“You doing all this and you not even fighting for our marriage?” She scoffed and furrowed her nose like my words held a stench. “I did that. By myself for the last five years. And then I realized that if I have to fight for it, it’s not meant for me. Loving you shouldn’t feel like a job I dread going to everyday. It shouldn’t drain me. It shouldn’t make me wish that you finally find the person you actually want to be with so that you can leave me alone.” Alexa, play When a Woman’s Fed Up.
Sylvia’s 14 year marriage has been over for quite some time but, she just didn’t want to admit it. She turned a blind eye to his cheating and she still stayed even after he gave her an STD. But, when Dave and his dirty community peen publicly humiliates her in front of the entire town, sis is finally done. Divorcing Dave’s triflin’ azz won’t be a problem considering her family is the law in the small town of Beacon Grove. Her brothers run the only law office and her daddy and grandfather are the judges. The Montrose family are affluent members of Beacon Grove and Dave was warned not to break Sylvia’s heart and not to cross them. He didn’t listen. Hassan has been in love with Sylvia since they were in high school but, even with him being a member of the founding family of Beacon Grove he still couldn’t get Sylvia to look his way romantically. She was too deep in the trenches to see just how triflin’ Dave really was. So, after graduation, Hassan joined the military then became a hitman for The Order. Now, he’s back in Beacon Grove and he’s ready to claim his lady. I love me some small town mess and Sylvia, Bianca, Hassan, and Dave gave the townsfolk of Beacon Grove plenty to talk about. From a “leaked” sex tape to fightin’ on the school grounds, Beacon Grove Chronicles kept me entertained from start to finish. I came for the azz whoopin’ but, I stayed for the love story.
Hassan gave off this mystery vibe, and Sylvia was a Jada mini. I thoroughly recommend and enjoyed this story immensely. I am sure we will see this pair again. The family dynamics kept the story flowing like lava. Yes....
(3.5⭐️) This story came out of the gate swinging. Literally. 😂 One of my favorite micro-tropes is a FMC who is quick to throw hands when it’s deserved, and whew… they earned their whuppins! lol. I also enjoyed Sylvia and Hassan’s initial interaction, so I was hopeful about their union. And then BOOM….This is now a second-chance romance. 😩
I was definitely feeling a way about them not having many meaningful interactions again until nearly 50% into the book. But baby, the wait was worth it. Hassan was everything we want in a MMC—a protector not just physically, but emotionally as well. The way he affirmed and reassured Sylvia and showed up for her kids, knowing how much they mean to her, was so endearing.
It was also nice to see some familiar faces from The Consortium make an appearance. You don’t need to read those books first, but if you are curious and want some context for Smoke and The Cunninghams, I’d recommend at least reading the first four books in The Consortium series.
Despite some rough editing in places and a few unanswered questions, this was a good time. I’m sure this will be a series, so I’m wondering if some of those minor loose ends will be answered in another character’s book.
I enjoyed this book SO much! It came out the gate swinging—literally. 😂 The drama started immediately when Sylvia received an email exposing her husband messing around with someone at his job. Now, Sylvia had already been checked out of that marriage and was just waiting for the right moment to leave… and THIS was it.
In a haze, she went down to that school and beat BOTH their asses. 😭😂 Not because sis was messing with her man, but because THE DISRESPECT! My girl played wrestling in high school, so I could only imagine what they looked like when she was done with them. 🤣
FED UP with her soon-to-be ex-husband and all his bullshit, Sylvia decided she was going out for the night. While having a drink, she met Hassan. She hadn’t seen him in years and didn’t recognize him at first, but once they started talking, she realized exactly who he was.
And baby… Hassan had been crushing on Sylvia since they were kids! 👀
Even though he knew Sylvia was still healing from being married to an ain’t-shit man, he still pursued her. He saw his chance and took it. After one unforgettable night, Sylvia wakes up to an empty bed. 😩
Fast-forward two years… Sylvia is divorced, doing better than ever, and trying to move forward with her life—even though she still has to co-parent with her ain’t-shit ex-husband. And let me just say… Dave really wasn’t shit. The AUDACITY this man had! 😒 Then Sylvia goes back to the same Beacon Hotel for another drink and guess who she runs into? YUP. HASSAN. 👀😂
Once they finally worked through their misunderstanding, I absolutely LOVED Sylvia and Hassan together. Hassan wasn’t just protective of Sylvia physically—he protected her emotionally too. He genuinely cared about her, supported her, and loved her children like they were his own. Honestly, he was showing up for those kids in ways their own daddy wasn’t. 🥹❤️
And I loved seeing some of the characters from the Consortium series pop up too! If you haven’t read that series yet, I definitely recommend checking it out.
Hassan & Sylvia were a TIME! 😂🔥 What a MAN. Sylvia deserved that kind of love after dealing with a man who wasn’t about nothing.
This was a fun, dramatic, steamy, romance with characters I really enjoyed. Definitely recommend! 💕📚
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Five stars! I thoroughly enjoyed being back at Beacon Grove and being Consortium adjacent. There’s just something about the drama, chaos, and characters in Beacon Grove that keep you entertained from beginning to end. (And I was definitely here for the cameos!)
From the very start, I absolutely could not stand Dave. I knew from the mention of the video viewing that he was going to be a problem. The second he realized Sylvia wasn’t falling for his BS anymore, he became an absolute menace and seemed determined to make her life as miserable as possible. Watching her see through him and start standing her ground was so satisfying, though.
And then there was Hassan. I’m pretty sure he officially became a book bae the moment he popped back up after his…hiatus. I mean, don’t get me wrong…he was a strong contender after night one. But, sir…WHY YOU JUST DISAPPEAR ON THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE LIKE THAT!?! He was exactly what Sylvia needed, even when she didn’t realize what she needed. I loved watching him show her what she needed–and wanted–in a man. He brought just the right amount of swoon, spice, and emotional support to balance out all the drama Dave was trying to bring.
This book was on the shorter side, but it definitely wasn’t lacking in drama. There was plenty happening to keep me invested, and the pacing made it an easy, entertaining read. Between Dave being the absolute worst, Sylvia accepting goodness in her life, and Hassan quickly proving why he deserved the book bae title, I had a great time reading this book.
I knew going in that Dandridge was going to provide me with a good time in Beacon Grove, and I was absolutely right. This was exactly the kind of quick, drama filled visit to Beacon that I was hoping for, and now I’m already looking forward to going back!
I was so glad to have a reason to return to Beacon Grove. Listen ladies, anyone with the name Dave or David in the Grove steer clear, cause chile…. 😮🤯
Sylvia was warned before she married Dave that he was a nothing ass dude, but she didn’t listen. 👀 Now, after many years of marriage, and two kids all of Dave’s fboy tendencies have risen to the surface, and Sylvia is done! 😤 She hadn’t been feeling him in years, but after being publicly humiliated, she threw him the damn papers! 🤣 Well, Dave will not catch a clue, even after all that he has done. He still considers himself belonging to Sylvia, although he has a whole new woman and a baby! Sir? The way he continually harasses her and ignores his children, he is itching for an ass whooping! 🤬
Haasan, who is a Beacon, has been away from town for many years. He has always held a soft spot for Sylvia. Now that he is back, he is coming for his. Sylvia will not make it easy for him, with Dave’s mess still in her current rearview. But Haasan is willing to pull out all the stops. Enjoyed catching up with some of our favorite characters and meeting new ones. Although I smiled and ke ke’d at the love story building between Haasan and Sylvia, I was waiting on that beat down that Dave was owed! 👀 Haasan came through swinging and did not disappoint! Good read.
Hassan blowing into town right as her life imploded and giving my girl hope and much needed tune up was chef’s kiss. Honestly they could’ve contacted each other at least 1x during that 2 year hiatus, but Syli is needed that time to herself and kids. She needed to purge herself of bad marriage completely. The kids needed time to adjust and see their father for who is really was. Bianca had no damn shame. I would’ve ran back to Atlanta and sent the baby back to the Lord. Getting publicly beat up, having a baby by a man that was homeless, having same said man get beat up over not knowing his place with the woman he cheated on with you on in front of everybody on the town’s founder’s day is so beyond embarrassing. Ow my only gripe is the ending. Honey I needed that wedding and baby conformation. I love a good baby troupe lol
I loved this quick trip back to Beacon Grove, the home of the women who throw hands, lol. I absolutely adored the connection between Sy and San, although they both had me wanting to reach through the screen and yell, “Just pick up the phone!” 😂
Thankfully, they more than made up for it when they finally reconnected. I loved seeing San get his dream girl and show her what it feels like to be truly protected, appreciated, and loved. And Sy got the second chance at love she deserved the same kind of love she witnessed Jazzy Baby find with Cou.
A quick, sweet, and satisfying return to Beacon Grove!
Thiswas such a good read. Sylvia was so no-nonsense, and I loved that about her. She stood on business, knew what she would and wouldn’t tolerate, and never felt like the type to just sit around accepting foolishness.
I also loved how Hassan came back into her life and showed her what real love could look like. The way he loved her and was there for her was so sweet, especially after everything she had been through. Their connection felt genuine, and I loved seeing Sylvia get the kind of love she deserved.
Now, Hassan and Sylvia together? These two might as well have been fighting the world as a team because everybody was catching it lol.
This was the best amount of drama and passion that I needed in my life. Loved being back in Beacon grove, the Cunningham stomping ground. I loved Hassan and Sylvie together. Has I been really was about that life? And Sylvie wasn't no pushover. Dave deserved, that a** woman, and then some cause I was waiting for that hole to get dug. It was good to see smoking Jada again even though this didn't really focus on them as much. And I love Sylvie's family, her father and her brothers and her granddaddy, amazing family members. Bianca bitter a** deserved more a** whoopings
Like I love them together and I wanna know if grandma was right I enjoyed the kids I love the type of mother Sylvia is and how the most important thing was her kids and how they handled everything and she treated her ex like dust I love that Hassan was all in with her and everything that came with it and how both families road for them I can’t wait for whatever happens next
What’s better than Beacon Grove?! I’m moving there as soon as I get things situated. San and Sisi!!! Love the history, the connection, the growth, and the expansion (iykyk) Sisi’s band of brothers along with her daddy and grandpa ain’t nothing to be played with. Bug ain’t to be played with either.
I won’t speak on the punks in the story ( D&B) but I look forward to karma continuing to invade their spaces and give them their just due.
I loved being back in Beacon Grove and seeing familiar characters from the Consortium. Hassan and Sylvia were such a cute couple. Loved how intentional Hassan was about getting and keeping Sylvia once he got himself together. While I did love this story, it was a bit too quick for me. I still have some questions that I feel didn't get answered, but I'm hoping Dandridge will give us updates in future books.
Hassan was the epitome of coming back to claim what is mine! Sylvia was a G from the first few pages and I knew I would love her! The two of them together made a love that I hope will pop up in other consortium books. Great read, especially with the consortium pop ups! Those are always my faves.
I absolutely loved it but Ms. Author teased me. I need 715 more pages to read. The Consortium series and this novella was absolutely 🔥🔥🔥.
I want to hear more about the babies. I want to see more of Davie’s crash out. I want to witness the wedding and all. I just can’t get enough of this series.
Sylvia was annoying and talked too much to her ex and the way she kept trying to play Hassan like she didn't want that man. I need Bugs story next she kept Sylvia in check because her thought process was flawed over a man who didn't deserve her or their children.
Sylvia was playing with her ex. Hassan meant that he was going to have her even after leaving for two years. That made no sense to me but he still managed to gain Sylvia's trust and love again. And why did Dave keep having to get his ass whipped! I mean he should have been tired This was a good book, even though some of didn't make sense!!
Yessss Sly & San this book wzs funny & warm & a small town cozy with sexxyness wrapped all around & with laugh out loud moments! Glad to see Slyvia get a love she deserves & Hassan is that dude.
Dave should’ve been beaten or missing. I’m sick of him honey. And that home wrecker needs to be next. But anywho I’m glad Hassan and Sylvia got reunited. This was a cute story I enjoyed it.
Hassan and Sylvia story is an example that when you have loved someone from childhood and lost contact with each other that true love will always find each other back together again
How you gonna end it like that?!!! I need more!! Especially of ole boy getting his a$$ handed to him! Hassan is the definition of ALL MAN. He came, and didn't play no games about his Sisi!! Absolutely loved this story!! Can't wait for more
I laughed so hard!!? These crazy folks of Beacon Grove had me shaking my head!!!! Dandridge Monroe Is a freakin’ genius! I could not believe how she had some of the come backs and roast comments flow on paper!! I love it!!
Dave fumbled and Hassan picked it up and not letting up off Sylvia. Sylvia better buckle up and get ready for a real ride. A good read from start to finish
3.75 ⭐️. Nice quick read. You could tell maybe I should’ve read other books to be more familiar with the characters but I don’t think it was to the point I was confused. I enjoyed reading