Calculated Risk

by D.L. White, AdotKEdits (Editor)

When heartbreak leads to love…

All her life, Imani Thatcher has played it safe, making the smart moves that landed her a prime spot at one of Atlanta's top financial firms. When heartbreak shatters her carefully planned world, she finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew about love and life.

Desmond Taylor has enough on his plate keeping Bright Pathways Youth Center running and Atlanta's at-risk teens off the streets. A polished financial analyst from the high gloss end of Atlanta should be the last thing on his mind, but from the moment she walks through his doors, he cannot deny the electricity between them.

When it comes to matters of the heart, love is always a calculated risk.

Genres: Audiobook

157 pages, Paperback

Published April 5, 2025

About the author

DL White writes romance novels that celebrate Black love across multiple series, including the Ruby's Novels, Black Diamond Bay collection, and Potter Lake Small Town Romance. Her fifteen-plus titles offer rich, nuanced relationships that center Black characters. Through The Books by DL White Bookcast, she shares her current reads and writing updates. An Atlanta-based author and Executive Administrative Assistant, White finds inspiration from lakeshores to white sand beaches. When she's not writing, you'll find her chasing the perfect Sunday brunch or enjoying a great cup of coffee.

Browse, read, and buy her work at BooksByDLWhite.com.

Reviews

[Shamoya Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Characters: Imani & Desmond
Narrator: Author DL White

I really enjoyed this short story. It follows the FMC Imani a financial analyst, whose life just got changed after getting some devastating news about the man she’s been dating and thought she was building something with. Then there is the MMC Desmond who is trying to rebuild his life after serving time. He works at a youth center mentoring teenagers, trying to help them stay on the straight and narrow. These two cross paths when Imani has to do some pro bono work for her firm teaching classes at the youth center Desmond runs.
I loved how layered this story was, both characters coming from different backgrounds, Desmond dealing with the after effects of his time served and how it affected him and his family. I like that DL incorporated the topic of teaching financial literacy to the younger community. While the story was short it had a lot of depth.

[Nikita · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Lisette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good story! I loved the chemistry and banter tween the main characters. I love that the author also narrated the book because nothing was lost in translation for me.

[Gwendolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this was a good story. I felt the real rawness of each main character's life situation circumstance. Imani with a dishonest boyfriend, who omitted that he happened to be married. And Desmond who did a prison stint after his brother framed him. Both needed to heal!

They both were vulnerable and had to learn to open up and trust again. I liked the realness of their blossoming relationship.

Imani and Desmond ended up being what each needed, to be loved, seen, and supported. The kids at the community center loved Desmond and came to love Imani. I loved how the two worked together to write grants and seek donations to keep the community center opened so that kids would have a safe place after school and during the summer.

The two were just right for each other.

[books_over_bs · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Yessss

This was my kind of love story. The couple had instant and intense chemistry. They were both smart and witty. I liked that Imani didn’t immediately write off Desmond because of his past. She took a chance to find out what really happened. My favorite thing was their courtship was easy and flowed naturally. No unnecessary angst and break ups. They had such a good vibe. This was a feel good story.

[Jsin Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

If D.L. is not going to do anything else, she is going to deep dive into the intricacies of her MCs careers on the day-to-day. That said, starting this book in the way she decided, was certainly a decision...my goodness. Left me staring at my phone for a good minute. I enjoyed the way in which Desmond and Imani landed in each other's orbit, and how Imani navigated her growing feelings for D after learning about his past.

[Msgonzo10 · Rating 5 out of 5]

DL is a fave so I knew I would love this story and I DID. The love story alongside the redemption journey was perfection. Loved watching Imani and Desmond fall in love and make a difference. Of course I wanted more (like always LOL) but we were given a satisfying end — for everyone — and I loved that most of all.

[shadiedaze · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first DL White novella. This audiobook was just over three hours long. It is a contemporary romance novel set in Atlanta, Georgia. The characters were relatable, and the intimate scenes were a 4.5 out of 5 jalapenos. The author narrated the story well. I enjoyed listening to this novella and will look for other DL White books in the future.

[Hyacinth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a short and powerful read. Relationships, all of them require work. Parental relationships are hard. Sibling relationships are challenging. And let's not even talk about work relationship/situationships. I have worked with youth all of my life and to work with them is one of the most difficult and challenging rewards ever. I found a new author,

[Nakyra Ware · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute and refreshing read. Two people who have had bad experiences find each other in the effort to help kids learn about life and find each other. If you're looking for a cute, fast steamy read, this is the book for you

[Celeste celestially_yours Bradford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this second chance at life and love romance. Characters were well thought out. Just enough sexy scenes. Setting was great and really enjoyed the youth ‘s role in the story. I highly recommend this one

[Jessica Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed

I was engrossed in this pretty much from start to finish. I loved Desmond, I enjoyed how Imani wasn't afraid to shoot her shot with him, I loved how they worked together at the center and their rapport with the kids there. I dug it a lot.

[Elane M · Rating 5 out of 5]

a good ending

So glad that Desmond and Imani got together, that had to be God that put them together. Loved it author

[Brittany Mesha’ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the Story, but the The Ending….

I feel like I missed the ending. It didn’t seem finished. I will definitely still try another book by the author.

[Julie O'Hara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun characters and very sexy

I enjoyed the characters and the subplots. No big surprises just a nice flow of the story. Good job DL

[Megan White · Rating 4 out of 5]

The love story was sweet and the characters were lovable!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet contemporary romance that illustrates the benefits of looking beyond the surface to see the person; especially, when society says otherwise.

[Shameka Erby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desmond and Imani