Not just erotica. It's so nice to have a book that creates a storyline and a slow burn. Looking forward from more for the author.

Unfortunately I didn't connect well with the novel or the characters. The  story just didn't work for me. This however won't stop me reading any of her future novels by this author.

I don't review publicly any novels under 3 stars as per my submission guidelines: https://lesreveur.com/contact-me/how-to-submit-a-novel-for-review/

F/f erotica that made my day. Never read this author before but will after this story, as the love scenes were really worth it.

This isn't a bad book. 

In fact, I really like its premise: a f/f relationship between two career-driven women who have owned their sexuality.

It was just hard for me to stay engaged because I couldn't really sense much chemistry between the characters, which quickly made some scenes tiresome to read. The writing is fairly good, though, and I'm sure there's an audience out that that would thoroughly enjoy this novel more than I did.

I definitely seem to have liked this one a lot more than my fellow lesfic readers! 

From the beginning, both Cardic and Olivia felt like full characters, even apart from one another. I hate when I read a romance that has two people who seem to have no lives or ambitions apart from sex or romance. I got just as invested in Olivia's athletic-wear line and Cardic's anthropological research as I did in their romance. Of course, that's a big part of the story itself--both women have no time for love, so they'll happily fall into a no-strings relationship. 

And it goes fine and all is well. Just kidding.

I had a hopeless crush on both characters, and when they got together, it was fire every time. Olivia is a type-A toppy femme and Cardic is a laid-back toppy butch, so there's some delicious, playful push-pull as they both try to keep each other at arm's length and fail. I really liked how Olivia demanded control and was the "dominant" one in a butch/femme relationship. Her assertiveness and Cardic's lazy charm created sparks on every page. And I'm just such a hopeless lesbian, because they're both so hot...Olivia, a plus-size redhead going jogging in a lavender sports bra? Cardic being a loving aunt in her white-button down with rolled-up sleeves? Guh.

Where was I?

Ah, yes. Halfway through this book, I was thinking it was an easy five stars. They slowly got closer and closer, the sex got more and more intimate, their walls started breaking down. But soon, I started wondering why they were pushing so hard to keep it casual. In some works, like the movie Trainwreck, monogamy-averse characters have major reasons why they don't want to settle down with someone. But in this book, Cardic and Olivia's small reasons (a rigid work schedule, a philandering father) just seemed too flimsy to keep them apart, even though they had such a good time together.

I needed some more goodness in the final third of the book. I wanted to see those layers peeled back a little more, their walls come down a little harder. I needed a final big gesture before they got back together. But it ended...not with a fizzle, but certainly not with a bang. I just needed more, because they are such good characters who deserved a meatier story.

I'll definitely be reading more of Jane Hardee's works. She creates awesome, believable female characters with awesome chemistry. The story structure just needed a little bit of tweaking for it to be perfect.

The writing and the editing lack the quality to bring the plot to life. Many inconsistencies, unnecessary repetitions, telling instead of showing, head-hopping, and weak character development take the joy out of reading.

There was very little chemistry between the characters and the plot felt very thin at points.  I was hoping for greater development, which did not appear.

Olivia Reynolds is just where she wants to be—in control. The youngest brand manager for Vital, an athletic wear company, she has no family, no pets, and no obligations. When Olivia literally bumps into Cardic Lawson, her world is turned upside down. Cardic insists a no strings fling will meet both their needs. No commitments and sex anytime, anywhere. 

Was not able to read book due to issues with delivery.

this is not an erotica book, even if the cover may suggested it. the two characters are agist monogamy but they can't help falling in love. Too many inner monologue for me

I ended up not finishing this. I personally do not think it is very well written, and life is too short to read bad books.

First time for me with this writer. While I enjoyed the story, there was a lot of inner monologue about the newly discovered tribe/race in a south American country. Frankly I couldn't understand the passion and connection to it. It makes sense in the overall theme of the book however I couldn't get the attachment to them. 

3.5 stars

This is the first book I’ve read by Ms Hardee and I’m hoping it won’t be my last. Olivia Reynolds is where she’s always wanted to be. Brand manager for a sportswear company she doesn’t have the time for a family or friends expect Joan who has known Olivia forever. Cardic Lawson’s a anthropology professor who has just returned after 18 months in the Amazon researching a tribe most people know nothing about. She has her work and her sister Claire. All she needs is a lover for a night or two. The sparks fly when Olivia and Cardic meet. Both are not looking for love but just a quick fling. Great. Ms Hardee has wrote a very enjoyable read.

I didn't like this at all. It wasn't my style. I was bored and uninterested in the characters as well.

A tough-to-put-down steamy love story between two strong and stubborn protagonists who refuse to fall in love with each other. Anthropologist Cardic has just returned from fieldwork in the Amazon when she, literally, bumps into all-work-and-no-play corporate overachiever Olivia. After agreeing to a no-strings-attached sex-only arrangement, both women have to re-examine what it means to be happy and learn how to confront a future they never planned on. Snappy comebacks and scorching sex scenes (that, thankfully, never overwhelm the story) pull together a nicely-paced tale of digging deep to discover one's true nature and how we relate to others.

I had a hard time connecting to the characters and feeling them. More Olivia than Cardic, but still; I felt like there were more chances to dig deeper, but they were missed. That being said, this is a nice afternoon romance, with steamy scenes and nice romance.

<I>An ARC was Kindly provided by the publisher but all opinions are my own.</I>

Undiscovered Affinity was a sweet f/f novel about two high-functioning, career driven women, who both detest relationships and monogamy.  

I thought this book was something different than it was, mainly based on the cover. But it's not an erotica. Honestly, it's quite sweet, even if the women - Cardic and Olivia - did get on my nerves a little bit. 

Olivia was a little difficult to like, but I eventually warmed up to her. Not because she was so career-driven - I actually like that about her - but because she was so dead set against relationships and love. She was very rigid in her belief that all romantic relationships are bad, despite never having been in one. And the constant discussion about that got a little dry. However, I did really like Cardic and I really enjoyed the descriptions of her work. 

I do recommend this book, though, if you're looking for something quick, light, and fluffy.

I'm a new fan of the authors! This book is they kind of slight erotica that I enjoy, because not only is it hot but the chemistry and relationship was solid and not overlooked. Also, Olivia one of the leads is a plus-size woman and instead of feeling down about it, she actually embraces it! On top of that, Cardic thinks she's just as sexy as she acts. I feel like most plus=size characters within the first two chapters of the book complain about it. It was so lovely not to hear that. 

I really enjoyed the pacing of their relationship too. They wanted to keep it on a surface base level, but then every so often they would say something small about the other person and you realize that they are noticing all the little things that make them who they are. You really feel like your on a relationship journey with both of them. 

Definetly recommend a buy.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35504477-undiscovered-affinity" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Undiscovered Affinity" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1498246526m/35504477.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35504477-undiscovered-affinity">Undiscovered Affinity</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15081571.Jane_Hardee">Jane Hardee</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2288589371">2 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
An ARC rec'd from NetGalley/Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.<br />This is a romance with sex that fizzled for me because there was no chemistry between the main characters. While I struggled to finish this read, I am willing to give future books by Ms. Hardee <br />another chance.<br />2.5 stars
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/31134832-gail">View all my reviews</a>

The premise is unique and promising: Cardic, an anthropology professor who specializes in polygamy has recently returned from the Amazonas and accidentally meets Olivia, a designer and project manager for a sports ware company. Cardic tries to convince Olive to have a purely sexual affair, but she wants to concentrate on her work. Olivia can’t ignore the sexual attraction and they both get much more than they expected from the affair.
Sadly, the writing and the editing lack the quality to bring the plot to life. Many inconsistencies, unnecessary repetitions, telling instead of showing, head-hopping, and weak character development take the joy out of reading. If you don’t mind that as a reader, you can find hot sex scenes and entertaining anthropological observations.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like this is yet again a lesfic book that suffered because of length.  The characters were interesting.  The back stories were good.  But there just wasn't enough depth to connect and FEEL it.  I think there could have been.  There were moments when it really almost hit the mark.  There is a lot of sex in this book.  With the strong and intense chemistry supposedly there, the sex scenes were surprisingly vanilla.  I feel with more depth, which would have meant a longer book, this could have been really really great.  The "bones" were there.  But instead, it was just ok.  
It's an interesting twist to the common formula.

I received an arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.