Review

Review: Shadowed Stranger by Carole Mortimer (1982)

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

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Review

Review: The Portrait of a Duchess by Scarlett Peckham (2023)

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.

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Review

Review: Did Not Finish by Nicola Marsh (2022)

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

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Dueling Review

Dueling Review: Dragon’s Instinct by Elva Birch (2022)

Daycare for Shifters, #2

Ingrid’s review of Daycare for Shifters, #1

Holly’s Take

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

Ingrid’s Take

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.

Erin’s Take

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**

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Recommended Read, Review

Review: The Larks Still Bravely Singing by Aster Glenn Gray (2021)

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

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