Trope
Heat Factor: The kind of sensuality that comes with a lot of emotional but not specific description
Character Chemistry: Mercy
Plot: Georgie’s a mess on the outside, Levi’s a mess on the inside, and their messes complement each other until they crash and make me cry
Overall: I knew this book would give me big feels and tears, and I was right, and it was AWESOME
Heat Factor: They go to bed around two-thirds through, but it feels like an extremely slow burn
Character Chemistry: They recognize each other’s sadness
Plot: Vet falls for new neighbor (who happens to be a chicken influencer)
Overall: I’ll be honest, I was feeling kinda down when I finished this one
All For You, Book #2
Review of All For You, Book #1
Heat Factor: Slow burn, medium heat
Character Chemistry: They kind of instantly connect, and then the connection weakens…and then it’s tight again.
Plot: Rob is a single dad (to an adult daughter) who helps his newbie homeowner neighbor, Kari, with assorted household fixer-upper tasks until they’re getting fixed up themselves.
Overall: Cute story, tad slow in parts. Rob’s a little infuriating sometimes.
Daycare for Shifters, #2
Ingrid’s review of Daycare for Shifters, #1
Heat Factor: There’s an epic sexathon without a ton of details
Character Chemistry: “My dragon says that you’re the one!” But also they’re really cute together.
Plot: Single dad dealing with some stuff + neighbor who is really good with kids + the American West is on fire
Overall: A cute read
Heat Factor: So many puns about fire and heat factor and so little time. They have many encounters and entanglements.
Character Chemistry: It’s a lot of cute, eager yearning and then it’s off to the races.
Plot: Olivia is not a shifter, but she’s hoping to shift gears and start over in a new town. Ian is a single dad with a massively challenging home life going on, and he’s immediately drawn to his new neighbor.
Overall: Very tender and entertaining.
Heat Factor: I don’t think I’ve ever read an Elva Birch book with this much descriptive sex. (They go through a whole box of condoms in one weekend!)
Character Chemistry: Is it fated mates or are they just really into each other?
Plot: She’s running from her past, he’s running himself ragged with a shifter toddler, and there are some worrisome things happening around town
Overall: It’s light-hearted and sweet
**Our discussion contains spoilers**
Continue reading “Dueling Review: Dragon’s Instinct by Elva Birch (2022)”
Heat Factor: Kisses!
Character Chemistry: It’s not like they’re without their problems, but this is a really lovely relationship
Plot: Bitty goes to college and learns how to be himself. And he falls in love with the NHL-bound hockey captain.
Overall: I read everything within 24 hours. Absolutely delightful.
Continue reading “Series Review: Check Please! by Ngozi Ukazu (2018-2020)”
The Smut Report 