Sierra Simone is the author I save for THAT time of the month when spicy books just hit different. Her sex scenes are well-written, without being overdone, and I absolutely adore the dynamics in her poly romances. I don't normally read M/M, but appreciate Sierra's approach in ensuring that the relationship between Mark and Tristan was fleshed out and full of delicious chemistry - all without Isolde even in the picture yet.

Thank you to Sierra Simone, NetGalley, and Bloom Books for an advanced copy of the book for my review.

Overall would give this a 3.5⭐️. If you are looking for good levels of spice, this is your book. I think this had a good balance of story with the spice throughout the novel.

I am hoping that as the series continues we get more delivery on the promise of Mark as this big bad, and I hope we see more of the twin sister as we only got small tastes of either of them. I also hope we learn more about Mark, he’s being set up as a very multidimensional character and I hope that stays.

Sierra Simone’s writing is really beautifully done. She has a really great style which shines throughout the novel. Though I personally wasn’t quite as attached to a lot of the story, there was just something missing but I wonder if I will get more of what I’m hoping for in book 2?

Sierra Simone does not hold back on her spice and I love it!! This woman has done it again!! Love her stories and can’t wait for the next one in this series!

This book is chefs kiss!!! It has all the classic elements of Sierra Simone’s poetic writing perfection- love, passion, angst, spiciness. I did read this book, Salt Kiss first and then the prequel novella, Salt in the Wound. I loved reading these two books this way as Isolde was a mystery to me. I got to know her as Tristan was knowing her without the backstory. Salt Kiss is about Tristan’s story of taking a new job with Mark Trevena as his new bodyguard. Tristan is naive and not really knowing what he is in for in the job. I am not sure us as readers know either (if I learned anything from the Camelot trilogy there are many more layers to unfold). Mark is a very calculated character. I love both these characters. They are so complex but told in such a way you can’t help but root for them. The first half of book is Mark and Tristan’s story and halfway through we get Isolde to enter the story. Can’t wait for more in this trilogy! Many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It wouldn’t be a Sierra Simone book without a smex scene in a church! 😂

I’m struggling to find the words to express how much I loved this book. I purposely read this one slow so I could enjoy it for as long as possible since we don’t get book 2 until next year!

Sierra did what Sierra does best. Forbidden, taboo love in a power dynamic that’s sure to leave someone or all parties heartbroken. She wrote a tortured MMC who needs some guidance and finds it at the hands of the one person who can never truly be his.

The way she writes is so poetic. She exposes the raw character whose POV it is to the readers in such a way as to really put us in their headspace and in the moment.

On top of the expected D/s dynamic and getting to experience Tristan embracing being everything Mark needs, we get a great example of how difficult it is for soldiers to reintegrate into civilian life and why many of them fall into jobs with the rigidity and structure they’re used to. This is also why Tristan makes such a great submissive.

We still really only get a glimpse of Mark and his inner workings, this time from Tristan’s perspective. Although he expects to know everything about everyone else, he’s very guarded with himself, only letting those closest to him in only the slightest bit. He comes across as calm and indifferent but gives just enough attention to leave his subs confused and wanting more.

I’m glad I read “Salt in the Wound” (prequel novella) before this one to get the glimpse of Isolde leading up to this book. She’s the sacrificial “lamb” and this is her final hoorah.

Things I loved:
• The tension
• The setting
• The realistic “once they start, they don’t stop” lust & smexy time
• The connections/dynamic
• The spicy scenes

I can’t wait for the next installment!

I honestly don't know how to review this until I've finished the series, but I'll give it a shot. Salt Kiss is a set up for what's to come. I haven't formed an opinion on any of its characters yet because experience (Camelot trilogy) tells me it's too soon. What I do know is that it's fiery hot, unapologetic, and a bit shocking--though admittedly, it's been a while since I've read BDSM or kink so "Bondage for Beginners" would probably shock me at this point. I also know I couldn't put it down and I cannot wait to read what happens next.

FYI, I felt a lot of these same things after reading American Queen, and that series became one of my favorites EVERRRRRR. Ms. Simone's plots unfold very slowly--but not in a way that's frustrating. You never really know you're lacking information until she gives it to you. So if something seems implausible, chances are you don't know as much as you think you do. With Camelot, book one posed questions (that I was oblivious to), and book two began answering them. Ergo, I NEED book two. For research.

This was beautiful. The spice was amazing and everything flowed great. I do wish it wasn't split into two books, this should have been one long book. The "cliffhanger" felt like a cheat tbh.

I am DESPARATE for the second book!

I had read the prequel for Salt Kiss, and I will say that I'm glad i did even though I don't think it's absolutely necessary before picking up Salt Kiss. Given Salt Kiss is from Tristan's perspective, I felt the prequel gave be a good foundation for knowing more about Mark and Isolde as individuals, as well as their dynamic, which made Tristan's perspective more poignant and impactful. So yes, I'm glad I read them in order!

Salt Kiss is a retelling of Tristan and Isolde, I knew nothing of the tale until I'd read this book and scurried off to look it up. Now I'm on tender hooks to see how accurately the next books in this series are translated.

I won't go into the storyline as anyone can go and look that up for themselves on Goodreads. Instead I'll comment on the things that contributed to my rating of this book. Firstly, I was taken by this book so unexpectedly. I had read the New Camelot series and was underwhelmed with the characters in that series (whilst LOVED the writing itself and loved the series as a whole) and felt one of the relationships overshadowed the others. Tristan was lost, looking for something but he didn't know what it was. He was inherently good, well intentioned and driven but wanted more, again, even if he didn't know what that was. It seemed he found it in Mark and Lyonesse (as a whole) despite knowing the fragility and potentially fleeting nature of their dynamic. I enjoyed the exploration of Tristan's feelings about his past and present, and the complexity of his feelings in relation to Mark, as his nuanced insight.

Mark is also a great character in his complexity and his predilections. I got aa strong feeling there wasn't anything Tristan was saying or doing that Mark wasn't aware of, hadn't predicted or expected. For. The. Whole. Book. He was power and control personified. That this was based on knowledge and information made this story more powerful, and against the backdrop of societal and religious expectations, it makes for a very interesting read.

Isolde plays less of a role until 2/3 of the book, and the relationship between she and Tristan is fast-tracked due to their circumstances - a direct contrast to Tristan and Mark's. However, you're not left in any doubt with the cliffhanger that there's more to come, and I assume given the way the New Camelot series was structured, the remaining books will be Isolde and Mark's perspectives.

And I can't wait.

Contains - MM and MF in relation to the MC's (it's a MMF series), BDSM, kink, descriptions of war and killing, on page PTSD symptoms, depression, religious themes, cheating, mass shooting, virgin hero/heroine (by far one of my least favourite tropes so that I liked this book so much really gives props to Sierra Simone's writing).

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.

Oh my gooood this book was so good.

Sierra Simone is such a guilty pleasure author for me and this book did not disappoint. I also want to preface this 5 star review with the fact that I don't usually gravitate towards an MM romance... HOWEVER - holy sh*t the dynamic between Tristan and Mark was so hot.

All of Tristan's internal struggles that he battles with in terms of coming back from deployment, his attraction to Mark, and how he navigates getting Islode was so well written. And then when he met Isolde I just KNEW it was about to get more dramatic. I was living for it.

THEN I find out there was a prequel already about how Mark met Islode and you better believe I did not walk - I ran to it. I feel like the prequel is a must read before the second book becuase it just puts so many pieces together. I need book 2 now PLEASE. Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc! x

This was such a great book, and I really enjoyed it! I almost never start a book where the series is unfinished, and this book leaves off in a way that makes it impossible to wait for the next one.

There’s a prequel to this book, and while I would say it’s not a must-read, it does help orient yourself around the characters, the setting, and the storyline. That being said, because of the prequel some things were more obvious in this book, so if you like to read blind I think the prequel could also be read at the end of the series!

This book was so much fun to read, and with really enjoyable spice - very queer and kink centric. If you enjoyed the New Camelot book series, you’ll definitely like this one - it has some character crossover and had a similar writing style, other than the duel timeline that New Camelot followed.

I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys spicy dark romance, and I will be reading the rest of the series… and probably anything else Sierra Simone puts out!

4.5 ⭐️ 4.5 🌶

So if you ever watched the movie Tristan and Isolde from the early 2000s but you wanted more… and maybe modern day… and More ….. SPICE! That would be this book.

Oh, WOW! I devoured this book in one evening.

I loved Sierra Simone’s, American Queen series and this book is giving me those same feels. As with all Sierra Simone books, this was a super steamy adventure. This is an extra spicy Tristin and Isolde retelling and I loved it.

When I tell you I loved this book, I really did. It was fast paced, full of great characters, and well written romance. There were so many great things about this book and very few things I thought could be better. Overall, this was an excellent book and after that ending, I cannot wait for the next book.

Tristin was such a great character. He seems so lost, but when he finds a job as a bodyguard for Mark Trevena, he begins to find his path. At least until he meets Isolde. Tristan is suffering from ptsd after coming back from war. He’s left the military and taken up a job as a bodyguard for the owner of a kink club. Well long story short, he learns all about kink through his new boss. I don’t want to say more and give too many details away …. You have to earn those details by reading the book.

Will Tristan lose his first love or Isolde or both?

Tropes:
- Bodyguard
- Kink
- Forbidden Love
- Age Gap
- MMF
- Tristan and Isolde Retelling

I literally read this book in an evening and now I’m desperately waiting for book 2.

Definitely check content warnings for this book. It may not be for everyone.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this fantastic eArd.

That's an exciting book! I really enjoyed the main story and the spice is so hot!!! Once it started, I needed to keep on reading. The characters are loveable in their own way as they hide so many scars... and the writing is so smooth that at some point I forgot that I was reading (and English is not my mother tongue so it's quite a compliment!). I'll gladly read what's coming next when book 2 will be published!

I could not put this book down. From beginning to end, I hung on every page.

If you’ve read Simone’s New Camelot series, you’ve been introduced to Mark Trevana who owns DC’s most elite kink club. In Salt Kiss, we meet his new bodyguard Tristan Thomas. Tristan’s whole life has been dictated by his distinguished military service and now life as a civilian has him bored and restless. Until he takes a job for his new uncle in law Mark Trevana as his personal bodyguard. The first 60% of the book we see the relationship between Mark and Tristan evolve until Mark sends Tristan on a mission to bring Isolde home from Ireland. And surprise Isolde is Mark’s fiancé.

I really enjoyed this and look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy. I found some of the violence in the New Camelot series to be too much for me, but that isn’t present in Salt Kiss to the same extent. I really wanted this told in multiple POVs but if this trilogy is like her others, future books may be from different POVs.

Content flags: Tristan’s military service is described often including people he killed; Mark is shot at one point when violence breaks out in the club; kink/BDSM

I voluntarily reviewed an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I think this is my first proper smut book since reading 50 shades about 12 years ago lol and jeeeesus was this spicy. Absolutely loved this book and struggled to put it down. The twist at the end was expected but I'm still desperate for the next book asap!!!!! Giving this a 4 stars because some of the scenes felt a bit uncomfortable for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

Rating: 5 ⭐️
Spice: 5 🔥
Tropes: MM / MF, Tristan x Isolde retelling, kink club owner, ex-military bodyguard, slow burn with ample longing and lust, sexual discovery, MMC virgin

Thank you NetGalley for the copy!

Writing good erotica is an art form, and Sierra Simone has mastered it. I have seen her other books pop up on booksta but this is the first one that I’ve read from her. From “yes, sir🫡” to “yes, sir🥺”, I was hooked almost immediately and was hot all over for SO MUCH of this book. I cannot rave enough about how well the spice was written, even just the immediate attraction between Mark and Tristan had me in a fucking chokehold. I have wanted to start getting into more MM/boys’ love and this just proved how much of a world I need to explore and just how great it will be

The plot also CARRIED! It was very differently paced than I expected, and ends on a cliffhanger, but it’s genuinely chefs kiss!!! I loved loved loved getting to know each of the characters (Mark, Tristan, and Isolde) they truly each gave me everything.

I am usually not the biggest fan of retellings, and I was worried the Tristan x Isolde plot line wouldn’t translate well but I stand corrected on every level. I also don’t know much about mythology but I searched up this one and I could IMMEDIATELY see the connections. It was the modern erotica retelling without being tacky!

The Facts: MMF ménage, a dash of forbidden romance, and a bucket of spice and angst, bodyguard with benefits vibes

I adored this book. With the writing and characters, it was purely addicting. Tristan is Mark's bodyguard who catches feelings for Mark real quick, but then he meets Isolde (Mark's fiancée) and sparks fly between them too. And that ending had me reeeeeling. I was like OH SNAP! Everything in here was passionate and angsty and smutty. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series.

a prom king, a nun, and a dom. Sierra Simone *fans self*, YOU DID THE THING !!! This was such a fun read, I could not stop turning the pages. This was such a fun, and spicy read!
I will do read anything sierra writes!

I’m ready to give up on ARC reading…LIKE WHY IS EVERYTHING LEAVING ME ON SUCH GREAT CLIFFHANGERS? The spicy in this book was TOP TIER STUFF Y’ALL! But the plot, the action, the tension and characters are what really sold it for me.

It was a little tough to get into at the start but once the ball started rolling, BABY IT DIDN’T STOP.

First off this is an adult book! So be aware!

It’s spicy! Sierra Simone did an amazing job! She really delivered and had me sweating!

This is different from my usual reads but it was really good! I really enjoyed it!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc and Sierra Simone!

3.5 stars rounded down to 3.

Ever since his discharge from the Army, Tristan has felt lost. But a job offer is about to change everything. Mark needs a bodyguard, someone who can be with him nearly around the clock as he takes meetings and makes appearances at his BDSM club. Lyonesse deals in secrets, and Tristan soon finds himself dangerously in over his head and falling for his boss. When he's sent to escort Mark's fiancé across the Atlantic on a yacht, Tristan is determined to hate Isolde, but she works her way under his skin and into his heart.

There were so many things I liked about Salt Kiss, but a few things I didn't, which I why I rounded down when I landed on 3.5 for my rating. I really enjoyed how the kink served the story. A pet peeve of mine is when kink is used to make the story 'edgy' rather than actually serving the plot. Kink served as an anchor for Tristan, a way for him to take pieces of himself back after suppressing them for so long. There was a lot of kink, but not so much that I lost sight of the plot. I also really liked the parallels between Tristan and Isolde. They are both very lonely people and I am interested to see what happens between them in the rest of this series.

But I didn't enjoy the insta-love. Salt Kiss was a fast burn, and while that's not a bad thing, I feel one or two more chapters of Tristan working through his attraction to Mark and Isolde would have better served his character arc.

Overall, I liked this book and I'm very excited to continue with this series.