I was very interested in reading this book. I love books where the heroines have unconventional lives. I did like Lily. You could tell she was pretty much a victim of circumstance. She didn’t want the live she had but it was all she knew and her mother made sure she stayed in her place. I liked Soti too. He just wanted to help Lili but it grew to more. The romance moved a little fast for me but it kind of worked. This was more romantic suspense than contemporary romance and this is where the story lost me. Nico is an ex-client/boyfriend of Lili’s who would stop at nothing to have her back. I just didn’t get his motivations, or her mother’s or any of the other players involved in this. I needed more in the suspense of the book. So while the romance worked for me the rest of the story didn’t. Even though it started to drag for me around the last half of the book, overall the book did keep me engaged.

I was intrigued by this book from the blurb. I loved that this was based on the biblical story of Hosea and Gomer. It's kind of like a modern version of one of my favorite books Redeeming Love. It started off really good. Lilith has been essentially raised by her mother to be a high end prostitute. She has never really been given the option to be anything else.

There are two men in her life. Her ex Nico is in the Mafia and a new man Soti who walks into her life. I won't go into details to avoid any spoilers but this book starts off with a lot of action and a series of events puts Lilith in an environment outside the watchful eye of her mother and where she is not seen as a whore. She meets people that show kindness without any expectations and this is a truly novel concept for her. Their goodness confuses her. She starts to believe that she could actually live this wonderful life.

However this life gets ripped away from her and the book takes a dark turn. There is quite a bit of suspense and it almost reads like a dark romance for a while. Now I will say that this story was certainly not boring. This was very action packed but I thought maybe too many things were happening and it was a bit too fast for me. I felt like there were pieces to the story that I didn't fully grasp and some parts just felt rushed.

So I will say I absolutely loved this plot. I also loved this hero. His love for Lilith was selfless and his commitment was unwavering. However, I just could not connect with these characters. For a while there about midway through the book I actually stopped caring if the H and h got together. The end I think definitely redeemed this book though. As the story wraps up we get a few plot twists and Lilith really turns out to be a badass who I had to respect.

So overall I would say to give this book a try. It was not as great as I was expecting but I promise you will be entertained!

3 Stars
Contemporary Romance
Heat Level: Light to Moderate
POV: Dual
HEA

Whore by Willow Aster is a full-length, standalone, darkish romance novel.
Meet Lilith Fontenot. She has it all, beauty, fame, money. But she paid a high price. She´s the highest paid escort in New Orleans. She sees herself as outsider, a waste.
There are two men who care for her. Each one has his own plans for her.
Nico Satelli, a mob boss and Soti Christos a community center owner. Like aforementioned, both have her own agenda and Lilith is trapped in between.
This book is raw, it is gritty and put me through a rollercoaster of emotions.
There is hurt, violence, betrayal, a heart wrenchingly story. The book deals with sensitive subjects and contains explicit sex scenes. I give 4 stars. Thank you, Willow Aster!

This novel was brilliant and gutting and full of healing all in the same breath. Lilith and Soti's story was beautiful and wonderful.

I love the fact that Willow took a story that could have been purely devastating page after page and let us heal words after word. It was an experience I wont soon forget.

Throw all of that on top of a gripping story that you actually want to finish and it was fantastic. It isn't often that an author can weave a story line this one together and have it flow perfectly and this book was IT. This story was everything that I loved about romance books with a compelling story about healing and finding peace.

Honest to goodness, I wasn't in love with the cover. I thought it was a huge disappointment ( Sorry!) but behind the cover is one hell of a story.  I loved the character development the most. You would not expect to sympathize with someone labelled as a “whore” but once you get to know Lili and the extent of what she has gone through - you do. As much as I loved Lili, I loved Soti too. This man had a heart of gold. I couldn't have wished for anyone better for Lili. I did have my doubts if such an unlikely relationship work considering the life that Lili lead but I shouldn’t have worried because Willow Aster convinced us 100% that these two were meant to be together. They went through so much together there isn't a doubt that these two are bound to be together forever.

Yes I do recommend reading this book! This couple made such a lasting impression they started appearing in my dreams. Read it and fall in love with this beautifully written story.

(3.75-4 stars)
Sometimes titles can be deceiving but this is not one of those cases. Lilith is in fact a prostitute. Early on I got a feeling that the story was going to be bigger than her profession. As the story progressed, I was proven right. I think there are many things the reader can take away from this book but for me what stood out the most was the outpouring of unconditional love. Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I was extremely disappointed in Nico’s motives behind what he did. The build up had me anticipating a huge reveal and when it was all said and done it was rather lame. Watching Lili overcome circumstances that she would’ve never thought could be conquered and prove how strong she is is worth the read.

“In another life, he looks exactly like someone I’d want to know.”

Whore is a unique story, there is romance but also there is mystery and this makes the story interesting!I loved the writing and I found the story captivating!I decide to go blind with this one and to not read the synopsis and believe me this is the best thing I did!

“Her eyes hold a thousand secrets, threatening to spill over; I want to unlock each and every one.”

Nico and Soti are different but both have something common..Lilith, they both want her!Their story is heartbreaking and emotional!I can't give anything else because I believe that Whore is one of these stories that you have to read it to understand it!

This is my third book from Willow Aster and it's so different from her other books yet so beautiful!

It had all the ingredients for an amazing book : we had a hot-yet-sweet-and-ill-fated girl , a reformed bad guy, a not so reformed bad guy, a selfish mother and of course ruthless circumstances. IT could have been so good !!

But, I felt so let down after the book. It started out well, with Lilith (God ! I love that name, but she doesn't) our beautiful and distressed damsel wanting an out from family business, which is what the 'Maison D'amour' is. The story starts with her being thrown to Nico (an alleged mafia boss) with whom she was in love once upon a time. But now simply despises him. Note here, that it is her Mother, the current boss of Maison D'amour who is doing the throwing.. Nico wants her (just like a thing to be owned, of course) and also wants her to do his dirty work. And so, when the opportunity arrives, Lily runs away with the help of a do-gooder, Soti. There is an older connection between Lily and Soti, which Soti remembers and Lily doesn't. So Soti helps her escape, takes care of her, protects her..etc..etc.. When he comes to know that Nico wants to forcefully marry Lily, he proposes a marriage of convenience to Lily. And so begins the roller coaster.

What I didn't like : All characters seemed incomplete.

Nico, was once a nice man and lover, but now his profession has made him crazy. But why does he want Lilith now ? If he is really so ruthless, he can simply keep her. Why marry her? What is his game plan behind acquiring Lilith ?

Soti, could have had a little more fight in him. It was like he was accepting that their relationship was doomed. He seemed so weak. And Stella ?? Really Soti??? Even with all the history ??? Boy, you are so clueless !!



I think I would have liked the plot if Soti had used Stella to get to Lily. But no, this man ran under a rock and preferred to totally ignore what could be so logical.

Lily, I liked. But again she was not at all thinking. I mean, the courage which she showed in walking away from Soti for the sake of his life, she could have used to find a out a way to end this drama. I am sure she had contacts in several high places because of her family's history. I would have loved to see her in a ruthless and cold-blooded version of herself. But again, I won't blame her a lot. She did her best given the circumstances, and in the Epilogue also accepts it.

And lastly, Lily's mother Alexis is so confusing. What is her part in all this ? Is she just a puppet in this whole mess ??

On whole, there were parts I liked and hence the 3 stars !!

PS : Those quotes on the start of every chapter were a very nice addition !!

Thank you NetGalley and Willow Aster for generously providing me the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

***4 wonderful stars***

I am always impressed with Willow’s writing, her stories are heart wrenching and beautiful as well. I like that Whore was a step,away from her normal, it’s nice to see an author show a different side of themselves in their writing!

THis book drew me in from the first page, the story kept me on the edge of my seat. I would highly recommend this and any of Willow’s books!

Go! Read it now!!!

3 hours.. that’s how long it took for me to read this amazing book. 3 hours..

I really loved the whole book. I know that sounds so cliche but I really did. I love how Lili and Soti were their own individuals before finding one another. How it’s a slow burn and Soti proved to Lili that she was more than just a whore to him. I loved how the sex scenes were steamy but not graphic. We don’t have many books like that anymore. I love the details in the characters and the scenery. I could see myself looking at Maison D’amour, the community center and the beach houses.

I disliked Nico and I hated that it ended.

I’m so in love with them Soti and Lili it’s crazy. Soti as an individual was already swoon worthy but him with Lili is like Drogo with Khaleesi speaking words I don’t understand but not caring because I’m already a puddle on the floor. Soti has a big heart and a dark past that Lili seems to bring out and erase from him all at the same time. Lili was extremely strong and my heart went out to her but also stupid at times. She had to harden her heart but when she’s with Soti we see a side that’s soft, free and vibrant. When they finally give into their attraction to each it’s like nothing else. I loved them together and I knew instantly that they would be amazing together.



“Place a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.”

I love Willow’s books but this one, so far, is my favorite by her. She has left me in awe. I already miss Lili, Soti, Astra and the gang. I really hope we get to revisit them in the future.

I have yet to read a Willow Aster book that didn't completely consume me. (I've read them all) Whore is suspensful. It keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. The entire time reading, I felt like I was on the edge of my seat.

Lilith was raised in a whore house and her mom made her exactly that. She lost her virginity to a man her mom sold her to, Nico. Nico is the villain in the story.--I feel like I can't tell you anything about the plot. I don't want to ruin it. I liked not having a clue what was going to happen.

But who I will tell you about is Soti! Soti is a Greek giant. He has his own past demons, but he is kind and sexy and the ultimate good guy. There isn't much you don't like about him. He has these adorable corny lines



If you haven't picked up a Willow Aster book, first where have you been hiding, secondly, you better get on that!! This is a twist of light and dark and I think both contemporary readers and lovers of the dark side could both enjoy this.

This book MADE my year. It is hands down my favourite read of 2017. If you want a book that makes you FEEL something, grab this, now. So so so good!!

I give this book 5 out of 5 Completely Blown Away Stars!!! Like holy crap, this book is not what it seems at all. When you read the blurb and read the beginning of this book it seems like we are going to be swept away in a sweet romance that resembles “Pretty Woman”. You know how it goes, when the guy is in love with theprostitute but she has her guards up and eventually there is all that warm and fuzzy love. Well no, this book goes way beyond the realms of that and is uniquely designed! I could not stop reading this book and read it basically in one sitting. This book was not just a romance but more of a suspense that left you guessing and on edge. Heck at some points my skin was crawling and I had to lay in bed with the lights on to read it. This book even had a bit of mystery to it. Hell, it had it ALL!

I don’t want to give any details away but I am warning you that anyone who’s been in an abusive situation there may be a good bit of triggers for you in this book but it’s really hard to say. I was able to get through it and I have been in many abusive situations but have to admit it made my skin crawl and cringe. I just want to give that warning incase. Besides that for me it was completely worth it and was enthralled by the experience. I have never read Willow Aster’s work before and now that I have, I will say to her that “I will follow you anywhere.” Whore was a chilling, suspenseful and blissfully romantic masterpiece. The plot was solid and well written. The characters were well described and I absolutely loved them. Soti is my new fictional husband!!! I just loved the lack of jealousy and the unconditional love portrayed in this book. It really was beautiful. Lililth’s character is just amazing. She is stunning, beautiful, sexy and has no idea of her potential and worth. She is also such a strong woman and seeing the depths of her soul was incredible. You guys know I also like to bring my life experiences into my reviews to open up and relate, well this book opened my eyes in so many ways. I was involved in the escort business for years when I was younger. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit this. I was never a prostitute and I am definitely not judging anyone of course but I was in the management part I guess you can say and was an escort driver for many years. I served as protection to the girls and I dealt with the business transactions. I was sweet and caring to the girls I worked with. I still have contact with many of them and many of them were great friends. Unfortunately, I have had been involved in bad situations because of this and have seen my fair share of violence and brokeness. I am not proud of the things I have done but have learned from them to say the least. I don’t know if it was my experiences that made me in more awe of this book but this book really portrays how someone forced into this life lives and feels.

This book had me on an emotional rollercoaster and had me in tears at points but it made me realize a lot. Even if you didn’t think about the prostitution part if you just look at the inner battles that the main characters face, it was beyond intense! Lilith and Soti both battle these insecurites and inner demons that are so realistic and raw that you can’t help but evaluate your own feelings. I was personally blown away by this romantic suspense and can’t wait to check out the author’s other works!!! This book is highly Dani-approved and recommended! To read more of this review and others please visit touchmyspinebookreviews.com

Thorough enjoyed this, easy read, reminded me loosely of Pretty Woman, but had more depth! I'd love to read a sequel and find out what happens to Soti & Lilith.

To say I am thrilled that Willow Aster is back and better than ever is an understatement. With each new book, she reminds me of just how much I crave her words and the stories that are so uniquely hers. With Whore, I loved that I was once again thrown for a loop a few times over as the journey of Lilith Fontenot became more than I could have ever imagined. This vibrant yet stifled young woman who was born into the life of prostitution was clearly destined for more than her mother and the evil that surrounded her wanted to allow. It was with each turn of the page that I watched with worry and caution as Lilith found the strength over and over to battle her demons and try her hardest to let some love into her desolate world. It became a path to the unknown that I didn't want to end.

I have to admit that this book is nothing like I thought it would be. And shame on me for not realizing that even with a simple title such as Whore, that the author would offer so much more than a name implies. As Lilith tries desperately hard to rid herself of the world she had no choice in, she discovers that the true sense of kindness, of loyalty and of trust would come in the most unexpected form that is one Soti Christos. Just like Lilith, I never saw him coming. Oh this man. He is the sudden bright light that Lilith is drawn to when her evil mother and the man she so naively thought she loved are determined to keep her in the dark. Their burgeoning romance is filled with deep trepidation, particularly on Lilith's part and yet somehow hope trickles through. All because of this flawed and beautiful man who never saw the whore, only the woman. I truly adore that Soti wouldn't give up on his Lili no matter what and his heart, much like mine, was broken time and again as fate continued to wreak havoc on their lives. And damn if it wasn't worth every single tear shed.

Trust me, this book is no walk in the park. I had a pit in my stomach every single time Lilith would take a step forward and then end up at least 10 back because of the power the dirty underworld of New Orleans had over her and her life. But holy hell, the strength this woman gradually gains blew me away despite all that is done to her. I know it's thoughts of Soti that provide her a respite when things get bleak over and over again. Her pain is his pain even when miles and time separate them. We only get a few times in Soti's POV but that is enough to know this man would walk through fire for her with a determination that is way beyond extraordinary. I couldn't help but fall for him right along with Lilith. He is truly her angel even though she is often at the mercy of those who seem to be the Devil himself. Including Soti's own struggles at more than one time in his life make him that much more exceptional and indeed the most perfect balm to Lili's beleaguered soul.

I will just say this: worth every single dire moment felt, Whore will put you through the proverbial wringer right along with Soti and Lilith. But the absolute joy I felt at the conclusion was truly the reward for such an exquisite tale that only Willow Aster can tell. It is fraught with the very worst yet is filled with some of the very best. I promise it is an adventure like no other and one that will leave you breathless and frustrated one minute and filled with love the next.

As heartwarming as it is heartbreaking, I give Whore a HUGE 5+ stars.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to finish this book. I tried to stick it out- but at 20% I lost interest and had no desire to pick it back up.
I do normally love Willow's writing, so this one was probably just my mood or just not for me. I will read more from her in the future though.

Thank you to Willow Aster and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this novel.

If the title of this book doesn't grab your attention, the story inside surely will. Whore is one of the most beautiful renditions of an unconditional love story I have ever read. If you're like me, the title might make you a tad nervous this story will be full of smut and dirty deeds. Let me ease your worries right now, dear readers, this story is anything but smut. Of course, there are a few sexual instances, the main character is a prostitute after all, but there is so much more to this plot. You'll be missing out on an exceptional love story if you skip this one based off of preconceived notions. 

The main character Lilith is a complicated and alluring figure. She was forced into prostitution by her mother at Maison D'amour, New Orleans' own high scale whore house. Lilith is ready to get out from under her mother's controlling ways and become someone who isn't used every day of her life, but simply knows no other way of life. When her ex-boyfriend and current mafia member comes back into the picture after shattering her heart, Lilith gets wrangled into a scheme more elaborate than she knows. Enter Soti, all that is good and perfect in the world. When Lili becomes captivated by his charm and selflessness, she realizes how badly her life needs to change. Unfortunately, a whore doesn't deserve the honor of love, or so she thinks. 

<i>"I've never brought out the mush in someone. The sleaze, yes, but not the cheese."</i>

I could not put this book down. The romance between Soti and Lili was exquisitely written. It tugged at my heartstrings in all the right ways. I simply could not get enough of these two. Willow wrote Soti to life as the perfect man, the one every woman needs to help her reach her full potential. I only wish there was MORE of him! 

<i>"I wish I could wander through your mind and heal every single bad memory."</i>

Though this is classified as a Romance, there is so much more to this story. There is plenty of adventure, suspense, and mystery - giving readers one of the most versatile stories I've read in a long time. I especially loved the slight Biblical ties woven into the plot, creating an even more touching tale. Don't let this scare you off if that's not your thing, however. The subtle addition was done in a way to capture readers of all walks of life. 

This was my first book by Willow Aster and will definitely not be my last. I'm experiencing a serious case of FOMO after reading Whore. I've missed out on five years of novels, which are sure to be as stunning as the story her latest release. I can't wait to spend the first part of next year catching up!

Naturally, I can't praise Whore or Willow Aster enough! You won't regret picking up this one. Find the links to purchase this exceptional book below.

3.5 Stars
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I saw the title, but I am a Willow Aster fan and was excited for a new book from her. This book defiantly was more than the title. Lilith is a whore but that is not all she is. She didn’t choose the life and is doing everything she can to escape it.

It took me a while to get into this book and I am glad I finished it. The author did a good job with surprising the reader. I would be reading and thinking I knew what was going on and then something would happen I didn’t see coming.

I enjoyed this book but I think at the time I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to really enjoy it like many have. I think this is one I need to re-read and go in with an open mind.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a Willow Aster book, and I couldn’t wait to read this one! Her writing is so stunning and poetic. Whore was one of those books that captivated me from the start.

The title Whore describes the leading lady, Lilith. It’s her job, the family trade. It’s not what she wants to be, but it’s all she knows. She’s not a cheap whore, though. She’s expensive. She’s from New Orleans and lives in a house that’s been in her family for generations. She thinks this is all her life will ever be. Until she meets Soti.

Soti… that man was near perfect. I adored him. He was swoony, sweet, and loved Lilith. I loved his big heart. As much as I liked Lilith, Soti stole the show for me. This story was so complex and had so many things I want to talk about, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone! It had hella angst, made me angry at times, broke my heart at times, but by the end, I was content. My heart was happy again.

I love reading addictive stories, and that is the best word to describe this read. Addictive. I love book that can hook me from the start. The writing was phenomenal, the story was unique, and even though there were a few small things that didn’t jive with me, I still enjoyed it overall. If you’re a fan of angsty and suspenseful reads, I would recommend this one!

This is a new author for me and I usually end a new book either finding a new one-click and others a connection isn't made. With Whore and Willow Aster, I have a "I don't know". Whore is the story of a young woman born to the madam of an upscale, infamous brothel in New Orleans. Groomed from birth to work there, Lilith is good at what she does and has the eye of powerful mob boss, Nicholas Santelli but she wants more from life. Circumstances occur that give her an out but she has to want it enough.

The story is well structured and the characters well developed. Lilith, a woman who ends up in a situation because of who her mother is, wants to break free but doesn't exactly know how. Soti, the owner of a local community center, is immediately taken with Lilith and helps her all that he can. Devoted and loyal, Soti holds secrets that keep him from grabbing exactly what he wants. I think, for me, that was one of the issues. For all their push and pull and attraction, I didn't feel a deep abiding chemistry between Lilith and Soti. They felt disconnected.

The story pacing, not the pace of the book but the tale itself, threw me off. Lilith runs from the brothel during a fire and gets arrested. Once she is out (via Soti) someone tries to kill her. Taken to the community center to hide, the story spans weeks where she is just there. Then her mother shows up and issues a threat and then there are again a span of weeks before anything else happens. This happens several times and brought the intensity of the situation down. Instead of giving an urgent vibe, the story (not the book) dragged a bit.

This is where the "I don't know" comes in. I really enjoyed the characters individually and the plot of the story was interesting there just seemed to be something to gel it together missing for me.