All hail Sierra Simone, reigning champion of smut that makes you reach for a glass of water because you are thirsty.

I loved this book. I was introduced to Simone through her series with Julie Murphy, which I also loved, but just got obsessed with the tone in this book. Perfect characters, an incredible voice, and scenes that had me pausing and rewinding to make sure I heard what I heard.

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

This was so unexpectedly good and I ate every moment of it up!! It was such a page turner and no part of me ever wanted to stop reading, so imagine how sad I was when it ended. I need to next book STAT! Oh my lordy the spice literally served so hard in this!!! Sierra writes some of the best smut and she also does it almost poetically, I just love it so much! But for real this book had me blushing!! I loved all the characters in this and I absolutely can’t wait to see where this series goes!

What to expect:
Forbidden romance (his boss& his bosses soon to be wife)
MMF
Angsty & tension
SPICY AF!!!

There is also the salt in the wound novella that tells Mark and Isolde story that you can read for free before reading this one 🤭!!!!

We have to wait until June 2024 for the next book?! Ahh I could not put this book down. I loved it and loved Tristan, Mark, and Isolde! Ugh I knew I should have waited to read this until book 2 was done. Oh and all the freaking spice!!!!!

This book was not for me. I really wanted to like it, but I just couldn't get into it. I was disappointed that I couldn't enjoy it as much as others seem to, but I know that everyone has different tastes and preferences when it comes to literature

WHAT?!? holy crap I didn’t know this ended on such a cliffhanger!!! Fml!!

Super good book though, I really liked the character’s motivations and personalities. The spice was excellent, of course! And both Mark and Isolde are excellent and fascinating love interests. I’m so excited to see how the three of them mesh! 4.5 rounded up.

🌈 Queer rep: MC is bi/pan, in an MM relationship. FF side characters briefly mentioned. MMF poly relationship to come, but it doesn’t happen in this book yet!!

I wasn't sure what to expect with this modern Tristan and Isolde retelling, but I was compelled to finish this book as fast as possible. Sierra Simone continues to write the extremely captivating romance. Both the kink and power dynamics in this book are handled with expert care, and the authenticity and attention to detail make for very steamy scenes. Tristan is the perfect POV for this book, and his growth throughout the book is fascinating to watch. I look forward to seeing what happens next.

This is a first for me where its MMF and it was surprisingly addictive! It's not my cup of tea usually but the way Simone wrote the characters just had me hyper focused on them and next thing I know, I've read the whole thing and it's 4 am. Oops. But seriously, Tristan, Mark, and Isolde were addicting. A forbidden love between a bodyguard and his boss AND his boss's bride to be!!!! LIKE?!?!!!

Whew! This was exactly what I expected from a Sierra Simone book. I couldn't put it down, extremely spicy, quick read. Simone fans won't be disappointed.

Super hot from the very beginning. I knew how the story was supposed to unfold, but it still surprised me along the way. What a great read!

Tristan and Isolde was one of my favorite stories growing up. Love this queer take on the tale. Sierra Simone is a master of spice and kink and she absolutely delivered with this book. Mark is one of the most well developed, psychologically intense characters I’ve ever met and I ADORE HIM. I’m positively feral for the next one.

Sierra Simone writing is incredible and never ceases to amaze me!

Salt Kiss was absolutely perfect.

Sweet and Steamy

This series is my new obsession.

I cannot wait to see what happens next!

This one was not what I was expecting but I did enjoy it. I do really like this authors writing style and will continue to read all they write!

Sierra Simone never ceases to amaze me! This book was absolutely perfect. So hot and steamy, but also so deliciously sweet. I am obsessed with these characters and I cannot wait to see what happens next!

Salt Kiss by Sierra Simone
This book is sort of divided in thirds in my mind.
1. The set-up back story - in my opinion this goes on a bit long and is less interesting to read, although some of the info is relevant later on.
2. Mark and Tristan - this is a very steamy section, and should appeal to those who enjoy reading about Gay BDSM.
3. Tristan and Isolde (? meaningful names much?) - this section is about discovering hetero sex, etc.

As a cis-hetero reader, I enjoyed the thrid section the most, and I did like the way the story ended-
you don't know what will happen next, but there are several different paths you can imagine.

Ahhhhhhh this was everything I wanted and more! Sierra has managed to evoke the same vibes of New Camelot without it feeling like a copy-paste, which is something that I was worried about. But Tristan, Mark, and Isolde stand on their own.

This book managed to fit so much into so few pages, and the pacing was great from beginning to end. The author is a *master* of the slow car crash, I could feel the sense of “this is all going to crumble” from beginning to end, watching Tristan and Mark bond, and knowing how Salt in the Wound had ended- and yet my heart still broke right along with the story.

My only wish is that Isolde & Tristan had had longer together in the book, I really wanted to see more development between them on page- and I’m hoping more comes in Honeycut

DNF @ 47%. At first I was interested in this story and where it was going but now I’m just realizing it’s not for me. It moves a lot slower than I was expecting it to.

Sierra Simone is an auto buy author for me and I sincerely love everything that she writes. While usually deals with sex and kink there’s always a layer of emotion and thought that always pulls me in and makes me think. It always fascinates me how she can open up the world of kink to talk about its many layers and these very complex characters that she’s built. She very seldom writes superficial or one sided characters, they’re very very much multi-faceted.
Very much looking forward to the rest of this Tristan and Isolde retelling (One of my favorites) and the unique way in which Simone has reshaped its foundation.
The strings now tying all of these characters together at the end of the book fascinate me so much and I am THIRSTING for the last book.

This was one that just didn't click with me as much as I wanted it to. Maybe it was my mindframe when reading the story. Perhaps when the series is finished I will give it another shot.

Wow this is super spicy and I’m looking forward to the next one. If you love super spicy and description romance (not a single thing left to the imagination) then this is for you. It has M/M and M/F storylines.

"Salt Kiss," the first full-length book in Sierra Simone's Lyonesse series, has left a profound impression on the reviewer as the best read of the year. The story begins with the prequel novella, "Salt in the Wound," available for free and providing crucial insight into Isolde and Mark's meeting. Isolde's journey from aspiring nun to a coerced marriage with Mark, along with her father's banking empire aspirations, sets the stage for a compelling narrative.

The reviewer applauds the high heat level, exceptional character development, and the mysterious allure surrounding Mark. Sierra Simone's storytelling prowess is highlighted, with stunning prose and intricately crafted, dark, and intelligent characters that keep readers guessing. The anticipation for the next installment in 2024 is acknowledged, and the reviewer, captivated by the story, is tempted to turn to the audio version to ease the wait. The novella, "Salt in the Wound," is recommended for its added layers of intrigue and context, enriching the overall reading experience. The review concludes with an emotive reaction to the ending, expressing an urgent need for the sequel.