Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥+
Humor: A touch
Perspective: third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? plot
How did the speed of the story feel? medium to fast
When mains are first on page together: Takes a little bit, about 6% (end of chapter 2)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after for the mains
Epilogue: Yes, within a year of the end of the story
Format: listened to an audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: I started the series forever ago and really enjoyed it and have been meaning to continue!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship

Should I read in order?
I’d say yes. There’s some overlapping character development and plot. I believe all Callaway’s books are set in the same ‘universe’ too.

Basic plot:
Marianne is doing everything she can to find her missing daughter. She gets involved with Ambrose after he’s sent to investigate her

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (book 1 is 1817, this one is a touch after that)
- widow heroine
- policeman hero
- celibate hero (it’s been over a year)
- class difference
- heroine nurses hero back to health
- mystery to solve and villains to overcome
- higher steam – 6ish full scenes

Ages:
- I think the hero is 32, I didn’t catch heroine

First line:
Lady Marianne Draven studied the window display.

My thoughts:
So I am a touch conflicted about this one! I think my expectations were a bit too high for Ambrose after the first couple books. I did enjoy a lot about this one – but I also felt like they kept being apart from each other and it was bothering me. There was animosity between them within the first half and it took awhile for me to become attached to these mains. But eventually I did, and I really loved the way the latter half of this story played out. I am a bigger fan of character driven romances as well so the heavier mystery and villain aspect here took a bit of the romance away from me. But still I overall liked it and definitely will be reading more in the series. (I do think I had a bit of a narrator disconnect with this one which is weird because the same narrator did book 2 – I remember enjoying the narration of that one but I found her voice annoying this time. Maybe it was just a me thing!)

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 3
Average rating: 4.33 stars
Favorite book: Her Wanton Wager

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

- separation from a child – heroine’s child was taken from her by her husband and given to someone else to take care of – this person then sold her child.
- bad marriage (with spouse death)
- scenes of fighting and violence
- murder
- attempted sexual assault on page – the hero interrupts
- physical violence – the heroine is slapped/punched in the face on page by a villain


Author content warnings? Didn’t notice any on the audio version from the library

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:

Safe sex: 

  They talk about safe sex – heroine talks about withdrawal and vinegar rinses, and they use condoms 

How’s the consent? 

  The first kiss is...meant to teach the hero a lesson. She tempts him and when he breaks, she slaps him. So the consent isn’t perfect. 

Pregnancy/children in story? 

  The heroine is a mother and finding her child is a main plot point – no pregnancy of the heroine on page. The epilogue includes him adopting her daughter. 

9% kiss
19% - kiss
34% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her
”Ken,” she gasped, “I’m going to...to…”
“Yes, you are.” His savage look pushed her right to the precipice. “Spend for me. Right now, with your sweet quim against my mouth – let me taste your pleasure.”
43% - 🔥 fingering for her, during him interrogating her, missionary
”Like that, do you?” he growled. “Hard and deep? Will you come with my cock inside you?”
51% - 🔥 sex against the wall
“Your turn.” Though his voice was stern, faint lines fanned from his lips. “Face the wall, Marianne, and let me undress you.”
60% - 🔥 bj to 69
”Put your hands on the headboard, then. And don’t move them until I say so.”
His amber eyes watchful, he reached behind his head, his long fingers curling around two wooden spindles. Eyeing the lean, delicious stretch of him, she felt a warm flutter in her belly.

81% - 🔥 her on top
”Somehow I knew you’d like being on top.” Though his voice was ragged, his lips quirked. “Lean forward, love...you’ll like that even better.”
94% - 🔥 oral for her, missionary
”Alright, love,” he rasped.
“I’m not certain.” The languid twitch of her hips nearly undid him. “You’ll have to fuck me so I can decide.” 

 

Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥 (plus another 🔥 in the bonus epilogue)
Humor: A bit
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: from the beginning
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, one week later. Knight also has an extended epilogue available as a freebie that takes place about 10 months later (the bonus epilogue takes place in Prague which is fun!)
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book format
Why I chose this book: I like Anne Knight’s novels and want to read them all!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine

The door wrenched open.
Eliska stifled a gasp as Theo threw his head inside the carriage. His hair was wild, his chest heaved, and the feral look in his eyes made her heart skitter.
His eyes narrowed on her. “You.” It was an accusation.

Should I read in order?
This is fine alone, though it’s #2 in Knight’s That Scandalous Fairplace Family series.

Basic plot:
Theo tries to protect Eliska from scandal and instead finds her compromised the next morning of the house party...

Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian – 1864
- mostly Warwickshire setting
- English hero and half English/half Austro-Hungarian heroine (she was raised mostly in Prague)
- house party – with games
- compromised heroine
- one room on the train
- he gives her a piggyback ride
- shorter novel
- medium steam – 2 full scenes with some light dom hero and praise (and another in the bonus epilogue)

Ages:
- heroine is 23, hero is 26

First line:
He was drunk.

My thoughts:
Oh, I loved this novella. I found so many things just so dang CUTE in this story. The fun of a house party with games makes me giddy. The little touches and looks across a room. And I don’t think I’ve ever read of a hero giving the heroine a piggy back ride. It was freaking adorable and so playful.

This story was just sweet and fun and had a bit of angst too. Compromised heroine is one of my favorite tropes so I just eat that up! And when Theo chases Eliska down and rips open the door to her train car….gosh I was swooning….just adorable.

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 4
Average rating: 5 stars
Favorite book: Don’t make me pick! Maybe this one? But I also really loved A Lord’s Guide to Mutiny, Marriage and Mistletoe

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

- mention of alcohol usage
- some social bullying
- illness and death remembered (heroine experienced a cholera outbreak that killed her family)
- parental death
- train accident on page

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:

Safe sex: 

  Hero pulls out 

How’s the consent? 

  It’s good 

Pregnancy/children in story? 

  No pregnancy or children in the story 

40% - kiss
75% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her, missionary
”You sat there so demurely, like you didn’t want me. Didn’t want my hands to do this.” He did something exquisite with just the tips of his fingers against the edge between her thighs and her core, then dragged them away.
“Pretending to be such a good girl.” His voice was sin incarnate.
“I am a good girl,” she huffed indignantly.
“Yes, you are,” he agreed, stroking the inside of her quivering thigh. “And good girls do as they’re told, don’t they?”

94% (epilogue) - 🔥 heroine self pleasure, heroine sits on his face oral, her on top
His cock practically leapt in her hand. He forced his voice to remain even. “You liked that game?”
Eliska nodded.
“I’m so glad,” he purred. “Because I was hoping some sweet, biddable girl would come along and please me. Will you be sweet?”
She nodded.
“Will you be biddable?”
She nodded.
“You’ll obey all my commands?” 

 

Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡ (Something broke the tension for me in this one! But initially the build up was really good)
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Not much
Perspective: third person from mostly the hero and heroine (but also from some side characters like the heroine’s brother Julian)
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: immediately
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, one month later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy through NetGalley that I am incredibly late on
Why I chose this book: I made it a goal this month to read through some of my old NetGalley reads I’m behind on – I liked book 1 of the series and was happy to read more in the series.
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine

Should I read in order?
Probably best in order?? Though I do think you can read alone for the romance. There are some overarching themes from book 1 to this book. (but it’s not as overlapping as Maiden Lane!)

Basic plot:
Gideon is getting everything he wants with a forced marriage to Messalina – but what he promises in exchange will jeopardize it all.

Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian romance – 1760
- mostly London setting
- unrequited love from the hero
- forced marriage
- enemies to lovers (on heroine’s side – she hates him)
- antihero
- protective hero
- heroine nurses hero back to health
- pets – heroine gets a puppy from the hero
- medium steam – 3 full scenes

Ages:
- hero is around 30 (mention of an event that happened ten years ago where the hero couldn’t have been over 20), didn’t catch heroine but would guess 20-something...

First line:
There is never a good time to be accosted by highwayman.

My thoughts:
Ugh I was ALL IN with this story in the first third or so. Like I adored everything about it. I was swooning over lines left and right (I have some in my quotes below) and just loved this story.

But...something happened to me with the intimacy in the novel. When it finally came, I was so disappointed in it and it really broke the tension and build up for me. I don’t know what exactly it was – he just wanted her so, so badly. And then when he had her, I think I just lost some kind of emotional piece that I needed during those scenes….and I have read some of her Maiden Lane series so I know she can write those gutting emotional aspects in the bedroom….But the middle really fizzled for me because of this.

I did like the ending though and the all is lost moment really tore me up. So, a lot I really adored about this novel but something prevented it from being perfection to me.

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 7
Average rating: 4 stars
Favorite book: Scandalous Desires

Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize

But Gideon had spent years watching Messalina’s face. He knew he had to prepare both his offense and his defense.
His grip tightened around her upper arm. It was unlikely that she’d run off into the dark streets of London – Messalina was no fool – but the old man was doing his best to provoke her. And Gideon would be damned before he lost her now.
---
“Because, Messalina, I want you, I want your wealth. I want your rank. I want the power and influence your family name will bring me. But most of all?” – He cocked his head, bringing his hand up to glide along her cheek, not touching but so close she felt the heat of his fingertips like the ghost of a threat- “I want you.”
---
“I don’t wish to couple with you.”
“You hurt me.” He placed his hand on his chest as if in jest, but his smile was hard. “I’m afraid you cannot remain untouched. I’ll have no reason for you or any of your family to try for an annulment. And besides” – he tilted his head mockingly – “I do want to fuck you.”
---
His eyebrows winged up as if he were surprised she’d agreed. His black eyes were suddenly intent as he watched her.
“Never forget,” he said softly. “No matter the duke’s power, I will keep you safe. You are...important to me.”
---
He laughed.
She stared, for she couldn’t remember seeing him laugh before. Hawthorne grinned slyly, smiled cynically, smirked and sneered. He did not laugh.
His obsidian eyes crinkled, his white teeth flashed, and a dimple appeared on his cheek. He was gorgeous. She cuaght her breath, a frisson of desire rippling down her center.
“Would you…” Messalina had to stop and clear her throat. “Would you like me to...to help you with your hair?”
He cocked his head, a smile still hovering around his sensuous lips. “You wish to act my valet?”
Was he mocking her? She raised her chin. “Yes, if you want.”
“Oh, I want,” he said softly.
---
Messalina bit her lip, quelling the smile that threatened to take over her face, and opened the letter.
I AM BATHING.
That was the entire note, but Messalina knew an invitation when she received one.
---
“Join me,” he whispered.
She looked doubtfully at the bathrub. “It’s too full. The water will spill out if I get in.”
He pulled her closer. “I don’t care.”
 

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

- toxic and abusive uncle is a side character and manipulates the family members including pushing murder
- some scenes of violence, gunshots, etc
- death of family/friends remembered
- death of a child/hanging remember on page
- hero has some PTSD from his past
- remembrance of neglect and abuse as a child, including starving
- hero is attacked and scenes of recovering

Author content warnings? Didn’t catch any

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story: These percentages will be off because I have a preview of another author’s story at the end of the book so the story ended at about 60 some percent.

Safe sex: 

  No 

How’s the consent? 

  Overall, it’s okay but there is a forced marriage to the hero and some dark and dubious elements at play 

Pregnancy/children in story? 

  There are some child side characters in the story with some decent page time – I don’t recall pregnancy but there may be mention of starting a future family as a possibility and they kind of unofficially adopt children into the home that need a home 

26% - kiss in the carriage
30% - kiss while he is in the bath and then implied hero self pleasure
38% - 🔥 missionary followed by a shorter morning after scene
She ached.
He sat up, taking all that sensation with him, and she couldn’t help but grasp for him.
He growled, pulling her chemise over her head.
47% - 🔥 fingering for her and her on top in the bath
He turned his head to kiss her jaw. “Come for me, darling.”
64% - 🔥 kisses, sex on the settee
”Touch yourself for me,” he gritted out, sounding as if he tore the words from his lungs. “Please, darling.” 

 

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
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Almost immediately
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book format
Why I chose this book: I like Glen’s novels and was excited for her latest
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine

“Not a sack of potatoes. At most, a very pretty, very light, feather pillow. I’d gladly carry you whenever you require it.”

Should I read in order?
It’s not totally necessary, but if you want some background, give The Earl’s Tempting Proposal a read – there’s character cross over.

Basic plot:
Wang assists Esther in strengthening her body long after she’s given up hope for recovering

Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian – 1864
- London and America setting
- English heroine / Chinese hero
- class difference – working class hero, dowager Countess heroine
- widow heroine
- widower hero
- martial arts master / medically minded hero
- heroine has a daughter but it’s not a large part of the story
- disabled heroine – she’s in a wheelchair
- best friend’s stepmother
- heroine nurses hero back to health
- hero nurses heroine back to health
- hot air balloon ride
- former pugilist hero
- he feeds her dumplings and cooks for her
- one ship cabin
- massages
- higher steam – 4 scenes in a shorter novel

Ages:
- heroine is 42, hero is almost 50

First line:
Esther was no stranger to grief, but she was discovering there were many ways a heart could break.

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this novel. I loved both mains – and I’ve been curious about Wang ever since I read Glen’s debut and he was the hero’s friend in The Earl’s Tempting Proposal. So I was very excited to get his story, especially when I realized the pairing was that hero’s mother.

This novella had such heart and really had me falling in love with both mains. Esther has been wheelchair bound since her accident and has been frustrated with life passing her by. Wang is a perfect match for her with his gentle medical mind and she is soothing for his hurt past.

This was a touch too easy for me the first part of the book, very low angst which isn’t my thing, but it did amp up in the latter half and really adored the way their story played out.

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 6
Average rating: 4.67 stars
Favorite book: Oooo, I loved this one but maybe The Marquess and His Muse just a touch more...a bit more angst in that one I think.

Endearments

Hero calls her ‘my little deer’ and ‘Xiao Lu’, and ‘my love’ 

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

- death of a spouse
- remembrance of a carriage accident that disabled the heroine
- racism against the hero
- ableism against the heroine
- opium addiction
- some violence/attacks on page
- talk of possible infertility after accident

Author content warnings? Didn’t see any

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:

Safe sex: 

  Hero pulls out 

How’s the consent? 

  It’s good 

Pregnancy/children in story? 

  Heroine has a daughter but she doesn’t have much page time (she’s older) 

34% - kisses
39% - 🔥 self pleasuring for her while he kisses and plays with her nipples in the bath, oral for her, missionary
”Touch your pussy,” he commanded. When she didn’t immediately obey, too lost in the sensations to discern his meaning, he bit the rim of her ear. “Now.”
48% - 🔥 blow job (incomplete), fingering for her, sex from behind while laying down
61% - 🔥 blow job (complete)
74% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her, oral for her, missionary 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 3.5 rounded to 📖📖📖📖 (I wanted to read this, but it definitely felt long and I felt like there was a lot of extra stuff including that it really didn’t need)
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋 (I had a bit of emotional attachment but with zero explicit details and the scenes not being very developed they didn’t feel very sensual to me)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥 There’s a number of sex scenes but they are very short and very light in language.
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third Person Omniscient with some of the classic old school ‘head hopping’ many are familiar with – mostly heroine’s POV but a paragraph here and there from side characters like her father, brother, etc and some from the hero.
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow AF
When mains are first on page together: pretty soon in, pg 13
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever
Epilogue: No
Format: read an owned paperback
Why I chose this book: I haven’t read an old school romance in forever, so I posted a poll of the ones I had accessible and let the Vintage Romance book group choose for me – this was the winner.
Mains: This is M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine

Should I read in order?
I think this is a stand alone?

Basic plot:
Erienne is curious about Christopher Seton – but is instead forced to marry the mysterious Lord Saxton to pay off her father’s debts.

Marking as a spoiler – if you want any kind of surprise from this novel I would just dive in! There’s a big secret that’s kept throughout most of the story.

Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian - 1792
- Northern England setting
- secret identity
- beauty and the beast elements
- sold heroine/forced marriage
- friendly enemy elements
- shelter in the abandoned stable from the rain
- lower steam – there’s a few scenes but they are very short and not detailed or explicit

Ages:
- I think the heroine is 18, didn’t catch hero but he is probably older, late 20s or more likely 30s

First line:
“Marriage!” Erienne Fleming drew back from the hearth and slammed the poker into the stand, venting a growing vexation with the still young day.

My thoughts:
The only other Woodiwiss I have tried within the last couple decades is The Wolf and the Dove and that one didn’t work for me. So I’ll admit my expectations were kind of low going into this one – and I was so pleasantly surprised!

I found this novel so sweet overall – I adored both our mains, though I think they are probably what some would call a Mary and Gary Sue 😆

This novel did feel really long to me and rather slow in parts. I could have done without plenty of side details. But when the mains were together, I really liked it. I loved how gentle and patient Christopher was with Erienne. You could just see how much he treasured her and loved her and that was romantic and special to me.

I was pleasantly surprised by this read, and while it does have a bit of dubious elements – the secret identity and heroine sold into marriage being the big ones – it’s not a rough read for an old school novel.

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 2
Average rating: 3.5 stars
Favorite book: This one!

Endearments

  The hero calls the heroine ‘my love’. 

Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize

Erienne stamped her foot in protest. “Mr. Seaton, whatever else I am, I am not your dear!” A soft chuckle conveyed his delight. “You’re the dearest thing I’ve seen for some time.”
---
“You’re conceited, Mr. Seton, if you think I welcome your protection, or your company.”
“You needn’t be so formal, Erienne,” he teased with a devilishly wicked grin. “You may call me Christopher, or my dear, or my love, or any endearment of your choice.”
---
“How long have you been sitting there watching me sleep?” she demanded.
A slow smile touched his lips. “Long enough.”
She was in no mood for games. “Long enough for what?” His smoldering gaze passed over her.
“Long enough to come to the determination that you’re worth far more than any debt.”
---
His chuckle sounded low and deep. “I think after sharing a bed and spending the night together, we should progress to something more intimate, at least while we’re alone. Now, my love, I should like you to consider the advantages of letting me become your suitor. I am not as ancient as my predecessors. A full score, ten, and three I be. I am strong and have clean habits. I have never been an abuser of women.” He ignored her light scoff. “and I have wealth to see you richly garbed, as your beauty demands. As to my appearance…” He swept a hand before him. “You can determine that for yourself.”
 

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

- duel is mentioned with minor injuries (both recover)
- scenes of drunkenness from heroine’s brother
- sexual harassment of heroine by an older man – he has a daughter the heroine’s age but goes to her house when she is alone (her brother is asleep upstairs) and starts making advances on her when the brother wakes up and he leaves
- mention of a pig slaughtered and the heroine slicing meat and stripping intestines
- some scenes of animal harshness – whipping the horse for a gallop, whipping hounds that were coming in for an attack (self defense) that leads to drawing blood from them
- other attempts at sexual assault on the heroine, men trying to grab at her, chase her down…
- domestic violence elements – the heroine’s father was going to punch her in the face but the hero stops his arm
- dubious consent elements – some kisses are more forceful, the hero is hiding his true identity during marriage and sex with the heroine, heroine is sold and forced into marraige

Author content warnings? Nothing mentioned

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:

 
Safe sex: 

  No, but there’s no real details about it 

 
How’s the consent? 

  I wouldn’t read this novel if you prefer consent. There’s many dubious consent elements, including forceful kisses, forced marriage/sold heroine, and the hero hides his identity when he kisses her/has sex with her (she thinks he’s someone else) 

 
Pregnancy/children in story? 

  The heroine gets pregnant towards the latter half of the story but it’s not a big plot point 

 
Pg 338 – kiss
Pg 348 – kisses that lead to missionary (v loss for heroine), very light language, short and not a lot of details. The hero is masked and she believes him to be someone else
Pg 360 – sex (very short)
Pg 408 – kiss
Pg 411 – sex (very short and vague)
Pg 466 – sex (again short and vague)
Pg 472 – sex (very short/vague)
Total pages: 567 

 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥 (one scene had a morning after that was pretty close to the initial scene so I combined flames – might feel a bit hotter than listed)
Humor: Yes, especially some delightful banter
Perspective: third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: immediately
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, not too far in the future
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in e-book form that I am very late on reading
Why I chose this book: I love Bateman’s writing and want to read all her books!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine

Should I read in order?
You can grab this out of order – it’s book 2 of Bateman’s Her Majesty’s Rebels and has some minor character crossover but I found it fine alone! (Three friends run a private investigation business and each has a story)

Basic plot:
Ellie meets the infuriating Harry when he pretends to be his fictional boss and they begin working on a case together.

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1816
- light elements of holiday time romance with mistletoe kiss
- working women – heroine owns a private investigator business with 2 friends
- hero with dimples
- thief / pickpocket hero
- hero falls first
- bespectacled heroine
- secret identity
- hero speaks English, French, Spanish, Italian and a bit of Russian and Portuguese
- hero has heterochromia
- he calls her his ‘brilliant girl’
- he trusts her to protect him in dangerous situations
- working together on a mystery
- medium steam – 3ish full scenes

Ages:
- heroine is 22, hero is 26

First line:
Eleanor Law had not expected to kiss anyone at Lady Chessington’s annual Christmas ball, let alone a charming, anonymous scoundrel

My thoughts:
This book was just literal perfection to me!!! I am so in love with how Bateman just keeps delivering me these books that are pure romance catnip to me. I’m grinning like a fool, kicking my feet in happiness, little hearts bursting above my head.

I found this whole book so delightful. I love both mains so much. Ellie is just so sweet and funny and kind and smart and Harry was really her perfect match. The way he falls for her, the way he trusts her, the way he calls her brilliant and uplifts her, while also taking small breaks to whisper naughty things in her ear….

I loved every moment of this story. It was funny and swoony, and such good tension and I am so in love. Love, love, love.

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 7
Average rating: 4.57 stars
Favorite book: Oof, this is hard to pick but I think it’s this one?? I really adored her entire Ruthless Rivals series though, immensely...basically any of those 4 are super amazing and my faves!

Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize

“You mean you possess a title?”
“Several. Although I rarely use most of them.”
She almost stamped her foot at his deliberate evasiveness. “What should I call you, then?”
“You latest conquest? You most ardent admirer?” He swept her another extravagant bow.
---
“Of course. I’m sure they’ll see the benefits of having me around.” He uncrossed his legs and stood, and Ellie did the same, trying not to notice how beautifully proportioned his long, lean body was. Or how tempting his lips were.
She’d kissed those lips. She still couldn’t believe it.
---
“Do you see that beggar, in the doorway across the street?”
“No,” Ellie said bluntly.
He glanced down at her with a smile. “Oh, put your spectacles back on, you ridiculous thing. You’re wrong about thinking they make you look less attractive. You’re gorgeous either way.”
---
Harry brought his arms up on either side of her head, his elbows resting against the wall to shield her face. His breath tickled her temple and his nose brushed hers as he bent lower.
“Breathe,” he commanded softly.
Ellie’s heart was pounding with a heady mix of fear and desire. Harry’s lips hovered so close to hers that his warm exhales mingled with her own shallow breaths.
There was scarcely an inch between them.
And then there wasn’t any space at all.
She wasn’t sure which one of them moved, but Harry’s lips touched hers, and she almost swooned in delight.
The kiss was tentative, almost a question. He paused, as if to gauge her reaction, and without thought she pushed herself up on tiptoe, closer, silently encouraging him to do it again.
He muttered something under his breath, possibly in Italian, then leaned in and kissed her again, harder this time, tracing the seam of her lips with his tongue.
---
“Will you take me back to Lincoln’s Inn Fields after that?”
The look in his eyes made her stomach somersault.
“If that’s what you want. But, Ellie, if you still weren’t sleepy...then I suppose I could kiss you.”
Her pulse stuttered, but she couldn’t resist teasing him. “To pass the time? Or because your kisses make ladies want to go to sleep.”
He raised his brows. “Did you feel remotely sleepy when I kissed you earlier?”
She bit her lip. “No.”
“I didn’t think so.” He uncrossed his legs. “You could kiss me back. And then I’d strip off that dress you’re wearing – the one that’s been driving me slowly insane all evening – and I’d do what I’ve been dreaming of since the first moment I saw you, which is to take you to bed and make love to you until we were both so exhausted, we’d have to sleep.”
---
He kissed the back of her neck. “I said, Yes, sweetheart. Kiss me.”
“You said something else too.”
He chuckled at her tenacity. “I did. I said, Voglio scoparti contro questo muro finche non urli il mio nome.”
“And what does that mean?”
He moved over her and she caught her breath as the muscled length of him pressed her down into the soft mattress. His larger size was thrilling, his physical power undeniable, and the combination of threat and careful restraint made her stomach somersault with desire.
“It means, I want to fuck you against his wall until you scream my name.”
Ellie gasped, apparently not beyond being scandalized, despire her non-virginal state, and he laughed against her ear.
“That was very rude.”
“It was indeed.”
---
“Have you ever fantasized about making love in a place like this? Somewhere completely forbidden? Because I have.” His gaze fell to her lips and she squirmed in her seat.
She’d be lying if she denied it. The thought of doing something so naughty made her almost quiver with excitement, and she could clearly imagine the thrill of trying to stay quiet while Harry’s hands roved all over her.
“You’d have to be extremely quiet, of course,” he whispered, a wicked twinkle in his eyes. “I might even have to put my hand over your mouth to stop you making any noise. I could press you against the shelves and lift your skirts.” His pupils flared. “Or perhaps I’d spread you out on one of these library tables and lick your - “
A cough and the scrape of a chair made Ellie flush guiltily. Dear God, the man was a menace!
 

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

- some scenes of violence, gunshots
- parental and sibling death (illness)

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:

Safe sex: 

  Hero pulls out 

How’s the consent? 

  It’s good 

Pregnancy/children in story? 

  Heroine says she cannot risk having a child, and the hero pulls out during sex. No children or pregnancy mentioned 

1% - kiss
38% - kiss
46% - 🔥kisses, oral for her, missionary (v loss for her) followed by a missionary scene the next morning
His lips curved up. “Stop being so clever.”
He rested his hands on her knees, then slid them slowly up her thighs, bunching the emerald-green silk with his palms as he went. Ellie shivered in anticipation.
Instead of kissing her again, he dropped to his knees and caught the hem of her skirts.
//
“I think you were right about book-learning,” she breathed. “There’s no substitute for practical firsthand experience.”
“Does your hand want to experience it?” His jaw clenched as he stroked himself again, slowly up and down, as she nodded.

58% - brief kiss
71% - 🔥hand job for him in the carriage

Their joined hands pumped faster. He gripped the leather strap on the wall with his free hand and arched his spine, tilting his head back on the seat and exposing his throat. The sight of him made her own body thrum with desire, but she was determined to give him this gift. She pumped her hand, and with a groan that seemed dragged from his chest he went rigid, pulsing in her hand.

87% - kiss
95% - 🔥kisses, sex against the wall
She held out her hand, which was only shaking a tiny amount, and he slid the ring onto her fourth finger. She didn’t get time to admire it, or to even marvel at the miracle of a man like Harry wanting a girl like her. The moment it was on there, he surged to his feet and pinned her back against the wall.
“Bloody fantastic,” he growled. “And now we’ve got the formalities out of the way, I’m going to pleasure you up against this wall until you can’t think straight. Agreed?” 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes!
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: almost immediately
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, about 3 weeks later
Format: listened to an audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: My friend Heather has repeatedly recommended the series, and I enjoyed a lot about book 1 when I read it a few years ago so I’ve been making my way through the series!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet alien hero and human heroine

Should I read in order?
Ideally yes. There’s been more and more details given about the alien lifestyle and culture over the course of the series.

Basic plot:
Vanessa is determined to get back to her family, even if she has to use Fejo to do it.

Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- alien setting (Clecania)
- alien hero / human heroine
- sunshine hero – Fejo is lighthearted and delightful!
- hero gifts her a dildo
- close proximity
- light road trip feel – they travel from Clecania to Earth
- fated mates
- medium steam – 3ish full scenes but slower burn (and that’s a guess because I paused my KU subscription to check steam and I’m not listening to the book again to find out 😆 )

Ages:
- didn’t see either mentioned

First line:
Vanessa couldn’t recall a time in her life when she’d been so unhappy about shopping.

My thoughts:
I adored parts of this book – especially Fejo and he really broke my heart.

Fejo, as the title implies, has been used by many in his life. This doesn’t darken his spark and he has this amazingly engaging, confident, sweet, and playful personality that is so endearing. And so of course I struggled with this heroine that had REASONS but also just kept hurting him.

I think the hardest part of this book was that Fejo wanted love so badly – and some of the sex scenes just felt like he was begging her to love him and I disliked that. It gave the scenes a bit of ick factor in the background that niggled at me – I felt like he deserved a bit better – more solid acceptance and more confidence in her love for him.

But overall I really adored this book. This book pulled on my heart a bit more than some of the others and I liked that we were on a spaceship road trip vibe. I’ve really enjoyed this series so far!

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 5
Average rating: 4 stars
Favorite book: Maaaaaybe this one?? The series has been really steady for the most part with me loving most of the books. Maybe Saving Verakko? It’s hard to say.

Cock/Hero Stats:

- Hero is Clecanian but was made in a lab
- Doesn’t have wings like many others
- Hero has gills
- hero purrs
- hero has subdermal implants in his cock that give texture, is pierced, and has adaptions that can inflate and vibrate

Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)

- mention of being in foster care for heroine and parental abandonment. (dad was an addict, left when she was an infant, mother had a brain tumor and died and they were placed in foster care, sometimes separated from her sister)
- Fejo was one of the first grown in an artificial womb
- some scenes of violence including the hero breaking off an alien’s horn and stabbing him with it
- mention of sister having a brain tumor
- scenes of violence, danger, and murder on page
- slavery and human trafficking

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex, consent, pregnancy/child in the story: I paused my KU subscription before I wrote this review, so I don’t have all the steam details….

 
Safe sex: 

  The heroine gets some kind of birth control on the alien planet – it’s some kind of higher technology like an implant or something 

 
How’s the consent? 

  It’s...mostly good. There is a scene that’s kind of questionable but we are in her POV so we know how badly she wants the hero but he is kind of ‘ordering her’ to do sexual things to see how far she’ll go to get a ride back to Earth – eventually he stops. He’s punishing her for using him basically. 

 
Pregnancy/children in story? 

  There’s some thoughts of getting pregnant/having babies in the future 

 
11% - kiss
27% - kiss
42% - tension building scene – hero asks what she will do to get a trip to Earth. She undresses, he orders he to lay on the bed, he licks her clit then backs off
60% - 🔥dry humping, breast play, oral for her, 69 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Just a bit
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine (alternating chapters)
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: very soon in
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, about 3 years later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book format
Why I chose this book: I have really liked Stevie Sparks and want to read all her books!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine

Should I read in order?
This is readable alone. It falls within Sparks’ Lords of Desire world but there’s only some brief scenes with characters from former books as side characters.

Basic plot:
Rose is mourning her deceased brother’s birthday in solitude when she meets Griff. As they talk, they find connections that lead to him rescuing her from the workhouse.

Give this a try if you want:
- Interwar Years (no date listed but would guess mid 1920s)
- get slightly out of London – this story takes place mostly at Harpenden which is a small village
- Earl hero
- widow heroine
- silver fox hero - If anything, he was rather handsome. His salt-and-pepper hair would have been respectable, but for the curled leaf lodged in the wavy locks.
- class difference – hero is an Earl and heroine was impoverished in a workhouse
- he nurses her back to health
- celibate heroine
- disability rep – heroine walks with a cane after suffering from Polio
- former seamstress heroine
- brother’s friend – heroine’s brother served in the war with the hero and he spoke of his sister to him (and her brother wrote to her of the hero)
- light other woman uncertainty
- 1900s advances – cars, elevators, and phones
- older mains – hero is 45 and heroine is 36
- higher steam – 3 full scenes within a shorter page count and FemDom, praise for him

Ages:
- hero is 45, heroine is 36

First line:
Hyde Park swam in the burnished ochres of late summer.

My thoughts:
This book is so sweet. I enjoyed both mains – they bond over the loss of a brother and friend and the way it brings them together is just heart melting. I love how gentle and nurturing Griff is with Rose until she is feeling confident and recovered and secure. So confident she can explore her more dominant desires that Griff craves.

I had fun with this novel but it was maybe a touch too ‘easy’ for me? I think I was craving a bit more angst. But it’s still adorable and cozy and fun. And it introduced a side character, Jilly, that I will be anxiously awaiting her story because she was a delight!

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 5
Average rating: 4.4 stars
Favorite book: Despising the Duke

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

- hero was abandoned by his fiance at the alter
- brief remembrances of war
- family/friend loss and grief
- workhouse conditions and abuse are mentioned
- possible infertility mentioned
- heroine has recovered from polio with life long effects (she walks with a cane and has leg weakness)
- there is an evil manservant that makes suggestions harmful to the heroine (like taking too much laudanum)

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:

Safe sex: 

  I don’t believe so 

How’s the consent? 

  It’s good 

Pregnancy/children in story? 

  Slight plot point of hero thinking of future heirs for the Earldom, heroine mentions she never had children with her spouse – in the epilogue they adopt children 

47% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her
“Are you always this authoritative in bed? Because I have to admit it’s quite beguiling.”
//
“I would serve you on my knees if you allow me, my lady.”
70% - 🔥 oral for her, her on top
”You need me?” Rose bit her lip. “Or you need to serve me?”
There was a desperate rasp from his throat. “I need you, and I need to serve you, my lady.”
Her eyelids fluttered, a tide of arousal threatening to carry her away. “Then kneel for me.”
85% - 🔥 oral for her, missionary
Sitting in front of him on the bed, her eyes flicked downwards. “So I see. Be a good boy and serve me, Griff.” 

 

Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: first person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? plot
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to medium
When mains are first on page together: he sees her on page at 15% but they know each other from prior books.
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: There is a labeled epilogue but it’s more of a preview for a future book – Rojtar’s POV
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: I read the first 4 or so in this series and wanted to continue it
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet alien hero and human heroine

Should I read in order?
I’d say yes. These books flow chronologically and some things are touched on in earlier books but not covered here so you’ll get the best world building and character depth by reading in order.

Basic plot:
Kyler finds he can’t help but lead the charge to rescue Zara when she’s taken captive – he’s been drawn to her since she arrived on the planet.

Give this a try if you want:
- futuristic time line (Earth has grown into a tier population with major classism issues)
- alien setting – planet Tavikh
- hero nurses hero back to health
- healer hero and forge working heroine (she makes passable arrowheads
- age gap – she’s mid 20s and he’s ‘seen 40 winters’
- fated mates
- never been kissed hero
- light other man drama
- medium steam – 2ish full scenes (in a shorter page count)

Ages:
- heroine is 27, hero has lasted 40 cold seasons on their planet, but I can’t recall how that relates to Earth years.

First line:
I really fucked up this time.

My thoughts:
I stepped away from this series for a bit but I am happy to return to it! And in this novel, I LOVED that you got some background about the heroine, Zara, and how she kind of ended up on the planet and her home life before she left. I wish all the books in the series had that. I think they need it because it can feel a bit random in some of the books wondering about more of their back story. I think it would make a nice prologue to the story.

I liked that more characters were introduced in this one including some aliens that they mains trade with. I liked the opening up of the world a bit in that way. But I would like to have seen more with the prior characters in the series too. Like the characters from Lost Warrior I thought returned but there just hasn’t been much interaction between all the characters of the series. Not that I want a bunch of time away from the mains, but I just would have liked them briefly revisited here and there.

My biggest issue with this series is it just doesn’t feel well planned out. Some books include things that others didn’t (like their fated mate spark wasn’t even mentioned in the first book/prequel novella I don’t believe and then started being more and more of a plot point in further books) and I feel like it’s kind of getting more developed as the series goes along instead of having a solid plan from the beginning. Events that I think should have been mentioned from the beginning are brought up in later books out of nowhere. I also think they can feel a touch repetitive (though I feel like that about quite a few scifi series, like Ice Planet Barbarians too). I just wish more was about the characters having depth and having more detailed interests and character traits than we get. Maybe this series is just a bit more plot lead instead of character lead and that’s a personal thing I prefer.

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 6
Average rating: 4.33 stars
Favorite book: Fated to the Lost Warrior

Cock/Hero Stats/World Building:

- The Tavikh have tails and purple skin. Yellow eyes with feline-like pupils that are dark purple.
- When they touch their mates, they get mating marks branded on their skin
- Tavikhi warriors are virgins because they don’t have casual affairs – so they wait until bonded.
- Zara talks about how Earth is overpopulated and people built over all the land and needed credits to build up leading to a class system of upper and lower tier.
- The hero has mating nodes that have fluid that

Endearments

  The hero calls the heroine ‘keeshla’ 

Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)

- Zara’s parent’s cut her off and exile her
- scenes of fighting and violence including on page death/murder
- some elements of religious tone – the Tavikh believe in the goddess Deeka
- sibling death
- rape of a side character discussed
- scenes of broken bones and resetting
- heroine remembers her ex boyfriend getting her drunk and recording them having sex and live streaming it

Author given content warnings: discussion of SA, discussion of suicide, violence, anxiety/panic attacks, nightmares about blood and death

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:

 
Safe sex: 

  No 

 
How’s the consent? 

  I’d say it’s pretty strong consent in this one – he frequently asks 

 
Pregnancy/children in story? 

  Mention of maybe pregnant in the future, the hero imagining her pregnant during sex and a side character announces a pregnancy 

 
34% - kiss
53% - kiss
67% - 🔥 kisses, dry humping, handy for him
85% - kiss
88% - 🔥 oral for her, missionary 

 

Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (the language was pretty light)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: third person from both the heroine and hero
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: take a little bit, about 12% in (chapter 2 of 26)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 5 years later
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: I saw it posted in Upturned Petticoats and was curious about the steam level
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine

Should I read in order?
This is fine alone but Adrien does include some info in the preface about where the character’s fall within her stories.

Basic plot:
Melissa makes a deal with Mrs. Dove-Lyon to win her unrequited love.

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1818
- widowed heroine / widower hero
- single dad hero – his son is 13
- some unrequited longing from both
- pet – a kitten is a strong side character
- similar height mains – he’s about 3 inches taller than her
- matchmaking elements – heroine goes to Mrs. Dove-Lyon for a match
- lower steam – I have one full scene but there was another scene with light language that I couldn’t really tell the details so it might be a bit hotter. There’s also a number of kisses!

Ages:
- heroine is 24, hero is ‘nearly 30’

First line:
No woman should feel so apprehensive before the act.

My thoughts:
I am a bit conflicted about this book – I loved Adrien’s writing but a lot about the book wasn’t my favorite.

Overall it felt a bit slow and I didn’t love the hero’s child – it pulled from the main couple for me, which is just a personal pet peeve. The steam was a bit lower than what I was expecting.

But Adrien’s writing was great and I fell into the story pretty easy. The characters felt real and I loved their unrequited longing for each other. I also appreciated the historical tidbits about the dental word of the 1800s! That is not something I find often in HR books so that was interesting.

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 2
Average rating: 3 stars
Favorite book: This one!

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

- heroine is pressured into being the king’s mistress due to her husband’s debts (she never has to follow through on it)
- death of spouse – he died of lung fever during their first winter of marriage and she wasn’t very close to him

Author content warnings? Nothing mentioned

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:

Safe sex: 

  No 

How’s the consent? 

  It’s good 

Pregnancy/children in story? 

  Mention of side characters being pregnant and the hero has a 13 year old son. There is talk about future babies and the possibilities of pregnancy. There are babies in the epilogue. 

47% - kiss
54% - kiss
61% - kiss
69% - so there’s some cock touches, kisses and he’s exploring….I didn’t read this as they went further and had orgasms??? But I guess it’s possible. Personally wouldn’t count this as a full scene He wanted to savor this moment, to prolong the exquisite tension that made every touch, every kiss, a heady mix of pleasure and emotion. When they finally broke apart, both gasping for air, John rested his forehead against hers once more.
76% - 🔥kisses, fingering/oral for her, missionary
94% - kiss