Angie
Proceed With Caution:
This book contains mentions of abortion and rape.
The Basics:
This is a Black romance between two people who have been burned in the past but are trying to move on and do what they love.
My Thoughts:
I haven't been on roller skates since I was like 8 years old, but as soon as I saw this cover, I knew I had to read it! Roll Bounce Love is a romance between Aubrielle, a dance instructor who has just moved to Washington DC after leaving her cheating boyfriend, and Rashaad, a single father who just opened a skating rink with his siblings. It's lust at first sight during opening night at Rashaad's business, and of course it develops into more as the two spend more and more time together. It doesn't hurt that Aubrielle is also his daughters dance teacher, whom she adores.
I really liked Roll Bounce Love in the beginning. The scenes at the skating rink were so much fun! I've never been to one, but it made me want to go! Rashaad and Aubrielle also spend a lot of private time in his office, and those two are very hot for each other! I also just really liked Rashaad. He's an interesting character and wasn't afraid to express himself. He was following his spirit as he put it to Aubrielle.
Unfortunately, I didn't feel like Aubrielle had as much personality as her love interest. I don't really know anything about her other than she likes to dance, and even that was superficial. Rashaad's six-year-old daughter, Zara, had more presence that Aubrielle did. Which for me, isn't a good thing, because I'm not a fan of kids having large roles in the romance. But that girl is everywhere and overshadows Aubrielle.
The last quarter of Roll Bounce Love lost me a little bit. It takes on some Maury levels of drama as Rashaad's ex comes back into the picture and just flips his world upside down. Everyone kept demonizing this woman and I just could not see it. She didn't want to be a mother, and she's not obligated to be one. She made the choice to leave and sign over her rights to Zara, which is entirely within her rights! It's better for her to have left than to be trapped in a relationship she didn't want. Maybe it's because I never want children that I found myself on her side, but your mileage may vary.
In the end, I did like Roll Bounce Love. I just wish Aubrielle had had a stronger presence so I could really cheer for her to get her man! I also could have done without that traumatizing epilogue.