#TBRChallenge2022 – Post #5

23rd May 202222nd May 2022 Louise H4 Comments

The Lady (Dirty Heroes Collection #15)
by Golden Angel

Set in Victorian times, The Lady is an erotic historical romance. It’s been on my e-reader since the 28th March 2020 but just never quite made its way to the top of the TBR pile.

Whilst this wasn’t a terrible read, there wasn’t particularly any plot to speak of and there were quite a few typos and misplaced words. I do not tend to notice editing issues so it tells you something that I did in this one.

The focus very much was on the smut and if you’re ok with that then I do recommend it as it’s pretty good quality filth. I found the two main characters pleasant enough, though for the life of me I couldn’t tell Tramp’s two henchmen apart. It’s a fairly kinky read and includes both spanking, humiliation and some scenes of dubious consent. The latter doesn’t bother me, as a rule, but what DID specifically earn my ire was the author victim-blaming the heroine!

Early on there is a scene where Henry (Tramp) stripped Delilah and molested/groped her without consent. This wasn’t a problem. The heroine “boxed” Henry’s ears in response so he started to spank Delilah. Again not a problem. As she was laid over his knee, Delilah considers how she was out of order to physically assault Tramp, even though it was provoked by his behaviour/assault. That wasn’t ok with me. It felt as though the author was gaslighting the heroine 😂. The “hero” can do what he likes but if the heroine fights back she is out of order and needs punishing? Bull-crap.

I did manage to lay that early annoyance to one side and enjoyed the rest of the book. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a hot, naughty, quick read.

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51862744-the-lady

Genre – Historical Romance

Synopsis – To stay safe in a world she’s never known, this lady will pay a steep price…
Adored. Cherished. Pampered. Lady Delilah Darling lives an enviable life. But when cruel hands drive her away from home and into the dangerous streets of London, she’s suddenly frightened, vulnerable, and alone. Desperate for safety, Lady Delilah stumbles right into the arms of Henry Gaunt, the irresistible overlord of the London Underground.
Known as The Tramp to his contemporaries, Henry rules his dark world with both charm and violence, bending the willing and breaking all others. Intent on claiming the newly fallen Lady Delilah for his own, Henry offers her protection for a price. Now Delilah is leashed. Claimed. Mastered. And as she accepts her fate as The Tramp’s pet, she’s left with one question: will she also be loved?

Overall Rating

Plot ❤ ❤ 🤍 🤍 🤍
Characters ❤ ❤ ❤ 🤍 🤍
World Building ❤ ❤ ❤ 🤍 🤍
Writing ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ 🤍
Heat Level 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥

#BookReview #Fantasy #YA #TheThief

12th May 20227th May 2022 Louise H7 Comments

The Thief
The Queen’s Thief #1
Megan Whalen Turner

This book wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it even more than I thought I would! Gen is a rather cocksure youth but perhaps justifiably so and he certainly had that air of infallibility that so often comes with being a teenager. His “voice” is incredibly entertaining and I very much enjoyed seeing the story directly through his eyes.

The Thief managed to surprise me plenty, even when I’d guessed one twist the plot then twisted again in another totally unexpected way. The prose and plot had me riveted, desperately needing to know what would happen next and being unable to put the book down. The moment I rather sadly turned the last page, because goodness me I was not ready to leave the world just yet, I wanted to immediately jump into the next book.

I loved the world MWT created, had it been artwork it would perhaps have been more Claude Monet than Michelangelo, but it included everything I need to know to understand the characters, the quest, the dangers, the politics and the people. All of that detail was cleverly woven throughout the story, absorbing it almost without realising it was present.

I would write more but the longer I’m here the longer I’m NOT out adventuring with Gen, and I know where I’d rather be and what I’d rather be doing!

Overall Rating

Plot ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Characters ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
World Building ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Writing ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Epic Fantasy

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59729607-the-thief

Synopsis
Eugenides, the queen’s thief, can steal anything – or so he says. Then his boasting lands him in the king’s prison, and his chances of escape look slim.
So when the king’s magus invites him on a seemingly impossible quest to steal a legendary object and win back his freedom, Gen in no position to refuse.
The magus has plans for his king and his country. Gen has plans of his own . . .

Book Review · Romantic Suspense

#BookReview #RomanticSuspense #UN-breakable

11th May 20227th May 2022 Louise HLeave a comment

UN-Breakable
by S.K. Lessner

Dark? Well, the heroine is kidnapped to be trained as a sex slave but nearly all of this is off-page. She is also beaten in one scene so there is that to bear in mind, but the vast majority of the book didn’t have that sense of imminent danger, or of psychological trauma, or of non-consensual acts that make a book feel dark to me.

My personal description would be that this story is a gritty, romantic suspense similar to the more realistic mafia and M.C. romances on the market. There is a major focus on character and relationship development, so even though it didn’t give me the thrill of anxiety I get from a very dark book, I soon became captivated by this story. Gwen and Nick were likeable, believable individuals who captured my heart long with my attention. Whilst Nick is a man who does bad things, he has a good heart underneath it all and towards the end of the book, we learn just how he became tangled in this spider’s web of evil and corruption. In many ways he is just as much a victim as Gwen, both of them renewed and improved by the healing power of their love.

So, not a book I’d recommend as a dark read, but certainly one I’d recommend for the romance between the two protagonists.

Overall Rating

Plot ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ 🤍
Characters ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
World Building ❤ ❤ ❤ 🤍 🤍
Writing ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Heat Level 🔥 🔥 🔥

Contemporary Romance

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35076593-un-breakable

Synopsis
Kidnapped, tortured, and now a slave, Gwen focused on ways to survive while she waited for an opportunity to escape. She’d planned on being in New York after graduating, starting a new life, and making her dreams come true. But all that was stolen from her one fateful night. With another scratch on the wall to signify the number of days, she knew her time was running out. She would either leave this place alive or die
She’d planned on being in New York after graduating, starting a new life, and making her dreams come true. But all that was stolen from her one fateful night. With another scratch on the wall to signify the number of days, she knew her time was running out. She would either leave this place alive or die trying.
Nick’s debt to an infamous drug lord had finally been paid off. He had plans to move away, start over, and live a peaceful life. But when he comes face to face with an imprisoned sex slave, everything changes. No longer concerned with his own welfare, Nick makes a deal with his boss that’ll change everyone’s life.

But will it be in time to save the girl?

Un-Breakable. The story of two tormented souls who find comfort and healing in one another only to have it ripped away once again.

BDSM · Book Review · Historical

#BookReview #HistoricalRomance #GoldenAngel

30th Apr 202230th Apr 2022 Louise H4 Comments

A Season for Smugglers
Deception and Discipline, #3
by Golden Angel

This is the first book I’ve read from this series, so I would state that it can be read standalone. Clever writing meant that I was provided all the details necessary to understand the story arc that spans all four books without it feeling like an information dump. A Season for Smugglers is a historical romance containing scenes of an adult nature, including some spanking and BDSM activity.

The author manages to convey a historical feel to the story through dialogue, social expectations and world-building. Her characters are eminently likeable, complex and realistically imperfect. and I soon found myself falling in love with both Nathan and Lily. There is a good cast of supporting characters who provided extra colour to the reading experience.

The story moves along at a good pace and it held my attention from start to finish. Whilst I would have preferred a little more depth I still very much enjoyed the book and am intrigued enough that I’m planning on reading the rest of the series.

Overall Rating

Plot ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ 🤍
Characters ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ 🤍
World Building ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ 🤍
Writing ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ 🤍
Heat Level 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥

Historical Romance

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58721588-a-season-for-smugglers

Synopsis
Will his daring debutante rescue reveal the traitor to the crown?
Lily Davies’ first—and final, if she has anything to say about it—Season in London is mercifully coming to an end. Exhausted by the parade of balls, importuning gentlemen, and the endless dismissal of her suspicions about a certain captain, Lily wants nothing more than to return to her quiet life of country walks and intensive study. Unfortunately for this bluestocking, she is besieged en route to Derbyshire and kidnapped by a highwayman.
In London to assist his brother, the brand new Earl of Talbot, Captain Nathan Jones is on the hunt for the traitor to the crown. But when it becomes clear that Miss Davies’ life is very much in danger, Captain Jones is dispatched to ensure the reluctant debutante travels safely. Escorting her safely home will also give him the perfect opportunity to question Miss Davies about the highly dubious gifts she’s been receiving from the French.
As Captain Jones becomes the unlikely hero to a very uncooperative damsel in distress, he quickly learns that rescuing Miss Davies is only the beginning of his troubles. One unfortunate compromise leaves this pair with no choice but to head for the altar, and the unnecessary distraction just might ruin his opportunity to uncover the identity of the traitor once and for all.

BDSM · Book Review

#BookReview #EroticRomance #JoeyWHill

27th Apr 202230th Apr 2022 Louise H2 Comments

Ice Queen / Demons
Nature of Desire #3 / #4
by Joey W. Hill

Ice Queen
This book has completely stolen my heart and I would not, could not put it down until I reached The End. The storytelling is so strong, the characters utterly captivating, the emotion soul-tearing. On reaching the last few pages, I felt as though I’d been caught up by a tsunami, tumbled around and tossed furiously by the raging waters, pummelled, battered and bruised by its deadly power. I can’t find adequate words to explain why exactly this spoke to my very soul in the way it did, all I can tell you is that when I got to the end and realised there was a part two to the story I one-clicked it immediately and without hesitation.

Some moments didn’t quite sit right with me, though somehow the author always led me eventually to a place of acceptance for them all. Tyler, a very respected and experienced Dom, ignored an agreed-upon rule, didn’t give Marguerite a way to safeword in one scene and relentlessly pushed someone who was unquestionably damaged. Each time I felt the author had let me down, had ignored the very tenets of SSC and RACK, sometimes he, but more often she (Marguerite) explained why that was the very thing needed at that moment.

A gripping story where I didn’t really ever want to like Tyler, I am #TeamMarguerite all the way. He needed to earn my approval, my trust, my regard and damn if his utter devotion to our Ice Queen Domme didn’t do just that. This is a substantial book, it had several detailed and well-described BDSM scenes to slake the thirst and fire the loins of any fellow smut lover. However, it also had a great plot and fantastic writing that took the book to another level. I really can’t recommend this one enough.

Mirror of my Soul
Having been utterly mesmerised by Marguerite and Tyler in Ice Queen I jumped straight into this book to finish their story. I loved Mirror of My Soul even more than Ice Queen, with its powerful storytelling and excellent character growth.

There were so many times the author eschewed the clichés other similar books fall into. I found myself surprised by the direction the story took on more than one occasion, the author kept her characters steady and honest in a way many others do not. My heart sang when Komal made it clear where her loyalties lay and she wasn’t immediately bowled over by Tyler. There were so many times the book danced to the beat of its own drum rather than brainlessly following the herd. That fearlessness by the author produced an amazing tale that I lived and breathed with the protagonists.

I was gladdened that Tyler accepted, explored and encouraged Marguerite’s Dominant side, that the author didn’t have this strong, independent woman become weak and simpering over a man. It made this story feel so much more realistic, so much more tenable and so much stronger as a result. Marguerite’s battles with her past, her fears and her ongoing issues held more than a ring of truth, again drawing me into the story and making me feel one with the characters.

The paranormal/”religious” aspect at the end was a little out of character with the rest of the book, but it wasn’t enough to dim my enjoyment of this wonderfully written story.

Overall Rating

Plot ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Characters ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
World Building ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Writing ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Heat Level 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥

BDSM Romance

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58696319-ice-queen

Synopsis
“Hill always brings you the beauty of the human heart, and I love her for it. She writes hope.”
They call her the Ice Queen. At the exclusive BDSM club known as The Zone, Mistress Marguerite is a legend. Tyler Winterman is her male counterpart, one of the club’s most powerful Masters. Though he respects the hell out of Dommes, he’s convinced Marguerite is a “switch,” her soul aching to submit to the right Master.
Uncovering the truth will strip their souls, revealing needs deeper than either expected. But Tyler will risk body and soul to give his troubled angel everything she needs.

Contemporary Erotic Romance

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58696337-mirror-of-my-soul

Synopsis
“…a heart wrenching look into the soul…mind blowingly awesome…”
Tyler has pushed past Marguerite’s shields, and now he faces the terrible secrets behind them. When the dangerous truth brings peril into their lives, Marguerite proves she possesses a terrifying courage that surpasses anything he’s ever witnessed.
However, her soul is far more fragile.To keep it from being shattered forever, she’ll need a Master whose strength and courage matches her own.

[Note: Mirror of My Soul is the Part Two conclusion of Tyler and Marguerite’s story, so Ice Queen is recommended as prior reading.]