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Mayfair Madame
What happens when a madame and a curvy detective cross paths? A love so deep, it’s terrifying.
I am the Mayfair madame. I don’t need anyone in my life. I go to exclusive parties, drink the best champagne, wear designer clothes. I live life on my terms, no matter my past.
A past I’ve worked hard to forget. The devils and demons, the foster homes promising a good life, but bringing only heartache and a trauma that never truly left me.
When a night out threatens my serenity and dredges up memories of a darkened room with no escape, Detective Ellie Sharpe steps in. She chases away the blackness, quietens the voices and soothes my soul.
But damn it, I’m falling hard. She’s my sunrise and sunset, my hope and my desire.
Can we learn to love again, together? Can we build a future or is my past too much to forgive?
Mayfair Madame is a lesbian romance, the first in the Mayfair Heights world. Each book will feature a different LGBTA+ pairing including MM and MMM.
I am the Mayfair madame. I don’t need anyone in my life. I go to exclusive parties, drink the best champagne, wear designer clothes. I live life on my terms, no matter my past.
A past I’ve worked hard to forget. The devils and demons, the foster homes promising a good life, but bringing only heartache and a trauma that never truly left me.
When a night out threatens my serenity and dredges up memories of a darkened room with no escape, Detective Ellie Sharpe steps in. She chases away the blackness, quietens the voices and soothes my soul.
But damn it, I’m falling hard. She’s my sunrise and sunset, my hope and my desire.
Can we learn to love again, together? Can we build a future or is my past too much to forgive?
Mayfair Madame is a lesbian romance, the first in the Mayfair Heights world. Each book will feature a different LGBTA+ pairing including MM and MMM.
- GenresRomance
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2025
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Alex J. Adams
24 books177 followersAlex is an MM author from the NW of England. She's married with three grown-up sons and two Tamaskan dogs, her night time companions when she's writing into the early hours!
She writes gritty, realistic, mainly contemporary romance but always with a happy ever after.
Her tagline? Finding Forever - One Chapter at a Time.
An avid reader, she started writing one lunch break, writing her first book in no time at all. From there, her passion grew and The Nava Dance Studios series was born. Her writing style has changed, a darker feel creeping into her work and while she doesn't profess to be a dark author, she covers some socially dark subjects.
She'd love to move somewhere sunny with a beach view, continuing to write about her perfectly, imperfect men.
Follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Bookbub.
She writes gritty, realistic, mainly contemporary romance but always with a happy ever after.
Her tagline? Finding Forever - One Chapter at a Time.
An avid reader, she started writing one lunch break, writing her first book in no time at all. From there, her passion grew and The Nava Dance Studios series was born. Her writing style has changed, a darker feel creeping into her work and while she doesn't profess to be a dark author, she covers some socially dark subjects.
She'd love to move somewhere sunny with a beach view, continuing to write about her perfectly, imperfect men.
Follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Bookbub.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 8, 2025
Mayfair Madame is a beautifully written, touching story about love and acceptance. At the heart of it is Naomi, a confident madame running a high end escort service and Ellie, a detective with quiet insecurities that make her super relatable. What starts as an investigation after an assault on Naomi turns into a heartfelt, powerful romance between two women who find trust, acceptance, and love in each other.
The writing is on point and pulls you right in, with tons of emotional depth. The characters feel real and their struggles are handled with so much heart. Naomi’s strength and compassion balance so well with Ellie’s vulnerability and determination. Watching Ellie open up and grow with Naomi’s love was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The side characters help bring this story home and show you family isn’t always genetics. It’s the bond and love you share with friends. Highly recommend!
The writing is on point and pulls you right in, with tons of emotional depth. The characters feel real and their struggles are handled with so much heart. Naomi’s strength and compassion balance so well with Ellie’s vulnerability and determination. Watching Ellie open up and grow with Naomi’s love was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The side characters help bring this story home and show you family isn’t always genetics. It’s the bond and love you share with friends. Highly recommend!
September 16, 2025
I had a lot of issues with this story, but unfortunately, the biggest problems for me were that two major selling points—the Madame and the curvy love interest—were so poorly done as to be overtly offensive.
In the former, the way Naomi’s job is treated feels suspicious at the best of times and aggressively uncomfortable at the worst. Naomi is an escort who sells her time and no longer directly sells sex to clients. While it is verbally indicated that she doesn’t have a problem with people who do, the tone of the discussion surrounding other types of sex workers is grating, at best. She expressly states she stayed in sex work for the money, and characters repeatedly refer to what she does as being “classier” than sex-selling prostitution, a concept seemingly never contradicted by the narrative or tone. Ellie is clearly embarrassed in some capacity to be with a sex worker (her conversation with Lucy indicates that she is whispering about it, and in this conversation, she even expressly states that she DOES see Naomi as a prostitute to some extent). Despite the story giving lip service to the concept that sex work is fine to do, there is still an implied “grossness” or “low-class” feeling to directly selling sex, in a way that really permeates the whole story.
When it comes to the latter, I strongly believe you should not be allowed to market a story as being about a “curvy” character if their losing weight (due to a near-death illness, might I add) is an overt part of the narrative. I am not a sex worker, but I am fat, and I feel as though this is actively dangerous, so this discussion will be far harsher than the first.
Ellie hates her fat body the whole way through the book. There are scattered moments where her body is allowed to exist, but not many, and she consistently returns to hating her fat body. This DOES NOT CHANGE by the end. Her fat body is still the enemy; it’s just that she loses some weight due to almost dying of a bacterial infection, and is given the promise of potentially losing more through a more varied diet, and so her body is no longer as reminiscent of the body that is the enemy. These are the last two things we hear about Ellie’s body:
> Being ill had seriously helped with my weight loss. I was almost happy when I looked in the mirror. No doubt that would change when I started eating again, but maybe Naomi was right, and it was a case of eating the right things and not trying to exist on coffee and dreams of being skinny. [[Chapter 23]]
> I did as she asked and sucked in my stomach. While it wasn’t as big as it had been, it was still enough for me to be conscious of it.
>”Don’t do that.” She stroked the silver stretch marks that marred my skin.
> “Old habits, I guess.”
> “You don’t have to hide yourself from me, Ellie. You know this.”
> I knew and while I was getting better, there were still moments where I worried. [[Epilogue]]
In both of these excerpts, Ellie’s fat body is still the enemy. “I was almost happy when I looked in the mirror”/“While it wasn’t as big as it had been,” REGARDLESS of Naomi saying she loves Ellie’s body no matter its size, Ellie is clearly fixated on seeing her fat body as inherently opposed to her happiness, and the narrative feels no need to correct her. Even recollections of her fat body are evil; her stretch marks “mar” her skin, she knows that “when she starts eating again” she’ll gain back the weight. Nothing ever happens to push Ellie to love her body at the size it’s currently at; nearly dying from a bacterial infection is a good thing, because it made her less at odds with her physical form, due to its severe impact on her health.
This is, and I mean this sincerely, a deeply dangerous message to push. I do not fault people for struggling with their body image (God knows we’ve had the same struggles); I do fault an author for including pro-anorexia “something that harms you could be good for you, if it makes you eat less and therefore makes you smaller” messaging in a novel that they are clearly trying to market to plus-size women (probably unintentionally, but unintentional harm is still harm, especially in this context). You cannot expressly, explicitly tie a character’s self-image to their body size, give them a smaller body and therefore a better self-image at the end of the book, explicitly due in part to something so harmful as to put them in the hospital for multiple days, and be shocked when that is perceived as pro-anorexia rhetoric.
As an added bonus, the man who sexually assaults Naomi is also fat, and this is clearly connected to him being undesirable (“He was old and obese, with sagging jowls.”/“He reached for me again with his pudgy hands,”), which further reinforces the novel’s overarching disgust with the fat body as a whole.
I am struggling to end this review in a way that doesn’t feel unfairly critical, but I really do think I would actively warn plus size readers away from it. I’d rather you read a hundred romances with all thin characters than ingest the very dangerous rhetoric being packaged within a character that is claiming to be safe for you.
In the former, the way Naomi’s job is treated feels suspicious at the best of times and aggressively uncomfortable at the worst. Naomi is an escort who sells her time and no longer directly sells sex to clients. While it is verbally indicated that she doesn’t have a problem with people who do, the tone of the discussion surrounding other types of sex workers is grating, at best. She expressly states she stayed in sex work for the money, and characters repeatedly refer to what she does as being “classier” than sex-selling prostitution, a concept seemingly never contradicted by the narrative or tone. Ellie is clearly embarrassed in some capacity to be with a sex worker (her conversation with Lucy indicates that she is whispering about it, and in this conversation, she even expressly states that she DOES see Naomi as a prostitute to some extent). Despite the story giving lip service to the concept that sex work is fine to do, there is still an implied “grossness” or “low-class” feeling to directly selling sex, in a way that really permeates the whole story.
When it comes to the latter, I strongly believe you should not be allowed to market a story as being about a “curvy” character if their losing weight (due to a near-death illness, might I add) is an overt part of the narrative. I am not a sex worker, but I am fat, and I feel as though this is actively dangerous, so this discussion will be far harsher than the first.
Ellie hates her fat body the whole way through the book. There are scattered moments where her body is allowed to exist, but not many, and she consistently returns to hating her fat body. This DOES NOT CHANGE by the end. Her fat body is still the enemy; it’s just that she loses some weight due to almost dying of a bacterial infection, and is given the promise of potentially losing more through a more varied diet, and so her body is no longer as reminiscent of the body that is the enemy. These are the last two things we hear about Ellie’s body:
> Being ill had seriously helped with my weight loss. I was almost happy when I looked in the mirror. No doubt that would change when I started eating again, but maybe Naomi was right, and it was a case of eating the right things and not trying to exist on coffee and dreams of being skinny. [[Chapter 23]]
> I did as she asked and sucked in my stomach. While it wasn’t as big as it had been, it was still enough for me to be conscious of it.
>”Don’t do that.” She stroked the silver stretch marks that marred my skin.
> “Old habits, I guess.”
> “You don’t have to hide yourself from me, Ellie. You know this.”
> I knew and while I was getting better, there were still moments where I worried. [[Epilogue]]
In both of these excerpts, Ellie’s fat body is still the enemy. “I was almost happy when I looked in the mirror”/“While it wasn’t as big as it had been,” REGARDLESS of Naomi saying she loves Ellie’s body no matter its size, Ellie is clearly fixated on seeing her fat body as inherently opposed to her happiness, and the narrative feels no need to correct her. Even recollections of her fat body are evil; her stretch marks “mar” her skin, she knows that “when she starts eating again” she’ll gain back the weight. Nothing ever happens to push Ellie to love her body at the size it’s currently at; nearly dying from a bacterial infection is a good thing, because it made her less at odds with her physical form, due to its severe impact on her health.
This is, and I mean this sincerely, a deeply dangerous message to push. I do not fault people for struggling with their body image (God knows we’ve had the same struggles); I do fault an author for including pro-anorexia “something that harms you could be good for you, if it makes you eat less and therefore makes you smaller” messaging in a novel that they are clearly trying to market to plus-size women (probably unintentionally, but unintentional harm is still harm, especially in this context). You cannot expressly, explicitly tie a character’s self-image to their body size, give them a smaller body and therefore a better self-image at the end of the book, explicitly due in part to something so harmful as to put them in the hospital for multiple days, and be shocked when that is perceived as pro-anorexia rhetoric.
As an added bonus, the man who sexually assaults Naomi is also fat, and this is clearly connected to him being undesirable (“He was old and obese, with sagging jowls.”/“He reached for me again with his pudgy hands,”), which further reinforces the novel’s overarching disgust with the fat body as a whole.
I am struggling to end this review in a way that doesn’t feel unfairly critical, but I really do think I would actively warn plus size readers away from it. I’d rather you read a hundred romances with all thin characters than ingest the very dangerous rhetoric being packaged within a character that is claiming to be safe for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2025
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Ok so!
I have followed Ms Adams from the beginning, and her skill as an author continues to grow. THIS book, though, is a step away from her usual fair, and I will be honest, wasn't sure how it was gonna go.
I need NOT have worried! Because Ms Adams smashed it, she really did!
Naomi lives in Mayfair Heights, and runs an escort business. A physical assault (on page, but needed) brings her into contact with Ellie Sharpe, a detective dealing with her case. For both of them, there is powerful attraction, but they cannot act on it, until the case is dropped and Ellie and Naomi are free to do as they wish. But someone doesn't want to let it go. And both women carry some emotional baggage. Can they find the love they both so desperately want and need?
I loved this, I really did.
I loved that both Naomi and Ellie have a say. I loved the way things developed between the two of them. I loved the emotional connection and how Naomi SAW Ellie, even if Ellie didn't want to be seen.
I loved the steam level here. While not especially explicit, the physical connection between Ellie and Naomi is powerful and it shows in the way they are together.
It is a bit darker, Naomi gets assaulted a couple of times, but I think it is needed to get the point across.
I LOVED the whole team who live in Mayfair Heights! Some characters have piqued my interest more than others, but they all pulled a string and I look forward to those strings being unravelled.
Thank you, Ms Adams, for falling in love with the cover, the picture portrays Naomi beautifully and I cannot wait to get to know the others in more detail.
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Ok so!
I have followed Ms Adams from the beginning, and her skill as an author continues to grow. THIS book, though, is a step away from her usual fair, and I will be honest, wasn't sure how it was gonna go.
I need NOT have worried! Because Ms Adams smashed it, she really did!
Naomi lives in Mayfair Heights, and runs an escort business. A physical assault (on page, but needed) brings her into contact with Ellie Sharpe, a detective dealing with her case. For both of them, there is powerful attraction, but they cannot act on it, until the case is dropped and Ellie and Naomi are free to do as they wish. But someone doesn't want to let it go. And both women carry some emotional baggage. Can they find the love they both so desperately want and need?
I loved this, I really did.
I loved that both Naomi and Ellie have a say. I loved the way things developed between the two of them. I loved the emotional connection and how Naomi SAW Ellie, even if Ellie didn't want to be seen.
I loved the steam level here. While not especially explicit, the physical connection between Ellie and Naomi is powerful and it shows in the way they are together.
It is a bit darker, Naomi gets assaulted a couple of times, but I think it is needed to get the point across.
I LOVED the whole team who live in Mayfair Heights! Some characters have piqued my interest more than others, but they all pulled a string and I look forward to those strings being unravelled.
Thank you, Ms Adams, for falling in love with the cover, the picture portrays Naomi beautifully and I cannot wait to get to know the others in more detail.
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
September 11, 2025
Mayfair Madame
Mayfair Heights Book One
By Alex J. Adams
I have been looking forward to this book ever since the Alex said she was writing it. Every little teaser, the cover, made me more excited. It is totally worth the wait!
Naomi is a madame. She is a highly paid escort that keeps gentlemen company for a time. It is during such a moment, that she is assaulted and meets Detective Ellie Sharpe. Naomi is immediately fascinated by the quiet woman. Ellie is new to London and quite lacking in friendships. She’s not long out of a relationship that ended badly and despite the circumstances finds herself taken in by Naomi’s spirit.
I’ve heard some say they’re not interested in sapphic romance and to each their own. My wonder is why? To me romance is romance, people read traditional male-female characters, they two male characters, so why not a book with two female leads? I found the book extremely well written. I thoroughly enjoyed the development of Naomi and Ellie’s characters and their relationship. I find the cast of characters in this story to be delightful and am looking forward to stories about them especially Melinda and Oscar. I have read almost every book written by Alex J. Adams. To say I’m familiar with her work is an understatement yet this story still left me feeling awestruck somehow. Maybe it was the characters, it could have been her turn of phrase, I just know I loved everything about Mayfair Madame. I am looking forward to the rest of the series and the different pairings the author plans to write. Something new, in this case a sapphic romance, is something beautiful in the hands of Alex J. Adams.
Mayfair Heights Book One
By Alex J. Adams
I have been looking forward to this book ever since the Alex said she was writing it. Every little teaser, the cover, made me more excited. It is totally worth the wait!
Naomi is a madame. She is a highly paid escort that keeps gentlemen company for a time. It is during such a moment, that she is assaulted and meets Detective Ellie Sharpe. Naomi is immediately fascinated by the quiet woman. Ellie is new to London and quite lacking in friendships. She’s not long out of a relationship that ended badly and despite the circumstances finds herself taken in by Naomi’s spirit.
I’ve heard some say they’re not interested in sapphic romance and to each their own. My wonder is why? To me romance is romance, people read traditional male-female characters, they two male characters, so why not a book with two female leads? I found the book extremely well written. I thoroughly enjoyed the development of Naomi and Ellie’s characters and their relationship. I find the cast of characters in this story to be delightful and am looking forward to stories about them especially Melinda and Oscar. I have read almost every book written by Alex J. Adams. To say I’m familiar with her work is an understatement yet this story still left me feeling awestruck somehow. Maybe it was the characters, it could have been her turn of phrase, I just know I loved everything about Mayfair Madame. I am looking forward to the rest of the series and the different pairings the author plans to write. Something new, in this case a sapphic romance, is something beautiful in the hands of Alex J. Adams.
September 9, 2025
To kick off the Mayfair Heights universe, Alex has entered the world of sapphic. Naomi is the madame of the high-level escorts of Mayfair Heights and will do what is needed to protect those under her wing. When a client makes a poor decision, the police are called in and with that Ellie enters her life to change it once again. Ellie is immediately drawn to Naomi, but insecurities and the job force her to not try anything. When Naomi contacts her again to try at a friendship, past insecurities almost stop this from ever being what it should. Their courtship is by no means conventional, but it is what works for them. It allows both women to open up and be free of their pasts and work for a better future.
The Mayfair Heights crew is a found family brought together through past hardships and loyalty to for each other. Each member has their own unique past, that I am looking forward to seeing in the future from Alex. Even if you are not a reader of sapphic, this was a nice gateway story into the genre. It was two strong individuals working on their pasts to a better future. And I believe that it was a smart if not fully conventional way to kick off the series with the Madame of the group. Afterall, she is the linchpin that ties this group together, why not begin with her finding her person.
The Mayfair Heights crew is a found family brought together through past hardships and loyalty to for each other. Each member has their own unique past, that I am looking forward to seeing in the future from Alex. Even if you are not a reader of sapphic, this was a nice gateway story into the genre. It was two strong individuals working on their pasts to a better future. And I believe that it was a smart if not fully conventional way to kick off the series with the Madame of the group. Afterall, she is the linchpin that ties this group together, why not begin with her finding her person.
September 9, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
First, I want to thank the author and BookSirens for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It actually took me a while to write this review because I both liked the book and, at the same time, found myself annoyed with certain aspects of the character portrayals. The beginning was strong and I was genuinely engaged with the story, but as it progressed the characters seemed to lose some of their depth. Ellie became extremely emotionally dependent on Naomi—and vice versa. Honestly, the blurb doesn’t quite match the way the characters developed throughout the book. I expected Naomi to resist a bit more before falling in love, but instead she also slid into dependency quite quickly.
I also would have loved to see more of the side characters, such as the friends and Rupert. On the other hand, Melinda was a character I really disliked—her jealousy felt unnecessary and inconvenient. Like… get your own life girl🙄.
That said, overall I enjoyed the book and I’m curious to continue with the series as it comes out. I particularly appreciated the mutual respect, the validation of feelings between the couple, the compassion, and the tenderness shown in their relationship. Those aspects gave the story its heart, even when other elements didn’t fully work for me.
First, I want to thank the author and BookSirens for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It actually took me a while to write this review because I both liked the book and, at the same time, found myself annoyed with certain aspects of the character portrayals. The beginning was strong and I was genuinely engaged with the story, but as it progressed the characters seemed to lose some of their depth. Ellie became extremely emotionally dependent on Naomi—and vice versa. Honestly, the blurb doesn’t quite match the way the characters developed throughout the book. I expected Naomi to resist a bit more before falling in love, but instead she also slid into dependency quite quickly.
I also would have loved to see more of the side characters, such as the friends and Rupert. On the other hand, Melinda was a character I really disliked—her jealousy felt unnecessary and inconvenient. Like… get your own life girl🙄.
That said, overall I enjoyed the book and I’m curious to continue with the series as it comes out. I particularly appreciated the mutual respect, the validation of feelings between the couple, the compassion, and the tenderness shown in their relationship. Those aspects gave the story its heart, even when other elements didn’t fully work for me.
October 7, 2025
Reading Mayfair Madame by Alex J. Adams was such a surprisingly emotional experience for me. What started as a quick romance read ended up hitting a lot closer to home than I expected.
This story explores themes of weight struggles and self-image, which are topics I personally wrestle with. At first, I found it hard to digest Ellie’s insecurities — not because they weren’t written well, but because they mirrored parts of myself I don’t always like to face. After sitting with it, I realized I was projecting. Ellie’s journey became a reflection of my own, and that made her growth hit even harder.
The connection between Ellie and Naomi was instant but intentional. I loved how Naomi���s persistence slowly broke down Ellie’s walls and it didn’t feel forced, it felt necessary. Their chemistry was undeniable, the pace was steady enough to keep me engaged, and the spice absolutely delivered.
Beyond the heat, what I appreciated most was how both characters carried scars from their pasts yet still made room for love. That kind of healing love, the one that meets you where you are, insecurities and all, is something I’ll always root for.
4 stars from me, and I’m already eager to see what’s next in the Mayfair Heights series.
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This story explores themes of weight struggles and self-image, which are topics I personally wrestle with. At first, I found it hard to digest Ellie’s insecurities — not because they weren’t written well, but because they mirrored parts of myself I don’t always like to face. After sitting with it, I realized I was projecting. Ellie’s journey became a reflection of my own, and that made her growth hit even harder.
The connection between Ellie and Naomi was instant but intentional. I loved how Naomi���s persistence slowly broke down Ellie’s walls and it didn’t feel forced, it felt necessary. Their chemistry was undeniable, the pace was steady enough to keep me engaged, and the spice absolutely delivered.
Beyond the heat, what I appreciated most was how both characters carried scars from their pasts yet still made room for love. That kind of healing love, the one that meets you where you are, insecurities and all, is something I’ll always root for.
4 stars from me, and I’m already eager to see what’s next in the Mayfair Heights series.
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 11, 2025
Fantastic story and characters
Alex J. Adams is a favorite author of mine because she isn’t afraid to switch things up. Whether it’s dark or light, MM and now FF, her characters and stories always pull me and have me fully invested.
Mayfair Madame is the perfect series starter with the Madame herself in the spotlight. Naomi is a fighter who not only survived a terrible upbringing and made a life for himself but she still has a heart that cares deeply for those around her.
Ellie is a very relatable character with insecurities about her body but really puts herself out there for Naomi. Her inner voice surrounding that really hit home for me but she also has the strength to push through her fears.
Their chemistry and the spicy scenes were intense and very well written, showing Ellie’s vulnerability and Naomi’s sensitivity towards her feelings.
Their story has a fast paced, easy flow that I loved and there are some definitely difficulties to overcome but Naomi and Ellie face them together on the road to their happy ending.
Mayfair Madame also introduces other characters who will feature in future books. The prologue included at the end for the next book, Designs On Love, has me hooked already!
Alex J. Adams is a favorite author of mine because she isn’t afraid to switch things up. Whether it’s dark or light, MM and now FF, her characters and stories always pull me and have me fully invested.
Mayfair Madame is the perfect series starter with the Madame herself in the spotlight. Naomi is a fighter who not only survived a terrible upbringing and made a life for himself but she still has a heart that cares deeply for those around her.
Ellie is a very relatable character with insecurities about her body but really puts herself out there for Naomi. Her inner voice surrounding that really hit home for me but she also has the strength to push through her fears.
Their chemistry and the spicy scenes were intense and very well written, showing Ellie’s vulnerability and Naomi’s sensitivity towards her feelings.
Their story has a fast paced, easy flow that I loved and there are some definitely difficulties to overcome but Naomi and Ellie face them together on the road to their happy ending.
Mayfair Madame also introduces other characters who will feature in future books. The prologue included at the end for the next book, Designs On Love, has me hooked already!
September 16, 2025
Alex brings us Mayfair Madame the first book in her new series Mayfair Heights.
This is Alex’s first foray into the world of Sapphic and what a way to kick it off; with Naomi who is the key player holding this series together. She is the Mayfair Madame and she is the linchpin that all the characters revolve around.
This is Naomi & Ellie’s story, two very different characters. Who would think that a Madame and a Police Detective would Make an ideal couple? However they both bring different strengths and vulnerabilities to the relationship. Neither character overpowers the other, they both lend each other strength allowing them to grow and feel empowered in their own right. To see Ellie embracing her own beauty and believing she is lovable is very powerful as is watching Naomi, who always portrays strength and resilience to the outside world showing a softer more vulnerable side for Ellie.
I feel that Alex’s writing has evolved yet again. She is constantly growing and embracing new storylines which is a credit to her as an author. This book didn’t have Alex’s usual snarkiness, but was no poorer for that; it felt slightly softer and more vulnerable to me. This was an incredible story, congratulations Alex!
This is Alex’s first foray into the world of Sapphic and what a way to kick it off; with Naomi who is the key player holding this series together. She is the Mayfair Madame and she is the linchpin that all the characters revolve around.
This is Naomi & Ellie’s story, two very different characters. Who would think that a Madame and a Police Detective would Make an ideal couple? However they both bring different strengths and vulnerabilities to the relationship. Neither character overpowers the other, they both lend each other strength allowing them to grow and feel empowered in their own right. To see Ellie embracing her own beauty and believing she is lovable is very powerful as is watching Naomi, who always portrays strength and resilience to the outside world showing a softer more vulnerable side for Ellie.
I feel that Alex’s writing has evolved yet again. She is constantly growing and embracing new storylines which is a credit to her as an author. This book didn’t have Alex’s usual snarkiness, but was no poorer for that; it felt slightly softer and more vulnerable to me. This was an incredible story, congratulations Alex!
September 10, 2025
- ff pairing
- found family
- first in series
This is Alex's first foray into sapphic romance, and it's the first in a brand new series set around an escort agency and building in London. Naomi is the owner and director of the agency and still works from time to time too. Ellie is a detective in the police, and they meet when Naomi has an issue with one of her clients. Naomi and Ellie have an instant connection, and Naomi straight away is attracted to Ellie and knows she wants to know her better straight away. She's a very determined character and knows what she wants and how to get it. These are two very different people with an instant attraction to each other and things do move along quickly between them.
I liked the story for the most part too, getting to know both Naomi and Ellie better as things unfolded and we find out more about Naomi's past. I'd have liked to get to know the side characters a little more, we're introduced to some who I hope will feature in their own books in this series. There is plenty of scope for more in this universe and I'm looking forward to that. Naomi and Ellie kick this series off well, and I look forward to more.
- found family
- first in series
This is Alex's first foray into sapphic romance, and it's the first in a brand new series set around an escort agency and building in London. Naomi is the owner and director of the agency and still works from time to time too. Ellie is a detective in the police, and they meet when Naomi has an issue with one of her clients. Naomi and Ellie have an instant connection, and Naomi straight away is attracted to Ellie and knows she wants to know her better straight away. She's a very determined character and knows what she wants and how to get it. These are two very different people with an instant attraction to each other and things do move along quickly between them.
I liked the story for the most part too, getting to know both Naomi and Ellie better as things unfolded and we find out more about Naomi's past. I'd have liked to get to know the side characters a little more, we're introduced to some who I hope will feature in their own books in this series. There is plenty of scope for more in this universe and I'm looking forward to that. Naomi and Ellie kick this series off well, and I look forward to more.
September 29, 2025
While writing FF is new from Alex the bones of the story are the same as what I would expect from any other book by her.
This is the first book in Alex’s Mayfair heights series and it left me wanting to know more about a few of the side characters. Some of which work for Naomi as she is a madame, although she is so much more than her job title. Naomi is a person who has had to battle her way from having no family and a hard upbringing to being the strong independent woman that we see at this stage of her life. I liked that she had some insecurities as this made her easier to relate to. Ellie however was the easiest from me to relate to, having felt the way she does about herself most of my life. Ellie and Naomi have instant chemistry however it takes Naomi a little while to fully break through Ellie's defences. The spice was…. Spicing and rather intense in places.
Overall i found this to be a fast paced, enjoyable read and i look forward to more from Alex and Mayfair heights.
This is the first book in Alex’s Mayfair heights series and it left me wanting to know more about a few of the side characters. Some of which work for Naomi as she is a madame, although she is so much more than her job title. Naomi is a person who has had to battle her way from having no family and a hard upbringing to being the strong independent woman that we see at this stage of her life. I liked that she had some insecurities as this made her easier to relate to. Ellie however was the easiest from me to relate to, having felt the way she does about herself most of my life. Ellie and Naomi have instant chemistry however it takes Naomi a little while to fully break through Ellie's defences. The spice was…. Spicing and rather intense in places.
Overall i found this to be a fast paced, enjoyable read and i look forward to more from Alex and Mayfair heights.
September 13, 2025
This was an enjoyable book to read, with the story picking up pace right from the start. A wide range of characters are introduced early on, which immediately gives the narrative energy and variety. The main characters feel authentic and “real,” making it easy to connect with them and care about their journeys.
That said, the developments in the plot move quite quickly. At times it feels as though events follow each other a little too fast, leaving less room for the characters to simply breathe and get to know each other more naturally. Still, the balance of heartfelt moments, intimacy, and a touch of tension makes it a pleasant and engaging read overall.
If you enjoy stories with a happily-ever-after, warm and likable characters, and the right amount of intimacy mixed with light suspense, then this is a solid choice.
I would rate it 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book, but I am leaving this review voluntarily.
That said, the developments in the plot move quite quickly. At times it feels as though events follow each other a little too fast, leaving less room for the characters to simply breathe and get to know each other more naturally. Still, the balance of heartfelt moments, intimacy, and a touch of tension makes it a pleasant and engaging read overall.
If you enjoy stories with a happily-ever-after, warm and likable characters, and the right amount of intimacy mixed with light suspense, then this is a solid choice.
I would rate it 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book, but I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 10, 2025
Mayfair Madam Is a beautifully written story in the new Mayfair Heights series by Alex J Adams. The story of Naomi and Ellie is one of strength, overcoming self-doubt, empowerment, and most importantly, love.
Alex J Adams has a way of writing stories that are believable. By the end of the book, I wanted to move to Mayfair Heights. All of the characters are people that I would love to have as friends. I am eager to see how their futures evolve throughout this series.
Thank you Alex J Adams for creating a wonderful story and believing that love is love no matter what gender, race, or ethnicity you are.
Alex J Adams has a way of writing stories that are believable. By the end of the book, I wanted to move to Mayfair Heights. All of the characters are people that I would love to have as friends. I am eager to see how their futures evolve throughout this series.
Thank you Alex J Adams for creating a wonderful story and believing that love is love no matter what gender, race, or ethnicity you are.
October 12, 2025
This story is filled with an overwhelming amount of trauma for both MC's. I had a hard time getting through this book, it just felt like the story was all over the place. I do think I could see how Naomi and Ellie could connect to a certain extent (trauma bonding), but their relationship seemed very forced and I didn't feel like they had good chemistry. Overall the story had some good elements, but I just don't think it came together properly.
I received this ARC from BookSirens and this is my honest, voluntary review.
I received this ARC from BookSirens and this is my honest, voluntary review.
September 12, 2025
SUCH A BEAUTIFUL READ WITH LOVE IN IT!
Naomi is a madame, and one night, one of the clients has a problem, so the police are called in, and Naomi meets Detective Ellie. I loved the lovely love between these two and their moments together. I really enjoyed diving into this world the authors created.
Naomi is a madame, and one night, one of the clients has a problem, so the police are called in, and Naomi meets Detective Ellie. I loved the lovely love between these two and their moments together. I really enjoyed diving into this world the authors created.
September 14, 2025
Alex J Adams is one of my favorite MM authors. I love when she steps out of her zone to write other stories. Mayfair Madam was a lovely story that showed many sides of a beautiful relationship. They overcome many obstacles together that end up aligning them together as a stronger version of themselves. I enjoyed this read and hope that others will as well.
September 20, 2025
Mayfair Madame book 1 is a beautiful and sweet sapphic romance. Great chemistry between the characters the moment they meet. Detective Ellie and Madame Naomi have their past demons but finding each other made a beautifully done romance.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 21, 2025
An ARC copy was given to me for a honest review.
It is a story about determination and relationship. Naomi - owner of high class escort service and Ellie - police detective.
I really liked the story, but sometimes I miss the depth of the story line.
It is a story about determination and relationship. Naomi - owner of high class escort service and Ellie - police detective.
I really liked the story, but sometimes I miss the depth of the story line.
January 7, 2026
This was an easy read and at first I thought it would only be a cute little romance but it does have some heavier themes and the spice caught me off guard in a good way.
The book focuses on the couple and their relationship with a background plot as well.
I really enjoyed it and I would like to read more from the author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book focuses on the couple and their relationship with a background plot as well.
I really enjoyed it and I would like to read more from the author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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