Time Period
Maiden Lane, #10
Heat Factor: Val shows off his splendid physique
Character Chemistry: Even though there is a *serious* power imbalance between these two, it doesn’t *feel* like there is.
Plot: Val is the literal worst. Bridget is his housekeeper.
Overall: I finally understand the appeal of morality chain romances, because I loved every single minute of this book.
Ash and Juliana, Book #1
Heat Factor: One kiss
Character Chemistry: Solid
Plot: Juliana wakes up after her (traumatizing) wedding night in a pool of her husband’s blood. Naturally, she is the prime suspect. She enlists the help of lawyer/investigator Ash to save herself from the gallows.
*Content Warning for violent sexual assault before the book opens. It’s never described, but it is frequently referred to, and enough details are included throughout the text for the reader to get a pretty good idea of how bad it was.
Overall: Disappointing
The Wildes of Lindow Castle, Book #5
Review of the Wildes of Lindow Castle, Book #4
Heat Factor: They get married at about 70% and have a ton of really polite sex
Character Chemistry: I like the sparring partners thing they have going on. I am not excited about polite sex.
Plot: Shy young lady decides to woo proper vicar away from his terrible fiancée and intrigues the disdainful duke, who is clearly perfect for her, in the process
Overall: I put this book in timeout for a week because I was really worried about the black moment, but I needn’t have been
Desperate Duchesses, Book 2
Heat Factor: Sex is more poetic than explicit
Character Chemistry: Honestly, Poppy has more chemistry with Jemma, but, then again, she spends a lot more time with Jemma than with her husband
Plot: Fletch publicly insults Poppy, so she moves out, tries to convince herself she never loved him, and finds herself
Overall: My heart is glowing and I cannot explain why
Shout out to Tina, an early reader of our blog, for the recommendation!
Heat Factor: The vast majority of the sex is extremely sordid
Character Chemistry: Distinct power imbalance
Plot: The realities of a May-December romance
Overall: This book is not for the faint of heart
