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Velvet Pleasures : A BDSM Romance
Rega Iduh has spent years proving she doesn’t need anyone.
As the managing director of Arali Spa and Wellness, she lives by three ambition first, control always, and to never let feelings get involved. The only men she makes room for are the ones willing to submit.
Kaobidike Davis knows he shouldn’t be falling for an employee.
Behind the polished CEO is a man who discovers freedom in surrendering control, and he wants no one but her. Patient and unwavering, he’s determined to break through the walls she’s built around herself.
But as desire turns into something deeper, Rega must decide if she’s willing to risk the one thing she’s always protected, her heart.
As the managing director of Arali Spa and Wellness, she lives by three ambition first, control always, and to never let feelings get involved. The only men she makes room for are the ones willing to submit.
Kaobidike Davis knows he shouldn’t be falling for an employee.
Behind the polished CEO is a man who discovers freedom in surrendering control, and he wants no one but her. Patient and unwavering, he’s determined to break through the walls she’s built around herself.
But as desire turns into something deeper, Rega must decide if she’s willing to risk the one thing she’s always protected, her heart.
442 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 13, 2026
*SIGHHHHHH* Where do I even start!? 😭❤️🩹
Reading this novel felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster. Rega had me going through it. This girl stressed the hell out of Kobi, my man could not catch a break🥹💔. I dey fear Rega o, she is not to be played with. It was giving invisible ´thread carefully’ signs posted whenever she would appear (that’s how I felt 😂). I’m not gonna lie, at some point I didn’t know whether to hate her or love her. That’s how conflicted Rega made me feel.
Then onto Kobi. I have read so many romance novels, but I’ve never seen a male character be this submissive over a woman. Miss author swear that Aunty Rega did not secretly give Uncle Kobi love potion, because there is no wayyy. Look up the song ‘Walk em Like a Dog’. Rega literally walked Kobi like a dog 🦮🚶🏾♀️ and despite that he was still crazy over her. Like, no matter how hard Rega pushed, he pushed back even further. Like, he fought for this girl until the very end. The amount of groveling this man did will never cease to amaze me🧎🏾♀️.
I am not ashamed to admit this but I always feel as if, of course, there should be a balance in a relationship, but the man should be the more dominant one. That is what I like, and I always choose stories with that in mind. So coming into this, I didn’t know what to expect. I never even heard of anything called Femdom before 😭. So I was really concerned about how Tonia was going to portray Kobi, a MAN, as a submissive. I don’t know how she was able to do it, but at the end Kobi was still the man that he was at the beginning. The way she told his story didn’t make me see him any less of a man 🔥🔥🔥.
Usually, I always put men into a box. So we have the good/nice guys, the bad/rebel guys, then we have a man’s man, which is a man that is able to be nice but still authentic and dominant without being excessive, a mix of the nice guy and the bad boy. But Kobi was just so many different things at once. Like, I couldn’t place him in a box. And another thing I like about Kobi, is even when he wanted to be dominant, or even when he had to show assertiveness, it wasn’t in an obsessive controlling way, you get? It wasn’t in a weird way, Tonia was able to make Kobi submissive in a way that was simply sexy without being weak.
To add, the level of communication, like the emotional maturity that came out of those arguments. Look, I think Tonia needs to start giving relationship management classes, because the way each conversation was handled maturely! Of course, there were some weird argument scenes (iykyk Rega being a brat after dinner with Kobi's mother 🤣🤣🤣), but they were always able to calm down individually then come together to have a real conversation and solve things.
Also, I’ve never been interested in Femdom before. So this novel was kind of an eye opener. Like, I didn’t know anything about it. Like bro, I’ve never read such things. The spicey scences made me so shocked and giddy 🥵😳. Like, I didn’t know how to feel. Shocked at the same time, but curious, like wanting to know more.
My favorite part of this book was not really a part, but the aura of Kobi's love for Rega 🥰. Take the scene of him crying for her, or even the scene of the surprise birthday dinner at his house, it's all in the details. The way he was checking his watch, the way he was so pressed. Like, he didn’t care about anyone. He just wanted to go get to his woman. The saying, ‘the air that you breathe.’ Like, Rega is the air that Kobi breathes, literally, figuratively. Oh my God, I want someone to love me that way. Like Rega being the only person Kobi sees and wants. I know I am gushing so much about Kobi but that is how I was able to fall in love with Rega. I love her through Kobi's point of view. His love for her makes me love her even more than I love him. Her confidence, Her excellence, Her dominance. I could just feel that sexy grown woman energy. Rega is misunderstood, even by me, but Kobi taught me to love and understand her.
I am definitely biased 🤭 (proudly) , but I’ve been reading Tonia’s novels for a while now, and I can say her writing definitely gets better with each story and I cannot wait to read more. Comming into this I was skeptial. But I really enjoyed reading Rega and Kobi's story❤️❤️❤️. I am not sure if I will read any more Femdom work, but if Miss author writes it then I will certainly read it.
Reading this novel felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster. Rega had me going through it. This girl stressed the hell out of Kobi, my man could not catch a break🥹💔. I dey fear Rega o, she is not to be played with. It was giving invisible ´thread carefully’ signs posted whenever she would appear (that’s how I felt 😂). I’m not gonna lie, at some point I didn’t know whether to hate her or love her. That’s how conflicted Rega made me feel.
Then onto Kobi. I have read so many romance novels, but I’ve never seen a male character be this submissive over a woman. Miss author swear that Aunty Rega did not secretly give Uncle Kobi love potion, because there is no wayyy. Look up the song ‘Walk em Like a Dog’. Rega literally walked Kobi like a dog 🦮🚶🏾♀️ and despite that he was still crazy over her. Like, no matter how hard Rega pushed, he pushed back even further. Like, he fought for this girl until the very end. The amount of groveling this man did will never cease to amaze me🧎🏾♀️.
I am not ashamed to admit this but I always feel as if, of course, there should be a balance in a relationship, but the man should be the more dominant one. That is what I like, and I always choose stories with that in mind. So coming into this, I didn’t know what to expect. I never even heard of anything called Femdom before 😭. So I was really concerned about how Tonia was going to portray Kobi, a MAN, as a submissive. I don’t know how she was able to do it, but at the end Kobi was still the man that he was at the beginning. The way she told his story didn’t make me see him any less of a man 🔥🔥🔥.
Usually, I always put men into a box. So we have the good/nice guys, the bad/rebel guys, then we have a man’s man, which is a man that is able to be nice but still authentic and dominant without being excessive, a mix of the nice guy and the bad boy. But Kobi was just so many different things at once. Like, I couldn’t place him in a box. And another thing I like about Kobi, is even when he wanted to be dominant, or even when he had to show assertiveness, it wasn’t in an obsessive controlling way, you get? It wasn’t in a weird way, Tonia was able to make Kobi submissive in a way that was simply sexy without being weak.
To add, the level of communication, like the emotional maturity that came out of those arguments. Look, I think Tonia needs to start giving relationship management classes, because the way each conversation was handled maturely! Of course, there were some weird argument scenes (iykyk Rega being a brat after dinner with Kobi's mother 🤣🤣🤣), but they were always able to calm down individually then come together to have a real conversation and solve things.
Also, I’ve never been interested in Femdom before. So this novel was kind of an eye opener. Like, I didn’t know anything about it. Like bro, I’ve never read such things. The spicey scences made me so shocked and giddy 🥵😳. Like, I didn’t know how to feel. Shocked at the same time, but curious, like wanting to know more.
My favorite part of this book was not really a part, but the aura of Kobi's love for Rega 🥰. Take the scene of him crying for her, or even the scene of the surprise birthday dinner at his house, it's all in the details. The way he was checking his watch, the way he was so pressed. Like, he didn’t care about anyone. He just wanted to go get to his woman. The saying, ‘the air that you breathe.’ Like, Rega is the air that Kobi breathes, literally, figuratively. Oh my God, I want someone to love me that way. Like Rega being the only person Kobi sees and wants. I know I am gushing so much about Kobi but that is how I was able to fall in love with Rega. I love her through Kobi's point of view. His love for her makes me love her even more than I love him. Her confidence, Her excellence, Her dominance. I could just feel that sexy grown woman energy. Rega is misunderstood, even by me, but Kobi taught me to love and understand her.
I am definitely biased 🤭 (proudly) , but I’ve been reading Tonia’s novels for a while now, and I can say her writing definitely gets better with each story and I cannot wait to read more. Comming into this I was skeptial. But I really enjoyed reading Rega and Kobi's story❤️❤️❤️. I am not sure if I will read any more Femdom work, but if Miss author writes it then I will certainly read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2026
Angst! Love! Spice! Happiness! Sadness! And Angst again! That was what this story was about. Rega and Kobi had me in a chokehold; I couldn't put the book down. I just had to finish it. And did it put me through it? The roller coaster of emotions that this book put me on was not small ooo.
Let's talk about the angst first. As a reader, I love me some good angst, and the angst in this book was too good Girl, I almost cried when they pushed her flowers down. My poor baby *mommy*. I don't usually like drama, but the drama in this book got me feeling like I am at the edge of a cliff. I loved it.
Love, our very next agenda! Dare I say Kobi is the greenest flag of a man that I have ever read about. His undying patience and the way he kept persevering without actually pushing too hard, even though it always ended in disappointment. Like he is the man! The man loved Rega through and through. And our mommy Rega, that woman was a lover girl in disguise; when she finally came to terms with the fact that she loved Kobi, she really pushed hard for him. I almost cried with her during that incident, iykyk. I really liked how Kobi tried to talk everything out anytime they had an argument; that really helped their relationship to develop. He was really open about how he felt, and my girl Rega really tried. I loved it. Their difference in communication was jarring, and I understood that perfectly; they both were raised in very different environments. The character development by the end was spectacular. They really worked their way around their differences.
The spice, let me tell you, was good, really good. I really liked how the BDSM dynamic was written. It wasn't all about you must do what I say, and the fact that they put the D/s dynamic aside in certain situations was refreshing to read. I also really like how the author wrote both Rega and Kobi's vulnerability during sex. Y'all just have to read this book to understand what I am saying.
I really liked their friends too; they really had their back through everything. As for Mrs Davis, I had very mixed feelings about her whilst reading.
All in all, I really liked how the characters were written! If you are looking for a book about a stoic, emotionally closed-off femme Dom and her emotionally available and very 'chalant' submissive man, then this book is for you. This was an ARC read.
Let's talk about the angst first. As a reader, I love me some good angst, and the angst in this book was too good Girl, I almost cried when they pushed her flowers down. My poor baby *mommy*. I don't usually like drama, but the drama in this book got me feeling like I am at the edge of a cliff. I loved it.
Love, our very next agenda! Dare I say Kobi is the greenest flag of a man that I have ever read about. His undying patience and the way he kept persevering without actually pushing too hard, even though it always ended in disappointment. Like he is the man! The man loved Rega through and through. And our mommy Rega, that woman was a lover girl in disguise; when she finally came to terms with the fact that she loved Kobi, she really pushed hard for him. I almost cried with her during that incident, iykyk. I really liked how Kobi tried to talk everything out anytime they had an argument; that really helped their relationship to develop. He was really open about how he felt, and my girl Rega really tried. I loved it. Their difference in communication was jarring, and I understood that perfectly; they both were raised in very different environments. The character development by the end was spectacular. They really worked their way around their differences.
The spice, let me tell you, was good, really good. I really liked how the BDSM dynamic was written. It wasn't all about you must do what I say, and the fact that they put the D/s dynamic aside in certain situations was refreshing to read. I also really like how the author wrote both Rega and Kobi's vulnerability during sex. Y'all just have to read this book to understand what I am saying.
I really liked their friends too; they really had their back through everything. As for Mrs Davis, I had very mixed feelings about her whilst reading.
All in all, I really liked how the characters were written! If you are looking for a book about a stoic, emotionally closed-off femme Dom and her emotionally available and very 'chalant' submissive man, then this book is for you. This was an ARC read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review: Velvet Pleasures by Tonia Obiajulum
Rating: ★★★ 4.5/5
Vibe: Power suits. Whiskey. And tension so thick you could taste it.
Tonia didn’t write a book. She poured gasoline and struck a match.
Rega Iduh runs Arali Spa and Wellness like a queen.
Ambition first. Control always. Feelings? Not in her budget.
The only men she entertains are the ones who know how to submit.
Enter Kaobidike Davis.
CEO. Her boss’s boss. Off-limits.
Behind the tailored suits is a man who’s tired of being in charge... and he only wants to surrender to her.
Chapter One had me fuming, then fanning myself.
Rega gets blamed for Kobi’s mistake and marches out boiling.
Cut to later: one glass of whiskey. No questions asked.
"Drink."
He does. In one burning gulp. Because when Rega looks at you like that, you obey.
Then she leans in, head tilted, and asks the one question that broke me:
"What about me is so attractive to you?"
The office politics. The forbidden pull. The way Kobi is patient and unwavering while Rega fights to keep her walls up... baby, this is addictive.
What I’m obsessed with:
1. Rega - Fiery, brilliant, and done taking blame for men. A boss who doesn’t need saving.
2. Kobi..He shouldn’t want her. He does anyway. And he’s willing to wait.
3. The Tension..That whiskey scene? That eye contact? Tonia writes desire like it’s a weapon.
Velvet Pleasures is messy, electric, and dangerously good. It’s about risking the one thing you swore to protect your heart for the one person you were never supposed to want.
If you like workplace power plays, slow burns with bite, and heroines who run the room, add this to your list.
Thank you for the ARC ❤️ Velvet Pleasures drops September 14, 2026 and I’m not responsible for what it does to you.
Rating: ★★★ 4.5/5
Vibe: Power suits. Whiskey. And tension so thick you could taste it.
Tonia didn’t write a book. She poured gasoline and struck a match.
Rega Iduh runs Arali Spa and Wellness like a queen.
Ambition first. Control always. Feelings? Not in her budget.
The only men she entertains are the ones who know how to submit.
Enter Kaobidike Davis.
CEO. Her boss’s boss. Off-limits.
Behind the tailored suits is a man who’s tired of being in charge... and he only wants to surrender to her.
Chapter One had me fuming, then fanning myself.
Rega gets blamed for Kobi’s mistake and marches out boiling.
Cut to later: one glass of whiskey. No questions asked.
"Drink."
He does. In one burning gulp. Because when Rega looks at you like that, you obey.
Then she leans in, head tilted, and asks the one question that broke me:
"What about me is so attractive to you?"
The office politics. The forbidden pull. The way Kobi is patient and unwavering while Rega fights to keep her walls up... baby, this is addictive.
What I’m obsessed with:
1. Rega - Fiery, brilliant, and done taking blame for men. A boss who doesn’t need saving.
2. Kobi..He shouldn’t want her. He does anyway. And he’s willing to wait.
3. The Tension..That whiskey scene? That eye contact? Tonia writes desire like it’s a weapon.
Velvet Pleasures is messy, electric, and dangerously good. It’s about risking the one thing you swore to protect your heart for the one person you were never supposed to want.
If you like workplace power plays, slow burns with bite, and heroines who run the room, add this to your list.
Thank you for the ARC ❤️ Velvet Pleasures drops September 14, 2026 and I’m not responsible for what it does to you.
September 11, 2026
I received Velvet Pleasures as an ARC and this was definitely a ride.
Kobi and Rega work together at Arali Spa and Wellness, with Rega as the MD and Kobi as the CEO, and somehow what starts off as something casual turns into something with WAY too many feelings involved. 😂
Because Kobi??? That man was finished. Absolutely finished. The way he loved Rega and was willing to do anything for her had me smiling.
And Rega was the complete opposite. This woman had WALLS. She was guarded and clearly had a lot going on emotionally, so watching her navigate her feelings for Kobi was interesting. That being said, Rega annoyed me several times with some of her decisions and takes.
The chemistry between these two is definitely chemistrying
There was so much yearning and tension between them, and I really enjoyed how the relationship gradually became more than just something casual.
I also really liked how Tonia explored the BDSM aspect of the story. It was handled delicately, and I loved that it didn’t completely take over the romance. There was a nice balance between the BDSM elements and the softer, more emotional kind of love between Kobi and Rega.
The writing was rich, the romance was steamy, and there was enough emotional depth to keep it from being just spice.
Overall, this was a solid read for me. ❤️
If you love office romances, yearning MMCs, guarded FMCs, lots of tension and a good amount of spice, definitely give Velvet Pleasures a try.
And Kobi… I need men to start loving their women like this because WHAT WAS THAT LEVEL OF DEVOTION?
Thank you Tonia for the ARC!
Kobi and Rega work together at Arali Spa and Wellness, with Rega as the MD and Kobi as the CEO, and somehow what starts off as something casual turns into something with WAY too many feelings involved. 😂
Because Kobi??? That man was finished. Absolutely finished. The way he loved Rega and was willing to do anything for her had me smiling.
And Rega was the complete opposite. This woman had WALLS. She was guarded and clearly had a lot going on emotionally, so watching her navigate her feelings for Kobi was interesting. That being said, Rega annoyed me several times with some of her decisions and takes.
The chemistry between these two is definitely chemistrying
There was so much yearning and tension between them, and I really enjoyed how the relationship gradually became more than just something casual.
I also really liked how Tonia explored the BDSM aspect of the story. It was handled delicately, and I loved that it didn’t completely take over the romance. There was a nice balance between the BDSM elements and the softer, more emotional kind of love between Kobi and Rega.
The writing was rich, the romance was steamy, and there was enough emotional depth to keep it from being just spice.
Overall, this was a solid read for me. ❤️
If you love office romances, yearning MMCs, guarded FMCs, lots of tension and a good amount of spice, definitely give Velvet Pleasures a try.
And Kobi… I need men to start loving their women like this because WHAT WAS THAT LEVEL OF DEVOTION?
Thank you Tonia for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
When I tell people about my fantasies they’re always like “How can a woman think like that?” “Which man would allow you do that?” “You want to do that to a man?”
So I’ve always been used to keeping that part of me aside
When I received the ARC copy of this book I didn’t know if I wanted to read it anymore
To be very honest, I didn’t check the blurb or anything. I just requested for a copy
I eventually started reading it and I couldn’t stop nor hold myself back
Rega is a dominant woman who’s always soft but use the dominant part of her to cover it up
Kobi didn’t know he was a submissive till he met Rega and even then he always wanted to protect her
What I can say is if you don’t like this dynamic I’d advise you not to read it because it’ll irk you out and you’ll judge us who actually like it and no we don’t want that
But if you know that this is your kind of thing
You like seeing women confident and bold then yes
You absolutely have to read it
I don’t rate books based on stars
I just tell you how much I love them
And I absolutely adored this book
So I’ve always been used to keeping that part of me aside
When I received the ARC copy of this book I didn’t know if I wanted to read it anymore
To be very honest, I didn’t check the blurb or anything. I just requested for a copy
I eventually started reading it and I couldn’t stop nor hold myself back
Rega is a dominant woman who’s always soft but use the dominant part of her to cover it up
Kobi didn’t know he was a submissive till he met Rega and even then he always wanted to protect her
What I can say is if you don’t like this dynamic I’d advise you not to read it because it’ll irk you out and you’ll judge us who actually like it and no we don’t want that
But if you know that this is your kind of thing
You like seeing women confident and bold then yes
You absolutely have to read it
I don’t rate books based on stars
I just tell you how much I love them
And I absolutely adored this book
September 14, 2026
Oterega!!! The woman who gave me headache through and through!
Kaobidike!! The man that you are!! The man that was willing to give his entire being to the woman he loved!
I loved every single thing about this book! My goodness!!! The heat! The tension and the devotion from both characters! The story explores a unique and complex relationship dynamic in the sexual aspect and it gave everything it was supposed to give! Kudos to the writer! I love the office shenanigans side too, and how it showed that perfectionism has its own limits, seeing how Rega was caught in the middle of such a fraud despite how competent she is.
I have so many things to say! But the book came with a magnet that I didn’t even understand, I couldn’t stop reading till I got to the last page!
Kaobidike!! The man that you are!! The man that was willing to give his entire being to the woman he loved!
I loved every single thing about this book! My goodness!!! The heat! The tension and the devotion from both characters! The story explores a unique and complex relationship dynamic in the sexual aspect and it gave everything it was supposed to give! Kudos to the writer! I love the office shenanigans side too, and how it showed that perfectionism has its own limits, seeing how Rega was caught in the middle of such a fraud despite how competent she is.
I have so many things to say! But the book came with a magnet that I didn’t even understand, I couldn’t stop reading till I got to the last page!
September 15, 2026
I started this book as an eARC copy.
Before reading this ARC I read the previous two books to get a feel for the series. The previous two were loosely related to this book so it was good to see characters from the previous books. Rega’s (FMC) character took some getting used to but as the book went on you started to understand why she was the way she was and I thought the author did a great job in opening up the character. As for Kobi… one thing for sure that man loved Rega and would’ve done ANYTHING for her. I really enjoyed how this story played out and it was an enjoyable read getting to know these characters.
Before reading this ARC I read the previous two books to get a feel for the series. The previous two were loosely related to this book so it was good to see characters from the previous books. Rega’s (FMC) character took some getting used to but as the book went on you started to understand why she was the way she was and I thought the author did a great job in opening up the character. As for Kobi… one thing for sure that man loved Rega and would’ve done ANYTHING for her. I really enjoyed how this story played out and it was an enjoyable read getting to know these characters.
September 15, 2026
This was my first introduction to this author, and I can tell you for free, this book was a ride!
I started this book just to read the first chapter, but was so drawn in from the jump that I couldn’t wait to get back from an event to keep reading.
I liked both characters, and I absolutely enjoyed it.
If you enjoy books that explore femdon, and adult toys with a lot of spice, this book is for you.
I started this book just to read the first chapter, but was so drawn in from the jump that I couldn’t wait to get back from an event to keep reading.
I liked both characters, and I absolutely enjoyed it.
If you enjoy books that explore femdon, and adult toys with a lot of spice, this book is for you.
October 14, 2026
As someone who really loves femdom, I always wondered how it would be like reading a book set in Nigeria and VELVET PLEASURES did not disappoint.
I loved the dynamic among Kobi and Rega.
Kobi is such a man, Rega is the woman I thrive to be.
Was given an opportunity to be an arc reader and I am so grateful.
Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read this book and introducing me to characters I will be obsessed with for quite a while.
I loved the dynamic among Kobi and Rega.
Kobi is such a man, Rega is the woman I thrive to be.
Was given an opportunity to be an arc reader and I am so grateful.
Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read this book and introducing me to characters I will be obsessed with for quite a while.
October 1, 2026
Velvet Pleasures is an office romance that follows Rega, a managing director at Arali Spa, who would rather fight the entire world than let anyone tell her what to do. But when she falls for the one man she never imagined falling for, she discovers that letting someone love her might be her biggest challenge yet.
What I loved most about this book was the contrast between the two main characters. Rega Iduh is confident, blunt, stubborn and knows exactly what she wants. I loved that she was unapologetically herself but goodness, this woman tested my patience!! 😭
Kaobidike Davis (Kobi), on the other hand, is such a sweetheart. He's confident, intentional and damn, he definitely knows how to command a boardroom, but when it comes to Rega... He's completely willing to let her take the lead.
His thoughtfulness, little gestures and his willingness to sacrifice so much for her made me appreciate him even more.
The side characters added so much to the story as well. Mrs. Davis stood out the most to me; her reaction to Rega and Kobi's relationship felt so real and so relatable, and I really loved that the author gave her room to grow rather than making her just an obstacle.
Ola, Bobby, Kunle, Dele, Awele and Anita also played their own quiet but important roles in how things unfolded.
And let's not forget Mr. Duru and Folarin, who were both good reminders that not everyone smiling in your face is happy for you and some people are just pretending while waiting for their chance to bring you down.
Rega and Kobi's relationship frustrated me, made me laugh, and eventually gave me the satisfaction I was hoping for. Rega was so guarded and resistant to love that I sometimes wondered how much more Kobi could take, but seeing her finally let her walls down and admit how much she loved him was so rewarding.
I also loved how intentional Kobi was about loving her even when she made it difficult. My only issue was that I sometimes found his willingness to put up with her treatment of him a little too much. 😂
The book explores themes of reversed power dynamics, emotional guardedness, vulnerability, and intense BDSM dynamics.
Overall, this was an entertaining and emotional office romance that took me on quite a ride. It definitely requires some patience, especially at the beginning but watching Rega's character development and seeing their relationship evolve made it worth it for me. I loved that the story gave us a different dynamic from the usual romance, where the man is always the one taking charge. ❤️
So, if you're a fan of dominant heroines, devoted men who never give up and a love that flips the usual script; then this is your cue to read Velvet Pleasures.
What I loved most about this book was the contrast between the two main characters. Rega Iduh is confident, blunt, stubborn and knows exactly what she wants. I loved that she was unapologetically herself but goodness, this woman tested my patience!! 😭
Kaobidike Davis (Kobi), on the other hand, is such a sweetheart. He's confident, intentional and damn, he definitely knows how to command a boardroom, but when it comes to Rega... He's completely willing to let her take the lead.
His thoughtfulness, little gestures and his willingness to sacrifice so much for her made me appreciate him even more.
The side characters added so much to the story as well. Mrs. Davis stood out the most to me; her reaction to Rega and Kobi's relationship felt so real and so relatable, and I really loved that the author gave her room to grow rather than making her just an obstacle.
Ola, Bobby, Kunle, Dele, Awele and Anita also played their own quiet but important roles in how things unfolded.
And let's not forget Mr. Duru and Folarin, who were both good reminders that not everyone smiling in your face is happy for you and some people are just pretending while waiting for their chance to bring you down.
Rega and Kobi's relationship frustrated me, made me laugh, and eventually gave me the satisfaction I was hoping for. Rega was so guarded and resistant to love that I sometimes wondered how much more Kobi could take, but seeing her finally let her walls down and admit how much she loved him was so rewarding.
I also loved how intentional Kobi was about loving her even when she made it difficult. My only issue was that I sometimes found his willingness to put up with her treatment of him a little too much. 😂
The book explores themes of reversed power dynamics, emotional guardedness, vulnerability, and intense BDSM dynamics.
Overall, this was an entertaining and emotional office romance that took me on quite a ride. It definitely requires some patience, especially at the beginning but watching Rega's character development and seeing their relationship evolve made it worth it for me. I loved that the story gave us a different dynamic from the usual romance, where the man is always the one taking charge. ❤️
So, if you're a fan of dominant heroines, devoted men who never give up and a love that flips the usual script; then this is your cue to read Velvet Pleasures.
October 7, 2026
BOOK REVIEW ❤️🔥📚
VELVET PLEASURES by Tonia Obiajulum Okonji
An older woman, a younger man, workplace romance, and a woman who likes to be in control? Omo, I was seated!
Velvet Pleasures follows a woman Rega who works at a company owned by her younger lover, Kobi’s mother. She’s assigned to guide him through the business, but things take an unexpected turn when he develops feelings for her.
Our girl isn’t looking for a relationship, and she definitely knows what she wants. She likes being in control, prefers to dominate her men, and isn’t interested in catching feelings. So, they settle into a friends-with-benefits arrangement.
But you know how these things go, right? Feelings eventually enter the chat!
NOW, THIS AGE-GAP ROMANCE!
I found the dynamic between the older woman and younger man interesting, especially because she wasn’t the typical woman waiting for a man to come and sweep her off her feet. She had her own preferences, knew what she wanted, and wasn’t afraid to take charge.
But falling in love when you’ve already convinced yourself that you don’t want a relationship? That’s a different ball game entirely!
THE FEMDOM?
I liked that the story explored a relationship dynamic where the woman preferred taking control. It added something different to the romance, and I was curious to see how their arrangement would evolve once feelings became involved.
AND THE FAMILY DRAMA!
His mother finding out about their relationship and refusing to accept her because she was older than her son? Ah! As if love wasn’t complicated enough already!
The workplace setting also added another layer to the story, with professional responsibilities, unexpected challenges, and the difficulty of navigating a relationship when your personal and professional lives overlap.
One thing I found interesting was the struggle between wanting to remain in control and allowing yourself to be vulnerable. Sometimes, it’s easier to insist that you don’t want love than to admit that you’ve found someone who makes you want to take that risk.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Velvet Pleasures gave me age-gap romance, workplace tension, family drama, and a woman who wasn’t planning to fall in love but had to confront the possibility of it anyway.
VELVET PLEASURES by Tonia Obiajulum Okonji
An older woman, a younger man, workplace romance, and a woman who likes to be in control? Omo, I was seated!
Velvet Pleasures follows a woman Rega who works at a company owned by her younger lover, Kobi’s mother. She’s assigned to guide him through the business, but things take an unexpected turn when he develops feelings for her.
Our girl isn’t looking for a relationship, and she definitely knows what she wants. She likes being in control, prefers to dominate her men, and isn’t interested in catching feelings. So, they settle into a friends-with-benefits arrangement.
But you know how these things go, right? Feelings eventually enter the chat!
NOW, THIS AGE-GAP ROMANCE!
I found the dynamic between the older woman and younger man interesting, especially because she wasn’t the typical woman waiting for a man to come and sweep her off her feet. She had her own preferences, knew what she wanted, and wasn’t afraid to take charge.
But falling in love when you’ve already convinced yourself that you don’t want a relationship? That’s a different ball game entirely!
THE FEMDOM?
I liked that the story explored a relationship dynamic where the woman preferred taking control. It added something different to the romance, and I was curious to see how their arrangement would evolve once feelings became involved.
AND THE FAMILY DRAMA!
His mother finding out about their relationship and refusing to accept her because she was older than her son? Ah! As if love wasn’t complicated enough already!
The workplace setting also added another layer to the story, with professional responsibilities, unexpected challenges, and the difficulty of navigating a relationship when your personal and professional lives overlap.
One thing I found interesting was the struggle between wanting to remain in control and allowing yourself to be vulnerable. Sometimes, it’s easier to insist that you don’t want love than to admit that you’ve found someone who makes you want to take that risk.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Velvet Pleasures gave me age-gap romance, workplace tension, family drama, and a woman who wasn’t planning to fall in love but had to confront the possibility of it anyway.
October 30, 2026
ARC Review ✨
I had a slow start with this one. For some reason, I just couldn’t get into it fast enough, and I honestly wondered if it was going to become one of those books I would struggle to finish. But somewhere along the way, Kobi and Rega grew on me BIG TIME. 😂
I loved that there were layers to the characters, which makes it easier to gradually understand their individuality and everything influencing their decisions. Rega is fierce, independent and, at the beginning, I honestly thought she was doing TOO much. 😂 She had built such a strong wall around herself that some of her actions initially felt excessive to me. But as the story progressed and I got to understand her better, I started seeing where some of those attributes came from. Her fierceness, independence and guarded nature were, in many ways, mechanisms she had developed to protect herself.
Then there’s Kobi. The level of devotion this man had for Rega has to be studied. 😂 Because despite how badly Rega treated him at the beginning, this man simply refused to relent. He kept showing up, kept trying and somehow continued to believe there was something worth fighting for between them.
Their relationship had its frustrating moments, its sweet moments and quite a few moments that had me questioning both of them. 😂
In all, the story has a good sense of emotional readability, the character development feels organic and the plot is well paced.
If you are a lover of reverse age gap and workplace romance, this might just be for you 💕
I had a slow start with this one. For some reason, I just couldn’t get into it fast enough, and I honestly wondered if it was going to become one of those books I would struggle to finish. But somewhere along the way, Kobi and Rega grew on me BIG TIME. 😂
I loved that there were layers to the characters, which makes it easier to gradually understand their individuality and everything influencing their decisions. Rega is fierce, independent and, at the beginning, I honestly thought she was doing TOO much. 😂 She had built such a strong wall around herself that some of her actions initially felt excessive to me. But as the story progressed and I got to understand her better, I started seeing where some of those attributes came from. Her fierceness, independence and guarded nature were, in many ways, mechanisms she had developed to protect herself.
Then there’s Kobi. The level of devotion this man had for Rega has to be studied. 😂 Because despite how badly Rega treated him at the beginning, this man simply refused to relent. He kept showing up, kept trying and somehow continued to believe there was something worth fighting for between them.
Their relationship had its frustrating moments, its sweet moments and quite a few moments that had me questioning both of them. 😂
In all, the story has a good sense of emotional readability, the character development feels organic and the plot is well paced.
If you are a lover of reverse age gap and workplace romance, this might just be for you 💕
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book had me feeling SO many emotions.😭
Kobi and Rega’s relationship was honestly a rollercoaster. Kobi was always chasing after his woman, and the amount of grovelling this man did?? But at the same time, you could really see how deeply he loved her and how determined he was not to give up on their relationship. Even if our madam say she no want relationship😂
Now, Rega ehn, this woman annoyed me SO much sometimes 😂. There were moments when I genuinely wanted to shake some sense into her. But the more I got to know about her past and the trauma she had experienced,the more I understood her. Her actions weren't always easy to agree with, but her character had depth, and her trauma clearly shaped the way she viewed love and trust and commitment
I also really enjoyed the darker, more intense side of their relationship. The BDSM elements added another layer to their dynamic and made their relationship feel complicated, intense, and emotionally charged. The book opened my eyes to BDSM the way I never thought it could, I mean!!! The link is kinking😂
Overall, Kobi was giving “I will chase my woman until she finally believes that I love her” 😂, while Rega was giving “I have the heart of still, you can't break my walls down.”
My most hated character in this book was Folarin, Man had me pissed in the short time he appeared
Finally Kobi and Rega had me stressed like their lives depended on it
Obiajulum my author thank you for this ❤️
Kobi and Rega’s relationship was honestly a rollercoaster. Kobi was always chasing after his woman, and the amount of grovelling this man did?? But at the same time, you could really see how deeply he loved her and how determined he was not to give up on their relationship. Even if our madam say she no want relationship😂
Now, Rega ehn, this woman annoyed me SO much sometimes 😂. There were moments when I genuinely wanted to shake some sense into her. But the more I got to know about her past and the trauma she had experienced,the more I understood her. Her actions weren't always easy to agree with, but her character had depth, and her trauma clearly shaped the way she viewed love and trust and commitment
I also really enjoyed the darker, more intense side of their relationship. The BDSM elements added another layer to their dynamic and made their relationship feel complicated, intense, and emotionally charged. The book opened my eyes to BDSM the way I never thought it could, I mean!!! The link is kinking😂
Overall, Kobi was giving “I will chase my woman until she finally believes that I love her” 😂, while Rega was giving “I have the heart of still, you can't break my walls down.”
My most hated character in this book was Folarin, Man had me pissed in the short time he appeared
Finally Kobi and Rega had me stressed like their lives depended on it
Obiajulum my author thank you for this ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2026
This book took me a little outside my usual reading preferences!
Velvet Pleasures explores a different relationship dynamic, and while it wasn't entirely what I'd typically pick up to read, I found the story interesting. Rega is a woman who has spent years prioritising control and protecting her heart, while Kaobidike knows what he wants and isn't afraid to go after it.
I appreciated how patient and intentional Kaobidike was with Rega, even when she struggled to let her guard down. At times, I found myself wishing she would stop fighting her feelings and give love a chance. But seeing her eventually open her heart to him made the ending satisfying for me. And when Rega finally fell in love, she fell HARD!
Overall, this was an interesting read that introduced me to a romantic dynamic I don't typically gravitate towards. Although not every aspect worked for me personally, I enjoyed seeing how their story unfolded.
Thank you to the author for the ARC copy. This is my honest opinion.
Velvet Pleasures explores a different relationship dynamic, and while it wasn't entirely what I'd typically pick up to read, I found the story interesting. Rega is a woman who has spent years prioritising control and protecting her heart, while Kaobidike knows what he wants and isn't afraid to go after it.
I appreciated how patient and intentional Kaobidike was with Rega, even when she struggled to let her guard down. At times, I found myself wishing she would stop fighting her feelings and give love a chance. But seeing her eventually open her heart to him made the ending satisfying for me. And when Rega finally fell in love, she fell HARD!
Overall, this was an interesting read that introduced me to a romantic dynamic I don't typically gravitate towards. Although not every aspect worked for me personally, I enjoyed seeing how their story unfolded.
Thank you to the author for the ARC copy. This is my honest opinion.
October 8, 2026
This was an enjoyable read for me. I read the ARC and I was highly impressed. It’s beautiful how love and patience can break even the highest walls.
Rega thought she was good on her own, loved the control, the fear and all till Kobi came and made her see things differently. You could want control but still allow yourself to be loved and be happy.
A beautiful blend of spice, bdsm reps, love and standing up for the person you love.
This isn’t a cute love story, it’s a bold one and I loved it.
Rega thought she was good on her own, loved the control, the fear and all till Kobi came and made her see things differently. You could want control but still allow yourself to be loved and be happy.
A beautiful blend of spice, bdsm reps, love and standing up for the person you love.
This isn’t a cute love story, it’s a bold one and I loved it.
September 21, 2026
This was such an interesting read, I didn't even want it to end! Rega and Kobi... what an interesting, unusual, but beautiful love story. I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment spent reading this book.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Love, control and a kinking kink? Thereee!
September 22, 2026
Velvet Pleasures ❤️🔥
There are so many things I loved about this book, but the FMC stood out to me.
She was such a strong character and always loved being in charge in every way. 😜 She was the perfect boss lady, business minded, confident, and strict about everything. Ohhhh Regaa, take all my money! 😂
I dislike weak FMCs, so having a woman who knew exactly what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to take charge made this book even more enjoyable for me. She’s definitely one FMC I’ll remember.
If you love spice, reverse age gap romance, billionaire romance, and office romance, then you should definitely pick this one up.
There are so many things I loved about this book, but the FMC stood out to me.
She was such a strong character and always loved being in charge in every way. 😜 She was the perfect boss lady, business minded, confident, and strict about everything. Ohhhh Regaa, take all my money! 😂
I dislike weak FMCs, so having a woman who knew exactly what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to take charge made this book even more enjoyable for me. She’s definitely one FMC I’ll remember.
If you love spice, reverse age gap romance, billionaire romance, and office romance, then you should definitely pick this one up.
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