Trope – Forbidden relationship stems from a boss/employee relationship
The Spies Who Loved Her, Book 1
Heat Factor: Everyone is very horny.
Character Chemistry: Horny, yes. Is it love? Eh.
Plot: 50% being horny, 50% spy stuff.
Overall: Are you looking for some horny spies? Then have I got the book for you!
Happy Saturday, smut fans! If reading about all of these delicious (and…not so delicious) workplace romances has you hankering for more, here are six of our favorites.
This book is a delight. Portia does not have her life all figured out, but she does go intern at a Scottish swordmaker. There she meets Tavish McKenzie, irresistible silver fox swordsmith and also her boss. All that attraction has no outlet, though, because they definitely need to maintain that professional boundary. Right?
Val is 100% villainous, and this is his love story, if not exactly the story of his redemption. Bridget is his housekeeper, mainly so she can foil his blackmail plots. Val notices Bridget because she doesn’t cower before him—and since we’re talking about alpha bosses, you know that someone standing up to him who really shouldn’t be is something that Val just can’t resist. (Yes, Holly recommended this book last month as well. Just read it, ok?)
Robert (baker of fancy Regency treats) and Betsy (his shopgirl) both desperately want to get married (to each other), but of course neither has told the other. When Betsy steps in to help Robert fill a huge order for an important client, she decides that this is finally her opportunity to seduce her boss—and seduce him she does! This sweet erotic romance has plenty of kitchen sexytimes, but also provides a meditation on desire, self-sacrifice, and equal partnership.
If you’re looking for a traditional office billionaire/assistant romance that really leans into interrogating the power differential in believable but still sexy ways, then this is the book for you. Bonus points for airplane sex.
Look, you guys, it’s a grumpy/sunshine office romance…at Vogue. Ingrid will basically take every opportunity to recommend this book, it’s that good
In her contemporary series, Singh has some delightful bedding the boss trope action, but Sailor and Isa are just darling. Seeing Sailor landscaping at her school, Isa loses her sense and jumps his bones, only to discover that her mother has contracted him for a project. Oh, and Isa’s responsible for the project, since she’s technically still a shareholder. But professional boundaries? Never heard of ‘em.
Erin really wanted to rant about this book, but while Ingrid might not enthusiastically recommend it, she isn’t about to agree with Erin that it’s rant-worthy. Clearly, we needed to review this book together.
Welcome to Dueling Reviews.
Moderated by Holly, who had no interest in reading this book but still asked a gazillion questions.
Heat Factor: Not much heat. Mostly yearning.
Character Chemistry: I both like and hate their chemistry at once
Plot: Luna has a really weird relationship with both of her bosses, but one’s like her dad and the other she has a crush on
Overall: I’ve read this more than once because I really like the idea of it, but every time I get into it I am totally enraged
Heat Factor: Zapata starts fires with sticks, really
Character Chemistry: It makes sense. I stand by that.
Plot: Luna spends her life making everyone happy except her boss, Rip
Overall: I mean, it’s a classic Mariana Zapata–so it’s messy, sure. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t satisfying.
Long, Tall Texans, Book #1
Heat Factor: There’s a little topless fooling around but no (extremely euphemistic) orgasms until wedding bands are exchanged
Character Chemistry: If I’m using my lizard brain, it’s awesome, but if I’m using my emotionally mature brain I have concerns
Plot: “How best can I manufacture drama to ensure that my hopeless, loveless vision for the future will actually come to pass?”
Overall: OMG this book is SO 80s and I love it
Bishop Brothers, Book #3
Review of Bishop Brothers #1, Bishop Brothers #2
Heat Factor: The sex is very complicated on account of the power dynamics and the lies
Character Chemistry: I bought it
Plot: Emma is a plant in Connor’s office, so she’s a lying liar. Connor is just a billionaire trying not to bone his employee and failing. Can you guess what happens next?
Overall: My HR brain was screaming, but also somehow I was shockingly sympathetic to these protagonists.
The Smut Report 