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Treading Water
If “Keeping Your Head Above Water” was a person, Dante Poole would be its gold star poster child. Though he’s trying his hardest, it seems like wave after wave of life’s heaviest blows is determined to keep him under. From dealing with the wayward mother of his only child, to moving back into his childhood home with his parents, nothing comes as easy as it should, not even meeting the woman of his dreams.
Ava Jacobs is fresh out of a marriage and the last thing she should be doing is thinking about the man she literally hit with her car. In between putting out fires at her family’s business, and making sure she’s centered mentally, she keeps running into a man who makes her feel things she isn’t sure she can trust.
Can two people who are each navigating new worlds find a way to not only tread water but make it to shore and thrive together?
Ava Jacobs is fresh out of a marriage and the last thing she should be doing is thinking about the man she literally hit with her car. In between putting out fires at her family’s business, and making sure she’s centered mentally, she keeps running into a man who makes her feel things she isn’t sure she can trust.
Can two people who are each navigating new worlds find a way to not only tread water but make it to shore and thrive together?
254 pages, Paperback
Published March 16, 2023
15 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Diana W.
10 books65 followersDiana W. hails from the city of gumbo, Mardi Gras, and the WhoDat nation. She writes about love and the imperfect ways we find it. Her stories of black love are down to earth and full of comedy. When she's not writing, she's in the kitchen baking cookies for her home bakery, The Cookie Catalog.
Learn more about Diana at www.dianawwrites.com or find her on social media.
Please follow her on social media:
IG: @dianawwrites and @thecookiecatalog
Twitter: @dianawwrites
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authordianaw
Learn more about Diana at www.dianawwrites.com or find her on social media.
Please follow her on social media:
IG: @dianawwrites and @thecookiecatalog
Twitter: @dianawwrites
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authordianaw
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 3, 2024
Ava is goin’ through it. She’s in the middle of a contentious divorce and her husband refuses to sign the divorce papers. Shane is convinced he can get Ava to give him another chance after he got caught cheating for the twentieth time. Her parents are dismissive and walk all over her, and although she is a named family member at Jacob’s Food Co., her employees don’t respect her. Oh, and she literally only has one friend. My girl is not having a time right now.
Dante made the mistake of impregnating a hood rat and he is suffering the consequences of his reckless behavior. Trish is immature and makes unnecessary demands on Dante and, when he doesn’t give in, she keeps his daughter away from him. Because co-parenting has become difficult, Dante is forced to resign from his dream job in NYC and move back home to New Orleans so he can be closer to his baby. While heading into a job interview, Dante is hit by a car. The way his luck has been going lately, getting hit by a car is right on par.
Treading Water was a decent read. I didn’t hate it but, I didn’t love it either. My problem with this book is the main characters were apart for more than 90% of the book. They didn’t finally get together romantically until the last chapter. I have a hard time finding the romance when the main characters are kept apart damn near the entire book. Then, when they finally got together, they had the audacity to start tossin’ out I love yous. How Sway?!!! Ava and Dante didn’t spend enough time on page to fall in love with each other. But, I digress. What I will say is, this author is a comedic genius. The comedy is what kept me from DNFing this book. ‘Fountain of youth or not, I wasn’t stepping foot in that prison yard of education.’ LOL!!! I definitely cackled from start to finish. While I loved the comedy, Treading Water was a miss for me. But, if you’re a fan of slow (heavy of the slow) burns, then give it a try.
Dante made the mistake of impregnating a hood rat and he is suffering the consequences of his reckless behavior. Trish is immature and makes unnecessary demands on Dante and, when he doesn’t give in, she keeps his daughter away from him. Because co-parenting has become difficult, Dante is forced to resign from his dream job in NYC and move back home to New Orleans so he can be closer to his baby. While heading into a job interview, Dante is hit by a car. The way his luck has been going lately, getting hit by a car is right on par.
Treading Water was a decent read. I didn’t hate it but, I didn’t love it either. My problem with this book is the main characters were apart for more than 90% of the book. They didn’t finally get together romantically until the last chapter. I have a hard time finding the romance when the main characters are kept apart damn near the entire book. Then, when they finally got together, they had the audacity to start tossin’ out I love yous. How Sway?!!! Ava and Dante didn’t spend enough time on page to fall in love with each other. But, I digress. What I will say is, this author is a comedic genius. The comedy is what kept me from DNFing this book. ‘Fountain of youth or not, I wasn’t stepping foot in that prison yard of education.’ LOL!!! I definitely cackled from start to finish. While I loved the comedy, Treading Water was a miss for me. But, if you’re a fan of slow (heavy of the slow) burns, then give it a try.
October 10, 2022
Enjoyed this one bunches
I could not believe the bad luck this man kept enduring throughout this story. Poor Dante could not buy a break. And to know that someone else was having a similar situation was another thing. Ava had money, good looks and a bright future with her family's business. But... She was unhappy. When she met Dante it was almost too unreal. A grown man with a young daughter and a crazy, lazy, baby's momma added to his need for peace and a new job. Ava's woes included a cheating ex and to find real peace. The two strangers worlds will collide, and eventually something positive will happen for both Ava and Dante. I loved the way this story had so many layers of emotions, and the execution was flawless. I felt the pains of regret from Ava. You all, the hesitation from Ava and Dante to trust again, that was real. The need for freedom from the hurt holding on to their past experiences were relevant in this tale. You will weep, cheer and in the end sing hallelujah.
I could not believe the bad luck this man kept enduring throughout this story. Poor Dante could not buy a break. And to know that someone else was having a similar situation was another thing. Ava had money, good looks and a bright future with her family's business. But... She was unhappy. When she met Dante it was almost too unreal. A grown man with a young daughter and a crazy, lazy, baby's momma added to his need for peace and a new job. Ava's woes included a cheating ex and to find real peace. The two strangers worlds will collide, and eventually something positive will happen for both Ava and Dante. I loved the way this story had so many layers of emotions, and the execution was flawless. I felt the pains of regret from Ava. You all, the hesitation from Ava and Dante to trust again, that was real. The need for freedom from the hurt holding on to their past experiences were relevant in this tale. You will weep, cheer and in the end sing hallelujah.
October 8, 2022
Dante was HILARIOUS
This book was a comedic love story. Dante and Ava met in the most outrageous manner ( who falls for the person who hits them with her car)but their connection was immediate. These two both had a lot going on in their lives . In the middle of a messy divorce!Ava was afraid to act on what she was feeling so she friend zoned Dante and gave mixed signals. Dante was jobless, living with his parents, had been a one year old daughter and a super crazy baby mama but he wanted Ava and made it known to her right away. Their journey to HEA was a STRUGGLE, but after misunderstandingd,misunderstandings,miscommunication,jealousy, anger, a stint in jail and bread pudding they FINALLY got there.
I totally loved this story even if I did want to choke Ava quiet often.
This book was a comedic love story. Dante and Ava met in the most outrageous manner ( who falls for the person who hits them with her car)but their connection was immediate. These two both had a lot going on in their lives . In the middle of a messy divorce!Ava was afraid to act on what she was feeling so she friend zoned Dante and gave mixed signals. Dante was jobless, living with his parents, had been a one year old daughter and a super crazy baby mama but he wanted Ava and made it known to her right away. Their journey to HEA was a STRUGGLE, but after misunderstandingd,misunderstandings,miscommunication,jealousy, anger, a stint in jail and bread pudding they FINALLY got there.
I totally loved this story even if I did want to choke Ava quiet often.
November 14, 2022
Treading water
I really enjoyed this story about Ava and Dante. Dante kept me laughing with his sense of humor. I liked their relationship and was pleased they finally got it right. They struggled at times with miscommunication but you could never deny that they had strong feelings for each other. Some of their communication issues probably could have been resolved by saying and meaning what they felt and not allowing their best friends to feed their doubt and insecurities. The only thing I would have liked to seen more of was Dante and Ava once they got out of their own way and took their relationship to the next level. Very good and easy read that I would recommend.
I really enjoyed this story about Ava and Dante. Dante kept me laughing with his sense of humor. I liked their relationship and was pleased they finally got it right. They struggled at times with miscommunication but you could never deny that they had strong feelings for each other. Some of their communication issues probably could have been resolved by saying and meaning what they felt and not allowing their best friends to feed their doubt and insecurities. The only thing I would have liked to seen more of was Dante and Ava once they got out of their own way and took their relationship to the next level. Very good and easy read that I would recommend.
November 17, 2022
cute
I really enjoyed this book. Didn’t know what would be when I first started but I’m so glad I continued to go on. Looking forward to reading many more.
I really enjoyed this book. Didn’t know what would be when I first started but I’m so glad I continued to go on. Looking forward to reading many more.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews