Oil & Chocolate

by Nikki Kwiatkowski

Briar Stone, a passionate girl with a bright future in front of her, had it made. At least she did until the death of both her parents turned her once privileged world dark. This leaves her with only one Get out. The plan was simple, stay under the radar while saving enough money to pursue her dream of baking in London. Dexter Hayden, the local mechanic in the quaint town of Argent Falls, is definitely not part of that plan. Despite his gruff personality and unique savior complex, she can't help but admit that he is incredibly attractive. His elaborate ink and checkered past only adds to the enigmatic air about him. She knows better than to let her guard down, yet one small act of compassion sets off a chain of events that neither of them could have ever imagined. While the odds keep stacking up against them, they find themselves helplessly drawn to one another. Unfortunately, the past has a way of returning, and the future is always calling. ------------------------------------------ This is an adult romance novel which includes dark content. Target audience is 18+. Strong language and sexual content.
Trigger warnings (detailed or discussed) that may be disturbing to age gap, abuse, violence, rape, drug use.

391 pages, Paperback

First published July 6, 2021

About the author

Nikki's love for stories began at a young age when her mother read books to her every night. This fondness transitioned to an English degree from college enjoying works such as Light in August by William Faulkner during her studies. Since then she has had the privilege to work with children at a local middle school.

Nikki has always written stories in her free time. Inspiration comes from a variety of places, with music being a particularly common one.

Nikki currently lives in Texas with her husband and rescue dog CindeRella. When not engrossed in a book you can find her spending time with her parents cooking up a new dish to share with her friends and family.

Reviews

[Sunny Lovestories · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things just start rough. Briar is orphaned all she knows is gone, but that's ok she has plans and she will stick to those plans. . So how can a girl just wanting to open her own little bakeshop turn into an adult content warning novel? Well, Dexter slithers in and though he knows better, and she should catch on to warning signs, l*st takes over and consumes the two. Right. in. front. of.our. very. eyes. Even the title is s*xy without the couple being on the cover you still have a pretty good idea where this book is going.
Well done burn, ache, heat, suspense and I was happy with the follow-through. I will read more from this author.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oil & Chocolate is an age gap romance following the rollercoaster relationship of Briar and Dex. Briar is an orphan, running from a toxic home life she ends up in Argent Falls where she meets Dex, the local mechanic. The course of the narrative transforms Briars character, from closed off, worked to the bone and traumatised to confident and sassy. Briar and Dex’s love story is full of ups and downs, with Dex playing a protective role which at times morphs into jealousy, particularly due to Briar’s friendship with Benji’s son Liam in its infancy. Both Briar and Dex have traumatic backstories, with both having experienced the loss of both parents, through death and/or abandonment. Briar and Dex open up to each other throughout the narrative, bonding over shared experiences and how they dealt with and overcame their trauma. Whilst Dex’s trauma is mostly healed, Briar is still within the throws of her grief and healing journey and watching how she grows and accepts that she is not her trauma and makes herself into who she wants to be through her own hard work. Oil & Chocolate is exactly what you want in a romance, it is not all fluff and beauty as that’s not true to life. Briar and Dex both have their flaws and pasts, but use this in a way to grow, at times apart but ultimately together at the end.
I absolutely adored this book and could not put it down! I loved how the relationship played out as a slow burn, with Briar and Dex both having lives that coexist alongside their relationship. I cannot wait to read more books from Nikki K, she’s definitely an author to have on the radar of any romance reader!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Oil & Chocolate" by Nikki Kwiatkowski is a captivating tale of love, loss, and the unpredictable journey of self-discovery. Set against the backdrop of the quaint town of Argent Falls, the novel follows the story of Briar Stone, a young woman whose life takes a drastic turn after the untimely death of her parents.

With her once privileged world shattered, Briar is left with no choice but to flee, seeking solace and a chance to pursue her passion for baking in London. However, her plans take an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Dexter Hayden, the local mechanic with a gruff exterior and a mysterious past.

Despite their differences, Briar finds herself drawn to Dexter in ways she never imagined. As their bond deepens, they navigate through the complexities of their pasts while grappling with the uncertainties of the future. Kwiatkowski skillfully weaves together themes of resilience, redemption, and the power of human connection, creating a narrative that is both poignant and uplifting.

The characters in "Oil & Chocolate" are beautifully crafted, each with their own vulnerabilities and strengths. Briar's journey of self-discovery is relatable and inspiring, while Dexter's enigmatic nature adds an intriguing layer to the story. The chemistry between them is palpable, making their love story all the more compelling.

With its richly drawn setting and heartfelt storytelling, "Oil & Chocolate" is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance. Kwiatkowski's prose is evocative and immersive, transporting readers to the picturesque town of Argent Falls and inviting them to experience the highs and lows of Briar and Dexter's journey.

Overall, "Oil & Chocolate" is a beautifully written novel that explores the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of love. It is a poignant reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a brighter tomorrow.

[KL Cassanello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow! I love this book, my first from this author. She ripped my heart out, stomped on it for a while, before finally giving me the ending I'd hope for. There's a lot going on - action and family drama (especially with Briar's evil stepmother and her very sicko stepbrother), but also a beautiful forbidden romance brewing between Briar and Dex. The twist after Briar's graduation (close to the end) damn near broke my heart. Briar and Dex are both just so hard-headed, and more than once, I just wanted to give them a good smack up the side of their heads. I'm looking forward to more from this author. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author thru Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving my review. Briar and Dexter have a love story full of emotions. She is an orphan who is trying to go somewhere in life. She had dreams and goals that seem so far away at times. He wants to deny his attraction to her but only for so long. Their story has darkness as well as light. The obstacles in their path can only strengthen them in the end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly good story

I really enjoyed this. I loved Dex and Blair though it's not my idea of an age-gap as there's only 8yrs between them. Dex is such a decent guy and I hated how he felt bad that he fancied her from the start. Blairs step-mother is a total.piece of work and anything that happened to her would have been justified imo

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanine Harrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was a new to me author and I really enjoyed the book! I think what I actually enjoyed the most about this book was the POV. It was third person but allowed me to know what each character was thinking and feeling throughout the story. It was written in such a way that it was not confusing and I really appreciated it.
There were so many things to like about this books. The characters were well developed and the overall story was told so well.
It was an age gap but the “forbidden” part was because Briar was so young. I felt like Nikki did a great job of demonstrating Briar’s maturity and consent to the relationship while she showed Dex’s continued reluctance. Eventually they couldn’t ignore the attraction any longer especially as they got to know each other.
There are definite triggers with drug abuse and suicide attempt mentioned, and a retelling of a rape scene so be warned. But for me it all played into the overall story and was important to developing the characters.

[BeccaFay · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVE!

This book had a couple parts that were difficult to read, so definitely check the trigger warnings. The parts didn't feel forced but necessary for the story. It was for sure a slow burn but more than worth it in the end. I just finished the book and I'm literally sobbing (in a good way!) This was easily one of my favorite reads this year. The few spicy scenes were SPICY.
5\5 stars, no notes

[Kirstie Ibrahim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. There was plenty going on and some mystery thrown in too. I liked all the different characters and the town.

[Witchmetal · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Ashlyn Terzich · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book however it doesnt have the spice that you'd think for an 18+ readers warning.