I am a suckered for age gap but 33 years is wild. Raven wrote it well though. The genuine connection and yearning from Mia towards Victoria was it.
There are subplots in this series that really intrigued me. Like did Vic sue the media, did they get tons of money, what did Bella do with the money, how abut Olivia, what happened with her, also Lillian was mentioned but we didn't get to see any interaction.. Also a few typos, but that's basic.
Thankyou for the ARC from BookSirens Great Spotify playlist for each chapter especially Lesley Gore but the Spotify list is Her Sins whereas the book title is Her Pride
Mia is a twenty seven year old, innocent, primary teacher in Greenwich, London and living with flatmate Bella for 7 years Victoria (Victory) Fitzroy is in her sixties and the owner of the one million pound Club. She returns Mias forgotten knitted bag. The car scene showing the differences in wealth is emotionally charged. What a wonderful 87 year old neighbour in an hour of need. Henry the Valet is another interesting character. The age gap of 33 years is because each haunts the other night and day. Welcome to the world of BDSM and Plato's Allegory of the Cave. The meeting after the media backlash is very well written This tale stays with you like the blooming of a rose. Best wishes to Mia and Victoria
Thank you BookSirens and author CM Raven for this ARC opportunity. I am happily sharing my honest review.
I was craving a sapphic romance with a bit of grit and perhaps a bit of moral ambiguity so I was very excited to get my hands on a dark sapphic romance. I really enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. Her Pride is a sexy and very spicy age gap romance that was quite intense and so much fun to read. This story explores darker romantic elements and had me glued to each page…sometimes we just need a little kink mixed with real emotion to create a real memorable story.
The book is a quick read so the story moves along at a brisk pace which worked well. Mia lives a quiet, complacent and unremarkable life as a teacher. She is a sweet 27 year old woman who is perfectly content but maybe not exactly happy. Her life is sort of missing somehitnt…excitedment perhaps. Victoria comes from wealth and owns the $1 Million Club, a private club for kinky indulgences and discretion. We watch as their worlds sort of collide and despite being from opposite side of the socioeconomic spectrum and just different in every way…not to mention a 33 year age gap…spwrks most definitely fly. There is most certainly character contrast as Mia and Victoria are so different. Mia and Victoria have chemistry that jumps off of the page and Victoria doesn't hold back as she introduces Mia to a more risque lifestyle. It is a slow build of emotion but there seems to be an ever present attraction. Though Victoria does comment on Mia’s youth, neither of them seem to be particularly bothered by the age gap…at least not enough to stop them from moving forward. Sexy dinners with a bit of erotic thumb sucking leads Victoria to introduce Mia to her world of BDSM. Mia is reluctant but seems to enjoy the freedom in it. Of course scandal rocks their world as photos of them surface and tilt Mia’s world on its axis. The women find their way back to each other though and it's all pretty satisfying.
The story was entertaining and I enjoyed the darker elements of the book. This book is described as entry level dark and I would say that I agree with that assessment. Raven is very matter of fact and direct in her writing style. Though I often prefer a more lyrical prose, her tone and style work really well for this story. The pacing is swift and I would expect that from a book under 200 pages. We move from domestic life ot erotic encounters and emotionally charged moments fluidly but quickly. I enjoyed the tension and the power and desire themes throughout the story. I felt like Mia and Victoria added something to each other's lives that was missing. It was messy and complicated but they were happier together.
If you enjoy a sapphic age gap romance with a bit of kink and taboo then this is for you. This book offers some emotional intensity alongside sexual tension. I recommend it for anyone looking for a quick read with a more direct writing style and an erotically charged love story.
So it pulls you in from the start you want to know what’s going to happen right from the first meeting of the two FMCs you see the chivalry the older women gives it’s already exciting. The teasing in chapter two already this is out for a good read. The way it’s so easy to relate with Mia in the story and how her life is because so many people grew up in a similar way parents bringing them down not having the self confidence. By having such a relatable main character in the story it makes it feel like you are in the story yourself and that is excellent writing if I do say so myself. House party gone wrong you want to read on you what to see if the people are okay it’s hard to put such a book down. Famous person being respectful saying it’s okay to take space? Oh I am here for this feminist movement. Also love that safe kink is spoken about and safe practices always good to have fun but it’s important to be safe too and I love that this is spoken about in the book. Love the fact this is all about building self confidence too very important. This book is filled with taking things slow whilst introducing the FMC to so many new experiences it allows space to keep safe and sane and be risk aware when entering the BDSM scene. It takes you on a journey you feel apart off. So much research has been put into this book and you can tell so much time and care was taken when writing this book it makes you as the reader feel powerful like you can do anything. It is beautifully written and the story telling is absolutely wonderful. Plus the playlist is once again top notch each single chosen for each chapter perfectly captures the story that each chapter brings about and really makes the story feel more alive. Real life tensions and how to overcome those challenges it’s written so well that it makes the reader feel like they too can overcome any obstacle. It’s real life this story you feel involved in the storyline and that happens because of how incredible the story is and how amazingly this story is written.
I had a feeling when I picked this up, it was going to be over-the-top, but it looked over-the-top in several ways I find fun, so I went for it. (I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!) Sure enough, definitely taking its tropes above and beyond, but I would never ask a romance like this to do less 😆
Exactly what I was in the mood for for a weekend read - occasionally silly, enjoyably spicy, and with a gloriously escapist age gap romance at the core. I also found myself appreciating the idea of "entry-level dark romance." As a true dark romance enjoyer, sometimes I'm interested in the whole ride, but sometimes I just want to know the sapphic book I'm picking up isn't going to be so "soft" or "cozy" that it's featureless, without necessarily sifting through some of the most popular dark romance tropes I have less fondness for. Having read it, I'm not entirely sure that I would categorize this as a dark romance at all, entry-level or otherwise, but the branding worked for me, and did deliver on an interesting enough dynamic to keep me turning pages!
There were two places I could have done with a little less: the way the biggest conflict manifested between the leads, and that there was actual follow-thru on the Shakespeare reading (personal taste - that kind of Surprise!talent thing just makes me cringe). It could also use another editing pass, but that mostly manifested in some quirky phrasing, word choices, and a few narrative threads that kind of went nowhere, but which really didn't interfere with my reading experience; definitely not as distracting as more typical typos can be in some indies.
This dedication was my main reason for wanting to read the book. It was said to be a kinky sapphic age‑gap dark romance, and while it definitely delivers on those elements, it also has a softness that makes the dynamic feel safe and intimate. It has that familiar fanfic style: easy to get into, engaging, and nearly impossible to put down.
Mia is the kind of character who feels like she stepped out of real life. Her severe people‑pleasing tendencies, her fear of taking up space, and her tendency to make herself smaller made her incredibly relatable. Seeing her find a sense of calm, confidence, and contentment in being Victoria’s sub was the part I enjoyed most about the book.
Victoria is a force of nature: fierce, intentional, and unafraid to challenge Mia’s boundaries for Mia’s sake, not just her own desires. She pushes, but she listens. She wants, but she respects.
Henry, Victoria’s butler, deserves a mention as well. He brings a steady warmth to the story, and his subtle humour — particularly in the scenes with Mia’s cats — was a nice touch.
When their relationship becomes public, Mia faces some difficult consequences that understandably shake her. The emotional distance that follows made sense, but how quickly things settled afterwards felt rather rushed given the weight of the moment.
That ties into my main criticism: the book is quite short, and the ending felt rushed. The slow build takes up much of the story, and then everything speeds up very quickly. I would’ve happily read a 400–500 page version that let their relationship breathe, recover and unfold more naturally.
Even so, I enjoyed it and am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
You put a 60 year old dominant billionaire in a book and I’ll devour it in one sitting. Because who doesn’t love an older woman and a dominant one at that.
Her Pride follows chronic people pleaser Mia an introverted primary school teacher who just wants peace and quiet, until she meets Victoria. An eccentric billionaire kink club owner who will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
Despite this book being labeled as a dark romance, it is probably the fluffiest dark romance I have ever read and I loved every second of it. Victoria is a bit of a bitch, but she knows what she wants and she’ll do everything to posses it, despite her cold demeanour she’s actually soft hearted and completely gone for a woman 33 years her junior. Mia is so highly strung and a ball of anxiety and the fact that Victoria not only brings chaos to her life, but a quiet calmness is amazing. The chemistry between the two while somewhat unbelievable at times, works so well in the end. And I mean come on, who wouldn’t automatically kneel for a hot older woman!
Much like Her Greed I wish this had of been longer and the slight stalker element had of been fleshed out more and explored. But overall I thoroughly enjoyed myself reading this and cannot wait for the next instalment.
Her Pride will be released March 15th, add it to your TBR or I’ll come to your home and move everything an inch to the left!
Things to LOVE: 📚Dark Romance 💞Age Gap (33 years) 💸60 Year Old Billionaire FMC 👩🏫27 Year Old Primary School Teacher 🪢Lite BDSM 🏓Impact Play 🌳Bush Appreciation ❤️HEA
WOW!!! C.M. Raven hit this one out of the park for me. The blurb describes it as entry-level dark romance… I’d add with a nice side of snarky. Mia’s internal dialogue is over the top entertaining frequently and just as down trodden in others. But, I was belly laughing more than once at her insights in both respects. She definitely didn’t haven the preconceived personality I gave her after reading the book description (which was a great twist for me for sure). Victoria was great fun too. In honesty I found this book amazingly engaging, intense, kinky, sexually charged and wishing it would not end. It is extremely different from Her Greed which was amazing two. They brought forth C.M. Raven’s talent for writing in such varied ways. I am not used to authors in this genre with such versatile perspectives and writing styles. That being said, I read Her Pride twice before writing this review as I was confused as an American reader a few times. The second time I read acknowledging the authors origin. The cadence and speaking style is more in line with foreign speakers….this insight added even deeper enjoyment to my experience the second reading. Also as a reader location of the story is important. This is an incredible read no matter how you perceive it. I am excited to read more by this author… definitely a fan. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an ARC copy of this book and honestly loved it. I read Her Greed and was so excited to get to read this one and now I cannot wait until the next!!
This story was completely my kind of read. The contrast between Mia’s quiet, simple life and Victoria’s bold, extravagant world makes their dynamic really interesting right from the start. They’re so different, but the chemistry between them is undeniable and it pulls you in quickly.
The tension builds really well throughout the story, and when the spice hits… it definitely delivers. If you enjoy sapphic romance with an age gap, a strong power dynamic, and plenty of kink, you’ll really enjoy it. The D/s dynamic felt like it actually added something to the relationship instead of just being there for shock value, which I appreciated.
It was spicy, engaging, and very much my taste. I had a great time with this one and I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.
I really enjoyed this book! I was pulled in from the start and invested in the story. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was the widest age gap I think I’ve read and it was done really well. It was a fairly quick read with under 200 pages so everything moved pretty quickly but the emotions and actions felt sincere and honest.
There’s definitely a leap considering Mia’s lack of experience in so many things and the introduction into Victoria’s lifestyle. With the story length it wasn’t a deterrent but please know there is so so very much more to a k!nk type relationship in real life. This a fiction and a wonderful quick steamy read. Recommend!
A wonderful age gap entry level dark romance, which means it's not as dark as it normally would be. I did enjoy the story especially the dynamics between the two MCs where one is extremely extroverted and the other extremely introverted.
The story is also about the kinky and specifically about BDSM and all that it entails. And as usual It was at least tastefully and well written without placing too much focus on the dirty.
I did feel the reconciliation a little too quick and sudden. It's as if there was never any conflict in the first place.
Overall an entertaining book but not as much as the first.
I loved loved loved this book! I couldn’t put it down and ended up reading it in one sitting.
It ticked all the right boxes for me – age gap, wlw, bdsm, romance – so I had high hopes before I started reading and those hopes were 100% fulfilled. The characters are well-written and relatable, the spicy scenes are incredibly hot and the the romance wasn’t over the top in a cheesy way. Also bonus points for giving Mia’s cats a lot of “screen time” 😻
I wouldn’t classify the book as dark romance, though. So if you are looking for an actual dark romance you’ll probably be happier with the first book in this series (“Her Greed” – which is also amazing!).
Mia is a very kind innocent young woman, who needs that someone to truly feel special and wanted from the right person to show her real love and trust. Victoria lifestyle is rich and powerful so much different than Mia's. So it's hard to believe that someone like Victoria come be real and really want her. I didn't know about Victoria meanings at the beginning. But her heart was true. I felt it was a good read , steamy and some heartfelt love, and to become a stronger person
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was my first book by C. M. Ravens, but it most certainly won't be my last. Every second of this was absolutely amazing. The plot, the characters, the writing, the chemistry and just about everything else.
Mia and Victoria were absolutely perfect for one another, in an unexpected way. I loved them so much, both as people and as a couple.
Can we take a second to appreciate Henry and how much he loved Mia's cats? He was the absolute sweetest and hands down a highlight from this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an ARC copy of this book and honestly loved it. The tension builds really well throughout the story, and when the spice hits… it definitely delivers. If you enjoy sapphic romance with an age gap, a strong power dynamic, and plenty of kink, you’ll really enjoy it. The D/s dynamic felt like it actually added something to the relationship instead of just being there for shock value, which I appreciated.
It was spicy, engaging, and very much my taste. I had a great time with this one and I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This took me a little longer to get into than the first book in the series but it was 100% worth it.
This book is a bit of a swerve from the first in the series but I found Mia a relatable character and the chemistry between her and Victoria was steaming! A fun read with some hot scenes to keep you on your toes. Definitely worth a read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I thought Her Greed was good… wow. Another book and I’m left speechless. Not only was it a book I could relate to in more ways than I care to admit, every word tugged a string and it was a story I didn’t know I needed. I’m hot and bothered by Victoria and Mia relationship. I said it once but I’ll say it again KINKY just how I love it
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Having said that, the story of Victoria and Mia was really beautiful. Yes, there is an age gap, yes one has more experience than the other, but how they care for each bother and really brought the best out of one another was really something special. I really enjoyed the book.
This dark romance only took me 1 day to finish, and I enjoyed it. This was the second book in this series, and although it had a different style, I liked it just as much. I am now looking forward to the next book in this series!
I don’t know, it was ok. Started good, but later on, closer to the end, something tells me it was written with AI. It’s missing something more human, I don’t know. It could have been better. It’s my first book from CM Raven, I might give her another chance.
Good story but the characters could be developed further… they could be so much longer and more detailed. Definitely more room for more Knick and sex xx
As a recovering people pleaser, I genuinely don't think I have ever felt more seen in a character more than I did in Mia ❤️ And any real world Victorias out there in need of their sub?! Swooning! This book was flawless. I was living for the representation of the trust building in the D/S relationship which is so so important!! Victoria reading to Mia in the vault stole my heart. As well as the safe kink practices and Victoria allowing Mia to grow confidence not only as a person but as a sub. All around, I really loved this book and these characters. They were beautifully written and I can't wait to read more from this author. Take up space, ladies!
Wow. This was my first time reading an FF age gap book with this big of an age difference and I really liked it. Both Mia & Victoria were multi faceted and their tension was great. 33 years sounds like a lifetime but both women just worked well together. The way Victoria introduced Mia into her world of BDSM and the way their relationship developed was really well written. The book is quite short but the plot was well paced so I never felt rushed or dragged by the storyline. By the epilogue I had tears in my eyes with Mia's love declaration. 😍