Ambiance – After discovering her husband’s illegitimate child resulting from a lengthy affair, Ambiance’s world was torn in two. His untimely passing leaves her feeling she has been robbed of the chance to deal with the betrayal. Seeking to give herself a fresh start, she packs up and moves cross country to the West Coast. Finally pursuing her dreams as a business owner in the fashion world, she’s on top of the world, until the man who caused her to question her marriage comes knocking. Will he mend her broken heart, or will she cut all ties to her past?
Naomi – Dealing with empty nest syndrome, she discovers everything everyone ever said about her is true. She has no life. Embarking on a journey of self-discovery and entering the dating world after years of being alone, she’s unprepared for the games that lie in wait. Juggling her feelings between two very attractive men, she will soon learn that one is playing a very deceptive game.
Paige- Barely escaping a deadly snare created by her own devices, she is searching for healing and redemption. After two years of therapy, Paige is finally ready to face her demons. It won’t be as easy as it seems, when accusations are constantly launched at her, and people from her past continue to pop up. A lover from the past is not ready to let go, and she soon finds herself making similar choices from her past. Will she open her heart up to love and be loved, and will she be convinced to open her life to Christ?
Three best friends search for healing and deliverance from their emotional wounds in the arms of men, and the arms of a Savior.
Naomi – Dealing with empty nest syndrome, she discovers everything everyone ever said about her is true. She has no life. Embarking on a journey of self-discovery and entering the dating world after years of being alone, she’s unprepared for the games that lie in wait. Juggling her feelings between two very attractive men, she will soon learn that one is playing a very deceptive game.
Paige- Barely escaping a deadly snare created by her own devices, she is searching for healing and redemption. After two years of therapy, Paige is finally ready to face her demons. It won’t be as easy as it seems, when accusations are constantly launched at her, and people from her past continue to pop up. A lover from the past is not ready to let go, and she soon finds herself making similar choices from her past. Will she open her heart up to love and be loved, and will she be convinced to open her life to Christ?
Three best friends search for healing and deliverance from their emotional wounds in the arms of men, and the arms of a Savior.
My head was tossed back in passion as my body shivered all the way down to my toes. What was this man doing to me? I knew when I first met him that he would have the power to do things to my body I could never imagine before being with him. His strong, massive, dark hands encircled my waist and held me tight as I bucked, sliding up and down as if he were the pole and I was his private dancer.
Ambiance has ran hundreds of miles away to escape heartache and start anew. But no matter how fast she runs, she can't escape true love.
Ambiance has ran hundreds of miles away to escape heartache and start anew. But no matter how fast she runs, she can't escape true love.
How did I get here? That was the question I asked myself daily. I had even prayed, asking God where I should go from here. I was all alone and had no clue what to do with my life. Sure, I had a lucrative career as a CFO and a large home in Powder Springs. I drove a beautiful, navy blue Mustang GT convertible. But other than that, I was empty. My life was filled with material wealth and nothing sufficient other than that. And I knew that wasn’t His plan for my life.
Naomi's life revolved around her daughter. Now with Sasha gone off to college, Naomi is ready to define the woman she wants to be.
Naomi's life revolved around her daughter. Now with Sasha gone off to college, Naomi is ready to define the woman she wants to be.
I pulled into the driveway of my mother’s house and sat for a moment. I needed to have a talk with her, and I wasn’t sure I was emotionally strong enough to pull it off. For so long, I had used sex as an outlet for my pain. My lackadaisical attitude towards life had almost cost me mine.
Paige lives with constant reminders of the poor choices she made and the promiscuous behavior that defined her life. Now, she's ready to leave it all in the past and confront her demons. Will this woman who once shunned love embrace it, or will her inherent desires be her undoing?
Paige lives with constant reminders of the poor choices she made and the promiscuous behavior that defined her life. Now, she's ready to leave it all in the past and confront her demons. Will this woman who once shunned love embrace it, or will her inherent desires be her undoing?
Excerpt...
I pulled into the driveway of my mother’s house and sat for a moment. I needed to have a talk with her, and I wasn’t sure I was emotionally strong enough to pull it off. For so long, I had used sex as an outlet for my pain. My lackadaisical attitude towards life had almost cost me mine. Of course, my mother had raked me over the coals for my choices, and she had every right.
My sex-capades had run me into a nightmare situation with a psychopath, two years prior. David had been one of my lovers until he turned into a stalker. His decision to hold me hostage for several days led to a SWAT standoff in which he finally released me. Convinced he was ready to surrender, I walked out of my condo with my hands in the air. As my foot stepped over the threshold, I heard the pop of my handgun going off and immediately threw myself onto the floor.
My initial thought was that I had been shot until SWAT officers rushed into my condo. Looking back, I could see straight to my bedroom. David’s body was slumped on the ground, where he had blown his brains out.
I still cannot think back on that day and tears not come to my eyes. I suffered nightmares for a long time afterwards. While his actions were that of an insane person, I never expected him to commit suicide.
Pulling myself back to the present before I could drown in my emotions, I stepped out of the car and walked to my mother’s house, letting myself in.
“Paige, is that you, baby?” my mom called from the back.
“It’s me, Mommy.” I don’t know why she always asked that when I visited. No one else had a key to her house except for me. “Are you ready?” I was cooking dinner for her. Taking her to dinner or cooking for her at my place had become a weekly event between me and her. I hoped that maybe we could discuss some controversial topics with a positive outcome.
“Yeah. Let me grab my purse.” I heard her voice coming from the rear.
I knew she was going to hit the roof when my father arrived. They pretended they could not stand one another, but the truth was, they were as intertwined with one another as a pretzel, despite the distance between them. I seldom spoke to him, but I always tried to keep in touch for my own peace of mind. I had been distant towards my father as an adult. I had difficulty dealing with the abuse heaped on my mother and me by him. I knew he would be full of excuses, but I didn’t care. As the two of them got older, it was time for me to deal with some of the issues they had heaped upon me, so I could forgive them and heal. This meeting was not to make them feel guilty, but to face the truth.
My mom chatted the entire ride, not realizing I had not spoken a single word. She kept her red cup close by her. She thought I didn’t know what she had in that cup. We’d be okay as long as she didn’t spill it in my car.
I glanced at her after I pulled into my garage. I had sold my condo after David committed suicide there. Even if he had not taken his life, after my abduction and torture, I had no plans to stay there anymore with its horrid memories. I put it up for sale and found a cute little townhouse in a gated community. Safety? That was a relative word. It would probably be years before I would arrive at that state of mind again.
Mom was still chattering away about something she had seen on a gossip show.
“Mommy, be careful that you don’t spill the contents of your cup when you get out of the car,” I warned.
“Child, you think I don’t know how to handle my business? You act like I ain’t used to going out or something. You tell me that every week when we go to dinner, whether it’s at your house or a restaurant. I’m not your child, you’re mine,” she chastised me.
“And every week, you grab that cup carelessly with the same hand you’re grabbing the door handle with. I think you’d have spilled something by now, if I didn’t say anything,” I reminded her.
“Hmmpph. You think you know me,” she said, rolling her eyes and setting the cup on the floorboard while opening the door. After she got out of the car, she bent back in to grab her cup with one hand and her purse with the other.
While she unlocked the door to my townhome, I stayed behind a moment texting my father to see how far out he was.
We made small talk as I prepared the dinner. She was catching me up on the latest gossip about her neighbors and my cousins by the time my father showed up.
My heart beat faster as I went to answer the door. “Mom, go ahead and set the table for me, please,” I called over my shoulder, as I left the kitchen heading into the living room.
“Paige…hey, baby,” my father greeted, as I opened the living room door for him after shutting off the alarm. I gave him a hug and shared a smile that did not reach my eyes.
I turned around to head back into the kitchen only to find my mother staring daggers at my father.
“Helena,” he said, smiling at her, opening his arms wide to embrace her.
She continued to stare as if he had not addressed her.
“Mommy. Aren’t you going to say hi to Daddy?” I asked.
“Why is he here?” my mother asked in a tone colder than the frigid temps of Alaska.
“Paige, maybe this—”
“No, Daddy,” I said, holding my hand up to stop his flow of words. “I invited you both here for a reason.
My sex-capades had run me into a nightmare situation with a psychopath, two years prior. David had been one of my lovers until he turned into a stalker. His decision to hold me hostage for several days led to a SWAT standoff in which he finally released me. Convinced he was ready to surrender, I walked out of my condo with my hands in the air. As my foot stepped over the threshold, I heard the pop of my handgun going off and immediately threw myself onto the floor.
My initial thought was that I had been shot until SWAT officers rushed into my condo. Looking back, I could see straight to my bedroom. David’s body was slumped on the ground, where he had blown his brains out.
I still cannot think back on that day and tears not come to my eyes. I suffered nightmares for a long time afterwards. While his actions were that of an insane person, I never expected him to commit suicide.
Pulling myself back to the present before I could drown in my emotions, I stepped out of the car and walked to my mother’s house, letting myself in.
“Paige, is that you, baby?” my mom called from the back.
“It’s me, Mommy.” I don’t know why she always asked that when I visited. No one else had a key to her house except for me. “Are you ready?” I was cooking dinner for her. Taking her to dinner or cooking for her at my place had become a weekly event between me and her. I hoped that maybe we could discuss some controversial topics with a positive outcome.
“Yeah. Let me grab my purse.” I heard her voice coming from the rear.
I knew she was going to hit the roof when my father arrived. They pretended they could not stand one another, but the truth was, they were as intertwined with one another as a pretzel, despite the distance between them. I seldom spoke to him, but I always tried to keep in touch for my own peace of mind. I had been distant towards my father as an adult. I had difficulty dealing with the abuse heaped on my mother and me by him. I knew he would be full of excuses, but I didn’t care. As the two of them got older, it was time for me to deal with some of the issues they had heaped upon me, so I could forgive them and heal. This meeting was not to make them feel guilty, but to face the truth.
My mom chatted the entire ride, not realizing I had not spoken a single word. She kept her red cup close by her. She thought I didn’t know what she had in that cup. We’d be okay as long as she didn’t spill it in my car.
I glanced at her after I pulled into my garage. I had sold my condo after David committed suicide there. Even if he had not taken his life, after my abduction and torture, I had no plans to stay there anymore with its horrid memories. I put it up for sale and found a cute little townhouse in a gated community. Safety? That was a relative word. It would probably be years before I would arrive at that state of mind again.
Mom was still chattering away about something she had seen on a gossip show.
“Mommy, be careful that you don’t spill the contents of your cup when you get out of the car,” I warned.
“Child, you think I don’t know how to handle my business? You act like I ain’t used to going out or something. You tell me that every week when we go to dinner, whether it’s at your house or a restaurant. I’m not your child, you’re mine,” she chastised me.
“And every week, you grab that cup carelessly with the same hand you’re grabbing the door handle with. I think you’d have spilled something by now, if I didn’t say anything,” I reminded her.
“Hmmpph. You think you know me,” she said, rolling her eyes and setting the cup on the floorboard while opening the door. After she got out of the car, she bent back in to grab her cup with one hand and her purse with the other.
While she unlocked the door to my townhome, I stayed behind a moment texting my father to see how far out he was.
We made small talk as I prepared the dinner. She was catching me up on the latest gossip about her neighbors and my cousins by the time my father showed up.
My heart beat faster as I went to answer the door. “Mom, go ahead and set the table for me, please,” I called over my shoulder, as I left the kitchen heading into the living room.
“Paige…hey, baby,” my father greeted, as I opened the living room door for him after shutting off the alarm. I gave him a hug and shared a smile that did not reach my eyes.
I turned around to head back into the kitchen only to find my mother staring daggers at my father.
“Helena,” he said, smiling at her, opening his arms wide to embrace her.
She continued to stare as if he had not addressed her.
“Mommy. Aren’t you going to say hi to Daddy?” I asked.
“Why is he here?” my mother asked in a tone colder than the frigid temps of Alaska.
“Paige, maybe this—”
“No, Daddy,” I said, holding my hand up to stop his flow of words. “I invited you both here for a reason.
