Location
Heat Factor: This game of “truth or dare” got p-r-e-t-t-y daring
Character Chemistry: More told than shown, at least until they start with the sexytimes
Plot: Longtime friends meet up at wedding and play a game of “truth or dare” that changes everything
Overall: There’s a lot of expository text, but the games they played were enough to keep me turning pages
Arroyo Blanco, Book 1
Heat Factor: There’s a little bit of spice.
Character Chemistry: Well, she dunks him in a lagoon at their first meeting, so I think we’re off to a great start!
Plot: Emilia writes dirty stories under a pen name; Ruben writes scathing critiques of these stories under a pen name – and wants to write an exposé of the author. Banter and shenanigans ensue.
Overall: The set up is so strong, but the ending felt rushed.
Crown’s Spies, Book 3
Heat Factor: Initial consent is dubious at best, but after that both parties are all about it, and so am I.
Character Chemistry: That thing where a super alpha submits to a naive, innocent, young woman.
Plot: They were married as children. He kidnaps her to get some land. She convinces him that he loves her. And destroys his scary pirate ship with a parasol. In other words: Completely Bonkers.
Overall: If you are Bodice Ripper Curious, The Gift is not a bad place to start.
Heat Factor: The sex is infrequent but quite detailed.
Character Chemistry: They spend barely any time together.
Plot: Fate and Karma decide to find Mother Nature a boyfriend. Maybe if she gets laid, she’ll stop being so pissy all the time.
Overall: The premise is soooo ridonkulous; the execution is sooooo earnest.
Heat Factor: It’ll get your heart racing…then swelling with sweet, sweet romance…then racing again. Just pretty much that, over and over again.
Character Chemistry: They’re really, truly adorable.
Plot: CEO travels to island paradise to meet his idol AND swing the deal of a lifetime and ends up pissing off said idol, biffing the whole deal, and falling head over heels in love instead. Challenged trust! Heart wrenching devotion! Feelings! Feelings!!
Overall: There’s absolutely nothing wrong with knowing how something is going to end when the ride is so enjoyable, and this one just is.
The Smut Report 