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The Ties That Bind Us
I didn’t want her. I wouldn’t allow myself to. We had our time and that was supposed to be over now. I was different, or at least I wanted to be.
But she was like a parasite worming her way into my heart and even after three years, her heated gaze made my knees weak.
It was for the money, is what I told myself. But I knew better…
And so did my soon-to-be fiancee.
Note: This is not your typical romance novel and if you are looking for something sweet with good people… this book is not for you. For CW please check the author’s site.
But she was like a parasite worming her way into my heart and even after three years, her heated gaze made my knees weak.
It was for the money, is what I told myself. But I knew better…
And so did my soon-to-be fiancee.
Note: This is not your typical romance novel and if you are looking for something sweet with good people… this book is not for you. For CW please check the author’s site.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 11, 2022
335 people are currently reading
2714 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
September 23, 2023
one hand held my kindle and the other was between my legs WOW
November 29, 2022
finally a wlw dark romance!
I’ve been wanting to get into wlw/sapphic romances but I’m definitely a dark romance girlie at heart and it’s been hard finding a book that bridges the two..UNTIL THIS BOOK!
I loved everything about his book. Shae’s character was an awesome mash up of “masculine traits” (controlling, a little manipulative, loves to spoil, cocky,) and had a smidgen of sensuality all rolled into one.
The spice was hot, the pacing was spot on and the plot twist I did not see coming.
I’ve been wanting to get into wlw/sapphic romances but I’m definitely a dark romance girlie at heart and it’s been hard finding a book that bridges the two..UNTIL THIS BOOK!
I loved everything about his book. Shae’s character was an awesome mash up of “masculine traits” (controlling, a little manipulative, loves to spoil, cocky,) and had a smidgen of sensuality all rolled into one.
The spice was hot, the pacing was spot on and the plot twist I did not see coming.
December 27, 2024
This was hot as hell, and that plot twist?? I was SHOOK. Loved loved loved this, wow.
May 3, 2022
I’ll be honest, I skimmed most of this book. This felt like a first draft. The writing was extremely weak; there were so many errors, tense switches, and even sentences that made no sense. I know this is self-published and editors are expensive but this book really needed an editor.
Aside from my issues with the writing, I also had issues with characterization and pacing and pretty much everything.
With regards to the characters, there were no motives for them being the way they were, they were fairly one-dimensional. I skipped a lot of the chapters from three years earlier so I don’t know if Shae’s behavior towards Jean was “explained” but it really felt like she was borderline abusive for no reason (not that anything justifies abuse, but it really felt like it came out of nowhere). The switch in present day was strange too, because Shae tried so hard to humiliate and control Jean, then she finds out Jean’s boyfriend is a human trafficker and suddenly she’s nicer to Jean, supposedly in love, and able to express it? And where did Jean’s alleged hatred of Shae go? One moment she hates her, two seconds later she’s cheating on her boyfriend but she STILL hates her, then two more seconds later she’s admitting she still loves her and would have gone back to her if her mom hadn’t been sick. What happened to “she ruined my life and I hate her?” There was zero character development, she just suddenly stopped thinking that way.
Don’t even get me started on Hunter. How do you go from being a caring albeit boring boyfriend to the literal scum of the earth in the blink of an eye? (Again, I did skim the book so I might have missed something, but the way we found out about Hunter being a human trafficker was anti-climactic. Just Shae out of nowhere being like “here’s pics of Hunter’s ships with people aboard.” And then afterward he started acting like a terrible person? This kind of switch makes no sense because he was already disgusting before anyone found out, he simply hid it. He went to such lengths to hide his crimes but the moment Jean does something he doesn’t approve of, he’s confessing to her he meant to have her trafficked when he first met her? Just out of nowhere? Feels weird for someone who has tried so hard to appear like he leads a normal life.)
Anyway, I wasn’t expecting to love this book because it’s a dark romance, and while I had never read one before, I know it’s not my thing. However, the writing and the story/character development were so lacking I barely even noticed the things I actually thought would bother me about this book. I wouldn’t have been able to get through it if I hadn’t decided early on that I could skim it.
Aside from my issues with the writing, I also had issues with characterization and pacing and pretty much everything.
With regards to the characters, there were no motives for them being the way they were, they were fairly one-dimensional. I skipped a lot of the chapters from three years earlier so I don’t know if Shae’s behavior towards Jean was “explained” but it really felt like she was borderline abusive for no reason (not that anything justifies abuse, but it really felt like it came out of nowhere). The switch in present day was strange too, because Shae tried so hard to humiliate and control Jean, then she finds out Jean’s boyfriend is a human trafficker and suddenly she’s nicer to Jean, supposedly in love, and able to express it? And where did Jean’s alleged hatred of Shae go? One moment she hates her, two seconds later she’s cheating on her boyfriend but she STILL hates her, then two more seconds later she’s admitting she still loves her and would have gone back to her if her mom hadn’t been sick. What happened to “she ruined my life and I hate her?” There was zero character development, she just suddenly stopped thinking that way.
Don’t even get me started on Hunter. How do you go from being a caring albeit boring boyfriend to the literal scum of the earth in the blink of an eye? (Again, I did skim the book so I might have missed something, but the way we found out about Hunter being a human trafficker was anti-climactic. Just Shae out of nowhere being like “here’s pics of Hunter’s ships with people aboard.” And then afterward he started acting like a terrible person? This kind of switch makes no sense because he was already disgusting before anyone found out, he simply hid it. He went to such lengths to hide his crimes but the moment Jean does something he doesn’t approve of, he’s confessing to her he meant to have her trafficked when he first met her? Just out of nowhere? Feels weird for someone who has tried so hard to appear like he leads a normal life.)
Anyway, I wasn’t expecting to love this book because it’s a dark romance, and while I had never read one before, I know it’s not my thing. However, the writing and the story/character development were so lacking I barely even noticed the things I actually thought would bother me about this book. I wouldn’t have been able to get through it if I hadn’t decided early on that I could skim it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2024
I wanted pretty woman in gay and instead I got dick and a toxic relationship 😭
Not even the smut was good this time
Not even the smut was good this time
January 6, 2025
Here it goes.
The fact that this was a buddy read made it more enjoyable, but I thought the romance was very poorly written since we are supposed to root for the two characters to be together, the book ended and I remained unconvinced that they should. First of all, Shae made Jean's life a living hell? Constantly showing up to her work place as an escort and forcing her sexually repeatedly as Jean told her "No" and to stop. Tried to hire her as an escort to a museum unbeknownst to Jean, brought her to a sex party without prior consent, mostly all of the sexual interactions had Jean resist her in some way. So, the entire time I wished Jean would break up with Hunter, and leave Shae and just learn to love herself away from this madness they brought to her life. One of the worst things was that Shae didn't warn Jean that Hunter was a human trafficker. She could have told her immediately when she found out, had numerous chances to do so, and didn't. She could have gotten her away from the fucker way earlier and she would not go through what happened at the end, she even admits it herself. The problem is not the dark romance, because I've read other sapphic/lesbian dark romances that I enjoyed more than this one.
The fact that this was a buddy read made it more enjoyable, but I thought the romance was very poorly written since we are supposed to root for the two characters to be together, the book ended and I remained unconvinced that they should. First of all, Shae made Jean's life a living hell? Constantly showing up to her work place as an escort and forcing her sexually repeatedly as Jean told her "No" and to stop. Tried to hire her as an escort to a museum unbeknownst to Jean, brought her to a sex party without prior consent, mostly all of the sexual interactions had Jean resist her in some way. So, the entire time I wished Jean would break up with Hunter, and leave Shae and just learn to love herself away from this madness they brought to her life. One of the worst things was that Shae didn't warn Jean that Hunter was a human trafficker. She could have told her immediately when she found out, had numerous chances to do so, and didn't. She could have gotten her away from the fucker way earlier and she would not go through what happened at the end, she even admits it herself. The problem is not the dark romance, because I've read other sapphic/lesbian dark romances that I enjoyed more than this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2023
3.5 stars
I saw the definite authors voice and similarities to her other Club Pétale series, and the similarities in all her books. This one was way too short for me I wish there were more. Overall a really solid read.
I saw the definite authors voice and similarities to her other Club Pétale series, and the similarities in all her books. This one was way too short for me I wish there were more. Overall a really solid read.
December 2, 2024
The Ties That Bind Us is an Adult Dark Romance novel I loved!
{Jean left Shea three years ago, but after a chance encounter, Shea isn’t letting her go again so easily}
Is this couple toxic? Yes.
Did I eat up every word of this book? Also yes.
There’s just something about the hot ass chemistry in a dark romance novel with a toxic and morally gray masculine top that is just *chef’s kiss* 🔥
The plot includes some life and death stakes, and while that was gripping, I was so absorbed in the push and pull between Shea and Jean I didn’t care about anything else going on.
This book feels like FLETCHER’s song “Ego Talking” in novel format and I’m obsessed. This is the kind of second chance romance I love. And don’t judge me I hold characters to different standards in contemporary romances compared to dark 😅. Like, for another example, this book includes cheating. In contemporary romances I hate cheating, but in dark romances with a boyfriend that truly is *the worst*? Yeah, I eat that shit up.
Overall, if you’re looking for a steamy and fast paced dark romance this is the book for you!
{Jean left Shea three years ago, but after a chance encounter, Shea isn’t letting her go again so easily}
Is this couple toxic? Yes.
Did I eat up every word of this book? Also yes.
There’s just something about the hot ass chemistry in a dark romance novel with a toxic and morally gray masculine top that is just *chef’s kiss* 🔥
The plot includes some life and death stakes, and while that was gripping, I was so absorbed in the push and pull between Shea and Jean I didn’t care about anything else going on.
This book feels like FLETCHER’s song “Ego Talking” in novel format and I’m obsessed. This is the kind of second chance romance I love. And don’t judge me I hold characters to different standards in contemporary romances compared to dark 😅. Like, for another example, this book includes cheating. In contemporary romances I hate cheating, but in dark romances with a boyfriend that truly is *the worst*? Yeah, I eat that shit up.
Overall, if you’re looking for a steamy and fast paced dark romance this is the book for you!
April 21, 2025
I‘m not really sure about this book I kind of enjoyed it and it was interesting at some points but I also skimmed through it quite a bit and i didn’t really had a connection to the characters…
October 7, 2024
i will always eat up anything sapphic
September 11, 2022
It's a glorified love story about abuse with one whose love language is receiving abuse while the other is giving abuse. If Stockholm syndrome could have a couple to represent itself it would be this couple. Calling this a "toxic" couple is a big lie because to be a toxic couple both of them must be toxic, instead if only one is toxic it is called abuse. Jean was like a lone and vulnerable puppy with Stockholm syndrome apologizing for no reason. Jean is the type of person who would believe a murderer is "not that bad" just because the person happens to be a vegan and thus douse not kill animals "at least". I had to jump over most of the last half of the book just hoping for a scene where Shea begs Jean to come to take her back or SOMETHING. While the rest of the world knows about the 5 love languages this couple must really be soulmates for the amount of abuse I have read about and apparently is enjoyed by both partners. And the biggest wtf is Shea because in her pov her private words imply love and devotion while her words to Jean - the woman she supposedly loves and desperately wants back after losing her because of her abusive behavior - are hateful, meanwhile, Shea's actions are manipulative, self-centered and uncaring of the others wants. I genuinely don't this Shea loves Jean, instead, I think she loves to HAVE Jean and for her to live as a possession, there to give shea without ever complaining about receiving!
June 11, 2023
3.5⭐️
The silence of the world and the warmth of her body against mine created this perfect little world for us to get lost in.
I have not read many wlw romance book. And I enjoyed this one. This is my very first dark sapphic women romance.
Not gonna lie reading toxic men and toxic women was really different. But the author knows how to write toxic attractive woman so the appeal got better later on in the book.
This is a toxic second chance romance between Jean, a girl who works different jobs in order to pay her mother’s hospital bills and Shae, a rich bitch with kickass and sick outfits that intimidates men in the business industry.
Jean sees Shae after three years.The break up was from her, because while she love S, she ‘knows’ that her feelings will ‘never’ be fully reciprocated and it was toxic as fuck.
Now after three years later, she is dating a guy for almost a year. He can make her orgasm, but she still loves him and feels like he is like a “safe place”:
“I left you.”
“I let you leave. And now I am here to take you back.”
-
Jean first impression of Shae:
“God she was fucking beautiful.
I wanted this girl to destroy my life and laugh in my face as I cried.”
And what Shae when she was with Jean:
“After she came into my life, I realized I quite liked the warmth.”
-
Seeing Shae makes all her pasts come back and since Shae is determinated to come back for her, she is conflicted. She is cheating on her bf with her
I didn’t like the flow between the couple. There were chapters were it was three years ago, others were present time and since it wasn’t mentioned it was really confusing…
Shae is a toxic love interest but she is hawt; a dom woman who is extremely possessive And hasn’t been with anyone else for the last three years, waiting for her. Shae characteristics seems a little “masculine” (sorry if that sounds offensive), maybe because I always read straight dark toxic romance…. Her character is very present when it comes to being cocky; manipulative, ‘gets what’s she wants’ and again toxic.
“I knew we would cross each other's path at one point and if there was anything my job had taught me, patience was by far the thing I had the most of. But seeing her with that sad sack of a man was my final straw.”
;
‘You are in trouble,’ her gaze seemed to say. ‘You are going to wish you never left me.’
And not gonna lie the plot twist at the end should have been expected but I was not expecting it.
"You could get any girl you wanted. Are you sure this is what you want?"
Her lips twisted into a familiar smirk. Her hand trailed from my shoulder around to my neck, applying light pressure and forcing my head back even further.
"I told you," she said her voice barely above a whisper. “I waited three years for you; I do not plan to take another."
TW/CW: SC; toxic relationship; trafficking
The silence of the world and the warmth of her body against mine created this perfect little world for us to get lost in.
I have not read many wlw romance book. And I enjoyed this one. This is my very first dark sapphic women romance.
Not gonna lie reading toxic men and toxic women was really different. But the author knows how to write toxic attractive woman so the appeal got better later on in the book.
This is a toxic second chance romance between Jean, a girl who works different jobs in order to pay her mother’s hospital bills and Shae, a rich bitch with kickass and sick outfits that intimidates men in the business industry.
Jean sees Shae after three years.The break up was from her, because while she love S, she ‘knows’ that her feelings will ‘never’ be fully reciprocated and it was toxic as fuck.
Now after three years later, she is dating a guy for almost a year. He can make her orgasm, but she still loves him and feels like he is like a “safe place”:
“I left you.”
“I let you leave. And now I am here to take you back.”
-
Jean first impression of Shae:
“God she was fucking beautiful.
I wanted this girl to destroy my life and laugh in my face as I cried.”
And what Shae when she was with Jean:
“After she came into my life, I realized I quite liked the warmth.”
-
Seeing Shae makes all her pasts come back and since Shae is determinated to come back for her, she is conflicted. She is cheating on her bf with her
I didn’t like the flow between the couple. There were chapters were it was three years ago, others were present time and since it wasn’t mentioned it was really confusing…
Shae is a toxic love interest but she is hawt; a dom woman who is extremely possessive And hasn’t been with anyone else for the last three years, waiting for her. Shae characteristics seems a little “masculine” (sorry if that sounds offensive), maybe because I always read straight dark toxic romance…. Her character is very present when it comes to being cocky; manipulative, ‘gets what’s she wants’ and again toxic.
“I knew we would cross each other's path at one point and if there was anything my job had taught me, patience was by far the thing I had the most of. But seeing her with that sad sack of a man was my final straw.”
;
‘You are in trouble,’ her gaze seemed to say. ‘You are going to wish you never left me.’
And not gonna lie the plot twist at the end should have been expected but I was not expecting it.
"You could get any girl you wanted. Are you sure this is what you want?"
Her lips twisted into a familiar smirk. Her hand trailed from my shoulder around to my neck, applying light pressure and forcing my head back even further.
"I told you," she said her voice barely above a whisper. “I waited three years for you; I do not plan to take another."
TW/CW: SC; toxic relationship; trafficking
December 15, 2024
i was hooked since the beginning, i liked the mystery plot and actually i wasn’t expecting it so i was really surprised. the dynamic between the characters was a bit too toxic for my liking: i have the impression they were more physically connected than mentally, it’s something that i notice in all dark romances but this book wasn’t that dark so the lack of romance was more noticeable
August 14, 2024
3.5⭐️
okay look dont get me wrong, this book couldve used some more editing but this shit was MADDD entertaining
i mean the plot isnt the most complicated, twas quite predictable actually, BUT it was a good time nonetheless LMFAO
okay look dont get me wrong, this book couldve used some more editing but this shit was MADDD entertaining
i mean the plot isnt the most complicated, twas quite predictable actually, BUT it was a good time nonetheless LMFAO
September 24, 2023
oh i love toxic sapphics
August 26, 2024
garbage and not even in a fun way
July 14, 2025
STARS 5 stars
SPICE (hot) - lots of graphic spice
CHEMISTRY Excellent - The chemistry feels undeniable
ANGST High
SLOW BURN No
CLIFFHANGER No
CHARACTERS Shae and Jean
FAVORITE QUOTE/QUOTES
I hated her as much as I wanted her.
"I wouldn't suggest that..I'm hanging on by a thread and my patience is wearing thin." - Shae
I craved her even so many years later. It was stupid and unfair.
A LITTLE ABOUT THE BOOK/HOW DID IT MAKE ME FEEL
This was a great DARK book. If you are going in thinking it is anything else you might be disappointed. At times I was saying it was absolutely diabolical. But I like that sometimes so it was a great ride for me.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE CHARACTERS
These are too messed up people who are handling their brokenness completely different. After the break Jean seems to be searching for something safe. And Shae has shut off. I loved that Shae waited for Jean to come back. Although fate intervenes. So the waiting ends after that.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE BOOK
I loved all the tension. And the dubious things that Shae was willing to do to get her girl back. WOW!
MY FAVORITE PART- IF IT IS NOT TOO SPOILERY
There were a few parts in this book that I love. I loved the conflict that Jean was going through. But I think my favorite part was when Jean said I was always going to come back. That realization for the two of them was great.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
TROPES
Sapphic, Dark, enemies to lovers, second chance
************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
If you read beyond this point it might feel a little spoiler"ish". This is where I go into a little more details about my bookshelves.
PLEASE READ WITH CAUTION AND SKIP IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT SPOILERS!!!!!!!!
************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
THE LIST/BOOKSHELVES
SPICE (hot) - lots of graphic spice
CHEMISTRY Excellent - The chemistry feels undeniable
ANGST High
SLOW BURN No
CLIFFHANGER No
CHARACTERS Shae and Jean
FAVORITE QUOTE/QUOTES
I hated her as much as I wanted her.
"I wouldn't suggest that..I'm hanging on by a thread and my patience is wearing thin." - Shae
I craved her even so many years later. It was stupid and unfair.
A LITTLE ABOUT THE BOOK/HOW DID IT MAKE ME FEEL
This was a great DARK book. If you are going in thinking it is anything else you might be disappointed. At times I was saying it was absolutely diabolical. But I like that sometimes so it was a great ride for me.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE CHARACTERS
These are too messed up people who are handling their brokenness completely different. After the break Jean seems to be searching for something safe. And Shae has shut off. I loved that Shae waited for Jean to come back. Although fate intervenes. So the waiting ends after that.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE BOOK
I loved all the tension. And the dubious things that Shae was willing to do to get her girl back. WOW!
MY FAVORITE PART- IF IT IS NOT TOO SPOILERY
There were a few parts in this book that I love. I loved the conflict that Jean was going through. But I think my favorite part was when Jean said I was always going to come back. That realization for the two of them was great.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
TROPES
Sapphic, Dark, enemies to lovers, second chance
************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
If you read beyond this point it might feel a little spoiler"ish". This is where I go into a little more details about my bookshelves.
PLEASE READ WITH CAUTION AND SKIP IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT SPOILERS!!!!!!!!
************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
THE LIST/BOOKSHELVES
January 14, 2022
another banger
I personally really love this authors writing style! She immediately draws me in and I am forever grateful for the WLW representation that she writes, particularly including more masculine leaning women. I was immediately in love with Shae, and of course adored the power dynamics between them. This was the first contemporary book I’ve ever read from her and it did not disappoint. Super spicy, super engaging and somehow super sweet. If you’re new to Sapphic spice I’d definitely give this one a try!
I personally really love this authors writing style! She immediately draws me in and I am forever grateful for the WLW representation that she writes, particularly including more masculine leaning women. I was immediately in love with Shae, and of course adored the power dynamics between them. This was the first contemporary book I’ve ever read from her and it did not disappoint. Super spicy, super engaging and somehow super sweet. If you’re new to Sapphic spice I’d definitely give this one a try!
September 14, 2022
yet another kindle unlimited binge read.
January 10, 2025
I will never get over the plot twist in this book
April 18, 2022
3.5⭐
CW Human trafficking, death of a parent, medical debt, cheating (but it's okay, trust me)
Yet another title stumbled across by accident that I thoroughly enjoyed 👌
This WLW second chance romance was told dual POV, with flashbacks in dual POV. Normally flashbacks can be grating, but it was the perfect way to provide context into the MCs previous relationship without just "telling" us about it. So I appreciated that.
Our heroines split 3 years ago, due to a relationship that turned sour over time with one heroines inability to express her love and hand over control to someone else.
Shae and Jean had an on and off again relationship with miscommunication and a lot of angst 3 years prior to the story which is expanded on in the flashbacks.
Their current situation arises where Jean is escorting to pay off medical debt, hiding it from her boyfriend and coworkers, and dealing with grief from the loss of her mum and also her dad leaving their family. Shae happens to see her at an event and the two are thrust back together again.
As warned previously, there IS cheating in the book, but honestly it's excusable in the end because Jean's boyfriend is literally THE WORST.
The chemistry between the heroine's was 🔥 with a lot of pining and angst. Regardless of how many times they come and go with one another, they always end up finding their way back to each other. Even if some stalker vibes are involved 😂
Here is my problem with this book, however.
There are plot points which just haven't been tied up.
There was a sex scene in the book which implied that Shae was a top exclusively, but Jean wanted to take her turn. There was no expansion as to why this was. Was it the relinquishing of control? Was there previous traumatic reasons? Did they end up working through it?
The main reason they split in the beginning was Shae's inability to express her feelings and accept/give love. Again, there was no expansion on why. Neglectful childhood? Bad relationships? Insecurity? We don't know. She said that she was going to explain her feelings to Jean but we never got there.
There were a few other bits here and there as well, but those are the two that stood out to me the most.
CW Human trafficking, death of a parent, medical debt, cheating (but it's okay, trust me)
Yet another title stumbled across by accident that I thoroughly enjoyed 👌
This WLW second chance romance was told dual POV, with flashbacks in dual POV. Normally flashbacks can be grating, but it was the perfect way to provide context into the MCs previous relationship without just "telling" us about it. So I appreciated that.
Our heroines split 3 years ago, due to a relationship that turned sour over time with one heroines inability to express her love and hand over control to someone else.
Shae and Jean had an on and off again relationship with miscommunication and a lot of angst 3 years prior to the story which is expanded on in the flashbacks.
Their current situation arises where Jean is escorting to pay off medical debt, hiding it from her boyfriend and coworkers, and dealing with grief from the loss of her mum and also her dad leaving their family. Shae happens to see her at an event and the two are thrust back together again.
As warned previously, there IS cheating in the book, but honestly it's excusable in the end because Jean's boyfriend is literally THE WORST.
The chemistry between the heroine's was 🔥 with a lot of pining and angst. Regardless of how many times they come and go with one another, they always end up finding their way back to each other. Even if some stalker vibes are involved 😂
Here is my problem with this book, however.
There are plot points which just haven't been tied up.
There was a sex scene in the book which implied that Shae was a top exclusively, but Jean wanted to take her turn. There was no expansion as to why this was. Was it the relinquishing of control? Was there previous traumatic reasons? Did they end up working through it?
The main reason they split in the beginning was Shae's inability to express her feelings and accept/give love. Again, there was no expansion on why. Neglectful childhood? Bad relationships? Insecurity? We don't know. She said that she was going to explain her feelings to Jean but we never got there.
There were a few other bits here and there as well, but those are the two that stood out to me the most.
October 30, 2023
Oh My….
I didn’t know what to think when Jean ran into Shae while she was out “working.” Shae had seemed so unhinged, but at the same time she was obsessed and possessive when it came to Jean. It was like she would just lose it. She went after Jean with full on precision of a serious plan. Jean did everything could to say away from Shae. She was torn and hurt at the direction their relationship took. But leaving was for the best.
Hunter did seem like a good catch. He was rich and seemingly devoted to Jean. However, he didn’t know the slightest about pleasing her physically. Jean put up with it because he was the polar opposite of Shae and how she had treated Jean.
Thai story took major turns that I DID NOT see coming nor knew was on the horizon. It seems that Shae wasn’t who/what Jean thought she was, for the most part. Also Jean didn’t realize that she didn’t know Hunter as well as she thought she did. Who’s zooming who? It will leave you shaken and stirred. Jean deserved a good life and an even better HEA.
I couldn’t put this book down. Not only was I anxious to find out what Shae would do next. But also this crazy life that Jean found herself in. Shae captivated my attention and I was over the moon with her. I can see how Jean had a hard time trying to shake this very intense woman. I could barely rest and stayed up late to finish this book in less than a day.
I didn’t know what to think when Jean ran into Shae while she was out “working.” Shae had seemed so unhinged, but at the same time she was obsessed and possessive when it came to Jean. It was like she would just lose it. She went after Jean with full on precision of a serious plan. Jean did everything could to say away from Shae. She was torn and hurt at the direction their relationship took. But leaving was for the best.
Hunter did seem like a good catch. He was rich and seemingly devoted to Jean. However, he didn’t know the slightest about pleasing her physically. Jean put up with it because he was the polar opposite of Shae and how she had treated Jean.
Thai story took major turns that I DID NOT see coming nor knew was on the horizon. It seems that Shae wasn’t who/what Jean thought she was, for the most part. Also Jean didn’t realize that she didn’t know Hunter as well as she thought she did. Who’s zooming who? It will leave you shaken and stirred. Jean deserved a good life and an even better HEA.
I couldn’t put this book down. Not only was I anxious to find out what Shae would do next. But also this crazy life that Jean found herself in. Shae captivated my attention and I was over the moon with her. I can see how Jean had a hard time trying to shake this very intense woman. I could barely rest and stayed up late to finish this book in less than a day.
April 2, 2024
"I gave you a chance and you didn’t take it. This is what you get. You will sit pretty and take what I give you, hell I expect you to thank when I am done.”
I had such a fun time with this book - Shae is giving all the things a male love interest would but as a woman and so I enjoyed myself rather than hate every second of it. This was kind of exactly what I was in the mood for - fun trashy lesbians that aren't the healthiest also borderline obsessive. Not as toxic as I initially believed either, though.
“Since when do you believe in faith?” she asked.
“It’s just a way to keep boundaries,” I said with a grumble and stood back up.
“You, boundaries?” She laughed at this. “Where did you learn that? Therapy?”
This made me laugh ngl - Shae truly has no sense of boundaries. But the ending did wish me wanting to see more of their dynamic now. Plus the book is full of grammatical errors and repetitive words but, hey, I was here for a short time not a long time.
"The smile she gave me was unlike any I’d seen and I knew in that moment that I would remember her like this forever. Even as we aged and turned into older, greyer versions of ourselves… I would never forget how she looked in this moment."
Don't think too deeply about it and just have fun with it - one of those books!
I had such a fun time with this book - Shae is giving all the things a male love interest would but as a woman and so I enjoyed myself rather than hate every second of it. This was kind of exactly what I was in the mood for - fun trashy lesbians that aren't the healthiest also borderline obsessive. Not as toxic as I initially believed either, though.
“Since when do you believe in faith?” she asked.
“It’s just a way to keep boundaries,” I said with a grumble and stood back up.
“You, boundaries?” She laughed at this. “Where did you learn that? Therapy?”
This made me laugh ngl - Shae truly has no sense of boundaries. But the ending did wish me wanting to see more of their dynamic now. Plus the book is full of grammatical errors and repetitive words but, hey, I was here for a short time not a long time.
"The smile she gave me was unlike any I’d seen and I knew in that moment that I would remember her like this forever. Even as we aged and turned into older, greyer versions of ourselves… I would never forget how she looked in this moment."
Don't think too deeply about it and just have fun with it - one of those books!
July 19, 2023
Jean is a young woman working as an escort to pay her deceased mother's final medical bills. She keeps this line of work a secret from her boyfriend for obvious reasons. While acting as an escort, she comes face-to-face with her ex-girlfriend and the love of her life, Shae. Shae wants to punish Jean for leaving her three years ago. She will do any and everything to make Jean hers again. When Jean's life hangs in the balance, Shae does whatever she can to save her…and them.
This is a new genre for me. I know if I was going to try a dark romance, it would be one with lesbian characters. While I don't have much to compare it to, it seemed like a good plot that has also appeared in straight romances. The spice level was a bit higher than heterosexual romances I have read but not by much. This book was a good way to cleanse my palate after so many of the same genre. I do have to say that I did constantly picture a certain Tik Tok influencer when reading about Shae and it made the character come to life for me.
This is a new genre for me. I know if I was going to try a dark romance, it would be one with lesbian characters. While I don't have much to compare it to, it seemed like a good plot that has also appeared in straight romances. The spice level was a bit higher than heterosexual romances I have read but not by much. This book was a good way to cleanse my palate after so many of the same genre. I do have to say that I did constantly picture a certain Tik Tok influencer when reading about Shae and it made the character come to life for me.
April 23, 2025
A decent book overall! It definitely had some grammatical errors, but I believe it’s self published which would explain it, and they’re certainly not hard to get past. Mostly just commas missing, or commas that should have been periods. And I’m honestly probably being too nitpicky about it, I’m just a comma snob!
The plot was fun, since the main character and the love interest are exes, and especially for such a short book I think it progressed at a great pace. My biggest complaint is that I didn’t love the villain, and would have loved some more clues throughout the novel that pointed to the villain being the bad guy.
Overall, glad I read it, especially since I have not been able to find dark sapphic romance anywhere! That’s really the main reason I bought this one, and it certainly fulfilled that ask. I bought a couple other Eden Emory books, and I’m looking forward to them, especially Don’t Stop Me.
The plot was fun, since the main character and the love interest are exes, and especially for such a short book I think it progressed at a great pace. My biggest complaint is that I didn’t love the villain, and would have loved some more clues throughout the novel that pointed to the villain being the bad guy.
Overall, glad I read it, especially since I have not been able to find dark sapphic romance anywhere! That’s really the main reason I bought this one, and it certainly fulfilled that ask. I bought a couple other Eden Emory books, and I’m looking forward to them, especially Don’t Stop Me.
July 17, 2025
I really wanted to like this but I just hated everything.
First, there was no chemistry between Jean and Shae. We barely saw romantic scene between them until the last 20%. There was also a lot of smut between Hunter and Jean but this book is supposed to be about Jean and Shae.
Secondly, Shae was so unlikeable. She was came off as arrogant and bitchy. I also didn’t like the fact she knew Hunter was a human trafficker and didn’t say anything which resulted into Jean being kidnapped all because Shae was enjoying the “game”. I also didn’t see a difference between past Shae and current Shae, but supposedly “she made so much improvement.” I also felt like we know nothing about Shae past.
Thirdly, Jean reminds me a lot like Hachi from the anime Nana. Both constantly get into toxic relationships and can never be single. Both Shae and Hunter suck. I would rather Jean stay single and learn to have some self respect.
First, there was no chemistry between Jean and Shae. We barely saw romantic scene between them until the last 20%. There was also a lot of smut between Hunter and Jean but this book is supposed to be about Jean and Shae.
Secondly, Shae was so unlikeable. She was came off as arrogant and bitchy. I also didn’t like the fact she knew Hunter was a human trafficker and didn’t say anything which resulted into Jean being kidnapped all because Shae was enjoying the “game”. I also didn’t see a difference between past Shae and current Shae, but supposedly “she made so much improvement.” I also felt like we know nothing about Shae past.
Thirdly, Jean reminds me a lot like Hachi from the anime Nana. Both constantly get into toxic relationships and can never be single. Both Shae and Hunter suck. I would rather Jean stay single and learn to have some self respect.
June 24, 2022
Dark romance with an HEA feels like the biggest oxymoron, but I was all in.
I don't even know how to feel about what I read. Was the F/F relationship hot? Yes. But was it also equal parts disturbing? Double yes.
I love a saucy D/s relationship but this borderlines on gratuitously narcissistic obsession with a safeword tacked on. Which, in all honesty, was written so well it ended up being hot, yet i still feel a modicum of disturbance so I'll be processing the feels from this book for days to come. The plot around the boyfriend will make you wanna vomit up your lunch and scream, I won't spoil it, just be sure you know your triggers and that you read other reviews and book's back matter before diving into the seedy underbelly of this beast.
Good luck readers. Be sure to have a stress ball nearby and may the odds be ever in your favor.
I don't even know how to feel about what I read. Was the F/F relationship hot? Yes. But was it also equal parts disturbing? Double yes.
I love a saucy D/s relationship but this borderlines on gratuitously narcissistic obsession with a safeword tacked on. Which, in all honesty, was written so well it ended up being hot, yet i still feel a modicum of disturbance so I'll be processing the feels from this book for days to come. The plot around the boyfriend will make you wanna vomit up your lunch and scream, I won't spoil it, just be sure you know your triggers and that you read other reviews and book's back matter before diving into the seedy underbelly of this beast.
Good luck readers. Be sure to have a stress ball nearby and may the odds be ever in your favor.
October 8, 2025
I wanted this girl to destroy my life and laugh in my face as I cried.
yes that's it that's the vibe I'm looking for yes. though the book does lose some points for spending so much time on the fiance. like, I get that other reviews for some reason will say things like "they just have sex all the time why don't they spend any time on the plot" but this is a spicy dark romance novel the entire point is the sex the fiance was only there to be bad at sex and then be cuckolded
the couple dynamic between Jean and Shae was hot, the sex was decently spicy, the toxicity was very toxic I really enjoyed that. I did end up skimming through the dramatic sequence at the end, again I would have happily traded all that fiance stuff for more sex or a more protracted romance arc. but it's a good time and I'm here for more from the author
April 7, 2023
I did enjoy reading this to an extent but there was one glaring flaw.
To start off with, the protagonists are a bit unusual, they're not traditionally likeable in any sense of the word. The femme is a doormat, and quite pathetic on many levels. The butch is an arrogant a-hole with no depth of character. It was frustrating and amusing at the same time, they certainly deserved each other.
**Spoiler, the thing I really didn't like was that the boyfriend was made to be a psychopath. Such a lazy copout, and what better way to justify a toxic relationship than by creating a "big bad" who's worse than the abusive partner? Cheating is not really my thing either. The overall plot was very silly. If nothing at least I found it interesting to read.
To start off with, the protagonists are a bit unusual, they're not traditionally likeable in any sense of the word. The femme is a doormat, and quite pathetic on many levels. The butch is an arrogant a-hole with no depth of character. It was frustrating and amusing at the same time, they certainly deserved each other.
**Spoiler, the thing I really didn't like was that the boyfriend was made to be a psychopath. Such a lazy copout, and what better way to justify a toxic relationship than by creating a "big bad" who's worse than the abusive partner? Cheating is not really my thing either. The overall plot was very silly. If nothing at least I found it interesting to read.
March 25, 2022
You know it's good when your crying at the end
This story made my heart happy. I didn't know what this book was about (it was recommended by a friend) but I was so happy to read a darker romance book where the leads are two women. I was crying by the end of this book because I for really the first time saw a love that truly touched me. Representation matters.
On top of that the story was so good!! I was sucked in completely by the writing and the plot! This story moved quickly without feeling like it was going by to fast. I'm a huge fan and will be reading more by this author!
This story made my heart happy. I didn't know what this book was about (it was recommended by a friend) but I was so happy to read a darker romance book where the leads are two women. I was crying by the end of this book because I for really the first time saw a love that truly touched me. Representation matters.
On top of that the story was so good!! I was sucked in completely by the writing and the plot! This story moved quickly without feeling like it was going by to fast. I'm a huge fan and will be reading more by this author!
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