Eve spent the last eighteen months surrounded by poverty, far from her life of luxury as a billionaire heiress. Now, it’s time to go home, but first, she needs to handover her project to the charity’s director: the passionate and opinionated Julien. Sparks instantly fly, and when they realize they both have plans in Toronto before Christmas, they agree to meet up.
Julien has spent his life to helping those in need but his encounter with Eve has him focused on his own needs for once; his, and Eve’s. Unfortunately, his plans in the city directly conflict with Eve’s in a way that neither of them expected.
Can these opposites find common ground, or will this holiday romance end in a standoff?
If you're looking for sweet and steamy romance, you've come to the right place! I started reading romance novels in my early teens and writing them soon afterwards; growing up in small towns in western Canada, there wasn't much else to do! Luckily, those early stories have never seen the light of day.
Now, I live in the UK with my husband and daughter and spend my free time diving into magical or just romantic settings where true love (almost) always wins.
First! If you don't like kink or reading saucy material then this is not for you! However if your like me and love all things saucy with a kink then jump on in!
Eve finally gets her story, and I was not expecting the way this went! Without giving spoilers away, I love how it's finally a woman taking control ;)
I have been patiently waiting for Eve’s book, and I freaking love it! Julien and Eve are a perfect match! I highly recommend this book! Melody Tyden, you are amazing! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!!!
This book is out of the ordinary in the way that usually your ready about a male DOM but in this book, the roles are changed and you have a female DOM. While the male character is submissive to her, he’s also the one teaching her because this is an entirely new roll she is taking on.
This is a strangers to lovers romance for sure. And that’s not a trope I ever really considered to like but now I do. This book is #5 in the series, and gives you the view point of Eve and Julien. Two equally interesting characters.
This book definitely wasn’t a slow burn, there was spice within the first chapter. But, it did feel like a slow burn in the way of the plot. But once you get farther into the book you start to learn more and get more of a background on the characters. But it also took a long break in the spice department before it picked back up again.
I think that stocking stand-off was definitely a great addition to the already amazing series and I love that it’s not repetition. Sometimes with this many books in a series stuff seems to be repetitive and she does such a good job of making them all different! If you haven’t read the other books that okay, because these CAN be read as stand alone for the most part
Overall I did enjoy the book! I rate it 4/5 stars and maybe 2.75/5 on the smut scale just because the long break I’m smut.
If you are looking for spice, you found it. Truly from the first to last chapter. I loved the story between Eve and Julien. From strangers to Dom/Sub relationship but with a twist. This time the MFC is the Dom. I enjoyed it very much. The story had character growth as well which I very much enjoy. If you love a cute Christmas story with some sexy smut look no further.
When I started this book, I had mixed feelings if I was going to like it or not. Once, I pushed past the first 2 chapters I devoured this book. I love the chemistry between Julien and Eve and they way the interact together.
This was an interesting read since it’s not my usual thing.
3.5 stars 3.5 on the spice.
Eve and Julien meet at a dance club in Quito not realizing they have similar kinks.
She’s a domme discovering herself and he’s an experienced sub. He shows her the ropes while developing an actual romantic connection which is a first for both of them.
Since I’m not familiar with this lifestyle it was interesting to read about the rules and dynamics. Also typically the woman is the sub in most books I read so this was a role reversal.
This was low angst and informative. They do have several scenes that were spicy if you are into that role reversal.
I couldn’t read it fast enough! It was very detailed, and had me hooked from the first few pages. I hate books that it just drags on and on without any suspense or action but this isn’t it!
I really enjoyed this book, I loved how the purple dynamic slightly mirrors Cole and Gemma but still has its own story to tell. It’s sweet and heartfelt, then steamy and seductive in others! Another fantastic addition to the series!
I honestly loved this. I thought it was so cute and easy to read. I had never read a book where the female is the Dominant. I liked seeing a woman take charge. The characters are easy to love and to root for. It’s part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone as I did. There is spice within the first chapter, no slow burn but with this book being on the shorter side - it works. There is a break in the spice for character and plot development. I was rooting for the characters by the end. She is learning to accept her sexuality and role as a dominant and he learns that money is not the root of all evil.
I have been waiting for Eve's story, and it didn't disappoint!
Though you don't need to read any of the books in the series before this one, we learned in the fourth book (Gingerbread Gamble) that Eve was struggling with having her life planned out for her. She had a bit of a social conscience and working for her family's luxury hotel brand didn't appeal to her. At the end of that book, her dad (Cole - swoon) agrees that she can go and volunteer for a year after college to get a taste of life outside her gilded circle before making any decisions.
As Stocking Standoff starts, we're at the end of Eve's year abroad. The experience has solidified her ambitions to do more with her life than work for Stamer Hotels, but before she can have that conversation, she has a very sexy and unexpected encounter with a stranger. The initial scene between them (in Chapter 1 - no waiting around!) was probably my favourite in the whole book. They fall into their dynamic so naturally, and I love how much Eve takes after her dad. ;)
However, things get a bit more complicated when the sexy stranger turns out to be related to the charity Eve has been volunteering with, and someone she might need to have a professional relationship with going forward. Despite that, they have no intention of staying away from each other, not when the chemistry between them is so hot.
I loved how Julien was the older, more experienced one, teaching Eve things, but also completely submissive when the situation called for it. And when he starts speaking French... so hot!
It's pretty obvious where the drama's going to be, and my only real 'complaint' about the book is that once the drama starts, it feels like a long wait for more sexy times. In the world of the book it's really only a few days, but I just wanted more!
Overall, this a great addition to the series with a very different dynamic to the other couples. I can't wait to reread all the books at Christmas time!
If you are looking for a book with amazing bdsm representation then this is the book for you! I absolutely adored that the ‘typical’ roles were revered in this book. The female was the dom and the male was the sub. I was absolutely loving this book up until I realized it was going to be a miscommunication trope, but that is just personal opinion. I’ve never been a fan of them and this book wasn’t the exception.
Pros of this book: I love the representation of the BDSM community, and this book taught me many things I didn’t know about the kink. I adored Eve and how she was confident and held herself to a standard and wouldn’t let anyone around her settle for less.
Cons of this book: In my personal opinion, I’ve never seen a miscommunication trope well written. I also wish we got more obvious drama out of Claire. I was suspicious of her from the start, but it was only just suspicions until the very end. I also didn’t really like Julien in the end of the book. I liked him in the beginning but in the end I think he was not a great man.
I was sent this as an ARC. This is #5 in the Christmas in the City, but can be read as a standalone. Although this is the first dom/sub book I've read since 50 shades. It is my first ever book where the dom is a female. I absolutely loved it I was sucked in from the beginning and the story was so fluid throughout and has such an ease to Julien and Eve's story. I loved the fact that although she was a natural dom, he still had so much to teach her. Their chemistry was so amazing and kept you hooked throughout. My only complaint is the French throughout parts of the book. Although, in most parts, is is interpreted in English in a subsequent sentence. There were parts that were heavy on the French, and the person I am had to look up the meaning and pronunciation, and that took away from the fluidity of the story for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This story was amazing about a girl who came back from over seas and meet a man that had a softer side to them. They were able to explore femdom aspect of their relationship and boy, it was hot. The narrators did a fantastic job, the accent of the male narrator will make you melt. I sure felt the steam come to live through this audio. The narrators brought this story to live and made you feel like it was a very personal story to them and you felt like you were right there in the room living it with them. Absolutely loved Melody’s story cant wait to listen to more audios of hers.
We’ve learned a lot about Eve in the past books but wow there is so much more. She took her year to work for a charity and give back and good thing she did because as she was leaving South America she met Julien. They had instant chemistry, off the charts. Little,did they know they were both headed to the same place soon. And away we go. Fun, some angst, a lot of,hot. Plus we got to connect with some characters from the previous books. Enjoy their story. Loved this read.
I experienced every emotion... Okay maybe not EVERY, but enough...while reading this book. I wasn't prepared to be as upset with Julian as I was there for a while, but once we heard from his mother, it all made sense. There were times where I wished he would have stood up for himself more (with people other than Eve) but he was too much of a people pleaser to rock the boat. I recognized myself in him quite a bit and that's probably why he made me grumpy🤣
I really enjoyed this book, it is a strangers to lovers, dom/sub romance. This book has a bit of a role reversal, I haven't read many where the female becomes the dominant one.
I like the dynamic between Eve and Julienne, I can almost hear his French accent the way the author describes it and it sounds sexy as hell! They have a very easy friendship straight from the start.
The way the story started, I was expecting to not like it because the spice starts right away, but then it slowed down and was a very cute story. Definitely worth a read!
Melody I have loved the whole book except the ending, i love how you did slow burn so they can get to know each other. I had a feeling from the start that it would blow up at the charity event. I hope we get to know more about what happens between them. Maybe you could one day do the kids of eve, liv and Noelle. Excited for the next one.
Ugh I’m so disappointed in this one. I loved the first four books in this series & was really looking forward to Eves book. However, this one was a huge let down. I felt zero connection or chemistry between our FMC & MMC. It didn’t even feel like this book was written by the same author or even took place in the same world as the first four books.
This was a beautiful story of Eve and Julien finding each other, and growing together in their Domme/sub relationship. Their connection and chemistry was felt on the pages. I really wasn't sure I'd like Eve's story, but she immediately won my heart with her strength and determination. Great read!!
MOMMY SORRY MOMMY. Kinky. Spicy. Unexpected. I loved Eve's story and her finding the perfect partner in Julien. In this genre, you always find so many dom/sub books (which are great!), but Madame E being the domme was the perfect twist! I also was a huge fan of the ironic twist at the end.
I absolutely enjoyed this story! I think Eve and Julien are perfect for each other and yes they face challenges like all couples do and one of it concerns their fundamental self but I loved that we got to explore their feelings together and we get to see their happy ending!
I don't know what happened to my review of this one, but it disappeared and was replaced with a replica of a review of a different book.
I remember this one pretty well because I love the Christmas in the City series. This is where Eve meets Julian. Thinking it'll just be a one-night stand, she hooks up with Julien on her last night before returning back to the other side of the world. She shows her dominant side, even though she has never really thought of that side of herself. And Julien is a submissive who is very much looking for a domme.
The next day, they are both stunned to end up in the same meeting. He is interviewing her. She had used a fake name, so he has no clue to her true identity as a millionaire heir.
They bicker back and forth when he finds out who she really is. He's prejudiced against wealthy people, so she hid that from him as they spent more and more time together.
This is my favourite of the 'kids' books. I still think Cole and Gemma were my favourite
Eve has just finished a year helping women in underprivileged countries. She is waiting to meet with one of the heads of the foundation before she flies off to meet her father.
She goes to a club where she meets Julien. They hit it off right away and her natural dominance and confidence is exactly what Julien likes so he invites her to his hotel. When they get there its obvious to Julien that Eve is kind of new to been a dom but he does a good job walking her through some of it (which i appreciated as i don't know much about female doms) some of it she just picks it up naturally.
They get interrupted by the fire alarm and she says bye thinking its a shame she will never see him again but of course who is she there to meet the next day. Julien is basically her boss. She also finds he hates all things money. He hates wealthy people, how they can do what they want and hurt anyone to get it. He has issues
So, she doesn't tell him who she is. They figure out they are going to be in the same place for a while so he invites her to his house. While she is there and after they have had sex she goes to get water and his assistant just walks in. Now Julien is supposed to be a smart man but he clearly can not see that his assistant is in love with him
So after a few weeks where he thinks he is falling for her he finds out her last name is Stamer (she was using mums maiden name) and he dumps her. He is actually a proper dick about it and i didn't like him in that moment!
She goes to see his mum and he goes to see her dad and i actually thought they were on track to get back together but he messed it up. Made it sound like accepting her and her family was this great big thing he was doing. He said 'i can learn to live with it' and this was my favourite part, she said no. She said she wasn't going to let him settle for her and she definitely wasn't going to settle for someone who didn't love everything about her. You go girl!!
She is giving a presentation for the board where Julien works and she tries to ignore him but when the internet goes down and she cant show her slide show Julien jumps up to help. While he is out of the room his assistant says some horrible things about Eve. Saying she slept with Julien to get in with the company and blah blah. Julien overhears and sticks up for Eve. Telling the board how amazing she is and in that moment realises he is just like his assistant. Judging Eve because her dad has money. He fires the assistant then thanks her and says she made him realise he was making a big mistake.
He finds Eve and apologises properly and she accepts. He asks to go look at the hotel to prove his is okay with her wealth and then he flies to New York to meet everyone else.
There were some nice moments between Cole and Eve. When she tells him Julien doesn't like the fact she has money and Cole laughs and says he thought it was guys who only wanted her money he would have to be wary of.
I actually really liked Eve. She stood up for herself, she was strong, she took no crap and i'm glad she didn't just forgive Julien straight away.
He was a bit of a mess and it was all his mom's fault really but once she told him the truth he realised his anger was misplaced. He does need therapy though.
This is the first book i have read where there is a female Dom. I didn't hate it but i don't think i would seek out another book like that. But i wouldn't mind if one came up in a series like this one
I don't know what the fascination is with these kids and there parents sex life. Its super weird and Eve even shows Julien her parents sex room. Super weird!