How to Catch a Queen by Alyssa Cole

Is there anything Alyssa Cole can’t write? She already hit it out of the ballpark with this year’s New York Times bestselling “When No One is Looking,” and she continues her winning streak with “How to Catch a Queen.” Who drops two books in two completely different genres in the same year and excels at both? Is Alyssa Cole the Jay Z of authors, out here with an encore? 

Now can I get an encore, do you want more 

Cooking raw with the Brooklyn boy 

So for one last time I need y'all to roar 

 Any who, what makes Cole’s latest worthy of four crowns? As she always does, this author doesn’t give us mousy women who don’t know themselves or their self worth. Shanti has wanted to be a queen from a young age and has done the work mentally, academically and physically to prepare herself. So while she wants to be the True Queen of Njaza, she’s not about to settle for anything less than being honored and respected by her future husband for all of her qualities. She’s a woman who’s bringing a lot to the table and knows it. And we love to see it. 

 Sanyu is a reluctant king. Kinda like Simba, he’s not ready to be king, but with his father’s passing (no Scar), he has no choice other than to assume his place on the throne. And because tradition says he needs to be married before being crowned, a bride (Shanti) is found for him. Apparently RoyalsMatch.com works better than regular dating sites, because the stories I could tell! But I digress. 

What really works well in this HEA is the characters relying on each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Shanti builds Sanyu up when he falters and he recognizes areas where he’s fallen short in their relationship and rectifies it. Their partnership is so swoonworthy. 😍😍 I don’t want to say Alyssa Cole can do no wrong, but if I did, who would argue with me? 

Thanks to @williammorrowbooks / @avonbooks for sending this my way!

Second Chance on Cypress Lane by Reese Ryan

I love, love, love a good small town romance. And if you set it in a southern town or a coastal town, any place with quirky characters who are all up in each other’s business or one of a kind festivals? You might as well buy me a ticket there because I’ve already packed my suitcases (in my head) and started planning how soon I can move to this imaginary place. All of this to say, Reese Ryan has created a cozy little town in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and I can’t wait to read more about this town and its characters. 

 When small town girl made good returns to town with her tail tucked between her legs, no one in town bats an eye. Dakota’s father and her best friend, Sinclair, are overjoyed at her return, and so is her high school boyfriend, Dexter. Of course Dakota still has the hots for him, though she won’t admit it to anyone, not even herself, and he has the hots for her, but they both try to play it cool. In the hands of a less experienced author, this storyline could have been predictable and just a little cheesy. Reese Ryan, however, doesn’t make the focal point of the story about will they or won’t they. 

 Our girl Dakota gets to focus on family issues, friendship issues, employment issues. What I’m saying is she’s a grown woman whose life doesn’t revolve around whether or not she’s going to hook up with a man. But if she does? When she does? Steamy! 😅😅😅 

 Can you tell how much I enjoyed Second Chance? I started reading it on my lunch hour and skipped TV watching so I could finish it the same day. Thanks to @readforeverpub for sending this one my way. I saw so many potential couple matchups while reading it and I’m so looking forward to returning to Holly Grove Island in 2021.