Location
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.
Heat Factor: PG-13…mostly
Character Chemistry: good enough to scratch the friends to lovers itch
Plot: Navigating a marriage of convenience between friends who are also secretly in love
Overall: a fluffy, fun read
Feminine Pursuits, Book 1
Heat Factor: Seeing stars. Literally and figuratively.
Character Chemistry: These two have a wonderful, supportive relationship.
Plot: Lady Scientist sets out to prove herself. Other scientists dismissive, but she finds a supportive Patroness and also True Love.
Overall: Pretty darn great.
Devils of Dover, Book 2
Heat Factor: The sex scenes are excellent and well-integrated
Character Chemistry: They are both soooooo morally upright, so I guess they are perfect for each other
Plot: Earl presumed dead returns, runs into former friend’s former fiancée, woos her for himself
Overall: Not my favorite of Bowen’s oeuvre
The Smut Report 