The anticipation for this series is unmatched! I adore Sierra Simone’s New Camelot series, as those books were some of the first of hers I ever read. I was over the moon excited to see Sierra Simone decide to do another take on an old legend, this time the story of Tristan and Isodole. This story is definitely setting the stage for something bigger and I cannot wait to see where Sierra takes us.

I am a Sierra Simone review team member, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.

Tristan Thomas is lost. After leaving the Army, the young former soldier is in limbo. Until, that is, he’s hired by Mark Trevena, the owner of Lyonesse—DC’s ultra-secret club—to be Mark’s new bodyguard. He’s drawn into Mark’s dark, seductive world of power and desire, and slowly drawn to Mark himself, even though Mark is everything Tristan knows he shouldn’t want: cruel and wicked and shamelessly amoral.

But protecting Mark isn’t Tristan’s only duty: soon, Mark asks him to guard his soon-to-be bride as she travels home from Ireland on Mark’s yacht. Tristan is jealous—and hurt to learn that the object of his obsession is engaged—but the soldier in him is made to obey orders, and he goes to fetch Mark’s bride for him.

Isolde Laurence is nothing like Tristan expected, however. Young, quiet, and sharp, she’s being pushed into this marriage by her family, and as the two travel back to America, Tristan finds himself fascinated with Isolde and the glimpses he gets of the lonely but determined woman behind her reserve. And the fascination is mutual: one night, while sailing under the cold stars, they share a searing kiss.

From there, it’s a fast fall into the forbidden. But in Mark Trevena’s world, the fall is only the beginning…

The Lyonesse trilogy is a queer, kinky contemporary retelling of the legend of Tristan and Isolde, set in the same world as the New Camelot series. Readers will not have to read New Camelot to enjoy Lyonesse, although readers who enjoyed New Camelot will find all the things they loved about the trilogy here: MMF ménage, plenty of the angsty forbidden, and a sweeping retelling of a familiar story.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: First we should unpack Tristan, the character whose point of view we follow throughout Salt Kiss. He is such an interesting character as he is so contradictory – he is one of the most naive characters I have ever read while also not being naive about the mess he got himself into. I did really appreciate Sierra’s depiction of a past soldier struggling with survivor’s guilt and PTSD. But for all the war he has seen, he still had such an innocence about him. This loyal, endearing puppy of a man was prime for Mark’s much darker tendencies. I did read the prequel Salt in the Wound (which I highly recommend you do) and so I knew a bit of what we were getting into with Mark. I also saw Sierra at an event say that Mark is her first true anti-hero and he definitely is. This mysterious guy is ruthless, but there is definitely something festering under there that both Tristan and Isodole will be able to root out.
• Setting: The home base of the story is Washington, D.C. where Mark has his infamous business the sex club the Lyonesse. I loved that setting and cannot wait for the next book to bring us to it more often. Mark and Tristan travel so much for work, and I just kept begging to go back to Lyonesse.
• Pacing: I flew through this story, in many ways, it truly didn’t feel long enough. So I am dying for the next one and grateful I also had the prequel to read. Most of my issues with this story do have to do with plot and pacing. It takes way too long for Isodole to enter the story, so I am warning you of that now that this story is primarily an M/M and not an M/F/M. I guess I just have to be more patient because I do understand Sierra’s choices of growing a larger story here and setting up the playing field.
• Romance: So needless to say this starts as an M/M and the corrupting of Tristan at the hands of Mark. I ate up every minute of it. They were so hot together with such great tension. I cannot wait to truly see Isodole thrown into the mix more, crossing my fingers for hopefully with both of them. I say this coming from a place of having adored all of Sierra’s poly stories and that I am craving more.

Salt Kiss receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story here.

Follow Sierra on all her social channels…

Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Instagram | Website | Newsletter

Thank you again to Sierra and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Sierra Simone’s Salt Kiss ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

I adored A Merry Little Meet Cute and was excited to see Julie and Sierra gifting us this sweet treat of a novella. Luca was a fan favourite and I was so excited to see where his fling with Angel could go. Fans of this series will love this story, as it is a great check-in on beloved characters and a tease of what is to come.

I am a Sierra Simone review team member but remain honest and genuine in my reviews.

After Angel and Luca connected on the set of Duke the Halls and had a whirlwind romance in the literal snow globe of Christmas Notch, Vermont, Luca found himself falling in love. Hard. He’d never been one to believe in fate or true love, but one thing was certain: Angel was his person. He knew it as well as he knew the history of American figure skating. But when Angel left for an art school semester abroad without a word, Luca’s already brittle heart was broken. No one ghosted Luca. Unless he was in a haunted house.

But with the spring semester long over, Angel is back home in Los Angeles for the summer, and unfortunately for Luca, this big town is turning out to be smaller than either of them ever expected.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: For both Luca and Angel this story picks up where A Merry Little Meet Cute left off, with a movie wrapped and next plans up in the air. Luca returns to LA hoping to keep what started in Christmas Notch with Angel alive, but life has other plans. I was surprised how much of Luca’s character was dominated by self-doubt, but that is why having someone like Angel show Luca what his work was worth was so essential.
• Setting: The story is predominately set in L.A. and actually includes some thoughts on its hustle culture and way of life which were refreshing to see. Rather than another romance that romanticizes the L.A. life. Plus I enjoyed all the cameos from the characters I already loved like Bianca and Sunny.
• Pacing: This will be the perfect quick read for someone who is already a fan of this world. It is not an essential instalment, you can skip this and wait for the full-length book in the fall. If you want a speedy read it is perfect raunchy fun. Just one note, it is a single point of view with a focus on Luca and my preference is a dual point of view. I felt it was hard to know what was going on with Angel and to connect with him.
• Romance: My favourite part of the story was the chemistry between Luca and Angel. They shared so many scenes together that weren’t just deliciously steamy, but emotionally heartwarming. A few of the romantic problems were solved with little conflict but that was the nature of the shorter story. Honestly, they were partner goals!

Snow Place Like LA receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story here.

Follow Sierra on all her social channels…

Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Instagram | Website | Newsletter

Thank you again to Sierra, Julie, and their teams for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone’s Snow Place Like LA ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

Another sapphic short story from Sierra Simone. Damn, she is so good at writing hot stories, steeped in the grandeur of a historical setting.

I am a Sierra Simone review team member, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.

England is burning with Norman fires, and Tate—the youngest ever abbess of Far Hope Abbey—is determined to guard the abbey’s ancient secrets with her very life. Her life may be what it takes, however, for a Norman warlord known only as The Wolf is pillaging his way right to the abbey’s doors. But when The Wolf arrives, Tate finds not the brutal warrior she was expecting, but his even more brutal widow in his place, a cruel and beautiful woman who leads her dead husband’s men with a ferocity to rival that of her Viking ancestors. And after she sets eyes on Tate, it becomes clear that gold and silver aren’t the only things The Wolf wants to carry off into the night…

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Abbess Tate is in charge of Far Hope Abbey, she was put in charge recently as their numbers dwindled and she was the healthiest nun to lead the abbey. She is brave, headstrong, and loyal; going out of her way to protect Far Hope. This character really surprised me, meaning she was a lot more varied than expected. Do not be fooled by Tate’s pious label, she has some secrets that will shake up how you feel about her. So, Tate sacrifices herself to the clutches of the Wolf. All the characters in the story make the reader thinks we are meeting a man, instead, she is a ruthless widow. Such an intriguing character; one cannot but have empathy for this character and all the secrets she must keep.
• Setting: We pick up with Tate and the Wolf as the Normans are invading England, the year is 1068 and we are just a few years away from the conclusion of the Norman conquest. This was such a unique setting! As a history degree holder, I am always a sucker for a historical setting. As this time period is nowhere near my specialty I find nothing to critique, so it was pure enjoyment for me and will be for many others. Sierra did such a good job of weaving in historical elements of the Norman conquest, even historical figures are small parts of this larger wlw love story. Fans of Sierra’s previous work will feel the Thornchapel vibes throughout this, and if you love Sierra’s other historical series such as Markham Hall.
• Pacing: My small complaint with this story was the pacing. I found this short story lagged in spots. It felt on the longer side for a short story. But instead of this just flushing out the romance, I found I lost focus and was not encouraged to escape away into the story. I often read at a manic pace, this took me many days to read and it is not very long. If you like your short stories on the longer side you will really enjoy this.
• Romance: I enjoyed the love story between Tate and Adelais, an enemies-to-lovers romance in a time period where largely no woman would have sought a coupling that fulfilled them. Tate and Adelais were finally getting the love and companionship they deserved. Plus this book is super hot, these characters have such great chemistry and not a single romantic scene disappoints. I love the most that they bonded over being morally grey, and how they had to deal with what was dealt to them in a world everchanging and riddled with upheaval and violence.

Villain I’d Like to Fuck receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story here.

Follow Sierra on all her social channels…

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The post Sierra Simone’s Villain I’d Like to F… ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

I jumped at the chance to review this. Who does not love the queen of smutty academia-core that is Sierra Simone? Plus faeries!

I am a Sierra Simone review team member, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.

“A grad student sets out to find a missing castle and is kidnapped for the pleasure of a fae queen instead…
It’s that time of year, friends. The moon is full and Samhain approaches. Your invitation to the Shadow Market is here. Three days of magic, drama, seduction, and maybe just a dash of human sacrifice! Come through the portal and meet witches, demons, gorgons, mermaids, the fae, and even the odd human who’s gotten turned around and ended up somewhere they shouldn’t.”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Our leads in this short story are Janneth and Morgana. Janneth is a grad student, studying to be an archaeologist. She has this air of unhappiness. It is very clear she is a very sexual person but is struggling to connect with people in her life. That is until she enters the Fae realm. She meets Morgana, the Queen of the Court of the Stags. She is of course beautiful as most Fae are. She is definitely a very morally grey character, with some complicated motivations. I admired that Sierra depicted this ruler struggling between being selfless for her kingdom or selfish for herself. In a shorter story, Sierra builds compelling side characters that add to the story.
• Setting: The setting is lush with depictions of the Fae world. Sierra is such the perfect choice to take this on, as she imbued the whimsy of her Thornchapel setting into the faerie realm. The only thing is that sometimes the world-building elements do not really have much time to develop as this is a shorter story.
• Pacing: In terms of pacing I know that these were intended to be short books, I just wish it was a little longer to flush out the world and romance more.
• Romance: This book is hot hot hot and it is super queer. This is yet again more evidence that Sierra can write any iteration of couples/groups. Sierra uses the side characters to her advantage, Idalia and Morven bring about one of the hottest scenes in the book. I did feel as if I could not buy into this love, it was slightly too insta-love. It felt more like lust than love. It needed more time to grow.

The Fae Queen’s Captive receives three out of five stars.

Follow Sierra on all her social channels…

Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Instagram | Website | Newsletter

Thank you again to Sierra and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Sierra Simone’s The Fae Queen’s Captive ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

I am so excited to be reviewing for Sierra for my first time as an official Review Team member. I have been a member for months and was over the moon to learn the great news. I love Sierra. I could not be more honoured that my first book is her cowrite with the infamous Julie Murphy!

I am a member of Sierra Simone’s review team, but I stand by my reviews remaining honest and true.

“Cowritten by #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy and USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone—a steamy plus-size holiday rom-com about an adult film star who is semi-accidentally cast as a lead in a family-friendly Christmas movie, and the former bad-boy pop star she falls in love with.

Bee Hobbes (aka Bianca Von Honey) has a successful career as a plus-size adult film star. With a huge following and two supportive moms, Bee couldn’t ask for more. But when Bee’s favorite producer casts her to star in a Christmas movie he’s making for the squeaky-clean Hope Channel, Bee’s career is about to take a more family-friendly direction.

Forced to keep her work as Bianca under wraps, Bee quickly learns this is a task a lot easier said than done. Though it all becomes worthwhile when she discovers her co-star is none other than childhood crush Nolan Shaw, an ex-boy band member in desperate need of career rehab. Nolan’s promised his bulldog manager to keep it zipped up on set, and he will if it means he’ll be able to provide a more stable living situation for his sister and mom.

But things heat up quickly in Christmas Notch, Vermont, when Nolan recognizes his new co-star from her ClosedDoors account (oh yeah, he’s a member). Now Bee and Nolan are sneaking off for quickies on set, keeping their new relationship a secret from the Hope Channel’s execs. Things only get trickier when the reporter who torpedoed Nolan’s singing career comes snooping around—and takes an instant interest in mysterious newcomer Bee.

And if Bee and Nolan can’t keep their off-camera romance behind the scenes, then this merry little meet cute might end up on the cutting room floor.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Our heroine is plus-size porn star turned Christmas movie lead, Bee Hobbes. She finds herself cast in this very pure Christmas movie with the help of a director she has worked with in the porn industry, Teddy. Both of them are ready to diversify their portfolio and hence the Christmas movie. I love her personality, the way she would go about this with such gumption was inspiring. She is incredibly loyal, and a great friend. I loved the dynamic of her being the single child of two sex-positive moms. The male lead is Nolan Shaw, the heartthrob Bee crushed on him when she was a teen. The former boy band member is post-scandal and low on funds. Hence he has booked the male lead in the Christmas movie. I loved his commitment to his family, his mom and his sister. He is an incredibly caring person and it was lovely to laud that kindness on Bee. This book had a wonderful cast of side characters. All the other people who worked in the porn industry felt so charmingly out of place on the Christmas movie set. Angel, Astrid, Luca and Sonny, I loved them all. Teddy was probably one of the best parts of the book. I loved his character and his attempt to diversify his work portfolio, and then having to resort to filling all the techie positions with his contacts from porn.
• Setting: The setting is Christmas Notch, Vermont. A tiny town that is always decked out in Christmas decor for the sake of the movie industry. Everything was overly adorable and I loved all the overly Christmas stuff that seemed to ooze out of every aspect of the town. Even the strip club was called the North Pole and was super fun and corny.
• Pacing: This book was slightly longer but I still found it went by at a good clip. The ending had a great amount of time to play out, something I find romance is not always that good at. So props to Julie and Sierra for some great pacing.
• Romance: This romance had such an interesting premise. It was interesting that both of them had this familiarity with each other. That they had both fantasized about the other. Nolan was a fixture in Bee’s teenage years as her celeb crush. While Bee or Bianca stars in all of Nolan’s current fantasies as one of his favourite creators. So naturally, they had great sexual tension, and I loved the way Sierra and Julie went about depicting that against the backdrop of a Christmas movie. This romance was interesting. The best part was Julie and Sierra’s care in depicting Bee as a fat person worthy of love. I was hoping for more steam than this book delivered. I have been reading Sierra’s indie work for years so I know what she is capable of, and I am gathering much of the fade to black stems from this being a traditionally published story. There was so much teasing of things like toys and tougher play and then none of it ever happened. Their first scene together was my favourite, I love how it really represented the fantasies and tensions they carried with them to work every day.

A Merry Little Meet Cute receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

Amazon | All Platforms

Follow Sierra on all her social channels…

Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Instagram | Website | Newsletter

Thank you again to Sierra and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone’s A Merry Little Meet Cute ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

With such a talented group of authors attached who does not want to devour these sultry stories.

“On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me… TWELVE NAUGHTY DAYS

Cancel your plans, because twelve of the hottest romance authors have teamed up to bring you a delicious holiday treat: a series of never-before-seen short stories inspired by the 12 Days of Christmas.

Each of the authors will have an unforgettable, steamy story. Set to one of the twelve days in the popular Christmas song, it will be perfect for you to sink your teeth into this holiday season.

Including original works by New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors:

K.A. Linde
Skye Warren
Fiona Cole
Nana Malone
Claire Contreras
Nikki Sloane
Giana Darling
Sierra Simone
CD Reiss
Laurelin Paige
M. Malone
Angelina M. Lopez

On sale for a very limited time at just $3.99! All proceeds benefit suicide prevention and will be donated to the Trevor Project.”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• K.A. Linde’s: One Cruel Wedding Night asks is if an arranged marriage equals no love. This story features Camden, the heir to a hotel fortune and Katherine who is now penniless. Her father committed fraud and now her only option is this arranged marriage. This villain romance had great sexual tension. I loved how it was set at their wedding and the hot scenes that came with it. 4 stars.
• Skye Warren’s: Two Turtle Doves features Gabriel and Avery fan favourite characters of Skye’s. I have not read any of her Endgame series, I feel bad that I could not appreciate all the character cameos. For those who have this is definitely going to be a treat for you. 3 stars.
• Fiona Cole’s: Goner is the best story in this anthology! Fuck I loved this story. First off I am a huge fan of Fiona and the world of Voyeur, so yes I am biased. There is a great cameo from a beloved couple. They get in the mix with the new characters and it is a super hot scene. I love the setting of blur and I could read like ten more books in this world. Amara and Atlas have great chemistry. This book has everything, F/F/M, F/F/F, and M/F. 5 stars.
• Giana Darling’s: Swan Song is about Finnegan aka Curtains of the Fallen MC. This story was pretty good but I expected more from Giana. I am a huge fan of her motorcycle romances and I wanted this to be steamier. I did really enjoy the characters and the mystery surrounding them. 4 stars.
• Claire Contreras’s: Five Golden Rings is Deliah and Rory’s story. This story was not very memorable. The sex was hot though. I loved how the rings referenced in the title were incorporated into the story. 3 stars.
• Nikki Sloane’s: On the Sixth Day is a story of a throuple. Clay, Travis & Lilith are from The Architect. I enjoyed this story so much, I plan to pick up their story. Their sex scene was incredibly hot. I loved the balance between the sex and plot in this story. 5 stars.
• Nana Malone’s: Four Calling Birds is Bryna and Lucas’ story. I did enjoy that this story had a heist aspect to it and how it led to a very hot hookup. But overall I did not get super invested in this story. 3 stars.
• C.D. Reiss’s: Nine Ladies Dancing was a bit of an odd story. It really did not click with me, as I did not like any of the characters. It took me forever to read and it had my putting the book down rather than devouring the story as I should be. 2 stars.
• Sierra Simone’s: My Present This Year is about step-siblings Nick and Nora. This story is so hot and well of course it is it is written by the queen of steamy smut Sierra Simone. This story was my second favourite in the anthology. With perfect pacing, the tension was built between step-siblings who have been struggling to keep their hands to themselves. You cannot help but buy into their feelings and start to cheer them on. 5 stars.
• Laurelin Paige’s: Ten Dirty Deeds exudes tension and oozed steaminess. I loved the concept of the 10 deeds and how it was incorporated. I know Laurelin has written about these characters before, but I have never read that story. Sabrina and Donovan are from Dirty Flirty Rich Men, and they seem like a very fun, hot and dirty couple. 4 stars.
• M. Malone’s: Gift Me is Noelle and Deacon’s adorably nerdy romance. I loved this romance of two people who have been pining for each other for quite a while. This story was one of the sweetest and most romantic ones in the anthology rather than something sexy or steamy. 4 stars.
• Angelina M. Lopez’s: Twelve Drummers is Sabrina Ramirez’s story. This story was really unique and its inspiration was super cool. This Aztec-inspired tale is one of the steamiest in the anthology. The hotness of this story is quite something, but its lack of plot keeps the rating a bit lower for me. 3 stars.

Twelve Naughty Days receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

Amazon | B&N | Apple | Kobo | Google Play

Thank you again to these authors for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Twelve Naughty Days ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

I was so incredibly excited to receive this ARC! I have been a huge fan of this series for years. I read Priest back in 2018 when I discovered Sierra Simone. I loved both Priest and Sinner, so I was incredibly excited for Aiden Bell’s story. I love that we are getting an M/M romance too!

Check out the Goodreads synopsis…

“I can’t have Elijah Iverson.

I can’t have him because he’s my older brother’s best friend. I can’t have him because I broke his heart five years ago; because he’s now engaged to someone else—someone kind and dependable who deserves his whiskey eyes, his soft mouth, his fierce intellect.

I can’t have Elijah because I’ve chosen God instead.

The Bell brothers, though . . . well, we don’t exactly have the greatest track record with vows. But I’m determined to do this monk thing right—to pledge myself to a cloistered life and spend the rest of my years in chastity and prayer. But now Elijah’s here. He’s here and he’s coming with me on my European monastery road trip, and between the whispered confessions and the stolen kisses and the moments bent over an ancient altar, my vows are feeling flimsier by the day.

And vows or not, I know in my heart that it would take more than a good and holy monk to resist Elijah Iverson right now. It would take a saint.

And we all know that I’m no saint.

**This is the third full-length standalone in the Priest Collection, featuring Father Bell’s brother, Aiden Bell. You do not have to read Priest or Sinner to read Saint.) This is Aiden Bell’s story**

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Aiden Bell, the third Bell brother went from a queer billionaire financier to a cloistered monk. He used to be a raunchy party boy and now he has dedicated his life to god. Aiden’s love interest is Elijah. An event planner turned writer who I loved. He was incredibly pensive and thoughtful. These two have a fraught history. Elijah was Sean Bell’s best friend and always crushed on Aiden. Once they were both adults the boys dated and got pretty damn serious. And that is when Aiden left to become a monk. Aiden was such an interesting character. It became quite clear that he uses crutches in his life to deal with his traumas. So that crutch now is God it once was the indulgences of life, and this story asks will he need a crutch for the future?
• Setting: The monastery was located in Kansas. But the real event was when the boys went on a monastery tour in Europe. The locations were specifically in Belgium, France and Ireland. The settings were beautiful such as meadows of lavender and church ruins. Not just cute places to look at but some nice places to have a little fun.
• Pacing: This book was expansive and told in multiple parts. I really enjoyed that about it. It was not a light, quick read. Sierra really delved into some dark topics such as suicidal ideation and gave those topics all the time they needed.
• Romance: Oh, man oh, man the sexual tension in this book! This romance was intense in two equal parts emotionally and physically. This book has everything from multiple chastity cages to hooking up under the cover of night. What plagued me also plagued Elijah. He was not the only one asking why? Why Aiden? Why walk away from such a beautiful love and a successful life to be a monk? What I loved about this romance was how complex it was and how fighting to be back together was by no means easy.

Saint receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

Amazon | Apple Books | Amazon International | Nook | Kobo | Google Play

Follow Sierra on all her social channels…

Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Instagram | Website | Newsletter

Thank you again to Sierra and the Candi Kane PR team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Sierra Simone’s Saint ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

For over a year I have been getting sneak peeks at these stories through the Queens of Darkness and Sin Facebook group. If you are a fan of any of these lovely ladies or steamy sexy stories in general, you gotta join the group. I was super excited to see these ladies compile the stories they have co-written together in an package tied up in a nice little bow.

Check out the Goodreads synopsis…

“From 16 bestselling authors comes seven never-before-released dark and forbidden co-written short stories with HEAs and sneak peeks of upcoming releases. Tales of Darkness & Sin is only available for a limited time so pre-order your copy now!

Bestselling authors include: Aleatha Romig, A Zavarelli, Ashley Jade, Cora Reilly, Giana Darling, Isabella Starling, Jade West, K Webster, Lucia Franco, Lylah James, Natasha Knight, Parker S Huntington, Pepper Winters, Sam Mariano, Sierra Simone and Skye Warren.

All royalties from this anthology will benefit the National Women’s Law Center which represents a variety of issues from women’s rights to LGBTQIA issues. We aren’t affiliated or endorsed by these charities. We are simply authors who want to support an important cause.”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Aleatha Romig and Skye Warren’s Sold to the Highest Bidder – 3 stars: I was slightly disappointed by this story. The title got me really excited for an auction. And yes there was one and I loved the dynamic of brother versus brother. But there were not enough steamy scenes.
• A. Jade and A. Zavarelli’s Stalker – 4 stars: This one had a fun premise of the stalker being the quiet boy from her high school that always liked her. This one had some sexy scenes and a super fun twist.
• Parker S. Huntington and Giana Darling’s Poisoned Hearts – 4.5 stars: I absolutely adore Giana’s mafia stories and this felt a lot like the world of the Lombardis. This one I would have engulfed as a full-length novel. The perfect levels of sexual tension and such a fast-paced plot. Loved it!
• Lylah James and Cora Reilly’s Dirty Bargain – 4 stars. Continuing with the Italian mafia and including the Russian Bratva. This one was intense, but that is what you get when the man is called Killer. Another steamy tale, full of dirty talk and another untouched virgin. Who doesn’t love trading your virginity for a hitman to kill someone for you?
• K. Webster and Sam Mariano’s Mr. Foster – 4 stars. Time for an office romance, and who doesn’t love it when the employee falls for the boss. To make it even more forbidden the boss is her father’s best friend. This one is quite a classic tale with a huge age gap so if you are into that this one will for sure be right up your alley.
• Giana Darling and Sierra Simone’s Not a Dirty Little Secret – 4.5 stars. A little M/M romance with the British Prime Minister! I absolutely adored this story as I am a sucker for a good M/M romance. This story is the only one where I have read pretty much the entire backlist of the two authors writing it so suffice to say I love Giana and Sierra to death. There was a little added taboo element to this book that was thrown in partway through so I loved the pacing of this. The guys had such chemistry and a wonderful connection. This may be my fave of the anthology.
• Jade West and Lucia Franco’s Her Christmas Present – 4.5 stars. And now for a little Christmas story. This one was a classic daddy-esque age gap tale between a high school senior and her teacher. The Christmas twist of him playing Santa and her sitting on his lap was such a fun way to start off a story really about an older man showing this younger girl pleasure for the first time.
• The final three pieces were previews for full-length stories: Pepper Winters’ Forbidden Flaws, Natasha Knight’s With This Ring, and Isabella Starling’s Tyrant Stalker – all 4 stars. I definitely plan to look more into these as I found myself getting hooked into these previews. All of these really engaged me and made me want to know what was happening next. It was an interesting choice to include these at the end, don’t really think it was that necessary and instead it made the book really really long. They felt out of place not being co-written shorts. That being said still enjoyable reads.

Tales of Darkness and Sin receives four of out five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

A reminder that the royalties will go to the National Women’s Law Center.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/35sEFaY
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/TalesofDarkandSin
Nook: http://bit.ly/3sbzZQG
Apple Books: http://apple.co/39kYHpa
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3nv91Qn

Thank you again to Social Butterfly PR and the ladies of Queen of Darkness and Sin. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Tales of Darkness and Sin ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

I have a review for the first book in this series, A Lesson in Thorns. In that review, I have a warning about the maturity of this book, and once again I am warning you this book is not for the faint of heart. Like I’m talking an orgy in the second chapter, and if that is not for you I would not pick up any Sierra Simone books. But if that is not something that turns you off, I highly recommend Sierra’s stories.

Check out the Goodreads synopsis…

“I’m an outcast and a loner, named for death itself. Fate wasn’t supposed to have plans for me.

But then she came back—the girl I once kissed in a thorn-covered chapel in the woods. She came back, and I could no more resist her than I could pry out my own heart. And by some trick of fate, she wants me as much as I want her. The only problem? She also wants the man who owns Thornchapel, Auden Guest.

And so do I.

Eight years ago, I did something to Auden, something terrible. He hurt me back the only way he knew how, and so here we are: our hatred seasoned with pain and my loneliness seasoned with longing. The only thing we can agree on is Proserpina Markham, and she wants us to find a way to be together—all three of us. 

If Auden wants to earn her as his submissive, then he has to earn me as well.

But with the discovery of bones behind the altar and the carnal revel of Beltane fast approaching, it’s becoming clear that Thornchapel’s secrets are much deeper and older than any of us could have ever guessed. And no matter how bright and merry a feast of sparks may be, it’s always followed by ashes. 

And darkness.”

Check out my thoughts below…

I am obviously going to try my best to be the least bit spoilery as possible but keep in mind this is the second book, do yourself a favour and pick up the first one.

• Characters: Poe, Auden, Saint, Beckett, Daphine, and Rebecca are all continuing their stay at Thornchapel and this book sees so much development in backstories. Auden and St. Sebastian’s pasts both together and apart come much more to light and really illuminate their characters. Poe still takes up a quite large presence as she did in the first novel, specifically, her character development stems from two very pivotal life-changing twists at the end of book one.
• Setting: Thornchapel and the small English town surrounding the mysterious Guest residence are as interesting as always.
• Pacing: Pacing was great with this one. Sierra is really good at writing in twists and placing them at pivotal moments.
• Romance: The actual relationships between characters definitely deepened in this book. There is still this layer of polyamory that encompasses all the character like I’m not gonna lie multiple orgies in this book. But the romantic highlight for me was watching a set of characters commit to each other in a way I really wanted them to.

If I have not convinced you yet, check out this excerpt…

“Shame, hot and prickling, needles everywhere at my face and chest and belly as I begin to bend down to the floor. The cool air that caresses my pussy is now everywhere as the position begins to expose my most secret flesh, and there’s no pretending away the reality of what I’m doing. I’m doing something I’ve never done before, I’m offering up the filthiest part of me for inspection, and despite everything the three of us have shared in the past twenty-four hours, I’m flooded with shame. It’s real shame now, not play-shame, and my safe word floats to the top of my mind, a buoy in the clear waters.

Convivificat.

I don’t want to safe out right now, I’m nowhere near the edge, but it’s nice to have it there all the same. Reassuring. There’s nothing they can do that I can’t stop. And anyway, this is who I am—who I’ve been growing into ever since I found the words to define it.”

Feast of Sparks receives four out of five stars

You can follow Sierra below…

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sierra-Simone-497450453680395/?fref=ts
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SierraSimonesLambs
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSierraSimone
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1PDR4K4
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1oo9WEh
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesierrasimone/
Website: http://authorsierrasimone.com/
Subscribe to Sierra’s newsletter: sierrasim.one/getmyemails

Thank you again to Sierra Simone and Candi Kane PR. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Sierra Simone’s Feast of Sparks ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

Here is the Goodreads synopsis…

“Once upon a time, six children stumbled upon a wild place hidden deep in the moors, shrouded by secrets and fog. There we played a game among the roses and the thorns that would change us forever, that would follow us the rest of our lives. A game that ended with a hard kiss in the rain and tattered flower petals fluttering from above…

And twelve years later, we’re back. 
 
The heir.
The dreamer.
The priest.
The genius.
The socialite.
The saint.

I’m not going to dream of a forgotten place covered in thorns every night.
I won’t be enchanted by Thornchapel and its glossy, glamorous people. I’m not going to fall in love or have my heart torn in two.

I’m not telling the truth.

Because as this place slowly tightens its coil of secrets and thorns around us, as we uncover the knotted mysteries that grow here, the six of us begin to unravel into filthy, holy pleasure and pain.  Fulfilling the promise we once made as children in those whispering ruins, and awakening a fate that will either anoint us or leave us in ashes…”

Here are my more detailed thoughts…

• Characters: Sierra’s story has six main characters as the synopsis alluded to. I feel as if aspects of every character are apparent in Sierra’s other works. The priest character naturally has some similarities to Father Bell from Priest. You do get points of view from each character, but the story really belongs to Prosperina “Poe” Markham. If you are a huge Sierra fan that last name should ring some bells. Poe was such an interesting character and Sierra writes so many complex sides to her.
• Setting: The book takes place in the elusive Thornchapel house, and surrounding town. A lovely mysterious setting for the mystery that Poe sets out to resolve by returning to Thornchapel.
• Romance: This book has literally something for everyone, it has M/F, M/M, F/F, and M/M/F. The M/M/F relationship in this story reminds me of the one in American Queen. This story is all about the creation, evolution, and the breakdown of different relationships. Other authors would struggle with maintaining the complex relationships of all six characters, but Sierra can and does it beautifully.

A Lesson in Thorns receives four out of five stars.

Pick up your own copy here…

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2TSOH0L
Amazon INTL: mybook.to/ALIT
Apple Books: http://sierrasim.one/iThorns
Nook: sierrasim.one/NookThorns

If you want to keep in touch with Sierra, follow here below…

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sierra-Simone-497450453680395/?fref=ts
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SierraSimonesLambs
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSierraSimone
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1PDR4K4
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1oo9WEh
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesierrasimone/
Website: http://authorsierrasimone.com/
Subscribe to Sierra’s newsletter: sierrasim.one/getmyemails

Thank you again to Sierra Simone and Candi Kane PR for the opportunity to review. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog.

The post Sierra Simone’s A Lesson in Thorns ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.