Location
Heat Factor: I mean, it is technically explicit sex, but it’s done in a vignette style until nearly the end, when it feels much more traditionally written
Character Chemistry: I had big feels, but it was because of Zach’s journey, not because of Zach and Eugenio together
Plot: Baseball players fall in love, but one refuses to come out and things fall apart. Until they get a second chance.
Overall: Y’all. I have just been on a whole emotional roller coaster.
Bishop Brothers, Book #3
Review of Bishop Brothers #1, Bishop Brothers #2
Heat Factor: The sex is very complicated on account of the power dynamics and the lies
Character Chemistry: I bought it
Plot: Emma is a plant in Connor’s office, so she’s a lying liar. Connor is just a billionaire trying not to bone his employee and failing. Can you guess what happens next?
Overall: My HR brain was screaming, but also somehow I was shockingly sympathetic to these protagonists.
Heat Factor: Closed door, but they do openly discuss their kinks.
Character Chemistry: Cute.
Plot: Jay tries to ask Isla out, but kind of accidentally hires her as his assistant instead. Turns out, she’s really good at being an assistant.
Overall: This is a very soft, gentle romance with soft, gentle characters.
Heat Factor: It’s hot and a bit gritty.
Character Chemistry: It’s very much like the sleeve of cookies in my cupboard at 9:30pm–we know better, we know it’s not going to feel good tonight, and we know we’ll regret it tomorrow, but do we eat the cookies anyway? We do.
Plot: Jane and Gabriel meet at a museum and are instantly and deeply aflame–even though Jane stubbornly leads Gabriel on a teasing chase. Gabriel insists they are lovers who have connected and failed to secure their future together over and over throughout the years, and it’s hard to tell if they’ll manage to end up together this time around.
Overall: This was a DNF for complicated reasons that I will happily elaborate on below.
Third Shift, Book #1
Heat Factor: They have a lot of sex, but there aren’t a ton of details
Character Chemistry: Immediate and explosive
Plot: Neha is on Joe’s legal team, working on his defense for taking out some Russian Bratva members—and when they get shot at in the courthouse, goes on the run with him
Overall: I mostly liked it, but it would be a stronger romance if it were leaner
