Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “The Rose Contract (Sleeping Lotus, #1)” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

The Rose Contract

(Sleeping Lotus #1)

Scottie Kaye (Goodreads Author)

4.31 · Rating details · 55 ratings · 31 reviews

LOVE IS FREE. INNOCENCE HAS A PRICE.

Raena Barren was born with a secret: of all the magic users in the kingdom of Soma, she is the only one who can hide her power. As a child, she used this magic to help her survive on the streets--until she saved the life of a strange boy called Jorr Portent. He rewarded her with a job in the castle of Soma--and Raena spent the next ten y ...more

Get A Copy

Kindle Edition, 130 pages

Published March 14th 2020 by Elusive Press

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Rose Contract, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about The Rose Contract

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.31 ·

Rating details

· 55 ratings · 31 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of The Rose Contract (Sleeping Lotus, #1)

Sep 02, 2020 EroticaAfterDark (Lilith) marked it as to-read

→ Free for maybe a limited time. Grab your copy now! ←

dark

→ Submit or subscribe to The DARK Newsletter! ←

Blurb:
LOVE IS FREE. INNOCENCE HAS A PRICE.

Raena Barren was born with a secret: of all the magic users in the kingdom of Soma, she is the only one who can hide her power. As a child, she used this magic to help her survive on the streets--until she saved the life of a strange boy called Jorr Portent. He rewarded her with a job in the castle of Soma--and Raena spent the next ten years falling in l ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Dec 26, 2020 D.K. Marie rated it really liked it

This book has been in my TBR pile since it was released earlier in the year. I was hooked within the first few pages, and I'll be reading the whole series.

This book was intriguing, HOT, and complex. All of the characters were well developed, as was the storyline. I devoured it in a day (granted, it is a small book, maybe even a novella size), and I can't wait to read the next one.

If you love steamy, original, and intriguing stories, do yourself a favor and get this book! ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 02, 2020 Coco.V marked it as to-read

Shelves: freebie

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/2/2020)! 🎁

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 02, 2020 The Dark Newsletter.com marked it as to-read

Shelves: free

→ Free for maybe a limited time. Grab your copy now! ←

dark

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 28, 2020 David Cleden rated it it was amazing

If you like richly imagined fantasy settings, well-drawn characters plunged into dark intrigue, facing peril with every twist and turn of the story, and searingly hot erotica that manages to be integral to both plot and character development, I don't see how 'The Rose Contract' can fail to disappoint. I was lucky enough to receive an advance reader's copy and very glad I did.

'The Rose Contract' is a shortish book (147 pages) so it takes you to the heart of the story quickly and once there, it ke ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 03, 2020 Amanda Titter rated it it was amazing

Scottie Kaye built a world in this first book that I cannot wait to learn more about. She put a lot of thought into the nuances of a flipped society where women have control. I've only read a few other erotic books and the writing of this one blows those away. It is integral to the plot and character, not just thrown on top of a mediocre story. Scottie Kaye writes the erotic parts in a sophisticated way, not cheesy. I can't wait to see where Raena's story takes her.

I received a copy of this book ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Apr 08, 2020 Amelia Foster rated it really liked it

I am kicking off my return to the readerly world with The Rose Contract, the debut erotic romance fantasy by Scottie Kaye. This is a book that I think can appeal to a wide variety of readers because it pulls elements from many beloved genres and melds them into a unique end result.

We meet our heroine when she is only a child, young but not so innocent in the ways of the unique and complex world she lives in where people wear nullbands around their wrists to keep those who possess magical powers I am kicking off my return to the readerly world with The Rose Contract, the debut erotic romance fantasy by Scottie Kaye. This is a book that I think can appeal to a wide variety of readers because it pulls elements from many beloved genres and melds them into a unique end result.

We meet our heroine when she is only a child, young but not so innocent in the ways of the unique and complex world she lives in where people wear nullbands around their wrists to keep those who possess magical powers from controlling them. The form of magic that Ms. Kaye created in her world is an intriguing one that I truly enjoyed. It wasn’t the typical magic that made people and objects move or behave in a certain way, but one that manipulated the senses. Sometimes in very positive ways to minimize pain in others.

Just as Raena does for Jorr when they first meet as children, both battered, bruised, and forgotten by many. She tunes out the sounds of the storm frightening him and relieves some of the pain from his clearly broken leg. The opening for The Rose Contract is endearing and descriptive.

However the story takes a sharp turn in the next chapter when we see Raena and Jorr a decade later. At first I thought we’d fallen into a happily ever after already, but that is far from the case because Jorr is training for a career as a spy while Raena is being tested to become a Lily, a special handmaiden to the queen that has many strict rules… one being complete purity.

Yep.

However, as the entire work does, The Rose Contract takes another twist when Raena declines her offer to be a Lily in favor of training as a spy as Jorr is. On the polar opposite end of Lilies, entering the world of assassins and spies requires using whatever means needed to get the information you seek. Including trading your body. While this could have taken another turn into a land of questionable consent that is a hard line for me, Ms. Kaye emphasizes the need for consent, even when both parties are using the other for more than just sexual gratification.

The Rose Contract is a fast-paced, fantasy erotic romance that has a wide diversity in not only the ethnicity of the characters, but sexual orientation as well. Ms. Kaye creates lush descriptions and does an excellent job at world building and you’re immediately immersed in the universe she has created. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 15, 2020 Mark Farley rated it it was amazing

Every book in the Sleeping Lotus series is a gem. Just when you think the last story can't be improved on, Kaye delivers yet another incredibly engaging read. From the very first page of the very first book (The Rose Contract), we are drawn into a stunning fantasy world crammed with spies, secrets, intrigue and magic overshadowed by oncoming war. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Apr 05, 2020 Marilyn Barr rated it really liked it

“The Rose Contract” is a sexy novel filled with twists and morally gray characters, perfect for any fantasy or spy-thriller fan. I didn’t have any preconceived notions or prior knowledge of this book other than it was a fantasy erotica. Imagine my surprise when I opened it up to an 8-year-old main character in chapter one! Hang in there, Raena grows up before it gets steamy. The childhood chapter establishes her relationship with older and more affluent Jorr, although it is unclear how much olde “The Rose Contract” is a sexy novel filled with twists and morally gray characters, perfect for any fantasy or spy-thriller fan. I didn’t have any preconceived notions or prior knowledge of this book other than it was a fantasy erotica. Imagine my surprise when I opened it up to an 8-year-old main character in chapter one! Hang in there, Raena grows up before it gets steamy. The childhood chapter establishes her relationship with older and more affluent Jorr, although it is unclear how much older. Until I was two-thirds through the book, I thought they were the same age and had many questions on his rapid rise in status especially compared to hers.

After the first chapter, Kaye builds a fantasy world of spies, royalty, magic with limits, and unforgettable characters. Jorr and Raena are connected by her magical secret and his fear of thunderstorms. They have the cutest nearly plutonic relationship for the first half of the book. The reader falls for Jorr along with Raena. The high-status Jorr who lifts Raena from poverty and kills for the crown needs the comfort only she can provide. Swoon! Unfortunately, Raena must choose between a one-in-a-million occupation and having a romantic relationship with Jorr. I wish the book had started with the Lily job interview. There was enough backstory sprinkled in that I understood their relationship. The first few chapters were confusing and took away from the story.

I was impressed with the realistic nature of Raena’s characterization. She doesn’t leave the job interview in a fit of hysterics when she finds out she must choose between it and Jorr. Growing up in poverty, she thinks it over logically and Jorr gives her the space to make the choice (with a little steamy motivation to choose him). When never find out which she would choose because the magic of one of the queen’s confidants decides for Raena. She is a Thorn or a person born with the ability to be a spy.

Despite Jorr telling her all about his job in the House of Thorns, Raena finds out he is the Head of the House of Thorns with the Lily interview. It made me wonder how he could spend so much time sleeping in her bed with no one noticing. Perhaps he is that impressive of a spy? Raena should have been on Jorr’s enemies' radar before she started to fulfill her Rose contract.
Once Raena joins the House of Thorns, I went from entertained to loving this book. The other characters in the spy guild are vividly characterized by alliances and secret crushes at every turn. Friends turn to enemies, enemies become allies, and Raena jumps in with two feet. This is not a shrinking violet character. Her realistic portrayal as a “street kid” is exemplified in her instant integration into the spy games. I went from pitying her in the castle to rooting for her to make the evil ones pay. Amazing. She stretches her physical, emotional, moral and sexual boundaries for Jorr who proves he isn’t worth it…or is he? The book ends on a cliffhanger that had me loading the next installment into my Kindle Unlimited Bookshelf instantly.
...more

flag Like · see review

Sep 26, 2020 Lexi Miles rated it it was amazing

The Rose Contract by Scottie Kaye
Novel: The Rose Contract
Author: Scottie Kaye
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Scottie-Kaye/e...
Rating: 5 STARS
Reviewer: Lexi Miles
Posting: MF, Sensual Romance, Series, Paranormal (PNR)
Pages: 154
Released: March 2020
Review Date: 9-26-2020

What a ride! Intense, Hot, and Magical!–Lexi Miles, Author and Reviewer

Summary

Raena Barren is a magical force to be reckoned with. Not the best thing in a world where nullbands (magic inhibitors) must be worn on the wri ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 25, 2020 Glen Grasier rated it it was amazing

Go for it!

Okay, I’m not exactly in this book’s target market. I stumbled across it and was curious what a combination of fantasy and erotica would be like.

Turns out, the combination works very well. The fantasy and erotica elements cooperate without either overwhelming the other. In fact, the blend breathes fresh air into the story: the plot reads more like an erotica than like a typical epic fantasy, making it new and unpredictable if you’ve mostly read traditional fantasies.

The characters, s ...more

flag Like · see review

Jul 26, 2020 Octavia Atlas rated it it was amazing

The Rose Contract, by Scottie Kaye, is the first book in the Sleeping Lotus, an erotic, dark, fantasy series. It’s a strong and intriguing start, with a main character who’s stubborn and determined, even if she might be in over her head. I enjoy Raena’s quick thinking in a dangerous world, where trust seems to be in short supply.

The worldbuilding is clear and vibrant. I especially like the magic system that’s based on sensory abilities. There’s also a strict hierarchy, where some people abuse th ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 19, 2020 Kimberly Christensen rated it really liked it

From the first chapter, I wanted to know more about how this fantasy world works. The writing is descriptive and engaging and I was immediately spellbound. I love romance that actually has a solid and intriguing story behind it, and I was drawn in right away by Raena and Jorr's chance meeting as children trying to survive in a harsh world, and by Raena's magical ability to enhance the sensations that people are feeling.

At the start of chapter two, I thought "wow, happily ever after has already h ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 19, 2020 Jean rated it liked it

Shelves: trigger-rape-or-sexual-assault, fantasy, quiltbag, trigger-physical-abuse, arc, 2020-reads

'The Rose Contract' markets itself as fantasy erotica, and you should absolutely take that description seriously.

To be clear, this is not a romance novel. Very little, if any, of the sex in this book takes place between the main couple (view spoiler)

That said, if you're into creative, thoro ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 19, 2020 Ork Wumin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

As someone who reads some, but not a lot, of erotica I wasn't sure what to expect. I was very surprised to discover this book was a wonderfully written story with depth and very interesting characters that has erotic scenes which fit within the tale perfectly. Some books feel like a bunch of sex scenes held together by loosely written, nonessential text; this is not one of those books. One quickly becomes absorbed in who these characters are, what they mean to each other and the part they play i ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 19, 2020 Stephen King rated it it was amazing

Very entertaining and beautifully written.

This is not normally a genre I would read. That said I am very glad I did. Scottie Kaye as a beautiful way with words; not too complicated, yet intelligent and thoughtful. I was transported to a strange land of magic and assassins, and women-power. Did I mention this is also a sexy read?

I am hard pressed to critique, so I am just left with a desire to read more by this very talented author. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes well crafted, an ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 28, 2020 Gina Urso rated it it was amazing

I read the whole book in one day. I couldn't put it down. The writing is smooth and the characters are rich. The story pulls you by the nose chapter by chapter wondering what will happen next and the erotic parts are so integral to the story the book wouldn't be the same without them. I didn't see any of the twists and turns coming and was eager to know what would happen next. I was so engrossed in the story that I didn't want it to end. I can't wait to pick up book two because I know what I wan ...more

flag Like · see review

Jul 08, 2020 Karen Bynum rated it it was amazing

A fast-paced, steamy, and intriguing read!
THE ROSE CONTRACT has believable characters that you love reading about. The world-building is fascinatingly detailed but still easy to follow. And the steamy, twisty plot keeps you turning the pages! Thoroughly enjoyed and can't wait to dive into the rest of the series! Highly recommend for readers of tastefully written erotic romance with magic, castles, and forbidden love. ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 14, 2021 Shawna Mitchell rated it it was amazing

Woah! I was not prepared for this book. It was amazing and steamy and, is it hot in here orbit that just me?! I love the way Raena thinks. She is a survivor and quick on her feet. She slides around problems like a skilled boxer dodges fists. I’m still determining what I feel for Jorr, but only time and more books will tell. I recommend giving this a read if you like steam and intrigue.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

flag Like · see review

Mar 30, 2020 Rodrigo Cambará rated it it was amazing

With the perfect mix of sex and magic, the world of Raeden comes to life with unique spells and hot sexual encounters. Both the story and the eroticism grow in intensity as we turn the pages, and we can't wait to see how her Rose Contract is going to unfold. ...more

flag Like · see review

May 09, 2020 Bailey rated it really liked it

This book was sexy and fun, with an enjoyable story and was exactly the sort of thing I've been looking for. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.

I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed. ...more

flag Like · see review

May 12, 2020 Trupti rated it it was amazing

This was an amazing fantasy series. Have read them all and am a fan of the author. Will be reading everything she writes. The characters are very well defined, extremely believable and relatableand . Emotions feel real and the story plays out excellent. Loved it.

flag Like · see review

May 17, 2020 Kimberly Hart Madril rated it it was amazing

Very intriguing read. Don't know why I wasn't expecting it to end where it did, and now can't wait for more! Some great chatacter development and setting of a different type of magical world not before done. Definitely kept my attention and has me hooked to read more. Would recommend for sure! ...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 03, 2020 Cecily Winter rated it it was amazing

A must-read erotic adventure in magic, intrigue, and deception.

flag Like · see review

Jun 24, 2020 Jennifer Ann rated it it was amazing

This was such a great introduction to a new fantasy world. I love the emphasis on consent and its importance. I only wish it was longer, but I can't wait to read the rest of the series. ...more

flag Like · see review

Dec 05, 2020 Gypsie Holley rated it really liked it

A pleasant surprise. Magic system was very interesting and has my undivided attention.

flag Like · see review

Jul 11, 2020 Kate rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this book and went on to read the entire series! I loved the fantasy world and memorable, multidimensional characters that Scottie Kaye created. Tons of action, intrigue, and plot twists! The book is marketed as erotica, so expect lots of sex--I appreciated the emphasis on consent. I hope to read more books set in this world and with these characters!

Trigger/content warnings: sexual assault, attempted rape, murder

flag Like · see review

Jul 28, 2020 Chelsea DeVries rated it liked it

Magic meets romantic suspense in this first installment of the Sleeping Lotus series. Raena Barren has magic power, and she's the only person in the kingdom who can hide it.
She survives on the streets of Soma using the magic until she comes face to face with Jorr Potent, and she must save his life.

After he gives her a job in the castle, Raena spends ten years falling in love with him.

Overall, I found McKaye's writing to be poignant and page turning but at the same time I felt the story lacked so ...more

flag Like · see review

May 16, 2020 Kerri Stonehill rated it it was amazing

Loved this book... found it kept me up just to find out what happened next...

flag Like · see review

Apr 13, 2020 Darby Cupid rated it really liked it

This book draws you in to an interesting world, with hidden abilities, spies who use sex for information and a forbidden love. I didn't read the blurb before I started, so the graphic nature of the sex was a bit of a surprise. That said, it was well written and I the rest of the series are on my TBR list. :)
...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review