Donovan Barron aka Young is Southside to the heart, and nothing can change him, not even an NBA career. Refusing to conform has led to Young being dubbed as "Atlanta's Bad boy." Living lowkey and making money are his only priorities until he is forced to switch up.
Stony Dorrian refuses to let anyone tell her how to live her life any longer! For too long, she has allowed her parents to control everything in her life, including her relationship with her boyfriend, Dallas. Officially fed up, a chance meeting allows Stony to live a carefree for once and it just might change her life forever.
A few chance meetings between Stony and Young turn their worlds upside down and force the two strangers to become closer than they ever imagined. The odds are definitely against these two as they navigate through life together. Drama plagues the new couple and just might be enough to end their relationship before it even starts.
*previously published in 2019, please check Goodreads for reviews*
KC Mills is an international bestselling author, speaker, and CEO. Ranked along with well respected authors, Mills has over 100 books which have hit number 1 bestsellers. She has proven herself as a leader in her industry with over 120 successful books written and published within a five year timeframe. She is committed to bringing exceptional literary works that offer a romantic twist, as well as subtlety veering away from the norm. She still however leaves you captivated by her stories, characters and always wanting more. Mills’ current focus is her cross over to the script writing arena where she will begin writing for some of Atlanta’s top production companies and the nation’s most notable television networks.
ok....The truth is I did enjoy this story....I really believe the story would have been much better with more developed characters and better narrators....These two (2) couples (the main couple & their friends) were immediately attracted to one another and as tough as these rich men were, they both were committed to taking care of the new women in their lives. To me there was a lot of undeveloped parts of this story...but I really did understand and enjoy the direction the author was attempting to take us in. As far as the narrators, at times it was difficult to distinguish between the various characters in the scenes. I also think that both narrators had a difficult time pulling off the opposite sex's voice. However, I do believe with more time with narrating, thing will become better with the two of them...
This book? Pure chaos. I laughed, I cussed, I almost threw my Kindle- 10/10 entertainment.
First of all, Dallas was a BIT... crybaby. 👀 Running to everybody and they mama like “Stony won’t talk to meeee.” Sir, grow TF up. You are not the one. Pack it up. Especially when...never mind- moving along.
Ash had me screaming “Yesss sis!” when she checked him, but then she turned around playing matchmaker between Stony and Young? Girl, no. That’s not bestie behavior. And don’t get me started on her slapping Ronnie… wrong target, ma’am.
Young? Chileeee. Talking about he don’t wanna wife her, but then mad another man breathing near her. Sir, you want dibs but no commitment? Hood logic strikes again. NBA checks with middle-school energy. Somebody get him a journal and some therapy sessions.
And Stony...my good sis, you already done with Dallas. Stop tiptoeing. If you want the new man, go, but don’t fake-house with the old one. Your parents? Still trash. That redemption arc? Nope. Too much was done in my opinions. Sometimes you gotta create boundaries and love from a distance.
The drama dragged sometimes, but it had me hooked. Preston or Papa (according to him) was my fave, even while doing the most.
Overall: characters a hot mess, story wild as hell, me? Entertained. Four stars ‘cause it gave me a ride and some gossip to sip tea over. Would I trust these people in real life? HELL no. Am I now diving into K.C. Mills world? Absolutely.
This cry baby ass boy telling her whole family and friends that Stony won’t talk to him and apparently this isn’t new behavior. Stony need to get rid of him. Dallas is not a keeper!!
I was team Ash when she put Dallas in his place when he complained about Stony being mad at him, but So far I don’t like that she’s encouraging Stony to basically be a cheater by reaching out to Young. She needs to dead her situation with Dallas first or she’ll be just like what she’s accusing him of. And the she slaps Ronnie because she’s mad Ronnie told her Chase recently smashed and lied. Girl you should be going for him. In fact, smack yourself. You knew he was lying but still opened your legs.
Ashlynn’s thought process continues to amaze me. A man is not due sex bc he spends money on flights and nice hotels.
Stony obviously wasn’t feeling Dallas anymore and suspected him of cheating so she needed to end that because what was even the point if she’s gonna run and be with the next man. This makes no sense.
Harper does not deserve the way Mani treats him. I didn’t even feel bad for her anymore.
“It wasn’t like I was trying to wife her or even be in a monogamous relationship but..” Young cannot be serious. He thinks she shouldn’t be with her current man because he was messing around yet he, himself is not sure if he wants a monogamous relationship with Stony.
Honestly Young shouldn’t care that Tower is with Mani because according to him, she was never his girl. These dudes want any and every girl and then act like they mark them. Yeah it’s gross to me to go behind a friend but is it really worth a fall out if it’s someone you didn’t claim
“I can’t tolerate that type of disrespect” You punched him the face in a room full of people, no less. Why can’t that be enough unless he brings some bs to you. Why does sex with a woman have to mean death?
Men like him are so ridiculous. “I’m from the hood and I’m not letting that go.” Dumb af. You’re in the NBA, let that hood mentality go.
How can Young say with confidence that someone isn’t pregnant by him? Probably some lame shit like “ I step up every time.” Like some goofy ass that don’t realize contraceptives aren’t 100%. Only abstinence is.
This book is all over the place.
“I wasn’t hiding anything from you, and I know that’s what you think. I just didn’t think it mattered.” This is a lie bc early she was worried he’d find out who her dad was and that it could change things. Why not just own her fuck up
Stone’s dad cutting her off was foul, but at the same time she’s a grown ass woman still living off daddy. Especially after getting own education she was slow poking on finding her own way. To go from that to another man funding your lifestyle is not a good look. Id be leery. Her father and mother for that matter ain’t shit.
This book was dragging. I think a lot of the things covered was unnecessary. I did not fall in love with the characters separately or together. My favorite was Preston (Papa is a lame nickname for a grown ass man) but even he was over the top at times. I did not like the attempt at redemption of Stony’s parents they are still both terrible. Young did not mature with age. Ash got better but still wasn’t like yes, that’s my girl. I’m not clamoring for more from these characters but I’d definitely read another book by this author.
This book wasn't just alright to me. Way to long without enough happening, or character development with the women. The guys were okay, but both women were whiny, petty, contrary, and aggy all around - especially Stony. Ash was just an accessory with an unnecessary flip mouth. The conversation about the yatch was just so weird. It was like they both kept trying to talk the guys out of showing their commitment to their respective relationships. Just contrary for no reason. Stony whined about everything. Young was mean and swinging on folks with no consequences. I guess it was supposed to show him as tough, but after a while it was like lack of self-control. Papa interacting with a Fed was strange, no matter the reason. Just to much unnecessary fluff.
I would say more like 3.5 stars, but I read the whole thing and will continue to read more of this authors books.
This was an *okay* book from an author I typically love. It felt like too much and not enough at the same time. I didn't always care for the MMC. They were cool enough, but their ideas and how they moved annoyed me. I didn't really care for those annoying chauvinistic traits that some find endearing. But that's just a matter of preference.
I wish the characters were developed more and the conflict better fleshed out. There was too much going on and sometimes that's fun, but it felt surface level so I couldn't really get into it.
Sometimes it felt like it was too much sex. LOL. Like I get it, y'all be doing it. He's gonna break ya back in. But what else do y'all have in common. And this is coming from a reader who typically loves those scenes, especially from KC. But they just didn't always land.
Overall the story was enjoyable, but after a while it felt like it was just going on and the situations weren't delved into enough to justify it imo.
This book was amazing. I love the relationship between the Preston aka Papa and Ashlyn. They were so funny and felt so real to me. I actually know some people like them lol. Stony and Young were also good couple. I wish she honest with him about her father. Her parents, her ex, his instahoe, and his manager were annoying af. This was my first book by K.C. Mills, but it definitely won't be the last.
K.c Mills does it again! Of all her books, this may just be my favourite.
Stony and Young were flaming from the onset . There was angst and sexual tension which drove the plot forward. Characters were well developed and as bad-ass as Young was, he was not emotionally stunted...which I appreciated.
This story was soooo good and entertaining. I really enjoyed reading each character and their journey. K.C always leaves me wanting more and I got just that from reading this book.
Young and Stony might have been the MCs, but the side quest of Papa and Ash's relationship just added to how fantastic these books were. Friends experiencing good relationships at the same time with their partners' friends give such stability and harmony when the outside drama is so crazy.
Always love when the MMCs fall first and fall hard and set about ensuring that their lives could match the future they could have with the women who have stolen their hearts. And the way Young moved from the start showed he was about Stony as the future Mrs. Baron, even before he realised that's what he was doing. The way he supported and protected her from her parents, his agent, and all the jokers trying to mess up their relationship and careers is a blueprint for a good partner, even if he had to break some people's bones in the process.
Papa did not disappoint in his handling of his relationship with Ash either. She let him be who he was and he did the same for her, with all the sexy banter and actions to prove it too. He definitely showed how it only took meeting 1 person to completely change, and in this case speed up, your plans when you found the person your soul needs.
I love an instant love sports romance. Young went above and beyond to make sure Stony was happy. Papa thought he ran things with Ash, but low-key Ash ran Papa, and he loved it. Stony parents were trash, and idk if she should have given them grace and let them back in. How were they okay with her ex Dallas parading his pregnant side piece around without any problems. Then Stonys mother was gaslighting her talking about he has forgiven her and still wants to marry her.. Whattttt I am appalled!
Didn't care for this story or the characters, Stony was a dense, spoiled selfish immature brat, Young was ignorant and didn't want to grow up. I love a good sex scene and intimacy but this was ridiculous. All they talked about was sex, they never had real conversations that wasn't sexual in the most disgusting way, like according to Young all Stony was good for was what was between her legs, he was like a pre teen with a playboy magazine for the first time, all the time. It took away from the intimacy and wasn't sexy at all, just annoying. Stony really had no goals in life, but suddenly she wanted to pursue psychiatry which is what she went to school for, or in her words 'I want to get into peoples head and stuff 😒. Girl please, she could barely spell her name. This book could have been good, but the low rent thinking and actions by immature adults took a lot away.
There was a lot going on in this. There was Stony’s ex and her controlling parents, Young’s regular hookup who wouldn’t get a clue, and their friends Papa and Ashlyn who have a secondary romance in this book. Papa and Ash get their own POVs and have their own personal issues. However their relationship flows much more smoothly than Young and Stony.
Stony was very annoying. She didn’t know what she wanted in life, and the only person she ever really tried to stand up to was Young, one of only two people who was really in her corner.
I feel like editing could’ve made this flow better, and I noticed typos when I switched to the ebook. For the audio, I didn’t care for the narrators. When I switched over, I saw this ebook has no chapters or table of contents, so I had to manually find my place.
For me this started off strong, I was fully expecting to rate it a 4 or 5. Then somewhere around 46-50% it started becoming ridiculous. And around 65-70% I stopped caring, but I committed to finishing. I couldn’t see myself DNF-ing this late in the story.
I think it would’ve been much better had it been 200 pages shorter. There was so many redundant statements. Literal paragraphs that same almost the same thing from a page before.
Some of the story was choppy, not quite flushed out. It became too fiction, giving Tubi vibes. The grammar issues began driving me nuts.
My interest in all of these characters dropped. And I really liked Ash and Papa. But over time I just didn’t care. Young came across quite ignorant and cliche.
This really had all the potential to be a great read, just needed more flushing out.
I read this novel in 2020 but thought it was a continuation so I dived in again. I must say it kept my attention just like before. I loved Stony and Young together as well as Ashlynn and Papa! Both Dallas and Mani were pitiful and City wanted his cake and ice cream but Papa shut that all the way down. Young was just a normal person who happened to be rich and famous. Stony showed him all of that wasn't important to her! Papa showed Ashlynn and her parents he was all in! In the end they all got their HEA! Loved it_, t as much the second time. Grammatical errors and editing needed, but I enjoyed it!
Stony and Young! Love them! I loved how they had an undeniable connection from the start, so much so- they were off the chain with their first intimate moment (which btw, whew!). This was a cute story! I enjoyed that all four of them (Stony, Young, Ash and Papa) matured with each other, but didn’t change their actual personalities! I was cheering for their success and I was so happy with the outcome!! EXCEPT- I was not cheering for Mani. Is it bad that I didn’t want a happy ending for her?! 😂😂 Anyways, great read!!
Wow this was a roller coaster of a ride! So much happened with Stony and Young! At one point I was like will they make it. Ashlynn and Preston were so funny together. Young really had to watch out for the snakes! I loved how they loved one another. The parents were a mess as well as Dallas and Mani. In the end the couples got their HEA! There were grammatical errors in this novel but the story was engaging, hot and steamy and had me all in until I finished.
K. C. Mills should definitely be added to your preferred breading list. Her books are so real, you can actually visualize the scenes while reading. Great storyteller! Young and Stony are so cute together. There story is definitely one for the books. The only cons I have are the downplay of Young's education and the fact the non-existent baby wasn't made known.
I am new to K C Mills and I going thru here catalog. I have not been disappointed. This story was asesome👏🙌👏👌. I enjoyed the characters and the fact that they were well to do black folks. I loved the hood aspect crossing with the professional sports🏀🏀. I am glad the couple's got there happy ending. Ash was hilarious 😂😂. Every girls needs an Ash. Great job Ms. Mills.📝👏🙌👌💗
There was so much going on but it flowed all together. Stony and Young dealt with so much stuff it was crazy. Papa needed Ash despite his rugged ways. So many twists and turns in this book. I’m glad the drama finally toned down for Stony and Young. It seemed like one thing after another. I do believe that the story could have been shorter. Some parts were predictable , however, the story was pretty good.
Young and stony was a cute story but I would have loved more of Poppa and Ash. The way they all came about was super realistic. You can appreciate both men for the way they moved for the women in their lives.
Two couples coming from two different worlds made for a fun read. Stoney’s parents are the worst.
Overall a fun read some things were kind of u finished and or needing a little more but a fun read/listen.
This book was a mini rollercoaster—engaging, but not something I’d pick up again. The main characters were interesting, and the ending was satisfying. However, the spice felt random and tedious at times; I ended up skipping those parts. It was a bit confusing to switch between the POVs of side characters and the main characters, though it was nice to get different perspectives. Unfortunately, the narration didn’t quite meet my expectations, which took away from the experience a bit.
I enjoyed this book. I was entertained the whole book. Everyone had something going on. One thing I dont envy and thats the life of a Celebrity Athlete. Stony was struggling trying to navigate those waters with a secret of her own, but Young was not trying to let her go! Lol! We had a greedy sports agent, a demanding father and mother of the girlfriend a supportive best friend thats willing to throw hands and Young with a street life past and women looking for come ups. Drama.
This was a cackle…it was basically a two for one. You have Stoni & Donovan “Young” Baron & you have Ashlyn & Preston “Papa” (can’t remember his last name, lol)…anyway. Stoni & Ash are besties and both ended up dating besties.
A chance meeting at a smoothie shop and then another unexpected meeting at a restaurant ended in scandal after a basketball game. From there…whew, the action ensues.
Thos book had a bit of everything. It was very spicy, it had sports (our mmc plays basketball), and it's a gangster romance too. There are many POVs, and it can get confusing. As a result, we follow a few different people story and how they get to their hea I enjoyed reading and listening to the audiobook together, which made the experience even better.
I enjoyed reading this book more for the characters Papa and Ashlyn. They were more interesting to me than the main characters Stoney and the b ball player. They had a more interesting relationship and interaction. I loved their dynamic. Overall, I love reading KC Mills stories. She’s a very talented writer.
This was a long book but very good! Stoney and Young were great together! Poppa and Ashlyn were the best! Young did not play any games and when Stoney is around keep your eyes straight ahead! Poppa was real laid back with his gangsta but he got mad respect! Plus he didn't play when it came down to Young's career either! Great love story!
Yasss, I love all your books. Already knew what it was about to be with Stony daddy, being the boss. Glad that worked for them. Loved how you had the guys staying true to who there, cause Young and his comebacks for them reporters were it. Preston was it for me though. Loved his vibe, I don't like to be around too many people either.
This was a good book. Good enough that I purchased the audio as well so that I could experience it again at a later date. I loved how Young stepped up for Stony when the ish hit the fan. It DID, however, piss me off that Stony kept her father's identity away from Young. He did his best to protect her and she basically left him swinging.
OMG, I LOVED this story! Don't let the uniform fool you! Donovan Barron, aka Young, will beat you to sleep without hesitation or remorse! He and his best friend/mentor Preston "Papa" Shorter ruled the streets of ATL before Young ruled the courts of the NBA! It only took one little lady, Stony Dorrian, to capture Young's heart over a smoothie! Excellent book!
I hadn’t read this book in a while, it’s still a good read. I love Young but Papa just did something to me, he’s so mature and handle everything.. If you haven’t read this before it’s a good read , this is I think my third or second time reading this and I fell in love with the characters all over agin