CHURCH GIRL

GET LOST IN THE AFTERGLOW

I was lucky enough to get an ARC (advanced reading copy) of Church Girl by Naima Simone pretty early on, and I read it the day I got approved for the book (all the way back in August). Immediately after finishing the story, I went into squealing mode because it was just so damn good. I absolutely loved Von and Aaliyah, and I thought they were extremely well-matched for each other in this book. I may have also fangirled to the author when I met her for the first time, too, and told everyone in the vicinity at the Indie Bookstore Romance Day signing event I went to in KC how much I loved this book and how badly they needed to put it on their reading radar for Fall.

So, now that my wait is finally over to post about it, let’s dive in and discuss Church Girl, shall we?

 

 

BOOK REVIEW

 

Church Girl is everything I hoped it would be and more. It’s spicy, dirty-hot, and steamy enough to leave a thick trail of fog in its wake. I love that Simone doesn’t pull any punches with this book. She goes right in, and she takes the reader along with her. I devoured the ARC of this book in one-sitting and could not stop gushing about it to any and all who would listen.

Von is a bit gruff and no-nonsense, with a frankness that borders on rudeness at times. Particularly at the start. But he has his reasons for keeping his distance, believe me, and despite his detached behavior, he still finds ways to encourage and support Aaliyah when others try and tear her down, make her bend to their way of thinking. In addition, he’s a really great dad, and an overall good person who’s been hurt by his past and struggles to allow himself to fully connect with someone again.

Aaliyah is a preacher’s kid, running away from a marriage to a man she doesn’t want and who doesn’t deserve her. She’s on a mission to find herself, but she also struggles with her desire to appease her strict, purity loving parents. She knows she needs to stand on her own, to be her own woman, but years of being the caring daughter have made her question her own capability for it.

Von and Aaliyah are both incredible characters. They are charismatic, intelligent, and just truly good people. They also challenge each other to be better versions of themselves and to truly see themselves as well as they see each other. 

If you love a good girl/bad boy trope with a twist, a grumpy/sunshine single dad/church girl pairing, and a dirty-hot age gap romance, Church Girl by Naima Simone is a not-to-miss read.

 

CW: mentions of an attempted childhood SA by family member (backstory, discussion, non-graphic); sex work shaming by a non-lead character

RATING: 

 

 

BOOK INFORMATION

 

I received an advanced reading copy (ARC) or advanced listening copy (ALC) of this book from the author, publisher, or publicist. The receipt of this ARC or ALC did not influence my choice to review the book on this site. It also did not influence how I felt about the book or its characters, storyline, and overall feel. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. As such, they only deal with what is written on the pages of the book and how what is written and otherwise presented made me feel during and after my reading of the book or how the book is presented in audio format and the narrators perform the book.

Church Girl by Naima Simone
Published by Afterglow Books (Harlequin) on November 26, 2024
Genres: Category Romance, Contemporary Romance
Pages: 288
Format: E-Arc
Source: Netgalley, Publisher
Buy: Amazon | B & N | Kobo | Goodreads
Rating:

She’s a preacher’s daughter, a runaway bride and now the (not quite) qualified nanny for a sexy tattoo artist with a beautiful daughter—and a dirty mouth.

What’s a bad boy to do with a woman like her?

Everything…

Aaliyah Montgomery isn’t just ditching her wedding. She’s also fleeing her suffocating small town and her family’s expectations. She’s got plans—for college, for finding herself. But landing a job in Chicago that fits her schedule isn’t easy. Good thing Von Howard is desperate to find a live-in nanny. Bad thing that he’s a gritty, grumpy, gorgeous tattoo artist carrying as much baggage as he has ink.

Von’s new hire is inexperienced and a fire hazard in the kitchen. She’s also all thick curls, thicker curves, and a distracting mix of innocence and sensuality. After the upheaval of a divorce, he just needs a nanny, not a sneaky link. Meanwhile, Aaliyah is bonding with his seven-year-old and showing an unexpected flair for tattoo art. Who could resist?

Yet deep down, Aaliyah’s still running—from her feelings and her fear of losing herself to someone else’s expectations again. Even as their pasts return to haunt them, their undeniable heat says maybe it’s time to stand and fight for a love they didn’t see coming.

Read this book if you like:

• runaway bride
• grumpy/sunshine
• age gap
• nanny for tattooed single dad
• preacher’s daughter
• dirty-hot and steamy

 

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Let us know in the comment section below.

 

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BOOK RATING

 

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