Trope
Heat Factor: Kisses in the snow
Character Chemistry: Soulmates, in the “you fill in my missing pieces” sense of the word
Plot: Rachel needs to write a Hanukkah romance and is feeling uninspired—so she tries to get a ticket to the Matzah Ball, a huge party being planned by none other than her first love.
Overall: I have very mixed feelings
Long, Tall Texans, Book #1
Heat Factor: There’s a little topless fooling around but no (extremely euphemistic) orgasms until wedding bands are exchanged
Character Chemistry: If I’m using my lizard brain, it’s awesome, but if I’m using my emotionally mature brain I have concerns
Plot: “How best can I manufacture drama to ensure that my hopeless, loveless vision for the future will actually come to pass?”
Overall: OMG this book is SO 80s and I love it
Heat Factor: I was expecting chick-lit level steam (so not much), and I was wrong
Character Chemistry: When it’s good, it’s good. When they’re struggling, I wanted to SCREAM.
Plot: She’s having a quarter life crisis. He’s a tortured soul. They’re both writers and neighbors on the lake in Michigan.
Overall: I am seriously not on board with January assuring Gus that she’ll stick through the messiness when Gus is scared to try a relationship and then immediately bailing in a meltdown when things get messy. Seriously. Not.
The Lakeshore Chronicles, Book #2
Heat Factor: A few smooches, and then the door is firmly closed
Character Chemistry: I didn’t always buy it
Plot: Jenny’s house burns down, so Rourke gives her a place to stay, but really there are a million secondary characters and like three subplots. And, of course, family secrets.
Overall: This is not my usual romance fare, and frankly, the romance part didn’t do much for me, but it was still pretty engaging.
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
The Smut Report 