Journey to Zlorta, Book 1
Heat Factor: There’s a fair amount of fantasy sizzle in here.
Character Chemistry: It was oddly flat, considering the fated mates/whoopie frequency
Plot: Sarah is kidnapped from her home after a foiled assault and brought beyond the Veil, where she learns that she is a key player in an attempted sort of magical coup, only she had no idea magic even existed.
Overall: This had so much potential but it just wasn’t fully formed.
*TW – attempted sexual assault.
Southern Gentlemen, Book #1
Heat Factor: Steamy enough
Character Chemistry: “Let me put you on this pedestal.”
Plot: “I’m not the same girl I was ten years ago.”
Overall: There were bits that were really great, but the hero put me into a paroxysm of rage
Erin made us buddy read Your Dad Will Do because she likes to make Ingrid uncomfortable. Which means it’s that time again: time for a dueling review!
A Touch of Taboo, Book 1
Heat Factor: It’s … imaginative
Character Chemistry: Indisputably they have sexual chemistry
Plot: She found her fiance cheating, so she gets back at him by making a move on his dad
Overall: Well it’s definitely hot, but the interpersonal dynamics are…concerning
Heat Factor: Yup, it’s sexy. And they like being watched, so the reader-voyeur is helping make it sexier.
Character Chemistry: I am so glad that they each found another person who shares their kinks!
Plot: Revenge sex turns to love
Overall: If you like Daddy Kink and Sexy Sex, read this book! It’s well written. If you don’t like those things, then don’t read this book, because the entire plot is sexy sex.
Heat Factor: I mean, it’s pretty much entirely written to BE hot from start to finish
Character Chemistry: They definitely seem like peanut butter and jelly in the bedroom
Plot: She starts out seeking a revenge hookup with her ex-fiance’s dad and ends up in a whole thing
Overall: If you like daddy/kinky/revenge sex this is probably right up your alley.
All three of the Smut Reporters read A Hunger Like No Other. Erin and Ingrid loved it, but Holly was a little meh on the whole thing. Which means it’s time for a Dueling Review!
Immortals After Dark, Book 1
Erin:
Heat Factor: There was a point I told my husband to stop talking to me because I was in the middle of some hot, bitey werewolf/vampire sex
Character Chemistry: For the first few chapters I was extremely concerned by his anger and her cluelessness, but they turned it around.
Plot: Innocent, sheltered vampire tames powerful, fierce werewolf
Overall: Hahaha, Yaaaaaaas!
Holly:
Heat Factor: Never accept a blow job from a vampire.
Character Chemistry: “I hate you! But you’re my mate! I am so confused!”
Plot: Uh, all the magical creatures are being forced into confrontation so that they can kill each other off. And that means that this werewolf finally finds his mate and she’s a vampire and he hates vampires. And that’s just chapter 1!
Overall: This book was well-executed, but epic paranormal romances are so not my jam.
Ingrid:
Heat Factor: I really can’t deny the steam factor in this one.
Character Chemistry: It went from “Omg these guys need therapy. Separately.” to “They’re going to have 10 babies and I love it so much” in pages. PAGES.
Plot: Ok, well…she’s really green about the fangs and he’s got some centuries of torture issues going on and then they turn it all around and heads come off and furniture gets broken but like, in a hot way.
Overall: I had a few spots where I was like, oh no I don’t know if this is going to work, but then it was extremely diverting and I ended up really liking it.
Fast & Fury, Book 1
Heat Factor: It kind of felt closed door, but it’s not, it was just that I was that detached while reading
Character Chemistry: 180 degrees wouldn’t adequately describe the instant shift these protagonists have in their attitudes to each other
Plot: I don’t even know what to tell you. There’s more than one murder of characters we meet, and I was wondering why the epilogue was 1. Not called the epilogue and was 2. Four chapters long
Overall: SMH
