How Stories are Rated
Sweet Tea:
I drink my tea and coffee with a lot of sugar lumps. The sweeter the better. More often than not, I also add a little extra icing sugar to my coca to give it extra richness and sweet. So the more Sugar, the Better! The Sweet-Tea rating is my overall view.
Lumps
DNF - I didn’t finish it. Someone forgot to add sugar to this Cuppa and I found it bitter enough to put it down.
1 Sugar Lump - I had to take it in little sips. I managed to get to the end of it, but I was sure glad when it was done. I won’t be recommending it.
2 Sugar Lumps - I was bitter sweet about this one. It was OK and I powered through it because there was a little something there that caught my attention. But it was not sweet enough for me to try it again.
3 Sugar Lumps - A good sweetish cuppa. I can taste the sweetness there and kept going because it was pleasant enough to the pallette. Though this book is not my preferred cuppa, I will look for other titles from this author.
4 Sugar Lumps - A honeyed, almost sweet perfection. Just a sugar lump short. I really liked it and I’ll read it again a few times before donating it or giving it to a friend.
5 Sugar Lumps - A confection perfection, the Perfect Cuppa! Super sweet, just the way I love it. It has found a spot in my personal library.
Elements of the Story
Story Flow: Did the story develop at a forward pace that kept me reading - Higher Rating - or did I need to skip some pages to move forward - Lower Rating?
Nail Biting: Is the tension that kept the hero and heroine from recognizing and realizing they are falling in love believable - Higher Rating - or petty - Lower Rating?
Swoon: Did I fall mad rush, dazzlingly, free falling in love with the Hero - Higher Rating - or was I tempted to set him up with someone from out of town - Lower Rating?
HEA: Happily Ever After. Did the couple get to know each other on a deep enough level that thier love story will remain - Higher Rating - or do I think they will eventually end up in Divorce Court - Lower Rating?
Emotion Coaster: Did this story make me cry, laugh, angry, wet - Higher Rating - or did it make me feel neutral throughout - Lower Rating?
Hot Tea Rating
I’m married, but I am not dead. I don’t mind my fantasy Hot-Tea a little on the scorching side.
Tepid: Sweetness and Light
Luke Warm: Mainly touching and kissing. The physical aspect is implied, while the emotional aspect is detailed.
Warm: Some graphic description, but you need to fill in the blanks
Hot: Descriptions are more graphic or anatomical and things may get a little more involved than just intercourse.
Scorching: You may need to let your Cuppa cool after reading this.
Gerry