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lylesgirl2020 's review for:
Beneath the Sunshine: A not so grumpy billionaire romance.
by Smardline S., Smardline S.
Big love to Smardline S. & Torch Lit Ink for the ARC!
This was my intro to her work, and even though I gave it a personal 3.5 out of 5, I can see why readers are drawn to her style—it’s got a cool vibe and a unique voice that stands out.
This is book two in The Soulmate Effect series, which I didn’t know going in, but no worries—it still worked perfectly as a standalone and was a solid intro to Smardline’s world.
We meet Lucien, a smooth French billionaire CEO, and Rylee, a smart, driven Afro-Latina marketing exec from the U.S. They had a summer romance that ended with her disappearing, and now? Luc pulls a total power move—buys out her struggling company, hires her, and proposes a fake marriage. But don’t get it twisted—Luc’s not playing games. He’s all in.
What worked? Oh, it worked.
Luc’s portrayal as a man with ADHD was refreshingly honest—woven into his character in a way that felt genuine, not performative.
And Luc himself? Whew. He’s the soft, observant, ride-for-his-woman type—paying attention to things like her scent preferences and showing up for her in real ways.
Rylee? Grounded, relatable, and layered. She’s healing, protecting her little sister, and trying to navigate love without losing herself.
And the romance? When it hits, it’s tender, steamy, and intentional.
Now, some things didn’t land for me personally.
A few side characters felt like noise instead of impact, and I wished we got more showing of Luc and Rylee’s emotional connection. A couple flashbacks could’ve made their love story feel even deeper.
There were also ancestor/flashback scenes that didn’t quite click for me while I normally love an ancestor being honored or being referred to in this case it felt...I just wanted more focus on the present-day romance.
But here’s the thing: if you’re here for Black love, passion with purpose, and a billionaire who is head-over-heels for his woman? You’ll probably enjoy this ride.
Even though it wasn’t a perfect fit for me, I can absolutely see the appeal—and if this sounds like your type of love story, it’s worth checking out.
This was my intro to her work, and even though I gave it a personal 3.5 out of 5, I can see why readers are drawn to her style—it’s got a cool vibe and a unique voice that stands out.
This is book two in The Soulmate Effect series, which I didn’t know going in, but no worries—it still worked perfectly as a standalone and was a solid intro to Smardline’s world.
We meet Lucien, a smooth French billionaire CEO, and Rylee, a smart, driven Afro-Latina marketing exec from the U.S. They had a summer romance that ended with her disappearing, and now? Luc pulls a total power move—buys out her struggling company, hires her, and proposes a fake marriage. But don’t get it twisted—Luc’s not playing games. He’s all in.
What worked? Oh, it worked.
Luc’s portrayal as a man with ADHD was refreshingly honest—woven into his character in a way that felt genuine, not performative.
And Luc himself? Whew. He’s the soft, observant, ride-for-his-woman type—paying attention to things like her scent preferences and showing up for her in real ways.
Rylee? Grounded, relatable, and layered. She’s healing, protecting her little sister, and trying to navigate love without losing herself.
And the romance? When it hits, it’s tender, steamy, and intentional.
Now, some things didn’t land for me personally.
A few side characters felt like noise instead of impact, and I wished we got more showing of Luc and Rylee’s emotional connection. A couple flashbacks could’ve made their love story feel even deeper.
There were also ancestor/flashback scenes that didn’t quite click for me while I normally love an ancestor being honored or being referred to in this case it felt...I just wanted more focus on the present-day romance.
But here’s the thing: if you’re here for Black love, passion with purpose, and a billionaire who is head-over-heels for his woman? You’ll probably enjoy this ride.
Even though it wasn’t a perfect fit for me, I can absolutely see the appeal—and if this sounds like your type of love story, it’s worth checking out.