⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4,3 stars
Boy oh boy! This was amazing!
This steamy BDSM story is not what was on my bingo card this year and I am absolutely obsessed! Great representation of BDSM, importance of consent, overcoming trauma and finding yourself. This is instalove story, but in the beat way possible! I like that Mary is her own person who has her limits and wants and needs and she is following them. Ronan is a dreamboat and i am absolutely in love with him. Related with his grandmother is very charming and my heart is overall melting from this book.
I haven’t read any other books in the series, so I confirm this can be read as a standalone, as I haven’t felt like i was missing out on anything.
The spice is indeed very spicy and i was very pleasantly surprised.
If you are a fan of Sara Cates SPC series, i would highly recommend this book.
I received this book as an ARC and i leaving my honest review.

It was a great book, the story is amazing! I cant wait to read more from this author! I gave this book 4/5 stars, it was very well written and i just fell in love with the characters. I want to keep this spoiler free so i wont same much else but it was very enjoyable and i highly recommend

Helen Hardt has written another spicy and entertaining book with heart.
Mary and Ronan take the reader back to the Black Rose Club where we’re drawn into their world, where romance is replaced by rules and expectations.
This third story in the series sees the two main characters question what they’re really looking for, is it the scene where they meet or something else totally unexpected?
The story explores Mary and Ronan’s relationship and changing emotional directions. Will they re-evaluate their feelings, they have a chemistry that takes them by surprise.
I really enjoyed the process of friendship to more, a slow burn that is a delight to watch as it develops. A great read that is insightful, warm and filled with special moments.

Congratulations and thanks to the publisher, NetGalley and the amazing Helen Hardt for the opportunity to read this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A sub gun shy from a scene gone wrong and a dom running from commitment.

The Black Rose was Mary's sexual haven until a scene goes wrong, leaving her questioning if the life is still right for her.

Ronan has just arrived in town, fleeing a sub who wanted him to commit, but when he meets Mary, he just might have found someone who will make him stay.

Thoughts:
This book had some sexy moments, some sweet moments and some moments where the plot lumbered through to the next sweet spot.
But if you enjoy both a little naughty and nice in your read, you'll probably enjoy this.

Blossom is part of the Black Rose series. In this installment, we journey with Blossom, aka Mary Sandusky, as she recovers and heals her own trauma forging onwards in a new romance. Ronan is our hero here and he is so in love without actually saying it. I loved how the two characters acknowledged what their own traumas were and making efforts to heal. Their chemistry and trips together really make you come to love the characters. I do feel near the end that it did seem a bit rushed, but I also get that when something like the events in the book happened that more feelings may arise and/or feelings could solidify, Great read overall! Can't wait to read the next installment
TW: inappropriate relationship b/w school faculty and student; BDSM

Yet another amazing book by Helen Hardt and my favourite one in this series. I would read the other 2 books in the series first but it isn’t necessary. The book had me engrossed that I read it in one sitting.

This is Ronan and Mary’s story.
Mary was really starting to question if she wanted to get out of the life style until she met Ronan.
Ronan was new to the club and once he sets eyes on Mary he knew he had to make her his.

You will need to read the book to see if they gets their HEA or do they just remain friends.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

After a bad experience Mary is questioning whether being a submissive is a lifestyle that she can continue. When she attends a club with her friend, she meets Ronan and the chemistry between them is undeniable, but they have some challenges to overcome when it comes to life outside the club and the bedroom.

Ronan isn’t looking for love or a relationship but instead a submissive woman to spend time with. He is drawn to Mary and wants to help her heal but the more time he spends to her the more time he wants to spend with her which has him questioning his vision of the future.

At first glance it appears that Mary and Ronan aren’t looking for the same thing when it comes to life or love. He is patient and understanding while they show each other with the right person they can have everything they want in each other.

This book surprised me I didn’t think that I could like new characters anymore than I loved from the last two books. And once again, Helen Hardt prove me wrong. Watching the story between Mary and Ronan unfold, and how vulnerable and raw they were with each other was beautiful. Has a way of making us fall in love with a new fictional character every time more than the last this truly was no exception. I felt like we were able to be the flies on the wall, watching them fall in love, and knowing it even before they could admit it. it was just such a pure one that I will read again and again, and have already purchased for my permanent collection outside of the netgalley arc I received for my unbiased review. do yourself a favor and get this book and be prepared to fall in love with them.

First, I want to thank Entangled Publishing and the author for gifting me this ARC! I didn’t really know what to expect going into Blossom but boy, did I eat this book up!! I literally finished it in a single day and totally fell in love with Ronan and Mary💙

These two meet at an underground leather club after Mary had an experience with a scene gone wrong. She doesn’t know if she wants to be in the life anymore, so as a test, she decides to hang out at the club one more time. Of course, this is where she meets Ronan and right away, something feels different about him; and Ronan feels it too, but they could never tell each other that lol. The chemistry between these two is palpable and will have you blushing every time they’re together!!

I really appreciate the way Ronan took his time getting to know Mary and being open to the foreign feelings he was experiencing. I also always love when books including BDSM put emphasis on the subs having most of the power in a dynamic. Ronan is an expert dirty talker and a man confident enough to wear a kilt anytime and anyplace is 🥵 Mary continued to show her strength, even though she was scared and put herself out there in fear of missing out on something great.

I was totally immersed in this book from beginning to end and my only critique is that it felt like it ended SO quickly, I would have loved a few more chapters to spread out the finale. But other than that, I seriously loved these characters, the spicy scenes, the drama, and the romance between these two who opened their hearts for each other🫶🏻

Despite harboring the anticipation of enjoying this book, I found the narrative somewhat disarrayed. The story, with its latent potential, fell short of my expectations primarily due to writing that I struggled to appreciate. Repetitive elements permeated the text, making it a challenging read. Though tempted to abandon it, I persevered to the end. My rating is 3 stars. It reflects acknowledgment of the pleasant romantic aspects and the untapped potential within the storyline. However, the persistent issues with repetitiveness and challenging prose ultimately hindered the book from reaching its full potential, leaving a mixed sentiment about the overall honest reading experience.

Thank you for this opportunity to read this story. It was a good story that I will go back and read the rest!

First I would like to thanks Entangled Publishing, LLC for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the story of Mary, also known as Blossom, who has not been able to enjoy her time being a submissive in the Black Rose club since a minor event occurred. When she decides to go to the club with her friend she runs into a new club member Ronan, Scottish dominate. After spending time together both Mary and Ronan start to have feelings that they haven't every experienced before with another dominate/submissive and have to decide if this relationship can survive outside the confines of the club.

What I loved:
New Orleans, Ronan grew up in the city and takes Mary there for a compulsive trip and I've never wanted to go visit as city as much as I did when reading the chapters set there
Ronan, he is described as the perfect Scotsman and he plays into it by wearing a kilt to the club and I am a BIG FAN of that aesthetic
Meme, Ronan's grandmother who practically raised him is my favorite character of the story, she is a business owner, amazing chef, embraces the practice of Voodoo and is 100% herself
History, I really enjoy that we get to learn how Mary came into the lifestyle since that backstory really lends to why she struggles so much with her relationship with Ronan
Spicy, as expected this book has a great level and range of spice and I liked how the spice was not only confined to the club and the ghost scene was WILD

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book even when there were parts where I wanted to shake both Mary and Ronan to get themselves out of their own heads. If you are looking for a romance that has travel, spice, personal growth and some surprises I would absolutely recommend this book to you! Bonus, this is the last of a trilogy and they are all great books!

*I received an ARC copy however all opinions are my own*

Rating: 3.75 (didn’t want to give this just 3 stars bc I did enjoy the story)
First thing, I absolutely loved Ronan and Mary’s characters. I enjoyed their quick romance and their overall story. The only reason I gave it this rating was because of the ghost scene and the constant mentions of voodoo throughout the book. Idk if it’s because I live in Louisiana but I wasn’t feeling the glorification/ eagerness to learn it. Everytime it was mentioned I felt like I was pulled out of the story which impacted my reading experience through the rest of the book. I understand this is all personal preference and that’s why I wanted to lead with the things I did like about Blossom. I still loved the characters, the writing and their story minus a couple scenes which bugged me. Thank you again for the opportunity to read Blossom :)

Absolutely loved this! Falling in love with this whole series! Helen Hardt keeps your attention, and heart strings close!

A hot Scot Dom in a kilt, be still my beating heart and then throw in that New Orleans drawl – well that’s how he sounds in my head – and I was a goner for Ronan O’Connor probably just as quickly as he fell for Mary Sandusky or Blossom as she was known in the Black Rose adults only club they both belonged to. Although American, Dominant Ronan who had spent much of his adult life in his father’s home country of Scotland, was newly returned to the US and fresh out of an arrangement where his sub had wanted more than he was prepared to give. He’d gone to the club to check it out and the first person he saw was Mary where he was instantly intrigued. Mary was at a crossroads in her life. She had been happy to play but only on a casual basis with no long-term agreements with any Dom. This arrangement had suited her but she’d recently lost confidence in her own judgement after a scene had gone wrong and she’d had to use her safe word. Now she was afraid of trusting another Dom and was trying to decide what it was she wanted and whether or not she to remain in the lifestyle.

This was a slowburn, friends to lovers romance as Ronan, with the aid of his grandmother helps Mary decide what it is she wants from her life and to go out and grab it. Ronan hadn’t been looking for a relationship, he didn’t do hearts and flowers but as he played tourist to Mary’s guide in New York and then reversed the situation when he showed her his ‘N’awlins’ even introducing her to a randy ghost that resulted in a sizzling threesome, love gradually snuck up on them both but both were afraid to make the first move until a near tragedy showed them just what was important. The development of their relationship was well paced and believable as he rebuilt her confidence. Perhaps I felt there could’ve been more of a thing made of his ex-submissive’s stalker like tendencies but that’s just me always wanting more.

Did I accidentally read this not knowing it was book 3? Yeah but I fell right into the storyline with really no confusion. While I can see how having previously read the two prior to this one for the interconnections and the relationships, you honestly won't be left stumbling through the read should you start here.

I'm a sucker for a good 'adult club' setting and the navigations of Mary/Blossom as she tries to navigate life back into the scenes was wonderful. She was truly a character that expressed her vulnerability and did some real soul searching on reassessing what she wants in life and how she thinks she needs to be perceived by others. Take all this character growth and development and pair it with a hottie with money, some genuine tender care and love to him that is also navigating some wants and needs in his life, and some super hot scenes- we've got the perfect recipe.

This was such a quick read that it was over in nearly the blink of an eye. We had a bit of up and down throughout as Mary and Ronan navigate this connection but we're guaranteed that sweet and satisfying ending. I'll definitely be circling back to book one and two just so I can get a taste of everyone.

This book could easily be 30-40% shorter. The unnecessary overexplaining of things like cocktails, dishes and even coffee was redundant at best, patronising at worst. Speaking of patronising - the way that Ronan sometimes speaks to Mary got me annoyed and disconnected from him as a character. I didn’t feel like I wanted to fall in love with him. And I don’t mean the conversations in the D/s scenes. But even those did not really translate as written by an author who properly researched Doms. In fact, the author makes such a big to-do through both characters that Ronan is such a quintessential Dom and Mary a true Submissive - but other than their own inner monologues we don’t see that at all. Tying a partner up and the odd piece of language does not make a Dom.

The writing was repetitive and the pivotal conflict in the third act happening in the last 20% of the book felt rushed and sloppy. I am sorry to say this book was highly disappointing for me - which is a pity, because I’ve read other Helen Hardt books that I’ve enjoyed very much.

Blossom by Helen Hardt

Published: January 23, 2024
Entangled: Amara
Genre: Billionaire Romance
Pages: 301
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

This series has been fire. I need a glass of water and a moment of silence. The depth of this book rocked my world. I loved the dynamics between the characters, the self-discovery, and the dip into Creole cooking and Voodoo.

Helen is such a powerhouse writer. This is my third book with her, and she floors me every single time. The spicy scenes are so well written and delivered in such a beautifully erotic fashion.

I loved the story within a story element of this book. It was entertaining and the perfect touch. The way each character is written, from central to side, it is evident that no detail was by accident.

I love and appreciate the way Hardt brings a story to life. This book made me giggle blush, and kept me glued to the pages. I am a bit sad the series has concluded, but I am glad I was able to take the ride!

4.5 stars - Sexy, sweet and erotic, Blossom is a wonderfully sensual way to end this series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.