When a Nigerian woman falls for a man she knows will break her mother’s heart, she must choose between love and her family.
At twelve years old, Azere promised her dying father she would marry a Nigerian man and preserve her culture, even after immigrating to Canada. Her mother has been vigilant about helping—well forcing—her to stay within the Nigerian dating pool ever since. But when another match-made-by-mom goes wrong, Azere ends up at a bar, enjoying the company and later sharing the bed of Rafael Castellano, a man who is tall, handsome, and…white.
When their one-night stand unexpectedly evolves into something serious, Azere is caught between her feelings for Rafael and the compulsive need to please her mother. Soon, Azere can’t help wondering if loving Rafael makes her any less of a Nigerian. Can she be with him without compromising her identity? The answer will either cause Azere to be audacious and fight for her happiness or continue as the compliant daughter.
Release Date: Sep 29, 2020
Heat Level: Hot
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley
Price: $9.99
Author Website: Jane Igharo
Azere is a young Nigeran-Canadian who is this hopeless romantic. She wants to find true love but the man has to be just right….meaning he has to fit the criteria that her parents set for her. The man must be Nigerian as well to help preserve her culture. Azere’s mother set her up on another blind date which leads to disaster and her sitting alone at the hotel’s bar drowning her sorrows with alcohol.
Rafael is looking to move back to Toronto after living in New York so many years. He left behind a lifetime of pain and it caused him to become a walking ghost. A spark he hasn’t felt in a long time is lit when he meets Azere at the bar and a night full of passion turns to something more.
Azere and Rafael are shocked to be working with one another. Azere quickly turns down Rafael’s advances as they are now colleagues and he is white. He is not the man she should marry but as hard as she tries to fight, the more her feelings grow and she is left making some hard decisions.
I loved this story so much. I started off telling myself I would read for just a few minutes and then an entire afternoon passed by without me moving. The story gave me all the feels down to the author’s notes. I mean that should say all there is to say!
While romance is so much at the forefront of this novel and it should be as much of a romantic Azere is, it is not the only thing to really capture my attention. The cultural differences and dynamics between both families were interesting. Azere’s mother is such a force to contend with that I almost felt stifled by her in the story. I am so happy that Azere finds her voice and it felt realistic. It takes years to come into your own.
The friends and family gave an added bonus to the story because each played their role perfectly. I loved Efe and I’m slightly curious how she will survive in life. There is some angst and extra drama thrown in to keep things going but everything worked out so well. I loved glimpse into the future at the end.
This is just a fantastic debut novel. I loved the cover. I loved the story. I look forward to seeing what’s next for this author.
~ Samantha
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