⭐⭐⭐☆★
Strong, mature characters embracing their feelings (good,
bad and indifferent). An awfully attractive African-American MC, Takira Lathan.
Dealing head-on with stereotypes. Good chemistry. A lovely relationship wherein
the MCs talk to each other about themselves, their insecurities, their feelings
and even what they like sexually. This book has a lot going for it.
Takira (35) runs a successful restaurant names after
herself. But her now-absconding manager has just taken away a bulk of her
money, leaving her in a very difficult place. Added to that, without warning,
Takira has become the de facto guardian of her nephew, Finn. Dante Groves (49) has
literally just driven into town, her erstwhile hometown which she had left
because of her ex-girlfriend, Chloe. Chloe systematically decimated Dante’s
self-belief and self-confidence before cheating on her. In the aftermath of the
break-up Dante, who works as a manager (when she works), travelled around for a
couple of years before heading home. First stop on entering hometown: Takira’s,
where Dante meets an old friend via whom she meets Takira, and before you know
it, Dante is Takira’s new manager and they are sharing an apartment (as
roommates).
We liked almost everything about this book – the pacing, the
people, the chemistry – almost everything. The thing that really got a bit much was the
whole butch-building, butch bromance, butch baiting and butch defense. There was
just way too much belabouring on the butch factor. Yeah, Dante is butch, we get
that but that practically became all that Dante is, which was unnecessary, because Dante is more than just her physical appearance.
Despite that strange fixation, this is a lovely angst-free read.
⭐⭐⭐☆★
