The Opportunity: An Age-Gap Romance

by T.M. Richardson

One Kiss Can Change Everything

For Nadine, a stranger’s kiss reignites a dormant flame.

From the outside looking in, Nadine Davis-Moody has the perfect life. Gorgeous husband. Beautiful children. An amazing job as CEO of a pharmaceutical company. Beneath the facade of a perfect life, Nadine harbors a secret desire she's kept hidden for years. A chance encounter at the one club she never thought she’d go to reignites a forbidden passion she’s tried her best to forget. A single stolen kiss with a mysterious dancer sets her world ablaze.

The unexpected appearance of that same dancer as her son's new nanny throws Nadine's carefully constructed reality into a tailspin. As their connection deepens, Nadine must confront her hidden desires and question what it means to live authentically.

Can she reconcile her past with her present desires, or will the flames of passion that she's suppressed for so long consume her?

Genres: Romance, Why Choose, Audiobook, LGBT, African American Romance

278 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2025

About the author

Unconventional Stories for Unconventional Readers.

Former sex blogger turned novelist, T.M Richardson writes indie erotic, high-heat romance featuring Black, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ representation.

T.M. is a Southern girl who is Belle in the streets and Blanche in the sheets.

Reviews

[Darcy J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0⭐️ and 3.5🌶️
I was not here for Nadine. I am so sorry. I feel like Eddie should’ve left her. The therapist, Tatum, and Alisa told her several times to talk to him and the way he had to find out was heartbreaking to me. I understand he got over it but wow. A double standard because there’s no way she would have been cool if the situation was reversed. She had a hard time accepting he was watching p*rn!
The age gap was A LOT for me.
I would’ve much rather she ran into Ally earlier on, been honest about her feelings, and then they had a thing with Eddie instead of Zaire.
Other than that, I loved when all the girls were together. And the spice was SPICY! 🥵👏🏾

[Ebony · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a huge difference from the first two books.

Respectfully, Nadine is trash. She’s a liar and she imo it was almost like cheating vs a poly relationship. Eddie deserved better.

Idk this one just did not hit the mark for me.

[Taija Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something different

This one was way different than the first 2 books. While she warned us in the beginning that it’d be a semi-slow burn… i wasn’t ready. While i completely understand her journey, Nadine PISSED ME OFF so bad!! I screamed at this book more times than I’d like to admit! But when it got good, IT GOT GOOD!!! Emotions were high towards the end. While not as great the first 2, this one was a good representation of the journey A LOT of black women take to become the happiest and come to know who they really are. It was a love hate relationship with this one. But as always, love wins!😍🖤🫶🏾

[Charmy Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to start this review off by saying that I have read the other two books in the series and thoroughly enjoyed them. I feel like me and this book didn't quite vibe. Nothing personal against the author or her writing style (again, I thoroughly enjoyed the other two books). I just didn't care for Nadine. I ended up giving this book a 2.5/5.

**Light Spoilers** Nadine irked my nerves all throughout this book. I was hoping that she would grow on me and that her story would soften me to her actions...it didn't. Nadine was VERY hypocritical of everyone that was supposed to be within her inner circle. She judged her friends and their decision to be in poly relationships and she shamed her husband for his kinks/fantasies. She was extremely selfish and only had a moment of understanding when she found herself in a similar situation and saw the personal benefits. Her upbringing and early life were difficult. I will give her that. But at every turn she had to add her two cents into a situation she didn't agree with. She constantly threw shade and her best friends and their situations. We later find out that she was pretty judgmental toward her daughter as well. And the way she judged her husband for a private moment just made it hard for me to see any path to redemption for her as a character.

From the moment Eddie found out her "secret" he tried to be understanding. He tried to be a safe space. He even agreed to let her be ENM while he remained monogamous. Regardless of how it was finessed, Nadine was a cheater. Prior to them having the conversation about boundaries and restrictions in pertaining to her taking on a partner she had already been physical with someone else without her husband's knowledge. She lied about who the woman was. She lied about the nature of their dynamic. She was keeping secrets. She was a cheater. Nadine even continued to lie after Eddie showed his understanding and requested that she be open and honest with him from that moment forward. And even after they had the conversation about his boundaries regarding the situation, she sat there and agreed knowing that she had already violated over half of those boundaries he set! She was actively lying to him at the moment she "agreed" to his terms.

I definitely didn't like Zaire as a character either. She was also selfish. She didn't respect Nadine and Eddie's marriage AT ALL. Granted, the first time she encountered Nadine was with Eddie, but just about every time afterward was without him. After accepting the position to work for them, she kept making advances toward Nadine even after Nadine said no. She proceeded anyway. Even before she found out that Eddie was considering accepting Nadine to have a partner, she was pushing her way onto Nadine every chance she got. IN THAT MAN'S HOUSE!!! Even at times when E.J. was home!!!! And it seemed like going after people already in relationships was her thing (hard eye roll). Maybe if she had talked to people before trying to jump on them and catch feelings, she wouldn't be in the position to be "hurt" by someone that is unavailable.

I just don't understand how Nadine couldn't come to terms with poly relationships or her husband's fantasies until they benefitted her personally. It felt like she didn't really fully accept them. She only "accepted" them because it allowed her to do what she wanted to do and not feel guilty about it.

This has to be my least favorite of the series. But just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean it won't be for someone else.

[Lexc · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only person I liked in this "poly romance" was Eddie. He deserved so much better.
Nadine was trash. I understand her trauma and all but none of that excused how she treated that man and I didn't like Zaire's ass either. From the beginning she disrespected that mans house and Nadine let her. I just couldn't root for them like I did the first two romances.

[Sigrid Boggan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ —although I liked Nadine and loved exploring the topic of purity culture, there were things that didn’t work for me. First, although the characters had an agreement about how the open marriage would be, I don’t feel as though it was honored and to me, that’s cheating. She could have communicated better in my opinion. Second, I personally wished the female love interest was the childhood friend instead of some random much younger woman. It would have made more sense to me and brought everything back full circle.

Other than that, the book was enjoyable. I actually see a lot of myself in Nadine growing up in super religious family myself so I related to a lot in this book. The book is super spicy 🌶️. Honestly, I’d argue that a few of the spicy scenes were unnecessary but that’s just a personal preference. I tend to get bored if there’s a lot of spicy scenes back to back

[Taees_Cozy_Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the story line of this book but Nadine was pissing me of all the way through lol. I was like get it together dammit lol!!!

[Fabby · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my least favorite book out of the series. Nadine was so selfish. She was so judgmental with her best friends with their sexual preferences, and even worse when her husband opened up to her what he would like to explore in the bedroom. This heffa looked at her husband with disgust, knowing damn well she had skeletons hiding in her closet. In my opinion, Nadine cheated on her husband with the nanny, and the way he found out about them during their sexcapade, even though Eddie forgave Nadine at the end, still doesn't take away from the fact that Eddie gave her a safe space to open up to him about her feelings and she still did what she did behind his back. Nadine is SELFISHHHHH!!!!

[Izzy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nadine is the actual worst. Eddie deserved better tbh coz there is no way this would have worked if tabled were turned. The woman got pissy over porn but would cheat 🙄 Zaire was also trash came in that man's house to be nothing but disrespectful anyhow I don't like cheaters so this was not for me

[LaTosha Webber · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

To Franklin!!! If this was any other author or series I would have DNF’d because as hard as I tried and as much as I sympathized with Nadine I couldn’t stand her and I didn’t particularly like Z either. The way she went about everything just wasn’t my cup of tea even though i understood she was operating out of fear and shame. I was here for Eddie but even he annoyed me by the end. Cause are we just ignoring the complete violation of boundaries? Anyway, I loved the sentiment of the story and the series of Black women deserving love on their terms however that looks and all the happiness in the world. There were just so many things I did not enjoy. I got very little joy out of most of the story and unfortunately I didn’t particularly like the narrator either. Her male voice wasn’t pleasant and sometimes the over enunciations were annoying. Honestly the most satisfying part of the story was the board meeting scene. So I’m a little disappointed with the way the series ended I knew it was going to be a challenge because Nadine wasn’t likable in the previous books but I didn’t expect to be this disappointed.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the first two books in this series so I knew I had to pick this one up. This book felt different than the last two. There was a district lack of communication from the married couple that made the addition of a third person feel secretive. I appreciated that the female lead was actively seeking therapy for her issues and that certain tensions between characters was left to fester instead of using a magic wand to fix everything at the conclusion of the story.

It was a good read but it would not be the first book I suggest from this author. We do get to check in with the characters from the first two books, too.

[Bree Chandler · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75/5. Nadine is not a likable character. Even from the other books you feel this way. I don’t mind her being unlikable; if that’s the point of the story. However, her actions, which frankly put… fall under cheating. She lied and withheld too much and she literally had zero reason to. She had such a supportive and understanding partner. I don’t like the way polyamory was showcased in this book and Nadine simply got too many passes. Her partner should’ve left her. For a 40+ year old woman she extremely immature in multiple ways and her partner could do better. The spice was pretty good though. Easily my least fav book in the series.

[Pookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nadine x Zaire x Eddie

My Girl Got A Girlfriend - Young Dro

This was the final book of the Secrets Series and I must say that it was DIFFERENT! This one started out really slow for me. It felt like the storyline was dragging and it took me forever to finish it. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy it, but it did have a different “feel” than the other books in the series. Like I said….different.

Parts of the book frustrated me. Nadine’s dishonesty and cheating was unnecessary especially since Eddie gave her a safe space to open and honest about what she wanted. But I get it, we were experiencing her growth.

The book was definitely spicy and at times I clutched my imaginary pearls. I loved how Ms. Richardson wrapped up the series with the perfect bow. Hopefully she’ll bless us with more of our favorite bartender in future works.

3.5 ⭐️

[KarynReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nadine did some soul searching and a whole lot of awakening of emotions in this book. Her way of opening up to Eddie was done the right way, but she handled telling him about Zaire sll wrong. He eventually got what he needed from it, but she annoyed me about it.She would have had a fit if tables were turned.

I thought the author did a good job incorporating therapy. A situation like theirs definitely needed it. Nadine being suppressed by her parents early on caused alot of unnecessary stress.

She more than made up for it 😳🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Shenell S · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried, I really tried. The first two books gave me hope but I couldn’t. I already didn’t care for Nadine from the previous books but I tried to give her a chance. I couldn’t finish the book because she’s was too much of a hypocrite in so many ways.

She cheated on Eddie prior to her therapy session with him and then continued to lie about. She was selfish and he was getting the short end of the stick. Nadine was in therapy for so many years and yet she’s learned nothing.

[Jazmine Newsome · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️🔥

[Ticola · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shows the progression of the writer and pulled things together in a more cohesive manner…although Malcom’s appearance felt forced and I was shocked Ally didn’t show up in the bonus scene!!

[Kelley · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 40% it was NOT giving like the first two books!!!

[ari taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

LITERALLY WTH. THIS WAS CHEATINGGGGG. poor eddie bro. like i really liked the topics discussed in her therapy sessions but the cheating just completely threw me out of this book. like wth! and for the author to say that it wasn’t cheating… girl yes it was!!! the hell.

[Alise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately my least favorite of the series. It seemed like it was trying to focus on more serious topics and delve deeper into the emotional side but it missed the mark for me.

First it starts off with a flashback chapter full of homophobic slurs that are used to explain why the FMC suppresses her sexuality but it just felt so disjointed from the rest of the book and was a really off putting way to start. Then towards the end the abuse from the parents is essentially wiped away in a single conversation. There’s no actual accountability for it. And those 30+ years of repression are pretty much overlooked after one therapy conversation and one interaction.

The relationship with the therapist was interesting and the impact on the marriage as well, but once again missed the mark for me. Her husband continually puts aside all his needs to serve her journey and she continues to lie even after given space to explore. In a series all about respectful polyamory, this seemed so opposite of the previous books.

The author seemed to make the younger partner more “dominant” to make the age gap seem less apparent but it lingered in some questionable consent areas.

I think the series has run its course for me.

[Aryelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really a 3.5 areas

This book had its ups and downs and really made me look at myself. Nadine was such a closed off person and held so much in: her opinions of her parents, the shame of her true feelings she had, and the burden of carrying that around. At times, Nadine’s behavior really upset me, especially with the whole cheating situation. Yes, it wasn’t about her husband, and people don’t just change who they are over night, but I wish maybe she would’ve been a little more open with her husband instead of making him last choice; which I wonder now if that’s the point. This story is really complex, I skipped the second book in the series, and I’ve read reviews that this book compared to the others in the series isn’t as good, however, I feel like the author challenged herself with this book. Nadine had a lot of flaws to work through and it’s cool to see that she got her happy ending. There’s a lot a person can take away from this story, not even just sexual identity, but the types of trauma we have and the ways we carry them around. I would recommend this book, but idk if I would list this as an erotica lol maybe romance with a twist? Idk, lol either way, I would recommend this book; it could definitely help somebody process their feelings.

[Drezzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

T.M. Richardson does it again! Sadly, this is it in this world…for now!

I received an e-arc and was too excited to dive right in, especially because of how much I loved the first two books.

T.M.’s writing is just so smooth. That’s a good thing because the goal, to me, is to make us try to understand Nadine and why she is who she is in the other two books. We definitely do get the rationale and it is difficult to take.

That said…I still didn’t like her.😂 She still moved funny style to me. Didn’t care too much for Zaire either, if I’m being honest. Now Eddie? Bring him to meeeeee. I loved me some him real bad!

Great read. Thank you for the arc!

[Shala · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first 2 books in the series so I was excited to read this and MFF is often my favorite pairing for poly stories but as but Nadine was too judgmental and insecure for me to enjoy reading. I skimmed a lot of this and I did not like Zen at all. Their relationship felt more like cheating and that is not something I like to read about. Eddie just felt like a side character or after thought, not her husband or an equal in their relationship.

[Katie ratherbereadinggg · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars Nadine got on my nerves

[plortasy]

I can’t this entire thing is literally her lying and keep lying and she cheated no matter how u justify what happens she say she loved her husband but does that and this is coming from a bitch who love a good cheating romance this isn’t that she kept the nanny information to herself so she can cheat on her husband wether emotionally or physically and yes I get they are suppose to get together all 3 but where I’m at in the book it doesn’t make sense why lie to him oh yeah bc she spend more time lying to that man for years than being forthcoming to anything related to herself 🙄 idk Nadine spent more time lying than honest and after the therapy shit ain’t nothing changed and from the reviews I’m hearing she continue to be as selfish as she was before fucking a women in your house you share with your husband and kids then getting justified bc she what loves him still and he loves her so much he forgave her and bc he likes when someone fucks how wife it makes it’s justified when that man told her in therapy be honest with him and had the opportunity for her to be able to fuck other people in a non cheating way and what she do lie about getting fingered by the nanny in the pool and continue to fuck her around y’all house 🙄 I can accept the fact that she went through a hard upbringing that caused her to have warring conflicts with her sexuality but lying and cheating on a man who is doing nothing but trying to be there for u is fucked idk this entire book (even I stopped reading it) feels like queen is a gay women and with a man she claims she loves this man but it doesn’t feel like the such she didn’t like fucking him and the romantic aspect with them is so fucking dull and I think bc we truly don’t know how they where in the beginning of the relationship all I can see is she’s unhappy and he is to but for different reasons that man deserves a better wife than her sorry but it’s fucked u are gayyyyyyy girl gayyyy and if she is bi she ain’t attracted to her husband shit she had more attraction with a waiter for 2 minutes than she had with her husband of 15 years and this is something that’s fucked that man loves her and is reduced to watching porn which she shamed him for it when all he keeps trying to do is get this women to open up to him idk that man deserves love not a selfish lying cheating women

[Lovee Lonii · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was resultant to start this book because so many of my trusted reviewers said it was too slow. As a preachers kid and well aware of the stigmas around church and homophobia, the "slow burn" makes sense. It would've read far less real for me had Nadine just up and started eating 🐱 after being shamed and guilted by Black church folk for so long. I enjoyed the pace and catching up with Tate & Alisa.

With that said...I don't like Nadine, but I already knew that from the first two books. She's the queen of half-truths, hypocrisy & harshly judging everyone in her world. Why the hell didn't she just tell Eddie about Zaire!? She knew that exploring a polyamorous + monogamous relationship meant they both consent to the extra party. Eddie had no idea Z was eating ass in their marital bed from jump! I was pissed with that whole situation. & a little frustrated that T.M. Richardson didn't do better depicting a poly/mono situation. I'm unclear if Richardson missed the mark with respectfully portraying the range of poly relationships like the others in the series or if she was trying to make Nadine as trash as possible. If it's the later: success.

Zaire starts out too disrespectful towards Eddie to be a third. Initially I didn't see her as the problem. Eddie + Nadine's marriage wasn't hers to respect. When Nadine invited her in to dog the home, she did exactly that. Z told Nadine who she was from rip. Nadine kept tempting the fire. It wasn't until Eddie walked in and Zaire didn't pull out, instead said to let Eddie watch HIS WIFE be __ how she deserves. Drag. Drag! Her! Z my girl, you too, are a garbage bag.

I liked how the book started with a formative childhood memory that shaped how she ended up hiding for so long. She came a long way...but definitely should've stayed in therapy!

Bathroom scene in the restaurant is BIG sexy!
School play annoyed me. Holding both partners had in public felt off brand for scary & judgy Nadine and crashing out on the moms, irrespective of her kid and their family's reputation seems inconsistent. & it didn't add anything to the story.

The least favorite of the series.

[Fedythereader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so so so much to the author for sharing a BETA copy of this book with me !!!

“Hey Black Woman, It is never too late to be free. Never”

“Because I want you to learn to demand pleasures. Ask for what you want. Say what you want. There is no shame in expressing desire. Ever”

“There’s my good girl”

This book was brilliantly, deeply emotionally spicy and wonderful !!! It made me fall. It made me cry and it made me feel hopeless and hopeful at the same time. It made me feel love. It made me feel lust, passion, rage and ager and hot temper and sadness over the injustice of misogyny and how deeply rooted our shame can be. I loved it. Nadine went through a lot in trying to explore her sexuality and coming to terms with what she feels and what she is. But, despite what she thought, she was never alone. She had wonderful sisters (Tate and Alisa went through their own struggles this time around but I’m oh so happy for them) and a wonderful husband that was there for her every step of the way in the most respectful and obsessed with her kinda way (Eddie is a dream man!!! He is perfection!!!). Add to that a little bit of a girlfriend that makes her feel exactly what she has been missing for too long and you basically have a book about a woman finding her pant to peace and happiness with the right people. I loved how emotional this book made me feel. And it made me feel angry and sad over how much shame we can accumulate over time due to our upbringing. And it sometimes made me feel frustrated cause I didn’t want anyone to suffer … Eddie especially!!!! But at the end, everything went well and as it should have been. And the ending, although terribly bittersweet, made me feel nostalgic for how this journey started !!!! But I’m so happy for these characters and the found family they shared !!!

“This is your journey. Some people realise their sexuality late in life”

“You deserve to be happy”

[CiCi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew baby ! Thats how you end a series.

Admittedly, I was nervous about Nadine’s story. That lady was a piece of work (with cause of course) but her character was still hard to like in the beginning of the series. But to no surprise of virtually anyone, the way the T.M Richardson writes, Nadine won me over. Religious trauma, shame and a mother wound can surely eff someone up. I loved the therapy sessions unpacking all of this and allowing Nadine the space to finally just exist as her authentic self. Dr. Flournoy did not play. No matter how much Nadine resisted and tried to retreat into her old ways and even when Nadine brought out some new foolery, Dr. Flournoy was steadfast in holding her accountable and seeing her grow. The therapy sessions were just *chefs kiss*

Hard pivot to what else did it for me…..THE SPICE. Oh my word. On several occasions I had to get up and walk it off. The thing about the spice here is the little details. The way the scenes are set up. The way I can hear the characters and feel the tension. Yes ma’am. We gotta give a little commotion for Eddie because if that ain’t a loving supportive OPEN partner, I truly don’t know what one would look like. And baybeeee his own fantasies/desires really take this over the edge. Mmm mmm Zaire was a fun little twist too, from their introduction to the details on their age gap and how she eventually falls into place in Nadine and Eddie’s life. And my girl was nasteaaaaa. I loved to see it.

I enjoyed getting closure on Tatum and Alisa. Nothing like a full circle moment to end a series. I can’t believe I am admitting this, but I bawled at the ending. T.M Richardson can just write the hell out of a book and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be an arc reader.

[Tayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really vacillated between feeling sorry for Nadine and wanting to slap her. I already didn't care for her from the first two books in the series, but I knew she would probably be written in a way in her own book that would make her behavior more understandable. (Side note: Alisa and Tatum are better than me because I ABSOLUTELY would have boxed her at that first lunch. What she said was so incredibly cruel, it would have been difficult for me to forgive her.)

I could have empathy for Nadine's upbringing but, at 40 years old, having been married twice and having two kids, I also felt like she should have had a little more sense about... pretty much everything. Especially having been in therapy for four years at that point. I understand that her first marriage did a number on her, but Eddie was a good man. He didn't deserve the sneaking around and lies, especially when literally everyone in Nadine's life told her to be honest with him and he had never given her any indication that he wouldn't understand. Great that it worked out in the end but the buildup had me a bit frustrated. I would have been more OK with Nadine having her cake and eating it too if she hadn't gone behind Eddie's back first.

I did have to side eye Zaire a little bit too because, without knowing Eddie's feelings about the situation first, she didn't give a single solitary F about messing around with Nadine.

I appreciate that this book took a different approach than the first two, but it's definitely my least favorite of the three solely for Nadine's behavior.

[BarbieTheeReader🎀🫦 · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Don't down play your feelings, triggers happen for a reason."
"Or it could set you free. Free meaning not binding yourself to who you should be."
"It's not about coming out, it's about letting folks in."

Aww this was very different compared to the first two books. This one still will pull at your heart strings for sure, but in a different way compared to the first two books, so buckle up! I always had my suspicions about Nadine's sexuality, considering how she spoke and the way her character was in the first two books (very judgemental and strict), so the storyline was not that all surprising at all. I will say I wish Nadine would have told her husband the truth sooner, and I kind of felt bad the way he found out about some things..... Other than that this is still a beautiful story and exposes the ugly horrors of parental expectations impact their kids for life. Seeing Nadine in therapy and slowly finding love with what she is doing in her life and navigating the corporate world and more as a Black woman was relatable as heck! I loved how fleshed out Nadine's character is in this story and how we see enough of her past to understand her actions in the present and why / how she thinks the way she thinks. I love that Tatum and Alisa were solid friends and support system for Nadine as she was navigating through huge changes in her life and even though they were frustrated at times, I loved how their love as friends never wavered in Nadine's time of need. Their friend group always felt like solid soul sisters for life.