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Welcome to Brookwood
Madison Shaw is the new teacher at Brookwood middle school. She moved from New York to Brookwood, North Carolina after ending a three-year relationship. New to town, she spends her days teaching and nights snuggled up with wine and her favorite book.
During parent teacher conference she meets Parker Woods, her favorite student's father. It takes one look for Angel to see that his father is smitten by his teacher.
Parker Woods is a newly divorced single dad. His divorce from Angel's mom was tough on him. He's not interested in dating, though his ex has remarried. When he meets Madison Shaw, he feels his heart beating again.
The idea of dating and love scares both Parker and Madison. However, the heart always knows what's best. Will these two end up together? Or will their broken hearts remain broken?
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. That term could not be truer for Lara Greene. She’s been to more weddings than she can count. At this point, she knows what comes with being a bridesmaid better than herself. While she watches all her friends get married, she can’t help but want that same thing for herself. The idea of marrying Prince Charming has always excited her.
Except, she keeps kissing frogs.
When her brother’s best friend asks her to be his date for his ex-girlfriend’s wedding, Lara accepts under one condition – he posts her bakery on his social media account.
Cason Bloom is widely known for his food and travel blog. He has made a living out of exploring the world and its cuisine. Traveling comes with its own problems, including losing his longtime girlfriend. When he receives a wedding invitation to his ex’s wedding, Cason is determined not to show up without a plus one.
In comes his best friend’s little sister, Lara Greene.
Cason has always had a crush on Lara. Her baked goods aren’t the only thing that’s sweet to him. In return for giving her new bakery exposure, these two decide to fake a relationship to help Cason look good for his ex’s wedding. What is supposed to be a deal, turns into far more than the two of them can handle.
During parent teacher conference she meets Parker Woods, her favorite student's father. It takes one look for Angel to see that his father is smitten by his teacher.
Parker Woods is a newly divorced single dad. His divorce from Angel's mom was tough on him. He's not interested in dating, though his ex has remarried. When he meets Madison Shaw, he feels his heart beating again.
The idea of dating and love scares both Parker and Madison. However, the heart always knows what's best. Will these two end up together? Or will their broken hearts remain broken?
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. That term could not be truer for Lara Greene. She’s been to more weddings than she can count. At this point, she knows what comes with being a bridesmaid better than herself. While she watches all her friends get married, she can’t help but want that same thing for herself. The idea of marrying Prince Charming has always excited her.
Except, she keeps kissing frogs.
When her brother’s best friend asks her to be his date for his ex-girlfriend’s wedding, Lara accepts under one condition – he posts her bakery on his social media account.
Cason Bloom is widely known for his food and travel blog. He has made a living out of exploring the world and its cuisine. Traveling comes with its own problems, including losing his longtime girlfriend. When he receives a wedding invitation to his ex’s wedding, Cason is determined not to show up without a plus one.
In comes his best friend’s little sister, Lara Greene.
Cason has always had a crush on Lara. Her baked goods aren’t the only thing that’s sweet to him. In return for giving her new bakery exposure, these two decide to fake a relationship to help Cason look good for his ex’s wedding. What is supposed to be a deal, turns into far more than the two of them can handle.
215 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 19, 2024
290 people are currently reading
385 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 2, 2024
Into to Brookwood
The first story in this collection was pretty enjoyable and cute. The second story was also enjoyable, just not as much as the first one. The first one had a single dad and that's one of my fave tropes. Despite this, Brookwood remains a charming city and the place to be.
Editing gets a 👎🏾
4.2⭐️
The first story in this collection was pretty enjoyable and cute. The second story was also enjoyable, just not as much as the first one. The first one had a single dad and that's one of my fave tropes. Despite this, Brookwood remains a charming city and the place to be.
Editing gets a 👎🏾
4.2⭐️
February 12, 2024
A nice limited drama love story
I was down for this limited drama love story, and the author delivered a good one. I don't know why it took Lara so long to discern that Sammie was a whole witch and rode everywhere on her broom. But Casson, lordy, he was a real man for real. He did all the things a friend and a lover should do for his girl. Thank you for this love story.
I was down for this limited drama love story, and the author delivered a good one. I don't know why it took Lara so long to discern that Sammie was a whole witch and rode everywhere on her broom. But Casson, lordy, he was a real man for real. He did all the things a friend and a lover should do for his girl. Thank you for this love story.
July 28, 2025
Listen… Welcome to Brookwood felt like a warm hug after a long day, the kind of slow-burning romance that sneaks up on you and stays on your mind.
Madison just wanted to teach her class, drink her wine, and heal in peace, but then Parker Woods walked in with all that single dad energy and a smile that clearly ain’t been used in a minute. Babyyy, the tension between them was soft but intentional. You could feel the hesitation, the heartbreak, the pull. And Angel, that baby knew what he was doing.
Lara and Cason had no business being this cute. What started as a little “help me look unbothered at my ex’s wedding” plan turned into something way deeper, and babyyy I was seated for all of it. The chemistry was effortless, the banter had me grinning, and the vulnerability, Chef’s kiss. Cason knew her value from the jump and the way he hyped her up, personally and professionally. We love a man who supports the business and the woman. This wasn’t just a fake date. This was fate, sugar-sweet kisses, and feelings they couldn’t fake if they tried.
Jahquel J gave us small-town charm, a little wine-night vulnerability, and a reminder that sometimes love shows up when you’ve finally stopped looking.
Madison just wanted to teach her class, drink her wine, and heal in peace, but then Parker Woods walked in with all that single dad energy and a smile that clearly ain’t been used in a minute. Babyyy, the tension between them was soft but intentional. You could feel the hesitation, the heartbreak, the pull. And Angel, that baby knew what he was doing.
Lara and Cason had no business being this cute. What started as a little “help me look unbothered at my ex’s wedding” plan turned into something way deeper, and babyyy I was seated for all of it. The chemistry was effortless, the banter had me grinning, and the vulnerability, Chef’s kiss. Cason knew her value from the jump and the way he hyped her up, personally and professionally. We love a man who supports the business and the woman. This wasn’t just a fake date. This was fate, sugar-sweet kisses, and feelings they couldn’t fake if they tried.
Jahquel J gave us small-town charm, a little wine-night vulnerability, and a reminder that sometimes love shows up when you’ve finally stopped looking.
February 22, 2024
4.5 🌟
Actually 2 books.
The first one featuring the single dad and teacher is a trope I love. I thought the ex wife was about to be bitter and I was going to be annoyed. I actually liked how the story went but I needed more, I wanted more.
The second one gave me all the feels. Brother best friend is also a trope I love. The progression of this relationship and the realizations Lara has was everything. I want more Brookwood honestly. I like how even through everything Lara stayed true to herself and what she needed/wanted.
Actually 2 books.
The first one featuring the single dad and teacher is a trope I love. I thought the ex wife was about to be bitter and I was going to be annoyed. I actually liked how the story went but I needed more, I wanted more.
The second one gave me all the feels. Brother best friend is also a trope I love. The progression of this relationship and the realizations Lara has was everything. I want more Brookwood honestly. I like how even through everything Lara stayed true to herself and what she needed/wanted.
August 6, 2025
3.5 stars
We get 2 cute hallmark like stories in 1 and I enjoyed them both.
We get 2 cute hallmark like stories in 1 and I enjoyed them both.
February 23, 2024
This wasn't a hit for me. Both stories suffered from a lack of relationship building between the couples, so I wasn't rooting for either of them. Neither story convinced me that the couples were into each other.
Madison and Parker got on my nerves with all the lamenting of their past relationships. Too much space occupied by something that didn't move the romance forward. I was more and more annoyed with every revisit of the past, especially Madison and Parker barely spending time together. Lara and Cason's story was sold as a fake dating story, it is not. The wedding that Cason is worried about is a non factor. I don't remember Cason and Lara talking to each other very much, despite being together in the bakery all the time. Where was the romance? Where was the tension?
Madison and Parker got on my nerves with all the lamenting of their past relationships. Too much space occupied by something that didn't move the romance forward. I was more and more annoyed with every revisit of the past, especially Madison and Parker barely spending time together. Lara and Cason's story was sold as a fake dating story, it is not. The wedding that Cason is worried about is a non factor. I don't remember Cason and Lara talking to each other very much, despite being together in the bakery all the time. Where was the romance? Where was the tension?
May 14, 2025
Story One: Meet Madison Shaw, the fresh face at Brookwood middle school. Leaving New York behind, she now finds herself in Brookwood, North Carolina following the end of a three-year relationship. Still finding her way around town, she dedicates her days to teaching and her nights cozied up with a good book and a glass of wine. It's during a parent-teacher conference that she crosses paths with Parker Woods, the father of one of her favorite students. It's clear to Angel that his dad is quite taken with his teacher from just one glance. As for Parker Woods, he's a newly single dad navigating life post-divorce from Angel's mother. The separation was tough on him, even though his ex has moved on. Despite not being keen on dating again, he senses something stirring in his heart upon meeting Madison Shaw. Both wary of romance and hesitant about love, Parker and Madison find themselves grappling with their emotions. But sometimes the heart knows what it wants most. Will they find their way to each other despite their past hurts? Or will they remain trapped in brokenheartedness?
My Review: I typically admire Jahquel's work and find enjoyment in most of her books. However, I have some reservations about this particular book. Primarily, the romance felt overly hurried to me. While I usually appreciate a well-paced love story, here the romance developed within just one day... I yearn for a narrative that delves deeper into character development and boasts a stronger plot. There was great promise in this story! I think with some revising and deepening the story, this would be so much better!
Story 2. I personally got bored with story two and did not finish it.
My Review: I typically admire Jahquel's work and find enjoyment in most of her books. However, I have some reservations about this particular book. Primarily, the romance felt overly hurried to me. While I usually appreciate a well-paced love story, here the romance developed within just one day... I yearn for a narrative that delves deeper into character development and boasts a stronger plot. There was great promise in this story! I think with some revising and deepening the story, this would be so much better!
Story 2. I personally got bored with story two and did not finish it.
March 8, 2025
Has Potential !!
I wanted to love these short stories so bad. Unfortunately they missed the mark. It has some of the same Jahquel energy but none of the flushed out storyline development. I know these were initially short stories in her website. They were ok. I loved my previous experience reading about some of the many faces in Brookwood and thought this would be more of the same, but alas it was not. They had potential and just needed a little more reworking and revising. I’m still a Jahquel J fan, hopeful the next installment into the Brookwood universe is a little better.
Overall this was about a 3-3.25⭐️
I wanted to love these short stories so bad. Unfortunately they missed the mark. It has some of the same Jahquel energy but none of the flushed out storyline development. I know these were initially short stories in her website. They were ok. I loved my previous experience reading about some of the many faces in Brookwood and thought this would be more of the same, but alas it was not. They had potential and just needed a little more reworking and revising. I’m still a Jahquel J fan, hopeful the next installment into the Brookwood universe is a little better.
Overall this was about a 3-3.25⭐️
October 5, 2024
This is a two story book. The first story ( Madison & Parker) wasn't the best, and I almost stopped reading. It was riddled with editing issues and unnecessary backstory. For a short story It dragged. Story 2 (Lara & Cason) was much better. Nothing was unnecessary, and there were minimal errors. Story two definitely saved this book for me. It was a great friends to lovers story, and imo it was the only story needed for this book . I'm so glad that I read the other Brookwood stories before this one because I might not have given them a chance had I read this one first.
March 17, 2025
Brookwood is Home
Two for one special.
I read the other stories from this town first and missed this one so I had to double back and was glad I did.
I enjoyed these 2 quick love stories. Teacher romance is one of my faves as a nod to my profession and how we do at times get wrapped up in the job. Long time love hits different when it comes unexpectedly.
Different from the urban romance but still good.
Two for one special.
I read the other stories from this town first and missed this one so I had to double back and was glad I did.
I enjoyed these 2 quick love stories. Teacher romance is one of my faves as a nod to my profession and how we do at times get wrapped up in the job. Long time love hits different when it comes unexpectedly.
Different from the urban romance but still good.
June 14, 2025
Perfect second chance at love with Madison and Parker. She was his son’s school teacher and it was love at first sight. He had healed from his previous marriage to his son’s mom and was open to love again. Their chemistry was organic because they felt like they knew each other forever. This makes the best types of relationships. Lora and Cason were enemies to lovers. He was a food critic that came to her rescue when her bakery was in a financial crisis. They always had chemistry but the banter between each other was very comical. Lora’s best friend Sammie was a big hater throughout their story because she was manipulative and selfish. Sometimes it takes time to realize a persons true character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2025
good short stories
I loved this introduction to Brookwood and the stories of the different couples. From Parker and Madison making it official in story one and then Cas helping Laura out with her Bakery. I will say that story 2 was my favorite because it definitely was a messy drama that had you hooked.
I loved this introduction to Brookwood and the stories of the different couples. From Parker and Madison making it official in story one and then Cas helping Laura out with her Bakery. I will say that story 2 was my favorite because it definitely was a messy drama that had you hooked.
April 2, 2025
Loved It!
This book was everything you would want in a romance novel. I absolutely love the Brookwood series!! I had to come back at read this one which is the prequel to the official Brookwood series. This book kept me entertained the whole way through. Each story was crafted beautifully and ended so perfectly. If y’all haven’t check out the full Brookwood series y’all need to.
This book was everything you would want in a romance novel. I absolutely love the Brookwood series!! I had to come back at read this one which is the prequel to the official Brookwood series. This book kept me entertained the whole way through. Each story was crafted beautifully and ended so perfectly. If y’all haven’t check out the full Brookwood series y’all need to.
November 10, 2025
Home Is Where Your Heart Is
I don’t know how I missed this book, but read all the other Brookwood books!!!…
I love that this had 2 different stories and really enjoyed this book!!!…
I loved Lara and Cason though!!!…I was glad that Lara finally realized that Sammie was not her friend!!!…
I don’t know how I missed this book, but read all the other Brookwood books!!!…
I love that this had 2 different stories and really enjoyed this book!!!…
I loved Lara and Cason though!!!…I was glad that Lara finally realized that Sammie was not her friend!!!…
February 11, 2024
Loved it!
I loved both stories and was sad for them to end. I especially loved Lara’s story the most and her genuine heart made her blessings and love life that more enjoyable to read. Excited for the series.
I loved both stories and was sad for them to end. I especially loved Lara’s story the most and her genuine heart made her blessings and love life that more enjoyable to read. Excited for the series.
March 3, 2024
yess queen
Don’t get me wrong I loveeee my urban fiction books but it’s something about these small town love stories that makes my soul smile ! I’m here for allllll of the brookwood baes !!! Jahquel did her big one with these cute love stories
Don’t get me wrong I loveeee my urban fiction books but it’s something about these small town love stories that makes my soul smile ! I’m here for allllll of the brookwood baes !!! Jahquel did her big one with these cute love stories
May 16, 2024
Brookwood!
These stories were sweet love in a small town. The rating could have been higher but too many fragment sentences and other grammatical errors. In the future a good editor would make all the difference.
These stories were sweet love in a small town. The rating could have been higher but too many fragment sentences and other grammatical errors. In the future a good editor would make all the difference.
May 22, 2024
Two for one!
We got two cute stories for the price of one in Welcome to Brookwood by Jahquel J. I love these stories about the people in this small town. I hope there are more to come.
We got two cute stories for the price of one in Welcome to Brookwood by Jahquel J. I love these stories about the people in this small town. I hope there are more to come.
November 1, 2024
Cute
Both stories were super cute. Loving the town and all the good black love that is taking place.
Definitely gave me the warm and fuzzies. Jah knows how to bring a reader in and have you heavily invested.
Both stories were super cute. Loving the town and all the good black love that is taking place.
Definitely gave me the warm and fuzzies. Jah knows how to bring a reader in and have you heavily invested.
April 16, 2025
Book one was okay and felt like a 3 stars read but part 2 was great and definitely a 5 star read so overall this book was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. The build up of Lara & Cason relationship played out well and I’m glad she got a happy ending.
June 16, 2025
Love it in Brookwood!
I’m already a huge fan of Jahquel J! I wish it could’ve been longer but I love the introduction to everything Brookwood. I look forward to the next book to see which characters are next & if we’ll have any returning characters.
I’m already a huge fan of Jahquel J! I wish it could’ve been longer but I love the introduction to everything Brookwood. I look forward to the next book to see which characters are next & if we’ll have any returning characters.
October 9, 2025
Good stories
Loved the stories, but they feel incomplete. Will they be getting their own standalone books? There’s especially questions from the 1st story that haven’t been answered.
Loved the stories, but they feel incomplete. Will they be getting their own standalone books? There’s especially questions from the 1st story that haven’t been answered.
January 28, 2024
different approach
Vastly different from previous readings. 2 good shorts that really ended too soon. Lots of characters to develop in both stories. Happy endings.
Happy Reading‼️
Vastly different from previous readings. 2 good shorts that really ended too soon. Lots of characters to develop in both stories. Happy endings.
Happy Reading‼️
February 3, 2024
I love Brookwood
This book told some sweet love stories. I loved the two stories in this book. Looking forward to reading more.
This book told some sweet love stories. I loved the two stories in this book. Looking forward to reading more.
February 26, 2024
Great reads!
I love both of these stories. I would love to hear more about Brookwood
Jahquel, I say it all the time...You are the G.O.A.T!!!
I love both of these stories. I would love to hear more about Brookwood
Jahquel, I say it all the time...You are the G.O.A.T!!!
March 5, 2024
okay okay
Now I can’t wait to see what goes on in the small town of Brookwood. Looks like you come to Brookwood and find the love you wasn’t looking for. I’m all for it
Now I can’t wait to see what goes on in the small town of Brookwood. Looks like you come to Brookwood and find the love you wasn’t looking for. I’m all for it
April 17, 2024
great read..
Love these storylines . Jah my friend you are talented with the pen. Appreciate all your hard work ❤️
Raq
Love these storylines . Jah my friend you are talented with the pen. Appreciate all your hard work ❤️
Raq
August 5, 2024
Such a cute small town romance read! Anything Jahquel writes is GOLDEN!
August 12, 2024
Cute read!!!
December 1, 2025
I enjoyed the stories but the first book had a lot of errors that made the story not as enjoyable as it could’ve been.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews