I need to read more by Aurora Palit because this was SO fun! We love a man who knows what he wants (and who he wants) and a women who is a powerhouse. But the dynamic here was great, they fit so well as a couple.
Great representation and a great workplace romance! Plus i'll always be a sucker for the one night stand book trope too.

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing for my ARC!

4/5

I gave her other book 3 out five stars. and I am prone to only bump the stars to like 3.75. it is a good book however, it is very slow pace and feel like there are things mentioned that aren't really relevant to the story and it slows the pace down.

fun story though

this book was just so cute. it was the perfect amount of sass, tension, and banter that is wanted in an rivals to lovers, work place romance.

honestly this was just giving such rom com vibes with family drama and cultural expectations.

It’s definitely also black cat / golden retriever vibes.

I loved how easy this read was. It was a simple, adorable read that was one I’d happily come back to.

An enjoyable summer read. I really liked that is was a workplace romance story that didn't make me feel icky at any point. I would have liked for some of the workplace sexism to be resolved before the end of the book, but I enjoyed seeing that things were moving in the right direction. I'll definitely check out more titles from this author.

4.5 Stars - Honey and Heat has characters who are well-fleshed out, likable and more than meets the eye. It is an engrossing read that I can see myself putting back in the TBR like, so I can experience it all again.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Honey And Heat - ARC Review
⭐⭐⭐
.
PUB DATE: September 16th
.
FEATURES:
Adult Romance
One night stand to work rivals
Misogyny in Business
Indian Immigrants
.
LIKES:
Women in Business Rep
Immigrant Rep

DISLIKES:
Insta-Love: Rohit was borderline worshipping Cynthia from the moment they met… despite him barely knowing her and her being mean to him for over a year. I just wasn't buying it.
Dialogue was both cliché and too simplified. Conversations were so brief, it was hard to believe these two were building a relationship
The “Rivalry” in the synopsis is really just all in Cynthia's head. Rohit doesn't know they are competing or why Cynthia hates him.

Overall Thoughts: The overarching idea and greater plot line were good in theory, but the execution was lacking. The cliche dialogue, short conversations, and inst-love made it hard for me to believe these two were in love. Ultimately, the writing was lacking and I found myself a bit bored.

This was so cute!

My favorite aspect of this book was how confident and secure the FMC was. She’s the more assertive one, and the MMC loves her even more for it. It’s not often I find a book with these dynamics.

There’s also a bit of tension, a workplace rivalry, and, if you read Sunshine and Spice, we get to see the main couple again!

This definitely can stand as a true standalone, and would not have to read Sunshine & Spice before this.

Thank you for the free book, Berkley Romance!

In this charming rom com, Cynthia, the highly motivated boss’s daughter, unknowingly has a one night stand with the man her father has chosen to be his new successor- Rohit. Cynthia is aloof and professional, and does everything she can to top Rohit and show that she’s the correct woman for the job. However, Rohit desperately needs the job to help his family back home, despite his strong feelings for Cynthia. They find that they need to work together to save the company and that they just might be better off together- but will it come at the cost of the career they’ve each worked so hard for?

This book combines a strong female lead with a workplace rivalry and banter to create a spicy, fun rom com with heart. There is meaningful cultural representation from both characters. Cynthia might be a slightly prickly FMC, but she knows her worth and is unapologetically herself. Rohit isn’t intimidated by her strength and competence, and I love that about him! Readers who enjoy a workplace rivals romance, grumpy/sunshine trope, and characters dealing with cultural and family expectations will love this book!

Sexy South Asian characters for the win.

Ambition looks good on these two, Rohit and Cynthia. This, however, is tempered with the push and pull he feels as to family obligations and she for the approval of her CEO father.

The pacing of the read is at a steady pace and the snafu Cynthia unintentionally engaged in offered some grins. Bit confused though of Cynthia’s side business ? niche within her dad’s larger one.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#HoneyandHeat #NetGalley

Heart and humor collide in this charming story centred around an inn full of magical occupants in need of safe harbor, and its innkeeper.  Sera has been stripped of all but a drop of her magical powers for an act deemed unforgivable by the guild.  Entrusted with the inn, she goes about her daily life with an eclectic group of tenants, a zombie rooster, and a witch turned fox.  An opportunity to regain her powers sees her joining forces with a historian, and soon an undeniable connection between them grows.  Both have baggage but with the help of the family they’ve unwittingly found, they’re sure to succeed.  

This book was a cozy read with diverse and genuine characters, imaginative world building and a theme of acceptance from a family you’ve created rather than were born into.  This is one fantasy read you won’t want to miss.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Finally a book written by a south asian author where both characters are south asian as well. It was so refreshing to read it and not cringe at the over explaining of the culture and what goes into it. I liked both the characters well enough although I still think they are a bit underdeveloped. I liked the family dynamics and how well that played into the story and how it is not resolved but you can see that there is hope.

For me, this book hit the mark where many contemporary romances typically miss. It’s a romance novel that actually tells a love story.

The narrative is sweet, cozy, and yes, spicy (when it rightfully calls for it), but it also features layered characters navigating real-life struggles and obligations, perfectly captured on the page. As a major plus, I loved that the novel portrays a strong, competent female lead (yes, more of this, please!) and includes meaningful cultural representation. And lastly, wow, the writing is absolutely stellar—richly descriptive and fluid. I didn’t want to put the book down once I picked it up.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a romance that’s both heartfelt and beautifully written.

I got the eARC from NetGalley. Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley and Aurora Palit for the copy. This was an absolute treat to read!

I empathized with Cynthia’s plight as a woman of color in a male (and often white) dominated field. A woman’s confidence and intellect are considered strikes against her instead of assets in these spaces. Cynthia is a one-woman army. Unfortunately, many years of being overlooked, even by her parents, has made Cynthia feel that she has no allies. As a result, everyone looks like a rival or foe. Some of these insecurities are exacerbated by the weight of being a first-generation child and the high expectations associated with this status.

I related so much to Cynthia as a person with similar intersecting identities (my family emigrated from the Caribbean). Like Cynthia, I understand the difficulty of being vulnerable when circumstances frequently has you in survival mode. It becomes exhausting when you feel you always have to be on high guard. Rohit came into Cynthia’s life at the right time. He served as catalyst for Cynthia to re-examine what happiness and success looks like for her. I loved seeing Cynthia come into her own, realizing that living for other people’s approval (particularly her father’s) is a dead end. Instead of begging for a seat, Cynthia decided to build her own table.

I thoroughly enjoyed the romance between Cynthia and Rohit. I liked that Rohit gave Cynthia the space and safety to feel all her emotions. I loved that he was not intimidated by Cynthia’s tenacity or competence. Cynthia’s success was just as important to Rohit, which he showed through his words and actions.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC. I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more books by Aurora Palit.

Ratings 4.5/5

Honey and Heat by Aurora Palit is an enemies-to-lovers, workplace romance. Cynthia has been working hard her entire life to live up to her fathers expectations with hopes of being able to take over as CEO of his construction company upon his retirement. Rohit immigrated to Canada for school and has been working hard to support his family back home. After an explosive and passionate one-night stand, they are both shocked to find out that Rohit is the newest employee at Kumar Construction, the company Cynthia hopes to run some day. Overall, I thought this was a fun and engaging read. I like the banter between Cynthia and Rohit when they were enemies, but loved it even more when they started to succumb to their feelings for each other. The author does a great job of bringing up topics such as sexism in the workplace and family pressures. While I enjoyed the book, I did find that some of the problem resolutions seemed disingenuous and unrealistic, while still having some themes of sexism that were not addressed.

Thank you Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Summary in Brief

Cynthia Kumar is a successful, competitive, smart woman who knows what she wants, but also has extreme Daddy Issues and probably should have dealt with those a while ago. Rohit Patel just landed the job of a lifetime, and he also just spent the night with Cynthia, whom he’s basically in love with. Then he finds out Cynthia is his boss’s daughter… and now she hates him.

Genre + Plot

Tropes: Workplace Romance, One Night Stand, Enemies to Lovers, Daddy Issues/Family Drama, Love At First Sight, Golden Retriever x Black Cat, Sexism/Misogyny, Third-Act Breakup

I really enjoyed this workplace romance! Sometimes this trope is hit or miss for me, but I devoured this book. It was fast-paced, had obvious sexual tension between our two main characters, and included some complicated family dynamics for both, along with solid character development.

Cynthia is our FMC, and she’s fierce. She knows exactly what she wants. However, she has some major daddy issues that probably should have been addressed years ago… but then this book wouldn’t exist, so I digress. Rohit is your typical Golden Retriever MMC. He’s devoted to his family back in India, kind to everyone, and totally down bad for Cynthia. And we all know my favorite type of MMC is a Golden Retriever MMC.

The book starts with their one-night stand, then jumps a year into the future where they’ve been working at the same company while actively avoiding each other. My blood pressure always rises when I read about a white male–dominated workplace, and this book was no different. It reminded me of *The Spanish Love Deception* by Elena Armas. Honestly, thank god I don’t work in corporate America. That’s all I’m gonna say. Cynthia works her ass off, only to be talked down to in a patronizing, condescending manner, and gets zero credit for any of her work. Then comes Rohit, who is her dad’s “Golden Boy” and can do no wrong. She resents him for having more of her dad’s affection than she does. Like I said, Daddy Issues.

But they start to grow closer while working on a project together, and fall in love quickly. There were moments when Cynthia really irked me. I hate when people jump to conclusions about someone’s character without knowing the full story and then judge them harshly for it. She tended to blame a lot of her issues on Rohit early on. And she called Rohit a golden retriever… but in a bad way. Which was uncalled for, because I had *just* been talking about how amazing Golden Retriever MMCs are, and how that trait is absolutely not a negative! So that annoyed me. BUT—I will say she had major character development by the end of the book.

Because of how Cynthia was, I knew there would be a third-act breakup, and of course it was caused by her (and a slight betrayal of Rohit). But it didn’t last long, and we got our HEA. Although for some reason I was a little bit underwhelmed and disappointed with how everything went down with Cynthia and her Dad. I was expecting a lot more, and it seemed like some things were still unresolved, although I know it is always more complicated than that.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this was a delightful workplace romance featuring a Golden Retriever MMC (my favorite!), layered with some more complicated family dynamics—including major daddy issues that were never fully resolved. Still, we got strong character growth and a (somewhat mediocre) HEA!

4.5 ⭐
2 🌶
Release Date: September 16, 2025

This book had me hooked from the very beginning! Honey and Heat takes all the tension of workplace rivalry and blends it with sizzling chemistry, sharp banter, and surprisingly tender moments.

Cynthia is a powerhouse FMC—driven, determined, and unwilling to let anyone stand in her way (even when it’s the guy she can’t stop thinking about). Rohit? Total golden retriever energy—charismatic, thoughtful, and a little too good at cracking her icy walls. Together, they’re pure Black Cat x Golden Retriever magic, sparring one minute and melting into something much more the next.

The writing flows effortlessly, with a mix of plot and character-driven beats that make the story both bingeable and emotionally satisfying. I loved how the romance was layered with family expectations, cultural pressures, and the realities of corporate power struggles. It gave the story so much more depth than your typical “office romance.”

The spice? Perfectly balanced—fun, flirty, and steamy without overshadowing the heart of the story. Add in some laugh-out-loud banter, a couple of jaw-dropping twists, and an empowering message about women taking up space in the boardroom, and you’ve got a romance that’s as inspiring as it is swoony.

Overall, Honey and Heat is smart, sexy, and empowering. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to cheer for love, laugh at the banter, and fist-pump every time Cynthia stands her ground. Aurora Palit has quickly become an auto-read author for me, and I can’t wait to grab a physical copy when it’s out!

–––
✨ Tropes you’ll love:
💼 Workplace Rivalry
🐈‍⬛ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
💔 Enemies to Lovers (with a twist)
👠 Fierce FMC breaking barriers
💖 Family Drama + Cultural Expectations
🌶 Steamy & emotional balance

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and Aurora Palit for the ARC!

Workplace romances are hit or miss for me, personally. There comes a point where they ride the line of inappropriate and creepy, but Honey and Heat does not. Rohit and Cynthia are balanced off each other well, and there is palpable tension throughout. The stakes were just right for this book to be a success.

Super cute, great banter, and all the enemies to lovers tension I wanted! I love when the MMC falls first and will fight for his girl and learn from his mistakes when she calls him out.

HONEY AND HEAT is spice and everything nice about a workplace romance. Cynthia and Rohit thought they found The One after a one night stand, but instead they found a new rival at the office. Rohit threatens Cynthia's chances at being named her father's successor as CEO. And Rohit carries such enormous preasure to succeed that he can't afford to step away from the opportunity - even for love. A collaborative project forces them though to confront their pent up fears, anger, frustration, and (lucky for us) attraction.

Like the title suggests, Cynthia and Rohit have opposites attract energy - grumpy & sunshine. But this duality is also present in them as individuals. Cynthia's "ice princess" work persona is armor against frat club boardroom condescension. She supresses her vulnerability out of necessity. Rohit has a level of charisma that opens doors before he can even knock, but he's hard working and responsible. The attraction between them is heat and the emotional security they build for each other is honey.

I love that their story has a heavy emphasis on generational and cultural expectations. There are examples of how these practices can be a burden. Rohit assumes the role of the model immigrant to assimilate and keep his seat at the conference table. Cynthia fills the role of eldest son while shouldering the perceived disappointment of not being the model daughter. And still! There is joy and appreciation and honor for their culture. Cynthia and Rohit's journeys speak to the common experience blending new and traditional lives especially for immigrant families.

Overall, I highly recommend HONEY AND HEAT to readers seeking a hot rivals to lovers romance. There is magic too in how raw and relatable Cynthia and Rohit's emotional journeys are. You'll fall in love with them instantly.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the advance copy to read and review.

Cute enemies to loves workplace romance!

This had everything I enjoy in a workplace romance: rivalry, banter, and opposites attract. Cynthia is a wonderful heroine. She comes off as an ice queen but is simply hardworking and trying to prove herself to her father (the owner of the company she works for). She's strong and powerful which was lovely to see in a male dominated workplace. So when her father decides to hand over the company to someone else her sense of self worth is shaken. Enter Rohit, the man her father chose to give the company to. Rohit and Cynthia have a brief history (they had a one-night stand) but she's not going to let that distract her. Thus starts a series on one-upping each other and becoming rivals at work.

I thought Rohit and Cynthia were a perfect pair. As much as they may have brought out the pettiness in each other at the beginning, they truly made each other a better person. Rohit helped Cynthia find her true passion and Cynthia helped Rohit learn how to fight for what he wants. They challenge each other too. They felt like equals. Plus I loved the black cat x golden retriever energy.

The spicy scenes were hot! Rohit calling Cynthia his Queen?! I'm deceased.

If you liked workplace romances with a lot of heart and heat, Honey and Heat will be perfect for you.