Tag: Character of Color

Representation – at least one protagonist is a person of color

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

Continue reading “Review: Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh (2018)” →
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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Review

Review: The Master by Kresley Cole (2015)

Erin

The Game Maker, Book #2

Review of The Game Maker, Book #1

Heat Factor: They have amazing kinky hate sex energy

Character Chemistry: The “I hate you but I really want to jump you” dynamic is EXCEPTIONAL

Plot: She needs money to stay on the run from her serial killer husband, so she steps in for her friend as a very expensive escort for a night. He is bowled over by her breath of fresh air in his luxurious but monotonous life, but he also thinks everything she says is a lie. So obviously they fall in love.

Overall: Combo of “What did I even just read?” and “That was amazing.”

Continue reading “Review: The Master by Kresley Cole (2015)” →