Review

Review: Walking on Air by Michele Robbe (1985)

Heat Factor: It’s not just a bunch of hot air, this one gets steamy.

Character Chemistry: I mean, it’s basically Tom Selleck and Linda Hamilton in a book involving blimps, how could there not be chemistry?

Plot: Lexy has carved out a space for herself in the very male-dominated airship ground crew industry. But then womanizer Cameron Ramsay joins the crew and throws everything off, with his furry chest and bristly mustache and dimples. How will she manage to withstand the misogyny and his heated glances??

Overall: This was actually fascinating. Cameron starts out just genuinely gross—he lies to her about who he is, asks her out, and then punishes her for rejecting him. But then…

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Dueling Review, Recommended Read

Dueling Review: Big Bad Cowboy by Carly Bloom (2018)

Once Upon a Time in Texas, Book #1

Holly’s Take

Heat Factor: I found the sexting shockingly effective

Character Chemistry: Maggie is in lust with the Big Bad Wolf, and moving from animosity to friendship to love with Travis. Except they’re the same man—and she doesn’t know it.

Plot: Maggie and Travis have mindblowing, slightly kinky sex as anonymous strangers at a costume party. And then Travis discovers that they’re neighbors slash she thinks he’s destroying her business. Too bad the sexting is so fun.

Overall: There were a few rough patches at the beginning, but I ended up really enjoying it.

Ingrid’s Take

Heat Factor: I’d definitely say it borders on a slow burn IF you don’t take the sexting into consideration.

Character Chemistry: There are a lot of relationships going on and they all had pretty good chemistry. Maggie and Travis seemed to sync really well.

Plot: Maggie and Travis hook up in disguise at a costume party—Travis knows Maggie’s identity, but Maggie is in the dark. When they end up at odds as neighbors and work competitors, they end up finding a deeper connection.

Overall: It was a cute cowboy-to-be book that felt realistically small-town.

Erin’s Take

Heat Factor: It starts early and doesn’t really slow down if you count all the sexting, but I wanted the story to get on with it because all the character interactions were more fun

Character Chemistry: I was more invested in the all the dynamics of the small town characters than in the romantic relationship between Maggie and Travis

Plot: business competitors, antagonistic anonymous neighbors, anonymous hookup, forced to work the same contract, sexting deception, custody battles, and liens

Overall: If we hadn’t agreed to buddy read it, I probably would have DNFed by 25% simply for all the gender essentialism, BUT I think it was maybe Trying To Do Something, and, as Holly said, it turned out pretty cute in the end.

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Review

Review: Angling for You by Adele Buck (2022)

All for You, Book 1

Heat Factor: Respect is sexy, especially in bed.

Character Chemistry: They just really like each other.

Plot: Sam always stands on her own feet. When she meets Graham, she realizes that being self-sufficient is kinda lonely, and that maybe she’ll be ok if she lets others help her sometimes.

Overall: Sometimes you just want a gentle, calm book, and this fits the bill. Plus, I learned more than I ever thought I’d know about fly fishing!

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Recommended Read, Review

Review: A Lady’s Lesson in Scandal by Meredith Duran (2011)

Thank you to Kay of Miss Bates Reads Romance for the recommendation! 

Heat Factor: A few open-door scenes where the focus is more on the emotions than the moving pieces.

Character Chemistry: They have some serious trust issues, but that’s the whole point. 

Plot: Guttersnipe + Rake in a Marriage of Convenience 

Overall: The emotional beats in this book are PERFECTION.

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Review

Review: Roller Girl by Vanessa North (2016)

Lake Lovelace, Book #3

Heat Factor: There are hot sexytimes, but most of it is centered in Tina’s emotional development

Character Chemistry: Instant attraction with roller derby-related complications

Plot: Tina doesn’t feel like she’s adulting very well after her divorce, so she’s trying to take care of herself by herself while also finding a community of women to be with in roller derby

Overall: Totally a feels book

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