Six weeks pregnant Baby is the size of my confidence in being a mom
My open marriage was only meant to satiate my desires while my husband worked through his issues. And it did, sort of.
Until him. He ruined me, set me free, and left me with a brand-new life I never could have imagined. Now my belly is swelling and it's only a matter of time before yet another member is added to our pod. Everyone's thrilled, but when I hear the whooshing of the sonogram, I feel...nothing. Maybe I wasn't meant for this life. Was I going too fast and risking ruining the family I'd fought so hard to create?
Could I go from Hotwife to Hot Life? Or is my pregnancy the wave that crashes into my house of sand?
Hot Life is book two of the Hot Queens Series. This is an MFM pregnancy romance novella with a HEA. Content information is available on author's site.
Kat Blackthorne is a bestselling author of haunting romance. She writes passion, characters, and worlds that linger past the last page. Her tales embrace cozy darkness with magical and spooky twists. Catnip for her is banter, begging, challenging norms, and beings who worship their women.
Kat lives somewhere deep in the mountains in a witch's cottage with her talking feline. She has a collection of quotes and character names a mile long, her favorite holiday is Halloween, and her favorite book is whatever she read last.
Join her spooky reader coven on Facebook: Kat Blackthorne and The Black Hearts Coven Follow her on Tiktok where The Halloween Boys hashtags have over six million views: @katblackthorne Find her on Instagram: @katblackthorneauthor
Well, I am shocked. I was expecting some mediocre KU smut book but instead, I was very pleasantly surprised. Hot Life is a really good book with a good plot. This is the first book I have read by this author and it won’t be the last.
Hot Life is book 2 in the Hot Queens series. I saw an excerpt for this book on Tiktok and decided to get the book and try it. I didn’t pay attention to the fact that it isn’t the beginning of the story until I was already completely hooked on the book and didn’t want to put it down. I was able to read this book just fine without reading book 1, so it can standalone. That being said, now I really want to read more about these characters and see what happened to get them to where they are in this book so I will need to read book 1.
This is a polyamory MFM romance set in Georgia. The main male characters, Cedric and Desmond, are married to the main female character, Dorthea. Their pod (household/family unit) also includes Dorthea’s sister, Odette, and Odette’s wife, Caroline. Oh and I can’t forget their two dogs. Dorthea is pregnant through most of the book and the baby is all of theirs.
The only negative thing I have to say about this book is the author using the slur linked to Romani people. “We’re going to have to set a timer or something because I feel like I’m getting jipped out of my cuddles.” Racial slurs (even unintended as this likely was) are not the way to go and I know that jipped/gypped is one that many people don’t even realize the negative connotation until it is pointed out to them, but as an author or even an editor, those things should be avoided unless it is somehow necessary to the dialogue. For that reason, I dropped the overall rating from 5 stars to 4 stars.
The spicy level on this is 3.5/5 chili peppers. The swoon level is 4/5. It was very sweet.
This is a really good book. I definitely recommend it for those who like books about polyamory and spicy stuff. I’ll probably even read it again.
This story simply blew me away. Some stories are the kind that will stick with you forever and this is one of them. The passion, love and devotion is like no other. While unconventional in a "traditional" sense, this type of connection is really what dreams are made of. The message of self-love and acceptance for plus size women is absolutely inspiring. I never would have expected to resonate so much and am so grateful. The biggest of thanks to Kat, an amazing author, for writing something like this for several underrepresented groups. Absolutely amazing.
Not my usual fare, the title of the first one gathered me in, I'm afraid to say (how shallow) but I rather enjoyed it as I did this follow up. Kat has a really nice writing style, everything flows along nicely, she brings their unconventional family straight off the pages ..hotwife to hotlife as easy as pie!,
I read Hotwife at the beginning of the year and instantly fell in love with Cedric, Dot, and Desmond. Over the last couple months, I've watched Kat bring this story to life and ask for opinions on scenes she should include and even voted in a poll to help name the novella.
This one absolutely lived up to my expectations and so much more! I loved the "baby is the size of" statements at the beginning of each chapter - they're hilarious! I'm glad we got to see a more realistic way of how the pod works and the various doubts they each had during the pregnancy and how they dealt with them.
And the spicy scenes? Incredible! I hope my future spouse entertains me like that while waiting for the doctor! And the yard work scene? Good Lord, it got me good!
Kat has done it again with Dorthea, Desmond and Cedric. This story followed along with Dot’s pregnancy and her pod taking care of her. This story made me feel seen without Kat even knowing that my entire first pregnancy I felt unqualified and didn’t feel ready to be a mom, but seeing Dot go through those feelings made me happy that Kat is showing that pregnancies aren’t all sunshine and rainbows. Pregnancy is hard, motherhood is even harder and no one gives you a manual that gives you the answers for everything. I fell in love with these characters in Hotwife and have fallen even more in love with them. This is a must read for anyone and everyone.
Their love is unconventional, and this story shows you that no love is conventional.
As a child free on purpose adult, pregnancy love stories are not something I normally enjoy. I just don’t connect. But Kat did something special with Hot Life. It was sexy, sweet, emotional, and just perfect.
I just couldn't put it down. Kat does an amazing job talking about life, love, insecurities, and pregnancy in a very real way. I loved every moment of it.
It's no secret that I loved Hotwife by Kat. I read it back in March and fell in love with this pod. The angst of their story was so good and I loved getting to see them come together. When Hotwife ended, I was dying for more of this pod and the pod must've been screaming at Kat to write more.
Something I loved about the end of Hotwife was how Ced/Des/Dot included Dot's sister and wife into their family. It's so non-traditional from what we know in the States, but I loved it. We get more of the five of them and get to see how their dynamic works. It was sweet seeing how well they work with one another and how much they care for Dot.
Ced and Des are just so dreamy 🥰 They're still so obsessed with Dot. They never miss a moment to show her or tell her how much they love her. I'm obsessed with how much they love her curves. As a plus sized woman, I love seeing a hot plus sized heroine get the hottest men alive. Dot really won with a hot older surgeon and a super hot photographer/former Marine. The spicy scene in the hospital 👀🥵 Oh, and Cedric throwing hands? H O T
I absolutely LOVED the representation for plus sized/fat bodies. Cedric puts a medical professional in their place for mistreating his wife because she's plus sized, but he doesn't just stand up for her. He stands up for all plus sized folks (as he should) and discusses how problematic BMI is. I loved that scene so much as a plus sized woman and appreciate that Kat included that. Also, the disability rep with Des was done well and I loved that it didn't paint his disability as an issue (because it isn't) and was a place to talk about the need for more accessibility in the world.
The end was amazing and had me crying. The way their child talked about the love they have for their dads just made me melt. I'm curious if we'll get their child's story based on some things that were said 👀
Let me start off by saying I LOVE THE COVER. PLUS SIZE REP ON BOOK COVERS MATTERS. Thank you Kat.
Secondly, if you know me you know I strongly dislike the pregnancy trope in books. Then you’re probably wondering why I willingly read this book that literally has “an unconventional pregnancy love story novella” after the title? Two reasons: I absolutely LOVED Hotwife, and honestly any of Kat’s TikTok’s teasing this book.
For someone who actively dislikes pregnancy in books this was a (3.5 rounded to) 4 star read for me. I appreciated it being real, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Yes, Dolly was growing a whole human inside her, but she was also growing and learning. Hell even the guys were learning, one of them even said “Pregnancy is a medical event. Parenthood is something else entirely.”
I will say the only issue I had was that they ALL shared the baby. Not just Dolly and her husbands (WHICH WOULD MAKE SENSE) but Dolly’s sister, Odie and Odie’s wife, Caroline. Like Odie and Caroline said “are you ready to meet OUR baby” to Dolly, after Dolly had given birth and that just was weird to me, and every other instance that they referred to the child as “theirs”. I don’t understand why Odie and Caroline are mom #2 and mom #3 to the child and not just very involved aunts. But whatever. It seems to work for them.
This book. Yes it’s hot, and yes I love seeing another glimpse into Cedric, Desmond and Dot’s life. It is a perfect natural progression from where Hot Wife left off. It is all you would expect, and it is amazingly well written.
What I didn’t expect was to feel so kindred with Dot in this book. I don’t want to give away specifics but some may consider this review to have spoilers so if you don’t like that - keep on moving! From the first doctors appointment feeling judged to maternity clothes shopping. From being hot and uncomfortable to high blood pressure towards the end of her pregnancy. From going from a planned birth to a c-section. The doubts and questions of what happens when a baby enters the family, wondering how you can be a parent, questioning if you are even capable of it. Even drama in the operating room - it all resonates with me, hitting so close to home. It’s something special when you find yourself in a story told by someone else - minus the polyamory part! It’s not about me, but at the same time, it feels like a perfectly written version of becoming a mother.
This book surprised me in the best way. When I realised the entirety of it followed Dolly's pregnancy, I wasn't sure whether it would be for me or not but I loved the direction Kat took with this. Dolly maintained her sassy attitude whilst battling all the symptoms that come with being pregnant and surrounded by people who care so deeply for you they can sometimes be a *little* overbearing. Cedric standing up for "health at every size" was incredible, I have experienced similar to what Dolly did with the nurse and him advocating for her and all larger pregnant people was everything.
Reading Dolly's journey to motherhood made me laugh, feel seen and even well up at times. It was realistic and recognisable. The sp¡ce was still absolutely delicious and I loved the banter between Cedric and Desmond. The scene over the hospital bed had me sweating and I would have loveddddd(!!) more of that but their relationship was still great.
Can't wait to dip into Ruby's story and peep more of the pod.
I enjoyed this book way more than I anticipated. I’m shocked by how emotionally invested I became over the course of this novella. I think this is the first time a novella has made me cry. This book was both cute and hot as hell, while also hitting on some really important topics. I loved that Dolly was a mother to be that was struggling to connect with her baby while pregnant. I know a lot of women feel this way and I feel like it’s not something that is talked about much so I really loved that we got to see Dolly struggle with this and have conversations with her partners and birthing class instructor about her struggle with her feelings of inadequacy, and fears about change.
Overall I highly recommend this novella and I’ll definitely be checking out more books by this author!
I found these novellas through TikTok, and I won’t lie, I devoured them. I was eager for this continuation of Cedric, Desmond, and Dot’s story, and I wasn’t disappointed in what I got with them in this one. This story was quick, spicy, and it pushed the boundaries in the best way, all while giving you a love story that’ll melt your heart a bit…aka a lot. I really enjoyed this follow up for these characters and I liked how this author brought their story to a fitting and meaningful conclusion.
In general I don't like to read books about pregnancy, but I really love the author and wanted to continue to series.
I was not disappointed. It was witty, inclusive and overall a great book! Its a short and light read. The dynamic is unconventional and you truly can't help but fall in love with the characters over and over again.
Spicy short little novella. It is a bit of an extended epilogue from the first book. I don’t want to give any spoilers….. The guys are totally overprotective dads to be.. I was a little shocked about the name they chose at the end… because of what that name was in the first book….
This was a cute 2nd installment to the series. It just was like a very long epilogue that talked about how their life was going so far. It also brought up what I’m guessing will be the next book with her daughters life story. Overall this was a good little read but didn’t have much to it.
this really wasn’t needed as it’s just an extended epilogue. i also didn’t like the “unconventional” aspect as it’s not just dotty and her two husbands, but also her sister and her wife (who were way too overbearing)
This is the second book I read from Kat And I love it I love how she continue the story from hot wife. I love the Conflict that happened in the bar scene and Also week 37 chapter was great. But I did not like the time jam in the last chapter of so many years I wish that there was more time to where we get to see them grow but overall the book was great.
I can’t wait for book 3 about Ruby with her son and her 3 men.
I loved seeing Dot and her boys living a happy life. I totally related to Dot and her concerns about being a mom. Although I really feel like those concerns just disappeared with one conversation with the boys I wish there was a little more work on her end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I really liked the first book of this series but I won't be reading book 3. It took me six days to read this novella. The spice was decent but that was it. It was generic and the dialogue felt forced.
So for such a short book, they really show the realities of pregnancy stages for the mom and as well as loving between a polyamorous marriage which is interesting to say the least.
Yeah, I kept reading in the series…at least the smut was hot. However, in this continuation not even that could make me like the characters or care about the plot. Oh well.