It’s The Chase For Me. Christina C. Jones. 2020. Warm Hues Creative. 90 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] You know that feeling when you keep running into someone you really are trying to escape? That’s January. And the guy she bumped into — and subsequently caused to spill coffee on himself — just keeps popping up everywhere around town. It wouldn’t be so terrible if they hadn’t had a one night stand and swore not to see each other again. It’s the Chase for Me is the perfect Halloween read to me. Jones released this at a time when daily life seems like a never-ending nightmare, so I appreciate the Halloween season without the spookiness. This definitely reads more as comedic romance, and easy to lose yourself in. Main characters Chase and January are relatable and so easy to laugh at. It reads almost like a series of unfortunate events in their lives, and while I want things to get sorted out, I absolutely laughed at their bad fate. Readers first glimpse of January was in Me + Somebody’s Son, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Her intro in this book isn’t quite glamorous, and somehow she’s off kilter throughout the rest of…

Loving MAN. Bailey West. 2020. 224 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Sometimes you just want to read something a little messy. The world outside my window is obviously imploding, so a bit of catharsis is always appreciated. The description for Loving MAN certainly supplied that — a pregnancy from a short-lived fling, and then another woman on top of that? Add in the food aspect, and I was ready to jump in. Loving MAN, at almost all turns, wasn’t what I expected. That’s not a bad thing, though. It’s usually easy to figure out a few of the plot points with certain tropes in romance, so I was prepared to adjust my expectations accordingly. However, West starts the book with significant bombshells, then takes the rest of the book in a direction that while unexpected, was appreciated. Xander and Angel are two lost souls. They share a passion that’s not about romance — food; he’s a renowned chef and she’s an internationally trained chocolatier. Life circumstances have pulled them both away the kitchen and have them questioning if they’ll find themselves back ever, let alone in the near future. And yes, this is a romance, so there’s obviously tension around their…

Come Inside. ShanicexLola. 2020. SXL Publications. 144 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Kiyah’s reputation as the office “Ice Queen” might be on shaky ground. After being tricked into attending her company’s masquerade party by her work BFF, she finds herself face to face with the man she lusts for across the board room table, Nixon. It’s certainly hard to turn down an open invitation to sate her curiosity, but then what? The rapport and banter between Nixon and Kiyah is matter-of-fact, which makes their flirting more entertaining. Neither really holds any of their cards, so the result is refreshing while still leaving something to be anticipated. It’s clear that Kiyah can’t help but give in to her more carnal desires where Nixon is concerned, but she’s reluctant to give in fully at the risk of heartbreak. This presents most of the conflict in the book because she’s rarely fully invested. Kiyah’s “Ice Queen” title is most certainly deserved; she’s a workaholic and only maintains superficial relationships with nearly everyone in her life. To that end, a lot of the book centered on her willingness and ability to lean more into life in general. She is still dealing with the emotional aftermath…

Behind the Scenes. Christina C. Jones. 2020. Warm Hues Creative. 363 pages. [Source: Personal copy.] Add this to your shelf. I’m not quite sure where else to start with Behind the Scenes, but that’s pretty important. When Logan Byers agrees to take on a client as their executive concierge, she doesn’t quite know what she’s getting into. What she doesn’t fathom is that it would be Pierre Perry III, someone with whom she’s made a brief yet memorable acquaintance. Pierre is less convinced that he needs her as his babysitter as he takes on his role as showrunner for a semi-autobiographical short-run series on the WAWG network. What he quickly learns is that Logan is far more than a mere babysitter, as she quickly demonstrates how integral she is to his success both personally and professionally. Pierre and Logan have a lot of similarities – they’re both from prominent families in their respective fields and have the weight of expectation on their shoulders. Logan, of the Byers, comes from an esteemed family of attorneys. She did a stint at the family law firm and has defied everyone by daring to step out of the role that’s been crafted for her….

Whoa. Alexandra Warren. 2020. 101 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Whoa is a spin-off that I wasn’t sure would be coming, but was ready to read as soon as it did. DJ Whoa and Mali were introduced in Oops as a friend and sibling, respectively, of Maverick. It was clear there was a little bit going on with the two, and Whoa picks up with them front and center. Mali has her mind on her business and everything else comes in second. She’s at the helm of a popular and growing online boutique, but takes a chance on a blind date when set up by her intern. To the shock of her and her date Walter — pka DJ Whoa — they already know of each other, through her twin Maverick. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the extended first date is only the first example. With Whoa, Warren takes a pointed look at how career ambitions help or hinder relationship building. For Mali and Walt, they initially connect on how hard they go to create notable careers. Unfortunately, the biggest wrench for Mali and Walter is exactly that. With Mali also being a few years younger than Walt, there’s…