Stella has been the focus of Penny’s desire for almost a year. She watches her work while silently longing for her, wishing she could make Stella hers.
Though Stella is a down-on-her-luck waitress, she makes the best out of life with her son Cooper. She’s desperately trying to get out of her terrible situation with her drunk boyfriend, one shift at a time.
When Stella finds herself in need of an extra hand, Penny takes the opportunity to swoop in and help her, offering a job to nanny her daughter, a safe place to live, and a relationship if she’s interested.
I was so excited when I found out this author was putting out a novella duet. She has a knack for finding the perfect balance of storyline and smut, and even in these little books she was able to add her signature humor and emotional gut-punch drama.
Caffeinated Passion is the first book in which we meet single moms Stella and Penny. Penny has been going to the diner where Stella works for the last year, watching and waiting for her moment to sweep her off of her feet and finally claim her as hers. Stella is stuck in a terrible relationship with her good for nothing boyfriend, and she is secretly saving up enough money to get herself and her son out off there.
When things become unbearable for Stella and her son, Penny saves the day and rescues them. Penny is patient, and we get a deliciously slow burn build up (as slow as you can get in a book that less than 200 pages, that is) as Stella starts to explore her feelings for Penny.
If you like feel-good, spicy sapphic romance novellas, I highly recommend this one!
I got this as an ARC and Casiddie described it as a fun “snacky” read and good gawd this is a snack I want more than once! It’s spicy but with a plot line of having your back for real. So well written. Wow now I need my heart rate to settle!
Casiddie Williams Caffeinated Passion (Single Parent Duet Book 1)
In a small town, Penny's eyes were drawn to Stella, a stunning woman dropping off her child at school. There was a certain melancholy in Stella's gaze that tugged at Penny's heart. Determined to bring happiness into Stella's life, Penny would spend her breaks at the café where she worked, secretly observing her from afar. This routine had been going on for nearly a year.
The connection between Penny and Stella was undeniable. They both longed for a loving family and a secure relationship that would provide a nurturing environment for their children, who had already formed a strong bond with each other.
Hal's diner became a safe haven for Penny, Stella, and their kids. It was a place where they could escape from the world and find solace in each other's company. As the days turned into weeks, their love blossomed, bringing them the joy and contentment they had been searching for.
This heartwarming story took me by surprise, and I found myself immersed in the beautiful journey of Penny and Stella's love story. The author skillfully captured the essence of their relationship, painting a vivid picture of their struggles, triumphs, and ultimately, their unwavering love.
I was thrilled to discover that there is a sequel to this remarkable tale, set to release on March 14. Without a doubt, I will eagerly dive into the next chapter of Penny and Stella's story. The first book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a heartwarming and captivating read. This author is new to me, but I am already a fan and eagerly anticipate reading more of her work.
This was an adorable story of two women coming together to form a friendship, support each other, and fall in love.
It was easy to connect with the characters with the real life problems the author sprinkled in.
And I love that the children characters weren't just blank canvases, there was a difference in their personalities and behaviors, making it easy to tell which child was which.
My only hang up was that sometimes I would forget which pov the chapter was in, but I blame that on being so pulled into Stella and Penny's story.
4 stars. This was sexy and romantic with likable leads. Penny and Stella are great characters and their chemistry was so hot. I loved it. Stella is in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend and Penny offers to help her out by hiring her to be her nanny. Both women are parents and their kids go to the same school and I did like the kids. They were adorable.
The writing in this was pretty good, it’s a fast paced and addictive smutty good time with some heart to it. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Grateful to have received this as an ARC! This novella tells a beautiful love story of women coming from different walks of life. Equal parts spicy and sweet as Stella and Penny navigate their changing relationship with one another with plenty of outside hurdles along the way. A well written beginning to a duet I’m excited to continue reading! Be sure to check CWs for a few scenes.
An FF from Casiddie Williams? Yes please. As always there's tension and angst and the dominance in one of the characters that we salivate for. Penny and Stella are perfect for each other and their children are adorable. This is a quick read but it's a lovely palate cleanser and I 100% recommend.
It's a gay twist on the billionaire trope- the delivery was just okay. The book totally doesn't care about filling in the details of their lives or character development but I mean hey-it was a quick read and really fun to read honestly!
My first spicy book and I feel it had great amount of spice to background story! A quick read and definitely a great intro to spicy/romance books for me.