Compromised

by Amber Night

"I would never touch you. Not unless you asked for it."

Victorian England, 1846.

Her name is Felicity White. She has been compromised. Declaring her a stain upon the family, her aunt makes one last attempt to find her some position better than the workhouses. Felicity leaves London to become a maid at a remote estate on the Cornish coast, where rock drops sharply into sea.

She longs to put the past behind her. To make amends. But Trueth Manor is a grand and desolate place. And her new employer, Sir Perran Wiles, is the most striking sight. A recluse. Not really a knight. And also: not white.

Yet that is almost incidental to what he truly is. Temptation. The greatest risk for her to fall from grace entirely. Perhaps to fall much deeper still than this.

It is the way, with cliffs.



Compromised is a steamy historical romance.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Interracial Romance, Fiction

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2023

About the author

Amber writes interracial romance with excursions into short fiction. Her stories wrap you up in atmosphere and rich emotion. She’s also partial to a hefty dose of sensuality and steam.

A poet at heart, she explores the depths of what it means to be human. She looks beneath the surface differences which divide us to find the common ground which unites us in our struggles to be seen.

She lives in London with her husband and her daughter. And if she isn’t writing, you’ll probably find her dancing.

Find me on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/ambernighta...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmberNightAu...

Reviews

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and steamy historical romance, Compromised follows Felicity White as she embarks on a new job at Trueth Manor after being compromised. Felicity becomes a maid for the enigmatic and reclusive Sir Perran Wiles, and as she adjusts to her new life at Trueth Manor, she must also face her growing feelings for the closed-off man who offers his body but not his heart.

Felicity is a young and innocent protagonist who quickly becomes intrigued by her older boss. Though they are very different, the pair also have quite a bit in common, and they connect on such a deep level. Both struggle with feeling less than worthy, and Perran has no desire to marry, so their future is quite unclear. On top of that, the prejudice he faces because of the color of his skin makes him reluctant to enter into a relationship with Felicity. However, their attraction is undeniable.

The story sheds light on the bigotry of society and is shown in how the townspeople, religious figures, and even people who helped raise him treat Perran. Their poor behavior, harsh judgments, and overall ugliness contrast Felicity’s sweetness, naivete, and lack of judgment well.

I liked how the changes at Trueth Manor parallel the changes in Felicity and Perran’s relationship. As they grow closer and become more positive and optimistic about life, the house slowly transforms from dusty, unused, and lifeless to a home with warmth and life. I also loved the setting. The lands that surround Trueth Manor sound breathtakingly beautiful, and the author really brought the setting to life with lush and vivid descriptions. It was a lovely backdrop to the story.

This is my first book by Amber Night, and I thought it was a unique and steamy romance. Whew, do Felicity and Perran have some sizzling chemistry! I had to wipe the fog off my glasses when I read this one! lol The ending felt a little rushed, and I kind of wanted Perran to grovel a bit more after what he put Felicity through, but overall, it was an enjoyable read!

Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

[Nyx · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Compromised' by Amber Night is a captivating novel that offers an enjoyable and well-written Interracial romance set in the early Victorian era. The story revolves around Perran Wiles, a man with a complex background, and Felicity White, a working class woman with heart of gold. Their chemistry is palpable, and the author skillfully keeps the readers engaged with a perfect mix of banter, tension, steamy scenes and a satisfying slow burn romance.

One of the highlights of this book I think is undoubtedly the compelling dynamic between Perran and Felicity. Their interactions are so wonderfully crafted, it left me both on edge and also drove me into uncontrollable giggling sessions multiple times throughout the novel. I have to say, the author has a knack for capturing the essence of their relationship, making it an absolute joy to experience their journey.

However, 'Compromised' falls short in some aspects. While the main characters are well-developed and receive ample attention, the same cannot be said for the side characters. Unfortunately, I felt like they were often ignored. I think expanding upon these characters would have added depth and further enriched the overall reading experience. Additionally, a more vivid exploration of the Victorian setting would have also heightened the immersive quality of the story.

The first 75% of 'Compromised' is undeniably captivating with it's sweet romance and well handled steamy scenes. I couldn't for the life of me put the book down for one second. However, the ending felt slightly rushed. Although, Felicity's tendency to make excuses for Perran being an ass to her towards the end contradicts her previously vocal stance on his behaviour (I just wanted a bit more grovelling okay?)

Overall, 'Compromised' is a highly enjoyable novel that seamlessly blends an Interracial romance with the allure of the Victorian era. I highly recommend it if you fan of
-Historical Romance
-Country side
-Interracial couple
-Age gap
-The Beauty and the Beast vibe
-Sweet tongued, tortured MMC
-Sassy FMC
-"its only lust" 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
-She fell first but he fell hard

“Gentle. You’re so impatient. Just learn yourself.” She frowned. “What you were doing first, what did it feel like?”
She hesitated, slipping back into the pattern. “Nice. Tingling.” Her fingers drew a circle, and it shot sparks straight up into her belly, down her thighs.
“Not quite enough.”
“Keep doing it.”
“But—"
“Give your body time. You women are so sensitive. A light touch and persistence.”
“You know this from the experience of being one?”
“Shush.” He pressed a finger to his lips, but he was grinning. “You’re still thinking. Focus on the feeling.”

ARC received from the author in exchange for a honest review. Thank you Amber Night for making me a part of you ARC team.
⭐⭐⭐⭐/ 5

[Amanda books_ergo_sum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this was unexpected.

I went into this expecting an interracial historical romance just historically accurate enough to be hella angsty. And, check!

And though I hoped it would be steamy, I don’t think anyone could have expected a histrom to be this 🔥🔥🔥 (Seriously, the number of sexy time scenes in here was approaching infinity 👀)

But what I did not expect at all was how well written this was!

This one is for all the Jane Eyre girlies. And not just because it was a ‘woman going to work in an isolated great house owned by an enigmatic hotty’ story.

It was the vibes. The bleak, kinda religious, Victorian shame, introspective Brontë vibes. It was the language, the imagery, the pensiveness. It was the dark library, oppressively whispering townspeople, wind whipping your hair and dress on a cloudy Cornish beach as you contemplate your own freedom.. vibes.

The sexual tension was 10/10. I loved the social commentary on racism and purity culture. I loved how emotional this was. How compelling these character arcs were. And did I already mention it was hot?? Because it was 🥵

This had some tropes that I normally avoid (like ‘he’s her boss’ and age gap) but they were handled just the way I like. The forbidden-ness and the angst of the romance were at maximum but everything was so careful and thoughtfully done.

I even loved the single POV—it was the right choice for this story, it felt grounded in the heroine’s feeling and made me glare at Perran like I would Mr. Rochester.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved 75% of this but I am notorious for needing a good grovel when the hero is an ass…and we didn’t get it. At all. The heroine forgave him so easily for what I felt was really poor treatment of her. She says she loves him multiple times but he never says it. By the end, it just seemed like a fairly lopsided relationship.

Setting aside the ending, I did enjoy the setup of the story, and the hero treated the heroine with gentleness and consideration given that she was a virgin. It was a bit of a slow burn since it took a while for them to actually have sex, and the in between parts where they covered all other bases were really sensual and steamy.

**I received a free copy from the author and this is my honest review.**

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were many unique things to catch my attention about this book.

I enjoyed that it isn't like any other Historical Romance that I have read recently. The hero was dark and seductive. The heroine was sweet and innocent and down on her luck. The location is isolated and there isn't anyone to get in their way.

However, the hero was also not to my style in his selfish choices and reactions to the situation he is directly responsible for. It soured me on him and unfortunately, I don't think he ever won me back over.

The story was well told and I would read more by this author in the future.

3.5 stars
2 on the spice scale

I received and ARC of this book. My review is my own.

[Alexandra G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stuck between two very different worlds, Perran Wiles lives a quiet and recluse life in his castle on the Cornish coast. His dark skin the subject of gossip, suspicion and prejudice among the villagers. His wealth never quite enough to be accepted by high society.
The new maid his housekeeper hired is not what he expected. Young, beautiful and so very inquisitive. His comfortable loneliness suddenly not so appealing anymore. Teasing her, he draws them into a conversation on good and evil, black and white, pleasure and sin…

Shunned by her family for being compromised and homesick, Felicity White finds herself working in Cornwall as a maid in a grand house with only a housekeeper and a stableboy for company.
Her enigmatic employer - a ghost at first - soon turns into a most intriguing man. He’s different. Honest, respectful and a little mischievous. Walking in on him could have easily ended her employment, yet somehow he made her open up. Their conversations and his lessons in lust and pleasure a revelation. There’s an entire ocean between heaven and hell…

Life dealt them both a tough hand. Like day and night meet at twilight, they are drawn together. Slowly moving from pleasure, to intimacy and eventually a love that conquers all. Not an easy road, and love is scary. An illusion he never dared to consider.

📚 A tender, witty, sometimes brutal, and heart-wrenchingly beautiful love story! I’m a sucker for a small cast in a simple setting. Layered characters, true emotions and a harsh reality set against the magnificent backdrop that is the Cornish coast. A fast-paced, enthralling and steamy delight I recommend to one and all!
📚 Ebony/ivory, very steamy, open door, racial differences, age gap, found family, forced proximity

Thank you to Amber Night for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

[annasbook nookk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber always writes so well and Compromised was no exception. I fell in love with Felicity, watching her character go throughout the book was everything. Mysterious Sir Perron was intriguing and I loved to read about his life, history, and his environment.
The way Amber writes about the way they are around each other, their feelings, and their conflicts, was exceptional.
I’m a big fan of Ambers, having read all her books. She’s so talented and I can’t wait to read more.
Please don’t forget to read the epilogue after Compromised, too.

[Julie Ambrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent story I loved it the characters are strong and vibrant .

In a desperate situation neither expected the journey they would embark on .

An exhilarating tale that kept me glued to the story .

What more is there to say only that I definitely want to read more from this author .

It’s sizzling hot and a heart wrenching romance .

[shadiedaze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compromised” by Amber Knight is a historical interracial romance novel. The main female character, Felicity, is sent to be a servant at a residence near the sea in the Cornwall area of the UK in 1846. Her family and friends in London have decided sending her away is the best option considering her faux pas. At the Cornwall residence, Felicity grows close to the other servants, Ms. Turner, and the stable boy, Davydh. When Felicity meets the man of the house, Perran Wiles, she is shocked that he is African and is her employer. This hiccup starts Felicity on a path she never envisioned taking.

Due to the historical time this novel takes place and the thoughts of most people at that time, the placement of the Trueth Manor on the isolating Cornish coast is appropriate. In that isolation, Felicity and Perran begin to bond, and Felicity learns the meaning of family. The emotional growth of Felicity was wonderful to read. Overall, Felicity was a wonderful character. She was not a fainting dainty miss. She was bold and inquisitive. She asked questions directly and only apologized for her forwardness after the fact. However, Perran, Davydh, and Ms. Turner did not stifle her nature. Perran, was a mixture of innocence and maleficence as he enticed Felicity and helped her shed her unwanted conventions. The development of their relationship was slow but engaging. It was hard to look away even though you knew how it was going to end.

The eloquent writing of Amber Knight was captivating. Her way with words to paint a picture of each main character’s feelings and thoughts pulled you into the bleak world of Trueth Manor. Ms. Night evoked the visual and olfactory senses with her eloquent metaphors and similes. If she had also used the sound of the roaring waves, the ticking of the clock, or the coarseness of the sand to explain the events that transpired between Perran and Felicity, this novel would be even more sumptuous.

I highly recommend reading this novel. The characters are well-developed, the plot pace is good, and the writing is engaging and eloquent. I signed up for Ms. Night’s email newsletter and read the epilogue of Perran and Felicity’s story. I am looking forward to Ms. Night’s next historical interracial romance novel.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sandy N · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book from this Author and I've got to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Her style of writing is definitely different from the other Authors that I'm used to. For starter all the story was from the Heroine perspective only. She was very subtle on her description of the sex scenes. Never mentioning certain body parts by name. For people that are sensitive to that they will like this book. It is fast pace. Our Heroine was very stubborn at times and very inquisitive. There are plenty of steamyness but like I said they are described in a non crude way.
I'll definitely read the next book in the series.

ARC provided by the Author. The opinion expressed here is my own.

[runofthemillwallflower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how I enjoyed this book! Amber's writing style always hits. Simple frases with the deepest imagery.

This story was so tender and witty, and at times, heart-wrenching. Perran and Felicity are two outcasts. Both are trying to rise above the blows dealt by society and its narrow-minded ways. But when Felicity and Perran come together, they are exactly like those cliffs in the book; wild and free and full of endless possibilities.

Felicity is a heroine for the ages. Innocent, fierce, curious, brave, forgiving, and by no means a doormat, she will fight for herself and those she loves.

Perran, sweet reclusive, enigmatic, lost,  gods how I wanted to strangle him at the end, but really I could understand his fear and caution. I loved how respectful he was of Felicity's boundaries.

Tropes:
Age Gap
Class difference
Interracial (WWBM)
Found family
Lessons in pleasure
Open door (so steamy, y'all)

TW
Deals with abortion.

[Geraldine · Rating 4 out of 5]

real good!

I enjoyed this book. I liked the premise, I thought it was really original and it was really well written. This author has such a smooth way with words that you can’t help but love whatever she writes and the characters she creates.
Perran and Felicity had great chemistry from the start, and though it took almost the entire book for their feelings to get involved, there was plenty of spice sprinkled throughout to make up for that.

I also found the underlying themes and commentary about racism in society really interesting, particularly in relation to interracial relationships (which are themes this author is known for addressing in their stories) and how there is so much bigotry in how they are perceived and reacted to in society or even internalised within themselves.
This seemed to me to be the root cause of a lot of their relationship issues in this book, which is so sad! And even though this is a historical setting, a lot of what is mentioned and talked about could still frustratingly apply now!

I also liked how each character eventually takes on responsibility for their own actions and decisions, they apologised and communicated with each other in the end.

Highly recommended.

[Bookish.Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compromised is the first novel I’ve read by the clearly talented Amber Night. An addictive read right from the first page where we meet, Felicity White, a young woman who’s being sent from London to Cornwall due to a scandal. She is to be a maid and have no further connection with her family. It is England, 1846, and the novel lays bare the many injustices women must face and the moral hypocrisy of all levels of society. Her new employer, Sir Perran Wiles, is a reclusive black man who has inherited his estate from his benefactor but is not accepted by society. Clearly attracted to one another, Perran fights his desire because of his position of power over Felicity who herself is trying to recover from her shame of the earlier scandal. The novel deftly shows the development of their relationship, the consequent struggles it presents, and how each character has much to teach the other. The novel is told using third-person point of view following only Felicity which helps build both tension and suspense as we never hear Perran’s internal thoughts.

There is a gothic feel to this book that comes both from the setting and the emotionally scarred characters. Perran’s inherited home, Trueth Manor, is expansive with many vacant and dusty rooms. There are cliffs, a cave, and vast open moors surrounding it, isolating it from the main village. Felicity, Perran, and the only other occupants, Miss Turner the housekeeper, and Davydh the stableboy, interact very little with each other. Each seems guarded and isolated which adds to the lonely atmosphere pervading Trueth Manor. Felicity’s own personal isolation and loneliness make her increasingly bold and curious, and tension mounts as Felicity grapples with various temptations. As Felicity and Perran become closer, Perran teaches her about her own pleasure, the absurdity of purity culture, and how to ask for what she wants. I particularly liked that Perran would not so much as kiss Felicity until she asked him to. His commitment to not pressuring her in any way made the age gap (he is almost twice her age at almost 40) and power differential more palatable, while his personality, dry sense of humour, hidden pain, sexual expertise, deep caring, and desire to rid Felicity of her shame made him intensely lovable.

Felicity’s sexual awakening is handled with both sensitivity and red-hot spice. There is equal attention paid to the more emotional aspects of the relationship, and I enjoyed seeing Felicity’s developing feelings as well as her growing confidence. I particularly liked the way she tried to understand the injustices Perran faces living in a racist society. There’s a painful scene where she finds a book about the “dark continent” and reads blatantly racist “facts” that rightfully sicken her. Her desire to shield Perran in this scene and others are poignant and achingly rendered. She too is a lovable character: caring, deeply empathetic, inquisitive, witty, intelligent, and loving. I was invested in her relationship with Perran early in the novel. I enjoyed their witty banter as much as their more serious conversations. My only complaint was that the ending felt a bit rushed, still satisfying, but could’ve been more so by resolving the main conflict in more detail.

Compromised is unlike any historical romance I’ve read before, and I loved it. I highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoy excellent writing, a unique historical romance, the various romance tropes (age gap, interracial couple, forbidden love, power differential, forced proximity) and who like their romance with a lot of steam and emotional angst. I’m looking forward to reading more from Amber Night!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amelia Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

** I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is perfect for those looking for a different take on historical romance, those looking for characters from backgrounds we don't often hear from. There are deeper conversations of race and the choices women have to make with their bodies. Also, there were discussions about purity culture and how it confines people to feel shame about being human and having desires.

I was sucked right into this story - I finished it in only 2 days! Felicity has had it hard in life, and her backstory is one that I easily had sympathy for. Her acceptance for things as they are and her own self awareness at her own bias was admirable in an fmc. I only wanted the best for her. The moments when she was sassy towards Perran were my favorite.

Her attraction and intimacy with Perran was almost immediate. While there is some build-up, I thought their initial dalliance together was quite early in the plot. It focuses a lot on Perran respecting that Felicity does not yet know her body or her mind when it comes to being a sexual being. I really enjoyed the deeper conversations they both had on religion and how the purity culture of Christianity can demonize sex- especially when it comes to women. Felicity is often overcome, in the beginning, with her shame with wanting to have sex with Perran.

As I mentioned before, there were characters we don't often see/hear from in hist roms. One of these characters was the woman women went to when they had pregnancy problems. It was often mentioned that Felicity had rough periods, and once she suspected she was pregnant, she immediately went to this woman. This woman is well known to all women. They go wherever women go.

As seen on the cover, Perran is a black man living in the 1850s in England. Slavery is not "legal" on English soil, but as he mentions, there are other ways to keep someone where they are unwillingly. His backstory is sad, that he was an amusement for an older white woman. I wish there were more conversations between Felicity and Perran about race and how she has a white woman holds privilege, but the conversations that were there touched on societal bias and Perran's own difficulty navigating this world as a black man.

The free epilogue at the end was a treat! I loved seeing Felicity come into confidence with herself and her being a family with Perran. We also get a glimpse at the mext character in this series :)

**There is a pregnancy trope in this book. If you do not care for that, I would reconsider reading this.**

[Nicole (Happily_After_HEAs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felicity White is "compromised" by a young man in her village so her aunt ships her off to the country to serve as a maid in an unknown household. Upon arrival, she meets Perran Wiles, the man of the house who is about twenty years older than her and not white. The former baroness of the house "adopted" Perran and upon her death bequeathed him the home. He's ostracized by the racist townsfolk and finds he doesn't fit in anywhere. He is a bit of a homebody and also lonely. In comes Felicity who is immediately taken in by Perran's beauty (and he, hers). 

At first, Perran's words and actions toward Felicity creeped me out. I didn't feel that their relationship had developed for it to be ok for the owner of the house to speak so openly to a member of his staff. However, the book is solely from Felicity's POV and we know how she feels about Perran. And *she* isn't necessarily bothered by him so I decided to just go with it. Around the time I decided to just go with it is about the same time Felicity also decided to just go with her urges. And so begins the mutual masturbation society comprised of Perran (President) and Felicity (Secretary) [open positions for VP and Treasurer, apply within].

The book takes place over a series of weeks and months, taking the time to naturally develop a relationship and affection for another. Most of their relationship builds around the intimate chats they have after self-pleasure. They do spend time outside of the house, also getting to know one another without any sexual congress, each usually holding back a bit for self-preservation. This is when I wish we had Perran's POV. I really wish we knew what he was thinking during this book. He does tell Felicity his thoughts sometimes, and when he doesn't want to talk, Night does a great job describing his facial expressions and body language to tell us what he cannot. However, knowing his feelings toward Felicity would take the book to another level.

There is a third act break-up that seems to come out of nowhere but also seems so "right" for the moment. I don't want to say anything else to spoil the book because the next chain of events run together and push these two dingalings back together. It's the jolt Perren needs to accept his feelings for Felicity and her true acceptance of and love for him. 

I read a description of the next book and can say, I'm already looking forward to it with glee, much like Felicity looking forward to nighttime sexy times with Perran! (Oh PS, the sexy times are pretty sexy. Some are short and descriptive and others are longer and steamier. None are overtly explicit but I did find myself fanning myself a time or two.)

[Zoe Reads Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gorgeous, character driven interracial love story:

There are so many things that are beautiful about this love story: the lyrical prose, the steam, the discussion around morality, reproductive autonomy, class and race, which is never heavy handed or preachy or gauche.

It's a loving, tender, sensual exploration of two people's feelings, hopes, thoughts and desires. Two people who are more alike than they are different, though the differences are stark.

The historical aspects of the writing are well researched and gracefully described.

I found the blatant racism difficult to read about at times and the emotional turmoil of our heroine was described to well, it was hard not to love her.

Our hero is mysterious, charming and the single POV that I normally don't like helps nurture the feeling of mystery around him and makes every discovered crumb of his story more delicious and endearing.

It lost a point because I felt the HEA was a bit rushed (there is an extended epilogue you can get, but it's not in the main story). I would have liked to see them truly happy in the future and perhaps our loyal side characters too. Maybe a drop of redemption for the villagers?

Also, the single POV was effective, however I don't feel like Perran really had the growth arc that our heroine deserved. Not without hearing his thoughts.
Also, the characters are very isolated (physically but also socially) with few interactions with other side characters. They are there and they used well in pushing the plot along, but both our MCs are essentially friendless, with no foils, no comic relief characters and no villains.

I think as the author becomes more confident a writer, she might feel more comfortable manipulating a larger cast to make more of the plot. But then I am sucker in historical romance for group of friends or a group of sexy brothers or wild hellion sisters accompanied by a four mouthed parrot or a flatulent dog. This purely personal preference though!

This was a fabulous read and I raced through it, although I did have to pause briefly and check the content warnings once. I fell for our MCs and am eager to read more from this author.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and am giving my honest feedback. Possible spoilers below...











It was my first read by this author. The story was very interesting and something I hadn't read. I liked exploring the relationship between the characters and how race plays a factor in their relationship during their time together and afterward, considering the extra hurdles in the pregnancy and the fight to marry each other, and also the dynamic between them as employer/servant. The slow burn between the two are great, and there is a lot of build up. I enjoyed the scene in the library when she catches him, and when he notices her catching him, that was great. It was a bit hard for me to feel the chemistry between the two during their intimate scenes because since she was a servant and very inexperienced, and he was a good bit older than her, I'm not sure the power dynamic there was really doing it for me. The h Felicity seemed very much like a Melanie Hamilton-type, kind of sickly, kind, not wanting to stir the pot, and the H Perrin was very much in control of the entire relationship. I could have used a bit more of fire from the h, and a lot more chemistry between the two. I really enjoyed the ending when they are in the cave having a heart to heart. That to me was what was missing for a lot of the plot, having the characters talk to one another about their pasts, struggles, real life things that help them connect with one another outside of the romantic aspect. A great thing was that for Perrin I kept envisioning an older man who looked like Seal or even a Taye Diggs lookalike so that was a yummy visual treat! I would more so give this story a 3.5. I did enjoy it for the most part. Thank you to the author for supplying my ARC.

[Jocelynereadsromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for an atmospheric and sensual romance, then look no further that Amber Night's most recent release, Compromised. Amber Night's writing is beautifully descriptive, bringing the Cornish coast to life as a perfect backdrop for her Victorian romance that centers around what it means to be compromised as well as what it means to take your own sexuality into your own hands. Night's writing has an ease and accessibility to it that makes the characters and plotting easily understandable, her pacing works beautifully and keeps this character driven story moving from interaction to interaction keeping the relationship between the hero and heroine always at the center. If you are looking for a victorian romance, with some diversity and a strongly sensual undercurrent, then Amber Night's Compromised is sure to be the novel for you.

I overall found this novel to be easily enjoyable, the plotting and relationship building are very much rooted in the physicality and exploration of what sensuality means. I found Night's writing to be enjoyable and quick to read. I found the heroine to be interesting and it is gratifying to watch her open herself up, truly learn to understand what sex means, while being open to the hero who is a black man, but never seeing him as anything less than a man she is falling in love with and willing to trust with her whole heart. The hero definitely has been concerns about who he is when it comes to racial dynamics during this time, which lead him to be hesitant or make rash decisions in moments. While this novel is high on the steam, I did not always feel a true bond or relationship being built between our characters. There were many times I felt like it was more about the actions of sexual exploration, and I was lacking a bit more on the emotional chemistry side of things for me to truly believe these two are building a strong and lasting relationship.

This high steam novel is still very interesting and fun, and sure worth checking out if you are interested in the premise, would like to explore Amber Night's work, or are just looking for a sensual and sexy read.

Thank you so much to Amber Night and BookFunnel for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Louise Mayberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous, heartrending distillation of a historical romance novel.

What do I mean by that? I mean all the superfluous, distracting elements of typical historical romance are missing—the side plots, the large cast of supporting characters, the fancy clothes and elaborate descriptions of architecture, carriages and locales... At its heart, this novel is a conversation between a man and a woman alone (or almost alone), in a big house in Cornwall. It’s as simple as that.

But it’s the complexity within the simplicity that sets this novel apart.

Night has crafted a book that creates a safe space for her characters (and readers) to explore a series of deep, emotionally sensitive themes: race, sexuality, morality, women’s bodily autonomy, belonging, love and loss—all woven into the fabric of a beautiful love story. The author never lectures or claims the moral high ground. Her characters are both deeply flawed and wise. I found myself unable to put it down.

In her bio, Night says that she is a “poet at heart,” and that absolutely comes through in her prose. She has a gift for portraying the unique emotional lives and journeys of her characters through their physicality, and as a fellow writer, I know just how hard that is. I was particularly impressed by the novel’s approach to steam. This was one of the hottest books I’ve read in a while, yet Night uses almost no anatomical language at all. I don’t know how she does it, but as a reader, I found it almost magical.

Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this gorgeous book. All thoughts are my own.

[Alie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compromised - Amber Night

This was my first book by Amber Night and it was like nothing I have ever read before. It was a narrative written from the perspective of the heroine only. This fast-paced and spicy historical interracial romance is set on the picturesque Cornish Cliffs of Victorian England and I can't even begin to express how much I adore this author's writing style and prose. It's so effortlessly captivating that you can't help but fall in love with everything she puts on paper, from her narrative to the unforgettable characters that she brings to life.

I was genuinely fascinated by the thought-provoking themes and social commentary on racism and misogyny Amber has woven throughout this book, especially when it came to interracial relationships and female sexuality. It really made me reflect on the deep-rooted prejudices and patriarchal control that still persists in our world today.

This love story is a perfect blend of tenderness, wit, and raw intensity that will tug at your heartstrings. What I love most is the simplicity of the setting and the small but impactful cast of characters. Their depth and genuine emotions shine through, even in the face of harsh realities. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Cornish coast, this fast-paced and captivating tale kept me hooked from start to finish. Brace yourself for some steamy moments too! I wholeheartedly recommend this enchanting and exhilarating journey to everyone.

Victorian Romance ∘ Ebony/Ivory ∘ Age Gap ∘ Forbidden Love ∘ Found Family


Happy Reading,

Alie

Rating: 💜💜💜💜
Aesthetic: 👩🏼👨🏿‍🦱🌶🐴🌊🧹🤰🏼💒
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

[Pixie Auri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compromised is a delight for lovers of historical romance with a taste for tension
building. Amber's unique skill of setting an atmosphere came forward once again
in this book, making for such an immersive experience I almost bought myself a
linen nightgown and an oil lamp afterwards.
The book tells the story of Felicity, a young girl disgraced without fault who was
sent away to work as a maid for the reclusive landlord of Trueth Manor. Perran is
as handsome as he is lonely, confined to his state by a prejudiced society. Felicity
isn't deterred by the color of his skin, going instead even further against the rules
of propriety when she falls for Perran's charms.
Tension builds in the pace of Felicity's desire to set her own rules. The plot is
sweet, sweet torture, made of stolen moments between the characters, brutally
interrupted by glimpses of a wretched world.
As a fan of emotionally charged steam, I worried about the “it’s just lust” trope at
first, since sometimes I find the shift towards love to be quite abrupt. I shouldn’t
have worried. There is no intimacy more charged than a couple who can’t admit
they are falling for each other, and no lovelier way to write it than Amber’s.
The key message of the story for me was of freedom. To want, to desire and to
be true to oneself. Despite the historical setting, I found some of the issues
portrayed quite contemporary, when you look at their roots. I mean, can anyone
say we left racism and misogyny in the past?

[PlotTrysts · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the book opens, Felicity is leaving home in London to begin working as a servant in Cornwall. As the title suggests, she's been "compromised" and her family - her aunt, uncles, and cousins - can no longer support her. When she arrives in Cornwall, she meets fellow servants and her new employer, Perran Wiles. ⁠
⁠
Perran and Felicity circle each other for a bit until they end up in the library together at night. And let's be honest, historical romance readers, we all know what happens in the library after dark, and it doesn't involve much reading. Instead, Perran and Felicity act on their mutual attraction - but singly, across the room from each other, as they talk each other through it. (Nicole [@happily_after_heas on IG] calls it the "Mutual Masturbation Society" and she's not wrong.)⁠ The book is written in 3rd person but limited to Felicity's perspective, so we only know as much about Perran as he wants to share with her. ⁠
⁠
Not much happens in the book - Felicity and Perran spend a lot of time talking and a TON of time ... uhhh ... /not/ talking IYKWIM. That said, Night knows how to bring the emotion. At several points I did tear up, as Felicity kept getting knocked down and powering through to get up again. All in all it was a quick read with frequent dashes of spice (some spicier than others!), a strong heroine, and an enigmatic hero. We would definitely pick up the next book in the series.⁠
⁠
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the book.

[Morgana Lefaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review, and the star rating, cover both the book itself and the free epilogue novella, set first one month and then three years after the book, which you can get by signing up for the author’s newsletter.

It’s a lovely book, well written, with beautiful phrasing, in period style. Not Jane Austen, but still, largely consistent (I only found one anachronism) and also beautifully evocative. The book is from Felicity’s perspective, the epilogue from Perran’s. The plot is simple; it’s the story of their developing sexual and emotional relationship. It’s delightfully slow burn, and the scenes of their gradually increasing physical intimacy are some of sexiest things I’ve ever read. Felicity is from a working class background, and although she is “compromised,” she is still basically innocent, and basically good, and much cleverer than her circumstances have allowed her to develop. Perrin is a complicated older man, with a complicated history. It was a thrill to start the epilogue and realize I was going to hear his internal voice.

Read this book. You won’t regret it. And be sure to sign up for the epilogue, because it is really an intrinsic part of the experience. If I hadn’t read the epilogue I probably would only have given it four stars, because the ending seemed a bit rushed. But with the epilogue it is definitely five stars.

I received a free ARC copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.

[Gloria Pastorino · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I start reading a new-to-me author, I do so with mixed feelings, mostly excitement at the idea of discovering a new writer, but also with a bit of wariness, because what if I don’t like the writing or the story? I shouldn’t have worried in this case, because it was one of the most stunning reading experience I ever had! The writing captivated me from the very start and I couldn’t wait to see where Felicity’s journey would take her.
This awesome book had everything I look for in a historical romance: great characters, sexual tension, emotional lovemaking and angst tempered by a touch of humor. I also loved that the issue of racism was present, but mostly in the background, and did not weigh on the book, didn’t divert attention from the love story. This is not a book about fighting racism or injustice or even society’s expectations for men and women, but, in my opinion, it’s more about fighting our willingness to surrender to that injustice, our desire to conform, not to make waves… But mostly it’s about the healing power of love. And yes, a new star is born in the firmament of historical romance authors!!! I can’t wait to read more books of her. And don’t miss the epilogue! It’s in Perran’s POV (which, I must confess, I missed in the book).
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Maria Fos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historic romance is probably one of my favourite genres, so I started Compromised feeling very excited about it and oh boy! Amber so exceeded my expectations. From the way it is exquisetely writen, that first journey brings you along from smoggy, bustly, smelly London to crisp, salty, quiet Cornwall without leaving your sofa, to the depth of the carachters and their relationship is truly chef's kiss.

I think is quite difficult to portray an innocent, sweet carachter like Felicity without infantilising it, or making her sound stupid and vapid, but Amber manages to do it flawlessly, she's very relatable, the doubts she has about what's proper from the dycotomy of her upbringing and her own observations is something that I think we've all been through and is masterly portrayed.

Same goes for Perran...move over, James Fraser, I have a new fictional crush! Perran's is a delight to read, his personality is rich and he makes sense as a man of his time, with his background.

And their relationship...just gorgeous. It has depth, it develops, and grows, has its difficult moments, I laughed and growled, has some angst, but that makes the joy so much sweeter... 10/10 cannot recommend more.

[TheBodiceRipper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like me, you may be having a little trouble getting into the story and are swiping back to the reviews to see if it’s going to pay off with good spice. The answer is SO MUCH YES! Because it’s all character-driven, there are sex scenes in this book where the protagonists don’t even touch each other that are far more erotic than the filthiest erotica!

Like a Merchant Ivory film, this book doesn’t linger over complicated character backstory and endless self-analysis. Instead, you learn the characters through their interactions, and it is a joy to see them grow.

I did find the hero’s motivations to be murky, mostly because the story is told only from the heroine’s point of view. And the fact that he is her employer (and continues to expect her to serve, despite the developing relationship) lends a sort of low-frequency queasiness that’s always in the background. Fortunately, both of these things are eventually addressed. I also recommend signing up for the author’s newsletter to get an epilogue written from the hero’s point of view—it really helps round out the emotional arc.

The only things holding me back from giving five stars are the multiple instances of jarringly anachronistic dialogue and sooooooooo many which’s that should have been that’s or who’s.

[Danni Neeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

🚨BOOK REVIEW🚨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️

🏰Historical Romance
🏰Forbidden Love
🏰Age-Gap
🏰Interracial

☠️ Mentions of past trauma
☠️Mentions/Talks about death of parents

This book follows Felicity on her journey to Trueth Manor where she is sent by her family after being none other than “compromised.” Here she is caught off guard by her employer Sir Perran. The tale of this love story is captivating. I couldn’t get enough of their banter. I love how Felicity, even though she is young, and trying to impress her new employer and his only other servant is still able to be witty, bestow wisdom and throw out some flirty innuendos. I love how Sir Perran does not pressure Felicity for anything. She lets her come to him. It’s a rollercoaster ride but one I wish I could re-read for the first time again.

This is my first book by Amber Night and it did not disappoint. I love how the spicy scenes weren’t full on descriptive but enough to give you all the good feelings. The scenes I feel were perfect given the time period in the book.

I recommend this book and am thankful to Amber for allowing me to ARC read for her.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compromised by Amber Night is book one in the Victoriana Series. (Future Series) This is an Interracial Historical Romance that I just devoured while reading. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I will certainly be reading more! This book had such a beautiful flow to it the words just seemed to float from the page. (You can absolutely tell the author loves poetry or writes it because her book reflects that so well!)

"I would never touch you. Not unless you asked for it."

I felt a connection with both the main characters, Felicity and Perran. They both seem to bond over never feeling like they fit in anywhere. (I understand that more than I should) Felicity is sweet and gentle and Perron is the flip side to that… he was dark and to the point. I enjoyed that the book just felt like a haven for them to explore one another and learn to relate to each other. There were some decisions I just couldn’t believe, that made me lower my kindle and think, really? Other times I smiled and felt genuinely happy for the pair. Overall this is a beautifully written story and absolutely worth the read!

Final review:

4 out of 5 stars.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compromised by Amber Night is one of the grittier looks at purity culture and also interracial relationships during the Victorian era that I’ve read.

Felicity and Perran are well-developed characters. Both enter into their relationship with invisible injuries. Felicity bore the brunt of being “compromised” by a young man without the actual act taking place. Perran experienced the inherent injustice of racism. Ms. Night’s story delves deep into his experience.

Felicity and Perran help each other heal in what I consider to be a very slow burn romance as a result of the purity culture that was ingrained into Felicity. Perran really shows her how a gentleman treats a lady, even though neither of them are nobility.

I appreciated this book because it gave me a chance to read about a relationship that isn’t written about very often in historical romances. I enjoyed the depth of character and the interaction between the main characters as well as the supporting cast of characters. I would definitely put Amber Night on my list of authors to watch!

I received an ARC from the author. The thoughts expressed above are my own.

[Belinda Magro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Amber Night and I really enjoyed most of it. It has my favourite trope-forbidden love.

I was intruiged to read a book about a biracial couple as I had never read this before. It had a very Jane Eyre, Gothic feel to me.

I enjoy steamy books and this one was sizzling. The main characters had alot of sexual chemistry. The heroine, Felicity, the heroine being very religious, and ruined by society had a lot of shame associated with sex. I enjoyed how patient the Hero, Perran was with her and he taught her that pleasure is nothing to be ashamed of.

Personally I would've liked reading more about their pasts to understand the main characters more on a deeper level. It just felt like the ending was rushed and the Hero needed to do more grovelling as he got off quite easily in my opinion.

If you like forbidden love, lots of steam, age gap romance then Compromised by Amber Night is for you.

I received an arc for free by the author. These thoughts are my own and review is submitted voluntarily.
3.5 stars