This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Introduction
Passion and Ink was a story that I eagerly wanted to jump into as I had just fallen so hard for the first book in the series and also just adored this family. I will be honest in this though that this book didn't quite click for me as book one did. I think part of it was that this book wasn't in audio. Sometimes having a book in audio just makes all of the difference ya know? And I just wasn't as invested in this couple as I wanted to be and even though I love forbidden taboo romance this one just didn't feel as intense as the previous book.

Summary
Basically our hero and heroine, first meet, at a bar and have a sensual sexy night together and the steam is really powerful between these two. But what they don't expect is to meet each other at a family dinner where they realize that they are step siblings but even though there isn't any blood related between them, its socially taboo for them to even be together. But also the heroine's dad has blackmailed her into forbidding her from being together with him or all the money she needs for her mother's medical bills will be taken away. But despite the fact that their relationship is forbidden, they keep it under wraps and in secret. They both have to learn to fight for each other and only then will they be able to believe in what they have together...

My Outlook
I absolutely had a fun time with this. Forbidden love is actually one of my favorite tropes to read in romance and I really feel like Naima Simone really handles these aspects so well. And while these aspects were done very well, my heart just wasn't in the story. I am not sure if it was just my mood or what, but I just didn't feel connected to this couple as I did with the first couple. She does powerful steam and I have come to really enjoy how she handles chemistry and I would say that this book is borderline erotic romance, as there is quite a bit of high steam being focused in the story. So I do think these are scenes you don't really want to skip out on though. And the level of forbidden themes that are introduces was so well done. And I didn't mind the step sibling aspect as they weren't ever truly raised as siblings together and the heroine left for almost a decade. But it was quite interesting in seeing how the heroine was the one not wanting to be open about her feelings for this one. Its also fascinating when the hero is more open with himself than the heroine but you understand why she is the way she is. My heart just broke for these two. And I really don't like the parents, I will be honest. It doesn't matter how much they apologize, they really tend to manipulate their children emotionally and that is abusive so I don't know if I will ever get behind these. I am wanting more books for this couple but not sure if the author plans on writing more for this couple. Would love to see her return to this series though because I LOVE these siblings.

Overall View
Passion and Ink was a captivating read and I absolutely had a blast with these two here. It was so fascinating seeing them come together and learning to fight for their love....truly endearing!

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 4
World Building:4
Cover:4
Hero: 3
Heroine: 3
Steam: 4
Heart & Feels:3
Ending:3.5
Overall View: 3 ( )

This book is an amazing read! First of all, it has a plot with engaging and well developed characters. They were fully realized with all the lovable quirks, heart breaking flaws, and beautiful souls that should make any reader fall in love with not only them, but the beautiful mind that gave them life. I was stunned by my emotional investment in these characters, and this story. I was teary-eyed and choked up more than once, and cheering for the ending.

The story is well planned, and very well written. The give and take dialogue was spot-on, and at no point did it require a suspension of common sense or make the characters act or speak in a way that would be unbelievable. For me, everything flowed at a perfectly believable pace, and the timing was very natural. The only part I could see anyone criticizing might be the time line of the final act, or as it's called in literature the conflict resolution, but I think it was nearly perfect.

My only complaint is that I would have liked to see the former employer and supervisor get their just desserts, but as in life you can't have everything.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone, and I would also say to keep up the excellent work to the author and support team. ( )

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 ( )

This book deals with a multitude of emotional issues and how people can live their entire lives trapped by them. If they have a safe space and someone to support them it can give one a fighting chance to overcome those hurdles. There may be triggers for some so proceed with caution.

Facing ones demons is no easy task as both Jude and Cypress discover. Even though they are able to help others face their greatest fears it takes them a bit of time to overcome their own. This couple is so in sync with each other but once they focus on taking care first of themselves and then each other they are fantastic.

I did think that Dan was too good to be true in the first book and his true self was revealed in this one. But he now has the opportunity to redeem himself so let’s see what is in store for him in the future books.

Advanced Review Copy provided for voluntary review consideration: ( )

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. Passion And Ink by Naima Simone is the second book in her Sweetest Taboo series. It can be read as a stand-alone, characters from the first book do briefly appear in this one. Cypress Keller has moved back home to Chicago from California after her mother suffers a heart attack, to make ends meet she is working as a waitress in a dive bar and the hot guy she takes home for a one night stand turns out to be her stepbrother Jude Gordon a tattoo artist. Both of these characters are buried under huge amounts of baggage from their parents as well as dealing with stuff from their own lives. The steam level is super hot but I would have liked to liked to see a bit more about how they went from lust to love. Enjoyable read. Publishing Date February 18, 2019 #NetGalley #PassionandInk #NaimaSimone #EntangledPublishing ( )