Trope
The Family, Book #3
Heat Factor: Mercy. It is absolutely filthy. *fans self*
Character Chemistry: Her spikey spots fit in his soft spots
Plot: “What kind of criminal shenanigans did my family get me into?” → “Guess I’m gonna make the most of this unplanned vacation on the Amalfi Coast.”
Overall: AHHHHH! Cliffhanger! (Not for Zoe and Alfonso, but this is such a dramatic series!)
Out of Uniform, Book #2
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
The Girls in Apartment 5G, Book #1
Heat Factor: They do not even kiss, my friends.
Character Chemistry: Noam is extremely opaque, but he plays with Shayna, who is a bit tightly wound, so it’s fun
Plot: Shayna and Noam, Orthodox Jews who grew up in NYC, are suddenly and unexpectedly sent to North Pole, Alaska just weeks before Christmas, for an end-of-year review meeting with a big client
Overall: I really enjoyed this read, mostly because it’s so playful
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)
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.
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.
Shore Leave, Book #1
Heat Factor: Bed sex, bathtub sex, shower sex….lotsa sex
Character Chemistry: I feel like a heart eyes emoji right now
Plot: Two men who are absolutely not a good match engage in a fake welcome home kiss that turns into a fake relationship that turns into OMG is this a good match?!?!
Overall: This is one of those delightfully tropey romances that feels like a warm hug to read
The Smut Report 