Everything I Always Wanted. Stephanie Nicole Norris. 2017.275 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] It’s a long-known “fact” that men and women can’t be platonic friends. Shelby and Sebastian, however, have bucked that assumption for decades. Instead, they’ve been each others’ rock, supporting the other through the ups and downs of life.  Now they’re at the height of their careers — Sebastian’s a sought-after photographer and Shelby’s an internationally-known painter — and their friendship is stronger than ever. The catch is that everyone around them seems to think they’re too stupid to realize they’re in love with each other. Sebastian and Shelby are mostly endearing, and it’s refreshing to see their genuine friendship. They are devoted to each other without ulterior motives, with Sebastian taking it upon himself to be Shelby’s protector. That kind of complicates her relationship with Alan, who she’s been with for nearly a year.  Shelby finds herself between a rock and a hard place in how to manage the men in her life. She wants to honor her relationship with Alan and needs to cut Sebastian off to give it a fair chance; however, she doesn’t want to give up the one person who’s closest to her.  Also, she…

Adore You. Nicole Falls. 2016. 166 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Love is messy. Sleeping with your ex’s brother is messy squared.  Alas, that’s where Devorah finds herself. She grew up with the Taylor brothers, Ellis and Everett, along with her friend Cadence. The four were nearly inseparable due to their mothers’ sorority bond.  It seemed to go without saying that she and Everett would marry after dating through high school. And they were on that path until he fell in love with her roommate (no hard feelings there … seriously). Devorah and Ellis instead chose to pursue their physical interest in each other, but that’s where she draws the line. She refuses to let him get closer than he already is, though it mostly seems like a losing battle. She’s afraid of how it will look if she settles down with her ex’s brother, particularly since their mothers are a big part of her life. She’s convinced their judgment will be swift and strong, and she’s not about that life.

Stay With Me. Alexandria House. 2017. 194 pages. Pink Cashmere Publishing. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] As the first book in the “Strickland Sisters” series, Stay With Me introduces the lively bunch while focusing in on Angela’s most recent foray into romance.  She’s a naturalista turned Youtube starlet, but can’t seem to get it right in her love life.  When the ever-so-gorgeous Ryan Boye rents the vacant half of her duplex for a 6-month business stay, she’s put to the test. Ryan, admittedly, “ain’t shit.” He’s a playboy who has no intentions of settling down, let alone with his short-term landlord. Alas, fate has a funny way of challenging you. Angie and Ryan had an undeniable attraction from the start and their chemistry only grows over time. They do a song-and-dance about not complicating their relationship as landlord-tenant, but that obviously wasn’t going to last.  It didn’t come as a shock that they hooked up, but the question remained about whether they could actually have a functional relationship despite Angie’s insecurities in love and Ryan’s resistance to commitment. 

Bad Habit. Blu Daniels. 2015. 168 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] What can I say? I’m a glutton for punishment. I devoured Misconceptions, and I just had to know more about Braxton Earwood.  He left a bad taste in my mouth in the first book, because he treated his girlfriend (?)/babies’ mother so horrifically while she was pregnant.  I came into this book expecting him to have had a “come to Jesus” moment after the birth of the quadruplets and be good for once. That’s not quite what happens here. The book starts with Braxton basically forcing Alex to marry him. His outward excuse is that if they aren’t legally married, the costs of her healthcare will bankrupt the family.   She reluctantly agrees, and Braxton feigns that he’ll be a devoted-ish husband.  I found it difficult to ascertain, in the beginning at least, whether Braxton was capable of viewing their marriage as more than a legal contract. It was clear that although Alex was a reluctant bride, she was also willing to throw herself 100% into their partnership beyond just a legal level. If it was possible, this book made me dislike Braxton even more. His outlook on life and interactions with friends, family, and…

Misconceptions. Blu Daniels. 2014. 332 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] I came across Misconceptions courtesy of Girl, Have You Read, who did a feature on favorite romance tropes on Instagram. This one seemed outlandish with a high potential for drama, and I was lucky to find it available on Kindle Unlimited. The book is told from the perspective of Alex Stone, a recent MBA graduate who has a bright future. She jets up to New York after one last fling with her “Bad Habit,” and seems poised to take on the marketing world. Too bad she finds out she’s pregnant a few months later. Then finds herself jobless.  Oh wait, on top of that, she’s actually having four babies, not just one. She reluctantly tells Bad Habit, assuming he’ll let her live her life as a mother in peace, but when he moves her down to Atlanta, she finds out she’s getting more — and simultaneously less — than she bargained for. In all honesty, I vacillated between loving and hating Alex. She’s young and sometimes acts more immaturely than I think most would given the circumstances. I also recognize that in many ways, she’s between a rock and a hard place,…