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A Taste of Honey
Honey Height learned early in life that her beauty and bedroom prowess are powerful, almost beyond her control. Forced by events that leave her to fend for herself as a teenager, she evolves into a money-hungry vixen as an adult. Using her physical attributes to lead a suspect lifestyle, Honey treats men like toys—good for a while, but always disposable.
That is until she meets handsome and charismatic Khalil Graves, an up-and-coming filmmaker who's desperately trying to escape the demons of his painful childhood. Already engaged, Khalil can't seem to shake his attraction to Honey. What he doesn't realize is that he's a pawn in Honey's plan for revenge.
Honey's attempt at vengeance quickly unravels, complicated by her possible involvement in a murder and a devious plot to score a payday lucrative enough to free her from her unsavory lifestyle.
In A Taste of Honey, Essence bestselling author Darren Coleman delivers another sizzling, drama-filled tale that is sure to take his reputation for delivering page-turners to another level.
That is until she meets handsome and charismatic Khalil Graves, an up-and-coming filmmaker who's desperately trying to escape the demons of his painful childhood. Already engaged, Khalil can't seem to shake his attraction to Honey. What he doesn't realize is that he's a pawn in Honey's plan for revenge.
Honey's attempt at vengeance quickly unravels, complicated by her possible involvement in a murder and a devious plot to score a payday lucrative enough to free her from her unsavory lifestyle.
In A Taste of Honey, Essence bestselling author Darren Coleman delivers another sizzling, drama-filled tale that is sure to take his reputation for delivering page-turners to another level.
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2007
6 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 24, 2020
Why did everyone in this novel have to suffer? I get that it's "rough and tuff out in these streets", but why was there so much trauma and crazy turns? Like, Hailey just couldn't catch a break. I don't even know how I finished this book, but it was a train wreck, and I never want to read this again.
December 23, 2008
I LOVED this book. I havn't read a book to make me stay up all night reading like this in a very long time. This book reminds me a bit of Loving Donovan by Bernice Mcfadden but more contemporary. Honey was definitely someone not to be played with lol. This was my first time reading this author and I was extremely impressed. He told a very good story without dragging it out.
December 16, 2025
I’m making my way through my TBR, and I am genuinely upset that I waited so long to read A Taste of Honey. I absolutely devoured this book. From the first pages, it had me in a chokehold—and it never let up.
Darren Coleman introduces us to Hailey “Honey” Height, a young woman whose painful past pushes her into the world of sex-for-hire. Honey quickly learns that she possesses something men are willing to pay for—and she uses it unapologetically. Men are not lovers or partners to her; they are income, leverage, and tools for survival. Honey is sharp, strategic, and fully aware of the power she holds.
Her life takes a complicated turn when she meets Khalil Graves, a talented and handsome filmmaker with his own deeply rooted trauma. Despite being engaged, Khalil finds himself drawn into Honey’s orbit. What begins as attraction quickly spirals into something darker and far more dangerous when it’s revealed—without his knowledge—that Khalil is connected to someone from Honey’s past. That connection pulls him directly into Honey’s carefully constructed plan for revenge tied to a childhood tragedy.
This book was off the chain—a true page-turner. Honey is not written to be likable in the traditional sense, but she is compelling, intelligent, and unapologetically driven. I loved that she knew how to get what she wanted, but also recognized when it was time to stop running, stop manipulating, and allow herself to feel love. Still, her reliance on control and manipulation nearly cost her the very thing she longed for most after the death of her mother and her lover: connection and peace.
⚠️ Trigger warnings are necessary for this book, including sexual assault, rape, and death. While heavy, these elements are handled in a way that underscores the trauma, complexity, and survival instincts of the characters rather than exploiting them.
Darren Coleman introduces us to Hailey “Honey” Height, a young woman whose painful past pushes her into the world of sex-for-hire. Honey quickly learns that she possesses something men are willing to pay for—and she uses it unapologetically. Men are not lovers or partners to her; they are income, leverage, and tools for survival. Honey is sharp, strategic, and fully aware of the power she holds.
Her life takes a complicated turn when she meets Khalil Graves, a talented and handsome filmmaker with his own deeply rooted trauma. Despite being engaged, Khalil finds himself drawn into Honey’s orbit. What begins as attraction quickly spirals into something darker and far more dangerous when it’s revealed—without his knowledge—that Khalil is connected to someone from Honey’s past. That connection pulls him directly into Honey’s carefully constructed plan for revenge tied to a childhood tragedy.
This book was off the chain—a true page-turner. Honey is not written to be likable in the traditional sense, but she is compelling, intelligent, and unapologetically driven. I loved that she knew how to get what she wanted, but also recognized when it was time to stop running, stop manipulating, and allow herself to feel love. Still, her reliance on control and manipulation nearly cost her the very thing she longed for most after the death of her mother and her lover: connection and peace.
⚠️ Trigger warnings are necessary for this book, including sexual assault, rape, and death. While heavy, these elements are handled in a way that underscores the trauma, complexity, and survival instincts of the characters rather than exploiting them.
August 31, 2017
Good
Very good read. This was my first time reading a book by this author. I'm looking forward to reading more.
Very good read. This was my first time reading a book by this author. I'm looking forward to reading more.
January 7, 2019
The book was okay. It had potential but it wasn’t detailed nor deep in enough for me.
February 23, 2014
Hmm okay so read this book because a friend/my supervisor read it then another friend tried it and didn't finish so it fell to me, and because I am such a sucker for a new book and cant turn a reading challenge down especially when its a book in my hot little hands I read it in a day or so while my honey bunny worked all day and eh it was alright its a story as old as time only not done as well..the age story of a woman with a past, a beauty and a power over men that leads her into the life of prostitution/groupie/golddigger ways that finds Love in an equally romantically challenged male, the strong but guarded Khalil whose past unfolds in an alternating storyline and what happens between the two encompasses 271 pages with a little friendship betrayal, jealousies, gratuitous and multiple sex scenes and the answer to the age old question--can you turn a ho into a housewife? Okay so Hailey, later turned Honey is an irresistibly beautiful and sexy girl that men do whatever without question for and she takes it all and then some (pause: it is here I must make mention of the unbelievable scene with her receiving twelve thousand dollars from a guy with no sex guarantee..first off am I doing something wrong I just cant fathom someone's sex and time being worth that much money, it really forces you to suspend your grasp on reality and your personal bills but I went along....) and how she plays and manipulates men to get her own selfish gain after a betrayal by her best friend she never forgot so when the opportunity to enact her own payback came she took never knowing the man she schemed on would change her life forever..Enter the alternate storyline male protagonist Khalil, an abused, angry man made to feel less than his entire life and abandoned by his "parents" unaware of Honey's revenge scheme but totally addicted and obsessed with beautiful Honey..how they get together and the scenes that lead up to it make this an fast and furious read you can easily finish this read was readable but forgettable in the grand scheme of great reads, would read another by the author...
April 4, 2008
I finished this book the other night and I must first say that this book did not change the fact that I am a true fan of Darren Coleman's writing and will read everything he puts out.
I really like the detailed background storyline that we learned on the two main characters. He did great at laying the foundation and giving us insight into what events made them the people that they would grow to be.
Liked the middle when the two lives combined and the events surrounding that.
Was not really in love with the ending...it worked...but...was not what I would have expected and could have been a bit better.
Also, there were quite a bit of typos in this book and that is always a turn-off for me. Overall I would give it a 4 out of 5 stars because of the ending and those doggone typos; but I still recommend the book.
I really like the detailed background storyline that we learned on the two main characters. He did great at laying the foundation and giving us insight into what events made them the people that they would grow to be.
Liked the middle when the two lives combined and the events surrounding that.
Was not really in love with the ending...it worked...but...was not what I would have expected and could have been a bit better.
Also, there were quite a bit of typos in this book and that is always a turn-off for me. Overall I would give it a 4 out of 5 stars because of the ending and those doggone typos; but I still recommend the book.
December 13, 2008
This book was a definite page turner. I didn't want to put it down. I was scared the end would suck because sometimes you can read a good book and then the ending drags, but this book was good from beginning to end. Honey was a trip. I will be reading this book again.
April 15, 2016
Wow. Darren Coleman is a wonderful excellent writer! The book jacket said he writes "page turners" and he truly does! I also learned a few things too! I am now on the lookout for EVERYTHING Darren Coleman! Loved this book!
March 14, 2008
BESTSELLER! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!
April 21, 2008
This book is basically about a who has the best pussy out there. The story starts off as a young girl hailey is talking about herself and this gorgeous man she has a wild crush on.
January 19, 2010
I didn't learn anything from this book, but I would recommend it for teenagers to read this book.
May 15, 2011
I thought A Taste of Honey was a very good book. It was very entertaining and true to real life. I recommend it as a good read.
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September 22, 2012This book was amazing. Its full of excitement, suspense, and more!!!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews