Wins & Losses. Alexandra Warren. 2018. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] For her twentieth release, Alexandra Warren outdid herself. Wins & Losses is a page-turner that I couldn’t put down and gets my strong recommendation.  With this release, she demonstrated that she’s capable of more than just telling a story, but is able to make a compelling critique of current events in an authentic and insightful way. The book starts with Carmen at her father’s funeral, reeling from his yet-unsolved murder.  Charles Wellington was an integral and well-loved member of their community so his death doesn’t make sense to anyone.  In the wake of his death, Carmen has to figure out how to support her 17-year-old brother Jordan who is captain of the basketball team and in the midst of his final year of high school when she lives hours away with her fiance Will.  Luckily, Jordan’s basketball couch, a former rival, Nasir, is staunchly in his corner and willing to be a pillar of support for them both while they figure out their new normal. Warren prefaced this book by sharing that it isn’t anything like what she’s written previously, and she’s spot on.  One of the most prevalent themes in this book…

Room Service. Rochelle Alers. 2018. Dafina Books. 353 pages. [Source: ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]. Room Service is a look at second-chance love featuring Jasmine, a 42-year-old woman who is still a bit shy of relationships after a failed marriage. She spends a good chunk of the book avoiding the advances of, and later feelings toward, Cameron, a 48-year-old bachelor.  I appreciated that the main characters were older than what is usually seen in romances. It showed that the search for love doesn’t have an age limit.  The settings in this story are vivid, with much of the action being split between New York City and New Orleans. That Jasmine is an interior decorator also provided an interesting look at the interior spaces they visit, with strong images provided for buildings, furniture, and art. As someone who loves New Orleans from afar (yet hasn’t visited) I particularly enjoyed this imagery. The plot itself is solid. It’s definitely believable and the characters are relatable. I did find the reactions that Jasmine and Cameron had to each other at times seemed a bit less than plausible, but not so much that I couldn’t find…

The Seduction of Dylan Acosta. Nia Forrester. 2012. 380 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Dylan lives a fairly normal life before a chance meeting with an up-and-coming baseball player, Mark Acosta.  She has a singular goal – get into law school — when Mark more or less barrels into her life. He’s thrust into the spotlight when he becomes the hot rookie for the Mets and she’s dragged into the spotlight with him.  The struggle of the book lies in how they navigate their relatively new relationship with all the trappings of fame and fortune. I have to say that I liked the book. It is chock full of drama worthy of tabloids between the players’ wives, the players themselves, and the mess each relationship leaves behind.  Of course Dylan and Mark get caught in the crosshairs and it can be infuriating to see how easily some things could be sidestepped but weren’t.  It’s interesting to see how Mark, someone who had a humble upbringing, adapts to his new fortune and scrutiny. It’s more disheartening to watch Dylan struggle with the same.

Acceptable Losses. Nia Forrester. 2016. 226 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Lena and Quentin are work BFFs. For years, they’ve had a standing afternoon coffee date that helps guard them against the strain of being high-achieving black attorneys at their firm.  Where Quentin sees himself as a mentor to Lena, she buries feelings toward him, knowing he is someone whose interest will always be unrequited.  Quentin’s failing marriage hasn’t totally jaded him on love, so he attempts to hook up Lena with his suave and less conventional brother Darius. The two hit it off; so why does Quentin have such a problem with his successful match-up? Most of this book focuses on Lena and Quentin as they navigate their romantic relationships. Lena is open to love, but hasn’t had a great track record or even time to devote to it.  Quentin is in a dying marriage, where neither he nor his estranged wife seem willing to throw in the towel officially. 

The Makeover. Nia Forrester. 2018. 223 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] This book is delightfully messy. Not crudely so, but just enough of a mess to keep my butt glued to a chair to finish.  The Makeover follows best friends Colton and Samantha, who’ve been thick as thieves since they were toddlers. They know each other inside and out, so when they finally decide to explore their mutual attraction, it seems like the next natural step. Surely it should be smooth sailing.  Unfortunately, “making over” their relationship brings more challenges than either of them expected or are prepared for. Colton’s career in the NBA presents its own challenges, since he’s been able to live his life without having to answer for a lot of his actions. Women fall at his feet and he indulges himself.  Sam, a budding lobbyist, is a “good girl” who relishes in her place in Colt’s life – he’s always got her back … as a friend.  Their attempt to move from friends to lovers abruptly makes one thing clear –  they don’t know each other as well as they think. I really enjoyed that Sam was her own person with her own “secrets.” Too often, women in…