3.5 Stars. I didn't really know what to expect, but I totally enjoyed it. This is my first read by Naima Simone, and I definitely have to check her backlist.

Zora and her siblings runs a business where they get paid to break up someone's partner when that person can't do it to their partner. Hopefully, that makes sense. lol Zora was paid to go read the breakup letter to Cyrus, and she was not expecting him to be the most handsome man that she has ever seen. Little did she know, Cyrus was totally attracted to her too. What happens when Cyrus knows the truth about Zora's business?

It was a cute, short read.

Witty banter, self-destroying inner conversations, diverse family personalities, and an intense need to be loved for who they are. This book lays it all out nicely. They both struggle to overcome their past baggage and find their way into each other's arms. There was a depth to the characters that will keep you hooked. It's a slow burning emotional rollercoaster with true emotions and understanding.

This book was okay ! But I felt like there was unnecessary issues between the characters. I would read the next one if there is one ! Thank you to net galley for this arc !

One of the best books of the year. I don't say that because I am the authors friend. I say that because she never misses. Cryus is the hero of your heart. He was orphaned when he was young boy and made to stay with relatives. He grows up to become a powerhouse lawyer for a white shoe law firm in Denver. Then comes Zora a match un-maker at his door when it clearly states "no solicitation" to break up with him on behalf of his girlfriend. It couldn't happen at a worse time because right now Cyrus is a contender to make partner and needs to present a stable family man type of persona, He drafts Zora into helping him by pretending to be his girlfriend until he makes partner. Hijinks ensue couple with the fact that Cyrus doesn't know what Zora job really entails and they are super duper attracted to one another. This book had everything! Confident curvy heroine, sexy alpha and all the heat you needed to singe the pages.

Fake Relationship
Secrets
Family Issues
Childhood scares

I knew I had to read this when I saw the handsome man on the cover, but that's honestly the best thing about it. Naima Simone left me wanting....more from this book. I really enjoyed the interracial relationship rep, as that is not done enough in romance, but the chemistry between the two leads was lacking. The pacing felt off and was more often rushed than anything. I love the fake dating trope so I was looking forward to this, but it fell flat for me. It's my first read by the author, so I'm disappointed I didn't love it. Hoping book 2 is better than the first!

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 STARS—HEATED is the first instalment in Naima Simone’s contemporary,adult BURNED, INC romance series focusing on the Nelson siblings: Zora, her twin Levi and Miriam Nelson. This is thirty year old business owner and POC (person of color) Zora Nelson, and thirty-three year old, entertainment attorney Cyrus Hart’s story line.


Told from dual first person perspectives (Zora and Cyrus) HEATED focuses on the fake relationship between thirty year old business owner Zora Nelson, and thirty-three year old, attorney Cyrus Hart. Zora Nelson and her siblings own BURNED, Inc, (Breaking Up, Reversing Nuptials, Evading Disasters), a professional break up service that does the ‘breaking up’ for their clients. BURNED, Inc’s newest client is socialite Valerie Summers, who is struggling with the direction of her current relationship with attorney Cyrus Hart. With most of her employees off with the flu, Zora Nelson finds herself facing BURNED, Inc’s next heart break victim, in the guise of attorney Cyrus Hart but Zora never expected to run into Cyrus in the days and weeks following his break up, a run in that manifests into a fake relationship and a NDA. Cyrus Hart is in line for partnership at the law firm for which he works but the partners want a man in a committed relationship, and in the aftermath of his ‘break up’ with Valeria Summers, Cyrus demands three months of Zora’s time, three months wherein Zora must play the devoted girl friend, keeping the secret about how they met. What ensues is the fake but building romance and relationship between Zora and Cyrus, and the potential fall-out when the truth is revealed.


Cyrus Hart never did love Valerie Summers but she was the perfect ‘girlfriend’ for the world to see. Meeting Zora Nelson stirs something deep without our story line hero. Zora’s secrets are about to destroy more than just Cyrus’ heart but his potential at the firm for which he works. Zora Nelson knows that to cross the line with a client could be a disaster for the business she co-owns with her siblings Levi and Miriam but Cyrus offers a three month fake-relationship, a relationship in which Zora, a plus-sized, woman of color, struggles in the face of believing she isn’t good enough for a man in Cyrus’ position.


The relationship between Zora and Cyrus begins when Zora is hired to ‘break up’ with our story line hero. Cyrus is desperate to make partner at his firm, and Zora is the perfect foil for the people in charge but a fake relationship often leads to something more, something Zora knows will eventually end with a broken heart. There are no $ex scenes but only sexual physical encounters.


We are introduced to Zora’s siblings: her twin Levi aka Leviticus, and Miriam, as well as their parents Reginald and Monica Nelson; Cyrus’ friend and client Jordan Ransom; fellow attorney Derrick Warren, and his wife Jill, and Cyrus’s ex Valerie Summers. There is something developing between Jordan and Miriam.


HEATED is a story of secrets and lies, family and relationships, forgiveness and love. The premise is engaging, entertaining and interesting; the romance is limited but seductive; the characters are charismatic and captivating.



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Slow-paced and a bit off at times. The breakup company seemed interesting but the authors gushing over Cyrus' picture when Zora gets his case was excessive.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book received from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Gosh, I love Naima Simone. She is easily one of my favorite authors, and I have yet to meet a book of hers that I have not enjoyed. HEATED is no exception. This one was a fun, sexy, flirty read with a fantastic premise. And the banter—oh, the banter! Perfection 👌🏼.

This is probably the slowest I have ever read one of SImone's books due to illness, but I can't say I hated taking my time with Cyrus and Zora as they went from barely acquaintances to tentative friends to lovers and beyond. The pacing was great; a slow build that allowed for the chemistry between the characters to soak through the pages and make each interaction all the more explosive. And as for the setup of what's the come for other characters in this series? I AM HOOKED.

I can't wait for more BURNED Inc. books, starting with Cyrus's bestie and Zora's genius sister—I suspect it's going to blow me away.

Such a fresh concept! The first book in the new BURNED Inc series by Naima Simone delivers a bit of humor, a whole lot of heart and a group of delectable characters that were a lot of fun to get to know.

Zora is a take charge type of person in the business she is running with her siblings, but she has a lot of baggage she carries around from an unpleasant childhood. Seeing her internal struggle made for an emotional side to this story.

Cyrus is driven and unbudging in his pursuit of a certain type of success, but beneath it all he's still the heart of a young man who tried his best to overcome hardship.

I recommend this book to anyone that likes a unique concept built on characters with an instant attraction driving the initial connection with family drama coming into the picture often.

3.5 stars
This is a new author for me and this book was a nice experience.
Zora is Denver’s unmatchmaker. But when she learns that entertainment attorney Cyrus Hart is someone else’s mistake, she can’t believe it. He’s smart, successful, and sexy as hell. When a chance encounter with Cyrus turns into something more, she can’t help but fall for him. Cyrus is a man with a plan—college, law school, a great career. So far, so good. Until a stranger shows up on his doorstep and reads him a breakup letter from his girlfriend and his carefully laid plans unravel.
I was engaged by the idea of this book. The fantasy of someone else doing the dirty job for you. For me, everything was a bit unrealistic but funny, nevertheless. I loved Zora’s inner dialogs. In my opinion, that was the best part of the book. That’s something the author do amazing. And Miriam. She’s hilarious. Cyrus was a bit harder to love. You read all the time about their chemistry and how beautiful they see each other but I didn’t actually feel it.
This book is well written, entertaining and easy to read. Maybe a bit slow burn for me, but that’s part of the charm for others readers.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

OMG, Naima Simone has a best seller in “Heated”. This was awesome. I love her writing style, characters, plot just everything about “Heated” will leaving you wanting more. Zora owns a business with her siblings, that is a business that does break-ups by proxy. Cyrus is a successful entertainment attorney. He has a girlfriend who hires Zora to dump him and Zora shows up on Cyrus’s doorstep with a Dear John Letter. When Zora and Cyrus meets this sets things in motion for the two of them. Cyrus and Zora are mixing business with pleasure even though Cyrus’s is not a client of Zora but Cyrus’s ex was the client. The two start dating and Zora is apprehensive about dating her client’s ex. There is awesome chemistry between the couple.

Can Zora and Cyrus make things work for the two of them with the challenges they’re facing?

I received an ARC via NetGalley and Montlake and I leaving my review voluntarily.

The premise of this book was interesting. I enjoyed it
All the characters we are introduced to are great. I can't wait for Miriam and Jordan's book.

Zora's business is to end your relationship for you. When her client shows her a picture of who she wants to break up with Zora can't imagine why. He's handsome and successful.

It falls to her to deliver the news. What she doesn't expect is to run into him again while breaking up with someone else. She is most definitely attracted to him but he doesn't know that she was hired to break up with him. So how could they possibly work?

Cyrus is a man with a plan. And when Zora shows up on his doorstep to deliver a breakup letter from his girlfriend, his plans. are derailed. But there's no denying his attraction to Zora. When he runs into her again he strikes a deal with her. Spend the next few months getting to know each other and then have her pose as his girlfriend at his upcoming company retreat.
And she agrees.

Thank you so much to the author, and Xpresso Tours for this ARC to review.

I was really looking forward to this book. Reading the blurb, I thought it would be interesting and fun. However, the story was kind of hard to get into. The main characters, Zora and Cyrus, didn't really capture my attention. Rather, the side characters are more interesting to me. There were things that I find questionable, that I don't really agree with that Zora did. Though I kind of also understands her insecurities and issues. And I couldn't really feel the chemistry between them. I couldn't help but think it was just physical between them. And there's no epilogue to really end their story. I think this book could've been better.

Due to the volatile relationship of her parents Zora and her siblings have created a unique company where they offer packages to help people end their romantic relationships. Her latest client finds her Cyrus’s door and she thinks it will end there but fate had other ideas.

Cyrus has overcome a difficult childhood and has a plan for his future which include making partner at his law firm and marrying a suitable woman. When the woman he chose ends their relationship through Zola he isn’t aware that it was a job she was hired to do. When fate keeps bringing them together he convinces her to pretend to be his girlfriend to enhance his chance of making partner but sometimes the best laid plans don’t turn out the way you expect.

Zora is nothing like any of the woman he has dated in the past and that only intrigues him more however secrets have a way of being exposed at the worst possible time. I enjoyed getting to know Zora and Cyrus and seeing the relationship develop and their family and friends are not only there for them but add some humor to the story as well.

Zora is an unmatchmaker—she helps people break up with their significant others. When she delivers the bad news to Cyrus, he assumes she's a friend of his ex. Wanting to protect her client's confidentiality, she doesn't correct him. When she agrees to be his fake girlfriend for an upcoming work event, things get complicated. What happens when the truth comes out?

Sometimes fun, sometimes angsty, this book is full of steamy goodness. The sensual tension between Zora and Cyrus is off the charts. They're both relatable, trying to do their best, but not always making the right decisions. The author shows life in all its messiness and reminds us that there aren't always easy answers.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Unique dating business frames a complex romance

Zora and Cyrus meet under the most unromantic of circumstances, yet the spark between them is undeniable. The complications are many, the drive to pad the truth a little is realistic, and the need for a little discretion - that turns into secrets kept far too long - is understandable nonetheless.

I really enjoy this author's writing style, and this new series is every bit as good as her other books. Zora is a wonderfully strong woman, able to stand up to Cyrus while also allowing her softer, vulnerable side to show through. Cyrus is caring and supportive, if a little too driven at times, but his personal growth is admirable as they cruise toward their HEA.

I loved this charming story and am looking forward to reading more about the Nelson siblings. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Fake-dating √
Inter-racial relationships √
Pretty Women references √

This is my first book by Naima Simone, and it probably won't be my last.

There are a lot of things I liked and a lot I didn't. I loved Zora's siblings, their ride-or-die relationship, the be-there-at-the-drop-of-a-hat vibes. Cyrus was probably my favorite character, I just felt so bad for him throughout the entire book and loved his arc from finding out his girlfriend was cheating to learning to love himself and trust others in the end.

I honestly didn't like Zora and Cyrus's relationship, it was probably one of the only times where I'll say Zora doesn't deserve him. By the end, it fell flat and had a sudden ending that I wish had been fleshed out more.

Heated is the first in a series, and I look forward to reading more.

Thank you Montlake & Netgalley for the ARC!

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%