Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥 (I wouldn’t even count this as a flame but there is a mention of sex with zero details)
Humor: Not much
Perspective: First person from Hyperion/Hades
Cliffhanger: Yes. I suppose the story could end here but it definitely feels like there’s more to come
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read a print book sent by the author

Should I read in order?
Yes – this is the first book of the series, but definitely leaves off on a cliffhanger and should be read in order.

Basic plot:
Hyperion wills a vision to come true of him and Persephone living in love and happiness.

Give this a try if you want:
- Hades/Persephone retelling
- YA feel – it has some dark elements but none of it is too gory
- Low steam – there is mention of sex and kisses but all events are about 1 sentence long with no details
- Hades POV
- A different take on Hades story

First line:
It began in 1690 with a Pomegranate Flower.

My thoughts:
This is a quick read, and definitely fun if you are into mythology retellings. I think I had a different direction in mind for the book so I struggled a touch with it.

The things I loved:
- Loved that it was all from Hyperion/Hades point of view!
- Enjoyed the emotional pull from Hades and everything he was going through
- Liked that this retelling felt a bit different from others I have tried

Things that didn’t work the best for me:
- I was expecting more Hades/Persephone time but Persephone is hardly in the story
- There was a lot of raw emotion without the background build up – the page count is low so the character depth wasn’t strongly developed and I wanted to understand more of the character’s backgrounds
- I was hoping for more romance?

Overall I think I got in my own head for this one about what I was expecting. Still it was a quick and decent read and I would consider reading more of the series when it’s published.

Content warnings:

- Infertility
- Spell casting
- Animal death (purposefully killing a moth for a spell)
- Deceived intimacy/rape – Hyperion changes his form to that of a king and has sex with the queen the claim the child (there are no details)
- Implied eating of corpses

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
Pg 30 – kiss (short)
Pg 35 – kiss (short)
Pg 48 – a mention that he laid with her
Pg 62 – Hyperion drinks a vial of blood and changes to the body of a king and lays with a queen to claim her child (short)
Total pages: 137 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: First person from both hero and heroine with alternating chapters
Cliffhanger: No, it ends on a HEA for the couple, but it does leave off on a bit of a cliffhanger for the plot/storyline
Epilogue: Yes, soon after the end of the story
Format: audiobook checked out from hoopla

Should I read in order?
Yes – these couples and the world is built over the course of the series. As a stand alone you will have a lot of references to prior books and a lot of characters you won’t know.

Basic plot:
Maddie is ready to have a one night stand to get over her loneliness and chooses Hassen

Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- Alien setting – the whole book takes place on an alien planet
- primitive setting (contemporary times but humans are stranded on the planet)
- survival themes
- one night stand/fuck buddy
- full figured heroine
- virgin hero/never been kissed
- touch of enemies to lovers in the beginning
- forbidden love feel – the hero kidnapped the heroine’s sister in a previous story

My thoughts:
Going into this book I didn’t know what to expect – I try to space them out so they don’t feel redundant to me, so I didn’t remember in detail Maddie from the prior book. I think if I had heard what this book would feature – instead of a fated mates feel it has more of a one night stand theme between them – I would have thought I wouldn’t like it much.

But this one ended up being one of my favorites of the series so far!

I really enjoyed this entire story. I loved that they were both kind of outcasts in the tribe – Maddie having not adjusted to alien life the best and being very outspoken and Hassen being banished due to kidnapping Maddie’s sister in the prior book. I loved that they were alone together for most of the book – the time where most of the tribe is off hunting and gathering was just such a sweet way for them to spend time together. I ended up loving Maddie and her fierceness and finding her strength. I adored Hassen and how (as always) protective and gentle he was with Maddie.

I also actually liked that they didn’t resonate right away. It was interesting see them work towards a relationship and I didn’t really know how it would play out.

This one did lead to some interesting planet developments and made me way more eager to continue with the series – I am really curious what will happen. I think the first 8 books could feel really repetitive if you read them close together.

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

Quotes/thoughts:

“You wish me to mate with you? I accept.”
---
The control I have been struggling with disappears in an instant. I surge forward, covering her body with mine. She opens her thighs wide, welcoming me, and her arms go around my neck. My mouth lands on hers and we are kissing again, lips feverish as I press my cock against her entrance.
If she does not want me to be controlled, I will not be.
If she does not want me to be patient, I will be an animal with her.
 

Content warnings:

- Some scenes of danger/violence with animal attacks
- Scenes of killing, eating and using animals
- Earthquake/volcanic eruption that results in death
- Some negative self talk about her plus size body by the heroine

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
Safe sex? 

No but it’s a primitive setting all about baby making 

 
21% - 🔥 kisses, cock touches, blow job (incomplete), breast play, fingering for her, sex in the storage room
39% - 🔥 fingering for her, him standing behind her while they worry about being caught in the hunting cave
53% - 🔥 fingering for her, missionary
78% - 🔥 blow job (complete)
86% - 🔥 oral for her, missionary
88% - beginning of another scene but fades 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, 10 years later
Format: audiobook checked out on Hoopla

Should I read in order?
Ideally yes, though this book could be read after the others in the series as it was written later. (This is the prequel novel for Braden’s Rescued from Ruin series)

Basic plot:
Robert returns to London to find a wife and meets Annabelle, who he thought was left in the past.

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency time period - 1816
- London setting
- unrequited love – from both!
- brother’s best friend
- disability rep – hero has a damaged leg that pains him and uses a cane
- artist heroine
- secret writer
- bit of a murder mystery but lots of character focus at the same time
- medium steam – 3 full scenes and some kisses
- hero wants a wife


Ages:
- I have notes that the heroine is 20, hero is 25 but this may have been in the prologue, which was 1809 (so for the main story, I’d guess about 27 for the heroine and 32 for the hero)

First line:

Lady Annabelle Huxley had loved Robert Conrad for an entire thirteen years of life, yet in all that time she had never imagined him naked.


My thoughts:
Ohhhhh this book just checked allllll my boxes I was in the mood for. I adore hero pursues, and when Robert gets his priorities straight with Annabelle I was absolutely swooning in his courting.

The tension in this one was soooo good to me. This was the first time I have listened to Mary Sarah as a narrator and she’s definitely my favorite (I was talking to someone else that said she has terrible narrator reviews! Well I’m here to say I love her!!!) Her heroine voice was perfect to me, but her hero voice as well I just adored. She does that growly whisper just so good (to me), and something about it reminded me of Captain Vane from Black Sails, who can read me a story ANY TIME.

Anyway, lots of longing and angst in this one and the sexual tension was so strong for me. I just adored these two so, so much. The suspenseful part I was on the edge of my seat. I was just rooting for these two the entire book and I adored the whole story. This will absolutely be a reread for me and is my favorite by Braden that I’ve read so far (Books .5, 1, 2, and 3 of Rescued from Ruin and book 1 of Midnight in Scotland). As I went through my bookmarks in the audio to actually write the review, I found myself just relistening to so many favorite parts. I just adored this book so much!

My only complaint, was there was a point towards the beginning of the book when Robert and Annabelle were reconnected and he thought

Warriors did not go hungry. Warriors saw what they wanted and fought to claim it.

but then we come to find he’s about to run away from London! He ends up staying, but this was the only part of the book that disappointed me 😆

Endearments:

Hero calls the heroine ‘bumblebee’

Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts: These are taken from audio and any grammar mistakes are my own

Seconds later, it twisted and yanked from her grip.
“Do not bloody well run from me.” He reached for her. She shoved his arm away. He grunted, but rather than retreat, he advanced. Moved inside the tiny space. Closed the door behind him, forcing her back against the closet’s wall and trapping them both inside utter blackness.
“Is that very clear, Annabelle?” The growl was low and throaty now, near enough to tickle her skin. She could not see him, but she felt him, felt his arm brace on the wall by her ear. Felt his breath wash against her cheek. Felt his heat and size surrounding her like a furnace.
“Never run from me,” he rasped, “I will always catch you.”
---
“What do you want? Do you want me on my knees?”
He groaned, long and pained. His head came down to rest upon her shoulder. The cool strands of his hair tickling her bare neck. “Yes,” he whispered. “Yes, I do.”
---
“You drive me mad,” he growled. His cheeks were flushed, his eyes mirror bright, his wondrous lips swollen. “Need a taste.”
---
“Say you’re mine, love,” his growl rippled against her ear as his fingers circled and slid between her folds.
“Say you’ll be my wife.”
Her heart pounded. She couldn’t catch her breath. What was he doing to her?
“Robert?”
“Say yes, and I’ll make you come again.” He didn’t sound like himself. He sounded growly and hoarse. Rough. It made her want him more.
“Oh, god, Robert.” His name was one long moan. She hooked an ankle behind his good leg. “I need you.”
“Damned right you do.”
---
“Or shall I leave you like this? Starving for a meal you’ll never have?”
“No, please.”
“Marry me, Annabelle. Be my wife.”
---
“Where were you?” he growled. “Tell me.” His lips claimed her throat, trailing suckling kisses down and down and down.
 

Content warnings:

- scenes of some danger, pain, recovery, depression, gun violence and death
- leg injury that results in disability and pain years later
- infant death

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
Safe sex: 

I don't believe anything is mentioned but they are married and monogamous 

 
33% - kisses
38% - really tension filled partial without any true kisses
43% - 🔥kiss to distract, breast play, fingering for heroine while he begs her to be his wife
68% - kisses
77% - 🔥kisses that lead to fingering and oral for her, missionary
85% - kisses
99% - 🔥kisses and missionary outdoors 

 

Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes! So many funny parts
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, some months later
Format: mix between e-book checked out through hoopla and audiobook checked out through hoopla

Should I read in order?
Maybe, yes? Book 1 is Lady Derring Takes a Lover and I did find myself wondering if I would have a bit more knowledge of the The Grand Palace on the Thames and the characters if I had started there. It’s definitely readable alone though!

Basic plot:
Lucien needs a place to stay and he finds a room at The Grand Palace on the Thames is perfect, almost as perfect as it’s proprietor...

Give this a try if you want:
- London setting
- Regency (my assumption)
- widow heroine with a mysterious past
- working women – heroine owns a boarding house
- prodigal hero returns (from the dead)
- medium steam – 2 full scenes (one flame I combined together with 2 acts)
- lovely banter and dialogue
- hilarious scenes and lovable side characters
- angsty!

Ages:
- Hero is 33, heroine is 29 (nearly 30)

My thoughts:
This book was a really pleasant read. I haven’t read much by Long, but I really loved her writing style in this one. There were quite a few lines I found swoony and poetic, and the humor in this one was really great!

I did get a touch bored in the middle of the book, and I did wish for a bit more tension – there was a bit of instalust at play here and I didn’t feel much when they got into their first kiss or bedroom scene together. The first kiss kind of felt like it was out of nowhere to me.

The ending though, I really loved. I thought the whole thing was gripping – So many sweet parts from the agonizing all is lost moment, to the way Angelique makes it up to Lucien. Definitely made me more eager to try more by Long – and definitely go back and read the first book in the series. 😆

Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts: (I wrote these from audio so any grammar mistakes are my own)

“I think the fact that the Grand Palace on the Thames is thriving is proof enough that miracles happen, Lord Bolt.”
“I think,” he mused, “your bottom lip is a miracle.”
---
She shifted to move against him. She threaded her fingers up through his hair, and just like that, for moments or dragging, glorious eons, that kiss went dangerously carnal. He kisses her as though her bare legs were already hooked over his shoulders and the mattress was squeaking beneath them. He was tempted to furl her dress and yank open his trouser buttons, and he thought for an instant, “Yes. Yes, we can do this in twenty seconds. So what if someone comes upon us?”

Content warnings:

- Hero’s step mother arranged to have him kidnapped and imprisoned on a clipper ship

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
32% - kiss
59% - 🔥kisses, her on top on the chaise lounge
72% - 🔥kisses, missionary then followed by another scene of her on top
94% - mention of having lots of sex 

 

Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person from both heroines
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: No
Format: a very old advanced reader copy in e-book form that I’ve let languish on my kindle for years

Should I read in order?
I don’t see this listed as a series on goodreads, but I believe its the first of a series. (Her Countess to Cherish features a side character from this novel).

Basic plot:
Jacquie and Nora strike a bargain – Nora will get Jacquie invitations if she can help set up her up with a husband.

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency time period (1813)
- London setting
- Lots of balls and social gatherings
- F/F pairing
- low to mid steam – 2 full scenes but they were a touch on the short side. Walsh’s scenes are explicit enough that you know what is happening but were a touch on the flowery side for prose and ended a bit abruptly for me
- touch of instalust
- forbidden love
- you’re okay with scenes of other woman/other man jealousy

Ages:
- Jacquie is 26, Nora is 25

First line:
Miss Jacqueline Lockhart stood at the edge of the ballroom with her dearest friend and only true confidante, Miss Beatrice Everson.

My thoughts:
Overall I think this was a sweet story, but it had focus on a couple things I’m not a big fan of in romance so it ended up not being a favorite for me.

Jacque is delightful – she has this bright and energetic personality and she came off as one of those people you just cannot help but enjoy when you are around them. She lights up a room. This is her sixth London season as her parents are really hoping to use her good looks to gain them a title and bring them up in society.

Lady Nora has good society connections but her shyness impedes her social interactions. Jacquie helps bring her out of her shell and she really blossoms with a friendship together.

This is a really cute story – it does have a bit of instalust between the mains, but they hold off a bit by striking a bargain. Jacquie will help secure Nora a husband and Nora will invite Jacquie to all the best society parties. This results in what becomes a friendship until passion is acted upon. I really loved both heroines!

There were quite a few scenes of other woman/other man jealousy and drama that I don’t really get into. Some scenes of cattiness and just general judgments of society made it more of a heavy read for me. So while I maybe wouldn’t reread this one, I would definitely try more by Walsh :) I did like the ending but would have really loved an epilogue.


Content warnings:

- painful breakup remembered by Jacquie
- homophobia and the mention of safe houses for LGBT members and the death of men for loving men
- family disowns heroine after finding out she has lesbian rumors

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
55% - kiss
58% - kisses, Nora fingerings Jacquie, then oral for Nora
64% - kiss
67% - kisses, Jacquie fingers Nora during the Vauxhall fireworks 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
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 (And some scenes from the heroine’s nephew)
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy in e-book form

Should I read in order?
This is Laura Linn’s debut!

Basic plot:
Still mourning the loss of his wife, Gabriel retires to the country with his daughter and meets the most enticing bluestocking...

Give this a try if you want:
- Late Regency time period – 1826
- Mostly country setting – the duke returns to his country seat for majority of the book
- Children in the story – Nora is 11, Zach is 14
- Widower Duke hero/widowed heroine
- Marriage of necessity
- Scientist heroine – she loves meteorology
- Hero nurses heroine back to health
- Emotionally strong hero (hero cries)
- Tall hero/short heroine
- Protective hero
- LGBT positive
- Left-handed hero
- Fainting goats!
- Mains in their 30s
- Super sweet love story!
- Lower steam – 2 full scenes towards the end
- Slower burn
- Great humor and memorable characters – the side characters were especially fun as well and really helped bring the story to life

Ages:
- Heroine is 35, hero is 37

First line:
Gabriel Anson, fifth Duke of Northam, had always thought of death as a singular moment in time.

My thoughts:
This story was just lovely. Truly, I adored Linn’s writing style so, so much. I am very excited for her debut, but also sad there are no more novels by Linn for me to cherish!

The goat farmer and the Duke...Gabriel is such a sweet hero. He loves hard and even though the death of his wife was years ago, he is still suffering. He’s so protective and gentle with his daughter and so heart meltingly tender with Violet. I thought his character was done such justice coming into a second love.

Violet is also such a special character. She’s been through so much an as you peel away her layers and her background is revealed, I just loved her more and more. Gabriel and her are one of those couples that just make your heart sing – they are perfect for each other.

The side characters in this one were especially memorable – feisty, funny, and added a lovely dimension to the book. I found myself smiling a lot in this story. Absolutely adored this read and eager for more to come from Linn!

Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:

It’s just fun!

He nodded. “Well, Miss Evans.”
“Missus,” she corrected.
“Mrs. Evans, it’s been a delight meeting you, and I will leave you to your…” he trailed off.
“To my psychrometer,” she offered.
“Yes. Your psychrometer.”
---
Like a child careening back and forth on a wooden nursery horse, Violet was unbalanced by rapidly shifting emotions as they lurched in quick succession between annoyance at being left waiting, and delight at the sight of his warm, interested expression. Then he smiled and she was completely disarmed. Gabriel was clad in a sky blue, superfine wool waistcoat, crisp, snowy-white shirt sleeves that had been rolled to the elbow, and trousers the colour of chocolate. They hugged his lean, muscular thighs like a second skin. There was no topcoat in sight. A few confident, rolling steps had eliminated the distance between them. She was staring. Her brain screamed at her to find a new occupation for her eyes but there was some kind of language barrier between her better judgement and her disobedient retinas. Eyes away! Say something intelligent! But what came out was, “Did you know that only one-sixth of the eye is visible?” Abort! Not that intelligent! Mortified, she reached to cover the blush that burned, melting into her freckled cheeks.
---
“What am I to do, Keene?” Gabriel sat up and scrubbed his face with his hands. “MARRY. HER.” He enunciated each syllable as if Gabriel was a small child., who had repeatedly blown by the most obvious answer to a painfully simple question. “A debilitated drunkard could solve this quandary. Marry her, claim the boy, and crush the baron’s testicles under the heel of your ducal boot. Problem solved. Can I have an increase in salary?”
---
Gabriel set the cup on the table and took her hand in both of his. “Did I want to kiss you at the beach?” Raising her hand, he tipped her palm to his mouth and kissed the soft centre. “On the beach.” His lips lingered, brushing her skin as he continued to speak. “By the goat fence.” His bravery fled, eyelashes drifting closed against the sight of her parted lips and sensation of her soft skin pressed into his hand. “Right now.” Gabriel's heart thrashed against his ribcage. What he had intended as a reassuring declaration had become a flare of unguarded intimacy.
---
He forcibly relaxed his shoulders, “Very well. I’ll have my kiss now.” Violet tipped on her toes but no amount of neck straining or extending of muscles would bring her lips any higher than his chin, which was apparently not her destination. Gabriel remained stretched to the full extent of his height, smiling as Violet gave a little hop, landing again on the balls of her feet. She gave an annoyed ‘harrumph”. “You are a terrible thief,” Gabriel said. “Well, it’s not as if you’re helping my endeavor!” “If I am to play the damsel, I don’t believe it’s my job to make your thieving especially effortless.” Violet's hand shot out, tightening around a fistful of his shirt front and easing him well within reach of her lips. “Not such a terrible thief now, am I?” What she had stolen was his ability to breathe.
---
“Kiss me every place your fingers touched. Kiss me with your lips and your tongue and your breath. Love me with your mouth.”
 

Content warnings:

- Grief for a wife and mother’s death, infant death, childbirth death
- Mention of heroine’s nephew experiencing abuse and ableism – his parents were going to send their ‘deaf and dumb’ son away to asylum
- Some mentions of toxic masculinity (view spoiler)
- Physical assault and abduction of a child on page
- Implied and remembered (on page) repeated sexual assault by heroine’s step father

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
Safe sex: 

No but they are married and monogamous 

 
38% (pg 76/195) – hero masturbation (short)
51% (Pg 101/195) – brief kiss
54% (Pg 107/195) – kiss
78% (Pg 154/195) – kisses
82% (Pg 161/95) – 🔥 hero encourages the heroine to touch herself
86% (Pg 169/195) – kisses
93% (Pg 182/195) – 🔥 fingering for her, missionary (V loss for her) 

 

 Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and the heroine
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, 6 years later
Format: voluntarily chose to read an advanced reader copy in e-book form

Should I read in order?
This is book 2 of the Flower Sisters – you can grab the beginning prequel novella for free as a newsletter grab but I don’t think it’s super necessary to read in order if you don’t want to. Alex and Fern (book 1’s characters) make some brief appearances but the book’s focus is very much on the main couple. (And I don’t recall much character development in book 1 for Henry, though he does make an appearance.

Basic plot:
Henry wants to give his friend an adventure and Ellie is ready for some fun after finally exiting mourning from a bad marriage end – pretending to be a married couple gives them freedom to explore Italy.

Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian/Edwardian time period (1901 and some flashbacks to 1896)
- Italy setting!
- Epistolary
- Artist hero
- Widow heroine
- Tall hero/short heroine pairing (hero has to almost stoop to take her arm to walk)
- Friends to lovers
- A couple that laughs together and fun banter
- Bespectacled heroine (And the hero cleans them which is so sweet because my husband does that for me all the time!)
- Unrequited love (from both!)
- You are okay with quite a bit of time jumps
- Sex lessons
- curvy/plump heroine
- medium to high steam - 4-5 scenes depending how you count

Ages:
- Heroine is 24/25? Hero is 30

First line:
“I’m not letting you get off this boat until you agree to marry me.”

My thoughts:
This book! This book! As I started this book, honestly I wasn’t sure I would get into it. I noticed some time jumps in be beginning between the hero and heroine’s past and I got a bit of a stubborn look on my face that I wasn’t going to be into this.

As I got to know Henry, he was a bit, well, chaotic. A bit unpredictable. A touch unreliable and slightly down on himself. And I didn’t love him immediately.

And Moore took these things, these things I didn’t think I would like and she wrecked me with them.

She made me love them.

As the time jumps caught up with present day I had an ache in my heart, the best kind, and I was lost in this angsty ‘all is lost’ moment that I just eat up in romance.

There was so much I absolutely adored about this book. I loved that it took us to Italy (can we go there more often in historical romance???). I adored the fake relationship fun. I loved that we got to see Henry and Ellie’s relationship grow over time by snippets of the past, and came full circle to get a rounded relationship with great character depth. I LOVED that they spent the whole book together. I loved that it was character and relationship focused without a mystery or villain to take away from their focus. I adored their banter. I was touched by the representation of Henry’s mental state and the author’s notes on the topic. The ending was perfection.

I mean really, this book just took my heart and ran with it.

It far exceeded any expectations I had for it and I fell utterly in love. Definitely, definitely, eager for more from Moore.

Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:

She opened her mouth to speak but Henry spoke first. “Greatest fear?” he asked, his voice low.
Being rejected by you.
Being forgotten by you.
 

Content warnings:

- Parent with dementia
- Some possible feelings of infidelity
- Infertility
- Abusive marriage (the heroine’s prior marriage)
- Scene of purposeful fatfobic comments from a dick side character (don’t worry the hero takes care of him!)

Author given content warnings: 

This book deals with issues of depression, anxiety, emotional abuse and related trauma, and infertility. While love will conquer all in the end, this book will not end with a miracle baby or love magically curing mental illness. While romance should be an escape I do not believe in ignoring the realities of the lives women lead in our world.

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
Safe sex: 

Hero mentions using protection in the past (he has slept around to avoid dealing with his emotions/mental state) and it’s discussed during sex but no available so he pulls out 

 
32%-ish - 🔥 there’s a scene where Ellie is having sexy dreams and she’s in bed with Henry after imbibing the night before that is a tension filled partial but nothing actually happens between them. Henry then masturbates (present day)
36% - mistletoe kiss (flash back)
52% - kisses
56% - 🔥kisses, fingering/oral for her
64% - 🔥kisses, oral for her, lavender oil used, missionary
71% - 🔥oral for her on a writing desk bench with mirror play, her on top (hero pulls out into his hand)
74% - her on top (it’s a bit short) 

 

Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Intimate Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: First person from only the heroine Taryn
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, 1 year later
Format: purchased e-book

Should I read in order?
This is a stand alone alien novella (and Russo’s debut? I think?)

Basic plot:
After a break up, Taryn meets some interesting strangers at Chimera Con.

Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- Earth setting
- MMFF dynamics
- cryptozoologist heroine
- telepathy
- higher steam – 4 scenes in a shorter page count with some kink elements

Ages:
- Taryin is 31 in the epilogue (so 29/30 for the story), not sure about others

My thoughts:
Woohoo, my first MMFF romance and I really enjoyed it! This is a shorter novel that packs a nice steam punch and some tantalizing alien aspects.

Being a shorter novel, this doesn’t have a ton of character depth to it, and most of the book takes place on Earth. I would have loved a bit more details on the alien planet and I wanted a more concrete epilogue I think but overall this one was super fun.

I loved the first bedroom scene together but the way it cut into the scene prior it felt like a page break was missing or something. I had to reread those couple pages a few times to find my bearings. Other than that the characters were fun, I enjoyed the plot, and am definitely going to be trying more from Russo.

 Cock/Hero Stats:

- both Wes and Aiden are shape shifters
-Aiden is maybe mid 30s looking in human form, chiseled face, sandy blond hair, hazel eyes. When Aiden shows Taryn another alien form, he looks like the ‘classic’ aliens from Earth pop culture – the enormous eyes, unblinking...
- Sara is a different alien species and in human form has cotton candy pink hair and lavender irises. In her alien form she’s alabaster and at least 7 feet tall. She has angular features that give her a stone like appearance and a long graceful neck and is bald. (She uses a special form of alien technology to take human form)
- Wes has bright blond hair and blue eyes in human form 

  Content warnings:

- Heroine’s boyfriend of 5 years breaks up with her over text

Author given content warnings: 

End of five-year-relationship at the start of the book, deception, needles, blood, aliens, graphic sexual content, space travel, light bdsm/soft dom, polyamory, shitty corporate bosses 

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
Safe sex? 

Condoms used, birth control mentioned 

 
29% - 🔥breast play, fingering for Taryn by Sara then oral while Wes gives Aiden a blow job (incomplete), wall sex between Aiden and Taryn, then Wes joins in for DP
55% - Taryn/Wes kiss
64% - 🔥Sara/Taryin kisses, shower play, pet/care taker play (levels of dominance/submission), nipple play/clamps, oral for her
77% - 🔥oral for Taryn by Wes
84% - 🔥sex between Aiden and Taryn 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: There’s quite a few perspectives here including Lock, Deep, Kat, the enemy of the prior book (who is the hero of the next book), and the heroine of the next book, and even prior main characters of the series. It’s written in third person.
Cliffhanger: As far as this main couple, no, it ends with a HEA. But there are still events unfolding from other characters in the book. (the next book's main couple has page time here and their story begins here and feels a bit like a cliffhanger.)
Format: e-book checked out through kindle unlimited

Should I read in order?
Yes! These books really flow together and many of these characters have already had their point of views in prior books and their story has already begun in prior books including some levels of intimacy.

Basic plot:
Kat has a threeway with 2 alien Twin Kindred to find her friend in book 2 and suddenly she’s bonded and doesn’t know if she wants to stay that way

Give this a try if you want:
- Science fiction romance – Earth has a relationship with aliens to help protect them and there is a bride exchange program in place
- Higher technology (future)
- Road trip feel – Earth and alien planets
- heroes nurse heroine back to health
- full figured heroine
- MFM romance
- mental and emotional bonds between the 3 of them
- plenty of dirty talking from the heroes
- SUPER protective/possessive heroes
- toys! A touch of exhibitionism
- lots of ‘all will be lost unless we fuck’ vibes
- higher steam – 5 full scenes that are plenty long and detailed

My thoughts:
I wanted to love this book so, so badly. When I first started it – I did! I thought it was going to be my favorite of the series so far. But, it dwindled for my by about halfway and I left it for a few months. I picked it back up again today and sadly liked the second half even less than the first half.

First – the things I liked. I love that it’s science fiction in third person. Being a long term HistRom reader, I just love third person so much and prefer that writing style. I loved the sex. LOVED. The scenes were really great with plenty of details and explicitness but also lots of focus on the emotion which is what I prefer. This book also had quite a few tropes I really liked.

But...what didn’t work for me. I….cannot stand….a plethora of POVs. I want main characters and that’s it. And in this one there’s a crazy amount of people’s heads your in. Past characters...future characters...bleh it drives me nuts. (This is personal and won’t bother most people!). I also disliked that their story started in a prior book. Yes, I read it, but I love when each book focuses on a couple. So you definitely start this book with their relationship started already.

I had a few issues with the writing style...Anderson’s characters can come off as a bit sarcastic and immature to me. I was also extremely disappointed in Deep in the second half and the little fit he threw. Also I really disliked the twins names and I didn’t like they called Kat “my lady” all the time.

Overall, I think this book is really fun at its heart and has some great sex. If you are in the mood for something a bit ridiculous maybe give this one a try. I personally just got caught up on some things that weren’t for me and I couldn’t get past it.

Cock/Hero Stats:

Twin Kindred come in opposing pairs of light and dark. Both are over 6 feet 6 inches but Lock is shorter by an inch.
Lock is the light twin with blond hair and eyes of melted chocolate. He’s optimistic and generally nicer.

Deep has black hair that looks almost blue and eyes the color of night without stars. He’s more intense and generally more prone to dominance and arguing.

Content warnings:

- A very small level of suicide shaming 

Not that she would ever commit suicide – Kat was a fighter and her grandma hadn’t raised her to quit 

- Some levels of dubious consent – intimacy is required for certain things like finding Kat’s friend in the prior book and healing and even though Kat isn’t 100% on board, she does it.
- There’s a lot of talk/thinking about the heroin’s body and related to her size (example: So many words hovered on her liips – fat, chubby, chunky – insults from a lifetime of being plus sized in a world where skinny women were the ideal.
- Some...whatever this is - ”The ‘big deal’ is that you shouldn’t be showing your body to strangers.” Deep eyed her possessively, making her feel suddenly naked.
- Some rape victim blaming when Kat eats the bonding fruit that will make her horny then her friend leaves her alone and she starts talking to another set of unmated twins ”Why don’t you tell me what you were doing talking to two strange males when I specifically told you what effects the bonding fruit would have on your? Do you want to be raped?
- Kat was raised in an abusive marriage household and it has put her against relationships
- I was pretty disappointed in this whole colonization/racism feel in this scene. It’s a small part but I was just grossed out here. ”Wait a minute – there are natives?” Kat’s heart skipped a beat. “Angry, hostile natives.” Deep, who had been loading their gear spoke up. Kat shook her head. “I don’t understand. Twin moons seems like such a civilized place. How can you have a whole continent of superstitious savages?”/”Remained ignorant savages.” Deep smirked at her. “Ignorant and depraved if you can believe the rumors. It’s said they have the most barbaric sexual habits.”/”Believe me, if you saw them, you wouldn’t think so,” Deep said. “They still live in grass huts and perform sacrifices to their gods on full moon nights. Some even say they practice cannibalism.”

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
9% - 🔥kisses with all 3 of them leading to oral for her from Lock, fingering from Deep
26% - 🔥heroine masturbation
27% - 🔥Deep holds Kat and Lock fucks her with a giant dildo that is “almost” as big as both of them together
44% - 🔥kisses. breast play, oral for her from Deep, missionary with Lock, doggy style with Deep
49% - sex scene between the prior book’s mains
84% - 🔥Kat gives both men blow jobs, Deep goes down on Kat, then they both stick it in individually before fusing together 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both the heroine and hero
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes
% which mains are first on page together: 7%
Format: voluntarily read an advanced review copy of an e-book through netgalley

Should I read in order?
Yes! I started with this one and I felt like their story was already started before I opened the book so I recommend starting at the beginning of the series.

Basic plot:
Mary serves in the league of Highlanders that took her in years ago, searching for the lost Treasure of Arkaig.

Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian time period – 1753
- Jacobite plotline
- bit of a mystery – heroine is on the hunt for gold
- corset making heroine
- whaler hero
- working class romance
- plenty of spy/mystery dialogue and some political intrigue
- second chance romance
- lower steam – I could be off on this but I think it’s just 1 full scene

Ages:
- I think the heroine is 30? (There’s ages mentioned in the prologue and time passes so I’m unsure if I have this correct)

First line:
Men were the problem – or rather, one Frenchman and the kiss he stole from her mother on the deck of a ship.

My thoughts:
Sadly, I didn’t get into this one much. Second chance isn’t my jam and here the two mains have already met and been intimate and I felt like I missed all of my favorite parts of romance.

Much of the plot revolves around some mystery/spy work feel regarding Jacobite gold. There’s some scenes of danger and political intrigue and none of this is really my thing either.

I think if you like a faster paced mystery based romance with light steam, this will be more your thing, but read the series in order as I think it will flow better.

This was my first by Gina Conkle and even though I was disappointed in it I definitely will try another by her and see how I feel :)

Quotes:
“Would you like some wine?” she asked.
“I’m not thirsty for wine.”
But I’m thirsty for you was his message.


Content warnings:

- Heroine’s mother dies of yellow fever
- Some scenes of violence with guns including a gunshot wound
- Missing/abducted sister

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

 
Safe sex: 

I don’t think anything is mentioned 

 
33% - kiss
45% - kiss
59% - 🔥 kisses that lead to missionary
74% - kiss