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Whatever It Takes
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 6, 2026
Nice
The story was a pretty good story. The author is newer for me.
The story was a pretty good story. The author is newer for me.
August 4, 2026
I ate this up. I had all the emotions. I’m a sucker for a step up daddy. There were questions left but the author explained they’ll be answered in another book. I would recommend.
August 16, 2026
Oooooooo…
I’m ready for messiah’s book but babyyyyy serenity and journey’s book will be good. Chanel deserves it all. I love her
I’m ready for messiah’s book but babyyyyy serenity and journey’s book will be good. Chanel deserves it all. I love her
June 30, 2026
ARC Review
Michelle M.'s debut, Whatever It Takes, is the perfect urban sports romance!
Saint and Blessing were always in each other's orbit, never too far, but never close enough. They grew up in the same neighborhood, attended the same schools, knew of each other via family and friends, but never connected personally....until an unlucky injury brought Blessing to his front door. Saint never thought he'd fall head over heels for his physical therapist...Blessing never thought she'd allow another man to get close, especially after what her daughter's father put her through. Through temptation, lust and love, Saint and Blessing find themselves tangled in an intricate web of unsettled issues from the past, ties that bind in the present and hope for the future....could risking it all for love bring more pain or happiness?
Michelle M. you did an amazing job giving us Saint & Blessing! Whatever It Takes is a great urban romance debut, with the right amount of pining, lust, family ties and DRAMA!!!!!!! I enjoyed Saint and Blessing, but I definitely love how those secondary characters held them DOWN as actual and chosen family.
The sex? A1. Saint "Mr. Been about you and I'm still about you" Simmons? perfect stepdaddy, lover, brother, son and man! Blessing "Stop Playing With Me" Carter? the definition of a fighter, best big sister and amazing mother!
Tropes: forced proximity, stepdaddy, friends to lovers
Triggers: detailed flashbacks of DV against FMC, harassment, violent death scene
Michelle M.'s debut, Whatever It Takes, is the perfect urban sports romance!
Saint and Blessing were always in each other's orbit, never too far, but never close enough. They grew up in the same neighborhood, attended the same schools, knew of each other via family and friends, but never connected personally....until an unlucky injury brought Blessing to his front door. Saint never thought he'd fall head over heels for his physical therapist...Blessing never thought she'd allow another man to get close, especially after what her daughter's father put her through. Through temptation, lust and love, Saint and Blessing find themselves tangled in an intricate web of unsettled issues from the past, ties that bind in the present and hope for the future....could risking it all for love bring more pain or happiness?
Michelle M. you did an amazing job giving us Saint & Blessing! Whatever It Takes is a great urban romance debut, with the right amount of pining, lust, family ties and DRAMA!!!!!!! I enjoyed Saint and Blessing, but I definitely love how those secondary characters held them DOWN as actual and chosen family.
The sex? A1. Saint "Mr. Been about you and I'm still about you" Simmons? perfect stepdaddy, lover, brother, son and man! Blessing "Stop Playing With Me" Carter? the definition of a fighter, best big sister and amazing mother!
Tropes: forced proximity, stepdaddy, friends to lovers
Triggers: detailed flashbacks of DV against FMC, harassment, violent death scene
July 4, 2026
I love when a debut author really has you feeling like they have been writing for years! Michelle M. has a fan in me! This book was excellent! And I’m sitting here just stuck at the ending and thinking about the family of characters! The main characters and secondary characters all captured your heart! This story was filled with love, spice, DRAMA, and so much more!
It really was a book of found family, and you will love all the characters! Now of course there are some villains in the story that will absolutely piss you off but even their storylines are just as important!
Saint and Blessing will forever be a book couple that we love! Thank you for sharing their journey with us! Can’t wait for the next book - and no this didn’t end on a cliffhanger BUT there are some unanswered questions that I can’t wait to see followed up in the following book/s!
This book literally had me smiling, laughing and crying! Go read it now!!!!
It really was a book of found family, and you will love all the characters! Now of course there are some villains in the story that will absolutely piss you off but even their storylines are just as important!
Saint and Blessing will forever be a book couple that we love! Thank you for sharing their journey with us! Can’t wait for the next book - and no this didn’t end on a cliffhanger BUT there are some unanswered questions that I can’t wait to see followed up in the following book/s!
This book literally had me smiling, laughing and crying! Go read it now!!!!
July 20, 2026
Thank you to Michelle M for the ARC Opportunity.
For a debut, Michelle did what needed to be done with Whatever It Takes. This was a really well-written urban sports romance novel. The chemistry between Saint and Blessing was so good. The story flowed well and had me in my feels (it gets deep). Saint did not play about his daughter Sage, and I love that for Blessing. Even the side characters added depth to the story (Chanel especially... she was a real friend). And the spice was A1 to put it mildly.
If you are looking for a contemporary sports romance with a millionaire who doesn't play about his lady, Whatever It Takes needs to be added to the TBR immediately.
For a debut, Michelle did what needed to be done with Whatever It Takes. This was a really well-written urban sports romance novel. The chemistry between Saint and Blessing was so good. The story flowed well and had me in my feels (it gets deep). Saint did not play about his daughter Sage, and I love that for Blessing. Even the side characters added depth to the story (Chanel especially... she was a real friend). And the spice was A1 to put it mildly.
If you are looking for a contemporary sports romance with a millionaire who doesn't play about his lady, Whatever It Takes needs to be added to the TBR immediately.
June 21, 2026
ARC received from the author. My thoughts are my own.
⭐️Rating: 3.75
🌶️ level: 3
📖Genre(s): Sports romance
📚Sub genre(s): millionaire romance, contemporary romance
🎭Tropes: “you can get anything you want,” New Money, Physical Therapist x Pro NFL Athlete, oh he nastyyyyy in the best way, taking care of family, dope dealing/from the streets, single mother, self-care and maintenance themes (hair, nails, etc), it gets kinda messy(…ok a lot messy), eye rolling, social media/influencer, paparazzi/news journals, revenge plots
💥Triggers and warnings: profane language, alcohol use, drug dealing, Domestic Violence (against a pregnant woman -on page), domestic abuse, death threats, abortion, pedophilia/grooming (mentioned, not explicit and is off page), sexual assault (on page), gun violence, hired hits/assassinations
🗒️Other notables: modern day vernacular, 1st person POV, multi POV, author prose is a mixture of “showing” and “telling”
✨Some highlights: I enjoy when music and scents are included in the story. It helps me immerse myself into the scenes. We get peaks inside the PT world. I love the close family ties and traditions - it’s a different sort of generational wealth, rooted in passed down family recipes, isms, and ways of living. We get to see trauma healing - A survivor of DV.
😒 Wasn’t a fan of: The cheating culture. We have cheating precursor behaviors from both Bless and Saint- wandering eyes, flirty banter, texting outside of work related things, hanging out outside of work, him putting out “feelers” by calling her beautiful and gorgeous, hearting her Instagram stories, etc —all while being in an exclusive relationship. On his part it’s giving “branch-swinging” or the Tarzan Rule.
Both of them straight up lying to themselves about their own feelings/denial was frustrating to see too. They do discuss not having the right timing several times, though.
Several characters PMO… but that was intentional character builds. It worked. I got mad AF.
🌊 flow, plot, and pacing: So something about the flow was a lil off in some places -some of the prose felt a little stilted, sometimes leaning heavily into an expository style of writing. Plot moves so quickly in the first 25% of the book. Like holy poop so much went down in the first quarter, I felt I needed a cig! It slows down a little bit in the middle til about 45%. Then hot damn, shit breaks loose, and I wanted to chain smoke. And just when you think it’s done… WHAM! Another shocking plot development.
💭 My thoughts:
Wheeeewww. Where do I start, man?
We follow the lives of Saint -NFL player, and Blessing - a physical therapist with pro athlete clientele. Saint gets injured and requests Blessing specifically, as she’s the best in the field. It’s messssy. It’s drama. And in places it’s quite raw.
We follow them through a ton of life events, some major some minor. And while this is a romance novel, there is so much more to it than just the relationship. We see them from the nuances of everyday life to the pits of grief, scarring and healing traumas, to building their communities and their families.
I don’t think I can accurately paint the picture of the story without giving spoilers. I went into this read blind- only knowing it was a sports romance. I’m glad I did, because this was a rollercoaster of a book.
There’s so much packed into this book, it was never a dull moment. At one point I felt like I was going to have a menty b on Blessing’s behalf. I was getting secondhand anxiety or anxiety vicariously.
There are heavy themes in this one, and it had me in my emotions more than once.
The stilted / expository writing drew me back a bit, but with everything going on in this story- I was still hooked. Like. I didn’t know what was coming next… and I needed to know. I found myself thinking about what was going on in the book even when I wasn’t reading it.
Even the side characters are well built. Chanel is a good ass friend. Tbh, she and Ms. Jackie are probably my fav characters.
This is kind of rambling, so I’m going to cut it now. My TL;DR is go ahead and give this book a read.
⭐️Rating: 3.75
🌶️ level: 3
📖Genre(s): Sports romance
📚Sub genre(s): millionaire romance, contemporary romance
🎭Tropes: “you can get anything you want,” New Money, Physical Therapist x Pro NFL Athlete, oh he nastyyyyy in the best way, taking care of family, dope dealing/from the streets, single mother, self-care and maintenance themes (hair, nails, etc), it gets kinda messy(…ok a lot messy), eye rolling, social media/influencer, paparazzi/news journals, revenge plots
💥Triggers and warnings: profane language, alcohol use, drug dealing, Domestic Violence (against a pregnant woman -on page), domestic abuse, death threats, abortion, pedophilia/grooming (mentioned, not explicit and is off page), sexual assault (on page), gun violence, hired hits/assassinations
🗒️Other notables: modern day vernacular, 1st person POV, multi POV, author prose is a mixture of “showing” and “telling”
✨Some highlights: I enjoy when music and scents are included in the story. It helps me immerse myself into the scenes. We get peaks inside the PT world. I love the close family ties and traditions - it’s a different sort of generational wealth, rooted in passed down family recipes, isms, and ways of living. We get to see trauma healing - A survivor of DV.
😒 Wasn’t a fan of: The cheating culture. We have cheating precursor behaviors from both Bless and Saint- wandering eyes, flirty banter, texting outside of work related things, hanging out outside of work, him putting out “feelers” by calling her beautiful and gorgeous, hearting her Instagram stories, etc —all while being in an exclusive relationship. On his part it’s giving “branch-swinging” or the Tarzan Rule.
Both of them straight up lying to themselves about their own feelings/denial was frustrating to see too. They do discuss not having the right timing several times, though.
Several characters PMO… but that was intentional character builds. It worked. I got mad AF.
🌊 flow, plot, and pacing: So something about the flow was a lil off in some places -some of the prose felt a little stilted, sometimes leaning heavily into an expository style of writing. Plot moves so quickly in the first 25% of the book. Like holy poop so much went down in the first quarter, I felt I needed a cig! It slows down a little bit in the middle til about 45%. Then hot damn, shit breaks loose, and I wanted to chain smoke. And just when you think it’s done… WHAM! Another shocking plot development.
💭 My thoughts:
Wheeeewww. Where do I start, man?
We follow the lives of Saint -NFL player, and Blessing - a physical therapist with pro athlete clientele. Saint gets injured and requests Blessing specifically, as she’s the best in the field. It’s messssy. It’s drama. And in places it’s quite raw.
We follow them through a ton of life events, some major some minor. And while this is a romance novel, there is so much more to it than just the relationship. We see them from the nuances of everyday life to the pits of grief, scarring and healing traumas, to building their communities and their families.
I don’t think I can accurately paint the picture of the story without giving spoilers. I went into this read blind- only knowing it was a sports romance. I’m glad I did, because this was a rollercoaster of a book.
There’s so much packed into this book, it was never a dull moment. At one point I felt like I was going to have a menty b on Blessing’s behalf. I was getting secondhand anxiety or anxiety vicariously.
There are heavy themes in this one, and it had me in my emotions more than once.
The stilted / expository writing drew me back a bit, but with everything going on in this story- I was still hooked. Like. I didn’t know what was coming next… and I needed to know. I found myself thinking about what was going on in the book even when I wasn’t reading it.
Even the side characters are well built. Chanel is a good ass friend. Tbh, she and Ms. Jackie are probably my fav characters.
This is kind of rambling, so I’m going to cut it now. My TL;DR is go ahead and give this book a read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Whatever It Takes had me all in my feelings from beginning to end.
This story wasn't just about romance—it was about pain, healing, second chances, growth, and learning how to move forward even when life completely changes your plans. Saint and Blessing were both carrying so much emotional weight, and watching them work through it together made their journey feel real.
One thing I really appreciated was seeing the men in this book be vulnerable. They cried, they expressed their emotions, and yes...some of them even begged. 😂 I love when authors remind us that strength and vulnerability can exist in the same person.
The envy and jealousy in this book came from multiple directions, which kept the drama coming. It also delivered a powerful reminder that just because you come from certain circumstances doesn't mean you have to stay there. By the end, "everything happens for a reason" wasn't just a saying—it became the heart of the entire story.
The spice was balanced perfectly with the emotional moments, so nothing ever felt like it took away from the plot. Just be sure to check the trigger warnings because there are some heavy topics throughout.
My only small critique is that I wish there had been page breaks or scene separators during some of the transitions. A few scene changes happened so smoothly that I had to pause and realize we'd already shifted to a different setting.
Overall, this was beautifully written, emotionally packed, full of drama, healing, and hope. I was invested the entire time and couldn't wait to see how everything came together.
This story wasn't just about romance—it was about pain, healing, second chances, growth, and learning how to move forward even when life completely changes your plans. Saint and Blessing were both carrying so much emotional weight, and watching them work through it together made their journey feel real.
One thing I really appreciated was seeing the men in this book be vulnerable. They cried, they expressed their emotions, and yes...some of them even begged. 😂 I love when authors remind us that strength and vulnerability can exist in the same person.
The envy and jealousy in this book came from multiple directions, which kept the drama coming. It also delivered a powerful reminder that just because you come from certain circumstances doesn't mean you have to stay there. By the end, "everything happens for a reason" wasn't just a saying—it became the heart of the entire story.
The spice was balanced perfectly with the emotional moments, so nothing ever felt like it took away from the plot. Just be sure to check the trigger warnings because there are some heavy topics throughout.
My only small critique is that I wish there had been page breaks or scene separators during some of the transitions. A few scene changes happened so smoothly that I had to pause and realize we'd already shifted to a different setting.
Overall, this was beautifully written, emotionally packed, full of drama, healing, and hope. I was invested the entire time and couldn't wait to see how everything came together.
Review of advance copy received from Author
***ARC provided by author in exchange for honest feedback***
(3.5⭐️) Overall, this was a solid debut. Saint & Blessing had an immediate connection, but timing & circumstances kept them from pursuing things until they couldn’t ignore it anymore… and then everything went left lol. I enjoyed their chemistry and the way they moved into each other’s worlds. Shoutout to Blessing for not being afraid to swipe that man’s card until the stripe disappeared🤣 Saint was a trick and I loved that for her. I did want to pluck him in his forehead a couple of times, but they were both decent MCs.
The author packed a lot into this story, and while it occasionally felt like too much was going on, it made for a messy, chaotic read full of twists that kept me wondering what would happen next. The foreshadowing was also done well, with several hints about where things are possibly headed in future books.
The pacing was on the slower side for me, and the writing felt choppy in places. My biggest issue was with some of the scene transitions. They were often abrupt, and there were multiple times when I found myself rereading sentences because the story jumped to a new scene without much setup or warning.
Even with those issues, I enjoyed myself overall. The drama kept me engaged, and I found myself invested enough to continue the series, even though I still have some unanswered questions and I’m not usually a fan of having to wait for future books for clarity.
(3.5⭐️) Overall, this was a solid debut. Saint & Blessing had an immediate connection, but timing & circumstances kept them from pursuing things until they couldn’t ignore it anymore… and then everything went left lol. I enjoyed their chemistry and the way they moved into each other’s worlds. Shoutout to Blessing for not being afraid to swipe that man’s card until the stripe disappeared🤣 Saint was a trick and I loved that for her. I did want to pluck him in his forehead a couple of times, but they were both decent MCs.
The author packed a lot into this story, and while it occasionally felt like too much was going on, it made for a messy, chaotic read full of twists that kept me wondering what would happen next. The foreshadowing was also done well, with several hints about where things are possibly headed in future books.
The pacing was on the slower side for me, and the writing felt choppy in places. My biggest issue was with some of the scene transitions. They were often abrupt, and there were multiple times when I found myself rereading sentences because the story jumped to a new scene without much setup or warning.
Even with those issues, I enjoyed myself overall. The drama kept me engaged, and I found myself invested enough to continue the series, even though I still have some unanswered questions and I’m not usually a fan of having to wait for future books for clarity.
Review of advance copy received from Author
*ARC REVIEW*
An urban sports romance with a man who loves to trick on his lady, a great step father, a lil Hoodoo and a lot of spice. A lot…of…spice 😏🙃. Whatever It Takes is an entertaining read from a ‘new to me author’ and I can’t wait to read more work from Michelle M. This book cover is gorgeous and I absolutely love it 🫶🏾💙
Saint aka Moo is a football player and Blessing is a physical therapist for athletes. I loved that both main characters are in the sports world, just in two different dynamics. Once they crossed that line, Saint immediately was claiming Sage as his daughter and referring to Blessing as his wife. I stannnn a good step daddy and a man that claims his woman! They both faced many hardships in their lives, seperate and together. They both were guilty of witholding information that came back to haunt them. There were a few plot twists that left me gagged lol and kept my eyes on the pages. I feel this book set the stage for additional books with other characters. I hope Bless and Moo make appearances in those books as welll.
An urban sports romance with a man who loves to trick on his lady, a great step father, a lil Hoodoo and a lot of spice. A lot…of…spice 😏🙃. Whatever It Takes is an entertaining read from a ‘new to me author’ and I can’t wait to read more work from Michelle M. This book cover is gorgeous and I absolutely love it 🫶🏾💙
Saint aka Moo is a football player and Blessing is a physical therapist for athletes. I loved that both main characters are in the sports world, just in two different dynamics. Once they crossed that line, Saint immediately was claiming Sage as his daughter and referring to Blessing as his wife. I stannnn a good step daddy and a man that claims his woman! They both faced many hardships in their lives, seperate and together. They both were guilty of witholding information that came back to haunt them. There were a few plot twists that left me gagged lol and kept my eyes on the pages. I feel this book set the stage for additional books with other characters. I hope Bless and Moo make appearances in those books as welll.
July 7, 2026
Whatever it takes is one of those stories you don't want to end. Watching Saint's and Blessings relationship unfold in the most chaotic beautiful way possible. Saint being a professional football player has been through some tragic experiences in life. He went from being a sickly kid to playing pro ball and being a pillar in his family and community. Blessing has gone through some traumatic things as well, from dealing with an abusive relationship to now being a single mother; she continues to follow her dreams and set a great example for her daughter. Neither one of them expected for things go the way that they did between them; but God has a funny way of showing us his plans no matter what we think we are ready for! I loved how Saint never hesitated to accept and include every part of Blessings life with his especially THEIR daughter SAGE! This story also has some twists that even threw me for a loop! I'm grateful that the author Michelle M allowed the chance to read her debut novel. I can't wait to see what happens next!!
July 31, 2026
so good!
Yes!!! It has been awhile since I read a book within this book genre that had a great storyline. This book brought me out of a reading slump! It is super engaging and a true rollercoaster but it doesnt feel chaotic. The breadcrumbs and subtle suspense kept me guessing. Their were clues but not everything was overly obvious like many other books. It had a good pace that provided enough detail to give a vivid picture without dragging or being repetitive. And The Characters were well-developed. I dont want to give the story away but Saint and Blessing were made for each other and Mariah got off too easy in my opinion! Im definitely a new fan and cant wait for the next book.
I will say that I agree with other reviews in that the transitions from one scene to the next were often abrupt, causing you to re-read. There were places it would jump time frames from one sentence to the next. It wasn’t distracting enough to takeaway from the story but it was noticeable. Without that this wouldve been a 5 star. But I still recommend and will read the next.
Yes!!! It has been awhile since I read a book within this book genre that had a great storyline. This book brought me out of a reading slump! It is super engaging and a true rollercoaster but it doesnt feel chaotic. The breadcrumbs and subtle suspense kept me guessing. Their were clues but not everything was overly obvious like many other books. It had a good pace that provided enough detail to give a vivid picture without dragging or being repetitive. And The Characters were well-developed. I dont want to give the story away but Saint and Blessing were made for each other and Mariah got off too easy in my opinion! Im definitely a new fan and cant wait for the next book.
I will say that I agree with other reviews in that the transitions from one scene to the next were often abrupt, causing you to re-read. There were places it would jump time frames from one sentence to the next. It wasn’t distracting enough to takeaway from the story but it was noticeable. Without that this wouldve been a 5 star. But I still recommend and will read the next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was selected to be an ARC reader for my honest review.
"Whatever It Takes," can feel like an empty promise when all you've ever known is hurt and abandonment. Could this time truly be different for Blessing, and what would it cost to get there? The way Saint stepped up without hesitation and showed her exactly what that decoration meant created a story filled with passion, grief, betrayal, self abandonment, deep yearning and ultimately, lasting love. Through it all, Saint knew he would do whatever it takes, and Blessing had to find the strength to let him lead after everything she had endured in her past. This was just the surface. I truly enjoyed all the twists and turns this story took. The layers, the emotions, and the journey made this one stay with me long after I finished reading.
"Whatever It Takes," can feel like an empty promise when all you've ever known is hurt and abandonment. Could this time truly be different for Blessing, and what would it cost to get there? The way Saint stepped up without hesitation and showed her exactly what that decoration meant created a story filled with passion, grief, betrayal, self abandonment, deep yearning and ultimately, lasting love. Through it all, Saint knew he would do whatever it takes, and Blessing had to find the strength to let him lead after everything she had endured in her past. This was just the surface. I truly enjoyed all the twists and turns this story took. The layers, the emotions, and the journey made this one stay with me long after I finished reading.
July 3, 2026
I’d like to start by saying this was not bad by a long shot. It gave me Just Wright vibes (which I assume was the intent) and plot was good in that aspect. Unfortunately plot aside, for me there were several things that worked against it. One there are many times where the tense changes from sentence to sentence and made me hyper aware that I was reading a book. The character motivations were all over the place and didn’t line up with their supposed personality or character arc. Events happened with no real consequence because connivence and we have to get to point A to point B. There was just a lot of messy shit happening for the sake of being messy. I am definitely invested in this authors journey going forward because like I said it wasn’t bad but at a certain point I was hate reading.
August 5, 2026
This read was everything I was hoping for.
You won’t be disappointed at all. This book had me hooked from the very first chapter! It had everything I love in a romance—a messy love story, emotional twists, heartbreak, forgiveness, and the sweetest second chance at love. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, it surprised me again. And the twins? They added so much heart and warmth to the story.
The characters felt real, flaws and all, which made their journey even more satisfying. Now I’m officially invested and can’t wait for the other characters to get their own books. Their stories deserve to be told too!
If you enjoy emotional, character-driven romance with plenty of drama, love, and a happily-ever-after that’s worth the wait, this one is definitely worth reading. 📚❤️
You won’t be disappointed at all. This book had me hooked from the very first chapter! It had everything I love in a romance—a messy love story, emotional twists, heartbreak, forgiveness, and the sweetest second chance at love. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, it surprised me again. And the twins? They added so much heart and warmth to the story.
The characters felt real, flaws and all, which made their journey even more satisfying. Now I’m officially invested and can’t wait for the other characters to get their own books. Their stories deserve to be told too!
If you enjoy emotional, character-driven romance with plenty of drama, love, and a happily-ever-after that’s worth the wait, this one is definitely worth reading. 📚❤️
July 19, 2026
Uhhh that damn Moo 🥹 He told everybody I loved her the first night I saw her. I know that’s right! Timing is everything! I’m glad the book talked about so many different areas in romantic relationships - DV, Grooming, Forgiveness, Bonus parent & platonic relationships. Ren & Jour was something else with that plot twist, chileeee LOL. Blessing been through it & I’m never upset with reading a bum being put in the ground. The way Moo stepped up for “ his daughter “ even before they were together was beautiful. The whole friend group was beautiful to read about. Now Dru passing away broke my heart. Mimi you could’ve kept him alive 😩 poor Chanel butttt I see we get a Siah book so will they end up together 👀 can’t wait to get into the full series !
Review of advance copy received from Author
When I first picked up Whatever It Takes by Michelle M., I fully expected a fun, classic sports romance about a football player and his physical therapist. While the chemistry between Saint and Blessing is absolutely electric from the start, this book turned out to be so much more. It is an emotional story about friendship, grief, second chances and protecting your family, all mixed with the perfect amount of drama.
Saint and Blessing are both carrying so much pain, but watching them slowly let their guards down and choose to risk it all for love was everything. I was rooting for them from the very beginning and I was so happy and satisfied to see them get the beautiful Happily Ever After they both truly deserved.
Thanks Michelle M. for the ARC.
Saint and Blessing are both carrying so much pain, but watching them slowly let their guards down and choose to risk it all for love was everything. I was rooting for them from the very beginning and I was so happy and satisfied to see them get the beautiful Happily Ever After they both truly deserved.
Thanks Michelle M. for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I enjoyed this book. Blessing and Saint’s love story had some bumps in the road, but they made it through. Now both characters made mistakes, but I was really side eyeing Blessing’s decision making because girl, do you know who your brother is?!
I loved that the men in her life had her back and were ready to do whatever for her. I also felt like Mariah got off a little too easy with all the chaos she caused. One thing I really loved was how Saint immediately cared for the girls and considered them family.
There were a few things left unsettled, but I understand another book is coming. Overall, a good debut.
I loved that the men in her life had her back and were ready to do whatever for her. I also felt like Mariah got off a little too easy with all the chaos she caused. One thing I really loved was how Saint immediately cared for the girls and considered them family.
There were a few things left unsettled, but I understand another book is coming. Overall, a good debut.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5 ⭐️ Whew, man was that a ride 😅 I honestly was not expecting all that chaos. Whatever It Takes truly lived up to its title. Despite the challenges life threw at Blessing and Saint, they continued choosing each other.
I loved that there was a friend group. It gave the story more warmth with its found family vibes, and I enjoyed their dynamic. One minute I was saying, "Awwww" and the next I was saying, "What in the world?" and "No she didn't!" Then there were the emotional moments where I just wanted to hand out hugs. I never knew where the story was going to take me next.
Overall, this was a nice read. Thanks to the author for the ARC opportunity.
I loved that there was a friend group. It gave the story more warmth with its found family vibes, and I enjoyed their dynamic. One minute I was saying, "Awwww" and the next I was saying, "What in the world?" and "No she didn't!" Then there were the emotional moments where I just wanted to hand out hugs. I never knew where the story was going to take me next.
Overall, this was a nice read. Thanks to the author for the ARC opportunity.
July 2, 2026
ARC review
Step-Daddy for the winnnn! Listen moo AKA Saint was not going to let blessing go once he got the change. mannn Blessing definitely deserved the best, especially after what she went through with her ex. she is a boss ,she knows what she wants, and was going to do what is best for her and her daughter. i loved how michelle m. allowed the fmc to accept help, but also love. there were moments where blessing was strong, but other times she was allowed to be soft. that was great to see . of course, we will always have some haters, but haters are always going to hate. so we have to let the haters be, becasuse saint was going to get his woman no matter what it took!!
Step-Daddy for the winnnn! Listen moo AKA Saint was not going to let blessing go once he got the change. mannn Blessing definitely deserved the best, especially after what she went through with her ex. she is a boss ,she knows what she wants, and was going to do what is best for her and her daughter. i loved how michelle m. allowed the fmc to accept help, but also love. there were moments where blessing was strong, but other times she was allowed to be soft. that was great to see . of course, we will always have some haters, but haters are always going to hate. so we have to let the haters be, becasuse saint was going to get his woman no matter what it took!!
July 15, 2026
I wanted to give this 4-5 stars so bad but it was a 3.5 for me.. it needed some developmental editing done as it felt a little rushed in some areas the subplot with Rell was mid as well it was just random texts and then randomly a full on explanation of what went down about what actually happened. It just fell short for me in some areas but I did like how the writing wasn’t too much some urban books for me can be a headache trying to read especially when every other word is the N word and yes in conversation mode the grammar and syntax is fine but when it’s the rest of the book I need to be able to read it like I would read anything else.
July 1, 2026
This was a great book. There were A LOT of grammatical errors so hopefully, the editors go back in and fix that. It does take away from the experience. The storyline is great and the way that Michelle wrote everything and the plot was awesome. I loved the growth of the characters. The lack of full transparency in both the MMC and FMC parts was frustrating but that’s the making of a good storyline and penmanship. You feel real emotions.
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With that, Mariah and Samone are TRIFFLING!! And Dru…REALLY MICHELLE!!😭😭😭
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With that, Mariah and Samone are TRIFFLING!! And Dru…REALLY MICHELLE!!😭😭😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2026
Solid Debut Read
I’d like to say that Saint is a big trick 😂😂 and I loved it. I won’t critique this too hard because it is a debut and pretty dang solid for it to be such. There were some parts that will make you have to reread a section due to it needing either a scene break or smoother conversation transition.
Bless, my girl had me wanting to shake her for a moment. Then here comes Saint making me want to thump his dang forehead cause why aren’t you using your full brain power to activate your common sense.
And my heart broke badddddd for Chanel.
I’d like to say that Saint is a big trick 😂😂 and I loved it. I won’t critique this too hard because it is a debut and pretty dang solid for it to be such. There were some parts that will make you have to reread a section due to it needing either a scene break or smoother conversation transition.
Bless, my girl had me wanting to shake her for a moment. Then here comes Saint making me want to thump his dang forehead cause why aren’t you using your full brain power to activate your common sense.
And my heart broke badddddd for Chanel.
July 18, 2026
Whatever It Takes
The title says it all. This book had many twists and turns. It was definitely a rollercoaster ride. Blessing and Saint went through a lot to get to happily ever after.
Symone and Mariah were absolutely crazy. Saint must have demon d*"', because those heifers were on one. And Blessing did her big one getting rid of Seven, but the fallout was Dru losing his life leaving Saint and Chanel heartbroken.
But all in all, this was a story about, love and healing the broken places.
The title says it all. This book had many twists and turns. It was definitely a rollercoaster ride. Blessing and Saint went through a lot to get to happily ever after.
Symone and Mariah were absolutely crazy. Saint must have demon d*"', because those heifers were on one. And Blessing did her big one getting rid of Seven, but the fallout was Dru losing his life leaving Saint and Chanel heartbroken.
But all in all, this was a story about, love and healing the broken places.
July 23, 2026
Love Worth Waiting and Fighting For ❤️💪🏾!
Awesome first book! ❤️ Saint and Blessing’s story had its fair share of ups and downs, but it was worth the journey. They both had to work on communication and trust. Blessing’s past relationships caused her to put up walls, while Saint carried hurt from his past but refused to let it stop him from pursuing the woman God had for him. 💕🙏🏽
Through every obstacle and roadblock, they stood strong together and came out on the other side as a happy family. I really enjoyed this one! ❤️🏡
Awesome first book! ❤️ Saint and Blessing’s story had its fair share of ups and downs, but it was worth the journey. They both had to work on communication and trust. Blessing’s past relationships caused her to put up walls, while Saint carried hurt from his past but refused to let it stop him from pursuing the woman God had for him. 💕🙏🏽
Through every obstacle and roadblock, they stood strong together and came out on the other side as a happy family. I really enjoyed this one! ❤️🏡
July 4, 2026
I had the arc but started it late due to misreading the release date. I normally don’t read athlete romance but this right here kept my attention. It was so good I told my bookclub to read it. I love how saint ain’t let up and didn’t play about blessing. Blessing surprised me when she set seven up however i don’t blame her i hated his disrespectful woman beater a*s. This book was so good I can’t wait to read Michelle’s other books in her catalog. I also cannot wait for Messiah’s book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2026
This was a great read! I could barely put it down. The characters were loveable and some of them you really had to hate them (IYKYK). They were very well written and had a lot of depth to them. The pacing of the story was great as well. Very easy to follow along with all the plot twists. The storyline was cute and I loved Blessing and Saint together. Their chemistry and spice were off the charts! I’m excited to read more from this author! Great debut novel🎉
Review of advance copy received from Author
I’m happy to say that my arc cherry has been popped! 😂 Michelle know she didn’t have to do us like this! Saint was down bad for Blessing from the beginning, as he should’ve been. This was filled with drama, mess, and love. All elements that make a great story. That ending had me in tears. Whew!! Can’t wait for book 2.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is an all time feel good love story! I love how the story line developed and how I could vividly picture the characters in my head! Some characters I definitely want to square up with and some I was yelling at because they weren’t thinking straight at times! Like I could picture these characters in real life! Now I need more! Great story, great book, great plot!
July 1, 2026
Enjoy this
Whew Saint was a man..the man. For this to be this author’s debut novel, she did exceptionally well with keeping you entertained. My thing though, I don’t like Mariah at all and wanted to fight her every time I read her name. That plot though👀…crazy! But good job 👏🏾. Looking forward to Messiah.
Whew Saint was a man..the man. For this to be this author’s debut novel, she did exceptionally well with keeping you entertained. My thing though, I don’t like Mariah at all and wanted to fight her every time I read her name. That plot though👀…crazy! But good job 👏🏾. Looking forward to Messiah.
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