RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
STEAM: 🔥🔥🔥

Zora Neale Nelson has a lot on her plate. She manages a firm with her two siblings, Levi and Miriam, that specializes in helping couples break up. That's right: she owns a break-up management company. She is also responsible for wrangling the wild cats that are her brother and sister, thanks to unrealistic expectations set on her by her constantly bickering parents.

When her office becomes short-staffed one day, she ends up breaking up with Cyrus Hart on behalf of her client. An instant attraction blooms between the two of them, but nothing comes of it as the goal was to break Cyrus off from her client. Their paid-for interaction should have ended there, but fate has them running into each other, giving their connection more opportunities to grow.

When Cyrus needed a girlfriend to get ahead at work, he recruits Zora as "payback" for putting him in the single market in the first place. Will the proximity be enough to foster that connection into a happily ever after?

I loved the premise and main characters of the book. Cyrus is ambitious -- almost tunnel-visioned -- and charming. He is also very aware of social dynamics, which helps with his efforts to build a friendship and eventually a relationship with Zora. He is cunning enough to use circumstances to his advantage, such as guilting Zora into being his fake girlfriend.

I really enjoyed Zora's arc more as she had a lot more adversities, to begin with. Her entire family takes her for granted as the peacemaker and organizer. The pressure is enough to make any grown person crumble, but she has endured it. I wished there was a more satisfying conclusion to that plot line, but perhaps we will see in later books of the series.

The chemistry between these two was well established from the get-go, thanks to the dual POV. The immediate spark subsequently grew into a sizzle and ends with super-spicy moments that was well worth the slow-burn wait.

This is the first of the series, and it does a great job of setting up for the subsequent books. It can be read as a standalone because there are no cliffhangers.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Naima Simone, Montlake Publishing, and NetGalley for providing an ARC. **

I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved how Zora and Cyrus admired each other, not only for their face and body, but also for their mind. I found the glimpse at Zora’s family interesting. I didn’t like Zora’s insecurities nor the weight Cyrus put on Zora’s lie.

The idea was original: a company that helps people break up, founded by siblings who had to suffer their parents’ constant bickering. Zora and Levi are twins and couldn’t be more different, and their little sister Miriam is the family’s genius. Zora is the peacemaker and basically triggered by conflicts. And she meets Cyrus through her work, which she hides from him.

While their attraction is real–see the multiple paragraphs about it, detailing how the other is beautiful/sexy/gorgeous (delete as appropriate)–they take their time. It sure was a slow burn. But when they get together, it’s both hot and emotional. A good combination in my opinion.

Despite all that, and the supposed confidence of Zora in herself, she keeps doubting Cyrus’s attentions, and interpreting things he says or does as proving he isn’t attracted to her. Her “woman like me” grated on my nerves in the end, because Cyrus kept showing the opposite.

Oh, I didn’t say? Zora is a bigger Black woman. Cyrus is your conventional pretty white guy–or so I assumed. To be fair, Zora has a history of fat-shaming lovers, so it’s kind of understandable that she ends up doubting her attractiveness to men, while still feeling she looks great. Still she should simply believe the man.

There was little besides the romance in this story. Though I loved the various mentions of Black historical figures and events, especially the pride and respect behind the author’s words. I’m not familiar with them, but I didn’t need to when the author, through the characters, expresses their meaning.

The writing was interesting. A lot of big words, sometimes turns of phrase that didn’t sound natural though… I’d have to read more of this author to really decide if I like it or not.

Quickie

- Series: Burned Inc #1 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #forbidden romance #interracial romance #fake relationship #curvy heroine
- Triggers: past death
- Main couple: Zora Nelson & Cyrus Hart
- Hotness: 3/5
- Romance: 4/5
- + Zora’s family dynamics were interesting
- – the ‘bad guys’ were almost caricatures

Sadly I couldn't get into this one like I hoped I would. I felt myself come out of the story more often than I'd like, could definitely be my current mood.

Thanks for the review copy.

DNF 10%

3.5 stars. It was okay for me. Not a bad story, but one I had a tough time getting through for some reason. It had some nice heat. Definitely a different, unique storyline...the breakup business. It took a bit for me to actually see or feel the connection between Zora and Cyrus. I see the premise of the business but for some reason, I felt that Zora should have been maybe tougher? I get that she was always put in the position as peacemaker, and I would have like to have seen her break out of the mold a bit more and come out stronger. Still all in all a good story.

Four and a half stars

Heated by Naima Simone is a lush, wrenching, scorching hot read. The first in the new Burned series, Heated is about Zora Nelson, who with her siblings own an exclusive unmatching company—one that clients use to outsource their breakups. Cyrus Hart is on the receiving end of one of these, and he and Zora strike up an unlikely friendship of sorts.

Ms Simone’s writing is absolutely delicious as always, and readers need to strap in for one emotional roller coaster. Her characterizations are spot on, and the plot induces just the right amount of page-turning. Cyrus and Zora are surprised to find the other listens and cares and comforts, when they’ve learned mostly that the world is often cruel and untrustworthy. Can’t wait for the next in the series.

(Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a honest review)

Publication date: 05 July 2022
Publisher: Montlake

Tropes: slow burn, fake dating

Plot:

Zora, Levi and Miriam are three siblings who jointly run a company that will send the sender’s partner a breakup message on their behalf. Zora is then tasked by Valerie, the sender to deliver a breakup message to Cyrus who’s an attorney. She also coincidentally meets Cyrus who doesn’t know she was the one who delivered the message. Given their instant attraction, will they make it out together out of the tangled mess?

Thoughts:

This is the first book in the series and also my first book from this author and I chose this book for the fake dating trope.

I liked that this book had representation of inter-racial relationships because we don’t see that often in books enough. The breakup business was also an interesting plotline. Both Cyrus and Zora were strong headed people who knew how to work towards their goals. It was also a quick and fast paced read so it was easy to get through.

But their chemistry when they’re not in the “fake dating” situation seemed a little underwhelming. It also felt like the ending was rushed and there wasn’t a proper closure. The connection also seemed more to focus on the lust once they started getting along with one another

Cyrus is a man with a plan - he’s got the house of his dreams and his career is on the rise, he just needs to wait six more months and he’ll propose to his long-term girlfriend. So when a hot stranger shows up on his door and reads out a letter from his girlfriend ending their relationship, he can’t believe it. What he doesn’t realise is that the hot stranger, Zora, isn’t just helping out a friend - she does this for a living, and when Cyrus keeps on seeking her out, she can’t bring herself to tell him the truth. But when he ropes her into pretending to be his girlfriend and they have to spend more and more time together, it becomes harder for her to keep it from him - especially when he makes it clear how he feels about lies.

I quite enjoyed this. The concept is really different and amusing and was a good basis for the story to start. The chemistry between Cyrus and Zora was really good - there’s a lot of simmering tension between the two of them that was really fun and I liked how their romance played out. There was a good level of honesty and communication between them and I liked how that worked into the final conflict between them. As individual characters, I liked Zora a lot but preferred Cyrus. I liked that Naima Simone added some different layers to him, such as giving him his big family house and his hobby of baking. It made him very different to the usual hero you get in books like this.

However, I did think the pacing was off in the book overall. I enjoyed the sexual tension between them but I did think that it took too long for anything physical to happen between them and then when it did I don’t think there was enough of it. I also thought the ending was incredibly blunt and felt very unresolved.

The book just felt a bit unfinished, as a whole, which I thought was a shame as the vast majority of it was very good. The writing is strong, there were likeable characters including in the side characters, and I thought the drama worked quite well. I just wish the ending had been a little bit more well-rounded. Still, I’m excited to see if Zora’s siblings will get their own stories because this was a really fun book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.

Content Notes: References to intimate partner violence, death of a parent (in past), references to emotional abuse / manipulation, fatphobia, toxic family, on-page sex, infidelity / cheating.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
This is a steamy romance with a fun premise. I like the idea of a company built around assisting with breakups, and the twist that the founder ends up falling for one of the men she’s hired to break up with creates instant tension. I did feel like it felt a bit flat. I like Naima Simone’s writing, but her work is always on the hotter end of the spectrum and this is no different. I felt there was more emphasis on that than developing real substance to the relationship, and while I can see it working for others, it was a miss for me.

I wanted to read this book because the premise is awesome, but it did not live up to the blurb. I really struggled with the pacing of the book. The start was strong and then it just fell flat. It's like the author couldn't decide what type of book she wanted it to be. Zora dating a client's ex who she just dumped on behalf of the client is plot enough. The fake dating section was not needed and should have been introduced way sooner for this plot to fully work. On top of this the book relied on miscommunication for the main source of conflict. Which is fine, sometimes, but in this case Zora's reason for keeping her job a secret did not even make sense, like it was beyond what "romance reasons" can justify. On top of that Cyrus shut her down every time she tried to communicate and then got mad at her for not communicating, like what am I supposed to do with that? Granted, he did realize he had done this, but it did not make him likable or a hero in my eyes. I was also frustrated by the lack of an epilogue as there was not enough resolution at the end of the book to make their happily ever after feel believable to me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐

Heated is book one in Naima Simone's new Burned, Inc. Series and introduces readers to three siblings twins Zora and Levi and younger sister Miriam. Who all co-own a business that will deliver break up messages to your boyfriend or girlfriend for you.

And this particular story focuses on Zora who's asked by client Valerie to deliver a break up letter to her boyfriend Cyrus a workaholic entertainment attorney.

This then leads Cyrus and Zora to fake a relationship for three months on the condition that they don't share certain details with each other including and especially what Zora does for a living.

And with a likable cast of characters who are dealing with both realistic and relatable life situations including parental issues and low self-esteem. This was a pleasant read.

However, I struggled to become fully engaged due in part to the storyline but mainly because of the monologues and lack of chemistry between Zora and Cyrus.

Yet, it's a fun, easy and relatively angst free interracial romance that I'm sure fans of the fake relationship trope will enjoy it just didn't really do it for me, which is a shame as I'm a huge Naima Simone fan.

This did not work for me. No thank you.
Firstly, the concept of a break-up business might sound quirky and fun in theory but definitely did not translate. It's a dumb idea. I would hate to be in the receiving end of such a break up. You're such a coward that you can't confront your other half face-to-face?

Then, Zora bugged me to no end. If you hate confrontation so much, why on earth would you start a business whose main characteristic is confrontation!
Secondly, why on earth was she shocked by how attractive Craig was. What, your clients only date unattractive people? Attractive people aren't broken up with? Really?

Zora

I’m Denver’s unmatchmaker. Every city needs one.

Why? Because people break up—and sometimes they should. But when I learn that entertainment attorney Cyrus Hart is someone else’s mistake, I can’t believe it. He’s smart, successful, and sexy as hell.

When a chance encounter with Cyrus turns into something more, I can’t help but fall for him. Our chemistry is undeniable. But his ex used my company to send him that letter—and that’s a problem. Especially since he doesn’t know I own the company.

How can this possibly work? I know from experience that the riskiest ventures are the worthiest ones…but falling for Cyrus Hart may be my biggest gamble yet.

Cyrus

I’m a man with a plan—college, law school, a great career. So far, so good.

Until a stranger shows up on my doorstep and reads me a breakup letter from my girlfriend. My carefully laid plans unravel.

But then I meet someone new. It’s spontaneous. It’s electric. And it’s not according to plan.

I loved the idea behind this book with Zora owning a break up business and falling for a clients ex. However, the overall story just didn’t do it for me.
I liked Zora, I love that she ran the business with her siblings. However, it bothered me that she kept her identity from Cyrus when it felt unnecessary and just creates unnecessary issues. I loved Cyrus though. He deserved the truth from Zora from the start.
Miriam and Jordan were my two favorite people in this story and I really want more of them. I loved them from the moment I met them and the moment they first ran into each other.
I felt like this story just kind of ended without an epilogue. I wish there was one to kind of wrap up Zora and Cyrus’s story a little more.
This book just wasn’t for me, but if Jordan and Miriam are next then I will be reading their story.
If you’re looking for a fake relationship romance check this one out.

*2.5 stars*
I had high hopes for this and wanted to love it but ended up barely liking it. It ended on a very meh whimper when all was said and done.
The issue here lies with the central conflict. The central conflict was very dumb to me because there was no Earthly reason why it should have been such a huuuuge conflict! Zora our female lead should not have lied because her reason for lying was very silly. IDK it just took me completely out of the story. The resulting drama didn’t draw me in either. She was an okay character otherwise but since this was a main part of her, I guess I was not too endeared with her.
Another big issue was with the characterization of the relationship. Ultimately, I was not convinced they were really in love with each other, and their time spent together pre- and post- resolution failed to convince me otherwise.
There were some good points. The male lead Cyrus was a good guy and I empathized with his loss. I wish the thing that happened to him had been revealed though. I enjoyed his bromance with Jordan too. Mariam and Levi were a Hoot! I look forward to reading their stories. Zora’s parents were truly horrible and have no little redeeming qualities. I hope they feature even less in future books.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for the ARC.

Zora and her siblings run a break up service, an idea that predicates a great plot. It makes them all a good living, but it sure does cause havoc for them. Zola’s parents are both pieces of work and that’s all that can be said.
I knew when she took the assignment of Cyrus and then made a pact with him, it would cause a pickle and a major jam for her.
The heat between the two sizzled and snapped, so much I had to sit in front of a fan to cool down.
I kept pumping the breaks when the inevitable stuff hit the same fan, but I sped read anyway to see what happened.
Lots of layers to this story so turn up Heated.
I’d recommend reading it in a pool so you can douse yourself to assuage the sweat from reading.

This is the first book in a new series about 3 siblings who own and run a break up service. We got Zora & Cyrus’s story first. I liked both of these characters but really enjoyed the relationship between the siblings. Looking forward to what is next for Miriam, Zora’s sister.

Unfortunately this one is not working for me. Every time I dread picking up by e-reader, I know that it's time to dnf. The concept is unique, the storyline seems to be good, but I think the execution is not doing it for me.
ARC provided by Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I'm giving this 3 stars because it's probably fine, but it's not for me. I DNFed at 56%.

The premise of owning a business that does the work of breaking up for one half of the couple just didn't sit well with me. I was uncomfortable enough about that, and the conflict of being involved with one of your client's exes, that I could enjoy it. The sister and best friend character seemed to have some wacky fun energy, but the MCs... too distracted by the Not For Me-ness of it all.

Your mileage may vary.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Zora has a job that sucks, although it’s a business that she and her siblings have built as a service: breaking up by proxy. Everything is fine until she breaks up for Cyrus, and discovers she wants him.

This book has a Black main character. I think the hero of the story is white, but I’m really not sure. It doesn’t matter, right? The plot is easily seen as just waiting to get caught, because Zora doesn’t tell C that she got paid for breaking up with him for another woman.

Parts of the story were a bit over-the-top for me.

There were great secondary characters. I would read another book by this author if it was about one of them.

I honestly had a hard time reading this book. It was hard to get into, almost too descriptive. I did not finish reading it, so can not give an accurate review or even summorize the plot.