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The Mel and Tia Trilogy #1
Mel and Tia: A Love Story
Funny Valentine Book I Sometimes the sweetest love comes in the most unexpected of packages. That's how it is for Tia Jackson. A successful marketing executive with a large family and overbearing sisters, Tia has always hated the game of courtship. She wants to be valued for her accomplishments, not her ability to find true love. Then she meets Melvin... St. Paddy's Day Book II Melvin Reed is grateful for a second chance at happiness. A wife and kid is more than he ever thought possible, after the crimes and sins he'd committed. But that's all changed. Now he's well on his way to having it all. What he doesn't understand is his lady's determination to delve into a past he wishes to leave behind. Who cares if they're different? For Melvin she's perfectly matched for him in every way. Baby Love Book III Being married has never been sexier... Tia Jackson Reed is madly in love with her husband and the life he's shown her. She plans to have it all: family, success, and the career she's work so hard to achieve. That is, until her husband's desires for domesticated bliss collide with her own. A close friend from college returns after six years, and what he wants from Tia could ultimately test the bonds of her marriage, faith, and commitment in ways neither she nor Mel can foresee.
392 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 2011
11 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
Sienna Mynx
81 books1,020 followersSienna Mynx is your naughty writer of Paranormal, Contemporary, and Historical Interracial Romance for readers that love the bad boy's but desire to be the women that tame them. A current resident of south of Georgia, Sienna Mynx has just emerged into the e-publishing arena. Her novellas reflect her thirst for romance told from a fresh perspective with the diversity she craves in erotic Romance. Explore and Enjoy.
Also writes under the pen name T.A. Ford
Also writes under the pen name T.A. Ford
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 15, 2011
Tia Jackson is the over-achieving still singleton of the five Jackson sisters. Her single spinster state is such an area of sensitivity for her that she routinely makes up imaginary boyfriends to keep her sisters off her back.
Melvin Reed is a neighborhood florist. Blue collar, bad boy, dangerous background who has been hankering after Tia for years. She however has never even noticed him. Until she ropes him into playing along as her boyfriend for her youngest sisters' wedding because she truthfully can't produce her supposed real boyfriend.
Not one to pass up a golden opportunity Mel enters into the deception, determined to make Ms. Jackson notice him finally.
This was very cute and there were some nice laugh out loud moments.
And I thought the jobs Tia gave her imaginary boyfriends (pilot, trucker, naval officer) were clever because it gave her good excuses to never produce them on demand.
But overall this book was kinda all over the place. First it was told in duelling first persons by Tia and Mel. This wouldn't have been too bad if they each got alternating chapters, for instance, but the POV shifted between paragraphs sometimes so you really had to figure out who the 'I' was in the sentence.
Second, I have come across many a book where a professional, grown, self-supporting, over-the-age-of-30-woman is treated like a child by overprotective man-folk. I am over that trope. Way over it. It is alive and well in this book. To be fair, Tia actually rejects it in the end using words very similar to my own above, but if I never see it rear it's head again in a book I'll be happy.
And lastly, while I enjoyed Tia's big, rambunctious over the top family there were a few times some of them veered into the area of out-right caricature. Her oldest sister Margie who actually starts out the book as colorful and interesting, over the course of the story just became shrill and shrewish. I actually made a note that said at one point she 'sounded like a ghetto harpy.'
All in all this was a fun book. I just wish it was a bit more polished and the characters deepened a bit.
Melvin Reed is a neighborhood florist. Blue collar, bad boy, dangerous background who has been hankering after Tia for years. She however has never even noticed him. Until she ropes him into playing along as her boyfriend for her youngest sisters' wedding because she truthfully can't produce her supposed real boyfriend.
Not one to pass up a golden opportunity Mel enters into the deception, determined to make Ms. Jackson notice him finally.
This was very cute and there were some nice laugh out loud moments.
"Say that again?"
" I hooked you up." Margie shrugged. "I figured if you can't get it right, I'll have to do it for you."
"You have lost your mind."
She waved me off. "You know Ben who bowls with Chuckie?"
"Ben? Three-finger Ben?"
Margie shoots me a look from over her shoulder. "He's missing thumbs. The man has a disability, Tia. He has other fingers, though. And if he can still bowl atop 200 on average, that means he knows how to use what he got."
And I thought the jobs Tia gave her imaginary boyfriends (pilot, trucker, naval officer) were clever because it gave her good excuses to never produce them on demand.
But overall this book was kinda all over the place. First it was told in duelling first persons by Tia and Mel. This wouldn't have been too bad if they each got alternating chapters, for instance, but the POV shifted between paragraphs sometimes so you really had to figure out who the 'I' was in the sentence.
Second, I have come across many a book where a professional, grown, self-supporting, over-the-age-of-30-woman is treated like a child by overprotective man-folk. I am over that trope. Way over it. It is alive and well in this book. To be fair, Tia actually rejects it in the end using words very similar to my own above, but if I never see it rear it's head again in a book I'll be happy.
And lastly, while I enjoyed Tia's big, rambunctious over the top family there were a few times some of them veered into the area of out-right caricature. Her oldest sister Margie who actually starts out the book as colorful and interesting, over the course of the story just became shrill and shrewish. I actually made a note that said at one point she 'sounded like a ghetto harpy.'
All in all this was a fun book. I just wish it was a bit more polished and the characters deepened a bit.
April 2, 2011
This is a romance that also deals with race issues.
I am a bit disappointed to say that I couldn't get through this book. Boy did I try though, because I am all over plot lines like this one - she's confident but unloved, he feels overlooked by her (and she has over looked him, sort of beauty-and-the-beast-ish) he has a sticky past, they get together as a date of convenience for a wedding. I was nearly drooling when I figured out the extent of this plot. However, I didn't last past 19% into the book.
The writing is all over the place. The book switches timeframes (past, present, future but within hours/days of each other). Maybe it was trying to go for mystery but it ended up leaving me confused and annoyed. Important transactions between characters were skipped over entirely. Since I stopped at 19%, I'm not sure if we saw the things that were skipped later on in the book but I don't think it matters. I wasn't able to get wrapped up in the story because I never felt that I really knew what was going on, and felt that I didn't know things that I was suppose to know (unlike in a mystery where you know that you aren't suppose to know certain things yet).
Beyond that, the slang dialogue was killing me, seriously - I'm still recovering from it. I've read slang dialogue books before, for me they are harder to read because I'm a bit of a tight- ass about grammar. Good grammar helps me read quickly. But if the dialogue is well written, the extra effort it takes to make meaning out of the slang is worth it and adds to the storyline. That wasn't accomplished here. Perhaps I'm not the ideal audience for the book and the target market would have an easier time with the dialogue. If that's the case, I'd still argue that this book is still a poorly written. Books should be able to transcend cultural barriers. The books in English, I read English, I should be able to figure it out. I should be able to understand and get a snapshot into a world I would never otherwise see. But that wasn't possible.
Overall, I was disappointed. As I read more of the book and the storyline unfolded it looked really promising but instead it came off feel like it was half written OK and half written terribly. Perhaps I'm missing something here because Sienna Mynx has quite a few books out. I can't say I'll be reading any of her other books after this terrible and disappointing experience.
I am a bit disappointed to say that I couldn't get through this book. Boy did I try though, because I am all over plot lines like this one - she's confident but unloved, he feels overlooked by her (and she has over looked him, sort of beauty-and-the-beast-ish) he has a sticky past, they get together as a date of convenience for a wedding. I was nearly drooling when I figured out the extent of this plot. However, I didn't last past 19% into the book.
The writing is all over the place. The book switches timeframes (past, present, future but within hours/days of each other). Maybe it was trying to go for mystery but it ended up leaving me confused and annoyed. Important transactions between characters were skipped over entirely. Since I stopped at 19%, I'm not sure if we saw the things that were skipped later on in the book but I don't think it matters. I wasn't able to get wrapped up in the story because I never felt that I really knew what was going on, and felt that I didn't know things that I was suppose to know (unlike in a mystery where you know that you aren't suppose to know certain things yet).
Beyond that, the slang dialogue was killing me, seriously - I'm still recovering from it. I've read slang dialogue books before, for me they are harder to read because I'm a bit of a tight- ass about grammar. Good grammar helps me read quickly. But if the dialogue is well written, the extra effort it takes to make meaning out of the slang is worth it and adds to the storyline. That wasn't accomplished here. Perhaps I'm not the ideal audience for the book and the target market would have an easier time with the dialogue. If that's the case, I'd still argue that this book is still a poorly written. Books should be able to transcend cultural barriers. The books in English, I read English, I should be able to figure it out. I should be able to understand and get a snapshot into a world I would never otherwise see. But that wasn't possible.
Overall, I was disappointed. As I read more of the book and the storyline unfolded it looked really promising but instead it came off feel like it was half written OK and half written terribly. Perhaps I'm missing something here because Sienna Mynx has quite a few books out. I can't say I'll be reading any of her other books after this terrible and disappointing experience.
October 24, 2016
A great Valentine's Day read...
September 16, 2011
I really enjoyed this one. The story really wasn't what I expected and that was a good thing. Melvin is such a great character. Did some not so good things in his youth, and really turned his life around. Tia really lived up to her pet name tha Melvin has for her "Princess" because he as very stuck up in the beginning. The sex scenes were really off the chain, they are what I like to call squirm worthy....I just wish there was more of them! It'll be very interesting to see how their relationship progresses in the sequel since these two are total opposites. I am anxious to read how it goes.
July 25, 2013
I've read a lot of Sienna Mynx stories and I have enjoyed enough of them, except for the god-awful story Black Butterfly(that novel was awful).
I actually read St. Patty's Day first and since I enjoyed that I was all "what hell lets just got for whole trilogy" (Funny Valentine, St. Patty's Day, and Baby Love, but all too soon did I realize my triumph would be short lived
Pro's:
I loved Melvin, he was so caring and funny, with just a small hint off corny. His character is the only good thing about this novel though.
Con's:
Tia is a big baby, a brat, selfish, and quit frankly annoying and stupid. She has to be one of my least favorite Female Leads ever. I seen no character development what so ever in her character, she just felt dry to me, dry and boring. Oh yeah, did I mention she was a 30-year old virgin, who lies to her family about her love life because she's afraid that they would be disappointed in her for being a high ranking marketing executive at a big company? Yupp, and here I thought this book was going to have some aspects of real-world problems but I guess not.
I could go on and on about why this book doesn't even really deserve 2 stars but I'm just generous like that :) Don't waste your time on this book unless you like terrible plots and completely predictable endings and unbelievable. storylines!
January 28, 2012
This was a wonderful story with characters so rich you will not be able to put this book down. Mel is one sexy man and a perfect leading man.I loved Tia too.Mel and Tia made the perfect couple.you will be cracking up at aunt Deborah's knock on Sockem hips. And Margie is hilarious fussing after her sisters and husband when you pick up this book you won't put it down until the last page and then you will be waiting for the next in this series.
November 6, 2012
I don't know why I had issues with this story but found that I did not like the heroine. But the hero was awsome.
December 26, 2017
This book is by Sienna Mynx!!! Of course I love it!! Tia roped Mel into being her date for her baby sister's wedding and got him to go along with her fabrication that they were dating. What she didn't know was that Mel had been fawning over her for years, and now that he had the chance, he would do whatever he could to make her his. Excellent read!!
February 9, 2023
The story was surprisingly good for a Valentine's Day novella. I am glad I had found and read it. 5 sweet stars.
March 31, 2013
This book had me from the first chapter. I laughed a lot throughout this book because I could so relate to Tia. Her family reminded me so much of mine, especially her crazy ass sisters. There was so much sexual tension, I thought Melvin was gonna combust and poor Tia didn't fare much better. This couple was fun and sexy and the story was very believable and I loved the way the family looked out for one another.
June 1, 2013
What a sweet and heartwarming story about love and passion. I like that the lead female is 35. This isn't like most of the other BWWM stories in that, in the words of Margie, this white boy has flavor. I loved his game. It was smooth, but genuine. It was easy for me to envision him and empathize with him. Mynx did a great job. Even though the lead female was inexperienced, she didn't annoy me. None of the characters did. I did not roll my eyes up into my head once.
March 31, 2016
What a great book! The "free" reads sequels that Sienna did on her author website are awesome as well-I love this couple and loved reading the follow up to ther love story.
What I like about this couple is they are truly an example of love finds you when you are not looking and I love that they have "real life" issues yet their love is fiery, passionate and fierce yet you feel like you know this couple and are a bit jealous of them.
What I like about this couple is they are truly an example of love finds you when you are not looking and I love that they have "real life" issues yet their love is fiery, passionate and fierce yet you feel like you know this couple and are a bit jealous of them.
June 14, 2012
It's a cute book and romantic and I can easily see someone giving this 4 stars. I do recommend it for a nice happy quick read. However, I personally am not a big fan of stories told in the first person. For whatever reason, that method of storytelling just doesn't work for me. Also, the story is really very short.
November 23, 2016
It was okay. Tia was bratty and annoying. Mel's inner dialogue was a little unrealistic. His whole back story was a little odd. The story was a little random and rambling. There was also a lot of sex. Too much sex, very little story. Mynx can write her butt of so this story was a real disappointment. I say skip.
November 13, 2011
This trilogy deserved a second read, Tia and Mel are total opposites of each other but fit so well together. The sex is steamy and the family drama is just like a real family. All three books are great.
June 13, 2018
A love story with a HEA for Tia (Princess) Jackson and Melvin (Mel) Reed. The Jackson clan are a hilarious family, especially big sister Margie and her husband Chuckie. Team Jackson-Reed all the way...lol.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2012
Read this book again for my Interracial book group's reading challenge. This was even better the 2nd time around, written in 1st person, fun easy read.
May 17, 2013
Pretty good. I really liked Mel.
April 9, 2015
Loved it. It was some good can't wait for to read the other books
July 11, 2015
Very easy read. Book is 111 pages. I would not read this again, but it was okay.
August 3, 2016
Melvin is an interesting character but Tia is not. The "cool" dialog was dated and read as silly, especially from a woman who is Ivy league educated working at a six figure job. To much to fast.
in-collection-interracial
December 31, 202112/25/17 currently free
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews