Breaking Barriers To Your Heart By: Monica Walters

This couple was introduced to us in 8 Seconds To Love. From their spirited interactions we wanted nothing more than to see their love develop. In this Romance with a little Urban edge you will meet two individuals who are broken but their love is the foundation that catches their pieces. The journey is rocky but determined. Their perseverance lends to the theory that love can conquer anything.

Character Breakdown

Red- He is a man who has had no one to depend on but himself. Product of the foster care system he learns to subsist as a one man army. Full of heart and pain, he spent his younger years getting it how he lived and keeping his foot on people's neck.  Eventually that little boy grew up and became a Champion Steer Wrestler who planned to be a bachelor forever. Until he lays eyes on a slim thick dark skinned beauty and his best laid plans are put to rest.

Shana- She is an ice queen and lives life through surface relationships. Raised with a father in law enforcement, her upbringing was strict and sheltered. That didn't stop her from eventually going out into the world and finding love. A decision she regrets because it depleted the stores of love in her heart. Years later she meets the man of her dreams and her heart wont allow her to let him in. How does she love a man but doubt his ability to love her back?

Story from my perspective

When I tell you that I have never in life been interested in Rodeo's until I read this book and it's predecessor. The full spectrum view that the Author lends us to a foreign world is completely interesting. It is also a very different arena to watch people fall in love, but it is super exciting to watch. Such creativity always keeps me interested because it shows me the possibilities, when it comes to love, are endless. 

Red is the most complex character that I ever met. He is funny and a jokester, full of catchy one liners and overall intense.He has a pretty good sense of direction as far as his life is concerned. I began to understand him on a deeper level once I was able to see all the things that made him who he was. Being raised in foster care due to a neglectful, abusive and drug addicted mother. His first love was his first look at a woman became a skewed view. A view that carried over and changed his perception of women as a whole. Content to live a life that was full of Steer Wrestling, bedding women, calming his best friend and no responsibilities. When he first laid eyes on Shana, he only saw her as another conquest. If he could see through the eyes of his soul he would have recognized it's match. 

Shana is not here for anybody's games. Raised by a stern father and a mother whom she felt tried to fix her, left Shana feeling smothered as if she wasn't enough. That's why the first time she felt a love outside of theirs, she clung to it with her whole being. Her high hopes and youthful delusions showed her love is a risk that she never wanted to take again. When Red appears in her life she has no energy or gumption to take him seriously. The same arm she used to keep him at length was the same one that drew him closer. Befuddled she finds herself when piece by piece he begins to breakaway the barriers secluding her heart. 

What I loved most about this story was that their story was not cut and dry. It really was a push and pull. Two people who are broken for different reasons, become the salve needed to heal their souls. When I looked inside of their relationship it was like damn how much can one heart take? No matter how the variables changed all they knew was that they loved each other. Their ability to overcome it even with the doubts from their past, made me respect everything they were hoping to build. Their love made me think of a poem I had written:

Sweet Nothings

I will always love and respect you

When life becomes too much,

I will help you stand

My love for you is unbreakable,

Through good times or bad ones

I still got your back

My smile returned,

When you gave it reason

Joy was not a fantasy any longer,

I discovered who I am with you

Peace was found at last,

When you chose to love me

You are everything to me,

Through ups and downs you have remained true

I need that type of constancy in my life

I will always be to you, what you are to me

It is that type of dedication they showed to one another that will make them favorites to me and I hope they will be for you. You can check out this intense read by clicking the link below

https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Barriers-Heart-Monica-Walters-ebook/dp/B07PWHMLKW/

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Being In Love Is Too Hard By: Tiff Smitty

Young adults making grown choices is the meat and potatoes of this Urban Fiction slight Mystery read. The heart of the hustle sparked by circumstances always makes the story relate-able. You blend in some betrayal, enemies and secrets and you change the whole recipe. But the results are the same it is um-um good!!!

Character Breakdown

Ryan- He took on so many responsibilities at a young age. Trying to live in the footprints his father left. He is the biggest support system to his mother and an avid protector of his little sister. Never wanting to jump into the same streets his father succumbed too, Ryan works a normal 9-5 and helps his mom do what he can the honorable way. Then he sees an opportunity to get his family out the hood. If he keeps his focus he can walk away with small victories but you know what they say about history repeating itself.

Jaquan- He handsome, young and reckless. This boy you can tell has lived a carefree life. He likes his money like he likes his women and that is FAST!!! The girls love him and he accepts all advances. That is until the one girl he takes could cause his world to fall apart. Whats a boy to do when he put in a grown man situation? Especially one who is not ready to grow.

Rakia- All she wants to do is grow up. She has a big brother who protects her with his life but all she wants to do is see what life has to offer. Even though she lives in the hood, her life is sheltered. Seeing her friends living recklessly, it is not enough to live through them vicariously. Rakia will soon find out all it takes is one night and misguided affections to throw your world completely for a tailspin.

Story from my perspective: 

This is the second book from this author i have had the pleasure of reading. I can honestly say that she has a way of throwing a monkey wrench in a plot that leaves you trying to do the math. I went into this book with an elevated heart rate because you just never know. What I found literally made my heart stop at points.

You jump in the story and meet Jaquan and he is a fool from the beginning. At all points or another you see the revolving door that is his life. I was so intrigued by his mind frame because normally you always read about boys who are so mature at nineteen and are bosses. When all Jaquan wanted to do was get money to stunt, put his car on twenty-eight's and deck his home out in the projects. He was definitely a go-getter but his leadership skills were lacking. His inability to think for himself has him crossing boundaries. That's okay because everyone can't be a chief because there has to be Indians. and that is where his best friend Ryan comes in.

Ryan at nineteen is no ordinary feat. He has a goal and that is assist his mother as she works tirelessly to provide for them and keep his sister from the ills of the hood. He works hard at his job although his dreams are bigger. His job is sufficient enough until it is not. Son of a hood legend people had his life all planned out for them but he prided himself on keeping his nose clean. That is until he is offered an opportunity to reach his dreams just a little faster. With the help of his best friend he just wants to earn a little to put him on top and then bounce. With one foot in the streets and his eyes on the prize Ryan intends to use the hood to survive the hood. The only problem is juggling the stress of hustling, working and trying to be the head of a family, none of which seems to be in sync with his goals.

Rakia is a spoiled princess who doesn't value the lesson in family. She lives each day feeling like a prisoner. If she not at school she is at home, doing what feels like wasting her youth. With an overbearing brother keeping her from living it up, Rakia has to be creative about having a social life. That is until life finally catches up to her. Rakia will have to learn the meaning of a hard head makes a soft behind.

Man when I tell you I'm like for them to be so young they had more drama than a little bit going on. I found myself so committed to the story line and was so engrossed that it made me think about being young. How in your youth life is only about folly and how a lot of my worst mistakes was born from thinking I had all the answers. But that literally was the bane of being young but your in love, but maybe your not and then again you like him then you hate him. This book definitely took me back to when life was easy but we made it complicated. Let's see if you agree to my assessment by clicking the link below:

https://www.amazon.com/Being-love-hard-Tiff-Smitty-ebook/dp/B07G7CQBM5/

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Ain’t No Love Like A Block Boyz Love By: Evelyn Latrice

Block, Block!!! In this amazing tell of Urban fiction we continue on with the family we have come to love from Block Boyz and The Women Who Cuff Them. Over many series we were introduced to the Block and it's reach and ties. We saw all the OG's of the series find their love and their place within the company. Now the next generation has come to do it better than it has ever been done. We all love a story where we watch the Generations come through and level up. This masterpiece gives you all of that and more.

Character Breakdown: 

Miracle- Brought up as the princess of the Block. You find Miracle spoiled and living her best life. Her family wanted her to live a life that was purposeful and where she could use her intelligence and make all their handwork mean something. That lead her to college, but when it's in your blood there is no stopping the hunger. All this carefree and driven young lady wants to do is sit on the throne and reign supreme. She gets it by any means necessary until she is finally given the opportunity to make her dreams reality.

Jahi- To be young and successful is all a man who come from humble beginnings can ask for. Surviving the odds of an alcoholic mother and a volatile hood environment. He works his way up the ranks in the Block. Jahi gets into the game and uses his means to put himself through college. With dreams of a brighter future he is focused on the prize. If only he can let the ghosts from his past rest.

Kissy- Beautiful inside and out she is all Miracle can ask for in a best friend. As a make-up artist she is living just above the broke college student live. She does not know the definition of love. That's why she finds herself in a dead end relationship with the hopes that she can finally attain the elusive feeling she craves. No matter the circumstance she keeps a positive outlook on life. Until she is faced with saving the life of a loved one or herself.

Sherm- Funny, Flashy and Fly, he is the life of the party. Being orphaned in his youth, he found a family in his best friend Jahi and the Block. He is out to get this money and live life on the terms that he placed. He is a bed them and leave them type. Till he connected eyes with a caramel beauty and fell in love at the club.

Story from my perspective:

When we were first introduced to Miracle she was a young girl lost. Her attitude was on spitfire and all she had ever known was degradation, hunger and abuse from her birth mother. That was until her sister rescued her and gave her more love than she could ever deserved. Now to watch her all grown up is definitely a sight to behold. Nothing changed but her determination to take over the throne her sister Lyric refused to sit on. Now she is in college doing the one thing she feels will make her family proud. The only thing is the streets keep calling her name. With the hum of the hustle consuming her veins she can no longer deny her destiny. Making moves on her own leads to a major life change but it is also her opening to stake her claim to the Block. Only she has to start from the bottom to gain the throne. It does not deter her, she puts her game face on and gets to putting in work.

Jahi is out here in the streets as a young boss and a dedicated college student. All of those responsibilities on top of the nightmares from his past, he finds himself in deep water without a life vest. It is a lot to juggle and when the higher ups in the Block notice, they decide to offer some support. He is a prideful man but when the support is non-negotiable he acquiesces to their leadership. Only thing is his support will probably end up being more trouble than it's worth.

Kissy has long nights and even longer days trying to hide behind the facade  that she is okay. No matter how much Miracle tries to convince her about how she deserves more and she is better than the life she chooses to live. Hearing it and believing it are two entirely different things. So she bares he life with patience and a can-do attitude. That is until she joins her best friend on the quest to take over the Block. With a new station on the horizon, Kissy is becoming more empowered, strong and self-aware. It shows in all her aspects of life until the one dim spot puts a damper in her new found freedom.

Sherm is a dang on fool. I mean he keeps the jokes coming. Fending for himself since he was placed in the system, Sherm knows the true definition of getting it out the mud. He doesn't take anything in life seriously accept his money and his loyalty to Jahi and the Block. The women flock to him in droves and the easy accessibility ensures that he never takes any one of them seriously. Until the moment he sees the future he never though he could have in the eyes of a woman who makes his heart take notice. It leads him to his first real taste of love.

You always go into spin-offs with the thought that you will find the same elements as it's predecessors. That is not the case with this book. The author really went above and beyond to stay true to each characters personality. Miracle was always the character that anyone who read the initial book and the series that followed, wished we could see in adult form. The author did not disappoint and I promise you reading this book re-solidified why the Block Universe will always reign supreme. You can read all about it by clicking the link below.

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PNJPYT6/

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