this didn't work for me, it never gave me enough about the two leads to make me understand why they shuld be together forever, sex yes, nothing else though.

Thank you for the chance for us to review. This gave me all the feels and I will definitely be adding the physical copy to my bookshelf

Former ballerina Lyric Taylor and single dad Devon Masters have a seven-day no-strings fling in Aruba in Yahrah St. John’s Going Toe to Toe, never expecting to see each other again. However, when he realizes Lyric is his daughter Kiana’s new dance teacher, they get a second chance to pursue their intense chemistry, connection, and passion, but it must remain secret. Can they balance their passion and a deeper connection and love to find the belonging they have longed for with each other?

Yahrah drew me in with her down-to-earth writing style, vivid and detailed description using the characters’ senses, and superb world-building to make you feel you are there with them each moment. Her colorful and natural-sounding dialogue fits her characters and story. She develops her complex, fallible, messy, and likable characters with sweet, steamy, funny, sexy, intimate, spark-filled, and emotional interactions and love scenes that reveal their characters and further the plot.

Lyric’s career-ending injury ruined her hopes and dreams, so she’s embarking on a life-changing fresh start as a ballet teacher, opening a dance studio. She’s always only wanted to belong. Devon makes Lyric feel safe, helps her to work through her issues, and to feel comfortable exploring/expressing her sexuality. Devon was hiding from living his life in the past, and she brought him back to life. However, he doesn’t allow her or their relationship to help him heal. Devon lets his fears control his actions and still holds on to his past. Lyric stands up for what she wants and is honest with Devon about it. She deserves to have those things she needs/wants too, and if that’s commitment and marriage, then so be it.

After finishing the Frenemy Fix-Up (Gems #4), which I love, I couldn’t wait to start Going Toe to Toe. While it’s a sexy, steamy read, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected to because the hero Devon is so frustrating and infuriating. He borders on unlikable, sometimes. He could have benefited from intensive grief therapy and counseling to unpack his issues about his relationship with his wife and their marriage because it deeply affected him. The sad thing is that he knew it. His sister—who I liked because she kept it real with him, called him on his BS, and did not let him get away with anything—tried to counsel him about it, but he just refused to listen. He took those issues and his anger and pain out on the most important women in his life, unfortunately, his daughter and Lyric. He needs to get therapy and grow up. Why does everything need to be about him?

I’m not excluding Lyric from letting the past hold you back. Lyric has issues of her own she couldn’t deal with—her biological parents and issues surrounding her being a Black girl adopted by white parents. She’s so hung up on chasing a relationship with her birth mother that she pursues it without thinking about what she had or the pain that she might experience. Lyric had trouble letting go of past hurts associated with her adoption, being raised by white parents, its effect on her adulthood, and race issues related to being a Black ballerina. It’s totally understandable and a lot to deal with and unpack. The good thing is that her parents helped her to pursue therapy from a young age to address those issues. So, the novel has positive therapy/mental health representation.

I love the interactions between the characters. The scenes with Devon and Lyric in Aruba talking to each other and learning about one another, sharing their dreams, and life experiences are entertaining. Lyric’s scenes with his daughter are sweet and their connection is genuine. These are more reasons suggesting that his inability to distinguish her from his ex and at least attempt to let his disillusionment with dancers and dancing go made little sense. St. John also explores the Gems’ relationship and how supportive, encouraging, and loving they are of each other and helpful with Lyric’s evolution and relationship with Devon and his daughter.

St. John switches things up by having the husband/father be the one who wants to have children and be the parent who is more invested/attached to the daughter. However, the comparisons of whether he should be able to parent his daughter if black women can, may not work for all readers. She explores racial issues concerning microaggressions, growing up as a Black girl adopted by white parents, and racism and colorism in the ballet industry. Fundamentally, St. John shows that family is not just about genetics—it’s about who you choose to allow to share your life with.

Sweet, steamy, emotional, sexy, and fast-paced, Going Toe to Toe is a perfect read for fans of one-night stands to more, vacation flings, Black love, and single-parent romances. It explores second chances, new starts, taking chances, living new dreams, forgiveness, belonging, letting the past go, and racism and colorism in the ballet industry.

Afterglow Books by HARLEQUIN - Romance Carina Press Forever provided an advanced review copy via Netgalley for review.

This book was cute, but a little too much for me.

I’m not a big instalove fan, and this one was a little too quick for me. The story line was cute, but I struggled to connect with the main characters.

Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.

GOING TOE TO TOE is the fifth in Yahrah St John’s Gems series about six childhood friends who’ve remained close into adulthood and are now finding themselves and love. Former principal dancer Lyric Taylor is taking a much needed vacation before she opens her own studio. Single father Devon Masters is doing much the same. When a scheduling error at the resort books them together in the same beachside cabin, the resulting week is off the charts.
However they’ve agreed to let what happens in Aruba stay in Aruba, so neither is ready when Devon’s daughter becomes one of Lyric’s students…

Yahrah St John’s group of women are a loving and tight-knit bunch who rally around Lyric when Devon’s instinct to protect his heart leads to some truly painful decisions and hurtful impacts for Lyric. Fortunately for her, her parents and friends give her comfort and support for that and other things that test her equanimity. A compelling read.

Cute traditionally released book! The trope is forced proximity, which I love! The main characters are on separate vacations when a room mix up force them to share.... and the fun begins! You will be rooting for the couple! Definitely a Hallmark romance.

I wanted to like this but he was just too much of an asshole for me to get past it. Lyric is a great character and I loved seeing her journey I just wanted her to end up with a different man. He got mad so easily and then never really apologized for his anger. When he called his former in laws at the beginning and yelled at them for showing videos of their dead daughter to their granddaughter that's when I knew it was over. Lyric deserved much better than him.

I received an arc through netgalley.

This book is the first that I’ve read as part of the Gems series and thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC e-book!

this book really had me in the first half, but kinda lost me in the second hahaha. I enjoyed it I guess, but I wanted more. I loved the premise, the meeting on vacation and having a beautiful vacation as lowkey a couple, but really as a no strings attached fling - but then having to transition back home to real life was tough for Lyric and Devon! There’s alot of stuff at home to deal with and manage. I feel like there was almost too much going on for me to like appropriately follow the story - between Devon’s trauma and Lyric’s being a business woman, adoptee, who doesn’t speak up for herself and like a GAGGLE of friends. It was a lot to keep up with and manage in such a short story.

Overall maybe read. Idk!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC read Going toe to toe!!

I was drawn to this novel due to the super adorable cover and enjoyed the story! While it was not my favorite sports romance that I have ever read, it was a good pallet cleanser.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I wanted to love this book - the cover seemed promising, and the blurb was right up my alley. Unfortunately, when I opened the book, I was taken by shock. It was nothing I anticipated.
I have nothing against insta-romance, however, this was a little much. The book begins with Lyric & Devon accidentally being booked in the same villa. They decide to stay and start smashing immediately. We're talking less than 10 pages in. I thought it odd to begin a romance that quickly. There was no character build-up, no romantic build-up, just "Hello. Same room? Let's smash."

Things got a little more awkward around the end of their 7-day stay, when Lyric got emotional and started crying because she convinced herself she saw a future with Devon, although she barely knows the basics when it comes to him. They've agreed to a fling so they haven't shared anything personal about themselves, just their age, occupation, and relationship status, and now Lyric is pretty much heartbroken.

Devon was a very difficult character to like. I honestly didn't like him at all. At first, he is presented to still be distraught and  grieving his wife's death, but when we later touch on the situation with his wife, it's "My wife died in a tragic car accident. And not to speak ill of the dead, but she was a b*tch and a terrible person." That, along with several other moments (like when he walked past Lyric on the plane and had a random "I don't need anyone!" outburst, or how he didn't want his young daughter to dance) made it so hard to accept his character. He was a walking red flag and needed therapy, badly.

The story overall, just like the relationship, felt very rushed. I don't mind a short, quick read, however, this didn't feel like it could have been executed better. Unfortunately, this was not one for me.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin-Romance, and Yahrah St. John for this ARC.

The Six Gems are Wynter Barrington, Lyric Taylor, Asia Reynolds, Teagan Williams, Shay Davis, Egypt Cox. Lyric is a former dancer who was injured and she is now living out her dream as a ballet dancing instructor. Devon is a single father raising his daughter Kianna. Devon and Lyric meet in Aruba and to no fault of their own with a computer mix up end up sharing a villa. The two make the best of the error and end up spending an enjoyable week together. Now that their tryst has ended Lyric and Devon find out that they both live in the Memphis area and never ran into each other. A small mishaps occurs when Devon sees an older man who is Lyric’s adoptive father greeting her at the airport. Devon jumps to the wrong conclusion thinking that Lyric was not honest with him about having a man in her life. The two meet up again at Lyric’s ballet dance studio when Devon’s sister signs up her daughter and Devon’s daughter for dance lessons. Devon is upset when her learns that Lyric is Kiana’s teacher and wants to pull Kianna out of dance class. Devon’s sister convinces him to let Kianna continue with her ballet classes since she is enjoying the class. For Devon Kianna is bringing back memories of her mom and Devon does not want to go down that road again that torn him and his deceased wife apart. Kianna and Lyric are getting along rather well and rapidly becoming great friends. With Lyric being a dancer as Kianna’s mom Devon finds it hard to open up and let Lyric into his heart. It takes a lot of convincing for Devon to get past his hurt of Kianna’s mom. He eventually starts to let down his guard and realizes that Lyric and Kianna’s mom are not the same people. With what has transpired Devon realizes that he has misjudged Lyric and now knows that the two can have a life together. All he has to do is convince Lyric to forgive him and given them both a chance at true romance.

What an awesome read. With 5 of the gems matched up there is now only one gem left to find her happily ever after and that is Teagan Williams. Waiting patiently for Teagan Williams.

I received an ARC via NetGalley and Harlequin Romance Afterglow and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Yaharah St. John is a reliable story teller in the world of romance. I was a little torn about the approach on the topic of Lyric's "Blackness". However the story of Lyric and Devon distracted me with it's up and downs and all of their moving parts. The story overall was very enjoyable!

Thank you to Harlequin Romance & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a cute, short, and fun Romance! I didn’t realize it was a book in a series, but it was easily read as a SA! If you’re a fan of the single dad trope & insta love you’ll enjoy this one!

As a former dancer, I was immediately drawn to the cover of the book and the title.

Lyric and Devon met on a trip to Aruba after an accommodations mix-up. Upon their return, Devon, a single father, finds that Lyric is his daughters dance teacher. Navigating the world of former fling to the real world leads to some interesting and complex dynamics.
I was captivated by this story from the beginning. It was a quick and entertaining read, The mix of romance and conflict without towing the line of melodramatics that often happens in this genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book.
#GoingToetoToe #NetGalley

Ballerina Lyric Taylor of the “Six Gems” friend group, goes on a fun getaway in advance of opening her dance studio. Single Dad Devon Masters is hoping to decompress and relax in Aruba. Unfortunately, due to a mix up, the resort has placed Lyric and Devon in the same room.

The pair find themselves in a luxury suite with a beautiful Caribbean backdrop. Mix that with two attractive people with chemistry leads to unbridled passion without thinking about tomorrow. They are drawn to each other and escape from their respective issues back home. They agree that what happens in Aruba, stays in Aruba. Unfortunately, the pair have a shared interest in Devon’s daughter, who loves to dance. Ms. St. Johns explores how the pair navigate their feelings, despite the wall they’ve put up. There is plenty of spice in “Going to Toe”. It’s always good to get updates on the other “Gems”. They remain supportive and are great friends. Overall, this is an enjoyable read and I recommend it.

"You light up everything and everyone around you. I couldn't help but fall for you."

After an injury caused her to say goodbye to her ballet career, Lyric Taylor thought her life was over. Thanks to her gem girls and her wonderful parents, she was able to start over as a dance teacher and open her own company. But, before the big day when she officially opens her school, the gems decide that it would be a good idea for Lyric to go off to Aruba for a week, and have a good vacation before starting this next chapter of her life. So, when Lyric heads off to Aruba for the best vacation ever by the water, the last thing she expects is to share a villa with a hot single dad named Devon Masters👀 Now, here's the thing. Devon may be hot and all, but he's got demons of his own. Devon's also headed to Aruba to clear his head for a bit and to have a good vacation. After the damage of his previous wedding, Devon has decided he will never devote to any woman like that ever again, let alone a dancer of all people, because his ex-wife always chose her dance career over him and their daughter Kianna. But of course, he can't resist Lyric when he is forced to share a villa with her all week, so they both agree on a no-strings attached fling, since they both know they'll never see each other again after Aruba. But what happens when they both get back home? Lyric wants to see Devon more but she knows he'll never agree to it. Devon? He doesn't want to be near Lyric because he never wants to feel heartbreak ever again. To make matters worse? Kianna's aunt enrolls her into ballet lessons, and which school does she go to? The school owned by none other than Lyric Taylor. So now Devon is forced to see Taylor every week, and since the sparks cannot be denied, the two start a situationship without realizing it. But of course, as the two spend more time together, feelings start to grow, and it's hard to deny them as time goes on. But what can Lyric do if Devon wants no relationship whatsoever? Especially when she's so getting so attached to Kianna and Devon? A REALLY GOOD BOOK THAT WE ALL SHOULD READ.

“What Happens in Aruba Stays In Aruba” was the plan but Devon had other intentions with Lyric. Lyric doesn’t usually do hookups and flings, but she is also lacking in experience..Lyric was on vacation mode in hopes to find herself, prepare for her dance studio grand opening and actually being a ballet teacher and not a ballet dancer for a company. From seeing Mr. Handsome on the plane and then having to share a space because of a mixup with the villa, Lyric thought to herself... maybe this is a sign and they were meant to be in this moment. After the interactions with Devon, Lyric felt more confident within herself and was ready to meet her birth mom. “I met my birth mother and she doesn’t want me now any more than she wanted me back then. That’s a bitter pill to swallow.” This was something that she needed to move forward, she was able to learn about the way that she was conceived and although she had other hopes for the relationship with her mom she was able to finally close that chapter for the better. Lyric’s goal was to learn about where she is from because “I’ve never really owned my femininity any more than I’ve owned being a Black woman.” Adopted at the age of 5 years old by two Caucausian who didn’t help her accept her ethnicity although they made it clear that they were different, but they didn’t help Lyric to embrace that she is a black woman. But shout out to Jeremy for wanting to build a relationship with Lyric but not wanting to step on the toes of her adoptive parents.

A chance encounter in Aruba leads to a steamy fling between dance instructor Lyric and single dad Devon. But their secret tryst becomes complicated when their paths unexpectedly intertwine back home. As their feelings grow, can they navigate past hurts to find a future together?

I enjoyed the dynamic between Lyric and Devon. Their relationship is hot and sweet. I love Devon’s little girl and how she helps bring the couple together.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.