On the games that are being played. Mark is a mastermind, but who does he connect with in planing? Anyone? Is sister? And why Tristan? And Isolde? What is the end game he is trying to find? What is Isolde's true plan? What is her relationship with her uncle, how does he play into this world that has been chosen for her.... but she has her own game. And then there is Tristan.... is he who he seems or he is playing his own game? Is there any true love in this triangle or is this all really just about must, power, money and dominance? I guess we have to wait for the next installment to really see what is to come of these three.

Can't wait! Spicy, sexy read.

This is the first erotica I read that isn't also fantasy. The writing's great. I did skim over the military stuff because I'm not interested in that so it made the book feel slow at times to me. But the relationships between the characters felt authentic, the spice was good, and the ending was great (made me laugh)! I definitely want to know what happens next in this story.

3.5 stars

Sierra Simone's "Salt Kiss" is a sensuous and provocative romance that explores the depths of desire and passion. With her trademark storytelling prowess, Simone crafts a tale that ignites the senses and leaves readers yearning for more.

The writing in "Salt Kiss" is undeniably lush and evocative. Simone has a gift for painting vivid and tantalizing scenes that immerse readers in the world of her characters. The chemistry between the protagonists practically sizzles off the page, making for a steamy and unforgettable reading experience.

The characters themselves are beautifully flawed and complex, adding depth to the narrative. Their emotional journeys and the exploration of their desires are at the heart of the story, and Simone handles these elements with finesse. It's easy to become fully invested in their passionate and tumultuous relationship.

One of the strengths of this book is its unapologetic embrace of sensuality and desire. Simone doesn't hold back in exploring the more intimate aspects of her characters' relationship, making it a read for those who appreciate unabashedly steamy romance.

However, while the sensuality is a significant part of the story, there were moments when I wished for a bit more plot and emotional depth outside of the physical relationship between the characters. The narrative sometimes leaned heavily on the erotic aspects, which may not be everyone's cup of tea.

In summary, "Salt Kiss" by Sierra Simone is a tantalizing and passionate romance that delivers on its promises of heat and desire. If you're looking for a story that celebrates the power of physical attraction and the complexity of human emotions, you'll find it in this book. It's a scorching read that fans of steamy romance are sure to devour with relish.

This was my first book by Sierra Simone and I completely fell in love. Going in knowing nothing, I absolutely loved the worldbuilding and fell in love with all the characters. I would characterise this as a more dark romance but I highly recommend as I really did not want to put this down and I can't wait to read the rest of the Trilogy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: consensual kink, murder, PTSD, death of a loved one (Past), violence

While you don't have to, I read the free prequel to this book prior to starting this

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-mmf dark romance series
-Tristan x Isolde retelling
-bodyguard
-forced proximity
-forbidden romance elements
-virgin hero

I love Sierra Simone taking famous love triages and turning them poly. Mark is the owner of a kink club that deals exclusively in secrets, and forcer CIA. He's definitely not warm and cuddly and has so many secrets. But he pulls his step-nephew Tristan into his world. Tristan is recently out of the military and dealing with trauma of his own.

He's immediately attracted to Mark, and just intrigued by his new job at a kink club. The love story between Mark and Tristan was a lot softer than I was expecting it to be. Adding in Isolde, Mark's finance who he hasn't spoken to for two years (definitely recommend reading the prequel to learn more on this). Isolde and Tristan's relationship.

I won't say much but this was a wild ride of steam, intrigue, and suspense. And I can't wait to see where this series goes next.

Steam: 4

OOOOOOO this was a DOOZY!!

The spice was extra spicy and the tension was extra tension-y.

The primary relationship was NOT slow-burn, but the plot was just a slight sprinkling. It is primarily plot set up for the following book in the series. Not only am I anticipating what will happen in new relationships, but I also can't wait to find out what's happening in the larger plot. Who is behind the club attack? What secrets does Isolde have in her past? I'm very happy to learn that the next book seems to be from her perspective, I think we will have a lot to learn from her.

I started this book yesterday afternoon, and finished it this morning (reading on my phone while pretending to work....). I recommend this to anyone looking for some spice with a slow-build plot with a cliffhanger.

The only reason I didn't give this a full 5-stars was that I just wanted a bit more plot. There were more and more questions, but no answers were given. I wanted an answer, a plot twist, something.

Can't wait for June!!

Big thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for an arc of this book, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

HELLO HI HELP ME 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 this was fantastic but I knew it would be because it’s my queen Sierra. Between this and Salt in the Wound I am absolutely invested in this world and these characters. I am simply OBSESSED. This book was so hot, incredibly well thought out and one of my top books of the year. SIERRA NEVER MISSES!!!

If you like smut this is for you. If you like a plot with your shut, maybe partially for you. If you need a plot to enjoy your books, then not for you.

I give all my books a fair shot and if the book hasn’t hooked me by 30% I move on. Unfortunately that was the case for this book. I made it to 37% and I DNF. I’m a huge fan of Sierra Simone but a lot of stuff just doesn’t make sense to me. I feel the the plot build up is taking forever and the MMC is so touch deprived and a virgin but immediately wants to submit to his step uncle. Idk I just feel like he shouldn’t be a virgin lol

No one delivers on the spice like Sierra Simone. And Salt Kiss is no different!

A Tristan x Isolde re-imagining / telling, features a M/M/F romance where Isolde’s future husband, Mark Trevena, is an infamous ex military and CIA badass with a kill list a mile long, who now owns the world’s premiere kink club that collects payment for its services exclusively through information.

Hired as his bodyguard is ex military Tristan, who is a potent combination of adoring Labrador, and lethal fighter/security. Most of the book centers around Tristan and Mark’s relationship, their Ahmet isn’t to each other, and eventually, their explosive dom/sub relationship.

While I found aspects of Mark and Tristan interesting, I have to say that neither really held my interest for long. The spice while certainly there, quickly lost its impact for me because I didn’t get any of the emotional connection behind it. While the link club scenes certainly shock and entice, I found it fleeting.

Another aspect I didn’t love was that Isolde doesn’t even come into play until much farther into the book (75%+), so in terms of a retelling, the first book doesn’t really include this throuple. I suspect that’s what’s coming in book 2, and while I’ll be interested in picking it up, I’m not reading down any doors to get to it.

Enjoyable but lacking memorable characters that I genuinely care about, this was just okay. However, never count this author out!

BOOK REVIEW 📚of Salt Kiss by Sierra Simone

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Thank you to Sourcebooks, NetGalley, Bloom Books and Sierra Simone for the opportunity to review this story. This review will be posted on Goodreads 💗

After years of deployment to war-torn Carpathia, Tristan Thomas is hoping to find new meaning in his life, outside of the armed forces. With his father newly married and facing a life of monotony and lack of purpose, Tristan jumps at the chance to interview for a new position as a body guard to his new Uncle-in-Law. Mark Trevena is a reputed ex-CIA assassin who now runs ‘Lyonesse’, a luxurious BDSM kink club on a private island.
Thrown into the world of sex, pain and humiliation, Tristan must resist the desperate pull he feels towards the quietly dangerous Mark, and Mark’s fiancée Isolde, and fight his need to fall into all-encompassing love again, because this time, he might not survive it.

Salt Kiss is a MM/MF urban contemporary romance, full of explicit dreams and forbidden fantasies.
I loved the elements that were drawn from the Tristan and Isolde legend within the story and the political manipulation by Mark and his cohort. Mark was easily the most interesting to me of the trio, and his sexual dominance over Tristan was divine. I found the second relationship quite last minute and think Mark/Tristan & Tristan/Isolde should have their own stories, since Isolde only entered the book at 80%.
While Tristan was a likeable character, I found it unrealistic that a battle hardened soldier would still be a virgin in his late 20’s and be so naive and malleable. I also grew a little bored with the large chunks of military jargon and backstory.
Triggers may include bondage & impact play.

Sierra Simone is an auto buy author for me. I love the twisty angsty stories she weaves, and after reading the Prologue, Salt In The Wound, I couldn’t wait to see where this story would lead. Mark is a dark mysterious enigma with mentions in all the Camelot books and I really wanted to know more about him. It was great to be back in the Camelot world and to have Salt Kiss build off some of the history / characters already established. I can’t wait for the follow up and to see where Sierra Simone takes the rest of the Lyonesse Trilogy. Thank you to Bloom Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was full of spice from the get go. The main setting is in a kink club. We meet Tristan, the bodyguard, and Mark, the boss.

This wasn't my first Sierra Simone book, so I felt like I had an inkling for what I was getting into, but ultimately I DNF this book. I was about 46% though and felt like I was still in world building and we hadn't even met the FMC yet (in this story, there is a prequel). I felt like it just kept dragging and then when the "action" finally started, I was already uninterested.

This book does kink and BDSM well and had plenty of tropes that I love, but overall the characters and the storyline didn't do it for me.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bloom Books, and Sierra Simone for the opportunity to read this book!

I went into this book completely blind and ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!! Sierra Simone just isn’t able to write a bad book and she’s on a roll! This book was so hot, it was sooooo good!! I love the pinging and the tension, it just added to this amazing story!!

This book is hot 🔥 🥵 Ultimately it's a love story and I cannot wait till the next book to see how it will end. The twists and turns in this book are great!
There is a prequel to this but I didn't read it and still understood. But now I need to go back and read it.
If you are looking for a hot spicy book with plot, don't sleep on this one.
As always check trigger warnings before reading.

Salt Kiss is a new twist on a beloved classic tale. But this time in the same realm as the Camelot series. I went into this expecting the same vibe as the previous series and was presently surprised. I would recommend reading the prequel. If you love Sierra Simone and her world building and her characters that make it hot for you, this one is for you!

I really enjoyed this book even though this genre wasn’t something I thought I would enjoy. I think the reason behind that was the deep connection I build with every character but especially Tristian. God I felt his excitement, love but also his pain. The author Sierra Simone has a way of always writing the dialogue so vividly yet so simple that It just flows.

Salt Kiss by Sierra Simone - A Steamy Twist on a Classic Tale
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5 (3.5 stars)

Salt Kiss, written by Sierra Simone, puts a spicy twist on the Tristian and Isolde story we all know. It starts with Tristian becoming Mark's bodyguard, who happens to run a wild kink club called Lyonesse. Things get hot and heavy between Mark and Tristian, with a dominant-submissive relationship brewing.

Most of the book explores Mark and Tristian's intense connection while they also deal with their professional duties. But things get complicated when Tristian learns that Mark is engaged to Isolde. Tristian is then sent on a mission to bring Isolde from Ireland to America on Mark's yacht, leading to a surprising romantic triangle.

As the yacht docks in Manhattan, secrets are revealed, and the story leaves us hanging on the edge of our seats.

While Salt Kiss offers a fresh take on a classic story and keeps you hooked, some readers, including me, wished there was a better balance between the different relationships in the book. Instead of the 70/30 focus, a 50/50 split might have been more satisfying.

One thing that bothered me was Tristian's character. He didn't quite grab my attention, especially because I prefer strong male leads like Mark. Also, the lightning-fast way he falls for both Mark and Isolde in just a week each might seem a bit unrealistic.

But here's the deal: despite these issues, the book's exciting ending will make you want to dive into the next part of the series to find out what happens next.

In short, Salt Kiss by Sierra Simone adds spice to a classic tale, though it could have balanced its relationships better and worked on Tristian's character development. Nevertheless, its gripping ending will leave you eager for more.

I was given this title as an ARC through #NetGalley

As a huge fan of the Camelot series, I honestly didn't know if this book would live up to my expectations. I've never been more happy to be wrong. This series has a dark and sexy vibe to it that's completely different from the Camelot series. I can't wait to read the next instalment of this series.

''I only ask that you keep an open mind. You strike me as a romantic person. There's romance here too, in letting go. In surrender.''

Thank you Sierra Simone, NetGalley and Bloom Books, for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.

Actual rating: 4.55 ⭐

Before Salt Kiss, I quickly read Salt in the Wound (a prequel of Isolde and Mark). And so, my attention was captured and my common sense left my body 😌 I was prepared for my first book by Sierra. As mentioned by the author, The Lyonesse trilogy is a queer, kinky contemporary retelling of the legend of Tristan and Isolde.

If Salt in the Wound was told by Isolde's pov, Salt Kiss follows Tristan's. He is a walking punchline to happen - a 29 year old combat veteran, a hero, who's also a virgin. And he is now working as a bodyguard for DC's wickedest kink club owner and once the most feared operator in the CIA - Mark Trevena. And he is his nephew-in-law. That most certainly will not complicate things, right? Right?

For me, the book is experience/character driven, not plot focused. How can I explain.. Being in Tristan's shoes, I felt mesmerized by how he perceived people and the world around him. How he, a lost puppy in the sea of kinky fuckery and military discipline, started to learn what he likes and what it feels to do certain things with or for someone. What it feels to be free of choice. How it feels to receive and give pleasure. How his honed patience cracks bit by bit and jealousy, and obsession, slips through his armor. His curse.. Seeing this sweet golden retriever being horny, needy and unraveling was delicious!

Isolde - black belt, perfect student, elegant and devout Catholic Isolde. Knife wielding and pain loving Isolde. We had a glimpse of her upbringing in Salt in the Wound throughout the years and it explains certain characteristics. And we already know how and why her relationship with Mark was established. Treacherous thoughts follow her. It was so satisfying to read her sparring scenes with Tristan. A girl can definitely surprise.

Mark.. the mysterious Mark. Who is he really? Dominant, ex-CIA, enigmatic club owner, a selfish devil in disguise, hardly a good Catholic man, a fiancé, a flushing and dangerous lover. Intoxicating charisma. What is his end goal really? What happened in his past? Through the eyes of Tristan, I couldn't help myself to also fall for Mark. Despite hundreds of red flags and not knowing who he truly is. He commands attention and knows what he wants. How is this not hot af? I volunteer as a tribute for whatever you need, Sir!

Overall, I very much enjoyed the world Sierra created. It was beautifully written and packed with passion. From the secretive and luxurious life of the Lyonesse guests and employees, the past memories of our lead characters, the power behind bribes and dangerous information and the unholy spice that was seeping through the pages. One thing to mention, it is promoted as an MMF book, but in reality, like 68+% was MM and then the rest was MF. If it's important for you to have straight away MMF romance - you will be slightly disappointed. The next book, however, will most definitely be MMF. It can't be anything else. I loved the chemistry and all the moments between Tristan and Mark. And Tristan with Isolde (Tristan sure is different with each of them). And I'm so sooo looking forward to the Honey Cut, when all of them will be together!

What to expect:

* Bodyguard Romance
* Tristan and Isolde Retelling
* Morally Grey Vibes
* Forbidden Romance
* Good Boy
* Degradation and Plays
* Lots of Kinks and Lessons
* MM / MF
* Age Gap
* Internal Conflicts
* Single Pov

I want two people.
I'm not able to have either of them.
How did I get here?