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Ash shook off the images swarming his head and tried to focus on her again; it wasn’t hard. She was so beautiful, those plump lips naturally lined by a darker stain of pink as they blossomed into a cherry in the center, those wide eyes so rich and opaque he could stare into them for hours and never separate pupil from iris. The lashes kissing the delicate smattering of freckles on her mahogany cheek—
“I can’t begin to tell you how much your friendship means to me,” Ash said, still drinking in her face. She was so close. It would take nothing to just come a little closer, just there—
He was really about to lose it.
Phaedra Jenkins feels used, abandoned and utterly alone--until she meets her new boss, Ashton Nagakura. After her long-term boy-friend breaks up with her, stranding Phaedra in the small town of Hilo, Hawai'i, she takes a job at a smoothie shack called Papaya or Die on the lovely Hamakua Coast. Her first day introduces her to the most beautiful man she's ever seen: Ash, a surfer and die-hard local boy.
Ash has never been serious about much; he runs a smoothie shack, catches decent waves, and his bed is never cold. What could be better? Sure, he has some issues, and he misses his twin brother every day, but nobody wants to think about that--least of all Ash himself... Until something about Phaedra twists his heart and his tongue, and he can't shake the sudden need to tease her, take care of her... And touch her.
Are they meant to be? Is it just the old island magic, or something a little more like... Aloha?
Enjoy your trip to Hawai'i in this sweet, sexy contemporary--this is a typical Jorja Tabu contemporary romance, in that it explores real relationship issues between people from different cultures. There is a sneak preview of the sequel, SAVOR included at the end and a look at the beautiful landscape that will also host HARD: Pearl of My Bones, an AMBW finale for the ages coming out in December.
This is a stand-alone, although the companion book focusing on Ash's twin, Alix, will compliment it nicely. No cliff-hangers in this one and always safe. It is part of the long-standing MC/IR Series How Do You Want It, with eleven delicious tales of interracial love.
Deeper (BWWM)
Wetter (WWAM)
Farther (WWNAM)
Louder (BWWM)
Harder (BWWM)
Hardest (short story continuation, BWWM)
Thicker (AWWM)
Hotter (WWAM)
Smoother (BWWM)
Sweeter (BWAM)
Savor (BWAM) Coming in September 2019!
All of my BWWM novellas are contained in one volume: Deeper, Louder, Harder: A Compilation of Multicultural Love, available in paperback and on Kindle Unlimited.
My BWWM romantic suspense novels are collected, in order, in the Blackstone Dynasty Anthology.
Blackstone Fire (BWWM)
Blackstone Fever (BWWM)
Blackstone Forever (BWWM)
Stand-alone romantic suspense:
Galaxy of Scars (BWWM)
“I can’t begin to tell you how much your friendship means to me,” Ash said, still drinking in her face. She was so close. It would take nothing to just come a little closer, just there—
He was really about to lose it.
Phaedra Jenkins feels used, abandoned and utterly alone--until she meets her new boss, Ashton Nagakura. After her long-term boy-friend breaks up with her, stranding Phaedra in the small town of Hilo, Hawai'i, she takes a job at a smoothie shack called Papaya or Die on the lovely Hamakua Coast. Her first day introduces her to the most beautiful man she's ever seen: Ash, a surfer and die-hard local boy.
Ash has never been serious about much; he runs a smoothie shack, catches decent waves, and his bed is never cold. What could be better? Sure, he has some issues, and he misses his twin brother every day, but nobody wants to think about that--least of all Ash himself... Until something about Phaedra twists his heart and his tongue, and he can't shake the sudden need to tease her, take care of her... And touch her.
Are they meant to be? Is it just the old island magic, or something a little more like... Aloha?
Enjoy your trip to Hawai'i in this sweet, sexy contemporary--this is a typical Jorja Tabu contemporary romance, in that it explores real relationship issues between people from different cultures. There is a sneak preview of the sequel, SAVOR included at the end and a look at the beautiful landscape that will also host HARD: Pearl of My Bones, an AMBW finale for the ages coming out in December.
This is a stand-alone, although the companion book focusing on Ash's twin, Alix, will compliment it nicely. No cliff-hangers in this one and always safe. It is part of the long-standing MC/IR Series How Do You Want It, with eleven delicious tales of interracial love.
Deeper (BWWM)
Wetter (WWAM)
Farther (WWNAM)
Louder (BWWM)
Harder (BWWM)
Hardest (short story continuation, BWWM)
Thicker (AWWM)
Hotter (WWAM)
Smoother (BWWM)
Sweeter (BWAM)
Savor (BWAM) Coming in September 2019!
All of my BWWM novellas are contained in one volume: Deeper, Louder, Harder: A Compilation of Multicultural Love, available in paperback and on Kindle Unlimited.
My BWWM romantic suspense novels are collected, in order, in the Blackstone Dynasty Anthology.
Blackstone Fire (BWWM)
Blackstone Fever (BWWM)
Blackstone Forever (BWWM)
Stand-alone romantic suspense:
Galaxy of Scars (BWWM)
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 5, 2019
168 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Jorja Tabu
24 books33 followersLATEST TITLE: James Bond for Breakfast
A mash-up, a remix, a tribute inspired by Ian Fleming's iconic character, James Bond, and the world of Jane Austen's Persuasion... Jorja Tabu gives you a modern AMBW romance like no other.
Ana Ellis is an FBI agent, but she's not the flashy kind--no fieldwork, no thank you. She leaves that to her loyal team of misfits, especially her good friend Maanya. As far as Ana is concerned, her brave days are behind her... Until a ghost from her past shows up at the Bureau: MI6's Winston Park-Wu, her high-school boyfriend, the once and always owner of her heart. Ana finds herself swept up in a bit of international intrigue, forced to make big discoveries about who she was, and big decisions about who she is willing to become. Betrayals and beloveds clash in the second installment of Jorja Tabu's Brits and Brats series.
Note for purists: This book is not a re-telling! It uses characters and circumstances from classics to tell a new tale. This book contains steamy HEAs like all JT books and assumes the reader is an adult; some grown folks themes do appear in this story, including PTSD and recovering from family trauma.
A mash-up, a remix, a tribute inspired by Ian Fleming's iconic character, James Bond, and the world of Jane Austen's Persuasion... Jorja Tabu gives you a modern AMBW romance like no other.
Ana Ellis is an FBI agent, but she's not the flashy kind--no fieldwork, no thank you. She leaves that to her loyal team of misfits, especially her good friend Maanya. As far as Ana is concerned, her brave days are behind her... Until a ghost from her past shows up at the Bureau: MI6's Winston Park-Wu, her high-school boyfriend, the once and always owner of her heart. Ana finds herself swept up in a bit of international intrigue, forced to make big discoveries about who she was, and big decisions about who she is willing to become. Betrayals and beloveds clash in the second installment of Jorja Tabu's Brits and Brats series.
Note for purists: This book is not a re-telling! It uses characters and circumstances from classics to tell a new tale. This book contains steamy HEAs like all JT books and assumes the reader is an adult; some grown folks themes do appear in this story, including PTSD and recovering from family trauma.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 30, 2019
Beautiful... Nothing Less
AMBWLOVE - Ash and Phaedra take the readers along their healing journey toward love, self discovery, peace, and happily ever after.
HAWAII - This book was nostalgic for me after a recent soul searching visit to Hawaii. I exhaled on several occasions throughout the book. The story was heartfelt and Ash has become my new book boyfriend.
When a story includes my favorite things - Hawaii, Asian men, a new life of adventure for the brown skinned heroine, and now... complicated twin psychology- I am all in. I can’t wait to continue the journey in the next book. I highly recommend.
AMBWLOVE - Ash and Phaedra take the readers along their healing journey toward love, self discovery, peace, and happily ever after.
HAWAII - This book was nostalgic for me after a recent soul searching visit to Hawaii. I exhaled on several occasions throughout the book. The story was heartfelt and Ash has become my new book boyfriend.
When a story includes my favorite things - Hawaii, Asian men, a new life of adventure for the brown skinned heroine, and now... complicated twin psychology- I am all in. I can’t wait to continue the journey in the next book. I highly recommend.
July 15, 2020
4.5 lilikoi flavored cupcakes
I loved the setting off the story Hawaii is a beautiful and awesome place full of rich culture and people. The author really captured the beauty of Hawaii in the book. The characters were complex and interesting. Phaedra was a black woman who was sensitive, soft, and sweet. Many times black women are strong, sassy, and tactile so Phaedra being the opposite was refreshing. Ash was the awesome stereotypical Hawaii surfer guy that was surprisingly in touch with his emotions, and had deeper emotions. Overall the book was a slow burn and I recommend it for anyone wanting a slow island escape.
I loved the setting off the story Hawaii is a beautiful and awesome place full of rich culture and people. The author really captured the beauty of Hawaii in the book. The characters were complex and interesting. Phaedra was a black woman who was sensitive, soft, and sweet. Many times black women are strong, sassy, and tactile so Phaedra being the opposite was refreshing. Ash was the awesome stereotypical Hawaii surfer guy that was surprisingly in touch with his emotions, and had deeper emotions. Overall the book was a slow burn and I recommend it for anyone wanting a slow island escape.
August 18, 2019
Could not connect to the issues
Overall, this is a great read. The only problem I had was connecting to the issues that caused problems for them. Like the eggplant and their breakup. As a black woman, I just did not see being called a name for eggplant as derogatory. But then I love eating those things. Then Ash's action that caused a rift I felt could have been resolved easily with a conversation. And that is saying a lot since I am hot tempered. But everything else was great.
Overall, this is a great read. The only problem I had was connecting to the issues that caused problems for them. Like the eggplant and their breakup. As a black woman, I just did not see being called a name for eggplant as derogatory. But then I love eating those things. Then Ash's action that caused a rift I felt could have been resolved easily with a conversation. And that is saying a lot since I am hot tempered. But everything else was great.
January 16, 2021
This is so hard because I hate writing negative reviews but this book was bad. Beware, slight spoilers ahead.
I HATED both characters. However, I TOLERATED Ashton more than Phaedra because he was written as badly. Then again, I wasn’t given much about him to know.
PLOT: Honestly, I had to go back and reread the synopsis to figure out what was supposed to be the plot of this book. Phaedra is supposedly duped and dumped by her ex and is essentially broke in a foreign setting in desperate need of a job? I guess that was it. Here’s the thing, I NEVER got that or any sense of ‘oh no, I need to get my funds so I can get out of my financial hole.’ From her. It seemed like she was fine. There was never any real sense of panic or desperation from her. She seemed pretty fine for someone super down on her luck.
Ash, I have no idea what his deal was other than he was supposedly ‘smoking hot’ or ‘the hottest man in the world.’ *insert eye roll here* He ran a smoothie shack that we were only given details about in one chapter because Phaedra went there for a job and you know, needed one day to fall head over heels for each other. After ONE day of meeting, no interaction besides working to fill customers orders, Ash, infamous Hawaiian ‘don’t do relationships, only sex and go’ decides that he is unable to live without Phaedra. Yeah, no, I don’t buy it.
At no point in the story did I feel chemistry between these two. Don’t get me started on Phaedra. She was one of the most pathetic female leads I’ve ever had the displeasure of reading about in a long while. Which brings me to the next point...
CLIMAX: The moment Ash returns her car to her, what does she do? Act irrationally, jumps in said car and leaves! For 6 bloody weeks! Why, you ask? Because Ash took the car back from her ex, who, mind you, withheld it from her despite her being the one whose money bought it! It was here that I just abandoned all hopes for these characters and just started skimming through the pages.
VERDICT: This book was bloody awful! You’re fine skipping it altogether. There was way too much telling and not enough showing. Which I suspected was to add fluff to bring up the page numbers.
Addendum: This book three EVERY bloody trope you could think of:
1. Getting engaged ☑️ (which wasn’t even remotely satisfying and just absolutely ghastly)
2. Pregnancy ☑️
3. Terrible Ex ☑️
4. Love at first sight ☑️
5. Miscommunication ☑️
6. One or both main characters running away for idiotic reason ☑️
This book... was not great.
I HATED both characters. However, I TOLERATED Ashton more than Phaedra because he was written as badly. Then again, I wasn’t given much about him to know.
PLOT: Honestly, I had to go back and reread the synopsis to figure out what was supposed to be the plot of this book. Phaedra is supposedly duped and dumped by her ex and is essentially broke in a foreign setting in desperate need of a job? I guess that was it. Here’s the thing, I NEVER got that or any sense of ‘oh no, I need to get my funds so I can get out of my financial hole.’ From her. It seemed like she was fine. There was never any real sense of panic or desperation from her. She seemed pretty fine for someone super down on her luck.
Ash, I have no idea what his deal was other than he was supposedly ‘smoking hot’ or ‘the hottest man in the world.’ *insert eye roll here* He ran a smoothie shack that we were only given details about in one chapter because Phaedra went there for a job and you know, needed one day to fall head over heels for each other. After ONE day of meeting, no interaction besides working to fill customers orders, Ash, infamous Hawaiian ‘don’t do relationships, only sex and go’ decides that he is unable to live without Phaedra. Yeah, no, I don’t buy it.
At no point in the story did I feel chemistry between these two. Don’t get me started on Phaedra. She was one of the most pathetic female leads I’ve ever had the displeasure of reading about in a long while. Which brings me to the next point...
CLIMAX: The moment Ash returns her car to her, what does she do? Act irrationally, jumps in said car and leaves! For 6 bloody weeks! Why, you ask? Because Ash took the car back from her ex, who, mind you, withheld it from her despite her being the one whose money bought it! It was here that I just abandoned all hopes for these characters and just started skimming through the pages.
VERDICT: This book was bloody awful! You’re fine skipping it altogether. There was way too much telling and not enough showing. Which I suspected was to add fluff to bring up the page numbers.
Addendum: This book three EVERY bloody trope you could think of:
1. Getting engaged ☑️ (which wasn’t even remotely satisfying and just absolutely ghastly)
2. Pregnancy ☑️
3. Terrible Ex ☑️
4. Love at first sight ☑️
5. Miscommunication ☑️
6. One or both main characters running away for idiotic reason ☑️
This book... was not great.
June 17, 2020
So sweet
This is a beautiful story. After reading Savor I had to back track and read Sweeter. I adore these brothers and their loves how they tread tightly together in protection. And they love so hard. Phae was so sweet and had to learn to stand on her own before she could truly learn to love. A lesson many have to learn and it’s never easy. Ash a playboy enjoying a passive and carefree life until Phae gave him something to invest in. This is a must read and well as Liz story in Savor. Enjoy
This is a beautiful story. After reading Savor I had to back track and read Sweeter. I adore these brothers and their loves how they tread tightly together in protection. And they love so hard. Phae was so sweet and had to learn to stand on her own before she could truly learn to love. A lesson many have to learn and it’s never easy. Ash a playboy enjoying a passive and carefree life until Phae gave him something to invest in. This is a must read and well as Liz story in Savor. Enjoy
July 15, 2025
Okay read
This was my first book with this author and.. This was an okay book the female lead cried all the time which made me question if this was really a BWAM. But maybe her tears were due to all the loss she’d experienced. The male characters development was great and seems like someone you may want to get to know IRL. It a bad read but I’m not sure if it was for me.
This was my first book with this author and.. This was an okay book the female lead cried all the time which made me question if this was really a BWAM. But maybe her tears were due to all the loss she’d experienced. The male characters development was great and seems like someone you may want to get to know IRL. It a bad read but I’m not sure if it was for me.
March 29, 2020
I haven't read AMBW book so well written like this. Honestly you wouldn't regret buying it. It's just so sweet, sexy and educated. Everything you want in a romance book. I mean the characters are so likeable and human at the same time. I honestly highly recommend it
November 28, 2020
I didn't dislike the book it was a nice story but felt this was for a younger audience which is why I gave it three stars. I think ill pass on the other books by this author. If I was 30 yrs younger this Would have been right up my alley.
April 22, 2021
Yeah
Not able to say much but this culture and this skin colour divide is the biggest cock blocker I have ever seen. How many organised marriages have limited us readers with mind blowing sex?
Not able to say much but this culture and this skin colour divide is the biggest cock blocker I have ever seen. How many organised marriages have limited us readers with mind blowing sex?
June 16, 2021
I loved, loved, loved this book. A beautiful love story and I love how Ash treats his love, Phae.
July 9, 2023
3.5⭐️ rtf
December 29, 2022
Loved this book! I loved the pacing of the characters’ relationship. I loved that the book was set in Hawaii. I liked that the author gave us some cultural insight as well and didn’t just have the book set in Hawaii. This is going to be a consistent re-read for me.
August 19, 2019
I'm a huge lover of BWAM romances, and I really enjoyed this one. Some of the issues were silly, but like in real life we all have our hangups. The storyline and style of writing is something that I truly enjoy. The characters were multifaceted with emotions that I could feel, and the author wrote a book that I could escape into.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 17, 2019
This is the first book I have read from this author and I loved it. A sweet, sexy romance set in a tropical paradise is a dream come true. The characters are well developed and the story shows how cultural differences can affect a relationship. I would love to read more by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 11, 2019
Beautiful Sexy Emotional Love
Jorja is a very good writer I really enjoyed her style. Ash and Phaedra's love story begins innocently and is unsuspecting. Then it heats up with a volcanic intensity. And I loved 💙 it and you will too. Find out how they ride the rollercoaster of love together.
Jorja is a very good writer I really enjoyed her style. Ash and Phaedra's love story begins innocently and is unsuspecting. Then it heats up with a volcanic intensity. And I loved 💙 it and you will too. Find out how they ride the rollercoaster of love together.
January 20, 2020
I really wanted to read about Alex’s twin, Ash. There personalities were worlds apart and so were the girls the fell for. Phaedra was so shy with good reason. Ash cracked her shell and she came into her own. His love for her also helped him to grow. I thought that was pretty cool
August 22, 2019
Wonderful
I enjoyed this story. It was romantic and educational. My favorite couple would be Ashton and Phaedra. This story had me wishing I lived in Hawaii. A must read.
I enjoyed this story. It was romantic and educational. My favorite couple would be Ashton and Phaedra. This story had me wishing I lived in Hawaii. A must read.
September 21, 2019
I enjoyed this story.
January 30, 2020
Sweet Love Story
I have more that I will share later, but Ash and Phae will forever be one of my favorite couples this will go down as one of the best books I have EVER read.
I have more that I will share later, but Ash and Phae will forever be one of my favorite couples this will go down as one of the best books I have EVER read.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews