I have read a lot of books this year. Most of the books I have been romance books. When I pick at book I try to get the best ones. majority of the books I picked have been well written and relatable. These books made me think about my life and the things that have happened in it. Some made me think about others in my life. Some even made me more empathic to the lives of others. That is why I am sharing the best romance books I have read so far this year.
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Xeni by Rebekah Weatherspoon
Xeni Everly-Wilkins’ aunt passed away recently. Xeni must
clean out her aunt’s massive home and deal with her family. The remaining sisters had a feud with Sable. She
discovers she is to inherit her late aunt’s estate. But there is a catch. To
inherit, she must wed Mason McInroy. He, too, is suffering from loss and family
issues. He lost his friend and mentor, Xeni’s aunt, Sable
Everly. He must marry Xeni to inherit money from her estate as well. He needs
that money to cover a debt and be able to enter his home in Scotland.
My Thoughts on the Book
The plot alone had me interested because I always wanted to
see how two people in an arranged marriage would act with one another. What I
love the most is they had instant chemistry.
Despite having a quick marriage, Mason and Xeni are
comfortable and affectionate with one another. They hold hands, flirt in person
and via text, brush each other’s cheeks, and call each other affectionate names
like “hubby,” “love” and “dear.” The sex scenes are steamy and imaginative.
These scenes are unlike anything I have encountered in other books’ depictions
of sex acts. I also appreciated how they gave each other space and allowed each
other to discuss their family issues when they felt ready. When dealing with
family strife, Xeni and Mason provided each other support. They comforted each
other with words, food, and embrace. Overall, the author manages sensitive
topics with care.
Representation: Interracial romance, Black bisexual main
character, White male bisexual main character Black side characters, Lesbian side characters, East Asia side
characters, Dominican side characters, autistic side character
Trigger Warning: death, sex scenes, death of a family member before the
story begins, bisexual adult with an unsupportive parent, discussion of
abortion in a character’s past, brief mention of miscarriage in a character’s
past, a pregnant supporting character, graphic Sex Scenes, additional
trigger warnings, biphobia, child abuse (emotional), grief, heart attack.
Where to find the book, Here or Here, or your local library.
Zora Books Her Ever After by Taj McCoy
I know Zora had eyes for Lawerence first because he was a
charmer and was more approachable. Lawrence was not my favorite pick because of
his behavior. He was self-centered, despite his perfect facade. But he met
Zora’s qualifications for what she wanted, which made him the better
choice.
Reid was never Zora’s first contender because of his
initial behavior. Reid’s initial encounter with Zora at the book signing gives
the impression that he was rude. He was making snide remarks about Lawerence,
who seemed so perfect. But if I had Lawrence as a “friend,” I would
have been bitter. Once Zora talked to Reid, she realized he was a kind and
caring man.
Zora found Reid appealing because of his interest in books,
including one Lawerence wrote. Lawrence had less knowledge about the
characters and plot than Reid did. Zora connected with him because she felt the
same way about Lawerence’s book. Zora was attracted to Reid’s personality
because of his love for his students. Reid is an English and writing teacher.
Zora has a soft spot for children and books, which makes her a Reid more compatible.
Reid was considerate of Zora’s thoughts and her body.
Where to find these books: Here, Here or at your local library.
Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola
This is Bolu Babalola’s debut novel. The main character is
Kiki Banjo. She makes a mistake. She kisses Malakai Korde on her radio show
called Brown Sugar. Her behavior causes her radio show to be Jeopardy.
Soon the pair pretend to be a couple. They plan to save
their reputation and the future. Kiki is reluctant because she has never
surrendered her heart to anyone. Malakai is the last one she wants. He is a
player and breaks her heart.
However, the two are hitting it off. They are having
late-night study sessions. Getting cozy and eating at old-school diners.
Spending all this time together leaves her baffled. Is she ready for
love?
My Thoughts About the Book
Out of all the main female characters I have read, Kiki is
my favorite. Kiki is strong-willed, smart, and talented. She is confident in
herself and her goals. Despite having past issues with friends, she is loyal to the best friend she found at college.
Malakai is handsome, quick-witted, personal, and confident.
This makes him popular with the ladies on campus but puts Kiki on the defensive
because of past experiences. Once they get into their fake romance, she
realizes he is kind, nerdy, and thoughtful. He is a match for Kiki who is also
quick-witted and has a sparked tongue. Their personality balances one another
and makes their flirting fun and spicy.
One scene I love is how Malakai compares her to scotch
pepper. "Look offensive from the outside cute even kind of a betray but it
can bring a grown man to his knees. It should be managed carefully but can
take care of itself." It summed up her personality and showed how Malakai felt about her. I also loved the times they visited the diner, which he loves so much.
Representation:
Black male main character, Black female main character, and Black side characters.
Trigger Warning: sickness of family members, racism, sex scenes, police harassment, sexual harassment
Where to find the book: at
Amazon, Target, BooksAmillion, or your local library.
Love song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
Ricki Wilde does not fit in with the rest of her family. She is more of a free spirit, and they are more strait-laced. They are a family of socialites and entrepreneurs. She wants to own a floral shop. They do not support her dream of having a small business. That is why she wants to embark on her journey. This journey starts with an invitation from Ms. Della.
Ms. Della invites Ricki to rent a place in her brownstone in Harlem. Ricki jumps at the chance to do something on her own. She hopes to open a floral shop. She loves the new atmosphere filled with music, stories, and the history of the Harlem Renaissance.
One day in February, she meets a handsome stranger after encountering the smell of jasmine. At first sight, she and Ezra feel a powerful pull towards each other. Ezra appears out of nowhere when she is out. He even sees Ricki in his dreams. However, their personalities match, and they love music. Rick, I play music for her mood and her plants. Ezra is a musician who has collaborated with influential artists. He even played one song Rickie loved to play.
My Thoughts About the Book
Ricki Wilde is smart, awkward, and sweet. She dares to be different in her style and her thoughts. Ricki has wild thoughts and goes with them. Who ups and leaves everything and everyone she knows to start a floral shop? Ricki, that who acts like that. She leaves Georgia and goes to Harlem, New York.
The only person she knows is Della Bennet, a rich widow who owns the space Ricki is renting. She becomes an adopted grandmother to Ricki. I love their relationship with each other. Ms. Della gives Ricki the support, wisdom, and stability that Ricki needs. Another relationship I love is her love with Ezra.
Ricki waits, despite the overwhelming terror of Ezra’s past. Most would have left him alone, but she does not. She remains by his side, despite the knowledge that it benefits her. Ezra has a fondness for Ricki’s random and peculiar words and actions. He also loves her floral shop and helps her get customers. Overall, their artistic ways and unique life makes them the perfect couple.
Representation:
Black male main character, Black female main character, Black side characters, young adults
Trigger Warning: death, sex scenes, death of family members, murder, racism, suicide, talks of drug abuse, and talks of sexual harassment
Where you can find the book: here, here, here, or at
your local library.
Fake it to You Bake It by Jamie Wesley
Fake It, Till You Bake It is one of the romantic books written by Jamie.
It features Jada Townsend-Matthews. Jada is now the most hated Black woman on TV. Since she rejected a proposal on the reality TV show, she is now the top villain. She finds herself desperate for a job with her newfound notoriety instead of success.
Jada has no choice but to work at Sugar Blitz. Donovan is not happy to have Jada around. Donovan is the owner of Sugar Blitz. He has no time for Jada’s games at his failing bakery. But he may need her help since she is excellent at advertising. A report spreads the rumor they are a new couple. Jada and Donovan pretend to be a couple to help with their images.
My thoughts about the book
I started reading this book. My first thought is that Jada and Donovan have physical chemistry. Donovan loved the way she looked as soon as she saw him. However, her mouth almost stopped the physical attraction. Jada is very opinionated and sometimes rude. She irritated Donovan with her criticism of his bakery.
But as I continued to read, I realized why she acts that way. Her family feels disappointed in her career choices. But what stings the most is their disappointment in her having a learning disability. Jade has dyslexia and her family does not understand why she struggles with reading.
When she reveals it to Donavon, he does not shame her. He has patience with her. He even talks well about her in front of her family. His doing this shows that he respects and cares about Jada. It also lets her family know he does not disrespect her like they do.
Representation:
Black male main character, Black female main character, Black side characters.
Trigger warnings: sex scenes, ableism, public harassment
Trope: Reality tv, haters to lovers
Where to find the book: at Amazon, Target, Books Amillion, or your local library.
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
TW: Divorce recounted, Sexual harassment of a minor mentioned, Child neglect recounted, child abuse recounted, Chronic migraines (protagonist), Alcoholism recovery (protagonist), Self-harm recounted, Alcohol consumption (secondary characters), Incarceration recounted (off-page)
This book is not an easy read. The backstories of Eva and Shane are tragic. The background may be difficult to read but it gives readers an understanding of why Eva and Shane were no longer together. Eva and Shane have a toxic relationship filled with self-harm and drug abuse. I found the self-harm to be triggering but I was able to finish the book. Both characters had a difficult upbringing filled with abuse and neglect. Their shared heartache made them become instant friends rather than lovers.
My thoughts on this book
I felt bad for both characters, but I felt bad for Shane. Of those uses of abuse and alcoholism, he was on the right path. But people judged him for the things he did like having flings or drunk driving. He was sober but people kept making comments about his alcoholism. I believe the author may have done this to show how society views people with drugs and alcoholism.
I was surprised he did not repeat his habits because of the reminders. Eva, however, was able to start a new life and have a child, and friends. The main reason is that she was never arrested by the police for her indiscretion, but Shane had a rap sheet.
To me, this is realistic because society treats those who hold those with criminal records to a higher standard than people who do not. His story also reveals how difficult it is to start a new life when everyone knows your crimes. He had a lot stacked against him, but he was a good person.
Representation: Chronically ill main character divorced, Black female main character, Black male main character, Black side characters
Tropes: The bad boy with a heart of gold, The second chance at love
Where to find the book: at Amazon, Target, Books Amillion, or your local library.
Insert Groom Here by K. M. Jackson
Eva Ward has received the biggest embarrassing moment of her life. On a morning TV show, her fiancé, Kevin, announces he does not want to marry her. Eva tries to hold it together with embarrassment, planting a smile. He tells her they are “moving too fast.” She tries to take control of the situation on camera, but behind the scenes she is wretched. Worry plagues her mind as she contemplates letting down her mother and ruining their plans. The plans for her personal and professional life.
Instead of losing her chance at wedding her dreams, she tells him she “will have her wedding, with or without him.” “Insert groom here” is what she says. After her outburst, the camera operator, Aiden, follows her to the green room. Aiden films her backstage breakdown and that is when things get complicated.
A day later, when approached by Aidan and Carter, who works at the morning show network, they want her to be a reality star who finds her groom. She has eight weeks to date an eligible bachelor, find the one, and then have a summer wedding. Straightlaced, Eva is reluctant and does not want to make a fool of herself again. But her mother persuades her to do it to revamp her image after her on-air breakdown.
Now she must put her reputation in the hands of Aidan. Their mutual attraction will make their work arrangement hard.
My Thoughts About the Book
I like how Eva is strong-willed and knows what she wants. At
times, her attitude rubs people the wrong way. Her parents' relationship issues
caused Eva to become a no-nonsense woman. Aidan is more laid back and enthusiastic.
Aidan’s personality helps break down the walls Eva built. They balance each
other very well. I wish the author K. M. Jackson included more moments of Aidan
and Eva together. The scene when they walked together showed how they felt
about each other. I needed to see more intimate small moments with Eva and
Aidan. The last scene could have been more climatic.
TW:
Representation:
Black male main character, Black female main character, Black side characters
Tropes: The love/hate relationship
Where to find the book: Here or at
your local library.
Only One Week by Natasha Bishop
Janelle's older sister is marrying Janelle's ex-boyfriend.
She does not have hard feelings about it, but she has feelings about her sister
being a Bridezilla. She nags and puts Janelle down. Janelle keeps it
together by taking the high road since it is her sister’s big day. She also
does not want her mother to believe she is upset that her sister is marrying her
ex-boyfriend. Janelle finds solace in the best man, named Rome. The couple decide to
keep their fling a secret. They would only hook up just for the week of the wedding. Of course, the two
regret making this choice.
My Thoughts About the Book
Janelle is a better woman than me because I would not have tolerated such rude behavior. Her sister constantly tried to set her
up with people because she feared Janelle would steal the groom back from her
sister. Her sister also finds fault with Janelle's work as her bridesmaid but
continues to force her to do extra work for her. Rome defends and helps Janelle
because she is trying to keep the peace with her sister and
mother. He tries his best to make sure she enjoys herself. Rome encourages
her to stand up for herself.
He also discovers how to make Janelle acknowledge her feelings for him. At first, I found it hard to understand why Janelle would let
everyone know she was seeing Rome. Jannelle hesitates because Rome is her ex's
friend. She also does not want to cause any more drama at her sister's wedding.
It may seem stupid for her to keep their relationship secret, but Janelle was in conflict with her sister and did not want to make matters worse with a new
relationship blooming at her sister's wedding.
Representation:
Black male main character, Black female main character, Black side characters, young adults
Where to find the book:
Where to find the book: Here or at your local library.
Zora Books Her Happy Ever After by Taj McCoy
Zora dedicated herself to her bookstore. Romance is not a priority for her. Nevertheless, if a secretive author agrees to do a book signing at her store, she might carve out some time. The author, Lawerence, was the object of her affection. He had it for years and this may be her chance to make her affections known.
When she finally meets Lawerence, he meets her expectations.
However, he has a surface understanding of books. Despite
this, she agrees to go on a date with him.
She enjoys her time with Lawerence despite his grumpy
friend, Reid, making rude comments. She does not understand how both men can be
friends since they are so different.
She is spending more time with Lawerence and Reid. She soon discovers that you cannot judge a book by its cover when she gets to know Reid. He is
smart and thoughtful. He also likes her. Zora, who used to have no romance, is
now dating two guys.
My Thoughts About the Book
I know Zora had eyes for Lawerence first because he was a charmer and was more approachable. I did not like Lawerence. He was self-centered despite his perfect facade. But he met Zora's qualifications on what she wanted which made him the better choice.
Reid was never Zora's first contender because of his initial behavior. Reid did come off as being rude when he first met Zora at the book signing. He was making snide remarks about Lawerence who seemed so perfect. But if I had Lawrence for a "friend", I would have been bitter. Once Zora talked to Reid, she realized he was a kind and caring man.
Zora became attracted to Reid because of his love of books, including the one that Lawerence authored. Reid knew more about the characters and the plot than Lawrence did. Zora could relate to him because she felt that way about Lawerence's book. She also liked Reid because of his love for his students. Reid is an English and writing teacher. Zora has a soft spot for children and books, which makes her a Reid more compatible. Reid was considerate of Zora's thoughts and her body.
Representation:
Black male main character, Black female main character, Black side characters
Tropes: Dating two people
TW: Fat shaming, sex scenes.
Where can you find the book: here, here,
or at your local library.
Before I Let Go
Yasmen thought her, and Joshia’s love would last forever.
But devasting events make them both realize love can’t save everything. It
could save their marriage.
Yasmen and Joshia have worked out co-parenting their two
children. They also figured out how to run their business together. Since they
are often together, they wonder if they could get back
together.
My thoughts about the book
This book was gut-wrenching for me. Seeing how Yasmen
becomes depressed after losing a child was hard to read. To see someone have so
much grief made me a little emotional. Seeing Joshua move on and try to erase
the memories of her loss. No one understood how Yasmen felt
and how she struggled with depression.
I feel that how the author portrayed people's behavior to
her depression reflects how most in society see mentally ill people. Joshia's feelings about her going to therapy and how he was relevant to a therapist, also
show how people do not believe in attending therapy sessions. Joshua felt that if he
moved on and kept busy was how you dealt with grief.
I wish the author allowed Joshia to admit he was wrong about how he treated Yasmin and the death of their child. I also wished the family honored the baby that died.
Overall, it was a moving book about grief, family, and reconciliations.
Representation:
Black male main character, Black female main character, Black side characters, Latin X side characters, adoption,
- Trigger Warnings: sex scenes, depression, suicidal thoughts, stillbirth
Tropes: Second chance at love, love that overcomes a tragic past or loss.
Where to find the book: here, and here.
The Neighbor Favor by Kristian Forest
Bookish, shy, and awkward, Lily Green always had the belief
that she did not measure up to the rest of her family. She wants to become a
children’s book editor. She feels trapped in her current position with no hope
of receiving a promotion. She finds an escape in email correspondence with her
favorite fantasy author. Lily and the author were having wonderful
conversations until she ghosted her.
She is heartbroken but continues to move on with her life.
That means that she must find a date for her sister’s wedding. She thinks she
found a perfect date for her next neighbor. Nick Brown is her handsome new
neighbor. She is unaware he is the author who ghosted her.
Nick does not use his real name in his books. He does not
want people to get to know him. But this may change since he knows Lily is the
woman he was emailing months ago. He fell in love with her. This is why he sets
her up with someone else. Even with doing her this favor, he cannot get her out
of his mind.
Representation:
Black male main character, Black female main character, Black side characters
TW: Sick parent, neglectful parents, depression
You can find it here, here, or,
at your local library.
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
Dani Brown focuses on her research and being a professor.
She does not want a relationship, but just an occasional hookup. Dani feels
that a relationship is distracting her career goals. But a security guard at
the university where she works has a crush on her. Zaf, a former football
player, is interested in Dani but believes she is looking for something other
than a committed relationship. They both have chemistry and are
compatible. Everyone who does not know their plan, they are a real couple.
Both had their hearts broken and being in a relationship may
be the best thing to mend their hearts.
My thoughts about the book
What I loved about this book is how Zaf, despite his stoic
ways, is a kind guy, who loves his family and Dani. He also helps take care of Dani. Whenever Dani is working too much, he brings her food. He makes sure she is okay and gets what she needs to finish her project. Dani allows Zaf to be open about his grief and his anxiety. Both take care of each other which is my favorite party of their relationship. The love scenes are not that bad either.
I also liked reading about
Dani’s family. Dani’s sisters are a hoot and have their romantic books. I
featured the other Brown sisters in this post.
TW: Car crash, death (parents, sibling), grief, panic attack, and sex.
Representation: Black protagonist, bisexual protagonist, Muslim protagonist, gay side-characters,
Tropes: Fake dating
Where to find the book: Here and Here
Sweethand by N.G. Peltier
Cherisse is a pastry chef. She swore off men after her boyfriend cheated on her. With her younger sister getting married, Cherisse wants her mother to focus her attention on her sister. She wants her mother to put her attention on her sister instead of harassing Cherisse about getting married.
Her mother wants her to get married now. This has led her to play matchmaker. Cherisse plays along, hoping her mother will stop.
Cherisse also wants the events to be over since Keiran is attending the wedding. Kerian will be attending the wedding since the groom is a friend.
Keiran is not excited to see her, because he considers her a spoiled brat. He also has a crush on her, which he developed in high school. Keiran can’t avoid her because he is the best man, and she is a maid of honor.
Once he spends time with her planning the wedding, he realizes she is a kind and funny person. She also discovers Keiran is not a rude playboy. Cherisse believed that because of the rumors about him. She trusted the rumors were true because he reminded her of her ex.
TW: sex scenes, fights,
Representation:
Black Female Main Character, Black Male Main Character, Black side characters, Black Bisexual main character, Queer side characters
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers
Where to find the book: Here and the Library
While we were dating by Jasmine Guillory
Ben Stephens has not been in serious relationships. Between family drama and work, he is busy. His workload is heavier since he landed one of the biggest campaigns ever. The advertising firm he works at lands one of the biggest accounts. Anna Gardner, who is a movie star, is his next client. She is sexy, funny, and down to earth. Her goal is to be a household name, and this ad will accomplish it. Until she gets her key role, that she has been waiting and working on. She does not want to have an affair while doing business with Ben. But a little flirting with a handsome man would not do any harm. Ben does not mind flirting back because he finds Anna beautiful.
What I thought about the book
I love this book because I read what happened to characters in the other Jasmine Guillory wedding series. The author features characters from her books such as The Wedding Date. I love seeing the other characters because they provide humor and background stories about Ben’s life. Anna’s family is in the book. She has a close relationship with her family and enjoys being around them.
What stuck out to me was when Ava mentioned how she loved her body. As a fellow fat woman, I loved that part of the book because the author had a plus-size woman loving her body and what she could do. I like how Jasmine mentions Anna is fat early in the book. The scene when the ad manager says she is so “confident” alludes to the fact that he and others were surprised a fat woman can love herself. That is not the only time she dealt with people being fat-phobic. I can also relate to how she said others treated her better after losing weight. People congratulated her for losing weight as if she was trying to compete for a medal. She lost weight because of anxiety and stress. Her dialogue shows how society feels about fat people and how they assume weight loss is only for appealing to the masses. Ava felt people did not acknowledge when she was weighed more.
Representation: Black main characters, Black female main character, Black male main character.
TW: Anxiety, Panic Attacks, microaggressions
Tropes: Black romance
Where to find the book: Here, and Here. or your local library
The Hook-Up Plan by Farrah Rochon
London needs a break from her stressful job as a pediatric surgeon. Her friend’s reason is she needs a casual fling. She did not think her fling would happen at her class reunion or she would have it with Drew. Drew was a handsome millionaire and her arch-nemesis from high school.
She was fine with her little rendezvous until she found out why Drew was in town. Drew is the person who may close London’s hospital. London’s defenses are up about trusting Drew not to close down the very thing she loves. Drew attempts to wow her and save her beloved hospital.
Thoughts on the Book
London Kelly is a badass woman. She puts her patient’s well-being first. If this means speaking up, she will do it. Her excellent work and devotion make her a leader in her field and the hospital. It also causes some of her colleagues to do this like her. One colleague makes her job harder by undermining and telling her to her supervisor. This causes London stress and raises her high blood pressure.
Her relationship with her father also causes her stress. They often fight because of his sexist ways and the fact he never praises his daughter. This is another reason London overworks and seeks to be perfect. Her perfectionism and need to be on top caused her rivalry with Drew. All of this stress leads her to have an affair with Drew even though he is part of her stress. That part was the craziest to me.
Representation: Black main characters, Black female main character, Black male main character.
TW: microaggressions, sexism, sex scenes
Tropes: Black romance
You can find it here, here,
or, at your local library.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
Eve Brown is an adult but seems to find it hard to act her age. After quitting another job and spending money, her family intervenes. They demand she get a job, or they will cut her off. She storms out and finds a job. Driving for hours, she finds a bed-and-breakfast that is hiring. Where she met two owners. The first owner wants to hire her, but Jacob is upset because she shows up unannounced and unprepared. She ends up getting the job after she injures Jacob. Now she must stay on to cook and prove to herself and others that she can keep her job.
He wants Eve to work for him because of her perky personality. He does everything to change her or at least irritate her. Her sunny disposition and quick wit have him smitten despite his best efforts.
My thoughts about the book
Readers may be offended by how Jacob is portrayed. This behavior is common among individuals with autism. Others may have personalities like Eve. There is no size fits all for being neurodivergent. Talia, the author, captures that.
Reading more about how Jacob’s parents treated him as a child; his personality and actions made sense. It’s more understandable why he seems cold towards Eve.
Eve’s scattered behavior can be overwhelming and frustrating, especially for someone with autism. Because of a lifetime of being treated like a child, Eve took his behavior to heart. Her parents’ harsh words before leaving hurt her. Also, the years of mistreatment from so-called friends took a toll on Eve.
She did not like Jacob at first. Once they started working together and found common ground, their attitude towards each other became friendly. This leads them to have passionate moments which are worth reading.
Representation: Interracial romance, neurodivergent main
characters, and pansexual side characters.
TW: Ableism, Car accident, Past Child Neglect, Past Parental
abandonment, and Sex Scenes
Tropes:
Where to find the book: Here, Here,
or at your local library
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
Isabelle feels lost. After beginning her publishing career, she never imagined she would live with her parents. But she has no choice since she is tired and underpaid. She gets her break when she overhears how her boss can’t get a high-profile author to finish his manuscript. She motivates him to finish his project.
If she can do it, she can get her promotion. Izzy finds she is over her head. Beau Towers is withdrawn and just as lost as Izzy. Izzy won’t give up and encourages him to write. He soon starts writing again. Spending time together makes them both realize they have more in common.
My thoughts about the Book
Beauty and the Beast inspired this book. You have Beah, a rich writer with a massive house who has been a recluse for a while because of his bad boy behavior. Izzie’s book-loving editor volunteered to get Beah to finish his book. Beah, of course, is furious to see this strange woman in his house.
Even though Beah was being complicated, Izzy did not let him cause her to give up. Izzy has experience collaborating with rude people. Her boss is difficult and often ignores her efforts. She also has a co-worker who is a backstabbing gossip. She got upset with Beah, but she stood her ground and finished what she came to do.
You can find it here, here,
and or, at your local library.
Goal by Alexandria House
Maleek Jones is a freelance hockey player whose only love is hockey. He loved hockey at sixteen after being rejected by his dad. Hockey was his savior and caused him to forget his past. Until he had new responsibilities. Her father and stepmother have passed away and is responsible for raising his half-siblings.
Nuri Knox is a former teacher who is suffering from a having a traumatic event at her school. She now has nightmares and tries to restart her life. The first step is to get a job. When she sees an ad to be a nanny for Maleek's two siblings you take the job.
Maleek is impressed not only with how she looks but also with her resume. Maleek's finance, Tasha did not seem to take to her looks. It is because she is fat that she is worth her time or feels she is a threat. That does not phase Nuri because as a fat woman, she has confidence. She is also used to people treating her like that, but she has confidence in her looks and abilities.
Her abilities are needed because the children are in shock after their parents' death. They also need adults who will take care of physical and emotional needs.
My thoughts on the book
Reading the prologue helps you to understand why Maleek looks at relationships in the manner that he does. The family issues with his mom, dad, and stepmom explain his hesitation toward a romantic relationship. Rejection, neglect, and abandonment will cause a person to not trust people. It also caused him to be a people pleaser. This is how he ended up living with a woman he did not love. Nuri has family issues as well.
Her mother was neglectful which caused Nuri to be reserved. She also avoided relationships. They were compatible. They both were reserved and kind people that needed extra love. They deserved a happy ending and finding someone that would not leave them.
The children, Junior and Jules are sweet and need a lot of love, after losing their parents. The children bonded with Nuri and their brother quickly. They were the parent figures the children needed.
Representation: Black female main character, Black male main character, Black side characters, and half-siblings.
Tropes: black romance/OWN voices/BIPOC; sports romance (hockey hero); single dad/guardian; rich hero; nanny; forced proximity; virgin heroine; mental health rep (depression/anxiety)
Trigger warnings: active shooting, miscarriage; mentions of childhood rape/teen pregnancy; fat shaming (not between H/h); childhood abandonment; mentions of suicidal attempts (not H/h)
Where to find the book: Here and at your local library.
The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
The Proposal is Jasmine Guillory’s second book. Reese Witherspoon featured this book in her book club. The Proposal was the first romance novel in Reese Witherspoon, Hello Sunshine book club. Nikole is a Black female journalist who wants to be at home, finishing drafting a story while drinking a glass of bourbon. But her boyfriend, Fisher, wants to take her to a baseball game with his friends.
At the game, Fisher points to a wide screen and wants Nikole to look at the screen. Fisher had the stadium write, will you marry me, Nicole?” Nikole tries to say no. But the cameras are on her. So are the eyes of thousands of baseball fans. After she says no, Fisher storms out with his guys. Dr. Carlos, a Latino pediatrician, swoops in and saves her from the intrusive camera crew.
What I love about the book:
It was a fun book. What brought me to this
book was how the female main character got through such a public break-up.
She did not allow it to stop her from doing her job, being around her friends,
or finding true love.
I also love how Carlos is an excellent doctor. He cares about his young patients and gets to know them. In his personal life, Carlos is the same way with the women in his family. Since his father’s passing, he has helped his sister, cousin, and mother. Carlos fixes things around the house for them and gives them medical advice. I find that admiral and what really made me like Carlos.
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