The Queen is BACK. One of my favorites of 2019.

I first discovered this author years ago by way of a character named Jonathan Drazen. I was hooked. I devoured everything during a time that I was drowning in 22 credits, trying to keep my honor roll status, and sleep was an anomaly. Yet, I couldn't stop myself from devouring anything that this author wrote because this woman is on a level that many authors only strive to achieve. I have read almost every book that she has ever written but somehow they didn't quite measure up to my man Jonathan. Well, that definitely changed in this book because SWEET HOLY TITFIRE, dear old Jonathan has competition. Byron Crowne was everything decadent, delicious, devious, & downright dreamy. (My former literature professors would be so proud of me for that alliteration. Very glad my degree paid off). I digress..

This book had all the elements that I have come to expect from this author. The story was well crafted, had fierce characters that didn't give two pinches of squirrel crap if they seemed callous, cut-throat, or calculating, and culminated with sexual tension that teetered on obscene. The push and pull between the characters was everything. The subtle influences and references to the romantic era: from names, authors, quotes, and even Lord Byron himself had my literature degree loving self giddy with joy. Yet, there was something else here too, the author dug deep in regards to two topics that are often painful for people to have to deal with. Because of this I became even further vested in the story.

Byron had some baggage. I won't spoil the story but I could understand him. As the story progressed and I saw parts of his darker self in regards to what he liked mixed with some vulnerability I was a goner. Oliva also had her own issues but they were different than Byron. As a woman, I could understand and respect her decision to do what she needed to do in order to achieve her dream. The steam in this one including but not limited to Lord Byron's mouth... let me just say that it was hotter than an August sidewalk in Las Vegas. HOT. it didn't overpower the story but sweet holiest of titfires did it ever enhance it.

I cannot wait to see the next in this series. Nor can I express how happy my heart is that the QUEEN is back. this is definitely going in my all-time vault and in the best of 2019. ( )