Emotionless

by Jahquel J.

*Standalone Novel* Galleria Stores is a huge chain of stores owned by Paul Galleria. Everyone who is anyone in Atlanta knows the Galleria family and their influence in Atlanta. Paul has three daughters – Jade, Kharisma & Happy Galleria. This is Happy’s story. Twenty-nine-year-old Happy Galleria is unhappy with the way her life is going. Her life plans were to be married, excelling in her career, and pregnant with her first child. However, her boyfriend, Phil, has other plans. Trying to make partner at his law firm, his plans don’t include a family, marriage or setting roots anytime soon. Happy has always been good with remaining emotionless, but will her emotions start to show once Phil ignores her pleas for wanting more in their relationship? While rushing to her gate for her birthday trip to Bora Bora that her sister surprised her with, Happy bumps into a man – literally. Peeved that the man has delayed her from making her flight, she yells, curses and continues to her gate. That man is her pilot. Colt Wright is a pilot who has worked himself from the ground up and has just moved his family from New York to Atlanta to work with a top airline. A single father to a ten-year-old girl, and trying to keep his eye on his aging mother, Colt Wright doesn’t have time for small talk. After losing his child’s mother to cancer, he wants more than casual talk or one night stands. He wants a woman – the Wright woman. These two cross paths and nothing may remain the same. Happy has baggage, but Colt is used to dealing with baggage, being a pilot and all. Will Happy remain Emotionless?

Genres: Romance

212 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 6, 2018

Reviews

[Annette Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotionless was a very good book but, it was also a very stupid book at the same time. There were so many instances that had asking really?!!! Who stays in a four year relationship with a man and the sex is just mediocre?!!!! Happy's relationship with Phil was just ridiculous. It was pretty obvious he barely tolerated her let alone loved her but, she kept pressuring him to marry her. I just kept screaming why Happy, why?!!!! But, then the good Lord put a blessing named Colt Wright in her path and this heffa took damn near the entire book to break up with Phil's boring azz. Colt was a lot more patient than most men would be but, he really loved Happy and that's what she needed. As you get deeper in the book, you find out Happy's mama is the root of her problems. That Diana Galleria was a piece of work. She makes you want to hire a hit man to take her out. Jakobi Diem did the thang as always but, Lacy Laurel was horrible. I listened to her as a narrator for the first time in Exquisitely Broken and I don't remember her being this horrible. Her narration was bad in this book. Overall, Emotionless was a good book worthy of 5 stars. You get romance with a plot twist full of drama. This was my first book by Jahquel J. and it did not disappoint. I'm so looking forward to Kharisma and Jade's story but, I have to wonder if we're going to get them. This book was written in 2018. Where are books two and three?!!!

[Ladii Zig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This read was great and also an eye opener. It showed me just because you have money doesn't mean you have happiness. Happy went and was going through so much that it made her programmed to thinking what she was going through was ideal that was until she met Colt and change her outlook on things. I loved Happy and Colt together and the saying is true that God always have a funny way of showing you things especially when you least expect it. This read was everything and more and can't wait for book 2 of the Galleria sisters because Kharisma looks like she has a story to tell. FYI the sisters mother SUCKED!!!

[Sharon :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book haven’t listened to a glammed out title in awhile and my first title with this author excited ti listen to more!!!

[*Ebony I* · Rating 3 out of 5]

New Plans

Happy was turning 29 and the trajectory of her life was not what she expected. She wanted to be a wife and mother, but instead she had a boyfriend of 4 years that was stringing her along. Colt was a single father to a 10 yr old, whom lost her mother to illness. Their paths cross in the airport and again on vacation and it feels like fate. Happy's well thought out plans for her life are in question, and she takes a leap into something new.

This was a cute story, I liked the characters, but the flow was off.  Also the dragging of the nonexistent relationship with Happy and her boyfriend was beyond me. 

The title of Emotionless also didn't fit the book, like at all. While she tried not to show her emotions, it was clear she was full of them.

[Lesa Divine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy wants the marriage and kids but what's up with her man Phil. He's married to his job and uses Happy family status to get ahead.

Colt is a hard working dad and mom's boy that is looking to settle down with the right woman.

Colt runs into Happy turned into Happy second guessing her relationship with Phil.

Colt head over loving Happy style but what's up with her sad relationship.

Enjoyed...

[Oliv · Rating 1 out of 5]

I

🙄😤🤔

I d i s l i k e t h i s b o o k ! ! !

[nosha · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s so bad I wanna give you a 0 but that’s not possible so I give you … a 1

[Sybrenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

yeaaaaah… no lol

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Happy Galleria collides with Colt Wright at the airport on her way to Bora Bora after a very disappointing birthday where the black velvet box didn't reveal the dazzling 5-karat sparkler she was expecting. I felt her disappointment!

Colt isn't just some random guy that she bumps into at the airport, he's piloting the plane and he is on his way to Bora Bora for a long deserved vacation. Happy is rude to him and in her feelings, but she eventually comes to her senses and apologizes for taking her unhappiness out on him. She gives him her business card should he need her services (read the book) in the future. Fate reunites them at the same resort in Bora Bora and they have a nice dinner and a more in depth discussion about their lives.

This story turns very real when a teenage trauma is revealed while the perpetrator sits at the dinner table. How this was handled by the person that gave her life is despicable and there is not THAT much forgiveness in The World! What she tells Happy is very upsetting and what women have been fighting against for hundreds of years. Archaic attitudes where anything bad that happens to a woman is somehow--her own fault. Mother or no mother, there is no coming back from this attitude and her actions -- all in the name of saving face versus saving her daughter. Happy's sister Jade doesn't get a pass either, she also gets added to the Despicable List (read the book) because there is no way in hell, just no way.

The painful memories has Happy running straight into the arms of Colt. Happy has decisions to make about who she wants and what she wants out of life. The story doesn't quite end on a cliffhanger but we know more of Happy's Story will be revealed in her sister's upcoming story.

Overall, I liked the story--though the characters didn't always speak like college-educated individuals or in Happy's case, like an individual born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Some major plot points have already been revealed in other reviews so I'm still leaving out a lot of stuff that happens in this story. I will definitely read Kharisma's Story (what's up with her relationship) so I can find out more about Colt and Happy and their happily ever after. Read It!

Lastly ... 5 Stars for the gorgeous book cover!

[Jite · Rating 3 out of 5]

a page turner but…

Really what isn’t a page turner with this author’s pen. This was interesting and I struggled to put it down but I did not particularly care for Happy, the FMC who simultaneously managed to have so much agency because of her unlimited resources but at the same time none at all. I think she did a real disservice to herself and to her relationship with Colt, the MMC, by sticking in that dead-end, going nowhere relationship with Phil.

Yes, it was a little odd to monkey bar from that relationship right to Colt and yes she may have been thinking the devil she knows is much better but that relationship was dead and she didn’t even give herself the option of being single. Their mother really did a number on those 3 sisters and I feel like that was somewhat glossed over with everyone.

I liked this but having read lots of this author’s books, it’s not my favourite. I would still have read the heck out of this though if she continued it because what’s going to happen with the sisters, Kharisma and Jade and their messed up relationships.

[Tasha P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK!! 💣.com
First off Colt is bae. I am so glad that Happy finally got it together and left that zero for a hero. Lil miss River is a straight DIVA at only 11yo. Can't wait for the rest of the series to come out cause I know they'll be the bomb too. I'm so ready to know what the deal is with Jade and her no good husband Tony.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

❣️

I like the book however it seem as if it was a lot of unanswered questions in the book what happened with Jade and Tony? And the end what happened with that? It’s just a lot of unanswered questions with this one it’s very good though

[LoveLee Kourage · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE IT .... MR WRIGHT FLEW IN FROM NO WHERE 😂 AND BROUGHT OUT THE BEST IN HAPPY AS SHE DID HIM LOVED HIS MOM & RIVER ... I'M READY FROM MORE OF THE GALLERIA'S ESPECIALLY THEIR MOM SHE GOT SOME SECRETS TO DROP....

[Whit · Rating 4 out of 5]

How ironic that a beautiful, intelligent and sweet woman named Happy, is so unhappy.
I couldn't figure out why she continued to deal with that selfish and arrogant creep, Phil. He showed Happy in a hundred different ways that he didn't want her.
But when Happy's deep, dark secret is revealed, quite a bit is made clear. Talk about a dysfunctional family. Both Happy's mother and her sleazy brother-in-law, should be up under the jail.
Good story that didn't need all of the unnecessary profanity!

[Kayᥫ᭡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.87 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️’𝘴

𝘈𝘸𝘸, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵! 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺’𝘴 𝘥𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘜𝘕𝘋𝘌𝘕𝘐𝘈𝘉𝘓𝘌. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦!

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯?? 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵. 𝘚𝘰 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤, 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘺. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘹𝘺, 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 ���𝘯𝘦. 𝘌𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺! 𝘐 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥.

𝘚𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘏𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺’𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘢?? 𝘈 𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩. 🙄

[Chareese H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story and the narrators. Wonderful story and will definitely recommend and will listen again ❤️❤️

[Nee · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️❤️

Finally Happy is Happy! Colt just so much of a standup Guy with genuine intent and Love! I was like finally Happy put herself first despite all she went through. Good read!

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gods timing

This book proves that you get what you prayed for when you’re least expected. Both to be given the chance at real love is amazing. I love how Colt wasn’t afraid to go for what he wanted and to show Happy how she truly deserved to be love.

[Cindy Kruydenhof · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the story, but had to deduct points

The cover and title of the book got me interested.

The narrators, whom I have liked from other books and the fact that I wanted something nice to listen to while I was doing other mind numbing things, was the reason for adding the audible file to my purchase. The narrators did not disappoint. So 5 stars for that.

In essence I also liked the story. Not too sugary sweet, the characters were flawed people and therefor they felt real. And most importantly the story did have a natural flow to it. I had no problem finishing the book. But I had to deduct points/stars for the following reasons:

There were too many unrealistic characteristics to the characters. Example: the male lead is a 33 year old airline pilot who was born from a single mother in the hood. He has an 11 year old daughter whose mother died 5 years prior. The deceased mother was the love of his life and even though he is the marrying kind and they had a child together, but they supposedly never married. huh?  He managed to spend 2 years in Japan, presumably  before he became a father. So lets do the math:

It takes almost a year to cook a kid, so he was 21 when he knocked up his girlfriend. That he did after spending 2 years in Japan after which (I assume) he became a pilot. How? When? With what money? He didn’t get free training and education in the air force. At least not according to the book.

But his friend, the junior pilot, takes the cake. He is 27, also from a poor background, and he also has an 11 year old child (which puts him at 16 when he got his girlfriend pregnant). What are the chance of managing to become a pilot on your own merits at that age with that background? Not even a little bit realistic.

Some things just didn’t add up. For example, a major issue in the book is the fact that the female lead’s boyfriend has not proposed to her after 4 years of dating. And then somewhere she points out that her older sister ( the middle child) has been engaged for 4 years with no wedding date in sight. This tells us that long courtships and long engagements are frowned upon. The female lead is 29 in the book. According to the story her eldest sister got engaged when the lead was almost 18, thus more than 11 years ago. At a crucial point in the story this eldest sister tells us that she will lose a lot if she divorces her husband within the first 7 years of marriage. So I ask myself, if long engagements are frowned upon and the mother is so pushy “she always gets her way”, what are the chances that de eldest sister had such a long engagement that the 7 years are still not up?

Last but not least, inconsistencies in the story. Something I have not come across much lately (thank God) but which I hate with a vengeance. Isn’t that what editors are for?

How come when she finally tells the family that she was raped, she tells them that it happened in the back of a Mercedes, but when she has a flashback it happens in the wine cellar in the basement in het house?

Or what are the chances that you fly to Dubai the day after thanksgiving from the east coast, spend a couple of days there, fly back and spend a couple of days at home and it still isn’t December? What are the chances that there are more than 6 days between thanksgiving and December 1st? Don’t think so.
 
So yes: only 3 stars

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Make Him Happy

This was a somewhat predictable story but most romances are. I loved the two main characters. I enjoyed watching Colt and Happy's friendship evolve. Money and status are nice things to have but without love they're nothing. I would recommend this book if you want to read a feel good book.
EyeCU Approved

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure if I’m being too hard on my 2021 reads or I’ve been a little unlucky with my fiction selections but I struggled significantly, yet again. This was an audiobook read, so please bear with me while I break down NYE mechanics of my rating.

The female narrator annoyed me as she always sounded smug and like she was impersonating a rich person instead of embodying one. She even sounded that way when she voiced the male character.

The male narrator was okay, but I feel that his voice is better suited for street guys and struggle love stories. Again, he was better than the female narrator but neither were outstanding in the roles.

The writing was juvenile at times. There were so many sentences in which the same word was repeated twice, I thought my book was skipping or something. I also disliked how they talked. No one sounded like fully functioning, educated adults, but more like kids playing like they’re grown. All of the childish dialogue got on my nerves. The male character’s career seemed to be unnecessary as he never said anything that reminded me of his love or dedication to his field - which wouldn’t be a problem if he wasn’t in such a significant and unique role as a black Delta pilot. Did he just fall into a dream job or something? That was just a wasted opportunity in in my opinion. He could’ve been a barber and the story wouldn’t have changed one bit.

The ending was really lackluster. How are there so many people in this story madly in love and planning families with their significant others but marriage is somehow making too much of a commitment? I don’t get the epilogue either, it’s only purpose was to refocus the attention back on the main character’s goals but to be honest, it didn’t tie together well for me.

2 stars.

[LeLe Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having the name Happy doesn't mean you're happy! This book shows mother-child trauma. The mother of Happy always made her feel like she wasn't enough. Happy always had to come off as perfect and happy.
I didn't love this book. I was kind of over the cheating trope. Happy could have ended it, and the story could have been based more on overcoming her past and current relationship, where she is actually loved. But the cheating thing, I was over.
I did love the sisters' relationship! I love that Jahquel J always builds a strong familial foundation and shows what a village looks like in adulthood. I am curious to read the rest of the series whenever they release.

[Emerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of ALL!

If your name wasn’t on this book I wouldn’t have guessed you wrote it! Not that you aren’t dope as hell, but only because the story read like a seasoned contemporary writer. Don’t ever doubt yourself again. This story was VERY refreshing!! Can’t wait for Kharisma’s story!! Bravo!

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much religion and cheating. Dragging the breaking up with her boyfriend out months annoyed me. And the way her rape was brushed over felt like it didn’t do the emotions and consequences/betrayal justice. But the story was entertaining. I wanted more story shown rather than told but it’s a good beach type read.

[Sybil Pun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad but lacking severely.....Happy G!

This was not so bad at all but lacking severely. I don’t usually do long review, but this needed this long winded review.
Happy was a young lady with a meaningful name but she couldn’t live up to her name. Independent beautiful and hard worker, she had to overcome several obstacles before getting to her place of happiness
Colt was so bae and so cute and perfect. Hard worker, loyal and a dedicated individual....
Now this whole family dynamic was off the chain and several issues pop up that had me look at the book sideways and couldn’t give it the 5 stars that so effortlessly it could have had: 1) why was the focus so into getting married for Happy? 2) why throw in Azmina in the hurdle when she was literally irrelevant except to show that Colt is a man yet he claims that what he is looking for is not a one night stand but you turn around and give this? 3) is the mother the one who runs everything or is it the father? 4) then such revelation during thanksgiving and not even the father stand up whether to go after Tony or even the mother who admitted to have seen and destroyed all evidences? 5) if they are so well off and rich why go after another rich family what’s the point? 6) then finally the timeline in this book was all over the place, one hand it’s thanksgiving, then it almost month when it’s December, then finally it’s Christmas when she give the news and then the epilogue is in New year eve and she already has a bump, 🤬😱 too much...
This story would have been perfect if it didn’t feel rushed and not properly developed! It needed time to open to every single dirty facade from: a)the mother as into how her mind is going and what’s made her like this? b) to Jade attitude where did she know what Tony did and she still went with it or something else is going on? c) to why is the dad, a super mogul is so erased in the equation? d) to his love for Tania and all...
but we can only hope the other books will have some if not all of these answers and so we wait for the other sisters stories to understand...

[Kesha Battle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Read

I loved this book. Romance with just a little twist of drama to keep me pulled in. Phil was a workaholic and didn't deserve Happy G. Where he lacked Colt Wright filled his short comings and got Happy to live up to her name. I didn't approve of either Happy or Phil infedilty were there relationship lacked but I'm glad they parted ways with a mutual understanding. Diana, Happy G mother, is the devil in a skirt. Her sister, Jade is delusional to ignore your sisters truth and still parade around her rapist husband all in the name of monetary gain and status. She is truly her mother's child. Khar I love her relationship with Happy G and how she doesn't let her mom control her life. That husband of hers gets the side eye. I look forward to reading part 2 in the future.

[Amber McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen why I couldn’t have the other books right behind this one? I am mad I finished this book to find out that the other books haven’t been released yet. This book had me on go from the first chapter. Then when they got to the part about why it is that Happy doesn’t like her sisters husband and how everyone tried to swipe it under the rug. Listen I couldn’t imagine something like this and to how Colt’s family took her in like she was apart of the family. It keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Her boyfriend needed to be slapped with the stupid stick ain’t no way you are going to have someone be with you for that long and constantly keep putting up with your mess and think they are going to stay. Can we get the next books I need to know why her oldest sister is the way that she is cause I’m missing something.

[Brisace · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I loved most was how Jahquel J. blended romance, family, and self-discovery without making it predictable. Emotionless gave me passion, tension, and heart, with just the right touch of drama to keep me flipping pages late into the night.

Happy’s story had me hooked from page one. She’s the daughter who looks like she has everything, but when it comes to love, her world is anything but picture perfect. Watching her navigate heartbreak, family expectations, and a surprise run-in with Colt, the pilot who might just change everything, felt like sitting front row to her transformation. Colt was such a refreshing balance, steady, devoted, and unwilling to play games.

And can we talk about Happy Secret? That part had me so stressed and angry because it showed how layered and messy family dynamics can be. It was the kind of twist I wasn’t expecting.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cute…if you like insta love! They sort of fell for each other really fast with very minimal build up; and it has a trope in it that I don’t particularly for so it was just mid for me.

It follows Happy & Colt who have a really meet cute story (they bump into each other at the airport). Colt is a pilot, single father navigating tragedy while Happy is in a 4 year relationship desiring marriage, children, and all the things. They both have much baggage and trauma but they feel safe and comfort with each other and the story goes from there.

There were some inconsistencies in the story that made me go “what” and then there were times Happy got on my entire nerves!! However, the story did have one of my favorite tropes in it as well that I will leave for whoever wants to read.

I’m not sure if I would recommend it but if you are coming out of something serious, maybe?! 🤔

[T K Vaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colt & Happy, A Destination Love

I loved everything about this book!!!…A genuine love story w/ recovery from a loss or heartbreak!!!…
Happy was a character that was so relatable and peeling back her layers led to what hurt her, her desires, what drives her and her determination to not live under the thumb of her mother!!!…
Colt was the breath she needed!!!…A man healing, and open to a new discovery of love, not a replacement!!!…I loved that for him and his family!!!..
Happy’s mother needed a reason to live for herself and enjoy the fruits she graciously bragged about!!!…She stressed her husband’s nerves!!!…
I hope there is another book to come because I have questions about that sister!!!…