The Pleasure Principle. Nicole Falls. 2020. 167 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] The Pleasure Principle is a memoir on love. A journey through sex, if you will. Throughout it, the main character, DJ, recounts her relationships — romantic or sexual in nature — and the growth she saw along the way. DJ, whose full name is Damita Jo, like the singer, doesn’t just reminisce on the good and bad sex she had. That is part of the story, but certainly not all. Instead, it’s really a reflection on a life of love and lust, and the lesson’s she learned along the way. One of the most prominent lessons in this book was about setting expectations to the side and going where life takes you. For DJ, it meant stepping outside of expectations for her life, , her career, and her romantic and platonic relationships. Instead, she stepped into what felt right or good in the moment, and opened herself up to new experiences at every turn. As someone closer to her age at the end of the book, it was easy to relate to the experiences she had and the mindset she was in. There was wistfulness, but overall, I sensed…

Fans Only. B. Love. 2020. 118 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] B. Love has capitalized on current events, and Only Fans is definitely a part of it. What started as a friendly discussion among friends turns into a proposition that Aries is loathe to turn down — start a strictly platonic Only Fans with frenemy Merrick. On the surface, it’s a mutually beneficial plan — for 6 months, the two will run an anonymous Only Fans account. They’ll make it their little secret, and solemnly swear not to get emotionally attached. At the end, they’ll split the profits; he’ll open his own music studio and she’ll be able to afford a year-long apprenticeship across the country with a fashion design icon. Seems legit; what could go wrong? Obviously a lot can go left when you’re making porn with a close friend. Even while trying their hardest to remain neutral toward each other, it was inevitable that they’d get to see a different side of each other. I found it interesting to see how they plotted their cinematic exploits. The mechanics of how to film while making sure their identities remain hidden, whether to give their channel a storyline … it was…

Quarantined: A Collection of Shorts. Sabrina B. Scales. 2020. 79 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] I can’t remember how many days we’ve been in quarantine-life, but I do appreciate that authors are putting their spin on love these most dire of days. My latest quarantine read is the new release by Sabrina Scales, which features three shorts with a string of connection between each. My favorite of the three shorts was the first one, which featured a nice forbidden love between Jabari and his best friend’s younger sister, Nicki. She’s had eyes for him since they were kids, but the question is whether the two can pursue something without damaging the relationship they each have with her brother, Courtney. If Jabari feels familiar, it’s likely because his character seems was based on DJ D Nice’s “Club Quarantine” instagram sets. The second story featured Courtney and his on-again, off-again, hidden in plain sight, secret love affair with ex-girlfriend Milo. It sounds complicated because it is. Their affair is best described as a case in which nothing has to be explained because it’s understood. Except that the two clearly are not on the same page. It’s amusing to see them stumble through figuring…

From Scratch. Katrina Jackson. 2017. 160 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] What’s a frustrated academic to do when the tenure they’ve worked so tirelessly for is denied? Find a new recipe for success, obviously. In From Scratch, Mary Woods has landed herself in the middle of Sea Port. It’s small town living at its finest, and she’s the new baker in town. Aside from the pressure of launching a business, she’s also trying to find her place in a town where relationships and secrets run deep. Along the way, she meets the town’s new fire chief and police officer, Knox and Santos, respectively. Both are newcomers to town and are using the new setting as a reset on life just as much as she is. They’re also fine as hell, and clearly attracted to her. From Scratch is a mix of new and familiar to me. I love a good small-town, easy going romance. A little sexual angst and town drama is all it takes for me. But what is new for me was that the love triangle that one often reads about isn’t just with Mary at the center. She, Knox, and Santos are all enamored with each other, and…