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Undiscovered Affinity
Olivia Reynolds is just where she wants to be―in control. The youngest brand manager for Vital, an athletic wear company, she has no family, no pets, and no obligations. When Olivia literally bumps into Cardic Lawson, her world is turned upside down. Cardic insists a no strings fling will meet both their needs. No commitments and sex anytime, anywhere.
Cardic is as carefree as they come. Other than her career, life is all about fun. She’s a cultural anthropology professor at Loyola, and studying human culture and growing up in a household of infidelity has made her bitter about love. After an eighteen-month field study in the Amazon, Cardic is back in the states and ready to let loose. She wants nothing more than a casual affair with the fiery redhead, but will her desire to break Olivia’s control also break the bonds of her own heart?
Cardic is as carefree as they come. Other than her career, life is all about fun. She’s a cultural anthropology professor at Loyola, and studying human culture and growing up in a household of infidelity has made her bitter about love. After an eighteen-month field study in the Amazon, Cardic is back in the states and ready to let loose. She wants nothing more than a casual affair with the fiery redhead, but will her desire to break Olivia’s control also break the bonds of her own heart?
234 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2018
7 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Jane Hardee
2 books2 followersJane Hardee lives with her partner in Chicago, Illinois. She was born in North Carolina but left the Old South to pursue a career working with children with autism. When she is not teaching, writing, or watching Family Feud, she is probably figuring out a design for her next tattoo. Jane suffers from middle child syndrome and is a very loving aunt to a beautiful niece.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 9, 2018
'Netgalley ARC provided by The Publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review'
For certain readers and fans who has followed the writings and other erotic romantic book they may not or either will be disappointed,it can go both ways,as Ms.Hardee has crafted a fast-paced,impossibly steamy,smutty,sexually explicit,lots of salaciousness and even lascivious dialogues & actions page after page and sentence after every sentence in this story that will immerse readers in a taboo world where there's denial of LOVE,pain,family drama,body issue/self image,flaws,pleasure and perfection intersect as a matter of course. Both main character in this saucy story are richly fleshed out and maybe too easily likable on my path,despite their propensities for being too raw(sex maniacs) or too wild because of their obsession about the need for sex. Though some of the supporting cast were a bit one-dimensional with little side stories of their own,they were still believable and helpful. This was such a lustful and at times it did have some solid storytelling but with these sexually driven and maybe relatable leading characters that i hope and think some readers will enjoy from beginning to end their life of being prim and proper to free and feisty to falling in LOVE finally maybe...
For certain readers and fans who has followed the writings and other erotic romantic book they may not or either will be disappointed,it can go both ways,as Ms.Hardee has crafted a fast-paced,impossibly steamy,smutty,sexually explicit,lots of salaciousness and even lascivious dialogues & actions page after page and sentence after every sentence in this story that will immerse readers in a taboo world where there's denial of LOVE,pain,family drama,body issue/self image,flaws,pleasure and perfection intersect as a matter of course. Both main character in this saucy story are richly fleshed out and maybe too easily likable on my path,despite their propensities for being too raw(sex maniacs) or too wild because of their obsession about the need for sex. Though some of the supporting cast were a bit one-dimensional with little side stories of their own,they were still believable and helpful. This was such a lustful and at times it did have some solid storytelling but with these sexually driven and maybe relatable leading characters that i hope and think some readers will enjoy from beginning to end their life of being prim and proper to free and feisty to falling in LOVE finally maybe...
January 28, 2018
I would put this book squarely in the okay category. Wasn’t bad, but there was something there that kept me from really connecting to the story.
The story is about two women who are not looking for a relationship. They decide to have no strings sex instead. But what will happen to this plan if feelings get involved? This is not a new concept, but if done will can be really great. Take for instance Turbulence by E. J. Noyes. It is really steamy and sexy, but still turned into a great romance. I was hoping this would be similar, but it really wasn’t.
As other reviewers have mentioned, because of the cover I thought this was going to be an erotic-romance but it’s not. In fact I think the book has a little bit of an identity crisis. While there are lots of sex scenes, I would not even put this in the steamy romance category. (I consider steamy romance to be one step below erotica like many of Meghan O’Brien books.) The steam and the heat are just missing in this book, but this wasn’t like a traditional romance, hence the sort of crisis.
I had a hard time liking and connecting to the characters. Cardic eventually won me over, but I felt like I never really broke through Olivia’s shell. I was glad to have a main character represented as plus size, but Hardee almost makes no mention of it. Besides Cardic mentioning one time that she liked Olivia’s large breasts and curves, that was it. I felt like it was a bit of a missed opportunity.
I want to make clear I didn’t think this was bad or would tell anyone to stay away. There was just nothing to get me really excited about or really entertained. While this book wasn’t any better than okay to me, I would give Hardee another chance.
An ARC was given to me by BSB, for a honest review.
The story is about two women who are not looking for a relationship. They decide to have no strings sex instead. But what will happen to this plan if feelings get involved? This is not a new concept, but if done will can be really great. Take for instance Turbulence by E. J. Noyes. It is really steamy and sexy, but still turned into a great romance. I was hoping this would be similar, but it really wasn’t.
As other reviewers have mentioned, because of the cover I thought this was going to be an erotic-romance but it’s not. In fact I think the book has a little bit of an identity crisis. While there are lots of sex scenes, I would not even put this in the steamy romance category. (I consider steamy romance to be one step below erotica like many of Meghan O’Brien books.) The steam and the heat are just missing in this book, but this wasn’t like a traditional romance, hence the sort of crisis.
I had a hard time liking and connecting to the characters. Cardic eventually won me over, but I felt like I never really broke through Olivia’s shell. I was glad to have a main character represented as plus size, but Hardee almost makes no mention of it. Besides Cardic mentioning one time that she liked Olivia’s large breasts and curves, that was it. I felt like it was a bit of a missed opportunity.
I want to make clear I didn’t think this was bad or would tell anyone to stay away. There was just nothing to get me really excited about or really entertained. While this book wasn’t any better than okay to me, I would give Hardee another chance.
An ARC was given to me by BSB, for a honest review.
March 22, 2019
Olivia Reynolds is a manager at an athletic wear company dedicated exclusively to her job. She likes no-strings relationships and to be always in control. Cardic Lawson is a cultural anthropology professor dedicated to the study of polygamy and a firm disbeliever in committed relationships. After a chance encounter and acknowledging their mutual attraction, they decide to engage in a casual relationship. But as things start to get heated and their relationship develops, will they recognise their own changing feelings? Will Olivia be able to let go of her need to control everything?
This novel deals with different interesting issues such as commitment, polygamy vs. monogamy and body image. The author dedicated this book to all plus-size ladies and includes one of them as a lead. Kudos to Ms. Hardee for writing a plus-size character comfortable in her own skin and for discussing the neglectful attitude of the fashion industry towards large clothing sizes. It's also very interesting the way the story connects Cardic's anthropological research subject (polygamy vs monogamy) and the main romantic plot.
Having said that, there are some issues in the execution of the story. It was hard for me to see the development of the mains' chemistry from the no-strings sex to a more meaningful lovemaking. The author sets the tone very well for a detached relationship but, in my opinion, fails to develop it into a romance in a believable way. Maybe it's because the balance between telling and showing is a bit off and it's hard to see the characters' changes through their behaviour rather than from what the author tells us. Despite this, 'Undiscovered affinity' is a good read that might appeal the fans of no-strings to romance stories.
Overall, a good romance that deals with commitment, monogamy and losing control. 3.5 stars.
ARC provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
This novel deals with different interesting issues such as commitment, polygamy vs. monogamy and body image. The author dedicated this book to all plus-size ladies and includes one of them as a lead. Kudos to Ms. Hardee for writing a plus-size character comfortable in her own skin and for discussing the neglectful attitude of the fashion industry towards large clothing sizes. It's also very interesting the way the story connects Cardic's anthropological research subject (polygamy vs monogamy) and the main romantic plot.
Having said that, there are some issues in the execution of the story. It was hard for me to see the development of the mains' chemistry from the no-strings sex to a more meaningful lovemaking. The author sets the tone very well for a detached relationship but, in my opinion, fails to develop it into a romance in a believable way. Maybe it's because the balance between telling and showing is a bit off and it's hard to see the characters' changes through their behaviour rather than from what the author tells us. Despite this, 'Undiscovered affinity' is a good read that might appeal the fans of no-strings to romance stories.
Overall, a good romance that deals with commitment, monogamy and losing control. 3.5 stars.
ARC provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
January 7, 2018
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review
I nearly didn’t read this because of the cover but I’m learning to look beyond the first page and in this case I’m really glad I did. Cardic (I struggled a bit with this name) is a cultural anthropologist just returned from studying and living with a little known tribe in the Amazon. She’s easy going, flirtatious and doesn’t believe in monogamy professionally or personally. Olivia is a brand manager for a sportswear company that is introducing a plus line into its brand. She’s controlling, ambitious, a workaholic and doesn’t believe in love everlasting.
Seems like a match made in hell. The fire, sparks and heat are definitely in this story but it’s so much more than that. It’s a relief to finally have a character with a sexy fuller figure, also one who is comfortable in her body and sexuality, even if Olivia is somewhat uptight. Anthropologist is also not a career choice that comes up often and I liked the way the tribe (fictional or not) was used as a mirror to Cardic’s beliefs.
There is some great power play between Olivia and Cardic that not only gave them some sizzling chemistry but also reflected the development of their relationship. The secondary characters were interesting in their own right.
This is definitely worth reading. 4.5 stars rounded up.
I nearly didn’t read this because of the cover but I’m learning to look beyond the first page and in this case I’m really glad I did. Cardic (I struggled a bit with this name) is a cultural anthropologist just returned from studying and living with a little known tribe in the Amazon. She’s easy going, flirtatious and doesn’t believe in monogamy professionally or personally. Olivia is a brand manager for a sportswear company that is introducing a plus line into its brand. She’s controlling, ambitious, a workaholic and doesn’t believe in love everlasting.
Seems like a match made in hell. The fire, sparks and heat are definitely in this story but it’s so much more than that. It’s a relief to finally have a character with a sexy fuller figure, also one who is comfortable in her body and sexuality, even if Olivia is somewhat uptight. Anthropologist is also not a career choice that comes up often and I liked the way the tribe (fictional or not) was used as a mirror to Cardic’s beliefs.
There is some great power play between Olivia and Cardic that not only gave them some sizzling chemistry but also reflected the development of their relationship. The secondary characters were interesting in their own right.
This is definitely worth reading. 4.5 stars rounded up.
January 19, 2018
2.5-3 stars
Olivia is obsessed with her work and climbing the corporate ladder. She works her staff into the ground, and doesn’t treat herself any better. She rationalises the idea that she doesn’t have the time or energy for a relationship as a way of avoiding any sort of commitment.
Cardic is an anthropologist just back from a trip in Africa. Specialising in how cultures deal with marriage, monogamy, polygamy and relationships in general, she is convinced that monogamy isn’t for the human species, and definitely not for her.
When they literally run into each other one day, it is clear that their attraction will impact more than their physical selves.
This is an interesting idea from Hardee. There was quite a lot for her to play with when dealing with Cardic, as a forthright and interested butch who likes control but is carefree enough to let it go. However, Olivia is a fairly standard control freak who comes across as a pain in the neck, and god help her staff; you wouldn’t want to be one of the poor souls who works for her. I did really like that she was written as a large woman, and was considered to be attractive. I thought more could have been made of this in the sex scenes, as although Hardee dealt with it well in the work scenes, she overlooked this completely in Olivia's relationship with Cardic.
Firstly, the cover is fairly lurid and doesn’t suit the book. Apologies to the illustrator, but I would recommend changing it completely. However, the real problem was one of tone. It felt like Hardee was trying to hedge her bets; one foot in the romantic monogamy once we fall truly in love camp, and the other foot in the erotic fiction (sex is completely separate to emotion) camp. It isn’t that the two can’t be combined, so much as it never quite felt like a romance (too many control issues and way too much graphic sex without much emotion attached), and it wasn’t really an erotic fiction book either (too many of the scenes were cut short or seemed to finish a bit oddly).
There were some things to like in this, but it was hard to like Olivia, and the control issues seemed to come up all the time for both of the characters. I hope that the next book by Hardee helps her to find a path that works better for her characters and her tone. I think she’s definitely worth keeping an eye on though; I look forward to seeing how she develops from here.
Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
Olivia is obsessed with her work and climbing the corporate ladder. She works her staff into the ground, and doesn’t treat herself any better. She rationalises the idea that she doesn’t have the time or energy for a relationship as a way of avoiding any sort of commitment.
Cardic is an anthropologist just back from a trip in Africa. Specialising in how cultures deal with marriage, monogamy, polygamy and relationships in general, she is convinced that monogamy isn’t for the human species, and definitely not for her.
When they literally run into each other one day, it is clear that their attraction will impact more than their physical selves.
This is an interesting idea from Hardee. There was quite a lot for her to play with when dealing with Cardic, as a forthright and interested butch who likes control but is carefree enough to let it go. However, Olivia is a fairly standard control freak who comes across as a pain in the neck, and god help her staff; you wouldn’t want to be one of the poor souls who works for her. I did really like that she was written as a large woman, and was considered to be attractive. I thought more could have been made of this in the sex scenes, as although Hardee dealt with it well in the work scenes, she overlooked this completely in Olivia's relationship with Cardic.
Firstly, the cover is fairly lurid and doesn’t suit the book. Apologies to the illustrator, but I would recommend changing it completely. However, the real problem was one of tone. It felt like Hardee was trying to hedge her bets; one foot in the romantic monogamy once we fall truly in love camp, and the other foot in the erotic fiction (sex is completely separate to emotion) camp. It isn’t that the two can’t be combined, so much as it never quite felt like a romance (too many control issues and way too much graphic sex without much emotion attached), and it wasn’t really an erotic fiction book either (too many of the scenes were cut short or seemed to finish a bit oddly).
There were some things to like in this, but it was hard to like Olivia, and the control issues seemed to come up all the time for both of the characters. I hope that the next book by Hardee helps her to find a path that works better for her characters and her tone. I think she’s definitely worth keeping an eye on though; I look forward to seeing how she develops from here.
Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
January 13, 2018
3 stars
An ok read for fans of butch-femme relationships with lots of sex scenes. Although the main theme "no love, no ties, no drama, no strings, just sex" was not very original one thing was - one of the leads was a plus-size woman. This story was fine for a couple of hours of light reading.
eARC via NetGalley
An ok read for fans of butch-femme relationships with lots of sex scenes. Although the main theme "no love, no ties, no drama, no strings, just sex" was not very original one thing was - one of the leads was a plus-size woman. This story was fine for a couple of hours of light reading.
eARC via NetGalley
January 21, 2018
Actually liked this better than I thought I would, it still isn’t a great read. For the first half of the book I just wanted to put it down and be done with it. With the old adage of not judging a book by its cover in mind, the cover is way worse than the book.
January 31, 2018
I feel like this is yet again a lesfic book that suffered because of length. The characters were interesting. The back stories were good. But there just wasn't enough depth to connect and FEEL it. I think there could have been. There were moments when it really almost hit the mark. There is a lot of sex in this book. With the strong and intense chemistry supposedly there, the sex scenes were surprisingly vanilla. I feel with more depth, which would have meant a longer book, this could have been really really great. The "bones" were there. But instead, it was just ok.
It's an interesting twist to the common formula.
I received an arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's an interesting twist to the common formula.
I received an arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2018
An ARC rec'd from NetGalley/Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
This is a romance with sex that fizzled for me because there was no chemistry between the main characters. While I struggled to finish this read, I am willing to give future books by Ms. Hardee
another chance.
2.5 stars
This is a romance with sex that fizzled for me because there was no chemistry between the main characters. While I struggled to finish this read, I am willing to give future books by Ms. Hardee
another chance.
2.5 stars
February 10, 2018
An ARC was Kindly provided by the publisher but all opinions are my own.
Undiscovered Affinity was a sweet f/f novel about two high-functioning, career driven women, who both detest relationships and monogamy.
I thought this book was something different than it was, mainly based on the cover. But it's not an erotica. Honestly, it's quite sweet, even if the women - Cardic and Olivia - did get on my nerves a little bit.
Olivia was a little difficult to like, but I eventually warmed up to her. Not because she was so career-driven - I actually like that about her - but because she was so dead set against relationships and love. She was very rigid in her belief that all romantic relationships are bad, despite never having been in one. And the constant discussion about that got a little dry. However, I did really like Cardic and I really enjoyed the descriptions of her work.
I do recommend this book, though, if you're looking for something quick, light, and fluffy.
Undiscovered Affinity was a sweet f/f novel about two high-functioning, career driven women, who both detest relationships and monogamy.
I thought this book was something different than it was, mainly based on the cover. But it's not an erotica. Honestly, it's quite sweet, even if the women - Cardic and Olivia - did get on my nerves a little bit.
Olivia was a little difficult to like, but I eventually warmed up to her. Not because she was so career-driven - I actually like that about her - but because she was so dead set against relationships and love. She was very rigid in her belief that all romantic relationships are bad, despite never having been in one. And the constant discussion about that got a little dry. However, I did really like Cardic and I really enjoyed the descriptions of her work.
I do recommend this book, though, if you're looking for something quick, light, and fluffy.
May 9, 2018
This book was provided for free by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I definitely seem to have liked this one a lot more than my fellow lesfic readers!
From the beginning, both Cardic and Olivia felt like full characters, even apart from one another. I hate when I read a romance that has two people who seem to have no lives or ambitions apart from sex or romance. I got just as invested in Olivia's athletic-wear line and Cardic's anthropological research as I did in their romance. Of course, that's a big part of the story itself--both women have no time for love, so they'll happily fall into a no-strings relationship.
And it goes fine and all is well. Just kidding.
I had a hopeless crush on both characters, and when they got together, it was fire every time. Olivia is a type-A toppy femme and Cardic is a laid-back toppy butch, so there's some delicious, playful push-pull as they both try to keep each other at arm's length and fail. I really liked how Olivia demanded control and was the "dominant" one in a butch/femme relationship. Her assertiveness and Cardic's lazy charm created sparks on every page. And I'm just such a hopeless lesbian, because they're both so hot...Olivia, a plus-size redhead going jogging in a lavender sports bra? Cardic being a loving aunt in her white-button down with rolled-up sleeves? Guh.
Where was I?
Ah, yes. Halfway through this book, I was thinking it was an easy five stars. They slowly got closer and closer, the sex got more and more intimate, their walls started breaking down. But soon, I started wondering why they were pushing so hard to keep it casual. In some works, like the movie Trainwreck, monogamy-averse characters have major reasons why they don't want to settle down with someone. But in this book, Cardic and Olivia's small reasons (a rigid work schedule, a philandering father) just seemed too flimsy to keep them apart, even though they had such a good time together.
I needed some more goodness in the final third of the book. I wanted to see those layers peeled back a little more, their walls come down a little harder. I needed a final big gesture before they got back together. But it ended...not with a fizzle, but certainly not with a bang. I just needed more, because they are such good characters who deserved a meatier story.
I'll definitely be reading more of Jane Hardee's works. She creates awesome, believable female characters with awesome chemistry. The story structure just needed a little bit of tweaking for it to be perfect.
I definitely seem to have liked this one a lot more than my fellow lesfic readers!
From the beginning, both Cardic and Olivia felt like full characters, even apart from one another. I hate when I read a romance that has two people who seem to have no lives or ambitions apart from sex or romance. I got just as invested in Olivia's athletic-wear line and Cardic's anthropological research as I did in their romance. Of course, that's a big part of the story itself--both women have no time for love, so they'll happily fall into a no-strings relationship.
And it goes fine and all is well. Just kidding.
I had a hopeless crush on both characters, and when they got together, it was fire every time. Olivia is a type-A toppy femme and Cardic is a laid-back toppy butch, so there's some delicious, playful push-pull as they both try to keep each other at arm's length and fail. I really liked how Olivia demanded control and was the "dominant" one in a butch/femme relationship. Her assertiveness and Cardic's lazy charm created sparks on every page. And I'm just such a hopeless lesbian, because they're both so hot...Olivia, a plus-size redhead going jogging in a lavender sports bra? Cardic being a loving aunt in her white-button down with rolled-up sleeves? Guh.
Where was I?
Ah, yes. Halfway through this book, I was thinking it was an easy five stars. They slowly got closer and closer, the sex got more and more intimate, their walls started breaking down. But soon, I started wondering why they were pushing so hard to keep it casual. In some works, like the movie Trainwreck, monogamy-averse characters have major reasons why they don't want to settle down with someone. But in this book, Cardic and Olivia's small reasons (a rigid work schedule, a philandering father) just seemed too flimsy to keep them apart, even though they had such a good time together.
I needed some more goodness in the final third of the book. I wanted to see those layers peeled back a little more, their walls come down a little harder. I needed a final big gesture before they got back together. But it ended...not with a fizzle, but certainly not with a bang. I just needed more, because they are such good characters who deserved a meatier story.
I'll definitely be reading more of Jane Hardee's works. She creates awesome, believable female characters with awesome chemistry. The story structure just needed a little bit of tweaking for it to be perfect.
February 20, 2018
A tough-to-put-down steamy love story between two strong and stubborn protagonists who refuse to fall in love with each other. Anthropologist Cardic has just returned from fieldwork in the Amazon when she, literally, bumps into all-work-and-no-play corporate overachiever Olivia. After agreeing to a no-strings-attached sex-only arrangement, both women have to re-examine what it means to be happy and learn how to confront a future they never planned on. Snappy comebacks and scorching sex scenes (that, thankfully, never overwhelm the story) pull together a nicely-paced tale of digging deep to discover one's true nature and how we relate to others.
September 10, 2019
I really enjoyed Cardic and Olivia and would have loved to see so much more about their journey
February 28, 2024
I really think this is a very very very good book and I’m really surprised for the low rating received so far. I’ve read tons of lez books that get 4 or even 5 stars just because they are the sequel of the sequel... but frankly, most of them are quite boring with the same hollow soup.
For once I read a book without checking the rating or some review beforehand, and I’m grateful, because I wouldn’t have read it and now I know I would have regretted it.
I hope ms Hardee will write more books because I think she’s talented. I’d like to suggest her to write more pages of the two characters once the story’s unwrapped unless... there’s going to be a sequel, that would be more than welcome. I think Olivia and Cardic have much more to say
For once I read a book without checking the rating or some review beforehand, and I’m grateful, because I wouldn’t have read it and now I know I would have regretted it.
I hope ms Hardee will write more books because I think she’s talented. I’d like to suggest her to write more pages of the two characters once the story’s unwrapped unless... there’s going to be a sequel, that would be more than welcome. I think Olivia and Cardic have much more to say
September 26, 2018
Good
You know the thing about being "friends with benefits" ? Well this is all about that😁 . This has made for some steamy love scene that's so hot your toes curl. But......Like all "friends with benefits" type; things rarely remains the same . The tension, the doubts , the fear, the list makes for an entertaining story that leaves you satisfied. Quiet simply. I like this story.
You know the thing about being "friends with benefits" ? Well this is all about that😁 . This has made for some steamy love scene that's so hot your toes curl. But......Like all "friends with benefits" type; things rarely remains the same . The tension, the doubts , the fear, the list makes for an entertaining story that leaves you satisfied. Quiet simply. I like this story.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews