Woah.
This is my first read of Sandy Lowe's, I will be honest, I picked it up because of the consensual non-consent element, and of course, because she's an Aussie lol I will definitely be hunting for more.

Truth or Dare has bever been more fun... or life-changing.
While drinking away her sorrows with her best friend after being fired in a big scandle, Lauren is dared to sleep with the next woman to walk through the door.

And in walks the seemingly quiet and shy librarian, Emma.
She has had a crush on Lauren since school and she is far from quiet behind closed doors.

Both characters have some past issues from childhood but seem to be, dare I say, perfect for each other.

Such amazing characters that are so lovable, and the sex... again, Woah!

“It’s not the struggle that makes it hot. It’s the surrender. It’s being the one you surrender to.”

There isn't too much I can say without giving you everything.
Grab this little baby and go in with an open mind, it most certainly will be worth it.

Lauren had her life on track until it all goes to shit in a very public way. Now she is back in her small town and boo-hooing the state of her life with her best friend at the local watering hole. Said best friends wants Lauren to get out of her funk so she dares her to have sex with the next woman who walks through the door. In walks small-town librarian Emma, who has no idea how hot and exciting her life is about to get! These 2 ladies carry a lot of personal baggage, but they somehow work. That being said I wasn’t sure if I would like this premise of this story, but it really did do it for me. I’ve never found words so arousing before. This author can definitely write SEX! I will be checking out more of her books.

This was an interesting book to read alla Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele Fifty Shades of Grey. There were quite a few kinky scenes in this book and the characters Lauren and Emma were really hot together. I think the author had a good idea. I just wish there was more background information about how they became whom they are, we only got a small amount of the people they are now. I actually really liked this book. If you love Fifty Shades of Grey then you will really like this book.

This story is funny and erotic. It has a lot of sex scenes involved, but I missed romantic aspect between them. I didn't know those authors before, I rarely read FF books, but I liked the writting style. It isn't typical romance story, but I liked it.

This story had the ability to great, however it fell just short. The characters were too rushed and didn't seem to have consistent development. I enjoyed both perspectives and would have loved to have seen the writer dive deeper into them. The foreplay scenes were hot and fun but so long it seems like that was the whole focus of the book, not the actual story.

I will definitely read more by this author, like I said great potential.

I did not finish this book. The characters changed so drastically and did not stay from the way they were at the beginning. I knew that there were fetishes and kinks in the book, and that consent was a topic, but I did not like the way the characters changed.

2.5 Stars. Lauren West is back in her hometown for the holiday, in a town where she thinks no one likes her, since her mother has a bad rep in the town. Her best friend dares her to seduce the first woman who walks into the bar. That woman is Emma Prescott. Emma is the town librarian and has had a crush on Lauren for a long time. Emma has intimacy problems and thinks Lauren might be able to help her and understand.

This book is okay. I mean, the plot only made a little bit of sense and the characters fell in love way too quickly. The characters at first, didn't seem to have a lot of chemistry and I did not really ever feel like they were a good couple. The book was not that well written which could be why I did not like it. There was a lot of drama between the two main characters and the town, which I did not enjoy. This book overall was not that great and I would not recommend it. It did have a lot of descriptive sex, and if thalis what you are looking for in a book, then this book is for you.

“It’s not the struggle that makes it hot. It’s the surrender. It’s being the one you surrender to.”

I think we can safely put this one down as not for everyone; it could have very easily been not for me. But except for one major thing that stymied my enjoyment, I fairly enjoyed this book, Sandy Lowe's writing style, the conversations that her characters had, and their chemistry.

The one major thing actually ISN'T the kink. I'm always down for d/s and power play, and while there was some consensual non-consent that got a bit too intense for me, I actually really appreciated all the conversations that were had about kinky lifestyles, and getting to know and accept yourself enough to confront and ask for what you want. There is a fair amount of sex in this book, but a lot of it is also just TALKING about sex; the characters unpacking their trauma, the characters negotiating with each other, the characters getting to know each other. The talking and openness was really refreshing. Lauren and Emma don't magically understand one another right off the bat, or magically click together, and I like that the book showed that they had to get better at communication for their relationship to work. Their chemistry was really intense; an absolute delight. (Also Emma's had a crush on Lauren since high school, and I'm a slut for pining.) I'm also a huge fan of the writing style. It was really fast and snappy and clever and insightful in a lot of ways, and made the reading experience go by really quickly. Other than a few jokes here and there that I didn't really enjoy, I thought it was excellent, and I'll readily read from this author again.

Also I love this cover! It's so swoony.

The one thing that tanked my enjoyment was the pacing. It was insta-love city over here. Sometimes insta-love is written in a way that I don't mind or I enjoy. Sometimes it's just a thing that I accept about a book. But here it was so FRUSTRATING because I really think that without that element, this would just flat out to be a better book. I said above that these characters don't instantly understand each other; they misconstrue each other's feelings and they're not 100 percent on the same page all of the time. I liked that, it's natural for the beginning of a relationship. (And I liked the fact that the misunderstandings didn't go on for too long; they worked to resolve them.) But for those same characters to be declaring ~undying love~ for each other a very short time later seems so very silly and unbelievable. The book takes place between Christmas and New Year's Eve, if you want to know just how insta-love we're talking. Yes, they were acquainted in high school, but still!

The important themes in this book were exploring yourself, being comfortable with yourself and your desires, confronting uncomfortable experiences in your past and how they may (or may not!) inform how you are as a person today. There were meaningful character arcs. The characters had great chemistry. But they did NOT need to declare love. This would have worked so much better as an HFN, with hints towards how they could fall in love in the future. Tack on an epilogue one year later, if you really needed to. Trying to pigeonhole this into an HEA just made the story suffer, in my opinion.

I really wanted to like this one more, but I still think overall it's a good book. You'll enjoy it if you like kink and don't mind insta-love. I'd love to read more from Lowe in the future, especially if it's better paced/more concentrated on the journey of the relationship.

Content warnings: consensual non-consent via roleplay/fantasy, slut-shaming, kink-shaming.

The best way to describe this book is with a fire emoji. It is hot, hot, hot from start to finish. If you are looking for high quality, sexy, kinky erotica, this is a must read. I'm still fanning myself.

3.5 stars

Besides making jokes about someone's ex because they were bisexual, which is never cool with me, I ended up liking this book more than I thought I would.

To be honest, I picked this book up after seeing a few reviewers say they didn't like the consensual non-consent part. It's such a little understood kink, I was excited to see how this author pulled it off. Unfortunately, the scene/s lacked the edge I expected to feel with such a potent form of power exchange.

Kink aside, the author has created two very likable characters, and as a character-driven reader, I settled into this story and ended up enjoying it.

A very nice read with several hot moments. The story is well written and I really enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters. Sandy Lowe can certainly write beautiful, hot and exciting sex scenes. This is a very good book to read with your special someone. ;-)

I’d enjoyed the author’s previous novella collection a lot, and having seen Meghan O’Brien, my favourite author of all time, name checked in the acknowledgements I was so looking forward to reading this book. It’s well written and the sex scenes were super steamy with good chemistry between the characters. However, with all the talk about the kink and the disclaimer in the beginning about consensual non-consent I’d expected so much more from the book. The dynamic between the two leads had so much potential but the play scenes were way too tame. I felt the author could have gone a lot further. The ending didn’t feel realistic and the relationship between the leads turned romantic at lightning speed. Having said that though, Sandy Lowe is one of the authors I’m most excited about lately - good erotica is so hard to come by - and I look forward to her next work.

I was really looking forward to reading If You Dare. I have read a couple of short stories by Lowe and also read Party of Three. I must say that this one did not work for me. I found the story uninspiring and boring. I found myself skimming through the book just to finish. For sure this wasn't for me.

2 stars.

This arc was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.

This isn't your typical romance novel. This was a fun read. This story is funny, erotic, and romantic. There is, of course, a lot of sexy times between the two main characters, which add spice to the story. I connected with Lauren and Emma immediately, and it’s easy to see their chemistry.

This is a story of two broken women who grew up in a small provincial town in New York, Sunrise falls where everyone knows your business or makes up siliceous stories about your business. Both women had been very hurt and humiliated by the gossip about them, and have not been able to get over the hurt and the damage that was caused. Lauren move back to the town from California after a very humiliating event that cost her her job and friendships. She meets Emma one night and that is the start of an amazing story. The sexual energy between these two women is astronomical however both women have different issues regarding sex but the pool between them is so strong that when they do get together it always ends and disappointment for both women. However it is that sexual pull. That slowly through sex and kindness these two broken women talk about their past and why they have these different sexual activities each of them is embarrassed about, Through their processing about these issues it, finally allows both women to see a different life for them is possible.
When the town gossip gets too much for both women Lauren tries her best to convince Emma to move to California with her. However Emma can’t move from the town because she owes the town a debt for pain her college loans in return she must work for the town for E amount of years. If she moves she would be in debt over her head and have no job. With this dilemma in mind both of the main characters have a lot to work out.

The author has written such incredible dialogue between the two main characters that expose powerful and healing against all odds it makes you wonder if love can conquer all? This book also has hot off the charts type of sex woven throughout the book, The book is extremely well written and clearly will be on my to be read again list.

"Nuclear chemistry sounds amazing, but i want dinner first."
Lauren frowned. "You're hungry?"
"No. Tomorrow, I want dinner before sex. Not a date exactly, but not a casual fuck either."

What started as a dare escalated to something else.

Lauren West, returning to her hometown from San Francisco is not happy to be back. Having left her small town that once besieged her with judgement, gossip and scrutiny, she has returned to a place she has no business to be back in. Dared to approach meek town librarian Emma Prescott after drinks, that something else happened.

The book speaks the language of hot. Twitching in seat, wide eyed, heart rate pumping kind of hot. Expect hot scenes playing out in the minds of the leads, in public, behind closed doors and in your head.

That does not mean that there is no depth to the book. Characters are flawed, escapists, they have issues that run deep but make them human. The author's blend of the pair left the impression that it was all physical but revealed so much more. She made loving the characters easy.

I adore Emma. The unassuming, reassuring and non judgemental Emma. And also the Emma that carried strength in her quietness yet was loud in her passions. A highly recommended read for the rich characterisations and highly charged kinky sex scenes (if it is your cup of tea).

I just reviewed If You Dare by Sandy Lowe. #NetGalley

Lauren West returns home after being fired from her job. She's dared by her best friend to sleep with the next woman that walks through the door. In walks Emma Prescott a librarian, who has had a long time crush on Lauren for the longest.
The chemistry between both MC was great. The sex scenes were Hot and STEAMY, amazing actually. I loved how Lauren and Emma helped each other overcome some of the trauma they encountered as teenagers.
I would definitely recommend. Four and a half stars.

I was provided a copy by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.


Thank you NetGalley, Bold Strokes Books and Sandy Lowe

This isn't your typical romance novel. Besides the fact that it is a lesbian storyline, the book really focused on the romantic aspect, and there wasn't much other development.
Lauren West is stuck back home in her small hometown where everyone is gossiping about her and the mess she left in San Francisco. Sitting at the bar with her best friend, they play a game of Truth or Dare that has Lauren seducing the next woman who walks through the bar's door, Emma Prescott. Emma, a librarian who is good girl with a dirty mind, is anxious and scared of her own desires because of a painful teenage experience. However, when Lauren kisses her, Emma thinks that maybe she can finally break free from her anxiety.
This book is really steamy and kinky. It was written well in that aspect, but there wasn't really a story. The characters were rounded and had a background and traumatic experiences, but that was about it. The book was really focused on sex and not on creating a connection. If you like those types of books, then this is for you. However, if you want a better and more developed plot line, then you should probably skip this book. I personally wanted more of a plot line; however, the book itself is not bad, it is just not what I thought it was.

This book contains mature content (ages: 16+).
TW: non-consensual fantisies
Thanks #NetGalley for an ARC (in exchange for an honest review)!

This was a fun read. If You Dare by Sandy Lowe is an erotic romance novel about two women who seem on the surface to be total opposites and completely incompatible. They meet at the Grumpy Goat Bar in their hometown of Sunshine Falls, a small town in New York State. In spite of Lauren West’s reputation as a “bad girl” and librarian Emma Prescott’s “good girl” persona, the two connect very quickly. They gradually realize when it comes to matters of the heart and their desires, they may not be that different after all.

This story is funny, erotic, and romantic. There is also some heartache in the tale, mostly involving the two women’s pasts, especially Lauren. It is mostly there to add conflict to the story. There is, of course, a lot of sexy times between these two. Some of them involve light BDSM elements. There is also some role play in the tale. I will state here that one of those role playing scenes involves Lauren and Emma pretending to have non-consensual sex. This is just a cautionary note for those who may have problems reading about that.

This is an excellently written erotic romance. I connected with Lauren and Emma immediately, and it’s easy to see their chemistry. I also believe that the Grumpy Goat is one of the best names for a bar ever. I can definitely recommend this novel to all who love a good romance with lots of steamy sex.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Rainbow Reflections: http://rainbowreflections.home.blog/

Lauren West has returned to her small-town home after fired from her job following a very public scandal with her former boss's wife. During a drinking session with her friend she is dared to sleep with the next girl to walk into the bar, that happens to be Emma Prescott. Emma is the sweet local librarian who's childhood crush just happens to be Lauren. Little did Lauren know that Emma has quite the imagination.
This is my first Sandy Lowe book and she certainly has a knack for writing erotic sex scenes. The sex scenes are incredibly steamy and just go on and on and on. Oh my! For me the storyline became secondary to the sex and the psychological meaning for Lauren and Emma as they navigate the boundaries of their relationship. In the end I didn't really care about the storyline, I was reading it for sex scenes! I'll definitely be reading more of Sandy Lowe's books!