Broken Clocks By Danielle Allen

Synopsis:

According to my grandma, a broken clock being right twice a day meant that in any given situation, perfect timing only happens twice.

I fell for William Grayson in a matter of minutes. The connection between us was undeniable, but our timing was off. I was dating someone and by the time I was single again, he was taken. And a year later, when we finally got together, it was clear that we were soulmates. But circumstances out of our control cut our time short.

We were a little older, a little wiser, when our paths crossed again. I was entering a new phase of independence in both my career and my life. He was growing professionally and moving to a new city. And even though our timing was off, it was still clear that we were soulmates. But for the second time, circumstances out of our control cut our time short. 

My grandma was a wise woman, but my love life taught me that there’s no such thing as perfect timing.

There’s just timing… Because nothing is perfect. 
There’s just right now… Because tomorrow isn’t promised. 

For as long as we’d known each other, William and I just wanted to be together. It was as simple and as complicated as that. 

About The Author: 

Danielle Allen is a lover of football, fashion, film and fiction. From karaoke nights to vacationing and everything in between, she enjoys making the most out of the life in which she's been blessed. Danielle spends her days teaching and event planning and her nights writing.

Danielle Allen is the contemporary romance author of the Back to Life Series (Back to Life, Back to Reality, and the standalone spin-off, Back to December), Love Discovered in New York, Autumn & Summer, the Heartache Series (Heartache, Heartfelt, and the not yet released spin-off, Heartless*), Work Song, The One Series Duet (The One, and After The One), and Nevermore.

Breathless By Beverly Jenkins

Synopsis: 

A strong-willed beauty finds herself in the arms of the handsome drifter from her past, in this second book in the sizzling series set in the Old West, from USA Today Bestselling Author Beverly Jenkins

As manager of one of the finest hotels in Arizona Territory, Portia Carmichael has respect and stability—qualities sorely missing from her harsh childhood. She refuses to jeopardize that by hitching herself to the wrong man. Suitors are plentiful, but none of them has ever looked quite as tempting as the family friend who just rode into town…and none has looked at her with such intensity and heat.

Duchess. That’s the nickname Kent Randolph gave Portia when she was a young girl. Now she’s a stunning, intelligent woman—and Kent has learned his share of hard lessons. After drifting through the West, he’s learned the value of a place to settle down, and in Portia’s arms he’s found that and more. But convincing her to trust him with her heart, not just her passion, will be the greatest challenge he’s known—and one he intends to win…

Meet The Author:  

Beverly Jenkins grew up in Detroit and majored in journalism and English literature at Michigan tate University. She has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, People, the Dallas Morning News, Vibe, and many other national publications.

A Lassiter's Christmas By: Iris Bolling

A Lassiter’s Christmas takes place where Look into My Heart book three of the Heart series leaves off. Because this is a series I recommend that you read all the books in the series before starting this one. This book could be read alone but a lot of characters reappear from her previous books and in order to understand the family dynamic you must go back to the beginning where it all began.

Pearl: the hurt ain’t no good men around sista’ has very strong feelings toward men. Being hurt by her first love at the age of 16 she has hardened her heart to love. Always one to get them before they get her Pearl has made work her love.

Theo: the man for the job with the patience of a saint meets a stranded Pearl and offers his assistance. Pearl being who she is selfish and at times insecure builds up that wall against any man who she feels is a threat. At first being attracted to Pearl’s coke bottle shape, Theo finds that even though her personality is a turn off that there is more than meets the eye to this dark beauty. And Sally Lassiter’s cooking is just enough to seal the deal.

One thing about the Lassiter family is that when you take on one you take on all the gem’s and gent’s. The family has this tradition of doing a Q&A with each new suitor. Because Dr. Prentiss is assertive and the quintessential alpha male he did not waiver on his feelings for Pearl. Throughout the story he always checked Pearl on her selfish attitude although at times he should have been more forward with being put first. For instance this story takes place over a span of six years and in this time Pearl grew but not as much as she should have. Because of her own insecurities about the incident took place when she was 16 her wounds run deep and anyone who gets close is stuck in limbo with her.

Though this book has some heavy moments Phire the younger sisters always knows how to add the comedic relief. She is such a firecracker and I am awaiting her story next and the man she will end up with. This book is the reason I love romance stories it is a true story that love overcomes all.  

As much as I love the Lassiter family and believe me I do I am glad as a reader I got more insight to Theo’s family. I believe this is one of the first stories where the author has a hero who is non-black. Theo is mixed but identifies with being African-American but the author mentions that his father is Caucasian and that his mother and father relationship was considered taboo. You could tell with this story that the author stepped outside her comfort zone with this character and she is new to writing IR couples. For instance throughout the story she mentions that the father is Caucasian. At one point I wanted to say we get it already he is of the Caucasian persuasion. Further into the story after the mother Lenora is introduced it makes sense why the characters color is constantly being mentioned.

Lenora was a bit judgmental towards other blacks considering she was once in a “taboo” relationship. I liked the issues raised between black women who date white men and how some loose a sense of their blackness. Iris doesn't sugar coat the race issues it's very much in your face. Pearl had a lot of growing up and can be selfish in her thinking ironically Cynthia was the one to point it out to her. All in all this is a very great story with dynamic characters I cannot wait to see what else Iris has in store. Please judge this book for yourself and not based on this one review.

Heroes By: Loretta Walls, Iris Bolling, Nikkea Sharee

First let me say that when three power house authors come together in collaboration you know you are in for a treat. Although this is an anthology of short stories they pack a pretty powerful punch. Each book complimented the next this was an anthology of mystery, angst, and love.

The anthology starts off with Love Under Fire by Iris Bolling

We are introduced to Fire Chief Richard as he is investigating a series of fires in a down rotten area. No one seems to care about the string of fires as the buildings belong to bad guy King who has a series of issues. Shai the Elementary School teacher seems to have some connection to Richard “Ritchie” but she doesn’t let on too much as she is holding onto grief about the death of her family that happened 5 years ago. Not to give too much away but because Shai doesn’t want to face reality doesn’t mean Richard will allow her to cling on to the past. Richard is an Alpha male at his finest nothing will get in his way not even school Principal Ralph Murphy. I love that as a reader we get flashbacks into Richard and Shai past and why they are in the situation they are in now. We get to see a reappearance of some of our favorite characters from Mrs. Bolling’s other series. All the characters are interconnected somehow and what you think you know you don’t. This story is a perfect mix of mystery and redemption. Just when you think you know who is behind the fires and who is on top. Mrs.Bolling throws in a twist that will leave you speechless. Everyone has a past and still waters run very deep. My only complaint is that I wish this story could have been longer. I would love to see a full length novel on what happens to some of the characters I feel as though there is more story to be told.

Next in the anthology we have Nikkea Sharee’ story Hostile

I will admit this is my first time actually reading anything by this author and I was pleasantly surprised. This book starts off with a “situation” that has you on edge. In the first opening pages I was tempted to speed read just so I could figure out who this Eva character is and why is she so hostile for a lack of a better word. You have no idea what’s going on in the beginning only that Richard is a hostage negotiator and a child is involved. This book is non-stop angst and will have the reader asking more questions than getting answers. The story builds up and then WAM it hits you what the situation is and you are left thinking Oh My God!!!! This story had me questioning myself what would you do in a situation like this? How would you react with a gun, tears? I know I am being very vague but I don’t want to give anything away the story is just that good. What Eva encounters at her house is the ultimate violation of trust and Gregory the hostage negotiator is trying to help her but seems to be making the situation worst. It’s a bad situation all around. And Erykah Eva daughter is witnessing all of this. The twist is something out of reality television or something you have heard about off a talk show. Oh but what a twist it is. I was so frustrated with some of the characters and their behavior. But that’s what a good story does right have you talking aloud to the book? I couldn’t help but think as I read this book the trapped in the closet song by R.Kelly is very fitting. I know these are short stories but the way this story ending. I was left yet again wanting more of a story especially on these two characters an epilogue on how the situation ended. All in all this was a very good read.

Last but certainly not least is Loretta Walls story Perfect Respect

This story is more of a military romance and when things are not heating up on the battle field it is definitely heating up in the bedroom between Miri and Jayce. Miri is this tough outspoken I don’t take no foolishness Major. Especially when the unwanted advances of Danny a friend from high school comes her way. Danny comes off as such a player and has a side piece Nellie who starts to cause trouble for Miri in the form of bad mouthing and deceit. Talk about a messy triangle but in the end all wrongs are made right. Thrown into a military operation Miri gets some extra love and care from Jayce. Let me say if you haven’t read any of Mrs. Wall’s stories before you know one thing she can write a love scene. I was left wondering how any surveillance work get does especially with Jayce magical fingers. Because these stories are only 30+ pages in length each authors packs their stories with non-stop action. Mrs. Walls creates a situation between the budding couple that is quickly dispelled what we know is that when it comes to love and war all bets are off. Each of the ladies has done such a good job my only complaint again is that I wanted more.