His Lesson in Submission

The Twelve Nights of Christmas #2

by Darcy Fayton

The debt remains.
And the next lesson is far more personal.

Kathryn believed the worst was behind her.
She was wrong.

A teacher of Volmasque Academy arrives at the manor—Professor Zott.
Respected. Observant. Uncomfortably familiar.

He knows her history.
He understands the rules of the bargain.
And he has come not out of kindness, but curiosity.

This night will not be about money alone.
It will be about control, memory, and what she is willing to surrender to survive.

Some debts are paid in silence.
Others in obedience.

And every lesson leaves her stretched to her full potential.

This is Book Two of The Twelve Nights of Christmas, a twelve-part dark paranormal romance series of short novellas.

Genres: Dark, Novella, Adult

117 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 25, 2026

About the author

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✨You can find my books on Amazon

✨For Content/Trigger Warnings please visit darcyfayton.com

✨Author Bio:
Darcy Fayton crafts fireside tales set in gothic castles, overflowing with forbidden love, emotional angst, scorching spice, witty banter, and a touch of magic. Her stories feature morally grey yet gentlemanly heroes with sweet sides and glimmers of redemption, perfect for readers who love complex characters. Her bestselling debut, Collared by the Vampire Prince*, is the ideal starting point for new readers. Her family thinks she writes sweet romance—but oh, if only they knew!


*Previously published as the bestselling 'Plug and Claim'

✨Click here for easy links to my books on Amazon, Bookbub, and more.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

So maybe Sebastian isn't a total lost cause like I thought he was in book one. However, he's no Prince Charming, and Kathryn's character is still figuring out how to trust him without losing her mind. This book is still a hot mess of crazy acts, but I am living for this series. Know your triggers, folks!

Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review

[RoXXie | The Art of Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Discomfort, Growth, and a Villain Who Still Makes My Skin Crawl

The second installment in The Twelve Nights of Christmas by Darcy Fayton leans harder into discomfort, power dynamics, and the slow-burn emotional threads that feel like the real engine of this series.

His Lesson in Submission ♦ Darcy Fayton - A Review

Opinion 

Let’s address the elephant in the manor first: Professor Zott. I already knew him from the author’s other books and had built up a solid reserve of dislike, and this story gleefully confirms that my hatred remains well-fed. He is still morally rancid, still unsettling, still very much not the kind of character you root for. Yet, oddly enough, he works here. In this particular story’s machinery, his presence feels intentional rather than gratuitous. He is not redeemed, not softened, not secretly noble. He is simply effective as a narrative toxin, and the plot uses that poison with purpose. 

Kathryn, thankfully, gets noticeable growth. One of my biggest frustrations with His Forbidden Bargain was the shaky handling of consent and agency. Here, the emotional and mental framing feels more deliberate. Her reactions, especially during the encounter with Zott, come across as complicated but believable. The book openly explores the messy divide between body and mind. The body sometimes wants what the heart rejects. In Kathryn’s case, it definitely rejects Zott, even if physiology refuses to cooperate. That internal conflict gives the story its most compelling tension. 

Christian, the stepbrother, remains a work in progress. He still has a mountain of character development to climb before I will feel fully on board with him. Yet I can see the path the author is carving. Kathryn’s reliance on his affection and support is starting to make emotional sense, even if he has not yet earned my full trust. Their evolving psychological and emotional connection is the hook that keeps me invested far more than the premise of twelve patrons ever could. 

Speaking of hooks, the most memorable moments were not the nightly obligations but the emotional undercurrents simmering beneath them. The series feels like it is quietly building toward a complicated emotional payoff, and this installment nudges that arc forward in a way that finally feels intentional. 

That said, the book still thrives on discomfort. Zott’s appearance and Kathryn’s visceral descriptions of him are intentionally repellent. If revulsion were a spice, this chapter sprinkles it generously. It is not pleasant, but it is purposeful.  

Conclusion

Overall, this installment improves on the first with stronger emotional grounding and clearer character momentum. I still have reservations about where certain dynamics are heading, but the psychological thread between Kathryn and Christian has me curious enough to keep reading.
A messy, uncomfortable, but undeniably more engaging second lesson.

Through BookSirens I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This review was first published at The Art of Reading.

[Michelle Frater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Night number two. Patron number two. And whatever fragile illusion of safety Kathryn clung to after her first ordeal is long gone. She barely spent any time at Volmasque Academy, but she’s heard the whispers—the kind that slither down corridors and coil in your stomach. Professor Zott. Vampire. Sadist. A man who doesn’t just demand obedience, he cultivates it. Prunes it. Bleeds it dry. He does not inspire swoons or soft fantasies; he inspires dread. Let’s be clear: this is not your morally gray book boyfriend. This is a predator in professor’s clothing, and like Braggon before him, he has no interest in playing nice. Once again, Kathryn is dragged to the brink. There’s no easing into the nightmare, no merciful buffer between book one and book two. The story resumes with bruises still fresh, and you can’t help but wonder how she’s expected to survive another night when she’s barely stitched herself back together from the last. The relentlessness is suffocating, in the best, most horrifying way. And yet, beneath the cruelty and the ritualized degradation, something shifts. Kathryn is changing. Not softening exactly, but adapting. Enduring. There’s a chilling question hovering over every page: is she becoming resigned to her fate? It certainly isn’t easier. If anything, it’s more psychologically brutal. But there’s a subtle hardening to her now, a flicker of awareness that feels like the first spark of transformation rather than surrender. Then there’s Sebastian. He’s no savior. Not really. He can’t stop what’s happening, and he knows it. That knowledge is carving him open from the inside. The rigid, controlled façade he wears so well is starting to splinter, and through those cracks we glimpse something dangerously human. Guilt. Conflict. A quiet, gnawing torment over his role in Kathryn’s suffering. He’s beginning to look less like a looming villain and more like the only thread tethering her to sanity. Not that she collapses into his arms—this isn’t that kind of story—but there’s a charged undercurrent between them now, heavy with possibility and ruin. It’s that emotional tension that tempers the horror just enough to keep you turning pages. Because the horror is very real. The enchanted plug alone was enough to make my skin crawl—and not in a titillating way. This series does not pretend to be soft. The dub-con elements remain brutal, unapologetic, and deeply uncomfortable. But if you crave romance dipped in shadow and dragged through something even darker, this book delivers. It’s merciless. It’s unsettling. And it pulls you under before you can decide whether you want to breathe.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨️🖤🧛‍♂️ His Lesson in Submission 👨‍🏫🖤 - ARC REVIEW✨️

Rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice - 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Tropes:
- Slow-burn❤️‍🔥
- Voyeur👀
- Human FMC / Vampire MMC🩸
- Pitch-black / Dark Romance🖤
- Paranormal / Shifter🦇
- Dual POV👥️
- Damsel-In-Distress🏰
- "Fingerpainting"
- Dubcon😈
- Noncon❌️

⚠️PLEASE read through the trigger warnings - this novella is heavy and contains graphic material / dark themes⚠️

📚This is the second installment in the 12 book series! I received this eARC copy through BookSirens - of course, a special thank you to the author herself, Darcy Fayton!💗

In this novella, we continue into the second night of this 12-night arrangement that Sebastian has arranged with the debt collector💰 No surprise, this night is just as grueling and agonizing for Kathryn. Why? Someone from her past, with a sick sense of getting pleasure from forcing themselves onto those that have no power to do or say anything, is taking advantage of the rules of the bargain👏🏼

Sebastian is still there alongside Kathryn, but she keeps feeling undecided about whether she can trust him. Feeling like he's merely standing by rather than protecting her, she feels she has no choice but to do what she's ordered to no matter the humiliation or emotional/physical damage💔

Then, something happens. She gets a ✨️glimpse✨️ of Sebastian's true feelings. Although they are meant to reassure her, you get a sense that they make her even more unsure whether or not he will remain true to his word🤔

This second installment was just as intense as the first, and the storyline developed even more! The repulsive patron🤢 and night is no different. Kathryn felt SO humiliated, to the point where she felt hopeless. The worst part? She felt disgusted by herself for feeling the tiniest bit of pleasure🫣

We also learn more about how Kathryn and Sebastian really feel about one another, begging the question - can she truly trust him, let alone with her heart?💓

[Cassi Olazabal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as an ARC.
The book is the second in the Twelve Nights of Christmas series.
Just like the first one -- know your triggers. I do wish that triggers were added once more for the book-- instead of just saying about going back to book one. Yes, you could assume that someone has read the first book prior to this, but the triggers are a little different for this book than the first one. I think a trigger list should be included for each book and not just a "see book one". Especially since new content is being added.
The second night is meant to be worse than the first. How is this going to continue to get worse with each night?
As I stated in my previous review of the first novella. I do not know how each night is going to end up being a novella in itself. Yes, the novellas are short and interesting reads, but I can not see how these are going to be enough content for each night to have a novella.
Especially with a line Sebastian states in the novella about arranging things and not having as many true suitors as there are nights.
There are some plot holes noticeable, but they don't take away too much from the read. You only really notice some of them when reading the novella one after another (such as what I have done).
I find myself asking if she continues to smell of lavender because of Braggon. Or is this because somehow along the way Katheryn came to like the scent too, due to some weird sense of psychological issues, and it being linked to her experience?
Katheryn also had some deep-seated mental issues. I find myself wondering if Katheryn has some sense of Stockholm Syndrome or if her on again off again stuff with Sebastian is much more.
I do like Sebastian as a character. In my opinion, he is probably the best character in the novellas so far.

[Book Lover · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as an ARC, which I received through Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I absolutely adore this author’s work, and this book only deepened that appreciation.
As the second installment in the series, this story builds on the devastating bargain established in book one. Kathryn’s debt remains unpaid, and the consequences of that deal continue to unfold in increasingly personal and painful ways. This installment focuses on the second night of the arrangement.
The arrival of Professor Zott, a former teacher from Volmasque Academy, adds an intensely uncomfortable and unsettling layer to the story. He is fully aware of the bargain and her past, and his presence forces Kathryn to confront control, memory, and survival all at once. The author handles this with care, showing Kathryn’s inner turmoil, her lack of true choice, and the emotional weight of enduring something she never wanted in the first place.
At the same time, Sebastian’s role grows heavier. His guilt over orchestrating the bargain—and his buried feelings for Kathryn—create a constant emotional undercurrent. Watching him wrestle with the consequences of his decision while still believing it was the only way to save her makes their dynamic painfully complex.
This book is dark, steamy, and emotionally intense, but it’s also deeply character-driven. It explores power, obedience, and sacrifice in a way that lingers long after the final page. This series is not an easy read, but it is a compelling one.
I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy dark romance with heavy emotional stakes, and I strongly suggest starting from book one since this is a continuation of the story. This book ends on a cliffhanger.

[Marion Löw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this new instalment in this captivating yet disturbing, gritty paranormal romance series, which picks up directly where the first volume left off, so I recommend reading the series in order. Warning: The book contains explicit scenes involving noncon/dubcon and consensual sex scenes including power exchange with toys and pet play, voyeurism, forced exhibitionism and humiliation. Kathryn’s patrons so far have made my skin crawl. I really like both protagonists, their chemistry, their complicated relationship and their emotionally charged dynamics. Their conflicted feelings are palpable throughout the book. The series comprises 12 parts in total, so I don't think there will be a happy ending in the near future, but Kathryn and Sebastian are slowly getting closer and taking their relationship to the next level.

Kathryn has spent her first night with the collector, and Sebastian tries to handle the remaining prospective patrons more effectively and carefully because he feels helpless and ashamed of his failure to protect her. Ever since Sebastian first drank her blood years ago, he and Kathryn have been connected by an enchanted thread between their hearts, and he can sense her feelings.
Kathryn's patron for the second night is a former teacher of hers whom she hated and feared, and she is ashamed because, despite her revulsion and humiliation, she also experiences unwanted pleasure and Sebastian feels all of it…

Overall, a dark paranormal romance novella with likable main characters, dark themes and explicit sexual content (may be triggering), which I can recommend to anyone who likes this genre.

I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.

[Cassie Prater · Rating 5 out of 5]

This installment is darker, heavier, and somehow even more emotionally punishing than book one, and I mean that in the best possible way.

Where the first book immediately pulled me in with gothic atmosphere and the sheer creativity of the world, book two really leans into the emotional and psychological fallout. Nothing resets. Nothing gets softened. Day one just turns right into day two whether they're ready or not. Kathryn carries everything with her from scene to scene, and that made it feel so much more intense.

Sebastian continues to be a wildly compelling MMC. ;) He’s still morally charcoal, still frustrating, still impossible to pin down. What I liked here is that the story doesn’t let him off the hook just because he feels bad. He’s strategic, restrained, clearly suffering, and still complicit in ways that are uncomfortable to sit with. That tension between what he wants, what he allows, and what he can realistically stop keeps me coming back to see how far they can each be pushed.

There is a moment of connection late in the book that really worked for me. Not inherently romantic per se. Just two people recognizing that they are enduring the same nightmare together. And I personally really need that.

And yessssss, once again, there were moments where I caught myself thinking, “I should absolutely not be into this,” followed immediately by, “Well… here we are.” If you like dark romance that makes you sit with that discomfort instead of smoothing it over, this delivers.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book 2 in The Twelve Nights of Christmas — a twelve-part dark paranormal romance novella series. Book 1 must be read first, as this story continues directly from it.

Picking up straight after Sebastian makes a devastating bargain to keep Kathryn safe and help pay off her debt, the cost is brutal: twelve nights, twelve men. This book is very dark and comes with heavy trigger warnings — while it’s a journey toward happiness, we’re absolutely not there yet.

Kathryn is still being dragged through hell, forcing herself to survive night after night while trying to accept that this may now be her reality. Sebastian is equally tormented, convincing himself that this was the only way to save her, even as it destroys them both.

We do get small, intimate moments between Kathryn and Sebastian — fragile pockets of comfort in the middle of devastation. Sebastian tries desperately to be her strength, to protect her, and to see this through without completely breaking her… but Kathryn is slowly fracturing, and it’s painful to witness.

This is a heavy, emotionally brutal read that won’t be for everyone — but you can’t help holding onto hope for a HEA and for these two to find love again beyond the gut-wrenching bargain binding them.

⚠️ Please check trigger warnings before reading this series.

✨ Tropes / Content Notes ✨
🖤 Dark Paranormal Romance
🩸 Vampire × Human
🔥 Extremely Spicy (can be triggering)
🖤 Second-Chance Romance
🐌 Slow Burn
🖤 Dual POV
⚠️ Mature Themes — Reader Discretion Advised

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Alys Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC Review

With this second installment, Darcy Fayton continues building what is shaping up to be a dark gothic masterpiece across the series.

As an ARC reader, I found myself deeply invested in Kathryn and Sebastian — not just in their growing connection, but in the accumulating cost of it. Watching them attempt to untangle their past while inadvertently creating new obstacles for their future is quietly devastating, and the emotional pull of their story is hard to shake.

Once again, the strength lies in restraint. The novel contains deeply disturbing scenes, but they are never gratuitous. This is not eroticism for shock value — the cruelty is contextual, expected within a world where power is uneven and a human woman’s place is inherently vulnerable. What makes these moments land is the emotional weight behind them, and the author’s continued commitment to show-don’t-tell. The toll of bargains, obedience, and sacrifice is felt viscerally, particularly through the dual POV, which keeps both MCs emotionally legible even in the darkest moments.

There is tenderness here, threaded through brutality, and that contrast makes the heartbreak sharper rather than overwhelming. I’m both eager for — and apprehensive about — what comes next. If the series continues in this vein, I can only anticipate more pain for both characters… and I remain fully invested.

ARC provided; opinions are my own.

[Ingrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darker, Stronger Sequel with Noticeable Growth

The second book in the Twelve Nights of Christmas series, Lesson in Submission, leans fully into its dark romance tone. The atmosphere remains intense, and the emotional dynamics are heavy and at times unsettling, particularly with the recurring theme of dissociation between body and mind woven throughout the story.
The villain is truly someone you love to hate. He’s morally gray in the most frustrating way—manipulative, self-serving, and deeply unlikeable from the very start. That said, he certainly succeeds in provoking strong emotions, which makes him effective in his role.
One of the highlights is the growth of the female main character. Compared to the first installment, she shows noticeable development, and her arc feels more grounded and purposeful. The male lead, however, still has some work to do. While there are glimpses of potential growth, he isn’t entirely convincing yet and would benefit from deeper character development.
Like the first book, this one ends on a continuation-style cliffhanger—more of a “to be continued” than a shocking twist, but still clearly setting up the next installment.
Overall, this sequel is an improvement over book one. It’s darker, more focused, and stronger in certain areas, though it remains an overall okay read rather than a standout in the genre.

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

[Connie Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was more emotional than I expected it to be. I read the first one a few days back, greatly enjoyed it and quickly started reading book two. His Forbidden Bargain was a fun read, weaving in moments of tragedy, beautiful symbolism, captivating characters and a sprinkle of world building. Book Two, His Lesson In Submission, takes all of that and jacks it up several notches.

The emotional connection between Kathryn and Sebastian has quickly become the core of this series. With all the trauma and horrors being enacted within the manors hall, the bonds between these two are reforming and regrowing into something that tells of future beauty. I really enjoyed the way the two of them have found themselves on the same footing – Kathryn demanding to have some sense of control over the situation, and Sebastian taking her consideration with the further invites – where these twelve nights and the twelve men are concerned. The romance between them is sweet, and with the situation they have found themselves is, having that little taste of sweetness is very needed.

I am eating up every bit of world building that the author gives. A world of vampires, werewolves and humans could so easily just become a rehash of every other before them, but this series really brings a fresh take to it. The prior established hierarchy system is brought into play once more, with an addition of school structures that had enabled what is essentially racist doctrine. The dynamics between the Vampire Overlords and the Werewolves is a fascinating one, and if this story breaks the containment of the manor, I will be thrilled to see the outside world Fayton had crafted.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. A highly recommended read for that dark romance itch. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent this book as an ARC to review.
I was already hooked from the first book and I had to pick up the second one the same day that I finished the first! It really drew me in. I enjoyed this one I think even more than the first, especially with getting to see more of the relationship between Sebastian and Kathryn change and adapt to the situation.
I enjoyed the fact that despite this being a novella, there is just enough lore written into it to add some more depth to the story/overall world without taking up too much time or space with over explaining it (I'm talking about the butt plug being magic).
I'm so looking forward to more!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not disappointed with book 2 in this series!! And the spice level was sooooo much better!! I didn’t put this down until I was finished and now I want more!! I need the remaining 10 books because i absolutely need to know “does the relationship change and grow between Katherine and Sebastian as each night passes?” OMG I simply neeeeedddd to know how this ends!!!! Please for everything unholy let me know!!

If you are in the market for a Novella series that keeps your attention from beginning to end do yourself the solid and read these because you will absolutely not be disappointed and will crave more!!!

[Daria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense and More
Whew! This picks up where the first stops. No pretense.
She kinda got on my nerves and bit. I mean reality check sugar. If you weren't getting his help where would you be. Yeah, I get it he had to tread the line carefully and still "help" her.
Feels is a real thing...
12 nights...how will she endure, how will he for that matter?
Im all the planning and plotting there are eyes and ears everywhere. She was already in danger but now he's put his life on the line as well. Worth it? *winks*

[Rogue Kayl · Rating 4 out of 5]

book 2 of a 12 part series....
MAKE SURE YOU READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS.
I found this book better than the first as i kinda knew what to expect. Not that i went in blind. I'm still unsure about my comfort reading this but i understood the plot and i like that the tensions between Kat and Seb softening. They both have come to an understanding of what needs to be done to save Kat and her home. Even Kat has the worst end of the deal, you can see the torment it has on Seb. I look forward to book 3 to see how it progresses.

[KitCat · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Book Review- His Lesson in Submission - The Twelve Nights of Christmas -book 2 of 12

I am stumbling over what to write, this book has my mind wondering what could possibly come next? The FMC and MMC have a bazaar love/hate relationship that is hard to wrap my brain around. The concept of the 12 books is ingenious but reading them one at a time is aggrandizing because I want to know what happens next but I have to wait. So far this has been an exceptional read you really need to dive into. Happy Reading.

[Your_bookish_fantasy Kerri-louise Whitham · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Lots of triggers in this series!

Mini tropes:
Dub con / non con
She begs him
Finger play
Solo play
Roleplay
Audience
Humiliation
Selling services
Vamps

Loved this! I like how they’re getting closer and bonding through the trauma, I love the jealousy and the yearning and all the limits she will go to for her freedom! The writing style is so easy to fall into and enjoy, and let me tell you, the emotional rollercoaster is real. You feel so strongly what the mc’s are feeling on top of the drama, pressure and tension of the story.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶

This is book 2 of a 12 book novella series...its NOT for everyone. It's dark, it's spicy, it's emotional. If you're sensitive, refer to the warnings in book 1.

I'm really enjoying these books so far. I wish they were longer! Yes they're dark and dirty, but I think something beautiful can come from it eventually. 🤞 Kathryn is strong and resilient. Sebastian, although it's kinda his fault they're in this situation, is non-judgmental, sweet(ish), and is there for her in all the ways he can be.

I'm excited for the next 10! 🔥

[Melony Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m very intrigued by each part of this story so far. It’s like a story inside a story and very hard to put down once you pick it up. The two main characters have their story together that is woven into the individual stories they each are going through.

Definitely worth reading and I am looking forward to the remaining nights of Christmas.

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

[tre.wandereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

IT's very hard to feel for story when there is so much of an ick for one of the characters. Actually no, scratch that, there are so many feelings but mainly frustration. And I get that that sort of makes the story more enthralling. There is someone to love, there is definitely someone to hate. I like the development of the other characters more and I find that the story is starting to gain more depth. I wonder what else is in store for them!

[Melanie Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautifully written and so emotionally charged, Kathryn and Sebastian’s predicament is heart wrenching, the bargain to be fulfilled, brutal. Their chemistry in this book is so much more powerful and there is such a genuine sense of desperation as they turn to each other in to endure what must be done.

Check the trigger warnings as this series focuses heavily on $exu@l a$$ault and r@p3.

[MeMeR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please please tell me what is Sebastian’s story? You can tell he obviously has feelings for her. Yes what he has gotten her into is very disgusting degrading and I get why he has done it to an extent. I also get why he made sure that he is in the room while she is having to endure the kinks of these men. So very curious to see how this is going to end. I truly hope she makes them pay for what they have done to her.

[L KQ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Day 2, Darkness Begins

It is day two and time for mysterious man number two, Professor Zott. The situation gets darker and more intense as Kathryn is just at the beginning stages of paying off her debts. It was a plot full of mind versus body being at war with one another. Sebastian has no control over what she endures but I like the fact that at least he is supporting her through it all. What happens next? I can't wait to find out.

I am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Joy Whiteside · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a read. This book was an amazing read that once I started I was hooked and could not put it down. It moves along at a great pace, which made for an easy flow for the story and an easy read. You will love these characters, they are so real that you feel as though you know them. This book does not disappoint. It needs to be on your TBR list.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great installment of this series; 10 more to go!
We get to see the disgusting professor Zott and what he has in store for our dear Katherine. Sebastian continues to try and earn her trust back but it’s a hard road to travel. I really hope she can make it through to the end with her dignity still intact

[Leanne (Queen_and_the_wolf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel this is better than the first book
It's naughty and spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I feel the relationship between Seb and Kathryn needs exploring more, perhaps with back history. Maybe we will discover more of them in further books.
Kathryn is becoming a fantastic character with each new novella has a new kink to be explored
Looking forward to more from this series

[Karen Sorg · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when you mother has gotten the flu and she dies. Then you find out how much is debt she was because her second husband sold everyhing and indebted her to the house through magic. No money for food or coal for heating the house. Kathryn does the only thing she can, writes to Sebastian and hopes he can come through to help her.

[Jesette Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathryn and Sebastian's twisted past and growing connection will break your heart in this dark, gripping read 😊. Disturbing scenes serve a purpose in a world of power imbalance – it's a haunting, emotional ride.

ARC read, I loved this book but please check for the trigger warnings if certain things bother you.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶/5

The second book in The Twelve Nights of Christmas series continues where the first book left off.
The second patron in the arrangement is set to have a night with Kathryn, but there are surprises with the next patron. A gift is sent, and it's not what Kathryn is expecting and a little embarrassed of what it is. It's never something she's seen or used before, not wanting Sebastian's help, but ends up getting it. With the second book, Kathryn insists on having more say on who the patrons are since she is the one paying the debt, and Sebastian relents at first but agrees she should have more input.

I feel that in the second book, Kathryn is finding herself. Setting her foot down and letting Sebastian know what she wants from him and from these arrangements. With how things ended, I am curious who the next patron is and if Sebastian is worth trusting.

"The cracks in my armour are widening. Fast."

ARC provided from the author and BookSirens for an honest review.