It’s time for another episode of our trusty podcast! This time, we all read Kulti by Mariana Zapata. This is one of Ingrid’s all-time favorite books—and she suspected that Holly would dislike it immensely. Ergo, we obviously had to discuss it. Have thoughts? Drop us a line to let us know if you’re Team Ingrid or Team Holly for this discussion. If you like our podcast content, please rate or follow us on Spotify, Apple, or Google. Show Notes Books by Mariana Zapata we mentioned: Books by other authors we mentioned: This is a very spoilery conversation. Sorry in advance, but also maybe don’t ..read more

Harlot’s Bay, Book #1 Heat Factor: A slow burn, and then lots of eating. Character Chemistry: Instant connection, even before there should be one. Plot: Athena—broke, jobless, and single—moves into the spite house next door to her ex-fiancé. Oh, and his brother who broke them up lives on the other side. Overall: What I was expecting based on the first few chapters is not at all where this book went. I gotta say it. I was tempted to DNF this book very early on. It felt very twee and was just chock full of internet memes (that I am ashamed to admit I mostly understood, which is a sign that I ..read more

Second Sons, Book 1 Heat Factor: She’s a slow burn, friends Character Chemistry: They have shockingly fantastic chemistry, and the way this was executed was superb and that’s my thesis Plot: Georgette wakes up in Scotland smelling of brandy, unable to remember anything from the night before, and is clearly married to a handsome Scot. James is a second son, deeply invested in becoming a solicitor his town (and family) might respect, and is also suddenly unable to remember anything about the night before. The two of them have to retrace their steps to figure out what happened, save Georgette ..read more

The Halcyon Universe, Book 2 Heat Factor: Literally they have sex in the very last scene Character Chemistry: I am flustered because she’s so cute! Plot: Danya kidnaps Amy. Amy kidnaps Danya. Danya’s twin kidnaps Amy. Danya rescues Amy. Plus intervening adventures. Also includes: a giant science mystery, a terrorist rebel organization, and pirates. And dragons. Overall: Fun, rip-roaring space adventure with a dollop of romance. On the cross-genre spectrum of sci-fi/romance, this one is more on the sci-fi side of things (though it’s not hard science sci-fi, but rather outer space with a sid ..read more

Palace Insiders, Book #2 Review of Palace Insiders, Book #1 Heat Factor: After several interrupted moments, they do finally get to bone in the woods Character Chemistry: They are very in tune with each other Plot: Fake dating for PR purposes Overall: Lucy Parker is very good at the thing she does Here we have a grumpy one and a sunshine one who are working together and are pushed into a fake relationship in order to manage the paparazzi. Readers of Lucy Parker might say, “Um. I’ve read that one before.” And, well, you wouldn’t be wrong, but you wouldn’t be right either. Parker does have a ..read more

Forever Yours, Book #3 Heat Factor: Once they get started, boy do they go. Character Chemistry: I think I’m falling, but I’m positive he/she will never give me another chance. Plot: John and Mary have an exceptionally terrible blind date, but slowly end up being each other’s person despite a rocky start. Overall: I ugly cried on an airplane reading this bad boy. 10/10 no regrets. Before I talk about Flirting with Forever, I want to talk about it’s cover. Because both the cover art and the blurb are…not great. Why is there a dog? There’s no dog in this book. The cover model for John is dres ..read more

Heat Factor: It’s a satisfying slow burn Character Chemistry: My poor heart just could not take the sincere sweetness of these two Plot: Maggie is a cranky, introverted, divorcee whose son has just departed for college. Aiden is a gentle, giving family man who has sacrificed huge parts of who he is to be who his family wants him to be. Together they are…adorable and confused. Overall: This book was absolutely incredible, both because of how complex and relatable the characters are and also because of how deeply satisfying all the many little resolutions were. First of all, welcome to a boo ..read more

Heat Factor: Scenes as couples are closed door, but they have one interlude at the end Character Chemistry: I felt all their feelings very intensely Plot: Three people who have all loved each other for some time are shocked into re-examining their relationship Overall: What a great feelings book The Threefold Tie is a short, historical, polyamorous romance. There are four chapters, and the POV (in 3rd) shifts from Jonathan/Jack to Sophie to Everett and back to Jack as they all process their feelings one summer in view of their past histories. Jack’s melancholy at being outside the marriage ..read more

Heat Factor: A case of pining so good, I would have preferred it without the sex scene Character Chemistry: OMG Plot: Mika is hired to teach some kid witches witchcraft and finds a family Overall: I can see why this book was such a hit, but it didn’t hit for me As I was reading this book, the thing that was top of mind was that it perfectly captured the zeitgeist of 2022 and what was hip in book-world. (Or at least the corners of it that I bop around in.) It’s got: Witches! Witches are so in right now. A grumpy, sweater-wearing librarian and a super-sunshine witch Twee children, one with ..read more

Heart and Hand, Book #3 Heat Factor: She’s a slowwwww burn folks Character Chemistry: They’re fated mates, but they spend the majority of the book at odds Plot: Princess Anwyl is on a quest to bring pijala trees and pihaberries to different lords in order to protect the people from brainwashing. She’s also on a quest to find a husband—but she’s already learned that she’s destined to be with a dark haired man with blue eyes who affects her like no other. Warin is that man, she’s pretty sure; but he acts like he can’t stand her. Plus, a LOT of other stuff. Overall: This book is an epic quest i ..read more