Nivéa is a young single mother fighting to build something real for her baby girl after finally walking away from a man who dragged her straight through hell. She is bruised, tired, and in desperate need of healing, stability, and someone who does not break what is already fragile.
Meet Crown, danger in human form with a heart made of pure gold. He moves with power, talks with purpose, and protects without hesitation. The way he shows up for Nivéa pulls her in before she even realizes she is falling.
“He was everything she had sworn she would stay away from, yet he was everything she had needed all along.”
Talena Tillman is a native of Houston, Texas. At thirty years young, she has already made her mark on the literary world. Notoriously known for her novellas, Talena has mastered the ability to give a full story within a hundred and something pages. Her series “Kane” is her reader’s favorite. She writes urban romance, penning imperfect black love beautifully.
Daddy Crown was stepping correctly behind his girls! I knew at some point Boe was going to show up and I’m going to be stressed in book two, smh!!! 🤦🏾♀️ I do love the pacing of this book and the quick insta-love between the characters. Very solid read.
Was it interesting yes, but the pacing wasn’t the best to me. I get it’s fast paced but we barely knew either of our main characters physical descriptions was few and far between and it felt like we doing mundane stuff with the FMC a lil too long. Especially if the book is a cliff hanger ending. Idk if I’m invested enough to see what happens in book two, this was good but it just felt like we got these big events that weren’t impactful because I didn’t really get a solid moment to vibe with our Star couple. Like certain things only hurt or pull emotions out of you when you connect with the characters. I didn’t feel that pull to do so.
This was a new to me author. However, this book has me about to read her entire catalog. I absolutely loved this book. Had the perfect amount of spice, I feel like it also had drama. It kept me on the edge of my seat. All I know is when book 2 drops Mr. Crown but it set some shit on fire about his Nivéa.
4/5 - Crown & Nivéa! This was an action packed hood love story in true Talena’s fashion. We get insta-love, step daddy, and provider within these pages — Crown played no games behind Nivéa and Nyla. - I know Crown is about to loose all of his marbles in book 2 because that cliffhanger!
Talena Tillman's books are always good, but this one completely had my interest from page one. Oh my gosh, Mo! I know Crown and his brother are going to tear the city apart. I can't wait for part 2.
I typically like books when the MMC is full throttle all gas no breaks with the FMC - seeing what he wants and executes effectively to make her his. While Crown did that, something about how he always wanted to be up under Nivea sans her baby didn't sit well with me - nor did it sit well with me that for most of the book she was leaving her 2mo old with her best friend and the best friends mama while she was out with or laid up with him. Granted, he paid for the sitter when they were out, I would have really liked to see him making moves that included the baby - because how was he professing his desire for Nivea to be his wife and have more babies when he didn't even interact with her baby who was already alive. I wanted to really like these characters and their story, but for the reasons mentioned, it lost me and had me skimming to finish and not even the drama at the end or the cliffhanger with a promise of an upcoming series could pull me back in. I'm out!
Unfortunately I could not get into this story at all. The MMC didn’t have any real personality to me, the FMC was boring. She had a baby that she was never with (could’ve left the baby out). There was building to their relationship. All we know as the reader is that they were supposedly fine and then BOOM they can’t live without each other. I would have love to see him pursue her more and her not be so easy just because of how he looked. Then I was lost at her letting him insert a g*n into her vagina. First even if that’s something u into, you don’t know this man AT ALL. This couple had NO chemistry whatsoever. They slept together ONE time and she was already with the attitudes and overly emotional. How was he so into her? How was she his wife? They literally had NO REAL CONVERSATIONS. SEX IS NOT A RELATIONSHIP IT’S ALSO NOT LOVE. Geesh I wish these authors will understand black love can be built off substance and romance. Every black character doesn’t have to fall in love with the sex and pretend they’re head over hills in love with the person. 🙄🙄🙄 I DNF at the beginning right after the sex scene and him coming to her shop and her having the attitude. Idk what percent that is but it has to be like 15-20%
I loved this book. The chemistry between these two and the plot twist in the end. So peep game: Nivéa is a single mom trying to rebuild her life after a toxic relationship, focused on her baby and her business. The last thing she wants is another man tied to the streets.
And then Crown walks in…
A Leo biker with power, confidence, and a protective streak a mile long. The chemistry between them is instant, intense, and Crown makes it very clear that when he wants something… he goes after it.
But Nivéa already knows what loving a street man can cost. So when the truth about Crown’s double life starts surfacing, she chooses her peace—even if that means walking away from the one man who might actually be good to her.
This one gave: 🔥 instalove tension 🔥 protective biker energy 🔥 single mom softness 🔥 spicy scenes that will have you clutching your Kindle
Crown might be danger in human form… but that man also knows how to show up.
Now I need to see where this story goes next because the push and pull between these two has me locked in.
This book was a great read and I enjoyed every single page!!!… Nivea is in this world with both her parents and trying to make ends meet while trying to keep her business running and her baby in daycare!!!… In walks a group of bikers and with the head man, Crown in the front, her life starts to change for the better!!!… She’s enjoying the adventure of a new man that showers her with love and affection, with peace and protection!!!.. Crown is trying to make sure Nivea wants for nothing when it comes to her and Baby Ny, but life w/ bikers keeps happening and she makes the decision to walk away, rather than risk it!!!… Then troublesome ex, baby daddy Bo walks back on the scene acting like his mistakes belong to Nivea!!!…She made it more than clear that he was not her choice, but it appears he is choosing for her and has made the decision to take her and their daughter!!!… Caresha is a TRUE FRIEND and love how she stepped behind Baby Ny and Nivea!!!…She ran her mouth, but she never left her BFF feeling lost in whatever thoughts or actions came about!!!…
A little bit of hood mixed in with a hole lot of loving & smashing.
Crown, Crown, Crown, oh how I love me some Crown. Crown leads a double life. He wants to live a normal, boring life where he can be an architect. Their is one problem he is the leader of a motorcycle club, and they are at war with the Ravens.
Nivea is a small business owner who is a single mom with a trash 🗑 baby daddy named Boe. She has been through a lot and only craves peace, stability, and to be a provider for her daughter. Crown comes in, and it was instant love. There is a 9 year age gap between the two. They were perfect for each other, but Crown omitted some things knowing that Nivea didn't want to deal with anyone in the streets. There is a cliffhanger, and I can't wait to see how Crown steps behind Nivea.
📚 this book was great. The author knows how to keep the readers invested from star to finish. I read this book in one setting.
I read it in under two hours and sat there like... wait why am I invested like this?!
If you want an urban romance with real emotion, believable heat, and a hero who actually grows, read this. If you want a fast novella that drags you into the world and does not let go, read this.
It starts off like your usual MC setup but then it gets personal fast Crown is the best mix of Xander (Man of the Year by Connie Easton ) and Jax (Sons of Anarchy)
Crown's a leader of a moto club and when he stumbles across Nivea it's insta love.
Nivea is soft with a steel core. She has survived enough to know what she wants and what she refuses. She's giving classic Cancer energy. Crown is giving Leo energy.
Together they're chaotic but magnetic. Crown being an architect trying to leave the game adds that extra depth. He's not just a bad boy. He's a man trying to transition into something better.
I really liked this one! If you know me, then you know short books usually don’t do it for me. But this one was paced really well, especially considering it was an insta-love story.
I loved the friendship dynamic between Reesha and Nivéa. Their bond felt real and added a lot to the story. And let’s talk about Nivéa for a second — she might be the first FMC I’ve read who wasn’t shy when her man started coughing up that PAPER 💁🏾♀️😂. Usually the FMCs get all bashful about it, but not Nivéa. No ma’am! She accepted it with no hesitation, and honestly… I loved that for her.
All in all, this was a fun, quick read that still kept my attention the whole time.
The love between them moved fast, but the pacing of the story itself felt slow at times. Likely to build toward part two.
I really liked that Nivéa stayed focused on building her business and making smart decisions for her daughter. Ahmad was the best kind of MMC. He was passionate, intense, and intentional with his actions, not just his words when it came to winning Nivéa over. I loved the two of them as a couple. But I knew that lying by omission was going to come back and bite him. I was reading with bated breath just waiting for the fallout once the truth came out.
Overall, this was a solid first part of their story, and I’m immediately ready to jump into part two because so much happened so fast in the last 20%.
I was truly looking forward to read this book… it actually started so good and so strong that I actually thought I had hit the jackpot, but then it became just a little bit too much and boring and then it actually have a cliffhanger with no notion as to when is the next book coming in 🤬🤬 now I am an avid reader and as much as I try to filter those books, I know I will find some that I may not like, but what I can’t for the life of me ever understand is why wouldn’t it say there is a cliffhanger and to be aware. Sometimes I do not like to go in the reviews to get anything spoiled for me (which was the case because that cover had sold the book for me) but maybe I should have. I am very annoyed and greatly disappointed!!!
This read action-packed to say the least with swoon worthy moments and spice! Love or maybe lust at first sight? Who knows but Crown was captivated by Nivéa and vice versa. I enjoyed how he played no games with her, excluding not disclosing all his “jobs” lol but he honestly took care of her, she lacked for nothing. Now, I knew Boe was “touched” and the cliffhanger confirmed it! I need part two asap b/c Crown is going to set it off once he find out what Boe has pulled with Nevéa & Nyla!
Man, these books be driving me. I swear I hate a cliffhanger. However, I digress.
Listen y'all, Crown is that guy. Smart, handsome, paid, ruthless, a lover boy at heart, and slanging that B.D.E. Whew Chile, he can get it. I loved the way he loved Nivea. He knew instantly that she was his one. But as always, things happen, bumps in the road, and there you go.
Don't know what's up with her baby daddy, but as soon as Crown finds out what's going down, it's gonna be hell to pay.
Talena Tillman, such a good read. When you never allow your upbringing to hinder your outcome as an adult sometimes it just keeps on bringing you down. Being strong and independent can be a good thing having a lock around your heart to keep.you safe but you unknowingly get a wonderful way that just seems to be to good to.be true. Just when you think.your good another thing comes up. I love Crown he is a great example of a man. I can wait to see what happens next, what will.the outcome be? Will Crown save the day?
He’s A Good Man Savannah!! Crown perused Nivea. She just came out of a relationship, which resulted in a baby girl and she‘s an entrepreneur trying to get her business off the ground. Crown is living a double life as an architect and as president of motor cycle club. She asked him at dinner if he was in the streets? She just left a relationship like that. Nivea missed Crown. Now Crown is ready to tear something up trying to figure out who is talking. He’s really about to lose because she disappeared on him and he is going to think she’s back with her baby daddy and he can’t trust her
Nivea was already struggling without her B.A.N. baby dad in her life. Then show up Ahmad aka Crown that swept her off her feet and s#@t looked real sweet like they could have a happily ever after, but then Crown's double life got in the middle of a good thing. Now Boe's a$$ got out for snitching and came getting Nivea's putting her and Nyla in his mess....Where's Crown when you need him 🔥🔥🔥 GREAT READ 🔥🔥🔥 WAITING ON BOOK 2!!!
I really want authors to announce when there is a cliffhanger. It’s really not fair to readers who have no idea. When a reader knows there will be a cliffhanger they are prepared. I am new to this author so I had no idea. I was reading the book and kept seeing that I was almost finished but the story wasn’t concluding. I thought something was wrong with my app. Just give readers a heads-up.
The way he didn’t play about her was cute. This book was ok, a few things I didn’t like. Crown made no attempts to actually bond with her daughter when he obviously going to b her new daddy😭. Nivea literally kicked her friend n daughter to the side for him bc let’s be honest a mother with two month old baby would not just be leaving her with everybody. They moved on from certain events tooo fast for me. Overall though I like it just had a few problems.
I don’t like cliffhangers, can I just have the whole story and nothing but. However, I love how intentional Crown was with pursuing Nivea. However, at times in the book Nivea had some inconsistencies. As a girl from the hood she was portrayed as naive and unrealistic. I hope book 2 will depict Nivea differently. I enjoyed the story and eager to read what Crown will do next.
Crown wanted Nivéa the moment that he laid eyes on her. He told her on their first date that he was going to marry her. Unfortunately, his street life contradicted the soft, peaceful life that Nivéa wanted for her and her daughter so she the ended the relationship. Nivéa’s baby daddy Boe dropped in unexpectedly with a gun making demands to get himself out of a ditch that he dug for himself. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
This is my first read from this author. I’m anxiously awaiting part 2, but I feel like an opportunity was missed with Mo’s death. So much could have been done with her storyline in this series.
I love the duality of Crown’s character. It’s good to see an educated street dude with a successful legitimate career.
Crown was everythinggg! I really enjoyed this insta love story because both characters were so mature! Crown def was crazy but Nivea had trauma that Im really wondering if she will get over. Love a good stepdaddy trope so much. As always such a great Talena read
Talena, you have done it again! This is such a good read. Baby, Crown is thee man. Him and Nivea are so cute. I like how she is the calm to his storm. His exterior is so serious and intense. I like how Nivea was able break through and he became more vulnerable! This book was had me glued to each page. Waiting for more!!
This book was def a page turner! Packed with love and action! The ending leaves you stuck and wanting more. I don’t like to tell the story in the review so I won’t mention what happens, I would recommend people to take a chance and read it. This is my first book from this author and I am not disappointed!
Crown: Man of My Word was good, and I’m already excited for the second book. I loved that Crown knew exactly what he wanted the moment he met Nivéa — that certainty made their connection even better. I’ll definitely be picking up book two, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
If I would have known this was a series I wouldn’t have stated reading it. It was an okay read would have given it 4 star but not sure imma read the next book in the series. Loved the couple but it being a series and not knowing till the end threw me off and normally I’m okay with it but not with this book.
Not on that cliffhanger?! This was too good, I couldn’t put it down! Listen I love when a FMC is standing on business about the life and environment she wants. Nivea wasn’t trying to hear nothing Crown was talking about after the truths of who he really was started tumbling out. I cannot wait for the next book!