I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

I think this was a perfect example of an author making a predictable plot of opposites attract/bad boy vs good girl, her own. I read a lot more IR romance, but only because I was introduced to Black fml's more with IR, but I love Black romance too, considering the focus is always Black women.

Church girl didnt disappoint. It featured a quote, un quote "church girl" being thrown into an environment she would have been otherwise advised to stay away from. Becoming the nanny to a single dad, a tattoo artist who is her total opposite is just asking for trouble, but nonetheless brings fireworks.

This book gives me Hailey Bailey DDG vibes if they had actually worked out. This is actually my first Naima Simone book but it wont be my last!

Naima Simone is a new to me author, so when I picked up this story I went in with no idea what to expect besides the description of this book. Ultimately this story gave all it said it did and more.

The romance was hot, but I think the character development of the Aaliyah and Von were what really got to me. Aaliyah grew up in a strict church environment since her father was a Bishop, and this is her story of how she turns into a strong and independent women outside of those constraint. Von is a single dad who is going through a bad divorce with his ex-wife, and this is his story of learning to love and trust again outside of the betrayals that is ex-wife did.

Both Aaliyah and Von are stubborn, but you can feel the tension between them right away. The build was tension filled and when it finally combusted it was well worth it. I also felt that the pace of this story was well done and the conflict that kept them apart until the end made sense in their stories.

I do very much wish there was an epilogue in this story, but it ended in a way that left me the HEA that I was craving. Overall this was a quick, spicy, and sweet read that I highly recommend!

Aaliyah, searching for self-acceptance and the freedom to spread her wings, flees from Parsons, Alabama to the big city of Chicago. With only her cousin Tamara as her anchor, Aaliyah is determined to pursue her education and—most importantly—put herself first. In a bold, courageous act, she leaves everything behind, including her fiancé at the altar, to finally embrace her dreams.

When she crosses paths with tattoo artist Von, who desperately needs a nanny for his seven-year-old daughter Gia, the chemistry between them is electric. Their banter had me laughing out loud, and their chemistry kept me hooked, adding perfectly to the story's pacing. Though Von is prickly and slick with his words, Simone paints him as a layered character critically shaped by the betrayal in his past. His dedication to Gia and the way he comes to care for Aaliyah revealed a softer side that made him irresistible.

I loved Aaliyah’s journey—finding her voice, prioritizing her happiness, and staying true to her values and beliefs. The diverse, complex, and intriguing characters showed the value of found family, and Aaliyah and Von's journey proved that, in the end, love always wins.

This was my first time reading Naima Simone’s work, and I was pleased with her writing style and her unique twist on the grumpy sunshine trope. The story is perfect for readers who enjoy themes of women’s empowerment, processing trauma, and finding your inner voice—with plenty of spice.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Harlequin Romance for the ARC of Church Girl. This review reflects my honest thoughts.

Naima Simone’s Church Girl is a sizzling romance packed with heart, humor, and the courage to embrace freedom and love. Aaliyah Montgomery, a preacher’s daughter and runaway bride, escapes the weight of family expectations to start fresh. Her journey leads her to Von Howard, a tattoo artist and single dad with a sweet daughter and a complicated ex. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their relationship is a rollercoaster of passion, self-discovery, and healing.
I loved how Aaliyah blossomed into her true self, shedding her meek, submissive past to embrace strength and independence. Von is the perfect mix of gruff and tender, allowing her to grow while standing by her side. Gia adds warmth and charm, making their story even more endearing. The drama, steamy scenes, and laugh-out-loud moments kept me engaged throughout.
This is a great,feel-good romance that reminds us love can be messy but it’s also so worth it!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy, opinions are my own

I just love Naima writing style. She knows how to really pull you into the characters' feelings. Now, I normally stay away from age gap romance trope but once I started reading i was locked in, just like when Von mets Aaliyah. Aaliyah, being a small town girl and tapping into her grown woman, was great to see. I'm glad she had her cousin Tamara to push her and support her.
Now, Von was an arrogant popular tattoo artist that all the ladies loved but after his 304 ex wife played in his face, the only female in his life was his daughter! I love a cute kid in a book, and Gia was the sweetest. Now that ex... a hot mess! Definitely recommend this read!

I've been reading Naima Simone books ever since I would sneak to read them in middle school and high school—I fell in love with her storylines, characters, and the passion shared between them. In recent years, Simone has branched out and written different stories that keep romance at its core but either had characters or scenarios I didn't enjoy. Church Girl was both something new and something typical for Simone—and it WORKED!

While it's certainly more urban romance-coded than I remember reading from Simone, something about the way the characters interacted felt so similar. Simone does a fantastic job with push and pull, wanting something or someone and knowing you shouldn't have it, and Church Girl was more in that vein. Aaliyah and Von were hot af, even when Aaliyah's religious roadblocks kept her from enjoying herself at first. I thought Von was very understanding and patient, and Aaliyah grew a lot throughout the story! I wish that Von's ex had been adequately dealt with, but her ending was fine with me just the same.

Aside from some of my least favorite words being used in reference to sex and sex parts, the spice was what I remember from Simone: steamy and plentiful. I had fun!

4.5 ⭐️s
2.5 🌶️
🚨 Pub Date: 11/26/24
Thank you to Harlequin Romance, Afterglow Books by Harlequin, and NetGalley for providing an ARC!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I’m not a super-avid reader of Naima Simone’s books, but my interest was piqued by the premise of Church Girl, as it discusses topics I’m personally interested in, particularly combatting purity culture. While this isn’t something I’ve experienced to the extent Aaliyah has, given how dogmatic the Christian Right has become, not only policing their own families, but the general public, it’s begun to really hit home.
And Aaliyah and her journey truly resonates. She’s a preacher’s daughter, working to push back and disentangle all the BS her parents pushed on her, to the point where they tried to control her instead of unconditionally loving her. I was particularly moved by a passage pointing out that her God was one of love, as a comparison to her father’s more tyrannical image of Him. It’s a sweet reminder that there are people who can reconcile aspects of their faith from fear and hate, just as there are those who deconstruct completely.
Von is also great. He is wonderful to Aaliyah, being supportive and unconditionally loving in a way her parents never were. He’s also a single father, and he’s admittedly made some mistakes in that department, but he also grows due to Aaliyah’s support.
This was a solid read, and I’m excited for more from Naima Simone, particularly within the Afterglow line. I recommend it to readers looking for steamy contemporary romance with deep social themes.

Church Girl is a nice switch up from what I usually read. I love a good black romance with a to-die-for MC, but the MC in this novel is different from the MCs I'm used to. Von is straight Chicago, and it honestly took me a while to warm up to him. I'm from NYC (the Bronx), so I'm used to secure yet aggressive men, however, to see it in a book took me by shock. By the end of the book, I actually loved Von & his fine protective self! Aaliyah, on the other hand, is a good girl and a preacher's daughter with not a single bad bone in her body so I was intrigued and invested in seeing how she'd vibe with Von, her compete opposite. I loved them together, especially in their times of vulnerability. They were both what each other needed and I loved every bit of it. The spice level was definitely there, but in a mature way, which I appreciated. Aaliyah's growth was phenomenal, and I really wish there was a sequel because I'd love to see where Aaliyah and Von go after this ending.
Thank you NetGalley, Naima Simone, and Harlequin Romance for this ARC.

CHURCH GIRL -Naima Simone

Von & Aaliyah make the perfect team !!! 🤎🤎🤎🔥🔥🔥
Nanny/ single dad romance
Runaway Bride
Close proximity
Tattoo shop owner


Chicago Tattoo shop owner and Small town Runaway bride come together for the sake of his little girl. Aaliyah makes the choice to go against everything she's know and search out her dreams .... which puts her in close proximity with Fine Von Howard..... The love is have for this book!!! This has to be one of my favorite MMC Naima has written!!! Emotional, hilarious, hits close to the heart.... THIS BOOKS MAKES YOU FEEL ALL OF THE THINGS . 🥰🥰🥰🥰

Naima knows how to write romance that shows how people become better and heal through love and affirming.

I particularly enjoyed how she did this with two characters from different backgrounds, while tackling issues such as co-parenting, divorce and purity culture. I won't lie- Von was irritating me at first but he definitely grew on me in the end especially when we saw his own reflection and growth making him realise and atone for his mistake. As for Aaliyah, I appreciated that the reader was able to see her choosing and standing up for herself even before she realised that she had been doing that all along.

This story makes for a quick and enjoyable read but with depth and heart.

Looking forward to Tamara's story!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing the eARC of this book.

thank you thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC! It was sooo good! I read this in a day! This short and spicy book is about Von Howard and Aaliyah Montgomery! Von is a successful tattoo artist and single father to the most precious little girl Gia, in desperate need of a nanny and in the thick of beef with his ex wife. And that’s where Aaliyah comes in! After leaving her fiancé at the alter, and escaping her parents’ rule over her life, she find herself living in Chicago!

I really loved the characters in this book, even the side ones! I felt like they were so real. There’s alot of character development with both of our main characters with them being vulnerable and open to changing. I loved the grumpy-ish x sunshine trope and the reasonable age gap troupe - where both were done in a way that wasn’t cringey. I loved the dual povs and how much tension was between Aaliyah and Von. And the spicy scenes were beautifully done and well written.

Not to be dramatic, but this book really healed a part of me that I didn’t know was hurting. Similar to Aaliyah, I feel like in the last year I’ve been really freeing myself from others expectations and obligations and phew the growing pains associated with finding yourself. Only thing I wanted was it to be a little longer with Von and Aaliyah’s relationship once everything resolved or like an epilogue or something! I just wanted to stay with them longer lol.

Naima can definitely write a book with all the feels and all the steam. I liked Von and his daughter, but I really enjoyed reading Aaliyah's journey throughout the book, and watching her grow and find her strength. If you like single dad, nanny romances (with a tatooed hero), this is for you!

Aaliyah is technically a runaway bride - she left her fiancée at the alter and fled to Chicago with her cousin, Tamara. She definitely doesn't want her overbearing mother and father knowing where she is and that she's attending art school, so she's dodging their calls. She desperately needs a job, so when Von hires her despite *her* reservations about his attitude and *his* reservations about her inexperience, she has to take it. Luckily, Von's daughter Gia loves Aaliyah and Aaliyah is willing to go to the mat for Gia - that's all Von needs to see to fall for her, but her appearance doesn't hurt, either.

I really enjoyed Church Girl - as someone who has a complicated relationship with religion, I really appreciated Aaliyah's journey. I love a good single (divorced) dad trope, and the angst of Von's divorce and Aaliyah's relationship with her parents kept things exciting and engaging. While the book ended pretty abruptly and I felt like Sharee's change of heart come on suddenly, it did otherwise have good pacing and was a quick read. I'd never heard of Naima Simone before, so I'm excited to see what other books she has.

My library has already purchased a copy of Church Girl.

I read the entire book in one afternoon, party because it wasn't unnecessarily long and partly because I couldn't put it down. As a former PK (pastor's kid) in a very conservative faith, books based on characters like that appeal to me. This one was remarkably nuanced and accurate to some of the hang ups of leaving the faith as an adult. Aaliyah's journey is incredibly satisfying to read as she becomes the human she was always meant to be. The spice is well-written and steamy in all the right moments. As a girl who grew up with the idea that holding hands was a big deal and marriage was the ultimate goal, Aaliyah's inner thoughts and reactions throughout the book rang true.
I hadn't read a Naima Simone book before, and I don't think this will be my last!

3.5/5 stars - If you love black romance stories, I recommend reading this book! This was a fast paced read that had a lot of emotional depth. I enjoyed reading Aaliyah’s POV and her journey of perusing her own dreams, despite the expectations from her family. Aaliyah’s faith played a major role in the story, however Naima Simone did a great job of incorporating Christianity without it being too preachy. Von’s POV was….a lot at times. But he definitely served as a source of support for Aaliyah.

There was mention of a serious subject matter around the 50% mark that was a bit glossed over and the ending was a little rushed as well. Overall, this book had a lot of drama, tension, and was very entertaining!

The cover and description is what interests me... but I stayed for the smut. This is a cute fast read that's pretty hot.

Incredibly sexy, inclusive, and smart. One thing I truly loved about this book is how specific it is to where it’s set which is the black community in Chicago. It doesn’t try to be accessible to people and that’s to its credit. It feels so lived in and authentic and highlights the importance of own voices

4.5 stars rounded up. This was a quick read packed full of emotional depth and some incredible tension between Aaliyah and Von.

Both Aaliyah and Von have unbelievably complicated pasts with layers that continued to be peeled back throughout the entire story. This book is less than 300 pages, but I never felt like I was shorted any of what I needed to become completely invested in what each of them had been through in their pasts and how that was shaping their present.

Aaliyah was routinely underestimated by people around her and there was nothing I enjoyed more than seeing her show her backbone and strength to shut that down every single time. I was cheering her on from my side of the screen. I think Von was exactly the kind of man she needed in her life too. He was someone who course-corrected real quick after his initial surface level assumptions and saw straight to the heart of who Aaliyah was. He also didn’t handle her like a glass doll. He didn’t hold back from telling her what she needed to hear and he had her back against everyone, including herself, without suppressing her own voice. And when it came to the steam, the man knew how to deliver there and deliver he did. The two of them were explosive together.

The ending felt a bit abrupt and I would’ve loved a little bit more after the point where it did end, but it didn’t leave me feeling unsatisfied at all. I’m fully confident Aaliyah and Von are living out their happily ever after with Gia right there with them keeping them on their toes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Afterglow Books by Harlequin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks for the ARC, Netgalley and Naima Simone. It’s ok to stop here and GO READ THIS BOOK! 🔥 Aaliyah is a preacher’s daughter who has always been done what she’s told. But she had other plans for herself that didn’t include the say of her parents. On the move of her journey she finds romance. Some parts literally really caused me to LOL don’t walk but run to this book. 😆😂 This was a WONDERFUL READ!!!