Kitari Miller has a past that is shrouded in mystery and despair. It’s obvious to those around her that something or somebody hurt her deeply. But Kitari will never tell. Her secrets are too painful and too shameful to share… even with those closest to her.
Omari Mann is the definition of laid-back. He’s been in the league for fourteen years, and he’s at the point in his career where not much fazes him. Not being traded. Not starting over on a new team… in a new city. Not even riding the bench. He’s chilling… riding the wave. Until Kitari is assigned to him as a “player liaison”.
Now, he’s intrigued… by both Kitari’s beauty, and her light. But the dark cloud hanging over her head can’t be ignored. He wants to know all about her heavy burdens. What makes her cry? What makes her laugh? While Omari is willing to put in the effort to get the answers to his questions, can Kitari be open to the possibilities? Can she trust Omari not only with her biggest secrets, but also with her heart?
I did not have any doubts about the journeyman player. Omari was for sure the better man. ...No spoilers.... I knew once we learned what secret Kitari held about her daughter's father, I knew I would be dumbstruck by the answer. Whew! Talk about a body shot to the ribcage. The depravity was gut wrenching. And Elijah's BA needed to sit down. He married his girl why did he continue to bother Kitari with his social media rampages? You will be incensed, ready to sling hands and then that still won't be enough. The author took Kitari down a rugged terrain, but she gave her a man she could trust in Omari when all was said and done, yes, Omari was indeed the better man.
I actually enjoyed this book. It was a slow burn though.
I wish I had more with the HEA but it’s cool. Omari was that dude fr. Even as an older man, he oozed BDE and gentlemen vibes. I loved him and Katari story and I actually want more.
First read by this author, and I'll be checking out her catalog. I was heartbroken for Kitari, to not only be devastated by the betrayal; but then humiliated by the person who she thought loved her! Elijah was straight trash for that ish he pulled, then to continue to drag her like that was just cruel! Ughh….. 😡🤬
But my girl persevered, and loving on her daughter is the only thing that matters to her in the world. Well, until she meets her newest client…..
Omari Mann! Sent to Chicago as a consistent journeyman in the league, he was not so thrilled with the path his life and career were taking him. However, when he meets the mysterious, yet beautiful Kitari things look up. These two have an easiness about them, where they feel comfortable speaking their minds and being themselves. However, Omari can sense something that Kitari has buried deep, and it is troubling her something serious. But Omari knows that in time she will open up and get it all off her chest.
I really enjoyed these two as they got to know each other. They were both a bit gun shy, as they did not want to rock the boat. However, the comfort they felt with being around the other, made it easy for their friendly relationship to move forward smoothly.
Now, I kept wondering why was Kitari so secretive and mum about who Key’s daddy was! When that was revealed, it blew my damn mind! What???? The hell is wrong with people? 😤
I loved how Omari always had Kitari’s back, while supporting and protecting her! The epilogue was the cherry on top. I’m so happy for that ending for Kitari. However, I would have liked to know if anything was resolved with her parents when they found out the truth. But they were kind of insignificant anyways sooooo….. Also, Elijah and his mother, deserved to be handled!! 🤬🤬 Nonetheless, enjoyable read. 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
This story was heavy to me. Kitari reminded me so much of myself that it made me sad, but also humbled. Omari was such a breath of fresh air. Such a beautiful spirit. Who doesn't love a man that knows the art of speaking life into his woman? I wish we had gotten more of Kitari and Omari being together, but this just enough to satisfy my desire for HEA.
This book was amazing. I took the authors advice and read Cross’d Up and By Chance beforehand and I’m positive it contributed to a better read overall. I loved reading the development and growth of the couple. It’s a beautiful love story I think all will enjoy.
Trigger warning for tons of wild abuse that happens off page but is referenced in the story.
We meet Kitari Miller years after her life fell apart. She's a great sister, a phenomenal mother and continuing to work on healing. Omari Mann went through his own personal hell and is in Chicago for what he sees as his last season of professional basketball. Omari is enamored with Kitari & their flirting is so cute. Low spice and low angst with the couple, but babbbbyyyy Kitari's past is messy. Omari stands 10 toes deep for Kitari & her daughter & it's beautiful.
I just loved, loved, loved Omari and Kitari as a couple. The way Omari used house hunting to stay close to Kitari was so cute. I'm glad Kitari was able to get over her past hurt and trauma and give Omari a chance. Elijah was a dirty person for what he did to Kitari in the past and what he did in the present. I wanted Omari to throw hands behind what he did but I understood why he didn't. Once we found out the secret that Kitari was hiding, I felt for her and tears flowed as I read that part. No one should have to go through what she did. Kitari's daughter, Key, was cute as a button and I loved the way Omari developed a relationship with her as well. Kitari and Key were under Omari's protection and the way he took care of them was awesome. This book gave me a good feeling the entire time that I was reading the development of Omari and Kitari's relationship. I highly recommend you take the time to read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it!!!
I read this book last year and i had completely forgotten how this book made me feel🤚🏽😭.
Firstly, Omari IS the better man🙂↕️Yes Ma’am👏🏽🙂↕️ I love how he didn’t try too hard with Kit kat and still won her and key over🥺🥺
Now let’s get into the nitty gritty without spoiling the book. 🔹Chile, Kitari’s family got on my nerves about the bd and i can’t blame her for not disclosing it one bit🤚🏽🙂↕️ 🔸Idk how to feel about Kitari’s mum but she is not a person i want to even give some airtime 🫤 🔹Chile Elijah got what he deserved partially(i needed him to bring the same energy he had earlier tbh) 🔸Ngl im ECSTATIC💃🏽💃🏽that Key doesn’t have a bio dad(iykyk🙂↕️) now if she lost her paternal grandmother i also would be over the moon🙂↕️🙂↕️
I wish this book was a bit longer to really get into Omari’s and Kitari’s relationship. I feel like we were dealing with the story of their trauma’s more than what they wanted to build with each other🤷🏽♀️
🥴🤨😲hmmmm, Dang⁉️I’m conflicted 😐 by the revelations of “Better Mann”. Kitari & Omari are a great couple; were compatible & had parallel disappointments with romantic love & helped them relate to one another (in their respective healing process). …Omari was definitely the better man for Kitari. However, I’m astonished & simultaneously perplexed by Kitari’s pronouncement of her seven months horrific ordeal & how/why the media vultures were clamoring for a story? More so, why wasn’t therapy ever a consideration for Kitari⁉️Nevertheless, I guess there’s a silver lining somewhere in the murky clouds 🤷🏾♀️.
Overall this was okay. While I love the maturity of the story; there were aspects (mainly) the secret that was weird. IMO, the big secret was quite bizarre. Something about it was too fiction for me. Like had she kept it simple, and not went for some “over the top Lifetime storyline”. This would’ve been an even better story.
I found the main couple to be cute. Their slow build was nice and void of any angst. Nice story of wounded spirits finding healing in each other. We didn’t need the grandiose trauma story.
This was awesome. I was so engrossed in the story behind Key. You played that one well. I hated Kitari went through that gruesome situation but it kept me in the book to find out who exactly fathered Key. Mr. Mann was exactly that “the man”. I was grateful for his involvement in their lives. Not sure why her mom was the way she was but she became a non factor anyway. Great book!
I wouldn’t suggest you read this if you have things you need to get done because this was hard to put down. I loved the man that Omari was and the way he patiently handled Katari. i also loved that this wasn’t the stereotypical “ Girl is rude to guy, then they fall in love” story. They were both emotionally mature. Everything felt rushed toward the end and hastily sewn up , but overall it was a good read.
Ms. Gray, you did not disappoint. There were so many times I wanted to skip ahead to find out what the “big secret” was. But I held fast and kept reading, and whew, not only did Kitari get her man, but the darkness she had hovering over her was gone. Social media is a beast when it is in the wrong hands and used to crush someone’s spirit.
I truly enjoyed this book. Katari is better than me because that boy mama was supplying him with drugs under false circumstances for that along she should have been arrested and stripped of her medical license. That ex should have been sued for everything. Omari was exactly what his last name was a MAN(N). I loved how he build his woman up.
This was my first time reading a Tracy Gray book. It started off kind of slow, but gradually picked up the pace and became a good read..... until it turned into a Lifetime movie plot. I'm going to find another book by this author and give her another shot.
I enjoyed the story. The way Omari was there for Kitari was nice. Reading use to be my escape and this story took me back to that time. Above all else, who doesn’t love a happy ending.
Every single thing about this book was well written and relatable. The man character Mutation was the blueprint of a good single mother, and Imagine her Prince Charming, good read.
The way the author told this story was a nice slow build that didn't stress me out, but kept me wanting to know what happens next or what happened before. I loved the patience of the characters and how things came together in the end.
Wow! What a story! I never saw that coming. Omari was smitten with Katari from the start, but he could tell that she had a huge wall up. Threw their friendship, their relationship blossomed into love. Omari can be added to the list of book baes.
I loved this story of trauma, family unity, restoration and a beautiful end. One thing I really thought was great was the conversation about how to handle a woman’s heart. It should be posted and taught to every young man❤️
Omari was a man that had patience when it came to Kitari. She was dealing with s secret that was heavy on her heart. These two found patience, trust, kindness and love with each other. Good read.
This was a good book, really probably 3.5 stars, because it left a few unanswered questions: why Elijah got married the way he did, why he constantly attacked Kitari after he left her, did Elvis have a history of mental illness and why his mother was an enabler?
Whew! Omari was the man that Katori needed and at the right time in her life. He built her up, polished off her self-esteem and laid down his love for her. Katori held home down as well and brought a peace to his soul that even he didn’t know he needed.
“Ask for whatever you want and I’ll give it to you”. Omari was a patient man. Kitari had no clue he would be what she needed. The plot twist of what happened to Kitari and who was involved…. WOW! I was blown away.
The progression of Omari and Kitari’s love story was good. The whole paternity situation was a bit over the top. Given that, it was still a worthwhile read.