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Culinary Clash: A spicy sapphic forced proximity romance
Not yet published
Expected 19 Sep 26125 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 19, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 10, 2026
Sizzling, Sweet, and Surrendered? Yes, Chef.
We are back in the Halo Universe, this time at The Canopy – the members-only luxury restaurant from Mine. Love. Always.
Culinary Clash flips the script on your typical BDSM dynamic with a femme Domme and a masc Sub, making for a fiery change of pace. Daal uses this dynamic to explore respect, trust, and vulnerability without ever making the story feel like a lesson. Even with its shorter length, there’s incredible character development, giving Arken and Hayley enough space to understand what they want, what they need, and why they fit together so well. Their connection feels believable and genuine throughout.
Arken is all precision, determination, and discipline, whether she’s leading the kitchen at Canopy or making sure everyone around her knows exactly what she expects. Hayley has built Canopy into a successful empire and commands authority in her professional life, embracing a more traditionally masculine presence while still figuring out how that side of herself can coexist with her desire to submit in her personal life. Their initial professional friction gradually gives way to something unexpectedly intimate as they realize they’re looking for the same things—and that they can give them to each other. Arken gives Hayley a space where she can finally let go of control, while Hayley gives Arken the trust and surrender she’s been craving.
The steam here is once again smoldering, but there’s a surprising sweetness to it, too. They establish their desires and needs immediately and consistently, and their dynamic never feels disconnected from the emotional side of their relationship. Their intimacy becomes another way for them to communicate, build trust, surrender, and understand each other. The way their roles fit together feels completely natural, making them the missing piece in each other’s lives with a chemistry that works both intimately and emotionally.
Culinary Clash is a sweet and spicy addition to the Halo universe that packs plenty of character into its sizzling storyline. It’s also a reminder that knowing exactly what you want is only part of the equation; sometimes the real challenge is finding someone you can trust enough to let them give it to you.
I’m so excited to see where Avery takes the Halo Series next!
Huge thank you to the author for the chance to read this ARC!!!
Favorite Quotes:
“My love of food has been lifelong. [A]n obsession. But nothing in this world brings me the level of pleasure that creating the perfect dish does.”
“I’ve been wanting to be yours for four years, Chef.”
“I feel like she’s starting to realize that I don’t mess around: I go for exactly what I want.”
“[She] made sure I knew she was there, right beside me the entire time. Making me aware that she was choosing to remain present with me.”
We are back in the Halo Universe, this time at The Canopy – the members-only luxury restaurant from Mine. Love. Always.
Culinary Clash flips the script on your typical BDSM dynamic with a femme Domme and a masc Sub, making for a fiery change of pace. Daal uses this dynamic to explore respect, trust, and vulnerability without ever making the story feel like a lesson. Even with its shorter length, there’s incredible character development, giving Arken and Hayley enough space to understand what they want, what they need, and why they fit together so well. Their connection feels believable and genuine throughout.
Arken is all precision, determination, and discipline, whether she’s leading the kitchen at Canopy or making sure everyone around her knows exactly what she expects. Hayley has built Canopy into a successful empire and commands authority in her professional life, embracing a more traditionally masculine presence while still figuring out how that side of herself can coexist with her desire to submit in her personal life. Their initial professional friction gradually gives way to something unexpectedly intimate as they realize they’re looking for the same things—and that they can give them to each other. Arken gives Hayley a space where she can finally let go of control, while Hayley gives Arken the trust and surrender she’s been craving.
The steam here is once again smoldering, but there’s a surprising sweetness to it, too. They establish their desires and needs immediately and consistently, and their dynamic never feels disconnected from the emotional side of their relationship. Their intimacy becomes another way for them to communicate, build trust, surrender, and understand each other. The way their roles fit together feels completely natural, making them the missing piece in each other’s lives with a chemistry that works both intimately and emotionally.
Culinary Clash is a sweet and spicy addition to the Halo universe that packs plenty of character into its sizzling storyline. It’s also a reminder that knowing exactly what you want is only part of the equation; sometimes the real challenge is finding someone you can trust enough to let them give it to you.
I’m so excited to see where Avery takes the Halo Series next!
Huge thank you to the author for the chance to read this ARC!!!
Favorite Quotes:
“My love of food has been lifelong. [A]n obsession. But nothing in this world brings me the level of pleasure that creating the perfect dish does.”
“I’ve been wanting to be yours for four years, Chef.”
“I feel like she’s starting to realize that I don’t mess around: I go for exactly what I want.”
“[She] made sure I knew she was there, right beside me the entire time. Making me aware that she was choosing to remain present with me.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
first of all, thank you avery for the opportunity to read early! i have been looking forward to this for months😅
this was AMAZING. i typically find it difficult to rate novellas, but this is a scenario where i knew from the get go.
the pacing was amazing, which is hard to hit for a novella but this was perfect!
i absolutely loved the relationship dynamic, and how the “norm” was switched with the younger femme domme and older masc sub, you don’t see it as often and i loved that representation here! the characters themselves were so good, i loved arkens take no shit extreme confidence, and i can only imagine she’d be an absolute force to work with (i’d be terrified of her) but she was at the same time such a caring and compassionate domme. hayley is SO. SWEET. i just love her, from the very beginning with the way she would bow her head to arken i was hooked. hayley is so thoughtful and so vulnerable under the facade she shows the world, and every single blush had ME blushing. i loved the names they used for each other, and the way hayley would ask permission so shyly was so stinking cute😭
like mine. love. always, they had a real good thing going outside of the bdsm scene, and avery has delivered that perfectly here again.
also, THAT. EPILOGUE. i almost spontaneously combusted, and i will leave it there, but do NOT read it in public😅
okay that’s all from me, go read mine. love. always, and then pick this up RIGHT AFTER!!!
this was AMAZING. i typically find it difficult to rate novellas, but this is a scenario where i knew from the get go.
the pacing was amazing, which is hard to hit for a novella but this was perfect!
i absolutely loved the relationship dynamic, and how the “norm” was switched with the younger femme domme and older masc sub, you don’t see it as often and i loved that representation here! the characters themselves were so good, i loved arkens take no shit extreme confidence, and i can only imagine she’d be an absolute force to work with (i’d be terrified of her) but she was at the same time such a caring and compassionate domme. hayley is SO. SWEET. i just love her, from the very beginning with the way she would bow her head to arken i was hooked. hayley is so thoughtful and so vulnerable under the facade she shows the world, and every single blush had ME blushing. i loved the names they used for each other, and the way hayley would ask permission so shyly was so stinking cute😭
like mine. love. always, they had a real good thing going outside of the bdsm scene, and avery has delivered that perfectly here again.
also, THAT. EPILOGUE. i almost spontaneously combusted, and i will leave it there, but do NOT read it in public😅
okay that’s all from me, go read mine. love. always, and then pick this up RIGHT AFTER!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW
Duel 1st Person POV. 5🌟 3🌶️. 125 pages
2 Spicy Scenes
I’ve read a lot of BDSM romances, in fact they’re some of my favourites to read. But what most lack is that deep level of trust and proper communication. You’re not getting that when you pick up an Avery Daal book, you’re getting an inside look into what a healthy dynamic looks like, with emotionally available and intelligent characters.
Culinary Clash was the perfect little window into what it’s like to be vulnerable and open. To want without shame, to yearn for that deeper connection that often comes with d/s dynamics, to develop a level of trust most will never experience and it’s done so beautifully.
These characters embrace their roles, they do not harbour shame for them, but instead accept who they are as individuals and together and honestly it had me choked up in parts. You can feel the love and trust they have for one another and it’s evident from the beginning that both characters are 2 halves of the same puzzle.
I fell in love with Hayley from the beginning, I love when an author acknowledges that masc presenting people can in fact be submissive and soft. Honestly I’d die for Hayley.
Culinary Clash will be released September 19th, do yourself favour and add it to your TBR, but remember to read Mine.Love.Always first while you wait.
Duel 1st Person POV. 5🌟 3🌶️. 125 pages
2 Spicy Scenes
I’ve read a lot of BDSM romances, in fact they’re some of my favourites to read. But what most lack is that deep level of trust and proper communication. You’re not getting that when you pick up an Avery Daal book, you’re getting an inside look into what a healthy dynamic looks like, with emotionally available and intelligent characters.
Culinary Clash was the perfect little window into what it’s like to be vulnerable and open. To want without shame, to yearn for that deeper connection that often comes with d/s dynamics, to develop a level of trust most will never experience and it’s done so beautifully.
These characters embrace their roles, they do not harbour shame for them, but instead accept who they are as individuals and together and honestly it had me choked up in parts. You can feel the love and trust they have for one another and it’s evident from the beginning that both characters are 2 halves of the same puzzle.
I fell in love with Hayley from the beginning, I love when an author acknowledges that masc presenting people can in fact be submissive and soft. Honestly I’d die for Hayley.
Culinary Clash will be released September 19th, do yourself favour and add it to your TBR, but remember to read Mine.Love.Always first while you wait.
Review of advance copy received from Author
My mind has officially been blown! To be chosen for the ARC team is an absolute pleasure because these MCs Arken(the shameless power bottom) and Hayley(the physically unexpected submissive) are so delicious together. The fact that I ate this book up like an appetizer that you order twice in one visit to your favorite restaurant because it's that good isn't even the full feeling for me. To approve this storyline is an understatement because I want more then 5 stars to be available because this was a 10s across the board novella.The connection between them with spicy encounters and lingering emotions from 4 long years of wanting has definitely created such a burst of joy within and once unleashed it was nothing but bliss that I wanted more and more of. I absolutely love when series include characters from the past and how they connect to the next and Kenzie was someone who stuck out in book 1 being the owner of Halo a minor character I would love to be the Main character(Hint,Hint). I would live to know about Tory as well and I have a little wonder about Kenzie and Tory but we can talk about that later. I hope Arken and Hayley show up again in this series I would love an update. This was a pleasant opportunity I really enjoyed it and you will as well.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I have just finished this Novella. A short story an add on to the Halo collection. A spicy BDSM collection. Arken and Hayley both have domination jobs so who will be the Domme and who the Sub? I won’t spoil it for you so read it to find out. To me what starts as a power trip quickly grows once it gets going after waiting four long years off admiring from afar. The electricity between both ignites into a very spicy relationship. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series and the added novellas.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The only word you need for this book is ARKEN! 🥵🥵
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC of this novella and absolutely loved it. It is beautifully written and the Domme/sub dynamic is done very well without leaning into any cliches.
The development of Arken and Hayley’s relationship is absolutely delicious…the spice is phenomenal and excellently written and TOTALLY in keeping with the needs you can almost palpate from both characters. An awesome novella. A binge worthy, hot AF novella - YES CHEF 😘
The development of Arken and Hayley’s relationship is absolutely delicious…the spice is phenomenal and excellently written and TOTALLY in keeping with the needs you can almost palpate from both characters. An awesome novella. A binge worthy, hot AF novella - YES CHEF 😘
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews