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rjordan19's reviews
976 reviews
A Perilous Flirtation by Felicity Niven
adventurous
emotional
tense
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
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit, Niven has a deliciously witty writing style
Perspective: third person from the heroine and hero (and a bit from the heroine’s mother)
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: It takes quite a bit – though they have a light history upon starting the story (a prior 10 minute meet up), they aren’t actually on page together until chapter 12 (of 35)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, a number of years later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of the boxset The Collection which included this novel
Why I chose this book: I was gifted Niven’s box set for The Collection and had always been meaning to read book 3 of the series (I read books 1 and 2 years ago) so I took the opportunity to do so!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
I think you should! You will get a much better establishment of these characters and their personalities and relationships. All the characters from the prior books are in this story so it’s helpful to know them. But at its heart the romance does stand alone.
Basic plot:
Arabella starts a new life in Scotland after being ruined. Years settled, the first crush of her heart, Doctor Alasdair Andrews comes to bring her home to assist with her sister’s pregnancy.
Give this a try if you want:
- 1820 for the first few chapters, then 1823
- English heroine / Scottish hero
- age gap – he’s older by 10 years
- dimpled hero
- strong family ties
- unrequited longing from both
- teacher heroine
- road trip
- never been kissed virgin hero
- doctor hero
- snowed in
- fake marriage
- short heroine
- low to mid steam with a slow burn – 2ish full scenes
Ages:
- heroine is almost 18 at the start of the story but for the ‘main’ part of the story, she is almost 21, hero is 31
First line:
Twenty-five-year-old Mary Lovelock Vaughan, the Viscountess Tregaron, leaned over and picked up a flat stone from the shingle.
My thoughts:
My god Niven can really pull on the heartstrings. I have never read a book with a ruined heroine that gutted me like this set up did. The entire first section of chapters was so, so emotional and such a deep set up for our heroine, Arabella.
I really loved both of these main characters. They were so real and I was rooting for them so hard. When the focus was on them I was sooo happy. I think my favorite was the carriage ride before they get snowed in because it was all about them.
My struggle with this book was the things that pulled us away from the mains. It takes a long while before the mains are on page together and then for the latter half of the book they are snowed in and together, but at a country manor with other guests that for me took away from the story a bit after awhile. I loved the twist of Arabella coming back to face her tormentor and coming out on top though. This was another totally unique HR read.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 9
Average rating: 4.67 stars
Favorite book: Bed Me Baron but don’t hold me to it.
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
He should find a way to sharpen his razor. In case, just in case, there was the slightest chance she might ever put her cheek to his again, he did not want to scratch her. He must have a smooth jaw for her.
And then he realized he was about to spend seven or more days in a carriage with Arabella Lovelock.
He must think of something to say to her.
He sat up.
Perhaps he should make some notes.
---
He shifted in his own seat. Foolishness. He would never have license to do what he wished. Not with her.
He attempted to read a letter in a medical periodical about a bladder stone surgery. He leaned forward, his forearms on his thighs, head down, trying to make sense of the words.
The air in the carriage suddenly seemed charged. His skin tingled.
He looked up.
Arabella’s eyes were open, and she was looking at him.
He looked back.
A smile curved her lips.
---
What did he want to be?
There could only be one answer to that.
“I want to be the man who exceeds yer expectations.” He was startled by how strong his voice was.
He willed himself to get up and was equally surprised to find his will had overcome his writhing intestines and he was, in fact, moving across the short distance between them.
“And I dinnae.”
He sat beside her.
“Want.”
He took both of her hands.
“To be appropriate.”
---
“We’re going back to Scotland.”
“Why?”
“Because in Scotland there isnae need for a license or banns or permission from yer mother. I am going to marry ye today, Mrs. Andrews, and then I am going to bed ye today, Mrs. Andrews, and give ye the beginning of a redheaded baby, and the issue will be decided.”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- we get detailed scenes of a man taking advantage of Arabella – its all consensual but he knows what he’s doing and she’s innocent…
- death of a friend of the hero
- parental death
- estranged parent/child
- facing your abuser
- poisoning of a side character
- surgery performed on page
Author content warnings? I believe Niven has content warnings on her website
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? A side character might be pregnant in the story. Toward the end, his POV says he wants a child with her and they will try in the future
Chapter 3 – kiss between Arabella (heroine) and Giles
Chapter 4 – kisses between Arabella and Giles that lead to sex in the carriage
Chapter 15 – kisses between Arabella and Alasdair
Chapter 16 – she touches him in the carriage and he spends VERY quickly (short)
Chapter 20 – kisses
Chapter 24 – kiss
Chapter 30 – 🔥 missionary, fingering for her, missionary again
Chapter 33 – 🔥 oral for her, bj for him, missionary followed by another scene
Total chapters - 35
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit, Niven has a deliciously witty writing style
Perspective: third person from the heroine and hero (and a bit from the heroine’s mother)
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: It takes quite a bit – though they have a light history upon starting the story (a prior 10 minute meet up), they aren’t actually on page together until chapter 12 (of 35)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, a number of years later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of the boxset The Collection which included this novel
Why I chose this book: I was gifted Niven’s box set for The Collection and had always been meaning to read book 3 of the series (I read books 1 and 2 years ago) so I took the opportunity to do so!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
I think you should! You will get a much better establishment of these characters and their personalities and relationships. All the characters from the prior books are in this story so it’s helpful to know them. But at its heart the romance does stand alone.
Basic plot:
Arabella starts a new life in Scotland after being ruined. Years settled, the first crush of her heart, Doctor Alasdair Andrews comes to bring her home to assist with her sister’s pregnancy.
Give this a try if you want:
- 1820 for the first few chapters, then 1823
- English heroine / Scottish hero
- age gap – he’s older by 10 years
- dimpled hero
- strong family ties
- unrequited longing from both
- teacher heroine
- road trip
- never been kissed virgin hero
- doctor hero
- snowed in
- fake marriage
- short heroine
- low to mid steam with a slow burn – 2ish full scenes
Ages:
- heroine is almost 18 at the start of the story but for the ‘main’ part of the story, she is almost 21, hero is 31
First line:
Twenty-five-year-old Mary Lovelock Vaughan, the Viscountess Tregaron, leaned over and picked up a flat stone from the shingle.
My thoughts:
My god Niven can really pull on the heartstrings. I have never read a book with a ruined heroine that gutted me like this set up did. The entire first section of chapters was so, so emotional and such a deep set up for our heroine, Arabella.
I really loved both of these main characters. They were so real and I was rooting for them so hard. When the focus was on them I was sooo happy. I think my favorite was the carriage ride before they get snowed in because it was all about them.
My struggle with this book was the things that pulled us away from the mains. It takes a long while before the mains are on page together and then for the latter half of the book they are snowed in and together, but at a country manor with other guests that for me took away from the story a bit after awhile. I loved the twist of Arabella coming back to face her tormentor and coming out on top though. This was another totally unique HR read.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 9
Average rating: 4.67 stars
Favorite book: Bed Me Baron but don’t hold me to it.
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
He should find a way to sharpen his razor. In case, just in case, there was the slightest chance she might ever put her cheek to his again, he did not want to scratch her. He must have a smooth jaw for her.
And then he realized he was about to spend seven or more days in a carriage with Arabella Lovelock.
He must think of something to say to her.
He sat up.
Perhaps he should make some notes.
---
He shifted in his own seat. Foolishness. He would never have license to do what he wished. Not with her.
He attempted to read a letter in a medical periodical about a bladder stone surgery. He leaned forward, his forearms on his thighs, head down, trying to make sense of the words.
The air in the carriage suddenly seemed charged. His skin tingled.
He looked up.
Arabella’s eyes were open, and she was looking at him.
He looked back.
A smile curved her lips.
---
What did he want to be?
There could only be one answer to that.
“I want to be the man who exceeds yer expectations.” He was startled by how strong his voice was.
He willed himself to get up and was equally surprised to find his will had overcome his writhing intestines and he was, in fact, moving across the short distance between them.
“And I dinnae.”
He sat beside her.
“Want.”
He took both of her hands.
“To be appropriate.”
---
“We’re going back to Scotland.”
“Why?”
“Because in Scotland there isnae need for a license or banns or permission from yer mother. I am going to marry ye today, Mrs. Andrews, and then I am going to bed ye today, Mrs. Andrews, and give ye the beginning of a redheaded baby, and the issue will be decided.”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- we get detailed scenes of a man taking advantage of Arabella – its all consensual but he knows what he’s doing and she’s innocent…
- death of a friend of the hero
- parental death
- estranged parent/child
- facing your abuser
- poisoning of a side character
- surgery performed on page
Author content warnings? I believe Niven has content warnings on her website
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
Chapter 3 – kiss between Arabella (heroine) and Giles
Chapter 4 – kisses between Arabella and Giles that lead to sex in the carriage
Chapter 15 – kisses between Arabella and Alasdair
Chapter 16 – she touches him in the carriage and he spends VERY quickly (short)
Chapter 20 – kisses
Chapter 24 – kiss
Chapter 30 – 🔥 missionary, fingering for her, missionary again
Chapter 33 – 🔥 oral for her, bj for him, missionary followed by another scene
Total chapters - 35
A Lady of His Own by Stephanie Laurens
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Overall: ⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (The scenes were...fine – I know how Laurens can be (WORDY AF) but these were just kind of bleh to me – they lacked an emotional aspect I have felt in some of her other books)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥+
Humor: A touch
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow AF
When mains are first on page together: very soon in, about 1% in (chapter 1)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No but the last part kind of wraps everything up
Format: listened to an audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: I started the Bastion Club series awhile ago and eventually want to finish
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
I wouldn’t say it’s totally necessary but there’s some minor character overlap and mention of previous events.
Basic plot:
Penelope and Charles come together to solve a mystery after a 13 year separation.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1816
- Earl hero
- hero wants a wife
- former soldier hero (a spy during the war against France)
- second chance
- higher steam – she’s a bit euphemistic but you know what’s going on - 8-9 full scenes
Ages:
- heroine is 29, hero is about 33
First line: (Taken from audio, may be off)
Crack. A log shattered in the grate.
My thoughts:
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
I thought this book would never end. Literally every percentage felt like days.
I had a disconnect with the narrator on this one. She didn’t have a bad voice at all but there was just something...it didn’t feel like romance. I don’t know, I felt like I was listening to Judge Judy in a way 😆 It was very like….abrupt? I don’t know. I might have to read the next book and see if it helps.
This had a bunch of things I don’t love in romance. Spies. Mystery. Second chance. And with Laurens way of saying the same sentence 3-5 times I thought I was going to die.
I can really love Laurens writing when it’s got my favorite things. Then it’s like triple the amount of sentences of my favorite things. 😆 But that wasn’t this one sadly. I’m hoping I like the later Bastion Club books a bit more! In this one, they already had a relationship 13 years prior. So when they meet again there just wasn’t a good tension build up for me because they kind of fell into each other again. There wasn’t that uncertainty that gives me butterflies. And then with the mystery plot taking over and pages and pages and pages and pages and pages and pages of sex I didn’t care about I was just ready for it to be dooooooone.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 16
Average rating: 3.5 stars
Favorite book: probably The Lady Chosen
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- mention of family deaths (brothers/parents)
- their first time together she was 16 and he was 20 and then he left her to go to the war…
- murder, violence and death on page
Author content warnings? None listed
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? I don’t recall children or pregnancy in this story for the mains but there is a mention of a side character having children and a mention of stillbirth
18% - kisses
23% - kisses and breast play
28% - kisses
32% - kisses
40% - kisses, touches (I think she has one???)
46% - kisses, fingering for her
52% - her on top
59% - missionary? Maybe?
67% - sex – a bit light compared to prior scenes
72% - sex
76% - sex
84% - sex
99% - sex
Readability: 📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (The scenes were...fine – I know how Laurens can be (WORDY AF) but these were just kind of bleh to me – they lacked an emotional aspect I have felt in some of her other books)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥+
Humor: A touch
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow AF
When mains are first on page together: very soon in, about 1% in (chapter 1)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No but the last part kind of wraps everything up
Format: listened to an audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: I started the Bastion Club series awhile ago and eventually want to finish
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
I wouldn’t say it’s totally necessary but there’s some minor character overlap and mention of previous events.
Basic plot:
Penelope and Charles come together to solve a mystery after a 13 year separation.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1816
- Earl hero
- hero wants a wife
- former soldier hero (a spy during the war against France)
- second chance
- higher steam – she’s a bit euphemistic but you know what’s going on - 8-9 full scenes
Ages:
- heroine is 29, hero is about 33
First line: (Taken from audio, may be off)
Crack. A log shattered in the grate.
My thoughts:
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
I thought this book would never end. Literally every percentage felt like days.
I had a disconnect with the narrator on this one. She didn’t have a bad voice at all but there was just something...it didn’t feel like romance. I don’t know, I felt like I was listening to Judge Judy in a way 😆 It was very like….abrupt? I don’t know. I might have to read the next book and see if it helps.
This had a bunch of things I don’t love in romance. Spies. Mystery. Second chance. And with Laurens way of saying the same sentence 3-5 times I thought I was going to die.
I can really love Laurens writing when it’s got my favorite things. Then it’s like triple the amount of sentences of my favorite things. 😆 But that wasn’t this one sadly. I’m hoping I like the later Bastion Club books a bit more! In this one, they already had a relationship 13 years prior. So when they meet again there just wasn’t a good tension build up for me because they kind of fell into each other again. There wasn’t that uncertainty that gives me butterflies. And then with the mystery plot taking over and pages and pages and pages and pages and pages and pages of sex I didn’t care about I was just ready for it to be dooooooone.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 16
Average rating: 3.5 stars
Favorite book: probably The Lady Chosen
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- mention of family deaths (brothers/parents)
- their first time together she was 16 and he was 20 and then he left her to go to the war…
- murder, violence and death on page
Author content warnings? None listed
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
18% - kisses
23% - kisses and breast play
28% - kisses
32% - kisses
40% - kisses, touches (I think she has one???)
46% - kisses, fingering for her
52% - her on top
59% - missionary? Maybe?
67% - sex – a bit light compared to prior scenes
72% - sex
76% - sex
84% - sex
99% - sex
Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖 (I loved a lot about this novel, but it did feel like it went on longer than I wanted)
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? I feel like it was a really balanced mix – first half is more character and the latter half is more plot
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Pretty soon in – chapter 1 of 31
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, and it’s so cute – it’s done through letters throughout the following years (1819, 1821, 1821, 1824, 1826, 1826
Format: listened to an audiobook from the library (Hoopla) and read an e-book version through NetGalley (switched between the two)
Why I chose this book: I love Vasti 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?
I think this okay to pick up alone! But you do get to meet the heroine in book 1 of this series.
Basic plot:
Lydia goes to Scotland to offer marriage to the Earl of Strathrannoch – but when she arrives, she finds she’s been terribly misled...
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (didn’t catch a date but this takes place after book 1 in the series, which is 1815)
- Scotland setting
- English heroine / Scottish hero
- politically minded heroine
- must kiss you to avoid discovery
- fake marriage
- some road trip vibes with one bed and one horse
- heroine has social anxiety
- mystery to solve together
- mid to higher steam – I might be off a bit because my notes were sketchy but at least 4 full scenes
Ages:
- heroine is 26, didn’t catch hero but think he’s around 30?
First line:
“Based upon our respective financial situations, our mutually agreeable political interests, and the general compatability of our persons,” Lydia Hope-Wallace said, “it seems to both our advantages that we unite in holy matrimony.”
My thoughts:
There was so much I adored about this book. Vasti’s writing is really wonderful. I love her dialogue and how she develops her mains. I really fell in love with both of these main characters. Lydia is just adorable, I feel for her so much (and understand) her social anxiety. And Arthur was just the best. I love how he slowly lost his mind and heart over Lydia. I fell for him hard the moment he grabbed Lydia up and rescued her from the zebra stampede.
My favorite parts of this book were more centered in the first half of the book. I wasn’t super into the mystery-ish/spy plot of this one – I did like it overall but thought it drug on a bit too long for me and I found myself ready for the book to be over before it was...but when the mains were together and focused on each other I was so in love. The spice was super delightful to me – Arthur was so emotional and obsessed with Lydia and he just melted my heart repeatedly.
So definitely a fun read but the espionage plot took it down a bit for me.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 5
Average rating: 4.8 stars
Favorite book: In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
He was an enormous fellow, tall – considerably taller even than Jasper, the tallest of her brothers – and probably twice as broad about the shoulder as Jasper as well. His hair was a goldfish sort of brown, curly and rumpled, and his face was obscured by a haphazard growth of whiskers.
---
“I am here,” she said, “to marry you.”
No, that wasn’t how she’d written it out. Strathrannoch made a faint choking sound, and, at her size, Georgiana did as well.
“I have money,” Lydia said desperately.
---
“My name is Lydia-Hope-Wallace,” she said finally, “and this is my friend Lady Georgiana Cleeve.” She looked down and gestured at the dog. “And this is Sir Francis Bacon.”
Arthur did not know what to do with that information. He elected to nod.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- some minor scenes of violence
Author content warnings? This novel contains non-graphic threatened violence and historic firearm usage, as well as brief references to homophobia and past parental death
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? No children or pregnancy in the story, but babies in the epilogue
Chapter 12 – kisses
Chapter 13 – kisses
Chapter 16 – 🔥 fingering for her, dry humping against a door
Instinctively, she spread her legs, and then moaned as his tongue made a hot swipe down the side of her neck.
“Hush,” he said. She felt his fingers bunched in her night rail, the silk pulling right across her hips, and then one hand was beneath, sliding up her inner thigh. “Lydia, my love, you cannot be so loud – ah God you feel – ah fuck -”
Chapter 19 - 🔥 fingering for her, handy for him outside
He dragged his teeth along her skin and yanked her bodice down, baring her glorious breasts. “You’ve no idea the things I want to do to you.”
“Do them,” she gasped. “All of them. Don’t stop.”
Fuck, he thought, oh fuck, because her nipple was in his mouth and she was making those sounds again, eager and frantic as he flicked the taut nub with his tongue and then sucked.
Chapter 22 – 🔥 her on top while she holds the headboard
”I will never regret it,” she whispered. “Never, Arthur. I want everything you said – Strathrannoch Castle and the meadowsweet and your hands in mine. I want you. I care for you. I -”
He surged forward and pressed her up against the wall.
She gasped. His body was large and hard. His hands went to her waist, pulling her up, his knee sliding between her legs.
“Thank Christ,” he rasped. “God forgive me, Lydia, but it would have killed me to let you go.”
Chapter 24 - 🔥 oral for her, her on top
”Say my name,” he said hoarsely.
“Arthur,” she murmured.
The sound of his name on her lips felt almost like a release in itself – a physical pleasure, a throb of need.
He pulled his fingers from her body and she made a wordless sound of protest. Her lashes fluttered open, her eyes all dazed dark blue as she found his face.
“Say it again,” he ordered.
“Arthur.”
He thrust his fingers into her and heard a groan, a gasp, hers, his – he did not know.
Chapter 29 - kisses
Total Chapters: 31
Readability: 📖📖📖📖 (I loved a lot about this novel, but it did feel like it went on longer than I wanted)
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? I feel like it was a really balanced mix – first half is more character and the latter half is more plot
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Pretty soon in – chapter 1 of 31
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, and it’s so cute – it’s done through letters throughout the following years (1819, 1821, 1821, 1824, 1826, 1826
Format: listened to an audiobook from the library (Hoopla) and read an e-book version through NetGalley (switched between the two)
Why I chose this book: I love Vasti 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?
I think this okay to pick up alone! But you do get to meet the heroine in book 1 of this series.
Basic plot:
Lydia goes to Scotland to offer marriage to the Earl of Strathrannoch – but when she arrives, she finds she’s been terribly misled...
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (didn’t catch a date but this takes place after book 1 in the series, which is 1815)
- Scotland setting
- English heroine / Scottish hero
- politically minded heroine
- must kiss you to avoid discovery
- fake marriage
- some road trip vibes with one bed and one horse
- heroine has social anxiety
- mystery to solve together
- mid to higher steam – I might be off a bit because my notes were sketchy but at least 4 full scenes
Ages:
- heroine is 26, didn’t catch hero but think he’s around 30?
First line:
“Based upon our respective financial situations, our mutually agreeable political interests, and the general compatability of our persons,” Lydia Hope-Wallace said, “it seems to both our advantages that we unite in holy matrimony.”
My thoughts:
There was so much I adored about this book. Vasti’s writing is really wonderful. I love her dialogue and how she develops her mains. I really fell in love with both of these main characters. Lydia is just adorable, I feel for her so much (and understand) her social anxiety. And Arthur was just the best. I love how he slowly lost his mind and heart over Lydia. I fell for him hard the moment he grabbed Lydia up and rescued her from the zebra stampede.
My favorite parts of this book were more centered in the first half of the book. I wasn’t super into the mystery-ish/spy plot of this one – I did like it overall but thought it drug on a bit too long for me and I found myself ready for the book to be over before it was...but when the mains were together and focused on each other I was so in love. The spice was super delightful to me – Arthur was so emotional and obsessed with Lydia and he just melted my heart repeatedly.
So definitely a fun read but the espionage plot took it down a bit for me.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 5
Average rating: 4.8 stars
Favorite book: In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
He was an enormous fellow, tall – considerably taller even than Jasper, the tallest of her brothers – and probably twice as broad about the shoulder as Jasper as well. His hair was a goldfish sort of brown, curly and rumpled, and his face was obscured by a haphazard growth of whiskers.
---
“I am here,” she said, “to marry you.”
No, that wasn’t how she’d written it out. Strathrannoch made a faint choking sound, and, at her size, Georgiana did as well.
“I have money,” Lydia said desperately.
---
“My name is Lydia-Hope-Wallace,” she said finally, “and this is my friend Lady Georgiana Cleeve.” She looked down and gestured at the dog. “And this is Sir Francis Bacon.”
Arthur did not know what to do with that information. He elected to nod.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- some minor scenes of violence
Author content warnings? This novel contains non-graphic threatened violence and historic firearm usage, as well as brief references to homophobia and past parental death
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
Chapter 12 – kisses
Chapter 13 – kisses
Chapter 16 – 🔥 fingering for her, dry humping against a door
Instinctively, she spread her legs, and then moaned as his tongue made a hot swipe down the side of her neck.
“Hush,” he said. She felt his fingers bunched in her night rail, the silk pulling right across her hips, and then one hand was beneath, sliding up her inner thigh. “Lydia, my love, you cannot be so loud – ah God you feel – ah fuck -”
Chapter 19 - 🔥 fingering for her, handy for him outside
He dragged his teeth along her skin and yanked her bodice down, baring her glorious breasts. “You’ve no idea the things I want to do to you.”
“Do them,” she gasped. “All of them. Don’t stop.”
Fuck, he thought, oh fuck, because her nipple was in his mouth and she was making those sounds again, eager and frantic as he flicked the taut nub with his tongue and then sucked.
Chapter 22 – 🔥 her on top while she holds the headboard
”I will never regret it,” she whispered. “Never, Arthur. I want everything you said – Strathrannoch Castle and the meadowsweet and your hands in mine. I want you. I care for you. I -”
He surged forward and pressed her up against the wall.
She gasped. His body was large and hard. His hands went to her waist, pulling her up, his knee sliding between her legs.
“Thank Christ,” he rasped. “God forgive me, Lydia, but it would have killed me to let you go.”
Chapter 24 - 🔥 oral for her, her on top
”Say my name,” he said hoarsely.
“Arthur,” she murmured.
The sound of his name on her lips felt almost like a release in itself – a physical pleasure, a throb of need.
He pulled his fingers from her body and she made a wordless sound of protest. Her lashes fluttered open, her eyes all dazed dark blue as she found his face.
“Say it again,” he ordered.
“Arthur.”
He thrust his fingers into her and heard a groan, a gasp, hers, his – he did not know.
Chapter 29 - kisses
Total Chapters: 31
Dances with Pucks by Debbie Charles
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
5.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: first person from both hero and heroine with 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: Not too far in – 4% (chapter 1)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happy for now for the mains
Epilogue: Yes, a few months in the future
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book format
Why I chose this book: I have loved Maggie Sims (her historical name) and was eager to try more in her contemporary books!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
You can start here! But there is a prequel novella that you can get as a newsletter freebie.
Basic plot:
Cam finds a dance course to keep him limber during his off days from hockey – and he’s head over heels for his instructor. Who also happens to be co-owner of his team...
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- Texas setting
- hockey romance – Goalie hero
- he’s tall – 6’ 3” – there is a small size difference (heroine is around 5’ 9”/10”) but she is also tall for a woman
- found family
- heroine is a financial investor, hockey team owner, and dance instructor
- endometriosis rep
- he takes dance to stay limber
- he’s younger than her
- celibate heroine
- hero has a dimple
- medium steam – 3ish full scenes (I could be a bit off, so I’d take this as a minimum)
Ages:
- hero is 24, heroine is 30
First line:
The sliding glass doors of the terminal open to a wall of heat, and I stagger back a step.
My thoughts:
Yay for playlists! I love when books include them and this one has one – it was especially fun to check out with the dancing scenes in the book.
I adored this novel so, so much. It was so fun. I loved both our mains right away. Their backgrounds have complex issues, but the way they come together and are so vulnerable and open with each other was so heart melting. There were a handful of forbidden love aspects to their relationship and I adored how they fell for each other so hard anyway.
This book had a great mix to me of character focused interactions. I loved the hockey scenes – especially from a goalie perspective. But I especially adored the dancing scenes – I sometimes have a hard time picturing scenes in books and their practices together were so well done. I could feel their tension building and it’s just such a perfect set up for a romance.
They had real issues on a few fronts, and I loved how they resolved them. This was such a steamy yet sweet read that I utterly loved.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my 2nd for Debbie Charles. If including her HR name, Maggie Sims, then this is 11.
Average rating: 5 stars. If including her HR name Maggie Sims, 4.9 stars
Favorite book: For Debbie Charles pen name, this one! For all books from Maggie Sims/Debbie Charles….maybe Charlotte’s Control?
Endearments
The hockey team calls the hero ‘Prancer’ and he calls the heroine ‘Dancer’
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
As he’s getting unwanted attention...
“No.” I fold my arms and of course her gaze goes to the bulge of my biceps against my ribs. That’s the only bulge she’ll be seeing.
---
In the next moment, my mouth goes dry. I swallow.
In the front of the house, a woman in a leotard and dancer’s wrap skirt is demonstrating a pivot to a pair of dancers. She’s my perfect...everything. I’d guess she is five-nine or -ten, wearing dance shoes with straps across the inset and a two-inch heel that would bring her to nose height on me.
---
He’s wearing dance shoes. Yes, please. Dance with me.
But social hour is almost over. Clearing my throat, I step toward him. “Can I help you?”
“I hope so. Christina?” He holds out a bear-paw-sized hand. At my nod, he adds, “I’m Cam.”
I shake his hand, my breath stuttering at the warm dry calloused skin engulfing mine.
---
He pulls my arm, stepping into a close hold and circling us in a tight position.
I lose my breath at the sensation of his length against me. And I do mean his length.
---
YES. Nod to HR
I’m starting to understand those bodice rippers’ references to heaving bosoms.
---
I grin. I can hold a squat for two hours – most of my game time is spent in that pose. I widen my feet and drop low.
Standing, she rotates one leg from the hip in a circle, toe pointed and knee straight. Her foot is on par with her head at the top.
I mirror it, my foot also even with my considerably higher head at the top.
Her mouth drops open.
I arch a cocky brow.
---
I’ve never been full-length against him like this. I close my eyes and enjoy his post-practice soap and deodorant scent. Under my hands, his back muscles shift and flex. His pecs are like steel against my cheek and I want to bite them, but they’re so hard I probably couldn’t get purchase.
He sucks in a huge breath, and his shirt and muscles rasp against my leotard-covered breasts.
---
I can’t remember a single one of the many reasons I thought this was a bad idea. All I can process is this magnificent mountain of muscle under me.
I sigh against his lips. They’re lush and plush and I really, really need to stop with the rhyming.
---
My mouth goes dry as her luscious peach of an ass passes my head. I want to bite it. Then I want to lay her on the desk and worship her with my lips and tongue. Or play teacher and naughty student who she takes to his knees. Or -
She’s back around the desk and tilting her head. “You seem flushed. Are you warm?”
---
I am shameless and over this lesson almost before it’s begun.
I don’t spin around and instead shimmy my ass against him.
His hand tightens around my waist as he pulls me even closer. We breathe in unison. My back brushes his chest with every inhale.
“Christina?” he asks into my hair. I’m sweaty and horny and I don’t care about resisting anymore.
I whisper, “Cam. Please.”
Spinning me around, he responds with a husky, “Thank fuck,” as his hands go to my head and his lips meet mine.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- infertility / child free as a possible choice due to pain discussed
Author content warnings? Didn’t see any
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: Condoms used, and then discussion on BC
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? There is the talk of the possibility of adoption in their future, but the heroine has had painful endometriosis and cannot have children due to it – she has tried accepting being child free.
31% - kiss in the dance studio
40% - 🔥 fingering/oral for her, her on top
He twists his finger inside me a fraction, then bends it and shortens his pistons as his tongue speeds up.
“Cam!” My shout echoes off the glass and wood.
“Yes, baby. Let go for me,” he hisses against me.
47% - 🔥 sex on a couch
“You don’t need to be slow tonight. Seeing you play made me so hot I could barely wait the hour for you. Changing into this didn’t help. The cool fabric sliding against me when I waned the roughness and heat of your hands? Please, Cam.”
57% - 🔥 kisses, mirror sex while squatting at the barre
He squats with his legs behind mine to align our hips. Those delicious hockey quads allow him to hold me rather than the barre, pressing his naked chest to my back above the low scoop of the bodysuit. I stare at us in the mirror.
His eyes are hooded as his gaze roams over me, and his hand is massive over my lower ribcage and stomach. “You’re gorgeous.”
I’m sucking wind like I just tried to race him on skates. “Cam. Please. Your skin feels so good against mine. I need more.”
“You’ll get it,” he promises.
68% - the start of a scene that is short and kind of fades
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: first person from both hero and heroine with 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: Not too far in – 4% (chapter 1)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happy for now for the mains
Epilogue: Yes, a few months in the future
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book format
Why I chose this book: I have loved Maggie Sims (her historical name) and was eager to try more in her contemporary books!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
You can start here! But there is a prequel novella that you can get as a newsletter freebie.
Basic plot:
Cam finds a dance course to keep him limber during his off days from hockey – and he’s head over heels for his instructor. Who also happens to be co-owner of his team...
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- Texas setting
- hockey romance – Goalie hero
- he’s tall – 6’ 3” – there is a small size difference (heroine is around 5’ 9”/10”) but she is also tall for a woman
- found family
- heroine is a financial investor, hockey team owner, and dance instructor
- endometriosis rep
- he takes dance to stay limber
- he’s younger than her
- celibate heroine
- hero has a dimple
- medium steam – 3ish full scenes (I could be a bit off, so I’d take this as a minimum)
Ages:
- hero is 24, heroine is 30
First line:
The sliding glass doors of the terminal open to a wall of heat, and I stagger back a step.
My thoughts:
Yay for playlists! I love when books include them and this one has one – it was especially fun to check out with the dancing scenes in the book.
I adored this novel so, so much. It was so fun. I loved both our mains right away. Their backgrounds have complex issues, but the way they come together and are so vulnerable and open with each other was so heart melting. There were a handful of forbidden love aspects to their relationship and I adored how they fell for each other so hard anyway.
This book had a great mix to me of character focused interactions. I loved the hockey scenes – especially from a goalie perspective. But I especially adored the dancing scenes – I sometimes have a hard time picturing scenes in books and their practices together were so well done. I could feel their tension building and it’s just such a perfect set up for a romance.
They had real issues on a few fronts, and I loved how they resolved them. This was such a steamy yet sweet read that I utterly loved.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my 2nd for Debbie Charles. If including her HR name, Maggie Sims, then this is 11.
Average rating: 5 stars. If including her HR name Maggie Sims, 4.9 stars
Favorite book: For Debbie Charles pen name, this one! For all books from Maggie Sims/Debbie Charles….maybe Charlotte’s Control?
Endearments
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
As he’s getting unwanted attention...
“No.” I fold my arms and of course her gaze goes to the bulge of my biceps against my ribs. That’s the only bulge she’ll be seeing.
---
In the next moment, my mouth goes dry. I swallow.
In the front of the house, a woman in a leotard and dancer’s wrap skirt is demonstrating a pivot to a pair of dancers. She’s my perfect...everything. I’d guess she is five-nine or -ten, wearing dance shoes with straps across the inset and a two-inch heel that would bring her to nose height on me.
---
He’s wearing dance shoes. Yes, please. Dance with me.
But social hour is almost over. Clearing my throat, I step toward him. “Can I help you?”
“I hope so. Christina?” He holds out a bear-paw-sized hand. At my nod, he adds, “I’m Cam.”
I shake his hand, my breath stuttering at the warm dry calloused skin engulfing mine.
---
He pulls my arm, stepping into a close hold and circling us in a tight position.
I lose my breath at the sensation of his length against me. And I do mean his length.
---
YES. Nod to HR
I’m starting to understand those bodice rippers’ references to heaving bosoms.
---
I grin. I can hold a squat for two hours – most of my game time is spent in that pose. I widen my feet and drop low.
Standing, she rotates one leg from the hip in a circle, toe pointed and knee straight. Her foot is on par with her head at the top.
I mirror it, my foot also even with my considerably higher head at the top.
Her mouth drops open.
I arch a cocky brow.
---
I’ve never been full-length against him like this. I close my eyes and enjoy his post-practice soap and deodorant scent. Under my hands, his back muscles shift and flex. His pecs are like steel against my cheek and I want to bite them, but they’re so hard I probably couldn’t get purchase.
He sucks in a huge breath, and his shirt and muscles rasp against my leotard-covered breasts.
---
I can’t remember a single one of the many reasons I thought this was a bad idea. All I can process is this magnificent mountain of muscle under me.
I sigh against his lips. They’re lush and plush and I really, really need to stop with the rhyming.
---
My mouth goes dry as her luscious peach of an ass passes my head. I want to bite it. Then I want to lay her on the desk and worship her with my lips and tongue. Or play teacher and naughty student who she takes to his knees. Or -
She’s back around the desk and tilting her head. “You seem flushed. Are you warm?”
---
I am shameless and over this lesson almost before it’s begun.
I don’t spin around and instead shimmy my ass against him.
His hand tightens around my waist as he pulls me even closer. We breathe in unison. My back brushes his chest with every inhale.
“Christina?” he asks into my hair. I’m sweaty and horny and I don’t care about resisting anymore.
I whisper, “Cam. Please.”
Spinning me around, he responds with a husky, “Thank fuck,” as his hands go to my head and his lips meet mine.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- infertility / child free as a possible choice due to pain discussed
Author content warnings? Didn’t see any
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
31% - kiss in the dance studio
40% - 🔥 fingering/oral for her, her on top
He twists his finger inside me a fraction, then bends it and shortens his pistons as his tongue speeds up.
“Cam!” My shout echoes off the glass and wood.
“Yes, baby. Let go for me,” he hisses against me.
47% - 🔥 sex on a couch
“You don’t need to be slow tonight. Seeing you play made me so hot I could barely wait the hour for you. Changing into this didn’t help. The cool fabric sliding against me when I waned the roughness and heat of your hands? Please, Cam.”
57% - 🔥 kisses, mirror sex while squatting at the barre
He squats with his legs behind mine to align our hips. Those delicious hockey quads allow him to hold me rather than the barre, pressing his naked chest to my back above the low scoop of the bodysuit. I stare at us in the mirror.
His eyes are hooded as his gaze roams over me, and his hand is massive over my lower ribcage and stomach. “You’re gorgeous.”
I’m sucking wind like I just tried to race him on skates. “Cam. Please. Your skin feels so good against mine. I need more.”
“You’ll get it,” he promises.
68% - the start of a scene that is short and kind of fades
Consumed by You by Lauren Blakely
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
3.5
Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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 to fast
When mains are first on page together: immediately
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 6 months later
Format: listened to an owned audiobook (audible)
Why I chose this book: I cannot remember how I found this and had it in my library, but it ended up being our book of the month in one of our contemporary groups so I decided to give it a listen!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
I picked this one up alone and found it very readable! Not sure how the series flows together exactly.
Basic plot:
Cara and Travis meet again, years post summer fling. She can’t get him out of her head so she presents a bargain to get him out of her system.
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- California setting
- longing between the mains...
- dog training heroine
- fire fighter hero
- fling with a time limit
- second chance (they had been together at 18 during a summer relationship)
- feels like a shorter page count (I think goodreads has it at under 200)
- higher steam – 7ish full scenes within a shorter page count
Ages:
- hero is 29, I didn’t catch heroine but I think it’s similar
First line:
The dress she wore was pure torture.
My thoughts:
Ahhh I really need to stop going in blind so I can avoid second chance for awhile. It’s not a favorite trope for me – though this one was better to because there wasn’t a ton of built up animosity (which I usually struggle with). They do dive into things pretty soon in, so for me there wasn’t as much tension building.
I did like a lot about this one though to just have on as a quick listen audiobook. It’s not very angsty and is an easy read. I was a bit disappointed in the ending though because I thought the hero’s reasons for avoiding relationships was a bit far fetched and something I really dislike is when they have this life consuming goal (like the hero never being in a relationship) that is quickly resolved with a simple conversation of someone else giving a few sentences of life advice. This was something that seriously affected the hero, but when told that his reasoning wasn’t really that logical, he immediately switches his perspective. I would rather read about him sobbing on the floor with his loss and him coming to the realization himself that he messed up... 😂
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 2
Average rating: 3.5 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.
- light alcohol usage
- heroine has been adopted
- parental death and grief
Author content warnings? Didn’t catch any on audio
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: Condoms used
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? I don’t remember any pregnancy or children mentioned in this story (A side character is pregnant and I think there’s a small mention of heroine wanting a family/children in the future)
Chapter 2 – 🔥 fingering for her at the bar
Chapter 7 – 🔥 oral for her on the table
Chapter 10 – 🔥 bj
Chapter 13 – kisses
Chapter 14 – 🔥 missionary
Chapter 15 – kiss
Chapter 16 – 🔥 spanking, missionary to him holding her
Chapter 18 – 🔥 dry humping, oral for heroine outside, missionary in the bed
Chapter 22 – 🔥 her on top
Total Chapters: 27
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 to fast
When mains are first on page together: immediately
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 6 months later
Format: listened to an owned audiobook (audible)
Why I chose this book: I cannot remember how I found this and had it in my library, but it ended up being our book of the month in one of our contemporary groups so I decided to give it a listen!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
I picked this one up alone and found it very readable! Not sure how the series flows together exactly.
Basic plot:
Cara and Travis meet again, years post summer fling. She can’t get him out of her head so she presents a bargain to get him out of her system.
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- California setting
- longing between the mains...
- dog training heroine
- fire fighter hero
- fling with a time limit
- second chance (they had been together at 18 during a summer relationship)
- feels like a shorter page count (I think goodreads has it at under 200)
- higher steam – 7ish full scenes within a shorter page count
Ages:
- hero is 29, I didn’t catch heroine but I think it’s similar
First line:
The dress she wore was pure torture.
My thoughts:
Ahhh I really need to stop going in blind so I can avoid second chance for awhile. It’s not a favorite trope for me – though this one was better to because there wasn’t a ton of built up animosity (which I usually struggle with). They do dive into things pretty soon in, so for me there wasn’t as much tension building.
I did like a lot about this one though to just have on as a quick listen audiobook. It’s not very angsty and is an easy read. I was a bit disappointed in the ending though because I thought the hero’s reasons for avoiding relationships was a bit far fetched and something I really dislike is when they have this life consuming goal (like the hero never being in a relationship) that is quickly resolved with a simple conversation of someone else giving a few sentences of life advice. This was something that seriously affected the hero, but when told that his reasoning wasn’t really that logical, he immediately switches his perspective. I would rather read about him sobbing on the floor with his loss and him coming to the realization himself that he messed up... 😂
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 2
Average rating: 3.5 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.
- light alcohol usage
- heroine has been adopted
- parental death and grief
Author content warnings? Didn’t catch any on audio
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
Chapter 2 – 🔥 fingering for her at the bar
Chapter 7 – 🔥 oral for her on the table
Chapter 10 – 🔥 bj
Chapter 13 – kisses
Chapter 14 – 🔥 missionary
Chapter 15 – kiss
Chapter 16 – 🔥 spanking, missionary to him holding her
Chapter 18 – 🔥 dry humping, oral for heroine outside, missionary in the bed
Chapter 22 – 🔥 her on top
Total Chapters: 27
My Lady by Diane David
adventurous
medium-paced
4.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋 (The scenes are quite light, more poetic than explicit – I tend to prefer more explicitness and emotional pull in my ideal scenes but these were very sweet)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑 (scenes are short – a few paragraphs and not many details)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥 (There’s quite a few scenes but they are so light I settled at a one flame)
Humor: A touch
Perspective: mostly third person from heroine and hero (and a bit from the villain and her adoptive father)
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: Not too far in, chapter 2 of 41 (pg 24 of 268)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read a paperback copy sent to me by the author (thank youuuu!!!!)
Why I chose this book: I want more medieval in my life and @imromanticallyinvolved sent me her info
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
I believe this stands alone.
Basic plot:
Meghan enlists Auricks help getting back to her home town.
Give this a try if you want:
- Medieval romance – 1193
- England setting
- beautiful heroine
- size difference – he’s taller
- touch of road trip
- she nurses him back to health and a touch of he nurses her back to health
- instalust
- light other woman drama
- secret identity
- class difference – hero is a Lord and heroine is a peasant
- light steam – there’s a few on page scenes but the language is quite light and the scenes are short
Ages:
- I believe the heroine is 18, not sure about hero. Would guess late 20s, maybe early 30s?
First line:
Moira’s dirty frock helped her blend into the darkness of the forest.
My thoughts:
Yay for more medieval! I have really missed this setting and think I need to search out more from this time period. I still love Regency but it really dominates my reads lately and this just felt so refreshing.
I will be honest – there was a point about 1/3 to ½ of the way through the book that I was SO mad at the hero. I didn’t think he was going to be able to come back from it – but he did! I was so happy with the outcome…
Overall this is a pretty easy read. There was a bit of an angsty middle I appreciated but most things were solved pretty easily. There was a lot of sweetness in this story, and so much love between the mains. The steam was a bit light for what I usually prefer, but overall this was really cute!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating: 4 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.
- death by illness in war
- kidnapping of an infant
- murder both mentioned and on page
- parental death
- mention of kidnapping of heroine from her home by a merchant, but we start the story with her having escaped and trying to get back home
- mention of infertility (the heroine’s adoptive parents)
- men discussing sexual assaulting the heroine
- poisoning that results in miscarriage of the heroine
- possible feelings of infidelity - the hero does fuck the heroine while still engaged to another
- there are some minor religious overtones – speaking of god, thanking god, minor talk of the Crusades, and a scene where the heroine sees people dead in her life and she’s told to return to the land of the living basically before she becomes conscious again after being poisoned.
Author content warnings? None listed
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? The heroine does get pregnant and then miscarries due to a poisoning event
Pg 56 (chapter 7) – kisses in the woods
Pg 72 (chapter 9) – missionary sex in the woods
Pg 168 (chapter 23) – sex
Pg 173 (chapter 24) – implied sex
Pg 177 (chapter 25) – implied sex
Total Pages: 268
Total chapters: 41
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋 (The scenes are quite light, more poetic than explicit – I tend to prefer more explicitness and emotional pull in my ideal scenes but these were very sweet)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑 (scenes are short – a few paragraphs and not many details)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥 (There’s quite a few scenes but they are so light I settled at a one flame)
Humor: A touch
Perspective: mostly third person from heroine and hero (and a bit from the villain and her adoptive father)
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: Not too far in, chapter 2 of 41 (pg 24 of 268)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read a paperback copy sent to me by the author (thank youuuu!!!!)
Why I chose this book: I want more medieval in my life and @imromanticallyinvolved sent me her info
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
I believe this stands alone.
Basic plot:
Meghan enlists Auricks help getting back to her home town.
Give this a try if you want:
- Medieval romance – 1193
- England setting
- beautiful heroine
- size difference – he’s taller
- touch of road trip
- she nurses him back to health and a touch of he nurses her back to health
- instalust
- light other woman drama
- secret identity
- class difference – hero is a Lord and heroine is a peasant
- light steam – there’s a few on page scenes but the language is quite light and the scenes are short
Ages:
- I believe the heroine is 18, not sure about hero. Would guess late 20s, maybe early 30s?
First line:
Moira’s dirty frock helped her blend into the darkness of the forest.
My thoughts:
Yay for more medieval! I have really missed this setting and think I need to search out more from this time period. I still love Regency but it really dominates my reads lately and this just felt so refreshing.
I will be honest – there was a point about 1/3 to ½ of the way through the book that I was SO mad at the hero. I didn’t think he was going to be able to come back from it – but he did! I was so happy with the outcome…
Overall this is a pretty easy read. There was a bit of an angsty middle I appreciated but most things were solved pretty easily. There was a lot of sweetness in this story, and so much love between the mains. The steam was a bit light for what I usually prefer, but overall this was really cute!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating: 4 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.
- death by illness in war
- kidnapping of an infant
- murder both mentioned and on page
- parental death
- mention of kidnapping of heroine from her home by a merchant, but we start the story with her having escaped and trying to get back home
- mention of infertility (the heroine’s adoptive parents)
- men discussing sexual assaulting the heroine
- poisoning that results in miscarriage of the heroine
- possible feelings of infidelity - the hero does fuck the heroine while still engaged to another
- there are some minor religious overtones – speaking of god, thanking god, minor talk of the Crusades, and a scene where the heroine sees people dead in her life and she’s told to return to the land of the living basically before she becomes conscious again after being poisoned.
Author content warnings? None listed
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
Pg 56 (chapter 7) – kisses in the woods
Pg 72 (chapter 9) – missionary sex in the woods
Pg 168 (chapter 23) – sex
Pg 173 (chapter 24) – implied sex
Pg 177 (chapter 25) – implied sex
Total Pages: 268
Total chapters: 41
Her Protector's Pleasure by Grace Callaway
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
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.”
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:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
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.”
Just Think of the Scandal by Anne Knight
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
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?”
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:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in 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?”
When a Rogue Meets His Match by Elizabeth Hoyt
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
3.75
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.”
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:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
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.”
The Countess's Awakening by Lavinia Glen
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
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
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
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:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
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