
Member Reviews

I love romances where the characters take their time before getting together. It is frustrating, but I appreciate character development. For Charlotte and Lexi it seemed necessary. Though their chemistry is palpable and their banter is entertaining, they had a history that left scars and trust had to be rebuilt. However, once they did get together I needed an air conditioning vent pointing at me. Riley has a talent for writing sex scenes. Overall, I was very pleased with my first novel by Riley.

This was a wonderful story!!! Charlotte and Lexie had chemistry off the charts!! They had been in love when they were teens but Charlotte broke things off when she left to go off to college. They reconnected again ten years later when Charlotte went on her honeymoon cruise without her cheating fiance on the cruise line Lexi e worked for. They basically picked where they left off ten years prior. Their love was off the charts and their sexual magnetism was scorching!!! All in all, a very good story!!!

Firstly, you had be at romantic tension + cruise. That's what initially pulled me into this story. It was Charlotte and Lexi who kept me tied in, reading until the very last page. I devoured this in a single night. One of my favourite tropes in sapphic fiction, is the hometown sweetheart. Highschool loves where an external force separates them, fast forward and they're met with the same enthralling connection; so I showed no surprise at loving this novel. Fiona Riley wrote exceptionally, and I'd read more of her work based on this review itself.

Good story, couldn't wait to keep reading all what was going to happen. I look forward to reading more by Fiona Riley. She is great with words which is what helps to move a story along so much.

Charlotte Southwick finds herself in her honeymoon cruise alone and definitely not married. Last thing she expected was to bump into her first love, Lexi. Lexi Bronson has been in the cruise business for almost a decade. She is content bartending and not having a permanent address, that is until the woman that broke her heart long ago boards the ship.
This was a cute and quick read. Both characters were lovable and sexy. The chemistry was amazing and you are rooting for them from the beginning. The supporting characters were also interesting and I like the relationships they all had. Overall, this was a happy, sweet and romantic book.
I really enjoyed it and I will recommend it to friends.
I received this ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

After a decade, two lovers meet again on a cruise ship during two crossroads in their life. As they reunite, they must choose between customer and employee, friends or lovers. The drama unfolds when secrets and their past comes back.
This book is well written and was difficult to put down. The romantic drama that comes with lesbian romance novels was minimal but refreshing. I would recommend this book to anyone getting into this genre or who wants to binge this genre.

I loved this book. It was very tastefully written. The characters are very absorbing and especially set on a cruise. What could be better. I will certainly be looking for more books by Fiona Riley.

I absolutely adore queer fiction particularly about wlw because there is never enough of it (there could never be enough of it). Do yourself a favour and read this.

4.0 out of 5 stars.
Can two women reignite their relationship from a previous decade? That is the basis of this story.
Charlotte Southwick and Lexi Bronson were childhood sweethearts. They have a falling out and they separate. Charlotte goes off to college and eventually becomes a very successful graphic artist. Lexi leaves town and decides to take a job on a cruise ship. After ten years, Lexi has worked her way up the leadership ladder and is now the VIP event planner. She is also responsible for all of the bartenders on the ship.
Charlotte has just ended a long relationship by breaking off her engagement immediately prior to the wedding. Since she has already paid for the deluxe honeymoon cruise, Charlotte decides to go on it herself. As “luck” would have it, she connects with Lexi and the sparks fly. However, the cruise line has a strict policy against any romance between crew members and guests. So, Lexi and Charlotte decide to be friends and enjoy the time they have together. Is that even possible?
Although the plot is not complex, I enjoyed it. I love romances and found this book to be a very light read. The premise of the book is a little too hard to believe, but lovers of romance novels believe in fairy tales. I liked the characters of Lexi and Charlotte, and I was cheering for them throughout the book.
If you enjoy love stories, then Not Since You will be a good choice. I rate it with 4.0 out of 5 stars.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m going to start off by writing about a sex scene that pops up around three-quarters of the way through this book. (I’m not spoiling anything here, it’s pretty clear from reading the blurb that the main characters are going to end up in bed together.) The reason I’m zeroing in on this scene is that’s it’s about so much more than sex, or even any greater feelings between the characters; for me it’s about Charlotte, going solo in a luxury honeymoon cruise after she found out her bride-to-he was a serial cheater, reclaiming her own sense of her desirability and maybe even a piece of her dignity.
“In this dress.” “In and out of this dress.” Lexi reclaimed her lips as she let her hands explore Charlotte’s chest. “But let’s leave it on to start.” “Fuck.”
Being fucked with a strap-on (condom used – bonus points for safer sex Ms Reilly), by her high school ex and current cruise employee, while wearing her wedding dress is Charlotte's ultimate ‘fuck you’ to her ex-fiancée. I like that image so much I’m not even getting into the weirdness of bringing the dress.
As for the rest, well, apart from the places the boat is said to have stopped it pretty much read like a few other lesbians find love on cruises lesfic novels. The narrative arc was pretty predictable, there was the obligatory break up at the traditional point, before our lovers overcome the odds. (Can you hear my eyes rolling?). Some of the writing and editing is also weak: poor attribution of speech is common, as is inaccurate sequence, i.e. continuity errors. Finally, and far less importantly (but it got under my skin), the text includes the line: “Curaçao was gorgeous.” I’ve been there: Curaçao is an arid, miserable excuse for an island full of corrupt bankers, dodgy diamond dealers and really charming people bringing white powder in by boat from Columbia and having shoot-outs in the streets! Rant over…sorry…

Second chances are usually a sweet read but this one leans more heavily towards sexy. Definitely worth a read if this is what you're after. I liked the book and thought it delivered a good punch. I would have liked it more if it delved more into the character feelings from their first encounter.
3.5 stars

This is a Netgalley ARC review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Fiona Riley writes a realistic jilted bride, second chance romance in Not Since You. Charlotte and Lexie have chemistry that has been smoldering for years. What I wouldn't give to go on vacation and run into a former flame......But I digress.
I feel like the writing and dialogue are very believable and quite flirty. I felt like it could have been wrapped up a bit faster as I started to lose interest at the end.

I received this book complimentary from NetGalley but all opinions are my own.
This was really cute. I loved the plot and the characters. Paw Paw was my favorite but Lexi and Charlotte were excellent. I was hoping for a Veronica Lexi showdown with a little bit of Cookie but it ended so sweetly. I really enjoyed reading this.

This is a wonderful story set on a cruise ship one of the main characters has rented out the honeymoon suite even though she did not marry her fiancé she still decided to go on the trip that was to be her honeymoon. You got a love a woman like this. Charlotte left her fiancé when she found out that she had cheated on her. To her shock and amazement when she gets on the boat who does she see but Lexi, her one true love when she was a teenager. Both women are surprised to see each other again after so many years but it is clear there is still connection between the two. Lexi loves her life on the boat as a bartender because that’s good friends and really enjoys what she does and the freedom and offers her. Charlotte on the other hand is a traditional type woman with a job that she likes and does not really date. These two banter back-and-forth in a sort of sexy way but when they took a dance class together sparks flew off the page when their bodies connected. At this point the chemistry between the two women just flies off the page and Riley wrote love seems to match that intensity. Did I mention several love scenes? However there is a danger that if they are caught Lexi would lose her job and of course needs to be some drama in the story as Lexi does lose your job and Charlotte and her trip and then she goes back to her life in the states. Where these two destined to be together or was this just and a board ship romance? This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it, it is very well written.

This was a nice, summery f/f romance! I'm not the biggest fan of second-chance romances, but I enjoyed the read. The characters were both so different in the best ways, and I loved seeing them fall back in with each other.

I really enjoyed reading this simple, erotic romance. Lexi Bronson has been working on a cruise liner for nine years. She has a plan and an endgame but she's not there yet. When she's assigned to a VIP passenger she comes face to face with her first love, Charlotte.
It's a lovely, easy summer read, perfect for lazing about on the beach. There is lots of very sexy teasing from two likeable main characters.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Two exes meet again years after they suddenly parted. Life has thrown them together on a cruise ship, where love could have a second chance.
I enjoyed the romance component of this novel. Fiona Riley always writes likeable characters who have reached a stage in their life where they know who they are, which is a nice level of maturity.
My review is lower than it might otherwise be, only because of how many intimate scenes there are. A sex scene was rarely far away and sometimes it felt like story took a back seat to the erotica. I can definitely see that being what some people are keen on, but I like the emotional and relationship building more so than the sex. That said, it was all well written.

First I want to say I'm very happy that Fiona Riley came out with a new book. This is a second chance romance. Charlotte Southwwick found her wife to be, cheating on her, so she decided to go on the honeymoon cruise by herself. 1st class all the way. She has a personal attendant Lexi Bronson that meets with her every morning for upcoming events. The 1st morning Charlotte opens the door to find Lexi, her 1st love standing in front of her. Charlotte had left Lexi 10 years ago without an explanation and went off to college. The story is how they come together again and as they say the journey is better than the destination. Their chemistry is hot hot hot. I Loved this book.

Loved this book. Both main characters were likable and there were no unnecessary conflicts or tropes. I love the whole reunited lovers theme and this was a charming storyline. Also great chemistry and build up.

Got to say I really enjoyed this book by Fiona Riley. Lexi and Charlotte are great characters, and you'll find yourself rooting for them from the start. This book has two added bonuses that was a joy to read..the cruise ship story and if you like a story with lady loving then be prepared for hot and adventurous loving