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Tatted Up & Tied Down
Zuri doesn't do love. Not anymore.
She's a single mom with ink-stained hands, a sharp mouth, and a past that taught her to keep her heart on lockdown. Between raising her son Zayn and running her tattoo shop, she doesn't have time for distractions
—especially not the flashy type with money, fame, and a messy background. But then Tay len Aka Prophet walks in.
Fine, tatted, and trouble in designer sneakers, he's the kind of man Zuri avoids on purpose. A rising rapper with a complicated past-addicted mother, daddy doing time, and a heart wrapped in barbed wire. But when he meets her son, something shifts. The bond is instant. Real. The way Tay Tay looks at her? Like he sees the woman behind the pain... and wants to worship her scars.
She wasn't looking for love. He didn't think he deserved it.
But now? They can't stay away from each other.
Between late-night confessions, stolen kisses in the shop, and the way he protects her like she's the only thing that matters-Zuri finds herself falling. Fast. Deep. Hard. But in the hood, love don't come easy. And when loyalty's tested and the past comes knocking, Zuri has to does she let Taylen in for real-or push him away before he breaks what's left of her? Because this time, it's not just her heart on the line... it's her son's too.
This ain't no fairytale.
It's real love, hood deep, tatted up and tied down
Love hit different when it's real, raw, and a little reckless.
She's a single mom with ink-stained hands, a sharp mouth, and a past that taught her to keep her heart on lockdown. Between raising her son Zayn and running her tattoo shop, she doesn't have time for distractions
—especially not the flashy type with money, fame, and a messy background. But then Tay len Aka Prophet walks in.
Fine, tatted, and trouble in designer sneakers, he's the kind of man Zuri avoids on purpose. A rising rapper with a complicated past-addicted mother, daddy doing time, and a heart wrapped in barbed wire. But when he meets her son, something shifts. The bond is instant. Real. The way Tay Tay looks at her? Like he sees the woman behind the pain... and wants to worship her scars.
She wasn't looking for love. He didn't think he deserved it.
But now? They can't stay away from each other.
Between late-night confessions, stolen kisses in the shop, and the way he protects her like she's the only thing that matters-Zuri finds herself falling. Fast. Deep. Hard. But in the hood, love don't come easy. And when loyalty's tested and the past comes knocking, Zuri has to does she let Taylen in for real-or push him away before he breaks what's left of her? Because this time, it's not just her heart on the line... it's her son's too.
This ain't no fairytale.
It's real love, hood deep, tatted up and tied down
Love hit different when it's real, raw, and a little reckless.
447 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 4, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 24, 2025
Sun Sun Sun
All I can say is you have done it again. You are an amazing writer. This FMC Zuri is chefs kiss. I love how she loves her job and works hard but also how she makes sure her son is first in her life. And then there’s Tay Tay. I’m going to stop right here. Go read it!!!
All I can say is you have done it again. You are an amazing writer. This FMC Zuri is chefs kiss. I love how she loves her job and works hard but also how she makes sure her son is first in her life. And then there’s Tay Tay. I’m going to stop right here. Go read it!!!
May 29, 2026
Editing
This story had great potential. Single parent romances are actually my favorite, however, who edited this book? So many repeat phrases and descriptions of the SAME THING: Zayn has a mop of curls, emotions displayed are a cover for the truth, there's a lot of talking face to face with foreheads touching... If you read it, you can't help but to notice.
Yet with so many pages, there are opportunities missed. We don't have a good description of the MFC, why did the engineer need to talk to Zuri, why did the MMC feel like he was such a bad guy outside of mommy issues and taking care of business, why was Zuri struggling so bad when she owns her shop and had steady customers, why was Zuri concerned so badly about KD's mom taking Zayn from her like Prophet hadn't already made it clear what he'd do for them... There's more unanswered questions but those are just a few.
Oh... why did we have to read chapter 4 twice? I mean, I didn't (once I realized what was happening), there were other chapters as well where information was repeated (almost verbatim) on the same page. I almost didn't finish. Felt AI-ish to me. It takes a lot to write a story but there is a level of care missing that's lazy which is evident, distracting and off-putting.
I will not read the second book in this series, even though I like the idea of the BFF and cousin getting together.
The author should find an editor who cares for her work and values the time spent to create, make adjustments and re-release this.
This story had great potential. Single parent romances are actually my favorite, however, who edited this book? So many repeat phrases and descriptions of the SAME THING: Zayn has a mop of curls, emotions displayed are a cover for the truth, there's a lot of talking face to face with foreheads touching... If you read it, you can't help but to notice.
Yet with so many pages, there are opportunities missed. We don't have a good description of the MFC, why did the engineer need to talk to Zuri, why did the MMC feel like he was such a bad guy outside of mommy issues and taking care of business, why was Zuri struggling so bad when she owns her shop and had steady customers, why was Zuri concerned so badly about KD's mom taking Zayn from her like Prophet hadn't already made it clear what he'd do for them... There's more unanswered questions but those are just a few.
Oh... why did we have to read chapter 4 twice? I mean, I didn't (once I realized what was happening), there were other chapters as well where information was repeated (almost verbatim) on the same page. I almost didn't finish. Felt AI-ish to me. It takes a lot to write a story but there is a level of care missing that's lazy which is evident, distracting and off-putting.
I will not read the second book in this series, even though I like the idea of the BFF and cousin getting together.
The author should find an editor who cares for her work and values the time spent to create, make adjustments and re-release this.
June 17, 2026
Zu and Prophet
I really enjoyed this.. more deep and emotional than I am used to from this author but it did not take away nothing. Prophet was Zayn protector before he even knew him for real. Fell for him before he knew who his mama was. I loved their relationship because it was built before anything happened with Zuri. Now Zuri went through something horrible but baby came out stronger, went through something traumatic but came out determined. The relationship she built with Prophet was just right. The way that man would go unhinged for her, the way he made her fell seen with just his actions just made me love them more. Overall a good read, longer than I expected though but still good!!
I really enjoyed this.. more deep and emotional than I am used to from this author but it did not take away nothing. Prophet was Zayn protector before he even knew him for real. Fell for him before he knew who his mama was. I loved their relationship because it was built before anything happened with Zuri. Now Zuri went through something horrible but baby came out stronger, went through something traumatic but came out determined. The relationship she built with Prophet was just right. The way that man would go unhinged for her, the way he made her fell seen with just his actions just made me love them more. Overall a good read, longer than I expected though but still good!!
February 10, 2026
Great introduction to the author.....
As much as I liked this book, because I love a long book if it has purpose. For me this was long because alot was repeated unnecessarily. I still cannot tell you what Zuri looks like minus the curls on top of her head. It was the minor details I needed that weren't there but overall this was a great book and I look forward to seeing how the author has progressed in her newer books.
As much as I liked this book, because I love a long book if it has purpose. For me this was long because alot was repeated unnecessarily. I still cannot tell you what Zuri looks like minus the curls on top of her head. It was the minor details I needed that weren't there but overall this was a great book and I look forward to seeing how the author has progressed in her newer books.
June 12, 2026
Ms. Sunshine has done it again! Prophet and Zuri's story was grittier than other novels that I've read by her but I still really enjoyed it. Prophet is an up and coming artist who's on the brink of stardom. He falls in love with Zuri who's a tattoo artist and single mom. Both are certified grinches created as a facade to hide the hurt and pain they've experienced in their past. I love how Prophet immediately loved Zuri's son as his own. I love how she pushed him to be a better man and artist unintentionally. It was a beautiful story and I'm so glad that Rico and Grace got their own story!
May 19, 2026
4.35 good read
Let's just sat it... yes it has typos an a entire chapter repeats... but pass that is a really good story based of hard emotions and love...the love that heals...and the way he was behind that little boy was beyond words beautiful.
Let's just sat it... yes it has typos an a entire chapter repeats... but pass that is a really good story based of hard emotions and love...the love that heals...and the way he was behind that little boy was beyond words beautiful.
June 21, 2026
Great story.
Despite all the mistakes and inconsistencies this was a really good love story. A lot of it was repetitive or confusing but I enjoyed it overall.
Despite all the mistakes and inconsistencies this was a really good love story. A lot of it was repetitive or confusing but I enjoyed it overall.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews