Warmth. D. Rose. 2020. 64 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Workplace romances are always a bit messy. The way to get around that? Don’t make it a romance. That’s Tessa’s plan when she decides to finally act on her attraction to her colleague, Raj. They’re based in different cities, so it should be a no-brainer for them to hook up once to satisfy her curiosity. That’s rarely how things work out, though, and Warmth follows their attempts to manage their attraction. Tessa is career driven, and while that trait is partly what brings her around Raj, it’s also part of what marks her as so fiercely independent. Her desire for independence comes at the cost of relationships, both romantic and with family. Raj is just as driven, but seems to have more perspective on what he wants next beyond work. Both have scars from previous relationships, so it was important getting to see how both approached healing and making a decision about whether they could be a thing. Warmth is more erotica than romance, and clocking in at around 64 pages, it’s fairly fast paced. Sometimes less is more, and that’s why I’ve come to enjoy novellas. Here, the author packs…

Honey; Sweeter Than Honey. Maya Mahree. 2019/2020. B. Love Publications. [Soure: Kindle Unlimited.] This review actually covers both books in this series, Honey and its sequel, Sweeter Than Honey. I started reading the sequel, not realizing it was part of a series. Naturally, I had to go back to find book 1. I’ll start here by saying that I likely wouldn’t have known I was reading a sequel if not for my spidey senses because Mahree’s style gave context and detail in a way that the plot of Sweeter Than Honey certainly would’ve held its own even without reading Honey beforehand. The books centers Trinity, a recent college grad on a group trip that includes her long-time boyfriend, Joseph, and her sidepiece, Kelly — the two happen to be best friends. Along for the trip are a host of other friends, including Kelly’s actual girlfriend, Vanessa. Where the first book is a buildup to a fallout, the second book reconciles the issues in book one. It is capital D drama, so there are significant issues that need resolution. Honey unfolds mostly in the present, with the group of friends on a graduation trip to Hawaii. Through flashbacks, you’re able to…

In His Corner. Alexandra Warren. 2017. 283 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] This book is actually a reread for me. I picked it up when it was released; I obviously was side-tracked before posting a review. I chose to revisit it this week when the author, Alexandra Warren, announced it would be leaving the Kindle Unlimited library. In His Corner features Bella Stevenson, a staff writer for the online magazine Fullest Disclosure. Her attempts to write her way up the ranks land her at the latest boxing match of Princeton “The Prince” Lattimore, an undefeated boxer whose flirtatious innuendo gets under her skin. Lucky for her, his interest in her opens the door for an exclusive that she can’t turn down. Bella and Prince’s relationship isn’t quite a fairy tale. While their attraction is hot and they’re almost effortlessly compatible, they have to fight for their relationship on several fronts. Prince owes his career — for better or worse — to his father, formidable boxing legend Sir Kingfield “The King” Lattimore. The two have a complicated relationship due to The King’s high expectations that Prince follows in his footsteps and tough love approach. The effects of this strained relationship cause continued…

The Reinvention of the Rose. Christina C. Jones. 2020. Warm Hues Creative. 200 pages. [Source: Personal copy] In Deuces Wild, The Garden fell, leaving its Roses and Thorns with newfound autonomy over their lives. Some integrated seamlessly into new lifestyles, while others had a stormier experience. Such is Tempest. She’s settled into what she has crafted as a quiet, anonymous, unassuming existence in The Heights. She’s slowing integrating herself into the community, but keeps herself at a distance. The Reinvention of the Rose isn’t so much of a romance as it is Tempest’s attempts to make sense of she is and what she wants. She spent years being defined by someone else’s standards, and literally doesn’t know who she is, where she’s from, or her own birth day. Instead, she’s a grown woman having to reinvent herself because what other option does she have? From figuring out what to do with the old candle shop she bought to navigating sex, romance, and intimacy with men — especially local tattoo artist Tristan — Tempest has a lot to learn and redefine for herself. Also this story is centered around Tempest, Tristan isn’t a character without his own challenges. A military vet…

#Catfished. AshleyNicole. 2020. 107 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Who, in the year of our Lord 2020, is still getting catfished? Kardea is. She’s been talking to “Magnus” for two years, long distance, but has somehow missed the classic red flags that made the MTV show famous. She’s just been stood up by “Mag” when she runs into him in a local coffee shop. Big shocker — it’s not him, but local barber Emiel, whose photos “Mag” has been lifting from Instagram. Kardea and Emiel partner to figure out who’s behind the fake persona, but find (not surprisingly) that they have a mutual attraction and more than a little bit of chemistry. As the two sleuth their way to the truth, there’s a healthy dose of drama mixed in with their antics. While I had my suspicions about who was behind the catfishing, there were some twists I didn’t see coming. It made for an interesting story that I found easy to read and hard to put down. While this book is a romance, it’s just as much a comedy. I was both shocked and amused that this story had more love triangles than I could keep track of. Then, I…