This is my second book by Tuesday Harper! She is my go to when I'm interested in reading more Black sapphic romances. While this wasn't the most actioThis is my second book by Tuesday Harper! She is my go to when I'm interested in reading more Black sapphic romances. While this wasn't the most action packed read, I found it to be hot and steamy and a quick read. It follows two characters Simone and Kenya who meet in a coffee shop. Their attraction to each other is immediate and they begin what might be a world wind romance. There isn't much to this, but if you're looking for fun characters and good voyeuristic sex then I would definitely check this out....more
Whew chileeeeeee! This book is NASTY and so romantic. It will definitely go down as one of my favorite romances of 2024. CW: death of a loved one. 4.5Whew chileeeeeee! This book is NASTY and so romantic. It will definitely go down as one of my favorite romances of 2024. CW: death of a loved one. 4.5 Stars
The Oath is a book that I've seen floating around on social media. I've recently been in the mood for Black romance so I thought I would finally give it a try and HONEY it definitely did not disappoint. The story centers Tatum who gets a second chance at romance in the form of her husband's three best friends. Although it's awkward and unexpected at first, Tatum eventually learns a new meaning of love in regard to herself and these three amazing men.
What Worked: T.M. Richardson can write her ass off. I was completely enthralled with the storyline and the character development. While this isn't my first time reading a ploy romance, I think that Richardson did something a little different than the ones that I've read in the past. Because this is a MMFM romance, readers are encountering a wealth of characters that could easily blend together. Richardson created such distinct personalities that it was easy to tell the characters apart regardless of whether it was a casual date or an intense sex scene. That takes skill that every author doesn't have. And while the sex scenes were intense and extremely hot, they were romantic. All three men deeply care for Tatum, love her, and want the best for her.
What Didn't Work: I think the one thing that needed a little work was the conflict between Tatum and her son. There was a lot of tension and an explosion that needed a little more development in the falling action.
Overall, this was such a strong book and I'm anxiously awaiting book 2 in the series....more
4.5 Stars. Black love, black history...this is what I want from Tia Williams. Loved this one so much more than 7 Days in June. It was almost a perfect4.5 Stars. Black love, black history...this is what I want from Tia Williams. Loved this one so much more than 7 Days in June. It was almost a perfect book for me. Check out my full thoughts here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qwcJ......more
This one started off strong, but faced some pacing issues towards the end. I still thought it was a solid read and I'm looking forward to picking up tThis one started off strong, but faced some pacing issues towards the end. I still thought it was a solid read and I'm looking forward to picking up the next book in the series. 3.5 stars.
Hot for Teacher is the first book in the Richardson Sibling Trilogy and follows main characters Latrice and Nathan. Latrice and Nathan unexpectedly meet when Latrice's sister attempts to convince her to have a one night stand. The two have undeniable chemistry; however, they hit a minor road block when Latrice learns that Nathan will be the new teacher at her son's school. Not wanting to cause disruption to her son's life or jeopardize Nathan's job, the two conceal their relationship.
What Worked:There was an unexpected humor to this story. While it was obvious that Nathan's job was going to cause issues for the couple, I wasn't expecting it contain so many laugh out loud moments. Nathan and Latrice also shared a fun and sexy chemistry that sparked during their initial meeting. Fisher did a great job developing the side characters and really sets the stage for future installments in the series.
What Didn't Work: Pacing was a huge issue in this book and it doesn't have anything to do with the length of the novel. For some reason, it felt as though there was a gap in the relationship between Nathan and Latrice. It was building at a steady pace and then all of sudden they were in love. It happened so quickly that it left me questioning whether I accidently skipped over sections of the book. Due to this change in pacing, the rest of the novel slowed significantly and I lost the stamina I had when I first began the book. This is one of those rare moments where I think that this book could have benefited from being longer. Had Fisher dedicated a little more time to developing their relationship, I think that the intensity that was presented in the beginning of the book would have been maintained up until the end.
Overall, this was a solid read. Pacing issues aside, I enjoyed Latrice and Nathan as characters and I'm looking forward to reading more about the romances that happen for Latrice's siblings....more
Ya'll I don't know what BriAnn Danae is doing to my poor soul....these book are HOT!
Lucky # Sevyn is the third book in the Erotic Love Language seriesYa'll I don't know what BriAnn Danae is doing to my poor soul....these book are HOT!
Lucky # Sevyn is the third book in the Erotic Love Language series. I would definitely recommend reading the previous two books in the series before diving into this one. It follows Sevyn who is content creator and her neighbor Elyjah. It's clear that the two have chemistry, but have ultimately refrained from exploring anything beyond that until they exchange numbers. The two run into each other at a bar and the rest is history. These are quick, fun, and spicy reads. I'm really enjoying Danae as a writer and I can't wait to dive into the rest of the series....more
This was a wild, but sweet Christmas story. 3.5 Stars CW: grief, death, cancer, violence against pregnant woman, addiction
Romping Around the ChristmasThis was a wild, but sweet Christmas story. 3.5 Stars CW: grief, death, cancer, violence against pregnant woman, addiction
Romping Around the Christmas Tree follows main characters Ethan and Aria who were arranged to marry each other once they got older. At the start of this novel, the two are finally meeting to begin their marriage. Unfortunately, the two get off to a rocky start and it's clear that neither is satisfied with the set up organized by their grandfathers. However, as time begins to pass, the two realize that they are better for each than they anticipated.
This was a quick holiday novella and I completed it in about 2 sittings. While there were some mistakes within the writing, I thought Nika P. did an amazing job developing Ethan and Aria. They were polar opposites, but worked in balance with one another in a way that I didn't anticipate. Reading their journey into finding love was rewarding. There were a few scenes that felt a little over the top particularly the one that was in relationship to Ethan's ex. Overall, this was a fun read though heartbreaking in some places. I was invested in Ethan's siblings, Eli and Ellie, as well and I'm hoping that we get more things about their journey in the future....more
This was cute one, but that ending threw me off just a tad.
I haven't read many Danielle Allen books, but I saw this particular title pop up on social This was cute one, but that ending threw me off just a tad.
I haven't read many Danielle Allen books, but I saw this particular title pop up on social media and I was in the mood for some Black romance. A Perfect Stuffing follows main characters Thalia and Damon who meet during an annual friendsgiving celebration. The book was short, yet steamy and absolutely adorable. It's clear that Thalia and Damon have a lot of chemistry from their meet cute in the grocery store, but it picks up when they spend more time together during the celebration. While I enjoyed Allen's writing and character development, that ending definitely threw me for a loop. I'm not saying that the impacted side characters shouldn't have been upset; however, I feel like the emotions were just a tad bit extreme for the situation and it threw me off for a second while navigating my way throw the ending up of the book. Overall, this was a good read and I'm looking forward to picking up more books by Allen in the future....more
You know what….I really enjoyed this. I enjoyed it more than I expected especially when there were scenes that made me emotional. CW: alcoholism, violYou know what….I really enjoyed this. I enjoyed it more than I expected especially when there were scenes that made me emotional. CW: alcoholism, violence, loss of loved ones, grief.
I randomly came across this book on KU and it didn’t disappoint. It follows main character Halo who purchase a house in Tennessee after the loss of her parents. Right as she moves in she meets her supposed neighbor, Tricks, who she immediately connects with on a emotional and mental level. Everything seems to be going well until Halo notices strange things happening around the house. As she continues to get to know Tricks, Halo quickly learns that his background may be more complicated than she anticipated.
What I Enjoyed: The storytelling in this was great! I was really fond of both Tricks and Halo and their connection. Both are dealing with some heavy feelings related to loss and grief and they somehow work through it together. Because this is a shorter book, it’s hard to describe the elements of the book without spoiling it. There’s a twist to this that makes the book enjoyable and also adds a nice emotional touch. I wasn’t necessarily surprised by it, but I do think that the author did a good job executing it. One of the major themes that I appreciated was the idea that regardless of the pain that we experience from loss, we have to keep pushing and live the life that we have left. That doesn’t mean that we forget about those that we’ve lost or we refuse to acknowledge our pain, but we recognize that it’s okay to move on and forward. It was hard, but necessary lesson that Halo had to learn to heal herself.
What Didn’t Work: There were a few grammatical errors in this one that interrupted the flow of the story, but I’m more lenient with independent authors as I know that their access to editors is different than those that are traditionally published. ...more
This isn't my first book by Beverly Jenkins, but oh my goodness! I wasn't expecting the intensity. Reading this definitely motivated me to dive back iThis isn't my first book by Beverly Jenkins, but oh my goodness! I wasn't expecting the intensity. Reading this definitely motivated me to dive back into Jenkins' backlist and slowly make my through all of her books. CW: lynching, racism, attempted sexual assault, death, murder, miscarriage
Night Song is the first book published by Ms. Jenkins in 1994. Woven with deep and rich history, the novel follows main characters Cara and Chase. Cara is a teacher in Kansas who first encounters Sergeant Jefferson prior to the beginning of the book. Although there are memories of their encounters, this is the first time that the two get to interact on a more intimate level. What starts off as small banter between the two quickly turns into deep affection. Unfortunately, Chase doesn't see himself in a long term relationship tied to a woman through marriage. A series of events continues to push the two together in hopes of them finally finding their happily ever after.
What Worked: Jenkins is master at crafting prose. I knew this from reading a few of her previous books, but it's been a while since I've read anything. Not only was I captivated by Cara and Chase as a couple, but I was invested in their personal background. There is a lot of Black history woven into the character development. Granted, this is a love story at it's core; however, Jenkins never strays away from informing readers about this historical events that would inevitably shape her characters. Through Cara readers learn more about the inaccurate perception of Yankee soldiers who are often remembered as the "heroes" of the Civil War. Jenkins reminds readers that, they too, had deep rooted racism that traumatically impacted the Black community. Through Chase readers learn about the impact of slavery and the history of the 9th and 10th Horse Calvary also known as the Buffalo Soldiers. I have to admit, I was personally excited to hear more about this because of how I great up learning about the Buffalo Soldiers. Additionally, I adored the relationship between Chase and Cara. Granted, there were a few times that I wanted to slap Chase across the head with the way he handled certain aspects of their relationships. Nevertheless, I could tell that he deeply cared for Cara and definitely did everything in his power to protect her. Additionally, Jenkins knows how to right a damn steamy scene. Oh my goodness. Sure, Cara hasn't previously been with anyone else, but she definitely holds her own in every encounter.
What Didn't Work: Unfortunately, like many other reviewers, I struggled a little with the ending of this book. I feel like this specific plot point was dragged on a little too long. Granted, I understand the role that he plays in the context of the whole book, but it made me feel a little distracted. I think that it could have been paced a little better.
Overall, this was a great first book from Jenkins. The level of research that went into this book is beyond amazing and coupled with great characters and great storytelling made for a wonderful reading experience. I can't wait to pick up the next book....more
Joya Goffney never misses. That's it. That's the review because I don't even have the words to describe how beautiful this book is and how I honored IJoya Goffney never misses. That's it. That's the review because I don't even have the words to describe how beautiful this book is and how I honored I feel to have read it....more
I'm not sure why this took me so long to read considering that I go through Burnett's books pretty quickly. I wanted to explore this one for the releaI'm not sure why this took me so long to read considering that I go through Burnett's books pretty quickly. I wanted to explore this one for the release of the live action of The Little Mermaid; however, I didn't get to it in enough time. Before He Was King is the first in a quartet that are fairy tale re-tellings. This one is loosely a re-imagining of Ursula's origin. I did not expect certain elements which made the book more fast paced and interesting. The steamy scenes were great as always. I'm not in a rush to dive into the next books in the series; however, I'm glad that I did take time to read this one....more
THE BEST ROMANCE I'VE READ THIS YEAR. Don't worry, I plan on re-reading this one this year so a better, more thought out review will be coming before THE BEST ROMANCE I'VE READ THIS YEAR. Don't worry, I plan on re-reading this one this year so a better, more thought out review will be coming before the year ends. In the meantime, if you haven't picked up this book, I need you to pick it up now!...more
Ummmm excuse me!! Where in the hell is the next installment in this series?!? This can't be it. This book was wayyyyyyy too good. Shout out to the lovUmmmm excuse me!! Where in the hell is the next installment in this series?!? This can't be it. This book was wayyyyyyy too good. Shout out to the lovely Taima aka Shadesnpages (check out her instagram) for putting me on this one because ya'll this did not miss AT ALL.
One Night, One Bite is a Black paranormal romance that follows Raven and Bas, fated mates, who meet in a vampire club. Raven is at her wits end in the middle of a messy divorce and Bas is determined to make sure that his coven of vampires have control of the South. What ensues is a mess of drama, passion, sexiness, all the steam you can ask for, and a beautiful romance between two paranormal beings.
What Worked: I mean what didn't work?!? The writing, the character development, the pacing of the plot were all amazing. There was great world building and the creation of a believable romance in such a short period of time. If I was destined to be with a vampire for the rest of my life, it would have to be Bas. He's so caring and protective of Raven while still allowing her to make decisions that she believes are in her best interest. Everything about them as a couple was beautiful and endearing. Dria made them fun to read about. And the steamy scenes were off the charts! I just want book number two especially after the conflict that ensues with Raven's family. The world itself is intriguing and I'm interested in learning more about this conflict that exists between the vampire covens. In the meantime, I will be checking out more of Dria's books! Definitely give this one a try!...more
Surprisingly, I thought that I was going to dislike this especially because it focuses on a young girl altering herself for a teenage boy, but this waSurprisingly, I thought that I was going to dislike this especially because it focuses on a young girl altering herself for a teenage boy, but this was done well.
Love Is a Revolution primarily focuses on main character, Nala Robertson, who finds herself falling in love with Tye after attending a spoken word event held by a local organization that her sister-cousin-friend Imani is a part of. Instead of being true to herself, Nala makes the decision to alter various things about her personality to encourage a relationship between herself and Tye. What follows is a hard lesson about falling in love, heartbreak, family, and staying true to oneself.
What Worked: Renee Watson has such beautiful, lyrical writing that made reading this book a breeze. I was captivated by every word, every sentence. There were nods to Jamaican family dynamics and culture that I absolutely loved as well. Surprisingly, I both loved and disliked the character development. Nala is changing herself for a guy and reading her lie to him over and over again was frustrating; HOWEVER, I am not the target audience for this book. When I took a brief second and viewed this story through the lens of teenagers, I realized that this is a story that I would have appreciated growing up. A plus size Black teen that isn't ashamed of her body, but still experiences insecurities in ways that are normal for teenagers. Most of us have changed ourselves in some way hoping to fit in and gain acceptance. Things are no different for Nala. She feels left out of the circle of secondary characters who throw themselves into activism when Nala would rather spend her free time watching movies. Naturally, when she grows feelings for Tye, who is an active member in this circle of friends, Nala doesn't feel like she's up to what would be considered his personal standards. But instead of it being in looks, it's about perceived intelligence through the lens of activism. Lately, there has been an increase in activism in young adult communities. I appreciate that Watson tackles this idea that activism can take place in a variety of ways and sometimes it's okay to JUST be a KID/TEENAGER. As a parent, I fear, sometimes, that we push younger generations to be the change they want to see so heavily that they burn themselves out and forget to enjoy life. Nala brings that balance to the table. She wants to make change, but she also recognizes the importance of simply enjoying friends and family. Nala is by no means a perfect character. She's not always likeable and she can be frustrating, BUT she's still growing. She's a teenager trying to not only find her voice, but also her place in her community. I loved seeing her grow and shift into this person that is actively aware of the decisions that she makes in regard to herself and others. And major props to Watson for the nods to Lucille Clifton. I really appreciated that.
Overall, this was a good book. I know that it won't work for everyone especially for adults, but I really appreciated the commentary that Watson made throughout the story....more
This wasn't the best romance that I've read, but it also wasn't the worse. I'm still interested in reading more from Kristina Forest, but there were tThis wasn't the best romance that I've read, but it also wasn't the worse. I'm still interested in reading more from Kristina Forest, but there were things about this one that didn't always work for me.
The Neighbor Favor has one of the the cutest premises where readers follow Lily Greene who works in publishing and Nick, an author who's attempting to find his stride in writing. The two initially meet via email due to Lily's interest in his book. After having extensive conversations, Nick randomly ghosts Lily leaving her feeling hurt. Unbeknownst to Lily, the two end up meeting again when Nick moves and becomes her neighbor. While he is aware of her identity after some time, Lily doesn't make the connection and simply sees Nick as the perfect opportunity to secure a date to her sisters wedding.
What Worked: There were a few things that I enjoyed about this book including the relationship dynamic between the sisters. While Lily struggles with meeting the standards and expectations set forth by her sisters and parents, reading about their interactions was fun and engaging. They don't always see eye to eye, but they do support each other in unexpected ways. Forest did a good job creating their stories in the background which, I'm sure, will lead to each sister getting their own novel. The characters and their relationship felt real and well rounded. Forrest continues this well rounded character development in Lily and Nick's relationship with literature. It felt so good as a Black reader to see these characters gushing over different SFF works. I couldn't stop smiling when Nick and Lilly spent some time discussing The Fifth Season. I haven't read the book yet, but I connected with these moments emotionally. I think that Forrest did a great job utilizing them to build the chemistry between the characters. It was both cute and charming.
What Didn't Work: This is where I let ya'll know that a lot of my issues with this book are a me thing and not necessarily anything wrong with the book itself. I don't do well with certain tropes and this one had something like a "secret identity" trope and lying by omission. I struggled with the fact that Nick figured out who Lily was and refused to be honest about his identity. It just seemed like it could have saved them so many problems if he was honest from the get go. Unfortunately, he doesn't have this moment of clarity until much later on in narrative and it frustrated me. Part of me also felt this moment of conflict with Nick's relationship with his family. They aren't the best and it's because of them that Nick struggles with his writing and getting published. The conflict was so deeply woven into Nick's character development that I was shocked to see it wrapped up so quickly and neatly. I'm not saying that it needed to be this long, drawn out aspect of the book; however, I think it deserved just a tad bit more attention and time. The final element that didn't work for me slow burn pace of the novel. I've read a couple of slow burns and I was completely and totally invested in the characters, but for some reason it didn't work here and it felt like it took just a little too long for our characters to find their intimacy.
Overall, this was a solid read and I'm interested in the books that we may get that focus on the sisters....more
3.5 Stars. Oof this is a tricky one to both rate and review. It contains cheating which I'm not always a fan of. CW: abuse, cheating
Jah is the second 3.5 Stars. Oof this is a tricky one to both rate and review. It contains cheating which I'm not always a fan of. CW: abuse, cheating
Jah is the second book in the Them Boys series and follows Jah and Tricia who we met in the first book Set. The story is filled with various flashbacks to give readers a better sense of how the two met each other. Unfortunately, at the time of their meeting Tricia was in a unhealthy relationship attempting to make it work. It was then that she met Jah and they began an affair.
What Worked: Alexandria House is such a gifted writer and storyteller so I was extremely invested in the characters and their back stories. While I didn't enjoy Jah as a character as much as I enjoyed Set, he still had some pretty amazing qualities. I was also happy to see House explore Tricia more in this installment. In Set, she comes across as this loud, busybody of a friend when she actually has so much more depth. The emotional connection between the characters was also pretty amazing even during their more intimate moments. And oh my goodness are those moments AMAZING.
What Didn't Work: I'm not a huge fan of cheating in my books. Tricia has a complicated relationship with her partner before she meets Jah, but part of me wishes that she would have just left instead of letting their affair carry on for so long. Granted the interconnectedness of the characters made for some great drama; however, there was space for their affair to be shorter. I also don't think that the flashbacks were written in a way that meshed well with the more current parts of the storyline. There were also too many flashbacks and I must admit there were times when I got just a little confused.
Overall, this was a solid installment in the series. I can see why there are so many conflicting thoughts and opinions about this one, but I definitely can't wait to get to the last one! ...more
Whew ya'll! AshleyNicole never ever ever misses for me! I almost forgot how much joy her books bring me whenever I read them. I've been meaning to conWhew ya'll! AshleyNicole never ever ever misses for me! I almost forgot how much joy her books bring me whenever I read them. I've been meaning to continue on with the Mason family series for a while and I found out that one of my audiobook apps had this one so I decided to dive right in. If you're looking for an enemies to lovers and forced proximity type of situation, then I wouldn't dare miss out on this one.
An Ounce of Decorum is the 3rd book in the Mason Family series and follows Noura and Khalil who cannot STAND each other. Unfortunately, the two are forced to work together when they are attempting to close a real estate deal. When a storm forces them to share the same quarters, the two open up to each other in unexpected ways and find that there may be something between them.
What I Liked: So much. It is always rare for me to read a AshleyNicole book that I don't completely enjoy. The character development in this one was key because there wasn't necessarily a lot of plot. Noura is a trip and her mouth is a problem from the get go, but it's her vulnerability later in the story that will make readers empathize with her and grow to really admire and like her. And Khalil is honestly her perfect match. He put her in check from the get go and was really supportive of her feelings and experience when she expressed everything that she had been through. The forced proximity situation really gave both characters the opportunity to not only learn more about each other, but also realize the journey that was required of them to truly understand each other and develop romantic feelings. AshleyNicole always lightens the text by adding humorous aspects to the story which make me laugh out loud.
Overall, this was a fun and exciting addition to the Mason family series and I'm definitely excited to continue on! I highly recommend checking these books out. ...more
Damn, damn, damn! Why ya'll aint tell me this book was this sexy?!? I was listening to the audiobook while working and silently praying that no one coDamn, damn, damn! Why ya'll aint tell me this book was this sexy?!? I was listening to the audiobook while working and silently praying that no one could hear what was coming out of my headphones. I'm sad that I waited so long to start this book especially since I've read and love a good portion of what Alexandria House has done with her other books. Set has such an interesting premise where readers follow Set and Kareema. The two reunite at a high school reunion when Kareema is left solo by a close friend. Set had a bad reputation in the past so she's initially hesitant about interacting with him, but the two find that they have a lot in common. What ensues is a world wind adventure of spending weekends together fulfilling their physical desires. Of course, the one night stand doesn't last long as the two begin to grow feelings for each other.
What I loved most about this novella was the pacing. In such a short amount of time, House gets readers invested in the main characters, their romance, as well as the side characters. Set is extremely supportive of Kareema which is something that she needs while dealing with a problematic ex and a child that is struggling to figure out adulthood. I felt satisfied with the shortness of the story which speaks highly to House's writing skills. And the steam!! Oh my gosh, it had my smiling from ear to ear making me want to send a few messages of my own. I love when a romance author is not only able to give us the hottest moment, but also incorporates a cohesive plot.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and I'm looking forward to the next one in the series!...more
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