Fair Trade: The Atlanta Demon Series

by Unique

As a professional football player, Jrue should be living a life of luxury when he’s not on the field. Yet, he finds himself with the odds stacked against him. If it’s not his money hungry and resentful family members trying to dip in his pockets at every opportunity, it’s women coming at him from all angles, trying to attach themselves to Jrue. Tired and frustrated, Jrue finds himself being traded to Atlanta, his hometown, and he can only hope for some peace. Yet, his cup is looking half-empty instead of half-full. Fleeing one problem, only for several more to be waiting for him causes Jrue to experience a mental spiral. He tries to keep his head down, but the universe seems hell-bent on disrupting any chance at peace.

Jream has never been the center of anyone’s universe. Not her mother’s – who’s suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s and other mental issues, not the man she can’t seem to escape – who think it’s his right to treat her like trash, and not the world who refuses to value Black women. Jream is tired of the terrible cards she’s always beendealt. A little bit of light between the stormy clouds is all Jream wants, but it feels so out of reach. When things get darker than ever before, Jream pushes herself up one last time to reach for that ray of sunshine.

Jrue and Jream are two broken, and tortured souls. Entering one another’s orbit could be dangerous, causing everyone to be sucked into a black hole, or they may just have the luck of a shooting star on their side, making their life’s wishes of much more come true.

Genres: Sports Romance, Audiobook, Romance

371 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2024

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name

Reviews

[Jaleesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was GOOD

I just really enjoyed everything bout this book. The pacing was great for me, I never felt like I was ready to move on from a scene. We really got to see Jream and Jrue get to know each other and fall in love. Jrue was so intentional with how he moved with Jream and watching Jream let down her walls and feel safe was really beautiful. The friendships with everyone felt authentic, the family aspect was balanced well in the story. It never felt like there was too much going on. The ending was so perfect and I’m glad Unique did that. Looking forward to Duece book!!!

[Crimson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes

I'm headed down this rabbit hole and yes, I'm loving it. Unique I'm loving your entire catalog. If y'all haven't started reading here catalog!!!

[ReadnliftwithShar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fair Trade is book one of her new series and can be read as a stand-alone. Jrue is a Quarterback in the NFL, who requested to be traded after a situation. I don’t want to give spoilers, but Taylor can catch my nonexistent hands for playing in my man’s face. 😩😂Jream is the team nurse that captured the attention of Jrue, after he is traded. Jream is not interested in dating another athlete, but Jrue was like “Aht Aht, Watch this!” 😌With every Unique story, there’s family drama, good dialogue, words of affirmation, chemistry, and a HEA. This book captured my heart and I enjoyed every page. I am so intrigued to know more about the Atlanta Demons because the ending had me shooketh. Amazing job on this one!!

**arc copy

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5⭐️) This was a decent read. I enjoyed the friendship between the main characters and the side characters as well. This book is heavy in dialogue which is good because you’re able to see the characters’ personalities and friendships/relationships develop. I like the healing that happened in Jrue’s family relationships because I was holding my breath for a while wanting him to cut everybody off🤣Jream was a little insufferable at one point because she was moving like an island when she didn’t have to be one. The ending definitely has me excited for Deuce’s book.

[Kina M · Rating 2 out of 5]

started off good

This started off good, but quickly got boring. I stopped reading it and probably won’t finish. Like the whole book is about this girl in her abusive relationship that she’s not in anymore. That could have been wrapped up soooo much earlier in the book. Everything that happens good or bad she compares it to Trace. Almost every chapter is a repeat of the last chapter. Honestly Jream is giving slow, everybody treats her like she’s slow, and she definitely acts like. She can’t make decisions on her own, she runs to Kreed and Deuce only when she’s needs them, but won’t tell them what happened to her. Obviously she only hangs with them when she’s single (said by one of the characters) she’s irritating and easy to start NOT liking.
Jrue and his complaining about his black family got old real fast esp since you control the narrative. How you complaining about them mooching off you, but you still giving them money and allowing them to live off you? That got old real fast. Other than that he was a cool character.
Honestly the things going on wouldn’t have been a problem if the author would have shown growth. The characters growing out of their issues whether together or apart. The MFC was not ready to be in a relationship, and the fact that they brought up her ex every single paragraph in every single chapter showed that. After a couple chapters he should have been nonexistent. Jrue should have been cut his ppl off if they were such a problem, instead the author let that drag through the whole dang book. I stopped reading at 70% and still hadn’t gotten anywhere with these characters, except officially starting a relationship that the MFC wasn’t ready for. I wanted to love this because it started soooo strong and I got into it. But it never went anywhere, every chapter was repetitive. 🤦🏿‍♀️🤦🏿‍♀️🤦🏿‍♀️

[Carissa G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fair Trade is written by a new to me Author but I’m looking forward to reading the rest of The Atlanta Demon Series!

Jrue is a professional football player, who starts in Seattle but requests a trade due to a regrettable incident and is traded to the Atlanta Demons which is also his Hometown! Getting situated with the team he has to get a physical and meets Jream, and he’s immediately smitten…actually both are smitten!

Both are dealing with heavy baggage from their past and present but in search of peace!

If you love a good #BlackSportsRomance that will have you smiling while reading go read this one NOW! You will love the main characters and at times they will drive you crazy too!

What I hope for in the second book…more conversations are shared in detail, that the characters actually discuss the issues…like Jrue and his sister the issue was never fully addressed, so much focus on one situation (Jream, focused HEAVILY on her past and it was very redundant), and maybe a stronger FMC because Jrue sometimes was a “damsel in distress” and I wanted her to be stronger!

[Meahsha Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the beginning, the middle tested me a little because the FMC had me ready to throw my tablet at the wall but the ending ATE!! I so happy I pushed through for Jrue, that was a MAN Fr!! I enjoyed the ending, even with the cliffhanger..

[LaDonna B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew

Both of them were just going through it. I’m glad they found solace in each other though. The best part was the reconnection with his first family. That ending though 😩😩. I need the next book asap!! This was such a great read and the flow of it was perfect.

[Keesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ I love a sports romance! I was always team Jrue ! Jream exhausted me! I felt for her but me and all the book characters wanted her to prioritize her safety. Sadly, you can't tell someone how to process their trauma. Cute enough read

[Danni Phantom · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.3⭐️
1st let’s start with things I loved: I loved me some Jrue(he’s a munch) he was the type of partner anyone would want. He was protective and stood 10 toes down for Jream. Then there’s Kreed and Deuce I loved the relationship they had with Jream. They were true big brothers and not on anything creepy.

Now things that pissed me off: I hated how much Jream wanted to protect Trace definitely after what he did to her. I hated how easy it was for Jrue to forgive his sister like I get moving forward but I would have loved to see him confront her. I wish the author would have added convos between Jream and her therapist. I feel like a lot of things were repeated the book could have been 50 pages shorter. The epilogues felt rushed definitely since we only got a happy for now ending.

With that being said I can’t wait to read Deuces story.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

This was cute enough. Jrue and Jream were frustrating AF! 😂 I wanted Jrue to have more smoke for his family. He let them off a little too easy for me. I get Jream’s reason for being guarded and I’m glad that she finally let Jrue in. What irked me was her constant need to protect her ex. You’ve left him. You’ve cut off contact. But you’re concerned with his image and yours. That part of her for me was overkill. Even until the end of the book…girl forget him. Im very interested to see what happens in Deuce’s book.

[Mrs. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not mad even with the ending

The story ended with sort of a cliffhanger, and believe it or not, I am not mad. This sports themed story had sports, drama, an abuser, and some real cool football friends. I will be back for part two, to see what's with Deuces dilemma.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ✨️✨️✨️

[A Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF 79%

I had every intention of finishing this book, but by 79% it started dragging. The story kept circling the same issues instead of moving forward, and there was too much left for a book that should’ve already been wrapping up.

Jream annoyed me the most. Her logic made no sense. You mean to tell me Trace’s fame mattered more than your safety? She kept acting like his career needed protection when she could’ve shut everything down with one statement to the media. He’s a professional football player with a hand problem! She could’ve ruined that instantly. Yet she chose to protect him instead of protecting herself.

Her contradictions were nonstop. During her talk with Masai, she pointed out she kept letting Trace come around while he was abusive, and she responded, “it only happened once.” Then, in the same breath, she said it was hard to escape an abuser. Which one is it? She minimized everything, then tried to claim the DV survivor angle when it fit the moment. It felt like excuses, not a realistic trauma arc.

And the part that annoyed me the most! How are you terrified of this man, but still willingly letting him come over and use your body? What does him getting high and abusive have to do with her still laying up with him? All that happened when they were TOGETHER! Her decisions didn’t line up with the independence the author kept telling us she had.

If you’re going to include domestic violence in a book, please present it well. Jream is financially independent, not isolated, not threatened, not dependent on Trace in any way… yet the book treated her like she had no choice but to protect him. It didn’t add up.

Trace throwing money and gifts at her also highlighted the issue, she didn’t need his money, didn’t care for it, wasn’t impressed by it. She wasn’t financially trapped or emotionally manipulated. So why keep hiding what he did? Why keep defending him? Why keep allowing him access? The DV subplot wasn’t built well enough to make her actions feel believable.

On the other side, Jrue’s situation had its own frustrations. His family wasn’t beneficial to him in any way. If he didn’t have money, they wouldn’t even pay him any mind. It is healthy to cut off family who constantly stress you and drain you, and he needed to do that completely not just financially. They don’t support him, don’t go to his games unless it benefits them, and even tried to include Ricky, Jasira’s deadbeat baby daddy. They don’t even call to check on Jrue. I couldn’t wait until he fully cut them off.

And Jrue telling his mom she enables Jasira without realizing he enables her too was wild. It showed the cycle clearly but didn’t change anything for too long.

Jrue showed Jream from day one that he was nothing like Trace. In a few months, he poured into her more than Trace did in six years. I’m not sure why she kept doubting him. Her dramatics made the relationship conflict feel forced.

By the time I got to 74%, everything felt repetitive, the same drama, the same conversations, the same problems over and over. I was ready for the story to wrap up, but it kept dragging.

It had potential, but the execution, especially around the DV subplot and Jream’s logic, weakened the story for me.

[Lizzy Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHEW CHIL🤦🏽‍♀️

THIS WAS ONE WAS FULL OF TRAUMA, UPS AND DOWNS, LOVE LAUGHTER, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY HEALING.

I WAS SO HAPPY TRACE BIH AZZ WAS FINALLY GETTING WTF HE DESERVED FOR ALL THE HEARTACHE AND TRAUMA HE CAUSED JREAM.

I’M SO LOOKING FORWARD TO READING DUECE BOOK AND HOPEFULLY HE DOESN’T GET INTO TOO MUCH TROUBLE.

I LOVED THE FRIENDSHIP JREAM WAS ABLE TO BUILD WITH DUECE, KREED, AND MASAI🥰. THE WAY THEY WENT HARD GOT HER, PROTECTED HER, AND INSURED HER THAT SHE WAS LOVED AND DESPITE NOT BEING BLOOD SHE WAS THEIR FAMILY WAS NEEDED.

JREAM WAS SO EFFING STUBBORN. SHE INFORMED ALL THOSE RED🚩 THAT WERE FLYING HIGH WHEN IT CAME TO GET SITUATION WITH THAT PHUCK NINJA. AND DUE TO THE MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL ABUSE SHE ENDURED BEING WITH TRACE BIH AZZ SHE REALLY CLOSED HERSELF OFF TO HER OWN SUPPORT SYSTEM. UNTIL JRUE CAME INTO HER LIFE 🫶🏽

JRUE FELT UNSEEN, UNHEARD, UNLOVED, AND USED BY THE VERY PEOPLE HE CALLED FAMILY. HIS FAMILY WAS A LOT AND I WAS REALLY HOPING HE’D CUT THEM OFF SO THEY’D SEE HOW MUCH HE SACRIFICED TO INSURE THAT THEY WANTED FOR NOTHING WHILE THEY GAVE HIM THEY AZZ TO KISS ON THE REGULAR. HE WAS SO GUARDED, THEN JREAM COLLIDED INTO HIS WORLD

THESE TWO NEEDED EACH OTHER MORE THAN THEY REALIZED. THEY HELPED EACH OTHER HEAL. BROUGHT OUT THE BEST IN EACH OTHER WHILE CHALLENGING ONE ANOTHER TO STEP OUTSIDE THEIR NORM. HIS TALK WITH HIS TWIN AND JREAM HELPED HIM AND HIS MOM MEND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WHICH IN TURN HAD HIS TWIN JOSI APOLOGIZING FOR ALL THE HATEFUL ISH HE’D DONE TO HIM OVER THE YEARS.

READING THIS BOOK FOR THE SECOND TIME WAS NEEDED CAUSE I FORGOT TO REVIEW IT THE FIRST TIME. NOW LET’S GET TO THE REST OF THE SERIES❤️

[Jameelah Deleon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
This story was good. I loved Jrue, and I really enjoyed the friendship between him and Jream. Romantically, though? I wasn’t sold. It didn’t feel like they paired well, and honestly, I think that was intentional. Jream just wasn’t as invested as Jrue.

Jrue’s story was deep when it came to his family. Throughout the book, you could see how badly he just wanted their acknowledgment and love. Jream, on the other hand, needs to grow up. She was so whiny. Baby girl could not make a single decision for herself. She was battling a lot, sure, but as readers we were only given the surface level. I would’ve loved to see a therapy scene with her...something to show her raw emotions. I know she was going through it, but we couldn’t feel hat pain. I wanted to give Jream the grace she deserved, but goodness… she was hard to connect with.

The ending felt rushed. The build-up around Jrue reconciling with his family deserved so much more than the quick conversations we got. For everything he went through, it just wasn’t enough.

Overall, this felt more like a prequel than a finished story. There’s still so much more to learn about these two. We spent so much time navigating their trauma that we didn’t really get to lean into them as a couple.

That said, I’m excited to watch them grow throughout the series!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jrue football player goes through an incident that results in him trading teams. Where he meets Jream the nurse for Atlanta (Demons) team. Right off the top Jrue is smitten with her, but there’s a wall that Jream puts up. Jream forbades dating a football player again after her traumatic experience. Jrue isn’t stopping his pursuit even if he has to settle as her friend. Entering the chat is her big (faux) brothers Dolla and Duece I loved them. I also took a liking with Masai her best friend sister who was her emotional support. Now I’m not really a slow burn girl, but I admire Jrue taking his time.Showing Jream what a real man is capable of with. Now every book has a villain or a culprit in it. Jrue’s family is the culprit his mom is leech for money, sister a deadbeat and twin a has been. Then we have Jream’s ex Trace a monster is the best way to describe him oh and the audacity is high with him. I don’t think I ever wished for someone to be unalive more than Trace. There was a lot to unload with both characters emotionally and physically. Nevertheless the couple prevailed. Intriguing storyline and I like how Unique did behind the scenes of Jrue’s life not the main focus only on football. This is her first indie debut and she did a excellent job always.

[Mika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Redundant

This book had potential, Jream annoyed me with her immaturity. The whole Trace thing was dragged out for no reason, he beat you that bad why didn't you call the police on him??? Why didn't you tell your so called brothers??? All she did was run and hide, she was too scary. All that talk about Trace paying for his actions and nothing happened until the end and that little bit was an extreme let down, the snippet of a video with him dragging her being leaked, wow okay, but what happened to him, what trouble did he get into, was his cocaine problem leaked?? And Jrue complained about his family always having their hand out, but all he did was complain and enable them, his Mother and sister was a mess he should have been and made both of them get a job a long time ago and stood on business about it. Instead he continued to throw money and enable their behavior. I did appreciate the build up of Jrue and Jream though, it was the repetitive talk about Trace and Jrues family without anything happening that got on my nerves.

[Regina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. The premise had me excited, especially as someone who actually watches sports and goes to NFL games. Unfortunately, I couldn’t even get through the prologue. The amount of profanity was just overwhelming. It felt like every few words were curse words, and after a while, it completely took me out of the story.

I understand that some authors use strong language for realism or to match a certain tone, but in this case it just overshadowed everything else. The story itself might be great, but the constant cursing made it hard for me to stay engaged or connect with the characters.

If you are someone who doesn’t mind heavy language, you may have a different experience. But if that kind of thing distracts you from the plot like it does for me, this probably isn’t the right read.

[BookTalesTink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jrue and Jream

Jream had me a little heated, I’m not gonna lie. The way she went so hard defending Trace with her whole chest had me side-eyeing her a bit. But I loved how Deuce and Kreed didn’t play about their little sister they were on go the entire time. That moment between Jrue and his mom, Reba, was everything. It was long overdue and honestly something he needed for his own peace. Being at odds with your family is never easy, so seeing them finally come together and show up for Jrue the way he’s always shown up for them was beautiful. And can we talk about how refreshing it was that the story didn’t end with the typical marriage and baby combo? They actually took their time to build something real, and I loved that for them.

[Hazel Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jrue got such a good heart and I’m rooting for him to see if him and his family will stop seeing him as a cash cow, but to see how pure his heart really is. One thing for sure, and two things for certain, he loves his nieces so much!

Jream came with a lot of baggage from her last relationship, and IMHO she gave her ex too much control due to fear, and in hindsight she had misplaced loyalty to him. I was rooting for her to break the shackles.

Jrue and Jream have a lot to work out before taking it to the next level.

Let’s hope all the obstacles are kicked away so they can get their HEA!

[Miranda Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was soooo good. The storyline was soo good & never felt like it was dragging or like it didn’t make sense. I loved how both Jrue & Jream had their own separate issues but allowed the other to help them out & be there for them. The character growth in Jrue was really unexpected. I really thought he was gone cut everybody off & I honestly wouldn’t have been mad at it. But the alternative that was shown showed that communication can go a looong way & how two ppl can have different emotions about a situation they were both in. This book was soo freaking good & I get the feeling that Jreams issue is going to somewhat overflow into Deuces book & I can’t wait.

[Brittany M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Read by This Author

I really enjoyed this book. The discourse and banter amongst the characters really resonated with me as a reader, and I found myself cracking up throughout this book (the characters felt like family). Deuce was so funny to me, I’m ecstatic to know his book is next. From a technical standpoint, I enjoyed the plot and the progression from reluctant friends to lovers between the two main characters was seamless and fit the plot. A few grammatical and spelling errors, but they didn’t distract me as the reader. I enjoyed this first person POV, and I look forward to reading more of Unique’s work based on the writing style.

[Terra Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Football season…

Is in full swing! And it was a pleasure to discover a NTMA series that featured my favorite sport and a couple I couldn’t help but root for!

Jream and Jrue made for good storytelling. And the supporting characters added more depth to an already layered and entertaining storyline. Consumed via audiobook, Winston James and J.Y. Kora were spot on selections to bring these characters to life! We definitely need more J.Y.

Can’t wait to get to Deuce and Kreed’s story! But I almost want to skip to Kreed first, because this reader is intrigued, Whew Chile!🫣

Shout out to Yoka from Girlfriends Unfiltered for bringing me here 🎉🎉🎉

[Ondria Bacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

jream of jrue

My, my, my. I am so glad it wasn’t the end. I out the book down before the epilog so I could magically add more to read. I usually don’t want to have to wait but this had such detail and was written so Uniquely (pun intended) I can wait for the next book. I loved this book. From start to finish. The characters were excellent. Although Trayson was the worse of the worse eventually he is getting what’s coming to him. Cheering on the Atlanta Demon’s. I LOVE sports related books. WELL DONE❗️

Happy Reading‼️

[Jackie J · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I started this book I was hooked! The football quarterback falling for the team nurse, the slow burn of it all and the personal struggles Jrue and Jream battled in their personal lives locked me in. The story lost me right when we got 60% in the book. The FMC, Jream, was being so immature and hard headed and it was frustrating me. Jream and Jrue both were dealing with family issues and kept going in circles on how to handle the situation. The ending and the epilogue I was like ehhhhh. I’m happy to know Duece will get a book. Especially after what happened to him at the end.

[Simply_YoYo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ loved the sports romance, kind of forced proximity. Jrue is a freshly traded player, and has his sights set on the team’s nurse. When he locked in he wasn’t letting up.
Jream my girl was dealing with ALOT, grief of her parental relationships, an ailing mom, a trifling ex.
I loved the founded family aspects. Duece and Kreed/ Masai were true friends for Jream.
I enjoyed seeing the restoration around Jrue’s family structure. An HE for now, hoping we get a update on them in Duece’s story.
This is perfect for football season.

[L. Boogie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jream story switched up from double back with trace bc she was horny, still loved him and wanted to keep her body count low to the abuse/fear narrative. I wish this would have been consistent.

I’m glad Jrue was able to reconcile with this mother but I wish it was more organic bc that woe,n was terrible. I’m glad for the reconciliation with Josiah. Wish there was a little more build up to it.

I did enjoy the evolution of Jrue and Jream’s relationship even if she annoyed me at times. I was satisfied with the ending

[Krissy’s Korner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jrue and Jream

I really enjoyed this read. This was my first read from this author. I think she did a really good job of including all the layers of this story. There was family drama, trust issues, baggage from old relationships and some love. I loved that both main characters had their own personal family issues they were dealing with as well Jream trying to completely close chapters on old relationships. I enjoyed that we got to see a true friend build prior to them falling for each other! Overall I really enjoyed this and looking forward to reading book 2.

[Tonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fair Trade

Jream was holding a lot in. She so caring about others that she didn't realize she was wearing her on self down. Jrue I was hoping he would cut his family of financial but I'm glad him and Reba had that talk. Jasira what she did was wrong but I'm happy she got a job to take care of her kids. Jrue and Jream are soul mates, I'm looking forward to reading more about them. Please release Duece's book earlier