Warmth

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 in a lot of plot — failed relationships, affairs, family tension, workplace jealousy … and that’s not everything. It’s tied together in a way that doesn’t feel overly rushed, but where a longer book may been more detailed, Warmth sticks to the nuts and bolts. In some areas I would have appreciated more depth,

Overall, I enjoyed Warmth. While short, it’s a largely satisfying, entertaining read that’s worth checking out.