I will be the first to admit, that I often judge a book by its cover, and this one pulled me in with no questions asked. 

Naima Simone’s Church Girl masterfully weaves desire, self-discovery, and the tension between tradition and liberation.

The story follows runaway bride Aaliyah, a preacher’s daughter who has always lived by the rules. But she decides to let go of the life that was planned for her and walk into the life she wants. Literally running from the alter she moves from her small town to the big city with her stripper cousin. Only one problem she needs a job, that works for her, and her new school schedule. Von is a tattoo artist and single dad in need of a nanny, and upon first glance Aaliyah isn't right for the position. But looks can be deceiving. Desperation leads Von to hire Aaliyah and almost instantly he begins to change his mind about her.

When sparks begin to fly between the two, they try to ignore them, but that is harder than they think. At its heart, Church Girl is about reclaiming agency and redefining what it means to be true to yourself. If you’re looking for a steamy, emotionally resonant read that honours the complexity of doing what feels right to you then this one is for you. Keep a fan nearby—this one’s as hot as it is heartfelt!

Preacher’s daughter Aaliyah Montgomery flees her wedding and small town to escape her parents’ stifling expectations and control to find herself and live on her own terms. She moves to Chicago, stays with her black sheep cousin Tamara, and applies for a job as a live-in nanny for Von Howard, a single father and tattoo artist.

Gritty, grumpy, and heavily tatted, Von is a single father with a lot of baggage. He gives Aaliyah a chance, despite her inexperience and distracting beauty and sensuality, because he needs a nanny for his daughter. Von is surprised by her artistic talent, which shows a surprising flair for tattoo art. Aaliyah and Von experience an intense, fiery desire and connection that draws them into an intimate partnership, where they share their lives and dreams. Will they stand together against their pasts that haunt them and fight for the love they find?

Simone’s books are captivating reads that are each different. Her writing and storytelling, vibrant with detailed descriptions that incorporate all the characters’ senses to add layers to her excellent world-building, story, and characterization, make you feel present in each scene. Von, Aaliyah, and the secondary characters are conflicted, complex, relatable, likable, and excellently developed through snarky banter and sweet, funny, and emotional interactions. With nuance and care, Simone explores how church/religion can control us, our identity, and whether we feel loved and can be a source of hypocrisy.

Aaliyah left her hometown after a panic attack because she wanted more than small-town life as a preacher’s wife. She’d kept her college application and acceptance secret from her parents. A dependable, capable artist, Aaliyah always did as told and is still restrained by years of parental control and training. But there’s more to her than what she’s been allowed to explore and express, and now she’s free to find out who that person is.

Divorced, Von has primary physical custody of his daughter, Gia. One of the country’s best tattoo artists, his daughter’s well-being is his priority. Next is his tattoo shop. Blunt and reckless with his words, he cusses all the time and speaks his mind without thinking about the effect of his words.

Although Aaliyah embraces her new life in Chicago, she’s still trying to outrun her fears of living her life burdened and weighed down by another’s expectations and not being who she wants to be, making her own choices. Most of all, she fears that falling for gorgeous and sexy Von, who makes her feel things she’s never experienced, may take her back to that place where she changes herself to make someone else happy and forget about her own needs and dreams.

I love Simone’s development of Aaliyah and Von’s relationship from strangers at odds to boss-employee, to lovers and more. Initially, Von dismisses her because of her lack of nanny experience, appearance, demeanor, assumptions he makes about her, and his attraction to her. Their intensely steamy and intimate love scenes and snarky interactions further the novel’s plot. I love how Aaliyah stands up to Von and doesn’t allow him to talk to or treat her in any old way because she knows her worth. Von brings her body to life, and for the first time, she experiences the depths of want and desire.

Simone’s characterizations of Aaliyah and Von portray their differences through their language and colorful dialogue, thought processes, and demeanors—genuine and authentic to who they are. Besides their amazing chemistry and attraction, they bring balance and what is missing from the other’s life. Von steadies and grounds Aaliyah, while she becomes a partner to him, helping to ease some of the stress and worry about Gia and whether he’s a good father. She bonds with Gia, listens, and encourages her love of reading.

I’m looking forward to reading Aaliyah’s cousin Tamara’s book next year. Sweet, steamy, funny, sexy, emotional, and fast-paced, it’s perfect for Black love, runaway bride, artists, tattoo shops, nanny, and single-parent romance fans. It’s about self-discovery, letting go of the past, finding yourself, following your dreams, finding happiness and home, bullying, self-confidence, taking risks, standing up for yourself, misconceptions based on first appearance/prejudice, letting go of the past.

4 1/2 stars

CW: Sexual assault/abuse, toxic parents/family, bullying.

Afterglow Books by HARLEQUIN - provided an advanced review copy via Netgalley for review.

i really loved aaliyah and von’s story.

loved the glimpses of vulnerable moments. this was such a cute, emotional, and slightly spicy book! it was deeper than i expected with topics like religious trauma, cheating and co-parenting after divorce but it was still really enjoyable!!

Church Girl is an opposites attract, age gap romance where the heroine is a 24-year-old runaway bride and preacher’s daughter, while the hero is a 34-year-old tattoo artist and single dad. She ends up as his somewhat unqualified nanny. Although it wasn’t my favorite from this author, it was still an enjoyable and quick read! The story is pretty straightforward with some spice, family drama on both sides, and the single dad-nanny dynamic. It’s a shorter read and doesn’t have anything that really stands out, but it’s fun enough.

This was my first Naima Simone book and won't be my last. I know a lot of romance readers (and non romance readers) would love this book. A wonderful, hopeful tale of second-chapters in life told my an own-voices author.

*Church Girl* by Naima Simone is an enticing, emotional romance that pulls readers in with its complex characters, sizzling chemistry, and heartwarming journey of self-discovery.

Aaliyah Montgomery is anything but your typical preacher’s daughter. After calling off her wedding and fleeing her small-town life, she moves to Chicago with big plans to reclaim her independence and follow her own path. However, she finds herself in an unexpected situation when she takes a job as a nanny for Von Howard, a brooding, tattooed single father. Von, who’s been through his own emotional upheaval, wants nothing more than to keep things simple—but Aaliyah’s innocence, curves, and undeniable sensuality spark something in him that he can’t quite shake.

The contrast between Aaliyah’s sheltered past and Von’s gritty, rough-edged lifestyle creates an electrifying dynamic. Aaliyah’s awkwardness in the kitchen and tendency to be a “fire hazard” playfully highlight her lack of experience, but it’s her hidden talent and genuine connection with Von’s daughter that showcase her heart and inner strength. Meanwhile, Von’s gruff exterior hides a man who is still healing from a difficult divorce and trying to be the best father he can, even if that means confronting his own feelings for Aaliyah.

The slow-burn romance between Aaliyah and Von is steamy and layered with emotional depth. Aaliyah is running from more than just a wedding—she’s running from a life that doesn’t fit her, from the expectations placed on her by her family, and from the fear of losing herself in someone else’s life. Meanwhile, Von is just trying to be a good father and keep his emotions in check. But the undeniable attraction between them forces both to face their pasts and their fears, and the result is a passionate, intense romance.

Naima Simone excels at creating characters that are messy, imperfect, and deeply relatable. Aaliyah’s growth as she learns to embrace her own desires and fight for what she wants is inspiring, and Von’s struggle to balance his protective instincts with his growing affection for Aaliyah is just as compelling. Their chemistry is electric, and their journey together is a beautifully written exploration of love, vulnerability, and self-empowerment.

With *Church Girl*, Simone delivers a captivating romance that is equal parts steamy and heartwarming. Fans of slow-burn romances, bad boys with a soft side, and heroines who find their strength in unexpected places will be hooked from start to finish. It’s a story about embracing your true self, breaking free from past expectations, and discovering love when you least expect it. *Church Girl* is a must-read for anyone craving a romance that is as heartfelt as it is hot.

A church girl that desires independence from her preacher father and his plans for her gets her wish, and ends up in the big city. While learning her way in life without being sheltered she meets a man who is her opposite. A tattoo shop owner that happens to be a single father needs a nanny and based on her time in children's church, she thinks this is the perfect job for her. She soon finds out that life not under her father's thumb is really differently but lovely

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc.


This book follows Aaliyah as she runs away from her wedding and starts living life for herself. She becomes the nanny of a sweet little girl, Gia. Now, Von, Gia's dad, is a handsome man instantly attracted to Aaliyah. I like Aaliyah's journey throughout the book and I wished it was longer. This was a sexy book guysss. Like I lowkey wanted to be a fly on their wall.

I really enjoyed this book. This is the first one I'd read from this author and I can't wait to read more. The story kept me engaged the entire time.

I loved Aaliyah and Von's romance. The combination of sparks and swoon, and heart and emotions were potent and had me firmly hooked and all in from this couple's very first meeting. This was a very fun story that easily touched my heart.

AMAZING! I loved the characters big time! It was so amazing and the female main character reminded of myself! Love it!

This opposites-attract romance between Aaliyah, a Bishop’s daughter escaping her past, and Von, a grumpy single dad and tattoo artist, is heartfelt and unforgettable. Aaliyah’s journey to reclaim her voice and power, paired with Von’s emotional growth, creates a beautiful balance of sweet and steamy moments. With strong chemistry, endearing characters, and a touching father-daughter dynamic, this is a top read I’d recommend to anyone who loves emotional and fiery love stories.

This was my introduction to Naima’s work, and I enjoyed it. It was a quick read but super sweet with great characters that developed well throughout the pages. Both separately, and together. The evolvement of Aaliyah from the scared timid girl we met at the start, to the badass b in the end was my undoing. I adored her!

My only criticism is that I think an extra 50 pages would have allowed the ending to take its course in a much better paced way. It just felt a tad rushed for me. A solid 4 star read though.

Naima Simone out here making me question if I’m the church girl or the sinner, because whew, this book is a whole sermon of temptation, longing, and passion! Church Girl hit me right in the feels and set my soul on fire. I’m talking about that heart-thumping, chest-aching, “Oh no, they didn’t!” kind of vibe.

This story’s got it all—chemistry so intense you’ll need a fan, characters with layers for days, and a journey of faith, love, and oh-so-good angst. The heroine? Relatable and real, like someone I’d side-eye in Bible study but secretly root for. And the hero? Let’s just say he’s the kind of bad boy who makes repentance worth it.

Naima’s pen is dangerous, y’all. She writes with this mix of heat, heart, and authenticity that’s downright addictive. One minute, you’re laughing at the sharp wit; the next, you’re clutching your pearls (or your Kindle) because the SPICE is spicing, and the emotions? Cutting deep.

If you like your romance with soul, sass, and a little “Lord, forgive me,” Church Girl is the book for you. Naima Simone doesn’t miss. Ever.

This book was okay, I did have a little bit of a hard time following along. But will say the characters were amazing!

Church Girl is a beautifully well-written story with a well built plot that will keep you intrigued. It's an exceptional love story of faith, love, self-discovery, real life emotions and connection. It's a roller coaster of intense and raw emotions, powerful drama and the classic Naima Simone SPICE.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

A 2024 favorite of the year!

I absolutely devourered this romance.

Is Von intense as hell? Yes. But watching men like that be wholly undone by someone while trying to deny it is my *catnip* 🤌

And I loved their romance against the backdrop of the heroine paving her own life. Naima Simone balanced both so well, and I loved following the heroine learning not only what she wants, but how to stand up for it as well

Naima Simone delivers an emotionally charged and deeply intimate story in Church Girl. With raw vulnerability and her trademark steamy romance, this book explores faith, identity, and the courage to embrace one’s true self. A must-read for fans of complex characters and powerful love stories.

I don’t have words for how I felt about this book because it was just that good. Please tell me there will be more of this as a series!

I liked this one. I love stories of women coming into their own and finding out about themselves.
Aaliyah's determination to make it on her own terms and leaving the suffocating expectations of her religious family made me root for her the entire story. On the other end, Von's devotion to his daughter and making sure that she feels loved, protected and seen, warmed the heart.
The way these two came together was definitely a ride that I enjoyed reading.