AWAKENING: A Winston Hills Novel

by C.M. Barnes

Love doesn’t always come in twos. Sometimes, it comes with a choice—or a chance to rewrite the rules.

Ajaih Jeffries is a 42-year-old Air Force veteran with battle scars you can’t always see. After years of unraveling generational pain and rediscovering her voice, she’s found refuge and pleasure in the arms of a loving, affirming polycule. But when a deeply buried trauma resurfaces, Ajaih finds herself in the emergency room, breathless and spiraling… until she locks eyes with the nurse who helps steady her world with nothing more than a quiet touch and a look that lingers.

Maverick “Blue” Carter has everything he thought he a solid career at Winston Hills Memorial, a carefully guarded heart, and a complicated but electric on-and-off love affair with Knox—his oldest friend and sometimes more. But when Ajaih Jeffries is wheeled into his ER, fierce and fragile all at once, everything shifts. Her freckled skin. Her strength. Her story. Blue isn’t sure what it means—only that he can’t stop wanting her.

Now, desire tangles with devotion, and Ajaih and Maverick must confront what love really looks like when it doesn’t fit neatly into monogamous lines. Can Maverick navigate the gravitational pull between two people who hold his heart in different ways? And can Ajaih trust herself to love fully, without losing what she's built?

“AWAKENING” is a sensual, soul-baring erotic romance about healing, queerness, and the courage it takes to love outside the lines.

Genres: M M Romance

341 pages, Paperback

Published August 8, 2025

Reviews

[Melise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one THANK YOU lmao another freaky book with some heart warming moments with a lot of love and passion sprinkled in. This one was a little deeper than the first but a great time nonetheless don’t come in expecting deep detailed plot heavy story telling but for what it is the story telling and the issues addressed are handled really well

[Taija Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🥵

Baby i did NOT want this book to end!!! The spice was BEYOND my expectations!! Maverick and Knox were….WHEW!! The whole polycule had me clutching my pearls! The way everyone loved on each other with no judgement, full honesty, and thorough communication, i was in love too! They were all super successful, black, and productive in their lives. They lifted each other up and supported each other through their traumas and the focus on mental health was so strong!! I can’t wait for book 3! And this series will definitely be a reread in the near future.

[Jahda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehh not bad

[Victoria Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Beautiful!!

I fully believe the Author is Yanna.. She don turned all us into her subs begging, “Mistress can you please release the 3rd book now.”🥵🥵

🌶️ 🌶️ Spicy level 10 out of 10 will recommend with you and your friends

Seriously I love the way the story is written the way the families heal is beautiful in itself.

[Tonya Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ This book was beautifully written. It shows relationships in a different way. No judgement and self awareness. Exploring and accepting your true self unapologetically.

Ha and Mav through support encouragement and counseling they were able to love and not hide. Their circle was so supportive and was there them no matter what. They let them develop and accept themselves at their own pace.

Very spicy but there is a story and lesson. Can’t wait to read book 3

[BookTalesTink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knox/Maverick/Ajaih

Oh baby they freaky freaky!!! Whole family freaked out! Whole family getting put through the ocean floor. If they did nothing else they was freaking, eating, and traveling lol

[Myoshia A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave it 3 stars only because I liked it in the beginning But they were a lil too “fucky fucky” after a certain point lmaooo like yeah I know I know… and I love spice as much as the next person.. I read the first one and ate it UP but for some reason with this one I was like……. “It gets to a point” 😭😂


Anyways— read the book, enjoy. Just know. They not really doing that much talking lmao

[Val but you can call me Shug · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this tooooo much.

Feed my soul before you feed my body. That what these characters did for each other. I love a good story where a triad finds their grove

[TheTBRWhisperer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read this book thinking this is just people in "group projects" humping each other- you have missed the point.

Now, you can say you don't like it because it is spicy AF but the author has made this story so much more deeper than sex.

Maverick and Knox, I loved them...then add Ajaih- absolutely beautiful.

The way the author is very intentional about communication and expressing emotions-top tier.

While this book centers those discussions around sex- this is still a necessity in life that most adults don't have. Not just sexually but in general living.

I absolutely love this series and love how the author incorporates their job experience into the story. Reading her work and then reading her bio- I can see now how the author correlates the two.

She is building a beautiful story from very unusual parts/people and I have been enjoying the journey.

Highly recommend this read but remember it is an erotica BUT there is so much more depth to the story.

[Arii Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

that was alot😭

[BookedandBusy831 · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finally found it! The exact kind of story I’ve been craving. I just finished Enigma and Awakening, and I am absolutely in love—with the author, with her writing, with her mind. This is the perfect blend of spice, emotion, and depth. 🔥

The characters? Electric. The chemistry? Off the charts. The storytelling? Addictive. I need more books like this in my life—and please, can we get some audiobooks too? I want to be fully immersed in this kind of expressive, passionate writing.

Story & Engagement: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Character Chemistry & Heat: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Spice & Realness: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Highly recommend if you’re looking for something bold, beautifully written, and unforgettable. Keep them coming, please!

[Norell Alesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew going into this that it was erotica. I also read the previous book in the series so I knew what I was getting into. BUT, I do wish there was more plot to this. Nothing like twists and turns, just more development of the relationship between the three main leads. The connection between the three was instant, but I could’ve used more scenes of them falling in love with each other, and less of opening of the relationship to others. Not that I had a problem with the exploration of their open polycule, there just needed to be more of just the three of them together, grounding that relationship before we got to them opening it up.

[Simmerin · Rating 1 out of 5]

If SMUT is all you’re searching for…

Just like the first book in this series, I was drawn in, mostly to learn more about the FMC introduced in book one. The backstories at the start of the book are intriguing but left with no depth. I know it’s erotica and the spice level is high. But the trauma and resolutions feel thrown in for a little razzle dazzle. The overly descriptive meals and outfits feel like the AI generated books on wattpad. It gets to a point, halfway through even I was over the spice and found myself skimming the scenes because they were redundant. I finished because it’s hard for me to DNF a book but I will not finish the series. As always, read it for yourself!

[Shawndra · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I’m talmbout INNNNNNNIIIITTTTTTTT! Baby the spice be SPICING! But what I love the most about CM Barnes’ work is how intentional she writes the love stories. Polyamorous relationships have many different dynamics & I love how all possibilities of love are being written in this series. You did that my girl

[Baylee Bolden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will Ms. Barnes come to the front to receive your flowers. You did your big one yet again I loved book one Enigma and I loved Awakening as well the spice was whew 🥵💦🌶️I also appreciated the character development with the FMC Ajaih she’s definitely my new favorite FMC. I also loved how everyone really made an effort to be better and working through their trauma.

[She Reads What She Wants · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, listen… yes, this one is just as spicy, if not a little spicier than Enigma...but if you actually slow down and read, you’ll see that the heat is only part of what makes this story special. At its core, this book is about stepping into your light, choosing yourself, and loving out loud without apology. No shrinking. No hiding. Just being.

Ajaih truly came into her own in this installment. In Book 1, she was given the space to explore who she was and what she wanted. But in Awakening? Baby, she flourished. And she just so happened to do it alongside two beautiful men who already shared a deep, complicated love long before she entered the picture.

Maverick is such an interesting character. He had spent his entire life believing he was gay, deeply in love with Knox, his on-again, off-again (but mostly on) partner. And yet… here comes Ajaih, shaking up everything he thought he knew about himself and what his future could look like. The questions this book wrestles with were so real:

Can he love Knox fully and still have space for Ajaih?
Can all three of them build a life together?
Or will love force them to choose separate paths?

The emotional tension in this story was just as strong as the physical chemistry. Yes, it’s spicy we’ve already covered that, but if you dig beneath the surface, you’ll find a story about identity, freedom, vulnerability, and redefining what love is allowed to look like.

This book is bold, beautiful, and unapologetic in the best way. Don’t just read it for the heat, read it for the heart too.

[Coniqueluv2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

This was so well done. The love, the honesty and acceptance was beautiful. I love it when did men are not afraid to be around queer men. When men just see them as who they are.. Men as well. This is so freaking HOT 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶😜😜😜 Definitely, a no hander. Put the kindle on a stand and get your favorite toy cuz you're gonna need it 😂😂😂😂. If you are not a fan of MM. Then just don't read it. You are definitely missing out on some fire reads tho. I love it when couples can be honest about what they enjoy in the bedroom. No fear of judgement. That's the best intimacy. Better connection... Just AMAZING. Women n Men should feel comfortable being who they are and honest about what they enjoy. BEAUTIFUL

[Jite · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like it as a sequel…

I probably would have been ambivalent about this if I had started with this book but as a sequel to Enigma, it’s great to see Ajaih come into her own and find happiness. Once again this is erotica of the polyamorous ethical non-monogamy variety so it won’t be for everyone but the underlying story of people finding love in unconventional ways and the healing power of love kind of makes this a universal story. This also does a better job than Enigma building a cohesive narrative around the main throuple (Ajaih, Maverick and Knox) even if they’re otherwise really outside getting it in. I think this author writes really interesting stories that are compelling enough that you are interested in the characters and their stories.

[Latiya Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Awakening, I resonated with Ajaih’s character so much. It was if parts of her life/personality mirrors my own. This was my first MMF romance/erotica novel and it was so well written. The complexities of both Maverick and Knox. Them being fine af was an added bonus! I had the opportunity to see/hear C.M. Barnes speak at her first book signing (plus got Enigma and Awakening signed) back in August. She mentioned how she’s writing queer focused erotica because they deserve to have their stories told in such a beautiful way, not to be loved in secret but to be loved out loud! I couldn’t agree with her more!

[Shamoya Radcliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

So happy to be back in Winston Hills for book 2, as soon as I started this story, I was mad at myself for taking so long to finally read it.

This story has 3 main characters, Maverik, Knox, and Ajaih.

Meet Maverick, he is a registered nurse at Winston Hills but still haunted by his childhood trauma. Maverick grew up in a home where he was constantly verbally abused by his stepfather while his mother sat back and did nothing. When he left for college, he vowed to never return and definitely gave them a piece of his mind (I APPLAUD HIM FOR THAT) When he gets to college, he meets Knox 0 his roommate and they build a friendship which turned into a relationship.

Knox- he is the opposite of Maverick, he grew up in a loving 2 parent household, went to college as well, and took a job opportunity to be a chef in Greece.

Ajaih- we met her in book 1, where we know she was in love with her best friend, but she is also dealing with childhood trauma and abandonment and is still trying to figure out her sexuality.

This started as a MM romance between Maverick & Knox. When Maverick meets Ajaih it was an instant attraction. I loved the tenderness with the topic of bi awakening in this story. I loved how supportive Knox was despite the changes he might bring to his relationship with Maverick.

This is a good story of healing, forgiveness, support, sexual freedom and loving without boundaries. I loved book one, but I feel like I connected with book 2 even more. Love how the polycule supports each other and loved seeing the other characters from book 1.

[Nik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book snatched my attention and didn’t let go. What I thought would be a simple story about a polycule turned into a bold, addictive, “wait—am I questioning everything right now?” kind of read. Definitely had me questioning the norm—in the best way. The characters were layered and authentic, and the dynamics within the polycule were handled with honesty, nuance, and emotional depth. If you think book 1 was something, you ain’t seen Nothing yet!

Super spicy, sexy, and surprisingly deep. I devoured it. Highly recommend.

[Jessica Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awakening for sure

The amount of personal growth that showed up in this book made me love it that much more. I loved the theme of therapy being transformative, considering how most people view it.

Spice was descriptive but the storyline was strong. The spice didn’t seem forced or out of place.

I will say, I wasn’t expecting that intro with Mav & Knox but they were perfect. And just right for JaJa. I loved the characters from the first book continuing to be apart of her growth and support in this book.

Overall, this was a really good book!

[MARQUETTA]

DNF @58%

This author isn’t for me. This book is not good. The sex scenes are not written well. They are repetitive and not innovative. The scenes stop being hot after reading the same scene for the fifth time. And don’t get me on the ‘Daddy’ thing. It gives me the ick. There were sentence structure and punctuation. There’s zero build up. Why is Maverick kissing a Patient that he just treated?! Why was there a prologue when the events in the prologue were rehashed later in the book?! What was the reason?!?!?!?!?!?!

[Cashmere Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing !!

This was my first book by C.M.Barnes and it definitely won’t be my last I enjoyed reading about Maverick,Ajaih and Knox!Their love story while unconventional was definitely full of honesty, passion, and changes. They heal together, love together and continue to pour into each other. I’ve never heard of a polycule. But dang. 😂 I enjoyed ever open door moment this throuple and group had!! I can’t wait to read JJ and Calla’s story!! Keep us in Winston Hills !

[Pia Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

C. M. Barnes

Let me just say this…. With this series you have to be open minded and willing 😮‍💨. I have thoroughly enjoyed thus far. The character building and backstories keep me intrigued as well as other things. But you have done a job making sure we get both with a great story line.

Calla Black is going to bring the heat and I cannot wait for December, she and CJ will be my Christmas Vacation read!

[Tamara B.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Enigma, I was scared to read Awakening because sometimes the sequel just doesn't live up to the expectations I've built in my head. I was worried for nothing. A MFM love story was the perfect next step in this series. I loved how the issues were handled with care. Excellent writing. Ajaiah had so much growth from book one and the food scenes were even better. As a foodie, my mouth watered a few times. It was a fun read. Drama factor still there but oh so worth it.

[Brisace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah, the title is exactly what happened to me. Y’all know I love a good MM romance, but adding Ajaih into the mix was the perfect balance. C.M. Barnes did her big one with this, and whew… the way these three move around each other feels grown, tender, and intentional in all the right ways.

This story explores love outside the lines without shame or hesitation. It’s about choice, queerness, and the bravery it takes to hold space for more than one truth at a time. Their connection is slow, intimate, and charged, the kind of pull that feels like recognition before chemistry.

A beautifully layered look at healing, desire, and loving with your whole chest, even when the shape of that love doesn’t fit the norm.

[Sistaharlem · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Deep Spicy Wonder

This 2nd book in the series was even better than the first. In this book you have depth in the characters. They have their childhood traumas get some type of closure due to therapy & ownership by the person(s) who did the hurt. Oh and then the spice was quite hot but it was beautifully intereeaved in a story about people who find their tribe that satisfy them emotionally, spiritually and sensuality.

[LaChante Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Spicy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️|🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
The character were really well written. I liked how they were able to find their individual break throughs. I did wish that the storyline had a little more drama. There is a LOT of spice in this book and it done very well. This book will have your jaw dropped and have you clutching your pearls but in the best way!

I would recommend for my spicy romance lovers! 💖

[Reba Carethers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will leave you satiated in more ways than one. I love that this erotica series is more than just spice. Go in with a open mind. In these books we have smart, educated, mature adults who embrace therapy and actively work to heal childhood trauma. We also have people with enough sense to at least acknowledge sexuality can be fluid. There is also the continuous reminder you deserve to be loved fully and unconditionally.