Tag: Secret Relationship

Trope

Recommended Read, Review

Review: Enemies with Benefits by Roxie Noir (2019)

Holly

Loveless Brothers, Book #1

Review of Loveless Brothers, Book #3

Heat Factor: Once they get going, boy do they go

Character Chemistry: That thing where they argue all the time but their competition also pushes them both to do and be better

Plot: “I definitely don’t think he’s attractive.”

“I definitely don’t want to kiss her.”

“We’re definitely not having sex.”

“He’s definitely not my boyfriend.”

“I’m definitely not in love with her.”

“Nope. Definitely not.”

Overall: Did I immediately read Book #2 in the series? Yes, yes I did.

Continue reading “Review: Enemies with Benefits by Roxie Noir (2019)” →
Recommended Read, Review

Review: Heartstopper: Volume 2 by Alice Oseman (2018)

Erin

Heartstopper, Book #2

Review of Heartstopper, Book #1

Heat Factor: So much making out. (Ah, the high school nostalgia)

Character Chemistry: Sweetness overload. These boys are so kind.

Plot: Charlie kissed Nick and now he thinks their friendship is over, but Nick is realizing that those feelings he’s been having mean something, so now it’s time to navigate a secret relationship

Overall: My high school first love nostalgia trip continues but with much sweeter and more nurturing kids.

Continue reading “Review: Heartstopper: Volume 2 by Alice Oseman (2018)” →
Recommended Read, Series Review

Review: The Executive Office Series by Tal Bauer (2016-2017)

Erin

Heat Factor: It is a not insubstantial amount of soul-searing lovemaking

Character Chemistry: OMG, I was so invested

Plot: There’s a global conspiracy to burn down the world, and the US president and his secret service detail lead find themselves right in the middle of it

Overall: The three primary books are a total of 52 hours and 48 minutes in audio plus there’s a 200 page holiday interlude story as well, and I devoured them all in 5 days. What even is sleep?

Continue reading “Review: The Executive Office Series by Tal Bauer (2016-2017)” →
Rant, Review

Review: Figure of Speech by Kasha Thompson (2022)

Erin

Heat Factor: The whole middle of the book is pretty much sex.

Character Chemistry: feelings are annoying

Plot: The new White House Press Secretary worked with the president once many years ago. This time he’s not about to let her get away.

Overall: I was put off by the way the president was initially represented (it’s single POV from Clover), and that kind of snowballed with other things as I continued to read

Continue reading “Review: Figure of Speech by Kasha Thompson (2022)” →
Dueling Review

Dueling Review: Beauty and the Blacksmith by Tessa Dare (2013)

smutreportteam

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

Continue reading “Dueling Review: Beauty and the Blacksmith by Tessa Dare (2013)” →