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yasdnilr's review against another edition
1.0
Big thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for an advance copy of this hilarious book.
A rollercoaster of a read, get ready to suspend your belief and get your sexy pants on. Everyone is beautiful, slim but curvaceous, dresses in the best clothes and has the best sex. Agnes is the corporate madam, but really she rescues women from that life. Lola is a journalist, that might be stretching it slightly, she seems to work for the worst and nastiest of tabloids, lets call her a Murdoch Maven instead. When they meet, all sorts of shenanigans go down. Decent read, lots of sexy sex, and some adventure.
A rollercoaster of a read, get ready to suspend your belief and get your sexy pants on. Everyone is beautiful, slim but curvaceous, dresses in the best clothes and has the best sex. Agnes is the corporate madam, but really she rescues women from that life. Lola is a journalist, that might be stretching it slightly, she seems to work for the worst and nastiest of tabloids, lets call her a Murdoch Maven instead. When they meet, all sorts of shenanigans go down. Decent read, lots of sexy sex, and some adventure.
queenkoko's review against another edition
4.0
I am going to be 100% honest and say I was only reading this for the smut. When I got it, I wanted more! Great read all around with a fun plot and some twisted. I will be reading more from Fiona Zedde, she can write a good smut scene.
khylabevibin's review against another edition
5.0
This book was definitely an entertaining read.
Lola thinks the House of Agnes, a escort service, had something to do with her sister’s death. Hurt and angered she worms her way in to the House and accidentally the heart of its queen.
Okay so first things first here’s how I felt about the characters- firstly Lola. So I’ve seen some reviews picking apart the fact that she was manipulative or unreasonable maybe unrealistic but that’s the point.
That is the point of her character. I think if people go into books expecting every character to be perfect, flawless and morally correct, then they’re not gonna enjoy many books.
My interpretation of Lola was more along the lines of her being clumsy and clueless but that follows more of a plot hole type critique.
There’s a moment where she follows Agnes to Vegas- god knows why Agnes didn’t suspect anything. Then there’s also the fact that she’s a previously mentioned reporter yet Agnes didn’t manage to pull that up on her search. Then there’s the fact that she couldn’t recognize Agnes or her voice behind a mask. Just very questionable plot details
Now that being said I liked Lola’s character and I think the contrast between hers’ and Agnes provided an undeniably hot chemistry. Not to mention the hotness of the sex scenes.
Agnes is a very powerful woman and I find myself absolutely enjoying the way she’s able to reject Lola’s sex appeal. She holds herself high as kind of an ice queen and from her very first appearance in the book I found myself loving her.
She did however give Lola too many chances for my taste. She’s described to be careful and hardcore yet even when Lola was a stranger she had none of that.
Lola was blatantly suspicious during most of their interactions as the author describe yet apparently not enough for Agnes to be suspicious of her. This felt a bit like lazy writing. Could’ve been fixed if Lola pulled something to gain that sudden trust
I found my self greatly impressed by the way the author was able to create an immediate tension between these two characters with no build up.
I felt like there was potential for a more complex plot. The book did ride the line of being unrealistic for a moment but to be honest it wasn’t bothersome. The plot is in truth more complex that most action movies they make these days. There’s something about the direction of this book that just seemed too easy though. I will admit that there was a plot twist that I enjoyed!
This book as I said was a very entertaining read and I highly recommend it!
I feel as though a disclaimer at the beginning would be very appreciated as this book does also deal with some real life issues that may be triggering for some people such as; discussion of sex trafficking, abuse in prostitution, sex auctioning.
I will admit that initially the thought of reading about such a topic had me worried that the author would cross the line of glamorizing it in sort of a new world attempt of supporting sex workers but I think they did a good job and staying within the societally acceptable fictional line.
4.5 stars!
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in return for a honest review.
Lola thinks the House of Agnes, a escort service, had something to do with her sister’s death. Hurt and angered she worms her way in to the House and accidentally the heart of its queen.
Okay so first things first here’s how I felt about the characters- firstly Lola. So I’ve seen some reviews picking apart the fact that she was manipulative or unreasonable maybe unrealistic but that’s the point.
That is the point of her character. I think if people go into books expecting every character to be perfect, flawless and morally correct, then they’re not gonna enjoy many books.
My interpretation of Lola was more along the lines of her being clumsy and clueless but that follows more of a plot hole type critique.
There’s a moment where she follows Agnes to Vegas- god knows why Agnes didn’t suspect anything. Then there’s also the fact that she’s a previously mentioned reporter yet Agnes didn’t manage to pull that up on her search. Then there’s the fact that she couldn’t recognize Agnes or her voice behind a mask. Just very questionable plot details
Now that being said I liked Lola’s character and I think the contrast between hers’ and Agnes provided an undeniably hot chemistry. Not to mention the hotness of the sex scenes.
Agnes is a very powerful woman and I find myself absolutely enjoying the way she’s able to reject Lola’s sex appeal. She holds herself high as kind of an ice queen and from her very first appearance in the book I found myself loving her.
She did however give Lola too many chances for my taste. She’s described to be careful and hardcore yet even when Lola was a stranger she had none of that.
Lola was blatantly suspicious during most of their interactions as the author describe yet apparently not enough for Agnes to be suspicious of her. This felt a bit like lazy writing. Could’ve been fixed if Lola pulled something to gain that sudden trust
I found my self greatly impressed by the way the author was able to create an immediate tension between these two characters with no build up.
I felt like there was potential for a more complex plot. The book did ride the line of being unrealistic for a moment but to be honest it wasn’t bothersome. The plot is in truth more complex that most action movies they make these days. There’s something about the direction of this book that just seemed too easy though. I will admit that there was a plot twist that I enjoyed!
This book as I said was a very entertaining read and I highly recommend it!
I feel as though a disclaimer at the beginning would be very appreciated as this book does also deal with some real life issues that may be triggering for some people such as; discussion of sex trafficking, abuse in prostitution, sex auctioning.
I will admit that initially the thought of reading about such a topic had me worried that the author would cross the line of glamorizing it in sort of a new world attempt of supporting sex workers but I think they did a good job and staying within the societally acceptable fictional line.
4.5 stars!
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in return for a honest review.
readlexread's review against another edition
Oh, this was good but mind the cws!!
— back with a few more words —
— back with a few more words —
- This is romantic suspense-ish
- I loved the two MCs
- I think that the ending kinda wrapped up a little too nicely and there were a couple of questions left unanswered. Idk if I wanna call them plot holes or just unresolved stuff
- Also depending on how you define it, there might be a moment of dubious consent…
- But the tension, intrigue, and moments of tenderness (especially with little Gretchen) were everything! I also enjoyed the writing.
More Black sapphics please!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking
shel_ly's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
dawnpage25's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
raven9949's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I like the plot and the smut…. The pacing felt awfully slow though but the timing for things was way too rushed… a few things were told to the reader rather than shown… so a little less impressed there. But still a good story overall.
_readwithlauren_'s review against another edition
3.0
3 stars✨
I have never read anything by Fiona Zedde before this. I did not expect that this was going to be an intrigue and mystery storyline in this book and that is one of my favorite genres, so this made it a pleasant surprise.
We have Agnes Noble who is private, mysterious, and untouchable. She rules House of Agnes, the most exclusive escort agency on the East Coast, with a diamond fist. Crossing her is a mistake no one makes twice. We then have Investigative reporter Lola Osbourne who is not afraid. She’s gunning for the House and its so-called queen. She’ll make sure no other innocent gets dragged into Agnes’s alluring web, to be used and discarded the way Lola’s sister was. From the moment she lays eyes on Lola, Agnes knows she’s hiding something but she also knows she won’t be able to resist Lola.
I really liked the way this story was told. I enjoyed Lola’s determination and her ability to change her mind. I also liked that it was an age-gape romance, as those are one of my favorites. The atmosphere is also fantastic. I will admit that there were some plot holes and a couple of convenient timings that made me roll my eyes. But I still enjoyed it. The steamy sex scenes were definitely my favorite part.
However, I did have some issues. First, there were sometimes where I was really confused. I like that they spent some time together, talking and getting to know each other, but I don't think that one night of flirtation and dinner together was enough for them to fall in love. I felt that the reveal was a letdown. I just was expecting more. The writing isn't bad, but it didn't wow me, and there were a few repetitive things that were annoying.
Overall, I did enjoy this. If you're looking for a sapphic romance with some mystery in it, I do recommend this. Thank you to Netgalley and Ylva Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I have never read anything by Fiona Zedde before this. I did not expect that this was going to be an intrigue and mystery storyline in this book and that is one of my favorite genres, so this made it a pleasant surprise.
We have Agnes Noble who is private, mysterious, and untouchable. She rules House of Agnes, the most exclusive escort agency on the East Coast, with a diamond fist. Crossing her is a mistake no one makes twice. We then have Investigative reporter Lola Osbourne who is not afraid. She’s gunning for the House and its so-called queen. She’ll make sure no other innocent gets dragged into Agnes’s alluring web, to be used and discarded the way Lola’s sister was. From the moment she lays eyes on Lola, Agnes knows she’s hiding something but she also knows she won’t be able to resist Lola.
I really liked the way this story was told. I enjoyed Lola’s determination and her ability to change her mind. I also liked that it was an age-gape romance, as those are one of my favorites. The atmosphere is also fantastic. I will admit that there were some plot holes and a couple of convenient timings that made me roll my eyes. But I still enjoyed it. The steamy sex scenes were definitely my favorite part.
However, I did have some issues. First, there were sometimes where I was really confused. I like that they spent some time together, talking and getting to know each other, but I don't think that one night of flirtation and dinner together was enough for them to fall in love. I felt that the reveal was a letdown. I just was expecting more. The writing isn't bad, but it didn't wow me, and there were a few repetitive things that were annoying.
Overall, I did enjoy this. If you're looking for a sapphic romance with some mystery in it, I do recommend this. Thank you to Netgalley and Ylva Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
lostinbooks2001's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I figured out who the "bad guy" was pretty early on, but it didn't really bothered me or took away from the story, so the book still got 5 stars.
00leah00's review against another edition
4.0
4 Stars
“House of Agnes” is an enemies-to-lovers romance with a side of mystery/intrigue that will keep you guessing. Some may call it a mystery/intrigue with a side of romance. I think it’ll depend on the reader for which they like better. I really enjoyed this for the most part. There were some places where I had to suspend my belief for a bit, but otherwise it was an entertaining read.
Lola is an investigative reporter who is trying to take down the madam of a high-end escort service, Agnes. Her sister was killed years ago and she blames Agnes for her death. Agnes rules her empire with an iron fist and the only way for Lola to do what she needs to do is from the inside.
I enjoyed Lola and Agnes together, but the romance wasn’t my favorite part. They had nice chemistry and I liked that they could be themselves (to a point) with each other. Neither one trusts the other for different reasons but they can’t stay away from each other either. They both lie and manipulate to get what they want but at the end of the day, they want each other. Their romance doesn’t get very deep and I wish I could’ve seen them together more when they finally started being honest with each other.
As for the mystery side, this is what kept me reading. There were a couple of different things going on and while I did guess a few of them; there were a few twists that I didn’t see coming and kept my attention until the end. I will admit there were some plot holes and a couple of convenient timing things that made me roll my eyes a little. But I still enjoyed it for what it was.
Like I said, I really enjoyed this. However, I did have my issues. I’ll try to describe them without giving out too many details because I don’t want to spoil it. First of all, I found it hard to believe that Agnes would make some of the decisions she makes. She’s smart, rich, and powerful and she knows there are people trying to take her down. Despite all that, she still walks around the city without her security or puts herself in a position where she is easily accessible to outsiders? Adding to that, I found it extremely unlikely that Lola would be able to have all the access she seemingly has. It was amazing how she was able to get in to places she should’ve never had access to because honestly, she really didn’t seem all that great at her job. Lastly, I don’t know if I’ve ever come across a mask that completely hid the identity of someone I have feelings for…
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
“House of Agnes” is an enemies-to-lovers romance with a side of mystery/intrigue that will keep you guessing. Some may call it a mystery/intrigue with a side of romance. I think it’ll depend on the reader for which they like better. I really enjoyed this for the most part. There were some places where I had to suspend my belief for a bit, but otherwise it was an entertaining read.
Lola is an investigative reporter who is trying to take down the madam of a high-end escort service, Agnes. Her sister was killed years ago and she blames Agnes for her death. Agnes rules her empire with an iron fist and the only way for Lola to do what she needs to do is from the inside.
I enjoyed Lola and Agnes together, but the romance wasn’t my favorite part. They had nice chemistry and I liked that they could be themselves (to a point) with each other. Neither one trusts the other for different reasons but they can’t stay away from each other either. They both lie and manipulate to get what they want but at the end of the day, they want each other. Their romance doesn’t get very deep and I wish I could’ve seen them together more when they finally started being honest with each other.
As for the mystery side, this is what kept me reading. There were a couple of different things going on and while I did guess a few of them; there were a few twists that I didn’t see coming and kept my attention until the end. I will admit there were some plot holes and a couple of convenient timing things that made me roll my eyes a little. But I still enjoyed it for what it was.
Like I said, I really enjoyed this. However, I did have my issues. I’ll try to describe them without giving out too many details because I don’t want to spoil it. First of all, I found it hard to believe that Agnes would make some of the decisions she makes. She’s smart, rich, and powerful and she knows there are people trying to take her down. Despite all that, she still walks around the city without her security or puts herself in a position where she is easily accessible to outsiders? Adding to that, I found it extremely unlikely that Lola would be able to have all the access she seemingly has. It was amazing how she was able to get in to places she should’ve never had access to because honestly, she really didn’t seem all that great at her job. Lastly, I don’t know if I’ve ever come across a mask that completely hid the identity of someone I have feelings for…
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.