We rate our books for sensuality. Our scale goes from N/A (there’s nothing sexual in the book) to Burning. We let reviewers pick the ratings they feel are appropriate for the books they’ve reviewed. Over the years, romances have become more explicit and thus books that were given a Hot rating ten or fifteen years ago would probably garner a rating of Warm today.

Our overall guidelines are below.

Kisses: Kisses only. Many of these books are quite simply “sweet.”

Subtle: No explicit sensuality. Kissing and touching, but physical romance is described in general terms or implied. The emphasis is on how lovemaking made the characters feel emotionally, and not on graphic description.

Warm: Moderately explicit sensuality. Physical details are described, but are not graphically depicted. Much is left to the reader’s imagination.

Hot: More explicit sensuality. Sex is described in more graphic terms. Hot books typically have more sex scenes and are more likely to depict acts beyond intercourse.

Burning: Extremely explicit sensuality – these books are often erotic romances or flatout erotica.