Mood
Heat Factor: fades to gray
Character Chemistry: Not sure we get enough push-pull when he hates her (but really not) and they hop into bed by 35%
Plot: Mia is a professional reviewer and aspiring writer who wins a spot at Axel’s writing workshop. Axel is furious with Mia for writing a mean review about his alter ego’s book because he needs the extra income stream. They get snowed in.
Overall: Their fight seemed a bit ridiculous when they were so ethically messy from, like, page one
Once Upon a Time in Texas, Book #1
Heat Factor: I found the sexting shockingly effective
Character Chemistry: Maggie is in lust with the Big Bad Wolf, and moving from animosity to friendship to love with Travis. Except they’re the same man—and she doesn’t know it.
Plot: Maggie and Travis have mindblowing, slightly kinky sex as anonymous strangers at a costume party. And then Travis discovers that they’re neighbors slash she thinks he’s destroying her business. Too bad the sexting is so fun.
Overall: There were a few rough patches at the beginning, but I ended up really enjoying it.
Heat Factor: I’d definitely say it borders on a slow burn IF you don’t take the sexting into consideration.
Character Chemistry: There are a lot of relationships going on and they all had pretty good chemistry. Maggie and Travis seemed to sync really well.
Plot: Maggie and Travis hook up in disguise at a costume party—Travis knows Maggie’s identity, but Maggie is in the dark. When they end up at odds as neighbors and work competitors, they end up finding a deeper connection.
Overall: It was a cute cowboy-to-be book that felt realistically small-town.
Heat Factor: It starts early and doesn’t really slow down if you count all the sexting, but I wanted the story to get on with it because all the character interactions were more fun
Character Chemistry: I was more invested in the all the dynamics of the small town characters than in the romantic relationship between Maggie and Travis
Plot: business competitors, antagonistic anonymous neighbors, anonymous hookup, forced to work the same contract, sexting deception, custody battles, and liens
Overall: If we hadn’t agreed to buddy read it, I probably would have DNFed by 25% simply for all the gender essentialism, BUT I think it was maybe Trying To Do Something, and, as Holly said, it turned out pretty cute in the end.
Heat Factor: Kisses!
Character Chemistry: It’s not like they’re without their problems, but this is a really lovely relationship
Plot: Bitty goes to college and learns how to be himself. And he falls in love with the NHL-bound hockey captain.
Overall: I read everything within 24 hours. Absolutely delightful.
Continue reading “Series Review: Check Please! by Ngozi Ukazu (2018-2020)”This month, our theme week—inspired by SuperWendy’s TBR Challenge—was the Blue Collar archetype. What could be better than a cross-class blacksmith romance?
Spindle Cove, #3.5
Heat Factor: He gets her all dirty
Character Chemistry: They’ve been pining from afar for a while and are finally ready to admit their feelings
Plot: Let’s try this courtship thang!
Overall: There are a couple of really standout scenes
Heat Factor: I mean, it opens with her admiring the size of his………………wrists. And it ends with zero doubt some dirty stuff went down.
Character Chemistry: There’s heavy longing suggested, but things get cooking right away, which is nice for us.
Plot: They want each other, but can they HAVE each other?
Overall: It’s really cute and I can tell this is one that will stick in my memory if not just because there are some very memorable (and unique!) moments.
Heat Factor: It’s a novella, so there’s a lot of desiring from afar but only the one fateful night
Character Chemistry: There are some undercurrents between Diana and Aaron earlier in the series, so this book involves a good deal of pining followed by taking action
Plot: Diana and Aaron finally decide to stop dancing around each other and see if their feelings can overcome their class divide
Overall: I enjoyed it more the first time I read it years ago, but it’s still well-constructed and charming if you don’t mind some dated ideas
Heat Factor: It’s a nice amount of heat…think spice in chocolate.
Character Chemistry: Dead serious, this is the BEST enemies to lovers set up I’ve read in a long time. Meticulously done.
Plot: Nina and Leo are co stars on a culinary reality show–when Nina reaches her breaking point in dealing with Leos’ crap and quits. In order to save their respective restaurants after the messy episode airs, Nina and Leo decide to embark on a fake relationship to stir up good press. Only, it gets REAL. Real juicy.
Overall: The second I saw the tiniest hint that these enemies were actually going to fall for each other, my jaw dropped. It was just deliciously done–and honestly, extra points for the bold and punny title.
The Smut Report 