Hero – Current military or veteran
Heat Factor: A little bit of feisty bedroom action in an otherwise very gentle book
Character Chemistry: So. Much. Angst.
Plot: How to buck oppressive expectations + Interrogating gendered expectations
Overall: I expected this book to make me cry, and it totally did not.
Shore Leave, Book #2
Review of Short Leave, Book #1
Heat Factor: So tender! There’s not a lot of sex in this book, and it mostly occurs relatively early on.
Character Chemistry: “I don’t trust you, but you’re definitely hot, and we’re stuck together in this cabin.” → “OMG, feelings!”
Plot: Calder “wins” a cabin from Felix’s mean ex-husband, they end up stuck together there for a weekend, and why wouldn’t that result in a friends-with-benefits-but-actually-dating situationship?
Overall: If you are looking for Big Hug Energy in your romance, this whole relationship is that
Mercenary Librarians, Book #2
Review of Mercenary Librarians, Book #1
Heat Factor: Maya is frequently overwhelmed by sensory experiences, so this is a slow burn as she and Gray work up to physical touch
Character Chemistry: Really supportive of each other but also let’s not get too close because Gray could drop dead at any minute
Plot: We’re tying to make this dystopian reality a better place
Overall: Really fantastic worldbuilding
Heat Factor: It’s pretty sexy. Except for the book with the demisexual protagonist, which is a slower burn, these guys have a lot of sex. Some of it is kinky funtimes, too.
Character Chemistry: The chemistry between the protagonists largely worked for me (I mean, I binged this series HARD, so something was working)
Plot: Navy SEALs navigate queer love in a macho-type workplace while dealing with work-related hurdles and personal dramas
Overall: I’m not always one for the military romance (though more me than Holly or Ingrid), but this series totally did it for me.
Continue reading “Series Review: Out of Uniform Series by Annabeth Albert (2017)”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.
The Smut Report 