Not Over Me, Are You?

by Imani Anders, Vixa Vaughn

Six years ago, I handed Julian Cross the truth — and he let it destroy us.

Now I’m back in the city I swore I’d never return to. Hired for a job that smells like danger. Paid too well to ask questions.
But he’s the one waiting at the top of the tower.

Same voice. Same eyes. Same lies he never confessed to.

I came here to work. To protect the life I built. To finish what I started.
I didn’t come here to fall apart in the arms of the man who broke me.
But the secrets he buried? They're clawing their way back up—and one of them has my son's name written all over it.
He says he didn’t know.

I don’t know if I believe him.
But I do know

I’m not the girl he left behind.

And if he’s hiding anything else… I’ll burn his whole kingdom down to protect what’s mine.


Readers This BWWM romance features a secret baby, ex-lovers turned enemies, buried truths, corporate corruption, and a slow-burn second chance that aches. Sharp. Tense. Unforgiving. He never knew she was carrying his child—now she’s carrying the power to destroy him. HEA Guaranteed.

Genres: Romance

209 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 22, 2025

Reviews

[Brownskinnedreader]

I made it 40% into this book and I was bored out of my mind. I found myself skipping interactions because it was useless. I love a secret baby trope and this one was not it for me. The writing seemed repetitive and the chemistry between the main characters was non existent. The storyline also fell pretty flat for me.

[Laverne Brewster · Rating 2 out of 5]

RATING: 2.00 stars. (BW/WM). Kindle Unlimited 206 page e-book.
SETTING: Manhattan, New York City and in Atlanta, Georgia, during contemporary times.
TROPE: Embezzling of corporate funds. Former girlfriend withholds child from father.
CHARACTERS:
1. Julian Cross, male lead, is a 25 + years of age and is the billionaire CEO of Cross International, the company founded by his dangerous father.
2. Zahara Bryant, female lead, is 25+ years of age and is a respected forensic accountant and strategist.
3. Authur Cross is the owner of Cross International, Julian's father and suspected to be embezzling.
4. Elliot is the Company's COO and Julian's best friend and confidant
5. Ava is Julian's Office Assistant.
6. Camille is Zahara's best friend and a Tech whiz.
7. Isaiah is Zahara and Julian's five-year-old son.
8. Victor is Authur's partner in crime.

I did not like this story. Hidden or secret children are not by favorite romance story; however, I will read one in the hopes of finding a storyline that adequately justifies the mother's inability to contact the father. That is not the case in this story. Zahara behaves in a purely selfish manner. In addition denying Isaiah the emotional and financial benefits of a relationship with his father, Julian, this story is redundant, too long and doesn't spend enough time having Zahara and Julian interacting romantically. They have sex but don't have any romantic chemistry that would make the reader root for them as a couple. Zahara climbed up on the cross and tried to guilt trip Julian despite his being the honorable one.

[Victoria Ziglor-smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

This was thrilling & romantic all of it and I loved it. At first I kept wondering were was their son. But then I realize that Zahara had him hidden or even thought he was hidden from Arthur. Arthur made me think of a lot of guys I met who dad was a piece of work. I never understood why have children if you can’t love and protect them. Julian when he found about his son protected him before he even met him, that’s love. This was a great read I really enjoy it, could not stop reading til I finished it at 3:44 am.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok

I don’t know what to I didn’t enjoy. Too much describing not enough doing. If you’re on the run in a safe house, why wouldn’t your child be with you.

[R Nedrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

too many holes

It didn’t answer any questions like where was her son during all of this. If they were in hiding so much though all of that, both of their lives were in danger, and there were threats, where was he? It does not provide any answer to that.

Who is Camilla? She just comes midway in the book and apparently her son is living with her or staying with him temporarily. I don’t know, she’s a friend or someone who is knowledgeable about what’s going on and very tech savvy but it gives no background?

Was this weeks or months or years? because it went from snowing to a sunny day at the park.

And then the age of the boy changed in the beginning of the book he was six and then the father put the timeframe as seven years ago when she left pregnant, but then when you meet him, he’s only five

They didn’t discuss what she did to earn money when she was in hiding. And apparently they just lived in Atlanta.

It was kind of fractured. I like the happy ending. I like how they had a nice normal life instead of everybody being a wealthy billionaires. But I have to say when he rebranded the company or his company, the name was stupid whoever wrote that was truly stumped.

But again it was a cute happy ending.

[Red · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to give only 2 stars but I think it would be unfair. Just because I didn't particularly cared for this book doesn't mean it isn't good. It is not a bad book. Just lacking.
1st : that cover is so SO misleading. It's annoying.
2ndly : the kid, that was mentioned very early and whose was genealogy was pretty obvious, was a very small part. Like, it felt like a prop, used to create a false tension/twist. He actually appeared only in the very last pages. His mother spend at leat a couple of weeks miles away from him but we never got to see them interact up until the almost end. That bugged me. We don't know where he stayed, who took care of him, etc.
The 2 main characters lacked proper characterization and felt like brush and not fleshed out persons. They felt also very socially isoled. They interacted with few other characters. That Camilla woman popped up at the end without clear explanation of whonshe was.
Also the writing felt 'robotic' to me.
There is a way more compelling and gripping book under the not bad sketch we got here.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

They were once in a meaningful relationship until unwanted drama got between them sending them in different directions, but Zahara was given a parting gift that she collected nine months later. Years has past and she is asked to come back to the town that caused her so much heart ache to do an audit. It restarts their path and when Julian learns everything done to Zahara will it lead to them rekindling their past and a second chance for happiness.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[A Bull In A Bookshop · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was a struggle to get through. there was nothing romantic about this book. I didn't read anything that made me believe these characters loved each other or actually wanted to get back together. no angst. no yearning that I was shown (it was all told). the years late child reveal was anticlimactic (and her reasoning stupid). the corporate espionage and the big bad daddy weak and nonsensical.

with better development and editing this would have been a much better book. the staccato like, short sentences drove me nuts!

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually find books by Vixa Vaughn to be fun and decent reads. This one missed the mark, at least for me. It felt heavily repetitive and not quite fine tuned. I also would have liked better transitions within the chapters. The characters didn’t make me feel engaged with the story.

I think there are other stories by Vixa Vaughn that are better reads.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Al-Jeanette Eaddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audit

Another killer story. The old saying that "the truth will set you free" comes to life in this story. When attachments become so strong that you can't tell where one begins and the other one ends. When secrets and untruths are hidden in hearts and digital files. One man snaps his finger to have a person erased and another one vows to protect and defined. And one women holds her head up high and damm it all the truth will be set free.

[Cammyjoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love It

This is my first Imani Anders, and I truly like her style ( well, in this book since I haven’t read her other books).
That being said, I enjoy Zaharah and Julian tremendously… This book is too complex, lot of twists and turns full of conspiracies, betrayal, manipulation… etc. No spoilers!!
It a great read, get a copy and enjoy!!

[Dominique Donelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick Read…

This story was fast pace from the start it backfilled the past in a speedy matter so that the reader wasn’t lost. The story didn’t drag and we get a HEA and villain gets a much deserved ending.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good storyline but did not gel with either of the two main characters. A lot of description but not much dialogue. People talk and communicate in real life but seems not these two. It was all very one level emotion and feelings.

[Nini]

I read cause why not it was recommended by kindle. But the writing seems so AI like. Not accusing the author but it just lack something. It’s still good writing but I’m not sure the sentences feels off. Like half Ai half human .

[Bernice Nelgez · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Great build up for an anticlimactic ending.