Heated

Burned Inc., Book 1

De: Naima Simone

Narrado por: Phoenix McKay, Jeremy York

From USA Today bestselling author Naima Simone comes Heated, a sizzling novel about a breakup professional who embarks on a fake relationship with a client’s ex—the one person she wasn’t supposed to fall for.

Zora

I’m Denver’s unmatchmaker. Every city needs one.

Why? Because people break up—and sometimes they should. But when I learn that entertainment attorney Cyrus Hart is someone else’s mistake, I can’t believe it. He’s smart, successful, and sexy as hell.

When a chance encounter with Cyrus turns into something more, I can’t help but fall for him. Our chemistry is undeniable. But his ex used my company to send him that letter—and that’s a problem. Especially since he doesn’t know I own the company.

How can this possibly work? I know from experience that the riskiest ventures are the worthiest ones...but falling for Cyrus Hart may be my biggest gamble yet.

Cyrus

I’m a man with a plan—college, law school, a great career. So far, so good.

Until a stranger shows up on my doorstep and reads me a breakup letter from my girlfriend. My carefully laid plans unravel.

But then I meet someone new. It’s spontaneous. It’s electric. And it’s not according to plan.

©2022 Naima Bryant. (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Readers will be eager for more.”—Publishers Weekly

loved it

I really enjoyed reading this author.  I look forward to reading more books by this author in the near future.

solid

liked the story. so many times authors shy away from racial issues in a romance and I really think it adds a touch of reality

Can You Handle The Truth?

Heated by Naima Simone
Narrated by Phoenix McKay & Jeremy York

Naima Simone delivers another scorcher of a book. Cyrus the man with a plan and Zora the “break up artist” come together under unusual circumstances and hatch a plan for a fake romance…

With the demands for truth and fears of being rejected if the truth comes out these two navigate around each other and the heat between them is scorching, lustful and cannot be denied.

Loved the story and the narration by Phoenix McKay and Jeremy York. They sizzled and made sparks fly.

finally a black author I can get down with

loved the writing of this story. there's a lot of humor but the author makes her black characters smart and business savvy. there's no slang speech or talks of gang life it drugs it's just a regular romance with a race difference. I really liked it. it was also very steamy in parts. the author did put in some religious tones but not enough to ruin the story. there was no resolution with the parents and how they feel so it felt kind of unfinished since they're a major reason for why the female character is the way she is. 🤷🏾‍♀️

Wonderful Book!

Phoenix McKay and Jeremy York did an excellent job on the narration! I loved the emotion in their voices. Another awesome book by Naima Simone! Excellent storyline and terrific characters!! I highly recommend this book!

Unusual Service

I always enjoy this author and this book doesn’t disappoint. Can you fall in love and slay the messenger? When the messenger is packed in a stacked package old adages go by the wayside. Good one!

I wanted to like it

I really wanted to like this book. From the blurb the story seemed like a winner. The narrators were OK, and definitely did not detract from the story. Their performance was very good. However, it could be that the book was simply too long for the content. I lost interest about 3/4 of the way through. I did skip ahead in an effort to regain enough interest to finish. I did finish, but honestly I won’t go on in the series.

Heated

Naima Simone is an author whose books I have wanted to read for sometime now. When the opportunity came to review her latest release, Heated, I took the leap. This is the first book in her Burned Inc series and it delivered a passionate, funny, engaging opposites attract and fake relationship romance. The couple featured in Heated met under unique circumstances. A romance between them would be a conflict of interest on the heroine's part, but the heart wants what it wants. Soon she finds herself in a tricky situation, which will without a doubt blow up in her face.

I like the idea of a business that provides breakup services for their clients. Saves one from the messiness that comes with a breakup. Burned (Breaking Up, Reversing Nuptials & Evading Disasters) Inc operated by the heroine in partnership with her siblings provides this type of service. The idea for this business came about from growing up with parents who were in a toxic relationship. Of the three siblings, Zora is the peacemaker, which makes her perfect for carrying out her client’s needs.

Her latest assignment has her doing a breakup with the most gorgeous man she has ever seen. The situation became more complicated when he asks her to pretend to be his girlfriend for a work retreat. She should say no, he being her client’s ex, but her attraction to Cyrus had her going against her better judgement and soon she is caught up in a messy web of deceit.

Despite the differences in their social status, Cyrus and Zora they shared similarities in relation to vulnerabilities, insecurities and the need for acceptance. They were both strong and driven individuals who strove for excellence. The story portrayed Zora as a strong black woman comfortable with her size, but there were time when her insecurities regarding same would pop up.  This usually happens during her interactions with Cyrus.

I loved how the story was delivered from the alternate POVs as I got to see the perspectives of the main characters. Also, their humorous and risqué internal dialogue enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Phoenix McKay and Jeremy York narrated, and they delivered solid characters. I have listened to both narrators before, but this is the first time listening to them together. They complimented each other perfectly.

Overall, I had a good time with Heated, which delivered a smart, entertaining, and sexy story and a great start to this series. This is my first time reading Naima Simone’s work and I wouldn’t hesitate to read her again.

Want to see the TV show

What a great book. The scenes were so vibrant in my head, I totally want to see this on tv. (It at least has to be a limited series -movies are too short). Anyway, I loved Zora and Cyrus. I miss them now that the book is over. 😔

Cyrus and Zora were not supposed to be…

Zora was the owner in a different kinda business. She was a breakup specialist. Life dealt her and her siblings a crappy hand in parents. She was strong in her own right. She was the peacemaker in her own family. She was to me still finding her place in life as an adult. She past was dictating her future and she was not all tha happy with the way things looked. Until the forbidden came across her viewing Cyrus was tha forbidden piece of fruit she should not want. But she did she really really wanted him. But was she the kind of woman he could want also. Their friendship was brought about in a non conventional way but it was so much more than either of the two would have imagined. It for me was well worth the journey to their hea.

Nice to meet your voice Phoenix McKay. Always nice to see you again Jeremy York. Enjoyed the duo.