This was a very fast moving story and easy read. Our main characters wasted no time getting physical, and the angst between them was definitely felt through the pages. The virginal maiden and the forbidden, older, jaded estate owner? You don’t get a more perfect match in my opinion! I think Ivy was a very strong and spirited character and Julia was definitely dark and broody which is usually my kryptonite, but for some reason I just didn’t feel a strong connection with them or between them. I definitely plan on reading the second book because I did enjoy all the mystery surrounding Julian’s late wives, and I’m hoping it will help me feel a deeper pull toward and between these characters!

Historical romances are not typically my bag, but this...THIS. Sierra Simone is a staple in my corner when it comes to erotica and since she writes across mutliple settings and character types, the fun is nearly endless.

19 year old Ivy Leavold is virginal, oprhaned, and homeless and has been sent to live with 30-something year old Mr. Markham. He's a little rough around the edges but he's so sexy that Ivy is almost able to overlook his dark side. Almost. Because he does have secrets and one of those secrets seems dangerous enough to erase her from the planet.

The spicy scenes in this one are, like all of Sierra's spicy scenes, ridiculously sensual and beautifully rendered. The emotions wrapped up in this relationship are complex and angsty and riddled with sex. Definitely NSFW but still very beautiful.

The Awakening of Ivy Leavold is a fascinating historical romance with dark undertones, an air of mystery, and a heroine who is exploring attraction and passion for the first time. It feels a bit like a sexy Jane Eyre situation.

Ivy, after the unexpected death of her brother, is forced to depend on the kindness of her late cousin's widower. Turns out he's a smoke-show with some very specific predilections in the bedroom, and she is all too happy to join him in those specific explorations, despite the rumors circulating that he killed both her cousin and the wife he had before her as well.

If you like dark-ish romances, with morally-grey characters, definitely pick this one up. Zara Hampton-Brown is one of my favorite narrators, and she brings Ivy and the other characters to life beautifully. Thank you to Dreamscape Audio for my ALC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. Some of the character were unlikable but I found them to be more mischievous and devious, rather than evil. This is the first book in a series and I look forward to the volumes that come next.

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

The book was first published in 2015, but this review is for the Audiobook which was released in Feb. 2024.

Hot! Whew. Someone get me a spray bottle.

This short novella is as steamy as it gets. yes, I was looking for something like Jane Eyre with a lot of spice, and boy did this deliver. Admittedly, I don't think I realized it was erotica when I requested it, or when I started listening to it on my commute into work. But a lot of stuff happens in the first hour and by the time I got to work, I realized what I was listening to (and needed a cold shower).

I will say that while the book is entertaining, and completely silly at times, I totally enjoyed it. I liked Ivy and Julian both separately and together. Usually there's one character you gravitate towards more, but I think both contained multiple layers and motivations. I especially like how brave Ivy is. She is no wallflower.

The narrator is very very good. Her voice is smooth and even, full of passion and emotion. She really made the book for me, like a girlfriend was telling me her secrets.

There are some things that happen between the characters that I feel are a little too far fetched, but overall, it was a lot of fun and very sexy.

I loved this book I love how the characters were built and the unpredictable twists and turns the story took. I liked that I wasn’t able to predict some of the twists this story took all the while being a page turner. I finished this book in one day and it was well worth it. I can’t wait to read the next book

I typically enjoy a historical adult romance, I've also previously read a Sierra Simone book and enjoyed it. I don't know even where to begin with how I feel about this book. I understand this was a short book so everything was going to be rushed, but the absolute jump of trying to protect Ivy's virtue and keep her innocent to literally allowing 13 people to finger, lick, and touch her while also never asking for her consent before hand or even asking what she was comfortable with strangers doing was just WILD to me. Absolutely no discussion of consent for what he allowed to happen during the blind mans bluff game, and also how do you say you want to keep some one innocent then invite a bunch of sex crazed fanatics over to the house in hopes they will somehow keep you from tarnishing her virtue. How does that make a lick of sense. The that CLIFF HANGER just an absolute abrupt ending I was flabbergasted. There was a good story in here if you took out the blind mans bluff game and maybe not such an abrupt ending, but this book had me astonished at how they tried to use historical society standards but modern day sexuality all at once and at the pace of the speed of light.

This novella was a surprise, I really enjoyed the palate cleanser if you will, between books. I didn't realize this was part of an installment of series for Ivy Leavold. I'm curious where they lead, since underneath the seduction in these books there is a plot line that dabbles into crime. I haven't read many time period pieces of romance so that was an interesting take and quite a scandalous look into it. I did find the main heroine fun to follow, as she stands out, and I would look forward to seeing where the journey leads her into solving the crime of her cousins murder.

The narrator did a thorough job committing to character voices, including Ivy's but it fell a little short for me for Julian, it was gruff and harsh and sometimes had me rolling my eyes when it was combined with the dialogue he sometimes spewed.

Thank you to Dreamscape Select, No Bird Press LLC, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

One POV but let me tell you the narrator is amazing in both MMC and Female in both Spicy and regular scenes. Overall I needed more from the plot and the story! I need the second book in the series like now! This was so good if you like Bridgerton, Julia Quinn, Beverly Jenkins stuff along those lines you will love this book. 5 stars! The plot was "plotting" and the twists and turns this was the best kind of slow burn and then hot and heavy. This narrator did so good her voice is like silk it's so smooth.

Not a bad start

As someone who has read many of this authors other work, this is the first time I've dipped my toes into the historical times of her work. This has a classic SS feel, spicy in a way that only she delivers and with a couple you can see are going to have many twists and turns to come. As someone who isn't obsessed with historical romances I dunno when I'm gonna pick up the next book, but I will be for sure.

I enjoyed this audiobook quite a bit. The narrator was good in the different roles, which is always nice but especially for erotica, which can come off uncomfortable if the narration isn't on point. The story does feel like it ends quite abruptly, but I understand it's setting up for the next installment. Overall very fun, spicy read - looking forward to the next book.

“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟*𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠,” 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲. 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝.

“𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮,” 𝐈 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝.

This review is for the Audio version of this book that I received from NetGalley for this review.

First of all, this book is hot. It's exactly what I've come to expect from Sierra Simone's books.

Ivy Leavold is orphaned and penniless and goes to live with her dead cousin's husband, Julian Markham. Julian is dark and intense and the tension between them builds and builds until it snaps.

And Ivy is quite happy to just give herself over body and mind without a second thought. (Perhaps she needed a third and fourth before she jumped in headfirst)

I quite liked that we meet some of his horny friends, and there is a pseudo orgy scene, though we get the particulars from Markham as he tells Ivy who is blindfolded.

This book is short and maybe that's why I felt like I needed MORE. More depth, more character development, more substance. However, I do believe the series as a whole is going to feel like a complete book, and I'll get more of that later. It felt very erotic Jane Eyre with the moody english setting and grieving MMC.

For the audio book itself, I thought the narrator did a fine job. Though because it's told from Ivy's POV, we only have the one narrator and her "man voice" made me cringe every time Markham had a speaking line. It was really bad. But the overall story telling was fine.

3.25 Stars

Thank you Dreamscape Select for sending an early copy of this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is a novella, seemingly one third a story. It cut off suddenly at the end without resolving anything. It would be more accurately be described as Markham Hall part one not book one. So I’m reviewing it as part of a book. For the first third of a historical fiction erotica mystery romance story, it’s quite good. The mystery is well set up. The reader is shown suspects. The spicy scenes were part of the plot. This feel like Simone was going for erotica meets Wuthering Heights.

I listened to the audio narration. I think the narrator did quite well. Her voice is perfect for Ivy, and I liked her voices for all of the other characters except the MMC, Julian Markham.

I went into this without any idea what the book was about. I really like the author and the narrator so went in blind.
Wow. What a great decision that was. A dark gothic historic romance with strong murder mystery subplot. I was hooked from the first couple chapters and it only gripped me more from there.
I’m going to keep this review spoiler free but I enjoyed the main character and her development and growth, I can’t wait to see more of this in the next instalments.
The spice was surprising, which doesn’t happen often to me anymore - haha. I am a fairly seasoned spice reader at this point and to have it twist into something unexpected was great.
Zara Hampton-Brown did a super job voicing this book.
I didn’t know it was a series going in but am immediately going to go pick up the rest as I need to know more!!!!

This audio was amazing! The posh British accent was delightful (especially in reference to some of the steamier scenes) and kept me engaged the entire time. The slow seduction of Ivy was well done. I felt Rebecca / Jane Eyre vibes just more erotic and I am here for it!

I have loved other books by Sierra Simone so I was excited to give this one a listen and I ended up loving it, especially the spicy scenes.

This is my 7th book to read by Sierra Simone. I have to say I have enjoyed listening to this book. It was fast-paced and spicy. Ivy was left alone when her brother passed away and all she has left now is her late cousin's widower. I have to say their journey is very interesting. They are drawn to each other instantly.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamcape for the audiocopy of this novella.
Wow. Did not expect this book to be as steamy as it was being that its historical fiction. Might even be able to class it as historical erotica?
This is the 1st novella in a series of Markham Hall.
Plot:
Ivy is sent to live with her late cousin's widower when her brother dies and she is left destitute. She soon discovers the elusive Mr Markham has a very distinct appetite. A kinky appetite for the sins of the flesh that although untouched Ivy soon finds she shares. With an irresistible Chemistry Ivy and Mr Markham soon find themselves in more than one compromising position that neither of them wants to part from. However the mystery of Markham Hall is that Mr Markham's brides seem to die shortly after being married to him. Will Ivy be next?

A short and entertaining steamy book that ends in a cliffhanger luring you onto book 2!

I tried to get into it, but it was not for me, also I did have a difficult time with the narrator so it was hard for me to follow the story. I had to DNF.

Ivy Leavold is taken in by her cousins widower after he death of her brother. The longer she stays the deeper the mystery grows around Julian and the deaths of his first two wives, and the harder is it for Ivy to stay away from him. I can always count on Sierra Simone to bring the spice. Julian is dark, possessive, and jealous with an air of mystery around him. He's clearly been through some things with the deaths of his wives and the ending of this book only brings more questions. Ivy has an air of innocence about her when she first arrives at Markam Hall. She quickly proves that she's not like other ladies. Used to being on her on and doing as she pleases, she challenges Julian. I can't wait to see what happens in the series. I'm dying to know what happened to Violet and what will become of Julian and Ivy. Their journey won't be easy and I'm ready to be destroyed. The narrator did an amazing job bringing the story to life. Each character had a distinct voice, and she brought a lot of passion and emotion to the story.