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slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
Percentage which mains are first on page together:8% (Chapter 2)
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: No
Format: read an e-book advanced reader copy from the author
Should I read in order?
This is Rollins historical debut!
Basic plot:
Henry desperately needs funds to support his sisters and mother after the passing of this father. With the opportunity to organize a library for a nice monetary amount, he finds himself in the company of Emma for a summer.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (1814)
- fantasy/magical world – empaths, telepaths, sorceries, mental shields
- left handed hero
- virgin mains
- heroine has some minor smallpox scarring
- emotionally strong hero (hero cries)
- light touch of heroine nurses hero back to health She mostly ignores him during this time but there are a few moments...
- lower to mid steam – 2 full scenes
Ages:
- Heroine is 20, hero is 24
First line:
Henry Dawson squinted at the name on the placard outside the stately-looking three-story stone building.
My thoughts:
I was really eager to read a Regency romance that has some paranormal/fantasy aspects! I thought this sounded quite fun and different. Overall, there were some aspects I liked and a few things I wanted more of/different.
This one was a bit slow to me, but I did love that it was character driven romance. It took me awhile to get into the characters, especially the heroine. She’s a bit bristly (I have seen it compared to a bit of a reverse beauty and the beast) but I eventually enjoyed her as well.
The magical aspect in this novel is extremely light. There is some mention of charms used and one example of a spell used. The biggest paranormal part was the heroine being an empath and being able to feel the people’s emotions around her. I was really hoping more magic would be a bit more of a part of the story. Like when the horse hurts its leg. I was sad this was never addressed what happened to it as I was left worrying about it the rest of the book and also left wondering if they have charms that prevent you from getting pregnant why don’t they have better healing options???
I liked the main plot aspect that developed – the heroine wanting to know if she could even bear to be intimate with someone with her empath abilities and challenging the hero to help her figure this out. But the tension didn’t develop for me the way I wanted, maybe because they weren’t spending the most amount of time together the first half of the book.
I will admit my heart stuttered in the best way when he’s trying to convince her she’s beautiful and she doesn’t quite believe him and he lets his shields down so she could feel his emotions. Swoon!
I think I would try this author again down the road and see what she comes out with. It was nice to have a bit of a change from traditional regency and the magic aspect.
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:
I started struggling with the heroine here quite a bit – she has put him at arm’s length the whole book so far and then when the injury happens I thought it would be an opportunity for them to get closer. Instead she ignores him mostly and then acts quite selfish complaining it’s troubled her too much.
What had happened to her guest? Had the fall from the horse damaged his brain, too? The change in his character really alarmed her. “Dr. Thomas said it would be better if you had some kind of employment.”
“Well, he’s certainly right about that,” Mr Dawson said. “It would be better if I had kept by job at the apothecary shop and never darkened your doorway. I was a fool to think this would work out well for me.” He looked down at his broken leg.
“It hasn’t worked out well for me, either,” Emma reminded him. “It is not as if I want a patient to tend, you know. We have had to go to a good deal of trouble to care for you.”
Leaving aside the issue of doctor’s bills and wages for the new valet, Mr Dawson’s injury had upset all her plans. Before the accident, she had thought Mr. Dawson would spend most of his time in the library, leaving her free to happily ignore him, except at mealtimes.
So, you are the one that suggested going out in the storm. You are the one that gave him the horse that shies when it thunders. He ends up breaking his leg and then you are the one inconvenienced by it all? Bleh. And the servant you had tending him was doing a horrible job and letting him burn up with fever so you are the one that suggested a valet to help and you are complaining about the cost when you are the one with the fortune? I want to like her but at this point in the book I don’t at all.
----
Towards the beginning of the book we have a scene where Henry and Mr. Ainsworth are having an after dinner drink.
He took a sip of his claret after all, wishing that it were port instead. He didn’t even like claret.
but then later in the book we see,
“I don’t care for drinking by myself. Have a drink with me?” Hentry would rather it had been cognac, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. And port was at least better than claret.
This is a minor thing but I was like, I thought he preferred port??? Why didn’t he wish it were cognac instead of port in the earlier scene? It might be some drinking social custom where only certain drinks are used during certain events but it caught my attention as a bit inconsistent.
---
okay, the whole proposal scene was quite funny and I enjoyed it!
Content warnings:
- Death of a parent remembered
- Injury of a horse possibly resulting in it being put down (it’s not stated)
- Horse riding accident resulting in a broken leg
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex: They are both virgins and the heroine has a contraceptive charm.
60% - kiss
65% - 🔥kiss, fingering for her, her on top (V loss for both)
91% - 🔥missionary (a bit short)
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
Percentage which mains are first on page together:
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: No
Format: read an e-book advanced reader copy from the author
Should I read in order?
This is Rollins historical debut!
Basic plot:
Henry desperately needs funds to support his sisters and mother after the passing of this father. With the opportunity to organize a library for a nice monetary amount, he finds himself in the company of Emma for a summer.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (1814)
- fantasy/magical world – empaths, telepaths, sorceries, mental shields
- left handed hero
- virgin mains
- heroine has some minor smallpox scarring
- emotionally strong hero (hero cries)
- light touch of heroine nurses hero back to health
- lower to mid steam – 2 full scenes
Ages:
- Heroine is 20, hero is 24
First line:
Henry Dawson squinted at the name on the placard outside the stately-looking three-story stone building.
My thoughts:
I was really eager to read a Regency romance that has some paranormal/fantasy aspects! I thought this sounded quite fun and different. Overall, there were some aspects I liked and a few things I wanted more of/different.
This one was a bit slow to me, but I did love that it was character driven romance. It took me awhile to get into the characters, especially the heroine. She’s a bit bristly (I have seen it compared to a bit of a reverse beauty and the beast) but I eventually enjoyed her as well.
The magical aspect in this novel is extremely light. There is some mention of charms used and one example of a spell used. The biggest paranormal part was the heroine being an empath and being able to feel the people’s emotions around her. I was really hoping more magic would be a bit more of a part of the story.
I liked the main plot aspect that developed – the heroine wanting to know if she could even bear to be intimate with someone with her empath abilities and challenging the hero to help her figure this out. But the tension didn’t develop for me the way I wanted, maybe because they weren’t spending the most amount of time together the first half of the book.
I will admit my heart stuttered in the best way when he’s trying to convince her she’s beautiful and she doesn’t quite believe him and he lets his shields down so she could feel his emotions. Swoon!
I think I would try this author again down the road and see what she comes out with. It was nice to have a bit of a change from traditional regency and the magic aspect.
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:
I started struggling with the heroine here quite a bit – she has put him at arm’s length the whole book so far and then when the injury happens I thought it would be an opportunity for them to get closer. Instead she ignores him mostly and then acts quite selfish complaining it’s troubled her too much.
What had happened to her guest? Had the fall from the horse damaged his brain, too? The change in his character really alarmed her. “Dr. Thomas said it would be better if you had some kind of employment.”
“Well, he’s certainly right about that,” Mr Dawson said. “It would be better if I had kept by job at the apothecary shop and never darkened your doorway. I was a fool to think this would work out well for me.” He looked down at his broken leg.
“It hasn’t worked out well for me, either,” Emma reminded him. “It is not as if I want a patient to tend, you know. We have had to go to a good deal of trouble to care for you.”
Leaving aside the issue of doctor’s bills and wages for the new valet, Mr Dawson’s injury had upset all her plans. Before the accident, she had thought Mr. Dawson would spend most of his time in the library, leaving her free to happily ignore him, except at mealtimes.
So, you are the one that suggested going out in the storm. You are the one that gave him the horse that shies when it thunders. He ends up breaking his leg and then you are the one inconvenienced by it all? Bleh. And the servant you had tending him was doing a horrible job and letting him burn up with fever so you are the one that suggested a valet to help and you are complaining about the cost when you are the one with the fortune? I want to like her but at this point in the book I don’t at all.
----
Towards the beginning of the book we have a scene where Henry and Mr. Ainsworth are having an after dinner drink.
He took a sip of his claret after all, wishing that it were port instead. He didn’t even like claret.
but then later in the book we see,
“I don’t care for drinking by myself. Have a drink with me?” Hentry would rather it had been cognac, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. And port was at least better than claret.
This is a minor thing but I was like, I thought he preferred port??? Why didn’t he wish it were cognac instead of port in the earlier scene? It might be some drinking social custom where only certain drinks are used during certain events but it caught my attention as a bit inconsistent.
---
okay, the whole proposal scene was quite funny and I enjoyed it!
Content warnings:
- Death of a parent remembered
- Injury of a horse possibly resulting in it being put down (it’s not stated)
- Horse riding accident resulting in a broken leg
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
60% - kiss
65% - 🔥kiss, fingering for her, her on top (V loss for both)
91% - 🔥missionary (a bit short)
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (there’s a mix of length of scenes)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine and also from the heroine’s mother and another side character
Cliffhanger: No
Format: Checked out the audiobook version on hoopla
Should I read in order?
I think you are okay picking this one up alone if you want. The main focus is on the couple, and there is only some light mention of the prior characters.
Basic plot:
Gigi is ready for a divorce. She’s lived for ten years as the ghosted wife of Camden and she is wanting to have a life of her own. When she asks for a divorce, Camden shows up on the doorstep with a bargain to propose.
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian time period (1893)
- heroine asks for divorce
- second chance
- you’re okay with mention of affairs/infidelity
- bargain – hero wants an heir then he’ll grant the divorce
- instalove
- lots of spunky banter and back/forth
- medium steam – 3 full scenes and some shorter ones
Ages:
- I think the heroine is around 28 but I’m not sure, not sure about hero but would guess early 30s?
First line:
Only one kind of marriage ever bore society’s stamp of approval.
My thoughts:
My expectations were pretty low for this one because I have heard a lot of people complain about the mean behavior and cheating. I don’t mind that stuff in romance. And I ended up liking some parts of this one, but overall it’s not one I would reread.
I do adore Sherry Thomas’ writing. I was pretty into this story and I was on the edge of my seat with how these two would work out their issues. I liked their banter back and forth, though banter might be the wrong word for some of it was downright cruel. There’s so much hurt for both of them, and it’s hard to forgive and come back from some grievous wrongs so many years prior.
One thing I’m not a big fan of in romance though is having sex with someone you hate. And they had quite a bit of sex here while there was still...a bit of longing, yes, but there was still such dislike. And it tampered the feels down for me. I also think the resolution was so, so late in the book that it felt like it wasn’t as solid as I wanted it to be.
I did end up liking both characters. I can’t say I had a huge amount of empathy for either of them because they were both doing unlikable things to each other. They both took it too far in some places. But I also didn’t hate them. I felt bad for both of them.
This one just didn’t have what really grabbed my heart in The Luckiest Lady in London and I am always chasing that!
I’m also grouchy about other POV in a story and we got a lot from Gigi’s mom in this one and I was just bored with those parts. I just want the main characters
Content warnings:
- some cruel/toxic behavior between the mains, hurtful comments, withholding truths, etc
- multiple mentions of affairs and infidelity
- remembered miscarriage
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex: No, but they are trying to procreate
15% - heroine goes into his room at night and touches him, there’s some kisses but then he pretends to be asleep and when she leaves it leads to implied hero masturbation
29% - kiss
44% - 🔥 wedding night missionary (remembered from the past)
47% - sex (present day, that’s super short)
55% - 🔥 him behind her
72% - 🔥 fingering for her, sex
81% - kiss between heroine and Freddie
98% - short sex
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (there’s a mix of length of scenes)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine and also from the heroine’s mother and another side character
Cliffhanger: No
Format: Checked out the audiobook version on hoopla
Should I read in order?
I think you are okay picking this one up alone if you want. The main focus is on the couple, and there is only some light mention of the prior characters.
Basic plot:
Gigi is ready for a divorce. She’s lived for ten years as the ghosted wife of Camden and she is wanting to have a life of her own. When she asks for a divorce, Camden shows up on the doorstep with a bargain to propose.
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian time period (1893)
- heroine asks for divorce
- second chance
- you’re okay with mention of affairs/infidelity
- bargain – hero wants an heir then he’ll grant the divorce
- instalove
- lots of spunky banter and back/forth
- medium steam – 3 full scenes and some shorter ones
Ages:
- I think the heroine is around 28 but I’m not sure, not sure about hero but would guess early 30s?
First line:
Only one kind of marriage ever bore society’s stamp of approval.
My thoughts:
My expectations were pretty low for this one because I have heard a lot of people complain about the mean behavior and cheating. I don’t mind that stuff in romance. And I ended up liking some parts of this one, but overall it’s not one I would reread.
I do adore Sherry Thomas’ writing. I was pretty into this story and I was on the edge of my seat with how these two would work out their issues. I liked their banter back and forth, though banter might be the wrong word for some of it was downright cruel. There’s so much hurt for both of them, and it’s hard to forgive and come back from some grievous wrongs so many years prior.
One thing I’m not a big fan of in romance though is having sex with someone you hate. And they had quite a bit of sex here while there was still...a bit of longing, yes, but there was still such dislike. And it tampered the feels down for me. I also think the resolution was so, so late in the book that it felt like it wasn’t as solid as I wanted it to be.
I did end up liking both characters. I can’t say I had a huge amount of empathy for either of them because they were both doing unlikable things to each other. They both took it too far in some places. But I also didn’t hate them. I felt bad for both of them.
This one just didn’t have what really grabbed my heart in The Luckiest Lady in London and I am always chasing that!
I’m also grouchy about other POV in a story and we got a lot from Gigi’s mom in this one and I was just bored with those parts. I just want the main characters
Content warnings:
- some cruel/toxic behavior between the mains, hurtful comments, withholding truths, etc
- multiple mentions of affairs and infidelity
- remembered miscarriage
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
15% - heroine goes into his room at night and touches him, there’s some kisses but then he pretends to be asleep and when she leaves it leads to implied hero masturbation
29% - kiss
44% - 🔥 wedding night missionary (remembered from the past)
47% - sex (present day, that’s super short)
55% - 🔥 him behind her
72% - 🔥 fingering for her, sex
81% - kiss between heroine and Freddie
98% - short sex
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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: First person from both the hero and heroine (Asha and Hemalo) but also from Claire
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, 3 years later
Format: audiobook checked out on Hoopla
“You are lucky you did not resonate to one of the puny humans,” I tell his unconscious body, as I put our packs back together and bundle them into one large burden that I sling over my shoulder.
Should I read in order?
Yes! You might feel a bit thrown in/confused if you start here.
Basic plot:
Asha and Hemalo resonated in seasons past, but after the loss of their kit, they have drifted apart. The movement of the tribe has been bringing them back together.
Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- alien setting – this takes place on Not-Hoth
- both alien mains
- second chance
- touch of put a baby in me
- fated mates
- never been kissed
- heroine nurses hero back to health
- touch of heroine pursues hero
- medium steam – 3 scenes
My thoughts:
Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to like this one at all. I’m not a big second chance fan and Asha wasn’t the most likable in some of the prior books. But I ended up really enjoying so much about this one.
I really felt for Asha. Her depression after the loss of her child, and then the earthlings coming and taking all the males and changing so much of their lifestyle. I loved, LOVED seeing her open up to Claire and watching a friendship between them grow. My heart was melting when she was able to find purpose in her clan again and feel needed. I loved the recovery themes in this novel.
I enjoyed Hemalo and their relationship sparking again. I did want more from his perspective. Asha is really strong in this book. I love how she takes care of Hemalo and I really loved how perfect they were for each other. I was smiling when she states that it’s a good thing he didn’t resonate to a puny human haha.
I wasn’t a big fan of Claire having perspective in this book. I’m super grouchy about anyone else getting page time/head time. And I think these books are a bit on the shorter side (at least to the 300-400 page historical romances I read) and I want each couple to have all their time for their character development and relationship. It felt like ¼ of this was Claire’s story being established too.
So overall not a favorite of the series for me but it was very enjoyable!
Cock/Hero Stats:
- The men are 7 feet tall, horned, tailed and blue.
- They have 4 fingers instead of 5
- They have a pinky sized bony protrusion at the base of their cock called a ‘spur’ used for clit or anal stimulation depending on position.
- Their cocks are hairless with velvety skin and darker blue than their blue skin.
- They have ridges on their tongues and cock
- Before they resonate, their semen is thinner and not as apt for baby making
Content warnings:
- child loss/relationship loss
- lots of animal usage/processing/eating
- pregnancy/rainbow baby
- birth on page/breastfeeding
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex? No but they are resonating and Asha wants a baby
45% - 🔥 hero masturbation
71% - kiss
75% - 🔥 oral/fingering for her
79% - practicing ‘mouth mating’
81% - 🔥 fingering for her
89% - kisses
Readability: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: First person from both the hero and heroine (Asha and Hemalo) but also from Claire
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, 3 years later
Format: audiobook checked out on Hoopla
“You are lucky you did not resonate to one of the puny humans,” I tell his unconscious body, as I put our packs back together and bundle them into one large burden that I sling over my shoulder.
Should I read in order?
Yes! You might feel a bit thrown in/confused if you start here.
Basic plot:
Asha and Hemalo resonated in seasons past, but after the loss of their kit, they have drifted apart. The movement of the tribe has been bringing them back together.
Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- alien setting – this takes place on Not-Hoth
- both alien mains
- second chance
- touch of put a baby in me
- fated mates
- never been kissed
- heroine nurses hero back to health
- touch of heroine pursues hero
- medium steam – 3 scenes
My thoughts:
Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to like this one at all. I’m not a big second chance fan and Asha wasn’t the most likable in some of the prior books. But I ended up really enjoying so much about this one.
I really felt for Asha. Her depression after the loss of her child, and then the earthlings coming and taking all the males and changing so much of their lifestyle. I loved, LOVED seeing her open up to Claire and watching a friendship between them grow. My heart was melting when she was able to find purpose in her clan again and feel needed. I loved the recovery themes in this novel.
I enjoyed Hemalo and their relationship sparking again. I did want more from his perspective. Asha is really strong in this book. I love how she takes care of Hemalo and I really loved how perfect they were for each other. I was smiling when she states that it’s a good thing he didn’t resonate to a puny human haha.
I wasn’t a big fan of Claire having perspective in this book. I’m super grouchy about anyone else getting page time/head time. And I think these books are a bit on the shorter side (at least to the 300-400 page historical romances I read) and I want each couple to have all their time for their character development and relationship. It felt like ¼ of this was Claire’s story being established too.
So overall not a favorite of the series for me but it was very enjoyable!
Cock/Hero Stats:
- The men are 7 feet tall, horned, tailed and blue.
- They have 4 fingers instead of 5
- They have a pinky sized bony protrusion at the base of their cock called a ‘spur’ used for clit or anal stimulation depending on position.
- Their cocks are hairless with velvety skin and darker blue than their blue skin.
- They have ridges on their tongues and cock
- Before they resonate, their semen is thinner and not as apt for baby making
Content warnings:
- child loss/relationship loss
- lots of animal usage/processing/eating
- pregnancy/rainbow baby
- birth on page/breastfeeding
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex?
45% - 🔥 hero masturbation
71% - kiss
75% - 🔥 oral/fingering for her
79% - practicing ‘mouth mating’
81% - 🔥 fingering for her
89% - kisses
funny
medium-paced
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖 (I actually did find parts of this a bit confusing because of the jumping, but I was having so much fun and didn’t want to put it down so I kept it at a 4)
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (the beginning scenes were maybe a bit more powerful on the scale for me but the later one was light)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (Some of these are short and it might not feel quite this hot to others/notes at the end of my review)
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and the heroine
Percentage which mains are first on page together:4% (almost immediately)
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Not officially, but the last chapter wraps things up (not far in the future)
Format: Bought e-book
Should I read in order?
This is the first in the series and Piers' debut!
Basic plot:
Mary is taking this summer to focus on her plays, seeing as her parents have decided should marry come next season. Unfortunately she is having trouble focusing on them with Gregory back...
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (1815)
- heroine’s dream is to become a playwright
- flowers as a love language
- best friends brother
- childhood friends to lovers
- Duke hero
- touch of jerk hero – he has been hurt in the past and wants to keep Mary at arms length and does some unlikable things at times to do it
Ages:
- I believe the hero is around 28 and the heroine 20
First line:
A girl never knows where her husband might come from.
My thoughts:
I am so happy I gave Eliana Piers a try! I believe this is her debut and it was such a fun ride.
I found Piers’ writing style so different and FUN. At first, it took me a bit to get into it. And part of that was because of some time jumps were a bit confusing. I could have used better dividers between past and present day, or a different thought style with the flash backs. But after I got used to it, I just fell in love with her writing. It was funny, and sweet and I found myself anxious to get back to this story when I put it down.
Mary was fun. I don’t think I’ve read a playwright heroine before – I have read a few actresses. I liked her a lot – she’s a bit sweet and innocent but refuses to compromise on what she wants in life.
Gregory could definitely act like a petulant child and has some growing up to do, emotionally. He was cruel to Mary a few times but we know he has issues voicing his feelings and he has a huge fear of rejection. So hurt them before they hurt me mantra. But I just loved how he couldn’t stop himself with Mary. I loved their scenes together. So I was able to forgive him. But I do think his turn around was pretty abrupt after everything they went through.
The beginning steamy scenes were so, so good to me. So emotional and fairly well detailed. I was a bit disappointed in the first penetration scene between them because it felt so light and short. I wanted all of that delicious explicitness in that scene as well. I adored the self pleasuring scenes so, so much. There was something so hot about them both watching each other and Gregory teaching her how to touch herself. Love self pleasuring scenes so much in romance and always want more!
I adored that the focus of the book was Gregory and Mary’s relationship. I live for that push and pull dynamic of wanting each other. There was something really tugging on my heart in this one and I want to try alllll the books Eliana Piers writes!
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:
I did find the writing delightful, hilarious but also jarring and confusing in some points. For example, towards the beginning,
He could care less what Mary was thinking. Yes, that’s right. He reminded himself that he should care less so as to not care anything at all, in fact not to even think of thinking of her thoughts. Yes, that was much more reasonable.
(That is a reflection on me finding it confusing, not the author). It took me a bit to get into it but I just started really, really enjoying her unique prose.
---
“Cold?” He barked out a laugh. “You think I’m cold. You think I’m doing this,” he emphasized his hold on his shaft, “because I’m cold?”
She was shocked and out of words.
“I’m doing this,” he enunciated every word, “because I’m on fire.”
She gasped.
---
“Listen pet, what happened last night,” he brushed a stray tendril of hair from her cheek. It was a mistake. His finger took on a mind of its own and began descending her neck. He had to stop. He corralled his instincts and forced his lingering finger into a pointing finger. He aimed his index finger at her chest. “You can do that too.”
---
I love this
She tried to dismiss her vulnerability by walking over to the book shelves. The second she reached the shelves she recognized her mistake. She was much too far away from the door now. Her back was to Gregory, but she didn’t need to see him to know he was taking those predatory steps toward her. Every single hair on her body stood at attention. She feigned ignorance. “What do you suggest?” She managed to squeak out.
By this point Gregory was directly behind her. She could feel the heat emanating from his body and her back was being scorched.
“Let me see,” he breathed onto her neck as he raised his left arm up alongside her body and to a shelf above her head. “This one?” He tilted his lips toward her ear. “Too dry.” He began to draw up his right arm alongside her body to mirror his left arm. Now she was caged in. “How about this one?”
//
It sounded like he let out a low growl. “Mary, tell me what you want.”
“I-I-I- don’t know.”
“Yes, you do. You must feel it.”
//
“I want...you.”
She felt his body mold against her. “You want me?” His entire body was pressed against hers, and he touched his lips to her neck.
I rather loved how badly he didn’t want to love her but couldn’t help it
He slammed the door behind him and marched over to her. “You will leave this silliness alone. There is nothing between us. There can never be anything between us.”
What that he dropped the flower at their feet and yanked her in for a punishing kiss
---
oh yes please!
As he watched her trying to catch her breath, her chest rose to almost spill over her bodice. He couldn’t help the demanding throaty tone, “Come here.”
She looked trapped.
“Now.” He placed his hands on his thighs as he waited for her to float over to him. If he didn’t hold his hands down, he would tear the dress off of her.
Content warnings:
- missing side character (possibly dead?)
- a bit of neglectful parenting vibes? Heroine’s parents are off doing stuff without her
- loss of a parent
- carriage accident with injuries
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex: No
21% - kiss
40% - hero masturbation scene in front of Mary (in the study)
47% - hero teaches the heroine how to masturbate (in the study)
51% - humping without penetration (in the study on the settee)
93% - missionary (the actual penetration was quite light and vague)
Readability: 📖📖📖📖 (I actually did find parts of this a bit confusing because of the jumping, but I was having so much fun and didn’t want to put it down so I kept it at a 4)
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (the beginning scenes were maybe a bit more powerful on the scale for me but the later one was light)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (Some of these are short and it might not feel quite this hot to others/notes at the end of my review)
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and the heroine
Percentage which mains are first on page together:
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Not officially, but the last chapter wraps things up (not far in the future)
Format: Bought e-book
Should I read in order?
This is the first in the series and Piers' debut!
Basic plot:
Mary is taking this summer to focus on her plays, seeing as her parents have decided should marry come next season. Unfortunately she is having trouble focusing on them with Gregory back...
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (1815)
- heroine’s dream is to become a playwright
- flowers as a love language
- best friends brother
- childhood friends to lovers
- Duke hero
- touch of jerk hero – he has been hurt in the past and wants to keep Mary at arms length and does some unlikable things at times to do it
Ages:
- I believe the hero is around 28 and the heroine 20
First line:
A girl never knows where her husband might come from.
My thoughts:
I am so happy I gave Eliana Piers a try! I believe this is her debut and it was such a fun ride.
I found Piers’ writing style so different and FUN. At first, it took me a bit to get into it. And part of that was because of some time jumps were a bit confusing. I could have used better dividers between past and present day, or a different thought style with the flash backs. But after I got used to it, I just fell in love with her writing. It was funny, and sweet and I found myself anxious to get back to this story when I put it down.
Mary was fun. I don’t think I’ve read a playwright heroine before – I have read a few actresses. I liked her a lot – she’s a bit sweet and innocent but refuses to compromise on what she wants in life.
Gregory could definitely act like a petulant child and has some growing up to do, emotionally. He was cruel to Mary a few times but we know he has issues voicing his feelings and he has a huge fear of rejection. So hurt them before they hurt me mantra. But I just loved how he couldn’t stop himself with Mary. I loved their scenes together. So I was able to forgive him. But I do think his turn around was pretty abrupt after everything they went through.
The beginning steamy scenes were so, so good to me. So emotional and fairly well detailed. I was a bit disappointed in the first penetration scene between them because it felt so light and short. I wanted all of that delicious explicitness in that scene as well.
I adored that the focus of the book was Gregory and Mary’s relationship. I live for that push and pull dynamic of wanting each other. There was something really tugging on my heart in this one and I want to try alllll the books Eliana Piers writes!
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:
I did find the writing delightful, hilarious but also jarring and confusing in some points. For example, towards the beginning,
He could care less what Mary was thinking. Yes, that’s right. He reminded himself that he should care less so as to not care anything at all, in fact not to even think of thinking of her thoughts. Yes, that was much more reasonable.
(That is a reflection on me finding it confusing, not the author). It took me a bit to get into it but I just started really, really enjoying her unique prose.
---
“Cold?” He barked out a laugh. “You think I’m cold. You think I’m doing this,” he emphasized his hold on his shaft, “because I’m cold?”
She was shocked and out of words.
“I’m doing this,” he enunciated every word, “because I’m on fire.”
She gasped.
---
“Listen pet, what happened last night,” he brushed a stray tendril of hair from her cheek. It was a mistake. His finger took on a mind of its own and began descending her neck. He had to stop. He corralled his instincts and forced his lingering finger into a pointing finger. He aimed his index finger at her chest. “You can do that too.”
---
I love this
She tried to dismiss her vulnerability by walking over to the book shelves. The second she reached the shelves she recognized her mistake. She was much too far away from the door now. Her back was to Gregory, but she didn’t need to see him to know he was taking those predatory steps toward her. Every single hair on her body stood at attention. She feigned ignorance. “What do you suggest?” She managed to squeak out.
By this point Gregory was directly behind her. She could feel the heat emanating from his body and her back was being scorched.
“Let me see,” he breathed onto her neck as he raised his left arm up alongside her body and to a shelf above her head. “This one?” He tilted his lips toward her ear. “Too dry.” He began to draw up his right arm alongside her body to mirror his left arm. Now she was caged in. “How about this one?”
//
It sounded like he let out a low growl. “Mary, tell me what you want.”
“I-I-I- don’t know.”
“Yes, you do. You must feel it.”
//
“I want...you.”
She felt his body mold against her. “You want me?” His entire body was pressed against hers, and he touched his lips to her neck.
I rather loved how badly he didn’t want to love her but couldn’t help it
He slammed the door behind him and marched over to her. “You will leave this silliness alone. There is nothing between us. There can never be anything between us.”
What that he dropped the flower at their feet and yanked her in for a punishing kiss
---
oh yes please!
As he watched her trying to catch her breath, her chest rose to almost spill over her bodice. He couldn’t help the demanding throaty tone, “Come here.”
She looked trapped.
“Now.” He placed his hands on his thighs as he waited for her to float over to him. If he didn’t hold his hands down, he would tear the dress off of her.
Content warnings:
- missing side character (possibly dead?)
- a bit of neglectful parenting vibes? Heroine’s parents are off doing stuff without her
- loss of a parent
- carriage accident with injuries
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
21% - kiss
40% - hero masturbation scene in front of Mary (in the study)
47% - hero teaches the heroine how to masturbate (in the study)
51% - humping without penetration (in the study on the settee)
93% - missionary (the actual penetration was quite light and vague)
.jpg)
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
Percentage which mains are first on page together: 3%
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes – the second to last chapter takes place 2 months after and the labeled ‘epilogue’ is about Rockwell and Farah who get their own story next
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy that is now 10 months old because I let it languish on my kindle forever
Should I read in order?
This is the first in the Sisterhood of Scandal series.
Basic plot:
Tiffany will only marry for love, but she soon finds herself in wager with her guardian’s best friend, Wolf, who requests the right to court her.
Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian (1808)
- heroine is good with numbers and investing
- almost a brother’s best friend feel, except it’s the heroine and her guardian’s best friend
- artist, Marquess hero
- hero pursues
- hero paints the heroine
- bargain
- low steam – 1 full scene (I could have missed something??)
Ages:
- heroine is 23, didn’t catch hero but I think a touch older than her
First line:
The carriage slowly rolled to a stop in front of an imposing country house.
My thoughts:
After a decent start, this book sadly fell flat for me.
I loved the beginning scenes. The guardian’s best friend vibes, hero pursues – I love that stuff. I enjoyed the heroine being an investor. That was interesting and not a career I’ve read much, especially for historical. I enjoyed their playfulness with each other.
But then as the book went on, it was a bit high on the drama and low on the romance and feels for me. I kept finding myself wishing the mains were together more often. It felt like they were separated a lot of the book, each with their own circles of friends. Perhaps it’s the first in a series syndrome where it’s trying to set up multiple character’s personalities and themes for the series. When they were together I was liking it!
The steam was also a big disappointment. I have read one other by Evans, years ago and I thought I remembered it being steamy, but this one was pretty tame for me. It had a decent amount of kisses though!
Content warnings:
- heroine’s parents were murdered
- death/suicide hero’s betrothed killed herself on their wedding day
- rape of a side character resulting in child
- one brief mention of body image/weight A servant placed food in front of Tiffany. Since she’d missed breakfast she had to eat. Tiffany loved food and she was hungry. She wasn’t the thinnest of women and so she made an effort to never overindulge. For one, if she put on weight, she’d need a whole new wardrobe, and she hated wasting her money on frivolous things such as clothes when what she had was more than adequate.
- kidnapping of heroine by villain
- suicide shaming Margo had simply said yes, as if it was expected of her. Perhaps if she’d had Tiffany’s strength of mind she would never had killed herself. She could have survived her ordeal.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Okay for real is there only one oral scene in this book?? The heroine is pregnant at the end of the book and we get no penetration scene?? I might have missed it but I scoured the book.
Safe sex: No but they plan on getting married – it’s all implied and off page
46% - kiss
50% - kiss
65% - light kisses and breast play
72% - kisses, oral for heroine
82% - kiss
92% - kiss
94% - kiss
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 hero and heroine
Percentage which mains are first on page together:
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes – the second to last chapter takes place 2 months after and the labeled ‘epilogue’ is about Rockwell and Farah who get their own story next
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy that is now 10 months old because I let it languish on my kindle forever
Should I read in order?
This is the first in the Sisterhood of Scandal series.
Basic plot:
Tiffany will only marry for love, but she soon finds herself in wager with her guardian’s best friend, Wolf, who requests the right to court her.
Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian (1808)
- heroine is good with numbers and investing
- almost a brother’s best friend feel, except it’s the heroine and her guardian’s best friend
- artist, Marquess hero
- hero pursues
- hero paints the heroine
- bargain
- low steam – 1 full scene (I could have missed something??)
Ages:
- heroine is 23, didn’t catch hero but I think a touch older than her
First line:
The carriage slowly rolled to a stop in front of an imposing country house.
My thoughts:
After a decent start, this book sadly fell flat for me.
I loved the beginning scenes. The guardian’s best friend vibes, hero pursues – I love that stuff. I enjoyed the heroine being an investor. That was interesting and not a career I’ve read much, especially for historical. I enjoyed their playfulness with each other.
But then as the book went on, it was a bit high on the drama and low on the romance and feels for me. I kept finding myself wishing the mains were together more often. It felt like they were separated a lot of the book, each with their own circles of friends. Perhaps it’s the first in a series syndrome where it’s trying to set up multiple character’s personalities and themes for the series. When they were together I was liking it!
The steam was also a big disappointment. I have read one other by Evans, years ago and I thought I remembered it being steamy, but this one was pretty tame for me. It had a decent amount of kisses though!
Content warnings:
- heroine’s parents were murdered
- death/suicide
- rape of a side character
- one brief mention of body image/weight A servant placed food in front of Tiffany. Since she’d missed breakfast she had to eat. Tiffany loved food and she was hungry. She wasn’t the thinnest of women and so she made an effort to never overindulge. For one, if she put on weight, she’d need a whole new wardrobe, and she hated wasting her money on frivolous things such as clothes when what she had was more than adequate.
- kidnapping of heroine by villain
- suicide shaming Margo had simply said yes, as if it was expected of her. Perhaps if she’d had Tiffany’s strength of mind she would never had killed herself. She could have survived her ordeal.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Okay for real is there only one oral scene in this book?? The heroine is pregnant at the end of the book and we get no penetration scene?? I might have missed it but I scoured the book.
Safe sex:
46% - kiss
50% - kiss
65% - light kisses and breast play
72% - kisses, oral for heroine
82% - kiss
92% - kiss
94% - kiss
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔(maybe a bit more for the heroine, the heroes had a lot of secrets still)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: First person from the heroine’s POV only
Cliffhanger: Yes
Epilogue: No
Format: bought audiobook (loved the duet narration – having a male voice for the male speech was great!)
Should I read in order?
This is the first book of Stewart’s Ravenhood series but it ends on a cliffhanger so yes start here.
Basic plot:
Cecelia spends the summer living with her father and working at his factory when she meets Sean, her supervisor, and he introduces her to his circle of friends.
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- Blue Ridge Mountains setting (small town feel)
- there’s a lot of mysterious elements revealed through the course of the story – though at the ending you will still have questions
- tattooed hero
- angsty and a bit toxic (I wouldn’t say it’s dark but definite red flags here if you aren’t into that)
-M/F and MFM pairings within the story
- higher steam – 7 full scenes plus additional that fade, cut off, or partial scenes
Ages:
- Heroine is 18/19, I didn’t catch the heroes but would guess early to mid 20s?
My thoughts:
This book gave me a lot I wanted in romance and I didn’t want to put it down!
I enjoyed the audio a lot. This was my first duet narration. I have liked dual narration in the past (where the hero/heroine chapters are read by each narrator) but in this one the hero’s speech was read by the male narrator even within the heroine’s POV. Definitely want more. I liked Joe Arden’s narration quite a bit. And I also liked Maxine Mitchell’s though it took a bit to grow on me. She had a bit of a shaky voice at some parts – and sometimes that was really warranted and it was exactly as I was picturing Cecelia sounding.
I would have loved to have some hero POV, but I know in this series it seems like that would give away all the secrets. And you’re left with secrets here for sure. Cecelia is a bit, well, inexperienced with life. Naive. She wants to come off like she has it all figured out but she’s really quite dumb about some things.
There were quite a few scenes I really loved in this one though. I am curious. The next book might make me hate it but I think I’ll have to give it a try. Sean I adored. Dominic is a dick. Cecelia is a bit weak about some things. But with all this I was so invested in what was going to happen. Some parts were a bit slow and frustrating though.
Some super random facts I have noted about the heroes/friends
Sean has a lip ring and smells like cedar
Tyler is the mysterious marine
Dom is the grumpy master’s degree holder from MIT
Endearments
Sean calls her ‘pup’ and Tyler calls her ‘beautiful’.
Content warnings:
- some neglectful/abusive parenting aspects
- smoking
- death of parents
- heroine called a bitch
- “the weed” – like it’s literally called that in the book lol
- physical crowding of heroine by a stranger/Dominic slams him into a wall
- assumptions about government housing and drugs
- races/violence
- cruel/vengeful behavior by heroes on heroine
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex: Yes, condoms used
Chapter 12 – 🔥Sean fingers her and gives oral
Chapter 13 – 🔥Sean fingers her in the car, missionary
Chapter 15 – parking lot sex that fades a bit
Chapter 16 – doggy style remembered
Chapter 17 – implied sex and SO MAD THAT IT CUT OFF BECAUSE THIS SCENE WAS GOOD
Chapter 19 – 🔥fingering for her by Sean, pool sex
Chapter 24 – 🔥kisses with Sean, oral for her by Sean
Chapter 25 – 🔥Dominic and Sean kisses and nipple play, oral for her by Sean, her on top/missionary with Dominic then Sean holding her to him/him behind her
Chapter 27 – partial scene with touches and dry humping but he stops it
Chapter 30 – 🔥Dominic kisses, fingering for her, blow job (incomplete), sex in a chair
Chapter 31 – 🔥oral and fingering for her/missionary (I didn’t note which hero but I think Sean???)
Chapter 35 – start of counter sex with Sean
Chapter 40 – forced kiss
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔(maybe a bit more for the heroine, the heroes had a lot of secrets still)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: First person from the heroine’s POV only
Cliffhanger: Yes
Epilogue: No
Format: bought audiobook (loved the duet narration – having a male voice for the male speech was great!)
Should I read in order?
This is the first book of Stewart’s Ravenhood series but it ends on a cliffhanger so yes start here.
Basic plot:
Cecelia spends the summer living with her father and working at his factory when she meets Sean, her supervisor, and he introduces her to his circle of friends.
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- Blue Ridge Mountains setting (small town feel)
- there’s a lot of mysterious elements revealed through the course of the story – though at the ending you will still have questions
- tattooed hero
- angsty and a bit toxic (I wouldn’t say it’s dark but definite red flags here if you aren’t into that)
-
- higher steam – 7 full scenes plus additional that fade, cut off, or partial scenes
Ages:
- Heroine is 18/19, I didn’t catch the heroes but would guess early to mid 20s?
My thoughts:
This book gave me a lot I wanted in romance and I didn’t want to put it down!
I enjoyed the audio a lot. This was my first duet narration. I have liked dual narration in the past (where the hero/heroine chapters are read by each narrator) but in this one the hero’s speech was read by the male narrator even within the heroine’s POV. Definitely want more. I liked Joe Arden’s narration quite a bit. And I also liked Maxine Mitchell’s though it took a bit to grow on me. She had a bit of a shaky voice at some parts – and sometimes that was really warranted and it was exactly as I was picturing Cecelia sounding.
I would have loved to have some hero POV, but I know in this series it seems like that would give away all the secrets. And you’re left with secrets here for sure. Cecelia is a bit, well, inexperienced with life. Naive. She wants to come off like she has it all figured out but she’s really quite dumb about some things.
There were quite a few scenes I really loved in this one though. I am curious. The next book might make me hate it but I think I’ll have to give it a try. Sean I adored. Dominic is a dick. Cecelia is a bit weak about some things. But with all this I was so invested in what was going to happen. Some parts were a bit slow and frustrating though.
Some super random facts I have noted about the heroes/friends
Sean has a lip ring and smells like cedar
Tyler is the mysterious marine
Dom is the grumpy master’s degree holder from MIT
Endearments
Content warnings:
- some neglectful/abusive parenting aspects
- smoking
- death of parents
- heroine called a bitch
- “the weed” – like it’s literally called that in the book lol
- physical crowding of heroine by a stranger/Dominic slams him into a wall
- assumptions about government housing and drugs
- races/violence
- cruel/vengeful behavior by heroes on heroine
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
Chapter 12 – 🔥Sean fingers her and gives oral
Chapter 13 – 🔥Sean fingers her in the car, missionary
Chapter 15 – parking lot sex that fades a bit
Chapter 16 – doggy style remembered
Chapter 17 – implied sex and SO MAD THAT IT CUT OFF BECAUSE THIS SCENE WAS GOOD
Chapter 19 – 🔥fingering for her by Sean, pool sex
Chapter 24 – 🔥kisses with Sean, oral for her by Sean
Chapter 25 – 🔥Dominic and Sean kisses and nipple play, oral for her by Sean, her on top/missionary with Dominic then Sean holding her to him/him behind her
Chapter 27 – partial scene with touches and dry humping but he stops it
Chapter 30 – 🔥Dominic kisses, fingering for her, blow job (incomplete), sex in a chair
Chapter 31 – 🔥oral and fingering for her/missionary (I didn’t note which hero but I think Sean???)
Chapter 35 – start of counter sex with Sean
Chapter 40 – forced kiss
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall: 4.5 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 hero and heroine
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, a few months later
Format: checked out audiobook on Hoopla
Should I read in order?
Ideally, yes. The characters are developed over the course of the series and the books flow together.
Basic plot:
Charlotte’s father says she must marry, and pays off the scoudnrel Benedict Chatham to wed her.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (1818)
- American heroine/English hero
- Tall, red haired heroine
- Arranged marriage -Benedict gets 100,000 pounds if he spends 1 year of marriage in complete fidelity, complete sobriety, and live together for the entire year. He will get a second 100,000 pounds at the birth of first grandson.
- one bed
- this might be a reach but a bit of reversed ugly duckling (hero is a different man than the beginning of the story)
- bit of an antihero from the prior books
- medium to higher steam – 4 full scenes
Ages:
- Heroine is 22, didn’t catch hero
My thoughts:
I really loved this one! Ever Yours Annabelle is still my favorite of series but this one is second for me.
I didn’t pay much attention to Chatham in the prior books – honestly he was so unlikeable I didn’t think he’d even get his own book. But I do love how Braden takes these characters and brings them up to snuff for the heroines.
I liked that they were together for the majority of the story. And I really loved getting out of London and Chatham’s recovery. It gave me a bit of West Ravenel vibes if you have read Lisa Kleypas (Devil’s Daughter specifically).
I ended up really loving both characters. Charlotte was easy to love. She was so strong and ready to do the best she could in the situation she was in. She doesn’t have the highest self esteem so I appreciated the seduction vibes between these two when Chatham tries to convince her she’s gorgeous and amazing.
I was mildly frustrated with Chatham and his inability to open up. Perhaps it’s just that in HR it’s overrun with heroes that can’t voice their feelings because they are so damaged and have never had anyone love them. But, in this story it was even more believable to me. And towards the end there’s a scene with Chatham in the street...and it wrecked my heart a tad.
Content warnings:
- Alcoholism and withdrawal
- Fire with injuries
- Toxic parents
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex: No but they are married
33% - kisses
52% - 🔥kisses, fingering for her, missionary (V loss for her, well endowed hero)
(I didn’t mark this percentage) – 🔥touches, kisses, fingering for her against a wall
65% - fingering for her that fades
74% - 🔥kisses, fingering for her, wall sex
97% - kisses
98% - 🔥epilogue sex where you walk in on a started missionary scene
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 hero and heroine
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, a few months later
Format: checked out audiobook on Hoopla
Should I read in order?
Ideally, yes. The characters are developed over the course of the series and the books flow together.
Basic plot:
Charlotte’s father says she must marry, and pays off the scoudnrel Benedict Chatham to wed her.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (1818)
- American heroine/English hero
- Tall, red haired heroine
- Arranged marriage -
- one bed
- this might be a reach but a bit of reversed ugly duckling (hero is a different man than the beginning of the story)
- bit of an antihero from the prior books
- medium to higher steam – 4 full scenes
Ages:
- Heroine is 22, didn’t catch hero
My thoughts:
I really loved this one! Ever Yours Annabelle is still my favorite of series but this one is second for me.
I didn’t pay much attention to Chatham in the prior books – honestly he was so unlikeable I didn’t think he’d even get his own book. But I do love how Braden takes these characters and brings them up to snuff for the heroines.
I liked that they were together for the majority of the story. And I really loved getting out of London and Chatham’s recovery. It gave me a bit of West Ravenel vibes if you have read Lisa Kleypas (Devil’s Daughter specifically).
I ended up really loving both characters. Charlotte was easy to love. She was so strong and ready to do the best she could in the situation she was in. She doesn’t have the highest self esteem so I appreciated the seduction vibes between these two when Chatham tries to convince her she’s gorgeous and amazing.
I was mildly frustrated with Chatham and his inability to open up. Perhaps it’s just that in HR it’s overrun with heroes that can’t voice their feelings because they are so damaged and have never had anyone love them. But, in this story it was even more believable to me. And towards the end there’s a scene with Chatham in the street...and it wrecked my heart a tad.
Content warnings:
- Alcoholism and withdrawal
- Fire with injuries
- Toxic parents
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
33% - kisses
52% - 🔥kisses, fingering for her, missionary (V loss for her, well endowed hero)
(I didn’t mark this percentage) – 🔥touches, kisses, fingering for her against a wall
65% - fingering for her that fades
74% - 🔥kisses, fingering for her, wall sex
97% - kisses
98% - 🔥epilogue sex where you walk in on a started missionary scene
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: First person from both hero and heroine (alternating chapters)
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, two months later
Format: audiobook checked out on Hoopla
Should I read in order?
Yes!
Basic plot:
Stacy and Pashov have a life together, a family. But when he loses his memory after a cave in they must get to know each other all over again.
Give this a try if you want:
- Science fiction romance
- Alien setting (book takes place on Not-Hoth)
- child in the story
- touch of second chance feel
- chef heroine
- amnesia
- medium to high steam – 4 full scenes in a shorter page count
My thoughts:
Overall I liked this one! When I found out it was amnesia and they already had a relationship started and a child I didn’t think I would like it much at all because those are some of my least favorite romance types. But I found this one pretty sweet.
I was getting a bit frustrated in the beginning how Pashov didn’t seem to care overmuch about trying to make things better with Stacy. He seemed...unconcerned? But to me this went against everything these men have shown on this planet as well as just the tribe culture. But it turned around and I started really loving their story.
Stacy is a bit of a weeper, but I liked the emotional pull of her struggle. It was getting rather angsty in the middle and I always appreciate that. And I do enjoy when the couple has to go off alone to bond better together (which has been a theme in most of these books!)
I enjoy the audio of these - Mason Lloyd is one of my favorites. And I like Holly Jackson for the female voices but I'll admit her alien hero voice is grating to me at this point. They are always a bit flat and monotone and expressionless.
Cock/Hero Stats:
- The men are 7 feet tall, horned, tailed and blue.
- They have 4 fingers instead of 5
- They have a pinky sized bony protrusion at the base of their cock called a ‘spur’ used for clit or anal stimulation depending on position.
- Their cocks are hairless with velvety skin and darker blue than their blue skin.
- They have ridges on their tongues and cock
- Before they resonate, their semen is thinner and not as apt for baby making
Content warnings:
- scenes of animal killing, eating, using
- hero was trapped in a cave in and has lost his memory
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex? No
26% - 🔥some light lactation play, oral for her, missionary
65% - 🔥blow job
69% - 🔥kisses, oral for her
97% - 🔥missionary
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: First person from both hero and heroine (alternating chapters)
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, two months later
Format: audiobook checked out on Hoopla
Should I read in order?
Yes!
Basic plot:
Stacy and Pashov have a life together, a family. But when he loses his memory after a cave in they must get to know each other all over again.
Give this a try if you want:
- Science fiction romance
- Alien setting (book takes place on Not-Hoth)
- child in the story
- touch of second chance feel
- chef heroine
- amnesia
- medium to high steam – 4 full scenes in a shorter page count
My thoughts:
Overall I liked this one! When I found out it was amnesia and they already had a relationship started and a child I didn’t think I would like it much at all because those are some of my least favorite romance types. But I found this one pretty sweet.
I was getting a bit frustrated in the beginning how Pashov didn’t seem to care overmuch about trying to make things better with Stacy. He seemed...unconcerned? But to me this went against everything these men have shown on this planet as well as just the tribe culture. But it turned around and I started really loving their story.
Stacy is a bit of a weeper, but I liked the emotional pull of her struggle. It was getting rather angsty in the middle and I always appreciate that. And I do enjoy when the couple has to go off alone to bond better together (which has been a theme in most of these books!)
I enjoy the audio of these - Mason Lloyd is one of my favorites. And I like Holly Jackson for the female voices but I'll admit her alien hero voice is grating to me at this point. They are always a bit flat and monotone and expressionless.
Cock/Hero Stats:
- The men are 7 feet tall, horned, tailed and blue.
- They have 4 fingers instead of 5
- They have a pinky sized bony protrusion at the base of their cock called a ‘spur’ used for clit or anal stimulation depending on position.
- Their cocks are hairless with velvety skin and darker blue than their blue skin.
- They have ridges on their tongues and cock
- Before they resonate, their semen is thinner and not as apt for baby making
Content warnings:
- scenes of animal killing, eating, using
- hero was trapped in a cave in and has lost his memory
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex?
26% - 🔥some light lactation play, oral for her, missionary
65% - 🔥blow job
69% - 🔥kisses, oral for her
97% - 🔥missionary
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Hero Jerk Scale: 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person mostly from the heroine though there are a couple small sections from the hero
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, two years later
Format: bought 1985 paperback version
Should I read in order?
I believe this is a stand alone.
Basic plot:
A trail of circumstances lead Jewel to marrying the cousin of the cold Earl of Moorland – and when her husband passes, she goes for her inheritance...
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian (1841)
- London and English countryside setting
- you’re okay with plenty of heavy content warnings/old school feels (see bottom of review)
- body betrayed me trope
- touch of bargain – the hero agrees to acknowledge the heroine’s marriage to his since passed cousin, clothe her and feed her and in return she becomes a lady and annoys his mother (whom he hates)
- age gap – hero is 14-15 years older than the heroine
- widower/Earl hero
- rags to riches – heroine was raised on the streets of London and is turned into a lady
- child in the story (not a HUGE part)
- class difference
- touch of 'ugly duckling' feel
- lower to medium steam – 3 full scenes – not the MOST descriptive but explicit enough
Ages:
- Hero is 31, heroine is 16/17 ( I had to pretend she was older 😬 )
First line:
“You, Jool, get yer arse movin’ and do as yer bid! Now! Or, by God, I’ll...”
My thoughts:
Oof this one ended up being a definite jerk hero! I actually really loved the first half of the book – I was flying through it and enjoying and liking both characters.
But the second half had a big turn around in the characters behavior. It was a bit too much for me – Sebastian was too much of a jerk and his redemption left more to be desired, in my opinion. Jewel too made me quite mad at the end of the story. I was a bit surprised with the ending of the story and I liked the first half so I give 3 stars. The cover is gorgeous! Thinking I wouldn’t reread this one though.
Going to get into specifics now about my thoughts so marking for spoilers!
So the first half of the book I got into – the hero was cruel, sure, but I can like that if he turns it around or it kicks my heart around a bit. I was starting to care for both of them when Sebastian takes Jewel’s virginity. The consent is definitely questionable, but she’s willing. The way he treats her afterwards was horrendous. He cruelly leaves her in the country and makes sure she knows she’s nothing to him. And you know, I could even get behind that – Sebastian is so emotionally constipated and he caught the feels from Jewel so he has to run…
But then he sends her for her and brings her to London. He’s decided to make her his mistress. And this leads to the second half the book where I got so annoyed. You go through all of this emotional turmoil where he just treats her like garbage and the heroine hates him but still can’t resist him. Definitely themes of my body betrayed me trope, which I know is a common old school tool, but it’s just so icky to me. I hate the ‘brain fog’ that they go through – it gives me zero feels especially when it’s hatred before and after the kisses/intimate act. So you get to deal with that the second half the book. He calls her a whore and treats her like a whore and even though he took her virginity – he makes sure she knows he believes she’s been a whore on the street for multiple men since she was a child (which….eww. She IS a child STILL!)
BUT! BUT! What REALLY pissed me off about this one is Sebastian – who doesn’t talk about any of his feelings basically the whole book – has this entire monologue at the end where he just magically explains everything. He apologizes for what he did – and you find out that HE KNEW Jewels was a virgin that night. This is a million times worse to me. The fact that he knew he took her virginity then purposefully did everything he did is beyond disgusting to me. And we get no emotional turmoil for the most part – it’s just a magical turn around of the hero’s behavior.
Also a note: The hero points out and is aware of the heroine’s age – at one point he stops a sexual encounter because he draws the line at making love to inebriated little girls
Jewels I liked for the most part, until the end of the book. She just can’t get Sebastian out of her head even though it’s the most toxic AF relationship I’ve seen and wants him so badly – so she starts to entertain marriage to another man. I thought this was fine in the plot – except when you find out she purposefully is leading this man on and has no intention of marrying him and just wants to make Sebastian jealous. Definitely lowered my opinion of her especially when she goes so far as to plan a gretna green getaway within 24 hours – the fact that she never plans on following through with it made her a jerk to me too.
Of course we find out the man she was considering marriage to is a dick as well and tries to rape her….sigh…..
The other thing that was kind of weird was Sebastian’s daughter! She’s in the story, then she’s basically neglected for a large portion of it which is horrendously sad and horrible. Then she’s back as a brief plot point and then again neglected and ignored….and then she’s back again….I feel like this book needed to be more solidly put together. It could have really used the relationship with the child more and made it all feel more complete. Instead it seemed to jump from drama to drama and the child was just some weird plot prop when needed.
The worst part too was at the end of the book – Jewel has been strong the whole book, fighting Sebastian, putting him in his place (for the most part) and then when Sebastian has his heart to heart with her, she changes her mind and says she’s okay with being his mistress. Ummmmm WHAT?? It’s like she’s a different person. We go through this entire story and then she just is okay with something she hasn’t been okay with EVER and has fought tooth and nail….where’d your backbone go??? I’m guessing it was used as more of a point to try to show how AMAZING the hero was – he not only apologized but now is going to marry her EVEN THOUGH HE HAS THE OPTION TO JUST FUCK HER. Wow. What a hero here!!
Though, he does cry in the book and that made me VERY HAPPY. More heroes need to cry over their heroines especially a guy like this. So I ate that up.
I know, all this complaining and still 3 stars? I guess I’m just a toxic asshole too 😂
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:
Oof.
“Good. I want to hurt you.” The gutteral mutter was not his voice. Julia writhed, trying to pull her arms free of his paralyzing grip. Suddently, this man was frightening her. The icy mask was gone, shattered into a thousand pieces. In its place was a tortured twisted mortal man in pain himself and capable of inflicting pain. “I’ll enjoy hurting you.”
Content warnings:
- physical violence and assault
- sexual harassment and attempted sexual assault multiple times of heroine
- ‘gypsy’ used
- scenes of smoking
- toxic AF family
- murder
- child trauma resulting in selective mutism
- scenes of alcoholism/alcohol abuse
- nonconsensual/dubious consent – lots of forced kisses, scenes of the heroine saying ‘don’t’ and he does any way – lots of play with the ‘BBM (body betrayed me) trope where the heroine says no but her body says yes)
- implied infidelity – the hero goes with his mistress and is seen kissing her after he is with the heroine
- hero calls the heroine a bitch multiple times and doesn’t believe her/let her talk – super abusive. Is physically cruel to he and hurts her – I believe there is a kiss where he makes her bleed because he’s so harsh
- domestic violence between both the mains – hitting, slapping, throwing things, spitting in his face, holding her down, etc
- hero is a child of rape and it’s remembered on page by his mother (not extreme details)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex: No
Pg 128 – kiss
Pg 157 - 🔥kisses, fingering for her, sex in front of the fire (virginity loss for her)
Pg 205 – 🔥kisses that lead to missionary
Pg 260 – kiss
Pg 291 – 🔥blow job in the carriage
Pg 300 – brief description of lovemaking
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Hero Jerk Scale: 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person mostly from the heroine though there are a couple small sections from the hero
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, two years later
Format: bought 1985 paperback version
Should I read in order?
I believe this is a stand alone.
Basic plot:
A trail of circumstances lead Jewel to marrying the cousin of the cold Earl of Moorland – and when her husband passes, she goes for her inheritance...
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian (1841)
- London and English countryside setting
- you’re okay with plenty of heavy content warnings/old school feels (see bottom of review)
- body betrayed me trope
- touch of bargain – the hero agrees to acknowledge the heroine’s marriage to his since passed cousin, clothe her and feed her and in return she becomes a lady and annoys his mother (whom he hates)
- age gap – hero is 14-15 years older than the heroine
- widower/Earl hero
- rags to riches – heroine was raised on the streets of London and is turned into a lady
- child in the story (not a HUGE part)
- class difference
- touch of 'ugly duckling' feel
- lower to medium steam – 3 full scenes – not the MOST descriptive but explicit enough
Ages:
- Hero is 31, heroine is 16/17 ( I had to pretend she was older 😬 )
First line:
“You, Jool, get yer arse movin’ and do as yer bid! Now! Or, by God, I’ll...”
My thoughts:
Oof this one ended up being a definite jerk hero! I actually really loved the first half of the book – I was flying through it and enjoying and liking both characters.
But the second half had a big turn around in the characters behavior. It was a bit too much for me – Sebastian was too much of a jerk and his redemption left more to be desired, in my opinion. Jewel too made me quite mad at the end of the story. I was a bit surprised with the ending of the story and I liked the first half so I give 3 stars. The cover is gorgeous! Thinking I wouldn’t reread this one though.
Going to get into specifics now about my thoughts so marking for spoilers!
So the first half of the book I got into – the hero was cruel, sure, but I can like that if he turns it around or it kicks my heart around a bit. I was starting to care for both of them when Sebastian takes Jewel’s virginity. The consent is definitely questionable, but she’s willing. The way he treats her afterwards was horrendous. He cruelly leaves her in the country and makes sure she knows she’s nothing to him. And you know, I could even get behind that – Sebastian is so emotionally constipated and he caught the feels from Jewel so he has to run…
But then he sends her for her and brings her to London. He’s decided to make her his mistress. And this leads to the second half the book where I got so annoyed. You go through all of this emotional turmoil where he just treats her like garbage and the heroine hates him but still can’t resist him. Definitely themes of my body betrayed me trope, which I know is a common old school tool, but it’s just so icky to me. I hate the ‘brain fog’ that they go through – it gives me zero feels especially when it’s hatred before and after the kisses/intimate act. So you get to deal with that the second half the book. He calls her a whore and treats her like a whore and even though he took her virginity – he makes sure she knows he believes she’s been a whore on the street for multiple men since she was a child (which….eww. She IS a child STILL!)
BUT! BUT! What REALLY pissed me off about this one is Sebastian – who doesn’t talk about any of his feelings basically the whole book – has this entire monologue at the end where he just magically explains everything. He apologizes for what he did – and you find out that HE KNEW Jewels was a virgin that night. This is a million times worse to me. The fact that he knew he took her virginity then purposefully did everything he did is beyond disgusting to me. And we get no emotional turmoil for the most part – it’s just a magical turn around of the hero’s behavior.
Also a note: The hero points out and is aware of the heroine’s age – at one point he stops a sexual encounter because he draws the line at making love to inebriated little girls
Jewels I liked for the most part, until the end of the book. She just can’t get Sebastian out of her head even though it’s the most toxic AF relationship I’ve seen and wants him so badly – so she starts to entertain marriage to another man. I thought this was fine in the plot – except when you find out she purposefully is leading this man on and has no intention of marrying him and just wants to make Sebastian jealous. Definitely lowered my opinion of her especially when she goes so far as to plan a gretna green getaway within 24 hours – the fact that she never plans on following through with it made her a jerk to me too.
Of course we find out the man she was considering marriage to is a dick as well and tries to rape her….sigh…..
The other thing that was kind of weird was Sebastian’s daughter! She’s in the story, then she’s basically neglected for a large portion of it which is horrendously sad and horrible. Then she’s back as a brief plot point and then again neglected and ignored….and then she’s back again….I feel like this book needed to be more solidly put together. It could have really used the relationship with the child more and made it all feel more complete. Instead it seemed to jump from drama to drama and the child was just some weird plot prop when needed.
The worst part too was at the end of the book – Jewel has been strong the whole book, fighting Sebastian, putting him in his place (for the most part) and then when Sebastian has his heart to heart with her, she changes her mind and says she’s okay with being his mistress. Ummmmm WHAT?? It’s like she’s a different person. We go through this entire story and then she just is okay with something she hasn’t been okay with EVER and has fought tooth and nail….where’d your backbone go??? I’m guessing it was used as more of a point to try to show how AMAZING the hero was – he not only apologized but now is going to marry her EVEN THOUGH HE HAS THE OPTION TO JUST FUCK HER. Wow. What a hero here!!
Though, he does cry in the book and that made me VERY HAPPY. More heroes need to cry over their heroines especially a guy like this. So I ate that up.
I know, all this complaining and still 3 stars? I guess I’m just a toxic asshole too 😂
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:
Oof.
“Good. I want to hurt you.” The gutteral mutter was not his voice. Julia writhed, trying to pull her arms free of his paralyzing grip. Suddently, this man was frightening her. The icy mask was gone, shattered into a thousand pieces. In its place was a tortured twisted mortal man in pain himself and capable of inflicting pain. “I’ll enjoy hurting you.”
Content warnings:
- physical violence and assault
- sexual harassment and attempted sexual assault multiple times of heroine
- ‘gypsy’ used
- scenes of smoking
- toxic AF family
- murder
- child trauma resulting in selective mutism
- scenes of alcoholism/alcohol abuse
- nonconsensual/dubious consent – lots of forced kisses, scenes of the heroine saying ‘don’t’ and he does any way – lots of play with the ‘BBM (body betrayed me) trope where the heroine says no but her body says yes)
- implied infidelity – the hero goes with his mistress and is seen kissing her after he is with the heroine
- hero calls the heroine a bitch multiple times and doesn’t believe her/let her talk – super abusive. Is physically cruel to he and hurts her – I believe there is a kiss where he makes her bleed because he’s so harsh
- domestic violence between both the mains – hitting, slapping, throwing things, spitting in his face, holding her down, etc
- hero is a child of rape and it’s remembered on page by his mother (not extreme details)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
Pg 128 – kiss
Pg 157 - 🔥kisses, fingering for her, sex in front of the fire (virginity loss for her)
Pg 205 – 🔥kisses that lead to missionary
Pg 260 – kiss
Pg 291 – 🔥blow job in the carriage
Pg 300 – brief description of lovemaking
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥 (there are some additional short/vague scenes so it might feel hotter to others)
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
Cliffhanger: No
Format: borrowed audiobook from Hoopla
Should I read in order?
I did read book 1 and don’t think it’s necessary to read in order here.
Basic plot:
After Grace saves Dylan’s life, he hasn’t been able to get her out of his head. When their paths cross again, he finds an opportunity to have her stay with him as his daughter’s governess.
Give this a try if you want:
- Late Georgian (1832)
- London and country setting
- musically inclined mains
- widow/governess heroine
- child in the story
- lower steam – 1 full scene but some additional shorter/vague scenes
My thoughts:
I wanted to love this one so badly! I really enjoyed the first book of the series. But this one was a trial for me to get through and overall I wasn’t a big fan.
I didn’t find myself liking either character for the most part, but especially the hero. It’s a bit of a heavier book to me – the hero deals with thoughts of suicide and really suffered from mood swings. The heroine has a lot of emotional baggage from her past.
We through in a child in the story, which isn’t my favorite on a good day, and I found the relationship itself got a bit lost for me in all of this.
There were a few really cute/sweet scenes I appreciated. And I definitely got my heart engaged a bit at the end with the all is lost moment – but ultimately this happened at the VERY END of the book and I had to slog through it to get there. And the fact that it was all happening at the very end made their HEA feel unsatisfying to me. It left me doubting that everything was resolved with them. Overall this is not one I would reread or return to.
Content warnings:
- hero faces thoughts of suicide with an almost scene on page
- hero suffers from insomnia and tinnitus as a result from a horse accident
- mention of the hero possibly having tons of bastards
- heroine was in a bit of an emotionally abusive relationship with her husband
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:Can't recall if anything is mentioned but I don't believe so - they are having an affair and are not married
8% - kiss
25% - kiss
45% - kisses
63% - kiss
79% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her, her on top
83% - remembrance of scenes together (too short/vague to count)
85% - very short and vague scene
Readability: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥 (there are some additional short/vague scenes so it might feel hotter to others)
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
Cliffhanger: No
Format: borrowed audiobook from Hoopla
Should I read in order?
I did read book 1 and don’t think it’s necessary to read in order here.
Basic plot:
After Grace saves Dylan’s life, he hasn’t been able to get her out of his head. When their paths cross again, he finds an opportunity to have her stay with him as his daughter’s governess.
Give this a try if you want:
- Late Georgian (1832)
- London and country setting
- musically inclined mains
- widow/governess heroine
- child in the story
- lower steam – 1 full scene but some additional shorter/vague scenes
My thoughts:
I wanted to love this one so badly! I really enjoyed the first book of the series. But this one was a trial for me to get through and overall I wasn’t a big fan.
I didn’t find myself liking either character for the most part, but especially the hero. It’s a bit of a heavier book to me – the hero deals with thoughts of suicide and really suffered from mood swings. The heroine has a lot of emotional baggage from her past.
We through in a child in the story, which isn’t my favorite on a good day, and I found the relationship itself got a bit lost for me in all of this.
There were a few really cute/sweet scenes I appreciated. And I definitely got my heart engaged a bit at the end with the all is lost moment – but ultimately this happened at the VERY END of the book and I had to slog through it to get there. And the fact that it was all happening at the very end made their HEA feel unsatisfying to me. It left me doubting that everything was resolved with them. Overall this is not one I would reread or return to.
Content warnings:
- hero faces thoughts of suicide with an almost scene on page
- hero suffers from insomnia and tinnitus as a result from a horse accident
- mention of the hero possibly having tons of bastards
- heroine was in a bit of an emotionally abusive relationship with her husband
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
8% - kiss
25% - kiss
45% - kisses
63% - kiss
79% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her, her on top
83% - remembrance of scenes together (too short/vague to count)
85% - very short and vague scene