Representation – at least one protagonists is explicitly not Christian
Winner Bakes All, Book #2
Review of Winner Bakes All, Book #1
Heat Factor: Tariq is waiting for marriage, and we’re going to respect that decision
Character Chemistry: They’ve got a cute grumpy-sunshine thing going on—when Paris can get out of his head
Plot: Paris and Tariq are both competing on Bake Expectations, and the internet casts Paris as the season’s villain.
Overall: Was this a difficult book for me to read? Yup, it sure was. Did I bad decision book club it anyway? Yup, I sure did.
Unwritten Rules, Book #2
Review of Unwritten Rules Book #1
Heat Factor: They are very enthusiastic. And enjoy marking.
Character Chemistry: It’s really sweet
Plot: Charlie’s work life is very stable, but he’s getting a divorce, so he’s trying to figure his life out again. Reid’s constantly unsure of where he’ll be playing, and he’s a recovering alcoholic, so he’s taking everything one day at a time
Overall: Ugh, Charlie, squeeze my heart in your enormous hands, why dontcha?
If Shakespeare was an Auntie, Book #1
Heat Factor: There’s plenty of stuff that goes on, but he is very invested in her, er, orchid.
Character Chemistry: It’s Something at first sight, they just can’t agree on what that Something is.
Plot: They’re soulmates who have fundamentally different beliefs about love, which pushes them apart, but life goal deadlines for both of them push them back together.
Overall: The Prem scenes after they have sex for the first time are amazing.
Region Two, Book #2
Heat Factor: There’s some sex at the beginning, and then a really long dry spell
Character Chemistry: Their relationship is going through a lot, so their chemistry comes and goes
Plot: Uh. Let’s destroy the HEA from Book 1.
Overall: The first half of this book went some seriously unexpected places, which made for a very unusual romance reading experience.
The Girls in Apartment 5G, Book #1
Heat Factor: They do not even kiss, my friends.
Character Chemistry: Noam is extremely opaque, but he plays with Shayna, who is a bit tightly wound, so it’s fun
Plot: Shayna and Noam, Orthodox Jews who grew up in NYC, are suddenly and unexpectedly sent to North Pole, Alaska just weeks before Christmas, for an end-of-year review meeting with a big client
Overall: I really enjoyed this read, mostly because it’s so playful
The Smut Report 