Whew. Okay, deep breath, bestie—because Purple Demon Emoji by Jenica Johnson? It took me OUT.
Let’s start with the setup. You’ve got two couples at the center of this mess (and I mean that in the best way): Eligah & Danielle and Syn & Valencia.
Eligah and Danielle were high school sweethearts, that one-in-a-million type love—but she left for law school and broke his heart in the process. And when I say broke? I mean shattered. But what did this man do? He waited. FOURTEEN YEARS. That’s right. Fourteen years of hoping she’d come back, and when she finally does? She’s married. Married. But babyyyy, Eligah said "that don’t mean nothin' to me." The moment he laid eyes on her again, it was game on. That man didn’t just hold a torch, he was ready to burn the whole block down for her. And the way he swoops in with that bold, "I'm still yours" energy?? I was SCREAMING.
Now don’t get it twisted, Danielle’s husband had her in hell. I won’t spoil, but just know the disrespect was loud and wrong. All she did was love him, and he showed her exactly why she should’ve left a long time ago. So when Eligah shows up, with all that patience, pain, and pining bundled into one fine-ass package? It was over for that man. Danielle woke up, chose freedom, and those divorce papers were on the table FAST.
Now on to Syn and Valencia. Lawd. Syn is the classic "man who fumbled the bag and knows it." He messed up five years ago, had a whole baby on Valencia, and now he’s been tryna crawl back ever since. And honestly? The man is fighting for his life and I loved every second of it. Valencia is that girl. Thick, smart, unbothered, and glowing with that soft-but-not-to-be-played-with energy. She’s guarded, but not bitter. And Syn? He’s tryna prove himself, but he keeps tripping over his own mess. From the persistent baby mama to his struggle with growing up for real, it’s a journey—and I’m locked in.
The tension? Immaculate. The pacing? Fast but full. The drama? Top-tier. And that cliffhanger? BAYBEEEEE. I clutched my chest like an old church lady. My jaw dropped. My kindle nearly flew. And the best part? Part two is already out, so no need to suffer.
Spice-wise? Danielle and Eligah had me sweating, not even gon' lie. Their chemistry was off the charts. Syn and Valencia’s spice is more about tension and emotional intensity in book one, but I can feel it building.
5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommend for fans of grown Black romance, second chances, messy love, and men who act like you put them on this earth for a reason.
READ THIS. Trust me.