Passion Over Perfection

Dummond Family Drama #3

by Karmen Lee

Jalissa Dummond has only three rules: no strings, no promises, and no catching feelings. It was supposed to be so simple. Just two women blowing off steam in the shadows of families that never stop watching. In a world where loyalty is currency and betrayal is tradition, love is a liability she can’t afford.

For months, her arrangement with Valerie Johnson worked. But secrets don’t stay buried long and neither do old grudges.

When a long-hidden family scandal resurfaces and new players scramble for an opening to strike at the heart of the Dummond family, their carefully contained affair becomes collateral damage. Suddenly, what started as convenience turns into something far more dangerous.

Falling for Valerie wasn’t part of the plan. Because in families where betrayal is inherited, the most dangerous secret might be how much they’re willing to risk for each other.

Passion Over Perfection is book 3 in a series of interconnected standalones following the five Dummond siblings.

187 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 13, 2026

About the author

Karmen Lee is an avid reader of anything and everything. She’s a lifelong Southerner living it up in Atlanta, Georgia with her kid, her cats, and humidity. When she’s not packing lunches or working her normal nine-to-five, you can usually find her drinking coffee too late at night, watching House Hunters International and dreaming up ways to show her readers a good time. You can keep up with her on Twitter (@Author_KLee) or Instagram (@authorkarmenlee).

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Reviews

[Brisace · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Karmen Lee for the advance copy of Passion Over Perfection.

This one was giving “no feelings allowed,” but feelings showed up anyway. No strings, no promises, just vibes… until the secrets, family drama, and that slow shift to “this might cost me everything” had me locked in.

Messy, emotional, and full of tension where love feels like a risk you shouldn’t take… but you do anyway.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am glad that Karmen Lee wrote this mafia romance because she takes the time to explore character relationships and develop personalities. I haven't read the previous books in this series, but the Dummond family dynamic was easy to imagine as the story progressed. 


The chemistry between Jalissa and Valerie was believable, especially after that opening scene. (And what a starter!!) I loved the conflict Jalissa had between giving her heart to someone and keeping it to herself out of fear of it being a liability, and the conflict Valerie had with expressing her true feelings vs risking losing her person. 


I felt like there was a good balance of the mafia thread, the family dynamic, and the sapphic romance. A relatively quick read but it packed a punch. 

[lirissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forbidden love, brother’s assistant / bosses sister, strong mafia family dynamics plot line, sapphic romance subplot.

For a short read it has a very strong plot line, probably a benefit of being in a series.

I felt I couldn’t quite relate to either love interest in this one which made it a bit of a challenge to get myself emotionally engaged, the messy family plot had me turning the pages.

Quote I saved
‘There were no masks here—no performance I had to put on to keep people entertained. It was simply a moment with someone who made me feel a little less alone.’

Thank you to the author for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review :)

[Celina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The " interconnected standalones" is probably what I missed while reading this book. I couldn't understand some of the inner thinkings and emotions between the MCs and the SCs, so some interactions didn't make sense to me, but that's my fault. This is the only book that is sapphic, book 1 and 2 are hetero and sadly, I wasn't in the mood enough to engage.

Still good chemistry between the characters and don't get me started on the mention of dryness - that was a first.

[Melisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review:
Good pacing, Exciting and Steamy story. Family bonds, plotting and the secrets.

The reveal hit me like a sniper shot. I didn't see it coming.

Now I have to go read book one and 2 to see if it was foreshadowed.