Surrendered: A Friends to Lovers Novella

by Roe Braddy

Nezzie Fergerson came to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania looking for solace from her life of deprivation and poverty in the south. Arriving in Pittsburgh was an eye-opening experience. There, she found that pushing through her painful past wasn't going to be as easy as she suspected. Nezzie was drawn to the nightlife and found comfort in slinging drinks in a local nightclub. A life of obscurity was the life she was looking for, at least that's what she thought.Mathias, Whaley was good-looking and soft-spoken. Spending his days hoisting steel in the steel city and his evenings sipping coke under the soft glow of lights that the local nightclub offered. Where he runs into "His good thing." Mathias is a man of few words, but one full of action. Acting on the pull of his heartstrings and the tug of the struggles occurring in the turbulent year 1960 might keep him from winning the heart of Nezzie Fergerson.Will Nezzie surrender to the desires of her heart and let love take the wheel? Does Mathias have the fortitude to press on beyond the hurt and capture the woman who struggles to break free? Only time will tell.

106 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2021

Reviews

[Cherie l brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding love in the 1960’s. Turbulent times, and the main character lived in a horrid time in Escambia County, Alabama when a girl child just wasn’t safe. During a period when a black female had very little voice. Despite the circumstances Nezzie Ferguson got out of her small town life, and moves far away to Pittsburg PA. Her beauty helped her catch the attention of a very nice young man, Mathias. A strong, hard-working man, intelligent, and aspiring. Once he say his eyes on her, he wasn’t about to let her go. Nezzie, was independent and courageous, a very likable character. You just pull for them to come together, and that was indeed the hard part.

Now the cover illustration for this book is more baffling than the actual novel. If anybody can shed some light on that after reading, I would certainly appreciate it.

A very short story, not boring at all, but the period of the setting of the 60’s is unpleasant. Ppl had so little.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Well, I certainly didn't expect this to be such a quick read, but it sure was! This is the first time I've read this author and enjoyed the story.

We meet Nezzie who has a rough background and a lot to overcome. The violence she endures is always on her heels and it's understandable. She's got a lot of determination, but that makes her closed off to others.

Mathias is a fine, encouraging fellow that any gal would want to meet and when he meets Nezzie he's fascinated. I appreciated how he was so patient, yet persistent with her.

I liked getting to know them and their friends. There's also a twist none of us could expect. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the ending. Ha ha ha Total cliff hanger.

*I received this book from the author. This is my personal opinion.

[Kristi Tailor · Rating 5 out of 5]

An endearing story of forgiveness and second chances. The leading man is a heart throb and that is not an exaggeration. My attention was captured from the first page and held until the Epilogue. There is so much raw emotion on the pages—I couldn’t help but to be transfixed. I was given the book to read as part of an ARC but will definitely purchase the paperback to add to my collection of African American literature.

[Vini Portzline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was heartfelt and genuine. You can actually feel what the characters were feeling. I like how we were able to get into the character's thoughts and yet still remain mysterious. A definite cliffhanger that will keep you wanting more. A good story illustrating the power of faith.

[Rebekah Carulli Hanson · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a quick Christian read. I thought it was well written. Very disappointing that it’s a cliffhanger. R. K. C.