From the moment she was born, Tokyo was destined to lose. With drug addicts for parents, hope was scarce. But when her mother is sentenced to six years in prison, life luckily changes for the better. Moving in with her grandmother ended up being the best thing for both her and her little sister, Space. Finally, after years and years of struggling and fending for herself, she was being loved and cared for the way she should've been from the start. Sadly, six years in wasn't enough. The minute Sahara, Tokyo's mother, was released, her life was once again poisoned by her. This time, in what could be considered the worst way possible.
Haram Knight was everything. With his two brothers, Cavalli and Syn, he ran they neighborhood with an iron fist. Literally. He was a force to be reckoned with. His reputation for having a short fuse most certainly preceded him. His short fuse was one of the reasons Tokyo couldn't stand him. Unbeknownst to Tokyo, there was more to Haram than his temper and his mannish ways though. And in some of her darkest days, she gets a glimpse of who he truly is. Someone with a heart. Someone who soon becomes more than just the angry, ignorant boy on the block. Someone who eventually... unintentionally... becomes her solace.
For as long as Miss Candice could remember, writing has been her passion. In the beginning, she wrote poetry. Later on in life, when she was about thirteen years old, she was introduced to fanfiction.
The Coldest Winter Ever was the first urban fiction book she read. It wast then when she took Fanfiction to another level. She perfected her writing skills, and began to write Urban fanfiction. At first, writing was something she did in her spare time. Something that was therapeutic to her. Never in a million years, did she think she would become a published author, although it has always been a dream of hers.
Now, at the age of twenty-eight, she's penned over ten bestselling novels with many more to come.
In addition to writing, She's also CEO and founder of Miss Candice Presents.
These authors LOVE making me cry!!!!!! Why?!? This was a great start to the series. It’s definitely a slow burning build up but I believe it’s necessary.
In book 1 we are introduced to Haram and Tokyo. Tokyo is an 18 year old high school senior weeks away from graduation when she gets the “surprise of her life”. Her drug addict mother is released from prison and she thinks that she can somehow have this amazing relationship with Tokyo as if she didn’t ruin the first 12 years of her life. Since her mothers incarceration she’s lived with her grandmother and has been showered with nothing but love. Well despite the positive outlook that her granny has that her mother has changed, a feen is going to be a feen and lets just say, Tokyo’s world is turned upside down.
Haram is the youngest of three brothers and has some issues that we have not dived into just yet. He has anger issues and blacks out but the book has not said why. Maybe we will find out in book 2. His brothers and mother do their best to make him feel “normal” but he feels smothered and after his latest blackout that results in him murdering someone he runs off unhinged.
Haram and Tokyo are proving to be be each other’s Solace and I can’t wait to read how the story continues to unfold.
For the past 6 years Tokyo had been living a carefree life. Her Granny Mae saved both her and her sister Space from two drug addicted selfish azz parents. They were progressing and life was good....until Sahara, the trifling trash azz mother returned and turned their lives upside down.
My heart broke 💔 for them and with Tokyo now in this deep depression I'm wondering how this will all shake out. Off to book 2.
This was an emotional rollercoaster. So much happened in a short amount of time. I’m very eager to read part 2. I can’t wait to see where Haram & Tokyo love story goes.
The majority of Tokyo’s life has been all bad except the six years she spent living with her Grandma Mae, who was killed by her drug-addicted father! Fresh out of high school. She’s stuck trying to figure out how to take care of her 5y/o sister. This book was very slow in my opinion but the ending really got to me and I almost wanted to cry 🥺. With her whole world falling apart, I hope she’s able to find peace and love because pressure makes diamonds 💎
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
It is a slow burn but I am interested to see what is going to happen. Only complaint is this doesn’t feel like a complete book. I don’t like where this book left off but I’m on to the next.
I should have known from the cover this would be a heavy book. Solace means to give comfort in times of sadness, grief, or distress. I feel like the author really captured the word perfectly with this story and I am eager to see the direction this series takes. By the time I finished, I didn't know whether to cry or sit silently-so I sat trying to gather my thoughts. This was an emotional journey and it is only the beginning. Through all the turmoil that happened, the ending really took me by a surprise. Literally my heart dropped, kind of like when you're going down a big drop on a rollercoaster. Ma'am what?!?! Whew- where are the tissues!
Tokyo is dealt a bad hand in her short 18 years of life. I felt the author really told Tokyo's story well. She's a character that everyone likes but bad things keep happening in her life. My heart ached for her in the end. Sadly, she was very correct about her mother- I literally wanted to come through my kindle and fight her mother. She has to go, expeditiously!!!
Haram is still a mystery to me. I can't figure him out but what I do know is, he is attracted to Tokyo. She provides a comfort to him that his family does not. I cannot wait to see how Tokyo and Haram's story unfolds.
This is a well written book, it is told in the third person so that was a good touch. It does have a darkness hovering throughout the book. It includes death, grief, substance abuse, and cps involvement. Nonetheless, it is a good introduction to his new series! Great work!!
She really knows how to build a story! To pull you in! To have you invested in the characters and their lives! She be having you on a emotional roller coaster! Yearning for more! I can’t wait to see how everything plays out! I’m already loving these two! Outstanding
Such a sad/sweet story. It was captivating from the first page. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Tok and Haram. They could really seek help in one another.
I loved it this book was everything from the beginning to the end. I can’t wait for the next one. I hope that Tokyo can get her sister back all she was trying to do was get herself together. Did Legacy mother call them or what. I love how Haram help Tokyo get the car fix.
You definitely cooking this story. I love this series already. Can’t wait to see where the story goes and what takes place. My girl Tokyo can’t get a break. Excited to see where this story goes honestly. You did a great job. Keep doing your thang girl !
Haram was death Tokyo like a moth to a flame because they are one in the same. Once they solidify their connection a devil named Tempest is going to rear her ugly head. I can't wait for part 2.
Miss Candice did it again. I really enjoyed this book. I think it’s going to be a great series. I can’t wait for part 2. I love Haram and his brothers. I hope him and Tokyo can get it together and become friends. I think they really like each other. They both is battling some type of trauma and I think they can help each other.
This book was something else. Most of this book annoyed me. Between the mother and Tokyo it just didn’t make sense to me then Haram and his family just pissed me off. Legacy mother was wrong hopefully Tokyo won’t be mad at her. But knowing her she will hopefully this will change the relationship between Tokyo and Haram their relationship is moving way to slow which is something I hate when reading a book.
Such a great start to an amazing hood love tale. I must say… I love Miss. Candice writing style. The cover is fire and so was the storytelling. Can’t wait for part 2!✨✨👏🏾👏🏾🥂
I want to beat the breaks off of Tok’s mom, like how could she let that happen to someone who had so much faith in her. Haram is not to be played with but I think he’s found solace in someone who’s suffering too. I don’t trust Tempest at all, she too shady for me. Legacy is a ride or die friend. I’m definitely looking forward to part two because. Excellent work as always Miss Candice.
I hate that I have to wait. I love Haram. He just needs Tok to love him. They need each other. Sahara is a joke of a mother. I hope i don't have to wait too long for part 2. I like where you're going Miss Candice
This story started off soo good! My heart feels for Tokyo soo much and I’m thinking Haram may have a mental illness or something the way his family treating him. I can’t wait for part 2
This is a new to me author so I'm not sure if this book is a spinoff to another series, but I enjoyed what I read. I feel like more could have been added to this story because it definitely wasn't complete even k owing it was going to end in a cliffhanger. This may just be the style of writing for the author, but I like reading a full story when I read a book, even if it's a short. I do look forward to reading the rest of the series but I will probably wait until the whole series is complete.
This is my first read by Miss Candice and I am impressed. 2 broken souls uniting under drastic circumstances. My heart is breaking for Tokyo and Space. I could have slapped Juanita for opening the door. Haram is fighting demons that's getting the best of him. Will Tokyo and Haram be able to save each other? I can't wait for part 2.
Miss Candice whyyyyy you did me like that? Oh mannnnn I hope Juanita didn’t call CPS on Spacey, I would be livid. Just when Tok was able to catch a breather here comes the BS! Haram please hurry save Spacey and Tokoyo. Well I already know how Miss Candice coming in Book 2 can’t wait because this is a Great Read!
The build up. The writing. The getting to know why the main characters are who they are. That's why I love Miss Candice 🤩 her books give me life, please give me the next installment expeditiously.
I feel soooo bad for Tokyo and Space. They were happy and then here comes their momma turning their life upside down again. I like Hareem, just wanna know what underlying issues he has. Ready for part 2.
I decided to read the entire series before I left my review so I could get the whole picture. I realllllllly wanted to give this series 5stars, but sadly I just couldn't.
I absolutely loved the plot and theme of this love story! I loved that it wasn't the typical good girl/bad boy structure, even though it's definitely my favorite to read. There were a lot of components that made this story stand out amongst similar writes. Having two broken people make each other whole is an amazing read, however the delivery is what ruined it for me.
In my opinion, there was wayyyy too many description paragraphs and not enough dialogue. I felt that about 80% of the story was told by the author or read through the characters thoughts and that made it extremely hard to read. I ended up skimming those parts and jumping to the dialogue parts in book 3 because I couldn't take it anymore. I feel that it's best to let the characters tell us their story through their interactions with the other characters and the narrator/inner monologue be minimal and only used when situations call for it. I felt like I was being told about their lives majority of the book instead of experiencing it through the characters. This also created a lot of repetition.
I absolutely loved the characters growth, it was amazing to see a strong man face mental health issues, however I would have also loved to see him get help through therapy to further enhance his growth and development after all he came down from. It was hard to believe that all it took was his brother being shot to start taking his meds regularly, again. He was battling week long depression episodes and manic states and all of a sudden he is now more responsible with his meds. I found it hard to accept with the severity of his condition. There was also a lot of time jumping around that wasn't clearly stated so it was easy to get lost in what was happening, or where they were in the time frame of the story. I'm happy with how the story went, I just wish it was easier to read. I may look into this authors future work to see the development of her writing style since majority of her writing skills are great! I hope to read more in the future
This is my third read by Miss Candice and I have to say that I love the way she writes. There are a handful of authors that write in a way that I feel like I am front seat to the drama. Things that I would normally be quick to point out as wrong she has me like "I mean...I can kind of see where they are coming from." I learned my lesson with the Soul Ties series and decided to pick this one up because it was a finished series. Because if there is one thing Miss Candice can do it's write a mean cliffhanger!
I immediately felt for Tokyo and her situation. Although she had her grandmother, there's always that adolescent voice in the back of your mind that questions why you weren't enough for a parent to be better/do better. After so many times that she was failed she decided that she didn't care. That she didn't need either of her parents because they would always let her down. Sadly, they let her down as a child and also stole the one person who had consistently been there for her. They got what they wanted and left with no remorse.
I just knew from the first time the story was told from Haram's POV that he was definitely into Tokyo more than he realized. I also knew that his FWB situation was going to be a MAJOR problem. Even though she claimed to know what was up between them she was always talking herself into some reason that they could be more. Oh, to be young and delulu.
Things were progressing along and I was getting kind of nervous because my Kindle was showing that I was nearing the end of the book and I was bracing myself for dramatics. Miss Candice absolutely delivered on the dramatics and I was so thankful that I was able to dive into book two with the quickness.
The plot kept evolving, so the ultimate direction was hard to peg.
There were a lot of inner thoughts and dialogue, too.
However, the entire book is devoid of a romantic relationship. There's 1 sex scene and not even with both of the primary characters.
This first installment was more about Haram's current relationships, and the continued trauma suffered by Tokyo.
She could literally not catch a break.
I did like the fact the author chose to address mental health in various forms, more from a personal, lived through perspective from each primary character.
Haram and Tokyo are suffering different types of mental illness, and if this is a trigger for you.. you might want to reconsider reading this story.
I took a point away from the rating, because as previously stated, there were no romantic scenes or even build ups. I'm familiar with slow burns, but to have to wait until book 2 for them to even hang out together??
Another 1/2 point was deducted for all of the unnecessary errors that Microsoft could have caught when editing this book.
Rating 3.5, rounded up.
I do recommend the story, and will be reading the 2nd installment. But... if I get to 35% and they're still at the same status, I'll probably stop reading.
I knew Sahara coming back wasn't going to be good. I understand Mae wanted to see the change in her daughter but her first priority should've been her two granddaughters Tokyo and Space. Sahara was never a mother to them. It wasn't really surprising she went back on a drug binge. What was shocking and sad is Sahara bringing Michael to her mother's house and it ending up leaving Tokyo to care for her little sister. Legacy was truly a great best friend. She tried her best to be there for Tokyo as much as she could but there is something about Tempest I don't like. She lowkey be throwing shade and seems jealous of Tokyo. Haram was a loose cannon but I believe there is more to the story on why he is that way. I only see him show feelings and a genuine side to his mother and Tokyo. Khadijah been dealing with Haram for year's and even she haven't saw the softer side of him. The way this ended have Legacy momma looking scandalous. She knew that Tokyo is grieving. I hope like hell it wasn't her that called CPS.