Real Men Knit. Kwana Jackson. 2020. Berkley. 336 pages. [Source: public library.] Real Men Knit caught my eye months before its release for a few reasons: The title – a statement like “real men knit” is somewhat provocative, given that knitting is seen as a feminine craft, despite is origins The content – one of my primary hobbies is crocheting, so anything that centers fiber arts is worth checking out The cover, depicting a dude in Timbs. Nuff said. The book is a glimpse into the life of the four adoptive sons of “Mama” Joy, the matriarch of the Strong family and owner/operator of Harlem-based Strong Knits. She dies suddenly and the brothers have to decide whether to keep the small shop open. The least responsible of the brothers — perpetually underemployed playboy Jesse — is the most motivated to keep it running, and is lucky to have the help of Kerry. For her part, Kerry is a family friend who grew up with the brothers and has sought refuge in Strong Knits since she was young. Kerry’s also juggling her part-time job at the shop while hoping her career in art education jumps off at a local community center….

#Catfished. AshleyNicole. 2020. 107 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Who, in the year of our Lord 2020, is still getting catfished? Kardea is. She’s been talking to “Magnus” for two years, long distance, but has somehow missed the classic red flags that made the MTV show famous. She’s just been stood up by “Mag” when she runs into him in a local coffee shop. Big shocker — it’s not him, but local barber Emiel, whose photos “Mag” has been lifting from Instagram. Kardea and Emiel partner to figure out who’s behind the fake persona, but find (not surprisingly) that they have a mutual attraction and more than a little bit of chemistry. As the two sleuth their way to the truth, there’s a healthy dose of drama mixed in with their antics. While I had my suspicions about who was behind the catfishing, there were some twists I didn’t see coming. It made for an interesting story that I found easy to read and hard to put down. While this book is a romance, it’s just as much a comedy. I was both shocked and amused that this story had more love triangles than I could keep track of. Then, I…

Close Contact. Christina C. Jones. 2020. Warm Hues Creative. 75 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Finally, a closer look at the third Clarke brother, Aiden. The anticipation for his story has been building for a bit, so I dove right into this one. Aiden’s story is actually centered around Kima and her restaurant Tigress. She’s reluctantly accepting the Clarke brothers’ capitol and restaurateur expertise to save her pride and joy. Expertise that she resents and fears will strip Tigress of what makes it hers. Nonetheless, Aiden is the current bane of existence, as she works with him to refresh the Tigress menu. Kima, for all her insecurities, was a relatable character. She’s been burned in love and business before, so she’s cautious almost to a fault with Aiden. To say she’s gun-shy about the Clarke brothers’ controlling stake in Tigress and Aiden’s attempts to make a genuine connection with her would be an understatement. She almost gets in her own way by trying so relentlessly to avoid failure. Aiden, on the other hand, has almost risen above that. He’s loved and lost, so his approach to Kima on all fronts reflects his growth and self-assured mentality. These two and their chemistry…

Oops. Alexandra Warren. 2020. 250 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Well this one rips the bandage right off – Oops! is a tale of an unplanned pregnancy. And not just any unplanned pregnancy. It’s with a guy Camryn sworn to hate, but can’t avoid because she works for his mother. Camryn’s about her business and in her opinion, Maverick is a social media obsessed playboy. She doesn’t take him seriously, and considers him a nuisance. But when he saves the day for a fundraiser she’s planning, then shows just how selfless he can be — at least where she’s concerned — she hooks up with him in a moment of weakness. And cue positive pregnancy test. What follows is Camryn and Maverick’s attempt to come to terms with impending parenthood, which runs the gamut from deciding whether to keep the pregnancy, dealing with Maverick’s tendency to end up on gossip blogs, and figuring out whether raising a child together equates to them being in a relationship. Theirs isn’t an easy dynamic to navigate, but Warren covers the gamut of issues that pop up with realism and thoughtfulness. I think what I appreciated most in this book is that Camryn and Maverick…

Love on Deck. Ashleynicole. 2020. 35 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Love on Deck is the second novella in the Luminous Cruise Chronicle series. This installment follows Raegan who is taking a solo vacation on a singles cruise. She’s looking to get her groove back, but there’s one wrench – the ex who ghosted her a year ago — is on the same cruise. Even better — they’re quarantined on the ship and his room is across from hers. As can be assumed, there is a bit of tension between the two. There are obviously some unresolved feelings about their relationship’s end. It seemed to just fall apart after three years, and it is quickly clear that neither is on the same page as the other about who is at fault for their break-up. More tension pops up by the nature of them being on the ship together — it’s clear that they’re both there to make a love (or lust) connection with other people, so how do they tip-toe around each other? I appreciated the continuity from the first book in this series, brought here through the mention of the previous book’s characters, as well as some who I assume…