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Learning to Love
Love Me Dirty
Bartender
He was many things. A barkeep, a friend, an artist, a lover. But one thing he was not, was monogamous.
He didn’t date. Didn’t believe in tying himself down to only one person to touch and taste for the rest of his life.
But then she walks up to his bar. With pink hair, thick curves, and a sarcastic humor that keeps him on his toes, she sparks something in him.
Making him question…EVERYTHING.
Lacey
He's the definition of a man she should run from. Dark hair, tattoos, and a smile that instantly has her squeezing her thighs together.
After just leaving a failed relationship, she's not looking to jump into another. But when he invites her home and offers her a deal, she can't help but accept.
Then he gives her a safeword and opens her eyes, and she knows she's in trouble.
Because by the end of the night, she fears she'll want…EVERYTHING.
**Author's Note: If you're looking for a sweet romance with a detailed plot, this isn't it. This is a character-driven, short read with steamy adult content involving specific kinks. See author's website for more details.
He was many things. A barkeep, a friend, an artist, a lover. But one thing he was not, was monogamous.
He didn’t date. Didn’t believe in tying himself down to only one person to touch and taste for the rest of his life.
But then she walks up to his bar. With pink hair, thick curves, and a sarcastic humor that keeps him on his toes, she sparks something in him.
Making him question…EVERYTHING.
Lacey
He's the definition of a man she should run from. Dark hair, tattoos, and a smile that instantly has her squeezing her thighs together.
After just leaving a failed relationship, she's not looking to jump into another. But when he invites her home and offers her a deal, she can't help but accept.
Then he gives her a safeword and opens her eyes, and she knows she's in trouble.
Because by the end of the night, she fears she'll want…EVERYTHING.
**Author's Note: If you're looking for a sweet romance with a detailed plot, this isn't it. This is a character-driven, short read with steamy adult content involving specific kinks. See author's website for more details.
98 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2022
119 people are currently reading
2702 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
May 20, 2022
4 Take a Seat and Fucking Ride Me Stars ⭐
A humiliated and heartbroken girl walks into a bar. The intent is to drown her sorrows, but if the hot barman wants to play wingman, well why the heck not? Lacey may be prickly and whole lot on the defensive; yet Bart is more than comfortable soothing her ruffled feathers. With a whole lot of attraction and sexual chemistry, these two see no reasons not to pursue a one off.
“Here’s to daddy issues and men with shortcomings and short comings.”
I imagine my rating is on the generous side of the spectrum, however it’s not often I come across an erotic story on the edgier side of kink that is tastefully executed. From the beautiful cover, an actual storyline in a very limited number of pages and the respect displayed by the hero even when his girl is on her knees being called a whore. Push the boundaries, I say baby!
“Stop holding back, Lacey,” I said, pulling out and shoving in to the hilt, again and again. “If the neighbors can’t hear you, you’re not fucking loud enough.”
As the events of the entire story unfolded over one night, hopefully we will get more of Bart and Lacey in a follow-up novella. Realistically a mini epilogue was what this story really needed, and I imagine many readers will feel the same. Yet if you’re looking for a filthy hook-up read, Love Me Dirty was perfect!
A humiliated and heartbroken girl walks into a bar. The intent is to drown her sorrows, but if the hot barman wants to play wingman, well why the heck not? Lacey may be prickly and whole lot on the defensive; yet Bart is more than comfortable soothing her ruffled feathers. With a whole lot of attraction and sexual chemistry, these two see no reasons not to pursue a one off.
“Here’s to daddy issues and men with shortcomings and short comings.”
I imagine my rating is on the generous side of the spectrum, however it’s not often I come across an erotic story on the edgier side of kink that is tastefully executed. From the beautiful cover, an actual storyline in a very limited number of pages and the respect displayed by the hero even when his girl is on her knees being called a whore. Push the boundaries, I say baby!
“Stop holding back, Lacey,” I said, pulling out and shoving in to the hilt, again and again. “If the neighbors can’t hear you, you’re not fucking loud enough.”
As the events of the entire story unfolded over one night, hopefully we will get more of Bart and Lacey in a follow-up novella. Realistically a mini epilogue was what this story really needed, and I imagine many readers will feel the same. Yet if you’re looking for a filthy hook-up read, Love Me Dirty was perfect!
May 24, 2022
3.5 STARS
The Bartender (I'll refer to him so, as we learn his name only in the last sentence...) was delightfully dirty and simultaneously respectful if it makes any sense. I really enjoyed this short story, one thing I missed, was an epilogue, or just one more chapter. Otherwise a pleasant distraction.
I didn’t know this man, hell, we hadn’t even swapped names, and he wanted me to beg? I’d never begged a man for anything in my life, and that included Derek. Yet here my one-night stand stood, expecting me to do it for his cock? Just like that? “Yes, Lacey. Just…like…that,”
The Bartender (I'll refer to him so, as we learn his name only in the last sentence...) was delightfully dirty and simultaneously respectful if it makes any sense. I really enjoyed this short story, one thing I missed, was an epilogue, or just one more chapter. Otherwise a pleasant distraction.
He wasn’t looking at me with a single hint of arrogance or condemnation. Pupils blown out, brows lowered, and lips parted, he looked at me like an addict awaiting their fix. Like I was both his damnation and salvation all at once. As if, even though he was ordering me to my knees, he was more than willing to crawl on his own for me if I asked. I fucking loved it. I craved his claim almost as much as I craved his touch.
August 17, 2022
This was fast and filthy, just like Nate!
February 13, 2023
3.5 stars
I loved Nate’s character in Meet Me Halfway, so seeing the bartender get his own freaky novella had me immediately downloading. And I wasn’t disappointed!
Nate has a smutty good time with Marissa, who comes into the bar to drink her sorrows away after breaking up with her boyfriend. They click immediately, and agree to one night together. In typical instalust fashion, they both feel more for each other than lust and want to keep it going.
These two were nasty, so don’t expect much else from this novella😂.
TROPES: novella; one night stand; instalust; consensual degradation; spit play; anal play
I loved Nate’s character in Meet Me Halfway, so seeing the bartender get his own freaky novella had me immediately downloading. And I wasn’t disappointed!
Nate has a smutty good time with Marissa, who comes into the bar to drink her sorrows away after breaking up with her boyfriend. They click immediately, and agree to one night together. In typical instalust fashion, they both feel more for each other than lust and want to keep it going.
These two were nasty, so don’t expect much else from this novella😂.
TROPES: novella; one night stand; instalust; consensual degradation; spit play; anal play
July 17, 2025
you should've just labeled it as zero-chemistry-insta-lust-crazy-sex-no-plot novella
January 5, 2023
no plot no vibes just spice
I knew what I was getting into when I started this and knew it probably wouldn’t be for me but I still wanted to read it because its part of the series but yeah, I didn’t love this. Like the author says in the beginning its just insta-attraction and two people having a bad day so they decide to find pleasure together, no strings attached. 50% of it is just smut and no plot which just isn’t for me but the spice was really good, and like I said I knew it would be spicy going into it. Anyway I like the writing and the internal monologues felt natural and I like the banter between the characters is good
I knew what I was getting into when I started this and knew it probably wouldn’t be for me but I still wanted to read it because its part of the series but yeah, I didn’t love this. Like the author says in the beginning its just insta-attraction and two people having a bad day so they decide to find pleasure together, no strings attached. 50% of it is just smut and no plot which just isn’t for me but the spice was really good, and like I said I knew it would be spicy going into it. Anyway I like the writing and the internal monologues felt natural and I like the banter between the characters is good
August 19, 2022
Wowza! Talk about a hot lil novella! Not much else to say to this cuz it was absolute perfection.
April 23, 2024
2.5.
Funny and spicy, that was it. I was expecting a little bit more but it was enjoyable - fast and instant.
Funny and spicy, that was it. I was expecting a little bit more but it was enjoyable - fast and instant.
May 10, 2022
As the title suggests, the “love” in this novella is dirty!
•Insta-lust
•LGBTQ+ friendly (one character is Pansexual)
•Rebound hook-up
•consensual degradation
I was generously given an arc of this novella by the author in exchange for an honest review.
A Bartender in a pissy mood but seeking human connection.
A Woman fresh out of a mediocre relationship because her boyfriend couldn’t handle her job just looking to drown her sorrows.
Instant intense attraction between the two.
A night neither will ever forget.
As the author notes, this is a hot and dirty hookup, not a detailed plot driven story. It’s two people having a bad day who are attracted to each other and they mutually decide to find pleasure together. No strings attached.
The writing is good. I love the internal dialogue of the characters. It feel so real, like any person would talk to themselves. The banter between the two characters is good. For being such a short novella, I still feel like she did an excellent job of displaying who the characters are.
At least 50% of this novella is straight smut and that’s exactly what it was supposed to be. The dirty talk is 🥵. This is not a book for people who like mushy, vanilla smut. It’s messy and intense. And through the experience, the FMC takes back power over her own narrative.
Check the author’s note for full list of content warning.
•Insta-lust
•LGBTQ+ friendly (one character is Pansexual)
•Rebound hook-up
•consensual degradation
I was generously given an arc of this novella by the author in exchange for an honest review.
A Bartender in a pissy mood but seeking human connection.
A Woman fresh out of a mediocre relationship because her boyfriend couldn’t handle her job just looking to drown her sorrows.
Instant intense attraction between the two.
A night neither will ever forget.
As the author notes, this is a hot and dirty hookup, not a detailed plot driven story. It’s two people having a bad day who are attracted to each other and they mutually decide to find pleasure together. No strings attached.
The writing is good. I love the internal dialogue of the characters. It feel so real, like any person would talk to themselves. The banter between the two characters is good. For being such a short novella, I still feel like she did an excellent job of displaying who the characters are.
At least 50% of this novella is straight smut and that’s exactly what it was supposed to be. The dirty talk is 🥵. This is not a book for people who like mushy, vanilla smut. It’s messy and intense. And through the experience, the FMC takes back power over her own narrative.
Check the author’s note for full list of content warning.
April 27, 2022
ARC Review
Lilian, you never freaking miss. OH MY GOD. This, this right here is some good stuff. Sexy bartender + even sexier dancer = hot, dirty spice. The holy spice Gods really answered my prayers with this one. For under 100 pages, it has a range of spice on the ghost pepper side. Lilian T. James is an insta-read for me and should be for everyone. Much love for you and your writing! Can not wait to see what you come up with next💕💕
Lilian, you never freaking miss. OH MY GOD. This, this right here is some good stuff. Sexy bartender + even sexier dancer = hot, dirty spice. The holy spice Gods really answered my prayers with this one. For under 100 pages, it has a range of spice on the ghost pepper side. Lilian T. James is an insta-read for me and should be for everyone. Much love for you and your writing! Can not wait to see what you come up with next💕💕
April 30, 2022
Y’all idk how she does it but in this SMUTTY A** NOVELLA, Lilian got me in my FEELS. Seriously 🥵🥵🥵🌶🌶🌶💔❤️
May 10, 2022
Lilian T. James invites you to get down and dirty for one night of power and submission! A story of power, sex, and worth, Love Me Dirty is the perfect balance of tasteful spice and empowerment, the Insta-lust exactly what the dancer ordered.
James is coming in hot for that coveted position as a favourite author and I am here for it 🔥 In this novella companion to Meet Me Halfway, James proves that they really can do it all! In just a few words, Nate and Mari’s characters were brought to life, their banter and chemistry igniting immediately. The laughs, the praise, the artful mess created between these two; I loved it all!
I received an advanced copy from the author and this is my honest review.
James is coming in hot for that coveted position as a favourite author and I am here for it 🔥 In this novella companion to Meet Me Halfway, James proves that they really can do it all! In just a few words, Nate and Mari’s characters were brought to life, their banter and chemistry igniting immediately. The laughs, the praise, the artful mess created between these two; I loved it all!
I received an advanced copy from the author and this is my honest review.
September 24, 2022
Five stars for a feminist as fuck hero, but only three-ish stars for story.
It was trying way too hard to be filthy.
Feminist-hero was so much hotter when he was just smut-talking and not using paint as body lube in some kinky homage to Yves Klein.
Yeah, that's... art school brat that I am, the idea of rolling around in paint while doing the nasty is deeply unappealing.
That shit's gonna throw your ph way off if it gets anywhere intimate.
...
It was trying way too hard to be filthy.
Feminist-hero was so much hotter when he was just smut-talking and not using paint as body lube in some kinky homage to Yves Klein.
Yeah, that's... art school brat that I am, the idea of rolling around in paint while doing the nasty is deeply unappealing.
That shit's gonna throw your ph way off if it gets anywhere intimate.
...
November 23, 2022
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this Novella!
Zero words. Head Empty. I was yelling the whole time. Beginning to end. You want the GOOD spice, LOOK NO FURTHER FOLKS.
Lilian has such a fun way with words that had me cackling between the moments where I had to fan myself.
This was HOT. And when Nate brought Mari to the studio and started pulling out canvas I ABOUT DROPPED DEAD. “Are you gonna paint me like one of your French girls?” FULL STOP. I squealed.
READ THIS IMMEDIATELY for a quick little spicy fun time!
Zero words. Head Empty. I was yelling the whole time. Beginning to end. You want the GOOD spice, LOOK NO FURTHER FOLKS.
Lilian has such a fun way with words that had me cackling between the moments where I had to fan myself.
This was HOT. And when Nate brought Mari to the studio and started pulling out canvas I ABOUT DROPPED DEAD. “Are you gonna paint me like one of your French girls?” FULL STOP. I squealed.
READ THIS IMMEDIATELY for a quick little spicy fun time!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2022
I really enjoy Lilian T. James’ writing. This was a quick insta-lust novella between a bartender and a patron that takes place over one night. I loved everything about this: the writing, the banter, the sex. Love Me Dirty is a perfect quick read in between books. It’s hot, spicy, and dirty. You’ll have a fun time with this one.
November 24, 2022
WOAH! This was SUCH a different kind of romance read than its sister book, Meet Me Halfway. That was an emotional new adult romance. This was pure erotic romance. The writing was just as good and so were the characters. I wouldn't have minded spending more time with Nate and his lady to get to know them better and fall in love with their relationship.
September 11, 2022
Just pure smit 🤤
October 28, 2022
3,5/5⭐️
December 20, 2022
a short read but so hot
April 3, 2023
No substance and cringy sex what's the point exactly
May 5, 2023
2.5⭐️
very spicy novella
very spicy novella
March 4, 2024
4 ⭐️
this was sexy and fun and makes me wish i had an art studio
this was sexy and fun and makes me wish i had an art studio
August 10, 2024
perfect pallette cleanser 😝
October 25, 2022
the fact that this isn’t a full book is a crime against storytelling everywhere. just write it please i beg you.
May 10, 2022
Short, sweet and hot, this is a well written sext, easy read novella!
Insta-lust galore!
Post-break-up Lacey/Mari heads to a bar for forget her ex and she meets Bart/Nate. They leave together and things get hot quickly! BUT without wanting them, feelings also start happening...on both sides.
Short, sweet and hot, this is a well written sext, easy read novella!
Insta-lust galore!
Post-break-up Lacey/Mari heads to a bar for forget her ex and she meets Bart/Nate. They leave together and things get hot quickly! BUT without wanting them, feelings also start happening...on both sides.
Short, sweet and hot, this is a well written sext, easy read novella!
October 9, 2022
Um. Yeah. This was a fantastic, dirty little novella with all kinds of positivity. I feel like I highlighted most of the book. Lillian T. James is becoming a beloved author for me.
Edit; I just wanted to say this book has stuck with me. Consent and discussion is so important in it, and it is so sexy?? And the characters feel real. When one of them does an unexpected thing during sex, the other has a ‘what the hell’ moment and assesses whether or not they like it. I feel like so many romance novels - especially those in the smuttier and darker realm - have FMCs who can find no fault with the male or what he does. And he always has her on such a pedestal. It’s really nice to feel like there is representation of real people navigating real things in a new relationship.
And again, the positivity and empowerment? Body positivity, sexual positivity, representation of different sexualities. Owning your power. Yes. On the surface this book is a detailed, quick and dirty one night stand novella. But it is so damn good, or more than just a one night stand. And I really hope to see more of these characters, even if they’re just living life in the background of someone else’s story.
Edit; I just wanted to say this book has stuck with me. Consent and discussion is so important in it, and it is so sexy?? And the characters feel real. When one of them does an unexpected thing during sex, the other has a ‘what the hell’ moment and assesses whether or not they like it. I feel like so many romance novels - especially those in the smuttier and darker realm - have FMCs who can find no fault with the male or what he does. And he always has her on such a pedestal. It’s really nice to feel like there is representation of real people navigating real things in a new relationship.
And again, the positivity and empowerment? Body positivity, sexual positivity, representation of different sexualities. Owning your power. Yes. On the surface this book is a detailed, quick and dirty one night stand novella. But it is so damn good, or more than just a one night stand. And I really hope to see more of these characters, even if they’re just living life in the background of someone else’s story.
September 24, 2022
Well I didn’t like it that much but still the smut was pretty good, I read this cause I didn’t know what to read but that wasn’t what I was looking for…
The story tho didn’t really feel natural, I didn’t expect to have a developed story not at all. But the discussion they had 💀
Ngl what the Nate was saying was the typical sentences you can get from a manipulator who want you in bed.
Plus I have some difficulties to accept the whole “you’re confident that’s why you’re showing your body” I’m tired of it, you can be confident without showing your body, you can show your body and not be confident… It really a message I don’t like, you have to chose what you want to do and are comfortable to do, and understand that it doesn’t define you!
Well, the characters too weren’t really more than likable so far 👀
The story tho didn’t really feel natural, I didn’t expect to have a developed story not at all. But the discussion they had 💀
Ngl what the Nate was saying was the typical sentences you can get from a manipulator who want you in bed.
Plus I have some difficulties to accept the whole “you’re confident that’s why you’re showing your body” I’m tired of it, you can be confident without showing your body, you can show your body and not be confident… It really a message I don’t like, you have to chose what you want to do and are comfortable to do, and understand that it doesn’t define you!
Well, the characters too weren’t really more than likable so far 👀
September 14, 2024
3.5, a totally innocent palate cleanser!! marisa a baddie
January 4, 2026
I really enjoyed this! I just wish it went for longer
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews