This is the second Z.L. Arkadie contemporary romance I’ve read,
this time with an interesting trope (enemies to lovers). For starters, the book
is divided into three parts: 1 – High School Crush, 2 – A University Night and
3 – The Plan. This provides context of the longstanding family feud between the
Groves and the Valentines – two wealthy families in the tech industry. 

Let’s meet Paisley Grove, a high school
software designer who has won several awards and now on her way to the
prestigious Albrecht Institute of Technology in Boston on a full scholarship. Not
having lots of friends because she’s new to the high school, she’s thrilled to
be invited to a party the night before graduation. Breaking her rule of not drinking,
she accepts a drink that is spiked and is nearly sexually assaulted.
Fortunately, Hercules Valentine (“the most stunning and enigmatic boy” she has
a huge crush on) comes to her rescue. She wants to thank him at graduation, but
he doesn’t show up due to a family emergency. After that, they go their
separate ways to different colleges. 

Fast forward to college and Paisley Grove
bumps into Hercules during her junior year but he doesn’t recognize her. She
has lost weight and wears a blunt cut hairstyle a far cry from the mounds of
hair she wore in a ponytail most days in high school. She gets butterflies and they
part ways until they bump into each other again while she’s out at a restaurant
with her roommate. This time, Hercules is drunk (still doesn’t recognize her) and
offers to take her to his brother’s penthouse for a non-committal hook up. Paisely
relishes every moment with him. 

After college, Max, Paisley’s brother convinces
her to pose as Lark Davenport to infiltrate Valentine Technology Innovations
(VTI) and retrieve a missing code from their brain server. Paisley is torn
because she doesn’t want to betray Hercules, but she’s loyal to her family. The
challenge now is to avoid Hercules and the ache in her heart for him long
enough to complete her mission. 

Overall, this was a quick and fun read. I enjoyed
the storyline and the forbidden romance between Paisley and Hercules amidst a
family feud. At times, I wished Paisley would confront Hercules about her true
identity and her feelings for him instead of constantly ruminating in her head.
Despite a few confusing sections, the intrigue kept me hooked. Unfortunately, the book ended on a cliffhanger,
leaving me eager to read the next installment to discover what happens with Paisley
Grove/Lark Davenport as she navigates her job at VTI while resisting the allure
of Hercules. Good read! 

Rating: 3 stars 

Some of my
favorite lines: 

“What’s
your name?” he asks.

My eyes
expand. What was the name Eden gave me?

“Tabatha.”
Or am I Glory?

“Tabatha,
do you still want to come up?”

“Yes,” I
whisper like the wind.

“Okay, but
I can’t promise you more than tonight. And it’s not personal. I just can’t, you
know?”

Oh boy, do
I know. “Okay.”

Here come
his lips. When our mouths meet, the kissing takes on a different form. Our
smooching is soft and sultry. It’s as if we’re rolling around together on a bed
made of clouds, unable to quell our lust.

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.