Sparring Partners – The Smut Report

Review Revisited: Ingrid’s Take on Enemies with Benefits by Roxie Noir (2019)

April 24, 2023 Ingrid

Loveless Brothers, Book #1

Review of Loveless Brothers, Book #3

Heat Factor: If this book is on fire, why’s it so wet

Character Chemistry: Listen, there’s a razor thin line between knowing exactly how to torment someone and knowing how to…torment them…and this book walks it perfectly.

Plot: Violet is abandoned at a restaurant on a terrible date only to discover the head chef is her childhood arch nemesis, Eli. Eli has traveled the world and recently moved home to accept a new job…where Violet works. They’re both on the line for a competitive $20k bonus, so needless to say, things get interesting.

Overall: This is a review revisited confirming—and elaborating on—everything Holly said in her glowing review.

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Series Review: Irresistible by Stella Rhys (2017-2020)

February 1, 2023 Ingrid

Heat Factor: Spicy hot. Memorably spicy hot. Hot, hot, hot.

Character Chemistry: There might be some couples that are more explosive than others, but they’re all deliciously meant-to-be.

Plot: This is a steamy series that revolves around tangentially related sports stars, agents, and related characters in NYC and LA.

Overall: I initially read Now or Never (Book 5) because I heard it was a really fantastic example of praise kink, and holy schmoly. All of them are slam dunks.

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Review Revisited: Holly’s Take on Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall (2020)

December 19, 2022December 19, 2022 Holly

So, Erin has been yelling at us about Boyfriend Material and how it’s her favoritest most funniest book ever for a while now, so I figured I should read it.

Erin and I do not have exactly the same sense of humor, because I was not laughing so hard that my husband had to check on me to make sure I was ok. (Maybe also she laughs harder at things than I do.) And there were some scenes where I could tell that we were going for humor, but it was too over-the-top for me to get a giggle out of it. (Erin and I had similarly divergent reactions to Something Fabulous.)

BUT. The bit where Luc is telling his coworkers the “interrupting cow” knock-knock joke is fucking hilarious. Alex Twaddle 4-EVA!

I will also say that I read this as part of a larger Alexis Hall binge, which really highlighted to me that his books are not for everyone. They are thoughtful and absolutely brilliantly written, but I find them incredibly stressful to read. The protagonists tend to be messy and unlikable; therefore, being in their heads is not always a pleasant experience.

Read on for all the deets (and lots of squeeing) from Erin.

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Review: Night Hawk by Beverly Jenkins (2011)

November 8, 2022November 7, 2022 Erin

Heat Factor: They definitely like the sexytimes, even if they don’t do it all the time

Character Chemistry: I was going to say he’s a tall drink of water and she’s a firecracker, but those metaphors don’t mix well. So. How about: he’s a bottle of Diet Coke, and she’s a Mento

Plot: Maggie got arrested and wound up in a reluctant Ian’s custody, but when he finally manages to leave her, he realizes he really doesn’t want to

Overall: Just when I thought things were slowing down, a new adventure cropped up

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Review: The Stand-Up Groomsman by Jackie Lau (2022)

October 21, 2022October 22, 2022 Ingrid

Donut Fall in Love #2

Review of Donut Fall in Love, #1

Heat Factor: It’s a slow burn–much intense emotional heat with satisfying results

Character Chemistry: It killed me, dead. I am not okay now, thanks Jackie Lau.

Plot: Mel the stand-up comedian and Vivian the financial analyst/secret artist meet and can’t stand each other only to find themselves as attendants in their friends’ wedding. Mel is the entire rainbow and Vivan is gray. And I love them.

Overall: This book made me swoon so hard, so many times that I actually NEED a fainting couch now.

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