She's a church going girl, sure... but y'all are the ones who need Jesus.

The way this book is funny, hot and so well adjusted is amazing. I had such a great time. I apprecaited that there was a lot of crow eaten in this, and I also appreciated some family drama that needed to be aired out.

Aaliyah and Von were just so well adjusted and it was so nice, that even though they messed up here and there, they took there time and really thought about how it affected others. So mentally healthy (in the long run). Also the daughter wasn't a tiny adult, they were age appropriately written.

It had me laughing, and I was really rooting for Aaliyah.

Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for an e-copy.

I do always enjoy Naima Simone’s books! I was quite a bit taken aback with this one, though… as a Gen-X (yes, among the youngest, but not a Millennial), there was so much Gen-Z slang, which was awfully annoying. I don’t know what any of that junk means, and I sure hope that isn’t a trend coming into books! (“Bet” is just one example that kept being repeated. You’re my age, hunny… please don’t do it! The characters aren’t that age, Gen-Z, and surely wouldn’t speak this in reality!)

I liked the storyline of this one, but the slang being thrown in so frequently made it frustrating. I loved the characters, even though I’m the furthest person from relating to religion (character’s a preacher’s daughter, so it was mentioned more than I would normally like), but everything else was wonderful. Simone is a great author who really shines through with her care about the world in her plots and relationships and all of the side stories.

The way that Von knew from the moment he laid eyes on Aaliyah that he wouldn’t be able to hire her as the nanny because he already wanted her? Brilliant. The preacher’s daughter running from her arranged marriage, and escaping to a new city and life to be her own person, and falling for the incredibly hot, older, single dad with the amazing daughter? Bravo! The twist at the end was perfection. Now I can’t wait for cousin Tamara’s story… but it’s so long until release!

I definitely recommend this beautiful book to all, but just be prepared for the incomprehensible, nonsense, teenage slang!

Thank you NetGalley and Afterglow Books by Harlequin for the advance copy. This is my honest opinion.

Aaliyah Montgomery is a runaway bride, but she isn't just running from her fiance, but also her life in small town Alabama as a daughter to a very influential pastor. She is finally to live her life for her, and pursue the dreams she has. She escapes with her cousin who lives in Chicago, and enrolls in college in the art program she has been dreaming of attending. Now all she needs is a job, luckily for her local tattoo artist and single father Von Howard needs a nanny for his daughter. He isn't super keen on her and her credentials at first but Aaliyah proves that she knows how to take care of his child. They both have baggage they have to work through, and their growing attraction of one another may become to hard to ignore.

This novel felt very rushed to me. The chemistry between the characters and their growth did not feel natural or believable to me. The actions and motivations of the characters were not there. The sex scenes used words and phrases that really took me out of the story. I am willing to try another book by the author as this one may have just not been for me, but this one felt like a big miss.

She might’ve come in here dressed like a nun, but that body….shit, it’s all sinner.”

When a runaway bride bounds into the tattooed arms of a solid force, there’s bound to be a huge impact? That's exactly what happened when Aaliyah and Von were connected through a local nanny service. Aaliyah has been always been the dutiful daughter, following the path her pastoral father has placed…until it leads to the wedding alter. Von is in desperate need of a sitter for his sweet girl Gia and can’t rely on his ex-wife to be more than a menace. When he puts in a request with a local nanny service he expects someone to care for his daughter. Not the next woman he and his daughter would care for.

This book was written in Naima's true laugh out loud nature... I loved the special touch she created by foreshadowing what was to come in that chapter by character quote chapter titles. I had such a good time reading, I was a little disappointed that it ended so abruptly. I can't believe I have to wait until 2026 for Tamara's story.

I loved EVERYTHING about this book!

OMG, Von has got it going on! What a bossy, arrogant, dreamy, dirty-talking book boyfriend! And Aaliyah is all kinds of innocent pastor's daughter mixed with an extra dose of new-found sass and self-determination. I adored the banter between these two, and the way they tried to maintain professional boundaries despite the overwhelming chemistry between them.

Von's daughter, Gia, is appropriately adorable and easy to love. Von's a wonderful father from the start, which means so much more when we learn the full story behind his failed marriage. Aaliyah coming in as the nanny felt so natural, not the usual nanny/boss dynamic. He's so honest it hurts, and the way he both confronts and accepts Aaliyah was truly romantic. Aaliyah's relationship with the faith of her childhood was neither glorified nor diminished, rather it was accepted as a part of her intrinsic makeup and a foundational element of who she was.

I could not have loved this book more, and recommend it highly for anyone who loves contemporary romances. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

4.25 ⭐️
I really enjoyed this book! I loved the whole concept of the story and I thought it was executed so well. I really like the way their relationship built and how strong of a relation Aaliyah built with Gia. I thought some of the drama was a bit over the top which is why this wasn’t a full 5 for me. But there are so many good conversations in this book and it is told in such a beautiful way!

4.5/5 stars

Church Girl by Naima Simone is a romance between Aaliyah Montgomery, 24 year old runaway bride, and Von Howard, 34 year old single dad/recent divorcé. Aaliyah is the daughter of the bishop, and she has spent every waking moment trying to achieve her father’s strict definition of perfect (in which only Jesus can be perfect). She convinces her black-sheep-of-the-family cousin, Tamara, to take Aaliyah with her from small town deeply religious Parsons, Alabama, to Chicago, Illinois, where she becomes nanny to acclaimed tattoo artist Von Howard’s seven year old daughter, Gia. From bad first impressions from Von’s reckless mouth, Von and Aaliyah’s romance is one with grumpy/sunshine vibes as they navigate drama with exes and Aaliyah’s journey to freedom in finding herself independent from her strict, religious family.

One of my favorite things about Naima Simone is that she *knows* how to write angsty lust and steam. Aaliyah but most especially Von’s reluctant lust for each other was *chef’s kiss.* I had so much fun reading them find their way to each other. I loved how, once he got over his initial impression, Von saw the true core of Aaliyah and her strength. While Aaliyah didn’t necessarily *need* Von— for she has truly grown into her own independent woman— I loved that Von helped her see that for herself (for even though her cousin tried telling her the same, it’s true to life that sometimes hearing things like that have to come from outside of those closest to us).

Another thing I loved was reading Aaliyah’s relationship with Tamara grow from emotionally distant cousins to best friends as Tamara truly stepped into unconditionally supporting Aaliyah despite Aaliyah’s father forbidding her to get close to Tamara throughout their lives. And in the times when Aaliyah didn’t have to further explain why she is the way she is— Tamara simply because they come from the same family— there is something so beautiful in sharing that same deeply rooted understanding.

Similarly, I appreciate the complexity in Aaliyah’s mother. No— she absolutely was *not* perfect, especially since her silence had in fact failed her daughter. But I love that readers still got to see a glimpse of hope for their relationship in her small act of support at the end.

<spoiler>
A couple more things that I loved in this story was Gia’s relationship with Aaliyah and how dedicated Von was in going to bat for his daughter. The scene in which Gia confides her feelings to Aaliyah says so much about how much trust and faith that little girl has in this adult, especially when she feels that she must be responsible for her own parents’ emotions. And the way Von reacts when Aaliyah tells him, so he won’t feel blindsided, his understanding that Gia’s only job is to be a kid, his fierce protection of his daughter and making her feel safe in the best way he can, despite making mistakes along the way, despite what we find out about them— that unwavering devotion is exactly the best of reading single parents that I know exists on and off the page.
</spoiler>

I am a loyal Naima Simone reader, and I’m so looking forward to everything she writes, especially Tamara’s story (although I’m gutted that we’ll have to wait until 2026 for it, yet I will be happily sat when it’s here). Thank you, Netgalley and Harlequin Romance | Afterglow Books by Harlequin, for the ARC!

📖: Church Girl-a standalone

✍️ By: Naima Simone-new to me author

📃 Page Count: 288 eBook

🗓️ Publication Date: 11-26-24 | Read 11-25-24

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Books by Harlequin, and Naima Simone for this ARC 🤎! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

🌎Setting: Chicago

Genre: AA Interests, Contemporary Romance

Tropes: opposites attract, nanny, single parent, divorce, cover lover, age gap

☝🏾POV: dual

⚠️TW: bullying, virgin heroine, toxic parents, panic attack-h

💭Summary: Aaliyah escapes her small-town Alabama family and fiancé to fulfill her dream of going to college. Von is the primary caretaker for his daughter and owns a tattoo shop King Tattoos. He's in need of a nanny and in desperation, hires Aaliyah.

🚺Heroine: Aaliyah Montgomery-24

🚹Hero: Von Howard-34

🎭Side cast:

• Gia- Von's 7-year-old daughter

• Sheree- ex-wife, married to Von for 5 years

• Michelle-Von's BFF, tattoo artist

• Tamara-Aaliyah's cousin, a stripper estranged from her family

• Bishop Timothy Montgomery-Aaliyah's father of Greater Faith Christian Ministries

• Gregory Riley -Aailyah's fiancé


🤔My Thoughts: I requested this because of the beautiful AA rep cover and title. I figured it would feature a good girl meets bad boy. Aaliyah was not so much the good girl, just naive. She was stifled by her father and the gossiping town she's from. I didn't care for Von because of his language and disrespect. As an introvert I avoid people like him. He doesn't care what anyone thinks, and he says what he wants. He was too much for me, but Aailyah holds her own with him. His relationship with Gia and later Aaliyah were his saving grace. Gia brought out his mature side filled with love and protection for his little girl. He encouraged Aaliyah's creative side and trusted her with Gia.


Range of emotions: 😬🤔🙄
🌶️: Spice 4/5
😭: Emotion 4/5
❤️: Couple 4/5
⭐️: Rating 3.5/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin-Romance for this read. It was so funny and well written. It started right out the gate and I like that. Dual POV and a good amount of side characters to keep the fun going. This was one of the best of Naima books for me. The cover is our siding as well.

Church Girl is a vibrant and wonderful read, and may well have become my favorite Simone book.

Aaliyah runaway brides her wedding to a man chosen for her by her controlling father and goes to live with her cousin in Chicago. She had laid the foundations for the escape long before, applying and being accepted into college there, even though she's barely left the Alabama town where her father is a church Bishop. Until this moment Aaliyah has lived a life of obedience and submission to her father's views of religion and the woman's role as helpmeet to her husband, her own interests and goals completely sublimated. Her father has stressed the importance of appearances and reputation over anything else, reinforced in her childhood and shattered by her with her very public escape from the church. She takes a leap of faith going to her cousin (the black sheep of the family because of her job as stripper). It's the cousin Tamara who shows her family acceptance without guilt and shame attached, and models generous confidence and courage.

Von is a self-made man, a well-known tattoo artist with a thriving shop and a young daughter, having just come out of a bitter divorce. He has high standards and rules for his daughter, his employees, and himself. Obviously when Aaliyah interviews for a nanny position he is repelled (and attracted) by her buttoned-down, "Disney princess" exterior, and quickly dismisses her. Inside though, Von is flustered, something he's not used to "That seems to be my mantra in the less than ten minutes I've been in her company. I don't know why. [...] She bothers me. And I don't - damnit." Cut to less than a week later and guess who was hired as the nanny after all.

When these two come together it's incendiary - Von, he who is controlled and never dallies with employees, is the instigator every time. He's drawn to her, as she is to him. Both physically, but when he needs comfort and support, it's her arms he thinks of. He sees and recognizes her strengths, and lifts up and recognizes parts of her she's learned to keep to herself. She does the same for him, their attraction is compounded by the fact that it's not just the mutual draw, but that they support each other in all aspects. When they both let old fears and roles control their actions, it's like they see it happen but can't stop themselves. Its nice to see them both acknowledge and take responsibility for the rupture and the repair in the end.

Simone does some truly great stuff with POV here, and how it evolves. Aaliyah's interior voice at the beginning of the book is quite prim and proper. Her POV evolves as she grows into herself and starts to shake off a lifetime of her father's teachings. By the end her voice is much more "herself," more relaxed in its confidence and more brave. She remains true to her character, and her frame of reference is always there. Even during an intimate moment, she thinks about a kiss "I'm reminded of one of my favorite Scriptures, about God not being found in a wind or an earthquake or a fire. He was found in a quiet, small voice."

Von's POV is a "gotdamn" (as he says) delight. He's freewheeling in his thoughts (and with what he says), full of half finished ideas, asides, and nicknames for everyone. His language has the casual confidence of someone living and working within his community where he is completely understood and respected. It's fascinating to contrast the slight code-switching Von does when dealing with lawyers or school administrators, and his interior voice and how he communicates within his circle. I loved the poetic way Von thought, as in with a moment of vulnerability he almost repressed, "I call out my lie, admitting the truth."

I don't know if its a Harlequin convention to have the book end the second the HEA is achieved, but I would have loved to see an epilogue or some indication of how Von and Aaliyah and Gia make a life together blending a family, and working through their cultural differences. Don't make me wait a year for Tamara's book to see them pop up! I read this book as an ARC and deeply enjoyed it.

CHURCH GIRL by Naima Simone is an incredible read. Aaliyah Montgomery flees not only her wedding, but her entire locked down life in small-town Alabama, and with the help of her cousin, Tamara, makes her way to Chicago to start living differently. When she interviews with tattoo artist Von Howard to nanny for his seven-year-old daughter, he immediately dismisses her as too naive and wide-eyed and then has to reconsider when he runs out of options.

Church Girl is classic Naima Simone--warm, compelling, full of all too real characters and all too overwhelming emotions... learning and reviewing what we know about life and love and becoming more of who we are meant to be. Aaliyah and yes, Von, both have a lot to (re)consider about themselves and how they fit into their world. Ms Simone gives them the space and support to do that in this page-turning read.

This was so dang good.

Perfect parts funny, swoony and steamy!

I love Naima Simone's writing but this book really sealed the deal for me. A runaway bride dealing with the harshness of religious trauma finding a better life for herself. The grump of a tattoo artist that has just hired her as his daughter's nanny.
This growing attraction. It's so yummy!

I adored this book so much!

I read Church Girl twice, the first time was with advanced-readers-copy eyes and the second purely for enjoyment. Aaliyah starts off the book with a bang, she is a run away bride and in desperate need of a new beginning. In comes her wonderful cousin Tamera.
In Chicago is where Aaliyah’s new beginning awaits, a new school and a job opportunity to be Gia’s new nanny. Unfortunately Von is a smidge judgemental so the job interview does not go how either of them wanted it to. In a twist of fate Aaliyah’s help is needed though, and regardless of Von’s judgement Aaliyah is deeply liked by his daughter. I really enjoyed being able to read about Aaliyah’s new beginning, and her strength to continue to grow while she was being haunted by her past. Tamera was exactly the person Aaliyah needed in her corner, and is a good person to help her bloom into a new version of herself.
The push and pull of Von and Aaliyah was delicious to read about, their chemistry was there from the first meeting and deepened into a meaningful connection the more their live’s intertwined. While I’m not a fan of keeping the past a secret even when it is banging down your door, I can understand why she wanted to leave that part of herself behind and not include Von in it.
Their characters held so many different complexities, Aaliyah’s growth into the person she feels comfortable being and her out growing stifling mannerisms that were engrained to keep her subservient. She is very protective of the people she grows to love in Chicago, and it was a joy to read about her growth. Von is a jaded man, as one would be after becoming a blindsided betrayed spouse. Sheree messed with his head, with his business, and his trust in women. She has been dragging out their divorce, using their daughter Gia as a pawn to make Von’s life a living hell wherever she can. All because her actions had consequences. Yet the soft spot for Aaliyah was instant the second Aaliyah proved her loyalty to Gia. Having the shared concern and caring for Gia was definitely an important part of their growth, because they learnt each other as platonic partners instead of throughout the fog of limerence. Don’t get me wrong, the attraction was there from the first moment, but neither of them acted on it nor had any plan of making it happen. Their relationship growth was organic, and I really enjoyed it.
This was an enjoyable read, and I really would have benefited from an epilogue in the future to see how everyone had settled into domestic life with each other. Everything seemed to wrap up really quickly in the last two chapters, and it made me curious to know how their lives look in the future.

A fun little read that makes you laugh, cry and even at times want to scream of frustration. Seeing how Aliyah grew into her true self and really stood her ground was amazing. Plus the cuteness of Gia!

Rating: 4.5

This was a really good read! I was rooting for the main character! This was a good read about finding your voice. As a daughter of a PK I understood the main character so much! It was an easy and quick read. Can’t wait for the main characters cousins story in 2025!

Ooooohhh, Naima Simone you wrote a messy romance, and I’m looking forward to more!

Aaliyah Montgomery ditches her fiancé at the altar and begs her cousin to take her to Chicago. Aaliyah is a PK (pastor’s kid) so this type of rebellion goes against how she was raised, obeying her parents and being a dutiful daughter.
She’s pursuing an undergraduate degree, and needs a part-time job. Enter Von Howard, Chicago’s celebrity tattooist who needs after school care for his seven-year-old daughter, Gia.
These two have the worst meet cute after Von insults Aaliyah, thinking she’s too innocent to survive in her new city. But desperation humbles him quickly, and Aaliyah becomes Gia’s new nanny.

This is a fast read and I would have loved more chapters and an epilogue! There’s cheating, child abuse (minor descriptions), a tense custody battle from Von’s vengeful ex-wife and even a paternity reveal. Naima Simone really packed so much into this story, and that’s why I wanted to spend more time with the characters. I could tell from the beginning, Aaliyah’s cousin Tamara needed her own story, and I’m glad it’s coming in 2026!

- boss/employee
- age gap
- divorced MMC
- moderate steam
- WDTK? chapter 6

Thank you to @harlequinbooks and @afterglow_books for the e-ARC in exchange for a review.
Church Girl is out on Tuesday!

A runaway bride lands a nanny job with a grumpy tattoo artist in Chicago. Their unexpected attraction forces them to confront their fears and fight for a love neither anticipated.

This is a steamy, heartfelt book with well-developed characters. Aaliyah and Von have a strong sense of doing what’s right, and they make a solid and loving couple.

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

CHURCH GIRL – Naima Simone
Harlequin Afterglow
ISBN: 978-1335574879
November 26, 2024
Contemporary Romance

Chicago, Illinois – Present Day

As she stands in a room at the church ready to go down the aisle, Aaliyah Montgomery realizes that she can’t go through with the marriage. She had followed her parents’ wishes and accepted the proposal, but she didn’t love her fiancé. Knowing her parents will try to stop her, Aaliyah takes an Uber to where her cousin Tamera is staying and begs her to take her to her place in Chicago. Aaliyah plans to start college and find a job to be independent. She soon settles in, though she has been looking for a job that fits her school schedule. After applying for a nanny job, she is stunned to go to the interview and have the potential employer reject her on the spot. His excuse is that she looks too much like she belongs in a church. Well, she is the daughter of a preacher and was strictly raised to always be the good girl. Her clothes reflect her upbringing.

Tattoo shop owner Von Howard took one look at Aaliyah and knew she would be more trouble than he could handle if he hired her to look after his seven-year-old daughter Gia. He rejects Aaliyah but a couple of weeks later he ends up calling her after the latest nanny doesn’t bother to show up. It’s an emergency situation and hiring her will be for a trial period. But Aaliyah and Gia soon bond and the job becomes permanent. However, it hasn’t stopped the sexual feelings that Von has for her. He discovers that beneath Aaliyah’s strict upbringing is someone waiting to blossom into a sexy, desirable woman. And Von will gladly be the one helping her find her sensual side.

Whew! CHURCH GIRL is a sizzling tale of a woman waiting to break free of her strict parents and be a strong single woman. Aaliyah doesn’t tell her parents or ex-fiancé that she went to Chicago. For one thing, she knows they will try to force her to return to Georgia. Secondly, her cousin is a stripper, and they see her as a terrible influence on Aaliyah. I wasn’t sure at first how Aaliyah would react to her cousin’s stripping, but it didn’t seem to bother her even when she ended up at the strip club one night. That is where she accidentally runs into Von, and let’s just say the sparks fly and then burst into flames between them. Gia is a cute little girl who provides a buffer for our couple. Meanwhile, Von’s ex-wife is a pain in the rear and causing problems. I figured we would see her trying to come between Von and Aaliyah, as well as the parents and ex-fiancé showing up. What’s not to love when we get plenty of conflict and drama? Add in the sizzling hot sex our couple enjoys when they can, and then CHURCH GIRL will leave readers pleased.

While their lives are a bit complicated and maybe neither are ready for a long-term relationship, readers will see that Aaliyah and Von click well together in CHURCH GIRL. She ends up growing as a woman, while he begins to learn to trust again. Will it lead to a future together? Find out the answer by grabbing a copy of this tale today. You won’t be sorry.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

Aaliyah, seeking self-acceptance and freedom, leaves her fiancé at the altar and escapes Parsons, Alabama, for Chicago. With her cousin Tamara as her support, she focuses on education and finally putting herself first. In Chicago, she meets Von, a tattoo artist in need of a nanny for his seven-year-old daughter, Gia. Their instant chemistry and witty banter add charm to the story, while Von’s complex character—shaped by past betrayals—reveals unexpected depth. His devotion to Gia and growing care for Aaliyah highlight his softer side, making him irresistible. Aaliyah’s journey of finding her voice, prioritizing happiness, and staying true to herself is inspiring. The diverse, layered characters emphasize the importance of found family, and Aaliyah and Von’s story proves that love conquers all. I loved her engaging writing and fresh take on the grumpy-sunshine trope. Perfect for fans of women’s empowerment, healing, and inner growth—with plenty of spice!

The Church Girl by Naima Simone was, unfortunately, a letdown. I rarely rate books less than 3 stars, but this one missed the mark for me. The story felt underdeveloped, and the writing didn’t do much to pull me in. What bothered me the most, though, was how the MMC constantly referred to the FMC as "innocent." It was not only repetitive but also uncomfortable to read, making it hard to enjoy their dynamic.

There were a few moments where I thought the book could redeem itself, but the lack of depth in the characters and the way certain themes were handled left me frustrated. Overall, it had potential but failed to deliver. I ended up giving it 2.5 stars, which is rare for me, but this one just didn’t work.


Thank you to the publisher for the Arc. This Arc was provided in exchange for my honest review