***2.5 ⭐️***

Rose isn't going to be able to pay for her last year of law school without her parents' help; her job at a law firm doesn't pay that great, and Rose will have to get a part-time job to supplement her income in order to graduate. Her co-worker, Liz, mentions that she works at a club and can put in a good word for Rose to be a waitress. Rose is definitely not prepared for the drama that would soon encompass her world, by the name of Blaze.

Blaze is a hard man, both in personality, temperament, and physically speaking. The moment he lays eyes on Rose, he owns her (whether she wants to be owned or not). Blaze is the head of security at the club and keeps a close eye on Rose (and her many admirers).

This book felt like a prequel to Emerald Eyes, not a sequel (as Sarah hadn't yet moved to the city or experienced the club for herself yet). There were the same sadistic sex scenes, whether it be in the bedroom, bathroom, or a hallway; the same rape tendencies (no means no! Jeez!); and the same dominating behavior by an alpha male. The one thing that stood out in this story was the drama/mystery intrigue, the who dun it, and what will happen next excitement that overshadowed the "romantic" aspects. Sadly, eliminating suspects followed a haphazard vein, in that it was done menacingly and without reason or relatedness to the crime. There were more characters introduced in this book, from club personnel to Rose's family members to law firm boss' siblings (??), but they all flitted in tangents and never really helped the story progress (and some even disappeared with no mention of what happened to them). The epilogue was useless and just felt like a means to finishing the book, that's all. The editing for this book was similarly as atrocious as Emerald Eyes so, even though it was aggravating, I wasn't overall surprised by it.

It would be interesting to see if:
1) this series continues, and
2) is this series following club mafiosos or the females who work at the club.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Totally worth reading... And staying up to finish it lol.. It grabs your attention from the furst page... Totally would read more from this author for sure...

The plot got lost for me a couple times but I finally figured it out. Rose is a college student who decides to take a part time job waitressing in a strip bat, when Blaze take an interest in here. Their relationship is a bit unusual.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was very excited to read this book but it was not as engaging as I had anticipated.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of sapphire eyes. I really have to say this was a quick read. Has promise but needs an overhaul to work. This didn't seem to be edited well or at all. The characters went against their whole beliefs. Loose ends on other characters. The mystery part was just confusing then bam this is the bad guy. The ending was much to rushed and the lack of detail in the entire book is astounding. This honestly should not be published. This seems like a complete rip off between Praise by Sara crate and things we never got over by Lucy score. It's like this author thought they could mash the two books together with little to no real work out in.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this arc. This was an okay read for me. I thought the characters were confusing and I just didn't care for them.

This story revolves around an instant love-lust plot, featuring Rose and Blaze. As sparks fly between Rose and Blaze from their very first encounter, there are dangers and obstacles that they need to surmount together. Blaze's world bewilders Rose and Blaze vows to keep Rose protected and safe, whatever it takes. I wish I'd had the opportunity to know about the back story of several characters, including Rose's parents, the twins who help Blaze in his missions, and so on. The book was pacy and a good read. My thanks to Yates, NetGalley, and the publishers for gifting me with a copy of this book.

2.5 stars. I really wanted to like this one. I am a big lover of secret clubs and spicy reads. Unfortunately this one fell flat for me.

I enjoyed that Rose was innocent but still wasn’t afraid to step out of her comfort zone. When it came to Blaze I found him to be a tad immature. I have no issue with the jealous/possessive trope but it was written in a way that lacked depth. It was also a bit confusing at times like when Blaze would be watching her but then also not contacting her? I could tell there was supposed to be angst with the characters but I felt like major scenes were missing. Rose asks Blaze not to tell anyone at the club they are together but then a few chapters later he kisses her while at work and there’s no buildup or follow up or comments from the other staff. Moments like that were missing significance.

I appreciated that there was a bit of unexpected mystery tied throughout this and I’m assuming some of the loose ends and random characters were an attempt to trick the reader as to who was the secret villain but some of Rose’s logic was so unrealistic along with character’s actions like her boss’s. The crossovers from her double life with her day job and working at the club and how someone would balance that were also not well fleshed out. It was very tell not show.

There were some grammatical and editing errors that took me out of the story. One in particular was with the dual POV, from Rose’s perspective we see back and forth text conversation. The exact same scene from Blaze’s he did not receive a reply back. This is also a tad nitpicky but Lilly and Liz are similar names and those characters were hard to distinguish between.

The ending felt rushed and was not a satisfying epilogue.

Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Quick Summary: A hot, albeit confusing, lust to love story

My Review: Sapphire Eyes by Aurelia Yates was an interesting dark erotic romance. It very definitely had likable elements and layered characters that were intriguing, but it also had incomplete plot points that made it rather difficult to fully grasp at times.

About the Characters:
When sweet as a flower law student Rose finds herself in a predicament not of her own making, she is desperate to find a job to supplement her income. After hearing of a possible job opportunity, Rose opens the door to a new venture at Club Red. As soon as she enters, her body and senses are set ablaze. But what...or rather who is the cause of her sudden unease?

Blaze is a man who knows what he wants. He knows what is required to satisfy his needs. To say he had sex on the brain would be an understatement. When the new girl steps into his domain, his gaze turns to her like a heat seeking missile. Who was she? All he knew was that she would soon be his. His to claim. His to take. His to hold.

About the Book: Written with a dual POV approach, Sapphire Eyes brings together two opposites who are drawn together, only to face an unknown enemy.

What I Liked About This Book:

- I liked the mysterious shadow associated with the "brothers." They were written akin to a mafia family who tries to apply their own kind of dark justice.

- The pool of "bad guys" was plentiful. The way that the story was communicated was such that it was difficult to tell who did what to whom.

- The chemistry and attraction that the leads had came across instantaneously. From the moment they met, they struck sparks off one another.

- The title of this book, in addition to the cover, were spot on. Both were attractive and had the power to lure the would-be reader.

What I Found Confusing About the Book: (no spoilers; generic statements)

- I had a challenging time figuring out Blaze and his brothers, in terms of their business pursuits.

- I had a hard time reconciling the notion of Rose being an innocent when she came across as incredibly brazen at times. Her words and history did not go with her actions.

- I was confused by the whole family dynamic that led to Rose's situation. The beginning and ending of that whole theme seemed to be in contrast.

- The impulsive tendencies of many of the supporting cast were odd and disjointed in certain moments in the story.

- There were several editing issues throughout the text.

- The abruptness of the story and its rushed conclusion were notable. It made the story feel incomplete, somehow.

- The content was written with a tell vs show style.

My Final Say: Overall, this fast-paced romance had bones, even as it lacked in some areas. The underlying story was fascinating. The characters were simple yet textured (a male dom with a penchant for sexcapades being bridled, a female innocent whose nose becomes opened, an underaged teen who has a bit of wild child inside, a brotherhood of dark vigilantes who attract a lot of attention on the DL, and a whole lot more). I think this book will appeal to those seeking a hot and heavy carnal experience between two opposing character types. This romance will not disappoint in that respect, and I am more than certain the reading experience will be entertaining.

Other: I wonder if reading book one would have helped me better understand the men behind Club Red and their business endeavors. I dare say that it might have.

Rating: 2/5
Recommend: +/-
Audience: A
Triggers: Multiple (SV/R, MDK)
Status/Level: 🚨
Genre: E, R
Cover: +
Title: +
Series: Yes

Thank you to the author/publisher for allowing me to review this work. The words I have voluntarily shared are my own.