This was my
first time reading a contemporary romance novella by Jerrica Knight-Catania,
and I found her writing style heartfelt and engaging as she explored the theme
of Love. The story follows Melanie Smith, an aspiring actress chasing her
Broadway dreams while waiting tables at a diner between auditions. Her best
friend Lisa decides she needs a break from the city, and together with their
friend Shauna, they set sail on a six-day Bermuda cruise. 

Melanie,
however, worries her job may be at risk if Cliff, her boss, discovers she
doesn’t actually have a sick uncle—something Lisa concocted to secure her time
off. On the first day aboard, the trio meets Devon Matthews, a restless
millionaire who has taken a job as a masseuse on the ship. Intrigued by
Melanie’s unhappiness, he offers the women free massage vouchers, secretly
hoping to see her again. 

Devon is
nervous during Melanie’s massage session, but it becomes his chance to be close
to her. When he finally asks her out, she accepts, and their date is full of
laughter, drinking pints of Guinness, dinner, a walk on the deck, dancing, and
a tender kiss. But their budding romance is abruptly cut short when Devon is
caught fraternizing with a passenger, a violation of ship policy, and is fired
on the spot. Sent back to New York with no way to contact Melanie, he’s left
heartbroken—especially after she later learns he is, in fact, a millionaire. 

Jerrica
Knight-Catania delivers a clean and sweet romance about love arriving when you
least expect it. For a novella, it strikes all the right chords—instant
attraction, heartbreaking separation, and the promise of love found again. The
characters feel authentic, the dialogue rings true, and both Melanie and Devon
are changed by their connection. I’ll definitely be reaching for more of her
work. Two thumbs up! 

Rating: 4
stars 

Some of my
favorite lines: 

Devon
couldn’t stop smiling the next day. His evening with Melanie had been one of
the greatest of his entire adult life. The dinner, the walk on the deck, the
dancing…man, could that girl move. Clearly, she was born to dance. 

And the
goodnight kiss was just as good as their first kiss. It was like they were made
for each other. Their lips fit perfectly together; her body molded to his just
right. For the first time in his life, Devon couldn’t imagine kissing another
woman. He only wanted to kiss her. Melanie. 

Originally Published on https://vocalexpressions.blogspot.com

Deliah Lawrence Attorney, Author, Blogger, Workshop Facilitator

Deliah Lawrence is a Maryland-based attorney and award-winning author of two romantic suspense novels (Gotta Let It Go and Gotta Get It Back) set in Baltimore. She’s also a blogger and workshop facilitator who writes poetry and short stories.

When Deliah isn’t writing, you can find her reading a book, indulging in her addiction to investigation discovery shows; or painting her yet-to-be exhibited oil artworks of landscapes, portraits or whatever else comes to her creative mind. Constantly on the go, she is also a member of the Black Writers’ Guild of Maryland and Sisters in Crime.