Representation – at least one protagonist is a person of color
New World, Book #2
Heat Factor: Ana tells Kit she’s a good girl so you *know* there’s some heat here.
Character Chemistry: The Goddess has decreed it!
Plot: Kit escaped from a lab; Ana has hunted her down and is going to return her. Time for a road trip (to pound town)!
Overall: I liked that this book surprised me.
Heat Factor: The whole middle of the book is pretty much sex.
Character Chemistry: feelings are annoying
Plot: The new White House Press Secretary worked with the president once many years ago. This time he’s not about to let her get away.
Overall: I was put off by the way the president was initially represented (it’s single POV from Clover), and that kind of snowballed with other things as I continued to read
Heat Factor: An uptight hero who gets dirty in the sheets.
Character Chemistry: “There are two kinds of people in the world. Ones who buy beach towels with brightly colored unicorns or starfish, and ones who buy plain, dull colors.”
Plot: Instead of trying to hook Leora up with her friend’s hot architect son, Leora’s mom is actively discouraging the relationship.
Overall: I read this at the beach and it was exactly what I wanted.
Heat Factor: Closed door
Character Chemistry: I have always loved you but can’t say anything because we have too much history and also our families do everything together
Plot: Dhillon doesn’t mind his damn business
Overall: This book commits the cardinal sin of being boring
Chesapeake Days, Book #2
Review of Chesapeake Days, Book #1
Heat Factor: 🍆🍆🍆
Character Chemistry: Let’s just say that I completely understand the bickering as a love language
Plot: Hudson and Nico hate each other’s guts and own rival restaurants, which makes it really challenging when they have to work together on a food and drinks collab for the hometown summer festival
Overall: If you’re at all interested in a charming small town romance between antagonistically rival restaurateurs who are positively thirsty for each other, look no further
The Smut Report 