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Down and Dirty
Lowdown Dirty
Alternate cover edition of ASIN B07XPDPCGT
Wealthy luxury boat maker Tim Dowd had all but given up on dating. He’s far too picky and his darker cravings don’t exactly qualify him as husband material in his conservative community.
When an unforgettable newcomer arrives with a short-term aim of developing a new subdivision, Tim can’t help but wonder “What if?” Valerie Lawson has the full package. She’s stunning, smart, has a wicked sense of humor, and possesses lustful urges that rival his own. But the ambitious architect is a rising star and had never planned to stay. Her next big job is thousands of miles away, and Tim can’t follow.
Valerie doesn’t think a woman like her can have it all. Tim might need to recruit some help from unexpected places to convince her that she can.
____
Note: This is a HOT one! This is an erotic romance with lots of safe and consensual play.
Wealthy luxury boat maker Tim Dowd had all but given up on dating. He’s far too picky and his darker cravings don’t exactly qualify him as husband material in his conservative community.
When an unforgettable newcomer arrives with a short-term aim of developing a new subdivision, Tim can’t help but wonder “What if?” Valerie Lawson has the full package. She’s stunning, smart, has a wicked sense of humor, and possesses lustful urges that rival his own. But the ambitious architect is a rising star and had never planned to stay. Her next big job is thousands of miles away, and Tim can’t follow.
Valerie doesn’t think a woman like her can have it all. Tim might need to recruit some help from unexpected places to convince her that she can.
____
Note: This is a HOT one! This is an erotic romance with lots of safe and consensual play.
317 pages, ebook
First published September 8, 2019
149 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
Holley Trent
155 books302 followersHolley Trent is a romance author who spins campy yarns set in North Carolina. She has a wicked sense of humor and regularly puts her story characters into unexpected situations.
When she's not writing, she's reading or eating Twizzlers.
Her contemporary and fantasy romances have been published by Crimson Romance, Calliope Romance/Musa Publishing, and she has work due for release by Lyrical Press.
2013 brings a change of pace with her self-published series of paranormal novellas: Shrew and Company. Five women, five romances, one big bear of a problem. Check out boss-lady Dana's story in THE PROBLEM WITH PADDY, available now.
When she's not writing, she's reading or eating Twizzlers.
Her contemporary and fantasy romances have been published by Crimson Romance, Calliope Romance/Musa Publishing, and she has work due for release by Lyrical Press.
2013 brings a change of pace with her self-published series of paranormal novellas: Shrew and Company. Five women, five romances, one big bear of a problem. Check out boss-lady Dana's story in THE PROBLEM WITH PADDY, available now.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 14, 2019
Leave lil sister alone
Well d*mn! Tim not even a real person and he was pressing all of my buttons! I didn’t even know I had some of those. And I don’t know why it was so amusing to me but I hollered every time Kevin shouted “That’s my car!” Aaaaand now I’ve reached the end of the book and it doesn’t feel complete??? Like the last chapter was rushed or there is a chapter or two missing. Maybe a book 2? That’s how it feels at least, even though the book tied up most loose ends. I think I would have liked to see a scene where Valerie got lost in sensations. Or a deeper background on those past experiences she had with others proclaiming to be a dom. Or how about just more of Tim and his fetish’s? These characters were so interesting to me and it just feels like I got a little taste and not a full meal.
Well d*mn! Tim not even a real person and he was pressing all of my buttons! I didn’t even know I had some of those. And I don’t know why it was so amusing to me but I hollered every time Kevin shouted “That’s my car!” Aaaaand now I’ve reached the end of the book and it doesn’t feel complete??? Like the last chapter was rushed or there is a chapter or two missing. Maybe a book 2? That’s how it feels at least, even though the book tied up most loose ends. I think I would have liked to see a scene where Valerie got lost in sensations. Or a deeper background on those past experiences she had with others proclaiming to be a dom. Or how about just more of Tim and his fetish’s? These characters were so interesting to me and it just feels like I got a little taste and not a full meal.
March 29, 2020
This was a very pleasant read. I was expecting a super erotic, hot lunber-sexual, BDSM romance. And this was 2 out of 3.
I felt the chemistry between Tim and Valerie right away. I thought it was hilarious that her sister and her new friend talked behind her back and tricked her into gong to the kink club. I felt for her reasons about letting the scene go. How she thinks it is no longer conducive to her career goals and that she needs to put it aside. Especially since she had some poor experiences with Doms in the past.
Tim is aching for a future family. He has an ex-wife who is a lesbian and his best friend and they share an 18-year-old son who causes them nothing but trouble and is not the easiest to explain to any woman who might be willing to give him a chance.
He hasn't found a woman or a submissive who wants to be that for him or that he wants to. Then he meets Valerie and though she says she wants nothing to do with him, the connection is undeniable. He is willing to take the time to convince her.
This novel was very sexy however; it also isn't dropping you in the deep-end of BDSM. I highly recommend it if you want to ease your way into a romance involving these elements. There were obviously scenes showcasing some aspects of the lifestyle but nothing that was overly shocking or hard to stomach if you are a newby. In fact, the author does a great job of showing how negotiation works and how to discuss limitations and expectations that more hard-core novels just assume you would know.
I give this novel 4 stars, because I was expecting more of the scene to be acted out in it and it ended right as things were getting good. But I really recommend it if you want to ease your way in!
I felt the chemistry between Tim and Valerie right away. I thought it was hilarious that her sister and her new friend talked behind her back and tricked her into gong to the kink club. I felt for her reasons about letting the scene go. How she thinks it is no longer conducive to her career goals and that she needs to put it aside. Especially since she had some poor experiences with Doms in the past.
Tim is aching for a future family. He has an ex-wife who is a lesbian and his best friend and they share an 18-year-old son who causes them nothing but trouble and is not the easiest to explain to any woman who might be willing to give him a chance.
He hasn't found a woman or a submissive who wants to be that for him or that he wants to. Then he meets Valerie and though she says she wants nothing to do with him, the connection is undeniable. He is willing to take the time to convince her.
This novel was very sexy however; it also isn't dropping you in the deep-end of BDSM. I highly recommend it if you want to ease your way into a romance involving these elements. There were obviously scenes showcasing some aspects of the lifestyle but nothing that was overly shocking or hard to stomach if you are a newby. In fact, the author does a great job of showing how negotiation works and how to discuss limitations and expectations that more hard-core novels just assume you would know.
I give this novel 4 stars, because I was expecting more of the scene to be acted out in it and it ended right as things were getting good. But I really recommend it if you want to ease your way in!
Want to read
August 28, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/28/2020)! 🎁
September 10, 2020
Don't bother wasting your time!
I don’t know who this book was attempting to appeal to. This is a book that if you ever saw in your notifications or see, that’s it’s free to question why.
This story had two real bad characters that had no chemistry and absolutely had nothing in common. The story was supposedly about BDSM BUT it was nit written in this book.
Apparently the low and dirty was a gag on the reader because I’m still looking for that to be demonstrated in this book.
Again, this book was a disappointment that warrants no further detail in-depth psychology’s to why it was so horrible. Story, plot, the characters were all the same and nothing of substance was composed.
Please see this book and its cover and steer clear of it. Foolish me in thinking that I’d lucked up and found a new book that will be filled with excitement. It was like reading the BLOB, it’s wasted time that I’ll never get back.
I would not recommend this book lightly.
I don’t know who this book was attempting to appeal to. This is a book that if you ever saw in your notifications or see, that’s it’s free to question why.
This story had two real bad characters that had no chemistry and absolutely had nothing in common. The story was supposedly about BDSM BUT it was nit written in this book.
Apparently the low and dirty was a gag on the reader because I’m still looking for that to be demonstrated in this book.
Again, this book was a disappointment that warrants no further detail in-depth psychology’s to why it was so horrible. Story, plot, the characters were all the same and nothing of substance was composed.
Please see this book and its cover and steer clear of it. Foolish me in thinking that I’d lucked up and found a new book that will be filled with excitement. It was like reading the BLOB, it’s wasted time that I’ll never get back.
I would not recommend this book lightly.
February 27, 2023
DNF. The heroine was a disaster who off the bat had a "woe is me" attitude. First and last book by this author for me.
August 9, 2020
Whew. Apparently it took me a month to read this one. I don't know why - but I hit the 30% mark, set it down, and forgot about it. Once I picked it back up however, I finished it in one go.
The main conflict between Valerie and Tim being together is her unwillingness to compromise her career for the other things she wants. This conflict really struck home for me - the feeling of giving your all to a company that has no loyalty to you, or the feeling that you're passed over for opportunities because you're a woman. Most of all, Valerie's feeling that in relationships, when a man and a woman both have a career, men never have to give up their goals, but women do, is something that I have thought myself.
Was the solution a little too perfect? Yes, but also, a *single* romance novel is not going to solve the patriarchy. Did Tim kind of understand where Valerie was coming from eventually? Yes, but I still don't really feel like he ever "got it." He was lucky to have Heidi to help him put two and two together. I also didn't ever feel like Valerie was pressured to make a decision one way or another because of him, she went for what she wanted and things just happened to work out (again, a little too easily, but there's only so many pages).
But I did really like it. The sex scenes were sexy and I liked Valerie and Tim together a lot. I loved Valerie's interactions with Tim's son, and I liked Tim's ex-wife's involvement, because it's nice to see an ex in a romance novel who isn't the villain. All in all, a lot to like here, even if there were some minor complaints.
The main conflict between Valerie and Tim being together is her unwillingness to compromise her career for the other things she wants. This conflict really struck home for me - the feeling of giving your all to a company that has no loyalty to you, or the feeling that you're passed over for opportunities because you're a woman. Most of all, Valerie's feeling that in relationships, when a man and a woman both have a career, men never have to give up their goals, but women do, is something that I have thought myself.
Was the solution a little too perfect? Yes, but also, a *single* romance novel is not going to solve the patriarchy. Did Tim kind of understand where Valerie was coming from eventually? Yes, but I still don't really feel like he ever "got it." He was lucky to have Heidi to help him put two and two together. I also didn't ever feel like Valerie was pressured to make a decision one way or another because of him, she went for what she wanted and things just happened to work out (again, a little too easily, but there's only so many pages).
But I did really like it. The sex scenes were sexy and I liked Valerie and Tim together a lot. I loved Valerie's interactions with Tim's son, and I liked Tim's ex-wife's involvement, because it's nice to see an ex in a romance novel who isn't the villain. All in all, a lot to like here, even if there were some minor complaints.
February 9, 2021
A Charmingly Unhurried Romance Marred by Typos and Lack of Detail...
"Lowdown Dirty” by Holly Trent is a gloriously unhurried stroll to love. A book built on a kaleidoscope of characters led by the core story of Valerie and Tim. Valerie being a driven architect, determined to not repeat the mistakes of her mother. A fiercely dominant woman in the workplace, one so resolute on achieving her professional goals she adopts a lifestyle devoid of anything other than work so as not to appear weak or unworthy of the professional milestones enjoyed more freely by her male counterparts. A woman who feels unable to freely express her desires for submission in her personal life as she fears it will taint and derail everything professionally she is working tirelessly for. And Tim, a lonely, forty-something man longing for a sense of being beyond his success as a well-known and respected boat builder. He is a man with a reputation for being as dominant in the bedroom as he is on the factory floor, an integral part of the well-entrenched kink community in his tiny town. A man desired by many but whom has his heart set on finding the submissive key to his particular brand of Dom lock. What follows is a refreshing tale of the realities of what it’s like to be both kinky and a high achieving female professional in a male dominated field. The realities of trying to “have it all” while also being taken seriously in a field you love and are passionate about.
I have to say, this story struck a deeply personal chord within me. I have been part of the BDSM community my entire adult life. However, I have also existed within a professional realm dominated by men who would happily use (and have used) my female-ness against me in order to discredit my work or get ahead themselves. As a result, I have often made choices, such as never getting married, in order to better succeed professionally and be able to support myself beyond the standard societal domain of “mother”, “wife”, “woman”, because I am so much more than just those things. So to encounter such a lovingly written, sleepy romance that enrobes your heart lazily like warm honey, all while dealing head on with such important issues was a joyous find for me.
And while I loved the slow and steady, southern sensibility. I wish it had been completely what it is advertised as being, an unapologetic story of kink and D/s within the reality of the everyday normative world.
This book, while remaining a wonderful story overall, sadly falls far short of its full potential. First, it is surprisingly kink free despite being positioned as a BDSM themed story world. There were no real forays into kink, merely suggestions and innuendos, something that, considering the plot framework was disappointing. Especially given that it takes away your ability to truly get to know both Valerie and Tim as they are at their cores. You never really get to see what type of Dom Tim actually is and how his flavor of Dom-ness fits with Valerie’s distinctive type of submission. You don’t actually get a full sense of how they complement and complete each other as partners, especially where Valerie's skittish tendencies and black and white thinking come into play; a huge let down for me overall.
Additionally this book, despite the kink-lite reality of it, would have still been worthy of four stars in my opinion, if it had not been for the horrendously awkward phrasing and word omission issues present. There were so many typos and places throughout where a sentence structure issue made me stop and reread a sentence or passage to discern what the author was intending, that it greatly distracted from the story within. And while the core of the story, the hearts of the characters within them, are worth the arduous, error riddled journey to the end. I would love to see this book proofread, the issues within re-written and/or corrected, edited properly, and rereleased so that it can be enjoyed thoroughly and without distraction.
"Lowdown Dirty” by Holly Trent is a gloriously unhurried stroll to love. A book built on a kaleidoscope of characters led by the core story of Valerie and Tim. Valerie being a driven architect, determined to not repeat the mistakes of her mother. A fiercely dominant woman in the workplace, one so resolute on achieving her professional goals she adopts a lifestyle devoid of anything other than work so as not to appear weak or unworthy of the professional milestones enjoyed more freely by her male counterparts. A woman who feels unable to freely express her desires for submission in her personal life as she fears it will taint and derail everything professionally she is working tirelessly for. And Tim, a lonely, forty-something man longing for a sense of being beyond his success as a well-known and respected boat builder. He is a man with a reputation for being as dominant in the bedroom as he is on the factory floor, an integral part of the well-entrenched kink community in his tiny town. A man desired by many but whom has his heart set on finding the submissive key to his particular brand of Dom lock. What follows is a refreshing tale of the realities of what it’s like to be both kinky and a high achieving female professional in a male dominated field. The realities of trying to “have it all” while also being taken seriously in a field you love and are passionate about.
I have to say, this story struck a deeply personal chord within me. I have been part of the BDSM community my entire adult life. However, I have also existed within a professional realm dominated by men who would happily use (and have used) my female-ness against me in order to discredit my work or get ahead themselves. As a result, I have often made choices, such as never getting married, in order to better succeed professionally and be able to support myself beyond the standard societal domain of “mother”, “wife”, “woman”, because I am so much more than just those things. So to encounter such a lovingly written, sleepy romance that enrobes your heart lazily like warm honey, all while dealing head on with such important issues was a joyous find for me.
And while I loved the slow and steady, southern sensibility. I wish it had been completely what it is advertised as being, an unapologetic story of kink and D/s within the reality of the everyday normative world.
This book, while remaining a wonderful story overall, sadly falls far short of its full potential. First, it is surprisingly kink free despite being positioned as a BDSM themed story world. There were no real forays into kink, merely suggestions and innuendos, something that, considering the plot framework was disappointing. Especially given that it takes away your ability to truly get to know both Valerie and Tim as they are at their cores. You never really get to see what type of Dom Tim actually is and how his flavor of Dom-ness fits with Valerie’s distinctive type of submission. You don’t actually get a full sense of how they complement and complete each other as partners, especially where Valerie's skittish tendencies and black and white thinking come into play; a huge let down for me overall.
Additionally this book, despite the kink-lite reality of it, would have still been worthy of four stars in my opinion, if it had not been for the horrendously awkward phrasing and word omission issues present. There were so many typos and places throughout where a sentence structure issue made me stop and reread a sentence or passage to discern what the author was intending, that it greatly distracted from the story within. And while the core of the story, the hearts of the characters within them, are worth the arduous, error riddled journey to the end. I would love to see this book proofread, the issues within re-written and/or corrected, edited properly, and rereleased so that it can be enjoyed thoroughly and without distraction.
November 16, 2022
I give the book a 2.5/5
The book was so repetitive from both Valerie and Tim, “yes i want to be with you”, “no i cant”… “i want you”, “no i don’t because xxx”, with no communication or compromise in the first 2/3 of the book. This is most likely due to the attraction and intimate moments happening so quickly without even having a deep conversation between the two characters— yet they’re supposed to trust each other on a level for BDSM?
Yes, I know where they met, but clearly, with what Valerie relayed the first time they met, Tim thought she wasn’t into BDSM, yet then took her back to his place with little to no choice as he was the driver and they were alone… despite what she actually thought, he should have had the decency to think that she may feel intimidated and pressured, no matter his intentions.
I was looking for a good romance story and this book just did not cut it for me due to it not being my cup of tea.
However, I know I was recommended it by someone who loved the banter between a sub and dom, and thought it would be cute to fall in love due to that intimate partnership… so I can see how this storyline can be very attractive to some.
Overall, the authors wording is wonderful and I think if she put in a little more character development and plot growth, along with longer ending chapters that don’t feel rushed or incomplete, the book would be phenomenal!
The book was so repetitive from both Valerie and Tim, “yes i want to be with you”, “no i cant”… “i want you”, “no i don’t because xxx”, with no communication or compromise in the first 2/3 of the book. This is most likely due to the attraction and intimate moments happening so quickly without even having a deep conversation between the two characters— yet they’re supposed to trust each other on a level for BDSM?
Yes, I know where they met, but clearly, with what Valerie relayed the first time they met, Tim thought she wasn’t into BDSM, yet then took her back to his place with little to no choice as he was the driver and they were alone… despite what she actually thought, he should have had the decency to think that she may feel intimidated and pressured, no matter his intentions.
I was looking for a good romance story and this book just did not cut it for me due to it not being my cup of tea.
However, I know I was recommended it by someone who loved the banter between a sub and dom, and thought it would be cute to fall in love due to that intimate partnership… so I can see how this storyline can be very attractive to some.
Overall, the authors wording is wonderful and I think if she put in a little more character development and plot growth, along with longer ending chapters that don’t feel rushed or incomplete, the book would be phenomenal!
August 23, 2022
This book dragged, and not much actually happens.
I was bored throughout this book. The only thing that happens is that Tim and Valerie keep going back and forth as they want to be together, but they kept talking about how Valerie is committed to her job so she’s not going to distract herself with anything else, ie Tim.
There were some side characters, but they didn’t really have any personality. Valerie is obsessed with controlling her sister as she’s apparently so wild, and yet you don’t see her do anything that could show that. Tim’s son is constantly getting in trouble and he’s not communicating with his parents at all. I thought that Valerie might help with him a bit as they end up seeing each other everyday for some time, but he’s not shown enough to understand him.
This book should have been at least fine as it sounded interesting, but instead I was so bored, and I was having to make myself continue as I thought that it would get good soon. It doesn’t. So, this book wasn’t for me.
I was bored throughout this book. The only thing that happens is that Tim and Valerie keep going back and forth as they want to be together, but they kept talking about how Valerie is committed to her job so she’s not going to distract herself with anything else, ie Tim.
There were some side characters, but they didn’t really have any personality. Valerie is obsessed with controlling her sister as she’s apparently so wild, and yet you don’t see her do anything that could show that. Tim’s son is constantly getting in trouble and he’s not communicating with his parents at all. I thought that Valerie might help with him a bit as they end up seeing each other everyday for some time, but he’s not shown enough to understand him.
This book should have been at least fine as it sounded interesting, but instead I was so bored, and I was having to make myself continue as I thought that it would get good soon. It doesn’t. So, this book wasn’t for me.
June 16, 2022
LOWDOWN DIRTY will capture your heart for sure. It’s a totally engaging romance with a bit of kink that is sure to keep you thoroughly enamored with both the characters and the storyline. The slow but steady build of emotion and connection between Tim and Valerie will have you fascinated to see how their relationship develops even when things just don’t seem to be working for them. There are touches of drama, angst, humor, and steam, as well as great side characters. All elements that will have you completely involved from start to finish. This is an interesting and appealing tale that you are sure to enjoy if you’re looking for VERY light BDSM with more of an emphasis on relationship-building. Although the editing does need some work, for me it was more of a hiccup than a stumbling block to my enjoyment of the book. I’m looking forward to reading the next in this series.
February 7, 2021
I picked up this book because it was recommended by Sarah MacLean and I usually swear by her taste in books. This was not bad but it's advertised as erotica and I'm no expert in the field but it was at best a steamy romance. There was so much talk about what an out there dom the hero was I was expecting to have to read the sex scenes through my parted fingers but even the BDSM was light. . I also found the "we have to fight the patriarchy" discourse a bit much and rather preachy. All in all, the story went on for too long and the steam was nice but not noteworthy.
February 10, 2021
Hot and Slow
This is my first book by this author. I really enjoyed her leisurely pace that really generated heat. Retired submissive, Valarie, meets Tim at a party she reluctantly attends not knowing that the participants are into her former lifestyle. Tim and Valarie connect on all levels.....the only problem is the timing. Tim is ready to settle down but Valarie is concerned about her career trajectory. I really enjoyed the main characters as well as the supporting characters. I was glad to see Kevin come around. Good book!
This is my first book by this author. I really enjoyed her leisurely pace that really generated heat. Retired submissive, Valarie, meets Tim at a party she reluctantly attends not knowing that the participants are into her former lifestyle. Tim and Valarie connect on all levels.....the only problem is the timing. Tim is ready to settle down but Valarie is concerned about her career trajectory. I really enjoyed the main characters as well as the supporting characters. I was glad to see Kevin come around. Good book!
June 20, 2022
Great reading
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The characters were interesting and complicated. Each one had interesting situations that added to the plot. I will look for future books in this series.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The characters were interesting and complicated. Each one had interesting situations that added to the plot. I will look for future books in this series.
March 18, 2023
loved how this book talked about kink and consent and what someone gets out of such a dynamic but the rest was just okay.
(I cannot tell if the woman was meant to be Black? I am leaning towards no but I am confused.)
(I cannot tell if the woman was meant to be Black? I am leaning towards no but I am confused.)
July 25, 2023
probably another 2.5 star for me? it just didn't come together for me the way I wish it had. The fmc seemed to be stuck the whole book, consumed by the question of if she could have it all to the point that it forsake the central relationship. I was also missing a bit of heat which surprised me.
March 16, 2020
great writing
this was a very good story. A woman’s role in the workplace, that is basically geared for men. Trying to have it all, a career and a family.
this was a very good story. A woman’s role in the workplace, that is basically geared for men. Trying to have it all, a career and a family.
September 9, 2020
I didn’t love this one. The pacing felt off to me and there was more talk than action. I liked the ending but it felt a bit abrupt.
February 6, 2021
Confused
Okay. This is one of those stories. Where you ask yourself why am I reading it. Ugh. I don't know why I did. The story is busy . That is the only way I can describe it
Okay. This is one of those stories. Where you ask yourself why am I reading it. Ugh. I don't know why I did. The story is busy . That is the only way I can describe it
April 8, 2022
this book was unexpected but i really like it. the writting was really good. the spicy level was a 4.2/5
May 17, 2022
This blew my socks off. Light Dom/sub play. Sweet sexy Romance between two grown adults with lives of their own trying to negotiate love, kink, and family.
My only complaint is I wanted more.
My only complaint is I wanted more.
June 14, 2022
looking for more in the ending
I hope there is more in book 2. What happens to the son, her sister, the wedding, any babies, what happens with her job.
I hope there is more in book 2. What happens to the son, her sister, the wedding, any babies, what happens with her job.
August 5, 2022
A book about people who enjoy bdsm with barely any bdsm in it? I finished the book but it could have been a lot better based of what it was supposed to be about. 🤷🏻♀️
July 28, 2023
DNF...I just couldn't with the female character. This is a first from me with a rating this low but it was just bad unfortunately.
April 20, 2025
Promises but no delivery
June 22, 2020
Romanceopoly: Flirt’s Corner - Contemp Romance with mature characters
November 15, 2019
I have a very trusted friend who gives me great recs and she’s been recommending Holley Trent to me for a while now. I was excited to nab this book a few weeks ago when it was on sale or maybe even free on amazon, I don’t remember. But when my friend found out that I was starting my Holley Trent reading experience with this book, she warned me that this was not her best work and to manage my expectations. And I’m glad she said that because when she warned me, I was already halfway through and thinking “what am I missing?”
So, I did like some parts of the book. I liked Valerie a lot, I liked that she was fiercely and unapologetically ambitious about her profession. I liked that she didn’t pull any punches about telling Tim why it was always harder for women to climb up the corporate ladder and frankly, I found it lame and disingenuous that a man of Tim’s position and power and age needed to have this explained to him. Pay disparity exists, Tim. Women get passed over for raises and promotions and career advancements ALL the time. Not because they’re not smart or capable enough. But simply because they’re women. And the fact that Valerie actually had to spell all this out for him was annoying as hell. I understood Valerie’s reticence in getting involved with Tim and I appreciated her being very very upfront with Tim about exactly what she was able to offer and where her boundaries where and what she was working towards. She was ambitious and she had plans for herself and yes, some of that was due to her past and what happened to her mom but I could also appreciate that she had the right to have her own professional dreams not be compromised for a man.
What I didn’t love was Tim. An overbearing, alpha dog hero who assumed that just because he saw Valerie as the future Mrs. Dowd and mother of his babies that she should just fall in line and basically dismiss all her professional ambitions. And once that perception of Tim was planted in my mind, I could not figure out a way to like him. I did feel sorry for his interactions with his son (but I also thought he and Heidi had enabled a lot of Kevin’s bad behavior - seriously, who allows a 19 year old to have access to their trust fund?!?). But overall, yes, I know he’s a Dom but his attitude was very high-handed and dismissive and petulant at times.
I’m glad that Valerie basically got everything she wanted but at some point in the story, I stopped rooting for them as a couple and started rooting solely for her and I don’t think that’s the hallmark of a great romance novel so that, I hope, explains why this book only gets a 3 star from me. However, I trust my friend’s recommendations so I will definitely try another book by this author.
So, I did like some parts of the book. I liked Valerie a lot, I liked that she was fiercely and unapologetically ambitious about her profession. I liked that she didn’t pull any punches about telling Tim why it was always harder for women to climb up the corporate ladder and frankly, I found it lame and disingenuous that a man of Tim’s position and power and age needed to have this explained to him. Pay disparity exists, Tim. Women get passed over for raises and promotions and career advancements ALL the time. Not because they’re not smart or capable enough. But simply because they’re women. And the fact that Valerie actually had to spell all this out for him was annoying as hell. I understood Valerie’s reticence in getting involved with Tim and I appreciated her being very very upfront with Tim about exactly what she was able to offer and where her boundaries where and what she was working towards. She was ambitious and she had plans for herself and yes, some of that was due to her past and what happened to her mom but I could also appreciate that she had the right to have her own professional dreams not be compromised for a man.
What I didn’t love was Tim. An overbearing, alpha dog hero who assumed that just because he saw Valerie as the future Mrs. Dowd and mother of his babies that she should just fall in line and basically dismiss all her professional ambitions. And once that perception of Tim was planted in my mind, I could not figure out a way to like him. I did feel sorry for his interactions with his son (but I also thought he and Heidi had enabled a lot of Kevin’s bad behavior - seriously, who allows a 19 year old to have access to their trust fund?!?). But overall, yes, I know he’s a Dom but his attitude was very high-handed and dismissive and petulant at times.
I’m glad that Valerie basically got everything she wanted but at some point in the story, I stopped rooting for them as a couple and started rooting solely for her and I don’t think that’s the hallmark of a great romance novel so that, I hope, explains why this book only gets a 3 star from me. However, I trust my friend’s recommendations so I will definitely try another book by this author.
July 1, 2022
“Creamy brown liquid” should never be used to describe coffee. 🙊
3.75⭐️
3.75⭐️
September 12, 2019
Just ok
The writing style is good but the story really dragged on. Valerie was so indecisive it was frustrating. She was really making mountains out of molehills and frankly bypassed the most logical solution. She supposedly has loads of awards etc so why not set up her own company and at the end take the opportunity to be her own boss while working on the development? Why did she have to have an intermediary?
As for her relationship with Tim to be honest they was so much push back from her that I couldn’t see how they fell in love. Also if they’re going to be a blended family, even if Kevin is an adult, it seems strange that they wouldn’t have a least a dinner together or something. Also she says, in my culture talking to other people children, what culture is that? Lastly, I thought she was far too concerned about her sister’s bedroom antics. The girl is 30 years old, hardly a child so it was ridiculous. She was also far too obsessed with how a man stifled her mother’s development. For all she knows, her mother was fine with it even if it was hard work. Basically, I thought that Valerie was very immature for a 31 year old woman and she didn’t really communicate with Tim. At that age, work is the one thing you can bend nowadays when you found true love.
The writing style is good but the story really dragged on. Valerie was so indecisive it was frustrating. She was really making mountains out of molehills and frankly bypassed the most logical solution. She supposedly has loads of awards etc so why not set up her own company and at the end take the opportunity to be her own boss while working on the development? Why did she have to have an intermediary?
As for her relationship with Tim to be honest they was so much push back from her that I couldn’t see how they fell in love. Also if they’re going to be a blended family, even if Kevin is an adult, it seems strange that they wouldn’t have a least a dinner together or something. Also she says, in my culture talking to other people children, what culture is that? Lastly, I thought she was far too concerned about her sister’s bedroom antics. The girl is 30 years old, hardly a child so it was ridiculous. She was also far too obsessed with how a man stifled her mother’s development. For all she knows, her mother was fine with it even if it was hard work. Basically, I thought that Valerie was very immature for a 31 year old woman and she didn’t really communicate with Tim. At that age, work is the one thing you can bend nowadays when you found true love.
September 30, 2019
Holley Trent is reliably great but this one could have used more time to bake. There were continuity issues, loose threads, and multiple typos. I would have appreciated more exploration how Tim’s relationship with his son is similar to Valerie’s relationship with her sister Leah in that they both have poor boundaries. Especially because these dynamics have big implications for their own relationship. It was an enjoyable read overall but I would have liked more steam (there's more discussion of BDSM than action) and for the ending to not have felt so rushed. They jump into basically eloping that weekend before they’ve even said I love you and after they haven’t even been dating. They need to figure out their issues and see if they can give it a real go before discussing marriage.
CW: past divorce, past death of parent (stroke), past abandonment by father
CW: past divorce, past death of parent (stroke), past abandonment by father
September 28, 2019
3 1/2 out of 5
This was a surprise drop from Ms. Trent. The main characters are on the older end of the spectrum. I found Valerie's stand-offishness interesting. It took a long time to really understand why she was holding herself away from something she wanted. I liked that Tim listened rather than running roughshod over her. I think Valerie could have benefitted from having someone to confide in. It made it hard for her to see realities outside of what she grew up in that had formed her. I enjoyed the co-parenting that Tim did with his ex-wife, Heidi. Overall, it was good.
I did encounter some editing issues. Missing words and once the wrong character name was used. None of it was too jarring, though.
This was a surprise drop from Ms. Trent. The main characters are on the older end of the spectrum. I found Valerie's stand-offishness interesting. It took a long time to really understand why she was holding herself away from something she wanted. I liked that Tim listened rather than running roughshod over her. I think Valerie could have benefitted from having someone to confide in. It made it hard for her to see realities outside of what she grew up in that had formed her. I enjoyed the co-parenting that Tim did with his ex-wife, Heidi. Overall, it was good.
I did encounter some editing issues. Missing words and once the wrong character name was used. None of it was too jarring, though.
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