Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Almost immediately (chapter 1, or 1% of the story)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, ten months later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from NetGalley that I’m late on 😅

Should I read in order?
You can read this alone! I believe it’s a stand alone...

Basic plot:
Georgiana is used to fighting off fortune hunters, but when her family’s worst enemy shows up at the 2 week house party she’s attenting, she’s not sure she can make it through...

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency
- country estate setting
- house party!
- enemies to lovers (on the heroine’s side)
- rival families
- forbidden love vibes
- class difference – duke hero and merchant’s daughter heroine
- fashion loving/creating heroine
- interesting facts woven in – like lawn bowling licenses!
- a bit of a possessive hero – he gets a bit jealous for the heroine
- some euphemism banter in the bedroom
- very light epistolary (some letters written)
- medium steam – 3-ish full scenes

Ages:
- I don’t think they are mentioned, but both hero and heroine have a 27 year old sibling – so I’d guess heroine is around 23-ish and hero is around 30

First line:
Georgiana hid a yawn behind her gloved hand.

My thoughts:
Oh my gawd. I adored this book so SO much. This is my second by Haymore, and I very much liked the other book I read by her. So I will officially be stalking all her other releases!

This book is so dang sweet. And just all the things I adore in romance. The entire middle of this story is like Haymore poured romance catnip all over me. I was smiling and swooning and kicking my feet in the air.

I did find Georgiana’s blind following of her parents a bit annoying in the beginning of this book. But she’s been respected and loved by them (maybe a bit oppressively) and it’s understandable. It took me about half the book to REALLY warm up to her and then I loved her. I loved how she was able to vocalize her boundaries (even to her parents eventually) and maneuver society situations with fortune hunters. I loved her fall for Theo.

But Theo. Theo! Theo stole my heart. I adore heroes like him. Heroes that have deep feelings they keep hidden inside. Heroes that maybe aren’t running around being manwhores and who harbor a romantic heart. Heroes that when they fall, they fall with EVERYTHING in them. I loved him so, so much.

There were so many adorable scenes in this story. I highlighted like half the book (you can see in my quotes section hahaha). The scenes where he starts to fall for her, and gets playful and a bit flirty at the house party. (And my gosh I have been loving house party games lately in HR! So, so fun!) And the way he starts to fall, and gets all obsessed, a bit jealous and basically loses his mind for her.

The way he hears her moaning in her room and busts in to remove the threat.

The way he whispers that he’s filled with lust in her ears in a crowd of people.

The way he catches her eyes while he holds her quim and whisper orders her to send her maid away from her room.

Just fucking melting this whole book….

I ended up really loving the ending too. Theo is just such a GOOD person. I enjoyed the way it worked out. The way he was wanting to give her everything and worked so hard to do that. He really is the best. Love love love.

Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:Any mistakes/typos are my own

This man was definitely handsome.
He walked alone, just coming round the bed toward them. His form was tall and dark, but his ocean-blue eyes pierced straight through her from a distance.
Not Worsley/Webley.
Someone different.
Far more potent.
Far more despicable.
Georgiana yanked her gaze away.
The Duke of Desborough was walking toward them on the footpath at Hyde Park.
---
I love how he is so intrigued and interested in her from the start

He knew she’d regained her footing, but he couldn’t help it. She had a tiny waist – one he could almost span with his hands. He looked down at her perfect face and breathed her in, his senses filling with a soft rose perfume.
---
Oh, yes. He could picture that perfect petite body, rounded softly in all the right places.
All that pale, soft womanly skin to caress…
She glared daggers at him.
---
And when her feelings slowly start to shift in a positive light towards him

Georgiana jumped up with a cheer and threw her arms around the duke, who took a stumbling, surprised step back before going completely still. His eyes locked with hers, and sensation shivered through her as his arms banded around her. On their own accord, her arms tightened around him in return, a feeling of rightness humming through her.
---
“Ooh.” She studied the plant with more interest now.
She’d never seen a tomato plant before. “They say those things turn your blood to acid and kill you.”
“An old wives’ tale, surely,” he said mildly. “The French call them love-apples because they claim they have aphrodisiacal qualities.
She laughed. “So, if you dare to consume one, you’ll either drop dead or be overwhelmed by lust.”
He nodded and looked at her again, challenge flashing in his eyes. “Should I try one?”
//
“You’re still alive. Do you feel any strange effects?”
His eyes twinkled. “Like the overwhelming urge to ravish you?”
An instant flush heated her cheeks. “That’s not what I meant! I mean, do you feel your breaths becoming short? Tightness in your throat? Swelling of any part of your body?” She flushed deeper. “Well...I mean, not swelling on that part. Oh Lord.”
---
I love these house party games!!! So fun!!!

Forcefully keeping her expression blank to not expose the glee rising inside her, she reached down and trailed her hand beneath her bottom, along the outside of his rigid thigh. The man behind her went very still as her fingers moved along. The nankeen pantaloons were tight, as fashion dictated, and the buttery soft, and she traced the contours of thick muscle. Heat traveled through her hand as she moved over the side of his hip to his waistband. When she reached the small gap between his pantaloons and the sharp cut of his tailcoat, she ran her fingertips over the tiny bumps of slick embroidery edging his silk waistcoat.
//
She tiptoed her fingertips up, over the high starched collar of his waistcoat and to his jaw, shaved smooth for the evening. He sucked in a small breath – probably imperceptible to the onlookers but not to her.
It made her feel powerful.
---
He’d locked eyes with Georgiana.
“Time to hear my secret, Miss Milford,” he said in a low voice.
She leaned slightly toward him, her body stiff, and he cupped one hand around her ear, sliding the other around her head to hold her securely in place. Her hair felt like silk under his fingertips. “It took its time,” he whispered, “but I fear the tomato has begun its work.”
She jerked in his hold.
“Shhh,” he told her. “I’m not dying. It’s the other concern.”
She went still.
“I’ve been watching you all night. Imagining how your sensual lips – your perfect body – would feel beneath mine.”
She gasped audibly.
“I can’t stop thinking about it,” he whispered. “About you.” Then, letting his thumb skim lightly over the shell of her ear, he let her go.

---
Ahhhh, he IS a romantic and I am loving it!!

“A father’s control is as absolute as a husband’s.”
“Not at all,” Georgiana argued. “It’s different because my father loves me.”
“And your husband wouldn’t.”
She blinked. “What?”
“Isn’t that the whole point of marriage? For the husband and wife to commit to loving each other for the rest of their lives?
She stepped back against the bookshelf, hand to chest. “Are you a romantic, Your Grace?”
He laughed, low in his throat. “Now let’s not get carried away.”

---
I love it so much. I love how much he is opening up to her and loving her.

“Turn around,” he said softly.
She did, excruciatingly slowly.
When she was facing him, she ran a hand up her arm, over her long, white glove, over that warm, petal-soft part of her skin on her upper arm, then over that exquisite silvertrimmed silk cap sleeve. He skimmed her shoulder and touched her cheek. It was softer, sweeter than he could have ever imagined. Then, he slid his fingering under her chin and tipped her face up to his.
Her eyes were a clear haze. “Beautiful,” he whispered under his breath.

---
I am dead

“That wasn’t teasing. That was the truth.”
“Because you ate that horrid love-apple.”
“No. The tomato had nothing to do with it. I feel that way right now, and the tomato is no longer involved.”

---
I don’t know why these lines just got me so good – the fact that he’s so desperate for her? And helping her get under his waistcoat?? I love it.

He’d take more. And more and more and more, if she’d let him. He moved his hand from her neck to cup her chin reveling in the dewy skin of her jaw as he tilted her head so he could coax his tongue between her lips, desperate for more of her taste.
One of her hands slid around to his front. He held his hand over hers, encouraging her to touch him, to explore, helping her slip her fingers under his waistcoat.

---
When he starts losing his mind in jealousy 🫠 🫠

Still, he couldn’t fault Georgiana for her reaction. Her reaction was -
Just a moment…
He raised his head, straining to hear. Quiet voices were coming from next door. A low feminine voice, an extended moment of silence, and then
Was that a moan?
What. The. Hell.
He stood, the chair scraping against the floor as it was pushed back. He strode to his door, yanked it open, then stalked to Georgiana’s door. He pressed his ear against it.
Another low moan.
Had Hawkins gone into her room? Was that bastard accosting her?
---
“You don’t want him,” he rasped out.
“No,” she admitted quietly. “Not him.”
He locked eyes with her. Every instinct was telling him to drag her out of the water and carry her to the bed. To sample every bit of her delectable body.
“Never him,” she whispered.
He licked his lips. Slowly. Deliberately.
“Who do you want, then?” he managed.
She was quite. For a long moment, the silence felt as heavy as mist. Finally, she whispered, “You.”
---
He took her face in his hands and kissed her, pouring all his longing into it. He wanted her. More intensely, more violently, than he’d ever wanted anything in his life.

---
The way he covers her quim and tells her to send her maid away 🫠 🫠

Georgiana jerked, but Theo stilled at the sound of her maid’s voice. This time, he didn’t pull back. Instead, his palm settled over her mound.
“Tell her to go away,” he whispered, eyes locked with hers.

---
Crowding against doors and walls is one of my favorite romance things!!!

It was opened so quickly, he must have been standing directly in front of it. He took hold of her wrist, pulled her in, closed the door, and crowded her against it. She gasped at the feel of his body, so firm and hard, pressed against her own.
And then he was kissing her, his tongue stroking inside her mouth, his hands roaming up her body beneath the cloak to cup her breasts.

---
I LOVE that this hero isn’t scared of sharing his feelings and embracing them

This was no dream. This was reality. And the reality was that he wanted Georgiana Milford, and he needed to tell her that.
“I’ve fallen in love with you. I cannot stand the thought of you being torn away from my side.” He swallowed hard. “I think we belong together. I think you make me into a better man, and I think I have never been happier or more at peace than I have been these past days with you.”
   

Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- some elements of controlling parents
- mention of death of parents
- toxic parent/abuse mentioned

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

Safe sex: 

She talks about not wanting to get pregnant, he explains the risks and pulls out

Hows the consent? 

It’s good/explicit 

43% - kisses
52% - kisses in the cave
55% - 🔥 kisses and breast play in the bath, then there’s a bit of a break while they talk, and continues in the bed, fingering for her, then another bit of a break and the next morning hand job/masturbation for the hero

Dressed only in his trousers, which showed the outline of his manhood in a way that made her heart pound even harder, he obeyed, crawling up onto the bed and then over her, radiating energy like some hungry predator.
He straddled her, a knee on each side of her body, then gazed down at her. “Is this what you want?”

65% - 🔥 kisses in his room, oral for her

When she was panting and needy and thoroughly teased, he chased his fingertips with hot swipes of his tongue, murmuring, “You taste...so...damn...good.”
66% - mention of more pleasuring throughout the night
73% - another mention of past pleasuring
77% - 🔥 kisses, bj for him (incomplete), missionary (V loss for her)

He braced himself against the wall, head down, watching her. She looked up at him as she moved back up his shaft. His lips were parted, his eyes hooded as he watched her.

98% - brief mention of oral for her 

 

Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖 (I was very interested in the first half! But I did hit a bit of a wall and set it down for a bit.)
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥 I settled at a 2 flame – there’s a plethora of open door scenes, but none are super long or developed or detailed.
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third perspective from hero and heroine (and a bit from the hero’s housekeeper and also James Malvern, the hero’s brother)
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: Almost immediately (4% of the book, like pg 2 of the story??)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after for the mains
Epilogue: Yes (not sure exactly how far in the future as quite a bit of time elapsed during the story, but I’d guess a year or so)
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book form

Should I read in order?
There is a novella (To Woo a Maid) that might give more character background but isn’t totally necessary to read. I want to say it comes after this novel though as Nellie is single in this book? I will have to read it and see where it fits best!

Basic plot:
Anne and Sedrich are both intrigued by each other, but neither is at liberty to marry where their hearts lead...

Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian time period - 1880
- class difference – hero is an Earl and heroine is the daughter of a bastard and a chambermaid
- artist heroine
- interesting author notes
- lower steam – there are a variety of scenes but the length of the scenes is on the short side

Ages:
- Heroine is 21, hero is 30

First line:
He’d escaped at last, seeking refuge on the blissfully empty terrace outside, looking for a dark corner to hide and light a smoke in peace.

My thoughts:
Remillard brings a new voice to the HR world and I found her writing lovely and her characters unique!

I was really invested in the first half of this novel. I really loved how Malcolm and Anne circled each other, almost connecting, a number of times before they were finally able to come together. I loved how they both had some German background. And I was really falling for Malcolm in the first half of this novel. It had some big rescue plot vibes and I was very into that.

But the latter half I will admit lost me a bit. I did struggle with the various POVs going on in the book. I tend to really prefer just the mains, and don’t like getting the villains POV unless it’s truly necessary. But we also got Nellie’s POV and I started to get frustrated with being pulled all over.

I thought the hero was unnecessarily cruel on a few occasions and when he did try to apologize, the heroine, instead of making him crawl and beg, stopped him and told him it was okay and excused his actions which was really frustrating to me. There is another apology scene towards the end that placated me a bit, but I still left with some doubt in the hero’s long term good behavior…

So overall I had a few things that didn’t work for me in this novel, but I really loved Remillard’s writing and did grab her novella that is also out (To Woo a Maid) and am eager to give that a try at some point too. I think those that really like an involved villain plot mixing with their mains happiness would enjoy this novel.

Endearments

The hero calls the heroine ‘schatz’ which means ‘darling’ 

Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- smoking
- toxic and verbally abusive guardian for the heroine, physical abuse threats
- heroine is caned for punishment by her uncle
- possible feelings of infidelity – the hero gets drunk and lets a woman attend to him at a brothel and it seems like he would have moved forward sexually if she didn’t speak and take him out of his daze (no physical cheating)
- scene of assault – the hero’s brother grabs the heroine while shes in the bath, holding her neck and threatens her
- sex shaming – heroine is shamed for trying to give the hero a bj and he implies she’s a loose woman
- forced vaginal exam given by the villains to see if Anne is still a virgin

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes: I settled at a 2 flame – there’s a plethora of open door scenes, but none are super long or developed or detailed.

 
Safe sex: 

No, they are married 

 
Hows the consent? 

  It’s good/implied 

 
42% - cock touches that I think leads to him coming?? It was quite short and vague so I’m assuming here.
45% - kisses, touches, hand job (it’s quite short)
49% - mention of past pleasuring
62% - oral for her (it’s more of an assumption, it’s quite light) followed by an implied bj
81% - missionary
93% - a few sentences of her on top 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞 (There’s something really romantic about an enduring love like this – the obstacles this couple overcomes is rather astounding)
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: A bit but overall it’s a heavier book
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? a mix but maybe more plot?
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: almost immediately – Chapter 1 (about 2-3% in)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, a few months in the future (4 months or so)
Format: listened to the audiobook from the library (Hoopla)

Should I read in order?
I think overall this series would be better in order as there’s some character cross over and events referenced, but overall this one does focus mostly on the main couple so rebel readers will probably be fine.

Basic plot:
Sophia finds herself in a total muddle when she realizes she doesn’t love her betrothed, but his cousin instead...

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (?)
- forbidden love/taboo vibes – heroine is engaged to hero’s cousin
- affair
- captain hero
- pets – heroine has a dog
-

pregnancy 

- LGBT positive
- low to mid steam – 2 full scenes

Ages:
- heroine is 20, didn’t catch hero

First line:
Sophia tugged at the leading string to draw Peaches closer to the hem of her dress.

My thoughts:
I think I said the first book of this series put me on a roller coaster and I had a variety of feelings about it – I feel similarly about this book! I think I liked it a bit more than book, but it’s still such a unique story and a bit crazy.

I don’t mind the ‘adultery’ aspect here, but I think the plot points and separations of the mains dwindled my enjoyment a bit. This couple had so much working against them and I was on my toes the whole time and was left wanting to just have the time to get to know the mains well and enjoy some longing between them.

I cannot help but think that this series would make absolutely amazing TV.

I did really love both main characters! I think I wouldn’t reread this one, but again another really memorable book unlike anything else I’ve read in HR.

Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- parental death
- heroine was raped by a family member when she was 13 (off page, remembered)
- confrontation with rapist in heroine’s bedroom while she’s under laudanum
- mention of homophobia and anti-LGBT legislation
- possible feelings of infidelity – the heroine marries the hero’s cousin and they continue their affair

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

Safe sex: 

No

and it does result in pregnancy 

 
Hows the consent? 

It’s good/implied 

3% - kiss
25% - kiss
39% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her, missionary

“Dev, please, please kiss me.”
“I would kiss every inch of you Sophia,” he whispered and his lips trailed lower, his hands at her back, loosening her gown.
“I would touch every inch of you. Taste every inch of you.”

49% - kiss
57% - 🔥 fingering for her, must be quiet, missionary

Keeping her gaze focused was difficult, nearly impossible. But his own would not allow hers to waver. She licked the palm of his hand. Now it was she who watched his eyes cloud with arousal.
“Wench,” he whispered, removing both of his hands to unfasten his falls.

62% - kiss
70% - kiss 
 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Not much
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? plot
How did the speed of the story feel? medium to fast?
When mains are first on page together: Immediately (chapter 1, 1-2%)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Not really
Format: listened to audiobook from library (Hoopla)

Should I read in order?
This is the first book in LaCapra’s Furies series.

Basic plot:
After a very public separation from her husband, his death brings suspicion to Lavinia’s door. It also brings her former love to try to protect her.

Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian (1784)
- widow heroine
- murder mystery
- second chance
- hero pursues
- protective hero
- I don’t know if I would say enemies to lovers but there’s definitely some lingering misunderstandings/animosity between the mains
- lower steam – I could have missed something but I only noticed 1 full scene

Ages:
- Didn’t catch either! I would guess late 20s for heroine and same or possibly early 30s for hero?

First line:
Maxamillion Harrison’s heart beat for a single purpose.

My thoughts:
I really struggled with this one! I don’t love murder mysteries or second chance, so this book was just having bad luck with me before it started haha.

I read one by LaCapra years ago and just loved it so much. So I think my expectations were pretty high and I wasn’t expecting so much busy plot – I definitely wanted the mains together more than they were. And I felt like all of their relationship had already happened off page.

It’s a heavier book and I think I just wasn’t in the mood for it.

Those that love a faster paced, slightly dangerous second chance might love this one though.

Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- scene of a mob with heroine is danger
- awful marriage remembered with forced exhibitionism
- heroine’s husband was murdered
- gun danger/gunshot wounds
- some mentions of British occupation of India (hero used to practice law there)

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

Safe sex: 

I don’t believe so? It’s not super detailed (just ‘he released’.) 

Hows the consent? 

It’s good/implied 

5% - kiss
31% - kiss
51% - kiss
67% - kisses, oral for her, missionary

“I have wanted you and only you for a long time.”
His breath whiffed on her skin.
“In my mind, I have made you mine a thousand times. I have undressed you and then kissed you here,” he circled his knuckle on her neck just below her ear, “mercilessly beguiling you until you writhed.”

100% there’s some minor implied scenes 
 

 

Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (There is one scene that was really nicely developed, the others are a mix)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): Between🔥 and 🔥🔥🔥 depending how you count...I usually count no orgasm scenes as ‘partials’ and not as flames...and Langston liked to write really nicely developed scenes that fade right at the end. So one definitely full complete scene and 2 more that are pretty lengthy but end up fading at the very end... I feel like giving this 1 flame would be deceiving, but some might be disappointed in the fade to black at the end of scenes
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? a mix, but maybe a touch more character?
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: It took a bit – Chapter 5 or so
Cliffhanger: No, this end with a happily ever after
Epilogue:  Yes, 20+ years later
Format: listened to bought audiobook

Should I read in order?
I believe this was Langston’s debut, but there is a prequel novella now titled A Day Until Forever you could read.

Basic plot:
Cora is at risk of losing custody of her children and relies on an old connection providing her with the security of appearing betrothed.

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (1819)
- widow heroine
- bit of an ugly duckling hero vibe
- children in the story
- prior acquaintances – they knew each other briefly before heroine was married
- fake betrothal/marriage of convenience
- the best love declaration!
- repairing family bonds
- medium steam feels – there’s 1 ‘full’ scene as I count them and a few partials that are really lengthy and nice except they fade for final explosions

Ages:
- hero is 27, I didn’t catch heroine but think she’s a similar age, maybe a touch younger

First line: (Taken from audio, probably butchered)
In Cora Danes estimation, this seemed the sort of occasion that called for whiskey, or at the very least the sort of occasion that called for the pageantry of whiskey.

My thoughts:
I ended up just loving this book so much!

I didn’t know much about it before diving in. And I will admit as the story started to unfold – I was NOT feeling it. I do get extremely angry about toxic family relationships/aggressive family situations due to my own history, and Cora’s husband’s relatives are just awful. I also am not a huge fan of children in my romance.

And let’s just say Nate definitely leaves a lot to be desired when we meet him.

But, Langston took all these things that I shy away from, and ended up making me so invested in it all. She took a story that in her hands, created these in depth relationships, longing and tension that I crave.

She made me like the kids! Gasp!

I adored Nate’s turn around in this one. I loved his budding relationship with Cora’s children. I loved how he fell in love with Cora and went all in even at risk to his own heart.

The children didn’t take over the plot for me which was great. It was also kind of nice that they didn’t appear for the first ¼ of the book so I really started to get attached to Cora and Nate first. I loved Nate’s turn around for his character.

My only complaint is all the fading to black at the very end of scenes! A lot of scenes still felt full because they were so detailed, but I wanted it all haha.

After this, I definitely have Langston’s other novels on my TBR!

As for the narration, I have really liked Justine Eyre in a few novels (Vivienne Lorret's come to mind) but I didn't like her in this book. I'm not sure what was going on but I thought she sounded really raspy and gravelly. Will M Watt however is a new favorite! I will absolutely be seeking out more books with his narration because his voice is super swoony.

Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- mention of heroine being cheated on in her marriage
- custody battle with toxic relatives is a main plot point with lots of on page content
- talk of hunting

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

Safe sex: 

I think the hero pulls out? I can’t recall 

Hows the consent? 

  It’s good! Explicit/implied 

Chapter 9/10 – there’s a pastry scene that builds some great tension
Chapter 10 – kiss
Chapter 13 – kiss
Chapter 14/15 (carries over) – kisses outside against a tree, then they move to the empty hunting shack, oral/fingering for her, missionary

“Tell me exactly what you want.” He pressed the words to her ear as he gripped her hips. “I can have you any way you want me, as many ways as you want me.” His kiss ghosted over her brow, to her cheek, along her jaw, back to her closed, burning eyes.

Chapter 18 – oral for her but it fades
Chapter 23 – kisses, hand job/BJ for him that fades
Chapter 31 – fingering for her, cock touches that fade
out of 31 total chapters plus an epilogue 
 

 

Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 (I was left wanting to know Viktor a bit better)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋 (The language is very light and not very explicit. I want to note that this does not mean it’s ‘bad’ in any way – it’s just lower on my personal scale of what I find sensual in a bedroom scene)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑 (they are very short – a few have some more details but especially once the full act is started, it’s over fairly quickly)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥 (there are a plethora of sex scenes, but the language is so light and many are very short so I settled at a 2 steam – basically you will get a decent amount of open door scenes but not enough that it’s going to feel really steamy)
Humor: Not much
Perspective: Third person from hero and heroine (mostly heroine)
More character focused or plot focused? a mix but maybe more character focused?
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to medium
When mains are first on page together: It felt like it took a bit – about 14% in (chapter 8)
Cliffhanger: No this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 6 months or so in the future
Format: bought e-book

Should I read in order?
This is fine alone! There is follow up novel titled Widow Wilkes where this hero and heroine are supporting characters.

Basic plot:
Viktor and Reissa must navigate getting to know each other after being forced into an arranged marriage.

Give this a try if you want:
- medieval – 1359
- England setting
- arranged marriage
- old school vibes
- size difference – hero is over 6 feet and heroine is petite and 5 feet
- you want a hero turn around but are okay without a grovel

hero sleeps with tons of women and says he’s not going to stop once married (he does) and hero is cruel on multiple occasions at the beginning. There is turn around of his character but I didn’t feel a ton of remorse, nor is there groveling or acknowledgment of it

- disability rep (heroine) 

heroine broke her leg in the past but hides her limp for the most part 

- lower steam – there’s a number of scenes but the language is quite light

Ages:
- Hero is around 27, heroine is 21

First line:
Lord Viktor Colville was awakened from a deep sleep by the sound of a scream ringing in his ears.

My thoughts:
First of all, don’t read this one if you need consent in your romance – there’s definitely a few rough scenes here (you can check out content warnings below).

I really loved the set up of this one. I love the tropes at play here and the arranged marriage. I can love jerky heroes that are super arrogant and basically the only direction they can go is up after getting to know them initially. But, I was left wanting a bit more from Viktor in this one. There were small things that show us he has feelings but overall I wanted a really good grovel. Crawl Viktor! Crawl for her! 😆 I am okay with those consent problems in the beginning of the book because I cut my teeth on toxic relationships like this – Duke of Claymore anyone (by McNaught)??? But I was left feeling he was still one temper tantrum away from cheating and treating Reissa like he did at the beginning of the book so that didn’t solidify their HEA as much as I wanted to feel at the end. (I think reading Widow Wilkes will probably give me those feelings though, I think it takes place after this novel and these mains are supporting characters.)

I loved Reissa and her love for children. Her story is hard to read with the abuse she’s experienced and you just want to take her away and protect her. I enjoyed watching her growth through the story.

A few minor complaints:

There were a few things that confused me. I wasn’t sure how the step mother had such control over the hero’s marriage ability? I also was confused why the heroine’s father wanted her to have an heir so badly. I was also really frustrated with Reissa for being mad at Viktor for removing her abusive father from the castle.

Overall, I wanted more from Viktor in the apology department, but it did give me some nostalgia feelings of my early romance years. I think those wanting that old school dynamic in a new historical romance voice should definitely give this one a try!

Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:Any mistakes/typos are my own

This really shows what kind of hero you are getting from Viktor at first – I know this type of hero is definitely not for everyone.

“I will not tolerate disobedience, disrespect, possessiveness, or jealousy,” he continued his dictating tirade, causing her to feel smaller and smaller within her seat. “I expect promptness in my requests and a tight lip to my faithlessness. Do you understand?”
---
“The wench is terrified of me, and I do not have any patience for her fear.” He was blunt as a spoon.
---
“Eat, Reissa, you are far too thin. A bag of bones fails to ignite my desires,” he drawled with harsh honesty.
---
“You must discard this fear you possess in my presence, Reissa. I cannot abide such foolishness every time I look upon you crossly,” he grated, presenting the frightening image of his words.
---
As his mind continued to dwell on their situation, his mood grew increasingly foul. He was furious that he felt such guilt. She was his wife, and he had the right to treat her in any fashion he chose, yet he could not dismiss the self-resentment, no matter how hard he tried.
---
Yes, she was terrified of him, but it was possible for lust to exist along with fear.
However, that was not true in this case. His wife was an exception to the countless women who desired to be bedded by him. That thought was accompanied by an unusual surge of anger, but he suppressed it because other matters needed tending.
---
“You have a marital duty to accept me into your body, Reissa,” he hissed. “You will not deny me.”
 

Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- murder/death on page
- parental death
- hero is a bit of a man whore (no cheating in this novel)
- scenes of abuse and domestic violence on page from the heroine’s father to the heroine, remembrance of child abuse
- rape – I’d consider the first scene rape, even though she’s ‘consenting’ – the heroine is scared and we know she’s terrified and doesn’t want to do it, he’s drunk and being a jerk and he does it cruelly and doesn’t stop when she’s crying. It is on page, but not overly long or detailed.
- brief mention of hunting fox
- possible disordered eating – the heroine is very thin and frail and the hero wants her to put on weight (ex So, he kept watch over her meals, refusing her to leave the table without eating all that was given to her. He was determined to put some weight on the girl. His wife complied without complaint, and for that he found himself feeling admiration for the woman he had wed. It’s not a long part or repeated really but I wanted to mention it for those sensitive.
- there is a punishment spanking scene (not bdsm) where he spanks her for disobeying him
- a scene of a villain drugging the pregnant heroine
 

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
Safe sex: 

No, but they are married. 

 
Hows the consent? 

  I think people that desire strong consent in their books should avoid this one. The heroine is consenting the first time, but it’s obvious she’s scared and doesn’t want to and he does it anyway, in a painful way, and doesn’t stop even when she’s crying. 

 
19% - the wedding night (rape)
33% - start of a scene but the hero stops it
39% - another rape scene – she is clearly not interested but he does it anyway. I don’t believe pleasure for her is mentioned, but she does feel violated.
57% - kiss
63% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her, missionary
65% - 🔥 missionary
67% - mention of sex
72% - sex
79% - brief mention of sex
84% - kiss
97% - mention of sex 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (I definitely wanted more explicit language and more emotional connection)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (The scenes were on the shorter side)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? More plot? It’s a bit of a mix though
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: not too long in, about 8%, or Chapter 2
Cliffhanger: No, this ends on a happily ever after
Epilogue: There is a section of the last chapter that jumps ahead a few months. There is a labeled ‘epilogue’ section but it’s more an author announcement.
Format: bought e-book

Should I read in order?
I think yes? I started with this one and while it does have a stand alone romance, there is mention and page time with prior characters and I felt like maybe the villain of this book has been in prior books and starting there might give a better background and understanding to that.

Basic plot:
A dying Viscount and a destitute school teacher make a bargain to help give what each other needs in this marriage of convenience.

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (1816)
- Sussex, Kent and London settings (I think mostly London?)
- Viscount hero
- hero needs an heir
- bearded hero (for about 1/3 of the book ;)
- sunshine and grump vibes
- marriage of convenience
- celibate hero 
- disability rep – hero has a leg injury
- school teacher heroine
- hero buys her honeycomb chocolate when she’s on her period
- bargain 
- villain to overcome
- medium to higher steam – there’s plenty of scenes (5) but they are on the shorter side and the language isn’t super explicit.

Ages:
- Hero is 32, heroine is 26

First line:
There was nothing Gregory Brennan, Viscount Silverton, disliked more than a wedding.

My thoughts:
So this book didn’t work the best for me, but it’s just personal preference...I think those that want a bit of villain danger and a marriage of convenience would really enjoy this novel!

What I enjoyed: I loved the tropes at play here. Bargain is always something I enjoy and this marriage of convenience happened pretty fast and they were together pretty fast which is always a plus for me.

What didn’t work me is a bit harder to pin down. I think I just had a bit of a disconnect with the writing here. I also struggle with villain focused books, and this villain is a doozy. I also wonder if maybe reading in order would have helped me get to know these characters and understand more. I also felt like I wanted some things wrapped up a bit better. Like the issues with the hero’s mother and I wanted a bit more background of the heroine. I didn’t feel like I knew her the best. I wanted a bit more from the steam I think...there were frequent scenes and some great variety but the language was a bit too vague for what I was in the mood for and I wanted more explicitness. I also felt like the hero’s whole turnaround was out of nowhere. He went from being a grumpy jerk to being in love pretty fast and I didn’t feel like I got to feel that.

Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- Hero has a severe illness and is given 6-12 months to live
- mention of parental death
- scenes of gun violence
- villain that has murdered, poisoned, raped and killed others
- murder on page

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
Safe sex: 

  No but they are getting married and trying to have a baby 

 
Hows the consent? [ It’s good/implied 

 
21% - kiss
30% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her, missionary
38% - kiss
39% - 🔥 kisses fingering for her while he holds her against a wall
43% - 🔥 doggy-ish – her face down on the mattress and him on top
50% - kisses
54% - 🔥 sex on the desk
92 % - 🔥 her on top 
 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔 (These are so short it’s hard to establish that)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes, the whole series is quite lighthearted
Perspective: Third person from hero and heroine (mostly heroine)
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? quite fast
When mains are first on page together: Very soon in – 8% but it’s just a few pages into the book
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book form

Should I read in order?
I don’t think it’s totally necessary because these are very light and usually main couple focused. There’s some light character cross over so if you want the full story of the brothers then read in order. They are all short and not a huge commitment.

Basic plot:
When Dawson believes Emma needs saving, it awakens feelings in them both.

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (1816)
- best friend’s brother
- house party
- secret occupation/work
- best friend’s brother
- leave your door unlocked if you want me…
- bespectacled hero
- charades
- average novella steam – 1 full scene

Ages:
- Heroine is 23, didn’t see hero

First line:
Her middle name was Danger.

My thoughts:
This one was cute. Though it didn’t really have anything that stood out to me. In the series I think it’s easy to kind of blend into the others...I think the details of this one will fade sooner than others in the series.

Emma and Dawson’s sister are good friends so he has been a part of her life. I do like when something physical happens between the mains (in this case, a misguided rescue) that kind of triggers feelings between them. These are short so it’s hard to really establish background between the mains…

I did LOVE the charades. That scene was so cute. I love house parties in historical romance and it’s for scenes like this – it just felt fun and slipping into a bit naughty. I could definitely use more of this in my reads!

1 steam in this but it really seemed to fit the story and felt natural.

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes: Note that this is a very short story and has a chapter of the next book at the end so the sex scene is really like 99% of the book.

Safe sex: 

Hero pulls out 

Hows the consent? 

It’s good – they both are into it 

63% - 🔥 her on top

“You’re the only rogue for me.”
“And you’re the only rose for me.” 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Oh, yes. It’s adorable and funny and sweet
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine (YAY for third person in contemporary!)
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Very soon in (Pg 11 or about 3%)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends on a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 2 years later
Format: listened to the audiobook from library (Hoopla)

Should I read in order?
I want to say all the books in this series are stand alone? This is the first I’ve picked up and didn’t notice anything overlapping within the other books.

Basic plot:
Cherry and Ruben have an instant connection – though when a paparazzi catches them making out in an alleyway, it leads to a fake engagement to protect Cherry’s privacy.

Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- England/Scandinavia setting (mostly the latter)
- instalust
- plus sized heroine
- fake engagement
- tall heroine but taller hero (5’11” heroine and 6’4” hero)
- lots of night time cuddles and talking sessions
- royalty – hero is a prince
- hero loves watching the heroine eat cake
- medium steam – 3 full scenes but more partial scenes and kisses and great tension (There’s another scene I decided not to count because it was pretty vague so it might feel hotter to you)

Ages:
- Heroine is 30, didn’t catch hero

First line:
Cherry Neita was not the type of woman to voluntarily use the stairs.

My thoughts:
Oh my gosh, I am officially a Talia Hibbert fan FOR LIFE!!!

This book I picked as part of The Diverse Baseline Challenge (check out @bookish.millenial on instagram for details) for fit Prompt C which is a plus sized heroine. I thought the cover of this just looked so adorable and I’m SO glad I gave it a try!

I immediately fell into Hibbert’s writing. It was so funny, witty, clever, her dialogue just sucking me right in. I haven’t loved BOTH main characters this much in forever. I was immediately in love with our heroine Cherry. She is just the best – I adored her personality so much. And Ruben I loved when he shows his naughty side but we got such a surprisingly sweet back story about him too – of course I swooned.

This book was lovely. I loved the whole thing and want to read allllll the Hibberts now. So many times contemporary doesn’t work for me but she has changed my mind! She had some really great partial scenes that I loved that really ramped up tension before diving into sex too which I adored. I loved that it was third person (reading so much historical and reading for the past 3 decades has just made me more used to third person). It was just perfect.

Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:Any mistakes/typos are my own

“Cherry,” he whispered. “I like touching you.” His finger trailed down the back of her neck, along the spine. It dipped under her T-shirt, dragging down the fabric. She arched her back and shivered.
“I know you do.”
“Oh you know, do you?”
“I noticed, yeah.”
He wrapped a hand around her throat and pushed, gentle but insistent, until she lay back against the bed.
//
His lips pressed against the hollow just beneath her ear, finding the sweet spot with unnerving precision in the pitch-black. “Do you like it when I touch you, Cherry?”
//
His voice was low and soothing, but with a thread of command that had her pulse quickening. “I don’t think it’s obvious. Not until you tell me. So tell me.” His grip on her throat tightened, his fingers pressing against her pulse.
White fire shot through her veins as she gasped out, “Yes, I like it.”
“Tell me what you like. Tell me exactly what you like.” Always, he wanted more. More of her.
She loved that.
---
“Okay, I should go.”
That gave her pause. “Why?” she demanded.
He caught one of her hands in his and dragged it down to his waist. Pressed it against the front of his pyjamas. The soft fabric was marred by a significant wet spot.
“Oh.”
“I did tell you,” he murmured, his voice tinged with humour.
“Yeah,” she chuckled, trying not to sound smug. “You did. Hey, where’s my knickers?”
his voice, which had been playful as usual, became iron-hard again. “They’re mine now. Okay?”
 

 

Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- some scenes of family conflict, manipulation, and toxicity
- hero’s ex live streamed sex between them without consent
- mention of suicide
- mention of parental death
- child abuse and remembrances/implications of domestic violence

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes: These were taken from audio percentages off Hoopla and might vary from other media forms.

Safe sex: 

  Hero uses condoms but one does break – the heroine is also on birth control 

How's the consent? 

  It’s good – he asks 

16% - kisses in the car, then kisses and fondling in the alleyway
48% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her

“There we go, sweetheart. That’s what you want. Be a good girl and ride my hand.”

51% - kisses (very hot partial scene with him kissing her while she sits on the kitchen counter/island)
59% - 🔥 oral for her, hero comes in his pants

“Understand this,” he said. Kiss. “You are mine.” Kiss. “I know what you need.” Kiss. “And right now, you need to spread your legs like a good girl and let me do all the work.”

70% - 🔥 fingering for her, sex on the couch

“God,” he breathed raggedly. “I-I need you so fucking much.”
“You have me.”
“Do I?” He pulled back, moaning at the slow glide. “Fuck. You’re unbelievable. I knew as soon as I saw you. I knew you were mine.”

89% - kisses and sex though it’s a bit vague
97% - kiss 
 

 

Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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 and also the side character Hamish
More character focused or plot focused? a mix? Maybe a bit more plot
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to medium
When mains are first on page together: Not too far in – the end of chapter 2 or about 11%
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, a few months later
Format: listened to the audiobook on audible

Should I read in order?
This is the first of Stone’s Called by a Highlander series.

Basic plot:
Amy falls through time and into a medieval castle in 1307 – what’s even worse is she is a MacDougall – Craig’s sworn enemy.

Give this a try if you want:
- Medieval (1307 I think?)
- Scotland setting
- time travel – highlander hero/contemporary heroine
- divorced heroine
- marriage of convenience – he gets an advantage in the war by marrying a MacDougall and she gets access to the whole castle instead of being a prisoner
- secret identity
- enemies to lovers-ish/rival families
- medium steam – 3 scenes

Ages:
- I don’t recall them being mentioned. If I had to guess, I’d think late 20s?

First line:
The fiery cross burned.

My thoughts:
I am so conflicted about this story!

On one hand, it had a lot I really enjoy in romance. I love the time travel aspect. I enjoyed the time period and the hero. I liked the heroine’s background and found it interesting that she did search and rescue due to her childhood.

But, I also found a lot of this story really slow. There were quite a few scenes of just castle life...peeling potatoes….having people not listening to you because you’re a MacDougall and I found it a bit frustrating. But what really got me was the ending. I didn’t love the ending and was a bit annoyed but especially with the hero.

I did think it was weird that they found this ‘enemy’ MacDougall and never went through her bag/stuff to explore it? Never played with the flashlight or anything she brought with her??

I also hated that when the heroine finally opened up to the hero about who she truly was he then pooed on her and said he could never trust her and she needed to leave. Um what?! She explained she was scared for her life, she came in the middle of a battle through time travel – I was disgusted with the hero at that point that he would punish her for trying to protect herself and her identity in that situation. I would have been so angry! And so she goes back in time and then just decides to come back again because she loves him and he’s like actually I love you too and they live happily ever after. I was so annoyed with that part. It just felt like too easy of a wrap up after all that turmoil they put themselves through. 

I was also a bit confused how the heroine seemed to know how time travel worked – as in the passage of time. I guess she’s going off the Outlander version, but something that always kind of drives me nuts is when people go back and they assume the passage of time is exactly the same. This heroine was saying things like it’s been x amount of days/weeks so this will have happened and this happened back home and I’m just thinking how would you know that??? How would you know you couldn’t go right back to the time you left so it was like you were never gone? Sure it might work that way but I think some bit of wondering would have placated me instead of a solid presented idea of how time travel works just out of no where.


Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- hero’s sister is kidnapped, raped and abused
- death, murder, and war on page
- death of a grandparent (on page)
- alcoholism (of a parent)
- murder on page (throat slit)
- heroine was abused/neglected as a child and locked in a barn for 2 nights starving with no water
- parental death mentioned

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

Safe sex: 

  No – they are married 

 
Hows the consent? 

  It’s good/implied 

Chapter 9 – kiss
Chapter 18 – kiss
Chapter 22 – 🔥 kisses in the stable, oral for her, missionary

“Look at me, lass,” he said.
She opened her eyes and looked at him. His gaze was dark and burning in the semidarkness of the stables. His eyebrows were bunched together, his lips parted, a little swollen. There was so much heat, so much promise in his eyes, she clenched again.
“Ye’re mine,” he said. “And I’m yers.”

Chapter 27 – 🔥 kisses, very short start to a bj, her on top

“Look at me,” he said. “I want ye to look at me as ye find yer release.”
Because he’d be looking at her, too.
Chapter 33 - 🔥 oral for her, doggy

“Aye, my sweet lass,” he said. “Take it in. Ye’re so beautiful.”