Carnations & Commitment Review — Is It Worth Reading?

Verdict: A short, very spicy Mother’s Day novella: Dawn has her baby just as her fiancé walks out, and her labour-and-delivery nurse, Claire “Bear” Richter, steps in as her protector. Readers love the sweetness, the healing and the chemistry; some found the kink content — notably a lactation kink — too much.

Best for: Readers who want a quick, steamy single-new-mom romance and don’t mind kink.

Heat level: L5 · Very explicit (5/5)

Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.6/5 — a 4.11 Goodreads average across 62 ratings, 3.75 on StoryGraph from 13 reviews, and 4.0 stars across 41 Amazon ratings)

Tropes: Single mom, protector, holiday romance, heartbreak recovery, nosy sisters, friends to lovers.

Carnations & Commitment is H.B. Cliffy’s 2025 contemporary sapphic romance novella, book three of the Chicago Sapphics series. Dawn Russo, receptionist and new mother, is still weathering the storms of heartbreak, rarely seen outside short walks with a stroller.

It holds a 4.11 average across 62 Goodreads ratings, with 74% of them four or five stars, 3.75 on StoryGraph from 13 reviews, and 4.0 stars across 41 Amazon ratings.

What Is Carnations & Commitment About?

Dawn is in good hands with Claire “Bear” Richter — Chicago’s favourite mascot and a labour-and-delivery nurse — who is fiercely protective. But is Claire’s timing right?

As spring turns to Mother’s Day, Dawn learns it’s okay to be vulnerable, and Claire risks her own heart for Dawn’s happiness.

What Works in This Book

Relatable single mom: One reader who was a single mom from day one says Dawn’s feelings mirrored her own.
Claire: A caring, chivalrous “knight” readers adore.
Chemistry: Readers call it soft and sweet one moment, intense the next.
Series fun: Nosy sisters, flower language and cute nicknames.

Book Synopsis

A new mom left by her fiancé. The nurse who delivered her baby — and her heart.

April showers, May flowers, and a Mother’s Day romance.

My Review

It’s a warm, fast read about healing and chosen commitment, and one fan calls it their favourite in the series. A realistic birth scene and Dawn’s independence ground the romance.

The kink content is the main dividing line: several readers mention the lactation kink, and at least one found it off-putting. A couple felt the romance was rushed, and much of the early feedback comes from advance-copy readers.

My honest note: Check the heat before you commit.

Element	In Carnations & Commitment
Central relationship	Dawn Russo (new single mom) & Claire “Bear” Richter (L&D nurse)
Core tropes	Single mom, protector, holiday romance
Setting	Chicago
Heat level	L5 · Very explicit (5/5)
Length	212 pages (Kindle edition)
Series	Chicago Sapphics #3 — standalone novellas
Content notes	Explicit sex, lactation kink, childbirth, abandonment

How Spicy Is Carnations & Commitment?

Very spicy, with kink.

Readers mention a detailed birth scene and a lactation kink.

Who Should Read This Book?

You’ll likely love it if: you want a steamy, sweet new-mom romance. It is on our single mom lesbian romance list.

You may want to skip it if: lactation kink or explicit content is a no.

In short: Sweet, spicy, specific.

What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)

On Goodreads the split is 42% five stars, 32% four, 21% three, 5% two and none one star. On StoryGraph, readers most often tagged it emotional and funny.

Why readers love it (according to the discourse): Claire first. Second, chemistry. Third, relatability. Fourth, spice.

What readers argue about and complain about: The kink, above everything. Second, pace. Third, length.

The comparison worth making first: Eve Falls First, another steamy single-mom romance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How spicy is Carnations & Commitment?

Very. Readers rate the spice highly, and several mention a lactation kink — one found it a lot to handle, another called it off-putting.

Is it part of a series?

Yes, book three of Chicago Sapphics, a set of loosely connected standalone novellas following five sisters, each tied to a holiday.

Whose point of view is it told from?

Dual first person, alternating between Dawn and Claire.

Is it a long read?

No — it is a novella of about 212 pages, and a couple of readers felt the romance moved fast.

Is Carnations & Commitment on Kindle Unlimited?

Yes, when we checked — or $3.99 to buy on Kindle.

If You Loved Carnations & Commitment, Read These Next

Try Eve Falls First or Drawn to the Enemy. Browse our single mom list or the full Book Reviews archive.

The Bottom Line

Carnations & Commitment sets out to be a sweet, spicy Mother’s Day romance about healing, and fans find it delivers. What holds it back is kink content that won’t suit everyone. A niche but warm pick. Check Carnations & Commitment on Amazon →