Guest Review: Until Now by Kayla Perrin

Posted January 13, 2014 by Judith in Reviews | 0 Comments

Judith’s review of Until Now by Kayla Perrin

Never again, she vows. Now that her abusive ex-husband is in prison, Tamara Jackson has finally found some peace. Life can be sweet; as long as she remembers not to lose herself in another relationship. She pledges to remain strong, independent and single.

But now change is in the air in the form of a sexy, smoking-hot man. Police detective Marshall Jennings is hardly a stranger; Tamara has known him since college, and now his best friend is married to her best friend, Callie Hart. Marshall’s athletic build, flirty ways and persistent pursuit soon have Tamara second-guessing her strategy.

Just one little fling, she thinks. No strings, he thinks. But they both thought wrong. Passion quickly cascades into something more; a wave of emotions that may sweep them into everlasting love.

Those wounds of abuse we often see in photos and on TV aren’t the only damage to people victimized by violence. It is often the fear that takes root in the heart, fear of involvement, fear that one’s ability to trust is forever ruined, fear that one’s ability to “read” others is totally off. So it is with the heroine in this deeply emotional love story where a single mother strives to begin anew after her life and that of her son has been torn apart by the one person who should have cherished them both. Now Tamara is bunking in with her best friend and she is seeking to live out dreams that were put on hold long ago. Most of all, she is determined that there will NEVER be another man who will exercise the kind of emotional hold over her. Little does she realize that there really is a good man “out there” who is worth trusting with her love and her future well-being.

This is a story that is rooted in the black community and features people who have crafted successful and fulfilling lives for themselves. That is what Tamara wants for herself and her son. Even the presence of a very sexy man can’t deter her from keeping her heart intact and she is willing to allow their passion free reign but nothing more. Marshall is willing to go along with that scenario because he has his own baggage. Two people guarding their hearts and nursing old wounds: makes for some interesting reading and also some surprising results that neither Tamara or Marshall ever dreamed would result from their affair.

This is a beautifully written story and is is entertaining as well as one of those reads that reaches down and claims your heart, your emotions. It’s the kind of story that I think we can safely say gives a deep sense of satisfaction we all get when we read a really good book. It’s not an overly lengthy book and won’t take up major time, but its truly the kind of read an authentic romance lover will appreciate. Now there were times in the story when I wanted to “thump” both Tamara and Marshall for being so short-sighted. But I have to realize that a reader is like a third-party to the action and we know more about what’s going on than the characters in the story. So I have to forgive them just a bit for being hard-headed and stubborn to the point that they almost lose a really good thing that both of them want down deep.

I hope you’ll check out this novel and give it a bit of time. I think you’ll be glad you did. I give it a rating of 4 out of 5.

You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s Book place.

This title is available from Harlequin Kimani. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

0 Comments

Guest Review: Always In My Heart by Kayla Perrin

Posted July 18, 2012 by Book Binge Guest Blogger in Reviews | 0 Comments

Judith’s review of Always In My Heart by Kayla Perrin.

The oldest of three adopted daughters, Callie Hart has always loved being the protector of the family. But now she is all grown up—with a young son of her own to protect. Callie can’t wait to show him off when she reunites with her two sisters in Ohio. But that also means coming face-to-face with the lover she left behind. Nigel Williams is even more irresistibly attractive than ever. But what will he do when he learns about the secret she kept hidden from him for ten years?

Nigel has never forgiven Callie for fleeing Ohio—and the passion they shared. And when she shows up on his doorstep asking for forgiveness, the Cleveland cop is furious at her deception. But how can he deny the feelings Callie reawakens in him? Blindsided once again by the heat of desire, Nigel vows to fight for his future with the woman he has always loved.

Leave it to Harlequin and their Kimani Imprint to bring us a contemporary interracial romance that is hot and sensual, and the story of a relationship gone sour–very much gone but not forgotten. I suppose one could say that this is a case of two lovers who have become estranged, one of them leaving the other behind, and then having to return to eat a very healthy helping of “crow.” It is also a story that speaks plainly about the difficulties which many families find have become the substance of their relationships, especially among siblings. Now these three sisters are brought back together, tentative with one another because of their long estrangement, but now must deal with their aunt’s death. The real shocker is that Callie, the oldest, has returned with a nine-year-old son in tow. No one is more surprised than Nigel Williams, her son’s father and the man for whom she still harbors a deep and disappointed love.

This is a fine romance and while there is the mild adversarial content, its overriding value is the telling of a reconciliation that is necessitated by the presence of this smart and personable little boy. Callie is protecting her heart just as is Nigel, yet they both realize that there really is still a connection. I enjoyed this story so much, and I especially loved the little boy, Kwame, a child whose deep need for connection seemed to appear time and time again and to their credit, both Callie and Nigel were sensitive to it.

I have long loved Harlequin, and while I have been reading them for years, the novels under this particular imprint have been better than expected. I really like interracial romance anyway, as I appreciate those who are willing to move beyond society’s dictates and follow their hearts. This is also the first of a series in which the story of each of these sisters is told. I think this was a vastly entertaining read and I am looking forward to the coming stories in this series.

I give it a rating of 4 out of 5

You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s Book Place.

This book is available from Harlequin Kimani Romance. You can buy it here or here in e-format.