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Porte du Coeur: Mistakes #1
A Mistake of Identity
Ellis knows his place in Porte du Coeur's brutal a non-union escort surviving day by day at Heart Court brothel. Then, a case of mistaken identity lands him in the bed of Gabriel Rohan—CEO, old money heir, and definitely not his assigned client.
Gabriel doesn't make mistakes. When Ellis approaches him, thinking he's someone else, Gabriel sees something he needs to possess. One night becomes a claim of ownership, catapulting Ellis into PDC's ruthless elite society. Ellis knows he should be terrified of Gabriel's possessive nature and absolute control. Instead, he's addicted to the safety of belonging to one of the city's most influential men.
But in Porte du Coeur, even the powerful must play by rules. As Gabriel's obsession deepens, threats emerge from all sides. Ellis must decide if surrendering to Gabriel means trading one cage for another or if he's finally found the home he never dared dream of.
Content Warning: This book contains explicit sexual content, mature themes, and dark elements that may be triggering to some readers. These include but are not limited significant power imbalance, dubious consent scenarios, possessive behavior, elements of ownership/control dynamics, references to past trauma and abuse, explicit sexual content, prostitution/sex work, class disparity, and themes of psychological control. This is a dark romance with an HEA (Happily Ever After) guaranteed, but the journey there contains mature content not suitable for all readers. Please see the Author's Note inside for a complete list of content warnings.
Each book in this Porte du Couer series follows a different couple and can be read as a standalone, though they share the same world.
Gabriel doesn't make mistakes. When Ellis approaches him, thinking he's someone else, Gabriel sees something he needs to possess. One night becomes a claim of ownership, catapulting Ellis into PDC's ruthless elite society. Ellis knows he should be terrified of Gabriel's possessive nature and absolute control. Instead, he's addicted to the safety of belonging to one of the city's most influential men.
But in Porte du Coeur, even the powerful must play by rules. As Gabriel's obsession deepens, threats emerge from all sides. Ellis must decide if surrendering to Gabriel means trading one cage for another or if he's finally found the home he never dared dream of.
Content Warning: This book contains explicit sexual content, mature themes, and dark elements that may be triggering to some readers. These include but are not limited significant power imbalance, dubious consent scenarios, possessive behavior, elements of ownership/control dynamics, references to past trauma and abuse, explicit sexual content, prostitution/sex work, class disparity, and themes of psychological control. This is a dark romance with an HEA (Happily Ever After) guaranteed, but the journey there contains mature content not suitable for all readers. Please see the Author's Note inside for a complete list of content warnings.
Each book in this Porte du Couer series follows a different couple and can be read as a standalone, though they share the same world.
- GenresM M RomanceBDSMLGBT
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2025
18 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 16, 2025
I really liked this book, and I'm excited for the next one to come out. The author makes your like all the characters and makes you curious if they will get there own books (I swear to God if I don't get a Lucas/Jean books I'll scream) some parts felts a little fast when reading and the plot was kinda lacking but it was still a good read. I'm looking forward to September 22 for Micheal and Henri's book.
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🔥🔥🔥🔥
Kink:🔗
Cover:📖📖📖📖
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🔥🔥🔥🔥
Kink:🔗
Cover:📖📖📖📖
April 5, 2025
A case of mistaken identity leads to a relationship between a prostitute and a rich man.
Ellis is sent out to a client but inadvertently approaches Gabriel instead. Its insta-love with a mix of BDSM thrown in.
Ellis is disciplined by the owner of the brothel and Gabriel finds out and rescues him and his friend and takes them home.
Ellis is eventually kidnapped and Gabriel rescues him.
I enjoyed the book, not too much BDSM and look forward to the next book in the series.
Ellis is sent out to a client but inadvertently approaches Gabriel instead. Its insta-love with a mix of BDSM thrown in.
Ellis is disciplined by the owner of the brothel and Gabriel finds out and rescues him and his friend and takes them home.
Ellis is eventually kidnapped and Gabriel rescues him.
I enjoyed the book, not too much BDSM and look forward to the next book in the series.
April 18, 2025
3.25 stars. I think this one had potential and a really interesting storyline, cliche but still exciting. There were elements that worked for me and others that didn't, but overall I had a good experience and it was a short and fun ride.
The story is about Ellis, a sex worker that has no other options, that is prompted to spend a night with a client. He finds someone that is close to that description and both he and the guy, whom he realizes is very rich, spend the night as Ellis believes was his duty. Turns out, this man isn't exactly whom he thought he was, and things turn out differently once he starts getting involved in his life.
As I mentioned, this was a fun ride. We got the trope of the sex worker and a client, except this one twists the premise a bit. That creates a different path, where MC is faced with consequences, and a rich man that wasn't mean to get involved with him but ends up getting obsessed. I love this type of dynamic, and in my eyes it was well done. I loved the elements of possessiveness, obsession and neediness.
I think the one thing that wasn't executed the best was the plot. The book had a great start, but once the MCs have their first encounter and the first smut scenes come, things started to crumble a bit for me. This sort of has instalust, which I didn't especially mind despite not being my thing, but what took me out of the story at times is the pacing because it was going too fast.
There was also a point where I sort of got bored of the main couple because of the amount of smut (which was well written, but it started feeling like erotica when I was expecting something else), and my attention was drawn to the side relationship, Lucas and Jean. I wish there could be a book about them because I liked Jean, and while things went fast between those too as well, I'm interested in their side of the story.
The conclusion was great, although the last few chapters including the subplot of trafficking was also executed too fast for my liking, and the structure of the chapters felt a bit wonky. However, despite everything, I was still fine with the inclusion of that (I'm a sucker for kidnapping plots) and the ending. It's always satisfying to see a character that has suffered a lot get their own happy ending.
I saw that the second book in the series will have Henri and another character, not sure if I'd be reading it, but if there is ever a book about Lucas and Jean, count me in.
Tags: (might miss some of them)
-POV: third person
-Content warnings:
-Elements:
-Kinks:
-Sexual act(s):
-Dynamic:
The story is about Ellis, a sex worker that has no other options, that is prompted to spend a night with a client. He finds someone that is close to that description and both he and the guy, whom he realizes is very rich, spend the night as Ellis believes was his duty. Turns out, this man isn't exactly whom he thought he was, and things turn out differently once he starts getting involved in his life.
As I mentioned, this was a fun ride. We got the trope of the sex worker and a client, except this one twists the premise a bit. That creates a different path, where MC is faced with consequences, and a rich man that wasn't mean to get involved with him but ends up getting obsessed. I love this type of dynamic, and in my eyes it was well done. I loved the elements of possessiveness, obsession and neediness.
I think the one thing that wasn't executed the best was the plot. The book had a great start, but once the MCs have their first encounter and the first smut scenes come, things started to crumble a bit for me. This sort of has instalust, which I didn't especially mind despite not being my thing, but what took me out of the story at times is the pacing because it was going too fast.
There was also a point where I sort of got bored of the main couple because of the amount of smut (which was well written, but it started feeling like erotica when I was expecting something else), and my attention was drawn to the side relationship, Lucas and Jean. I wish there could be a book about them because I liked Jean, and while things went fast between those too as well, I'm interested in their side of the story.
The conclusion was great, although the last few chapters including the subplot of trafficking was also executed too fast for my liking, and the structure of the chapters felt a bit wonky. However, despite everything, I was still fine with the inclusion of that (I'm a sucker for kidnapping plots) and the ending. It's always satisfying to see a character that has suffered a lot get their own happy ending.
I saw that the second book in the series will have Henri and another character, not sure if I'd be reading it, but if there is ever a book about Lucas and Jean, count me in.
Tags: (might miss some of them)
-POV: third person
-Content warnings:
-Elements:
-Kinks:
-Sexual act(s):
-Dynamic:
March 15, 2025
I think I could used a trigger warning for the human sex trafficking part. Actually towards the end of the book with the "reveals" depressed me, like I felt despair for several of the characters times 10.
My fault for coming into this book with zero preparedness for the dark that laid underneath. I came for my favorite trope of "poor abused boy meets rich caretaker daddy" (no actual daddy/boy dynamics here) and I left with feeling not happy enough for the happy ending.
Ellis is my baby boy! Must protect him. Honestly sometimes I felt like Ellis and Gabriel were background characters in their own book and romance to other characters and the world building. The first is the obvious attention towards Jean, and I feel kind of bad. Like it was good suspense. I was curious about Jean's background and Henri's mysterious lifestyle the entire way, but idk I felt like you are anticipating knowing more about Jean or Henri or all the side character relationship and romances and I just want more Ellis and Gab! Gab spoiling Ellis crazy, Ellis still caught in his doubt whether Gab will throw him away eventually, ugh my heart!
I liked the beginning/middle of the book and when Ellis/Gab were primary focus and when the external conflict was simpler like the father's disapproval or Ellis handling high-society life. but then the world building and the stuff with the Saint Claires, nothing to do with Ellis, the external conflict became bigger than their relationship.
Ellis is the kind of main character you want to root for all the way through. I told myself I wouldnt read another "sex work to survive" character story after Deliverance of Marek to give myself a break from the angst and I thought this couldn't be worse but Ellis getting kidnapped and sex trafficked was more nightmarish and more heartbreaking. And then the story ends with 10% left to process... not enough comfort for that hurt. Ellis couldn't even use his boat before the kidnapping and we know he loves the water and it ends with Ellis/Gab not being able to do the one thing they wanted to do OUCH and then we get the happy epilogue where they finally are able to travel but ugh I'm not happy enough. Like when Gab rescued Ellis from Donovan that felt GOOD, and the aftercare phenomenal but idk I did not feel so good this 2nd time around.
I hope to see more Ellis and Gab HAPPY in Henri's book or a bonus story with them.
Speaking of book 2! I'm looking forward to reading it. I'm looking forward to seeing Gabriel and Henri's relationship improve. The second wave of depression hit me at that unexpected twist, that Henri wasn't a party boy but abused the whole time and Gab didn't do enough for him as his big brother? OUCH ouch ouch. Actually I'm a little scared finally getting inside Henri's mind, I feel its going to be more heartbreaking and intense than this one.
My fault for coming into this book with zero preparedness for the dark that laid underneath. I came for my favorite trope of "poor abused boy meets rich caretaker daddy" (no actual daddy/boy dynamics here) and I left with feeling not happy enough for the happy ending.
Ellis is my baby boy! Must protect him. Honestly sometimes I felt like Ellis and Gabriel were background characters in their own book and romance to other characters and the world building. The first is the obvious attention towards Jean, and I feel kind of bad. Like it was good suspense. I was curious about Jean's background and Henri's mysterious lifestyle the entire way, but idk I felt like you are anticipating knowing more about Jean or Henri or all the side character relationship and romances and I just want more Ellis and Gab! Gab spoiling Ellis crazy, Ellis still caught in his doubt whether Gab will throw him away eventually, ugh my heart!
I liked the beginning/middle of the book and when Ellis/Gab were primary focus and when the external conflict was simpler like the father's disapproval or Ellis handling high-society life. but then the world building and the stuff with the Saint Claires, nothing to do with Ellis, the external conflict became bigger than their relationship.
Ellis is the kind of main character you want to root for all the way through. I told myself I wouldnt read another "sex work to survive" character story after Deliverance of Marek to give myself a break from the angst and I thought this couldn't be worse but Ellis getting kidnapped and sex trafficked was more nightmarish and more heartbreaking. And then the story ends with 10% left to process... not enough comfort for that hurt. Ellis couldn't even use his boat before the kidnapping and we know he loves the water and it ends with Ellis/Gab not being able to do the one thing they wanted to do OUCH and then we get the happy epilogue where they finally are able to travel but ugh I'm not happy enough. Like when Gab rescued Ellis from Donovan that felt GOOD, and the aftercare phenomenal but idk I did not feel so good this 2nd time around.
I hope to see more Ellis and Gab HAPPY in Henri's book or a bonus story with them.
Speaking of book 2! I'm looking forward to reading it. I'm looking forward to seeing Gabriel and Henri's relationship improve. The second wave of depression hit me at that unexpected twist, that Henri wasn't a party boy but abused the whole time and Gab didn't do enough for him as his big brother? OUCH ouch ouch. Actually I'm a little scared finally getting inside Henri's mind, I feel its going to be more heartbreaking and intense than this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2025
Porte du Coeur is a near futuristic city. A city with dark and light sides, little business kingdoms within trying to gain power and control. I really enjoyed this book. Even with the plot and cliches, I was enraptured with all the characters. And the characters are the key focus. The evil ones are dark, yet the good ones walk a little on the grey side. BDSM was light, yet the chemistry was sizzling. This book was Gabriel and Ellis’s story. Rent boy rescued by kinky rich guy. But the introduction to all the other characters intrigued me the most. I can’t wait for Alain and Nika’s story, Jean and Lucas’ and especially Henri’s. Overall, I loved it!
September 3, 2025
Ellis is sent out on a job as a rentboy. But he the description wasn't very good, and he approached the wrong man.
When he doesn't show for his actual client the brothel owner punishes him.
Gabriel doesn't hesitate. He makes him pay, and buys out 2 contracts.
Gabriel's father trys to bribe Ellis into leaving Gabriel, but when it doesn't work he goes to extremes.
It doesn't go well for anyone coming between him and his boy. I do enjoy that.
The bdsm didn't overtake the rest of the of the story, which I apricate.
When he doesn't show for his actual client the brothel owner punishes him.
Gabriel doesn't hesitate. He makes him pay, and buys out 2 contracts.
Gabriel's father trys to bribe Ellis into leaving Gabriel, but when it doesn't work he goes to extremes.
It doesn't go well for anyone coming between him and his boy. I do enjoy that.
The bdsm didn't overtake the rest of the of the story, which I apricate.
February 27, 2025
I’m DNFing at 25%. It’s probably an okay read if you love super possessive MCs. I actually like it, too, but I am not into the whole bottom of the barrel street sex worker thing. I don’t mean to slut shame but it’s not my thing. I even struggled with it on Pretty Woman. The last straw was Ellis in the display thing with a giant dildo being pounded into his ass presumably for hours. That body has some serious mileage on it. It was a bit over the top for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2025
To be hopeful is to read books. I just thought the story was beautiful and the characters were just so easy to love and remember. The storytelling and how it’s written wasn’t corny at all. Go read it
February 25, 2025
This is a hard book to stomach. The theme of possession and ownership isn't for everyone, especially not in the relationship. I don't know what to say about this book. I was happy when it ended.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews