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The Painted Lady
The Painted Lady
Avery Sterling | 2024 | Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Delaney deals with a lot here!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Delaney comes to New Orleans after her mother dies, to find she is now the owner of The Bird House, a brothel. Meeting Alderic is the bright light in a dark place. But Alderic is a smuggler, and Delaney is now a Madam, The Painted Lady. They walk in different circles. Someone, however, wants The Bird House.

What I liked about this, was Delaney did not know what her mother did. She was sent away as a child, and has not returned home for a long time. Remi (who turns out to be far more than a bodyguard!) is her only connection to her mother. But once Delaney got her head round the idea, she embraced it. I loved that the girls in The Bird House were all there voluntarily.

I liked that it took Alderic a LONG time to figure things out! Loved how he got Delaney back!

It's not explicit, at all, given where Delaney now lives, but it is emotional. Delaney deals with a lot here, and it takes a toll.

I'm left intrigued, though. By Alderic's partner, Nye, and his new wife, Sarafina. They have a book that preceeds this one, I want to go back and read it. I have a feeling that Sarafina was a shock to Nye's system!

4 very good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Dragon's Mate Volume Three: Books 8-11
Dragon's Mate Volume Three: Books 8-11
Hope Bennett | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I needed previous books
Independent reviewer for GRR, I was gifted my copy of thi box set, 3 books and a novella.

These are books 8-11 in the Dragon's Mate series, and I think, that I SHOULD have read the other books first. It came with a prior reading not required, so I jumped in. And I'm fairly certain I missed something along the way by not reading the previous 7 books.

These 3 main books kinda of overlap each other. Almost layer upon layer, there were the same scenes repeated in multiple books, granted from other points of view, but still. It got a bit...tedious, and I wasn't really enjoying those bits.

I LIKED that all 6 of the couples had a say. I liked the pairings were mismatched and very different. I liked each couples quirks. I liked that everyone came together in the end in the short novella to tie up ends.

It's steamy, but I didn't find it ever so explicit. A little bit of violence in some places, but not too much.

I *DID* like this, I really did, I just think I should have read the previous books first. I think I would have had a better picture of what was going on with those dragon who had been banished/left in the previous books, and seen the BIGGER picture, is all.

3 very good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere