The Write Escape by Charish Reid ARC Review

The Write Escape Charish Reid
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Take one heartbroken Chicago girl

Literary editor Antonia Harper had it all—the career, the man, the future. That was then. Now Antonia is jobless, alone and at a crossroads. What better time to travel the world? A solo honeymoon on the Emerald Isle will be like hitting the reset button. No distractions, no drama.

Add some luck o’ the Irish

Aiden Byrnes may be a literature professor, but words fail him when he meets the woman staying in the cottage next door. Tully Cross is meant to be a sleepy little village, and he’s meant to be on a working holiday—not a vacation, and most definitely not with his beautiful neighbor.

And you get some mighty good craic

They say laughter is the best medicine—and as it turns out, superhot sex isn’t so bad either. Antonia and Aiden’s spark quickly grows into what could be something special, if they’re willing to take the leap. Ending up an ocean apart is unthinkable, and when real life comes calling, there’s no ignoring that leap anymore… 

I need to read more mature romances. I hate to classify it as such but the truth is the truth, let it settle where it may. 

Antonia and Aiden are the type of couple that I aspire to be with my loved one, one day—making mistakes, figuring things out messily, but coming together at the end. 

Antonia is engaged to be married, and she’s kind of unhappy; she just doesn’t know it. She works for a publisher while daydreaming of being a writer. A broken engagement, a broken heart, and a pre-planned honeymoon find her in Ireland. It’s there she meets Aiden; another wandering soul, trying to figure things out.

I really enjoyed the romance in this story. It was slow going, but not so slow that you’re ready to call it quits before it happens. It wasn’t slow burn either; it came on naturally. It was very; I like you, you like me, maybe? But, let’s not just jump in the bed so quickly, okay?

Reid took the time to build up the story, and most importantly, their back story. You can sometimes forget in the rush for the coming together part, how important it is to get to know the characters. Reid was very good at the developing part. So, by the time I got to the sexy parts, I was fully invested and thoroughly rooting for the couple, passionately. 

I loved the beginning to end of each character separately and together. It was all so mature. Even the big climactic scene didn’t dwell forever; drowning us in a sea of over-dramatics. 

And Aiden, Aiden is the perfect white hero. I know, it’s not always about race, but when we’re talking about an interracial couple; race is bound to come into play. Though the races of the characters differed; he was white, and she was black.

The author took care to allow them to explore their differences, without allowing it to overwhelm them; and without harping on it until her readers were drunk on their racial disparities. Thanks for that, Charish.

Aiden was attentive, compassionate and woke. He was white woke. His eyes and ears were open, and that’s more than anyone could ever ask for.

It’s a lovely love story; one I’d like to revisit when it tickles my fancy. It had heart, sass, passion, and it didn’t lack in sexy.

It’s definitely one of the better romances I’ve read. I would match it up with Therese Beharrie if I were looking to compare. A stunning debut, for me, and not the last time I’ll be reading her stuff.

Amara's Calling by C.L. Donley: The Black Fifty Shades of Grey?

Amara's Calling by C.L. Donley
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Blurb:
Amara is a young idealistic 20-something who goes to work for her crush and personal hero, Grayson Davis, a 30's Mark Zuckerberg type and CEO of an internet startup called Webster, the story world's equivalent of Facebook. Being a young African American woman in a predominantly white world, Amara is reticent to believe that she's actually caught the attention of the notorious playboy billionaire. When she discovers that she has, but not for the purposes of happily ever after, she decides to strike a deal with him: one million for the privilege of being his mistress. It seemed like a modern day win/win, but neither anticipates the emotional challenges their contract will bring. Will they inadvertently fall in love, or will the ghosts of their tragic pasts keep them apart?

Review + Rating
Three out of Five Stars

I took some time with this review. I needed to gather my thoughts, because my feelings are conflicted. 

I wasn't exactly prepared for the Fifty Shades of Grey-esque, contractual romance, that I wound up getting.

Amara was an awkward black girl. Her character boiled down to her knack for saying whatever was on her mind, and being socially outgoing and awkward all at the same time. She would say things at the most inopportune moments. It was slightly charming and a little bit awkward and weird all at the same time.

The author used Amara's voice to present obvious and realistic issues faced by black women in the workplace, and in general--and it was done in a almost flippant way--not so much in your face, but more so, recognize I'm here, and I probably have something to say. 

I wasn't sure how to feel.

Grayson, the billionaire in our story--hmm,he was something. I was stuck between hating him, pitying him, and liking him. 

I didn't care for his sizing up of Amara, boiling down to her most inane blackness. 

I pitied the fact that he seemed stuck in his adolescent years, mentally. 

But I liked him when he was at his best, giving Amara needed attention, and being man enough to big up, Amara,when she was at her most vulnerable.

Yet despite these things, my feelings remain conflicted about the book. I, by no means hated this book, but love would be too strong of a word.

There was something about their relationship that sat funny with my spirit. I was cool with the interracial aspect of it, but a bit taken aback by the superficial things that came between them.

They seemed to just not get each other, understandably--but I was unsure if they were even going to try.

Now that I've completed it, I'm not sure if they'll ever understand each other. But, I think love has made it possible for them to co-exist despite their differences, and still have a love that can be withstand the test of time--because if they were a real couple, I do believe the harsh realities of their differences may come between them.

As a whole,the story was funny at times, and frustrating at others--but sometimes romance reads evoke those kinds of feelings out of you. It's not necessarily a bad thing.

I'd be interested to read more of this author's work, I believe that her works are only going to get better.