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She Demands Perfection
Enthralled in Her Design
Their attraction is instant, their connection undeniable.
Syrene Harkman likes to be in control. She heads an award-winning global architectural firm, she designs things of beauty, she pays for the finest pleasures. When she loses one of the biggest jobs in her company’s history and turns forty-five on the same day, she does not appreciate the cheap, tacky, dive of a strip club her friends drag her to. With a half-decent whiskey in her hand, she decides to stay. What’s the worst that could happen?
Burlesque dancer and stripper Beatriz Rose has bills to pay, her grandmother to support and dreams of one day doing something more with that art-school degree than just repaying the student debt. She never expects true love to strike when she’s at work, but when it does, it hits her hard in the form of a steely, demanding and outright gorgeous woman. Bea breaks her own rules and finds herself in a client’s bed.
They’re perfect for each other but their worlds are a million miles apart. In the aftermath of a one night stand that flares hotter than either expected, the two women decide they’re meant for each other—but real life has other ideas.
Society tells them one night to forever is a fairy tale.
What are they prepared to surrender to prove that fairy tales can come true?
This is a steamy rich-girl-poor-girl, age-gap romance.
Syrene Harkman likes to be in control. She heads an award-winning global architectural firm, she designs things of beauty, she pays for the finest pleasures. When she loses one of the biggest jobs in her company’s history and turns forty-five on the same day, she does not appreciate the cheap, tacky, dive of a strip club her friends drag her to. With a half-decent whiskey in her hand, she decides to stay. What’s the worst that could happen?
Burlesque dancer and stripper Beatriz Rose has bills to pay, her grandmother to support and dreams of one day doing something more with that art-school degree than just repaying the student debt. She never expects true love to strike when she’s at work, but when it does, it hits her hard in the form of a steely, demanding and outright gorgeous woman. Bea breaks her own rules and finds herself in a client’s bed.
They’re perfect for each other but their worlds are a million miles apart. In the aftermath of a one night stand that flares hotter than either expected, the two women decide they’re meant for each other—but real life has other ideas.
Society tells them one night to forever is a fairy tale.
What are they prepared to surrender to prove that fairy tales can come true?
This is a steamy rich-girl-poor-girl, age-gap romance.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2024
102 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Jolie Dvorak
5 books85 followersJolie Dvorak likes to write steamy, angsty romance featuring women who fall hard and love harder. When her first book was released, she revealed that ‘Jolie Dvorak’ was, in fact, the pen name of another sapphic romance author and challenged readers to guess who. This led to some very lovely compliments and quite a few long, funny conversations, but Jolie’s true identity remains a secret. If you think you know, send an email to hello (at) joliedvorak (dot) com with your theories. Gold star if you get it right.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 23, 2025
**'Telling ongoing stories is sometimes like fine tuning the many ideas/thoughts that's there...but you still have to make them understandable and be fluid. Readers sometimes thinks that fluidity is a good thing just enjoying your stories..'
Okay read!
Not a full-blown fan of BDSM stories because there are good ways to tell these stories -- and then, there are the overzealousness in telling them. Well, this sure was just way too much. You can have submissive characters but just don't degrade them --- it's a turn-off.
Now, as to the actual storyline, it did have a very good beginning but then got cringeworthy, a bit uncomfortable then flat at the ending. I did like the couple at the beginning and even the best friends BUT....... Btw, she sure was enthralled by her.
If you're into BDSM then this might be the book for you!
Okay read!
Not a full-blown fan of BDSM stories because there are good ways to tell these stories -- and then, there are the overzealousness in telling them. Well, this sure was just way too much. You can have submissive characters but just don't degrade them --- it's a turn-off.
Now, as to the actual storyline, it did have a very good beginning but then got cringeworthy, a bit uncomfortable then flat at the ending. I did like the couple at the beginning and even the best friends BUT....... Btw, she sure was enthralled by her.
If you're into BDSM then this might be the book for you!
October 17, 2022
I don't even know where to start with this book..
It started off well and then less than halfway through everything broke down completely. I thought I'd include a few cringeworthy quotes and take it from there but "a few" quickly turned into a whole lot.
This was neither a steamy romance, nor a hot fairy tale. I haven't read about a more unlikable character than Syr in a while. Having demands towards someone she literally just met without considering their thoughts, feelings or level of comfort and consent regarding some bdsm play. Completely disregarding the fact that not all people are millionaires and some actually live paycheck to paycheck and barely manage to stay afloat. Humiliating another person in front of colleagues just to flex your muscles, punishing them for your own pleasure and to prove a point without as much as a decent conversation. All of that doesn't make you look dominant and powerful. It makes you look like an arrogant, entitled, condescending asshole.
Not that Bea's character was any better. Bea lets people treat her like some cheap entertainment. She lets people walk all over her without demonstrating even an ounce of self respect and even tries to apologize for things that weren't even her fault.
The attempt to redeem Syr at the end by trying to sell the "oh, I was so blind and stupid" sudden realization was just laughable. I would give this book less than 1 star if I could.
It started off well and then less than halfway through everything broke down completely. I thought I'd include a few cringeworthy quotes and take it from there but "a few" quickly turned into a whole lot.
This was neither a steamy romance, nor a hot fairy tale. I haven't read about a more unlikable character than Syr in a while. Having demands towards someone she literally just met without considering their thoughts, feelings or level of comfort and consent regarding some bdsm play. Completely disregarding the fact that not all people are millionaires and some actually live paycheck to paycheck and barely manage to stay afloat. Humiliating another person in front of colleagues just to flex your muscles, punishing them for your own pleasure and to prove a point without as much as a decent conversation. All of that doesn't make you look dominant and powerful. It makes you look like an arrogant, entitled, condescending asshole.
Not that Bea's character was any better. Bea lets people treat her like some cheap entertainment. She lets people walk all over her without demonstrating even an ounce of self respect and even tries to apologize for things that weren't even her fault.
The attempt to redeem Syr at the end by trying to sell the "oh, I was so blind and stupid" sudden realization was just laughable. I would give this book less than 1 star if I could.
March 20, 2023
Pretty Woman with a twist.
Syrene/Syr Harkman is a world famous architect, ruthless and controlling in her public and private life. Beatriz Rose a burlesque dancer/stripper has a grandma to look after and bills to pay. She dreams of having an art studio with the freedom to follow her artistic passions.
Dvorak's lead characters brought out extreme emotions.
Syr cold, calculating and egotistic. The finer things in life are there for the taking but only when she dictates. Control optimum until she meets Bea and even then trust equals loss of control which is hard to abide. Bea is a people pleaser and quickly submits to Syr. Her grandma Arlene is a sarcastic old biddy who keeps Bea grounded, no fanciful dreams allowed.
It was difficult to like Syr and frankly Arlene too. Both women (Syr most of all)seemed to take pleasure in Bea's emotional pain. We eventually learn how the flawed person Syr came to be. Her childhood and trust issues but pride almost upends everything.
Bea shows as a gentle worrier too good for the likes of dominant Syr and her grandma professes to love her but also seems to drag her down. I detested how she was demeaned by Syr in front of her co-workers and Syr's colleagues multiple times. I wanted Bea to not give in as easily, to hold on longer to the upper hand when she had it.
Smitty is a stand out among the secondary characters and I loved all the descriptions of Japanese scenery, life and food.
The sex, lust and love is palpable but a tiny part of me still questioned the HEA.
Dvorak's writing and story appealed to me but please be aware of the domme/sub dynamic.
Syrene/Syr Harkman is a world famous architect, ruthless and controlling in her public and private life. Beatriz Rose a burlesque dancer/stripper has a grandma to look after and bills to pay. She dreams of having an art studio with the freedom to follow her artistic passions.
Dvorak's lead characters brought out extreme emotions.
Syr cold, calculating and egotistic. The finer things in life are there for the taking but only when she dictates. Control optimum until she meets Bea and even then trust equals loss of control which is hard to abide. Bea is a people pleaser and quickly submits to Syr. Her grandma Arlene is a sarcastic old biddy who keeps Bea grounded, no fanciful dreams allowed.
It was difficult to like Syr and frankly Arlene too. Both women (Syr most of all)seemed to take pleasure in Bea's emotional pain. We eventually learn how the flawed person Syr came to be. Her childhood and trust issues but pride almost upends everything.
Bea shows as a gentle worrier too good for the likes of dominant Syr and her grandma professes to love her but also seems to drag her down. I detested how she was demeaned by Syr in front of her co-workers and Syr's colleagues multiple times. I wanted Bea to not give in as easily, to hold on longer to the upper hand when she had it.
Smitty is a stand out among the secondary characters and I loved all the descriptions of Japanese scenery, life and food.
The sex, lust and love is palpable but a tiny part of me still questioned the HEA.
Dvorak's writing and story appealed to me but please be aware of the domme/sub dynamic.
December 5, 2023
This book made me realise I am NOT a submissive person. At all. And I do not want to subject other people to submission either. Anyway…
Personal feelings aside, this book enlightened me on the world of Dom-Sub relationships. The nuance between the main characters’ relationship was eye opening to a world I did not fully comprehend. For example, the power imbalance in the book seemed to encompass ALL aspects of both characters’ lives, not just during sex. However, the best part was when the Sub said, “But this is something I give to you, Syr. You can’t buy it. You can’t pay for me and own me.” Even though I sometimes cringed with how domineering some scenes were and I was appalled that the Sub still obeyed, what she said above made me understand the essence of this Dom-Sub situation. It’s purely beautiful in its simplicity.
The author has yet again lulled me into staying and reading through to the end. I was about to give up after reading their first sexual encounter because I didn’t feel comfortable reading about choking and all that jazz. I don’t know what it is that made me keep going but I did and I’m glad I did. I noticed I prefer Jolie Dvorak’s erotic novels more than other authors. JD’s stories are not JUST about sex. It has depth and layers and emotions that hook me to the characters and make me like them and root for them.
Personal feelings aside, this book enlightened me on the world of Dom-Sub relationships. The nuance between the main characters’ relationship was eye opening to a world I did not fully comprehend. For example, the power imbalance in the book seemed to encompass ALL aspects of both characters’ lives, not just during sex. However, the best part was when the Sub said, “But this is something I give to you, Syr. You can’t buy it. You can’t pay for me and own me.” Even though I sometimes cringed with how domineering some scenes were and I was appalled that the Sub still obeyed, what she said above made me understand the essence of this Dom-Sub situation. It’s purely beautiful in its simplicity.
The author has yet again lulled me into staying and reading through to the end. I was about to give up after reading their first sexual encounter because I didn’t feel comfortable reading about choking and all that jazz. I don’t know what it is that made me keep going but I did and I’m glad I did. I noticed I prefer Jolie Dvorak’s erotic novels more than other authors. JD’s stories are not JUST about sex. It has depth and layers and emotions that hook me to the characters and make me like them and root for them.
September 8, 2022
Be still my little kinky heart.
It took me forever to finish this book because I did NOT want to get to the end. I want another book right now! Lol. For those whom have a more organic BDSM kink, this is straight up your alley. There's some spanking, shibari, acts of service, burlesque dancing, stripping, o-denial, flogger is mentioned, and some lovely stripped skin makes a cameo.
The steamy scenes are delicious. The submission is breathtaking. The dominance is flawed and beautiful. These two MC's circle each other as prey and predator, but each show a side that has both traits. A Domme willing to cry while being held, a submissive willing to lead when they stumble. The dance is enthralling and I cannot wait to read more by this author. Brilliant first book. Immediate fangirl.
It took me forever to finish this book because I did NOT want to get to the end. I want another book right now! Lol. For those whom have a more organic BDSM kink, this is straight up your alley. There's some spanking, shibari, acts of service, burlesque dancing, stripping, o-denial, flogger is mentioned, and some lovely stripped skin makes a cameo.
The steamy scenes are delicious. The submission is breathtaking. The dominance is flawed and beautiful. These two MC's circle each other as prey and predator, but each show a side that has both traits. A Domme willing to cry while being held, a submissive willing to lead when they stumble. The dance is enthralling and I cannot wait to read more by this author. Brilliant first book. Immediate fangirl.
February 18, 2023
2.5?????
gostei muito da bea ela é um bebê sério uma querida mas não sei se posso dizer o mesmo da syr. 🫢
muitas vezes ela tratou a bea igual lixo e colocou a culpa nos traumas do passado dela, humilhou a bea e fez ela se desculpar por várias coisas que ela não tinha culpa?????
gostei do relacionamento delas em partes, tiveram quotes lindos e momentos bonitos também mas não anula que a syr tratou a bea como se ela fosse a dona dela e ela aceitou isso... enfim 🫢 esperava mais até porque até 50% eu estava amando o livro, não sei oq deu errado. 😭 mesmo assim ansiosa pro próximo livro já que não vai ser o delas (eu acho...)
gostei muito da bea ela é um bebê sério uma querida mas não sei se posso dizer o mesmo da syr. 🫢
muitas vezes ela tratou a bea igual lixo e colocou a culpa nos traumas do passado dela, humilhou a bea e fez ela se desculpar por várias coisas que ela não tinha culpa?????
gostei do relacionamento delas em partes, tiveram quotes lindos e momentos bonitos também mas não anula que a syr tratou a bea como se ela fosse a dona dela e ela aceitou isso... enfim 🫢 esperava mais até porque até 50% eu estava amando o livro, não sei oq deu errado. 😭 mesmo assim ansiosa pro próximo livro já que não vai ser o delas (eu acho...)
September 17, 2022
amazing
A thrilling and superb book. It takes a look at power, lust, love at first sight and courage. This story breaks downs walls and egos. Some of the pages I questioned why but in the end, it takes a certain perspective to know who they are to be able to give themselves wholeheartedly to another. With strength, kindness and a secured sense of self, love prevails in a HEA.
A thrilling and superb book. It takes a look at power, lust, love at first sight and courage. This story breaks downs walls and egos. Some of the pages I questioned why but in the end, it takes a certain perspective to know who they are to be able to give themselves wholeheartedly to another. With strength, kindness and a secured sense of self, love prevails in a HEA.
October 9, 2022
amazing
Wow the story has everything your looking for.
Control. Submission. Love. Trust issues. An hilarious granny.
It’s got the lot. It’s a fantastic read
You’d be mad not to read it.
I can’t wait for more from Jolie.
Well done
Wow the story has everything your looking for.
Control. Submission. Love. Trust issues. An hilarious granny.
It’s got the lot. It’s a fantastic read
You’d be mad not to read it.
I can’t wait for more from Jolie.
Well done
February 2, 2023
This is not D/s relationship, this is abuse and humiliation. 2 stars for the writting.
June 15, 2023
This was straight up abuse. Not bdsm. Syr is abusive. The public humiliation because of jealousy, the cruel revenge because Bea had to work. The failure to understand not everyone is loaded and having unrealistic expectations then giving them an ultimatum because they couldn’t wear the designer dress you bought them. Making them kneel for hours or until you’re done because you were embarrassed of their appearance because they were caught in the rain..? Not standing up for your partner when someone calls them a whore. THEN making excuses for Syr and Bea taking the blame. No. This is the shit we teach our daughters to avoid.
September 5, 2022
3.5⭐️
January 22, 2023
“I saw you and I hoped you would ask. Part of me knew you would. And I knew I would always say yes. I will always say yes.”
2.5 stars. A well written romance, appealingly sexy in some ways, but in the second half it went way downhill when it came to the characters. And by 'characters' I mean Syr. This starts off as a fairly typical rich girl/poor girl erotic romance, and I wouldn't have minded if it has stayed fairly typical, even though millionaire romances aren't my favourite thing. (REDISTRIBUTE YOUR WEALTH!!!) Bea works as a burlesque dancer at a strip club, and one night a rich, domineering architect comes in and sweeps her off her feet. It's veeeeery instalove, but once I resigned myself to that fact, I was on board for the romance! I have buttons; this hit some of them! But Syr... ugh. Her dominance is very overbearing, and comes with a heavy helping of arrogance which might be appealing to some people, but was an immediate turn off to me. She gets mean and cruel and has a huge ego, and I hesitate to call this a BDSM romance because they barely talk or negotiate anything about their dynamic. (Tbh I wouldn't really call it an erotic romance either; for the middle portion of the book almost everything is fade to black.) And those conversations are important; I really like seeing those things on page, and not just assuming the characters have an innate knowledge of each other's wants and boundaries. Syr also gets pretty heavy handed, and Bea does push back against her a little, but not a lot. The book ended without the reader having seen Syr apologise nearly enough or do enough grovelling for the terrible stuff she said. I'm sorry, but her supposed grand gesture didn't mean jack to me.
Also, this isn't the first book to do it, and it won't be the last, but god, why does everyone have to be so weird about sex work? For once I'd like to see a character decide to stop doing sex work because she wants to/it's the right decision, WITHOUT all the moralising about it making the character feel dirty or degraded or whatever. :/ Syr's attitude there was also very... yikes. So unnecessary. And speaking of unnecessary, did we really need a joke about Bea's grandma being casually racist? I feel like we didn't.
Look, I can eeeeeasily get swept away by a romance where characters quickly become obsessed with each other. Obsession is my catnip. And I really liked Bea as a character. She made up for a lot of things in this, and made the book really sexy. But I kept wanting to yell at her to dump Syr and find a better domme/gf. The ending chapters sorta made up for Syr's earlier behaviour? But not quite enough.
September 12, 2022
not for me.
The beginning started off good and I really wanted to like this book, but how every treated Bea so terribly in this book but she was the one apologizing for things that wasn’t even her fault. Smitty was the only likable person in the book.
The beginning started off good and I really wanted to like this book, but how every treated Bea so terribly in this book but she was the one apologizing for things that wasn’t even her fault. Smitty was the only likable person in the book.
September 20, 2022
First book I read by Dvorak. I was decent enough. I had a hard time with the terrible communication between the mains. I am not expert on BDSM, but I would think the Domme should at least listen. Anyway 3 stars.
September 11, 2022
Hot,hot,hot!
This book was delicious! Very well written, great descriptions and great dialogue. I was grabbed and sucked in immediately and it held me right to the end. Very well done!
This book was delicious! Very well written, great descriptions and great dialogue. I was grabbed and sucked in immediately and it held me right to the end. Very well done!
October 5, 2022
Not my cup of tea reading a woman being so mistreated. Bea deserved better and Syr/Lovelace(wtf)/Madden need therapy.
February 1, 2023
Part 1 was good, but Part 2 was not.
February 1, 2024
❤️
Syr meets Bea at a strip club where Bea dances and it was love at first sight. I’m not a fan of insta love but the author did a good job. Syr’s best friend pays for a private dance and she’s hooked from there. The story is about Syr being successful asf and rich and Bea being poor and struggling to make ends meet having to dance for a living. They have LOTS of ups and downs throughout the entire book. The BDSM parts were hot 🔥 The writing is probably the reason why.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book but idk how to feel about Syr. I get that Bea was a stripper/dancer and she felt like that would ruin her reputation but damn she didn’t need to be so mean whenever Bea said no to her demands. My heart was racing while reading chapter 15. Bea felt the lowest and Syr only cared about her own feelings. It was kinda hard to read but I was already so invested, couldn’t stop 🤷🏽♀️ I wish Bea had more of a backbone but overall I really did enjoy the story.
Syr meets Bea at a strip club where Bea dances and it was love at first sight. I’m not a fan of insta love but the author did a good job. Syr’s best friend pays for a private dance and she’s hooked from there. The story is about Syr being successful asf and rich and Bea being poor and struggling to make ends meet having to dance for a living. They have LOTS of ups and downs throughout the entire book. The BDSM parts were hot 🔥 The writing is probably the reason why.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book but idk how to feel about Syr. I get that Bea was a stripper/dancer and she felt like that would ruin her reputation but damn she didn’t need to be so mean whenever Bea said no to her demands. My heart was racing while reading chapter 15. Bea felt the lowest and Syr only cared about her own feelings. It was kinda hard to read but I was already so invested, couldn’t stop 🤷🏽♀️ I wish Bea had more of a backbone but overall I really did enjoy the story.
Read
October 23, 2022DNF it has nothing to do with the writing which is good and the scenes really steamy. I am just not into instalove and sexual dominance like that. But if you are into those things you can dive head first
Read
November 6, 2023Had to DNF so I won't rate this. There was nothing particularly wrong, I just struggled to get into it and stay there. It's me, not you.
did-not-finish
October 24, 2022DNF at 17%.
November 16, 2022
Excellent book
I don't really know what words to use for this book. Syr is a rough tough lesbian. A world renowned architect. Builds all over the world. One night her her friends drag her to a strip bar for a night out. Her life is changed forever. Bea is a stripper that is older than most. But does a great show. Syr and Bea are drawn to each other in span of a night. Syr had a hard childhood and wants totally control of her life. Bea falls hard for Syr, but can't believe it can be for real. Just get the book and read their story. There is a lot of ups and downs. Syr has a harden heart surrounded by walls. But Bea loves all parts of her.
I don't really know what words to use for this book. Syr is a rough tough lesbian. A world renowned architect. Builds all over the world. One night her her friends drag her to a strip bar for a night out. Her life is changed forever. Bea is a stripper that is older than most. But does a great show. Syr and Bea are drawn to each other in span of a night. Syr had a hard childhood and wants totally control of her life. Bea falls hard for Syr, but can't believe it can be for real. Just get the book and read their story. There is a lot of ups and downs. Syr has a harden heart surrounded by walls. But Bea loves all parts of her.
August 23, 2022
Grabbed this one for a quick, steamy read and was pleasantly surprised. What starts as a rather cliched set-up quickly becomes quite engrossing as characters and plot develop more generously than is the usual in these types of reads. Overall, very hot and great escapism. Set half in Sydney, half in Tokyo also made for a nice change. A few typos but nothing to get riled up about. A mature writing style too. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I appreciated it.
October 15, 2022
Rules of the Game
This was a delight. Exceptional for a first book. Eagerly awaiting the next in the series. The two main characters played off so well against each other and the secondary ones were vividly drawn also. The locations where the story took place were vividly described...I'm ready to hop on a jet now.
This was a delight. Exceptional for a first book. Eagerly awaiting the next in the series. The two main characters played off so well against each other and the secondary ones were vividly drawn also. The locations where the story took place were vividly described...I'm ready to hop on a jet now.
November 29, 2023
Bom, parabéns pelo livro. Eu vou falar um pouco sobre o que achei negativo, mas eu realmente gostei. Principalmente da Beatriz e do Smitty. Eu realmente senti em algumas partes, fiquei com coração na boca e olha que não sou lá tão sentimental kkkkkk
SPOILER PRA CARALEO AGORA
Agora o que achei negativo:
A Syr não parece gostar tanto assim da Bea, enquanto a Bea a gente percebe aquela devoção pela Syr, e olha que tem os dois pov. E não tem nada a ver com o estilo dom/sub pq eu entendo a dinâmica, mas aqui chegou uma hora que pareceu toxico, principalmente na parte que a Syr deixa a Bea ajoelhada por um hora, depois de ter sido humilhada pela Madden e a casa dela ter desabado. A Syr não sabia, nem quis escutar e qd fez foi "como sou idiota, me desculpe" e pronto!!!
Quando a Syr não quer mais que a Bea faça stripper e pra provar o ponto de vista dela paga as mulheres pra fazerem um particular na frente Bea, que fica com ciúmes e a Syr diz "dói num dói?" e a Bea "é vdd, de fato" e fica por isso... mas aí há uma falsa equivalência. Pq enquanto uma faz pq PRECISA de dinheiro a outra faz pq TEM dinheiro e pra machucar, irritar sei lá a namorada
E por último qd a Bea volta a fazer stripper quando ela já não gosta/quer, depois da casa dela ter caído qd ela tava sendo cuidada pela Syr e a explicação é que é pra "ocupar a cabeça". Veja bem, nada contra a profissão mas tem uma parte que deixa claro que ela não tava mais se sentindo bem com o trabalho, aí a vida dela vira de ponta a cabeça e ela pode tirar um tempo pra si, vai la e volta trabalhar "pra tirar a cabeca dos problemas". Vai ocupar a cabeça fazendo uma caminhada, vai pescar, fazer a arte dela, sei lá...
Bom, nao quero ser muito chata e eu gostei do livro apesar desses pontos. Fui ler pq li Ensnared in Her Symphony e achei simplesmente maravilhoso, esse não foi tão maravilhoso quanto mas também foi o primeiro pelo que vi da data de lançamento. Essa moça tá escrevendo cada vez melhor e vou acompanhar se houverem próximos!
SPOILER PRA CARALEO AGORA
Agora o que achei negativo:
A Syr não parece gostar tanto assim da Bea, enquanto a Bea a gente percebe aquela devoção pela Syr, e olha que tem os dois pov. E não tem nada a ver com o estilo dom/sub pq eu entendo a dinâmica, mas aqui chegou uma hora que pareceu toxico, principalmente na parte que a Syr deixa a Bea ajoelhada por um hora, depois de ter sido humilhada pela Madden e a casa dela ter desabado. A Syr não sabia, nem quis escutar e qd fez foi "como sou idiota, me desculpe" e pronto!!!
Quando a Syr não quer mais que a Bea faça stripper e pra provar o ponto de vista dela paga as mulheres pra fazerem um particular na frente Bea, que fica com ciúmes e a Syr diz "dói num dói?" e a Bea "é vdd, de fato" e fica por isso... mas aí há uma falsa equivalência. Pq enquanto uma faz pq PRECISA de dinheiro a outra faz pq TEM dinheiro e pra machucar, irritar sei lá a namorada
E por último qd a Bea volta a fazer stripper quando ela já não gosta/quer, depois da casa dela ter caído qd ela tava sendo cuidada pela Syr e a explicação é que é pra "ocupar a cabeça". Veja bem, nada contra a profissão mas tem uma parte que deixa claro que ela não tava mais se sentindo bem com o trabalho, aí a vida dela vira de ponta a cabeça e ela pode tirar um tempo pra si, vai la e volta trabalhar "pra tirar a cabeca dos problemas". Vai ocupar a cabeça fazendo uma caminhada, vai pescar, fazer a arte dela, sei lá...
Bom, nao quero ser muito chata e eu gostei do livro apesar desses pontos. Fui ler pq li Ensnared in Her Symphony e achei simplesmente maravilhoso, esse não foi tão maravilhoso quanto mas também foi o primeiro pelo que vi da data de lançamento. Essa moça tá escrevendo cada vez melhor e vou acompanhar se houverem próximos!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2025
I really wanted to enjoy this….but I just didn’t.
This is not BDSM. It’s abusive, humiliating and just shows how NOT to have a D/S relationship.
The relationship between the two MCs is so toxic and for no good reason.
I love a good age gap and domme/sub relationship but this was not a healthy one. At all.
Bea was constantly made to feel less than, she spent her whole time trying to prove she wasn’t just being bought, and from her prospective, I don’t think she was, but then had to apologise for anything and everything she did regardless of if it actually warranted an apology.
The way Syr treat her when she wasn’t happy with something was totally toxic, it wasn’t in keeping with a healthy domme/sub relationship at all.
She practically called Bea a wh*re, came to her workplace whilst mid argument and PAID her to basically humiliate her in front of her friends. All because she couldn’t handle the job she knew Bea did?
I had hoped that throughout the book things would turn around but they got worse.
I understand Syr wanted to own and control Bea and have the at across their whole relationship and lives but that can be done while being respectful and Syr just wasn’t, she had no respect for Bea.
Bea came with her own issues of self worth, allowing Syr to walk all over her just because she had money.
But Syr!! Not sure I’ve ever disliked a character so much.
I have never rooted for a couple to not end up together, but I really wanted Bea to walk away in this one.
I skimmed the last 10% of this as wanted to finish it by this point but knew it wasn’t going to get any better.
This could have been done so much better with a little more understanding. Maybe I’m wrong and this is what the author was going for but I don’t feel it hit the mark at all.
This is not BDSM. It’s abusive, humiliating and just shows how NOT to have a D/S relationship.
The relationship between the two MCs is so toxic and for no good reason.
I love a good age gap and domme/sub relationship but this was not a healthy one. At all.
Bea was constantly made to feel less than, she spent her whole time trying to prove she wasn’t just being bought, and from her prospective, I don’t think she was, but then had to apologise for anything and everything she did regardless of if it actually warranted an apology.
The way Syr treat her when she wasn’t happy with something was totally toxic, it wasn’t in keeping with a healthy domme/sub relationship at all.
She practically called Bea a wh*re, came to her workplace whilst mid argument and PAID her to basically humiliate her in front of her friends. All because she couldn’t handle the job she knew Bea did?
I had hoped that throughout the book things would turn around but they got worse.
I understand Syr wanted to own and control Bea and have the at across their whole relationship and lives but that can be done while being respectful and Syr just wasn’t, she had no respect for Bea.
Bea came with her own issues of self worth, allowing Syr to walk all over her just because she had money.
But Syr!! Not sure I’ve ever disliked a character so much.
I have never rooted for a couple to not end up together, but I really wanted Bea to walk away in this one.
I skimmed the last 10% of this as wanted to finish it by this point but knew it wasn’t going to get any better.
This could have been done so much better with a little more understanding. Maybe I’m wrong and this is what the author was going for but I don’t feel it hit the mark at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2023
Bea, aka Lush, is a dancer at a seedy strip club in Sydney, Australia. One night, as she’s performing, she sees a woman across the bar who is utterly enthralled with her, and everything goes on high alert. When one of the woman’s friends pays for Lush to give the woman, Syr (pronounced sear) a lap dance for her birthday present, their fates collide. Later, they both seek shelter out of a rainstorm beneath a storefront awning. It doesn’t take long for Bea to figure out that she’s way out of her league. But the fates have ordained that they be together and together they shall be.
This is the author’s debut novel and its certainly one of the better debut novels around. Dvorak maintains her pacing in s complex story with only a few minor hiccups as the two women – one a multimillionaire architect with an international design firm and the other a stripper living in a house that looks like it could fall down in a high wind with her curmudgeon grandmother.
Dvorak falters when it comes to describing the actions of the two main character since there are only a limited number of ways to describe Syr’s ice queen demeanor. She does a much better job with Bea as when she describes Bea’s delight in the silky smoothness of the sheets on Syr’s bed. The secondary characters are all well written and Dvorak includes characters you can love and a couple you can hate.
There are many intimate scenes this erotica story and they are described in detail. If you prefer your intimate scenes to fade to black, this is certainly not the book for you. For the rest of you, don’t let this book fall into the depths of your to-be-read list. This is one of the best erotica books written in 2022.
This is the author’s debut novel and its certainly one of the better debut novels around. Dvorak maintains her pacing in s complex story with only a few minor hiccups as the two women – one a multimillionaire architect with an international design firm and the other a stripper living in a house that looks like it could fall down in a high wind with her curmudgeon grandmother.
Dvorak falters when it comes to describing the actions of the two main character since there are only a limited number of ways to describe Syr’s ice queen demeanor. She does a much better job with Bea as when she describes Bea’s delight in the silky smoothness of the sheets on Syr’s bed. The secondary characters are all well written and Dvorak includes characters you can love and a couple you can hate.
There are many intimate scenes this erotica story and they are described in detail. If you prefer your intimate scenes to fade to black, this is certainly not the book for you. For the rest of you, don’t let this book fall into the depths of your to-be-read list. This is one of the best erotica books written in 2022.
March 27, 2024
A thrilling romance erotica
This was very interesting and compelling. Beatriz and Syr meet and fall in love instantly. This book follows their journey through part 1 and 2 respectively. Where the romance comedy perfection is written, then the stereotypes concerning class, work, and money is introduced which follows up with how Syr and Beatriz’s perfect insta love story is not so perfect after all.
This book reiterates the fact that relationships are not always so black and white especially with two people who lives in polar opposite worlds. Beatriz who strips for a living, while Syr is a multimillionaire CEO of an architectural firm. A very interesting aspect of their relationship was the dominance of Syr and submission of Beatriz.
While I will admit that at times Syr’s behaviour seemed absolutely nonsensical and had me scratching my head, and my feelings of how this was a toxic relationship, I think these aspects the author wrote just made the book more compelling to read.
Syr’s offer the top love for Beatriz was obviously a major part for people’s reason to judge very harshly on their relationship. Beatriz stood up for herself and her job whenever necessary and I expected Syr to defend her girlfriend who she apparently was very in love with.
Nevertheless, a heartfelt and well written book and I have a feeling the author wanted to write a conflicting love story and they chose their characters professions very wisely.
I would recommend it because this book reads like a soap opera, but a very good one.
This was very interesting and compelling. Beatriz and Syr meet and fall in love instantly. This book follows their journey through part 1 and 2 respectively. Where the romance comedy perfection is written, then the stereotypes concerning class, work, and money is introduced which follows up with how Syr and Beatriz’s perfect insta love story is not so perfect after all.
This book reiterates the fact that relationships are not always so black and white especially with two people who lives in polar opposite worlds. Beatriz who strips for a living, while Syr is a multimillionaire CEO of an architectural firm. A very interesting aspect of their relationship was the dominance of Syr and submission of Beatriz.
While I will admit that at times Syr’s behaviour seemed absolutely nonsensical and had me scratching my head, and my feelings of how this was a toxic relationship, I think these aspects the author wrote just made the book more compelling to read.
Syr’s offer the top love for Beatriz was obviously a major part for people’s reason to judge very harshly on their relationship. Beatriz stood up for herself and her job whenever necessary and I expected Syr to defend her girlfriend who she apparently was very in love with.
Nevertheless, a heartfelt and well written book and I have a feeling the author wanted to write a conflicting love story and they chose their characters professions very wisely.
I would recommend it because this book reads like a soap opera, but a very good one.
February 16, 2024
Would have given it a three
My favorite characters are Mafia boss girlboss lesbians and war criming sapphics and yet I can safely say that if your character a white rich Australian tourist is bragging about sexploiting a barely legal Japanese teenager esp in a sex adjacent industry you've lost me. The kink is extremely undernegotiated and my girl Beatriz has less backbone than bacon
The art plotline is brought up and dropped to focus entirely on Syr's pain of Beatriz being a stripper which combining with the whole backstory with Syr's rags to riches pain is literally only sprinkled in for "but she had a hard childhood". Like the author really decided to hit every single trope that everyone mocks in heterosexual billionaire romances. No thanks I was checked out even with the rushed "redemption" moment at the end.
My favorite characters are Mafia boss girlboss lesbians and war criming sapphics and yet I can safely say that if your character a white rich Australian tourist is bragging about sexploiting a barely legal Japanese teenager esp in a sex adjacent industry you've lost me. The kink is extremely undernegotiated and my girl Beatriz has less backbone than bacon
The art plotline is brought up and dropped to focus entirely on Syr's pain of Beatriz being a stripper which combining with the whole backstory with Syr's rags to riches pain is literally only sprinkled in for "but she had a hard childhood". Like the author really decided to hit every single trope that everyone mocks in heterosexual billionaire romances. No thanks I was checked out even with the rushed "redemption" moment at the end.
March 19, 2025
Having read The Nightingale and the Rose I thought I would read another Jolie Dvorak book.
This is more of a billionaire meets dancer so maybe not what I was expecting but I enjoyed it anyway.
How do you go from being paid to give a private dance to a proposal? Well, there will be some ups and downs.
There seems to be a lot of research in this book - architecture, business, Japan. It's worth reading just for the Japanese culture alone.
The characters do seem to have quite a lot to say about their opinions of women who dance in clubs for a living - not all of it nice. But they are challenged on it.
It is interesting how some things change in the world though - when this was published it was the height of modern luxury to send a Tesla to collect someone - nowadays you wouldn't do that if you were trying to make any sort of decent impression!
The grandma character is a hoot!
This is more of a billionaire meets dancer so maybe not what I was expecting but I enjoyed it anyway.
How do you go from being paid to give a private dance to a proposal? Well, there will be some ups and downs.
There seems to be a lot of research in this book - architecture, business, Japan. It's worth reading just for the Japanese culture alone.
The characters do seem to have quite a lot to say about their opinions of women who dance in clubs for a living - not all of it nice. But they are challenged on it.
It is interesting how some things change in the world though - when this was published it was the height of modern luxury to send a Tesla to collect someone - nowadays you wouldn't do that if you were trying to make any sort of decent impression!
The grandma character is a hoot!
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