Finance Heroine – The Smut Report

Review: The Stand-Up Groomsman by Jackie Lau (2022)

October 21, 2022October 22, 2022 Ingrid

Donut Fall in Love #2

Heat Factor: It’s a slow burn–much intense emotional heat with satisfying results

Character Chemistry: It killed me, dead. I am not okay now, thanks Jackie Lau.

Plot: Mel the stand-up comedian and Vivian the financial analyst/secret artist meet and can’t stand each other only to find themselves as attendants in their friends’ wedding. Mel is the entire rainbow and Vivan is gray. And I love them.

Overall: This book made me swoon so hard, so many times that I actually NEED a fainting couch now.

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Review

Review: Constitution Check by Katherine McIntyre (2022)

October 3, 2022September 30, 2022 Holly

Dungeons and Dating, Book #4

Reviews of previous books in Dungeons and Dating: Book #1, Book #2, Book #3

Heat Factor: Sex in an alley. Sex in a public bathroom stall. Eventually they even make it to a bed.

Character Chemistry: My trauma recognizes your trauma.

Plot: We said we’re keeping this casual and so we will but do we really want to?

Overall: There’s a very specific dynamic here where the characters are very up in their heads. If that’s a thing you like, then you’ll probably like this.

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Review

Review: The Vendetta Plan by Kryssa James (2022)

May 6, 2022 Ingrid

Heat Factor: It feels kinda like a slow burn but it’s not TOO slow.

Character Chemistry: At first it’s not very apparent but a hot spring makes things…hot.

Plot: Charlotte gets her hiney handed to her after a brutal break up with a terrible ex…but worse, she nearly lost her long-time best friend, Julien, in the process. They end up going on a road trip—but while HER goal is sweet, sweet revenge, Julien’s is sweet, sweet love.

Overall: The writing was quite good (I’d read another book by this author in a pitter-pat of a heartbeat). If you’re a Marie Kondo reader, you’ll love this one.

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Dueling Review, Recommended Read

Dueling Review: Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie (2004)

April 8, 2022 smutreportteam

Holly’s Take

Heat Factor: He eats donuts off her boobs

Character Chemistry: It’s fate

Plot: A comedy of errors ensues when Min and Cal (attempt to) resist the universe’s plan for them to be together

Overall: Couldn’t put it down

Ingrid’s Take

Heat Factor: Kissing while eating donuts has never been so steamy

Character Chemistry: It’s instantaneous and angry, then alllll the sexy tension

Plot: Min’s ex tries to get Cal to bet over her—but the more they try to avoid each other, the more they end up attached at the hip

Overall: I was shocked by how much I enjoyed this book

Erin’s Take

Heat Factor: It’s a very slow burn, but she does get tied to a couch

Character Chemistry: This is a push-you-pull-me that works marvelously

Plot: Min is about to approach Cal when she overhears that she’s the subject of one of his bets, so she accepts his invitation out of spite, and fate takes the wheel

Overall: I didn’t like all the stuff that happened in this book (and I wasn’t supposed to, either), but I really liked the book

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Rant, Review

Series Review: Krish / Before Krish by N.J. Bhogayta

August 11, 2021August 11, 2021 Ingrid

Heat Factor: It’s…extremely steamy.

Character Chemistry: It’s pretty electric and from the start you know they’re going to even though…they probably ought not.

Plot: Nicole is a driven, well-regarded, successful up-and-comer in finance and acquisitions when she’s forced into working for Raphael–one of the biggest players in the industry, kind of a bully, and very very sexy. She’s got major baggage (yikes!), he’s one of those guys everyone warns you about (not a good idea, honey) and it’s crisis after sexy crisis for these two.

Overall: I can’t review the entire plot arc, because I’ve only read books 1 and 2 out of 3–but there’s some major red flags AND some major steam in this series that I’ll happily pick apart for you.

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