What do you think?
Rate this book
Reconstructing Jada Channing
She can’t afford to believe in fairy tales, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to be her Prince Charming.
I didn’t want to come to this holiday party, yet here I am.
Worse. There he is. Aaron McKensie.
Still gorgeous. Still wealthy. Still furious.
We were lovers once, but our time together was fleeting, a fantasy.
A scholarship girl like me wasn’t meant for a billionaire like him.
Except now I’m keeping a secret so fundamental—
He can never know. Not about my son.
Our son.
He’ll never forgive me. No possibility of a second chance.
But then our eyes meet, and I’m back in fantasyland.
How can I stay away when my heart yearns for him so . . .
When his gaze says now that he’s found me again, he won’t let me go?
I didn’t want to come to this holiday party, yet here I am.
Worse. There he is. Aaron McKensie.
Still gorgeous. Still wealthy. Still furious.
We were lovers once, but our time together was fleeting, a fantasy.
A scholarship girl like me wasn’t meant for a billionaire like him.
Except now I’m keeping a secret so fundamental—
He can never know. Not about my son.
Our son.
He’ll never forgive me. No possibility of a second chance.
But then our eyes meet, and I’m back in fantasyland.
How can I stay away when my heart yearns for him so . . .
When his gaze says now that he’s found me again, he won’t let me go?
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2015
68 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Savannah J. Frierson
32 books297 followersSavannah J. Frierson is a USA TODAY best-selling and award-winning author penning diverse romance and mainstream fiction full of genuine characters, authentic stories, and passionate feeling.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 10, 2015
An Ames woman in love is a precarious place to be; however, Jada Channing falls in love with Aaron McKensie, a wealthy and gorgeous man she met at a recreation center where she volunteered during college. One night of passionate lovemaking results in a pregnancy, and her life takes a dramatic turn. She and Aaron plan to get married and raise their baby together, but his father interrupts their plan to be a family. Three years later, Jada and Aaron see each other again at a party in Atlanta and the sparks fly, but Jada has a secret. They have a son. A son that Aaron believed to have been aborted. Once she makes the decision to tell Aaron about their son, she fears he will take him away from her. He has another idea in mind, though. He wants to be a family.
I truly enjoyed this story. This was not your typical happily-ever-after read in which everything goes perfectly right. Jada and Aaron were in love with each other, but they also endured many obstacles such as stereotypes and racism. Jada also had trust issues with men because of the reputation of Ames women falling in love with unavailable men and being abandoned by them. For years, her grandmother had instilled this fear in her and, therefore, caused her not too fully trust men. I frowned upon this because Jada just could not enjoy a good thing.
I really liked her best friend, Shae, because she always encouraged Jada no matter what. I loved Aaron’s mom because she accepted Jada and her son. She didn’t look down on her or make her feel less than a woman. I truly despised Aaron’s father because he felt that money took care of everything and he thought Jada was a gold digger. He could not see that his actions were truly hurtful to not only Jada but also to his son.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to others because it was very moving and imparted powerful messages throughout.
-Reviewed by Tramaine Green
I truly enjoyed this story. This was not your typical happily-ever-after read in which everything goes perfectly right. Jada and Aaron were in love with each other, but they also endured many obstacles such as stereotypes and racism. Jada also had trust issues with men because of the reputation of Ames women falling in love with unavailable men and being abandoned by them. For years, her grandmother had instilled this fear in her and, therefore, caused her not too fully trust men. I frowned upon this because Jada just could not enjoy a good thing.
I really liked her best friend, Shae, because she always encouraged Jada no matter what. I loved Aaron’s mom because she accepted Jada and her son. She didn’t look down on her or make her feel less than a woman. I truly despised Aaron’s father because he felt that money took care of everything and he thought Jada was a gold digger. He could not see that his actions were truly hurtful to not only Jada but also to his son.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to others because it was very moving and imparted powerful messages throughout.
-Reviewed by Tramaine Green
July 6, 2018
In reading a bit about the author's background and that her thesis advisor was Jamaica Kincaid, my level of expectation--the bar had been raised high especially when it comes to the IR genre. All I can say about this is...I was underwhelmed.
For being 304 pages this story kind of felt like being on a treadmill. You think you've been on it for fifteen minutes because your muscles are screaming, your lungs are crying out for air, and you're pouring sweat. However when you check the time, you're hit with the reality you've only been running in place for two minutes. This story dragged and droned.
The premise of this story reminds me of this book I finished reading a couple of weeks ago called First Love which was published way after, however Reconstructing Jada Channing had about 98.5% less racism. There were still characters who exuded bigoted/racists opinions and attitudes, so that was a given. Added on to that was Jada constantly being bashed over the head by her grandmother who never passed up the opportunity to let her know no man, but especially if he's white, will stick around to love and support her. It was the Ames generational curse that seemingly only plagued the female members of the family. And Jada, after listening to bad counsel, kept the curse going...to a point. She got in the way of her own happiness more than once.
Did I believe in the love between Jada and Aaron? Sure. They were sweet but again, together and individually they weren't dynamic characters. They didn't wet my whistle.
There's so much I want to say about the characters, writing style (which seemed to be a bit all over the place), and other things I could pick apart, but I'll just end with this. This is the kind of book you read but it doesn't stick with you. You won't walk away with any new impressions or ideas about love, life, or race. This was a story about characters who wouldn't get out of their own way, and by the time they do, you end up shrugging because the road to self-acutalization is pretty dull.
For being 304 pages this story kind of felt like being on a treadmill. You think you've been on it for fifteen minutes because your muscles are screaming, your lungs are crying out for air, and you're pouring sweat. However when you check the time, you're hit with the reality you've only been running in place for two minutes. This story dragged and droned.
The premise of this story reminds me of this book I finished reading a couple of weeks ago called First Love which was published way after, however Reconstructing Jada Channing had about 98.5% less racism. There were still characters who exuded bigoted/racists opinions and attitudes, so that was a given. Added on to that was Jada constantly being bashed over the head by her grandmother who never passed up the opportunity to let her know no man, but especially if he's white, will stick around to love and support her. It was the Ames generational curse that seemingly only plagued the female members of the family. And Jada, after listening to bad counsel, kept the curse going...to a point. She got in the way of her own happiness more than once.
Did I believe in the love between Jada and Aaron? Sure. They were sweet but again, together and individually they weren't dynamic characters. They didn't wet my whistle.
There's so much I want to say about the characters, writing style (which seemed to be a bit all over the place), and other things I could pick apart, but I'll just end with this. This is the kind of book you read but it doesn't stick with you. You won't walk away with any new impressions or ideas about love, life, or race. This was a story about characters who wouldn't get out of their own way, and by the time they do, you end up shrugging because the road to self-acutalization is pretty dull.
June 1, 2018
3.00 Stars. The many five star ratings for this book leaves me, "Bewitched! Bothered! And Bewildered!". This story is a hodge-podge of events from here, there, and everywhere being dumped into the lives of a Twenty-first Century interracial couple-mainly the Jada Mae Channing, the heroine. Like many Black families, Jada's family has mixed race members sired by White males. Jada's grandmother and older relatives discourage and condemn interracial relationships insisting that the White male is a user and incapable of loving and caring for his Black female counterpart. In 2001, toward the end of her senior year in college, Jada and Aaron McKensie moved from friends to lovers to expectant parents. Aaron, the hero, is the White son of the founder and CEO of a lucrative financial consulting firm. He wants to marry Jada, his father intercedes convincing Jada to stay away from his son and at the same time sends Aaron to Europe to open and office and sends his partner's daughter to Aaron. Between Aaron's father's underhanded interference and Jada's grandmother's dogged White male/Black female bashing and Jada's low self-esteem. This story droned on and on with the author trying to romanticize and justify Jada's decision to deny her son a father for three years. Another useless plot ploy was to have Aaron engaged to a character wavering from mean to nice or anti to pro Jada. Jada and her grandmother and Aaron's father and the partner's family were unlikeable and/or irritating characters. I like Aaron and his mother and his son. But HEA in the end. KUB #20
November 22, 2021
Jada Channing and Aaron McKensie were friends formed by their love of mentoring others. They found a tender flame that turned into something more through suppporting one another her in college, him in being resolute in understanding the plights of those less fortunate then him. They were very good together unfortunately, Jada being raised by her grandmother who had too many crosses to bear from generations of hurt and passed that on to Jada Mae and Jada Mae couldn't see a good thing that was right in front of her face. Aaron tried to love Jada, but Jada couldn't and wouldn't accept it at face value, but it's not totally unfounded due to Aaron's father paying her off to leave his son alone. I appreciated that this was Ms. Frierson's first story written for her thesis paper in African American Studies at Harvard, but there could have been a little more transition from her proper speech to her Southern dialect that she would slip into at times. I understand the code switching, as most black people do it, it just seemed a little out of place sometimes, though when she did start doing it around Aaron, it was explained in a way that made it acceptable and made sense. The story itself, was good, but I could only read so much at a time. I ended up getting tired of the beware because all the women in our family have been left by our men speech made by Grandma Candace. I do appreciate Ms. Frierson's writing overall.
March 6, 2018
Miscegenation has a generational affect of the mind!
Grandma Candace used her Ames women's history to brain wash her granddaughter Jada by constantly talking about the life that her grandmother Dorcas and mother Calliope had. Poor Jada thought that was her destiny too.
When Jada Channing and Aaron McKenzie met at the community center in college, they became best buds that led love and the unexpected. Alexander McKenzie thought he was getting rid of a gold digger out of his son's life. He saw Jada as beneath their place in snooty high society and the wrong color. The three years Aaron endured without Jada in his life was unbearable until their surprise meeting at a party with his fiance. Everything came rushing back for him and he got more answers than he bargained for. They had to battle efforts to keep them apart but their love endured through all of the hiccups and they could finally get their long awaited HEA with their family intact and growing.
The author wrote a very entertaining story about class and race. It was well plotted and written with lots of drama that pulled at my heart strings, especially when Aaron met his son Josh for the first time. It was so touching, I was in tears reading it. I really enjoyed reading this book and glad I took a chance on this author.
Grandma Candace used her Ames women's history to brain wash her granddaughter Jada by constantly talking about the life that her grandmother Dorcas and mother Calliope had. Poor Jada thought that was her destiny too.
When Jada Channing and Aaron McKenzie met at the community center in college, they became best buds that led love and the unexpected. Alexander McKenzie thought he was getting rid of a gold digger out of his son's life. He saw Jada as beneath their place in snooty high society and the wrong color. The three years Aaron endured without Jada in his life was unbearable until their surprise meeting at a party with his fiance. Everything came rushing back for him and he got more answers than he bargained for. They had to battle efforts to keep them apart but their love endured through all of the hiccups and they could finally get their long awaited HEA with their family intact and growing.
The author wrote a very entertaining story about class and race. It was well plotted and written with lots of drama that pulled at my heart strings, especially when Aaron met his son Josh for the first time. It was so touching, I was in tears reading it. I really enjoyed reading this book and glad I took a chance on this author.
March 25, 2018
Hummmm!!!
This was one of those book that only have you Sa y "hummm".
It was an excellent, different read and although I almost gave up, I pushed to finish it and was not disappointed...
This is one of those that can have each on of us relate to, whether it may be regarding race, background, ignorance, color, and the overall psyche of the human being....
Aaron and Jada were the best couple to be tasked this "job" of awareness, educative, and understanding of how two extremely opposite, different group could destroy, kill or love one another.
This was my first time reading MS. Friersen, and I love it... I have already purchased two others that I will be reading shortly..
This was one of those book that only have you Sa y "hummm".
It was an excellent, different read and although I almost gave up, I pushed to finish it and was not disappointed...
This is one of those that can have each on of us relate to, whether it may be regarding race, background, ignorance, color, and the overall psyche of the human being....
Aaron and Jada were the best couple to be tasked this "job" of awareness, educative, and understanding of how two extremely opposite, different group could destroy, kill or love one another.
This was my first time reading MS. Friersen, and I love it... I have already purchased two others that I will be reading shortly..
March 9, 2024
You will want to kick someone's behind
This book bag me waffling between who I wanted to hit in the head. Jada for allowing misfortunes of ancestors to impact her relationship so much. Sometimes Adam for not fighting hard enough. Jada's grandmother for speaking negativity. Adam's father definitely for being racist. As well as Veronica's parents for their racism. I felt sorry for Veronica for being a casualty but not that much. I was overjoyed when Jada and Adam reunited and mad at them again but then happy in the end. The only ones I was happy with were Adam's mom, their son Joshua, and Jada's best friends as well as Zeke.
This book bag me waffling between who I wanted to hit in the head. Jada for allowing misfortunes of ancestors to impact her relationship so much. Sometimes Adam for not fighting hard enough. Jada's grandmother for speaking negativity. Adam's father definitely for being racist. As well as Veronica's parents for their racism. I felt sorry for Veronica for being a casualty but not that much. I was overjoyed when Jada and Adam reunited and mad at them again but then happy in the end. The only ones I was happy with were Adam's mom, their son Joshua, and Jada's best friends as well as Zeke.
August 14, 2018
Reconstructing Jade Channing
What a wonderful story of Jada and Aaron. I loved these characters, and the way this story was written. I loved the fact it wasn’t a jump back in bed kind of reunion. Both had a lot of issues to work through before they could finally be together. True love conquered all.
I loved her family and her friends. Truly very supportive. I even liked Veronica, she was classy, and I could see her and Jada being friends. Joshua was a little cutie. He stole everyone’s heart. All in all it was a delightful story.
What a wonderful story of Jada and Aaron. I loved these characters, and the way this story was written. I loved the fact it wasn’t a jump back in bed kind of reunion. Both had a lot of issues to work through before they could finally be together. True love conquered all.
I loved her family and her friends. Truly very supportive. I even liked Veronica, she was classy, and I could see her and Jada being friends. Joshua was a little cutie. He stole everyone’s heart. All in all it was a delightful story.
August 11, 2018
Romance at its finest
I stumbled across this story totally accident. I’ve always loved Being Plumville so much so that I have read it several times in one month . Although it’s still my favorite by Ms Frierson, Reconstructing Jada Channing is a very close second. From the tile to the poetic scenes of love and friendship between Jada and Aaron , this story of true romance was constructed beautifully . I will be rereading this one again and again for years to come
I stumbled across this story totally accident. I’ve always loved Being Plumville so much so that I have read it several times in one month . Although it’s still my favorite by Ms Frierson, Reconstructing Jada Channing is a very close second. From the tile to the poetic scenes of love and friendship between Jada and Aaron , this story of true romance was constructed beautifully . I will be rereading this one again and again for years to come
June 1, 2018
👍
Great characters,great storyline...
I love the friendship that Aaron and Jada shared, it's made their love even stronger. Little Joshua is such a joy, smart and so charming. I'm a sucker for books with kids involved. Izzy, my! I love that woman, most of the characters are wonderful... Even, Alexander. The Lowman and Prescott not so much. Veronica is ok.
Great read!
Great characters,great storyline...
I love the friendship that Aaron and Jada shared, it's made their love even stronger. Little Joshua is such a joy, smart and so charming. I'm a sucker for books with kids involved. Izzy, my! I love that woman, most of the characters are wonderful... Even, Alexander. The Lowman and Prescott not so much. Veronica is ok.
Great read!
November 14, 2021
Loved it!
I purchased and read this book years ago and decided to I revisit it this weekend. It was better than when I read it years ago, if that's possible! Aaron and Jada had their share of issues, but they finally got it right in the end. Love truly conquered all! I loved this book!
I purchased and read this book years ago and decided to I revisit it this weekend. It was better than when I read it years ago, if that's possible! Aaron and Jada had their share of issues, but they finally got it right in the end. Love truly conquered all! I loved this book!
January 8, 2022
Such a beautiful story
If left up to Aaron he would have married Jada years ago! Alexander McKenzie was a trip trying to control fate as well as the Prescott's but in the end love won out. Even though he was white and she was black, love prevailed and the Ames curse was finally broken! Loved it!
If left up to Aaron he would have married Jada years ago! Alexander McKenzie was a trip trying to control fate as well as the Prescott's but in the end love won out. Even though he was white and she was black, love prevailed and the Ames curse was finally broken! Loved it!
March 28, 2022
This book started off well. Good storyline but he found about about his kid around 30% in and from there as far as I was concerned there was no more storyline but the author draggggged it out. I said I should give up but this book has been on my reading list for ages so I saw it through resulting in 3 stars dropping to 2 and that’s only cause the author can at least write
August 5, 2018
Mighty fine story
Sweet, sad, encouraging love story. Jada a is a strong woman, mother, friend trying to do the right thing for everyone. Aaron is a man that fought for his love. Good story with fleshed out characters. Just good writing.
Sweet, sad, encouraging love story. Jada a is a strong woman, mother, friend trying to do the right thing for everyone. Aaron is a man that fought for his love. Good story with fleshed out characters. Just good writing.
November 24, 2022
Jada & Aaron
Wow, What a phenomenal book, The author put depth and embraced her characters. This was my 1st from this author and I will be looking forward to reading much more of her work There was a little of everything within. You will not be disappointed
Wow, What a phenomenal book, The author put depth and embraced her characters. This was my 1st from this author and I will be looking forward to reading much more of her work There was a little of everything within. You will not be disappointed
December 7, 2022
I received this book through a program called Hidden Gems and I am so glad I did because this really was a gem! I never would have known about this book before now. It was such a great book. A page-turner that I simply could not put down!
May 19, 2024
This was Jada and Aaron’s story. He’s still gorgeous, wealthy and furious. They were lovers once, but their time was fleeting, a fantasy. A scholarship girl like her wasn’t meant for a billionaire like him.
Except now she’s keeping a secret. An okay read for me. Am voluntarily leaving this review.
Except now she’s keeping a secret. An okay read for me. Am voluntarily leaving this review.
April 13, 2018
Good read
It was an alright read. Wish that Aaron could've been just a bit more dominant. He was a tad to sensitive for me, but it was a ptetty decent read.
It was an alright read. Wish that Aaron could've been just a bit more dominant. He was a tad to sensitive for me, but it was a ptetty decent read.
April 13, 2018
Some really annoying bits
May 28, 2018
She finally got it
It took a while but Jada finally got out of her own way and allowed herself to find happiness. That dinner at the restaurant was quite memorable.
It took a while but Jada finally got out of her own way and allowed herself to find happiness. That dinner at the restaurant was quite memorable.
August 11, 2018
Loved it.
I loved it and did not put down until l finished. Definitely recommended it. Hope to see other books written by this author.
I loved it and did not put down until l finished. Definitely recommended it. Hope to see other books written by this author.
July 27, 2021
first time book from you, Very good read, you touched on quite a few thing that are still going on in relationships today. one from you to read hopefully it is also a 5 stair
Read
December 24, 2015Not bad, not good. I think the story was a little too simple and predictable at some points then it became contradictory and unrealistic at other points.
The male MC was too accepting and forgiving of the situation. It made him seem like a pushover, as well as skipped some potential drama to make the story more dynamic.
The female MC was just wrong. On one hand she spoke like an illiterate country bumpkin, yet she attended and graduated from an Ivy league school. She wants to think she is a strong independent woman but what she was weak and wrong. I do not condone what she did, nor did I think her reasons were justified. So it was hard to relate to her or support her or root for her.
Also, toward the end of the story the antagonist totally changes his stance and tact. So I felt that the conflict should have been built on more solid ground.
Also, also, their was no good sexy time so not even that could pick the story up. Like I said, it wasn't bad but I wouldn't recommend.
The male MC was too accepting and forgiving of the situation. It made him seem like a pushover, as well as skipped some potential drama to make the story more dynamic.
The female MC was just wrong. On one hand she spoke like an illiterate country bumpkin, yet she attended and graduated from an Ivy league school. She wants to think she is a strong independent woman but what she was weak and wrong. I do not condone what she did, nor did I think her reasons were justified. So it was hard to relate to her or support her or root for her.
Also, toward the end of the story the antagonist totally changes his stance and tact. So I felt that the conflict should have been built on more solid ground.
Also, also, their was no good sexy time so not even that could pick the story up. Like I said, it wasn't bad but I wouldn't recommend.
November 4, 2016
I really enjoy Frierson's quick reads, all her novels center around forbidden relationships and how families inherit traditions and attitudes toward those different from themselves. I was attracted to her novels initially because we had similar academic careers, both majoring in English and African American Studies, and figured we have similar reading interests.
This particular novel served as Frierson's senior thesis, and features the relationship of Jada and Aaron, between race and the ingrained familial prejudices and fears these two people struggle to engage each other in a meaningful relationship.
This particular novel served as Frierson's senior thesis, and features the relationship of Jada and Aaron, between race and the ingrained familial prejudices and fears these two people struggle to engage each other in a meaningful relationship.
September 12, 2016
I really liked the story of Jada and Aaron.
I really liked the story of Jada and Aaron. A love story with so many different perspective from their families interference, it's a wonder that their love survives. A wonderful story, worth reading.
I really liked the story of Jada and Aaron. A love story with so many different perspective from their families interference, it's a wonder that their love survives. A wonderful story, worth reading.
July 29, 2021
Believable
This is how an IR should be. A true love story at is possible. Non of the billionaire crappy lust mistaken for love.
This is how an IR should be. A true love story at is possible. Non of the billionaire crappy lust mistaken for love.
Read
May 26, 2018Remake
This is not the original story that was first written she added a lot and to me it didn’t make the story better should’ve left it alone
This is not the original story that was first written she added a lot and to me it didn’t make the story better should’ve left it alone
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews