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An Unexpected Valentine

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F**k Nolan Griffin.

That’s what Yasmin’s mantra has always been regarding him.

It doesn’t matter how attractive she finds him, she has valid reasons to hate him, one of which being he stole her job.

But when Yasmin runs into him on Valentine’s night, she quickly learns that when it comes to Nolan there’s more than meets the eye.

47 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 9, 2021

32 people are currently reading
41 people want to read

About the author

Té Russ

69 books324 followers

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5 stars
164 (64%)
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28 (10%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
Profile Image for Dahyana.
695 reviews87 followers
February 6, 2023
Yasmine x Nolan

Y'all, how cute was this. It all happened in one day and everything that took place was so freaking cute. Extremely short, very hallmark like (For Us Made By Us).
Profile Image for Nkesh.
76 reviews6 followers
December 27, 2023
Yikes! I am always surprised by how much I enjoy some enemies-to-lovers stories despite how much I hate the trope. The RAW ladies sure know how to write this genre very well, with characters you just can’t help but to root for.

In An Unexpected Valentine, we meet chef, Yasmin, who has just been stood up by a blind date on Valentine’s Day. She is almost ready to go home when Nolan, the head chef at the restaurant where she works, and his friends come to her rescue. She finds herself having a nice time despite the raging feelings inside her---she hates him for stealing her job, she hates him because his brother cheated on her sister, and she hates him even more because she actually wants him.

It was cute watching the night unfold as they tiptoe around their feelings, trying to make sense of the hot sexual tension between them, and how explosive it all penned out when they finally gave in to their feelings. What I did not appreciate about this book though was how similar it was in some sense to another enemies-to-lovers book I read from the RAW series. I like to believe that we can do better in this sense, in this setting. There are better prompts to write about than hating someone for stealing a job you feel should have been yours.
Profile Image for ariana.
240 reviews127 followers
February 16, 2022
Rating: ⭐ ⭐⭐/🌶️

Tropes: dislike to lovers

TW/CW: x

Representation: black romance

Favorite quote: “I didn’t forget that remark you made about liking me, earlier tonight. For the record, the feeling is mutual.”

Thoughts: chile yasmin and nolan had me cackling! two chefs who dont like one another but really do like one another! love this shit lol i also loved the fact that they cooked together! chile this book was short sweet and spicy.
Profile Image for Qiana.
350 reviews63 followers
February 7, 2022
Yas gets stood up by her Valentine's date that her momma set up, when she runs into her known enemy, that offers to keep her company. Cute enemies to lovers read. The fact the main characters were chefs gives this book bonus points.
Profile Image for OhhSlimmm.
506 reviews31 followers
February 13, 2021
Chef Bae

Nolan and Yasnine brought all the ingredients to this book and cooked up something steamy!! I enjoyed this spur of the moment V-Day novella.
Profile Image for Shades N Pages .
1,002 reviews27 followers
February 11, 2021
Yasmine hates Nolan Griffin. Not only does he hold she job she feels should be hers, his brother cheated on her sister, so dude is guilty by association. In another words, he can’t win for losing. One thing it doesn’t change is her attraction to him. Stood up on Valentine’s Date orchestrated by her mother, she runs into Nolan and his friends and starts seeing him in a different light. A little competition allows Yasmine to reveal the true reason she doesn’t like Nolan.This story is so darn cute. Yasmin really pulled the most childish move out the book. Hating someone because your attracted to them? How old are we? Lol! This story is a prime example of how it pays to actually getting to know someone before assuming you hate them. Out of some crazy sense of loyalty to her sister, she would’ve missed out on someone who she had so much in common with. I liked how Nolan respectfully put her in a place. Like what makes you think he wasn’t qualified for the job? Yasmine really came with a bag full of assumptions and made a true ass out herself. Gosh I wanted so much more from this couple. Like are they in a relationship? Is she a chef at the other restaurant now? I got questions Lolol. I need more. I enjoyed Nolan and Yas and I hope we at to visit them also.
Profile Image for Matthania.
375 reviews35 followers
February 10, 2023
This was a really good short story. Yasmin and Nolan were fun to read about. Not fully an enemies-to-lovers since the "hate" is one-sided. I thought the whole plot set up was cute. Yasmin got stood up and end up spending her Valentine's Day with Nolan. They talked through their issues and ended up cooking together in her house. I loved that they had the same passion, and they moved seamlessly together in the kitchen. You can tell they're gonna be a bomb ass power couple. This was short and sexy and wrapped up nicely in under 50 pages. The more I read Te Russ' books, the more she's becoming a favorite of mine. Now I just have to read her backlist.
Profile Image for Crystal Luckey.
752 reviews31 followers
February 14, 2021
The title was perfect!!!

Yasmin wasn't a fan of Nolan and she didn't hide it from him either. After being stood up on a date, Nolan and his friends invited Yasmin to hang out with them and she actually had a great time. Seeing a different side to Nolan and comforting him about why she didn't like him, they went back to her place. What she didn't expect when they returned to her place that he was what she wanted and needed all along.
I love a great enemies to lovers book and this one didn't disappoint. Yasmin didn't like Nolan, but he liked her Im glad she gave him a chance and in the end, she got something great out of it. Te Russ really know how to write great short love stories that make you want more!!!
Profile Image for Toya  Davis-Stokley.
2,566 reviews103 followers
February 15, 2021
I felt for Nolan as Yasmin walked around mean mugging him, and being just nasty. Yasmin meeting up with Nolan and his friends on Valentine's night, was an eye opening experience for her. She found out that she was mean and judgemental for reasons that were not true! After the air was cleared between them, the sparks began to fly! Whew! These two were hot, hot and hot! Great valentine read. 👍👍👍
Profile Image for Tera L. Kirksey.
751 reviews21 followers
February 17, 2021
An Unexpected Valentine

Yes, Yasmin got stood up by a blind date on Valentine's Day. But by the end of the night, she got all that she secretly desired but from an unlikely source. Nolan was smitten by the chef who hated his guts. He soon realized they have so much in common. Besides a love for cooking, they are equally attracted to each other. This Valentine's Day turns out to be quite unforgettable.
A sweet enemies to lovers kinda vibe story, I absolutely loved this!
Profile Image for Black Love and Coffee.
18 reviews2 followers
April 14, 2021
An Unexpected Valentine is a short yet hot romance novella that goes from simmering to boiling hot.

Even though the book is short - perfect for a quick fix if you are a book junkie like me - it gives you a full romance story on how enemies can become lovers in a day.

Warning: The book will leave you wanting for more.


For a more in-depth review, check out:
https://blackloveandcoffee.com/an-une...
Profile Image for Kay Edmondson.
69 reviews1 follower
February 11, 2021
A Sizzling Hot Short Read
Te' Russ took no time in spinning a hot short story full of sexual tension and misconception. The storyline was realistic and the hero and heroine in the story is hot. The story is short but it is a complete read. I look forward to reading the other stories in the RAW series.
Profile Image for Tina Jackson.
615 reviews11 followers
February 14, 2021
Loved it

Love a good enemies to lovers story. Yas and Nolan were hot and sexy together, their impromoto Valentine meet up then cooking together was super romantic to me. These two had a vibe going even when Yas didn't want too. This was a sexy Valentine read delivered in true Te' Russ style.
Profile Image for Tajuana.
222 reviews6 followers
February 16, 2021
An unexpected Valentine
By TeRuss
Chefs? That was the first for me and that was smooth AF. I really loved the scence that was building to get them to the next level. I loved how at one time the thing they had in common was overlooked but became the very thing that had built their bond. I really enjoyed Yas and Nolan's story. What if....
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Profile Image for Laina.
64 reviews1 follower
February 27, 2021
Te Russ never lets me down. She is another author that has me downloading everything she puts out. And this quick Valentine's read was funny and adorable. Yasmin and Nolan’s chemistry was hot in and out of the kitchen. I loved the storyline and the characters. The connection with this book was instant and I definitely would like more of them. Te has me obsessed with her work!
Profile Image for lia (forbiddenxfroggie) ❄️.
471 reviews12 followers
February 4, 2022
A sweet, short valentines read between enemies attracted to each other to lovers. Yas was acting like a child from kindergarten. Hate somebody because you’re attracted to them? Hell no.
I’m glad that she actually got to know him better and her assumptions were wrong. Nolan is such a sweetheart. I love him
Profile Image for Diane Rembert.
1,272 reviews45 followers
February 23, 2022
Yasmine and Nolan are attracted to one another, but have yet to act upon it. Until, they are both at the same place, at the same time, on Valentine's Day. What started out as a simple ride home, became so much more.

I absolutely love the holiday shorts by @terussnovels, and recommend that you pick this 💎💎💎💎💎 one up.
Profile Image for Damilola.
218 reviews15 followers
April 29, 2023
cute read

A cute palette cleanser to read between books. I wouldn’t call them enemies bc only Yasmine had a problem with Nolan, which was quite childish bc if she felt like she was under appreciated at her job and should have been the one to be head chef then she should have left instead of being “mean” to Nolan.

But all in all, it was a cute read.
Profile Image for Danielle Holmes.
87 reviews
January 15, 2026
An unexpected night

First Yasmin saved the day for Nolan when his ex arrived to his job unannounced wreaking havoc.

Then Nolan returned the favor when Yasmin blind date stood her up on Valentine Day.

These two unfortunate events led to an unexpected night of reveals and passion.

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for Marshall Thompson.
412 reviews
February 10, 2021
It’s Getting Hot In Here

In my Neilly voice, “ Oh It’s Getting Hot In Here!” What a turn on a man that can cook and what’s going on his man’s eye! Nolan definitely turned the heat up and Yasmin was the one to get burned! Nice sizzling short read!
883 reviews8 followers
February 13, 2021
Love in the kitchen!

Nolan and Yas were a great combination in the kitchen and the pantry! The opposite side of hate is love, or should I say lust for now! And together they were combustible!
Profile Image for 'The Book Queen'.
6,017 reviews112 followers
February 13, 2021
Nolan & Yasmin

Nolan got the head chef's position. Yasmin thought she deserved, so she hated Nolan- kinda, maybe sorta. Getting past her hurt to reveal her real feelings would take some time for her to process. I had fun watching their vibe become an alluring vibration.
Profile Image for Kim Knight.
483 reviews15 followers
February 14, 2021
It’s hot!!!

I love being in the setting of anything that Te Russ has penned. She always has the best characters, , dialogue and SEX scenes. This was a great way to spend Galantines Day reading this!!
231 reviews1 follower
February 14, 2021
Never disappoints

This was a short steamy slow burn! It was so good, the characters, the quick wit, and the sex my Gawd!! I loved TR reversed roles a little bit. I also liked the friend and sister dynamic in this book. Definitely a great way to keep my vday books rolling
132 reviews2 followers
February 16, 2021
Cute read

I love me a good story that includes food. In kitchen was where the Chemistry brewed between Chefs Nolan and Yasmin. They started out as a enemies yet somehow the situation turned into more than the bargained for. Te never fails to deliver!
Profile Image for Jessica Terry.
Author 38 books40 followers
May 31, 2023
Don't assume

A good quick read. Yasmine had come to some unwarranted conclusions (assumptions) and Nolan had to set her straight, and I liked that he was a gentleman about it. Entertaining.
Profile Image for tanessia ford.
4,003 reviews
February 10, 2021
See no

See no this isn’t going to work for me. I’m going to need more. I need to know if they end up together something. This was a tease
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews

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