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The Gentlemen of Queen City #4
Tempo Of Love
The beat of attraction
It's the opportunity of her career, a story that may save Nona Gregory's job at one of North Carolina's most respected papers and put the ambitious reporter on the map. All she has to do is get reserved architect Ken Yamada to open up about what inspires his unique art. But soon Nona finds herself beginning to fall for the part-time musician who plays the drums with a beat so dangerously in sync with her heart.
Fiercely protective of his scandalous past, Ken is surprised that Nona's in-depth profile starts to uncover the real man behind his legend. Nona shares a love of music and a passion so deep that Ken doesn't want to believe that she could betray his trust. The scoop of a lifetime would expose a family secret that might destroy his career while making Nona's. Is she willing to sacrifice their chance for a future in perfect harmony?
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2017
21 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Kianna Alexander
108 books557 followersI've always loved the written word. For as long as I can remember, I read as much as I could, as often as I could. Cereal boxes, newspapers, product packaging. Ebony, Essence, and Jet Magazine. Billboards. I loved it all. I read the entire Fear Street series, as well as the Sweet Valley Books, from Twins and Friends through Sweet Valley High. Each week I'd bring 15 or 20 books home from the library, and read them all before the due date.
Now, my mother owned a pristine, barely touched collection of Harlequin romance novels, and I was not to touch them under any circumstances. Well, as a teenager, you know what that meant. I read some of them, and got my first introduction to romance.
When I was sixteen, I picked up my stepmother's copy of Night Song, by Beverly Jenkins. The cover showed an obviously historical image of a black couple, against a beautiful backdrop, locked in a passionate embrace. With my love of history, I had to crack this book. What I read inside literally blew my mind. I was exposed to a wonderful, touching love story involving people who looked like me! What a thrill. To this day Night Song remains my favorite book, and I credit it with planting the seed of desire to write romance. I didn't get serious until many years later, but that's where it all began.
Now, my mother owned a pristine, barely touched collection of Harlequin romance novels, and I was not to touch them under any circumstances. Well, as a teenager, you know what that meant. I read some of them, and got my first introduction to romance.
When I was sixteen, I picked up my stepmother's copy of Night Song, by Beverly Jenkins. The cover showed an obviously historical image of a black couple, against a beautiful backdrop, locked in a passionate embrace. With my love of history, I had to crack this book. What I read inside literally blew my mind. I was exposed to a wonderful, touching love story involving people who looked like me! What a thrill. To this day Night Song remains my favorite book, and I credit it with planting the seed of desire to write romance. I didn't get serious until many years later, but that's where it all began.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 29, 2019
Fun, quick read that had me impatient to get back every time I put it down. (I found myself annoyed now and then at the writing being too explain-y and telling-not-showing, but clearly it wasn't bugging me that much because the pages, and my bus ride while reading, just flew right by.)
One thing I really liked here was seeing the couple deal with their attraction and their issues like mature, responsible people. They say out loud that they like each other instead of drawing it out with flirty games. And sure he's got a Scandalous Past that you know will come out in her article somehow, but the way that plays out...you see that "scandalous" just means something painful his family hasn't really dealt with, and she handles her "betrayal" in a straightforward, honest way. Juicy drama isn't in character for either one and that doesn't make it less interesting to read about the feelings involved, kind of refreshing in a genre that can sometimes REALLY drag out a conflict that could be solved with words and honesty.
Nice little touches of their work and passions outside the romance, too... I'm not gonna comment on how realistic the architecture was, I've heard from too many fellow romance readers that the best way to ruin a book is to read about someone who shares your career and I resisted letting that happen...nope, not gonna get caught up in wondering what on earth he was doing drawing all that by hand...
One thing I really liked here was seeing the couple deal with their attraction and their issues like mature, responsible people. They say out loud that they like each other instead of drawing it out with flirty games. And sure he's got a Scandalous Past that you know will come out in her article somehow, but the way that plays out...you see that "scandalous" just means something painful his family hasn't really dealt with, and she handles her "betrayal" in a straightforward, honest way. Juicy drama isn't in character for either one and that doesn't make it less interesting to read about the feelings involved, kind of refreshing in a genre that can sometimes REALLY drag out a conflict that could be solved with words and honesty.
Nice little touches of their work and passions outside the romance, too... I'm not gonna comment on how realistic the architecture was, I've heard from too many fellow romance readers that the best way to ruin a book is to read about someone who shares your career and I resisted letting that happen...nope, not gonna get caught up in wondering what on earth he was doing drawing all that by hand...
October 22, 2017
TEMPO of LOVE
THANK YOU KIANNA ALEXANDER FOR THE GENTS OF QUEEN CITY SERIES. KEN AND NONA'S STORY WAS ANOTHER AWESOME BOOK IN THE SERIES. IN CERTAIN PARTS MADE ME THINK ABOUT SOME OF MYSELF SOMETIMES. I CAN'T WAIT TILL THE SAPPHIRE SHORES SERIES.
THANK YOU KIANNA ALEXANDER FOR THE GENTS OF QUEEN CITY SERIES. KEN AND NONA'S STORY WAS ANOTHER AWESOME BOOK IN THE SERIES. IN CERTAIN PARTS MADE ME THINK ABOUT SOME OF MYSELF SOMETIMES. I CAN'T WAIT TILL THE SAPPHIRE SHORES SERIES.
April 29, 2018
This was a fun read. Something to jump into if you have a day to while away.
The romance moved along steadily, and was very relatable. The chemistry was off the charts and steamy as all get out.
I think you will enjoy this book.
The romance moved along steadily, and was very relatable. The chemistry was off the charts and steamy as all get out.
I think you will enjoy this book.
March 18, 2019
Fun and sexy. I love that the story had an Asian-American hero and African-American heroine, and I love the role their families played in the story and all the fun little touches about their lives -- his drums, running, kendo and architect career, her teaching dance and journalism career.
June 22, 2017
A good read. Nona is so focused on her career and ambition that she isn't doing what she really loves. Ken s protective of his past that he doesn't open up, scared someone will discover his secret.
June 23, 2017
Just an ok read
July 5, 2017
Great read
April 20, 2019
Give Me More
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Knew something was going to go wrong, but so glad it worked out with some ease. That boss, oh that boss.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Knew something was going to go wrong, but so glad it worked out with some ease. That boss, oh that boss.
March 7, 2021
I enjoyed this story—am always on the lookout for interracial couples in the romance genre and Ken and Nona definitely sparked.
September 1, 2017
Ms. Nona Gregory has landed a difficult interviewee for her newspaper article. Mr. Ken Yamada has a secret that he wishes to keep. But the secret doesn’t seem so terrible as it is a matter of outmoded honor for an old man who couldn’t forgive his late wife.
Mr. Yamada is tired of people ascribing certain behaviors of Asians. But he’s quick to judge Ms. Gregory based on her appearance. She’s beautiful so he wonders how she can be so uptight. The fact that he’s late for their initial interview and she’s a businesswoman with a deadline to keep doesn’t seem to occur to him as relating to her possible irritation.
It’s a queer way that she conducts her business. Instead of digging into Mr. Yamada’s past by going through hospital records, interviewing his colleagues, et al., she decides to go jogging with him, bake him cookies and take kendo lessons. Other people are puzzled by her behavior and so was I.
Their interests complement each other somewhat—she adores dance; he’s crazy about jazz—but they seem to have little else in common. She also finds herself attracted to him and allows that to color her judgment since she falls into bed with him in just a couple of weeks. (She has a feisty best friend named Hadley who slept with a guy just a short while after meeting him, so Nona’s lack of professionalism isn’t supposed to be so terrible.)
But this is sex presented as cure-all and an easy bridge to true intimacy. So he feels he can open up to her after screwing her once and she thinks it’s true love, especially after a few kendo lessons presented in the usual manner of him coming up behind her and pressing his body against hers to show her the proper stance. This is a typical cheap tactic of men trying to get physically close to a woman while teaching her the ropes, whether it’s fishing, yoga or golf. It’s meant to be sexy but it seems marginally creepy to me, little better than frottage disguised as innocent tutoring.
This book isn’t entirely as objectionable as some truly heinous romances that feature belittlement, male viciousness, female submission and bizarre life choices. But it’s definitely an average entry in the romance genre.
Mr. Yamada is tired of people ascribing certain behaviors of Asians. But he’s quick to judge Ms. Gregory based on her appearance. She’s beautiful so he wonders how she can be so uptight. The fact that he’s late for their initial interview and she’s a businesswoman with a deadline to keep doesn’t seem to occur to him as relating to her possible irritation.
It’s a queer way that she conducts her business. Instead of digging into Mr. Yamada’s past by going through hospital records, interviewing his colleagues, et al., she decides to go jogging with him, bake him cookies and take kendo lessons. Other people are puzzled by her behavior and so was I.
Their interests complement each other somewhat—she adores dance; he’s crazy about jazz—but they seem to have little else in common. She also finds herself attracted to him and allows that to color her judgment since she falls into bed with him in just a couple of weeks. (She has a feisty best friend named Hadley who slept with a guy just a short while after meeting him, so Nona’s lack of professionalism isn’t supposed to be so terrible.)
But this is sex presented as cure-all and an easy bridge to true intimacy. So he feels he can open up to her after screwing her once and she thinks it’s true love, especially after a few kendo lessons presented in the usual manner of him coming up behind her and pressing his body against hers to show her the proper stance. This is a typical cheap tactic of men trying to get physically close to a woman while teaching her the ropes, whether it’s fishing, yoga or golf. It’s meant to be sexy but it seems marginally creepy to me, little better than frottage disguised as innocent tutoring.
This book isn’t entirely as objectionable as some truly heinous romances that feature belittlement, male viciousness, female submission and bizarre life choices. But it’s definitely an average entry in the romance genre.
June 9, 2018
Ken has always been my favorite, and I enjoyed this lovely end to such a great series.
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June 2, 2017*Miniseries: The Gentlemen of Queen City
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews