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Dungeons and Dating #1
Strength Check
Roxie Esposito just opened a board game café in San Francisco and should be basking in success. Instead, she’s picking out shards from her last relationship and handling her perpetually drunk mother, both of which strain her finances and fuel the need for a roommate.
Melody Roberts finally got the promotion she’d been aiming for—across the country in San Francisco. The perfect escape from her stagnant life and the toxic relationship with her now ex-boyfriend.
The moment Mel answers Roxie’s ad for a roommate, the connection between them is explosive, warm, and real—everything they’ve both been longing for. Between horror movie marathons, board game nights, and deep talks, Mel and Roxie are falling for each other hard. Except the only problem with romance is they both seem to fail every single time, and when the grenade of exes, family drama, and their own insecurities drop, neither will escape unscathed.
Melody Roberts finally got the promotion she’d been aiming for—across the country in San Francisco. The perfect escape from her stagnant life and the toxic relationship with her now ex-boyfriend.
The moment Mel answers Roxie’s ad for a roommate, the connection between them is explosive, warm, and real—everything they’ve both been longing for. Between horror movie marathons, board game nights, and deep talks, Mel and Roxie are falling for each other hard. Except the only problem with romance is they both seem to fail every single time, and when the grenade of exes, family drama, and their own insecurities drop, neither will escape unscathed.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2021
About the author
Katherine McIntyre
70 books669 followersGeeky Queer Romance.
Katherine McIntyre is a feisty chick with a big attitude despite her short stature. She writes stories featuring snarky women, ragtag crews, and men with bad attitudes—high chance for a passionate speech thrown into the mix. As a genderqueer geek who’s always stepped to her own beat, she’s made it her mission to write stories that represent the broad spectrum of people out there. Easily distracted by cats and sugar.
Katherine McIntyre is a feisty chick with a big attitude despite her short stature. She writes stories featuring snarky women, ragtag crews, and men with bad attitudes—high chance for a passionate speech thrown into the mix. As a genderqueer geek who’s always stepped to her own beat, she’s made it her mission to write stories that represent the broad spectrum of people out there. Easily distracted by cats and sugar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
September 26, 2021
2.5 stars
Look I will be very honest here. I read this book for the cover. This is one hell of an attractive cover and I just couldn’t help myself.
Brief summary
Rosie puts up an ad saying that she’s looking for a roommate and Melody answers the ad. They start falling for each other while playing bord games. But they both have a lot of issues and it takes a lot of time for them to start dating.
First, this was really sweet and nerdy which I always appreciate in books. But I have no patience for very slow burns in books, I just cannot personally do them. And these girls were pining for each other the entire book but they wee friends first and by the 71% mark they had kissed once and one of the main character set up the other on a date with someone else. They announced their feelings for each other at 80%. And the sex scenes when they got together were really hot (like very hot, I really loved them) but they had spent so much of the book being friends that I just couldn’t help but see them as friends more than lovers.
Here was my reaction towards the main characters actions for most of the book:
Second, I loved Roxie as a character, she was so sweet and fun. But I had trouble connecting with Melody. I understand that she had a bad mother who always insulted her and an abusive ex who always didn’t help the situation and that she felt like she wasn’t good enough for Roxie. And I could relate to her lack of self esteem. But she kept pushing Rosie away and not telling Roxie why. If she just communicated with Roxie what she feelings and why she was always pushing her away, I would have prefered her as a character way more. I just didn’t like how she kept rejecting Roxie without any explanation. They were friends already, they should have been able to communicate about those things.
Third, this book was very much focused on Mel’s struggles with her self esteem and how she didn’t feel accepted and how she didn’t have good friends or a very loving family. Most of it hit a little too close to home and It felt like I was reading the wrong book and that I had accidently opened my personal diary instead of this book. Which was lovely to read about in a way because it was very realistic but also very sad to read about. It was one of my favorite part of the book because it was quite a realistic portrayal of the situation, to me anyway. But it almost made the book feel more like a diary than a romance novel. Mel had a lot of problems in her life, a bad mom and an abusive ex and they both showed up in the book and took a lot of place in the story, which took away from the romance for me.
Fourth, this book had too much outside interference for me. Melody had an evil ex and an evil mom and they both spent a lot of time on page. I just don’t prefer reading about characters outside of the main couple in a book, so that part just wasn’t for me.
I did quite enjoy this book, I liked the vibe of it and it was quite sweet and I loved their friendship but it felt more like a friendship book than a romance book to me. But if you like slow burns, i’m sure this one this will really work for you.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
Look I will be very honest here. I read this book for the cover. This is one hell of an attractive cover and I just couldn’t help myself.
Brief summary
Rosie puts up an ad saying that she’s looking for a roommate and Melody answers the ad. They start falling for each other while playing bord games. But they both have a lot of issues and it takes a lot of time for them to start dating.
First, this was really sweet and nerdy which I always appreciate in books. But I have no patience for very slow burns in books, I just cannot personally do them. And these girls were pining for each other the entire book but they wee friends first and by the 71% mark they had kissed once and one of the main character set up the other on a date with someone else. They announced their feelings for each other at 80%. And the sex scenes when they got together were really hot (like very hot, I really loved them) but they had spent so much of the book being friends that I just couldn’t help but see them as friends more than lovers.
Here was my reaction towards the main characters actions for most of the book:
Second, I loved Roxie as a character, she was so sweet and fun. But I had trouble connecting with Melody. I understand that she had a bad mother who always insulted her and an abusive ex who always didn’t help the situation and that she felt like she wasn’t good enough for Roxie. And I could relate to her lack of self esteem. But she kept pushing Rosie away and not telling Roxie why. If she just communicated with Roxie what she feelings and why she was always pushing her away, I would have prefered her as a character way more. I just didn’t like how she kept rejecting Roxie without any explanation. They were friends already, they should have been able to communicate about those things.
Third, this book was very much focused on Mel’s struggles with her self esteem and how she didn’t feel accepted and how she didn’t have good friends or a very loving family. Most of it hit a little too close to home and It felt like I was reading the wrong book and that I had accidently opened my personal diary instead of this book. Which was lovely to read about in a way because it was very realistic but also very sad to read about. It was one of my favorite part of the book because it was quite a realistic portrayal of the situation, to me anyway. But it almost made the book feel more like a diary than a romance novel. Mel had a lot of problems in her life, a bad mom and an abusive ex and they both showed up in the book and took a lot of place in the story, which took away from the romance for me.
Fourth, this book had too much outside interference for me. Melody had an evil ex and an evil mom and they both spent a lot of time on page. I just don’t prefer reading about characters outside of the main couple in a book, so that part just wasn’t for me.
I did quite enjoy this book, I liked the vibe of it and it was quite sweet and I loved their friendship but it felt more like a friendship book than a romance book to me. But if you like slow burns, i’m sure this one this will really work for you.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
September 12, 2021
Board games.
I don't know what to make of the insta-crush that the characters develop on each other five minutes into meeting as new roommates, but as turns out, I quite like how the story goes after that.
Roxie and Mel push aside their mutual crushes and make fast friends and I found myself liking how they focus on building this friendship with a group of friends who play boardgames together instead of acting on their emotions immediately. The main reason they keep their feelings to themselves is that both Roxie and Mel have issues to work on. Roxie believes that she's unlovable and she has a nasty family and a trashy ex who feed her this negativity. Mel doesn't fit into social circles naturally and it bothers her that she doesn't have real friends who stick around. So Roxie is in a place where she thinks they will go nowhere and Mel doesn't want to risk losing the friendship if it fails and we are just waiting for someone to break out of this circle and take the first step. I like the way the story comes together and how they get together eventually.
Some minor things irked me a bit. Like how Mel deals with her ex. Not the cleanest break-up and I still don't get why people want to try to be friends with exes.
Overall, I think it's a decent story on KU and it's the first of two books in the Dungeons and Dating series. The second book is an mm romance between Cal who co-owns a board game cafe with Roxie and Julian who works for them.
I received an ARC through Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.
I don't know what to make of the insta-crush that the characters develop on each other five minutes into meeting as new roommates, but as turns out, I quite like how the story goes after that.
Roxie and Mel push aside their mutual crushes and make fast friends and I found myself liking how they focus on building this friendship with a group of friends who play boardgames together instead of acting on their emotions immediately. The main reason they keep their feelings to themselves is that both Roxie and Mel have issues to work on. Roxie believes that she's unlovable and she has a nasty family and a trashy ex who feed her this negativity. Mel doesn't fit into social circles naturally and it bothers her that she doesn't have real friends who stick around. So Roxie is in a place where she thinks they will go nowhere and Mel doesn't want to risk losing the friendship if it fails and we are just waiting for someone to break out of this circle and take the first step. I like the way the story comes together and how they get together eventually.
Some minor things irked me a bit. Like how Mel deals with her ex. Not the cleanest break-up and I still don't get why people want to try to be friends with exes.
Overall, I think it's a decent story on KU and it's the first of two books in the Dungeons and Dating series. The second book is an mm romance between Cal who co-owns a board game cafe with Roxie and Julian who works for them.
I received an ARC through Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2021
So cute!
Roxie has opened a board game café while dealing with her break up and dramatic events that make her life even more complicated. Melody has just been promoted and is looking for escape from her ex-boyfriend, when she answers Roxie roommate advert. They instantly get on and start falling for each other as Melody fully embraces the magic of Roxie passions for board games, but their lives just keep getting in the way each time they get too close.
I loved this and am so glad it is going to be part of series. The fact that Roxie represented someone with different interests like board games was something different and new that I don’t think I have come across before in this genre. The board game café was exciting and definitely seemed like a cool place that I wish I could visit and I think it was this element that just made the story unique and gave it a different spin for a romance.
Roxie intrigued me. As a character she was so cool and appeared confident, but just a scratch below the surface revealed she had the same insecurities anyone else had. Roxie’s story was deeply emotional, with traumatic elements that you could tell had a big impact on her life and decisions about relationships, but I loved the image of her eluded in this story. Melody was the same, as in she had insecurities and traumatic experiences affecting her decisions and feelings but they were so completely different to those Roxie endured. I felt an emotional connection to both the characters, loved their chemistry and connection throughout and wished them all the best because I really hoped they’d both find happiness and success.
The cute moments they shared really were special, felt cosy and intimate, which meant you really got to know them. I really enjoyed the story and am excited to see what will be next for Roxie and Melody.
Roxie has opened a board game café while dealing with her break up and dramatic events that make her life even more complicated. Melody has just been promoted and is looking for escape from her ex-boyfriend, when she answers Roxie roommate advert. They instantly get on and start falling for each other as Melody fully embraces the magic of Roxie passions for board games, but their lives just keep getting in the way each time they get too close.
I loved this and am so glad it is going to be part of series. The fact that Roxie represented someone with different interests like board games was something different and new that I don’t think I have come across before in this genre. The board game café was exciting and definitely seemed like a cool place that I wish I could visit and I think it was this element that just made the story unique and gave it a different spin for a romance.
Roxie intrigued me. As a character she was so cool and appeared confident, but just a scratch below the surface revealed she had the same insecurities anyone else had. Roxie’s story was deeply emotional, with traumatic elements that you could tell had a big impact on her life and decisions about relationships, but I loved the image of her eluded in this story. Melody was the same, as in she had insecurities and traumatic experiences affecting her decisions and feelings but they were so completely different to those Roxie endured. I felt an emotional connection to both the characters, loved their chemistry and connection throughout and wished them all the best because I really hoped they’d both find happiness and success.
The cute moments they shared really were special, felt cosy and intimate, which meant you really got to know them. I really enjoyed the story and am excited to see what will be next for Roxie and Melody.
September 8, 2021
A copy of the book was provided to Sapphic Book Club in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It focuses on two housemates, Roxie and Mel, and their meeting and subsequent beginnings of their relationship. Roxie is a lesbian who owns a board games cafe in San Francisco with two of her best friends, and Mel is a marketing manager who has just moved to San Francisco for a promotion, and broke up with her toxic boyfriend before she left.
The story focuses on the two women coping with their individual trauma, whilst simultaneously getting to know each other and yearning for the other. A fellow member of SBC described the book as "idiots to lovers" which about sums things up, as the two of them continuously assume the other couldn't possibly be attracted to them, and both of them very much are.
I also really appreciated the dimension all the characters had. Even the more minor characters (such as staff members of the Cafe) had individuality and depth, and I really enjoyed the snippets of their story.
The sequel follows Roxie's close friend Cal and his relationship, and I cannot wait for it. I would highly recommend this book!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It focuses on two housemates, Roxie and Mel, and their meeting and subsequent beginnings of their relationship. Roxie is a lesbian who owns a board games cafe in San Francisco with two of her best friends, and Mel is a marketing manager who has just moved to San Francisco for a promotion, and broke up with her toxic boyfriend before she left.
The story focuses on the two women coping with their individual trauma, whilst simultaneously getting to know each other and yearning for the other. A fellow member of SBC described the book as "idiots to lovers" which about sums things up, as the two of them continuously assume the other couldn't possibly be attracted to them, and both of them very much are.
I also really appreciated the dimension all the characters had. Even the more minor characters (such as staff members of the Cafe) had individuality and depth, and I really enjoyed the snippets of their story.
The sequel follows Roxie's close friend Cal and his relationship, and I cannot wait for it. I would highly recommend this book!
August 26, 2021
A copy of the book was provided to Sapphic Book Club for free in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4.5/5
I really enjoyed Strength Check! I've already read one other book by McIntyre, Confined Desires, which I also enjoyed. This book was joyfully geeky and I loved seeing references to some of my favorite franchises (Roxie, one of the main characters, and I are both fantasy fans). One member of the Sapphic Book Club classified this novel as "Idiots to Lovers," which I think is an accurate and amusing way to refer to it.
Roxie and her friends co-own a board game cafe, which sounds to me like an amazing idea! Their passion project's success was heartwarming to watch and I'm glad this book didn't focus on any issues with opening a new restaurant. I thought the other characters in Roxie's group (namely Cal and Jasper) were presented in a well-rounded way. I believe the next book in the series will follow Cal's journey and I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for it!
Melody is a manager who left her friends and family on the East Coast to relocate to California for a new position. She's a bubbly, confident woman who enjoys fixing problems and has a passion for graphic design. She's also an avid roller-skater, just like me! One of the skate brands mentioned in the story is my absolute favorite, so when I read that I *literally* gasped out loud. Having spent time on the East Coast as well as other regions of the US, I really connected with Mel and her social struggles were, unfortunately, pretty relatable.
Watching the interactions between these two "roommates," I was left desperately wanting to know what the other one was thinking. Chapters alternated point of view between Roxie and Mel, so the story felt pretty balanced otherwise. There are a few tougher subjects dealt with, namely an alcoholic parent, but overall it's still a fairly light read. I really like books like this because it's not overly dark/heavy to read, but it feels like there's still some substance behind the lighter material. It's a great balance and I really enjoyed it! I'd definitely recommend this book, especially to anyone who enjoys playing DnD.
Rating: 4.5/5
I really enjoyed Strength Check! I've already read one other book by McIntyre, Confined Desires, which I also enjoyed. This book was joyfully geeky and I loved seeing references to some of my favorite franchises (Roxie, one of the main characters, and I are both fantasy fans). One member of the Sapphic Book Club classified this novel as "Idiots to Lovers," which I think is an accurate and amusing way to refer to it.
Roxie and her friends co-own a board game cafe, which sounds to me like an amazing idea! Their passion project's success was heartwarming to watch and I'm glad this book didn't focus on any issues with opening a new restaurant. I thought the other characters in Roxie's group (namely Cal and Jasper) were presented in a well-rounded way. I believe the next book in the series will follow Cal's journey and I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for it!
Melody is a manager who left her friends and family on the East Coast to relocate to California for a new position. She's a bubbly, confident woman who enjoys fixing problems and has a passion for graphic design. She's also an avid roller-skater, just like me! One of the skate brands mentioned in the story is my absolute favorite, so when I read that I *literally* gasped out loud. Having spent time on the East Coast as well as other regions of the US, I really connected with Mel and her social struggles were, unfortunately, pretty relatable.
Watching the interactions between these two "roommates," I was left desperately wanting to know what the other one was thinking. Chapters alternated point of view between Roxie and Mel, so the story felt pretty balanced otherwise. There are a few tougher subjects dealt with, namely an alcoholic parent, but overall it's still a fairly light read. I really like books like this because it's not overly dark/heavy to read, but it feels like there's still some substance behind the lighter material. It's a great balance and I really enjoyed it! I'd definitely recommend this book, especially to anyone who enjoys playing DnD.
January 8, 2023
First read of 2023! It was so much fun. Queer, geeky, a little angsty and very real about things like family trauma and PTSD, this was just what I needed. My only complaint is that there were some super repetitive moments during the period of longing, but I feel like it was also super realistic in that way, so I'm not too upset by it. I can't wait to read more!
July 14, 2024
This was a sweet romance, with development and plot that felt believable and enjoyable. I really liked the beginnings of the friend group being fleshed out and I can’t wait to read more from this series.
July 23, 2021
A copy of this book was provided to the Sapphic Book Club for an honest review.
I really wanted to fall head over heals in love with this book. And while I didn't, it was an enjoyable read. The book follows Roxie, a game/cafe owner looking for a rommate, and Mel, a marketing manager recently out of a relationship looking for a room. Both characters are very geeky and I would love to be friends with them! Their fun nights are absolutely perfect!! Actually, Roxie's whole friend group would be great friends.
The romance was enjoyable but a trope I do not usually enjoy. I have to be in a specific mood for it. A fellow book clubber uses the term, Idiots to Lovers, which is perfect. Mel and Roxie spend a chunk of time pining for each other but not making moves and coming up with reasons why they can't be together. Some pining, I am all for, but it went on longer than I usually enjoy. But once they both realize their attraction to each other, I really enjoyed it. I greatly liked Mel and how she handled it. No spoilers, but I have serious respect for her.
All in all, a fun geeky romance with some idiots to lovers trope. Highly recommended for fans of geekiness and contemporary romance.
I really wanted to fall head over heals in love with this book. And while I didn't, it was an enjoyable read. The book follows Roxie, a game/cafe owner looking for a rommate, and Mel, a marketing manager recently out of a relationship looking for a room. Both characters are very geeky and I would love to be friends with them! Their fun nights are absolutely perfect!! Actually, Roxie's whole friend group would be great friends.
The romance was enjoyable but a trope I do not usually enjoy. I have to be in a specific mood for it. A fellow book clubber uses the term, Idiots to Lovers, which is perfect. Mel and Roxie spend a chunk of time pining for each other but not making moves and coming up with reasons why they can't be together. Some pining, I am all for, but it went on longer than I usually enjoy. But once they both realize their attraction to each other, I really enjoyed it. I greatly liked Mel and how she handled it. No spoilers, but I have serious respect for her.
All in all, a fun geeky romance with some idiots to lovers trope. Highly recommended for fans of geekiness and contemporary romance.
December 24, 2021
Awesome geekiness!
This is awesome, fun, sensitive and moving. Watching a budding romance and the trials of two beautiful people is heart warming.
It's great seeing the family dynamics and the problems that Roxie and Melody encounter. The resilience they show is inspiring to say the least.
I'm loving this LGBTQ story, packed with geekiness, boardgames and a love of horror movies. I started to fall in love from the first page....I'm thrilled that it's the start of a series, I can't wait for the next installment
This is awesome, fun, sensitive and moving. Watching a budding romance and the trials of two beautiful people is heart warming.
It's great seeing the family dynamics and the problems that Roxie and Melody encounter. The resilience they show is inspiring to say the least.
I'm loving this LGBTQ story, packed with geekiness, boardgames and a love of horror movies. I started to fall in love from the first page....I'm thrilled that it's the start of a series, I can't wait for the next installment
August 9, 2021
A copy of the book was provided to Sapphic Book Club in exchange for an honest review.
This story follows new roommates Mel and Roxie as they journey from friends to more. When Mel makes a bold life choice in moving across the country from Philadelphia to San Francisco she finds more than the career she was hoping for. She leaves behind family, "friends", and a boyfriend for her job but upon moving in with Roxie, quickly becomes a part of Roxie's found family and develops a connection deeper than she's ever felt before.
It took me a minute to get into it because the voice and the way the characters spoke wasn't really my style (lots of calling each other doll lol). But I became quite attached to the characters after a while and found myself crying at their misfortunes and cheering them on in their victories/triumphs. One thing I really liked was the balance Mel and Roxie brought to one another. I thought they really complimented each other well. After so much pining and miscommunication for far too long, it was nice to see them sharing their fears openly with each other as the story reached its conclusion.
The only "complaint" I have is that I wish the epilogue had been a little longer and given a better glimpse into their future; however, it did offer a very cute moment. Overall I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested. It does touch on some heavy topics such as alcoholism, toxic family/significant other relationships and a lot of self doubt but that didn't take away from the levity of the story in my opinion. I'd say it was a good mix of serious and sweet!
This story follows new roommates Mel and Roxie as they journey from friends to more. When Mel makes a bold life choice in moving across the country from Philadelphia to San Francisco she finds more than the career she was hoping for. She leaves behind family, "friends", and a boyfriend for her job but upon moving in with Roxie, quickly becomes a part of Roxie's found family and develops a connection deeper than she's ever felt before.
It took me a minute to get into it because the voice and the way the characters spoke wasn't really my style (lots of calling each other doll lol). But I became quite attached to the characters after a while and found myself crying at their misfortunes and cheering them on in their victories/triumphs. One thing I really liked was the balance Mel and Roxie brought to one another. I thought they really complimented each other well. After so much pining and miscommunication for far too long, it was nice to see them sharing their fears openly with each other as the story reached its conclusion.
The only "complaint" I have is that I wish the epilogue had been a little longer and given a better glimpse into their future; however, it did offer a very cute moment. Overall I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested. It does touch on some heavy topics such as alcoholism, toxic family/significant other relationships and a lot of self doubt but that didn't take away from the levity of the story in my opinion. I'd say it was a good mix of serious and sweet!
October 24, 2021
This is the first book in the series and it is solidly crafted. McIntyre is a strong writer and this series has a lot of promise. She has several books under her belt, many of which are geared toward m/f pairings. At first glance, it appears she doesn’t want to pigeonhole herself as a writer because the storylines all differ. In fact, she’s stated that she’s made it her mission to write stories that represent the broad spectrum of people out there, from different cultures and races, to all varieties of men and women. Considering that, it will be interesting to see where she takes this series next.
This is a romance first and foremost, but it has particular appeal for those that love gaming. Roxie and Mel are great characters with interesting backstories. Though their attraction is instant, their romance is a slow build—and I do mean slow. However, when they do finally get together, sparks fly and the sex is hot. Even though I’m not normally crazy about insta-attraction in romance novels, this one plays off decently.
Roxy’s friend group is a particular highlight in this story. The friends have great camaraderie and McIntyre makes it appear so inviting that anyone would long to be a part of the group. Best of all, it works beautifully and pushes the plot in the right direction.
Final remarks…
Overall, this is engaging and entertaining story. The story world is interesting. The lead characters are likable and compelling. The secondary characters are especially appealing and delightful. The friends to lovers romance is sweet; readers certainly want to see them get their happily ever after. I would recommend Strength Check to anyone that enjoys slow burn romances, gaming and characters with great backstories.
Strengths…
Interesting characters
Slow burn romance
Interesting storyline
Easy, quick read
This is a romance first and foremost, but it has particular appeal for those that love gaming. Roxie and Mel are great characters with interesting backstories. Though their attraction is instant, their romance is a slow build—and I do mean slow. However, when they do finally get together, sparks fly and the sex is hot. Even though I’m not normally crazy about insta-attraction in romance novels, this one plays off decently.
Roxy’s friend group is a particular highlight in this story. The friends have great camaraderie and McIntyre makes it appear so inviting that anyone would long to be a part of the group. Best of all, it works beautifully and pushes the plot in the right direction.
Final remarks…
Overall, this is engaging and entertaining story. The story world is interesting. The lead characters are likable and compelling. The secondary characters are especially appealing and delightful. The friends to lovers romance is sweet; readers certainly want to see them get their happily ever after. I would recommend Strength Check to anyone that enjoys slow burn romances, gaming and characters with great backstories.
Strengths…
Interesting characters
Slow burn romance
Interesting storyline
Easy, quick read
August 2, 2021
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Strength Check is the first book in the Dungeons and Dating series by Katherine McIntyre. This follows gamer café owner Roxie and her new roommate Melody. Roxie takes the former Philadelphia resident under her wing. They form a strong friendship, being there for each other emotionally while dealing with family drama and not so pleasant exes. Their crushes on each other remain a secret until one of them decides to take a risk.
I struggled a bit with this one. While I really enjoyed the gamer café, Roxy and her close friend circle, I had trouble connecting with Melody. I believed in the friendship that Roxy and Mel formed, but I had trouble buying the romance aspect. I just didn't feel the sexual chemistry between them. Their romance was some how was the slowest burn ever without be actually feeling the burn and angst. There isn't any intimate scenes between them till 80 percent, and then we get three before the book ends. The scenes themselves were steamy and well written, but by that point I wasn't invested in their romance at all.
I feel that the Dungeons and Dating series has a lot of potential and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series because their friend Cal deserves to be treasured.
Strength Check is the first book in the Dungeons and Dating series by Katherine McIntyre. This follows gamer café owner Roxie and her new roommate Melody. Roxie takes the former Philadelphia resident under her wing. They form a strong friendship, being there for each other emotionally while dealing with family drama and not so pleasant exes. Their crushes on each other remain a secret until one of them decides to take a risk.
I struggled a bit with this one. While I really enjoyed the gamer café, Roxy and her close friend circle, I had trouble connecting with Melody. I believed in the friendship that Roxy and Mel formed, but I had trouble buying the romance aspect. I just didn't feel the sexual chemistry between them. Their romance was some how was the slowest burn ever without be actually feeling the burn and angst. There isn't any intimate scenes between them till 80 percent, and then we get three before the book ends. The scenes themselves were steamy and well written, but by that point I wasn't invested in their romance at all.
I feel that the Dungeons and Dating series has a lot of potential and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series because their friend Cal deserves to be treasured.
July 23, 2024
A simple roommate romance with more of a nerdy flavour.
These were probably some of the more interesting main characters I have met in a kindle unlimited romance. They felt like actual real people, nerdy people even, with lots of silly niche interests.
The writing wasn't overly complex and made for a quick weekend read. This is a series you might enjoy taking with you on vacation.
I usually prefer sapphic romance, but the characters were fairly interesting that I am willing to give books 2 and 3 a try. Book 4 is another sapphic pairing and looks to be two characters that I was very curious about in book 1.
If you consider yourself a nerd. Or just want to spend some time with a typical nerdy friend group you might enjoy this one.
These were probably some of the more interesting main characters I have met in a kindle unlimited romance. They felt like actual real people, nerdy people even, with lots of silly niche interests.
The writing wasn't overly complex and made for a quick weekend read. This is a series you might enjoy taking with you on vacation.
I usually prefer sapphic romance, but the characters were fairly interesting that I am willing to give books 2 and 3 a try. Book 4 is another sapphic pairing and looks to be two characters that I was very curious about in book 1.
If you consider yourself a nerd. Or just want to spend some time with a typical nerdy friend group you might enjoy this one.
July 27, 2024
Surprisingly cute and nerdy wlw romance! One MC owns a board game cafe, loves DnD, and has a very sweet found family of other nerds. The other MC recently moved to the city, rents a room from the other MC, plays roller derby, and is getting out of a crappy relationship.
This had roommates, strangers to friends to lovers, found family, board games, and some sweetness, some strap on shenanigans. Also, Amy Kennedy is a new to me narrator that I enjoyed.
I'm just riding out my 2024 slump, and this was readable (listenable?) for me, which I'm calling a win.
CW for alcoholic parent, shitty ex who is homophobic, slurs, crappy ex-friends, misogyny at work
This had roommates, strangers to friends to lovers, found family, board games, and some sweetness, some strap on shenanigans. Also, Amy Kennedy is a new to me narrator that I enjoyed.
I'm just riding out my 2024 slump, and this was readable (listenable?) for me, which I'm calling a win.
CW for alcoholic parent, shitty ex who is homophobic, slurs, crappy ex-friends, misogyny at work
December 26, 2022
This is the very first FF book I have ever read and I was pleasantly surprised. I know this author for her MM books which I absolutely love so I definitely wanted to give this book a try. I definitely still prefer MM but I absolutely still recommend this book as it’s about so much more than just the romance between Mel and Roxie.
This book starts off with an insta-crush between both MCs however it is a slow-burn. Like the slowest of slow-burns. Someone described this book to me as: “The slowest burn EVER (like, throw your Kindle across the room), but there is heat--it's just all crammed in at the end”. I 100% agree with this description. So be prepared. First kiss doesn’t happen until after the half way point and sexy times are very late in the book. However, there is still quite a lot of it!
As the book progresses we really learn a lot about these characters and the different trials they are facing and things they need to work on. Roxie has a tough family situation and exes that have done a number on her self-confidence that is a big part of her growth in this book. Mel had a wonderful family but crappy everything else so this is about her finding her “friends family” and learning about where she fits in this world. I loved reading about their journeys and HEA!
One the fun things about this book and this author’s writing is she’s great at getting the heavy stuff out there but having fun times as well to break up the heaviness. I loved all the pop culture references and the D&D games and just reading about the board game cafe in general. The one-year anniversary party at the cafe sounds like something I’d love to go to!
There’s one other FF book in this series but I know they can be read as standalones. I would personally recommend to read them just because I really enjoy reading this authors work and wouldn’t want to miss out on any character’s story! I am so looking forward to reading about Cal and Julian next!!
This book starts off with an insta-crush between both MCs however it is a slow-burn. Like the slowest of slow-burns. Someone described this book to me as: “The slowest burn EVER (like, throw your Kindle across the room), but there is heat--it's just all crammed in at the end”. I 100% agree with this description. So be prepared. First kiss doesn’t happen until after the half way point and sexy times are very late in the book. However, there is still quite a lot of it!
As the book progresses we really learn a lot about these characters and the different trials they are facing and things they need to work on. Roxie has a tough family situation and exes that have done a number on her self-confidence that is a big part of her growth in this book. Mel had a wonderful family but crappy everything else so this is about her finding her “friends family” and learning about where she fits in this world. I loved reading about their journeys and HEA!
One the fun things about this book and this author’s writing is she’s great at getting the heavy stuff out there but having fun times as well to break up the heaviness. I loved all the pop culture references and the D&D games and just reading about the board game cafe in general. The one-year anniversary party at the cafe sounds like something I’d love to go to!
There’s one other FF book in this series but I know they can be read as standalones. I would personally recommend to read them just because I really enjoy reading this authors work and wouldn’t want to miss out on any character’s story! I am so looking forward to reading about Cal and Julian next!!
July 21, 2021
I am a huge geek. I love it when I find stories that let my geek flag fly! As soon as I saw the title of this series and heard the premise about a gaming cafe run by a found family of friends, I knew that I absolutely had to read it. Found families AND geeky themes?! No way I could pass it up. This book was amazing! I am already anxiously awaiting the next book. Roxie’s life is a hot mess between bad exes and her rotten family. The bright spot in her life is her family of choice: the guys and gals who are part owners of Tabletop Tavern. The gaming cafe is her life and her focus, until the day she gets a response from a possible renter named Melody, or Mel for short. Mel has just uprooted her life and moved cross country for a job, trying to move on and create her own life away from her ex back in Philly. Both of these ladies have baggage to work through but the best way for them to move forward is together. I adore found family stories and this one is being added to my list of favorite ones to read.
January 9, 2022
Warning: This review contains a small spoiler, indicated with tags.
There’s an instant attraction when Roxie Esposito and Melody Roberts meet for the first time when Melody answers Roxie’s ad for a new roommate. Roxie introduces her to her world, her friends and the newly opened board game café, with open arms. However, each is with their own set of baggage which may prevent them from ever acting on their connection.
My rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
I was immediately intrigued by the blurb when it mentioned board game cafe as I don’t believe I’ve ever read a story of which it is so prominently featured in the book. I myself love to play board games and thought it was interesting how it was incorporated into the book, it was fun!
Strength Check is a slow-burn romance and may have been slightly a little too slow for me even though I do enjoy a good slow-burn.
The characters were a delight to read, but I was annoyed by Melody’s ex-boyfriend and rightfully so. The author did a good job at creating a set of likeable characters and characters that weren’t.
At the time I was reading the book, I knew that it was the first of its series. Although the main characters are not Sapphic for the next instalment of the series, I will probably still read the rest of it as I would like to know what happens to this found family.
A copy of the book was provided to Sapphic Book Club in exchange for an honest review.
There’s an instant attraction when Roxie Esposito and Melody Roberts meet for the first time when Melody answers Roxie’s ad for a new roommate. Roxie introduces her to her world, her friends and the newly opened board game café, with open arms. However, each is with their own set of baggage which may prevent them from ever acting on their connection.
My rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
I was immediately intrigued by the blurb when it mentioned board game cafe as I don’t believe I’ve ever read a story of which it is so prominently featured in the book. I myself love to play board games and thought it was interesting how it was incorporated into the book, it was fun!
Strength Check is a slow-burn romance and may have been slightly a little too slow for me even though I do enjoy a good slow-burn.
The characters were a delight to read, but I was annoyed by Melody’s ex-boyfriend and rightfully so. The author did a good job at creating a set of likeable characters and characters that weren’t.
At the time I was reading the book, I knew that it was the first of its series. Although the main characters are not Sapphic for the next instalment of the series, I will probably still read the rest of it as I would like to know what happens to this found family.
A copy of the book was provided to Sapphic Book Club in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2021
Our heroine needs a roommate and our other heroine needs a place to stay. The reality is that they both need much more than that. Is it possible they just found what they really need?
This is book one of the series, so a good place to start.
This is a contemporary romance of the FF variety with something of a friends to lovers theme. The story is well written and easy to read with simple but fun setting. I am a major boardgame fan myself, so that element of the story really resonated with me and just made it all that much more fun. It also helps that the characters are well developed and fun as well. Both are likeable and both have their baggage, but the chemistry between them is obvious and it is very enjoyable to watch things develop. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and look forward to more in the series.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
This is book one of the series, so a good place to start.
This is a contemporary romance of the FF variety with something of a friends to lovers theme. The story is well written and easy to read with simple but fun setting. I am a major boardgame fan myself, so that element of the story really resonated with me and just made it all that much more fun. It also helps that the characters are well developed and fun as well. Both are likeable and both have their baggage, but the chemistry between them is obvious and it is very enjoyable to watch things develop. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and look forward to more in the series.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
July 15, 2024
3.5 ⭐
- friends to lovers
- roomies
- found family
- mutual pining
Roxie has recently opened a board game with two of her best friends, places an ad looking for a roomie to help bring in some extra income. In comes the adorable Mel, who has recently moved cross country for a job that she doesn't particularly enjoy, but was in desperate need of a change of scenery.
The pair hit it off instantly, with both women feeling attraction toward the other, but both a bit gun shy due to their previous relationships. Their friendship deepens and there's tons of pining on both ends, with the pair eventually admitting their feelings around the 80% mark.
Roxie and Mel's story was cute, but the burn was a bit too slow for my liking. Things definitely do get steamy once these two ladies get together though, which was fantastic, but I would have honestly preferred seeing more of their established relationship then this long pining
- friends to lovers
- roomies
- found family
- mutual pining
Roxie has recently opened a board game with two of her best friends, places an ad looking for a roomie to help bring in some extra income. In comes the adorable Mel, who has recently moved cross country for a job that she doesn't particularly enjoy, but was in desperate need of a change of scenery.
The pair hit it off instantly, with both women feeling attraction toward the other, but both a bit gun shy due to their previous relationships. Their friendship deepens and there's tons of pining on both ends, with the pair eventually admitting their feelings around the 80% mark.
Roxie and Mel's story was cute, but the burn was a bit too slow for my liking. Things definitely do get steamy once these two ladies get together though, which was fantastic, but I would have honestly preferred seeing more of their established relationship then this long pining
July 25, 2021
3.5 stars
A premise conceived in geekdom, fleshed out in a zany San Francisco & surrounded by a cast of great side characters. Roxie opened a gaming restaurant/store with her close friends. Due to financial difficulties she takes in a roommate. Enter Melody (bisexual) who just moved across the country to California to start a new job. The attraction is fast & mutual but the main characters tend to dance around each other instead of admitting their feelings, so we spend time with the besties. A crew of friends that anyone would benefit from having. I'm hoping we see more of them. While dancing can be fun, it can also be tiring. I do hope for a sequel.
I was given an advanced copy for an honest review.
A premise conceived in geekdom, fleshed out in a zany San Francisco & surrounded by a cast of great side characters. Roxie opened a gaming restaurant/store with her close friends. Due to financial difficulties she takes in a roommate. Enter Melody (bisexual) who just moved across the country to California to start a new job. The attraction is fast & mutual but the main characters tend to dance around each other instead of admitting their feelings, so we spend time with the besties. A crew of friends that anyone would benefit from having. I'm hoping we see more of them. While dancing can be fun, it can also be tiring. I do hope for a sequel.
I was given an advanced copy for an honest review.
September 21, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! It was filled with likeable and interesting characters, both the main characters and the wider community of friends that is created. Roxie was a very sympathetic character still dealing with the scars from our last relationship, while Mel is having to deal with reassessing where she stood with her old friendship group after leaving. Their relationship was something of a slow burn but the tension that built up between them felt authentic and enjoyable!
One of my favourite parts was definitely the sense of community and found family and I cannot wait to read more in this series so I can revisit them all!
Content Note - parent dealing with alcohol addiction and verbally abuses a MC on the page.
*I received a free ARC and I have chosen to leave a review*
One of my favourite parts was definitely the sense of community and found family and I cannot wait to read more in this series so I can revisit them all!
Content Note - parent dealing with alcohol addiction and verbally abuses a MC on the page.
*I received a free ARC and I have chosen to leave a review*
August 15, 2021
I received this book as an ARC.
That said I can not wait for the next one. As a self proclaimed nerd of love stories that depict other nerds. The characters were believable and to over embellished. This applies to all the characters not just the main ones. Also, the diversity of the characters was refreshing. Often if you read LGBTQ+ books they seem to only have characters of the same orientation as the MC's. Really, lesbians only friends with lesbians? I am really looking forward to the sequels and learning more about the other characters.
That said I can not wait for the next one. As a self proclaimed nerd of love stories that depict other nerds. The characters were believable and to over embellished. This applies to all the characters not just the main ones. Also, the diversity of the characters was refreshing. Often if you read LGBTQ+ books they seem to only have characters of the same orientation as the MC's. Really, lesbians only friends with lesbians? I am really looking forward to the sequels and learning more about the other characters.
October 2, 2021
They Found What They'd Both Been Looking For.
F/F, Insta Attraction, Friends to Lovers, Romance. Easy to read, page-turner with a guaranteed HEA and great characters. Lots of background information given so have finished the book feeling like I hadn't missed anything important and that I knew the main characters well. Thoroughly enjoyed reading their story.
F/F, Insta Attraction, Friends to Lovers, Romance. Easy to read, page-turner with a guaranteed HEA and great characters. Lots of background information given so have finished the book feeling like I hadn't missed anything important and that I knew the main characters well. Thoroughly enjoyed reading their story.
September 18, 2021
This was a fun f/f story that I really enjoyed. I loved the dorky aspect and the camaraderie of the characters. Roxy and Mel were so cute with all the pining and the “she won’t like me/doesn’t like me that way” thoughts. Ready to see where the series goes.
October 13, 2021
I'm not all that lucky with trying out new authors at the moment it seems.
At page 209 and I had to realise that I'm not masochistic enough to suffer through another hundred pages of self inflicted misery. Sorry, lack of self esteem is one thing, but putting oneself down all the time is just psychotic and that is what both main ladies here do all the time. Not my cup of ... something.
At page 209 and I had to realise that I'm not masochistic enough to suffer through another hundred pages of self inflicted misery. Sorry, lack of self esteem is one thing, but putting oneself down all the time is just psychotic and that is what both main ladies here do all the time. Not my cup of ... something.
October 17, 2021
I absolutely loved this book!! It was adorably geeky and so very sweet at the same time. Watching Roxie and Melody move in together and fall in love was so sweet. They were there for each other and lifted each other up when they needed it. They became friends and bonded and then grew closer as they fell for each other. It was so sweet and I’m looking forward to reading the next one!
September 20, 2021
Strength Check is book one in the Dungeons and Dating series by Katherine McIntyre and the first book I've read by this author. I really enjoyed the concept of this book and how she brought the characters together. The attraction between Roxie and Mel was instant even though neither one of them knew it. The concept of the cafe was really interesting as well. I've never heard of a gaming cafe and I was very intrigued. I think what I liked most about this book is even though the attraction was instant, the author developed their feelings along with their characters. The storyline was unique and I enjoyed the supporting characters just as much as the MC's.
When Mel gets the job of her dreams across country in San Francisco, she needs a place to live, so she answers an a roommate ad for a girl named Roxie. The moment they lay eyes on each other the day she moves in, the chemistry is explosive and warm. They start to have movie nights, game nights, and long, deep talks. Roxie has never been good with relationships and is scared to get hurt again. The more time she spends with Mel though, the harder she falls. When Mel's ex-boyfriend, whom she has tried to remain just friends with comes to visit, he can't get it in his head it's over and Roxie thinks they are trying to work things out. She starts to distance herself from Mel, until Mel makes her understand she and the ex are over. Can Roxie get over her past to move on with Mel or will she let the past ruin any future she can have with the only woman she's felt anything for in a long time?
This is one of the only lesbian romance books I have ever read and I can honestly say that after this, I became hooked. I cannot wait for the rest of the books in this series. This author has something special to share with her writing and I am excited to continue reading what she has to offer.
I received this ARC for my honest review from Gay Romance Reviews.
When Mel gets the job of her dreams across country in San Francisco, she needs a place to live, so she answers an a roommate ad for a girl named Roxie. The moment they lay eyes on each other the day she moves in, the chemistry is explosive and warm. They start to have movie nights, game nights, and long, deep talks. Roxie has never been good with relationships and is scared to get hurt again. The more time she spends with Mel though, the harder she falls. When Mel's ex-boyfriend, whom she has tried to remain just friends with comes to visit, he can't get it in his head it's over and Roxie thinks they are trying to work things out. She starts to distance herself from Mel, until Mel makes her understand she and the ex are over. Can Roxie get over her past to move on with Mel or will she let the past ruin any future she can have with the only woman she's felt anything for in a long time?
This is one of the only lesbian romance books I have ever read and I can honestly say that after this, I became hooked. I cannot wait for the rest of the books in this series. This author has something special to share with her writing and I am excited to continue reading what she has to offer.
I received this ARC for my honest review from Gay Romance Reviews.
July 14, 2023
STRENGTH CHECK is the first book in the Dungeons and Dating series, and we start off with Roxie. She has just opened a board game café with her two best friends and has no room in her life for romance. Her self-esteem has been severely battered and she has hidden herself from the world. Melody (Mel) has moved to San Francisco from Philly and rents out a room in Roxie's home. Both of them feel attraction but, due to baggage, neither makes a move.
Miscommunication is a theme where romance is concerned. After all, if everyone just said what they thought, there wouldn't be any books! BUT there seemed to be just a tad too much here for me. I really wanted to slap both Roxie and Mel upside the head. I was cheering when they finally got together!
Found families is a wonderful theme for me. I adore it, and this was no exception. Roxie's found family are divine and I really can't wait for future stories so I can get to meet each of them in closer detail.
This is a slow-burn, steamy romance with fun, frolics, and family. It is also sad in places, leaving me wanting their book now. Sorry, not saying who as I don't want to spoil it.
First in a series and absolutely recommended by me. Just be prepared to be frustrated at the two of them! 😉
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 17, 2021
Miscommunication is a theme where romance is concerned. After all, if everyone just said what they thought, there wouldn't be any books! BUT there seemed to be just a tad too much here for me. I really wanted to slap both Roxie and Mel upside the head. I was cheering when they finally got together!
Found families is a wonderful theme for me. I adore it, and this was no exception. Roxie's found family are divine and I really can't wait for future stories so I can get to meet each of them in closer detail.
This is a slow-burn, steamy romance with fun, frolics, and family. It is also sad in places, leaving me wanting their book now. Sorry, not saying who as I don't want to spoil it.
First in a series and absolutely recommended by me. Just be prepared to be frustrated at the two of them! 😉
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 17, 2021
July 19, 2024
Strength check is the first book in the “Dungeons and dating series”. In this book we follow Roxie who owns a board game café and Mel, her new roommate. The two girls become friends and soon their feelings start growing. It’s a sweet and geeky slow burn romance that I really enjoyed. Both characters were well developed and likable, I had no problem connecting with them and rooting for them and their happy ending. Roxie and Mel had wonderful chemistry and I just really love books where the main couple starts as friends. I also loved the found family theme of the book, the side characters were great and very interesting. This is my first book from the author and I’m looking forward to read more books in the series.
Edited to add that I reread the book and this time I listened the audiobook and enjoyed every minute. I finished it in one sitting. I loved how the narrator voiced Roxie and Mel and brought their story to life! Great audio quality and beautiful voice.
Edited to add that I reread the book and this time I listened the audiobook and enjoyed every minute. I finished it in one sitting. I loved how the narrator voiced Roxie and Mel and brought their story to life! Great audio quality and beautiful voice.
November 27, 2023
Strength Check by Katherine McIntyre is the first book in the Dungeons and Dating series and has completely hooked me. I need the rest of this series. The characters are interesting and fun. The story has humor, angst, feeling, and heat. Loved every page.
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