Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

Welcome Back, Booklovers! The Primas of Power series has come to an end. I read You Had Me at Hola back when it first came out in 2020 which feels like forever ago but not long ago at the same time. Along Came Amor is the final book in the series and it's been a few years since the last release.

Ava Rodriguez, is a school teacher and a divorcee who comes from a big family that puts a lot of pressure on her. In her family's mind she's the responsible one and peacemaker. But this year she's decided to embrace the New Ava. New Ava is open to new experiences and a one night stand while away on a conference is a very new experience for her. When she meets Roman Vazquez, a CEO who recently acquired the hotel she's staying at, she decides to let loose for the first time since her divorce. And she does her best to keep a no strings attached situation going until she finds out Roman is friends with Ashton, her cousin's soon to be husband. With both of them in the same wedding party it's hard to keep what's between them under wraps especially since Ava isn't sure how to define it for herself.

As with the other books in this series there's plenty of interaction between the primas as they prepare for Jasmine's wedding. Ava's family is lot and she often finds herself feeling like the odd one out when it comes to her father and stepmother. Her recent divorce hit her extended family hard because her husband's family became intertwined with hers. So there's a lot of insecurity she's working through and readers see her learning to assert herself. 

Alexis Daria shines when it comes to very sensual scenes with a great blend of dirty talk and loving caresses. Roman has money and he likes to spend it on the people he cares about most so there's a few times he goes above and beyond for Ava including a fun trip to Puerto Rico. 

This time in the series there's not story within a story element like the last two books but you don't even realize it's missing because the book feels like its own story rather than a copy of the previous books. A little lengthy there were some repetitive chapters that could've been trimmed towards the end but this is a fitting conclusion to the series to wrap up the Prima's adventures.

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery by Clarence A. Haynes

I have been patiently waiting for traditional publishing to have an urban fantasy resurgence and while we're nowhere near that every once in awhile they throw us a bone with a new release. The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery promised paranormal thrills and it's shorter length was very appealing to me.  I received a copy from Legacy Lit in exchange for review, keep reading to see my thoughts. 

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is a fast-paced urban fantasy told in the povs of Gwendolyn, a publicist working for New York's top Black owned firm and Fonsi, a psychic who runs a shop in the South Bronx. Gwendolyn finds herself literally being haunted by the ghosts of her past as terrible things start happening at her events in a clear message for her. Fonsi is having some bad luck of his own with a ghost he just can't shake when he realizes that the barrier between the human world and the spiritual world is weakening. While Gwendolyn would prefer to stay away from ghostly business she finds herself having to confront the past that she left behind. 

A little campy with a very real feeling cast of characters this book balances supernatural thrills with the every day woes of being a millennial in New York City. While Fonsi is good at spiritual guidance his own life is a hot mess as he attempts to shake off an open relationship with an ex boyfriend. Gwendolyn's life is together, she's got a new man, and she's been able to bury her childhood trauma. She keeps things so under wraps she doesn't even like people in her personal life to get too close to her. The magic system is steeped in Afro Latinx spirituality with both characters tapping into their ancestral powers to fight the dark forces after them.

Clarence's writing is vivid and flows in a way that feels like you've just tuned into your favorite tv show. Readers are immersed in the cast of characters that flit around La Playa, Fonsi's shop. The book ends with an epilogue leaves some room for the story to continue in another book. The audiobook narrators do a great job bringing the characters to life, especially the narrative for Fonsi's chapters.

Hooked on You Ada Barume

Do you ever feel like reading a romance that let's you escape to a new place during a time when you can't travel? Hooked on You  by Ada Barume is her second romance book and like the first one, Love Overboard it's out just in time to be your next beach read. I received an arc from Avon UK in exchange for an honest review so keep reading to hear my thoughts.

Ore, is a journalist who is trying to secure a job as an investigative journalist at the New Yorker. But before she can get the job she must spend two weeks on a yacht off the coast of Australia with an eccentric billionaire. Usually people go on these types of holidays to be discreet so it's odd that Ore is there to do a profile. The crew is mostly tight lipped and focused on their work but Ore quickly realizes things aren't what they seem. The previous captain Annie was abruptly replaced and ndas make it so the crew is unable to explain what happened to her. Daniel, the replacement captain is a small town Southern man with big dreams for his career as soon as this gig is over.

This is a slow burn romance but it keeps readers engaged throughout. Ore and Daniel have an easy chemistry together, there's some push and pull because they are in the workplace and a lot is on the line for both of them. Ore also is used to flings more than relationships and feels out of place in a world of wealthy white elites. The mystery aspect was intriguing and it gives readers something to hold their attention while Ore and Daniel hesitate to make a move. There's just enough suspense that will have you wondering what the billionaire is really hiding. As the book's villain he's just the right amount of creepy with his inappropriate fixation on Ore and Daniel. While the book lightly touches on some serious topics it remains lighthearted. Though the publisher advertises this as grumpy x sunshine it doesn't really fit into those archetypes which is fine.

If you're looking for a light summer read with a little bit of intrigue then check out Hooked on You.