A BLAST!! Definitely not your average romance. Super steamy, an engaging premise, and seriously so much fun.

4 stars

American Queen impresses with its bold and unapologetic approach to storytelling. Simone's writing is both sensual and sophisticated, drawing readers into a world where the lines between duty and desire blur. The narrative centers around Greer Galloway, a young woman who finds herself at the heart of a passionate and complex relationship with two powerful men—Maxen Ashley Colchester, the President of the United States, and his Vice President, Embry Moore.

The chemistry between the characters is electric, with each relationship dynamic carefully crafted to convey depth and authenticity. Greer’s character is relatable and multifaceted, showcasing vulnerability, strength, and a deep-seated longing for connection. Maxen and Embry, while embodying power and charisma, also reveal layers of emotional complexity that make their bond with Greer both compelling and believable.

Simone masterfully balances eroticism with emotional resonance, ensuring that the steamy scenes enhance rather than overshadow the character development and plot progression. The story’s exploration of themes such as loyalty, sacrifice, and the interplay between personal and public lives adds depth to the romance, making it more than just a tale of physical attraction.

The political backdrop provides an intriguing context for the romance, adding stakes and tension that keep the reader engaged. The novel’s pacing is well-managed, with moments of intense passion interspersed with quieter, more introspective scenes that allow for character growth and relationship building.

However, the book is not without its flaws. Some plot elements can feel melodramatic, and certain aspects of the storyline may stretch believability. Additionally, the heavy emphasis on erotic content might not appeal to all readers, particularly those looking for a more subdued romantic narrative.

Overall, American Queen is a daring and engrossing read that excels in delivering a romance that is both steamy and emotionally rich. Sierra Simone’s skillful storytelling and complex character dynamics make this novel a standout in the erotic romance genre. It’s a book that leaves a lasting impression, enticing readers to continue with the trilogy to uncover the full depth of Greer, Maxen, and Embry’s intertwined fates.

I'm pretty sure everyone who wanted to read this book has already read it by now but when I saw it up for Read Now on NetGalley (likely a glitch because it disappeared, as it also did for the other two books before I could grab those too, moments after I downloaded) I thought.. why not. I'm pretty sure the whole series is actually buried on my kindle somewhere but that project is slow going and I didn't have these on my 2023 list. So here was an excuse to knock another oldie off the TBR and see what all the hype and fuss was about all them years ago.

And honestly? I think my low expectations helped. Because this might not be a glowing review or high rating but.. I disliked a lot less than I expected to. But having said that, I skimmed too much of this to bump this any higher than it is.

I'll be interested to see if I enjoy this more or less as the series goes on but I was definitely intrigued by the Arthurian-style premise, even though one of the characters is apparently an expert on the subject which feels a little too on the nose, and I'm always looking for more good polyamourous romance. Time will tell if this is one of them. Mostly because, so far, I only enjoy one side of the triad. Ash doesn't really interest me as a character, made worse by the suspension of disbelief required around him being the bloody President, and Greer.. well. She's just a reader insert. She doesn't have much of a character and what she does is contradictory. How can someone purported to being so perceptive be so oblivious about Ash and Embry but also Abilene. Like, what the fuck. If shady had a colour, it would be her.

Also, I mean, speaking of suspension of disbelief, the circumstances around the romances themselves? The whole kiss thing and the pining and waiting? It just.. well, it begs some disbelief. The only thing that felt real(ish) was the backstory between Ash and Embry and I think we get more of that in book two as it looks to be Embry's book. So I'm looking forward to seeing that unfold and the answer to some of the whys of how it all went down the way it did. Plus it might be a tad angsty. And maybe less Dom/sub'y so there could be winning all around. For me, at least.

As to that comment about skimming, well, I was tuned out for all the Dom/sub moments. I think I got through the first and then remembered I rarely can get through those scenes feeling any sort of way other than "nope" (not yucking anyone's yum here! it's just rare these dynamics work for me) and so spent the rest of the story skipping around them. Honestly, I'm not going to push on with this series for the steamies though it is, yes, steamy. I'm interested in the three of them, how they make it work, what more political machinations are going to ensue, and what other juicy Arthurian bits we are going to have woven into the series. We've seen most of the original cast by now and I want more of that. It's one of the original messy soap operas and I love it.

So, yeah, this is a weird one to review -- and I'm definitely not here to convince you any which way about it -- but it was nice to have a reason to finally get into this series. No idea when I'll get to the next but I'm sure it won't be long now.

Sierra Simone is a wonderful writer and I will read every single thing she writes. This was a perfect book and I look forward to many more.

I heard so much good about this book and I really wanted to love it. Unfortunately it wasn't my cup of tea at all and ended up DNF'ing around 35%. The story's pace is pretty slow and I couldn't get into the story enough to keep my attention on it. The age gap trope was not agreeing with me either and had a hard time getting over it. I gave this a try but it didn't work for me.

I did not realise this was an MMF style romance book going in. All I knew is that it had good reviews. Not really sure why, the plot is really low in quality however there is a lot of smut so maybe thats why it has a high rating. Not my cup of tea

I enjoyed this story. It started off strong and kept the pace throughout. The characters were genuine and likeable and the premise was certainly different.

This is the first Sierra Simone book I've read and you can bet I'll be reading more! It's slower on the plot, but very heavy on the relationship and the spice. I loved Ash as a dom, he felt very respectful and not icky about any of it. There were still so many emotions involved, and especially at that 80% mark when Embry finally joins! I felt all three of their angst, their torture, and then the resolution was amazing. I liked the way the three timelines wove together to give a clear picture
.
The emails that she wrote him at 16 were to die fooorrrrr, I love the way they understand each other. They are more than their wants in a relationship, but they come into play perfectly. How she saw Embry and Ash together on Christmas was perfection. Some of the logistics of their joining as a three-some confused me but it is what it is

DNF - 24%

There were a couple of aspects that made me struggle with the plot, Which is a shame as I was looking forward to this. It just wasn't for me, but I think I am probably in the minority, it wouldn't put me off trying other books by this author.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book, this is my honest opinion.

i really enjoyed this book! i liked the political type of plot… though i will it is pretty smutty. i loved all the secrets that were getting revealed and all the conflicts that needed resolving. the pacing and storyline worked well together, as well as the authors writing of the plot. i enjoyed the white house setting! it was unique! greer was an interesting character. the dual timeline made her even more intriguing of a character. her character development is beautiful. wonderful ending!

SOOOOOOO SPICY and I loved every min it of it. Sierra Simone you know how to right!! WOW am I still blushing?
Greer had a horrible upbringing and the worst luck with what she thought was the love of her life. Who could have predicted what would happen just five years later in their lives. BUT BOY OH BOY I'd wait another five years for that about of heat and passion.
HIGHY Recommend!!!

DNF @ 26%

This book was just not for me. I didn’t like the plot and the age gap felt weird and I couldn’t get past it to enjoy it. Spicy romance is just not for me and that’s ok.

I read this book just over two years ago and I remember thinking it was just ok and while I was intrigued to read the next installment (what a cliffhanger!) I never got around to it.

So when I saw the series on NetGalley, I figured it was an opportunity to try again. First of all, I enjoyed this more than I remember enjoying it the first time. I love the default bi-energy and it's definitely a very compelling story (even if it requires a fair amount of suspension of disbelief).

Things I didn't love (includes light spoilers): At times the book is unsubtle, bordering on over the top, with a lot of objectification and ugh, soooo much gender essentialist language. Also in a second chance romance (which this sort of is), I really don't love when (view spoiler). Finally, I found it very annoying that (view spoiler) It felt a little lazy.

But this is a fun story with lots of love, heart and heat and I couldn't put it down. The pining and angst were top notch and I was rooting for all the MCs. I will be picking up book two right away this time.

veryyy spicy but fun. good time reading this. cant wait to read the rest. sierra simone knows how to write inteiguing characters for sure

The smut in this book was great. This is my first MMF romance and I’ll probably read the second after the cliffhanger

I LOVE SIERRA SIMONE MAN!! American Queen had spectacular pacing, spice, and everything more. I learned ALOTTTTT about myself with this! LOL

Thank you to Bloom Books, Sierra Simone, and Net Galley for this E arc in exchange for my honest review.

Catching the eye of... THE PRESIDENT?!

Sierra Simone knows how to deliver on characters, spice, AND plot. Never did I ever think that this plot would intrigue me, or the *er* throuple scenario... but boy, oh boy, was I invested.

5/5 Stars. No further questions your honor.

[Ebook gifted by Bloom Books & Netgalley - thank you! All opinions are my own.]

this book was SO good????? literally SO steamy like wtf but also it was addictive!! i was hanging on every single word, eager to find out what would happen next! the cliffhanger is a wee bit criminal but I'm def excited to continue the series!

I really wanted to like this more than I did. I didn’t feel 100% connected with the characters. There were parts that just gave me an icky feeling. I am still going to continue with the story and see how I feel about the series as a whole but this just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. Everything expressed is my own thoughts and opinions.

This book had me on pins and needles. It was...you know that feeling you get when you're reading and you're kind of....how do I put this? Soaring? Like you're reading the words and you feel like you're in front of an orchestra that's being conducted masterfully? And your heart gets...like "literally"....a centimeter higher in your chest?

(A centimeter may not sound like a lot but your heart goes where it goes so that little bit is a big deal. I'm trying to give a sense of metaphor and a sense of grounded reality at the same time so bear with me)

Well, this book had all that.
And you're getting up off the chair, saying -- "It's the first in a series, I'll wait."