What do you think?
Rate this book
Love's Divine
Go on vacation? Check. Sip cocktails and relax on the beach? Check. Fall in love? Definitely not on the list.
On a whim, Genesis Malone decides to book a solo trip to the island of Barbados. A sunny beach vacation sounds like the perfect way to renew her spirit after a heartbreaking divorce. The trip takes an unexpected turn when she meets a woman who could be just what she needs to move on. That is if her heart, and the universe, will let her.
Zuri Baker seems to have it all but what she really wants is someone to share her life with. When she meets Genesis, she is intrigued by her quiet nature and longs to get to know her better. Too bad her on-again off-again girlfriend isn’t willing to let her go quite so easily.
When they return to their regular lives and find themselves in the midst of exes, not quite exes, and work drama, will they be able to hold onto what matters most; each other?
This strangers-to-friends-to-lovers slow-burn romance will give you all of the feels with just the right amount of heat.
On a whim, Genesis Malone decides to book a solo trip to the island of Barbados. A sunny beach vacation sounds like the perfect way to renew her spirit after a heartbreaking divorce. The trip takes an unexpected turn when she meets a woman who could be just what she needs to move on. That is if her heart, and the universe, will let her.
Zuri Baker seems to have it all but what she really wants is someone to share her life with. When she meets Genesis, she is intrigued by her quiet nature and longs to get to know her better. Too bad her on-again off-again girlfriend isn’t willing to let her go quite so easily.
When they return to their regular lives and find themselves in the midst of exes, not quite exes, and work drama, will they be able to hold onto what matters most; each other?
This strangers-to-friends-to-lovers slow-burn romance will give you all of the feels with just the right amount of heat.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2021
75 people are currently reading
305 people want to read
About the author
Ava Freeman
19 books68 followersAva Freeman writes contemporary romance that centers the Black queer woman’s experience. Through her stories, she strives to give readers rich, complex characters that always find their happily ever after.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
March 11, 2021
Bright and bold. Truly a slow burn; every time I thought...surely things would happen for the two MCs, life got in the way and that’s just how it is sometimes. Set in beautiful Barbados, Ava paints a picture so vivid, you feel like you’ve been there. Personally I wish that’s where it stayed, but Zuri and Gen’s story is a long journey and I went along for their rollercoaster ride of a relationship. Overall a good read that will keep you coming back. Recommended for lovers of true romance.
January 29, 2024
"That's so true." Zuri loved the way her mind worked. "I swear I could listen to you talk for hours."
🥹
“You are the answer to a prayer I made so long ago, and I would be honoured to have you as my wife."
Oh how I love love 🥹. This book is beautiful! Genesis and Zuri have some of the best banter I've ever read! Seriously I could just read a bunch of dialogue between them and be content.
🥹
“You are the answer to a prayer I made so long ago, and I would be honoured to have you as my wife."
Oh how I love love 🥹. This book is beautiful! Genesis and Zuri have some of the best banter I've ever read! Seriously I could just read a bunch of dialogue between them and be content.
April 2, 2024
2.5 stars. This showed a lot of promise in the beginning, but I guess I just wasn't into the trajectory of the plot and the relationship. Genesis and Zuri meet on vacation in Barbados and have an instant connection, but Genesis is just getting over a divorce, and Zuri is on the cusp of making things official with her on-again, off-again girlfriend/FWB. It seems like it just isn't the right time for Zuri and Genesis, even though it feels like they're perfect for each other, but they're still really drawn together. The book follows them over the course of the vacation, and then the next several months.
The attraction and chemistry were cute, though not my favourite. The romance was slow burn, which I love, but the book on a whole also felt very slow-moving, which I didn't love. There was a lot of other woman drama, which is probably one of my least favourite tropes. I mean, to do the book justice, none of it blew out of proportion, and it wasn't as annoying as it could have been, but I still found myself just really bored with all the Tracy stuff and the Shannon stuff. That was time we could have spent with Gen and Zuri getting closer! All the little mini-dramas were just not my thing, and I don't feel like the plots around their work and lives were cohesively written. It felt a bit thin. I was really irritated by all the little time skips, especially the time skip after a huge, pivotal moment for them. It was a moment where the reader would have really benefitted from seeing exactly what happened next, instead of jumping ahead. It felt like the story lost so much momentum after that. On the whole, this had a lot of promise, and it was cute, but I feel pretty meh about it, sadly.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Tenieka Mone't, which wasn't the best, but still got the job done. I liked her voice a lot, which more than made up for the one or two instances of mispronunciation. I don't regret giving this a try (the lovely cover did its job, and definitely drew me in) but it wasn't all that I wanted.
The attraction and chemistry were cute, though not my favourite. The romance was slow burn, which I love, but the book on a whole also felt very slow-moving, which I didn't love. There was a lot of other woman drama, which is probably one of my least favourite tropes. I mean, to do the book justice, none of it blew out of proportion, and it wasn't as annoying as it could have been, but I still found myself just really bored with all the Tracy stuff and the Shannon stuff. That was time we could have spent with Gen and Zuri getting closer! All the little mini-dramas were just not my thing, and I don't feel like the plots around their work and lives were cohesively written. It felt a bit thin. I was really irritated by all the little time skips, especially the time skip after a huge, pivotal moment for them. It was a moment where the reader would have really benefitted from seeing exactly what happened next, instead of jumping ahead. It felt like the story lost so much momentum after that. On the whole, this had a lot of promise, and it was cute, but I feel pretty meh about it, sadly.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Tenieka Mone't, which wasn't the best, but still got the job done. I liked her voice a lot, which more than made up for the one or two instances of mispronunciation. I don't regret giving this a try (the lovely cover did its job, and definitely drew me in) but it wasn't all that I wanted.
September 8, 2022
Slow burn, starts off in a tropical setting, Barbados to be more specific. There is a lot going on in this story but the author balanced everything out nicely. Black lesbians for the win. The sex scenes that come later on are soooooooo worth it oh my goodness👅🌶🌶🌶🌶🔥. I want what Zuri and Genesis have 🥲 i thought maybe it is Zuri that i want all to myself because who doesnt want a powerful Black woman with a kind heart and desire to continously spoil the women she dates but then i realized that Genesis is that girl too!!!! They are very different but their chemistry is unmatched. I loved the patience they had for each other, the will to listen and grow and understand where each of them were coming from and how much fun they had around one another.
I would check content warnings before diving into this one , the one i can think of off the top of my head is mention of a character going through cancer treatment.
I would check content warnings before diving into this one , the one i can think of off the top of my head is mention of a character going through cancer treatment.
August 8, 2021
Sometimes reading romance novels can make a bitch really glad to be ace.
This was a sweet slow-burn Sapphic love story between two kick-ass Black women, and it was mostly enjoyable, but oy, relationship angst just baffles me. JUST USE YOUR WORDS, good Lord. I mean, they both did eventually, and I appreciated seeing them both be vulnerable and open about their pasts and the hurt they've suffered, and the worries that's left them with. But these two were so clearly into each other from the first moment they met, and it took so long for them to finally be like "Oh hey, let's relationship." Part of that is because both of them, though mostly Zuri, had this weird inability to detach themselves from shitty women who treated them badly. I could get the issues between Genesis and Shannon, but Zuri and Tracy made no sense. Zuri is a super confident, type-a, take-no-shit woman, but she acts almost powerless around Tracy even though the woman is awful to her. It was frustrating but I guess it added to the drama.
I did like that Zuri and Genesis totally make sense as a couple, especially because you could easily see them being best friends if one of them were straight or they just weren't attracted to each other. I liked how they teased each other and also were each other's cheerleaders and shoulders to lean on. That all felt very genuine.
The sexual harassment subplot at Zuri's production company felt unnecessary and like it was just a way for characters to make canned speeches about the Me Too movement, and there were a few other times when the dialogue was pretty wooden. But I did generally really like the two MCs and the ending was super sweet. There are a few graphic scenes late in the book, but they were easy to skip past.
This was a sweet slow-burn Sapphic love story between two kick-ass Black women, and it was mostly enjoyable, but oy, relationship angst just baffles me. JUST USE YOUR WORDS, good Lord. I mean, they both did eventually, and I appreciated seeing them both be vulnerable and open about their pasts and the hurt they've suffered, and the worries that's left them with. But these two were so clearly into each other from the first moment they met, and it took so long for them to finally be like "Oh hey, let's relationship." Part of that is because both of them, though mostly Zuri, had this weird inability to detach themselves from shitty women who treated them badly. I could get the issues between Genesis and Shannon, but Zuri and Tracy made no sense. Zuri is a super confident, type-a, take-no-shit woman, but she acts almost powerless around Tracy even though the woman is awful to her. It was frustrating but I guess it added to the drama.
I did like that Zuri and Genesis totally make sense as a couple, especially because you could easily see them being best friends if one of them were straight or they just weren't attracted to each other. I liked how they teased each other and also were each other's cheerleaders and shoulders to lean on. That all felt very genuine.
The sexual harassment subplot at Zuri's production company felt unnecessary and like it was just a way for characters to make canned speeches about the Me Too movement, and there were a few other times when the dialogue was pretty wooden. But I did generally really like the two MCs and the ending was super sweet. There are a few graphic scenes late in the book, but they were easy to skip past.
February 3, 2021
Zuri, ultra rich co-owner of a film studio and Genesis, an accountant, are the central characters in this romance. The two meet when Genesis through a quirk of mismanaged hotel booking ends up in the guest house at Zuri's exclusive estate. Zuri needs to decompress from the stresses of the L.A. film industry and longs for a true partner in love, while Genesis is attempting to regain control of her life a year after the divorce from her wife. Well written and fleshed out supporting characters in Rain (a young actress), Tracy (Zuri's on again, off again girl friend) and Shannon (Genesis's ex) among others add nicely to the storyline which includes the sensitive topic of sexual abuse by a film director. The author's writing was easy flowing with the attraction building slowly between the two women. There was tension, misplaced commitment and eventual romantic acknowledgement/bedroom heat with the plot moving between the island and Los Angeles and the main characters growing in their particular personalities wants and desires. I read hoping for a HEA. My first read of Ms. Freeman's work and she hit the mark for me. Set initially on the island of Barbados, I was pleasantly reminded of my own years living there with the mention of Bajan food - flying fish (Baxter Road) and rice and peas, the Crop Over Festival and St. Lawrence Gap plus sweet descriptions of other parts of the island.
On my re-read shelf - I easily recommend with 5 stars.
On my re-read shelf - I easily recommend with 5 stars.
March 11, 2025
This book has not really stuck in my memory since finishing but was pretty good at the time I read it. The characters and writing were both really well done, which made Genesis and Zuri feel dimensional. I enjoyed following Genesis as she grew from her divorce while Zuri navigated obstacles in her personal relationships and professional life with her production studio. Their chemistry was great throughout the story, which made their slow burn romance very believable. Ava Freeman really showed why they were a great fit, even though they were in other relationships at multiple points in this book. It seemed inevitable that they would find their way back to each other, which is a dynamic I love reading in romance.
That being said, the pacing in this book left a lot to be desired. There was a lot more "other woman" involvement than I prefer, which worsened my reading experience. I'm not at all closed off to reading about main characters with other partners in romance books, but I definitely prefer smaller doses. In combination with the slow burn romance, the amount of time spent on these other connections (instead of the main characters!!) really dragged the pacing. Although it wasn't bad enough for me to DNF, it was definitely a slower read than it should've been.
While I had a mixed experience with this book, I'm open to reading more from Ava Freeman. Based on her writing and characters, I'm sure she has a book that I will enjoy.
-----------------------------------------
I will review after getting my thoughts together..
That being said, the pacing in this book left a lot to be desired. There was a lot more "other woman" involvement than I prefer, which worsened my reading experience. I'm not at all closed off to reading about main characters with other partners in romance books, but I definitely prefer smaller doses. In combination with the slow burn romance, the amount of time spent on these other connections (instead of the main characters!!) really dragged the pacing. Although it wasn't bad enough for me to DNF, it was definitely a slower read than it should've been.
While I had a mixed experience with this book, I'm open to reading more from Ava Freeman. Based on her writing and characters, I'm sure she has a book that I will enjoy.
-----------------------------------------
I will review after getting my thoughts together..
July 21, 2024
You're probably getting tired of me saying another gem from my TBR shelves. You can feel the attraction between Genesis and Zuri immediately. That's because of Ava's writing. You can also feel the torment that Zuri has when Tracy shows up. It's admirable how Zuri gives she and Tracy a chance until, well, you just have to read the story!This is a beautiful slow burn/ HOT love story! 5 stars!
September 4, 2024
I think this story was very beautifully written. I read this book months ago and as my first introduction to black sapphic romance I think this was a great first start.
March 26, 2021
I quite enjoyed this novel. It was sweet, romantic and a true slow burn.
When Genesis Malone decided on an impromptu trip to Barbados, the last thing she expected was to meet Zuri Baker. Sparks immediately fly upon meeting and while it is clear they are attracted to one another, Genesis is still smarting after her divorce, and Zuri can’t figure out if her girlfriend truly wants to be her girlfriend or not. As the two women get closer, Genesis’ vacation also dwindles to an end and they are faced with reality once again. They try to be ‘just friends’, but it is clear that is not enough for either of them, and they must decide if what they have is worth fighting for.
Zuri and Genesis were great mains. I thought their characters were well-written and fleshed out, and I very much appreciated the author taking the time to create their backstories. I loved that they were older and because of this, there was a great sense of maturity when it came to their dialogue and interactions. The slow burn aspect of this novel really helped the relationship feel real – finding a partner rarely happens without some frustration and I liked Zuri and Genesis dealt with their issues without being overly dramatic. Descriptions were wonderfully descriptive and there were moments I felt I was walking on beach with Genesis and Rain (love her sassy character). In a few places, I did feel the plot dragged a little, but I was quickly caught back up with Zuri and Genesis. A great novel about love, hope, and finding your other half.
Thank you Voracious Readers and Ava Freeman for my copy!
When Genesis Malone decided on an impromptu trip to Barbados, the last thing she expected was to meet Zuri Baker. Sparks immediately fly upon meeting and while it is clear they are attracted to one another, Genesis is still smarting after her divorce, and Zuri can’t figure out if her girlfriend truly wants to be her girlfriend or not. As the two women get closer, Genesis’ vacation also dwindles to an end and they are faced with reality once again. They try to be ‘just friends’, but it is clear that is not enough for either of them, and they must decide if what they have is worth fighting for.
Zuri and Genesis were great mains. I thought their characters were well-written and fleshed out, and I very much appreciated the author taking the time to create their backstories. I loved that they were older and because of this, there was a great sense of maturity when it came to their dialogue and interactions. The slow burn aspect of this novel really helped the relationship feel real – finding a partner rarely happens without some frustration and I liked Zuri and Genesis dealt with their issues without being overly dramatic. Descriptions were wonderfully descriptive and there were moments I felt I was walking on beach with Genesis and Rain (love her sassy character). In a few places, I did feel the plot dragged a little, but I was quickly caught back up with Zuri and Genesis. A great novel about love, hope, and finding your other half.
Thank you Voracious Readers and Ava Freeman for my copy!
February 5, 2022
Sometimes, checking some reviews would have been a smart idea.
It just had too many things I am not a fan of:
- there is no cheating but I prefer my fictional couples to have more defined relationship rules, especially when they are not poly. I know real life gets messy but the synopsis does not really metion the fact that both of the exes in their life play a pivotal role in the story and actually have more page time with the two main characters than they do together
- the author never convinced me that their immediate attraction was worthwhile to explore for longer
- lots of drama and unlikeable characters (I was expecting a low-stakes, steamy vacation read)
- a time-skip once the characters get together, so we don't actually see them dating
It just had too many things I am not a fan of:
- there is no cheating but I prefer my fictional couples to have more defined relationship rules, especially when they are not poly. I know real life gets messy but the synopsis does not really metion the fact that both of the exes in their life play a pivotal role in the story and actually have more page time with the two main characters than they do together
- the author never convinced me that their immediate attraction was worthwhile to explore for longer
- lots of drama and unlikeable characters (I was expecting a low-stakes, steamy vacation read)
- a time-skip once the characters get together, so we don't actually see them dating
May 20, 2021
Love’s Divine 😍
Genesis & Zuri were a beautiful pair. I was truly wrapped up in them and rooting for their union as soon as the two met. That was how strong their chemistry was felt through the pages. This five star read will have you smiling and unable to put it down! I have read many of Ms. Freeman’s previous works and she did not disappoint! I would recommend Love’s Divine to anyone who is looking for a well written LGBTQ love story, should you decide to read you will not be disappointed!
Happy reading!
Genesis & Zuri were a beautiful pair. I was truly wrapped up in them and rooting for their union as soon as the two met. That was how strong their chemistry was felt through the pages. This five star read will have you smiling and unable to put it down! I have read many of Ms. Freeman’s previous works and she did not disappoint! I would recommend Love’s Divine to anyone who is looking for a well written LGBTQ love story, should you decide to read you will not be disappointed!
Happy reading!
July 17, 2021
What a delightful story
I've read several books by this author but this is hands down my favorite. I have never chose books based on anything else but what I liked. However, lesfic is not a mainstream genre and it's even more under represented by African American authors. Zuri & Genesis warmed my heart. I saw myself in them. Following their journey felt beautiful and comforting. It felt like coming home. I generally read lesfic with more sexual content but I felt so connected to the story, it didn't even matter....
I've read several books by this author but this is hands down my favorite. I have never chose books based on anything else but what I liked. However, lesfic is not a mainstream genre and it's even more under represented by African American authors. Zuri & Genesis warmed my heart. I saw myself in them. Following their journey felt beautiful and comforting. It felt like coming home. I generally read lesfic with more sexual content but I felt so connected to the story, it didn't even matter....
December 21, 2021
Great Read
Read it in a day. There were a few errors that made me have to reread a passage or two, but nothing that made reading difficult or frustrating. I loved that the author allowed me to get to know the characters and want them to be together. I could feel the chemistry and there was just enough tension and conflict with other characters to make the story interesting without being to aggravating or distracting. Loved the Rain character…she was funny. I definitely recommend this book.
Read it in a day. There were a few errors that made me have to reread a passage or two, but nothing that made reading difficult or frustrating. I loved that the author allowed me to get to know the characters and want them to be together. I could feel the chemistry and there was just enough tension and conflict with other characters to make the story interesting without being to aggravating or distracting. Loved the Rain character…she was funny. I definitely recommend this book.
August 8, 2023
Sweet love story
This was such a sweet story. I loved the two of them together. I loved how Genesis recognized the things that was lacking from her marriage and wasn’t willing to settle for them in her new relationship.
I did not expect the end to be that way. But I loved it just the same.
This was such a sweet story. I loved the two of them together. I loved how Genesis recognized the things that was lacking from her marriage and wasn’t willing to settle for them in her new relationship.
I did not expect the end to be that way. But I loved it just the same.
February 19, 2021
Good Love Story
Enjoyed the characters and backstory. The storyline moved at a good pace. Loved the music and outfit details. Looking forward to reading more of what this author has to serve.
Enjoyed the characters and backstory. The storyline moved at a good pace. Loved the music and outfit details. Looking forward to reading more of what this author has to serve.
April 6, 2021
The heart wants
Loved the story of Gen and Zuri. Sometimes people come into our lives right when we need them. It seemed that timing was off, but in this case some self discovery was needed in order to prefer for forever. Loved it!
Loved the story of Gen and Zuri. Sometimes people come into our lives right when we need them. It seemed that timing was off, but in this case some self discovery was needed in order to prefer for forever. Loved it!
October 15, 2021
Enjoyable read
I am surprised at the range of relationships in this book. Most lesbian romance is the same plot, rinse and repeat. This gave some real spice and interest that I really enjoyed. The characters had a great love story.
I am surprised at the range of relationships in this book. Most lesbian romance is the same plot, rinse and repeat. This gave some real spice and interest that I really enjoyed. The characters had a great love story.
March 10, 2022
Delightful and Amazing
I enjoyed one partner who was well versed. Didn't quite like the partner who seemed like maybe she could have been on the
Fence.Overall this was a very enjoyable and remarkable
Love story of two people from different worlds.
I enjoyed one partner who was well versed. Didn't quite like the partner who seemed like maybe she could have been on the
Fence.Overall this was a very enjoyable and remarkable
Love story of two people from different worlds.
August 7, 2022
Wonderful!
Love this story. I also enjoyed reading characters that I could relate to. The author is very insightful and paints beautiful scenes in her writing. I will definitely be checking out more of her work.
Love this story. I also enjoyed reading characters that I could relate to. The author is very insightful and paints beautiful scenes in her writing. I will definitely be checking out more of her work.
December 13, 2022
Sweet Delight
This was such a sweet treat, the right amount of angst and longing. You rooted for the characters to be together but understood the conflict. Perfectly paced. Loved it!
This was such a sweet treat, the right amount of angst and longing. You rooted for the characters to be together but understood the conflict. Perfectly paced. Loved it!
April 22, 2023
this book was so beautifully well written! I can read this 20xs over. there was realness, humor, spice and everything nice! this book was a recommendation on Amazon based on other queer romances that I have read and I am SO dang happy I took a chance on it! Read it!
April 7, 2021
Highly recommend
Well written, sexy, and intriguing. The characters were well developed and I loved seeing the growth - overall an excellent book.
Well written, sexy, and intriguing. The characters were well developed and I loved seeing the growth - overall an excellent book.
March 2, 2022
I absolutely loved this story. These women are amazing and I throughly enjoyed reading their love story. Please write more about these two.
May 8, 2022
Absolutely beautiful!
This book was a delight to read! It was a well thought out story that made you love the main characters and root for their love. I couldn’t ask for more.
This book was a delight to read! It was a well thought out story that made you love the main characters and root for their love. I couldn’t ask for more.
May 14, 2022
Great read
I loved the love story behind this book! It showed
the meeting of then-the growth and the outcome of what true love looks like.
I loved the love story behind this book! It showed
the meeting of then-the growth and the outcome of what true love looks like.
October 26, 2022
This book was so refreshing ! Zuri and Genesis were such a cute and sexy couple! Ava did her thing with this book! It was funny, relatable, with steamy scenes that made me envy this couple!
July 29, 2023
Excellent read
I have read all of her books and the one is an excellent read like the rest. I can't wait for the next one to come out!!!
I have read all of her books and the one is an excellent read like the rest. I can't wait for the next one to come out!!!
October 22, 2023
love it
I loved this book. I wonder if it’s a 2nd one. Like I would like to know what happened after the proposal.
I loved this book. I wonder if it’s a 2nd one. Like I would like to know what happened after the proposal.
January 16, 2024
Beautiful!
I really enjoyed the journey that Zuri and Genesis went on. The build up of really getting to know each other was beautiful.
I really enjoyed the journey that Zuri and Genesis went on. The build up of really getting to know each other was beautiful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews