Tag: Author of Color

Representation – author is a person of color (BIPOC)

Recommended Read, Review

Review: Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh (2018)

Erin

Hard Play, Book #2

Review of Hard Play, Book #1, Book #3

Heat Factor: OMG! They’re both virgins!!! Love it!

Character Chemistry: If my LI frowned and told me that something I described as romantic wasn’t romantic, it was simply a spouse listening to a spouse’s needs and taking care of them, I would be like, “Let’s just schedule that wedding right now, then, so you can start taking care of me.”

Plot: Nayna is really going through a quarter-life crisis. Raj is hoping he can hang on for the ride.

Overall: The (everyday) romance of this book is AMAZING

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Recommended Read, Review

Review: Counting Down with You by Tashie Bhuiyan (2021)

Ingrid

Heat Factor: It’s a lovely warm–first bloom of love and all that. 

Character Chemistry: At first glance they’re opposites attracting but then it turns out they’re actually quite similar. 

Plot: Karina (Myra) is a second generation Bangladeshi teenager dealing with a lot of pressure to succeed within a very narrow set of parameters. When she’s asked to tutor Ace, the school “bad boy”, she’s initially horrified–but she soon discovers that they have way more in common than she thinks…

Overall: This book is actually achingly sweet. It’s a Young Adult, so you’re in for some major teen angst, but in this case that angst is pretty understandable.

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Review

Review: Stripped by Zoey Castile (2018)

Erin

Happy Endings, Book #1

Heat Factor: It’s a sexy one!

Character Chemistry: They’re totally hot for each other. Possibly to the exclusion of good decision making.

Plot: He’s a stripper and she’s a mess, and her best friend is getting married

Overall: It was light and non-rage-inducing, but I probably would have enjoyed it more if Robyn had ever actually grappled with her feelings about Fallon being a stripper

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Recommended Read, Review

Review: The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin (2013)

Holly

The Lotus Palace Mysteries, Book 1

Heat Factor: It takes Lord Bai a couple of encounters before he masters Advanced Consent

Character Chemistry: Yue-ying sees right through Bai Huang, and it’s good for him

Plot: A courtesan is found murdered, so a minor lord and a servant from the pleasure quarter team up to crack the case

Overall: This was a fabulous read—gripping mystery, interesting setting, lush writing, great characters—but I am conflicted about the relationship.

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Recommended Read, Review

Review: Learned Reactions by Jayce Ellis (2021)

Holly

Higher Education, Book 2

Heat Factor: 🍆🍆🍆🍆

Character Chemistry: These guys care about each other deeply

Plot: Deion and Carlton are best friends, so when Carlton needs a pretend boyfriend to smooth the process of his niece’s adoption, Deion doesn’t hesitate to agree. 

Overall: I was extremely emotionally invested in this book

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