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The Lust Diaries #1
In Her Closet
Entertainment columnist Yves Santiago unapologetically lives her life as carelessly as a man. Her day job keeps her flush in men, with few regrets and even fewer mistakes. By night, she details her exploits on her anonymous sex blog, Lust Diaries.
Yves leads a happy, delightfully filthy life. Until she meets nonfiction editor Elijah Weinstein.
Moss green eyes, sun-kissed shoulders and a mouth so damn sensual that it should have a NC-17 rating, Elijah is everything she never wanted yet can't resist. He methodically lays waste to the walls she's built around herself, looking to get closer to the real Yves Santiago. Unfortunately, Yves isn't sure she recognizes that person anymore.
With the the promise of a fairytale turned real, Yves must dig into the depths of her past. But once she shakes out the skeletons in her closet, will she be ready for all Elijah has to offer?
Warning: This title is sexually explicit with mild bdsm. If you like it rough and spanky, this may be for you.
Yves leads a happy, delightfully filthy life. Until she meets nonfiction editor Elijah Weinstein.
Moss green eyes, sun-kissed shoulders and a mouth so damn sensual that it should have a NC-17 rating, Elijah is everything she never wanted yet can't resist. He methodically lays waste to the walls she's built around herself, looking to get closer to the real Yves Santiago. Unfortunately, Yves isn't sure she recognizes that person anymore.
With the the promise of a fairytale turned real, Yves must dig into the depths of her past. But once she shakes out the skeletons in her closet, will she be ready for all Elijah has to offer?
Warning: This title is sexually explicit with mild bdsm. If you like it rough and spanky, this may be for you.
Paperback
First published February 1, 2010
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About the author
Tasha L. Harrison
30 books432 followers#Author of dirty talking, nasty, where-do-you-want-me-to-put-it, cinnamon roll heroes | creator of #20kin5Days | host of #Wordmakers Community
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@tashalharrison on Twitter and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
April 22, 2023
4.5 stars
Okay i did not expect this book to be this wild and dramatic but I’m not complaining because I enjoyed the hell out of it.
This book seriously had me in my feelings. I laughed and cried and wanted to punch a few of the characters in certain moments. I loved Yves. She was smart, funny, sassy, sexually liberated and a whole lot of flawed. I hope to get to know more of Elijah and what makes him tick in the next book.
Okay i did not expect this book to be this wild and dramatic but I’m not complaining because I enjoyed the hell out of it.
This book seriously had me in my feelings. I laughed and cried and wanted to punch a few of the characters in certain moments. I loved Yves. She was smart, funny, sassy, sexually liberated and a whole lot of flawed. I hope to get to know more of Elijah and what makes him tick in the next book.
July 3, 2017
This novel really got me in the gut. (This review has spoilers.)
I really resonated with how real this novel felt, especially in the ways it depicted how hard it is to stay away from an abusive ex. I haven't seen that illustrated in fiction before. It was hard to read, but it feels so important that it's part of the story. I am a survivor of intimate partner violence, and I worked in the trauma field for 20+ years, and this is one of the most realistic novels I've read (of any genre), that centers a survivor of intimate partner violence. I cared about Yves, & part of that is about being a survivor myself, wanting to see her build trust in herself and in others (not just in her relationship with Elijah, either).
This book made me realize how much I needed realistic representation of intimate partner violence inside a novel that wasn't only about intimate partner violence. As a survivor of intimate partner violence myself, I need stories that don't end when you leave. I need stories where the trauma is part of the story, but there's more to the story too. The struggle to disentangle yourself from an abusive ex is so important, and so often invalidated. I didn't find it *too* hard a read precisely because it's a complex book, has so many other pieces in it. And because Yves, the main character, is so great.
I loved the mixture of tough and vulnerable, caring and armored, in Yves. I rooted for her throughout the book. I loved the complexity of her relationships, the ways her connections worked, the layers in them. Now I want to know Elijah more, to see into him, witness his relationships, his vulnerabilities. I'm hoping for more of that in the next book, and the blurb hints at it, so I bet I'm going to be happy. I'm hoping for so much in the next books. I want to see what's next for Yves, what walls she runs up against, how she works through.
I need more complex, well-written, realistic novels that center survivors who are kinky and sexual and claim their sexual agency. In Her Closet made me realize that by being one. The first one I've read.
I really resonated with how real this novel felt, especially in the ways it depicted how hard it is to stay away from an abusive ex. I haven't seen that illustrated in fiction before. It was hard to read, but it feels so important that it's part of the story. I am a survivor of intimate partner violence, and I worked in the trauma field for 20+ years, and this is one of the most realistic novels I've read (of any genre), that centers a survivor of intimate partner violence. I cared about Yves, & part of that is about being a survivor myself, wanting to see her build trust in herself and in others (not just in her relationship with Elijah, either).
This book made me realize how much I needed realistic representation of intimate partner violence inside a novel that wasn't only about intimate partner violence. As a survivor of intimate partner violence myself, I need stories that don't end when you leave. I need stories where the trauma is part of the story, but there's more to the story too. The struggle to disentangle yourself from an abusive ex is so important, and so often invalidated. I didn't find it *too* hard a read precisely because it's a complex book, has so many other pieces in it. And because Yves, the main character, is so great.
I loved the mixture of tough and vulnerable, caring and armored, in Yves. I rooted for her throughout the book. I loved the complexity of her relationships, the ways her connections worked, the layers in them. Now I want to know Elijah more, to see into him, witness his relationships, his vulnerabilities. I'm hoping for more of that in the next book, and the blurb hints at it, so I bet I'm going to be happy. I'm hoping for so much in the next books. I want to see what's next for Yves, what walls she runs up against, how she works through.
I need more complex, well-written, realistic novels that center survivors who are kinky and sexual and claim their sexual agency. In Her Closet made me realize that by being one. The first one I've read.
June 25, 2017
Series? Yes (must read all 3 books to reach the single story's conclusion; two additional novellas are optional to the series)
Spoiler-Free Plot Description: Yves, an underemployed writer who blogs about her sexual exploits, is approached by closet fan Elijah, an editor for a big deal publisher. They both stand to gain if he helps launch her to literary stardom, so he leads the conversion of her popular sex blog into a memoir. The writing process forces Yves to face her inner psyche, and her dubious relationship with sex, while juggling the expectations of people she’s not ready to face. Her critical mother, an abusive ex, and intense attraction to the sexy artist, Julian are complicated by a double life she begins to lead with Elijah when he leads her to open an unexpected Pandora’s Box.
Spoiler-Full Plot Description: The central character conflict for Yves relates to her sexual identity and her sense of place within intimate relationships. She is a survivor of physical and sexual abuse, but struggles to reconcile an authentic arousal she feels from rough sex with the abuse she sustained. Harrison throws in three men who serve as the perfect foils: the abusive ex (who triggers confusing arousal within her despite their irredeemable past), the forbidden colleague (who legitimizes her kinks by giving them context, yet harbors his own issues that complicates hers), and the soulful artist (who has more integrity, self-awareness, and purity of heart than any other character in the book and is the man she knows she should want to be with). All of these men want her, but if Yves is to transform, she has to do something she never has—choose a path that is deeply gratifying and healthy all at once.
What Makes It Stand Out: This is a love triangle that transcends the typical sophomoric setup. Less adroit authors want readers to fall a little in love with both idealized love interests before promptly picking a side and jockeying for their horse. In the Lust Diaries, Harrison discards this “Team Edward vs. Team Jacob” dynamic for relatable grown-up complexity. This inspires the reader to fully identify with Yves rather than to experience the love triangle as a Mary Sue. Themes of attainability, timing and the quest for self-discovery add tension and realism to the story. The best part of this triangle is that it does not feel binary; I’ve come to think of it as a love trident. Yves doesn’t have two choices—she has three. It is never treated as a foregone conclusion that she will end up with either Elijah or Julian; she might reject both men and choose to be by herself.
What You’ll Love About It: Truly original characters are a rarity, but this book has them in spades, and with subtleties that affirm Harrison’s mastery of her craft. At the same time as they are nothing like the characters we see in so much contemporary romance, they are exactly like people we know in real life. Yves smokes on the back stoop with her elderly neighbor. Her best friend is ride or die for her, but she’s also jealous and resentful of the way Yves steals so much sexual attention. Yves and her sister aren’t enemies, but they’re not close either and their relationship is painfully awkward. Elijah’s mom is a functioning alcoholic. Elijah’s dad is a casual racist. The tension and entertainment value created by characters this real is a towering strength of the book.
Truisms, Complexities, and Other Themes: I loved that this series could have ended so differently. This series inspires discussion and would create interesting debate in a book club setting. We understand her final decision, but two other outcomes would also have fit. As in life, there is no clear, singular answer. As in life, each character has serious imperfections. Any choice she could make will be bittersweet.
The Standout Side Character: Every great book has a secondary character who stands out. In this series, it is Marcelo, Yves’ brother, who trusts her unlike anyone else in her life. Yves is subject to manipulation by nearly every character who is close to her, yet Marcelo reminds us that Yves’ confusion need not undermine her wisdom, and that only Yves can decide what is best for herself.
June 3, 2016
Rating: 3.5/5
(I received a free copy from the publisher, Dirtyscribbler Press, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)
***Minor spoilers, TW: PHYSICAL / SEXUAL ABUSE***
Yves isn't at all ashamed of her lifestyle. She enjoys having sex, so she has it. A lot. And then she writes about it on her anonymous sex blog, Lust Diaries. There's no emotion involved for her. She gets approached by a man from the biggest publishing company in Philly, Elijah, to publish content similar to what she has on her blog, but in order to write this memoir of sorts, she needs to explore her past. Almost nobody else is aware that her ex-boyfriend, Cesar, used to abuse her. Yves left him after he cheated on her and hit her hard enough to cause a miscarriage, but none of Yves's family knows that. They all think that her behaviour is ludicrous, and she needs to give Cesar another chance. She needs to deal with Cesar, who has started coming back into her life, and also the fact that she might want something with Elijah but she considers herself too damaged to have him.
I must admit, it took me a while to get into this book. It was only during the last 30% or so that I started blowing through it and read it all in one session. To start off, I was so happy this wasn't a stereotypical story, no matter how stereotypical the summary sounds. If you only read the summary and nothing else, you might note that it sounds like the typical romance with the gender roles reversed. Usually it's the sex craving male who gets "cured" by some innocent female but the man has a mysterious past and she has to bring it out of him, and all that cliche stuff. This book is nothing like that. Yes, Yves has a past, but this isn't a story about her being brought out of her sex loving ways by a gentleman. Yves is a strong character who knows what she wants, but has very realistic doubts and struggles. I'd also like to note the awesome amount of diversity in this book. While diversity in literature is becoming better over time, this is some of the best I've seen in a while in terms of including many different races, with a non-white protagonist.
Elijah isn't a stereotypical male lead either and I love him for it. He's an interesting character and I appreciated the fact that he was always honest and didn't try to change Yves. He was always there for her but not in an overbearing kind of way. I didn't expect what happened near the end of the novel at the club but I liked the manner in which it was put in the book, and addressed the stereotype associated with it.
Overall, I enjoyed this more and more as the book went on, and I'm glad I ended up requesting it. I must admit, it did at first seem like it was just a typical bad boy good girl situation with the roles swapped, but it was so much more than that. I would definitely recommend reading this if you're looking for a romance, but please beware that there are mentions of both physical and sexual abuse in the book. If you're looking to read this, find it on Netgalley here: https://s2.netgalley.com/catalog/book...
(I received a free copy from the publisher, Dirtyscribbler Press, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)
***Minor spoilers, TW: PHYSICAL / SEXUAL ABUSE***
Yves isn't at all ashamed of her lifestyle. She enjoys having sex, so she has it. A lot. And then she writes about it on her anonymous sex blog, Lust Diaries. There's no emotion involved for her. She gets approached by a man from the biggest publishing company in Philly, Elijah, to publish content similar to what she has on her blog, but in order to write this memoir of sorts, she needs to explore her past. Almost nobody else is aware that her ex-boyfriend, Cesar, used to abuse her. Yves left him after he cheated on her and hit her hard enough to cause a miscarriage, but none of Yves's family knows that. They all think that her behaviour is ludicrous, and she needs to give Cesar another chance. She needs to deal with Cesar, who has started coming back into her life, and also the fact that she might want something with Elijah but she considers herself too damaged to have him.
I must admit, it took me a while to get into this book. It was only during the last 30% or so that I started blowing through it and read it all in one session. To start off, I was so happy this wasn't a stereotypical story, no matter how stereotypical the summary sounds. If you only read the summary and nothing else, you might note that it sounds like the typical romance with the gender roles reversed. Usually it's the sex craving male who gets "cured" by some innocent female but the man has a mysterious past and she has to bring it out of him, and all that cliche stuff. This book is nothing like that. Yes, Yves has a past, but this isn't a story about her being brought out of her sex loving ways by a gentleman. Yves is a strong character who knows what she wants, but has very realistic doubts and struggles. I'd also like to note the awesome amount of diversity in this book. While diversity in literature is becoming better over time, this is some of the best I've seen in a while in terms of including many different races, with a non-white protagonist.
Elijah isn't a stereotypical male lead either and I love him for it. He's an interesting character and I appreciated the fact that he was always honest and didn't try to change Yves. He was always there for her but not in an overbearing kind of way. I didn't expect what happened near the end of the novel at the club but I liked the manner in which it was put in the book, and addressed the stereotype associated with it.
Overall, I enjoyed this more and more as the book went on, and I'm glad I ended up requesting it. I must admit, it did at first seem like it was just a typical bad boy good girl situation with the roles swapped, but it was so much more than that. I would definitely recommend reading this if you're looking for a romance, but please beware that there are mentions of both physical and sexual abuse in the book. If you're looking to read this, find it on Netgalley here: https://s2.netgalley.com/catalog/book...
May 12, 2015
“Instead of fucking him, she was going to write a book.”
IN HER CLOSET‘s Yves is smart, sexy, brash, and kind of badass. Elijah is an editor, a fan of Yves work, and in need of a breakout star. He makes her an offer too good to pass up and so begins their story.
A while back I posted about an erotic trope I find quite annoying, that of the horribly damaged or severely abused BDSM practitioner. I wondered why there couldn’t be a character who was in the lifestyle simply because he or she enjoyed it rather than because they were abused by a child therapist or suffered horribly at the hands of a violent lover. In a similar vein, the typical erotic novel leaves me wishing for something smarter, more complex, better written. And of course, more diversity is always a bonus and oftentimes severely lacking.
Then along comes Tasha L. Harrison.
Tasha writes good sex. And even better sexual tension. Her characters are well-developed, diverse*, smart, and relatable – none of that billionaire boys club going on in this series – and the chemistry between them is scorching. Yves’ sexy, dirty mouth plays perfectly against Elijah’s stubborn resistance, their scenes together are tense and amusing…
and surprisingly realistic.
Much of this genre is so fantastical – the sullen billionaires and private jets and all sorts of other accoutrements of the rich and fabulous – that the details start to bleed into each other, all the hot, white boys become difficult to differentiate, and ultimately what could be interesting turns into something quite generic.
This is hardly the case with Tasha and her characters – there is nothing generic about them.
Add the bonus of being spared another tortured and tormented BDSM enthusiast – thank you, Tasha, for creating Elijah – and you’ve got a great read for anyone who likes their romance smart, tense, diverse, and mind-blowingly hot.
*oh, and don’t let the book cover throw you – IN HER CLOSET‘s Yves is brown and sexy and all kinds of gorgeous. Maybe if we beg her, Tasha will give us the diverse cover this book deserves.
IN HER CLOSET‘s Yves is smart, sexy, brash, and kind of badass. Elijah is an editor, a fan of Yves work, and in need of a breakout star. He makes her an offer too good to pass up and so begins their story.
A while back I posted about an erotic trope I find quite annoying, that of the horribly damaged or severely abused BDSM practitioner. I wondered why there couldn’t be a character who was in the lifestyle simply because he or she enjoyed it rather than because they were abused by a child therapist or suffered horribly at the hands of a violent lover. In a similar vein, the typical erotic novel leaves me wishing for something smarter, more complex, better written. And of course, more diversity is always a bonus and oftentimes severely lacking.
Then along comes Tasha L. Harrison.
Tasha writes good sex. And even better sexual tension. Her characters are well-developed, diverse*, smart, and relatable – none of that billionaire boys club going on in this series – and the chemistry between them is scorching. Yves’ sexy, dirty mouth plays perfectly against Elijah’s stubborn resistance, their scenes together are tense and amusing…
and surprisingly realistic.
Much of this genre is so fantastical – the sullen billionaires and private jets and all sorts of other accoutrements of the rich and fabulous – that the details start to bleed into each other, all the hot, white boys become difficult to differentiate, and ultimately what could be interesting turns into something quite generic.
This is hardly the case with Tasha and her characters – there is nothing generic about them.
Add the bonus of being spared another tortured and tormented BDSM enthusiast – thank you, Tasha, for creating Elijah – and you’ve got a great read for anyone who likes their romance smart, tense, diverse, and mind-blowingly hot.
*oh, and don’t let the book cover throw you – IN HER CLOSET‘s Yves is brown and sexy and all kinds of gorgeous. Maybe if we beg her, Tasha will give us the diverse cover this book deserves.
February 26, 2022
An interracial romance following an Afrolatina abuse survivor who is determined to claim and protect her sexual agency.
Final impressions:
• Behind the fun premise lies a hard-hitting story that gets dark, turbulent, and painful to read.
• This novel tackles the journey of a jaded survivor recovering from an abusive partner and how the trauma has affected all aspects of her life, including her personal relationship with sex and intimacy. Thus, despite the fun series title (The Lust Diaries), this isn't a book to dive into blindly and lightly.
• What really drew my interest in this book was the main character having an anonymous sex blog. So I was pretty disappointed that while her blog provided an avenue for Yves and Elijah to connect, the blog itself played a very minor role to the story. I was hoping for more blog entries or some insight into the blogging niche?
• While this book does touch on the topic of BDSM, I wouldn't readily categorize this book under the BDSM subgenre. Simply because that's all we get: a touch, a whiff, a scene. Also, I'm a little bit iffy that
• In terms of satisfaction, I found In Her Closet abrupt and lacking. I understand that it's meant to set up the rest of the series. However, I don't think the setup was done well, especially in building a bond/connection with the main characters.
• In line with this, while I am all about sexual liberation, I felt that the story's preoccupation with sex held it back from fully exploring its emotional layers and from presenting the characters as dimensional. I think Elijah's character suffered the most in terms of coming across as shallow.
• There was also a weird conversation about immigration that felt really out of place in the book.
• By the way, why was it never explained how Elijah could be really rich from an assistant editor position?
The more I type out my thoughts, the more I wonder why I would even recommend In Her Closet to anyone. However, I can see what this book is trying to do, and I'm certain that there are readers out there who would appreciate its goal more than I do. With that, I don't think it's fair of me to actively dissuade readers from giving it a chance.
Recommended with caution.*
[ trigger/ content warnings: ]
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
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Final impressions:
• Behind the fun premise lies a hard-hitting story that gets dark, turbulent, and painful to read.
• This novel tackles the journey of a jaded survivor recovering from an abusive partner and how the trauma has affected all aspects of her life, including her personal relationship with sex and intimacy. Thus, despite the fun series title (The Lust Diaries), this isn't a book to dive into blindly and lightly.
• What really drew my interest in this book was the main character having an anonymous sex blog. So I was pretty disappointed that while her blog provided an avenue for Yves and Elijah to connect, the blog itself played a very minor role to the story. I was hoping for more blog entries or some insight into the blogging niche?
• While this book does touch on the topic of BDSM, I wouldn't readily categorize this book under the BDSM subgenre. Simply because that's all we get: a touch, a whiff, a scene. Also, I'm a little bit iffy that
• In terms of satisfaction, I found In Her Closet abrupt and lacking. I understand that it's meant to set up the rest of the series. However, I don't think the setup was done well, especially in building a bond/connection with the main characters.
• In line with this, while I am all about sexual liberation, I felt that the story's preoccupation with sex held it back from fully exploring its emotional layers and from presenting the characters as dimensional. I think Elijah's character suffered the most in terms of coming across as shallow.
• There was also a weird conversation about immigration that felt really out of place in the book.
• By the way, why was it never explained how Elijah could be really rich from an assistant editor position?
The more I type out my thoughts, the more I wonder why I would even recommend In Her Closet to anyone. However, I can see what this book is trying to do, and I'm certain that there are readers out there who would appreciate its goal more than I do. With that, I don't think it's fair of me to actively dissuade readers from giving it a chance.
Recommended with caution.*
[ trigger/ content warnings: ]
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
instagram • pinterest • twitter • ko-fi
June 16, 2017
Yves, an anonymous sex blogger, is the queen of one night stands. She even has a collection of men's shirts in her closet. She keeps these shirts like they are trophies.
Because of her troubled past, she feels no emotion for her prey. But then Elijah comes along and makes her feel again. He also wants her to write a book about her blog.
The sexual tension between the two is hot. But he won't have sex with her unless he knows Yves will be committed to him and his lifestyle.
Overall, I enjoyed In Her Closet. There was some abuse, but the scene was quick. I look forward to reading book #2.
February 16, 2015
Reviewed at Lost In A Book
This was not bad at all. I actually really enjoyed it. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but it was still good. With it being called "The Lust Diaries Book One", I assumed it would be the stories from her dirty blog. I'm glad it wasn't though. This is more her journey to finding herself through publishing her blog.
Some of the characters were unnerving. Especially her family and their obsession with Cesar. I just didn't understand that. I guess there are some things that I just don't get, but that's like with everything whether it be real life or fiction, you never truly understand the motives of other people.
The synopsis talks about skeletons in her closet, which had me thinking in one direction. The issues that Yves has, I wouldn't really call skeletons. If you are considering this, you should be warned: if you have abuse triggers, this may not be for you.
I loved Elijah. He definitely kept Yves on her toes. And without his wanting to publish her blog, she may have lived under that gray cloud forever.
I am curious about the next books and what they hold. Hopefully, I'll be able to get to them soon.
*Copy received from NovelReviewers.com for review purposes.
This was not bad at all. I actually really enjoyed it. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but it was still good. With it being called "The Lust Diaries Book One", I assumed it would be the stories from her dirty blog. I'm glad it wasn't though. This is more her journey to finding herself through publishing her blog.
Some of the characters were unnerving. Especially her family and their obsession with Cesar. I just didn't understand that. I guess there are some things that I just don't get, but that's like with everything whether it be real life or fiction, you never truly understand the motives of other people.
The synopsis talks about skeletons in her closet, which had me thinking in one direction. The issues that Yves has, I wouldn't really call skeletons. If you are considering this, you should be warned: if you have abuse triggers, this may not be for you.
I loved Elijah. He definitely kept Yves on her toes. And without his wanting to publish her blog, she may have lived under that gray cloud forever.
I am curious about the next books and what they hold. Hopefully, I'll be able to get to them soon.
*Copy received from NovelReviewers.com for review purposes.
June 30, 2018
I rated this 2 stars right after I finished, because I did like Yves and how unapologetic she was, but after sitting on it for a day, I’m not comfortable with even that small endorsement. The bdsm, which comes out of nowhere at the 67% mark, is dangerous. It’s not safe* - no discussions of risks, limits, or safe words before the first scene. Yves is not in an emotional place to engage in any relationship and especially not a sadomasochistic one. And the scene in the sex club is not consensual. She’s drunk, to start, even if you’re ok with a surprise voyeurism scene and public fingering. And the worst part is, the book knows it. Elijah knows Yves isn’t mentally good and advises her to see a rape counselor before they continue, but then it immediately falls into a HORRIBLY PROBLEMATIC bdsm trope: we don’t need professional help because bdsm is therapy.
It’s not.
Also the book compares kink to being LGBTQIA and I can’t.
*SSC is the acronym most people know but I have skipped the second “S” as it is falling out of favor in the community and rightly so. “Sane” is ableist and implies mentally ill people cannot consent or make good relationship decisions. Yves’ trauma and abuse do not mean that other trauma victims shouldn’t partake in the lifestyle.
It’s not.
Also the book compares kink to being LGBTQIA and I can’t.
*SSC is the acronym most people know but I have skipped the second “S” as it is falling out of favor in the community and rightly so. “Sane” is ableist and implies mentally ill people cannot consent or make good relationship decisions. Yves’ trauma and abuse do not mean that other trauma victims shouldn’t partake in the lifestyle.
January 19, 2025
3.5-4 stars This book felt a little drawn out and I actually was a bit bored until the 3rd act. Now I’m invested, so on to the second book.
August 15, 2017
Man... see...
I literally forgot about life reading this.
Yves is just...
Elijah... man... see...
I can't even say much without spoilers.
Now I gotta get the next one!
I literally forgot about life reading this.
Yves is just...
Elijah... man... see...
I can't even say much without spoilers.
Now I gotta get the next one!
September 21, 2011
Originally reviewed at The Forbidden Bookshelf
4.5 Stars
Yves Santiago is one adventurous, sexually liberated chick! I really liked this sassy character a lot. She was an independent woman and I liked her unapologetic care-free spirit. But Yves had a lot of hurt feelings and old baggage that she carried around and her journey towards finding her “happy” was sometimes hard to watch.
Yves is a staff writer for a Philadelphia newspaper, penning a weekly lifestyle column about the nightlife and entertainment in the city with personal anecdotes thrown in to liven up the column. She reminded me of Carrie Bradshaw from Sex in the City with her addiction to designer clothes and shoes.
Yves has had a long succession of one-night stands with random strangers ever since breaking up with her fiancé, Cesar. She tries to bury her hurt feelings and broken self-esteem by engaging in meaningless sexcapades and is uninterested in the consequences. Even though she has many people around her that love her and want to take care of her she doesn’t feel she deserves it.
Julian Webster is a wealthy, well known painter that Yves meets at a reggae club. He’s a young virile man that falls hard for Yves. He tries but fails to get more out of Yves than a one night stand. Julian was very sweet and sexy and I really liked his character. He pays tribute to Yves in a pretty awesome way.
Yves then meets an androgynous woman named, Alexa DeCosta at the opening of her BDSM club. She and Yves begin a sexual relationship that surprisingly lasts more than one night. Alexa is a dominatrix who thinks she can bring Yves’ submissive masochist feelings to the surface. Yves doesn’t want to believe that she gets off on that type of lifestyle but Alexa is determined to change her mind. Even though she was willing to let Yves dominate her during their first encounter I still didn’t trust Alexa and I don’t think Yves did either. There was something obsessive compulsive in Alexa’s personality that was a bit creepy.
Then finally there was drop dead gorgeous, Elijah Weinstein, the book editor who wanted Yves to write a memoir in hopes of turning her into a published author. Now, this man just seemed too good to be true. And he doesn’t make it a secret that he is very attracted to her. Of course Yves is only too happy to jump his bones and scratch her itch. But Elijah gives her an ultimatum that he will only make love to her when she is ready to give him her heart. And he very patiently waits for her to sort out her complicated life. Yves is lucky enough to have all these people wanting to love and cherish her but she’s so broken down emotionally she doesn’t have the capacity to let anyone in. Can she trust anyone enough to be in a real relationship?
In Her Closet was a very well written and entertaining novel that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I liked the complex characters and their interactions with each other. The witty dialogue kept the story from being too dark and the occasional spots of Spanish dialogue highlighted Yves Dominican heritage. The sex scenes were plentiful and very steamy but it was the emotional storyline that made this a great book. In Her Closet gets 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Heat Level 4.5 out of 5 flames
4.5 Stars
Yves Santiago is one adventurous, sexually liberated chick! I really liked this sassy character a lot. She was an independent woman and I liked her unapologetic care-free spirit. But Yves had a lot of hurt feelings and old baggage that she carried around and her journey towards finding her “happy” was sometimes hard to watch.
Yves is a staff writer for a Philadelphia newspaper, penning a weekly lifestyle column about the nightlife and entertainment in the city with personal anecdotes thrown in to liven up the column. She reminded me of Carrie Bradshaw from Sex in the City with her addiction to designer clothes and shoes.
Yves has had a long succession of one-night stands with random strangers ever since breaking up with her fiancé, Cesar. She tries to bury her hurt feelings and broken self-esteem by engaging in meaningless sexcapades and is uninterested in the consequences. Even though she has many people around her that love her and want to take care of her she doesn’t feel she deserves it.
Julian Webster is a wealthy, well known painter that Yves meets at a reggae club. He’s a young virile man that falls hard for Yves. He tries but fails to get more out of Yves than a one night stand. Julian was very sweet and sexy and I really liked his character. He pays tribute to Yves in a pretty awesome way.
Yves then meets an androgynous woman named, Alexa DeCosta at the opening of her BDSM club. She and Yves begin a sexual relationship that surprisingly lasts more than one night. Alexa is a dominatrix who thinks she can bring Yves’ submissive masochist feelings to the surface. Yves doesn’t want to believe that she gets off on that type of lifestyle but Alexa is determined to change her mind. Even though she was willing to let Yves dominate her during their first encounter I still didn’t trust Alexa and I don’t think Yves did either. There was something obsessive compulsive in Alexa’s personality that was a bit creepy.
Then finally there was drop dead gorgeous, Elijah Weinstein, the book editor who wanted Yves to write a memoir in hopes of turning her into a published author. Now, this man just seemed too good to be true. And he doesn’t make it a secret that he is very attracted to her. Of course Yves is only too happy to jump his bones and scratch her itch. But Elijah gives her an ultimatum that he will only make love to her when she is ready to give him her heart. And he very patiently waits for her to sort out her complicated life. Yves is lucky enough to have all these people wanting to love and cherish her but she’s so broken down emotionally she doesn’t have the capacity to let anyone in. Can she trust anyone enough to be in a real relationship?
In Her Closet was a very well written and entertaining novel that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I liked the complex characters and their interactions with each other. The witty dialogue kept the story from being too dark and the occasional spots of Spanish dialogue highlighted Yves Dominican heritage. The sex scenes were plentiful and very steamy but it was the emotional storyline that made this a great book. In Her Closet gets 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Heat Level 4.5 out of 5 flames
June 21, 2015
Received a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, I liked this book a whole lot more than I was expecting. I mean, the summary alone sounded incredible (and a Latina narrator? Sign me up am I right) and I was excited for it, but I didn’t think I would walk away from it as content as I did.
I’ve read a lot of erotica this month, and this one has to be the absolute best because, holy cow, I actually liked the love interest. Elijah cared about Yves, both in and out of the bedroom; he wanted a relationship with her before he got her into bed, even though she was consistently offering just the opposite; he listened to her and respected her and didn’t expect anything out of her, which is more than I can say for the love interests for the other erotica I’ve been diving into this month. When it came to his kinks, he was all about safe words and consent and making sure that she understood what she was getting into before getting into it – and while these are things expected out of a decent human being, it was almost amazing to read after all of the bad erotica I’ve read.
Yves is also just such an awesome protagonist. She’s funny, she’s real, she’s complex, and she is just so easy to love. By the second chapter, I was already feeling protective of her, and I wanted nothing but the best things to happen to her. I felt her every emotion, her every feeling, and that emotional openness was so refreshing – even when she wasn’t open to Elijah or her family or even herself, she was open to the reader. I loved it and I loved her, and she really just made this entire story.
Another incredible thing about In Her Closet was how it talked about BDSM and kinks. Elijah wasn’t some billionaire bad boy who undressed women with his eyes and had a dark and abuse-riddled past; he was a regular guy with a normal-enough background who just so happened to have a BDSM kink. When he took Yves to The Den, a BDSM club, it wasn’t some seedy place on the bad side of town; it was a restaurant above a cellar where people consensually acted out their sexual fantasies. What I thought was most interesting was Yves’ reaction to his kink: it took her a while to understand it, to accept it, to want it in return. She had to process through it, think about what she wanted and what she would be able to give him, before she was able to come to a decision. That process – the process of thinking things through, of deciding comfort levels, of making a decision based on her ease – was so important to see, and I love that Harrison included that in this novel.
In Her Closet covered so much ground: slut shaming, comfort in sex, kinks, consent, domestic abuse, domesticity and monogamy, family, trust, opening up, moving on – it’s hard to believe that so much was packed into one 200 page novel. But Harrison covered all of this and more, with colorful characters and a moving plot that made for a beautiful read.
Wow, I liked this book a whole lot more than I was expecting. I mean, the summary alone sounded incredible (and a Latina narrator? Sign me up am I right) and I was excited for it, but I didn’t think I would walk away from it as content as I did.
I’ve read a lot of erotica this month, and this one has to be the absolute best because, holy cow, I actually liked the love interest. Elijah cared about Yves, both in and out of the bedroom; he wanted a relationship with her before he got her into bed, even though she was consistently offering just the opposite; he listened to her and respected her and didn’t expect anything out of her, which is more than I can say for the love interests for the other erotica I’ve been diving into this month. When it came to his kinks, he was all about safe words and consent and making sure that she understood what she was getting into before getting into it – and while these are things expected out of a decent human being, it was almost amazing to read after all of the bad erotica I’ve read.
Yves is also just such an awesome protagonist. She’s funny, she’s real, she’s complex, and she is just so easy to love. By the second chapter, I was already feeling protective of her, and I wanted nothing but the best things to happen to her. I felt her every emotion, her every feeling, and that emotional openness was so refreshing – even when she wasn’t open to Elijah or her family or even herself, she was open to the reader. I loved it and I loved her, and she really just made this entire story.
Another incredible thing about In Her Closet was how it talked about BDSM and kinks. Elijah wasn’t some billionaire bad boy who undressed women with his eyes and had a dark and abuse-riddled past; he was a regular guy with a normal-enough background who just so happened to have a BDSM kink. When he took Yves to The Den, a BDSM club, it wasn’t some seedy place on the bad side of town; it was a restaurant above a cellar where people consensually acted out their sexual fantasies. What I thought was most interesting was Yves’ reaction to his kink: it took her a while to understand it, to accept it, to want it in return. She had to process through it, think about what she wanted and what she would be able to give him, before she was able to come to a decision. That process – the process of thinking things through, of deciding comfort levels, of making a decision based on her ease – was so important to see, and I love that Harrison included that in this novel.
In Her Closet covered so much ground: slut shaming, comfort in sex, kinks, consent, domestic abuse, domesticity and monogamy, family, trust, opening up, moving on – it’s hard to believe that so much was packed into one 200 page novel. But Harrison covered all of this and more, with colorful characters and a moving plot that made for a beautiful read.
April 24, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It had some pretty intense scenes, for which I would have liked a disclaimer. Yves (great name by the way), was an amazing character, very relatable and real. I liked how the book was more about her and her journey, rather than a typical romance. I especially liked how she owned her sexuality and was not ashamed of it even when she was being trolled by her family for 'sleeping around'. I wish we could have gotten more of a background on Elijah. He was the potential love interest, but we didn't learn much about him. I think the whole Julian storyline was a little unnecessary. It just seemed like there was so much going on with Yves, Elijah and Cesar, that there wasn't really any room for characters to fully connect with Julian. However, I didn't realize that this book was part of a trilogy, so perhaps Julian will become more important in the following two books. Julian's dialogue was very tedious to read, it was made clear in the beginning that he was Jamaican, I didn't feel like it was necessary to attempt to write his lines in a Jamaican accent or whatever that was. It just made it more difficult to read and made me resent his appearances in the book a bit. Cesar's character development was excellent. I liked how his past actions were revealed in bits and pieces and we didn't get the full story till near the end. I definitely wish we got more of a background on Gabby. I really want to know how she could betray her best friend quite so spectacularly and still manage to make herself out to be the victim. It would have been nice to get more of a look into Yves' relationship with her brother, Marcelo. That seemed like a friendly, positive relationship, which would have contrasted well with her slightly more tense relationship with her sister, Mercedes (Another great name btw). Overall, it was a great book and I wish I would have waited until after my final exams to read it because now I'm so tempted to read the following two books when I really should be revising.
March 2, 2016
4 Lusty Stars
Review copy received via NetGalley for an honest review
Currently FREE on Amazon!
Review also posted on Mara's Bookshelf
"You can't understand how much I want you. I want to claim you. Devour you. Consume you. These are not things I can do by half. Do you understand that? I will destroy you, Yves. And I'll love every minute of it."
Oh! Oh! Oh! Looks like I have another trilogy in my grabby hands and I loved it! I thought I would have gone tired of this theme, erotic/BDSM trilogies, but lucky for me Tasha L. Harrison writes an enjoyable and captivating story. Or maybe it's her writing that lured me in the first place? Or maybe it's both? Whatever it is, In Her Closet was a wonderful read for me.
Yves and Elijah were two characters I easily connected with. Their personalities were likable and from there, my admiration for both of them developed into something more as the story went along. I didn't always agree with them but as a reader, I understand that whatever they've been through in the past and how they handled and still handle it are part of the story. The tension and drama in this book didn't let me sleep until I got to the end, only it left me wanting more! I don't consider this as a major cliffhanger but it was enough for my grabby little hands to want to continue on to the rest of the story.
Stars: 4 stars
Recommended to: If you like sexy, suspenseful romance... you know what to do. 1-click your copy now. This is currently FREE on Amazon Kindle!
Series: Book 1 of 3.
POV: First person. Female POV.
Extra Comment: I love Maniac!
July 12, 2015
ARC provided by the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
4 Stars
Review of In Her Closet by Tasha L. Harrison.
In her Closet is about Yves Santiago an entertainment columnist and a blogger who writes about her sex life anonymously on her blog, Lust Diaries and Elijah Weinstein a nonfiction editor wanting to publish her blog as a book.
I liked the book because the characters were so complex and well developed. I have read quite a few books with plain characters so I was delighted to read In Her Closet with such wonderful characters.
Yves is a heroine with balls. She does what she wants and does not care what others think of her. As the story continued I learned more about Yves and started to love her and feel protective of her. She is strong but at the same time vulnerable and insecure. That made her even more realistic.
Elijah is not your typical Billionaire with a shady past who is into BDSM. He is caring and loving.
The best thing about Elijah was that he is not the type for fuck and flee. He wants a serious relationship with Yves and refuses to sleep with her until she gives him her heart.
The story was awesome because you could feel the chemistry between Yves and Elijah. The one thing I did not like was that Julian an artist and one-night stand of Yves. He is trying to win her over even when he knows that Yves is together with Elijah. I am not a fan of love triangles.
4 Stars
Review of In Her Closet by Tasha L. Harrison.
In her Closet is about Yves Santiago an entertainment columnist and a blogger who writes about her sex life anonymously on her blog, Lust Diaries and Elijah Weinstein a nonfiction editor wanting to publish her blog as a book.
I liked the book because the characters were so complex and well developed. I have read quite a few books with plain characters so I was delighted to read In Her Closet with such wonderful characters.
Yves is a heroine with balls. She does what she wants and does not care what others think of her. As the story continued I learned more about Yves and started to love her and feel protective of her. She is strong but at the same time vulnerable and insecure. That made her even more realistic.
Elijah is not your typical Billionaire with a shady past who is into BDSM. He is caring and loving.
The best thing about Elijah was that he is not the type for fuck and flee. He wants a serious relationship with Yves and refuses to sleep with her until she gives him her heart.
The story was awesome because you could feel the chemistry between Yves and Elijah. The one thing I did not like was that Julian an artist and one-night stand of Yves. He is trying to win her over even when he knows that Yves is together with Elijah. I am not a fan of love triangles.
March 23, 2022
I've had this one on my list to get to for a long time...like since 2014. One of my goals of 2021 and now 2022 is to get my backlist completed, so why not kick of my 2022 clean up with something quick, spicy, and fun. In Her Closet is raunchy, sexy, and a quick, but packed with depth read. It starts off with a bang, taking readers right into one of Yves' famous one night stands, and ends with, well, a journey into self love and letting others in.
This one was fun, I enjoyed Yves' foray into a relationship, I just couldn't get over the writing. I know it's probably been edited since it's release when I got my hand on it, so I'll have to give it the benefit of the doubt and say it's just my 2014 copy that's lacking some editing attention. Otherwise, this one is great, with a developed main character, a heap of good looking men, tons of spicy fun, and character growth that makes it feel complete. Yves doesn't let her past own her, she doesn't let anyone own her except herself. I loved the idea of a woman owning her sex life, though I wish it hadn't been billed as "like a man," and I think the idea of The Lust Diaries blog was excellent. Unfortunately, where this one misses the mark, beyond the writing, was the BDSM journey Yves' embarks on. It's rushed, and feels like the true focal point of the story rather than that of Yves' personal journey.
It's a good start to a series, just wish there'd been more attention given to the characters rather than their sex lives.
This one was fun, I enjoyed Yves' foray into a relationship, I just couldn't get over the writing. I know it's probably been edited since it's release when I got my hand on it, so I'll have to give it the benefit of the doubt and say it's just my 2014 copy that's lacking some editing attention. Otherwise, this one is great, with a developed main character, a heap of good looking men, tons of spicy fun, and character growth that makes it feel complete. Yves doesn't let her past own her, she doesn't let anyone own her except herself. I loved the idea of a woman owning her sex life, though I wish it hadn't been billed as "like a man," and I think the idea of The Lust Diaries blog was excellent. Unfortunately, where this one misses the mark, beyond the writing, was the BDSM journey Yves' embarks on. It's rushed, and feels like the true focal point of the story rather than that of Yves' personal journey.
It's a good start to a series, just wish there'd been more attention given to the characters rather than their sex lives.
December 2, 2014
I enjoyed In Her Closet. The book was very entertaining and I had a hard time setting it down. In the beginning it was refreshing to see Yves a young woman so in charge of herself and sex life. You soon find how she became so jaded.
That being said, based on the book blurb, I didn't anticipate certain storylines. This book contains mental and physical abuse. It was difficult to read since I wasn't expecting it. If this is a hard limit I wouldn't recommend reading it.
Also, while the book deals with some aspects of BDSM, I wouldn't put it in that genre. This was only touched upon towards the end of the book. It wasn't all that kinky.
I liked both most characters in the book. While I think some deserved a good shaking.
I was a bit disappointed that certain storylines were glossed over. I would have loved to read more about her parents and Julian.
Lastly this is part of a trilogy. It's interesting enough that I'll be reading part two.
I was given the opportunity to read this book through Novel Reviews for a honest review.
That being said, based on the book blurb, I didn't anticipate certain storylines. This book contains mental and physical abuse. It was difficult to read since I wasn't expecting it. If this is a hard limit I wouldn't recommend reading it.
Also, while the book deals with some aspects of BDSM, I wouldn't put it in that genre. This was only touched upon towards the end of the book. It wasn't all that kinky.
I liked both most characters in the book. While I think some deserved a good shaking.
I was a bit disappointed that certain storylines were glossed over. I would have loved to read more about her parents and Julian.
Lastly this is part of a trilogy. It's interesting enough that I'll be reading part two.
I was given the opportunity to read this book through Novel Reviews for a honest review.
June 11, 2015
You can’t understand how much I want you. I want to claim you. Devour you. Consume you. These are not things I can do by half. Do you understand that? I will destroy you, Yves. And I’ll love every minute of it.”
Oh, MY. I might still be panting. From the first page to the last, Yves is a compelling character. Her story on the surface could be any of ours-- hurt by a past love, she's decided that she doesn't 'date' and she doesn't do 'relationships and she definitely does not 'do love'. But that as before she met Eli and he made her want to do, be, feel more than she ever imagined she might.
This book was just what I needed, exactly when I needed it. I had the pleasure of conversing with the author on social media and she is a delight! Well written and on fire. Bravo.
Oh, MY. I might still be panting. From the first page to the last, Yves is a compelling character. Her story on the surface could be any of ours-- hurt by a past love, she's decided that she doesn't 'date' and she doesn't do 'relationships and she definitely does not 'do love'. But that as before she met Eli and he made her want to do, be, feel more than she ever imagined she might.
This book was just what I needed, exactly when I needed it. I had the pleasure of conversing with the author on social media and she is a delight! Well written and on fire. Bravo.
January 14, 2015
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway so it deserves a review.
This book was good. There was lots of sex but I think the best part of the book was the characters. The lead was messed up emotionally and you get the reason why. I did like her as a sexual woman. Too many characters these days are too "innocent" and almost afraid of sex. It did contain some abuse and Bdsm. I kinda wanted more from the ending.
Overall, pretty good book.
This book was good. There was lots of sex but I think the best part of the book was the characters. The lead was messed up emotionally and you get the reason why. I did like her as a sexual woman. Too many characters these days are too "innocent" and almost afraid of sex. It did contain some abuse and Bdsm. I kinda wanted more from the ending.
Overall, pretty good book.
October 10, 2018
I started this somehow not knowing it was a romance book?
Anyhow, I think this was very middle of the road. I felt the characters were slightly underdeveloped (especially main characters - think Yves, Elijah, Cesar and Yves' mother), and seemed to rely slightly on archetypes. At times they diverged, but this seemed purely situational and expressed via dialogue. I think given that this was partly a character study for Yves, it was difficult to connect to the story when the characterisation was iffy.
I found Elijah's character too... easy, too obvious. I'm not exactly sure, but he seemed to cater to every need slightly too well. And yes, I know this is a romance novel, so that sort of thing is to be expected, but this definitely intends to be more diverse and just more interesting than a stock standard romance novel, so I'd expect the same of the characters.
I also found some of his behaviour really paternalistic and possessive in a negative way? Considering that Yves has an abusive ex, this should've been a red flag, and certainly was to me. The language he used was not kosher with me, and perhaps was a foreshadow for character development later, but just fell really flat for me.
That, and, I felt Yves changed too quickly and to completely to be... natural or normal for a person. It was definitely to move the plot along, I think, than a progression of a character.
I felt her info dumps to Elijah were somewhat unrealistic - not the act of spilling secrets to a stranger necessarily - but for her, being a somewhat cagey person about details, it does. Perhaps better characterisation of Elijah as trustworthy would've made that seem more natural.
Plot-wise, I think this had an interesting premise and I'm glad to see that a woman can be portrayed as promiscuous without being shamed. Yves manifesto to 'live life like a man would' is a fantastically hilarious exposé on double-standards, though I would've liked to see her true thoughts about the politics of that more. She was opinionated, that was expressed, but exactly what opinions I would've liked to see. The narrative arc of an abusive ex-partner tends to be very similar across the board; and that same story is repeated here. Showing the signs of that is key, which Harrison portrays well. I felt some more depth could've been added, to truly expose the effects that has on Yves but also her brother, who was best friends with the abuser.
I adored the diversity here - Yves is Dominican (and obviously the rest of her family is), Elijah is Jewish, a brief Jamaican fling, and a Latina best friend. No LGBTQI+ characters (that we know of, yet, at least), but considering the raring lack of racial diversity in fiction generally, anything is a bonus. It's not integral to the story, which I like; it's just a fact of Yves' life. I think that 'casual diversity' is necessary, alongside stories that explicate the intricacies of race. Stories like this help in the battle toward inclusion, diversity and intersectionality.
Otherwise, the book had some really funny moments, but the majority fell flat for me (I had examples, but they were somehow deleted from my Kindle).
I think what is interesting is this book shows many different kinds of love; platonic, romantic, familial, maternal, sexual. I think each one had an important one in Yves life, which is overlooked in many types of fiction.
There was just something superficial and too typical of Yves thought processes and actions for me. I can't put my finger on quite what exactly missed the mark for me, but this book is neither bad nor great.
Anyhow, I think this was very middle of the road. I felt the characters were slightly underdeveloped (especially main characters - think Yves, Elijah, Cesar and Yves' mother), and seemed to rely slightly on archetypes. At times they diverged, but this seemed purely situational and expressed via dialogue. I think given that this was partly a character study for Yves, it was difficult to connect to the story when the characterisation was iffy.
I found Elijah's character too... easy, too obvious. I'm not exactly sure, but he seemed to cater to every need slightly too well. And yes, I know this is a romance novel, so that sort of thing is to be expected, but this definitely intends to be more diverse and just more interesting than a stock standard romance novel, so I'd expect the same of the characters.
I also found some of his behaviour really paternalistic and possessive in a negative way? Considering that Yves has an abusive ex, this should've been a red flag, and certainly was to me. The language he used was not kosher with me, and perhaps was a foreshadow for character development later, but just fell really flat for me.
That, and, I felt Yves changed too quickly and to completely to be... natural or normal for a person. It was definitely to move the plot along, I think, than a progression of a character.
I felt her info dumps to Elijah were somewhat unrealistic - not the act of spilling secrets to a stranger necessarily - but for her, being a somewhat cagey person about details, it does. Perhaps better characterisation of Elijah as trustworthy would've made that seem more natural.
Plot-wise, I think this had an interesting premise and I'm glad to see that a woman can be portrayed as promiscuous without being shamed. Yves manifesto to 'live life like a man would' is a fantastically hilarious exposé on double-standards, though I would've liked to see her true thoughts about the politics of that more. She was opinionated, that was expressed, but exactly what opinions I would've liked to see. The narrative arc of an abusive ex-partner tends to be very similar across the board; and that same story is repeated here. Showing the signs of that is key, which Harrison portrays well. I felt some more depth could've been added, to truly expose the effects that has on Yves but also her brother, who was best friends with the abuser.
I adored the diversity here - Yves is Dominican (and obviously the rest of her family is), Elijah is Jewish, a brief Jamaican fling, and a Latina best friend. No LGBTQI+ characters (that we know of, yet, at least), but considering the raring lack of racial diversity in fiction generally, anything is a bonus. It's not integral to the story, which I like; it's just a fact of Yves' life. I think that 'casual diversity' is necessary, alongside stories that explicate the intricacies of race. Stories like this help in the battle toward inclusion, diversity and intersectionality.
Otherwise, the book had some really funny moments, but the majority fell flat for me (I had examples, but they were somehow deleted from my Kindle).
I think what is interesting is this book shows many different kinds of love; platonic, romantic, familial, maternal, sexual. I think each one had an important one in Yves life, which is overlooked in many types of fiction.
There was just something superficial and too typical of Yves thought processes and actions for me. I can't put my finger on quite what exactly missed the mark for me, but this book is neither bad nor great.
June 20, 2017
The edition I have has a weird text format to it. It appears to be as if someone took the ebook version of the book and just printed it out. Some paragraphs have larger spacing than others. Some sentences are indented in the middle. Some words are hyphenated in the wrong places (i.e. anything typed as "an-ything".
When it comes to the book itself, I don't really know what to say. I had the book recommended to me and the person described it as "different"--which was accurate. It didn't really fit into what I was looking for.
After 260+ pages, I know nothing about the love interest other than he's editor at a publishing company, he's Jewish with loving parents, and he's into bdsm. What his hobbies, dislikes or childhood was like, I have no clue. The protagonist, I know a bit about and she's alright.
I rarely pick up erotica for plot so I was disappointed that the real bdsm action only really happened at the end. I'll have to read the next book to get it so that's disappointing.
Trigger warnings for domestic abuse, sexual assault, and child death
When it comes to the book itself, I don't really know what to say. I had the book recommended to me and the person described it as "different"--which was accurate. It didn't really fit into what I was looking for.
After 260+ pages, I know nothing about the love interest other than he's editor at a publishing company, he's Jewish with loving parents, and he's into bdsm. What his hobbies, dislikes or childhood was like, I have no clue. The protagonist, I know a bit about and she's alright.
I rarely pick up erotica for plot so I was disappointed that the real bdsm action only really happened at the end. I'll have to read the next book to get it so that's disappointing.
Trigger warnings for domestic abuse, sexual assault, and child death
March 17, 2022
This erotic novel was a great read. It didn't just bloom with tales of wild sex. It actually followed through with a real story. At first, I didn't like Yves. I felt she was trying too hard to be like a man....a super feminist. Then the author laid out her background slowly but surely and I not only fell in love with Yves, but I understood her dysfunction. My heart broke for her. Especially holding in such a big secret to protect Cesar and to hide her shame. Especially as she begged her mother to respect her boundaries and this lady anxiously kept overstepping them. Especially her fear to let true love find her. Elijah came along and became her bestfriend, hero, and love. I wonder if they can last though because a big part of me wanted her to find love with Julian.....
January 20, 2022
Popsugar Reading Challenge: a different book by an author you read in 2021
I read If She Says Yes by Tasha L. Harrison last year and she immediately became a One-Click Author for me. I've loved everything of hers that I've gotten my hands on so far and this story is no exception.
Yves journey...whew. Rollercoaster with the sweetest pay-off. Stories like this are why I read books.
I can't wait to see where her road with Elijah heads next.
I'll still fight your momma for you, Yves!
I read If She Says Yes by Tasha L. Harrison last year and she immediately became a One-Click Author for me. I've loved everything of hers that I've gotten my hands on so far and this story is no exception.
Yves journey...whew. Rollercoaster with the sweetest pay-off. Stories like this are why I read books.
I can't wait to see where her road with Elijah heads next.
I'll still fight your momma for you, Yves!
March 6, 2023
I’m disappointed that I can’t give this one a better rating! I absolutely love everything else I’ve read by this author! I can’t ever seem to put her books down. But the romantic interest in this book is just horrible, I could not root for how toxic the relationship would be (trying to avoid spoilers!) based on how it began. I’m still going to read everything else the author has to offer. I’m already diving into the next in this series.
August 14, 2020
This was... interesting.
I don't ever have an ok time reading about physical abuse and this confirmed it. Tasha is a gifted author and, even though I had my issues with the story, none of it came from any lack of talent in the writting or pace, just simply discomfort with the protagonist problems.
Overall a great book.
I don't ever have an ok time reading about physical abuse and this confirmed it. Tasha is a gifted author and, even though I had my issues with the story, none of it came from any lack of talent in the writting or pace, just simply discomfort with the protagonist problems.
Overall a great book.
September 23, 2017
Nice Sorta Sexy Story
This was a rather nice, sexy story about a blogger with a history of sexual freedom with her choices and actions. Nicely done.
This was a rather nice, sexy story about a blogger with a history of sexual freedom with her choices and actions. Nicely done.
January 28, 2018
Read it in one sitting. Good, but not great.
Warning. If you're a Domestic Abuse survivor, you'll want to be aware there are violent scenes. They are important to the plot.
Warning. If you're a Domestic Abuse survivor, you'll want to be aware there are violent scenes. They are important to the plot.
April 1, 2022
"I Stepped into his personal space; his sandalwood and musk smell invaded my senses."
April 26, 2023
This was a NO for me. This was painful to get through and Yves was so unlikeable. She was trying entirely too hard.
No issue with the lifestyle at all but this story was all over the place.
No issue with the lifestyle at all but this story was all over the place.
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