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

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!