Location
Heat Factor: A case of pining so good, I would have preferred it without the sex scene
Character Chemistry: OMG
Plot: Mika is hired to teach some kid witches witchcraft and finds a family
Overall: I can see why this book was such a hit, but it didn’t hit for me
The Doomsday Books, Book #1
Heat Factor: We open with sex, then get a whole lotta feelings, and then some more sex toward the end.
Character Chemistry: Both the antagonism and the support hit perfectly.
Plot: Gareth inherits a barony, a house, and a whole lot of trouble with smugglers when his father dies. Luckily, Joss is only too happy to help him out.
Overall: An enjoyable read.
Heat Factor: It’s definitely not unusual for an old school trad published historical romance, but also they have sex in a cave before the 50% mark…so maybe it also is?
Character Chemistry: If you like that “I’ve been wronged and misunderstood, so I’m going to live down to everyone’s expectations” plus “I see through your mask and am the only one to call you on your b.s.” dynamic, this is that
Plot: Bluestocking spinster with no time for social niceties calls beastly and scandalous landowner to town because criminals are getting in the way of her archaeology; compromise and marriage ensues
Overall: Um, this book is awesomesauce.
Magic & Mechanicals, Book #2
Heat Factor: Not as cold as the North Atlantic waters Calla likes swimming in, but not high heat by any means
Character Chemistry: She gets all shivery when he touches her scales
Plot: Writer and mermaid hang out in a maybe-haunted house with very rude neighbors
Overall: This book feels very “social justice-y”
Blackhaven Brides, Book #2
Heat Factor: I mean, he’s in the clergy and she’s a blacklisted widow who refuses to publicly grieve, so the “but we mustn’t” factor is steamy from the get go, and it just takes off from there
Character Chemistry: The witty banter between these two is just *chef’s kiss*
Plot: Lady Katherine has been widowed and although reality is far from the story being spread throughout the ton, she’s been shunned to the seaside village of Blackhaven all the same. Grant, the town’s substitute curate, is just about everything you could hope for in both a curate and a future hubs, but he’s also got some secrets about his own past cooking up some trouble…
Overall: I LOVED this book—it’s deep and messy and has that element of forbidden foxiness (but not in a squicky way). All around a great read.
The Smut Report 