DeShawn Moore Franklin is a minor celebrity chef at a starred restaurant in Washington, D.C. His dream as Chef DeShawn, however, has included the baggage of an irritating agent and tabloid press, and the strain is beginning to show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Malik Franklin is the accountant for Franklin\u2019s, the family soul food restaurant that is currently struggling financially, in part due to younger brother James\u2019 refusal to adopt new ideas and strategies to generate more business. An introverted man, he has tended to run away from his problems, never telling his family that he and DeShawn were married.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Between DeShawn poised to follow his dream and Malik\u2019s reluctance to come out, the couple divorced, but the pain never went away. After seven years and no contact, the brothas are brought together by DeShawn\u2019s ailing grandmother Annie, whose ne\u2019er-do-well son is eager to get his greedy fingers on her money. She has willed her house to DeShawn, and her money to Malik. Oh, and there\u2019s one pesky little detail\u2014through an error, DeShawn and Malik are still married. In the bigger picture of protecting Grandma Annie\u2019s will and her legacy, they agree to act like they\u2019re married for public consumption\u2014until they aren\u2019t acting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, these 40-something men have communication problems and they do behave like idiots at times (don\u2019t most romance novels have that?) but Ms. Ellis\u2019 storytelling skills kept me rooting for their second chance, and witnessing DeShawn and Malik overcome their internal road blocks to fall in love all over again. There is a quote, \u201cIf you love something, set it free.\u201d In the case of Malik, did he do it for the right reasons in the first place?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I loved that D.C. flavor Ms. Ellis brings to this story, and the way she navigates the family dynamics, coupled with the growth of her main characters. Annie Mae Belle Moore is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with, be it fighting for her family or her matchmaking scheme to get DeShawn and Malik back together. I have no doubt that many of us have or had such a grandmother; when she spoke, you listened, and she is never to be underestimated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Granted, not all divorced couples are meant to reunite, but some deserve that second chance, since, in the wisdom of Annie Mae Belle Moore, they never should have divorced in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If You Love Something<\/em> is available on Amazon. For this Valentine\u2019s Day, score another victory for Black Love, Jayce!<\/p>\n\n\n\n By Jayce Ellis February, as we know, is Black History Month. February also includes Valentine\u2019s Day. That being said, it is my pleasure to include in this month\u2019s reviews author Jayce Ellis\u2019 romance novel If You Love Something. DeShawn Moore Franklin is a minor celebrity chef at a starred restaurant in Washington, D.C. His dream as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":756,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"\n By Jayce Ellis<\/p>\n\n\n\n February, as we know, is Black History Month. February also includes Valentine\u2019s Day. That being said, it is my pleasure to include in this month\u2019s reviews author Jayce Ellis\u2019 romance novel If You Love Something<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DeShawn Moore Franklin is a minor celebrity chef at a starred restaurant in Washington, D.C. His dream as Chef DeShawn, however, has included the baggage of an irritating agent and tabloid press, and the strain is beginning to show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Malik Franklin is the accountant for Franklin\u2019s, the family soul food restaurant that is currently struggling financially, in part due to younger brother James\u2019 refusal to adopt new ideas and strategies to generate more business. An introverted man, he has tended to run away from his problems, never telling his family that he and DeShawn were married.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Between DeShawn poised to follow his dream and Malik\u2019s reluctance to come out, the couple divorced, but the pain never went away. After seven years and no contact, the brothas are brought together by DeShawn\u2019s ailing grandmother Annie, whose ne\u2019er-do-well son is eager to get his greedy fingers on her money. She has willed her house to DeShawn, and her money to Malik. Oh, and there\u2019s one pesky little detail\u2014through an error, DeShawn and Malik are still married. In the bigger picture of protecting Grandma Annie\u2019s will and her legacy, they agree to act like they\u2019re married for public consumption\u2014until they aren\u2019t acting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, these 40-something men have communication problems and they do behave like idiots at times (don\u2019t most romance novels have that?) but Ms. Ellis\u2019 storytelling skills kept me rooting for their second chance, and witnessing DeShawn and Malik overcome their internal road blocks to fall in love all over again. There is a quote, \u201cIf you love something, set it free.\u201d In the case of Malik, did he do it for the right reasons in the first place?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I loved that D.C. flavor Ms. Ellis brings to this story, and the way she navigates the family dynamics, coupled with the growth of her main characters. Annie Mae Belle Moore is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with, be it fighting for her family or her matchmaking scheme to get DeShawn and Malik back together. I have no doubt that many of us have or had such a grandmother; when she spoke, you listened, and she is never to be underestimated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Granted, not all divorced couples are meant to reunite, but some deserve that second chance, since, in the wisdom of Annie Mae Belle Moore, they never should have divorced in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If You Love Something<\/em> is available on Amazon. For this Valentine\u2019s Day, score another victory for Black Love, Jayce!<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Jayce](\"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Curly-hair.jpg\")
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