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Afrodisiac #1

Afrodisiac

Sex. Success. No Stress. That’s Morgan Jenkins’ personal life motto. At 32, the owner of the Philly-based bookstore, Afrodisiac is a vixen and used to having her way with men, making it easy for her to detach when ready. And though many have tried, none have ever succeeded in locking her into a monogamous relationship. Until Gillespie.

The ink has dried on his divorce papers and Gillespie Rodriguez is ready for a fresh start, and a better outlook on life. . . and love. Nothing would make him happier than to end his self-induced celibacy and find a woman to call home, and when Morgan hires him as her landscaper, he’s sure he’s found that home.

Gillespie comes with a lot of baggage and secrets that threaten to ruin any real chance he has for something real with the woman he’s sure God made just for him.

Personal beliefs, old insecurities, and heavy sexual chemistry clash between the two as Gillespie tries to win Morgan’s heart while withholding his truth. Morgan, stunned by Gillespie’s stern refusal to give her sex with no strings attached, vows to make him surrender, but she doesn’t know Gillespie can play games, too.

Find out if Gillespie can unravel the thread on everything Morgan thinks she knows about love, sex, and romance in Afrodisiac.

329 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 2, 2022

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About the author

Tia Love

37 books106 followers
Love. Luxury. Joy. These three concepts are at the center of creative entrepreneur Tia Love’s personal philosophy, magnified in every aspect of her brand. A woman of many talents, Tia has established her lifestyle brand to keep her hand stirring the pot at the intersections of cultural fusions.

As a romance author, Tia writes love stories with unique characters and storylines that give her Black women leads the love they deserve. From love stories to her company, Penned by Love, Tia engages with the writing community through a specific cultural lens to help them bring powerful stories to fruition.

When she isn’t writing her love stories or helping others mastermind theirs, she’s creating original content for her blog, The Black Bradshaw.

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5 stars
69 (57%)
4 stars
36 (30%)
3 stars
10 (8%)
2 stars
5 (4%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for Tina.
974 reviews161 followers
September 11, 2022
3 ⭐🌶🌶

I really enjoyed this story; I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Trope: single father,

Enjoyment: 3

Character development: 3.5 ⭐

Romance: 3 ⭐

Heat\steam: 4 ⭐

Intrigue: 3 ⭐

Story\plot: 3 ⭐

World Building: 2 ⭐

Enjoy!!!

Profile Image for Torri (BlackRomanceConnoisseur).
181 reviews315 followers
September 8, 2022
This was such an intimately romantic book. Morgan was used to living and lusting on her own terms—enters Gillespie. I felt like I got to know Morgan personally as she explored what she wanted to build with Gillespie.

Gillespie was focused and disciplined when he meets Morgan, and she was trying to wear him downnnn. He’s been down the relationship road before and that experience has him choosing to move differently and I can respect that. His ex-wife lived in a new level of delusion, I despise her—TIL THIS DAY.

I didn’t like the way Gillespie choose to go about some things (I’m being intentional vague). & I understand Morgan’s reactions, wholeheartedly.

Morgan didn’t do relationships so Gillespie needed to show what he was adding to her life besides just being able to say she has a man. I love that Morgan expressed what she wasn’t comfortable with. I also enjoyed the dark skin representation in this book.

This book is took me on an emotional journey, and there were times I wanted to throw hands. I really enjoyed seeing Morgan’s growth and exploration of love and the relationships in her life.

I received an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Bella Jay.
Author 23 books794 followers
October 4, 2022
Morgan is aggravating

I enjoyed this book but Morgan got on my nerves. I guess it's because she was so afraid of love and getting hurt but she was immature a lot that I was about to tell G to go back to his BM 😂😂😂😂 . G was wrong for not being upfront in the beginning tho however Morgan did the most in my opinion. Read it and hate Morgan with me.
Profile Image for Michelle.
318 reviews5 followers
September 1, 2022
This book had a very interesting emotional twist. It was almost like a role reversal. Honestly in many ways I understood Morgan and at times I felt completely disconnected from her. Gillespie was Bae for real! And Morgan could be so dramatic despite how hard she worked to remain disconnected. I really enjoyed the book.
Profile Image for Sha-keh-ree.
338 reviews12 followers
January 12, 2024
Lighthearted. Black romance. Touches on topics of colorism, self love, growth, and healing
Profile Image for Toya  Davis-Stokley.
2,774 reviews121 followers
August 25, 2020
Ugghhh! These two made me crazy! I'm yelling out loud at them! Gillespie, I still don't understand how you thought keeping information of this magnitude, from Morgan was the right thing to do. You played right into her issues, and she is going to give you hell to get her back; if you can get her back. Morgan, although I understand her anger, you never allowed the man an opportunity to speak on what happened! She is so stubborn, that it became crippling to all parts of her life. She was mad, mad! 😁 Gillespie, had no idea of how to get her back, but an unexpected situation brought her to him. After some serious talks and Gillespie giving her some act right, they were back on the same page. Or were they? Morgan, continually let those insecurities creep in, and I'm like girl please, get your ish together!! Finally, he was able to break through and get to her heart. About damn time!
Enjoyed this conclusion. Good read! 👍👍
Profile Image for Evie.
86 reviews2 followers
September 2, 2022
Morgan is an entrepreneur who owns and operates a local book store in Philly. She is fiercely independent and has no plans of settling down. She is unapologetically living her hot girl summer 365 days a year.

Gillespie is a single father and entrepreneur as well who owns and operates a landscaping business in 2 states and is looking to expand in the Philly area.

Gillespie knew what he wanted from Morgan the moment he saw Morgan and felt her energy, but he wanted more than she was willing to offer. G had some baggage of his own and him not being honest about that upfront almost ruined them.

This story reads like a movie. They both had some things from their past that could derail their future. Each of these characters had to do some internal work. I love a book that has a focus on therapy for their characters and within in the black community. G’s ex was a piece of work but G needed to hear her truth. Although Morgans parents did not 100% favor how she lived her life I liked how they worked thru their communication issues as well. Morgan and G’s love story was beautiful and they deserved their happy ending :-)
Profile Image for Meek.
198 reviews
January 12, 2020
Wow

New Author, Tia Love, just solidified a spot on my Kindle for future books. I thoroughly enjoyed Afrodisiac and the way she chose to tell this story. I didn’t want the book to end and then I got to the end and I yelled at my kindle. Lol. I can’t believe I have to wait until the summer for part two.
Profile Image for Ronnie Renee.
241 reviews
June 18, 2024
Every now and then, we need a book featuring a character who is whole and healed. In this book, that’s exactly who we get with Gillespie! My man, my man. We also meet Morgan, whose nationality is Afghan, though she was raised in the southern United States. Morgan grew up in a divorced family, raised by her father, while her mother stayed in Afghanistan and remarried. This experience significantly shaped Morgan's outlook on life.

As an adult, Morgan is a beautiful Black woman—educated, driven, and career-oriented, owning her own bookstore. However, her personal life doesn’t fit the traditional mold. Like her father, she dates frequently and has no dreams of marriage. She’s comfortable with casual relationships and moving on. But then Gillespie enters her life. Raised in a loving, two-parent home, he witnessed firsthand how a man should cherish a woman. Despite being a divorcee and raising his only child, Gillespie’s belief in love remains unshaken. He refuses to settle for just any woman, holding strong to his morals.

From the moment he meets Morgan, Gillespie knows she’s the one he wants to share his life with. As soon as she lets him in, he is unwavering in his commitment to her. Winning over Morgan isn’t easy. Her past experiences, feeling like an option to boys who preferred to keep their interest in her behind closed doors, left her guarded. As an adult, she keeps her feelings in check and maintains control to avoid getting hurt. But Gillespie’s persistence pays off, and he wins her heart in a big way.

I enjoyed every minute of this book and Morgan and Gillespie’s story. I highly recommend you pick it up!
Profile Image for 'The Book Queen'.
6,327 reviews138 followers
August 23, 2020
An very good Aphrodisiac

I guess I should say this first before I go any further. This first book by Ms. Love was good. I wish it had not ended with a cliffhanger, but I assure you, I will be back to see if Gillespie can make things right with Morgan after his little secret was out of the bag. Men are so stupid, even the smart ones. And Chanel should consider herself No. 5 now on Gillespie's list. I hope Morgan can reconcile that her Blackness is Beautiful. The blacker the berry... You know the rest.
4.8 stars.....
Profile Image for Yasmine.
352 reviews16 followers
September 3, 2022
I mostly liked this book but I do have some issues with it. 1. I don't understand why Gillespie held off on Telling Morgan that he had a child and was divorced. He knows what it's like to be caught off guard so the fact that he never told her and she found out because she was on the way to see him and ran into his vindictive ex wife and son was ridiculous. How you claim to be into this woman but never told her that very important tidbit. 2. Them being "in love". Once again this is another book where the love wasn't believable to me. To reiterate, she never knew he had a child and even when their relationship got back on track she doesn't meet Adrian officially til the last chapter. That wasn't good to me. For Gillespie to be a single dad who had full custody of his son, Adrian didn't play a big part in this story and wasn't seen a lot the way he should've. How can Gillespie be in love with Morgan, when she hasn't met and gotten to know his child? How is she in love when she has insecurities she hasn't worked through and has never been in a relationship with any man. Only one night stands or FWB arrangements? 3. The ending wasn't written well in my opinion. Things are finally back on track and going good until Morgan discovers she's pregnant and starts to distance herself from Gillespie because she doesn't know how to process it. When he finally confronts her on why she's been ignoring him she confesses to being pregnant. He's elated about it until she reveals she doesn't plan to keep it. They argue, she once again shows her insecurities by bringing up his ex and he has to once again get her to understand he doesn't feel anything about Chanel. Afterwards he pulls out an engagement ring, proposes and she accepts? I'm sorry but wtf was that. We're literally at the end of the story and the author decided to throw some last minute drama that makes no sense in. That shouldn't have been written because it ruined the end of the book and left a sour taste in my life. Gillespie and Morgan's story should've been fleshed out more. She should've spent time with and bonded with his son. In the end I didn't believe in them being in love. Having feelings for each other yes. Love. Nah. 3.9/5 rating
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Crystal Luckey.
771 reviews31 followers
January 29, 2020
This book was so good. It was a page turner from the beginning to the end. Morgan was a young black woman who owned a bookstore in Philly and was not looking for love. She enjoyed her man and was fine with that, until she met Gillespie. Gillespie was a business owner of of landscaping company who just moved to Philly. Morgan just wanted Gillespie for one night, but Gillespie wanted more. They went out on a date and Morgan was sure he would end the night in her bed, but boy was she wrong and it stung. As time went on, she realized that maybe she could be more with him and gave dating a chance with him, but Gillespie had a secret he had not shared with Morgan right away. When Gillespie was about to reveal his secret to Morgan, it was revealed for him. That ended hurt my heart. Morgan had issues with love and didnt trust it without thinking it would hurt her and it did. I loved this story and I loved how Morgan character grew and started to change thanks to Gillespie. I loved her relationship with her mother and the new relationship she developed with her father. I cant wait to see how this turned out, summer please hurry up!!!! Great book Tia Love, you got a new fan!!!
Profile Image for Alvina.
747 reviews27 followers
July 10, 2021
Ready To Love

Morgan is so broken, yet is she ready to give her heart to a man, any man, especially Gillespie?

I thought that her getting right into a relationship, for the first time, right after finally being open to it, was her first mistake. She'd already given into sex with Gillespie and she didn't even really know much about him.

Although he seemed like a good nice guy, the fact that he never mentioned his son and ex wife to Morgan had shady written all over it. While I understood his need to see where things would go with Morgan, after they became exclusive he should've offered that info quickly. What if she didn't want to date a father? What if she wanted to be someone's first wife? We'll never know because he selfishly never gave her that chance to figure it out.

While I don't like Gillespie's ex wife Chanel, he should've told Morgan about her. Laid it all out. The way Morgan found out was so foul.

Welp, let me get to book 2 to see how this all unfolds. Really good read.
Profile Image for Toya  Davis-Stokley.
2,774 reviews121 followers
March 1, 2020
Damn you Gillespie!

Near perfect man, who was able to open the heart of a woman afraid of love. Gillespie, was assertive, but patient and smart with his approach to woo Morgan. But, unknowing her fears and insecurities, why would you withhold important information like that? Urghhhh! Morgan, a dark skinned boss, who took what she wanted from men; with no regard. Gillespie, the first man who ever got her to attempt anything real, is in the dog house due to omission of huge information. Hope he is able to win her back. Awaiting the conclusion. Good job. 👍👍
Profile Image for Takeah Latimore.
Author 3 books22 followers
October 28, 2022
whew what a ride

Morgan took me THROUGH & THROUGH & THROUGH! But, I am so glad that she was able to work through her traumas to accept that Gillespie loved her dirty draws! And speaking of G….baby that man there; he could tend to ALL my gardens, okay! That’s an intentional king right there. That line about dark chocolate 😍🥹🥵.
This was my first ready by Tia Love but it will NOT be my last. Lovelies, if you’re looking for a romantic story with passion, character growth & so much more, then check out Afrodisiac 💙
14 reviews
April 21, 2020
Surprisingly Great

Well....to be honest I didn't expect this book to be this good. I had never heard of you before but I said what the hell! Wow! Great read. It went deeper that I would have imagined it would. I knew that trick Chanel was gonna show her bitter wicked horns and ruin something between these two beautiful people. Great job Tia, you've gained another fan. Can't wait for part two!
625 reviews
September 10, 2021
Colorism

This book was so much more about trust,communication,fears and childhood trauma. I am so glad the author took the opportunity to address colorism. It is such a sad situation that still exists in our society. I have a dark skinned grand daughter who has dealt with this since the age of 2. It's heartbreaking but we continue to pour into her letting her know how beautiful she is. I am looking forward to the next book

Great read ❤️
Profile Image for Alicia Weathers-Grey.
Author 27 books14 followers
February 19, 2023
This was my first read by Ms. Love and thought it was incredible. Wonderfully written and had me on edge. I hated that it was a cliffhanger but it was enough that made me want more.

Great read.
No spoilers here!

366 reviews1 follower
November 5, 2024
Get it 2gether!!!

This was a very nice read. I enjoyed it alot. This was my 1st time reading anything from this author. But it want be the last time. I found her to be a very good author so I'm gonna check out some more of her books. Lata
Profile Image for Eulene Guillory.
142 reviews
May 21, 2026
cute and great premise

Awesome choice.. wish it were just a smidge longer and went more in depth with the actual work it takes to help a woman like Morgan and showed more of Gillespie’s patience and love in healing her heart while also healing his own.. but still a great read
1 review
February 10, 2020
Afrodisiac is definitely a page turner! Each chapter keeps you wanting more and more. I cant wait for Part 2! This book does not disappoint!
Profile Image for Krissy Scott.
102 reviews
December 30, 2024
This book was sweet. The FMC was upsetting me cause sis that man wants ya. But I get it. Trauma is hard to overcome!
Profile Image for Crimson.
637 reviews4 followers
May 14, 2025
Good read!!!

I was so ticked off at the tail end of this book. I wanted to scream at the as t woman!!! Great book overall. Y'all just read the damn book.
1,224 reviews9 followers
July 16, 2020
This was my first read by this author and a great debut for her. The story was well written and developed and got me invested in wanting to know how Morgan and Gillespie's relationship goes. I can't wait to read the next one and I've already preordered. I loved how Gillespie was determined to show Morgan than she was more than just her body and sex and vice versa and showed her what it was like to be in a true relationship not based just on sex. I hope they can work it out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Tanzania Glover.
Author 17 books307 followers
January 26, 2020
Flawless Debut!

Morgan is officially my friend in my head and I’m super excited to see how her story ends. I love the way this story was told because it felt like I was reading beautifully written poetry. There’s literally nothing that could’ve been done better so I know I’ll be a regular reader of yours from now on.
342 reviews3 followers
July 10, 2020
This was a good start to Morgan and Gillespie's love story. I loved that Morgan was a darskinned black girl with black girl features. I really liked how the Morgan was resistant to love and had challenges with opening her heart to a long-term relationship. Gillespie was a dream guy that had so much patience. I think the cliff hanger was a good spot to leave me wanting me more. The topics covered in this book were colorism in dating, daddy issues, divorce, co-parenting, infidelity, insecurities, love and so much more! I'm looking forward to book 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Alvina.
747 reviews27 followers
July 11, 2021
Solidified Love

I love how persistent Gillespie was with Morgan. I think he could've done a better job with putting his foot down with his ex wife Chanel, yet I'm glad he made it up in his mind that he wouldn't take the crazy she was giving.

While I get Morgan's inner struggles, it seemed as if she just didn't want to be fully happy. Even when she heard her mom and therapist reaffirm what she needed to do, she fought it. If she had listened to them from jump, she wouldn't have ended up with the crazy cop Marcus and his antics🤦🏾‍♀️. He was a piece of work, Yikes😬.

While I loved getting more on Gillespie and Morgan, I was really intrigued by Ivy and Tevaris situation they had going on and would love more on that.

That ending almost took me all the way out. Very good writing on the authors part bc I didn't see that coming and my heart rate started to pick up and everything. I was sitting with my mouth open when she said 'I'm not keeping it'😲! I'm glad, once again, that Gillespie was persistent.

Overall, I really enjoyed this short series. The characters were all very interesting and the story never had a dull moment. I'll definitely be reading more from Tia Love. Highly recommend.
Profile Image for Crystal Luckey.
771 reviews31 followers
August 31, 2020
Picking up were book one left off, Morgan hadn't forgiven Gillespie for finding out the secret he was hiding. Morgan took the secret hard and fell apart. After her mother advised her to see a therapist, Morgan was finally back to her old ways until a message on her business FB page made her go see Gillespie. After months of not seeing or hearing from Morgan, he didn't expect her to show up to his house. When Morgan finally said what she had to say, her and Gillespie reconciled, but of course trouble followed.
I'm such a sucker for love and part two didnt disappoint me. I loved how Morgan changed and realized that if she just try and let herself be loved how wonderful it would be. Gillespie showed Morgan how much she meant to him.
This was a great ending to Morgan and Gillespie and I loved how they evolved in the perfect couple. I dont know whats next for Tia Love, but I cant wait!!!!
Profile Image for Tanzania Glover.
Author 17 books307 followers
August 7, 2020
This is the kind of book that makes you stalk authors

Without giving anything away, I’ll just say that I’m shook and satisfied. I couldn’t put this down and it literally consumed me and demanded my attention until the last page. Every book I think there’s no way Tia can top the previous book and she proves me wrong every time. I see this series becoming an awesome movie because the story was just that good and told in a way that made me understand everybody’s motives. The book will still be better though!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews