This was a book of mourning, grief of what was lost and a feeling of responsibility. Novelist Quinn couldn’t write after her husband's death and it took Jonathan to pull her through. I thought this was a good story of finding yourself again.

This was an easy read. It has a basic story line of a woman loosing her spouse and trying to move on. She finds herself moving on with someone from her past but not really in a romantic way. I feel like the story line looses itself somewhere in the middle. There is plenty of spice and then it takes a turn into a different world but it seems out of place. She finds herself in the bdx world but just magically is in a close relationship with people from that community without any explanation. I think that there is a missed chance for a great romance read in this but it falls short and leaves you questioning what could have happened without the turn in the middle.

Enjoyed this book. I can’t wait to see what is in store for the main characters in the next one in the series.

“She would no longer let sorrow drown her. Instead, she would think of it like the unceasing rhythm of the waves, rolling in, surrounding her, and receding while she planted her heels and toes in the shifting sand to stay, more or less, in place until the cycle began again.” – Quinn Layborn.

Silently is a story about an amazing author that is enduring a terrible loss. A year passes after her husband’s tragic death, and her friend and agent, Leigh, organizes a small gathering in her house of close friends and acquaintances to give her a feeling of normalcy. No one in the party knows exactly how Quinn feels except for Jonathan Jaines, a cable network travel show, who understands the armor she has around herself. After the party, Quinn is seized by a raw and intense craving that leaves her reeling. The story speaks about how she found herself during these moments and how Jonathan helped her overcome her feelings of sorrow, guilt, shame, and pain.

I enjoyed reading this book. The story was told from Quinn and Jonathan’s points of view. The spicy scenes between the two main characters had a really exquisite touch that is interlinked with the title. Silently is portrayed exactly in their steamy encounters especially when Jonathan tells her she’s beautiful and Quinn immediately covers his mouth with her index finger to “be quiet”. At first I didn’t realize that these scenes are linked until I was about halfway through the story, which actually made me laugh (in a good way though).

Another scene that amused me, was at the beginning when Quinn invited Jonathan and grabbed his wrist which according to the novel “he grew hard” as her fingers closed are his wrist. Oh goodness, I laughed so hard at this. I loved it though since he’s 48 years old and the author chose to depict him as a stud that has his libido on fire!!

When Quinn is exploring Octavia’s club, I fell in love with the details. I really enjoyed how the author gave so much input on the way the scenes were being portrayed, the number of levels for the club, the rules, and all of the information that helped me imagine it. What kind of irritated me a bit is that Quinn was feeling guilty for wanting a new life, for challenging herself and taking the leap to start something different. I understand that this is how life actually is, but I am tired of women being portrayed in this way. We shouldn’t feel guilty for thinking about ourselves. I guess, just for once, I want to see women enjoy what they’re doing or what they’re exploring without feeling guilty.

After the scene above, Quinn starts feeling guilty for caving in to her body’s needs. She asks herself “what kind of widow” is she. I felt that this question was so raw and intense because obviously she wants to begin a new life, and drag herself away from sorrow, but each time she tries, something knocks her back. I loved that the author kept highlighting the fact of how many women suffer from the same thing. If they’re widowed, divorced, or even married, they always have to think of someone else other than themselves.

Last scene that really went to my heart is when Quinn was in the hospital, most of the club members came to visit her and offered their support. I absolutely LOVED this part! I read many books about BDSM clubs but I have never saw such love and support from the club members. Other books usually focused on the main characters and side ones that are close to the MCs. However, Silently showed the respect and love that these members have for each other.
I definitely recommend this book to you readers that love a bit of erotica and a happy ending. Can’t wait for the rest of the books!

I found this book to be boring. The sex scenes were meh. There wasn’t enough there to encourage me to care about the characters and not steamy enough to make up for it. This one was not for me.

I think this book was pretty good. I think it handled the really heavy topics greatly. I wish that we could’ve seen more of Jonathan and Quinn’s relationship because you could tell there was a lot of attraction but not much chemistry between them. I also found it hard to like Jonathan after finding out he cheated and the lack of character development for him made it harder. I also wish that Quinn would’ve found a way to deal with her grief in a healthier way. Overall, I think this book did a great job with the deep topics but was lacking in a lot of other areas.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review. DNFed after reading 20.5%. The plot thus far was okay. The build-up to the first smut scene was good but the scene itself was such a turn-off. The male character keeps thinking out aloud and the female character pushing him off directly contributes to it.

This is my first book from this Talya Blaine and I thought it was pretty good. The plot was enjoyable and the main characters Quinn and Jonathan have an alluring connection. I did struggle in the beginning to get into the story, but in the end I found myself pulled into the storyline.
I feel that this book is the perfect spicy book for someone who is just getting into the genre.
⭐️: 4/5
🌶️: 3/5

Jonathan..why..
That what i think when Jonathan story unfold. Great career, loving wife.. because he is a man? Or because he is not with right woman? The good thing is he feel shame, contemplate about himself.

Quinn in grief after loosing her husband, coping it with sex. Firet with Jonathan and then when Jonathan not around she star looking another way. Bdsm club is it. Oh Quinn.. why not face your fear and go to 5 stage of grief?!!

Anyway, the storyline was good, you can feel the heavy of sadness and grief in this story. I would like to read more of their journey.

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#Silently #TalyaBlaine #BooksGoSocial #NetGalley #ARC

3.5/5 ⭐️
3.5/5 🌶

This book was good in how it tackled heavy topics: grief, loss, and betrayal...but I'm trying to catch up with the way events unfolded. Also, I'm not a fan of cliffhangers, so I was shocked when I read the last page.

Tropes:
Older MCs (40s)
Acquaintances to lovers
Widow & divorcee

Both MCs are dealing with loss, but Quinn was dealing with the sudden death of her husband. I know that everyone deals with their grief in many different ways. But the way she handled her grief felt unhealthy and I was hoping that she would find some way of working through her pain without punishment.

Maybe I'm biased but knowing that Jonathan cheated on his ex makes it harder for me to trust him. Perhaps he was with the wrong woman and he did acknowledge his mistake... but I don't know. Since the book ended on a cliffhanger I didn't get that character development that I need to come to terms with his past.

It's not that I didn't like the characters...I actually did. There was just so much grief interlaced with the "romance" that I couldn't feel the bond between Quinn and Jonathan. They had sexual chemistry for sure but the affection felt one-sided (with Jonathan) because the grief was like a black cloud hanging over Quinn.

I'm curious to see how their relationship develops because it's definitely on the cusp of growing into something tangible and long-lasting.

TW/CW:
Death of a spouse, past cheating discussed (not between MCs), BDSM, explicit sexual scenes, grief

I received an ARC from BooksGoSocial in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is not your typical meet cute, gushy love story. It's a very quick page-turner full of steam, the topics of love and loss and grief are very present. It is the journey to finding what's next after a profound loss, and learning your inner desires.

I loved the amount of detail given into the characters, it's not often I find that I know just ENOUGH to stay interested. This did just that. No long over descriptive world building, no extreme deep backstories that drag on. There was a perfect balance between diving into the minds of the two main characters so that you understood their actions over the time you read about them, and I think it was done well.

Silently by Talya Blaine
Transformation Series #1

Exquisitely told passionate look at one woman’s way of dealing with grief. It might not be the expected, but it is intriguing, immersive, and impeccably told – I could not put it down!

What I liked:
* Quinn: best selling author, widow, loves deeply, grieves painfully, a bit lost, seeks something…even if it might be painful
* Jonathan: divorced, media star, travels, celebrity food personality, trustworthy, may care more deeply than he realized he could
* The writing – drew me in, made me feel, think, and care
* The unapologetic communication of needs by Quinn and Jonathan’s ability to read her so well
* That the erotic portions of the story were so fitting and appropriate
* The look into the emotions of the characters and really getting to feel I knew them
* The look at grief and the processing of it
* The transformation that occurs within Quinn and Jonathan
* The variety of friendships and connections made
* Thinking about the “what if it was me” that I did while reading
* Reading a new-to-me author that was such a delight
* All of it really – this will stay with me for awhile

What I didn’t like:
* Exactly who and what I was meant not to like
* Having to wait to see what happens next

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author/in this series? Definitely

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

I wasn't a super big fan of this book. It was short and therefore there wasn't a lot of time for relationship building or time to get into the characters' heads. The romance felt very forced and, because of that, the steamy scenes were lacking. The writing, however, was definitely done well. That may seem like a contradiction, but I enjoyed the words, not so much the relationships and plot of the book. There was too much happening in such a short time. Typically I would give the second book in the series a try, but I think the rest will be a pass for me.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I don't know any background, but the book felt more like a short story to a complement to a series than anything else. Or like its the premise to maybe Leigh's daughter's book or something else.
It kept me entertained up to certain point because I did wanted to know more, but it never felt like the whole package. It reads like its checking the box to certain traits that a book should have to make it good but is not finished.
I gave it 2 stars because it made me to want to go back, and because the spice was good.

This is my first time reading from this author. Quinn has been through the worst tragedy imaginable. Though, it takes awhile before this author reveals the how and circumstances this came about. For me, Quinn is very hard on herself and it just lingers a little to long for my liking. Her chemistry with Jonathon and the way he takes care of her without really touching Quinn is sweet and scorching hot! He gives her what she needs without words. That was tastefully AND sinfully written! I would have given this 4 stars, but I found my self rolling my eye and saying "not again Quinn". This is a story of heartache and grief and trying to overcome adversity and move forward. Overall a good read!

This is the list book in the Transformation Series and focuses on Jonathan and Quinn. There is a good balance between story, steamy sex and romance. Interested to see what Blaine comes up with for the remainder of the series.

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

Quick read. Story and people felt very underdeveloped, which made it feel unrealistic, and like it would’ve done better as a regular, full-length novel. Lots of sex and definitely need to check the trigger warnings as there are many. I admired the journey through the main character’s mental health, and respected her choices to do what was best for her, but it just wasn’t for me.

That being said, if you don’t mind the quicker pace of novellas and are into a ton of smut and aren’t easily triggered, I recommend giving this one a try. If you aren’t into any of that, I’d give this one a pass!

Thank you for this ARC that was generously provided by the publisher and author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a page-turner! While this story features themes of guilt and grief, there’s a gradual tension between Quinn and Jonathon, with plenty of steam, that makes this book difficult to put down. The ending kind of leaves you hanging, but happy to know there’ll be a second book in this series!

Okay, wow. So this book is less than 200 pages and it is fast paced but a clear direction was set on how it begins and how it will end.

We meet a recently widowed author, Quinn who is still wallowing in grief and guilt bhy has been receiving the pressures over a promised book to her publisher. Then comes Jonathan, divorced by his own doing of engaging to an affair rather than asking for divorce from his wife. Both going through the motions of their own grief and shame, they both found solace and relief through intimacy.

People deal with their own stuff in their own way. No judgement on my part at all. It is beautifully written and while both characterization is marked on point, I wish their relationship have been explored more

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it but I would have liked to get to know Quinn and Johnathan a little more. The book discusses strong themes of guilt and grief but also just the right amount of sauce! A strong 4 stars from me. Looking forward to the next instalment.