Ace Security, Book #1
Heat Factor: It gets a little explicit
Character Chemistry: I hate them both
Plot: Rescue man saves demoralized, abused woman
Overall: I struggled so hard. But my eyeballs probably got their best ever workout with this book.
Filthy Rich, Book 2
Review of Filthy Rich, Book 1
Heat Factor: Fire. Fuego. אש. 🔥.
Character Chemistry: Emotionally complicated hate sex.
Plot: “My first love destroyed me and I hate him now. But I must have a fake relationship with him for the paparazzi in order to save my kingdom. What could go wrong?”
Overall: I couldn’t put it down.
We haven’t done any buddy reads in a while, so for this installment of Dueling Reviews, Holly and Erin share their thoughts on Second Chance Romances. Holly thinks they’re great. Erin thinks they’re nothing but nonsense. Moderated by Ingrid.
Ingrid: Let’s start this Trope Duel with a definition of the “Second Chance at Love”:
This romance trope can play out in a number of ways. Perhaps a couple breaks up only to reunite decades later. Maybe they have been deeply hurt in the past, and have spent years avoiding any kind of romantic relationship. Now they will meet and learn to give love another chance. This is a hopeful trope that readers enjoy because it enforces the theme that “it’s never too late.”
Annnnnd…GO!
Erin: Okay, so now we all have the definition … of malarky. The problem with Second Chance Romance (henceforth SCR) is that the characters have fantastically wasted huge amounts of time and then they’re coming back to a relationship that didn’t work in the first place and somehow magically whatever’s wrong is not a problem anymore, which is ridiculous because things and people don’t really change.
Continue reading “Trope Duel: Two Views on Second Chance Romance”Bareknuckle Bastards, Book 3
Review of Bareknuckle Bastards, Book 2
Heat Factor: Very sexy
Character Chemistry: If you’re looking for a 380-page grovel, you’ve come to the right place
Plot: Stay with me – He tried to kill her when they were kids – Stay with me! – Now he’s a fraudulent duke – Stay with me – And she’s the queen of the Covent Garden criminal underground
Overall: MacLean nailed the close on this trilogy.
The Rajes, Book 2
Review of The Rajes, Book 1
Heat Factor: Fade to black
Character Chemistry: Swoon-worthy
Plot: Ashna enters a cooking competition in a bid to save her floundering restaurant, only to discover that her competition partner is her high school boyfriend slash love of her life.
Overall: If you can power through the angst, the payoff is so worth it
