Love Letters in Beacon Grove

by Dandridge Monroe

It's time for a Consortium Wedding! Catch a glimpse of Yacouba and Jasmine's special day on the anniversary of their first meeting. But while they're starting their happily ever after, someone else is just beginning theirs.

Jeremy Cunningham, Jr, or JJ, is the protective older brother to three sisters. He's spent his life looking out for them, but his latest professional accomplishment makes him feel as though he can focus on himself. When he's given the chance to make the girl he's always wanted his, will he get her to agree to be his by Valentine's Day?

Magdalena Simmons is a quiet, introvert who has always been on the periphery of things. Having spent the majority of her life in Beacon Grove, she steps outside of her comfort zone to attain one of the goals she has for herself. When that plan backfires on her, someone unexpected is there to save the day. He's applying pressure, but she wonders if he really means all that he's saying.

Check out this Valentine's Day Novella to see if JJ can claim his forever love.

Genres: Urban

175 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 9, 2024

Reviews

[Annette Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was disappointing. When the author said, "Catch a glimpse of Yacouba and Jasmine's special day" that's exactly what she meant. If you blinked, you missed Jasmine, Couba, and their wedding. No disrespect to Maggie and JJ but, I came here to read about Jasmine and Couba’s nuptials. We fell in love with these characters when they fell in love so, I think it's egregiously unfair not to give the readers the wedding special we deserved. I didn't just want a glimpse of the wedding. I wanted to be there from start to finish. I wanted to see Jasmine and Couba actually plan their wedding while arguing and sexing each other in the process. You know, typical behavior from these two. Love Letters in Beacon Grove is definitely not what I was expecting and had I known we were truly only going to get a glimpse of Jasmine and Couba, I wouldn't have even bothered reading it.

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

Well, JJ’s story was a lot milder than his wild sisters, for sure! However, I assumed that it would be the case, as all the Cunningham kids couldn’t be crazy as hell! JJ Cunningham was a mild-mannered guy, who loved Beacon Grove and his family. After getting the promotion of his dreams, it is now time to get his girl, Miss Maggie Simmons.

Maggie, a life-long resident of Beacon Grove, is extremely shy, but has held a torch for JJ since she was little girl. So, when JJ comes around making his feelings known for her, she is skeptical. Why now? Why me, when you haven’t given me the time of day my entire life? She is excited, and hopeful, but guarded at the same time. It was cute seeing the measures that JJ went through to gain Maggie’s trust and her heart.

Was glad to catch up with Couba and Jasmine for their nuptials. As well, as Jada and Smoke with their shenanigans. Miss Jada almost hijacked Maggie’s story though, with all she had going on.

I am a huge fan of the consortium, but this one was a little of course for me. Should it have been included in the consortium series? I get that JJ is associated, but there was really no correlation with the inner workings of the consortium in this one. Could be just me. We need to get Jerica out of the way so we can get back to the good stuff!

[JBucky · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Not strange. Different, but that’s the thing that people don’t get. We are often taught and told we have to seek validation outside of ourselves to make sure we’re as good as we think we are. You didn’t need to do that. You don’t need to do that. The confidence and serenity you feel within yourself with no one else’s approval throws people off. That’s why they teased you. They thought you’d need to need them, but when you didn’t, that confidence pissed them off. Because why should you feel better about yourself than they do? It’s a fucked up way to be, but you can’t help that you intimidated them. You still do.”

Jeremiah Cunningham Jr. & Magdalena Simmons have had a crush on one another since the beginning of time! Finally, they got their chance to be together. Although there were obstacles trying to keep them apart, in the end they got their happily ever after!

This book was SOOOOOO SWEEET, I actually LOVED IT!

Of course Jada & Smoke were CLASSIC FOOLS, but it was sooooo NECESSARY! Bianca got what she deserved, rightfully so, but that goofball Georgia didn’t get half of what she deserved!

This, was a STORY!

[Mrs. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Love Letters

I will admit, that Jada almost took over Maggie's story. I am not mad at all, she gave us the crazy coolness I grew to love about her. I can see her little smile after doing some devilish stuff. J J was smooth, I liked how his personality oozed off the pages. His constant pep talks for Maggie helped her chill from the mean girl bullying. Smoke and the crew in this story signal the real possibility that something would pop off. Bianca's actions met her match this time. In the end, I loved this accidental menace to society love story.

[Natoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

You call him Dr. Cunningham!!

I loved JJ and Maggie he was a quite kinda Alpha, and that's what she needed to come out of her shell. They were cute and sexy and had really good chemistry!! That hating Bianca with her unstable self, jealous people really be trying it!! Then we had my Couba and Jazzy wedding I love them and then we had Jada and Smoke crazy self loved it.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 😂😍🤗😘😜👰🏽💕

I really enjoyed this story; 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Check Content Warnings

Trope: Black Love, workplace, childhood crush to lovers, Big Boy, supportive family

Enjoyment:5 ⭐

Character development: 4 ⭐

Emotional: 3 ⭐

Sweet: 4 ⭐

Romance: 4 ⭐

Heat\steam: 3 ⭐

Intrigue: 4 ⭐

Action: 2 ⭐

Violence: 3 ⭐

Story\plot: 4 ⭐

World Building: 3 ⭐

Enjoy!!!

[T Divine’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
📳Platform: Kindle Unlimited

⚠️if you have not read the first 3 books in this series this may not make sense to you, SO GO READ BOOKS 1-3 and all of the characters will make more sense to you! STOP HERE!

3 Books in this series:
Book 1- Red Roses & Regrets
Book 2- Owo
Book 3- Jada's Christmas List: A Menace and her Hitta
Book 4- From The Desk of Dr. Jeremy Cunningham Jr: Love Letters in Beacon Grove

💜Tropes: Touch her and suffer/💀, Found Family, Parents know best, Coming of age.

📖💬: I LOVED this book and this series it’s one of my fave series hands down! Jada and Smoke= I’m not sure 🤔 which out of this couple is the most diabolical & unhinged! JJ & Maggie= I just loved these two together and her innocent and sweet nature just made me fall in love with her character. JJ is slightly unhinged like his baby sister but his unhinged is contained better than Jada’s (🤣). Towards the end I love the slightest bit of ratchet that tapped into Maggie with a little push from Jada! I laughed so hard while reading this book! We aren’t even going to get started when the Maggie’s class went ham on Bianca omg, I was rolling on the floor in tears from laughing!


📚What If: you had 1 chance to finally lay claim to your crush, she doesn’t believe your feelings for her due to her past, it was too late, she moved on with someone else, would you feel some kind of way? Read this on KU NOW if you want the answers to these questions!

[She Reads What She Wants · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now THIS right here was a good ol’ fashioned love story—and I was here for every bit of it! While we got that sweet closure on Jasmine and Couba (yes, my fave couple is still going strong), this book was really about JJ and Maggie finally getting their shine. And baby, it was so overdue!

These two had been circling each other forever, lowkey in love the whole time, but neither of them made a move. Until JJ said “enough is enough,” stepped up, and WOOED this woman like he had been preparing his whole life for the moment. And whew, did he deliver.

Watching Maggie grow into herself—more confident, more sure, more open—was beautiful. She deserved all the love JJ gave her and then some. But of course, you already know it wasn’t gonna be too easy, because what’s a Consortium book without a little mess?

Enter the jealous harlot trying to tear my girl Maggie down and snag JJ for herself. But guess who came through like the petty, loyal sister she is? Jada. 😂 Baby, she shut it all the way down, and I lived for every second of it. Say what you want, but the Cunninghams ride hard for their people—and Jada stays behind the wheel with the revenge plans on lock.

This book was short, sweet, and hit every beat it needed to. JJ and Maggie’s story felt like the calm after the storm, and it reminded me that quiet love is still powerful. I closed the last page feeling full—and now I’m staring at my screen like, okay Dandridge Monroe… what you got for me in Book 5?!

[Ladi Kreyol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dandridge never disappoints. Her pen game is phenomenal. However comma! The characters that exist in Beacon Grove are a special case. JJ applied pressure and when it came to Maggie, and Jada came in with a bulldozer to ram every obstacle out of the way to ensure she’d have a sister in law. That lady don’t have good sense.

[ToniReads_1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Lettets

I truly enjoyed this romance story. JJ and Maggie were so beautiful together. A love story of when a real man courts a woman. JJ took it back old school leaving her love letters on her desk. He's like 3 days til Valentine Day to win her over.I'm here for it all. Let us not forget JJ is the protective older of 3 crazy or very unique individuals in the Consortium series. Yes were talking about off the chain Jada, Jerica , and Jasmine.
They both have been crushing on each other for the last 10 years. And the closer they get the more foolishness and drama happens.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely more light hearted than the other books but still lots of foolishness. JJ, the MMC, definitely applied pressure & did NOT let up lol. We love an acts of service king over here👏🏾 There was no Consortium business in here though so it didn’t really fit in the series to me. I guess we needed a palate cleanser before the other books?

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

love and family

Love is I the air for the Cunningham kids with the exception of Jerica. Jasmine is marrying the true love of her life at the very scene of the crime aka where it all started - the same location of the failed engagement attempt - they’re so petty! Jada is still crazy and she is in love with her Stockholm bae and he is definitely in love with her. They are perfect for each other! JJ is finally ready to make his move on getting his forever woman. He’s been working on his fitness, his finances are good, he’s fine, so his future is bright. Now all he has to do is finally let her know. Jerica is going to need an act of God to consider giving love another chance.

Maggie has had a crush on JJ forever. He wanted her too but felt she was too young to pursue, but he really wanted to be a heaux first. She’s a sweet heart and loved by all who knows her. She has some real haters and this stems from their desire to have JJ and a condition she was born with. People can be so cruel.
This book allows us to see all of the family on their journey of and to love. It was funny, witty, drama filled and spicy! I loved every page! I think Jada and them kids are gonna have to share the MVP honors!
Great read!

[perfectlyamberb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claim your forever!

I loved this, Maggie and JJ were so cute together. JJ was analytical and really wanted to make sure his life was right before he approached Maggie. However, in his procrastination to approach her, he almost learned the hard way that time waits for no one. Once he saw that Maggie was perusing dating, he got in gear and didn't let up on making her his. I loved that he was a man of action; he said he was going to woo her, and that's just what he did. Maggie, in turn, was a sweetheart who was just a bit insecure because of her looks. Jeremy wasn't hearing it, though; he was ten toes behind her, making sure she never felt less than anyone, and it was really cute. As always, I loved Dandridge's writing. The update on Couba and Jazzy Baby, as well as Jada and Smoke, was lovely. This was really just a sweet book full of sweet, slightly off characters that'll warm your heart just in time for Valentine’s Day.

[Jeni Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have the story 4 because Maggie pissed me all the way off for more than half the book because I needed her to women up just like Jada told her to do so. It made no sense that there was no miscommunication (I hate that trope) and she still acted confused and lost about JJ’s CLEAR feelings and moves 🙄🙄. Finally she got it together and started to boss up so I enjoyed the story but honestly if it wasn’t for the family I would’ve probably gave it 3 stars because she kept pissing me off. I loved how JJ finally owned up to his feelings and went straight at it like a man and explained everything for the past, present, & future. Oh and Bianca got what she deserved.

[V. Rena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed

I enjoyed this story so much. I love that JJ looks past the external to see Maggie for who she really is while also embracing her unique external as it. I love that Maggie is confident with herself but she's still vulnerable at times. However she has people who genuinely loves her that go to the end for her. I enjoyed the kids sticking up for her. Bianca and Georgia may be what society deem as baddies but their insides show how rotten they really are. I absolutely love Jada and Smoke because they understand each other's own brand of chaos.

[Danielle Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jada….Jada is my twin soul. I love her craziness, I mean “misunderstood “ nature. She has no filter and gives zero f*cks about anything outside of her love ones and the homeless shelter. And to think it’s two of them. Smoke is just as crazy as Jada. That’s a soul tie🤦🏾‍♀️😂❤️. When Smoke told JJ what he and Jada did to his ex, I hollered. They have a twisted sense of humor and I can dig it. 😂😂😂

JJ and Maggie was a true Hallmark love story. The protection they had over each was phenomenal.

The way Bianca got what was coming to her was hilarious 😂😂😂.

[Lisareadsromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the sweetest story of the series. I really think that JJ and Maggie were the epitome of the perfect couple that had to wait for the timing to be right with each other. I loved how each really poured into one another, showcasing that they were enough for themselves and each other. I hated Bianca and that other chick as who I can't even recall and that rude ass child. I loved how the kids had Maggie's back in the class and how JJ really laid it out to woo her. This is surprisingly my 2nd fav book after Jada crazy ass. Simple but sweet

[BookedoutLoud · Rating 5 out of 5]

JJ and Maggie love story was sooo cuteeeee! I loved how he emphasized how he wanted to get himself ready first before he got her. Jada and Smoke made the book so damn funny! I love their crazy ass!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂. Cou and Jasmine wedding was cute and lowkey petty 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. The school scene had me screamingggggg! I never dislike a characters more than Bianca and Georgia. Like who at their big age still being mean to other women? Ugly spirit people irks my nerves. Bianca got EXACTLY WHAT SHE DESERVED.

I need to know if Jerry gonna get a love story like her siblings.

[Jacknthebooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Consortium Series is amazing. I have loved each book. Maggie and JJ's story was so good. JJ applied pressure when he came for Maggie. he was so intentional about pursuing her. Maggie got everything she deserved in JJ. She thought her one imperfection would make it hard for her to find love. The whole time, the man she had been in love with since childhood was bidding his time to come and get her. I love this couple so much. Of course, my homegirl Jada came through with the shenanigans, and I was here for it all.

[Tee Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woo, woo, woo!

Listen…teddy bear JJ Cunningham was crooning “Can you woo, woo, woo? You should be mine…” this entire book! Maggie had no choice but to respond to his love song and most importantly, his actions! JJ was not playing and his family, blood and adopted, provided hilarious support as only they could. There’s also some awesome updates to the past Consortium hookups, and some fisticuffs. 🤗. A very good Valentine-ish story for your reading pleasure.

[Patrice Latimore · Rating 5 out of 5]

They are all of the chain

This series is off the chain . I love JJ and Maggie but Smoke and Jada are my two favorite characters. That two for one special they placed on homeboy for stepping to Jada was classic. Now the way JJ was handling every female that approached him about is Maggie wasn’t to be played with. This series is truly unhinged and it all started with Yacouba en Jasmin.

[Maureen Rivers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love and protective man

Oh my goodness! I absolutely LOVE how JJ shows his unwavering affection for his woman. He stands as her shield against the negativity and nonsense of haters, always reassuring her of his deep commitment and loyalty. The way he supports her with such confidence and devotion is truly inspiring. If I can't experience a love like this, then I don’t want any other kind of relationship!

[NwabiReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

JJ who was always in with love Maggie is ready to claim her and make her his… yet it felt like they didn't really have as much chemistry as we were told. I enjoyed the spects where JJ applied pressure and showed Maggie that he liked her. I also liked Maggie as a character because she developed really well and she came out of her shell. The otw drama was a bit much however it was a cute story overall.

[Jenae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the other books in this series a lot this was 3 star read for me because who tf is this book about?! You get more updates about about Jada and Smoke than anything. I didn’t feel the pining between JJ and Maggie. The best part of the book is Jada and her antics. I felt that Maggie and JJ too a back burner

[Kia · Rating 5 out of 5]

JJ got his boo finally

JJ thought he needed to be perfect and have his hoe phase before he went after his forever with Maggie. Now I feel like his keeping her in the friend zone for so long added to her feeling inadequate and since she was bullied for her nevi she felt that she wouldn’t find true love. Glad they finally realized they are better together, overall great read

[Ieshia Shephard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consortium 4

Now Dandridge! Why you have to do this? It was not near as action/drama filled as the other before but it gave just enough! I love JJ & Maggie for each other! I loved how he just courted Maggie & she finally opened to receiving him! Bianca had to go & I hope Georgia I’m ready for Liam but not immediately!

[_dulcekk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m ready, now!

3.5⭐️ JJ was determined to step correct to Maggie. He was very intentional & although Maggie was self conscious about her appearance, he was not… he loved every part of her! They were destined to be after all the years, the time just had to be right. Jada is STILL going to bat for those she love & I was here for her shenanigans.

[Charmy Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

There wasn't much talk of JJ in previous books aside from a random pop up or mention in a scene. Although I did side eye him a bit for putting his person on the sideline so he could go out and do him, I did appreciate that he didn't string her along when he knew he wasn't ready. But still...why wouldn't you want to get yourself together to be a better person sooner? Either way, his story made for an interesting one.

Lucky for him, Maggie hadn't been wifed up by someone else. Also lucky for him that Yacouba and Jasmine's nuptials put him in the right place at the right time. When he finally got it together, he was consistent with applying pressure and letting her know his intentions.

I've really been enjoying my time with this series and will definitely be continuing with the next book.

[DW · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so fun

This timeline is WIYALD lol I love dandridge Monroe anyway and this one is so true to her roots. Funny, lighthearted and you get to see so many sides of this Cunningham family, plus the complex nature of "confidence"
I love this

[Lynn Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

JJ and Maggie are among the more sane residents of Beacon Grove, so their love story was far more tame than his siblings. Still there were haters to be dispatched
I am so grateful to Dandridge Monroe for her intriquing and hilarious characters, not just in this series, but in all her books.