I’m on my—I don’t even know what number—read through of My Only, and at this point, I’m reading more for pleasure than looking for things to add or change. I’m obsessed with all aspects of this story, sincerely, and to me, that’s a very good sign.

Every so often, I’ll come across a book I’ve written that makes me say, If no one likes it, I know I love it. And that’s enough.  

My Only is another one of those books. I’m confident it’ll be loved, but even if it wasn’t, my love will be enough. Everyone else’s love? That’s just extra. And it’s all because of these two.

Ayla and Hassani.

These two have officially secured their place at the top of my favorite couples list. They have. Their vulnerability with each other, their journey through forever… my goodness.  

While My First, My Last followed the theme of a track and field race, My Only follows the theme of architecture—from the blueprint to the forever home. And like My First, My Last, I really did something with this spinoff, and especially with these characters. It all happened in steps.

Steps to Building Hassani Franklin  

Step 1 – Patience  

Step 2 – Determination 

Step 3 – Emotional Security  

Step 4 – Vision  

Step 5 – Boundless Hope

Last year, when I was mapping out my calendar of stories to work on, this one, the one I’m about to tell you about, landed on the list. A little bullet under “future projects.” But then I started writing My Only, and once I was deep in Ayla and Hassani’s world, one of my favorite couples had such a tight grip on me, I genuinely wasn’t sure I had another story in me. 

When I say My Only is one of those books that makes you want to cancel everything just to get to the end, I’m not being dramatic. I canceled quite a few things just to land that plane, because their happily ever after? It was earned. And I wasn’t about to delay it… not even for me.  

But this post isn’t about Ayla and Hassani. (Although… one of the main characters from this story is linked to Hassani. But more on that much later 😉.)

Right now, I want to tell you about the story that brought me back to my laptop to start writing another book… my very first age-gap romance that pairs an older woman with a younger man. And my gawd, the sparks between them? Instantaneous. The second they’re on the same page… whew.

But okay, let’s back it up a little because of course, I have to give context. Walk with me…

The original spark for this story came from a series I wanted to work on that was tied to my  Love, Hate & Revenge series. The series would have been centered on a specific setting, The Braxton Hotel, which made its first appearance in Part 1 of the LHR series. I wanted to build something out from there. But many stories later, that original premise lost some of its shine for me.

Still, I knew I wasn’t done exploring the idea of a Black luxury hospitality empire. I just needed to find a new angle. And that curiosity led me straight to Arielle St. James—the poised, pressurized hotel heiress—and Micah Black, her rooftop lounge’s brand-new bartender.

Their story is a novella, but it feels like more. The kind of story where the characters started talking before they even had names. I came this close to pushing everything else aside to write it last year. But I’ve learned to trust the process. Patience really is a virtue.

And you’ll need a little of it too, because this story—How to Lose Control in 42 Days—isn’t dropping until autumn. On my birthday, actually. A full-circle kind of release.

I’ve got so much more to share about these two. But for now, here’s what I can give you:

✨ Temporary cover below (official cover reveal coming in July)  

Synopsis: