Location
Hell’s Bells, Book #1
Heat Factor: He really likes to go down on her.
Character Chemistry: It started before the book, so there’s not a ton of buildup.
Plot: She’s in an extralegal girl gang, he’s got dark secrets, being together isn’t going to work, but everything swirling around them connects them. As does sex.
Overall: There’s a lot in this book that should be more prevalent in historical romance.
Heat Factor: I wouldn’t call it steamy, but it’s definitely not closed door.
Character Chemistry: It’s deliciously complicated.
Plot: Crispin is *the worst*. Except now he has amnesia and is nice. And also has a wife, who doesn’t seem to like him all that much?
Overall: The romance is an exceptional emotional roller coaster, but there’s some other plot that worked less well.
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.
Palace Insiders, #1
Heat Factor: A little bit of spice to go with all those sweets
Character Chemistry: The way she makes his eye twitch
Plot: Rival bakery owners compete on bid for royal wedding cake (plus a bunch of other stuff)
Overall: I feel very emotionally manipulated right now; this is not *necessarily* a bad thing
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.
Continue reading “Series Review: Krish / Before Krish by N.J. Bhogayta”
