Snow and Angel!!!! They seemed so real to me which to me is a sign of good character development. This book has it all, betrayal, friendship etc. Another winner from the author. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.

4.5 stars
I really wish this wasn't a standalone. I LOVED the characters and hate that the book came to an end.

Taking urban fiction to the next level, A'zayler has penned a tale chronicling the plight of love and romance between the two children of two cartel families. Featuring strong black women, as well as some undesired focus on hair texture and sexual manipulation, the story presents a different spin on similar stories flooding the urban fiction market.

One thing that stuck with me was the author's use of allegorical names for the main characters. This was brilliant, as it simultaneously showcases the pillars of each family as well the as characteristics of the cartel families.

Highly recommended for readers of Kiki Swinson, Nobia Bryant, and Joy Deja King.

I received an ARC on this from NetGalley. I will say one thing, its not that often you find a book that catches the essence of life "on the other side of the law" per se. I enjoyed this book a lot. The love story was just a bonus of the action that was also there. The struggle is real for a lot of people and reconnecting with your first love is just icing on the cake.

As I have read and enjoyed previous books by A'zayler Heart of the Hustle didn't interest me. I found the storyline to be predictable from the beginning of the book. The character development was ok, and there wasn't a wow factor with them. The climax of the story was mediocre and short lived. Angel's mother Empress probably had the most character in the story but really didn't offer much but being funny at times. Even though this story didn't do it for me I will continue to read and support this author's work.

Thank you to the author, publishing company, and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

An okay read but Heart of the Hustle is not for me.

Much success to the author and happy reading to the folks who may enjoy this kind of story but, it's not my glass of wine so I'm gonna pass.

Thank you to the author/publisher/Netgalley for the opportunity to read/review.

Heart of the Hustle by A’Zayler is an intense work of urban fiction. The story follows two families operating drug cartels. The DeLucas and the Easts believe in family loyalty above all else. The main characters Snow and Angel (maybe the author was being sarcastic with these names), represent the best and worst of the two families.

Angel DeLuca isn’t your stereotypical leading man. He’s the second son of the powerful DeLuca cartel, but he shuns the drug trade that has provided an opulent lifestyle for his entire family. Vinny and Empress DeLuca openly express that Angel is the heir to their cartel, because his brother is an irresponsible hothead. When the time comes, Angel reluctantly steps into his kingpin destiny.

Emelia, Snow, East definitely isn’t your average female lead. She’s the only child of Mack and Zulema East. Snow is the head of her family’s drug dynasty and has been groomed for the position since her adolescence. Snow is Emelia’s hardcore alter ego. It’s Snow that relishes being a queenpin, while Emelia just wants to live a normal life.

Angel and Snow must join forces to protect their families and their joint empires. The partnership is strained because of the secret affection each holds for the other. A stunning betrayal sends the duo into a tailspin. They move quickly to prevent the downfall of their legacies. Their actions will soon reveal the real heart of the hustle.

Heart of the Hustle is another in a long list of gripping street sagas from author, A’Zayler. The characters are exceptional. The chapter headers are informative and give the reader a glimpse of what’s to come. You can almost taste the urban atmosphere. The language is graphic but realistic for the setting. The plot twists and street dialogue make this a must-read.

At it’s core Heart of the Hustle is a novel about love, betrayal and survival. I give it 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories featuring strong characters in challenging situations. The profanity and explicit sex scenes may be offensive to some readers.

My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

Heart of the Hustle is an absolutely fantastic read. This is the second book I've read from this author and she has not disappointed me yet. I absolutely loved the storyline and the characters, especially Angel's mom Empress and Emelia's mom Zulema. They were a trip and made me laugh out loud more than a few times, throughout this whole story really. Genesis made her bed and she had to lie in it and I didn't feel one ounce of sorrow for her. I absolutely loved Snow and Angel together. I enjoyed their back and forth banter just as much as I did their romance. I loved that they both stood their own ground and Snow didn't let anyone run over her. I expected D'Angelo to do what he did but I never once suspected the person that help him set everything in motion. The ending was funny and sweet, and left me with a smile on my face. I devoured this book in one sitting and I can't wait to read my next book from this author. Urban books were never on my radar until I stumble upon this author books and I'm so glad I did. I will definitely be recommending this book to my book loving friends and family.