Muffin Top

Capricorn Cove #3

by Evie Mitchell

Honey
For years my momma's been at me to lose some extra pounds. To shape up, slim down and look like the pageant queen she'd always wished me to be. But everyone knows the best part of the muffin is the top – and baby, I'm delicious as I am.

I hadn't planned on running into my high school crush at a Halloween party while dressed as a cupcake. One glance and I was ready for my high school crush to take a bite. Pity Sheriff Tristan Rodriguez avoided baked goods like the plague...

Tristan
Returning to the small town I'd left behind hadn't exactly been in my life plan. Also not on the plan? Becoming the town's most eligible bachelor. I now had more offers for baked goods and home cooked dinners than I'd ever need. I hadn't been tempted to taste even one until I ran into my high school crush, Honey Jameson. The curvy siren looked good enough to eat.

Now she's on my mind and all I can think about is how to get one little lick. But the thing is, after one taste? I want to devour her whole.

Warning: This marshmallow-y piece of cotton candy sexiness involves a good boy ready to go bad, a curvy woman loving her body, and a fulfilling of some high school wet dreams. Get thee a good guy (or a bad one), maybe a rich chocolate muffin or three and settle in – this second-chance story will literally burn your sheets.

Genres: Romance, Novella, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance, Plus Size, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers

69 pages, ebook

First published November 5, 2019

About the author

USA Today bestselling romance author. Evie Mitchell, delivers steamy, inclusive, body-positive romance filled with heat, heart, and happily ever afters.

Evie lives with her husband, their sausage dog, and an ever-growing collection of book-related mugs. When she's not writing, Evie loves curling up in the sun with an excellent book and a cup of tea.

You can find her at @EvieMitchellAuthor on all socials or EvieMitchell.com

Reviews

[*CJ* · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Muffin Top" is the story of Honey and Tristan.

A second chance romance between a confident curvy heroine and a virgin nice-man hero. They had a mutual crush in high school, but never got around to expressing their feelings. They meet again in an almost disaster, court each other, some flirting happens which culminates into sex and eventual HEA.

Umm..just bored me.

Unsafe
2/5

[Floripiquita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Me gusta que todas las novellas de esta serie fomenten el body positive y... hasta ahí. Las historias son un pim pam pum fuera muy básico, muy superficiales y para nada memorables, como ocurre con esta historia. Llevo tres libros de esta serie y me gustaron más los dos que leí de la serie Thor’s Shipbuilding.

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

Honey and Tristan have know eachother since wayyy back they were sorta friends in high school.. and Both had crushes on each other but both were to nervous to go after what they wanted.

Fast forward years later Honey is enjoying halloween and heading back home when she's hit by a drunk driver she is helped by her long time crush Tristan who just came back into town and has every single woman wanting him(he doesnt even pay attention to any one beside honey) . Both are still head over eachother when they keep in touch after the hit and run, they even get steamy in one of her massage rooms.

Their relationship moves fast and both finally confessing how they felt in high school.  Now they have to deal with Honey's snob parents..

We also got some hints of the past book couples :) i cant wait to see whos next in this town!!
I did have some eh moments like why did the parents not like honey? Was it just because she was bigger?

No ow/om drama, no cheating, slight zeco dary charas, Tiny drama, sexy times, Virgin guy no virgin girl

Recommend- yes
Cover-⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Slowish-insta
Mentions of fat shaming/bullying
Safe
Second chance
No condom
Hea
Epilogue

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: 4
Length: Novella
POV: Dual
Series: Capricorn Cove Book 3
Ending: HEA
Re-read? Yes

"My woman was all curves and charisma wrapped in a beautiful, loving bow. It might seem fast, but I wanted to put a ring on her finger, a baby in her belly, and a hickey on her neck. I wanted to mark her as mine. How does she feel about tattoos?"

Holy Hotness! If you like some dominating, dark, and rough sex you'll enjoy this short read. I really liked how Tristan is this super nice, mild guy in everyday life but he has this dark side of himself. I feel like that's more realistic than these guys that just walk around and are dominate 100% of the time inside and outside the bedroom. The plot is fine, it's simple, but you read this for the hot alpha dominating sexy man that is Tristan!

[Joscelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 rounded up to a 2 for goodreads.

Cringe everywhere. I think I passed away.

[Plus Size Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no business starting this book after midnight but I figured I could find a stopping point before going to bed. Apparently the stopping point was the end.

I absolutely love Honey. She's confident, comfortable, intelligent, extra, and funny af. I'd love to be her friend. I hated that her mom was such a bitch. But the description of emotional vampire was sport on.

Tristan is everything that I want and need. Mr. Nice guy with a dark side. Yeah, I can get down with that. His love is unconditional, he's a protective alpha, and a fierce lover. I highlighted the shit out of his POV and sent it to my husband. Take notes cause this is the type of love I want/need.

Can we make this into a Netflix movie staring Nicholas Gonzalez???

[Maria Rios · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es una historia realmente corta. Ella es una chicas muy agusto con su cuerpo, tiene una madre que es realmente una arpía y la crítica por su peso. Llega el amor a ella de la mano de Tristán, con quién puede se ella misma. A veces el problema del peso hace mella en nuestra autoestima y no nos deja ser felices. Está historia te demuestra que la actitud lo es todos y que te puedes llevar el mundo con esos kilos de más. La fuerza está en ti y si consigues ese compañero que sabe elevarte aún más e impulsarte serás imparable.

[abire · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars.

anyway.

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this series and how fun each book is! MUFFIN TOP features the hot new sheriff Tristan Rodriguez that we briefly met in the last book and physical therapist Honey Jameson. As teenagers they both had crushes on each other but both were too nervous to ever say anything. Now they get their chance and it was sweet and hot and fun. I also loved the way that Tristan stood up for Honey in front of her parents and demanded the respect she deserved.

Content Warning: parental fat shaming (countered)

[Ellie Aba · Rating 1 out of 5]

I knew what I was getting into when I saw the description for this book on a book rec Instagram but I just felt like changing it up from my usual taste in books. I miss the time when I hadn’t read this book.
It’s not that the content itself is bad… tbh it was cute. it’s just that the writing style was very cringe and very Wattpad. Which I guess makes sense given that this book was a lot shorter than I thought. (75 pages) (take notes fantasy authors)
If you’re into cheesy romances then I’m sure this book is your taste but it wasn’t for me. Time to find a new fantasy book to obsess over.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about her curvy girl and her hot Sheriff. Honey and Tristan were friends from high school and run into each other years later when she gets rear ended on Halloween.

Tristan decides to make his move on Honey after seeing again. Their relationship blossoms and we soon learn that the Sheriff is a virgin with a dominant streak.

Honey's obnoxious mom cannot thwart their relationship and they end up with their HEA.

The heat level for this story was 🔥🔥🔥. I would definitely recommend for fans of quick, hot, bbw romance stories.

[Alvina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its a novella, easy read. Its own special genre really so I should rate it on a different scale.
Cute characters, all her books tie into the same town I think. Something to read when you just want fluff and to shut your mind off.

[Natasha's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muffin Top was cute. Another plus sized heroine that falls quickly for and beds the new Sheriff in town. They went to school together and soon realized after hooking up that they both had crushes on each other in the past. I enjoyed the characters and storyline.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 🌟

Cute novella! Crushed on each other as kids but he moved away for college and has just returned to town. Had a bit of cringe factor but overall it was tolerable.

Safety:
- h not a virgin; no recent history provided
- H is a virgin, never touched another woman before
- No ow or om drama

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Sara]

Okay. This wasn't as good. Book one so far was the best. I think three is my limit and I'm taking a break.

[Athena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bruh. Of course the cop would be a virgin. 2 stars bc ACAB includes this psycho. Honey was cool though.

[Mélody Bourgeault · Rating 2 out of 5]

C’était mon moins pref à date! 😅

[Madalena Pereira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really sweet ahaha

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

TW: Fat shaming/fat phobia (from heroine's family)

Other than absolutely hating the heroine's name (Honey), I actually sort of liked this one. I really liked that the script was flipped and the hero was a virgin. I know I talk a lot of crap when it comes to female characters being virgins, so this may seem that I'm the one being a little sexist. But really it's just that we see so many "manwhore" characters that I find it absolutely refreshing that here we have a hero who doesn't think with his dick.

I enjoyed Tristan and Honey's background. They went to high school together. Each had crushed on the other one, but neither realized their feelings were reciprocated. They meet back up, years later and the attraction is still there.

Honey is pretty adorable. And Tristen is pretty much a perfect book boyfriend.

I felt the chemistry between these two. And, because I liked BOTH characters, it was pretty easy to root for their HEA.

[Kristen Lindtvedt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Smart, Deliciously Sexy & Endearing Holiday Read...

Evie Mitchell describes her BBW holiday romance short, "Muffin Top", as a "...marshmallow-y piece of cotton candy sexiness [involving] a good boy ready to go bad..." And, well, this over the top, second chance love story, is most definitely that and so much more! This tale about Honey, a fiesty, decorations obsessed, physical therapist, and her highschool crush, Tristan, a cop returning to town after a decade away to take over as sherriff. A sheriff who, unbeknownst to Honey, has a crush on her in return and harbors a sexy, dominating dark side. It's a panty melting, deliciously sexy, sassy, yet almost poignant story about lost love found again. As well as, a tale about having the courage to admit to the one you love what you really desire in the bedroom no matter how devilish. 

Oh-boy is this one a yummy, yummy read! And after being disappointed by her last book, I thankfully found this one to be a joyous return to the smart and thoughtful writing I've come to love from Evie Mitchell!

"Muffin Top" is light-hearted, yet sentimental. It tugs at your sense of honor and makes you aware that true family isn't always blood. Honey and Tristan are driven, secure in themselves both individually and together, and emotionally intelligent. Something that is uniquely Mitchell and again a refreshing change from the normally shallow characters so often found in smutty shorts like this. As with many of her book characters, Mitchell here again pens a female protagonist who is strong, independent, and successful. She writes a male lead who is every bit his women's equal, and together Tristan and Honey are a force of nature!

My only wish for this story? I wish it were longer! I would have LOVED a more in-depth exploration of Tristan's "devilish side" dominance, as well as, Honey's autoerotic asphyxiation desire. A broader view of what happens with her parents, as well as, a more in depth look at how everyone in Capricorn Cove overlaps and connects. I love how Mitchell threads bits of her seaside town into each book she writes. I loved returning to Ella's Bronze Horseman, and Drake and Dane's Adventure Place here. I loved the intricate layering of her story landscape and all the characters within it and could honestly read dozens of full, novel-length books on Capricorn Cove and its inhabitants!

I honestly would happily buy an expanded, full novel length, version of this book in all its yummy sexy glory. The story is too good NOT to want more of it!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muffin top is book two in the ‘’BBW romance’’ series. This story is short, fast paced and an enjoyable read. I read this book in one sitting and was satisfied throughout. I found the writing style easy to follow, the characters likeable and the storyline enjoyable. When Honey gets into a car accident, the new sheriff is quick to help. The new sheriff happens to be Honey’s high school friend and crush. Both Tristan and Honey were secretly attracted to one another. Year’s later, they finally have their chance to be together, will they take the jump?
The chemistry between Tristan and Honey is clear to see and I liked them as a couple. I liked that Honey was Tristan’s ‘’first’’.
I really liked the ending and the epilogue for this story.
The storyline for this book is easy to follow and an enjoyable read. I cannot wait for more books from this series and from this author.

[Sami G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really thought this was a cute & spicy story!!! Definitely my favorite so far. As a fat woman, I loved the way Honey held herself and the way Tristan treated her and stood up for her. Really empowering and beautiful.

Also…. not me crying when her brother got divorced from that POS, her sister dating a woman, and her being married with kids 😭 My heart was so full and I just enjoyed all of this book. I’m a sucker for a cute and spicy romance, what can I say?

I want moreeeeeee of these two!

[Jes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t Get Enough!

High school crushes, plus size and fierce leading lady, a stern brunch daddy of a hero, and enough nerd references and love for the holidays that this has become a must read for me every year.

[Shivangi Ghosal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muffin Top was, without doubt, my warmest read of the year. From the very first chapters, it was impossible not to fall headlong into Honey and Tristan’s world—a world of second chances, stubborn hearts, and the kind of love that feels equal parts fierce and tender.

At around page 33, I caught myself grinning at Tristan’s inner turmoil. His stubborn insistence on fighting his feelings and my immediate, half-teasing response in my head was, “Tristan, don’t you dare try to work against your feelings—they won’t work anyway!” That early tension, that slow burn beneath the surface, made the reading experience deliciously addictive. You could already tell this wasn’t going to be a passing fling; it was fate nudging two people back together, reminding them of what was always meant to be.

Fast forward to page 75, and my emotions were in full swing. Watching Tristan stand up for Honey, defend her, and protect her so fiercely—it got to me. I’ll be honest: I was emotional, teary even. Every woman deserves that kind of love. A man who not only desires her but also cherishes her soul, her body, and her mind equally. Tristan embodied that protector’s devotion, and in that moment, he set a new bar for book boyfriends. I found myself whispering, “Where’s my Tristan Rodriguez?” while manifesting my own Capricorn Cove sheriff.

What makes Muffin Top so special, though, is that it’s not just about one couple. It’s also a reunion with the Cove’s extended family. Gunnar, Ella, Annika, Max (whom I’ll properly meet soon!), the Double Ds Dane and Drake with their Bluebell, Collins, and others—all sprinkled throughout, making the world feel lived-in and connected. It’s like bumping into old friends at a party, each cameo reminding me why I adore this series so much.

And yet, at the heart of it all are Honey and Tristan. Honey, unapologetically herself—confident, curvy, and unbowed even when weighed down by family expectations. And Tristan, whose simmering protectiveness had me swooning at lines like:

"You deserve better. You’re worth more than that lot combined. You’re a motherfucking queen, Honey."

That scene? It gutted me, in the best way. It was raw, real, and exactly what she needed to hear. And just when the tears were ready to spill, Evie Mitchell swept me up with a kiss in the dark, a whispered “Love you too, Honey”, and left my heart melted into a happy puddle.

Muffin Top is steamy, sweet, and unapologetically fierce. It’s a book about love that doesn’t just caress—it roars, it protects, it demands better. For me, it was a reminder of why Evie Mitchell’s Capricorn Cove series feels like home: every character is flawed, fiery, and unforgettable.

If Thunder Thighs was sass, Double the D was spontaneity, and Clean Sweep was chaotic heart-thumping sweetness—then Muffin Top is the one that wrapped me in the warmest embrace. A story that reminded me love isn’t just about passion; it’s about protection, respect, and the joy of being wholly, unapologetically seen.

✨ A must-read. And, yes, still manifesting my Tristan Rodriguez from 85 pages of pure love.

[Guadalupe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7⭐️
Amo que la defendiera frente a sus padres y el body positive que hay en estas novelas es precioso.

— ¿Por qué tus padres no estarían orgullosos de ti? Mira todo lo que has conseguido. Nena, esto es impresionante. Por lo que se ve eres una exitosa mujer de negocios, una terapeuta de primera y un ser humano genuinamente cariñoso.
—Es muy amable de tu parte que lo digas.
—No es agradable. Es la verdad. Siempre has sido inteligente, divertida, carismática. La gente quiere estar cerca de ti porque eres como... Una luciérnaga.
— ¿Qué?
—Sabes. Son recuerdos del verano. De largos días y grandes recuerdos. Son mágicos. Brillan. Traen alegría a la gente. Quieres atraparlos y tener esa magia en tu mano, pero sabes que si lo haces, la romperás. Tú eres así. Mágica. Un poco misteriosa. Pero todo el mundo quiere estar cerca de ti.

Tocar a Honey había sido una experiencia religiosa. Si ella era la diosa, yo era su leal súbdito, dispuesto a adorar sus pies para siempre.

—Puede que me haya pasado de la raya este año.
Ni siquiera estaba seguro de cómo describir este nivel de creatividad, aun tratando de asimilarlo todo.
—Tú. Este eres tú. Eres exagerada, ruidosa, creativa, hermosa. Nena, esto es increíble. No me asusta. No es demasiado. Eres tú. Es perfecto.
—Yo sólo... siempre pensé que tendría que comprometerme. Que nadie podría amar... quiero decir, como mi torbellino.
—Ah, Honey— La acerqué, acunándola en mis brazos, dándole comodidad. Esta hermosa mujer sólo merecía lo mejor. —Amo-como tu torbellino. Siempre lo he hecho.

—Tienes que saber que estoy loco por ti. Esto dice que eres el tipo de mujer que hará mi vida interesante. Decorarás nuestra casa, iluminarás nuestra vida.

[Xanny Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐ 2.5 stars
🧁 Muffin Top — Evie Mitchell

This was one of those “I needed something short because my brain is fried” reads… and for that? It worked. Cute, quick, lightly spicy, low commitment. Did it change my life? No. Did it mildly entertain me while I’m tired and disoriented? Yeah. That’s the lane it stayed in.

Tristan though?
Oh, I liked him. A lot. Virgin MMC, small-town sheriff energy, been crushing on her since high school, quietly steady and emotionally sincere? Yes please. He was sweet without being bland, and honestly the best part of the book. If this man existed in real life, I’d tell him to aim higher than Honey… respectfully 😌

Honey, on the other hand…
Look. I love confidence. I celebrate body positivity. But there’s a fine line between self-assured and just being a little too full of yourself — and Honey crossed it for me. Her family absolutely sucks, no debate there, and I understand why she’s built emotional armor. But at times she felt more self-congratulatory than self-aware. Like… relax, babe. You’re cute, not carved by the gods.

Their dynamic was fine — friends-to-lovers, second-chance vibes, mutual attraction that’s been simmering since high school — but I never fully felt it in my chest. It was more “this is pleasant” than “this is consuming.” The spice was there, but light. Sweet, not feral.

Overall, this is a cute little palate cleanser. Perfect if you’re tired, jet-lagged, or just not in the mood for emotional devastation. I don’t regret reading it, but I won’t be thinking about it either.

Tristan deserved the extra half star.
Honey… did not.

Would I recommend it?
Sure — if you want short, safe, and spicy with a lovable MMC.
Just don’t go in expecting fireworks.

[valentina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Te quiero tanto, Evie Mitchell. Tus historias me dan toda la serotonina que necesito en estos momentos.

Honey y Tristan han sido el crush del otro desde High School, pero ninguno le hizo saber al otro sobre sus sentimientos y terminaron por perder el contacto luego de que él se fuera a la universidad. Sin embargo, Tristan ha regresado al pueblo para hacerse cargo de su familia tras la muerte de su padre y desempeñarse como el nuevo sheriff. Con lo que no contaba era que en uno de sus llamados, se encontraría con la chica de sus sueños. Por su lado, Honey piensa que sus encantos son en vano cuando se trata de sheriff sexy del que siempre ha estado enamorada. De igual manera, ni se preocupen porque más temprano que tarde estos dos compartirán un caluroso masaje (contexto: Honey es fisioterapeuta y Tristan... es un hombre con una misión) donde surgirán confesiones inesperadas que los llevarás a realizar hasta sus fantasías más oscuras (esta gente se tomó en serio el spicy). ¿Algo que no me esperaba? Es que Tristan, el sheriff sexy y el soltero más codiciado del pueblo, acabase siendo un virgin hero ... pero uno muy seguro de lo que le gustaba en el dormitorio.

En fin, estuvo muy lindo todo y me gustó el cameo de Caleb (es el compañero de trabajo de Tristan porque ambos son policías), ya que hizo de casamentero y confirma lo genial que son los cameos y las interconexiones de esta serie.

[Rielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐ My third book from Evie Mitchell and the Capricorn Cove series, and this one was a treat 💜

This one was more similar to the first book in that it did have somewhat of a plot, however that wasn’t really executed well because the pacing was unstable. But, and if I’m remembering this correctly, at least it had more plot to go on than the second book.

This was really cute, though. I'm not a huge fan of the friends to lovers trope, but I can appreciate the established relationship between the main characters. I think it made for a sweet reunion and development of their romance 💜

Unfortunately, out of the three books I’ve read so far in this series, this has to be my least liked. It was cute and all, but that’s probably all there is to it. Still, I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series ❤️

Perfect for those looking for:
💜 Friends to lovers
💜 Second chance
💜 High school crush to lovers
💜 Mutual pining

[Daian Café y Té · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alerta Alerta Alerta. Si buscaste esta serie de libros pensando que iba a tratar de un body positive es todo lo contrario ya que en toda la historia no mencionan nada sobre el movimiento social nisiquiera hace ninguna promoción de la aceptación y valoración de todos los cuerpos. Así que no leas si esperas eso. Yo lo leí sin saber nada y con la mente en blanco.


En general... no es la clase de libros que me suelen interesar, pero... me gustó es una breve historia pochoclera me hizo sentir vergüenza ajena en algunas partes por su forma de describir a los personajes... pero Tristan se llevó mi corazón es tan tierno en cada momento. Así que para ser un libro de 85 páginas esta bastante bueno y me da vergüenza admitirlo porfavor no me maten jaja 💕