Do you like cruises and wish The Love Boat was queer? Do you want to read about two women who are very attracted to one another, but have to sneak around on a ship pretending that they’re strangers? Can you put up with some disrespectful representation of Caribbean countries in order to enjoy these things? I thought I could, but it turns out that I loved the idea of this book more than the actual experience of reading it.

In Not Since You, Charlotte decides to take her “honeymoon” alone after she breaks off an engagement to her cheating fiancée. She’s a wealthy but reluctant cruiser, hoping to use the trip to quietly reflect, and work on her graphic design business. Lexi is a cruise ship bartender entering her favorite week of the year, the annual lesbian cruise. These two dated in high school until Charlotte buckled under her mother’s disapproval—based on Lexi’s class, not gender—and ended things. For Lexi, Charlotte is the one who got away, and she’s been skeptical of relationships ever since. Meanwhile, Charlotte is drowning in regret over the lost of her first love. When they run into one another on the ship, shock quickly turns to fascination, reconciliation, and rekindled pants feelings. Charlotte’s heartfelt apology leads Lexi to quickly forgive her. Their only problem is the cruise line’s strict no-sexing-the-guests policy, and the ship’s ubiquitous cameras. This leads to lots of teasing one another in public, and secret sex dates.

This book was at its best as an escape to the backstage of an Olivia-style cruise, where readers are plopped into a fantasy about a hot bartender who can’t keep their hands off you. While there are a few scenes set in port, most of the action takes place on a ship. It was a decent antidote to my long winter with no tropical trips in sight.

I appreciate romances with a painless resolution of conflict, minimal angst, and maximum ability to communicate emotion. Not Since You has all of these. Charlotte is the focus of the story, but Lexi’s coworkers play key roles in helping her open herself back up to love. Lexi and Charlotte are able to quickly work through their feelings about their past (and Charlotte’s ex) and treat us to some fantastic flirting, and repetitive sex scenes. Lexi and Charlotte’s sexual tension, and their mutual amazement at finding one another again, are delicious. However, they overcome most of their obstacles early in the book. It’s hard to take the heroines’ fear of discovery seriously when we have quasi-frottage in a dance class, and Lexi’s coworkers exhibiting no concern about her dating a guest.

Full review: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/reviews/not-since-you-by-fiona-riley/

Many thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Fiona Riley’s book Not Since You.

This is the first book by Fiona Riley that I have read, and I loved it. The characters were all fabulous (and at times quite amusing), the story line relatable and the sex scenes were “oh wow.”

Charlotte Southwick has booked the ultimate honeymoon cruise for herself and her new wife, an all-female/lesbian cruise as VIP cruisers in a Stateroom, there’s only one problem, shortly before the wedding she found her fiancé in bed and whooping it up with another woman and that was the end of her wedding dream. So now she found herself on board the cruise ship filled with loving couples and all alone in her luxurious stateroom.

That was until there was a knock on the door and her VIP attendant was revealed to be her first love Lexi who she had broken up with as a teenager 10 years earlier when she had left to go to college overseas.

Despite the years and the hurt, it is obvious the two still hold a flame for each other, but as anyone who has cruised knows, guests are totally off limits to staff, and any staff member found breaking that rule will be put off at the next port and out of a job.

Both women have been seriously hurt in love, Charlotte by her fiancé Veronica’s infidelity, and Lexi by Charlotte’s leaving her all those years ago. Can they navigate the minefield of emotions, fear, lust and cruise line rules to create a happy ever after story, or will everything that is stacked against them prove too much?

A highly recommended love story, with some powerful spice thrown in, 4 Stars.

I absolutely LOVED this book. Lexi and Charlotte had amazing chemistry from the start, and whenever they were together sparks were flying all over the place. The sex scenes were steamy and creative. Characters were all well developed. I really connected with Lexi as a character, and the supporting characters added to the story rather than come across like bystanders. The cruise setting was a nice break from reality. A very well written and engaging book.

This was a disappointing book. The plot was very thin and wholly based on circumstances that take a lot of luck and a lot of coincidence for the situations in this book to have happen. The book centers around two women Lexi and Charlotte who were high school sweethearts. Charlotte broke Lexi's heart when she decided to go off to college away form Lexi. Lexi's life went into a downward spiral after her father dies and so she decided to become an employee on a cruise ship.

They come back into each others lives when Charlotte goes on her honeymoon cruise alone because her fiancee was caught in bed with another woman. Of course all the predictable things happen. Lexi just happens to be assigned charlottes VIP liaison and then they meet and fall in love and everything works out in the end,

I thought that this book was boring for a good portion of it, the only time got good was about halfway through when they started having sex, Then the book became a little too dirty and the protagonists went from talking like normal adults to talking like porn stars and that kind of through me off and was off putting, I do not mind dirty talk and cursing, but it just felt gratuitous. I did not feel like these women were meant to be together and overall the premise of the book as I have said was very flimsy. This is my first book by this author, but because of the unevenness of this book, I do not know if I will read any more,

What a great read. I a cool rainy night a cruise romance was perfect. This will sweep you up and take you away for a couple hours. I couldn't put it down. I can't say enough about the author what a wonderful story.

So I read this book while on vacation, on a cruise. I chose this one for just that reason. One of my stops, Half Moon Cay, is mentioned in the book. It was a fun read on vacation. Riley's books always deliver, and I am a massive fan of her Miss Match series. This one is a second chance romance, which is usually a win for me. It is a fast read, so pick it up for your next weekend read. It is a perfect book for a break.

I think this story had more potential than the author has achieved. Although it was not a matter of the topic, the romance in which the love of youth resumes after a certain time, with some misunderstandings between and with the two women who could not find the intensity of that first love in any other relationship, nothing that hasn't been told a thousand times already. It was not the plot itself, but the way in which the author has developed it, which has not made it quite right. There are too many things left unsaid, some things said are too little detailed and with many gaps, and I think there is too much sex and little dialogue between the two protagonists. I would have liked the two women to rediscover each other after that time they have spent apart, but it has not been like that.

With this book, the author has receded a bit compared to the previous ones, especially the Match series, although this book can still make you have a good time.

This. book just didn’t do it for me. I was missing something I can’t quite put my finger on. Don’t get me wrong it was nice enough to read and the characters all seemed pretty ok, but it didn’t “feel” right for me. And it should have been perfect, long lost lover meeting again on a cruise ship, going to these wonderful islands in the Caribbean.

Catherine cancelled the wedding she was supposed to have and was unable to cancel the cruise they booked for their honeymoon. She goes and meets her high school sweetheart Lexi. They have changed, but they have an instant pull to each other. They seem just like the teenagers they were when the saw each other last.

And I think that’s just it for me, there is no character development and the plot is just so “mwah”, I don’t really know. It just doesn’t work for me.

It took me longer than anticipated to finish this book, although by no fault of the story or writing and rather a terrible case of reading slump.

Reading slump or not, I still enjoyed "Not Since You" immensely. It's a second-chance F/F romance written in dual POV.

I haven't read any other stories by this author (yet) but I've really taken to her writing style. I enjoyed how thoroughly she explored Lexi's and Charlotte's feelings, their hurt and vulnerabilities, hopes and dreams. It made their reconnection after 10 years feel more organic and real, and, even though everything between them was happening pretty fast, not rushed at all. Lexi and Charlotte were both very good at communicating their feelings and I was glad that some giant misunderstanding wasn't a driving force for "the final conflict" that usually happens at the end of the contemporary romances and keeps the couple apart before they get together.

Other than that, I also enjoyed all the friendships that Lexi had with her colleagues on the cruise ship, all the support she had made me feel all happy and warm.

All in all, this story was well-written, both heart-warming and cute, funny and hot. The only fault I could find in it is that it wasn't published closer to summer, because with all the cruising of the Caribbean that this book contained, I would love to read it on the beach while sipping a cool fruity drink. Then again, I'll probably do just that in a few months :)

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review

Do you ever really get over your first love?

Whether you're the one who walked away or you're the person left behind, it's complicated.

Charotte did the walking away. Years later, with a broken heart from a failed relationship, she finds herself on a cruise ship with Lexi. The first person Charlotte loved.

Lexi is juggling a career on the cruise ship, a best friend changing the dynamics of her ship family and the last thing she expects from her favorite cruise of the year is to find Charlotte again.

So, CAN you go back to your first love successfully?

I reccomend this author and book - descriptive narratives, real life questions and relatable characters in a fast read.

3 Stars for this Fiona Riley romance aboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean.

We join Charlotte Southwick on her Honeymoon only without her wife. Or rather without her cheating ex-fiancé. Too late to cancel for a refund, she decides to go on the cruise honeymoon by herself since she already paid quite a bit of money for the VIP room and excursions. Lexi Bronson is the lead bartender on the ship and she is assigned as the VIP attendant for the honeymoon suite. As a VIP attendant she gives them personal service in setting up their tours, reservations, excursions etc. Lexi has been without a permanent address for almost a decade, all the while working on cruise ships and she loves it. They are both in for a surprise when Lexi visits the “honeymooners” only to find Charlotte, her high school love. The girl who broke her heart when she broke up with Lexi and left to go to college.

The previous Riley books I read was her Match series and I rated them all 4 or 5 stars. This book I liked but it was a 3 star’er which for me is an average read, but not a negative in my book (so to speak). I liked the characters and they were well written. I also liked Lexi’s crewmate friends and I felt Lexi’s distress when her BFF for many years has decided to leave the cruise line for dry ground. I’ve never been on a cruise and highly likely I ever will because I get nauseous on a floating pier. Some medications have worked for me on relatively calm waters for short excursions, but my fear would be that they won’t on a cruise and that’s a lot of money wasted only too feel horrible in the cabin. Not to mention missing the great food! So I did enjoy living vicariously on a cruise vacation.

Although most romances are predictable in that there will most likely be a HEA, how they get there and their exact HEA is what makes it interesting. Unfortunately, I predicted early on exactly what would happen and how it would end and I was right. Maybe the clues were too obvious? But I will say, there were some HOT sex scenes. So be prepared if reading in public with over the shoulder readers. Although this was an average book for me, I am looking forward to reading the next new Fiona Riley book.

am a huge fan of Fiona Riley's books. I though her Match series was such a great collection of books. With that being said, Not Since You was not my favorite of Riley's work thus far. There is nothing technically wrong with it, not by any means. I just thought the book was more erotica than romance. That will totally work for some, but for me, I would have loved to see more dialogue between the two mains. I want that push-pull, I want those little moments that grab at your heartstrings. This one just did not go there, its a lot of hot steamy scenes in the sheets but thin in other aspects plot-related.

Lexi Bronson has worked as a bartender on for a cruise line for the last ten years. With no family back home, Lexi finds comfort is the traveling nomadic lifestyle that this industry provides.

Charlotte Southwick has just ended a three-year relationship. She came home early to surprise her fiance and found her in bed with another woman. Charlotte decides to take their honeymoon cruise alone and runs into her high-school ex-girlfriend, Lexi.

This one goes very much into you broke my heart at eighteen, and I have carried the hurt around for 10+ years to naked time. (The naked time is super hot by the way.) I just thought the plot needed more. If you are looking for a traditional romance this one might not be for you. If you are looking for something hot and steamy, you will love this one.

When Charlotte and Lexi her first love reconnect after Charlotte decides to go on her honeymoon cruise minus the plus 1 she is shocked and surprised to fine Lexi in charge of catering to her every vip needs. Will these two be able to overcome the past and get back to what made them there one and only true loves??

This is my first book from this author and I was hooked from page 1! I really enjoyed how the author was able to really get you to fall for these ladies and root for them every step of the way.

3 1/2 stars for this cute romance

Nice feel good book. It flowed very well. was easy to read. Nice characters. Good storyline. What’s not to love.

This is a really enjoyable second-chance romance and not one that takes the whole book to resolve any betrayals from the past or the questioning: "does she still likes me" story line which, I have to say, is kind of refreshing. Sometimes when you're teenagers life takes you a different direction and sure, there are always decisions you regret. Just like Charlotte did when she left Lexi behind to go to college. Both women meet up at a cruise ship where Lexi is a bartender / VIP attendantand Charlotte is there on her honeymoon all alone after finding her fiancee in a rather compromising position.

It doesn't take them too long to find out the chemistry and love is still there, but how will they make that work with completely different lifes and careers? And will they want to take a chance of them again?

This was nicely written, I loved both main characters and the supporting cast was great too. I didn't read any other Fiona Riley books beforehand, but I think I will most definitely look them up!

They met as teenagers, fell in love and then out of the blue one was leaving for school while the other stayed home. Little did they know it would be 10 yrs before they’d meet again.
Charlotte Southwick was born into a family with money and had at an early age already decided what she wanted to do. But her mother had other ideas that didn’t include paying for her daughter to go to college to study art. Instead she preferred Charlotte to study business, so that’s exactly what Charlotte did.
Lexi Bronson was raised by a single father who didn’t have a lot but the one thing he did have was the love he felt for his little girl. Feeling lost without Charlotte became even harder with the death of her father. So with the help of her dad’s friend she sold the family home and moved on with her life.
While Lexi found herself working on a cruise ship, a job she loved but she looked forward to having a business and a home, on a beach, with a view of the ocean where she could see herself entertaining her co-workers. The ones that over time had become her family too. She just about had the money saved to make that dream come true.
Charlotte now found herself working a job as a graphic designer. Not exactly what she wanted but she had decided it would do. She thought she had it all when she met, fell in love and was about to be married. That was until she found her GF in bed with another woman. At the suggestion of her grandfather she went on a cruise that was supposed to be her honeymoon. Now here she was on a ship trying to get on with her life but she just couldn’t see herself enjoying herself when all she wanted to do was hide away from everyone. She was too angry and upset. That was until her VIP attendant showed up.
Ms Riley has given us a very nicely paced ‘second chances’ story. All in all a very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/Bold Stroke Books

2.5 Stars. Charlotte Southwick goes on her honeymoon on a cruise by herself after finding her fiance cheating on her before her wedding. Charlotte is devastated but decides she needs a vacation and figures why not since it is all paid for. What she did not realize, is that she would run into her high school girlfriend, Lexi Bronson. Lexi is not the VIP liaison and bartender on the ship Charlotte is vacationing on. Lexi and Charlotte have not seen each other since they broke up may years ago and both cannot believe it. They both have truly healed from their breakup and are unsure what to do when they see each other again. There is one big problem, Lexi cannot have relationships with anyone on board without being fired, they cannot be together while Lexi is working.

I thought the tension between the two characters would be longer, it was not as long as it should have and they hooked up way too quickly. They talk to each other one time and then they realize they should be together. I really liked the first 50% or so, but then the book goes downhill a lot from there. There is drama at the end that does not make a whole lot of sense to be and it seems to just be there to make the book longer. The book overall is just okay. In the beginning I could not stop reading and really enjoyed Charlotte and Lexi interacting. The second half of the book does not seem to make as much sense and it seems like the author maybe did not know how to end this book correctly. I also never enjoy books where the characters fall in love (or back in love) very quickly, as it seem unrealistic in my eyes. I do not recommend this one.

Second-chance romances are not always my bag, but I really like this book. It was really well done. I was rooting for the characters the whole way, and while there was much to overcome, the angst level wasn't overwhelming.

The cruise was supposed to be Charlotte's honeymoon, but she's flying solo after finding her ex-fiance cheating on her. The cruise was supposed to be another week in paradise of bartender and cruise VIP attendant Lexi, but instead she comes face-to-face with the woman who broke her heart.

Instant (re)attraction under impossible circumstances. But resistance is futile and love will conquer all.

** I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Lexi is set to receive a promotion which will enable her to purchase a bar by the ocean. Charlotte is on a honeymoon cruise alone, trying to get over betrayal and heartache. Who would have thought that either would see their first love again. Is it fate? A wonderful and saucy love story set on a cruise ship where the author has paid close attention to detail. You will fall in love with all of the characters and root for the friendships and blossoming romances.

What a delicious book. I could not stop. This fast paced story is just too much fun to put down. From beginning to end, you will be invested all the way. In addition, as always the author delivers great side stories and character history for the reader.