Love Under Quarantine. Nicole Falls. 2020. 47 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] It’s hard to find anything wrong with a book when the author name-drops you — Mama, I made it. I’m biased, consider this my disclaimer that I absolutely recommend it. That being said, I think Love Under Quarantine is a perfect way to round out the Luminous Cruise Chronicles. It features the mostly-unseen cruise staff and gives an interesting romance alongside a behind-the-scenes look at the ship’s crew during a pandemic. Juliette is a cruise director who’s got a little more than something going on with the captain, Jenkins. They discreetly scratch each other’s itches, but she holds him at bay to spare herself from future, potential heartache. Instead, she’d rather keep it casual, getting it in when they’re together, and acting like she doesn’t care when they’re not. That can only work for so long, and the resulting tension pulls you in. Jules & Jenk have a playful, flirtatious banter that is fun to read. While they have their serious moments, I would describe them as laid back and it really comes through in most their scenes. Other characters are best described as voices of reason and comedic…

Controlled Chaos. Christina C. Jones. 2020. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] More please. That’s it. That’s the review. Jokes aside, Controlled Chaos was a provocative departure from what I expected, which is saying a lot. Jones does erotica well, so to see her step out in this direction here was dope. My greatest critique is simply that I didn’t get more time with these characters because I’m greedy like that. The newest installment drops in on Andre Clarke, one third of the trio of brothers behind 81st & Clarke. The food critic who popped up as a thorn in his side in Collision Course returns as a more constant presence in his professional and personal life. For her part, Drew is just trying to live her best life, not under the thumb of someone who has to be in control all the damn time. In reality, Drew’s desire to take the reins and Andre’s need to let go is what brings them together and makes them work. My interest was piqued with the introduction of a “hyper-exclusive underground” club where Drew and Andre meet, unwittingly. It’s discreet (what happens here, stays here a la Las Vegas), and caters to a range of…

The Garden of Eden. Millie Belizaire. 2019. 356 pages. [Source: Provided courtesy of author.] Who knew stumbling into the wrong car while looking for an Uber could lead to something like love for Eden, a rising pop-star, and Drew, a reluctant megachurch pastor. The Garden of Eden, set mostly in New Orleans with a few scenes in Miami, is an intriguing look at a passionate but sometimes reluctant courtship that has so many obstacles it’s hard to know whether it’s worth the fight. I had mixed feelings about the main characters. On one hand, it’s easy to sympathize with them. Eden’s career is something she values, but it impedes her ability to just be herself and breath. Drew is living in the shadow of his father’s ambition as a pastor. But I often questioned their decision-making that led to worse circumstances or put them into easily avoidable situations. But hey — that just means they’re complex characters and have room for growth. I rarely find myself having strong feelings about secondary characters — regardless of how critical they are in a story, they’re still peripheral to me, and as such don’t often warrant emotional investment. I was shocked at how…

Collision Course. Christina C. Jones. 2020. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] CCJ is back with a new series and I’m loving the first installment. This novella features Addison Clarke, a reformed playboy who has his eyes set on Samara Holloway. The two met at the (in)famous Arch & Point club where Samara was a popular dancer. They hooked up once before she left town to follow her dreams in Vegas. But she’s back after nearly a decade, and Addison makes sure their paths collide as frequently — and passionately — as possible. Although short, this was a really enjoyable read. Addison and Samara have a playful banter that is flirty and filled with tension. She’s clearly trying to keep him at arm’s length and Addison just knows they have something more to explore. Samara is well-connected with beloved characters like Nubia Perry, Kora Oliver, and Nashira Drake — she fits in well but sticks out with an distinct identity and career. Addison, as one-third of a notable local family (his cousins are those Drakes), is trying to show her that he’s grown up and can be taken seriously as more than a hook-up. The fun is seeing how, if at all, he…

Annabelle and Lee. Danielle Allen. 2020. 240 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Annabelle and Lee is a love story that spans more than two decades — romantic, right? Annabelle Winston and Bradley Thompson met as tweens in the small Rhode Island town of Heathrow Beach. They spent three months of every year falling in love with each other, making plans for a future, and growing up. It was a fairy tale until Lee didn’t show up one summer — no call, no email, no AOL instant message. In turn, Belle grew up; she built an impressive career for herself, got married, and carved a life for herself, trying to forget about the heartbreak Lee’s desertion caused. Annabelle and Lee starts with the story of how the two grew into love, and catches up with them when Belle returns to Heathrow Beach to pick up something from the family home and hopefully make peace with her heartbreak. While the book is primarily focused on placing Belle and Lee back in each others’ orbit, it also has a secondary plot involving a mysterious set of letters from the past, a dead woman in the present, and the realization that family secrets — infidelity,…