Reviews

The Awakening of Ivy Leavold by Sierra Simone

ourhandsfull's review

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

Awakening of Ivy Leavold 

Thank you Dreamscape Select for sending an early copy of this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is a novella, seemingly one third a story. It cut off suddenly at the end without resolving anything. It would be more accurately be described as Markham Hall part one not book one. So I’m reviewing it as part of a book.  For the first third of a historical fiction erotica mystery romance story, it’s quite  good. The mystery is well set up. The reader is shown suspects. The spicy scenes were part of the plot.  This feel like Simone was going for erotica meets Wuthering Heights. 

I listened to the audio narration. I think the narrator did quite well. Her voice is perfect for Ivy, and I liked her voices for all of the other characters except the MMC, Julian Markham.  

readwithanna's review

2.5

This was both too long and too short. And I don't like the voices the narrator does. 

bucolicbookshelf's review against another edition

3.5

Why have I not read more Sierra Simone before now? This is only my third title by her, and I need to rectify that. 

It’s a good set up for the series - you learn the basics about everyone, have a few steamy scenes (spice level - 1.5/5), and, if you’re like me, you really want to read the next books in the series. 

But, 

*Yes, Ivy, we get it, you have no good marriage prospects. 

*I missed the backstory - I’m hoping that with the next titles readers will learn more

*The narrator did a terrific job with voices, though had an unfortunate tendency to lean toward annoying sing-songy breathiness in this.

Overall, I enjoyed this more than not, and look forward to reading more of the series. 

Thank you to No Bird Press LLC / Dreamscape Select and NetGalley for the ALC 

booksta_adventure's review

4.0

"𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙥𝙤𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙮. 𝙄 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣[…]𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙢 𝙖𝙨 𝙄 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣. 𝙄 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙤𝙗 𝙪𝙥 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙘—𝙠."

Let’s just say this one was short and dirty. 🥵

Ivy has been left destitute, but her late cousin’s widow has taken her in, and she gets a quick education in 🌶️! 

…Oh, and also, her cousin’s death was under somewhat mysterious circumstances. 🫢

Sierra Simone knows how to write spice, and there’s some good stuff in this short little novella. 

Not only is the tension between Ivy and Mr. Markham 🔥, but he also has a group of friends that definitely enjoy a good time!

This is just little sneak peak of the 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘩𝘢𝘮 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭 series, and I am definitely interested in continuing on. Zara Hampton-Brown narrated this one, and she’s a favorite of mine. Looking at the rest of the audiobooks in this series, I spot a few more favorites, so I’ll definitely be looking into continuing on via audio!

Thank you to Dreamscape Select, No Bird Press LLC and @netgalley for providing me an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

What this book is giving:

✅ Historical Er0t!c Romance

✅ Novella

✅ Gothic Vibes

✅ Death under mysterious circumstances 🧐

✅ Very “close” circle of friends 😘 

✅ Cliffhanger

Rating: 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

🌶️🌶️🌶️½ / 5

julesbarthe10's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

2.0

I typically enjoy a historical adult romance, I've also previously read a Sierra Simone book and enjoyed it. I don't know even where to begin with how I feel about this book. I understand this was a short book so everything was going to be rushed, but the absolute jump of trying to protect Ivy's virtue and keep her innocent to literally allowing 13 people to finger, lick, and touch her while also never asking for her consent before hand or even asking what she was comfortable with strangers doing was just WILD to me. Absolutely no discussion of consent for what he allowed to happen during the blind mans bluff game, and also how do you say you want to keep some one innocent then invite a bunch of sex crazed fanatics over to the house in hopes they will somehow keep you from tarnishing her virtue. How does that make a lick of sense. The that CLIFF HANGER just an absolute abrupt ending I was flabbergasted. There was a good story in here if you took out the blind mans bluff game and maybe not such an abrupt ending, but this book had me astonished at how they tried to use historical society standards but modern day sexuality all at once and at the pace of the speed of light.

emfahastra's review against another edition

4.0

Marry me Sierra Simone!!!

kmbooky's review

4.0

Very good book. Definitely a spicy story and one I'd love to hear more of. I was very upset that it ended. I'd like to know what happens with the characters and the cousins death. 

mackbmack's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No

4.25

jeehernandez87's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

4.0

Set in the Victorian Era, this fast paced romance will catch your attention and leave you blushing! This quick read is perfect for fans of Bridgerton - as long as you don’t mind a step up in the spice department. A grumpy powerful man welcomes his deceased wife’s young and naïve cousin into his home after her brother (her provider) passes away. Following his wife’s untimely death, there are rumors swirling and he seems to be at the center of it. A powerful, possessive and private man opening his home, is it out of the goodness of his heart, or does he have dark intentions? This book definitely ends on a cliff hanger, so it’s perfect for those looking for a romance series. 

I would like to thank Sierra Simon, the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. The narrator also deserves mention as it really was narrated with the perfect accent, annunciation and emotion throughout.

pinkcowlandreads's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0