Frenemies with Benefits by Synithia Williams

Welcome Back, Booklovers! We return to Peachtree Cove for a third time in Frenemies with Benefits this time following Tracey and Brian who we've seen glimpses of in the other books. I received a copy for review from Harlequin Audio so keep reading for my thoughts.

Tracey's family has always been a subject of her small town's gossip thanks to her mom and dad's back and forth relationship antics. But this past year the focus has been on her divorce from her husband after he cheated and got one of her employees pregnant.  Now Tracey is putting more focus on the bed and breakfast she runs and making some much needed changes in her personal life. After changing her hair and clothes, she's ready to tackle her love life. Her pleasure wasn't the priority in her marriage but she's ready to finally get hers.

Brian has been divorced for awhile but that doesn't stop his ex wife from lurking and hoping to rekindle things. But Brian is trying to move on and he has his sights set on Tracey. Despite his mother's warnings he can't help but get involved and proposes a friends with benefits situationship to Tracey. 

This book does a great job exploring Tracey's sexuality as a newly divorced woman, having the sometimes uncomfortable conversations about not being secure in her own skin and not knowing what she likes and dislikes in the bedroom. Brian is a healthy communicator and shows Tracey what a open and honest relationship should look like. 

While it can be read as a standalone I liked that there were elements from the other books present here. The time capsule that the women buried when they were younger was brought back up again in this book and we got to see them open it. The series does a great job showcasing the closeness of these friends and how they support each other through their relationship ups and downs.

Out of Office by AH Cunningham

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I don't think I even checked the premise of Out of Office before I decided to read it. Truth be told A.H. Cunningham had me at Afro-Panamanian love interest. There's not a lot of traditionally published romance that highlights the multiculturalism of Black people so it's a treat when I discover one. I received a finished copy from Harlequin in exchange for an honest review. You can buy the book here. 

Genevieve is a woman who has a lot of pressure on her to succeed. She works for a major hospitality company and has been in Panama for the past few weeks helping open a new hotel chain. And now she's finally giving herself a vacation despite her mother's insistence on keeping her attention laser focused on the promotion she's up for. Adrian, the owner of a local transportation company invites her to spend some time at his family owned hostel and see where the chemistry between them goes and Gen decides to take a chance. But can their relationship survive once they're no longer in vacation mode?

This book explores what happens after the I love yous are exchanged and the couple has to learn to face the real world. I find most of the vacation romances I've read focus on the build up and then the declarations of love. Gen has great intentions. She wants to build her career to the highest it can go but she also wants to be able to build up her community. While Adrian is more focused on having a work- life balance and spending as much time as possible with the family he has left. As Gen moves up in her career she's discovering she has less and less time to focus on the things she loves.

The conversations that the book has about career and finding the right balance were well done. I liked the realistic relationship between Gen and her mother who tries so hard to push her and in some ways lives through her. I appreciated that her mother isn't demonized despite her harsh demeanor. Instead it's acknowledged that her mother is on a different path and an explanation is given for why she is the way she is but ultimately it's up to Gen to decide if that path is the same one for her.

A little more was needed when it came to the development of Adrian. Unlike Gen who is going through a journey of learning to value her own needs, he has his life together. Even his one flaw of being a people pleaser is still a loveable trait because it fuels his dedication to making things easy for her and making the relationship work. It would've been nice to see him challenged as well. 

Another treat is the tidbits of Afro-Panamanian culture and history that are included in a way that doesn't feel like the author is trying to teach the reader. But instead that Adrian is trying to Gen a little bit more about his community. 

The Last Minute First Lady by Tinia Montford

Welcome Back, Booklovers! It's February and love is in the air! It's also Black History Month here in the US. So I decided this month was a great month to get in some Black books that have been on my TBR for awhile. And I've wanted to read The Last Minute First for awhile now but with this being a new to me author I wasn't sure if I wanted to buy the book when I have a Kindle full of romance books. Then I noticed that Hoopla had it when it came up in my recommendations and that was all the push I needed.

Cassian Anders is the perfect candidate for Governor of Illinois. He's a lawyer who runs his own firm, he also helped fund a community outreach center he's very active with, and he has great ideas on how to improve things in Chicago. His only problem is that he 's single and people prefer their politicians to be married and have families of their own. Cassian has to win the election. Not only so he can help out the community but also to have his revenge on the man who hurt his family. Jolie is journalist that works for a local news station. She's been grinding for years and after a setback needs a big story that will warrant her a promotion. While she's scouting news and doing coverage on Cassian she records a video of him lying about having a fiancée. Rather than exposing him they come to an agreement where she'll marry him to benefit both of their careers.

I enjoyed Jolie and Cassian having to team up to help his campaign and the throughout work the author put into showcasing both of their careers. I felt that there was enough drama there that the additional drama with Jolie's family was unnecessary especially with the unsatisfactory resolution to it. That part to me felt like drama for a different book that wasn't fully fleshed out. At first I thought we would get a good commentary about mothers who are jealous of their daughters but the mother was almost cartoonishly evil and I felt Jolie's best friend was pushing her to forgive her brother when he didn't earn it. All the drama took away from the couple themselves as some of the more intimate moments between them happened off page and were relayed to readers later. Part of the fun of marriage of convivence is to see those little moments where they start to realize they're falling in love with each other.

A Black Romance for Every US State

Welcome Back, Booklovers! A couple years ago I kept hearing people in the book community say there's not enough Black Romance. And while there can always be more, I felt people weren't really looking and were only focusing on what's in the mainstream. There's probably a Black Romance for all 50 states I joked with a friend. And soon a challenge was born! I decided I wanted to make a list with a Black Romance set in every US State. And I didn't want to keep repeating the same authors over and over. Because people often suggest the same Black authors over and over. So I reached out on Twitter and had people submit me Black romances from all over. I'm happy to say I found romances for all but 4 states: Idaho, New Hampshire South Dakota, and North Dakota. And to be fair they're all states I can't imagine have many Black residents. So if you know any set in these states that aren't written by authors I've already listed, please comment below and I'll add them.

Alabama-Something She Can Feel by Grace Octavia

Alaska- When It Feels So Right by Celeste O Norfleet

Arizona- Desert Heat by Janice Sims

Arkansas- L by Kimille

California-A Cowboy to Remember by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Colorado- Claiming His Christmas Inheritance by C.J. Carroll

Connecticut- Love In the Red Zone by Love Belvin

Delaware-Say Cheese by Desiree Francies

Florida- What Happens in Miami by Nadine Gonzalez

Georgia-Mechanics of Love by Meka James

Hawaii-Pleasure Rush by Farrah Rochon 

Idaho-

Illinois- Single AF by Sherelle Green

Indiana- Games of the Heart by Pamela Yaye

Iowa- Somebody That I Used to Know by Dana L Davis

Kansas-Night Song by Beverly Jenkins    

Kentucky- Something About You by Bridget Anderson 

Louisiana- French Quarter Kisses by Zuri Day

Maine- No Ordinary Christmas by Belle Calhoune

Maryland-The Cowboy's Claim by Nina Crespo

Massachusetts-Falling into Forever by Phyllis Bourne

Michigan- It’s Not Me, It’s You by Elle Wright

Minnesota-Snowed in with the Doctor by Dara Girard

Mississippi- Homecoming by Rochelle Alers

Missouri- Road to Temptation by Terra Little

Montana- A Kiss at the Mistletoe Ranch by Kathy Douglass

Nebraska- A Groom for Purity by Parker J. Cole

Nevada-Noble Love by Te Russ

New Hampshire-

New Jersey-Liquor & Laundry by Tasha L Harrison

New Mexico- Then Came You by Kianna Alexander

New York-Overheated for Summer by Lula White

North Carolina- Careless Whispers by Synithia Williams

North Dakota-

Ohio-Until Now- Kayla Perrin

Oklahoma- A Quiet Hope by Embassie Susberry

Oregon- Mixed Match by Mia Heintzelman

Pennsylvania-Good Old Soul by Aja

Rhode Island-His 1-800 Wife by Shirley Hailstock

South Carolina-Open Your Heart by Cheris Hodges

South Dakota-

Tennessee-Claiming the Doctor's Heart by Sean D. Young

Texas- Take It by Shae Sanders

Utah- A Stallions Touch by Deborah Fletcher Mello 

Vermont- Christmas in Evergreen: Bells are Ringing by Lacey Baker

Virginia-Case of Desire by Jacquelin Thomas

Washington - Since the Day we Met by Kay Shanae

West Virginia-Build a Mate by Janice Croom

Wisconsin- Something New by Sharon C Cooper

Wyoming- The Marriage He Demands by Brenda Jackson

Washington, DC-If You Love Something by Jayce Ellis 

Somebody That I Used to Know by Dana L Davis

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Honestly October was feeling kind of slumpy and I didn't end up reading much. But then I started reading this book on the second to last day of the month that renewed my fervor for reading.

Dylan lives in Iowa but yearns for the day she can leave her small town and move to New York. She knows Julliard is her destiny. It's the only school she applied to and if she practices violin hard enough she can nail that audition. What she doesn't expect is her childhood best friend turned R&B superstar, Legendary to come back into her life after years of ignoring her. Legend has gotten himself into some trouble and was placed under a conservatorship so he makes a deal with Dylan to grant her a place to stay for her Julliard audition if she helps him prove to his mother that he's still the same boy she used to know.

It was refreshing to read a story that felt like it was written for Black teens. While the Black girl was the only Black girl but it wasn't the gist of the entire story and time wasn't spent exploring her being the first or suffering through microaggressions on every page. When race was addressed it felt more for the Black girls who are growing up in very white environments vs trying to teach white readers something about race. Dylan is a transracial adoptee and the struggles with growing up with a family of a different race is so well done here. Her family loves her fiercely and she loves them but sometimes she feels out place when people stare at her when they're out together. Dylan wears colored contacts and extensions to fit in and she's struggling to feel pretty especially compared to the gorgeous Instagram models Legend surrounds himself with.

Dylan loves classical music. But her love of classical music isn't used to set her apart from the other girls. Instead she and Legend use their love of music to collaborate and create a very cool audition piece blending old styles with new. Readers follow along as they rekindle their friendship and discover new things about themselves. The romance in this book is slow- burn but well paced enough to keep you turning the pages. 

The Spirit of Second Chances by Synithia Williams

Welcome Back, Booklovers! The Heart and Soul series is back with it's second installment. Summoning Up Love was everything for me earlier this year and I was so ready to head back to Sunshine Beach.  I received an arc from Harlequin in exchange for review.

We continue following the ghost hunting brothers with the story of middle brother, Wesley. He's the glue that keeps the family together and peaceful. With Dion off in Charlotte living a new life with his girlfriend and his younger brother Tyrone jet setting in anticipation of their tv debut, he's holding things down with the family house in Sunshine Beach.

Cierra is trying to build up her real estate career post divorce through her own agency but so far it's been a struggle. She's hoping the sale of the Dewalt Manor will bring her a big enough commission to keep her afloat. But first she needs to do something about the ghosts who continuously stopped any business ventures there.

Cierra reaches out to Wesley at the suggestion of a family friend and he agrees to help her deal with the manor's ghost problem in exchange for helping him prep his family home for sale. But old feelings resurfacing make it hard. Cierra and Wesley had a misunderstanding in high school that they're still not over.

There's so many different moving pieces to this story.  In addition to the romance you have Cierra trying to build up her struggling business. And then you have Wesley dealing with his feelings about his brothers moving on with their lives while he feels trapped. Plus Cierra's ex husband is popping in and out causing drama under the guise of his daughter. Plus her momma pushing this idea of a power couple relationship. Then there's the mystery at the Dewalt manor involving the death of a former cook and a wrongful conviction.

As always Synithia William's characters have chemistry but also act like adults which I really appreciated. Love reading a romance where the adults they actually communicate to work through their issues before the end of the book. The bond between the Livingston brothers has me anticipating book 3 because I just know Tyrone is gonna be a little messy.

The Only One for Me by Bridget Anderson

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I started reading this series last year and was excited to discover my library had it available via Hoopla. I love the idea of a Black family-owned bed and breakfast in Kentucky.

Corra is a single mother who has had to pick up the pieces ever since her ex-husband abandoned the kids a couple of years ago. She hasn't had the heart to explain to them what happened so she just tells them he's away for work. She's taken a job at the family-owned B&B and the family is working on expansion. 

Chris has returned home after years away in Philadelphia and he's now the owner of his own software company. A lot more successful and confident, he's ready to show out. He has purchased and is in the process of renovating the oldest mansion in town. He's also ready to pursue Corra after all these years though she's reluctant to get into a new relationship after her last one bombed. 

At first this story started off a little slow as it set up Corra's life as a single mother and she began to reconnect with Chris. It's revealed they both were crushing on each other but never acted upon those feelings.  Things really kicked into action when her ex-husband, Eric showed back up in town. Eric claims to have changed but he's clearly still struggling with his own demons and he and Chris have a history of animosity towards each other in addition to fighting for Corra's affection. 

Eric needed his ass kicked for just popping up trying to pretend he's father of the year with minimal effort. I liked seeing Chris treat Corra to fancy trips and gifts. She deserved it! And she got to rediscover her sexy side I like how he made an effort to get to know the kids. Single parents are a package deal and it's important for the kids to be included. The Coleman family was very close-knit and one of the things I look forward to in Black romance is Black family representation. 

Now this is backlist Harlequin Romance so you won't find it new but if small town romance is your thing you can either purchase it used, purchase the ebook, or see if it's available via Hoopla through you're local library.

How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days by K.M. Jackson

Welcome Back, Booklovers! The cover and the name of this rom-com intrigued me and I was lucky enough to receive a copy through Hachette/Forever. 

Bethany Lu is obsessed with Keanu Reeves and has been ever since his movies became a source of comfort to her after her brother died. When he finds out he's engaged to be married she's ready to have a meltdown. She must chase him down and convince him that she's his true soulmate. Bethany enlists the help of her best friend Truman and goes on a road trip determined to come face to face with her crush.

I started reading it physically and it wasn't really gripping me from the beginning so I ended up switching to the audiobook. I think the audiobook really made the difference for me. The narrator, Tyla Collier was great and really elevated the book in some parts where it fell flat. I don't think I would've had the same experience reading it physically. There were some scenes that were a little cringe for me especially the encounters with celebrities. Along the journey Bethany Lu runs into popular celebrities who are not Keanu and it just felt awkward and forced instead of fun. When Keanu does finally appear it's so heavy handed and really doesn't feel like the Keanu we know from interviews or even like the parodies he's played of himself. 

Tru carried this book. He was really the best friend a woman could have. And he had the patience of a saint to put up with Bethany Lu. While I appreciate seeing more characters in their 40s in romance this character did not feel like she was in her 40s. The concept is a hard enough sell but she was very immature and her reactions often came across as younger. And then she seemed to be at a stage in her career where she didn't seem to know where it was going or what her plan was. Most men would not accompany a woman on a trip to meet the guy she's crushing on when they want her for themselves. Tru was very supportive of her because he realized she needed to heal from her past trauma. I enjoyed the chapters from his POV. I like friends to lovers stories so seeing them fall in love with each other while on the road was a highlight for me. 

A slow starter and some rocky moments throughout but a quick listen and Keanu fans will love all the movie references. 

For All Time by Shanna Miles

Welcome Back, Booklovers! October has been a busy month and time is flying by so quickly. I can't believe the month is almost over. I'm always checking for Black YA romance so For All Time was one that caught my eye from the cover reveal. Like with many of my reads I made this a blended read with the audiobook and a print copy.

The book opens with present day South Carolina where Tamar is dealing with a long term lung illness she has as a side affect of the Covid 19 pandemic. Gone are her plans to attend Spelman after high school. She's in a relationship with Fayard but doesn't want to officially be his girlfriend because she thinks the label comes with too many expectations. She's afraid of dying and having to leave him behind but Fay really loves her and is determined to stop her from boarding a plane to try an experimental procedure so he shows up at the airport with a promise ring and a whole band of people. 

From there we jump across a number of different timelines both past and present. In 1920s Philadelphia Tamar is dealing with a strict father who is intent on marrying her off against her will while Fayard doesn't want to grow up and hold down a steady job. In ancient Mali, Tamar is a slave to a woman Fayard is set to marry. In 2260 both are on a special mission on a lunar base. 

While the jumps in time were a little confusing at first I enjoyed how the story was set up for each time. And the chemistry between Fayard and Tamar never waned regardless of what time period they were in. Plus they actually felt like modern Black teens. It takes some time to set up but once we get the reveal about the nature of their existence the book moves along at a face fast.

The narration for the audiobook was so good. Joniece Abbott-Pratt was one of the narrators and she always nails it. She takes you through each time jump with ease.

No Ordinary Christmas by Belle Calhoune

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! There's less than 100 days until Christmas and I'm already in the holiday mood. And this one was the perfect way to kick start to what I'm dubbing my holiday romance reading series. No Ordinary Christmas is the first book in a new series called The Mistletoe, Maine series.

Dante West left Mistletoe long ago to become a successful actor in Los Angeles. Now he's back in his hometown to film a new movie he's producing. This is the perfect opportunity for him to help boost the small town's economy and make amends with friends and family.  

Lucy Marshall is the local librarian and also happen to be Dante's ex-girlfriend. She's not happy when he appears in town and asks to film at her library. But she can't refuse his offer to make a major donation. She's already imagining how she can allot the money. But as she finds herself falling back in love with Dante, she's afraid he'll end up leaving and breaking her heart again. 

Dante has regrets over not being around while his father was sick and it's driven a wedge between him and his brother. He hasn't been close to his family in awhile and he's realizing that he doesn't have that close supportive circle in Los Angeles. He's also hoping to reconnect with Lucy and his movie's plot mirror's their love story.

Belle Calhoune is no stranger to Christmas romance. I watched the movie Love, Alaska that was based on one of her books. This book reads like a holiday movie. There's enough snow, hot chocolate, and Christmas decorations to get you in the mood for the season. Just because a romance is closed door doesn't mean the characters can't have great chemistry and steamy kisses which Dante and Lucy had. I love small town romance so I was enjoying how the town celebrated the holidays. Lucy and Dante's rekindled relationship was the talk of the town. I adored Lucy's little sister Tess and their closeness despite Lucy being so much older than her. And I also liked how protective her older sister Stella was of her.

If you love Christmas stories and you need something to get you into the holiday spirit I definitely recommending checking this one out. It's a cute and quick read with Black leads set against a charming small town New England backdrop.

The Sweetest Charade by Jadesola James

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! So earlier this month I read Jadesola James' Redeemed by his New York Cinderella. Well shortly after that her debut book The Sweetest Charade went on sale. I'd heard some good things about it so I decide why not read it right away?

The Sweetest Charade follows an influencer named Delysia Daniels who tags a professor named Dr. Alexander Abbott-Hill in a suggestive social media post. Once the picture goes viral and gossip starts circulating around campus Dr. Abbott-Hill reaches out to Ms. Daniels with threats to sue. Delysia's publicist comes up with a wild idea to have the two of them fake date after their implied relationship has brought them both 1000s of new followers and brands offering sponsorships.

Alexander has been working on a restoring an old luxury train that belonged to his family and Amtrak is calling now offering to fund his endeavors. So he agrees to the ruse and soon discovers that keeping up with Delysia's lifestyle is not easy. There's event appearances, planned content, and brands offering him freebies. And as they spend more time together it's clear there are feelings there that can't be ignored. Then a luxury trip designed to promote the restored train puts them in close quarters for a few weeks.

So Dr. Abbott-Hill was very pompous. But at the same time the author didn't want to lean into his clearly old money background. And I wish she would've gone more into it. He states he grew up fairly normal and is the poor cousin but his family's name carries a lot of weight around NYC and even the Philadelphia area. He's able to get into SoHo Lounge because they carry his family's wine as their house brand. His family has a name in the theatre scene in Philadelphia. It was said they once had a successful rail business. So there was no need for the random faux humble statements to downplay it. He may not have been into designer clothes but he and his family are very much about status. You go into the story thinking it's just a professor and influencer and that's the reason they're worlds apart. But the biggest gap between them was that he came across as much older though I'm not sure what their age difference was supposed to be. And she was new money and lived a flashier lifestyle, at least online.

I wasn't surprised to read that Jadesola James is a research librarian and to see her research cited after the story. You could tell she was really into the parts about the train and took care in describing all the details. Also the all expenses paid luxury train trip to different US cities is definitely my dream. It was a very unique element that I've never seen in a romance before.

This book was not that many pages but it felt lengthy at times because of the pacing. When the pace was fast I was speeding through it. But it would randomly slow down to try and make it a slow burn. It made it easier to put down the book. The chemistry between Alexander and Delysia is what kept me reading. Plus I found Delysia interesting and relatable There was a lot of depth to her character and I enjoyed reading about her struggling with her insecurities about her career path and her mother's health.  She's also used to switching personas to portray a completely different person online than offline. While online she's very boisterous, offline she was quiet and reserved. 

Also there was way too much blushing in this book with descriptions of the leads turning crimson from cheeks to ears. I'm not saying Black people can't blush just that unlike pale skinned white people you don't tend to see it on our faces the way you see them turning bright red. I don't care how light skinned these characters were supposed to be. It would've made more sense to describe how their facial expressions changed. Or just about the heat rising to their cheeks. Or getting that fluttering feeling. 

The timeline was also kind of off. How was he able to take weeks off towards the end of the semester for the influencer luxury train ride? Because it was taking place around Thanksgiving. And then somehow later he's able to take off for months to Dubai during the semester. When at the beginning of the book it's stressed his job isn't even in good standing due to poor student evaluations. 

Overall it was interesting and the sex scenes were well written. I just wasn't pining for Alexander and his pretentiousness.

Foolish Hearts by Synithia Williams

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! August is just flying by and there's so many new releases I'm still looking forward to over the next couple of months. The Jackson Falls series by Synithia Williams is one that I got hooked on this year. Every book has been better than the last and I'm so invested in the Robidoux family. It's the soap opera goodness I've been missing since I stopped watching soaps. So I was very excited after reading Careless Whispers that another book would be released this year.  And I was lucky enough to receive a finished copy from Synithia Williams and Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.

Foolish Hearts follows Robidoux cousin Ashiya who owns a designer thrift store in Jackson Falls. She's happy away from the corporate drama of the Robidouxs. One day she finds out that her estranged grandmother on her father's side willed her majority shares of her multi-million dollar company The Legacy Group. Though Ashiya has never been interested in corporate powerplays she's determined to prove to her estranged family that they're wrong about her.

Russell is still nursing his broken heart from when Ashiya shattered it a few years ago. He has hopes of moving into the CEO position at Robidoux believing that the power that comes with that title will help him find a lead in the case of his missing brother. When he's assigned to work as a consultant for Ashiya he must put his old feeling of hurt aside. 

So they ditch Jackson Falls for Hilton Head, South Carolina where Ashiya has to prove herself to the Waters family. She immediately classes with her cousin Levi who believes she's stealing the company out from under him when he worked so hard with his grandmother to keep it thriving. As Ashiya and Russell work together they try to fight old feelings.

I liked that Synithia gave me something different than what I usually see in romance books. Russell was the one who had put his all into a relationship with Ashiya and wound up getting his heart broken. So he had to be a lot more guarded this time around. And she had to work a little harder to get him to trust her again. Plus outside of helping her, he is determined to find out what happened to his brother when he disappeared years ago. So there's a mystery element involved in the story as he searches for clues. 

Ashiya is dealing with PSTD from a childhood incident that she's never been able to move past. Her parents aren't helpful because they should've been divorced years ago but decided to stay together for the sake of their child but they can't stand to be in the same room together. Plus Ashiya's mother is a Robidoux so she's just as ambitious as Grant and Elaina and sees this as a big opportunity to get her hands in the company she missed out on and the only reason she married into the Water's family in the first place.

Like the other books in this series Foolish Hearts is fast-paced and balances drama with steamy scenes to keep you hooked. 

Awaken the Dragon by A.C. Arthur

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I'm finally picking up some monster smut! I haven't read a paranormal romance in a long time but I've been interested in this series for awhile now. And Read Love Listen said I needed to check it out. And A.C. Arthur has a good amount of shifter romance under her belt so I figured I was in good hands.

It was a little rocky for me at first and I thought this was going to be smut with a loose plot but I ended up enjoying this one once it got settled into the world and I learned a little more about the characters. 

Shola N'Gara is Yoruba from the village of Mobo and she has traveled to a former Pennsylvania mining town called Burgess.  She is engaged and being guarded by Legion's Security Company until her upcoming nuptials. But Shola has a secret. She is destined to kill her future husband who is a dark vampire lord. 

Theo Masters is a 300 year old half human and half dragon living outside of the Far Realm. He's chosen to live a quiet life as a human having distanced himself from his royal blood long ago. His security company has been tasked with protecting Shola. And she has him ready to unleash the beast within.

This story felt a little cyberpunk and as someone who loved Dark Angel I was here for those vibes. And I hope the next books in the series expand more on how this world came to be and the technology they use. With mentions of the existence of fae, witches, werewolves, and other preternatural beings there's plenty of mythos ripe for storytelling here. I also liked how African spirituality was also included here. Shola often calls upon the goddess, Oya for blessings and guidance.

And it was steamy. I know Carina Press has different heat levels but I'm still used to my tradition published books being hot but a little subdued. Whereas Shola and Theo were free to show their unabashed love of sex. Shola is out here attempting to save her village and get some dick at the same time. And unlike previous paranormal romance I've read there's no questionable behavior blurring the lines of  consent. 

I started listening to this via audio but then wound up downloading the ebook too so I could understand some of the world. It's very fast-paced and a little easy to get lost if you aren't paying attention. You learn things about this world along the way instead of being given a lot of prior backstory. A quick and smutty read with a little big of fantasy to get lost in.

Also this was a Hoopla borrow for me and a few other people said they were able to find it on their Hoopla too so if you're interested I recommend checking for it there first.

ATE by Rilzy Adams

 

Welcome Back,  Booklovers! One of this year's goals was to incorporate more indie reads. And I haven't been doing a great job. I always hear my romance loving friends praise Rilzy Adam's steamy writing. And I also wanted to check her out since she's a Caribbean author. I was lucky enough to win a content she was hosting where I received a few of her books. Everyone said read ATE because it's short and sexy. And sometimes you're just looking for a quick read where the heroine gets her back blown out.

ATE is definitely sexy. This novelette centers around Tempest who hires a private chef to cook a celebratory dinner in honor of the major deal she's made selling her hair and skincare company. Her best friend has to cancel at the last minute leaving Tempest to dine by herself.

Chef Russ Bradley is usually cool and confident in the kitchen but the woman before him has him barely holding himself together. Sexual tension is heavy in the air as he does his best to try and focus on the task at hand.

It's erotica and Rilzy definitely delivers when it comes to the sex scenes. Chemistry will make or break a story like this and Tempest and Russ have plenty to spare. They connect very easily so there's a playful banter between them. And Russ and Tempest manage to fit in a couple of rounds while each steamy sex scene manages to be hotter than the next. I liked that they were all a little different so it didn't feel like you are reading the same one back to back.

If you're just looking for a smutty quick fix and a little food play intrigues you then definitely check this one out!

A Winning Season by Rochelle Alers

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! It's August already and there's so many books I still want to get to before the year ends. A Winning Season promised a small town romance featuring a former baseball player and the girl next door.

Zoey Allen's younger brother  Harper gets into a bit of trouble after attempting to break into former baseball player, Sutton Reeds. Sutton decides that he doesn't want to subject a young Black boy to an unfair justice system and instead makes an agreement with him to do something productive and encourages him to try out for sports. As Sutton mentors the boy and gets settled back into his hometown, he and Zoey become good friends.

Ever read a book where the pacing was both too fast and too slow at the same time? That was my dilemma with this story. I felt Zoey and Sutton very quickly became friends in the beginning of the story so the middle started moving extremely slow while trying to be slow burn romance. And then they were talking about marriage and it felt too fast again.

There was also a lot of repetition in here accompanied by random info dumps in between unrelated dialogue. By the time Zoey and Sutton actually mentioned certain things to each other I had to remember that previously they'd just been thinking about those things for paragraphs on end. I felt as if we read over an over again how Zoey had to grow up fast because she had to take care of her little brothers after her father and stepmother died, how close Zoey was to her stepmother despite their close age difference, how Sutton enjoyed be a mentor to boys who grew up without a father like him, and how shallow his ex wife was. And if I had to read the phrase "pregnant pause" one more time!

Zoey and Sutton did have chemistry but not enough chemistry to hold this book together for me in it's entirety. I understood they were attracted to each other but I didn't understand how it translated to this great love for each other over both being nice people. They also seemed to be in two very different positions in life. I know love is about compromise but Sutton was ready to settle down while Zoey was ready to get her independent adult life started. I contemplated DNFing this book but didn't only because a follower sent it to me and it's short page length. But it started getting painful and unbelievable. 

And  while I definitely appreciate authors using conflict other than 3rd act breakup to create drama the way it was done here was bad. Bad because there was no build up and it happened in the last chapter which then included a very quick and forced wrap up.

My Only Christmas Wish by J. M. Jefferies

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! We're celebrating Christmas in July all month long. And what better way to celebrate than with a glass of frozen hot chocolate and a Christmas themed-romance? 

Eli Austin has just acquired Bennetts, a beloved luxury department store. He's ready to get his revenge on the Bennett family who he believe almost drove his father out of business. The goal is to come in and pretty much shut down the store by making drastic changes.

Despite her mother selling off her store behind her back, Darcy Bennett refuses to go down quietly. She just has to win Eli over and show him that her store is a force to be reckoned with. Unlike his chain Dollar Bin, Bennetts cares about their employees and many have worked with them for years as well as having had family members work from them. This store is her family legacy and she's willing to fight for it. With Christmas fast approaching she'll need to do her best to keep with the store's holiday traditions.

Christmas romance set at a department store is not a new angle but I enjoyed how it was handled here. This enemies to loves romance had plenty of charm and while reading it I was taken by to my days of working the holiday season at a department store. Dollar Bin sounds like Walmart with worse customer service. While Bennetts sounds like the department store of dreams. The department store I worked at was never that nice. If only all retail jobs could include great benefits despite the low pay. If only we all had charitable bosses who cared about all employees and not just the bottom line.

Darcy is one of those characters who can charm anyone and she is well loved by so many people in Atlanta. While her superwoman like attributes could be a little over the top at times I enjoyed such a strong character. She was allowed to be the boss without having to shrink herself for a man which tends to happen in these Christmas romances. And she not only tries to make work better for her employees by offering cafeteria with healthy food choices, affordable insurance, and a day care center but she also sits on several committees and works with multiple charities. 

Eli is stubborn and his banter with Darcy was one of the things that kept me reading. Every time it seemed like they were making progress he found some way to ruin it with his ego. He's all about the bottom line and making the most money but fails to see how it effects him employees until he sees how well Bennetts runs. I also liked his relationship with his daughter Sophia, who he adores. Like many children in these types of stories she's a precocious child who wants her widower father to be happy. 

This was published in 2012 but it still holds up almost 10 yrs later. Holiday cheer is timeless and the brief mentions of a bad economy continue to ring true.This is a sweet romance that brings that much needed Christmas magic.

It's not in print right now so you can't get a physical copy unless you buy it used but you can get the ebook here for the price of a latte. 

Blackout (YA Anthology) various authors

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Blackout is a YA anthology by six bestselling Black authors with a focus on Black teen love. If anyone has followed me for awhile you know I advocate for Black love to be more visible in both the adult. So this one peaked my curiosity.

Anthologies are harder to get into for me. This one has less writers and stories than the usual ones I come across which allowed for longer more fleshed out stories. They all follow the central theme of taking place during a blackout in NYC and there are even characters that connected each story as nods to each other. 

I listened to this via audio courtesy of Harper Audio in exchange for an honest review.  Listening to the audiobook was an experience especially with the different narrators. A good narrator can make or break the story and bring the characters to life.  And with the different authors you experience their different writing styles. 

I'm all for including pop culture in a story but there's a good way to do it that doesn't leave the story feeling dated. And sometimes it came off a little try hard when incorporating phrases and trying to tackle certain social justice issues. I wish Black kids could be free of having to always have activism all up and down their stories. And I say this as someone who loves to use my platform to speak out. A lot of teens are not trying to be activists. They just aren't! And they shouldn't have to. I didn't start becoming more active until college. 

Nic Stone's story in particular was jampacked full of messages it was trying to convey in a short amount of space. There was a scene where the boy's inner dialogue was commenting on breastfeeding in public that felt so forced. 

Tiffany D. Jackson's story was broken down into parts throughout the anthology and I enjoyed it. I thought it was perfectly balanced. Tammi and Kareem had a fun dynamic and the narration was perfect for those sections. It was easily the most memorable story of this collection for me. 

Ashley Woodfolk's story was a cute Sapphic story. The chemistry between the girls sold their connection for me. And the family dynamic included at the senior living facility added some heart.

I can't even remember Dhonielle Clayton's story beyond two childhood friends being at a library. 

The narration for Angie Thomas' story was so bad I can't even really share my thoughts on that one because it was a struggle to follow along. It follows Southern kids visiting NYC for the first time on a trip and the accents were dreadful! The main character's Southern accent was bad and then there was an equally horrible attempt at a Jamaican accent. Whew! I can't tell you if the story was good or bad because the accents were distracting. 

Nicola Yoon's had a Jamaican lead who I believe was related to the Jamaican character from Angie's story and this was another case of bad accent. There was no Jamaican voice actress available? This story was cute enough and I liked how heavy the cultural aspects were and how Grace was adjusting to her life in America. 

While this anthology boasted big names in the industry I don't feel like romance is everyone's lane here. And I don't think all the authors were suited for the short story format. Anthologies are very hit and miss and I usually go in expecting to like about half of them. I think romance anthologies are even harder because you have a short amount of space to sell a love story. The chemistry just wasn't there with most of the couples for me to connect. And in a collection boasting about it's love stories that chemistry is everything. The stories weren't very memorable either. Mostly this collection thrives off being from big name authors. There were no stories in this to really keep you running back for more.

Scandalous Secrets by Synithia Williams

 

Welcome Back,  Booklovers! I am back with another review from the soapy Jackson Falls series. You can check out my reviews of Book 1 and 3. You don't have to read them all but I highly suggest you do! 

This story centers around middle child Byron who is running for Senate. After someone attempting to sabotage his campaign blackmails him he has to face a secret he's kept hidden for years. Back in college he had a crush on his friend, Zoe who found herself pregnant while trying to escape an abusive relationship. In order to help her, Byron agreed to let her name him as the father of her daughter. Now when Byron tracks down Zoe he find out someone has been threatening her. They decide to come together for both their sakes.

Byron's pushy father Grant and campaign manager Roy can't wait to spin this inconvenience to win favor with voters. Byron has a pushy fiancée who is doing her best to play the role of committed senator's girlfriend and future stepmother. They're relationship of convivence is threatened by Byron's very real past feelings for Zoe that have resurfaced. While Byron is fighting feelings that never went away; Zoe is finally seeing him in a new light.

It was interesting to read a romance where the man had to fight harder for the relationship because the woman was reluctant. Zoe was still working through trauma from her past relationship and the relationships she grew up seeing. Her concerns about relying too much on a man to take care of her felt very valid. Byron was super sweet and supportive the entire time welcoming her daughter Lilah into his life. That scene where he showed them around town was one of my favorites.

I also enjoyed seeing Zoe bond with Elaina and work with her to steal one of Grant's companies behind his back. I liked how unapologetic Zoe was about helping too. Elaina took to the auntie role very quickly with Lilah. 

This story amped up the drama with twists I didn't see coming. Though Byron's campaign causes friction this isn't a story full of politics. Southern family drama is definitely at the forefront but Zoe and Byron's love for each other still shines through. 

The Sweetest Valentine by Lacey Baker

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! If you've been following me for awhile you know I love small town romance. I love the cozy feelings it elicits. I enjoy how everyone in the community knows each other and are close. I love when they do the festivals everyone in town seems to be involved in. 

This is actually two holiday short stories in one. They're both sweet romance with a tv movie feel to them.  The first story is The Sweetest Valentine which follows famous actor Kelan Hunter who has come to town retracing his grandparent's steps from when they fell in love decades ago. He has their old love letters and wants to get a feel for the town for a new movie he's writing. Sydni Murray is a candy shop owner who he happens to cross paths with on his search. She's reluctant at first  since she's busy preparing for the upcoming Wine & Chocolate festival but she agrees to show him around town. 

I enjoyed the push and pull between the two. I thought they had great chemistry together and there was just enough tension to keep me invested in their story. Sydni had a bad breakup on Valentine's Day so she's got bitter feelings towards the holiday and is reluctant at love. Meanwhile for Kelan it's love at first sight and he's ready to change her mind.

Continuing in the same small town is Christmas in Sweetland. I love Christmas movies and I love Christmas romance. In this story Savannah is back in Sweetland housesitting for one of her grandmother's old friends and trying to take care of a newly inherited dog. The house decorating contest is a huge deal in town and Savannah needs to convince her Grinch of a new neighbor to join. Luke has plenty of dog training experience and she could certainly use his assistance getting her rowdy puppy under control.

This one had them starting out annoyed by each other before finding common ground. And ot was cute seeing them bond over family and Christmas decor.

So if you're looking for two cute and cheesy love stories with Black couples that give you the same feelings you get when you watch a TV movie I suggest checking this one out. 

Simone Breaks All the Rules by Debbie Rigaud

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! After my heaviest reading month yet I'm decided to switch gears and read something a little lighter.  Simone Breaks all the Rules is the latest by veteran YA author Debbie Rigaud who I did an interview with last year. I received an arc from Scholastic for review.

Simone Thibodeaux is a Haitian-American teenager preparing for graduation. Her strict parents have plans for her to commute to school like her older sister and Simone is tired of following in her footsteps. She's ready to break free and start experiencing more things before high school ends. Simone has her eyes set on attending prom with Gavin, a boy from a rival school who rides the same bus as her in the mornings. But her parent's have already selected the son of a family friend, Ben to be her date. So she teams up with two other girls who also have strict parents and plans her "promancipation" along with a list of other activities they want to complete behind their parents backs.

One thing I appreciated about this book is that Simone lives in a Black neighborhood, uses AAVE, and has Black love interests. Sadly that type of representation is rare in YA lately. Even though she attends a mostly white Catholic school the book doesn't center around that aspect of her school experience. There were reminders that anti-Haitian sentiments are real and that the world is harder for Black girls. But that wasn't the entire story. It doesn't delve into centering whiteness and race-based trauma. And sometimes I feel some YA stories focus on the hardships of being Black like you can only show Black pain or Black joy versus showing the full spectrum.

Simone's parents though strict are also not written as caricatures. They mix kreyol in with their English and sometimes the words are explained in text and sometimes they aren't and that's okay. They are strict but well meaning and love their daughters very much. Despite her mother being overbearing at times we still saw moments of levity where Simone could joke and laugh with her. I enjoyed their interactions when Grandmere came to visit. She also has a close relationship with her cousin Gabby who also attends the same school. Children of immigrants will definitely be able to see bits of their households in the Thibodeaux family. I definitely saw so much of myself in her.

Over all this is an enjoyable contemporary with plenty of heart along with funny moments and great friendships. And it's available just in time for the teens to start their summer reading.