"The X Ingredient" by Roslyn Sinclair offers a delectable blend of romance and cunning delight. Sinclair's writing sizzles with chemistry, and the characters' journey from enemies to lovers is a delectable treat for fans of contemporary romance.

Thankyou to netgalley and the author for the ARC!
I DNFED it.
I'm sorry I couldn't get through this book
It wasn't acc to my taste so I didn't continue this otherwise I would have gotten into really bad slump !

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

diana parker is a top atlantic lawyer, top of her game and she is in need of a new P.A she is tough at work and tough on her employees

so when she meets laurie holcombe she isnt impressed with her and doesnt think she is up to much but laurie has that certain something and is given a trial run though most dont think she will last the week

but as they get to know each other and learn their ways diana finds that laurie isnt the push over she imagines

wow just wow this book certainly had it all.... and i loved the epilogue at the end.

will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors works

This was a fun, steamy, opposites attract age gap ice queen workplace romance. I enjoyed the banter and the angst.

The X Ingredient - Roslyn Sinclair
5/5 STARS 5/5 SPICE

I was given a free advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

This was a perfect sapphic office romance! Reminded me a lot of the office dynamic in The Dreamland Billionaires series. And it was spicy! I have been wanting an actually spicy sapphic book for sooooo long!!!!! No more closed doors baby!!!! I’m talking almost EVERY SINGLE CHAPTER! I would totally recommend this book to a friend. I think if anything this isn’t talked about enough. And Age Gap, Office Romance, Boss x Assistant, Grumpy Sunshine. Will always hit! Never fails. And I promise you get every little detail of how Diana and Laurie unfold! It’s wonderful. I’m a big fan of juicy contemporary romances. If I’m reading contemporary romance I want every detail. Every stupid text, phone call, email I NEED IT! Nothing is worse than having every other chapter say “Two weeks past since we talked…” I mean girl! This left no crumbs behind! Laurie is so confident in herself and her sexuality but she has regrets and doesn’t want her new path to be messed up like the past. Diana has been forcing herself into a life she didn’t want for years now and needs someone to show her how to really live. The two complement each other very well! I look forward to reading more Roslyn Sinclair and can’t wait to find more romances like it!

This wasn't for me. It was too instalusty and no real relationship other than that between the characters. Also, one of the main characters was married when the first (out of the blew) kiss happened?? Cheating is definitely not something I enjoy reading about and it says a lot about the character.. I only finished it for the spice and those parts were okay.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story was such a treat! The characters grew as people and as a couple, they both faced their own insecurities and personal biases. Plus the story was 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

If you’re looking for a scorching hot sapphic boss/employee toaster oven romance, you’ve found it. Forget gently melting an ice queen’s heart, this book took a blowtorch to it. I’m generally drawn to love stories over lust stories, but the sex scenes are so well-written that even the one’s without tenderness held my interest. The boss/personal assistant dynamic reminded me a lot of The Devil Wears Prada, minus the fashion (though I hear the author’s Carlisle Series is a sapphic The Devil Wears Prada retelling, so I definitely need to read that next). I loved how Laurie, the assistant, ended up being the one in control in the bedroom (with major pleasure dom vibes). That was unexpected. I do wish there’d been a safe word used by the couple, just to avoid any possible consent misunderstandings, but thankfully I never felt like anything crossed into dubcon.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.

Loved this story-I have other books by Ms. Sinclair so I was looking forward to reading this one even though it has been out for a while (not sure how I missed it). I love age gap characters and the MCs are well written with great dialog. I did notice some reviews talked about the sex scenes, I personally found them well written (not porn) and tastful for the story.

I enjoyed this story so much I decided to get it in the audiobook format as well-I do recommend headphones for the audio though....smile.....thank you Ms. Sinclair for another great book, look forward to other stories from you.

I was hoping for more chemistry between the two. There is sexual chemistry but the romance is missing. I was hoping to see scenes where I could envision them being happy together outside of sex. It was disappointing that Laurie only gets touched at the end. I got bored with their intimate scenes half the time, especially because there was no build up.

Laurie Holcombe is downsized out of a job, and desperate to find something fast. When she applies at a prestigious law firm and unexpectedly gets hired by super hot ice queen boss Diana Parker, things get spicy pretty quickly.

I loved the give and take of their "arrangement" a lot, but Diana's self-denial was really frustrating to me. Definitely a fun and spicy read if you like age gap, ice queen sapphic workplace romances with a lot of spice, though!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

I went into this with an open mind. I’ve read books that were just straight smut and I was definitely thinking this book would be that. But I actually thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved that there was a good story line but the spice was VERY good as well. Like blushing good. I just loved the dynamic where for once Diana didn’t have to be in charge, and she could let Laurie do that for her.

From the very beginning, I was captivated by the magnetic pull between the two main characters, Laurie and Diana. The way their attraction and angst were crafted by the author created a phenomenal buildup to their romance that had me hooked.

The side characters add layers of drama to the storyline, keeping you on the edge, waiting for the next twist they would add to the plot. However, it was Laurie and Diana's unwavering strength that truly stole the show. These two remarkable women are not ones to back down from conflict, and their resilience is truly inspiring.

One of the most refreshing aspects of the story was how the author masterfully brought out the vulnerability in Diana. Despite her air of confidence and icy demeanor, she revealed a completely different, more tender side when she was with Laurie. It's a testament to the author's skill in character development.

Roslyn Sinclair's writing style is nothing short of captivating. The prose flows beautifully, drawing you deeper into the world of Laurie and Diana. The emotional ups and downs of each character are portrayed with such authenticity that it left me with a profound sense of completeness at the end of the book.

The X Ingredient is not just a romance; it's a smart, sexy exploration of desire and the courage it takes to face the truth about your own heart. This book is a must-read for anyone looking for a love story that sizzles with passion and authenticity. Roslyn Sinclair has delivered a masterpiece that will linger in your heart long after you've turned the final page. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance copy of The X ingredient by Roslyn Sinclair in exchange of an honest review.

"In 'The X Ingredient,' Roslyn Sinclair presents readers with a compelling workplace romance that goes far beyond expectations. Laurie Holcombe, a job seeker with a vibrant personality, clashes with the unyielding ice queen, Diana Parker, when she joins the prestigious law firm as her personal assistant. As their lives become entangled, Sinclair masterfully develops these two well-formed characters and their scorching chemistry. This character-driven story delves into the complexities of romance, age gaps, and self-discovery. With its interesting and unexpected storyline, 'The X Ingredient' is a steamy and captivating read that will leave you wanting more. If you're a fan of erotic romance with well-developed characters, this book is an absolute must-read.

I was not prepared for the spice of this novel. It was good, don’t get me wrong but I was enjoying the office flirting and age gap will they, won’t they and bam - office sex. Which was very well written the numerous times it happened. This was a surprising read that had substance and character development. Not to mention the coming to terms with your true self and whatnot means to be queer late in life - that was really well done. I really didn’t expect that from the cover photo being as suggestive as it is, but just goes to show that spice can have plot and development and the whole judging a book by the cover thing.

To me this was interesting and also a bit of a challenging read.

Interesting because this was my first FF book. This is an age-gap story, a mature, married and goal oriented lawer has an infatuation for her new, self-assured PA

At first it seems the boss is full of lust for her PA, wanting nothing else but sex. The PA, having experienced a couple of rough years, thinks she could dive into the affair while keeping her heart safe from falling.

The sex scenes are very good, very explicit and non-repetitive. In spite of that the plot was a bit lacking. And this is the challenging part I mentioned earlier. I love a good smut book don't get me wrong, and as a first FF book, I couldn't have asked for a better start, but I also like to read a plot. This had a very good premise, the author could have done a wonderful job with the way the plot was moving, but the ending felt a bit up in the air. She could have gone a bit deeper with the discovery of the affair.

If you like age gap, ice queen, boss x employee, and lots of spice, this is the perfect story for you.

Laurie is a sociology student going for a job interview with one of Atlanta's top firms. Diana is one of the best lawyers in the city and needs a new assistant. What she gets with Laurie is not what she expects at all.

I've heard about this book a LOT, so I had to give it a try. I did not realize how spicy it was going to be. I'm not a big fan of boss x employee, but this was tastefully written to not even give a hint of power imbalance after the first incident between Laurie and Diana. I didn't really care for either of the main characters much, but I enjoyed the role reversal where Diana had to let go of control.

Well, this book exceeded my expectations. I thought it was going to be porn without plot based on other reviews. It was the perfect amount of spice for me personally! I thought there was good balance with the storyline and the sex scenes. The passion and fire between the two main characters was super hot and addictive to read. I read this book on a lazy Sunday and it kept me hooked and intrigued throughout! I will read any other works by this author, no doubt!

The iciest of ice queens, high-flying lawyer Diana Parker hires a new personal assistant, the young and brash Laurie Holcombe, and finds herself unexpectedly lost in the most unlikely of people.

Roslyn Sinclair’s story places forbidden desire at the forefront of the theme of finding yourself and accepting who you really are (not to mention, what it is you really want). While Diana is cold and authoritative at work, secretly she can’t avoid the fact of her growing crush on her new assistant. Which is crazy as she’s definitely not gay. Right?

For her part, out and proud Laurie, who has worked hard to get where she is and hopes to become a lawyer herself one day, fears that she can’t risk everything to give in to her ever-growing feelings for her new boss.

There is plenty to enjoy in Ms. Sinclair’s steamy romance. The initial slow burn suddenly ignites even before either character has even touched the other. But when they do, in the most unexpected of places, sparks really do fly. There were some delicious scenes and a lot of fun to be had seeing both these girls squirm and try to deny the inevitable!

Yet, for me, the real appeal of this book is that the author never loses sight of the characters as real people with real lives, with choices to make that can have adverse impacts on themselves and on the other. The trick, of course, is pulling that off and making it feel entirely organic and real, and Ms. Sinclair achieves this deftly.

No book can be perfect, and, to be fair, all the men get pretty short shrift here. But, eh! Who cares?! Because what shines in this story shines very brightly :).

Should I admit here that I’m a sucker for a girl in a tight skirt? Because… oh, that cover!

Thank you to the publisher, Ylva Publishing, for graciously allowing me to grab a very late ARC copy. As it happens, I found this on audio and I listened to as much of the book as the ARC text that I read, and I can add that the audio version, thanks to the narrator, Anastasia Watley, is excellent. She especially brings to life the accent and character of Laurie, as well as the cool detachment of Diana. Thanks, too, to author Roslyn Sinclair. This was my first by her, and I will quickly be back for more.

The story begins with Laurie Holcombe interviewing to be the personal assistant to Diana Parker. Diana is a driven, name on the marquee, senior partner at a law firm in Atlanta. Something about Laurie has Diana giving her the job on a trial basis. Diana is demanding with an ice queen persona. I was uncomfortable with the relationship in the beginning because the first move was not consensual (a kiss) and there is a huge power imbalance. Also Diana at the moment is married. The story takes a turn towards erotica as the much younger Laurie agrees that Diana is in charge at work but Laurie calls the shots for intimacy. Diana’s shame at her attraction plays into the story too. I’m glad I stuck with the book as characters grew on me to where I cared about their relationship by the ending.

This was first published in 2019 and I appreciate the ARC from Ylva Publishing via NetGalley. (3.5 Stars)