I really enjoyed this story! i loved getting to see both Phantom and Frankie work through their ups and downs together. you could also really see the character development between them which i loved! however, i found it a little difficult to connect with the characters and i wasn’t a big fan of frankie because at times she was very shallow. overall, i enjoyed this book i just wish i could’ve connected with the characters more.

Thank you to the author Helen Hardt, publishers Entangle: Amara Press, and TLC Book Tours, for an advance paperback copy of THE WITCH HITCH. Thank you also to NetGalley for an accompanying widget. All views are mine.

𝘈𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘸!

When I was invited to read BLOOM, Helen Hardt's follow up to BLUSH, I said absolutely, yes, I mean, have you seen these covers? They are gorgeous! I asked to read BLUSH first, so I could see where the story started and I went in completely blind. I like surprises.

And wow was I surprised. BLUSH is a deeply personal story of Amanda, a successful but lonely young woman, who discovers her place among an underground S&M community, and falls in love with the perfect partner for her. I was impressed with the beauty of the prose here, and how sensuous the spicy scenes are. I think this book is an example of how fine smut can be: a good story and perfect spice.

BLOOM was not such a surprise, of course, and I don't think I enjoyed it as much for that. I love that the main protagonist is an old friend from BLUSH-- Amanda's sister, Francesca, recently broken up from her fiance, just before their wedding. It creates wonderful tension in the story. Again, I think the story in BLOOM is great, which elevates this piece in its genre. Very spicy again, although I didn't connect as much with the kink in this book.

I'm so excited to read the last book in the series, BLOSSOM, due out January 24. Honestly, I'm totally sold on the series. And I'm not typically a series girl! But this is really good work!

Blush:
Cover: 5
Character Work: 4.5
Story: 4
Settings / World Work: 3.5
Ending: 4
Steam: 5
Rating: 4.33

Bloom:
Cover: 5
Character Work: 4
Story: 3.8
Settings / World Work: 3.5
Ending: 4
Steam: 4.3
Rating: 4.26

Recommend? Definitely!
Dates finished: July 27 (Blush) and 28 (Bloom)
Format: Advance Digital Copy (NetGalley) and Paperback (TLC Book Tours)

Frankie is having a really crap day. When she meets a man who wears a mask and a cape, she doesn't know what to think. They embark on a relationship that will lead them to some revelations and some emotional pain. Can they learn to trust each other and overcome the pain of their pasts? Can they both live in the light and love one another?

I felt so bad for Frankie at the start of the story. I honestly do not know how Frankie could forgive her family for what they did at the beginning of the story. I would take months to forgive it, but I guess the story couldn't afford that sort of timeline. Frankie is smart and resilient. She doesn't wallow in self-pity (for too long anyway). I could understand why she took a chance on Phantom when they first met, and it made sense that she would stick with him as she got to know him as a man. Phantom is a bit of a crazy creation as a lead male character. I would assume people would pay him a lot of attention since he wears a mask and a cape but if you can suspend disbelief in that, his reasons are valid. By the end, their relationship made sense and seemed solid. The author did a good job developing each character's motivations. The big reveal of Phantom's identity was good. I like how his real-world identity played a key role in the rest of the story (what goes on at his real-world job is well done).

I felt like something was going to happen with Black, Inc because it kept getting mentioned in the story. But nothing happened. It was odd. I also thought that some of their "fights" were a bit over the top. For example, the fight about wearing condoms. Um, given the fact that there is a "club" as a central part of the story, the condom discussion was necessary and not worthy of a fight. I also thought the part of the story focused on Frankie writing a story about alternative lifestyles was kind of a weak spot. The only benefit it had to the story was giving them something to fight about.

This is a contemporary romance set in New York. Both characters are adults with thriving careers. If you are looking for a love story with a little side of alternative lifestyles, give this a try. I will read more from this author in the future.

[3.25/5⭐️]
Frankie Thomas was supposed to be getting married today, but instead she finds herself in need of distraction. She finds the perfect masked man in a bar known only as Phantom and is inexplicably drawn to him. Phantom is committed to keeping his identity secret, but is willing to help Frankie discover and indulge her darker side at the exclusive Black Rose Underground Club.

I really enjoyed the masked hero aspect and the dark, secret vibe it brought to the story and particularly the part of him that felt pulled to share himself with the heroine. At times, the heroine’s behavior made her feel shallow and more difficult for me to attach to her, but I did like the way she respected Phantom’s boundaries in her efforts to authentically represent alternative lifestyles in her reporting.

You’ll Find —
Kink Exploration
Secret Identity

Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and Helen Hardt for the gifted digital review copy!

This is the first book by this author for me. There are parts that the main character just annoyed me but I continued on. Over all it was a spicy very hot story. 🔥

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Helen Hardt has done it again. If you like her books this is a must read.

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I hadn’t read this author for several years, and reading Bloom was akin to riding a bike. You just don’t forget (referring to the writing style). One of the queens of spice has done it again with Bloom, book two in her Black Rose series, which is also a standalone.

The FMC, Frankie, is feeling so vulnerable after a failed almost-marriage and drowns her sorrows at a bar, but this bar happens to be where she meets a masked suitor who simply goes by “Phantom.” He wishes to maintain privacy regarding his personal life and riles her curiosity in the world of BDSM. Their magnetic attraction expands, testing each other’s boundaries in more ways than one.

Helen Hardt does it again with this piping hot, steamy read you won’t want to miss! Looking forward to the next installment in the series.

#Spice #BDSM #Bloom #BlackRose #HelenHardt #Entangled

Don’t let this cover fool you. It may look like an innocent read but behind these pages it is spicy!

We follow Frankie who is recently out of a break up finds herself in the club where she meets the mysterious Phantom. Both realizing that they do not want anything serious enter into a casual relationship. Little did they know it was going to turn into a relationship of self discovery, exploration, and ultimately learning to love themselves in full bloom.

Overall. I liked this book and it drew me in with the mysterious-ness that phantom brought to the pages. I love a book where both main characters are working through problems and figure it out together.

This was my first book by the author though I have heard great things about the other books in this series. The FMC (a main point of the story for me) was so unrelatable, self-obsessed and such a whiner. I respect her choices sometimes but other times, I just wanted to tell her to get over it. The MMC was so eerily similar to Christian Grey - that is really all I need to say... The book was hard to get into, particularly because I did not like the FMC from the first few pages, however, the spice was good and there were some dialogues and scenes that were written extremely well.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

This is a scintillating romance that skillfully weaves themes of trust and self-exploration. Stepping into the alluring realm of the Black Rose Underground Club, the story revolves around Francesca (Frankie) Thomas and her enigmatic encounter with Phantom. Starting from a broken engagement, Frankie crossed paths with the mysterious and captivating Phantom. What began as a casual fling blossoms into a journey of mutual vulnerability and growth. Frankie's transformation through a BDSM assignment for work was interesting. Phantom's insistence on anonymity adds a mystique to their bond, while trust becomes a core theme as they navigate their intimate desires alongside personal challenges. Hardt crafts an irresistible narrative, delving into the intricate facets of love, identity, and the intoxicating blend of secrecy and passion.

DNF (no rating) ARC via Netgally.

I hadn't read this author before and the series did not work for me.

This one wasn't for me unfortunately. I couldn't get past a grown man wearing a mask and being called Phantom and everyone just rolling with it?? Something icked me out, and I just couldn't get past it so I skimmed the rest of it. It all felt a bit cring and disappointing, but I would give the author another shot.

If I were to describe Bloom, I’d have to call it spice with a heart. There are some fantastic spicy scenes and several tropes (ahem, and kinks) in this wonderful story of how Frankie and “Phantom” fell in love. I couldn’t get enough of it! I really do like my smut to have a plot, and this didn’t disappoint. If you are looking for a heartfelt romance that will also leave you more than a little hot and bothered, Bloom is where it’s at. Both characters had depth and flaws and the story of how they fight to be together is equally as engaging as the more lusty aspects of this book. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be checking out the others in the series!

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐
SPICE: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Francesca "Frankie" Thomas needed a lot of distraction today. She was meant to be walking down the aisle toward whom she thought was the love of her life. Until she caught him cheating. On top of that memory, her sister announces her own engagement today of all days. She parks herself away at a bar with specific orders to the bartender to keep them coming..until HE sits next to her.

The Phantom normally keeps to himself. The only exception prior to meeting Frankie was engaging with scenes at the Black Rose Underground Club and nothing more. But somehow Frankie not only breaks down that wall but has him wanting more. Would one night at the Black Rose get her out of his system?

I read the first book in this series and liked it, so I gravitated to this one. But..it did not quite deliver.

One, we had to suspend our belief that any woman who meets a man wearing a Phantom of the Opera-esque mask would not be running in the opposite direction.

Two, Frankie...was just not likable. Hey, I get the heartache of your engagement crashing down, and on the day of your supposed wedding, your sister announces her engagement? Totally get it, but she comes off as whiny. I give her points for recognizing she is being petulant, but that tantrum and her initial interaction with the Phantom left a bad taste in my mouth for Frankie.

The spice in this tries to make up for it, which is why it gets three stars. It is not an insta-lust or insta-love, and Helen Hardt does a great job of establishing a deep connection between our main characters before they jump into the physical aspect of their relationship.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Helen Hardt, Entangled, and NetGalley for providing an ARC. **

Bloom by Helen Hardt is book Two in the Black Rose Series. This is the story of Francesca Thomas 'Frankie' and Phantom. Frankie is fresh from a breakup which leads her to want some changes in her personal part of her life. Then she meets Phantom who wears a mask and starts to introduce her into more exciting personal life. Enjoyed this book.

So good! This book follows Frankie, Mandy's sister from Blush. And Frankie is going through it at the beginning. The sudden end of her engagement leaves her in need of a distraction. So she heads to grab a drink and meets a man only known as the Phantom. They have great chemistry.

He awakens all her senses but he has rules. No names or personal information, as a way to protect his identity. But something about Frankie makes him want to break all his own rules.

At the exclusive Black Rose Underground Club, the Phantom can help Frankie explore her deepest desires. While the mystery is thrilling, Frankie won't put up with secrets. She needs to know who is under the mask.

I enjoyed their chemistry and their overall growth as the book went on. Hunter has a lot of fears to overcome and Frankie is willing to wait for him to figure it all out.

Thanks so much to the author, Entangled and NetGalley for this ARC to review.

A good story with lots of drama and heat. Not as good as the first book but still enjoyed it. Solid writing

Whirlwind meeting and you can't get him out of your mind. It has a element of suprise that keeps you hook at the story. Like the title itself the relationship between them blooms into something beautiful. I appreciate and enjoy this kind of romance. I truly enjoy the BDSM.

Helen's intelligent writing style and skills have made this story a must-read. Reading this makes me remember that the greatest love story is when you fall in love with the most unexpected person at the most unexpected time.

On the bright side, I learned a lot about myself and my personal tastes from reading this book. On the not-as-bright side I wouldn't pick up this book again.

There were a few nice moments in here and I found the club scene descriptions to be fascinating as it was completely out of my wheelhouse, but overall the narrators were unreliable and contradictory from one chapter to the next. There was even a brief period of time between pages 150 and 200 I thought it might turn itself around, only for the confusion and revulsion to return with a vengeance.

The spice was not alluring to me, especially as it lacked the tension and romance that I find necessary leading up to it. This felt rather rushed and insta-love to me. Apparently I'm a slow burn girlie all the way because the lack of buildup had me rolling my eyes when Frankie was just jumping right into the Phantom's games. The ending only solidified that stance for me.

My favorite part about this book was that my annotations are comedy gold, but I think this was meant to be more serious than that and therefor I am sorry.

The people who liked Fifty Shades are likely more of the crowd for this one than I am, and I hope that this finds its rightful audience, as I'm sure this book will be great to the right people.

Another great addition to this series.
It just keeps getting better and better.
If you haven’t started this series, and I don’t know why you wouldn’t, you must .