Mood
Advertisements for Love, Book #1
Heat Factor: Everything is very proper; the door is firmly closed.
Character Chemistry: Ewan is too obtuse to have chemistry with anyone.
Plot: Dueling flower farms + Widow must protect her child + First love back from the dead + Battles over an inheritance + Newspaper advertisements for a husband
Overall: I haven’t been this angry about a hero in a long time.
Heat Factor: I mean, it is technically explicit sex, but it’s done in a vignette style until nearly the end, when it feels much more traditionally written
Character Chemistry: I had big feels, but it was because of Zach’s journey, not because of Zach and Eugenio together
Plot: Baseball players fall in love, but one refuses to come out and things fall apart. Until they get a second chance.
Overall: Y’all. I have just been on a whole emotional roller coaster.
Dungeons and Dating, Book #1
Heat Factor: It’s a pretty slow burn
Character Chemistry: Despite meeting at a very inopportune time, the chemistry is immediate and comfortable.
Plot: Roxie has opened a board game cafe with her two best friends and been painfully ejected from her last relationship when she meets her new roommate, Mel. And Mel has just essentially fled to Cali for a new job after breaking up yet again with her ex boyfriend. But they both have an easy and immediate bond with an undercurrent of rawr.
Overall: It had its slow parts, but the romance was certainly satisfying.
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.
A Gathering of Dragons, Book #1
Heat Factor: ✋🩸🍆
Character Chemistry: Maddek wants to hate Yvenne, but he can’t
Plot: Epic fantasy revenge marriage of convenience road trip
Overall: Holy shit
The Smut Report 