#HAPPY MARCH FIRST IN ADVANCE I'M WRITING THIS ON THE 28TH

[laviethepooh]

Hello! If I could, I’d like to ask if you could write a eula x yn drabble. This is my first request and I really like your writing. If it could be fluff and romantic that would be great and you can go easy with story. I’m too gay for this woman….thank you!

summary. eula shares her scarf with you.

ft. eula x gn!reader

cw. modern!au

wc. 0.3k

notes. why am i writing another snow-related fic? because it finally snowed! i didn’t have the day off but a delayed opening is enough to make me happy. i find happiness in thinking that eula would be the type of significant other who would do small things for you. also is this considered fluff? i don't know-

“eula, the forecast says it’s going to snow,” you informed your girlfriend who was walking beside you with linked arms, peering over your shoulder.

“is that so? hm. we’d better move quickly so you don’t get too cold,” she replied simply.

the two of you were taking a walk in the park despite the wintry weather to take a break from work. your mind was certainly much more clear now that you weren’t cooped up at your desk and you had your lover next to you as well. when you informed her of your deluge of work, she frowned and swore vengeance upon those who made you work.

you were making your way back when you suddenly saw something small and white fall in front of you.

“it’s snowing already,” you mumbled in observation, putting your hand out to catch the snowflakes that were falling in greater numbers. you looked to see what eula’s reaction was to the snow dancing in the wind and she was simply looking at you.

“what’s wrong?” you asked, wondering why she didn’t look pleased.

“you’re not wearing a scarf. your neck will be cold. we can’t have you getting sick on my watch.”

before you could say anything, eula unraveled the plaid scarf around her neck and wrapped it around both of your necks. the scarf was already warm from her body heat and smelled like her perfume. it was only after walking a few feet that you realized how ridiculous the two of you must have looked while sharing a single scarf. however, the concern that your girlfriend felt for you warmed you more than the scarf did.

you gave eula a surprise hug and when you looked up at her with a smile, you detected the pink tinge that was spread across her nose, cheeks, and even reaching her ears.

[triviareads]

Releases on March 28th

Summary:

Marigold Davis is a divorcee coming out west to Denver to replace her sister as basically a mail-order bride. Virgil Gardner is the rough and tough part-owner of a mining company, and needs a wife to look after his children. When he meets Marigold however, he refuses to marry her, instead taking her on as a housekeeper. That of course doesn't stop them from being deeply attracted to one another... and it goes from there.

Some background:

I have definitely read some of Dani Collins's Harlequin Presents stories, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out she wrote HR as well. I've admittedly not read a lot of frontier romances, but I'm always eager to read more HR set in the United States (this one is set in Denver in 1859), which is why I requested an ARC of this book.

My review:

I really enjoyed this story and the setting, even when it mildly stressed me out. Listen, frontier life is tough. I'm not surprised Dani employed the "huddle for warmth" trope which resulted in Virgil getting hard for Marigold within like, the first 3 chapters because they literally had to huddle. For warmth. But on a deeper level, when you're in this survival mindset, it leads to a lot of emotional intimacy, which Dani built on really well, without sacrificing the lust aspect.

Both Virgil and Marigold started off with trust issues, especially since they both had former spouses who cheated on them. Now Marigold is in this position where she's not only getting to know this man better, but she also needs to take care of Virgil's children while interacting with a miner town where there's like, no women (cue Virgil's jealousy/insecurities). Regarding the kids themselves, there was a lot about them, but I can't say it really hindered the plot for me. The only time children really bother me in HR is when they're like, weirdly precocious or basically exist to get the hero and heroine together, which wasn't the case here.

As for Marigold's insecurities, she was married to a shitty man before, so a lot of the plot is her coming to see that Virgil is constant where her ex was, well, a bitch. On a side note, it was novel for me to read about a divorcee heroine who also believed in female and Black suffrage, and abolition. It's easy to write about these things in abstract when it comes to characters in HR but Marigold was literally in the thick of action since she was in the Kansas Territory in 1859.

The sex:

There were some damn good sexual tension between Virgil and Marigold, and I'm happy to say the follow-through was great— very well-written and very hot. There was a period in the book where they were getting somewhere sexually but Plot cockblocked them into a period of abstinence. But it worked because by the time they have (penetrative) sex for the first time (in hot springs!), it was not only hot, but very emotional and an expression of love as well. Virgil isn't quite a bit o'rough hero in the sack, but whatever he has going for him, it works.

Sex-wise, the high point was when he went down on her and the next morning he was, and I quote, so "drunk on pussy" he was dropping things and tripping over things. And this is after last night, right after he ate her out, when he basically couldn't contain himself so he ran outside and ejaculated in the grass. There's a winner right there, ladies.

Overall:

I would recommend this book for anyone and everyone, but especially HR readers looking to read outside their comfort zone, which is often times stories based in England with upper-class heroes and heroines in a ballroom setting. I personally will be looking into more American HR and more HR by this author!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Entangled Publishing for this ARC.