Review - - The Single Dad Project

The Single Dad Project

by Naima Simone

Rose Bend - Book

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: February 20, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

He’s the best mistake she ever made…

Back in Rose Bend after a work trip that went wrong, Florence “Flo” Dennison craves the kind of distraction only a searing fling with a gorgeous stranger can provide. And she gets it—in an encounter hot enough to leave scars. But satisfaction turns to shock when Flo realizes her one-night stand is leading the restoration project she’s been hired to photograph. And his sweet little girl has decided Flo’s her new bestie…

Single dad and architect Adam Reed wants stability for his daughter, and he’s sure that Flo—young, ambitious, beautiful—isn’t looking for that. But when his nanny bails and Flo helps him out, it becomes impossible to keep their distance. Now, navigating tangled family ties and her own trust issues, Flo has to decide if one wild night can become so much more.

PJ's Thoughts:

It's a good thing I got my gym workout in before I started reading an ARC of Naima Simone's The Single Dad Project because by the 8% mark I was totally hooked. Figured I might as well toss my Monday to-do list to the side because not a single thing was going to be accomplished until I finished this book. 

Much like the other books in the Rose Bend series, once I was immersed in their lives, these characters refused to let me put their book down until I turned the final page. Even then, the characters continued to live in my mind. Simone filled their journey with steam, humor, endearing moments, emotional turmoil, complicated family dynamics, unexpected friendships, heart-tugging romance, and a whole lot of "yes, please, may I have more?"

I loved the family dynamics in this book that played out alongside the romance between Flo and Adam. It added texture, conflict, and unexpected layers to their journey as a couple as well as their individual evolution. And I absolutely adored Adam's young daughter, Jussy who pretty much steals every scene she's in, along with hearts. 

If you haven't yet visited Simone's Rose Bend, The Single Dad Project is a great place to jump in. Then go back and read the rest of the published books - and novellas - in the series because, yes, they are all that good.

Review - - Mr. Right Next Door

Mr. Right Next Door

by Naima Simone

Rose Bend - Book 4

Publisher: HQN

Release Date: January 10, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

As the ex-mayor’s daughter, Jenna Landon has spent her life aiming for perfection—and missing. The pressure and disappointment turned her into a bit of a mean girl, but now she’s tired of protecting her soft heart, of hiding her losses—she’s ready to leave Rose Bend and start over. But before she can leave, she has to endure the town’s carnival fundraiser, her father’s reelection campaign…and the pain-in-the-tail giant who just moved in next door.

Wrestling coach Isaac Hunter didn’t mean to disturb his neighbor with his music while fixing his car. But if anyone could use “messing with,” it’s prissy, perfect, sexy Jenna Landon. Soon their clashes turn into something hotter. Recently divorced, his focus should be rebuilding his life, not an… entanglement with a woman who spells nothing but trouble. Because Jenna is leaving Rose Bend. And they both know he can’t go with her, and he can’t ask her to stay...

PJ's Thoughts:

My first impression of Jenna Landon, in book one of Naima Simone's Rose Bend series, was that she was a bitter, self-absorbed, nasty piece of work. My second impression, in book two, only reinforced my opinion. But then, along came book three and one single scene where Simone pulled back Jenna's curtain just a bit and suddenly I found myself wondering if I, like the rest of Rose Bend, had it all wrong. Was there actually more to this character than I had thought? And, holy wow, did Naima Simone actually have plans to redeem her???

To say I have been anticipating this story would be a massive understatement. I went into it with very high expectations and I'm happy to say that Simone not only met those expectations, she blew them out of the water. I would even go so far as to say this was my favorite book of the series so far. I loved the complexities of both Jenna and Isaac. These two set off sparks from the get-go, with their snappy banter, sizzling chemistry, and snarky nicknames that over time became endearing. 

It wasn't an easy road to Jenna and Isaac's happily ever after but it never is with a Naima Simone book. That's one of the things I most enjoy about her writing, the way she keeps it real. She populates her stories with flawed, complex characters, people like you and me who face adversity and react to challenges in a myriad of ways. She also excels in writing complicated, dysfunctional families and, boy howdy, does Jenna's family ever exemplify that. I won't go into the things I wanted to do to her parents. And then she gives me deeply emotional, heart-tugging, steamy romance that renews my faith in enduring love...every single time. 

If you aren't reading Naima Simone's Rose Bend series - and why aren't you? - you're missing out on some of the best contemporary romance out there. I highly recommend it. Mr. Right Next Door can be enjoyed on its own but for the full impact of Jenna's redemption I strongly recommend reading the series books in order. 

Review - - With Love from Rose Bend

With Love from Rose Bend

by Naima Simone

Rose Bend - Book 3

Publisher: HQN

Release Date: March 29, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

He came to Rose Bend to hide. But she’ll help him find everything he’s been missing.

Leontyne Dennison is on a love hiatus. And that’s just fine, because perfectionist Leo is hyperfocused on the success of her family’s Berkshires inn. Volunteering for Rose Bend’s annual spring festival is certain to boost business—and provide the perfect distraction from men—until Leo comes face-to-face with Owen Stafford, the hottest one-night stand of her life.

A retired professional football player, Owen came to Rose Bend to escape after a devastating car accident ended his career. Enter the woman he hasn’t forgotten in the year since their sizzling night together. When Owen’s parents arrive, threatening his low profile, Leo helps keep the peace by pretending to be Owen’s girlfriend. Rose Bend was never part of Owen’s long game, but Leo’s increasingly convincing TLC is starting to give Owen every reason to stay.

PJ's Thoughts:

Naima Simone took me on another emotional roller coaster ride with this third book in her Rose Bend series and I am loving it. If you haven't discovered this series yet, now is a great time to jump in. Some characters from earlier books make brief appearances in this third story but you can absolutely start with Owen and Leo's story and not miss a beat.

There are so many things I enjoy about Simone's writing. Her complex characters are at the heart of her plots. The dialogue between Leo and Owen is sharp, witty, and insightful. The chemistry between them is off the charts and, yes, it plays out in some steamy scenes. But the feelings! Oh my gosh, there's so much emotion in this story and not only between the hero and heroine. There are complicated family dynamics at play for both Leo and Owen. I enjoy how Simone digs deep into those family relationships and the impact they have on our main characters. 

I love how the characters in this book are so relatable. Yes, Owen may be a millionaire professional football player but the issues he's dealing with are ones any of us might face. The same holds true for Leo and the secrets she's spent a decade bearing on her own. I felt their fear, their insecurities, and their grief as if it was my own. And I also felt their hope and joy as their burdens were released and their hearts opened. They are my favorite couple of the series and that's saying something considering how much I loved Nessa and Wolf (Leo's brother) in book two, Christmas in Rose Bend. 

Simone continues to up her game with each book she writes. I've fallen in love with Rose Bend. I've fallen in love with these characters. And, I can't wait to discover what Naima Simone has planned next. 

If you're interested in visiting Rose Bend (and why wouldn't you be), here are the novellas and full-length books published so far in the series:

Slow Dance at Rose Bend - 0.5 / Novella

The Road to Rose Bend - Book 1

A Kiss to Remember - 1.5 / Novella

Christmas in Rose Bend - Book 2

The Love List - 2.5 Novella

With Love from Rose Bend - Book 3

Review - - Christmas in Rose Bend

Christmas in Rose Bend

by Naima Simone

Rose Bend - Book 2

Publisher: HQN

Release Date: October 26, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

The holidays have never been her thing. But Christmas in Rose Bend has more than one surprise in store…

Grieving ER nurse Nessa Hunt is on a road trip with her sullen teen half sister, Ivy, and still reeling from her mother’s deathbed confession: Nessa’s dad wasn’t really her dad. Seeking answers, they arrive in Rose Bend to find a small town teeming with the kind of Christmas cheer Nessa usually avoids. But then she meets the innkeeper’s ruggedly sexy son, Wolfgang Dennison.

Wolf’s big, boisterous family is like a picture-perfect holiday card. Nessa has too much weighing on her to feel like she fits—even though the heat between her and Wolf is undeniable. And the merriment bringing an overdue smile to Ivy’s face is almost enough to make Nessa believe in the Christmas spirit. But with all her parental baggage, including lingering questions about her birth father, is there room in Nessa’s life for happy holidays and happily-ever-after?

PJ's Thoughts:

This book, y’all. I’m immersed in Simone’s fictional community, emotionally tethered to these complex, fully-developed characters, and, oh my gosh, I’m feeling the feels. All. The. Feels. Simone gutted me with this story, took me on a ride that encompassed the full range of emotions, broke my heart but never let me lose hope, and then stitched it back together stronger than before.

Nessa and Wolf are such wonderfully complex characters. I loved them together. Their chemistry is off the charts (love those steamy scenes) but they also have moments of such tenderness. One of the things I most enjoyed about their journey was how well they communicated, even - maybe especially - when it came to the hard stuff. And there is plenty of hard stuff to overcome. Simone has surrounded them with a secondary cast of characters who all bring something to the table. Ivy, Nessa's moody, 12-year-old half-sister, is a pivotal character who is especially important to the overall story. I very much enjoyed her evolving relationship with both Wolf and Nessa. 

While it was fun to catch up with characters from book one, The Road to Rose Bend, and novellas Slow Dance at Rose Bend and A Kiss to Remember (and I enthusiastically recommend all of those stories), readers can absolutely enjoy Christmas in Rose Bend as a standalone.

I highly recommend adding Christmas in Rose Bend to your reading schedule. The steamy romance, snappy banter, heart-tugging emotion, grieving heroine who’s just about reached the end of her rope, and hero many of us would like to find under our Christmas tree this year, all wrapped up in a big red emotional bow courtesy of Naima Simone's exquisite writing, make this one a keeper.

CW: Death of parents - Death of best friend - Military death - Panic attacks

 

Review - - Back in the Texan's Bed

Back in the Texan's Bed

by Naima Simone

Texas Cattleman's Club: Heir Apparent - Book 1

Publisher: Harlequin Desire

Release Date: February 1, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

 

Will they ever learn…

that giving in to desire is playing with fire?After discovering he has a secret son, oil heir Ross Edmond isn’t letting Charlotte Jarrett walk away again. He proposes they move in together—to share their son…and a bed. But Charlotte has secrets, and Ross doesn’t know the real reason his family’s former chef left town three years ago—and they still have a powerful enemy who could bring them both down…

From Harlequin Desire: Luxury, scandal, desire—welcome to the lives of the American elite.

Visit Royal, Texas, and find out if the Edmond family is all that they seem in Texas Cattleman’s Club: Heir Apparent.

PJ's Thoughts:

Naima Simone sets the pages on fire with a sexy, sassy, and emotionally-charged, second-chance romance...with a secret baby! Back in the Texan's Bed has everything that makes a book a page turner for me: betrayal, a strong, independent heroine, an emotionally-scarred hero, and a second chance to make things right. 

I'm not always a fan of secret baby stories but Simone has approached the trope in such a way that I didn't find fault with either of the main characters. Instead, the reveal of the secret unites them against a common foe and solidified my investment in them as a couple. But the road ahead for our reunited couple is anything but smooth. That foe - and Ross's issues - will make sure of it.

I really pulled for Charlotte and Ross, even though it took me some time to warm up to him. Of the two, he has the greater growth arc but those necessary changes made me love him even more by the end and deemed him worthy of Charlotte's love and trust. There's a dysfunctional family at the core of his issues and a secondary cast I hope we'll be seeing more of in this series. There are characters due a happy ending and one who I sincerely hope faces the reckoning they deserve. 

If you enjoy deeply emotional stories with great dialogue, complex characters, plenty of sizzle, and hard-earned happy endings, give this one a try. I highly recommend it. 

 

Review - - Trust Fund Fiance

 

Trust Fund Fiancé

by Naima Simone

Texas Cattleman's Club: Rags to Riches - Book 4

Publisher: Harlequin Desire

Release Date: September 1, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

His friend needs a fiancé to claim a fortune.

But they both know it’s about more than money…

Ezekiel Holloway’s proposition could save his friend Reagan Sinclair’s inheritance and give her the freedom she craves. But when family scandals force Ezekiel to end their fake engagement, the heiress comes up with a counterproposal—and they elope to Vegas after all! Is there something more than mere convenience at stake here?

PJ's Thoughts:

After I turned the final page of Trust Fund Fiancé, I went straight to Instagram and posted the following words: "Damn. That wasn't a book. That was an *experience* and I don't know how I'm going to find the words to do it justice." Days later, I'm still trying to find those words. Let's start with Naima Simone's exquisite writing. I was only 4% into the book when I was already swooning over her beautiful prose and mentally rearranging my schedule for the day. It was apparent I wouldn't be going anywhere or doing anything else until I finished this book. She wrapped me up in her words like a warm cozy blanket on a crisp autumn day. 

Her main characters, Reagan and Zeke, leaped from the pages of their story straight into my heart. I loved these two. Both complex, fully-formed characters with emotional baggage, kind hearts, admirable ambitions, and relatable obstacles in their paths, they engaged my interest, and my emotions, almost immediately. I was in their corners, both individually and as a couple. They each have deeply emotional powder kegs to address, layers to reveal, and people intent on blocking them at every turn to defeat before they have any hope of a happy ending. I admired them, cheered for them, cried with them, and at times just wanted to hug them. 

This is the fourth book in Harlequin's multi-author, Texas Cattleman's Club: Rags to Riches series. There's a mystery thread that runs through the series but jumping into the series at this point didn't negatively impact my enjoyment of this particular book at all. What it did accomplish was to generate enough interest in the Wingates (Zeke's family) and the mystery surrounding their business empire to have me downloading the first three books in the series and eagerly anticipating the next four.  

Trust Fund Fiancé is a friends-to-lovers, marriage-of-convenience romance that wrapped me up in all the feels with laughter, tears, heart-tugging emotion, and sizzling, red-hot chemistry. I loved the deep, caring friendship that developed between these two before growing into more but let's go back to that smoking-hot chemistry for a minute. Whoa, Mama! Do these two bring it! I'll just say that (1) Naima Simone could teach a master class in how to write love scenes and (2) I will never view the hood of a Jaguar in the same way again. ;-)

Click here for a list of all eight books in the Texas Cattleman's Club: Rags to Riches series. 

Content warning: This story deals with some emotion-packed issues that may be triggers for some readers, including miscarriage, teenage pregnancy, and death of a loved one.

~~~~~~~

Are you a category romance reader?

Have you read any of the books in this series?

Have you read any of Naima Simone's books?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM (Eastern), September 3 will receive a Kindle copy of Trust Fund Fiancé.

*Must be 18

*Must be able to receive an e-book gift from Amazon U.S.

Review - - Blame It on the Billionaire

Blame It on the Billionaire
by Naima Simone
Blackout Billionaires - Book 3
Publisher: Harlequin Desire
Release Date: February 1, 2020
Reviewed by PJ
 

It was a night filled with secrets, lies…and soul-stealing passion. And now the blackout that turned lowly executive assistant Nadia Jordan and start-up billionaire Grayson Chandler into insatiable lovers leads to a proposal Nadia can’t refuse. As she steps into Grayson’s privileged Chicago world, will his matchmaking mother and vengeful ex destroy her dreams? Or will her fake fiancé make those dreams a reality?




PJ's Thoughts:

I don't know why I haven't read Naima Simone before now. I've certainly heard about her, had friends recommend her books, meant to pick one up. I guess it's always been one of those too-many-books-too-little-time situations. But then, Harlequin sent me an email, asking if I'd like to read and review Blame It on the Billionaire. It's like the universe was telling me I'd waited long enough and needed to read this author. Now. You know what? The universe was right. Simone's well-developed characters, fast-paced plot, steamy chemistry, and emotional depth kept me immersed in the story and cheering for this unlikely couple from beginning to end. 

I couldn't get enough of Nadia. While all the characters, both primary and secondary, are vividly rendered and well-developed, and I loved Nadia and Grayson as a couple, Nadia is the highlight of this book for me. Strong, nurturing, confident, and protective of those she loves, she's put her dreams aside to raise her younger brother, working hard to move them away from their toxic southern hometown and ensure his dreams are fulfilled. She's someone I'd want in my corner, as Gray slowly comes to realize. I love how she defends him against those who should have his best interests at heart, but don't. She may have been the poor, neglected child of a woman of ill repute but the woman she's grown into can hold her own with a billionaire businessman and the elite Chicago society into which he was born. Did I mention how much I loved this character?

It's been a while since I read a Harlequin Desire and Naima Simone's Blame It on the Billionaire was the perfect opportunity for me to dip my reading toes back into their delicious, steamy goodness. This may have been my first Simone novel but I guarantee it won't be my last. In fact, many of her titles are currently on sale for $2.99 and $3.99 in e-book format. Excuse me while I venture off to download Simone titles to my reader's heart's content. 

One more thing. While this is the third book of a series, it stands well on its own.