Location
Crescent Pass, Book #1
Heat Factor: We really shouldn’t but we want to (and boy do they ever)
Character Chemistry: Attraction plus kindness is always a winning combination
Plot: Harper and Owen got Vegas married five years ago, and haven’t seen each other since. Now, Harper wants an annulment.
Overall: I really liked this book
Heat Factor: It’s a pretty juicy one
Character Chemistry: They’re an instant connection that kind of shifts and evolves over time
Plot: Brinkley is working semi-undercover as a Heartbreaker—she goes out and exacts revenge on men who are wronging women. She ends up flunking a mark (who is named Mark!) and is shocked to discover that Mark is hired to be her new trainee…but everyone is lying and it’s a real mess.
Overall: I loathed whole parts of this book but I’m pretty sure the author did it to me on purpose because it all kind of fed into the ending.
The Nolans, Book #3
Review of The Nolans, Book #1
No one would ‘fess up to actually requesting the ARC of this book, so we decided to read it together! (Also, the last time we read a priest book together it went really well!!!!)
Welcome to Dueling Reviews: More Priests for Everyone Edition!
Heat Factor: The scene where she masturbates in the bar was pretty hot, but otherwise it’s nothing to write home about.
Character Chemistry: They really want to bone, but they can’t.
Plot: Sasha has the hots for a priest. Patrick is a priest, but has the hots for Sasha. Angst ensues.
Overall: Honestly, the priest bit was the least infuriating part of this book (and the priest bit was pretty darn annoying).
Heat Factor: The cloud of shame over the sex really cast a pall on everything that went on.
Character Chemistry: Mostly based on them separately processing their naughty feelings.
Plot: Catholic guilt + disillusionment with Catholic doctrine
Overall: This book probably succeeds on the “processing Catholic identity as a progressive” front, but that didn’t necessarily make for a super satisfying romance.
Heat Factor: It’s got some hot bits, especially if you like things really forbidden.
Character Chemistry: They’ve already been swooning after each other before the story starts.
Plot: Everyone wants what they oughtn’t have.
Overall: It’s pretty classic and it certainly had an engaging plot, but I did feel like the end could have been more satisfying.
Midlife Shifters, Book 1
Heat Factor: The sexytimes start by about 20%
Character Chemistry: It’s very laid back and insta
Plot: He’s a recovering alcoholic trying to reclaim his alpha position, she’s home after a 20-year abusive marriage, and (oops!) they’re having a baby.
Overall: Despite the heavy character backgrounds, this is an easy-to-read, relatively light romance with older protagonists
Heat Factor: It’s like a medium to slow burn and I dig it
Character Chemistry: Kate and Eric start out running into each other coincidentally and then they’re friends and then they end up in just the most realistic and goal worthy relationship I tell you what
Plot: Eric is a (vampire) detective who ends up intervening when police officer Kate ends up nearly killed in an alley with her partner. Kate ends up on desk duty recovering with Eric and as they race to solve her partner’s murder (and avoid serious vampire shenanigans), they slowly fall deeply in love with each other.
Overall: Dude, this book opens with maggots but it closes with my heart.
The Smut Report 