Noelle Steele has terrible luck with men. So terrible, in fact, she’s thinking of giving up dating altogether. Because seriously, who needs a man when you’re working your dream job and just moved into your dream condo? It has the perfect setup, is in the perfect location and even comes with a perfect neighbor. He takes the trash out, helps with dinner, and, is big and brawny the way she likes them. Shoot, he even rubs her feet after work. He’s perfect… Although, there is the issue of that pesky little stalker situation. Jaylen Rivers thought he had a secret admirer. You know, just someone leaving random little love notes on the windshield of his car every now and then. Nothing harmful. So, he sees no issue with pursuing something with his sexy new neighbor Noelle. That is, until the notes start getting angry and the black figure shows up, with increasing anger towards Noelle…
I'm just a girl in love with literature. My love affair with romance novels started with I was 13 and has flourished into an obsession. I've always been a writer. Even when I was a little girl, I always had a pen and a notebook poised to let something out. You Make Me Better is my first project that will be published and I am STOKED. My goal is to write stories surrounding positive black love, with a little humor tossed in.
OMG, I loved this book! Mine to Keep was sooooooooo good! I'm kicking my own butt for waiting this long to get into this series but, I'm so glad I finally did. This book takes you on a wild ride and literally has you guessing until the end. Jaylyn is minding the business that pays him and living his best life. He just got a coveted promotion at work and he's checking for the fly little honey that moved into his apartments. He also has a pesky stalker that's about to turn his simple life upside down. Someone is lurking in the shadows leaving love notes hoping to capture Jaylen's attention but, he's busy falling in love with Noelle. They made such an adorable couple. They way they met and eventually hooked up was too cute. The relationship was blossoming until the stalker started harassing Noelle and Jaylyn had no choice but to tell her the truth. Needless to say, Noelle was pissed and rightfully so. After a brief separation, she and Jaylyn get back together to try to figure out who the stalker is. Noelle was that chic! She and Pearlie was down for whateva when it came to Jaylyn. She did not play! What I really loved about this book is that, it was truly suspenseful and it kept you guessing until the very end. The suspense of who SA was had me on edge honey! You won't find out who the stalker is until the last chapter and, let me tell you, it's not who you think it is. Whew chile! The shock was real once the stalker was finally revealed. You can always count on AshleyNicole to bring the humor in her books. I don't think I've ever read a suspenseful novel that had so much humor in it. This book was funny as hell. I literally LOL throughout the entire book. Oh, and lets be clear. Laiyah was the real star of this book. I cannot wait to read more about her in Jayson's story. Mine to Keep was a very entertaining read. It gives you mystery, intrigue, romance, hot sex, and comedy. Get into this series ladies and gents. I promise you will not be disappointed.
Sooooo I’m flabbergasted lmao like in awe of how great the storytelling was that I did not see the end coming!! Noelle and Jaylen are neighbors who start as friends but once Jaylen’s secret admirer catches on things get crazy! The love story was very sweet between Jaylen and Noelle and didn’t seem forced because they were friends for 2months before becoming official. Jaylen was a bit too passive-aggressive about his secret admirer/ stalker. The stalker was getting aggressive so fast! Like I’m still in shock she was able to get away with this for so long! Jaylen’s brother Jayson and friend Malcolm both stepped in to help solve this case and honestly I don’t think they caught what was coming! I'm still at a loss for words but if you are looking for a suspenseful romance this is it!! Omg!! So good! I want to know if you guess the stalker!
Mines to Keep is why I am a huge fan of romantic suspense. This was suuuuuuuch a good book! That plot twist knocked me straight upside my head because, I definitely did not think he was the killer. I'm sittin' over her just stuck like, "Nah, say it ain't so!" Let me go grab my wine and popcorn so I can dive right into book two!
In the spirit of Halloween, I thought what better time than to read some suspense. OOOOMMGGGGG. First of all, this book is 6 years old, so I was hesitant to read. Second of all, I'm sure you all know by now that I'm a sappy, unproblematic or minimal drama, HEA romance kinda gal. So suspense has never been my cup-o-tea. (Even though I've already read a suspense romance by AshleyNicole before that blew my mind, I was still hesitant). I have never been so wrong before to have waited so long to read a book. This book was sooo good. AshleyNicole is a beast and I should've never doubted her. And let me tell you guys, the amount of time I cackled in the story was absolutely unnecessary. I should not have been laughing so much for a suspense novel. I don't want to say anything to give nothing away in the story. But I will say this: the dialogue, A+. The characters, A+. The love A+. The suspense A+++. Don't be like me guys, don't wait too long to get into this book. I know I'm late to this party, but if you haven't yet, get into it. Asap.
This was my first Ashley Nicole book. Not sure why it took so long for me to read her books. Mine to Keep popped up as a recommended title under Kindle Unlimited. Thanks KU. Books that involve stalkers have always fascinated me.
Jaylen Rivers has a stalker and we only know her as SA. Jaylen finds notes on his car but thinks nothing of them at first. He just found them annoying. Then Jaylen starts dating his neighbor Noelle and she was my girl. SA is not pleased with their budding relationship. As Jaylen and Noelle get closer the stalker gets crazier. Jaylen asked his brother, Jayson a cop and friend, Malcolm a US Marshall for help.
When the stalker was revealed I was sort of shocked because I thought this person was the stalker but dismissed her. I was wrong and she was definitely unhinged. I enjoyed Jaylen and Noelle's love story. I also loved his brother's relationship with his daughter Laiyah. She was too cute. Ashley Nicole definitely has a new fan.
Noelle & Jaylen are neighbors. Jaylen takes Noelle trash out and Noelle pays him back by cooking dinner. Sparks fly however Jaylen has a secret. Jaylen is dealing with a stalker. Stalker starts to take matters into her own hands. When the stalker is revealed that was a plot twist but low key was given a clue earlier in the story. This was a nice suspense read.
This was a really good read. It kept me wanting to know what was going to happen, who was this stalker, why Jaylen don't know who the heck it could be?! I was upset because I couldn't read it faster but the last 25% of the book I inhaled, I just couldn't take the suspense any longer. Who. Was. This. Crazy. Broad! And when I thought I figured it out, I ruled that guess out only to be like whoa when she was revealed. So all I wanna know is where is my Jaylen, or Jayson for that matter, lol, insert eye roll. Loved Noelle, Quaya and Tammy as well as Jaylen and his folks, especially little Laiyah. This story had love, drama, some violence, mystery and a few sex scenes. Overall I enjoyed the mix of it all and it turned out to be a great read. First book by Ashley Nicole but won't be my last.
Wow this was definitely a different read. In a good way!
I can't say I've read too many suspenseful love stories, but this one definitely keeps you on your toes. Noelle is having terrible luck in the boyfriend department and I was absolutely laughing at her pain. Then she meets neighbor bae aka Jaylen and he seems to have some promise. Things are going well until outside forces start causing them problems.
Jaylen was unproblematic. He loved and supported his family and was naturally chivalrous which is how he met his neighbor Noelle. They had an immediate connection, but spent time getting to know each other. When things kept spiraling around him, it was clear his spirit was a little broken. He did all he could to shield Noelle from the madness. Jayson, his brother and Malcolm his friend were using all of their resources to help him, but it didn't seem to be enough.
I will tell you I didn't call this ending at all. I mean 😲 The way it came together was just wow. I would like to know how that turned out.
The story and plot were great. There were some things introduced that felt like they were either unnecessary or needed closure. Jaylen's promotion was nice, but it didn't seem to add value. Like did we need that much time in the workplace? The intervention with his parents only for them never to be mentioned again was odd to me. The spelling of Malcolm's name kept changing, not to be nitpicky but it was noticeable. That said I highly recommend this book.
A nice romantic suspense for light reading - the main characters were likeable too. There were some unrealistic moments that made it hard to connect with the story, for example, what parent allows a stranger to take their 10 month old baby on a walk the minute they meet? The kidnap at the end didn't flow well and there was no real reason as to why the assailant faked her 'condition'. Jayson has worked in the force for years, the protocol when a victim has been assaulted is to get them checked out but he just let her go home even though she was hit over the head to the point of being unconscious and was further assaulted later on - these details took away from the plot which felt quite rushed towards the end. I'm going to give part 2 a try!
Wow! This story was wild! Noelle and Jaylen were so good together. No one knew how mentally disturbed Tory was. Thank God it was figured out before it was too late. I really enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting! The suspense was so good kept me guessing until the end! Great job!
I ain’t gonna lie Ms. Author ate with this one Jaylen and Noelle were cute, I wish we got more of the relationship but because of the situation I understood . Jaylen has a stalker and he handled it the best way he could. I really enjoyed the plot it was a balance of romance and suspense. Noelle was a rider fr because I couldn’t. Chile the Secret Admire was not playing with Jaylen. Obsessed and Crazy kept me on edge it’s like everytime Jay and Elle relationship progressed the stalker got more irrational. OMG then at the end we find out who and I would have never guessed. Like that’s was a whole different level of craziness and dedication… whew
Even from the synopsis you understood the storyline but not the outcome!! Jaylen and Noelle were meant for each other, but he a secret admirer that turned into a stalker. Even with a Police Detective as a brother and USMarshall on their side, they along with the reader (me) was clueless. When everything came to light, you realized to late what was in your face all along.
This might be the first AshleyNicole book I am lukewarm about. The premise of this is interesting, but I felt like the romance took a back seat to the mystery because I honestly was more invested in who SA was, and I couldn't have cared one bit what Jaylen and Noelle had going on. Jaylen also really made me scratch my head because it started to seem like he didn't really want his stalker to be found with the amount of times he hindered the investigation.
Crazy! That’s it… that’s the books summary 😳 Whew, this author did a bomb job with keeping the reader on their toes!! I had so many people I thought the crazy could have been but N O P E. 🗣 CRAZY! Happy reading 💖
This was suspenseful and had some good spice, but lacked some of that heat and emotion I've felt whilst reading AshleyNicole's other books. It was still good, though, and I'd recommend it if you like stories featuring a stalker antagonist.
Wow! This was a crazy ride! I loved Jaylen and Noelle. They were a cute couple who didn’t beat around the bush about their feelings and were quite funny. Although they were upfront about how they felt about each other but it wasn’t a insta live story either, their relationship moved at a normal pace. I had my suspicions on who the stalker was but was still a little surprised. Highly recommend!
Ashley Ashley Ashley, this was just great. I mean I loved the couple together. It was good to read where no cheating was involved. Didn't take them long to realize they loved each other. The best thing was the twist in the book. You got me so good with that. I did not expect that. Great read!!
It's going to be a few days before I pull myself together after finishing this book! Ashley Nicole has whipped out suspense, romance and comedy in one BOOK! I finished this in one day because the suspense was too much. Loved Jaylen & Noelle.....heck the whole cast!!!! Laugh out loud funny!
I'm always excited when my favorite writers start writing out of their comfort zone. This was a good read. I was also happy to catch up with my favorite couple Kai and Minah. I just need a novella with an update on that whole crew. So far the One More Night series has been the best.
I stayed up til 3 in the morning finishing this book up. I was so caught up in the mess with the twist and turns and the hot SOME that was going on man. Neighbor Bae is life. You did a great job for real I love it so much.
I couldn't stop reading until it ended. It was well written and suspenseful. You want to rush to end to solve the mystery but can't because the story is so good!
Jaylen Rivers & Noelle Steele's story deals with a stalker. Soon he has to call on his brother Jayson and the police department for help before one of them is killed.
Noelle and Jaylen...nail biting mystery, funny and romantic
This is a great story. I'll expand that statement, because there's a word requirement for reviews, but great really sums it up.
The story has the pretty typical start with the introduction of our hero and heroine; Noelle is smart, pretty and funny with a bad track record with dating and Jaylen is handsome, kind, and focused on hid career as he has just been promoted. They turn out to be new neighbors, quickly becoming friends, and then lovers.
The problem: Jaylen has a secret admirer who becomes a stalker once Noelle enters his life romantically. Then wackiness ensues.
There are so many great elements in Mine to Keep.
Mystery: Who is the stalker? What will they do next? You'll find yourself guessing while looking for clues. Let me just say, I did not see it coming.
Sexiness: The chemistry between our main characters was off the page. They were so open with themselves and each other about how they were feeling that when the sex scenes happened, it was hot, hot, hot.
"That Bi*ch tried to kill me." Best line in the book and the biggest laugh I've ever had while reading a romance/suspense novel. Still wiping tears from my eyes. Read this novel for that scene alone...you won't be disappointed.
Humor: This story is packed with funny characters. The baby Laiyah, who torments her father with her grown woman attitude, warmed my heart while I laughed. Pretty much every interaction Joelle had with her sister and her sisters girlfriend (Quaya and Tammy) was hilarious. AshleyNicole wrote all their scenes so well - great comic timing. And, the comic, as well as romantic, chemistry between Noelle and Jaylen was also brilliantly written.
Friendship: this book is chalk full of enviable friendships. Each character, Jaylen, Jayson, Malcolm, Noelle, Dom, Quaya, Tammy, and Toya.
This book has everything. You will not regret reading this book. It is excellent and keeps you guessing until the end. I'd give it ten stars if I could. Highly recommended.
This book grabbed you by the edges of your eyeballs and said keep up. The pacing was reckless in the best way. Every chapter felt like just one more and suddenly you’re 40 pages deep, thirsty and emotionally invested.
First of all the neighbor setup was elite. We all love a handsome neighbor bae especially when he comes with the trash taken out, dinner help and foot rubs! That man was already husband coded while chaos was quietly loading in the background. The way the stalker angle crept from quirky to oh nah was done so clean. At first you’re side eyeing the notes like hmm that’s odd then boom! Tone shift, curtains flying, heart rate up FULL CRAZY BIHHH!!
Listen the moment the stalker said you know who I am my wheels were spinning. I definitely clocked that S.A. was not Secret Admirer. 🤏🏾Chef’s kiss reader instincts. The twist was slick because it never felt obvious even after it happened. That’s the kind of reveal that makes you sit back and say yeah you got me.
What really worked was the balance. Suspense without suffocating. Romance without making anyone stupid. Comedy sprinkled in so you could breathe before the next WHAT THE HELLYANTE moment. Noelle was relatable, Jaylen was solid and the story never lost its footing.
Bottom line: fully engaged, no skim reading, no scrolling breaks, just vibes and anxiety. This was a strong opener and now I'm locked into the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
These two right here couldn't have been more perfect for each other. Just from the description Noelle was deff giving tall baddie vibes like she had legs for days. Her luck with dating was straight horrible but that's okay because fine ass Jaylen was coming already saving the day. Jaylen was honestly just so laid back & perfectly complimented Noelle. I didn't know how the whole stalker thing was going to fair, but was honestly flabbergasted as well as impressed with how much thought went into stalking this man. But Noelle wasn't going down without a fight. Her & Pearlie honestly cracked me up because Noelle wasn't playing about her safety. Now, I was disappointed with how Jaylen handled everything in the beginning. Like I get him wanting to protect her, but protect me by giving me a heads up. I'm so happy everything worked out in the end for these two & I pray that sis finds some healing.
I loved the catch-up with Kai, Minah & let's not forget baby Daniels. We also got to see pre Dom & AJ which still was the best thing because Dom still gets so flabbergasted. & Let's not forget Aria & Tory ❤️ & lil Miss. Laiyah stole the whole show.
Wowzah😳! That definitely kept me on my toes up until the stalker was revealed. I would've never guessed her, yet I'm glad they figured it all out.
Noelle Steele was a force to be reckoned with. I loved how she didn't let the stalker deter her, after her initial shock wore off once she found out. Jaylen understood he messed up,yet he was just trying to protect his family and Noelle from becoming a target. I'm glad Noelle figured she'd overreacted a bit and went back to Jaylen and stood ten toes down.
Man listen, when that snake scene took place baby I HOLLERED 🤣🤣🤣. I would've jetted too, so I'm not mad at Noelle for that. That whole thing was super crazy, just like the stalker, sheesh 🤦🏾♀️.
Jaylen was a big gentle giant. I love how he and Noelle became friends and a place of peace for each other and then fell in love along the way. His brother Jayson is hilarious and I loved little miss Laiyah; for a baby she definitely has the biggest personality and I hope we see more of her as the series progresses.
Once the stalker was revealed, I was sad for Marcus; I hope we get updates and see how things are going.
This was such a great read. Mystery, laughter, spicy, family and love. Highly recommend.