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Almost Doesn't Count: The Professor & Miss Jones by Nikki-Michelle

Psychology student Isis Jones- stellar student by day, one of ATL's most enticing dancers by night- is about to watch her meticulously choreographed life pirouette into chaos when the man she's loved for over a year, Louis Thibodeaux, reveals his true colors. Armed with irrefutable proof of his deceit, she confronts him, but the darkness he unleashes will lead to far more than a broken heart. Now, Isis' sharp mind must grapple with a reality she never imagined, rewriting the narrative of her life one twisted truth at a time.

Dr. RJ West, haunted by the death of his mother and past betrayals, no longer trusted easily. His groundbreaking research on Black men's mental health has earned him accolades and tenure at West-Clayton State University, yet darkness lurks beneath his academic acclaim. In the city's shadows, he and his brother Lionell dance with danger, consequences a heartbeat away.

By day, he challenges his students to question the conventional understanding of abnormality, but beneath the intellectual façade lies a hidden world, cloaked in the shadows of night where he and Lionell battle demons of a different kind. After a late-night incident with potentially drastic consequences, Dr. West succumbs to Lionell's lure for "a little fun." He finds himself at Magic, the hottest adult entertainment club in town, where a familiar face ignites the stage.

Fame at Magic comes with its thorns. In the electric atmosphere, tensions crackle for Isis and her crew; Terria. Catissa, and Chanel. The betrayal from Louis was still fresh, leaving her unprepared for the jolt of electricity that shot through her when her eyes locked on the last person she expected to see in Magic's den of temptation-Dr. West. His presence put him front and center stage with a noticeable mask of composure that barely concealed the storm brewing in his eyes. His normally calm demeanor was fractured, a testament to her God-given talent.

Lines blur when professional and personal collide in a heady cocktail of danger and desire. What will the consequences be once their paths cross under the pulsating neon lights?

**This story was previously on Kindle Vella; however, it is not the same story. It has evolved.**

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Reviewed by: VJJ

Lines blur when professional and personal collide in a heady cocktail of danger and desire.

Almost Doesn’t Count had me in a chokehold and moved me to my core. The characters' lives are rife and tempestuous, marked by traumatic ordeals that are masterfully depicted and portrayed with a psychological depth that truly pulls you in. Nikki Michelle, the author, really outdid herself with this one. I was completely absorbed in the web of captivating chaos that she created.

Dr. West is the sexy, debonair, wealthy, prestigious professor by day and Superman by night with so many underlying issues protectively masked until a certain siren calls to his libido, causing him to risk his power, money, career, dignity and reputation for her.

Isis Jones is the intelligent student trying to get through undergrad by day and a pole huggin’ vixen by night, seducing men with a coy smile, a wiggle and a jiggle to pay her tuition when she’s forced to face a few unearthed traumatic truths that changed the trajectory of her life forever.

These characters are multi-dimensional, each with their own layers of complexity that add a profound depth to this story of six degrees of seperation. Every plot twist and reveal had me hooked and eagerly turning each page, yearning to learn more. The raw emotions that flow through this story are palpable, and the storyline is a true work of art that captures the struggles of imperfect people who are forced to confront their trauma head-on. On the surface, the characters seem to have it together while their inner turmoil is like a volcano waiting to erupt.

I believe this book will inspire readers to dive deeper into the complexities of human emotion and spark a lot of discussion in this emotionally charged tale that will leave a lasting impression.

Rating: 5 (I need another one!)

Content Warning: Physical abuse/violence

Genre(s): Romance