Review: Only for a Night by Naima Simone

2 1/2 - 3 STARS FOR STEAMY SEX, DISCUSSING ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS, & MISCARRIAGES

Rion Ward fought hard to be free of the Irish mob life. Now, as the co-owner of Boston’s hottest aphrodisiac club, he’s traded crime for the ultimate sexual fantasy. But when the “good girl” from his past walks through Lick’s doors, he discovers that his unconsummated hunger for her never abated.

Widowed for two years from a man who felt that anything besides the missionary position was dirty, Harper Shaw is ready to move on. The first step to feeling alive again is sex. Hot, dirty, black-out-from-orgasm sex. And who better to provide it than the brooding, sexy, tatted bad boy-turned-man she’s known for years?

Rion, however, has one stipulation: He’ll be hers only for one night. One night to explore her every fantasy. One night to push her limits. One night to introduce her to a passion that makes both doubt if it will be enough…

*Generously received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

My overall feelings for this book are mixed, thus leaving a mixed stars rating. I don't believe the book was lacking enough to give it 2 stars, but I don't think the book can be warranted a 3 star rating with the other books that I have provided the same rating. Thus, a mixed feelings review will be brought to you.

The easiest way for me to convey how I feel about this book is through a list of things that I like and things that maybe just didn't cut it for me.

Likes:

1. I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes and dialogue between Rion and Harper. They held so much tension that was so sexy. Plus, the book held great foreplay. I have previously mentioned in other reviews about the importance of foreplay and this book is a great example of execution of foreplay. 
2. The intercourse scenes were steamy and, like I mentioned above, the foreplay helped the tension and build up to the scenes. Also, there were some moments that made me a little uncomfortable as a reader, but I do not hold that against the book. They are scenes that made me, personally, uncomfortable, but they did not make me put down the book and stop reading. I just kept reading through them. 
3. I really liked that the heroine in the book was a widow with a difficult past. It isn't very common to have a leading lady that is a widow with a former husband that was abusive, plus had a miscarriage. Honestly, I read plenty of books that have provided less of a back story and tried to get away with it, so this story providing the back story that Harper has was a big thumbs up in my book!

I really don't want to rush through the greatness of touching on Harper's story. Harper tried to do like many other women have tried to do, and that is being with a guy because of how he sounds on paper and because they think that the man is the type of guy that women are supposed to be with. This is one of the gravest mistakes that women can make and Harper experienced the repercussions. Being with a man that doesn't love you for who you are, staying with a guy for guilt, believing that everything is okay because he is financially supporting you, but who cares about emotionally well-being! (*Sarcasm*) I am, honestly, so glad that Simone took the time to write Harper's back story! For me, I could have read a story about Harper and everything that happened to her and not have cared about all of the steamy scenes. It was just that compelling to me! Not to mention, the hurt and loss that she experienced with losing a child that she was never able to carry. It is all so heart-breaking! So yes, it might seem like I am rambling, but I did not want this part of the story to be overlooked or not given the time and recognition that it deserves for being in an erotic romance novel. 

Dislikes:

1. So even though Harper has such a great back story, the overall plot of the book was very surface. All of Simone's time and creative was thrown into Harper's back story, which left the rest of the book was wanting, but part of me feels like I am being a little hard on the book. Pretty much, the book has a great back story with Harper and then you have steamy sex scenes. That is the book. I do not feel like there is anything else to the story, which is a bummer. :/ I wish that we, as the readers, were able to spend more time Rion in terms of character development and were able to get to know some of the other characters better. I just feel like the story has a lot more potential. 
2. The book is short. Like very short. 120 pages short. I read the book on my way to Tennessee and was able to finish the book before I actually arrived at my destination. I know that it is a silly thing to ding the book, but I feel like a good book should be longer than 120 pages. It made the end of the book feel rushed and did not provide the correct sense of closure. P.S. Completely thrown for a loop with the family reunion type scene at the end. It felt really odd. 

So, these are my thoughts, opinions, and feelings. I feel like this review is all over the place. One minute I am praising the book for discuss issues for women and then the next, I am bashing the book for not enough character development and plot. Obviously, I cant decide how I really feel about this book. But hey! It happens. Some books are just that way.