Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (some might be a bit longer? Some felt light to me though)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
When mains are first on page together: Almost immediately (about 2%)
Cliffhanger: No – the romance is a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes? But it’s just the ending of the sections of the story of The Grey Court Changeling which started each chapter, not of the actual characters.
Format: got as a “read now” option on NetGalley and just getting to it now after a few years
(Descriptions found at end of my review)

Should I read in order?
I think yes – this is book 1 but a lot of things were established and set up in this book that will continue through the series.

Basic plot:
When Freya is faced with her nemesis and cause of the downfall of her family at a house party, she begins to take her revenge.

Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian romance (1760)
- London and countryside setting
- childhood friends
- enemies to lovers (on heroine’s side)
- widower hero
- bit of mystery/secret identity
- duel
- revenge
- beloved pets – this was the first historical book (or any book) I’ve read that basically had a service dog
- claustrophobic hero
- medium steam – 4 full scenes but some felt on the lighter side

Ages:
- Heroine is 27, hero is ‘past 30’

First line:
Had someone asked Freya Stewart de Moray at the age of twelve what she expected to be doing fifteen years later, she would’ve listed three things.

My thoughts:
I didn’t hear the best things about this novel so I put off reading it forever. Maybe because my expectations were so low was why I ended up enjoying it!

It does have some darkness running through it and some plot events left unanswered for sure (and I’m not sure if the series will get finished so if that is a deal breaker for you maybe put off this series for now and see).

Christopher is our hero and he has some major flaws. But I love how he was able to admit that and become a better person from what happened. I thought he was really protective of Freya and really bared his heart to her to get her to forgive him.

Freya is so independent and determined. I struggled with her a bit with how long it took her to open up with Christopher. I know our heroines are always the ones giving to the heroes but my heart just ached with how badly Christopher wanted her to trust him and let him in and she held strong for most of the book.

This book surprised me with how emotional it was – I felt the angst so much in this, and I was aching during some of the scenes. Everyone talks about and loves Maiden Lane but I really enjoyed this one (And maybe it’s because I’ve only read 2 of the Maiden Lane series to compare so I don’t have certain expectations in my head?) I’m definitely eager to try the next one in the series after this.

Endearments:

The hero calls the heroine darling 

Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:

Harlowe straightened to his full towering height. His mahogany hair was down around his shoulders, he was flushed, and he wore a ferocious scowl on his face.
He was absolutely breathtaking.
---
She was wearing only her chemise.
His vow to himself to guard her without touching her fled.
Her breasts were unbound, round and full, the indentation of her waist a curve to incite a man to violence.
To ruin.

 

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

- death of parents remembered, death/murder on page, death of a child
- imprisonment
- spousal abuse
- mention of injury resulting in disability and depression
- hero has PTSD from his time in India resulting in claustrophobia
- witch hunting/burning

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
Safe sex: 

No 

 
18% - kiss
31% - kiss
36% - kiss
46% - kiss
65% - 🔥 kisses, blow job (incomplete), missionary
75% - 🔥 kisses, her on top
84% - 🔥 missionary
91% - 🔥 Thank god you’re alive sex (missionary)
95% - kiss

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Of course, this is Dare!
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
When mains are first on page together: Immediate
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: audiobook checked out on Hoopla
(Descriptions found at end of my review)

Should I read in order?
It would be delightful if you did so – there’s character and event mentions and overlap – but it’s been years since I’ve read the earlier ones from this series and I found it easy to pick up without a refresher.

Basic plot:
Diana has loved the village blacksmith from afar and wants to bring it to the next level

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency romance
- country village setting (Spindle Cove)
- blacksmith hero
- class difference – working class hero and gentlewoman heroine
- asthma rep (heroine)
- unrequited love (a bit from both!)
- novella length
- mid to higher steam – 3 steam within a novella

Ages:
- Heroine is 23/24, hero is 27

My thoughts:
Oh, I just adored this one! I haven’t read Tessa Dare in awhile and I certainly need to fix that because I find her books the perfect mix of humor, steam, and angst.

I loved the bits of longing from both characters in this one. This novella felt perfectly balanced – to me it didn’t feel rushed. Aaron and Diana are super adorable together – both a bit nervous and vulnerable with each other and when they start opening to their feelings it was so sweet.

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

“I’m not perfect,” she said. “Not inside, not out.”
“You’re a terrible cook. That I’ll grant you. You can’t hold your liquor either. And you have questionable taste in men. So, no. You’re not perfect.”
His voice sank to a husky whisper and his gaze dropped to her mouth.
“But you’re close. Close enough to restore a man’s faith in miracles.”

 

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

- mention of parent death by heart attack
- a scene of attempting to kill an eel to eat
- threats of robbery, gun shots/wounds, knife attack with some minor injuries

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
Safe sex: 

No 

 
28% - kiss
43% - kiss
58% - kisses
69% - 🔥kisses, breast touches, fingering for her
75% - 🔥missionary
80% - 🔥kisses without touching because his hands are sooty – oral for her, her on the anvil sex during a rainy day when anyone can walk in (spoiler – she ends up getting sooty) 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Just a touch
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine perspective
When mains are first on page together: Didn’t note it but fairly soon in, maybe 1-2 chapters in
Cliffhanger: Not for the main romance – that ends in a happy for now - but themes of the plot are left unsolved
Format: audiobook checked out from Hoopla
(Descriptions found at end of my review)

Should I read in order?
This is the first book of the series, but yes – things are given in this book that help the plot move along in future books.

Basic plot:
Dan is undercover, hidden in Scotland, while he tries to find who sold them out on their Russian mission. He soon gets caught up in Annie’s diving trip and they both realize there’s way more than meets the eye.

Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance (romantic suspense?)
- American mains
- Scotland setting
- Navy SEAL hero
- one bed
- forced proximity
- tattooed hero
- heroine has her PhD in Marine Ecology
- celibate hero (not strictly stated but it’s mentioned it’s been a long time for him)
- Pescatarian heroine (vegetarian + fish)
- on the run
- protective hero
- medium steam – 4-5 full scenes (one was on the vague/short side)

Ages:
Hero is 33, heroine is 26

First line:
SEALs liked to say the only easy day was yesterday.

My thoughts:
I adore McCarty’s historicals. So her contemporary novels have been on my TBR forever.

I really loved that this took place in Scotland. I think it’s one way to get me to actually read contemporary haha. There were a lot of things I did enjoy about this book. I loved that they were together for most of the book. I loved how protective ‘Dan’ is. I loved the on the run together vibe. The steamy scenes were good but maybe didn’t quite pack the punch I usually get from her Highland Guard books.

I struggled a bit with some things that pulled me out of the story. The mains tend to have some polar views on things, and there’s some political talk I really wasn’t into. It’s the last thing I want to think about when trying to escape this world. There were a few parts I thought the heroine didn’t use her phD to the best of her ability and did some dumb things.

I struggled with the narrator’s Texan accent. I think maybe I just got used to the initial accent? I’m not sure but I felt like ‘he’ sounded totally different. There was also some additional POV to establish further plots in the series and I am not a big fan of that.

Overall I’m still mildly curious about this series and might read the next one at some point!

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

- scenes of danger and fear underwater where the heroine is attacked by knife and gun
- scenes of war/hazing
- light political talk between mains as well as gender norms (things like her pink bag being ‘girly’ etc)
- possible feelings of infidelity – the heroine has a boyfriend while she lusts after the hero
- death and murder on page
- some light mentions of weed usage (done in a neutral to lightly negative way)
- neglectful and abusive parents mentioned

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
Safe sex: 

Hero forgets a condom the first time and pulls out, condoms used in later scene, I think no condom used in last scenes 

 
16% - kisses with her boyfriend (not the hero)
39% - kisses
41% - 🔥kisses, fingering for her
60% - 🔥bedtime cuddles, sex, him behind her in bed
69% - kiss
70% - 🔥kisses, breast play, oral for her, blow job (complete), her on top
85% - 2 sex scenes together but it’s a bit vague and light
97% - kiss
99% - 🔥sex against the door 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person, mostly from the hero and heroine but also POV from a side character, Silence, who is the heroine of a future book
Percentage which mains are first on page together: Didn’t note it but almost immediately
Cliffhanger: No, ends with a Happily Ever After
Epilogue: The last chapter takes place 6 weeks in the future. The actual named epilogue is about Silence
Format: listened to audiobook from library (Hoopla)

“Shh.” He raised his head and licked lazily at a nipple, his breath caressing her wet skin as he whispered merely another torment. “Easy, sweetheart.”
He spoke as if she were a mare in need of gentling, and at any other time, she would have made him aware of his insult. But at this moment, she was entirely at his mercy.
“Griffin, please,” she whispered.
“Do you want me?” he asked.
“Yes.” She tossed her head restlessly. She’d explode if he didn’t give her release soon.
“Do you need me?” He kissed her nipple too gently.
“Please, please, please.”
“Do you love me?”


Should I read in order?
Probably, yes. There’s definitely some overarching plots and themes throughout the series, as well as future characters being developed (like Silence, who also has page time in book 1). The romance itself could be read as a standalone for a rebellious reader.

Basic plot:
Hero has the most unusual meeting of her future brother in law...

Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian romance (1737)
- daughter of a duke heroine and brother of a Marquess hero
- a touch of taboo/forbidden love – the heroine is engaged to the hero’s brother
- bearded (and hairy!) heroine’s
- dirty talking hero
- bit of an antihero –

he sleeps around with other peoples wives, runs a gin distillery and is involved in a war within St. Giles, and wants his brother’s fiance… 

- higher steam – 5 full scenes

Ages:
- heroine is 24, didn’t catch hero but would guess around 30?

My thoughts:
I am conflicted about this one! Some parts are still with me even though I finished this a week or two ago. And I think they will linger for much longer. But I also got frustrated with a few things.

I do struggle with one of the mains being ‘with’ or promised to another throughout the book. And in this one, the heroine’s engagement lasts almost the whole book and I was so ready for it to be over. There’s also something the fiance does that I don’t think was handled well enough – he barely apologized and it was forgiven when to me it’s almost unforgivable. He’s not glorified for it, but I felt like it needed to be addressed more.

But...I loved these characters. I didn’t want to love Griffin. He has a lot of issues. And he’s definitely not perfect lol. But damn, I just fell in love with him anyway. He just loved Hero so much. He wanted her so badly. The yearning he felt – to the point of tears – I just was swooning.

There’s something about a man basically begging his woman to love him while fucking her that just wrecked my heart. And I always want my heart wrecked.

One of my biggest complaints about this book is that Hoyt loves the word ‘penis’. Lol. It also felt a bit long to me. Like I was ready for it to be over before it was over. Not sure if it was the overarching themes of the side characters pushing their way in (I’m looking at you, Silence’s POV..) or their push and pull was just a bit too much for me. But either way, definitely eager to keep reading this series!

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

- gin making, abuse, and alcoholism referenced
- infidelity – heroine is engaged to the hero’s brother for the majority of the book and they are intimate plenty of times
- domestic violence without repercussions – the heroine’s fiance hits her, bruising her face, and calls her slurs and his only make up for it is barely an apology
- death, murder, threat of rape, scenes of mobs and violence, and explosions on page
- murder of parents mentioned
- infant death, child birth death, foster parenting
- maybe some light layers of dubious consent – hero pushes past what heroine is comfortable with sometimes

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
Safe sex: 

No. I think maybe the first time he blows it on her belly but subsequent times put her at a risk of pregnancy 

 
29% - kiss
42% - 🔥kisses, breast play in the carriage, cock touches for him, hand job
53% - hero masturbation (interrupted)
55% - 🔥kisses, oral for her, missionary
63% - 🔥kisses and wall/door sex with risk of being caught
70% - 🔥kisses, sex (missionary?)
81% - 🔥kisses, breast play, missionary, followed by another scene
implied blow job at the end of the book 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third person perspective from both the hero and heroine
Percentage which mains are first on page together: 13%
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes
Format: audiobook from library (hoopla)

Should I read in order?
Ideally, yes. This series flows together with plenty of character overlap and references. Though I think this one is one of the most readable alone that we’ve had in the series so far, if you wanted to be a rebel.

Basic plot:
Viola wants James Kilbrenner BADLY. And she’ll do whatever within her power to make him feel the same.

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (1818)
- London setting
- unrequited love (on heroine’s behalf)
- you’re okay with dubious consent from the heroine – she pushes repeatedly for most of the book even when he says no
- heroine pursues
- migraine rep (heroine)
- ruined heroine
- huge hero/tiny heroine
- well-endowed hero
- medium to higher steam – 4 full scenes

Ages:
- I want to say the hero is around 31/32 years old, I didn’t catch heroine, but I think early 20s

My thoughts:
I am really loving the level of angst Braden can put in these novels!

I ended up enjoying so much of this one. I wasn’t sure how much I’d love heroine pursues because I usually prefer the opposite in romance. But I really loved Viola. And yes, maybe she went a bit far with her chasing of James, but I enjoyed the way it all worked out. I think getting James’ perspective too is important to understanding where his thoughts (and consent) were at with Viola versus his fears.

I will say there was a scene about halfway through the novel, that takes place on a hill and brings Viola to her knees that utterly wrecked me. I was so broken for her in that moment and felt her hurt so keenly – and I just want to be beat up like this emotionally in every single book I read.

The latter half didn’t quite go exactly as I wanted it to – I felt like I wanted each to have to work a bit harder for each other. I didn’t want them to give in physically while holding out emotionally – because those types of scenes with sex without the emotional engagement give me nothing (personally). But overall I still really liked this one and loved so many aspects to this story.

Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts: Any mistakes are my own (especially since I listened to audio)

“I am sorry, James,” she slurred softly before sliding into slumber.
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead, breathing in her peony scent. Then he breathed out words he should not feel, let alone say, but she she was asleep, so she would never know.
“I am not. In truth, I am not sorry at all.

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

- Loss of an infant, hero not told about a babe, abandonment by a lover in hero’s past
- Some scenes of pain/migraines
- Heroine schemes to trap hero in marriage

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

Safe sex:

I can’t recall specifics but I *think the hero uses condoms? He doesn’t want children at first so there’s some form of preventative used

36% - kiss
48% - kiss
58% - 🔥kisses, breast play, fingering for her, oral for her, missionary
77% - 🔥oral/fingering for her, missionary
87% - 🔥blow job (incomplete), doggy style
97% - 🔥kisses, missionary

Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person from the hero and heroine
When mains are first on page together: Almost immediately (chapter 1)
Cliffhanger: No, ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author

”You are gorgeous. And mine to do with as I’d like.” When her gaze locked with his again, he continued, “Stop thinking. Just feel. You aren’t in control here, so relax and enjoy.”

Should I read in order?
It’s not totally necessary, but the prior characters do make appearances. This book happens concurrently with the prior book (Althea’s Awakening) and it’s really fun seeing the events happening in both books (especially the theater scene!)

Basic plot:
Beth is intrigued by Robert’s shy demeanor and very curious about his hobby in leather...

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (didn’t see a year listed but I have the prior book, Althea’s Awakening, which happens the same time as this novel at 1817)
- bisexual (pansexual?) heroine
- reversed rake and the wallflower
- shy/self conscious hero
- bubbly/extroverted heroine
- artist/crafting hero – he draws designs for and makes leather bondage apparel
- light touch of unrequited longing – the hero saw the heroine a year ago and has been thinking of her since
- bearded hero
- overall it’s a lower angst read
- naughty house party (strip whist, blindman’s bluff)
- heroine pursues
- full figured heroine – she has a round figure with a full middle
- higher steam – 6 full scenes with detailed bondage gear and leather toys/apparel, edging, aspects of power/control/punishment, play with ginger oil, light praise kink

First line:
Beth Jenkins extended her legs and arms in a languid, satisfied stretch.

My thoughts:
I was so excited to read Beth’s story! She’s been a bubbly and fun personality through this series and I couldn’t wait to see her romance match.

This was a really fun take on the rake and wallflower pairing. Beth is extroverted, social, and up for anything – especially naughty games at house parties. She’s never been one to shy away from the limelight, exhibitionism and voyeurism included. Robert is quite the opposite. Shy, withdrawn he definitely doesn’t want the spotlight on him. He has no problem proving his prowess behind closed doors, however.

The thing I loved about this one was the time and detail spent on the bondage scenes. I have read a few here and there with someone tied to the bed with a cravat but this was deliciously different. Robert works with leather to make all sorts of toys, apparel, and bondage apparatuses that were a delight to explore in this story. Sims added such great detail to be able to picture the different apparel used.

I ended up loving both characters. Beth is one of those heroines that I just adore and want to be friends with. She seems like she’s very easy to interact with and it calls to my introverted heart. Robert, I loved having a shy hero. He’s even self conscious about his body, which I don’t think I’ve ever had a hero like that. This was a rewarding read watching them both have to open up to their insecurities and become vulnerable with each other.

I can’t recall if this is the last in the School of Enlightenment series – but this series has been spectacularly fun. I think my favorite is still Althea’s Awakening but each book really features fun steam!

Endearments

Hero calls the heroine peaches 

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

- mention of heroine’s parents dying at the age of 17

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
Safe sex: 

Yes, condoms used 

 
12% - 🔥 Beth tries on some of Ford’s leather bondage gear, oral for her, sex on a couch
25% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her, tied to the bed sex
40% - 🔥 Beth wears a leather strap for punishment that sexually arouses her in a tortuous way and then has to sit through a dinner, fingering/oral for her, missionary with her tied to the bed
45% - 🔥 kisses, bondage with her head down on a pillow and hips raised, doggy-ish style sex
53% - spanking testing and implied blow job
58% - implied bondage to a table at the inn (it fades)
59% - 🔥 ginger oil play in the carriage – Ford challenges Beth to stay still after using a small amount of ginger oil on her holes, anal fingering. This leads to them arriving at the inn and a very short mention of sex followed by another scene where Ford finally shows her his body and her on top sex (short)
72% - 🔥 sex at the theater – fingering for her, blow job for him (complete) 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from the hero and heroine
When mains are first on page together: Almost immediately (chapter 1)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends in a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author

Should I read in order?
You don’t have to but they are all AMAZING and happening concurrently – so you’ll get enjoyment out of seeing the events through each couple’s eyes a bit differently

Basic plot:
For her own security, Winnie made up a marriage – and ten years later finds out the man actually exists.

Give this a try if you want:
- Late Regency (1821)
- fake marriage
- huge hero/tiny heroine – though Winnie is average height, Spencer tops her by 8 inches
- character and relationship focused (no mystery or villains)
- protective hero
- working women – heroine has lived on a sheep farm for 10 years and makes her own thread
- medium to higher steam – 3 full scenes in a novella length

Ages:
- Hero is 28, heroine is 31

First line:
At twenty years of age, Winifred Wallace had to her name one dress, seventy-two pounds sterling, and three necklaces dripping with diamonds.

My thoughts:
I adooooooooooooooooooore Vasti’s writing so much. So, so much. She is such a delight and has the perfect mix of what I love in romance – she’s character focused, she’s steamy (and her scenes are emotional and developed!), her characters are so lively. There’s angst! I fall into her books so easily. I want to read more as soon as I put it down. I hide from my kids to keep reading...

I was worried as we got into this one I wouldn’t love it because our heroine has created some lies to get by in life. I struggle so hard with that because of some personal things I’ve gone through – I tend to be really sensitive to lying and it’s almost unforgivable to me. But...Vasti took Winnie and she made her relatable. Lovable. Understandable in her actions. She created a vulnerable, forgivable character that I loved.

And Spencer?? Oh. Spencer I LOVED. He was utter perfection with his sweet, understanding personality. So supportive. So kind. So tied up with longing over Winnie he finds himself jerking off near the bathroom door from the scent of lemons...All the things that came out of his mouth made me swoon.

Sigh. I love it.

Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:

Her lips parted. Spencer added that to his tally of Things Winnie Must Stop Doing with Her Mouth.
-----
“Let’s go.” His deep voice was a raps.
“I-what?”
“I want to take you home. I want anything-everything-anything I can get. Jesus, Winnie, I just want my mouth on you again.”
“But...the dinner…” They had stopped before the door.
“Fuck the dinner.”
----
He stopped thinking anything except ‘fuck’ and ‘Win’ and ‘yes’.
----
“God. Winnie,”he said hoarsely, “you make me want to do such wicked things.”
 

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

- neglectful mother

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
29% - kiss
51% - hero masturbation (interrupted)
59% - kiss with threat of discovery
62% - 🔥kisses, fingering for her, oral for her
75% - 🔥kisses in the theater that lead to kisses and humping without penetration, blow job (complete) in the carriage ride home
89% - 🔥the start of wall sex, then he takes her to the bedroom, oral for her, missionary (V loss for her)

 

 Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥 (Might have missed some? This feels light)
Humor: Yes
Perspective: First place perspective from hero and heroine
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes
Percentage where mains are first on page together: 10%
Format: audiobook from library (hoopla)

Should I read in order?
Ideally yes – these books flow together and the world is build over the course of the books. You find out more each book about the culture and lifestyle.

Basic plot:
Farli knows her truth love is out there somewhere – and he turns up in the most surprising of places

Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- alien mains (hero and heroine!)
- celibate hero (it’s been 3 years for him)
- language barrier
- instalove
- heroine pursues heroine
- 2 steam (I feel like I missed something?? This seemed light for her books)

Ages:
- Heroine is 22 and hero is 35

First Line
“Come on lazy one,” I say as I put my hands on my hips.

My thoughts:
I ended up enjoying this read! I really loved that it introduced new characters and gave us some more information and history on the Sa Khui. I have really tried to spread out this series so it doesn’t feel redundant but this one really had a different feel to it that I appreciated.

Farli is just so sweet. I didn’t think about her much in the prior books, but I just adored her in this one. She’s just a beam of sunshine, so genuine and real. I’m not usually into heroine pursues in romance, but I loved her and Mardok together.

Mardok took a bit to grow on me. I think I wanted just a bit more depth for him – we know his traumatizing history but I was still left feeling like I wanted to know him better, especially with him being from off planet.

I LOVE language barrier. Love love love. It’s one of my favorite tropes so I was so excited that it came into play here (and that so many of this series so far have had that!). But the second half started to drag a bit for me. Overall I enjoyed this story, but didn’t love it quite as much as some of my other favorites from the series. It did make me more excited to keep reading and learn more of what’s to come. (I have avoided spoilers for basically all these books somehow and have no idea! :P )

Cock/Hero and Heroine Stats:

HERO
- horns and facial tattoos
- bionic arm
- blue skin but paler than heroine
- extremely tall
- has a tail but it looks blunted, like it was injured
(Hero is a Sa Khui and has the classic traits from other books
- They have 4 fingers instead of 5
- They have a pinky sized bony protrusion at the base of their cock called a ‘spur’ used for clit or anal stimulation depending on position.
- Their cocks are hairless with velvety skin and darker blue than their blue skin.
- They have ridges on their tongues and cock
- Before they resonate, their semen is thinner and not as apt for baby making)

HEROINE
- is sa kui
- has horns and a tail

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

- loss of a limb (arm) in military
- loss of parent
- hero shoots heroine’s pet in a bit of panic
- mention of sexual diseases being prolific on other planets
- PTSD remembrance of death and war and abandonment in a dangerous situation for the hero

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes: I could have missed some? This seems kind of light for Dixon but maybe not. I do get lazy with audio notes.

 
Safe sex? 

I don’t believe so? There is a mention of how bad diseases have gotten on the hero’s usual planet excursions and how they use condoms and full body protection and gloves. But the heroine is a virgin and the hero has been celibate. 

 
33% - kisses
64% - kisses, blow job (incomplete), oral for her
82% - kisses
88% - kisses, oral for her, missionary 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (there’s 1 more developed scene and a few shorter ones)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥ish (This is hard to rate because there are a handful of scenes but some were so short and light I hesitated to count them as a ‘full’ scene – details at the end of my review – I decided to count the 1 longer-ish scene as a flame and the other open door scenes as a flame)
Humor: Yes, a bit (maybe not as much as her Lairds’ Fiancees series)
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
Percentage which mains are first on page together: Almost immediately (pg 8)
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes
Format: paperback from the library

Should I read in order?
This is one of Garwood’s stand alone novels

Basic plot:
Caroline catches Bradford’s attention and interest after rescuing his party from bandits.

Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian time period (1802)
- English duke hero and English/American heroine (she is English but was sent to America at the age of 4)
- jealous and possessive hero
- hero loves first/hero pursues
- bit of enemies to lovers feel (lots of bickering/banter)
- bit of instalust (especially on the hero’s part)
- you’re okay with an arrogant hero and some pushy dubious consent
- lower steam – there’s a handful of scenes, but so many are short, light or vague – I considered this a 2 steam

First line:
Angry voices awakened the child.

My thoughts:
I was enjoying a bit of the first half of this one, but ultimately the hero was a bit too annoying for me to love this story.

I just finished Garwood’s Lairds’ Fiancees series, and felt like this one was a bit lighter on the humor, so that was a negative for me. I did like the time change to pre-Regency London. I love the setting with balls, and social calls, and wooing and this one had a bit of that.

The hero, Jered, though – he ended up being just too much for me. I can love (and even prefer) a jerk hero, an aggressive hero, and dubious consent, but in this one, the things the hero said were just making me cringe so badly. Hero pursues in this one definitely, which is one of my favorite things, but I was left finding him also unlikable. He didn’t seem to have empathy during certain times for the heroine and came off as rather selfish. I didn’t find him as protective as the Lairds’ Fiancees series – to protect her he seemed to hurt her and leave her, not explain things that should be explained...I was just unhappy with him.

Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:

This shows what kind of hero Jered is

“You’re a stubborn man! You completely ignore the fact that I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Yes, you do,” Bradford informed her. “There is something going on between us. I feel it and I know you do too. I believe that we should acknowledge it, and the sooner the better. I’ve no time for games of courting, Caroline. When I want something, I take it.”
---
“I am interested in you,” Bradford interrupted. The statement was spoken in a quiet voice. His expression turned serious and Caroline found herself becoming nervous all over again. “Caroline, I always get what I want. When you get to know me better, you will accept.”
“I don’t want to hear this!” Caroline made the protest in a fierce whisper. “You sound like a child who has been overindulged.”
Bradford wasn’t offended by her comment. He shrugged his massive shoulders and replied, “You’ll have to get used to me, I suppose. But in time, you will accept. I won’t be defeated, Caroline, only delayed.”

----
This part made me really despise the hero. He was so selfish and uncaring and just hurtful

It took a moment for Caroline’s statement to filter through Bradford’s haze of passion. By the time he felt in some semblance of control again, Caroline had moved to the seat across from him, once again clutching his jacket over her torn gown.
Caroline was suddenly terribly embarrassed. She trembled and the knot inside her wouldn’t go away. She realized that she really wanted Bradford and that absolutely horrified her. She belonged in a tavern, she told herself. She was cold now, cold from the shame penetrating, and as humiliating as it was, she began to cry. Lord, she hadn’t cried in years, and damnation, it was all his fault. He was the experienced one and should have known what he was about!
Bradford saw the tears stream down Caroline’s cheeks but was in no mood to offer comfort. He was in acute pain and it was all her fault. Didn’t she realize her appeal? Didn’t she know the temptation she flaunted? What kind of people raised her? He asked himself with building fury. Hadn’t anyone taken the time to educate her in the boundaries of flirting? She had reacted with such ardor, and Bradford thought that her need for completion matched his. He sincerely hoped that it did, he thought with anger. God, he hoped she was hurting every bit as much as he was.
---
“Good,” Bradford replied. His voice was curt but he was no longer yelling, Caroline was sorry for it, as she was aching now for a fight. “I am in pain too.”
“And why are you in pain?” Caroline asked.
“Are you serious? I am in pain because you have made me want you. Are you really such an innocent?” His voice had increased in volume and he leaned forward, his hands on his knees, glaring at her.

---
I thought this part was funny

Caroline considered coming down with a splitting headache. She put the back of her hand to her forehead in a dramatic gesture, even as she thought how cowardly she was behaving. “I do not feel -” She didn’t finish her sentence. The door had just shut behidn the marquis, and Caroline was being jerked around. Her cape was slung over her shoulders, rather roughly.
“Stomach problems” Bradford asked in a lazy voice as he adjusted the collar on her cape.
//
Caroline, you’re very quiet,” Milford finally remarked. “Don’t you feel well?”
“She has a stomachache,” Bradford announced in a clipped voice. “And it’s not going away. As soon as she accepts that, she’ll feel remarkably better.”

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

- scenes of danger/gunshots/gunshots wounds/threats from bandits
- some...whatever this is - Little Clarissa turned out to be a good fifty pounds overweight. She took a long while getting ready and then began to play, again and again, until Caroline lost count of the number of beinnings. The poor girl was trying her best but that proved only inadequate.
- definite dubious consent and aggressive hero
- attempted sexual assault/purposeful compromising of heroine by side character
- carriage accident
- threatening blackmail letters

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
Safe sex: 

No 

 
Pg 88 – kiss
Pg 132 – kiss
Pg 134 – kisses
Pg 196 – kisses
Pg 212 – 🔥missionary, followed shortly after by a fingering/oral for her (quite short) then implied closed door blow job
Pg 245 – fingering for her, missionary (It’s short, not even 1 full page)
Pg 256 – missionary it’s barely a page
Pg 289 – very short and vague scene
Total pages 31 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (scenes are on the light side as far as details go, for me)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (some aspects of this is lighter – the language and the length of the scenes, but I think all the scenes were countable)
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from heroine’s point of view (and a bit from the villain)
Percentage which mains are first on page together: Around 10% or so
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: No
Format: Bought e-book

Should I read in order?
This is the first in Garwood’s Lairds’ Fiancees series.

Basic plot:
Alec is told by his king to marry an English Bride and he gets his choice of Baron Jamison’s 4 daughters...

Give this a try if you want:
- 1102 time period
- mostly Scotland setting
- Scottish (Highlander) hero/English heroine pairing
- the ever popular in old school books violet eyed heroine
- bit of arranged marriage feel
- protective hero
- medium steam – I counted 4 as scenes though the language is a bit light and some are on the shorter side

First line:
The deathwatch was over.

My thoughts:
I have been meaning to try this series forever because Garwood is suggested so often and so prolific in the HR community. I overall really enjoyed this one, and loved some parts so much. But I got mildly annoyed with a few aspects too.

First off, the humor in this one was really delightful. I enjoyed that aspect to it so much. The banter between Jamie and Alec was so fun and had me smirking in so many parts. I also really enjoyed the ending the ending and was laughing in delight.

I thought there were some swoony parts and I was pleasantly surprised by some of the parts (like the seductive hair grabbing and protectiveness of Alec). The steam too surprising to me. Some of the scenes were on the short and light side but in this particular novel I’d say there were 4 scenes that felt full.

I did get a bit annoyed with both Alec and Jamie at a few parts and struggled for a short part towards the middle. I didn’t like that Alec thought it was ‘adorable’ to rile Jamie up. And when she was upset about something, he didn’t want to deal with her tears so he would purposefully make her mad...but overall I was super happy with this story. I already wrote my review for The Wedding (the next book in the series), and while I enjoyed parts of that one, I liked this one a lot more.

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

“Kincaid? You’re supposed to leave me here,” she called out. “This is just a marriage of convenience, isn’t it?”
He stopped in the center of the hallway, then turned around to face her. “Aye, wife, it is a marriage of convenience. My convenience. Do you understand me?”
---
It was hopeless, of course. He would die. His fate had been decreed the moment he touched Jamie.

If only Alec realized what praise kink was doing nowadays lol

Her eyes widened in surprise. Alec smiled. He’d just found a rather simple way to placate her: praise. Wasn’t it true that all women liked to hear their husbands’ expressions of approval from time to time? Alec decided to remember that fact for future use.
---
“Mary told me. She said it was disgusting.”
“You won’t think it is.” Alec growled that prediction.
“I won’t?” She sounded out of breath again. “How do you know that?”
“Because you’ve wanted me to touch you since the moment we met.”
“I haven’t.”
“Because I can feel the passion inside you. Because your body reacts whenever I look at you. Because-”
“You’re embarrassing me.”
“No, I’m making you hot.”
“You’re not.”
“I am.”
“You may not speak to me this way,” she ordered.
“I’ll speak to you any damn way I want to,” Alec answered. “I want you, Jamie.”

A couple examples of the dubious consent here – she says no, but it’s always ‘weakly’ or she thinks in her head how much she wants him, but doesn’t verbally confirm that (classic old school – if consent is absolutely needed in your books, this might bother you)

“I want you to stop now,” she moaned.
Alec didn’t pay any attention to her weak protest.
---
He became rougher in his quest. “We aren’t going to stop, are we, Alec?”
“Nay, love, we aren’t.”
He withdrew his fingers, then thrust them demanding into her tight sheath again.
She cried out in pain. “Don’t do that, Alec. It hurts.”
“Hush, love,” he whispered. “I’ll make it easier for you.”

I loved this hair grabbing moment

She arched against him. Alec forgot all about being gentle then. He pulled her legs high about his waist, twisting her hair around his hands to keep her from moving away from him, and drove inside her with one powerful surge.
---
“I told them you were English,” Alec lied. He threw his arm around her shoulders again and, as was his disturbing habit, literally hauled her up against his side. God’s truth, he treated her just like a satchel.
“And that, of course, is the reason their cheering,” Jamie countered. “Because I’m English.”
“Nay, wife. ‘Tis the reason they’re screaming.”

---
It makes me swoon!

She wasn’t capable of thinking. His tongue stroked the passion in her, pressing, in, out, again and again, until she was whimpering for release from the sweet torture. She was begging him not to stop when he stood up to face her. Jamie tried to capture his mouth for a long, hot kiss, but he pulled back. He suddenly grabbed hold of her hair, twisted it around his fist and jerked her forward. “Don’t ever try to leave me again.”
 

 
Content warnings:

- Death of hero’s wife (implied she took her own life but you find she was murdered)
- Death of parent remembered
- some levels of dubious consent and a bit of a pushy hero (maybe a touch of body betrayed me, but not overmuch)
- villain hurting others, plotting murder, arson
- scenes of being trapped/hurt/violence and death on page

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
Safe sex: 

No but it’s the 1100s and they are married and willing for a pregnancy 

 
16% - wedding kiss
29% - kiss
32% - 🔥kisses, fingering for her, oral for her, missionary
39% - 🔥Jamie is awoken by Alecs kisses, fingering for her, missionary
57% - kisses
66% - kisses
70% - 🔥kisses, blow job (incomplete and quite short) then laying down, facing each other sex
83% - 🔥kisses, missionary
86% - kiss
96% - kiss