Reviews

This debut left both of us wanting something... different. The angst was up to 11 (tragedy porn!) and the BDSM was used as therapy. We might give Peckham another chance, but this one didn't do it for us.

13-Word Summaries:

Laine: The only things stronger than the matrimonial bonds are a dead family and BDSM.

Meg: Duke likes being birched! Now he’s in love with a woman named “Poplar.”

www.linktr.ee/plottrysts

beccaand's review against another edition

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dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

this cover is luscious, and the book matches - thoroughly wowed by Scarlett Peckham's writing

Content Warnings

ceridwyn's review against another edition

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3.0

I really liked the characters, the set up and the dialogue. For once I even coped with the fact that if they just talked to each other everything would be fine. Or I did the for the first three misunderstandings... after that I started taking off stars.

givemaribooks's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I was a bit disappointed by this book. I had certain expectations going in based on the synopsis and the plot, and those expectations were not met. I went in thinking this would be very steamy, perhaps there would be some kink since it involves a sex club, but instead I got some steam, a little kink, and LOTS of angst. There was soooo much angst for no reason. These two kept moving one step forward and two steps back. Every time I felt the relationship was moving forward, they would fight again or something would go wrong, and most of it involved miscommunications or just not talking to each other honestly. It's a shame because I liked the characters and the premise, but the push and pull just took away from me being able to really see them together as a couple.

MINOR SPOILERS
One of the main issues in their relationship was the mmc hiding his kink, and I don't like that she found out by following him and discovered him at the club. I wish she had found out because he told her. It makes me think that when other issues arise he won't tell her again. There seemed to be no lesson learned about showing your partners who you are. Would he had kept it to himself for years or forever if she had not found out on her own? There's also the fact that for most people what he did at the club would be considered cheating. I am on the fence about it, and I think within this context I do not think it is truly cheating but it almost is. And even if it's not fully cheating, there never is a conversation about it, the fact that he did it behind her back with another domme is crossing a boundary. If the fmc does not think it is cheating, then I would have liked to see her say that/think it. Just some acknowledgment that a boundary was crossed. Instead she forgives him for messing up their relationship and hiding things very quickly, and just moves on to becoming a domme herself. I just felt that it was done too quickly and without any real groveling.

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