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The Eatons #1
Bittersweet Love
Belinda Eaton is dedicated to her job as a history teacher in one of Philadelphia's most challenging high schools. Committing to a man? Not exactly on her agenda. But then a tragedy brings her closer to gorgeous attorney Griffin Rice and they have to share custody of their twin goddaughters.
Griffin never saw himself as husband or father material. But suddenly family vacations and Sunday dinners with the girls are the highlight of his schedule—and getting closer to their smart, intriguing godmother is his number-one priority. Can he teach her that their partnership has turned into a loving relationship powerful enough to last?
Griffin never saw himself as husband or father material. But suddenly family vacations and Sunday dinners with the girls are the highlight of his schedule—and getting closer to their smart, intriguing godmother is his number-one priority. Can he teach her that their partnership has turned into a loving relationship powerful enough to last?
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 25, 2008
15 people are currently reading
403 people want to read
About the author
Rochelle Alers
220 books1,051 followersRochelle Alers was born in Manhattan, New York, USA, where she raised. She obtained degrees in Sociology and Psychology, before started to work. She is a member of the Iota Theta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and her interests include gourmet cooking and traveling. She has traveled to countries in North, Central and South America, and Europe. She is also in accomplished in knitting, crocheting and needlepoint.
Published since 1988, today a full-time writer, has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today's most prolific and popular African-American authors of romance and women's fiction. With more than fifty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, she is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, regularly chosen by Black Expressions Book Club, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award. She also wrote as Susan James and Rena McLeary.
Rochelle Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.
Published since 1988, today a full-time writer, has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today's most prolific and popular African-American authors of romance and women's fiction. With more than fifty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, she is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, regularly chosen by Black Expressions Book Club, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award. She also wrote as Susan James and Rena McLeary.
Rochelle Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
March 12, 2021
the premise reminded me of the movie Life as we know it...
it was an okay read...
it was an okay read...
January 15, 2021
I love the slow developing relationship between Auntie Belinda & Uncle Griffin...Uncle Griffin was a smooth dude. This was a cute story of a couple initially coming together as godparents to take care of their twin nieces after the tragic deaths of the twins parents (Belinda’s sister & Griffin’s brother).
June 27, 2015
This is the love story of Belinda and Griffin. Belinda and Griffin are in-laws their siblings were married and tragically died in a car accident leaving both of them legal guardians of their 12-year-old fraternal twin nieces. So Belinda and Griffin have known each other for at least 13 years and on the surface they don't like each other but unbeknownst to each other they both had a thing for each other. He thought she was too young for him she thought he was a panty chasing womanizer. And she wasn't trying to be a notch on anybody's belt. But coming together to take care of their nieces showed a different side that the other didn't know existed. Even though things were going good between them an incident in her past threatens their relationship. Overall this was a great story believable characters and I highly recommend this book definitely five stars.
August 12, 2025
Belinda and Eaton had loved each other for years. A tragedy brings them together and they slowly explored their feelings. Slow but cute story.
November 16, 2013
Rochelle Alers just keeps surprising me. She writes love like nobody's business and just when I think she's refined and safe she throws a little wildness in there. Entertaining read. And her love scenes are literary genius
January 12, 2010
A GREAT start to the Eaton series...enjoyed the HEATED verbal sparring between Griffin and Belinda...they are two LIVE WIRES...and once they realize they are attracted to one another the SPARKS definitely start to fly...Sabrina and Layla are simply ADORABLE...and the secondary cast of characters aid in keeping the story flowing...I also learned some INTERESTING historical tidbits throughout...a SWEET read.
November 1, 2014
I am loving this author. When reading romance novels, I get tired of the same old break up, then make up. This was different and I really enjoyed it.
February 23, 2020
3.5 Stars! I really enjoyed this book other than some borderline questionable consent bits and some odd ways of resolving grief and talking about the twins’ parents, but I thought this was fabulous overall, if you aren’t susceptible to certain triggers.
The premise of this enemies to lovers romance is that Belinda and Griffin are maternal aunt and paternal a uncle to fraternal twin girls who lose their parents suddenly in a car crash. As the godparents and the appointed guardians by their parents, Belinda and Griffin have joint custody of the girls and have to overcome their differences to ensure they’re good co-guardians to their nieces.
I really enjoyed how Belinda and Griffin begin to develop a bond. I loved the interaction with the kids and the family relationships. I didn’t even realize this was a series about siblings but I’m quite excited to have found this wonderful series on Audible Escape. The audio performance was great and the narrator had a wonderful voice- she just had quite a few words she mispronounced but I enjoyed her performance, she did a good job. This was a really entertaining book by a new to me author.
The premise of this enemies to lovers romance is that Belinda and Griffin are maternal aunt and paternal a uncle to fraternal twin girls who lose their parents suddenly in a car crash. As the godparents and the appointed guardians by their parents, Belinda and Griffin have joint custody of the girls and have to overcome their differences to ensure they’re good co-guardians to their nieces.
I really enjoyed how Belinda and Griffin begin to develop a bond. I loved the interaction with the kids and the family relationships. I didn’t even realize this was a series about siblings but I’m quite excited to have found this wonderful series on Audible Escape. The audio performance was great and the narrator had a wonderful voice- she just had quite a few words she mispronounced but I enjoyed her performance, she did a good job. This was a really entertaining book by a new to me author.
September 27, 2009
Rochelle introduces a new of family educators who seem to need a little education their selves.
Belinda Eaton never saw herself as a parent but when she becomes the mother to her nieces as well as her goddaughters after a tragic accident she finds herself dealing with the man she had come to dislike Griffin Rice is her nieces’ uncle/godfather. When she finds herself having to co raise the girls with him she realizes her life is going to change for the better or worse she’s not sure yet.
Griffin Rice is a prominent lawyer who enjoys dating and women but when he finds himself, a father to his twin nieces he realizes that life is not always about parties. He starts to realize that he wants to make an impact on their lives but not before, he finds himself falling for their aunt who he had always considered stuck-up.
Griffin & Belinda have found their selves looking at each other in a new light as they begin to spend more time together but when tragedy strikes close to home it helps Griffin and Belinda realize their feelings for one another. Rochelle writes an extremely strong story dealing with delicate issues without losing focus on the romance of the story. Rochelle’s characters were strong as well as real cannot wait until we meet the next Eaton to meet their match.
Belinda Eaton never saw herself as a parent but when she becomes the mother to her nieces as well as her goddaughters after a tragic accident she finds herself dealing with the man she had come to dislike Griffin Rice is her nieces’ uncle/godfather. When she finds herself having to co raise the girls with him she realizes her life is going to change for the better or worse she’s not sure yet.
Griffin Rice is a prominent lawyer who enjoys dating and women but when he finds himself, a father to his twin nieces he realizes that life is not always about parties. He starts to realize that he wants to make an impact on their lives but not before, he finds himself falling for their aunt who he had always considered stuck-up.
Griffin & Belinda have found their selves looking at each other in a new light as they begin to spend more time together but when tragedy strikes close to home it helps Griffin and Belinda realize their feelings for one another. Rochelle writes an extremely strong story dealing with delicate issues without losing focus on the romance of the story. Rochelle’s characters were strong as well as real cannot wait until we meet the next Eaton to meet their match.
July 20, 2015
Belinda Eaton & Griffin Rice, are godparents to their two twin niece's whom lost their parents in an automobile accident now Belinda & Griffin will discover parenthood. Belinda & Griffin while raising their nieces will find the love that they once had for each other.
May 30, 2012
Who would have known that tragedy would bring you together with your soul mate.
January 4, 2013
Loved it
September 27, 2013
I always enjoy her books. This one did not disappoint.
September 10, 2016
The Eatons!
2009 Jan.
2009 Jan.
October 31, 2014
Have to admit that I really really enjoyed this book. The title was perfect for the story line.
November 6, 2014
This was a great start for the Eaton series! I'm looking forward to more.
January 6, 2015
I need a Griffen
February 25, 2017
I prejudged this book, but its actually a good read. Not a lot of drama but still interesting.
Read
November 13, 2020I listened to the audiobook ... and ... :X I think it was done a bit ago because ... it wasn't great.
[Even more than me wondering if the author really meant to use X word ... I questioned if it even WAS that word ... because :X the narrator said a lot of words incorrectly.]
And then the voice/tone/attitude? It's hard to describe. All that - PLUS "old" issues; I don't know if it was sound editing, bad equipment, not sitting close enough to the mic, any or all of the above ... but sometimes it was super loud, sometimes it was really quiet, and that detracted too.
So ... :X all that had a negative impact on how I felt about this book.
I thought it was ok - maybe more liked it than not, but it was not great.
Like... the premise was interesting. And there's a LOT going on ...
but I guess.... I just never entirely got with the hero and heroine. I liked the separately but they didn't ... I dunno. They neither REALLY clicked with me.
I'm re-listening to it because I'm sure I missed stuff; like the tabloid thing with the rando bad date person...
How the heroine doesn't really know the hero at all...
So ... :X maybe I'll have more/better to add after the re-read.
It may've been colored by me starting this book immediately after the terrible DNF.
Which is why I'm going with C-- ... - >.> for now.
[Even more than me wondering if the author really meant to use X word ... I questioned if it even WAS that word ... because :X the narrator said a lot of words incorrectly.]
And then the voice/tone/attitude? It's hard to describe. All that - PLUS "old" issues; I don't know if it was sound editing, bad equipment, not sitting close enough to the mic, any or all of the above ... but sometimes it was super loud, sometimes it was really quiet, and that detracted too.
So ... :X all that had a negative impact on how I felt about this book.
I thought it was ok - maybe more liked it than not, but it was not great.
Like... the premise was interesting. And there's a LOT going on ...
but I guess.... I just never entirely got with the hero and heroine. I liked the separately but they didn't ... I dunno. They neither REALLY clicked with me.
I'm re-listening to it because I'm sure I missed stuff; like the tabloid thing with the rando bad date person...
How the heroine doesn't really know the hero at all...
So ... :X maybe I'll have more/better to add after the re-read.
It may've been colored by me starting this book immediately after the terrible DNF.
Which is why I'm going with C-- ... - >.> for now.
January 19, 2019
Belinda and Griffin are drawn into a relationship when they become co-parents to their twin nieces. (Belinda’s sister and Griffin’s brother were married.) This was a pretty realistic romance and I enjoyed the verbal sparring between Belinda (a teacher in a rough public school who doesn’t take any shit) and Griffin (a tough-talking sports lawyer who has always wanted a family). They try to fight their attraction due to the misperceptions they have always had about each other, but in the end, sparks fly and they get their happily ever after. There are some sexy times, but not, like, on every page.
June 13, 2024
The best way I can describe this book is like reading a life time movie. The cover gave me old school something I’d find on my mom or grandma bookshelves growing up. The story of Belinda Eaton and Griffin Rice started tragically when their siblings died in a car crash and they become legal guardians to a set of twin god daughters. Although at first it seems they can’t stand each other they kind of slowly realize that they actually are inlove with each other. One of my favorite things of this book was that towards the end of the book it foreshadowed part two. Although some parts of this book felt like the timeline was rushed I did enjoy reading,
July 16, 2019
Love or Dislike
I have read the entire series about the Eaton family at least twice before. This first book of the series shows how we can mask our true feelings when we are uncertain or immature. When I say immature I am referring to being to youth or unfamiliar with the feelings. When first cell in love with Griffin she was only 19 and had little experience with men/boys. And there was the ex and the attempted rape. All of this added to her mistrust of her feelings and in turn of Griffin. Love won in the end because it was strong and true.
I have read the entire series about the Eaton family at least twice before. This first book of the series shows how we can mask our true feelings when we are uncertain or immature. When I say immature I am referring to being to youth or unfamiliar with the feelings. When first cell in love with Griffin she was only 19 and had little experience with men/boys. And there was the ex and the attempted rape. All of this added to her mistrust of her feelings and in turn of Griffin. Love won in the end because it was strong and true.
June 17, 2024
I don't necessarily like the trope of hating each other just because or one has feelings for the other and thinks they can't act on them, so they hate them. I did enjoy this book though. This book touched on loss of parents/siblings but the romance was great. I listened to the audiobook and Erica Peeples did an amazing job at setting the tone.
November 5, 2016
I had a hard time finishing this. I liked them both and everything about their situation. I can't say why this book did very little for me.
August 15, 2017
Gave it 5 chapters and just couldn't do it! I don't know how but this book is both slow and too fast at the same time. Not believable at all.
June 18, 2019
Even though I read this book out of sequence, and read it second, I've enjoyed the The Eatons
February 25, 2020
It was ok, romance isn't my favorite but by the time the trite language began, the story was done. I do enjoy Rochelle Alers writing, the story and details were lovely.
March 2, 2020
After the tragic death of their siblings, Belinda and Griffin become co-parents to their twin nieces. The problem is that they don’t get along.
Well written, storyline kept me interested.
Well written, storyline kept me interested.
August 17, 2020
Eaton family books read.
Read this book a second and it was even better. Learn something new I remember from the story well written as all of her books
Read this book a second and it was even better. Learn something new I remember from the story well written as all of her books
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews