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The Beautiful Gems #1
Beautiful Onyx Array
A chance meeting in a club one night started a chain reaction of events that led to a couple reconnecting and the birth of a healthy and loving friendship.
When Maddox Christian goes out to a club one night, he isn’t expecting to run into one of the most beautiful women he’s ever seen. Immediately he’s attracted to her and she openly flirts back with him. But when she suddenly disappears after giving him a false name, he figures nothing was meant to come out of their meeting.
Imagine his surprise when that same woman shows up at his coffee shop the next day. They hit it off pretty well, but he realizes that she is in the middle of a complicated relationship with her bestfriend of 15 years, Onyx. Although he’s attracted to her, he clocks that she is deeply in love with this other woman he’s never met. So what does he do? He befriends them both.
Follow Maddox, Arya, and Onyx as they navigate a stream of heartbreak, trauma, and all the other things that come your way during your later 20s. They take time to explore love, and their sexualities and just enjoy life. With time, they all learn what it means to be real lovers and friends.
This story is chaotic and messy, but full of love, friendship, acceptance, and of course sexual tension.
When Maddox Christian goes out to a club one night, he isn’t expecting to run into one of the most beautiful women he’s ever seen. Immediately he’s attracted to her and she openly flirts back with him. But when she suddenly disappears after giving him a false name, he figures nothing was meant to come out of their meeting.
Imagine his surprise when that same woman shows up at his coffee shop the next day. They hit it off pretty well, but he realizes that she is in the middle of a complicated relationship with her bestfriend of 15 years, Onyx. Although he’s attracted to her, he clocks that she is deeply in love with this other woman he’s never met. So what does he do? He befriends them both.
Follow Maddox, Arya, and Onyx as they navigate a stream of heartbreak, trauma, and all the other things that come your way during your later 20s. They take time to explore love, and their sexualities and just enjoy life. With time, they all learn what it means to be real lovers and friends.
This story is chaotic and messy, but full of love, friendship, acceptance, and of course sexual tension.
98 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2024
28 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Aricka Alexander
22 books125 followersJust a Black sapphic indie author who loves Black sapphic stories. All of my books are set mostly in Southern Louisiana. I also write YA.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 26, 2024
Arya and Onyx have been best friends since the 7th grade. As they both navigate their young lives standing firm in their sexuality and the opposition from their families, they found solace in each other. They were each other’s firsts in more ways than one and this bonded them throughout the years. Arya knew that Onyx was her forever but Onyx allowed her feelings to be swallowed out with low self esteem due to the harsh treatment of her parents. This caused her to have a “playboy” mentality and after a while Arya was fed up!
Arya crossed paths with Maddox and the chemistry was instant. They were flirtatious and just had a vibe that came easy to them. Despite how they felt about each other, Maddox was hesitant to cross lines knowing that Onyx still had Arya’s heart in a chokehold. In an effort to protect his own heart, Maddox knew he had to proceed with caution.
This story had tons of potential and I enjoyed how the author portrayed the LGBTQ community. There were a few technical aspects to the story that missed the mark for me and took away from how much I enjoyed the story.
I didn’t understand why Maddox was initially introduced as a potential love interest if nothing was going to become of that. It would have been better had he been introduced as a friend from the very beginning because everything that led up to the 3some was confusing as a reader. I didn’t know where to set my focus. Are we doing something new? Are we giving our old fling a chance? And I understand this was intended to create “conflict” but it wasn’t executed that way.
I also didn’t understand the 3some with so many “restrictions” / “boundaries” in place. If there are so many do’s and dont’s in place just don’t because I want wild, nasty, nothings off limits with 3some scenes.
Lastly the conflict with Arya’s parents was strange especially when they showed up to her packing up her house. Why on earth were they a factor for this 28yo grown woman and if she made a clear decision on what she wanted for her life, why were they still on her head. Again I get the intent to create “conflict” but it was missing something.
This was my first read by this author and with the foundation of the story I’d give her at least one more read to see if she will stay in rotation or not.
Arya crossed paths with Maddox and the chemistry was instant. They were flirtatious and just had a vibe that came easy to them. Despite how they felt about each other, Maddox was hesitant to cross lines knowing that Onyx still had Arya’s heart in a chokehold. In an effort to protect his own heart, Maddox knew he had to proceed with caution.
This story had tons of potential and I enjoyed how the author portrayed the LGBTQ community. There were a few technical aspects to the story that missed the mark for me and took away from how much I enjoyed the story.
I didn’t understand why Maddox was initially introduced as a potential love interest if nothing was going to become of that. It would have been better had he been introduced as a friend from the very beginning because everything that led up to the 3some was confusing as a reader. I didn’t know where to set my focus. Are we doing something new? Are we giving our old fling a chance? And I understand this was intended to create “conflict” but it wasn’t executed that way.
I also didn’t understand the 3some with so many “restrictions” / “boundaries” in place. If there are so many do’s and dont’s in place just don’t because I want wild, nasty, nothings off limits with 3some scenes.
Lastly the conflict with Arya’s parents was strange especially when they showed up to her packing up her house. Why on earth were they a factor for this 28yo grown woman and if she made a clear decision on what she wanted for her life, why were they still on her head. Again I get the intent to create “conflict” but it was missing something.
This was my first read by this author and with the foundation of the story I’d give her at least one more read to see if she will stay in rotation or not.
April 16, 2024
Received this as my first ARC read and I loved this second chance romance. I love when Authors put how to pronounce characters names at the beginning of the book. The spice in chapter 8-9 really had me seated and entertained. I really enjoyed seeing arya and onyx relationship develop from being friends to a couple then back to friends again and then being a couple who gets engaged. I really enjoyed how we got to see arya go through the struggle of “you want me all to yourself but you won’t fully commit to me and let me have you all to myself”, moving on and doing what’s best for me while still wanting to be with you and have a future with you. Seeing Onxy have thoughts of not being worth and good enough for arya then going to therapy to do the work to be better for herself and arya and work through childhood trauma was so important. i love maddox.
April 26, 2024
Really enjoyed this read!!! I’m a sucker for character development, and I really liked the attention to detail and backstories. And babyyyyy the way I rushed home to read chapters 8 & 9 😂😂😂 can’t wait for the next one!
February 10, 2025
Onyx and Arya are best friends turned lovers, turned exes, turned friends with benefits. Arya loves Onyx and only wants her, but Onyx is fighting demons and can't commit because of her issues. Can they find a way to be together?
Okay, I will say that Onyx and Arya together were very passionate, and once they got over the hump, were very loving in their relationship. I did like their dynamic, and their connection with each other. I also liked the way Onyx protected Arya, and fought for her happiness.
I will say I didn't care for Onyx only straightening up out of desperation and the fear of someone else, and not for her own reasons. I'll also say that while I enjoyed Maddox's character, I don't really see what he brought to the story. He seemed to be introduced as a person who was going to shift the dynamic between Onyx and Arya but he didn't. And his side story didn't have enough to be interesting. Also, a threesome isn't nearly as sexy when only one person wants it and the other two are just going along to make her happy.
Okay, I will say that Onyx and Arya together were very passionate, and once they got over the hump, were very loving in their relationship. I did like their dynamic, and their connection with each other. I also liked the way Onyx protected Arya, and fought for her happiness.
I will say I didn't care for Onyx only straightening up out of desperation and the fear of someone else, and not for her own reasons. I'll also say that while I enjoyed Maddox's character, I don't really see what he brought to the story. He seemed to be introduced as a person who was going to shift the dynamic between Onyx and Arya but he didn't. And his side story didn't have enough to be interesting. Also, a threesome isn't nearly as sexy when only one person wants it and the other two are just going along to make her happy.
July 24, 2025
beautiful onyx review
I can honestly say that I loved everything about this book. That thrersome scene had me hot and bothered as well as the lesbian romance scene. Chef’s kiss. I can’t wait to read book number 2 . Great job
I can honestly say that I loved everything about this book. That thrersome scene had me hot and bothered as well as the lesbian romance scene. Chef’s kiss. I can’t wait to read book number 2 . Great job
November 15, 2024
Amazing as always
Aricka never misses. I love every book she writes. This book had a little more spice than the other books of hers I have read but I really enjoyed every scene
Aricka never misses. I love every book she writes. This book had a little more spice than the other books of hers I have read but I really enjoyed every scene
December 1, 2024
Amazing read!! I can’t lie I will be reading it a second time that’s how good the book truly is please add this author to your favorites I promise she delivers everytime
August 10, 2025
Hmmm
Well this had some unexpected turns in it that I didn't see coming. Glad that Onyx grew up because she was a hot mess. I enjoyed this book
Well this had some unexpected turns in it that I didn't see coming. Glad that Onyx grew up because she was a hot mess. I enjoyed this book
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews