I have only recently been getting into erotica and it is such a hit-and-miss but this! I am legit obsessed with this book and series! I devoured the prequel novella, Salt in the Wound, a few months ago and was so excited to get an ARC of this first book. I wasn’t even sure how this book would start after how the prequel ended, but I really loved the direction it went in!

We follow Tristan as he becomes Mark’s new bodyguard. We see the complex feelings he starts to feel for Mark and the relationship they start to form. It isn’t until months later that Tristan even learns Mark is engaged to Isolde and to say things get complicated, this quote sums it up perfectly…

“I’m just a bodyguard, and she’s engaged, and I’m in love with her fiancé.”

I loved seeing Tristan with Mark, I loved seeing Tristan with Isolde. We have Mark, a former CIA agent, Tristan the virgin bodyguard, and Isolde the badass woman who wanted to become a nun but was put into an arranged betrothal with Mark. We get BDSM, play with submission and pain, and everything is just delicious. This MMF Tristan and Isolde retelling is already off to a fantastic start and this series is my fav from Sierra Simone yet!

I received an ARC from netgalley, all thoughts in this review are my own!

I feel the need to mention that stated this before I found out there was a prequel novella, Salt in the Wound. I decided to go ahead and finish and I have to say that was the BEST decision I made. I feel like not knowing a few details made the last 70% so much better, adding some tension and a bit of a twist.

Tristan has my heart, he’s a cinnamon roll. I enjoyed the way the morally gray and diabolical Mark has Tristan so twisted up for most of the book. The writing and build-up of tension is on point and balanced with some smutty spice. This MM romance, soon to be MMF has descriptive without being cringy spicy scenes. Smut lovers will be happy.

This book will pull you and take you on a smutty journey before it leaves you hanging wanting more. I need the next installment.

The way that I could NOT PUT THIS DOWN!

Sierra Simone is a diamond among rhinestones in the world of spice.

Good LORD!

Tristan, Isolde, and Mark have my attention and they are now my Roman Empire.

Thank you netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for allowing me to read this book. Omg Sierra Simone can do no wrong!!! I absolutely loved the new Camelot series so much and they are some of my all time favorite books so this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint!!!! 😍 I love the types of storylines she writes! The only thing I am furious about is that the next one is not out yet! It is eating at me that I am not able to pick up book 2 right away! Sierra i would do anything to get book 2 in my hands right away!🥺 I love the characters and just want to see them get their happy endings. This book made me go through so many different emotions and had me on the edge of my seat which most of her books have that effect on me. I live for the drama and romance in these books of hers. I NEED MORE!!!

Sierra's an excellent storyteller and the sexy time scenes are on point. I hope there's more character development for Mark and Isolde in the next book.

This book… oh my god. I’ve somehow managed to go this long in my life without reading a Sierra Simone book and I truly don’t know how I have. My life is forever changed.

This book was insane in the best possible way. The plot, the characters, the chemistry, the tension, the *spice*, literally just everything… was pure perfection.

I got completely swept up in this story. These characters were so incredibly fascinating. I fell in love with them all in their own unique way and I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that we get more books because of this being a series. I will be on the edge of my seat begging and pleading for the next book until the second I can get my hands on the next book in the series.

Considering I’ve only read this one book by Sierra Simone, I already know by the time this next book in the series comes out, I’ll have read her entire backlist. I’m a huge fan officially.

Like I said before, I will be on the edge of my seat begging for the next book because this book was the perfect set up. I feel like this book is best going in blind (just a personal preference) because you’ll get the full experience of these characters and their relationships. I’m so in love.

*Thank you Bloom Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

4.5! i loved every single thing about this! protect tristan at all costs!! i’m so excited for this new universe. sierra simone has such a beautiful way of storytelling and fleshing out her characters. that cliffhanger?? i absolutely cannot wait for the next book!

This was hot but not my favorite of Sierra's sadly!! But it was very hot. I think once I read the rest of the series I will have a deeper appreciation of this one.

🖤 TROPES & THEMES 🖤
✔️ Bodyguard romance
✔️ MMF 👀
✔️ Tristan & Isolde loose retelling
✔️ Spicyyyyy 😎
✔️ Forbidden romance 🤌🏽
✔️ Age Gap

This book was hotttt!! And like idk who the end goal couple is, but tbh I’m not even mad. 🤣 for sure a great page turner. Spice with plot. Enjoy the ride, you won’t regret it. 😈

Very addicting and compelling romance! If you are a fan of The New Camelot series, you will love this. I found the main leads (Mark, Tristan, and Isolde) to be quite gray and complex characters, which I really appreciate. There's depth to them. Flaws. Imperfections, But all worthy of love.

Wow. This book I was not prepared for but I sat down and devoured it in one sitting. Sierra creates such complex characters in Mark, Tristen, and Isolde. And the ending left me wanting for the next book in the series now! Sierra Simone never disappoints.

Um lol, I did not expect to like this book this much, the author has definitely written very compelling characters and relationships! That being said, I do advise you to look up content warnings before reading (they definitely helped me to be ready for the possible darker aspects of this romance) - I don't think I can do a good job of accurately summarizing the TWs, I would suggest you look at other GR reviews for them!

I can't wait for the next book, ahh

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

I have conflicting feelings regarding Salt Kiss. I don't know where to start. I can say that Salt Kiss is definitely a spicy romance read. Like really spicy romance. All of my spicy romance readers and dark romance readers are going to love it. I literally devoured this book so much. But that's not my problem with this book.

While I enjoy the spicy romance part of Salt Kiss, my conflicted feelings regarding this book mainly focus on the characters actions. Let's start off with the two main characters at the beginning of the book.

Before going any further, I will say that this review will contain some spoilers. If you don't want any spoilers, then avoid reading any more of this review.

Why I Am Conflicted With These Main Characters:

-Tristan: Oh, sweet O'Tristan. My sweet old boy—well, my sweet, grown male. He is literally so sweet and adorable while he tries to recover from his PSTD. He never expected to fall in love with his boss, Mark, so I kind of forgive him when he discovers Mark's betrayal and starts falling for his fiancé, Isolde. I don't blame him. He loves Mark, so he takes a hit when he discovers that he is engaged to someone else. The angst of that betrayal leads him to a whole new perspective in Mark's world.
-Mark: I swear, goodness, I want to cause physical harm to you. You are literally the definition of a hole. Your behavior was so terrible. I don't understand why. And I don't want to either. You literally knew from the beginning who Tristan was, and you didn't care for his feelings at all. You truly knew that he would fall for you, but instead of taking that into account, You blinded him with your expected betrothal. And you act surprised that he falls for your fiancé, Isolde. Excuse me, but make it make sense.
-Isolde: I don't know how I feel about you. I understand your situation. No one wants to be in that situation where you are forced to get married. But you knew that Tristan had feelings for Mark, so why start something with him? That's very selfish to do. I have suspicious feelings that you have hidden motives and are being selfish. I don't like it. I especially don't like it that you are playing with Tristan's feelings.

Personally, I enjoyed Tristan more than Mark and Isolde. And that's terrible to say since this is the first in the trilogy. I don't know if I will continue reading the series. My conflicted feelings overwhelmed the joy that I had while I read the spicy romance parts.

This was very steamy and I do want to read the next in the series. I have mixed feelings about the leads, which I think is the point, but right now it's hard to root for anyone

Spoiler free // book review

Holy smut! I was reminded that Sierra Simone is truly the queen of spice.

This romance was mysterious and hot!
The story follows Mark, a spicy club and Tristen, his new bodyguard.

This is a forbidden romances on many levels. If you loved the New Camelot series, I highly recommend this one. This will be an MMF romance, but the first book focuses on Tristan’s relationships first and is told through his POV.

I can’t wait for the next book in the trilogy to come out because I’m so invested in these characters. I feel like there’s a lot of mystery and secrets to be discovered.

4.5 ⭐️ 4 🌶️

Is this the spiciest book I have ever read?
I think it might be (and I read a lot of smut) 😂🥵🔥🔥

The story:-
After Tristan leaves the Army, he is hired as a bodyguard by ex-CIA operative, Mark Trevena, who now runs an exclusive kink club , The Lyonesse.
Tristan, who wears his heart on his sleeve, soon becomes devoted to his new boss.
Mark is a dangerous and secretive man with very specific tastes, and when he starts taking a special interest in Tristan, Tristan falls head over heels in love with him!

Until he finds out that Mark is engaged and he is tasked with escorting Isolde, Mark's fiancee, back home!

Tristan steels himself for what he expects will be a difficult and emotionally gutting journey! However, Isolde is not what he expected, and to his amazement, Tristan finds himself battling his attraction towards her!

What I loved:-
I am a sucker for bodyguard romances and this was a bodyguard romance on steroids!!
To be honest, I thought the Mark and Tristan story was darker , edgier, more passionate and emotional.
Isolde and Tristan bring in their fair share of fireworks, but their relationship seemed to be driven more by proximity and need!

Tristan is the emotional core of the book - without him being who he is, this would probably just have been another kinky story !

The book ends on a cliffhanger and for once I was almost sorry that this is an ARC and I have to wait a long time for the next book. 😄

This book released on September 12th.

Sexy, angsty, complicated and messy are hallmarks of any Sierra Simone novel. Salt Kiss is the beginning to her new series which draws inspiration from the classic tale of Tristan and Isolde. Simone has a way of manipulating a classic story into something that tests the readers understanding on what makes a relationship Simone's writing is rich and beautiful. Her characters are full of depth and layers. There is a push and pull to the relationships as they grow and change and open up to each other. This romance is fully character driven and gives us and in-depth exploration of one of the main players as it is told in first person. This novel is extremely high heat, but in a way that shows the readers how the interactions and power play give the characters the opportunity to be vulnerable and true.

If you love a high heat, character driven romance, than Salt Kiss is a must read. Simone will take you on an emotional rollercoaster, she will make you question what you know and believe, and she will test your morals and understanding of the world around you. Salt Kiss is the beginning of this journey, that will grow and shift throughout the next two installments. There is a prequel novella-Salt in the Wound, which I would highly recommend reading before diving into this novel.

This was such a page turner for me, I could NOT put it down!
I enjoyed the characters, Tristan is such a cutie, and when he falls, he falls hard!
I just wish there's was more Isolde in this one. She came way too late in my opinion (no pun intended). And the last part of the book felt rushed.
But that ending got me so excited for the sequel, I don't know how I'm going to make it till June '24!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I don't know how to start this review.

This book was so weird for me to understand my feelings... I was bored, yet it read so fast it was fine? There was some points I was not bored.. idk.

This book is not MMF yet, maybe the series will be, but the premise really gives you a different look on what this actually is. You start out at a wedding being introduced to one of the males and it seems to promise danger and morally grey, but again you don't see it yet.

I read Priest by her as well and remember liking it but having something about it holding me back. This gave me the same vibes sadly, but I think lots of people will enjoy!

I could NOT put this down. I am HOOKED. I cannot wait for what comes next. These 3 are gonna be messy and I'm gonna grab my popcorn. A devastating tour de force. Magnetic, achingly sexy, and pouty passionate perfection. Five stars aren’t enough.