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Lights Out: A W/W Romance
Some secrets only come out at night...
A love story between two unforgettable women
Kayla is on a mission. She's dragged herself back from disgrace and been hired by the best brothel in London. She dreams of founding her own high-class, body-positive, inclusive brothel where her clients can find their true selves. Any hint of an indiscretion will see her madam kick her right back on to the streets.
But when she arrives at her last-chance job and meets the stunning Sally, everything changes.
The attraction between them is instant and sizzling. But office romances are always dangerous, especially when you live and work side-by-side and work is almost as hot as play. Tiptoeing to each other after lights out is dizzying and delicious, though Sally could destroy Kayla's dream, her future and her heart with a single word.
When the remains of Kayla's family come to her desperate for help, suddenly losing her job isn't just about giving up on her own dream. For the first time, Kayla has a family who needs her. But can she turn her back on the deepest passion she's ever known?
Lights Out is the story of what happens when sex, love and power meet, after dark.
This is a love story of two bi women. Read on if that's your thing!
Content mental illness themes, references to self-harming behaviours and suicide ideation/attempts off-page
A love story between two unforgettable women
Kayla is on a mission. She's dragged herself back from disgrace and been hired by the best brothel in London. She dreams of founding her own high-class, body-positive, inclusive brothel where her clients can find their true selves. Any hint of an indiscretion will see her madam kick her right back on to the streets.
But when she arrives at her last-chance job and meets the stunning Sally, everything changes.
The attraction between them is instant and sizzling. But office romances are always dangerous, especially when you live and work side-by-side and work is almost as hot as play. Tiptoeing to each other after lights out is dizzying and delicious, though Sally could destroy Kayla's dream, her future and her heart with a single word.
When the remains of Kayla's family come to her desperate for help, suddenly losing her job isn't just about giving up on her own dream. For the first time, Kayla has a family who needs her. But can she turn her back on the deepest passion she's ever known?
Lights Out is the story of what happens when sex, love and power meet, after dark.
This is a love story of two bi women. Read on if that's your thing!
Content mental illness themes, references to self-harming behaviours and suicide ideation/attempts off-page
217 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 21, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 25, 2022
[free on KU] - 4.25
"True sex is more subtle than any of that-it’s about a creeping hemline, a particular note played on the right instrument, the way a shadow moves."
"I stored the feeling of her warmth, her curves, for metaphorical winter, still trying to mentally bookmark and enshrine every detail of her."
We follow Kayla, a bisexual sex worker, who has moved into a new house (brothel), Madeleine, after having to leave the last one under reasons she hopes to never repeat. From day one, she finds herself enamoured with a colleague named Sally. A feeling she wishes to ignore desperately, especially when brothels usually impose a rule of no dallying with co-workers. And if she ever acted on it, her income would be threatened, pausing her reach towards her main life goal.
Apart from what the title suggested, I didn't know what to expect exactly. But I came away with so much more. Amy Temple is a skilled writer. The fact this is Amy's first fiction novel is all the more surprising. The story has depth, a rounded plot, has stakes, and character motivation, which are more than I usually can say for the books I've been reading. Yes, there's sexual undertones in the first half, but it's not out of the blue. After all, the characters do work in the sex industry and live in close proximity. The characters are sexually liberated and secure in their power, which are refreshing to read. Work is work. The attraction between Kayla and Sally were deliciously written, but what I enjoyed more was Kayla's growing emotional intensity in what she feels for Sally.
"My heart was all feeling, just like Sally said. I was no thoughts, no ideas, no sensations. The cold was gone. I was just heartbeats crying out for Sally, skin singing her name."
What's funny is that this book has less sex scenes than I'd expected, less than contemporary romance books even. The sex scenes weren't overbearing or felt like it ran its course far too long than it needed to. Those scenes were meaningful in terms of progressing Kayla's feelings for Sally and their relationship, and revealing a part of herself she never knew existed. The whole brothel business is matter-of-fact, never once sensationalised for shock value. The story doesn't focus on it much as it's more about the growing relationship with Sally and Kayla's family health issues. There's no unnecessary jealousy, no cheating, no contrived angst. There is angst, but it stems from Kayla's yearning for Sally. A justifiable conflict with actual stakes. I do appreciate how bisexuality for Kayla is portrayed in here.
I enjoyed reading Kayla's dynamics with other characters; Jack and her family. I liked learning about them. Jack in particular was an interesting character. A client yet a supportive friend. Their relationship was sexual and platonic at the same time. Kayla's involvement with her family revealed a part of her character I appreciated, especially her love for her niece. I liked reading Kayla's perspective and found myself rooting for her and her relationship with Sally, whom I also like. Sally wasn't written to be perfect. Kayla called her out on the mind games. In second half of the book, Kayla found herself not really knowing who Sally was, but when she did, they grew closer. There's a level of maturity in Temple's writing of the characters, which I appreciate. Though I wasn't quite sure what to make of Sally intuiting Kayla being a sub and Kayla rejecting the notion. But I do like how Sally assured her that it was Kayla's choice. When the point of conflict reached the ceiling, it made sense.
Overall, this was a surprising well written read. I hope Amy Temple writes more.
cw: mental illness themes, references to self-harming behaviours and suicide ideation
"True sex is more subtle than any of that-it’s about a creeping hemline, a particular note played on the right instrument, the way a shadow moves."
"I stored the feeling of her warmth, her curves, for metaphorical winter, still trying to mentally bookmark and enshrine every detail of her."
We follow Kayla, a bisexual sex worker, who has moved into a new house (brothel), Madeleine, after having to leave the last one under reasons she hopes to never repeat. From day one, she finds herself enamoured with a colleague named Sally. A feeling she wishes to ignore desperately, especially when brothels usually impose a rule of no dallying with co-workers. And if she ever acted on it, her income would be threatened, pausing her reach towards her main life goal.
Apart from what the title suggested, I didn't know what to expect exactly. But I came away with so much more. Amy Temple is a skilled writer. The fact this is Amy's first fiction novel is all the more surprising. The story has depth, a rounded plot, has stakes, and character motivation, which are more than I usually can say for the books I've been reading. Yes, there's sexual undertones in the first half, but it's not out of the blue. After all, the characters do work in the sex industry and live in close proximity. The characters are sexually liberated and secure in their power, which are refreshing to read. Work is work. The attraction between Kayla and Sally were deliciously written, but what I enjoyed more was Kayla's growing emotional intensity in what she feels for Sally.
"My heart was all feeling, just like Sally said. I was no thoughts, no ideas, no sensations. The cold was gone. I was just heartbeats crying out for Sally, skin singing her name."
What's funny is that this book has less sex scenes than I'd expected, less than contemporary romance books even. The sex scenes weren't overbearing or felt like it ran its course far too long than it needed to. Those scenes were meaningful in terms of progressing Kayla's feelings for Sally and their relationship, and revealing a part of herself she never knew existed. The whole brothel business is matter-of-fact, never once sensationalised for shock value. The story doesn't focus on it much as it's more about the growing relationship with Sally and Kayla's family health issues. There's no unnecessary jealousy, no cheating, no contrived angst. There is angst, but it stems from Kayla's yearning for Sally. A justifiable conflict with actual stakes. I do appreciate how bisexuality for Kayla is portrayed in here.
I enjoyed reading Kayla's dynamics with other characters; Jack and her family. I liked learning about them. Jack in particular was an interesting character. A client yet a supportive friend. Their relationship was sexual and platonic at the same time. Kayla's involvement with her family revealed a part of her character I appreciated, especially her love for her niece. I liked reading Kayla's perspective and found myself rooting for her and her relationship with Sally, whom I also like. Sally wasn't written to be perfect. Kayla called her out on the mind games. In second half of the book, Kayla found herself not really knowing who Sally was, but when she did, they grew closer. There's a level of maturity in Temple's writing of the characters, which I appreciate. Though I wasn't quite sure what to make of Sally intuiting Kayla being a sub and Kayla rejecting the notion. But I do like how Sally assured her that it was Kayla's choice. When the point of conflict reached the ceiling, it made sense.
Overall, this was a surprising well written read. I hope Amy Temple writes more.
cw: mental illness themes, references to self-harming behaviours and suicide ideation
March 15, 2022
wow
An incredibly steamy and surprising read. I love how both characters blossomed to this wonderfully romantic relationship. Storyline with depth, sensitivity and courage.
An incredibly steamy and surprising read. I love how both characters blossomed to this wonderfully romantic relationship. Storyline with depth, sensitivity and courage.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews