What to say about One Weekend in Aspen... Well, the first thing I'd say is stick to the ebook instead of the audio. I struggled to get into the story but couldn't get past the voices the narrator chose. It was killing it for me. I finally decided to quit and nearly didn't pick the ebook up but I'm glad I did.

I don't think I've ever read a romance novel that involves a sex party before. I think Jaime Clevenger did a nice job of making that work. We got a nice assortment of secondary characters that really didn't have any depth but that was fine. Katherine was a bit much and I don't see why anyone would want to befriend her but, meh, okay.

The two protagonists were good together and had a lot of chemistry. Emily's ex, Cass, was so incredibly over the top awful - and she got worse and worse as we went along - I found it impossible to believe and, between her and Katherine, liked the book less because of it.

But it wasn't a bad read. Plenty of angst and hot sex. And I really liked Alex a lot. I felt for her and was happy that she found some happy.

Thanks to Bella and Netgalley for the ARC ebook!

This was a DNF for me. Couldn’t wade through the plot to get to the spice in this LGBTQIA+ Romance. The premise is a little thin— an exclusive lesbian sex party in Aspen. Our main character is just soooo innocent that it’s not plausible this would be something she has access to.

This book was the best thing I've read all year and will no doubt find itself in my to-reread-multiple-times category. I love Jaime Clevenger's books so had high expectations going in, and she's managed to surpass them many times over with this book. The two main characters had so much chemistry it jumped off the pages from their first meeting, they were so well written I found myself crushing on Alex and wanting to shake some sense into Emily. The romantic storyline was super steamy yet sweet at the same time, and the amount of angst was just right. Balancing erotica and romance so well is a rare skill, and I hope the author gives us more in this genre.

Sex party...what an unexpected read. Not really my kind of story but what a pleasant surprise. Alex Murphy, technology consultant, well positioned financially, and looking to make a change from the sex party scene if only she can find the right woman. Emily Brookstone, private chef, recently separated and looking to get over her not so good marriage by going to a sex party hosted by one of her clients. Although not quite my cup of tea, the sex was pretty steamy (as it probably should be considering it was a sex party).

Both Alex and Emily were pretty likable which made for a good story. I enjoyed how the story was presented because both women communicated their thoughts, feelings, needs, and desires especially Emily which helped me understand why they were behaving the way they were. I also grew to like some of the supporting characters TJ and Lara for example. Katherine was not likable.

At the end of the story, I wanted more. Which I suppose is a good thing.

When I requested this book, I was excited to read it because I use to visit Aspen on a regular basis. However, when I started reading, I realized quickly that this book has nothing to do with Aspen. It is about a sex party that happens in Aspen.. Due to the realization, my hopes for the book diminished. I did not finish due to the content.

Warning - a few minor spoilers ahead, 3.5 stars officially but I usually always round up in favor of helping the author. I waffled back and forth on how I wanted to review this unique book. The characters are interesting and easily likable and there is a love to hate villain in Katherine. The oddest thing about this book is that much of the story takes place over a weekend where Emily is invited to a sex party, but there is actually very little sex to be had in the book in spite of the number of times sex is discussed or referred to. I felt I was waiting for something to happen that rarely did. This didn’t take away from the wonderful love story between Emily and Alex, but I was distracted from the constant anticipation that infrequently was met. I still recommend the book, and there are lots of naughty bits mentioned, just not much actual action. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My first Jaime Clevenger book, and I loved it. Sexy, fun, and engaging. It kept me turning the pages, wanting to know more about the characters. Lots of chemistry! It was a fun adventure and one that I will recommend. I'll definitely seek out more Jaime Clevenger books to read.

This book was a tricky one to review. I thought for the most part it was well written, and the fact that it centers around a sex party in Aspen was very unique. I haven't read about a sex party in this genre very often - unless it's leaning more towards BDSM. This book had a bit of that in it, but it's really not the focus. Right from the get-go, Alex doesn't want to be in the sex party world anymore and Emily had never done anything like this before, so the concept of the sex party is pushed a side a bit. Obviously they are there, but it's mainly written like it's happening behind closed doors, and not as graphic as other books with this concept.

Alex and Emily had a cute dynamic and chemistry right from the start. I did think Alex fell a little quickly for someone who isn't normally into relationships, but I guess you never know.

Despite a unique storyline and great chemistry, the main issue with this book was the holes. There is this huge thread with Katherine, and yet that's never resolved. I also wished the "epilogue" was a just a regular chapter and that we actually saw a real epilogue with everything already settled in their relationship. That would have been nice.

Overall, it was a fun book to read but it left me wishing there was more covered.

I sat down to review this one and just smiled. This was not what I was expecting at all. It sounds like erotica, but the expectation is a romance novel: The result is unlike any other romance I've ever read.

Yes it’s been a few years since she had a relationship but is this the way she wants to reintroduce herself in the dating world again. When she received the invite from her client, Katherine, she wasn’t sure she’d go but how can she refuse. I meana whole weekend to indulge your sexual fantasy with a group of women she’d never met. With the encouragement of her best friend, Gianna she finds herself sitting on a plane going to Aspen.
Alex Murphy has been invited for a number of years and while she’s tired of this journey she accepts the invite anyways. Single, working all over the world she’s never had or was willing to make time for a relationship. She feels it’s time to say goodbye to the sex parties and hopefully meet a woman who wants a real relationship. But just her luck she meets that very woman or she hopes will be that woman on her flight to Aspen.
Ms Clevenger tells this story with some very likeable MC’s. And if you enjoy reading one sexual encounter after another this is the book for you.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books

Jaime Clevenger is one of the authors that I always read when I get the chance. I will choose her books even before I read the blurb on the cover. I was really intrigued, however, when I read the blurb for One Weekend in Aspen. It’s not often you find a romance novel where the story revolves around a weekend sex party. That sounds like the beginning of an erotic novel, but this book is way more than that.

This is a tale about two women who meet when they’re both invited to a weekend in Aspen for a “no-strings-attached” consensual sex party. While this is a brand new experience for Emily Brookstone, it is definitely not Alex Murphy’s first party. The attraction between these two is immediate, but is a meeting like this a place to start a possible relationship?

Honestly, this novel blew me away. It has everything you need for a great romance. The premise is unique and definitely interesting. The setting is absolutely gorgeous. The people are what really makes this novel special though. Both main and secondary characters are so well-developed they seem real. They all have their own quirks, insecurities, and distinct personalities. Emily and Alex are easy to fall in love with…especially Alex. I really connected with her. Of course, with the premise of attending a sex party, there are bound to be some steamy sex scenes, but what happens between Emily and Alex goes far beyond mere physical release. The chemistry between these two is off the charts, and this shows with every touch and every kiss. This is what makes the story one of the most beautiful romances I’ve read this year.

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

3.5 Stars

“One Weekend in Aspen” is about Emily and Alex who spend one weekend in Aspen…

Hah, I’m funny right?

I’m not sure if this is considered an erotic romance as there really isn’t that much actual sex happening for a lot of the book. On the other hand, this weekend in Aspen is centered around a sex party with 9 gorgeous, queer people and there is a lot of sexual tension going around.

To be honest, had I known this was about a sex party I wouldn’t have read this book to begin with but I misread the blurb and already had the book when I saw another review mentioning the sex party weekend. I went in thinking I would hate it but it turns out the sex party theme didn’t turn me off too much. While I don’t understand it myself, I could appreciate the escapism from reality with this book.

Emily is a personal chef and recently separated from her wife of 10 years. One of her clients, Katherine, invites her to an invitation only party and she can’t resist going. On her flight to Aspen, she meets Alex and they hit it off instantly. They are surprised later to discover one another at Katherine’s party. Emily is hoping to finally have a no strings attached good time and Alex seemingly fits that description perfectly.

In the beginning, I wasn’t entirely sold on Emily being ready for another relationship as she’s not even divorced yet. Also, all the comparisons and mentions of Cass, her soon-to-be ex-wife, got old very quickly. I’m not sure if this was Clevenger’s way of showing how perfect Alex was for Emily but I didn’t need Emily pitting Cass and Alex against one another (even if only to herself) to sell it.

However, I really enjoyed Alex and Emily together. I think they complemented each other well and had great sexual chemistry. Sadly, I didn’t feel much of an emotional connection. Granted, a sex party isn’t really conducive to an emotional connection but it’s necessary for me in a romance. I did appreciate the small time jump in the end to let me see that even though I didn’t see in on the page, an emotional connection seems to be established.

I did enjoy this overall and think most others will too, I recommend this to readers looking for a steamy romance that doesn’t dig too deep emotionally.

*As a note to people like me (those who don’t like seeing our mains in sexual situations with others) there are no explicit scenes with other people with either of our mains.

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

I've not read the author before and didn't know what to expect from the brief blurb. Emily Brookstone is getting divorced after ten years. She is a personal chef and a client invites her to an expenses paid, fantasy weekend in Aspen. She hopes to let loose and rediscover her passion that she hasn't felt in years. On the flight she meets Alex Murphy. There is flirting and it gets extended by a storm that has them landing in Denver and sharing a long car ride. Emily is later surprised and thrilled to learn Alex is also a guest for the weekend party.

Alex is ready to look for someone to settle down and share a life with. Emily isn't in the same place and is trying to get her life untangled from the last decade. But their instant attraction is sizzling. This is at the higher end of my steaminess threshold but it fits the storyline and isn't gratuitous. I don't usually enjoy villains but the manipulating friend and problems she causes adds to the story. There are a few standouts in the other guests as well. The bulk of the book takes place over a few days but the author makes you feel Alex's and Emily's connection.

If you like instant attraction and love steamy romances this book is for you. Thank you to NetGalley and Bella Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first time reading a Jaime Clevenger book, and my first time at a a sex party....well reading about it.
I wasn't sure if this story was going to be my thing, but to be fair I enjoyed the story, it was well written and an enjoyable read.

Emily and Alex were great characters and the connection and chemistry between the two was visible from that first moment.
I can't say the other characters were my favourite but they added to the story.

Would I recommend: Yes if you're looking for a sexy easy to read story

This book is not what I was expecting but that’s a good thing!

I’m not sure how realistic the plot is seeing as how I’m not up to date on the sex party scene :) In my opinion, Clevenger made it work though.

I enjoyed both of the main characters and the chemistry between them was evident. The MCs feelings about the situation were not what I thought they would be, they were flip flopped. That was a nice surprise.

I can’t say that I loved all of the secondary characters or even loved to hate them. I think some were a little over the top but that didn’t really detract from the overall story.

This is a solid, enjoyable story that’s worth a read.

I feel like this is an objectively good and enjoyable book, but just not one for me. This is my first book by Clevenger and while I didn't love it, it definitely left a place in my mind and made me interested in her other books.

For starters I feel like I have to note I found it a little funny reading a book that takes place in a frosty climate and blizzard, when it is well into the triple digits where I live, nice little weather juxtaposition here.

This book follows Emily Brookstone and Alex Murphy. Emily is recently out of a 10 year marriage where the last seven were celibate, and Alex was pondering settling down from her fast paced work and personal life, when they meet on the way to a mutual friend's literal sex weekend in Aspen. And as soon as they start talking they are so drawn to each other, despite the weekend's shenanigans.

I love romance novels for emotional content, and strong interesting characters. Sex scenes are a bonus for me. And while this book does have interesting characters in spades, and it has emotional content, I personally felt like it was more sidelined for the sexual content. Even in scenes that weren't explicitly sexual I got a vibe that a lot of it was verbal forplay. And that isn't necessarily bad at all! It's just not what I'm really looking for in a book.

The connection between Emily and Alex also ventured a little close to instalove for me. I enjoyed the flirtation at the beginning but Alex's instant attachment and the closeness she and Emily get over the weekend just isn't my favorite.

I did really like a lot of this book though and especially its characters. They were so fun and even though a lot of the scenes were sexually charged, they were a fun cast with lots of personality. I also appreciate that the nonbinary member of the group was accepted into the group of lesbians without an issue. This book also did have a lot of tender moments, especially Emily's insecurities about her exwife and Alex's not knowing what she fully wants.

I was going to conclude by saying that this is a good book that just isn't a Jamie book, but then I remembered the author and I share a name (but not a spelling!) So I'll say that this is a book that I feel many people will like, but just that it had several different things that aren't my preferences, but I'm very interested in reading other works by Clevenger. 3.5/5

<i> Thank you to Bella Books and NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review </i>

Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this. The premise sounded different, I enjoy reading this author's novels and frankly the reviews were outstanding.

The storyline is very much strangers meet who have friends in common. What appears to be a random weekend is actually a regular occurrence, and when the two main characters Emily and Alex meet, their weekend away in Aspen soon has new meaning.

The setting is great in that it allows all the characters to peel off layers (not just clothing!) and the mutual understanding and acceptance of each other and exploration of their own needs and desires.

I love the different threads and the different characters who literally feed off each other and explore their sexual preferences in a safely constructed environment. What makes this work so well is that the novel is more about the characters discovering themselves and having the courage to go after what they really want. Yes, it’s a hot sizzling novel, but it is so much more than being just about sex.

A very enjoyable 5* read.

wow. I mean, this was not what I expected and I must admit I totally enjoyed it. This is not your average romance. The premise of the story line is centered around nine confident, successful, hot lesbians who meet up in Aspen for a weekend of sex. The main characters Emily and Alex had phenomenal chemistry and knew exactly what they wanted. I enjoyed their journey and appreciated that Emily took her time getting herself together.
I highly recommend 4.5 stars


I received an ARC via NetGalley from the publisher Bella Books in exchange for my honest review,

Hot and cozy, is that possible, yes, it is! While this entire book revolves around a sex party where fantasies come to life, it is at the same time really sweet and I was surprised by how much I liked the combination.

The main attraction is a sex party, it can only be attended by invite and it is lush and extravagant, as are all its attendants, except for Emily perhaps. She stands with both feet on the ground and is your (gorgeous) girl next door. She’s a personal chef and the organizer of the party, Katherine, is one of her clients. Emily’s marriage just ended and after some consideration Emily decides to accept the invite to the party.
Alex is a successful IT consultant, she has the ultimate player status and is a regular at the parties as she is intimately acquainted with Katherine. Before the party starts Emily and Alex meet on the flight in, there is flirting and attraction, but both are unaware of the others’ destination for the weekend. Surprise!

I liked that this novel does not follow the standard romance formula. First, well, they sort of meet at a sex party, which is not the most conventional way to start a romance. There is a lot of focus on sex and all kinds of kink. This might not be to everybody’s liking, but I liked how open and natural it is presented and it’s just smoking hot if you’re in to it!
While there is a lot of focus on sex, it does actually take a while before our two mains actually have sex and I found it surprisingly low key after all the talk (and not only talk) of fantasies. To me the much-anticipated scene was not perfect (yes, it’s has been mentioned by other reviewers, talk of exes in the bedroom should be banned, it’s just not sexy), but in general it was sweet.

Second, the sex party is a turning point in the lives of Emily and Alex, but their new goals are in fact not lining up at all. Emily just came out of a ten-year marriage and wants to build a new life, she wants to forget her ex and retrieve some confidence in her sex life. She’s not looking for a relationship, so a sex party seems like a good way to start. Alex on the other hand, only has had casual sex and very short-term relationships that do not go anywhere and this is going to be her last party, she desperately wants to find love and start a family. Obviously, it’s a romance, so you know where this is going, but I did not expect how it ended up there, it felt believable and I liked it.

Most of the party-goers are regulars, which inevitably ends in some soap opera drama. It’s supposed to be all just fun and casual sex, but when feelings come into play…. After meeting the women, you soon realize that there is so much more going on between them than just sex, it’s messy and very entertaining. The secondary characters were very enjoyable, although Katherine was a bit flat as a rich manipulative bitch.

In summary, an excellent book if you’re looking for some hot sexy times, but also a sweet romance. It was an addictive read and I’m already looking forward to Clevenger’s next release.

I really enjoyed reading this novel and to be honest, cannot fault it. Although the storyline is centred around a weekend of sexual escapades between a group of 8 women, this book also features a great love story between Emily and Alex. There was the perfect amount of drama, not only from these two mains but the large array of secondary characters as well that kept me engaged in this book from start to finish. I really liked both main characters and thought the author did a great job of humanising them both so they felt realistic.

One Weekend in Aspen is my first read from Jaime Clevenger and I am now on a mission to read all of her other works. A great novel that I've already decided to buy in audio format, as I think it'll be a great book to listen to as well.

Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.