This was an amazing book that in the year 2022 hit a little two close to home.  The people of Lille have been subject to to whims of a power-hungry tyrant for over two centuries, with women and girls bearing the brunt of his madness.  Cinderella is dead, and it turns out the story everyone has been told about her is a lie.

This was a beautiful retelling.  So original and thought provoking (considering today's current atmosphere.)  I was completely caught up in the tale.  The characters, even with a few annoying habits, were so likeable.  I was right there in it, fighting with them.  It was well thought out and wonderfully written.   I read along with the ebook, while listening to the audiobook and as usual, Bahni Turpin knocked it out of the park!  She captured the emition of the characters and did amazing distinguishing them with different voices.  This was a 10-out-of-10 would/will read again.

Erin finally finds time for herself.  She is planning to make changes and has no idea how serious that would become.  Then she meets Ian and its as if the sparks cannot help themselves.

Ian is happy being rich and single.  He runs a successful business and does not have time to give to others who might demand of it.  Then he meets Erin and all bets are off.  He has to have more time with her.  He craves it.

I found the chase kind of charming.  This story is difference but the HEA gets there.  I love that the author gives us more story, more real pieces of their lives.  This was an ending that it builds to and I enjoyed reading about that climb.  I give this a 4/5 Kitty's Paws UP!

***This ARC was given in exchange for an honest review, by Netgalley and its publisher.

A contemporary fairy tale with a dirty, sexy twist! ABSOLUTE PLEASURE is a modern, sinfully seductive take on Cinderella.

Absolute Pleasure, an all-new steamy standalone from New York Times bestselling author Erika Wilde is available now!

What would you sacrifice to save your family’s legacy?

Meet Hunter Wilder, a man that is terrified of happily ever after. 

Hunter is used to dominating, taking control of situations and bending them to his will. He may live in a New York castle, but he’s no prince. Cursed by loss, Hunter is a closed book with an emptiness that he can’t escape. 

Until he meets her. 

Gabriella Darien may be gorgeous and driven, but her Cinderella story is more than it appears. The death of her father left her with a wicked stepmother intent on sabotaging the business her parents worked so hard to create. 

One enchanted night of all-consuming and absolute pleasure brings two broken souls together. With a new version of their future finally in sight, a promise kept might cost them everything. 

Will this Cinderella find her prince, or will they watch their happily ever after disappear at the stroke of midnight?

(ABSOLUTE PLEASURE is a STAND-ALONE, second chance fairy tale romance. No cheating. No cliffhangers)

Download your copy today!

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Excerpt:

Elle’s prince charming stepped forward until he was standing right in front of her, so close she could breathe in the scent of his woodsy cologne, could see the darkening of his golden eyes and the now captivating smile curving his lips that did crazy, arousing things to her female hormones.  Authoritative and Intense was an incredibly hot look on him, but this charismatic version gradually emerging had the ability to sweep her off her feet.     

“I’m Hunter Wilder,” he introduced himself, and tipped his head curiously.  “And you are?”

So incredibly smitten.  Her tongue suddenly felt tied, and while he was the epitome of confident male sophistication, she had to struggle not swoon like a Disney princess in front of him.  “My name is Elle.”  

He raised a dark brow.  “And your last name?”

She bit her bottom lip in debate, which didn’t go unnoticed by him as he candidly looked at her mouth like he wanted to devour it.  The thought sent a jolt of lustful need pulsing deep and low, settling in all those dormant places that had forgotten what it felt like to be wanted and desired.  

There was something incredibly magical about this moment, about tonight and this enigmatic man who’d made the decision to stop her from leaving when he easily could have watched her go.  This evening was all about fairy tales where anything could happen, and she wanted that enchanted, mysterious feeling to remain because tomorrow, her less than appealing reality still awaited her.  And she was fairly certain that a wealthy, dynamic man like Hunter Wilder wouldn’t be interested in a woman who had a wealth of issues and problems currently plaguing her life.    

With that thought in mind, she kept her reply flirtatious, and her full identity anonymous.

“Tonight, it’s just Elle.” 

“Okay, Just Elle,” he teased, his voice infused with amusement as he extended his bent arm to her in a gallant gesture.  “Will you be my date for the evening and accompany me to the Wilder Way ball?”

Determined to have fun with this man and enjoy her evening, wherever it might lead, she nodded and slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. “It would be my pleasure to be your date for the evening.”

A slow, sinful smile eased up the corners of his kissable mouth as he slid a big, warm hand over the one resting on his forearm to hold it there—as if she’d even consider letting him go.  “Trust me, beautiful girl, before this evening is over, I have a feeling the pleasure is going to be all mine.”

The dark, forbidden promises glinting in his eyes stole her breath and sent a delicious, decadent heat cascading through her veins.  Oh, Lord. Elle sincerely hope so.

Absolute Pleasure by Erika Wilde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is book #2, in the Dirty Sexy Fairy Tales series. This book is considered a standalone novel. For richer enjoyment of the series, I recommend reading them in order.

Hunter is sure that loss will be his legacy. Everyone close to him seems to somehow have a bitter end. Then he meets someone he cannot wait to be with. It is a risk to care, but he has so much more to lose.

Gabriella AKA "Ella" is a delight and a joy to be near. She cannot stand that her stepmother and step-siblings are plotting against her. Things have gotten worse since her father passed away. Can she rely on Hunter as an ally?

This was a very sexy story. Right from the beginning these two had sparks creating flame. I loved the loyalty and heat that was always part of their charm. These two characters were definitely in need of one another, and a true joy to read. To bad it was not interactive and we could not take shots at the stepmom. What a great villain!


***This early copy was given in exchange for an honest review only.

View all my reviews

Meet Erika Wilde:

Erika Wilde is a New York Times Bestselling author. She is best known for her super sexy Marriage Diaries series and The Players Club series, and has also co-written the Dirty Sexy Series and the Book Boyfriend Series with Carly Phillips, her best friend and writing buddy for the past twenty years. She lives in Oregon with her husband and two daughters, and when she's not writing you can find her exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest. For more information on her upcoming releases, please visit her website at www.erikawilde.com and sign up for her mailing list for updates and news!

Connect with Erika:

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https://www.erikawilde.com

This is book #2, in the Dirty Sexy Fairy Tales series.  This book is considered a standalone novel.  For richer enjoyment of the series, I recommend reading them in order.

Hunter is sure that loss will be his legacy.  Everyone close to him seems to somehow have a bitter end.  Then he meets someone he cannot wait to be with.  It is a risk to care, but he has so much more to lose.

Gabriella AKA "Ella" is a delight and a joy to be near.  She cannot stand that her stepmother and step-siblings are plotting against her.  Things have gotten worse since her father passed away.  Can she rely on Hunter as an ally?

This was a very sexy story.  Right from the beginning these two had sparks creating flame.  I loved the loyalty and heat that was always part of their charm.  These two characters were definitely in need of one another, and a true joy to read.  To bad it was not interactive and we could not take shots at the stepmom.  What a great villain!  I give this a 4/5 Kitty's Paws UP!

***This early copy was given in exchange for an honest review only.

The Cinderella Countess (Gentlemen of Ho...

While this has a trope I'm not fond of - our heroine has retained her accent and holds herself like a member of the upper classes, I would say this would be hard to do and often is rubbish, people like to blend. Apart from that it's a fun read that I found hard to put down. (another bad decisions book club book).
Annabelle Smith works as a healer in Whitechapel and was surprised when Lytton Staines, Earl of Thornton turns up on her door... his sister is suffering from some sort of wasting disease and he's exhausted regular medics. She comes recommended by servants. When they meet the impression is ruined by the pet dog who rips his waistcoat and spills tea on him.
The two of them are an interesting couple and it was a fun read. There were bits that stretched credulity but overall it was a good read.