Trope
Shore Leave, Book #1
Heat Factor: Bed sex, bathtub sex, shower sex….lotsa sex
Character Chemistry: I feel like a heart eyes emoji right now
Plot: Two men who are absolutely not a good match engage in a fake welcome home kiss that turns into a fake relationship that turns into OMG is this a good match?!?!
Overall: This is one of those delightfully tropey romances that feels like a warm hug to read
Sydney Smoke Rugby, Book #7
Heat Factor: kinda like: the first time they do something it’s explicit but then subsequent times we can bypass that detail
Character Chemistry: “This person is extra special” at first sight
Plot: closeted gay rugby player finally meets a man who makes him want what he never needed before
Overall: I don’t know. On the one hand it’s super readable. On the other… 🙃
Heat Factor: It’s a slowish burn but hooo boy, it gets steamy.
Character Chemistry: It’s pretty instantaneous but there are SO MANY WALLS
Plot: Julien’s bike breaks down in Eliza’s small town at the exact moment she desperately needs help to keep her flower farm going–it’s like kismet. But both Julien and Eliza have so many legitimate barriers to being together (and surviving!) that it’s hard to see how they’re going to make it work.
Overall: Such a fantastically written book, just expertly knit together.
Heat Factor: 🍆🍆🍆
Character Chemistry: Instant attraction → Denial → We can have just one night → Is this…love? → BUT DUTY!!!
Plot: The set-up is bonkers and makes no sense, but who cares?
Overall: The back and forth between these two is just *chef’s kiss*
The Ravenels, Book #7
(a.k.a. The Wallflowers, The Next Generation, Book #3)
(a.k.a. The Devil in Winter Epilogues, also Book #3)
Erin’s reviewed the whole Ravenels series: Book #1 | Book #2 | Book #3 | Book #4 | Book #5 | Book #6
Heat Factor: These are some horny Victorians
Character Chemistry: It’s totally insta-love, and it was written lucidly enough that it worked for me
Plot: “We’ll never work because of an unequal match” + “Why is someone trying to murder me?”
Overall: I re-upped my membership in the Bad Decisions Book Club for this one and read it in one sitting. No regrets.
