First Comes You

by Laquana Brumfield

Alexis James may have been the oldest, but she was never the one to take life too seriously. She believed in taking things as they come and enjoying them while they lasted. Her live in the moment attitude is the only thing that helped her bow out gracefully when the man she’d been spending all her time with decided that time was up. The only problem was she still had to go to work the next day and he would be right across the hall.

Emmanuel Cooper had been married before and decided never to go down that road again. After his ex-wife took him for everything he had, he vowed he’d never commit to another woman. The sight of Alexis James walking down a beach wasn’t going to change that. At least it wasn’t supposed to, but it was becoming harder to fall asleep without her tucked safely in his arms.

Love can sneak up on you, and timing is everything, but when business is mixed with pleasure… chaos is sure to follow.

94 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 5, 2025

About the author

Laquana Brumfield is an Army officer and captivating romance author. Her realistic stories are a direct depiction of black love and the issues that black lovers face. Laquana has a knack for penning enchanting love stories and incorporating just enough urban living and sass to give her readers the emotional high they are longing for. Laquana is a lover of literature and she feeds this love by reading and writing enduring love tales. She has a B.A in English and Creative Writing and is currently and a M.A in English.

Reviews

['The Book Queen' · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

[NubianJoí · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh 😩! thanks for nothing Kindle & Apple services‼️ I lost my original review of “First Comes You (Alpha Third Battalion - Book 2) which was a mediocre reading experience (3.50-3.75 ⭐️’s) if you enjoy men like Officer Emmanuel “Top” Cooper indecisiveness, inconsistent, manipulative, alpha male dominant tendencies with emotional, trauma & regret issues🥴‼️ ….“Creepy Alpha Army Officer for $1,000 Alex”…WITAHN‼️😬‼️🙂‍↔️‼️🚩‼️”. Alexis gurlllll run for the hills, “Top” ain’t no 🤬catch‼️Unfortunately, he demonstrated disingenuous intentions at the Army’s F&F’s Day celebration. Foremost, “Method” not “Top” pursued Alexis at the end of Book 1. Nonetheless, he was aware of the eight years age disparity between he & Alexis even by association through his friend Cameron. Yet, he still engaged in a physical relationship with her, only to used her age as a justification to end their tryst. Red flag 🚩#1. Thereafter, “Top’s passive aggressive behaviors ain’t attractive either 🤨! “Top” ended their cohabitation with benefits. However, in public he’s exhibits jealousy, jeopardizes his military career & or a court marshal by instigating a fight with a civilian 🤦🏾‍♀️etc. (This unstable ninja is working my only nerve) Red flag 🚩#2. Finally the most egregious deception, why not initiate a conversation with Lieutenant Colonel James, Alexis & Anissa’s father who is a higher ranking officer 🤨⁉️ To avoid impropriety, insubordination & respect alone should warrant an open conversation between the two men about “Top’s” intentions. Red flag 🚩#3. Alexis, love, relationships & disappointments are a part of life’s maturation. However, trauma, alpha band-aids & bondage are the potential residual emotional scars of poor choices 🤷🏾‍♀️‼️

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swoon Worthy Read❤️😍😘

OMG 😆 this was a really good read. Very swoon worthy and I loved the characters and the no excessive drama. The only drama that Lexi and Emmanuel had was when she took a job at his place of employment and did not tell him. Now I will admit that Lexi was wrong for not telling him seeming as though she just left his bed (literally) the morning that she was supposed to start, but I also felt that Emmanuel overreacted after he found out. He was cool with it at first, but then, when Lexi started questioning some of his decisions, he just couldn’t deal with it. I felt like Emmanuel was being a diva drama king. They were a cute couple through and through and I’m glad that Emmanuel got out of his own way and resumed their relationship. What’s that old saying? “Never miss a good thang til it’s gone.”

[Jacknthebooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this story. Top AKA Emmanuel and Alexis' story was everything. I loved them together. Now Top made me want to shake he when he did what he did, but he didn't let that last long. I loved how Alexis didn't back down from Top when they bumped heads and forced him to communicate. This story had me all in my feels. This army base that the author writes about had my heart. I can't wait to see whose story will be next.

[Kinya Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read!

Emmanuel & Alexis!!! The cover gives strong & sexy vibes, and that's what you get through the pages. Emmanuel (Top) is an alpha male through & through. Alexis is smart, strong & sexy. She's only accepting real commitment. Emmanuel struggles to gives Alexis what she needs.

[Mia L Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Comes You

Love everything about Cap. He is a man's man, and he doesn't take any shorts.

He loved Lexi from the beginning but was afraid loving her would leave him broken as before. Lexi had the same issues, so it was awesome seeing them work together to reach a love they both deserved.

[Selina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t like it

I felt like the whole mental military soldier mental health thing was not the best to be tackled in such a short novel like the topic is really heavy and it dragged the book down since there was not much pages to work with it kind of made the book boring. Also it didn’t feel like people really falling in love but more like lust.

[Marsha Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read

This was a good book but I gave a three star rating because I just didn’t like how the character talked to the young lady and with the age difference he was controlling and she was written too weak😏. I know it’s fiction but some young lady may read this and think this is ok 😞

It could have been a good love story had it been more positive.

[Deborah Booker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved It

I enjoyed this story just as much as the first book! Alexis and Top (Emmanuel) They had some challenges, but they survived them! I loved Anissa and Alexis.sisterly bond, just as I enjoyed Cap and Top brotherhood! I enjoyed the ending and age ain't nothing but a number!

[Tommie Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected Love

Alexis and Emmanuel were both afraid of love. I loved the drama that evolved from them working together.
Alexis being a psychiatrist helped her break the barriers that Emmanuel built to avoid being in love.

[Shonda Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short read!!

I loved this story!!. Top (Emmanual) and Alexis were really what each other needed and didnt know it!! They each had walls built and thought they were protecting themselves!

[Kendra Holiday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I really loved this story! Beautiful story of passion, love, and understanding. I am a veteran and I loved the way the story flowed and the conflict resolutions. I think I read this book out of order so I am going to find the book that belongs to this one.

[Shahtia Gay-hairston · Rating 5 out of 5]

First

I really like Alexis and her sis Anissa. They were both built tough and past relationship woes made them smarter. Top has me side eyeing these military men!

[Nikita · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

[Pamela session · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥰🥰🥰

Beautiful loved from beginning to end. Amazing 👏🏾 loved the couple how they reconnected back to ❤️ 😍 💖 definitely book Bae I laughed cried shout for them to win together

[charlita allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the military aspect with romance. A short nice story.

[nikita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

I loved their love story. Emmanuel knew she was the one and didn’t waste time letting her know and propose to her.

[LaDonna B · Rating 5 out of 5]

*swoons*

Omg!! They were so cute. Didn’t even realize both couples were age gaps until the end. Keep these coming please!

[Lekesha Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really dislike the things are getting too serious I can’t handle it so ima push you away trope. Top was too old to play the games and emotional immature.

[Shandera Reynolds]

TOPnotch

Loved how Top and Lex love story played out! Such a sweet beautiful story🥰

I read the first book and this one! Loving this author so far🥰