The Wanderer. Nia Forrester. 2018. Stiletto Press. 202 pages.  [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Blu — short for Bluebell — has finally come home, sort of. She’s a wandering soul, the product of two “hippie” parents who never quite focused their life energy on her and her younger brother. She’s spent most of her adult life on the go, working for relief organizations in developing countries.  When she lands herself in Washington, D.C., unemployed and living with her younger brother, she’s open to what the world brings her way.  That path, coincidentally, brings her back in contact with one of her closest friends from college, Bryan. Along with their other friends, Blu and Bryan bonded over their art, painting for her and writing for him.  In rekindling their friendship, Blu and Bryan realize they’ve both changed in subtle and obvious ways.  Blu’s travels have opened her up to the world — including love and pain — that have shaped the way she approaches her relationships and life in general.  Her art is still as significant to her, but Bryan’s has tapered off.  Instead, he has settled into a life as a teacher and father, leaving his writing a part of his past.  He’s…

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…

Feud. Phyllis Bourne. 2018. Red Lipstick Press. 150 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Sometimes you have terrible neighbors you love to hate. The Lawsons and Bridges have been those neighbors for each other for over 100 years. Their feud is so intense that the families established clauses in wills to reward the descendant with the fortitude (or luck) to outlast the opposiing family. That is how Tate Bridges and Justice Lawson cross each others’ paths. Justice thinks he’s finally got his family’s trust in his grasp since he managed to outlive old man Tate.  Much to his chagrin, a distant neice, Tate Alexandra, shows up in the nick of time to nip his plans in the bud.  What results is a hilarious story about the lengths to which the two will go to ensure their family comes out on top. Of course, there is a major wrench in their plans — a mutual, if not begruding, attraction to one another.  This tension is what makes the book most enjoyable.  It’s entertaining to see just how far they can push each other in the name of winning a feud caused by a dead mule of all things. The two characters are relatable,…

Something Special. Tiffany Patterson. 2018. 329 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] As far as enemies to lovers stories go, Something Special was pretty enjoyable.  It features esthetician Gabriella and her best friend’s cousin Jamal. They hate each other. Can’t spare a kind word or smile for each other. Can barely stand to breath the same air as each other. They probably want each other. However, when a night out winds up with too many drinks in Gabby’s system, Jamal — ever the gentleman — takes her back to his place so she’s safe for the night. And so begins the shift in ow they view each other.  Gabby becomes less flighty in Jamal’s eyes. And Gabby seems Jamal as more than just a judgmental yuppie.  It’s not all sunshine and roses, though. Jamal, a preacher’s kid, has some deeply ingrained views about the virtues of the woman to whom he would commit. And Gabby has a pretty significant secret from her past that’s very much a part of her present. Nonetheless, it’s interesting to see how they get to know each other, especially without sacrificing any of their authenticity. Part of what sticks out for Gabby and Jamal is that they both…

Love Notes. Christina C. Jones. 2018. 269 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Her first night in town lands Jules in Troy’s bed for a one-night-only fling. They don’t even bother to catch each others’ names before she leaves like a thief in the night. Too bad that Mahogany Heights is only so big, and they inevitably cross each others’ paths again. For his part, Troy has sworn off reckless behavior, so his willingness to dive into Jules is troubling. He’d been so committed to making better choices in his life that this slip-up lost him a bet — and the locs he’d been growing for a decade. At least he thought it was worth it. Jules simply wants to establish herself in her new home by launching her photography business. It’s a homecoming of sorts for her, but she’s on a quest to take control of her life in a way that she didn’t have the last time she lived here. Even her business name — Love Notes — is a nod to her wanting to restake control over her view of love.