Listicle

Saturday Smutty Six: More Bosses Being Bedded

Happy Saturday, smut fans! If reading about all of these delicious (and…not so delicious) workplace romances has you hankering for more, here are six of our favorites.

A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole

This book is a delight. Portia does not have her life all figured out, but she does go intern at a Scottish swordmaker. There she meets Tavish McKenzie, irresistible silver fox swordsmith and also her boss. All that attraction has no outlet, though, because they definitely need to maintain that professional boundary. Right?

Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt

Val is 100% villainous, and this is his love story, if not exactly the story of his redemption. Bridget is his housekeeper, mainly so she can foil his blackmail plots. Val notices Bridget because she doesn’t cower before him—and since we’re talking about alpha bosses, you know that someone standing up to him who really shouldn’t be is something that Val just can’t resist. (Yes, Holly recommended this book last month as well. Just read it, ok?)

A Taste of Honey by Rose Lerner

Robert (baker of fancy Regency treats) and Betsy (his shopgirl) both desperately want to get married (to each other), but of course neither has told the other. When Betsy steps in to help Robert fill a huge order for an important client, she decides that this is finally her opportunity to seduce her boss—and seduce him she does! This sweet erotic romance has plenty of kitchen sexytimes, but also provides a meditation on desire, self-sacrifice, and equal partnership. 


Swing Batter Swing by Zaida Polanco

If you’re looking for a traditional office billionaire/assistant romance that really leans into interrogating the power differential in believable but still sexy ways, then this is the book for you. Bonus points for airplane sex. 

By a Thread by Lucy Score

Look, you guys, it’s a grumpy/sunshine office romance…at Vogue. Ingrid will basically take every opportunity to recommend this book, it’s that good

Cherish Hard by Nalini Singh

In her contemporary series, Singh has some delightful bedding the boss trope action, but Sailor and Isa are just darling. Seeing Sailor landscaping at her school, Isa loses her sense and jumps his bones, only to discover that her mother has contracted him for a project. Oh, and Isa’s responsible for the project, since she’s technically still a shareholder. But professional boundaries? Never heard of ‘em.

Recommended Read, Review

Review: A Taste of Honey by Rose Lerner (2017)

Lively St. Lemeston, Book 4

Heat Factor: There are 9 chapters and they have sex 7 times

Character Chemistry: They are both making sacrifices for the other, “Gift of the Magi” style. 

Plot: Betsy decides to seduce her boss, because it’s time for something to happen. 

Overall: This was exactly the book I needed in the moment I read it. It’s short, sexy, fun, and thoughtful.

Continue reading “Review: A Taste of Honey by Rose Lerner (2017)”
Review

Anthology Review: Hamilton’s Battalion (2017)

Heat Factor: Somewhat variable, nothing terribly explicit

Character Chemistry: All over the map

Plot: Eliza Hamilton is collecting stories about her husband, and our protagonists are all somehow involved

Overall: As a basis for linking stories, this was a little odd

Continue reading “Anthology Review: Hamilton’s Battalion (2017)”
Rant, Review

Review: Promised Land by Rose Lerner (2018)

Heat Factor: It’s more angsty than hot 

Character Chemistry: I’m not sure I bought the resolution of past wrongs

Plot: Wife fakes death to escape marriage, runs into husband at Yorktown

Overall: It was interesting and well composed, but I did not buy the rekindled relationship 

Continue reading “Review: Promised Land by Rose Lerner (2018)”