Customer Reviews

A Rare Groove

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Simone St. Clair literally falls head-over-heels for Maxwell Harper.

Simone St. Clair is an on-air personality in Atlanta who is dating one of Atlanta's most eligible bachelors, ex-boxer Kevin Johnson. According to her friends, she should feel like the luckiest lady in Atlanta, but she doesn't. When she goes to Jamaica for a friend's wedding, her friend gets delayed. While alone on this beautiful tropical island, sparks do fly when she meets Maxwell Harper.

Maxwell is a native Jamaican but has not lived on the island since he was a child. He is now a very sexy engineer who resides in Canada. Even though he seems like the perfect man, Maxwell is dealing with nine year old family drama that Simone somehow finds herself caught in the middle of. She now has to decide if he is really what he seems or is all too good to be true.

A Rare Groove was the first book by Sophia Shaw that I have read, and I thought it was a very easy read. Her style of writing just flows, and the story holds your attention until the end. The only reason I did not give this book a 5 was because things start to happen really quickly towards the end of the story that I think are very vital to the plot, and they didn't get developed as much as I think they could have. But overall, I still think A Rare Groove was a very good read.

Reviewed by Tenecia
for Urban Reviews

A Rare Groove
Jamaica - Yeah Mon!
Really enjoyed this book. Simone was very likeable and a hopeless romantic. You really liked her from page one. And Maxwell --- umph, umph, umph!

What you thought would be an island fling turned into something so much more meaningful. When the two were stranded at that house in the Jamaican village, I thought the pages were gonna melt my finger tips bcz it was so HOT!! After her friend's wedding, you thought the two would continue the relationship, but. . . .
And the night when Maxwell walked away from Simone and didn't look back, my heart broke right along with hers.

After returning to ATL, Simone and Maxwell find their way back to one another, but not without some MAJOR bumps along the way. Maxwell did an excellent job of redeeming himself in the end.

So typical with feuds, like Maxwell's with his dad, most often both parties forget what really started the whole thing bcz so much time has been wasted being angry.

Sophia even added some mystery/suspense to the plot, but you'll have to read it to know what I'm talking about.

A Rare Groove was REALLY good.

Jamaica - Yeah Mon!
Really enjoyed this book. Simone was very likeable and a hopeless romantic. You really liked her from page one. And Maxwell --- umph, umph, umph!

What you thought would be an island fling turned into something so much more meaningful. When the two were stranded at that house in the Jamaican village, I thought the pages were gonna melt my finger tips bcz it was so HOT!! After her friend's wedding, you thought the two would continue the relationship, but. . . .
And the night when Maxwell walked away from Simone and didn't look back, my heart broke right along with hers.

After returning to ATL, Simone and Maxwell find their way back to one another, but not without some MAJOR bumps along the way. Maxwell did an excellent job of redeeming himself in the end.

So typical with feuds, like Maxwell's with his dad, most often both parties forget what really started the whole thing bcz so much time has been wasted being angry.

Sophia even added some mystery/suspense to the plot, but you'll have to read it to know what I'm talking about.

A Rare Groove was REALLY good.

( Review taken from my blog "Urban Toronto Tales" @ [...] )

*******
Fanning face...

This book is HOT!

Written by Canadian author Sophia Shaw, "A Rare Groove" is a sexy and enticing love story about the vacation romance that sparks between Simone St. Claire and Maxwell Harper. The two meet while attending a wedding in Jamaica, and have an instant connection despite Simone's inevitable return to Atlanta, Georgia, and Maxwell's to Toronto, Ontario.

Without giving the story away, I can safely say that it doesn't disappoint. The drama is juicy, the romance is alluring, and the characters are likeable. Most importantly, the love story is accompanied by a tale of a family trying to reconnect and reestablish relationships after nearly a decade of silence, as well as a dangerous encounter sparked by a high-profile criminal investigation.

Succesful and strong, Simone is a portrait of a confident woman who is faced with the opportunity to be the official girlfriend of a professional athlete, but knows herself enough to not get caught up in the hype of Atlanta's Kevin Johnson. As the heroine of this tale, Simone is sweet, yet convincingly human as she is faced with the dilemna of following her heart and passion, or sticking to a traditional and secure plan when it comes to her future and romance.

The seductive Maxwell Harper makes a great love interest for Simone, possessing all of the physical traits to make any woman weak, yet having enough vulnerability to give his character depth and compassion.

While any romance could easily catch fire while on a tropical vacation, both Simone and Maxwell are surprised at just how strong their connection is, after only knowing one another for a short while. Sophia Shaw's descriptions are vivid, and characters are authentic, travelling through various locations to bring a love story that is raw, very sexy, and sure to entertain!

Can't wait to read her other books!


~Stacey Marie Robinson, author of Request to Rewind

Well I must say that I was pleased with this story. What captured my attention was my favorite author of romance Beverly jenkins, gave this author kudos. I knew from that point on I was in for a treat. Simone was my heroine from the start when she refused to conform to societal standards and those of her peers in regards to relationships with men. Maxwell was a very strong, handsome independent man who learned a very valuable lesson about communicating. Oh, did I mention he was fine too. "Anyhoo" I love a story that has word play which makes you imagine you were there and its descriptiveness allows you to relate with the characters and really feel them. I truly enjoyed this book and of course I didn't want it to end. A job well done for Sophia Shaw!

Simone St. Claire seems to have it all; good looks, a great job, and Kevin Johnson, her good-looking boyfriend who appears to be an ideal man for her. Then her best friend, who has planned her wedding in Jamaica, has to back out on part of their agreement for a four-day bachelorette party. Left alone to fend for herself in Jamaica, Simone gets sucked into the island's romantic charm when she spies a handsome man from her hotel room's balcony. The same man ends up rescuing Simone from the pool and introducing himself as Maxwell Harper, an American who is currently living in Toronto, Canada. They begin a tenuous alliance that has them spending time with each other over the next couple of days. Obviously smitten with one another, the two decide to throw caution to the wind and embark on a relationship only meant to last for a moment in time without any regrets.

An unexpected development puts Simone and Maxwell together beyond their tryst and ultimately leaves the two on bad terms as they return to their respective homes. In Toronto, Maxwell can't get her off his mind. In Atlanta, Simone realizes she wants Maxwell and resolves to end her association with Kevin. Before she does, Kevin's secret life comes to light and Simone has more to worry about than breaking up with him. In fact, Maxwell realizes the danger she is in and races to reach her in time.

In A RARE GROOVE, Sophia Shaw provides an engaging love story laced with a bit of suspense. Readers are given a glimpse of finding a rare opportunity at love and reminded that what looks good isn't always good for you. The magnetic pull between Simone and Maxwell was mesmerizing, while the suspense gave me one tingling, sensational read, which I read in one sitting. Shaw is a good storyteller and I would recommend this book.

Reviewed by Brenda Lisbon
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

GREAT READ!!
THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I READ SOMETHING BY THIS AUTHOR AND I REALLY ENJOYED IT. I WILL BE ADDING MS SHAW TO MY LIST OF FAVORITE AUTHORS.