Contemporary – The Smut Report

Heat Factor: They have sex (a good bit of it), but it was more focused on the emotional connection and the kissing and touching than on the arousal and orgasms

Character Chemistry: Just because there’s an instant connection and attraction doesn’t mean it’s all smooth sailing from there!

Plot: Shoshana has a lot of emotional baggage associated with the synagogue. New hot rabbi single parent David would like to date her.

Overall: This story has a lot of good energy. Definitely a good one for people who like their protagonists to be checked in and thoughtful.

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Dueling Review, Rant

Dueling Review: Hot Under His Collar by Andie J. Christopher (2021)

July 20, 2021July 20, 2021 smutreportteam

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!

Let’s start by all giving our overall rating for the book:

Holly

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).

Erin

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.

Ingrid

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.

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Review: It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey (2021)

July 16, 2021July 16, 2021 Ingrid

Heat Factor: It’s a slow-but-steady scorcher.

Character Chemistry: Folks…we have a classic Grumpy/Sunshine on our hands!!!

Plot: Piper tries to wrest control of her breakup narrative in a way that lands her in jail…so her wealthy stepfather sends her and her sister to the town they were born in, where they are meant to live in the bar apartment they inherited from their father for three months to SHAPE UP, and there she meets Brendan, the cranky sea captain who stole my heart. I mean, her heart.

Overall: Obsessed. This book was such a solid read, and so enjoyable…

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