Time Period – England 1837 to 1901
Dangerous Damsels, Book #1
Heat Factor: The door is very slightly ajar
Character Chemistry: Banter + assassination attempts + confusing pants feels
Plot: Let’s just say it’s bonkers
Overall: A very fun read…if you’re in the right mood
Hell’s Bells, Book #1
Heat Factor: He really likes to go down on her.
Character Chemistry: It started before the book, so there’s not a ton of buildup.
Plot: She’s in an extralegal girl gang, he’s got dark secrets, being together isn’t going to work, but everything swirling around them connects them. As does sex.
Overall: There’s a lot in this book that should be more prevalent in historical romance.
Heat Factor: I wouldn’t call it steamy, but it’s definitely not closed door.
Character Chemistry: It’s deliciously complicated.
Plot: Crispin is *the worst*. Except now he has amnesia and is nice. And also has a wife, who doesn’t seem to like him all that much?
Overall: The romance is an exceptional emotional roller coaster, but there’s some other plot that worked less well.
Heat Factor: 🍆🍆🍆
Character Chemistry: Instant attraction → Denial → We can have just one night → Is this…love? → BUT DUTY!!!
Plot: The set-up is bonkers and makes no sense, but who cares?
Overall: The back and forth between these two is just *chef’s kiss*
The Ravenels, Book #7
(a.k.a. The Wallflowers, The Next Generation, Book #3)
(a.k.a. The Devil in Winter Epilogues, also Book #3)
Erin’s reviewed the whole Ravenels series: Book #1 | Book #2 | Book #3 | Book #4 | Book #5 | Book #6
Heat Factor: These are some horny Victorians
Character Chemistry: It’s totally insta-love, and it was written lucidly enough that it worked for me
Plot: “We’ll never work because of an unequal match” + “Why is someone trying to murder me?”
Overall: I re-upped my membership in the Bad Decisions Book Club for this one and read it in one sitting. No regrets.
