This is a story of two broken women who grew up in a small provincial town in New York, Sunrise falls where everyone knows your business or makes up siliceous stories about your business. Both women had been very hurt and humiliated by the gossip about them, and have not been able to get over the hurt and the damage that was caused. Lauren move back to the town from California after a very humiliating event that cost her her job and friendships. She meets Emma one night and that is the start of an amazing story. The sexual energy between these two women is astronomical however both women have different issues regarding sex but the pool between them is so strong that when they do get together it always ends and disappointment for both women. However it is that sexual pull. That slowly through sex and kindness these two broken women talk about their past and why they have these different sexual activities each of them is embarrassed about, Through their processing about these issues it, finally allows both women to see a different life for them is possible.
When the town gossip gets too much for both women Lauren tries her best to convince Emma to move to California with her. However Emma can’t move from the town because she owes the town a debt for pain her college loans in return she must work for the town for E amount of years. If she moves she would be in debt over her head and have no job. With this dilemma in mind both of the main characters have a lot to work out.

The author has written such incredible dialogue between the two main characters that expose powerful and healing against all odds it makes you wonder if love can conquer all? This book also has hot off the charts type of sex woven throughout the book, The book is extremely well written and clearly will be on my to be read again list.

"Nuclear chemistry sounds amazing, but i want dinner first."
Lauren frowned. "You're hungry?"
"No. Tomorrow, I want dinner before sex. Not a date exactly, but not a casual fuck either."

What started as a dare escalated to something else.

Lauren West, returning to her hometown from San Francisco is not happy to be back. Having left her small town that once besieged her with judgement, gossip and scrutiny, she has returned to a place she has no business to be back in. Dared to approach meek town librarian Emma Prescott after drinks, that something else happened.

The book speaks the language of hot. Twitching in seat, wide eyed, heart rate pumping kind of hot. Expect hot scenes playing out in the minds of the leads, in public, behind closed doors and in your head.

That does not mean that there is no depth to the book. Characters are flawed, escapists, they have issues that run deep but make them human. The author's blend of the pair left the impression that it was all physical but revealed so much more. She made loving the characters easy.

I adore Emma. The unassuming, reassuring and non judgemental Emma. And also the Emma that carried strength in her quietness yet was loud in her passions. A highly recommended read for the rich characterisations and highly charged kinky sex scenes (if it is your cup of tea).

I just reviewed If You Dare by Sandy Lowe. #NetGalley

Lauren West returns home after being fired from her job. She's dared by her best friend to sleep with the next woman that walks through the door. In walks Emma Prescott a librarian, who has had a long time crush on Lauren for the longest.
The chemistry between both MC was great. The sex scenes were Hot and STEAMY, amazing actually. I loved how Lauren and Emma helped each other overcome some of the trauma they encountered as teenagers.
I would definitely recommend. Four and a half stars.

I was provided a copy by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.


Thank you NetGalley, Bold Strokes Books and Sandy Lowe

This isn't your typical romance novel. Besides the fact that it is a lesbian storyline, the book really focused on the romantic aspect, and there wasn't much other development.
Lauren West is stuck back home in her small hometown where everyone is gossiping about her and the mess she left in San Francisco. Sitting at the bar with her best friend, they play a game of Truth or Dare that has Lauren seducing the next woman who walks through the bar's door, Emma Prescott. Emma, a librarian who is good girl with a dirty mind, is anxious and scared of her own desires because of a painful teenage experience. However, when Lauren kisses her, Emma thinks that maybe she can finally break free from her anxiety.
This book is really steamy and kinky. It was written well in that aspect, but there wasn't really a story. The characters were rounded and had a background and traumatic experiences, but that was about it. The book was really focused on sex and not on creating a connection. If you like those types of books, then this is for you. However, if you want a better and more developed plot line, then you should probably skip this book. I personally wanted more of a plot line; however, the book itself is not bad, it is just not what I thought it was.

This book contains mature content (ages: 16+).
TW: non-consensual fantisies
Thanks #NetGalley for an ARC (in exchange for an honest review)!

This was a fun read. If You Dare by Sandy Lowe is an erotic romance novel about two women who seem on the surface to be total opposites and completely incompatible. They meet at the Grumpy Goat Bar in their hometown of Sunshine Falls, a small town in New York State. In spite of Lauren West’s reputation as a “bad girl” and librarian Emma Prescott’s “good girl” persona, the two connect very quickly. They gradually realize when it comes to matters of the heart and their desires, they may not be that different after all.

This story is funny, erotic, and romantic. There is also some heartache in the tale, mostly involving the two women’s pasts, especially Lauren. It is mostly there to add conflict to the story. There is, of course, a lot of sexy times between these two. Some of them involve light BDSM elements. There is also some role play in the tale. I will state here that one of those role playing scenes involves Lauren and Emma pretending to have non-consensual sex. This is just a cautionary note for those who may have problems reading about that.

This is an excellently written erotic romance. I connected with Lauren and Emma immediately, and it’s easy to see their chemistry. I also believe that the Grumpy Goat is one of the best names for a bar ever. I can definitely recommend this novel to all who love a good romance with lots of steamy sex.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Rainbow Reflections: http://rainbowreflections.home.blog/

Lauren West has returned to her small-town home after fired from her job following a very public scandal with her former boss's wife. During a drinking session with her friend she is dared to sleep with the next girl to walk into the bar, that happens to be Emma Prescott. Emma is the sweet local librarian who's childhood crush just happens to be Lauren. Little did Lauren know that Emma has quite the imagination.
This is my first Sandy Lowe book and she certainly has a knack for writing erotic sex scenes. The sex scenes are incredibly steamy and just go on and on and on. Oh my! For me the storyline became secondary to the sex and the psychological meaning for Lauren and Emma as they navigate the boundaries of their relationship. In the end I didn't really care about the storyline, I was reading it for sex scenes! I'll definitely be reading more of Sandy Lowe's books!

I enjoyed both mains in this story the chemistry between them was great the the sexual aspect of the story was on fire. It was a wonderful romance with a lot of kink thrown in if your into that kinda thing then this book is right up your alley.
I’m not sure where Sandy finds the time to write but she is definitely doing a great job with it. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next from her.
I received an advance readers copy from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review

This is a steamy novel revolving around two women exploring their joint exotic sexual desires. It was a quick read with some pretty hot moments, however, at times, the plot seemed forced and all pulled together a little too quickly. I wanted more story line around the two main characters and maybe more time creating their connection. Some of the issues they were forced to overcome were definitely heart breaking, but other times the struggles seemed inconsequential and hard for me to empathize with.

Dissing Santa on the first page! Moving on from that shock, this is a very sweet romance coupled with kink. Some of the kink, for me, was a hot read, but other aspects I really didn’t like. Basically I didn’t enjoy the non consent fantasies, but there was fair warning about this content so it was entirely my choice to read them. And I’ve confirmed it’s not my thing for future reference. Moving on from that aspect of the story, I liked the two characters, especially the shy (not so shy) librarian and the small town machinations and judgement of folks. Mostly it was a good read and I did love the cheeky cover.

As others have mentioned I haven’t read a book by Sandy Lowe previously.

For me the book started off strong but the storyline waned a bit with the fantasy exploration of Lauren and Emma’s evolving relationship. The book was definitely steamy but lacked in the plot. 3 stars

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What can I say about If You Dare, other than.....Phew

Its my first time reading a Sandy Lowe book and boy was it good.

If you're looking for a little something that has a great story, great characters and a bit on the hot and bothered side then this is the book for you.

Would I recommend ....oh boy yes

Sandy Lowe's name was so familiar I thought I'd read a book by her before, but I didn't, she is the editor of a lot of books I've read and she's always mentioned in the acknowledgments. As part of my day job I write marketing texts, if I hit a roadblock I ask my editor to write the text for me. Whenever she has written something it is perfectly fine, but something in the writing style is just a bit off for me, it doesn't read like it is meant to be enjoyed or something, I don't know. I felt the same with this book, it took me a couple of chapters to get into it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the writing, it's just different.

Lauren is back in her small-minded hometown. She never fit in the small town of Sunrise Falls and now everyone is talking about the mess she made of her life in San Francisco. When Lauren is out with her best friend Roxie she takes a dare that might change her life. Emma walks into the bar and she becomes the object of the dare, but also so much more. Lauren instantly forgets about the dare, but still wants to hook up with Emma. Emma and Lauren both have insecurities/ issues that come from their childhood, but the people they have become seem to fit perfectly. Their fantasy, how weird I might find them, are in line with each other. They fit, but will the small town be too small for them to live their lives?

Honestly, maybe I should have paid more attention to the blurb, the final line: Reader Advisory: If You Dare contains explicit fantasies of non-consent. I missed it. If I had seen it I think I would have skipped this book. In the end, the fantasies didn't really bother me as much as I thought, but it also wasn't very enjoyable for me to read. The book has some character development that is rather important to the fantasy storyline and some development that is important as a character. The bits just about the characters, away from their fantasies, are what I like best. The story itself isn't very interesting, it's very much inst-love/ insta-lust/ inst-everything, small town small-mindedness and nothing more. It's fine if you are into this sorta thing, but for me it is just a bit lacking. Combined with a writing style apparently all editors have it wasn't the most enjoyable book for me, and as I said, part of it might be my own fault for not registering all of the blurb in my mind.

This was my first time reading a book by this author and in this genre. Aside from the sex, the characters and how their backstories contributed to their current relationships formed the main part of the plot. Direct and descriptive, I’m certain this will be popular book.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this arc. Opinions are my own.

This story was oh so very steamy but it also had a really great storyline as well. Lauren and Emma’s relationship started off super quick but I loved how the two had to go back and have lots of honest conversations and really get to know each other on a not so physical level. This was my first book by Sandy Lowe but I don’t think it’s going to be my last.

This is my first book by Sandy Lowe and I will definitely be looking for more. The writing was real, the story flowed and it was hot! I typically don’t like it when the MC’s fall in love so fast and then everyone is saying I love you’s but I do acknowledge that when it’s right it just clicks Emma and Lauren were just great together, the type of women that I would hang out with, and I enjoyed their story.

I liked Laura and Emma's relationship. This book was very interesting. I loved getting to dig deeper into their relationship.
This was a fast steady read. I found it intriguing so I didn't want to put it down!
Overall loved it!

Lauren is stuck in her hometown for the holidays she doesn’t want to be there especially when everyone is talking about the mess she made of her life. While drowning her sorrows she plays a game of truth and dare and when she dared to seduce the next person that comes in when Emma comes in she thinks things could be looking up.

Emma is a librarian but she has dirty mind but when she was a teenager something painful happen and she close herself off suppress her sexual desires. When Emma meets Lauren she wonders if she the one can break her free what amazes Emma more is that Lauren may have the same sexual desires that she does.


This was a good read I like both main characters the chemistry and the dialogue was great sexual desires was hot that had me drinking cold water.


I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.