CHARMONY To the world, I’m just a pretty face. A gold digger, too—depending on who you ask. When you constantly allow people to tell your story without setting the record straight, the lies start to feel like truth. Sometimes… even to you. I’ve spent most of my life invisible even though I’m always in the spotlight. But for the first time, someone really sees me. All of me. Even the scars I hide beneath makeup, brand deals, and perfect selfies. And that terrifies me. What if what he sees sends him running? What if I really am too damaged to be loved?
KIANIS To the world, I’m nothing more than my father’s son. His failed NBA career dragged our family back into the same trenches he once clawed his way out of, and now I’m expected to be our golden ticket back to the palace. Mr. Most Likely to Win. And I do—on the court, at least. But off it? I carry the weight of toxic parents, public pressure, and pain no one has ever understood. So I act out. I say whatever the f**k I want. Then she stumbles into my arms and nothing feels like a game anymore. I knew I’d get her—but now that I have her, I’m terrified. Because what if everyone’s right? What if I ruin her too? She deserves more than I’ve ever known how to give— The sun, the moon, and every star in between.
If you love sport romance stories this one os for you. I loved it so much. Step onto the world of Charmony, who’s an influencer and NBA star Kianis. They are both battling their own demons while trying to find genuine connection. The writing is beautiful. It perfectly captures the tension between public personas and private pain. I found this book to have the perfect balance between romance and real life challenges that kept me engaged and entertained throughout.
This was a super cute debut by Faith J. From the beginning of the book, I was intrigued by Charmony and Kianis' family dynamics. They are both dealing with very toxic family situations that leave them both mentally drained. I was happy that the love between them blossomed pretty fast, as Kianis knows what he wants and wastes no time going for what's his. Once he and Charm get together, it's really a story of stepping into your season and letting go of what no longer serves you, and I had a good time with these characters, and I would definitely read from this author again.
I will say that this book should have a trigger warning since there is some mention of self-harm on the page. So please be mindful of that going in.
Put God in the center and everything will come together….
This was such a sweet read. Charmony was a flourishing social media influencer and Kianis was a talented professional basketball player. Unfortunately, the sins and toxicity of their parents threatened to overshadow their successes and their relationship. Self-reflection, self-improvement and their faith in God proved the naysayers wrong and made their connection even stronger. The words of affirmation and the love they poured into each other was everything!
I enjoyed this debut novel by the author. There were some topics she touched on, but didn’t really expound upon. I think a deeper dive into some of the issues the main characters were facing would have given this book the depth it needed.
This was a fast paced insta-love love story. Charm folded like origami every time when it came to Kianis lol. And despite Kianis appearing cocky in nature and confident on the court, he was a bit broken inside, fighting against the weight of other’s perceptions and their projections. And because of it, he almost lost everything. But that down moment plus Charm & his son were good for him…forced him to grow up a little bit. The pacing was ok initially but then towards the end started to feel rushed.
Spoiler: There was a subplot in the beginning of Charm self harming. And I while it was slightly touched on about why she did it, I would have loved to see her be in some kind of therapy or something. Or addressed how she handled the urges once Kianis found out and asked her to stop. Halfway through the book we stopped focusing on Charm & more of Kianis’ issues. I also wish more of their parent family dynamics were discussed post wedding& baby. Did his parents come around? How did they handle being cut off? Was her mom still pushy about her career? How was she as a grandmother? Where were these strict grandparents we heard about in the beginning. I just had some leftover questions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Cute book. Kinga was down bad immediately. The ending was rushing and repetitive for no reason. No closure from her mom? His parents? Didn’t meet the “strict “ grandparents. She left a lot to be desired. I’m looking forward to the next read.
Before I start out the review, I wanted to talk about the importance of a trigger warming page. When there is anything triggering in a book, it needs to be talked about before a reader starts the book. There is triggers such as self harm( descriptive), talks of past self harm, talks of depression, toxic family dynamics, cheating(another women rubs and touches on the mmc), light other women drama, drug use(weed) and a car crash scene. Needed to be on a warning page.
Ok, on to the review. I enjoyed this book. It was a nice quick read. When I started this book, I was nothing but smiles reading the fmc and mmc's reactions. It was warming to see. The couple felt connected, and their banter was bashful. Had me smiling. But I when I got to the part with the self harming part, it really changed my look on the couple. I still really liked them, but I felt like their trauma was pushed past and quickly talked about. No talk about getting help, especially when both Kianis & Charmony need it. Even though I knew this was an accidental pregnancy, I felt like they both didn't need a child at this time. Because of their mentals. It was honestly very selfish for Kianis to beg her to keep the baby. Mentally, they didn't need that child. And I didn't understand why Kianis would let other women even be close enough to touch him. Because you did all this big sh*t to get Charmony. But then you just proved her that you were just like the other. I don't know about her. But I wouldn't have taken him back. I did honestly love when Kinga wore his shirt that said I am not like my father. It was an important stand he had to show. Just because they shared blood doesn’t mean they're the same person. I would still like to read future books from this author. I just hope there is a trigger warming page if needed in the next book. (⚠️ as always check your trigger if needed⚠️)
𐙚.°•🥥𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:⭐⭐⭐ 𐙚.°•🤎𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 🌶.5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Quote:“You athletes are so fucking entitled. First, keep your hands off me, and second of all, I’m not interested.”
Ahhhhh guys this is a debut of a new author Faith J. Sooooo… new to me and you. I normally in skeptical about first reads, but this was a refreshing surprise! I am exciting to see what is yet to come from this author. DISCLAIMER: 95% of the things I read have a trigger warning and I love it. Protect your peace and mental health at all cost!!! Like all of my reviews, I won’t spoil it for you, but in this read, we meet our FMC vlogger Charmony and our MMC basketball star Kianis. I love love love this relationship. Charmony is perceived as a pretty face, but her journey to authenticity is amplified, when she meets our MMC. Kianis is the man on the court, but is hindered by his toxic family. Once he runs into his crush bae, both their worlds change for the better.
There were some idk if it’s typos towards the end of the book. They were only the first line of each chapter, but I give grace with typos so it didn’t bother me. Overall, I would read this author again. You will love this book if you love romance, triumph, resistance, and a HEA.
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (based on my own delu lu scale) Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️ (based on my own delu lu scale)
Charmony, an accomplished influencer, dubbed America's Sweet Hart; was beautiful, but so much more. All people saw was her pretty face, and with her mom pushing the narrative, she felt isolated and unfulfilled in her life.
Kianis is the NBA's superstar. However, with his parents' toxic behaviors overshadowing his success, he lashes out, as it seems he can't catch a break. When he is able to bump into his crush that is Charmony, he is locked in, ready to make her his.
Charmony is doubtful of Kianis' intentions, as she has seen his kind before. But he quickly shows her different, and they are soon attached at the hip. I enjoyed how they made the other better and took the time to lift the other up with they were flailing. I loved the growth in Kianis, realizing what was really important in life. However, a few things left me wanting more from the story. Charmony spoke of her religious grandparents, and how her actions would be perceived by them. We never met them on page. What became of Charmony's mother after the game? Did Kianis' parents change their tune about the way they treated him? Enjoyed, nonetheless.
NBA Finals are on & this is a PERFECT read for while your man is stressing about his parlay. It’s cute, the banter is there, and it’s giving all the rom-com feels. 🥰 Charm is an influencer and Kianis is a hotheaded star player. Kianis shot his shot and BABYYYYYYY, it was over from there! They took instalove a little TOO seriously 😅 Regardless of all the mess, they rode for each other POINT. BLANK. PERIOD. If you got something to say about the Kinga’s, might as well keep it to yourself lol
My not-so-favorite thing about this book was that it felt rushed….like we needed more story. A lot of things were touched on but just kind of left for you to wonder about. More about Kianis’ father and his parents’ relationship OR HIS FAILED DRUG TEST would have added to the story so much. So would have more therapy (maybe?) or conversation around Charm’s self-harm and her cray cray mama.
Overall, I really enjoyed Faith J’s writing and this will absolutely not be my last read from her! Thanks to Faith J and Mycah Edwards for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Faith did an outstanding job with her debut novel!!! I am truly a fan and can wait to read her next novel. She blended love, doubt, and faith to make the perfect love story.
Kianis and Charmony were definitely soulmates! The hurt they both dealt with growing up definitely tried to keep them apart but once they got through that and realized that the other gave the peace they each were looking for it was no stopping their love. Oh to be truly seen by the person God made for you!!
If you love a sports romance that is real with a lot of faith, doubt and love then this is the book for you!!
This debut book by Faith J was everything. Kianis and Charm were made for each other. They were able to see the real person inside not the people that the outside world saw them as. They didn't play about each other, and they were one another's safe place. You could feel every emotion that they felt for each other coming from the pages of the book. I loved how Kianis was transformed into a better man after experiencing life with Charm. I also loved how Charm supported and encouraged Kianis with her love and prayer when he went through a rough time in his career. The author did a wonderful job, and I can't wait to read her future books.
Foremost, congratulations 🎉 to Author Faith J. on your debut book “Going for Three (BLP Sports Series - Book 2” (4.50 ⭐’s) which was a pleasure to witness the evolution of a better man, player, friend & husband in the personage of Kianis Kinga for Charmony & family…”This was how I wanted to be remembered in the years to come, not for scandals or reckless behavior but for the love I had for my family.”… “God renews my strength and gives me the ability to overcome challenges. Taking a year off was challenging, but it was necessary for my growth.” So eloquently stated, “word is bond”🥰‼️
Mr. Most Likely To Win played NO games with that woman!!
Okayyyyyy, so in the beginning I for SURE knew it was just gonna be some B.S. a pro athlete with his eye on a girl he was gonna run ragged…. But I was PLEASANTLY SURPRISED!! That man played NO game with or about his woman!! He told Charm she was gonna be his & he followed tf through with it!! I love how against all odds they persevered!! I love how they didn’t let anything or anyone break them apart & that they loved each other through the darkness, because feeling alone in that can destroy a relationship. They were truly goals through the whole book!! Absolutely loved it!!
When I first read Kianis's character in the book I did not like him. I felt he came off as arrogant and felt he could say and do whatever to get what he wanted. Once he realized that Charmony was not just some groupie who he could easily get with his game and really made an effort to show her he meant business I started to like him more. As the book went on and the more time these two spent together you could see there was genuine feelings there and they were both able to be themselves in a sense. Kianis's behavior off the court was fueled by what the media and the outside world thought of him because of his father's antics but that wasn't the true him. Likewise with Charmony she was more than just a pretty face that people saw as an influencer.
I liked that these two were able to confide in each other and that he showed up for her when she needed it most. I also like how their relationship was grounded in faith with the different scriptures that they recited to each other and engraved in their respective jewelry pieces. It was nice to see Kianis take responsibility for his actions and not be like his father. I also thought their friends played a nice role in their lives and relationship as well. Overall I thought this was a good read and debut by the author.
Kianis dealt with a lot from his past and present dealing with his parents. Basketball was the one thing that he was trying to dominate. Personally meeting Charm was an accomplishment for him. Charm only wanted peace in her life. Her job and friends were her comfort. Dating was not in the cards for, but Kianis wore her down. Their love developed fast. There weren't all good days, but they made their life peaceful and happy. Their happiness is what kept them going. Great read!
For a debut novel, this book was very well written, and the storyline flowed. Kianis and Charm were fighting the same but different demons. I loved how they kept thing close to the vest until they wanted to share. Speculation be damned because they were still doing them.
They made their own bubble and let the toxic nor consume them. This was a great read.
A great read, I loved how Kianis was confident that he and Charm would be together! Though Kianis had his own family issues, due to the lives of his parents, he truly saw Charm in all of her vulnerable state and hoping to be herself. I loved how he loved her! I really love how the story had a strong inspirational base, and it didn't waiver on its spirituality. I loved the epilogue!
I typically rate and move on, however this book was EVERYTHING! So, I had to write a review. The realness of the characters, the drama, the weight of expectations, the FAITH IN GOD and most importantly THE GROWTH!!! Kinga and Charm grew beautifully together. Only thing missing is was Charm overcoming be written out instead of just assumed. I definitely recommend this book.
Kinga and Charm were a beautiful couple. They saw things in each other that made them better. I loved that the story was about the progression of their relationship, but I would have loved to see what happened with King's relationship with his parents... I mean I guess his shirt at his comeback game said a lot. New author, I was impressed with her style. Happy Reading Y'all!💋
Faith J. Good read. To see that Charm has some hidden issues when on the outside she is picture perfect. Kianis was a man who had more on his shoulders than one person should have. Between the two they learned the importance of trusting and allowing life to take place. They beat the odds and learned great life lessons along the way.🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
I really enjoyed this book. Charmony was against dating ballers, but Kianis applied that pressure. I loved how intentional he was. They both had some crappy parents. They were what each other needed. I loved how they loved each other. This was a great sports romance filled with love, and faith. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Wow, Ms. Faith since, this is the first book we're excited to read your future works. This story was brilliantly done. Everything about the story was enjoyable to read - it flowed nicely and smoothly. The FMC and MMC were so likable that it made the story even more beautiful. I was really routing for Charmony and Kiana.
I love the redemption story that has been portrayed. So often we hide who we really are from the world for fear that the authentic you isn't good enough. But God said that we are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image. After reading this story, it truly has encouraged my heart to not judge a book by its cover all the time. Thank you for such an incredible story.
Charm and Kianis were too cute in their relationship. The lack of drama made this story worthwhile as it dealt with how the Kianis dealt with his feelings of self doubt and how his parents toxic actions could have led his down a dark path. It was Charm’s love for him that covered him and healed him while making him a better version of himself.
This was such a cute story. I loved how Kianis chose Charmony from the beginning and was determined to be with her forever. Nothing could really separate them although that trifling Ex and his daddy tried. Both mothers are also a trip. In the end he stood up for what was right and they got their HEA!
Not Faith J giving us a debut read and it came out swinging. That was just the cutest accountability, healing and dedication to love story. The way Kianis stood on business was giving BDE vibes. Even Charm was holding her own and made that man stand on business. I’m going to have to keep an eye out for Ms. Faith J
Yesssss. Such a cute story. They were able to see the real deal with each other. A super quick read but it gave all the feels. Loved it. Definitely recommend and already loving this series.
I loved this story of self reflection and connection. Their love got them through some tough spots and gave them the soft landing their needed to persevere! Loved this read.
just wish we could've gotten more of the closure with the parents. I get this is a story about them but I think those are definitely parts of them. Loved the walk off scenes. I feel like this author is more Christian bas but it wasn't overly saturated