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Almost Paradise
Can a chance sighting lead to a second chance?
When Nia Nash got involved with Drake Paradise, heir to the Paradise Construction empire, she never thought that she’d end up raising their son alone.
Hurt and furious, she’s spent four years trying to forget everything about him. From the way his piercing blue eyes would follow her every move, to the way he set her body on fire with only one kiss. Drake Paradise not only broke her heart, but he changed the course of her life forever.
Now he’s back and demanding to be a part of their son's life, the son that he once had no interest in. Or so Nia thought. Refusing to let Drake in is not an option when he has power and money to his name.
As Drake mourns his own losses and tries to navigate his new roles in his business and professional life, they are both forced to deal with everything they thought they knew, and the whole truth that begins to unravel.
Can Nia ever trust Drake again? Can they figure out a way to turn their lives into their own paradise?
When Nia Nash got involved with Drake Paradise, heir to the Paradise Construction empire, she never thought that she’d end up raising their son alone.
Hurt and furious, she’s spent four years trying to forget everything about him. From the way his piercing blue eyes would follow her every move, to the way he set her body on fire with only one kiss. Drake Paradise not only broke her heart, but he changed the course of her life forever.
Now he’s back and demanding to be a part of their son's life, the son that he once had no interest in. Or so Nia thought. Refusing to let Drake in is not an option when he has power and money to his name.
As Drake mourns his own losses and tries to navigate his new roles in his business and professional life, they are both forced to deal with everything they thought they knew, and the whole truth that begins to unravel.
Can Nia ever trust Drake again? Can they figure out a way to turn their lives into their own paradise?
479 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2023
302 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Evelyn Sola
28 books983 followersA Boston native, wife, mother, and wine enthusiast. If she’s not writing, thinking about writing, you will find Evelyn with a book in her hands. While a new publisher, she’s been writing for years, and she will continue to write for many years to come.
Evelyn is obsessed with assertive and confident men who will stop at nothing to get their woman. Her stories are filled with love, passion and humor.
She currently lives in Washington, DC with her husband and two daughters.
Evelyn is obsessed with assertive and confident men who will stop at nothing to get their woman. Her stories are filled with love, passion and humor.
She currently lives in Washington, DC with her husband and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
October 8, 2023
I hate to give an author I really like a bad rating, but I hated this book.
The H was abhorrent and the ONLY reason this isn’t a one star is because the h at least slept with one other man during the separation. The situation with the fiancée was so disgusting that the H just could not redeem himself, especially after the way he talked to and about the h.
Maybe, MAYBE, I could have forgiven him if the woman he was with wasn’t someone he told the h she never had to worry about. Maybe I could’ve forgiven him if he had just hooked up with her. But no, this man got down on one knee, proposed, and lived with this woman. Not once did he try to track down the h. I could not stand him at all. Just refer to my highlights if you want to see what a gem he was. And the fact that he was going to let the fiancée be a stepmom to the h’s kid! 😤😤😤😤ooo I can’t even think about it it pisses me off so bad.
———————
Before/during reading
5% update- not only does he have a fiancée, but his fiancée is the girl he always swore to the h he wasn’t interested in😍🥰🥰🥰what a romantic start 🤥
I hate second chance books, but I love this authors writing so I’m going to give it a chance 🤞I just hope either they were both celibate or they both weren’t, that’s probably wishful thinking though 😕
Update: just saw a review that said he’s engaged at the beginning of the book🫥😐🫥😐🫥😐🫥😐🫥😐🫥
The H was abhorrent and the ONLY reason this isn’t a one star is because the h at least slept with one other man during the separation. The situation with the fiancée was so disgusting that the H just could not redeem himself, especially after the way he talked to and about the h.
Maybe, MAYBE, I could have forgiven him if the woman he was with wasn’t someone he told the h she never had to worry about. Maybe I could’ve forgiven him if he had just hooked up with her. But no, this man got down on one knee, proposed, and lived with this woman. Not once did he try to track down the h. I could not stand him at all. Just refer to my highlights if you want to see what a gem he was. And the fact that he was going to let the fiancée be a stepmom to the h’s kid! 😤😤😤😤ooo I can’t even think about it it pisses me off so bad.
———————
Before/during reading
5% update- not only does he have a fiancée, but his fiancée is the girl he always swore to the h he wasn’t interested in😍🥰🥰🥰what a romantic start 🤥
I hate second chance books, but I love this authors writing so I’m going to give it a chance 🤞I just hope either they were both celibate or they both weren’t, that’s probably wishful thinking though 😕
Update: just saw a review that said he’s engaged at the beginning of the book🫥😐🫥😐🫥😐🫥😐🫥😐🫥
January 7, 2024
A 1 star zero hero who's arrogant and entitled. Even when he finds out the truth about the deception that led to his and the heroine's separation he waits to say anything. He's a selfish ass.
Heroine is pretty feisty and amusing in her defiance, but her blanket stupidity to work with him over parenting led to her forced marriage. After listening to Congress whine every day, I have little sympathy to a character that won't deal in reality.
All stars are for Wyatt, the H's best friend, and the only one with a sense of humor or sanity as well as Audrey, the heroine's teeny tiny friend/attorney who likes to bate Wyatt. They should have been the main couple as they were the only two with personalities.
Heroine is pretty feisty and amusing in her defiance, but her blanket stupidity to work with him over parenting led to her forced marriage. After listening to Congress whine every day, I have little sympathy to a character that won't deal in reality.
All stars are for Wyatt, the H's best friend, and the only one with a sense of humor or sanity as well as Audrey, the heroine's teeny tiny friend/attorney who likes to bate Wyatt. They should have been the main couple as they were the only two with personalities.
June 26, 2024
Drake and Nia
DNF 50%
This one just had the same caustic conversation by the mcs for the first half of the book. Literally I think some of the backbiting dialogue was copy and pasted. It was just monotonous. Drakes father got rid of his black gf by breaking up with her for him via text messaging . Drake thinks she just left. She was preggers and tried to notify Drake but is roadblocked time and time again by Drakes billionaire father and lawyers. Drake later finds out he has a 3 yo son and thinks Nia purposefully kept him
from his son. Neither believes the other and they duke it out with same dialogue until i was literally bored to tears. It was like a broken record. This book started with such promise.. too bad it's a clunker for me.
DNF 50%
This one just had the same caustic conversation by the mcs for the first half of the book. Literally I think some of the backbiting dialogue was copy and pasted. It was just monotonous. Drakes father got rid of his black gf by breaking up with her for him via text messaging . Drake thinks she just left. She was preggers and tried to notify Drake but is roadblocked time and time again by Drakes billionaire father and lawyers. Drake later finds out he has a 3 yo son and thinks Nia purposefully kept him
from his son. Neither believes the other and they duke it out with same dialogue until i was literally bored to tears. It was like a broken record. This book started with such promise.. too bad it's a clunker for me.
October 7, 2023
Leaves a lot to be desired
I really like this author but this book just didn’t do it for me. I didn’t really feel the chemistry between the two leads. The FMC was very immature and the MC was cringey. I skimmed past their sex scenes, I feel like I’ve read them all before in her previous books. As a matter of fact, a lot of the scenes & characters are just a rehash of her previous books. Some of the dialogues are so cartoonish/comical, I was honestly cringing. Hopefully her next book will be better & different.
I really like this author but this book just didn’t do it for me. I didn’t really feel the chemistry between the two leads. The FMC was very immature and the MC was cringey. I skimmed past their sex scenes, I feel like I’ve read them all before in her previous books. As a matter of fact, a lot of the scenes & characters are just a rehash of her previous books. Some of the dialogues are so cartoonish/comical, I was honestly cringing. Hopefully her next book will be better & different.
October 30, 2023
It was giving racist DOWN…not funny haha funny weird
October 9, 2023
Great book
Great book but I’m not going to lie, Nia tickled my nerves a lot at the beginning of this book. I’m not saying she had no right but at a certain point she was entering the bitter baby momma club. Nevertheless, Im happy everyone including Drake got their redemption/ HEA. Definitely recommend reading
Great book but I’m not going to lie, Nia tickled my nerves a lot at the beginning of this book. I’m not saying she had no right but at a certain point she was entering the bitter baby momma club. Nevertheless, Im happy everyone including Drake got their redemption/ HEA. Definitely recommend reading
June 11, 2024
Infuriating. Very much uses old skool romance/soap opera tropes of the interfering family and misunderstandings.
October 6, 2023
4.5 Stars / 3 Steam Fans
Talk about all the catnip!! Secret baby, second chance love, ANGST, and giving in to the inevitable. I LOVED Drake and Nia. I also loved so many of the side characters and hope that we get their stories as well.
CW: Secret Baby, Parental Death, Family Disfunction, Slow Burn, ANGST, Racism, Classism, Manipulation, OW Problems
Video review available in Week 36: Sep 3 – Sep 9, 2023, weekly book reviews on Steph's Romance Book Talk (https://www.youtube.com/@stephsromanc...)
Talk about all the catnip!! Secret baby, second chance love, ANGST, and giving in to the inevitable. I LOVED Drake and Nia. I also loved so many of the side characters and hope that we get their stories as well.
CW: Secret Baby, Parental Death, Family Disfunction, Slow Burn, ANGST, Racism, Classism, Manipulation, OW Problems
Video review available in Week 36: Sep 3 – Sep 9, 2023, weekly book reviews on Steph's Romance Book Talk (https://www.youtube.com/@stephsromanc...)
September 29, 2023
Ms Evelyn Sola has done it again! An amazing 5* read! If you’re looking for:
BWWM
Second chance
Secret baby
Slow burn
Groveling MMC
Feisty FMC
Angst
Very hot🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Look no further than Almost Paradise. In this book you meet Nia Nash, an HR manager, and Drake Paradise, heir to a billion dollar construction company. They meet when Nia was hired to work for Drake’s father’s company, and began a year long, passionate secret relationship, which ended very abruptly. Fast forward 4 years, an accidental meeting precipitates a violent emotional upheaval between the estranged couple.
Ms. Evelyn has put her considerable talents towards ensuring that the complicated relationship between Nia and Drake runs the entire gamut of the reader’s emotions, a veritable roller coaster of feelings. At various points in the story I was giggling like a schoolgirl, crying my eyes out, so mad I wanted to throw my kindle at the wall in frustration,(except….expensive and wasteful!), or cheering like a madwoman when the villain receives their comeuppance!
The pacing of the story was spot on. Many of the scenes were done in retrospect between NOW and THEN, so the reader is able to fully appreciate Nia and Drake’s backstory without the flow being interrupted. Although the story ends in a well deserved HEA, and is a standalone, there are still certain elements of suspense that the author was able to cleverly weave into the plot, so that the reader is left wanting more of this couple! No spoilers, though!
I didn’t want this book to end, it was that good! Looking forward to more of your fantastic efforts, Ms. Evelyn! I’m a big fan, and any book from you is an automatic one click for me! Get this book, y’all! I promise, you won’t be sorry!
I received an ARC for an honest review.
BWWM
Second chance
Secret baby
Slow burn
Groveling MMC
Feisty FMC
Angst
Very hot🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Look no further than Almost Paradise. In this book you meet Nia Nash, an HR manager, and Drake Paradise, heir to a billion dollar construction company. They meet when Nia was hired to work for Drake’s father’s company, and began a year long, passionate secret relationship, which ended very abruptly. Fast forward 4 years, an accidental meeting precipitates a violent emotional upheaval between the estranged couple.
Ms. Evelyn has put her considerable talents towards ensuring that the complicated relationship between Nia and Drake runs the entire gamut of the reader’s emotions, a veritable roller coaster of feelings. At various points in the story I was giggling like a schoolgirl, crying my eyes out, so mad I wanted to throw my kindle at the wall in frustration,(except….expensive and wasteful!), or cheering like a madwoman when the villain receives their comeuppance!
The pacing of the story was spot on. Many of the scenes were done in retrospect between NOW and THEN, so the reader is able to fully appreciate Nia and Drake’s backstory without the flow being interrupted. Although the story ends in a well deserved HEA, and is a standalone, there are still certain elements of suspense that the author was able to cleverly weave into the plot, so that the reader is left wanting more of this couple! No spoilers, though!
I didn’t want this book to end, it was that good! Looking forward to more of your fantastic efforts, Ms. Evelyn! I’m a big fan, and any book from you is an automatic one click for me! Get this book, y’all! I promise, you won’t be sorry!
I received an ARC for an honest review.
September 20, 2023
Another good book by Ms Sola. I’m not a fan of secret baby storylines but she did this one justice. Drake and Nia had a secret relationship and when he ended it she found out she was pregnant but he wanted nothing to do with her or the baby. I loved how Nia was a take no ish woman. Despite what she’d been through, being abandoned and becoming a single parent she was strong and knew her worth and wouldn’t let anyone take advantage of her or her son. Drake was a bit of an A hole but you could see it was out of anger, confusion and hurt. He’d always been his dad’s protege and heir to the paradise company but when his dad passes away it rocks his world in more ways then one.
I love that when you read Evelyn Sola books you feel like you’ve read a full book and have only gotten to 20%. The characters are always so developed early on and you get to sit back and enjoy the story. All the characters are likeable and you know more books are coming.
I love that when you read Evelyn Sola books you feel like you’ve read a full book and have only gotten to 20%. The characters are always so developed early on and you get to sit back and enjoy the story. All the characters are likeable and you know more books are coming.
October 8, 2023
I usually love Evelyn sola she’s an automatic read but I did not enjoy this book. Why do these books always do this. Nia was so annoying the way she was unable to even for a second give him the benefit of the doubt she had her mind made up and it was not going to change, they always have the women being so irrationally stubborn. She said she would never deprive carter of his father but was telling Drake that she would die before he had any type of custody. But still I kept going because there was a lot of tension but then they do what they always do and the mmc forces her to marry him, I’ve read like ten secret baby books and they always have this plot point, why????? I have never read about a more immature heroine in my life. I skimmed towards the end of the book.
dnf
August 18, 2025DNF @ 67%
The reading slump persists 😭
Notes:
I enjoyed the H’s cavemanish ways. He’s unapologetically alpha, going as far as acting quite the jerk….I love that in my fictional men. Whatever, it’s entertaining. But the story is dragging and repetitive. The heroine, unfortunately, I don’t like. I think she’s stubbornly annoying. She won’t ever listen to reason, not even from her beloved brother. Even he knows things aren’t mathing. It’s pretty obvious the H’s father screwed them over, but she refuses to even consider it and is determined to make the H the enemy. At 67% and all we have is him wanting to talk to her, to get to the bottom of what went wrong, and her CONSTANTLY shutting him out. Normally, I’m not a stickler about the whole lack of communication for the sake of drama and angst, but in this case, I feel zero angst. She’s too cold; it’s hard for me to be empathetic.
The reading slump persists 😭
Notes:
I enjoyed the H’s cavemanish ways. He’s unapologetically alpha, going as far as acting quite the jerk….I love that in my fictional men. Whatever, it’s entertaining. But the story is dragging and repetitive. The heroine, unfortunately, I don’t like. I think she’s stubbornly annoying. She won’t ever listen to reason, not even from her beloved brother. Even he knows things aren’t mathing. It’s pretty obvious the H’s father screwed them over, but she refuses to even consider it and is determined to make the H the enemy. At 67% and all we have is him wanting to talk to her, to get to the bottom of what went wrong, and her CONSTANTLY shutting him out. Normally, I’m not a stickler about the whole lack of communication for the sake of drama and angst, but in this case, I feel zero angst. She’s too cold; it’s hard for me to be empathetic.
October 2, 2023
I have mixed feelings about this book. I love the premise of it and I think it was executed well for the most part.
Nia is a single mom who believes she was jilted by her baby’s father as soon as she tried to tell him she was pregnant. After 3 years, Drake shows up at her doorstep just having discovered he fathered a son without knowing it.
They both feel betrayed by the information they have been fed by Drake’s recently deceased father, and rightfully so. What these two are going through is so real and raw and Evelyn did a wonderful job of writing their feelings in a human way. But because they are so believable and human, there are time when they are unlikable and flawed.
I stuck with them, though, and their happy ending is so satisfying for everyone involved.
Nia is a single mom who believes she was jilted by her baby’s father as soon as she tried to tell him she was pregnant. After 3 years, Drake shows up at her doorstep just having discovered he fathered a son without knowing it.
They both feel betrayed by the information they have been fed by Drake’s recently deceased father, and rightfully so. What these two are going through is so real and raw and Evelyn did a wonderful job of writing their feelings in a human way. But because they are so believable and human, there are time when they are unlikable and flawed.
I stuck with them, though, and their happy ending is so satisfying for everyone involved.
October 11, 2023
There was not nearly enough groveling after all the mmc put the fmc through. Then the fiancée was absolutely horrible and I feel like the conflict at the end was too much. I thought it was promising in the beginning but it just didn’t get better. There was not enough of a journey that we got to see they just made up and that was that . I think I would have liked there story in the past because the flashbacks of gem falling in love was my favorite part it would’ve been a cute workplace romance!
November 19, 2023
This book was frustrating to read. Two adults who can't communicate, blinded by their anger.
Nia is just always angry and lashing out and throwing jabs like a sconned puppy(granted she is), she does all the things a person who wants what's best for their child wouldn't do
Don't even get me started on Drake.... It's fiction but damn it's soo further from what reality would look like.
Nia is just always angry and lashing out and throwing jabs like a sconned puppy(granted she is), she does all the things a person who wants what's best for their child wouldn't do
Don't even get me started on Drake.... It's fiction but damn it's soo further from what reality would look like.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2023
Almost Paradise
By: Evelyn Sola
ARC Review
4 stars
I wasn’t too sure about this one to begin with. I am all for morally grey men, and tend to really
enjoy dark romances. But, in the beginning of the book, the MMC Drake, was so extremely
aggressive/toxic/violent that it was severely off putting and I almost DNF. BUT, I am so glad that
I pushed through, because the story was well worth it, as well as his growth throughout the book
made it well worth it.
Drake Paradise is the son to a massively wealthy family, whose patriarch has just suddenly
passed. The family is still trying to navigate the grief, as well as trying to find ways to move on,
when Drake encounters the woman who many years ago walked away with his heart, Nia. But,
there is one catch, who is the 3 year old boy calling her Mommy? And why does he look so
much like Drake?
Unbeknownst to Drake, his father and his current fiance had a plan to keep Carter, Drake’s son
out of his life entirely. But, the love that Nia and Drake once shared is a force to be reckoned
with, and nothing, and I mean NOTHING will keep the two apart at the end of the day.
I really loved seeing the so very toxic man that Drake is known to be becoming a father. From
day one, he was such a good father, who was very hurt by the fact that he has been kept from
his son for 3 years, and until he figures out what really happened, him and Nia will continually
fight over the fact that he doesn’t remember her telling him about being pregnant, or did she and
someone cover it up this whole time?
I also really enjoyed the aspects of the book regarding race, and what an interracial couple may
go through, especially when one of them is from a prominent white family to the community. I
have come across many stories like this one, and to be honest, the content for this one was
extremely unique and different compared to the standard romance novel that is out there.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
By: Evelyn Sola
ARC Review
4 stars
I wasn’t too sure about this one to begin with. I am all for morally grey men, and tend to really
enjoy dark romances. But, in the beginning of the book, the MMC Drake, was so extremely
aggressive/toxic/violent that it was severely off putting and I almost DNF. BUT, I am so glad that
I pushed through, because the story was well worth it, as well as his growth throughout the book
made it well worth it.
Drake Paradise is the son to a massively wealthy family, whose patriarch has just suddenly
passed. The family is still trying to navigate the grief, as well as trying to find ways to move on,
when Drake encounters the woman who many years ago walked away with his heart, Nia. But,
there is one catch, who is the 3 year old boy calling her Mommy? And why does he look so
much like Drake?
Unbeknownst to Drake, his father and his current fiance had a plan to keep Carter, Drake’s son
out of his life entirely. But, the love that Nia and Drake once shared is a force to be reckoned
with, and nothing, and I mean NOTHING will keep the two apart at the end of the day.
I really loved seeing the so very toxic man that Drake is known to be becoming a father. From
day one, he was such a good father, who was very hurt by the fact that he has been kept from
his son for 3 years, and until he figures out what really happened, him and Nia will continually
fight over the fact that he doesn’t remember her telling him about being pregnant, or did she and
someone cover it up this whole time?
I also really enjoyed the aspects of the book regarding race, and what an interracial couple may
go through, especially when one of them is from a prominent white family to the community. I
have come across many stories like this one, and to be honest, the content for this one was
extremely unique and different compared to the standard romance novel that is out there.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2023
4.25!
Kinda of what I was expecting, but still enough of the not expecting that outcome.
I do wish we got to see or hear what his father video taped on his death day. I want to see how or even if he’s apologetic & sincere in his words.
I am also had that everyone that need to get justice did!
I really liked it & would recommend it. Although you may not like Drake for more than half the book because of what he does to have his family!
Kinda of what I was expecting, but still enough of the not expecting that outcome.
I do wish we got to see or hear what his father video taped on his death day. I want to see how or even if he’s apologetic & sincere in his words.
I am also had that everyone that need to get justice did!
I really liked it & would recommend it. Although you may not like Drake for more than half the book because of what he does to have his family!
March 3, 2024
Great Read!
I enjoyed the storyline and the main and secondary characters. In the beginning I hated the female character but as time went on my perception has changed. I can't wait to find out exactly what his dad had to say. I hope Wyatt and Audrey get a book Bc I would love to see how their relationship would developed.
I enjoyed the storyline and the main and secondary characters. In the beginning I hated the female character but as time went on my perception has changed. I can't wait to find out exactly what his dad had to say. I hope Wyatt and Audrey get a book Bc I would love to see how their relationship would developed.
October 30, 2023
Love It❣️
Wow.....that was a lot....but so good....The dad, was apart of the book, without actually being there...It was complicated, loving, and amazing....I Love Reading your books!
Wow.....that was a lot....but so good....The dad, was apart of the book, without actually being there...It was complicated, loving, and amazing....I Love Reading your books!
September 6, 2023
Mr. Paradise always gets what he wants! I loved this book! Evelyn truly outdid herself with this one. I received this arc gifted to me by the author but I will be buying it in all formats I loved it so much! Be warned this is a secret baby trope which I thought I hated but apparently I like when written with a good enough reason. This is also a second chance romance that had me hiding under the blankets at 3am from the sheer tension between the FMC and MMC. Even through their anger I could feel their love and passion for each other that lurked beneath the surface. Buckle up because Evelyn definitely takes you on a rollercoaster ride with this one!!
October 7, 2023
L.O.V.E.
I've said it all before but this author never misses. She's a super talent. I usually hesitant to read second chance romances because when the couple gets back together it's so anticlimactic because the man that screwed up doesn't pay enough penance. I also hate how the man always moves on but the woman hasn't dated since the breakup, thats boring, unrealistic & sexist. Yet I knew this author wouldn't fail me. This is so good. I've talked a lot in other reviews for her books how brilliant I think she is, it can't be said enough. I always relate to her black heroines. I love that she doesn't rely on the same tropes like other authors. I'm tired of reading about black heroines that come from horrible childhoods & abusive exs. Because this author's heroines are reasonably well adjusted women, they are allowed to have standards & value themselves. It's genuinely refreshing. Nia reminded me so much of myself, I would have been the same way if someone had hurt me like drake did, as usual I love the supporting cast. I cannot wait for Audrey book. Her & Wyatt were so funny together. This author is top 2 but ain't 2. I'm grateful for her talent.
I've said it all before but this author never misses. She's a super talent. I usually hesitant to read second chance romances because when the couple gets back together it's so anticlimactic because the man that screwed up doesn't pay enough penance. I also hate how the man always moves on but the woman hasn't dated since the breakup, thats boring, unrealistic & sexist. Yet I knew this author wouldn't fail me. This is so good. I've talked a lot in other reviews for her books how brilliant I think she is, it can't be said enough. I always relate to her black heroines. I love that she doesn't rely on the same tropes like other authors. I'm tired of reading about black heroines that come from horrible childhoods & abusive exs. Because this author's heroines are reasonably well adjusted women, they are allowed to have standards & value themselves. It's genuinely refreshing. Nia reminded me so much of myself, I would have been the same way if someone had hurt me like drake did, as usual I love the supporting cast. I cannot wait for Audrey book. Her & Wyatt were so funny together. This author is top 2 but ain't 2. I'm grateful for her talent.
November 17, 2024
4/5 ⭐
Yet another great novel from Ms. Sola, but I will say that this is not one of my favourite books of hers.
Drake and Nia had a whirlwind romance a couple of years ago, but broke up due to a very bad case of miscommunication and middle-party interventions.
The story takes place a couple of years later with her single handedly raising their child, and Drake coming back DEMANDING a second chance.
While I normally love the alphas that Evelyn writes, my only issue in this story was (ironically) the MMC. He was a little too overbearing in my opinion, and hypocritic at times. Also, while nothing happens between the MMC and OW in the book, he is engaged to someone else at the start which I did not like.
Overall, the highlight of the story for me was the cute kids and the FMC's very rational & logical brother! If you like demanding men who unconditionally love their women and would do anything for their families, you should definitely read this standalone! While there were certain aspects I didn't like, I would definitely read this book again!
Yet another great novel from Ms. Sola, but I will say that this is not one of my favourite books of hers.
Drake and Nia had a whirlwind romance a couple of years ago, but broke up due to a very bad case of miscommunication and middle-party interventions.
The story takes place a couple of years later with her single handedly raising their child, and Drake coming back DEMANDING a second chance.
While I normally love the alphas that Evelyn writes, my only issue in this story was (ironically) the MMC. He was a little too overbearing in my opinion, and hypocritic at times. Also, while nothing happens between the MMC and OW in the book, he is engaged to someone else at the start which I did not like.
Overall, the highlight of the story for me was the cute kids and the FMC's very rational & logical brother! If you like demanding men who unconditionally love their women and would do anything for their families, you should definitely read this standalone! While there were certain aspects I didn't like, I would definitely read this book again!
October 7, 2023
I want to review the book, not describe what it’s about. First off, I’ve read every book this talented author has written. Ms. Sola gently hands us a part of herself- heart, talent, and intelligence. It’s like she trusts a reader with vulnerability, along with strength. That’s the woman. The author.
Her latest book is my favorite. Hands down. That says a lot because I’ve loved every word she’s ever written.
This tale is one of how people love in a precarious way. That slippery slope leads to a crash of dominoes that alters the lives of a couple.
There is happiness after broken hearts and hurt. You’ll experience shock, surprise, and the deep love of this couple.
Ms. Sola has successfully maneuvered through the plot with her wit and expert use of words. You’re placed in situations that you can picture in your mind and insert yourself in the story. The love, the passion, and the personalities of characters - those good and bad are a joy to read. And then read again.
I’ll end by saying that if Ms. Sola writes it, I’ll read it, and I think you should too.
Her latest book is my favorite. Hands down. That says a lot because I’ve loved every word she’s ever written.
This tale is one of how people love in a precarious way. That slippery slope leads to a crash of dominoes that alters the lives of a couple.
There is happiness after broken hearts and hurt. You’ll experience shock, surprise, and the deep love of this couple.
Ms. Sola has successfully maneuvered through the plot with her wit and expert use of words. You’re placed in situations that you can picture in your mind and insert yourself in the story. The love, the passion, and the personalities of characters - those good and bad are a joy to read. And then read again.
I’ll end by saying that if Ms. Sola writes it, I’ll read it, and I think you should too.
October 6, 2023
Let me preface this by saying this author has never disappointed me, so to leave this review hurts me. But I wouldn't say I liked this couple with a passion. I was rooting for them not to get together. They both were equally annoying and terrible communicators, and they didn't show any love or chemistry until the book was almost done. Drake and Nia argued the whole book to the point where even I screamed they both needed to shut up. Nothing redeemable about either of them because they would not listen to each other. Some things seemed incomplete to me, like Drakes's father, what was the reason because he is the catalyst into why this all took place. It was touched on, but I think it needed a deeper dive. The only bright spots were Audrey and Wyatt's scenes, along with Uncle Langley being mischievous. This was a miss for me, but it will not deter me from reading from this author again. I received this book as an ARC for and honest review.
March 3, 2024
Another reread 01/03/2024. I just love all the drama😂😂😂
WOW. I'm not going to lie I didn't know how much I would enjoy this book as secret baby is NOT one of my fave tropes but I wanted to give it a go as I have loved the Evelyn sola books I have read. I'm so glad I did!!THIS WAS SO GOOD OMG. I loved how Nia didn't automatically take drake back I HATE HEROINES WHO DO THAT. I honestly did hate drake a lot of the time😂😂 especially in the beginning but I still loved this book, I would definitely reread.
Also thank you to Evelyn sola and @literallyysprs for the arc!!!
WOW. I'm not going to lie I didn't know how much I would enjoy this book as secret baby is NOT one of my fave tropes but I wanted to give it a go as I have loved the Evelyn sola books I have read. I'm so glad I did!!THIS WAS SO GOOD OMG. I loved how Nia didn't automatically take drake back I HATE HEROINES WHO DO THAT. I honestly did hate drake a lot of the time😂😂 especially in the beginning but I still loved this book, I would definitely reread.
Also thank you to Evelyn sola and @literallyysprs for the arc!!!
October 10, 2023
5⭐️
Evelyn Sola is an absolute mastermind for this level of creativity! There hasn’t been one book that’s not short of exceptional. I absolutely loved almost paradise, because you feel an array of emotions and develop a bond with the characters. There’s a great balance with the storyline that has a great pace progression that you don’t feel bored or anything. Bright me from the depths of my reading slump. Definitely recommend 10/10!!!!!
Evelyn Sola is an absolute mastermind for this level of creativity! There hasn’t been one book that’s not short of exceptional. I absolutely loved almost paradise, because you feel an array of emotions and develop a bond with the characters. There’s a great balance with the storyline that has a great pace progression that you don’t feel bored or anything. Bright me from the depths of my reading slump. Definitely recommend 10/10!!!!!
October 14, 2023
Okay read
I Love This author but I did not like the time wasted not believing the other person. It took the hero too long to ask questions/ investigate his dad. Eventually they managed to sort things out. The other too drawn out beats is Scarlet. What world was she living in. Read it, enjoyed parts of it but Not up to her usual standards. Its a shame as I loved all her other books and have even read them twice.
I Love This author but I did not like the time wasted not believing the other person. It took the hero too long to ask questions/ investigate his dad. Eventually they managed to sort things out. The other too drawn out beats is Scarlet. What world was she living in. Read it, enjoyed parts of it but Not up to her usual standards. Its a shame as I loved all her other books and have even read them twice.
October 13, 2023
The story is missing a lot of elements. It feels wildly undercooked. The MFC is horrible. She is hurt, but is written to be down right unlikable. The flashbacks helped to create their backstory, but the reunion still fell flat. The MMC is engaged to someone else and so dismissive of that person that it's cruel.
October 19, 2023
Disclaimer: This review has both plot spoilers (I tried to keep it to a minimum) as well as trigger warnings for what to expect in the book as I read an advanced copy, but was not provided with these trigger warnings that would have been helpful as I read the book.
Book Trigger Warnings:
1. Death: The book opens at a funeral
2. Bully Romance, specifically, Forced/Blackmailed Marriage
As an author/writer, Evelyn (I want her to get ALL HER FLOWERS), is going to give you the book! I will elaborate. Many, if not all of Evelyn’s books are typically 50+ chapters, with an average of about 10 or so pages per chapter. Not only is she thorough and thoughtful of and to her readers, but she pens amazing stories with characters that have strong development and growth. Given that all of the works of Evelyn that I have read thus far have been interracial romances, one of the things that I greatly appreciate about her work is the reality she infuses about said interracial romances (which I often find missing in other interracial fiction romance stories). The element that she intentionally incorporates in her interracial romance stories is the fact that race, and more specifically, how folx may be perceived due to their race, is touched on. I am from and reside in the US. It is not realistic in 2023 that we're not having active and critical conversations related to race and culture, especially in interracial relationships. So when I say that Evelyn is going to give you the book, I mean that she's going to ensure that you get your money's worth of reading, that you understand who these characters are, their relatability (even those in/with morally gray behaviors), and an infusion of real life/world issues. Evelyn gon' give you the book!
With that said, Almost Paradise has been my least favorite book of Evelyn’s thus far. Overall, I rate this book between a 3 and a 4, while giving it four stars within the 5 star rating system. As I shared above, Evelyn “gon’ give you the book” and for that component, I rate it 5+ stars (the storytelling). As someone who has survived intimate partner violence, the bullying aspects, particularly the forced marriage, made me almost stop reading the book entirely. I have read a couple other books with elements of bully romance and while I didn't care for the character who engaged in those acts, I didn't quite have an issue with the book as a whole. While Drake's behavior was specific to him, there was also the backdrop of grief and death as well as the backdrop of both white privilege and racism, and white supremacy. It is 2023 and I live in the US. We are in a time in this country in which white supremacy is no longer "the quiet part." For someone who abhorred the actions of his father, in many ways Drake was and is his father's son given the behavior that he displayed toward Nia when he came back into her life. The forced marriage was too far for me and it made me deeply uncomfortable, particularly with the interracial romance element and him pulling that BS behavior on a Black woman. If this was in real life there would be nothing romantic about it. I read fiction to read fiction, not to see the same elements of my nonfiction reality.
I recognize that I am infusing my own experiences in with fictional characters, but Evelyn’s writing is such that I had a visceral and traumatizing reaction to what I was reading. Additionally, I had deep empathy for Nia as she was having said experiences. However, I did push forward and I am grateful that I did so. Even though this book was hard to read in parts, it unknowingly became a necessary read for me. This book helped me to identify the ways I am still/need to continue to heal.
Additional Notes and Commentary:
• I was very annoyed with Drake for his initial assumption that Nia would "ice him out" of his child's life. From both of their narratives, the year they spent together was life changing. So, if that is the case and this behavior seems unlike her, why would that have been the first assumption? ESPECIALLY with the backdrop of the father's death and Drake feeling like he knew his father was hiding/wanted to disclose something? #BoyMath
• Wyatt and Audrey? I definitely would like to read their story and do not find it to be a coincidence that they have the chemistry that they do. It is clear that Wyatt is already a bit smitten.
• Scarlett’s character was a WILD ride because there is so much that she represents: 1. You can be both victim (even if it is to circumstances you helped to engineer) and perpetrator 2. Do not settle for men that don’t think the moon and stars shine out of your butt. Some men will pretend to love you because you fill a void, not because you are truly who they want. I initially felt empathy for her, but I knew that she would do something, possibly illegal, to remove my empathy. Empathy removed. #FAFO
• In a land where I'm observing men not wanting to be loving husbands and fathers, it was refreshing reading Drake's description of his first meeting with Carter.
• The scene when Wyatt is informing the boys about whether they should be vampires versus werewolves is HILARIOUS!
• I enjoyed Wyatt. He brings balance to Drake's unnecessarily authoritative white privilege presentation of self.
Book Trigger Warnings:
1. Death: The book opens at a funeral
2. Bully Romance, specifically, Forced/Blackmailed Marriage
As an author/writer, Evelyn (I want her to get ALL HER FLOWERS), is going to give you the book! I will elaborate. Many, if not all of Evelyn’s books are typically 50+ chapters, with an average of about 10 or so pages per chapter. Not only is she thorough and thoughtful of and to her readers, but she pens amazing stories with characters that have strong development and growth. Given that all of the works of Evelyn that I have read thus far have been interracial romances, one of the things that I greatly appreciate about her work is the reality she infuses about said interracial romances (which I often find missing in other interracial fiction romance stories). The element that she intentionally incorporates in her interracial romance stories is the fact that race, and more specifically, how folx may be perceived due to their race, is touched on. I am from and reside in the US. It is not realistic in 2023 that we're not having active and critical conversations related to race and culture, especially in interracial relationships. So when I say that Evelyn is going to give you the book, I mean that she's going to ensure that you get your money's worth of reading, that you understand who these characters are, their relatability (even those in/with morally gray behaviors), and an infusion of real life/world issues. Evelyn gon' give you the book!
With that said, Almost Paradise has been my least favorite book of Evelyn’s thus far. Overall, I rate this book between a 3 and a 4, while giving it four stars within the 5 star rating system. As I shared above, Evelyn “gon’ give you the book” and for that component, I rate it 5+ stars (the storytelling). As someone who has survived intimate partner violence, the bullying aspects, particularly the forced marriage, made me almost stop reading the book entirely. I have read a couple other books with elements of bully romance and while I didn't care for the character who engaged in those acts, I didn't quite have an issue with the book as a whole. While Drake's behavior was specific to him, there was also the backdrop of grief and death as well as the backdrop of both white privilege and racism, and white supremacy. It is 2023 and I live in the US. We are in a time in this country in which white supremacy is no longer "the quiet part." For someone who abhorred the actions of his father, in many ways Drake was and is his father's son given the behavior that he displayed toward Nia when he came back into her life. The forced marriage was too far for me and it made me deeply uncomfortable, particularly with the interracial romance element and him pulling that BS behavior on a Black woman. If this was in real life there would be nothing romantic about it. I read fiction to read fiction, not to see the same elements of my nonfiction reality.
I recognize that I am infusing my own experiences in with fictional characters, but Evelyn’s writing is such that I had a visceral and traumatizing reaction to what I was reading. Additionally, I had deep empathy for Nia as she was having said experiences. However, I did push forward and I am grateful that I did so. Even though this book was hard to read in parts, it unknowingly became a necessary read for me. This book helped me to identify the ways I am still/need to continue to heal.
Additional Notes and Commentary:
• I was very annoyed with Drake for his initial assumption that Nia would "ice him out" of his child's life. From both of their narratives, the year they spent together was life changing. So, if that is the case and this behavior seems unlike her, why would that have been the first assumption? ESPECIALLY with the backdrop of the father's death and Drake feeling like he knew his father was hiding/wanted to disclose something? #BoyMath
• Wyatt and Audrey? I definitely would like to read their story and do not find it to be a coincidence that they have the chemistry that they do. It is clear that Wyatt is already a bit smitten.
• Scarlett’s character was a WILD ride because there is so much that she represents: 1. You can be both victim (even if it is to circumstances you helped to engineer) and perpetrator 2. Do not settle for men that don’t think the moon and stars shine out of your butt. Some men will pretend to love you because you fill a void, not because you are truly who they want. I initially felt empathy for her, but I knew that she would do something, possibly illegal, to remove my empathy. Empathy removed. #FAFO
• In a land where I'm observing men not wanting to be loving husbands and fathers, it was refreshing reading Drake's description of his first meeting with Carter.
• The scene when Wyatt is informing the boys about whether they should be vampires versus werewolves is HILARIOUS!
• I enjoyed Wyatt. He brings balance to Drake's unnecessarily authoritative white privilege presentation of self.
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