Struck Speechless

by Tati Richardson

Sports agent Jackie Miles is a petite powerhouse who has built her empire on killer instincts, designer stilettos, and tough skin. Her client roster is legendary, her temper is hotter than Georgia asphalt, and aside from her French bulldog PeeWee and her "boss chick village," she's perfectly content flying solo.

Then Antonio Steele walks back into her life, and all hell breaks loose.

The towering former football star turned rival agent has always known exactly which buttons to push. Just when Jackie thinks she can handle their explosive chemistry and complicated past, she mysteriously loses her voice. But this isn't ordinary laryngitis; a cryptic stranger's message implies that Jackie must "quiet her tongue and listen with her heart" to lift whatever spell she's under. With a career-defining client trip to Mexico looming, and only the devastatingly handsome Antonio as backup, Jackie must learn to let go-if only she could trust him to catch her.

Struck Speechless is book two in the Boss Chicks Village Series, following the hit romcom Losing Sight.

Genres: Romance, Forced Proximity, Rom Com, Second Chance, Sports Romance, African American Romance

400 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2026

About the author

TATI RICHARDSON (she/her) is the author of Losing Sight, a romantic comedy which Kirkus called "playful" and "terrific" in a starred review; and The Build Up, named one of Amazon's Best Books of 2023 and a Booklist Top Romance of 2023. She is cofounder of the Romance in Colour podcast, and an Apple Books Writer to Watch.
Under the name T.M. Richardson, she writes extra-steamy works like the USA Today bestseller The Oath. A native of Atlanta, Tati lives with her husband and daughter.

Reviews

[Rae | My Cousin’s Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! The spice was 🔥🔥🔥. The magic was surprisingly powerful. And the romance was ✨chefs kiss✨
I also enjoyed reading about a Black woman in the sports management world! Such a different world that I would’ve never know about without reading this book.
Thank you to the author, Tati for an advanced e-copy of the book!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Don’t bring God into this… it’s about to get real sinful”

AHHHHHHHHHH. 🤪

God I love Jackie. She doesn’t want to be feeling what she is feeling.. but she is FEELING it. I love that she stands in what she believes-to some that may be annoying, but I found her to be a badass who only melts for Antonio.

I loved their chemistry! Antonio and his damn 🦶 🤭 IYKYK. Anyways I loved it and I loved seeing Tanika and Gideon again 🥹

Dual narration and they smashed it. Go read it!!

Thank you NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for the ALC!

[Ro_Monique_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Generous Press for the advanced reader copy of Struck Speechless.

3.5 stars | Struck Speechless was a fun read! Jackie, a sassy, no-nonsense sports agent, encounters her soul match in fellow agent and retired football player Antonio. While Jackie is vocal in the conference room and when it comes to championing her clients, she finds herself at a loss of words - literally- when it comes to vulnerability and matters of the heart. Similar to Losing Sight, this book includes a sprinkle of magic that brings about a revelation for the protagonist. I would recommend this read to those looking for a light romantic comedy that don’t mind a dose of miscommunication and stubbornness.

[Kayybereading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Happy release day! I loved this book! I love a good second chance romance and this was written very well! Jackie and Antonio story turned out to be so beautiful! The message i got from this book was to listen to your heart and be truthful with your self and you won’t be silenced! Jackie only lost her voice because she wasn’t being real with herself about her true emotions and until she did she would be silenced ! They lost so much time due to stubbornness ! Everything happened the way it was supposed to ! Yes to the HEA!!!!!

[Chantel DaCosta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jackie annoyed to begin with but then I was rooting for her and Antonio.

Another fantastic romance with a hint of magic from Tati Richardson.

I recommend. Read Losing Sight first though.

[anovelaccount (Kayla) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was super cute! And…hot 🥵 The chemistry between the two MCs was palpable from their first interaction and throughout the book—just another reason why I’m a huge fan of second chance romance. I love that they already had a history and some foundation had been laid.

I was pleasantly surprised at the inclusion of magical realism (because I LOVE whenever magical realism is included), and I thought this part of the plot really allowed Jackie her time to grow. I wouldn’t say she annoyed me, but she kept getting in her own way, jumping to (wrong) conclusions, and ultimately causing herself pain. I like that the loss of her voice forced her to get introspective. I also loved Jackie being the only black woman in the male-dominated world of being a sports agent. She was such a boss!

Antonio was down SO bad for Jackie. He was incredibly patient with her, except for one part where he basically calls her a liar. I was not his biggest fan in that moment, but thankfully it ended up being a small detail that gets resolved quickly.

The forced proximity here was so good (love a forced work trip), but it does get a little overused, to the point where the MCs are even joking about it by the end.

This is a cutesy romcom that is funny, (very) steamy, and empowering. It was such a fun take on a romance and I really had such a fun time with it!

🎧The narrators were great and fit their characters perfectly! My only annoyance was that the female narrator mispronounced common last names while the male narrator didn’t, so the inconsistency drove me a little crazy. But I loved the life their voices brought to these characters!

[bree ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 stars ✨ jackie had me stressing towards the end! she was fighting that happiness harder than mo/moe fought his opponent chile... every opportunity she got 🤣 anyways, "bitchy" and "cutthroat" black women DESERVE happily ever afters!!!!

[Ada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two in the Boss Chicks Village series, Struck Speechless is Jackie’s second chance love story. The loss of her voice in the book is part of the mystical touch in the series, and I appreciated that she acknowledged the purpose of AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) applications and who it was originally developed for before using it in the narrative. I feel like other authors might not have done that and even though it was a quick reference, I felt the care in mentioning it.

The book itself is full of humor and chemistry. I honestly barked out loud when someone said, “No girl! Not the beans!” I’m curious as to whose love story will be next in the series. If I missed the announcement, I’d love to know.

Thank you to NetGalley and Generous Press for the gifted e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Alise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book (Losing Sight) and I loved this one even more. Jackie and Antonio's second chance together was such a delight to read. Jackie's headstrong nature was humorous but understandable, and Antonio was deep and caring while also dealing with this own conflicts. The magical elements in this book were a little less defined than the first book in my opinion, but I think they still worked well. The friend group was just as fun as book 1, and I'm excited to see what character she focuses on next. Having a romance series that focuses on MCs in middle age rather than their 20s is such a great perspective that I don't see as often.

The narrators for this book were great as well. They really brought the story to life. I enjoyed both POVs equally, both in narration as well as the story itself.

Disclosure: I received gifted ALCs through Spotify and Netgalley.

[Nelly Lavaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to download this book before it was released in return for an honest review on NetGalley

I can honestly say I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed it a lot and I need to go and read more by Tati Richardson. When I first started this book, I was so not into the FMC Jackie. She got on my nerves to badly, that I would roll my eyes whenever she began to speak. To me she would just talk non-stop and it pissed me off, it was like she had to hear her own voice. Granted she was a woman in a male dominated field and she needed to stand apart from them but DAMN!!! When talking to anyone it was like you couldn't get in a word edgewise with her and it was making me think this was going to a miscommunication trope in this story. It was not that at all, thankfully. While Jackie did get better towards the middle of the book it took me some time to get to really like her, my disdain for Jackie was so bad that at the beginning she made me want to put tape across her mouth just to get her to shut up! Ooh that lady could be wrong and strong. Thankfully we had an awesome MMC who made you love him from the beginning. I loved me some Antonio though, he was just a great MMC and his patience to deal with Jackie was saintlike. I loved how he was willing to help her out and also give her the space to be as dominant as she normally is. I loved how he know how to switch roles and be domineering when he needed to be but also submissive as well. A second chance romance is one of my favorite topes and seeing Jackie and Antonio rekindle their love was beautiful. There were many laugh out loud moments in the book. Jackie can hang with the best of them, and the banter between her and Antonio was classic.

Tati can defintely write her some spice. The spicy scenes were AH-MAZING!! Antonio is so attentive and giving. I loved it!

an amazing 4.25* book!

[Tangela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4✨

[Mya E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Am I starting to fall in love with romance stories sprinkled with a touch of magical realism? This one certainly makes it feel that way!

I laughed so much throughout this book!

Last year, I found myself drawn to similar elements in Losing Sight, and this story gave me that same captivating blend.

We follow Jackie, a fierce, high-performing sports agent thriving in a male-dominated industry. Though she’s small in stature, she has a big reputation for getting things done with a sharp attitude to match. While I admired her ambition and drive, there were moments when her lack of understanding made her difficult to fully root for.
Antonio, along with the thread of magical realism, helped create a beautiful balance in this second-chance romance, softening Jackie’s edges and adding depth to the story.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and am sharing this review voluntarily.

[Dominique · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m always here for a second-chance love story, so Struck Speechless by Tati Richardson already had my attention. Listen… Antonio Steele??? That man was not giving up! Im a sucker for a persistent man in a second chance romance and Antonio was standing ten toes down the whole time.

Now Jackie… sis had me stressed!!! She was so cold to that man and making a lot of assumptions about him the entire time. I kept wanting her to just sit down and actually talk to him because the tension between them was REAL.

Also, the fact that Jackie, who is usually so vocal and outspoken, got so stressed that she literally lost her voice?? That is actually crazy. Talk about unlocking a whole new fear. Ha. It forced her to slow down in a way she clearly wasn’t used to, which added an interesting layer to the story.

There were definitely some twists and turns along the way, but this was a great read.. If you love a good second chance romance with tension, history, and a man who refuses to give up, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Shefali · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️

This book was just not for me. It could be that I am missing something by not having read the first book in the series, but I didn’t connect emotionally with the characters. The plot point of Jackie losing her voice was interesting at first, but I feel like it lasted way too long and resolved without paying off. And to me, it seemed like most of Antonio’s feelings for Jackie were based on lust from a ten-year-old sexual encounter. I also felt that there were many missed opportunities for depth and a lot of the book ended up telling the reader what was going on instead of showing them or letting them infer. I do appreciate NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC!

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5⭐️) I loved that Jackie was such a boss in her career, especially in such a male-dominated field. She was unapologetically herself. And Antonio was a whole man. Attentive, supportive, and self-sacrificing. I think the two of them had a palpable chemistry. I also really liked the magical realism element, it made for an interesting plot.

What didn’t work for me: Jackie, while a layered character, was honestly pretty insufferable for the majority of the book. I understand being guarded, but she didn’t seem like a fun person to be around because her walls were always up, she always had something slick to say, and she jumped to hella conclusions. She eventually grew and accepted some hard truths about herself, but I think had she gone to therapy like it was suggested, and we were able to see her doing the work, it would’ve added more heart to her character. Antonio definitely had the patience of a saint. I also feel like a lot of the fallout from Antonio’s “secret” could’ve been avoided if it had come out much sooner, but then again, there would’ve been no drama.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that felt like a Netflix rom-com. The pacing was good, the plot felt unique, and I really liked the banter and the friendships.

Thank you to NetGalley and Generous Press for the ARC.

[Adanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackie is a petite powerhouse and her own greatest advocate, but outside of work? She gets in her own way. Two very bad experiences had her convinced that love just was not worth the risk, and watching her work through that was one of my favorite parts of the book.

And Antonio! This man has been shooting his shot for years with absolutely nothing to show for it, and he just … kept going. You could feel his yearning from the opening pages and I loved his patience. Stubborn Jackie was NOT trying to go back down that road, and honestly, fair. But watching him wait patiently for the right moment was so satisfying.

Together they were great. Two rivals who knew exactly how to push each other’s buttons, learning to be each other’s biggest supporters instead.

🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Myles Washington and Tamika Antoinette delivered. Antonio’s longing and regret came through beautifully, as did Jackie’s duality of the fierce professional vs. the softie with her people and her dog Pee Wee. The immersive read (reading & listening at the same time) genuinely elevated the whole experience.

I’m going back for Losing Sight, the first book, and already looking forward to whatever comes next in this series!

Pick up Struck Speechless for a romcom with witty banter, a wonderful group of friends, and a man who is absolutely, unashamedly down bad.

I received a free copy of this book. This voluntary review reflects my own opinions.

[Syd Revell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tati Richardson is 2/2 for me!! I absolutely loved this book. This was a perfect balance of hilarious banter, romance, and sisterhood. I really look forward to reading The Build Up and more books in the future.

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟

[Electra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jackie is pretty insufferable & intolerable. She lacks the maturity that would be realistic for someone her age. At least a friends try to gather her every now and again. The "secret" that needed to be disclosed that they had drawn out throughout the entire book, was wack. That could have been done on page 5. There were no stakes involved for telling her right off the bat. After her first tantrum, spit it out and done. And Antonio cares entirely too much about staying in Jackie's good graces, given the reason he's doing what he's doing.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Jackie Miles, a successful Black woman, is a big-time sports agent with top tier clients, including the likely NBA Rookie of the Year. She has everything she needs: girl boss friends, the cutest dog, and a career she loves. She has convictions in her opinions and doesn't care who hears about them. Having been burned badly twice in romantic relationships, Jackie doesn't need a woman or man in her life and doesn't believe in love. When Antonio Steele walks back into her life a decade after the hottest fling she ever had, her first reaction is to throw a pot of baked beans on him and her second reaction is to treat him with all the pent up hostility she knows he deserves. Antonio has still carried a torch for Jackie, and he's determined to find a way back into her life. When their two sports agency firms are set to merge, just at a time she inexplicably loses her voice, Jackie is going to need all the help she can get from Antonio to land her biggest client.

I was excited to see that Jackie's book was set to be the second in Tati Richardson's interconnected standalone romances. This series has a healthy dose of magical realism enhancing the storylines, and in Struck Speechless, Jackie is cursed with losing her voice until she learns to listen. She has a tendency to listen with her mouth already open, making snap judgments about things, but particularly about her romantic partners. (Not that the WBNA star she dated didn't deserve her ire, but that did put a dent in Jackie's professional reputation, considering the woman was her client...) Don't worry, Jackie isn't the only one who needs to grow in order to move towards a realistic HEA: Antonio has some work to do himself, patching up a shaky relationship with his son, from whose life he was largely absent. Both Jackie and Antonio are in their 40s, which means neither are interested in BS around a relationship, and they have to communicate to make it work.

Tati Richardson's books are very fun, spicy romances centering on Black women who are simultaneously strong and vulnerable. She keeps the tone lighthearted, making Struck Speechless entirely bingeable. I read it in an evening, not wanting to put it down. It's well-paced and balanced between s3x and intimacy and emotion and passion. The magical realism enhances the plot without feeling corny.

I listened primarily to the audiobook narrated by Myles Washington and Tamika Antoinette. I highly recommend listening if you enjoy romances on audiobook. They bring humor humor and sass and passion to their characters.

Thank you to Generous Press for an eARC and Spotify Audiobooks for an ALC. Struck Speechless is out 4/28/2026.

[Cozy Sabie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Cosmic," Bronwyn said, squeezing her friend's hand. "Nothing is a coincidence."
"Our lives are full of these magical moments if we pay attention to them."

GENRE: Romance with magical realism
RATING: 5/5
FORMAT: eBook ARC
Tropes: Women in Sport, Magical Realism, Second Chance & Rekindling

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Review:
Can I just say that I really enjoyed Struck Speechless so much? Yes, I know I can in this review but it's worth emphasising it because this book was funny, wholesome and filled with so much warmth and emotions that I had the best time reading it!

I read Losing Sights first and then read Struck Speechless and Tati Richardson has a way of maintaining a perfect balance between the emotional aspects that our MCs go through while adding just the right amount of humour, spice and friendship. Truly, both books would are amazing as books and would be AMAZING as tv shows/movies.

Jackie is the group's "strong" friend. She doesn't need love or anyone in her life, aside from her friends and her dog. She is an independent, strong woman we all strive to be and is not scared to say what she thinks. So the impact of her losing her voice? It's BIG and forces her to deal with a lot of emotions she spends a long time avoiding.

And Antonio? Oh, what a perfect man for Jackie. I loved how we got to see his life outside of Jackie, seeing him interact with his family and the people in his life as well. We get a perfect balance of both of our MCs in my opinion. AND (x2) the way Antonio treats Jackie? So well deserved AHHH!

Essentially, Struck Speechless is a story that allows us to watch both characters explore who they are and be more vulnerable with each other in a fun, humour filled story while focusing on the same concept we had in Losing Sight: That things are destined for us and nothing is a coincidence!

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for the Arc copy in the exchange for my honest opinion.

[Casey R Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, Sexy, and Magical… Tati Richardson Is Criminally Underrated

📚 On Casey’s Bookshelf

Book: 86
Dates read: 04.29.2026 – 04.30.2026
Title: Struck Speechless
Author: Tati Richardson
Format: digital

#caseysbookshelf

I was WAITING impatiently for this release. I wanted an ARC for this book so bad. 😭 So yes I made it my very next read as soon as it was released.

Tati Richardson has been my TikTok mutual for years, and honestly it took me way too long to finally dive into her catalog. But once I did? Baby I was hooked. Losing Sight was such a vibe, so imagine my surprise realizing Struck Speechless exists in the same universe.

And one thing I didn’t realize I absolutely love in romance? A little sprinkle of magical realism. Tati does it flawlessly.

Sis is so underrated as an author. Not enough people talk about her pen game. Whether she’s writing a contemporary romance or a sensual why choose, she consistently delivers layered characters, chemistry that feels natural, and dialogue that actually sounds like grown people interacting.

Jackie Miles is a powerhouse sports agent with a sharp tongue, designer heels, and zero patience for foolishness. Antonio Steele is the former athlete turned rival agent who has been getting under her skin for YEARS. Their chemistry is immediate, messy, unresolved, and honestly hilarious at times.

Then Jackie mysteriously loses her voice.

And what I loved is that the magical realism element never feels gimmicky. It actually deepens the emotional core of the story. Jackie is someone who uses her words as armor, and being forced into silence makes her confront things she’s spent years avoiding… professionally, personally, and romantically.

The banter in this book? Elite. The chemistry? Off the charts. And Antonio? Whew. That man was patient, consistent, emotionally available, and still knew how to stand ten toes down without becoming a pushover. We love a grown man.

I also really appreciated seeing characters over 40 centered in a romance that still felt sexy, playful, emotional, and full of possibility.

Funny, romantic, heartfelt, and just a little magical. Tati Richardson absolutely did her big one with this.

Another book off the shelf. We keep reading with intention. 📚

[Morgan Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

Struck Speechless was a chaotic, drama-filled second-chance romance that fully leans into its rom-com energy—and I had a lot of fun with it.

As the second book in the Boss Chick Village series, this installment follows Jackie—Gideon’s cousin and Tanika’s best friend—a powerhouse sports agent known for being tough, guarded, and emotionally unavailable. Beneath that exterior is a woman shaped by past betrayals and a deep reluctance to trust. She’s stubborn, emotionally closed off, and often defaults to anger, which won’t work for every reader—but it makes her journey toward vulnerability all the more compelling.

That is, until Antonio messily forces his way back into her life—and her workplace—bringing a whole lot of unresolved history and new responsibilities with him.

What follows is a mix of forced proximity, a long-buried ten-year-old secret, and over-the-top situations that feel very true to classic rom-com fashion. The story leans heavily on the miscommunication trope—which can be frustrating—but it also drives both the humor and emotional tension throughout.

A central theme in this series is its spiritual thread, which explores the idea of losing one of your senses as a pathway to emotional clarity. This pattern continues from the first installment, reinforcing the series’s broader exploration of growth, self-awareness, and love. It functions as an intentional narrative device and adds a thoughtful, reflective layer beneath the otherwise light, fast-paced story.

Fans of messy second-chance romances with strong-willed heroines and high-drama dynamics will likely enjoy this one, especially if you like your rom-coms with a bit of emotional bite.

Overall, this was a fast-paced and engaging read with a compelling character arc, balanced by humor, tension, and emotional growth. I’m definitely curious to see how this theme continues in future installments of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Generous Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review 💖.

[WhenDoTheyKiss? · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackie throws a pan of baked beans onto Antonio’s cream linen suit, and that was the moment I was LOCKED IN to Struck Speechless by Tati Richardson.

Jaqueline Miles Jr. has 10 years of (unwarranted) animosity toward her rival agent and former one night stand Antonio Steele.
She suspects Antonio is trying to steal a young basketball star from her, and it doesn’t help that their agencies are about to merge. Jackie has unresolved feelings for Antonio but she had a very public and messy breakup with a WNBA player and former client, so she’s vowed to never get involved with a colleague or client again.

Then Jackie is “struck silent” and her voice will only come back when she’s speaking from her heart. That’s tough to do when she’s known as “The Viper,” and has a reputation for assuming the worst intentions. But in a male-dominated field of sports agents, Jackie is often underestimated and dismissed even when she’s the best at delivering for her clients.

Jackie is now forced to listen more, and receive help when she’s not used to asking for it. This gives Antonio the chance to show and tell Jackie how he feels about her. He has been pining for her for a decade, and is a certified Buffet Bae! He buys her shoes to wear just so he can [redacted] her in them. It’s HOTT! And fortunately when Jackie is being pleasured and honest about her feelings, that’s when her voice works.

Jackie is one of my favorite types of main characters where she is often told she’s “too much” but realizes she doesn’t have to change herself for the people who love her. I liked seeing the “Boss Chicks” friend group again, and even when Jackie is being her most stubborn self, her friends are helpful and encouraging. There’s some trial and error to figure out how to get Jackie’s voice back permanently, and the inclusion of adaptive devices was nice to see, too. Plus PeeWee Bar-Quan Miles, Jackie’s French bulldog, steals every scene he’s in! I hope I’m spoiled just like PeeWee when I come back as a pet in my next life.

- rivals to lovers
- forced proximity
- bisexual FMC
- moderate steam
- WDTK? Ch. 22

Thank you to @generouspress for the eARC! Struck Speechless is out now.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Struck Speechless-Boss Chick Village #2

Author: Tati Richardson-Read Losing Sight and gave 4 ⭐

Publication date: 4/28/26 | Read: 4/28/26

 Format: e-Book 384 pgs.

Genre:
*AA Interests
*Rom-Com
*Adult Fic

Tropes:
 *2nd chance romance
*sports romance
*hidden truth
*forced proximity
*workplace romance
*magical realism
*female friend group

POV: 3rd person dual

⚠️TW: h-illness (lost voice), misogyny, death of parent, parental abandonment, DUI, toxic workplace, animal illness

Setting: Atlanta, GA 

Summary: Ten years after their relationship ended, Jackie and Antonio are put together when their sports agencies Elite Management and Athletics Management Worldwide (AMS) merge. PJ Dawson is Jackie's client, and she feels Antonio is trying to take him away. She doesn't know about PJ and Antonio's personal connection resulting in drama and miscommunications. When Jackie mysteriously loses her voice, she's forced to lean on Antonio as he takes the opportunity to win her back.

👩🏾 Heroine: Jacqueline "Jackie" Miles-strong, tough, and talkative
👨🏾 Hero: Antonio "Ant" Steele-ex-football star, work rival sports agent

🎭 Other Characters: 
*PJ Dawson-22, basketball star, maybe the NBA's Rookie of the Year
*Marilyn Dawson-PJ's mother, hired Jackie as PJ's agent
*Bronwyn, Tanika, Mya, Sara-the boss chick village/Jackie's friends
*Calvin-Jackie's assistant
*Donny DiMaggio-frenemy at work
*Peewee-Jackie's dog

👍🏾Likes:
-BIPOC rep
*LQBTQIA+ rep
*humor and witty banter between Jackie and Antonio
*Augmentative and Alternate Communication (AAC)
*pet friendly🐶
*love in your 40s

Rating: 4/5 ⭐
Spice level: 4/5 🔥

🙏🏾 Thanks to NetGalley, Generous Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members's Titles and Tati Richardson for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

[Oni Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book of the Boss Chicks Village series. It’s is a second chance romance filled with great banter and heat. The main characters have been apart for over 10 years but the sparks between them instantly rekindle when their competing agencies merge – bring them back into each other’s orbit.

I found the story overly long – it would be less repetitive if it had been shorter. That said –

The characters are adults! Ppl in their 40s having romance! Hooray! I love Jackie and Antonio. They’re funny and smart. They both love big but are fearful of being rejected. I love their friends/community. They all support each other and their meet-ups throughout the story bring a lot of joy. It’s great getting to catch-up with the characters we met previously. The magic/spiritualism of Jackie’s vocal paralysis came across well and aided the momentum of the story. I enjoyed it more than the magical element in the first novel.

This is a romance where a black woman is loved well and out loud! Antonio’s feelings are never a secret - It’s obvious to everyone but Jackie. I enjoyed Antonio surprising and spoiling her. Always having her back. I like that Jackie never tries to be “one of the guys” when it comes to her career. She is honest and determined and it’s why she succeeds. Jackie is a relatable character. She’s a woman that the world has labelled “strong and independent”, but the reality is she is just as fragile as any one else. The world has told her that she’s too much, but Antonio never sees her that way. Do they frustrate one another? Absolutely, lol. But he sees all of her and isn’t put off or exhausted. He respects and admires her. He wants to be her safe space – the person she never has to be strong with. He never leaves her to handle her burdens alone. Truly romantic.

I rated this story 4/5. Spice level 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Generous Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Elle Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Struck Speechless by Tati Richardson follows Jackie, a successful sports agent in a male-dominated industry. Despite her petite size, she delivers big results with a bold, no-nonsense attitude. After a cryptic warning from a stranger, Jackie loses her voice, a reflection of her buried emotions. Forced to communicate differently, she begins confronting feelings she’s long avoided, especially when she reconnects with Antonio, the man she dismissed ten years ago, and old feelings resurface.

While the premise was intriguing this book ultimately was not for me.

I appreciated Jackie’s ambitious and driven but I struggled to connect with her because of how unpleasant, dismissive and judgmental she is. Although we are told she cares about the people in her life, her interactions with them makes it hard to understand why they remain close to her. Even her dog Pee Wee did little to soften her portrayal. Her refusal to consider therapy despite clear emotional struggles and anger issues was also frustrating.

Antonio is very into Jackie but his attraction feels largely physical and their brief hook-up from ten years ago does not make their present-day connection feel believable because there isn’t enough history to make it feel real.

The lost voice storyline is initially interesting but does not deliver a satisfying payoff. When her voice returns, the resolution feels abrupt and Jackie’s growth feels minimal.

The book felt too long and I found myself skimming parts of the final chapters. I also didn't realize this was the second book in a series which made me feel like I was missing context, and I suspect I might have connected more with the story had I read the first book.

Overall, while the concept is interesting, the unlikable protagonist, underdeveloped romance and uneven pacing made it difficult for me to fully invest.

Thank you to NetGalley and Generous Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Jessica Oneal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Tati Richardson and Generous Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Synopsis and Review:
In the second book of the Boss Chicks Village Series, we tackle Jackie's love life or lack thereof. She's prioritized her sports management career over love after a very public heartbreak. Jackie is feisty, confident and doesn't suffer fools. And stingy with her famous baked beans.

Anthonio is a little slick with a player past (according to Jackie). He's an ex-professional athlete, now sports agent and a loverboy. 10 years prior Jackie and Antonio had an unforgettable Vegas encounter that left one longing for more and the other disgruntled. Professional circumstances and maybe fate place them in each other's cross hairs again--forcing Jackie to shut up and listen and Antonio to step up to the plate.

4.5 stars. Jackie's stubbornness and Antonio's persistence make for a frustrating and endearing love story. It is refreshing to read a love story with MCs over 40 years old. And with a self-sufficient, bossed up FMC receiving soft love. The stereotyping and misogyny Jackie endured as a successful black woman in a male-dominated industry were infuriating but accurate. I appreciated Antonio's unyielding adoration for Jackie despite any wall or hurdle put in his path. He could truly see Jackie through all of her fears. This story provides the perfect amount of open door spice for a contemporary romance. The pacing and character development were adequate, maybe a little deeper dive into Antonio's personal dynamics would have been nice.
I love the circle of friends/found family in this series. The Boss Chicks keep the comedy going and are a good balance for Jackie. I was thrilled to get an update on Tanika and Gideon from Losing Sight and a little sneak peek into the next story... hopefully. Overall, I enjoyed the story, I smiled, laughed, rolled my eyes, and even got a little teary. I'm content.

[Emmalita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Tati Richardson’s Losing Sight last month in preparation for reading the arc for Struck Speechless. I loved Tamika and her friend group. I really enjoyed Richardson’s writing. I did not like Tamika’s love interest, Gideon in the last third of the book. He acknowledged that the many women telling him he was being wrongheaded were smarter than he was, and he still continued to be wrongheaded. So, I was a little concerned about how much I would enjoy Antonio. After a bit of a rough start, I liked him a lot.

Jackie Miles is a successful sports agent, but also a Black woman in a male dominated field (like Tamika in Losing Sight). Talking is both one of the most important tools of her trade, it’s also her shield. Ten years earlier, Jackie had had a thing with Antonio which ended badly. Antonio is back in her life as a sports agent at a firm that is in talks to merge with Jackie’s firm. On top of that, he seems to be spending a lot of time with one her top clients and he wants to talk to her about what happened between them. Jackie repeatedly throws up a wall of words to fend him off. As she did in Losing Sight, Richardson adds in a magical element. While in an antagonistic conversation with Antonio, Jackie looses her voice.

Jackie has to figure out how to communicate without her voice. Antonio becomes a source of support for Jackie and their relationship grows. I really enjoyed Jackie and Antonio. While he got off on the wrong foot by telling Jackie to shut up, prompting Jackie to throw a pan of delicious baked beans on him, Antonio respects Jackie and makes a strong effort to give her what she needs. He is the “if he wanted to he would” man.

As a writer, Richardson is great at the comedy and the angst. I loved the exploration of communication. I love Jackie’s friend group, and I can’t wait for the next book.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Generous Press and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jackie Miles and Antonio Steele are former lovers who unexpectedly find themselves thrown back into each other’s orbit ten years later when work forces them together. Jackie wants absolutely nothing to do with Antonio, still holding onto hurt from the past after never getting the full truth about what happened all those years ago. But this story takes such a unique turn when Jackie mysteriously loses her ability to speak—a consequence tied to her own struggle with honesty and emotional openness. Forced to lean on Antonio for help, she has no choice but to confront the walls she’s built and the truth she’s been avoiding.

Jackie’s journey of facing her own stubbornness and learning to truly communicate made her finally able to let Antonio in. And Antonio? He was patient, steady, and so easy to root for as he continued to support and pursue her without ever pushing too hard. Their chemistry was still very much alive, and watching them reconnect was such a rewarding second-chance romance.

One thing I’ll always appreciate about Tati’s writing is her focus on older main characters. It’s refreshing to read romances that remind us love stories don’t have an expiration date, and she writes that so beautifully.

I listened to the audiobook, and both narrators did an amazing job bringing Jackie and Antonio to life. They added so much personality and emotion to the story. And of course, I have to mention Peewee—Jackie’s adorable dog who completely stole scenes whenever he popped up.

It was also so much fun getting to revisit the friend group from Losing Sight, and as an Atlanta girl, I loved seeing my home city woven into the story. There’s always something special about reading a book set somewhere so familiar.

Another enjoyable, and entertaining read from Tati Richardson.

Thank you to Spotify audio for the ALC and the author for the eARC. All opinions are my own.