Wrath. Victoria Christopher Murray. 2021. Simon & Schuster. 384 pages. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of NetGalley.] Absolutely loved all of these characters!! Let me start by saying, I’ll be needing a Sisley and Kareem prequel because there seems to be plenty to tell in that redemption story. The main characters’ back story played a vital role in the dynamics of Chastity and Xavier’s relationship and I appreciated how the supporting characters were used to further enhance your understanding of their perspective and subsequent decision making. I love how VCM did a spin on people’s use of scripture to support what they may innately want to do…the notion that there’s a scripture for everything (good and bad) was clearly shown. The ending took me by surprise … but it was delightful stray from the expected. Additional favorite points: • Bryce knowing and calling Xavier on his BS – too often in stories like this, you find friends that border on being accomplices. I appreciated that it was a clear depiction of how men MUST hold one another accountable and encourage each other to do better. • The underlying theme that it’s not how people see you, but how you see yourself….

Quarantined: A Collection of Shorts. Sabrina B. Scales. 2020. 79 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] I can’t remember how many days we’ve been in quarantine-life, but I do appreciate that authors are putting their spin on love these most dire of days. My latest quarantine read is the new release by Sabrina Scales, which features three shorts with a string of connection between each. My favorite of the three shorts was the first one, which featured a nice forbidden love between Jabari and his best friend’s younger sister, Nicki. She’s had eyes for him since they were kids, but the question is whether the two can pursue something without damaging the relationship they each have with her brother, Courtney. If Jabari feels familiar, it’s likely because his character seems was based on DJ D Nice’s “Club Quarantine” instagram sets. The second story featured Courtney and his on-again, off-again, hidden in plain sight, secret love affair with ex-girlfriend Milo. It sounds complicated because it is. Their affair is best described as a case in which nothing has to be explained because it’s understood. Except that the two clearly are not on the same page. It’s amusing to see them stumble through figuring…

Me + Somebody’s Son. Christina C. Jones. 2020. 84 pages. Warm Hues Creative. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Unless you’ve been under a rock, you’ve likely seen the saccharine-sweet photos of blissfully affectionate couples with the caption “me and somebody’s [son/daughter].” And honestly, who wouldn’t want to be boo’d up doing cute stuff with bae? Haven. She’s down for mutually beneficial hook-ups, but attachments aren’t her thing — once bitten, twice shy. So while she’ll gladly find someone to enjoy for the night, she has trouble getting them to get the hell on the next day. And when she crosses paths with August, the friend of a college ex, she swears him off. He’s literally the definition of smashing the homeys, and is just enough temptation to make her consider breaking her rule. Trouble. To say Haven and August are cute doesn’t do them justice. They were so enjoyable to read because they never compromised who they were and their filters were more or less nonexistent. They were always natural with each other, and their ability to go with the flow was entertaining. Their banter as Haven played hard to get and August let her, was genuinely hilarious, and I loved every second…

A Little Bit of Karma. ReShona Tate Billingsley. 2020. Gallery Books. 288 pages. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of NetGalley.] Even with the suspense and “whodunit” plot, Reshonda Tate Billingsley stayed true to her redemptive characters. If you’ve read her previous works, you know she always takes the characters through an evolution – Jay and Dr. Shannon were no different. This was a stray from her usual writing style and not her best work, but still a good read nonetheless. Impossible to compare to the recently hyped thrillers, this book was a “whodunit” with a primary focus on the survival of a relationship. I found myself absorbed in the first half of the book and initially perplexed as the action began … I ultimately rode the wave to the end, interested in The Who, what, when and why, and was satisfied with the conclusion and how the author had it unfold. The only complaint I have is the inability to clearly understand the relationship between Keri and the older woman — initially I thought the discrepancy was a highlight to the woman’s lapsing memory but I’m not quite sure … is that her mother or grandmother? Four stars – but suspense…

Warmth. D. Rose. 2020. 64 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Workplace romances are always a bit messy. The way to get around that? Don’t make it a romance. That’s Tessa’s plan when she decides to finally act on her attraction to her colleague, Raj. They’re based in different cities, so it should be a no-brainer for them to hook up once to satisfy her curiosity. That’s rarely how things work out, though, and Warmth follows their attempts to manage their attraction. Tessa is career driven, and while that trait is partly what brings her around Raj, it’s also part of what marks her as so fiercely independent. Her desire for independence comes at the cost of relationships, both romantic and with family. Raj is just as driven, but seems to have more perspective on what he wants next beyond work. Both have scars from previous relationships, so it was important getting to see how both approached healing and making a decision about whether they could be a thing. Warmth is more erotica than romance, and clocking in at around 64 pages, it’s fairly fast paced. Sometimes less is more, and that’s why I’ve come to enjoy novellas. Here, the author packs…