What do you think?
Rate this book
Hearts on Hold
What happens in the stacks stays in the stacks…Professor Victoria Reese knows an uphill battle when she sees one. Convincing her narrow-minded colleagues at the elite Pembroke University to back a partnership with the local library is a fight she saw coming and already has a plan for. What she didn’t see coming? The wildly hot librarian who makes it clear books aren’t the only thing he’d like to handle.When a tightly wound, sexy-as-hell professor proposes a partnership between his library and her university, children’s department head John Donovan is all for it. He knows his tattoos and easygoing attitude aren’t quite what she expected, but the unmistakable heat between them is difficult to resist.And then there’s the intriguing late fee on her record. For the Duke’s Convenience… A late fee and a sexy romance novel? There’s more to Dr. Reese than she’s letting on.John might like to tease her about her late fee, but when he teases her in other ways, Victoria is helpless to resist. Mixing business with pleasure—and oh, it is pleasure—always comes with risks, but maybe a little casual fun between the sheets is just what Victoria needs.This book is approximately 111,500 wordsOne-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
371 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2020
83 people are currently reading
1203 people want to read
About the author
Charish Reid
11 books454 followersWhen Charish Reid isn’t writing romance, she’s watching 1970’s disaster films, reading romance, and hastily preparing lectures for tomorrow’s class. She is a traveling chatterbox with ADHD who enjoys talking to new people in new places. In Bangkok, Charish saw a Thai royal princess in a shopping mall. In Helsinki, she karaoked Alanis Morissette. And in Galway, she found inspiration for her first novel. Charish currently lives in Sweden with her husband and teaches Rhetoric.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
February 3, 2021
Initial thoughts after I finished: I absolutely adored this book!! One of the best contemporary romances I’ve read in a while. Refreshing, authentic, passionate, romantic..ugh this book has my heart!
Why I loved this book:
•The representation of a black woman in academia was fantastic. I don’t work in academia but all my life I’ve been told how hard I have to work as a black woman. I completely understood the uphill battle that Victoria was dealing with and what she was fighting for.
•The hero ugh so dang dreamy. He’s a librarian, loves his family, is the best uncle and is a cinnamon roll hero. What more could you want?
•The romance was passionate and sweet. The perfect blend of the two and they complimented each other perfectly.
I cannot wait to read more books by this author because I am a fan. If you haven’t read this yet then what are you waiting for? Go read this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Why I loved this book:
•The representation of a black woman in academia was fantastic. I don’t work in academia but all my life I’ve been told how hard I have to work as a black woman. I completely understood the uphill battle that Victoria was dealing with and what she was fighting for.
•The hero ugh so dang dreamy. He’s a librarian, loves his family, is the best uncle and is a cinnamon roll hero. What more could you want?
•The romance was passionate and sweet. The perfect blend of the two and they complimented each other perfectly.
I cannot wait to read more books by this author because I am a fan. If you haven’t read this yet then what are you waiting for? Go read this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 17, 2020
3.5 rounding up
There is so much to enjoy here in Charish Reid's new release, and in so many ways this book really speaks to me as a romance reader and as an academic who felt that Reid truly captured the culture of academia today. And yet, there were enough drawbacks that I can't wholeheartedly recommend it as much as I wish I could. Before I touch on the flaws that eroded some of my enjoyment, I'll point out the many favorable elements that make this book enjoyable and romantic.
Foremost, John Donovan is an absolute delight of a romantic hero. A true Beta, he finds himself drawn to a high-achieving and self-confident woman who sets the rules for their relationship. While too many men are depressingly threatened by smart and powerful women, John is instead attracted to Victoria's competence, and that is an appealing trait and is displayed well in this book. John though is also a white man who, because of family ties to multiracial relatives, is not just drawn to the heroine for her own unique qualities but is represented as particularly understanding of racial issues. The two rarely discuss the complexities of an interracial romance, but the book fits in enough signifiers that point to their affair as one rooted in the benefits of multiculturalism. I find the representation of multiculturalism intriguing here in that it depicts John and Victoria's romance as the opposite of color-blind racism. They are not just two people who fall in love despite racial differences. Instead, at least on John's part, he finds Victoria appealing partly because she is African American and he searches in his life for ways to exist outside of white spaces.
Meta fiction is also a reason why I enjoyed this book. John is a librarian and Victoria is a patron of libraries who has an overdue library book. For the Duke's Convenience serves as a fun entry to their relationship, especially early in the book. As John seeks to understand the appeal of a bluestocking/fake rake historical romance to the upright and self-controlled Victoria, he takes on the role-playing with enthusiasm. At first Victoria is frustrated that she's been caught reading a book with such a silly title and she's even more embarrassed that she has an overdue library book out, but she also quickly finds the appeal of John's sexual games. I think romance readers won't fail to enjoy the fun of noting the tropes in the book within a book.
So why didn't this book work out better for me? I think most authors struggle to portray immediacy of sexual attractive and romantic feelings in a book well. Perhaps I've been too much of a fan of "slow burn" romances, but the speed at which the attraction and flirting takes place unsettled me. John flirts via email with Victoria the first time they engage and that felt off to me. Additionally, given the context of a professional relationship since she seeks him out as the librarian who can help her put together a proposal for students to earn credits in research at a library, it felt off-putting. Victoria is initially a little repelled by John's emails to her, but she is also a little turned on by them, which struck me as a little unseemly. The awkwardness of their banter in the first quarter of the book is jarring and just didn't sit right, but I'm also aware that in today's culture, workplace romances are tricky. I think too that I struggled a bit with Victoria's prickly personality and felt maybe she is caricatured as an ambitious woman.
There is so much to enjoy here in Charish Reid's new release, and in so many ways this book really speaks to me as a romance reader and as an academic who felt that Reid truly captured the culture of academia today. And yet, there were enough drawbacks that I can't wholeheartedly recommend it as much as I wish I could. Before I touch on the flaws that eroded some of my enjoyment, I'll point out the many favorable elements that make this book enjoyable and romantic.
Foremost, John Donovan is an absolute delight of a romantic hero. A true Beta, he finds himself drawn to a high-achieving and self-confident woman who sets the rules for their relationship. While too many men are depressingly threatened by smart and powerful women, John is instead attracted to Victoria's competence, and that is an appealing trait and is displayed well in this book. John though is also a white man who, because of family ties to multiracial relatives, is not just drawn to the heroine for her own unique qualities but is represented as particularly understanding of racial issues. The two rarely discuss the complexities of an interracial romance, but the book fits in enough signifiers that point to their affair as one rooted in the benefits of multiculturalism. I find the representation of multiculturalism intriguing here in that it depicts John and Victoria's romance as the opposite of color-blind racism. They are not just two people who fall in love despite racial differences. Instead, at least on John's part, he finds Victoria appealing partly because she is African American and he searches in his life for ways to exist outside of white spaces.
Meta fiction is also a reason why I enjoyed this book. John is a librarian and Victoria is a patron of libraries who has an overdue library book. For the Duke's Convenience serves as a fun entry to their relationship, especially early in the book. As John seeks to understand the appeal of a bluestocking/fake rake historical romance to the upright and self-controlled Victoria, he takes on the role-playing with enthusiasm. At first Victoria is frustrated that she's been caught reading a book with such a silly title and she's even more embarrassed that she has an overdue library book out, but she also quickly finds the appeal of John's sexual games. I think romance readers won't fail to enjoy the fun of noting the tropes in the book within a book.
So why didn't this book work out better for me? I think most authors struggle to portray immediacy of sexual attractive and romantic feelings in a book well. Perhaps I've been too much of a fan of "slow burn" romances, but the speed at which the attraction and flirting takes place unsettled me. John flirts via email with Victoria the first time they engage and that felt off to me. Additionally, given the context of a professional relationship since she seeks him out as the librarian who can help her put together a proposal for students to earn credits in research at a library, it felt off-putting. Victoria is initially a little repelled by John's emails to her, but she is also a little turned on by them, which struck me as a little unseemly. The awkwardness of their banter in the first quarter of the book is jarring and just didn't sit right, but I'm also aware that in today's culture, workplace romances are tricky. I think too that I struggled a bit with Victoria's prickly personality and felt maybe she is caricatured as an ambitious woman.
February 3, 2020
Full, updated review published at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/r...
Having more multicultural representation in romance is not the same as having better, more inclusive representation. I’m inordinately happy to report that Charish Reid’s Hearts on Hold is definitely the latter, a complex interracial romance rendered with authenticity, insight and humor. I enjoyed reading this book. A lot. Both main characters are great— interesting, specific and very human. Dr. Victoria Reese is a lovely and dedicated, sort of prickly African American Assistant professor of English literature at an elite university outside Chicago. John Donovan is a well-built and well-read local hero, a six-foot, five-inch Viking of a man in charge of children’s literature (aww) at the public library. The two get to know each other as they collaborate on a joint internship program Victoria is proposing between their two institutions. Sparks fly, and Vicky and John begin what he cheekily calls a “sordid affair” in tribute to the historical romance Vicky is fond of--a tightly managed, sex-only, time-limited arrangement, because that’s all she thinks she can manage right now. Except it’s not sordid at all. It’s really quite sweet.
This book has several unusual features I liked, starting with a semi-prickly heroine whose closest friends are level-headed, realistic sounding boards, unafraid to provide her with honest feedback about her choices. The responsibility of candor and perspective is built into the fabric of their friendship. Vicky struggles with anxiety and that supportive found family plays an important role in how she copes.
What's even more unusual is that we also get to see similar relationships, interactions and vulnerabilities in the male love interest's life as well. John has a best friend and family members he's close to and the emotional intelligence to show for it. That’s one of the many reasons they work as a couple and why I like this book a lot.
Hearts on Hold also does a great job of using the race and gender-related political melodrama of academia as a backdrop. Vicky is one of very few Black faculty at a prestigious, predominantly White institution and that contributes to her anxiety. As a Black female academic who's worked exclusively in similar environments I can attest that these issues are accurately portrayed. As a reader, I just appreciate the specificity and richness of detail in character and world-building. These are people I like living in a world I recognize, and I love how they get to know each other.
Also interesting, John has a Black stepsister with a daughter who is temporarily staying with him while her Mom is overseas on extended project. This cements something I started to notice In recent contemporary romance. Hot White bae with Black family ties is semi-officially a thing now in romance novels with a Black female lead. Done right it signals that the love interest is down. And can understand the heroine, that he's more likely to be trustworthy (as opposed to being the secret Klansman or racial fetishist of some Black women's fears), and their families will potentially mesh. In addition to Hearts on Hold, the hot White bae with Black family trope appears in:
• Rebekah Weatherspoon's Rafe: Buff Male Nanny (2019)-- Rafe's stepmom and extended family are Black.
• Xeni (2019)-- also by Rebekah Weatherspoon. Mason's sister-in-law is Black and he was very close with Xeni's aunt (that’s how/why they meet).
• D.A. Young's Men of Whiskey Row series (2015-2019)-- the series centers on three brothers who are essentially raised by their mom’s best friend, a Black woman, after her death.
• Lucy Eden's Everything's Better With Lisa (2019)-- Hero's whole adopted family is Black and he's especially close to his parents and sister.
In addition to reflecting demographic and cultural trends and smart marketing -- multiculturalism is big business-- if done well, giving the White love interest in an interracial romance a multiracial family is more interesting and impactful than a Black best friend because it's less common and more central to the love interest’s identity. It speaks to upbringing, learned values, cultural understanding. That is especially true here. Hearts on Hold is distinguished by its secondary characters and sophisticated portrayal of the social context in which the courtship takes place. Between John's family dynamics, Vicky's teaching and her situation at work, Reid delivers a more thoughtful, insightful exploration of contemporary racial dynamics than readers get in most American fiction in general, not just novels in the romance genre.
Ultimately though, what made me love this story is that John and Vicky's relationship is as sweet, sexy and deeply romantic as it is nuanced. These are rich, multi-dimensional characters with incendiary chemistry and a hell of a lot in common intellectually and emotionally, where it matters. I highly recommend.
Romance genre tropes and themes: Insta-lust becomes love; interracial romance; love in the workplace; forced proximity; cinnamon roll hero.
Having more multicultural representation in romance is not the same as having better, more inclusive representation. I’m inordinately happy to report that Charish Reid’s Hearts on Hold is definitely the latter, a complex interracial romance rendered with authenticity, insight and humor. I enjoyed reading this book. A lot. Both main characters are great— interesting, specific and very human. Dr. Victoria Reese is a lovely and dedicated, sort of prickly African American Assistant professor of English literature at an elite university outside Chicago. John Donovan is a well-built and well-read local hero, a six-foot, five-inch Viking of a man in charge of children’s literature (aww) at the public library. The two get to know each other as they collaborate on a joint internship program Victoria is proposing between their two institutions. Sparks fly, and Vicky and John begin what he cheekily calls a “sordid affair” in tribute to the historical romance Vicky is fond of--a tightly managed, sex-only, time-limited arrangement, because that’s all she thinks she can manage right now. Except it’s not sordid at all. It’s really quite sweet.
This book has several unusual features I liked, starting with a semi-prickly heroine whose closest friends are level-headed, realistic sounding boards, unafraid to provide her with honest feedback about her choices. The responsibility of candor and perspective is built into the fabric of their friendship. Vicky struggles with anxiety and that supportive found family plays an important role in how she copes.
What's even more unusual is that we also get to see similar relationships, interactions and vulnerabilities in the male love interest's life as well. John has a best friend and family members he's close to and the emotional intelligence to show for it. That’s one of the many reasons they work as a couple and why I like this book a lot.
Hearts on Hold also does a great job of using the race and gender-related political melodrama of academia as a backdrop. Vicky is one of very few Black faculty at a prestigious, predominantly White institution and that contributes to her anxiety. As a Black female academic who's worked exclusively in similar environments I can attest that these issues are accurately portrayed. As a reader, I just appreciate the specificity and richness of detail in character and world-building. These are people I like living in a world I recognize, and I love how they get to know each other.
Also interesting, John has a Black stepsister with a daughter who is temporarily staying with him while her Mom is overseas on extended project. This cements something I started to notice In recent contemporary romance. Hot White bae with Black family ties is semi-officially a thing now in romance novels with a Black female lead. Done right it signals that the love interest is down. And can understand the heroine, that he's more likely to be trustworthy (as opposed to being the secret Klansman or racial fetishist of some Black women's fears), and their families will potentially mesh. In addition to Hearts on Hold, the hot White bae with Black family trope appears in:
• Rebekah Weatherspoon's Rafe: Buff Male Nanny (2019)-- Rafe's stepmom and extended family are Black.
• Xeni (2019)-- also by Rebekah Weatherspoon. Mason's sister-in-law is Black and he was very close with Xeni's aunt (that’s how/why they meet).
• D.A. Young's Men of Whiskey Row series (2015-2019)-- the series centers on three brothers who are essentially raised by their mom’s best friend, a Black woman, after her death.
• Lucy Eden's Everything's Better With Lisa (2019)-- Hero's whole adopted family is Black and he's especially close to his parents and sister.
In addition to reflecting demographic and cultural trends and smart marketing -- multiculturalism is big business-- if done well, giving the White love interest in an interracial romance a multiracial family is more interesting and impactful than a Black best friend because it's less common and more central to the love interest’s identity. It speaks to upbringing, learned values, cultural understanding. That is especially true here. Hearts on Hold is distinguished by its secondary characters and sophisticated portrayal of the social context in which the courtship takes place. Between John's family dynamics, Vicky's teaching and her situation at work, Reid delivers a more thoughtful, insightful exploration of contemporary racial dynamics than readers get in most American fiction in general, not just novels in the romance genre.
Ultimately though, what made me love this story is that John and Vicky's relationship is as sweet, sexy and deeply romantic as it is nuanced. These are rich, multi-dimensional characters with incendiary chemistry and a hell of a lot in common intellectually and emotionally, where it matters. I highly recommend.
Romance genre tropes and themes: Insta-lust becomes love; interracial romance; love in the workplace; forced proximity; cinnamon roll hero.
January 30, 2020
This is fun read between two big book nerds- so really, what more can you ask for? For me, the parts of this book that were definitely the most successful were the main characters-- I really liked them & their dynamic. They made a really lovely couple by the end. Pretty much everything else here was just kind of fine to me. I am likely biased here, as I worked for a university for a few years so I know how that sausage gets made (this wasn't wholly implausible or anything, but a few details didn't ring quite true to me- but I mean, it's fiction, so... take that with a grain of salt, it just stood out to me as I read) and I'm predisposed against any book with kids as a big element.
Still, I recommend this one to anyone who thinks this sounds like something they'd enjoy
Still, I recommend this one to anyone who thinks this sounds like something they'd enjoy
February 13, 2021
liked it but not as much I thought I would..
I want to read more books by this author..
3,5 stars
perfect for readers looking for ;
📚 interracial romance
📚 mature characters
📚nerdy male librarian
📚 smart & strong teacher
📚 steamy but also a sweet romance
I want to read more books by this author..
3,5 stars
perfect for readers looking for ;
📚 interracial romance
📚 mature characters
📚nerdy male librarian
📚 smart & strong teacher
📚 steamy but also a sweet romance
January 2, 2020
My last read of 2019 was this swoony and sexy Professor and Librarian romance, forthcoming from Charish Reid!
Dr. Victoria Reese is tightly wound and trying to make her mark at her prestigious and mostly white University. Being a Black woman in academia brings her both fulfillment and stress.
One of her new initiatives brings the sexy head Children's librarian and maybe a Viking John Donovan into her life.
Wildly attracted to John, Victoria attempts to plan via spreadsheet a torrid affair with the more than willing Johnny. But Johnny is just as determined to show Victorian that sometimes going off calendar can be just as good.
I really loved this one! I had to forgive Johnny a pretty egregious library worker mistake early on, but who cares really. I sure didn't as I fell in love with both characters.
There is absolutely delicious consent too.
I also appreciated the ADD representation.
Preorder this one now, Hearts on Hold is available February 3rd, 2020. *I received a free copy to review from @netgalley*
Dr. Victoria Reese is tightly wound and trying to make her mark at her prestigious and mostly white University. Being a Black woman in academia brings her both fulfillment and stress.
One of her new initiatives brings the sexy head Children's librarian and maybe a Viking John Donovan into her life.
Wildly attracted to John, Victoria attempts to plan via spreadsheet a torrid affair with the more than willing Johnny. But Johnny is just as determined to show Victorian that sometimes going off calendar can be just as good.
I really loved this one! I had to forgive Johnny a pretty egregious library worker mistake early on, but who cares really. I sure didn't as I fell in love with both characters.
There is absolutely delicious consent too.
I also appreciated the ADD representation.
Preorder this one now, Hearts on Hold is available February 3rd, 2020. *I received a free copy to review from @netgalley*
dnf
February 5, 2024DNF 47% This is truly a me problem. I highly recommend this if you don't have the same issue, because it's well written and I love the main characters. Johnny is one fine beta, and Victoria is a badass.
“Just three quick things, Kenneth.” She fought to keep her voice calm. “First, it’s called Children’s Literature. Second, the warm bodies you’re talking about are our students. They need a fighting chance to find employment in their struggling fields. Lastly, any additional opportunities to the department are a benefit to all faculty.”
Sadly, this book reminds me too much of being stuck with former shitty bosses who just didn't respect new ideas, diversity, appealing to students of all backgrounds, etc etc etc. and drained us of energy and hope! Melodramatic? ME? 😜 So even though I love what this is all about because I agree with everything Victoria and John are trying to do? I also hate what this is about because it's too much like the soul-crushing parts of former professional environments, and I tend to prefer a romance that transports me to new worlds, not everyday frustrations. I really tried to stay with it for about a week but just couldn’t keep putting myself through the flashbacks!
Victoria made it back to the safety of her office before she broke down in quiet tears. Williams humiliated her for sport. He must of have sensed some hesitance in her voice and he jumped on her weakness. She retraced her memory for something, anything that could have tipped him off. She arrived to their meeting with a pleasant smile, she was perfectly groomed, and spoke like a professional... She had played the game and it hadn’t worked.
Victoria + Johnny are so funny, adorable, and hot together. When he’s teasing her about having an overdue romance novel at the library:
John: I encourage you to turn yourself in, Dr. Reese. Throw yourself at the mercy of library law. Sexy Prof: NEVER!
That stacks scene nearly fried my tablet. And the cover photo is perfection. Also love the subplot of the uncle turned temporary single dad to his teenaged niece, Becca, and all the beautiful shenanigans, joys, and challenges. I felt for that little girl, but loved how Johnny just listened and supported her, and when ASKED, suggested practical ideas for navigating feeling alone as the new girl and one of the only Black kids at her private school. I was smiling so much at the way she found her niche and became an awesome leader.
In summation:
EAT A BAG OF DICKS, KENNETH.
“Just three quick things, Kenneth.” She fought to keep her voice calm. “First, it’s called Children’s Literature. Second, the warm bodies you’re talking about are our students. They need a fighting chance to find employment in their struggling fields. Lastly, any additional opportunities to the department are a benefit to all faculty.”
Sadly, this book reminds me too much of being stuck with former shitty bosses who just didn't respect new ideas, diversity, appealing to students of all backgrounds, etc etc etc. and drained us of energy and hope! Melodramatic? ME? 😜 So even though I love what this is all about because I agree with everything Victoria and John are trying to do? I also hate what this is about because it's too much like the soul-crushing parts of former professional environments, and I tend to prefer a romance that transports me to new worlds, not everyday frustrations. I really tried to stay with it for about a week but just couldn’t keep putting myself through the flashbacks!
Victoria made it back to the safety of her office before she broke down in quiet tears. Williams humiliated her for sport. He must of have sensed some hesitance in her voice and he jumped on her weakness. She retraced her memory for something, anything that could have tipped him off. She arrived to their meeting with a pleasant smile, she was perfectly groomed, and spoke like a professional... She had played the game and it hadn’t worked.
Victoria + Johnny are so funny, adorable, and hot together. When he’s teasing her about having an overdue romance novel at the library:
John: I encourage you to turn yourself in, Dr. Reese. Throw yourself at the mercy of library law. Sexy Prof: NEVER!
That stacks scene nearly fried my tablet. And the cover photo is perfection. Also love the subplot of the uncle turned temporary single dad to his teenaged niece, Becca, and all the beautiful shenanigans, joys, and challenges. I felt for that little girl, but loved how Johnny just listened and supported her, and when ASKED, suggested practical ideas for navigating feeling alone as the new girl and one of the only Black kids at her private school. I was smiling so much at the way she found her niche and became an awesome leader.
In summation:
EAT A BAG OF DICKS, KENNETH.
February 10, 2020
DNF at 45%
I’m not enjoying anything about this book.
It’s reading as textbook African American to me with all of these attendant heavy tropes that aren’t integrated well into the story and actually have me questioning the author’s background.
While romance doesn’t need to be cotton candy, it also doesn’t need to be anchored in oppressive marginalisation that readers turn to books to escape. Also, there’s no plot here. There’s just a Black instructor who quotes African American philosophers with her friends while having unnuanced cliche come to Jesus moments who happens to be engaging in “a sordid affair” with a white boy.
Said white guy is also fully surrounded by Black women, which is reading a bit strange and staged to me. There’s nothing organic about and it seems like a coerced device employed by the writer striving for ‘diversity’. Further, he is flat as a character. Looking like a Viking and having ADHD does not a full persona make. His dialogue also sounds like a Black woman’s. This author did not create a distinctly male voice for him.
Moreover, the sex scenes are written atrociously. I guffawed out loud at the word “organ” actually being used for penis. Organ? Really? The purple prose is extensive. Victoria is teased at the beginning of the story by Paula for her prudish language regarding sex. Yet, and it’s not successfully ironic, the author herself delves into the same obscurity, vagueness, and history romance jargon for which Victoria is teased whenever there’s sexual encounter. The language shifts are sharp and conspicuous.
If this book was supposed to be a spin on the very boring “Possession” with these two English professionals enacting a meta fantasy, it fails on that count. If this book was supposed to reveal the toxicity of English Departments in higher education, about which I know all too well, it succeeds on that count. But who wants to be immersed in the ugliness of such when reading a romance. Jeez, when I leave campus I want to leave it.
Lastly, I am really fed up with the overbearing, overly critical, emotionally unavailable, mentally abusive Black mother showing up in these books and being tolerated. This tired mentality of tolerating dysfunctional parents needs to go the way of the dinosaurs. Would that authors would try something new. How about writing a character who has some healthy boundaries in place.
I did not enjoy this book. At all.
It reads like a paint by numbers and is either the work of a white woman in digital black face (not likely) or a pedantic, didactic Black female author who has yet to learn about subtlety, artistry and creativity in writing. Creative Writing differs from academic writing and when one who is conversant in the latter attempts the former it rarely goes well.
ETA: it is not realistic that a woman with Victoria’s background, experiences, and insight would have zero qualms about dating a white male. There is no pause in this book over this issue and that read as true to life.
The narrator of this book, Shari Peele, also did the text no favours. There is no variation in her voice and John sounds like a sassy, Black woman on a trash reality tv show.
All round poor effort.
I’m not enjoying anything about this book.
It’s reading as textbook African American to me with all of these attendant heavy tropes that aren’t integrated well into the story and actually have me questioning the author’s background.
While romance doesn’t need to be cotton candy, it also doesn’t need to be anchored in oppressive marginalisation that readers turn to books to escape. Also, there’s no plot here. There’s just a Black instructor who quotes African American philosophers with her friends while having unnuanced cliche come to Jesus moments who happens to be engaging in “a sordid affair” with a white boy.
Said white guy is also fully surrounded by Black women, which is reading a bit strange and staged to me. There’s nothing organic about and it seems like a coerced device employed by the writer striving for ‘diversity’. Further, he is flat as a character. Looking like a Viking and having ADHD does not a full persona make. His dialogue also sounds like a Black woman’s. This author did not create a distinctly male voice for him.
Moreover, the sex scenes are written atrociously. I guffawed out loud at the word “organ” actually being used for penis. Organ? Really? The purple prose is extensive. Victoria is teased at the beginning of the story by Paula for her prudish language regarding sex. Yet, and it’s not successfully ironic, the author herself delves into the same obscurity, vagueness, and history romance jargon for which Victoria is teased whenever there’s sexual encounter. The language shifts are sharp and conspicuous.
If this book was supposed to be a spin on the very boring “Possession” with these two English professionals enacting a meta fantasy, it fails on that count. If this book was supposed to reveal the toxicity of English Departments in higher education, about which I know all too well, it succeeds on that count. But who wants to be immersed in the ugliness of such when reading a romance. Jeez, when I leave campus I want to leave it.
Lastly, I am really fed up with the overbearing, overly critical, emotionally unavailable, mentally abusive Black mother showing up in these books and being tolerated. This tired mentality of tolerating dysfunctional parents needs to go the way of the dinosaurs. Would that authors would try something new. How about writing a character who has some healthy boundaries in place.
I did not enjoy this book. At all.
It reads like a paint by numbers and is either the work of a white woman in digital black face (not likely) or a pedantic, didactic Black female author who has yet to learn about subtlety, artistry and creativity in writing. Creative Writing differs from academic writing and when one who is conversant in the latter attempts the former it rarely goes well.
ETA: it is not realistic that a woman with Victoria’s background, experiences, and insight would have zero qualms about dating a white male. There is no pause in this book over this issue and that read as true to life.
The narrator of this book, Shari Peele, also did the text no favours. There is no variation in her voice and John sounds like a sassy, Black woman on a trash reality tv show.
All round poor effort.
December 29, 2021
That was pretty cute. I had some minor issues with it but nothing that was a dealbreaker and they're issues that probably wouldn't bother a lot of other readers. (update from almost 2yrs later: I forgot to write the full review and don't remember what those issues were, but I remember this story overall very fondly, so I recommend it!)
✨ buddy read with Elley! 💖
✨ buddy read with Elley! 💖
Read
June 26, 2020Librarian romance, always welcome. Didn't quite land for me overall, possibly because the structure was a bit baggy, but lots of good things in this with two likeable leads and particularly good in the 'horrible academic infighting' parts, which leapt off the page.
February 24, 2020
I really enjoyed writing this one, y'all.
February 4, 2020
3.5 stars
For the last several years, I’ve made it a habit to seek out at least one or two new to me authors a month, this year I pledged to myself to add more diversity into my reading. So, I was happy to pick up Hearts of Hold by Charish Reid for review. I loved the way the characters met (actually the email before they meet was pretty priceless), I loved the hero’s family dynamics, I loved the heroine’s friends who set her straight and keep her sane, and I very much appreciated the message the author relayed throughout this book. While Hearts of Hold contained some serious issues, there were enough laughter and light moments to balance it out making it truly enjoyable.
Dr. Victoria Reese is a somewhat high strung, but professional and much sought out professor of English literature at a prestigious college outside of Chicago. While she loves teaching and enjoys shaping the minds of her students, her colleagues especially her department chair leave a lot to be desired. As a black American, Victoria is determined to make a difference, she wants to set an example for all students but especially those that are marginalized, and she wants tenure something she is worried won’t happen given the way her department head constantly undermines her. When Vicky has an idea for an internship with the local library to help boost enrollment in the English department little does she know her public library contact will we a six foot five male librarian who heats her up, makes her laugh, and stimulates her mind as well as her body.
Life for John Donovan just got a bit harder; in addition to being put in charge of working on an internship with Pembroke University, he’s gone from fun uncle to father of his niece, Becca, while her mother is out of town for several months on a work assignment and her father is MIA licking his wounds from a divorce after being caught cheating. John knows kids, as a children’s librarian he has experience working with them and he loves Becca like his own, but he knows being in charge full time is going to be a challenge as some days his ADD makes it hard to keep himself on track much less a 12 year old as well.
I enjoyed their attraction from the start, John’s teasing and somewhat laid back approach to life and the contrast to Vicky’s need to always be in control made things very entertaining. While they agree to a “sordid affair” while working together it is easy to see them both falling for one another along the way all while trying to deny it to themselves. Their relationship had challenges, Vicky’s need to plan everything and John’s life being busy while trying to understand and help his niece through some trying times. One of my problems with this book was I felt like there were too many subplots running through it for me to really enjoy the relationship aspect of this book. I didn’t have enough time with these characters just being a couple, the times they were together were often rushed or interrupted and as a reader I felt cheated so I could only imagine how they felt. Some were interesting like John’s family dynamic; his “twin” step-sister (they are the same age) and his step-mom both of whom he adores are black, as is his niece and his step-mom and mother have bonded and become great friends since his father’s death. He has an amazing relationship with his sister and it is easy to see that he appreciates all the women in his family and life. When his niece feels like she doesn’t fit in at the private school she goes to that is predominately white, he encourages her to find one friend and before long she has a whole girl gang which takes an interesting turn after a bullying incident gets her a week long detention. What I would have loved was to see Vicky and John spend more time with Becca, I think it would have done them both good but it didn’t happen and I kind of felt that was a missed opportunity. The storyline of Vicky’s overbearing mother who only seemed to add more stress in her life as well as the part about Becca’s father both added nothing to the story to further the plot and took time away from our hero and heroine getting more together time.
I loved that this author brought in the lack of diversity of Vicky’s workplace situation and that of the minority students at the school, I think in this day and age it is important for that to be explored in all types of literature including romance. I appreciated that she wrote characters that were multi-faceted, they were flawed, but also so very well rounded and real.
I enjoyed this book a lot, at times I felt the romance got lost in the shuffle, however I did love these characters both individually and as a couple. Ms. Reid’s voice is fresh and compelling and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
For the last several years, I’ve made it a habit to seek out at least one or two new to me authors a month, this year I pledged to myself to add more diversity into my reading. So, I was happy to pick up Hearts of Hold by Charish Reid for review. I loved the way the characters met (actually the email before they meet was pretty priceless), I loved the hero’s family dynamics, I loved the heroine’s friends who set her straight and keep her sane, and I very much appreciated the message the author relayed throughout this book. While Hearts of Hold contained some serious issues, there were enough laughter and light moments to balance it out making it truly enjoyable.
Dr. Victoria Reese is a somewhat high strung, but professional and much sought out professor of English literature at a prestigious college outside of Chicago. While she loves teaching and enjoys shaping the minds of her students, her colleagues especially her department chair leave a lot to be desired. As a black American, Victoria is determined to make a difference, she wants to set an example for all students but especially those that are marginalized, and she wants tenure something she is worried won’t happen given the way her department head constantly undermines her. When Vicky has an idea for an internship with the local library to help boost enrollment in the English department little does she know her public library contact will we a six foot five male librarian who heats her up, makes her laugh, and stimulates her mind as well as her body.
Life for John Donovan just got a bit harder; in addition to being put in charge of working on an internship with Pembroke University, he’s gone from fun uncle to father of his niece, Becca, while her mother is out of town for several months on a work assignment and her father is MIA licking his wounds from a divorce after being caught cheating. John knows kids, as a children’s librarian he has experience working with them and he loves Becca like his own, but he knows being in charge full time is going to be a challenge as some days his ADD makes it hard to keep himself on track much less a 12 year old as well.
I enjoyed their attraction from the start, John’s teasing and somewhat laid back approach to life and the contrast to Vicky’s need to always be in control made things very entertaining. While they agree to a “sordid affair” while working together it is easy to see them both falling for one another along the way all while trying to deny it to themselves. Their relationship had challenges, Vicky’s need to plan everything and John’s life being busy while trying to understand and help his niece through some trying times. One of my problems with this book was I felt like there were too many subplots running through it for me to really enjoy the relationship aspect of this book. I didn’t have enough time with these characters just being a couple, the times they were together were often rushed or interrupted and as a reader I felt cheated so I could only imagine how they felt. Some were interesting like John’s family dynamic; his “twin” step-sister (they are the same age) and his step-mom both of whom he adores are black, as is his niece and his step-mom and mother have bonded and become great friends since his father’s death. He has an amazing relationship with his sister and it is easy to see that he appreciates all the women in his family and life. When his niece feels like she doesn’t fit in at the private school she goes to that is predominately white, he encourages her to find one friend and before long she has a whole girl gang which takes an interesting turn after a bullying incident gets her a week long detention. What I would have loved was to see Vicky and John spend more time with Becca, I think it would have done them both good but it didn’t happen and I kind of felt that was a missed opportunity. The storyline of Vicky’s overbearing mother who only seemed to add more stress in her life as well as the part about Becca’s father both added nothing to the story to further the plot and took time away from our hero and heroine getting more together time.
I loved that this author brought in the lack of diversity of Vicky’s workplace situation and that of the minority students at the school, I think in this day and age it is important for that to be explored in all types of literature including romance. I appreciated that she wrote characters that were multi-faceted, they were flawed, but also so very well rounded and real.
I enjoyed this book a lot, at times I felt the romance got lost in the shuffle, however I did love these characters both individually and as a couple. Ms. Reid’s voice is fresh and compelling and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
December 15, 2020
Sometimes I find myself slowing down as I read a book because I truly want to savor it, and Hearts on Hold is definitely a book to savor. This tale of a literature professor and a children’s librarian finding love is one of the more romantic novels I’ve read in a long time. By turns sweet and sexy, this story is a delight.
The beginning of this book introduces the heroine and her work world very well. We see Dr. Victoria Reese’s intelligence and competence come shining through in a faculty meeting. And we also see what she’s up against in the form of a dictatorial, narrow-minded department chair trying every means at his disposal to shoot down her idea of creating an internship for students interested in library work. I’ve seen people put lots of energy into telling audiences what microaggressions are. Reid paints them vividly on the page, and it sets an unmistakable tone for the reader.
The daughter of a successful Marine and his very driven wife, Victoria has spent her entire life knowing that she has to have a plan and that she needs to execute it every time. She’s pretty tightly wound, but honestly, I could see why. And I could also see why she and John Donovan would be each other’s perfect match.
John is fairly open about his ADHD in the book, and we can see where staying on track and being organized poses a real challenge for him. However, he has ways to cope (not to mention that organization is Victoria’s superpower) and just as we get to see Victoria shine at the university, we also get to see John connecting with children and doing work he is obviously both skilled at and for which he has a real passion.
Speaking of passion, the romance between John and Victoria has plenty of heat. John somewhat jokingly refers to their arrangement as “a sordid affair,” and yet there’s a real sweetness about their deepening connection. That’s not to say that there isn’t also a fair amount of steaminess. Not only does Reid write some very passionate love scenes, but they are perfectly timed to show the emotional arc between the characters. I see reviewers write often about pacing in suspense plots, but this book has near perfect pacing in its emotional development, and that makes it a delight to read.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
The beginning of this book introduces the heroine and her work world very well. We see Dr. Victoria Reese’s intelligence and competence come shining through in a faculty meeting. And we also see what she’s up against in the form of a dictatorial, narrow-minded department chair trying every means at his disposal to shoot down her idea of creating an internship for students interested in library work. I’ve seen people put lots of energy into telling audiences what microaggressions are. Reid paints them vividly on the page, and it sets an unmistakable tone for the reader.
The daughter of a successful Marine and his very driven wife, Victoria has spent her entire life knowing that she has to have a plan and that she needs to execute it every time. She’s pretty tightly wound, but honestly, I could see why. And I could also see why she and John Donovan would be each other’s perfect match.
John is fairly open about his ADHD in the book, and we can see where staying on track and being organized poses a real challenge for him. However, he has ways to cope (not to mention that organization is Victoria’s superpower) and just as we get to see Victoria shine at the university, we also get to see John connecting with children and doing work he is obviously both skilled at and for which he has a real passion.
Speaking of passion, the romance between John and Victoria has plenty of heat. John somewhat jokingly refers to their arrangement as “a sordid affair,” and yet there’s a real sweetness about their deepening connection. That’s not to say that there isn’t also a fair amount of steaminess. Not only does Reid write some very passionate love scenes, but they are perfectly timed to show the emotional arc between the characters. I see reviewers write often about pacing in suspense plots, but this book has near perfect pacing in its emotional development, and that makes it a delight to read.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
February 10, 2020
I was so looking forward to reading this story: sexy Viking Librarian and a University Prof- wow. However awkward flirting and innuendo started at their first meeting and it felt a bit icky to me – it felt too soon as they had just met minutes before, and it was inappropriate in an initial work meeting. Then what was supposed to be sexy flirtation at their next encounter while she was job shadowing him, became squicky for me. She had just shown up to begin the work activity and he asked about her shoes and then suddenly:
"The more he gazed at her body; the more naked Victoria felt. It was as if he was discarding one article of clothing at a time before settling on her shoes. “They’ll do just fine.”
Then a few minutes later while filing books in the stacks, there were numerous incidents of 'accidental' brushing and touching. Also at one point he is standing very close behind her, while being a foot taller than her, that in another circumstance could be potentially intimidating. In my professional life I have worked establishing workplace harassment guidelines and these activites are strong examples of inappropriate behaviour that should NOT be allowed in the workplace.
Women have been fighting this type of behaviour in workplaces for years - isn't this partly what the Me Too movement is raising awareness about? While this book is a romance, and in the story the Heroine enjoyed it, at the start of this behaviour they had not yet acknowledged there was an attraction, nor was there explicit verbal consent to physically touch. WHAT IF SHE HAD NOT LIKED THIS GUY??? WHAT IF HIS ATTENTION HAD BEEN UNWANTED?? They barely knew each other and all the touching and kissing and grinding in the stacks were not sexy to to me, they were just ew. I had to DNF after chapter eight.
"The more he gazed at her body; the more naked Victoria felt. It was as if he was discarding one article of clothing at a time before settling on her shoes. “They’ll do just fine.”
Then a few minutes later while filing books in the stacks, there were numerous incidents of 'accidental' brushing and touching. Also at one point he is standing very close behind her, while being a foot taller than her, that in another circumstance could be potentially intimidating. In my professional life I have worked establishing workplace harassment guidelines and these activites are strong examples of inappropriate behaviour that should NOT be allowed in the workplace.
Women have been fighting this type of behaviour in workplaces for years - isn't this partly what the Me Too movement is raising awareness about? While this book is a romance, and in the story the Heroine enjoyed it, at the start of this behaviour they had not yet acknowledged there was an attraction, nor was there explicit verbal consent to physically touch. WHAT IF SHE HAD NOT LIKED THIS GUY??? WHAT IF HIS ATTENTION HAD BEEN UNWANTED?? They barely knew each other and all the touching and kissing and grinding in the stacks were not sexy to to me, they were just ew. I had to DNF after chapter eight.
March 12, 2020
Things I have confirmed from reading Hearts on Hold:
1. Hot children's librarian with a man-bun (John) meets uptight English Professor dealing with gendered racism (Victoria) gives me all the nerdy romance with deeper themes that I love.
2. People having sex in public or semi-public places gives me SO MUCH ANXIETY!!! I mean, you are professional, grown adults in your 30's who could lose your jobs, so tell me why you are getting it on in the University greenhouse and the library cleaning closet?! Particularly with all your clothes off when anyone could walk in and catch you. And Victoria is a Black woman talking about how she has to work twice as hard and is concerned about optics yet somehow decides this is a good idea? These scenes stressed me out so much, but your mileage may vary depending on your feelings with this kind of trope.
Other than that, I mostly enjoyed the romance, even if I'm kind of a hard sell on the hookup-to-lovers trope. The opposites attract romance was fun, if a little unbelievable at times. In terms of larger themes, I loved seeing the way racial dynamics are dealt with in nuanced ways including micro-aggressions, the institutional power of white men, and the way young Black girls can be unequally treated by school administration. (John is the temporary guardian for his niece who gets into some trouble at school). I found the resolution between Victoria and her hyper controlling mom to be quite satisfying as well. If this sounds appealing to you, check it out! I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
1. Hot children's librarian with a man-bun (John) meets uptight English Professor dealing with gendered racism (Victoria) gives me all the nerdy romance with deeper themes that I love.
2. People having sex in public or semi-public places gives me SO MUCH ANXIETY!!! I mean, you are professional, grown adults in your 30's who could lose your jobs, so tell me why you are getting it on in the University greenhouse and the library cleaning closet?! Particularly with all your clothes off when anyone could walk in and catch you. And Victoria is a Black woman talking about how she has to work twice as hard and is concerned about optics yet somehow decides this is a good idea? These scenes stressed me out so much, but your mileage may vary depending on your feelings with this kind of trope.
Other than that, I mostly enjoyed the romance, even if I'm kind of a hard sell on the hookup-to-lovers trope. The opposites attract romance was fun, if a little unbelievable at times. In terms of larger themes, I loved seeing the way racial dynamics are dealt with in nuanced ways including micro-aggressions, the institutional power of white men, and the way young Black girls can be unequally treated by school administration. (John is the temporary guardian for his niece who gets into some trouble at school). I found the resolution between Victoria and her hyper controlling mom to be quite satisfying as well. If this sounds appealing to you, check it out! I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
June 27, 2020
5 Stars / 3.5 Steam Fans
Hearts on Hold is my second Charish Reid book, and can I just say that I have been sleeping on this author. Victoria is a university professor holding on by a strand to make tenure under a department director that does not treat her with respect. Victoria suggests a 4-week initiative to work with the local library where she meets and connects with John, the children's director. Victoria and John have instant chemistry that jumps off the pages from their first interaction through emails. I loved that I could see my relationship throughout this story being an interracial romance. Throughout the pages, you could feel that Charish Reid used her personal experiences or researched real interactions of interracial couples.
Video review available in Week 25: Jun 14 – 20 weekly book reviews.
For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
Hearts on Hold is my second Charish Reid book, and can I just say that I have been sleeping on this author. Victoria is a university professor holding on by a strand to make tenure under a department director that does not treat her with respect. Victoria suggests a 4-week initiative to work with the local library where she meets and connects with John, the children's director. Victoria and John have instant chemistry that jumps off the pages from their first interaction through emails. I loved that I could see my relationship throughout this story being an interracial romance. Throughout the pages, you could feel that Charish Reid used her personal experiences or researched real interactions of interracial couples.
Video review available in Week 25: Jun 14 – 20 weekly book reviews.
For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
September 19, 2024
I almost quit this one in the first chapter because the main character's mom was SO MEAN and the department chair was SUCH AN ASSHOLE and it was STRESSING ME OUT, but it was for book club, and I knew there would have to be a happy ending, so I persevered. And I'm so glad I did! It was a lovely (and steamy!) romance, and I enjoyed the vignettes from the university classroom discussions a lot. The dialogue felt natural and true to life, and the audiobook narrator, despite a few mispronunciations, animated the story in an enjoyable way.
February 29, 2020
3.5 rounding up
The ways in which each carry their baggage into their burgeoning relationship shows Reid’s writing strengths. Victoria is using strict rules, schedules, and tamping down her emotions to get through the difficulties in life and as she and John become closer she is slowly letting the masks fall – partly because he recognizes that they are in fact just that. John struggles with feelings of inadequacy as he must work twice as hard often to accomplish basic, expected tasks due to his mental wiring. He is also naturally open and warm, quick with honest terms of endearment and finds himself wanting Victoria to meet him halfway, to be the mask-less version he sees when they are alone and simply be with him, no planned affair. Victoria has things she hasn’t dealt with yet and ends up hurting him, but as this is a Romance, we know that they’ll piece it back together.
Reid deftly handles this complicated web of emotions, at no point does any of the action feel ill-timed or misplaced. Character motivations are crystal clear. With any new to me romance author I had to get used to how Reid writes her sexy scenes, certain vocabulary caught me off-guard and pulled me out, but that’s just because I don’t use that terminology, but I quickly caught on to Reid’s style and enjoyed it greatly. I hope very much that she has books planned for the side characters whose potential relationships are hinted at (Chris and Jessi especially) but whatever she writes next I’m in.
full review: https://faintingviolet.wordpress.com/...
The ways in which each carry their baggage into their burgeoning relationship shows Reid’s writing strengths. Victoria is using strict rules, schedules, and tamping down her emotions to get through the difficulties in life and as she and John become closer she is slowly letting the masks fall – partly because he recognizes that they are in fact just that. John struggles with feelings of inadequacy as he must work twice as hard often to accomplish basic, expected tasks due to his mental wiring. He is also naturally open and warm, quick with honest terms of endearment and finds himself wanting Victoria to meet him halfway, to be the mask-less version he sees when they are alone and simply be with him, no planned affair. Victoria has things she hasn’t dealt with yet and ends up hurting him, but as this is a Romance, we know that they’ll piece it back together.
Reid deftly handles this complicated web of emotions, at no point does any of the action feel ill-timed or misplaced. Character motivations are crystal clear. With any new to me romance author I had to get used to how Reid writes her sexy scenes, certain vocabulary caught me off-guard and pulled me out, but that’s just because I don’t use that terminology, but I quickly caught on to Reid’s style and enjoyed it greatly. I hope very much that she has books planned for the side characters whose potential relationships are hinted at (Chris and Jessi especially) but whatever she writes next I’m in.
full review: https://faintingviolet.wordpress.com/...
April 23, 2020
3.5-4 stars. I keep going back and forth on this one. I love books that have a bookish setting- so I was totally here for the sexy, tattooed, Viking children's librarian. Honestly, I wish there would have been more scenes with John at the library.
Victoria and John are working together on a project, one of Victoria's creation. They are total opposites, but end up having a hook-up to lovers type trope. There is a LOT of chemistry between these two! That being said, I was a bit surprised that almost all of their sexy times were in public places- specifically work. Like, I get that Victoria had kind of an exhibitionist fantasy thing going on, but you would think the University properties probably all have video surveillance. Ugh. It gives me a certain level of anxiety to think about that.
Anyways, there were some great supporting characters in this book. Victoria has an awesome girl group, John has a fantastic family. They were lovely additions to the story. Victoria's mother on the other hand- oof. I struggled reading through the parts of the book between her and Victoria.
Overall, kind of a mix for me. I definitely want to read more from Charish Reid and hope maybe John has some other sexy librarian friends.
Victoria and John are working together on a project, one of Victoria's creation. They are total opposites, but end up having a hook-up to lovers type trope. There is a LOT of chemistry between these two! That being said, I was a bit surprised that almost all of their sexy times were in public places- specifically work. Like, I get that Victoria had kind of an exhibitionist fantasy thing going on, but you would think the University properties probably all have video surveillance. Ugh. It gives me a certain level of anxiety to think about that.
Anyways, there were some great supporting characters in this book. Victoria has an awesome girl group, John has a fantastic family. They were lovely additions to the story. Victoria's mother on the other hand- oof. I struggled reading through the parts of the book between her and Victoria.
Overall, kind of a mix for me. I definitely want to read more from Charish Reid and hope maybe John has some other sexy librarian friends.
September 10, 2020
Sexy, complicated book nerds in love. [misty sigh]
Plus, a variety of Black Girl & Woman Magic.
Plus, a variety of Black Girl & Woman Magic.
March 22, 2020
This book was an utter delight! As someone who met my SO in a library way back when, this was such a fun romance to read.
Victoria was such a girl boss. I absolutely loved her and her dedication to her job as a college professor. And OMFG all the crap she waded through with her terrible boss Kenneth (I would pay to kick that guy in the balls, he reminded me of SO many real-life d-bags, he was the worst UGH!). But she doesn't let that deter her from achieving her goals in her career. She comes up with the idea to partner with the local library to form an internship program for college students.
And that's how she meets the sexy and sweet modern day Viking John. OMFG this dude is stellar fantasy material: he's tall, muscled, tatted, IS A CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN *SWOON*, has a manbun, takes care of his niece, and is generous in the bedroom. Sign me up! Their spark is instant, which makes working together interesting to say the least ;) Their flirtation and hookups were excellent--so sweet and steamy!
They agree to have a hook-up only arrangement, but of course, that doesn't hold because they fall for each other (this is one of my favorite tropes ever!). There is also glorious female friendship scenes in the book and excellent own voices representation.
Charish is such a talented author the way she weaves cute banter with steamy scenes while addressing more serious themes like racism, sexism, and family dynamics. Anyone who loves contemporary romance needs to read this book ASAP, you'll love it! Cannot wait to see what Charish writes next!
Victoria was such a girl boss. I absolutely loved her and her dedication to her job as a college professor. And OMFG all the crap she waded through with her terrible boss Kenneth (I would pay to kick that guy in the balls, he reminded me of SO many real-life d-bags, he was the worst UGH!). But she doesn't let that deter her from achieving her goals in her career. She comes up with the idea to partner with the local library to form an internship program for college students.
And that's how she meets the sexy and sweet modern day Viking John. OMFG this dude is stellar fantasy material: he's tall, muscled, tatted, IS A CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN *SWOON*, has a manbun, takes care of his niece, and is generous in the bedroom. Sign me up! Their spark is instant, which makes working together interesting to say the least ;) Their flirtation and hookups were excellent--so sweet and steamy!
They agree to have a hook-up only arrangement, but of course, that doesn't hold because they fall for each other (this is one of my favorite tropes ever!). There is also glorious female friendship scenes in the book and excellent own voices representation.
Charish is such a talented author the way she weaves cute banter with steamy scenes while addressing more serious themes like racism, sexism, and family dynamics. Anyone who loves contemporary romance needs to read this book ASAP, you'll love it! Cannot wait to see what Charish writes next!
February 5, 2020
I know a lot of people love this novel, but I just couldn't get into it. The premise should be charming, but setting up some internships between a private university and the local library should be simple. Not some long drawn-out, politically charged process. And I just didn't feel any chemistry between the H & h. Normally I really like bluestocking heroines, but not so in this case. And without chemistry, the book just fell flat.
And the author/editor should've lost the man bun in final editing! It's now passe - even for die-hard hipsters.
And the author/editor should've lost the man bun in final editing! It's now passe - even for die-hard hipsters.
February 15, 2020
I expected to love this recent release based on its premise and gushing reviews, but found it seriously underwhelming. There were lots of things to like, but they all seemed to be in the wrong order, like the jumbled contents of a dropped box of assorted candies. I felt the story could have been much more streamlined: there was a lot of time spent on A LOT of secondary characters--the hero's niece's storyline was almost its own YA novel--and the heroine's work struggles with fellow academic faculty was involving enough without the side story of her controlling parents. That said, the leads were engaging and the dialogue and sexytimes were stellar, and overall I'd recommend it as a leisurely read that is light on plot and angst. A mention, though, that the many instances of dropped punctuation, missing words, and incongruent verb tenses were highly distracting, and kept pulling me out of the story. It felt like a final edit was skipped in a rush to publication, but that could just be the ebook version I read.
February 22, 2020
Pretty good for a contemporary! ;)
I really enjoyed the university/library settings, and the depiction of routine sexist/racist microagressions Victoria encountered on the job. I also liked that there wasn't really any huge drama, just grownups learning to live with each other.
I really enjoyed the university/library settings, and the depiction of routine sexist/racist microagressions Victoria encountered on the job. I also liked that there wasn't really any huge drama, just grownups learning to live with each other.
February 22, 2020
Hmm, I enjoyed some bits, was annoyed by others.
This was my first book by that author and was drawn to the premise of a romance between a female academic and a male librarian. There were things I enjoyed in the story but also quite a few things in it left me annoyed and disappointed.
The heroine is a Black professor in an elite private college with the all the struggles and hard work and fighting discrimination this entails. I enjoyed that aspect of the story very much. Her professional life made a big portion of who she was and I liked getting such an in-depth view of it.
At the same time her relationship with her family was hard for me to buy into. They treated her and she acted with them like she was not 34yo professional woman but rather a child that needs constant guidance and advise. The age thing in fact is something I struck me as not quite right for both MCs - most of the time they read to me as much younger than 34 and 38 respectively. His moms (birth mother and step mom) referred to him as kiddo all the time, acting like he was incompetent/unrealiable because of his ADD and this really bothered me.
The MCs start a sex pact relationship, a sordid affair, though he knew he wanted more from the start. I had no real issues with the back and forth of their relationship, the hesitancy, the doubt, it all was relatable. Still, he kept thinking she is so much better than him and I just didn’t see that big of a social difference between them, I couldn't understand his lack of self-confidence.
My biggest issues was the character development which seemed inconsistent to me. It's minor things, starting with appearance, for example. She was described as having thick thighs and big boobs, he kept saying how soft she was and he is described numerous times as super big and tall, she calls him the Viking and then suddenly they are sparring in the gym and she is some master fighter who beats him down. Nothing until that moment suggested she was athletic in any way. And he was not just tall but described and strong and very toned, it could be me but this didn't read as accurate to me.
Then there is a whole incident with her at her parents' party that I found to be completely out of place and out of character for her. I didn't expected it, still don't see what it added to the story or to her character.
We know the hero is a librarian but we barely learn anything about his job, why he chose it for himself, what his dreams and plans were. In contrast there is quite a lot of page time dedicated to her career (which I liked reading about). I would have preferred to get more of his professional life as well. It would have made him more real, tangible, given him substance which I found he overall lacked.
There was a lot of going on in that story, lot of side characters with their own plotlines and in the end it felt chaotic and overburdened, lacking depth.
These are all small things but they added up for me and took out a lot of my enjoyment of this story.
PS: A couple of librarians have noted on Twitter about something the hero does that is a cross violation of his professional ethic and irl would lead to him getting fired. I admit I missed it when I read it but after seeing their comments, I absolutely agree it was inappropriate and could have been easily avoided.
CW: misogyny, bullying (side character), drinking-related accident
This was my first book by that author and was drawn to the premise of a romance between a female academic and a male librarian. There were things I enjoyed in the story but also quite a few things in it left me annoyed and disappointed.
The heroine is a Black professor in an elite private college with the all the struggles and hard work and fighting discrimination this entails. I enjoyed that aspect of the story very much. Her professional life made a big portion of who she was and I liked getting such an in-depth view of it.
At the same time her relationship with her family was hard for me to buy into. They treated her and she acted with them like she was not 34yo professional woman but rather a child that needs constant guidance and advise. The age thing in fact is something I struck me as not quite right for both MCs - most of the time they read to me as much younger than 34 and 38 respectively. His moms (birth mother and step mom) referred to him as kiddo all the time, acting like he was incompetent/unrealiable because of his ADD and this really bothered me.
The MCs start a sex pact relationship, a sordid affair, though he knew he wanted more from the start. I had no real issues with the back and forth of their relationship, the hesitancy, the doubt, it all was relatable. Still, he kept thinking she is so much better than him and I just didn’t see that big of a social difference between them, I couldn't understand his lack of self-confidence.
My biggest issues was the character development which seemed inconsistent to me. It's minor things, starting with appearance, for example. She was described as having thick thighs and big boobs, he kept saying how soft she was and he is described numerous times as super big and tall, she calls him the Viking and then suddenly they are sparring in the gym and she is some master fighter who beats him down. Nothing until that moment suggested she was athletic in any way. And he was not just tall but described and strong and very toned, it could be me but this didn't read as accurate to me.
Then there is a whole incident with her at her parents' party that I found to be completely out of place and out of character for her. I didn't expected it, still don't see what it added to the story or to her character.
We know the hero is a librarian but we barely learn anything about his job, why he chose it for himself, what his dreams and plans were. In contrast there is quite a lot of page time dedicated to her career (which I liked reading about). I would have preferred to get more of his professional life as well. It would have made him more real, tangible, given him substance which I found he overall lacked.
There was a lot of going on in that story, lot of side characters with their own plotlines and in the end it felt chaotic and overburdened, lacking depth.
These are all small things but they added up for me and took out a lot of my enjoyment of this story.
PS: A couple of librarians have noted on Twitter about something the hero does that is a cross violation of his professional ethic and irl would lead to him getting fired. I admit I missed it when I read it but after seeing their comments, I absolutely agree it was inappropriate and could have been easily avoided.
CW: misogyny, bullying (side character), drinking-related accident
January 7, 2020
Special thanks to the author, Charish Reid and Netgalley for sending me an E-ARC of Hearts on Hold in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ARC did not affect my rating or review!
The Great: Relatable characters! And not just relatable main characters either. Some of the side characters were absolutely picture-perfect replicas of friends I have in real life as well as images of myself. But our main character, Dr. Victoria Reese is maybe the queen of order after my own heart. She’s smart, driven, witty, and likes things to be planned and executed in a certain fashion. Victoria’s interaction with the world around her as a black woman in academia pulled on every single one of my heartstrings. Now let’s bring in prince charming, Johnny Donovan. Oh my the swoon lol Johnny warmed my heart from the very beginning. He’s a doting uncle, loving brother and maybe the hottest head children's librarian for a public library that I’ve ever read about. Seriously, it’s not fair that he’s a fictional character because I need him in my life. NOW!
Which leads me to my next favorite point, the romance. Oh My Swoon! How badly did I want Victoria and Johnny to be together? Let’s just say I needed all the sexual tension to begin from the first page of the book. Because ya’ll, the chemistry was just shooting out of my iPad. Their interactions were authentic, the witty banter laced with literary innuendos was just fantastic and the steam? Lets also just say I needed a cold shower after a few scenes lol I absolutely rooted for this couple throughout the story and I may or may not have a new romance bae now.
The Good: Reid’s writing style is once again bar none in regards to pulling you into the story effortlessly. I read this book in two days and a majority of the time, I was in my living room with my family and a million other things was happening around me. While I was, in the midwest with Victoria and Johnny the entire time.
I also enjoyed the character development. Specifically, Victoria’s character development. Her transformation throughout the story felt authentic and well-thought out. And the best part, is that I can see Veronica’s growth well past this story. If we’re lucky to get a sequel, I look forward to reading how she’s progressed.
Overall, a great way to end last year and start the new year. I recommend Hearts on Hold to romance lovers who are looking for a twist on common romance tropes, wanting to connect effortlessly with characters and fall in love with a beautiful story.
This review is also posted on my blog, eattravelread.com
The Great: Relatable characters! And not just relatable main characters either. Some of the side characters were absolutely picture-perfect replicas of friends I have in real life as well as images of myself. But our main character, Dr. Victoria Reese is maybe the queen of order after my own heart. She’s smart, driven, witty, and likes things to be planned and executed in a certain fashion. Victoria’s interaction with the world around her as a black woman in academia pulled on every single one of my heartstrings. Now let’s bring in prince charming, Johnny Donovan. Oh my the swoon lol Johnny warmed my heart from the very beginning. He’s a doting uncle, loving brother and maybe the hottest head children's librarian for a public library that I’ve ever read about. Seriously, it’s not fair that he’s a fictional character because I need him in my life. NOW!
Which leads me to my next favorite point, the romance. Oh My Swoon! How badly did I want Victoria and Johnny to be together? Let’s just say I needed all the sexual tension to begin from the first page of the book. Because ya’ll, the chemistry was just shooting out of my iPad. Their interactions were authentic, the witty banter laced with literary innuendos was just fantastic and the steam? Lets also just say I needed a cold shower after a few scenes lol I absolutely rooted for this couple throughout the story and I may or may not have a new romance bae now.
The Good: Reid’s writing style is once again bar none in regards to pulling you into the story effortlessly. I read this book in two days and a majority of the time, I was in my living room with my family and a million other things was happening around me. While I was, in the midwest with Victoria and Johnny the entire time.
I also enjoyed the character development. Specifically, Victoria’s character development. Her transformation throughout the story felt authentic and well-thought out. And the best part, is that I can see Veronica’s growth well past this story. If we’re lucky to get a sequel, I look forward to reading how she’s progressed.
Overall, a great way to end last year and start the new year. I recommend Hearts on Hold to romance lovers who are looking for a twist on common romance tropes, wanting to connect effortlessly with characters and fall in love with a beautiful story.
This review is also posted on my blog, eattravelread.com
December 20, 2019
This review will be run on Goodreads on December 20th, 2019
The tl;dr: Buy This Book!
The story of Victoria and John is more than a story about falling in love. It is a story about DuBois' double consciousness, family, and finding yourself. Victoria is a Black professor at a prestigious White university who wears so many masks she can't find herself anymore. She feels like she doesn't belong and is wearing herself ragged trying to prove she does. She has two great friends (who I would love to see in future novels) but doesn't have any space to breathe. She is always on.
John is a children's librarian who is laid-back and comes into Victoria's orbit when they work together on a project she has pitched to the university. I thought the initial encounter of their relationship was too fast but the rest of the novel was paced perfectly. I really liked the John didn't "save' Victoria. He merely provided a place for her to rest and be herself. He provided love and security but in the end this is Victoria's story.
I could feel Victoria winding tighter and tighter as the novel progressed and the burden of a double consciousness and her insecurities increased.
This romance was swoon worthy, fun, well-paced, and nuanced. It would make a great addition to any romance lovers' shelf.
My only quibble with this book was the way that John's niece's father's abandonment was treated. John and his sister made excuses to Becca about her father because they didn't want her to think badly about her father. The truth is that, in pursuing a strategy like that, they are only going to make Becca feel badly about herself. They should have been upfront with her that what he was doing was wrong, was not acceptable and was not her fault.
Note: I received a NetGalley eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The tl;dr: Buy This Book!
The story of Victoria and John is more than a story about falling in love. It is a story about DuBois' double consciousness, family, and finding yourself. Victoria is a Black professor at a prestigious White university who wears so many masks she can't find herself anymore. She feels like she doesn't belong and is wearing herself ragged trying to prove she does. She has two great friends (who I would love to see in future novels) but doesn't have any space to breathe. She is always on.
John is a children's librarian who is laid-back and comes into Victoria's orbit when they work together on a project she has pitched to the university. I thought the initial encounter of their relationship was too fast but the rest of the novel was paced perfectly. I really liked the John didn't "save' Victoria. He merely provided a place for her to rest and be herself. He provided love and security but in the end this is Victoria's story.
I could feel Victoria winding tighter and tighter as the novel progressed and the burden of a double consciousness and her insecurities increased.
This romance was swoon worthy, fun, well-paced, and nuanced. It would make a great addition to any romance lovers' shelf.
My only quibble with this book was the way that John's niece's father's abandonment was treated. John and his sister made excuses to Becca about her father because they didn't want her to think badly about her father. The truth is that, in pursuing a strategy like that, they are only going to make Becca feel badly about herself. They should have been upfront with her that what he was doing was wrong, was not acceptable and was not her fault.
Note: I received a NetGalley eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2022
Yikes. Nope. I just cannot with this book right now. I had heard such good things and despite some interesting stuff going on I couldn't get past the weird assumptions of the library profession by the author (I have no idea if she has the academic profession right for the heroine since that is not something I have experience with). First, there is the major ethics violation by our librarian hero. I have never worked at a library that would encourage public facing staff to read for fun while working the desk. I have no idea why he is asking her to shelf books while quizzing her about the Dewey Decimal System. The numbers should be on the book, there is absolutely no reason to memorize it. Also, I have no idea what she actually wants her students to do at the library. It is unclear and our hero and heroine don't discuss it because they are too busy making out AT HIS WORK, in public. But the worst part is that ethics violation that could have (and maybe should have) gotten the hero fired and instead it is presented as fun, flirty, and cute. It seems to be the basis for the whole beginning of their relationship. This man is the head of a Children's Department and should know better to just access a patron's private record without their permission (or a valid library reason).
February 16, 2020
I adored this book so much. Victoria is one of my favorite heroine's ever. She's brilliant and fabulous and has wonderful friends and a mother who cares about her (just is sometimes a bit misguided in her attempts at making her daughter happy). She's a college professor whose hard work and brilliance is under constant assault because she's both a woman and black, and the system was deliberately made to thwart her at every turn while making things easier for people like Kenneth, who are allowed to just work and succeed, not navigate a billion landmines, cater everyone else and still somehow have to time work and be brilliant. I thought the book showed this really really and I adored her journey professionally and with John.
Oh John. I adore John who is sweet but also messy, but works well with Victoria who deserves happiness (and happiness does not always look like "perfection"). Happiness sometimes looks like a soft-place to land and support, not help (which goes both ways). And this was all done so brilliantly and just LOVE.
Oh John. I adore John who is sweet but also messy, but works well with Victoria who deserves happiness (and happiness does not always look like "perfection"). Happiness sometimes looks like a soft-place to land and support, not help (which goes both ways). And this was all done so brilliantly and just LOVE.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews