Plot Trysts

We both really loved this book even though there are some elements and themes that aren't usually our favs.

This heroine is a working courtesan and the hero is the stereotypical second son meant for the clergy. The set up and the twist were both extremely unique. Meg took a while to read this one but ultimately enjoyed it. Laine was mostly frustrated that the characters weren't smarter.

This series about exiled French royalty is going to be right up our alley. It was less fluffy than we've come to expect from Michaels, but it was super enjoyable.

We say a goodbye, at least for now, to the Ice Planet Barbarians series with this review of Barbarian's Mate. There are a lot of themes here that we've already seen in this series, but this one introduces a slow burn. Given these books are about sentient dildos, we were not expecting that.

Are the hero and his friends a little too historically-accurate gross and misogynistic? Yes. Did we have a lot of fun? Also yes.

Meg and Laine talk about childhood chess trauma, how to do tropes well (hint: this book is the answer), and good secondary characters.

If you love Lorraine Heath, please tell us which of her books are a must-read and skip this episode. Meg and Laine just didn't get these characters or their choices or why they were having sex? I know, blasphemy.

We did not expect this story about a widow using an old friend who'd never grown up to retain custody of her kids would be scorchingly hot. But it was.

This book hit allllll of the right notes for us. There's communication, a believable conflict, and a ton of palpable sexual tension.

I think I could smell jelly shoes while reading this book. Welcome to 1998.