Cinnamon Strudel: A Steamy Feel Good Standalone Holiday Romance

Naughty Desserts

by Tanja Longoria

Being stood up never felt nice.
But just as Morgan thought his evening was ruined, a stunning, curvy redhead became his server in shining armour. Her bright, bubbly persona had Morgan falling before he even knew what was happening.

When Ruby saw the handsome, broody man sitting alone at a table for far too long, she took her chance. Who’d have thought that one impulsive decision would change her life. Soon, Morgan had her swept off her feet–quite literally.

A festive cake meet-cute turned into holiday-themed dates that had both head over heels for each other.

Don’t let the cute cover deceive you, this book is for an adult audience.

Genres: Disability, Christmas, Contemporary Romance, Plus Size

250 pages, Paperback

Published October 24, 2025

About the author

Tanja is a spicy romance author who loves to write about strong female characters, loving love interests, and the occasional vampires and werewolves.

Besides writing she is a mother and nursing student, with a hectic life and an ever-changing work schedule. Writing is her escape from reality in which she can let go of all the stress that comes with managing a family of three and balancing work and private life.

Reviews

[Andrea ☾ [is inconsistently consistant] · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ Every book in this series has been a win!

I haven't read books 1 or 4 (I know! Don't come for me!) but I loooooved every single one of the ones I have gotten to read so far.

The one thing that makes this such an outstanding and amazing series is that, in every book there's at least one MC with a disability (visible or invisible). These romance stories not only bring such warmth to my heart, but they highlight the absolute criminal LACK of disable MCs in our books. And I know the romance genre is really one of the best out there at normalising and breaking stereotypes, but we're still not where we should be. Then, in comes this series!

In this book we have Ruby and Morgan, and their meet-cute -a.k.a Ruby just seizing the opportunity to introduce herself to the hot guy who just got stood up! The story itself was cute, and as much as some things in here didn't really work imo, that's probably just me being nitpicky.

This is both sweet and spicy, wholesome but hard-hitting when it needs to be... 100% recommend!

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

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

Cinnamon Strudel, the fifth book in the Naughty Desserts series, is another sweet, steamy, and heartfelt romance from Tanja Longoria. One of the things I admire most about her writing is the thoughtful, respectful way she portrays characters with disabilities. Longoria never sensationalizes or oversimplifies—she gives her characters depth, agency, and the space to be fully realized people. In this installment, we see both the challenges Morgan faces because of his disability and the strength, capability, and confidence that define him far more than anything else.

I loved the way Ruby approaches Morgan with genuine interest and openness, choosing to learn about his needs not out of obligation but because she cares. Their relationship builds with patience, curiosity, and warmth. The banter is fun, the chemistry is undeniable, and the emotional development feels honest and healing. This book balances charm and steam beautifully, while also exploring self-worth, understanding, and what it truly means to show up for someone.

Morgan, who is legally blind but incredibly capable, is such a standout character. From running a business with his brothers to staying active and independent, he defies the assumptions people project onto him—assumptions we see reflected in the careless way others treat him, like the date who abandons him. Ruby, on the other hand, is coming out of a damaging relationship that chipped away at her sense of self. Watching her approach Morgan, initiate their first shared dessert, and slowly rebuild her confidence alongside him was incredibly satisfying.

Their relationship is equal parts gentle and passionate. I appreciated how clearly they communicated, especially when it came to boundaries and intimacy. The bedroom scenes are written with respect and tenderness, showing how deeply Morgan cares for Ruby—not just physically, but emotionally. And outside the bedroom, their give-and-take is balanced and genuine. They support one another, talk through the difficult moments, and avoid the miscommunication trope entirely, which I found refreshing.

If you’re looking for a romance that’s sweet, spicy, caring, and filled with character growth, Cinnamon Strudel delivers all of that and more. Longoria continues to shine with relatable characters, heartfelt storytelling, and a beautiful blend of charm and heat.

I want to thank Tanja Longoria for the opportunity to review this book.

[Danni Drummond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cinnamon Strudel
Naughty Desserts Series Book 5
By Tanja Longoria

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

🪢 Standalone Sweet Romance
🎄 Disability Rep
🪢 Meet cute
🎄 Visually Impaired MMC
🪢 Waitress FMC
🎄 Adorable Boxer Seeing Guide-Dog
🪢 D0m/first time sůb
🎄 Christmas Romance

Aww as always this adorable meet cute romance was on par with the rest in the series so far with Cinnamon Strudel following the love story between Morgan (MMC) and visually impaired man with a gorgeous Boxer (who is his seeing eye dog companion) who happens to be stood up for a date in a cafe where his waitress let's him know she is free if he is interested.
The waitress a gorgeous plus size red head named Ruby who is not yet body confident puts herself out there on a whim, and boy does it work out for her because he is EVERYTHING!
As always their relationship is built on healthy clear communication, being open and honest especially when it comes to the bedroom and Morgan's disability (but he himself hates labelling himself as disabled) what they have is special and everyone around them can see it.
And if you are all about Christmas like Ruby, then this is sure to add some Christmas sparkle to your life ✨️

Cinnamon Strudel is available everywhere now 😘🖤

#naughtydesserts #meetcute #Christmasromance #disabilityrep #bookreview

[Sanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story very much and the series is good because all different kind of disabilities are shown. However it feels like this would never ever happen like this.

It goes too fast I think. Butttt if the time spacing was different it would be a lot better for me and earn a 4 star. The whole story warmed my heart though and it was writter well. Expect the part the female is not as strong as her other books that I missed a little. Sometimes she was sometimes not.

Tanja has so many different kind of books and she write them all good.

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

[Kari Lake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another super cute disability rep story from Tanja!

Curvy FMC with some confidence issues. Visually impaired MMC who has some confidence issues related to his lack of vision.

Ruby and Morgan hit it off from the get go and get serious pretty quickly. They are adorable.

I've thoroughly enjoyed every book in this series.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Start was kinda meah, but man the relationship growing and how healthy their communication was *swon* but what the heck was that ending....HEA no worries, but the end was kinda sudden, came out of nowhere

[Athena Kyriacou · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect cozy christmas read!

I absolutely loved Morgan he was so strong and independent despite his disability his character was written perfectly, and Ruby with her understanding and being so patient and caring. You can't help but love them.

This story had it all, it was sweet and cute but it also had spice which was written so respectfully.

My only criticism would be that I felt it was a little rushed with the times (but is that more me that I didn't want it to end)

lovely meet-cute heart warming story that I would highly recommend.

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

Thank you for letting me be apart of the ARC review.

[Demi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars ⭐

Revived this as an ARC review from the author, so thank you.

This was a cut insta love read. it really went right in there with all the feels. this book is about Morgan and ruby. Morgan , is mostly blind, he can see blobs if colour super close up or when using his phone camera 🤳🏽, his guide dog blue is super gorgeous too! The book starts off with him waiting for a date in a cake shop but she never shows. So, instead it is Ruby, who works there, that sees him and is instantly attracted and they have their own date instead.

it goes from there really but with plus size representation and blind representation. it makes for a sweet love story and they both gel really well. set around the holidays it was so cute. there's some spice in this is well, as you see them explore their bodies with one another. Don't let the cover and title fool ya! Morgan did a. amazing job of making Ruby comfortable during the sexy scenes and let her know she was a goddess needing to be worshiped.

However, I did get a little bored half way in , and I don't typically go for Insta love romances. There were some pages with some typos or added words that were meant to be removed in editing, which took me out of it a little bit. Not too much, and I have read books with way more editing errors and just out right typos , but this was something I did notice a couple of times in this one.
I liked the characters and family dynamic in this but not too much happened for me.

Overall, this book is a sweet time and shows great representation, (all the books in this series do), and is perfect to read around Xmas time as it will give you all the festive cosiness 🙂

[Rae C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! 5 superstars from me. Cute, steamy, heart-warming romance. I love how these books are very endearing yet pack a huge punch of spice.

We follow Ruby and Morgan, when Ruby approaches Morgan, who is visually impaired, at the restaurant she works at, after he's been stood up.

I loved the fact that Ruby made the first move, but Morgan quickly took charge of things.

I absolutely adore how Tanja writes the character's disability, how it is weaved into their story, and how they start this relationship with a partner discovering it and learning about it at the same time as the reader. I truly truly love that, in every single one of the books of this series.

As always the intimacy was super well written, and the way Morgan worshipped Ruby was just incredible.

As someone who hates miscommunication in romance books, I have to thank Tanja for writing characters who are so good at communicating their needs and expectations with each other, it is a balm to my soul!

All in all, another great, sweet, steamy and lovely read from this series. Looking forward to more books from it!

[Ivuli · Rating 4 out of 5]

He was her guide in the bedroom; she helped him navigate the everyday world.

The portrayal of disabilities is a subject close to my heart. I strongly feel that disability representation in books is essential—it normalizes the variability of the human population, highlights the struggles people face, and educates us on how to better accommodate them. I loved that the book presented Morgan not as a victim, but as a strong, fully realized character. While he understandably needs accommodations for his condition, his life is absolutely not reduced to being defined by his blindness.

I adored their approach to communication and found their bedroom dynamics absolutely electrifying. My only minor critique is that the relationship felt a bit rushed, especially concerning the constant involvement of their families, which slightly detracted from the realism.

This was a compelling read, and I will definitely be checking out other books in this wonderful series.

4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Sophia Cristello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a significant improvement from the previous book in this series that I read from this author. Definitely a solid redemption from the other book.

Ruby and Morgan had a solid connection with each other, the storyline was light and low risk, the characters were mature and very emotional competent, the steam was nice and i liked the maturity level and devotion surrounding it... a very good read in my eyes.

My one little peeve about this is that Morgan never introduced himself. He knew her name because she was his waitress, but then there's never any introduction on his part. Then all of a sudden the next chapter she knows his name. Literally annoyed me the entire book 😅

Also... why the fuck would I care about the steamy meet cute that his brother Alexander had meeting his boyfriend Jack 6 months before the start of the book??? I found that a VERY odd thing to put as bonus content at the end of this book, and irrelevant to the storyline if Ruby and Morgan

[Shana W · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is sweet and spicy, with likeable main and side characters. Ruby is the server at the restaurant where Morgan's blind date stands him up. She asks him out and they never look back. They are instantly attracted to each other, and I like how open and honest they are with each other from the get-go and throughout the book. Morgan is legally blind, able to see only a short distance in front of his face. The author handles this well, showing how Ruby accommodates him so naturally and the strategies Morgan uses to help himself, not the least of which is his hard-working guide dog, Blue. Their families are loving and supportive, and the spice is really spicy. This entertaining book is part of a great series but can be read as a standalone.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Therese · Rating 4 out of 5]

It would have been a 5 star read if the pov wasn’t third pov, it made it difficult to know who was thinking and I just really don’t like the third pov.

It was a really wonderful story. I wish this love for everyone who has gone through toxic relationships with partners that didn’t appreciate them, made them feel less then and made them question their worth.

This story is a wonderful love story with a blind mmc with a love for ropebindning and true dominance play. He’s a golden retriever through and through and communication is key. He’s a praising god and makes our fmc rediscover her self and her worth.

Then we have our fmc. A bubbly and sweet luscious redheaded artist who also works as a server. She has an ex boyfriend who was a toxic twat waffle who made her smaller, but now is her time to shine again.

These two are made for eachother and it was pure joy to read their story.

[Valerie Charron · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ — cute, quick, but missing a little something

This was a sweet, easy read, but it didn’t fully hit for me.

The meet-cute was adorable—being stood up and then saved by a bubbly, confident server?? I loved that setup. Ruby’s energy was fun and refreshing, and Morgan being all broody and instantly gone for her was very on brand.

The holiday vibes and cute dates? Super cozy. It’s definitely the kind of book you can breeze through with a smile.

But… it all felt a little too quick and surface-level. The connection was there, but I didn’t fully feel it. I wanted more depth, more buildup, more reasons to be completely invested in them as a couple.

It’s not bad at all—just one of those reads that’s enjoyable in the moment but doesn’t really stick with you after.

Cute, festive, and fluffy… just needed a bit more substance to really shine.

[Sarah Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

This book was cute from the very start when Morgan and Ruby had their first interaction. It was beautiful to see how considerate and thoughtful Ruby’s actions towards Morgan were throughout the book.

It starts with Morgan being stood up (more like rudely abandoned) by his date, and Ruby finding the courage to sit with him for a chat and dessert and eventually ask him out. They hit it off instantly!

Cinnamon Steudel reads like a Hallmark Christmas romcom. It’s extremely cozy, deliciously spicy, and there was no unnecessary drama or miscommunication! I think it’s a great book to read while curled up in bed with some hot chocolate over the holidays!

Thank you to Tanja Longoria for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

[Amanda Glaeser · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read the others in the series and enjoyed them, but I wasn't a fan of this one. It felt rushed and hard to follow who was speaking at times.

Morgan came across as an ass and I thought it was weird that Ruby would take him to see lights and go ice skating when she knew he was visually impaired. It was sweet that she would let him know where things were, but he complained about not being able to be independent and yet, totally fine with Ruby telling him what was where.

His brothers also rubbed me the wrong way. Showing up at Ruby's job to check her out. Like they had to make sure they found her attractive in order for her to date their brother.

If you like meet cutes and Christmas cheer, you'll enjoy this book.

[Allana Partridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cinnamon Strudel is a feel-good holiday romance and I enjoyed it very much. The MMC is legally blind with restricted close vision, and Tanja Longoria has made him an independent, confident hot & sexy man with a very healthy sex life. Bravo!!!

He shows sensitivity and genuine kindness to those in his life while also being respectfully dominant in the bedroom. There is some bondage/rope play but nothing too kinky and the sex scenes are well written.

Morgan is the epitome of a Cinnamon Role MMC, and Ruby is the sweet-hearted & clever FMC learning to love herself and speak up for what she wants.

Perfect as an easy holiday read!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book just like the other books in this series! It’s a light book but with plenty of steam! Absolutely no misunderstandings between the characters or even disagreements. To me it seems a little too unrealistic but loved the book regardless. I love how in each book one of the main characters has some kind of disability, in this case blindness, that their love interest completely over looks and doesn’t make them feel lesser for it. I cannot wait for the next book to come out so I can devour it as well.

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

[Kristen Arndt]

I have really enjoyed all the books I have read in this series. Each book has one main character with some sort of a physical disability. Out of all that I've read, this is the first one with the male as the character with the disability.

Ruby and Morgan have the best communication with each other. They are able to articulate have the feel, their likes and dislikes, without judgement. I wish my communication skills were that strong. It's nice that these books are relatively short, but it doesn't take away the space for a great story.

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

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, sweet romance

4.5 stars ( rounded up to 5 for Goodreads).

I really enjoyed this sweet, spicy, steamy romance. There were definitely elements of insta-love, but overall, the romance was adorable.

I enjoyed the MMC, Morgan, and the author did a great job writing a character with a vision impairment. She wove this element well into the story and the romantic relationship. Ruby ( FMC) was delightful. I enjoyed how well they supported each other.

The spice was spicy, and I enjoyed the cozy/ soft kink that was explored. As a fan of Praise kink, these struck a satisfying note.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable romance.

[Cyd Adger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby and Morgan are so cute! I highly recommend this book! It is an amazing addition to the series, but also a great standalone story.

I can't imagine a more perfect couple or a more perfect love story! Of course not everything is easy in life but the way these two met and stuck together will bring warmth to your heart. And a bit of heat to your body with the steamy spicy scenes in and out of the bedroom!

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

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC and am leaving my review voluntarily.

This was a sweet and very spicy read. Morgan and Ruby really complement each other well. I love that Ruby treats Morgan like any other person, like his blindness is part of who he is but it doesn’t define him. She helps him enjoy the things she enjoys and he makes her feel beautiful in her body. I enjoyed the disability representation, which it seems like this series covers several. I think overall it’s a good book and I enjoyed reading it.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars - This was an enjoyable story to read that's about Morgan our handicap man whose vision is impaired and Ruby our waitress who propositions Morgan after his date stood him up. What occurs is an engaging story that kept me entertained. Loved the characters - The optimistic bubbly kind Ruby and Morgan a strong independent man were very likable in this story. I loved how protective Ruby was with his family. Their chemistry sizzled and their romantic interactions was steamy in this story. Overall, I'd enjoyed reading this story I'd received via BookSirens and volunteer to review.

[Tobey Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn’t love Cinnamon Strudel?

Morgan & Ruby win the “meet cute” of the year. Ruby didn’t hesitate to shoot her shot & it definitely hit the intended target in Morgan. This is a sweet & spicy romance with enough Christmas themes to make it perfect for the holiday season!
I will keep this one handy for re-reads between big series.

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

[erikoreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up to 3.

I really liked the disability rep in this book, it was really sensitively done (as with all the other books in the series).

But the books was too instalove (instalust?) for me - it was difficult for me to understand what drew the characters to each other in the first place, so I would have loved to have seen that character development.

I received an eARC via BookSirens, thank you!

[Isabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received as an arc :)
I liked this book as a cute spicy romance. I haven’t read any other books in the series yet but I really enjoyed this one and it seems really inclusive having a MMC with a visual impairment and to see how they navigated their relationship but at times it felt like that was all the story revolved around

[Rianne Van Der Heiden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Tanja Longoria book that I read but not the last for sure! Loved that there was a disabled main character and a plus size female lead! Ruby & Morgan really stole my heart, but Blue did even more. This story is an insta love one with some very steamy and spicy scenes. 4 stars for me and looking forward to read even more books of Tanja Longoria!

[Karen Sorg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tanja, I love how you bring so many characters to life and they have real feelings like we do. The thought of meeting parents for the first time and how nerves have to be dealt with. Meeting families, asking people out on dates, where to go, food and how to deal with it all. I love Morgan and Ruby and how they handle all of the about emotions.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALC Review
5⭐ 4 🌶️
I absolutely love this series. Cinnamon Strudel is the 5th book in the Naughty Desserts Series. Cinnamon Strudel was so sweet, but spicy 🥵! Ruby finds her confidence to ask out Morgan (who is blind), her willingness to learn & adapt with his disability was awesome! I love how their relationship blossomed as they grew together as a couple.
Elisabeth and Jay Parker did the narration, and were absolutely perfect for these characters! They definitely brought Ruby & Morgan to life!

[Megan Hupp · Rating 4 out of 5]

These shorter stories are so cute and heartwarming with a nice little dose of spice in there. Morgan being blind did not stop Ruby from shooting her shot with him. Ruby is the most patient and understanding FMC. The 2 of them went from 0 to 60 real fast but it was so cute! And of course the dog was just a bonus. The audiobook was great for this and the 2 of them did wonderful together.