Hero – non-doctor healer, includes nurses, therapists, physical therapists, mystical healers, etc.
Heat Factor: “We’ll just bang it out, and then I’ll have it out of my system.” Always a solid plan.
Character Chemistry: They do things to make the other one happy.
Plot: Helen asks her long-time friend to be her fake boyfriend so everyone will stop feeling sorry for her after her last break-up goes viral
Overall: So cute. And now I want an anatomically correct heart cake. And a charcuterie chalet.
The Bradford Trilogy, Book #2
Heat Factor: There’s one vaguely uncomfortable blow job
Character Chemistry: That feeling when you have flutters about someone new but you’re not sure if they reciprocate
Plot: Simon is investigating a murder, and Walter’s close friend is the primary suspect. Also, oh shit, there’s a demon.
Overall: Everything is very stiff upper lip; I liked the serenity in the midst of chaos.
I started reading Nalini Singh’s psy-changeling series after Erin binge-read them all and then texted me every day about how amazing they were. I thought the first two were mildly entertaining, but I promised Erin I would read up through Book 3 before I gave up on the series.
I think I’m giving up. So here are some notes on Caressed by Ice from someone who didn’t love it.
First, I do agree that the worldbuilding is excellent, and I love that Singh expands out what we know about both psy and changeling politics in each book. If I were to read another book, it would only be to follow the continuing story of the psynet. (However, I thought the one-book mystery of who was killing pack members was underdeveloped—the villain wasn’t actually a real character, so I didn’t care when he was revealed.)
However, the gender essentialism in this series is…a lot. So if you feel your skin crawl when characters say things like, “Well, you know that women are more in tune with their emotions than men” (ugh, Faith Nightstar, ugh), then this book might not be for you. If you hate it when characters refer to “her innate female sensuality” or “his male dominance”, then this book might not be for you.
If neither of those things are dealbreakers, then read on for Erin’s enthusiastic take about how awesome this book is.
Continue reading “Review Revisited: Holly’s Take on Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh (2007)”
Heat Factor: There’s plenty of horniness when they figure out their feelings, but the door is closed
Character Chemistry: Epistolary romance very well done
Plot: Tiffy has to move out of her ex’s place and needs really cheap rent. Leon needs money, so he decides on a flatshare, but it’s a weird flatshare because they’re sharing the exact same space, just never at the same time.
Overall: This is the sort of book that might inspire one to read a whole bunch of other epistolary romance
Psy-Changeling, Book #3
Review of Psy-Changeling, Book #1
Heat Factor: Judd destroys furniture with his mind while banging because it’s so intense
Character Chemistry: So, the drama of “he really wants to be with her but if he engages in their emotions one of them will die” (not joking) is AWESOME
Plot: There’s a lot going on with all the Psy/Changeling politics, but also Brenna is recovering from being kidnapped and tortured, and Judd is desperately trying not to break Silence and become a serial killer.
Overall: This book totally sealed it for me. I stan Psy/Changeling now.
The Smut Report 