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Chicago Sapphics #3
Carnations & Commitment
April Showers Are Bringing May Flowers to The City in a Garden!
Dawn Russo, resident Cupid receptionist and new mother, is still weathering last month's storms.
Rather, she is hiding from them.
Not that we can blame her. After heartbreak turned her world upside down, we've seldom seen her outside of her brief walks around the city with a stroller in tow.
Thankfully, we know that she's in great hands. Who better than Chicago's favorite mascot and Labor & Delivery nurse; Claire 'Bear' Richter?
As protective as she may be—our sources are curious to know if her timing is where it should be. But a life without risk makes for a quietly colorless Mother's Day exposé.
And there's no lack of color where carnations & commitment are to be found.
Dawn Russo, resident Cupid receptionist and new mother, is still weathering last month's storms.
Rather, she is hiding from them.
Not that we can blame her. After heartbreak turned her world upside down, we've seldom seen her outside of her brief walks around the city with a stroller in tow.
Thankfully, we know that she's in great hands. Who better than Chicago's favorite mascot and Labor & Delivery nurse; Claire 'Bear' Richter?
As protective as she may be—our sources are curious to know if her timing is where it should be. But a life without risk makes for a quietly colorless Mother's Day exposé.
And there's no lack of color where carnations & commitment are to be found.
212 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2025
4 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 15, 2025
Dawn is having her baby! Dawn’s fiance? Has left her. Good thing Clare Richter, her L&D nurse has been struck with love at first sight and stepped in to take over!
The third installment in the Chicago Sapphics series that follows the Richter sisters and their road to love features Clare “Bear”, and Dawn (the receptionist from Cupid!). Clare is knocked dead when she sees Dawn giving birth alone, and swears she’ll be the one to take care of her and the baby, Madeline.
This story is so sweet. No lines are really crossed, they keep running into each other, things happen very organically. Clare is an absolute sweetheart, showering both mom and baby with everything they’d ever need to feel loved. The kinks in this one were a little much for me, but I know there are some out there that will be into it hehe. Clare definitely does things right, even when she almost messes up, thanks to some meddling. I am loving this series so much, and can’t believe I have to wait until Thanksgiving for the next chapter in these sister’s lives. Thank you for the advanced copy!
The third installment in the Chicago Sapphics series that follows the Richter sisters and their road to love features Clare “Bear”, and Dawn (the receptionist from Cupid!). Clare is knocked dead when she sees Dawn giving birth alone, and swears she’ll be the one to take care of her and the baby, Madeline.
This story is so sweet. No lines are really crossed, they keep running into each other, things happen very organically. Clare is an absolute sweetheart, showering both mom and baby with everything they’d ever need to feel loved. The kinks in this one were a little much for me, but I know there are some out there that will be into it hehe. Clare definitely does things right, even when she almost messes up, thanks to some meddling. I am loving this series so much, and can’t believe I have to wait until Thanksgiving for the next chapter in these sister’s lives. Thank you for the advanced copy!
May 11, 2025
The single parent trope is one of my favorite tropes to read. Dawn really does represent a lot of single, first-time moms. Not only is she learning to be a single parent, she’s also learning to heal from her previous relationship. She’s fiercely independent. Claire comes in and reminds her that it is okay to be vulnerable and to accept support.
Claire is the ultimate book girlfriend. She makes her intentions known and also treats Dawn with the utmost respect and care. Claire is constantly demonstrating that she’s not going anywhere. The spice scenes? They’re definitely spicy. I will say that the book felt like 60% spice and 40% plot. Not a bad thing at all for me, but might not be for everyone. There is also a lactation discovery kink in this so tread carefully if you’re not okay with that.
This was a reminder that I need to read more WLW stories. I definitely need more book girlfriends in my life.
Claire is the ultimate book girlfriend. She makes her intentions known and also treats Dawn with the utmost respect and care. Claire is constantly demonstrating that she’s not going anywhere. The spice scenes? They’re definitely spicy. I will say that the book felt like 60% spice and 40% plot. Not a bad thing at all for me, but might not be for everyone. There is also a lactation discovery kink in this so tread carefully if you’re not okay with that.
This was a reminder that I need to read more WLW stories. I definitely need more book girlfriends in my life.
May 12, 2025
I love that this is another holiday themed romance book and I enjoy @authorh.b.cliffy writing a lot. I’ll admit I love a good spicy book some of the spice was a lot for me to handle lol. But overall still a cutesy Mother’s Day read.
~
Single mom & nurse? Check.
Holiday romance with a dose of heartbreak recovery? Oh yes.
Kink and all things spicy? Double check. 🌶️
Get ready to fall in love with Carnations & Commitment by H.B. Cliffy — a sapphic Mother’s Day romance full of warmth, steam, and second chances.
~
Single mom & nurse? Check.
Holiday romance with a dose of heartbreak recovery? Oh yes.
Kink and all things spicy? Double check. 🌶️
Get ready to fall in love with Carnations & Commitment by H.B. Cliffy — a sapphic Mother’s Day romance full of warmth, steam, and second chances.
May 12, 2025
I thought the previous Lattes and Luck was spicy and good but all I’m going to say is this is the SINGLE MOM TROPE that may have given me a new kink? 😂🥵 Dawn and Claire 🥰 these two have known of each other and the chemistry between these two once they finally got together had me questioning my own wife 😂 this was a quick story but did not miss any details at all and had me wondering what can be coming up next!!
May 8, 2025
HB Cliffy is releasing their third sapphic novella this Sunday for Mother’s Day and it is fabulous! Following the individual love lives of five sisters in Chicago, this open door book has nosy sisters, a very realistic birth scene, flower language and the best nicknames (sunshine and knight).
There’s two more sisters to go - I have no doubt their stories will be just as wonderful as the first three.
There’s two more sisters to go - I have no doubt their stories will be just as wonderful as the first three.
May 6, 2025
ARC REVIEW-
This was such a good mixture of cute and spicy! The characters were so fun! It was short and sweet. I love a fun sapphic romance. As a single mom from the moment my son was born myself, so much of this story spoke to me. The feelings she felt were so similar to how I felt. I had such a fun time reading this story!
This was such a good mixture of cute and spicy! The characters were so fun! It was short and sweet. I love a fun sapphic romance. As a single mom from the moment my son was born myself, so much of this story spoke to me. The feelings she felt were so similar to how I felt. I had such a fun time reading this story!
May 4, 2025
Claire just might be the balm to cure Dawn’s broken heart. What a great journey it is to see them discover each other and watch Claire almost sacrifice her happiness for Dawn’s. This is the great love we deserve. And the spice? Amazing!
May 17, 2025
Spice - 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Quote: "I know how I want to be treated in a relationship, and that's exactly how I treat my intended partners."
First, I must say that at this point whatever HB Cliffy writes I'm going to read.
Second, I found myself deeply relating to this book, as Claire's desire to have her own family resonated with me, and Dawn's experience being a first-time mother, I felt this intensely!
In some cases, it is as if no one acknowledges the immense pressure one experiences or the raw truth of how one perceives their own body in the mirror. Most people tend to focus solely on the baby, neglecting the mother's emotional well-being.
Now, Felicity and Dawn seemingly made a perfect couple, engaged and expecting a child, until Felicity abruptly ghosted Dawn, leaving her to care for their child alone. While I cannot fathom facing such a situation, I loved that Claire emerged as Dawn's knight in shining armor. I appreciated how Claire asked Dawn about the baby but also asked about HER feelings, highlighting the importance of not only focusing on the baby but also checking in with the parent.
It is essential to recognize that bringing a new life into this world can take a toll on one's mental health!
I loved this book, and it is my favorite among the three. I completed it in one day, and I highly recommend it.
Quote: "I know how I want to be treated in a relationship, and that's exactly how I treat my intended partners."
First, I must say that at this point whatever HB Cliffy writes I'm going to read.
Second, I found myself deeply relating to this book, as Claire's desire to have her own family resonated with me, and Dawn's experience being a first-time mother, I felt this intensely!
In some cases, it is as if no one acknowledges the immense pressure one experiences or the raw truth of how one perceives their own body in the mirror. Most people tend to focus solely on the baby, neglecting the mother's emotional well-being.
Now, Felicity and Dawn seemingly made a perfect couple, engaged and expecting a child, until Felicity abruptly ghosted Dawn, leaving her to care for their child alone. While I cannot fathom facing such a situation, I loved that Claire emerged as Dawn's knight in shining armor. I appreciated how Claire asked Dawn about the baby but also asked about HER feelings, highlighting the importance of not only focusing on the baby but also checking in with the parent.
It is essential to recognize that bringing a new life into this world can take a toll on one's mental health!
I loved this book, and it is my favorite among the three. I completed it in one day, and I highly recommend it.
January 12, 2026
Duel 1st Person POV. 5🌟 4🌶️. 212 pages
Carnations & Commitment is the third book in the Chicago Sapphics series. A series of standalone, yet loosely interconnected novellas that each follow 1 of 5 sisters as they fall in love.
Book 3 follows Dawn a not only new mom, but a newly single new mom and Claire a chivalrous L&D nurse that helped deliver her baby, as they go from nurse/patient, to friends to lovers.
Carnations & Commitment is my favourite book of the series so far. It’s got fluff, healing from a broken heart, a possessive mc that would tear the world down for the other, a cute kid and it explores a kink that many books would refuse to.
There’s a shitty ex, and overprotective best friend that causes a small rift, sexual tension, and a heavy dose of MILF spice, with the continuous appearance of lactation kink
If you like quick burn, high heat, short stories, then I would definitely recommend the Chicago Sapphics series as a whole.
Must read if you LOVE:
✨Holiday Romance
✨New Mom Rep
✨Shitty Ex
✨Strangers to Friends to Lovers
✨Cute Kid
✨Fast Burn
✨Overprotective Best Friend
✨Possessive and Protective MC
✨Sexual Tension
✨Lactation Kink
Carnations & Commitment is the third book in the Chicago Sapphics series. A series of standalone, yet loosely interconnected novellas that each follow 1 of 5 sisters as they fall in love.
Book 3 follows Dawn a not only new mom, but a newly single new mom and Claire a chivalrous L&D nurse that helped deliver her baby, as they go from nurse/patient, to friends to lovers.
Carnations & Commitment is my favourite book of the series so far. It’s got fluff, healing from a broken heart, a possessive mc that would tear the world down for the other, a cute kid and it explores a kink that many books would refuse to.
There’s a shitty ex, and overprotective best friend that causes a small rift, sexual tension, and a heavy dose of MILF spice, with the continuous appearance of lactation kink
If you like quick burn, high heat, short stories, then I would definitely recommend the Chicago Sapphics series as a whole.
Must read if you LOVE:
✨Holiday Romance
✨New Mom Rep
✨Shitty Ex
✨Strangers to Friends to Lovers
✨Cute Kid
✨Fast Burn
✨Overprotective Best Friend
✨Possessive and Protective MC
✨Sexual Tension
✨Lactation Kink
January 13, 2026
lawd
I’ve had to tone down my reviews since Amazon refuses to publish them due to “profanity” and “inappropriate materials”
Lawd, this is a Mother’s Day special. It is was a wild one.
This novella is a dual POV in the first person, with a friend’s to lovers approach. We already know Dawn as Anastasia’s best pal and Cupid employee and, of course, Claire is another one of the Richter clan. Mother Maggie Richter out here doing the lord’s work for the LGBTQ+ community.
Y’all Dawn comes out of nowhere…honestly. These gals are written as Dr. Jekyll on the day to day and Mr. Hyde in the sheets. On the first date too, the kahuna’s to pull out your kink on the first date is enviable.
Claire is a possessive and protective lass whom is absolutely written similar to the mafia characters I’ve previously read. I’m seeing the author’s propensity for dark romance in these books and I am certainly hope they write a dark sapphic one 🫡.
Both these gals share their kink so it’s a match made in heaven.
See you at American Thanksgiving!
I’ve had to tone down my reviews since Amazon refuses to publish them due to “profanity” and “inappropriate materials”
Lawd, this is a Mother’s Day special. It is was a wild one.
This novella is a dual POV in the first person, with a friend’s to lovers approach. We already know Dawn as Anastasia’s best pal and Cupid employee and, of course, Claire is another one of the Richter clan. Mother Maggie Richter out here doing the lord’s work for the LGBTQ+ community.
Y’all Dawn comes out of nowhere…honestly. These gals are written as Dr. Jekyll on the day to day and Mr. Hyde in the sheets. On the first date too, the kahuna’s to pull out your kink on the first date is enviable.
Claire is a possessive and protective lass whom is absolutely written similar to the mafia characters I’ve previously read. I’m seeing the author’s propensity for dark romance in these books and I am certainly hope they write a dark sapphic one 🫡.
Both these gals share their kink so it’s a match made in heaven.
See you at American Thanksgiving!
May 11, 2025
ARC review. Dawn finds herself a new mom and newly single. Struggling to adapt to the sudden changes in her life, her nurse Claire steps in to help. Claire is a protector and giver, and she’ll do anything for Dawn. Even if it means breaking her own heart.
This is book three in the Chicago Sapphics series. This time, it’s Claire that shoots her shot with new mother Dawn. You get a sense that the women develop a closeness from the birth on. Claire is dominant as heck. She’s bold, protective and aggressive—but also a perfectionist with some big insecurities. Dawn is reeling from two major life changes back to back, and struggling with her identity, her body, and her love life. I love the story between the two women. It’s the idea of going all in because you understand what’s in front of you, the fast falling in love (runs in the family) even if it’s terrifying. It’s a quick and cute read for Mother’s Day.
This is book three in the Chicago Sapphics series. This time, it’s Claire that shoots her shot with new mother Dawn. You get a sense that the women develop a closeness from the birth on. Claire is dominant as heck. She’s bold, protective and aggressive—but also a perfectionist with some big insecurities. Dawn is reeling from two major life changes back to back, and struggling with her identity, her body, and her love life. I love the story between the two women. It’s the idea of going all in because you understand what’s in front of you, the fast falling in love (runs in the family) even if it’s terrifying. It’s a quick and cute read for Mother’s Day.
May 7, 2025
ARC reader
4.5/5 stars
This is the third book that I have read in this series. I have had the honor to be an ARC reader for each one. There were a few thing that were off pudding for me in this book, mainly the breast milk fetish. But to each there own, I guess.
I think that this love story is a little rushed, but at least there is a history between the characters, i.e. Claire helping Dawn deliver her baby. I think that a few of the tougher subjects, like post-partum depression, is just skimmed over. I am not saying that we have to go real deep, but it is barely hinted at.
I did enjoy that there are a few hints to the rest of the upcoming books in this series. I cannot wait to see here the rest of the Sister's stories end up!
4.5/5 stars
This is the third book that I have read in this series. I have had the honor to be an ARC reader for each one. There were a few thing that were off pudding for me in this book, mainly the breast milk fetish. But to each there own, I guess.
I think that this love story is a little rushed, but at least there is a history between the characters, i.e. Claire helping Dawn deliver her baby. I think that a few of the tougher subjects, like post-partum depression, is just skimmed over. I am not saying that we have to go real deep, but it is barely hinted at.
I did enjoy that there are a few hints to the rest of the upcoming books in this series. I cannot wait to see here the rest of the Sister's stories end up!
May 27, 2025
Just finished this book and wow—Claire never wanted to be a princess, but being Dawn’s knight in shining armor? Totally her vibe. Dawn is Claire’s sunshine, lighting up all the dark spots.
This sapphic single mom romance hit all the feels—healing from heartbreak, first date F*** up, and some spicy surprises (hello, lactation kink!). Plus, it’s set around Mother’s Day, so it’s got all the warm, cozy vibes. If you want something real, tender, and a little steamy, you’ve gotta read this. I’m still thinking about these two.
This sapphic single mom romance hit all the feels—healing from heartbreak, first date F*** up, and some spicy surprises (hello, lactation kink!). Plus, it’s set around Mother’s Day, so it’s got all the warm, cozy vibes. If you want something real, tender, and a little steamy, you’ve gotta read this. I’m still thinking about these two.
May 5, 2025
This is such a cute story about heartbreak, friendship, and love. Claire is so supportive and caring of Dawn. Their relationship is sweet, but spicy. If you like romance and spice this book is for you.
May 12, 2025
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in sapphic romances. It has a fast pace, and the love interests connect fairly quickly. I rated it 4.25 stars because, while it was enjoyable, some parts didn’t align with my expectations. Overall, it’s a fantastic read that I truly loved.
July 9, 2025
There's nothing really wrong with this book, although it wasn't really for me.
September 8, 2025
Awe, lesbians. They moved so fast. And dirty! 😛
February 1, 2026
Carnations & Commitment is, without a doubt, my favourite book in the series so far. It honestly feels like HB Cliffy was having fun writing this one, and that energy carries through the whole story.
Claire and Dawn completely stole my heart. Their chemistry is sweet and soft one moment, then unexpectedly electric the next. Their connection starts soft and natural, but the chemistry simmers constantly — and when it finally flares, it’s impossible to ignore. The spice in this one is so good — elevated, confident, and perfectly woven into the emotional arc of their relationship.
What I loved most is how balanced this story feels. It’s cute and cosy, yes, but it also has depth. The emotions are honest, the commitment feels earned, and the romance grows in a way that feels grounded rather than rushed. The writing flows beautifully, and I found myself fully immersed from start to finish.
This book really cemented how promising this series is. Each instalment builds on the last, and Carnations & Commitment feels like the strongest, most complete entry yet. Warm, romantic, and deeply satisfying — I adored it and would absolutely recommend it.
⭐️- 5
🔥- 4
Claire and Dawn completely stole my heart. Their chemistry is sweet and soft one moment, then unexpectedly electric the next. Their connection starts soft and natural, but the chemistry simmers constantly — and when it finally flares, it’s impossible to ignore. The spice in this one is so good — elevated, confident, and perfectly woven into the emotional arc of their relationship.
What I loved most is how balanced this story feels. It’s cute and cosy, yes, but it also has depth. The emotions are honest, the commitment feels earned, and the romance grows in a way that feels grounded rather than rushed. The writing flows beautifully, and I found myself fully immersed from start to finish.
This book really cemented how promising this series is. Each instalment builds on the last, and Carnations & Commitment feels like the strongest, most complete entry yet. Warm, romantic, and deeply satisfying — I adored it and would absolutely recommend it.
⭐️- 5
🔥- 4
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews