Regina (virgosun) reviewed Behind the Red Door: Wickedly Ever After / Scandalously Ever After / Sinfully Ever After on + 889 more book reviews
3.8 stars A very good trio of shorts by the same author. Central theme: a brothel with a red door where three interconnected couples find their version of sexual exploration and HEAs. Solid, unusual issues to overcome with descriptive sex scenes. Hot, but not raw.
Jessica (Sweetpea172006) - , reviewed Behind the Red Door: Wickedly Ever After / Scandalously Ever After / Sinfully Ever After on + 178 more book reviews
BEHIND THE RED DOOR is a volume of erotic romance novellas set in
Regency England that have several connecting factors. The most
significant factor is that each novella has scenes that take place in
a high-class brothel that has, you guessed it, a red door. The overall
tone of all three novellas is light and mostly sweet, sort of an
erotic throwback to the traditional Regencies that don't seem to get
published much anymore. All three stories are plotted appropriately
for their wordcount restrictions, without the "whole book crammed into
a tiny space" feel that shorter works by novelists tend to have. The
author interweaves characters in the three stories without it seeming
forced, and each story escalates in level of erotic content in a way
that makes the stories flow together as a harmonious whole.
In "Wickedly Ever After", the author pairs a sexually experienced hero
with a bad reputation and a bluestocking heroine with combustible
results. The story begins with a naughty dare and continues in the
same vein. The hero teases and coaxes the heroine into bed with a
sense of fun that is far too rare in the subgenre of erotic romance.
"Scandalously Ever After" is a touch more serious. Both the hero and
heroine are in need of some sexual healing, which they gladly find in
one another. This unconventional romance between a war veteran and a
courtesan is tender and seductive. It gets wrapped up with a less
believable happy ending than the other two stories, but it is still a
solid, enjoyable entry in this trilogy.
The last story, "Sinfully Ever After," features a saucy "Plain Jane"
heroine readers got to meet in the previous stories who gets a happier
ending with her licentious rake of a fiance than either of them
expected. Technically the "hottest" of the three stories, readers
should find that the increased eroticism suits the plot, which is
another innocent miss and experienced rake pairing--with a twist.
I'm a big fan of historical romance, but I'm also a very picky reader. I like my historical romances to be rich, real, descriptive, and, of course, HOT. This trio of novellas by newcomer Jackie Barbosa hit on every thing I love about the genre. What a pleasant surprise!
Each novella is tied to the Red Door brothel in London. I liked how each of her characters were very distinct people with unique problems. These are stories with depth and feeling. The characters had to work for their happy endings, and I appreciate the intelligence within these 304 pages.
Ms. Barbosa is headed for bigger things, I'm sure. I can't wait for her to come out with a full-length book.
Regency England that have several connecting factors. The most
significant factor is that each novella has scenes that take place in
a high-class brothel that has, you guessed it, a red door. The overall
tone of all three novellas is light and mostly sweet, sort of an
erotic throwback to the traditional Regencies that don't seem to get
published much anymore. All three stories are plotted appropriately
for their wordcount restrictions, without the "whole book crammed into
a tiny space" feel that shorter works by novelists tend to have. The
author interweaves characters in the three stories without it seeming
forced, and each story escalates in level of erotic content in a way
that makes the stories flow together as a harmonious whole.
In "Wickedly Ever After", the author pairs a sexually experienced hero
with a bad reputation and a bluestocking heroine with combustible
results. The story begins with a naughty dare and continues in the
same vein. The hero teases and coaxes the heroine into bed with a
sense of fun that is far too rare in the subgenre of erotic romance.
"Scandalously Ever After" is a touch more serious. Both the hero and
heroine are in need of some sexual healing, which they gladly find in
one another. This unconventional romance between a war veteran and a
courtesan is tender and seductive. It gets wrapped up with a less
believable happy ending than the other two stories, but it is still a
solid, enjoyable entry in this trilogy.
The last story, "Sinfully Ever After," features a saucy "Plain Jane"
heroine readers got to meet in the previous stories who gets a happier
ending with her licentious rake of a fiance than either of them
expected. Technically the "hottest" of the three stories, readers
should find that the increased eroticism suits the plot, which is
another innocent miss and experienced rake pairing--with a twist.
I'm a big fan of historical romance, but I'm also a very picky reader. I like my historical romances to be rich, real, descriptive, and, of course, HOT. This trio of novellas by newcomer Jackie Barbosa hit on every thing I love about the genre. What a pleasant surprise!
Each novella is tied to the Red Door brothel in London. I liked how each of her characters were very distinct people with unique problems. These are stories with depth and feeling. The characters had to work for their happy endings, and I appreciate the intelligence within these 304 pages.
Ms. Barbosa is headed for bigger things, I'm sure. I can't wait for her to come out with a full-length book.
Glenna G. (keno) reviewed Behind the Red Door: Wickedly Ever After / Scandalously Ever After / Sinfully Ever After on + 869 more book reviews
ohhh fast paced and i loved it!
