Plot Trysts

If you can't make the BFF you've been in love with fall in love with you in Italy, where can it happen? This is basically both of the main characters' plan. Yes, we loved it.

We really loved this entry into the palace of rogues series, and not just because it spends so much time with old favorite characters. Not you, Delacourt.

Secret pen pals meet in real life but don't know it, because she's THE secret author of erotic poetry trying to overcome her family's scandalous reputation. We liked it and think the author has a ton of potential.

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.

This novella is so feel-good and adorable, and packed way more 🌶️ than we were expecting! With a unique and real sense of setting, we both really liked it!

We really loved this book, Jack is the best hero she's ever written. The tropes here are pretty close to the first two books, but she really does something new with them here! We're hoping for some new situations with her next book, because topping this one would be really hard.

Oh no, these two people who are extremely hot for each other are forced into constant close proximity to keep him from marrying her daughter! Whatever will they do?

There is a lot of trauma packed into this novella. Milan is a good author who is capable of deftly handling some heavy issues in romance. The question, dear listener, is if you can get past the subject matter to fall for the characters.

You'd think a book about two people stuck on a deserted island waiting for rescue would be stressful, but this one isn't at all. Caro and Max know their friends and family are fine and rescue is coming, so they get to focus on more important things. We liked it.

Camille finally gets her happily ever after and it involves a sex bargain! That sex is largely spent recovering from past trauma, which works for 50% of plot trysts.

Yasmin is a BAMF who has overcome a ton to become both sassy and likable. Giles is a wet noodle.

This short and sweet contemporary romance hit the spot for both of us! A total potato chip read, if you need something for a plane or beach!

Unexpected road trips and a fantastic epilogue made this a fun read, if you can handle a lack of communication as the central conflict.

"What Happens in the Carriage House" would have been a more accurate title.

Sometimes you just need a book where nothing bad happens and everyone is a good person just trying their best. This is that book.

This excellent debut novel has a ton of sexual tension and smart people, which we appreciated, even if their decisions stressed Laine out.