Romance / Erotica
Plot/Idea: Jake Holloway is a broken man—haunted by his wife Mary’s tragic death the same day she vowed to leave him for someone else—when an unexpected accident launches Lexie Morgan into his life. The sparks are immediate, and Wayne delivers a will-they-or-won’t-they that feels every bit as dramatic as it does genuine. Added to the mix is the intriguing mystery of Mary’s pregnancy when she died, leaving Jake with a premature daughter to raise—a daughter whose true biological ties are teased out over the course of this engaging novel.
Prose: Wayne’s prose boils across the pages, suffusing the romance between Jake and Lexie with serious heat, while crafting an authentic, vivid setting.
Originality: The singularity of Wayne’s novel lies in the breathtaking connection between the two main characters—a connection that infuses the narrative with purpose and, ultimately, hope, that second chances could mean the growth of something beautiful.
Character/Execution: Jake and Lexie are two wounded souls, and Wayne expertly interlaces their history with the present, transporting readers into a stunning saga of loss, passion, and new beginnings after the most devastating of endings. Their interplay feels real every step of the way, and Wayne gifts them with extraordinary depth throughout.
Plot/Idea: In The Cruel Dark, Northwick delivers a superb work that blends romance, mystery, and the supernatural, all set against a historical backdrop. The story flows engagingly, with twists and turns that hold the reader captive and wanting more.
Prose: The author is a gifted writer, able to convincingly recreate a bygone era, simultaneously telling a captivating story, moving the plot line forward and seamlessly recounting past events. The writing is succinct but telling, holding the reader's interest as the story unfolds.
Originality: This is an original work, populated with memorable characters and events that will stay in the reader's mind. The author does a fine job making the work stand apart from others in the romance field with rich detail, particularly relevant in a period work, while the supernatural elements are a delight.
Character/Execution: Characterization here is handled expertly, with a well-defined protagonist with a history of mental illness who is suddenly finds herself in an uncomfortable and potentially dangerous situation as she works to find herself.
Plot/Idea: In this fetching queer romance, Merrill alternates chapters between Arthur and Ethan to expose their hang-ups and reveal their growing affection for each other over a period of two weeks. The novel executes trademark romance beats in a tender, often funny way, which is sure to satisfy readers.
Prose: Merrill crafts two distinct voices for her couple–vulnerable and innocent Ethan contrasts well with acerbically funny and loyal Arthur. However, the pace of the story can lag when interrupted by too much extraneous exposition or when the spotlight shifts to the side characters who, while lovable, take away real estate from our main couple.
Originality: Merrill subverts potential conflicts regarding workplace romance and other power dynamics by shifting these conflicts into opportunities for conversation and exploration of a character’s vulnerabilities and anxieties. The result is a refreshingly gentle and funny romance novel that prioritizes queer joy over angst.
Character/Execution: Ethan and Arthur are distinct characters, brought to life with evocative details and rich backstories. Readers easily root for them to give into their feelings and learn how to be vulnerable with each other and will also love the community of surrounding queer characters, who have unique voices, trials, and tribulations of their own.
Blurb: Funny, tender-hearted, and full of steamy romance, readers looking for queer joy will fall in love with Earthquake Ethan's cast of lovable characters and its tale of starting over, breaking your own rules, and caring for one very opinionated, plus-sized cat.
Plot/Idea: This is a delightful and clever work that captivates and lifts the spirit. Liddy-Jean and her mission to right the wrongs in her world are a breath of fresh air; her antics are consistently endearing and her approach to life, something we can all learn from.
Prose: The writing here is convincing as the author details the thoughts and actions of Liddy-Jean, who suffers from a cognitive disability. The author does a stellar job maintaining Liddy-Jean's voice as she puzzles out solutions to the problems she sees.
Originality: Liddy-Jean Marketing Queen and the Matchmaking Scheme is wholly unique romance, as the protagonist, who has a cognitive disability, discovers her talents, which might include matchmaking. She entertains, problem solves, and restores joy to her fellow characters and in her reader.
Character/Execution: The author does a capable job with characterization across the board, but Liddy-Jean is sparkling. Her depiction is realistically presented as a combination of childlike innocence mixed with spot-on intuition.
Plot/Idea: With relatable moments this addition to the Accidentally Undercover series travels to Spain and includes plenty of culture and language. The pace of the plot coupled with a mix of romance and mystery will keep the reader engaged and guessing who is truly sincere.
Prose: Merrill's prose is smoothly crafted and nicely evocative. The author has worked overtime to ensure readers can decode the native language of the characters. Details and descriptions between the sheets are succinct yet engrossing and tasteful.
Originality: Being part of a series, this addition allows the reader to travel and experience the culture of Spain through setting and language. Well-researched, the author has created an authentic setting and included real-world situations creating a valuable addition to any adult LGBTQ collection.
Character/Execution: Randall Sutter is an effective protagonist as he sets out for a second act following the demise of his band. Throughout, the individuals Randall encounters and becomes embroiled with, are relatable yet enigmatic; readers will eagerly turn the pages to learn who they can truly trust.
Plot/Idea: Into the Lure of Time, a sequel to the time travel romance Through the Veneer of Time, again returns to 16th century Ulster, Ireland and 21st America with dual storylines that mirror and converge with one another. Bell's vision is imaginative, sexy, and sweeping, though readers new to the series will feel some disorientation without having read the first title.
Prose: Bell's writing is layered, smooth, and detailed. The author offers a distinctive voice for the two time periods the work spans, though readers may stumble on the language featured in the historical sections and the transitions may initially strike them as abrupt.
Originality: Bell integrates familiar romance tropes and beats of time travel suspense, but the juxtaposition of the modern day and the distant past introduces some intriguing and novel elements.
Character/Execution: Bell populates the novel with complex and flawed characters whose actions and behaviors may frustrate readers. In the Lure of Time ultimately is less about romance and finding love than it is about (self) sabotaged love.
Plot/Idea: Bell mixes romance, mystery, and history to take the reader on an adventure across centuries. With a mix of dreams and time travel Bell keeps the reader on track using rich language and well-established characters. Good pacing and an unsolved mystery are the heart of this novel, while time travel is smooth and understandable.
Prose: Bell writes with eloquence and sophistication, alternating between present day and the past with ease. Bell alters the language she uses for each time period to firmly establish the setting and circumstances.
Originality: While borrowing some elements from time travel romances, Bell creates an alluring set of circumstances for her heroine both in the present day and the past.
Character/Execution: Bell successfully strikes a balance between the novel's two time settings, though the protagonist appears better suited to her past life (and somewhat more appealing to readers there). Bell writes from a place of familiarity with Past Life Regression. She successfully works her experience into a story and possibly introduces many readers to a new concept.
Plot/Idea: Book three of the Benedict Brothers series turns to the eldest Benedict brother, Kipling, who can't resist Officer Alyssa Adams, even if she seemingly wants nothing to do with him and shows up mostly to give him bad news. Sue Me nicely blends spice with story development and background detail.
Prose: Sue Me provides a an effective dual narrative structure, creating a satisfying interplay between the lead characters' feelings for one another.
Originality: The world of the Benedict Brothers is uplifted through the intriguing family drama, as well as the mystery ingredients. The enemies-to-lovers storyline is well established and effectively paced.
Character/Execution: Both Kipling and Alyssa are flawed yet likable. Readers will relish being privy to their individual growth as well as their burgeoning magnetic attraction.
Plot/Idea: The author presents a rich setting for the novel's interesting concept, which draws on romance tropes as well as a little bit of magic.
Prose: The novel's prose is clear and rich. The author does a fantastic job detailing the settings in a way that brings the story to life.
Originality: The novel's plot draws on familiar romance themes in a way that readers of the genre will appreciate. The sprinkling of magic adds flair, though the reader may be left with lingering questions that aren't resolved via the sometimes overly-hasty explanations.
Character/Execution: Kal and Ryan are both endearing, very human characters. The author nicely blends romantic and magical elements, set against evocative backdrops and unique circumstances.
Discovering Her Delight: A Harwell Heirs Legacy Romance (Harwell Heirs Book 5)
by Regina KammerRating: 7.25
Plot/Idea: This Victorian-era historical romance is a fast-paced combination of romance and adventure that, in fact, effectively mirrors some of the romance novels from the Victorian period.
Prose: The prose moves the plot forward at a satisfying pace, though there are some moments in which the dialogue (with mainly employs a period-specific tone/vocabulary) is a little stilted. The rapid shifts between perspectives during the courtship/romance scenes is occasionally disorienting.
Originality: Discovering Her Delight follows many conventions of the genre without being derivative or overly-predictable.
Character/Execution: In some respects, the characters emerge more as archetypes than as fully-fleshed out individuals (the gentleman, the virginal Lady, the sexually experienced Turkish men), but their stories will still be captivating to fans of the genre. While the fixation on propriety (especially re: William and Lady Beatrice's relationship) is understandable given the period in which the novel is set, after a point, it becomes a bit repetitive. The reader would have welcomed other plot contrivances to keep them apart in addition to the socially-dictated ones.
Blurb: Discovering Her Delight takes readers back to a Victorian-era world of intrigue, adventure, and romance. Highly unconventional, Lady Beatrice Smythe is dedicated to herself -- her studies, career, and independence -- until a like-minded gentleman piques her interest.
Plot/Idea: The work opens with the protagonist already lusting over her love interest whom she hasn't seen in years, even before they reconnect. When they accidentally bump into each other, her reaction is off the charts and somewhat strains believability. The author starts her at level 10 when a slow build might prove more engaging and rewarding for the reader. Yet the story line evens out, becoming less forced and feeling more authentic. In time, the reader becomes invested in Casey's story and her happiness.
Prose: In spite of the weak opening, the author proves herself to be a capable writer, equally adept with description, dialogue, and action. The prose is inviting and once the story gets going, the narrative flows smoothly.
Originality: The author has crafted a traditional romance story that follows a predictable course of action. Plot elements help distinguish this work from others in the field, and the main characters prove to be likable and distinctive.
Character/Execution: The author ultimately delivers well-rounded characters, particularly with Casey, who morphs from a love-sick school girl into a likable, independent woman.
Plot/Idea: Recent graduate Nick Evers has a short time left before his expected entry into his father's business. He's spending it casually hooking up with eager women. That is, until he meets an older woman and his father's associate, Elizabeth. What might have been a daring and transgressive tale of sexual coming of age dissolves into a chain of repetitive, emotionally scant sex scenes that fail to convince the reader to cheer for Elizabeth and Nick.
Prose: Kilometro Cero achieves titillating, salacious, and stylized sex scenes but fails to craft detailed interior lives for its cast of characters.
Originality: The novel’s most daring element–Nick and his father pursuing the same love interest– is scarcely explored. Otherwise, Nick’s story shares similar beats as other sexy dramas featuring an entitled, yet listless protagonist.
Character/Execution: The characters of Kilometro Cero are deliciously sexy and flawed, but the numerous love interests are only shallowly distinguished from one to the other.
