Independent woman Savannah Belmont has had more than her share of tragedy and challenges in her life. When Savannah was a baby, her mother Ophelia was committed to a sanitarium for her mental health issues, thus Savannah was raised by her loving, no-nonsense, faith-filled grandmother Ma\u2019Dear. When Savannah was 17, Ma\u2019Dear died, and she is left to care for her mother and sort out the legacy Ma\u2019Dear left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having experienced funerals\u2014better yet, homegoings\u2014like Ma\u2019Dear\u2019s, the scene was highly touching and relatable. When contrasted with the homegoing for Creswell Delarby\u2019s Uncle Nat later in the story, it did bring up questions about Uncle Nat\u2019s past. One statement that stood out was when Ma\u2019Dear said, \u201cBaby, your funeral is where you find out who loved you and who hated you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Savannah goes on to graduate from college and law school, becoming the first Black female attorney for the law firm of Selix & Riley. At the beginning of her tenure there, she meets Creswell, an attorney with his own private practice but also works with her firm on high profile cases. It is clear that Savannah doesn\u2019t need a man to make her happy or support her financially, which makes the chemistry between them more powerful as their relationship develops. She also has her BFF Tesha, who brings a balance to their friendship as she navigates grieving for Ma\u2019Dear and office politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But packages that look and smell phyne can contain unpleasant shocks, and Creswell\u2019s secrets may cost him the love of his life\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bentley-Pittman gives the reader a slow-burn flame to the story, building the romance between Savannah and Creswell while keeping the undercurrents of unsettling family secrets and characters who are strange yet familiar. Though the couple share many facts of their childhoods, there is always a sense of important things held back. And there are times when Creswell has Savannah doing things that leave her uncomfortable. This story kept me fascinated and wondering, \u201cWhat next?\u201d I also appreciated the inclusion of mental health from Ophelia\u2019s point of view, bringing an added dimension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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