Stepping Stone

This was an enjoyable read, though a little choppy with the storyline. I could see what the author was trying to do but it didn't feel seamless. It was still fluid, just a little choppy. I liked the characters and I wish there was a little more detail added to some of their storylines because I wanted more.

I felt that this book even if it was a BDSM erotic book was still quite conservative in some ways, or maybe it's just me but I enjoyed it. It didn't really stick out to me that's why I gave it three stars but I would still recommend it for an in-between read since it is fast-paced and easy to read for non-native speakers of the language.

Liv Arnold has a way with words— and this novel gets five hot chili peppers. And five shiny stars.

Along with lovable characters and a fast-paced story, Stepping Stone mixes heart, heat, and sizzling tension to create a perfectly seasoned and deliciously steamy romance novel.

I could not put this book down.

Hilarious read. A lot of laughs. Also, the story was deeper compared to most normal novels with themes of mental health and PTSD.

This absolutely had all the right bits! I really liked the characters, the story, the chance at a second chance. I'm a sucker for those. The beginning didn't really catch my attention. In fact, I wasn't sure if I wanted to read much more. But the middle had all the right ingredients! Unfortunately, I don't know that it would win a bake off. Some moments seemed too much, while others seemed not enough. There was also a lot of unnecessary detail that I found myself skimming through a lot of times.

A fun and spicy read that makes you think. Lots of suspense, love and laughter. A second chance romance full of heart.

This book was a lot of fun. It was such a cute second chance romance. The representation of ptsd and mental illness was done very well and respectfully. I enjoyed it. I found it witty and spicy and had a blast reading it.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by NetGalley. Opinions and reviews are my own. Choppy but fun read. The characters were interesting and so I give it 3 stars for a read that is quick and has minimal depth.

Ok, let me start by saying I tried to like this book but it just fell short for me. It felt skippy in a weird way, like choppy and jumbled. I also couldn't relate to the characters and I felt like there wasn't enough chemistry there..

For me this book had sooooo much potential! But I think it fell short becuase it was trying to incorporate too many different plots such as .. enemies to loves, jilted ex, lesbianism, poly, bisexual and they didnt really get explored in a way that they jived with the story. I like ALL of those but the story was too short to fully incorporate these so it felt awkward

Jenna and Marco are two people that I rooted for from the beginning!! This was a great story. PTSD should be properly addressed since so many of our military goes through this. That’s why I liked this story. It gives you such a look into the lives of the people affected. I highly recommend this story! It has all the feels and these main characters just have the “IT” factor.

Stepping Stone, along with lovable characters and a fast-paced story, is mixed with heart, heat and sizzling tension all combined together to create a perfectly seasoned and steamy romance novel.

This novel is a real steamy delight. I couldn't put this book down.

I really liked this story, it's funny, spicy, emotional and intriguing. It made me laugh and sigh, I found the reading fast-paced. and enjoyable. If you are a fan of second chance romances, this is perfect for you.

I really enjoy Jenna trying to navigate life with kids, work, her husband, and potential new love interest. I was captivated by the story line and trying to figure who hacked the program Jenna created. Overall a good read with great steamy moments!

Every time Jenna Kravitz sees her sex on a stick ex-husband, she still craves him like he's a hotdog with all the fillings. They were soulmates, meant to grow old together.When I started reading I couldn't put it down. Liv Arnold is magnifysent and amazing writer.I cannot wait to read more of there books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this book.Can't wait for the next book.

3.75 stars
A marriage has ended (thanks, in part, to a serious overreaction by Jenna, the wife, considering her husband's PTSD) but the two are obviously still in lust with each other. While she works to find a hacker that's sabotaging her company, Jenna suddenly discovers her inner bi=sexual woman--a storyline that I have no problem with except that it came a bit out of nowhere, plot-wise. There is a fair bit of well-written humor including a funny scene with a sex toy, and plenty of heat. Marco (the husband) comes across as a super great guy who walked into the wrong building one day and confessed it to his wife, which landed his marriage in trouble. If he did anything actually wrong, that is never made clear and so the giant misunderstanding is something Jenna has to work through.
It's got mystery, romance, and some personal growth for Jenna, along with a set of side characters in her family that are, in a word, nosy and a bit over-the-top but certainly well-meaning.

In short, there is a lot going on this book, too much, at times, but over all I found it an enjoyable read and would recommend it.

I could see that Jenna still loved her husband and I admired how Liv wrote her story around love for Marco and Jenna’s children. Marco trying to reconcile and Jenna beginning to understand what her husband is dealing with after being in a war torn country. Yet when we are introduced to Claudine, I felt like I had walked out of one book and into another. I ended up skipping over a lot of the portions of the book with Claudine focusing on Marco and Jenna’s story. While I liked there story, I still feel like something was lacking, yet still overall a good story.

*Thank you to NetGalley, The Wild Rose Press Inc, and the author Liz Arnold for this ARC in exchange for my honest review*
4.5 ✨all around, 4 🌶 spice, 4.5 ✨ for conflict

This was my first book by Liz Arnold and it did not disappoint! I was hooked in from the first chapter. I am backwards though because I read this book first so I will be reading book one next, lol. Jenna and Marco are soulmates but his PTSD pushed her away! Now they have to find a way to co-parent but when one lapsed judgment has them back in bed together things get heated. So, Jenna proposed they be ex’s with benefits with no feelings involved. Marco has other plans to figure out how to win back the mother of his children!

I loved this book as it gave me so many different things. This book has heart, work drama, heat (spice), friendship, and more! I love the character development that happens with both Jenna and Marco. I love all the spice we get in this book but I was hoping Jenna would get to explore more than that kiss…

All in all, if you like heat, laughs, love, and conflict you won’t want to miss this book! It’s a great read that comes out on July 11, 2022.

This book unfortunately did not capture my attention, I could see where it was going in the beginning but then it got all mixed up. I would like to read more from this author but my advice would be too pick a storyline and stick to it. On a positive note I did like the characters and thought they were relateable.

This book was not for me. I expected something entirely different. At one point... something happened where I felt extremely triggered, so I couldn't continue reading it. My rating is somewhat unfair as a result of that.

Loved reading the enthralling and engaging romance story. Jenna is trying to get over her estranged, handsome husband, Marco, her soulmate and first love. Marco still loves Jenna but is trying to get over his PTSD, so that he can be the husband and father he once was. Meanwhile, Jenna needs to find the hacker before she loses her job and fight the attraction she feels for her new co-worker. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read love story.
I just reviewed Stepping Stone by Liv Arnold. #SteppingStone #NetGalley
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This a second chance romance with a few steamy moments. Jenna is slowly finding herself, her marriage, and her friendships. I definitely needed more heated/emotional moments with Jenna and Marco.

Enjoyable steamy read. The book was lovely written, although a little bit fast-paced, the plot kept the reader on pins and needles as no one couldn´t see the outcome.
I loved the interaction between Jenna and Marco and actually, I cheered them up to get back together.
As I said, it was a lovely story with a little bit IT language, and truly enjoyed reading it.

A broken marriage getting a second steamy chance seemed like a great read but the story had too many tropes.
Marco was a likable character whilst I'm on the fence about Jenna.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book received from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Stepping Stone is a good steamy romance. I really liked Marco and the interactions between him and Jenna. I couldn't help but root for them. I appreciated that they acted mature in front of their kids

There was actually a lot more happening, plot wise, than I was expecting.

Stepping Stone by Liv Arnold
Subgenre: contemporary romance
Release date: 11 Jul 2022
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Format: ebook and print
Length: 280 pages
RRP: $6.76 (ebook); $30.80 (print)

Jenna Kravitz is struggling to get her life back together after her separation from her husband. A man she still loves and thinks is really hot. However, she needs to keep it together for her two children. Now there is an issue at work, and it is in a program she has written but is unable to find where the program is being altered and by whom.

While out, Jenna has her bag snatched, again. This time she has support as someone helps her and she discovers Claudine is looking for a job. She recommends Claudine to her boss, and she is employed in the company. It is then the issues with the program ramp up, and Claudine is the main suspect. The problem is that Jenna thinks Claudine is sex on a stick and really wants to get to know her in an intimate way. Her best fantasy ever.

The problem for Jenna is that her husband, Marco, stills wants her but can’t be with her. He has been in Afghanistan and suffers from PTSD. (His PTSD has been treated sensitively by Ms Arnold). Marco is a boxer in a similar set up to fight club and he struggles to keep his day job but doesn’t want his girls to know of his struggles. He is astounded when Jenna wants to have sex with no further expectations of getting back together. He is also a little upset when Jenna wants to see others. What he doesn’t know is Jenna is leaving her options open with Claudine. He just assumes it is another man.

There are many things that Marco and Jenna need to work through, and Claudine is a factor for Jenna as she really wants to get intimate with her. But will this happen especially as Claudine could be the hacker?

This is a sexy story and there is most certainly tension, both relationship and sexual, between the three characters. There were occasions where I wasn’t sure who would end up with who, or indeed whether there would be a threesome. I will let the reader find out for themselves what happens at the end.

reviewed by Heather

A review copy of this book was provided by the author.