I am not usually a big fan of older heroine/younger hero romances, so I was stepping out of my comfort zone a little when I requested a copy of Reawakened by Rachael Stewart.

In Reawakened, our heroine Olivia has recently been widowed and is running a little bit wild while dealing with the death of her husband and the end of their reserved, controlled marriage. Unfortunately, her wild behaviour is having a negative impact on her reputation and the board of her charity brings in Valentine, a PR expert to try and rehabilitate her public image.

Olivia and Valentine have a VERY unorthodox first meeting, which I really enjoyed and it helped to set the tone for the rest of the book. I loved the chemistry between the couple and there were some very interesting dynamics between them as the relationship developed.

To say that older heroine tropes are not usually my favourite, I was really glad that I took a chance of Reawakened. This was a sexy, sweet romance between a couple where both partners have a role in helping improve the life of the other. I liked that fact that the title "Reawakened" could apply to either of the MCs. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely try something else by this author.

Reawakened by Rachael Stewart
Pub Date 27 May 2021
Another Great Book By Rachael Stewart I Gave 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I love these Dare Series and this book was amazing beautiful chemistry between characters beautiful writing. I loved the plot and the story is a amazing book x

Great plot and super leading character. I read in one sitting and would definitely look out for this author again. Thanks for the copy

Valentine has always admired Olivia from afar but now when he is asked to help a friend and improve the charity Olivia owns PR he finds himself being drawn ever closer to her.
Valentine and Olivia both have issues that they need to work through to get to their happy ever after and whilst at times these seemed drawn out I enjoyed the ending when they managed to overcome and be together.

Phew. Very sexy, very hot and lots of emotions and love thrown in too,
Olivia and Valentine don’t meet under the best circumstances - Valentine is to work with Olivia to get her some good publicity after all the bad she’s courted by living in the fast lane. Adding in a dominatrix, a riding crop and a love of fast cars, you have a heck of a ride whilst our couple work out what they mean to each other.

I thought that this book was excellent - it is yet another cracking read from Rachael Stewart!

It was very well written and had a great flow to the story.
It was an addictive read and a complete page turner - I loved it!

It had very well developed characters who had some great interaction.
I love following them on their story.

It is 5 stars from me for this one - a romantic and sexy read - very highly recommended!

I received an ARC from Netgalley and Mills and Boon in return for an honest review.

This had a great premise but sadly I was very disappointed in the execution. I didn’t like Olivia whose behaviour and attitude totally belied her age. Thee were sadly many occasions when she just came across as juvenile, insensitive and decidly unpleasant.

I found Valentine an interesting character but strangely wimpish at times. I like the Dare imprint as when it works, the result is fabulous romance with erotic overtones. When it doesn’t, the sex becomes mechanical and decidedly unexciting.

I have read several books by this author and admire her writing, but this was just not emotionally satisfying.
Not for me I’m afraid.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

This is a new author to me so didn't know what to expect
The meeting premise was unusual to say the least ! No, no spoilers here !

Enjoyed this

Olivia and Valentine are both troubled souls after both experiencing tragedy in their lives. We first meet Olivia in the BDSM club she frequents. As she partakes in the activities that give her a true thrill, the younger hero of this story is sat in the side-lines watching the scene unfolding before him.

When Olivia’s husband dies, she decides to start living her life by her own rules, but that fun is rather short lived when the board of the company that she owns following the passing of her husband catch wind of her antics and bring in PR expert Valentine to rein her in and bring her back under control.

Valentine knows instantly that he has certainly got his work cut out for him where it comes to Olivia, but he is determined to give it his best shot as a favour to his mentor. What neither Valentine of Olivia expected was the chemistry that would sizzle away between them from the start, not to mention how much this pair actually have in common with one another. As Valentine tries to do his job, will he manage to gain control of Olivia, or will she reawaken something within him that has been dormant for quite some time.

Whenever you pick up a book by Rachael Stewart you know you are in for a treat. Reawakened introduces us to a cast of vibrant characters who certainly capture your attention from the start. When we first meet Olivia I have to admit I felt rather unsure as to whether I would grow to like her, but despite her rather stubborn, over confident start, you learn more about her and why she acts the way she does and before long you find yourself warming to her. Valentine however is a character I like immediately, and despite him having his own secrets tucked away, he comes across as a good man. I really enjoyed the older woman, younger man romantic dynamic in this book, something you so rarely come across.

The storyline flows wonderfully and has plenty of heat and drama to keep you engrossed to the end. This is another absolute beauty of a book by Rachael Stewart.

5 Word Review: Lust, attraction, sex, passion, control

Is this the most daring Dare book I've read? Woooo boy, it was steamy right from the off. Very steamy.

This book starts in a BDSM club so I think you get the picture. And it doesn't really calm down from there.

I found Olivia difficult to get on with - but it really worked. As much as she's generally not a nice person, it brought so many layers to her character. She's shaped by her past, she's trying to break what she's been moulded into, and she's not the best person while she's doing it. She's bratty if I'm honest, but I think that was a marvellous way to show her fear and anger. She didn't want to show the world how she felt, so she took it out on everyone. Very cleverly written! I liked how as she grew more into herself she became nicer - jabs were softer, insults were rarer. But she kept the snark.

Valentine is a bit... Grey. He wants to do what is best, but he's driven by his own past and his own secrets. It made him messy and complicated. But I loved his drive and his confidence, even if he did find Olivia a massive distraction.

The two together are amazing. When they clash it's fiery and hot, and when they finally come together you'll be fanning yourself. The whole story is a very clever play on the title, as both characters reawaken in many ways, which in itself is intensely satisfying. I love a good play on words and themes.

Reawakened by Rachael Stewart is wildly passionate, scorching hot, and may even make you blush. It's an amazingly erotic ad subtle romance.

I'm going to miss Rachael Stewart's Dare titles, but I'll for sure be jumping into her other romances.

A highly enjoyable romance from Rachael Stewart featuring strong characters and an emotional story which keeps you reading.
Olivia and Valentine are both troubled having suffered personal tragedy, and when PR man Valentine is brought in to bring Olivia back onto the straight and narrow to save her public reputation sparks fly from the off. What really surprised me about this book was that the first meeting between the characters is highly unconventional and in the opening pages, and yet, thanks to the authors skill in crafting the story, the moment doesn't go the way you might think, and this is a key point in the plot, making the book all the better for not having Valentine and Olivia indulging in a one night stand right from the off. Instead, the plot twists and turns as, yes the characters act on their attraction to each other, but the pair also reveal more about their past and what has led them to this point in their lives. It is this healthy dollop of emotion that really drives the story and what keeps the reader engaged to the point where you become invested in the relationship and really do care what will become of Valentine and Olivia as they struggle to take the proverbial leap forward and move on from what has gone before. The story is always engaging and you may need a tissue handy for the tear jerking final chapters where the pursuit of a happy ending comes to the fore.
As this is the last month for the Dare line, it is fitting that Rachael Stewart ends on a high with this engaging book, but also shows just how well she will follow up in her move to the True Love series where, yes the heat of the story is much lower, but the emotional depth of character is key to driving the plot. I hope fans of Rachael's Dare books will follow her to True Love,

Naughty and engaging tale
5 Stars

I usually avoid books where the hero is younger than the heroine but such is the draw of a Rachael Stewart tale that I snapped this book up before I’d even read the blurb!

We start by walking right into the heat and action - and did I mention the heat? Wowza! Our heroine, Olivia, is naked in the BDSM club, with a whip toting mistress and our hero watching intently, before you’re even at 10%. But fear not, this is Ms Stewart of the exceptional writing skills, so we already have a handle and knowledge of who are characters are and how they tick before the naughtiness begins. And how she manages to make even the more risqué things seem intimate and personal, while still ridiculously hot… that’s a seriously sexy skill to have!

Olivia is deciding it’s time she lived her life by her own rules, after the death of her husband. Unfortunately for her, the fun she’s having is brought to a halt by her husband’s company when they hire PR guru, Valentine Boretti, to take her in hand and get her under control.

Olivia was an interesting character. At first, I wasn’t sure I liked her as she was quite forceful in her pursuit of her new life and of Valentine himself. But I think that my original feelings towards her were clouded by what Valentine himself was thinking - despite his obvious attraction. When we hear Olivia’s point of view, we see another side to her. A reason why she acted the way she did. I’m not saying I could now relate to how she acted, but I definitely could understand it and sympathised with her.

If Olivia is trying desperately to look to her future, Valentine is very much stuck in the past. He himself has seen loss but instead of making him wild, it made him stoic and careful. In Olivia, he finds someone that he truly wants to experience things with - that, without sounding hokey, makes him want to live again.

As well as the insane heat and chemistry between our pair, they are also perfect for each other. Yes, yes, even if she’s an older woman and he’s a younger man. They bring out the best in each other but still let the other be themselves. I adored their happily ever after and may even have got a little sniffly!

I’m hardly quiet in my admiration for Rachael Stewart’s writing. I find her style fresh, detailed and intricate while still maintaining an ease that makes it so involving to read. Her characters come alive and their situations always tug at my emotions. I understand that this is to be her last Dare but I’m happy to follow her to wherever her writing goes next, just as I am happy to recommend this book to you. 5 stars.

Another excellent story from this author.

Two widows learning to live with the pain of this loss.

Their meeting in a sex club, is unconventional to say the least, but it's a deep instant attraction,

The age difference, makes a glitch for their future relationship, but the deep feelings of love and desire overcome this very quickly.

True love wins through, with a happy ever after ending in this sexy, romantic story.

After the death of her husband, Olivia is determined to live her life to the full. Unfortunately her wild antics are not going down well with the board of her company, who decide to bring in a PR expert to try and do some damage limitation with regards to her public image. But she’s had enough of people telling her what to do.

Valentine knows he will have his work cut out for him trying to rein Olivia in but as a favour to his mentor he commits to giving it a go.

What neither of them expects is how much in common they’ll actually have or how electric their connection will be. Can Valentine rein Olivia in or will she reawaken desires in him he thought were long forgotten?

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book in the Mills & Boon Dare category and I wondered if they would still be as steamy as I remembered...

Reawakened was definitely steamy! It’s an adrenaline packed romance between an older woman and a younger man with a bit of kink thrown in. The story itself was well written and in true Mills & Boon fashion there was no hanging about. From the opening chapter we’re thrown straight into the kink and I loved it! It did mean though that I was a bit disappointed that the book didn’t quite live up to the opening. It was still an enjoyable read but not quite what I was expecting based on the first couple of chapters.

The writing style was good and I particularly enjoyed the fact that we got to see the events play out from both Olivia and Valentine’s points of view as it added an extra dimension to the story.

Overall this was a quick read with a good mix of romance and desire.

Reawakened by Rachael Stewart.
I really really enjoyed this book. I do love this author. Very well written. Great story and characters. 5*.

This was my first Mills and Boon Dare book and I really enjoyed it! I knew it was going to be steamy but I didn’t realise QUITE how steamy it would be. I loved that it was duel perspective and written in first person. I wasn’t a huge fan of Olivia in the beginning but once I started to get to know her throughout the book, I really liked her.
Olivia and Valentine’s chemistry is off the charts from the very beginning of the book but I would have liked to read a bit more about their relationship rather than just the steamy scenes as they both had deeper backstories and it wasn’t fully talked about. This was a fun, quick and easy read and I will definitely be reading more from the author in the future as I love their writing style.