CRASH: Love in Scrubs

by C. Monet

Sametra Andrews knows how to run into burning buildings, but facing her own emotions has been a harder fight. For seventeen years, the devoted single mother and fearless firefighter has kept life protect her son, avoid heartbreak, and never depend on a man to show up.

But one rainy night shatters that plan. After a devastating car crash leaves her son Samaj hospitalized, Sametra meets Dr. Malik Holloway, a fine physical therapist with Alabama roots, healing hands, and an energy that disarms her defenses without even trying.

She wasn’t looking for help. Definitely, not looking to fall. But Malik makes it too easy to do both.

As Sametra rebuilds her life and wrestles with old wounds, Malik becomes more than just support. He becomes the reason she learns that love can rise from the wreckage.

CRASH is a standalone.

Genres: African American Romance, Audiobook, Romance, African American, Urban, Contemporary

378 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 8, 2025

About the author

I'm Author C. Monet of Clarksville TN. I write transparent creative romance with a splash of urban. My stories feature, smart, witty boss women and swoon-worthy, loving, flawed men all looking for one thing..... LOVE. Yes, you guessed it I write about love. My novels usually center around instalove, opposites attract, and redemptive love. However, I've been known to come up with love that cant be placed in a box. All in all, love is the motive no matter how it's reached. My books will leave you full; full of love, gems, and pieces of me.

Once life started to happen for and around me I grabbed the pen and decided to unmute my truth. I pen love unfiltered and undefined because rules can’t exist with creativity. The poetry in my words takes you to a place filled with dreams and aspirations of love and how it heals the soul.

Join me in my journey by subscribing to my mailing list at www.authorcmonet.com

Reviews

[Brittni]

Malik did not play about Sametra or her son! My guy! First time reading this author, but I shall come back to her.

As the grammar police, I caught quite a few mistakes (a couple of spelling errors, but mostly commas/periods missing between two parts of sentences that needed to be separated by a short or long pause) that would've definitely messed me up if I hadn't also been listening to the audiobook. The narrators put the pauses where they needed to be, so that helped. It didn't make the story unreadable (likely bc I listened to it), but it made me wonder how the editors missed what I saw. I marked some on my KU notes but got tired of annotating mistakes since it's not my job.

Other than this detail, the story was very enjoyable, the characters were likeable and developed over time, and the enemies were hating as enemies do. I might not have liked the second act breakup, but I understood it bc Malik was a demon at that point. Additionally, I would've liked for Malik to have had some sort of change of heart or had talked to Sametra BEFORE any final decisions took place.

I could tell the author loved the characters annnnnd the story since this was supposed to be a damn novella like the other standalones in the series. Respect. ✊🏽

4.8-4.9⭐️ I really enjoyed the story and the narrators did their thing, but the editors goofed.

['The Book Queen']

Malik can crash any day with me

Sametra was a firefighter, the Lieutenant for her squad. She and her son were a team. His father walked away from them when Samaj was a baby. Samaj was a football star for his team, destined to be a college standout. Until he and his mom were involved in an accident and they crashed with a vehicle. This led them to Dr. Holloway. And this was a head on collision with their hearts. The Doctor took care of Samaj, all the while, falling for his mother. No spoilers.... The story will have a lot of emotional materials and several lessons. You will enjoy this hot doctor in scrubs and his crash out with his new family.

[Jahda]

One interaction and Malik was all about Sametra she just had to catch up.

[Wind]

3.5🌟🎧 Dr. Malik layed eyes on Sametra and knew she would be his. Once Sametra woke up from the crash she layed eyes on fine ass Dr. Malik.
Although Malik is coming hard for Sametra, Sametra still has her doubts after dealing with her ain’t good for nothing sperm donor.
I was here for how Malik was applying pressure. Sametra took too long to let her guards down after things hit the fan which caused me to only rate this a 3.5.

[Danielle Phoenix]

Malik Malik Malik!!! What a man what a man!! This book was so amazing!!! They say when a man knows he knows and he’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants! Malik definitely gave BDE!! Although his love was too much for Sametra in the beginning, she learned to embrace it and let it happen. From past bad experiences from men she didn’t think she deserved to be loved but baby Malik wasn’t trying to hear any of that. The reassurance he gave her was amazing!! And him claiming her son as his…man!! Definitely the definition of a real man!!

[Cardi Blue]

Cute

Sametra got on my nerves. Like I understand survival mode but girllllll control freak. Let that man love you! Even her son had to tell her. But uh I need a book on Halo and Davinci. Like wait a min now

[Tyesha Reads]

meh

The premise behind this book is good, but it could have been half a long. The way this was drug out was insane.

[Denisha]

Ok

This is my first read from this author. I feel like this book was longer than necessary. I gave up at about 80% because it was just dragging.

[OJ]

Good but too long

I love long books but for some reason this felt like it was too drawn out. It was a cute story, I love that Malik was about business right away, Sametra was a bit annoying and I don’t think she should have been upset or held onto her anger for that long.

[Ronniee]

Cute instalove story. Felt unnecessarily long, authors note said was meant to be a novella and it should have been.

[Q. Moore]

Sometimes, it takes an educated thug....

I am an avid reader who reads mostly (95%) the African-American romance genre with a mix of women's fiction. However, when you add medical or healthcare as the trope, you for sure have someone who is going to read, rate, and review that masterpiece. Healthcare is my niche. Malik is the MMC and a DPT it made for an engaging storyline. He had the qualities that a plethora of women were seeking. He was quite intentional about Sametra and Semaj. He claimed Semaj as his son as soon as he felt that Sametra was his wife. Not only was he book smart, but he was street smart as well. He is what I call an educated thug. He took the role of providing and protecting to the highest level it can go. Sametra was the epitome of a strong black woman because she had to be a mother and father for so long. She needed to be knocked into her "soft and feminine era" so she could be loved properly. Malik did exactly that. His actions matched his words. He got the woman, son, baby, and business.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are in for a treat because I sense it's more to come. I hope that Halo gets to tell her story. I can tell by her and Davinci personalities that it is going to be a wild ride. It will be worth every word written. Before we get to them, don't forget to download or purchase this masterpiece. You will be flipping the pages like pancakes.

[Qua'Tesha Ratliff]

Malik didn’t play about his woman! If he wanted to then he would! And he did!

[Dannie]

let love in

Sametra and survival literally went hand in hand… she had to step up to the plate and become both parents. She didn’t know how to allow someone else to take the lead… and Malik wasn’t having it 🙂‍↔️. He gave her boss energy along with that BDE 🤭.. Sametra even though stressed me out deserved to live the soft life and Malik gave her just that. … like yes girl let that man love you! And you know we love us a good step daddy trope! Claim that child 😌🤏🏾..

[Deena]

Slow Burn…

This is my first time reading a story by this author and I am not sure what her writing style is like, but this book took me the longest to read. This book was 378 pages longs, half of it was pure fluff! I grew bored quite a few times which is why it took about a month for me to finish it. The concept of the story I did like. Dr. Malik Holloway, physical therapist by day, possible thug by night?! LOL. He met Sametra and Samaj, her 17 year old son, after a very bad car accident and became Samaj’s PT. That’s where he and Sametra’s love story began. Sametra’s deadbeat baby daddy and Samaj’s father tried to play pop up in his life which caused conflict with Sametra’s and Samaj. Later the baby daddy tried to extort Malik of 50k with some intimate pictures of Malik and Sametra and instead of him talking to Sametra about the issue he handled it himself, the hood way! When Sametra found out she was big mad, but the anger was sooooo drawn out, OMG I was so sick of her. This story should had been no more than 200 pages, too unnecessarily long. Because I did like where it was going, I will give it a 3 star read because it wasn’t a bad read.

[Kay]

Annoying

This was an ok story. I feel like the drama was too drawn out. Like ok he kept something from you but why drag it out over a course of 4-5 Chapters? Then Sam annoyed me sooo much. Why was Mal the only apologizing when Sam went back to work while pregnant, yet he was the one still having to kiss her a**??? Like you put yourself and unborn baby in harm’s way and still wanted to act like you had the right to be mad.

Their relationship was so one sided. He cared more about her than she did him in my eyes. she wanted to do was pout and act like a child throughout most of the book. Again the story was ok but could’ve been better.

[Courtney Courtreads1]

Sametra was very difficult and little childish to me. Everyone telling her she needed to forgive him. Malik was only protecting her, but she still wanted to be immature about the situation. This story was good but differently long winded than it needed to be. I'm glad they were able to forgive each and get the happiness they deserve. 3.5 ⭐️

[Nikenya Rodney]

Listen, when I say I love me some Dr. Malik Holloway, I mean that!! This man fell instantly in infatuation with Sametra when she came into the hospital facility after her motor vehicle accident. He took all of her sass and just rolled with it until he made it clear that he was coming for her. You see, Sametra is a single mom who has been on her own for a long time. She hasn’t been able to rely on anyone and she’s used to being in charge. Well Malik is down for all of that but he makes it his mission to show her that he’s got her covered. He does his thang and allows her to embrace the soft love that she didn’t know she needed. Things get complex when her baby daddy shows up after almost 17 years. He’s causing havoc but Malik handles him accordingly. He’s not allowing anything to hurt his woman or her son. The way he handled it makes Sametra feel some kind of way and she flashed out. However, she and Malik figure out that communication is an integral part of a relationship. They figure out that love ain’t perfect but with the right person, it’s beautiful. I love love loved this book. I love seeing black women getting loved right.

[_SimplyRead]

I enjoyed this so much. It was refreshing to see a man with a real career stand on business about a ready made family that he deemed his. I’m really tired of the Unhinged story lines and this one was execute very well. Dr. Holloway in no way was a pushover, but he had a way of standing in business without being reckless. Getting Semetra to submit was the icing on the cake bc that strong woman superhero she was trying to play was pissing me off. Like gorrlllllll you be single doing it in your own for 18 years! Let this fine man spoil you and put you in your soft girl era! Whew she gave that man such a hard time. And I was so happy when her bestie checked her ass, bc sis do you want to be the man of the relationship or nah? Overall this was a really good palette cleanser and an easy read.

[ohnelreads]

I really enjoyed this book. I love how Semetra and Malik were already kind of solidified in their lives and their jobs. With age and having lived life they were able to integrate with each other very well. When I tell you, Malik came in and he was ready for his family oh pressure was being applied. He said you are gonna be my wife and your son is literally going to be our son and we’re still gonna create a family together. I love that Semetra was a strong woman and that she stood her ground and took care of her son for all those years.

My only con to the book was I feel like it was a little bit dragged out, but it was still a really great read.

[Sistaharlem]

Love a man w/ major BDE

I absolutely LOVED this book. A FMC who has been burned by love & never really trusted it again. All while raising her now 17 year old son as a single mother. She is a lieutenant firefighter. The MMC with major money & a doctor. I loved his momma, her parents & her besties. Their love story was steamy, hot & survived the past distraction that tried to end it all.

[Yvette Lee]

This author....

The story would have been great if it was consistent, Malik"s Father died in one instance and left in another....confusion.
Then there are letters missing in words and sentences that have to be reread in order to understand what was being said.

[sheda]

From start to finish, Doc did not play about his family — and I loved that. He stood on big business the whole way through, holding it down like a real one. The story had heart, loyalty, and passion wrapped up in every chapter. Definitely one of those reads that makes you root for love that’s solid and protective.

[Lacy]

I truly loved this book! The healthcare professional in me made me pick up this book and I’m glad I did. The instant connection was done properly and it just gave all the BD energy! Malik played no games when it came to his woman.. and son!! I loved it down!

[Goddess’ Smut Library 🩷]

3.75⭐️🌶️🌶️ Instant love✅found family✅single mom✅Dr MMC✅second act break up✅ The only thing I really did not like about this book was the second act breakup because I thought it was so dumb and she overreacted if you asked me.

[PeacefulNBlessed]

I really enjoyed Malik and Sametra's story. I was a little concerned at first about the way Sametra was navigating her distance. But they got through the rough patch, which resulted in both of them having the family they both dreamed of.

[Nichola Wiggis]

Good read

I love the fact that even though this book had some drama it showed positive like love I would recommend this book to anyone.

[Sharthickums_reads]

Soooo good

Everyone need a Malik a Dr and a thug who was so intentional when he went after Sametra. The way he used his gifts and help Samaj was fascinating. Very goid read.

[MeMe]

Malik is the definition of a "Healing Man” His patience with Sametra and his bond with her son Samaj made me love him even more.

[Ella Shannon]

Wonderful storyline but something was missing

This storyline was a five star beginning but the characters missed the mark on sexual chemistry. The Dr was EVERYTHING, in word description but the way he handled her once they crossed the line was NOT impressive. It felt like the author couldn't use her sexual explicit words out loud as if she saw the act as dirty. I'm intrigued enough as I read to follow this author and dig deeper into her writing style. The story read like Hallmarks movie premiering black love with a sprinkle of choice dirty words dropped. I absolutely loved the way he loved them, she was a hard one but he did good. I could not be convinced while reading that after the lovemaking he left her daydreaming about him, and maybe it's just me because I've read so much erotica and sex scenes that can't pull the two apart scenes, but you still want to FEEL the passion to where it makes the reader say oh my GOSH out loud. This is a good read. I did start with another story in this sequence that hyped up a Dr's ability to leave you breathless and I took that same image into this authors work. I can't want to read more from this one because just maybe those scenes aren't her thing and that's completely ok. I definitely recommend this book.

[DrPsychMama]

3.5 stars

Dr. Holloway is in the building. He was that perfect blend of professional with a dash of hood.
He also had the right does of delusional and applying pressure (“our son”, “my family” before the first date 🤣🤣🤣)

Sametra was a relatable, if at times annoying, FMC. She’s a good representation of the hyper independence that develops in some of us Black women as a byproduct of survival.

There were editing errors (e.g., repeat paragraphs missed from draft editing; referring to pregnancy with 17 year old son as 20 years ago) that disrupted reading at times.

A psychology doctorate degree takes 5-7 years, how did she magically earn one in one year…? A bachelor’s degree in psychology does not equal being a doctor. Easy thing that an editor should have caught. Please put some respect on my degree lol!