Explicitly English by Rachel Leigh

Explicitly English Reviews

• 
  Julianna

  Reviewed for
  THC Reviews
  Explicitly English is a stand-alone, erotic romance short story of about forty-five pages. Laura is a newly minted interior designer who has just landed her dream job restoring an old English country cottage that dates back to the sixteenth century. She recently lost both her parents in a car accident, and because of that, she’s decided to shed her inhibitions and live life to the fullest in every minute. On the train to her new job, she’s seated across from a devilishly handsome man who makes her body hum with desire and who, she notes, is practically undressing her with his eyes. She daringly puts on a little show, self-pleasuring for him, thinking she’ll probably never see him again. But by the time they reach their destination, she’s realized he’s actually her new employer. Stephen had fallen in love at first sight with Laura, even before she put on her little show, and now he’s certain that she’s his dream woman. But convincing her that he’s serious about wanting her to stay with him forever may prove a challenge.
  
  Explicitly English was a fun and steamy story. It takes place in only one day’s time, so it’s not entirely believable that two people could fall in love so quickly, especially when they know virtually nothing about each other. There isn’t a great deal of character or relationship development. It’s mostly sexy times, interspersed with a few tidbits of introspection and dialogue. Insta-love isn’t my favorite romance trope, but here, at least, I felt some connection between Stephen and Laura, just enough that I could see things going well for them in the future. I also couldn’t help but be drawn in by the fantasy of it, and Stephen is a charmer. Overall, this was a well-written story that I enjoyed reading and that’s left me open to checking out more from this author.
  
  Note: This book contains explicit language and sexual content, including a scene of exhibitionism/voyeurism, which could be objectionable to sensitive readers.
• 
  Denise

  I’m sure this wasn’t what Hitchcock had in mind when he directed Strangers on a Train, though the ride was just as thrilling. From beginning to end, this novella delivered and then some on what the blurb promised.
  
  Having said that, writing short stories is oftentimes much, much more difficult than penning longer ones. You only have a set number of words with which to bring your characters to life. Explicitly English was so short, I performed a quick search for it upon completion to see if it was a part of an anthology or something comparable, for while a steamy read, it did seem incredibly rushed. Likewise, the characters’ emotional pull felt forced. Had the story been longer or the characters’ actions and reactions slightly more believable and developed following the electrifying opening scene, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
  
  Regardless, these are not reasons to walk away from Explicitly English. As stated, it was a dynamic and incredibly hot novella. Readers looking for a brief, erotic interlude should look no further.