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In Charge: An African American Romance Standalone
When love is brewing, it could be destiny… or disaster.
Coffee is life. At least, it is for Joanne. As the owner of a small chain of popular coffee shops, she has taken the town of Sweetgum by storm with her rich, earthy brews and savvy business sense. So, when she decides to expand her empire into the neighboring town of Peachwood, Joanne is confident that she has things all under control.
Secure a location? Check.
Start renovations? Check.
Hire an infuriatingly sexy and obstinate manager? Double-check.
Xavier may have dazzled all the patrons with his intense charm and handsome smile, but he can’t seem to remember one simple detail–she’s supposed to be the one in charge.
He defies her at every turn, changing things up and driving her insane. She really should fire him. Trouble is… all his crazy ideas have made business better than ever. But Joanne knows how to run a coffee shop; she doesn’t need him at all.
Right?
Xavier never knew that mutiny could be so much fun.
When he first got wind that someone wanted to buy the old post office, his primary concern was for the town’s wellbeing. Although he’s one of their main real estate investors, he’s got nothing but time to kill. And a secret side project to help make the new coffee shop a success sounds like a fun new diversion.
It has absolutely nothing to do with the beautiful shop owner. Or how she’s driven, organized, easy to provoke, and the most distracting creature he’s ever met.
If he could just get Joanne to loosen up and listen, he knows they could grow the shop–and their relationship–into something special.
But are they too different for this to work? Or can finally admitting their feelings be the beginning of the happiness they both deserve?
If you like sweet, small-town romances with swoony moments and caffeinated characters, you’ll love In Charge.
Coffee is life. At least, it is for Joanne. As the owner of a small chain of popular coffee shops, she has taken the town of Sweetgum by storm with her rich, earthy brews and savvy business sense. So, when she decides to expand her empire into the neighboring town of Peachwood, Joanne is confident that she has things all under control.
Secure a location? Check.
Start renovations? Check.
Hire an infuriatingly sexy and obstinate manager? Double-check.
Xavier may have dazzled all the patrons with his intense charm and handsome smile, but he can’t seem to remember one simple detail–she’s supposed to be the one in charge.
He defies her at every turn, changing things up and driving her insane. She really should fire him. Trouble is… all his crazy ideas have made business better than ever. But Joanne knows how to run a coffee shop; she doesn’t need him at all.
Right?
Xavier never knew that mutiny could be so much fun.
When he first got wind that someone wanted to buy the old post office, his primary concern was for the town’s wellbeing. Although he’s one of their main real estate investors, he’s got nothing but time to kill. And a secret side project to help make the new coffee shop a success sounds like a fun new diversion.
It has absolutely nothing to do with the beautiful shop owner. Or how she’s driven, organized, easy to provoke, and the most distracting creature he’s ever met.
If he could just get Joanne to loosen up and listen, he knows they could grow the shop–and their relationship–into something special.
But are they too different for this to work? Or can finally admitting their feelings be the beginning of the happiness they both deserve?
If you like sweet, small-town romances with swoony moments and caffeinated characters, you’ll love In Charge.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2025
8 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Imani Price
22 books12 followersClick the 'Follow' button to be notified of Imani's new releases! Imani Price has always loved to read exciting books filled with love, friendship, and excitement! Drawing from her own experiences as an African-American woman, Imani crafts powerful stories that resonate deeply. Growing up, she craved characters she could recognize and connect with. Now, she seeks to provide that very representation, populating her novels with characters of color who lead passionate and romantic lives.
When she's not immersed in creating tales of love and friendship, Imani can be spotted savoring the picturesque vibes of Georgia's mountainous landscapes with her husband and their steadfast German Shepherd, Bounty. An enthusiastic explorer of the great outdoors, the breathtaking vistas of the Georgia mountains fuel Imani's imagination and creativity. With each new book, she aspires to further diversify the romance genre, vividly encapsulating the emotions, triumphs, and challenges of black love.
Currently residing near the beautiful mountains of Georgia, Imani is always engrossed in crafting her next tale. She welcomes readers to delve into worlds where love's power, enduring friendships, and transformative personal journeys intertwine.
For those seeking a heartwarming story told through a familiar yet refreshing lens, journey into Imani's world.
When she's not immersed in creating tales of love and friendship, Imani can be spotted savoring the picturesque vibes of Georgia's mountainous landscapes with her husband and their steadfast German Shepherd, Bounty. An enthusiastic explorer of the great outdoors, the breathtaking vistas of the Georgia mountains fuel Imani's imagination and creativity. With each new book, she aspires to further diversify the romance genre, vividly encapsulating the emotions, triumphs, and challenges of black love.
Currently residing near the beautiful mountains of Georgia, Imani is always engrossed in crafting her next tale. She welcomes readers to delve into worlds where love's power, enduring friendships, and transformative personal journeys intertwine.
For those seeking a heartwarming story told through a familiar yet refreshing lens, journey into Imani's world.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 21, 2023
Awesome Hero + Annoying Heroine = Sweet & Spicy Love
Right away, we find out that Joanne's a bitchy, bossy, nitpicky micromanager who's consumed with the pride of life:
“How involved are you getting here, Missy?” the head woman came out, leaving one worker to set up for the job. She wore a white bandana over cornrows that stopped right above her neck. There was a toothpick she chewed between her teeth. Joanne’s hands itched from holding tightly to heavy buckets. Red marks stretched across her palms.
“Not too much,” she lied before smiling. “Just want to make sure you guys get everything done well and to my liking. Oh, and you remember my designs, right? Your technical painter has some mugs to draw along the walls. If she needs a reminder, I have pictures on my phone. I can—” she dug through her deep pocket.
“How could we forget when you sent that long email? It was…” the lady spent about five seconds coming up with a word. “Pretty detailed and emphatic,” she crossed her arms. “So, how old did you say you were?”
Joanne stepped from the doorway when the other girls brought supplies. Their blocky boots crumpled the plastic after entering. “Twenty-four.”
The woman gawked and tapped her own cheek. “Wow. And you’ve started your own business? Good for you, girl. You’re one of a kind. But I have to warn you. Having your own money-maker takes a lot of work and dedication. You seem driven, so I won’t lecture you but prepare to work your butt off all by yourself, okay?” she elbowed Joanne in a motherly gesture. “Promise me you won’t give up—”
Joanne would take insult to this woman’s assumptions if she wasn’t grateful for an opportunity to boast. She kept humble on most occasions, but at times like these? Oh boy, did she love naming her achievements. It’s simply appropriate. She needs to be informed. “How could I when I already own three branches of this same coffee shop in the next town over?” she batted her lashes with sass. “Thanks for the advice, ma’am, but I’m really not as new to this as you think. I started out quite young and kept going from there,” she grinned widely with her signature winner’s smile.
___
Soon after meeting Joanne, we discover that Xavier is a calculating and strategic business consultant/investor with a twisted sense of humor:
'In the past, some bigshot company nearly opened a factory in town but ultimately failed when Xavier bought it out. Not a soul had agreed to having toxic fumes pollute their sweet home. To this day, his fellow Grovers still commended him for using his wealth to protect them. Now, that old factory was a school. The second one in town. One could argue that Peachwood residents were traumatized from that last invasion, but Joanne obviously had better intentions than greedy businessmen. Because she’s not that. She’s a greedy businesswoman! He chuckled at his own joke. She’s not greedy.'
___
...while Joanne is too uptight to do human stuff like laugh at a joke when she could be busy gaining dominion over the world one coffee cup at a time. During their first interaction (a job interview), we learn that both of them are control freaks...but he's more mature than her because he can humble himself enough to at least try being her subordinate - to help her business thrive in his hometown:
“Here. I think you’ll find my ideas worth considering.”
Joanne arched an eyebrow before stopping him. “Hold up,” she reclined while holding the arms of her chair. “You haven’t gotten the job yet, sir. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but we can talk plans after you receive a position at my business. Am I clear?” He should have expected this response.
“Crystal,” he placed his suggestions back where he’d taken them...
__
Joanne is the most unlikable book heroine I've ever "met," so by the time she's training Xavier as her assistant/manager at her newest coffee spot, I'm ready for him to teach Ms. Type A Overachiever a hard lesson about submission - or, at least, how to wield authority with less defensiveness (i.e., stank, 'nicety' [nice + nasty] attitude):
'She intended for training to last seven days. They’d already knocked four days out of seven off their calendar. Her teenage workers carried a special zeal. These kids were fresh out of high school and looking to make ends meet at college. They asked many relevant questions during sessions, which Joanne appreciated.
“Okay, and what about the two tarts? Because the strawberry and cherry tarts are the same color,” someone pointed out with their hand raised. Joanne had put out samples from their menu. They covered the counter in boxes. Joanne nodded. “There’ll be blue food coloring on the bottom of the cherry tarts,” she used tongs to lift one. “See?” the staff droned a collective ‘oh,’ then took notes...
Xavier wore a white sweater over his broad upper body. It sucked on his muscles, creating a detailed picture of his solid pecs. He wore dark jeans over black leather shoes. She’d seen him every day this week and, quite frankly, was sick of his natural good looks. He had a well-trimmed beard on that face of his. That chiseled face that always wore a smile. Slender brows, slanted brown eyes, long lashes, broad nose. At this rate, Joanne could draw him. He always seemed to find himself in her personal space, staring down either pleasantly or inquisitively. His rich, dark complexion complimented his eye color and full brown lips.
“We went over the whole cup system yesterday, including how to refill the paper cups for coffee,” Xavier guided her to the cups stacked behind them. They stayed by the coffee makers, on a black desk at the back. “And while I do like how they’re arranged with each one inside another, I think that organizing them this way could pose an issue on busy days if employees are particularly scrambling,” he picked a cup off another. “Easy for me to do since I’m not stressed, but look.”
He grabbed several, and others tumbled down. Joanne bit her inner lip as people agreed with him.
“Well, that can happen with anything if you’re not careful. Mistakes are normal. That doesn’t mean there’s an issue with our cup organization.”
Was this guy for real? Did he not hear himself? It had been this way for every session. If it wasn’t the register, it was the coffeemaker, and if that wasn’t a problem, he hated their uniforms. She couldn’t tell if he had it out for her or genuinely wanted to help.
Xavier shook his head. “I think it does mean there’s an issue. My suggestion would be to line them up so it’s easy to just pick one and fill it before fastening the lid,” he demonstrated by spreading out ten cups with ease before taking one and holding it under the coffee dispenser. “See that? So, one of you will be tasked with that, too. Who wants to do cup lining?” He stood beside Joanne while searching for hands. “You want to do it, Charline?”
“Okay, no,” Joanne gently brought Xavier back to his place, then dusted her hands. She heard giggling from their young staff but ignored it. “The cups will stay how they are because they’ve been that way at all my other branches and have worked fine,” she emphasized the word fine to Xavier. “I am in charge, so trust me on this. It doesn’t mean I won’t hear your suggestion, but in terms of minor details such as cups, I don’t think we need to argue,” she clapped. “Okay, so—”
“I actually think that these so-called ‘minor details’ do require our attention. That’s how you gain success in every aspect of business,” Xavier stopped her to say. He faced the trainees while holding the counter. Once again, he’d put himself on Joanne’s level; up front and central.
“Imagine if one of those chairs had a short leg,” he waved his arm over the lobby. “Don’t you think it would say something to our customers about what we stand for?” He connected his fingertips while everyone whispered. Everyone but Joanne who was this close to snapping. Luckily, she had more self-control than that.
“Yes, but that’s not the same. Of course I’d fix a rocky chair in the main room. It’s an actual problem.” She tapped her palms before squeezing them. “As you can see, Mr. Evans, we have quite a collection of seats lining the windows, so you have nothing to worry about regarding that.”
Xavier put arms at his sides. “I’m not worried about that. It was just an example.”
“Okay, but that example is not at all similar to your cup arrangement non-issue, so I’d prefer if you’d refrain from stealing time from our other employees who likely have questions of their own but haven’t had the chance to ask because of your…” Joanne held back from insulting him. “Your enthusiasm is greatly appreciated, but like I said, this is how I’ve done it at my other branches, and it works. Remember,” she tapped the buttons on her blouse with a soft palm. “I’m in charge.”
This time, Xavier hesitated. He walked back to his place among the staring employees with a tiny smile. Concrete evidence of what Joanne suspected. He did take pleasure in undermining her authority. Or maybe she’d embarrassed him. No. Someone like him didn’t seem capable of feeling such a thing. Then why the smile?
“I know,” he said shortly. With an open hand, he bowed his head, saying to proceed. Joanne hated how he felt the need to grant permission. If he played around too much, she just might seek outside assistance...
The man scratched his short, tapered beard. “I’m not so sure if my suggestions are all that appreciated, seeing how dismissive you are of them.” His lips stretched at the corners while the staff members giggled. Joanne had no time for his games.
She stepped away with a gentle smile. “I’m sorry if it seems that way, but for everything you’ve said over the course of training, I’ve actually taken notes.” Those words weren’t completely true, but they weren’t false either. “Anyway, please remember that I’m in charge here, Mr. Evans. I’m in charge, and I know what I’m doing.”
She refused to break eye contact. It took about five seconds before Xavier nodded.
“I know.” She watched him find a spot among her other workers. I know. If she had a dime for the number of times he’d said that… “All right. No more questions? Good. Everyone can head off. Great training, guys. Can’t wait for opening.”
___
From this point on, I was just waiting for her to be served some humble pie along with her blue-bottomed cherry tarts.
Joanne's love of broadcasting her professional achievements to anyone who will listen, ungracious, impatient attitude towards Xavier's bright ideas/suggestions, and underestimation of the importance of relationship skills and emotional intelligence in the success of her businesses proves that she doesn't deserve romantic love at all. This couple is Exhibits A-Z that some people "find love" thanks to God's GRACE (undeserved favor!) - not because they are actually loveable. (Joanne means "God is gracious"; Xavier means "bright" or "new house".)
SPOILER ALERT: This couple (along with all of Joanne's other friends in the previous books) has a happily ever after. By the end, Xavier learns how to present Joanne with options to consider in a way that doesn't "undermine her authority," and the stick up Joanne's butt was removed so she's able to accept Xavier's help and is thankful for having a loving man in her life.
Imani's writing style and Xavier's cheekiness saves this story from being unfinishable for me. If you hate type A personalities as much as I do, then Joanne will be a whole trigger for you! But if you are not bothered by control freak authority figures, then this will be an enjoyable read for you.
Coffee Shop Playlist:
🎶 Miss Independent by Kelly Clarkson
🎶 Nicety by Michel'le
🎶 Hey Ya! by Outkast
🎶 Say Yes by Floetry
🎶 Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Robert Glasper ft. Lalah Hathaway & Common
Side-note: I read this book while at a popular coffee shop. As Joanne and Xavier fought over control of her Roasted Beans Coffee Spot systems, the song that played through the speakers was...a brilliant cover of Tears for Fears' 80's hit 🎶 Everybody Wants to Rule the World. The store manager (who is also a singer who looks exactly like how Xavier is described! 😯) informed me of the cover artists. So God definitely has a sense of humor just like Xavier! 😁
Relevant Scriptures:
Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise. - Proverbs 13:10 (New Living Translation)
Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
__
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. - 1 John 2:15-17
__
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. - 2 Timothy 2:22-26
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. - Colossians 3:12-15.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Right away, we find out that Joanne's a bitchy, bossy, nitpicky micromanager who's consumed with the pride of life:
“How involved are you getting here, Missy?” the head woman came out, leaving one worker to set up for the job. She wore a white bandana over cornrows that stopped right above her neck. There was a toothpick she chewed between her teeth. Joanne’s hands itched from holding tightly to heavy buckets. Red marks stretched across her palms.
“Not too much,” she lied before smiling. “Just want to make sure you guys get everything done well and to my liking. Oh, and you remember my designs, right? Your technical painter has some mugs to draw along the walls. If she needs a reminder, I have pictures on my phone. I can—” she dug through her deep pocket.
“How could we forget when you sent that long email? It was…” the lady spent about five seconds coming up with a word. “Pretty detailed and emphatic,” she crossed her arms. “So, how old did you say you were?”
Joanne stepped from the doorway when the other girls brought supplies. Their blocky boots crumpled the plastic after entering. “Twenty-four.”
The woman gawked and tapped her own cheek. “Wow. And you’ve started your own business? Good for you, girl. You’re one of a kind. But I have to warn you. Having your own money-maker takes a lot of work and dedication. You seem driven, so I won’t lecture you but prepare to work your butt off all by yourself, okay?” she elbowed Joanne in a motherly gesture. “Promise me you won’t give up—”
Joanne would take insult to this woman’s assumptions if she wasn’t grateful for an opportunity to boast. She kept humble on most occasions, but at times like these? Oh boy, did she love naming her achievements. It’s simply appropriate. She needs to be informed. “How could I when I already own three branches of this same coffee shop in the next town over?” she batted her lashes with sass. “Thanks for the advice, ma’am, but I’m really not as new to this as you think. I started out quite young and kept going from there,” she grinned widely with her signature winner’s smile.
___
Soon after meeting Joanne, we discover that Xavier is a calculating and strategic business consultant/investor with a twisted sense of humor:
'In the past, some bigshot company nearly opened a factory in town but ultimately failed when Xavier bought it out. Not a soul had agreed to having toxic fumes pollute their sweet home. To this day, his fellow Grovers still commended him for using his wealth to protect them. Now, that old factory was a school. The second one in town. One could argue that Peachwood residents were traumatized from that last invasion, but Joanne obviously had better intentions than greedy businessmen. Because she’s not that. She’s a greedy businesswoman! He chuckled at his own joke. She’s not greedy.'
___
...while Joanne is too uptight to do human stuff like laugh at a joke when she could be busy gaining dominion over the world one coffee cup at a time. During their first interaction (a job interview), we learn that both of them are control freaks...but he's more mature than her because he can humble himself enough to at least try being her subordinate - to help her business thrive in his hometown:
“Here. I think you’ll find my ideas worth considering.”
Joanne arched an eyebrow before stopping him. “Hold up,” she reclined while holding the arms of her chair. “You haven’t gotten the job yet, sir. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but we can talk plans after you receive a position at my business. Am I clear?” He should have expected this response.
“Crystal,” he placed his suggestions back where he’d taken them...
__
Joanne is the most unlikable book heroine I've ever "met," so by the time she's training Xavier as her assistant/manager at her newest coffee spot, I'm ready for him to teach Ms. Type A Overachiever a hard lesson about submission - or, at least, how to wield authority with less defensiveness (i.e., stank, 'nicety' [nice + nasty] attitude):
'She intended for training to last seven days. They’d already knocked four days out of seven off their calendar. Her teenage workers carried a special zeal. These kids were fresh out of high school and looking to make ends meet at college. They asked many relevant questions during sessions, which Joanne appreciated.
“Okay, and what about the two tarts? Because the strawberry and cherry tarts are the same color,” someone pointed out with their hand raised. Joanne had put out samples from their menu. They covered the counter in boxes. Joanne nodded. “There’ll be blue food coloring on the bottom of the cherry tarts,” she used tongs to lift one. “See?” the staff droned a collective ‘oh,’ then took notes...
Xavier wore a white sweater over his broad upper body. It sucked on his muscles, creating a detailed picture of his solid pecs. He wore dark jeans over black leather shoes. She’d seen him every day this week and, quite frankly, was sick of his natural good looks. He had a well-trimmed beard on that face of his. That chiseled face that always wore a smile. Slender brows, slanted brown eyes, long lashes, broad nose. At this rate, Joanne could draw him. He always seemed to find himself in her personal space, staring down either pleasantly or inquisitively. His rich, dark complexion complimented his eye color and full brown lips.
“We went over the whole cup system yesterday, including how to refill the paper cups for coffee,” Xavier guided her to the cups stacked behind them. They stayed by the coffee makers, on a black desk at the back. “And while I do like how they’re arranged with each one inside another, I think that organizing them this way could pose an issue on busy days if employees are particularly scrambling,” he picked a cup off another. “Easy for me to do since I’m not stressed, but look.”
He grabbed several, and others tumbled down. Joanne bit her inner lip as people agreed with him.
“Well, that can happen with anything if you’re not careful. Mistakes are normal. That doesn’t mean there’s an issue with our cup organization.”
Was this guy for real? Did he not hear himself? It had been this way for every session. If it wasn’t the register, it was the coffeemaker, and if that wasn’t a problem, he hated their uniforms. She couldn’t tell if he had it out for her or genuinely wanted to help.
Xavier shook his head. “I think it does mean there’s an issue. My suggestion would be to line them up so it’s easy to just pick one and fill it before fastening the lid,” he demonstrated by spreading out ten cups with ease before taking one and holding it under the coffee dispenser. “See that? So, one of you will be tasked with that, too. Who wants to do cup lining?” He stood beside Joanne while searching for hands. “You want to do it, Charline?”
“Okay, no,” Joanne gently brought Xavier back to his place, then dusted her hands. She heard giggling from their young staff but ignored it. “The cups will stay how they are because they’ve been that way at all my other branches and have worked fine,” she emphasized the word fine to Xavier. “I am in charge, so trust me on this. It doesn’t mean I won’t hear your suggestion, but in terms of minor details such as cups, I don’t think we need to argue,” she clapped. “Okay, so—”
“I actually think that these so-called ‘minor details’ do require our attention. That’s how you gain success in every aspect of business,” Xavier stopped her to say. He faced the trainees while holding the counter. Once again, he’d put himself on Joanne’s level; up front and central.
“Imagine if one of those chairs had a short leg,” he waved his arm over the lobby. “Don’t you think it would say something to our customers about what we stand for?” He connected his fingertips while everyone whispered. Everyone but Joanne who was this close to snapping. Luckily, she had more self-control than that.
“Yes, but that’s not the same. Of course I’d fix a rocky chair in the main room. It’s an actual problem.” She tapped her palms before squeezing them. “As you can see, Mr. Evans, we have quite a collection of seats lining the windows, so you have nothing to worry about regarding that.”
Xavier put arms at his sides. “I’m not worried about that. It was just an example.”
“Okay, but that example is not at all similar to your cup arrangement non-issue, so I’d prefer if you’d refrain from stealing time from our other employees who likely have questions of their own but haven’t had the chance to ask because of your…” Joanne held back from insulting him. “Your enthusiasm is greatly appreciated, but like I said, this is how I’ve done it at my other branches, and it works. Remember,” she tapped the buttons on her blouse with a soft palm. “I’m in charge.”
This time, Xavier hesitated. He walked back to his place among the staring employees with a tiny smile. Concrete evidence of what Joanne suspected. He did take pleasure in undermining her authority. Or maybe she’d embarrassed him. No. Someone like him didn’t seem capable of feeling such a thing. Then why the smile?
“I know,” he said shortly. With an open hand, he bowed his head, saying to proceed. Joanne hated how he felt the need to grant permission. If he played around too much, she just might seek outside assistance...
The man scratched his short, tapered beard. “I’m not so sure if my suggestions are all that appreciated, seeing how dismissive you are of them.” His lips stretched at the corners while the staff members giggled. Joanne had no time for his games.
She stepped away with a gentle smile. “I’m sorry if it seems that way, but for everything you’ve said over the course of training, I’ve actually taken notes.” Those words weren’t completely true, but they weren’t false either. “Anyway, please remember that I’m in charge here, Mr. Evans. I’m in charge, and I know what I’m doing.”
She refused to break eye contact. It took about five seconds before Xavier nodded.
“I know.” She watched him find a spot among her other workers. I know. If she had a dime for the number of times he’d said that… “All right. No more questions? Good. Everyone can head off. Great training, guys. Can’t wait for opening.”
___
From this point on, I was just waiting for her to be served some humble pie along with her blue-bottomed cherry tarts.
Joanne's love of broadcasting her professional achievements to anyone who will listen, ungracious, impatient attitude towards Xavier's bright ideas/suggestions, and underestimation of the importance of relationship skills and emotional intelligence in the success of her businesses proves that she doesn't deserve romantic love at all. This couple is Exhibits A-Z that some people "find love" thanks to God's GRACE (undeserved favor!) - not because they are actually loveable. (Joanne means "God is gracious"; Xavier means "bright" or "new house".)
SPOILER ALERT: This couple (along with all of Joanne's other friends in the previous books) has a happily ever after. By the end, Xavier learns how to present Joanne with options to consider in a way that doesn't "undermine her authority," and the stick up Joanne's butt was removed so she's able to accept Xavier's help and is thankful for having a loving man in her life.
Imani's writing style and Xavier's cheekiness saves this story from being unfinishable for me. If you hate type A personalities as much as I do, then Joanne will be a whole trigger for you! But if you are not bothered by control freak authority figures, then this will be an enjoyable read for you.
Coffee Shop Playlist:
🎶 Miss Independent by Kelly Clarkson
🎶 Nicety by Michel'le
🎶 Hey Ya! by Outkast
🎶 Say Yes by Floetry
🎶 Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Robert Glasper ft. Lalah Hathaway & Common
Side-note: I read this book while at a popular coffee shop. As Joanne and Xavier fought over control of her Roasted Beans Coffee Spot systems, the song that played through the speakers was...a brilliant cover of Tears for Fears' 80's hit 🎶 Everybody Wants to Rule the World. The store manager (who is also a singer who looks exactly like how Xavier is described! 😯) informed me of the cover artists. So God definitely has a sense of humor just like Xavier! 😁
Relevant Scriptures:
Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise. - Proverbs 13:10 (New Living Translation)
Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
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Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. - 1 John 2:15-17
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Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. - 2 Timothy 2:22-26
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. - Colossians 3:12-15.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 24, 2023
In Charge by Imani Price reads like a book that is (1) written by a chauvinist and (2) is a lesson in gaslighting.
Joanne, through hard work and experience in her chosen profession, is the owner of a SUCCESSFUL chain of coffee shops. She is annoyingly micromanaging and exacting, but at the same time she’s thought of every detail to make her shops run the way she wants them to. Her methods have worked well enough that she branches out to open a shop in a neighboring town. She purchases an old post office in Peachwood Grove sold by Xavier’s real estate company and opens her business.
Xavier, a local businessman with deep ties to the community, visits one of Joanne’s coffee shops and likes what he sees. He approves the sale of the business but decides that her shop could be better with his guidance and direction. He sets aside all of his other business and takes a job as a manager at Joanne’s shop.
From the very beginning, these two clash.
At every turn, Xavier defies, challenges it changes everything that Joanne establishes.
Joanna comes off as being condescending and overbearing, making corrections before mistakes are made in a way that was off putting to read. Her constant claims of, “I’m in charge,” seemed childish. If you have to keep reminding people that you’re in charge then clearly you aren’t. How she had a successful chain of stores without learning when and how to fire an insubordinate staff member was a question I kept asking myself. And the way that she’s written makes it inconceivable that she wouldn’t have done her due diligence in checking out his background, much less kept putting up with his behavior.
At every turn, Xavier defies, challenges it changes everything that Joanne establishes. He’s never worked at or owned a coffee shop and yet he knows better than she how to make one successful. He undermines her authority with her staff, with other professionals in town and with her clients to the point that I had to ask myself why he hadn’t opened a coffee shop of his own, if he’d wanted one so badly.
Had Joanne opened a coffee shop in town and it not been successful, it would have made more sense that Xavier stepped in and made suggestions, however, she was never given that chance. Right from the start Xavier, not as one professional to another but underhandedly, takes over her business. We’ll never know if Joanne’s business model would have worked in Peachwood Grove because Xavier took it right over, all the while telling her that he was doing it for her own good, for the success of her business, for her. He admits that he does what he does in part because he likes annoying her. Somehow the reader is supposed to believe this is both cute, loving, and professional rather than manipulative and controlling.
Frankly by the time we got to the point of Joanne admitting that she had romantic feeling for Xavier, I was over both of them.
Although I liked the authors easy writing style, the characters and the storyline really didn’t work for me.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Joanne, through hard work and experience in her chosen profession, is the owner of a SUCCESSFUL chain of coffee shops. She is annoyingly micromanaging and exacting, but at the same time she’s thought of every detail to make her shops run the way she wants them to. Her methods have worked well enough that she branches out to open a shop in a neighboring town. She purchases an old post office in Peachwood Grove sold by Xavier’s real estate company and opens her business.
Xavier, a local businessman with deep ties to the community, visits one of Joanne’s coffee shops and likes what he sees. He approves the sale of the business but decides that her shop could be better with his guidance and direction. He sets aside all of his other business and takes a job as a manager at Joanne’s shop.
From the very beginning, these two clash.
At every turn, Xavier defies, challenges it changes everything that Joanne establishes.
Joanna comes off as being condescending and overbearing, making corrections before mistakes are made in a way that was off putting to read. Her constant claims of, “I’m in charge,” seemed childish. If you have to keep reminding people that you’re in charge then clearly you aren’t. How she had a successful chain of stores without learning when and how to fire an insubordinate staff member was a question I kept asking myself. And the way that she’s written makes it inconceivable that she wouldn’t have done her due diligence in checking out his background, much less kept putting up with his behavior.
At every turn, Xavier defies, challenges it changes everything that Joanne establishes. He’s never worked at or owned a coffee shop and yet he knows better than she how to make one successful. He undermines her authority with her staff, with other professionals in town and with her clients to the point that I had to ask myself why he hadn’t opened a coffee shop of his own, if he’d wanted one so badly.
Had Joanne opened a coffee shop in town and it not been successful, it would have made more sense that Xavier stepped in and made suggestions, however, she was never given that chance. Right from the start Xavier, not as one professional to another but underhandedly, takes over her business. We’ll never know if Joanne’s business model would have worked in Peachwood Grove because Xavier took it right over, all the while telling her that he was doing it for her own good, for the success of her business, for her. He admits that he does what he does in part because he likes annoying her. Somehow the reader is supposed to believe this is both cute, loving, and professional rather than manipulative and controlling.
Frankly by the time we got to the point of Joanne admitting that she had romantic feeling for Xavier, I was over both of them.
Although I liked the authors easy writing style, the characters and the storyline really didn’t work for me.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 23, 2023
I did not hate this but I also do not love this story.
The MMC Xavier is a cinnamon roll alphahole. That’s the best way to describe him, some will eat it up but in a small town contemporary romance it feels odd. Xavier is infatuated (that can go one of two ways) with Joanne from their first meeting and manipulates some circumstances in her life to keep them in close proximity. This is a huge concern that’s quickly brushed over.
Joanne is a young business owner that’s expanding to a nearby small town. While navigating through this transition she hires a well-meaning manager. They butt heads a lot, and she doesn’t realize she *likes* them until 60% in. Her friends were a nice addition from the series. While we know that Joanne is 24 and Xavier is a bit older there’s not any discussion further.
There is quite a bit of telling and many descriptions throughout. Just a few quotes:
“He must have pushed Joanne off the edge. She definitely isn’t playing around with me. He stared deeply into her dark brown eyes. So fierce she was. Strict and steadfast in her beliefs. His pulse went wild like an erratic vehicle driven by a drunkard.”
“He’d only seen her unbarricaded while addressing her friend. He wanted that more often. In her business especially. I always get what I want.“
“Her anger infatuated him in inexpressible ways. Those fiery eyes, her scrunched nose, and intense glare.”
“During the weeks they'd grown closer, he'd become that for her. Someone who gave guidance and kept her in check.”
he would do well in a lil dark-ish romance. Thanks to the author and book sprout for the ARC, all thoughts are my own.
The MMC Xavier is a cinnamon roll alphahole. That’s the best way to describe him, some will eat it up but in a small town contemporary romance it feels odd. Xavier is infatuated (that can go one of two ways) with Joanne from their first meeting and manipulates some circumstances in her life to keep them in close proximity. This is a huge concern that’s quickly brushed over.
Joanne is a young business owner that’s expanding to a nearby small town. While navigating through this transition she hires a well-meaning manager. They butt heads a lot, and she doesn’t realize she *likes* them until 60% in. Her friends were a nice addition from the series. While we know that Joanne is 24 and Xavier is a bit older there’s not any discussion further.
There is quite a bit of telling and many descriptions throughout. Just a few quotes:
“He must have pushed Joanne off the edge. She definitely isn’t playing around with me. He stared deeply into her dark brown eyes. So fierce she was. Strict and steadfast in her beliefs. His pulse went wild like an erratic vehicle driven by a drunkard.”
“He’d only seen her unbarricaded while addressing her friend. He wanted that more often. In her business especially. I always get what I want.“
“Her anger infatuated him in inexpressible ways. Those fiery eyes, her scrunched nose, and intense glare.”
“During the weeks they'd grown closer, he'd become that for her. Someone who gave guidance and kept her in check.”
he would do well in a lil dark-ish romance. Thanks to the author and book sprout for the ARC, all thoughts are my own.
December 23, 2023
Romance, coffee and a cute guy? what more could a girl like me ask for. I have been enjoying this series, and this addition was so good. Now although Xavier was cute, it took me a minute to warm up to him, because he came across as a hole at the beginning, but when it's an enemies to lovers troupe, that's sometimes to be expected. I did like seeing his growth and change throughout the story. Now on to the next book in the series.
I received a copy of the book via booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions
I received a copy of the book via booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions
October 20, 2023
Loved this story line... this was my first read by this Arthur look forward to reading more from her...
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 24, 2023
Well written. Good read. Fell in love with the characters! They are great together. It is a must read!.
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