A contemporary age-gap romance done RIGHT! A.H. Cunningham is so good at finding this perfect balance between reality and fantasy, and what you end up with is a Grown Adult romance that's sexy, joyful, and humorous without veering into the kind of triteness you find in your average romcom currently dominating publishing.

Ms. V, Trinidad, is a single mother of twin 15 year-old boys who BASICALLY parent-trap her in Florida during Carnival... except instead of with their dad, it's with their hot mentor who Trinidad has a crush on. And he's a decade younger than her! And now she's staying with him while they party it up during Carnival.... whatever will they do....

I'm trash for the moments in an age-gap romance where a younger hero is trying So Hard to prove that he's ACTUALLY a grown man, and we do get some of that here without taking it too far; and it makes sense because while Orlando is 25, he's been taking care of himself and his family for years. I also appreciate that whatever hang-ups Trinidad has about her being "too old" for him isn't harped upon too much either.

Reading Trinidad and Orlando's romance blossom with Carnival in Ofele, a fictional historically Black town, as the backdrop is EVERYTHING— it's sultry and eye-opening and the two of them quickly realize they want more permanence, but what that might look like.... is harder to figure out out. It's tough because Trinidad has bought into societal expectations of what "settling down with the right man" looks like to some degree, and is very conscious about having a positive role-model for her sons, but maybe that man's been closer to home far longer than she's realized...

The sex:

The thing I loved about this book is that Trinidad is an "older" (she's 35 lol) heroine who's in touch with her sexuality; neither she nor the narrative is trying to desexualize her before Orlando comes into the picture. Orlando might take charge of the situation initially (and he's a giver from the start!) but Trinidad gives as good as she gets... including TWO instances of public sex :D

Overall:

This honestly might be the perfect beach read— summery, sexy, and centering Black love and a romantic (re)awakenings.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Rating: 4.5/5
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Pub Date: April 29th

Sexy.. Flirty.. Passionate.. This was so much fun!

"..here I was just Trinidad. Ms. V, if wanted to be extra nasty. "

Trinidad is a divorced, mother of twin teenage boys trying to make all of the right moves in an attempt to create some stability, (and to cool her hot pocket!)

Orlando is the younger, smart, determined man with a lot on his plate but willing to scrape it all off to get a taste of Miss V.

The scheming that took place to bring these two together was hilarious, kudos to meddling teenagers!!

This was a well paced romance with:
Age Gap
Forced Proximity
Steamy!
Afro-Latinx Representation

Did I already say steamy??

If you are looking for a mature spicy romance, I highly recommend you check this one out!

Trinidad Velasquez is a divorced, single mom of teenage twin boys. She is a hardworking woman who deserves a ‘hot’ fling instead of settling for ‘okay’. She gets that when her twin boys trick her into a Caribbean carnival adventure with one Orlando.

Orlando is ten years Trinidad’s junior and she can’t help but think of that when alllll the thoughts runs through her mind. However, tension arises and she can’t help but to fall for his charm.

This book follows a hardworking mother as she basically gets her groove back.

One thing I enjoyed about this book was how Trinidad was able to get hers. She was able to have the fun that she deserved. While this book didn’t fully resonate with me, I can appreciate the story.

"Words flowed from his mouth, coated with the warmest honey that sweetened the smokiness of his voice."
"His loss, my chance."
"Here I was just Trinidad. Ms. V if I wanted to be extra nasty. And I wanted to be so nasty with this man."

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Books for an E-ARC!
This was such a fun, sensual, immersive, steamy, colorful, and entertaining read! I absolutely adored the cover and it definitely made me want to read the story regardless! Differences do in fact attract! The story had me hooked from the very first page all the way to the last page, this story was a quick read but it was able to incorporate serious / important themes! Such as single / co parenting, mental health, family expectations, dating in the mid 30's and more. I loved that Trinidad and Orlando individually had experiences and journeys they had to go through themselves to then come together. It was a bittersweet feeling reading their pov's because they are such family oriented people and have made sacrifices above themselves.

The tension and vibe between Trinidad and Orlando was so hot and intense. I absolutely loved how they always seemed to click / yearned for one another and then it was like a bomb once the stars aligned for them. I think the author did a wonderful job providing multi layers to Trinidad and Orlando and further exposed their troubles / conflicts / things they were experiencing to provide a better understanding of them and their actions. The author showed that nothing is ever as simple as we all try to make it be, and that sometimes things work out differently than we expected. This an age gap romance that made sense and one I was rooting for from the start! Orlando may be 10 years younger than Trinidad but that did not stop a thing!

I loved that this was set in a beautiful setting!! The descriptive writing was fun and wild and it truly felt like you were experiencing Carnival with the characters! I loved the rich culture and languages immersed into the story, it made the story flow and feel more real as well.

Tropes:
Forced Proximity
Age Gap Romance

Very sexy, very empathetic, very fun. No drama just good vibes and great feelings. This book was a good time overall. Not to long so I can't say more without spoiling it.

Thanks for the ARC!

- It’s Ms V if you nastyyyy
- spicyyyy 🥵🥵🥵🥵
- The tension has me sweating
- Orlando dimeloooooooooo
- I love how Ms. V (Trinidad) is a doting mom to her twin boys who is trying to find her that love again but also that passion that she had in the past
- Orlando is 25 but so mature and he has to provide for his family and decide between two options for his future
- Enter carnival and whewww things are heating up
- Learning to trust again after loss
- Hope- just because you’ve been doing it a certain way for so long doesn’t mean you can’t change it up and tackle your patterns
- Pushing through your fears in order to receive love

I got the ARC of this book because I lived for the cover. I have never DNF'd a book but i was very close to it with this one. I couldn't connect with the story. I love that the author is representing relatable topics (mental health, single parents, going to college, parentified children), but the story just didn't do anything for me, personally.
In reading the book i wish there was a translation offered for the phrases they don't speak in English. I felt like there's too much dialogue to the point i really wanted to DNF

Ms. V’s Hot Girl Summer indeed! A true carnival romance — full of passion, culture, and the thrill of unexpected reunions.

You know that moment when you run into someone you know at Carnival in a completely different state? Trinidad is a single mom and entrepreneur balancing work, motherhood, and the search for love—unaware that her children have a plan to help her.

Orlando is ready to get serious about his life, and law school will give him just that opportunity. This Carnival is one last chance to let loose and party with his friends before everything changes.

But when their worlds collide at the heart of the fete, will a weekend “situation” turn into something more, or will reality pull them apart?

As a Caribbean woman in my 30s, Trinidad’s struggles and joys felt deeply familiar—especially the challenge of embracing youthful freedom while juggling adult responsibilities. The descriptions and references to Caribbean culture are so vivid you can taste it.

A vibrant, feel-good summer read, perfect for romance lovers and anyone who wants to be immersed in rich Caribbean culture. I can’t wait to explore more of Cunningham’s stories centering BIPOC characters!

This book feels like a great example of: This is a good book for someone, but that someone is not me.

I like A.H. Cunningham. I've read other works of hers. I think she creates compelling characters, unique situations, and good spice. This book contained so many tropes that I was salivating for: Single Parent, Age Gap, Forced Proximity, low key "Parent Trapping."

I think it started with the title...This does not take place during the summer. That threw me. It takes place during Carnival. No summer to be found.

Before I delve into what wasn't for me, let me expound on what kept me going. Trinidad is a strong, smart, badass woman. She runs her own business. She's raising two young men. She's got a support system. She is the kind of FMC I want to root for. We see a person who feels burned by her passion. Her first marriage ended, and she feels like her next partner needs to be the kind of "stable" man her sons deserve as a role model. We can tell that Milton, she current beau, is good on paper, but lacks both passion and commitment. I wanted him gone from the first moment he appeared. And when we met Orlando...Phew! The chemistry between the two of them burned up the pages. What I loved about them from the get go, is how much respect they had for each other. This wasn't a surface level attraction. It was a soul deep attraction. However, they are also horny as f*ck for each other. The moment these two are alone, the sparks are sparking.

Why wasn't this book for me? I think it came down to pacing. I felt like the beats were too fast. Conflict resolved internally rather than as a conversation between the two of them. It kept my head whipping around from plot point to plot point. I wish it had been simpler with more space to be. It made the experience of reading this book...less than pleasant at times.

This style might be exactly what someone else LOVES in a book. This is just my personal preference for pacing. But getting to see a couple like Trinidad and Orlando was worth every moment.

Amazing romance for AH Cunningham. My first one and it won't be the last.

Loved the caracters and development through it all. I find it easy to read with the right amount of spice!

Gorgeous cover, and a sweet and sexy age gap romance. I loved Trinidad, she was a very strong character who knew how and when to loosen up and have fun. Orlando was a sweet and steadfast MMC. The set up took a while, but the payoff was worth it. A fun read.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC!

I absolutely loved this book! I went in with pretty low expectations because, honestly, age gap romances usually give me the ick—most of the time, they feel unbalanced or borderline predatory. But this one was so well done that the gap didn’t even matter. I was glued to my Kindle from start to finish!

The characters completely won me over. Brandon and Brian were such sweet, strategic and thoughtful boys. Miranda was the kind of friend everyone needs—funny, supportive, and brutally honest. Trinidad was incredibly selfless and dedicated, while Orlando was wise beyond his years in every way—maturity, emotional intelligence, and just everything.

The connection between the main characters was undeniable. Despite their differences, their compatibility and shared values shone through. I loved how they influenced each other in ways that fostered self-awareness, self-love, and real personal growth.

I absolutely loved the direct communication and appreciated that the romance wasn’t bogged down by immature misunderstandings or unnecessary back-and-forth drama.

I honestly can’t recommend this book enough!

I enjoyed the representation of single mothers in this book. The author created a character, Trinidad, who truly embodies what it means to be a working single mom. She is pulled in many directions, wanting to have a fulfilling life AND a sex life while raising her teenage sons, which I found relatable.

I also appreciated the representation of the diaspora. The author emphasizes that you can be Black and have diverse experiences, and she does a great job conveying this throughout the story. I liked the mention of the all-Black town in Florida and the culture of Carnival, as well as what it represents in the context of the diaspora.

However, I wish the author had delved deeper into the topic of mental health. I did appreciate the portrayal of the pressure on the oldest child within families, as seen through Orlando's character. He was essentially made the head of the household, sacrificing his own life to care for his mother and younger brothers.

Despite enjoying the aspects I mentioned, Ms. V's Hot Girl Summer ultimately fell flat for me. The romance felt lacking. The characters spent most of the book lusting after each other without taking any real action until towards the end of the book. While I understood Trinidad's hesitation due to Orlando being much younger, the connection between them simply wasn't convincing, in my opinion. Even though I liked the characters, there wasn't much development for them on the page.

Overall, I found the story to be tepid. I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Carnival and its significance to the diaspora, as that aspect is well portrayed in the book.

Just know that if it’s one thing A.H is going to do and that is bring the spice to every book she writes and this is no exception 🥵. I loved the growth that was displayed between the fmc and mmc they really showed you that you don’t have to do everything alone and that it’s okay to ask for help. Definitely a good summer carnival read.

4.25⭐️ *ARC REVIEW* The book cover reeled me all the way in! And, I loved it! There was the right amount of spice and the 10 yr age difference made the story much more interesting. It kinda reminded me of "How Stella got her groove back" the carribean version lol except Stella was much older. Orlando was such a sweetheart 💕. He was my favorite in the story.

Dios mio, this was good y’all!! Now let me just start by saying that I never thought I would be a fan of an age gap romance because in my mind I imagined like Draya or some super wild age difference butttttt this was one I could get with! Lol.

There’s so many (spoiler free) things to love about this story.

One: it takes place during Carnival. I’ve only ever been to one fete in my life BUT the description of Carnival was so rich that I felt like I was there. Carnival + forced proximity? Yes pls!!!

Two: it wasn’t just steamy, it was hot!!! The chemistry and tension between Orlando and Trinidad seeped through the pages so bad I had to clutch my pearls a little bit! Lol.

Three: The characters were layered and believable. I loved how unapologetically Afro-Caribbean Trinidad was and learning more about her experience as a single mother craving stability. I also had to brush up on my Spanish a little bit and truly enjoyed the discussion of cultural norms and experiences interwoven in her narrative.

And four: there were conflicts between the characters of course, but overall it was just a funny and sexy read. I suggest not thinking too hard about it and just enjoy!

Ｅｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
3 ☆
For the last sixteen years, Trinidad Velasquez has done everything right. She raised her twin sons on her own, worked hard, and created a stable life. But Trinidad is done waiting for a happy ending to show up at her door. Orlando Wiggins has never been able to take his eyes off Ms. V. He’s mentored her boys for two years, and she’s never suggested there could be more. But at Carnival, between the sensual dancing, heated looks, and electric touches, whatever he’s been feeling for her is definitely reciprocated.

Now, I have to say this cover is gorgeous and very eye-catching. I love that the theme is Carnival. I have always wanted to attend and see what Carnival is like in real life. The storyline and plot were good, but the pacing was very slow for me, and unfortunately, I DNF'd at 60%. That doesn't mean that once this book is published I will not pick it back up and continue reading, because more than likely I will. But it just fell flat for me. The romance was good, and the subplot of found family was very well done. But I'm a mood reader, and it just wasn't holding my attention.

Thank you, Netgellay, and Harlequin for the Ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I adored this book! Trinidad and Orlando's relationship was a nice change of pace to the typical age gap romance. The use of Carnival as the backdrop to their budding romance was a great choice as they both were able to let go of their inhibitions. I loved how supportive Trinidad was of Orlando almost instantaneously. Both were able to transform to more than just someone who is completely selfless for their families. Trinidad was more than the twins mom and Orlando became more than his mother's caretaker. This book was a heartwarming reminder that new beginnings don't have an age limit.

This cover is so fun and gorgeous and perfectly reflects the book!

Trinidad is a single mom who is looking for the stability to give her twin teenagers the best life possible. She has put her needs, sexuality, and fun aside to be a responsible adult and mother. That is until her sons take matters into their own hands and surpise/force her to go on a holiday weekend to go to a Carnival, where their mentor also happens to be. 😉 I love how this painted Trinity as a mom and a woman!!

This was just such a fun read. Cunningham's descriptions of the place and the festivities brought it all to life and made me want to be there!! This was spicy, funny, and yet still included topics around growing up, relationships, communication, and mental health.

Tropes:
- Single mom
- Age gap
- Forced proximity
- Found family

As a Caribbean woman, I was super excited for this book to come out by A.H. Cunningham. As a long time fan, I was even more excited for the spice. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations and ended up DNF'ing the book. Ideally, the story was too slow and a bit predictable to continue reading. However, I did love the age gap and how much he loved her and her twin boys. If ever there was a man I wanted to love on me post divorce this would be amazing.