So soft and sweet, with a hero who is all kinds of swoony, there was a lot to love about this slow-burning romance. Our heroine is angry and confrontational, actively trying to keep people out, and this patient, steady hero sees right through her. I loved that the premise felt unique, and I loved that the relationship progresses in such a quiet, tentative way. The plot had me hooked, the hero kept me turning the pages, and there were so many swoony moments that made it feel uplifting. I do think this could’ve used another round of edits – the author’s distinct, flowing writing style definitely made a statement (mostly good), and there were some sentence structures that had me scratching my head. It also lost points with an overly drawn out ending, though I can’t begrudge the way it played out. So this remained a strong 4/low 5-star read for me the whole way through, and I’m looking forward to more from this new-to-me author.
The story follows Sheyanne, a 22-year-old woman who fled her hometown as soon as she could. It’s not that she hates the small town she grew up in, but she acted out as a teenager, and that’s left some lasting effects. So when she’s called home to help her estranged father gets his affairs in order as he grapples with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Sheyanne reluctantly agrees. Sharing a home with her dad and brother – even temporarily – is the last thing Sheyanne wants, and it’s made even worse when she discovers that her dad has hired a live-in consultant to draw up some plans. Sheyanne takes an immediate dislike to Liam, and having the buttoned-up man around while witnessing her at her worst is certainly not ideal. But the two form a reluctant friendship that soon feels like more, and Sheyanne realizes that coming home might’ve been the best thing to ever happen to her.
I really wasn’t sure what to expect from this relatively new author, but I quickly discovered that I loved the vibe. It’s the kind of story that should feel heavy and angsty – and there are definitely moments of that – but it mostly just feels tender and soft. It also helped that I adored Liam, who was such a loving and patient guy. He might’ve been too good to be true, so I did appreciate having a few chapters from his point of view. This is very much Sheyanne’s story, however, and her growth throughout was great to see. Not just in falling for Liam, but in repairing old relationships and doing the work to improve herself… which is why I can’t really complain about the final act, though I kind of want to. I was still strongly considering rounding up to 5 stars (editing issues don’t really bug me), but I couldn’t bring myself to do it after the drawn out ending. Regardless, it was a strong book from such a new author, and I’m excited to see what she writes next.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3FOLJAg
Blurb:
Sheyanne Shaw hates nothing more than she hates her hometown of Flagstaff, Arizona.
Except maybe being forced to return to it. After escaping her estranged relationship with her father, leaving behind her brother and her best friends, she returns after four years away. All to help her father in sorting out the house and the stables she grew up on. But she is not just greeted by him and the demons she tried so hard to leave behind.
Liam Landon never thought he’d step foot in such a small town.
Raised in the city of Vegas, the small town was not what he expected. Hired to help Mr. Shaw manage his finances, he can’t turn down the opportunity to help out his grandparents and start building a life for himself. While traveling for the job isn’t unheard of as a freelancer, it’s a bit different to be expected to stay for three months. Liam is open to it—only to be met with the absolute spitfire of his boss’s daughter.
Sheyanne is forced to confront her demons and her past relationships that have faded into nothing in the years she’s been gone. And she is forced to confront Liam. A man here on limited time, who seems to see straight through her defenses. He is cool, calm, and collected, and there for her every step of the way.
When faced with her worst fear and her own thoughts, will Sheyanne decide to leave like before?
Or will she stay?
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3FOLJAg
About the Author:
Katie Jamila has always loved love. Whether that story is told through film, lyrics, or her favorite, books, it has been the one constant in her life. K. Jamila has been an avid reader since she was a kid and a writer from a young age, even if it was just rough ideas with nowhere to put them.
When K. Jamila is not reading or writing, you can find her re-watching her favorite tv shows or movies obsessively, listening to her favorite music (including Taylor Swift), or lying on the floor with her dogs, dreaming about fictional men and a love story of her own.
An east coast native, K. Jamila is a biracial author. She hopes that within her words, at the least, you take away one thing—whether that is hope, love, or a dream—whatever your heart desires, she hopes by writing diverse love stories everyone remembers they are worthy of love as romantic as the ones in the stories we know and love.
Website: https://kjamilaauthor.com/
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