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Addictions Wasteland

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This is an intense emotional rollercoaster that dives deep into the tangled, forbidden love between Love and Kevlar. For ten years, Love has been caught in a web of passion, sacrifice, and cultural obligations, always playing second.

Torn between duty and desire, Kevlar is determined to reclaim what he believes is his, even if it means burning everything around him down. But Love isn’t the same woman he left behind—she’s stronger, wiser, and ready to fight for her future. In a world where promises are broken, and passion comes at a cost, she must choose between her past and her freedom.

Addictions Wasteland is a story of love, betrayal, and the impossible choices we make when heart and obligation collide. Will Love finally free herself from Kevlar’s hold, or is their connection too strong to break?

181 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 11, 2024

109 people are currently reading
107 people want to read

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Shantel Davis

48 books328 followers

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5 stars
204 (66%)
4 stars
57 (18%)
3 stars
33 (10%)
2 stars
7 (2%)
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5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
Profile Image for Rashawnda.
1,391 reviews1,164 followers
October 17, 2024
We’ve read books about the downfalls of being addicted to drugs and even being addicted to alcohol. But what happens when you’re addicted to Love, both literally and figuratively. Well Addictions Wasteland gives us a toxic glimpse of just how deeply we can lose ourselves when we allow love to manipulate and rearrange who we are at the core of ourselves.

Kevlar and Love met at a time in their lives where they were both struggling to find themselves. Both felt that life wasn’t worth living and for very different reasons. 12 days together led to a trauma bond so deep that Love lost herself in Kevlar and it was truly sad to witness.

This man owned every part of who she was mind body and soul and I wanted desperately for Love to break free from the shackles of Kevlar and his arrogant audacity!

I had zero expectations going into the read and only stumbled upon it after seeing a book friends review! WOW is really all I can say! There was soooooo much happening in these 200 pages and I don’t even know how to fully put into words the hamster wheel of toxicity I just hopped off of. I mean from the lies to the deceit and let’s be real the books was riddled with lies and deceit. If I would’ve said IKYFL one more time my husband would have disowned me 😩

If you’re looking for a toxic angsty good time then please stop what you’re doing and read this book ASAP!! It was the authors note for me because I aaaaaammmmmm a glutton for punishment 😩😩 on to book two! 4.5 ⭐️’s
Profile Image for Toya  Davis-Stokley.
2,581 reviews105 followers
September 30, 2024
Shantel.... ma'am. I know that when I begin one of your reads, I am in for a messy toxic love affair, and you did not disappoint. Whew lawd!! 🤯

Love and Kevlar both carry hella baggage and bonded quickly over their shared trauma. In a mere 12 days these two formed a friendship, kinship, an intense connection, and love that could not be broken. However, for Kevlar that love turned into obsession, possessiveness, selfishness, violent tendencies, and outright crazy!! 😤 I believe that Kevlar truly loved Love, but he had his own ish going on and wanted to control her every move, every step, every breath, and make sure that all she saw was HIM! 👀 I need an official diagnosis, cause this man is crazy for real!

Love gurl.... I get it, he saved you from yourself when you needed him. But he gave you an out early on why👏🏾didn't👏🏾you👏🏾leave???? 😡 You egged him on with your words and turned up his crazy meter! He didn't tell you everything, granted but you had enough information to run for the damn hills, but you stayed and let this man shackle you!! Not literally but he had a way to pull you back in just when he thought you would leave him. But that's the thing, you never really had him!! Why did you allow him so much control over you?? 🤬

As much as these two frustrated the hell out of me with their toxic ish, I couldn't stop reading. 😂 I had to know if Kevlar would get a damn clue and let Love go. Would Love have the courage and the will to untether herself from the restraints that Kevlar had on her? Now that ending took me by surprise, however, I know that Kevlar is not letting that happen. I will definitely be jumping into book 2, as I just am a glutton for punishment and toxic love too, I guess. 🤷🏾‍♀️😂 I'm ashamed to say how much I enjoyed this. 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
Profile Image for Nay .
449 reviews
October 18, 2024
I just love a good toxic soulmate story 🥰
Profile Image for *Ebony I*.
1,421 reviews158 followers
January 28, 2025
Toxic at its finest

Listen I don't even know where to begin 😩

Kevlar has got to be one of the most toxic 🥷🏾s I've ever read about. This man was singing 
🎵🎶Baby, this might, sound rude. I'm taken, but I want you. And I don't want to play by the book, no rules. You say you can't have cake and eat it too🎶🎵

Yes we are talking about ALL OF THE AUDACITY. 

Y'all know I hate a cheating azz 🥷🏾 and let me tell you Kevlar lived up to the hype. He fulfilled all of the toxicity dreams. He made a commitment to his family, his childhood friend, and set himself up to be very wealthy. When he sees Love at her worse there is an undeniable connection and even though they only knew each other for a few days he is questioning his commitment. He sticks to his word and despite that both seem to be in an early state of addiction. 

Love, well she just wanted to be loved out loud, in private, wholly, unconditionally. Unfortunately life was not kind to her and the lack of relationship with her mother seemed to lay the foundation and longing to be something to someone. She finds that love with Kevlar, but he is in an impossible situation. His mouth said he didn't want to be there, but his actions were hella contradictory. It was painful watching Love struggle to find love. Kevlar has her swinging like a damn pendulum back and forth between all his bs, lies, and professions of love. She kept trying to run from him and would run into some bs 😩😩

This story definitely doesn't end how I expected like at all. I'm rushing to the next book because idk about Lyfe 🤔 it's giving fishy to me.

SN: The editing left a lot to be desired, but I enjoyed this story.
Profile Image for DinaLuvsAGoodBook.
129 reviews
October 28, 2024
4.5 ⭐️. I’m not sure if I’ve read anything like this unconventional dark “romance” in a minute (if ever). I was immediately captivated and quickly found myself consumed with in Kevlar and Love’s story.

Looking forward to reading the author’s. backlist and contemplating if I want to delve into the continuation of this story.

Profile Image for Lisa Mayers-McGruder.
1,158 reviews16 followers
September 17, 2024
book 1

Like this story is mad crazy in a good way. I have never been so intrigued to finish a book to find out What’s Really Going On??? Love deserves a happy ending now who it’s with, I don’t know. But I am leaning towards part 2 to find out.
Profile Image for GoldenEyeOfHorus.
380 reviews7 followers
December 4, 2025
Very messy but it kept me on the edge of my seat.

I really want to throat punch the MMC because he is so unbelievably selfish and callous in his disregard for the FMC's feelings.

I think the FMC gave him way too many chances but she at least wasn't silly and heart-eyed about the MMC after he lied and gave false promises. She argued, ran away, dated other people and wasn't just silently waiting for the MMC to find time for her.

This does need an editor's touch though. There were many grammatical errors.

The spice was nice.
Profile Image for tanessia ford.
4,010 reviews
September 15, 2024
whew

If this ain’t one of the most toxic books I’ve ever read! He’s a sociopath or something! And she’s delusional! Because ain’t no way! But you can’t help but be sucked into! And want to know how everything plays out! I need part 2 like yesterday
Profile Image for Nikita Curtis.
139 reviews
September 13, 2024
Wowwww!

Jesus! I think it is a better phrase. Kevlar, I want to kill him. To feel sorry for him. To love his sexy crazy azzz! I'm dizzy from all his drama! His pa makes me want to drive a pencil in his eye! His wife, well she deserves something too and then there's Love. I'm a glutton for punishment so imma wait for part 2 to vent. Was it good? Duh. Go get your copy!❤️📖📚🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃
Profile Image for Jamie Hicks.
138 reviews10 followers
September 23, 2024
In the beginning I actually enjoyed this book but towards the middle and end it was horrible. The storyline became ridiculous and almost hard to believe. Sadly I won’t be recommending it.
3 reviews
September 14, 2024
My new favorite

Shantel Davis never misses and this book furthered proved that. I love a book that takes you on an emotional roller coaster. I cannot wait for part two!
Profile Image for Angie .
223 reviews2 followers
September 21, 2024
Side piece

I'm not sure how I feel about this story. Writing excellent as always, but Love and Kevlar "love relationship" had me upset 😡. If you gonna be a mistress, then be one and not give up half your life for one man with his bottomless promises. He chose wealth and tradition over the one he truly loved. Kevlar wanted his cake and be able to eat it. Did he really love her or just knew that she would never turn from her first everything. Love (smh), girl, you're a fool. WEAK, WEAK WOMAN!
I HOPE THEY NEVER END UP TOGETHER!
Profile Image for Candy Nicholas.
437 reviews15 followers
May 1, 2025
OMG I loved this book!! I'm making my way through Shantel's catalog and she's quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She really need to get a better editor though cuz the same grammar errors that are in all her books are becoming annoying. But once you look pass that, the storytelling is awesome. I quickly fell in love with Love. I can relate to her and that had me feeling all kinds of emotions. I love books that make me emotional and have my hubby looking at me like I'm crazy🤣🤣 . I confronted him when Love figured Kevlar was about to ask her to be his second wife. I felt her grieve him when she basically told him no. I felt anger from his audacity to even ask her. I believed Kevlar loved her but it wasn't enough for him to sacrifice some things. He really was living in a fairytale. He had that "have the cake and eat it to" mindset even though he claims all he wants is Love. His actions speak otherwise, and I'm happy Love paid attention to that instead of his words. Love wasn't a dumb heroine. She was in love with Kevlar but didn't let it consume her for too long. She'd backtrack but snap out of it just as quickly, and I liked that. That made me enjoy the book more. Her going along with whatever Kevlar said and did would've pissed me off. I also liked that Shantel gives us 2 options for the end of the book. I'm happy Love got her happily ever after but I'll more happy if it was with Kevlar. So I guess I'm reading the next book. Sometimes we gotta go through a lot of pain and bullshit to get our happily ever after and I'm guessing this is what about to happen in the next book. We'll see 😆
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
98 reviews
August 16, 2025
Jesus, Love’s lack of self preservation and addiction to being saved really put her through. And why Lyfe?? This made no sense… to me
I guess abandoning issues.
15 reviews
October 16, 2024
good…had more potential

First of all I LOVE the storyline. That’s why I gave it the four stars. Very original, kept my attention with the never ending drama. The main characters had a rare kind of love that happens once-in-a-lifetime…not understood by those witnessing it, but only by the two involved in it! The toxicity and back and forth was tiresome but intriguing at the same time. This author knows how to keep your attention.

Kev and Love are soulmates! They’re complicated, but they can’t quit each other. They keep gravitating back to one another. I’m curious to see where their story ends.

The reason the book did not get five stars from me was due to many typos or grammatical errors. The interesting storyline could not make me ignore them completely. It took away from the story a bit. Also, I wished there was more character development. Some characters (example Lyfe) felt just dumped on the reader without much development. The final issue I had with the book was continuity. It was mentioned that a character had hazel eyes then it was brown. Love’s place of residence was a house then it was said to be an apartment further down in other chapters. This is just two examples. There were a few more.

Overall a solid read. You won’t be bored if you can look past some of the flaws.
Profile Image for Jerrica (Mrsmar10Reads) Martin .
1,682 reviews10 followers
October 20, 2024
Two Broken People

If meeting someone as broken as you, then they save you wasn't a warning, I don't know what is. Kevlar and Love have this flame between each other that seems to keep them blazing. No matter what he does, no matter how far she runs, she always end up running back to him. They meet on the cusp of his arranged marriage and have weeks of bliss together. He's all of her firsts and he's her best friend in the end. When they part, anytime you need me, pick up the phone is all that's said. Years of this back and forth is too much for Love and she keeps finding herself in these messed up situations. First Kevlar, then Lyfe, and Norian. She always runs to Kev because he's her flame, but after so much, Love can't take anymore and ends up with what I think is true love.

I'm a self-flagelatting person so I can't listen to the author and stop and pretend that Love gets it all, because I know Kevlar is still out there and he's made it perfectly clear that Love will never be free of their connection. It's like the story his mother would tell him as a child about the God falling for a human, killing her mate and trying to make her love him...just toxic! Kevlar is definitely our unhinged guy.
Profile Image for Sirrea.
67 reviews2 followers
September 20, 2024
Are we just going to pretend therapists don’t exist in their world? With all their money, neither of them could afford mental help? Let’s start with Love. You’re a smart, headstrong Black queen who deserves all the happiness in the world! But sis, you left that Bugatti and the business you built from the ground up, then let Novi and that snow bunny play in your face? And don’t even get me started on his mom! Stand up and do better!

Now, Satan—aka Kevlar—what exactly do you do for a living? You make all this money, but no one ever told us your actual job besides keeping your wife, who you claim not to LOVE, barefoot, pregnant, and on her back. You really pissed me off! You and your no-good daddy! Honestly, I should have started with him.

All that said, this story was so good and entertaining! I love watching them both grow and become more mature—yet still toxic as ever.
Profile Image for Afree.
81 reviews34 followers
October 18, 2024
WHEW!!!

I have NEVER been so addicted (yes, I used the title of the story) to a book! This is my first time reading this author and I am a fan! Love and Kevlar are a toxic, but endearing couple. I didn’t know whether to cheer for them or pray they separate. Love, has never healed from her childhood trauma and you could see that in her life choices and how she handled her and Kevlar’s relationship. Kevlar allowed too many family traditions, influence and his wealth to treat her correctly. I did want them to work it out and I guess we shall see what’s on the horizon.
This book will have you gasping, gritting your teeth, smiling and crying. Get ready!
60 reviews
March 9, 2025
Another amazing story

I love the books Ms Davis writes they are an auto-buy for me, but I was hesitant to dive into this one for some reason...I shouldn't have been. The depth of the main characters and their story had me hooked, the rollercoaster of their relationship kept me engaged waiting to see how the story would unfold, my feelings conflicted by the toxic all encompassing 'love'. It was a good read and I recommend if you're a fan of interracial, steamy romance with strong black FMCs.
99 reviews
March 30, 2025
I Want to Believe

Woowee! This was just wow! Oh how I loved this book. The growth that Love showed in finally choosing herself had me clapping. Kevlar was a walking personification of manipulation and res flags. Yeah he loved her but it was so twisted. And let’s not talk about Novian’s crazy behind. I still want to know who leaked the pictures. As much as I want to see her get her HEA and stop here, part 2 is calling me. Heavy sigh, I guess I’ll take the plunge. Make no mistake this books is worth the read. One of my favs now for sure.
81 reviews
September 17, 2024
Toxic is an understatement...

Shantel never disappoints me! This book is twisted in so many ways, but I am here for it. Kevlar and Love really seem like kindred spirits, but they never really had a chance. I would love for this story to be the end/beginning of a HEA, but I have to know what happens in Kevlar's world when he realizes Love has really moved on. And has she??? Bring on the next chapter!
665 reviews1 follower
October 3, 2024
wow

I waited until I finish book 2 to come back and do a written review of book one. And I’m happy I did because had the story not ended the way it does in part two I probably would’ve given it. Five star and yell at the author in this review. But luckily the story does have a happy ending so for anyone reading this absolutely recommend and make sure to immediately look for book 2 after finishing book one.
107 reviews
December 13, 2024
There are some spoilers

When I tell you that this book had you on a roller coaster and you wanted to get off, because you wanted to know, if love was going to get it together when would enough be enough? What would he have to do for her to walk away? He married had children and she watched it all. She was already the second wife just without a ring on her finger, but if you wanna know what happened, you have to go and get the book or click the screen
Profile Image for Gina Martin.
768 reviews11 followers
October 1, 2024
4 Stars

This was a good book, but there was a lot of drama. Love's luck with men really wasn't great. Though things with Kevlar were intense and passionate, it was also toxic. There is a difference between love and obsession. Anyway, I am curious to find out what will happen in part 2.
Profile Image for Chelé-----4 The Love of Books .
1,053 reviews56 followers
October 15, 2024
I started this book late at night thinking I would just take a little glance....I ended up only getting 3 hours of sleep because I literally couldn't stop reading, I wasn't physically able to put Kevlar & Love down!!!

This is one of those stories that will RUIN you! It's all consuming, it's mesmerizing,
chaotic, harsh, powerful and TOXIC! Don't come into this book thinking it's light weight because you will get your own feelings hurt.

This is one of those stories that stick with you because of how many feelings it ellicits...reader beware!
42 reviews1 follower
October 30, 2024
Fantastic story

Ok this story is so so good my word you have Me calling love Dumb, crazy woman no sense of Preservation . The men she has crossed path with are nothing but loser and no good. My girl need a backbone. I am gong to read part two I need to known what happened between her and kelveru🎇🎇🎇
93 reviews3 followers
November 9, 2024
Dammit

She did it again this book was amazing, with a name like love baby had suffered,SPOILER











I won't be reading the second book or what happens if she stayed I was praying she left kevlar, and I love a good forbidden bookbit that muthaF*cka was just too much of a manipulative lying ass piece of ish il. Happy she got with Lyfe 👏🏾🙌🏾
Profile Image for Shanisa.
44 reviews4 followers
November 10, 2024
Mannnnnnnnn…

This book right here 🥴 had me in a chokehold!!! The only reason why I didn’t give it 5 stars was all the typos.

Pissed me off.

But this was such a good book 😩🙌🏽 I finished it in one sitting. So many ups and downs for Love, and I was hanging on to every (misspelled) word!
15 reviews
November 17, 2024
I never read love triangle books BUT WOW

This book was a love septagon in 3D and it's only part one. I am in shambles, loving and hating Kevlar in the same breath and calling Love all kinds of an idiot. I, a married woman, is rooting for the side piece! Shantel look hiw you have me out here! Let me buckle up for Part Two
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews

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