The Scratch: An Accidental Pregnancy Romance Story (The Lovers Series) Kindle Edition by Aja

 

Book Excerpt:

"Rayna Whitaker thought her cue and her carefully erected walls would keep her steady—until Quentin Hale stepped up and changed the whole game. Quiet strength, slow fire, and a touch that left her undone… he wasn't just playing for her body, he was playing for her forever.

This story is tender, messy, and grown—where love runs just as deep as the heat.

The Lovers Series: Tales of passion, play, and undeniable chemistry—where every romance is an experience you'll never forget. These are STANDALONE stories. Visit ajathewriter.com for more information about her work."

Title:  The Scratch

Author:  Aja

Publisher:  She Loves Words Publishing LLC

Series:  The Lovers Series

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Five

Review:

"The Scratch" by Aja

The Insight:  

"The Scratch" is an enjoyable and steamy addition to the series, focusing on the relationship between Rayna and Quentin. How will Rayna, an electrician, and Quentin, a physics teacher, come together as one? Will Quentin be able to win Rayna's heart? Besides their skills as pool sharks, they share a more profound connection that brings them closer. You must pick up this captivating read to discover what that connection is. The author skillfully develops both main characters, who have each faced significant challenges in their lives, leaving readers eager for more from this series.

 

The Fire In Us: A Friends to Lovers Romance (Lunch Break Series Book 9) Kindle Edition by Stephanie Nicole Norris

 Book Excerpt:

"Falling for your best friend is a dangerous game—especially when losing means breaking your own heart.

Brandon Donovan and Brooke Parker have been everything to each other for as long as they can remember—confidants, partners-in-crime, the one person who never lets them down. Their friendship is easy, effortless, and unshakable. Until one night changes everything.

A kiss that lingers too long. A touch that sparks something neither of them is ready to name. Suddenly, the rules they've lived by don't make sense anymore, and pretending nothing has changed feels impossible.

If they take the risk, they could have everything. But if they're wrong… they could lose the one person they can't live without."

Title:  The Fire In Us

Author:  Stephanie Nicole Norris

Publisher:  S.N.N.

Series:  Lunch Break Series Book 9

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Five

Review:

"The Fire IN Us" by Stephanie Nicole Norris

My Insight:  

"The Fire In Us" is an engaging erotic novel featuring Brooke and Brandon that will keep you turning the pages. Will their marriage work out? Both wanted this union, but Brooke's indecisiveness raises questions about its future.

To find out what happens between them, you'll need to pick up this quick read. It promises to be intriguing once everything unfolds.

Taming a Heartbreaker: Spicy Black Romance Kindle Edition by Brenda Jackson (Author), Synithia Williams (Author)

 Book Excerpt:

"Taming a Heartbreaker by New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson—Part of the bestselling Westmoreland Legacy series!

A steamy opposites-attract story about a playboy CEO determined never to settle down and a hopeless romantic who knows it just takes the right person to reform a rake.

He's closed off to love. She's set on taming his wild ways. Let the sparks fly!

Redford St. James is having too much fun to settle down with just one woman. Until a Westmoreland family wedding reunites him with Carmen Golan. He can't get Carmen—gorgeous, sweet, and a hopeless romantic—out of his mind. Even though she's outright said he's husband material! Him! And she believes any heartbreaker can be tamed—by the right person. Well, it's his duty to set her straight!

But an intimate conversation becomes an intimate evening and a night that makes them wonder who's taming whom. And that night could have consequences in nine short months…"

Title:  Taming A Heartbreaker

Author:  Brenda Jackson & Synithia Williams

Publisher:  Harlequin

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Five

Review:

"Taming a Heartbreaker" by Brenda Jackson & Synithia Williams

My Insight:  

"Taming a Heartbreaker" is an engaging romantic novel that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages to discover what happens next for the characters Redford and Carmen. As their lives are transformed by love, the story highlights the challenges of commitment and responsibility. Throughout the narrative, you'll witness the evolution of their relationship and the struggles they face as opposites trying to unite. This compelling read invites you to explore how the author skillfully unfolds their journey. Don't miss the chance to see if Redford and Carmen can come together as one!

Some Girls Drown Kindle Edition by Jessica Bell

 Book Excerpt:

"She wrote the truth they told her to forget.

Ayanna has been quiet for long enough.
It started on her eighth birthday. A hallway. A family who looked the other way. Now in her twenties, Ayanna is finally ready to speak the truth they tried to erase.

Some Girls Drown is a powerful, emotionally charged novel based on actual events. It follows one woman's fight to reclaim her voice after a childhood spent shaped by silence, and the betrayal of those who should have protected her.

This is a story of fury, memory, and the love we fight hardest to find: our own."

Title:  Some Girls Drown

Author:  Jessica Bell

Publisher:  J.B.

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Five

Review:

"Some Girls Drown" by Jessica Bell

My Insight:

"Some Girls Drown" is a deeply emotional and challenging read that will leave readers reflecting on the sheer scope of Ayanna's heartbreaking journey.

This compelling narrative showcases how well the author conveys a message that will resonate long after finishing the book.

The Marriage Narrative by Claire Kann

Book Excerpt:

"A love just for show grows into something more in this swoon-worthy romance from the author of The Romantic Agenda.

Zinnia is an ambitious, successful businesswoman who is not about to wait around for her One True Love. She turns her dating profile into a marriage-merger proposal: a few strategic meetings, move in together, get married—all within thirty days. Her friends think it will never work… until she meets Jordan, a near-perfect applicant with a big secret.

Jordan’s family has spent the last decade starring in a massively popular reality show about their lives. He has finally agreed to join the cast, but production wants him to marry an actress (his ex) in a romantic storyline to boost viewership.

Convinced Zinnia is perfect for the role, Jordan proposes a mutually beneficial marriage agreement: she gets her business partner-husband, and he gets to help his family on his terms. Together they face strict schedules, wild plot twists, and behind-the-scenes hostilities, all while acting like besotted newlyweds—an intense performance that evolves into a relationship they never expected.

As the line between reality and show blurs, Zinnia and Jordan must choose between a clean contract or a beautifully messy love story."
 

Title:  The Marriage Narrative

Author:  Claire Kann

Publisher:  Berkley

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating:  Four

Review:

"The Marriage Narrative" by Claire Kann

My Insight:  

"The Marriage Narrative" is an absolutely enthralling story that will hold your attention from start to finish! It beautifully delves into the unexpected journey of Zinna and Jordan as they navigate a marriage of convenience for a reality TV show. The drama surrounding family dynamics truly brings the story to life, especially with the fascinating Jordan family adding depth and intrigue. I wholeheartedly encourage you to dive into this tale and witness how the relationship between two strangers blossoms into something much more meaningful, set against the captivating backdrop of a reality TV show. You’ll find yourself reflecting on their journey long after you turn the last page. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this read!

Thank you, NetGalley, and Berkley Publishing Group, for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Father Stranger Slave Kindle Edition by Jessica Bell (Author)

 Book Excerpt:

"Adedayo is a young boy in 1950s Nigeria, full of hope, told he is on the path to manhood. But the world that awaits him is one of silence, cruelty, and control. Stripped of his identity and forced into servitude, he learns that obedience is survival and speaking out can be deadly.

Yet even in the harshest conditions, he refuses to give in. Beneath the fear, a quiet determination burns; the hope that one day he will be free.

Inspired by actual events, Father Stranger Slave is a powerful story of stolen youth, resilience, and the unbreakable will to survive."

Title:  Father Stranger Slave

Author:  Jessica Bell

Publisher:  J. B.  

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Five

Review:

"Father Stranger Slave" by Jessica Bell

 My Insight:   

"Father Stranger Slave" is an emotional and gripping read that keeps the reader turning pages to discover what happens next in Adebayo's journey, as he faces a mix of fear, hope, and ultimately, some change. The characters in this story are compelling and complex, adding depth to the narrative. You'll have to pick up this book to see how the author masterfully brings everything to life.

By the end of the book, you will be left shaking your head, saying, "Wow, that was an incredible read!"

Calling All Blessings A Blessings Novel by Beverly Jenkins

Book Excerpt:

"NAACP nominee and USA Today bestselling author Beverly Jenkins celebrates her beloved Blessings series with a heartwarming novel set in Henry Adams, Kansas.

"If you haven't yet gotten your hands on [this] author's work, you should do so immediately."—Shondaland

Tamar July, town matriarch of Henry Adams, KS, is being haunted by dreams of her humiliating wedding day, sixty years ago, when she discovered her intended, Joel Newton, was already married. The truth left her furious, heartbroken, and carrying a child, her son Malachi "Mal" July. Why are these dreams coming to her now? And is the great horned owl perched on her backyard shed somehow connected? When Joel's legitimate son, Henry Adams, comes to Mal seeking his half-brother, Tamar must confront her past and her anger, and explore what it means to truly forgive.

Tamar isn't the only one being tested. Teenager Devon July wants to be anyone but himself. When he first arrived in Henry Adams as an eight-year-old foster child, he wanted to be a preacher. Then, to be like his adopted brother, Amari. Now, he's decided to be a variant of James Brown—wig included—rather than who he really is, a boy who lost his beloved grandmother and is the son of a mentally challenged woman. Will Tamar be able to guide his spirit quest and place him on the road to finally being at peace within himself?

As the big August 1st celebration nears, town owner Bernadine Brown has a lot on her plate, chief among them, what to do with former mayor Riley Curry's monstrous tribute to his hog Cletus. There are no secrets in Henry Adams, but there's never a dull moment either."

Title:  Calling All Blessings

Author:  Beverly Jenkins

Publisher:  Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Four 

Review:

"Calling All Blessings" by Beverly Jenkins

My Insight:  

"Calling All Blessings" is a truly enchanting and heartwarming tale that lingers in your mind long after you've turned the final page. As the concluding installment of Beverly Jenkins' beloved Blessings series, it beautifully encapsulates the essence of love and resilience. The characters, particularly Tamar and Devon, embark on a profound journey of growth that unfolds seamlessly throughout the narrative. Watching the blossoming connections within this family and witnessing their genuine expressions of friendship, humor, hope, and love is a captivating experience. This story is not just well-crafted; it is a powerful and inspirational read that resonates deeply. It is a celebration of life and the enduring bonds that shape us, making it a truly unforgettable read.

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC!