❝𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘵,❞ 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀.

❝𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘸,❞ 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀. ❝𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰, 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮.❞

𓆩^._.^𓆪

THOUGHTS / minor spoilers? :

Skyla Gray does not disappoint when it comes to vampire romance!

This is the second book in 'The Valentine Society' series, and while you can read them both as standalones there are some characters from the first book that make an appearance in this one.

I think I loved this one as equally as the first one!

Nora agrees to be Lord Claude's valentine/muse (as he's a painter) in exchange for money (her and her roommates get evicted from their apartment so this was their solution).

But, Nora sets a rule in their contract: No intimacy. (She wants to focus on her future in education, and she cannot get involved with an artist, seeing as she had a difficult upbringing with her mother neglecting her in favor of her art)

As Nora and Claude spend more time together she starts developing feelings and eventually wants to break the contract. But there would be dire consequences in doing so...

Ugh! <3 The way these two dance around the no intimacy clause was such a slow burn! The teasing was just as spicy as the actual smut. And I absolutely loved the way these two were devoted to and protective of each other. For Nora to bring down her walls and let Claude in chef's kiss

And Claude's sire, Lord Ambrose? shivers He was such a good antagonist! You felt bad for Claude when Ambrose was belittling him, and pure fear when he turned his sights on Nora. The duel was such a satisfying end!

And when the couple FINALLY get intimate? When they finally give in to months of repressed lust and intimacy and longing? It was like an exhale of relief—like 𝘴𝘰, 𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴? feeling.

I've said this before, but the first book holds a special place in my heart as it was my first e-ARC 🌹 so I just love that I'm able to continue reading this series 💗

[ ᥒᥱtgᥲᥣᥣᥱყ ᥲrᥴ ]

Thoughts:

Lemme start this off by saying I do not want kids, nor would I date/get intimate with someone who has them.

Because of this, I often project my feelings onto romance books with the single parent x childcare provider/nanny trope—meaning I will steer clear of them, no matter if I like the other tropes involved.

BUT... I wanted to give this book a chance because of my favorite author duo!

And? I really enjoyed the dynamic Maddie had with Bram's kids (two elementary school aged and one teenager). The way it felt natural as she spent time with them, picking up the twins from school and learning about the ways they're different, to helping out Fern with boy issues and figuring out what she wants to do in life.

Bram's relationship with his colleagues was the comedic relief in this story when things got heavy and/or spicy 😂 I think my favorite characters from that group were the Saint James cousins, Leo and Sloane.

I loved the couple together, and separate as individuals. They played off each other well and I think that's what made me like them. She was the prickly cactus to his immovable and firm oak tree.

I do wish we got a bit more on the history between Maddie's librarian friend Junie, and Leo 👀 We discover there's bad blood between them and that bullying was involved, but why? Sierra and Julie, may I kindly ask for another book focusing on those two? bats eyelashes (ooh ya know what? I'm down for an enemies to lovers trope)

To finish this review off I must answer this question: Will I seek out more romance books with the single parent trope? After reading this I think I would. I have been converted! ✺◟( ᐛ )◞✺