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Session 33
Angel is tired of lonely nights and whispered prayers that never seem to reach God. She’s built a life that looks good on paper—a dream job, a condo, a six figure salary—but the silence that fills her home echoes louder than any success. Love has always felt like a distant melody, something she could hum along to but never truly hold.
Cassius knows about loneliness too well. Haunted by a violent past and his parents’ tragic love story, he’s spent years fighting demons he can’t outrun. When he meets Angel, he sees a chance at something real, something worth holding onto—but his scars run deep, and his temper is always one wrong word away from exploding.When their worlds collide, it’s more than chemistry—it’s a slow, soulful connection that feels like home. But love isn’t just about soft kisses and slow dances. For two people who’ve spent their lives running from pain, the question isn’t if they can find love—it’s whether they’re brave enough to hold onto it.
Session 33 love story about second chances, healing, and the kind of love that feels like your favorite song—timeless, raw, and unforgettable. If you’ve ever loved too hard or been afraid to love at all, this one’s for you.
BBW
BWWM
Cassius knows about loneliness too well. Haunted by a violent past and his parents’ tragic love story, he’s spent years fighting demons he can’t outrun. When he meets Angel, he sees a chance at something real, something worth holding onto—but his scars run deep, and his temper is always one wrong word away from exploding.When their worlds collide, it’s more than chemistry—it’s a slow, soulful connection that feels like home. But love isn’t just about soft kisses and slow dances. For two people who’ve spent their lives running from pain, the question isn’t if they can find love—it’s whether they’re brave enough to hold onto it.
Session 33 love story about second chances, healing, and the kind of love that feels like your favorite song—timeless, raw, and unforgettable. If you’ve ever loved too hard or been afraid to love at all, this one’s for you.
BBW
BWWM
328 pages, Paperback
Published January 19, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 10, 2025
May this kind of love never find me
February 1, 2025
Shantel! I know that I need to prepare for these beautifully broken and scarred characters when I read your books, and I always think that I am ready. I am not; I was not ready for this one! 🥹 The way my feelings were juggled around, and the way you had me pissed and cussing at my kindle, like I know these people was nuts! 🤯 However, I love your gift, and I can't get enough of these characters that raise my blood pressure! 😂
Angel, seemed to have it all together, home, and great job, but was so sad and lonely. She had a hard time making friends due to childhood trauma with her dad. She wanted a man to love and care for her like her next breath, and she never thought she would experience it until......
Cassius was a live wire, who used sex, drugs, and alcohol to numb the pain from his past that he refused to address. He knew that he had demons, serious issues due to what his father did, but he pushed all those feelings aside, self-medicated and put himself on a road to self-destruction.
When Cassius and Angel met, I knew that it was about to be messy as hell. Although they both claimed to not want anything to do with the other, there was a spark, a curiosity, and attraction that they couldn't ignore. Cassius wore Angel down and gained her trust a friend, all while searching for more. Angel knew getting involved with Cassius would be dangerous for them both, but she couldn't stop the train wreck. 👀
Lawd these two drove me up and down walls all day today while reading! 😤 As much as they cared for each other, they were just toxic, petty, and mean toward the other at times until it came to a head. Both dealing with residual trauma from daddy issues, led them to take on the very traits that they despised about their fathers. The damn tempers on both of them whew.... 😡
Angel meeting Solomon seemed too perfect, and he felt off right away to me. But never did I imagine he would turn into THAT!! 🤬 As much as I loved Cassius, he had me so hot with all the horrible decisions he was making, with even worst behaviors. I thought he would never get his ish together! 😤 But thank God he did, cause lord knows he would have been hell on wheels without his Angel. Now what are we going to do about Silas' wild self? Loved it! 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
Angel, seemed to have it all together, home, and great job, but was so sad and lonely. She had a hard time making friends due to childhood trauma with her dad. She wanted a man to love and care for her like her next breath, and she never thought she would experience it until......
Cassius was a live wire, who used sex, drugs, and alcohol to numb the pain from his past that he refused to address. He knew that he had demons, serious issues due to what his father did, but he pushed all those feelings aside, self-medicated and put himself on a road to self-destruction.
When Cassius and Angel met, I knew that it was about to be messy as hell. Although they both claimed to not want anything to do with the other, there was a spark, a curiosity, and attraction that they couldn't ignore. Cassius wore Angel down and gained her trust a friend, all while searching for more. Angel knew getting involved with Cassius would be dangerous for them both, but she couldn't stop the train wreck. 👀
Lawd these two drove me up and down walls all day today while reading! 😤 As much as they cared for each other, they were just toxic, petty, and mean toward the other at times until it came to a head. Both dealing with residual trauma from daddy issues, led them to take on the very traits that they despised about their fathers. The damn tempers on both of them whew.... 😡
Angel meeting Solomon seemed too perfect, and he felt off right away to me. But never did I imagine he would turn into THAT!! 🤬 As much as I loved Cassius, he had me so hot with all the horrible decisions he was making, with even worst behaviors. I thought he would never get his ish together! 😤 But thank God he did, cause lord knows he would have been hell on wheels without his Angel. Now what are we going to do about Silas' wild self? Loved it! 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
January 17, 2025
A Love Story That Feels Like Home
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Session 33 by Shantel Davis swept me away with its raw, emotional storytelling. Angel and Cassius are both deeply scarred, yet their journey toward healing and love is nothing short of breathtaking. Davis masterfully paints their connection as a slow-burning, soulful melody that crescendos into something unforgettable.
I still can’t believe Shantel Davis made me like (and fall in love with) Cassius. His pain and temper could have easily made him unrelatable, but instead, she gave us a flawed, beautifully human character who learns to let love in. And Angel? She’s the kind of heroine who feels like a mirror, reflecting the fears and hopes so many of us carry.
This strangers-to-lovers, second-chance romance will break your heart and put it back together. It’s not just a story about finding love—it’s about being brave enough to embrace it, scars and all. Session 33 feels like your favorite song: timeless, raw, and one you’ll play on repeat. Don’t miss this one.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Session 33 by Shantel Davis swept me away with its raw, emotional storytelling. Angel and Cassius are both deeply scarred, yet their journey toward healing and love is nothing short of breathtaking. Davis masterfully paints their connection as a slow-burning, soulful melody that crescendos into something unforgettable.
I still can’t believe Shantel Davis made me like (and fall in love with) Cassius. His pain and temper could have easily made him unrelatable, but instead, she gave us a flawed, beautifully human character who learns to let love in. And Angel? She’s the kind of heroine who feels like a mirror, reflecting the fears and hopes so many of us carry.
This strangers-to-lovers, second-chance romance will break your heart and put it back together. It’s not just a story about finding love—it’s about being brave enough to embrace it, scars and all. Session 33 feels like your favorite song: timeless, raw, and one you’ll play on repeat. Don’t miss this one.
February 9, 2025
That was cute
I enjoyed that novel. I can say that it held my attention from the beginning to the end. Character development was superb 🤌🏾. This was an overall good read. Just read the damn book.
I enjoyed that novel. I can say that it held my attention from the beginning to the end. Character development was superb 🤌🏾. This was an overall good read. Just read the damn book.
October 3, 2025
ohhh the first four star review in my Shantel Davis binge!! and tbh when I finished this book it was a 0 star book!
Reading is fun because you're kinda in other people's mind and that hella fun but this book was a rollercoaster! I had to actual to stop at some moments and go to other things because it was just too much ...
Angel and Cassius! I rooted against them ... rooted for them ... didn't root at all! They were just to messy! The four star goes for time actually going by, they don't get together months after ... they get together years!! years!! and it's really nice that Shantel wrote growth so well, it wasn't a linear growth ... it was actual uncomfortable to read sometimes but it was fun! I love when writers includes the reader in these steps and we get to understand so much better each decision!
really like that everything is solved with long hours of torrid sex after they start working on themselves.
kinda sad that we don't get that much scenes of Angel and Ekno, that would so nice to see since she was thinking of aborting and also to get the sense of how she was a mom also!
Didn't like Rico Suave from the start ...
I'll probably re-read this at some point but has someone said in the comments, may this love never find me
Reading is fun because you're kinda in other people's mind and that hella fun but this book was a rollercoaster! I had to actual to stop at some moments and go to other things because it was just too much ...
Angel and Cassius! I rooted against them ... rooted for them ... didn't root at all! They were just to messy! The four star goes for time actually going by, they don't get together months after ... they get together years!! years!! and it's really nice that Shantel wrote growth so well, it wasn't a linear growth ... it was actual uncomfortable to read sometimes but it was fun! I love when writers includes the reader in these steps and we get to understand so much better each decision!
really like that everything is solved with long hours of torrid sex after they start working on themselves.
kinda sad that we don't get that much scenes of Angel and Ekno, that would so nice to see since she was thinking of aborting and also to get the sense of how she was a mom also!
Didn't like Rico Suave from the start ...
I'll probably re-read this at some point but has someone said in the comments, may this love never find me
July 22, 2026
Cassius and Angel. Okay so initially when I started this book it was giving Being Mary Jane, the tv show. I was relating to a lot of the issues that Angel seemed to have. Being single. Successful. Having your own. Then being lonely. So when she met Cass I thought it was refreshing. Baby by chapter 42 my girl was pregnant. They moved real fast. But throughout the book I noticed so much timidness on Angel part. Like her inition was telling her one thing and she did the opposit. Cass on the other hand did in fact have anger issues and a drinking problem. He also had weird attachment styles with women. I felt bad for Angel when he left her during the final stages of her pregnancy. And the fact that he didn’t think twice about it made me so angry. Solomon the man in sheep clothing. He was supposed to save Angel yet he wanted control her every move. He deserved his punishment. I’m glad both Cass and Angel both sought out therapy for the better. And in the end it was a HEA💕
February 6, 2025
Happy Endings
I started this book on Vella and looked high and low for it. Thank you thank you for completing it!!! Solomon standing in the dark room being crazy was the last of Vella.
The process that Angel and Cassius went through from their first meeting to their wedding had me pissed off, wanting to fight, kick Cassius in the nuts, choke Angel, stab Solomon and savor the peace that they got at the end. It's a testament that if you put in the work on yourself it pays off.
Note, I didn't even want Angel and Cassius to be together but I wanted her to experience real love if it meant learning to love herself was enough for me. As women of color so many times we never learn to love ourselves until it's to late.
Thank you Shantel for Session 33!!
I started this book on Vella and looked high and low for it. Thank you thank you for completing it!!! Solomon standing in the dark room being crazy was the last of Vella.
The process that Angel and Cassius went through from their first meeting to their wedding had me pissed off, wanting to fight, kick Cassius in the nuts, choke Angel, stab Solomon and savor the peace that they got at the end. It's a testament that if you put in the work on yourself it pays off.
Note, I didn't even want Angel and Cassius to be together but I wanted her to experience real love if it meant learning to love herself was enough for me. As women of color so many times we never learn to love ourselves until it's to late.
Thank you Shantel for Session 33!!
February 21, 2025
Readers can always count on Shantel Davis to produce incendiary narratives with unique characters. Her story and her people are multilayered and often have personalities which are a judicious mixture of good, bad, ugly and sometimes a grain of (“are you for real😊”?). Cassius and Angel are the protagonists in Session 33; from the outside looking in, they have little in common, only a mutual friend. Cassius is masking the pain of his parents’ actions with forms of self-medication, women and mayhem; he is a complete mess. Angel has all the societal indications of being settled and thriving ….she is gorgeous, has a great career, a wonderful place to live, and a few friends. However, on the inside she is MISERABLE. When Cassius and Angel meet, readers already know that they are going to produce a toxic connection of epic proportions….even as we clutch our pearls, shake our heads, and moan “why, why” none of the passengers on this rollercoaster of love, lust and tenderness would willingly get off! I loved every petty, twisted, decadent moment. Ms. Davis gave us a masterclass on how to “grow” characters…they weren’t what they should be, but they came a long way from where they used to be, AMEN.
https://theretiredreader.com/f/sessio...
https://theretiredreader.com/f/sessio...
February 16, 2025
A very interesting read
This was a very interesting story. Also the first read from this author by me.
Two very lost souls, though I think our MMC Cassius was a little more lost than our FMC Angel.
Cassius actually got on my nerves about 75% of the book 😂😂 like there is no way that his behavior was enabled like it was… but it WAS. Omg. However, he took the steps to redeem himself. If you’re looking for an unconventional story with characters who fall in lust more than they fall in love and the messiness of it all, pick this one up.
This was a very interesting story. Also the first read from this author by me.
Two very lost souls, though I think our MMC Cassius was a little more lost than our FMC Angel.
Cassius actually got on my nerves about 75% of the book 😂😂 like there is no way that his behavior was enabled like it was… but it WAS. Omg. However, he took the steps to redeem himself. If you’re looking for an unconventional story with characters who fall in lust more than they fall in love and the messiness of it all, pick this one up.
January 30, 2025
Road to healthy
You know it will work out in the end. But you don't know how.
Cassius was a dog but you understood why. Still didn't like his stupid behind. Yet you understood why he was who he was.
Angel was lovable but still, I was like Naomi. You could see Angel was going to let her feelings cause her to lose herself. Loved the storyline and even had me liking Silas. I wonder who he will end up with.
You know it will work out in the end. But you don't know how.
Cassius was a dog but you understood why. Still didn't like his stupid behind. Yet you understood why he was who he was.
Angel was lovable but still, I was like Naomi. You could see Angel was going to let her feelings cause her to lose herself. Loved the storyline and even had me liking Silas. I wonder who he will end up with.
September 13, 2025
This was a great book. I love how it shows that you can love someone but not be ready to be in love with someone and that no one else fixes or heals you-only you can do that through wanting to heal yourself and doing the work-whether it is support groups, therapy, etc. It felt real and what more couples and people should do and not worry about the stigma of therapy and protecting your mental health.
January 7, 2026
uau...
foi o livro mais intenso da shantel que li até agora, emoções extremas, garganta dando nó, sabe!?
foi maravilhoso, foi angustiante, foi terapêutico acompanhar o desenvolvimento pessoal do Cassius, vê a Angel evoluindo, se descobrindo. Eu amei o amor dos dois, odiei, me machuquei, me magoei com as atitudes do Cassius, mas perdoei, porque, infelizmente, só um ser humano quebrado vai conseguir entender outro ser quebrado.
foi o livro mais intenso da shantel que li até agora, emoções extremas, garganta dando nó, sabe!?
foi maravilhoso, foi angustiante, foi terapêutico acompanhar o desenvolvimento pessoal do Cassius, vê a Angel evoluindo, se descobrindo. Eu amei o amor dos dois, odiei, me machuquei, me magoei com as atitudes do Cassius, mas perdoei, porque, infelizmente, só um ser humano quebrado vai conseguir entender outro ser quebrado.
February 12, 2025
Great Read 🥰
This story had me from beginning to end. I was rooting for Angel and Cassius. They had a very complicated relationship. Loved their friends, especially Silas. Silas had me laughing throughout the book. Solomon was an a$$ hole and got what he deserved. Great job Shantel.
This story had me from beginning to end. I was rooting for Angel and Cassius. They had a very complicated relationship. Loved their friends, especially Silas. Silas had me laughing throughout the book. Solomon was an a$$ hole and got what he deserved. Great job Shantel.
August 3, 2025
(Another) GREAT Session by Shantel
Another great book by Shantel, which she is starting to become one of my new favorite authors. I loved the story line of personal growth and development mixed with love played out between Cassius and Angel. I’m glad they got the HEA and they put in the work to be better individuals for themselves and their family.
Another great book by Shantel, which she is starting to become one of my new favorite authors. I loved the story line of personal growth and development mixed with love played out between Cassius and Angel. I’m glad they got the HEA and they put in the work to be better individuals for themselves and their family.
February 7, 2025
I’m surprised at how much I ended up loving this. It follows the tumultuous relationship between Cassius and Angel who are both very damaged people who hurt others to avoid getting hurt. They fight as hard as they love. Looking forward to seeing more of this from this author
April 28, 2025
Cassius & Angel...
This is a awesome story. Another one from Author Shantel Davis. Her written of this book is beautiful novel. The main coup!e, are Cassius the handsome male and Sweet plus size beauty Angel. There others friends characters too. Enjoyed reading this book.
This is a awesome story. Another one from Author Shantel Davis. Her written of this book is beautiful novel. The main coup!e, are Cassius the handsome male and Sweet plus size beauty Angel. There others friends characters too. Enjoyed reading this book.
September 8, 2025
So good
This is tbe best book I have read in all of 2025. I love when a book shows the couples love after the baby and after the I do. Lots of spice and enough drama for you and ya mama!
This is tbe best book I have read in all of 2025. I love when a book shows the couples love after the baby and after the I do. Lots of spice and enough drama for you and ya mama!
September 15, 2025
Angel was blaming Naomi but Naomi was the ONLY person that had her back in everything! Like!! Girl..she was her only real friend *huge eye roll*. Angel was a mess and made the worst decisions from desperation and loneliness, just stand up sister, Jesus
May 6, 2026
This was a good read…
Lots of twists and turns, and it definitely held my attention I would recommend. This book I normally give her books 5 but this one want Nora 5 star but not bad either.
Lots of twists and turns, and it definitely held my attention I would recommend. This book I normally give her books 5 but this one want Nora 5 star but not bad either.
February 6, 2025
good read
Read this book in a day.. story was gripping from beginning to the end. Had me annoyed and smiling at the same time. I definitely do recommend reading it.
Read this book in a day.. story was gripping from beginning to the end. Had me annoyed and smiling at the same time. I definitely do recommend reading it.
May 12, 2025
Yes
I swear Silas had me on the floor! I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Solomon deserved every thing he got! This was something refreshing to read.
I swear Silas had me on the floor! I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Solomon deserved every thing he got! This was something refreshing to read.
July 1, 2025
This kind of love is better off in books 🤭🤭.. great story
May 16, 2026
Exceptional
I really enjoyed this book. I saw myself in Angel. This book will definitely not disappoint whoever reads it. It was full of action without being over the top.
I really enjoyed this book. I saw myself in Angel. This book will definitely not disappoint whoever reads it. It was full of action without being over the top.
June 17, 2026
No. Nope. Too messy. Tooooo messy.
October 22, 2026
Whew Cass gave me a headache but I loved the ending of this book.
October 8, 2025
Angel x Cassius … whew!! I loved that this was a full rounded story. What I mean is, It wasn’t just boy meets girl they fall in love. No. This was like real life. They had a sort of insta love that led to an unplanned baby and he didn’t stick around like he said… Cassius ran like a coward and while he was out hoeing I’m glad Angel didn’t just sit around waiting the entire time. She met someone else who cared for her and her baby and wanted to give her the attention she deserved. This was raw and filled with so many emotions. I was yelling at them, pleading for her to stand up for herself and she did. Their journey was not linear. It took crazy turns and blossomed into a wild journey.
Good for them, but keep that type of love away from me! They do get their HEA.
Good for them, but keep that type of love away from me! They do get their HEA.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews