23.07.2025
THIS COULD BE US
BLURB: Soledad Barnes has her life all planned out. Because, of course, she does. She plans everything. She designs everything. She fixes everything. She’s a domestic goddess who’s never met a party she couldn’t host or a charge she couldn’t lead. The one with all the answers and the perfect vinaigrette for that summer salad. But none of her varied talents can save her when catastrophe strikes, and the life she built with the man who was supposed to be her forever, goes poof in a cloud of betrayal and disillusion.
But there is no time to pout or sulk, or even grieve the life she lost. She’s too busy keeping a roof over her daughters’ heads and food on the table. And in the process of saving them all, Soledad rediscovers herself. From the ashes of a life burned to the ground, something bold and new can rise.
But then an unlikely man enters the picture—the forbidden one, the one she shouldn’t want but can’t seem to resist. She’s lost it all before and refuses to repeat her mistakes. Can she trust him? Can she trust herself?
After all she’s lost . . .and found . . .can she be brave enough to make room for what could be?
Title: This Could be Us
Author: Kennedy Ryan
Romance
Pages: 416 pages
Publication: 5th March, 2024 by Forever
I didn’t expect to like this book the way I did when I started reading it. It took a long time to even get almost halfway through the book but along the line, I fell in love with the story, the characters, the ambience. Started to long for the love, the friendship, the food, the life. I remember reading before I let go and to be honest I’ve liked her work since I read Hoops series and it was my first five star read and I’m talking about Long Shot and Hook Shot. so I’ll recommend those too and you can find them on Kindle Unlimited and your local bookstores. I really would love to get the hard copies juts like for this book and Can’t get Enough (Hendrix’s book). Gosh! I love her so much and all I know is that she’s single and childfree and it’s no surprise that I clicked with the book just like this one. Nothing like a woman living life by her own terms. I also love the self love discovery in this book and how Soledad knows that it doesn’t mean that she loathes or does not desire love but self love and discovery above all things. She’s a divorcee with grown kids from a marriage with a narcissist and had dedicated her life for nothing. I love the display of motherhood and also I love the fact that she actually makes the best out of situations. The middle age love and the small details like Josh having a crush and the representation of autism so raw and unfintered makes me marvel in adoration. So many things asides the romance in this book sold me and i am forever grateful. As a romance connoisseur, i will always recommend this book.
CAN’T GET ENOUGH
BLURB: “Kennedy Ryan pours her whole soul into everything she writes, and it makes for books that are heart-searing, sensual, and life affirming.”―EMILY HENRY, #1 New York Times bestselling author Hendrix Barry lives a fabulous life. She has phenomenal friends, a loving family, and a thriving business that places her in the entertainment industry’s rarefied air. Your vision board? She’s probably living it.
She’s a woman with goals, dreams, ambitions—always striving upward. And in the midst of everything, she’s facing her toughest challenge caring for an aging parent.
Who has time for romance? From her experience, there’s a low ROI on relationships. She hasn’t met the man who can keep up with her anyway. Until…him.
Tech mogul Maverick Bell is a dilemma wrapped in an exquisitely tailored suit and knee-melting charm. From their first charged glance at the summer’s hottest party, Hendrix feels like she’s met her match. Only he can’t be. Mav may be the first to make her feel this seen and desired and appreciated, but he’s the last one she can have. Forbidden fruit is the juiciest, and this man is off limits if she plans to stay the course she’s set for herself.
But when Maverick gives chase—pursuing her, spoiling her, understanding her—is it time to let herself have something more?
A deeply moving and personal novel about sacrifice, self-reliance, and finding true happiness from “one of the finest romance writers of our age.” –Entertainment Weekly
“And I think I’ve been avoiding it to protect my dreams. I’ve never wanted to look back on my life and not have accomplished the things I wanted to do because I had to compromise for someone else’s sake. Maybe that sounds selfish—” “Only because you’re a woman. Men do it all the time and we don’t think twice about it. Our wives stay home, keep our kids, hold down the house, and we’re not considered selfish. It’s expected.” “Yes, and I expect something different from and for myself. I know the kind of woman I want to be and the kind of life I want and I’m not willing to forfeit it to have a man. His happiness for my misery is not an even trade.”
Can’t get Enough by Kennedy Ryan
Title: Can’t get Enough
Author: Kennedy Ryan
Romance
Pages: 448 pages
Publication: 13th May, 2025 by Forever
First things first. Read this book please!
I need the copy of this book in my hands so I can feel and inhale the love and affection. This book is about discovery and it’s about love and romance. It is so sensual and beautiful. I will advise to read trigger warnings because of the theme of Alzheimer’s.
I loved it from the start and I can say this because I’ve always admired Hendrix from the beginning of the series which is the Skyland Series and book one is before I let go which I enjoyed but not as much as this one. Reading her own story and life is so inspirational. A woman who is single and child free by choice. A rich aunty who has the best friendships and one can dream especially the rich aunty part because it made my heart warm to know that hard-work pays and there is always light at the end of the tunnel. I love how much this book validates not wanting children and not having a reason because you can be motherly in other ways and not everyone has the instinct and it’s fine and for Maverick, the male main character, he has one child and that’s about enough for him. I love the chemistry this book exudes and it’s so sensual. I love that their love took an instant to ignite and everyone knows that I’m a fan of love at first sight and insane yearning which is a lost art that needs to be back and it is what happened in this book which bloomed so beautifully.
But this peace that washes over me? It’s unexpected. Knowing I won’t face the dark days alone? That this man, this remarkable man, who loves me so outrageously, will walk with me through storms? Will shelter me when life leaves me vulnerable and exposed? That gives me peace. Seated on a bench that bears my parents’ initials, surrounded by the flowers that symbolize their lifelong love, I’m reminded that I wasn’t sure I could ever have that. That I’d ever find a man I could trust with my heart, with my goals and dreams; whom I could respect with the assurance that he respects me in return. Maybe I’d subconsciously resigned myself to a life alone, or if I found someone, to a shadow of the love I’ve seen in those closest to me, but this isn’t a shadow of anything. This is blinding light. This is the heat and passion of a thousand suns. God, this is love.
Can’t get enough by Kennedy Ryan
Now, what really made this book shoot so high in my ratings is the fact that she doesn’t follow this societal clock of “I’m getting old and I need a man” but just lets herself one day decide and know that she’s in need of companionship and still acknowledge that it’s so rare for women like her who refuse to conform to find relationships that will last and that’s what sold me. Now I love that Maverick also respects all she does for herself and still loves her for who she is and not even what she can give or offer him and that’s so beautiful. They see each other eye to eye and it’s so so beautiful.
I love love so much and I enjoyed the characters from her previous making appearances too and gosh it warmed my heart. The character work usually is stellar and I enjoyed that and even the business talk. These characters are in tier forties and that is so new to me because it’s a first for me. I mean I’ve read late thirties and this is an indication that no time is late or so far behind in the eye of love.
“I want my love to be the most extravagant gift I ever give you,” he whispers, his voice deep and reverent. “I want it to be outrageously unconditional. I want it to overflow and spill into every crevice of your life, every corner of your heart because that’s what you do for me. You overwhelm me, Hendrix.”
Can’t get enough by Kennedy Ryan
I love how their romance bloomed and even though sometimes the need to respect girl code that did not respect her annoyed her, Maverick applied pressure my goodness. Nothing like a man making sure you understand that he wants you and will stand ten toes behind you. He applied big energy and did not care about her pushing him away. Oh! It was amazing and I loved it.
This one’s for the girls… Whose hearts cried out for understanding, for compassion, and received this—a symbol of solidarity, a love letter—to celebrate both who we are and who we could be.
Can’t get enough by Kennedy Ryan
The love, the romance, the passion. To love and care for her, To consider her, To see her only. It’s more than a book to me. It’s a message to always pick your self first and stand by your values always. It’s a love story for girls like me who dream big. Friendship, love entrepreneurship, Success and blessings. Found family good character work because the writing sold me as always.
It was beautiful, Surreal, Different, Rejuvenating and Refreshing and above all, It was a love letter.
Kennedy Ryan is one of my favorite authors and while reading this book, All Night by Beyoncé was on repeat. So sweet and I’d love that you pick up her books and be lost in a world of drama and love. It is so worth it so you have to give it a try.
Love, Ernestine Okafor ESQ.
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