Karissa Kinword is back with the second raunchy romcom in her Amazon bestselling Dirty Delta series, following a sex-working cam couple as they attempt to plan a wedding while keeping their racy alter-egos a secret from two over-involved families.
On the surface, Mateo Duran and Natalia Russo are the perfect All-American pair. He’s a handsome business owning Army veteran from the Bronx. She’s a quirky bank teller at their local branch in Pompano Beach. They own a modest home, pay their taxes, wave at their neighbors, and the happiest day of their lives was their engagement last Christmas.
But after normal business hours, fans and paying subscribers log on to watch them as a prolific, top earning, sex-cam couple climbing the ladder of the adult film industry with every frisky fulfilled request.
Living their double life has always been manageable—until now.
When Mateo’s parents surprise them with an extended visit to aide in the wedding planning just as their risque secret career is hitting a peak, the airtight foundation and smooth sailing business model takes a massive, unplanned hit. Their usual nights of content filming are replaced with failed attempts at family bonding, mediating a rag tag wedding party of scorned siblings, and sneaking in an overdue romp between loads of laundry. They quickly realize the perfect bubble their relationship was built inside might not survive the merging of two meddling families.
Falling in love was the easy part of their story, choosing each other when the going gets tough is going to be much, much harder.
Karissa Kinword is a bestselling author of adult contemporary and sci-fi fantasy romance. She accredits her inspiration to an early love for literature, fanatically obsessive personality, and innate fascination with the human condition. She has a bachelor's degree in communication and journalism from the University at Albany and lives in the Hudson Valley of New York with her husband and toddlers.
I was cackling throughout this book. 🤣 You know how some romcoms can be cheesy and cringey. Nope not this one. Straight comedy gold.
I also liked how these two were an established engaged couple. We saw flashbacks of their beginning� but I loved the different scenario here.
Natalia & Mateo 💕 Loved them both Age gap Ex military Interesting side cam gig Family drama x2 Friend group Vegas shenanigans Wedding planning Florida setting
I loved Christmas in Coconut Creek so much I highlighted half the book. And when you like a book that much, you're automatically a little weary of the follow up. But I am here to say, I was ready to give this book a 5-star rating at the end of the first chapter, and I am obsessed with what it turned out to be.
📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: For Pleasure or Worse by Karissa Kinword
📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Dirty Delta character series. Book 2.
📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book ARC on Kindle.
📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Contemporary romance
📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Love at first sight, sex worker rep, opposites attract, found family.
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Natalia and Mateo are on their way down the aisle. But life is in the way - Mateo's business is understaffed, Tally's sex work is as demanding as ever, their family is in town and the cracks in their hastily built foundation start to show.
🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: In Christmas in Coconut Creek, Mateo and Tally are already together. And they were so compelling, I was excited to hear more. But it's so very rare to get a romance novel where the couple is already established, and I honestly didn't know how that was going to play out.
But from the start of this book, it was absolutely perfect.
Mateo and Natalie fall in love literally at first sight. They fit together so well. The dual POV leaves these two so achingly vulnerable, I just wanted to jump into the pages to hug them. There was conflict, but it wasn't too deep and it felt needed. There was, understandably, some standout spice - but it was the kind of spice that was unbearably hot AND meant something to the plot.
And again, I highlighted the crap out of this book. I wanted to drop everything on my TBR and re-read it immediately. It's automatically one of my top reads of the year so far.
I was lucky to read FPOW as an ARC and it exceeded my expectation. I loved reading Tally and Mateo’s story, I couldn’t put this down and finished in 2 days. There was a seamless transition from Christmas in Coconut Creek to FPOW. The banter is hysterical and I was often laughing out loud while reading this book. I absolutely loved how the ending was written. Karissa you killed it! I would highly recommend starting this series if you haven’t already! So excited for what’s to come in the future.
I have seriously been awaiting this book ever since reading Christmas in Coconut Creek! I was beyond excited to hear that Matty & Tally were getting their own story. I absolutely loved their characters and couldn’t wait to see their backstory/HEA.
This story was perfect! In the beginning we get some flashback chapters that show us how they met and their first dates/relationship milestones. I just adored them. Mateo was a man obsessed! He definitely fell first and it was so cute to see.
The first chapter of this book had me in TEARS cracking up. Honestly, I couldn’t contain my cackles! 😂☠️
This book focuses a lot on how couples have to adapt to a new dynamic when trying to bring two very different families together through marriage. There’s always going to be drama and arguments, but Matty & Tally never stopped caring for each other. I liked how this book showed each main lead standing up to their prospective parents in different ways and setting healthy boundaries.
Natalia has run a successful cam girl page since before meeting Mateo, and I loved that she was unabashedly herself. Their join cam antics were priceless.
We meet a lot of new characters in this book through Natalia’s sisters and Mateo’s brother/friends, and I am keeping my fingers crossed they all get books! I’m never getting over these hot retired special forces men. 🫠🔥
The spice in this book was great! The power dynamic often went both ways but Natalia is a woman who has a particular thing she likes from her partner and Matty was more than happy to deliver!
“𝘊𝘰𝘮� 𝘰𝘯, 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘰, 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘭𝘧.�
If you love romcom books that will have you experiencing both happy tears and nearly peeing yourself from laughing, go add 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙆𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙖 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙, to your TBR today!
For Pleasure or Worse (FPOW) was SO good!!! I love how many unique topics and issues were explored throughout this book and how we get to see two people so deeply in love merge their lives and come together to solve their problems. FPOW is Book 2 in the interconnected Dirty Delta series, but please for the love of everything good in this world, read Book 1 first if you haven't already!!! Christmas in Coconut Creek (book 1) was a top read for me when it first came out, and was STILL a laugh out loud, tear-jerking re-read last year.
FPOW shows current and past scenes from Mateo and Natalia's explosive and passionate relationship. Reading about the START of their never-ending first date was simply perfect. From the start, their crazies matched perfectly with each other and made you just want to keep reading more.
FPOW delivers family drama, family ~trauma~, sex-work and kink positivity, anxiety and panic representation, a trip to Vegas with the besties, and so so much more. DO IT. READ IT. (After CiCC preferably).
Wanna know more about Mateo?? --> "You want to know about me?� I asked. "Okay, I'm thirty-four. I was born in the Bronx and I have a younger brother named Angelo, so if you think my name is bad, get a load of that one. When I was eighteen I enlisted in the Army. My parents fucking hated me for it for years, maybe they still do, but we don’t talk about it. I drink on occasion, mostly to relax, but sometimes not. I've never done any hard drugs, never even smoked weed, and after spending fifteen years in the military that's basically unheard of. My favorite movie is Dirty Dancing, and I can't watch horror. I actually had nightmares so bad as a kid I peed the bed until I was twelve."
Wanna know more about Natalia?? --> "Bat shit crazy, the black sheep, and so beautiful most of the time I didn’t know what to do with her." // “I think the more crying men around Tally, the better. She feeds off male fragility like a demon.�
Miss Karissa just really knows how to write a romcom that makes you cackle laugh and being two for two now I can confidently say that with my whole chest. I don’t know what it is but homegirl just really has some extra razzle with her dazzle that my other favorites just don’t. And that’s okay, we still love the other favorites they have their time and place, we just love Karissa the most. Maybe it’s bc she’s not throwing out a million releases in one year so it’s sweeter when she does, maybe it’s the found family chemistry done right, IDKKKKK whatever it is it just hits ✨different�. As desperate as I am for more delta boys fun, baby girl you take as long as you need as long as you keep putting out masterpieces. You know what they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day or whateva
Mateo said it. Natalia said it. And I'm saying it too. These two are perfect for each other.
We met Mateo and Natalia in Christmas in Coconut Creek and it was revealed that they're a cam couple(as in having sex in front of camera). They have a huge following and their sexcapades keep the fans loyal. While they do this they both have full time jobs so their lives are on the go go go. As they're planning their wedding and living their lives, life keeps throwing them curveballs and family dynamics plays a key factor to the stress. While we get this we also get the hilarious moments in their lives. I had tears from laughing and reread some lines to keep laughing more.
Love was howling at the moon.
I loved how we got to know how they met and how they played off each other. They kept their relationship REAL. No unnecessary drama. Communication on point 99.999% of the time. They share their feelings and no belittling was to be had. Mateo and Natalia's love...one if not THE best I've had the pleasure to read. Their sexy times...HAWT but also it was more than sex. It was the romance between them. I looooove their words to each other.
"You love me loudly enough without words. Let me love you quietly too."
Mateo and Natalia along with their family and friends rounded out one if not the best books of 2025.
10 reasons to read For Pleasure or Worse 1. the end of chapter 1 2. Mateo Duran 3. Natalia Russo 4. the best first date ever 5. so many hilarious moments 6. chapter 39 7. the banter 8. Mateo’s letter 9. the spice 🥵🌶️🌶️🌶� 10. Mateo’s watch
INFINITY STAR 🌟 adding this to top reads of the year. i laughed, i cried, i clenched my damn thighs, ALL OF IT.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶�
absolutely great book, relatable, representation of anxiety and family pressure, how it looks when you show up for your partner and showcases a perfect Us. against the world type of love in the best of ways.
After absolutely LOVING Christmas in Coconut Creek, I have been a very good girl and waiting very patiently and wishing for the next book in this series. AND IT IS FINALLY HERE! Thanks so much to the author for entrusting me with an advanced copy.
This story follows Mateo and Natalia whom we already know as a couple from CiCC. Now, books on established couples can sometimes be tricky for me. I can get bored if the storyline isn’t engaging enough because you don’t get that same exact longing and pining you see in a brand new couple.
The author was able to keep me completely locked in and interested in the story. Loved the flashbacks of them first starting out as a couple. Loved seeing their dynamics with their families. Loved seeing the HEA.
Both in the past and present timelines, the couple has things to sort out together and there’s plenty of hijinks to be had.
Loved this story. Cannot wait to see where this series goes thanks to a lil� bit of foreshadowing.
Overall: it’s got dual POV, age gap, sex work…in the words of Prince Derek from The Swan Princess, “What else is there?�
4.5/5 stars- side note I hate that goodreads doesn’t allow half or quarter stars�.
I received an ARC for this book from Karissa and her team (a true pinch me moment). I first read Karissa due to being part of the Probably Smut book club when they featured “Christmas in Coconut Creek� as their book of the month a bit ago. I devoured that book and knew I needed more of the Dirty Delta series immediately. Fast forward to now. Tally and Mateo are everything I needed. Equal parts spicy, funny and emotional. Also the ending of chapter one had me laughing so hard I woke up my newborn (oops). If possible I liked this book even more than the first one. Sometimes sequels fall short for me and this one was above and beyond and did not suffer from second book syndrome. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
If you love: Spicy cam couples Alter egos From different worlds Wedding planning Vegas bachelor/bachelorette Sexy scavenger hunts Veteran PTSD rep Him talking her through it Degradation kink And my absolute favorite “MY WIFE�
Then this is the book for you. Out April 1st 2025. If you haven’t read the first book yet it’s on KU and totally worth the read.
This book starts off with a bang� it’s hilarious right away!
Mateo and Natalia are juggling the chaos of planning a wedding, all while trying to please their opinionated families. Due to this, their cam business started to struggle. They were unable to find the time to create new content.
Mateo, feeling like he can't ask for help or add any more burdens to Natalia, begins to experience anxiety and panic attacks. The emotional depth in this storyline is powerful, and you can't help but root for them both.
And y'all, the spice in this book? So good! Don’t let that cute cover fool you! This book is filthy in the best way. Karissa knows exactly how to write a spicy scene, and she does it exceptionally well.
I also loved seeing Frankie and Ophelia from the first book again! This friend group is just so much fun, and it makes you wish you were part of their world.
I'm sure this is a good book. but I fucking hate the sisters and can NOT get past it. l can't deal with characters who put up with there shitty cringe ass family, even if it's a plot point.
"I think this is a bigger dick than I can suck." "I think the saying is 'I bit off more than I could chew.'"
THANK YOU Karissa Kinword for the advanced reader copy!! I desperately wanted to finish this before release since it was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, but life got the best of me. So I actually ended up reading the final copy on KU!
As a slow-burn girl, I was a little bit worried about how this book would work with Mateo & Natalia already being an established couple... but Karissa did a great job building upon their existing relationship and investing us in their journey to their wedding day.
Some things that Karissa really excels at that are proven again by this book: - her sense of humor! I laughed out loud SO many times. Tally & Ophelia's friendship in particular is life goals. - navigating complex familial relationships. Both Mateo and Natalia had some issues to overcome in this book. I especially loved Anna Duran's character. She certainly had some things to work through with Mateo, but her interactions with Tally made me misty eyed because it reminded me of how healing my interactions were with my own MIL. - the spice was, of course, impeccable
My only minor gripe/soap box about that this book definitely slowed around the 50% mark, and the conflict introduced surrounding Mateo and Natalia's online gig felt unresolved since
Like Planning a Wedding: Hilarious, Stressful, Slightly Unhinged� and Worth It in the End!
Natalia (FMC): 26 � Cam Girl and Producer � Loyal � Fearless � Independent � Driven to Succeed � Mateo (MMC): 35 � Cybersecurity Company Owner & Cams with Fiancé � Ex-Military � Natural Born Leader � Protective � Passionate �
Tropes: 💍 Engagement in Trouble 🎥 Grumpy x Grumpy 💍 Dirty Delta Book Two 🎥 Secretly Famous Smex Cam Couple/Adult Entertainers 💍 Smex Worker Positivity 🎥 Alter Egos 💍 Opposite Attract 🎥 Military Veteran MMC 💍 Mental Health Rep 🎥 From Different Worlds 💍 Us vs. Them 🎥 Age Gap 💍 Found Family 🎥 Meddling Families 💍 Vegas bachelor/ette 🎥 Vegas Scavenger Hunt 💍 Non-Toxic Masculinity 🎥 “My Wife� 💍 Daddy Issues 🎥 Text Conversations
Rating: ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️�. 🍝(3.5⭐️) Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (dirty talk, praise, 👅, 💦💦, degradation, self pleasure, “spit on it�, fun on the phone, edging, 🍑 play, toys as teammates) T/W: smex work shaming (on page), anxiety attack (on page), PTSD (referenced), substance abuse (not MCs, referenced), toxic family dynamics (on page)
For Pleasure or Worse is what happens when spicy alter egos meet family dysfunction, sprinkle in a Vegas scavenger hunt chaos, and moments where you’re just counting the days until it’s over.
This book is hilarious, heartfelt, mildly unhinged, and somehow still incredibly tender. It starts off hot—with a cam scene that gets very interrupted—and keeps up the emotional and sexual tension the whole way through. Mateo and Natalia (Tally) have that ride-or-die, deep-soulmate connection that makes you root for them even when you want to shake them and yell, “JUST COMMUNICATE!�
Honestly, reading this felt exactly like planning a wedding: thrilling, full of big feelings, hot moments, and hijinks� followed by a solid stretch where I was just waiting for someone—anyone—to get their act together. The chemistry between these two was off the charts. The smex work rep is respectful, the mental health rep is there (though it could’ve used a bit more follow-through), and the flashbacks to how they fell in love gave the story real heart. The flashbacks were great—but front-loaded—and the pacing could’ve used a tighter edit. That said, the middle chunk of this book dragged. The emotional angst and miscommunication felt like the literary version of a group chat no one’s answering.
Also� Chekhov’s p3gging. IYKYK. And if you don’t? Just know it’s teased, mentioned multiple times, and then� nothing. Bold move.
Come for the chaos, stay for the chemistry, and leave with a strong urge to send a thank-you note to your own therapist.
Swoony Lines:
“Like we fit in all the weirdest possible ways. I enjoy talking to you, and being around you, sitting in silence with you, waiting for you to get to my house at the end of the day, waking up with your head on my chest.�
“I felt peace listening to her heartbeat settle behind her ribs, like ambient noise had finally leveled out our loud, overstimulated life.�
“Mateo was where I felt safe.�
“I wasn’t fully me until I found you.�
I received an ARC copy and wanted to leave an honest review.
For Pleasure or Worse by Karissa Kinword Rating: 4.5 stars Steam: 4 chilis Pub date: 4/1
Thank you so much to Karissa Kinword for sending me an early copy!
Christmas in Coconut Creek is one of my favorite books, so I could not wait to get my hands on For Pleasure or Worse, and it did NOT disappoint! It’s a wild, laugh-out-loud, and seriously steamy ride. Mateo and Natalia are living a double life—sweet, all-American couple by day, top-earning sex-cam stars by night. But when their families crash their wedding plans with a surprise visit, keeping their spicy side hustle a secret becomes next to impossible.
I loved how this book gives us a peek into Nat and Mateo’s past with some adorable flashbacks. Watching Mateo fall first (and hard) for Natalia was the perfect mix of sweet and swoony. He’s totally obsessed with her in the best way, and their chemistry is 🔥. The spice is top-tier, with plenty of playful, kinky moments that somehow still feel deeply romantic.
But it’s not just about the heat—there’s a lot of heart, too. The chaotic family drama had me cracking up, especially with the awkward bonding attempts and sibling shenanigans. Mateo and Nat’s struggle to set boundaries with their over-involved families felt super relatable. Despite the chaos, they never stop being each other’s safe place, which made their love story even more swoon-worthy.
If you’re into spicy romcoms with a perfect blend of humor, heart, and heat, this book is a must read! Plus, the side characters (hello, hot retired special forces guys 😏) are screaming for their own books.
This can be read as a standalone, but you should absolutely check out Christmas in Coconut Creek first if you haven’t already.
This book starts off after the end events of Christmas In Coconut Creek - which was AMAZING. So when I got the ARC email, I almost cried!
Tally and Mateo were made for each other. 2 peas in a pod. And I can't see them with anyone else. They will find each other no matter what lives they live. They have a love and a connection that so many aspire to have!
I enjoyed everything about them in Ophelia and Frankie's book and I was more than excited to read about them in their own. It showed dysfunctional family relationships in different ways and sibling interactions that are so real. It was easy to relate to everyone and their unique situation. Plus Tally is such a strong female character that it is easy to want to have her strong will to be herself and the freedom she has with her life, even if she doesn't see or feel it.
And oh man, the amount of times I laughed while reading this?! Vegas, the Swans, Angelo, everything in between. Several scenes rivaled the Santa and Mrs. Claus level of laughter (iykyk 👀). There wasn't even secondhand embarrassment, just laughter!
Karissa has definitely done it again with this book and I cannot wait to see what comes next.
I thought the banter in this one felt a bit more natural than the first book, and there were plenty of laugh out loud moments.
Not sure if it’s because of the pressure to read it by a certain date but I felt like it was really long winded.
The ideas were there, but I feel like the thought process and obstacles could have been edited down just a bit so that everything isn’t so thoroughly spelled out for the reader. I guess ultimately it felt like more telling than showing and just too verbose of a writing style for me personally.
In any case it was enjoyable, I liked the backstory of falling in love that was included in flashbacks, and the realistic pressures and struggles of the main characters. Would be a great match for someone who likes to read about realistic pressures on a couple, their love being tested and persevering.
Arc reciew: 5 ⭐️ GAHHHHHHH this was so deeply romantic but also so funny and stressful but realistic but swoon worthy but but but but but (insert error code here)
It takes real vision to write an established couple for a romance novel- to write them in such a way that I felt like I was falling in love with them even though they were already in love?? Does this make sense??? Idc.
Also, this is a very sex and sex worker positive book, which is just DELIGHTFUL.
As we all know, I adore CiCC. Read it every winter now. So, naturally, I'm obsessed with book two in the series.
The storyline is incredibly real, the characters feel like they could be actual people, and the family drama is unmatched. I'm usually not one for an insta-love situation, but this is the exception. Natalia and Mateo have such an electric chemistry, it's hard to find any kind of fault.
Excited to see which of the remaining Dirty Delta guys get the spotlight next!
Omg. I was so looking forward to reading this after Christmas in Coconut Creek and it did not disappoint! I don’t think I was expecting to laugh as much as I did. Like this book was FUNNY. And I so loved seeing Natalia and Mateo shine.
I think it also says a lot about the author to be able write a story that was still so funny and engaging about characters who are already in a relationship. Shout out Karissa.
one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I was able to get an arc! thank you karissa kinword for the arc <3
a longer review to come when I relook at all my highlights, but mateo and talia are truly one of the most in love couples, and karissa’s writing is amazing. a blend of comedy, romance, friendship, and more
Easily one of my most anticipated releases since I read Christmas in Coconut Creek.
For Pleasure or Worse is such a fun read full of heart, humor, and spice. The banter (always so good) and chaos of everything surrounding Mateo and Natalia's wedding planning made me fall in love with the world and these characters all over again, but the story stayed grounded by the sweetness of their relationship. Karissa Kinword is a modern rom-com queen.
Thank you Karissa for an ARC of this amazing book!!
i cannot stress enough how incredible this book is. karissa has a way of writing that just immediately draws you in. the humor in her writing has to be the funniest i've ever read - and it feels so effortless and natural.
despite me laughing my entire ass off this whole book, she is also able to give the characters SO much depth. i loved the level of vulnerability both mateo and nat had in this book. the way they navigated their personal issues, plus dealt with everything else together was so refreshing.
i really enjoyed reading about a couple that was already together and engaged prior to the start of their book. it felt so new compared to most romances, and it gave a whole different vibe to be at a different stage of the relationship than we normally get. i thought it was flawlessly executed as well.
this is hands down a favorite all time series for me already and i won't be shutting up until everyone reads it!
thank you so much karissa for an early copy of this, all opinions are my own
This book, and this series, is incredible! I love how beautifully we get to know the characters. Tally and Mateo’s love feels so authentic and honest. It is also sexy as hell!
Ugh waaay too long. First half just pissed me off with miscommunication, nonexistent personal boundaries, and toxic families. Second half was fine but repetitive. At the 80% mark I was over it.