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NOLA Nights #1
The King of Bourbon Street
Hotel chain mogul Sol DuMont is about to learn that some of life’s biggest surprises come in deceptively small packages—namely a petite heiress named Rain who’s hell-bent on upsetting her family’s expectations—in this first book in the all new series by Thea de Salle, set against the sultry backdrop of New Orleans.
Thirty-seven-year-old Sol DuMont is a divorcee and the owner of a mid-sized hotel chain in New Orleans. Since Hurricane Katrina, his father’s death, and the decision that he and his ex-wife Maddy are far better off friends than lovers, he’s lost interest in almost everything he held dear—parties, people, and pushing limits.
All his limits.
Then Arianna Barrington checks into his hotel.
Twenty-four-year-old Arianna “Rain” Barrington could have been society’s sweetheart. Her family is moneyed, connected press darlings, and make sweeping headlines from coast to coast for reasons both good and bad. But when her mother shoves her at Charles Harwood—the obnoxious, entitled heir of Harwood Corp—to cement a billion-dollar business merger, Rain does the only thing she can think of to escape: she creates a scandal so big Harwood doesn’t want her anymore before fleeing to New Orleans for much-needed rest and relaxation.
All she wants is jazz piano, beignets, and to sail the Mississippi. What she gets is Sol DuMont, a whirlwind affair, and a hands-on education in sex, power play, and pushing limits.
All her limits.
Thirty-seven-year-old Sol DuMont is a divorcee and the owner of a mid-sized hotel chain in New Orleans. Since Hurricane Katrina, his father’s death, and the decision that he and his ex-wife Maddy are far better off friends than lovers, he’s lost interest in almost everything he held dear—parties, people, and pushing limits.
All his limits.
Then Arianna Barrington checks into his hotel.
Twenty-four-year-old Arianna “Rain” Barrington could have been society’s sweetheart. Her family is moneyed, connected press darlings, and make sweeping headlines from coast to coast for reasons both good and bad. But when her mother shoves her at Charles Harwood—the obnoxious, entitled heir of Harwood Corp—to cement a billion-dollar business merger, Rain does the only thing she can think of to escape: she creates a scandal so big Harwood doesn’t want her anymore before fleeing to New Orleans for much-needed rest and relaxation.
All she wants is jazz piano, beignets, and to sail the Mississippi. What she gets is Sol DuMont, a whirlwind affair, and a hands-on education in sex, power play, and pushing limits.
All her limits.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2017
46 people are currently reading
1750 people want to read
About the author
Thea de Salle
4 books42 followersThea de Salle is the pseudonym of a New York Times bestselling author spinning sweet, naughty, funny kissing stories with her best friend. Thea’s handlers live in South Shore Massachusetts with a small army of furry, short-legged creatures. Their collective interests are books, jewelry, makeup, travel, and oodles of inappropriate humor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
July 15, 2018
“I want her, she wants me. I’m willing to see where it goes even if it’s only two weeks of fun.”
The King of Bourbon Street was nothing short of a treat to read. It had me smiling, it had me laughing, and it had me happy from first to last page. Plus, this book was so damn sexy! And it had so much good representation that I’ll talk about lower in my review! But if you’re looking for a steamy romance read, that’s different than so much out there, I completely recommend picking this one up!
➽ Sol DuMont - 37 years old, hotel owner, who is still grieving the loss of his father, and is dealing with a divorce that is very fresh. He and his siblings split up responsibilities between all the different hotels, and Sol lives and works at the New Orleans location, where the community is still dealing with the impact of Hurricane Katrina. Sol is also into BDSM and is pan, bi, or some kind of MGA sexuality. Yet, finding a new romantic partner isn’t something that he plans to look for anytime soon.
“You know that cliché about the best bottoms being the best tops.”
➽ Arianna/Rain Barrington - 24 years old, plus sized, socialite, doing everything in her power to get her way out of a relationship she never wanted to be a part of. Yet, the only way she can think of to break it off is a sex tape. She is also the youngest of many siblings, but one of them, Vaughn, takes her on a much-needed vacation to get away from it all, and their mother. And what better place than a certain hotel in New Orleans?
“Pretty blond men with tattoos were a dime a dozen in New Orleans, but jiggly blond girls spinning in circles and peppering corgi muzzles with kisses? Those were a rare breed.”
And obviously you all know this is a romance book, so these two’s paths inevitably cross. But when they cross it’s like a match to a flint box, because it gets hot as hell. Like, seriously, the sex in this book is very explicit and very abundant! So, if that’s not something you’re into, please use caution or maybe skip this one. Also, trigger and content warnings for drug use, grief, talk of loss of a loved one, talk of past sexual assault (unwanted touching/groping), and abusive parenting.
But if you are looking for a sexy read, this story has so much good in it! First off, Rain and Sol both have such amazing friendships with their siblings. You all know I’m a sucker for a good brother and sister relationship always, because my little brother is my best friend. And Vaughn reminded me so damn much of my brother. I also loved Sol’s friendships not only with his best friend and accountant, Cylin, but with his ex-wife Maddy! Give me all the books about people having healthy friendships with their exes, please! Seriously, I loved this element so much of the book.
I know I touched on this a tiny bit, but Maddy and Sol had a pretty serious BDSM relationship, so now Sol is slowly and sweetly trying to see if that would be something that Rain would also like. And even though Sol fills out the role of Dom so very well, he emphasizes asking for consent. And seriously, fam, in 2018, nothing is sexier in an erotic read than consent! But seriously, some of the things Sol did in this book? That boy can get it. 11/10.
“You could stay for a longer visit if you’d like. Two weeks isn’t enough time to fully appreciate you.”
I also really appreciated two things about Rain that I feel aren’t in too many books that I read. One, is that she had a toxic mother who not only abused their relationship, but was manipulative and controlling. Not everyone comes from perfect parents, and I just loved how realistic this felt, even though they are all millionaires. And I also loved the heavy emphasis on Rain’s tidying up (maybe OCD). I, too, must have things tidy in my house or even while traveling. Seeing Rain have to clean the counters after she applies her make up, or pick up and fold her clothes because she won’t be able to be calm and focus, is something that I really relate to. I just really appreciated that on a personal level. Like, I literally get out of bed and have to make it immediately or my whole day will be ruined and I won’t be able to relax or focus on anything in or outside my home.
Now, I only have two “negative” things to say about this novel. The first being one that might be something a lot of people won’t like, and that’s that this story is rather instalove-y. I do think it will well done, but I will not deny that it is instalove, and I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea! The second, and most important thing, is the cover of this book. Now, I won’t hold this against the author or the story what-so-ever, but look at the cover of this book. You’d never guess that this book is about a sexy, proud, and happy plus sized girl. Rain’s weight is something that’s constantly brought up and celebrated, but the cover model is legitimately nowhere near plus sized. If this book had a plus sized model (like it should) I would have picked it up earlier!
But those are my only two complaints about this book. I truly think this is a must read for all romance readers out there. It’s so damn heartwarming, too! And Rain and her corgi, Freckles, legit had me laughing out loud in bed. Her inner monologue is honestly perfection and so damn realistic.
“Her very own Prince Charming. Spanky, licky Prince Charming. Why, brain? Why?”
Overall, I just really loved this. From the body rep, to the sexuality rep, to the sex positivity, to the friendships, to the sibling relationships, to the New Orleans setting, to the sexiness; this book was easy to love! And I read the first chapter of The Queen of Dauphine Street, and it starts out with a w/w sex scene and I was so here for it. Give me all the pan and bi rep, please! Especially with BDSM and sex positivity being at the forefront! Like, it’s going to take all my willpower to not ignore my TBR and pick it up next!
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This is the July pick for the Book Hangover Book Club that Julie and Chelsea host! ❤
I'm also reading this for #smutathon, which is being hosted by Lainey and Riley! ❤
And this is a buddy read with Lilly at Lair of Books! ❤
November 15, 2018
Well fuck me, oh my god. Perfect characters are perfect. Hands down my favorite smutty book ever. I am SHOOK.
*rolls around in a puddle of fat girl feelings for the rest of eternity*
*rolls around in a puddle of fat girl feelings for the rest of eternity*
July 13, 2018
fat heroine ✓
bi hero ✓
the cutest corgi in the world ✓
set in new orleans ✓
smut level 100 ✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓
bi hero ✓
the cutest corgi in the world ✓
set in new orleans ✓
smut level 100 ✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓
March 16, 2017
3 stars!
Reviews and more at Of Pens and Pages.
When Sol DuMont, a thirty-seven-year-old hotel mogul, and Arianna “Rain” Barrington, a twenty-four-year-old heiress rebelling against her mother, meet at Sol’s hotel in New Orleans, the connection is instant.
Sol’s life after his father’s death became bleak at best. His marriage fizzled, his passion for his family’s business is gone, and his will to live nonexistent. It was only thanks to his best friend/accountant, Cylin, that he’s back to at least willing to take care of business. But when he meets the petite and curvy woman with the pet corgi, he’s felt what he’s been missing since his life with his wife was still hot and colorful.
Rain has been a disappointment to her mother her whole life. She’s not lean and tall like the rest of the Barringtons, she didn’t study what her mother wanted her to take for college and grad school, she blew the gardener to ward off a too-handsy suitor chosen by her mother for a business merger, and she may have a video of said event. It’s a good thing her brothers and father (and pretty much the whole society) adore her, or else she wouldn’t be able to escape her mother. Instead of going to LA as planned, Rain and one of her brothers, Vaughan, flies to New Orleans to escape the paparazzi and her meddling mother. There she meets Sol, and the two go from zero to a hundred real quick.
Me at the 25-27% mark:
I have to admit, I almost dropped this once at the 25-27% mark. I had no idea what the characters were trying to be; the hero especially. Was he a super alpha? A flamboyant and fluid hero? Do I like him?
But I decided to give it a second chance. It’s not as bad as I first thought it was. It’s actually enjoyable at some parts. I found the characters endearing; even the side characters like Cylan, Rain’s brothers—Vaughan and Richard, especially—Sol’s ex-wife Maddy, and Freckles the corgi.
Me the rest of the story:
Since apparently it’s an erotica, expect lots of sex. Like, really. Most of their time together is spent in a tangled mess of limbs and sheets. We have a man with a lot of sexual experience and a girl who’s pretty vanilla compared to him. There’s light, hot BDSM in the mix, so some of the readers might enjoy that.
Personally, I enjoyed the narrative and dialogue. I really liked the dry humor infused in the overall tone of the story. I also loved that the backdrop they used was New Orleans!
As I’ve mentioned above, this story has a lot of sex scenes. Not a bad thing since it’s erotica. But I felt the conflict and resolution were compromised because of the lack of time and space. Since most of the story revolved around their sexual encounters, there was little left for the conflict to unfold. I think it was resolved too easy.
Overall, The King of Bourbon Street is still a fun start to a series. This standalone told in the third POV has a lot of steam, humor, and sexual chemistry between the main characters. Not bad.
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Reviews and more at Of Pens and Pages.
When Sol DuMont, a thirty-seven-year-old hotel mogul, and Arianna “Rain” Barrington, a twenty-four-year-old heiress rebelling against her mother, meet at Sol’s hotel in New Orleans, the connection is instant.
Sol’s life after his father’s death became bleak at best. His marriage fizzled, his passion for his family’s business is gone, and his will to live nonexistent. It was only thanks to his best friend/accountant, Cylin, that he’s back to at least willing to take care of business. But when he meets the petite and curvy woman with the pet corgi, he’s felt what he’s been missing since his life with his wife was still hot and colorful.
Rain has been a disappointment to her mother her whole life. She’s not lean and tall like the rest of the Barringtons, she didn’t study what her mother wanted her to take for college and grad school, she blew the gardener to ward off a too-handsy suitor chosen by her mother for a business merger, and she may have a video of said event. It’s a good thing her brothers and father (and pretty much the whole society) adore her, or else she wouldn’t be able to escape her mother. Instead of going to LA as planned, Rain and one of her brothers, Vaughan, flies to New Orleans to escape the paparazzi and her meddling mother. There she meets Sol, and the two go from zero to a hundred real quick.
Me at the 25-27% mark:
I have to admit, I almost dropped this once at the 25-27% mark. I had no idea what the characters were trying to be; the hero especially. Was he a super alpha? A flamboyant and fluid hero? Do I like him?
But I decided to give it a second chance. It’s not as bad as I first thought it was. It’s actually enjoyable at some parts. I found the characters endearing; even the side characters like Cylan, Rain’s brothers—Vaughan and Richard, especially—Sol’s ex-wife Maddy, and Freckles the corgi.
Me the rest of the story:
Since apparently it’s an erotica, expect lots of sex. Like, really. Most of their time together is spent in a tangled mess of limbs and sheets. We have a man with a lot of sexual experience and a girl who’s pretty vanilla compared to him. There’s light, hot BDSM in the mix, so some of the readers might enjoy that.
Personally, I enjoyed the narrative and dialogue. I really liked the dry humor infused in the overall tone of the story. I also loved that the backdrop they used was New Orleans!
As I’ve mentioned above, this story has a lot of sex scenes. Not a bad thing since it’s erotica. But I felt the conflict and resolution were compromised because of the lack of time and space. Since most of the story revolved around their sexual encounters, there was little left for the conflict to unfold. I think it was resolved too easy.
Overall, The King of Bourbon Street is still a fun start to a series. This standalone told in the third POV has a lot of steam, humor, and sexual chemistry between the main characters. Not bad.
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June 3, 2017
I loved this book. The most fat positive romance I've ever read, and so damn hot.
I rave about it at length in this blog post:
https://xanwest.wordpress.com/2017/02...
I rave about it at length in this blog post:
https://xanwest.wordpress.com/2017/02...
January 31, 2017
I flipping loved this book!
This story has so many awesome components of a great romance - Flirty, Fun, Sexy, and Oh, So Steamy! With a delicious taste of NOLA and a decidedly hot story with enough of a light flavor of bdsm to satisfy, this story is a work of art.
I don't even know where to begin! The author has crafted a sweet story that is loaded with so many elements that delight the senses. A funny, cranky, darling, sexy leading man that will leave you begging to have one like him all your own. A wholesome, endearing lady lady with good manners, a sailor mouth, and a mother we love to hate.
My only issue with this story is that I hated the way the author chose to refer to how the heroine looked with her body size. While the direct and a straightforward approach was interesting, for me, I really did not want that type of visual. HA. However, I loved everything else about this book!
I want more! I can only hope that the author brings us more from this spicy couple in the next editions of the series. I cannot wait to get my hands on more from her!
This story has so many awesome components of a great romance - Flirty, Fun, Sexy, and Oh, So Steamy! With a delicious taste of NOLA and a decidedly hot story with enough of a light flavor of bdsm to satisfy, this story is a work of art.
I don't even know where to begin! The author has crafted a sweet story that is loaded with so many elements that delight the senses. A funny, cranky, darling, sexy leading man that will leave you begging to have one like him all your own. A wholesome, endearing lady lady with good manners, a sailor mouth, and a mother we love to hate.
My only issue with this story is that I hated the way the author chose to refer to how the heroine looked with her body size. While the direct and a straightforward approach was interesting, for me, I really did not want that type of visual. HA. However, I loved everything else about this book!
I want more! I can only hope that the author brings us more from this spicy couple in the next editions of the series. I cannot wait to get my hands on more from her!
August 12, 2017
Full review originally posted on my blog:
Word Wonders
Listen. you need to drop everything and go read this book. It has me deceased, but also living. But also deceased. I don’t know how that works but it’s how I feel because WOW. I think, no, I rarely if ever give Erotic Romances a full 5 stars rating but well I did with this one, IT IS THAT GOOD. So much positive representation, so much kinky sex, so much cuteness, YES, CUTENESS. Anyway, the only reason I wouldn’t recommend this is if you’re not comfortable with explicit sex scenes, otherwise, GO FOR IT.
The writing is amazing, it is so smooth and gorgeous while still being straight forward and blunt as well as avoiding the over-flowery prose, that, let’s be honest ruins these types of books more often than not. She also manages to create a very atmospheric setting, capturing the New Orleans vibe so very well. Both the MCs’ voices are very distinct and refreshing which makes it hard to not fall in love with them. Both of them.
The characters are very well fleshed out, they’re more than vehicles to hot sex scenes, Thea De Salle made them real people with great relationship dynamics and this stands not only for the main characters but also for the side characters whom, by the way, you will get so attached to that you’ll want a gazillion books in the series just to read about them all.
Sol is a hotel chain mogul. He is also the most loveable asshole I’ve ever had the honor to read about. He’s so witty and cocky and INTIMIDATING, he has this ridiculous presence that makes you want to hide and swoon at the same time. He’s also proudly bisexual and uses that to relentlessly flirt with his very straight best friend, Cylan, who is a very grumpy and yet endearing man. What made me love him even more is how his introduction and later on relationship with Arianna Barrington (Rain) has brought out this sweet, gentle and caring side of him. He absolutely adores her and would do anything to makes her happy.
Rain is a 23 (almost 24) year old Heiress and she’s the most adorable character ever, she’s bubbly, honest and she nervous talks which I loved and we don’t really see that much in Erotica. The girl also know how to be hella sexy when she wants to be. Rain is fat and through the whole book that is never seen as a negative thing or as something that she should be ashamed of or that would hinder her romance. Not once.
Sol is also a 37 year old divorcé which makes this romance age-gap as well, and I live for those. Maddy, Sol’s ex-wife is also his best friend and I loved everytime she was on page because their banter is super light, fun and teasy. Not only that but they’re also always there for each other no matter the time of the day.
This book is such a perfect balance between sweet romantic scenes and steamy sex scenes, I really don’t know how that is possible but this book is proof that it is. The King of Bourbon Street is BDSM done right, extremely right. Sol and Rain’s dom/sub relationship is never once unhealthy or toxic because as much as Rain is new to it all, Sol never takes advantage of that and respects her boudaries, asking for consent for everything, from the kiss to every new sexual act that followed. And that is so important. The aftercare is also amazingly well done and we get to see a very soft Sol in those moments. So, sign me up! Other than that their romance is so cute, I could feel Sol melting everytime Rain spoke and that just… *swoons*.
The next book (which I already read and adored too) is about Maddy and oh boy, you will love it. It’s so different from this one and yet equally amazing (I love Maddy and Darren so much). I’d highly recommend picking this up if you are comfortable reading GOOD erotic romance.
Listen. you need to drop everything and go read this book. It has me deceased, but also living. But also deceased. I don’t know how that works but it’s how I feel because WOW. I think, no, I rarely if ever give Erotic Romances a full 5 stars rating but well I did with this one, IT IS THAT GOOD. So much positive representation, so much kinky sex, so much cuteness, YES, CUTENESS. Anyway, the only reason I wouldn’t recommend this is if you’re not comfortable with explicit sex scenes, otherwise, GO FOR IT.
The writing is amazing, it is so smooth and gorgeous while still being straight forward and blunt as well as avoiding the over-flowery prose, that, let’s be honest ruins these types of books more often than not. She also manages to create a very atmospheric setting, capturing the New Orleans vibe so very well. Both the MCs’ voices are very distinct and refreshing which makes it hard to not fall in love with them. Both of them.
The characters are very well fleshed out, they’re more than vehicles to hot sex scenes, Thea De Salle made them real people with great relationship dynamics and this stands not only for the main characters but also for the side characters whom, by the way, you will get so attached to that you’ll want a gazillion books in the series just to read about them all.
Sol is a hotel chain mogul. He is also the most loveable asshole I’ve ever had the honor to read about. He’s so witty and cocky and INTIMIDATING, he has this ridiculous presence that makes you want to hide and swoon at the same time. He’s also proudly bisexual and uses that to relentlessly flirt with his very straight best friend, Cylan, who is a very grumpy and yet endearing man. What made me love him even more is how his introduction and later on relationship with Arianna Barrington (Rain) has brought out this sweet, gentle and caring side of him. He absolutely adores her and would do anything to makes her happy.
Rain is a 23 (almost 24) year old Heiress and she’s the most adorable character ever, she’s bubbly, honest and she nervous talks which I loved and we don’t really see that much in Erotica. The girl also know how to be hella sexy when she wants to be. Rain is fat and through the whole book that is never seen as a negative thing or as something that she should be ashamed of or that would hinder her romance. Not once.
Sol is also a 37 year old divorcé which makes this romance age-gap as well, and I live for those. Maddy, Sol’s ex-wife is also his best friend and I loved everytime she was on page because their banter is super light, fun and teasy. Not only that but they’re also always there for each other no matter the time of the day.
This book is such a perfect balance between sweet romantic scenes and steamy sex scenes, I really don’t know how that is possible but this book is proof that it is. The King of Bourbon Street is BDSM done right, extremely right. Sol and Rain’s dom/sub relationship is never once unhealthy or toxic because as much as Rain is new to it all, Sol never takes advantage of that and respects her boudaries, asking for consent for everything, from the kiss to every new sexual act that followed. And that is so important. The aftercare is also amazingly well done and we get to see a very soft Sol in those moments. So, sign me up! Other than that their romance is so cute, I could feel Sol melting everytime Rain spoke and that just… *swoons*.
The next book (which I already read and adored too) is about Maddy and oh boy, you will love it. It’s so different from this one and yet equally amazing (I love Maddy and Darren so much). I’d highly recommend picking this up if you are comfortable reading GOOD erotic romance.
February 13, 2017
I loved every single thing about this! The King of Bourbon Street was a fantastic introduction to a seriously smoking hot new series. Loved all the dirty, kinky naughtiness. Add in the fact that it was fun and entertaining (seriously! so funny with the best internal dialogue!), I couldn't get enough!
Sol and Rain were such a great characters. Sol, my oh my, this man is one dirty gentleman. I was crushing on him big time. I loved his history and the visual I got of him. He was so full of life! Rain was so sweet and a bit naïve but somehow bold and open. I loved their chemistry together, it was electric! They did have a very instant connection but somehow it worked perfectly for me.
The hot factor is off the charts! Like, I had to out my Kindle down and take a break because I'm pretty sure the darn thing was going to catch fire. Loved the light BDSM elements and how Sol introduced Rain to so many things and how accepting and willing she was. Besides the heat, it had such a fun vibe happening. It was light and steamy. Seriously with the humorous one liners. I laughed and chuckled my way through this story. It was seriously funny! It was entertaining and witty and it was full of so much charm.
I loved the friendship that Sol had with Cylan and the relationship he had with his brothers. It was good natured ribbing and fun, I love that male bickering and banter. I also liked the relationships Rain had with her brothers. They were so protective of her. I thought Sol’s ex wife Maddy was fantastic and I loved her style. She's just so fresh and bold and confident. She’s up next in book two, The Queen of Dauphine Street (yay!). There were just so many great details and elements introduced. I loved it all.
I loved the writing and the form of story telling. The author painted a beautiful and vibrant picture of New Orleans. This story was just so full of life, heat, trust and openness. This was pure, hot entertainment. There is some drama mixed in but for the most part it was an light read. There was an excellent story with interesting characters combined with a seriously smut-fest of a read. And I mean that in a good way!
This is a series not to be missed! I am completely fascinated by the mystery that is Thea De Salle and can't wait for more!
Complimentary copy received for honest review.
Sol and Rain were such a great characters. Sol, my oh my, this man is one dirty gentleman. I was crushing on him big time. I loved his history and the visual I got of him. He was so full of life! Rain was so sweet and a bit naïve but somehow bold and open. I loved their chemistry together, it was electric! They did have a very instant connection but somehow it worked perfectly for me.
The hot factor is off the charts! Like, I had to out my Kindle down and take a break because I'm pretty sure the darn thing was going to catch fire. Loved the light BDSM elements and how Sol introduced Rain to so many things and how accepting and willing she was. Besides the heat, it had such a fun vibe happening. It was light and steamy. Seriously with the humorous one liners. I laughed and chuckled my way through this story. It was seriously funny! It was entertaining and witty and it was full of so much charm.
I loved the friendship that Sol had with Cylan and the relationship he had with his brothers. It was good natured ribbing and fun, I love that male bickering and banter. I also liked the relationships Rain had with her brothers. They were so protective of her. I thought Sol’s ex wife Maddy was fantastic and I loved her style. She's just so fresh and bold and confident. She’s up next in book two, The Queen of Dauphine Street (yay!). There were just so many great details and elements introduced. I loved it all.
I loved the writing and the form of story telling. The author painted a beautiful and vibrant picture of New Orleans. This story was just so full of life, heat, trust and openness. This was pure, hot entertainment. There is some drama mixed in but for the most part it was an light read. There was an excellent story with interesting characters combined with a seriously smut-fest of a read. And I mean that in a good way!
This is a series not to be missed! I am completely fascinated by the mystery that is Thea De Salle and can't wait for more!
Complimentary copy received for honest review.
July 13, 2017
As a fat woman, I can only shake my head about these accusations. Rain's rep is ownvoices for a start and based on the author's own experiences, and in no way offense. In what world is it fetishizing to call fat women beautiful? Describing fat bodies the way they are and calling them beautiful IS NOT FETISHIZING. Are fat people not allowed to be loved? Are they not allowed to be called beautiful, called cute nicknames like any other non-fat person? Either you want rep or you don't, but don't come for perfectly fine books with good rep just because you've got too much fatphobia internalized to see straight, people.
March 1, 2017
This was so cute and so fun and I absolutely FLEW through it. Exactly the fun, steamy, kinky read I needed.
July 16, 2018
Trigger warnings: shitty parenting, blackmail, controlling relationships, drug use.
I've heard amazing things about this book from a lot of people I trust in the Booktube community. I...............did not have that experience with this book.
I'm just going to bullet point things because it's easier.
- The heroine is plus sized and it's mentioned frequently. Who the hell is the skinny bitch on the cover??
- This is basically PWP, and when it comes to fan fic, I have zero problem with that because we're talking about established characters. Here, there was almost no explanation of who these characters were, there was very little character development, and there was honestly very little interaction between them that didn't involve Sol sticking something into one of Arianna's "holes".
- Seriously, if I had to read the word "hole" one more time, I was going to scream
- You literally met each other like 12 hours ago, use a fucking condom
- At no point do they use a condom
- Sol doesn't ask her about birth control until like the 60% mark. But it's fine because his best friend asked her instead???
- I really hated that 90% of the time, Sol referred to Arianna has either "kitten" or "cupcake". She has a name, asshat.
- Why was it necessary to mention that her corgi was in the room while you were having your sub/dom funtimes? Like...no. Please no.
- Speaking of the sub/dom funtimes, it made me super uncomfortable for several reasons: 1. As far as I know, it involves a FUCKTON of trust and there's literally no time for that trust to develop; 2. Arianna's basically got no idea of what she's getting into and Sol at no point has a conversation with her to explain what she's getting into; and 3. Sol's only been in one sub/dom relationship, and he was the sub. Now he's the dom. I just...nyargh.
- Honestly, the sex scene were just...cringy. Sure, they were smutty. But they also made me make a disgusted face on public transport because of phrases like "her greedy slit dribbling with wantonness", "Are you my hole?", "squelching noises echoed from her cunt" [echoed???????], "I'm going to float out to sea on my own juices", and literally any time the words "valley", "canal" or "tunnel" were used. Especially given that they were usually accompanied by the words "sopping" or "dripping" or "drenched". Hard pass.
- It made me kind of uncomfortable that the first thing he did after getting involved with Arianna was PHONE HIS EX-WIFE AND TELL HER ALL THE DETAILS OF THE SEX THEY JUST HAD??? And not in a gloaty way because it's his ex-wife but because she's still basically his best friend and she's also super kinky and he knows she'll want to know the details. Like, sure? But maybe Arianna won't be comfortable with knowing that your ex-wife knows all about how drippy her squelchy cunt is?
- If Sol talked about how "jiggly" Arianna was ONE MORE TIME, I was going to reach into my Kindle and stab a bitch.
- I liked the sibling relationships, but I hated that Arianna's brothers all call her "Droplet". Like...doesn't ANYONE call this girl by her damn name??
- I wanted more of a resolution around Arianna's goal to, like, do something with her life other than being a "fuckhole for the man behind her" and start a women's shelter. But no. Sigh.
- The friendship between Sol and Cylin is delightful.
- This is set in New Orleans so at least it let me tick Louisiana off my goal list for the year?
- In summary: this book was not for me. At all. Nope. Hard pass.
I've heard amazing things about this book from a lot of people I trust in the Booktube community. I...............did not have that experience with this book.
I'm just going to bullet point things because it's easier.
- The heroine is plus sized and it's mentioned frequently. Who the hell is the skinny bitch on the cover??
- This is basically PWP, and when it comes to fan fic, I have zero problem with that because we're talking about established characters. Here, there was almost no explanation of who these characters were, there was very little character development, and there was honestly very little interaction between them that didn't involve Sol sticking something into one of Arianna's "holes".
- Seriously, if I had to read the word "hole" one more time, I was going to scream
- You literally met each other like 12 hours ago, use a fucking condom
- At no point do they use a condom
- Sol doesn't ask her about birth control until like the 60% mark. But it's fine because his best friend asked her instead???
- I really hated that 90% of the time, Sol referred to Arianna has either "kitten" or "cupcake". She has a name, asshat.
- Why was it necessary to mention that her corgi was in the room while you were having your sub/dom funtimes? Like...no. Please no.
- Speaking of the sub/dom funtimes, it made me super uncomfortable for several reasons: 1. As far as I know, it involves a FUCKTON of trust and there's literally no time for that trust to develop; 2. Arianna's basically got no idea of what she's getting into and Sol at no point has a conversation with her to explain what she's getting into; and 3. Sol's only been in one sub/dom relationship, and he was the sub. Now he's the dom. I just...nyargh.
- Honestly, the sex scene were just...cringy. Sure, they were smutty. But they also made me make a disgusted face on public transport because of phrases like "her greedy slit dribbling with wantonness", "Are you my hole?", "squelching noises echoed from her cunt" [echoed???????], "I'm going to float out to sea on my own juices", and literally any time the words "valley", "canal" or "tunnel" were used. Especially given that they were usually accompanied by the words "sopping" or "dripping" or "drenched". Hard pass.
- It made me kind of uncomfortable that the first thing he did after getting involved with Arianna was PHONE HIS EX-WIFE AND TELL HER ALL THE DETAILS OF THE SEX THEY JUST HAD??? And not in a gloaty way because it's his ex-wife but because she's still basically his best friend and she's also super kinky and he knows she'll want to know the details. Like, sure? But maybe Arianna won't be comfortable with knowing that your ex-wife knows all about how drippy her squelchy cunt is?
- If Sol talked about how "jiggly" Arianna was ONE MORE TIME, I was going to reach into my Kindle and stab a bitch.
- I liked the sibling relationships, but I hated that Arianna's brothers all call her "Droplet". Like...doesn't ANYONE call this girl by her damn name??
- I wanted more of a resolution around Arianna's goal to, like, do something with her life other than being a "fuckhole for the man behind her" and start a women's shelter. But no. Sigh.
- The friendship between Sol and Cylin is delightful.
- This is set in New Orleans so at least it let me tick Louisiana off my goal list for the year?
- In summary: this book was not for me. At all. Nope. Hard pass.
February 19, 2017
The King of Bourbon Street was so good from start to finish. I couldn't stop reading ~ I wasn't even supposed to start it but I just read the first chapter and seriously, I loved it so much since then.
It's told in two POVs. 1) Rain ~ a fat heiress who runs away to New Orleans to escape her mother's wrath after telling her she gave the gardener a blow job and filmed it. She then meets 2) Sol ~ the owner of the hotel she is staying at and a sexy longish haired dude. Their chemistry is off the ROOF from their first meeting when Sol talks to her from his balcony. There is also an age gap: Sol is 37yo I believe and Rain is like 20-something?
It is so much fun and you will laugh out loud with so may scenes and characters. These group of characters, oh my god, they are the best. You want every single one to have their own book and happy ending. From Cylan to Vaughan to Maddy, and more. And Sol is such a dork and he is w h i p p e d. Also there is a corgi, because Rain takes Freckles everywhere she goes lmao. I believe Freckles made everyone fall for him, especially Cylan.
There arE SO MANY PET NAMES. Sol calls Rain "kitten" usually. But he also uses "sweetheart" and it's too cute, I die. And yes, there is a Dom/sub relationship in bed, so if you're not comfortable with that, I recommend to skip it ~
Overall, this book was so very enjoyabled. It captured my attention and my heart. I fell for these characters, I truly want to know what happens next for Sol and Rain. And definitely that little excerpt at the end for the next book: I'm so excited for Maddy's story. It seems like Darren is gonna be the biggest dork with his bad jokes but Maddy is gonna luv him I know it.
It's told in two POVs. 1) Rain ~ a fat heiress who runs away to New Orleans to escape her mother's wrath after telling her she gave the gardener a blow job and filmed it. She then meets 2) Sol ~ the owner of the hotel she is staying at and a sexy longish haired dude. Their chemistry is off the ROOF from their first meeting when Sol talks to her from his balcony. There is also an age gap: Sol is 37yo I believe and Rain is like 20-something?
It is so much fun and you will laugh out loud with so may scenes and characters. These group of characters, oh my god, they are the best. You want every single one to have their own book and happy ending. From Cylan to Vaughan to Maddy, and more. And Sol is such a dork and he is w h i p p e d. Also there is a corgi, because Rain takes Freckles everywhere she goes lmao. I believe Freckles made everyone fall for him, especially Cylan.
There arE SO MANY PET NAMES. Sol calls Rain "kitten" usually. But he also uses "sweetheart" and it's too cute, I die. And yes, there is a Dom/sub relationship in bed, so if you're not comfortable with that, I recommend to skip it ~
Overall, this book was so very enjoyabled. It captured my attention and my heart. I fell for these characters, I truly want to know what happens next for Sol and Rain. And definitely that little excerpt at the end for the next book: I'm so excited for Maddy's story. It seems like Darren is gonna be the biggest dork with his bad jokes but Maddy is gonna luv him I know it.
June 28, 2017
First published on http://theshrinkette.com
Plot: Sol DuMont is a recently divorced, gorgeous, hotel chain owner, whose interest in partying and drugs and booze and sex is at an all time low. Arianna "Rain" Barrington is a wealthy heiress who is vacationing in New Orleans with her brother to escape her godawful mother and her incessant matchmaking. Rain and her brother Vaughn are of course, staying at The Seaside, Sol's hotel. When Sol and Rain encounter each other, there are sparks, and a whirlwind romance ensues.
HOT. DAMN.
Okay, okay, I'm getting way ahead of myself. First of all, this is the FIRST fat-positive romance I've ever read. I know the cover is deceiving (the author went over this in detail on Twitter a while ago; publishing needs to evolve), but Rain is fat. The word "fat" is used to describe her, more than once, and not in a derogatory manner at all. No fetishizing or negativity, which is amazing, especially since a lot of the descriptions are from Sol's POV. This is a D/s relationship, and Sol looks at her a lot as a Dom, but all of his trains of thoughts about her are nothing but positive throughout the book. It's great. Sol himself is a fucking delight- his banter with his best friend Cylan, especially all the one-sided flirting and the general snark, had me in splits. It's hilarious. He's bi and has no qualms about it. It was also great to read the book from the Dom's POV during play, which again, I haven't read a lot. Rain's the less experienced of the two, but all the play is super consensual- there's pain play, orgasm control, objectification- and the kink is ridiculously hot.
Outside of the kinky stuff, I really did love both characters. Rain is a ray of sunshine, wicked smart, adorable, and extremely kind. Sol is all snark and flirty and protective, but not the slightest bit overbearing. Their relationship is very well fleshed out, as are all the side characters. What I liked most is that the book avoids the trope of the partners having some sort of blow out that results in a separation and then another incident causes them to get back together. I've read it a lot in several other romances (that I've enjoyed) but it was a breath of fresh air not to have that story arc for once. I also love that there's multiple queer characters in the book, and not in a sensationalized manner, so there's no token representation going on.
This book is entertaining and endearing and laugh-out-loud funny, so if you're a romance/kink fan, you should definitely pick this up. If you're not an avid romance reader this is still a great book to try out the genre. It's very well-written, and just a damn delight.
Plot: Sol DuMont is a recently divorced, gorgeous, hotel chain owner, whose interest in partying and drugs and booze and sex is at an all time low. Arianna "Rain" Barrington is a wealthy heiress who is vacationing in New Orleans with her brother to escape her godawful mother and her incessant matchmaking. Rain and her brother Vaughn are of course, staying at The Seaside, Sol's hotel. When Sol and Rain encounter each other, there are sparks, and a whirlwind romance ensues.
HOT. DAMN.
Okay, okay, I'm getting way ahead of myself. First of all, this is the FIRST fat-positive romance I've ever read. I know the cover is deceiving (the author went over this in detail on Twitter a while ago; publishing needs to evolve), but Rain is fat. The word "fat" is used to describe her, more than once, and not in a derogatory manner at all. No fetishizing or negativity, which is amazing, especially since a lot of the descriptions are from Sol's POV. This is a D/s relationship, and Sol looks at her a lot as a Dom, but all of his trains of thoughts about her are nothing but positive throughout the book. It's great. Sol himself is a fucking delight- his banter with his best friend Cylan, especially all the one-sided flirting and the general snark, had me in splits. It's hilarious. He's bi and has no qualms about it. It was also great to read the book from the Dom's POV during play, which again, I haven't read a lot. Rain's the less experienced of the two, but all the play is super consensual- there's pain play, orgasm control, objectification- and the kink is ridiculously hot.
Outside of the kinky stuff, I really did love both characters. Rain is a ray of sunshine, wicked smart, adorable, and extremely kind. Sol is all snark and flirty and protective, but not the slightest bit overbearing. Their relationship is very well fleshed out, as are all the side characters. What I liked most is that the book avoids the trope of the partners having some sort of blow out that results in a separation and then another incident causes them to get back together. I've read it a lot in several other romances (that I've enjoyed) but it was a breath of fresh air not to have that story arc for once. I also love that there's multiple queer characters in the book, and not in a sensationalized manner, so there's no token representation going on.
This book is entertaining and endearing and laugh-out-loud funny, so if you're a romance/kink fan, you should definitely pick this up. If you're not an avid romance reader this is still a great book to try out the genre. It's very well-written, and just a damn delight.
July 13, 2017
talking shit about an ownvoices fat and bi story is gross
June 10, 2019
next time someone ask me for the smuttiest book i've ever read, i'll say this one and then keep on babbling about how good it was, and queer, and soft, and not so soft, just so freaking good, and the fat rep got me so happy (4.25)
May 15, 2021
Quick(ish) Review
I didn’t hate this but as the story went along, I liked it a lot less than I’d hoped I would. This is an erotic romance that was fine with the erotica, but the romance was underdeveloped.
I liked the setup for the romance, I was looking for good fat rep, which was a mixed bag here. Arianna is, based on the dialogue, probably a “small” fat, and there’s a lot of references to her being soft and round and squishy but I’m
More neutral about it more than anything. It’s not negative but it’s not particularly good either.
For the erotica, If someone”s in the market for just about the sex, it’s super smutty. I’m a fan of explicit sex scenes but what’s said during those explicit sex scenes is key. There’s bits that were hot others that were more cringey. Now dirty talking is an art and here, there was something missing. What was supposed to be sexy sometimes missed the mark.
Now for the romance, sigh. Arianna aka Rain aka Kitten aka cupcake is 24 years old and for the majority of the story, she’s infantilized by everyone, including Sol. She has little agency through most of the story except at the very beginning and at the very end. I easily believe that these two are in lust but I had a harder time believing on anything beyond that. Sol gives me great supporting character vibes ( you know the guy with the snark that can have a zippy one liner but is more comedic relief than romantic lead) but I’m not sure I’m into him as the lead.
All in all, it was just an ok read for me and I wished it was so much more.
I didn’t hate this but as the story went along, I liked it a lot less than I’d hoped I would. This is an erotic romance that was fine with the erotica, but the romance was underdeveloped.
I liked the setup for the romance, I was looking for good fat rep, which was a mixed bag here. Arianna is, based on the dialogue, probably a “small” fat, and there’s a lot of references to her being soft and round and squishy but I’m
More neutral about it more than anything. It’s not negative but it’s not particularly good either.
For the erotica, If someone”s in the market for just about the sex, it’s super smutty. I’m a fan of explicit sex scenes but what’s said during those explicit sex scenes is key. There’s bits that were hot others that were more cringey. Now dirty talking is an art and here, there was something missing. What was supposed to be sexy sometimes missed the mark.
Now for the romance, sigh. Arianna aka Rain aka Kitten aka cupcake is 24 years old and for the majority of the story, she’s infantilized by everyone, including Sol. She has little agency through most of the story except at the very beginning and at the very end. I easily believe that these two are in lust but I had a harder time believing on anything beyond that. Sol gives me great supporting character vibes ( you know the guy with the snark that can have a zippy one liner but is more comedic relief than romantic lead) but I’m not sure I’m into him as the lead.
All in all, it was just an ok read for me and I wished it was so much more.
July 31, 2017
W O A H.
Okay listen. I don't read erotica, but after reading The King of Bourbon Street, I'm almost certain that I had never read any good erotica, ever??
- This book has a lot of sex (like. a lot.) with a dom/sub relationship, so it is not for everyone. Personally, I actually didn't mind too much because 1) it was written REALLY well, 2) the characters were great and I actually cared about them so much, and 3) there was aftercare! I've never read erotica that showed that explicitly before.
- Sol and Rain, together and individually, were so lovely and the chemistry between them was wow.
- THERE WAS A CORGI!!!
- I adored Rain's brothers so much - they were so lovely, caring, and treated Rain like a princess. I kinda want a big brother now?
Thank you Cam and Fadwa for convincing me to read this book!!
Full review to come.
Okay listen. I don't read erotica, but after reading The King of Bourbon Street, I'm almost certain that I had never read any good erotica, ever??
- This book has a lot of sex (like. a lot.) with a dom/sub relationship, so it is not for everyone. Personally, I actually didn't mind too much because 1) it was written REALLY well, 2) the characters were great and I actually cared about them so much, and 3) there was aftercare! I've never read erotica that showed that explicitly before.
- Sol and Rain, together and individually, were so lovely and the chemistry between them was wow.
- THERE WAS A CORGI!!!
- I adored Rain's brothers so much - they were so lovely, caring, and treated Rain like a princess. I kinda want a big brother now?
Thank you Cam and Fadwa for convincing me to read this book!!
Full review to come.
March 3, 2017
The first book in the NOLA Nights series is filled with titillating scenes and a lively couple who discover much about themselves. I was frequently drawn into the sexual exploits enjoyed by Rain Barrington and Sol DuMont, where never before imagined fantasies become reality. Thea de Salle definitely heats up New Orleans when inventive lusty scenarios are carried out. But I was also riveted to the more emotional side of the story, as the inner feelings of this couple are often conveyed with much honesty. Kinky encounters make THE KING OF BOURBON STREET sensual, while plenty of earnest emotions touch the heart.
After his father died in a plane accident, Sol DuMont took over managing several of his hotels, and now even lives in a favorite that is located in New Orleans. Though he is very wealthy, not much in his life brings him joy anymore and his recent divorce has left him feeling restless. He really misses all the kinky sexual activities to which his ex-wife introduced him, but finding other willing partners just seems like too much effort. Sol hopes the coming days will eventually bring him more pleasure.
Right after she graduated from college with a master’s degree, the parents of Arianna “Rain” Barrington demand that she marry a certain man so a mutually beneficial business contract between the two families would occur. Not wanting to wed the dreadful individual, she devises a scheme that would make her an undesirable wife. Her plan works, and Rain then sneaks away to New Orleans to get away from her very angry mother. But the restful time she anticipated turns into an eye-opening experience when she meets the owner of her hotel.
From humorous quips to completely serious incidents, I was thoroughly caught up in the fascination of THE KING OF BOURBON STREET. Sol and Rain are both at turning points in their lives, and their unexpected meeting lets them explore what might make their futures much better. He is immediately intrigued with her and is only thinking about sex at first. But after talking with her, he soon wants them to be connected in bed and out of it. As Sol gets to know Rain more personally, he starts to have never before felt feelings. Though she has dated lots of men, none have affected her like the attentive and passionate hotel owner. How their thoughts and behavior change during the time they spend together is realistic, and Thea de Salle takes Sol plus Rain on a journey of sexual enlightenment as emotions become more involved. Sex may be a huge part of their relationship, yet they also learn about trust while enjoying total gratification.
There are so many likeable secondary characters in the story, and each one holds their own when they make an appearance. Sol’s brothers and friends and even his former wife are delightful, while her relatives are a mixed bag and range from very appealing to downright nasty. There are more books to come in the series, and I am very eager to read about more steamy developments in New Orleans.
I voluntarily reviewed the book from the publisher, and all comments are my honest opinion- 4.5 Stars
After his father died in a plane accident, Sol DuMont took over managing several of his hotels, and now even lives in a favorite that is located in New Orleans. Though he is very wealthy, not much in his life brings him joy anymore and his recent divorce has left him feeling restless. He really misses all the kinky sexual activities to which his ex-wife introduced him, but finding other willing partners just seems like too much effort. Sol hopes the coming days will eventually bring him more pleasure.
Right after she graduated from college with a master’s degree, the parents of Arianna “Rain” Barrington demand that she marry a certain man so a mutually beneficial business contract between the two families would occur. Not wanting to wed the dreadful individual, she devises a scheme that would make her an undesirable wife. Her plan works, and Rain then sneaks away to New Orleans to get away from her very angry mother. But the restful time she anticipated turns into an eye-opening experience when she meets the owner of her hotel.
From humorous quips to completely serious incidents, I was thoroughly caught up in the fascination of THE KING OF BOURBON STREET. Sol and Rain are both at turning points in their lives, and their unexpected meeting lets them explore what might make their futures much better. He is immediately intrigued with her and is only thinking about sex at first. But after talking with her, he soon wants them to be connected in bed and out of it. As Sol gets to know Rain more personally, he starts to have never before felt feelings. Though she has dated lots of men, none have affected her like the attentive and passionate hotel owner. How their thoughts and behavior change during the time they spend together is realistic, and Thea de Salle takes Sol plus Rain on a journey of sexual enlightenment as emotions become more involved. Sex may be a huge part of their relationship, yet they also learn about trust while enjoying total gratification.
There are so many likeable secondary characters in the story, and each one holds their own when they make an appearance. Sol’s brothers and friends and even his former wife are delightful, while her relatives are a mixed bag and range from very appealing to downright nasty. There are more books to come in the series, and I am very eager to read about more steamy developments in New Orleans.
I voluntarily reviewed the book from the publisher, and all comments are my honest opinion- 4.5 Stars
September 3, 2023
Appreciate her, she said. That I can do. Love her? I bet I could do that, too.
There is not one thing about this book that I didn’t love. The story follows hotel chain mogul Sol DuMont and heiress Arianna “Rain” Barrington, after his father’s death Sol has lost interest in the things that usually made him happy—his then-wife, parties, friends—and even though with the help of his best friend Cylan he managed to get out of the black whole he found himself in, he was still apathetic towards the world. Until he meets Rain, that is.
The connection between those two characters is undeniable, Sol is finally excited about something in his life and Rain is just happy to be away from her mother’s manipulating hands. It’s so sweet to see their relationship develop, their dynamic is fantastic and the bdsm is just right for me, nothing too dark and with humiliation, etc. but if dom/sub relationships aren’t your thing, maybe rethink reading this. BUT IT’S HONESTLY SO INCREDIBLE PLEASE READ IT.
Rain is adorable, quirky, beautiful in every way, and she’s also the most relatable protagonist I’ve ever read, I found myself identifying with her words and thoughts, and it made me love the story even more than I already did. I also loved how she’s unapologetic about her size and what others might think of her body, she never sees her body in a negative light. It was exhilarating to see a fat protagonist who’s truly happy with herself.
“I like how you are. So you have quirks. All the most interesting people do.”
Not only the main characters are incredible, but the secondary characters are so important as well. I loved Maddy and I’m so glad she got her own book so we could see more of her, I do want to see more of Cylan and Vaughn though, like can we pretty please have a book for them? Individually *whispers* or maybe together? I DON’T KNOW I JUST REALLY LOVE THESE CHARACTERS! I need a book for each one of them!
Overall if you’re looking for an erotica you should definitely pick this up, it’s literally the best one I’ve ever read; it has great characters, amazing fat rep (whoever tells me it’s fetishizing to call fat women beautiful can choke), hot as hell sex scenes, and incredible writing. I am so in love with this book, please do yourself a favor and pick this up.
Review also posted at Read. Breathe. Repeat.
There is not one thing about this book that I didn’t love. The story follows hotel chain mogul Sol DuMont and heiress Arianna “Rain” Barrington, after his father’s death Sol has lost interest in the things that usually made him happy—his then-wife, parties, friends—and even though with the help of his best friend Cylan he managed to get out of the black whole he found himself in, he was still apathetic towards the world. Until he meets Rain, that is.
The connection between those two characters is undeniable, Sol is finally excited about something in his life and Rain is just happy to be away from her mother’s manipulating hands. It’s so sweet to see their relationship develop, their dynamic is fantastic and the bdsm is just right for me, nothing too dark and with humiliation, etc. but if dom/sub relationships aren’t your thing, maybe rethink reading this. BUT IT’S HONESTLY SO INCREDIBLE PLEASE READ IT.
Rain is adorable, quirky, beautiful in every way, and she’s also the most relatable protagonist I’ve ever read, I found myself identifying with her words and thoughts, and it made me love the story even more than I already did. I also loved how she’s unapologetic about her size and what others might think of her body, she never sees her body in a negative light. It was exhilarating to see a fat protagonist who’s truly happy with herself.
“I like how you are. So you have quirks. All the most interesting people do.”
Not only the main characters are incredible, but the secondary characters are so important as well. I loved Maddy and I’m so glad she got her own book so we could see more of her, I do want to see more of Cylan and Vaughn though, like can we pretty please have a book for them? Individually *whispers* or maybe together? I DON’T KNOW I JUST REALLY LOVE THESE CHARACTERS! I need a book for each one of them!
Overall if you’re looking for an erotica you should definitely pick this up, it’s literally the best one I’ve ever read; it has great characters, amazing fat rep (whoever tells me it’s fetishizing to call fat women beautiful can choke), hot as hell sex scenes, and incredible writing. I am so in love with this book, please do yourself a favor and pick this up.
Review also posted at Read. Breathe. Repeat.
June 27, 2017
I had heard some praise about The King of Bourbon Street that had me very excited to pick up the book. With a bisexual hero and a fat heroine, the book sounded wonderfully diverse. Unfortunately, I found myself being let down by the story overall, mostly due to personal preferences. While the characters individually were decent, I don’t think I quite connected with either Sol or Rain. I felt like their characters lacked depth, and I would have liked to have gotten to know them a bit better over the course of the story, which doesn’t really happen because the focus of the romance was definitely on the sex. I found myself getting irritated at Rain for constantly apologizing for things that she didn’t need to apologize for. And while I appreciated the fat representation here, I was frustrated by how the hero, Sol, kept talking about wanting to squeeze Rain, presumably because she’s fat. It was just weird how frequently he brought that up in his thoughts, and honestly, it made me uncomfortable. As someone who has been chubby all her life, I get irritated at everyone and anyone who talks about wanting to squeeze me because I’m fat – I just find it so demeaning. The romance wasn’t all that great either for me. There were some sweet moments here and there and I liked that Sol was willing to pursue Rain. I did think the focus on the sex took away from the romance, particularly because the sex scenes were honestly, terrible. The words “wetness”, “juicy” and other description for moistness (EWW) appear like a million times in the book during the sexy times, and ughhh, those are some of my least favorite words in the English language. I am sad that I didn’t see what other readers saw in The King of Bourbon Street. I had hoped to give the next book in the series a chance, but a friend of mine read it and reported back that once again, Rain’s fatness is oddly focused on, with some very disturbing descriptions of her, and again, there is a focus on wetness during the sex scenes. I don’t think this author is for me.
January 15, 2025
Yes. just.... yes.
January 31, 2019
Read for YA Buddy Reads Corners’ reading challenge.
Read a book which does not have the letter ‘A’ in the title (for alcohol)
So tell me how is it done? How do you review hardcore porn? I will try my level best.
The two reasons why I have decided to read this book. One, fat girl representation. Two, smut. Did I get satisfied? Maybe or maybe not. Let's get on those two.
Fat girl rep. Thumps up. I'm glad that MC doesn't whine about herself. Moreover, if the girl on the cover is actually her, then FUCK THE ONE WHO MADE THE COVER. I WON'T ACCEPT IT.
Smut. Oh my fuck! Sex is everywhere. For the first half of the book, I actually enjoyed it. How much I learned! Feels so dirty. No matter how I thought I know everything, there are things that still will blow my mind. Second half was not so good. I was not even entertained.
I think the prose was heavy handed. It would've been fun if it had an easy flow. There is nothing much going on except their 'activities' and MC's troubles from her mom. I've learned that there are other books in the same world. I don't know whether I'll pick it up. Let's see.
Another thing I loved. MC's family. God! Is it 5 brothers or 6? I don't remember. I would love to have that many brothers. It would be so fun.
An okay read for smut.
Read a book which does not have the letter ‘A’ in the title (for alcohol)
So tell me how is it done? How do you review hardcore porn? I will try my level best.
The two reasons why I have decided to read this book. One, fat girl representation. Two, smut. Did I get satisfied? Maybe or maybe not. Let's get on those two.
Fat girl rep. Thumps up. I'm glad that MC doesn't whine about herself. Moreover, if the girl on the cover is actually her, then FUCK THE ONE WHO MADE THE COVER. I WON'T ACCEPT IT.
Smut. Oh my fuck! Sex is everywhere. For the first half of the book, I actually enjoyed it. How much I learned! Feels so dirty. No matter how I thought I know everything, there are things that still will blow my mind. Second half was not so good. I was not even entertained.
I think the prose was heavy handed. It would've been fun if it had an easy flow. There is nothing much going on except their 'activities' and MC's troubles from her mom. I've learned that there are other books in the same world. I don't know whether I'll pick it up. Let's see.
Another thing I loved. MC's family. God! Is it 5 brothers or 6? I don't remember. I would love to have that many brothers. It would be so fun.
An okay read for smut.
July 15, 2017
3.5 stars
July 18, 2017
4 stars!
Oh this was so much fun. Every erotica book I have read in past few months were so shitty and stupid so The King of Bourbon Street was such a pleasant suprise with all its witty humour and wonderful characters. It has:
☆Bisexual hero who was charming and hilarious and confident and oh so fuckin' good.
☆Sweet herione with good manners who was, in the start, bit naive and stupid but as story progressed become strong and bold. She was also fat and really confident in her body from the start.
☆An actual plot.
☆Side characters who were developed woderfully. Cylan, Maddie, Rain's brother and even Rain's mother seemed to have personality of thier own.
☆Good, maature writing which was so much better than other erotica books I had misfortune of reading.
☆Hot, steamy and LOTS of sex.
There is instalove though but it was bearable IMO. But still it was a quick,sweet read and I'm diving into the next book now. Bye
February 14, 2017
4.5 stars - I enjoyed this deliciously filthy book from start to finish and I can't wait to see what we get next! Follow the link to Scandalcious Book Reviews for my full thoughts:
http://bit.ly/2kPzyuu
http://bit.ly/2kPzyuu
May 27, 2017
Delightful!
A delightful NOLA romp, with the perfect blend of French Quarter ingredients...spicy, yet oh so likeable characters with their flaws and passion, and a storyline that was, well, simply put, swell.
Thea de Salle, I love your writing!
A delightful NOLA romp, with the perfect blend of French Quarter ingredients...spicy, yet oh so likeable characters with their flaws and passion, and a storyline that was, well, simply put, swell.
Thea de Salle, I love your writing!
March 25, 2017
Great read for a bad week
This is just what I needed. It is funny and entertaining and smutty. I just wish the cover looked like rain. Can't wait for the next one
This is just what I needed. It is funny and entertaining and smutty. I just wish the cover looked like rain. Can't wait for the next one
May 12, 2019
Fellas, I'm gonna need a cold shower after that one.
I'm thinking about 60-70% of this was sex, which, to be honest, is what I'm looking for in smut. I'm not here for the character development or the setting. I'm here for the sexytimes.
Speaking of the characters and setting, both were fine. Some of the relationships between different characters felt a little stilted, but that's fine. I liked New Orleans as a backdrop for the story, and it helped the atmosphere without overwhelming it too much.
Be warned, if heavy dom/sub dynamics are a yuck for you, then you will not like this book. I think maybe when I first heard about this book I knew that's what it was, and that's why it got on my radar, because I enjoy reading about that. I definitely had forgotten by the time I actually started reading, so when I got to those scenes, I was like OH. OKAY.
I loved the focus on consent and making sure both parties were getting what they wanted and needed out of the relationship. I think that is something that, traditionally, the romance/erotica genre has been notorious for not including, but there's a ton of that here. Lots of communication amidst the sex and angst.
I'm thinking about 60-70% of this was sex, which, to be honest, is what I'm looking for in smut. I'm not here for the character development or the setting. I'm here for the sexytimes.
Speaking of the characters and setting, both were fine. Some of the relationships between different characters felt a little stilted, but that's fine. I liked New Orleans as a backdrop for the story, and it helped the atmosphere without overwhelming it too much.
Be warned, if heavy dom/sub dynamics are a yuck for you, then you will not like this book. I think maybe when I first heard about this book I knew that's what it was, and that's why it got on my radar, because I enjoy reading about that. I definitely had forgotten by the time I actually started reading, so when I got to those scenes, I was like OH. OKAY.
I loved the focus on consent and making sure both parties were getting what they wanted and needed out of the relationship. I think that is something that, traditionally, the romance/erotica genre has been notorious for not including, but there's a ton of that here. Lots of communication amidst the sex and angst.
Read
May 18, 2017DNF on page 100
I had a lot of ups and downs with this book. To the point where I DNF'd it twice (!) The premise sounded like it was going to be a bubbly and kinky read and, since I managed to snag it for free during a sale, I figured I didn't have much to lose.
(Boy was I wrong!!!!) #Sadtrombone...
What I liked
+ Rain's the kind of fat heroine I tend to give two thumbs up
She's v. unapologetic about her size and what others might think of her body. At no point (up to page 100) does she think about her physical self in a negative way. She doesn't talk or think about diets, that she would look better if she could only lose x amount of lbs., etc.
It was SO refreshing to find a fat heroine who was happy with how she looks. Oh, which reminds me, the woman in the cover for this book looks nothing like Rain's described. *sideeyes cover artist*
+ Sol's bisexuality
He's been with ladies and dudes and doesn't feel "broken" or "wrong" for being bisexual. He's comfortable with who he desires. I gave him two thumbs up for not having some dark and tortured backstory as an explanation for his sexual orientation. Sidenote: he comes out to Rain in a v. laid-back manner and she doesn't clutches her pearls in horror. #Kudostothat
+ Sol and Maddy's relationship
Even though their first scene is one in which they sign their divorce papers, their dynamic is v. candid and friendly. Logically, it's pretty clear why their marriage crashed and burned. BUT now they're great friends and give each other that extra support both of them need.
What I didn't like
- The kink was a no-go for me. :(
It skewed too much towards the total power exchange kind--which felt way too sudden given that Rain had never really done anything kinky and Sol (who is a switch) has only experienced kinkplay as a submissive.
So, to see Rain and Sol jump into a SRS BIZNESS D/s thing in a span of two (!) days was a bit much, you know?
- Sol's equating Rain with food
This is deffo one of those YMMV things. I know that. In my case, I didn't find it cute that Sol kept thinking of Rain as his cupcake or some other kind of snack or food. Perhaps there was an additional layer of kinkplay that I couldn't fit/wasn't interested in.
The point was that, instead of endearing, seeing Sol think of Rain as a thing he had to devour was unnerving. #AndagainYMMV
- THAT scene, i.e. where I stopped reading this book (the first time)
OK, first, let me give you some context about what happens RIGHT BEFORE the dealbreaker scene for me:
Rain and her brother arrive to one of the hotels Sol owns. He welcomes them and has a short (albeit flirty) conversation with Rain. Then Rain goes up to her room, hangs out with her brother for a few minutes, he leaves, and she decides to freshen up...
She was warbling along to "I'm Your Lady" when she head the knock. It wasn't a convenient time. She'd pulled her arms inside her dress to wash her armpits, and now she looked like she was trapped inside a pink potato sack.
"A moment!"
Only her guest must have not heard, because Mr. DuMont opened the door and walked in, stopping short and tilting his head at the sight of a fattish blond hopping around with her arms stuck inside her dress.
*gives all y'all a LOOK*
Let me unpack this:
1. I don't get Rain's method to freshen up. Like, why wasn't she in her undies or wearing a bathrobe if she wanted to cool off? WHY WOULD ANYONE PUT THEIR ARMS INSIDE THEIR DRESS INSTEAD OF TAKING IT OFF AND WASHING UP?
2. Rain and Sol had met less than an hour before yet, SOMEHOW,he thought it was perfectly OK to walk into HER room. Yes, I know he owns the hotel BUT that doesn't give him carte blanche to stroll into anyone's room. It is the total opposite of an endearing gesture. #IJS
3. The scene ends with her running back to bathroom and listening at him laughing super hard. Then, they go have a drink at a private lounge inside the hotel. He NEVER apologizes to her for being such a jackass.
4. Rain never calls him on what he did. Immediately after or later in the story. #Tiredsighhhhhhh
Rather than funny, I got upset by the whole thing. All of the goodwill I could've felt for this story totes fizzled out.
OH, and get this: later in the book, after their first time having sex, Sol goes into her room to get her some clean clothes. While gathering things, he thinks something along the lines of 'wanting to grab what's near and not invade her privacy any more than he had to". To which I say: WHAT THE FRAK? Did he suddenly forgot what he'd done a few chapters before? O_o?????
So, I ended up almost deleting the book and starting to get my notes for this review when I read a gushing review. It made me consider that, perhaps, I was being too quick to judge the book. I went back to the story and read enough to realize that my first DNW feeling was 1000000000000000000 times RIGHT (for me.)
TL;DR: The first book in a series that had a lot of wasted potential, imo. Had Sol been less douchey or Rain more assertive to call him on his messy behavior, I'd have totes loved this novel.
It's a shame, really, cuz the second book (featuring bisexual!Maddy and a male army vet with PTSD) sounds like it could be hella fun. #Idunnotho #Oncebittentwiceshy #DontevenaskmeabouthtethirdbookcuzIdontcarebouttheMCs
I had a lot of ups and downs with this book. To the point where I DNF'd it twice (!) The premise sounded like it was going to be a bubbly and kinky read and, since I managed to snag it for free during a sale, I figured I didn't have much to lose.
(Boy was I wrong!!!!) #Sadtrombone...
What I liked
+ Rain's the kind of fat heroine I tend to give two thumbs up
She's v. unapologetic about her size and what others might think of her body. At no point (up to page 100) does she think about her physical self in a negative way. She doesn't talk or think about diets, that she would look better if she could only lose x amount of lbs., etc.
It was SO refreshing to find a fat heroine who was happy with how she looks. Oh, which reminds me, the woman in the cover for this book looks nothing like Rain's described. *sideeyes cover artist*
+ Sol's bisexuality
He's been with ladies and dudes and doesn't feel "broken" or "wrong" for being bisexual. He's comfortable with who he desires. I gave him two thumbs up for not having some dark and tortured backstory as an explanation for his sexual orientation. Sidenote: he comes out to Rain in a v. laid-back manner and she doesn't clutches her pearls in horror. #Kudostothat
+ Sol and Maddy's relationship
Even though their first scene is one in which they sign their divorce papers, their dynamic is v. candid and friendly. Logically, it's pretty clear why their marriage crashed and burned. BUT now they're great friends and give each other that extra support both of them need.
What I didn't like
- The kink was a no-go for me. :(
It skewed too much towards the total power exchange kind--which felt way too sudden given that Rain had never really done anything kinky and Sol (who is a switch) has only experienced kinkplay as a submissive.
So, to see Rain and Sol jump into a SRS BIZNESS D/s thing in a span of two (!) days was a bit much, you know?
- Sol's equating Rain with food
This is deffo one of those YMMV things. I know that. In my case, I didn't find it cute that Sol kept thinking of Rain as his cupcake or some other kind of snack or food. Perhaps there was an additional layer of kinkplay that I couldn't fit/wasn't interested in.
The point was that, instead of endearing, seeing Sol think of Rain as a thing he had to devour was unnerving. #AndagainYMMV
- THAT scene, i.e. where I stopped reading this book (the first time)
OK, first, let me give you some context about what happens RIGHT BEFORE the dealbreaker scene for me:
Rain and her brother arrive to one of the hotels Sol owns. He welcomes them and has a short (albeit flirty) conversation with Rain. Then Rain goes up to her room, hangs out with her brother for a few minutes, he leaves, and she decides to freshen up...
She was warbling along to "I'm Your Lady" when she head the knock. It wasn't a convenient time. She'd pulled her arms inside her dress to wash her armpits, and now she looked like she was trapped inside a pink potato sack.
"A moment!"
Only her guest must have not heard, because Mr. DuMont opened the door and walked in, stopping short and tilting his head at the sight of a fattish blond hopping around with her arms stuck inside her dress.
*gives all y'all a LOOK*
Let me unpack this:
1. I don't get Rain's method to freshen up. Like, why wasn't she in her undies or wearing a bathrobe if she wanted to cool off? WHY WOULD ANYONE PUT THEIR ARMS INSIDE THEIR DRESS INSTEAD OF TAKING IT OFF AND WASHING UP?
2. Rain and Sol had met less than an hour before yet, SOMEHOW,he thought it was perfectly OK to walk into HER room. Yes, I know he owns the hotel BUT that doesn't give him carte blanche to stroll into anyone's room. It is the total opposite of an endearing gesture. #IJS
3. The scene ends with her running back to bathroom and listening at him laughing super hard. Then, they go have a drink at a private lounge inside the hotel. He NEVER apologizes to her for being such a jackass.
4. Rain never calls him on what he did. Immediately after or later in the story. #Tiredsighhhhhhh
Rather than funny, I got upset by the whole thing. All of the goodwill I could've felt for this story totes fizzled out.
OH, and get this: later in the book, after their first time having sex, Sol goes into her room to get her some clean clothes. While gathering things, he thinks something along the lines of 'wanting to grab what's near and not invade her privacy any more than he had to". To which I say: WHAT THE FRAK? Did he suddenly forgot what he'd done a few chapters before? O_o?????
So, I ended up almost deleting the book and starting to get my notes for this review when I read a gushing review. It made me consider that, perhaps, I was being too quick to judge the book. I went back to the story and read enough to realize that my first DNW feeling was 1000000000000000000 times RIGHT (for me.)
TL;DR: The first book in a series that had a lot of wasted potential, imo. Had Sol been less douchey or Rain more assertive to call him on his messy behavior, I'd have totes loved this novel.
It's a shame, really, cuz the second book (featuring bisexual!Maddy and a male army vet with PTSD) sounds like it could be hella fun. #Idunnotho #Oncebittentwiceshy #DontevenaskmeabouthtethirdbookcuzIdontcarebouttheMCs
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