No special notes. No true review. Just deep, guttural screaming for this absolute masterpiece of a book and a plea, an appeal, a whispered prayer for more very soon. Wow.

Sierra Simone really lays into the metaphors in this and I actually appreciate it! And I think Isolde is interesting enough, but I really do not understand her motivations--and for a mega super spy and assassin, she makes some really terrible mistakes. Mark at this point is basically some omniscient demigod.

But I will absolutely read the crap out of the last book.

ARC Review

Synopsis: Isolde Laurence is an uncommon bride.

She's been raised to do as her father told her, put elegance and duty above all else―but unbeknownst to him, her loyalty has shifted. Now she's in service to the Church, one of the elite spies who work for her uncle, a cardinal. Her latest assignment from the Church? Marry Mark Trevena, the owner of a notorious club in DC where the rich and powerful come to play, and seduce him.

But what was supposed to be a simple lie has become far more complicated: Isolde has fallen for Mark's handsome and emotionally wounded bodyguard, Tristan. Even worse―she's falling for her future husband himself, a mistake she made once before and has bitterly regretted ever since.

And there's something far darker at play than the machinations of Isolde's uncle or even the twisted longings of her own heart. Because Isolde's new husband has secrets of his own, and the reason he'll stop at nothing to possess Isolde and Tristan both might tear all three of them to pieces.

If the heartbreak doesn't do the job first…

Review:
Let me tell ya what, there's just something about a Sierra Simone book. They always suck me in and keep my attention the entire time. Here are some of my random thoughts:

1. I'm a well educated lady. And I have never used the dictionary function of my kindle so much as I did reading this book. I just know that Sierra killed the vocab part of the SATs

2. I would die for Tristan, as we all should. He's just so sweet and so loving and so overwhelmed by the world he's entered but man is he along for the ride(s).

3. I'm absolutely loving the way the plot of this series is shaping up. I think its incredibly intriguing and the tie ins with the church and Lyonesse, I'm so ready for the third book.

4. If you love Sierra Simone's books this is one you can't miss at all.

5. BRB rereading all of Sierra's books. K, bye!

Holy moly.. this book is so intense and messy. We are right back where the first book takes off and we are in the thick of Isolde, Mark and Tristan's look triangle. The angsty, the tension and the scenes were off the charts. You feel for all of their pain and I love that we get to know Mark a little more.

I thought Isolde and Tristan were so reckless but I love how hard they tried to resist each other. I liked that Embry and Greer made an appearance in this story too. I am not sure how Cass's story will continue if it does in the next story but felt it was left unfinished.

Simone promises a HEA for book 3 and I can't wait for it. This one does live you on a cliff hanger.

Thank you @netgalley @thesierrasimone for a copy of this.

Honey Cut is book 2 of the Lyonesse trilogy, an MMF romance following Mark, Tristan, and Isolde. The pacing in Honey Cut is much slower than it was in Salt in the Wound (prequel novella) and Salt Kiss (book 1) and you just have to trust the process. I wasn’t expecting that so I was a little frustrated with the first half. Now that I’ve finish the pacing makes sense. The drama and spice were so good! Isolde’s connection to the Church is so interesting. I love the web of lies and secrets and can’t wait for the final book!

The only reason I gave this three stars is because of Isolde and Mark. Salt in the wound (the prequel) was in my opinion the best book in this trilogy and made me like them. Unfortunately Salt Kiss (The first book) wasn’t my cup of tea and I didn’t care for Tristan unfortunately.

The rest of the book was fine. I did skip through some of the chapters to the end but it was fine. Not for me unfortunately but I think a lot of readers will really enjoy this one.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Honey cut

With salt kiss being one of my all time favorite books ever I knew this book was going to blow me away. I genuinely don’t understand what Sierra Simone puts in these books but truly can’t get over this series and The New Camelot Trilogy. I think about both literally everyday.

This book was so beyond perfect. It did not disappoint at ALL. It was a true masterpiece. It was sexy, messy and filled with suspense. I was continuously asking “what is going to happen, when is shit going to hit the fan!?” I was on my toes the entire time while simultaneously enjoying the BEST SPICE EVER. The ending had me staring at my wall for a solid 20 minutes. Infinity stars forever and ever.

My sweet sweet baby Tristan. I love you. I love you so much and I seriously can’t get over him ever. This man has so much heart and is so good to his core, not to mention a hot as hell ex military bodyguard with green eyes and dark hair.

Mark, my mean mean filthy man. This man had me addicted from his first appearance in A Salt In the Wound. He is FREAKING delicious and mean and dominating and just EVERYTHING. I love him your honor.

Isolde, our strong queen. She is seriously such an incredible fmc. She is so intense, but sweet and broken. She is probably my favorite Sierra FMC.

Isolde, Mark, and Tristan are back and things are hotter and more complicated than ever. It's time for the wedding that's all a lie, but is it? Can the budding feelings between Isolde and Mark survive their mutual pining for Tristan, despite their vows to stay faithful to one another?

The spice was spicing and the love triangle gets really twisty in this one and it's SO good. The secret church saint plot got thicker here and was a much bigger part of the storyline which didn't do much for me, but without giving spoilers certainly added some complications.

Get ready for a massive cliffhanger but so worth it....

Honey Cut is book two in the Lyonesse series. It follows Tristan, Isolde, and Mark as they are finally all together on page, suffering and lying and being horny.

Overall, this was fine. 3.5 stars. I read it in like two days so it was engaging enough to make me want to keep reading, but it was never really enjoyable. I feel like my outlook on this book could change depending on what’s revealed/resolved in book three. My rating is really for how I feel at this point, with what’s known now (which feels like not much).

A positive for the book is definitely the hot kink scenes. Sierra Simone does her thing. Probably the consistent highlight of the book, since the romance was so fraught and unstable.

Speaking of: Tristan really goes through the ringer in this one. At some point it seemed excessive.

Isolde’s dedication to the Church really started to bug me in this book. I get that her (creepy) uncle is a Bishop, but I had a hard time understanding her drive and dedication to such a problematic institution and to being a saint. At the end, her conflict over picking happiness (and delicious suffering) with her kinky husband and his bodyguard versus KILLING her beloved husband for some “religious” shadow organization wasn’t compelling to me.

I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel about Mark, but I don’t really like or trust him at this point. All of his previous actions seemed to be pushing Tristan and Isolde together, but when he “finds out” about their affair/love (and I don’t 100% believe he only found out through Andrea) he’s furious and upset. Also, I wasn’t satisfied with the explanation for his behavior in the prequel. Maybe these issues (and more I didn’t go into) will be explained away in book three when we, presumably, finally, get his POV. But that’s not good enough for me and doesn’t make these earlier books more enjoyable (and I’m looking for romance that’s enjoyable!). Two and a half books of this made me tired.

I will read book three when it comes out, but after rereading the prequel and book one this week to refresh for this book, I don’t think I will do a full series reread next time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and honestly review this ARC.

I was given an advanced copy in exchange for my review. This is my honest opinion I am giving voluntarily. Oh. my goodness. To me; sierra Simone can do no wrong. I am chomping at the bit to get this last book. This one has so much spice, so many twist and turns, every chapter till the last page! Writing style is phenomenal and there’s so much drama you don’t know if it will ever end. I hate reading series as they come out because now I have to wait for answers!

Well, Sierra Simone has broke my heart again, but in the best way. I knew going into this that it's the second in a planned trilogy. I knew it wouldn't wrap up the story. This installment in the Lyonesse trilogy was just... so good. The table? The throne scene? Simone cannot do wrong.

This book is absolutely amazing, and is worth all the hype and anticipation. Go buy it. It is so good. We are given the most wonderful, steamy spice with intriguing plot woven throughout. Sierra Simone's prose is beautiful and captivating. I have no complaints.

Oh. My. God. Sierra Simone’s books are absolute bananas. This is book two of the Lyonesse triology, and it follows Tristan, Isolde, and Mark, before, during, and in the few months following Isolde and Mark’s marriage. The second installment brings all the pining and very kinky sex of book one, with even more espionage, lying, and political assassinations.

It also brings Catholicism and guilt in spades, much more heavily than book one, which, if you’ve read my other Sierra Simone reviews, I’m really not here for. All the talk of being Bad and Wrong and Deserving of Punishment feels a bit like it undermines the idea of just liking what you like and that being fine, and is a bit of a boner killer for me, frankly. I prefer my dark queer erotica without excessive literal and emotional self flagellation, thank you.

Despite all that, I really enjoyed this book. It’s sexy and ridiculous and very fun.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

ᨳ᭬ ⭑⭑⭑⭑࿐ྂ
“I’m saying I want you both. In my bed. All the time. I want you both to be mine.”

this was sooo good but WTF?!
what was that for a ending?!
I NEED THE THIRD BOOK RN🫠

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book. Honey Cut is in the second book in the Lyonesse trilogy. Sierra Simone has done it again, another amazing 5 star read. Once I started this book, I could not stop reading it. Isolde, Mark and Tristan really bring the spice in this book. This book is full of secrets and deceit. This book has your emotions all over the place. and to top it off, this book ends in a cliffhanger. I cannot wait for the last book. Sierra Simone is a master of words.

WHAT
A
RIDE

Honey Cut is perfect. It's everything I wanted and so much more. I knew I was going to love this book but, my god, it's even better than anything I could conjure up in my wildest imaginings.
The tension, the angst, the messy love triangle that borders on obsession, the smut (don't get me started on the smut!)...
Everything is simply on point, no beats missed.
This is Sierra Simone at her best; her sexiest, filthiest book yet. Period.
Loved every second.

Thank you NetGalley/Bloom for the ARC (need book 3 yesterday btw).

I recently found Simone's book Priest and gobbled that story up! I have not read the first book in the series in which Honey Cut is #2. I still devoured it. Simone's writing enthralls me and captures my attention quickly. That way, I'm invested in the story and characters.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars.

This book picks up right where book 1 left off, and boy does it deliver. The angst levels were off the charts here. You'll be screaming at the characters by the time you're done with this one. Isolde and Mark are covered in secrets that I'm dying to uncover, and Tristan still owns my heart.

Honey Cut by Sierra Simone
The Lyonesse Trilogy Book 2
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 18 June 2024

Isolde Laurence, raised to value elegance and duty, is secretly a spy for the Church, working for her uncle, a cardinal. Her latest mission is to marry and seduce Mark Trevena, the owner of a notorious club in DC. However, Isolde's assignment becomes complicated when she falls for Mark's emotionally scarred bodyguard, Tristan, and starts developing feelings for Mark himself—a mistake she has regretted in the past.

As she navigates her tangled emotions, Isolde discovers that Mark harbours dangerous secrets, threatening to destroy all three of them. The turmoil of hidden agendas and forbidden love poses a perilous risk to their hearts and lives.

This book is a whirlwind of lies, cheating, pain, and regret, masterfully conveyed by Sierra’s beautiful and poetic writing. The characters—Tristan, Mark, and Isolde—are deeply compelling, even more so than those in “New Camelot”.

Mark is as arrogant and aristocratic as ever, while Isolde's toughness and depth were pleasantly surprising. Sierra described Isolde and Mark as lions and Tristan as a sweet, vulnerable gazelle, which perfectly captures their dynamics.

Tristan, with his gentle heart and sweet green eyes, is everything. His enduring strength despite daily suffering is heart-wrenching. The bond between Mark and Tristan is addictive, with Mark's care and Tristan's complete devotion creating a powerful connection.

The cliffhanger left me eager for more, especially after learning new facets of Mark's character through Tristan's persistence. Sierra Simone masterfully crafts characters and stories filled with poignant moments, making every emotional high and low worth it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bloom Books, and the author, Sierra Simone, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Sierra Simone is a master at writing stories that draw you in and make you want to keep reading. This is the second book in the Lyonesse trilogy. We pick up back on New York and Mark, Tristan, and Isolde are all together for the first time. Holy love triangle. This book has so much angst, passion, and intrigue and as always with Simone’s books a hefty amount of kinky spice. My only complaint about this book is that the majority of it was from Isolde’s POV and I wanted more from Tristan and Mark. Eagerly looking forward to the next book in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Oh my God! What did I get myself into?! This book isn't even out yet and I'm going to be in anguish until the 3rd part of the trilogy comes out.

The use of dual POVs to show the story through Isolde and Tristan's eyes was so good. We got to see what they were experiencing while battling with their secrets and their hearts as they come to terms with the feelings that they have for each other and Mark. I can't wait until book 3 when we'll hopefully get to see more of things from Mark's POV.

This book was beautiful and poetic. It was a mess of lies and deceit. The intrigue and mystery adds a thriller element to this novel. It was angsty and tense. Add in some of the spiciest scenes I've ever read and it's perfection 🫠🥵

That ending...I'm temporarily maintaining a feeling of dislike towards Sierra Simone because I don't think I can survive hanging on this cliff. I need to know what is going to happen...NOW!