Hero
Heat Factor: Bruising kisses, plus one scene where they remove all their clothes (but don’t get far because Rick has broken ribs)
Character Chemistry: They bring out the worst in each other
Plot: Robyn falls for an older man, and then discovers he’s not who he says he is
Overall: If you dig dubcon kisses and predatory age gaps, then this was a quick and oddly compelling read
Society of Sirens, Book #2
Heat Factor: Three explicit sex scenes, including one where a third party joins Rafe and Cornelia.
Character Chemistry: Rafe falls hard and fast, Cornelia fights her attraction.
Plot: Cornelia maaaaaay have neglected to tell her friends that she’s been married for twenty years. And that her husband is now a duke.
Overall: This one dragged.
Heat Factor: fades to gray
Character Chemistry: Not sure we get enough push-pull when he hates her (but really not) and they hop into bed by 35%
Plot: Mia is a professional reviewer and aspiring writer who wins a spot at Axel’s writing workshop. Axel is furious with Mia for writing a mean review about his alter ego’s book because he needs the extra income stream. They get snowed in.
Overall: Their fight seemed a bit ridiculous when they were so ethically messy from, like, page one
Daycare for Shifters, #2
Ingrid’s review of Daycare for Shifters, #1
Heat Factor: There’s an epic sexathon without a ton of details
Character Chemistry: “My dragon says that you’re the one!” But also they’re really cute together.
Plot: Single dad dealing with some stuff + neighbor who is really good with kids + the American West is on fire
Overall: A cute read
Heat Factor: So many puns about fire and heat factor and so little time. They have many encounters and entanglements.
Character Chemistry: It’s a lot of cute, eager yearning and then it’s off to the races.
Plot: Olivia is not a shifter, but she’s hoping to shift gears and start over in a new town. Ian is a single dad with a massively challenging home life going on, and he’s immediately drawn to his new neighbor.
Overall: Very tender and entertaining.
Heat Factor: I don’t think I’ve ever read an Elva Birch book with this much descriptive sex. (They go through a whole box of condoms in one weekend!)
Character Chemistry: Is it fated mates or are they just really into each other?
Plot: She’s running from her past, he’s running himself ragged with a shifter toddler, and there are some worrisome things happening around town
Overall: It’s light-hearted and sweet
**Our discussion contains spoilers**
Continue reading “Dueling Review: Dragon’s Instinct by Elva Birch (2022)”
Heat Factor: Gentle, encouraging, exploratory, emotional
Character Chemistry: They have big hug energy to offer each other, even though they both think they shouldn’t ask for it themselves
Plot: Boarding school besties Robert and David both come out of WWI with scars both physical and mental, and find their way back to themselves with each other
Overall: My heart is so full and so wrecked
The Smut Report 