Character Chemistry: This is fully established physically, but (likely due to length) the emotional chemistry is less developed.
Plot: Carmen and her ex, Matthew, end up stuck sharing their beach house for the summer. When both decide to punish the other through seduction, they cave almost instantly and rekindle their relationship.
Overall: It’s not fully fleshed out but there’s flesh out. (See what I did there?)
Heat Factor: There’s definite heat intermingled with some absurdity and puns. And absurd puns.
Character Chemistry: It’s spelled out WHY they click but it doesn’t really…feel like they do?
Plot: Harriet is an owl shifting orphan and an incredibly wealthy thief who covers her criminal activity with a cupcake business. Tobias is a gnome billionaire who figures out her game–and then has to convince Harriet to give in to their mate connection and try being together.
Overall: It’s short and sweet, but it certainly feels like a bridge and doesn’t feel entirely fully developed, perhaps for that reason.
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
Holly’s Take
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
Ingrid’s Take
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.
Erin’s Take
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