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531 reviews
Jewel by Beverly Jenkins
5.0
5⭐ They having a yearn off and they both losing | tropes: marriage of convenience, good girl x playboy, small town| medium steam | digital + audio
Overall Thoughts 💭:
I love marriage of convenience so much, and I loved how into it Eli was and how NOT into it Jewel was. I loved their journey from childhood friends to marriage to loving each other. This book did a good job juggling their emotional connection and their physical connection while emphasizing the importance of both. Jewel was stubborn and hotheaded, and I loved that about her. I understood her fears and holdups. She was single her whole life and was content with living and caring for her brothers. Then, she's suddenly paired up with a playboy who has his scandals. I usually don't like plotlines that have to do with other women and jealousy, but it felt realistic here for Jewel to feel these things. Jewel was falling for Eli and having to be confronted with knowledge of his escapades all the time. I felt for Eli, too! He fell for Jewel and wanted their marriage to work while dealing with his past. I loved how history was intertwined into this story. It really showed how important and political reading and writing are. Eli's paper, and black owned papers in this time were essential in spreading information to their communities, and information is power. Community is power. Especially in a time when it was harder to access information. I liked the inclusion of Maddie's character, which highlighted that while yes, racism was a barrier to people of color reading at this time but gender was also a barrier enforced in our communities. Overall, this book was sexy, sweet, and cozy! Can't wait to read more from Jenkins!
Overall Thoughts 💭:
I love marriage of convenience so much, and I loved how into it Eli was and how NOT into it Jewel was. I loved their journey from childhood friends to marriage to loving each other. This book did a good job juggling their emotional connection and their physical connection while emphasizing the importance of both. Jewel was stubborn and hotheaded, and I loved that about her. I understood her fears and holdups. She was single her whole life and was content with living and caring for her brothers. Then, she's suddenly paired up with a playboy who has his scandals. I usually don't like plotlines that have to do with other women and jealousy, but it felt realistic here for Jewel to feel these things. Jewel was falling for Eli and having to be confronted with knowledge of his escapades all the time. I felt for Eli, too! He fell for Jewel and wanted their marriage to work while dealing with his past. I loved how history was intertwined into this story. It really showed how important and political reading and writing are. Eli's paper, and black owned papers in this time were essential in spreading information to their communities, and information is power. Community is power. Especially in a time when it was harder to access information. I liked the inclusion of Maddie's character, which highlighted that while yes, racism was a barrier to people of color reading at this time but gender was also a barrier enforced in our communities. Overall, this book was sexy, sweet, and cozy! Can't wait to read more from Jenkins!
Ride with Me by Simone Soltani
5.0
Thank you to Berkley Romance for a chance to read an arc of this book! 🖤
5⭐️ I need a man to be this obsessed with me! They really rode for EACH OTHER! |
tropes: Marriage of Convenience, F1 Driver MMC, Slow burn | medium steam | digital
Overall Thoughts 💭:
Where do I even start... I loved this book so much. This was one of my most anticipated reads this year! I enjoyed Cross the Line, but this was somehow even better! I loved Stella and Thomas individually and even more as a couple. The core of this book is two people who have made very public mistakes, trying to do better while healing each other. I loved how much Thomas supported Stella and how she supported him in return. Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes, and mixed with their intense attraction not only to each other physically but a deep emotional yearning for the other as people was perfection. While their love was the focus, it was a bit of a slow burn, but I liked how the story juggled the F1 plot, the almost-wedding, familial problems, and them both being public figures in different countries. It was all done very well. I procrastinated finishing it because I didn't want Stella and Thomas's story to end! I can't wait to see what Soltani has in store for us next!
5⭐️ I need a man to be this obsessed with me! They really rode for EACH OTHER! |
tropes: Marriage of Convenience, F1 Driver MMC, Slow burn | medium steam | digital
Overall Thoughts 💭:
Where do I even start... I loved this book so much. This was one of my most anticipated reads this year! I enjoyed Cross the Line, but this was somehow even better! I loved Stella and Thomas individually and even more as a couple. The core of this book is two people who have made very public mistakes, trying to do better while healing each other. I loved how much Thomas supported Stella and how she supported him in return. Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes, and mixed with their intense attraction not only to each other physically but a deep emotional yearning for the other as people was perfection. While their love was the focus, it was a bit of a slow burn, but I liked how the story juggled the F1 plot, the almost-wedding, familial problems, and them both being public figures in different countries. It was all done very well. I procrastinated finishing it because I didn't want Stella and Thomas's story to end! I can't wait to see what Soltani has in store for us next!