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How Sweet It Is #6
Pleasure and Spice
**A version of this book was previously published as Dangerous Pleasures**Mayson and Renée are best friends. Two women who’ve known each other for a lifetime and are as different as they are close.Mayson is a free-spirited and out lesbian, and very much desired in her Southern California queer community. Renée, straight and sheltered, is just getting out of a difficult divorce and searching for an escape from her pain. While Mayson slips in and out of affairs, taking pleasure where it bites the sweetest, Renée steps into a dangerous game of anonymous sex-by-dark that transports her to places she’d never dreamed.But the worlds of these two friends are heading for a dramatic collision. At the end of it all will they, or their friendship, survive?*This volume of the series contains both f/f and f/m sex.**Number 6 in the How Sweet It Is series by the Lambda Literary Award finalist author of Bliss and Every Dark Desire. Start from the beginning with A Taste of Sin, Hungry for It, Return to Me (a short sequel to Hungry for It), then Insatiable Appetites. All (except for Return to Me) are standalone, full-length novels featuring different couples in, and connected to, the group of Miami-based friends.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 2, 2021
12 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Zedde
59 books421 followersJamaican-born Fiona Zedde is the author of several novellas and novels of lesBiQueer love and desire, including the Lambda Literary Award finalists, Bliss and Every Dark Desire. She loves French pastries, English cars, Jamaican food, and currently lives in Spain.
Her novel, Dangerous Pleasures, received a Publishers Weekly starred review and won an About.com Readers' Choice Award for Best Lesbian Novel/Memoir. Her latest book, Just Like Her, is out now. Find out more about her catalog of 30+ books at www.FionaZedde.com.
Her novel, Dangerous Pleasures, received a Publishers Weekly starred review and won an About.com Readers' Choice Award for Best Lesbian Novel/Memoir. Her latest book, Just Like Her, is out now. Find out more about her catalog of 30+ books at www.FionaZedde.com.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 13, 2021
A very exciting read with lots of hot scenes and building up to a great finale.
The friendship and love between Renee and Mayson jumps of the pages, only Renee doesn’t realise it until it is (almost) to late.
I loved the encounters between Renee and her secret lover. The encounters between Mayson and her lovers not so much, that’s what made the book for me. Rooting for Mayson to get it together and making the step. Not filling in the blanks on your own and thinking you know what someone wants.
A real page turner an spicy read. You can easily read this book as a stand alone (I did too).
The friendship and love between Renee and Mayson jumps of the pages, only Renee doesn’t realise it until it is (almost) to late.
I loved the encounters between Renee and her secret lover. The encounters between Mayson and her lovers not so much, that’s what made the book for me. Rooting for Mayson to get it together and making the step. Not filling in the blanks on your own and thinking you know what someone wants.
A real page turner an spicy read. You can easily read this book as a stand alone (I did too).
December 14, 2021
I requested this book because I really enjoyed the authors last book which was a suspense thriller. This one is a friends to more romance with some twists and turns. Mayson and Renee have been best friends their entire lives. Renee is straight and surviving after her recent divorce shakes her confidence. She wants to try what Mayson does which is being intimate without commitment. She decides to meet up with anonymous people via an online ad. Mayson encourages her but cares about her safety.
This is a book with a lot of sex. Both f/f and m/f. I like the two MC's and love when they are hanging out together but I wanted more of a romance between the two of them to be shown. So some of the aspects of this book weren't my cup of tea. It is well written and when a situation turns dangerous it becomes a page turner. This is part of a series but I read as a stand alone. Thank you to NetGalley and Red Hills Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. (3.5 stars)
This is a book with a lot of sex. Both f/f and m/f. I like the two MC's and love when they are hanging out together but I wanted more of a romance between the two of them to be shown. So some of the aspects of this book weren't my cup of tea. It is well written and when a situation turns dangerous it becomes a page turner. This is part of a series but I read as a stand alone. Thank you to NetGalley and Red Hills Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. (3.5 stars)
June 16, 2021
The book started out with Mayson sleeping with every girl she could. she wanted no commitment or promise. Her best friend Camille thought she was straight and slept with men. The plot was good but took aw3hile to get to it. The characters are good with lots of emotion. I enjoyed the book but it has a lot of descriptive sex. I found the boo0k a good read and recommend it to romance with sex readers. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 16, 2021
Going into it I didn't know what to expect. To be honest, this book wasn't for me. I am sure there are lots of fans for this explicit genre, but turns out it isn't for me. The story was good although I couldn't get into the pairing. Seemed a bit out of the blue. I just didn't feel it. The book is well written but I could have done with more romance scenes between the MC's. But again, this is a personal preference, I can totally see the appeal for other people.
January 19, 2022
Renee and Mayson are lifelong best friends. Renee is recently divorced, while Mayson avoids relationships but is certainly not without female companionship. Renee has no interest in getting into another relationship, so she begins to mimic Mayson's behavior and starts having sex without commitment. Renee's escapades lead her to realize she may not be as straight as she thought and that what she has always needed was right in front of her all alone.
This is a friends to lovers, opposites attract story. Renee is uptight and overworked, Mayson is the laid back yoga instructor. Mayson has always been a bit in love with Renee, but she's straight, or so they both thought.
I enjoyed this story. As with all of Fiona Zedde's books, it is hot and there is a lot of sex, a lot! I don't enjoy reading male/female sex scenes, so I skimmed and moved on. But those scenes, as cringy as they were for me, were integral to Renee's journey. If you are looking for a book with likable characters, a relationship build on friendship and a writer who knows how to bring the heat, then this is one you should check out. This is book 6 in the How Sweet It Is series, however, it can be read as a stand alone.
An ARC was received from NetGalley for an honest review.
This is a friends to lovers, opposites attract story. Renee is uptight and overworked, Mayson is the laid back yoga instructor. Mayson has always been a bit in love with Renee, but she's straight, or so they both thought.
I enjoyed this story. As with all of Fiona Zedde's books, it is hot and there is a lot of sex, a lot! I don't enjoy reading male/female sex scenes, so I skimmed and moved on. But those scenes, as cringy as they were for me, were integral to Renee's journey. If you are looking for a book with likable characters, a relationship build on friendship and a writer who knows how to bring the heat, then this is one you should check out. This is book 6 in the How Sweet It Is series, however, it can be read as a stand alone.
An ARC was received from NetGalley for an honest review.
June 14, 2021
What an apt book title and cover.
Best friends from childhood, Mayson and Renee have always been there for each other through thick and thin - both searching for ultimate happiness. Frustrated in her career and newly divorced, Renee just wants to have fun trying various styles of sex with anonymous partners. Mayson is a yoga studio owner/teacher who loves and enjoys women on her own terms - constantly telling her BF to take control of her life. They both strive separately for satisfaction in their lives not seeing what is right in front of them, until a spurned lover forces reality to set in. A slow journey to romance with torrid sex and intrigue makes this a hot read.
I rec'd a copy through Booksprout and this is a voluntary, unbiased review.
Best friends from childhood, Mayson and Renee have always been there for each other through thick and thin - both searching for ultimate happiness. Frustrated in her career and newly divorced, Renee just wants to have fun trying various styles of sex with anonymous partners. Mayson is a yoga studio owner/teacher who loves and enjoys women on her own terms - constantly telling her BF to take control of her life. They both strive separately for satisfaction in their lives not seeing what is right in front of them, until a spurned lover forces reality to set in. A slow journey to romance with torrid sex and intrigue makes this a hot read.
I rec'd a copy through Booksprout and this is a voluntary, unbiased review.
June 11, 2021
Zedde's latest entry in the How Sweet series tells the story of two friends who go through illicit encounters in hotel rooms and trysts with unstable sexual explorers only to discover that sometimes the thing you want most of all has been there all along.
On the surface, Mayson and Renee are opposites. One is an overworked and undervalued graphic designer healing from an unfulfilling marriage. The other, a yoga studio owner open to all the Sapphic possibilities that come her way. What sustains is decades-long friendship, a shared Jamaican background, and an attraction to each other everyone else around them can see. The novel is filled with sexual encounters including breath play, multiple partners, and lesbian safe sex practices. But the heart of the story is a romance delayed until a life or death encounter prompts the characters to accept the reality of what they truly mean to each other. While this work is part of a series, Pleasure and Spice is a stand-alone treat.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
On the surface, Mayson and Renee are opposites. One is an overworked and undervalued graphic designer healing from an unfulfilling marriage. The other, a yoga studio owner open to all the Sapphic possibilities that come her way. What sustains is decades-long friendship, a shared Jamaican background, and an attraction to each other everyone else around them can see. The novel is filled with sexual encounters including breath play, multiple partners, and lesbian safe sex practices. But the heart of the story is a romance delayed until a life or death encounter prompts the characters to accept the reality of what they truly mean to each other. While this work is part of a series, Pleasure and Spice is a stand-alone treat.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 23, 2021
Our heroines are on two different paths, but that doesn't mean they won't intersect. The real question is will the paths diverge or converge after that encounter?
This is book six of a series, but it is written as a standalone. It just shares a setting with the previous books, so no prior reading is required.
This is an friends to lovers type romance of the FF variety. The story is well written and easy to read with contemporary setting that is both easy to grasp and comforting. The characters are well done and rather complex, with different needs and drives that make the story very enjoyable as we watch events unfold. They start as good friends but can they be even better? Read and find out.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
This is book six of a series, but it is written as a standalone. It just shares a setting with the previous books, so no prior reading is required.
This is an friends to lovers type romance of the FF variety. The story is well written and easy to read with contemporary setting that is both easy to grasp and comforting. The characters are well done and rather complex, with different needs and drives that make the story very enjoyable as we watch events unfold. They start as good friends but can they be even better? Read and find out.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
July 4, 2023
Steamy bi-queer romance about a woman discovering her sexuality through experiencing…
Her best friend is supportive, a crazy stocker adds some suspense, and it all ends with a HEA.
Fiona Zedde is a great storyteller but this one just didn't grab me as the other stories in the series. I think the real conflicts and interesting stuff like self-discovery and emotional turmoil were all packed into the last third of the book and that was the best part. I wish the first half of the book would have moved a bit faster. That would have made the book much better.
T&T:
Tropes: friends to lovers, next-door girl, unrequited love
Triggers: gender fraud, psychotic stocker, open-door sex scenes (and many of them), emotionally abusive ex (mostly off-page)
Rating:3.5 stars. 4 because of the system. I would have given more if the first half /2 thirds of the book were less slow in advancing the story. Still enjoyed it and I always recommend Zedde's books to those who love steamy sexy stories with genuine diverse characters.
Her best friend is supportive, a crazy stocker adds some suspense, and it all ends with a HEA.
Fiona Zedde is a great storyteller but this one just didn't grab me as the other stories in the series. I think the real conflicts and interesting stuff like self-discovery and emotional turmoil were all packed into the last third of the book and that was the best part. I wish the first half of the book would have moved a bit faster. That would have made the book much better.
T&T:
Tropes: friends to lovers, next-door girl, unrequited love
Triggers: gender fraud, psychotic stocker, open-door sex scenes (and many of them), emotionally abusive ex (mostly off-page)
Rating:3.5 stars. 4 because of the system. I would have given more if the first half /2 thirds of the book were less slow in advancing the story. Still enjoyed it and I always recommend Zedde's books to those who love steamy sexy stories with genuine diverse characters.
December 13, 2021
I was send a eCopy of this book via NetGalley so thanks to them and the author! I think this book’s title is way too accurate to its content! It’s literally about pleasure and spicy scenes.. but in a good way! This book was about woman’s pleasure and woman’s sexuality and the “scenes” were not cringe AT ALL! Would I recommend? Yes if you’re looking for sapphic spice, and openly gay women being comfortable in their skin.
November 29, 2022
Hit another one right out the park
Come on now, its another book in one helluva series! Its a sensually decadent, intriguingly captivating, emotionally intense & entertainingly 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 ! It served up uniquely interesting characters, engaging storylines, relatable narratives with explicitly "inspirational" sex scenes for an extremely well-written pleasure.
Come on now, its another book in one helluva series! Its a sensually decadent, intriguingly captivating, emotionally intense & entertainingly 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 ! It served up uniquely interesting characters, engaging storylines, relatable narratives with explicitly "inspirational" sex scenes for an extremely well-written pleasure.
May 7, 2024
This book was good, lots of steamy scenes mf/ff. But, it seemed to drag on the mc romance. It was pretty obvious, but I would have loved to see more of them in the book, and it seems the author waited to last 2 or 3 chapters to close it out. Although we had to see Renee find herself and discover what had always been there. It seemed to rushed in the ending.
August 25, 2025
A captivating, sensual journey of friendship, desire, and self discovery. Mayson and Renée's story is both tender and bold, pulling readers into a world where boundaries blur and emotions run deep. With rich characters and steamy encounters, this installment in the How Sweet It Is series is unputdownable. Perfect for fans of complex relationships and fearless storytelling!
March 4, 2021
Great read!!!
This was a great read. I thought their was more nuria in it,but I loved mayson and Renee the same. Matson really loved her and it showed through the page. It was a real surprise in the end. I loved ever minute if it.
This was a great read. I thought their was more nuria in it,but I loved mayson and Renee the same. Matson really loved her and it showed through the page. It was a real surprise in the end. I loved ever minute if it.
March 3, 2022
Good read
This book was good and I love the whole s.eries, but my favorite is "Hungry for it", I've read it several times already.
This book was good and I love the whole s.eries, but my favorite is "Hungry for it", I've read it several times already.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews