The Rose That Got Away. Christina C. Jones. 2020. 91 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] In a follow-up to Deuces Wild, Jones follows Tamra, a former Rose, and Wilder, a former Thorn, who cross paths and end up assuming that the other is out to kill them. Their meeting (and re-meeting) actually puts them on the same path to protect a woman and child who are about to become collateral damage in an upcoming election. But everything isn’t always as it seems, so the two — under the tutelage of Ace — put the skills they honed in The Garden to use in finding out the truth. I enjoyed that this book novella isn’t focused on a romantic relationship. Don’t get me wrong — it’s there. But it is very much secondary to the central plot that brought Tamra and Wilder together. It was a pleasant surprise to see Ace return in a mentoring capacity. She’s often a voice of reason for both, professionally and personally. A secondary plot explores Tamra and Wilder as they come to terms with life after The Garden’s collapse. While Tamra’s opted for a mostly anonymous and mundane life, she also has to grapple with the…

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…

The Pleasure Principle. Nicole Falls. 2020. 167 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] The Pleasure Principle is a memoir on love. A journey through sex, if you will. Throughout it, the main character, DJ, recounts her relationships — romantic or sexual in nature — and the growth she saw along the way. DJ, whose full name is Damita Jo, like the singer, doesn’t just reminisce on the good and bad sex she had. That is part of the story, but certainly not all. Instead, it’s really a reflection on a life of love and lust, and the lesson’s she learned along the way. One of the most prominent lessons in this book was about setting expectations to the side and going where life takes you. For DJ, it meant stepping outside of expectations for her life, , her career, and her romantic and platonic relationships. Instead, she stepped into what felt right or good in the moment, and opened herself up to new experiences at every turn. As someone closer to her age at the end of the book, it was easy to relate to the experiences she had and the mindset she was in. There was wistfulness, but overall, I sensed…

Fans Only. B. Love. 2020. 118 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] B. Love has capitalized on current events, and Only Fans is definitely a part of it. What started as a friendly discussion among friends turns into a proposition that Aries is loathe to turn down — start a strictly platonic Only Fans with frenemy Merrick. On the surface, it’s a mutually beneficial plan — for 6 months, the two will run an anonymous Only Fans account. They’ll make it their little secret, and solemnly swear not to get emotionally attached. At the end, they’ll split the profits; he’ll open his own music studio and she’ll be able to afford a year-long apprenticeship across the country with a fashion design icon. Seems legit; what could go wrong? Obviously a lot can go left when you’re making porn with a close friend. Even while trying their hardest to remain neutral toward each other, it was inevitable that they’d get to see a different side of each other. I found it interesting to see how they plotted their cinematic exploits. The mechanics of how to film while making sure their identities remain hidden, whether to give their channel a storyline … it was…

Seasoned. Delaney Diamond. 2020. Garden Avenue Press. 326 pages. [Source: Public Library] Delaney Diamond is back with another summer romance, and I was ready and waiting for it. I was immediately taken with her style with my introduction to her style with Johnson family a few years ago. I was more than overdue to get away with her latest, Seasoned. Seasoned is actually a set of three stories, each following a different woman in a close-knit trio. Each woman is having her own struggles with love. Thrice-divorced Renee is a bit of self-proclaimed HOA enforcer and finds herself locked in a battle of wills with her bothersome — yet handsome — neighbor. Adelaide is unwillingly closer to her ex-husband when they have to figure out how to support their young-adult son. And Jackie still pines to add motherhood to her accomplishments that already include being a successful entrepreneur; will an old flame derail her plans? Renee was initially unlikable for me. Despite her attempts to keep property values high and the neighborhood livable, I thought she was the neighbor from hell. The battle of wills between her and Clive was interesting to see unfold, though. Both were stubborn as hell,…