June’s Book of the Month: 10,000 Hours with a Rich Menace by Jahquel J

Episode 78 is FULL of spoilers! It’s best enjoyed after reading the book.

 

Imagine your best friend invites you on an all-expenses-paid trip. Luxury at its finest.

A five-star resort, designer shopping sprees, fine dining, and balling out like there’s no tomorrow. She swears her new man is head over heels for her and doesn’t mind spending big.

While she’s out on a date, you decide to unwind with a bubble bath. The warmth relaxes you, lulling you into comfort. You dip your head beneath the water, letting the silence consume you. But when you resurface, the silence is shattered.

A man is standing there. Watching you. Before you can scream, darkness takes over.

You’re knocked out, blindfolded, tied up, and on a jet—your paradise suddenly replaced with the cold reality of Staten Island, New York.

That’s when you learn the truth. Your best friend stole a lot of money from a very powerful man. A man with ties to an even more powerful family. And to save herself, she didn’t run.

She offered you up instead.

The blindfold is yanked away, but at first, all you see is darkness. Then, as your vision adjusts, you lock eyes with him.

A tall, brown-skinned man, his body inked with tattoos.

One look, one breath, and you realize the truth.

You’ve been handed over to Menace Caselli.

Not as a prisoner—as his wife.

 

Renee’s Review

Maaaan, look, this book is not for everybody. I kept putting it down within the first few chapters because Stevie was making me mad. Maybe reading it from a Mom’s standpoint lol. Like, haven’t I taught you anything? Why you trusting somebody putting money in your account and having you give them back most of it? Oooh, she frustrated me.

Then there’s Menace, who was all the way out there. Boy had me looking at him sideways. He had a rough start in life after the murder of his parents, but damn. Man was ruthless when he needed to be. And he definitely needed to be with some people. I was 100% on his side with Steve & Priscilla. Other times, nah.

The way Stevie and Menace met was crazy, but somehow both of their quirks and ways of thinking clicked after a few bumps in the beginning. That man adored that woman, which is the premise of every good love story. While I wasn’t necessarily feeling this book at first, it was a good read. I love a man who can change his ways for the right woman. Was he crazy? Hell yes, but he was also crazy about Stevie or Wonder or Wanda.

Overall, the book had a lot going on, but it was funny and genuine, with a heavy serving of sweet and sexy. They’d both been hurt when they were young and had their guard up ever since. It took a chance kidnapping and betrayal to get them where they needed to be. Menace (aka Mitchell aka Maverick) and Stevie were made for each other. Some people had to die on the way to the happy ending, but it was still a happy ending.