House of Agnes

by Fiona Zedde

A lesbian romance filled with intrigue and sizzling sexual tension as enemies discover that the other side of hatred…is desire.

Agnes Noble is private, mysterious, and untouchable. She rules House of Agnes, the most exclusive escort agency on the East Coast, with a diamond fist. Crossing her is a mistake no one makes twice.

Investigative reporter Lola Osbourne is not afraid. She’s gunning for the House and its so-called queen. She’ll make sure no other innocent gets dragged into Agnes’s alluring web, to be used and discarded the way Lola’s sister was.

But her plan to get close to the elusive madam shatters the moment her eyes meet the Queen’s. One look and everything’s different. More complicated. Dangerous.

Now, Lola’s not just fighting to topple a queen from her throne, she’s also scrambling to escape their explosive collision with her suddenly vulnerable heart intact.

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, LGBT, Enemies To Lovers, Mystery, Audiobook, Contemporary

251 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2021

About the author

Jamaican-born Fiona Zedde is the author of several novellas and novels of lesBiQueer love and desire, including the Lambda Literary Award finalists, Bliss and Every Dark Desire. She loves French pastries, English cars, Jamaican food, and currently lives in Spain.

Her novel, Dangerous Pleasures, received a Publishers Weekly starred review and won an About.com Readers' Choice Award for Best Lesbian Novel/Memoir. Her latest book, Just Like Her, is out now. Find out more about her catalog of 30+ books at www.FionaZedde.com.

Reviews

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars. I enjoyed this read. This was not my favorite by Zedde – I’m a big fan of her dark superhero Mercy duology - but I liked this better than a good amount of the books I have read this summer. This is a book where you have to suspend disbelief a bit, and sort of ignore a few things that don’t exactly work, but if you can do that this is quite the entertaining read.

I guess I would call this a steamy, crime-romance. Zedde’s sex scenes are almost always smoking and this book was not an exception. While they were sizzling and certainly erotic, there were only a couple sex scenes in the whole book so I would not call this an erotic romance. I really liked the sexual chemistry between the main characters but I wasn’t 100% sold on the actual romance. I found myself rooting for them as a couple, but I wasn’t crazy about one of the mains named Lola. I kept thinking that Agnes, the other main character, deserved someone better. I’m not sure if I believed that Lola would be the one to crack Agnes’ shell.

This book also fit the crime tag and I enjoyed certain parts of that. Maybe it is from reading too much Ali Vali (Cain Casey) and Ashley Bartlett (Cash Braddock), but I seem to have a soft spot for characters that commit crimes but have hearts of gold. “Oh this is illegal? Well I guess it’s okay because they are doing it for the right reasons.” It’s funny but I knew I would like the character of Agnes right away. I guess part of it is the fact that morally gray characters can just be so much more interesting to read about.

When it came to more of the intrigue part of the crime tag, I was not so blown away by it. There was a twist that I found interesting, but I thought the whole sort of climax of the book, the peak action moment, kind of fizzled out and wasn’t quite what I thought everything was building up to be. On the good side, there was another twist that was not related to the crime plot at all, but actually the relationship/romance plot and I loved it. I should have guessed it, I started thinking something felt off, but I totally dismissed my thoughts so once it was revealed I was like “yes!” It was a very smart little twist and I'm happy about it.

If you are new to Zedde, this would not be a bad place to start. This was very entertaining to read and it easily kept my attention the whole way through. There are a few bumps, but it’s enjoyable and if you are looking for a crime-romance with some heat, this would be a solid choice. If this story doesn't appeal to you but you are a fan of superheroes -and don’t mind a darker, grittier superhero story- then I would easily recommend her other book The Power of Mercy.

A copy was given to me to review.

[pipsqueakreviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Queen Agnes.

This is a plot-driven story that brings out the dark side of the prostitution trade but in a way, I think it also romanticizes it. That aside, the book really held my interest. For that, Agnes played a big part in holding the story together. I can see her appeal. She is at the top of her game and dominates the high-end escort empire like a Queen. She's discreet about her private life, detached and unattainable but she's also alluring. And it doesn't hurt that Zedde set the story up brilliantly to bring out Agnes' compassion and warmth. I know of people like her who oozes appeal like that so I can understand why Lola would fall hard for her even if it doesn't make sense for Lola to feel this way about Agnes in particular.

Lola is an investigative reporter out to nail a story about the shady side of the escort empire and bring Agnes down, though she is driven more by personal vendetta. Lola's charm is a harder sell for me. The blurb makes her sound more capable than she really is. In truth, she's incredibly naive. And I don't think it was ever explained why Agnes was so taken in with her in the first instance given that Agnes is no stranger to the seduction game. Nor why Agnes would give Lola so much leeway despite knowing that she has a hidden agenda, even if she didn't know what exactly. But I was so engaged with this story, I just went with it and found myself sold on the idea of Agnes and Lola after a while.

I really like the side characters too, in particular, Agnes' best friend and bodyguard, Whit and Lola's friend, Jamika. And Gretchen, who is a pleasant addition to the story.

I think Zedde delivered a good story. I really like it and I'll be keeping my eye out for this writer's future works.

I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

[Jude Silberfeld-Grimaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you open a book by Fiona Zedde, you know it’s going to be sexy. Even more so if one of the main characters is a respected and feared madam. House of Agnes is definitely sexy but it’s so much more than just a sexy book.

Lola Osbourne is an investigative reporter intent on bringing down the infamous Agnes Noble, who she believes to be responsible for her sister’s death. Agnes rules her exclusive escort agency in what she hopes is the opposite of her late father’s way. From the moment she lays eyes on Lola, Agnes knows she’s hiding something but she also knows she won’t be able to resist her.

I loved everything about this book, even its (negligible) flaws. I loved Agnes’s sense of duty, her love for little Gretchen, her relationship with her otherwise scary best friend Whit. I loved Lola’s determination and her ability to change her mind, and she too has an awesome best friend who deserves her own story (with Whit?). I loved the age gap, the ice queen element, the irresistible attraction. I didn’t care that I didn’t believe how Lola wouldn’t recognize Agnes with a mask (I have this thing with smells and tastes), but if glasses worked for Clark and Kara, who am I to say a whole mask wouldn’t work just as well for Agnes?

I’d categorize House of Agnes as a romantic thriller, both the romance and the thriller being worth reading for. While the romance is strong from the start, the thriller arc builds more slowly, with hints and details rather than big declarations, until it gets breathtaking towards the end.

The atmosphere is fantastic. I have so many words, I don’t want to choose: dark, steamy, gritty, lush, sensual, velvety. All at the same time. And isn’t the cover gorgeous too?

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

“House of Agnes” is an enemies-to-lovers romance with a side of mystery/intrigue that will keep you guessing. Some may call it a mystery/intrigue with a side of romance. I think it’ll depend on the reader for which they like better. I really enjoyed this for the most part. There were some places where I had to suspend my belief for a bit, but otherwise it was an entertaining read.

Lola is an investigative reporter who is trying to take down the madam of a high-end escort service, Agnes. Her sister was killed years ago and she blames Agnes for her death. Agnes rules her empire with an iron fist and the only way for Lola to do what she needs to do is from the inside.

I enjoyed Lola and Agnes together, but the romance wasn’t my favorite part. They had nice chemistry and I liked that they could be themselves (to a point) with each other. Neither one trusts the other for different reasons but they can’t stay away from each other either. They both lie and manipulate to get what they want but at the end of the day, they want each other. Their romance doesn’t get very deep and I wish I could’ve seen them together more when they finally started being honest with each other.

As for the mystery side, this is what kept me reading. There were a couple of different things going on and while I did guess a few of them; there were a few twists that I didn’t see coming and kept my attention until the end. I will admit there were some plot holes and a couple of convenient timing things that made me roll my eyes a little. But I still enjoyed it for what it was.

Like I said, I really enjoyed this. However, I did have my issues. I’ll try to describe them without giving out too many details because I don’t want to spoil it. First of all, I found it hard to believe that Agnes would make some of the decisions she makes. She’s smart, rich, and powerful and she knows there are people trying to take her down. Despite all that, she still walks around the city without her security or puts herself in a position where she is easily accessible to outsiders? Adding to that, I found it extremely unlikely that Lola would be able to have all the access she seemingly has. It was amazing how she was able to get in to places she should’ve never had access to because honestly, she really didn’t seem all that great at her job. Lastly, I don’t know if I’ve ever come across a mask that completely hid the identity of someone I have feelings for…

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

[MZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. An intriguing and sexy read. I have not read any books by Zedde before, but I know she is well versed in writing pretty steamy novels, so I was expecting a sexy book and I was not disappointed. What I did not expect was the intrigue and mystery storyline in this book and mystery is one of my favorite genres, so this was a pleasant surprise.

The setting of this book is a very luxurious escort service, run by madam Agnes, the ruthless queen of House Agnes. Then we have Lola, a reporter who’s determined to bring House Agnes, and especially Agnes herself, down. Lola is driven by her job as an investigative reporter, but she also has personal reasons for revenge. When they meet, there is no doubt about it, both Agnes and Lola do not trust each other one bit, but there is some sizzling physical attraction between them.

The atmosphere that is created is dark and sensual, but I appreciated that the sex industry is not overly romanticized. Obviously, there is romanization with all the beautiful human specimens running around in a crazy rich environment using their seductive powers to get what they want, but the obvious downsides are touched upon as well. The romance between Agnes and Lola was the best part of the book for me. It’s no sweet romance, it’s largely driven by lust and a strong undercurrent of distrust and fear, and I found the constant power play, provoking and teasing each other very intriguing, but at moments you also get a glimpse of their softer sides.

As I mentioned there is also a mystery/intrigue storyline and this is where the story gets shaky. I can’t go into detail without giving spoilers, but when you have read some crime books you immediately recognize that this story is just not very believable. Ow, and I also could not believe the passage where a person is not recognized because they wear a mask (you’ll get what I mean if you read it). Anyway, in the last part of the book the plot unravels quickly. There were some fun twists that I did not see coming, but there were also some clear plot holes and procedural mistakes. Sometimes I can get really annoyed by these kinds of things, but for some reason I was able to overlook them in this book and just go with the flow and have fun.

All in all, I had a good time reading this book. If you don’t mind that it’s not too realistic, I can definitely recommend this dark and seductive read with some interesting twists.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[khi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was definitely an entertaining read.

Lola thinks the House of Agnes, a escort service, had something to do with her sister’s death. Hurt and angered she worms her way in to the House and accidentally the heart of its queen.

Okay so first things first here’s how I felt about the characters- firstly Lola. So I’ve seen some reviews picking apart the fact that she was manipulative or unreasonable maybe unrealistic but that’s the point.

That is the point of her character. I think if people go into books expecting every character to be perfect, flawless and morally correct, then they’re not gonna enjoy many books.

My interpretation of Lola was more along the lines of her being clumsy and clueless but that follows more of a plot hole type critique.

There’s a moment where she follows Agnes to Vegas- god knows why Agnes didn’t suspect anything. Then there’s also the fact that she’s a previously mentioned reporter yet Agnes didn’t manage to pull that up on her search. Then there’s the fact that she couldn’t recognize Agnes or her voice behind a mask. Just very questionable plot details

Now that being said I liked Lola’s character and I think the contrast between hers’ and Agnes provided an undeniably hot chemistry. Not to mention the hotness of the sex scenes.

Agnes is a very powerful woman and I find myself absolutely enjoying the way she’s able to reject Lola’s sex appeal. She holds herself high as kind of an ice queen and from her very first appearance in the book I found myself loving her.

She did however give Lola too many chances for my taste. She’s described to be careful and hardcore yet even when Lola was a stranger she had none of that.

Lola was blatantly suspicious during most of their interactions as the author describe yet apparently not enough for Agnes to be suspicious of her. This felt a bit like lazy writing. Could’ve been fixed if Lola pulled something to gain that sudden trust

I found my self greatly impressed by the way the author was able to create an immediate tension between these two characters with no build up.

I felt like there was potential for a more complex plot. The book did ride the line of being unrealistic for a moment but to be honest it wasn’t bothersome. The plot is in truth more complex that most action movies they make these days. There’s something about the direction of this book that just seemed too easy though. I will admit that there was a plot twist that I enjoyed!

This book as I said was a very entertaining read and I highly recommend it!

I feel as though a disclaimer at the beginning would be very appreciated as this book does also deal with some real life issues that may be triggering for some people such as; discussion of sex trafficking, abuse in prostitution, sex auctioning.

I will admit that initially the thought of reading about such a topic had me worried that the author would cross the line of glamorizing it in sort of a new world attempt of supporting sex workers but I think they did a good job and staying within the societally acceptable fictional line.

4.5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in return for a honest review.

[Gaby LezReviewBooks]

I’m afraid I’m gonna be in the minority here, I loved the erotic parts of the story but I thought that the mystery/crime plot had some issues. Having said that, it might have been just me as this book has overwhelmingly positive reviews. I might go back to it if it’s released on audiobook. 3 stars

[Gabriella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome! While it’s my first book by Fiona Zedde, it certainly won’t be my last.

Agnes Noble (36) is the aloof, powerful head of an escort organization. No one knows anything about her personal life, and she prefers to let her notoriety do the talking. Lola Osbourne (23), an up-and-coming reporter, has deduced that Agnes is responsible for her sister Zoe’s disappearance and death. She’s on a mission for vengeance and is intent on charming her way into Agnes’ close quarters. Lola knows Agnes is despicable, and Agnes is convinced Lola is up to something. So why can’t the two seem to get enough of each other?

The effortless flow of Fiona Zedde’s writing hooked me from the start. The writing is also laugh-out-loud funny at times, injecting humor into an often dark, gritty story. Agnes is the kind of ice queen character that always grabs me: strong and formidable but with an abundance of emotion hidden within. I also loved Lola: her tenacity, her impressive ability to play a woman so unlike herself, and her oftentimes startling vulnerability. Agnes and Lola are an unlikely match due to their differences in age and power, but they’re both such strong, brave women and their chemistry is off the charts! There are also lots of lovable side characters, for example: Lola’s BFF Jamika, a prodigious police officer who sees the flaws in her own industry, and Agnes’s bodyguard Whit, who’s tough, terrifying, and surprisingly glamorous.

The mystery in this book is as important and well-written as the romance. Clues as to what’s going on are dropped throughout the book, but it’s shocking when truths are finally revealed! I’ll admit that I didn’t see any of the twists coming. Also, there’s another twist (unrelated to the mystery) that’s a hugely pleasant surprise!

With a cover like that, you’re probably expecting that this book is sexy, and it certainly is! While I don’t usually get into sex scenes in general, even I can admit that the ones in this book delivered. The scenes are dangerous and fun, and the provocative undercurrent throughout the book will make you wait with bated breath for our MCs to come together in that way.

One minor complaint is that I’m surprised Agnes walks around so often without protection. Throughout the book, it’s obvious that hidden enemies are intent on harming Agnes, so it didn’t feel right that she’d walk around outside with no more of a disguise than a regular person. Agnes is so cautious and calculating most of the time, so this just felt out of character.

Overall, I think this book is supremely well-done and Fiona Zedde has found a new fan in me. I think this book has potential to be a series because of a potential sapphic love connection between two of the side characters! I’d be really happy if we did eventually get that story.

content warnings: alcohol (recreational), death threats, graphic sex, gun violence, homophobia/d-slur, loss of a loved one, manipulation, mentions of childhood sexual grooming, prostitution

I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

House of Agnes by Fiona Zedde has all of the elements I look for in an exceptionally good contemporary romance. This novel is an enemies-to-lovers, age gap romance with a fair dose of mystery and intrigue. The story includes a gorgeous ice queen as a main character with an equally beautiful love interest. Add an exciting plot, a young child, and a few unsavory characters, and we have everything we need for our reading pleasure.

Agnes Noble runs a very exclusive escort agency. She is known as Queen Agnes by her employees as well as the clients who use her agency’s services. She runs the business as any queen would...with ultimate control over what happens. Lola Osbourne is an investigative journalist who is out to infiltrate the House of Agnes to get the information she needs to bring down the business and its owner. She blames the House and Agnes for what happened to her sister. There is a big problem with Lola’s plans though…the almost instant attraction she feels for Agnes.
This is an exciting story filled with intrigue, desire and lust. The mystery and intrigue are well-written and kept my interest though the whole book. The steamy sex scenes are exactly what I expect from a Fiona Zedde novel. While this is a plot driven novel, the characters really made the story for me. Agnes is the perfect ice queen, and Lola makes a great love interest for her. The secondary characters are also well-developed.

I really enjoyed reading this book. If you adore ice queens, steamy love scenes, and romance mixed with exciting mystery and intrigue, then look for this book.

I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.

[Laure · Rating 3 out of 5]

That’s in exchange of an honest review that I received (via NetGalley) an ARC of "House of Agnes" by Fiona Zedde (from Ylva Publishing) …
So, here it is !!!

OK, so, I’m afraid that I’m going to join the minority here …
My rating : 2,5⭐️

The story focuses on investigative reporter Lola Osbourne and Agnes Noble the private, mysterious, and untouchable Head of "House of Agnes". Lola wants to make sure no other innocent gets dragged into Agnes’s alluring web, to be used and discarded the way her sister was. Agnes wants to rule her house differently from the way her family conducted the business until now … Their crossing path is not what one or the other would have thought … The moment their eyes meet, everything’s different for both of them despite what they might think. All is more complicated, dangerous even …

I loved the diversity of the characters … There were also some good & much appreciated (due to the sometimes heavy topics) touches of humor left here and there &, surprisingly (since I’m usually not a fan of erotica – which doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate erotism, BTW), I liked a lot some erotic parts of the story & Agnes but I couldn’t stand Lola (I hated her hatred towards Agnes & her manipulations to trick this woman she thought she knew well whereas she didn’t know a thing about her …the way she acted grated on my nerves more than once and I just wanted to slap her in the face, pretty hard … and I’m not even a violent person). The rest of the book, it definitely felt too complicated and, let’s say it, totally far-fetched.
From my POV, mystery/crime plot had some big issues. For starter, how about a DNA test to confirm from the start a few points about the body found ?? You know, the body which was supposed to be Lola’s sister’s one and which was the keystone of Lola’s investigation and desire for revenge… Seriously, in this age of time, it seems really, really weird that no one thought about that … A lot of other things didn’t work for me all the story long but I won’t list them not to spoil the novel for those who would want to read the book …


I’ll just say one more thing … another disappointment comes from the lack of epilogue … especially after this kind of movemented story, having an epilogue fast forwarding in time and giving more posed news about the MCs is a huge + .. in addition it would have informed us about a real HEA which could be great because, for the time being, the book ends on a potential HFN at best …


If I had to make a very short and quite different version of my review, it’d be something like this :
- Did I enjoy this book? => Not as much as I wanted to
- Did I find the characters believable? => Not really
- Is this book now included in my "must be re-read"-list? => Nope
- Will I purchase the paperback? => Nope
- Would I read another book by this author? => Yes, because I don’t want to stay on this "miss"
- Would I recommend this book => I’ll let people use their free will to read the novel, or not …

[Cammy Chareon · Rating 4 out of 5]

House of Agnes tells the story of Agnes Noble, the powerful queen of a successful escort empire, and Lola Osbourne, a freelance investigative journalist. Lola was dead set on bringing Agnes and her empire down by means of an expose, but the more than she got to knew Agnes, the more she started doubting the things she thought she knew.

I must admit that it took me a while to make some progress with this book. I struggled to get used to the writing, and it felt like the different pieces of the story were scattered all around. However, once I reached around 60%, I couldn't stop reading. I'm so happy that this book didn't go the way I thought it would. It has an interesting premise, and I do believe that the author did her best to weave a good story. The characters were well-written, but I wasn't attached to either of the main characters. I thought that Agnes was fickle especially at the start of the book. I was honestly more amused with Whit and Gretchen.

Though I enjoyed the book overall, a lot of things didn't make sense to me, like how sure Lola was that Agnes was responsible for her sister's death just because of a pen that she found. It didn't feel like a strong enough reason to go after someone and destroy everything they built. I like that they spent some time together, just talking and getting to know each other, but I don't think one night of flirtation and one dinner together was enough for them to fall in love. After all, they barely knew each other, much less trusted one another. The "falling in love" feels like it came out of nowhere and had no solid basis. I was also left confused as to why Agnes agreed to hire Lola after she found the latter stalking her. The main mystery in the book was something I enjoyed, but it felt like it was quickly wrapped up, with a lot of things left unexplained.

The attraction and the chemistry they had together were very palpable, so I really think this book has a lot of potential. I enjoyed reading the book, especially towards the end. I wish there was an epilogue. I'd give this 3.8 stars. :)

An ARC was given by Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

[Clara Addicted to sapphic books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The romance side of the story was well-written, even if I didn't really buy it. I don't really understand how the feelings developed between these two. From day one, Agnes should have run far from Lola, but she couldn't help herself. She had so much to lose. What made it appealing was the game of cat and mouse, with both women using each other, but in the end, their brains lost. The side characters were interesting, and I really liked Whit and Jamika. Lust is a huge part of the relationship; it was just really hot and dangerous for both of them. The investigation side of the story kept me hooked, with an almost unexpected plot twist. I love when books make me paranoid and suspect everyone.
Overall, a well-balanced book with good narration.
P.S. Agnes is called old (she is put in the same bag as rich old people) at 36?!!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know those books that you keep seeing everywhere and see people talk about? For me this was one of them and I just had read it for myself. I’ve never read anything by Zedde before so it’s all new to me. I had such a hard time getting into this book, at some point I thought I was reading a sequel. I did some researchers and nowhere is it indicated that this is a sequel. So it’s just me, that’s fine too.

So why was it hard for me to get into? I think because of the writing style and I feel like we get dropped in the middle of a story. Agnes runs a high end escort service and her assets, aka employees, adore her and offer themselves to her on the regular. She never takes them up on their offers. Agnes is known as Nessa to a 5 year-old girl who she is raising together with her best friend, and head of security, Whit. How this all came about we only learn very late in the book, this humanises Agnes, makes her softer, and I understand why the author chose to do it this way. I can understand something but still not like it, as is the case here. There is already so much “mystery” that at least some parts could have been revealed sooner. I expected some of it, but it’s better to have the author take you on the journey. Lola is gunning for Agnes and her house, she wants to bring them down and reveal Agnes for the monster Lola believes her to be. Agnes reads Lola so incredibly well, but still steps into her “traps”, it’s slightly confusing. Lola is a bit of a hot mess and I had such a hard time following her thought process. I think this was intended by the author as well, she needs to seem confused and conflicted, the best way to do that is to have the reader experience the same. I appreciate the author not having this book revolve around sex alone, which could have easily been done when one of the mains is a madam. There is much more emotion in this book than I expected from the blurb and from the first at least third of the book.

There is so much push and pull and intentional vagueness in this book I actually put it down to process my thoughts on it. Do I like it and do I want to keep reading we’re my main questions. After some wake hours and asleep hours figuring this out I ended up finishing the book and coming to the conclusion that I actually liked it. Would I prefer things to be written differently? Sure, but it is actually a nice change of pace from your standard lesfic. There are some formulaic things that do happen, big big drama at 80% or even later, and some other things that you will recognise as part of the formula. Aside from the big drama happening too late (and maybe have too many things going on in that) the formula worked for this book. Maybe because it starts out so weirdly and is just covered in vagueness.

So yes I did end up enjoying this, I wouldn’t have believed you if you told me that yesterday when I started reading the book, but this will not become one of my favourites anytime soon. This is such a hard 3.5 stars, I don’t know wether to give it 3, which seems too low, or 4, which seems to high…


*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*

[lauraღ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I really liked the first book I read by this author earlier this year, but sadly, this one just didn't land as well as that one did for me. I thought I'd have a pretty good chance of loving this; black women, age gap, intrigue and suspense within a world of high-end escorts and investigative journalism. And I did like a few things about it; the setup, some of the issues discussed, the steaminess. But the concept ended up being way better than the execution.

I guess the most disappointing thing was that I was never completely sold on the characters. I LIKED them a lot for sure, and I liked what they were supposed to be, but I was never convinced of Agnes as a hyper-competent, savvy ice-queen of a business woman, or of Lola as a plucky investigative reporter. They both constantly made decisions that I just couldn't reconcile with their motivations and the personalities that the author tried to sell us on. The insta-lust was a little disappointing; even in a book like this, I'd have liked to have seen that get drawn out a bit more. They did had really good chemistry; it's something that Zedde excels at writing. And I did find their romance sweet, if not amazingly-rendered. The writing isn't bad, but it never wowed me, and there were a few repetitive things that were annoying. The overarching plot was serviceable, but shaky. I just kept waiting to fall in love, and while there's nothing about this book that I dislike, it simply didn't click for me.

I will say, I had thought that I had figured out everything about the plot/trajectory pretty early on, and while I did see a few things coming, there were some things that I did NOT, and that made the later act a bit more exciting and enjoyable. But otherwise... I don't know. Mileages will definitely vary, and I'd recommend you check this out if you're in the mood for sapphic romance with a taste of intrigue and suspense. It just wasn't really for me. I'll still happily look out for other works by this author.

Content warnings: discussion/mentions of rape, forced prostitution, domestic abuse, child abuse, drug use.

☆ Review copy provided via NetGalley.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous story summed up perfectly by the first line of the blurb - A lesbian romance filled with intrigue and sizzling sexual tension as enemies discover that the other side of hatred…is desire.

Gretchen was a highlight of the story for me. Cold as Agnes could be, I got her. Boy did I get her. I could feel the walls she built around herself...until Lola came along.

Lola I wasn't so fond of. I hoped I'd warm to her, but I never really did. I also had trouble buying into the "I'm in love with you" part of the story, but that didn't stop me from loving the hell out of it.

I've read a number of books by Fiona Zedde, and this is my favourite to date.

ARC generously provided by the publisher.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an engrossing story. Parts are not too realistic, but it is gritty in places and tender in others. Agnes runs a brothel/escort agency. She’s a tough woman, running her illegal business in a dog-eat-dog world. Since she’s a powerful figure in her world, she has enemies as well as loyal employees and friends. There are also plenty of people willing to take her down. Agnes doesn’t trust Lola for good reason.

Enter the much younger Lola, an investigative reporter, who has her own reasons for taking Agnes down, beyond the headlines. Lola works off an assumption she’s made about Agnes. She is kind of naïve, thinking she can easily bring down Agnes, although she was realistic enough to realize she’d have to do some unpleasant things to do so.

This novel was cat and mouse the whole time. They change roles at times, although since Agnes is older and used to dealing with different foes, she’s usually the cat chasing Lola and trying to figure out her game or catch her in some scheme. All the pieces and clues start coming together in the last third or so of the book. While this is a romance, it also has the feel of a mystery story.

These two women are insanely attracted to each other, even though they each know something is off about the other. Things pick up quickly at the end, although there are some loose ends and clues scattered throughout the novel that the characters do consider, while fighting their attraction to each other. The climax is almost nonstop with many revelations all coming at once. Then the pace slows again while Zedde takes us to the conclusion, and we all can catch our breath, including Agnes and Lola.

[Bárbara Sousa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved every second of this story! So good, I actually did not expect to enjoy this so much, but I did. Agnes is such an interesting character and Lola, even though anyone at times, grew on me and I was rooting for them to have their happy ending!
The plot twist about who was behind all the trouble, had me shook. I did not see that coming xD I quite enjoyed being surprised like this hehe
Overall, it was great! I just wish the author could have written an epilogue so the ending wouldn’t feel as rushed.

[atlas ♡]

DNF @ 40%

This was mainly a me problem. I can objectively see how this is a good enough novel so far, it just wasn't for me. I also noticed how romanticized prostitution is in this book? I don't know, just couldn't find myself enjoying this.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ylva Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Sterling Sapphic Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Fiona Zedde book and WOW what a sultry read. And if one of the main characters is a powerful madam, could it get more tantalizing? While House of Agnes is an undeniably sexy read, there's so much more to it. Inside the pages, Zedde's skillful narrative keeps you on the edge of your seat. The romance is electric and fraught with tension, pulling you into the whirlwind of emotions experienced by Agnes and Lola. Each twist and turn of their story was well crafted, keeping you glued to the pages (or in my case my earbuds)

Zedde has a talent for creating multi-dimensional characters that add depth to the narrative, pulling the reader deeply invested in their journeys. The blend of suspense and romance is well-balanced in this book.

Having experienced this first round of Zedde’s storytelling, I am excited to read more of her work. Her ability to create such an engaging and suspenseful romance is fantastic. This novel is a must-read for anyone who loves a good romance with a thrilling twist.

Mari did an excellent performance on this audiobook. Her ability to bring these characters to life and immerse you into their world was superb. 10/10 recommend the audiobook!

[Della B · Rating 4 out of 5]

House of Agnes is a scintillating enemies to lovers romance filled with twists, turns and intrigue. Fiona Zedde has written the next big thing in Lesbian romance.

Lola Osbourne’s sister Zoe has been missing for a few years. The police believe they have found her body. In Lola’s search to find out what happened she discovers Zoe was working as a high class escort for Agnes Noble at the House of Agnes. Rumour has it that Agnes is someone you do not want to cross. She rules her House with an iron fist, corrupting young girls into the escort world then discarding them when done. Lola wants to bring Agnes’ world crashing down and to save any future girls from following in Zoe’s footsteps.

You would assume a romance involving escorts would have sex dripping from its pages. This is where Ms Zedde shows ownership of her craft. She incorporates sex into the story as a strong undercurrent, always there below the surface, never over using it. But the moments she allows it to surface you appreciate fully the teasing and tension was well worth it.

The storyline is imaginative and keeps you guessing on what will happen next. The ending is very unexpected and unpredictable. It is an exciting ride which makes this novel a must read.

[emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think this is my first book by this author, and overall i enjoyed it. i did find the end a little too abrupt, and wish there had been maybe one or two more scenes to round everything out.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

First read by the author and I must admit it was a pretty good read. I loved the setting… sexy, sensual, mysterious, and dark (good v evil). Who wouldn’t root for a good character even if they ply their trade on the wrong side of the law? Well, that’s where Lola ended up after her many encounters with the alluring Agnes.

Loved the cover 😊 Enjoyable read. 4 ⭐️

Available in Scribd

[Carol Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic story!

Agnes runs an exclusive escort agency and crossing her is not a good idea but Lola, an investigative reporter heads out to infiltrate Agnes’ house and find out all she can about her based on what she has been lead to believe Agnes did to her sister. When Lola meets Agnes, all her plans go out the window as she is instantly swept up in the mystery, power, and wonder that surrounds Agnes, which leads Lola down a dangerous path of keeping her heart safe and trying to find out the truth.

Well this was just fabulous, even if it had a dark theme that wasn’t overpowering or dominating to the story. Fiona Zedde cleverly took a topic that can be quite taboo, and although not painting it in glamour, used it to highlight how there are sides to every story that you don’t know and should never assume. Plus, it has the most gorgeous cover that I just totally fell in love with as soon as I saw it and I knew it had a good story to tell!

Agnes is an absolute diamond. She isn’t vilified per se but her power and dominance as the ‘Queen’ of this house is established. So with Lola, as the reader you are on a journey to reveal the true power and character of Agnes. In a way you could call the story and epic mystery and it had me going through so much, from wondering what was going to be the overall outcome, to whether Agnes was a genuine person, to whether Lola was going to uncover something none of us wanted to find out.

There was a lot of uncertainty and although I wanted to believe Agnes wasn’t all bad, I had doubts because Fiona very cleverly constructed a story that will keep you questioning and guessing with every turn of the page. The thrill and excitement this story provided way outweighed the moments of dread I had when things got intense but nothing was taken away from me being able to immerse myself in the story and join Lola in her quest for the truth about what had happened to her Sister.

I highly recommend this story as although a thrilling read, it was wonderful, dipped in splendour, and sparkled at a hint of glamour in a world many of us have little experience of which made it a very sexy read. Just the perfect story to get swept away in and it really is one that you have to read for yourself to have an experience.

[Jane Clements · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a couple of chapters to get into this story, but after that I was hooked. Zedde is a great writing talent and I’ve really enjoyed her other works. Her superhero, Mercy, is one of the best characters in Ylva’s impressive lineup of superhero novels.

Zedde isn’t always an easy author to read. Her books are not all sunshine and light, but I find that only adds to the quality of her work.

I was ambivalent about the lead characters in House of Agnes at first, and wasn’t sure if I liked them. I find the concept of prostitution (even a euphemistically termed ‘escort service’) troubling. I try not to be judgmental, but I’m not always successful. Zedde expertly leads the reader through the story, however. She paints a picture of the industry – and of her protagonists – that shows the good, the bad and the ugly. Fortunately, the protagonists mostly fall on the side of good so it makes it easier to care about them and what happens to them. The book certainly doesn’t romanticise prostitution in the way of Pretty Woman for example, but it does fall prey a little to the old trope of the madam with a heart of gold. Not nearly as egregiously as several other instances I can think of, but the romance part of the story wouldn’t work without it.

House of Agnes is part romance, part thriller and part social commentary. It succeeds in all areas and makes for a compelling read. The secondary characters, particularly Lola’s roommate Jamika and Agnes’s bodyguard Whit, are fully fleshed three-dimensional people and their inclusion provides a more rounded sense of the world in which the novel is set.

Zedde sets up the thriller part of the story expertly and I felt myself rushing to get to the conclusion, wanting to see how the story would end. The denouement is satisfying and suitably true to its preceding events.

Zedde has written another winner, and I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a little more depth to romantic storytelling. Like Zedde’s other works, it’s not always an easy read, but it is a satisfying one.

Note: I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[currentlyreadingbynat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, I'll start with the mystery side to this novel. For me, this was the driving force of the novel and a big factor to why I enjoyed it. It took me a little bit of time to get into the story but once I was invested in this mystery storyline, I was hooked. I love trying to guess what happens next in a novel, but with this one there were a few aspects that I did not see coming.

In regard to characters and chemistry, I felt it initially and then it fizzled out a little for me. I really liked Agnes as a character, especially the way she compartmentalises herself and her actions. She's cold but there is also a lot of passion and loyalty to her, making her a very intriguing character that I enjoyed getting to know. Lola, on the other hand, was hard to like in this novel, as a lot of her actions came from dishonesty and vindictiveness. It didn't sit right for me to enjoy the relationship between Lola and Agnes. In saying that though, I liked the strong femme/femme energy in this, as well as the POC and body positivity featured as well.

All in all, a great read featuring intriguing characters and an engaging mystery.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Ylva Publishing for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Em Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really entertaining story, great chemistry between the two MC and I liked the supporting characters too. This story is a page turner with twists and turns you didn’t see coming. Zedde can write them hot and she didn’t disappoint.

[Keira S · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up!

I'll start with what I liked/admired:

- STRONG FEMALE MAIN LEADS! Yes! I love reading books like that. It's so inspirational to me. I suppose that's when I am motivated to pick up a dumbbell and try to get some gains like Whit or Jamika! If not, I could just work on my scowls, I suppose that would do too!

- Ms. Zedde's writing style. It was... poetry and prose and every beautiful thing that one can think of when describing superb imagery and style. Do you want an example?! Don't worry, I got it covered.

Sudden anxiety fizzed in her chest, like an untimely burp waiting to burst free.

What? I read that (of course there were a lot of examples throughout the book but this stood out more.) and was like, y'know. She's so damn right. It's obvious yet creates a beautiful picture to capture me into Lola's world and experiencing the thundering of her heart.

- Not abusing sex. It's refreshing. I know the story's setting does stir every conversation in that direction, but I loved how the author was able to create a balance.

- Gretchen. I don't have to say anything more. That little girl was adorable.

- I admired the author for using her book as a medium to get the message of BLM across.

Like everyone else in America, Lola saw the videos of cops killing unarmed Black people and other ethnic folks in the streets, in their cars, in police stations, on social media, and she hated the system that allowed things like that to happen almost every day with no consequences for the killers.

- Finally, the cover. It's beautiful.

What could've been better?

- The chemistry between Lola and Agnes. Agnes was suspicious of Lola throughout but their "relationship" confused me.

- The end. Too fast-paced and the author made it seem like she was tying all the loose ends together. Where the FUCK was Agnes's security team??????? They dropped Lola in the basement and then they all just disappeared? Why did Zoe make it seem like she was dead for Lola? The ending sort of ruined it for me. I wish it was better.

Thank you, NetGalley and the Publisher for the complimentary ARC. All thoughts are of my own.

Blog post: https://periwinklepens.wordpress.com/...

[MiskaCZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ARC copy was given to me by YLVA for a honest review.

This book is really amazing and have the right parts of romance and crime. I really love the story, because you need the whole story to understand the characters. This story shows us, that not everything is black and white. The author painted realistic picture for me of the backround of the world of escort services.

The story about Lola (a journalist), who wants to know, why her sister was found death and wants justice for her is in strong contrast to the story of Agnes (chief of escort service). The parts of romance and crime work just perfect for me and I couldn´t stop reading.

[Kaila · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars

I hate that I can’t join the majority in loving this book. It started out pretty intriguing, the idea was captivating and some of the chemistry was great, but overall I just didn’t love this book. The characters didn’t jump off the page for me, I felt that neither of them were fully fleshed out or well rounded. I had such a little grasp on who they were as characters, let alone any of our side characters, who for me were pretty much completely forgettable. I also just wasn’t sold by the plot. I didn’t find the mystery to be interesting, it got pretty convoluted towards the end and there were some pretty glaring plot holes.

In saying this, I don’t want this review to be a complete hate train. I enjoyed Fiona Zedde’s writing, it was very easy to get into and I wasn’t lying when I say that the chemistry was great at points. The sex scenes were dynamic and full of steamy chemistry, and I’m not embarrassed to say they might have been one of my favourite parts of the book. The changing power dynamics, the conflicting feelings of the characters and really all that I wanted the book to be was found in snippets during those scenes. I think I would definitely give her writing another try

[Gabriella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why did I read this in 2024!!!!! Better yet, how was this WRITTEN in 2021?!? I am soooo confused. According to Goodreads, House of Agnes was written by Fiona Zedde, the author of my favorite romance novel from 2024, Just Like Her. But according to my eyes, I just don’t want to believe this to be true. House of Agnes is just soooo disappointing and unnecessarily regressive, especially from an author who I *know* can write thoughtful characters with interiority that MAKES ACTUAL SENSE.

I am certain anyone with coherent politics on sex work would find even the summary of this book incredibly objectionable. I am not super well-informed on the topic, and still was rolling my eyes at the whole "this pimp for good saves the poor girls from the other bad pimps" angle. Like the problem is ANYONE taking profits for anyone else's sexual labor, right?!? However, I am an unserious person, and thus was willing to read what I figured would be a silly take on such a topic. Lo and behold, this book was even more unserious than I feared—Agnes could have literally been an NFL agent for all the difference it really made. With that in mind, the queasy moral choices made in this characterization became even more unnecessary.

The unserious nature of this book continues with the rest of the plot. There are missing threads all over the place, to the point where I started thinking I had somehow skipped a few chapters (my friend and buddy reader confirmed that I HAD NOT.) Other areas were just too fan-servicey—l-like this is a book, not your masturbation fantasy COME ON. Have some standards and ask yourself if this actually works on the page and not just in your mind! It's like Fiona Zedde had the ambitions of a crime noir writer and the commitment of a fanfic writer. It just didn't give what she thought it did in the slightest, and I feel like I KNOW she can do better. :(

In closing, I would not recommend this to anyone except those who have very little standards, like myself! Even with the sloppy execution of the action scenes and general plot, Fiona Zedde always has near PERFECT execution of the sex scenes, so maybe just skip through to those? IDK. Better luck next time!!!