I read 17 books in July, and it’s been a while since I’ve read that many in one month. But life was lifing in July and these were definitely a nice escape. The books I reviewed are linked below. All of my ratings can be found on my goodreads.

Black Romance Reads

Liberated: An Erotic Short by Kimberly Brown

New Read

Quinnen Moses is grasping for freedom.

Growing up with a father who viewed submission as a form of controlled love, she promises herself she would never end up like her mother. After abruptly breaking off her engagement to a man measuring up to be every bit of her misogynistic father, Quinnen finds herself in Tahiti with her best friend, Cherry, celebrating the honeymoon without the wedding. Vowing to live free and indulge in everything this trip has to offer, Quinnen lets her hair down and embraces the island vibes. Nothing could have prepared her for the moment she meets Elijah Cane.

In Tahiti for his sister’s destination wedding, Elijah is looking for a good time. When he lays eyes on Quinnen, he knew she would be his for the taking. With sexual attraction at an all-time high and no strings attached, the two quickly turn a beautiful getaway into a naughty paradise.

Follow Quinnen and Elijah into their island fantasy.


A Thing Between Lovers: An Erotic Short by Kimberly Brown

New Read

What happens when friends cross the line to lovers?

Iridessa Nelson’s curiosity has been piqued. When a drunken night lands her in bed with her best friend and a practical stranger, the last thing she expected was to end up in a love triangle.

Remi Taylor has always been sure of who she was. Yet the night she indulged in the forbidden fruit with her best friend, she’s left questioning her very existence.

JaQuan Samuels wasn’t expecting not one but two beautiful women in his bed, but when the opportunity presented itself, who was he to turn it down?

Months have passed since the threesome shared a night of passion. While a new relationship has formed between JaQuan and Iridessa, her feelings for Remi linger in the background. After confessing her desires to him, JaQuan gives his blessing to pursue a relationship with her best friend on the side. The problem is Remi doesn’t want just one… she wants them both.

Enjoy this erotic tale of love, fantasies, and getting everything you ever wanted and then some!


Drown In It by T’Lyn

New Read

Tsunami: an arrival or occurrence of something in overwhelming quantities or amounts.

This word best describes what Willow Reid and Rakeem Wilks find themselves caught in both sexually and emotionally.

A knock on a wrong door is what pushed them into the tsunami, but their chemistry and passion is what keeps them afloat.


The Grim Reaper’s Lawyer (Life After Death, #1) by Mea Monique

New Read

When having to decide between spending her afterlife in hell or as the Grim Reaper’s Lawyer, it’s not even a hard choice for Joyce Parker. Of course she’d choose hell.

Joyce thought her prayers were finally answered when her client killed her. Yes, she knows, it’s morbid. But, so is being a lawyer. Now dead, Joyce thought it was blue skies, angel wings, mimosas and Jesus. Well, she was embarrassingly wrong. The insufferable, but good-looking Grim Reaper needs a favor. He needs her to represent him in the newly formed Reaper’s Court. That is, of course, if she wants to go to heaven rather than to hell, which is exactly where she was heading.

What starts off as a favor turns into a whirlwind of chaos with Joyce and the Grim Reaper being in the center of it all. Not only does Joyce have to help the grumpy Reaper, but she also has to save the whole Afterworld—a job she most definitely did not sign up for. Joyce’s life on earth was boring, but her afterlife ends up being the most alive she’s ever felt. Trials, secrets, evil reapers, missing souls, traitors, stolen mimosas and unexpected romance—all the elements for one hell (literally) of a life after death.


I Wanna Be Down by AshleyNicole

Re-Read

My Review

Best friends? With a celebrity? Impossible.
That’s how Sesali feels after a chance encounter with super producer Dash Dean. His offer of friendship has to be a smoke screen for an ulterior motive. Besides, she already has best friends, and one of them has staked a claim on Dash.
Does it count if she never had a chance?
Dash has eyes for Sesali, and Sesali only. She’s the first person who’s made him question his solitary lifestyle in a long while.
Can he convince her to let him be down?


The Writer’s Block: A Friends to Lovers Novella (Love Unblocked Book 1) by Mea Monique

New Read

My Review

Josephine is in desperate need of inspiration for her romance book, but feels uncomfortable approaching just any man to help. When Caleb, her best friend, proposes a fake relationship in exchange for helping her with the research for her book, she sees it as a win-win situation. But the lines between fiction and reality blur as their fake romance turns into something scorching hot.

Caleb, a star football player with a promising career ahead of him, finds himself at a crossroads. Desperate to protect his image and get in the good graces of his sponsors, he proposes his fake dating plan to Josephine. He’s determined to keep things platonic, but as they explore each other’s bodies in the name of research, his resolve begins to waver.

The Writer’s Block is a fast-paced, friends to lovers novella following Josephine and Caleb as they navigate the uncharted waters of fake dating, secret desires, and hidden fears.


Just for the Cameras by Viano Oniomoh

New Read

Sex worker couple Kian Kalu and Jordanne Daye decide to fantasise about their hot, untouchable flatmate and best friend, Luka Prince, just once. Just to scratch the itch. They totally don’t want anything else from Luka—not his body, nor his heart.

The last thing Luka expects to come home to is his two sexy flatmates and best friends getting frisky underneath their blanket on the living room sofa. And for the first time in a long time, Luka lets himself want.

It was supposed to be one video for Jordanne’s and Kian’s subscribers.

One video. No strings attached.

Except now, Jordanne and Kian don’t know how to let Luka go, not after they know how fucking perfect he feels between them. And Luka feels like maybe he can risk getting his heart broken again, if it means he gets to have Jordanne and Kian forever.


Blind Expectations by Jacinta Howard

Re-Read

Aristotle once said the only thing constant in life is change. Or was that Confucius? Whatever. People are fluid—they come into your life for a while, and when it’s time for them to float on, Leah has no qualms waving goodbye. The only exception is her neighbor and best friend, Trevor. When all else fails in her crazy world, Trevor is always there, reliable, steady… real. But what happens when friendship blossoms into something more? Can Leah and Trevor’s relationship survive the change? Or will the weight of blind expectations cause them to lose the one thing they love—each other?


Kept: “Always Something” by Moon Bey

New Read

The envied life at the luxurious McKinley Estates is nowhere as relaxing as it appears. A group of Black stay-at-home moms will reveal the many tasks of the role. They vow to preserve their definition of the status quo amid hectic schedules, battles with mental health, challenging partners, and idle hearts.

News spreads through the fictional state of Edgerton like wildfire. From the gated communities of Maplewood to every working-class neighborhood in the County, natives scrambled to secure their place in the newly opened McKinley Estates. Located in the quaint, affluent city of Beaumont, the property promises “Comfortable, Elevated Housing For All.” But you must know how to play your hand to get the best they offer.

After over a decade with her high school sweetheart at the wheel, Reyn Wilson decides it’s time for her family to experience everything her husband has worked hard for, whether he knows it or not.

Sapphire Richardson, a woman of her status, knows firsthand that appearances are everything. She knows the security the estates bring will give her family the privacy and freedom they need now more than ever.

Pai Evans never considered herself the private community type. Mindful to never get trapped in temporary seasons, this business first wife realizes this unexpected detour may be the change her family needs to stick with.

Ex-socialite Josslyn Alexander sees the estates as no more than a path to her redemption arc. Optimistic of the new beginnings life with her new family will bring, she almost forgets she’s back in the same community that cast her out once before.

In this series pilot, readers will get a firsthand look into the lives of four resilient Black wives and mothers who are determined to live the lives their hearts desire. Why? Because even fictional Black women are tired of being expected to settle for less.


Baecation by Tacarra

New Read

A tantalizing Baecation is exactly what the doctor orders for the stressed out parents of three, Dedrick and Olivia. Good thing the married couple are both medical professionals, and can recognize the signs of burnout and disconnect.
The sole focus for this power couple have been kids and careers. With two teenagers, one preteen, and a medical practice to maintain, Dedrick and Olivia are left depleted at the end of their days.
So, how do they get back to one another? They plan a Baecation with the intention to use one another’s body for pleasure, and to not only rekindle the flame that once was, but to ignite it like never before.
Can Dedrick and Olivia get back to the sexy love they once shared? Join them on this erotic and orgasmic adventure to find out.


F*ckin’ Wit Me by Ashantay Keys

New Read

He was an entrepreneur. A little rough around the edges but Sebastian Outlaw knew how to handle business. His custom taxi service was the outlet he used to steady his mind at night. That was until she climbed in the backseat.

Henna Shumpert was a new mom with no place to go. On the run from her daughter’s father, all she had was her newborn baby, her will to survive, and the kindness of a handsome stranger. When her past begins to lurk, all can become nothing in the blink of an eye.

Will a late night car ride with no destination be Sebastian and Henna’s entryway to a love-filled destiny? Or will the fairytale of family fizzle under the gun?


Porsha’s Wolf by Dria Andersen

New Read

He had one night to convince her…

Porsha Clark just wants to get through her best friend’s wedding without bringing drama to Mercedes’ big day…but, that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy herself afterwards…right?

Victor Davis was a man who got what he wanted, and he wanted Porsha…and one night would never be enough.


Pagin’ You by Alicia Weathers-Grey

New Read

My Review

My forever was stolen before I had the chance. It won’t happen again.


His Best Shot by J. Nichole

New Read

Celebrities, bright lights, fancy restaurants, shopping excursions – the life of a basketball wife living in L.A. was amazing. Or at least it seemed.

I wouldn’t know because I was a single woman living in a small town. Oh, and I had a teacher’s salary. But my best friend was married to Nate King, the Nate King of the L.A. Stars. And I had the privilege of visiting her.

As much as I begged her to hook me up with one of Nate’s teammates, nothing ever worked out.

Until the night I met Julius Roy. One thing led to another, and I ended up in his hotel room. When it was time for me to return to the classroom in my small town, I forgot about him.

But he didn’t exactly forget about me.


MM Romance Reads

What We Broke by Marley Valentine

New Read

If someone asked me to describe our love story, I would only need to use two words.

Before and After.

When I met Leonardo Ricci, he was determined I would only be a fling, while I was certain he was my forever.

Seven years later, we’re the perfect couple. Happy, married, and in love–in sickness and health, till death do us part.

At least until the unthinkable happens.

Now we can’t look at each other. We don’t sleep in the same bed. We can’t even be in the same room. The loss is too great and the pain runs too deep.

But this man is the love of my life. I convinced him once, and I would be damned if I couldn’t do it again. I would be damned if I couldn’t fix what we broke.


Up in Flames by Eden Finely

New Read

SANDEN

When it’s your job as groomsman to tell the groom his wedding isn’t happening, the smartest thing to do is get it over and done with and then tell the guests to leave.

Yeah, well, I never said I was smart.

I might … accidentally, maybe on purpose, suggest to Remy that the best form of revenge is to have a party anyway. I mean, he’s already got catering, a DJ, and guests, so what better time to throw a petty party?

My loser high school friend never deserved him anyway. If I’d had the chance, I would have locked Remy down years ago.

Only, when the party leads to a drunken kiss, going on their honeymoon, and sharing their marital bed, I have to say, I’m not entirely sad that their wedding went up in flames.


Other Romance Reads

Kian by Tijan

New Read

Dark. Mysterious. Gorgeous.
Loved by all the girls.
Respected by all the guys.
…that was Kian Maston.

As the heir to a billion dollar empire, his future was promising until the day he saved my life. Everything changed for both of us, and there was one more word that could be used to describe him—dangerous.

The nation fell in love with him while falling in hate with me. He was sent to prison, and as far as they were concerned, it was my fault. I was forced to go into hiding until today.

Kian’s being released from prison, and he should go back to being the golden boy he always was supposed to be. I should remain in hiding, living my life as normal as could be.

That’s what we should do…

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