A South Side Love Story

by Jessica N. Watkins

PLEASE The first two installments of this series is not my usual chaotic, Urban fiction. Yet, they are necessary to develop and understand the drama to come. This series is a saga, so please be patient and trust me. This is also a re-release of the Love, Sex, Lies series, published nearly ten years ago. So, these characters are close to my heart. They deserved a makeover.For some, love doesn't happen overnight. For many, their journey to love comes after loss, trauma, betrayal, and a lot of lessons learned. THIS is Lyric, Vic, and Tricey's journey to everlasting love.

Tricey, Vic, and Lyric are three friends from the Southside of Chicago fighting in the tumultuous war between finding the one amongst the chaotic sea of Mr. Wrongs.After breaking up with her baby’s father, Memphis, Vic is in the arms of one new beau after the next; turning her heartbreak into a life filled with bald-headed h*e shenanigans. Vic's new approach to love terribly clashes with Asa’s uncontrollable need for being more than her next sneaky link. However, Vic’s refusal to commit doesn’t keep Asa’salpha male, street swag from trying desperately to blow up the wall that she has built around her terribly damaged heart.As Vic runs from Asa’s attempts to woo her, Tricey has done the fallen in love with her friend-with-benefits. After the heart-rendering endings of her past relationships, Akbar was the ideal replacement. Everything was perfect about him... except for his pregnant wife. After fighting against it, she falls in love and realizes that she needs to walk away from the man that she can’t imagine living without. Then enters “Blood”: the dope boy ready to sweep her off ofher feet. But can she find the courage to walk away from the explosive chemistry between she and Akbar in order to enjoy the life that Blood wants to give her?While Tricey is stuck between a dope boy and her married love, Lyric and Salem are approaching their wedding date. As they prepare to spend the rest of their lives together, Salem is under the impression that he has chosen the perfect wife-to-be. Lyric struggles with this cloak of perfection as she figures out a way to quietly end the affair she’s had on the side since the day she met her soon-to-be-husband.This is only the beginning of this Urban Romance, which is filled with love that hurts, betrayals, and feels tragically unsustainable. Packed with a sea of characters that add their own two cents of drama and contribute to the shocking and heartrending end, this love story is of three homegirls, not only falling in love with the one, but also falling in love with themselves.

401 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2021

About the author

Author of Urban Chick Lit, Erotica, and Contemporary Urban Fiction... Jessica N. Watkins was born April 1st in Chicago, Illinois. She obtained a Bachelors of Arts with Focus in Psychology from DePaul University and Masters of Applied Professional Studies with focus in Business Administration from the like institution. Working in Hospital Administration for the majority of her career, Watkins has also been an author of fiction literature since the young age of nine. Eventually she used writing as an outlet during her freshmen year of high school as a single parent: “In the third grade I entered a short story contest with a fiction tale of an apple tree that refused to grow despite the efforts of the darling main character. My writing evolved from apple trees to my seventh and eighth grade classmates paying me to read novels I had written about kids our age living the lives our parents wouldn’t dare let us”. At the age of twenty-eight, Watkins’ chronicles have matured into steamy, humorous, and realistic tales of women's literature. She hopes that The Epitome of Femistry series will successfully emulate ideal femininity while tackling stereotypes, familiar heartache, and relatable distress in a humorous, sophisticated, and erotic fashion.

Jessica N. Watkins is available for talks, workshops or book signings. Email her for more information at Jessica@femistrypress.net.

Additional information can be found at www.jessica-n-watkins.com.

Follow Jessica on Twitter - @authorjwatkins.

Follow Jessica on Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/authorjwatkins

Reviews

[raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool

I liked the book but it dragged out a lot.- like a lot of the same stuff kept happening in different chapters.
Vic honestly got on my nerves and she high key pathetic. Tricey literally made a bed and didn’t wanna lie in it, like sis you can’t mess with married men and then expect good things to come to you. Although she makes stupid decisions, I like Lyric, I don’t think she was in love with neither Salem or Kenya. Idk why but I thought blood would be this big bad dude that would come and whisk Tricey off her feet. The title of the book threw me off because there wasn’t a love story, but I’ll be reading the next book.

[RITA RICHARDSON · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do Not Be Fooled By The Title!

LOVE has absolutely NOTHING to do with this book. I would give 5 stars because Jessica is very talented and can write! But I was expecting a love story...this should've been called A South Side HORROR Story. If anyone anywhere is living like this...my prayers go out to you 🙏🏾

[Syd Revell · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite books always involve complex FMCs, strong elements of sisterhood, life struggles with positive insight/happy ending, and drama (with a dash of messy for entertainment). But, this book took me on a complete rollercoaster. All the characters dealt with some MESSSSSSSS. Also, none of the characters were really all that like able, except Vic, and that even says a lot (IYKYK). It was literally like listening to three dumb friends telling each other exactly. But, I hate to admit that even though the mess and plot was ALOT, it keeps you wanting to finish out the series only to see what happens and how it ends for everyone. So, now I’m in too deep and have to finish the series 😂💀

[Shaunie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off let me just say this urban novel had me on the edge of my seat. It was a fast read, juicy throughout, and filled with many twists. I appreciate the relatable characters and storyline. I would’ve given this book a 5 star but there was some small inconsistency through the book with editing the page and chapter numbers. They also mixed up a few of the characters. Overall it was a great read. I am locked in and looking forward to reading book 2.

[Lazell Render]

For the most part it is a good read but that doggone vic irritated my soul!! She was so trifling for messing with memphis then have the absolute gaul to be mad because memphis did to her what she did to her "best friend". I would have felt better had she got a beat down for her betrayal

And don't get me started on kemta crazy ass. I usually like Jessica's books but she let v8c and Kenya get away with too damn much with absolutely no consequences

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild Ride

If you love a good urban read pick this one up. Tricey, Vic and Lyric are childhood friends that go through it and I mean they go through it. Men, women, baby daddies, married lovers, murder and mayhem. This book delivers it all.

The ending I was not expecting but I am anticipating book 2.

[Tasha Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read

This story was full of twist and turns and inner turmoil. I cried and laughed with the characters. I would have given it 5 Stars but their where some inconsistencies and character switch up that had me like hold up I this one was with that one, but it’s still a definite must read.

[CaroMommie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so chaotically beautiful. There is a full cast of characters who got their own storyline within the story and it is a magnetic mish mosh of excitement.

It has a cliffhanger and it is a fooooood one❣️

[Syretta Hines Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read!!

Wow! This book was everything. I don't what to say about these women and trying to find some kind of happiness. I can't wait to start part 2 because I need some closure.. my heart is heavy right now. .

[T G · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride 🤯

To be honest I don't know what to make of this story. I know that I haven't been able to put the book down. Although I am frustrated as hell with these characters. I have to keep reading 😵‍💫.

[Twigi718 · Rating 5 out of 5]

man this was a crazy introduction

Without using characters names or giving too much info, this tale is as crazy as the rest. I’m so torn bcz there’s so many love triangles or entanglements I’m so dizzy and the the ending just hits you without warning.
Happy reading

[Jaeda · Rating 5 out of 5]

great

Can’t wait to read part two … it’s so much I need answers to … and akbar is just a butt hole to me .. just needed to get that out .. lol

[Nikki Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This book was soooooooooo good. I loved the characters and my emotions was all over. I cannot wait for Part 2

[Danielle Guidry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good read this book will definitely have you at the end of your seat you will want to read more until the very end I can't wait to read part 2 to see what happens next

[LaShea Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A South Side Love Story

I’ve never read the original story just this revised one. Seems like once it started getting good the story ended!! I need to know what happened!!

[janice williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow so much drama for just the first book

For the first book in this story so much has happened. Can't wait to see what happens next for the ladies and the men in their lives.

[Ragin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read

A South side love story was N Awesome read. I’m so ready for part 2. Keep up the great work

[Jeanine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This story line is fire! So many twist . I can't wait to jump into part two of this series.

[Rosereadseverything ❁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually one of the best urban fictions this year…wasn’t boring, kinda repetitive. But not boring.

[Erika Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Good!

I really love how this book didn’t move too fast. We were able to learn about each character before the drama became too intense…great read!

[Aliyah Newsome · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay

Slow read but good book going to read part 2
It was a lot of unnecessary things included but it was still good

[qiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner

Shocked and exciting and sad but all around page turner. You will have to read it to understand. Looking forward to the next book.

[reneeNaDaCherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read 1/29/2022.

[Cornelia Winder · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME

A true page turner. Ready for part two. I'm not trying to spoil it but I'm praying that a few people are alright. Very interesting.

[Teria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was good. Some of the story lines were bland. The editing could have been better. However, I will be reading part 2.

[Tashawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner

I loved everything about this story. I couldn't put it down. Please keep the series coming. I'm looking forward to knowing if Blood is alive and how Algae responds.

[Betty Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is to good

Merci me this story is unbelievable and I love it. I'm running to part 2 right now. I can't wait to see how this part is going to pick up. Lata

[Felecia Whitaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ex c

Excellent writing but a whole lot going on at once. Guess that what goes on in the hood, loved the book

[Shannon Weathers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I loved everything about this book. It was well thought out and very well written. There weren't spelling and grammatical errors to disrupt the story.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎧 Enjoyed book one and the cliff hanger at the end!!!!!