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So Over the Holidays #3
Bottle Rocket
Freshly single Rosie Holiday is on the hunt for passion and excitement. This leads her to Leo Whittaker—a bad boy who waltzed out of town, and her life, thirteen years ago. Leo isn’t the type to stick around, but Rosie’s not going to let a no-strings opportunity pass her by.
When a business trip sends Leo back to his hometown, the last thing he expects is for his first love to hand him a list of scorching-hot escapades and a deadline. He’s happy to help Rosie discover her bossy side in the bedroom. Or in a fireworks stand. Or at a Fourth of July barbecue.
Their chemistry burns bright and fast, but what tore them apart years ago is still between them. They are polar opposites. A reserved kindergarten teacher and an irreverent artist. A nester and a wanderer. It will take a spark of imagination and a lot of love to keep their second-chance romance from flaming out.
When a business trip sends Leo back to his hometown, the last thing he expects is for his first love to hand him a list of scorching-hot escapades and a deadline. He’s happy to help Rosie discover her bossy side in the bedroom. Or in a fireworks stand. Or at a Fourth of July barbecue.
Their chemistry burns bright and fast, but what tore them apart years ago is still between them. They are polar opposites. A reserved kindergarten teacher and an irreverent artist. A nester and a wanderer. It will take a spark of imagination and a lot of love to keep their second-chance romance from flaming out.
234 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2020
44 people are currently reading
835 people want to read
About the author
Erin McLellan
15 books207 followersErin McLellan writes contemporary romances that are sweet, super sexy, and emotional. She lives in Alaska with her family. She is a lover of chocolate, camping, hiking, antiquing, gardening, Dr Pepper, and reality TV.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
June 16, 2020
By far the best book in the So Over the Holidays series, Bottle Rocket by Erin McLellan was one hot little number.
This series is erotic romance, heavy on the erotic, and Bottle Rocket was no different. Unlike the other books in the series, however, this one really spoke to me.
First of all, we get an absolute unicorn in the romance world, which is a M/F romance with a bisexual male MC. Every other M/M romance has a bisexual main character, but in M/F it is exceedingly rare, even more rare to have a bisexual male character. And, let me tell you, I loved it.
Oh honey, we get it all. Pegging, light femdom, group sex, face slapping... I mean, this was like my little kinky wish come true! There was a TON of sex, and this book isn't for a reading who wants a strictly one-on-one sexual relationship between the main characters.
There is also a very sweet romance in there also, a lovely second chance story that warmed my heart and made me smile. The relationship between these two doesn't have a dynamic that would work for me, personally, but I got how it worked for them.
A truly great read for those of us who want to read a M/F story with a guy who wants the woman to take charge, and for readers who like their romances with LOTS of sex. Erin McLellan, keep up the good work.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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This series is erotic romance, heavy on the erotic, and Bottle Rocket was no different. Unlike the other books in the series, however, this one really spoke to me.
First of all, we get an absolute unicorn in the romance world, which is a M/F romance with a bisexual male MC. Every other M/M romance has a bisexual main character, but in M/F it is exceedingly rare, even more rare to have a bisexual male character. And, let me tell you, I loved it.
Oh honey, we get it all. Pegging, light femdom, group sex, face slapping... I mean, this was like my little kinky wish come true! There was a TON of sex, and this book isn't for a reading who wants a strictly one-on-one sexual relationship between the main characters.
There is also a very sweet romance in there also, a lovely second chance story that warmed my heart and made me smile. The relationship between these two doesn't have a dynamic that would work for me, personally, but I got how it worked for them.
A truly great read for those of us who want to read a M/F story with a guy who wants the woman to take charge, and for readers who like their romances with LOTS of sex. Erin McLellan, keep up the good work.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
June 21, 2020
(free review copy) AHHHH, I’m BLUSHING ☺️ I love this novella series so much! Let’s just be crystal clear though - on the steam spectrum, these books are way more in the erotica side than the romance side. You’ll be very surprised if you don’t know what you’re picking up 😂
January 28, 2026
Re-read (January 2026):
Do you know what is the perfect thing to read during a winter power outage? A fiery summer romance. I read it next to the gas fireplace, which kept me physically warm while the story heated me up in other ways. God, I love Rosie and Leo so much!!! I absolutely inhaled this and fell for them all over again. I love a sex pact and they sure do it right. This time around, I wondered if Rosie might be bisexual too. Having a woman involved in her orgy doesn't necessarily mean anything...but I did wonder!
I really appreciate the inclusion of Rosie talking about how she takes antibiotics after sex to prevent UTIs. I still think that's the only time I've encountered this in a romance, which is wild when I have several friends who do this in real life. I also loved them making sun pickles and peach jam. And I especially loved them figuring out a relationship on their own terms.
Lastly, Lady Robin still needs a book. Someway, somehow.
Original review (June 17, 2020):
This is my favorite of the series and that’s saying something because this has been one delightful series to begin with. I loved everything about this second chance erotic romance. It's the Summer of Rosie for our buttoned up heroine. When she runs into her old love (while he's posing nude at the art class she's taking, no less), they come up with a sex list and he helps her cross off each fantasy. He's only in town for 6 days so of course they can't fall in love, those silly fools. He’s into being dominated and she learns that she enjoys doing it! Plus Leo is an erotic artist and HE DRAWS HER!!! That is my purest catnip and I cackled when Sasha mentioned he went full-on Titanic on Rosie. Plus pegging! Plus orgy!
It was so steamy and sweet and perfect. Rosie and Leo seemingly have such different needs and I loved their eventual compromise on how they could make their relationship work. It’s unconventional (a mix of long-distance and home base) but it was so true to who they are. This is set during the 4th of July but there’s not much patriotism, thankfully. I will for sure be making this an annual holiday re-read! Also, I have to say I love all the queer rep throughout the series. In this one, Leo is bi. Rosie's sister Sasha (from book 1) is bi. Their brother Benji (book 2) is gay, William is bi. And that's just the start.
Characters: Leo is a 32 year old bisexual white erotic artist and submissive with a lip ring. Rosie is a 32 year old white kindergarten teacher and Domme.
Content notes: past divorce (FMC's ex-husband cheated), past parental abandonment (FMC and siblings were raised by grandmother), FMC takes antibiotics after sex to prevent UTIs, on page sex, femdom, power exchange, group sex, pegging, slapping, praise kink, voyeurism, public sex, anal play, orgasm control, sex toys, masturbation, alcohol, inebriation, drinking to get drunk, underage drinking, past recreational drug use, gendered pejorative, ableist language, hyperbolic language around addiction
Do you know what is the perfect thing to read during a winter power outage? A fiery summer romance. I read it next to the gas fireplace, which kept me physically warm while the story heated me up in other ways. God, I love Rosie and Leo so much!!! I absolutely inhaled this and fell for them all over again. I love a sex pact and they sure do it right. This time around, I wondered if Rosie might be bisexual too. Having a woman involved in her orgy doesn't necessarily mean anything...but I did wonder!
I really appreciate the inclusion of Rosie talking about how she takes antibiotics after sex to prevent UTIs. I still think that's the only time I've encountered this in a romance, which is wild when I have several friends who do this in real life. I also loved them making sun pickles and peach jam. And I especially loved them figuring out a relationship on their own terms.
Lastly, Lady Robin still needs a book. Someway, somehow.
Original review (June 17, 2020):
This is my favorite of the series and that’s saying something because this has been one delightful series to begin with. I loved everything about this second chance erotic romance. It's the Summer of Rosie for our buttoned up heroine. When she runs into her old love (while he's posing nude at the art class she's taking, no less), they come up with a sex list and he helps her cross off each fantasy. He's only in town for 6 days so of course they can't fall in love, those silly fools. He’s into being dominated and she learns that she enjoys doing it! Plus Leo is an erotic artist and HE DRAWS HER!!! That is my purest catnip and I cackled when Sasha mentioned he went full-on Titanic on Rosie. Plus pegging! Plus orgy!
It was so steamy and sweet and perfect. Rosie and Leo seemingly have such different needs and I loved their eventual compromise on how they could make their relationship work. It’s unconventional (a mix of long-distance and home base) but it was so true to who they are. This is set during the 4th of July but there’s not much patriotism, thankfully. I will for sure be making this an annual holiday re-read! Also, I have to say I love all the queer rep throughout the series. In this one, Leo is bi. Rosie's sister Sasha (from book 1) is bi. Their brother Benji (book 2) is gay, William is bi. And that's just the start.
Characters: Leo is a 32 year old bisexual white erotic artist and submissive with a lip ring. Rosie is a 32 year old white kindergarten teacher and Domme.
Content notes: past divorce (FMC's ex-husband cheated), past parental abandonment (FMC and siblings were raised by grandmother), FMC takes antibiotics after sex to prevent UTIs, on page sex, femdom, power exchange, group sex, pegging, slapping, praise kink, voyeurism, public sex, anal play, orgasm control, sex toys, masturbation, alcohol, inebriation, drinking to get drunk, underage drinking, past recreational drug use, gendered pejorative, ableist language, hyperbolic language around addiction
July 4, 2021
This series is consistently excellent.
May 26, 2020
I could taste the sour cherry snow cone juice and reveled in McLellan's deft delivery of tenderness and kink. Also 🥕
December 24, 2020
I hope to write a more descriptive review @ some point, but rn I just have to say that’s I think this might be a perfect book🙏🏻
—————————
me looking at Bottle Rocket: “To me, you are perfect”❤️
Love Actually jokes aside, I do think this is arguably a perfect book. And after reading every other book in Erin McLellan’s So Over the Holidays, McLellan has cemented her place as one of my favorite/most reliable novella authors. Her writing just ~feels~ good, with every book effortlessly nailing the balance of easy humor and emotional weight. Of all the books in this series, I find it most impressive in Bottle Rocket🚀
This book finds Rosie Holiday freshly out of a toxic relationship & looking for her next passion project (lmao love that phrase) She walks into her fist still life drawing class when the model drops trou & she realizes two things ~very~ quickly: 1) this is not, in fact, the still life class, and 2) The (now very nude) model is Leo Whittaker—her first love, the one who got away
Leo and Rosie are very different people than they were 13 years ago, and while their present is *deeply* affected by their past, these two have worked through a lot of their emotional baggage. The more time they spend together, the more they realize that they never fell out of love. Leo and Rosie work hard to communicate openly, respect the other’s needs & boundaries, and find a way to love each other authentically & unreservedly🥰 and honestly, isn’t that the dream?
many thanks to @bookish.kelly and all of my friends who’ve recommended this one, its a keeper🙏🏻
—————————
me looking at Bottle Rocket: “To me, you are perfect”❤️
Love Actually jokes aside, I do think this is arguably a perfect book. And after reading every other book in Erin McLellan’s So Over the Holidays, McLellan has cemented her place as one of my favorite/most reliable novella authors. Her writing just ~feels~ good, with every book effortlessly nailing the balance of easy humor and emotional weight. Of all the books in this series, I find it most impressive in Bottle Rocket🚀
This book finds Rosie Holiday freshly out of a toxic relationship & looking for her next passion project (lmao love that phrase) She walks into her fist still life drawing class when the model drops trou & she realizes two things ~very~ quickly: 1) this is not, in fact, the still life class, and 2) The (now very nude) model is Leo Whittaker—her first love, the one who got away
Leo and Rosie are very different people than they were 13 years ago, and while their present is *deeply* affected by their past, these two have worked through a lot of their emotional baggage. The more time they spend together, the more they realize that they never fell out of love. Leo and Rosie work hard to communicate openly, respect the other’s needs & boundaries, and find a way to love each other authentically & unreservedly🥰 and honestly, isn’t that the dream?
many thanks to @bookish.kelly and all of my friends who’ve recommended this one, its a keeper🙏🏻
November 13, 2022
BOTTLE ROCKET was fantastic and I loved every second of this fun, flirty, and very sexy romance. Rosie and Leo secretly dated in high school but Leo has a wandering soul and he left town. Now years later he's back in town and running into Rosie who is trying to find her passion for life again after a difficult marriage and divorce. Cue one very sexy bucket list from Rosie and a very eager to please Leo and these two completely set my Kindle on fire! I especially enjoyed the way Leo liked to cede control to Rosie and how she really discovered a more empowered part of herself that liked to boss Leo around. There's so much sex positivity and exploration in BOTTLE ROCKET and I liked how open they both are about communicating their desires and boundaries. Between the mild dominance, sexy toys, and an orgy, these two were hot!
Even though everything is supposed to be casual, what with Leo leaving in a week, it's obvious how much these two still care for each other and that their love never really went away. There's a lot of sweetness between the two and I loved how that mixed together with the sexy side of their relationship. Their HEA is a little unconventional but there's no doubting the love and dedication between these two.
**ARC provided by A Novel Take PR in exchange for an honest review**
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Favorite Quotes:
She thought about the way these six days with Leo had made her happier than she had ever been. She had been able to discover things about herself that she’d never thought possible. Like how much she enjoyed pegging.
- - - - -
"I will never try to change you or hold you back. I want you to know that even when we’re apart, I still love you, I understand you, and I’ll be waiting for you at the end of the road."
- - - - -
"Most importantly, I don’t want to change you. Will it be hard? Of course. Does that mean it’s not worth the fight? No. It is worth it. You’re worth it, Leo."
- - - - -
He was a lucky son of a bitch. He had the love of his life within arm’s reach, and that was a blessing.
Even though everything is supposed to be casual, what with Leo leaving in a week, it's obvious how much these two still care for each other and that their love never really went away. There's a lot of sweetness between the two and I loved how that mixed together with the sexy side of their relationship. Their HEA is a little unconventional but there's no doubting the love and dedication between these two.
**ARC provided by A Novel Take PR in exchange for an honest review**
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Favorite Quotes:
She thought about the way these six days with Leo had made her happier than she had ever been. She had been able to discover things about herself that she’d never thought possible. Like how much she enjoyed pegging.
- - - - -
"I will never try to change you or hold you back. I want you to know that even when we’re apart, I still love you, I understand you, and I’ll be waiting for you at the end of the road."
- - - - -
"Most importantly, I don’t want to change you. Will it be hard? Of course. Does that mean it’s not worth the fight? No. It is worth it. You’re worth it, Leo."
- - - - -
He was a lucky son of a bitch. He had the love of his life within arm’s reach, and that was a blessing.
June 15, 2020
I have been enjoying this series but I must admit this was my favorite book in the series.
Rosie and Leo have great chemistry together and what makes it even hotter is that Leo is Bi-Sexual and Rosie is open to trying new things...hello fun times! I don't want to ruin an surprises for you but lets just say that there is a TON of different types of play going on and it was totally HAWT!!!
Read my full book review along with an AUTHOR Q&A, EXCERPT, and GIVEAWAY here ⭆ https://bit.ly/NBReviewBR
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**
You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
Rosie and Leo have great chemistry together and what makes it even hotter is that Leo is Bi-Sexual and Rosie is open to trying new things...hello fun times! I don't want to ruin an surprises for you but lets just say that there is a TON of different types of play going on and it was totally HAWT!!!
Read my full book review along with an AUTHOR Q&A, EXCERPT, and GIVEAWAY here ⭆ https://bit.ly/NBReviewBR
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
June 19, 2020
Pegging, dominance, and group sex - OH MY! This was a super smutty read that also had a lot of heart and humor. Rosie and Leo secretly dated when they were 18, now 13 years later they meet up again when Leo visits his hometown.
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Leo and Rosie. I don’t think Leo specifically says how he identifies in the book, but he’s been with both men and women. Also, he likes to give up control in the bedroom. Rosie starts to experiment with things she’s never tried before including being dominant towards Leo.
The second chance romance trope normally isn’t my favorite, but I do think it worked well here. And the steaminess was off the charts. Definitely check this out for a quick, smutty summer romance.
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Leo and Rosie. I don’t think Leo specifically says how he identifies in the book, but he’s been with both men and women. Also, he likes to give up control in the bedroom. Rosie starts to experiment with things she’s never tried before including being dominant towards Leo.
The second chance romance trope normally isn’t my favorite, but I do think it worked well here. And the steaminess was off the charts. Definitely check this out for a quick, smutty summer romance.
July 5, 2021
3.5 stars rounded down.
For a novella so heavy on the sex, the steamy scenes felt a bit flat to me. Just missing that extra spark to make them actually feel hot, instead of just being descriptions of hot things.
That being said, I liked these characters a lot — The kindergarten teacher who craves routine, but whose life is dull after her divorce. The freewheeling erotic artist who likes group sex, submission, and traveling the country in his airstream. — They had a great dynamic and natural conflict, but you could feel the love there.
Overall, a cute read but nothing to write home about.
Steam: 4.5/5🔥
Contains: group sex, semi-public sex, light femdom
CW: mentions of PTSD, cheating and potential emotional abuse by ex-husband
For a novella so heavy on the sex, the steamy scenes felt a bit flat to me. Just missing that extra spark to make them actually feel hot, instead of just being descriptions of hot things.
That being said, I liked these characters a lot — The kindergarten teacher who craves routine, but whose life is dull after her divorce. The freewheeling erotic artist who likes group sex, submission, and traveling the country in his airstream. — They had a great dynamic and natural conflict, but you could feel the love there.
Overall, a cute read but nothing to write home about.
Steam: 4.5/5🔥
Contains: group sex, semi-public sex, light femdom
CW: mentions of PTSD, cheating and potential emotional abuse by ex-husband
June 22, 2020
The perfect comfort read. Also: I need to make jam now. Also, can we please have more F/M stories with bi characters? Pretty, pretty please?!
February 12, 2024
Writing is trite. DNF 14%
July 17, 2021
I liked this fine, it just did not inspire any strong feelings in me one way or the other while even if they weren't great, the other ones in this series I have read did.
July 5, 2021
Oh. Wow. This was incredible. I adored this second chance romance between Leo and Rosie. I could feel the love between the two of them from page 1, and having them be separated for 13 years was agony to read about, but so worth it. The angst and chemistry between these two…UGH I teared up several times because it was just SO GOOD.
Other things I’m obsessed with:
-straight laced, reserved heroine with sunshiny, free spirited hero
-both MCs are bisexual
-dominant heroine and submissive hero
-Rosie makes a checklist of 🔥🔥🔥 things she wants to do with Leo and does every single one of them throughout the novella
-non traditional HEA, but it really works for this couple
-orgy scene
-pegging
-lots of sexy toys
-plenty of spicy scenes, but well balanced with romantic/swoony moments
Other things I’m obsessed with:
-straight laced, reserved heroine with sunshiny, free spirited hero
-both MCs are bisexual
-dominant heroine and submissive hero
-Rosie makes a checklist of 🔥🔥🔥 things she wants to do with Leo and does every single one of them throughout the novella
-non traditional HEA, but it really works for this couple
-orgy scene
-pegging
-lots of sexy toys
-plenty of spicy scenes, but well balanced with romantic/swoony moments
February 6, 2021
the cinnamon-rollness 👌
September 10, 2020
Short and sweet. Definitely enjoyed this one.
Was such a wholesome story and second chance romance with a generous helping of femdom on the side.
Plus, bisexual leads? Yes, please! For some reason bisexual characters are seen mostly in MM or FF stories, which, has always annoyed me. Bi people like more than one gender. Show that in romance. Please!
So it was great to hear about Leo's only over serious lover - a man.
Then there is Leo's dirty talk:
HOT DAMN. I could use more of that.
Leo also said something that I just thought made a lot of sense and was just a really good way to communicate:
So yeah, I don't have a lot to say. A nice read with some nice pegging.
Was such a wholesome story and second chance romance with a generous helping of femdom on the side.
Plus, bisexual leads? Yes, please! For some reason bisexual characters are seen mostly in MM or FF stories, which, has always annoyed me. Bi people like more than one gender. Show that in romance. Please!
So it was great to hear about Leo's only over serious lover - a man.
Then there is Leo's dirty talk:
"I've got a boot box full of dildos, honey. We could sixty-nine. You fuck me with one of those babies, and I lick you until you cream on my face. (...). You could ride me. A hand on my throat, holding me down. Use me like a fuck toy. I'll service you like it's my calling. Like it's what I was made for. Like my pleasure doesn't matter, only yours does."
HOT DAMN. I could use more of that.
Leo also said something that I just thought made a lot of sense and was just a really good way to communicate:
"I want you to use me like a fuck toy, but I don't want to actually be just a fuck toy.
So yeah, I don't have a lot to say. A nice read with some nice pegging.
September 24, 2021
3.5
I haven't read a bisexual hero before and I just absolutely loved Leo. I wasn't as invested in Rosie as I was in Leo.
Bottle Rocket is a second chance romance that follows Leo and Rosie. Leo left Rosie 13 years ago without a goodbye to be a musician in LA. In the present they meet again at an art class where he is the model and they start a 6 day fling before he needs to leave again.
I really enjoy Erin McLellan's writing and will definitely read more in this series soon.
I haven't read a bisexual hero before and I just absolutely loved Leo. I wasn't as invested in Rosie as I was in Leo.
Bottle Rocket is a second chance romance that follows Leo and Rosie. Leo left Rosie 13 years ago without a goodbye to be a musician in LA. In the present they meet again at an art class where he is the model and they start a 6 day fling before he needs to leave again.
I really enjoy Erin McLellan's writing and will definitely read more in this series soon.
May 18, 2021
The most emotional of the series so far. I loved every delightfully queer moment of it 💞
August 27, 2020
Tenderness and kink!
Wholesome friendship orgies!
Self-discovery without angst!
An m/f with a BI GUY on page!
So much fun, and I’m only grumpy because wholesome friendship orgies could be a more common thing.
Wholesome friendship orgies!
Self-discovery without angst!
An m/f with a BI GUY on page!
So much fun, and I’m only grumpy because wholesome friendship orgies could be a more common thing.
June 21, 2020
My TBR is a mile long but I devoured this in one night. It's sexy, heartfelt, and delightful!
June 11, 2020
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
I rarely think that a novella can give me 5*s of enjoyment, but WOW, this one is a really fun read, and phwoar it is scorchingly hot in a wonderfully naughty, bit oh so nice a way. Definitely make sure you have a cool drink on hand and ideally sit in a private space as you read!
This is the third in the series, and I have to admit that whilst I really enjoyed the previous two, this one is my absolute favourite. It easily could have been a good read, but by just making Rosie behave in a way that I think none of us would have expected ... bang ... it is fabulous. Do read the first two if you haven't already, as there are lots of links which I think enrich the story further.
From the way we know she cared for her siblings, to little touches which mean so much to her, like Leo's Mum paying her Grandmother a compliment, to finding her new thing this summer, we get a sense of who Rosie is - and so want her to be able to find the happiness that she most definitely deserves. That it comes in the form of a highly sensual erotic artist who she loved, and loved her as a teen ... well we are thoroughly invested in that for sure.
The descriptions of the erotic adventures are just so sensual, and sit so beautifully alongside a delicious story of two best friends spending time together doing ordinary things. I will definitely be reading this again, as it was full of everything good and desirable.
I rarely think that a novella can give me 5*s of enjoyment, but WOW, this one is a really fun read, and phwoar it is scorchingly hot in a wonderfully naughty, bit oh so nice a way. Definitely make sure you have a cool drink on hand and ideally sit in a private space as you read!
This is the third in the series, and I have to admit that whilst I really enjoyed the previous two, this one is my absolute favourite. It easily could have been a good read, but by just making Rosie behave in a way that I think none of us would have expected ... bang ... it is fabulous. Do read the first two if you haven't already, as there are lots of links which I think enrich the story further.
From the way we know she cared for her siblings, to little touches which mean so much to her, like Leo's Mum paying her Grandmother a compliment, to finding her new thing this summer, we get a sense of who Rosie is - and so want her to be able to find the happiness that she most definitely deserves. That it comes in the form of a highly sensual erotic artist who she loved, and loved her as a teen ... well we are thoroughly invested in that for sure.
The descriptions of the erotic adventures are just so sensual, and sit so beautifully alongside a delicious story of two best friends spending time together doing ordinary things. I will definitely be reading this again, as it was full of everything good and desirable.
June 13, 2020
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This is a sexy, steamy read. A second chance romance, the connection between Rosie and Leo is playful and sweet. Straddling the line between romance and erotica, this is a fun, sex positive book that follows kindergarten teacher Rosie as she acts out her fantasies and explores her kinks.
The whole premise of the kindergarten teacher falling for an erotic artist made me smile. I love how this series happily challenges tired erotica cliches and allows readers to explore less traditional kinks alongside the characters. In this book, Rosie gets to explore her dominant side and Leo’s bisexuality is definitely a thing - but not an issue for either of them. I really love all the sex toy play in this series and I love that the men get to be as excited about toys as the women.
This book is a perfect summer read. The history between Leo and Rosie is sweet while their reconnection is hot. While this is probably more erotica than romance, there is enough story and character development to make the characters feel real and very lovable. This feels like erotica for a woke Millenial/Gen Z audience and it is miles away from the cheesy and often problematic ‘50 Shades’ style of writing I tend to associate with the genre.
This is a sexy, steamy read. A second chance romance, the connection between Rosie and Leo is playful and sweet. Straddling the line between romance and erotica, this is a fun, sex positive book that follows kindergarten teacher Rosie as she acts out her fantasies and explores her kinks.
The whole premise of the kindergarten teacher falling for an erotic artist made me smile. I love how this series happily challenges tired erotica cliches and allows readers to explore less traditional kinks alongside the characters. In this book, Rosie gets to explore her dominant side and Leo’s bisexuality is definitely a thing - but not an issue for either of them. I really love all the sex toy play in this series and I love that the men get to be as excited about toys as the women.
This book is a perfect summer read. The history between Leo and Rosie is sweet while their reconnection is hot. While this is probably more erotica than romance, there is enough story and character development to make the characters feel real and very lovable. This feels like erotica for a woke Millenial/Gen Z audience and it is miles away from the cheesy and often problematic ‘50 Shades’ style of writing I tend to associate with the genre.
February 1, 2021
This is about Rosie and Leo. They are high school sweethearts that meet again for a second chance. This is the third book in the Holidays series about the Holiday siblings and happens around the 4th of July (US Independence day).
I really liked Rosie and Leo. Rosie is a kindergarten teacher who has gone through a recent divorce, is trying to find herself about and have stability in her life. Leo is a cinnamon roll, submissive hero who is a wanderer but is looking for a home base. I loved the two of them coming together, and I love the summery vibes from this book. Fun, sexy read with sex toys and multiple partners in this novella.
Also I REALLY appreciated the normalizing of UTIs in this novella. It's such a silly thing but I always think about how romance heroines never go pee after sex. And Rosie and Leo discussing it was SO refreshing.
I really liked Rosie and Leo. Rosie is a kindergarten teacher who has gone through a recent divorce, is trying to find herself about and have stability in her life. Leo is a cinnamon roll, submissive hero who is a wanderer but is looking for a home base. I loved the two of them coming together, and I love the summery vibes from this book. Fun, sexy read with sex toys and multiple partners in this novella.
Also I REALLY appreciated the normalizing of UTIs in this novella. It's such a silly thing but I always think about how romance heroines never go pee after sex. And Rosie and Leo discussing it was SO refreshing.
October 4, 2023
I DNFed the only other book I've tried in this series (Candy Hearts) due to not caring about the characters, but I wanted to give this one a go because of the submissive MMC. And I liked it!
It didn't really engage my emotions, but I liked a lot about the world this author has created: sex positive, lots of LGBTQ+ representation, communication and consent during sex, mildly kinky. An undemanding, quick, hot read.
It didn't really engage my emotions, but I liked a lot about the world this author has created: sex positive, lots of LGBTQ+ representation, communication and consent during sex, mildly kinky. An undemanding, quick, hot read.
December 30, 2024
Fireworks! I want to celebrate and live my life! I heard just the most fun music in my head while reading Rosie’s story about her love with Leo. Both main protagonists were lovable, believable, and relatable. I think this is my favorite contemporary romance! I loved how they both embraced life together. There’s sex, fun, and sex toys like the other books in this series, but there’s also a lot of hurt which heals with all the rest.
June 26, 2020
A novel as light and plashing as a creek in sunlit woods. It meanders along pleasantly and has its fun moments. There's a great meet-cute, nice detail ("The scent of sunscreen and condoms"), some semi-naughty sex (mildly sub-dom), woman taking what she wants, sex that is not penetration-centric (makes a very nice change), man too good to be true but still feels real, consent for the win, all the ingredients of a lovely romp of a romance. Set in the United States. The characterisation extends even to the dicks and yes, there's group sex, yum. I was sold on this when reviews told me that the romantic male interest is bisexual in a heterosexual romance. My notes veer between "nice", "great", "the utopian dream of the romance genre" to "grammar" and "syntax".
Having written all that: I finished this book a week ago and had to stare at my kindle notes for quite some time before I remembered even the tiniest bit of plot or people. Including the meet-cute.
Provenance: Kindle Unlimited freebie on my two-month corona trial.
Format: Good solid e-book.
Having written all that: I finished this book a week ago and had to stare at my kindle notes for quite some time before I remembered even the tiniest bit of plot or people. Including the meet-cute.
Provenance: Kindle Unlimited freebie on my two-month corona trial.
Format: Good solid e-book.
June 21, 2020
Every bit as sexy and great as you have heard. I adored the second book in the series, Candy Hearts, but this might have topped it. Jury is out until I reread it, which I will definitely do, because Leo and his trailer of orgasms can come again. (Yes, I did just go there.)
July 7, 2020
Best second chance
This is one of the best second chance romances I’ve read. Which isn’t a trope I’m normally into. I love how Rosie and Leo reconnected and how open and honest they are with each other. Lovely, sexy read.
This is one of the best second chance romances I’ve read. Which isn’t a trope I’m normally into. I love how Rosie and Leo reconnected and how open and honest they are with each other. Lovely, sexy read.
June 16, 2020
Review lives here: www.loveinpanels.com/prose/bottle-rocket
November 1, 2020
*3.75 stars
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