn’t catch either but think the heroine is mid 20s?
First line:
Happily married.
My thoughts:
I struggled with this one almost from the beginning because it felt like there was a lot of recap and telling and not showing the story. It left me wishing I had started with the Domestic Discipline Quartet because I didn’t know the side characters who were talked about frequently and also felt like the story started really abruptly and maybe I would have known at least Philip more if I had read that series? It was just a hard start for me.
And I never grew to love it because my annoyance with Gabrielle – I just really struggle with toxic family members being a big plot point (I lived it for too long and it’s definitely just a me thing!) so I was ready for her to go away. I did like both mains overall but the relationship and story just didn’t grab me. Also I was listening to the audio and I think it sounded quite echoey to me for some reason so that was harder for me and a bit distracting.
I’ll definitely be trying more Golden Angel but I’ll go back to another series and give it a go and I’ll probably read the next one to eliminate narrator disconnect.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating from me: 3 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- remembrances of a bad relationship
Author content warnings? Didn’t hear any on audio
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
Chapter 2 – 🔥kisses, missionary (followed by some more mentions of sex but nothing too developed)
Chapter 4 – 🔥spanking, missionary
Chapter 5 – 🔥spanking, fingering for her, bent over the desk sex
Chapter 8 – 🔥bj, followed a bit later by breast play, anal play (fingering), missionary
Chapter 10 – 🔥sex
Chapter 14 - 🔥anal
Total chapters: 18
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 (This is a shorter story and I felt like I didn’t know much about either mains background)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, it’s hilarious
Perspective: first person from the heroine only except the very end of the book has POV of Janice, a side character
More character focused or plot focused? charcacter
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: immediately
Cliffhanger: This ends with a happy for now for the mains
Epilogue: No
Format: listened to audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: it was recommended by a member of our A Love Less Ordinary group when asked for monster romance
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a lich hero and human heroine
Should I read in order?
This is the first in Prior’s Claws and Cubicles series.
Basic plot:
Lily begins to help her boss, the Lich, when she realizes he’s outsourcing for things for his ritual – like a shiver across skin. She has skin after all...
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary setting
- monster romance
- lich hero
- workplace romance with employer/employee dynamic – she works for him (secretary/personal assistant)
- never been kissed heroine
- he gifts her flowers
- medium steam – 2 full scenes in a shorter page count
Ages:
- I didn’t catch either
First line:
I never knew working at an office job would be this soul sucking.
My thoughts:
This book was SO fun! I liked it so much more than I was expecting. The writing was great and it was steamy and hilarious. My only knowledge of liches comes from fighting them in Oblivion lol and this one was so enticing once he….derobed. This made me want to read all the Kate Prior books! Super fun.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating from me: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Cock/Hero Stats:
- hero is a lich and wears dark, flowing robes that always look like they are flowing through water and a cowl that hides his face
- he has a body that the heroine is shocked can fit under his cloak when she sees it – legs have an animal shape, tail, broad chest and shoulders, face is lion like with a main of hair and he has a rack of 4 large horns
- he has leathery soft skin
- clawed
- he has golden eyes
- hero has 2 cocks – 3 pronged – middle one is the longest, top one is less like a cock more like a sucker, smaller, the bottom one is almost as long as the middle cock but not as girthy
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- I think some people die in pits? Lol. Talk of virgin sacrifices
Author given content warnings: Didn’t hear them on audio but see on Goodreads that the author will have content warnings on their website
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: No?
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? I didn’t notice any talk of future children – no children or pregnancy on page
31% - kiss
49% - 🔥 oral for her while she holds his horns, middle cock goes in and the top cock has a...sucker for her clit. Then the third cock teases her butt cheeks
70% - he inserts a toy for preparation – it pulses
92% - 🔥 all three cocks used :)
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 (This is a shorter story and I felt like I didn’t know much about either mains background)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, it’s hilarious
Perspective: first person from the heroine only except the very end of the book has POV of Janice, a side character
More character focused or plot focused? charcacter
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: immediately
Cliffhanger: This ends with a happy for now for the mains
Epilogue: No
Format: listened to audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: it was recommended by a member of our A Love Less Ordinary group when asked for monster romance
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a lich hero and human heroine
Should I read in order?
This is the first in Prior’s Claws and Cubicles series.
Basic plot:
Lily begins to help her boss, the Lich, when she realizes he’s outsourcing for things for his ritual – like a shiver across skin. She has skin after all...
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary setting
- monster romance
- lich hero
- workplace romance with employer/employee dynamic – she works for him (secretary/personal assistant)
- never been kissed heroine
- he gifts her flowers
- medium steam – 2 full scenes in a shorter page count
Ages:
- I didn’t catch either
First line:
I never knew working at an office job would be this soul sucking.
My thoughts:
This book was SO fun! I liked it so much more than I was expecting. The writing was great and it was steamy and hilarious. My only knowledge of liches comes from fighting them in Oblivion lol and this one was so enticing once he….derobed. This made me want to read all the Kate Prior books! Super fun.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating from me: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Cock/Hero Stats:
- hero is a lich and wears dark, flowing robes that always look like they are flowing through water and a cowl that hides his face
- he has a body that the heroine is shocked can fit under his cloak when she sees it – legs have an animal shape, tail, broad chest and shoulders, face is lion like with a main of hair and he has a rack of 4 large horns
- he has leathery soft skin
- clawed
- he has golden eyes
- hero has 2 cocks – 3 pronged – middle one is the longest, top one is less like a cock more like a sucker, smaller, the bottom one is almost as long as the middle cock but not as girthy
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- I think some people die in pits? Lol. Talk of virgin sacrifices
Author given content warnings: Didn’t hear them on audio but see on Goodreads that the author will have content warnings on their website
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
31% - kiss
49% - 🔥 oral for her while she holds his horns, middle cock goes in and the top cock has a...sucker for her clit. Then the third cock teases her butt cheeks
70% - he inserts a toy for preparation – it pulses
92% - 🔥 all three cocks used :)
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖 - the writing was fine but it was more the tropes/plot that I wasn’t interested in
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥 at least, may have missed some
Humor: A touch
Perspective: third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to medium
When mains are first on page together: not too far in – chapter 2 of 34
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, maybe a year or so in the future
Format: listened to an audiobook from my library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: I was curious about her steam level because she’s coming to do a takeover in Upturned Petticoats
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
I think this one is a stand alone?
Basic plot:
Hetty is being blackmailed into marriage – but thankfully her childhood friend steps in to rescue her.
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian – 1838
- African / English heroine
- Scottish hero
- hero wants to marry
- childhood friends to lovers
- marriage of convenience
- protective hero
- Duke hero
- blackmail
- mid to higher steam – at least 4 scenes, I might have missed some
Ages:
- didn’t catch them! But I want to say heroine is maybe early to mid 20s? And hero is maybe 5-6 years older than her? I think it’s mentioned but forgot to note it and I can’t search in audio
First line: taken from audio, may have butchered
Hettie clutched her reticule, feeling the crumpled letter inside against her fist.
My thoughts:
Sadly I struggled with this one – but it was purely a me thing. I really struggle with tempestuous maternal relationships and blackmail plots so this one started to drag for me.
I didn’t like that the heroine refused to be open about anything. Watching a character struggle while support is right next to her is immensely frustrating to me. I also just cannot stand blackmail plots. And I wanted the mains together more – their actual relationship was pretty easy in the beginning and I was left reading about the heroine moping around the house with the hero’s mom and maids being mean to her and her dog peeing on things. I was just bored, sadly! But it did get rather angsty towards the end and I loved that aspect but I also thought the hero was a bit of a jerk and not even attempting to understand the heroine’s POV.
So this did have aspects I liked but this particular one didn’t work for me – I am really, really eager to try this author’s Dragonblade Flame romances though!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first!
Average rating from me: 3 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- the heroine has some feelings of abandonment from her parents – they left her to go to India when she was two and died before seeing her again
- some elements the heroine experiencing racism
- parental death at sea
- heroine experiences blackmail and threats
Author content warnings? Didn’t hear any on audio
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: No
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? epilogue baby
Chapter 3 – kisses
Chapter 5 – kisses in the carriage
Chapter 6 – 🔥 fingering for her, missionary
Chapter 9 – 🔥 kisses, oral for her, sex
Chapter 13 – 🔥 sex
Chapter 30 - 🔥 sex
Total chapters – 32 and an epilogue
Readability: 📖📖📖 - the writing was fine but it was more the tropes/plot that I wasn’t interested in
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥 at least, may have missed some
Humor: A touch
Perspective: third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to medium
When mains are first on page together: not too far in – chapter 2 of 34
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, maybe a year or so in the future
Format: listened to an audiobook from my library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: I was curious about her steam level because she’s coming to do a takeover in Upturned Petticoats
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
I think this one is a stand alone?
Basic plot:
Hetty is being blackmailed into marriage – but thankfully her childhood friend steps in to rescue her.
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian – 1838
- African / English heroine
- Scottish hero
- hero wants to marry
- childhood friends to lovers
- marriage of convenience
- protective hero
- Duke hero
- blackmail
- mid to higher steam – at least 4 scenes, I might have missed some
Ages:
- didn’t catch them! But I want to say heroine is maybe early to mid 20s? And hero is maybe 5-6 years older than her? I think it’s mentioned but forgot to note it and I can’t search in audio
First line: taken from audio, may have butchered
Hettie clutched her reticule, feeling the crumpled letter inside against her fist.
My thoughts:
Sadly I struggled with this one – but it was purely a me thing. I really struggle with tempestuous maternal relationships and blackmail plots so this one started to drag for me.
I didn’t like that the heroine refused to be open about anything. Watching a character struggle while support is right next to her is immensely frustrating to me. I also just cannot stand blackmail plots. And I wanted the mains together more – their actual relationship was pretty easy in the beginning and I was left reading about the heroine moping around the house with the hero’s mom and maids being mean to her and her dog peeing on things. I was just bored, sadly! But it did get rather angsty towards the end and I loved that aspect but I also thought the hero was a bit of a jerk and not even attempting to understand the heroine’s POV.
So this did have aspects I liked but this particular one didn’t work for me – I am really, really eager to try this author’s Dragonblade Flame romances though!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first!
Average rating from me: 3 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- the heroine has some feelings of abandonment from her parents – they left her to go to India when she was two and died before seeing her again
- some elements the heroine experiencing racism
- parental death at sea
- heroine experiences blackmail and threats
Author content warnings? Didn’t hear any on audio
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
Chapter 3 – kisses
Chapter 5 – kisses in the carriage
Chapter 6 – 🔥 fingering for her, missionary
Chapter 9 – 🔥 kisses, oral for her, sex
Chapter 13 – 🔥 sex
Chapter 30 - 🔥 sex
Total chapters – 32 and an epilogue
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞 (the paper flowers were really romantic to me)
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: third person perspective from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to medium
When mains are first on page together: It takes a touch – about 11% in
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy through NetGalley in e-book form
Why I chose this book: I love Lorret’s writing and want to read all her books! She has a lot of my fave romances
Mains: This is a M/F romance between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
Ideally yes, because the family is adorable and you get a feel for the whole family structure and their love for drama – there are some sections with mentions of previous events from prior books as well as page time with the other couples. BUT overall this romance does stand alone and I don’t think you will lose anything from their story necessarily to pick it up alone.
Basic plot:
Jasper and Althea keep meeting in clumsy encounters, but Althea quickly sees there’s more than meets the eye after a night with a highwayman.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency?
- author/playwright heroine
- viscount hero
- highwayman
- pets – hero has a dog
- hero makes paper flowers
- he’s her muse
- size difference – this hero is huge
- secret identity
- heroine’s mother performs a play about Lord Turgid and Lady Content using puppets for sex education 😆
- celibate hero
- medium steam – 3ish scenes with a slower burn
Ages:
- hero is 24, didn’t catch heroine but would guess similar, or a bit younger
First line:
Althea Hartley didn’t need a miracle.
My thoughts:
So, I did like this one. But I just felt like it wasn’t as good as the other two in the series, or the many other of Lorret’s that I have adored.
It’s still funny, sweet, romantic, and heart pulling and I definitely recommend – but for me personally I felt like a lot of their interactions felt like the same thing the first 3-4 meetings and this made their relationship feel more stagnant and repetitive to me. I loved this more unique hero – he steps back a bit from the heroine, definitely letting her take the lead in many situations. But I found I wanted him more motivated and not always running away from her.
I also wasn’t super sold on the ending. I wish it had been just a touch different in a few ways.
Still I will always give Lorret a chance and this one was still a run read! It’s just not my favorite of the series.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 11
Average rating from me: 4.36 stars
Favorite book: maaaaybe Ten Kisses to Scandal? She has no many good ones.
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
“I must say, your misfortune is my great fortune,” Chedworth said for the third time that evening...to her breasts.
Her breast offered no reply, but secretly wished they were adorned in porcupine quills that could fire at will.
---
As any proper highwayman out, he masked his identity with a strip of a black silk over half his face. The only thing she could see beneath that broadbrimmed hat was the outline of his mouth and the incipient emergence of a night beard beneath the skin along his chiseled jaw. Below that was a dark neckcloth. And he must have been wearing black shirtsleeves as well because she saw no glimpse of white through the open collar of a caped greatcoat.
He said nothing as he held her against his large body. But she could feel the strong thud of his heart as his breath fanned across her cheek, warm and spicy. His strong hands were positioned beneath her arms in the manner that one would catch a child hurled through the air. And she did, indeed, feel small against him. Fragile, too. He seemed to take additional care to shift his hold to her back as if he feared breaking her.
---
Fast as a whip, the highwayman’s arm shot out. Fist closing around the thick branch, he tossed it aside as if it were nothing more than a twig. Then he took Abernathy by the throat and lifted him to his toes.
Yes, even with the villainous viscount thrashing and clawing, the highwayman held her with sureness, keeping her from harm. In the process, his arm had snaked completely around her waist and she was pressed so fully against him that her face ended up an inch away from the crook of his shoulder.
Well, when in Rome...she thought, and gave in to the impulse.
“Are you” – he turned his head, the stubble along his jaw rasping softly against her cheek and she went still, midbreath, like a rabbit caught eating the lettuces – “unharmed?”
She exhaled in relief, glad he didn’t ask if she’d been sniffing him like fresh linens on the clothesline.
---
Beside him, she shifted, arranging the fall of her skirt in a way that brought her arm closer to him. Her sleeve brushed his. He drew in a sharp breath, tasting her delicate floral perfume on his tongue. It made his mouth water.
His hands had been fisted over his thighs as if in self-preservation from the moment he sat down. But now a strange sort of madness bade him to open his palm, to slide his hand a fraction closer to that fall of blue silk. Unable to stop there, he arched one finger the slightest degree and brushed a knuckle against the fabric.
---
Her brow furrowed in perplexity. “How did you know my name?”
The boy was halfway through the door when he tossed over his shoulder, “You’re the only girl he ever talks about.”
---
Jasper knew she was sparking. He recognized the sounds by the way the consonants and vowels connected to form words. The only problem was, he forgot what words were.
Most of the blood in his brain had descended en masse to southern climes. And the small amount that remained in his skull was busy conjuring a vision of painting her entire body with jam then slowly licking it off. Very, very slowly.
“Mmm...this cheese is heavenly. St. James? Are you making paper flowers in your mind?”
---
He searched her gaze. “Then what happens?”
“Then it feels like the whole word just” – her breath hitched when he reached up and his fingertips dragged softly against her cheek, tucking an errant tendril behind her ear – “opens up, and I feel…”
His nose slid along hers and he closed his eyes as if the sensation needed to be savored.
---
Thea forgot that she wasn’t particularly fond of kissing.
As St. James moved his mouth over hers, she forgot about a lot of things, like how to breathe. How to think.
---
A pent-up exhale left him as he turned his head. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” She sniffed. “I’m not looking at you in any particular way.”
“Aye, you are. Like I’ve burned your entire village to the ground, kicked your dog and now I’m just going to drive away and leave you to live in a potato sack beneath the bridge.”
---
Thea wasn’t entirely convinced. Truth be told, she’d assumed her mother had been exaggerating the size of Lord Turgid for shock value. Now she wondered if she’d minimized it to spare her daughters from the truth.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- narcissistic family member that is physically and sexually abusive to characters on page
- heroine is recovering from a toxic relationship where the man was very mentally and emotionally abusive to her
Author content warnings? None listed
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: No
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? The risk of pregnancy is there and thoughts of possible pregnancy but no children or pregnancy on page
41% - kisses
58% - kisses
67% - 🔥kisses, fingering for her
73% - 🔥kisses that eventually leads to oral for her, missionary
”So sweet,” he murmured, his eyes drifting closed, and added as if to himself, “all mine.”
81% - implied start of a bj
83% - 🔥kisses, her on top
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞 (the paper flowers were really romantic to me)
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: third person perspective from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to medium
When mains are first on page together: It takes a touch – about 11% in
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy through NetGalley in e-book form
Why I chose this book: I love Lorret’s writing and want to read all her books! She has a lot of my fave romances
Mains: This is a M/F romance between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
Ideally yes, because the family is adorable and you get a feel for the whole family structure and their love for drama – there are some sections with mentions of previous events from prior books as well as page time with the other couples. BUT overall this romance does stand alone and I don’t think you will lose anything from their story necessarily to pick it up alone.
Basic plot:
Jasper and Althea keep meeting in clumsy encounters, but Althea quickly sees there’s more than meets the eye after a night with a highwayman.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency?
- author/playwright heroine
- viscount hero
- highwayman
- pets – hero has a dog
- hero makes paper flowers
- he’s her muse
- size difference – this hero is huge
- secret identity
- heroine’s mother performs a play about Lord Turgid and Lady Content using puppets for sex education 😆
- celibate hero
- medium steam – 3ish scenes with a slower burn
Ages:
- hero is 24, didn’t catch heroine but would guess similar, or a bit younger
First line:
Althea Hartley didn’t need a miracle.
My thoughts:
So, I did like this one. But I just felt like it wasn’t as good as the other two in the series, or the many other of Lorret’s that I have adored.
It’s still funny, sweet, romantic, and heart pulling and I definitely recommend – but for me personally I felt like a lot of their interactions felt like the same thing the first 3-4 meetings and this made their relationship feel more stagnant and repetitive to me. I loved this more unique hero – he steps back a bit from the heroine, definitely letting her take the lead in many situations. But I found I wanted him more motivated and not always running away from her.
I also wasn’t super sold on the ending. I wish it had been just a touch different in a few ways.
Still I will always give Lorret a chance and this one was still a run read! It’s just not my favorite of the series.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 11
Average rating from me: 4.36 stars
Favorite book: maaaaybe Ten Kisses to Scandal? She has no many good ones.
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
“I must say, your misfortune is my great fortune,” Chedworth said for the third time that evening...to her breasts.
Her breast offered no reply, but secretly wished they were adorned in porcupine quills that could fire at will.
---
As any proper highwayman out, he masked his identity with a strip of a black silk over half his face. The only thing she could see beneath that broadbrimmed hat was the outline of his mouth and the incipient emergence of a night beard beneath the skin along his chiseled jaw. Below that was a dark neckcloth. And he must have been wearing black shirtsleeves as well because she saw no glimpse of white through the open collar of a caped greatcoat.
He said nothing as he held her against his large body. But she could feel the strong thud of his heart as his breath fanned across her cheek, warm and spicy. His strong hands were positioned beneath her arms in the manner that one would catch a child hurled through the air. And she did, indeed, feel small against him. Fragile, too. He seemed to take additional care to shift his hold to her back as if he feared breaking her.
---
Fast as a whip, the highwayman’s arm shot out. Fist closing around the thick branch, he tossed it aside as if it were nothing more than a twig. Then he took Abernathy by the throat and lifted him to his toes.
Yes, even with the villainous viscount thrashing and clawing, the highwayman held her with sureness, keeping her from harm. In the process, his arm had snaked completely around her waist and she was pressed so fully against him that her face ended up an inch away from the crook of his shoulder.
Well, when in Rome...she thought, and gave in to the impulse.
“Are you” – he turned his head, the stubble along his jaw rasping softly against her cheek and she went still, midbreath, like a rabbit caught eating the lettuces – “unharmed?”
She exhaled in relief, glad he didn’t ask if she’d been sniffing him like fresh linens on the clothesline.
---
Beside him, she shifted, arranging the fall of her skirt in a way that brought her arm closer to him. Her sleeve brushed his. He drew in a sharp breath, tasting her delicate floral perfume on his tongue. It made his mouth water.
His hands had been fisted over his thighs as if in self-preservation from the moment he sat down. But now a strange sort of madness bade him to open his palm, to slide his hand a fraction closer to that fall of blue silk. Unable to stop there, he arched one finger the slightest degree and brushed a knuckle against the fabric.
---
Her brow furrowed in perplexity. “How did you know my name?”
The boy was halfway through the door when he tossed over his shoulder, “You’re the only girl he ever talks about.”
---
Jasper knew she was sparking. He recognized the sounds by the way the consonants and vowels connected to form words. The only problem was, he forgot what words were.
Most of the blood in his brain had descended en masse to southern climes. And the small amount that remained in his skull was busy conjuring a vision of painting her entire body with jam then slowly licking it off. Very, very slowly.
“Mmm...this cheese is heavenly. St. James? Are you making paper flowers in your mind?”
---
He searched her gaze. “Then what happens?”
“Then it feels like the whole word just” – her breath hitched when he reached up and his fingertips dragged softly against her cheek, tucking an errant tendril behind her ear – “opens up, and I feel…”
His nose slid along hers and he closed his eyes as if the sensation needed to be savored.
---
Thea forgot that she wasn’t particularly fond of kissing.
As St. James moved his mouth over hers, she forgot about a lot of things, like how to breathe. How to think.
---
A pent-up exhale left him as he turned his head. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” She sniffed. “I’m not looking at you in any particular way.”
“Aye, you are. Like I’ve burned your entire village to the ground, kicked your dog and now I’m just going to drive away and leave you to live in a potato sack beneath the bridge.”
---
Thea wasn’t entirely convinced. Truth be told, she’d assumed her mother had been exaggerating the size of Lord Turgid for shock value. Now she wondered if she’d minimized it to spare her daughters from the truth.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- narcissistic family member that is physically and sexually abusive to characters on page
- heroine is recovering from a toxic relationship where the man was very mentally and emotionally abusive to her
Author content warnings? None listed
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
41% - kisses
58% - kisses
67% - 🔥kisses, fingering for her
73% - 🔥kisses that eventually leads to oral for her, missionary
”So sweet,” he murmured, his eyes drifting closed, and added as if to himself, “all mine.”
81% - implied start of a bj
83% - 🔥kisses, her on top
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 (I wanted to know a bit more about the hero, but understand it’s hard to squeeze it all in in a novella)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: third person from the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together:
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: The last chapter jumps ahead a bit in time
Format: read an e-book that was a newsletter freebie
Why I chose this book: I saw Bigelow’s books on instagram and was curious – signed up for her newsletter and figured the novella would be a good first story to try.
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is the prequel novella to Bigelow’s Roman Heirs series.
Basic plot:
Gaia meets Herminius at a party she shouldn’t be at when desire strikes them both...
Give this a try if you want:
- Roman time period
- Rome setting
- single mother heroine
- hero wants to get married
- hero is a wealthy merchant
- pets – the hero has a parrot that belonged to wife
- class difference – hero is a wealthy merchant, which is above a freed slave (heroine’s background)
- instalove/lust is an element
- celibate hero
- well-endowed hero 👀
- just wanted to note slavery is a front and center theme in this book and the hero is a slave holder in ancient Rome
- mid steam – 2 full scenes within a shorter page count
Ages:
- heroine is 31, hero is 41
First line:
Gaia counted the pile of coins before her.
My thoughts:
I am SO excited to see some new Roman romance coming to histrom readers! Definitely going to read this whole series someday…
I liked this novella overall. The setting was different and it was fascinating reading about Roman culture – but themes of slavery are front and center in this book and that was harder to read. I liked their relationship, I liked how caring Herminius was to Gaia and how he proved he would provide for her.
I struggled a touch with Gaia’s lying – it’s something that always rubs me the wrong way – but I understand she was trying to protect her family. This is also kind of an ‘easy’ romance. There wasn’t a lot of angst for me, everything was resolved really easily. I know novellas are hard to build these deeper situations. But I found myself wanting a bit more tension and push and pull between the mains.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first.
Average rating from me: 4 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
Then, he lifted her wrist to his lips and pressed a kiss to the marked flesh. “I told you, I don’t care.”
“But you could have any woman you wanted,” Gaia pressed. “Why would you want one like me?”
He chuckled. “You vastly overestimate the appeal of an aging, widowed grain merchant with the world’s most terrible parrot.”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- slavery – heroine was a former slave
- mention of childbirth death of hero’s wife
- mention of hero’s wife being 16 when they married
- gladiator battles
- heroine experiences rape by her master as a slave when she is a young teenager – he isn’t cruel or violent but his attentions aren’t wanted and there’s a power dynamic there that’s unfair to her – resulting in pregnancy
Author content warnings? Nothing listed
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: No, but he asks beforehand
How’s the consent? It’s good! Lots of asking and confirming.
Pregnancy/children in story? Heroine has a 14 year old son, hero has lost a child in childbirth. Mention of the heroine wanting another child
29% - kiss
54% - kiss
63% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her, her on top
“What’s that?”
He tilted the jug and poured a few drops of something into his palm. “Oil.”
“For what purpose?”
“Something I’ve learned over the years. I’m told that it can be, er, uncomfortable for women. Especially when there is…” He cleared his throat, and a flush rose to his cheeks. “A certain size involved.”
92% - kiss
97% - 🔥 fingering for her, missionary
”Good?” he murmured.
“So good.” With her eyes closed, her entire world was just the feel of his body behind her, around her, inside her, the rising tide of pleasure kindled by his fingers.
He gave a gentle trust, drawing a breathy moan from her lips. “I can fuck you like this for as long as you please.”
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 (I wanted to know a bit more about the hero, but understand it’s hard to squeeze it all in in a novella)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: third person from the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together:
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: The last chapter jumps ahead a bit in time
Format: read an e-book that was a newsletter freebie
Why I chose this book: I saw Bigelow’s books on instagram and was curious – signed up for her newsletter and figured the novella would be a good first story to try.
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is the prequel novella to Bigelow’s Roman Heirs series.
Basic plot:
Gaia meets Herminius at a party she shouldn’t be at when desire strikes them both...
Give this a try if you want:
- Roman time period
- Rome setting
- single mother heroine
- hero wants to get married
- hero is a wealthy merchant
- pets – the hero has a parrot that belonged to wife
- class difference – hero is a wealthy merchant, which is above a freed slave (heroine’s background)
- instalove/lust is an element
- celibate hero
- well-endowed hero 👀
- just wanted to note slavery is a front and center theme in this book and the hero is a slave holder in ancient Rome
- mid steam – 2 full scenes within a shorter page count
Ages:
- heroine is 31, hero is 41
First line:
Gaia counted the pile of coins before her.
My thoughts:
I am SO excited to see some new Roman romance coming to histrom readers! Definitely going to read this whole series someday…
I liked this novella overall. The setting was different and it was fascinating reading about Roman culture – but themes of slavery are front and center in this book and that was harder to read. I liked their relationship, I liked how caring Herminius was to Gaia and how he proved he would provide for her.
I struggled a touch with Gaia’s lying – it’s something that always rubs me the wrong way – but I understand she was trying to protect her family. This is also kind of an ‘easy’ romance. There wasn’t a lot of angst for me, everything was resolved really easily. I know novellas are hard to build these deeper situations. But I found myself wanting a bit more tension and push and pull between the mains.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first.
Average rating from me: 4 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
Then, he lifted her wrist to his lips and pressed a kiss to the marked flesh. “I told you, I don’t care.”
“But you could have any woman you wanted,” Gaia pressed. “Why would you want one like me?”
He chuckled. “You vastly overestimate the appeal of an aging, widowed grain merchant with the world’s most terrible parrot.”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- slavery – heroine was a former slave
- mention of childbirth death of hero’s wife
- mention of hero’s wife being 16 when they married
- gladiator battles
- heroine experiences rape by her master as a slave when she is a young teenager – he isn’t cruel or violent but his attentions aren’t wanted and there’s a power dynamic there that’s unfair to her – resulting in pregnancy
Author content warnings? Nothing listed
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
29% - kiss
54% - kiss
63% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her, her on top
“What’s that?”
He tilted the jug and poured a few drops of something into his palm. “Oil.”
“For what purpose?”
“Something I’ve learned over the years. I’m told that it can be, er, uncomfortable for women. Especially when there is…” He cleared his throat, and a flush rose to his cheeks. “A certain size involved.”
92% - kiss
97% - 🔥 fingering for her, missionary
”Good?” he murmured.
“So good.” With her eyes closed, her entire world was just the feel of his body behind her, around her, inside her, the rising tide of pleasure kindled by his fingers.
He gave a gentle trust, drawing a breathy moan from her lips. “I can fuck you like this for as long as you please.”
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 (I wanted a bit more background on the hero and his ranch)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥 (plus another for the side characters)
Humor: A touch
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine, also some from side characters Olivia and Kyle and Luis
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: It takes just a little bit – page 44 of 433 (chapter 2 of 23)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever
Epilogue: Yes, it’s brief and kind of a summary of their lives together (this many
Format: read a paperback from the library
Why I chose this book: it was recommended on a cowboy post in our vintage HR group and I wanted to give it a try!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is book 2 of Howard’s Western Ladies series but I think it’s fine alone. I can’t see how the series is connected – if you know please feel free to let me know!
Basic plot:
Dee has her farm and independence – but when Lucas comes to town he wants her farm...and her.
Give this a try if you want:
- you’ll have to be okay with some elements of colonization (it’s an American Western – brief mention of ‘Indian’ tribes, but overall no page time with conflict) and thought processes of characters – both our mains are homesteaders in Colorado in the post gold rush era in America and very defensive of their land. There’s also non-consensual and dubious consent elements here.
- Prosper, Colorado setting
- post gold rush – didn’t peg an exact year but would guess 1860s/70s or so?
- small town
- prodigal hero returns (10 years away)
- farmer heroine
- rancher hero
- he pursues
- enemies to lovers elements
- medium steam – 3ish full scenes between the mains, plus one from the secondary romance
Ages:
- heroine is 19, didn’t catch hero but would guess mid to late 20s at least
First line:
Lucas Cochran had been back in town for almost a month, but it still amazed him how much the little town of Prosper had lived up to its name.
My thoughts:
This was my first Howard – if I ever saw her mentioned, her books never really intrigued me so I always bypassed them. But I saw her mentioned on one of our ‘cowboy’ posts in our Vintage Romance group and I thought I’d give it a try.
And I was glad I did! I really liked so much about this book and liked her writing – I would definitely read more of her. This book took me by surprise in some good ways – I had low expectations for it. So the sex was steamier than I was thinking it would be. I liked the characters (mostly) but really loved the heroine. She was so bad ass and independent and I loved how she stood up to Lucas. I liked Lucas but oh he’s also such an arrogant jerk. And he does something towards the end of the story that I really despised but I ended up liking the way it was handled and I liked the self reflection the hero had (I think if he didn’t have that it would have tanked the rating for me a bit).
I loved that this was pretty character focused and not a ton of dramatic plot events – this is why I tend to not pick up a lot of westerns because I think of them as really busy with gun fights and not getting to know the characters as well – but this one proved me wrong.
Biggest complaints are the hero says ‘shut up’, calls her a ‘damn idiot’ and says ‘damn you’ to the heroine – I see this in quite a few older romances and I always despise it.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my frist
Average rating from me: 4 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
“You’re safe for you,” he said. “But when you’re healed, things will change. I’ll be coming after you, and it won’t take me long to get you.”
---
“Don’t come back here, because you aren’t welcome.”
“Are you going to use the shotgun on me?” he taunted, leaning down so close that she could see the glittering depths of his eyes. “Then take your best shot, sweetheart, because I’ll be back.”
---
“This is what it would be like between us,” he muttered. “Hot and wild. Think about it, damn you.” This thumb rubbed her nipple into a tight peak, and her entire body clenched from the pleasure and pain of it. He cupped both breasts, holding them high and together, and buried his face against them.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- parental and sibling death
- outdated thoughts and terms in regards to Indigenous People living in America
- themes of colonization and racism of North America by European settlers
- mention of attempted sexual assault and harassment of heroine – she shoots people off her property to deter them
- gun usage including a shoot out between men from a ranch and the heroine that results in injuries
- the first sex scene is basically rape – the hero is very aggressive and pushes his kisses and sex with her – she goes through some body betrayed me emotions
Author content warnings? Nothing listed
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story: I consider the mains of the story Lucas and Dee but there’s scenes between some side characters
Safe sex: No but after the risk of pregnancy is talked about after a few sex sessions, they talk about using a vinegar sponge
How’s the consent? It’s not the best – If you want strong consent in your novels I would forgo this one because there’s definite noncon kisses/dubious elements with rape/body betrayed me themes in the sex
Pregnancy/children in story? No but there is the risk of pregnancy and talk of pregnancy and there are children mention in the epilogue
Pg 125/433 – kiss
Pg 132/433 – kiss
pg 155/433 – kisses between side characters Luis and Olivia
Pg 165/433 – 🔥kisses, breast play, that leads to missionary (there’s definitely rape elements here – kind of a mix with body betrayed me – the classic old school I can’t say yes because that will make me a whore so I’ll fight you to make me a good girl...ya know) on the floor in the cabin
Pg 193/433 – kisses between Luis and Olivia
Pg 220/433 – 🔥missionary in the grass by the creek (it’s on the shorter side) followed by her on top a little bit later
Pg 248/433 – kisses and breast play between Luis and Olivia
Pg 270/433 – quick sex scene between Kyle and Tillie
Pg 344/433 – sex between Luis and Olivia
Pg 381/433 – 🔥her on top
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 (I wanted a bit more background on the hero and his ranch)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥 (plus another for the side characters)
Humor: A touch
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine, also some from side characters Olivia and Kyle and Luis
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: It takes just a little bit – page 44 of 433 (chapter 2 of 23)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever
Epilogue: Yes, it’s brief and kind of a summary of their lives together (this many
Format: read a paperback from the library
Why I chose this book: it was recommended on a cowboy post in our vintage HR group and I wanted to give it a try!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is book 2 of Howard’s Western Ladies series but I think it’s fine alone. I can’t see how the series is connected – if you know please feel free to let me know!
Basic plot:
Dee has her farm and independence – but when Lucas comes to town he wants her farm...and her.
Give this a try if you want:
- you’ll have to be okay with some elements of colonization (it’s an American Western – brief mention of ‘Indian’ tribes, but overall no page time with conflict) and thought processes of characters – both our mains are homesteaders in Colorado in the post gold rush era in America and very defensive of their land. There’s also non-consensual and dubious consent elements here.
- Prosper, Colorado setting
- post gold rush – didn’t peg an exact year but would guess 1860s/70s or so?
- small town
- prodigal hero returns (10 years away)
- farmer heroine
- rancher hero
- he pursues
- enemies to lovers elements
- medium steam – 3ish full scenes between the mains, plus one from the secondary romance
Ages:
- heroine is 19, didn’t catch hero but would guess mid to late 20s at least
First line:
Lucas Cochran had been back in town for almost a month, but it still amazed him how much the little town of Prosper had lived up to its name.
My thoughts:
This was my first Howard – if I ever saw her mentioned, her books never really intrigued me so I always bypassed them. But I saw her mentioned on one of our ‘cowboy’ posts in our Vintage Romance group and I thought I’d give it a try.
And I was glad I did! I really liked so much about this book and liked her writing – I would definitely read more of her. This book took me by surprise in some good ways – I had low expectations for it. So the sex was steamier than I was thinking it would be. I liked the characters (mostly) but really loved the heroine. She was so bad ass and independent and I loved how she stood up to Lucas. I liked Lucas but oh he’s also such an arrogant jerk. And he does something towards the end of the story that I really despised but I ended up liking the way it was handled and I liked the self reflection the hero had (I think if he didn’t have that it would have tanked the rating for me a bit).
I loved that this was pretty character focused and not a ton of dramatic plot events – this is why I tend to not pick up a lot of westerns because I think of them as really busy with gun fights and not getting to know the characters as well – but this one proved me wrong.
Biggest complaints are the hero says ‘shut up’, calls her a ‘damn idiot’ and says ‘damn you’ to the heroine – I see this in quite a few older romances and I always despise it.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my frist
Average rating from me: 4 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
“You’re safe for you,” he said. “But when you’re healed, things will change. I’ll be coming after you, and it won’t take me long to get you.”
---
“Don’t come back here, because you aren’t welcome.”
“Are you going to use the shotgun on me?” he taunted, leaning down so close that she could see the glittering depths of his eyes. “Then take your best shot, sweetheart, because I’ll be back.”
---
“This is what it would be like between us,” he muttered. “Hot and wild. Think about it, damn you.” This thumb rubbed her nipple into a tight peak, and her entire body clenched from the pleasure and pain of it. He cupped both breasts, holding them high and together, and buried his face against them.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- parental and sibling death
- outdated thoughts and terms in regards to Indigenous People living in America
- themes of colonization and racism of North America by European settlers
- mention of attempted sexual assault and harassment of heroine – she shoots people off her property to deter them
- gun usage including a shoot out between men from a ranch and the heroine that results in injuries
- the first sex scene is basically rape – the hero is very aggressive and pushes his kisses and sex with her – she goes through some body betrayed me emotions
Author content warnings? Nothing listed
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story: I consider the mains of the story Lucas and Dee but there’s scenes between some side characters
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
Pg 125/433 – kiss
Pg 132/433 – kiss
pg 155/433 – kisses between side characters Luis and Olivia
Pg 165/433 – 🔥kisses, breast play, that leads to missionary (there’s definitely rape elements here – kind of a mix with body betrayed me – the classic old school I can’t say yes because that will make me a whore so I’ll fight you to make me a good girl...ya know) on the floor in the cabin
Pg 193/433 – kisses between Luis and Olivia
Pg 220/433 – 🔥missionary in the grass by the creek (it’s on the shorter side) followed by her on top a little bit later
Pg 248/433 – kisses and breast play between Luis and Olivia
Pg 270/433 – quick sex scene between Kyle and Tillie
Pg 344/433 – sex between Luis and Olivia
Pg 381/433 – 🔥her on top
adventurous
emotional
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:
No
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Not too far in, 11% (chapter 3 of 17)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, a few years later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book form
Why I chose this book: I really love Knight’s writing and want to read all her books!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is book 3 in Knight’s That Scandalous Fairplace Family series but I think it’s fine alone – the book is really focused on our mains with only some brief mention of other characters – but I think the series is really fun and cute and I loved all the books in it so I think reading the series in order would also be delightful!
Basic plot:
Violet is enjoying her trip from Geneva to Paris escorting her friend’s daughter, but her trip is thrown into turmoil when she finds a man hiding in her trunk instead of her belongings.
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian – 1870
- Switzerland to Paris setting
- half-English/Prussian hero (that has been in quite a few countries and knows German, French, Hog Latin….)
- widow heroine
- tour guide/spy hero – he has conducted mountain tours
- trains!
- road trip
- they fall in love fast
- child free HEA
- novella length
- medium steam – 2 full scenes in a shorter page count
Ages:
- heroine is 29, didn’t catch hero
First line:
Violet’s breath plumed in the air as she strode up the gangplank onto the steamship, her heavy wool skirts swishing through the cold air.
My thoughts:
Another delightful, romantic novella from Knight! I love her books so much. I like that we are leaving to other places in Europe and riding lots of trains 😍
These mains meet on a train in Switzerland when the hero hides in the heroine’s trunk from his enemies. This leads to a fun road trip romance where they fall in love quickly, getting to know each other while running from rival spy agents.
Violet and Jakob are both so sweet and I loved getting to know them. They just feel perfect for each other and the epilogue was really sweet too. There were a lot of really sweet lines and I felt the romance between these two!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 6
Average rating from me: 5 stars
Favorite book: Probably Just Think of the Scandal but they are all good!
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
But Violet wanted to make sure he didn’t understand any English before she started spouting off mangled English.
Well. Only one way to find out.
She took a breath. “Sir,” she said politely.
The man glanced up at her, their eyes locking.
Violet suppressed the shiver of excitement that went through her at his gaze. “Sir,” she said in a conversational, friendly ton. “You are a bastard.”
She held her breath.
He blinked, smiling a little.
Alma sucked in a breath beside her. Violet reached over and grabbed the girl’s hand, a silent warning to not react.
“You are a bastard. Your mother is a whore. And you reek of horse excrement.” She smiled broadly at the end, watching for any reaction.
Schmidt cocked his head with a hesitant smile. “Ja?” he inquired, looking so innocent wrapped in that blanket.
She nodded encouragingly. “Ja.”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- minor scenes of violence with a knife
- remembrances of a bad marriage
- infertility and miscarriages remembered
Author content warnings? This book contains explicit depictions of sexual relationships between consenting adults. There are scenes containing coarse language and violence. There are mentions of infertility and pregnancy loss, cheating and blackmail.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: She asks him to pull out (and he thinks about purchasing condoms/sponges)
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? The heroine has had a number of miscarriages and can't carry to term and has decided to live a child free HEA with the hero
39% - kisses
51% - 🔥 kisses, fingering with some edging for her, handy for him on the train
63% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her, doggy
”You said you want me deep,” he pointed out between kisses.
“Mmhmm.”
Jakob grabbed her hand and tugged her up into a sitting position, then wrapped his hands firmly around her waist. “On your hands and knees, then.”
84% - a quick sex scene on the train
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Not too far in, 11% (chapter 3 of 17)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, a few years later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book form
Why I chose this book: I really love Knight’s writing and want to read all her books!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is book 3 in Knight’s That Scandalous Fairplace Family series but I think it’s fine alone – the book is really focused on our mains with only some brief mention of other characters – but I think the series is really fun and cute and I loved all the books in it so I think reading the series in order would also be delightful!
Basic plot:
Violet is enjoying her trip from Geneva to Paris escorting her friend’s daughter, but her trip is thrown into turmoil when she finds a man hiding in her trunk instead of her belongings.
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian – 1870
- Switzerland to Paris setting
- half-English/Prussian hero (that has been in quite a few countries and knows German, French, Hog Latin….)
- widow heroine
- tour guide/spy hero – he has conducted mountain tours
- trains!
- road trip
- they fall in love fast
- child free HEA
- novella length
- medium steam – 2 full scenes in a shorter page count
Ages:
- heroine is 29, didn’t catch hero
First line:
Violet’s breath plumed in the air as she strode up the gangplank onto the steamship, her heavy wool skirts swishing through the cold air.
My thoughts:
Another delightful, romantic novella from Knight! I love her books so much. I like that we are leaving to other places in Europe and riding lots of trains 😍
These mains meet on a train in Switzerland when the hero hides in the heroine’s trunk from his enemies. This leads to a fun road trip romance where they fall in love quickly, getting to know each other while running from rival spy agents.
Violet and Jakob are both so sweet and I loved getting to know them. They just feel perfect for each other and the epilogue was really sweet too. There were a lot of really sweet lines and I felt the romance between these two!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 6
Average rating from me: 5 stars
Favorite book: Probably Just Think of the Scandal but they are all good!
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
But Violet wanted to make sure he didn’t understand any English before she started spouting off mangled English.
Well. Only one way to find out.
She took a breath. “Sir,” she said politely.
The man glanced up at her, their eyes locking.
Violet suppressed the shiver of excitement that went through her at his gaze. “Sir,” she said in a conversational, friendly ton. “You are a bastard.”
She held her breath.
He blinked, smiling a little.
Alma sucked in a breath beside her. Violet reached over and grabbed the girl’s hand, a silent warning to not react.
“You are a bastard. Your mother is a whore. And you reek of horse excrement.” She smiled broadly at the end, watching for any reaction.
Schmidt cocked his head with a hesitant smile. “Ja?” he inquired, looking so innocent wrapped in that blanket.
She nodded encouragingly. “Ja.”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- minor scenes of violence with a knife
- remembrances of a bad marriage
- infertility and miscarriages remembered
Author content warnings? This book contains explicit depictions of sexual relationships between consenting adults. There are scenes containing coarse language and violence. There are mentions of infertility and pregnancy loss, cheating and blackmail.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
39% - kisses
51% - 🔥 kisses, fingering with some edging for her, handy for him on the train
63% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her, doggy
”You said you want me deep,” he pointed out between kisses.
“Mmhmm.”
Jakob grabbed her hand and tugged her up into a sitting position, then wrapped his hands firmly around her waist. “On your hands and knees, then.”
84% - a quick sex scene on the train