Tastes of Honey

by Frances M. Thompson

Katja Meijer is a crap German. She's never on time. She's über-disorganised. And she's just accepted a private chef job she has absolutely no time for. Because tomorrow is the day she leaves London and starts her new life by the sea. But the money is good and the job brief is... interesting. Little does Katja know the dinner she's about to cook is going to change her life, forever.

Amara Diamandis didn't want to organise a make-or-break dinner for her and Wren but she doesn't know what else to do. They've been drifting apart for months and it feels like no matter what she does, Wren keeps pulling further away. But what good is a dinner cooked by a private chef if Wren doesn't talk? What good are all of Amara's efforts if Wren wants the break, not the make in their make-or-break dinner?

Wren Hall has got a secret, and it's not a good one. It's the kind of secret that eats you up from the inside out, and Wren's had more than a few secrets like that in their life and they don't want this one anymore. But sharing this secret, with the person they love most, could have devastating effects for them both. But then the fiery red-haired private chef Amara's hired to cook them dinner gives them some advice and they realise they have to try... And that starts a long, sweet, life-altering night of trying lots of new and thrilling things for all three of them.

Tastes of Honey is a spicy polyamorous sapphic FFX romance featuring an emotional bisexual Pisces, a German lesbian chef/Dominatrix, and a gym-rat enby who feels and loves deeply. There's sub/Domme k1nk, impact play with kitchen utensils, and food as foreplay. This book is intended for readers aged 18 and over.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, BDSM, LGBT, Polyamory, Bisexual, Queer

223 pages, Paperback

Published September 23, 2024

About the author

Frances M. Thompson writes stories about bisexual disaster heroes usually getting the HEAs they deserve in her spicy contemporary romance... but sometimes getting into a lot of trouble in her suspense thrillers.

Frances loves chatting with her readers and the best places to do so is in her Facebook Readers' Group or on Instagram.

Originally from London, UK, but now based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Frances is the author of the contemporary (and steamy!) romances, Five Sunsets, The Moon Also Rises, and Let Love Rule, sapphic romances Hummingbird and Butterflies, three short story collections (Shy Feet Short Stories Inspired by Travel, London Eyes Short Stories, and Nine Women: Short Stories), a collection of poetry called Lover Mother Other, and the London Killing series of fast-paced urban thrillers, including The Wait and The Weaker Sex.

To find out about Frances' upcoming books first, sign up to her newsletter.

You can find copies of her books (and more!) in her shop.

Frances also works as a freelance writer and blogger. You can read her (oft-neglected) blog, As the Bird flies. She is also the creator of WriteNOW Cards, positive affirmations cards designed to help writers build and enjoy a writing practice they love.

Follow Frances on href="https://www.instagram.com/FrancesMTho... or on TikTok @francesmthompson.

Reviews

[ᗩᑎᗪᖇᗴᗯ · Rating 5 out of 5]

In which three people come together for one night, just maybe changing their lives forever.

Amara (she/her) and Wren (they/them) are married. After years of not communicating, their relationship has reached its breaking point. Into their home comes Katja, a last-minute replacement for the private chef Amara booked for a "date night," her last-ditch effort to mend what is broken in their marriage.

Katja sees how miserable her clients are, and though she knows it is none of her business, she decides to do what she can to help them. With her help, Wren finally opens up and shares feelings they have bottled up inside themself for years, and with those truths out, Katja finds herself drawn into, even taking control of, her clients' date night.

"Tastes Of Honey" is overflowing with tasty things - initially, the mouth-watering menu prepared by Katja, followed by some delicious power exchange scenes (involving elements of impact play and degradation - as mentioned in the author's introduction.)

I loved the characters and every page of their story, which has gone straight to my "best reads of 2024" shortlist.

[bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ⭐️

very cute. very sexy. very sensual. yet another poly romance that's has made me question whether my heart is big enough to love more than 1 person at the same time. katja fell out of the sky & was just what ama & wren needed, and i love that for everyone involved. visualizing these scenes had my lip between my teeth & my thighs pushed tight together. we got poc & multi-cultural sapphic rep (cheers). i would love to read more poly spicy romances by this author. 🥰

[Lez_be_readin_ya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frances has written a captivating and spicy book that follows the story of Katja, Amara, and Wren. The undeniable attraction between the three characters is evident from the beginning, and their connection grows rapidly. The book is delightfully steamy and will leave readers craving for more.

The storyline is engaging and easy to follow. I particularly enjoyed the authentic touch of Katja being German, with moments where she speaks or thinks in German. Although this required me to use a translation app, it added to the authenticity of the experience.

The rapid development of feelings among the characters is believable, and the dynamics in the intimate scenes are a pleasure to read.

I highly recommend this book. Don't forget to check out the steamy bonus chapter, too.

I look forward to reading more from Frances in the future.

Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I was given an ARC for an honest review for Tastes of honey 😁

I will start off by saying the story was told SO well. It feels like so much happens in a short time span. Emotions were thru the roof and I couldn’t put my kindle down.

Amara hires a private chef from Elite Connections (Katja) for a make or break dinner date with Wren. Amara and Wren have been married for 8 years but they haven’t had that connection for a while. They have a lot to discuss. They’ve been distant with each other and need something to bring them close again. Apparently that’s where Katja steps in 😏 oh and Radia and Chloe from Butterflies make an appearance which I loved! Iykyk 😏

When Amara asked Katja if she wanted to kiss Wren, I was like 😳 then everything that happens afterwards was like explosion 💥🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️😮 overall, the communication between them all was perfect. Communication was a problem with Wren and Amara at first so i was glad to read that was definitely not a problem anymore. lol

Honestly, this book is hard to explain. I think because I loved it so much and I’m having a hard time processing lol Amara and wren coming to terms with the secret was fascinating. The solution was interesting. Not one I’ve ever experienced which was probably why I was so intrigued. I gotta give all props to the author for telling the story so well. I was STUCK.

I feel like my review is 💩 with a bunch of my feelings towards what I read but that’s all I got 🤷🏽‍♀️😂 read it! This story at least. Since this is an anthology, I still have the others to read 😁

[Suze Prescot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and Inspiring

Amara and Wren are married, but something is wrong. In an attempt to reconnect, Amara hires a chef to cook a special meal. Katya is the chef.
The first part of this story is beautiful and heartbreaking, as the author shows two people who love each other deeply, but who are struggling to connect. Wren is non-binary, Amara is bisexual, and Katya is gay. None of these aspects are an issue; that revolves around sexual behaviours rather than orientation. Katya's own background means that she is able to see the problem facing the couple, and at the same time, she is attracted to them both.
I still struggle with non-binary pronouns, especially in group situations, and single sex romances are never going to be a first choice, but I am so glad I read this. The author has a lot to say about relationships, and the fears that can be divisive if not aired.
I enjoyed it so much.

[MaríaFF · Rating 2 out of 5]

Insta love. Todo tiene lugar en una noche en la que un matrimonio con más problemas que soluciones decide tener una cita romántica y convertir sus problemas en los de la chef. Smut medio decente pero todo seguido y al final.

Mereció la pena? Meh, al menos eran pocas páginas

Al menos ciertos temas los llevaban bien, pero demasiada paja a ratos

[Renee Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steamyyyyyyyyyy… and with a decent plot for a short steamy book teehee

[Frances Thompson]

So, I am blushing so, so hard. And I wrote the damn thing. These three are utter h0rnbags for each other and I'm here for it. Don't miss out on the bonus epilogue. It's just as hot and h0rny and has more food as f0replay. Sorry not at all sorry.
https://francesmthompson.eo.page/tast...

[Nia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changes can be so scary, but they are worth it!
🩷❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜🖤🩶🤍🤎
I have to be careful that what I write is stellar because this story blew me away!
I love the dynamic of the three, but also the initial reticence and vulnerability of the two spouses and the fear of losing each other if they are honest with each other.
Wren and Amara are so good for each other, but Wren's changes and their fear of opening up and telling her wife what she really wants and needs makes it difficult for them and they pull away from the woman they actually want to be as close to as possible.
Enter Katja! Chef Katja, who sees so much and pushes both in the right direction while serving the most delicious food for their make-or-break dinner.
When they are finally talking, all three are so hot together!!! Oh my god! Lots of spice.
You have to read this! It's about staying absolutely true to yourself and being accepted by the people who matter most!
Thank you Frances M. Thompson for the ARC!

[Moth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5 stars

I wasn’t super impressed by this. I didn’t mind it while I was reading, and I actually had a lot of fun reading it. But the more I thought about it after I finished, the more I realized that I didn’t enjoy it.
All of the character voices felt exactly the same, except for the random German thrown in.
I really hate miscommunication, and this entire book revolves around the already-married couple not being able to talk about their relationship crumbling. While I’m glad that this is a book that involves negotiating changes in sexual preferences (something I haven’t seen so far), it was absolutely hilarious to me that the sheer amount of emotional turmoil was all because Wren wanted to be a bottom.
Also, this book is marketed as romance when it is very much erotica (the singular sex scene lasts for OVER HALF of the 180-page book).

CW (stated in book): sexual content; gender dysphoria; queerphobia

[Jennabeebs79 · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Tastes of Honey is a captivating, emotional, and steamy romance that will leave you craving more of Amara, Katja, and Wren’s story. Saying I loved this book would be an understatement! The writing is rich, inclusive, and features authentic dialogue. The story unfolds through the first-person perspectives of all three main characters, each of whom is well-developed with a distinct voice. Experiencing their viewpoints adds depth to the narrative, and the intense emotions throughout made it nearly impossible for me to put the book down. Though the book offers plenty of well-written steam, it goes far beyond that, giving readers a deep understanding of who these characters truly are and what they need. It’s a beautiful story about acceptance, honesty, love, and the power of connection.

[Julie Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amara loves being Wren's submissive. But her spouse has withdrawn from her recently and she doesn't understand why. Wren has a secret, and they're so afraid that telling Amara will tear their relationship apart. In a last-ditch effort to bring them close again, Amara hires Katja, an experienced chef working for Elite Connections, to serve them a private dinner in their home so that she and Wren can hopefully, finally talk.
This was an okay story. There wasn't all that much plot, it was more character driven, and heavy on the smut side of things. Amara, Wren and Katja all have a POV, which I appreciated as I got to see each characters thoughts on and feelings about the other people. The story has a good ending, which I liked. But it didn't make me all giddy and happy like some other stories do, which is why I can't give it a higher rating.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I rarely would describe most spicy stories as beautiful, it’s the first adjective that comes to mind for this story. From the descriptions of the food, the memories they invoked, the drive Amara and Wren had to fight for their relationship, and the way Katja fit into their romance and lives like the missing puzzle piece—yep, beautiful.

I’ve read a handful of throuple books before, but never FFX, so I really enjoyed that combination of partners. Poly involving BDSM was also new to me, and oh so fun. Everyone had sizzling chemistry with each other and the sex scenes were excellent.

Highly recommended to anyone looking for spicy read that’ll steal their heart.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe the cure to my reading slump is reading physical books?

I loooooved this. Short, spicy and queer.

I loved seeing all the different personalities and how everyone accepted everyone.

Not a fan of the German dirty talk, but thay might be a me thing. I don't like anything in my native language either and even though German isn't my native language, I do speak it.

Anyways, this was hot and I'm so here for the insta love.

[Shannon Halsaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0

Spicy and beautiful. FFX Pairing, diverse representation, sexy food, 'yes Chef', dom/sub dynamics, polyamory.
A marriage on the rocks due to changing dynamics, a chef looking for a fresh start, finding herself in a situation she just can't say no to.
This story is so hot. Though it may be short, there is definitely enough of a build up that it's not just simply spice.

[Rachel Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5*
i will never turn down any sort of sapphic romance, but it does seem slightly strange to me that almost 2 years of emotional turmoil in their marriage was over wren wanting to be a bottom …?? nonetheless i did thoroughly enjoy this and will look into more of this authors stuff for enjoyable queer romances!

[Lucy Rodrigues · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute short book. Spicy in all the good ways. Would like a full story. The attraction and chemistry was really great. the main downside is the speed of the attraction and feelings, but it's never going to really make sense in a short book like this, and felt like it skipped a beat in the middle perhaps. However, was a great read, and would happily reread.

[Lilac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply beautiful and lovely!!

My partner and I read this together in a day, and it was just a stunning novel. We loved the romance, the communication, the queerness, and the overall love that permeated the novel. 1000/10 recommend, and we will be reading her other novels! 😭

[s.elle.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spicy poly romance!

I really enjoyed this poly romance.
The setting made this transition so fun, and the spice was intense. This book has Dom and Sub elements too.
I'd definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys LGBTQIA+ spicy romances!

[jay]

dnf @ 64%

[Riah Wamby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes yes yes yes! This was pretty much a perfect novella. The exploration of identity through kink? The spice? The communication? Sign me tf up 👏🏻

[Marion · Rating 3 out of 5]

POV : 3 characters
Spice : almost all of it

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very spicy read. I enjoyed it a lot.

[Skye reads 📚 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 star ⭐️ cute 🥰 queer romance 🥰.

[Lilly Lowans · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great sapphic book. My main issue is that the OG couple has communication issues about wanting to change up their sex life. And I’m not sure why but that rubs me the wrong way. Maybe because I’ve never had those issues personally. I’d give this book 🌶️🌶️.5 because there’s not a lot of spice but when it happens it’s written very well.

[Shala]

Intrigued by the concept as I like Poly Romance so I read the sample on Amazon. From those few chapters, these three characters think and speak the exact same way with the exception of one of them speaking another language. Plus the marriage in distress is likely going to be because of the miscommunication trope and I'm not a fan of this.