Novella

#BookReview “Grumpy Valentine” by DL White

Grumpy Valentine

5/5 Stars

~~~~~

This quick read delivered all the feels with a side of self-awareness and a double helping of snark and humor!

Turn-about is fair play and this time the woman’s the grump, and the MMC is ALL sunshine and smiles.

Tech developer Opal Richardson has been burned personally and professionally by love so do not even bring the subject up. Sterling Carter is happy to be back in his hometown of Atlanta after the chaos of corporate New York. He’s weeks away from launching his own PR firm and a relationship isn’t on his radar.

Yet, there’s just something about the abrasive Opal.

And Opal could focus on completing her industry-changing app if Sterling weren’t sex-on-legs… and a genuinely decent man.

It takes Opal’s go-big-or-go-home BFF, Asia, to kick things into high gear, and I’m so glad she did! While her machinations eventually leads to Opal and Sterling spending time alone, it also opens the door to true friendship and a connection that surprises them both.

The open communication in Grumpy Valentine is a key element and makes it a memorable read. Sometimes romance novels get bogged down in the running away and avoidance of lead characters. Seeing friends, adult children/parents, siblings, and lovers have honest, positive conversations the way adults do irl was welcome and refreshing!

Sterling’s a fun character. Not syrupy sweet, just genuine and matter-of-fact. No game… okay, not much, and no guile. The relationship he has with his older brother reminds me of my own brothers. Spot on! Opal is a strong, focused, intelligent young woman, but I didn’t think she and I were going to make it to the end of the story as friends. However, after two key conversations and some self-introspection, she stepped up like the boss chick I believed her to be.

Strong plot and great writing make this a must-read!

Enjoy!

About the Book

She’s a tech developer with walls higher than her ambitions; he’s a PR pro who keeps finding ways around them. Atlanta’s tech scene is about to get a lot more interesting.

The last thing developer Opal Richardson needs while launching a groundbreaking tech platform is a distraction. Especially not Sterling Carter, whose co-working space sits right across the courtyard from hers. He’s sexy, charming..and keeps showing up with an uncanny ability to climb right over her carefully constructed walls.

Sterling Carter’s recent return to Atlanta was supposed to be about launching his PR firm, not falling for the tall, stunning, sharp-tongued woman who challenges him from day one. Despite their instant chemistry, Opal’s painful past makes her hesitant to mix business with pleasure.

When a severe storm traps them together, their connection becomes impossible to ignore, sparking a passionate encounter that could either heal her wounds or break her heart completely.

Set in Atlanta’s bustling tech scene, GRUMPY VALENTINE is a steamy workplace romance where love moves at startup speed.

Grumpy Valentine

Author’s Website                Amazon

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© Felicia Denise 2025

Mona Lisa Smile #FlashFiction

Rainy Day

Flash Fiction: Word prompt – Mona Lisa smile

His chair was empty and cold just like the coffee he hadn’t drank.

She stared at the cup of coffee, unblinking and unmoved, the Mona Lisa smile still gracing her face.

She tried to remember the words he’d said. Something about ‘not working’, ‘better as friends’, and ‘he’d met someone.’

He had said more, but she wasn’t listening.

She was remembering.

When he said he loved her.

When he said she was the one.

When he asked her to marry him and slipped the ring on her finger.

She looked down at her hand, the ring still in place, heavy and laborious.

He told her to keep it and remember the good times.

Good times?

Instead, she remembered when he said he had to work late and turned off his phone.

She remembered him canceling their weekend trip to Vegas because the ‘big project’ at work was past due… and he turned off his phone.

Lastly, she remembered how he canceled their dinner… on her birthday… because of work.

And he turned off his phone.

She’d told all her friends she was spending her birthday with him and refused to sit home alone.

She went out to dinner and saw him… with her.

She didn’t know if it was a casual fling or a new beginning.

It didn’t matter.

It was over.

She went home and waited.

Waited for him to tell her.

Two days.

Five days.

A week.

She emotionally removed herself from the relationship.

She pulled away from his hugs and turned away from his kisses.

She knew she should walk away but she wouldn’t let him off that easy.

He had to say the words.

One day, he looked into her eyes and he saw it.

She knew.

He left quickly… because of work.

Three days later, he called and asked to meet her for coffee.

And he told her… at last.

She never spoke but just sat there before him cloaked in serenity, Mona Lisa smile in place.

He stood to leave, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

She turned away… and he left.

Looking at the two-karat emerald-cut ring on her finger, a wave of sadness passed over her.

Not for herself but for the woman she replaced… and the woman who replaced her.

They were all members of a club by default. There would be no meetings, only dues paid in full. His new woman would pay hers soon enough.

Gathering her things, she stood and placed a ten-dollar-bill on the table for the coffee no one drank.

As an afterthought, she removed the ring and left it on top of the cash.

Heading for the door, she noticed new customers arriving with wet umbrellas and damp jackets.

“It’s really pouring out there,” an older man said as she walked past him.

Her Mona Lisa smile grew. She loved the rain.

She reached to push the door open and felt a tug on her other arm. Turning, her waitress stood next to her, holding out the ring.

“Is this your ring, ma’am?”

She shook her head once and said, “Not anymore,” and stepped out into the cleansing rain.

©2017 Felicia Denise, All Rights Reserved

Save

Mona Lisa Smile #WritingChallenge

Rainy Day

52-Week Writing Challenge: Week 37
Flash Fiction: Word prompt – Mona Lisa smile

His chair was empty and cold just like the coffee he hadn’t drunk.

She stared at the cup of coffee, unblinking and unmoved, the Mona Lisa smile still gracing her face.

She tried to remember the words he’d said. Something about ‘not working’, ‘better as friends’, and ‘he’d met someone.’

He had said more, but she wasn’t listening.

She was remembering.

When he said he loved her.

When he said she was the one.

When he asked her to marry him and slipped the ring on her finger.

She looked down at her hand, the ring still in place, heavy and laborious.

He told her to keep it and remember the good times.

Good times?

Instead, she remembered when he said he had to work late and turned off his phone.

She remembered him canceling their weekend trip to Vegas because the ‘big project’ at work was past due… and he turned off his phone.

Lastly, she remembered how he canceled their dinner… on her birthday… because of work.

And he turned off his phone.

She’d told all her friends she was spending her birthday with him and refused to sit home alone.

She went out to dinner and saw him… with her.

She didn’t know if it was a casual fling or a new beginning.

It didn’t matter.

It was over.

She went home and waited.

Waited for him to tell her.

Two days.

Five days.

A week.

She emotionally removed herself from the relationship.

She pulled away from his hugs and turned away from his kisses.

She knew she should walk away but she wouldn’t let him off that easy.

He had to say the words.

One day, he looked into her eyes and he saw it.

She knew.

He left quickly… because of work.

Three days later, he called and asked to meet her for coffee.

And he told her… at last.

She never spoke but just sat there before him cloaked in serenity, Mona Lisa smile in place.

He stood to leave, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

She turned away… and he left.

Looking at the two-karat emerald-cut ring on her finger, a wave of sadness passed over her.

Not for herself but for the woman she replaced… and the woman who replaced her.

They were all members of a club by default. There would be no meetings, only dues paid in full. His new woman would pay hers soon enough.

Gathering her things, she stood and placed a ten-dollar-bill on the table for the coffee no one drank.

As an afterthought, she removed the ring and left it on top of the cash.

Heading for the door, she noticed new customers arriving with wet umbrellas and damp jackets.

“It’s really pouring out there,” an older man said as she walked past him.

Her Mona Lisa smile grew. She loved the rain.

She reached to push the door open and felt a tug on her other arm. Turning, her waitress stood next to her, holding out the ring.

“Is this your ring, ma’am?”

She shook her head once and said, “Not anymore,” and stepped out into the cleansing rain.

Save