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rjordan19's reviews
976 reviews
A Rose in Winter by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
4.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 3.5 rounded to 📖📖📖📖 (I wanted to read this, but it definitely felt long and I felt like there was a lot of extra stuff including that it really didn’t need)
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋 (I had a bit of emotional attachment but with zero explicit details and the scenes not being very developed they didn’t feel very sensual to me)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥 There’s a number of sex scenes but they are very short and very light in language.
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third Person Omniscient with some of the classic old school ‘head hopping’ many are familiar with – mostly heroine’s POV but a paragraph here and there from side characters like her father, brother, etc and some from the hero.
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow AF
When mains are first on page together: pretty soon in, pg 13
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever
Epilogue: No
Format: read an owned paperback
Why I chose this book: I haven’t read an old school romance in forever, so I posted a poll of the ones I had accessible and let the Vintage Romance book group choose for me – this was the winner.
Mains: This is M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
I think this is a stand alone?
Basic plot:
Erienne is curious about Christopher Seton – but is instead forced to marry the mysterious Lord Saxton to pay off her father’s debts.
Marking as a spoiler – if you want any kind of surprise from this novel I would just dive in! There’s a big secret that’s kept throughout most of the story.
Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian - 1792
- Northern England setting
- secret identity
- beauty and the beast elements
- sold heroine/forced marriage
- friendly enemy elements
- shelter in the abandoned stable from the rain
- lower steam – there’s a few scenes but they are very short and not detailed or explicit
Ages:
- I think the heroine is 18, didn’t catch hero but he is probably older, late 20s or more likely 30s
First line:
“Marriage!” Erienne Fleming drew back from the hearth and slammed the poker into the stand, venting a growing vexation with the still young day.
My thoughts:
The only other Woodiwiss I have tried within the last couple decades is The Wolf and the Dove and that one didn’t work for me. So I’ll admit my expectations were kind of low going into this one – and I was so pleasantly surprised!
I found this novel so sweet overall – I adored both our mains, though I think they are probably what some would call a Mary and Gary Sue 😆
This novel did feel really long to me and rather slow in parts. I could have done without plenty of side details. But when the mains were together, I really liked it. I loved how gentle and patient Christopher was with Erienne. You could just see how much he treasured her and loved her and that was romantic and special to me.
I was pleasantly surprised by this read, and while it does have a bit of dubious elements – the secret identity and heroine sold into marriage being the big ones – it’s not a rough read for an old school novel.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 2
Average rating: 3.5 stars
Favorite book: This one!
Endearments
The hero calls the heroine ‘my love’.
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
Erienne stamped her foot in protest. “Mr. Seaton, whatever else I am, I am not your dear!” A soft chuckle conveyed his delight. “You’re the dearest thing I’ve seen for some time.”
---
“You’re conceited, Mr. Seton, if you think I welcome your protection, or your company.”
“You needn’t be so formal, Erienne,” he teased with a devilishly wicked grin. “You may call me Christopher, or my dear, or my love, or any endearment of your choice.”
---
“How long have you been sitting there watching me sleep?” she demanded.
A slow smile touched his lips. “Long enough.”
She was in no mood for games. “Long enough for what?” His smoldering gaze passed over her.
“Long enough to come to the determination that you’re worth far more than any debt.”
---
His chuckle sounded low and deep. “I think after sharing a bed and spending the night together, we should progress to something more intimate, at least while we’re alone. Now, my love, I should like you to consider the advantages of letting me become your suitor. I am not as ancient as my predecessors. A full score, ten, and three I be. I am strong and have clean habits. I have never been an abuser of women.” He ignored her light scoff. “and I have wealth to see you richly garbed, as your beauty demands. As to my appearance…” He swept a hand before him. “You can determine that for yourself.”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- duel is mentioned with minor injuries (both recover)
- scenes of drunkenness from heroine’s brother
- sexual harassment of heroine by an older man – he has a daughter the heroine’s age but goes to her house when she is alone (her brother is asleep upstairs) and starts making advances on her when the brother wakes up and he leaves
- mention of a pig slaughtered and the heroine slicing meat and stripping intestines
- some scenes of animal harshness – whipping the horse for a gallop, whipping hounds that were coming in for an attack (self defense) that leads to drawing blood from them
- other attempts at sexual assault on the heroine, men trying to grab at her, chase her down…
- domestic violence elements – the heroine’s father was going to punch her in the face but the hero stops his arm
- dubious consent elements – some kisses are more forceful, the hero is hiding his true identity during marriage and sex with the heroine, heroine is sold and forced into marraige
Author content warnings? Nothing mentioned
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: No, but there’s no real details about it
How’s the consent? I wouldn’t read this novel if you prefer consent. There’s many dubious consent elements, including forceful kisses, forced marriage/sold heroine, and the hero hides his identity when he kisses her/has sex with her (she thinks he’s someone else)
Pregnancy/children in story? The heroine gets pregnant towards the latter half of the story but it’s not a big plot point
Pg 338 – kiss
Pg 348 – kisses that lead to missionary (v loss for heroine), very light language, short and not a lot of details. The hero is masked and she believes him to be someone else
Pg 360 – sex (very short)
Pg 408 – kiss
Pg 411 – sex (very short and vague)
Pg 466 – sex (again short and vague)
Pg 472 – sex (very short/vague)
Total pages: 567
Readability: 3.5 rounded to 📖📖📖📖 (I wanted to read this, but it definitely felt long and I felt like there was a lot of extra stuff including that it really didn’t need)
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋 (I had a bit of emotional attachment but with zero explicit details and the scenes not being very developed they didn’t feel very sensual to me)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥 There’s a number of sex scenes but they are very short and very light in language.
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third Person Omniscient with some of the classic old school ‘head hopping’ many are familiar with – mostly heroine’s POV but a paragraph here and there from side characters like her father, brother, etc and some from the hero.
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow AF
When mains are first on page together: pretty soon in, pg 13
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever
Epilogue: No
Format: read an owned paperback
Why I chose this book: I haven’t read an old school romance in forever, so I posted a poll of the ones I had accessible and let the Vintage Romance book group choose for me – this was the winner.
Mains: This is M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
I think this is a stand alone?
Basic plot:
Erienne is curious about Christopher Seton – but is instead forced to marry the mysterious Lord Saxton to pay off her father’s debts.
Marking as a spoiler – if you want any kind of surprise from this novel I would just dive in! There’s a big secret that’s kept throughout most of the story.
Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian - 1792
- Northern England setting
- secret identity
- beauty and the beast elements
- sold heroine/forced marriage
- friendly enemy elements
- shelter in the abandoned stable from the rain
- lower steam – there’s a few scenes but they are very short and not detailed or explicit
Ages:
- I think the heroine is 18, didn’t catch hero but he is probably older, late 20s or more likely 30s
First line:
“Marriage!” Erienne Fleming drew back from the hearth and slammed the poker into the stand, venting a growing vexation with the still young day.
My thoughts:
The only other Woodiwiss I have tried within the last couple decades is The Wolf and the Dove and that one didn’t work for me. So I’ll admit my expectations were kind of low going into this one – and I was so pleasantly surprised!
I found this novel so sweet overall – I adored both our mains, though I think they are probably what some would call a Mary and Gary Sue 😆
This novel did feel really long to me and rather slow in parts. I could have done without plenty of side details. But when the mains were together, I really liked it. I loved how gentle and patient Christopher was with Erienne. You could just see how much he treasured her and loved her and that was romantic and special to me.
I was pleasantly surprised by this read, and while it does have a bit of dubious elements – the secret identity and heroine sold into marriage being the big ones – it’s not a rough read for an old school novel.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 2
Average rating: 3.5 stars
Favorite book: This one!
Endearments
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
Erienne stamped her foot in protest. “Mr. Seaton, whatever else I am, I am not your dear!” A soft chuckle conveyed his delight. “You’re the dearest thing I’ve seen for some time.”
---
“You’re conceited, Mr. Seton, if you think I welcome your protection, or your company.”
“You needn’t be so formal, Erienne,” he teased with a devilishly wicked grin. “You may call me Christopher, or my dear, or my love, or any endearment of your choice.”
---
“How long have you been sitting there watching me sleep?” she demanded.
A slow smile touched his lips. “Long enough.”
She was in no mood for games. “Long enough for what?” His smoldering gaze passed over her.
“Long enough to come to the determination that you’re worth far more than any debt.”
---
His chuckle sounded low and deep. “I think after sharing a bed and spending the night together, we should progress to something more intimate, at least while we’re alone. Now, my love, I should like you to consider the advantages of letting me become your suitor. I am not as ancient as my predecessors. A full score, ten, and three I be. I am strong and have clean habits. I have never been an abuser of women.” He ignored her light scoff. “and I have wealth to see you richly garbed, as your beauty demands. As to my appearance…” He swept a hand before him. “You can determine that for yourself.”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- duel is mentioned with minor injuries (both recover)
- scenes of drunkenness from heroine’s brother
- sexual harassment of heroine by an older man – he has a daughter the heroine’s age but goes to her house when she is alone (her brother is asleep upstairs) and starts making advances on her when the brother wakes up and he leaves
- mention of a pig slaughtered and the heroine slicing meat and stripping intestines
- some scenes of animal harshness – whipping the horse for a gallop, whipping hounds that were coming in for an attack (self defense) that leads to drawing blood from them
- other attempts at sexual assault on the heroine, men trying to grab at her, chase her down…
- domestic violence elements – the heroine’s father was going to punch her in the face but the hero stops his arm
- dubious consent elements – some kisses are more forceful, the hero is hiding his true identity during marriage and sex with the heroine, heroine is sold and forced into marraige
Author content warnings? Nothing mentioned
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
Pg 338 – kiss
Pg 348 – kisses that lead to missionary (v loss for heroine), very light language, short and not a lot of details. The hero is masked and she believes him to be someone else
Pg 360 – sex (very short)
Pg 408 – kiss
Pg 411 – sex (very short and vague)
Pg 466 – sex (again short and vague)
Pg 472 – sex (very short/vague)
Total pages: 567
How to Fall for a Scoundrel by Kate Bateman
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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): 🔥🔥🔥 (one scene had a morning after that was pretty close to the initial scene so I combined flames – might feel a bit hotter than listed)
Humor: Yes, especially some delightful banter
Perspective: third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: immediately
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, not too far in the future
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in e-book form that I am very late on reading
Why I chose this book: I love Bateman’s writing and want to read all her books!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
You can grab this out of order – it’s book 2 of Bateman’s Her Majesty’s Rebels and has some minor character crossover but I found it fine alone! (Three friends run a private investigation business and each has a story)
Basic plot:
Ellie meets the infuriating Harry when he pretends to be his fictional boss and they begin working on a case together.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1816
- light elements of holiday time romance with mistletoe kiss
- working women – heroine owns a private investigator business with 2 friends
- hero with dimples
- thief / pickpocket hero
- hero falls first
- bespectacled heroine
- secret identity
- hero speaks English, French, Spanish, Italian and a bit of Russian and Portuguese
- hero has heterochromia
- he calls her his ‘brilliant girl’
- he trusts her to protect him in dangerous situations
- working together on a mystery
- medium steam – 3ish full scenes
Ages:
- heroine is 22, hero is 26
First line:
Eleanor Law had not expected to kiss anyone at Lady Chessington’s annual Christmas ball, let alone a charming, anonymous scoundrel
My thoughts:
This book was just literal perfection to me!!! I am so in love with how Bateman just keeps delivering me these books that are pure romance catnip to me. I’m grinning like a fool, kicking my feet in happiness, little hearts bursting above my head.
I found this whole book so delightful. I love both mains so much. Ellie is just so sweet and funny and kind and smart and Harry was really her perfect match. The way he falls for her, the way he trusts her, the way he calls her brilliant and uplifts her, while also taking small breaks to whisper naughty things in her ear….
I loved every moment of this story. It was funny and swoony, and such good tension and I am so in love. Love, love, love.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 7
Average rating: 4.57 stars
Favorite book: Oof, this is hard to pick but I think it’s this one?? I really adored her entire Ruthless Rivals series though, immensely...basically any of those 4 are super amazing and my faves!
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
“You mean you possess a title?”
“Several. Although I rarely use most of them.”
She almost stamped her foot at his deliberate evasiveness. “What should I call you, then?”
“You latest conquest? You most ardent admirer?” He swept her another extravagant bow.
---
“Of course. I’m sure they’ll see the benefits of having me around.” He uncrossed his legs and stood, and Ellie did the same, trying not to notice how beautifully proportioned his long, lean body was. Or how tempting his lips were.
She’d kissed those lips. She still couldn’t believe it.
---
“Do you see that beggar, in the doorway across the street?”
“No,” Ellie said bluntly.
He glanced down at her with a smile. “Oh, put your spectacles back on, you ridiculous thing. You’re wrong about thinking they make you look less attractive. You’re gorgeous either way.”
---
Harry brought his arms up on either side of her head, his elbows resting against the wall to shield her face. His breath tickled her temple and his nose brushed hers as he bent lower.
“Breathe,” he commanded softly.
Ellie’s heart was pounding with a heady mix of fear and desire. Harry’s lips hovered so close to hers that his warm exhales mingled with her own shallow breaths.
There was scarcely an inch between them.
And then there wasn’t any space at all.
She wasn’t sure which one of them moved, but Harry’s lips touched hers, and she almost swooned in delight.
The kiss was tentative, almost a question. He paused, as if to gauge her reaction, and without thought she pushed herself up on tiptoe, closer, silently encouraging him to do it again.
He muttered something under his breath, possibly in Italian, then leaned in and kissed her again, harder this time, tracing the seam of her lips with his tongue.
---
“Will you take me back to Lincoln’s Inn Fields after that?”
The look in his eyes made her stomach somersault.
“If that’s what you want. But, Ellie, if you still weren’t sleepy...then I suppose I could kiss you.”
Her pulse stuttered, but she couldn’t resist teasing him. “To pass the time? Or because your kisses make ladies want to go to sleep.”
He raised his brows. “Did you feel remotely sleepy when I kissed you earlier?”
She bit her lip. “No.”
“I didn’t think so.” He uncrossed his legs. “You could kiss me back. And then I’d strip off that dress you’re wearing – the one that’s been driving me slowly insane all evening – and I’d do what I’ve been dreaming of since the first moment I saw you, which is to take you to bed and make love to you until we were both so exhausted, we’d have to sleep.”
---
He kissed the back of her neck. “I said, Yes, sweetheart. Kiss me.”
“You said something else too.”
He chuckled at her tenacity. “I did. I said, Voglio scoparti contro questo muro finche non urli il mio nome.”
“And what does that mean?”
He moved over her and she caught her breath as the muscled length of him pressed her down into the soft mattress. His larger size was thrilling, his physical power undeniable, and the combination of threat and careful restraint made her stomach somersault with desire.
“It means, I want to fuck you against his wall until you scream my name.”
Ellie gasped, apparently not beyond being scandalized, despire her non-virginal state, and he laughed against her ear.
“That was very rude.”
“It was indeed.”
---
“Have you ever fantasized about making love in a place like this? Somewhere completely forbidden? Because I have.” His gaze fell to her lips and she squirmed in her seat.
She’d be lying if she denied it. The thought of doing something so naughty made her almost quiver with excitement, and she could clearly imagine the thrill of trying to stay quiet while Harry’s hands roved all over her.
“You’d have to be extremely quiet, of course,” he whispered, a wicked twinkle in his eyes. “I might even have to put my hand over your mouth to stop you making any noise. I could press you against the shelves and lift your skirts.” His pupils flared. “Or perhaps I’d spread you out on one of these library tables and lick your - “
A cough and the scrape of a chair made Ellie flush guiltily. Dear God, the man was a menace!
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- some scenes of violence, gunshots
- parental and sibling death (illness)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: Hero pulls out
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? Heroine says she cannot risk having a child, and the hero pulls out during sex. No children or pregnancy mentioned
1% - kiss
38% - kiss
46% - 🔥kisses, oral for her, missionary (v loss for her) followed by a missionary scene the next morning
His lips curved up. “Stop being so clever.”
He rested his hands on her knees, then slid them slowly up her thighs, bunching the emerald-green silk with his palms as he went. Ellie shivered in anticipation.
Instead of kissing her again, he dropped to his knees and caught the hem of her skirts.
//
“I think you were right about book-learning,” she breathed. “There’s no substitute for practical firsthand experience.”
“Does your hand want to experience it?” His jaw clenched as he stroked himself again, slowly up and down, as she nodded.
58% - brief kiss
71% - 🔥hand job for him in the carriage
Their joined hands pumped faster. He gripped the leather strap on the wall with his free hand and arched his spine, tilting his head back on the seat and exposing his throat. The sight of him made her own body thrum with desire, but she was determined to give him this gift. She pumped her hand, and with a groan that seemed dragged from his chest he went rigid, pulsing in her hand.
87% - kiss
95% - 🔥kisses, sex against the wall
She held out her hand, which was only shaking a tiny amount, and he slid the ring onto her fourth finger. She didn’t get time to admire it, or to even marvel at the miracle of a man like Harry wanting a girl like her. The moment it was on there, he surged to his feet and pinned her back against the wall.
“Bloody fantastic,” he growled. “And now we’ve got the formalities out of the way, I’m going to pleasure you up against this wall until you can’t think straight. Agreed?”
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥 (one scene had a morning after that was pretty close to the initial scene so I combined flames – might feel a bit hotter than listed)
Humor: Yes, especially some delightful banter
Perspective: third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: immediately
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, not too far in the future
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in e-book form that I am very late on reading
Why I chose this book: I love Bateman’s writing and want to read all her books!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
You can grab this out of order – it’s book 2 of Bateman’s Her Majesty’s Rebels and has some minor character crossover but I found it fine alone! (Three friends run a private investigation business and each has a story)
Basic plot:
Ellie meets the infuriating Harry when he pretends to be his fictional boss and they begin working on a case together.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1816
- light elements of holiday time romance with mistletoe kiss
- working women – heroine owns a private investigator business with 2 friends
- hero with dimples
- thief / pickpocket hero
- hero falls first
- bespectacled heroine
- secret identity
- hero speaks English, French, Spanish, Italian and a bit of Russian and Portuguese
- hero has heterochromia
- he calls her his ‘brilliant girl’
- he trusts her to protect him in dangerous situations
- working together on a mystery
- medium steam – 3ish full scenes
Ages:
- heroine is 22, hero is 26
First line:
Eleanor Law had not expected to kiss anyone at Lady Chessington’s annual Christmas ball, let alone a charming, anonymous scoundrel
My thoughts:
This book was just literal perfection to me!!! I am so in love with how Bateman just keeps delivering me these books that are pure romance catnip to me. I’m grinning like a fool, kicking my feet in happiness, little hearts bursting above my head.
I found this whole book so delightful. I love both mains so much. Ellie is just so sweet and funny and kind and smart and Harry was really her perfect match. The way he falls for her, the way he trusts her, the way he calls her brilliant and uplifts her, while also taking small breaks to whisper naughty things in her ear….
I loved every moment of this story. It was funny and swoony, and such good tension and I am so in love. Love, love, love.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 7
Average rating: 4.57 stars
Favorite book: Oof, this is hard to pick but I think it’s this one?? I really adored her entire Ruthless Rivals series though, immensely...basically any of those 4 are super amazing and my faves!
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
“You mean you possess a title?”
“Several. Although I rarely use most of them.”
She almost stamped her foot at his deliberate evasiveness. “What should I call you, then?”
“You latest conquest? You most ardent admirer?” He swept her another extravagant bow.
---
“Of course. I’m sure they’ll see the benefits of having me around.” He uncrossed his legs and stood, and Ellie did the same, trying not to notice how beautifully proportioned his long, lean body was. Or how tempting his lips were.
She’d kissed those lips. She still couldn’t believe it.
---
“Do you see that beggar, in the doorway across the street?”
“No,” Ellie said bluntly.
He glanced down at her with a smile. “Oh, put your spectacles back on, you ridiculous thing. You’re wrong about thinking they make you look less attractive. You’re gorgeous either way.”
---
Harry brought his arms up on either side of her head, his elbows resting against the wall to shield her face. His breath tickled her temple and his nose brushed hers as he bent lower.
“Breathe,” he commanded softly.
Ellie’s heart was pounding with a heady mix of fear and desire. Harry’s lips hovered so close to hers that his warm exhales mingled with her own shallow breaths.
There was scarcely an inch between them.
And then there wasn’t any space at all.
She wasn’t sure which one of them moved, but Harry’s lips touched hers, and she almost swooned in delight.
The kiss was tentative, almost a question. He paused, as if to gauge her reaction, and without thought she pushed herself up on tiptoe, closer, silently encouraging him to do it again.
He muttered something under his breath, possibly in Italian, then leaned in and kissed her again, harder this time, tracing the seam of her lips with his tongue.
---
“Will you take me back to Lincoln’s Inn Fields after that?”
The look in his eyes made her stomach somersault.
“If that’s what you want. But, Ellie, if you still weren’t sleepy...then I suppose I could kiss you.”
Her pulse stuttered, but she couldn’t resist teasing him. “To pass the time? Or because your kisses make ladies want to go to sleep.”
He raised his brows. “Did you feel remotely sleepy when I kissed you earlier?”
She bit her lip. “No.”
“I didn’t think so.” He uncrossed his legs. “You could kiss me back. And then I’d strip off that dress you’re wearing – the one that’s been driving me slowly insane all evening – and I’d do what I’ve been dreaming of since the first moment I saw you, which is to take you to bed and make love to you until we were both so exhausted, we’d have to sleep.”
---
He kissed the back of her neck. “I said, Yes, sweetheart. Kiss me.”
“You said something else too.”
He chuckled at her tenacity. “I did. I said, Voglio scoparti contro questo muro finche non urli il mio nome.”
“And what does that mean?”
He moved over her and she caught her breath as the muscled length of him pressed her down into the soft mattress. His larger size was thrilling, his physical power undeniable, and the combination of threat and careful restraint made her stomach somersault with desire.
“It means, I want to fuck you against his wall until you scream my name.”
Ellie gasped, apparently not beyond being scandalized, despire her non-virginal state, and he laughed against her ear.
“That was very rude.”
“It was indeed.”
---
“Have you ever fantasized about making love in a place like this? Somewhere completely forbidden? Because I have.” His gaze fell to her lips and she squirmed in her seat.
She’d be lying if she denied it. The thought of doing something so naughty made her almost quiver with excitement, and she could clearly imagine the thrill of trying to stay quiet while Harry’s hands roved all over her.
“You’d have to be extremely quiet, of course,” he whispered, a wicked twinkle in his eyes. “I might even have to put my hand over your mouth to stop you making any noise. I could press you against the shelves and lift your skirts.” His pupils flared. “Or perhaps I’d spread you out on one of these library tables and lick your - “
A cough and the scrape of a chair made Ellie flush guiltily. Dear God, the man was a menace!
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- some scenes of violence, gunshots
- parental and sibling death (illness)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
1% - kiss
38% - kiss
46% - 🔥kisses, oral for her, missionary (v loss for her) followed by a missionary scene the next morning
His lips curved up. “Stop being so clever.”
He rested his hands on her knees, then slid them slowly up her thighs, bunching the emerald-green silk with his palms as he went. Ellie shivered in anticipation.
Instead of kissing her again, he dropped to his knees and caught the hem of her skirts.
//
“I think you were right about book-learning,” she breathed. “There’s no substitute for practical firsthand experience.”
“Does your hand want to experience it?” His jaw clenched as he stroked himself again, slowly up and down, as she nodded.
58% - brief kiss
71% - 🔥hand job for him in the carriage
Their joined hands pumped faster. He gripped the leather strap on the wall with his free hand and arched his spine, tilting his head back on the seat and exposing his throat. The sight of him made her own body thrum with desire, but she was determined to give him this gift. She pumped her hand, and with a groan that seemed dragged from his chest he went rigid, pulsing in her hand.
87% - kiss
95% - 🔥kisses, sex against the wall
She held out her hand, which was only shaking a tiny amount, and he slid the ring onto her fourth finger. She didn’t get time to admire it, or to even marvel at the miracle of a man like Harry wanting a girl like her. The moment it was on there, he surged to his feet and pinned her back against the wall.
“Bloody fantastic,” he growled. “And now we’ve got the formalities out of the way, I’m going to pleasure you up against this wall until you can’t think straight. Agreed?”
Using Fejo by Victoria Aveline
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes!
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: almost immediately
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, about 3 weeks later
Format: listened to an audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: My friend Heather has repeatedly recommended the series, and I enjoyed a lot about book 1 when I read it a few years ago so I’ve been making my way through the series!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet alien hero and human heroine
Should I read in order?
Ideally yes. There’s been more and more details given about the alien lifestyle and culture over the course of the series.
Basic plot:
Vanessa is determined to get back to her family, even if she has to use Fejo to do it.
Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- alien setting (Clecania)
- alien hero / human heroine
- sunshine hero – Fejo is lighthearted and delightful!
- hero gifts her a dildo
- close proximity
- light road trip feel – they travel from Clecania to Earth
- fated mates
- medium steam – 3ish full scenes but slower burn (and that’s a guess because I paused my KU subscription to check steam and I’m not listening to the book again to find out 😆 )
Ages:
- didn’t see either mentioned
First line:
Vanessa couldn’t recall a time in her life when she’d been so unhappy about shopping.
My thoughts:
I adored parts of this book – especially Fejo and he really broke my heart.
Fejo, as the title implies, has been used by many in his life. This doesn’t darken his spark and he has this amazingly engaging, confident, sweet, and playful personality that is so endearing. And so of course I struggled with this heroine that had REASONS but also just kept hurting him.
I think the hardest part of this book was that Fejo wanted love so badly – and some of the sex scenes just felt like he was begging her to love him and I disliked that. It gave the scenes a bit of ick factor in the background that niggled at me – I felt like he deserved a bit better – more solid acceptance and more confidence in her love for him.
But overall I really adored this book. This book pulled on my heart a bit more than some of the others and I liked that we were on a spaceship road trip vibe. I’ve really enjoyed this series so far!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 5
Average rating: 4 stars
Favorite book: Maaaaaybe this one?? The series has been really steady for the most part with me loving most of the books. Maybe Saving Verakko? It’s hard to say.
Cock/Hero Stats:
- Hero is Clecanian but was made in a lab
- Doesn’t have wings like many others
- Hero has gills
- hero purrs
- hero has subdermal implants in his cock that give texture, is pierced, and has adaptions that can inflate and vibrate
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- mention of being in foster care for heroine and parental abandonment. (dad was an addict, left when she was an infant, mother had a brain tumor and died and they were placed in foster care, sometimes separated from her sister)
- Fejo was one of the first grown in an artificial womb
- some scenes of violence including the hero breaking off an alien’s horn and stabbing him with it
- mention of sister having a brain tumor
- scenes of violence, danger, and murder on page
- slavery and human trafficking
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex, consent, pregnancy/child in the story: I paused my KU subscription before I wrote this review, so I don’t have all the steam details….
Safe sex: The heroine gets some kind of birth control on the alien planet – it’s some kind of higher technology like an implant or something
How’s the consent? It’s...mostly good. There is a scene that’s kind of questionable but we are in her POV so we know how badly she wants the hero but he is kind of ‘ordering her’ to do sexual things to see how far she’ll go to get a ride back to Earth – eventually he stops. He’s punishing her for using him basically.
Pregnancy/children in story? There’s some thoughts of getting pregnant/having babies in the future
11% - kiss
27% - kiss
42% - tension building scene – hero asks what she will do to get a trip to Earth. She undresses, he orders he to lay on the bed, he licks her clit then backs off
60% - 🔥dry humping, breast play, oral for her, 69
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes!
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: almost immediately
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, about 3 weeks later
Format: listened to an audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: My friend Heather has repeatedly recommended the series, and I enjoyed a lot about book 1 when I read it a few years ago so I’ve been making my way through the series!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet alien hero and human heroine
Should I read in order?
Ideally yes. There’s been more and more details given about the alien lifestyle and culture over the course of the series.
Basic plot:
Vanessa is determined to get back to her family, even if she has to use Fejo to do it.
Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- alien setting (Clecania)
- alien hero / human heroine
- sunshine hero – Fejo is lighthearted and delightful!
- hero gifts her a dildo
- close proximity
- light road trip feel – they travel from Clecania to Earth
- fated mates
- medium steam – 3ish full scenes but slower burn (and that’s a guess because I paused my KU subscription to check steam and I’m not listening to the book again to find out 😆 )
Ages:
- didn’t see either mentioned
First line:
Vanessa couldn’t recall a time in her life when she’d been so unhappy about shopping.
My thoughts:
I adored parts of this book – especially Fejo and he really broke my heart.
Fejo, as the title implies, has been used by many in his life. This doesn’t darken his spark and he has this amazingly engaging, confident, sweet, and playful personality that is so endearing. And so of course I struggled with this heroine that had REASONS but also just kept hurting him.
I think the hardest part of this book was that Fejo wanted love so badly – and some of the sex scenes just felt like he was begging her to love him and I disliked that. It gave the scenes a bit of ick factor in the background that niggled at me – I felt like he deserved a bit better – more solid acceptance and more confidence in her love for him.
But overall I really adored this book. This book pulled on my heart a bit more than some of the others and I liked that we were on a spaceship road trip vibe. I’ve really enjoyed this series so far!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 5
Average rating: 4 stars
Favorite book: Maaaaaybe this one?? The series has been really steady for the most part with me loving most of the books. Maybe Saving Verakko? It’s hard to say.
Cock/Hero Stats:
- Hero is Clecanian but was made in a lab
- Doesn’t have wings like many others
- Hero has gills
- hero purrs
- hero has subdermal implants in his cock that give texture, is pierced, and has adaptions that can inflate and vibrate
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- mention of being in foster care for heroine and parental abandonment. (dad was an addict, left when she was an infant, mother had a brain tumor and died and they were placed in foster care, sometimes separated from her sister)
- Fejo was one of the first grown in an artificial womb
- some scenes of violence including the hero breaking off an alien’s horn and stabbing him with it
- mention of sister having a brain tumor
- scenes of violence, danger, and murder on page
- slavery and human trafficking
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex, consent, pregnancy/child in the story: I paused my KU subscription before I wrote this review, so I don’t have all the steam details….
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
11% - kiss
27% - kiss
42% - tension building scene – hero asks what she will do to get a trip to Earth. She undresses, he orders he to lay on the bed, he licks her clit then backs off
60% - 🔥dry humping, breast play, oral for her, 69
The Earl's Gamble by Stevie Sparks
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? No
4.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Just a bit
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine (alternating chapters)
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: very soon in
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, about 3 years later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book format
Why I chose this book: I have really liked Stevie Sparks and want to read all her books!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is readable alone. It falls within Sparks’ Lords of Desire world but there’s only some brief scenes with characters from former books as side characters.
Basic plot:
Rose is mourning her deceased brother’s birthday in solitude when she meets Griff. As they talk, they find connections that lead to him rescuing her from the workhouse.
Give this a try if you want:
- Interwar Years (no date listed but would guess mid 1920s)
- get slightly out of London – this story takes place mostly at Harpenden which is a small village
- Earl hero
- widow heroine
- silver fox hero - If anything, he was rather handsome. His salt-and-pepper hair would have been respectable, but for the curled leaf lodged in the wavy locks.
- class difference – hero is an Earl and heroine was impoverished in a workhouse
- he nurses her back to health
- celibate heroine
- disability rep – heroine walks with a cane after suffering from Polio
- former seamstress heroine
- brother’s friend – heroine’s brother served in the war with the hero and he spoke of his sister to him (and her brother wrote to her of the hero)
- light other woman uncertainty
- 1900s advances – cars, elevators, and phones
- older mains – hero is 45 and heroine is 36
- higher steam – 3 full scenes within a shorter page count and FemDom, praise for him
Ages:
- hero is 45, heroine is 36
First line:
Hyde Park swam in the burnished ochres of late summer.
My thoughts:
This book is so sweet. I enjoyed both mains – they bond over the loss of a brother and friend and the way it brings them together is just heart melting. I love how gentle and nurturing Griff is with Rose until she is feeling confident and recovered and secure. So confident she can explore her more dominant desires that Griff craves.
I had fun with this novel but it was maybe a touch too ‘easy’ for me? I think I was craving a bit more angst. But it’s still adorable and cozy and fun. And it introduced a side character, Jilly, that I will be anxiously awaiting her story because she was a delight!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 5
Average rating: 4.4 stars
Favorite book: Despising the Duke
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- hero was abandoned by his fiance at the alter
- brief remembrances of war
- family/friend loss and grief
- workhouse conditions and abuse are mentioned
- possible infertility mentioned
- heroine has recovered from polio with life long effects (she walks with a cane and has leg weakness)
- there is an evil manservant that makes suggestions harmful to the heroine (like taking too much laudanum)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: I don’t believe so
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? Slight plot point of hero thinking of future heirs for the Earldom, heroine mentions she never had children with her spouse – in the epilogue they adopt children
47% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her
“Are you always this authoritative in bed? Because I have to admit it’s quite beguiling.”
//
“I would serve you on my knees if you allow me, my lady.”
70% - 🔥 oral for her, her on top
”You need me?” Rose bit her lip. “Or you need to serve me?”
There was a desperate rasp from his throat. “I need you, and I need to serve you, my lady.”
Her eyelids fluttered, a tide of arousal threatening to carry her away. “Then kneel for me.”
85% - 🔥 oral for her, missionary
Sitting in front of him on the bed, her eyes flicked downwards. “So I see. Be a good boy and serve me, Griff.”
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Just a bit
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine (alternating chapters)
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: very soon in
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, about 3 years later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book format
Why I chose this book: I have really liked Stevie Sparks and want to read all her books!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is readable alone. It falls within Sparks’ Lords of Desire world but there’s only some brief scenes with characters from former books as side characters.
Basic plot:
Rose is mourning her deceased brother’s birthday in solitude when she meets Griff. As they talk, they find connections that lead to him rescuing her from the workhouse.
Give this a try if you want:
- Interwar Years (no date listed but would guess mid 1920s)
- get slightly out of London – this story takes place mostly at Harpenden which is a small village
- Earl hero
- widow heroine
- silver fox hero - If anything, he was rather handsome. His salt-and-pepper hair would have been respectable, but for the curled leaf lodged in the wavy locks.
- class difference – hero is an Earl and heroine was impoverished in a workhouse
- he nurses her back to health
- celibate heroine
- disability rep – heroine walks with a cane after suffering from Polio
- former seamstress heroine
- brother’s friend – heroine’s brother served in the war with the hero and he spoke of his sister to him (and her brother wrote to her of the hero)
- light other woman uncertainty
- 1900s advances – cars, elevators, and phones
- older mains – hero is 45 and heroine is 36
- higher steam – 3 full scenes within a shorter page count and FemDom, praise for him
Ages:
- hero is 45, heroine is 36
First line:
Hyde Park swam in the burnished ochres of late summer.
My thoughts:
This book is so sweet. I enjoyed both mains – they bond over the loss of a brother and friend and the way it brings them together is just heart melting. I love how gentle and nurturing Griff is with Rose until she is feeling confident and recovered and secure. So confident she can explore her more dominant desires that Griff craves.
I had fun with this novel but it was maybe a touch too ‘easy’ for me? I think I was craving a bit more angst. But it’s still adorable and cozy and fun. And it introduced a side character, Jilly, that I will be anxiously awaiting her story because she was a delight!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 5
Average rating: 4.4 stars
Favorite book: Despising the Duke
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- hero was abandoned by his fiance at the alter
- brief remembrances of war
- family/friend loss and grief
- workhouse conditions and abuse are mentioned
- possible infertility mentioned
- heroine has recovered from polio with life long effects (she walks with a cane and has leg weakness)
- there is an evil manservant that makes suggestions harmful to the heroine (like taking too much laudanum)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
47% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her
“Are you always this authoritative in bed? Because I have to admit it’s quite beguiling.”
//
“I would serve you on my knees if you allow me, my lady.”
70% - 🔥 oral for her, her on top
”You need me?” Rose bit her lip. “Or you need to serve me?”
There was a desperate rasp from his throat. “I need you, and I need to serve you, my lady.”
Her eyelids fluttered, a tide of arousal threatening to carry her away. “Then kneel for me.”
85% - 🔥 oral for her, missionary
Sitting in front of him on the bed, her eyes flicked downwards. “So I see. Be a good boy and serve me, Griff.”
Fated To The Alien Healer by Erin Hale
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: first person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? plot
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to medium
When mains are first on page together: he sees her on page at 15% but they know each other from prior books.
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: There is a labeled epilogue but it’s more of a preview for a future book – Rojtar’s POV
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: I read the first 4 or so in this series and wanted to continue it
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet alien hero and human heroine
Should I read in order?
I’d say yes. These books flow chronologically and some things are touched on in earlier books but not covered here so you’ll get the best world building and character depth by reading in order.
Basic plot:
Kyler finds he can’t help but lead the charge to rescue Zara when she’s taken captive – he’s been drawn to her since she arrived on the planet.
Give this a try if you want:
- futuristic time line (Earth has grown into a tier population with major classism issues)
- alien setting – planet Tavikh
- hero nurses hero back to health
- healer hero and forge working heroine (she makes passable arrowheads
- age gap – she’s mid 20s and he’s ‘seen 40 winters’
- fated mates
- never been kissed hero
- light other man drama
- medium steam – 2ish full scenes (in a shorter page count)
Ages:
- heroine is 27, hero has lasted 40 cold seasons on their planet, but I can’t recall how that relates to Earth years.
First line:
I really fucked up this time.
My thoughts:
I stepped away from this series for a bit but I am happy to return to it! And in this novel, I LOVED that you got some background about the heroine, Zara, and how she kind of ended up on the planet and her home life before she left. I wish all the books in the series had that. I think they need it because it can feel a bit random in some of the books wondering about more of their back story. I think it would make a nice prologue to the story.
I liked that more characters were introduced in this one including some aliens that they mains trade with. I liked the opening up of the world a bit in that way. But I would like to have seen more with the prior characters in the series too. Like the characters from Lost Warrior I thought returned but there just hasn’t been much interaction between all the characters of the series. Not that I want a bunch of time away from the mains, but I just would have liked them briefly revisited here and there.
My biggest issue with this series is it just doesn’t feel well planned out. Some books include things that others didn’t (like their fated mate spark wasn’t even mentioned in the first book/prequel novella I don’t believe and then started being more and more of a plot point in further books) and I feel like it’s kind of getting more developed as the series goes along instead of having a solid plan from the beginning. Events that I think should have been mentioned from the beginning are brought up in later books out of nowhere. I also think they can feel a touch repetitive (though I feel like that about quite a few scifi series, like Ice Planet Barbarians too). I just wish more was about the characters having depth and having more detailed interests and character traits than we get. Maybe this series is just a bit more plot lead instead of character lead and that’s a personal thing I prefer.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 6
Average rating: 4.33 stars
Favorite book: Fated to the Lost Warrior
Cock/Hero Stats/World Building:
- The Tavikh have tails and purple skin. Yellow eyes with feline-like pupils that are dark purple.
- When they touch their mates, they get mating marks branded on their skin
- Tavikhi warriors are virgins because they don’t have casual affairs – so they wait until bonded.
- Zara talks about how Earth is overpopulated and people built over all the land and needed credits to build up leading to a class system of upper and lower tier.
- The hero has mating nodes that have fluid that
Endearments
The hero calls the heroine ‘keeshla’
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- Zara’s parent’s cut her off and exile her
- scenes of fighting and violence including on page death/murder
- some elements of religious tone – the Tavikh believe in the goddess Deeka
- sibling death
- rape of a side character discussed
- scenes of broken bones and resetting
- heroine remembers her ex boyfriend getting her drunk and recording them having sex and live streaming it
Author given content warnings: discussion of SA, discussion of suicide, violence, anxiety/panic attacks, nightmares about blood and death
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: No
How’s the consent? I’d say it’s pretty strong consent in this one – he frequently asks
Pregnancy/children in story? Mention of maybe pregnant in the future, the hero imagining her pregnant during sex and a side character announces a pregnancy
34% - kiss
53% - kiss
67% - 🔥 kisses, dry humping, handy for him
85% - kiss
88% - 🔥 oral for her, missionary
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: first person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? plot
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to medium
When mains are first on page together: he sees her on page at 15% but they know each other from prior books.
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: There is a labeled epilogue but it’s more of a preview for a future book – Rojtar’s POV
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: I read the first 4 or so in this series and wanted to continue it
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet alien hero and human heroine
Should I read in order?
I’d say yes. These books flow chronologically and some things are touched on in earlier books but not covered here so you’ll get the best world building and character depth by reading in order.
Basic plot:
Kyler finds he can’t help but lead the charge to rescue Zara when she’s taken captive – he’s been drawn to her since she arrived on the planet.
Give this a try if you want:
- futuristic time line (Earth has grown into a tier population with major classism issues)
- alien setting – planet Tavikh
- hero nurses hero back to health
- healer hero and forge working heroine (she makes passable arrowheads
- age gap – she’s mid 20s and he’s ‘seen 40 winters’
- fated mates
- never been kissed hero
- light other man drama
- medium steam – 2ish full scenes (in a shorter page count)
Ages:
- heroine is 27, hero has lasted 40 cold seasons on their planet, but I can’t recall how that relates to Earth years.
First line:
I really fucked up this time.
My thoughts:
I stepped away from this series for a bit but I am happy to return to it! And in this novel, I LOVED that you got some background about the heroine, Zara, and how she kind of ended up on the planet and her home life before she left. I wish all the books in the series had that. I think they need it because it can feel a bit random in some of the books wondering about more of their back story. I think it would make a nice prologue to the story.
I liked that more characters were introduced in this one including some aliens that they mains trade with. I liked the opening up of the world a bit in that way. But I would like to have seen more with the prior characters in the series too. Like the characters from Lost Warrior I thought returned but there just hasn’t been much interaction between all the characters of the series. Not that I want a bunch of time away from the mains, but I just would have liked them briefly revisited here and there.
My biggest issue with this series is it just doesn’t feel well planned out. Some books include things that others didn’t (like their fated mate spark wasn’t even mentioned in the first book/prequel novella I don’t believe and then started being more and more of a plot point in further books) and I feel like it’s kind of getting more developed as the series goes along instead of having a solid plan from the beginning. Events that I think should have been mentioned from the beginning are brought up in later books out of nowhere. I also think they can feel a touch repetitive (though I feel like that about quite a few scifi series, like Ice Planet Barbarians too). I just wish more was about the characters having depth and having more detailed interests and character traits than we get. Maybe this series is just a bit more plot lead instead of character lead and that’s a personal thing I prefer.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 6
Average rating: 4.33 stars
Favorite book: Fated to the Lost Warrior
Cock/Hero Stats/World Building:
- The Tavikh have tails and purple skin. Yellow eyes with feline-like pupils that are dark purple.
- When they touch their mates, they get mating marks branded on their skin
- Tavikhi warriors are virgins because they don’t have casual affairs – so they wait until bonded.
- Zara talks about how Earth is overpopulated and people built over all the land and needed credits to build up leading to a class system of upper and lower tier.
- The hero has mating nodes that have fluid that
Endearments
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- Zara’s parent’s cut her off and exile her
- scenes of fighting and violence including on page death/murder
- some elements of religious tone – the Tavikh believe in the goddess Deeka
- sibling death
- rape of a side character discussed
- scenes of broken bones and resetting
- heroine remembers her ex boyfriend getting her drunk and recording them having sex and live streaming it
Author given content warnings: discussion of SA, discussion of suicide, violence, anxiety/panic attacks, nightmares about blood and death
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
34% - kiss
53% - kiss
67% - 🔥 kisses, dry humping, handy for him
85% - kiss
88% - 🔥 oral for her, missionary
The Lyon's Legacy by Sara Adrien
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (the language was pretty light)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: third person from both the heroine and hero
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: take a little bit, about 12% in (chapter 2 of 26)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 5 years later
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: I saw it posted in Upturned Petticoats and was curious about the steam level
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is fine alone but Adrien does include some info in the preface about where the character’s fall within her stories.
Basic plot:
Melissa makes a deal with Mrs. Dove-Lyon to win her unrequited love.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1818
- widowed heroine / widower hero
- single dad hero – his son is 13
- some unrequited longing from both
- pet – a kitten is a strong side character
- similar height mains – he’s about 3 inches taller than her
- matchmaking elements – heroine goes to Mrs. Dove-Lyon for a match
- lower steam – I have one full scene but there was another scene with light language that I couldn’t really tell the details so it might be a bit hotter. There’s also a number of kisses!
Ages:
- heroine is 24, hero is ‘nearly 30’
First line:
No woman should feel so apprehensive before the act.
My thoughts:
I am a bit conflicted about this book – I loved Adrien’s writing but a lot about the book wasn’t my favorite.
Overall it felt a bit slow and I didn’t love the hero’s child – it pulled from the main couple for me, which is just a personal pet peeve. The steam was a bit lower than what I was expecting.
But Adrien’s writing was great and I fell into the story pretty easy. The characters felt real and I loved their unrequited longing for each other. I also appreciated the historical tidbits about the dental word of the 1800s! That is not something I find often in HR books so that was interesting.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 2
Average rating: 3 stars
Favorite book: This one!
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- heroine is pressured into being the king’s mistress due to her husband’s debts (she never has to follow through on it)
- death of spouse – he died of lung fever during their first winter of marriage and she wasn’t very close to him
Author content warnings? Nothing mentioned
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: No
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? Mention of side characters being pregnant and the hero has a 13 year old son. There is talk about future babies and the possibilities of pregnancy. There are babies in the epilogue.
47% - kiss
54% - kiss
61% - kiss
69% - so there’s some cock touches, kisses and he’s exploring….I didn’t read this as they went further and had orgasms??? But I guess it’s possible. Personally wouldn’t count this as a full scene He wanted to savor this moment, to prolong the exquisite tension that made every touch, every kiss, a heady mix of pleasure and emotion. When they finally broke apart, both gasping for air, John rested his forehead against hers once more.
76% - 🔥kisses, fingering/oral for her, missionary
94% - kiss
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (the language was pretty light)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: third person from both the heroine and hero
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: take a little bit, about 12% in (chapter 2 of 26)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 5 years later
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: I saw it posted in Upturned Petticoats and was curious about the steam level
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is fine alone but Adrien does include some info in the preface about where the character’s fall within her stories.
Basic plot:
Melissa makes a deal with Mrs. Dove-Lyon to win her unrequited love.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1818
- widowed heroine / widower hero
- single dad hero – his son is 13
- some unrequited longing from both
- pet – a kitten is a strong side character
- similar height mains – he’s about 3 inches taller than her
- matchmaking elements – heroine goes to Mrs. Dove-Lyon for a match
- lower steam – I have one full scene but there was another scene with light language that I couldn’t really tell the details so it might be a bit hotter. There’s also a number of kisses!
Ages:
- heroine is 24, hero is ‘nearly 30’
First line:
No woman should feel so apprehensive before the act.
My thoughts:
I am a bit conflicted about this book – I loved Adrien’s writing but a lot about the book wasn’t my favorite.
Overall it felt a bit slow and I didn’t love the hero’s child – it pulled from the main couple for me, which is just a personal pet peeve. The steam was a bit lower than what I was expecting.
But Adrien’s writing was great and I fell into the story pretty easy. The characters felt real and I loved their unrequited longing for each other. I also appreciated the historical tidbits about the dental word of the 1800s! That is not something I find often in HR books so that was interesting.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 2
Average rating: 3 stars
Favorite book: This one!
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- heroine is pressured into being the king’s mistress due to her husband’s debts (she never has to follow through on it)
- death of spouse – he died of lung fever during their first winter of marriage and she wasn’t very close to him
Author content warnings? Nothing mentioned
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
47% - kiss
54% - kiss
61% - kiss
69% - so there’s some cock touches, kisses and he’s exploring….I didn’t read this as they went further and had orgasms??? But I guess it’s possible. Personally wouldn’t count this as a full scene He wanted to savor this moment, to prolong the exquisite tension that made every touch, every kiss, a heady mix of pleasure and emotion. When they finally broke apart, both gasping for air, John rested his forehead against hers once more.
76% - 🔥kisses, fingering/oral for her, missionary
94% - kiss
The Unexpected Bride by Gina Griffin, Gina Griffin
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
4.75
Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (The intimate scenes are definitely a touch light in the wording and I prefer a bit more explicitness)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third person mostly from hero and heroine and some side characters including the heroine’s father, and her maid
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to medium
When mains are first on page together: pretty soon in, about 3% (chapter 1 of 20)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, a few months later
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: I came across the author on instagram and was curious about her work. She has been kind and engaging so I moved her up on my TBR!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is book 1 of Griffin’s Highlander Brides series.
Basic plot:
On the way to meet her father in England, Bronte meets Shaine McConner, who falls head over heels while escorting her.
Give this a try if you want:
- Medieval – 1123 (time of King Henry I of England and King Alexander of Scotland)
- Scotland setting
- English heroine / Scottish hero pairing (but heroine has been in Scotland basically her whole life, raised at a nunnery)
- hero is laird of clan McConner
- instalove
- protective hero
- age gap – he’s older by roughly 12 years
- hero falls first / hero pursues
- road trip vibes
- bit of a size difference – he’s taller
- he’ll cover you with his plaid while you’re sleeping
- medium steam – 2 full scenes plus some short mentions and fade to blacks
Ages:
- heroine is 18, hero is about 30
First line:
Bronte was nervous at the thought of meeting her father for the first time.
My thoughts:
Okay, there was something about this story that was absolutely divine to me. I loved the first half of this novel so, so much. It had something that just grabbed my heart and held up. I am a fool for heroes that are obsessed, heroes that fall first and watching Shaine fall for Bronte was utterly delicious.
They were so cute together falling in love. It gave me all the butterflies I crave about romance. I loved Griffin’s writing and found myself rereading numerous passages and savoring them and highlighting so many parts. I will absolutely be back for more from Griffin – this story was so delightful to me and made me feel all giddy.
A few very minor downfalls for me personally – I wanted a touch more dialogue between them – especially as we got into the book. I loved the beginning filled with those little touches and longing looks and uncertainty – I adore that – but I wanted to know both of them a touch more as the book went on. I also am not a fan of frequent switching of POVs in a story and we had a few different characters get thought time (though most of it is definitely the hero and heroine) but this I think too is why it reminds me a bit of an old school feel – in a good way. But it seemed to jump back and forth between the hero and heroine without solid breaks – it wasn’t necessarily confusing but just a preference.
I was so happy there was steam in this novel! I had my doubts when I picked it up haha and that would have been fine too but I really loved Griffins scenes. They were emotional and sweet. I may prefer a touch more explicitness overall though.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one!
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
Okay I NEED authors to describe heroes like this all the time 😆 It’s something I love about Monica McCarty too – she takes time and describes her heroes
Carefully turning back, Bronte faced the shadow before her. It remained still for a moment more, and then moved forward, heavy footfalls snapping the twigs beneath its feet.
Her heartbeat raced as she lowered her hand from her mouth and tightly gripped the blanket, while the menacing figure stepped closer.
Suddenly it turned, and the moonlight that had cloaked the figure now illuminated its form. Bronte gasped in both fear and awe. It was a man. He was as tall and robust as an oat tree; she was sure no mere mortal would be able to fell this man. He was clothed in the usual garb of the Scot, a plaid wrapped around his waist and over one shoulder, the shirt underneath partly untied, revealing a strong neck. His muscled legs were encased in deerskin leggings. As he shifted, his face was lighted further by the pale beam.
Bronte’s breath caught, and she put one hand to her heart to still its hammering. He was the most fearsome-looking man she had ever seen.
His hair was as black as night itself, uneven ends hanging long to his shoulders. His brows were fierce slashes over eyes that appeared misty grey in the moonlight, all set above a straight nose and lips that were presently set into a hard line.
The lines around his mouth may have been those of laughter, but whether caused by jubilant humour or ruthless mirth at another poor person’s expense, Bronte was unsure. It was probably the latter. He certainly did not look happy to see her.
She could not stop staring at him. The moment tensed as they continued to intently observe each other in an unusual stand-off.
//
A cold breeze rustled the trees around their camp, obscuring the moon’s full moon. The dancing branches causing fragments of light to flicker over the intruder, revealing more details of him to Bronte as her eyes followed their glimmer. His arms and legs had streaks of dirt and random leaves were caught in his hair. Twigs had embedded themselves in his plaid, and long grasses trailed around his leggings like a vine.
His garb was clean. Not like her father’s men, who wore dirty clothes and did not wash their hands or faces. But he was as wild as the forest, nature itself entwining on him and finding its own place. He was stoic, unmoving, and the rise and fall of his chest the only hint that he was living and breathing, not a figment of her imagination.
It was as if the forest itself had come alive and it was him.
//
Shaine stared down at the figure before him. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. When he assessed the unexpected situation, he wondered if he was still astride his mount and asleep in the saddle. That this circumstance they found themselves in was just a dream. He hoped not, otherwise this ethereal vision in front of him was also a mere figment of his imagination.
He could hear her uneven breaths.
---
He had frowned and glared back across at the pathetic soldiers who were just awakening, likely due to a well-aimed sword brushed against a throat. His anger had intensified; these worthless men should be protecting the women. Men who lay at least forty footfalls away would be useless should a threat come near, unable to defend them. The women could have their throats slashed or be seized before those pitiful excuses of Englishmen realised anything was amiss.
He looked back down at the woman before him. She began to stir; she inhaled gently, and he was drawn into the pools of deep green when her eyes locked with his.
His heart stopped for a beat, then began in a new rhythm.
---
Her eyes lifted and she gasped when she realised he had stopped talking and was staring at her intently. His look was molten; his body still.
---
Bronte frowned. What was it she could not recall? It lurked there in the back of her mind, teasing her.
She bit her lower lip in consternation and tugged the blanket thoughtfully under her chin. Her fingers ran across the soft weave, her thumb and forefinger feeling the thickness of the woo. It was not harsh and abrasive like the blankets she had brought from the nunnery.
Almost absentmindedly, she looked down as her hand again brushed across the blanket. Her eyes widened when she noted the purple and blue hues of the fabric, with interceptions of narrow white and green lines tracking across it. It was a plaid.
---
A large hand gently slide across her neck, tucking stray strands of hair behind her ear, and she sighed as a callused thumb traced the shell of that same ear. The inquisitive thumb then trailed across her cheek to her mouth and gently shaped her lips. It dropped further to her chin and softly rubbed back and forth.
Then it was gone, and Bronte exhaled in protest before she was hushed by firm, warm lips feathering against her forehead. Lips that pressed soothing kisses along her brow to her temple and down to her cheek, whispering soft words in Gaelic she was too sleepy to understand before they too were gone.
---
Bronte recalled with clarity the previous night and what had happened, what she had allowed to happen. The hard muscle of his chest and bulge of his arms had left lasting imprints on her skin. She could still feel the callused hand that clasped hers and the thumb that he rubbed back and forth across her knuckles. The same thumb that would trace her lips in the early dawn. Her stomach fluttered at a hazy recollection of gentle lips against her cheek.
---
Finally, Shaine reached his hand out to gently touch under her chin. It remained there a moment before sliding down to rest lightly at the nape of her neck. His fingers caressed, feeling the warm silky texture of her delicate skin.
Bronte’s breath caught, lost in the intensity of his gaze. Her neck tingled at the warm touch of his callused fingerings. It was wondrous that a hand so strong and hard could touch her with such gentleness.
---
Kerith frowned at his still laird. “But should she be told the truth about her father and her home?”
Finally, Shaine turned to look at him. Kerith’s brows rose at the depth of feeling shining from Shaine’s eyes, and the glint of determination that flared within their steely depths. His voice was rough with emotion when he replied.
“She stays with us. She is home.”
---
“I am thinking how pleased I am that you stopped that night at our clearing and did not continue your journey.”
He gazed at warmly. “I am pleased we stopped there too.”
“Do you realise for the balance of those small decisions we may never have - “
The warm hand he placed against her lips stayed what she was about to say; the unthinkable alternative.
“It would have happened. There was never a chance we would not have met.”
---
He leaned down to press his damp lips against her neck. “You looked beautiful this morning when I left you, laying in our bed.”
She sighed at his hot whisper.
“I was very reluctant to go. Did you miss me today?” Shaine breathed into her ear.
Bronte moaned as his tongue swirled gently around.
“Was that a no?” He stopped, teasingly.
“No. I mean, yes! I mean, yes, I missed you!” She groaned as his wicked tongue began its dance again.
“That is good, because I missed you as well. Tell me again.”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- parental death mentioned
- mentions of raids and wars among the Scottish clans
- scenes of physical violence and domestic abuse – the heroine’s father is abusive and physically attacks multiple people including the heroine
- some religious overtones – the heroine is from a nunnery and there is a priest in her husband’s village where she sets up and encourages weekly mass but I wouldn’t say it’s a large plot point
- child in danger scene – a child side character is found unconscious in the water and first aid is rendered and he comes to
Author content warnings? Didn’t catch any
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: No
How’s the consent? It’s mostly good – the hero does kiss her abruptly and doesn’t ask but we are in her POV and know she is enjoying it
Pregnancy/children in story? There is a child side character that’s kind of adopted by the keep and the heroine falls pregnant within the last 10% or so of the story
19% - kiss
36% - 🔥 kisses, fingering/oral for her, missionary
Shaine held her wide gaze with his own, leaning forward to press a possessive kiss against her soft curls.
Bronte moaned and reached down to grip his shoulders, steadying legs that suddenly weakened. He placed another kiss there before grasping one large hand on her hip, helping to hold her upright while his other continued its gentle adoration.
52% - 🔥 dry humping o for her, missionary
She pressed her thighs together to ease the pulsing ache. Shaine would have none of that. He forced a hard leg between her thighs and pressed his knee up against her throbbing centre. She cried out as he began to rock his knee back and forth, increasing the ache that flamed there.
64% - fade to black scene
84% - shorter scene without details
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (The intimate scenes are definitely a touch light in the wording and I prefer a bit more explicitness)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third person mostly from hero and heroine and some side characters including the heroine’s father, and her maid
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to medium
When mains are first on page together: pretty soon in, about 3% (chapter 1 of 20)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, a few months later
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: I came across the author on instagram and was curious about her work. She has been kind and engaging so I moved her up on my TBR!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is book 1 of Griffin’s Highlander Brides series.
Basic plot:
On the way to meet her father in England, Bronte meets Shaine McConner, who falls head over heels while escorting her.
Give this a try if you want:
- Medieval – 1123 (time of King Henry I of England and King Alexander of Scotland)
- Scotland setting
- English heroine / Scottish hero pairing (but heroine has been in Scotland basically her whole life, raised at a nunnery)
- hero is laird of clan McConner
- instalove
- protective hero
- age gap – he’s older by roughly 12 years
- hero falls first / hero pursues
- road trip vibes
- bit of a size difference – he’s taller
- he’ll cover you with his plaid while you’re sleeping
- medium steam – 2 full scenes plus some short mentions and fade to blacks
Ages:
- heroine is 18, hero is about 30
First line:
Bronte was nervous at the thought of meeting her father for the first time.
My thoughts:
Okay, there was something about this story that was absolutely divine to me. I loved the first half of this novel so, so much. It had something that just grabbed my heart and held up. I am a fool for heroes that are obsessed, heroes that fall first and watching Shaine fall for Bronte was utterly delicious.
They were so cute together falling in love. It gave me all the butterflies I crave about romance. I loved Griffin’s writing and found myself rereading numerous passages and savoring them and highlighting so many parts. I will absolutely be back for more from Griffin – this story was so delightful to me and made me feel all giddy.
A few very minor downfalls for me personally – I wanted a touch more dialogue between them – especially as we got into the book. I loved the beginning filled with those little touches and longing looks and uncertainty – I adore that – but I wanted to know both of them a touch more as the book went on. I also am not a fan of frequent switching of POVs in a story and we had a few different characters get thought time (though most of it is definitely the hero and heroine) but this I think too is why it reminds me a bit of an old school feel – in a good way. But it seemed to jump back and forth between the hero and heroine without solid breaks – it wasn’t necessarily confusing but just a preference.
I was so happy there was steam in this novel! I had my doubts when I picked it up haha and that would have been fine too but I really loved Griffins scenes. They were emotional and sweet. I may prefer a touch more explicitness overall though.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one!
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
Okay I NEED authors to describe heroes like this all the time 😆 It’s something I love about Monica McCarty too – she takes time and describes her heroes
Carefully turning back, Bronte faced the shadow before her. It remained still for a moment more, and then moved forward, heavy footfalls snapping the twigs beneath its feet.
Her heartbeat raced as she lowered her hand from her mouth and tightly gripped the blanket, while the menacing figure stepped closer.
Suddenly it turned, and the moonlight that had cloaked the figure now illuminated its form. Bronte gasped in both fear and awe. It was a man. He was as tall and robust as an oat tree; she was sure no mere mortal would be able to fell this man. He was clothed in the usual garb of the Scot, a plaid wrapped around his waist and over one shoulder, the shirt underneath partly untied, revealing a strong neck. His muscled legs were encased in deerskin leggings. As he shifted, his face was lighted further by the pale beam.
Bronte’s breath caught, and she put one hand to her heart to still its hammering. He was the most fearsome-looking man she had ever seen.
His hair was as black as night itself, uneven ends hanging long to his shoulders. His brows were fierce slashes over eyes that appeared misty grey in the moonlight, all set above a straight nose and lips that were presently set into a hard line.
The lines around his mouth may have been those of laughter, but whether caused by jubilant humour or ruthless mirth at another poor person’s expense, Bronte was unsure. It was probably the latter. He certainly did not look happy to see her.
She could not stop staring at him. The moment tensed as they continued to intently observe each other in an unusual stand-off.
//
A cold breeze rustled the trees around their camp, obscuring the moon’s full moon. The dancing branches causing fragments of light to flicker over the intruder, revealing more details of him to Bronte as her eyes followed their glimmer. His arms and legs had streaks of dirt and random leaves were caught in his hair. Twigs had embedded themselves in his plaid, and long grasses trailed around his leggings like a vine.
His garb was clean. Not like her father’s men, who wore dirty clothes and did not wash their hands or faces. But he was as wild as the forest, nature itself entwining on him and finding its own place. He was stoic, unmoving, and the rise and fall of his chest the only hint that he was living and breathing, not a figment of her imagination.
It was as if the forest itself had come alive and it was him.
//
Shaine stared down at the figure before him. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. When he assessed the unexpected situation, he wondered if he was still astride his mount and asleep in the saddle. That this circumstance they found themselves in was just a dream. He hoped not, otherwise this ethereal vision in front of him was also a mere figment of his imagination.
He could hear her uneven breaths.
---
He had frowned and glared back across at the pathetic soldiers who were just awakening, likely due to a well-aimed sword brushed against a throat. His anger had intensified; these worthless men should be protecting the women. Men who lay at least forty footfalls away would be useless should a threat come near, unable to defend them. The women could have their throats slashed or be seized before those pitiful excuses of Englishmen realised anything was amiss.
He looked back down at the woman before him. She began to stir; she inhaled gently, and he was drawn into the pools of deep green when her eyes locked with his.
His heart stopped for a beat, then began in a new rhythm.
---
Her eyes lifted and she gasped when she realised he had stopped talking and was staring at her intently. His look was molten; his body still.
---
Bronte frowned. What was it she could not recall? It lurked there in the back of her mind, teasing her.
She bit her lower lip in consternation and tugged the blanket thoughtfully under her chin. Her fingers ran across the soft weave, her thumb and forefinger feeling the thickness of the woo. It was not harsh and abrasive like the blankets she had brought from the nunnery.
Almost absentmindedly, she looked down as her hand again brushed across the blanket. Her eyes widened when she noted the purple and blue hues of the fabric, with interceptions of narrow white and green lines tracking across it. It was a plaid.
---
A large hand gently slide across her neck, tucking stray strands of hair behind her ear, and she sighed as a callused thumb traced the shell of that same ear. The inquisitive thumb then trailed across her cheek to her mouth and gently shaped her lips. It dropped further to her chin and softly rubbed back and forth.
Then it was gone, and Bronte exhaled in protest before she was hushed by firm, warm lips feathering against her forehead. Lips that pressed soothing kisses along her brow to her temple and down to her cheek, whispering soft words in Gaelic she was too sleepy to understand before they too were gone.
---
Bronte recalled with clarity the previous night and what had happened, what she had allowed to happen. The hard muscle of his chest and bulge of his arms had left lasting imprints on her skin. She could still feel the callused hand that clasped hers and the thumb that he rubbed back and forth across her knuckles. The same thumb that would trace her lips in the early dawn. Her stomach fluttered at a hazy recollection of gentle lips against her cheek.
---
Finally, Shaine reached his hand out to gently touch under her chin. It remained there a moment before sliding down to rest lightly at the nape of her neck. His fingers caressed, feeling the warm silky texture of her delicate skin.
Bronte’s breath caught, lost in the intensity of his gaze. Her neck tingled at the warm touch of his callused fingerings. It was wondrous that a hand so strong and hard could touch her with such gentleness.
---
Kerith frowned at his still laird. “But should she be told the truth about her father and her home?”
Finally, Shaine turned to look at him. Kerith’s brows rose at the depth of feeling shining from Shaine’s eyes, and the glint of determination that flared within their steely depths. His voice was rough with emotion when he replied.
“She stays with us. She is home.”
---
“I am thinking how pleased I am that you stopped that night at our clearing and did not continue your journey.”
He gazed at warmly. “I am pleased we stopped there too.”
“Do you realise for the balance of those small decisions we may never have - “
The warm hand he placed against her lips stayed what she was about to say; the unthinkable alternative.
“It would have happened. There was never a chance we would not have met.”
---
He leaned down to press his damp lips against her neck. “You looked beautiful this morning when I left you, laying in our bed.”
She sighed at his hot whisper.
“I was very reluctant to go. Did you miss me today?” Shaine breathed into her ear.
Bronte moaned as his tongue swirled gently around.
“Was that a no?” He stopped, teasingly.
“No. I mean, yes! I mean, yes, I missed you!” She groaned as his wicked tongue began its dance again.
“That is good, because I missed you as well. Tell me again.”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- parental death mentioned
- mentions of raids and wars among the Scottish clans
- scenes of physical violence and domestic abuse – the heroine’s father is abusive and physically attacks multiple people including the heroine
- some religious overtones – the heroine is from a nunnery and there is a priest in her husband’s village where she sets up and encourages weekly mass but I wouldn’t say it’s a large plot point
- child in danger scene – a child side character is found unconscious in the water and first aid is rendered and he comes to
Author content warnings? Didn’t catch 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?
19% - kiss
36% - 🔥 kisses, fingering/oral for her, missionary
Shaine held her wide gaze with his own, leaning forward to press a possessive kiss against her soft curls.
Bronte moaned and reached down to grip his shoulders, steadying legs that suddenly weakened. He placed another kiss there before grasping one large hand on her hip, helping to hold her upright while his other continued its gentle adoration.
52% - 🔥 dry humping o for her, missionary
She pressed her thighs together to ease the pulsing ache. Shaine would have none of that. He forced a hard leg between her thighs and pressed his knee up against her throbbing centre. She cried out as he began to rock his knee back and forth, increasing the ache that flamed there.
64% - fade to black scene
84% - shorter scene without details
His Regency Goddess by Steffy Smith
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑 (for the full scene, the next scene was quite short)
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 to fast
When mains are first on page together: they first see each other at 9% but interact at about 16%
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: trying to read through the Curves and Cravats series and also curious about more of Smith’s work!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is fine alone! It is part of the stand alone series Curves and Cravats – I’m not sure how it fits within Smith’s work.
Basic plot:
Sin falls hard for Sophia upon first glance.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency - 1818
- widow heroine
- instalove (hard from the hero)
- future Marquess hero
- full figured heroine
- both mains love art
- hero needs a wife and heir
- he treats her like a goddess
- he falls first
- shorter novel
- average novella steam – 1 full scene plus a short scene
Ages:
- heroine is about 25, I didn't see hero mentioned
First line:
Sophie stood in front of the mirror at Mrs. Bean’s Magazin des Modes on 32 Albemarle Street and sighed.
My thoughts:
This was a very pleasant read! I read 2 of Smith’s books quite awhile ago and I was eager to try her again and I feel like this book shows she’s really improving her craft. It was such a nice story to fall into – love the hero falling so hard and fast and I loved the mix of art appreciation and collection woven within.
My complaint about this one was the mains weren’t together as much as I wanted. And it was noticeable to me in the first half. They spent about 57% of the book together which isn’t bad for a novella but were only together 14% in the first half and I was feeling it. BUT they were also very focused on each other – there seemed to be a decent amount of thinking about each other while they were separated so that it not feel as drastic to me.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 3
Average rating: 3.67 stars
Favorite book: This one!
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- heroine was married to a man 20 years old than her at 18 but it wasn’t a harmful marriage – just love less.
- remembered sibling 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? Side character has kids and heroine thinks about future kids but no pregnancy or children for the mains
57% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her, food play with honey, her on top
“That’s a good girl, Sophie. Come for me. Come all over me, you are mine,” he growled.
73% - kisses
93% - sex against the wall but it’s quite short
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑 (for the full scene, the next scene was quite short)
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 to fast
When mains are first on page together: they first see each other at 9% but interact at about 16%
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: trying to read through the Curves and Cravats series and also curious about more of Smith’s work!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is fine alone! It is part of the stand alone series Curves and Cravats – I’m not sure how it fits within Smith’s work.
Basic plot:
Sin falls hard for Sophia upon first glance.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency - 1818
- widow heroine
- instalove (hard from the hero)
- future Marquess hero
- full figured heroine
- both mains love art
- hero needs a wife and heir
- he treats her like a goddess
- he falls first
- shorter novel
- average novella steam – 1 full scene plus a short scene
Ages:
- heroine is about 25, I didn't see hero mentioned
First line:
Sophie stood in front of the mirror at Mrs. Bean’s Magazin des Modes on 32 Albemarle Street and sighed.
My thoughts:
This was a very pleasant read! I read 2 of Smith’s books quite awhile ago and I was eager to try her again and I feel like this book shows she’s really improving her craft. It was such a nice story to fall into – love the hero falling so hard and fast and I loved the mix of art appreciation and collection woven within.
My complaint about this one was the mains weren’t together as much as I wanted. And it was noticeable to me in the first half. They spent about 57% of the book together which isn’t bad for a novella but were only together 14% in the first half and I was feeling it. BUT they were also very focused on each other – there seemed to be a decent amount of thinking about each other while they were separated so that it not feel as drastic to me.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 3
Average rating: 3.67 stars
Favorite book: This one!
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- heroine was married to a man 20 years old than her at 18 but it wasn’t a harmful marriage – just love less.
- remembered sibling 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?
57% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her, food play with honey, her on top
“That’s a good girl, Sophie. Come for me. Come all over me, you are mine,” he growled.
73% - kisses
93% - sex against the wall but it’s quite short
The Viscount's Curvy Prize by Viola Grey
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- 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: 💞💞💞 (There is a grand gesture I appreciated!)
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
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? maybe plot?
How did the speed of the story feel? medium to fast
When mains are first on page together: very soon in
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, about a year later
Format: read an e-book through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: I am reading through the Curves and Cravats series and this is one of the books!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is okay as a stand alone – there is some character crossover with Silas and Honora from The Earl’s Temptation though.
Basic plot:
Emmaline’s father is hired to paint Benedict, but a connection grows when Emmaline takes over the portrait.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1820
- Viscount hero
- artist (painter) heroine
- instalust
- class difference -he’s a Viscount, she’s an artist
- curvy herione
- age gap – hero is 9 years older
- shorter novel
- higher steam – 3 full scenes within a shorter page count
Ages:
- hero is 33, heroine is 24
First line:
Benedict, the esteemed Viscount Seton, had been staring stonily into space for what felt like hours when suddenly a vision in sensible grey cotton walked into his line of sight.
My thoughts:
Overall I thought this one was fine – a quick and steamy read with some unrequited longing I really adored. I did want the characters to….talk more? Get to know each other more? I’m okay with instalust sometimes but in this one I felt like they barely had interaction/knew each other before the end of the book, so that dropped it just a bit for me. But I did find some swoony lines and thoughts.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating: 4 stars
Favorite book: This one?
Quotes
Her tongue took control once again. “You look like a Puritan, My Lord,” said Emmaline with a daring tilt of her head. “Surely your valet despairs at the austere palette of your dress. He must long for a brightly coloured waistcoat.”
The lord narrowed his gaze and cleared his throat, eyes running from her head to the tips of her toes where her plain calfskin half-boots peeked out from under her hems.
“And you, my dear, look like a sensible young woman. It seems we must be both be wrong.”
---
“What cruel dream is this, come to tempt me in my hour of weakness?”
There came a velvety rough voice through the air, like a hand trailing across the back of her neck. Emmaline squeaked and spun around, clutching her nightgown as her heart raced fit to burst from her chest.
There was the source of her agony, recling on the settee set up on the dias. His face was cast in shadow, lit only by a candle set recklessly on the floor.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: He pulls out.
How’s the consent? It’s fine – the hero points out they can stop any time and gives her different ways to express if she wants to continue.
Pregnancy/children in story? A side character is pregnant. No talk of babies until the epilogue where there’s some breeding thoughts
36% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her
He allowed his lips to brush the corner of her mouth, teasing them both and drawing a low whimper from her throat.
“You have spent far too many hours examining me at your leisure,” Benedict drawled, dragging his mouth to the soft skin behind her ear and nibbling there. Savouring the taste of her skin. “I think it only fair that I get to explore your beauty for a change.”
63% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her, her on top without penetration, then her on top fully
”Oh, please,” she moaned, reaching for his mouth with hers, brown hair tumbling free from its pins to fall around them as they
95% - 🔥 mirror sex with breeding thoughts
”I’m not going to pull out, not this time, not ever again,” he growled, thrusting deep with a snap of his hips.
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞 (There is a grand gesture I appreciated!)
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
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? maybe plot?
How did the speed of the story feel? medium to fast
When mains are first on page together: very soon in
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, about a year later
Format: read an e-book through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: I am reading through the Curves and Cravats series and this is one of the books!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is okay as a stand alone – there is some character crossover with Silas and Honora from The Earl’s Temptation though.
Basic plot:
Emmaline’s father is hired to paint Benedict, but a connection grows when Emmaline takes over the portrait.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1820
- Viscount hero
- artist (painter) heroine
- instalust
- class difference -he’s a Viscount, she’s an artist
- curvy herione
- age gap – hero is 9 years older
- shorter novel
- higher steam – 3 full scenes within a shorter page count
Ages:
- hero is 33, heroine is 24
First line:
Benedict, the esteemed Viscount Seton, had been staring stonily into space for what felt like hours when suddenly a vision in sensible grey cotton walked into his line of sight.
My thoughts:
Overall I thought this one was fine – a quick and steamy read with some unrequited longing I really adored. I did want the characters to….talk more? Get to know each other more? I’m okay with instalust sometimes but in this one I felt like they barely had interaction/knew each other before the end of the book, so that dropped it just a bit for me. But I did find some swoony lines and thoughts.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating: 4 stars
Favorite book: This one?
Quotes
Her tongue took control once again. “You look like a Puritan, My Lord,” said Emmaline with a daring tilt of her head. “Surely your valet despairs at the austere palette of your dress. He must long for a brightly coloured waistcoat.”
The lord narrowed his gaze and cleared his throat, eyes running from her head to the tips of her toes where her plain calfskin half-boots peeked out from under her hems.
“And you, my dear, look like a sensible young woman. It seems we must be both be wrong.”
---
“What cruel dream is this, come to tempt me in my hour of weakness?”
There came a velvety rough voice through the air, like a hand trailing across the back of her neck. Emmaline squeaked and spun around, clutching her nightgown as her heart raced fit to burst from her chest.
There was the source of her agony, recling on the settee set up on the dias. His face was cast in shadow, lit only by a candle set recklessly on the floor.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
36% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her
He allowed his lips to brush the corner of her mouth, teasing them both and drawing a low whimper from her throat.
“You have spent far too many hours examining me at your leisure,” Benedict drawled, dragging his mouth to the soft skin behind her ear and nibbling there. Savouring the taste of her skin. “I think it only fair that I get to explore your beauty for a change.”
63% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her, her on top without penetration, then her on top fully
”Oh, please,” she moaned, reaching for his mouth with hers, brown hair tumbling free from its pins to fall around them as they
95% - 🔥 mirror sex with breeding thoughts
”I’m not going to pull out, not this time, not ever again,” he growled, thrusting deep with a snap of his hips.
wolf.e by Paisley Hope
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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: 📖📖📖📖 (I was really into this one but it also just started to feel really long to me)
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞 (definitely a bit toxic, obsessive love, codependent tendancies for sure….but I love that stuff and find some of it romantic 😆 )
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋 (though there was some language and acts that I didn’t love...but overall it had a good balance of emotions and explicitness I crave)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥+
Humor: Not much
Perspective: first person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? kind of mix, but more plot
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: They don’t see each other until 9-10% in (chapter 4) but don’t really talk or interact until 13% in (chapter 5 of 62)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, it’s quite far in the future, which I loved (the second to last chapter is 2 weeks later, the epilogue is 16 ½ years later)
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: @imromanticallyinvolved sent it my way as a possible buddy read and then I kept seeing snippets of the book posted around social media
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
”I told you this once – you won’t win.” Gabriel bends down to look in my eyes before removing his hand. “Now do as you’re fucking told.”
Should I read in order?
I believe this is a stand alone?
Basic plot:
After a break up, Brinley is back in her home town. Her friend brings her into the arms of the local Motorcycle Club where she catches the president’s eye...
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- Georgia setting
- MC (motorcycle club) romance
- tall hero – he’s at least 6’4”
- very light age gap – he’s older by 8 years
- some lighter enemies-ish to lovers vibes – brat elements
- former military hero
- pierced and tattooed hero
- VERY obsessive, protective hero
- dark elements – some dubious consent, kidnapping elements, as well as darker plot themes including rape and murder
- higher steam – 11ish full scenes that include breath play, hair pulling, brat heroine, some elements of pain play, plenty of dirty talk, some light blood play, primal play, light breeding thoughts
Ages:
- heroine is 24 years old, hero is 32
First line:
In two generations, you will be completely forgotten.
My thoughts:
Includes club lingo and a playlist – the club lingo was helpful for me with this being my first MC romance 😆
I’ll admit I really didn’t like the way the prologue was done. It felt really random and I could NOT figure out how it was fitting into the story until I got well into the story...then I got it. It just felt like a random part pulled from the book to me. And it niggled at me the whole time I was reading the first half of the book.
But overall I loved so much about this one. I loved the build up of it. I loved the tension building. I loved how obsessed the hero was but it wasn’t like an instalove fest – it still had tension building. I loved how they circled each other. I loved the brat element. I love how these two fell in love. Really adored the extended epilogue too!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one!
Endearments
Hero calls her ‘little hummingbird’, ‘hummingbird’, and ‘little bird’.
Quotes
Brinley smiles nervously and averts her eyes from his, her innocence taking over. I kick him sharply under the table without looking up from cutting my steak. Kai turns his attention to me. I life my gaze to take my bite and shake my head slightly only once, no one else would notice. Kai nods and grimaces, understanding I’m telling him to back off.
---
Women scream and people get up and start running for shelter. I stand without thought and get to Brinley in one stride. I wrap one arm around her waist. She gasps and tips her head back, looking into my eyes, her face just a few inches from mine. Her eyes fill with fear as I pick her up in a rag doll carry and following Ax and Layla, we burrow the girls into a hallway alcove for safety.
When I set Brinley down her mouth pops open, but she doesn’t speak. She breathes in shallow breaths, the way the body does when it’s dipping into fight or flight.
“Stay,” I order.
---
“My heart beats faster because...I’m afraid of you,” I say honestly, looking into his eyes, hoping he will feel badly enough to let me go and wishing he wouldn’t all at the same time.
“I know,” he growls. “I fucking love it.”
---
Brinley backs against the hood as I approach, not knowing what to do, the pink starting to return. I breathe in her jasmine scent and reach out, grabbing her belt loops with my first two fingers, tugging her to me. Her mouth pops open and I almost turn savage with the need to stick my tongue into it.
The fuck? Get it together. Jesus Christ.
---
The only thing I can do is stand nervously and let him. I fold my hands in front of me. He looks down and notices, then surprises me by reaching out a hand to separate them as his brows knot. Looking back up to my face, his hand reaches around to the back of my head and he pulls the claw clip I have out of my hair. His eyes stay on mine as all my hair tumbles down around my shoulders, but I don’t move, taking in the way he looks at me, almost like he’s angry as he stars down at me. Something as simple as pulling out my hair clip and I’m pooling in my panties for this man. Wolfe lifts a smaller black helmet up and sets it on my head, clipping it in place under my chin, tightening the strap with his big fingers until it’s a perfect fit. Then he adds the matching jacket off the back of his bad. I shrug it off as he tries to place it on my shoulders.
“How many women have you lent these to?” I ask, wrinkling my nose. I can tell I’m pushing him because the sound he makes in response is like a type of a frustrated growl.
“Little brat,” Wolfe says as he pulls the jacket back down around me firmly, forcing me to put it on. In truth, it’s light and so soft and fits me perfectly as he zips it up. “This is a day of firsts for both of us,” he says, looking down at me all dressed in his leather.
---
When Brinley reaches the table, it’s obvious there’s only one available chair. It’s to my left, in between myself and Layla. I don’t look up; I just pull it out for her.
---
“I won’t say anything, I -”
“Shh,” he says, running a thumb over my bottom lip, instantly calming me.
I silently pray there’s no pain.
“Listen to me now. You have two choices, little hummingbird. You die in these woods, or you become mine in these woods.”
---
“Pack your shit or don’t pack your shit, either way you’re coming with me. This isn’t a discussion,” he says, looking down at me.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- cigarette, alcohol and weed usage
- mention of sexual assault of a 16 year old girl
- murder on page
- gun violence
- parental death
- unsatisfying relationship and breakup on page
- codependent relationship themes
- very obsessive/jealous hero
- scenes of attacks, explosions, windows breaking, etc
- heroine slaps the hero
- domestic abuse of parents, child abuse remembered, parental murder
- scenes of war and death remembered
Author content warnings? Torture, gun violence, murder, discussions of sexual assault of a 16 year old, flashback of domestic abuse, death of family member, mild alcohol and drug use. Blood, breath, and knife play, anal sex, sex in a religious setting, sex that feels ritualistic, consensual non consent. Degradation, borderline captor/captive setting. Discussions of life as a marine, traumatic moments
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: No, she asks for a condom but he says no. Heroine is on birth control
Hows the consent? It’s….dubious. There’s some elements and the hero is very dominating and pushy. There’s some acts where she’s kind of ‘pressured’ into it but there’s also a brat element of her saying no and pushing back while loving the reaction. Overall they are both very into it, but there’s some scenes of pressure/almost kidnapping. If verbal consent is important to you though, I’d forgo this one.
Pregnancy/children in story? (Please note this is the best to my memory/note taking. If you see something I missed please feel free to message!) No children or pregnancy on page, but some elements of thinking of pregnancy and a future family. The epilogue does have children.
21% - 🔥 fingering for her
“The fucking sounds you make, you might as well be asking me to eat you alive.” Wolfe drops his lips to my neck, my collarbone, my shoulders, my breasts, trading between biting me and ravaging me with open mouthed kisses.
37% - 🔥 kisses in the woods after Brinley witnesses a murder and Wolf chases her down. Fingering, fucking with a knife handle for her
41% - 🔥 bj for him (complete)
51% - 🔥 primal play, missionary followed by some shower care taking and oral for her
64% - 🔥 blood play, missionary
69% - 🔥 primal play, oral for her, doggy style
73% - 🔥 he binds her and feeds her, blow job
76% - kiss
77% - 🔥 oral for her
82% - 🔥 period sex on the bike
85% - 🔥 mirror sex
93% - anal dilators
95% - 🔥 sex with the butt plug in, anal sex
Readability: 📖📖📖📖 (I was really into this one but it also just started to feel really long to me)
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞 (definitely a bit toxic, obsessive love, codependent tendancies for sure….but I love that stuff and find some of it romantic 😆 )
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋 (though there was some language and acts that I didn’t love...but overall it had a good balance of emotions and explicitness I crave)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥+
Humor: Not much
Perspective: first person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? kind of mix, but more plot
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: They don’t see each other until 9-10% in (chapter 4) but don’t really talk or interact until 13% in (chapter 5 of 62)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, it’s quite far in the future, which I loved (the second to last chapter is 2 weeks later, the epilogue is 16 ½ years later)
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: @imromanticallyinvolved sent it my way as a possible buddy read and then I kept seeing snippets of the book posted around social media
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
”I told you this once – you won’t win.” Gabriel bends down to look in my eyes before removing his hand. “Now do as you’re fucking told.”
Should I read in order?
I believe this is a stand alone?
Basic plot:
After a break up, Brinley is back in her home town. Her friend brings her into the arms of the local Motorcycle Club where she catches the president’s eye...
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- Georgia setting
- MC (motorcycle club) romance
- tall hero – he’s at least 6’4”
- very light age gap – he’s older by 8 years
- some lighter enemies-ish to lovers vibes – brat elements
- former military hero
- pierced and tattooed hero
- VERY obsessive, protective hero
- dark elements – some dubious consent, kidnapping elements, as well as darker plot themes including rape and murder
- higher steam – 11ish full scenes that include breath play, hair pulling, brat heroine, some elements of pain play, plenty of dirty talk, some light blood play, primal play, light breeding thoughts
Ages:
- heroine is 24 years old, hero is 32
First line:
In two generations, you will be completely forgotten.
My thoughts:
Includes club lingo and a playlist – the club lingo was helpful for me with this being my first MC romance 😆
I’ll admit I really didn’t like the way the prologue was done. It felt really random and I could NOT figure out how it was fitting into the story until I got well into the story...then I got it. It just felt like a random part pulled from the book to me. And it niggled at me the whole time I was reading the first half of the book.
But overall I loved so much about this one. I loved the build up of it. I loved the tension building. I loved how obsessed the hero was but it wasn’t like an instalove fest – it still had tension building. I loved how they circled each other. I loved the brat element. I love how these two fell in love. Really adored the extended epilogue too!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one!
Endearments
Quotes
Brinley smiles nervously and averts her eyes from his, her innocence taking over. I kick him sharply under the table without looking up from cutting my steak. Kai turns his attention to me. I life my gaze to take my bite and shake my head slightly only once, no one else would notice. Kai nods and grimaces, understanding I’m telling him to back off.
---
Women scream and people get up and start running for shelter. I stand without thought and get to Brinley in one stride. I wrap one arm around her waist. She gasps and tips her head back, looking into my eyes, her face just a few inches from mine. Her eyes fill with fear as I pick her up in a rag doll carry and following Ax and Layla, we burrow the girls into a hallway alcove for safety.
When I set Brinley down her mouth pops open, but she doesn’t speak. She breathes in shallow breaths, the way the body does when it’s dipping into fight or flight.
“Stay,” I order.
---
“My heart beats faster because...I’m afraid of you,” I say honestly, looking into his eyes, hoping he will feel badly enough to let me go and wishing he wouldn’t all at the same time.
“I know,” he growls. “I fucking love it.”
---
Brinley backs against the hood as I approach, not knowing what to do, the pink starting to return. I breathe in her jasmine scent and reach out, grabbing her belt loops with my first two fingers, tugging her to me. Her mouth pops open and I almost turn savage with the need to stick my tongue into it.
The fuck? Get it together. Jesus Christ.
---
The only thing I can do is stand nervously and let him. I fold my hands in front of me. He looks down and notices, then surprises me by reaching out a hand to separate them as his brows knot. Looking back up to my face, his hand reaches around to the back of my head and he pulls the claw clip I have out of my hair. His eyes stay on mine as all my hair tumbles down around my shoulders, but I don’t move, taking in the way he looks at me, almost like he’s angry as he stars down at me. Something as simple as pulling out my hair clip and I’m pooling in my panties for this man. Wolfe lifts a smaller black helmet up and sets it on my head, clipping it in place under my chin, tightening the strap with his big fingers until it’s a perfect fit. Then he adds the matching jacket off the back of his bad. I shrug it off as he tries to place it on my shoulders.
“How many women have you lent these to?” I ask, wrinkling my nose. I can tell I’m pushing him because the sound he makes in response is like a type of a frustrated growl.
“Little brat,” Wolfe says as he pulls the jacket back down around me firmly, forcing me to put it on. In truth, it’s light and so soft and fits me perfectly as he zips it up. “This is a day of firsts for both of us,” he says, looking down at me all dressed in his leather.
---
When Brinley reaches the table, it’s obvious there’s only one available chair. It’s to my left, in between myself and Layla. I don’t look up; I just pull it out for her.
---
“I won’t say anything, I -”
“Shh,” he says, running a thumb over my bottom lip, instantly calming me.
I silently pray there’s no pain.
“Listen to me now. You have two choices, little hummingbird. You die in these woods, or you become mine in these woods.”
---
“Pack your shit or don’t pack your shit, either way you’re coming with me. This isn’t a discussion,” he says, looking down at me.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- cigarette, alcohol and weed usage
- mention of sexual assault of a 16 year old girl
- murder on page
- gun violence
- parental death
- unsatisfying relationship and breakup on page
- codependent relationship themes
- very obsessive/jealous hero
- scenes of attacks, explosions, windows breaking, etc
- heroine slaps the hero
- domestic abuse of parents, child abuse remembered, parental murder
- scenes of war and death remembered
Author content warnings? Torture, gun violence, murder, discussions of sexual assault of a 16 year old, flashback of domestic abuse, death of family member, mild alcohol and drug use. Blood, breath, and knife play, anal sex, sex in a religious setting, sex that feels ritualistic, consensual non consent. Degradation, borderline captor/captive setting. Discussions of life as a marine, traumatic moments
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
Hows the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story? (Please note this is the best to my memory/note taking. If you see something I missed please feel free to message!)
21% - 🔥 fingering for her
“The fucking sounds you make, you might as well be asking me to eat you alive.” Wolfe drops his lips to my neck, my collarbone, my shoulders, my breasts, trading between biting me and ravaging me with open mouthed kisses.
37% - 🔥 kisses in the woods after Brinley witnesses a murder and Wolf chases her down. Fingering, fucking with a knife handle for her
41% - 🔥 bj for him (complete)
51% - 🔥 primal play, missionary followed by some shower care taking and oral for her
64% - 🔥 blood play, missionary
69% - 🔥 primal play, oral for her, doggy style
73% - 🔥 he binds her and feeds her, blow job
76% - kiss
77% - 🔥 oral for her
82% - 🔥 period sex on the bike
85% - 🔥 mirror sex
93% - anal dilators
95% - 🔥 sex with the butt plug in, anal sex