Trope
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
Heat Factor: It’s every Rom Com you’ve ever watched in book form. No, seriously.
Character Chemistry: Of course it’s instantaneous and soul-shaking on a cellular level. Have you never watched a Rom Com?
Plot: Julia the journalist is facing layoffs at the office–so she proposes an article reviewing a resort specialising in providing that sweeping Rom Com experience. Luke is the developer responsible for programming the Rom Com experience–but when he realizes who the journalist is, he decides to role play her love interest for REAL. You can imagine how that goes.
Overall: This book is a totally fun and ridiculous romp.
Perfect Fit, Book #4
Review of Perfect Fit, Book # 3
Heat Factor: Well, they explore a lot of kinky play, but it’s not the same as a book that is aiming for titillating kink. If that makes sense.
Character Chemistry: The trust comes fast but the emotion builds slow
Plot: Nathalie had a bad Dom and decided BDSM wasn’t for her, but when she discusses her history with a good Dom, she realizes she might be able to safely explore her fantasies again.
Overall: This is an example of when really spicy content doesn’t feel spicy because it’s so thoughtful
Druid Duo, Book #1
Heat Factor: Garden sex!
Character Chemistry: “Red flags sprouted from him with each passing moment, but my stomach tried to wave the white flag of surrender with each flip it made.”
Plot: Hahaha totally bananas Irish lore adventure
Overall:
Heat Factor: I was expecting chick-lit level steam (so not much), and I was wrong
Character Chemistry: When it’s good, it’s good. When they’re struggling, I wanted to SCREAM.
Plot: She’s having a quarter life crisis. He’s a tortured soul. They’re both writers and neighbors on the lake in Michigan.
Overall: I am seriously not on board with January assuring Gus that she’ll stick through the messiness when Gus is scared to try a relationship and then immediately bailing in a meltdown when things get messy. Seriously. Not.
