Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋 (This was short and cute! Not a ton of angst)
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡ (There was some build up, but it’s a shorter novel and they fall into each other pretty easily)
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
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: Not too far in, 24% (chapter 2 of 8) but it’s a short story so it doesn’t feel as long as 24% in haha
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 2 months later
Format: bought e-book
Why I chose this book: I have seen Christina Diane sharing news about The Earl and the Vixen (out at the end of November) and I was curious about her writing so I decided to try this one while I wait for that book to come out.
Mains: This is a M/F relationship featuring a cishet hero and cishet heroine

“Point out your chamber window to me,” he said.
Without thinking, she pointed to indicate which one would lead to her room.
He leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “Leave it unlocked tonight.”

Should I read in order?
I believe this is Diane’s debut, and it’s fine to read alone!

Basic plot:
Grace is focused on finding someone that meets her qualifications for a husband – handsome, good kisser, love, and a rake – and she is missing what’s right in front of her.

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1817
- bespectacled hero
- hero loves first
- midnight window knocks
- unrequited longing
- shorter story
- higher steam – 3 full scenes within a shorter page count

Ages:
- hero is 24, the heroine is around 18

First line:
Grace Armstrong, the youngest daughter of the Earl of Snowdon, rushed away from her brother’s study after walking in on something she didn’t understand between her brother, Elias, and his wife, Lydia.

My thoughts:
I enjoyed this quick and spicy read! I thought it was pretty cute and I am a sucker for any kind of unrequited love, especially from a hero.

In this novel, our heroine Grace gets a bit too focused on her requirements for a husband. I loved how Arthur shows her what’s right next to her and how wonderful it can be – even if he’s not the rake of her dreams. And I’m always swooning for midnight window knocks 🫠 🫠

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 1
Average rating: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one!

Endearments

Hero calls the heroine ‘love’ and ‘my love’. 

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

- I couldn’t think of anything to note!
Author content warnings? Diane puts content warnings on her website 

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

Safe sex: 

  No 

Hows the consent? 

  It’s good! 

Pregnancy/children in story? (Please note this is the best to my memory/note taking. If you see something I missed please feel free to message!) 

  No children in the story, but there is mention of sex resulting in pregnancy and the heroine eager to have children. The epilogue includes a pregnancy. 

48% - kiss
54% - 🔥 kisses, hero teaches heroine how to self pleasure, fingering and oral for her
”You have choices, love,” he said, lowering his head to kiss her again. After a few moments he broke the kiss. “Do you wish to experience your first climax by your own hand, mine, or my mouth?”
78% - kisses
84% - 🔥 missionary
She rolled her head back, and he kissed her chest and neck.
“I want you, Arthur,” she whispered. “I want all of you.”
“I’m wearing far too much clothing,” he said, placing kisses along the gloves of her breasts.
90% - 🔥 bj (complete)
”Did you need me for something?” he asked, kissing her neck.
“Indeed, my love,” she pressed her lips close to his ear. “I wish to taste your cock.”