Love Delayed

by Anna Black, Tamika Katon-Dongal (Narrator), AhDream Smith (Narrator)

A second-chance love connection for book romantics in which former college sweethearts reunite at an airport counter upon their flight cancellation, sparking a night of reflection and what could have been. When Zamora Hill made the decision to follow her childhood dreams of being a chef, she didn’t know that losing the love of her life would be the price she’d have to pay. Excited about going to culinary school, things took a crazy turn with her boyfriend Marcus, who doesn’t support her decision and calls things off, leaving Zamora not only bewildered, but heartbroken. Defeated, she moves out and moves on. Hotel and business owner Marcus Coleman is a family man and is very close to the ones he loves. Hospitality was all he knew, being a fourth-generation hotel owner, and he did all he could to please his parents. Accustomed to making sacrifices, Marcus was blindsided with the news that his college love, Zamora, would be going away for thirteen months to attend culinary school. Driven by ego, he ends their entire relationship before thinking it through. Ten years later, as fate would have it, Zamora and Marcus are both in Las Vegas heading back to Chicago on the very same flight that gets delayed, and eventually canceled. They have one night to catch up, and one night is all it takes for them to realize that they still harbor old feelings for each other.

Genres: Audiobook, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance

Audiobook

Published November 26, 2024

About the author

Anna Black is a native of Chicago and the bestselling author of the I'm Doin' Me series. Her desire to become a published author didn't develop until her late twenties, and she didn't take her writing seriously until several close friends and family members encouraged her to go for it. In November 2009, Anna became a bestselling author for her debut release, Now You Wanna Come Back, within a matter of weeks.
She has since released over two dozen novels, short stories, and collaborations. The Perfect Love Storm is her new and most current release under, Urban Renaissance. As she forges her path to success, her goal is to offer page-turning tales to her many followers and fans.This award-winning author currently lives in Texas with her daughter Tyra, fiance Gregory and her adorable dogs Jaxson and Jasmine.
Please contact me at www.annablackbooks.com, info@annablackbooks.com or on all social media sites.

Reviews

[Anayah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started off crazy and got even crazier. Every second there was something happening. It felt as though the book wanted to be a little more on the drama side, sort of like an urban romance or mafia romance feel, but it wanted to be cozy instead. That doesn't necessarily blend, right?

Overall it was entertaining, and can pull you in as long as you are paying attention. This is definitely not a book to start day dreaming on or be distracted because you will miss something.

7/10 would recommend.

I didn't hate it, but it wasn't my favorite read. Liked it enough to continue and finish it!

[Kremena Koleva · Rating 5 out of 5]

" ... self-love, self-care, and unwavering things for oneself may be selfish to some, but at the end of all days, I belong to myself. I must always put my wants and needs first. How can I make someone else happy if I’m not completely happy? "

За всеки от нас представите за дълг, отговорност, за морал и ценност са различни. И понякога се менят в движение - според посоката, която поеме живота ни. И макар това да прави хората уникални и света - пъстър, лошото идва, когато различни виждания, страсти и цели се срещнат някъде по пътя.
Love Delyed е истинска карта на лутанията между дълг и желание за собственото ни щастие. Отдаването на едното и преследването на другото си има цена. Гордостта, завистта, огорчението и прибързаните решения се заплащат - кога рано, кога късно.
Без да искам и без да очаквам, от самото начало се влюбих в Love Delyed! Anna Black е написала съвременна приказка за разминаването с щастието. Как, когато оставим голямата любов да си тръгне, вече нищо в живота ни няма същия смисъл или същия размах. Сякаш сме прокълнати! И ако понякога си мислим, че имаме само един шанс на тази земя да правим това, което иска душата ни и че трябва да поставяме желанията си над всеки и всичко, то е защото не познаваме пустотата, която идва от самотата. Не е тайна, че когато печелим едно нещо, губим друго. А от истинската любов няма нищо по - важно и нужно! С нея и чрез нея спокойно можем да следваме интересите и мечтите си. Без нея никоя постигната цел не е удовлетворяваща!
Освен ако не сме егоисти и саможивци!

[MJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This just wasn’t it. The story was repetitive and dragged. The timeline was all over the place and it didn’t always add up. The description of this book is off. This was not a cute 2nd chance romance.

Every red flag was ignored by both MC’s to the point where they both deserved to get played by their significant others. It was hard to connect to the characters because I felt they had no depth. There was just too many side story lines that brought absolutely no value to the book.

Thank you Black Odyssey Media for this Advance Readers Copy ebook in exchange for my honest review.

[Martina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐

Not my cup of tea.
I couldn't connect to the characters, I kind of hated the narrating voice of the FMC and still don't understand the necessity of the second female POV. Her story could have been told with the MMC pov.
The whole airport plot was just a very brief mention while I thought it was an integrating part of it. I was convinced most of the book took place that night at the airport.

Just generally disappointed.
It's not a bad book but I just didn't like it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for providing me with a free arc of this in the audiobook version for an honest review 🤍

[Alaina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25/5

I unfortunately did not love this. To be fair, that is partially because it was not what I was expecting. Based on the blurb, I thought I was getting a cute and cozy second chance romance where the main couple meet again by chance randomly at the airport and rekindle their relationship. That was not what this was.

The premise had promise overall. I also did enjoy the narrators since I listened to the audiobook. I also did like the idea of the second chance romance and how it was set up.

My main complaint was I just didn’t expect all the crazy drama, cheating, and secret babies. It just didn’t all flow and felt kind of choppy and random. It seemed like there were 2-3 separate stories being told that didn’t mesh together. It just didn’t seem to flow well. I think the story could have been better without at least some of that. I was going to DNF, but at that point I did kind of want to see how the drama all played out.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Angela Rowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Zamora (aka Z) and Marcus’ relationship journey from their teenage years to adulthood. Told a decade after their upsetting breakup, Anna Black explores what happens when two hearts destined to be together find themselves with all the wrong people.

I have mixed feelings about Love Delayed. At the heart of the story, Anna Black, brings readers into the joys and sorrows of Z and Marcus; however, there are many parts of the book that were rushed or seemed unfinished. For me, the first 25% of the book needed to be flushed out more. I am a big believer that the beginning of any story should show the readers who the characters are and why we should root for them. This did not occur until well into the story and I felt cheated to not have known Z and Marcus better in the beginning. Despite this, the middle part of the book kept me captivated and made me wanting more from the unfinished/rushed parts.

Overall, great premise with some solid moments, but there are definitely missed opportunities that would have made this a five star read.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. 2.75 ⭐️

[Monet Daffodil · Rating 4 out of 5]

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love Delayed
Author: Anna Black

Thank you so much Netgalley and RB Media for the ALC! This was an interesting read. I’m a little shocked it has such negative reviews. My only issues with the book are personal preference issues and not with the writing style and storyline at all. There were multiple POVs thrown in, that I was not expecting. It was a little all over the place, but the book was captivating enough that I couldn’t put it down. My only issue really was the cheating because that is a trope I cannot get with no matter what! Also, I still am not really sure if this was supposed to be romance, suspense, or contemporary? A mixture of all? The narrator’s did a good job on the audiobook though. I would read more by this author. The short summary is that two lovers get a second chance, however when their paths cross again the FMC is going through a divorce, and the MC is about to get married; and we get the two main characters POVs, but also the Fiancee of the MCs POV which is where we get a little disorganized. Overall it was a good read though?

[Teneisha (Teesbookjourney) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Black’s Love Delayed is an emotional rollercoaster packed with drama, heartbreak, and a healthy dose of second chances. From the first page, I was pulled into Zamora and Marcus’s world, feeling every ounce of tension and unresolved emotion between them.
Zamora’s journey from heartbreak to success is inspiring, and her determination to pursue her dreams—even at the cost of love—makes her a relatable and admirable character. On the other hand, Marcus is a complicated blend of pride and vulnerability. Watching him wrestle with his decisions and their impact on his life and relationships was frustrating and captivating.
The setting adds a vibrant backdrop, particularly their chance reunion in Las Vegas. The delayed flight and their night of reconnecting felt serendipitous and perfectly set the stage for their rekindled feelings. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their dialogue crackles with unresolved tension and longing.
The drama made this book stand out for me—it’s intense and sometimes messy, but it felt authentic. Both characters make mistakes, but their growth and willingness to confront the past make the story rewarding.
If you enjoy tales of love lost and found, sprinkled with emotional upheaval and a touch of glamour, Love Delayed is well worth the read. It’s a dramatic and heartfelt story that keeps you hooked until the last page.

[caffeine reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate saying negatives about books it breaks my heart because of the amount of effort it takes to write one.

However

This book just didn’t work there was quite a bit wrong the characters just to mesh well. This didn’t feel like a 2nd chance romance.
I felt like the actual story and a very messy feel and didn’t flow right at all it was super confusing and hard to follow to the point where I wanted to DNF.

I’m so sorry

⭐️

Thank you netgalley and RBmedia for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Delayed

I Picked Up This Book Because: Cover lust

Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Netgalley
Dates Read: 1/1/25 - 1/1/25
Rating: 3 Stars
Narrator(s): No idea as the book and the website have different names

The Characters:

Zamora Hill:
Marcus Coleman:

The Story:

A little predictable but a pleasant enough way to pass some time. Marcus’ mother surprised me the most but she is nowhere near the star of the show. Marcus and Zamora are interesting and relatable characters who traverse some real problems and some self created ones but manage to come back together for their HEA.

[livblovesbooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like to rate books 2 stars often, but this book was definitely not my cup of tea. I did not find the FMC and MMC relatable due to the fact that they both were walking red flags. I don't really think there was one character in this book that I really thought I liked. They all had a lot of issues they needed to work out and I firmly believe they should have all went their separate ways to do so.

Our MMC was engaged and calling his ex (the FMC) baby and treating her like he was engaged to her?? Big no from me.

Also, for this being called love delayed and having the airport on the cover, I definitely expected that part to have been way more a part of the story and not just a quick scene and never to be discussed again.

I don't really feel like the 3rd POV from our MMC's current fiancé was necessary. It kind of made the book even more confusing. It was just sprinkled in here and there and then I would get confused on the timeline because it would be going "back in time" from the other characters POV of the scene that played out.

This book truly had a lot of potential, but it just fell flat.

I have no complaints regarding the narration. They did a great job bringing this story to life and I feel like they sounded great for their parts.

Thank you RBmedia and NetGalley for the ALC!

[Leila Fuerst · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 .5 🌟

This book really wasn’t enjoyable to me. Sadly, I’m quite disappointed because the cover and blurb looked promising. I was really looking forward to the cozy romance that the blurb promised.

The premise itself is good, end the general storyline has potential, but it lacks cohesion. There are a few too many storylines happening at once, and overall, too much drama. I struggled to connect with the characters and the emotional connection between them felt a bit wishy-washy.

I liked the addition of the second female POV and it provided context. While it could have been done from the MMC’s perspective, it did bring a little freshness. That said, I don’t think this side storyline was necessary (no spoilers), but since it was included, I enjoyed how it was done.

The writing style just wasn’t for me. It felt overly proper, and at times strange. The author used some unusual ways of describing things, which didn’t feel natural - it didn’t feel like the way someone would speak.

The narrators were good overall, except when they tried to voice other characters, which I found very annoying to listen to. Aside from that, the narrators suited the characters well and matched how I imagined the MCs.

Without spoilers, I found chapter 29 unexpectedly detailed, unnecessary, and ultimately unexpected. It didn’t add anything to the story, and in my opinion, it took away from the book. I understand it might have been included to support a side storyline or humanize the character in that chapter, but I still don’t think it was needed.

One positive thing I want to highlight is the emphasis on the importance of safe sex. Unlike most books I’ve read recently, where it’s brushed off with a casual “I’m on contraception, so it’s fine,” I liked the more serious and realistic approach taken here.

I almost DNF’d this book at 12% and again at around 40%, but there were still some redeeming parts that kept me curious enough to finish and see how it ended.
Overall, while there were moments of promise, this book ultimately really fell short for me.


Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Angie Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Story: What happens when you were together just not the right time? Well it just happens to be Love Delayed (see what I did there lol). Zamora and Marcus were together through college, but with each of their career paths after college leading to opposite ends of the country they decide its better to let each other experience life/career without the long distance. Shoot to 10 years later and they happen to run into each other at the airport back to their hometown, but the flight gets delayed and allows them the time to catch up but that catch up led to them realizing they still have their old feelings for each other.

Review: I have no idea exactly what to say about this, if I'm being honest. I didn't totally hate the story, I think there were some extra stuff that wasn't needed specifically the third person pov. There are timeline jumps and sometimes it was very hard keep track of when we were in the past and then back to the present.
I am not one to hate on religion or religious beliefs, but I feel like there were times where the FMCs beliefs comes in and seems contradictory at times or not even needed. I am also very curious as to what her beliefs are as she states "the most high," which could be related to a slew of different religions.
I was able to read this as an audiobook. I love having multiple narrators to the respective povs. I hope to hear them again in other audiobooks.
*thank you to netgalley for the audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

[itsallaboutbooksandmacarons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. It was a sweet second-chance romance about two successful people who reconnect after ten years and realize they still have feelings for each other. It wasn't overly dramatic, but it captured the warmth and simplicity of rediscovering love after all that time.

I listened to it while making biscuits, and it made for the perfect background. The story was light and engaging, with just the right amount of emotion to keep me interested without being too heavy.

It was a pleasant and enjoyable listen, perfect for a quiet afternoon or whenever you're in the mood for a nice, feel-good story.

[Mandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really didn't enjoy this book! This book is completely unlike what it's being promoted as. The description gives off a vibe of a cute second chance romance. This WAS NOT that. I forced myself to finish this book. The narrators did a great job. The book itself just missed the mark for me. Too much drama and most of the book DID NOT flow.


Thank you NetGalley, RBmedia, Recorded Books and Anna Black for giving me an advanced listener's copy of this book.

[Chasity McCurdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this audiobook!! 2.75⭐️

I was prepared for the second chance romance, but i was not ready for all the drama 10 years later would look like for both the FMC & MMC.

Overall, i was prepared for a soft fluffy second chance romance; but the mentions of trafficking, cheating, etc made it a little heavier than expected.

[JazzReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had some issues with the narration especially the FMC. This book was ok. I don’t know if I want to read any more books by this author.

[Kenz · Rating 1 out of 5]

what was this?!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book. I do think that some of the relationships move a little fast .. I get that there are reasons why it was just a little fast .. I'm so glad the two main characters found their way back to each other and that L got out of her situation really enjoyed the narrator as well

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!! Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC. Zamora and Marcus were college sweethearts until her dream of culinary school took her away, something Marcus couldn't support, leading to their breakup.

A decade later, their paths cross again in an airport during a flight delay. Zamora is now a chef, and Marcus is deeply involved in his family’s hotel business. As they reconnect, old feelings resurface, leaving Marcus wondering, did his pride cost him the love of his life?

This was a cute read.

[Markita_Reads]

DNF @20%
So, I'm not rating this book. I will attempt to reread it when it's released.
-
Why? Why does the female lead ALWAYS have to deal with infidelity in her marriage? That part alone told me this book wouldn't be for me. I know it's a second-chance romance, and the infidelity didn't happen between the two main leads, but still. I wish I could have finished it, but for my mental health, I'm going to pass. The premise of the story sounded good until the infidelity happened.
-
Thank you, NetGalley, and Black Odyssey Media for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m going to keep this short as not to be overly critical. First I am thankful to have gotten an audio ALC for free from Netgalley and Recorded Books Media to listen to which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

I’m a bit perplexed as this reads like it is an unedited draft of a book. It it so choppy and meandered aimlessly. It was really
Poorly written unfortunately. It was also so repetitive with multiple POVs with one coming from left field.

All I say was the incredibly toxic relationships and selfishness where the main characters should get a good dose of therapy before getting into future relationships. There are countless plot holes as well and let’s not get started on the epilogue.

I’m sorry that I can’t recommend reading this at all.

Also, I listened to the auto book and since it already has come out I grabbed a copy from Kindle unlimited to see if I was missing something by listening to it. I was not.

I didn’t enjoy the narrators over all with the exception of the females natural voice narrating for the FMC Zamora. However, the voices she put on for some other characters were caricatures and bordered on offensive.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

[Kayla Brudnicki · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, RBmedia, and Anna Black’s team for the audiobook ARC.

🎶Siri play: We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift🎶

I truly had high hopes for this story, but soon found out it would be one of my top worst reads of this year. I’m truly torn up to even write this review, but I will be paying forth a completely honest review to hopefully inspire others to not be scared to voice if they didn’t enjoy something they’ve read.

The story follows FMC Z and MMC Marcus who are both infatuated with one another; that is until Z gets an opportunity to go to culinary school a few states away and will be gone for 13 months. Which puts an end to their relationship. Ten years pass and the MC’s run into each other at an airport after their flight has been cancelled. What seems like fate brought them back together turns out they each are very much have moved on and are committed to their respective partners. Turns out the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Z and Marcus go through hell and back, but finally get another stab at rekindling their relationship.

✌🏻Dual POV
🤰🏾Accidental Pregnancy
💋Cheating
👼🏾Child Loss/Infertility
🥈Second Chance Romance
😱Deception/Lies/Secrets
💍Marriage of Convenience + Distress
🤫Hidden Truth
😮Sexual Assault (Rape)


Way too much going on in one book! I’m always down for a book that will keep me busy or engaged, but everything that was thrown into the book was just too much. What the author thought was great components turned into a recipe for disaster🔥 It was one thing after the other and I couldn’t take it anymore. To start there should’ve been a TW’s page before starting this… the plot and characters were so underdeveloped as well.

The characters were all so unlikable and toxic it made me sick🤢 The MC’s didn’t act their age and were immature. I feel the MC’s didn’t deserve each other or anything else that happened in the entirely of this book. It brought me back to the days where I’d see Maury playing on the tv and thinking wtf am I witnessing. Who in their right mind actually enjoys this crap.

The writing was unstructured, sloppy, unbelievable, etc. The simple fact the characters were ALL colored (lack of diversity) but that’s not what bothered me. It was the way they were written. All I heard was the ‘N’ word on repeat and the unlimited profanity. It was very uncomfortable… I was happy to see colored MC’s on the cover, but not so they can be portrayed as damn fools. It gives a negative connotation on the black community and I just can’t stand that.

For an author whose primary work is writing about colored characters it seems like this was the first book she’s EVER written. I hope the author can see how powerful her words are once they’ve reached printed pages.

Unfortunately I would not recommend this book or the author to anyone. For now, the only thing delayed is the author’s ability to right a good prose.

#LoveDelayed #NetGalley

[Sippincokeflippinpages · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the audiobook. This was my first experience with Anna Black’s writing and my first time listening to an audiobook with three narrators, which added an interesting layer to the storytelling.

One thing to note is that this audiobook did not provide trigger warnings, though it definitely should have. The story includes infidelity, miscarriage, divorce, rape, religion, and infertility, all of which are on-page events, not just mentioned in passing. What seemed like a light, fluffy romance based on the cover actually went much deeper than expected.

The book starts strong with a “keep you in” storyline. Zamora and Marcus are together, but she wants more out of life and doesn’t want to be held back. However, we don’t get much depth about their actual love story early on, which makes it hard to understand why they’re still stuck on each other ten years later. Marcus is engaged to another woman but constantly compares her to Zamora. Meanwhile, Zamora is married but still fixated on Marcus but why though? We don’t truly get to see the foundation of their relationship until much later, making it hard to feel invested in their second-chance romance from the start.

There are also some moments where the storytelling feels disjointed. The Ellie scheme, Marcus mom not sharing all details of what’s going on, Marcus going behind Ellies back with Z. His mother’s actions come into play, forcing explanations that feel like they should have come much earlier. Some details about this couple just aren’t presented upfront, which makes certain twists feel forced rather than organic.

The title and cover suggest a second-chance romance centered around a missed flight, but while the airport plays a role, it’s not significant enough to justify the book’s branding around that scene. The couple does get their HEA, but the journey there is both interesting and choppy. Some parts of the story feel rushed, while others drag.

Overall, Love Delayed was a good listen, but I found myself wanting more depth in Marcus and Zamora’s initial connection to truly understand why their love was worth fighting for after all those years. Their beginning felt rushed, and before we could settle into their relationship, we were already seeing them apart thrown into their new life drama. While the multiple narrators helped add depth, particularly to Ellie’s storyline, I wish the story had been more balanced.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

First things first - if you're a "choosing a book by its cover" type of person, be aware that this one deals with some topics that might surprise you based on the romcom presentation - particularly pregnancy loss, which is a major theme throughout the book. If that's something you're not in the right place to read about, steer clear of this one. There is also a sexual assault by an intimate partner late in the story, so, again, just know whether you're up to it before proceeding.

Now, for those who are ready to proceed - on to the actual story. My experience of the book was via audio, which has three separate narrators, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, for Zamora, Marcus, and Ellie (apologies for not spelling out her full name - it's not clear from the audio whether it's Eleana, Illiana, or some other variation). One thing that both the Marcus and Zamora narrators struggled a bit with was when their characters were quoting others - while their own dialogue flowed naturally, they suddenly seemed to be reading cue cards for the first time when they got to others' voices, which was a bit jarring. That aside, the multi-narrator approach was helpful as it made it immediately clear whose perspective it was.

The overall plot, while not groundbreakingly original, is well done. The characters are three dimensional, which makes some of the more implausible events make sense in the context of their personalities and histories. These are smart people who have lived their lives and their communications struggles come across as genuine, which is (for me, at least), highly unusual in this kind of book. Nobody drops their phone in a river or suddenly decides to take everything literally or any of the usual contrivances - these are the real missed connections of people viewing the world through their own lenses.

The title gives away the ending, and this is the kind of book that you go into knowing that it's the journey rather than the destination - but that's not always a bad thing. As the characters learn, there's nothing wrong with realizing that you don't have to spend your whole life chasing what's new when you've got everything you want right there.

So for anyone not traumatized by pregnancy loss or sexual assault, this is a good one that will make you think more than you might expect.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Dafort · Rating 4 out of 5]

In life when one wants to live their dream, they must realize that sacrifices must be made.

Zamora Hill has always dreamed of being a chef and once she gets the opportunity to realize her dream, she never expects her boyfriend to end their relationship. Marcus Coleman believes in family, loyalty and loves hard. He inherits the family hotel business and found the love of his life in Zamora. Imagine life is going great and Zamora makes a decision without consulting him. Upset and bruised ego, Marcus ends the relationship and Zamora takes off for culinary school.

Fast forward ten years have gone by, and fate lands Zamora and Marcus on the same flight home, and the flight gets delayed and then cancelled. As they reacquaint themselves, feelings that were dormant arise. Can Zamora and Marcus get their second-chance to rekindle their love?

This was my first read by Anna Black and I really enjoyed this second chance love story. Although ego and pride allowed Marcus to make rash decision and break up with Zamora, Zamora was portrayed as a woman who was very independent and did not shy away from proactively going after her dream. Lack of communication with this couple caused them to go ten years, and failed relationships before fate brought them to the same city and then on the same cancelled flight. As they catch-up, they both realize they were still in love. However, there are challenges and obstacles in their path as both can’t immediately rekindle their relationship.

Ms. Black did great with character development as well as crafting a storyline of love lost and fate allowing that love to blossom. I did feel Marcus was blinded to some events but eventually saw the light. There are several secondary characters, readers will immediately distrust and with good reason. I truly enjoyed reading Zamora and Marcus’ journey.

Note: I received an advance copy from Netgalley

[Lucyanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

Found the written okay and the characters were annoying why are they staying in relationships they don’t want to (to be a good person?) that’s not how that works. This felt like drama show they both come off as entitled people who act like they think they’re better than everyone else.
You staying in a toxic relationship and letting yourself be treated like crap doesn’t mean you should feel entitled and expect better in your life. It’s your mistake for making those choices and letting people treat you that way in the first place. You should have more respect for yourself can’t expect things to just happen for you if you’re not happy with your life change it. It felt childish for the guy to expect her to not follow her dreams. They could’ve worked out. I get it for the drama for the plot but still and why doesn’t he see that his fiancé and him are not well matched even if she wasn’t doing what she did to him I still don’t get why he would think it’s a good decision to get married to her with him running his family‘s business he comes off as if he is meant to be intelligent, but he doesn’t act like it in that relationship. I don’t know why we had to make the fiancé Just the bad person so we just hate her cause I’ve just been she was a lovely lady but he just didn’t love her so he broke her off simple as. People are allowed to make their own choices, but I do not understand why she tries to work it out with her husband after what he did that is a dealbreaker for me seems like that was just for the plot for us to not like him and for her to suffer later on With what happens next. Was a cool concept feel like I have read books with similar concepts that have done it much better I would say it was a 2.5 so okay but nothing amazing or original did enjoy the narrators for the audiobook. Keep cover would recommend to Reid but it’s not going to change your life. Will be super memorable if you enjoy this kind of trope I have personally read better ones.

[Callie Mikesell (callie_reads_books) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good grief, this book was just. So. Wild. I don't even know where to start.

First of all, the summary/back cover blurb is SO misleading. The delayed flight was a tiny part of the story. A blip. The rest of the story was messy as all get out.

There was not a single likeable character. They all had maaaaaaaajor red flags and were completely blind to how problematic everyone else was. I hated everyone. So much.

The plot was WILD. With everything that happened, I would think to myself, surely it can't get anymore ridiculous, to which the author seemed to say, "hold my beer." I am genuinely in shock that this was advertised as a sweet romantic comedy when it played like a trashy soap opera.

As part of the chaos of the plot, there were a lot of elements that could be really triggering to a lot of people, including infertility, miscarriage, infidelity, and rape , which happened on page. In the ARC there were absolutely no trigger warnings, and I sincerely hope they changed that for the published version so that no one has to come across that unawares. Since, you know, they thought this was a cutesy little airport romance.

Perhaps most wild of all was the Christian side element, in which the two FMCs were deeply religious. I don't have anything against including religious beliefs in a novel, but it just felt suuuuuuuper weird shoved in there along with everything else. Like... what???

The saddest truth is that Anna Black is a talented writer. She just seems to have (IMO) no taste for plot. Like, at all. Maybe if this book was advertised differently I could've handled it at least a bit, but it was so completely crazy and unexpected.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

🎧Love Delayed-a standalone

✍🏾By-Anna Black-new to me author

📅Publication date- 11/26/24, Read- 12/13/24

🏃🏾‍♀️‍➡️Run Time-7:10

🗣️Narrators-Geneva Mitchell, Eden Lafon, and Freedom voiced the characters with stand outs from Marcus and Eliana. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrators paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.

👆🏾POV: multiple, 1st person

Quick Summary-Marcus Coleman and Zamora Hill were college sweethearts, but future dreams separate them. Ten years later, they have a meet cute at the Vegas airport. They haven't forgotten about each other and compare their partners to each other. Zamora is married and Marcus is in a two-year relationship. Is their love enough to choose each other this time around?

🤷🏾‍♀️ What to Expect
⭐ ️AA Interests
⭐️ 2nd chance romance
⭐️ marriage/divorce
⭐️ family drama
⭐️ Contemporary Romance
⭐ Women's Fic
⭐ secret pregnancy

⚠️TW-SA, sex trafficking(mentioned), cheating (on H and h), fertility issues, miscarriage

🤔 My Thoughts: I loved all the drama but be warned there are a lot of triggers. Christianity played a big part in Zamora's life. She prayed to Abba and antagonized her sister Zaria for being a non-believer. Zamora, Marcus, and Eliana (to an extent) had to make choices between career and love. They do get a satisfying HEA and Marcus's mother was the MVP!

Rating: 3/5⭐⭐⭐

Spice level 4/5🔥

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, RB Media, and Anna Black for this ALC✈️! I voluntarily give an honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Jaime Bannatyne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anna Black's Love Delayed presents a compelling premise—a second-chance romance between former college sweethearts reuniting after a decade. The concept holds great promise, especially for fans of heartfelt reconnections and stories that explore the enduring pull of first loves.

Strengths:
The narration of the female protagonist, Zamora Hill, was a highlight. Her voice brought a sense of authenticity to her character and made her journey relatable. The underlying plot, which combines themes of love, regret, and loss was enough to keep me curious about how the story would unfold.

Areas for Improvement:
I thought the concept of this novel was really intriguing. However, the execution didn’t quite resonate with me. In my opinion, the flow felt choppy and underdeveloped. I also noticed an overemphasis on mundane details and repetitive verbiage, which distracted me from the central narrative.

Additionally, while the female narration was strong, I found the male protagonist’s narrator less effective which affected the flow of the narration. For narrating a latino character, I felt that his Spanish was lacking. This mismatch made it harder to connect with Marcus’s perspective, which was crucial to the story's emotional balance.

Overall Impression:
Although Love Delayed didn’t fully align with my preferences, I do believe that there is an audience for this novel and who will greatly enjoy it. The plot was intriguing enough for me to want to continue with this audiobook. I appreciate the author's attempt to explore themes of forgiveness and fans of second-chance romance who enjoy 'messy' narratives may find this book worth exploring. For me, however, it was a mixed experience.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.