Welcome to Plotting and Panting!! We’re excited to be here; grab your favorite drink, get comfy and let’s turn the page together!

We’re spicing things up a little bit today, literally. We decided it was time to highlight some of the authors who absolutely nail that balance between a sizzling good time and a solid plot. Now, between the three of us, our tastes range from mild to extra hot, but there are a few authors we all agree on. So, buckle up because today we’re diving into the queen of banter, steam, and swoon…. Tessa Bailey…. and chatting about some of our favorite books from her catalog.

Nicole: Fangirl Down

Dorothy: It Happened One Summer, Fix Her Up

Helen: My Killer Vacation, Dream Girl Drama, Unfortunately Yours

Tessa's Website: Tessa Bailey Website

Panting Scale

1. Barely Warm – You could read this to your grandma and not blush
2. A Little Breathless – Some flirty banter and a chaste kiss… maybe two if we’re feeling wild
3. Need a Sip of Water – The shirt’s off, the lights are dim, and your cheeks are warm
4. Heart Racing, Fan Required – Pages are sizzling and you’re reading with one eyebrow permanently raised
5. Full-On Gasping for Air – The book is basically illegal in at least three countries

Plotting Scale

1. The Chaos Gremlin - No outline in sight. The book feels like the author just shook a bag of tropes and dumped them onto the page. Fun? Absolutely! Structured? Not even a little bit
2. The Wandering Map - There is a plan… somewhere. The story takes detours, loses the GPS signal, and you might be asking, “Wait, where are we going again?”
3. The Color-Coded Calendar - Some structure, some vibes. You can tell the author had a plan but also went off-script when the characters demanded a spontaneous road trip.
4. The Spreadsheet of Destiny - Everything is neat, organized and right on cue. You can practically see the beat sheet taped above the author’s desk.
5. The Puppet Master - Immaculate plotting. Every detail snaps into place, every breadcrumb leads somewhere and by the end you’re applauding the master plan.