rjordan19's reviews
954 reviews

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. 

 

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 

 

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...) 

 

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) 
 

 

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 

 

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 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: Very soon in, about 1%
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 5 months later
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: I recently finished book 2, Rebel Love, and decided to dive into this story right away.
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine

Should I read in order?
It’s probably best in order, because so many of the characters are overlapping...but the romance itself stands alone.

Basic plot:
Heath is looking for a bride and can’t seem to keep his hands off Tia.

Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian – 1882
- house party
- widow heroine
- compromised heroine
- Duke hero
- artist hero
- instalust
- he’ll carry you when you injure your foot
- some other woman/other man elements
- he will, ahem, warm you in the abandoned cabin when you’re cold
- higher steam – 7 full scenes plus some kisses

Ages:
- heroine is 25, didn’t see hero mentioned

First line:
If there was one thing in the world that Tia, Lady Stokey, adored, it was parties.

My thoughts:
I am really struggling with this series and I’m a bit sad. The first book just had a bunch of stuff I personally get annoyed with. The second book I enjoyed the first half, but the second half again went to a bunch of stuff I didn’t love. This one...I guess it just didn’t have much tension for me which is what I live for in romance and I ended up not really liking either main character much, so that really dwindled my enjoyment.

I think if you’re looking for a fast faced, steamy read with an angsty ending (with some elements of other man and other woman woven in) then this will work great for you!

Some specific details about why this didn’t work for me -

Struggle summary – I was bored. There’s major instalust here and they fall into sex pretty fast. They keep doing it repeatedly, get caught and forced into marriage. But then, the hero all of sudden can’t be ‘sniffing around her skirts’ and spending so much time with her so he’s rather cold to her. Why? He was up her butt the entire house party but now that they are married he can’t be? Didn’t make sense to me. Then the animosity grew between them as he kept himself closed off from her and she kept pushing boundaries and not listening to his wishes. I ended up not liking either of them. I felt like the hero was mean for no reason and the heroine didn’t respect the hero and it was hurtful and frustrating to read. 

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 4
Average rating:
Favorite book: Her Errant Earl

Quotes

“Ah ha,” she called out in delight. “I’ve found you now, you little minx.”
But her moment of triumph was terribly abridged, for the noise-making culprit, seated on a bench before her, was not Miss Whitney. Nor, in fact, was it even a female. Quite the opposite.
Dear heavens. Eyes the same wistful color as a summer sky met hers, stealing her breath. She stopped, her heart thumping as madly as a runaway stallion’s hooves. The man staring back at her, an open book in his large hands, a golden brow raised, was decidedly as far as one could get from the petite, Virginia-born Miss Whitney.
“I daresay I’ve been called a great number of things in my life, but never yet a little minx,” drawled the Duke of Devonshire as he stood and bowed to her.
---
“I’m sure I shall regret this in the morning, but I’m in the mood to be wicked tonight.”
It was all he needed to hear. He grabbed her hand in his before she could change her mind. “Let’s be wicked together.”

 

Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- brief mention of a somewhat unpleasant marriage
- minor alcohol usage
- the hero does tie the heroine to the bed (and fucks her) but then leaves her tied for like an hour, alone
- death of a fiance remembered

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? 

  There is a child side character that’s a teenager (the heroine is kind of her companion – the girl is the daughter of a friend) and the heroine gets pregnant at the end of the story 

7% - kisses
16% - 🔥 kisses that eventually lead to bj for him (incomplete), oral for her, missionary
”Open your legs for me,” he said, part command, part request. It was his turn to ply sensual torture, and he’d never wanted anything more in his life than he wanted to make Tia come on his tongue.

26% - kiss
34% - 🔥 kisses, missionary in the abandoned cabin

“Tia.” His voice was low, seductive and rough, at once whiskey and silk to her senses.
He was warning her, she knew. If she pushed him one inch more, he’d fall off the ledge and take her with him. “Heath,” she returned, enjoying his name on her tongue. “I don’t think I want you to be noble just now.”

42% - kiss
47% - 🔥 kisses, missionary

“Good. I want you on fire for me, darling. Naked and wet and hungry.” Dear, sweet God. The things he did to her. He hadn’t even kissed her mouth yet, for heaven’s sake, and she was already quivering, a wanton woman in his arms.

63% - 🔥 he ties her to the bed, fingering for her, missionary

He caught her with his teeth, lightly tugging. “At last, silence,” he said against her skin. “It would seem I’ve discovered the way to keep you quiet.”
He sank a finger inside her to the hilt.

69% - 🔥 blow job (incomplete), missionary

“I thought you were determined to finish painting,” she said, and though her tone was mild, her voice was breathless.
It would seem he wasn’t the only one affected. He caught her hand and pressed it to the demanding ridge of his cock. “Does it feel as if I want to paint at the moment?”
Her eyes darkened, her fingers working on the fastenings of his trousers. “No.”

75% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her, missionary
She stroked him, knowing by now just what he liked.
“Damn it, woman.” He shucked his trousers, divested her of her chemise and swept her into his arms before carrying her to the bed dominating the far side of the room.
88% - 🔥 kisses, sex against the wall
”I would never ask that of you, Heath. I’m yours.” She caressed her jaw, eager to touch him now that he was back in her life. The last few days had been interminable. She had missed him so very much.
He crushed her against him, his mouth swooping perilously near to hers. “Say it again.” 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (These scenes were a bit light compared to her later work)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine (and a brief section from the heroine’s mother)
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: very soon in, about 2%
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, a few months later?
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: It was our book of the month in Upturned Petticoats and Undone Cravats group on FB – I read book 1 awhile ago because I wanted to start chronologically with Scott’s work so I was looking to continue the series!
Mains: This a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine

Should I read in order?
This might be all right out of order, but the events of book 1 happen concurrently in the first part of the book and then the mains of book 1 do have a decent amount of page time so I think it’s best in order!

Basic plot:
Lady Bella wants Mr Whitney, but her mother demands no less than a coronet….

Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian – 1880
- bespectacled, book loving heroine
- brother’s best friend
- house party
- ex-soldier hero
- English heroine / American hero – he’s from Virginia
- longing – from both!
- hero has dimples
- age gap – he’s older by 15 years
- overcoming parental objection
- medium steam – 3ish full scenes. They are explicit enough but definitely light in language compared to her later works

Ages:
- heroine is 21, hero is around 36

First line:
Maman wanted to marry her off.

My thoughts:
So – I LOVED the first half of this book. I thought it was so cute and I am a fool for any kind of longing that goes unrewarded...it’s not really unrequited since it’s on both sides haha. And I loved so many scenes, and found so many quotes I adored…

But then about halfway through, it switched and I just didn’t like it anymore. It went to tropes I really dislike. They had a separation. A lack of communication. (view spoiler) And I was just annoyed with both of these mains. It didn’t get better for me and eventually I just wanted it over with.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of book 1 for similar reasons. But I plan on continuing this series. Eventually I want to read all of Scotts work – I read one from her later series and really loved it so I get these earlier novels might not work for me. I do think they will work for most people though. The writing is fine – it’s more the busier plot that got to me and some tropes I just don’t love….

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 3
Average rating: 3.67
Favorite book: Her Errant Earl

Endearments

The hero calls the heroine ‘darling’. 

Quotes

She attempted a smile she could not quite feel. “You have been a boon, truly.”
“You would call your own mother a baboon? Dear Lord, how am I to find a husband for an uncouth girl such as this?”
Her mother addressed the ceiling of the carriage as if she were having a direct audience with the Lord Himself.
Bella would dearly have liked to offer some choice words of her own on the matter, but she wisely refrained. Instead, she counted to five in her head, took a supporting breath, and attempted to correct the dowager. “Maman, I said you’ve been a boon, not a baboon.”
---
She was a parsnip in reverse, she’d decided some time ago. Thick skin on the inside, sweet and soft on the outside. She preferred it that way, for then, everyone underestimated her.
---
“Am I in danger?”
Her fingers wandered from his jaw to his mouth, so manly yet firm. His breath was warm as it fanned against her skin. His eyes fastened upon hers. “Yes,” he said simply, and then she was in his arms.
---
“Think nothing of it,” she repeated his careless words, her tone grown cool. “You say it as though we were discussing nothing more than a speck of dust on the family silver. You kissed me, held me in your arms. Surely it is of more consequence to you than that.”
His eyes flashed with dark emotion. For a moment, his gentleman’s mask slipped to reveal passion hidden beneath his imperturbable facade.
---
Bella couldn’t help but notice how broad and muscular his chest was, dappled with whorls of blond hair. His stomach was taut as a drum. Her mouth went dry. He’d been stripped of his gentleman’s airs. He seemed savage, filled with raw emotion. An answering heat burst into flame inside her. She rather liked the stranger in his place who looked at her as if he wanted to devour her.
A feral grin curved his lips. “It isn’t a friend I’m in need of, Bella,”
She knew she should not ask, but she had never been very good at doing as she ought. “What is it you need?”
He stopped inches from her. “You have by the time I count to fifteen to get out.” Even as he spoke the words, he reached out to caress her waist with a possessiveness he’d never before shown.
Without her corset’s rigid barrier, she could feel his large hands splaying over her, the power and heat so barely contained. Bella took a deep breath and cupped his face. “I won’t leave you,” she vowed.
“One,” he muttered, already working at the double line of buttons on her bodice. “Two.”
Her body was on fire with longing. She wanted very much to kiss him, to comfort him. To make him whole. “Jesse,” she whispered, emboldened enough by the intimacy of the setting to use his given name. “You needn’t exercise your knowledge of arithmetic on my behalf.”
“Fifteen,” he skipped ahead.
---
A warm sensation of victory stirred within her. “You want me?”
He caught her hand in his and pressed it between them, allowing her to feel the ridge of his cock. She gasped, stunned that he would be so bold with a ballroom of guests not far away but nonetheless eager.
 

Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- heroine slaps the hero
- hero has some PTSD about the war
- hero is recovering from a hurtful relationship 15 years ago – she betrayed him and it resulted in him being shot
- hero had the existence of his child kept from him for 15 years
- illness and death on page
- the heroine kisses someone else after she’s been with the hero (its consensual...she thinks she was abandoned)
- pregnancy happens on page
- heroine has a miscarriage – the event happens off page, but the aftermath is on page and her grief
- there is a brief mention of the possibility of an abortion
Author content warnings? Didn’t see any

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:

Safe sex: 

  Nope 

How’s the consent? 

  It’s good 

Pregnancy/children in story? 

  Yes. The heroine falls pregnant in the story, but loses the baby (the aftermath is on page) and the hero discovers he has a child from a prior relationship and becomes her guardian about ½ way through the book 

7% - kiss
11% - kiss
20% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her
She shivered, aroused to be on display to him, to watch his eyes worship her. And then he buried his face between her legs.

30% - kisses
31% - 🔥 kisses, oral for her, missionary

“Hush, darling,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the side of her breast. He looked up at her and grinned, his dimple flashing for a moment. “You must be as quiet as you can or else we’ll have the dowager storming in to rescue you from this horrid American.”

56% - kiss with the heroine and another man
71% - kisses
78% - kisses
81% - 🔥 handy to bj (incomplete), missionary
”Do I meet with your approval?” she asked innocently.
“Christ yes,” he said on a groan, rising to his feet and surging toward her.
She stopped him with a staying hand on his chest. “No you don’t. It’s my turn now.” 

 

Overall: 2.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: A bit – definitely plenty of frenemies banter
Perspective: Third person from the heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? fast
When mains are first on page together: immediately
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happy for now
Epilogue: Not really, but they do arrive at the holiday get together at the end
Format: read an e-book through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: I loved book 1 of this series, Holiday Games and always meant to come back to finish the series!
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 the series is kind of happening concurrently as they are heading towards the holiday get together during a winter storm.

Basic plot:
Olivia and Henry are snowed in at the hotel during a blizzard before their Friendsmas event.

Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- best friend’s brother
- snowed in
- one bed at the hotel
- hero is a cardiothoracic surgical resident
- hairstylist heroine
- holiday romance
- enemies to lovers vibes – not true enemies but definite animosity banter between them
- shorter novel
- medium steam – 2 scenes within a shorter page count

Ages:
- both mains are 33

First line:
Olivia Couper sucked on the minty loop of a miniature candy cane.

My thoughts:
Maybe my expectations were too high for this one, because I enjoyed the first book so, so much. But I didn’t like this one much. It was more of a ‘enemies to lovers’ feel with prior hook ups and it felt like they were just left with bickering and animosity.

I liked the hints of unrequited longing from the hero, but overall I didn’t like much about this story except the sex. Which was great. 😆
I think if you love animosity between your mains, and that back and forth banter you will enjoy this one a lot more than me and should give it a try!

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 3
Average rating: 4 stars
Favorite book: Holiday Games

Quotes

She threw a packet of salt and vinegar chips at Henry. “Since you’re so fucking salty and sour all the time.”
He sat at the end of the bed, bag of chips on his lap. “I actually do like these.”
She watched him with furtive interest as Henry fiddled with his car keys, working the jagged end into the cork of the bottle of wine he’d brought back.
“What kind of wine is that?” she asked.
“Pinot Noir.”
“Hmm. My favorite kind.”
Henry glanced up, his forearm muscles tensed and veins bulged down to his wrist as the cork popped out. “Yeah, I’m aware.”
 

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:

 
Safe sex: 

  Heroine is on birth control, but he doesn’t pull out or use condoms 

 
How’s the consent? 

  It’s good 

 
Pregnancy/children in story? 

  No children or pregnancy or talk of future children 

 
40% - remembrance of a prior hook up handy for him (short)
69% - 🔥 sex against the wall in the hotel room
85% - 🔥 oral/fingering for her 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: a touch
Perspective: first person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? fast
When mains are first on page together: very soon in
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, one year later, plus a second epilogue that previews Winston’s story, which is book 5 in the series
Format: read an e-book version through kindle unlimited
Why I chose this book: I started this series awhile ago. I love Jemma Frost’s historicals and wanted to try her contemporaries (under this name). I was looking through my KU checkouts and decided to read the next in this series.
Mains: This is a M/F relationship
(Descriptions found at end of my review)

Should I read in order?
I don’t think it’s necessary! This one really is fine to dive into alone – but this series all happens in the same small town.

Basic plot:
Shannon feels something is off in her engagement, and it’s solidified when she gets heart sparks at her first meeting with Cole.

Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- small town setting (Suitor’s Crossing)
- fated mates vibes – this series features couples that get ‘heart sparks’ that mean they’re your soul mate
- shorter story
- bridal boutique owning heroine
- plus size heroine
- mountain main hero
- instalust/love
- dirty talking hero
- medium steam – 2 full scenes in a shot page count

Ages:
- didn’t catch them (would guess late 20s, early 30s?)

First line:
“Congratulations, you’re going to be a beautiful bride.”

My thoughts:
This is a short and steamy instalove story that was pretty fun! It starts with an uncertain engagement, and ends with a surprising HEA…

These are very short, so you don’t get a lot of character depth. I liked this one overall – loved the idea of finding your soul mate at the perfect time. I do find I don’t get much tension in this series though, because the heart sparks make everyone all in from that moment forward haha.

So, those wanting short and steamy and don’t mind some instalove will love this whole series – but especially this addition to it.

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 4 by Bennett (10 if I include her Jemma Frost pen name)
Average rating: 4.5 (4.6 if I include her Jemma Frost pen name)
Favorite book: Protected by the Mountain Man (buuuut probably Earls Prize Curves if I include her Jemma Frost pen name)

Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- possible feelings of infidelity – the heroine is engaged to someone else when she meets the hero and gets feeling
- heroine calls to break the engagement off and finds out her fiance was cheating on her

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:

 
Safe sex: 

  no 

 
How’s the consent? 

  it’s good 

 
Pregnancy/children in story? 

  no children or pregnancy here! 

 
39% - fingering for her, sex against the wall with the risk of people coming over
82% - oral for her, missionary 

 

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, it’s so cute and sweet and funny
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: immediate
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after for the couple
Epilogue: Yes (maybe a few months in the future?)
Format: read an e-book version that was received for free through a bookfunnel link through the author (check her website!)
Why I chose this book: I saw it either in Nicki Pascarella’s newsletter or instagram post and I love me some novellas right now haha. And I am going to be reading Charlotte’s Kisses and Victoria’s Whispers soon so I thought it might be a good one to dive into with the series.
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine

Should I read in order?
I picked this one up alone and it’s fine! I think it’s a prequel to the Rakes, Rogues, and Scoundrels series which I am going to read soon!

Basic plot:
After a disastrous almost meet-cute, Alexander can’t stop thinking about Emily. Luck is on his side when they are both attending a masquerade ball and he can rekindle their spark.

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1818
- Marquess hero
- bookish heroine
- hero is pretty ‘all in’ from the get go!
- he keeps her glove…
- masquerade
- shorter story
- medium steam - 2 full scenes in a shorter book

Ages:
- heroine is about 24, didn’t see hero mentioned

First line:
The rude man in the fancy tailcoat and embroidered waistcoat snatched Emily Coldpepper’s book right out from under her, even though the volume had been sitting on Mr. Mendling’s shelf, collecting dust, for almost a year.

My thoughts:
This novella was so cute and fun. I knew after the first chapter I was going to enjoy this one!

This novella is adorable and playful and oh so sweet. I loved the mains. Alexander is protective and gentle. And Emily is a hoot. This made me so eager to read book 1 of the series, Charlotte’s Kisses – she’s a minor side character here. And I thought it was funny how Alexander is so against their match.

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 6
Average rating: 4.83
Favorite book: Oof – maybe this one so far??

Endearments

The hero calls her ‘kitten’. 

Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- there is an evil villain stepmother featuring scenes of abuse, remembered abuse, and implied and on page sexual harassment of the hero by her
- domestic abuse on page – the hero’s stepmother slaps him multiple times
- mention of an ailing parent (hero’s father)

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:

Safe sex: 

  No 

How’s the consent? 

  It’s good between the mains 

Pregnancy/children in story? 

  No children or pregnancy on page for the mains, but the alluded to future with children 

67% - 🔥fondling by the mirror, fingering for her, missionary
Hungry, nay starving, he nipped at her shoulder. His lips brushed her ear, her scent intoxicating. “Emily, do you want me to stop?”
“No. Oh, no.”
“Are you - “
Before he could finish his question, she spun to face him, her shaky fingers grabbing at his buttons. Apparently, she was as sure as he was, and he was completely and utterly convinced.

90% - 🔥epilogue sex – oral for her, desk sex with light spanking
“Do you want to do it with me?” she asked.
God, yes. “I want to do a million indecent things with you and only you.” He held his breath, waiting to see if he’d horrified her. But he had to be honest, didn’t he?
She hopped off the desk.
Damn, he’d pushed too hard, and now she was running away.
Grinning mischievously, she slipped around to the front of the desk. She braced her elbows on the surface. Leaning forward, she winked as she wriggled her arse.