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Crossing Paths, Tempting Memories
Sisters Christina and Caitlyn meet the men of their dreams when they take a much-needed vacation on the island of Barbados, where three weeks of passion and excitement turns into something they both did not bargain for. Original.
289 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2007
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July 5, 2026
🥃 ARC Review: Crossing Paths, Tempting Memories
A Double-Barreled Pour Served Beachside
Author: Dorothy Elizabeth Love
Genre: Sensuous African American Romance / Travel Romance
Tropes: Vacation Romance, Forbidden (Still Married Hero), Dual Couples, Controlling Parent, Chronic Illness Subplot, Second Chance at Love
Format: E-ARC (Kindle Edition)
Series: Travel and Love Collection (TLC)
Publisher: LED Literature and Publication
Drink Pairing: Forbidden Kiss (recipe below)
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (High Heat)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.75/5) — A Double-Barreled Pour Served Beachside
The Pour
Dorothy Elizabeth Love and I have a history. I've poured through When Dreams Float, Whispers in the Night, And Then Came You, and Taken by You — and every single time, this woman delivers Black love with a sensuous, emotionally rich hand that makes you feel like you're sipping something slow on a warm evening. She doesn't miss.
Crossing Paths, Tempting Memories takes us to Barbados — and if you've read any of her TLC series, you know this woman does not play when it comes to setting. The island isn't just a backdrop; it's a character. You can feel the salt air, taste the rum punch, hear the waves. And into that paradise, Love drops two couples whose lives collide in ways neither of them saw coming.
The Characters
Caitlyn Crenshaw is a woman carrying the weight of a controlling father and the quiet bruises of a bad relationship with her ex, Richard — wait, no, not that Richard. Her Richard is the hero. The ex Richard (different guy) was the kind of man Ms. Sandra from In the Queen's Service would have had words about. Caitlyn owns DesignCo Graphics, has a spine made of steel even when it bends under her daddy's pressure, and does not suffer fools. She's the kind of heroine who walks into a room and doesn't need to announce herself — her presence does the talking.
Richard is going through a divorce, on the island to clear his head and handle business, and absolutely not looking for complications. But Caitlyn doesn't come with a warning label — she just shows up and quietly rewires everything he thought he wanted. He's corporate, he's careful, and when Greg from the office starts sniffing around his personal life, Richard shuts it down with the kind of quiet authority I deeply respect in a fictional man. The tension between his personal desire and professional maneuvering adds a layer of complexity that keeps the story from being just a beach read.
Christina and Evan — the secondary couple — bring a different kind of heat. Christina is Caitlyn's younger sister, and Evan's chronic respiratory condition (asthma compounded by COPD) introduces real stakes into their romance. The scene where Evan ends up in the hospital because he pushed himself to impress her? Christina's reaction — the anger, the guilt, the absolute refusal to accept anything less than honesty — is one of the most emotionally grounded moments in the book. "Either he trusted her with the truth, or she would, willingly and immediately, walk away from him." That line hit like a double shot.
What I Savored 🥃
Love's signature sensuality — This woman writes intimacy the way a master distiller handles a mash bill — with patience, heat, and precision. The bathtub scene in the opening? We're not even out of the sneak peek and she's already set the temperature. The spice is woven into the emotional fabric of the story, never gratuitous, always in service of the connection between characters.
The Barbados setting — I could practically smell the salt air and taste the callaloo. Love grounds her tropical settings in cultural specificity — the food, the music, the rhythm of island life. It's not a generic "beach romance." It's Barbados, with all its texture.
The dual-couple structure — Both couples get genuine emotional arcs. Christina and Evan aren't filler; their story has weight. Evan's health condition is handled with care and honesty, and Christina's fierce protectiveness gave me a heroine I didn't expect to love as much as I did.
Caitlyn's father dynamic — The controlling parent subplot adds depth without overwhelming the romance. Caitlyn shielding her younger sister from their father's wrath while still trying to live her own life is painfully relatable. Love doesn't resolve this with a bow — it's messy and ongoing, and that's more honest.
What Needed More Aging 🥃
The dual-couple pacing — With two full love stories running in parallel, there are moments where one couple's momentum stalls while the other gets the spotlight. Richard and Caitlyn's corporate/office subplot occasionally interrupts the island rhythm. The Greg scenes are necessary for plot, but they pull you out of the Barbados warmth and into a conference room in Indiana — a tonal shift that hits like ice in a neat pour.
Richard's "still married" complication — The divorce subplot with JaQuita is mentioned enough to establish tension but not enough to feel fully fleshed out. We hear about it through phone calls with his attorney Sam, but we never get a deep sense of what that marriage was or why it ended beyond surface strokes. For a book that handles emotional complexity so well elsewhere, this felt a little watered down.
The Finish
Dorothy Elizabeth Love continues to do what she does best — write Black love that is sensuous, emotionally layered, and grounded in real places with real cultural texture. Crossing Paths, Tempting Memories is a vacation romance with substance, a dual love story where both couples earn their happily-ever-after, and a Barbados setting that makes you want to book a flight immediately.
If you've been riding with the TLC series, this is another smooth pour. If this is your first time, welcome — you're in good hands.
Worth the pour. Cheers, Dorothy. 🥃
The Drink Pairing: Forbidden Kiss (Virgin or Spiked)
Dorothy Elizabeth Love actually included tropical drink recipes in the back of this book — and one of them was too perfect not to claim. The Forbidden Kiss captures the dual nature of this story: dark, sweet, and impossible to resist.
1/2 cup Pomegranate Juice — the forbidden pull between Richard and Caitlyn
1/2 cup Pineapple Juice — Barbados sunshine, the island's sweetness
1/4 cup Cranberry Juice — the tartness of complications (divorces, controlling fathers)
Splash of Club Soda — the fizz of Christina and Evan's unexpected chemistry
2 oz Dark Rum (optional, for the spiked version) — because some stories demand it
1 Lazzaroni Amaretto Cherry — non-negotiable
Shake juices with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Add rum if you're feeling bold. Garnish with pomegranate seeds floating on top, like secrets waiting to surface.
A Double-Barreled Pour Served Beachside
Author: Dorothy Elizabeth Love
Genre: Sensuous African American Romance / Travel Romance
Tropes: Vacation Romance, Forbidden (Still Married Hero), Dual Couples, Controlling Parent, Chronic Illness Subplot, Second Chance at Love
Format: E-ARC (Kindle Edition)
Series: Travel and Love Collection (TLC)
Publisher: LED Literature and Publication
Drink Pairing: Forbidden Kiss (recipe below)
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (High Heat)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.75/5) — A Double-Barreled Pour Served Beachside
The Pour
Dorothy Elizabeth Love and I have a history. I've poured through When Dreams Float, Whispers in the Night, And Then Came You, and Taken by You — and every single time, this woman delivers Black love with a sensuous, emotionally rich hand that makes you feel like you're sipping something slow on a warm evening. She doesn't miss.
Crossing Paths, Tempting Memories takes us to Barbados — and if you've read any of her TLC series, you know this woman does not play when it comes to setting. The island isn't just a backdrop; it's a character. You can feel the salt air, taste the rum punch, hear the waves. And into that paradise, Love drops two couples whose lives collide in ways neither of them saw coming.
The Characters
Caitlyn Crenshaw is a woman carrying the weight of a controlling father and the quiet bruises of a bad relationship with her ex, Richard — wait, no, not that Richard. Her Richard is the hero. The ex Richard (different guy) was the kind of man Ms. Sandra from In the Queen's Service would have had words about. Caitlyn owns DesignCo Graphics, has a spine made of steel even when it bends under her daddy's pressure, and does not suffer fools. She's the kind of heroine who walks into a room and doesn't need to announce herself — her presence does the talking.
Richard is going through a divorce, on the island to clear his head and handle business, and absolutely not looking for complications. But Caitlyn doesn't come with a warning label — she just shows up and quietly rewires everything he thought he wanted. He's corporate, he's careful, and when Greg from the office starts sniffing around his personal life, Richard shuts it down with the kind of quiet authority I deeply respect in a fictional man. The tension between his personal desire and professional maneuvering adds a layer of complexity that keeps the story from being just a beach read.
Christina and Evan — the secondary couple — bring a different kind of heat. Christina is Caitlyn's younger sister, and Evan's chronic respiratory condition (asthma compounded by COPD) introduces real stakes into their romance. The scene where Evan ends up in the hospital because he pushed himself to impress her? Christina's reaction — the anger, the guilt, the absolute refusal to accept anything less than honesty — is one of the most emotionally grounded moments in the book. "Either he trusted her with the truth, or she would, willingly and immediately, walk away from him." That line hit like a double shot.
What I Savored 🥃
Love's signature sensuality — This woman writes intimacy the way a master distiller handles a mash bill — with patience, heat, and precision. The bathtub scene in the opening? We're not even out of the sneak peek and she's already set the temperature. The spice is woven into the emotional fabric of the story, never gratuitous, always in service of the connection between characters.
The Barbados setting — I could practically smell the salt air and taste the callaloo. Love grounds her tropical settings in cultural specificity — the food, the music, the rhythm of island life. It's not a generic "beach romance." It's Barbados, with all its texture.
The dual-couple structure — Both couples get genuine emotional arcs. Christina and Evan aren't filler; their story has weight. Evan's health condition is handled with care and honesty, and Christina's fierce protectiveness gave me a heroine I didn't expect to love as much as I did.
Caitlyn's father dynamic — The controlling parent subplot adds depth without overwhelming the romance. Caitlyn shielding her younger sister from their father's wrath while still trying to live her own life is painfully relatable. Love doesn't resolve this with a bow — it's messy and ongoing, and that's more honest.
What Needed More Aging 🥃
The dual-couple pacing — With two full love stories running in parallel, there are moments where one couple's momentum stalls while the other gets the spotlight. Richard and Caitlyn's corporate/office subplot occasionally interrupts the island rhythm. The Greg scenes are necessary for plot, but they pull you out of the Barbados warmth and into a conference room in Indiana — a tonal shift that hits like ice in a neat pour.
Richard's "still married" complication — The divorce subplot with JaQuita is mentioned enough to establish tension but not enough to feel fully fleshed out. We hear about it through phone calls with his attorney Sam, but we never get a deep sense of what that marriage was or why it ended beyond surface strokes. For a book that handles emotional complexity so well elsewhere, this felt a little watered down.
The Finish
Dorothy Elizabeth Love continues to do what she does best — write Black love that is sensuous, emotionally layered, and grounded in real places with real cultural texture. Crossing Paths, Tempting Memories is a vacation romance with substance, a dual love story where both couples earn their happily-ever-after, and a Barbados setting that makes you want to book a flight immediately.
If you've been riding with the TLC series, this is another smooth pour. If this is your first time, welcome — you're in good hands.
Worth the pour. Cheers, Dorothy. 🥃
The Drink Pairing: Forbidden Kiss (Virgin or Spiked)
Dorothy Elizabeth Love actually included tropical drink recipes in the back of this book — and one of them was too perfect not to claim. The Forbidden Kiss captures the dual nature of this story: dark, sweet, and impossible to resist.
1/2 cup Pomegranate Juice — the forbidden pull between Richard and Caitlyn
1/2 cup Pineapple Juice — Barbados sunshine, the island's sweetness
1/4 cup Cranberry Juice — the tartness of complications (divorces, controlling fathers)
Splash of Club Soda — the fizz of Christina and Evan's unexpected chemistry
2 oz Dark Rum (optional, for the spiked version) — because some stories demand it
1 Lazzaroni Amaretto Cherry — non-negotiable
Shake juices with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Add rum if you're feeling bold. Garnish with pomegranate seeds floating on top, like secrets waiting to surface.
June 5, 2026
Crossing Paths, Tempting Memories, by Dorothy Elizabeth Love, is a sensual African American romance built around escape, attraction, and emotional recovery. Caitlyn Crenshaw comes to Barbados trying to breathe again after a humiliating betrayal, while Richard Townsend arrives carrying the weight of a bitter divorce and a career under pressure. The book puts them in a setting that feels warm, colorful, and inviting, but the real draw is watching two guarded people slowly recognize something honest in each other.
The story has a strong vacation-romance feel, but it’s also very much about rebuilding. One line captures Richard’s need for the island perfectly: “Peace of mind was the best medicine for a frantic soul.” Barbados isn’t just scenery here. It becomes the place where Caitlyn and Richard can loosen their grip on the pain they brought with them, flirt without pretending they’re fine, and start imagining a life that isn’t controlled by old mistakes.
Caitlyn is especially easy to root for because she’s not simply looking for romance. She wants joy, independence, and the courage to stop letting other people choose her future. Richard’s charm works because he’s wounded too, but still warm, playful, and deeply drawn to Caitlyn’s spirit. Their chemistry is direct and steamy, but the emotional pull matters just as much. The book understands that desire feels different when it’s mixed with trust.
There’s also a lively supporting cast, especially Christina and Evan, whose relationship adds humor, tenderness, and a bittersweet counterpoint to Caitlyn and Richard’s path. The family drama, corporate tension, divorce conflict, and romantic complications give the story plenty of motion. One of the book’s clearest ideas comes through in the line, “Running from something was far worse than running to something.” That’s really what this novel keeps circling back to: the difference between escaping pain and choosing happiness.
Crossing Paths, Tempting Memories is a passionate and emotional romance with a big heart and a strong sense of place. It’s sexy, yes, but it’s also about second chances, self-respect, friendship, grief, and the relief of being seen by someone at the right time. Readers who enjoy romance with heat, travel, family ties, and characters working through real hurt will find a lot to enjoy here.
The story has a strong vacation-romance feel, but it’s also very much about rebuilding. One line captures Richard’s need for the island perfectly: “Peace of mind was the best medicine for a frantic soul.” Barbados isn’t just scenery here. It becomes the place where Caitlyn and Richard can loosen their grip on the pain they brought with them, flirt without pretending they’re fine, and start imagining a life that isn’t controlled by old mistakes.
Caitlyn is especially easy to root for because she’s not simply looking for romance. She wants joy, independence, and the courage to stop letting other people choose her future. Richard’s charm works because he’s wounded too, but still warm, playful, and deeply drawn to Caitlyn’s spirit. Their chemistry is direct and steamy, but the emotional pull matters just as much. The book understands that desire feels different when it’s mixed with trust.
There’s also a lively supporting cast, especially Christina and Evan, whose relationship adds humor, tenderness, and a bittersweet counterpoint to Caitlyn and Richard’s path. The family drama, corporate tension, divorce conflict, and romantic complications give the story plenty of motion. One of the book’s clearest ideas comes through in the line, “Running from something was far worse than running to something.” That’s really what this novel keeps circling back to: the difference between escaping pain and choosing happiness.
Crossing Paths, Tempting Memories is a passionate and emotional romance with a big heart and a strong sense of place. It’s sexy, yes, but it’s also about second chances, self-respect, friendship, grief, and the relief of being seen by someone at the right time. Readers who enjoy romance with heat, travel, family ties, and characters working through real hurt will find a lot to enjoy here.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews