Ceri Grenelle

HEAT WAVE is a super-sexy novella in Carina's Dirty Bits series... and it's about apartment neighbors! The two MCs have been friends for months, walking to the BART (public transpo) together every morning, getting coffee, etc. They seem to be good friends with a lot in common, which is helpful since the plot of this story is pretty heavy on the sex. (That's why you're reading this book, this isn't a criticism.)
As you might expect, there's a pretty epic heat wave in SF, and Faye doesn't have AC. Then the power goes out and she gathers her courage and goes to talk to Ben. She's been fantasizing about him for months and then there as a scene where she's in her shower and he's in his and they can hear everything through the wall... Anyway, they haven't spoken for a week, but that's all about to change.
This is the hottest of the DBs that I've read so far. Ben is a dirty talker, and it's really well done. There are a couple of awkward word choices at times that didn't make sense as dialogue (I have never heard a person use the word "wrought" in conversation), but overall it really came together well.
I was initially worried when I saw that the male MC is black and the female MC is white, but the story (to this white woman's mind) stayed away from the stereotypes and fetishization.
All in all, a short hot read with a believable HEA.… (mere)