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Fine Maple
Agnes is 37, never been married, has two kids for a man who left her to marry a woman who wouldn't add weight after childbirth, and owns a small pastry business she runs from her apartment. She is the description of what society calls an 'old cargo', a woman with kids whom no sane man would marry. She is okay with this reality and only lives to take care of her kids and grow her business.
Until Bass shows up at her door. He’s everything that’s wrong – he’s younger by seven years, he’s kind of an online celebrity, he’s her neighbour and her only friend’s cousin. It was a disaster waiting to happen but Bass thinks otherwise. Can Agnes dare believe his convincing words?
Until Bass shows up at her door. He’s everything that’s wrong – he’s younger by seven years, he’s kind of an online celebrity, he’s her neighbour and her only friend’s cousin. It was a disaster waiting to happen but Bass thinks otherwise. Can Agnes dare believe his convincing words?
- GenresRomance
213 pages, Paperback
Published November 25, 2021
2 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Emem Bassey
46 books35 followersEmem Bassey loves romance in all its forms. She writes what she terms a hybrid romance - love stories with bits and pieces of other genres. All her stories carry plus size heroines and she staunchly believes the world is filled with tragedy, so she writes to entertain and lighten hearts.
Emem lives at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and is basically a ghost to her neighbors.
Emem lives at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and is basically a ghost to her neighbors.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 2, 2020
Love this story. The author delivered a steamy, heart-warming read that just hit the spot. ❤️
April 23, 2021
3.75 stars
This is an age-gap romance featuring an older woman. This is a big issue in the African context especially when combined with a single mum trope. Agnes a single mother is juggling several balls and struggling to keep them all up. Her neighbour who normally helps with babysitting and generally picking up the slack is travelling. Luckily, she’s arranged for her cousin to assist while she’s away.
Enter the hero, Bass, a younger man who’s secretly in love with Agnes. Bass was confident, knew what he wanted and didn’t mind working to earn it. He was very much the hero rescuing a damsel in distress. While this counted as a plus for him, in some cases it made the heroine appear less competent. Though she was older, Bass appeared more mature in many ways. I would have liked to see more of Agnes handling herself and her life instead of being frazzled seventy percent of the time and Bass swooping in to save the day. I also had a huge problem with the scene where they meet. As a mum, that scene was more scary than sweet, and there were a couple of additional ones like that. We do see some character growth in the heroine over the course of the story, which is a plus.
I liked the dynamics between Agnes and Bass and enjoyed the sizzling hot sex scenes. I especially liked that this story centres a plus-sized heroine without making body image a plot point. I enjoyed it enough that I'll be checking out the other books in the series
This is an age-gap romance featuring an older woman. This is a big issue in the African context especially when combined with a single mum trope. Agnes a single mother is juggling several balls and struggling to keep them all up. Her neighbour who normally helps with babysitting and generally picking up the slack is travelling. Luckily, she’s arranged for her cousin to assist while she’s away.
Enter the hero, Bass, a younger man who’s secretly in love with Agnes. Bass was confident, knew what he wanted and didn’t mind working to earn it. He was very much the hero rescuing a damsel in distress. While this counted as a plus for him, in some cases it made the heroine appear less competent. Though she was older, Bass appeared more mature in many ways. I would have liked to see more of Agnes handling herself and her life instead of being frazzled seventy percent of the time and Bass swooping in to save the day. I also had a huge problem with the scene where they meet. As a mum, that scene was more scary than sweet, and there were a couple of additional ones like that. We do see some character growth in the heroine over the course of the story, which is a plus.
I liked the dynamics between Agnes and Bass and enjoyed the sizzling hot sex scenes. I especially liked that this story centres a plus-sized heroine without making body image a plot point. I enjoyed it enough that I'll be checking out the other books in the series
November 15, 2020
A wonderful hot romance. It was great to see Agnes grow and become more confident throughout the book. I liked how Bassey knew what he wanted when he saw Agnes and went after her despite the obstacles.
February 22, 2021
Amazing ❤️❤️
I am new reader to Emem Bassey books and let me tell you this series is everything omg I shouted cried 🤗😭 for this couple and kids were so cute in story the way this man love this kid yesss🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 this story touch my heart ❤️
I am new reader to Emem Bassey books and let me tell you this series is everything omg I shouted cried 🤗😭 for this couple and kids were so cute in story the way this man love this kid yesss🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 this story touch my heart ❤️
August 14, 2023
This author made me fall in love with romance books with plus-sized heroins and age gape romance. This book didn't disappoint at all.
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
September 22, 2024
OMG!!!
I enjoyed this one so much... I'm a sucker for a good age-gap romance and I won't even try to hide it.
The main couple got their HEA, so stop overthinking and just dive in!
I enjoyed this one so much... I'm a sucker for a good age-gap romance and I won't even try to hide it.
The main couple got their HEA, so stop overthinking and just dive in!
February 9, 2025
better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2021
Fine maple has popular, gorgeous, tattooed, badass looking, sensitive young chef Bass falling hard for single mother of two, baking prodigy Agnes after seeing her in a Facebook pic (totally the epitome of love at first sight, but it works in a bizarre way). We then get to see him work his way through her challenged heart, trying to control his *emotions* and do his best to prove her how age (he's not even that young actually, not get much older) doesn't prevent him from full dedication to her and her kids.
Steam level: 🔥🔥
Minor drama
I loved how reality kicks in and it's sexy (as in slightly drooped breasts, flabbed arms)
Steam level: 🔥🔥
Minor drama
I loved how reality kicks in and it's sexy (as in slightly drooped breasts, flabbed arms)
August 22, 2020
After having read Fine Wine (Book 1 in the Age is No Bother series) a while back, I was intrigued by this author’s work. Whilst age-gap is not especially one of my top tropes of choice, this author’s commitment to writing incredibly sexy, taboo-stomping erotic romances featuring plus sized heroines is definitely something I appreciate and am into.
The premise of this book is that Agnes is a struggling single mother in her late 30s with two young children trying to make it with her home-baking business but totally dependent on the help and support of her BFF Mandy being that her religious parents have more or less disowned her and her ex-boyfriend/baby daddy is a faithless love rat. When Mandy’s hot 30-year old celeb chef cousin, Bass, sees a picture of Agnes, it’s love at first sight and he’s ready to do anything to win Agnes’ heart. But Agnes has been burned before by the stigma of “what people will say” and is wary of starting anything with the younger man.
I enjoyed this book. It was pleasant to read with a high heat level but also a high cuteness factor with lots of opportunities for “awwww’s” because there are little kids in it. I think Bass’ take charge energy and boundary-pushing definition of consent would bother some people but I think a lot of this author’s work is very much about pushing taboo boundaries so if it’s read through that lens, it’s not super problematic. I do like this couple together- yes it’s instalove of the instalove-th degree but I think it’s a cute story and a great addition to the series. I look forward to hopefully Mandy’s book next.
The premise of this book is that Agnes is a struggling single mother in her late 30s with two young children trying to make it with her home-baking business but totally dependent on the help and support of her BFF Mandy being that her religious parents have more or less disowned her and her ex-boyfriend/baby daddy is a faithless love rat. When Mandy’s hot 30-year old celeb chef cousin, Bass, sees a picture of Agnes, it’s love at first sight and he’s ready to do anything to win Agnes’ heart. But Agnes has been burned before by the stigma of “what people will say” and is wary of starting anything with the younger man.
I enjoyed this book. It was pleasant to read with a high heat level but also a high cuteness factor with lots of opportunities for “awwww’s” because there are little kids in it. I think Bass’ take charge energy and boundary-pushing definition of consent would bother some people but I think a lot of this author’s work is very much about pushing taboo boundaries so if it’s read through that lens, it’s not super problematic. I do like this couple together- yes it’s instalove of the instalove-th degree but I think it’s a cute story and a great addition to the series. I look forward to hopefully Mandy’s book next.
August 1, 2020
Love At First Sight
It was so sweet how Bass saw Agnes on a picture and instantly fell in love with her without even knowing nor meeting her. Bass not only made an impression on Agnes but on Benny and Ruth as well that their own father Ukpono didn't even have on them. I'm glad that Agnes worked through all the issues that she had with giving Bass a chance because he really did love her and the kids. I can't wait to read the next book to see what's going to happen with Mr.Joe and Mandy.
It was so sweet how Bass saw Agnes on a picture and instantly fell in love with her without even knowing nor meeting her. Bass not only made an impression on Agnes but on Benny and Ruth as well that their own father Ukpono didn't even have on them. I'm glad that Agnes worked through all the issues that she had with giving Bass a chance because he really did love her and the kids. I can't wait to read the next book to see what's going to happen with Mr.Joe and Mandy.
August 2, 2020
Sweet Maple
I love a good age gap story. I'm glad I brought this book I enjoyed reading it!! Agnes and Bass I loved their story. This book was entertaining, great characters, well written and a page turner. Emem Bassey is a new author to me. I look forward to reading more of this series!!
I love a good age gap story. I'm glad I brought this book I enjoyed reading it!! Agnes and Bass I loved their story. This book was entertaining, great characters, well written and a page turner. Emem Bassey is a new author to me. I look forward to reading more of this series!!
August 17, 2020
Sweet and sexy romance between Bass and Agnes.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews