Honey; Sweeter Than Honey. Maya Mahree. 2019/2020. B. Love Publications. [Soure: Kindle Unlimited.] This review actually covers both books in this series, Honey and its sequel, Sweeter Than Honey. I started reading the sequel, not realizing it was part of a series. Naturally, I had to go back to find book 1. I’ll start here by saying that I likely wouldn’t have known I was reading a sequel if not for my spidey senses because Mahree’s style gave context and detail in a way that the plot of Sweeter Than Honey certainly would’ve held its own even without reading Honey beforehand. The books centers Trinity, a recent college grad on a group trip that includes her long-time boyfriend, Joseph, and her sidepiece, Kelly — the two happen to be best friends. Along for the trip are a host of other friends, including Kelly’s actual girlfriend, Vanessa. Where the first book is a buildup to a fallout, the second book reconciles the issues in book one. It is capital D drama, so there are significant issues that need resolution. Honey unfolds mostly in the present, with the group of friends on a graduation trip to Hawaii. Through flashbacks, you’re able to…

In His Corner. Alexandra Warren. 2017. 283 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] This book is actually a reread for me. I picked it up when it was released; I obviously was side-tracked before posting a review. I chose to revisit it this week when the author, Alexandra Warren, announced it would be leaving the Kindle Unlimited library. In His Corner features Bella Stevenson, a staff writer for the online magazine Fullest Disclosure. Her attempts to write her way up the ranks land her at the latest boxing match of Princeton “The Prince” Lattimore, an undefeated boxer whose flirtatious innuendo gets under her skin. Lucky for her, his interest in her opens the door for an exclusive that she can’t turn down. Bella and Prince’s relationship isn’t quite a fairy tale. While their attraction is hot and they’re almost effortlessly compatible, they have to fight for their relationship on several fronts. Prince owes his career — for better or worse — to his father, formidable boxing legend Sir Kingfield “The King” Lattimore. The two have a complicated relationship due to The King’s high expectations that Prince follows in his footsteps and tough love approach. The effects of this strained relationship cause continued…

#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…