The Tramp

by Sabrina B. Scales

There were two places to wind up in the city of Armony Hill. While the well-kept and wealthy lived up at The Top, those who got their hands dirty could be found at The Bottom. The two neighborhoods rarely collided because of status and such. But we all know that love is the tie that binds, and most conditions can be ignored when it comes to the heart.

Laylah Drake resided at The Top, where life was peaches and cream. As the eldest child and only daughter of real estate guru, Desmond Drake, Laylah has never wanted for anything in her extremely privileged life. While her Aunt Judy is determined to pair her with someone suitable, Laylah fights her tooth and nail, ever suspicious about her motives. Just as Laylah reaches the end of her rope, Aunt Judy introduces a young man who sparks her curiosity in a way she can’t ignore.

Bhaji Phiefer was raised, respectfully, at The Bottom of Armony Hill as the son of a single mother who didn’t live long enough to watch him grow. Taken in by his grandmother, along with his troubled twin sister, Bhaji sees Armony Hill from a completely different angle.

When paths collide between the boy from The Bottom and the girl from The Top, suspicions are unearthed, and family secrets are exposed.

Take this journey into the beautiful city of Armony Hill and find out if this is simply a love story or if we’ll uncover something more.

121 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 22, 2023

About the author

Sabrina B. Scales is a national best-selling author of vibrant and passionate romance whose unique style of writing highlights real stories about real people falling in real love, and can be attributed to her humble upbringing in a small town in Southeast Texas, where happy endings were usually the result of hard work.

Reviews

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

Lovely

Lady, The Tramp and the gangsta, I could not get my heart to believe what I suspected about Badgi. He was at the right place in an area of town where a lady from the other side should have thought twice about. His mysteriousness about what he had going on worried me a bit. But, I was sure things would work out... I liked the way the story found its groove and moved in sync with the storyline. It wasn't rushed, or too lofty to be enjoyed in one sitting. I liked the Lady, the Tramp and new twist on the old fairytale. My rating is 4.75 stars.

[Toya Davis-Stokley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a story Miss Sabrina! It pulled me in right from the start. I thought this was a woman falling for a guy on the wrong side of the tracks, however, it was so much more! Laylah was living her best pampered life and enjoying herself. What I couldn't understand was why her aunt was so adamant about setting her up on these lame ass dates, and her parents never intervened. Something ain't right! 👀

Bhaji had gone through alot in his life, but always managed to come out on top. There was something so mysterious about him, that I couldn't put my finger on. Thought he may have been the opps! 😂When he and Laylah "met" at her parents' house, it was a ish show! 😂 But Bhaji turned on the charm and got Laylah to agree to one date.

Ma'am the twists, turns, and revelations in this thang were crazy! 🤯 I never would have guessed the players in this game. I loved how both Bhaji and Laylah leaned into their connection, although they were as different as night and day. They took their time, put their assumptions aside, and allowed things to flow naturally. Great read.

[Monae Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I enjoyed this story even though Laylah got on my nerves at first. Bhaji was everything she didn’t know she needed. I didn’t see that plot twist coming. I would recommend this book.

[Markita_Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

R E T E L L I N G

3.75 stars !
This book cover is gorgeous.
This is a disney lady and the tramp retelling with a little hood vibes!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

yes!

This is how a Lady and The Tr@mp retiring should be!

❤️ Retelling- Lady and The Tr@mp
❤️ novella/ short
❤️ opposites

[Amelia Storck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sabrina B. Scales’s The Tramp is a stirring and beautifully written exploration of love that transcends barriers of class, circumstance, and expectation. Set in the divided world of Armony Hill, Scales masterfully contrasts the privilege of The Top with the grit of The Bottom, crafting a story that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.

Laylah Drake’s journey from comfort to self-discovery, and Bhaji Phiefer’s quiet strength and perseverance, create a compelling emotional balance that gives this romance real weight. Their connection unfolds with authenticity and tension, reminding readers that love often finds its truest form in the most unexpected places.

What makes The Tramp stand out is Scales’s ability to blend heartfelt romance with sharp social insight. Beneath its love story lies a layered commentary on family, loyalty, and the invisible boundaries that shape our lives. Every page pulses with sincerity, making this not just a tale of passion, but of identity, healing, and the courage to defy expectation.

The Tramp is both tender and thought-provoking a novel that lingers in the heart and mind long after the final chapter.

[Kristal Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unexpected love

I really enjoyed this story from beginning to end. I can’t remember all the details of the original Lady and the Tramp to say if this story matched with the theme, but I can say this book was well worth the read and was written very well. Bhaji and Laylah were meant to be together and fate brought them back into each other’s orbit and allowed them to develop a love of a lifetime.

At first I didn’t care for Laylah because she was pretentious and seemed stuck up and seemed to talk down to Bhaji but she redeemed herself when she started to see Bhaji as a person and not where he came from and her assumptions about who he was. Bhaji was such a good man and I loved his relationship with his grandmother and how genuine he was with Laylah even when he couldn’t answer all of her questions.

I would definitely recommend this book and I look forward to seeing what comes next from this author.

[Victoria Dent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laylah and Bhaji ran into each other in The Bottom outside of Bhaji’s food truck. The two meet again when Laylah’s aunt invites him to dinner as a date for Laylah. The two end up setting up their own date and start spending time together. The real issue is that her aunt is a snake, and Bhaji is keeping a secret. You do not learn what the secret is until the last 20 pages. The climax felt really fast. Also Bhaji mentioned he had done things in his past and protected people who did bad things - it was kind of cryptic. I did like the connection between Bhaji and Laylah from childhood. He saved her multiple times. Cute story - I have never seen Lady and the Tramp so cannot compare the two.

[Beast · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow

This was my first time reading a book by Sabrina Scales. Although the book is listed as a retelling of Lady and The Tramp, it missed the mark for me, which is why I gave it 4 starts instead of 5.
But…this was a great novella. Lay meets B while ordering Soultacos. There’s an altercation and he saves her but she leaves him not wanting to be bothered. But forces bring them together even though she wants nothing to do with him. The story has a lot of surprises and kept you on your toes! Great read

[Denise Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!

Sabrina did an outstanding job with this retelling of “Lady and the Tramp”!! I was amazed by how smooth the story played out. Laylah and Bhaji’s love story was simply made to be. He was her protector her whole life because of family drama/secrets.

If you love family secrets and drama, redemption love, and very stubborn lead characters that fall in love with each other, then this is the book for you! This retelling of the fairy tale Lady and the Tramp is a romance book that I recommend for everyone to read!

[Louise Bar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 'Top' and the 'Bottom' two places you can live. Two areas rarely collided because of status. However, Laylah Drake decides to take a ride to the 'Bottom', which changes her life.

Her Aunt Judy is determined to pair her with someone suitable, Aunt Judy introduces a young man who sparks her curiosity in a way she can’t ignore.

I really enjoyed this short "Retelling" ☺️. It was exactly what I wanted. Also I found a new author I like. 😍

[Bkdoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a surprising fairytale!

This is good short read, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It took me a minute to read this from TBR list but I'm glad I did and was pleasantly surprised with the storyline. I was only going to read this one from the series but since this one is good I've changed my mind and will try out a few more or maybe even all. Also I fell for Bhaji just as Layla has.

[Denetta Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

A good read with a interesting storyline. I was so confused at first as to where this story was going. The characters met in a crazy way and I didn't see what was coming next. Their journey to a happy ending had a few issues that were a little crazy and I wasn't expecting that ending.

[Tera L. Kirksey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tramp

This was so good. Wow it was filled with so many twists and turns. It was so well written!
That ending was sweet!
I didn't expect anything less from one of my favorite authors.

[Kizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!!

I really liked this story. I never give out 5 stars but this Read definitely deserved it!! It was a page turner for sure!! And there was no guessing the ending like I normally do!! LOVE IT!!

[Malay Reneé · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awwww🥹

This was my first read by this author and it was beautifully done. I loved the twist at the end that brought the two together. I loved the way the elements from the originally story flowed with this retelling. Great job♥️

[Ieshia Shephard · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLP 7

I thought I knew what would happen then PLOT TWIST! I love this nontraditional love story. It wasn’t overly mushy with a little action. Im looking forward to reading more of your work!

[Ang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wicked turns

This book had me scratching my head trying to figure out the connections. The Aunt was the curveball I couldn't figure out. She was definitely trying to hard to get a husband in place.

[Patrice Latimore · Rating 5 out of 5]

He the Tramp???

I was all the way confused about the path that this book was taking but I must admit that ending did it good. Story actually gave good clues to what was going on but that small twist at the end brought it right on home.

[Nakia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Rendition of Lady & the Tramp

A grown and sexy interpretation of Lady and Tramp complete with spaghetti. I enjoyed this version and how it stayed true the original storyline in human form with beautiful Black characters.

[tanessia ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved

From the very first page this book pulled me in. And held me hostage. I was on pins and needles. I loved this retelling of this Disney classic

[Monica Whipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tramp

Ok now Sabrina, I enjoyed the retelling of this classic. This was definitely given get you one of these. 😆 I liked the added touch of suspense.

[Paula Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Layla and Bahji was meant to be the twist and turns was something that ungrateful aunt got off to easy

[Tina Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I enjoyed this modern-day twist to this ageold fairytale. Bhaji and Laylah loved them. Very good story of love, betrayal, and greed.

[Juanita · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tramp (BLP Fairytales)

Omg, the was such a beautiful story that was filled with some many twist. I loved it. I can't wait for the next story.

[Fredericka J Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bhaji and Laylah

These BLP Fairytales are very nice. Now this story here was truly a love story. From the love of a little boy to the love of a man.

[Gina Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

I enjoyed this book. I like the characters and the story. If you are looking for a short and enjoyable read, I recommend this one. Good job, Sabrina Scales!

[Shannon D. Wilkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read.

I really enjoyed this short read. I am enjoying the storylines. I am loving the characters in this book. This book made me trip out with the Aunt.

[Courtney Coco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bhaji and Laylah story cute, her story was kinda sad thought once she found out about her biological mother. Love how Bhaji was always there to protect her. Wasn’t expecting the plot twist though.

[Maia68 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story

This story was very sweet, short and to the point. You could tell what direction the story was going in. But is was very enjoyable.