Overall Opinion: I'll admit it -- I'm a sucker! I hurried up and found this puppy after hearing that Amazon banned it. Amazon has some trashy 3 Stars
Overall Opinion: I'll admit it -- I'm a sucker! I hurried up and found this puppy after hearing that Amazon banned it. Amazon has some trashy and taboo books in their stock, so I couldn't imagine what was so bad about this to where they would feel the need to ban it. So what did I do? I dove right in. I did, however, find it on Amazon kindle unlimited after all -- so I guess the initial ban was lifted 🤷🏻♀️ Makes perfect sense to me, because I am still really confused about why they would do that in th first place. This wasn't really taboo. Yes, the H was an ex porn star...yes, they do have sex in front of cameras...but "taboo"?! Meh. Maybe I'm desensitized because I've read captivity books, books with rape, big age differences, step-sibling mcs, and "dark" romances where I think the content was way more shocking than here in this book. I also didn't feel like it was much more than a bunch of sex scenes between two lonely people that find comfort in each other. I think it had the potential to be more, but I think just didn't quite get there. Overall, just an okay read...and if Ms. Gadziala made up the ban just to get readers -- this sucker fell for it! 🤦🏻♀️😂
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Rosie and Preston's story. Rosie is in a tough place financially and finds herself interviewing to be a porn star with Preston's production company. Preston is an ex star turned executive that sees something in Rosie to make him come out of retirement for. After their first scene, he feels possessive for the first time and secretly keeps all their film to himself. After spending more time together on set as well as through anonymous chat sessions, they start to fall in love. There is a good bit of hot sexy times and some family, career, and financial drama...and they get a HFN ending
POV: This alternated between Rosie and Preston's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: Kind of. I just didn't fully understand the development into stronger feelings.
H rating: 4 stars. Preston. I liked him. He was sweet, protective, and sexy.
h rating: 3.5 stars. Rosie. I liked her, but I also felt like she was kinda clueless at times to where I wanted to shake her.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[The h pushes away at one point, and I'd say the H is the main pursuer of the relationship. (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- and a good bit to where I think it potentially took the place of some of the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No, once they get together there is no separation.
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[The H was an ex porn star and now porn executive, loss of parents (h-off page), and sibling with schizophrenia (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This had alright closure with what I would call a HFN ending, but others might be fine in calling it a HEA (view spoiler)[the h is pregnant and they're living together, but I don't remember any mention of them getting married (hide spoiler)].
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences. (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does Not have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (see above) (hide spoiler)]
Merged review:
3 Stars
Overall Opinion: I'll admit it -- I'm a sucker! I hurried up and found this puppy after hearing that Amazon banned it. Amazon has some trashy and taboo books in their stock, so I couldn't imagine what was so bad about this to where they would feel the need to ban it. So what did I do? I dove right in. I did, however, find it on Amazon kindle unlimited after all -- so I guess the initial ban was lifted...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The sexy times and premise.
The Not-So-Good: The lack of depth in characters.
The Bad: The last 1/4 of the book fel2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The sexy times and premise.
The Not-So-Good: The lack of depth in characters.
The Bad: The last 1/4 of the book felt repetitive in the drama and lacking plot-wise.
Overall: This was what I consider pure smut. Nothing wrong with that! If that's what you're looking for, this was a pretty steamy read that will be right up your ally! I just got bored and ended up skimming.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Vanessa and Reed's story. Vanessa is shocked to find a man in her family's cabin where she goes to film her secret sex videos with her alternate personality. Reed just got out of prison and isn't expecting to see his best friend's sister all grown up and tempting. They had a secret encounter years prior that neither of them forgot, and the sparks fly instantly. When Vanessa reveals what she's there for, Reed is furious, but after a while and realizing how much money they could make which he needs, he starts participating in her videos. There is some family drama, some sweet moments, and a good bit of sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Vanessa and Reed's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. I did skim the last few chapters because I wasn't feeling it anymore, but that could've been a me thing and not the pacing.
Instalove: No, but some feelings were there from their past.
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Reed. I liked how protective he was of the H.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Vanessa. I liked her strength and sassiness.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Not really
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and many scenes -- and I would call this smut because the amount of it (vs erotic romance where it's balanced more on the romance part)
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ The h is the H's best-friend's sister, the H was in prison for robbing and assaulting a man to the point he had brain damage (off page), loss of parents (off page), parent with dementia (partially on page), and the H is ~11 years older than the h (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a pretty good place with what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they got married (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does Not have the h pushing the H away - Does Not have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the starting 3/4ish, the beginning angst, the H's daughter!
The Not-So-Good: The closure. I know I sa3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the starting 3/4ish, the beginning angst, the H's daughter!
The Not-So-Good: The closure. I know I say below in the "bad" about the end, but I think there were too many other unanswered questions not necessarily about the mcs' romance that I felt I wanted closure with.
The Bad: The last 1/4ish. It started getting to be OTT drama and then it ended abruptly with not nearly enough closure! After ~448 pages on my kindle app, I invested a lot of time and attention for such a lackluster ending!
Overall: I was totally digging and excited about this book for the first probably 3/4ths! Then it took a turn to not turn out the way I was hoping. This author offers an extended epilogue if you sign up, but if you follow me you know I just don't do that. I am bummed that this turned into such fast-forward super drama! It was angsty enough with the bad timing they already had -- it didn't need the OTT soap opera stuff! I honestly don't know how to rate this one...
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Savannah and Levi's story. Savannah would seek out her friend, Levi, to escape her home growing up. When she runs away from home after they share their first kiss at 15, they think that goodbye is forever. Only they meet again at 18 and the feelings for each other flood back in. But their timing is bad again. Fast forward and Savannah is a famous rockstar and Levi is a single dad trying to get by with his architectural company. There are some secrets revealed, some hot sexy times and some sad and some sweet moments...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Savannah and Levi's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they've known each other most of their lives.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Levi. I liked him. He was a good combo of sweet, protective, loyal, and sexy.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Savannah. I liked her too. I appreciated her spunk and how she was loyal. I also loved her relationship with the H's daughter and her fans.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ the h pushes away and I'd say the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ the h's friend/band mate/ex causes some drama and their label demands that the h pretends to be engaged to him even though she told him no when he had proposed (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated for ~3 years and then ~8 years, and both of them had other partners during at least the 2nd time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Domestic violence/drug abuse and addiction by parent/assault/drug abuse and addiction by h (on page), date rape (side character), loss of a spouse to cancer (off page), the H has a daughter with his dead spouse (on page),the h is a stripper when they reunite at 18 (on page), and the h was a virgin (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in an alright place but I felt like it was way too abrupt and not nearly enough. I would call it a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they've shared "ILYs" and are living together (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does have a few separations between the h and H - Does have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and blurb. Sophie and Wanda.
The Not-So-Good: The ending. The amount of inner dialogue and lack of qual2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and blurb. Sophie and Wanda.
The Not-So-Good: The ending. The amount of inner dialogue and lack of quality interaction.
The Bad: The lack of an emotional connection. The super easy way their conflict was resolved. The h's behavior towards the end.
Overall: Sadly, this didn't live up to the hype or my expectations. I liked the idea of the blurb! I was hooked and when it became available at my local library -- I jumped right in! Only it was slow starting. Then it was a lot of sex. Which I understand-- with a premise like this, I should've expected it! I just felt like there wasn't enough emotional connection to believe/feel their relationship progression. They hardly ever talked! It was a lot of inner dialogue and not very many interactions outside of sex. Then the h acts stupid. I know I'm in the minority yet again -- but it was not my cuppa, I guess!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Cassie and Aiden's story. Cassie is a down-on-her-luck grad student that finds herself jobless and homeless when she finds a perfect live-in nanny position for Aidan and his 9 year old daughter, Sophie. There is an instant attraction, but they fight it for a while. Only later Cassie realizes that Aiden was the client that she got a little too close to and that ghosted her during her stint with onlyfans a year prior. There are some cute scenes with the H's daughter and the h's elderly friend, Wanda, some sexy times, and some family drama...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Cassie and Aiden's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise.
Instalove: Kind of. Other than sexual tension and sex, I didn't feel like there was enough of an emotional/romantic connection to feel good about the progression to deeper feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 3 stars. Aiden. I liked him more than the h, but I wanted him to communicate better and not be so hard on himself.
h (heroine) rating: 2.5 stars. Cassie. I liked her...until I didn't. She pushes away and plays martyr which is one of my biggest pet peeves!
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[the h pushes away and I'd say the both pursue the relationship at times (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but a little too much and so much that it even felt like it kind of took away from the story at times. I think this might also be because I didn't feel their romantic connection.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated shortly, but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[the h was on onlyfans when they "met" for the first time (off page but partial flashback moments), the H has a daughter with a casual hookup and she ended up dying ~a year prior to this story (off page), and parental neglect/emotional abuse (h - off page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends right after their conflict is (very quickly and easily) resolved and with not nearly enough closure. I would call it a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they're living together and he's planning on proposing (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: I am drawn to the taboo Professor/student age-gap type stories, so this was appealing in that way. The epilogue (e2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: I am drawn to the taboo Professor/student age-gap type stories, so this was appealing in that way. The epilogue (except that one part I mention below).
The Not-So-Good: The pacing. While I never skimmed, I definitely wanted to at times because it had ebbs and flows of nothing significant happening (except the H making dominant declarations and the h being bratty against it) and then dropping in some dramatic element to speed it up randomly.
The Bad: The dramatic elements *BIG spoilers*(view spoiler)[stripper/student, Professor/student taboo, D/unknown sub, jerk/controlling/possessive H, OM jealousy, on the run h/controlling parents that she’s on the run from alcoholic mother/Misogynist governor (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: I liked the overall premise, I liked the side characters the h had made a family out of, and I really liked the H’s 3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: I liked the overall premise, I liked the side characters the h had made a family out of, and I really liked the H’s son.
The Not-So-Good: The H. I liked him a lot of the time, but I also really felt like he was way too selfish. With Olivia and with Ysabelle! He needed to stop stringing people along and hurting them to spare Julia’s feelings!
The Bad: The pacing. While I appreciate that the author gave us some backstory and build up for the characters, I felt like it went on way too long. They don’t even meet until 50%! That was 211 pages in on my kindle app! I also didn’t like that the scene where the h (view spoiler)[basically gets raped by one of her clients and hit in the face by him that was suggested that it might have been arranged by her madam (but I’m still unsure) (hide spoiler)] was so brief and brushed over! That should’ve been a big deal! Especially with her history.
Overall: I’m honestly unsure how I feel about this. I always seem to like the escort-to-more storyline and I even enjoy the angsty goodness of the h being the other woman (I know, don’t hate me ...more
Overall Opinion: This was cute for what it was, but I think, overall, I just wanted more. It was on the short side for me, so I really shouldn3 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was cute for what it was, but I think, overall, I just wanted more. It was on the short side for me, so I really shouldn’t complain — because after reading the blurb I was too intrigued but knew it might be too short. Too short in the sense that it felt too short. I would’ve liked much more development of feelings. While I enjoyed the epilogue, I felt like it just had time jumps to check all the boxes to get to a HEA label. I’m going to go with middle of the road rating because I liked the characters (love my Aspies ...more
Overall Opinion: This was better than the horrible cover(s) and title suggest! I was in the mood for an escort type romance and found this one3 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was better than the horrible cover(s) and title suggest! I was in the mood for an escort type romance and found this one on a GR list and thought, why not?! I liked the interactions between the characters and I liked the overall premise of the gay-for-pay escort type scenario. I didn’t feel like we got as much progression into deeper feelings between these characters or a great ending though. Overall, it was enjoyable but it will not be finding its home on my favorites shelf.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Andrew and Cormac’s story. Andrew’s sister is dying of cancer and his acting career is no longer paying the bills, so he agrees to become a gay escort as long as he doesn’t have to do anything gay sexually since he’s straight. Cormac is his first assigned client and recognizes almost right away that Andrew is not actually gay, but they form a friendship instead that turns into more. There is some past baggage to work through, some lines that get crossed with Cormac and other clients, some big life changes, and some sexy times…and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This was told in Andrew’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings (though they did feel a little out of left field)
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 3 stars. Andrew. He was a hot mess! I loved his relationship with his sister, but he also rubbed me the wrong way at times with his overreactions to other’s behavior.
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 3 stars. Cormac. He was kind of a mess too and deeply closeted. I appreciated how he finally came around to standing up for himself.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[They both push away (H1 more so) and pursue the relationship at times (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Not really
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes (view spoiler)[There are scenes with the H1 and OM and mentions of encounters with OW after meeting the H2 (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: Not technically, since they are never deemed “together”
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated (month/s?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Prostitution/drug use/sibling with cancer/loss of sibling (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a good place but right after their resolution to the conflict. I felt like it wasn’t nearly enough, but yet technically enough closure for me to classify it as a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they’re married (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences. (view spoiler)[ - Does Not (technically) have cheating - Does have a descriptive sex scene with the H1 and OM - Does have both the H1 and H2 pushing away - Does have a separation between the H1 and H2 - Does Not have abuse - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: I’m glad I gave in and gave this a shot because it’s been on my radar (and tbr list) since I started reading so much. Whil 3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: I’m glad I gave in and gave this a shot because it’s been on my radar (and tbr list) since I started reading so much. While I understand that many, many reader loved this — I’m sad to say that I am, yet again, disappointed in my own reaction to it. I didn’t love it. It felt too slow at times and while it had me shed a few tears, I wanted more in the chemistry (both romantic and sexual) department. I honestly don’t know how to rate this, but because I did connect enough to get emotional at the end I’ll rank this just above 3 “just okay” stars.
*I’m not going with my full review format because with this book it is hard to do without giving too much away*
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Nora’s story. I’ll keep this vague in hopes of not ruining it. Zach is Nora’s new book editor for her notorious erotica novels. Zach isn’t all that convinced that she is a good fit for his publishing house, but agrees to do it as a final job before moving to the LA location. Zach is going through his own personal drama with being separated from his wife, but he is quickly submerged into Noah’s world of BDSM through her book and her personal life. Nora has her hands busy with her virgin, young intern Wesley that lives with her, her ex-dominant Soren who is powerful in the BDSM scene, and now Zach….and things get a little messy.
Point Of View (POV): This mainly alternated between focusing on Nora and Zach in 3rd person narrative..
Overall Pace of Story: Not the best. This dragged in several places and while I never skimmed, it felt like it took me a long time to get into it and through it.
Sadness level: Moderate. I shed a few tears but never needed any tissues.
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. I was bummed about this aspect of the story tbh. I thought it wasn’t nearly as hot as it could’ve been.
Descriptive sex: Yes, but not as descriptive as I thought it would be
Cheating: Yes (view spoiler)[ The H is married to OW (kind-of separated as she’s in London and he’s in NY) (hide spoiler)]
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Sex with minor (15 yo) on page, BDSM with an emphasis on the S & M, catholic priest breaking vow, and the H is married (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a place that sets up for the next books. I would (reluctantly) call it a HFN ending…but it’s a tough one to label.
Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does have cheating - Does have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have pushing away - Does Not have a separation between the h and H (view spoiler)[because who’s really together? (hide spoiler)] - Does Not have abuse (consensual) - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: I’m in a rut and this was on the “most read this week” portion of the romance browsing page here on GR, so I thought why not3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: I’m in a rut and this was on the “most read this week” portion of the romance browsing page here on GR, so I thought why not?! I think I’ve read one reverse harem type book but it wasn’t anything like this. I honestly was just expecting some pure silly smut and was pleasantly surprised that it had more to it than just a constant orgy! The world building was interesting but not so detailed that it felt dragged out — which I appreciate. I might even try another book in this series because I think overall this author executed this well!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Naja’s story. She is working as a stripper to support herself and her baby sister when she gets (kind of) kidnapped my 5 hulking men one night. She is quickly informed that she is the last omega of their supernatural kind, the Manix, and they need her to help prevent the extinction of their race. After some back and forth, the men decide to woo Naja but also realize that her life isn’t exactly what they thought and she is in need of their protection. There are some sexy times, a male pregnancy, some suspenseful scenes, and some sweet moments…and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between all the mc’s POVs.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I thought it flowed well and I never skimmed.
Instalove: No. Instalust? Yes.
h rating: 4 stars. Naja. I liked her. I appreciated her strength and how she cared for and was protective of her baby sister.
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 3 stars. Gatlin. I liked him but I don’t feel like we really got all that deep into his character and wanted much more.
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 3.5 stars. Finlo. I liked how he was with his family and how he cared for the others.
H3 (Hero #3) rating: 4 stars. Raiden. I liked him. I appreciated how he soothed others and was the glue of the pack.
H4 (Hero #4) rating: 4 stars. Ellar. I liked him. He was what I think the heart of the pack.
H5 (Hero #5) rating: 4 stars. Seven. I liked how he was gruff on the outside but mush on the inside.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ The h pushes away and I’d say the Hs are the main pursuers of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. (view spoiler)[There are scenes that are m/f, m/m, and with 3 or more at a time (hide spoiler)]
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes, but mild (view spoiler)[ There are OM that express an interest in the h but get shot down quickly (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Violence/loss of a parent/criminal activity/drug addiction of a loved one (off page) and kidnapping/violence/murder (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a good place with what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they’re mated with children (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM (outside the pack) - Does have the h pushing the Hs away - Does Not have a separation between the h and any of the Hs - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: S.M.H! What is wrong with me?! I cannot believe that this is my first m/m romance! Seriously. I am hating myself for puttin3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: S.M.H! What is wrong with me?! I cannot believe that this is my first m/m romance! Seriously. I am hating myself for putting them off for some unknown reason that I can’t even recall. I should’ve known better! I should’ve listened to the many of you that love this genre! Please, please, please give me your recommendations, GR Peeps!!! I decided to give this a go after what seems like a never ending book funk in hopes of shaking things up a bit. While I’m not at all saying this book didn’t have its issues, I’m just happy that I tried it and opened up all sorts of new possibilities for myself! I was mainly frustrated with the ending and the lack of time with them as an outed couple. I also felt like Keaton jumped in a little too seamlessly to his changing sexuality. While I wasn’t wanting it to be morose or anything, I thought his journey was a little too...easy ...more
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable. I liked that they both saw past each other’s exteriors and bonded with the person beneath it all. I lik3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable. I liked that they both saw past each other’s exteriors and bonded with the person beneath it all. I liked their banter and I liked their connection. I didn’t like how hurtful the h could be without seeming to realize it, and I also didn’t like how the H projected his issues with his past on the h. I wanted much more in the end and I was left with some unanswered questions. But! Overall this was a steamy and surprisingly emotional, enjoyable read.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Elle and Lane’s story. Elle is a doctor and Lane is a sex surrogate at a therapy center and have butted heads since meeting. When they decide to have a hateful, hot night together, things start to change for them both. Elle is damaged from her past and doesn’t want anything that resembles a relationship, while Lane is willing to play her games while also pushing her boundaries. There is some family and ex drama, some sad moments, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated on focusing between Elle and Lane in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings. It was a hate-to-love to f-buddies-to-more story.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Lane. I liked him. I liked how he saw past the h’s hard exterior and was loyal.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Elle. She was understandably damaged from her previous relationship, but she bugged me a little with how she could be hurtful and not seem to realize it (or care)
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. (view spoiler)[ There are some scenes with dominant behavior from the H, pain/rough sex, and anal (hide spoiler)]
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[The h has issues with the H’s job and this causes drama, the h’s ex causes some drama as well (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: Not really (view spoiler)[The H works out a scene with a client and ends up touching her naked breast after being with the h (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: Not IMO (view spoiler)[The scene described in spoiler tag above is professional (not for him to get off) and part of his job which the h is aware of (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated shortly (week?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[The H was a previous escort (off page), H is a sex surrogate (on page), h was cheated on by her ex-husband with her sister (off page), h is divorced (off page), parent with cancer (h- on page), sexual assault/drug addiction (side characters off page), assault (on page), and H has dyslexia (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends with a cute epilogue but not enough closure and what I’d call a HFN ending. I would’ve liked to see a farther glimpse into their future. (view spoiler)[they get engaged (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating by mcs (see above) - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM (see above) - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: I messed up and I should’ve known better. Not that long ago I tried another book in this series and couldn’t get past the begi3 Stars
Overall Opinion: I messed up and I should’ve known better. Not that long ago I tried another book in this series and couldn’t get past the beginning because there was too much about the previous characters and books that I couldn’t relate to. I should’ve known that I would run into that here too. I should have started with book number one. While I did get the mc’s romance and their story from the start, I definitely felt like I was missing something because there was a lot about the other characters in the series. I like the family and I found their banter humorous, but it felt frustrating at times because it completely took away from the mc’s story for me. I also was disappointed that there was no steam. I know a lot of the time hr books are on the low side of steam, but this felt just non-existent and I decided I didn’t like that. To finish it all off, the ending was too abrupt and didn’t provide nearly enough closure for me. Overall, just an alright read for me.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Kelsey and Derek’s story. Kelsey is put in a bad position where she has to protect her young sister and aunt from ruin and ends up auctioning herself off to the highest bidder as a mistress. Derek isn’t ready to settle down and his one experience with a mistress left him with a bad taste, but when he sees a man that he knows harms females about to win the bid for this innocent woman — he steps in and beats him. There are some sweet scenes, some twisted lies to navigate, and a few funny parts with family...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Kelsey and Derek in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. It felt slow in some parts but I never skimmed.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Derek. I liked him. I appreciated how he cared for the h and defended it to his family.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Kelsey. I liked her. I appreciated her strength and how she did what was needed to get by.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[The h pushes away and the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Low. They have minimal tension, chemistry, and non-descriptive fade to black type scenes.
Descriptive sex: No (view spoiler)[closest is their first encounter but it too is low on details (hide spoiler)]
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Kidnapping/violence/assault (on page), murder/rape (off page), and the h was a virgin (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends with little closure and what I would call a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they’re engaged (hide spoiler)]. I would’ve loved a farther glimpse into their future or some kind of epilogue!
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does Not have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mc - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable. I actually like escort type stories (or f-buddy to more), so this wasn’t too far out of my norm. It has 3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable. I actually like escort type stories (or f-buddy to more), so this wasn’t too far out of my norm. It has cheating — so beware those of you that have that as a hard limit. I thought the pacing felt off and the ending was not nearly enough. The conflict was resolved in the epilogue!! I thought I saw that there is an extended epilogue or a novella that goes along with this that I’m going to look for because I’m rather frustrated with how little of closure we actually got. However, I would recommend this for anyone that likes a forbidden romance with an significant age gap that has no problem with cheating.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Aubrey and James’s story. Aubrey is a struggling college senior that cares for her elderly grandmother financially. When her best friend and roommate offer her a chance to make obscene amounts of money quickly, she takes her up on the offer and becomes a high end escort. Three clients in and she meets James and she cannot forget him. They connect instantly and James starts a strong pursuit of Aubrey. There are some major road blocks in their way, lots of lies being told And revealed, and some hot sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This was told in Aubrey’s POV. I think it would’ve been nice to get some of James POV to understand his feelings a little more tbh.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. It felt slow at first, it picked up, and then ended abruptly. It was also pretty long, so I think it could’ve been edited better (at least the beginning) tbh.
Instalove: Kind of. Instant connection but not really the fluffy instalove that I find annoying.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. James. I liked him. He was pretty hot and I liked how he cared for the h.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Aubrey. I liked her. She was kind of a mess at times and it did really bother me how she dealt with the Daniel situation though.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed a few tears but no tissues were needed.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[The h pushes away and I’d say that the H is the main pursuer of the relationship. (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. Some bondage, spanking and light D/s dynamics.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ They both are with other people and this causes jealousy (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes (view spoiler)[ There are a few scenes with the h and OM (one including the H in a threesome) (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated a few times shortly and one time for ~2 years. For the short separations they both were with other partners and it isn’t specified about during the long separation (though it is hinted that they weren’t with anyone else) (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes *BIG SPOILERS* (view spoiler)[Prostitution (on page), mfm threesome (on page), the H is married and the father to the h’s best friend and roommate (on page), loss of a loved one to cancer (on page), and the H is 52 while the h is 21. (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ended too abruptly for my tastes and with what I would call a HFN ending. I think there’s another book to give us better closure that has already been released.
Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with the h and OM - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does have a few separations between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: Wow! Thanks for the rec MojoMama! This was just what I like — but it is not something that will work for many readers. It ad 4 Stars
Overall Opinion: Wow! Thanks for the rec MojoMama! This was just what I like — but it is not something that will work for many readers. It addresses the ugly parts of love and all those grey areas that I couldn’t possibly claim to understand unless I was in these character’s shoes. I always enjoy books that push me out of the fluffy box a lot of books are stuck in to make me think of these type of stories as beautiful regardless! They feel real. Real relationships and love isn’t always unicorns and rainbows! Please read my spoilers if you have particular triggers (such as cheating), because as I said before — this probably isn’t for you! But! If you like the messy love stories like I do, this might be a winner for you!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Callie and Austen’s story. Callie has been Austen’s standing Sunday appointment for a couple months when he has collected enough money and decides he wants more from her. He never expected to catch feelings from one of the women he was sleeping with for money, but he couldn’t resist Callie. Callie is trapped in a sad life that is getting even more difficult because her grown sons are all moving away. There are some huge roadblocks and baggage they both have to work through, some hot sexy times, and some sad moments...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Callie and Austen’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, but some feelings were already being developed when this book begins.
H (Hero) rating: 4.5 stars. Austen. I really liked him! He was a mess when we first meet him but he quickly starts to become a better man for both his son and for Callie. I loved how he loved them both.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Callie. I liked her. I appreciated how she was loyal (yes, I do mean that! ...more
Overall Opinion: I read other reviews and found that the general consensus was that this was smut with "more". I agree to certain extent. I wa 3 Stars
Overall Opinion: I read other reviews and found that the general consensus was that this was smut with "more". I agree to certain extent. I was looking for a fluffy, sexy read after a downer read -- and I got it. I did good in that I wasn't really expecting much out of that "more" and wasn't disappointed. While I think it had some story along with the hot scenes, I don't think it really was that deep of a story. I haven't read many "daddy" dynamic books, so I was a little unsure about that going in. But don't let the title fool you -- I thought that that dynamic was really minimal, and it was more about him being considered a sugar daddy (though "daddy" is thrown out a few times in a few of the sex scenes). It was instalove with a jerk-type hero that becomes sweet for the h along with some suspenseful scenes thrown in -- I'm sure it'll be a win for many readers!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Ciara and Misha's story. Ciara has found herself in a bad situation after her parents death where she owes a criminal a lot of money that they stole from him. Ciara's experience is the final straw for Misha and his psycho brother, so he decides to help her and the only way he and his PA figure he can do that is to become her sugar daddy. They have a rocky first "date", but soon both of them realize that they really want each other. There are some suspenseful scenes, some hot sexy times, and a few sweet moments...and they get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between Ciara and Misha's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end -- which felt rushed. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise.
Instalove: Yes. They seem to jump into stronger feelings and I felt like they missed some steps in between 🤷🏻♀️
H rating: 4 stars. Misha. I liked him. He was kind of a jerk at first for sure, but he soon revealed himself as the sweet-on-the-inside-jerk-on-the-outside type H that I always seem to enjoy.
h rating: 3 stars. Ciara. I struggled with her at the end. Otherwise, I appreciated her strength and how she rolled with the punches.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ The h pushes away towards the end so much that it made me struggle with her character, and I'd say that the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (though the h initiates the first few sex scenes) (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. (view spoiler)[They do refer to the H as "daddy" in dirty talk during sex, but it is minimal and it's not like an act/scene that they play out (hide spoiler)]
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No, once they start their arrangement they continue it.
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ Loss of parents (off page), violence/murder (on page), and the H is ~20 years older than the h (42/22). (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This had closure for the h's career goals and that they are going to be together, but other than that I felt like there were a lot of unanswered questions. I also didn't like that the epilogue was fully devoted to a side character and setting up the next book. I would call this a HFN ending.
Safety: This one is probably either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences. (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does Not have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: It seem like I'm actually similar in my GR friends for once! I had p 3.5 Stars (Originally Read 12/29/2018)
3 Stars (Re-Read 6/8/2023)
Overall Opinion: It seem like I'm actually similar in my GR friends for once! I had put this series off because of the whole "ghosts and reincarnation" aspect. I am a Kristen Ashley fan, but I wasn't too sure about going that far with her (and also since I haven't had much success with pnr in the past). But! After big success in the fantasy series, and especially The Golden Dynasty, I thought I needed to give it a try. I'm glad I did. The pnr aspect isn't too overwhelming, and I thought that it was more focused on the romance tbh! Just what I like! Am I going to put this in my favorites shelf? No (mainly because of the H and the epilogue). But...I'm glad I gave it a shot, I enjoyed it, and I'll definitely be looking into the other books in the series.
Re-Read Note: I find myself in a book funk lately and thought I'd give KA a shot to get me out of it with one of the other books of hers that I enjoyed (and not one of the 4ish that I re-read all the time). This was enjoyable, but I don't think it helped my funk. Either the funk is effecting how I enjoyed it or I just didn't enjoy it as much this time 'round. It was just alright. I didn't get emotional or really all that invested. I lowered my rating -- but please don't get me wrong! I didn't hate it or anything! I think I'm just hard to please these days or something ...more
Overall Opinion: This was a fun, sexy, light read. It had a good bit of ex drama, but it was pretty low angst in the long run. I enjoyed it 3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was a fun, sexy, light read. It had a good bit of ex drama, but it was pretty low angst in the long run. I enjoyed it for what it was, but I wasn't really expecting anything super deep and meaningful. We do get a little deeper into the characters, but I wanted more. I also wanted a little bit more of them spending time together that wasn't just sex. Yes, the scenes were hot -- but I wanted to watch them connect more on an emotional level. Overall, an enjoyable read but not going on my favorites shelf.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Nikki and Shane's story. They have know each other for years and secretly crushed on one another for just as long since their best friends are married. Nikki is fed up with her ex showing up and trying to rekindle things, and when she finds out that Shane is facing the same situation she suggests that they pose a fake relationship to get them off their backs. She also proposes that they start a no-strings-attached sexual relationship along with the fake relationship for everyone else. The more time they spend together, the more they are unable to stop stronger feelings from developing and they fall in love. There is some ex drama, some hot sexy times, and a few funny scenes...and they get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between Nikki and Shane's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed, and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H rating: 3 stars. Shane. I liked him for the most part until their big conflict where he bugged me a bit with his lack of communication.
h rating: 3.5 stars. Nikki. I appreciated her sweetness and her loyalty.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[Both the h and H push away and also pursue the relationship at times. (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes (view spoiler)[ D/s dynamics with some light bondage and spanking (hide spoiler)]
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ Both the h and H have exes that are around and cause drama for the couple. (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No (see Trigger spoiler below).
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated a couple times shortly (days?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during these times. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[The H was a stripper before h and still dances on his bar on occasion with keeping clothes on (there is one scene in the epilogue where he exposes his naked butt and part of his cock to a bar full of women with the h), cheating by both of their exes (off page), the h's ex was verbally abusive (mostly off page), and both of them have crazy exes with stalking tendencies (on page). (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This had an abrupt ending with what I would call a HFN ending. I wanted more! Why not give us a bigger glimpse into their future as a healthy, happy, committed couple?! (view spoiler)[Epilogue is a year later and they're still just dating (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the the h and H pushing away - Does have a couple short separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: I saw this as a KA standalone book that I hadn't read before, and I k3.5 Stars (Originally Read 10/9/2018)
3 Stars (Re-Read 6/28/2020)
Overall Opinion: I saw this as a KA standalone book that I hadn't read before, and I knew I had to get on it! Does it measure up to the standalones in my favorite Colorado Mountain series of hers?! Not quite. It was still enjoyable though. I like the cowboy type story every once in a while, so this also fed that craving. The main characters were likable, the side characters were great, the connection to each other was spot on...but something just felt a little off. I don't even know how to pinpoint it tbh. I just didn't get that feeling that it would go on my mental "to re-read" list that I sometimes get after I finish a book of hers. Didn't hate it, but didn't love it either -- a little better than 3 "just okay" stars for me.
Re-Read Update: This was way too slow for my liking. It had a ton of time jumps and just didn’t hold my attention like I was hoping. I’m dropping my rating to 3 “just okay” stars because overall I just felt kind of meh about it ...more
Overall Opinion: If you follow my reviews, you know that I have a son with Asperger's Syndrome. This is one of the reasons I was excited abo 3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: If you follow my reviews, you know that I have a son with Asperger's Syndrome. This is one of the reasons I was excited about this book, but weary about it as well. It also had a TON of hype surrounding it. I often find myself in the minority when a book gets a lot of hype, and it's rather frustrating! I'm happy I read it, I enjoyed most of it, but I didn't love it. No huge shocker there! The h?! I really liked her. I related to her and I thought that it was a good representation of those on the aspie side of the spectrum. Granted, not all individuals on the spectrum are alike -- hence the "spectrum". The insecurities and misplacement of guilt for the H bothered me though. It was a situation that really had me torn tbh, because on one hand he was perfect for the h but on the other his inner thoughts about himself drove me mad! The ending was also frustrating in that I didn't feel like I got enough closure or that the conflict was resolved all that well. Otherwise, it was an enjoyable read and I'm glad I read it. 🤗
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Stella and Michael's story. Stella has Asperger's Syndrome and struggles with social situations, so when a coworker suggests she practice sex in order to lure men in she takes that advice and hires an escort. Michael is struggling with his self identity, his family, and his sick mother and he is working as an escort to help pay the bills. They hit it off instantly and Stella ends up proposing that Michael helps her with her "practice" even though he never does repeat sessions. He agrees because he is intrigued by Stella and wants to help her. There are some dramatic scenes, some cute moments, some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between focusing mainly on Stella and Michael in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: It felt slow at the beginning, and I did skim some. But then it picked up, and I thought it flowed well. The ending felt too abrupt for my liking though (see closure section below).
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H rating: 3.5 stars. Michael. I really liked him for the h. I did, however, get frustrated with his internal battles.
h rating: 4.5 stars. Stella. I love my aspies! She was quirky but sweet.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I teared up a few times, but it might be because of my own personal connection to the h and her disorder. I never needed any tissues.
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes (view spoiler)[There is a OM at the h's work that pursues her and causes some drama, and there isn't also an ex client of the H that shows up a few times and causes drama. (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No (view spoiler)[The h and H both get kissed by other people without their consent, but both also stop it once it happens. (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated for a few weeks (I think?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[The h has Asperger's Syndrome (high functioning autism), and the H is an escort (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This had one of those endings where the conflict was resolved and then it jumps right into the epilogue. I get rather frustrated with this, because I think there needs to be some more time with them working out said conflict and establishing their HEA. I would call this a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they're engaged (hide spoiler)].
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences. (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the H and h pushing away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
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