BLAKE UNIVERSITY HBCU CHRONICLES: Nuri & Silas

by Aja Cornish

Nuri Sinclair is the type of woman you root for. She’s resilient, radiant, and ready to rewrite her story on her own terms. From the campus of Blake University to the heart of a love she never saw coming, Nuri finds herself navigating womanhood, legacy, and the kind of growth that can only be earned through fire. While healing don’t always come easy, being whole ain’t always complicated.
Surrounded by love that feels like home and secrets that threaten her peace, Nuri is tested in ways that force her to let go of her past, embrace her power, and walk boldly into her future. When Professor Silas Sullivan enters her world with eyes that see her soul before her smile, everything changes. This isn’t just a love story. It’s a soft reckoning. Quiet rising, and a journey back to self, wrapped in silk and laced with scars.
This ain’t your average happily ever after. It’s love on fire. Life, unedited.

212 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 28, 2025

Reviews

[LORY WALLACE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nuri & Salis

First, let me clear the room and let everybody know that Salis is MY MAN before anyone get any ideas 🤣😊🤸🏾. I ATE this story okay….ATE! A true page tuner where I couldn’t put my iPad down. I love Salis for her. That classroom scene where they’re having a entire conversation amongst themselves during the lecture as if they were the only ones there set the tone. Nuri was Sassy and confident. For a man like Salis, she had to be. Without giving anything away, I loved how this story unfolds and I’m ready for part 2. I’m dying to know how Ali is going to handle this with Rose and Nuri. One again Aja, you did a big one with this

[LaDonna B · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤯

Mannnnn, that man was in for the long con smh. He definitely needed to be done worse; don’t need him trying to run no plays from jail. Here I am, they live happily ever after, yada yada yada, then boom, plot twist at the end! Shook the whole foundation. Now it’s bout to be some ish foreal.

[Shuerray · Rating 5 out of 5]

you deserve all the flowers

I love your pin game Aja you never disappoint I always get butterflies when I finish reading one of your books I can’t wait for your next book ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Toya Davis-Stokley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aja! You wrote the hell outta this ok? 🥰 Wasn't quite sure what I was getting into as I began, but it picked up quickly and pulled me in! Nuri was that girl, and seemed to have it all, but that estranged relationship with her father, really bothered her. Why does he hate me so much?

Silas the handsome psychology professor, had a bit of an edge to him, but was popular on campus.
He knew the way he was feeling his student was wrong, but damn, there was something about Nuri.

Catching the eye of Silas was the highlight of Nuri's life, albeit forbidden. When the chemistry and vibes are this strong, I knew they would eventually fold. Almost immediately the haters came out to play. What the hell is going on? How are they connected? When the pieces began to come together it all made sense. That damn Boyd needed to suffer more tho! 👀

Ali.... how do you plan to get out of this mess? You have just started to make headway with rebuilding relationships and now this? 😤 Can't wait to see how this unfolds.

[Melise · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s actually a pretty good story, I really enjoyed this one but I can’t rate it any higher because it’s basically a primer for other books to come. Like idk what the prompt was for this anthology but too many of the authors are using this to Segway into a series. Don’t get me wrong they allowed to do what they want but for me personally I don’t think it’s fair to the readers. Like if I was interested in reading all the Blake U stories to see other authors work, that’s already mad books now you telling me what I’m reading is basically primers for series that the authors haven’t even finished. Like it’s a least 10 books in this universe so now you gotta read ten books of varying lengths to then have to go on and read more so that the Blake U universe is closed out??? Aja can write I will not even play about that but besides the sex I didn’t see this deep connection. Like they kept saying it was soul stirring but I’m like the convo here is minimal, she was a student and then she was being framed so outside of the bedroom idk if I felt a strong sense of love and romance.

[Sassha Reads❤️❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

That cliffhanger though! I’m not sure that I’m going to read the next book but that cliffhanger makes me want to. Nuri life is turned upside down when she finds out the man who she thought was her dad, Boyd, wasn’t and that he has so much hatred towards her real dad, Ali, that Boyd had him locked up for 10years and was trying to get Nuri locked up as well but Silas comes along, falls for Nuri his student, and they all worked together to shut Boyd and Tree down. Nova and Ali rekindle their love and she moved to Chicago to be with him. Nuri and Ali are working on their father and daughter relationship since Nuri and Silas moved to Chicago too. The book ends when Ali gets a phone call from his daughter Rose who happens to be Nuri’s twin sister that Nova never mentioned to Nuri would be touching down in two weeks time. I’m sure Rose is going to feel some type of way that Nova wasn’t in her life and Nuri will be upset not knowing that she had a twin sister. I love love love that the author gave us character pictures.

[Angela Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice very nice

Omg this standalone is so lit. Nuri was catching hell from a bitter man that she thought was her father cause he wanted stuff that didn't belong to him. But I'm glad his karma caught up to him, and hell never see the light of day. But I was wondering, since he set up Ali those years ago by paying off a judge, DA,and Ali own attorney, did they go after them. Cause that's jail time and a big lawsuit. I'm glad that they left Atlanta and moved to Chicago and didn't look back. But the upcoming drama is can't wait to read it. U did good on the first book that I read of urs and I'm looking forward to reading more of them. Sitting here patting my feet while sipping on Pepsi and while eating popcorn while waiting on the next book to read

[Calvert Cormier · Rating 5 out of 5]

What stood out to me the most about Nuri & Silas is how gentle and mature the love story feels. This isn’t your typical college romance. There’s pain, reflection, and a deep sense of coming home to yourself. Aja Cornish writes with such lyrical warmth, every line feels like poetry without trying too hard.
Nuri’s evolution from running from her past to facing it head on had me cheering and crying in equal measure. And Silas? Whew. His quiet strength and emotional intelligence were refreshing. He didn’t “fix” her, he saw her. This story honors Black love, womanhood, and the sacredness of self-discovery. It’s intimate, spiritual, and beautifully human.

[Taffany Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Amazing Read

The drama this book holds! Silas is a man of few words, but precise movement. He's very protective of what belongs to him at all times. Nuri always moves quietly. She loves her best friend, but likes to move solo. Boyd was trifling and deserved everything that he received! What he did to Ali, Nova, and Nuri was crazy. He deserves that and more. Nuri came out on top. I can't wait to read part two to see how she handles her mom's secret.

[Lakisha Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG

The relationship between a professor and student is definitely something that has and will continue to happen in real life. I was happy Silas and Nuri got there happily ever after. I wanted worse to happen to Boyd. He deserved to be under the dirt. Baaaby!!! The ending had my mouth opened. I can’t wait for the continuation. This is a must read.

[Ms. Sagacious TX · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book but…

This was a very interesting story and I mean this is a good way. The book kept me engaged and entertained. My only issue is now I have to wait for the second half and with the amount of reading I do, I’m afraid I’ll forget. Otherwise, great book and looking forward to part 2!

[Kim Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read

You most definitely want to dive into this one. It was not what I expected but baby it definitely did not disappoint. It’s something about when you feel that person in your soul before any words are spoken. Nuri and Silas definitely had that connection. It’s so many things going on and that ending honey got me on the edge of my seat.

[Mayas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

This book was one of my favorites so far. I loved seeing familiar villains. However, secrets being revealed is my love language. Nuri and Silas uncovered a chest that had the mighty falling.

[Shamera Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

😳😳😳😳😳😳

Aja!!!!!!! This book was everything I just cannot believe this. Please don’t make us wait forever. I’m excited how this story will play out and please keep Silas faithful 🤣🤣🤣You just gained a fan

[Tommie Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

True Love

I can’t believe that you wrote such a fire love story.
Silas loves him some Nuri, but did also have an affair with rose.
Please keep us posted on the next part of this story.

[Arnell Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much, I need more!

[NRE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nuri and Silas

Nuri was living life but something was missing Silas was all man and living double lives. When they cross everything changes! A great read!

[Lexus Bostic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silas

Omg this book had me hooked Silas is the man he done been added to book bae frfr can’t wait for pt 2 yassssss