Unleashed is the sexiest DARE book I've read so far. It's sexy from beginning to end, plus a little bit mush in the epilogue that had me crying in my pillow because I'm lonely af. I slept late finishing this book and I don't regret it one bit.

But first, let's get the not-so great out of the way first, shall we?

- WHAT *IS* THAT COVER? Too close-up. Not cute. Slightly creepy.
- I can't believe the hero's named Thor. I mean I got used to it as the story went but I still didn't like it.
- Hotel <i>Viking</i>??? Of all the names to give.......

That being said, these three things didn't make me enjoy the story any less so yeah.

***

Okay, like all the other DARE books I've read, I expected smut galore and I got that in Unleashed plus SO much more.

I did feel like this book was too smart for me at times, but anyway I very much enjoyed seeing Thor and Margot fighting (well, *Margot* was fighting; Thor just swatted her arguments with smirks oh I HATE that I love arrogant fictional men) about sex. They have different views on the subject; Margot's is more academic and focused on technicalities, Thor's more carnal.

I can't decide which is more entertaining, the sexual discourse or the sexual intercourse.

What I also love about this story is that the giving is a two-way street and not just Sexual Man Shows Repressed Woman A Whole New World, get it?

okay that's it that's my review now I need someone to love me now please-

Hello! Welcome to my review of Unleashed, it’s good to have you here. Before we begin, I need you to do me a favor and completely disregard that cover. It is… awkward and kind of creepy (what is that dude doing with his face?!) and not a reflection of the book. Thank you.

In Ms. Crews’ first book in Harlequin’s new Dare line, American professor Margot Cavendish is a skeptical sex researcher exploring Icelandic attitudes towards sex. Her final point of data collection is at Hotel Viking (little on the nose there, but I’ll allow it), which is essentially tourist destination for sexual fantasies. It’s owner is the enigmatic Thor Ragnarsson, who is intrigued by the straight laced Margot. When a snowstorm turns their brief conversation into a forced proximity sexual adventure, Margot and Thor both have to confront their stereotypes about each other before they commit to their happily ever after.

As with other Dare line books, you don’t really have to know more than that premise to know if you’re interested. The tropes are straight forward - take prim lady and wild dude, add forced proximity and creativity, and voila - and the execution of it is fun. This is the third book of the new line that I’ve read and it is, to me, the most successful. I think the main reason for this is that Crews’ skill at Presents books lends itself to this new format. She can develop characters quickly, and get from the introductions to the sex without too much plot and yet making the encounters seem genuine. These books are, essentially, erotic novellas and this one does what it says on the tin.

I did particularly enjoy the conversations about sexual behaviors in different cultures, and how Thor analyzed the American relationship with our Puritanical cultural origins. There were some holes in his logic, of course, and I was frustrated with Margot’s counter-arguments as they were all a bit shallow. Their happily ever after was a bit more tell than show, but overall? A sexy, engrossing read that fits within the stated purpose of the line and is good few-hundred-page escape from reality. Recommended for fans of forced proximity for sure.

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This was the sexiest thesis I've ever read. I was expecting a smut book but the dialogue between the two characters was thought provoking. It was femi ist erotica. I loved the last chapter and how it took place after a year and touched on how they made it work. A surprisingly good read

The Iceland is so hot right now, especially with the amount of travel photos I'm seeing all over my Instagram feed, so this was a fun change of pace and setting. This would be a great eBook to download before taking off on your trip the island, sure to get your pulse pounding and read for adventure.