Harmony

by Bailey West

Madalee Stevenson lived and breathed music. Excited to accept a prestigious music teacher position at RAW Magnet school, she was devastated to learn she’d been moved from the music teacher position to the kindergarten position. Madalee swore she would never forgive the man who took her job.
Tiberius Vesey didn’t plan on being a teacher, but when his grandmother and mother needed his help, he readily accepted the music teacher position at RAW. He didn’t realize he’d made a lifelong enemy by taking the job.
When the kindergarten teacher and music teacher find themselves in a situation where they must work together, will the hostile teachers work in Harmony?

Genres: African American Romance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary

58 pages, Paperback

Published May 24, 2023

Reviews

[Kameel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this enemies to lovers story...about two teachers Madalee & Tiberius...that don't like each other...but the two of them end up working together on a project and later sparks fly....cute short story.

[ariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes: workplace romance, rivals to lovers, i hate you to lovers

TW/CW: 18+ , sick parent, gambling

Representation: black romance

Thoughts: okay this is my favorite book out of this series! I love these two so much! the i hate you to lovers trope is top tier! sis had me dying with the way she did not fool with this man at all but i love that he broke her down. i love that he was so willing to help when it came to her mother! and chile that spice!? PUH LEASE! also two black music teachers!? love

[Katie ratherbereadinggg · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Dahyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ya'll, when I tell you. This was soo cute. Although it's a short story, it felt complete to me. I love that the end didn’t leave wondering. The little taste of reality with the family made the story even better. And of course, it wouldn't be a Bailey West book if we didn't get a little Jesus. Madalee (loved the name) held a grudge against Tiberius for a job that "he stole" from her. But thank goodness for the festival at RAW cause through it, they were able to get go know one another...rest is history. Ya'll know I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers, so I ate this up.

[ReadnliftwithShar · Rating 4 out of 5]

😏

This was a cute story; the characters started as coworkers that are enemies but when they end up working together they end up letting their guards down. It was clear that they liked each other and I feel that is why their beef lasted for so long. It was cute.

[zari ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a cute little read. I loved the enemies to lovers dynamic but because it was such a short read, it was a bit confusing to get into at first as this was the first of the series that I read. All in all I finished it pretty quickly!

[D'Asia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️[+1 ⭐️ Indie Author] First story of 2025! I enjoyed this short story and I do admit that I have to be more comfortable reading short stories because I felt like the pacing was too quick but duh, it’s a short story. I do think that this has to be an earlier story by the author because the writing is too niche in so many areas. Too “black” on some parts that would need a bit of knowledge to explain and appeal to other cultures of readers [Like the use of the friendly ‘negro’ in our culture]. Too many detailed explanations that could’ve been explained with actions instead of dialogue. Too niche. I enjoyed the enemies to lovers! I’m proud to give this author my first review of the year and hopefully this short story/author will find some more traction. I would recommend this to anyone looking to read a black Indie Author!

[Whit · Rating 3 out of 5]

******I can't believe my review just disappeared! Not sure I can resurrect it!

I love that this short and sweet page turner was about two music teachers. However, because a promotion was given to Ty over Mad, they hated one another. Fortunately, they decided to put that to the side, for the benefit of their students. I love the way both Ty and Mad helped out her elderly and ill mother.

Because this is a novella, it ended rather abruptly. In addition, that "romantic connection" should not have taken place at the festival, where anyone could have discovered them!

[Mayas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay now Ty.... This was a fun enemies to lovers. A favor done because your bestie read you the reality of a silly grudge for three years. Loved the family dynamic of this story and the RAW emotional aspect.

[Toya Davis-Stokley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very quick read, so I didn't get all the feels I normally do from Ms. West; but cute enemies to lovers story! 👍👍

[Jessica Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little disappointed

While this wasn't bad, I didn't enjoy it as much as the other two stories in this series. Both the writing and the story didn't do it for me, I hate to say. Madalee wasn't my favorite, and Tiberius was a little forgettable. And how fast their relationship progression went was a little farfetched, to me; how they started out at such odds then talking about what that were talking about at the end, I just didn't buy it. Maybe if the story was longer and there was more time to build that, it would've been better.

This is my first read from this author; I'd be open to checking out some of her other works.

['The Book Queen' · Rating 4 out of 5]

The energy, man!

The energy in this concise story was off the charts. The lead character named Tiberius boldly took this story where no man has done before.. Wink... Star Trek fans will get it. Then add the leading lady Madalee, and you have a grown folks tale you will delight in the venture.

[Mrs Tee Booktique · Rating 2 out of 5]

MrsTee_Reading_Realtor

I don't know if its my expectations or what? I'm disappointed in this short. It feels rushed and incomplete. Not because its short, but the transition is off. Then it ends.

[whatbreeread · Rating 4 out of 5]

the characters drew me into this one i can’t get over how well written they were

again, i just love how madalee, her mother and tiberius were written. i love how caring and attentive ty was to madalee’s needs and how thoughtful he was of her (him suggesting her for that new music teacher position melted my heart) and how helpful he was to her mother. i also loved madalee and her mother’s relationship like although shima claimed that her daughter isn’t her friend they were quite obviously best friends lmaooo and i loved it

also, the enemies to lovers trope was done very well in this book. the chemistry between them was great and the smut was even better

tw: sick parent

[Ebony Essence · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 - This enemies to lovers was definitely a “wham Bam thank you ma’am!” More so contemporary and not so much romance. It was spicy for sure and some cuteness. There was really no build for the “romance” side like as in going on dates or thorough conversation. Yes i know it’s a novella but trust it can be done. Of course you can tell madalee probably was feeling Tiberius through her action. Tiberius seemed to be a really nice guy. Lastly, there was madalee family “issues” that give a breakup in the story. However, they could have been cut to build more of the main characters romance. Anyways quick and easy story if you’re looking for something.

[Gemini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfying

This turned out to be a sweet enemies-to-lovers story. Tiberius carried the book for me. He was so lovable and decent. He seemed like the kind of guy you’d love to bring home to meet your parents. I loved the way music bound them together. It was fun to see how their mutual passion created such a spark. I have to say that I did have an issue with the editing. There was a character whose name kept changing from Corvell to Cordell. That drove me crazy! This turned out to be a really good series. I’m glad that I read all three books.

[daisha 🦋 · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love when black people black people.

Now I love an enemies to lovers story just as much as the next girl, but i think this might be my favorite enemies to lovers novella. It’s a workplace romance and as a teacher, my goodness. I’m here for it. I need to read the last book in the RAW series and I know I’m gonna be sad when it’s over.

[Crystal Luckey · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet...

Ty and Madalee wasn't fans of each other, but when Ty needed a piano player, he needed Madalee to help. Spending time together Madalee feelings towards Ty changed and she saw more in him. This was such a cute short story and I was excited that they finally got together!. This series with the ladies of Raw was bomb. I hope we see Them and Madalee again!!!

[Pat Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute ‘enemies to lovers’ story. I didn’t like Madalee in the beginning because how can you dislike someone when the person doesn’t know he’s hurt you and it’s not his fault to begin with? I only softened on her when she actually communicated with Tiberius. Even though this was a short, the characters moved too quickly considering how they started.

[Kendra Holiday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and Sweet

I really enjoyed Tiberius and Madalee's journey. I know it was a short story but I could read about more of them along with the few glimpses from other books. 1-click this book now. You will enjoy it.

[Tracy - loves to read · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute quick read

Being bitter might have you missing the best thing that ever happened to you. Goes to show you that upfront communication can go along way. Now they’re in perfect harmony.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute short story. I just felt like a little something was missing. Maybe Madalee and Tiberius should have been at odds longer? I don't know. It kept me entertained and that's what matters the most.

[Lee Holden, E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Good read, I liked the characters and story. Ty and Madalee worked at the same school, but didn’t like each other. That changed when circumstances caused them to work closely on the school festival. This was a short and sweet romance.

[Sigourney Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful harmony!

Yass, to Ty and Madalee. A beautiful, straight to the point love story. Oh how I wish it was more, but this was good. This was a first by this author and I will be reading more from her. I just love this couple. Too cute!

[Sassha Reads❤️❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enemies To Lovers

I can understand Mads being upset that Ty was giving the position that was promised to her but it was crazy for her to be angry that Ty got the position that she wanted. It was good that they had to work together and got to really get to know each other.

[MARQUETTA · Rating 2 out of 5]

The stuff with the brother and mother really took me out of the story. Less of that; more Mad and Vesey.

[Donna Scoggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful Music

Through all the issues with her Mom, Madalee found ways to connect with her kids and create music with Ty! Love Bailey West!

[Biddieya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read

This was a great feel good story. It was an easy light read with a little drama , sensuality, sex and love. Another great read by Bailey West.

[Ethel Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

As ALWAYS you never disappoint with your writing. Eventhough this was a short read it still was explosive and meaningful.

[KaiYuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice little enemies to lovers novella today to keep the reading slump at bay.