Man of Fate

The Best Men #1

by Rochelle Alers

In the first book of The Best Men trilogy, bestselling author Rochelle Alers brings readers a romantic and sensual love storyA fender bender seems like a stroke of lousy luck, until attorney Kyle Chatham glimpses the woman who just put a dent in his vintage Jag. The fact that gorgeous social worker Ava Warrick wants little to do with him only piques his interest. What starts out as simple friendship gives way to cozy dinners and blissful, breathless nights…until Ava brings their relationship to a screeching halt. Kyle’s sure she’s his soul mate. But now that the confirmed bachelor is ready to commit, can he convince a woman who’s learned never to trust in love that a connection this real, this passionate, is anything but an accident?Originally published in 2009

Genres: Romance, African American Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 19, 2009

About the author

Rochelle Alers was born in Manhattan, New York, USA, where she raised. She obtained degrees in Sociology and Psychology, before started to work. She is a member of the Iota Theta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and her interests include gourmet cooking and traveling. She has traveled to countries in North, Central and South America, and Europe. She is also in accomplished in knitting, crocheting and needlepoint.

Published since 1988, today a full-time writer, has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today's most prolific and popular African-American authors of romance and women's fiction. With more than fifty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, she is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, regularly chosen by Black Expressions Book Club, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award. She also wrote as Susan James and Rena McLeary.

Rochelle Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.

Reviews

[SassyMama · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first story in the Best Men Series and it's a GREAT start...I enjoyed Kyle and Ava's budding romance...I like the fact that they were open and honest from the beginning...there is NO game playing...a grown, SENSUAL and mutually consensual relationship...I also found myself CAUGHT UP in the beautifully descriptive and well written details in regards to the cultural scenery of NY...I love the camaraderie between Kyle and his circle of friends...I also thought it was nice to catch up with the Whitfields from her previous series...I ONLY hope the other two stories in this series are just as ENGAGING.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read! Well developed characters, Can't wait for Duncan and Ivan's stories. Great summer reads!

[Sheila Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was okay. I wish that it spent more time on Kyle and Ava relationship than their professions.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story does a good job showing how a man can love a woman for who she is. The main female character is casual and challenges him with a lot of questions. He’s very patient and loving towards her. The story is straightforward without any twists or turns that could have made it more interesting.

[Misherald Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rochelle Alers brings us a man who is the epitome of grace and beauty but he is also a very passionate man who finds himself falling in love. When he realizes he is in love he falls with grace, which makes him the replica of a great man.

Kyle Chatman is a lawyer who knows what he wants and often goes to get what he wants with a confidence that allows him to come back successful. When he finds himself in a fender binder he finds himself intrigued by the cause of the fender bender Miss Ava Warrick who he comes to realize is a lady who is independent and very well spoken as well as educated and he finds himself wanting to know her more. Kyle never thought he would find the day when he found himself so intrigued with a woman that he would change the way he did things to please that women.

Ava Warrick was always weary of men from experience with relationships she had encounter and after finally decided that she could be a mommy as well as an independent woman without marrying a man. Ava is a compassionate social worker who seems to be still finding herself when she encounters Kyle she finds him to be a pompous, arrogant attorney but as she gets to know him she finds him to be a very compassionate complex person.

Ava & Kyle enjoy their selves with no true definition to who they really are until they both find their selves falling in love with one another while Kyle is willingly open about his feelings Ava holds back for various reasons and its cause a slight power struggle to their relationship. While everyone around them notices them falling in love it is Ava who struggles with it.

Rochelle gives us the perfect story about a man who never thought marriage was in the cards for him until he meets the perfect women who fits him and his temperament. While it seems that Ava was slighted in her character, she still presented a slight lag but she also represented a scorn woman and therefore Rochelle’s characters were characters we can always relate with. I cannot wait to read Duncan and Ivan’s story as I suspect these two stories will be rather interesting especially Mr. DG who seems to be more intense one. Rochelle has once again given us men to read about when we feel that good men aren’t out there she gives us the true meaning of a good man even when they have their own flaws.

[Andrea Jackson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, that didn't thrill me. It was a little too predictable and mundane. Alers managed to make sex> boring. Love scenes were open door, but no graphic language or description. However, I've read some really sensual books like that. No this was because the couple talked to each other about their underwear and other pedestrian things. He even asked her if her boobs were real on their first time! Wouldn't you smack a man who asked you that after he got your clothes off?

[Felita Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man of Fate is a sweet, easygoing romance about timing, second chances, and love finding you when you least expect it. Rochelle Alers focuses on two grown, successful adults who aren’t rushing into anything but slowly realize they might be exactly what the other needs.

The characters feel real and relatable, especially the emotional baggage they bring with them. The romance builds naturally, with more focus on trust and connection than over-the-top drama. It’s not a fast-paced or twist-heavy story, but it’s warm, comforting, and satisfying.

Overall, Man of Fate is a good pick if you like low-drama romances, mature characters, and love stories that feel grounded and heartfelt.

[Daphney Lebrun Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rochelle has yet to fail

I was looking for another series and as usual Rochelle did not disappoint! This story has the heartwarming aspects that keep me smiling and looking forward to the happy ending that I know will ensue.

[Sharon Eikenberry-Deary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava is not a believeer in fate until she meets Kyle Chatham and Harlem lawyer and home owner. She has a finder bender and she begins throughout the weeks there is something to fate

[Cynthia Lampkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I enjoyed reading this book. The characters were believable. Purchased the book years ago. Refreshing re-read of Ms Alers best man series.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

['The Book Queen' · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this story many years ago. It was just as enjoyable the second time around.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lose consciousness briefly brings love

A morning accident brings two totally different people together. Kyle was so into making sure that Ava was alright in the mist of it all he caught feelings for her. The swelling of her face cause him to get weak along with losing conscious in his arm. With all the madness once Ava awakes, Kyle stayed a gentleman with her crying about her car, but the accident was her fault. All of the peace, love and happiness that came from Kyle was so unreal to Ava. She’s so use to dealing with butt wipes that she almost missed her prince in action. Both have had their dysfunctional relationships but Kyle was willing to take Ava for a test drive.

To me the characters was real but not so believable to the point were I had a favorite. It started off fast, got slow in the middle and at the end it got hot with cayenne pepper, spicy. I would have enjoyed some courtroom battle with Kyle clients. Especially with his new partner Jordan and his grandfather that was accused of beening a slum lord. There’s a three series so I will be reading the next one really soon.

[D.lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been a Rochelle Alers fan for years and I usually love all of her books. This one was just ok. The chemistry between Kyle and Ava just didn't jump off the page for me. They had what a would consider a slow comfortable friendship and the love between them grew to a rumble, but not the usual explosion. Like I said the story was ok, but not one of my favorites. I still will be buy the other two books, because I'm curious about Ivan and Duncan too. I wouldn't say I was disappointed, because I have definitely read worst. I will give Ms. Alers her props because her work has most definitely grown from when I first started reading her books. The passions just wasn't that hot in this story. It not about an abundance of sex, its about chemistry and I just didn't really feel it in this book. It doesn't mean it wasn't a good story, because I did enjoy as I do all Ms. Alers' books. Its just not one of my favorites

[Jazz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rochelle Alers is one of my favorite authors and I've read her for over 15 years. This book was good, not great. Loved the Kyle character and felt like most aspects of his character and storyline were great. Ava, on the other hand, was hard to like at times. She was a little too prickly and too quick to be on the defensive, like when meeting Ivan and him saying something nice about Kyle and her jumping down his throat. Luckily, she wasn't normally that bad, just in a few instances, and I did like them together. They had good chemistry and they seemed like a good match in many ways. The storyline revolving around work was more interesting on Kyle's part than on Ava's. In general, I'd recommend for Kyle in particular, but if this is your first time reading Ms. Alers, I'd say make sure to try a few of her other ones before you write her off if this wasn't your cup of tea.

[Gina Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I read it in one day. It was HOT!!! The passion between Kyle and Ava leaped off the pages. She was a feisty somethin', but Kyle went toe to toe with her...I loved that. The only thing I did not like was the repeated use of the word "darling". That term of endearment just did not flow in my opinion. Baby, Sweetie, Honey and Sweetheart are ALL winners when it comes to terms of endearment. Saying "darling" is like say "Snuckums" or something like that...LOL. Nevertheless the off was off the chain. Thumbs up to Ms. Alers!!

[Layeshia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Enjoyed Ava and Kyle's love journey. Ava miss trusted anything to do with the word love even if it was coming from a handsome successful man. Ava had good cause not to trust love she had been burned twice seriously in the pass by her boyfriends. But in the end, I was able to convince her that he was deeply in love with her. Do you need a man of fate.

[Mary Calton Gerard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful

I enjoyed the story line and the characters. Who knew that a car accident would have begun with taking care of a woman with a head trauma to love. The author kept me interested with "side" stories that shaped the main character's background and basis for growing personally and as a couple.

[Temptingat40 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

[Cheryl Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was a good book, I enjoooyed it

[Ashley-Dior Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty good. Something to read if you want to see how people date one another.

[Dyannah]

This was very good. Very adult. The storey line was very good and kept my interest. I bonded with the characters after reading the other two books I felt like I knew them.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author wrote a really good story. I thought the progression of Ava and Kyle's love was sweet and really entertaining.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Shone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love didn't come easy for Kyle but he made it.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This group of guys and their friendship feels real.