16.08.2023
BLURB: You are cordially invited to the wedding of Amerie Cross and Arnold Hightower. And now a toast from the maid of honor, Janelle Cross! Hi everyone, thank you for being here. Some of you may know me as the sister of the bride. Some of you may know me as the ex-girlfriend of the groom. But I’m willing to bet none of you know me as the woman secretly sleeping with the best man. I am. I know, I’m just as surprised as you. It was only supposed to be for the week; but every kiss, adventure, and stolen moment with Rome Martin feels like it could last forever. Oh well. What happens in Tulum stays in Tulum. Right?
“Can’t I have the freedom to just…be? To love myself enough to be comfortable in my own company?”
Only for the Week By Natasha Bishop
Title: Only for the Week
Author: Natasha Bishop
Genre: Romance
Goodreads rating: 4.68
Pages: 244 pages
Publication: 24 May, 2023 by Muddled Ink editorial Co.
Reading Format: Softcopy
One of the best romance books that I have read and loved so much. It’s been so long since I read and really enjoyed something so diverting and amazing. This book is the best book to read for summer because everything is basically the characters don vacation. The plot is set in Tulum, Mexico and you can just tell that the scenery will take you away. The main characters are Janelle Cross and Rome Martin. Now, Janelle is an OB/GYN and she wants to open a center which she eventually does called Labor of love where she caters to black women and women of color. She has her goals on lockdown and does not rest unless she works towards it and gets it. She also reads as when you get engulfed into this beautiful world she reads on her kindle when she has the time to. Boisterous and sweet. She is very beautiful and flaunts her braids during this vacation. She also has the best friends who make the vacation so much easier and they uplift each other. Rome Martin the man of the year as I like to call him is the real man for her. He exhibits traits in this book that dare I say seemed impossible to find. The best book boyfriend who is well to do and has a big business he handles with ties to video games. He is tall and handsome and the best kind of friend to keep around.
This trip to Tulum is because Amerie who is Janelles elder sister is getting married to her ex boyfriend which is where the drama begins. Beginning the book with this kind of plot might seem very scandalous but it is the only reason Janelle got to meet Rome and form the best bond ever. Another thing to take note and the real deal for this story is that Janelle and Rome are attracted to each other and decide to start a friends with benefit relationship after agreeing that it lasts for a week which is the week before the wedding even with the drama going on. This trope is very exciting because it seems very wrong to others as She is now having something going on with her ex boyfriend best friend. This is what makes it seem like a forbidden romance book and kind of heightens the adrenaline that rushes through the body while reading it.
This man adores her and through the scenes you will see how much he listens and is very delicate towards her and how he takes note of all her feelings and helps her get over the stress and burden that she gets from her family trauma and drama. He protects her and always defends her and stands up for her in public. The way he goes all out for her is what really sold me. She begins to fall for him and even after she has expressed her fear, he assures her and let’s them move following the same pace slowly and taking a huge leap of faith with the newly formed relationship.
They compliment each other so much and they do things so sweet taking notice of how much they love and care for each other.
The themes are also centered on choosing one’s self in the midst of a toxic family relationship and learning to navigate leaving behind bonds that are broken and cannot be fixed, it also focuses on abandonment and how it can affect relationships. It highlights friendship so much as you will see how the friends are able to form a bond and hold each other even when things seem to be slipping off their hands. I love how the book takes you on a trip to Tulum and you get to live their experiences too.
So many emotions and thoughts will roam your head reading it and the freedom that comes with when Janelle and Rome are together working their magic on each other and falling in love is amazing. There is no trace of struggle love here and it is only maturity, healing and moving ahead with the brilliant character development. The book should be more than a 5 star rating for me as I really enjoyed it so much and will continue to reread. The scenes are heated in terms of spice and you will wonder what is even happening sometimes which is also part of the excitement because it will have you giggling and kicking your feet in the air. It will have you staying up all night and staying up just to relinquish the moments over again. It will push you as some very noting characters drive you mad and warm your heart. Prepare to fall in love too.
After reading this book, I had to know how their life played out after Rome proposed in the best way ever and I read the Bonus chapter with life back to normal and it was even better than the book. If you love a black romance book with lovers that start out as friends with benefits where the guy has always been in love with the girl and it blooms into something so beautiful and natural, then this book is for you. If you are also looking for a light summer romance read or a romance book about traveling to have the best time then this book will sweep you off your feet just like it for me. Brilliant writing and even better characters and will not have it any other way.
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