This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Introduction
Sin & Ink is the first book in the "Sweetest Taboo" series and this was also my very first book from this author and I finally know why so many readers LOVE this author, because yeah I feel it now! I absolutely adored this one and I am not sure what took me so long to read it. I guess sometimes I get nervous around such hyped authors but this author and this book is definitely worth the hype. I really loved everything about this one. I do adore a good forbidden feel romance and this has it all so fully. And we also have some diversity aspects with the heroine having "Pacific Island heritage" and I really enjoyed that. We just don't get enough characters with that type of descent. If you love a sexy contemporary with strong alpha male vibes, who is tortured, then this is one you definitely need to pick up and quickly.

Summary
Knox and Eden have a chemistry that won't be looked at positively. Eden is Knox's late brother's wife. She is his widow. But she is a woman he has been in love with for years and has never been able to have because of whom she belonged to. He is determined to keep things professional, but their chemistry grows now that Eden is working on moving on with her life and embracing her dreams. Knox is her rock but is also someone she is seeing hidden depths to. And when the chemistry between them, they will have to decide if their relationship is worth fighting for even if that means losing the people they love the most....their family.

My Outlook
Sin & Ink was such a fabulous book and it had my heart so completely snared. This author really captivates and I can't wait to explore more of her other work. In this story we definitely have a taboo that is explored but its not a taboo that bothers me at all. And this really explores emotional abuse of a family member. My goodness, I really didn't care for the mother at all. She was awful. I know she is grieving but the way she treats Knox is so manipulative and toxic. And seeing him tormented by how his mother treats him was so heartbreaking. The way that Eden just sees the man beneath the tough exterior and learns to fight for him was so precious. Honestly that ending just put this book up to a 4.5 rating for me. Because all the FEELS. And I gained so much love for the brothers and I can't wait for their books. I know there aren't many books in the series so ....Naima Simone....write some books haha

Overall View
I found Sin & Ink to be a delectable read that was so well done. It had the emotion, the spice, character depth and so much more. This author knows how to write a captivating story to enrich your heart!

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 4
World Building: 4
Cover:5
Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Steam: 5
Heart & Feels: 5
Ending:5
Overall View: 4.5

Knox was a heavy-weight MMA fighter until the sudden death of his brother in the ring. He now owns and operates "Hard Knox Ink," a premier tattoo shop. Knox lives with a heavy burden of guilt. Guilt that his brother is dead because he didn't prevent him from taking that fight and guilt for coveting his brother's widow. He wants Eden, but he promised his mother he would never touch her, out of respect for his brother. Eden has pulled herself out of depression and is starting to feel like she is ready to live again two years after the death of her young husband. She's been living with her in-laws which has been a blessing, but Eden is ready to move on. But, she's also been having craving's for her brother-in-law, her boss, cravings she hasn't felt for a long, long time. Eden doesn't know that Knox has wanted her even while she was married to his brother, but their growing chemistry finally explodes after Eden asks Knox to give her a tattoo. What follows is angst-for-days forbidden romance between two people who are risking a lot to be together. While novella length, the character development, pacing, and scorching heat are off-the-charts good. Content warning for discussion of depression, discussion of secondary character death, and a man-bun.