Sexy and steamy. Jude and Cypress have instant connection. The author takes us on a journey of two broken people finding love and healing in each other’s bodies and heart. She uses extremely vivid imagery to bring the scenes to brilliant clarity in the readers mind. The story is filled with angst as the characters work out their inner demons and try to find peace and redemption on the other side. They begin by solely seeking physical and temporary solace in each other’s arms but end with their future solidly tied together.

HELLO, ANGST! There is nothing so unbelievably delicious as watching two incredibly broken people fall in love and figure out how to unbreak themselves, and Naima Simone is the queen of sexy angst. I’m not usually a fan of “taboo romance”, but in this case, though they are step-siblings, they haven’t seen each other since they were kids 10 years ago. While I think you could read this as a standalone, I’d recommend reading Sin & Ink first, about Jude’s older brother Knox and Eden, just because it’s also insanely awesome and will give you background on Jude’s family dynamics.

“I was smart enough to go through any door that opened.
While I seriously doubt the late, great Joan Rivers meant throwing caution to the wind and embarking on a hopefully hot-as-hell one-night stand with a stranger—a stranger who had gifted me with one of the most brain-numbing, panty-melting orgasms of my life—her nugget of wisdom still applies.”


Cypress is back in Chicago after the implosion of her career and barely treading water, working at a dive bar while trying to take care of her mother, who’s still recovering from a heart attack some months prior. When she feels an instant attraction to one of the bar’s patrons, she can’t resist the chance to steal a bit of time for herself with a one-night-stand. Only, she can’t seem to get him out of her head – especially when she shows up to a family dinner with her estranged father and realizes he’s her stepbrother. Jude hasn’t been able to forget her, either, but even adding to his family’s already toxic atmosphere isn’t enough to dissuade him from wanting more with Cypress. But Cypress’ father – Jude’s stepfather – has laid down an ultimatum, and flaunting it would break each of their own families even more. Is the breakdown of both their families worth a few nights of passion?

While usually this is the point I gush about the heroine, I have to say I loved both Cypress and Jude. Both are struggling under crippling emotional baggage: Cypress from her mother’s inability to recover from her husband leaving her for another woman years ago, and Jude from trying to hold his family together under a weight of secrets and dysfunction in the wake of his father’s and brother’s death. After having held together her mother after her father deserted them for his new family when she was a young teen, Cypress is unwilling to lose herself in a relationship, so it’s easy to just avoid any relationships whatsoever. Jude is motivated by grief and fear, that it’s his responsibility to be the strong one and hold his family together, but also struggling to assert his identity out of his older brother’s shadow. There’s a fascinating focus on relationships in this book – toxic and healthy ones – and the particularly lovely assertion that a good partner doesn’t complete you, but rather adds to you. Since this is the main thing I love about romances – the relationship that helps grow you as a person – this completely hit the spot for me. Also, I mentioned “sexy angst” before, and all the family and personal drama certainly brings the angst part. The other half of that is that this book is ridiculously steamy, like fan-yourself-with-your-Kindle steamy. Cypress and Jude’s chemistry is off the charts, and Ms. Simone does an amazing job of showcasing each of their hopes and fears in the sex scenes in a really emotionally fulfilling way.

My only con is that at times it did feel like some of the family drama overshadowed their relationship. While I liked that I think it’s a realistic picture of a family fracturing under so much grief, adding the events from the previous book on top of it all made it feel over-burdened. Knox and Jude’s mom continued to wallow in her grief, and now in addition to aiding and abetting that, Dan, the step-father, also had basically abandoning his teen daughter in favor of his new wife and family. Much of it does seem to finally reach a turning point by the end of the book, which was a relief.

Overall, this was insanely hard to put down, an angsty, feels-soaked ride, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

4.25 stars

"You don't complete me. I do that for myself. But you...you add to me."

I almost broke my finger requesting this ARC from NetGalley because it was Sin and Ink that had led me to Naima Simone last year. I'll be honest with everyone: I am not the biggest fan of the one night stand premise in romance novels. I have read a couple of romances (contemporary and historical) based on this trope and generally speaking, they left me with mixed feelings. But I love Naima's storytelling and her characters and this is Jude's book! Nothing was going to stop me from reading his book. I'm so glad I placed my trust in Naima because this trope actually works SO well in this book. Both Jude and Cypress were at low points in their lives. The timing, location, and circumstances were perfect and the trope fit right in. And you know what the best part was? The best part was what came after the one night stand and how the characters deal with the aftermath when they find out they are actually step siblings. I was dying for their second meeting LOL. It was so hard putting the book down!!!

I felt a lot for Cypress and the circumstances she was forced into. I'm here to tell you that I absolutely loved her. She doesn't bullshit her way around unless she's feeling emotionally vulnerable and wants to protect herself. She tells it like it is; she is blunt and compassionate at the same time. She's also very relatable in the way she uses her pride and dignity as a protective barrier. She doesn't want other people to see her as weak and I totally understand where she is coming from.

Both Cypress and Jude are carrying heavy burdens that they hide from their loved ones. Their shared connection allows them to open up to each other and finally easing up on the heavy emotional and mental baggage they've been carrying for years. It was such a beautiful process getting to that point in their relationship. A lot of their baggage is also family-related and it was great seeing both Jude and Cypress dealing with their respective parent. There is this one scene between Jude and Knox that completely SLAYED me. I had to take a break to control my emotions. I love the relationship between the brothers so much.

I'm also really happy we got an epilogue here, which was missing in Sin and Ink. And finally, I really hope Simon gets his own book!!

Passion & Ink by Naima Simone
Sweetest Taboo #2

Cypress and Jude meet one night in a bar – she is waiting tables and he is a client. Instant connection with one night of passion and no expectations only to meet again over a family dinner table. This is a somewhat predictable story and the continuation of a series that seems to do with the Gordon brothers finding their partners. I believe there is only Simon left but...am not sure where the series might go after Simon gets his story.

Anyway...the taboo thing has to do with their parents being married so a step-relationship between them. They both have issues to deal with including abandonment, secrets, self-worth, dysfunctional families, loss and more. The story was well written and definitely HOT but for I felt some of the issues were more mentioned than actually dealt with in depth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled-Scorched for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

I really liked this book --the characters and the storyline. The resolution was great. I need to read more books in this series.

Ro (Cypress) moves back home after an incident at work and takes a job as a waitress in a bar. One night at work she meets Jay (Jude) ... a tattooed hunk and they agree to a one-night stand. Weeks later when Cypress goes to her fathers one night, she is taken aback when Jay is there ... at her father's house. Cypress is then re-introduced to Jude, who she hasn't seen for over 10 years ... and has he ever changed. Jude can't believe that his step-sister is his hot as hell one-night stand. As the sparks fly between them, it doesn't take long for them to start a relationship.

This book is HOT HOT HOT! This author sure knows how to write steam. And there is so much more to this book. I couldn't help but fall in love with the characters. Cypress just didn't want to end up like her mom (who was devastated when Cypress' dad left her). And Jude just wanted to be known for himself ... not as Knox's younger brother. This is a great addition to the series and I recommend you read the first book ... to get the most out of this book.

I received an early copy courtesy of Entangled Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

I have read a lot of stepbrother stories but honestly I think Naima Simone's story is one of the best I've read!! Passion & Ink was STEAMY as all hell but also so emotional with many different facets. I loved Jude and Cypress and their connection. I was consumed and read this story in one sitting! It was absolutely phenomenal!!

Without giving away any spoilers, Jude and Cypress met one another at turning points in their lives. But after a chance meeting and a combustible night of passion, they find themselves missing one another. But when they find that they are even more closely connected than they could have imagined, it opens up the opportunity for them to examine what they mean to one another and evaluate their own fears  and scars they've been struggling with for years.

Gah!! I seriously loved this story. It had SCORCHING sexy times, but it was also romantic and thought provoking. Jude and Cypress had to balance their own fears and struggles with their newfound feelings for one another. I absolutely loved this story all of the conflicts and seriously loved every word! I immediately oneclicked Knox and Eden's story! 

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula

***5 ‘You’re You’ Stars***

After finishing Sin & Ink I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the next book, so when Passion & Ink surfaced I immediately said “Gimme” and I wasn’t disappointed in any way. This book had it all for me. Sweet, swoon worthy moments that made my heart melt, smexy ones that had the panties dissolving and even a few growly ones that had me reaching for a spoon, but all of them kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next and has me jonesing for more.

Imma say it. Jude was kind of everything. He’s all kinds of alpha AF goodness - direct, determined and dominate. He’s also compassionate and has the kind of laid back charm that draws you in and makes you want more. Cypress is fiery. She has a lot of demons weighing on her, but she doesn’t allow them to totally drag her down. She’s sassy and has a heart so golden that even she doesn’t always see it.

Jude and Cypress’ journey definitely starts off with a bang and things definitely become a lot more interesting from there, but I really enjoyed watching as they became so much more to each other. While I tended to sway more towards #TeamJude, I got why Cypress thought the way she did and loved watching as she worked through her demons and became the woman she was always meant to be and see that she and Jude were perfect for each other.

This was a quick and enjoyable read for me. The writing was engaging, pacing was good and I enjoyed the dual first person POV’s. The one can be read as a stand-alone BUT I highly recommend that you read Sin & Ink first to truly understand the emotional undercurrents that are already in play at the start of this one. With that said, there are still characters I want to Gibbs smack and or gut with a spoon despite some issues being worked out. But outside of those characters, I loved catching up with Eden and Knox, cannot wait for Simon’s book and am hoping V gets one as well. There is another character who I wouldn’t mind having a book, but from what I saw, that won’t be happening lol!

**4.5 Stars**

Passion and Ink is the second book in the Sweet Taboo series by Naima Simone. It is also the second book I have read by this author.

I read Sin and Ink before it released and I was blown the freak away, so when I saw Passion and Ink was available to request, there wasn't a single doubt in my mind. I needed this book, and I am so freaking thrilled that I was given an arc to read.

Passion and Ink is Jude (Knox's younger brother) and Cypress's story.

If you all are unaware of who Cypress is, let me fill you in one...small...detail, Cypress is none other than the estranged daughter of Dan who also happens to be Jude, Knox, and Simon's step dad.. If you’re a fan of the ‘I have the hots for my step sibling’ trope, you should definitely pick this one up.

Now to be completely honest, when I first started Passion and Ink I knew absolutely nothing about it. I didn't know what Taboo talk this book entailed and I had no clue who the romance was going to be between. So to say I went into Passion and Ink completely blind is a huge understatement. And I feel this is a novel that everyone should go into blind. Don't read the blurb and definitely don't read spoilers. You should dive into this one knowing absolutely nothing about it, that way you can enjoy all the treasures that are hidden within the pages.

I laughed, I cried, and in some moments I seriously felt like raging out.
Some characters I loved dearly, while other characters caused me to have some severe levels of anxiety. But one thing I loved was the true message in this novel and that is Forgiveness is the key to happiness. This is my motto and has been my motto for the past ten years. I live these words so I felt a sort of kinship with Cypress and also with Jude. I know people say this all the time but this story legit touched my soul. I related to Jude and his need to protect everyone by keeping their secrets, no matter how much those secrets weigh him down. I felt so much emotion during a scene between Jude and his mom. Okay, let's not kid ourselves, I bawled like a freaking baby.

I love when authors are able to write relatable characters. It's awesome to live in a fantasy world while reading romance novels, but sometimes I need a dose of truth and raw honesty and Passion and Ink definitely gave me all the truth and realism I needed and wanted.

This novel is not only emotional, it's also down right dirty and sexy as sin. I couldn't get enough of Jude and Cypress's......Chemistry. If it had the power to do so, my kindle would legit be ash with all the heat and pure sexiness between these pages. Jude is so freaking sexy!!!

Overall, Passion and Ink by Naima Simone was a great read. I highly recommend you not start this one at night, because from start to finish you won't be able to put this book down. It's all-consuming and will legit tear at all your heartstrings. I simply couldn't get enough of not only the writing style, but also the raw emotion. this is such a great novel and one that I can easily recommend.


Peace, Love, and Happy Reading,

Alecia @ The Staircase Reader

4.25⭐
Passion and Ink was a great read. As it was raw, angst filled and intense. As well as full of heat and hurt. And with really likable characters who had the perfect mix of vulnerability and strength. I was easily hooked throughout, and I would happily recommend it to others.

I believe this is my first Naima Simone book but most definitely not my last. I really enjoyed this second book in the Sweetest Taboo series and went back to purchase the first so I can get Knox's story. It has everything I adore in a story: Hot, big dude? check; Hot, tattooed dude? check; a hot dude with a truly sensitive, savior complex side? Double Check. Is he kinda arrogant? Maybe, but there is way more than meets the eye with Jude and when he comes a knocking, panties everywhere start falling...but should Cypress jump into that fray? Jude shouldn't be on her radar...she doesn't believe in happily ever after, she doesn't even believe in love...men can't be trusted and all the men in her life have proven that to her over and over again. And then there is the fact that Jude is her step-brother...I mean...that has to be against some kind of law right? Well written and Jude is completely captivating and yes this book is steamy as heck.

Holy Mother of Hotness! This book! Forget the cold shower and just jump into a tub of ice, this kindle scorching book was off the hook. Passion my arce, this was outright down and dirty. Jude and Cypress are probably one of the hottest couples out there today.
These two meet at the bar where she is currently working, licking her wounds after leaving a job that has left her doubting herself, untrusting of others, broke, and wounded. Trying to get herself together while also tending to her needy and dependent mother; can you say dysfunctional ? Speaking of dysfunctional we meet Jude who is another Gordon brother, we met brother Knox in book one. Jude is truly and artist works at the tattoo shop and has plans for his future, all the while carrying the burden of a family secret. He's got his share of baggage as well. Between the two of them, think more than a matching set. His family is beyond screwed up, the more we see in these books after their father and mother, the sicker they become. Enough said. So when the ever elusive Cypress comes to Sunday dinner after a wicked night with Jude, there's one jaw dropping moment after another during the family meal. She's there to ask her father, who, oh just say it, happens to be Jude's father as well.
Dad Dan is a real piece of work, and agrees to help Cypress with conditions. The story unfolds after that with Cypress and Jude doing their dirty level best to maintain those, while trying the work through their nut load of issues.
I love Naima and am a huge fan. She writes fantastic stories, woven together with such tension and depth of character while wreaking of steam and currents of love. I tend to expect her to level up with every book she writes. But for me this series has been tough. I find it hard to relate to the characters because the balance between them and the family threads of hear no evil, speak no evil.... you get my gist, the dysfunction freaking distracts me and takes away from the best part of the story... the two main characters. Sigh. This book should get a 5 just for whatever out of the world steam she was writing, however the storyline was weak and derailed the body of work. I'm giving it 3.5 because I love her work and effort.

arc from NetGalley and Entangled for an honest review

*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the second installment of this series and although it could be read as a stand-alone, don’t. You’ll get a better feel for the characters if this is read in sequence.

After reading this author for the first time with the debut book in this series, I was hooked. Not only was the story line compelling enough to keep my interest engaged, the way it was written and told was perfect. So when I saw that this book was out, I had to jump at the chance to read it. And man oh man, dare I say I that enjoyed this even more than the first?!

Cypress is struggling. After leaving her “fancy” job that was more headache than it was worth, she packed up her bags and headed home to Chicago. But it’s not for reasons you might think. Her mom suffered a heart attack and she’s now taking on financial provider and emotional supporter while working at a dive bar. Sounds fun huh? Nope. So when the hottest man she’s ever seen walks in to the bar (sounds like a pick up line), she throws all caution to the wind and goes for that one night stand. But....well...there’s always a but, right?

Jude has a lot going on in his life right now. Although he’s an extremely talented tattoo artist, he feels like he’s been living in his brothers shadows. Add on the fact that he’s got a crazy ex who’s a complete stalker and living the country is sounding like the perfect way to start over. That is, until he walks in to a bar (yep, that bar). And dang it if that doesn’t complicate things even more.

This book is amazing! Yes, it has the whole “step-sibling” thing going on, but it’s done so well, it’s not icky or taboo. The sexual chemistry between these two is beyond hot, but it’s honestly the story, the drama and the love that kept me turning the pages. I might have even fist pumped like the Breakfasts Club at the end. There’s one more brother.....please let Simon get his book too!!!

3.5 stars!!!
In the next installment of her taboo series, Naima explores the concept of assembled families and how it can affect their dynamics. It would be good to point out a couple of content warnings for suicide and depression.
I enjoyed this book for all the rough edges it has, and it was interesting to get a deeper view into Jude, for both his scarred past and his uncertain future.
Cypress, his estranged stepsister is also a heroine full of strength and charisma and their chemistry is undeniable.
I liked that both of them had been carrying the burden of taking care of parents that didn't quite behave as such back in the day and how the topic of depression weaves through it. I liked how this has impacted their own relationship and how it takes both of them accepting and moving on from trauma to finally heal.
This book is raw, unapologetically real and as the title explains, deals with taboo situations that the author explores in each. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's executed beautifully.

This was a quick, intense and super sexy romance! I requested this book even without knowing what it was all about as I trust Naima not to disappoint.

I loved the story arc of our heroine - she's so strong - and the goodness of our hero with a heart of gold. They make a hot couple! :)

I keep exploring my first tropes with her books. Here, it was all about step-siblings. For me, the drama didn't as much stem from that trope though, rather from how our hero and horine were raised and what impact their parents had on their upbringing. Even though the conflict was not quite solved at the end, I'm very happy with the Happy For Now and can't wait for the next book to keep following their story and that of Knox and Eden from book one.

P.S. I've received an ARC via Netgalley and agreed to a fair review in return.
P.P.S. Trigger warnings for self-harm, mental health issues, emotional abuse, and stalking.

How Naima Simone managed to completely captured me on the first page is amazing to me. I think I snapped at my hubby (just a little) because he tried to talk to me at one (of the SEVERAL) part when it got particularly (and deliciously) intense. From the instant and intense attraction Jude and Cypress feel towards each other, to the heart-wrenching emotional and familial baggage they're each dealing with, to the slightly taboo nature of their relationship (step siblings FTW), to the considerate way that MULTIPLE heavy and sensitive topics were handled with such care and finesse, to the superb job the author did in creating dynamic, well fleshed out characters - Passion and Ink had everything I need to be utterly engrossed and entranced in a story. Naima Simone has swiftly become a must-read, on-click, preorder necessary author for me and Passion and Ink is a great example of why. She portrays characters and stories in a way that is articulately poetic, soulful, and sexier than all get out. The chemistry between Jude and Cypress sizzles on the page and in your imagination as you read their story. I felt the burden of their familial issues and rejoiced whole-heartedly when they each had the individual epiphanies necessary to break free of those bonds. I also really loved the update we got on Knox and Eden and I CAN NOT WAIT for Simon's story. In fact, now there is a possibility for even more stories in this world (though I won't say how because, #nospoilers duh!). Ugh! I never wanted the book to end and I can't wait to devour whatever Naima Simone comes out with next! 5 out of 5 wine glasses.

I am really liking this series. I liked Jude from the first book so I was glad that he was gettting his turn. And of course this is another super hot and sexy one. There is some mental health issues going on with this one, one top of all the family drama. But there’s a nice balance between the heavy and the sexy which was nice. I can’t wait to read more.

This was an ok read for me. I liked both characters but the story didn’t fully pull me in and I found myself skipping some of the sex scenes.

After reading Sin and Ink and now Passion and Ink, I am fully convinced of two things: Naima Simone can write smoking hot, angtsy, super charged sexual showdowns and the Gordon men come from one really messed up family. The bitter, poisonous family melodrama that divided Knox and Eden from the Gordon family in the first book now threatens Jude's future with Cypress; I can only hope the Gordons get their act together by baby brother Simon's book.

Unlike big brother Knox's taboo sin of following for his dead brother's widow, Jude is haunted by the nightmare of his mother's emotional instability. Cypress is similarly burdened by a mentally frail and needy mother and that both their mothers were or are now married to the same man (Cypress' dad) is so weird. Not so much that they are technically step-siblings but that Cypress' selfish dad habitually abandons his families (he left Cypress' half-siblings as well) yet he forbids Jude and Cypress to be together in order to protect his current wife, Jude's mom. It was like a twisted Romeo and Juliet tale of co-dependency.

The best part is the seriously hot and intense sex scenes. Naima Simone writes moments with such incendiary tension. To be honest, I'm not fully convinced if Cypress and Jude belong together forever but it is clear that they definitely belong together in bed.

Both Cypress and jude have burdens unfairly placed on them but they are also immature and impulsive about how to deal with their lives. As a result, I'm not sure I fully bought the ending with Cypress finding her "power" and "voice" and Jude following his career path. I also wished there was more resolution with the family reaction to their relationship as well as to Knox and Eden's news. I can only assume this will be wrapped up with baby brother's book.

3 stars

Arc given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I don't normally love taboo romances or stepbrother romances but call me a convert now, as long as Naima Simone is the author.

Jude and Cypress were two incredibly broken people with difficult pasts and a history of having the people they should be able to rely on let them down the most. Cypress's relationship (or lack thereof) with her father and having to become her mom's caretaker and Jude's relationship with his mom and the secret that he was carrying for her all these years - it was all handled with such depth and nuance and care. It didn't feel heavy-handed but nor did it feel casually handled. It takes guts and heart to handle the topics in this book and it was really, really well done. But it wasn't all drama and pain, there was a romance at the core of it with sexy scenes that were off the chart hot.