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rjordan19's reviews
979 reviews
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
Tempting Auzed 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? It's complicated
4.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Fairly soon in, about 6% (it takes a chapter or 2?)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, two months later
Format: listened to 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 hero (alien) and heroine (human)
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. And you will understand more of this heroine’s background if you read in order.
Basic plot:
Alejandra is surviving in the wilds of an alien planet trying to get back to her friend when she’s rescued by Auzed.
Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- alien setting (Clecania)
- alien hero / human heroine
- fake relationship
- survival themes (in beginning)
- bit of an actress heroine
- soldier hero
- fated mates – but they really have to work for it!
- higher steam – 5ish full scenes
Ages:
- I don’t think either are mentioned
First line:
“You need to get up, mijita.”
My thoughts:
I really loved the beginning of this one! I thought the close proximity and tension building were so good. Being alone together fighting for survival is one of my fave romance things! But when they reached civilization, this story started flopping a bit for me.
It seemed their reasons for staying apart mattered so much until they didn’t matter at all. The heroine being really undecided if she wanted him in a relationship or a temporary sex partner made the tension fizzle a bit for me. The latter half I just wasn’t as interested in.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 4
Average rating: 4
Favorite book: Maybe Saving Verakko?
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- parental death
- animal death on page (it’s an alien species that was attacking them, and is sacred to a certain group of people on the planet)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: The hero is ‘dormant’ and has alien male birth control
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? There’s talk of pregnancy, getting pregnant – the alien species is endangered due to a virus so procreation is definitely a focus but they also use birth control as they aren’t ready for kids yet
52% - 🔥kisses, blow job (complete), fingering for her
He held perfectly still, but his hands twitched where they gripped her thighs, and his chest rose and fell quickly. Gaze locking onto her mouth, he let out a low, rumbling growl that sent an electric current right to her core.
One of his large hands shot up her back and clutched her nape while the other curled around her ass. The last of his control cracking, he used his grip on her neck to pull her mouth down to his.
63% - 🔥fingering for her
She grinned. “It’s okay. I can be quiet.”
The slow, wicked grin that curled his gorgeous mouth had her own smile disappearing in an instant. His deep voice skated over every nerve, sparking them alive. “Not when I’m through with you.”
70% - 🔥kisses, fingering/oral for her, sit on my face, him behind her
Behind her, Auzed flipped back to his knees and slid large, rough hands down her back, applying pressure as the heels of his palms dipped into the curve of her spin. He leaned over her limp form, his thick erection settling against her ass, and pressed a kiss to her ear. “I’ll have you now, Alejandra,” he rumbled, sending shivers down to her toes and a blast of licquid heat to her sex again.
78% - 🔥missionary
She laid back, crossing her arms above her head and stretching. Lifting one leg and then the other, she draped them over his thighs, then scooched forward until he was poised at her entrance. “It’s about time I blew your mind.”
92% - 🔥 fingering for her, him holding her sex
Her tongue slid over his, and he groaned, taking her mouth in a punishing kiss. This wasn’t like before. There was no slow build, no whispered words or tender caresses. This was desperation incarnate.
98% - kisses
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Fairly soon in, about 6% (it takes a chapter or 2?)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, two months later
Format: listened to 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 hero (alien) and heroine (human)
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. And you will understand more of this heroine’s background if you read in order.
Basic plot:
Alejandra is surviving in the wilds of an alien planet trying to get back to her friend when she’s rescued by Auzed.
Give this a try if you want:
- science fiction romance
- alien setting (Clecania)
- alien hero / human heroine
- fake relationship
- survival themes (in beginning)
- bit of an actress heroine
- soldier hero
- fated mates – but they really have to work for it!
- higher steam – 5ish full scenes
Ages:
- I don’t think either are mentioned
First line:
“You need to get up, mijita.”
My thoughts:
I really loved the beginning of this one! I thought the close proximity and tension building were so good. Being alone together fighting for survival is one of my fave romance things! But when they reached civilization, this story started flopping a bit for me.
It seemed their reasons for staying apart mattered so much until they didn’t matter at all. The heroine being really undecided if she wanted him in a relationship or a temporary sex partner made the tension fizzle a bit for me. The latter half I just wasn’t as interested in.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 4
Average rating: 4
Favorite book: Maybe Saving Verakko?
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
- parental death
- animal death on page (it’s an alien species that was attacking them, and is sacred to a certain group of people on the planet)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
52% - 🔥kisses, blow job (complete), fingering for her
He held perfectly still, but his hands twitched where they gripped her thighs, and his chest rose and fell quickly. Gaze locking onto her mouth, he let out a low, rumbling growl that sent an electric current right to her core.
One of his large hands shot up her back and clutched her nape while the other curled around her ass. The last of his control cracking, he used his grip on her neck to pull her mouth down to his.
63% - 🔥fingering for her
She grinned. “It’s okay. I can be quiet.”
The slow, wicked grin that curled his gorgeous mouth had her own smile disappearing in an instant. His deep voice skated over every nerve, sparking them alive. “Not when I’m through with you.”
70% - 🔥kisses, fingering/oral for her, sit on my face, him behind her
Behind her, Auzed flipped back to his knees and slid large, rough hands down her back, applying pressure as the heels of his palms dipped into the curve of her spin. He leaned over her limp form, his thick erection settling against her ass, and pressed a kiss to her ear. “I’ll have you now, Alejandra,” he rumbled, sending shivers down to her toes and a blast of licquid heat to her sex again.
78% - 🔥missionary
She laid back, crossing her arms above her head and stretching. Lifting one leg and then the other, she draped them over his thighs, then scooched forward until he was poised at her entrance. “It’s about time I blew your mind.”
92% - 🔥 fingering for her, him holding her sex
Her tongue slid over his, and he groaned, taking her mouth in a punishing kiss. This wasn’t like before. There was no slow build, no whispered words or tender caresses. This was desperation incarnate.
98% - kisses
Billionaire Devil by Julie Capulet
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋 (there was a cringe factor here for me for the scenes – overall I loved them but some of the language took me out a bit)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: first 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: takes a little bit, about 10% (chapter 2 of 31)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 5 weeks later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy through NetGalley in e-book form
Why I chose this book: I saw it on NetGalley and haven’t really read billionaire romance before – with the financial stress of life it’s a nice fantasy to be whisked away from that burden so I wanted to give it a try
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is very readable alone even though it’s #3 in Capulet’s New York Billionaires series.
Basic plot:
Lila gets drunk and tells her friend’s boss all about her problems – including her unrequited love being on the guest list at her friend’s wedding she’s driving cross country to the next day. When he shows up the next morning, they go on the road trip of a lifetime.
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- New York to LA setting
- road trip romacne
- fashion designer heroine
- billionaire hero – he’s COO of their family company
- he spoils her
- close proximity
- obsessed hero
- lessons
- plenty of bedroom banter
- he falls first – and hard
- well-endowed hero
- jealous/possessive hero
- some other man/other woman elements
- hero is the king of endearments – they flow out of his mouth like honey in a variety of forms
- size difference – he’s taller by 6-7 inches
- higher steam – 4ish full scenes with light praise, plenty of bedroom talk, playful punishment, light dom elements,
Ages:
- hero is 26, I didn’t see heroine mentioned but I think she’s early 20s
First line:
“I wish I could help you, Miss Bailey, I really do,” says the woman on the phone.
My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book! I loved Capulet’s writing style – I feel into it really easily and I found her funny and engaging. I loved her playful dialogue. I definitely want to try more from her!
This is my first billionaire romance (I think??) and I rather loved leaving behind all the financial stress of life and reading about doing anything your heart desires. I loved how obsessed the hero was and how hard he pursued her. That is my jam in romance and I found it in spades here.
There was some aspects that were definitely a bit cringey to me….things the hero would say in the bedroom that had me rolling my eyes a bit but also eating it up. Like cringing but loving it?? haha
As for the pregnancy aspect – I kind of wish we had the briefest passing thought from the heroine that she wanted a baby? Knowing her history with her mom getting pregnant and then being alone raising her, knowing she was on birth control but forgot to take it but seemed like she was still within the plan B option….I don’t know it was all a bit cringey? I did love how into it the hero was. Like it was obvious he was secretly hopeful for a baby – the no condom option, the slight irritation over her being on birth control, the breeding vibes...Maybe it’s just my sensitivity to all pregnancy nuances lol. I didn’t hate that she got pregnant but I think what it was, was that she was so like...surprised by it. With all that background it seemed like it would be a thought? Maybe that’s just me.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one
Endearments
The hero calls the heroine ‘sunshine’, ‘princess’, ‘honey pie’, ‘honey’, and ‘baby girl’, ‘honey pie’.
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
When he first sees the heroine, he’s basically obsessed
I immediately get the impression that Lila is inexperienced. And a little bit world-weary, like she’s been burning the candle at both ends for too long. Not unusual in New York, of course, but I don’t like that she has the faintest bruise-like shadows under her silver eyes.
Is she okay? Is she working too hard? Does she have anyone to take care of her?
---
“Lessons?”
“Here’s my offer.” Tequila, do your job. Make her say yes. “I’ll drive you to California and, along the way, I teach you how to seduce a man. How to flirt like a pro. How to read signals. I’ll teach you how to get any man you want. I’ll even teach you what to do with him once you’ve got him – so well, he’ll fall completely, totally head over heels in love with you.”
---
“Can we please make that the last time we talk about your hard-on during this trip?” She blinks at me, with that same pouty little attitude that slayed me last night. Her silver eyes are light this morning, made brighter by the slightly bloodshot effect.
“Of course we can’t. We have an agenda, if you recall from the pact we made last night. And I intend to follow through on every one of my promises.”
---
She sighs, folding her arms. “I knew I shouldn’t have told you.” She can’t bring herself to look at me – or barely. Her mouth is twisted into a sultry little pout. I feel like kissing the pout right off her and showing her what a real man does. Namely, the opposite of ignore her. That this angel was ever ignored is a fucking crime. “Anyway, it hardly matters,” she murmurs.
“Of course it matters.” I’m no choirboy, but there are so many things wrong with this equation, it’s beyond infuriating. She loved him. She might still love him. And he can’t have her. He’s not fucking good enough for her.
---
While he’s driving the giant RV…
“Sorry about that. I was supposed to be your co-pilot. And keep you company.”
“You did keep me company. You looked so peaceful and beautiful I almost crashed a few times because I couldn’t stop staring at you.”
---
Colton uses a rough thumb to wipe an errant tear I hadn’t noticed. The concern in his eyes...shouldn’t be there. It’s too caring. Too invented for what this is.
“You’re crying,” he tells me, his perfect eyebrows furrowed, like it’s the worst thing that’s ever happened in the history of the world.
----
Colton slides over to sit next to me, covering my mouth with his hand and splashing water over me with the movement of his body. “Negative, Bailey.”
God, he’s even bigger up close.
“What are you doing?” I murmur against his hand.
“Let me finish.” Sternly. It’s a command, like he’s finally lost his patience with me.
I give him a muffled, “Okay.”
He takes his hand away, but not entirely. His thumb brushes across my bottom lip and his other hand wraps itself around my hair, pulling only enough to let me know I’m fully at his mercy. His sapphire eyes are fiery with challenge. “A part of you thinks yu might still be in love with someone you haven’t seen in a long time who never loved you back, because you have nothing to compare him to. Which is something you need and something I can provide.”
I blink at him, sort of obeying him, for once. And possibly only once. Because his warm, solid thigh is flush with mine and my brain can’t quite compute what he’s offering. He’s also without a doubt the most physically beautiful – and strong, and warm, and hard – human being I’ve ever been this up close and personal with.
“I promised you the time of your life,” he growls.
I blink again.
“Let me fucking give it to you.”
---
“It would be if I didn’t know what I was doing. Luckily, I do. The business probably would have failed without me.”
“That nice that you’re so humble about it,” I tease him.
“The boardroom and the bedroom are two places that have no room for humility.”
“Is that right?”
He glances over at me. “Yes, it is right, Miss Bailey. Which I’ll be demonstrating to you very thoroughly tonight. And I know exactly what to do with that sassy little mouth to keep it quiet, so watch out.”
---
“Take your hands off my wife,” comes the low warning, “or I will drop you like a fucking stone.”
---
“He fucking touched you.” Like there’s never been a worse crime.
---
God, his eyes are so blue. “How am I supposed to believe anything you say when you’re flirting with every girl you see – and who you’ve already slept with? How, Colton?”
“I wasn’t flirting. I told her to fuck off.”
“You did not.”
“I told her to have a nice night then I asked you to dance so I could get the fuck away from her. Same thing.”
---
“Please believe me, sweetheart. Please don’t doubt me anymore. I’ll grovel and I’ll beg and I’ll buy you diamonds and sewing machines or whatever it fucking takes to convince you, every day for the rest of time until you fucking believe me. I’m all in, Sunshine. I want you. I fucking need you. I love you, baby girl.”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- a brief mention of body shaming for women – heroine mentions styling billionaire’s wives whose faces are pumped full of Botox and they look plastic
- some scenes of alcohol imbibing where the heroine overshares and a later scene where she blacks out and doesn’t recall getting married (though she later says she does remember it?? But we were in her head in the moment where she wakes up the next morning so that didn’t really make sense to me)
- heroine grew up without a father (her mom got pregnant but it was like a brief relationship and she didn’t have a way to contact him after he left)
- parental death
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: The heroine is on birth control but she’s not the best about taking it. The hero mentions he has always used a condom with other women but doesn’t with her (of course! 😉 )
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? There is a side character that’s pregnant and it’s talked about, talk about breeding the heroine and imagining her pregnant, and the heroine does get pregnant in the story
40% - kiss in the hot tub
42% - mention of hero self pleasure but it’s pretty short
48% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her, bj (complete)
”Jesus, Lila, what are you doing to me? How can anyone be so fucking perfect?”
56% - 🔥 nipple stim o, fingering for her, missionary (v loss for heroine)
My tears seem to have struck something in Colton, some animal desire or protective flare. There’s a new edge to his kisses. Something in him has turned, and there’s a new desperation and a heightened ferocity to him that makes my heart beat faster.
“I like the dress.”
I’m wearing another one of my own designs, a pink floral shirtdress with a flouncy short skirt and flared detailing on the three-quarter sleeves. “Thanks.”
“Take it off or I’ll rip it off.”
62% - 🔥 oral for her, missionary
I moan because I’m so tender but I’m almost coming. It’s sitting there, a sure thing, just waiting for the tiniest push.
It’s like he knows this. He holds himself still, denying me, staring down at me, his hair falling over his forehead, his eyes as dark as the night sky.
“Don’t?” he whispers, withdrawing his slippery beautiful thickness just a fraction.
“Okay, do,” I whisper back, dripping him. Trying to pull him closer.
“Do what, Bailey?”
67% - 🔥 her on top in the gondola at the ski resort
“How are you going to punish me?” I ask innocently, twirling again, feeling freer and more alive than I ever have.
“Lay face down on my lap and find out.”
70% - brief mention of sex
89% - sex but it’s short
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋 (there was a cringe factor here for me for the scenes – overall I loved them but some of the language took me out a bit)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: first 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: takes a little bit, about 10% (chapter 2 of 31)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 5 weeks later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy through NetGalley in e-book form
Why I chose this book: I saw it on NetGalley and haven’t really read billionaire romance before – with the financial stress of life it’s a nice fantasy to be whisked away from that burden so I wanted to give it a try
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is very readable alone even though it’s #3 in Capulet’s New York Billionaires series.
Basic plot:
Lila gets drunk and tells her friend’s boss all about her problems – including her unrequited love being on the guest list at her friend’s wedding she’s driving cross country to the next day. When he shows up the next morning, they go on the road trip of a lifetime.
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- New York to LA setting
- road trip romacne
- fashion designer heroine
- billionaire hero – he’s COO of their family company
- he spoils her
- close proximity
- obsessed hero
- lessons
- plenty of bedroom banter
- he falls first – and hard
- well-endowed hero
- jealous/possessive hero
- some other man/other woman elements
- hero is the king of endearments – they flow out of his mouth like honey in a variety of forms
- size difference – he’s taller by 6-7 inches
- higher steam – 4ish full scenes with light praise, plenty of bedroom talk, playful punishment, light dom elements,
Ages:
- hero is 26, I didn’t see heroine mentioned but I think she’s early 20s
First line:
“I wish I could help you, Miss Bailey, I really do,” says the woman on the phone.
My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book! I loved Capulet’s writing style – I feel into it really easily and I found her funny and engaging. I loved her playful dialogue. I definitely want to try more from her!
This is my first billionaire romance (I think??) and I rather loved leaving behind all the financial stress of life and reading about doing anything your heart desires. I loved how obsessed the hero was and how hard he pursued her. That is my jam in romance and I found it in spades here.
There was some aspects that were definitely a bit cringey to me….things the hero would say in the bedroom that had me rolling my eyes a bit but also eating it up. Like cringing but loving it?? haha
As for the pregnancy aspect – I kind of wish we had the briefest passing thought from the heroine that she wanted a baby? Knowing her history with her mom getting pregnant and then being alone raising her, knowing she was on birth control but forgot to take it but seemed like she was still within the plan B option….I don’t know it was all a bit cringey? I did love how into it the hero was. Like it was obvious he was secretly hopeful for a baby – the no condom option, the slight irritation over her being on birth control, the breeding vibes...Maybe it’s just my sensitivity to all pregnancy nuances lol. I didn’t hate that she got pregnant but I think what it was, was that she was so like...surprised by it. With all that background it seemed like it would be a thought? Maybe that’s just me.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one
Endearments
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
When he first sees the heroine, he’s basically obsessed
I immediately get the impression that Lila is inexperienced. And a little bit world-weary, like she’s been burning the candle at both ends for too long. Not unusual in New York, of course, but I don’t like that she has the faintest bruise-like shadows under her silver eyes.
Is she okay? Is she working too hard? Does she have anyone to take care of her?
---
“Lessons?”
“Here’s my offer.” Tequila, do your job. Make her say yes. “I’ll drive you to California and, along the way, I teach you how to seduce a man. How to flirt like a pro. How to read signals. I’ll teach you how to get any man you want. I’ll even teach you what to do with him once you’ve got him – so well, he’ll fall completely, totally head over heels in love with you.”
---
“Can we please make that the last time we talk about your hard-on during this trip?” She blinks at me, with that same pouty little attitude that slayed me last night. Her silver eyes are light this morning, made brighter by the slightly bloodshot effect.
“Of course we can’t. We have an agenda, if you recall from the pact we made last night. And I intend to follow through on every one of my promises.”
---
She sighs, folding her arms. “I knew I shouldn’t have told you.” She can’t bring herself to look at me – or barely. Her mouth is twisted into a sultry little pout. I feel like kissing the pout right off her and showing her what a real man does. Namely, the opposite of ignore her. That this angel was ever ignored is a fucking crime. “Anyway, it hardly matters,” she murmurs.
“Of course it matters.” I’m no choirboy, but there are so many things wrong with this equation, it’s beyond infuriating. She loved him. She might still love him. And he can’t have her. He’s not fucking good enough for her.
---
While he’s driving the giant RV…
“Sorry about that. I was supposed to be your co-pilot. And keep you company.”
“You did keep me company. You looked so peaceful and beautiful I almost crashed a few times because I couldn’t stop staring at you.”
---
Colton uses a rough thumb to wipe an errant tear I hadn’t noticed. The concern in his eyes...shouldn’t be there. It’s too caring. Too invented for what this is.
“You’re crying,” he tells me, his perfect eyebrows furrowed, like it’s the worst thing that’s ever happened in the history of the world.
----
Colton slides over to sit next to me, covering my mouth with his hand and splashing water over me with the movement of his body. “Negative, Bailey.”
God, he’s even bigger up close.
“What are you doing?” I murmur against his hand.
“Let me finish.” Sternly. It’s a command, like he’s finally lost his patience with me.
I give him a muffled, “Okay.”
He takes his hand away, but not entirely. His thumb brushes across my bottom lip and his other hand wraps itself around my hair, pulling only enough to let me know I’m fully at his mercy. His sapphire eyes are fiery with challenge. “A part of you thinks yu might still be in love with someone you haven’t seen in a long time who never loved you back, because you have nothing to compare him to. Which is something you need and something I can provide.”
I blink at him, sort of obeying him, for once. And possibly only once. Because his warm, solid thigh is flush with mine and my brain can’t quite compute what he’s offering. He’s also without a doubt the most physically beautiful – and strong, and warm, and hard – human being I’ve ever been this up close and personal with.
“I promised you the time of your life,” he growls.
I blink again.
“Let me fucking give it to you.”
---
“It would be if I didn’t know what I was doing. Luckily, I do. The business probably would have failed without me.”
“That nice that you’re so humble about it,” I tease him.
“The boardroom and the bedroom are two places that have no room for humility.”
“Is that right?”
He glances over at me. “Yes, it is right, Miss Bailey. Which I’ll be demonstrating to you very thoroughly tonight. And I know exactly what to do with that sassy little mouth to keep it quiet, so watch out.”
---
“Take your hands off my wife,” comes the low warning, “or I will drop you like a fucking stone.”
---
“He fucking touched you.” Like there’s never been a worse crime.
---
God, his eyes are so blue. “How am I supposed to believe anything you say when you’re flirting with every girl you see – and who you’ve already slept with? How, Colton?”
“I wasn’t flirting. I told her to fuck off.”
“You did not.”
“I told her to have a nice night then I asked you to dance so I could get the fuck away from her. Same thing.”
---
“Please believe me, sweetheart. Please don’t doubt me anymore. I’ll grovel and I’ll beg and I’ll buy you diamonds and sewing machines or whatever it fucking takes to convince you, every day for the rest of time until you fucking believe me. I’m all in, Sunshine. I want you. I fucking need you. I love you, baby girl.”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- a brief mention of body shaming for women – heroine mentions styling billionaire’s wives whose faces are pumped full of Botox and they look plastic
- some scenes of alcohol imbibing where the heroine overshares and a later scene where she blacks out and doesn’t recall getting married (though she later says she does remember it?? But we were in her head in the moment where she wakes up the next morning so that didn’t really make sense to me)
- heroine grew up without a father (her mom got pregnant but it was like a brief relationship and she didn’t have a way to contact him after he left)
- parental death
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
40% - kiss in the hot tub
42% - mention of hero self pleasure but it’s pretty short
48% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her, bj (complete)
”Jesus, Lila, what are you doing to me? How can anyone be so fucking perfect?”
56% - 🔥 nipple stim o, fingering for her, missionary (v loss for heroine)
My tears seem to have struck something in Colton, some animal desire or protective flare. There’s a new edge to his kisses. Something in him has turned, and there’s a new desperation and a heightened ferocity to him that makes my heart beat faster.
“I like the dress.”
I’m wearing another one of my own designs, a pink floral shirtdress with a flouncy short skirt and flared detailing on the three-quarter sleeves. “Thanks.”
“Take it off or I’ll rip it off.”
62% - 🔥 oral for her, missionary
I moan because I’m so tender but I’m almost coming. It’s sitting there, a sure thing, just waiting for the tiniest push.
It’s like he knows this. He holds himself still, denying me, staring down at me, his hair falling over his forehead, his eyes as dark as the night sky.
“Don’t?” he whispers, withdrawing his slippery beautiful thickness just a fraction.
“Okay, do,” I whisper back, dripping him. Trying to pull him closer.
“Do what, Bailey?”
67% - 🔥 her on top in the gondola at the ski resort
“How are you going to punish me?” I ask innocently, twirling again, feeling freer and more alive than I ever have.
“Lay face down on my lap and find out.”
70% - brief mention of sex
89% - sex but it’s short
His Ample Desire by Terri Mackenzie
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋 (I was a touch sad because some of the scenes I wanted were cut or kind of implied)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (there’s kind of a mix and some are a bit longer)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥 (This might feel hotter to you, I didn’t count some partials and shorter scenes)
Humor: A bit
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 on a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, maybe a bit less than a year later
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: okay FIRST of all I had to read it after that one reviewer one starred it and called the heroine a cum dumpster. 😆 And I’m so glad I did – please everyone send me all your cum dumpster heroines my way! Also, I have loved what I tried from the Curves and Cravats series and want to read them all. ALSO Mackenzie wrote To Marry a Devil which I loved and I 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 fine to pick up alone, but does have some character crossover from Mackenzie’s Finders Keepers series.
Basic plot:
George and Caroline collide together with passion, but need different things from life...or do they?
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1815
- London setting
- widowed heroine
- light age gap – she’s older by 5 years
- Viscount hero
- sex positive heroine – she’s been a mistress to a number of men and enjoys her adventures
- curvy, full figured heroine
- hero is looking to marry and must be mindful of his reputation he’s crafted – heroine doesn’t have the best reputation being a widow that enjoys relations…
- jealous/possessive hero
- period positive!
- affair
- higher steam – at least 2 full scenes (maybe more if you’re generous) in a shorter novel
- shorter novel
Ages:
- hero is 30, heroine is 35
First line:
George Comerford wrapped his hand around the front of Caroline Spenser’s throat, the possessiveness of the gesture sending delicious heat through her body as he pushed her front against the library wall.
My thoughts:
Ohhhhh, I loved this novella so much. I just fell right into Mackenzie’s writing. It held the magic I found in To Marry the Devil (book 2 of this series) which I loooooooooved. I found myself feeling all swoony and sweet while reading and giddy and and taking notes for quotes.
I adored these characters. George is just a favorite for me. And I loved Caroline. Even though this one had elements that sometimes (many times) don’t really work the best for me – a relationship already started...elements of instalust – she made it work here in perfection.
My ONLY complaint about this one is that Mackenzie played with some dynamics and things I really loved and don’t see a lot of in HR – throat play, hair pulling, a sweet hero that is still dominant...and I wanted more details in those scenes (the ones that really hit those were the shorter scenes or the ones that kind of faded. I was HERE FOR IT! But this is just me being selfish and wanting more…
Reading this made me immediately want to dive into what I’ve missed from her (book 3 and the following novella – which the hero is featured here for a bit of page time).
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 3
Average rating: 4.67 stars
Favorite book: To Marry the Devil
Quotes
And now, the temptation had escaped her too, replaced by a frustratingly handsome man who had pinned her against the wall and recited poetry in her ear as he sank into her.
At the thought, her stomach tightened.
Really, it was his fault that she had not found another lover; what other gentleman could live up to the erotic imagery that George Comerford had left behind like a flare of light against closed eyelids? He was a firework in the dark – no candle could compare.
---
He looked at her with an expression caught between respect and fear. “You are a holy terror.”
“Thank you.”
---
“I don’t like seeing you with other gentleman,” he said in a low, possessive voice. His teeth caught her lobe, not gently, and she bit her lip. “I especially don’t like watching them touch you.”
“You do not own me,” she said, tipping her chin back.
“No? But I want to.”
---
“I knew what I was doing,” she said, holding his gaze. “Or at least, I thought I did.”
His jaw was tight, the usual careless disarray of his hair now endearingly soft in contrast to the rigid anger on his face. “Don’t excuse him,” he said tightly. “Who is he?”
“You are not my defender, George.”
“I would be, if only you would let me. Who is he? Give me a name.”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- parental illness
- parental death remembered
- heroine has a bastard and let another family raise her
- mention of heroine’s prior marriage to a man 40 years her senior
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: I feel like it’s not specifically said? But I am assuming the heroine knows of ways to prevent pregnancy or she makes her men pull out?
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? No pregnancy for the heroine, but she does have a child out of wedlock from when she got pregnant at 17. She gave the child up for adoption basically and pays for her way but doesn’t interact with her.
1% - the start of a scene where he fucks her against a wall (it cuts)
15% - kisses
31% - 🔥 at the theater in a box with with risk of discovery – fingering for her and sex against the wall/door
“Look at me, Caro.”
She turned her gaze to his face, watching the hazy movement of pleasure across it.
“That’s right,” he crooned, his palm still over her mouth, her gasps and cries stifled. His breath was short, choppy. “Keep your eyes on me.”
49% - sex (missionary?) but it’s pretty short? (had some light throat play too I wanted MORE MORE MORE)
69% - 🔥 oral for her, bj for him
”I love seeing you like this,” he said, easing free. “Do it again.”
She obliged, taking him as deep as she could. On her knees before him, rubbing frantically, wanting to find completion before he did. As though sensing it was a competition, he gave a gritty laugh and loosened her hair from its pins, wrapping it around his fist as he moved her up and down.
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋 (I was a touch sad because some of the scenes I wanted were cut or kind of implied)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (there’s kind of a mix and some are a bit longer)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥 (This might feel hotter to you, I didn’t count some partials and shorter scenes)
Humor: A bit
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 on a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, maybe a bit less than a year later
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: okay FIRST of all I had to read it after that one reviewer one starred it and called the heroine a cum dumpster. 😆 And I’m so glad I did – please everyone send me all your cum dumpster heroines my way! Also, I have loved what I tried from the Curves and Cravats series and want to read them all. ALSO Mackenzie wrote To Marry a Devil which I loved and I 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 fine to pick up alone, but does have some character crossover from Mackenzie’s Finders Keepers series.
Basic plot:
George and Caroline collide together with passion, but need different things from life...or do they?
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1815
- London setting
- widowed heroine
- light age gap – she’s older by 5 years
- Viscount hero
- sex positive heroine – she’s been a mistress to a number of men and enjoys her adventures
- curvy, full figured heroine
- hero is looking to marry and must be mindful of his reputation he’s crafted – heroine doesn’t have the best reputation being a widow that enjoys relations…
- jealous/possessive hero
- period positive!
- affair
- higher steam – at least 2 full scenes (maybe more if you’re generous) in a shorter novel
- shorter novel
Ages:
- hero is 30, heroine is 35
First line:
George Comerford wrapped his hand around the front of Caroline Spenser’s throat, the possessiveness of the gesture sending delicious heat through her body as he pushed her front against the library wall.
My thoughts:
Ohhhhh, I loved this novella so much. I just fell right into Mackenzie’s writing. It held the magic I found in To Marry the Devil (book 2 of this series) which I loooooooooved. I found myself feeling all swoony and sweet while reading and giddy and and taking notes for quotes.
I adored these characters. George is just a favorite for me. And I loved Caroline. Even though this one had elements that sometimes (many times) don’t really work the best for me – a relationship already started...elements of instalust – she made it work here in perfection.
My ONLY complaint about this one is that Mackenzie played with some dynamics and things I really loved and don’t see a lot of in HR – throat play, hair pulling, a sweet hero that is still dominant...and I wanted more details in those scenes (the ones that really hit those were the shorter scenes or the ones that kind of faded. I was HERE FOR IT! But this is just me being selfish and wanting more…
Reading this made me immediately want to dive into what I’ve missed from her (book 3 and the following novella – which the hero is featured here for a bit of page time).
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 3
Average rating: 4.67 stars
Favorite book: To Marry the Devil
Quotes
And now, the temptation had escaped her too, replaced by a frustratingly handsome man who had pinned her against the wall and recited poetry in her ear as he sank into her.
At the thought, her stomach tightened.
Really, it was his fault that she had not found another lover; what other gentleman could live up to the erotic imagery that George Comerford had left behind like a flare of light against closed eyelids? He was a firework in the dark – no candle could compare.
---
He looked at her with an expression caught between respect and fear. “You are a holy terror.”
“Thank you.”
---
“I don’t like seeing you with other gentleman,” he said in a low, possessive voice. His teeth caught her lobe, not gently, and she bit her lip. “I especially don’t like watching them touch you.”
“You do not own me,” she said, tipping her chin back.
“No? But I want to.”
---
“I knew what I was doing,” she said, holding his gaze. “Or at least, I thought I did.”
His jaw was tight, the usual careless disarray of his hair now endearingly soft in contrast to the rigid anger on his face. “Don’t excuse him,” he said tightly. “Who is he?”
“You are not my defender, George.”
“I would be, if only you would let me. Who is he? Give me a name.”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- parental illness
- parental death remembered
- heroine has a bastard and let another family raise her
- mention of heroine’s prior marriage to a man 40 years her senior
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% - the start of a scene where he fucks her against a wall (it cuts)
15% - kisses
31% - 🔥 at the theater in a box with with risk of discovery – fingering for her and sex against the wall/door
“Look at me, Caro.”
She turned her gaze to his face, watching the hazy movement of pleasure across it.
“That’s right,” he crooned, his palm still over her mouth, her gasps and cries stifled. His breath was short, choppy. “Keep your eyes on me.”
49% - sex (missionary?) but it’s pretty short? (had some light throat play too I wanted MORE MORE MORE)
69% - 🔥 oral for her, bj for him
”I love seeing you like this,” he said, easing free. “Do it again.”
She obliged, taking him as deep as she could. On her knees before him, rubbing frantically, wanting to find completion before he did. As though sensing it was a competition, he gave a gritty laugh and loosened her hair from its pins, wrapping it around his fist as he moved her up and down.
Transcendence by Shay Savage
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-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
4.5
Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔 (very good for the hero but almost nothing for the heroine – the final chapter gives a touch for her)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞 (I found this book really romantic – there was so much sweetness and emotional growth between these two – and the things the hero thinks about for the heroine/gifts given etc)
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (there was something here about the sex that I didn’t LOVE – maybe it was being only in the hero’s POV but it was missing just a little something...maybe because it was simplified into ‘put a baby in her’ mentality and I missed the ‘I’m literally going to die if I don’t touch you’ vibes
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥ish – there’s kind of a mix of scenes and lengths
Humor: A bit
Perspective: first person from the hero only except a short chapter at the end from the heroine
More character focused or plot focused? maybe character?
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: pretty soon in, chapter 1
Cliffhanger: This doesn’t end on a cliffhanger but doesn’t have a traditional happily ever after either - It ends with them living their entire life together and dying together in old age
Epilogue: There is a final chapter that wraps everything up
Format: listened to audiobook on audible – I had it in my library but didn’t see it in my gift or purchase history so I think it’s a plus catalog read
Why I chose this book: I have been curious about this book for literally years and years, but I keep forgetting about it. @imromanticallyinvolved and @nickipascarella_author have both recommended it to me within the last month so I finally dove in!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine where the contemporary heroine travels back to prehistorical times to the hero.
Should I read in order?
This is a stand alone.
Basic plot:
Ehd is shocked when he finds something more in his animal pit used for hunting.
Give this a try if you want:
- paleolithic romance-ish (my assumption) PLEASE NOTE THIS DOESN’T HAVE A TRADITIONAL HEA This story ends with the couple having lived their whole life together and dying in each other’s arms.
- time travel – the heroine is contemporary and comes back
- size difference – she’s a tiny thing to him, up to his chest
- survival themes
- language barrier
- close proximity
- never been kissed hero
- hero nurses heroine back to health
- pregnancy and children are a focus
- character focused, no real villain or mystery as a main plot focus
- first person POV from hero only (minus a short chapter at the end)
- dual virgins
- medium steam – a range of scenes but I settled at 4-ish flames
Ages:
- I didn’t catch them, but I think maybe early 20s?
First line:
I awake to cold and near darkness like I do every morning.
My thoughts:
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this one going in – I kept hearing it was Twilight fan-fiction and that kind of put me off. But I ended up really falling into this novel and loving so much about it.
This is almost exclusively from the heroes point of view, which is usually my jam. It was really interesting to see the story through Ehd’s eyes especially with their language barrier. Ehd is unable to learn Bea’s way of speaking so they really have to get creative and learn to speak to each other’s hearts in a different way.
Ehd learns SO MUCH through his relationship with Beh and it’s so, so cute. This is the sweetest love story, the journey of trust and contentment and the building of a lifetime together. This book has one of the best love declarations I’ve read, it was just so emotional and sweet to me.
This story is just so unique and memorable. And a true love story, though I’m conflicted about people thinking it’s the typical romance due to the ending. It is, truly, a happily ever after, but I’ve included some spoiler headings for those that need to know the details.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- scenes of hunting, killing, eating animals
- remembrances of predator animals attacking tribes/family death
- attempted rape of heroine by another man
- scene of violence and battle
- there is pregnancy, birth and child care on page
- child illness and child separation
Author content warnings? Didn’t notice any on audio
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: No
How’s the consent? there’s elements of dubious actions/thoughts due to the language and cultural barriers and a scene where he almost takes her but does listen to her ‘no’
Pregnancy/children in story? Definite breeding vibes in this one – you’re in the hero’s head and he is very focused on procreating and it’s important to have babies and reproduce to be ‘happy’. The heroine has multiple children and pregnancies on page.
Chapter 6 – kisses
Chapter 9 – kisses, touches
Chapter 11 – 🔥 handy for him, fingering for her, sex
Chapter 13 – 🔥 sex (short) then later, fingering for her, missionary sex, followed later by another brief mention of sex
Chapter 14 – 🔥 missionary then later, another scene (short), then later another her on top scene
Chapter 19 – 🔥 blow job that leads to 69
Chapter 23 – sex but it’s shorter
Total chapters - 24
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔 (very good for the hero but almost nothing for the heroine – the final chapter gives a touch for her)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞 (I found this book really romantic – there was so much sweetness and emotional growth between these two – and the things the hero thinks about for the heroine/gifts given etc)
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (there was something here about the sex that I didn’t LOVE – maybe it was being only in the hero’s POV but it was missing just a little something...maybe because it was simplified into ‘put a baby in her’ mentality and I missed the ‘I’m literally going to die if I don’t touch you’ vibes
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥ish – there’s kind of a mix of scenes and lengths
Humor: A bit
Perspective: first person from the hero only except a short chapter at the end from the heroine
More character focused or plot focused? maybe character?
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: pretty soon in, chapter 1
Cliffhanger: This doesn’t end on a cliffhanger but doesn’t have a traditional happily ever after either -
Epilogue: There is a final chapter that wraps everything up
Format: listened to audiobook on audible – I had it in my library but didn’t see it in my gift or purchase history so I think it’s a plus catalog read
Why I chose this book: I have been curious about this book for literally years and years, but I keep forgetting about it. @imromanticallyinvolved and @nickipascarella_author have both recommended it to me within the last month so I finally dove in!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine where the contemporary heroine travels back to prehistorical times to the hero.
Should I read in order?
This is a stand alone.
Basic plot:
Ehd is shocked when he finds something more in his animal pit used for hunting.
Give this a try if you want:
- paleolithic romance-ish (my assumption) PLEASE NOTE THIS DOESN’T HAVE A TRADITIONAL HEA
- time travel – the heroine is contemporary and comes back
- size difference – she’s a tiny thing to him, up to his chest
- survival themes
- language barrier
- close proximity
- never been kissed hero
- hero nurses heroine back to health
- pregnancy and children are a focus
- character focused, no real villain or mystery as a main plot focus
- first person POV from hero only (minus a short chapter at the end)
- dual virgins
- medium steam – a range of scenes but I settled at 4-ish flames
Ages:
- I didn’t catch them, but I think maybe early 20s?
First line:
I awake to cold and near darkness like I do every morning.
My thoughts:
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this one going in – I kept hearing it was Twilight fan-fiction and that kind of put me off. But I ended up really falling into this novel and loving so much about it.
This is almost exclusively from the heroes point of view, which is usually my jam. It was really interesting to see the story through Ehd’s eyes especially with their language barrier. Ehd is unable to learn Bea’s way of speaking so they really have to get creative and learn to speak to each other’s hearts in a different way.
Ehd learns SO MUCH through his relationship with Beh and it’s so, so cute. This is the sweetest love story, the journey of trust and contentment and the building of a lifetime together. This book has one of the best love declarations I’ve read, it was just so emotional and sweet to me.
This story is just so unique and memorable. And a true love story, though I’m conflicted about people thinking it’s the typical romance due to the ending. It is, truly, a happily ever after, but I’ve included some spoiler headings for those that need to know the details.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- scenes of hunting, killing, eating animals
- remembrances of predator animals attacking tribes/family death
- attempted rape of heroine by another man
- scene of violence and battle
- there is pregnancy, birth and child care on page
- child illness and child separation
Author content warnings? Didn’t notice any on audio
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
Chapter 6 – kisses
Chapter 9 – kisses, touches
Chapter 11 – 🔥 handy for him, fingering for her, sex
Chapter 13 – 🔥 sex (short) then later, fingering for her, missionary sex, followed later by another brief mention of sex
Chapter 14 – 🔥 missionary then later, another scene (short), then later another her on top scene
Chapter 19 – 🔥 blow job that leads to 69
Chapter 23 – sex but it’s shorter
Total chapters - 24
A Pearl Possessed by Louisa Cornell, Andrea K. Stein
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡ (It felt like there was a lot of jumping around to me and I wanted the mains on page together more to be able to establish tension)
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋 (I prefer more explicitness, emotional pull, and development in my scenes. These were pretty short and brief and to the point)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑 (I was pretty shocked how short and brief sex was in this one – I thought it was going to be way hotter and more developed)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: third person – the prologue and first chapter is from Derek’s POV (point of view), then from Obadiah and Adrienne. Later on there are some scenes from Cassandra as well.
More character focused or plot focused? plot
How did the speed of the story feel? fast
When mains are first on page together: takes a bit – about 11% (chapter 2 of 16)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after for the main couple (leaves a few plot things open for the series, like what happens with Derek and the other mistresses)
Epilogue: Yes, 8 years or so later
Format: I read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: This author duo has been on my TBR since a takeover in Upturned Petticoats group awhile ago
Mains: The mains for this story are Adrienne and Obadiah and it’s a M/F relationship, both cishet. Derek is also kind of a main character that links the series together.
Should I read in order?
Definitely yes, start with this one.
Basic plot:
Adrienne needs protection after an almost assassination in broad daylight. Obadiah is the man for the job – if only his feelings for his former lover would stop getting in the way.
Give this a try if you want:
- late Georgian – 1826
- London setting
- hero is a captain’s sailing master and surgeon
- second chance
- body guard vibes
- shorter novel
- light steam – now there’s some variation here – I usually only count the ‘main’ couple in my steam and there’s only one full scene between the mains here. (And even that is pretty light) But if you’re more generous, there are 2 scenes between side characters (not a secondary romance) but also both of them are quite short….I honestly thought this book was going to be so much hotter than it was.
Ages:
- I don’t think they are mentioned, but the heroine is between 25 and 35 because that’s what Derek requested of his mistresses...
First line:
Every year he steeled himself against the memories.
My thoughts:
Sadly this one didn’t work the best for me but I do love the premise of it!
An earl has 5 mistresses and he has some stresses in life – part of that is keeping his mistresses safe and unaware of each other even though they are all neighbors. This story features Adrienne and her bodyguard Obadiah.
I thought the mistress’s relationships were hilarious and did rather enjoy Derek (the earl). He is the side character that holds the series together.
Now my struggles with this one was purely me – it had a number of things that make me struggle with a romance. Second chance is my least favorite trope. And there were quite a few characters introduced in this one being the first of the series. So I felt like the couple got lost a bit with having to set that up. There are a few different points of view here, while I prefer the main couple. Basically for me, the main couple got lost, and then when they were together, they had some relationship dynamics that aren’t my favorite in romance – their history is already established so there’s no tension and they are left with some level of resentment with each other. The hero also did some things that I didn’t love here.
I will definitely try another by these authors. I did think it was going to be way steamier than it was. The scenes themselves were quite light and short and I wasn’t expecting that. But I will try another at some point and think the next book in the series might be better because maybe there won’t be as much set up? We’ll see.
I think if you love second chance, don’t mind POV shifts, and want to see an Earl attempt to coral his various mistresses into happily ever afters you should give this one a go!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first for the author duo (first for both authors)
Average rating: 3 stars
Favorite book: This is my first novel
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- murder remembered
- blackmail
- scene of physical violence against the heroine (men accosted the heroine)
- some domestic violence between the mains – the heroine slaps him when he takes a kiss
- side character mentions working as a housekeeper on a sugar plantation in Jamaica
- kidnapping of the heroine (by blackmailer)
Author content warnings? Didn’t notice any
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: No. And the heroine tells him there can’t be a child and he blows it in her anyway. She tries to push him away quickly while he claims she belongs to him and any children they have.
How’s the consent? First kiss is taken unexpectedly and in anger and the heroine slaps the hero. The sex is consensual, but I think the way he blows it in her without consent is a trigger for those sensitive to that.
Pregnancy/children in story? They talk briefly about the possibility of kids when they have sex. The heroine wonders if she is pregnant because she’s late on her very regular courses. Then the heroine falls pregnant. Child is in the epilogue.
11% - kiss
57% - 🔥 missionary
61% - sex between a maid and footman
68% - food play, bondage of the hero, fades
71% - Derek’s self pleasure (it’s rather short...)
Readability: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡ (It felt like there was a lot of jumping around to me and I wanted the mains on page together more to be able to establish tension)
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋 (I prefer more explicitness, emotional pull, and development in my scenes. These were pretty short and brief and to the point)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑 (I was pretty shocked how short and brief sex was in this one – I thought it was going to be way hotter and more developed)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: third person – the prologue and first chapter is from Derek’s POV (point of view), then from Obadiah and Adrienne. Later on there are some scenes from Cassandra as well.
More character focused or plot focused? plot
How did the speed of the story feel? fast
When mains are first on page together: takes a bit – about 11% (chapter 2 of 16)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after for the main couple (leaves a few plot things open for the series, like what happens with Derek and the other mistresses)
Epilogue: Yes, 8 years or so later
Format: I read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: This author duo has been on my TBR since a takeover in Upturned Petticoats group awhile ago
Mains: The mains for this story are Adrienne and Obadiah and it’s a M/F relationship, both cishet. Derek is also kind of a main character that links the series together.
Should I read in order?
Definitely yes, start with this one.
Basic plot:
Adrienne needs protection after an almost assassination in broad daylight. Obadiah is the man for the job – if only his feelings for his former lover would stop getting in the way.
Give this a try if you want:
- late Georgian – 1826
- London setting
- hero is a captain’s sailing master and surgeon
- second chance
- body guard vibes
- shorter novel
- light steam – now there’s some variation here – I usually only count the ‘main’ couple in my steam and there’s only one full scene between the mains here. (And even that is pretty light) But if you’re more generous, there are 2 scenes between side characters (not a secondary romance) but also both of them are quite short….I honestly thought this book was going to be so much hotter than it was.
Ages:
- I don’t think they are mentioned, but the heroine is between 25 and 35 because that’s what Derek requested of his mistresses...
First line:
Every year he steeled himself against the memories.
My thoughts:
Sadly this one didn’t work the best for me but I do love the premise of it!
An earl has 5 mistresses and he has some stresses in life – part of that is keeping his mistresses safe and unaware of each other even though they are all neighbors. This story features Adrienne and her bodyguard Obadiah.
I thought the mistress’s relationships were hilarious and did rather enjoy Derek (the earl). He is the side character that holds the series together.
Now my struggles with this one was purely me – it had a number of things that make me struggle with a romance. Second chance is my least favorite trope. And there were quite a few characters introduced in this one being the first of the series. So I felt like the couple got lost a bit with having to set that up. There are a few different points of view here, while I prefer the main couple. Basically for me, the main couple got lost, and then when they were together, they had some relationship dynamics that aren’t my favorite in romance – their history is already established so there’s no tension and they are left with some level of resentment with each other. The hero also did some things that I didn’t love here.
I will definitely try another by these authors. I did think it was going to be way steamier than it was. The scenes themselves were quite light and short and I wasn’t expecting that. But I will try another at some point and think the next book in the series might be better because maybe there won’t be as much set up? We’ll see.
I think if you love second chance, don’t mind POV shifts, and want to see an Earl attempt to coral his various mistresses into happily ever afters you should give this one a go!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first for the author duo (first for both authors)
Average rating: 3 stars
Favorite book: This is my first novel
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- murder remembered
- blackmail
- scene of physical violence against the heroine (men accosted the heroine)
- some domestic violence between the mains – the heroine slaps him when he takes a kiss
- side character mentions working as a housekeeper on a sugar plantation in Jamaica
- kidnapping of the heroine (by blackmailer)
Author content warnings? Didn’t notice 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?
11% - kiss
57% - 🔥 missionary
61% - sex between a maid and footman
68% - food play, bondage of the hero, fades
71% - Derek’s self pleasure (it’s rather short...)
Charlotte's Kisses: A Steamy Regency Romance by Nicki Pascarella, Nicki Pascarella
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
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? plot
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: It takes a bit – about 8% or chapter 4
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, one month later
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited – the author also has sent me a paperback version of this book
Why I chose this book: I have enjoyed Pascarella’s historicals and recently read the prequel novella, Emily’s Unmasking, and wanted more in the series.
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
I think it’s okay to start here, but you can also grab Emily’s Unmasking (right now through Pascarella’s website)
Basic plot:
A beleaguered bow street runner runs into an instant attraction at a mascarade.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1818
- Bow Street Runner hero
- mistaken identity
- masquerade
- heroine nurses hero to health
- animal loving heroine
- full figured heroine
- class difference – she’s the daughter of a marquess, he’s a bow street runner
- evil stepmother (some Snow White and Cinderella vibes mixed)
- instalust elements
- medium steam – 2 full scenes, a shorter scene, a partial and some kisses
Ages:
- heroine is 22, hero is 27
First line:
‘Twas as if a creeping spider inched its way over Hugh Feltcher’s skin as the hair on the back of his neck sprang to attention.
My thoughts:
I have really been loving Pascarella’s mix of steam, humor, and fun plotlines – she has gone a touch darker in this novel with an even more intense villainess figure.
I struggle with villains, and I want my characters together all the time (I know, but I want what I want) so I have liked other books by her a touch more. This is also because this particular villain shares a lot of characters with a real life villain I had. And it makes me angry 😂
But I found myself loving these mains so much. Their love was adorable and their desire to explore each other was palpable and I was just rooting so hard for them to be together and they just kept having so much drama keep them apart! It was nice seeing another side of Alex and Emily’s story (which is the prequel novella, Emily’s Unmasking) and I am very curious where this series will go. I really love being in Pascarella’s characters heads. They are funny. And the way they work through things is just so relatable. I love it.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 7
Average rating: 4.71 stars
Favorite book: Emily’s Unmasking
Endearments
Heroine calls her ‘little glowworm’, ‘sweetheart’ and ‘firefly’.
Quotes
Lord Nash stepped into the light. With his mask now in place, he brushed leaves from his exquisite tailcoat that was much too small for him.
“Thank heaves you are unharmed.” Dare she admit she thought he’d disappeared as if they were in some gothic ghost story?
He sauntered to her. “I am well, my lady.”
Why had she never noticed Lord Nash’s toe-curling baritone? Or that his shoulders were extremely broad? In stark contrast, his hips tapered in, giving him the physique of a warrior. She’d always thought his chin was a bit pointy. However, when wearing a mask, his jawline was chiseled to perfection.
Wait a dashed minute. Who was this well-built man in a too-tight coat, and where had he stashed Lord Nash?
---
Wait a minute. If he was her stepmother’s enemy, perchance he was her friend? What a pleasant though. Remaining concealed behind the wall of muscle, she called out, “Yes. I saw him.”
Her lover stiffened as he peered over his shoulder at her. What lovely blue eyes he had. Unfortunately, they morphed into little slits that contained hellfire. “Do not,” he growled at her.
Heavens, even his growl was appealing.
---
Just give more seconds of kissing, and then she would leave.
Make that ten more seconds.
To Beelzebub with that. Twenty seconds. She could do it.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- evil step mother that attacks the heroine with serious verbal and mental abuse, slaps the hero, kisses the hero without consent, threatens and blackmails him
- brief mention of violence and violence against women (mention of hero getting involved in a fight when a man punches a woman in the face)
- parental illness
- there is a plot point where the hero is asked to find the heroine’s father’s bastards so I’d say a minor warning for feelings of infidelity as he was married while having children with other women
- threat of death and gun violence
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: hero pulls out in the first scene. I assume in the epilogue sex he doesn’t but it isn’t specifically mentioned
How’s the consent? first kiss is maybe dubious – at a masquerade the hero demands heroine kiss him to hide their presence. She says no, but he does so anyway – we are in the heroine’s POV and know that she is enjoying it and wants more. And the rest is definitely all consensual – she pursues. I’d also like to note there’s a nonconsensual kiss between the heroine’s stepmother and the hero
Pregnancy/children in story? No children or pregnancy in the story, but the ending implies future children with a nursery
8% - kiss outside at the masquerade
33% - kiss
42% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her, handy for him, missionary
She tugged on his hair with such force that his head snapped back. So much for his being gentle. He tossed her into the center of the mattress and straddled her.
She squealed with delight.
67% - kisses, fingering for her that’s interrupted
“She fiddled with a button. “We should get you out of these wet clothes before you catch your death.”
“And so I can fuck you senseless.”
90% - 🔥 kisses, food play, oral for her, bj (complete)
“I have placed three dabs of honey on my body. You must find them using only your lips and tongue. Once you find all three, we shall trade places.”
99% - epilogue sex – her on top (though it’s a bit short)
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? plot
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: It takes a bit – about 8% or chapter 4
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, one month later
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited – the author also has sent me a paperback version of this book
Why I chose this book: I have enjoyed Pascarella’s historicals and recently read the prequel novella, Emily’s Unmasking, and wanted more in the series.
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
I think it’s okay to start here, but you can also grab Emily’s Unmasking (right now through Pascarella’s website)
Basic plot:
A beleaguered bow street runner runs into an instant attraction at a mascarade.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1818
- Bow Street Runner hero
- mistaken identity
- masquerade
- heroine nurses hero to health
- animal loving heroine
- full figured heroine
- class difference – she’s the daughter of a marquess, he’s a bow street runner
- evil stepmother (some Snow White and Cinderella vibes mixed)
- instalust elements
- medium steam – 2 full scenes, a shorter scene, a partial and some kisses
Ages:
- heroine is 22, hero is 27
First line:
‘Twas as if a creeping spider inched its way over Hugh Feltcher’s skin as the hair on the back of his neck sprang to attention.
My thoughts:
I have really been loving Pascarella’s mix of steam, humor, and fun plotlines – she has gone a touch darker in this novel with an even more intense villainess figure.
I struggle with villains, and I want my characters together all the time (I know, but I want what I want) so I have liked other books by her a touch more. This is also because this particular villain shares a lot of characters with a real life villain I had. And it makes me angry 😂
But I found myself loving these mains so much. Their love was adorable and their desire to explore each other was palpable and I was just rooting so hard for them to be together and they just kept having so much drama keep them apart! It was nice seeing another side of Alex and Emily’s story (which is the prequel novella, Emily’s Unmasking) and I am very curious where this series will go. I really love being in Pascarella’s characters heads. They are funny. And the way they work through things is just so relatable. I love it.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 7
Average rating: 4.71 stars
Favorite book: Emily’s Unmasking
Endearments
Quotes
Lord Nash stepped into the light. With his mask now in place, he brushed leaves from his exquisite tailcoat that was much too small for him.
“Thank heaves you are unharmed.” Dare she admit she thought he’d disappeared as if they were in some gothic ghost story?
He sauntered to her. “I am well, my lady.”
Why had she never noticed Lord Nash’s toe-curling baritone? Or that his shoulders were extremely broad? In stark contrast, his hips tapered in, giving him the physique of a warrior. She’d always thought his chin was a bit pointy. However, when wearing a mask, his jawline was chiseled to perfection.
Wait a dashed minute. Who was this well-built man in a too-tight coat, and where had he stashed Lord Nash?
---
Wait a minute. If he was her stepmother’s enemy, perchance he was her friend? What a pleasant though. Remaining concealed behind the wall of muscle, she called out, “Yes. I saw him.”
Her lover stiffened as he peered over his shoulder at her. What lovely blue eyes he had. Unfortunately, they morphed into little slits that contained hellfire. “Do not,” he growled at her.
Heavens, even his growl was appealing.
---
Just give more seconds of kissing, and then she would leave.
Make that ten more seconds.
To Beelzebub with that. Twenty seconds. She could do it.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- evil step mother that attacks the heroine with serious verbal and mental abuse, slaps the hero, kisses the hero without consent, threatens and blackmails him
- brief mention of violence and violence against women (mention of hero getting involved in a fight when a man punches a woman in the face)
- parental illness
- there is a plot point where the hero is asked to find the heroine’s father’s bastards so I’d say a minor warning for feelings of infidelity as he was married while having children with other women
- threat of death and gun violence
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
8% - kiss outside at the masquerade
33% - kiss
42% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her, handy for him, missionary
She tugged on his hair with such force that his head snapped back. So much for his being gentle. He tossed her into the center of the mattress and straddled her.
She squealed with delight.
67% - kisses, fingering for her that’s interrupted
“She fiddled with a button. “We should get you out of these wet clothes before you catch your death.”
“And so I can fuck you senseless.”
90% - 🔥 kisses, food play, oral for her, bj (complete)
“I have placed three dabs of honey on my body. You must find them using only your lips and tongue. Once you find all three, we shall trade places.”
99% - epilogue sex – her on top (though it’s a bit short)
Tempting Mr. Weatherstone by Vivienne Lorret
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥 (no penetration scenes though)
Humor: A bit
Perspective: third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to meidum
When mains are first on page together: Very soon in, about 6% (chapter 1)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, very shortly in the future
Format: bought e-book
Why I chose this book: I love Vivienne Lorret and I haven’t read any of this series! I saw most of it on Hoopla, so I picked up this
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is the prequel novella to Lorret’s Wallflower Weddings series. (And was also published in the Five Golden Rings anthology if you have that)
Basic plot:
Penelope needs Ethan to realize what is right in front of him – and if he doesn’t she’s going to leave and find her own adventure.
Give this a try if you want:
- Late Georgian – 1822
- childhood friends to lovers
- neighbors!
- holiday romance
- he knows her favorite foods
- shorter novel
- unrequited love
- average novella steam – 1 full scene
Ages:
- heroine is 25, hero is about 28
First line:
Penelope Rutledge waved to her sister as the carriage disappeared from view.
My thoughts:
This novella was cute overall. I tend to be more forgiving of novellas – I know it’s hard to have the romance feel complete and grow tension.
My issues with this one were that it felt just a touch repetitive and I was left wanting just a bit more from their interactions. I want the see the hero change a bit more through the book, and embrace the heroine’s need for adventure. The ending was cute though. But this was one that I just wasn’t 100% solid feeling on their HEA – I worry that he will disappoint her eventually.
But it did have some really cute parts and I loved their kiss scene, when he finally started to crumble for her. I generally love Lorret, but this one that is pretty easily forgettable.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 10
Average rating: 4.4 stars
Favorite book: Probably Ten Kisses to Scandal, though The Wrong Marquess is a close second.
Quotes
Oh. I totally melted.
“How can you be so..so unaffected all the time?” Her voice rose with her accusation. “Haven’t you ever dreamed for something outside the realm of possibility? Or are you content with each day so long as your cravat is perfectly pleated?”
She glared at the offending garment, struck by a ridiculous notion to crumple it. No sooner had the idea formed that she gave in to the impulse and moved forward on her seat, her arm reaching forward.
Ethan stopped her, taking hold of her wrist. His eyes flared. Before she could react, he yanked, propelling her forward to land clumsily on his lap.
“How dare-”
His mouth covered hers, silencing her outrage.
---
She pressed herself against the harness of his thigh to quell the throbbing ache between hers. A sweet sob escaped her at the contact.
He tore his mouth away, his eyes hooded and fiery. When he looked down at her flesh in his hands, an expression of blatant ownership swept over his features. It was as if he said she was his, and there was no denying it.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- parental death
- parental death from illness
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: They don’t have penetrative sex
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? A side character (the heroine’s younger sister) is pregnant with her third child. Mention of possibly wanting children in the future.
67% - kiss in the carriage, nipple stim o and dry humping o
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥 (no penetration scenes though)
Humor: A bit
Perspective: third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to meidum
When mains are first on page together: Very soon in, about 6% (chapter 1)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, very shortly in the future
Format: bought e-book
Why I chose this book: I love Vivienne Lorret and I haven’t read any of this series! I saw most of it on Hoopla, so I picked up this
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
This is the prequel novella to Lorret’s Wallflower Weddings series. (And was also published in the Five Golden Rings anthology if you have that)
Basic plot:
Penelope needs Ethan to realize what is right in front of him – and if he doesn’t she’s going to leave and find her own adventure.
Give this a try if you want:
- Late Georgian – 1822
- childhood friends to lovers
- neighbors!
- holiday romance
- he knows her favorite foods
- shorter novel
- unrequited love
- average novella steam – 1 full scene
Ages:
- heroine is 25, hero is about 28
First line:
Penelope Rutledge waved to her sister as the carriage disappeared from view.
My thoughts:
This novella was cute overall. I tend to be more forgiving of novellas – I know it’s hard to have the romance feel complete and grow tension.
My issues with this one were that it felt just a touch repetitive and I was left wanting just a bit more from their interactions. I want the see the hero change a bit more through the book, and embrace the heroine’s need for adventure. The ending was cute though. But this was one that I just wasn’t 100% solid feeling on their HEA – I worry that he will disappoint her eventually.
But it did have some really cute parts and I loved their kiss scene, when he finally started to crumble for her. I generally love Lorret, but this one that is pretty easily forgettable.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 10
Average rating: 4.4 stars
Favorite book: Probably Ten Kisses to Scandal, though The Wrong Marquess is a close second.
Quotes
Oh. I totally melted.
“How can you be so..so unaffected all the time?” Her voice rose with her accusation. “Haven’t you ever dreamed for something outside the realm of possibility? Or are you content with each day so long as your cravat is perfectly pleated?”
She glared at the offending garment, struck by a ridiculous notion to crumple it. No sooner had the idea formed that she gave in to the impulse and moved forward on her seat, her arm reaching forward.
Ethan stopped her, taking hold of her wrist. His eyes flared. Before she could react, he yanked, propelling her forward to land clumsily on his lap.
“How dare-”
His mouth covered hers, silencing her outrage.
---
She pressed herself against the harness of his thigh to quell the throbbing ache between hers. A sweet sob escaped her at the contact.
He tore his mouth away, his eyes hooded and fiery. When he looked down at her flesh in his hands, an expression of blatant ownership swept over his features. It was as if he said she was his, and there was no denying it.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- parental death
- parental death from 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?
67% - kiss in the carriage, nipple stim o and dry humping o