Brown Sugar This Christmas

by Lula White

Welcome to the hotbed of romance, rivalries and riches in this delicious enemies-to-lovers Christmas romance. It is a complete happily ever after novel of over 72,000 words, with jokes and shenanigans at the back of book. ♥

Maddy
Love is the last thing Madison Page needs when she returns to the Hamptons. After her previous failures at Christmas romance, her heart is closed for business. Until yummy pastry-shop owner Jerrell Rouse bumps into her on the street. She fights their saucy attraction, but Maddy is falling into sweet bliss. Can she get over her painful past, and accept the delicious gifts Jerrell has waiting for her?

Jerrell
Wall Street banker turned entrepreneur, Jerrell Rouse, must solve a big problem if he wants his struggling business to survive. When he runs into Madison Page, he learns she is the sexy political powerbroker with the right connections to get him out of a jam. But the more time he spends with her, the harder it is to focus on business. Now Jerrell faces a painful choice -- either his new company, or Maddy.

Join childhood friends Maddy, Del, and Chrissy in the Sag Harbor Black Romances series, as they evolve into Hamptons power players through heartache, love and triumphs. Each book is a medium-heat story of riches, romance and seduction in the Hamptons. If you love hit television series, Queen Sugar, you're at home. Each book is a complete story of at least 60,000 words or more and can be read in any order, but are most delicious in sequence.

*Strong language & medium-heat sex

Genres: Romance, Holiday, Christmas, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Contemporary

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2021

Reviews

[MARQUETTA · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am going to start off by saying I didn't like anyone in this book. I was excited to read this book because it's about Black people in the Hamptons. The characters in this book are some bougie ass Black people especially Maddy. Which is fine. I have family that's like that. But you can be bougie and not be an asshole and Madison is an asshole. The way she looks down on Jerrell throughout the book was atrocious. Yes their first meeting was awful. She got knocked down by the dogs he was walking and he was an ass about it. But the continuing insults and assumptions throughout the story was ridiculous. This was no playful banter. She was downright mean and classist. And judging from how her parents and siblings act, she wasn't raised that way. She's like that all on her own.

You know it's bad when you're rooting against the couple. Jerrell deserved better. I have no idea what he saw in Maddy. Maybe the challenge. He claims he hates snotty people but we never understood why. Was he hurt by a previous girlfriend who was similar to Madison? Who tf is Raychelle? We never found out. There was barely any backstory for Jerrell. I did feel that Jerrell was kind of terrible having his 83 year old grandmother doing all this damn baking for his business. Like dude! Have her write down the recipes and find someone younger to make them for you. His whole Poppin Pauletta's business was confusing. Was he running the business out of the firehouse or was it next to the firehouse? Why Sag Harbor of all places for a second location? The Brazilian sugar issue, a secondary plot issue that gets resolved but we don't see how. We're just told that it was resolved.

There's a lot of telling and not showing like when Madison lays into Kenneth. We don't get to read that?! Why deprive us that asshole getting cussed tf out?

Also - Madison has been lusting after Kenneth since she was 11 and that's why she hasn't had a good relationship? My eyes rolled so damn hard. Could have left him out of the story too. Why keep adding terrible people to the plot?

Lana. It would have been better if this character didn't even exist. There was enough drama going on why add more to it? So Maddy works with her, they hang out casually. Why would Maddy ask Lana to spend Christmas with her especially if she don't know Lana like that? Like I said, she could have been left out.

Maddy's friends I didn't like. I am done with the series because I don't care enough about these Sag Harbor people to continue reading.

[Phyllis J · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to read about the black Sag Harbor. I did not like Mandy at the start and that never changer. Jerrell, was the only person in this book to like. If this is how Sag Harbor really is, I’ll stay home.

[Helicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost gave up on this book a few times. The female lead was annoying. I'm glad I stuck with it and kept reading.

[Inga · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn’t get passed Maddison.......

[Jacquelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Brown Sugar this Christmas' (a double entendre) was very entertaining. I loved the author's writing style: engaging and interesting characters, witty dialogue, an enthralling storyline that included traditions of wealthy African-Americans in a fascinating setting in Sag Harbor, and vivid descriptions which were mesmerizing. Moreover, the protagonists, Jerrell and Maddy (Madison), were soulmates and oozed chemistry. I adored their hilarious banter. Hence, I enjoyed reading the narrative.

[Coffee&Books]

Always enjoy Lula

These Sag Harbor romances are perfect short ish reads and I love that they feature characters of color. Well done!

[Tierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this on my never-ending hunt for Christmas books with black characters. It reminded me of Sunny Hostin’s series, especially with a bratty main character you can’t stand. Jerrell put the whole book on his back!

[Whit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although interesting, I hated how Maddy acted like Earth was her planet and as long as you did what she demanded, you were allowed to live on it.
Jerrell is a hard working man, trying to start his own pastry business and Maddy speaks to him as if he is dirt under her shoes.
He should have told her to go to hell and given her directions on how to get there!

[Anita White · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it

Now this author got me hooked with just this one book. But Maddy girl imma need you to leave Kevin and these other men alone they only want your power. But Jerrell that man is the one and sees you for who you are.

[Rheona R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute romantic book 🥰 can’t wait to read the next book!

[Nylorac1984 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story set in the Black Hamptons features Maddy and Jerrell's love story. Warning this story is heavy on the over the top drama and can feel soapy at times. I loved that a special part of Black History and culture is highlighted. I respected Jarrell's business hustle as he was working extremely hard to keep his bakery afloat, his grandmother was adorable. The couple definitely bump heads quite a bit in this tale and the ending sort of leaves some things open. There is extra bonus content at the end of the book as well as bonus content available if you subscribe to the newsletter. Book 2 in the Sag Harbor series is currently free on Amazon.

[Kesha T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the Banter

I enjoyed the back and forth banter between Maddy and Jerrell. Loved me some Poppin Pauletta too. This was a very enjoyable read and kept me entertained from beginning to the end. I loved the way Lula laid the background story for the other characters. I’m looking forward to reading about the other couples in Sag Harbor.

[Candice Square · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

I chose this book because I wanted read a story set around Christmas time. I actually really enjoyed the book. Like a lot. I’m pleasantly surprised and this was a real story not a novella. I’m hoping that there is some follow up with Jerrell and Mandy since the ending was quite abrupt.

[Sandra Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Brown Sugar

I smiled almost the entire time while reading "Brown Sugar This Christmas!" My first book by Lula White, it was a refreshing change from what I usually prefer. Maddy and Jerrell were young, educated and ambitious, both born into good families---and they clashed from the moment they met! Five wonderful stars, and on to book two!!!

[Rosemary Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Romance Story

First time reading this author. Good storyline and strong characters. Maddy meets Jerrell and both have instant dislike for each other. Both have baggage they must work thru. I enjoyed this book and will read book 2 of this series.

[Juliette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is great and the first book is sweet. The characters are well drawn and their interactions will keep you guessing...a little bit.😉 Each book in this series is better than the last so keep going!

[Stacy Batiste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Love this series can’t wait to read many more couldn’t put it down loved the couples and their parents and siblings

[Pastor McKeiver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

[sjoyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

No Sugar

This is the first book in the series, Sag Habor Black Romances. It tells the story of Jerrell and Madison. There was so much wrong with this book.

Madison and Jerrell disliked each other at first sight. She was rude and snobbish. He was stubborn bordering on arrogant. Their attitudes were out of line for people their ages. Both were 30ish. They acted like juveniles. The book had several undeveloped subplots. Characters were thrown into the mix with little or no back stories.

The book jumped all over the place. One minute you were hearing Madison thinking negatively about Jerrell. Then Jerrell was thinking negatively about Madison. I can't tell you how the attraction developed between them. The locations and people changed so quickly, it gave me whiplash.

You never got to know his family or hers even though they were intimately involved in their lives. Then you have the lives and activities of the wealthy black people of Sag Harbor thrown in with little explanation of who they were.

The book was a bit disappointing. I have another book in the series that I'm not interested in reading but I will since I've purchased it. I was left with so many questions. Why did Madison take Lana home with her for Christmas, if they were only co-workers and not friends? What happened between Madison's friend, Chrissy and her husband? Were they divorced? If not, why have him show up with a woman to pick up his kids? Why did Jerrell have his 83 year old grandmother working in his bakery for such long hours even after she fainted? How did she and Madison jump double Dutch with two long rolls of dough? Some things that happened in this book was ludicrous.

The book portrayed Madison as a snob who was a part of the wealthy, elite blacks of Sag Habor. Jerrell was portrayed as a struggling man who was juggling several jobs when apparently his parents were as wealthy as hers. The two families apparently had a good relationship with each other.

The epilogue glossed over so much that it added very little to the book. It only added to the confusion. I can't tell if there was a HFN or HEA!

[Raymond · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't read a lot of romance novels so I don't have much to compare this to, but...this left a lot to be desired. There are so many tangents put in for the sake of creating drama...and then never resolved. Who bought the Ivory? Where was Lana's money coming from? Why did Madison invite Lana home for Christmas to begin with when they weren't friends like that? I mean, that last one was given a real quick explanation but it wasn't nearly good enough.

I especially don't understand how Jerrell stuck around long enough to fall in love with her. When she thinks he's just the poor dog walker/deliveryman, she's atrocious and condescending. How he seems to let that glide right over and act like that's not the real her is otherworldly.

I have other gripes but there's one that really stands out. I'm staying spoiler free, but it is enough to say that if you desperately need brown sugar in a recipe and you only have white sugar, you add molasses to it and let it dry and boom...brown sugar. It may not be the super special, niche brown sugar you need but it will tide you over. Any half-experienced baker would know that, and yet it doesn't come up once just so we can see some drama. 5 people in the kitchen and no one seems to know this.

Finally, when the author gets to giving us the ending we all know is coming, the dialogue gets wooden and stilted. These people wouldn't talk like that. It was weird because it's such a hard shift, almost like someone else wrote the end.

Ugh.

[Jenae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somehow I both enjoyed this book and hated it at the same time. First Maddison was probably the most unlikable person. There was no character development whatsoever. She existed off snobbish behavior and being a butthole. Maddy had no redeemable qualities to make her someone worthy of being loved. Jerrell was okay but between sugar gate (that makes no sense) and working his grandma like recipe cards aren't a thing was weird. She he have apologized during their initial meeting yes but everything that followed was just her being a snob. Also the investment subplot was silly, the Lana subplot was also silly, hell the Kevin subplot was silly. You're in your 30s love and you're pining after a man that was never your boyfriend only a crush? That went out of his way to embarrass you multiple times?! BFFR By the time the spice got spicing I truly couldn't have cared, If they never spoke to each other again it would have been fine by me.

[Nkhensani · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

I love Christmas movies so I figured reading a Christmas romance would give me the same feeling.

There was not enough Christmas in it beyond the fact that it was set around that time and there were mentions of snow and ice skating.

The book is part of a series, so I suppose that explains the extra characters always being brought in in the middle of dialogue.

The two main characters are interesting and once they stopped pretending to hate each other and got down to it, it was steamy and fun in all the right ways.
They had some good banter.

I don't like when authors add a pregnancy to the end of a story because it implies they need even more stuff to keep the two people together, but the characters did visibly struggle with it instead of accepting it as a perfect fate, so it's fine.

[Keba · Rating 2 out of 5]

A month… This took me a month to read…🤦🏾‍♀️

I did this to myself honestly. I was trying to find something quick and easy to read (I’m still in a reading slump 🙄) and died a little inside when I realized this was the complete opposite.

I skimmed most of this book. I fully read the first 4 or 5 chapters, decided I didn’t really like the characters, and skimmed the rest just so I won’t DNF it.

I love strong FLs, especially black ones, but Maddy was rude from the jump. And every interaction she had with Jerrell in the first few chapters got on my nerves. I especially didn’t like how she treated him when she met his grandma for the first time. Jerrell was alright for a ML.

IDK. Like I said , I skimmed most of the exposition, and read most of the dialogue with absolutely no interest in where the story was going. I won’t be reading anything else in this series.

[Carley Courts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very surprised by the pacing of this romance. Despite the events happening in about a week, I found Maddy and Jerrell's relationship unfolding organically even though at times I thought they hated each other (and for no good reason).

That said, I wasn't always rooting for them since they're both stubborn as bulls but there was enough self-awareness between them and the supporting characters that did make me gush when the two were finally able to be vulnerable with each other.

I wouldn't call this enemies to lovers so much as irritated/annoyed to lovers which isn't always my cup of tea but in this instance was well executed for my taste.

All in all, a fun holiday read with a little bit of spice. It's 3.5 stars for me but I'm willing to round up.

[humansreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not a terrible story. However, I think the characters definitely needed more work, especially Maddie. She is very unlikable as a character, and she did turn me off from getting to like her anymore or wanting to read about her anymore. Also in terms of the relationship, that moved way too fast, unrealistically so. I was very confused as to why Jerrel was so drawn to Maddie’s stink attitude. With a little more finesse and character development, I feel like this would’ve been a much better story, and also with the elimination of certain aspects of the story, like Lula and Kevin, their parts in the story, just did not mesh with everything else. 🤷🏾‍♀️

[Mrs. Gayla D. Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Wonder-filled Book

I started reading this book during my Christmas break from school. It is a great read, but unfortunately I had to return to my classroom. Therefore reading was relegated to weekends and other breaks in the school year.
I enjoyed the upscaled background that played in the lives of Madison and Jerrell, the main characters of the story. The family connections and historical traditions sang beautifully throughout this fantastic book. I appreciated the historical information about Sag Harbor, as well.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maddy and Jerrell will keep you glued to their antics and drama. Maddy is not in the Christmas spirit and a relationship is the last thing on her mind given her past experiences. Battle lines are drawn when these two first meet. Jerrell needs Maddy and her connections to help him out but the two are stubborn and will not give in. Will these two faceoff and finally compromise and will it lead to something more between them?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anisa [Real Fly Girls Read] Glover · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars. I had this book on my TBR for over a year now and was excited that I finally made the purchase. and now I'm mad because I didn't like a single character in this book. Not one. The whole premise sounded so cute, and I liked the storyline, but what started as a funny Meet Ugly that I thought would evolve into a cute, bantery situation between a sweet guy who owns a bake shop and a snobby debutant who warms up to him. There was nothing cute about either of them, they were both nasty to each other as well as everyone else was in this damn story.

[Shay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me some getting into. At first I didn’t like Madison. She was judgmental, snooty, bougie,& bratty. But as the story progressed, I warmed up to her.

Jerelle was my favorite character. He was a hard worker and wanted to find his own way. He didn’t want to follow his dad’s plan for his life. He had his own plans and didn’t let anything get in his way.

Overall it was a nice cute read perfect for the Holidays

[Mell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute 😍

This of a nice and smooth Christmas read featuring Black love that's not based on trauma bonding. Boy meets girl, falls in love and nope I'm not giving it away but it's cute ☺️ . We deserve cute. I'm going to the next book. Also, I reached out to the author to get the Playlist, it sets the mood.