Heat Factor: It’s sexy – they get up to all kinds of things when they get some privacy – but it’s mostly yearning
Character Chemistry: Oh my word, the pining!
Plot: Widower is goaded (jealousy is such an instigator!) into helping out his bestie by letting the little brother room with his family over the summer in exchange for childcare.
Overall: This book was so charming but it was also delightfully thrilling
Heat Factor: Everything is very proper; the door is firmly closed.
Character Chemistry: Ewan is too obtuse to have chemistry with anyone.
Plot: Dueling flower farms + Widow must protect her child + First love back from the dead + Battles over an inheritance + Newspaper advertisements for a husband
Overall: I haven’t been this angry about a hero in a long time.
To kick off Secret Baby Week, Holly and Ingrid buddy-read Then, Now, Always by Mona Shroff. And you know what that means: time for a duel! (Moderated by Erin)
Holly’s Take:
Heat Factor: The door is firmly closed.
Character Chemistry: Um. It’s complicated. But also love at first sight.
Plot: Maya and Sam were in love. But they broke up. Now it’s 16 years later and Maya finally tells Sam that he has a daughter.
Overall: This was kind of a weird book and I’m still processing how I feel about it.
Ingrid’s Take:
Heat Factor: This is not a book with a temperature.
Character Chemistry: It’s both “at first sight” and also a slow, complicated development at the same time.
Plot: Maya and Sam had a good thing going until everything blew up and incredibly bad choices were made. Then, 16 years later, Maya fesses up that she’s kept their child secret from Sam and he’s an emotional wreck, understandably.
Overall: I maintain that this trope is a massive romantic buzzkill and this book is like a case study in why that is.
The Smut Report 