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Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe
Prequel to the Upper Room
New York Times bestselling author Mary Monroe presents an unforgettable tale featuring Mama Ruby, the indomitable heroine of her acclaimed novel The Upper Room. Now readers will get a peek into Ruby’s early years, as she transforms from a spoiled small-town girl into one of the South’s most notorious and volatile women…
Growing up in Shreveport, Louisiana, Ruby Jean Upshaw is the kind of girl who knows what she wants and knows how to get it. By the time she’s fifteen, Ruby has developed a taste for fast men and cheap liquor, and not even her preacher daddy can set her straight. Most everyone in the neighborhood knows you don’t cross Ruby. Only Othella Mae Cartier, daughter of the town tramp, understands what makes Ruby tick.
When Ruby discovers she’s in the family way, she’s scared for the first time in her life. After hiding her growing belly with baggy dresses, Ruby secretly gives birth to a baby girl at Othella’s house. With few choices, Othella talks Ruby into giving the child away and with the help of a shocking revelation, convinces Ruby to run off with her to New Orleans.
But nothing can erase Ruby’s memories of the child she lost or quell her simmering rage at Othella for persuading her to let her precious baby go. If there’s a fine line between best friend and worst nightmare, Ruby is surely treading it. Because someday, there will be a reckoning. And when it comes, Othella will learn the hard way that no one knows how to exact revenge quite like Ruby Jean Upshaw!
Excerpt from Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe
How did Ruby and Othella Mae come to be who they are today? Find out in the exciting prequel to The Upper Room. There’s a fine line between best friend and worst nightmare…but there will be a reckoning....
Introduction to Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe
Prequel to The Upper Room
Originally published in 1985, Mary Monroe's engaging debut novel, The Upper Room, features Ruby Montgomery, an obese, indomitable character who steals her best friend's baby daughter and flees to rural Florida, where she establishes herself as an almost mythical figure. The dialogue and setting are reminiscent of Zora Neale Hurston. The Upper Room by Mary Monroe is a candid portrayal of the cold-blooded yet fascinating Mama Ruby.
~ Shreveport, Louisiana, 1934 ~
Nobody ever had to tell Ruby Jean Upshaw that she was special, but she heard it from every member of her family, her father’s congregation, her classmates, and even the people in her neighborhood almost every day. She was the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter. To some black folks, that was a very high position on the food chain. It meant that she had mystical abilities usually associated with Biblical icons. But as a child, Ruby didn’t care one way or the other about being “special” like that.
She balked when people insisted that she’d eventually have “healing hands” and the ability to “predict the future” like other seventh daughters of seventh daughters. But Ruby didn’t care about healing anybody, that was God’s job, and those snake oil salesmen who rolled through town from time to time. And she certainly didn’t want to be telling anybody what the future held for them. Because if it was something bad, they didn’t need to know, and she didn’t want to know. The bottom line was, and she’d told a lot of people this when they brought it up, she didn’t want those responsibilities. The last thing she needed cluttering up her life was a bunch of superstitious people taking up her time, and drawing unwanted attention to her. Just being the daughter of a preacher was enough of a burden.
And since Ruby was the youngest member of the Upshaw family, her parents watched her like a hawk, and tried to monitor and control most of her activities. “Why do I have to go to church every Sunday?” she asked her mother one Sunday morning when she was just eight. “I want to have some fun!”
“You go to church because you are supposed to, gal. How would it look to the rest of your Papa’s congregation if his own daughter don’t come to church?” Ida replied, giving Ruby a stern look.
“Don’t you want to be saved?”
“Saved from what, Mama?” Ruby questioned, looking out of the living room window at the kids across the street building a tent in their front yard.
“Saved from the world, worldly ways. This planet is full of all kinds of pitfalls out there waitin’ on a girl like you. Drinkin’. Men with more lust in their heads than brain matter. Violence. Loud music and sleazy outfits that would shock a harlot,” Ida answered.
Ruby already knew all of that. From what she’d been able to determine; it was a lot more fun to be “worldly” than it was to be the way her parents wanted her to be. “I want to have some fun like the rest of the kids!” she pouted, knowing that she faced a no-win situation. Her parents’ minds were as nimble as concrete. Once they laid down the rules for Ruby, there were no exceptions.
“You can still have fun and keep yourself virtuous,” her father insisted. “Me and Mother ain’t makin’ you do nothin’ we didn’t make your sisters do, and look how well they all turned out.”
Ruby pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. Before they got married, all six of her older sisters snuck out of the house at night, drank alcohol, slept with men, and wore clothes that would shock a harlot. That was the life that Ruby thought she wanted, and she had already started on the journey that would lead her to a life of fun and frivolity. And as far as violence, she wondered what her over bearing, but naïve, parents would say if they knew that she was already carrying a switchblade in her sock.
Ruby made good grades in school and she had a lot of friends, but it was hard for her to maintain both. She didn’t like to study, and she didn’t like having to attend that run down school four blocks from her house. Those activities took up too much of her time. She appreciated the fact that her classmates and playmates were at her beck and call, not because they liked her, but because they feared her. They all knew about that switchblade she carried in her sock, and they all knew that she was not afraid to use it. She was the most feared eight-year-old in the state.
About the Author
Mary Monroe is the author of the award-winning, New York Times bestselling God series, which includes God Don’t Like Ugly and God Ain’t Blind. Mary Monroe is the third child of Alabama sharecroppers and the first and only member of her family to finish high school. One of her proudest moments was when she became a winner of the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award.
She is currently celebrating the release of Mama Ruby, the prequel to the Upper Room, the book that started it all. She still writes seven days a week and gets most of her ideas from current events, and the people around her, but most of her material is autobiographical.
Mary Monroe lives in Oakland, California. She is divorced, loves to travel, loves to mingle with other authors, and she'll read anything by Ernest Gaines, Stephen King, Alice Walker, and James Patterson.
Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Dafina (May 31, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0758238614
ISBN-13: 978-0758238610
Paige Donahue has always lived in her sister Camille’s shadow. When they were girls it was Camille who had the best grades, lots of friends, and--most importantly--their parents’ love. Paige, on the other hand, was left with nothing more than hand-me-downs and criticism, and no matter how hard she tried, she could never measure up to her sister’s standard.
Now as adults, Camille enjoys a coveted life with two wonderful children and her loving husband, Pierce—a man who provides her with the best of everything: a big, beautiful home, designer clothes, and expensive cars. All while Paige suffers alone in a small condo with mounting bills she can’t afford to pay.
But enough is enough, and it's high time Paige took what she is owed--starting with
Pierce. Hence, by planting seeds of doubt in both Camille’s and Pierce’s minds, her plan to steal her brother-in law seems to work perfectly. Until a twist of fate takes things wildly off course…
As one sister’s jealousy pushes a family to the edge and exposes life-changing secrets, another’s faith will highlight the beauty and power of forgiveness, in this gripping and dramatic new novella from New York Times bestselling author
Kimberla Lawson Roby.
Sneak Peek: SECRET OBSESSION by Kimberla Lawson Roby
Chapter 1
One Week Later
Paige smiled at Owen Richardson, her boyfriend of one year and wondered how she’d tolerated him for so long. But she knew why. He worshiped the ground she walked on, and the sex between them could sometimes be out of this world. Still, he was no Pierce Montgomery. He wasn’t even half the man her brother-in-law was, not when you compared their looks, charisma and personality. And Owen’s financial situation had never sat well with her, either. Of course, there was no denying that he did earn a great salary as a fireman, but he didn’t bring in nearly enough money to excite Paige. He didn’t make the kind of money that would keep her satisfied or afford her a much more glamorous home—something much better than the average-looking one she lived in currently.
Owen took a bite of the chicken quesadilla they’d just had delivered and then drank a sip of soda. “Such a great movie, isn’t it, baby?”
“Yeah, it really is,” Paige said, referring to The Blind Side, which she’d already seen with a friend when it was first released at the theater and also two other times on one of the pay channels.
“I just love how the Touhys took in Michael Oher, loved him like he was their own child and also made sure he got a great education. Not to mention, you could tell he’d been a great kid all along. Just needed someone to guide and care about him.”
“Yeah, that really was sweet of them,” Paige said, barely paying Owen any attention because she was now daydreaming about Pierce—wondering what he was doing and whether he was thinking of her as well. Oh how she desperately wanted to be with him and couldn’t wait to begin implementing the fabulous strategy she’d come up with. Her plan was absolutely brilliant, and she couldn’t help smiling when she thought about the future outcome. Just visualizing the two of them together forever made her tingly all over.
“Paige!” she heard Owen yelling. “Have you heard a word I said?”
“What? Of course, I have.”
“Then, why did I have to call your name three different times before you answered? I mean, what are you so preoccupied about?”
“Nothing.”
“It doesn’t seem like nothing to me.”
“You’re just paranoid.”
“Yeah, whatever,” he said, turning back toward the television with an annoyed look on his face.
Paige knew he hadn’t believed her and now had a slight attitude, but in truth, she couldn’t have cared less.
They watched another twenty minutes of the movie and then out of know where, Owen’s face softened, and he got serious.
He muted the volume on the remote and turned his body completely toward her. Paige wondered what this was all about.
“You know,” he said. “I’ve been debating whether to have this discussion with you for a good while now, but for some reason, tonight feels right. We just made the most passionate love, and I’ve never been more sure about our relationship.”
Paige wasn’t sure she liked where this conversation was headed and didn’t say anything.
“You know I love you, right?” he said, continuing.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“I love you more than anything in this world.”
Paige fell silent again and when Owen moved from the sofa and down to the floor on one knee, her heart dropped. He positioned himself directly in front of her and then pulled out a tiny, royal blue, velvet box. “Paige Donohue, will you marry me?”
Paige was taken aback and still had no words to speak. She tried answering him or to at least make some sort of comment, but she couldn’t.
“Sweetheart, I know we haven’t spoken much about marriage, but I don’t think my feelings about you have ever been a secret. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you, so how about it? Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”
“I…I…Look, Owen,” she finally said. “This is truly very kind of you, but I’m sorry to say that I’m not ready for marriage.”
Owen stared at her, clearly hurt by her rejection. “But why?”
“Because I’m just not.”
“So does this mean you don’t love me?”
“No. It doesn’t mean that at all, but I have to be honest. I love you, but I’m not in love with you.”
Owen sighed deeply, got to his feet and sat back down on the sofa. Paige saw how devastated, heartbroken and confused he was, but there was nothing she could do about it.
“I’m really sorry,” she said, innocently.
Owen set the tiny box down on the glass coffee table. “Wow,” he said, shaking his head. “I feel like a complete fool. Especially, since you’ve been telling me for months that you did love me.”
“That’s because I do. But not in the way a woman should love a man when she’s ready to marry him.”
Owen looked at her, noticeably perturbed. “Well, Paige, if you weren’t in love with me and you’ve known that you weren’t all this time, then why have you been allowing me to pay half of your car note every month and take you shopping in stores I really couldn’t afford? Not to mention the cash I gave you from almost every paycheck.”
“I don’t get what you mean,” she said, acting as though she didn’t understand what he was saying.
“You know exactly what I mean. Why did you use me the way you did?”
Paige raised her eyebrows, now losing patience with him. “Look, Owen. I never forced you to do any of those things. You helped with my car payment and bought nice things for me all on your own.”
Owen folded his arms. “So, not once, did you hint around about how tough things were for you or how hard it was paying all your bills? Not once did you tell me you were experiencing a slow period with clients and that you didn’t know what you were going to do?”
Paige looked away from him, knowing she had hinted a few times about her eight-hundred-dollar Lexus car payment on purpose and how she had also lured him into high-end department stores, only to express how much she loved a certain dress or handbag. She’d told him how she wished she could buy some of those things but just couldn’t afford it. She’d done this because she’d learned early on that Owen did care a lot for her and wanted her to be happy. She’d discovered how compassionate he was, and right or wrong, she’d preyed on his sympathy every chance she’d gotten. Now, though, she wanted nothing to do with the idea of marrying him and hoped he would eventually understand that.
“So, what does this mean for us?” he asked still angry. “I mean, do you think you’ll ever be in love with me? Will you ever want to become my wife?”
Paige hesitated for a few seconds then said, “No. I’m sorry, but I just don’t see that happening.”
Book Review written by
Ann Stephens
Rate: 5stars; Shelves: 2011
One of the lucky people that won this book as a pre- release. As with all
Kimberla Lawson Roby books this was an excellent read!!!
Book Review written by
Monique Real Page Turners
Rate: 4 stars
I won a pre-release copy of this novella and I'm so glad I did. Secrets destroy
but the truth shall set you free. Great read.
About
Kimberla Lawson Roby
New York Times Bestselling Author Kimberla Lawson Roby has published
fifteen novels which include LOVE, HONOR, and BETRAY, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PRAY
FOR, A DEEP DARK SECRET, THE BEST OF EVERYTHING, ONE IN A MILLION, SIN NO MORE,
LOVE & LIES, CHANGING FACES, THE BEST-KEPT SECRET, TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING,
A TASTE OF REALITY, IT’S A THIN LINE, CASTING THE FIRST STONE, HERE AND NOW,
and her debut title, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, and which was originally
self-published through her own company, Lenox Press.
Her novels have
frequented numerous bestseller lists, including The New York Times and those in
USA Today, The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, Essence Magazine, Upscale
Magazine, Emerge Magazine, Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, Wal-Mart, The Dallas
Morning News, and The Austin Chronicle to name a few.
Each of Kimberla's novels has dealt with very real issues, including corruption
within the church, social status, gambling addiction, infidelity, single
motherhood, infertility, sibling rivalry and jealousy, domestic violence, sexual
abuse, care giving of a parent, racial and gender discrimination in the
workplace, sexual harassment, overweight issues, and female illnesses to name a
few.
Kimberla resides in Illinois with her husband, Will. Her sixteenth novel, SECRET
OBSESSION, will be released on Tuesday, September 6, 2011.
In Quiet As It's Kept, Will Tracy has been praying about and patiently waiting for the perfect woman and wife. He's found her in Morgan. She has a beautiful body, no children, and best of all, she's saved. Will couldn't have asked for a better blessing—or so he thinks, until he starts noticing an abundance of unexplainable accidents that all seem to center around him. After one near-fatal accident, Will realizes that when it comes to his wife, Morgan, things are not always as they appear.
“Morgan seems to be taking your job loss pretty well,” Phillip said.
Will shook his head. “That’s because she doesn’t know yet,” he admitted.
“What do you mean? You haven’t told her?”
“No, I couldn’t. She was pretty bad off these past few months. Her blood pressure was doing some wacky things, and you know how she can get sometimes, so animated about some of the littlest of things,” Will said, making excuses.
Phillip nodded. “So what are you going to do? When are you going to tell her?”
“When we get home and settled I’ll tell her. I hope to find something else before I have to say anything.” Will’s stomach churned as he thought about the situation.
“Well, you know you can always come over to the dealership with me. I know this guy who just might hire you; that is, if you are reputable,” Phillip joked.
“P.T., man, I can’t expect you to do that.” Will had reverted to calling Phillip by the nickname he’d used when he was in college. Most people knew Phillip as P.T., especially the men in their fraternity.
“I’m just saying, if you need a job, I’ll hire you, plain and simple,” Phillip said.
“Don’t be silly, I know the car industry has been hit just as hard as so many of these other industries lately. And you just told me last month that you had to lay off a few people.”
“True, but I could still work some things out. I am not going to sit by knowing you need a job and I can offer one. Plus, you’ve got not only a wife to look after, but now a son as well,” Phillip said.
“And don’t I know it.” Will sat in one of the waiting room chairs and put his head down into his hands. “Just be glad you left the company before they let you go. You know, they had another round of layoffs in your old department.” Will lifted his head.
“God knew what was best. I didn’t want to leave my job, but when my dad got sick and needed someone to run the company, I knew it was time for me to take my rightful place as the head.” Phillip made a motion as if he was cold. “I shudder to think what would have happened if my brother had gotten his hands on the company.”
“You’re right, God does know best, and I have to believe that if He has closed this one door, then He will open another,” Will said.
“Amen to that, my brother,” Phillip agreed. “God is going to work it all out, just you wait and see. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Will nodded. “Thanks. I needed that little reminder.” In the past, Will had been the one always giving Phillip words of encouragement and scriptures to read. Now the tables had turned, and it was Will who needed uplifting words of inspiration. He was glad that he’d been able to help Phillip out for so many years, and now was even happier that his friend was able to do the same for him.
Phillip gave Will a hearty pat on the back. “Everything is going to work out. You just need to trust and believe.”
Will didn’t have any doubt that he would be able to trust and believe in God. He just hoped Morgan would feel the same way. But somewhere in his gut, he just couldn’t muster the faith that that was going to happen.
About the Author
Monique Miller
is a native of North Carolina and is a 1994 graduate of North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina. She is a member of the Divine Literary Tour (DLT) a non-profit organization which brings together Black Greek Authors from across the nation for a cross-country tour to promote literacy. Monique's creative writing landed her a placement in the 2003 Black Expressions Book Club's Annual Fiction Writing Contest. Monique’s novels include Quiet As It’s Kept, Redemption Lake, Soul Confessions and Secret Sisterhood. Currently, Monique resides in Cary, North Carolina with her family.
#1 Essence bestselling author Patricia Haley takes sibling
rivalry to a shocking new level as one man tries to heal his broken family in
this compelling series based on popular biblical stories.
Broken the 3rd Book in the Chosen Series
Don Mitchell is certain the Lord has a plan for him to reconcile his family,
when his younger half brother, Joel, suddenly resigns as CEO of their father’s
company. The gesture comes after Joel has nearly sent the enterprise into
bankruptcy. Don’s first order of business as newly appointed head of DMI is to
bring his estranged older sister home. It isn’t easy. Tamara has been running
from the past for years. But once she is home, she plans to claim her rightful
place in the multimillion-dollar family ministry—no matter what it takes or
who gets hurt.
Joel,
meanwhile, is regretting his decision to step down and is doing everything in
his power to resume his path to greatness. As Don finds himself waist-deep in
the corporate mess Joel left behind, his love life is also in flux. He must
balance a complicated friendship with Abigail, his right-hand woman at DMI, with
a budding romance involving his beautiful business partner in South Africa. Just
as Don begins to realize that forgiving and forgetting may be his greatest
weapon, a terrifying ordeal rocks the family to its core, and they must turn to
God and to one another for the answers.
Broken: Excerpt
from Chapter 3
They were gone and Tamara could breathe easy again. She'd reclaimed her space.
The walls were no longer closing in. She heated a teapot, replaying the words
exchanged during the visit. Mixed emotions filled her. Madeline was her mother,
an undeniable piercing reality. She was born to love her, but that didn't mean
she had to like her, not with her constant pushing and attempts to force Tamara
to accept the Mitchell family on Madeline's terms. Madeline made it hard to like
her, but it didn't stop Tamara from loving her. Seeing Don was comforting,
honestly, seeing her mother was too.
She poured the water into a cup, constantly replaying the words like a recorder
set on repeat. The anger had vanished and a pinch of loneliness was setting in.
Having her family there wasn't so bad, she thought, taking a seat on the small
sofa. The phone rang but she didn't answer, unwilling to release the warm
feeling she was experiencing toward her family. It was rare, unexpected, but
well received. The euphoria forced her to rethink her decision about going home.
The more she reflected, the less eager she was to push her mother away. She had
to forget the whole idea. When Don first asked her to consider returning home,
there was interest. Seeing how distraught her mother was changed her mind. She
wasn't out to crush Madeline, not really, although there were times when the
pain carved deep in the pit of her soul cried out to be shared with the
perpetrator. Andre clearly was her rapist, but he hadn't been alone in crafting
the destruction within her mother's mansion. There were many contributors who
helped create the perfect environment for hell to dwell on earth.
The phone rang so much that it wasn't readily noticeable to her anymore. Whether
it was Don, Madeline, or Remo didn't make a difference. Her brief slice of
euphoria was certain not to last, but she'd cling to it for as long as possible
by blocking out the sounds, tastes, and smells around her. Tamara was simply
trying to survive.
The phone wouldn't stop. Caving to reality, she snatched it up, consumed with
frustration. "Remo, what do you want?"
He spoke in English mixed with Italian. His dialogue was as random and confusing
as his actions. He spewed demand after demand at her. The frustration she felt
at the beginning of the call quickly converted to tension.
"You can't walk away from me. We are for life. I won't let you go so easily
with my heart." His ranting was fueled by escalating rage. She could feel
the heat.
"I'm not going to let you control me anymore. I can't do it. We're done,
Remo. You have to accept this. It's over for good," she said, mustering her
courage but not sure how he'd accept her betrayal.
"We can't solve this on the telephone. I need to see your face when you
tell me these things. The telephone won't work. I can jump on the rail and be in
London by afternoon. I'll see you. Ciao," he said, and disconnected.
Tamara held the phone, unable to move, scared. She hadn't told him her new
address. How did he know? she wondered. Probably the same way that Madeline had,
by hiring a private investigator to keep track of her, selfishly violating her
space. Her thoughts swirled out of order with no continuity. She jumped to her
feet, realizing that getting out of the flat was critical. Remo was
unpredictable and she couldn't take a chance on letting him catch her. She
scurried around the tiny space desperate for a plan. Peering at her checkbook
and the cell phone again, she realized she didn't have much choice. Maybe it was
time to go home. Her brother had made the offer and she couldn't discount it
this time, so long as her nonnegotiable term was honored. Her mother couldn't be
anywhere near Detroit or the state of Michigan, just to be safe. Mother wasn't a
physical threat like Remo but her ability to orchestrate emotional despair was
just as deadly to Tamara.
She fumbled through a small stack of papers on the two-seat table and stopped
when she got to her checkbook. Seeing the equivalent of a $1,314 balance was
sobering; she couldn't run too far with that amount. A plane ticket alone was
around $600, which didn't leave enough for an apartment deposit and the first
month's rent. Tamara plopped down on the sofa sleeper, fingering through her
hair, searching for answers that weren't falling from the ceiling, no matter how
she stared. There was only one option. As much as she hated the notion of going
home to Detroit under duress and to her dysfunctional family, it didn't compare
to the trauma that could come from Remo running around somewhere out there ready
to do her harm.
Tamara removed her luggage from the wardrobe. She checked the time, careful not
to let two hours catch her in the flat. Remo was definitely on his way, taking
every possible shortcut to get to her. If he was going to be there in a few
hours, she had to be out in one. Twenty minutes had already evaporated while she
was calculating the remaining dollars in her skimpy account. Although she
desperately needed help, Tamara was not going to let Madeline or Don know the
full extent of her troubles.
She scrambled to get packed, constantly peering out the window and keeping a
tight grip on every second. Clothes were scarce. Carrying excess from town to
town had grown exhausting, and each move shaved away some of her belongings.
Upon leaving France, she'd opted to bring only the two pieces of free checked
luggage allowed on her flight to London. After ten or eleven moves, Tamara was
sure she was at the core of her existence and only had items of value remaining.
She looked around the room, a stark contrast from the plush accommodations that
enveloped her childhood. Tamara stuffed the suitcase, not quite able to get in
all five pairs of pants, eight shirts, her jacket, and her underclothes. She'd
only take along one of the larger suitcases, plus the smaller knapsack as a
carry-on. The other suitcase, along with a few shirts, would have to be
sacrificed and stay behind. What else? she thought, looking around, combing the
room while simultaneously keeping track of the time. Forty-five minutes gone.
Her nerves were flaring up. Remo couldn't be taken lightly. She had to hurry.
Suitcase zipped, knapsack latched and tucked under her arm, she was ready.
Tamara opened the door and began pulling it shut. Wait. She rushed back in and
snatched open the wardrobe, dropping the knapsack. She didn't have her passport.
Tamara rustled through the papers and trinkets left behind. She got to a huge
clasped envelope and breathed a sigh of relief, drawing in a long stretch of air
and slowly releasing it. She pressed the envelope to her chest. This represented
the grand sum of her independence: passport, birth certificate, a copy of the
first check she'd received for one of her paintings, and her Swiss bank account
details. She extracted the papers partially, checking to make sure none were
missing. Focused on her travel documents, her key to freedom, Tamara was
unprepared for the photo at the bottom of the stack. She looked away, letting
her bottom plop down to the floor. There was the family photo taken at Disney
World with Dave, Madeline, Tamara, and her three brothers, Sam, Andre, and Don,
right before her father left them. She held it, peering at the strangers on the
paper. She was five years old when it was taken. The memory was raw, like it was
yesterday. The time represented one of the rare moments when she recalled being
happy, safe, and normal. The rest was a blur. Tamara shoved the papers and photo
into the envelope. Fifty-five minutes gone. Time had run out. She dashed out of
the flat with her suitcase and knapsack. Move number twelve was under way. She'd
feel more secure when the plane was taxiing down the runway and there was no
sign of Remo on board.
About the Author
PATRICIA HALEY is the
award winning, Essence #1 bestselling author of eight faith-based novels,
including her latest series with Broken, Destined, and Chosen.
She’s a full-time senior project manager with an engineering degree from
Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. She is a born
again believer and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Patricia lives
with her loving husband, Jeffrey, and their beautiful daughter in the Chicago
area.
Lutishia
Lovely dishes up a decadent helping of love, lust, greed, and secrecy in this
riveting tale of a family's soul food dynasty...
Life is good for the Livingstons. Business is booming, Taste of Soul
is launching a West Coast division, and Bianca Livingston and her brother,
Jefferson, are vying to head it up—which means their long simmering rivalry is
about to boil over...
Having completed a culinary course in Paris—along with a hot love
affair—Bianca feels more than ready to take the reins in L.A. Her parents'
insistence that she marry a man of their choosing only fuels her ambition.
Jefferson is hoping the position will free him to be with the secret L.A. love
his family would never approve of. But the two soon realize that between their
meddling cousin, Toussaint, and the return of an enemy bent on crushing the
Livingston empire, they aren't the only ones in this competition. And when
company money mysteriously starts disappearing, they'll find it's hard to run a
business when no one can mind their own...
Peer Reviews for
Lutishia Lovely
"Lovely once again expertly illuminates the wacky world of the devout and
devoutly devilish. " —Publishers Weekly on Reverend Feelgood
"Vibrant characters, artful storytelling, and an original voice make
Lutishia Lovely worth every moment. " —Donna Hill
"A great new taste in the literary world. " —Carl Weber
Chapter One from Mind
Your Own Business by Lutishia Lovely
"Why can't a woman be on top?" Bianca Livingston demanded, tossing
shoulder-length, straightened hair over her shoulder. She stood over her older
brother as if ready to strike, looking totally capable of kicking butts and
taking names. Her quick smile, short stature, and girly frame had caused many
men to underestimate her—to their peril. But anyone seeing her now—shoulders
back, hands on hips, her perfectly tailored black suit and four-inch heels
adding to her aura of power—would believe her capable of running almost
anything. "I'm as qualified to run the West Coast division as you are, even
more so, matter of fact."
"You're
qualified to run the kitchen, maybe," her older brother retorted. Jefferson
suppressed a smile. He'd taunted his sister from birth, and he did so now. Her
fiery personality was the perfect foil for his laid-back teasing. But even with
his ongoing provocations, this time Jefferson's antics masked the seriousness of
his quest. He had every intention of being the Livingston who moved to LA to
establish the Taste of Soul restaurants both there and in Nevada.
But unlike most
Livingstons, he didn't like confrontation or competition. He'd quietly made his
bid to step away from his cushy position in the finance department to run the
West the same way he cooked his ribs: low and slow. "Isn't that why you
spent the last nine months in Paris?" he queried to underscore his point.
"Learning the fine art of cooking so that you could give our soul food some
class?"
Actually, Bianca had fled to Paris to get away from the chain around her neck
otherwise known as fiancé Cooper Riley, Jr. But only one other person knew this
truth—her cousin, Toussaint Livingston. Initially, forestalling the marriage
everyone else believed was a fait accompli was also why she'd expressed interest
in running the West Coast locations. But now, after months of talking with
Toussaint, who, besides being her confidant and a Food Network star, was also
the ambitious brainchild behind their company expanding out West, Bianca wanted
to relocate to put her mark on the Livingston dynasty and make the West Coast
Taste of Soul restaurants shine.
Bianca replied, "Need I remind you that I have not only a culinary
certificate from Le Cordon Bleu, but also an undergrad and a graduate degree in
business administration?"
"No, little sis, you don't need to remind me." Jefferson's smirk
highlighted the dimple on his casually handsome face, his sienna skin further
darkened by the November sun. His deep-set brown eyes twinkled with merriment.
"But do I have to remind you that I have double masters in business
administration and finance?" Jefferson had been the first Livingston in two
decades to follow up his stint at Morehouse with two years at Wharton's School
of Business.
Bianca, knowing that she couldn't go toe to toe when it came to her brother's
education, tried a different route. She walked away from Jefferson and sat in
one of the tan leather chairs in the artistically appointed office. Reaching for
a ballpoint pen that lay on his large and messy mahogany desk, she adopted a
calmer tone, yet couldn't totally lose the petulance in her voice.
"Jefferson, the only reason Dad is promoting the idea of your heading up
the location is because you're the oldest."
"And the son, don't forget about that. You know Dad doesn't want to see his
baby girl fly too far from the nest."
"Okay, probably that, too," Bianca conceded. It was no secret that
when it came to her father, Abram "Ace" Livingston, she was the apple
of his all-seeing eye.
"Besides, how are you even considering relocation when you've got a fiancé
champing at the bit to get married? Cooper has been more than patient with you,
Bianca. Not many men would let the woman they love move to the other side of the
world, even if it was, as you successfully argued, for the union's greater good.
What did you call it? Increasing your company value and the marriage's bottom
line? As if being a Livingston isn't value enough? No, Bianca, Cooper allowed
the wedding to be pushed back once already. He's not going to delay it a second
time. And you know he isn't moving to LA."
Tears unexpectedly came to Bianca's eyes. She abruptly rose from the chair where
she'd been sitting and walked to the window. The glory of the day, boasting
colorful autumn leaves framed by a sunny blue sky, was lost on her. "You're
probably right," she said, quickly wiping her eyes. "If everyone has
their way, in six months I'll be married and in nine have a baby on the
way." But how can I marry Cooper after what happened in Paris?
"Hey, sister, are you all right?"
Bianca jumped. She hadn't heard Jefferson rise, hadn't been aware that he'd
walked from his desk and joined her at the window. "Actually, no, if you
want to know the truth. Jeff, I—"
"Hey man, oh, Bianca, I'm glad you're both here." Toussaint Livingston
burst into Jefferson's office, and now rushed toward his cousins on the other
side of the room. The seriousness of his countenance took nothing away from a
face that models would envy, along with six feet, two inches and almost two
hundred pounds of delectable dark chocolate. "We need to roll to y'all
parents' house right now. Emergency family meeting."
Their conversation forgotten, both Jefferson and Bianca turned at once, talking
simultaneously.
"What's the matter?"
"What's going on?"
Bianca's heart raced with concern. "Why are we meeting at Mom and Dad's
house, Toussaint, and not in the conference room?"
Toussaint turned and headed for the door. "That's what we're getting ready
to find out. I'll meet y'all there."
Fifteen minutes later Toussaint, Jefferson, and Bianca joined their family
members in the living room of Ace and Diane's sprawling Cascade residence.
Toussaint's parents, Adam and Candace, and his brother, Malcolm, were already
there. The trio from the office was the last to arrive and as soon as they sat
down, Ace began speaking.
"We've got a situation," he said without preamble. "Somebody's
stealing company funds."
Reactions were mixed, with bewilderment and anger vying for equal time.
"Who is it?" Bianca demanded, ready for battle though the culprit
remained unnamed.
The family members looked from one to the other, a myriad of thoughts in each
mind. Who could it be? How did this happen? Is the guilty party somehow
connected to someone in the room? One family member even pondered the
impossible: Is the thief one of us?
"What kind of money are we talking about?" Toussaint
asked. "Hundreds, thousands ... more?"
"A couple hundred thousand," Ace replied, his tone somber and curt.
Again, responses were symphonic.
"What the hell?"
"Who could do such a thing?"
"Oh, hell to the N-O. We're not going to take this lying down."
"You're absolutely right, baby girl," Ace said to Bianca. "We're
not going to stand for this, not at all. Nobody steals from our company without
feeling the wrath of a Livingston payback."
Chapter Two from Mind
Your Own Business by Lutishia Lovely
Three hours later and Bianca was still reeling. Whose hand is in the cookie jar
... and how did they grab all of that money without anyone's knowledge? The
Livingstons had bandied about a variety of scenarios and made a chart of
potential employees, past and present, who they felt best poised for betrayal.
Bianca's eyes narrowed as she remembered one name that had come up, a woman
who'd had an affair with her cousin and who'd worked for the Livingston
Corporation until her relationship with Toussaint abruptly ended. This
ex-marketing director had disappeared into thin air and, as far as anyone knew,
was no longer in Atlanta. But with the Internet making the world smaller, click
by worldwide click, Bianca didn't count out the woman she'd never trusted.
Whoever was stealing from what had been a relatively dormant bank account could
be anywhere.
A knock at her door startled Bianca from her musings. Belatedly, she remembered
Cooper's phone call and subsequent promise to drop by. She took a breath and
steeled herself for the encounter. "Hey, Coop," she said, standing
back from the door to let him in.
"Hello, dear," Cooper replied, the kiss on her forehead as sexy as
that which an uncle or grandfather would bestow. "You look troubled. Come
here and tell Papa all about it."
Bianca fought the urge to roll her eyes and, going against every fiber of her
being, dutifully followed Cooper into the living room of her designer-decorated
townhome. She loved her split-level, three-bedroom spread: the hardwood floors
and gourmet kitchen; bright yellows and oranges tempered by ebony wood; windows
everywhere, letting in the bright autumn sunshine. The cheery surroundings were
in stark contrast to her ever darkening mood.
Cooper sat down and tried to pull Bianca into his arms.
"Please, Cooper," Bianca said, placing more distance between them.
"I'm ... not in the mood."
"Some women would welcome the touch of their fiancés at a time like
this."
"I'm sorry."
Sorry for what, Bianca? Stringing out our engagement for two years? Becoming
more and more engrossed with your work? Or our not having made love in almost a
month? Instead of voicing these questions, Cooper refocused on Bianca's bad
mood. "What's going on, dear? Something at work?"
Bianca nodded.
Cooper leaned back, waiting.
Bianca hesitated for only a moment before answering. For obvious reasons this
matter was confidential, known only to the Livingston clan, the private
investigator Ace had immediately hired—and the thief. But not only was Cooper
almost a family member, but his analytical, lawyer mind might see clues or
connections where Bianca would not.
She turned to face Cooper. "Somebody's stealing company funds."
His only reaction was a slight narrowing of the eyes. "From one of the
restaurants?"
"No, from corporate."
Cooper sat up, rubbing his chin in thought. "Corporate, huh? That's
interesting."
"Very."
"Any ideas as to whom it might be?"
"A few." Bianca stood and began to pace. "But the most obvious
one right now is our ex-marketing director, Shyla Martin. I think you met her
two years ago, at the company Christmas party."
Cooper pondered this statement, even as he remembered why last year's Christmas
party had been subdued and low-key. "What does she look like?"
"Tall, attractive. She was Toussaint's date."
"Oh, her," Cooper replied, nodding. "Sure, I remember Shyla. I
remember thinking that she was funny and intelligent, and that she and Toussaint
made a good couple."
"Yeah, well, she thought they made a great couple, too. And she wanted to
make their union permanent." Oh, shoot. The last thing I want to do is put
marriage on Cooper's mind.
But she'd already done so, as Cooper's next words verified. "So there are
women out there who want to get married."
"Coop ..."
"Okay, I won't press right now. But we've got to make plans for the future,
Bianca. Neither of us is getting any younger. It's time to get married and start
a family ... soon."
Bianca returned to the couch and sat down. Her brow was furrowed in
thought—about the theft, Cooper's words, and other things.
"What happened?"
Bianca's eyes widened at Cooper's question. Am I that transparent? Are the
memories so poignant, so strong, that they're written all over my face?
"What do you mean, what happened?" she asked breathlessly.
Again, Cooper's eyes narrowed, as they often did when his sharp mind whirled.
"Between Toussaint and Shyla ... what happened?"
"Oh, right, between Toussaint and Shyla. You know what happened to them,
Cooper. Alexis St. Clair happened."
"Of course I know about Toussaint's wife, Bianca." And the baby
they're expecting. "But I didn't know that Alexis caused the breakup
between him and Shyla, nor would I imagine Shyla as the type of person who would
go to these extremes as a result."
"It wasn't just about their breakup." Bianca sighed, remembering that
she'd never shared with Cooper the extent of what went down between the
Livingstons and their former employee. She gave the short version: how Shyla
Martin's attempt to come between Toussaint and the love of his life had cost
Shyla her job.
"Oh, I see. Shyla not only lost love, but she lost money, too." Cooper
nodded his head. "That makes your assumption that it is her imminently more
plausible." Cooper eyed Bianca, noting her stiff countenance and rigid
neck. "Come here, dear," he quietly commanded, even as he reached for
her arm. "Don't you worry your pretty little head about a thing. We'll get
to the bottom of this."
This time, Bianca did not resist as Cooper pulled her into him. Talking this
situation out reminded her of the things she loved about him, and one of those
things was that he made her feel safe. In many ways this fair-skinned,
freckle-faced man was like her dad, Ace Livingston, and Bianca would never deny
that Cooper was a good man who came from an upstanding family. But that was the
problem. She respected him, admired him, even loved him—as one would a good
friend.
But Bianca
wasn't in love with him, the way she wanted to be with a man when she walked
down the aisle. The way she'd fallen for a Frenchman in Paris, after only two
months of dating. Cooper might be able to help her solve the mystery of who
stole the company money. But as Bianca laid her head on his shoulder, she
wondered who would help her solve the mystery of how to get over the man who'd
stolen her heart.
Soul, satisfying sex is usually the ultimate weapon. For Diamond Robinson, it may turn out to be a serious problem. On the surface, she may appear to be your average beauty, living next door, but Diamond is full of deceit, mischief, and seduction. She craves good loving so much that she's willing to do anything, including sleeping with someone you'd least expect. When her sexcapades spiral of control, one thing leads to another and her lover winds up dead; leaving everyone she's ever loved against her. Unknowingly, she and her nymphonic road dogs get themselves mixed up with secrets and lies that lead to unstoppable turmoil. Sit back and let author C.J. Hudson take you on a ride that you will never forget!
Purchase Next Door Nympho by CJ Hudson
ISBN-10: 1934230316
ISBN-13: 978-1934230312
About the Author
Author Christopher Speight, better known to his fans as CJ Hudson was born in Alabama. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio at a young age, attended Kent State and later went on to Kaplan Institution acquiring skills to become an electrician. CJ has become a legend in his own rights with urban hits like Chedda Boyz, Next Door Nympho, and his highly anticipated title Diary of a Nympho. He likes to read, write, travel, and spend time with his family.
C. J. is married with two sons.
What
My Sister Don’t Know
by Janie De Coster
Saphire married Clay Matthews, a handsome, down to earth, and loyal man who
worships the ground her designer shoes walks on. But no matter how hard she
tries to love him, her heart yearns for another.
Gade, Saphire's younger sister, married the man of her dreams. Lamonte
Singletary is everything a red-blooded woman could ever want in a man. And after
the birth of their son, life has been picture perfect. That is, until...
Joe Burrels, a bittersweet memory from the past, returns with a haunting secret
he is determined to reveal. Now the bond of sisterhood could be destroyed
forever in What My Sister Don't Know.
Excerpt
from What My Sister Don’t Know by Janie De Coster
"Oh so you are telling me that I'm no good now, just like my father, huh?
Don't you dare talk about us like that Momma. My father was a good man and he
took damned good care of us. You didn't have to work a day in your life when you
was with him, so how can you say he wasn't no good!" Saphire lashed out,
feeling the years of buried pain coming to the surface.
Josey felt a sting of tears as her daughter spoke. She didn't know half the
story, even if she thought she did.
"You are the one who ran him off, Momma," Saphire continued with
vengeance. "You stifled him, never letting him out of your sight. The man
couldn't breath with your smothering ways. I heard the arguments you two had
about him going out. You wanted him right under your thumb like some whimpy ass
man. Maybe if you would have loosened the chains you had around him he wouldn't
have left us Momma!." Saphire screamed as she stood up from the bed.
Josey's tears turned to anger now. How dare she blame her for her father's
leaving.
"Let me enlighten you on what you think you know!" Josey hissed as she
stared into her daughter's fiery eyes. "I tried my damnest to be a good
wife to your father. I loved that man with all my heart." Josey choked. I
cooked and cleaned, ran his bath water when he came home, and tried to pleased
him anyway that I could. Even in the bedroom, if you want to know the whole
truth about it." Josey's voice rose. "And he still cheated on me every
chance he got. I wanted a happy, loving home and Russell...well he wanted the
streets and every woman he could find there." Josey stammered.
"Well, Momma, maybe if you had backed off just a little, maybe he would
have stopped. But you couldn't do that, now could you?" Saphire shrieked
accusingly shaking her head. Saphire pranced around the room. "Oh no, the
almighty Josey had to have things her own way. What was it now, the same speech
you gave to me and Gade: My way or the high way?" Saphire spewed as she
glared at her mother.
"What should I have done, Saphire?" Closed my eyes to it all and
accept the fact that my husband, the man I loved with all my being was a
dog?" Josey huffed with wide eyes.
What
My Sister Don’t Know by Janie De Coster Purchase
books from Bookstand Publishing
ISBN-10: 1589099044
ISBN-13: 978-1589099043
About the Author
Janie De Coster's love of reading is what inspired her to take a step into the
world of writing. Man of My Dreams? Her first novel released in 2006 has been
featured in SHE Magazine, The Community Times and Florence Morning News
Publication. What My Sister Don’t Know has been featured in Florence News
& Journal June 2011 issue and Sormag Magazine July 2011 issue. Janie De
Coster is working on several projects including her upcoming novel Broken
Commandments with Parker Publishing which is slated for release in November
2011.
Free Content
for Blog Tours,
Radio Show Hosts and Bookclubs!
My Father's Colors: The Drama-Filled Journey
of Naya Mona Continues
by Marian L. Thomas, L. B. Publishing
My Father's Colors-The Drama-Filled Journey of Naya Monà Continues
, takes you on the journey of four individuals that lead to one destination filled with betrayal, lies and shocking secrets.
Naya Monà is back on another emotional and drama-filled roller coaster as she finds herself fighting to find her voice, discover her father's past and search for her daughter. How do you find a daughter you never knew you gave birth to?
Then there's Chris—her husband. How far would one go for love? That is the question that Chris wastes no time answering. He will do whatever it takes to remove his wife’s pain, even if it means being the one to cause her the most.
Let's not forget Misty. Fame and Fortune have been the determining factor for Misty ever sense her father passed away. How far will she go, this time, to achieve it?
Introducing, Carl Thompson. Carl has found the love of his life, only she doesn’t know it. Green eyes and hazel brown hair fill his dreams for the future. Does he have enough love for the both of them?
Join best-selling author Marian L. Thomas as she takes you through the captivating pages of My Father’s Colors. This book is guaranteed to make you laugh, cry and get caught in the drama-filled story of a woman’s journey!
Author Website: http://www.marianlthomas.com
Mitten Strings for
God
Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry
by Katrina Kenison
Mothers are pulled in a million different directions while trying to give their kids fulfilling, productive, joyful childhoods. They mistake activity for happiness, and fill their kids heads with information when they ought to be feeding their souls instead. This is a book for mothers who yearn to find a balance in their own and their
children's lives. Through stories and suggestions, Katrina Kenison shares her insights into how to celebrate
life's quiet moments, softly reminding busy mothers to pause and remember the deep sense of well-being that comes from a listening ear, an open heart, and a quiet little space carved out of time.
Black Pearls Book Review
- 5 Stars
Written by Mandy @ Living Peacefully with Children
When I first heard of Katrina Kenison's book, Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a
Hurry, I mentally brushed it off. With such a title, I expected the book to proselytize religious beliefs. When the book showed up in my mailbox from the publisher, I picked it up with apprehension, and found I was pleasantly
surprised.
There are a handful of religious references in the book, but Kenison mentions them only in context to her life and never comes out and says anything definitive about what she believes. There is no expectation or proclamation of what the reader should or should not believe. Instead, the book is about simple living or voluntary simplicity.
We live in a world that is rushing about in search of something. If we just slow down, we would see that what we are looking for is right here. "Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry" is an accurate description of this book. As mothers, not only is it important that we slow down to enjoy our children in the short time we are with them; it is imperative that our children have the opportunity to slow down and figure out who they are. This is a fabulous book for anyone who wants to cherish their children and live a life of meaning.
Take your time reading the book. Reflect on where you are at in life and where you want to be. Cut out the things which are detracting from the life you truly desire. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: A copy of the book was provided by EDC Creations and the publisher.
About the Author
Katrina Kenison
is the author of The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother's Memoir (Springboard Press, 2009).
She has appeared on Oprah and other shows. Her writing has appeared in O, Real Simple, Family Circle, Redbook, Better Homes and Gardens,
Health, and other publications. From 1990 until 2006, Kenison was the series editor of The Best American Short Stories, published annually by Houghton Mifflin. She co-edited, with John Updike, The Best American Short Stories of the Century (Houghton Mifflin, 2000). She wrote, with Rolf Gates, Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga (Random House, 2002).
MOGUL: A Novel
by Terrance Dean
Entertainment industry insider and author of the Essence bestselling Memoir, HIDING IN HIP HOP, returns with a highly-anticipated novel that
explores the secret gay life of a hip-hop’s impresario!
With the publication of
Hiding in Hip-Hop, the controversial Essence bestselling expose that set the entertainment industry on its ear,
Terrance
Dean, who has worked in television and film for well over a decade, became the voice of African American men in Hollywood and in Hip-Hop who conduct clandestine same-sex relationships.
Through revealing yet discreet anecdotes about his liaisons with the rich and famous who were also on the “DL,” Dean’s provocative and candid account brought to light a hidden gay subculture that insiders have been well aware of for years.
Now, with his debut novel, MOGUL(Atria Books Paperback Original), Dean once again returns to this subject matter as he entices readers to play the guessing game about the real-life celebrities who serve as inspiration for his larger-than-life characters.
In a literary style that’s E. Lynn Harris meets Zane, Dean presents a fictional page-turner about a beloved music industry genius who’s launched the careers of the hottest stars in hip-hop but also harbors a secret that could destroy his life and empire.
Aaron “Big A.T.” Tremble, an athletically gifted teenager from Brooklyn, discovers he is attracted to George, one of the most popular basketball stars at his school and soon, the two become embroiled in a secret romance as they juggle studies, gym practice and girlfriends. A year later during their senior year, George announces he is moving to California for college.
While Big A.T. is heartbroken, he pours himself into his music to forget George and begins producing for local rappers in his neighborhood.
After a chance meeting with the retired kingpin of hip-hop, Larry “Pop” Singleton,
Big A.T.’s life is forever changed as he becomes Pop’s protégé and a member of the
“family”— a network of secretly gay men in the industry who will eventually become instrumental in helping him launch his own music label.
Attracting the biggest names in the industry, Big A.T. has the Midas touch with millions of dollars in the bank, real estate holdings, luxury cars, and countless fans. He’s built a bona fide empire but along the way, Big A.T. falls hard for one of his artists, the sexy Tickman. They love each other but know they must keep their relationship a secret and to keep any press speculation about their sexuality at bay, each becomes involved in relationships with high-profile women.
However, unbeknownst to Big A.T., a journalist seeking revenge against hip-hop power brokers and looking for his 15 minutes of fame obtains compromising photographs that threaten to expose the truth about Big A. T.
Will his life crumble in the wake of a huge scandal or will Big A.T.
survive—and out of the closet forever?
In my junior year at Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn I had it going on. I was popular. I had a fly girl and fly gear.
And I was on the basketball team ... had a jump shot like you’ll never believe. I was even recruited by some scouts to go upstate New York to play ball at Syracuse University. That’s how fucking good I was.
But, I will always remember the date, October third. I’ll never forget it. It’ll always stick with me.
After basketball practice we were all pissed off as we headed to the showers. One of my teammates couldn’t seem to make a basket to save his life, nor the team’s ass. So coach made us sprint around the gym ten times at full speed.
Generally, after a long hard practice the team would head out to get something to eat before going home. But, this practice was hard and long. My entire body ached. My muscles were throbbing. My feet were screaming for a relief from my sneakers, and my hands began to cramp.
We were sweaty and smelly. I was in desperate need of a shower. The gym reeked like that of musk and old sweat socks. Some players started joking around. We needed it. The mood was tense. I was, at least.
While showering, I caught glimpse of my teammate George Rochelle’s naked six-foot-five rock-hard body. George was a high school senior, captain of the basketball team. All-City. All-State. Power forward and, the most popular male in my school. His back was toward me and all I saw was George’s bubble ass slowly being lathered by his massive hands. George was dark, like a chocolate Hershey bar. His entire body was the same color.
No imperfections.
His muscles rippled as he washed under his arms and reached around to his back and ass.
Watching him I started to get an erection. I couldn’t help it. The sight of George’s nakedness caused my loins to stir.
Then George turned around and faced me. His six-pack abs were on display along with his long and dark dick.
He smiled and nodded at me before I could turn away. I was embarrassed. My dick was fully erect. I grabbed my erection and quickly turned away. I fled the shower and rushed toward my locker. I dressed quickly. George walked by and smiled at me. I put my head down and pulled on my sweater. I was trying to get out of there.
“Hey,” George said standing in front of me with the towel wrapped around his body.
I stuffed my feet into my sneakers and stood up.
“What’s up?” I said avoiding eye contact.
“What you got up for this weekend?” he asked.
I glanced at him. Damn! He was fine. Smiling at me with his beautiful lips.
Pink.
Luscious.
Lips.
“I got a lot of studying to do,” I replied.
“Oh, aight, well hit me up this week so we can hook up and hang out.”
“Yeah, aight.” I grabbed my backpack and rushed toward the locker room doors. My feet were tripping over one another. My head and underarms started to perspire.
“Yo!” He yelled as I was hustling through the doors. His deep voice startled me. I stopped and slowly turned to face him. My heart was pounding. He was still smiling. Standing with the white towel perfectly wrapped around his waist.
He pointed towards me. “You got your sweater on backwards.”
“Thanks,” I said flustered. I pushed through the doors and ran toward the water fountain at the end of the hall.
That evening I couldn’t stop thinking of George.
His smile.
His body.
Thoughts of his nakedness kept me awake the entire night.
About Terrance Dean
Terrance Dean
has worked in the entertainment industry for over 15 years with heavy hitters such as Spike Lee, Rob Reiner, Keenan Ivory Wayans, and Anjelica Houston.
He has worked with television and film production companies such as BET, Savoy Television,
Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Sony Pictures.
Most recently, Dean worked with MTV Networks for over six years helping to produce live award shows and events including MTV Video Music Awards, Movie Awards, Hip Hop Honors, Rock Honors, Sports & Music Festival, and Choose or Lose. Dean is also the founder/creator of Men’s Empowerment, Inc. and co-creator of The Gathering of Men with Adeyemi Bandele.
He attended Fisk University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communications. Dean is a 2005 John Seigenthaler Journalism Fellow from Vanderbilt University and served as a writer-in-residence with the Detroit Public School system. He is a contributor to the anthologies Souls of My Brothers and Gone Too Soon and his writings have appeared in publications such as Vibe, Essence, Juicy, The Advocate and Fatherhood Today.
Sometimes it's the unexpected that makes life interesting. . .
Smart, sexy Victoria Small has come to the end of her year off—from men, that is. She's enjoyed her hiatus, the peace, quiet—and no unexpected interruptions. But now she's ready to have someone to come home to. And her timing is perfect, as not one, but two, handsome possibilities enter her life. . .
Ted, a powerful, blue-eyed CEO sends a thrill of excitement through her that shocks Victoria out of her comfort zone. Meanwhile, Parker, a talented surgeon, melts her defenses with his warmth and ebony good looks.
The men are as different as can be—inside and out—but they have one thing in common: they both want Victoria. And as she struggles to decide what—and who—she really wants, Victoria will have to face her deepest fears, secrets, and desires—and decide if she's brave enough for true love, no matter what color it comes in.
Her answer just may surprise everyone, including herself. . .
Excerpt from Unexpected Interruptions
The Nerve…
Victoria sat at her desk and checked her email as she filled Denise in on the details of her horrifying lunch date.
“Girlfriend, tell me you’re lyin’!” Denise said, shaking her head.
“I lie to you not.”
“Humph, that’s a damn shame for anyone to act that way. His attitude was loud and wrong. My grandmother always said to stay clear of people with two first names…can’t be trusted.”
Victoria nodded, but then frowned as she read her most recent message. “I just got an email from Patricia. This woman is so obnoxious.”
“What does it say?”
“Brace yourself for this,” Victoria said as she read the email aloud.
Date: Friday, October 1, 1:02 pm
From: patricia.clark@ViaTech.net
To: victoria.small@ViaTech.net
Subject: URGENT: SME Report
I want to make sure you have the SME report on my desk before the Wed. Oct. 6, deadline. I need to get started on this project ASAP, as my workload will increase once the EMP nominations are announced. Naturally, my nomination will dictate that I spend the majority of my time on program related issues. Make sure you get this to me on time.
PC
Patricia Clark had always considered herself a perfect ten. She loved her creamy porcelain complexion, super thin body, and Angelina Jolie-like lips. She thought her only shortcomings were her small eyes, outlined with crow’s feet, and her slightly wrinkled neck, announcing her membership in the forty and over club. That notwithstanding, her crowning glory was her platinum blonde hair, compliments of
L'Oreal, and her big boobs, compliments of Dr. Jerry Steiner & Associates Surgical Center. What more could you ask for? was her attitude. She didn’t have a college degree, but she’d managed to work her way up the corporate ladder with what she called “friendly ingenuity,” or sleeping her way to the top, as everyone else accurately pinned her tools for success.
Patricia had it in for Victoria from the first day they met. When Victoria turned in her reports, her work was error-free, which made Patricia suspicious. She believed that Victoria was getting other people to do the work for her. How else could she do such a good job? she often thought, discounting the fact that Victoria held an MBA from one of the top business schools in the country. And she didn’t understand how Victoria could work twelve-hour days and still find time to bake homemade treats to bring to the office. Everyone loved Victoria, and Patricia couldn’t stand it.
“The nerve,” Denise fumed. “Like she’s even being considered for EMP. I wish you would accept Mr. Thornton’s offer just so I could see her shit a brick. She’s more fake than those flotation devices she masquerades as breasts. She’s one sneaky bitch. I’m telling you right now, you gotta watch her.”
Victoria knew Denise was right. That’s why she decided she would come in this weekend and work on the SME report to make sure it was ready in time for the Wednesday deadline.
She’s
a savvy, successful real-estate agent with a quick wit, a low tolerance for BS,
and a gorgeous size-14 body. Despite her dream house, luxury car, and appetite
for life’s best—like fine dining and hot men—she seems to have her own
special talent for attracting players. Why do all of her ex-lovers belong in the
Losers Hall of Fame?
There was Lamar, the hazel-eyed Adonis who sowed more wild oats than Quaker. . .
Sean, an expert at juggling relationships . . . Marcus, whose lips wandered as
often as his eyes . . . and others, too. But just as Rissey swears off sex and
vows to dump her emotional baggage, she meets house-hunting client Dwayne
Gibson. There’s no way she can resist his seductive smile and rock-hard body.
. . .
Will Dwayne turn out to be the biggest bum of them all? Or
will this time be different? On the road to love and happiness,
sometimes we've got to get out of our own way.
Book excerpt - The Bum
Magnet
Bed, Bath, and Way Beyond
“I didn’t mean to come on so strong,” he said. “I hope I didn’t make
you uncomfortable. I’m not shy, and I was really feelin’ you. You are so . .
. irresistible, couldn’t keep my hands to myself.”
Oh, that’s not all you couldn’t keep to yourself.
“I’ve never done anything like that before,” I said, covering my face with
the sheet.
He laughed. “It’s okay. I don’t think either of us is going to burn in
hell. It just happened; it was just one of those things.”
I rolled out of bed and asked him if I could take a quick shower—didn’t want
to walk around smelling like booty all day. I emerged from the bathroom dressed
and ready to go about twenty minutes later.
“So, uhhh, we should get going. We’ve got properties to see, papers to sign
. . .”
“Dinner to eat?” he interrupted as he stood up and walked toward the bedroom
door.
“Dinner to eat?” I responded in shock. “You mean, with me?”
The moment felt almost surreal. He went from jackass to booty call to dinner
date in Olympic speed. How did that happen? Must’ve been his naked,
Hershey’s ass; they get me every time. But all of a sudden—and at a most
inconvenient time—I remembered my quest: discipline, determination,
self-control. Oh, hell, my willpower arrived like an hour past late.
About
the Author
K. L. Brady is a D.C. native but spent a number of her formative years in
the Ohio Valley. She’s an alumnus of the University of the District of
Columbia and University of Maryland University College, earning a B.A. in
Economics and M.B.A., respectively.
She works as an analyst for a major government contracting
firm and is an active real estate agent with Exit Realty by day—and writes by
night (often into the wee hours of the morning). She lives just outside of D.C.
in Cheltenham, Maryland, with her son and lives to eat chocolate, shop, read,
and write.
Originally self-published, her adult novel, THE BUM MAGNET, was published by
Simon & Schuster's Pocket Books in March 2011. THE BUM MAGNET was the winner
of the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards for Multicultural Fiction, as well
as the Third Place Grand Prize Winner for Best Fiction of 2010. To read more
about the book and to view her tour schedule, visit the author's website at: www.authorklbrady.com.
Running from Solace by Nakia R. Laushaul
"She passed a hard candy over her shoulder as though whatever was in the tiny wrapper was supposed to make it all better. I clutched the peppermint in my hand and buried my face in the hard leather seat while she explained what was going to happen to me. She promised that I'd be safe from then on."
And so begins the journey of Naomi, whose amazing story picks up where the past and future intersect. As Naomi struggles to hide the ugly physical and emotional reminders of her childhood that insist on haunting her dreams, she crosses paths with a young boy, Xavier and his bad-tempered mother, Mona, who share an interesting story much like her own.
Excerpt from Running from Solace, Chapter One: Naomi
Once, she flung a heavy ashtray at my head and blood spewed onto my new pink summer dress like red polka dots because I didn't respond to her calling me, "Naomi! Naomi!" I was trying frantically to reach her special ashtray with the real stinky cigarettes in it from underneath the bed, so I barely heard her the first time. From the tone of her voice I could tell she was getting mad, but I almost had the golden colored ashtray in my hand when I heard her say, "If I call you one more time!" That did it for me; I knew I was getting a whooping. I took my time walking back into the living room.
"Don't make me call you again, Naomi!" Mama said just as I approached her.
I left a small distance between us as I presented her with what she had been impatiently waiting for. She went crazy. Mama hit me right on top of my head over and over again with the ashtray.
"You ungrateful little bitch!" she yelled repeatedly in my face.
I tried to cover my head with my arms, until they grew tired and I gave up. Fury danced in her eyes and spit sprinkled over me like morning mist. My eyes burned from the tiny flecks of ashes that fell from the ashtray. I tried closing them tightly. Warm blood trickled slowly down my forehead and penetrated my eyelids and cooled the burning sensation.
"Yeah, you must like gettin' hit!" Mama screamed so loud I wanted my ears to close. I preferred the times when she whooped me and she was silent. Out of sheer luck at some point during the beating, I passed out. I usually did. Thank God.
Nakia R. Laushaul
was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and now resides in Houston, Texas with her son. She is employed as a Finance Administrator for a furniture retailer.
She is an inspirational poet, novelist, and entrepreneur. In her free time she enjoys performing and listening to spoken word poetry.
Nakia has always loved to read and early on in life guessed that writing would play a major role in her future.
Nakia's career pursuits in writing did not come without obstacles. Finally, all the bottled-up imagination and thoughts that needed to be expressed on paper came pouring out.
Inspired and fueled by attempts to be molded into the norm, she began to write her first collection of poetry and essays titled
The Truth As I See It which is set to be released in early 2010 by Serendipity Bound Books.
Nakia remains determined to present the truth as she sees it in all facets of her writing, and hopes that her writing will inspire and serve a meaningful purpose for her readers. She is committed to challenging everyone in her reach to find compassion and empathy in the differences that exist among us all. She is currently working on a
novel titled Running from Solace.
Nakia R. Laushaul truly believes that by doing what you love, you become happy! Go find your happiness.
Bride and Groom Money Talk FAQ
by Dr. Taffy Wagner
Bride and Groom Money Talk FAQ answers over 70 questions about money before marriage for brides and grooms. This book addresses how to talk about money, who should
manage marital finances, how to handle a future spouse bringing debt into the marriage and much more. This book can be purchased by brides and
grooms as well as family, friends or anyone in the wedding party to be given as a gift. This book can be used by engaged couples, newlyweds or
even couples that are married for some time. It is a much needed resource in the wedding industry. The book is available for purchase on Dr. Taffy Wagner's website at:
http://www.brideandgroommoneytalk.com
Bride and Groom Money Talk FAQ Book Review
By Lisa Maria Carroll -- Amazon Review
This book, Bride and Groom Money Talk FAQ, should be mandatory reading for all couples once they decide to get married. There's a code of silence in marriage when it comes to talking about money that has contributed to the high divorce rate in our society. And in order to break it, we have to get comfortable having the talk. In this book, Dr. Taffy does just that. She leaves no stone unturned and answers the "standard" questions that most brides and grooms have such as who should pay for the wedding, as well as questions that couples may not have until they are well into their marriage, such as, what if the groom is a co-owner of a business, and there's a lawsuit against his business for failure to pay another business? Dr. Taffy covers them all.
So couples should prepare themselves before the wedding, so they won't have to repair themselves later.
Excerpt: Bride and Groom Money Talk FAQ
Chapter 1 : Begin The Money Talk
4). I want to talk about the money but afraid what my fiancé is going to think. How do I get past the fear?
Being afraid to start the money talk is common, and what you have to ask yourself is what could happen if you don’t tell him, and he finds out about your financial issues from a creditor or someone else? Do you really want to run the risk of trust being broken in a relationship? Once trust is broken in a relationship, it is hard to get back. Trust is not only talking; your actions must line up with your words.
When you share about your financial behavior, sure he may get upset in the beginning, and what you should share with him is that you wanted to be honest from the start, so there are no secrets. You don’t feel it is appropriate to start your marriage out with secrets because you know when secrets come out, they can destroy a relationship, and you do not want that to happen.
Brides and grooms need to be honest with each other; they may not like everything. However, whatever financial mistakes your fiancé made prior to you walking down the aisle had nothing to do with you. You should not be judging them because you were not there and do not know why they did what they did. Sure you may have to deal with some of the consequences after you are married; just realize you were not there more than likely at the time they chose the course of action they chose. As you are uniting in marriage, you have an opportunity to make a difference in your financial lives together.
How you begin this conversation and even dealing with your fear can set the tone for how the financial conversations take place throughout your marriage. Don’t take it lightly because how you start these conversations during your engagement is how they will continue throughout your marriage.
5). How do I ask my fiancé about his finances?
The first thing you should know and pay attention to is watching when your fiancé expresses his feelings about his day. If he says to you, “I’ve had a bad day”, now is not the time to ask him about his finances. Instead ask him why his day was so bad. When someone has had a bad day, you should wait before either asking him or her about a difficult topic or one that could be become heated.
Second determine why you want to ask your fiancé about his finances. What is your purpose in asking him – whether it be so you start off on a sound financial footing knowing what both of you are bringing to the table or if you see him spending a lot of money and you are curious if he is paying all his bills or spending out control or something else. Determine what your purpose is first.
Once you have determined the purpose in asking your fiancé about his finances, then decide when would be the best time to ask the questions. Remember when you are asking about his finances, do not come from a position of blame.
Instead you want to come from a position of I am thinking long-term and knowing what both of our financial pictures look like will assist me as we prepare to openly talk about our financial future. If you don’t remember anything else from this chapter, remember PRESENTATION is essential. How you say everything makes a difference.
6). We are engaged. Should we have a financial plan?
During your engagement is the perfect time to develop a financial plan for your wedding and your marriage. A lot of engaged couples are only thinking about the wedding day, and then when they come home from the honeymoon to start their lives together, they are not prepared for the financial decisions that must be made when it comes to being married.
Your financial plan could consist of starting with a talk about what bills you both are bringing into the marriage. Next you will want to establish a financial budget for your wedding and decide who is going to pay for the wedding. Let’s be honest; due to times changing, it is not necessarily the case where the bride’s parents are paying for the wedding. The bride and groom could be paying for their own wedding.
If the bride and groom are paying for their own wedding, it is even more important they discuss and establish a mutual financial plan. The financial plan should not be one-sided but instead incorporate what is best for the benefit of the marriage relationship.
After the budget for the wedding, the bride and groom should begin talking about their finances for their marriage. This way they are designing a financial blueprint for their marriage and not leaving it all up to chance.
####
Bride and Groom Money Talk FAQ
Genre: Relationships/Marriage; ISBN: 978-0976742197
Author’s Website: http://www.brideandgroommoneytalk.com
Not available on Kindle or Nook.
About the Author
Dr. Taffy Wagner is a Certified Educator in Personal Finances, Money and Marriage Advocate and an Ordained Minister. She is the author of Bride and Groom Money Talk FAQ, Debt Dilemma and Homebuyer’s Helper (How to Have and Hold on to your House). Dr. Wagner has been interviewed by The Denver Business Journal, AOL Black Voices, The Associated Press, US News and World Report, Called Magazine and Woman’s Day regarding handling money before and after saying “I Do”.
She’s been interviewed on nationally syndicated show MoneyTalk with Bob Brinker, and other radio shows such as The Marriage Team on
KPAM.org, Sharvette Mitchell Show and Relationships 360.
Dr. Wagner provides premarital and post-marital financial counseling as well conducting seminars for individuals, couples, single parents and small groups regarding personal finances, home ownership and women’s issues. Dr. Wagner is the financial columnist for
www.BlackBride.com, www.Weddzilla.com and www.Adviceandinfo.com . She holds a Doctorate of Ministry in Biblical Counseling, Master’s degree in Human Resources Management, a Bachelor’s degree in Business Admin/Management and an Associates degree in Paralegal Studies. She is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces. Dr. Wagner resides in the metro Denver area with her husband, Eric and their twins, Erica and Cody.
Rain grapples with memories of a horrific past that leaves her far from unscathed. After witnessing her mother’s gruesome murder as a child, she is now left piecing together the fragments of her shattered psyche as an adult. Quickly, she is drowning in years of frustration and confusion with no promise of relief. Sinister visions and undying spirits haunt Rain relentlessly, driving her deeper into darkness and lunacy. Rain’s grandmother,
GiGi, tries her best to help Rain face the truth, urging her to confront her past, but the past is too painful—it’s easier to hide.
As Rain struggles desperately to define herself, she's forced to brave her live-in siblings: a violent and narcissistic brother,
Danny, who resents her weakness and Carmen, her promiscuous and hostile older sister, who wishes Rain would disappear.
In her fragile mental state, Rain is ill-equipped to handle the chaos of their ruptured lives. When Rain, Carmen, and Danny are submerged into the horrors of prostitution, drug-addiction, domestic violence, and murder, Rain is left alone to face her internal demons and find her identity, with no one to answer to, but herself.
Excerpt: Inside Rain by Monique D. Mensah
A cold chill invaded her bedroom. The windows were closed and the heat was on, but there was still an unjustified frost that nipped at Rain’s skin as she lay snuggled in her twin-sized bed under her Sesame Street blanket. Living in Detroit, frigid nights could be expected in the dead of winter, but this was different than any other chill she’d experienced; it was eerie. That’s what woke her up. It wasn’t the faint sound of screaming in the near distance or the echo of heavy footsteps pounding the linoleum floors. It was the creepy, cold air that bit at her ears, fingers, and toes.
Rain rubbed her eyes and lazily threw the covers off her small body. Her tiny feet dangled from the side of the bed as she sat there for a moment, yawning and wondering how long it would be before it was time to eat her usual Crunch Berries and toast for breakfast. It was dark in her room, and the light from the hallway crept through the crack under the door. She could tell it was still nighttime. She opened her curtains and saw the steel moon staring back at her, confirming her initial thought; it was still the middle of the night. Then she heard it again, thundering footsteps followed by a shrill scream. This time she knew—it was her mother.
Rain jumped out of bed and rushed out to the hallway. The light made her squint as her eyes adjusted. She started running down the hall, but quickly slowed her pace to a slow and careful walk. At five years old, she had the senses of a grown woman. She knew her mother was in danger and that she might be as well. Still, her curiosity compelled her forward to find out what was going on. As she got closer to her mother’s bedroom, the noise became louder and clearer. She heard her mother again, but this time she wasn’t screaming. She was talking desperately. Begging.
“It wasn’t me, baby. It was Rock. He forced me. He got the money. We can go get it, me and you. We can get it right now. Please, just let me get it and this whole thing will be all over.”
Rain heard a smack, then a crash. The brash voice of a man bounced off the thin walls of the small bungalow. “You think I’m stupid don’t you? I told you last Friday if you ain’t have my money, I was comin’ for you. Gimme my money now!” Smack!
To Rain, he sounded like a monster. Like Skeletor, his voice was deep and groggy and sent a cold shiver down her spine. Suddenly, she started to cry. Warm tears staggered down her face, but she managed to remain silent as she kept a slow and steady pace toward her mother’s bedroom.
She heard her mother again, “Rock! Rock got it!”
“Rock dead. You ain’t heard?” The man’s cruel laughter made Rain flinch. “Yup, got himself shot in the head and set on fire.”
“Oh my God! Please! Let me explain. We can straighten this out. I promise. Just let me put some things together fo’ you. I got you!”
Rain finally reached the door to the master bedroom. It was open just a crack, not wide enough for them to see her, but she could see them—the whole scene. A tall, dark man stood over her mother, as tall as the tallest building she’d ever seen. Her mother was on her knees begging for her life while he yanked her auburn-dyed hair. He was dressed in all black—black leather jacket, black shirt, and boots. Rain had seen him before. He had been near the house occasionally, but she didn’t know his name. This was the first time she’d ever seen him actually in the house.
Usually when he came around, her mother would call GiGi and tell her to come get Rain because she had to take care of some business. GiGi would get mad at her and fuss about how she was too absent from her child’s life, but Rain didn’t mind it at all. She loved going over her GiGi’s house. It was always so much fun. Most of the time she didn’t want to go back home; sometimes she didn’t for a couple of days. When her mother came back to get her, Rain would ask where she had been, she would always get the same answer, “Working. Mommy had to take care of some things, baby.”
But now, that man was standing in their house, in her mother’s room, and he was hurting her. She was crying. Rain had never seen her mother cry before. It made her own tears come down even faster.
###
Inside Rain by Monique D. Mensah
•ISBN-13: 9780615379913
•ISBN: 0615379915
Genre: Fiction/Psychological Thriller
About the Author
Monique D. Mensah
is the award-winning author of Who Is He to You, Inside Rain and Smoke Screen. After graduating from U of M with a bachelor’s degree in business management, she went on to pen her first novel. Shortly after, she founded Kisa Publishing and published her debut novel, launching a fulfilling career as a critically acclaimed author. She resides in Southfield, MI, with her daughter, Alana, where she works full-time at a private university.
Visit the author's website: http://www.MoniqueDMensah.com
Books by Nikki Coe
Postal Blues by Nikki Coe
Three women, with three different ideologies, all come together and find friendship, trust and love working the graveyard shift at the post office...
He wanted to tell them what the real deal was; they were here for the money. Not respect, not fairness, not appreciation, not friendship. He wanted to tell them that once they left this room and walked around the workroom floor that they would see mail as they had never seen mail before; not the four or five pieces they receive in their mailboxes every day, but thousands upon thousands of letters and magazines and parcels that had to reach every home and every business and every post office in America by tomorrow, every day.
He wanted to tell these three women that sat eagerly in front of him plenty of things, but they wouldn't believe him if he did; the post office was something you had to experience, like Disney World. Explanations did it no justice. So instead of telling this class the real deal, he unsnapped the blue nylon safety strap from his belt loop and laid it on the table. "Welcome to the Postal Service, ladies. This is a safety strap..."
Bailey Jenkins is beautiful and knows it. Born with a plastic spoon in her mouth and trying hard to forget it, she's determined not to live life as her mother did; she would profit from her beauty or die trying.
Young Lisa Johnson is facing the struggles of parenthood alone. When a new supervisor comes on board, he promises to make Lisa's life a living hell unless she does what he asks, and what he asks goes beyond the call of duty.
Tonya Elson is active in the church and happily married, or so she thinks until she finds proof to the contrary. Tonya, the glue that holds the three women together, is losing her grip; can her single friends teach her how to save her marriage?
Will she try?
Rain, Snow, Sleet or Hail
by Nikki Coe
What’s really going on at the Post Office? The main characters in
Postal Blues meet at a safety briefing and form an unlikely friendship that working together night after night reinforces. Bailey Jenkins, Lisa Johnson, Tonya Elson and Jackson Andies, take the reader on an amusing trip thru the United States Postal Service as they deal with irritating co-workers, inept management and postal violence. In their private lives, newly found love, single parenting, an adoption gone wrong and broken hearts keeps the reader turning the pages.
There are no secrets in the post office. Yes there is, and Lisa, Tonya and Jackson guard Bailey’s at all cost. The sequel to
POSTAL BLUES, RAIN, SNOW, SLEET OR HAIL takes over where Postal Blues leaves off while remaining a stand-alone book in its own right. RAIN, depicts a more mature Lisa as she becomes a full-time student while still working hard at the post office.
Her first day in class she’s shocked to find out that her ‘harrrd’ law professor is no stranger. Love and Jackson have changed Bailey but their relationship is everything but smooth because his ex refuses to let them live happily ever after. A now expectant Tonya will soon be the mother of two but her adopted three year old is not feeling her…at all. Tonya wants to send her back but she is the apple of Michael’s eye and he’s having no part of it. And yes, the irritating co-workers have pushed it up a notch and are more irritating.
Excerpt: Rain, Snow, Sleet or Hail by Nikki Coe
The sound of the rain stopped and the silence woke her. The room was cold but it had nothing to do with the open windows or the drop in temperature. Something was wrong. She kept her eyes closed but her senses were honed in on something and whatever it was, it sent terror running through her body. What was it? Why was it in her new apartment? Before her mind could answer, Trenton’s hands were around her throat.
Praise for Rain, Snow, Sleet or Hail by Nikki Coe
Book Review Rating: 5 stars
The drama continues from Postal Blues and Nikki Coe has done it again! Just when you think things are going to calm down, things pick back up in ways that you simply cannot expect! I loved, loved, loved this book! It’s such a thoroughly written story that I literally couldn’t put it down. The fact that I have been waiting for the sequel for Postal Blues only added to that allure. I really have become a fan of Nikki Coe because you can not tell by her writing that she is new to the literary world.
Her second book packs such a powerful punch and deals with so many issues that it only made me an even bigger fan of this authors work. I think that her biggest gift is the ability to make her books avoid predictability. I’m hoping, praying for another installment of this series!
-- Reviewed by: Nikkea Smithers, RWA Bookclub President, website: www.rwabookclub.com
About the Author
Nikki Coe
began writing as a hobby. Employed by the USPS for nearly twenty years in several different capacities and locations, Nikki Coe is an expert on the postal experience. An avid reader, Nikki is familiar with the types of literary works that appeal most to women and she writes to that appeal. Nikki has created characters that people talk about; characters that endear and emotionally involve the reader. Her characters experience common problems that are solved in unorthodox ways.
THE GOOD DAUGHTER
A Memoir of My Mother’s Hidden Life by Jasmin Darznik
Darznik’s family moved to America from Iran when she was only three years old, and her knowledge of her family history is limited. At first discovery of the photograph, Jasmin's mother,
Lili, refuses to share any information. Months later, Jasmin receives the first of ten cassette tapes in which her mother reveals a wrenching hidden story of her family's true origins in Iran: her mother's troubled history of abuse and neglect, and a daughter she was forced to abandon in order to escape that life. The final tape reveals that her sister, Sara, is still living in Iran.
Darznik skillfully weaves the stories of three generations of Iranian women's battles with husbands and poverty into a unique tale of one family's twisted path to freedom.
Anita Amirrezvani, author of Blood of Flowers, says that THE GOOD DAUGHTER
“illuminates the complexity of Iranian women's lives as few books have ever done… Once you read this book, you will see Iran and Iranians with new eyes. A brilliant debut.”
The New York Times requested Darznik write an op-ed piece based on THE GOOD DAUGHTER, which ran on Mother’s Day 2010.
THE GOOD DAUGHTER is an enchanting and unforgettable story of secrets, betrayal, and the unbreakable mother-daughter bond.
Dr. Linda F. Beed /Black
Pearls Magazine Reviewer
Rating - 4 Stars
The Good Daughter: A Memoir of My Mother's Life
Jasmin Darznik takes readers on a memorable journey through the past of not only her mother, Lili, but also that of others of her time and generations before her.
Several weeks after Jasmin’s father dies she happens upon what appears to be a wedding photograph of her mother and a man she does not know. More disturbing is her mother’s frightened expression. Jasmin’s queries do not receive the answers she seeks and are temporarily laid to rest.
Years pass before Lili, who has fled her war-torn Iranian home and relocated to America when Jasmin is five, decides to break her silence. Through a series of cassette tapes sent to Jasmin who is living on the East coast, Lili reveals her past. That past includes Lili’s abusive first husband and a daughter Sara who still lives in Iran.
With courage and introspection Jasmin writes of her mother’s past. That past seams together a tapestry of shared abuse and oppression of the women of Persia. It also reveals hardships of being an educated immigrant in a foreign land. Above all,
The Good Daughter: A Memoir of My Mother’s Life tells the story of those without a voice and brings to the forefront, the voices shared between a mother and daughter who spent much of her life trying to fit in.
Advance Praise for THE GOOD DAUGHTER:
“Startling and moving…I’m betting on this one.” - Library Journal
“Darznik’s memoir is a beautifully recounted homage to her mother’s life and struggles.” - Booklist
“Richly detailed memoir…an engaging account of life in Iran in the 20th century, full of memorable characters whose lives take unexpected turns. The author’s portrayal of Iranian society and male-female relations are revealing, and her descriptions of clothing, food and drink are especially engrossing…An eye-opening account that disturbs with its depiction of the place of women in Iranian society, but warms the heart in its portrayal of their gritty endurance.” - Kirkus
About the Author
Jasmin Darznik was born in Tehran, Iran. A former attorney, she received her Ph.D. from Princeton University. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and other publications.
She is a professor of English at Washington and Lee University and has also been a visiting professor of Iranian literature at the University of Virginia. THE GOOD DAUGHTER is her first book and will be published in twelve countries.
THE GOOD DAUGHTER: A Memoir of My Mother’s Hidden Life by Jasmin Darznik
Two best friends test the limits of loyalty in a stirring new novel of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness.
Mia and Danielle had vowed to stay best friends for life-- until one indiscretion destroyed that bond forever. Twenty years later, tragedy reunites them in an unexpected way. Now they must confront the past, discover its untold truths, and rebuild a friendship destined to endure.
Fun facts about my two main characters:
Mia Marks is a high school teacher and a member of one of the largest book clubs in the greater Detroit area. In the opening scene, she is hosting a book club dinner with an author she selected that the other members aren’t too thrilled over.
Danielle King is a New York Times Bestselling author of twenty novels including a series featuring the ever so popular U.S Marshal Wyatt Rockwell. Many of her novels have been featured on the big screen. But at the start of the novel, she’s experiencing writer’s block.
About the Author
Cheryl Robinson was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in Marketing, and worked in an automotive-related industry for eleven years. Her passion for writing was sparked while taking a fiction writing course as an elective during her junior year in college.
Twelve years later, she began writing novel length fiction and self-published two books before finally acquiring a literary agent who soon after sold the rights to her first self-published book and five other books that followed.
She has also lived in Syracuse, New York; Overland Park, Kansas; Keller, Texas; and Orlando, Florida. She currently resides in Central Florida where she is working on her next novel.
Career? Check.
Amazing best friends? Check.
Fast-paced exciting second career? Check.
Love life? Double uncheck.
Functional mother-daughter relationship? Uncheck.
Jules Jackson is more or less satisfied with her life. Sure, her job as a Toronto based publicist can get pretty hectic, and her relationship with her mom is less than perfect. But her relationship with God is enough to get her through those minor patches. Yes she is pretty content.
That is until the night she meets Germaine Williams, while promoting a client who is performing at Germaine’s lounge.
Before she knows it, she is throwing caution to the wind, and falling hard for a man she has just met.
But Germaine isn't all that he seems, and when Jules start asking questions, things start getting more complicated than she planned
for. With everything in her life up in the air, she must decide whether she is willing to give up what is sure for something and someone that is more than she could ever ask for.
About Author Rhonda
Rhonda Bowen is a writer and event planner living in Toronto. She enjoys spending time with her family, trying on shoes she can’t afford, and enjoying life’s unexpected twists and turns. You can reach her by dropping a note in the comment box below or emailing her directly at:
rhonda.bowen@yahoo.com
You can also connect with her on Facebook at facebook.com/MsRhondie or
twitter.com/MsRhondie. Follow her musings on Wordpress at
learningtheropes.worpress.com.
Peer Book Review
“Christian fiction fans will love this book! Man Enough For Me has heaping helpings of faith, prayer and redemption. I expect that readers will be clamoring for more from Rhonda Bowen.”
--Tiffany L. Warren, Essence® bestselling author
Whispers from the Mirror by Minnie Estelle Miller
Minnie E. Miller is a seasoned writer by age, not by the number of books written. She’s 74 years old and has written three books. Two more are pending. She retired in 1999 from the Office of the Mayor of San Francisco, California. She traveled to U.S. cities and abroad returning to her native home in Chicago’s Hyde Park community.
“Whispers from the Mirror” is her latest novel.
Whispers from the Mirror Introduction
Belle Deville is a Civil Rights lawyer, news commentator and single mother. She preaches courage, independence, and distrust of men into Brianna, her only child. She doesn't know her father and Belle never explained his absence when she was alive. These issues take their toll on Brianna's heart and mind. She becomes celibate to avoid close relationships with men that pass through her life and hides behind a mask of feminism well into her forties. Rape adds to her anguish and reinforces her mistrust of men.
Mirror-Lady appears in Brianna's bathroom mirror at will. She is an apparition and guardian angel sent by Belle to protect her daughter after her death. Mirror-Lady warns that if she doesn't open her heart she will have a loveless existence and die like her mother--alone.
"Whispers from the Mirror" is provocative, yet mitigating; mature, yet sensual.
Excerpt from Whispers from the Mirror
Mother Belle’s casket glistened, poised over the pit, a blur. Brianna rubbed tears from her eyes, blinking the awful sight into focus. She whimpered in a low tone. The edges of the funeral canvas cried ceaselessly at its edges, assuming the chore that pat wet as her sorrow. Before her, the life that had brought her into the world: Belle Deville.
Her Mother whispered, “Be strong.”
Others had come to offer sympathy; friends, lawyers from her firm and ever-faithful Lanie Ross, who stood to the side under an umbrella that refused sight of her aged face.
Daughter, astounded by the finality, watched her Mother finish lowering into the mouth of earth. She knew she ’d remember this for the balance of her life, but today she threw a white rose on top of the coffin no longer able to bear the gloss; wanting both gone.
Lanie Ross, Brianna’s godmother, steered her away from the gravesite and toward the limousine. Most everyone else had already left without Brianna having sensed the time.
Lanie hugged her. “I love you, Brianna”; and she did, Brianna knew, perhaps as if she’d given her birth. Lanie worked in Belle’s office, but today it was hard to take her presence for granted.
As they neared the car, an older man took both of Brianna’s hands, offered condolence with his eyes and kissed her forehead. She didn’t know him. He locked in her vision until she felt him anyway.
“Thank you,” she managed. When he let go, she slid into the waiting car.
The field of stones cleared one car at a time until only a truck remained. Two workmen took-up shovels near Mother’s grave. They uncovered the tarp hiding the soil and went to work before the dirt turned to mud.
Another of the faithful remained watching: Mirror-Lady. The men, as everyone before them, worked oblivious to the Lady’s presence.
The First Cut Is Always The Deepest
by Stacey Covington-Lee
Tameka Williams has spent the last seven years of her life in state prison. Now she is being set free. Unfortunately, all of the anger and resentment that she's lived with during her incarceration is being freed as well.
While Brook Mansfield-Banks was not pleased with the idea of her mortal enemy being released, she was ready to take Tameka on head first. She would not allow Tameka another opportunity to cause her family harm. But, Brook has forgotten just how deep Tameka's wickedness runs. Now the fate of her child will once again be determined by Tameka.
Mia Purcell has always been the loving and supportive friend. She was there for Brook through all of her trials and tribulations. But with her marriage falling apart, she's the one that will now need the strength of a true friend. There's only one problem, her marital issues have a strange connection with Tameka.
Mia and Tameka find themselves working together in order to uncover the truth about the men in their lives. But is this unlikely duo more than Brook can stand? She will have to dig deep and put her hatred for Tameka aside if she wants to be the friend that Mia desperately needs.
Excerpt: The First Cut Is Always The Deepest
Chapter 3
Brook sat at her desk and pulled out the white envelope with the correctional institute address stamped on it. She looked at the envelope thoughtfully as she had so many times since receiving it. Brook hadn’t told anyone about its arrival and hadn’t bothered to open it.
Her first reaction was to tear it up and throw it in the trash but something just wouldn’t allow her to do that. Maybe it was curiosity that forced her to hold on to the letter. Part of her really wanted to know what Tameka had to say, but another part still wanted to forget that Tameka even existed. But Brook knew in her heart that she could never forget Tameka. She could never forget her because she could never forget the precious baby that Tameka took from her. Brook thought back to her first pregnancy and the joy she felt. Then she thought of the pills that Tameka snuck into her drink causing her miscarriage. Brook would never be able to comprehend how jealously could drive someone to do something so evil. No, forgetting Tameka was not an option. Brook grabbed her letter opener and sliced it through the top of the prison envelope. She pulled out the single sheet of paper and unfolded it. She took a long cleansing breath before reading its contents.
Dearest Brook,
I know that you never expected to hear from me and probably would have preferred that I not try and reach out to you. However, there are some things that I just had to say and feelings that had to be expressed so that you could fully understand where I am in my life now and how I plan to proceed.
As you can imagine, the last few years have been hell for me. I have had nothing but time to sit and reflect over how I was leading my life and how destructive I was to others. I have come to understand that my entire way of thinking was distorted and wrong. I have destroyed lives that can never be restored. I am so sorry for taking your child. I am sorry for using you and taking advantage of your kindness. I know that it’s not enough, but Brook I am truly sorry. If I could take it all back I swear I would. And I know that I have no right to ask you for anything, but please, please try to find it in your heart to forgive me.
You’ll be glad to know that I have been in therapy for the past few years and have learned a lot about myself and what is and is not appropriate behavior. I have worked hard and made much progress in my efforts to be a better person. I look forward to my release in the upcoming months and being able to prove myself to the world. I am worthy of being given a second chance.
Wishing you the best,
Tameka
Brook felt such a rage rise up in her. She cursed Tameka’s name as she balled the letter up and threw it across the room. How dare the state give her another chance at life when Tameka took away her baby’s chance at life. Brook dropped her head in her hands and began to cry.
Sleepless Nights: The Drew Smith Series by Norwood Holland
Trial attorney Drew Smith a solo practitioner takes on a client charged in heinous robbery and a string of murders. While frolicking with an exotic dancer Smith battles a midlife crisis, and complicating things he discovers the dancer has a dangerous and tenuous connection with his client. A tale of love, sex, jealously, betrayal, murder and revenge ending in courtroom drama.
Sleepless
Nights, the first released of the four volume Drew Smith Series, is loosely based on DC’s infamous 2003 Colonel Brooks Tavern murders. The protagonist in Norwood Holland’s new novel is like no other before.
An African American attorney managing a successful solo practice finds himself enmeshed in complicated relationships and complicated cases. A stark difference from other fictional detectives Drew Smith is a distinctly new type, professional, single, urbane, a good looking playa charming the ladies, clients and Judges alike all in the pursuit of justice.
Drew Smith takes on shady clients solving cases fraught with danger and romantic intrigue. The legal wizard, while frolicking with an exotic dancer succumbs to a midlife crisis. Haunted by nightmares foreshadowing an awakening reveals an empty life prodding Smith to find solace in the arms of therapist Zoe Settles.
Life gets more complicated when the attorney is pressed into service solving a vicious robbery that leaves three dead and the city enraged. Drew Smith and his devoted sidekick Julio Mejia work to free his young client on the trail of a crazed gunman responsible for a growing body count. In the end, the gunman and the dancer combine forces to bring Smith down. When death comes knocking Drew Smith faces the fight of his life.
A break out novel, Sleepless Nights abounds with despicable and lovable characters plus all the universal elements: love, sex, jealously, betrayal, murder and revenge. It has a narrative depth that sets it apart from the current flood of Urban Fiction. The author conveys a dark hard-boiled view of the underside, sprinkled with sex and violence, elements that make the contemporary genre popular among the teen and 20 something as well as the mature readers looking for a well written hardboiled yarn with compelling characters.
Here is an excerpt from Sleepless Nights: The Drew Smith Series,
Chapter 3 where the dramatic intensity and suspense ramps up and carries the readers interest through the end.
Chapter 3
Sunday, August 6, 5:00 a.m.
In the night’s last darkness, Drew Smith bolted up from a deep sleep. Sweat beaded his forehead and his hands were shaking. It was the dream again. He eased back, baffled and bothered. Medhat had been dead for more than twenty years and yet from time to time his old buddy would pay him these haunting visits. What was it all about?
He had never felt so alone, bereft, and shaken.
Then a thought and a smile came over him. He was looking forward to spending the afternoon with Julio, Chevy and the kids. Morning came blue-gray across Rock Creek Park’s treetops, bringing the promise of sunlight.
* * * *
Sunday, August 6, 6:00 a.m.
Not far across town, Mrs. Viola Whisonant suffered a mild asthma attack and couldn’t sleep. The octogenarian decided to sit in her rocker near the open window of her second-floor bedroom. Six a.m. according to her clock, and soon she would go downstairs, prepare her tea and toast, and then get ready for Mass. For the moment she decided to just rock and watch the sunrise, pray her rosary, and thank the good Lord for giving her another day. As she puffed on her inhaler, something caught her attention down on the street. The rocking stopped. She put on her glasses, moved the wavering sheers aside, and leaned in to watch.
* * * *
Sunday, August 6, 6:30 a.m.
Jinx and Tyrone quickly crossed the parking lot to the rear kitchen entrance of the Farragut Tavern. Each checked the other’s mask, and with an “Okay,” Jinx pulled his Glock 17 from his waistband and released the safety. Tyrone did the same. The door was open and kitchen activity could be heard. Jinx tried the screen door but it was latched.
With the barrel of the gun, he tapped on the frame and stepped back out of view. Tyrone too pressed his back against the wall. The doorway darkened as someone appeared. The latch lifted, a head stuck out and met the barrel of Jinx’s gun. Naomi’s mouth dropped open.
“Oh, Jesus.”
“Back up.” Jinx flung the door open and with the gun in her face forced her back into the kitchen.
“Oh Jesus.”
Her fear coursed through his veins like a jolt of speed. The big dark-skinned bitch with the feisty attitude, who once gave him orders, was now taking orders from him.
“Everybody down on the floor!”
Josh the chef, Naomi the cook, and Rodney the dishwasher were the only three in the small kitchen. The intruders had interrupted the busy preparations for the Farragut’s famous Sunday brunch. Biscuit mix still covered Naomi’s hand as she tried to towel it away. Always in demand, her biscuits were a brunch staple. Jinx watched as she lowered her heft down onto the floor. Rodney and Josh did the same, all looking stunned....
In the game of love, who's really in control: the one doing the chasing or the one being chased?
Chemist Catt Cason is about to find out
in Catt Chasin' (Urban Christian/Kensington Publishing). Catt is a brainy and beautiful chemist, who takes being labeled the "cute fat girl" in stride. She refuses to let her weight, scheming co-workers, or anything else stand in her way. Catt has it all...except a love to call her own.
Jamal Ford is a notorious playboy who Catt gets paired up with for an assignment at work. When the two meet, it's loathe at first sight! She thinks he's incompetent and arrogant; he thinks she's needs to get a life-- and a man! When work leads them on a three-week road trip, Jamal finds himself drawn to the feisty, head-strong chemist and blurs the lines between business and pleasure. Catt is great, but is she enough to make him a one-woman man?
To the outside world, Eldon James is the kind, spiritual youth minister that any woman would be proud to take home to Mama, but no one suspects the dark side that he manages to keep hidden from the masses. When he sets his sights on Catt, he doesn't mind making a deal with the devil to get exactly what he wants. Will Catt fall prey to his evil intentions?
Jeremiah Cason is Catt's well-meaning but overbearing father. He is determined to see his daughter married and happy whether she likes it or not. Will his interfering land Catt the man of his dreams or put her in a situation more dangerous than any of them could have imagined?
The chase is on, but what determines the winner when love games have no rules and everyone is too caught in their own agenda to ask?
Excerpt: Catt Chasin' by Shana Burton
Chapter 7
“You don’t want my opinion, Jamal. No, you just want me to smile, say yes, and do as I’m told like some kind of mindless waif.”
He frowned. “Why do you always act like there’s some kind of conspiracy going on? Respect the chain of command like everyone else.” He swiped the test tube away from her.
“Hey!” She snatched it back.
Jamal retrieved it again. “I want to see what you’ve been working on. Gotta make sure you haven’t been slackin’ off in my absence.” He took a whiff of the product. “Did you create this by yourself?”
“It’s just something I’ve been playing around with. I’m not asking for a critique yet,” clarified Catt in an attempt to squash his latest round of rejections before he fired them off.
Jamal smelled it again. “I like it. I want Oni to take a look at it.”
She beamed with pride. “So I’ve finally created something you like?”
“Two things, actually. I’ve been doing a little work on one of the fragrances you started on that I thought had some potential. Here, check this out.”
She inhaled the invigorating scent. “I love it. It’s clean, not too flowery or overwhelming.” She sniffed it again. “Very feminine.”
“Let’s try a little bit on you.” He dabbed a few drops on her wrists. “How’s that?”
She stretched out her arm to him. “You smell it, and tell me what you think.”
He took her hand and lifted her wrist to his nose. “It’s sexy and seductive.” He flashed her a smile. “Or maybe it just smells that way on you.” He daubed some on her neck and leaned into it. “I especially like it right here.”
Catt’s head was starting to swoon with his being so close to her. “Maybe we should call Oni and tell her the good news,” she suggested in a futile effort to distract him or herself.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him, burying his face in her neck.
She was taken unawares, paralyzed into submission. “Jamal, what are you doing?” she squalled.
He lifted his head. “Research.”
“Research?”
“Yeah, this is how I conduct my analysis.”
Catt pushed him away. “Your methods are very unconventional…and extremely inappropriate!”
“Don’t get your dandruff up. It’s not anything personal. I’m just trying to determine how this fragrance affects men when it is worn by a beautiful woman.”
She was still flushed. It was undeniable: Jamal Ford definitely had a way with women. “And what was your conclusion, Mr. Ford?”
He arrested her with his gaze. “Once again, the data was inconclusive.”
Catt composed herself and slipped a lock of hair behind her ear. “For future reference, please don’t mistake me for one of these lovesick women throwing themselves at you around here. Your charm is wasted on me.”
Jamal jotted something down on his clipboard and laughed a little. “Whatever, Catt… you know you liked it.”
Catt rolled her eyes. “You’re so smug. It’s infuriating.”
He turned and addressed her head on. “Not smug, just sure of myself.”
“I believe the phrase you’re looking for is full of yourself.”
“But that’s what you love about me, isn’t it?” asked Jamal with a wink.
“Try loathe about you.”
“You know what I love about you?” he went on, “I like it when you squint your eyes and your lips get all pouty like that. It’s kind of sexy.”
She could feel heat rising to her face. “I don’t think this conversation is appropriate for the workplace. Besides, I’m a Christian. I don’t like engaging in conversations and acts that compromise or contradict my faith.”
“Chill out, Catt. It was a joke.” Turning his back to Catt, Jamal began shuffling papers attached to his clipboard. “Dang, don’t they do that where you come from?”
Catt put her hands on her hips and looked at him squarely in the face. “Why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“I mean, one minute, you’re acting like my drill sergeant and the next…”
He set the clipboard down. “The next what?”
“I don’t know. It’s like you’re messing with my head or something.” she blurted out and huffed. “Just forget it.”
“I believe the word you’re looking for is flirting,” filled in Jamal. “Does it bother you—the flirting, I mean? Do you like it?” He pressed against her. “Do you want me to stop?”
Her head started spinning again. “Jamal, we can’t…”
“Can’t what…this?” He leaned down and set his lips above hers as if he was going to kiss her. Fumes from an overheated beaker caught his attention and he immediately broke away from Catt to attend to the overflowing beaker behind them.
A thin cloud of smoke hovered above him. He smiled back at Catt. “You see what you do to me? That was a close one,” he said, pouring the scorched mixture down the drain.
About the Author
Shana Burton is the author of
Suddenly Single First Comes Love, Flaws and All, Catt Chasin’. (Urban Christian/Kensington Publishing.) She is bestselling author and a two-time nominee for Georgia Author of the Year (2009 Best Fiction- First Comes Love, 2011 Best Fiction- Flaws and All).
She resides in Georgia with her two children. When she is not writing, she can be found gardening, dancing, or reading. She is currently working on her fifth book, Flaw Less, which is a sequel to her bestseller Flaws and All. Flaw Less will be release in Fall 2012.
Kendra Norman-Bellamy
is the national bestselling author of numerous faith-based titles. She is best known for her fiction writing, but is also the author of one nonfiction title, "I Shall Not Die," an empowerment book that was inspired by her own life experiences.
In addition to her writing, Kendra is the visionary of KNB Publications,
Cruisin' For Christ, and The
I.S.L.A.N.D. Movement.
The Shelton Heights Series by Kendra Norman-Bellamy is a African American Christian Fiction series that will enthrall readers.
Read excerpts and book reviews, here.
NEW RELEASE IN SHELTON HEIGHTS SERIES!
Upon This Rock (Shelton Heights Series, Book 4)
By Kendra Norman-Bellamy
The streets that raised him called him one name and one name only:
"Rocky." Gang-related activity landed him in prison and sentenced him to serve 25 years to life, but divine destiny had a different plan; one that would rock Rocky's world and place him in an unfamiliar place that turns his serving time into serving God.
But life as a Christian seems more challenging than anything he experienced as a sinner. Women are Rocky's weakness, and as a newly freed convict, he fed his salacious appetite until his heart was content. But giving his life to Christ also gives him a conscious that convicts him, but leaves him lonely and frustrated. And while the old Rocky's brawn could easily handle adversity in the streets and even behind bars, the new Rocky struggles to handle his newest battles in a manner that pleases Christ.
So when he finds himself longing for the affections of a woman, and worse yet, when the first thing he has ever honestly owned (his home) is burned to the ground...TWICE...and police have no suspects, no answers, and no leads, Rocky's faith is put to the ultimate test. He's made more than his share of enemies in his day, and even those who were once his friends are enemies now that he's no longer a gangster. Who is after him? The answer to that question willl shock Rocky at the core of his foundation.
He had done all within his power to avoid the infamous Shelton Heights curse - even refusing to move into the haunting neighborhood. But with his home torched and his options limited, he's forced to live there despite his efforts. And just when Rocky thinks things can't get any worse, they do. And now, in addition to everything else, the countdown to his death is on.
In Greene Pastures (Shelton Heights Series, Book 1)
By Kendra Norman-Bellamy
Rising from a life of poverty, Hunter Greene is the owner of the Atlanta Weekly Chronicles, the most successful weekly newspaper in the state of Georgia. As a single parent, he takes pride in his son and devotes his time to being the best father he can be. And as the owner of Greene Pastures, he breeds champion horses that sell at top dollar.
When the story breaks that one of Atlanta’s most prominent and respected pastors is killed in a fiery automobile accident, Hunter stands to lose everything when the deceased pastor’s distraught daughter, Jade Tides, convinces him that it wasn’t an accident, but murder. Hunter uses the power of the written word, his very own newspaper, to try to solve the mystery, but the entire community threatens to take away their support if he doesn’t discontinue the feature, accusing Hunter of using the preacher's
untimely death as a ploy for greater financial gain and accuse him of making a mockery of God and the memory of Rev.
B. T. Tides.
In the midst of it all, Hunter falls hard for Jade Tides. She’s everything he desires in a woman. But is she and the so-called mystery surrounding her father’s death worth losing everything, or has the legend of Shelton Heights caught up with yet another unsuspecting family?
Battle of Jericho (Shelton Heights Series, Book 2)
By Kendra Norman-Bellamy
Peter Jericho has spent most of his adult life living for God and serving his country as one of the few and the proud Marines. When his once solid marriage suddenly takes a turn for the worse, his wife, Jan,
takes their daughter and moves in with her mother in Shelton Heights, Georgia, a community some believe is cursed. Peter loves the Lord, but when his calamity increases, will his faith decrease?
As his latest tour of duty in Iraq nears an end, he is eager to say goodbye to military life and focus on reclaiming the family he loves so dearly. But his plans are abruptly interrupted when Peter finds himself a captured prisoner of war. Survival doesn't seem likely for Master Sergeant Peter Kyle Jericho, and he finds himself in the battle of a lifetime. How his life spiraled to this point, Peter can't comprehend. All he knows is that all was well until that day in September when his wife decided to pay her mother a visit.
Are all of the peculiar misfortunes that led to the breakup of his family and his capture in Iraq just
happenstance, or has the legend of Shelton Heights caught up with yet another unsuspecting family?
The Lyon's Den (Shelton Heights Series, Book 3)
By Kendra Norman-Bellamy
From #1 "Essence"-bestselling author Norman-Bellamy comes the third installment in her highly popular Shelton Heights series.
Shelton Heights is a community where sometimes strange things happen. The main character, Stuart Lyons starts receiving threatening letters. As a police lieutenant his first thought is to dismiss the messages thinking it is someone playing harmless games. Then things escalate. Speculations are plentiful; is this the work of a kid, or someone who Stuart sent to prison a long time ago?
Lieutenant Stuart Lyons has a growing son, a fulfilling career, and after years of being a single father, a promising relationship. Aside from being a well-respected veteran law enforcement officer, Stuart doubles as head of security at New Hope Church, a prominent worship center in metropolitan Atlanta.
But sudden pandemonium strikes Stuart’s life when he begins receiving threats from an unknown person who only identifies himself as “Dr. A.H. Satan.” The faceless stalker knows everything about Stuart: where he lives, where he works, where he worships, who his friends are—and most unsettling of all, the daily whereabouts of his son. In domino fashion, the blocks of the near-perfect life that Stuart has built begin falling, piece by piece.
Before his stable life is turned upside down, Stuart signs up on a Christian online dating website. He meets someone he falls for - but has she been honest with him, and is she truly single? And what is the motivation behind the attention he is giving him. Suspicions arise but where are the answers?
Bizarre happenings—some explainable and others that yet remain mysteries—have been known to find their way into the lives of many of the residents of the infamous Shelton Heights subdivision. Apparently, it’s now Stuart’s turn. Will his faith and the prayers of the righteous help put an end to his distress, or will the Legend of Shelton Heights swallow him whole?
Infused with drama, lies, and suspense with a Christian overlay, THE LYONS DEN will hold its reader from beginning to end.
My Life My Soul, Surviving, Healing
and Thriving After An Abusive Relationship
Ivette Attaud, publisher, a gifted author, highly sought-after motivational speaker and domestic violence expert, developed
Healing The Body Before The Spirit, a domestic abuse educational workshop for the faith-based community.
She has written numerous articles, including a recently-published article entitled
Surviving the Loss of a Child for Spotlight On Recovery Magazine. More information can be found online at:
http://www.mylifemysoul.com.
Domestic violence affects two to four million people alone in the United States including teenagers and 54% of parents admit they haven’t spoken to their teen about dating violence or healthy relationships.
My Life My Soul, Surviving, Healing And Thriving After An Abusive Relationship is an honest and graphic true story of Ivette Attaud’s dating relationship as a teen and how it quickly manifested into a destructive, violent and psychologically abusive marriage.
Ivette puts a face on domestic violence as she describes how she was able to break the emotional and psychological chains of her abuser.
Ivette recounts vivid memories of growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness; her experience with dating violence; her battle with depression; a suicide attempt; the loss of her infant twin daughter to a domestic violence assault and re-victimization by the New York City family court system, including actual documents!
In the first part of this three-part series, My Life My Soul, Surviving, Healing And Thriving After An Abusive Relationship:
Part 1 – Surviving, Ivette lays bare the life-long difficulties those in abusive relationships face.
Here is an excerpt from the published book, My Life, My Soul – Surviving, Healing & Thriving After An Abusive Relationship
Part 1:
Surviving
...I was terrified by the time I arrived in the delivery room. No one was there to hold my hand, or to tell me everything was going to be okay. Doctors and nurses ran around the delivery room and failed miserably at trying to calm me down. I was too busy screaming from the pain and crying for the doctors to stop my labor.
The doctor yelled at the nurses, “Find a vein and get an IV line going NOW!”
I felt a shot of pain in my arms from where the nurses were hitting me as they desperately tried to get a vein to pop up.
“Doctor, all her veins have collapsed!” I heard a nurse say.
Someone exclaimed, “I got one!”
Someone else yelled, “Get it, get it, get it!”
Then the doctor walked over to me.
“We’re going to have to deliver those babies now. They’re in distress and it’s too late to stop your labor.”
Through my tears, I yelled with all the strength I had.
“You can’t take them now! It’s not time!”
“We have to. If we don’t deliver them now, all of you are going to die,” the doctor said.
My thoughts ran back to earlier in the day when Victor strangled me and I couldn’t breathe. The stress of fighting, along with the lack of oxygen, put my babies in distress. The doctor left my side and went to the foot of the bed while the nurses secured my feet in the stirrups. Everything happened so fast and the labor pains were so intense; it felt as if someone stuck hot knives into my belly. Then my thoughts turned elsewhere. Was this God’s punishment? What did I do wrong to deserve this? I was raised to believe that God had two faces; one that was loving and forgiving and the other one was mean and punished those who disobeyed him. All I did was marry a man because I loved him! What was so wrong about that?
The doctor broke my train of thought as he examined me to see how much more I had dilated.
“Don’t push!” The doctor yelled at me while he continues his examination.
“I’m not pushing!” I yelled back.
I tried to close my legs a little but couldn’t because of the stirrups. I wanted to resist the urge to push but I could feel a baby trying to come out anyway. The doctor bent down in front of me to prepare to deliver the first baby. He turned his head to say something to the nurse when, all of a sudden, he screamed, “OH SHIT!”
When he stood up, he held my baby upside down by her feet and his hospital gown was completely splattered with blood. The baby had to have come out feet first because of how he grabbed it. When the doctor yelled, I lifted my head off the bed and strained to see her. She was so tiny and I didn’t even hear her cry. I just saw the baby’s back as the doctor handed it to the nurse, who quickly ran out of the delivery room with her. Right away, I felt dizzy.
“The other baby’s transverse!” I heard a nurse say.
When an unborn baby is in a transverse position, it lays across the mother’s pelvic bone instead of the normal birth position of head down. It was dangerous for me as well as for my baby, because there was a possibility that my uterus could have ruptured which could have lead to both of our deaths.
The nurse grabbed my belly tightly where the still unborn twin was, trying to keep the baby from moving any further. The pain was excruciating. As the doctor moved back to the side of my bed, he told me what he had to do.
“Ivette, I have to give you an emergency cesarean section. The anesthesiologist has been called and he’s on his way here.”
I didn’t want to die like this! What would happen to my children? With the remaining strength I had, I motioned for a nurse to come to me.
“I need you to call my Kingdom Hall and ask for the pastor. Tell him it’s an emergency and I need him here now!”
I looked at the clock on the wall and it was close to midnight. I had memorized the number so I gave it to her and she ran off. The other nurse was still holding my stomach and she was hurting me so bad that I tried to push her hand away.
“If we let this baby move, you’re both going to die! Ivette, Stop it!” the nurse screamed at me.
I yelled out again what my religion was and that I didn’t want a blood transfusion. When I saw the doctor again, I asked how my first baby was.
“So far, you had a girl and we’re not sure how she is right now. The ambulance took her to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center where they have a neonatal unit and we have another ambulance on standby waiting to take this baby.”
It seemed like an eternity before the pastor finally arrived in the delivery room. Through my tears, I told the pastor what happened.
“Please pray with me. I can’t do this alone,” I told him.
He held my hands tightly, closed his eyes and I closed mine.
“Lord, we humbly come to you in this time of need to watch over our Sister who needs you now more than ever. Whatever your Will is, Lord, will be. Lord, I ask you to watch over her babies, that they be healthy and safe. In Jesus’ name we ask you, Amen.”
I said “Amen.”
As soon as he finished praying, a peace came over me like I’ve never experienced before...
(continued in the book, My Life, My Soul)
Domestic violence is devastating. Understand how to better help a friend or loved one.
Purchase My Life, My Soul - Surviving, Healing And Thriving After An Abusive Relationship, Part 1: Surviving on
www.mylifemysoul.com!
My Life, My Soul - Surviving, Healing And Thriving After An Abusive Relationship
Part 1 – Surviving by Ivette Attaud
US $15.95; Nonfiction; ISBN-13: 978-0615440613
Purchase books here: http://www.mylifemysoul.com
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Sankofa Literary Society Book Suggestions
Let us show you some hidden literary gems that you may have missed or forgotten about. Remember, the more you read and support our authors, the more Gifts of Knowledge you can share!
Email us if your would like to have a phone chat with the authors found here:
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Savannah’s Curse by Shelia M. Goss
Straight-laced Savannah Blake’s world is turned upside down when she finds her dad, Major Blake, shot on his lawn. Before he dies, he gives her a few clues to the identity of his killer. His dying request is “Protect your sisters.” Montana and Asia are the only family Savannah has left, and she will fight to the end to save them. The pain of losing their father has Savannah obsessed with finding his killer.
Savannah suspects someone from “The Agency,” a secret government security operation where her father once worked, is behind his death. She enlists the help of Troy Bridges, the owner of a private security firm in Dallas. She doesn’t necessarily trust him, but Savannah needs Troy because of his inside knowledge of The Agency.
The chemistry between Savannah and Troy is electric, and only intensifies as the stakes get higher. They have no time to deal with their unresolved feelings, though, because the closer they get to the killer, the more dangerous things become.
Savannah’s Curse will take you on a roller-coaster ride of suspense as Savannah channels her grief into an unrelenting search for her father’s murderer.
About the Author
Shelia M. Goss
is the Dallas Morning News and Essence Magazine Best-Selling author of Delilah (2011), Savannah's Curse (2011), My Invisible Husband, Roses are Thorns, Paige's Web, Double Platinum, His Invisible Wife, and Hollywood Deception.
Shelia not only writes fiction for adults, she writes young adult books. The Lip Gloss Chronicles series consists of three books: The Ultimate Test (available now), Splitsville (September 29, 2009) and Paper Thin (2010).
She's also the recipient of three Shades of Romance Magazine Readers Choice Multi-Cultural Awards, EDC Creations' Author of the Year 2009 award, and honored as a Literary Diva: The Top 100 Most Admired African American Women in Literature.
If Sons, Then Heirs
by Lorene Cary
Lorene Cary
the critically acclaimed author of Black Ice, Pride, and The Price of a Child
offers this deeply moving story of a family’s challenge to reunite, understand the truth about its past, and secure its legacy.
If Sons, Then Heirs sheds light on a uniquely American, largely untold story of African American land ownership, the outmigration from the South, racial violence, and the consequences of past decisions on present realities.
After World War II, Needham family members migrated north to Philadelphia from South Carolina, leaving behind the tragic injustice surrounding the violent death of their patriarch, King. His devoted widow, Selma, remains on the old home place. Over the years, she raises King’s children, including his great-grandson, Rayne, on whom falls the responsibility to bring the family together to save the family land and mend the rift between him and his mother.
Rayne and the other vividly drawn characters face challenges big and small that mirror the experiences of families everywhere. But in the masterful storytelling of Lorene Cary, so distinct and unique are their voices that they will live in the minds of readers long after the last page is read. If Sons, Then Heirs is a tour de force that explores the power of family secrets, bonds, and love. This gripping novel is certain to be on the must-read lists of all who enjoy brilliantly rendered stories of family, love, and American history.
About the Author
Lorene Cary is the author of Black Ice, The Price of a Child, Pride, and a book for young readers, Free! Great Escapes on the Underground Railroad. She is the founder and director of Art Sanctuary
(www.artsanctuary.org), a nonprofit lecture and performance series in Philadelphia. Cary is also a senior lecturer in creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania. She’s a past recipient of the Philadelphia Award, the city's highest civic honor. Cary lives in Philadelphia. She and her husband, the Reverend Robert C. Smith, have two daughters, Laura and ZoË.
For more information visit her website at: www.lorenecary.org.
Alone . . . Massachusetts State Trooper Bobby Dodge watches a tense hostage standoff unfold through the scope of his sniper rifle. Just across the street, in wealthy Back Bay, Boston, an armed man has barricaded himself with his wife and child. The man's finger tightens on the trigger and Dodge has only a split second to react . . . and forever pay the consequences.
Alone . . . that's where the nightmare began for cool, beautiful, and dangerously sexy Catherine Rose Gagnon. Twenty-five years ago, she was buried underground during a month-long nightmare of abduction and abuse. Now her husband has just been killed. Her father-in-law, the powerful Judge Gagnon, blames Catherine for his son's death . . . and for the series of unexplained illnesses that have sent her own young son repeatedly to the hospital.
Alone . . . a madman survived solitary confinement in a maximum security prison where he'd done hard time for the most sadistic of crimes. Now he walks the streets a free man, invisible, anonymous
and filled with an unquenchable rage for vengeance. What brings them together is a moment of violence—but what connects them is a passion far deeper and much more dangerous. For a killer is loose who's woven such an intricate web of evil that no one is above suspicion, no one is beyond harm, and no one will see death coming until it has them cornered, helpless, and alone. Read an excerpt from Alone,
Go.
About the Author
LISA GARDNER is the New York Times bestselling author of The Killing Hour, The Survivors Club, The Next Accident, The Other Daughter, The Third Victim, and The Perfect Husband. She lives with her husband, Anthony, in New England, where she is at work on her next novel of suspense.
New York Times bestselling crime novelist Lisa Gardner began her career in food service, but after catching her hair on fire numerous times, she took the hint and focused on writing instead. A self-described research junkie, she has parlayed her interest in police procedure, cutting edge forensics and twisted plots into a streak of eleven bestselling suspense novels, including her most recent release, The Neighbor.
Readers are invited to get in on the fun by entering the annual "Kill a Friend, Maim a Mate" Sweepstakes, where they can nominate the person of their choice to die in Lisa's latest novel. Every year, one Lucky Stiff is selected for Literary Immortality. It's cheaper than therapy, and you get a great book besides. For more details, simply visit Lisa's website.
Lisa lives in New England with her family, as well as two highly spoiled dogs and one extremely neurotic three-legged cat.
Genova delivers a poignant novel about a busy, vibrant woman in her 30s who has a car accident, leaving her to deal with a crippling disorder called left
neglect. Sarah Nickerson is like any other career-driven supermom in
Welmont, the affluent Boston suburb where she leads a hectic but charmed life with her husband Bob, faithful nanny, and three children—Lucy, Charlie, and nine-month-old
Linus.
Between recruiting the best and brightest minds as the vice president of human resources at Berkley Consulting; shuttling the kids to soccer, day care, and piano lessons; convincing her son’s teacher that he may not, in fact, have ADD; and making it home in time for dinner, it’s a wonder this over-scheduled, over-achieving Harvard graduate has time to breathe.
A self-confessed balloon about to burst, Sarah miraculously manages every minute of her life like an air traffic controller. Until one fateful day, while driving to work and trying to make a phone call, she looks away from the road for one second too long. In the blink of an eye, all the rapidly moving parts of her jam-packed life come to a screeching halt.
A traumatic brain injury completely erases the left side of her world, and for once, Sarah relinquishes control to those around her, including her formerly absent mother. Without the ability to even floss her own teeth, she struggles to find answers about her past and her uncertain future.
Now, as she wills herself to regain her independence and heal, Sarah must learn that her real destiny—her new, true life—may in fact lie far from the world of conference calls and spreadsheets. And that a happiness and peace greater than all the success in the world is close within reach, if only she slows down long enough to notice.
About the Author
Lisa Genova, Ph. D graduated valedictorian from Bates College with a degree in Biopsychology and has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University. She is the author of the New York Times Bestselling novel STILL ALICE. LEFT NEGLECTED is her second novel. She lives with her family on Cape Cod.
Awards for Left Neglected by Lisa Genova, Ph. D
The #1 Indie Next List pick for January 2011
Borders “Book You’ll Love” for January 2011
Bookreporter.com ‘Bets On’ Pick for January 2011
Tithe of Blood by Esther Slade
Set in Washington, DC and the US island territory of St. Croix, Tithe of Blood is the coming of age story of Hope Taylor. Growing up in Contentment, a small, close-knit community in St. Croix, Hope is a feisty, energetic, beauty who develops an early interest in public service. In high school, she is valedictorian and president of her senior class and voted most likely to succeed by her peers.
One thing is clear--her political aspirations have no limits. When Hope arrives on the Howard University campus in Washington, DC her freshman year, she meets and falls in love with
Wes Carter, a former Army Sergeant. Hope's ambition is equaled only to Wes' and the relationship is doomed.
Later, when she gets the coveted White House intern position, she meets the political insider Trent Williams.
After a brief courtship, Hope marries Trent in a lavish ceremony in St. Croix. All of Contentment attend the wedding and cheer their beloved daughter. Hope is not aware that on the surface Trent appears to be a successful attorney
and political advisor to Washington's elite, but underneath he is a functional manic depressive with dark secrets from his childhood. It is not long
before Trent's deteriorating mental condition endangers her life and she becomes a victim of his psychotic, violent episodes.
Hope has a choice to make. She
can choose to seek help or continue the charade in order to prevent a public relations nightmare and jeopardize her political career. Her choice
will forever change her life and the lives of the people around her. Tithe of Blood is written with bluntness as it follows the timely political and emotional journey of Hope Caryn Taylor.
About the Author
Esther Slade-St Hilaire nee Luke was born on the island of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.
Her formative years were spent on the islands of St. Croix and Antigua.
At age 16, she migrated to the US Mainland to attend college. Esther has an undergraduate degree in English from Temple University and a graduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT.
Esther Slade is the author of Ayla's Paradise, Jouvert Morning and Tithe of Blood.
She currently resides on the US Mainland with her husband, Reynald and her two precious daughters, Bella and Brielle.
A Second Helping by Beverly Jenkins
Everyone deserves a second chance, right?
With the millions she received after divorcing her faithless tycoon husband, Bernadine Brown saved the historic town of Henry Adams, Kansas, from financial ruin and found loving homes for five needy children. Now there are other "projects" crying out for rescue.
If ever a town institution needed rescuing, it's the beloved Dog and Cow diner. Once it was Henry Adams's social center—or gossip central!—now it's in danger of becoming duct-tape central.
But there are other distractions pulling Bernadine from the task at hand: a plethora of romantic entanglements, including her own with a disturbingly attractive Malachi July; a bitter young boy newly arrived in town with his widowed father; and a fugitive on the run with a six-hundred-pound pet pig that's wanted for murder (the pig, that is).
And when Bernadine's philandering, trouble-making ex-husband rolls into town looking for a second chance, life in Henry Adams gets very interesting indeed.
About the Author
Beverly Jenkins
grew up in Detroit and majored in journalism and English literature at Michigan tate University. She has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, People, the Dallas Morning News, Vibe, and many other national publications.
The Neighbor: A Detective D. D. Warren Novel
[Kindle Edition]
by Lisa Gardner
From a master of suspense comes a chilling new novel that explores the dangers lurking closer than you think. Because even in the perfect family, you never know what is going on behind closed doors...
This is what happened...
It was a case guaranteed to spark a media feeding frenzy--a young mother, blond and pretty, disappears without a trace from her South Boston home, leaving behind her four-year-old daughter as the only witness and her handsome, secretive husband as the prime suspect.
In the last six hours...
But from the moment Detective Sergeant D. D. Warren arrives at the Joneses’ snug little bungalow, she senses something off about the picture of wholesome normality the couple worked so hard to create. On the surface, Jason and Sandra Jones are like any other hardworking young couple raising a four-year-old child. But it is just under the surface that things grew murky.
Of the world as I knew it...
With the clock ticking on the life of a missing woman and the media firestorm building, Jason Jones seems more intent on destroying evidence and isolating his daughter than on searching for his “beloved” wife. Is the perfect husband trying to hide his guilt--or just trying to hide? And will the only witness to the crime be the killer’s next victim?
Secrets
of a Kept Woman is a urban lit story that deals with women's relationships
in friendship and in love. Shayla, Rhonda and Gladys have been best
friends since high school and have always been the strength each other needs,
but when one woman decides that a man is more important than friendship,
everything goes to pieces. Is this friendship one dark secret away from
shattering it into a thousand pieces? They say the truth shall set you free --
but will it?
EXCERPT:
Issues. We all have plenty of them. Take a look into a day in the life of Shayla Wilson, a kindhearted wife who married the biggest drug dealer in Pine Mountains, as she tells her story through her eyes.
As I paused to take a moment to digest the sensual and alluring ambiance I'd set for the evening, the question pounded into my head like a meat cleaver. The strongest thud pulsating against my temple sent a pang from my head through my body and that pain took up residence in my heart, piercing my already tattered soul. My mind raced pondering a million and two questions.
"How could he do me like this, again? How could I let him? What had we come to? Where were we going?"
I asked the questions to no one in particular. I was all alone. Again.
"Why do I love so hard that I can't let go?"
I couldn't pin down the moment in time that the insatiable joy left our relationship, but that joy had slipped away from our beautiful home into a faint trace of existence.
Positioned in the middle of the jumbo gazebo in the backyard, the Jacuzzi flowed with warm bubbly water scented with a touch of jasmine oil. Dim post lighting outlined the gazebo creating a glowing allure that could take a lover's breath away. Pink floating candles shone brightly at the four corners of the gazebo and an assortment of designer candles meticulously placed around the Jacuzzi added just the right effect.
E-lec-tri-city was in the air and I was proud to have successfully turned my backyard into a lover's paradise. I anticipated a beautiful night with him.
Well, that was all the way up until the champagne got hot, the gourmet shrimp fettuccini I slaved over making to perfection got cold, and every bubble in the Jacuzzi fizzled down to faint traces of soap scum.
About the Author
Shani Greene-Dowdell has written two books and compiled two anthologies and is viewed by her peers as a down to earth person who loves to have fun and share her growth. When she is not promoting her books or plays, she can be found crafting words as a medical transcriptionist for her local hospital.
From New York Times bestselling author
Francis Ray comes a novel about a woman who's unlucky in love-until she decides to take matters into her own hands.
Dominique Falcon, little sister of Daniel Falcon, once a gorgeous model, is an intelligent, wealthy socialite—and a total failure when it comes to love. After falling for a charmer who was after her money, she’s decided to set some ground rules for romance, starting
with: Don’t be richer than your man. But that was before she met Trent Masters, a ruggedly sexy truck driver who drives her crazy…
He might be rough around the edges, but Trent is a hardworking man who built his successful trucking firm from humble beginnings. Dominique can’t ignore the sparks between them—but dating is definitely not in her plans.
Starting her business as a photographer has to be her only focus. Even so, things are heating up fast and—even though she might get burned—Dominique is ready to risk it all. In the game of love, rules are made to be broken…
Praise for Francis Ray
“Francis Ray is a literary chanteuse, crooning the most sensual romantic fiction melodies in a compelling performance of skill and talent that culminates in another solid gold hit!”
—Romantic Times
Excerpt from Break Every Rule: A Falcon Novel
by Francis Ray
The celebration dinner was a two-inch thick porterhouse grilled to perfection, and butter pound cake topped with freshly made whipped cream and lush, ripe strawberries. Deciding they were too stuffed to tackle the kitchen, they had taken their glasses of chardonnay and gone outside to relax by the pool. The backyard was awash with flowering begonias and petunias.
Placing their drinks on the umbrella table that separated them, both women settled into chaise lounges several feet from the edge of the sparkling blue water.
“Evening, ladies.”
At the unexpected deep male voice, Dominique sprang upright and almost fell out of the lounge chair. Regaining her balance if not her dignity, she whipped off her sunglasses and jerked her head toward the sound.
Her gaze traveled up taut, muscular thighs encased in tight denim jeans, past a narrow waist, over an impressive chest to a sinfully handsome face sculpted in bronzed mahogany that an angel would have wept over. Her hand lifted and closed around thin air. She almost groaned over the loss. The photograph would have been sensational.
Unexpectedly, as she gazed into rich, chocolate brown eyes, she experienced the sense of being knocked off balance. Her hand clutched the edge of the chaise lounge. The irrefutable awareness annoyed her almost as much as her idiotic impulse to slip her shades back on to shield herself from his hot gaze, which prowled over her as if it had every right to do so.
The belated greeting that she had been about to utter died in her throat. She detested men who openly ogled her.
Her hard glare elicited a deepening smile that made her think of how a cat must look just before licking his chops and pouncing on his prey. As that thought raced through her mind an unfamiliar something stirred deep inside her. His impact on her senses was totally unexpected and totally unacceptable. She felt … restless.
In the past she’d had no trouble dismissing such ill-mannered men. Yet, this particular man with his deep, molasses voice flowing like a lazy, sun-kissed river and too handsome face made it difficult for her to do so.
“Hello, Trent,” Janice greeted warmly. “You’re off early today. It’s only a little past seven.”
He chuckled, a deep baritone sound that did strange things to Dominique’s stomach. Maybe it was the second helping of pound cake overflowing with whipped cream and strawberries.
“Don’t remind me,” he answered, but his gaze never left Dominique.
Janice saw his attention on Dominique, frowned, and swung her legs over the side of the lounge chair. “Forgive me. Dominique Everette, Trent Masters—my friend and next door neighbor.”
“Hello.” His grin widening, he extended his hand.
Uncharacteristically, Dominique ignored the gesture. She didn’t let herself think her refusal to take his hand was anything more than a firm rebuttal against his earlier rudeness. “Do you usually come over unannounced?”
The welcoming smile on Trent’s handsome face froze. His outstretched hand dug in the front pocket of his tight jeans. Dominique considered the accomplishment a minor miracle. “It hasn’t been a problem in the past.”
“Trent has been a lifesaver to me since I’ve moved here, Dominique,” Janice said, her gaze whipping back and forth between the two tense people.
Dominique caught the placating note in her godmother’s voice and heeded it. If the man had helped her godmother, he must not be as rude and crude as he appeared. That didn’t mean she wanted to be best buddies with him.
“If you’ll excuse me, I have some things inside I need to take care of.” She stood. “Good-bye, Mr. Masters.” Her voice was cool and final.
Trent had never been in a blizzard, but he now had a pretty good idea how it must feel to step from the warm confines of the indoors into a blast of frigid air. Nonplussed, he watched the stunning woman brush by him as if he were the lowest kind of life-form. Noting her head held high and her regal bearing, he had the irrational urge to either bow or laugh.
Looking at her sleek, golden brown body moving away from him, the wind whipping her wild mane of midnight-black hair as it skimmed the top of her swaying hips in the white shorts, another thought struck—how much he enjoyed eating chocolate swirl ice cream in a cone. Licking from the top to the bottom, then taking a good bite.
BREAK EVERY RULE by Francis Ray
ISBN-10: 0312365098
ISBN-13: 978-0312365097
About Francis Ray
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Francis Ray, is a native Texan. A graduate of Texas Woman's University, she was nominated twice for Texas Woman's University Distinguished Alumni Award.
Mrs. Ray's titles consistently make national bestseller's lists. INCOGNITO, her sixth title, was the first made-for-TV movie for Black Entertainment Television.
She has written forty-three books to date. Awards include Romantic Times Career Achievement, EMMA, The Golden Pen, Atlantic Choice. WBI Book Award, WRITTEN and Borders 2008 Romance Award for Bestselling Multicultural Romance.
THE TURNING POINT, her first mainstream, was a finalist for the prestigious HOLT Medallion Award. At the release event for THE TURNING POINT in May 2001,
Mrs. Ray established The Turning Point Legal Fund to assist women of domestic violence to help restructure their lives.
The fund is administered by The Family Place. February 2005 heralded a personal triumph with the release of her first Christian fiction anthology, HOW SWEET THE SOUND.
Mrs. Ray has five books scheduled for 2011: BREAK EVERY RULE, TWICE THE TEMPTATION 06/10, UNDENIABLE 06/01, and TROUBLE DON'T LAST ALWAYS 11/01.
She enjoys writing fiction, where intelligent women through hard work and perseverance triumph over adversity, just as they do in real life. Mrs. Ray is hard at work on her next book. She would love to 'meet' you on her Yahoo group at:
readersoffrancisray@yahoogroups.com.
Unforgiven
When wealthy Texas heiress Rachel Malone defied her powerful father to elope with Logan Prescott, Logan truly believed that their marriage was forever. But that was before a trumped-up assault charge set the whole town—and the woman he loved—against him. With a heart full of pain, Logan fled Stanton—and the bittersweet memories of the passion he and Rachel had shared.
Unforgettable
When Rachel met Logan, she thought she'd found the perfect love—until he betrayed her and her family. Now, eight years later, he was back—more arrogant and dangerously seductive than ever. And this time the stakes were higher. For Logan clearly wanted revenge. He also wanted Rachel.
Undeniable by Francis Ray
ISBN-10: 0373534485
ISBN-13: 978-0373534487 Order your copy
today!
In this first ever short story collection, New York Times bestselling author Francis Ray takes us on five steamy, sexy adventures.
From a timid, dowdy duckling who turns into a confident, sexy swan which sends her into the arms of a handsome artist to a bridesmaid’s explosive encounter with the best man to an unproven actress who is being wooed to the stage by a handsome Broadway director.
From a journalist’s very steamy night with an old flame to a woman who pretends that she is dating a wealthy businessman but never imagines he would show up to collect on that claim. Experience just how much Francis Ray can turn up the heat!
Twice the Temptation by Francis Ray
ISBN - 10:0312614306
ISBN - 13:9780312614300 Order your copy
today!
Trouble Don't Last Always
by Francis Ray Coming Fall 2011
Formerly titled The Turning Point (SMP mass market; 4/01), this is the stunning prequel to Somebody's Knocking at My Door. A passionate and emotional story about love, healing and redemption from Essence and Blackboard bestselling author, Francis Ray.
Desperate to escape her abusive marriage, Lilly Crawford files for divorce, then slips away from her small east Texas hometown with little more than the clothes on her back. She points her twelve-year-old car east, hoping to find a new beginning.
When her car breaks down in Louisiana, Lilly finds unexpected employment as the caregiver for a wealthy neurosurgeon named Adam Wakefield, who lost his sight in a recent carjacking. At first, this handsome, brooding man reminds her too much of the angry husband she left behind and she reminds him of how far he has fallen from the self-assured man he once was. But as the two spend long days together, an unexpected bond develops---one that will be deeply tested. For Lilly must confront her violent husband before she can ever hope to move on and truly discover a second chance at life and love.
This stunning story is gripping and unforgettable tale told with Francis Ray's trademark emotion and passion.
Trouble Don't Last Always by Francis Ray
ISBN: 10:1250000343
ISBN-13: 9781250000347
The Available Wife
by Carla S. Pennington
Niquole Wright seems to have it all; a loyal and devoted husband, two children and a rising record label that she dedicates more time to than her family. Everything is perfect except for one thing...her husband Germaine. She has run her course with him and he needs to be replaced.
When the handsome and seductive Kingston enters her life, he becomes the perfect substitute. Clueless to his wife's plan, Germaine continues to be a loving naive husband while Niquole's full blown affair quickly becomes her obsession.
Desperate to start a new life with her new man, Niquole does everything in her power to push Germaine out of the picture. However, little does she know Kingston plans are different from hers. Sit back and see what happens when a wife learns that the price of betrayal can have a shattering toll.
The Available Wife Excerpt
by Carla S. Pennington
I sighed when the cab driver drove through the gates of my neatly manicured Houston subdivision nearly four hours after I was expected to arrive home. As I coasted through the neighborhood, I stared at each brick single family home and the families that were outside horsing around or tending to their yards. I wondered why I couldn’t be that happy or why my mouth could never form a smile. The only time that it did was when I was with him; Kingston. In the seven months that we’d known each other, he’d swept me off my feet and filled my world with nothing but excitement.
I wasn’t ready to return to reality, but as the cabbie drove closer to my home, I knew that I had no other choice. I took a deep breath and reached inside my leather, Alma Louis Vuitton bag and pulled out a twenty dollar bill to pay the fare. Seconds later, we pulled into my yard. I instantly frowned when I saw my mama’s car in the driveway.
What the hell is she doing here, I thought. I certainly wasn’t in the mood to deal with her ass at the moment.
However, my scowl instantly faded when I watched the enjoyment on my four-year-old son’s face as he did cartwheels on the front lawn. When he spotted me, he made a mad dash toward the yellow cab. I gave him a huge smile as he patted on the window for me to hurry up and get out. I had to get myself together. I desperately had to jump back into my role as mother and wife. Even though I couldn’t get Kingston off or out of my mind, I had to regroup for my boys’ sake.
“Hey, Mommy!” Jonathan yelled as he jumped all over me when I stepped out of the cab.
I didn’t show any painful emotion when he excitedly stepped on my foot.
“Whew, you smell like a wet dog,” I playfully frowned as I gave him several kisses and hugs. “I see you got your hair cut.” I rubbed my hand over his nearly bald head.
“Unhuh,” he smiled with those perfect, beautiful, white teeth that I hoped would look the same once they fell out and the permanent ones came.
“Where’s your daddy?” I asked nonchalantly.
Before he could answer, I heard the front door open. I looked up and saw my husband, Germaine, standing in the threshold of the door holding our five-month-old son, Nathan in his arms. I took a deep breath as I stared at him wishing, for a brief moment, he was Kingston, but I knew that he could never amount up to my lover.
“Why are you so late?” he asked as soon as I made it to the steps.
“Because I am,” I replied in an irritable and defensive tone.
“Why didn’t you call and tell me that you’d be late?”
“Because I didn’t need to,” I snarled. “Why all of the fucking questions? Damn!”
“I thought something may have happened to you Nikki...that’s all. Besides, I left you four messages.”
“I know,” I replied nonchalantly.
“Well, why didn’t you return any of them?”
“Germaine are we really gonna do this now?” I huffed and pouted. I placed my right hand on my hip and shifted my weight to let him know that I wasn’t in the mood. “I just got off the freaking plane.”
When Germaine realized that he wasn’t going to get any straight answers out of me, he dropped the whole interrogation.
“So, how was the trip?” he asked.
“Tiring.”
If only he knew just how tiring it was. As my husband leaned down to kiss me, I turned my head slightly so that his kiss landed on my cheek. I, in turn, planted my lips on my bundle of joys chubby cheeks. Germaine said nothing as I walked past him and into my 4,800 square foot house which, to my surprise, was still clean. Normally when I went out of town I came back to complete chaos…a bachelor’s pad, but nothing could’ve upset me at that moment. I was still on cloud nine.
“You smell nice,” Germaine complimented as he and Nathan joined me inside the house.
“Thanks,” I replied dryly. “Where’s my mother?”
He pointed toward the kitchen before continuing. “Is it new?”
“Why?” I asked then sucked my teeth.
“Because it doesn’t smell like any of the other perfumes you wear.”
Damn, does he pay that much attention to me? I thought. Kingston often told me that he loved the perfumes I wore, so I normally poured it on a little thick when we were together. “It’s the new perfume by Beyonce’,” I replied.
“Well, it smells nice.”
I made a mental note to put it in the drawer until I was with Kingston again. I didn’t want Germaine enjoying it. It was for Kingston’s enjoyment only.
“I made reservations at seven o’clock at that hibachi restaurant that you and John John love so much,” Germaine spoke as he rested his hands on my bare shoulders.
Using Jonathan was his way of getting me to say yes, but I wasn’t in the mood to go out. I wanted to escape into my tub filled with hot, bubbly water to dream and reminisce about my time with Kingston.
“Let me ask you a question?” I addressed him. “How in the hell can you make reservations to a restaurant when you don’t have any money?”
He gave me an uncomfortable look. “I thought maybe you wouldn’t mind…”
“Spending my damn money?” I finished his statement. “You have a lot of freaking nerve. Isn’t there something boxed in the freezer that you can throw in the microwave? Better yet, since you’re Mr. Mom, can’t you just throw some stuff together like you’ve been doing?”
He gave me another uncomfortable look, cradled Nathan in his arms a little tighter and walked toward the door. “I’m happy you’re home, Nikki,” he replied before moping back outside.
Meet Author Carla S. Pennington
Carla S. Pennington was born and raised in Prichard, Alabama where she continues to reside with her family.
In 1996, Carla was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Over the years, the disease has halted her, but she refuses to let it stop her. She is currently working on a number of other projects that she plans to have published in the near future.
In 2002, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in journalism from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. After graduation, Carla decided not to pursue her career in journalism. Her heart and mind were elsewhere. She wanted to write fiction novels and short stories, something that she had been doing since she was a young girl.
In 2005, Carla published her first novel, Fling and from there several short stories which appeared in anthologies across the country.
Finally, she landed a book deal with Life Changing Books which released the wildly anticipated novel, the Available Wife in January 2011.
Readers can reach Carla S. Pennington on FaceBook and Twitter as:
carlapennington. Email address: carlapennington@hotmail.com
Next Door Nympho
by C.J. Hudson
Soul, satisfying sex is usually the ultimate weapon. For Diamond Robinson, it may turn out to be a serious problem. On the surface, she may appear to be your average beauty, living next door, but Diamond is full of deceit, mischief, and seduction.
She craves good loving so much that she's willing to do anything, including sleeping with someone you'd least expect. When her sexcapades spiral of control, one thing leads to another and her lover winds up dead; leaving everyone she's ever loved against her. Unknowingly, she and her nymphonic road dogs get themselves mixed up with secrets and lies that lead to unstoppable turmoil. Sit back and let author
C. J. Hudson take you on a ride that you will never forget!
About the Author
Author Christopher Speight, better known to his fans as C.J. Hudson was born in Alabama. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio at a young age, attended Kent State and later went on to Kaplan Institution acquiring skills to become an electrician. CJ has become a legend in his own rights with urban hits like Chedda Boyz, Next Door Nympho, and his highly anticipated title Diary of a Nympho. He likes to read, write, travel, and spend time with his family. C.J. is married with two sons.
Excerpt from Next Door Nympho by C.J. Hudson
POW!! Diamond’s back slammed against the wall. The impact of her vertebrae crashing into the drywall caused her framed, autographed pictures of MC Cyanide and Basketball player Darius Jones to leap off the screws and shatter onto the hardwood floor. Diamond’s life flashed before her eyes as she thought back to all the lives she had ruined and the marriages she had wrecked in her short time on earth. The loud thunder clapping through the skies drowned out her agonizing screams.
The red hot slug from the 357 Magnum ripped through her right shoulder blade, shredding tissue and bone along the way. The crumbling drywall was no match for the angry bullet as it tore through, destroying everything in its path, on the way to God knows where. Diamond tried desperately to reach the .25 automatic she kept in her nightstand drawer. To her surprise, it wasn’t there. She looked up through tear soaked eyes and saw her assailant holding the missing pistol.
“Looking for this?” The shooter’s haunting laugh sent chills up and down Diamond’s spine. Bleeding profusely, Diamond struggled to stand up.
“Who the fuck is you? What the fuck is this shit all about?” Diamond asked.
“You’ve stolen something from me that I can’t get back, and now it’s time to pay the piper,” a cold voice whispered.
Diamond was sure that she’d heard the voice before but couldn’t quite place it. The shooter was dressed in black jeans, a black pullover hoodie, and black boots with a black fedora hat pulled down over one eye. Diamond looked at the floor in amazement as the .25 automatic slid across the floor to her.
“Go ahead bitch. Pick it up.” Foolishly Diamond snatched the gun up, pointed it, and pulled the trigger. The hooded gunman’s sinister laugh resonated throughout the room.
“And all this time I thought you were smart. You’re a dumb bitch. You really think I would give you a loaded gun?”
Diamond threw the gun down in disgust.
“Fuck!” she shouted.
“Yep ! That’s exactly what you are! Fucked! Of all the men you screwed, you’re going to regret messing with this one!”
As hard as she tried, Diamond just couldn’t get a clear read on the voice roaring her way. But whoever it was sounded very well educated. There was no slurred speech or slang to connect them with the hood.
Diamond tried to think back but she’d had sex with so many men during her lifetime that she couldn’t be sure who the shooter was talking about. Diamond flinched when her assailant reached into her back pocket. With a flick of the wrist, a picture sailed across the floor and at Diamond’s feet. Reaching down with her good arm, she picked it up and stared at it.
“I don’t even know this fuckin’ kid!”
“Well, maybe you should meet him then. The assassin walked stealthily towards Diamond with the barrel pointed at her head. When the hat and glasses were removed, a look of confusion came over Diamond’s face. Then it hit her.
“Wait! I know who the fuck you is! You’re…”
“Your worse fuckin’ nightmare bitch! I would tell you to say hello to him, but he’s in heaven. And you’re on your way to hell.”
A light flashed in Diamond's face as a hollow point bullet decorated the wall with her brains.
Lacey leaves her high paying job, the New York social scene, and breaks her engagement to a successful but snobbish attorney to reclaim ancestral land on Martha’s Vineyard and build an equestrian camp to honor her Native American and African American heritage. She learns the property was sold to a local rancher for unpaid taxes. Using her savings, she purchases oceanfront property and livestock, hires a riding instructor from Texas, sight unseen, and prepares to win back her land by competing with the rancher in an equestrian contest at the end of the season.
Three weeks after his scheduled arrival date, the riding instructor, Monroe Faulkner, appears out of nowhere. Lacey doubts the ruggedly handsome stranger is the same man she interviewed on the phone but his skills are vital to her success. Lacey’s grandmother, Pearl, assures her the tension she feels is purely sexual, and predicts certain love between them. Tension grows as Lacey prepares for the camp’s grand opening and eases after the campers arrive and she observes Monroe’s skills.
Just as Lacey accepts Monroe into her heart, her former fiancé arrives and identifies Monroe as wealthy Texas rancher John Tobias. Pearl suffers a fatal heart attach, Camp Noepe wins the contest in Pearl’s memory, and Lacey prepares to leave for New York. John apologizes for his deception and tries to win back the woman he loves in a battle that rages from New York to Denham Wells, Texas. As Pearl had predicted, love prevails.
BOOK REVIEW
5.0 out of 5 stars by R. A Rippy; This review is from: Oak Bluffs
This story was amazing! Not only was it a great romance and relationship story but there was history in the mix about black cowboys and Native Americans. This mix made this story even more amazing. Love it! The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers
Oak Bluffs (Indigo Love Stories) by Joan Early
CHAPTER 1
Lacey Daigle had driven the mile-long road along Aquinnah Cliffs many times, but still marveled at the colorful diagrams of history in the rows of clay, sand, and fossil-filled gravel. Streams that had formed from melting glaciers cut through the low hills and valleys along South Road. The red brick lighthouse that overlooked Vineyard Sound had guided many sailors around the treacherously rocky shore. She found the beauty and the history of Martha’sVineyard equally fascinating. She loved Aquinnah, the rolling hills of Chilmark, and the up-island area of Oak
Bluffs, where her family had owned land since the 1800s. Her ancestral home, Powan House, was built around 1907, when Cottage City was renamed Oak Bluffs. It was that piece of family history that had brought Lacey back to the island.
Looking in the rearview mirror, she caught a glimpse of her image and smiled at the pairing of bloodlines that defined her heritage. Her skin was black. Her features were delicate. High cheekbones were half-hidden behind sheets of raven hair. Dark eyes were heavily hooded with
lashes that fanned out like butterfly wings. Her mouth was wide and full, her lips artfully defined. Her father’s African American and Native American roots were visible, as were the Caribbean influences from her mother’s family. She was tall and willowy. The strength of her heredity was hidden, but easily called upon.
She drove quietly past farms and grazing lands on Middle Road, admiring the backdrop of sparkling water until they reached the vibrant cottages at Oak Bluffs. “Maybe I’m being unreasonable,” she said to the woman sitting next to her. “I just have to try, Mother Pearl.”
“You’re not unreasonable.” The older woman’s eyes clouded with memories. “Powan House is very special to his family. It’s certainly special to me,” she confided. “That’s where your grandfather first kissed me and held me in his arms.”
“Your love for Papa rivals all of the love stories ever written. He must have been blind not to notice your feelings sooner. I want that kind of love.”
“And you shall have it very soon. Your future is clear in my head.”
Pearl, like Lacey’s grandfather, was born on the island. Her cooking skills were well recognized, but Lacey was the only one in the family who believed in her predictions.
Because of that, Lacey’s heartbeat quickened when Pearl declared she would soon find love.
“You mean I haven’t found love with Mason?”
“I can’t say for sure. The faces are not visible. I just see white lace and a big halo of happiness.”
Lacey parked at the county square, but sat behind the wheel, unmoving. Her heart quivered in her chest. So much was riding on the decision of strangers. She removed her wet palms from the steering wheel and placed her forehead where they had been.
“Come on, honey,” Pearl said. “Let’s go in and face the music.”
Committed Detective Dwayne Booker is the go to guy when it’s time to solve the hardest cases. Son of a fallen decorated officer, he followed his father’s footsteps, despite his mother’s suicide after his father’s passing. When he’s assigned to a highly controversial case that happens to be the first murder of the New Year, it causes him to reevaluate his workaholic lifestyle and appreciate life more.
Amore is loved by many but obviously hated by at least one. When her body is found dangling from the rafters of trap doors in the ceiling of her night club all types of mayhem ensues.
Three different lovers, a jealous former employee and a not so secret past makes this case hard to crack and the trail to the killer covered well.
Detective Booker and his new partner have to fight through the truth and lies told by those who knew Amore best.
The Misery of Amore's Demise Book Video Trailer By Nikkea Smithers
Book Review for The Misery of Amore's Demise by Nikkea Smithers
“An intriguing beginning to a New Year. Amore’s Demise is a suspenseful journey into a world, most of us would rather pretend doesn’t exist.”
~Emma Award-Winning Author, Iris Bolling~
Excerpt from Prologue The Misery of Amore's Demise
The night air was crisp, cold even, but ignored by those who embraced it walking briskly in furs lavish enough to be envied by passersby. Amore’s was the home to the elite Queens who flamboyantly paraded throughout the city with blatant disregard for everyone else’s contempt for their existence. They pranced in stilettos that were hard to find on even a good day.
It was easy to explain how anyone could be taken by these queens if they started their admiration from the ground floor up. The stilettos were no less than three inches and came to a cascading conclave when they met the harsh street. The legs that extended beyond the shoes going up were always well defined, toned and enclosed within the restraints of the finest hosiery. Berkshire name brand stockings had to be the selection, something jet black with a shimmering tint that sparkled against the streetlights. Oh and beneath the fur coat that exhibited just how serious they took themselves was always a fabulous behind that would keep lingering eyes right there when they looked from the rear. They stayed in the gym making sure their bodies remained intact and their doctor assisted breasts remained pointed in the air.
If someone made it past all of that, it would be easy to understand why they missed something. They would be too focused on all the glitter that they would mistake it for gold. Yes there was gold there, but not quite the gold that the common man would be looking for, unless he was already aware.
Still, the group of carefully put together queens made their way to the ball that was the talk of their community. It was New Year’s night and anyone who was anyone would be at Amore’s.
The music could be heard well down the street; everyone was having a good old time. The real show would take place once the party was good and packed. In the interim, the party goers would suffice with showing off the time they took to look flawless while twirling with the melody.
“Where’s Amore?” someone asked in the midst of the celebration. It was almost midnight and it was unlike the owner of the club to be missing in action.
Amore absorbed the attention she received like a sponge, how on a night like this could she be missing? And with all the work that had been put into that night? The environment was past festive and everyone anticipated what would drop from the ceiling this year. Each year Amore’s did something that even Times Square couldn’t compete with. One year it had been fresh rose petals that dropped from the sky. Another year it had been faux diamonds and pearls. This year it was rumored that money would actually fall from down to the floor which was a minor reason as to why the event was as packed as it was. With Amore, who knew!
The question of the night had been “Where’s Amore?” That mystery had yet to be answered. Everyone just assumed that she would make a grand entrance the way that only she could, ready to absorb all of her love. In the mean time the countdown had begun. …ten…nine…eight…seven…six…five…four…three…two…one…Happy New Year!
Everyone sung in unison, and as expected the trap doors to the ceiling opened up and sure enough dollar bills dropped from the sky. As everyone rushed to collect the money that was falling fast to the floor, it took a minute before anyone noticed what had also dropped from above.
It was Amore, but the entrance was far from glamorous. A shriek came from somewhere in the crowd and then utter chaos broke out. Amore was hanging from the ceiling, in a silk scarf noose.
About The Author
Nikkea Smithers is a dynamic award winning and Essence Magazine bestselling writer and spoken word artist, originally from Connecticut , currently residing in Richmond , VA. She has released several novels, poetry compilations and has contributed to several anthologies. Her writing style is unique as she uses her ability to play on words throughout each project. Her novels flair with the explicit details of life told through her characters’ eyes. Visit the author's website at:
www.nikkeasmithers.com for more book excerpts and event details.
When the Fairytale Ends
(Book #2 in the Married Series)
What happens when the fairytale ends and real life begins? Greg and Shania will find out the hard way.
Young, successful, and thriving, Shania and Greg have the type of relationship that most people only dream about. Greg enjoys working as a youth pastor at his church and making a difference in the lives of troubled teens. After receiving some unexpected news, however, Greg's manhood takes a devastating blow.
Realizing that her man is headed for depression, Shania suggests they take an exotic vacation to revitalize their marriage. Rather than bringing them closer together, the trip seems to pull them further apart. Caught in the middle of a sinister plot, they find themselves in a fight for their lives. Greed, lies, and deception might cost someone their life.
Prologue: When the Fairytale Ends
A bitter, coppery taste filled his mouth and his tongue felt like one huge swollen blister lolling around. Battering rams seemed to simultaneously slam against both his temples. He wasn’t sure if his eyes were open or not because whether open or closed, he seemed to be swimming in darkness, a darkness that was so utterly black, the fear of being blind constricted his heart. He tried to take in a deep breath, but it felt like slabs of concrete were compressing his chest.
“So you finally decided to rejoin the land of the living?”
That voice. Female. Familiar. It wasn’t a stranger’s voice. He tried to place the voice, but the battering rams in his head banged louder. He gritted his teeth against the excruciating migraine pain and tried to reach for his head, only to realize that his hands were restrained at the wrists. Cold restraints. Metal restraints. He strained against the restraints until it felt like he had broken every piece of cartilage in his wrists. He felt the cold metal restraints around his ankles too. Rough, coarse rope kept his knees firmly glued together and the coarseness of the rope dug into the tender skin at the underside of his knees. Though he gave a good struggle, the most he managed to do was to scrape all the skin from around his ankles. But the rope didn’t give an inch.
“You should stop straining like that, Greg. You’re going to hurt yourself.”
There was that voice again. Close to his right ear. Vaguely familiar. And she knew his name.
He tried to place the voice but every time he started concentrating, the battering rams became deafening and pain reverberated back and forth from one to temple to the next. Opening his eyes as wide as he could, he strained to see through the darkness, and finally made out a pair of white eyeballs staring back at him. He licked lips that were Sahara dry and tried to wet his mouth so that he could speak. Only squeaks came out.
“Water?”
He nodded, then instantly regretted it. The battering rams exchanged themselves for band cymbals, pots and pans, fork tines against metal.
Greg felt something cold against his lips and he touched his chin to his chest, trying to sit up as much as he could to sip on the cool water. Each swallow felt like a ball of fire inching its way down his throat and his tongue felt ten sizes too big for his mouth. He scanned his mind, trying to figure out where he was, why was he was restrained, and who was this woman with the voice and glass of water? And how did she know his name?
When he spoke, it sounded like his vocal chords had been grated with sandpaper, and his swollen tongue made him sound funny. “Who are you?”
He heard the smile in her voice. “I could be your fantasy, or your worst nightmare. Which would you prefer?”
Her words chilled his soul and raised goose bumps across his skin. He wet his lips again.
“Where am I?”
“Ocho Rios. How could you forget so soon that we’re in Jamaica?”
As soon as she said the words, everything started coming back to him. The money from the will. The trip. His wife. His wife. His wife.
“Where’s Shania? Where’s my wife? Is she okay? What have you done to her?”
“Shut up and settle down,” the woman said, and Greg felt her fingernails start at the inside of his ankle and graze up his leg to his crotch area. She had stripped him of all his clothes.
“That little mutt of yours is in good hands. She hasn’t been hurt, and she won’t be as long as you cooperate with us.”
“Cooperate with who? Who are you? What do you want from me?” Greg wasn’t sure which beat louder, his head or his heart. But he knew this much; if they so much as harmed a hair on Shania’s head, even though the Bible said thou shall not kill, God was going to have to forgive him on this one.
“You know exactly what we want, Greg. We want what you stole from us.”
Who is ‘us’? And what in the world had he ‘stolen’? He wasn’t a thief; the only thing he could ever remember stealing was grapes from the local grocery store and that was only because he nibbled on them throughout the store so that when he paid for them, they wouldn’t weigh as much. But other than that, what had he stolen? He wasn’t a taker, he was a giver. They must have him confused with somebody else; that’s what it had to be. They—whoever they was— must have the wrong person.
“You got the wrong person,” he squeaked out. “I swear. It’s not me. I’ve never stolen a thing before in my life.”
Again, her demonic laughter filled the room. “You sure about that, Greg?”
How in the world did she know his name?
“Think long and hard about that.” He listened to her footsteps as she walked around the bed—because that’s what he figured he must’ve been tied down to—and placed her lips merely centimeters away from his left ear. “You stole something from us. And you can either give it to us the easy way,” her claws shot out and grabbed his testicles and she twisted until a scream ripped from his throat, “or the hard way. Whichever you prefer.” She let go of his precious jewels, and as bad as he wanted to hold himself, massage himself, shield himself, the restraints wouldn’t allow his hands to move.
Despite the throbbing in his head, he racked his brain, trying to recall his last memories before waking up in this hell hole. He remembered arriving at the island; he remembered Shania and her horrible attitude; he remembered going to the bar, having a drink with two of the Jamaican guys he had met at the shore to relieve some stress. That was the last thing he remembered, sitting at the tiki bar with those two men, sipping a non-alcoholic pina colada.
Though this woman’s voice sounded vaguely familiar, and he was sure if she turned on a light, he could identify her instantly, those two Jamaicans at the bar were complete strangers. He had never seen them a day before in his life. So why would they drug him? And that’s what had to have happened. That was the only explanation for his swollen tongue, the sour taste in his mouth, and this cataclysmic migraine.
But…but…but why would they do such a thing? They didn’t know him. Even though he was wealthy, he didn’t exude wealth. He had worn a pair of sandals, khaki shorts, and a plain white T-shirt. No flashy jewelry or anything of that sort. And he and Shania had stayed in a middle-class hotel. The hotel was breathtakingly beautiful, without a doubt, but it didn’t scream out: The People Who Room Here Are Rich! So why had they singled him out?
“I’ll give you time to think it over, Greg. But when I come back, you better be ready to talk business. You better be ready to agree to everything I ask for. Or else, I will bring your wife’s pretty little fingers to you one by one.”
“You touch her and I will kill you!”
“How? You’re going to spit on me to death? It’s not like you can move.”
Rage forced him to try his best to break through his shackles. He only succeeded in making his headache worse, scratching more skin off his ankles and wrists, and pulling a muscle in his left leg. He screamed out in fury and frustration, frightened for himself but even more frightened for his wife. What if they were lying? What if they had killed her already? And where were those two men? If they weren’t in here with him, that meant that they were in there with her. What had they done to her? What where they doing to her? His vivid imagination alone
“Help!” he screamed at the top of his lungs. “Help! Somebody help! Help me! Somebody help!”
Something long, hard and cold muffled his screams. Even in the pitch black darkness, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that she had jammed the barrel of a gun into his mouth. But was it loaded or unloaded—that was the question. He wasn’t sure if he really wanted to find out.
“Pull another trick like that,” she growled, “and you’ll live to regret it. That’s if I let you live.” She shoved the gun deeper in his mouth, until the tip slid down the upper portion of his esophagus. He gagged and his stomach heaved. She snatched the gun out his mouth and he turned his head in just enough time to throw up.
“I’ll be back in an hour or two,” she said. He heard her footsteps retreat, heard a door squeak open before slamming shut. Then he counted at least three deadbolts click into place.
He sat in the dark silence, quiet, listening, making sure he was completely alone while he strained futilely to make out his surroundings. Once he was sure he was in the room by himself, he fought against the restraints with every ounce of his strength, even attempting to twist his arm out of the socket just to get loose. Finally, he gave up and yelled out from the pits of his soul. He held his breath for fear that the door would come open and she would jam the gun in his mouth and this time, pull the trigger. He held his breath in fear that the door would fling open and she’d be standing there, holding up one of Shania’s fingers to show him that her threats were by no means idle. But when seconds ticked by and became minutes, and minutes dragged by for what seemed like lifetimes, he figured he was “safe” for now and prayed that Shania was fine as well.
As he laid there, his arms shackled to either side of the bed, his legs tied at the knees and shackled at the ankles, he felt like a reincarnate of Jesus, just without the nails. Feeling utterly hopeless, hot tears slipped from his eyes and puddle in his ears as he stared up at the ceiling and whispered, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me…”
About the Author
Dwan Abrams is the Best-selling Author of When the Fairytale Ends (Book #2 in the Married Series), Married Strangers (Book #1 in the Married Series), My Mother's Child (the anticipated sequel to Divorcing the Devil), Divorcing the Devil, Only True Love Waits, and The Scream Within. Visit Dwan on the web at:
www.dwanabrams.com.
Family
Ties
by George Sherman Hudson
Skylar
had everything a woman could hope for. She had the money, clothing, jewels and
the perfect man to finance it all. She was living in the lap of luxury, until it
all came crashing down after her boyfriend was murdered, during a drug deal gone
wrong. Skylar suddenly finds herself broke, hungry, and alone. Unable to fend
for herself, she leaves the world she once knew behind to start over in Atlanta
and reclaim the man that once got away...Brian.
Although, the two of them only shared a brief sexual encounter, Skylar never
truly forgot the way Brian put it down, bringing her to the highest point of
ecstasy. Not only will Brian be able to quench her sexual thirst, he’s the
perfect man to pull her out of her financial rut.
Since their last encounter, Brian has been making his mark in the music
industry, as one of the most sought after producers in the country. Skylar knows
her life with Brian will be perfect, there’s just one obstacle standing in her
way...her cousin and Brian’s fiancée’, Lynn. While Lynn is planning the
perfect wedding, Skylar is devising the perfect plan to steal her man. If
Skylar has her way, “keeping it in the family”, will be more than just a
phrase.
Excerpt
from Chapter One: Family Ties by George Sherman Hudson
“Skylar, this is Brian, my fiancé,” Lynn said with pride, linking her arms
with Brian’s.
“Hello, Brian. I’m Skylar. Nice to meet you,” Skylar greeted, checking
Brian out from head to toe.
“Nice to meet you, too, Skylar,” he replied, noticing how the girl was
giving him the once-over.
“Baby, can y’all go to the store and get some more paper plates and cups? We
got more family than I realized,” Lynn ’s Aunt Grace asked them while
flipping the meat on the grill.
“We got you, Auntie,” Lynn answered. She turned to her fiancé and asked,
“Brian, can you handle that for me? I got to help Mama season the rest of the
meat and set up the tables.”
“No problem, baby,” he said as he walked over and put his hand on the small
of her back. “Wait, I take that back. There is one problem.”
“What’s that, baby?” Lynn asked.
“I have no idea where the store is. You got me down here in the middle of the
swamplands!” Brian joked.
“I’ll show you, cuz-in-law,” Skylar volunteered.
“Thanks, cuz!” Lynn said as she walked off, heading to the table full of
meat marinating in a tasty blend of spices as it waited for its turn on the
grill. Brian couldn’t help watching as Skylar threw her hips from side to side
as they headed to the car.
“Nice ride,” she said as he adjusted her miniskirt in the soft leather seat
of his BMW 760.
“Thanks,” Brian responded, looking down at her exposed thighs and purposely
letting his eyes meet hers with a longer than casual glance. They both smiled at
each other. Brian left Skylar in the car as he went in the store to get the
party supplies. When he returned to his car, he noticed she had pulled her skirt
up so far that he could tell she wasn’t wearing any panties. He took in the
sight of her neatly shaved pubic hair.
“You like what you see?” she asked softly as she lifted her skirt even
further so he could get a good look. Brian was at a loss for words and stood
silent and dumbfounded.
“Well, do you?” she moaned wantonly as she leaned over and kissed him and
rubbed the lump growing between his legs. Before he knew it, they were climbing
into the back seat. Comfortably hidden behind the dark tint of the BMW windows,
they sexed each other up until the back seat was wet with their body fluids, one
last moan signaling their mutual release. After filling Skylar with his juices,
a feeling of guilt and regret came over Brian. He could only think of Lynn and
what would happen if she were to ever find out. “Damn,” he said, “we
shouldn’t have done that.” He regretfully buttoned up his pants in a hurry
and climbed into the driver’s seat.
“Why not? I really enjoyed it.” Skylar smiled and climbed back into the
front passenger’s seat and pulled down the visor mirror to fix her mussed
hair.
“Look here, Skylar, this has got to stay between me and you, right?” Brian
insisted with authority pouring from his voice.
“Yeah, yeah, our little secret, boo – just between you and me,” Skylar
said sincerely as she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
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One Night Stand by Kendall Banks
Have you ever been played? Most will say, yes, and just take the defeat on the chin, but not Zaria Hopkins. Life had already dealt her a bad hand landing her in a two-bedroom apartment with a roommate who thought she was a nut-case, and who desperately tried to get away from both her odd behavior and controlling ways. As luck would have it Zaria hooked up with Hardy, a sexy, suave piece of eye candy who laughed her out of her panties the first night then tried to tell her to forget it ever happened the next day.
Unfortunately, Hardy wasn’ t aware of her past and that the woman he’d slept with wasn’t the forgiving type. Before long, his wife is in danger and Hardy s secrets are exposed . Zaria wants revenge and decides she deserves everything she's always been missing; money, power, and respect.
With Zaria’s over the top personality and tricks up her sleeve this book is a cross between the modern day fatal attraction and single black female…but with an incredible twist. Beware!
One Night Stand by Kendall Banks
Interview Discussion Topics:
1. One Night Stand Rule Book
2. Effects of dating someone you don't know
3. Signs that he DOESN’T want you anymore
Excerpt from One Night Stand by Kendall Banks
Clubs were never really my thing. The act of being in an overcrowded room smooched between hundreds of people like sardines as germs hover over both myself and my drink has never really got me off. But tonight I chose to make an exception. I refused to allow my roommate, Milan to
out-do me.
Some kind of new age retro music poured from the club's speakers as skinny model types and preppy looking men, black and white pranced around, danced , and talked loudly over every song the DJ threw on the turntable. Not one single true hip hop song would get any airplay up in here as far as I could tell. There was no way in hell I could ever see myself getting used to this futuristic sounding crap.
My eyes scoured the entire club from the dance floor to the bar repeatedly as I made my way throughout hundreds of people for nearly half an hour until I finally saw Milan standing at the bar with her friends. I walked up behind her and tapped her on the back. As she turned I could see Jazmine choke on her drink when she got a look at the dress I was wearing while Mia only eyed me silently from head to toe.
"Zaria," Milan said, with surprise. Her eyes quickly ran from my weave to my heels.
Jazmine whispered something to Mia and they both begin to laugh. It was probably something slick, but I was a hard-core girl and would beat them both at the same time if needed. I ignored their ignorance with everything inside me, though I just wanna spaz out on both of their prissy asses. Undoubtedly I looked fabulous. And they hated me for it. That's all.
"What are you doing here?" Milan asked, still surprised.
"A girl can't go out sometimes?" I countered, smiling.
"Of course. I just didn't know you were coming."
"Yeah, cause you left me, purposely" I spat, then took a step back and placed my hands on my thick rounded hips.
Both Jazmine and Mia began laughing again.
Milan smiled and hit me with phony talk, "You...You look great."
Suddenly a handsome guy walked over. “Milan, I didn't know you had a sister," he said out of the blue. Milan introduced me to her date.
"Marcus, this is Zaria."
Marcus extended his hand and shook mine. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Zaria."
"You too," I returned with a smile.
"So you guys are sisters?" he asked, assuming we were because I’d decided to wear the same dress that Milan wore. She was obviously irked by it. Her girls thought it was super funny.
Jazmine and Mia laughed again in my face trying to clown me.
Inside, I pondered ways to torture and kill them both.
"No," Milan said quickly. "We're just roommates."
Why couldn't she lie? Was she trying to say I wasn’t cute enough to be her sister? I had to admit, my feelings were a little hurt. My brown skin had always made me feel ugly no matter how hard I tried to front. Some folks considered me to be light-skinned, and just a little bronzed but not me. I wanted that skin like Milan, almost white. "Are you here with someone, Zaria?" Marcus asked me.
"No. I'm not," I spat, obviously heated.
"I think I can fix that."
I watched Marcus wave someone over to the bar. Within a few seconds a man even more handsome than him walks over.
"Damon, this is Zaria… Zaria, Damon."
"Hey, Zaria," Damon greeted with a bright smile and extended hand. "How are you?"
"I'm good now" I returned with major sex appeal. With the heavy flirting, my anger at Milan disappeared for a moment.
He chuckled. "Can I get you something to drink?"
"A Corona would be nice. I'm not a heavy drinker."
"That's no problem." Damon softly placed his left hand on my arm. He waved for the bartender and ordered my drink.
I couldn’t help but give him a few sly once-over. He was gorgeous: Goatee, pearly white teeth, well dressed, well spoken, muscular, and chocolate like a Hershey bar.
"Do you mind if we sit at a table?" Damon asked after I got my drink. "I've been on my feet at the office all day."
He has a job. Shit! That's always a plus.
"Sure," I responded softly.
Before I knew it the two of us were bunned up at a booth in the corner of the club trapped in conversation like we were the only two people in the club. I loved the feeling even though I hadn’t planned on meeting a man tonight. I simply didn’t want to be at home alone just in case there was another break-in in our apartment.
Within just a few hours I felt his body wanting me. And I wanted everything about him to be mine: his smile, the soft touch of his hand when it brushed against my own, and the smell of his cologne. I could feel it. And I didn’t need months or years to realize it like most women.
I was so deep into Damon that I didn’t notice him wave to a passing waitress. "Could you please bring her another Corona, please?"
My eyes caught her give him a lightning fast inspection, thinking that I hadn't seen her. “I can't believe this bitch.” I said in disbelief. Letting her get away with that shit was not an option.
"I don't appreciate that," I stood and said sharply.
"Excuse me?" she responded sassily, like I was some fool.
"Zaria, what's wrong?" Damon asked me with creases in his forehead.
"She knows what's wrong," I said lunging forward. I looked the big breast waitress directly in her eyes. "That was very disrespectful, hoe!"
"Miss, what are you talking about?"
Damon stepped between us just as Milan rushed over.
"What's going on?" Milan asked, followed by Jazmine, Mia, and their dates.
"This hussy right here!" I shouted, pointing my finger in the waitress' face. "She just tried to make a pass at my man!"
Several club goers turned to see what had kicked off.
“Trick, do you think I’m a freakin' joke?” I asked, anxious to show her I was not the broad to test. Before I knew it, I’d kicked my heels off.
The waitress was still trying to lie, “I never said…”
Before she could say another word I grabbed Damon’s glass from the table and slung Vodka in her face.
Just like that, the DJ cut the music and shouted for security, turning the entire Club’s attention in my direction.
The waitress lunged at me attempting to retaliate.
I ducked her lousy punch. Little did she know I had a past where I always had to fight. “Don’t lie about it!” I screamed. “Be a woman, not a mouse! Admit what you did!”
"Zaria, Calm down," Damon said, with his eyes beyond wide.
I got even more pissed. Why was he protecting her? Were they fooling around before I got to the club? I’ll bet she sucked his dick in the bathroom stall just before he came and talked to me.
I'm nobody's fool. I grab the empty Corona bottle by the neck, intending to tear his
head off. But before I could swing, security had me by my arms and drug me outside while I kicked and screamed like a lunatic.
Dumped onto the street, I see people outside pointing fingers and wondering why I got thrown out, but then reality disappears in an instant. The club is gone. The bouncers are no longer carrying me. Everyone around me is gone.
I found myself standing outside on a very dark night holding a bag full of my clothes with rain pouring from the sky, drenching my body, lightning and thunder nearly deafening me. Why am I here? Where is everyone?
Footsteps come quickly from the distance, splashing water underneath them. They’re getting closer and closer quickly with each step. Something inside me knows they’re coming for me. Something inside me knows they’re coming to hurt me. I look into the night to see a tall shadowy figure dashing up the street towards me, the sight of him scaring me more than the site of the devil himself.
I run to the nearest house and begin to beat on the door, feeling that I belong there. I’ve been there before hundreds of times. I can feel it. It feels like home. Someone here will protect me for sure.
“Please let me in!” I scream, turning to see the stranger quickly getting closer. “Please help me! I have no place else to go and I need help!”
Tears fall from my eyes. Why won’t they help me? Even over the rattling of thunder and lightning their voices can be heard inside. Why are they ignoring me? Why don’t they love me anymore? What did I do to make them leave me out here to die?
The stranger’s hand grab’s my shoulder.
"Zaria!" Milan shouted, snapping me from my daze.
Current reality surrounds me again just as quickly as it disappeared before. I’m outside the club with the bouncer standing in front of me.
“Sweetheart, you might’ve had a little too much to drink,” he said. “You really need to go home before I call the police.”
“Hit him!” Hit him now.” That voice was back and he wouldn’t stop. “You’re such a punk, Zaria. Either hit him or go home.”
“Zaria!” Milan called out again. She got close enough to touch me and offered some encouraging words.
I turned away from her and the bouncer and hopefully that annoying voice. With the quickness, I stormed to my car, with one shoe in my hand , and the other lost. I hurried into my car and slammed the door, hard.
“Zaria!” Milan yelled again, hoping to catch me before I started my Honda.
It was too late… nothing left for her to see now but my tail lights and the invisible horns on my head.
About the Author
Kendall Banks, author of bestselling author of Rich Girls (2009) and the soon to be released One Night Stand (February 2011), is offering the reader a glimpse at the consequences of cheating. In addition, after reading One Night Stand you’ll realize that sleeping with someone you don’t really know can have a life changing effect. Check out excerpts from her books on the publisher's website at:
www.lifechangingbooks.net.
SNITCH by VegasClarke
Snitch is a sexy urban tale that will make you think twice about who you can trust. It all begins with Ces’ar Lopez aka Drape, a savvy street hustler who thinks he’s on top of the world. He has no plans of relinquishing his crown as King Pen of the Streets; but the love of his life Diona has a different agenda.
The drug game becomes a gamble when fast money, sex, and violence all collide and the chips fall hard. In comes Shorty, a gangsta chick with a bodacious body ready to betray anyone who threatens her livelihood. Love, trust, and loyalty are tested in this wild tale of sex and deception.
Eventually, Drape’s back is against the wall and classified information gets exposed. Soon, no one know what side they’re on …but best believe they’ll pay a hefty price; jail time or death. Who will be this hustler’s downfall?
Praise for New Release Snitch
“If you’re looking for the ultimate betrayal, this is the one. When it comes to real life snitches…this is as true as it gets. Newcomers, VegasClarke really brought the heat in this one!”
--- Tiphani- best selling author of The Millionaire Mistress Series
Chapter Excerpt: SNITCH by VegasClarke WARNING: this excerpt is geared toward adult readers. The content is provocative and leads to a very mature discussion.
7:30 am, Drape’s Motorola vibrated on the nightstand loudly.
“What’s the business?” he answered groggily.
“Drape, I have some bad news,” Mr. Goldstein, his lawyer uttered.
He instantly hopped out of bed, lowered the volume on his phone and then walked into the bathroom, caressing himself through his boxers. He didn’t want Diona to hear what was about to be said. Little did he know, she’d opened one eye as he walked away from the bed.
“What’s da bad news?” Drape asked as butterflies filled his stomach.
“The Feds picked up your case.”
“Don’t tell me dat. Mannnnn, I just got out. How dat happen so fast?”
“They’re here at my office right now.”
“What! Who you workin’ for, ‘dem or me? I can’t believe dis shit is happenin’!”
Mr. Goldstein assured him that he wouldn’t be arrested if he came to his office, but if he didn’t, a federal arrest warrant would be issued. Drape took a deep breath as he pondered the thought of what could happen when he got there.
“Fuck it, I’m on my way,” he said hanging up.
He came out of the bathroom and got dressed quietly as Diona laid in the bed with her eyes closed pretending to be sleep. Once he was dressed, he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek and left. She was barely speaking to him and he was trying his hardest not to upset her anymore.
Drape drove his low-key Honda Accord to his lawyer’s office playing out different scenarios in his head the entire ride. Once he arrived, he drove a block away from Mr. Goldstein’s and parked. He thought it was best to walk the rest of the way just in case they tried to arrest him; knowing he would make a run for it. As soon as he walked into Mr. Goldstein’s plush office, his secretary was in the foyer area sitting at her desk. She escorted Drape to the conference room where Mr. Goldstein was expecting him.
“How are you Ce’sar?” he greeted. “This is Detective Burns from the Second District Police Department. I think you two met before,” Mr. Goldstein announced.
Drape’s thick eyebrows crinkled. Detective Burns looked like the young detective who’d jumped out of the ambulance on him days before. Drape looked at the ugly keloid scar on Detective Burns’ cheek and thought how demented it made his face look. Burns was a frail looking guy appearing to be in his early twenties. He wondered what could’ve happened to someone so young to make their appearance so abnormal. Drape chuckled inside at the thought of Burns, a rookie, who was way too inexperienced to be dealing with him.
“And I’m Agent Lewis from the F.B.I,” another man said, introducing himself. Agent Lewis looked like a hillbilly with blonde hair and blue eyes. “I’m gonna be working with Detective Burns on this case. Mr. Lopez, can I call you Drape?” Lewis asked with a toothpick lodged in between his teeth.
“Yeah, it’s cool.” Drape anxiously waited to hear what the agent had to say.
“By the way, why do they call you Drape?”
Drape smiled. “Because I stay draped in some fly shyt. Now what can I help you with?”
“That’s funny,” Lewis chuckled, then looked at Burns hoping to get a laugh out of him. He got nothing but a straight face.
“I’m going to get straight to the point. Help us help you. We got wire taps and surveillance of you at Malik Howard’s house selling him 500 grams of cocaine base crack,” he said.
Agent Lewis exposed Malik to Drape at ease because he knew there was nothing he could do about it. There was no way he could hurt or intimidate him because he was currently in protective custody. They’d taken extra precautions to keep him safe. Without Malik, the dope and the wiretaps weren’t enough to convict Drape. Agent Lewis informed him that he and three of his best friends AKA the Scrilla Boys had been under investigation for the past three months, and they intended on getting them all.
Drape cursed under his breath, then focused back on his situation. Even though he was sure he could pay off some people to say it wasn’t him, the Feds were good in coercing witnesses.
Drape crossed his arms on the table and let out a sigh as he laid his head down on his muscular arms. He thought silently to himself for a second then raised his head. “What da f*** do y’all want me to do?” he asked as if he’d lost the war.
“We want the Scrilla Boys off the streets and we want you to make control buys from them on wire. I don’t care who the drugs get sold to as long as it’s on wire,” Agent Lewis said firmly, and then took a sip of water from the cup in front of him.
Drape’s heart sank. He couldn’t believe they wanted him to rat on his own friends; his boys that he’d known since childhood. The crew who always had his back. He sighed then let out a sign of disgust.
“Naw! I’on think I’ma be able to do dat.’ I can’t be a Snitch!” He gazed off to the side and fell into a frenzied daze.
Lewis played around with his toothpick again. “Call me after you’ve thought for a couple of days. Your lawyer will inform you on how much time you’re facing.” Agent Lewis handed Drape his card, and then headed for the door with Detective Burns in tow. “You know it’s you or them,” he added.
Instead of responding, Drape turned away.
Mr. Goldstein escorted them to the door as Drape sat defeated, in deep thought. He came back into his office within seconds, and pulled a chair next to him. “Drape, these charges carry a mandatory minimum of twenty years and a maximum of life in prison. The Feds have a ninety-eight percent conviction rate and with your record, we don’t stand a chance in trial. A plea would still get you at least twenty years or more. It’s your choice. The balls in your court,” Mr. Goldstein said in a matter of fact tone.
Drape half-listened as he day-dreamed. Finally, he turned his head to his attorney and said, “I’ll call and let you know what I’m gonna do.”
Mr. Goldstein sighed “Fine with me. It’s your life.”
About VegasClarke
Authors, VegasClarke demonstrate that opposites attract. Vegas entered a life of crime beginning at the age of
thirteen. Selling drugs was all he came to know which finally landed him a 78-month sentence in the Federal Prison System. During his incarceration, he was able to cope with his time and mature through writing. He put his heart into manifesting urban tales, poetry, and songs. He is currently pursuing his degree in Business Administration and working on the sequel to Snitch. Vegas believes that it is never too late to change his life. On the other hand, in order to change, one has to be willing to change he often tells his fan base.
Clarke developed a passion for writing while becoming an avid reader of all kinds of fiction. Once Vegas and Clarke were reunited, they were able to combine Vegas' street smarts and Clarke's school smarts, creating literary magic while focusing on real-life realities. Clarke graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Communications Studies with a minor in Pan-African Studies. Since then she has changed fields and works in Corporate America, where she is working on a Masters in Business Administration.
VegasClarke spends their time working on future novels while residing in Cleveland, Ohio with their two children.
Readers can contact VegasClarke at: facebook/vegasclarkeauthors,
twitter/vegsclarke, website: www.vegasclarke.com
and email: vegasclarke@vegasclarke.com
or vegasclarke@rocketmail.com.
Black Child to Black Woman
by Cheryl Bannerman
Black Child to Black Woman is a 'live diary' experience that will grab your attention right from the start. Tara Walker speaks directly to the reader as she adds entry after entry into her Journal. She documents her experiences, her family life, her triumphs, as well as her interpretation of life and the world as she saw it. As she grows, so does the language and tone of the diary, which matches her maturity and speech patterns as the time passes.
Experiences are mere images engraved in our minds that we recall when future events occur such as a tragedy or even when a song is playing on the radio. Tara has captured those moments in time in her diary, even the painful ones. Although she came from a loving home with both parents, she struggled to come to grips with siblings addicted to drugs, molestation, attempted rape, broken hearts, and so much more.
Her diary experiences will make you laugh, cry, scream, sigh, and gasp aloud. As Tara struggles to keep her head above water and fight through the tribulations of her life, she continues to smile, continues to grow as a person, continues to be successful in her career, and continues to survive. Through it all and through her daughter, she eventually discovers the true meaning of unconditional love.
Come discover life through the eyes of Tara as she grows from a black child to a black woman.
Excerpt from Black Child to Black Woman by Cheryl Bannerman
Journal Entry Four –The Celebration
Time to say good-bye to the Christian school. We had our 9th grade graduation at Mrs. Cleo’s house. She was this popular teacher with a huge house on acres of land with a cool pool in the back. Why was she popular? Number one, she was cool, she could relate to the students and was down to earth. You know the type. Number two, she was a natural red-headed bombshell. With her silk blouses and pencil skirts and high heels every day, what was not to admire or like?! I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. Smart, attractive, stylish, sexy...you name it.
I could see why the boys and men fell all over her. They could barely speak around her. We would have free time and everyone was supposed to be working on their English assignment. She would be at her desk grading papers. The pencil skirt was so tight I could never understand how she sat down in it and crossed her legs.
She always kept her pencil behind her ear as she graded papers. When she would need to mark up sentences she would slowly remove the pencil from behind her ear, lick it with the tip of her tongue, and write her corrections. Then slowly slide the pencil back behind her ear. The boys in the class were not working after that! Drool was slathered on most of their desks. Gross!
Anyway, Miss Cleo threw us a pool party and invited the other teachers as well. Of course all of the female teachers hated her. They were all quite homely and overweight so you can guess why. And of course the male teachers worshiped her. Her husband was a hunk as well and took it all in stride. Oh and her daughters were gorgeous redheads as well. Bitches. Ha!
So we all having a great time, playing board games inside, pool games outside, and eating everything placed in front of us! Everyone knows I cannot swim so I just play in the shallow end where I can stand. Even though me and my mom took basic lessons at the Y.
Still a great time!
Even my good friend, Dee, was there. She was the one I called after I had sex the first time; the one who told me about the hymen thing.
So anyway I was standing by the side of the pool when one of the white guys screamed something inaudible, rushed up behind me and pushed me in the deep end of the pool. Everything stopped. Time froze. Everything around me froze. The more my arms and legs flailed, the deeper I sank. I had no time to hold my breath beforehand so I was losing oxygen fast. At one point I must have gotten back to the top for a second so I screamed “Help!” and took a breath. No one heard my cries. Everyone was laughing and having fun. Why was everyone laughing? I could hear someone yelling, “Very funny Tara, stop playing around!”
I was losing hope but kept fighting my way to the top again. Water was beginning to fill my lungs. Finally, I reached the top and yelled “Help!” again. No time for a breath this time.
And then an angel appeared in front of me and a hand slipped around my waist. I was slowly floating to the top. I can feel air on top of head, my arms, and my legs. But why am I not moving? I can only hear the sounds of chaos around me. A collage of screams, apologies and movement.
“What’s going on?!” “I thought she was playing around!”
“Is she dead?!” “I’m sorry; I didn’t know she couldn’t swim!”
Someone was carrying me, then laying me down, pulling at my head. I could feel the cool grass under my back and legs. Then there was pressing on my chest and mouth. And that’s when it happened. I guess I realized it was not my time. That God had a bigger purpose for me on this earth.
My eyes opened wide, I rolled to my side, and proceeded to cough up water. I thought it would never stop coming up, but it did. I was alive and well, but once again the spoiler of the party and center of attention.
Two blessings. My angel, who happened to be Dee. She knew I was not faking since she knew I could not swim. And my old Elementary teacher, who just happens to also be a certified Nurse. The one who saved my life. So the party was over. Thank goodness I just happened to drown at the tail end of the party. Ha!
This was just one of many near tragedies in my life.
The Reality Check
A Short Story by Marian L. Thomas
Jenna walked into the room with a frown on her face. Her countenance was full of worry and her eyes began to push forward the tears that had been building up within her for the past few days. She sat down on the worn-out brown sofa and let out a sigh that the whole house (if the walls were listening) could hear.
Chris didn’t look up from his morning paper. He kept his eyes focused on the words of a reporter’s column although he honestly knew he cared less about the actual content. He needed something other than the obvious gloom in the air to keep his attention.
Jenna looked across the room at her husband; she noticed his obvious attempt to ignore the situation and that fueled the anger that was just at the stage of boiling over. He kept nodding his head slowly, pretending as if he were really engaged in the story. She wanted to scream at him but she sat there in silence. Silence had become part of the family it seemed for the past month. She remembered when she opened the door and found it on her door-step with packed bags, ready to move in for what appeared to be longer than she cared for. She hated silence. It was like a bug that no matter how many times one hit at it, it always managed to get away and annoy the mess out of you. She sighed again. Louder.
Chris turned to the next page and immersed himself into another story.
Jenna stood up and walked over to the window and pulled back the curtain to allow the sun to ease the anger inside of her. It was raining outside. The corners of her eyes began to shake uncontrollably and tiny tear drops began to slide down the center of her cheeks. She turned and looked at him, wanting him to see the pain he was trying so hard to ignore.
Chris raised the paper slightly higher than before. He knew this might be taking the moment to another level, pushing the envelope too far. He could feel her stare and knew that at this moment the tears were streaming down her face. What could he say to her to ease the pain? There was nothing.
They both had known this moment would be upon them. They had fought hard to avoid it, even tried to avoid each other.
He heard her footsteps getting closer to him. His body began to tense.
She reached out, hands shaking. Emotions uncontrolled and grabbed the paper.
The ripping sound was astonishing. The effects lay upon the floor, pieces here and there.
She walked out of their living room and headed up the stairs. He knew what was coming next.
The slamming sound the door made caused him to shift his position in his chair.
He put down the paper and leaned back. He found himself staring at the ceiling fighting off his own tears. Men don’t cry, he told himself.
He knew it was time to break the cords of silence that had been choking their relationship for the past month. If she only knew how her pain cut to the core of his heart, she would understand why he just couldn’t look at her.
He eased himself out of the chair and as he stood up he looked at the stairs that led to the upper level of their home. He knew she would be a mess. He knew she had every right to be. The situation was neither of their faults.
He wiped the tears away making sure there were no traces and began what would be even a more painful moment for them. He had to tell her that it was time to face reality, together.
As he reached the top of the stairs he stopped and stood there for a moment, listening for any sounds that she might have calmed down. Nothing.
Placing his hand upon the knob of their bedroom door, he turned it ever slowly until he knew that in a moment he would be standing in their room and she would be waiting for him to do what he should have done a month ago. Be a man.
He saw her lying across the bed with her face buried in a pillow. He didn’t hear the slight hint of tears still flowing so he went over and slipped into the bed next to her. He reached out and slowly placed his arm around her waist and pulled himself close. His voice a whisper but he knew she was listening.
“We might lose the house, but we still have each other. We will get through this together. I know it hurts, I understand it’s painful but the reality of the situation calls for us to look at other options. Know that I love you and that I will always be here, house, furniture or not.”
Jenna took a deep breath, finally she felt like the sun was shining.
About the Author:
Marian L. Thomas, reared in Chicago but lives with her biggest-supporter—her husband and their spoiled but playful dog, Winston in Atlanta, Georgia. Her debut title, Color Me Jazzmyne, went on to become an Amazon Best-Seller and was ranked as one of the " Top 100 Books"
- 1st Qtr 2010 by the Sankofa Literary Society Review.
Marian welcomes the release of her second book, My Father's Colors-The Drama-Filled Journey of Naya Monà Continues on March 1, 2011 to online retailers, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, Kindle and Nook. Be sure to get your copy today! It is sure to be another Best-Seller for the author as it takes you on the journey of four individuals that lead to one destination filled with betrayal, lies and shocking secrets.
The most anticipated sequel...has readers drooling from the mouth!
In The Dirty Divorce-Part 1...the Sanchez family ended with a bang. Lisa, Rich, and Denie all fought treacherously to escape a harsh death sentence.
Only time will tell who had the heart to survive.
The Dirty Divorce 2 starts off with drama and violence as Rich learns of his son, Juan dominating an industry where he used to be top dog. After grinding all his life, the fast money and numerous women land Rich in a place where his only son has turned against him. For the first time in Rich's life, money can't solve the problem....and it certainly can't keep the ruthless, Renzo off his ass. Just when Rich thinks Lisa will take all in their final Divorce proceeding, his life may soon be ending too...Beware!!
Excerpt: The Dirty Divorce by Miss KP
WARNING: this excerpt is geared toward adult readers. The content is provocative and leads to a very mature discussion.
My husband was the finest thing in the city. His father was Columbian and his mother was Black, but with more of his father’s features, he was just the right mix. His tall stature and his lean but muscular build gave him power when he entered any room. His warm, brown complexion and thick, curly hair had many people mistaking him for a Dominican, and women were definitely weak for his dimples. He was definitely the type of man that you had to keep interested. Rich was “The Man” in D.C., with plenty of money and clout in the eighties and nineties.
An entrepreneur at heart, Rich owned
T-shirt stores, Laundromats, a few small car lots, but where most of his legal money came from was his bar, Bottom’s Up. Rich had old money, but his swagger still gave the young dudes a run for their money. We were definitely financially stable. He was the most wanted man in the streets by both the Feds and the chicks. That was just how it had always been. Many had tried, but none had succeeded.
After finally getting out of the tub, I wrapped myself in a towel, then waltzed to my dresser and pulled out my red lace La Perla bra and thong set. Our wedding photo on the dresser always made me smile anytime I started to feel insecure. With naughty thoughts on my mind, I figured I would give Rich a night cap after the birthday festivities. That’s if he didn’t reject me. He was known for doing that from time to time. His excuse, which sounded like a broken record, was that he was tired or had a stressful day. I wasn’t sure why he thought I believed that mess. Every woman knows that men never turned down a trip to the honey pot, not unless they were gay of course. Rich definitely wasn’t gay, but he was a cheater. Someone who’d been caught a countless number of times; so many times that I’d lost count.
Feeling refreshed, I put on my white terry cloth Juicy Couture robe and went back in the bathroom to do my hair. I’d been debating on cutting my hair forever because it was so long, falling past my breasts. However, the thought of how Rich would feel about me with a bob or a short pixie cut made me erase that thought immediately. He’d told me on countless occasions how women with short hair weren’t attractive. The last thing I needed right now was for him to think I wasn’t sexy. Pulling my hair up into a sleek ponytail with my custom-made, Tiffany diamond barrette Rich bought me years ago, I played with a few loose strands before I was finally satisfied.
Looking at myself in the mirror, my hazel eyes stared back at me. My high cheek bones and honey brown skin used to give me confidence, but now my self-esteem was low. I thought my beauty and innocence was enough that Rich would never cheat on me. Boy, did I have myself fooled.
I leaned over the sink then began washing my face with my Dr. Perricone facial cleanser when suddenly I heard a strange noise. I quickly stood up even though I couldn’t see anything, trying to figure out what it was. Maybe Denie and Rich came back, I thought.
“Rich!” I yelled out. When he didn’t respond, I called out his name again. “Rich!” There was complete silence. “Maybe I’m tripping,” I told myself.
Bending back down, I began rinsing my face with water then stood back up to grab a hand towel off the rack. After patting my face in several different areas, I finally looked in the mirror, and gasped at what I saw. My heart thumped. Chest pounded. Immediately, my brain told me it was really an extra set of eyes staring back at me. A shock of terror shot through my body. Who was this man with these big eyes filled with lust and what was he doing in my home? I didn’t even have time to scream before he put his left hand over my mouth and shoved a knife toward my throat.
“I always wondered how it would feel to hump Rich’s girl. Ummm, you smell so damn good,” he whispered in my ear in a seductive yet powerful tone. He smelled like a pack of Newports mixed with Armani cologne.
“What do you want from me?” I muffled through his black glove.
“Bitch, I want to destroy your husband’s life like he destroyed mine, and you’re gonna help me do it,” the intruder replied in a forceful, yet calm tone. “Now, cooperate with me and I’ll make this as easy for you as possible.”
Tears immediately streamed from my face. I was paralyzed with fear and couldn’t move. He pressed his body against me, squeezing my stomach against the porcelain sink. It felt as if he wanted to cut off my circulation. I began squirming, trying to get loose when he flung my body around to face him and then…he struck me...hard. So hard, I instantly fell to the floor. Hitting my head on the black and white ceramic tile was all I remembered, until...
SWIMMING THE GARDA is an irresistible murder mystery with a cultural twist. Audley Haffenden is a fresh new voice in the world of literary fiction whose writing has the ability to delightfully transport readers. He writes proudly and vividly of his homeland and its’ rich history and tradition in a way that makes you feel the cool breeze and smell the coconut cakes and calaloo. It will make you want to strongly consider Jamaica as your next travel destination.
Detective Oscar Calwell was at once a well-respected and highly-touted detective who was the envy of his peers. However, when a well publicized riot, that he had assumed command of, took a horrific turn and the ensuing internal investigation questioned his handling of the matter, Detective Calwell’s image was tarnished as was his standing in the department. So when redemption came in the form of being called on to investigate the high-profile murder of the daughter of a prominent judge, Calwell relished the opportunity to once again prove himself to his detractors and get in the good graces of his commanding officer.
As Calwell, and his partner Tenn Sang, begin their investigation, they interview local townspeople with connections to the dead girl and her father. We also learn more about the complicated life of Calwell through a series of flashbacks which reveal a difficult past that have left him with more questions than answers over the years. While trying to close his case, Calwell is learning that he may be up against far more than a murder, and that solving this case may in fact allow him to get clarity on his own past.
Set in the various cities and towns that make up the country of Jamaica, SWIMMING THE GARDA
introduces readers to a colorful and diverse cast of complex characters whose lives intersect in this riveting mystery. Exciting playwright and novelist Audley Haffenden’s distinctive writing style tells a story within a story with twists and turns to be found on every page.
Read an Excerpt
The phone rang an hour before daybreak. Before the call, Detective Calwell had his day all planned. It was his first day off in weeks. It was to be a whole day at the Hope Botanical Gardens. His plan was to catch the No. 6 bus at the main downtown terminal and make it a slow, easy ride north, via Hope Road to the Gardens. But the phone rang. It was his boss, the superintendent of detectives. "I'm sorry about this Calwell," the super began.
Superintendent, Jonathan Mitchell's confidential tone told Calwell the call was important. It had been some time since the super had spoken to him using that confidential tone.
Everyone in the department knew the meaning of that tone. It meant he had confidence in you, and was relying on you.... "We need you on this one, Calwell."
His words carried a message of reprieve. For almost three years he had waited to hear those words.
Three years earlier he had a well-earned reputation as Mitchell's golden boy.... All that changed after the York Street Affair, as Pinky Lindo's column in the Daily Gleaner called it; or, the York Street Mango War, as the people in Jamaica called it. Everything Calwell worked so hard to achieve went out the window after Pinky's column came out. However, that was in the past. The phone call told Calwell he was about to be given a second chance. It was the chance he'd been waiting for; his opportunity to come out of the wilderness and regain the super's bright light.
###
About the Author:
Audley Haffenden is a playwright and novelist born in Jamaica, West Indies. His works include Touissant: Angelwarrior of Haiti, Pushkin: A Poet’s Search for Honor and A Hedgehog Jumps the Moon. Audley lives and works in New York City.
Twenty-eight year old Kennedy Logan is gorgeous, educated, talented, and in love. Unfortunately, Drake Collins has other ideas about the true state of their relationship. Kennedy hopes to turn him around; Drake just wants to turn her out sexually. Kennedy is also searching for her biological mother, who gave her up at birth. She wants answers and she has tons of questions. The enormous weight of these predicaments leads to a failed suicide attempt.
Her overprotective and overbearing mother, Dorothy Logan, moves in with Kennedy and makes it her mission to get her daughter's life back in order. The first step is getting rid of Drake Collins once and for all, but that's easier said than done. Drake has no intentions of going anywhere. Kennedy's ever loyal and fun-loving best friend, Taylor, and her absentee father join forces to help support Kennedy in her time of need.
At her psychiatrist's advice, Kennedy uses writing as her therapy. She starts to keep a daily journal detailing the erotic circumstances and family drama that led up to her despair. Through very personal, funny, and graphic entries, readers will share her confessions. Brace yourselves for a very steamy journey!
Prologue True Confessions by Electa Rome Parks
(Erotic Fiction)
My reality is surreal and happens in super, slow motion. A nervous giggle escapes my chapped, dry and parched lips. I lick them to restore moisture. Then, there is utter, deadly silence. If I listen closely, I can hear my heartbeat beating away at an accelerated pace. My senses are heightened and I marvel over the brilliant, bold colors of my bedroom as I inhale my favorite fragrances, from their spot on my antique dresser, colliding into one another with their potent allure. Even my sense of touch is different somehow. Everything is magnified to the nth degree. It’s like I’m looking down at myself from a huge movie screen with surround sound as I ready myself for the big finale---the final shot and then fade to black.
I’ve never been good at saying goodbye, even on short, weekend trips. I keep the handwritten note short and sweet and pray to God that mother will understand, and hopefully, one day, forgive me.
I don’t mean to hurt her or cause her any fresh pain. I sincerely don't. I hope she understands that this isn't her fault, that I love her with all my heart and being. No matter what, that fact will never change. I’m so thankful and forever grateful that she chose me to be her daughter out of all the orphaned babies in the world. She chose me. I told myself over and over again that that made me special. I needed to feel special instead of unwanted and discarded.
I’ll miss mother the most, but the hurt I feel inside is too unbearable and indescribable. It is too painful for me to continue, day in and day out, with just a hollow emptiness that erodes and corrupts any happiness that briefly surfaces. The dawn of each new day only brings me more heartache and renewed memories. Some memories are like leeches. They latch on for dear life and slowly, ever so slowly, suck and drain all the blood, all the living out of you. You are left with just a shell of the old you and that's no way to survive. Not for me, anyway.
When they find me, I want it to look like I’m sleeping, peacefully. Just like Sleeping Beauty who only needed a handsome prince to kiss her and awaken her from the darkness that engulfed her. However, for me, there won't be a handsome, charming prince to wake me, save me, and ride off into eternity. All my so-called princes were monsters in disguise with their own hidden agendas that attempted to crush and stamp out my self-esteem. Yes, just blessed sleep awaits me.
I chose pills. I couldn’t subject mother to a messy, bloody scene that comes with slitting one’s wrists or shooting one's self. I refuse to take my final breath with that heavy on my heart. I don't think my heart could handle anything else weighing against it. As it is, I feel like I have three hundred pounds weighing me down. Crushing the life out of me.
As I settle myself comfortably on my queen-size bed, slowly pull the red, satin comforter up to my chin and stare at the full bottle of prescription pills carefully nestled in my right hand, I can’t imagine not waking up in the morning.
What will it be like to not see the rising sun? To not hear my alarm clock going off announcing it’s time to get ready for another day of work? Not hitting snooze to give myself another fifteen minutes? Not rushing to finish my morning rituals before I dash out the door and into rush-hour traffic? What will that feel like?
More important to me now, though, is will it hurt? I hope not. I have never been able to tolerate too much pain, physical, mental or emotional. Yet, that’s what Drake has caused me for the last year of my life. Pain. Intolerable suffering.
I only wanted to love him and for him to love me in return. Simple enough. Was that asking too much? My part of the equation was accomplished, effortless. Drake claimed he loved me, but he really didn’t. Probably never could. Didn't know how to love or receive it. After what happened last week, I know he didn’t. Yet, I gave him everything: my heart, my body, my soul. Now, I have nothing left to give myself. I'm empty inside.
As tears slowly flood my weary eyes and blur my vision, I look around my cozy bedroom for the last time. Ever. It used to be one of my favorite rooms in my small two bedroom, one bath apartment. There was nothing better than lighting several fragrant candles, drinking a little white wine and cozying up with a good romance novel. Yes, that was heaven. Simple things excite me. Always have. Watching a sunrise or sunset, waking up to birds chirping in the treetops, walking hand in hand through the park with the one I love, all these things brought me great joy.
Mother will have to understand. I left her a note, propped up on the nightstand, in full view, that explains how much I love her and daddy. What will she think when she can’t reach me tonight? I would love to hear her soothing, loving voice one last time. Yet, I know I wouldn’t be able to go through with my plan if I did. I’d give away my intentions over the phone or mother would pick up on my foul mood and that would be that. I’d wake up another day with this aching, dull pain inside, tearing me apart, bit-by-bit. Pain that dulls and diminishes every ounce of my strength, all the way down to my pores.
Drake Collins. His name leaves a bitter taste on my tongue. Just the thought of him brings bile to the back of my throat. I will forever regret the day I met that man. If I could turn back the hands of time, do it all over again, I would have called in sick that day or run for the hills. I was just fine with my life the way it was. Sure, it wasn’t exciting or glamorous, but it was enough for me. Drake came with the charm, movie star looks, glitz and high drama and reeled me right in like a bass caught at sea. I gladly jumped into his net.
I say a silent prayer of forgiveness as I place one, then two colorful pills on my tongue and swallow dry. I didn't think of getting a glass of water. I can't think. The lump in my throat quickly diminishes. There’s no turning back now. Just like there was no turning back when Drake turned me out. The countdown begins. Ten, nine, eight. . . I've lived a happy life. I have tons of good memories. I've treated others the way I wanted to be treated.
I hope this happens quickly. I steadfastly place three, four pills on my tongue and swallow again. Hot tears start to spill forth and stream down my cheeks as I realize the final result of my actions. Seven, six, five. . . It’s for the best. I need to stop the pain. Will he even miss me? Or will he just move on to his next victim? Will all this be in vain?
I guess I’ll never have that family now. The one I used to daydream and write about in my journal. The family with the almost perfect mommy and daddy and two kids, a boy and girl. The boy would be the oldest, and he'd look out for and protect his younger sister. They'd have cute, adorable names and they'd know they were wanted and loved and cherished by their parents. They'd never feel unwanted.
Four, three. . . I swallow a handful of pills this time. I've lost count as to how many I've digested. As spittle escapes from my mouth, I gag. I wipe the overflow away with the back of my hand and keep right on shoving pills in my mouth until the orange-brown medicine bottle is empty. I look inside, in awe, shake the bottle, and can’t believe the pills are gone so quickly. Just like the illusion of love. If you blink, you'll miss it.
I wonder if Drake even realizes how much I loved him? Now, I wait for blessed relief and peace to take away my hurt and pain. I’m so tired. Tired of loving the wrong men. Tired of giving my all, coming up empty, and getting absolutely nothing back in return. Good sex isn’t the end all to everything. Drake taught me that lesson.
Two, one. . . It won’t be long now. I faintly smile and lay back against my down pillow.
I welcome peace. In my mind, I start silently repeating Psalms 23. I shall walk through the valley of death; I shall fear no evil, for thou art with me. I’m so sleepy. I can barely keep my eyes open. I can feel myself giving in to the fog that slowly invades my mind. Maybe if I close my eyes for a few moments. Yeah, just rest them for a few minutes without seeing Drake’s face behind my heavy eyelids.
Suddenly, I feel lightheaded, like I’m floating on a big, fluffy white cloud, bouncing up and down, giddy with not a care in the world. This is a different sensation that I literally reach out my right hand to embrace and never let go of. Not a care in the world. Nothing matters but blessed, uneventful sleep. I close my tired, weary eyes as the countdown ends. Fade to black.
About the Author
Electa Rome Parks lives outside Atlanta, Georgia and is the best-selling author of six acclaimed novels, The Ties That Bind, Loose Ends, Almost Doesn't Count, Ladies' Night Out, These Are My Confessions (anthology) and Diary of a Stalker. Dubbed a "book club favorite," avid readers have embraced Electa's true to life characters that tackle prevalent and heavy hitting issues that take them on an emotional roller
coaster.
The self-proclaimed Queen of Real, Electa has been a frequent guest on radio shows, nominated for many industry awards and interviewed by numerous newspapers and national magazines. Electa is currently following her passion and working on her next novel and first screenplay.
Determined to prove herself to her siblings and her boss, Darlene Cunningham has made a name in the exciting, sometimes dangerous world of criminal law. When Darlene travels to Memphis in pursuit of a witness, the Maryland attorney doesn't expect to be under the surveillance of the rugged Tennessee cop who sets off sensual sparks from the moment they meet.
It's a one-two punch straight to his heart when the sultry beauty walks into the house Mike Raines is staking out. He can't let Darlene compromise his investigation. And he can't let her go. His desire is tempting the detective to break a few laws of his own—like the one that says never mix business with pleasure.
But how can he resist the passionate woman who has changed his life? And whose love he'll risk any danger to claim?
Featured Book Passion's Price - Read an Excerpt
When attorney Darlene Cunningham made up her mind, she rarely ever changed it. And that had created some problems for her and her family. As the youngest partner at Myrtle, Coppersmith & Cunningham LLP, Darlene usually got the least promising and least interesting cases assigned in the three-person law firm.
But her job as a defense attorney meant everything to her. Even the smallest detail of the most mundane case got her professional juices flowing. Take for instance her current case. She had to force herself not to get too excited about it. There was something suspicious about her client. Something wasn't right about the burglary case, and it was driving her crazy.
And then a witness had come forward and volunteered to testify on her client's behalf. It all seemed too convenient, she thought. It just didn't add up, and Darlene was determined to find out why.
That's why Darlene had decided to fly down to Memphis and re-interview the witness. Though her partners didn't think it was worthwhile for Darlene to travel all that way just to nail down the facts in the case, Darlene disagreed.
And so here she was in Memphis, trying to locate the alibi witness, the only witness who could testify that her client, Albert Frank, was somewhere else at the time the crime took place. A very convenient witness who had very inconveniently vanished without a trace.
Darlene landed at Memphis International Airport, exhausted after having transferred twice on the trip from Baltimore. Having refused the peanuts and pretzels offered on the plane, she was hungry and a bit on edge. She'd never been to Memphis before, and the intensity of the heat and humidity surprised her, adding to her discomfort.
She checked into the famous Peabody Hotel—known for its duck march through the lobby—and called room service for a pulled-pork sandwich and iced tea. She unpacked while she waited for her food to arrive. After she'd eaten, Darlene once again tried to contact Frank's alibi witness at the number she'd been given. To her disappointment, she got no answer, not even voice mail.
With no word from her witness, she struck out the next morning to check on her client's story about where the witness lived. She took a cab to the address he'd given her in an upscale neighborhood in a cul-de-sac bordering Memphis and Collerville. She would have expected just about any neighborhood other than the quiet, pristine homes that screamed old-money wealth and power. Less sure of herself now, she knocked on the door, since she had not seen a doorbell.
"Come in," a slender gray-haired man in a black suit, white shirt and black tie said with a gracious smile. "Not many people come here these days." He spoke haltingly, and she decided that he was part of the household staff, a fair assumption given the neighborhood. "Have a seat," the man said as he gestured toward what she discovered was an elegant living room.
"Thank you. This heat is almost unbearable," Darlene said to fill the awkward silence. She used a tissue to wipe her forehead.
"Yes, it is," the man said. "Would you care for some sweetened iced tea? I made it a few minutes ago. If you're uncomfortable, I can turn up the air conditioner."
She leaned against the back of a tufted velvet chair and looked at the man. "Thank you, but I don't care for tea, and the air-conditioning is fine. This is a beautiful house, but it must be very old. No one seems to build these kinds of houses anymore." Small talk was something she hated, but she had to engage the man in conversation if she was to learn anything about her client.
"Yes, it's old, all right. My grandfather built it. But I renovated it from roof to cellar about twenty-five years ago. Sure you wouldn't like some tea or iced coffee?"
"No thank you. I was given this address and was told a young man, an alibi witness, lived here. But I see I was wrong, so I'd better be going," Darlene said, somewhat surprised that the old man lived in the home. "Thanks for your hospitality."
"I wish you wouldn't go," he said as she reached for the doorknob. "I've enjoyed your company. I don't get much company anymore."
"I'm sorry," she said as she opened the door. She turned to leave, only to find her exit blocked. She looked up into the eyes of a six-foot-three-inch boulder.
"Excuse me. I was j-just leaving," she stammered, taken aback by her sudden encounter with this immovable object.
"You aren't going anywhere," he said.
"Would you please get out of my way," Darlene said, letting him know that she was not easily intimidated.
The man put his hand in the inside pocket of his jacket, took out his badge and flashed it. "I'm Detective Michael Raines of the Memphis Police, and you don't leave this house until I say so."
Darlene looked him in the eye. "Really? I thought all the bullies in uniform were in Baltimore. Apparently Tennessee has some, too. How interesting! Now, would you please move aside? I have business to take care of."
He raised an eyebrow. "Go right ahead. Maybe you can walk through me."
She stared at him, seeing him as if for the first time. Something flickered in his light brown eyes, and she responded, unable to do otherwise. She told herself to get out of there. But she stood rooted to the spot. His eyes said he would never release her. She shook her head as if to break the spell he had cast over her.
"I'm Attorney Darlene Cunningham, and you have no reason to keep me here. If you don't let me pass, I'll sue you, the city of Memphis and the state of Tennessee," she said, her mild manner dissolving into anger.
His facial expression didn't change one bit. Realizing that belligerence would get her nowhere with Detective Raines, she decided to switch tactics.
"You haven't read me my rights, and you have to do that if I'm under arrest." Her voice took on a taunting tone.
"You are not under arrest, Ms. Cunningham. You are being detained."
She leaned her head to the side in what she knew he'd take as a challenge. "What's the difference?" she said, clearly losing patience.
"Very funny, Ms. Cunningham, but you may as well have a seat, because you cannot leave this house until I say so."
Darlene turned to the old man. "You didn't tell me your name."
"My name is Boyd Farmer. Have a seat. At least it's comfortable in here."
"Is this guy your son? Oh, sorry," she said before Boyd could respond. "You're too nice to have such an arrogant, obnoxious son. I really need to go."
"I'm sorry," Boyd said. "He isn't going to let you go."
She whirled around and glared at Michael Raines, and for her trouble she felt a peculiar thudding in the region of her heart. "At least I deserve to know why I'm being detained," she said. "What did I do?" Realizing that her tone would only make him more adamant, she switched tactics again. "You're unlike any detective I've ever met."
"What do you mean by that?" His tone was definitely not friendly.
"Oh," she said, tossing her hair to the side. "I mean, aren't police officers supposed to protect and serve?"
Boyd's laughter filled the room, but she avoided looking in his direction. Instead she focused on Michael Raines.
"Yeah," he said. "Now, sit down and let's cut the comedy."
Darlene did not like taking orders from a stranger, even one with a badge. She didn't move. "You don't look stupid," she told him. "You have to tell me why you're holding me here. It's the law. Tell me why I'm being detained, or I'm leaving." She tried to move past him.
He grabbed her shoulders and glared at her. "What are you doing here?"
She twisted her shoulders and moved away from him. "I'm trying to get information that I hope will help my client's case."
"You'll have to prove that to me. This house has been under surveillance, and neither you nor anyone else can leave here. Get it?"
She'd have to come up with a different excuse. Getting back to her office in Maryland was paramount. The other partners already considered her trip to Memphis little more than a wild-goose chase, and if they discovered her present predicament… She didn't want to think of their reaction.
"I have to get back to my hotel," she said.
He folded his arms across his broad chest and smiled, giving evidence that he could be charming when it suited him. "Oh, so I gather you plan to leave Memphis."
"No, as a matter of fact I'm staying at the Peabody," she said.
"Really?" he said. "I'm sure it won't be a problem for you to stay here."
"Now, look here, you," she said, with all the softness of a wildcat about to pounce. "You're going to." She stopped. His beautiful eyes twinkled like flashing lights, and she could see his difficulty in restraining his laughter.
"You're not one bit funny, and I'll have the last laugh."
At that point, Boyd brought the tea along with a brioche and jam. "This should make you comfortable." She thanked him. "Detective Raines doesn't like tea, and I don't have any more coffee," he said.
"How long has he been here?" Darlene asked Boyd, pointing to Michael.
"He's been here two weeks. That's why I don't have any more coffee. He's practically a coffee addict."
She took a few sips of tea and looked at Michael. "Coffee addict, eh? I'm glad to have at least some evidence that you're human."
Something akin to pain flickered in his eyes, and she wished she could retract her words. It wasn't his fault that she'd stumbled into a house that was under surveillance. He was doing his job. Maybe if she appealed to his decency, he'd let her go.
"If I'm stuck here for any length of time, I'll lose my case." She told herself that she wouldn't beg, but that had sounded very much like a plea. She observed him carefully to see his response.
"But how do I know you've told me the truth? You could be the person I've spent the last few weeks looking for."
"Oh, come on," she said, her attitude inching toward aggressiveness again. "Anybody can look at me and see that I'm not a burglar."
He looked toward the ceiling as if begging for mercy. "Another statement like that and I'll have proof that you're not a lawyer."
"I am, and I have to be in court Monday morning. If I don't show up, I'll be in contempt."
"I can take care of that. Give me your client's name and the case number. I'll take care of the problem right now."
"No, thank you. I don't want any help from you."
His quick shrug let her know what he thought of her response.
"You're a heartless man." "If you say so."
Darlene was already mad with herself. She decided to switch gears one more time, hoping that a different tactic might soften him up. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself for doing this to an innocent person," she chided. "You could ruin my life."
Boyd walked over to where Darlene and Michael stood at loggerheads. "Darlene… I hope you don't mind if I call you Darlene. Wouldn't you like to freshen up a bit? There's a lovely guest room and bath upstairs, and if you're going to be here for a while, you're welcome to use it."
She could see that Boyd wanted to lower the tension between them, so she smiled and patted his arm. "Thanks. That would be lovely."
"Leave your pocketbook and that briefcase down here," Michael said. "And don't think you can use the phone up there. It's been disconnected. On second thought, I'll show you where the guest room is. Who knows what you'll try to do?"
Darlene whirled around and headed for the stairs, intent upon finding the room herself, but he managed to move slightly ahead of her. "This way," he said, turning left at the top of the stairs.
At the bedroom door, she tossed her head back, sending her hair flying around her face.
A grin spread over his face. "Don't even think about it. That's a thirty-foot drop. You're clever enough to know that if you jumped, you'd hurt yourself. Besides, every window in this house is locked."
Slouched against the doorjamb, Michael stared down at her. Then his gaze shifted from her eyes down to her lips and stayed there. His light brown eyes darkened. His nostrils flared, and he sucked in his breath.
"I don't need you to chaperone me while I go to the bathroom," she challenged.
Not a muscle in his face moved. "Why don't you say what you really mean? Darlene, I could have you thrashing with passion one minute and handcuff you the next."
"I don't believe you," she said, moving toward him.
He folded his arms across his chest. "You're reckless, but I'm not. You're ready to do something stupid right now, and you haven't given a second thought to the consequences."
How many times had she heard those very words from her family? As usual, she ignored the advice. "What consequences?" she asked. "You're a cop, and you're obligated to behave like one."
His laugh was barely more than a groan. "I'm also a man. And since I'm a cop, when it's your word against mine, mine carries more weight. Get in there, wash your face or whatever else you plan to do and stop testing me. If I decide to take you up on your flirtations, you'll remember it for a long time."
Sylvia Masters is a hot fifty-two year old widow and CEO of The Masters Investment Group. After her husband passed, her focus turned to raising their three children and getting the company her husband started ranked among the Fortune 500.
Lieutenant Julian Reynolds is on the scene to inform her of the murder of her former fiancée, Addison Lockwood. When the Lieutenant goes to the Masters’ home to question Sylvia he is blown away by her beauty.
Her looks and strong personality inspire Lieutenant Reynolds to solve the case and pursue the woman of his dreams.
When Sylvia offers the Lieutenant a cup of coffee their hands touch and their eyes lock. After a tumultuous beginning, Julian summons up the courage to ask Sylvia to dinner. Problem: Julian is ten years younger and Sylvia isn’t interested in being labeled a Cougar.
Refusing the Lieutenant’s invitation, Sylvia is flattered that this much younger man who is also fine is obviously interested in her. The undeniable chemistry is hard to resist. What would her family say?
Can Sylvia have a future with Julian?
Excerpt from Chapter 1 Captured Hearts
“Where is she?” The young woman looked at her watch and sighed. “She should have been here by now. Where is she?”
“Lacy!”
“What!”
“You need to give the carpet a rest. You’re going to take unnecessary pounds off that five foot ten inch model thin body.”
“Ha ha—funny. I can’t help it.” She frowned and folded her arms. “Where is she?”
“I don’t know. She’ll be here.”
“How can you be so calm Alexis? A man has been murdered and our mother is no where to be found.”
“A man?” The dark haired beauty shrugged her shoulders as she turned up her glass.
“You know what I mean.” Lacy looked out the window, “Mother could at least call us. Why hasn’t she called?”
“You know Mother; she answers to no one.”
“I can’t stand not knowing if she’s all right. Did she say anything to you at work?”
“The only thing she said was she had an appointment, she would be leaving early and she’d see me at home tonight.”
Lacy spoke softly. “She’s not even answering her phone.”
“Maybe she hasn’t heard.”
“I hope not. I don’t know if she was really over Addison.”
“She’ll be fine. Mother always lands on her feet.”
Lacy frowned as she stopped pacing long enough to turn and look at Alexis. “You say that with such malice.”
“No—just stating the simple truth. You forget we’re talking about Sylvia Masters. She’s one of the most powerful and most admired women in Northern Virginia. She didn’t get to the top by being timid.” Alexis smiled as she poured another glass of wine and drank until her glass was empty.
Lacy stared when she picked up a bottle of chardonnay and refilled her glass. “Alexis, that’s your third glass of wine.”
“And ….”
“You’re not a drinker. It’s obvious you’re worried too.”
“Don’t be ridiculous Lacy.” Alexis stretched out her arms as she slid back on the sofa and crossed her long shapely legs. She felt the turbulent movement in the pit of her stomach as she thought of where her mother was. What if she had found out about Addison? Would she really be okay?
“All that wine couldn’t be good for that curvy figure,” Lacy said. “It will go to your middle and you’ll lose that tiny waistline you’re so proud of.”
“Alright Dr. Masters, I thought you were studying to be a Psychologist. Are you turning to internal medicine too?” Alexis turned up her glass and stared at her baby sister.
“Alexis—really.”
Alexis laughed. “Lacy you’re shivering are you cold?”
“No, I’m fine.” She rubbed her arms and tilted her head back.
Alexis looked at her glass and sat it down. Lacy sat down but a minute later she bounced from her seat and paced the floor again. The only other sound in the room was a slight ticking sound that came from the clock that sat on the intricately carved mahogany mantle nearby. The two young women were determined to wait for Sylvia to come home. They wanted reassurance that she was okay.
Lacy looked at her watch. “It’s after six. If she left work early for her meeting how long do you think it would last?”
“I don’t know, she didn’t say much. Maybe she just decided to go have dinner or go shopping.”
“I doubt it.”
“Well at least the weather has cooled down. The humidity was a killer.”
“Alexis.”
“Sorry, poor choice of words. I still can’t believe someone would kill Addison”
“I know. They didn’t say very much on the news. Oh this is so sad.” Lacy held out her trembling hands.
“Lacy, you’ve got to calm down.”
“I’m trying.” She sat down and let out a long deep breath.
The doorbell rang and they looked at each other. Lacy stretched her eyes. They both walked to the door. Alexis opened it and smiled.
“Oh Marcus,” Lacy breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’m sorry if I startled you ladies. I take it your mother isn’t home yet.”
“No,” Lacy said, “and we haven’t heard from her either.”
“I’m glad you stopped by. You’re always here when our family needs you. How are you Marcus?”
“Fine Lacy, how are you doing?”
“Very well thank you.”
“Come on in let’s talk,” said Alexis. “We need to catch up,”
“You’re looking very beautiful Alexis. Your hair is getting long.” Marcus tried to distract them. “Are you going to cut it again?”
“No, I think I’ll let it keep growing.”
“You’re looking more and more like Sylvia every day—long hair or not.” He turned to Lacy, “you are still the beautiful female version of your father,” he smiled. “Are you stressing?”
“Alexis thinks I’m worrying for nothing.”
“I’m sure she’s right. Sylvia will be okay,” Marcus said. “I’ve known your mother for many years and there is one thing I know for sure. Sylvia Masters is a strong woman capable of handling herself in any situation. Just try to think positive and relax.”
“I know Marcus but if you really felt that way why are you here?” Lacy asked.
“Lacy; that’s cold,” said Alexis.
The three of them walked into the library, Marcus poured himself a drink and they sat passing the time. Marcus was able to distract them as they waited on Sylvia.
Thirty minutes later Marcus sprang to his feet and stood at attention. He adjusted the jacket of his dark gray Armani suit as he watched a shapely dark haired woman stroll into the room.
Alexis and Lacy turned around.
Sylvia Masters stopped just inside the door way; she raised her brows when she looked at the concerned tightlipped faces in the room. All three pairs of eyes stared back at her.
“Mother! Thank goodness.” Lacy exhaled a long sigh of relief. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine Lacy. Why do you ask? Why is everybody looking so glum?” She frowned when she locked eyes with her devoted friend. “And why are you here Marcus?”
He sat his drink down and walked toward Sylvia. “Where have you been?”
“Out.” Sylvia snapped as her brows drew closer together.
Marcus knew that response was typical of Sylvia. She didn’t owe him an explanation, friend or not.
“Did you hear?” Marcus looked at Sylvia. “Addison Lockwood was found dead earlier this evening.”
Sylvia’s eyes popped, “Addison? Dead?” She froze, chills ran through her body as her Louis Vuitton pursed dropped to the floor.
“Yes Mother, it’s true.” Alexis pushed back her long dark hair out of her face. We were concerned about you because we didn’t want you to hear about Addison from some stranger on the street.”
“We were both concerned you may find out before you got home and how you’d take it if you did,” Lacy said.
Sylvia’s limp body nearly collapsed as Marcus caught her by her waist and held her up; he walked her to her favorite chair. She took a deep breath as she slumped in her cushy oversized throne that sat in a corner of the library positioned so she could see everything that went on around her.
She placed her hand over her forehead. “That can’t be,” she frowned. “I don’t believe it. What happened?”
“We don’t have the details,” Marcus answered, “but it’s all over the news.” A Lieutenant Reynolds gave a brief interview to the media. According to his statement, Addison was found lying on his living room floor. Apparently he was struck in the back of his head.”
Lacy sat on the ottoman by her mother’s chair and squeezed Sylvia’s trembling hand as she looked at her. “Mother, I was so worried about you. You should have phoned. We tried to call you.”
Sylvia let out a deep breath as she released her hand from Lacy’s grasp; she stroked Lacy’s cheek as she looked into her gentle brown eyes. “I’m not accustomed to phoning in my whereabouts and I won’t start.” She sighed and sat up straight to regain her composure.
The sheer curtains that hung from the tall windows filtered the sun that peered through a small opening as it slowly slipped away.
###
About Sherlyn Powell Sherlyn Powell is an Author, Speaker and Publisher. She majored in Business Management at Northern Virginia Community College. Although Powell has a business background she has always loved writing. Her vivid imagination led her to creative writing classes to craft her highly praised debut novel, Something Desirable, released in May 2008. Sherlyn has been called an extraordinary writer. Her second novel, Captured Hearts is now available and has already gotten her one of the most rewarding five star reviews from one reviewer.
Sherlyn loves family and has strong faith in God. She writes about strong independent women, family loyalty and friendships. Creating believable characters and positive images her readers can identify with while maintaining a page turner is her ultimate goal when she writes.
A native of Virginia, Sherlyn always dreamed of being an author and a playwright. She dreams of seeing her characters come to life one day. She remembers a reading library her grandmother bought her when she was a child. Growing up she spent a lot time reading stories ranging from nursery rhymes, to Tom Sawyer to great literature like To Kill a Mockingbird. She also enjoys non-fiction, loves true stories and documentaries.
Though writing is her passion since childhood, she enjoys traveling, networking and photography.
Powell is the mother of two and resides in Virginia with her husband. She is a member of James River Writers, National Association of Professional Women, The Riverside Writers and The Virginia Writer's Club.
Contact Sherlyn via her website www.sherlynpowell.com.
Excerpt: Justice Older than the Law by Katie McCabe
Justice Older than the Law: The Life of Dovey Johnson Roundtree
by Katie McCabe and Dovey Johnson Roundtree
Winner of the Association of Black Women Historians’ 2009 Letitia Woods Brown Memorial Book Prize for best publication on an African American woman
» AUDIO SNEAK PEEK FROM THE BOOK
Katie McCabe reading from Chapter One, "Walking Unafraid," about Dovey Roundtree's courageous Grandma Rachel, the woman Dovey calls "the greatest warrior I ever knew." Listen here now:
http://www.audioacrobat.com/sa/WC3S5tj4
Justice Older than the Law by Katie McCabe and Dovey Johnson
Roundtree is the story of pioneering Army veteran, attorney and minister Dovey Johnson Roundtree, co-authored by Katie McCabe. This is a love song to the black family and a celebration of the eternal values that make it possible to transcend our pain and limitations. Dovey Roundtree is an icon, and her story is an inspiration to all families.
Dovey Johnson Roundtree is a retired lawyer, an Army veteran, and an A.M.E. minister. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. Katie McCabe is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in the Washingtonian Magazine, Baltimore Magazine, and Reader's Digest, among others. Her National Magazine Award-winning article on black medical legend Vivien Thomas was the basis for the HBO film Something the Lord Made, winner of three Emmys and a 2005 Peabody Award.
Chapter One, "Walking Unafraid," about Dovey Roundtree's courageous Grandma Rachel, the woman Dovey calls "the greatest warrior I ever knew."
Excerpt: Chapter One: Walking Unafraid
Every evening, in the tiny kitchen of the old frame shotgun house where I grew up in Charlotte, my Grandma Rachel marked the day’s end by a ritual etched in my memory with a clarity that belies the eighty years since then.
She ceased to rush, as she did endlessly in the hours between dawn and darkness, and she commenced to draw water and lay out clean towels and mix an ointment she made of turpentine and mutton tallow. I would stand, quiet, watching her heat the water on the wood stove, pour it into a metal pan, then remove her stockings and hoist her skirts as she lifted her feet into the steaming bath.
Her feet were broken. They were gnarled and twisted and horribly misshapen, with the bones sticking out in strange ways. As she lifted them into the steaming water, she winced. And I would know, though she had spoken no word and given no sign, that all day long her feet had been paining her.
How frightened I was the first time I saw those poor broken feet. I was five years old, and my mother and my three sisters and I had just moved to my grandparents’ home after the death of my father, James Eliot Johnson, in the influenza epidemic of 1919. My grandmother had scooped us up and taken us under her wing, whisking us from my parents’ house to the little parsonage where she lived with my Grandpa. All day long, she hovered over us…Like a tiny whirling dervish she moved, and so, when I first saw her grow quiet, I was startled.
Then I saw her feet, so large and misshapen they seemed to belong to another woman entirely, and I drew back, frightened. Every night after that, I’d look at her scarred, twisted feet, at the skin stretched taut over the jutting bones, and I’d want to ask her what had made them that way. But something in her silence warned me not to.
The day came, finally, as I was just beginning to mature into womanhood, when Grandma took me to her in private and spoke to me of what had happened to her feet.
A white man had broken them.
It had happened a very long time ago, Grandma said, when she was a young girl, just coming into womanhood herself…and she had seen the man watching her with a look that told her he meant to do her harm.
“The slave master,” she called him. He was the overseer on the farm near Henrietta, North Carolina, where her father worked, and when she spoke of what he had tried to do to her, a look of anguish crossed her face unlike any I had seen before or would see after.
“He was meanin’ to bother me, Dovey Mae,” she told me, in the delicate way she had of speaking about things sexual. “I ran and fought every way I knew how. And I hurt him. Then he grabbed hold o’ me and he stomped, hard as he could, on my feet – to keep me from runnin’ for good, he told me. But I kept on runnin.’”
“Wasn’t nothing to do but fight him, hard as I could,” she said. “He wasn’t goin’ to have his way with me.”
Grandma’s mother had wrapped her smashed, bleeding feet in cloth and rubbed them with the mutton tallow and turpentine ointment Grandma would use for the rest of her days. But the bones had been so crushed that her feet were forever misshapen, and so twisted that for a while she could not walk at all. When she did, it was with a swaying awkwardness that late at night became a limp.
And yet, for all of that, she had won. He had not, as she said, had “his way” with her.
I saw my Grandma Rachel fight everything with that same fierceness – poverty, sickness, injustice, and even despair. Like a mighty stream, her courage flowed through my childhood, shaping me as rushing water shapes the pebbles in its path.
Note: Excerpt used for promotional purposes. Permission given by University Press of Mississippi, Jackson, MS)
» Justice Older than the Law by Katie McCabe Purchase your copy today!
Hardcover: 288 pages
ISBN-10: 160473132X
Tahitian Pearl by Esauren Phyer From The Gritty Dune To An Oasis In The Sun
Explore the pages of this wonderful, witty, sometimes gritty novel.
Follow Naiyah Harland and her family through life's many challenges
(Infidelity, Deception and Much More... ) and see where they end up. If you know God is always around and will show up on our behalf - good, you won't be surprised.
If you don't - good, you'll be blessed. This story is one of redemption.
We find at times, Life to be a real messy mess. It is, has been or will be. There’s no escaping it.
We all experience on one level or another, the untidiness, disorder and dirt of life - Life’s Messes!
Some of us don’t mind the drama, trauma and maladjustment of the mess, but many of us recognize the need to be
“set free” therefore, realizing that in doing so, love wins.
Tahitian Pearl (from the gritty dune to an oasis in the Sun) is a compelling story of family drama, where the messes of life (infidelity, drugs and more) demonstrate how we judge, misjudge and drift.
However, grace and mercy can set us free and let love win. This book, because of its
multi-dimensional and complex characters is ideal for book clubs as it provides endless discussion possibilities.
About Esauren Phyer, author of Tahitian Pearl
Meet Long Island, New York native Esauren Phyer. She's a prolific writer of fiction, short, stories, newsletter bylines and personal journaling. She graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and holds a degree in sociology and a certification in Christian counseling. By day she's an information technology specialist and a creative writer by night.
Ms. Phyer, an avid reader for most of her life, dreamed of becoming a published and well read author long before her Humanities
Professor at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania suggested she do something with her writing over thirty years ago.
Ms. Phyer is committed to living free, free from other people’s opinions, free from drama, free from sickness, free from her own prejudices and hang-ups and has written a novel that is replete with messages of
“setting oneself free,” particularly when we find ourselves immersed in the grit and messes of life.
Her book, Tahitian Pearl, focuses on a young woman named Naiyah, whose life is fraught with personal traumas designed to keep her from the joy and blessings God has for her. The moment Naiyah is born, her grandmother knows that God is going to work in her life in a special way, but the enemy of God has other plans.
Tahitian Pearl 5 Star
Amazon Reader Review
I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Naiyah. Your book gave me reason to pause and evaluate my life
experiences and my reactions to them. After reading the book I had dinner with a friend who was having a personal crisis.
She expressed how she was trying to put her faith in the Lord and then the words from your book just started to spew from my mouth.
I told her to quit trying to give up the issue and just do it. Let the Lord take control of the situation and accept the direction that was presented to her.
After much discussion, she realized the error of her way of processing her situation and decided then and there that she would follow the Lord's lead.
Funny how there is this trickle effect in life, you affect readers who affect those around them.
You are the embodiment of following the direction the Lord has presented and for that I thank you.
-- Reviewed by Nancy - The Blonde One (Catonsville MD)
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About
the Author
Excerpt from Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe
Paige Donahue has always lived in her sister Camille’s shadow. When they were girls it was Camille who had the best grades, lots of friends, and--most importantly--their parents’ love. Paige, on the other hand, was left with nothing more than hand-me-downs and criticism, and no matter how hard she tried, she could never measure up to her sister’s standard.
Book Excerpt:
Lutishia
Lovely dishes up a decadent helping of love, lust, greed, and secrecy in this
riveting tale of a family's soul food dynasty... 
Saphire married Clay Matthews, a handsome, down to earth, and loyal man who
worships the ground her designer shoes walks on. But no matter how hard she
tries to love him, her heart yearns for another. 
My Father's Colors-The Drama-Filled Journey of Naya Monà Continues
, takes you on the journey of four individuals that lead to one destination filled with betrayal, lies and shocking secrets. 
Mothers are pulled in a million different directions while trying to give their kids fulfilling, productive, joyful childhoods. They mistake activity for happiness, and fill their kids heads with information when they ought to be feeding their souls instead. This is a book for mothers who yearn to find a balance in their own and their
children's lives. Through stories and suggestions, Katrina Kenison shares her insights into how to celebrate
life's quiet moments, softly reminding busy mothers to pause and remember the deep sense of well-being that comes from a listening ear, an open heart, and a quiet little space carved out of time.
With the publication of
Hiding in Hip-Hop, the controversial Essence bestselling expose that set the entertainment industry on its ear,
About Terrance Dean
Smart, sexy Victoria Small has come to the end of her year off—from men, that is. She's enjoyed her hiatus, the peace, quiet—and no unexpected interruptions. But now she's ready to have someone to come home to. And her timing is perfect, as not one, but two, handsome possibilities enter her life. . .
She’s
a savvy, successful real-estate agent with a quick wit, a low tolerance for BS,
and a gorgeous size-14 body. Despite her dream house, luxury car, and appetite
for life’s best—like fine dining and hot men—she seems to have her own
special talent for attracting players. Why do all of her ex-lovers belong in the
Losers Hall of Fame? 
"She passed a hard candy over her shoulder as though whatever was in the tiny wrapper was supposed to make it all better. I clutched the peppermint in my hand and buried my face in the hard leather seat while she explained what was going to happen to me. She promised that I'd be safe from then on." 
Bride and Groom Money Talk FAQ answers over 70 questions about money before marriage for brides and grooms. This book addresses how to talk about money, who should
manage marital finances, how to handle a future spouse bringing debt into the marriage and much more. This book can be purchased by brides and
grooms as well as family, friends or anyone in the wedding party to be given as a gift. This book can be used by engaged couples, newlyweds or
even couples that are married for some time. It is a much needed resource in the wedding industry. The book is available for purchase on Dr. Taffy Wagner's website at:
About the Author
Rain grapples with memories of a horrific past that leaves her far from unscathed. After witnessing her mother’s gruesome murder as a child, she is now left piecing together the fragments of her shattered psyche as an adult. Quickly, she is drowning in years of frustration and confusion with no promise of relief. Sinister visions and undying spirits haunt Rain relentlessly, driving her deeper into darkness and lunacy. Rain’s grandmother,
GiGi, tries her best to help Rain face the truth, urging her to confront her past, but the past is too painful—it’s easier to hide. 
Postal Blues by Nikki Coe
Rain, Snow, Sleet or Hail
by Nikki Coe
Darznik’s family moved to America from Iran when she was only three years old, and her knowledge of her family history is limited. At first discovery of the photograph, Jasmin's mother,
Lili, refuses to share any information. Months later, Jasmin receives the first of ten cassette tapes in which her mother reveals a wrenching hidden story of her family's true origins in Iran: her mother's troubled history of abuse and neglect, and a daughter she was forced to abandon in order to escape that life. The final tape reveals that her sister, Sara, is still living in Iran. 
About the Author
Two best friends test the limits of loyalty in a stirring new novel of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness.
Mia and Danielle had vowed to stay best friends for life-- until one indiscretion destroyed that bond forever. Twenty years later, tragedy reunites them in an unexpected way. Now they must confront the past, discover its untold truths, and rebuild a friendship destined to endure.
About the Author
Minnie E. Miller is a seasoned writer by age, not by the number of books written. She’s 74 years old and has written three books. Two more are pending. She retired in 1999 from the Office of the Mayor of San Francisco, California. She traveled to U.S. cities and abroad returning to her native home in Chicago’s Hyde Park community.
“Whispers from the Mirror” is her latest novel.
Sleepless
Nights, the first released of the four volume Drew Smith Series, is loosely based on DC’s infamous 2003 Colonel Brooks Tavern murders. The protagonist in Norwood Holland’s new novel is like no other before.
Chemist Catt Cason is about to find out
in Catt Chasin' (Urban Christian/Kensington Publishing). Catt is a brainy and beautiful chemist, who takes being labeled the "cute fat girl" in stride. She refuses to let her weight, scheming co-workers, or anything else stand in her way. Catt has it all...except a love to call her own. 
NEW RELEASE IN SHELTON HEIGHTS SERIES!
My Life My Soul, Surviving, Healing And Thriving After An Abusive Relationship is an honest and graphic true story of Ivette Attaud’s dating relationship as a teen and how it quickly manifested into a destructive, violent and psychologically abusive marriage.
Ivette puts a face on domestic violence as she describes how she was able to break the emotional and psychological chains of her abuser.
Straight-laced Savannah Blake’s world is turned upside down when she finds her dad, Major Blake, shot on his lawn. Before he dies, he gives her a few clues to the identity of his killer. His dying request is “Protect your sisters.” Montana and Asia are the only family Savannah has left, and she will fight to the end to save them. The pain of losing their father has Savannah obsessed with finding his killer.
Lorene Cary
the critically acclaimed author of Black Ice, Pride, and The Price of a Child
offers this deeply moving story of a family’s challenge to reunite, understand the truth about its past, and secure its legacy.
Alone . . . Massachusetts State Trooper Bobby Dodge watches a tense hostage standoff unfold through the scope of his sniper rifle. Just across the street, in wealthy Back Bay, Boston, an armed man has barricaded himself with his wife and child. The man's finger tightens on the trigger and Dodge has only a split second to react . . . and forever pay the consequences.
Genova delivers a poignant novel about a busy, vibrant woman in her 30s who has a car accident, leaving her to deal with a crippling disorder called left
neglect. Sarah Nickerson is like any other career-driven supermom in
Welmont, the affluent Boston suburb where she leads a hectic but charmed life with her husband Bob, faithful nanny, and three children—Lucy, Charlie, and nine-month-old
Linus. 
Set in Washington, DC and the US island territory of St. Croix, Tithe of Blood is the coming of age story of Hope Taylor. Growing up in Contentment, a small, close-knit community in St. Croix, Hope is a feisty, energetic, beauty who develops an early interest in public service. In high school, she is valedictorian and president of her senior class and voted most likely to succeed by her peers. 
With the millions she received after divorcing her faithless tycoon husband, Bernadine Brown saved the historic town of Henry Adams, Kansas, from financial ruin and found loving homes for five needy children. Now there are other "projects" crying out for rescue.
From a master of suspense comes a chilling new novel that explores the dangers lurking closer than you think. Because even in the perfect family, you never know what is going on behind closed doors...
Secrets
of a Kept Woman is a urban lit story that deals with women's relationships
in friendship and in love. Shayla, Rhonda and Gladys have been best
friends since high school and have always been the strength each other needs,
but when one woman decides that a man is more important than friendship,
everything goes to pieces. Is this friendship one dark secret away from
shattering it into a thousand pieces? They say the truth shall set you free --
but will it? 
Dominique Falcon, little sister of Daniel Falcon, once a gorgeous model, is an intelligent, wealthy socialite—and a total failure when it comes to love. After falling for a charmer who was after her money, she’s decided to set some ground rules for romance, starting
with: Don’t be richer than your man. But that was before she met Trent Masters, a ruggedly sexy truck driver who drives her crazy…
About Francis Ray
Undeniable by Francis Ray
Twice the Temptation
by Francis Ray 
Trouble Don't Last Always
by Francis Ray
Niquole Wright seems to have it all; a loyal and devoted husband, two children and a rising record label that she dedicates more time to than her family. Everything is perfect except for one thing...her husband Germaine. She has run her course with him and he needs to be replaced. 
Meet Author Carla S. Pennington
Soul, satisfying sex is usually the ultimate weapon. For Diamond Robinson, it may turn out to be a serious problem. On the surface, she may appear to be your average beauty, living next door, but Diamond is full of deceit, mischief, and seduction.
Lacey leaves her high paying job, the New York social scene, and breaks her engagement to a successful but snobbish attorney to reclaim ancestral land on Martha’s Vineyard and build an equestrian camp to honor her Native American and African American heritage. She learns the property was sold to a local rancher for unpaid taxes. Using her savings, she purchases oceanfront property and livestock, hires a riding instructor from Texas, sight unseen, and prepares to win back her land by competing with the rancher in an equestrian contest at the end of the season.
Committed Detective Dwayne Booker is the go to guy when it’s time to solve the hardest cases. Son of a fallen decorated officer, he followed his father’s footsteps, despite his mother’s suicide after his father’s passing. When he’s assigned to a highly controversial case that happens to be the first murder of the New Year, it causes him to reevaluate his workaholic lifestyle and appreciate life more. 
Young, successful, and thriving, Shania and Greg have the type of relationship that most people only dream about. Greg enjoys working as a youth pastor at his church and making a difference in the lives of troubled teens. After receiving some unexpected news, however, Greg's manhood takes a devastating blow. 
Skylar
had everything a woman could hope for. She had the money, clothing, jewels and
the perfect man to finance it all. She was living in the lap of luxury, until it
all came crashing down after her boyfriend was murdered, during a drug deal gone
wrong. Skylar suddenly finds herself broke, hungry, and alone. Unable to fend
for herself, she leaves the world she once knew behind to start over in Atlanta
and reclaim the man that once got away...Brian. 
Have you ever been played? Most will say, yes, and just take the defeat on the chin, but not Zaria Hopkins. Life had already dealt her a bad hand landing her in a two-bedroom apartment with a roommate who thought she was a nut-case, and who desperately tried to get away from both her odd behavior and controlling ways. As luck would have it Zaria hooked up with Hardy, a sexy, suave piece of eye candy who laughed her out of her panties the first night then tried to tell her to forget it ever happened the next day. 
Snitch is a sexy urban tale that will make you think twice about who you can trust. It all begins with Ces’ar Lopez aka Drape, a savvy street hustler who thinks he’s on top of the world. He has no plans of relinquishing his crown as King Pen of the Streets; but the love of his life Diona has a different agenda. 
About VegasClarke 
Black Child to Black Woman is a 'live diary' experience that will grab your attention right from the start. Tara Walker speaks directly to the reader as she adds entry after entry into her Journal. She documents her experiences, her family life, her triumphs, as well as her interpretation of life and the world as she saw it. As she grows, so does the language and tone of the diary, which matches her maturity and speech patterns as the time passes. 
Jenna walked into the room with a frown on her face. Her countenance was full of worry and her eyes began to push forward the tears that had been building up within her for the past few days. She sat down on the worn-out brown sofa and let out a sigh that the whole house (if the walls were listening) could hear. 
About the Author:
SWIMMING THE GARDA is an irresistible murder mystery with a cultural twist. Audley Haffenden is a fresh new voice in the world of literary fiction whose writing has the ability to delightfully transport readers. He writes proudly and vividly of his homeland and its’ rich history and tradition in a way that makes you feel the cool breeze and smell the coconut cakes and calaloo. It will make you want to strongly consider Jamaica as your next travel destination.
Twenty-eight year old Kennedy Logan is gorgeous, educated, talented, and in love. Unfortunately, Drake Collins has other ideas about the true state of their relationship. Kennedy hopes to turn him around; Drake just wants to turn her out sexually. Kennedy is also searching for her biological mother, who gave her up at birth. She wants answers and she has tons of questions. The enormous weight of these predicaments leads to a failed suicide attempt.
Determined to prove herself to her siblings and her boss, Darlene Cunningham has made a name in the exciting, sometimes dangerous world of criminal law. When Darlene travels to Memphis in pursuit of a witness, the Maryland attorney doesn't expect to be under the surveillance of the rugged Tennessee cop who sets off sensual sparks from the moment they meet.
Sylvia Masters is a hot fifty-two year old widow and CEO of The Masters Investment Group. After her husband passed, her focus turned to raising their three children and getting the company her husband started ranked among the Fortune 500. 
Justice Older than the Law: The Life of Dovey Johnson Roundtree 
Explore the pages of this wonderful, witty, sometimes gritty novel.
Follow Naiyah Harland and her family through life's many challenges 
About Esauren Phyer, author of Tahitian Pearl 