REVIEW: The Awakening of Ivy Leavold by Sierra Simone

Yorkshire, 1879

I am alone...
When Ivy Leavold is left destitute by her brother’s death, she is taken in by her cousin’s brooding, tortured widower—Julian Markham. Handsome and possessive, it’s not long before Ivy falls for him. But Mr. Markham has dark secrets, secrets that may put Ivy in danger...

I am afraid...As Ivy unravels the mystery surrounding her cousin’s death, she falls deeper and deeper in love with Julian, who opens her body and her mind to his indomitable will. But even as he draws pleasure and desire from her night after night, Ivy can’t shake the feeling that their passionate affair may end in violence…

And I'm completely his

***

The Awakening of Ivy Leavold is the first book in the Markham Hall Trilogy. It is 40,000 words.

***For Mature Audiences only**

Kindle Edition, 241 pages
Published January 12th 2015

Source: Purchased

Purchase this book: Goodreads | Amazon

Shel: All of our blogger friends were raving about The Awakening of Ivy Leavold and I had some time to read..so I said efff it, I'm going to give this a shot. It had been a while since I'd read historical romance...like probably a decade...so I wasn't sure how or if I'd like it. Well ladies...grab your shamwow panties and carve out a little time because I think you're going to enjoy this one! Court: I think I've only read really, maybe ONE, historical romance...so I was excited about this one after all of the feedback we've read about it! Why? Because it is proclaimed to be so effing hot. And it was. And I loved it! LOVED! 

Shel: I cannot tell you if it's historically accurate and honestly, I don't care. I enjoyed the chemistry between Julian and Ivy. I liked how headstrong she was and how he liked that about her. I love that she was realistic and confident in who she was. Of course I liked the steamy sex scenes and the party scenes with Julian's friends (and I'd love to know more about them, for sure). And now I'm fixated on the mystery of who killed Violet. I HAVE THEORIES..and they have a very Clue-like feel to them...

I think ___ did it with a ___ in the ___.

...and wait until the end, it'll have you clamoring for more. 

Court: Hahaha. That is perfect. I have theories too! And...just, whoa! Whoa! The scenes are beautiful. The descriptions of the landscape, and the outdoors (I love that she loves being outside so much, and explores this place that she has been thrust upon). I too, don't know much about this time period or location...but I did notice that not all of the dialogue is super complicated, and somewhat modern. I think I appreciate this, not that I can't appreciate it otherwise...but I guess I was so in the moment that I couldn't care less. Just an FYI! 

Court: Also...Ivy. Ivy is a great young character (she is 19) and she is in a time period where it does not do for a young woman to prance about chasing after a man. But Mr. Julian Markham is not a man to be ignored, and I loved their dynamic from the first page. Mr. Markham also has his flaws about him, and lots and lots of rumors about him! so I therefore have to know more about this man! We need in his head, or him to tell Ivy things. He is so vocal during sex, I need him to be vocal all of the time!!! And I mean vocal! Love it. Love it. Love it. 

Shel: I hope if you've never read historical romances, you'll give this one a shot. It's set in the past with a very modern feel to it. (And Julian has the hottest, filthiest mouth...). Court: Doesn't he! I enjoyed it. The pacing is great, even for a shorter novel/novella. I can't wait for the next installment, because yes folks we get MORE! And we always LOVE MORE! 

Shel: Happy Reading!

About the Author:

Sierra Simone is a librarian who writes unabashedly sexy books with brains, beauty and big words. She lives with her hot cop husband and family in Kansas City.

You can stalk her on tumblr and pinterest.

You can also find her at authorsierrasimone.com or email her at thesierrasimone@gmail.com.

Author Links:

Facebook | Website | Email | Tumblr | Author Goodreads | Pinterest

RELEASE BLITZ: THE AWAKENING OF IVY LEAVOLD BY SIERRA SIMONE

Title: The Awakening of Ivy Leavold (Markham Hall Series Book #1) 
Author: Sierra Simone 
Genre: Historical Romance 
Release Day: January 12, 2015 

Yorkshire, 1879

I am alone.

When Ivy Leavold is left destitute by her brother’s death, she is taken in by her cousin’s brooding, tortured widower--Julian Markham. Handsome and possessive, it’s not long before Ivy falls for him. But Mr. Markham has dark secrets, secrets that may put Ivy in danger...

I am afraid.

As Ivy unravels the mystery surrounding her cousin’s death, she falls deeper and deeper in love with Julian, who opens her body and her mind to his indomitable will. But even as he draws pleasure and desire from her night after night, Ivy can’t shake the feeling that their passionate affair may end in violence…
And I am completely his.

Add to Goodreads

Amazon Preorder Link

Enjoy an Excerpt

   I placed my hand in his, and he pulled me close, his lips brushing against my ear. “Do you trust me?”
   Any well-brought up woman would say no. But I wasn’t well-brought up, hadn’t been anything remotely like that since my parents died. “Yes,” I whispered.
   “Good.”
   His hands slid down over my shoulders to my waist, and he dropped a kiss on my lips. I tilted my face toward him, wanting more, but he moved around behind me, and I felt his fingers dance down my neck, down to the hollow between my shoulder blades where the buttons to my dress began. One by one, the buttons tugged and loosened, freeing me incrementally.
   The dress slid down my body, the silk whispering against my petticoats and my corset. “A woman’s first time should be entirely about her,” he said in a low voice. “I promise to do my best, but you test every limit of my self-control.”
   Oh, how I hoped that was true. I knew I should expect gentleness, but that wasn’t ever what I had responded to from Julian. Seeing him at the edge of his restraint, his eyes half-lidded as he barely resisted his own darkest urges, knowing it was me who made him that way, it made me just as wild. I craved that, that simultaneous feeling of power and lack of power.
   “Don’t be too gentle,” I murmured.
   “With you, wildcat, I don’t think there’s any real risk of that.”
   My petticoats fell away, and he laid them carefully over a chair. Then came my corset, my breasts feeling heavy and full without its support.
   When I was entirely naked, he stood before me, his eyes taking in every dip and curve of my body. I felt his eyes like his fingers, as if he were marking with his gaze all of the places he wanted to kiss. And I saw clearly the outline of his desire, his erection large and hard in his breeches. His eyes kept lingering on my breasts, on the place between my legs.
   “You were made for fucking,” he said roughly.
   I looked at his green eyes, the way his body exuded power and wealth and lust and raw animal need.
   “I was made for you,” I answered.

About the author: 

Sierra Simone is a librarian who writes unabashedly sexy books with brains, beauty and big words. She lives with her hot cop husband and family in Kansas City.

You can stalk her on tumblr and pinterest.

You can also find her at authorsierrasimone.com or email her at thesierrasimone@gmail.com.

Author Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sierra-Simone/497450453680395
Website: authorsierrasimone.com
Email: thesierrasimone@gmail.com
Tumblr: http://thesierrasimone.tumblr.com
Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7369992.Sierra_Simone
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/thesierrasimone/
a Rafflecopter giveaway

COVER REVEAL + EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY: THE AWAKENING OF IVY LEAVOLD BY SIERRA SIMONE

The Awakening of Ivy Leavold by Sierra Simone

Book Details:

Title:   The Awakening of Ivy Leavold (Markham Hall Series Book #1)

Author:   Sierra Simone

Genre:   Historical Romance

Release Day:  January 12, 2015

Synopsis:

Yorkshire, 1879

I am alone.

When Ivy Leavold is left destitute by her brother’s death, she is taken in by her cousin’s brooding, tortured widower--Julian Markham.  Handsome and possessive, it’s not long before Ivy falls for him.  But Mr. Markham has dark secrets, secrets that may put Ivy in danger...

I am afraid.

As Ivy unravels the mystery surrounding her cousin’s death, she falls deeper and deeper in love with Julian, who opens her body and her mind to his indomitable will.  But even as he draws pleasure and desire from her night after night, Ivy can’t shake the feeling that their passionate affair may end in violence…
And I am completely his.

Goodreads Link:   https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23403637-the-awakening-of-ivy-leavold?from_search=true

Amazon Preorder Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PHLBCB8/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00PHLBCB8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

Excerpt:  

“You see?  You are completely virginal, though Lord knows those lips and eyes don’t look the part.”  Mr. Markham shook his head, as if to clear it.  “You have all of these firsts—kisses and caresses and more—left in front of you.  You are completely fresh to the world of grown men and women.”

He took hold of my hands and helped me stand to my feet.  “I think it’s best if we keep our distance from one another,” he said.  My whole body wilted in disappointment.  I wanted nothing less.

“Why?”

He pressed his forehead against mine just as he had this morning.  “Do you remember me saying that I had become a creature of needs after Violet’s death?  I wasn’t exaggerating and I wasn’t joking.  I’m accustomed to getting what I want.  And I want you.”

“What’s wrong with that?” I managed to ask.  “Why can’t we want one another?”

“You don’t understand what I mean.  When I say that I want you, I don’t mean your company or your conversation.  I don’t want to pine over you and write you poetry.  I mean,” he pronounced carefully, “that I want to bend you over this sofa and slide inside of you.  I mean that I want to pin you to the ground and watch you squirm as I drive into you over and over again.  I mean that I want to spend my evenings watching your pretty little head bob up and down on my cock.”

About the author:   

Sierra Simone is a librarian who writes unabashedly sexy books with brains, beauty and big words.  She lives with her hot cop husband and family in Kansas City.

You can stalk her on tumblr and pinterest.

You can also find her at authorsierrasimone.com or email her at thesierrasimone@gmail.com.

Author Links: 

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sierra-Simone/497450453680395
Website:         authorsierrasimone.com
Email:  thesierrasimone@gmail.com
Tumblr:            http://thesierrasimone.tumblr.com
Author Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7369992.Sierra_Simone
Pinterest:   http://www.pinterest.com/thesierrasimone/

Giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1eeafd78269/