It's sweet, it's sexy, it's new, and it's guaranteed to bring you Joy! It's the final day of 20 Days of Love, and Suzette Harrison is stopping by to bring some Joy into your life. Read on!

BLURB

Joy Matthews isn’t afraid of risks. She’s quit her Fortune 500 job and enrolled in culinary school, chasing her dream. Joy wants her own couture cake boutique. Pursuing her dream by day, Joy pays the bills working nights at The Hourglass—an exclusive gentlemen’s club catering to patrons who enjoy a little extra fine on a woman’s frame.

Joy’s catching up to her dream when a chance encounter reconnects her with Quinton Daley, a childhood friend. Mutual attraction throws the proverbial wrench in Joy’s relationship-phobic, happily agnostic life. A goal-oriented woman who ‘doesn’t do men with Bible breath,’ Joy sees in Quinton a whole lot of what she likes but doesn’t need. Tall, chocolate-skinned, and born-again, Quinton’s Christianity poses a risk even the tenacious Joy isn’t willing to take. Quinton Daley isn’t fazed. He’s a man of faith who’ll willingly wait on Joy to come to God…and him.

When love and lust heat up, Joy and Quinton face a predicament. Will they indulge? Or abstain? Join this wild mix of custom cakes, a saved, sanctified and sexy man, and an obsessed patron from The Hourglass who’s determined to make Joy’s life a sticky mess. It’s a recipe for a read that’s wickedly witty and delicious.

BIO

Suzette D. Harrison, a native Californian and the middle of three daughters, grew up in a home where reading was required, not requested. Her literary “career” began in junior high school with the publishing of her poetry. While Mrs. Harrison pays homage to Alex Haley, Gloria Naylor, Alice Walker, Langston Hughes, and Toni Morrison as legends who inspired her creativity, it was Dr. Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings that unleashed her writing. The award-winning author of Taffy is a wife and mother who holds a culinary degree in Pastry & Baking. Mrs. Harrison is busy cooking up her next novel…in between batches of cookies. 


CONTACT LINKS
Email sdhbooks@gmail.com
Facebook http://bit.ly/1VFrFVI
Instagram http://bit.ly/1sutYiw
Twitter http://bit.ly/1OxBOw5
Website http://bit.ly/1qH4v3W

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It's the last week of 20 Days of Love, and Ann Marie Bryan is bringing us a love affair of epic proportions, one between a husband and his wife. Read on...

 
TITLE: Shades of the Heart
 
AUTHOR: Ann Marie Bryan 
 
GENRE: Christian Fiction Romance
 
BLURB
 
A shocking turn of events. Past and present secrets are revealed. Things will never be the same. Will they find the courage to forgive and create a love for all times?
 
BACK COVER DESCRIPTION:
 
WHEN PAST AND PRESENT SECRETS ARE REVEALED, ONE THING IS SURE - THINGS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.
 
All was well in Blake Montgomery’s magnificent world. He was actively involved in ministry at church, employed by a great company, and to top it all off, he was happily married to Gabrielle, and awaiting the new addition to his family.
 
Gabrielle found the love of her life. From the moment they met, their chemistry was undeniable. But, Blake had to work tirelessly to tear down the wall she had built up against ever loving again, and she was glad he did. They shared a love they attributed only to the grace of God on their lives…a love so rare.
 
When a dramatic turn of events disclosed shocking secrets, everything changed. As their marriage explodes and their lives shift in unexpected directions, both must learn to relinquish control and trust God in order to embrace the future.
 
Life-altering struggles can be the pathway to new beginnings. Will they find the courage to forgive and create a love for all times?
 
EXCERPT:
 
A sharp pain slowly screeched through her heart as she remembered how Blake desperately wanted to start a family.

“Let’s start discussing names,” he said. His dark brown eyes twinkled as he spoke during their devotion one night as they lay facing each other in bed.

She looked at him, taking in the flawlessness of his chiseled features. Handsome would not aptly describe him. With his caramel complexion, well-toned muscular body suggesting years of working out, and his signature, gap-toothed smile which seemed to say, “The world is a better place because you are in it,” he was one tall, good-looking man.

“Gabby?” Blake called out when he noticed that she was staring. “Do I have something on my face?”

“No.” She smiled tenderly at him, caressing his cheek with her hand. “I love you.”

He returned her smile, pulling her into his arms and dotting her face with kisses before covering her lips with his own. He kissed her leisurely, then urgently until she arched tightly against him, moaning loudly. Her toes curled and she feverishly clutched his shoulders, quivering and wanting more, demanding more. And he gave her more but not before ripping his lips from hers to say, “I love you.”

He understood her well enough to know how to give her the greatest pleasure. She would venture to say, he’d mastered it and thankfully, it was his pleasure too. His rapidly rising desire was as powerful and insatiable as hers. Every moment with him hurled her into a blissful, heated dimension, leaving her feeling completely spent yet breathlessly fulfilled.”
 
QUOTE:
 
“Every struggle you have survived strengthens your endurance. Every setback you have faced is an opportunity for new beginnings…for trusting God will produce new beginnings far beyond your imagination, and a future well worth striving towards.”

LINKS:
 
Let’s stay Connected.
Email: abryan@victoriousbydesign.com
Website: http://www.annmariebryan.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorabryan
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorabryan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorabryan
Newsletter (monthly): http://eepurl.com/bOw6sr
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorannmariebryan
Facebook Readers’ group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/authorannmariebryan
Google+: https://plus.google.com/118441643599687205816
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ann-Marie-Bryan/e/B008VTK62O
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6448888.Ann_Marie_Bryan
Facebook Readers’ Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/authorannmariebryan
 
LINK TO PURCHASE:
 
KINDLE/PAPERBACK: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T512KQ2
 
NOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1121244920

SMASHWORDS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/519356
 
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/shades-of-the-heart
 
iBOOK: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/shades-of-the-heart/id969150251?mt=11

AUTHOR BIO
 
Ann Marie Bryan is a dedicated, graceful, multi-talented leader with a passion for excellence. She is the CEO & Founder of Victorious By Design, an organization committed to providing top quality professional writing services, comprehensive personal and professional development programs and exceptional performing arts services to meet the unique needs of individuals and organizations.
 
A Christian Fiction author, Ann Marie writes to educate, inspire and empower others. She desires to tell great stories with fascinating characters to show the awesome power of God in the lives of people and places. Shades of the Heart is the first book in her bestselling, Encounters of the Heart series. Book 2 - Mirrored Hearts: Sealed By Fire was released February 2016. A Place For My Heart, the third installment in the series, will be released March 30, 2017.
 
Ann Marie's greatest passion is to empower others to succeed by tapping into their God-given potential. She enjoys writing, reading, dancing, teaching, meeting people and traveling. With all the knowledge and experiences that God has so graciously blessed her with, Ann Marie is determined to make her life a ministry for the Lord.

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Sometimes the rage we pour into disliking someone, is actually fueled by the passion we have of loving that someone. Joy Avery shows just how true that is on today's 20 Days of Love!

Excerpt for NEVER:

Nico allowed Gadiya to escape his hold. He may not have broken her shell, but he’d surely cracked it. As she made her way across the floor, he said, “I’ll tell you what’s a waste of time. Your fighting this. You have a right to be pissed at me, Gadiya, but you can’t deny you still feel something for me.”

This stopped her in her tracks. Whipping around, she charged him like a raging bull. “Anything I may have felt for you in the past is long gone. I feel nothing for you now, Nico Dupree. Nothing. And I never will.”

“Is that why you’re still single?” He regretted the words the moment they escaped. There could have been a myriad of reasons why she wasn’t in a relationship, none of them having anything to do with him.

Gadiya slowly shook her head, something in her expression turning sad. “The reason I’m still single has nothing to do with you. But if you must know, I decided to never give my heart to another man, because the one man I trusted with it, shattered it into tiny pieces. I loved that jerk, that coward, far more than he deserved. I loved him far more than breathing, which was okay, because, with him, I never feared suffocating. He gave me life. Then he took it away.”

Nico hadn’t expected her powerful summation. He couldn’t speak, couldn’t move toward her, could hardly breathe. All he could do was dumbly stare into her glistening eyes, then at her back as she turned to leave.

Gadiya stopped at the door. Over her shoulder, she said, “On second thought, I guess my being single has everything to do with you. I never want to see you again, Nico. You are dead to me. Just like the idea of me ever loving you again.”

With that, she was gone.

About Joy:

By day Joy Avery works as a customer service assistant. By night, the North Carolina native travels to imaginary worlds—creating characters whose romantic journeys invariably end happily ever after.Since she was a young girl growing up in Garner, Joy knew she wanted to write. Stumbling onto romance novels, she discovered her passion for love stories; instantly, she knew these were the type stories she wanted to pen.
Real characters. Real journeys. Real good love is what you’ll find in a Joy Avery romance.
Joy is married with one child. When not writing, she enjoys reading, cake decorating, pretending to expertly play the piano, driving her husband insane, and playing with her two dogs.
Joy is a member of Romance Writers of America and Heart of Carolina Romance Writers.


Amazon Buy Link: http://bit.ly/neversaynevertolove

Connect With Joy:

www.joyavery.com
www.facebook.com/authorjoyavery
www.twitter.com/authorjoyavery
www.amazon.com/author/joyavery
https://plus.google.com/+AuthorJoyAvery 
Subscribe: http://eepurl.com/KkLkL

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Sometimes love requires us to overcome challenging predicaments. Love requires us to be in uncomfortable places. Will you stand up to the test that love presents to you? Or will you fail? How deep is your love?

Tesa Erven presents a very interesting challenge on today's 20 Days of Love...

Book Synopsis:

In the third installment of The Loose End series, we find Renee and Bradsen attempting to move past the adulteress relationship, turned down proposal and trust issues. While Bradsen remains optimistic, Renee fears that her scandalous past is a hindrance toward their future.
 
Meanwhile, Renee's best friend Sabrina is overjoyed with her relationship with NFL rookie Derrick St. Jermaine. All is well with the two until photos mysteriously surface on the internet. 
 
Derrick's sister, Sonya, finds herself in a love triangle. During a lull in her longtime on-again, off-again relationship with her sexy firefighter, she begins to date the deejay of a popular nightclub she frequents. It's all fun and games with Sonya until she finds herself in an unforeseen situation. 
 
Which bonds are temporary and which are bonded for life? 
 
 
Book Excerpt (from Love Changes Everything):
 
“I can’t believe that just happened,” Bradsen said to himself as he pulled his car out from in front of his twin brother, Jacksen, and his wife, Cynthia’s house. He glanced over at Renee who had a stunned expression on her face.

With a concerned tone he asked, “Are you okay?” He watched as the glistening tears in her oval-shaped eyes threatened to spill over.

Renee’s voice quivered as she replied, “I’m fine. Although, it’s not every day I have a drink thrown in my face.”

Sabrina, Renee’s best friend and former roommate, chimed in from the backseat, “I can’t believe she did that. There was way too much tension in there.”

Renee lowered her head. “Yeah there was. But, Brenda has every right to be angry with me. I was knowingly having an affair with her husband. I’m glad she was able to release some of her anger. It could have been worse, you know. She could have pulled out a gun and shot me,” Renee added, attempting to make light of the situation.

“That’s not funny, Renee.” Bradsen glared at her. “Okay, you cheated with her husband. I get it. But, I thought we were past it. Apparently not.”

“Let’s face it. It was too soon. I had a feeling we shouldn’t have gone there tonight.”

“Yep,” Sabrina said.

Derrick joined the conversation. “I agree.”

Renee cleared her throat and laughed at them. “Really now? So, earlier when we were in the car contemplating on whether or not we should go into the house, no one bothered to say, ‘Oh, there’s a small possibility that you may get your butt kicked.’ You guys are unbelievable.”

“A drink thrown in your face. But your butt kicked? That wouldn’t have happened. At least, not with me standing there,” Sabrina assured her.

Bradsen hadn’t said much. Renee looked over at him and noticed tension on his handsome face. “Are you alright?”

Bradsen looked at her and softly uttered, “We’ll talk about it later.”

Silence filled the car until Derrick asked, “You two still coming to my game, right?” The six three, well-built rookie linebacker would be starting in his first game on Sunday. Sabrina nudged him in the side.

“What?” Derrick mouthed.

“Yes, we’ll be there,” Bradsen said as he pulled into Renee’s apartment complex. Once they said their goodbyes, Sabrina and Derrick headed to his car and Bradsen and Renee went into her place.

“Now do you want to tell me what’s wrong?” Renee asked when Bradsen closed the door.

“Baby, I’m so sorry about tonight. I feel terrible. I should have never pressured you into going. Me and Jacksen kind of thought enough time had passed. I really wish there was a way we could all get along.”
Renee put her arms around his waist and leaned back to look up into his brown eyes and clean-shaven, dark brown face. Bradsen stood a couple inches over six feet, easily towering over her five-and-a-half feet.

“I don’t know what you want me to do, Bradsen. This is tough. I didn’t expect your family to accept me with open arms. I chose to be the other woman. It was a bad decision on my part, but I have to live with the choices that I’ve made, not you. I love you, but I don’t want you to be miserable because you can’t have it both ways. There’s always going to be some kind of animosity towards me from your family.”

“Baby, I realize this is hard and I love you too, but there has to be a better way-” He stopped mid-sentence.

Renee pulled her arms from underneath his. She spat, “A better way to what? To us trying to get together again. It’s not going to happen. I’m sorry to tell you that I’m not welcomed there, and if that’s a problem for you then I guess you could-”

Bradsen cut her off, “Don’t you dare say it, Renee. I’m not going anywhere. You are the one I want, and we’ll have to figure out something, because I won’t give up on us.”

Renee shook her head while Bradsen pulled her back into his embrace. With her petite frame wrapped in his arms, she always felt safe with him. He wanted to reaffirm his love for her to show her that they would get through it no matter what happened. But he knew only time would tell… (Continued)

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Your first time can be awkward. Your first time can be sweet. The first time can be special. There's something so wonderful and lovely about those "firsts." Today Sheena Binkley explores a "first."

It's another fabulous 20 Days of Romance. Mrs. Sheena Binkley is here to celebrate the month of love with an excerpt from The Love Chronicles.

Bio
Sheena Binkley first discovered her love for storytelling when writing her first story for a class project at the tender age of nine. Since then, she has composed several short stories and numerous tales that are not only engaging, but simply entertaining. She is also a freelance writer, penning articles on various topics including education and entertainment. 

In November of 2014, she signed her first publishing deal with Write House Publishing under "Tiece Presents". Her first series, Something Just Ain't Right, was released in January. 

In April 2016, Sheena launched her own publishing company which focus strictly on romance books. Besides writing, she loves reading, shopping, and spending time with family and friends. She lives in Houston (where the weather is always unpredictable) with her husband and son.

CONNECT WITH SHEENA:

Email: sheenabinkley@live.com
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/authorSheenaBinkley
Blog: http://sheenabinkley.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sheenabinkleyauthor (Like Page)
Twitter: @ChevonBink
Google +: https://plus.google.com/+sheenabinkley
Pinterest: Sheena Binkley
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/577100099053119/?fref=ts
Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/bY22E9
 
 
GET YOUR READ ON:

Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/Sheena-Binkley/e/B00CSTNTIG/ref=la_B00CSTNTIG_ntt_srch_lnk_4?qid=1485226161&sr=1-4
The Love Chronicles:
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Chronicles-Sheena-Binkley-ebook/dp/B01GGCYJBQ/ref=la_B00CSTNTIG_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1485239945&sr=1-2

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No one ever said love was easy. If they did they lied! No one ever said it would be roses, white horses, and shining knights. If they did they lied. Love is unpredictable, love can be confusing, love can hurt sometimes. Yet, love gives you the strength to do what you have to do, even if that means walking away from the one you love.

It's another 20 Days of Romance, and it's all about learning to love yourself over him...

BLURB:

Olivia has overcome many challenges and disappointments in her life. Yet, when faced with an unexpected death of a family member, and witnessing the murder of someone she cares for, she isn’t sure she can survive. The losses incurred on this journey may cause her to pay the ultimate sacrifice.

The return of Black and Kianna means the puzzle pieces of Angel’s life are finally locking into place. The picture is different than she envisioned. Angel must determine if uncovering the truth of their past, is worth the sacrifice of her new relationship.
Kianna’s played dirty in the past, but this time the fight is deadly. She’s willing to go all in to expose the truth, which will cause everyone in the game to ante up. Will her sacrifice be more than she bargained for?

Black’s gambled several times in the past, but this time the stakes are high. With his life and those of his family serving as the bargaining chips, it isn’t that easy to fold. To protect those he loves the most, he may have to sacrifice his own life to save theirs.

Angel. Kianna. Black. In the end everyone must bear their cross. And the truth is so explosive, the House will never be the same. One will stand strong and walk away. One will stand strong and make the ultimate sacrifice. And one will stand strong and won’t survive!


EXCERPT:


“What’s going on, Black? Do TJ and me have a reason to be scared?” Angel hadn’t wanted to pressure him with this issue since he had been alert. But she knew it was no longer something she could push off.

He shook his head no before speaking. “I told…you…every…thing I did…to protect…y’all.” He cleared his throat and held up his finger, indicating she should give him a moment.

“Angel, you…covered.” He took in a deep breath. “Always…been,” he replied.

But she was no longer sure she could depend on that. After all, if he couldn’t protect himself, how was he going to protect her and his son when he wasn’t around them all the time?

“I’ve been thinking.” She paused and grabbed his hand in hers, rubbing his knuckles in circular motions.

“Maybe I should buy me some protection. I mean, after all, you always wanted me to when we were married. Now that we’re not together I think maybe I should,” she confided.

He shook his head from side to side.

“What, Black? I need to feel safe,” she argued.

“Shit…ain’t safe. I‘on want…you…living in…fear,” he debated.

“You know you have to get out the life, Black.”

“I’m…done…” he whispered. He lay his head back on the pillow, clearly exhausted.

“Is that what this was all about? You getting out caused someone to do this to you? Do you know who did this, Black?” Angel asked in repulsion.

She couldn’t imagine a person endangering someone else’s life because of the choices they made, which would lead to freedom.

“Don’t worry. It’ll…get…taken care of,” he whispered as she reached underneath him to adjust his pillow.

When she sat back down on the side of the bed, he jerked her wrist, motioning for her to come closer.
She leaned in with her heart puttering. He pressed his lips against hers, and she didn’t pull back. It had been so long…too long since she last felt those soft lips against hers. She continued kissing him, holding his face in her hands. She didn’t let go until she felt the wetness on her cheeks.

“I love…you, Ang,” Black rasped.

“I love you, too, Black. I hate that I do. I hate this!” She stood up abruptly and began pacing the room, wiping the tears from her face. “Damn! I can’t do this with you again, boy! You hurt me so bad, Black! You don’t know how bad you hurt me. I mean, it’s like my world just crashed in on me. No matter how much I ignored your cheating ways, it wasn’t good enough for you. You couldn’t leave well enough alone and had to go messing with my co-worker? That was rotten, Black! I don’t know that I can ever forgive you for that,” she cried.

Black lay in the bed watching her. She could see the guilt and remorse etched in his features. She thought she had seen that look several times over the years. She questioned the sincerity of it now. He said nothing, just watched her.

Looking at him one last time, she grabbed her purse from the chair. “Bye, Black.” She walked out the door.

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In the summertime, we're tempted to do things we might ordinarily not. In the summertime the sweet heat, tempts us to participate in the most sumptuous experiences. In the summertime our heart just might entice us to engage in a torrid affair.

You'll never know what you'll do in the summertime, until you've read Adrienne Thompson's, Summertime. It's another hot 20 Days of Love!

Title: Summertime
Genre: African American Historical/Fantasy Romance

Blurb:

An unlikely journey… an unlikely love.
J'Nay Walker is a talented singer, driven toward success by a promise she made to her late mother. One gloomy day, on the tail of some disappointing news, tragedy strikes, threatening not only to derail her plans, but to end her life. As a result, she soon finds herself on an unlikely journey, but is she ready for an unlikely love? Travel from the present to 1939 with the colorful characters of Summertime!
 
Excerpt:

“Would it be too forward of me to ask if you already have a beau, lovely songbird?”

I looked up at him, willed myself not to stare at his lips. “No—I mean, no, I don’t.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “The men around here must be dumb as rocks. Letting a fine-looking woman like you walk around here alone like this? I might just have to do something to fix that.”

I placed my hand on my chest. “Something like what?”

“Something like making you my woman.”

I shook my head. “Can’t do that. You’re just passing through.”

He nodded slightly as he reached up and touched my cheek. “Well, if you’re my girl,” he whispered, “I guess you’ll have to come with me… or I’ll have to stay.”

Then he leaned in and softly kissed me on the lips. Every nerve, muscle, and blood vessel in my body vibrated, and my knees buckled ever so slightly. “Dizzy…” I said softly.

He backed away from me with an intoxicated look in his eyes. “Call me John. I like the way you say it.”

“John?”

He smiled. “Yeah, I like that.”

“Dizzy, you holding up the game, man!” a voice shouted from upstairs.

He leaned in close to me again and smiled. “Damn, girl… you smell good.”

“I’m not wearing any perfume.”

“I didn’t think you were.”

“Oh… um… well, t-thank you.”

He smiled at me again, then took my hand and squeezed it. “You welcome. Can I see you after the club shuts down tonight, lovely?”

I nodded. He could’ve asked me to jump into a school of sharks or rob a bank and I don’t think I would’ve been able to refuse him.

I watched him swagger back up the stairs and then, for the first time in several minutes, I breathed.

Purchase links:
Kindle and paperback: http://amzn.com/B00XQE1MPE 
Nook: http://ow.ly/NLnSv 
Kobo: http://ow.ly/NLo1J 
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00XQE1MPE

ABOUT ADRIENNE:

Adrienne Thompson has worn many titles in her lifetime–from teenage mother to teenage wife to divorcee to registered nurse to author. This mother of three young adults currently resides in Arkansas in her newly-emptied nest where she writes and publishes her stories full time.
 
CONNECT WITH ADRIENNE:

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jnDmH     
Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/adriennethompson 
Website: http://adriennethompsonwrites.webs.com   
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdrienneThompsonWrites    
Twitter: https://twitter.com/A_H_Thompson   
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5051327.Adrienne_Thompson   
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ahthompsn/   
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ahthompsn/   
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/muusikluvver 
Email: tapestrywriter@gmail.com

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It's another 20 Days of Romance and one of my favorite writers is here to help celebrate. Come see what Parker J. Cole's whipped up for us today...

Blurb: Savannah Woods vows to never again have anything to do with Micah Reddington after he ruins her best friend's career. Yet, when Savannah’s niece is injured in a serious accident, the one man she can’t trust is the one she needs.
Micah can barely contain his satisfaction when he sees Savannah’s message pleading for him to come to her side. Her disloyalty nearly cost his career and he’ll never forgive her for leaving him at the lowest point in his life.

Despite her efforts to remain aloof, Savannah keeps seeing glimpses of the Micah she once loved behind his cool exterior. Micah fights an ongoing battle to not succumb to the sweetness of the woman he once cared for beyond anything else. But Savannah and Micah’s hearts remain sick with the pangs of betrayal. What, if anything, is the cure?

EXCERPT:

“Ms. Woods?”

The professional, neutral tone of the doctor caught her attention. She stood and raced over to the woman, Tisha and Connie trailing behind her.

“Yes, Dr. Yamaguchi? How is she? Is she going to be all right?”

The doctor’s kind brown eyes landed on her. “So far, her condition is stable.  She’s still sleeping right now.  But we’re not out of the woods yet.”  She extended a hand to a nearby waiting room seat. “I don’t want to unnecessarily upset you but you need to know exactly what we’re dealing with. Do you want to sit down?”

“No, please just tell me what’s going on. Can I see her?”

Dr. Yamaguchi nodded. “You can see her, but only for a few minutes. We’ll be observing her for the next thirty-six hours.”

Savannah’s legs threatened to buckle. “What do you mean?”

As the doctor detailed the extent of the damage done to Liliana’s body from the fire, she thought she might collapse.  It was almost too much to bear. 

God, give me strength.

When the doctor finished, Savannah asked quietly, “Can I see her now?”

“Of course.” The doctor grabbed her limp hand. “Don’t let what you see in there discourage you. Liliana’s a fighter. And you need to fight with her, too.” The woman squeezed her hand as if trying to infuse her with strength.

Leaving her friends behind, Savannah walked the path alone to Liliana’s room, trepidation tap dancing along her spine. The pristine white floors and colorful walls made the journey there seem like a psychedelic trip.  Uniformed hospital staff passed her by, the figures fuzzy and nondescript to her unseeing eyes. 

 When she arrived at the room, the sight of her niece made Savannah almost fall to her knees. This couldn’t be her beautiful, fun-loving Snuffy. It couldn’t be.

Machines hummed next to the tiny frail body lying in the hospital bed. Snake-like plastic tubes were taped to her nose and mouth. Bandages covered a good portion of her body from her shoulder to legs. 

The little girl’s chest moved shallowly.
“Snuffy,” Savannah moaned, her legs so weak she barely made it to the side of the bed before crumpling in the chair the nearby nurse had pushed toward her.  She wanted to reach out and touch the girl, but the doctor had warned against any contact for the next few days.  She could only stare.

“Oh, dear God,” she cried out. This time, nothing held back her tears. A dam had cracked inside of her and she submitted to its torrential power.  The nurse thrust a box of tissues into her hand. She spent the next while crying and sniffling, wishing this was all a dream she could wake up from.
When the outburst had run itself dry, Savannah wiped her eyes and nose for the last time and stuffed the used tissues in the garbage can by the bed.

At least she wasn’t alone. Everyone who loved Liliana would work together to help her niece get through this.

Except for one person.

Savannah jolted. Why now? Why would she suddenly start thinking about him?

Fiona and Bart would want him to know.

A strange calm came over her. Savannah couldn’t deny the truth of those words. She’d avoided a name she hadn’t uttered in voice or thought for three years. If she could have, she would have gone for the rest of her life without having to speak his name ever again.

But circumstances had gone beyond her pride. It had come to this. Just as he had predicted.

Micah Reddington.

A bevy of memories tried to break through the mental brick wall she had placed around them.  She closed her eyes to suppress those tattered recollections of days gone by. Yet, snatches of them still made their way through, glowing like spots of light through the cracks. His long blonde hair often turned to gold when the sunlight cascaded over it.  She recalled the flash of his smile, his teeth white and even above the cleft in his chin.  Those freckles splattered across the bridge of his nose gave him a boyish look that always disarmed her in the past.

No, she didn’t want to go there. Yet, she had no choice.

Savannah pulled her phone from her pocket. She’d erased his name from her contact list but his number was embedded in her head right next to the alphabet.  She typed it in, added her message, and sent it. A life-altering event, and it took less than ten seconds to execute.

She leaned her head back along the rim of the chair and accepted the inevitable. She needed the man who hated her most in the world. 

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20 Days of Love features a novelette by Deborah Hall-Branch. Sometimes we find love in some of the unlikeliest companions. Read on...

Blurb:  Theona knew just the kind of man she’d long waited to one day ask for her hand in marriage.  It certainly was not the kind her paralegal Marsha kept trying to introduce her to.  From the time she was a little girl until now she’d hidden away her most precious fantasy; silhouette of the tall muscular gentleman who often appeared in her dreams.  Sitting on her bed, he’d lean over, lift her up in his arms and wrap them tightly around her body.  Before fading away, her knight in shining armor would softly press his cheek against hers and whisper in her ear, “Marry me.”

Excerpt:

A distant sound of smooth jazz echoed from her CD player while they sat curled up on the sofa. Captivated by his voice, a warm, comfortable feeling flushed over her. For the first time she felt safe, secure, like they’d known each other all their lives. 

Theona reveled in his presence. He has to be God-sent. No one’s ever made me feel this way before, she thought.

“This is nice. Most women I’ve dated spend most of their time with me either checking emails or text messages from their friends. We’ve sat here and talked for thirty minutes already and your phone hasn’t rung once.”

“Yeah, I’m not that popular. Other than family, very few people have my personal home number. Oh, yeah, and the job does, but they generally call me on my Blackberry after five. Privacy is very important to me—fewer interruptions when you demand it.”

Nomed reached over and poured more brandy into their glasses. She whispered to herself, “Tonight, he’s all mine. No interruptions from family, friends or Marsha.” At that same moment, remorse struck her heart when she thought about how disappointed Marsha sounded when she called.

Theona continued in her remorse. She’s trying so hard to be my friend. Lunch will be on me Monday. By then she will be sick of turkey—everyone does after three days. Theona directed her attention back to Nomed. “Would you like another drink or hot coffee? Definitely can’t have you falling asleep at the steering wheel or on my sofa. My neighbors watch you leave wee hours in the morning. I have kept a pretty good reputation around here,” she teased.

Nomed looked at her for validation. “Hmmm, well I certainly would not want to mess up your good reputation. So, does that mean there is no boyfriend?”

“Well, not that it’s any your business … but no. Just like you, I work too much to have a serious relationship right now. It would certainly take someone with a busy lifestyle like mine to even understand my late nights at the office. Then hopefully we both will one day decide to settle down and get married.”

“Wow, hard-working, beautiful … Just one thing, though.”

“What’s that?” she said.

“What will your parents say about you inviting a strange man into your home? One who right now wouldn’t want to be anyplace else?” Theona, I really want to see you again.” He leaned in closer to her. Holding the glass with one hand, he rubbed her face with his other.  He snatched his hand away. “Forgive me. Hope you’re not offended. More brandy’s fine.”

Hungry for more, she instead managed a smile. She cleared her throat as she gazed over at him and appraised his face. A blush appeared.  Theona accepted the spontaneity of his embarrassment.  “I’m not offended. My parents wouldn’t be either. When I turned twenty-one, my dad announced my adulthood and sent me out into the world. To be perfectly honest, my parents don’t know any more about my life than I let them know. Everything works out better that way. Although their opinions are highly respected by me, they, the church or anyone else has nothing to do with my choices in life …”

He interrupted, “I’m an independent soul like you—a behavior I’m sure God doesn’t approve of. Nonetheless, it works for me. I figured if He is so concerned about my well-being, like most people say He is, then what did I have to lose moving away from my hometown? Truth is, I grew tired being alone about a year ago. So, here I am to find my true love.”

“Think you’ll find her?”

“Yes—”

“For someone who is so cynical about God, you have a special interest in what He thinks about you. Could it be you’re more attracted to Him than you think?”  He brushed aside her comment. “What about a new beginning for you? Have you ever thought about relocating in hopes of finding your soul mate?”

Her lips puckered. “Yeah, once or twice I considered it. Marriage is such a strong foundation in my family. No one has ever been divorced or separated. They remain together until death does them part. I can’t even remember my parents arguing in front of me. Dad says our generation has no respect for it. All we know is sex and spending money—once they are both gone, so is the romance. Men I date eventually get intimidated by either my education or profession. Perhaps I should consider it again.”

“I think you should. Your knight in shiny armor may have showed up all ready.” He leaned in again and softly kissed her lips. She exhaled when he released her. “How about I refill your glass?”

Theona felt his eyes on her as she walked towards the black-marble-topped bar. She enjoyed his company and wished he would ask her out again. With her back turned, she paused for a moment, “Nomed, can you please push ‘Repeat’ on the CD player?”

“Sure. No problem.”

Holding the half-filled crystal goblets in her hands, she glowed within her heart. He stood still in front the player for a moment, as if he waited for her. Nomed walked towards her and they met halfway. “Here you go. Just the thing you need for a chilly night. I shouldn’t do this, but we can go over the proposal bids now if you want to—I have them in my briefcase.” He reached over and removed the glasses from her hands and sat them down on the bar.

He reached out his arms, “Later. Dance with me, Theona.” 

She noticed his breathing was tuned in with hers as his chest pressed against her breast. Warmth rushed up her back. The firmness of his masculine strong hands embraced her body as she folded into his arms. He pressed her closer to him. In a soft voice, he said, “I’ve wanted to hold you in my arms all evening.”

She relaxed and embraced him. “It’s okay,” he whispered in her ear. With her eyes closed, she parted her moist, ruby-red lips to receive his. Theona purred as his hot breath caused her to shiver while he kissed her neck. A few moments later, she hesitantly opened her eyes and met his filled with tears.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Deborah Hall-Branch was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  A unique author whose promo tag is “Sometimes Fantasy.  Sometimes Reality.  Always Spiritual.  After working many years in the health field, a job separation nudged her to begin writing about her life’s experiences.  Deborah is also a multi-genre published author, co-author, and inspirational speaker who teaches about abuses warning signs, it’s devastating aftermath, how to break free from their low place to women, children, and men.  Her first book, Through the Eyes of Abuse was published in 2009.  She has written more than several published five star articles.  Her compassion to help someone else be healed from this horrific stigma became her mission and to share her most intimate stories with others has opened many doors such; as, C.O.P.E. (Coalition of Prison Evangelists) a well-known organization throughout the United States of America, CASA, a nonprofit network supporting and promoting court appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children, Youth and Teen symposiums, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Zeta Mu Chapter) “The Morning Aphter” Programs.  A licensed/ordained Elder in the ministry where she serves, her addressees has also been those of leadership positions within the Christian denomination.  Married nineteen years, mother of three adult daughters, and grand mom to three handsome grandsons, and one beautiful granddaughter.  Deborah and her husband now reside in Atlanta, Georgia.

In November 2015, Deborah published her first women’s faith-based novelette, THEONA available now on e-book format.

Follow/Contact Author:
www.deborahhbranch.com
deborahbranch@att.net
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/deborahbranchha
www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-hall-branch-7480581a
www.pinterest.com/deborahhallbran
Facebook:  Author Deborah Hall-Branch
Sales Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Through-Eyes-Abuse-Forgiveness-Redemption-ebook/dp/B00T6TC1VW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1453600145&sr=8-2&keywords=through+the+eyes+of+abuse
http://www.amazon.com/THEONA-Deborah-Hall-Branch-ebook/dp/B017RSJIUK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1450730538&sr=1-1&keywords=theona
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/theonaebook-2015-deborah-hall-branch/1122948452?ean=2940156687251

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Today's 20 Days of Love is short and sweet, but extremely powerful. Michelle Stephens shares an incomparable love with us today. This love is borne from grace and mercy. Open your heart and receive the message today...

God-inspired words will encourage you to always speak life into your situation.
 
Direct Sales Links:
 
Kindle Version: https://bit.ly/divasheart
            Autographed Paperback: https://divasheart.selz.com
 
Excerpts:
 
A Diva’s Heart
 
Then along came God and sat down beside her
And when she emerged from beneath the shadow of His wings
She found He'd left an Angel there to guide her
 
Queen
 
I'm not pristine
But still a man died to make me Queen
There’s been no recital
I was born with this title
You see, I am the child of a King
 
This Christmas
 
I refused to be a slave to fear
The devil I knew was no longer welcome here
Though I've lost many things
What I gained is much more
My past can't compare to what God has in store

National Bestselling Author Michelle Lynn Stephens is a North Carolina born and bred writer of all things. She enjoys writing fiction, plays, poetry and non-fiction. First published at age 10 in a local newspaper with a Mother’s Day tribute, she has always been a lover of words. Her inspirational poetry has taken her to events all over the East Coast. She is the author of The Divorcée Chronicles:Diary of a Divorcée Diva and co-author of the bestselling anthology, Single Mama Dating Drama from Brown Girls Books. She recently released the first book in her poetry series, Straight from a Diva’s Heart.
 
 
 
Website: https://www.michellelynnstephens.com
 
Blog: https://www.adivasheart.blogspot.com
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adivasheart
 
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/adivasheart
 
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/michellelynnstephens
 
Featured Book: Straight from a Diva’s Heart, Volume One

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Today's 20 Days of Love excerpt is a compilation of heat and sweet. Authors Aja and Angel are satisfying both of your senses with a delectable treat. We're celebrating Valentine's Day with their new release, Love Stages. Read on...

Love Stages Blurb:
 
Love Stages are two stories about love, starting anew and the resilience of love between black men and women. Good Old Soul by Aja and Begin Again by Angel, will inspire you, provoke you and make you feel the connection...
 
Love Stages is a collaborative effort of two separate stories by Aja and Angel, women born years apart who are kindred spirits. Aja was born January 18, Angel, January 19 and they both were given A first names at birth…
 
After discovering their sameness and intriguing differences they joined pens to bring you, adult fiction from the Soul and Heart.
 

 
Excerpt from Good Old Soul in Love Stages:
 
Amina
 
When I woke up, my eyes were trying to focus on my surroundings, which were unfamiliar. I knew enough to know that I wasn’t at my home and then I realized my head wasn’t on my pillow either. I was lying on him. He was asleep just as I had been. His features were relaxed and at peace.

As I took in the details of his handsome face, I thought he was truly a specimen; all male and delicious. The grey hairs sprinkled at his temple only made him look more distinguished and made me want to wake him in a way that would be satisfying to him but being this was our first time together, I didn’t want to be too forward. Even though we both know why we came back here together. It wasn’t for coffee, or wine, or to listen to music as he suggested.

I looked at the time on the clock on his cable box and realized it was safe to head out and not get jacked since it would be light outside shortly. But when I made a move to grab my shoes from next to the couch and put them on, he stirred beside me.

I watched as he looked around and then he noticed me sitting there staring at him. “I guess I’m a poor host, huh,” he mumbled around his smile.

“You were alright. It seems we both fell asleep for a few hours.”

He looked at the time and then back at me with hot intensity before he said, “Then I guess I should let you go, right.”

“Yeah, I’ll be going.” But neither of us made a move to get up, we just looked at each other. The air between us was crackling with some force that I couldn’t describe. It was not something I’ve experienced before and I didn’t want to examine the why either.

He reached out for my face, his hot palms engulfing it as I leaned forward to accept his kiss that was sweet as it was hot.

Okay, this is where I admit that I was a bit nervous. Yes, I accepted his offer to come back to listen to some music knowing full darn well he wasn’t talking about the kind that required any metal or wood instruments. And yes, I strutted up into his beautifully decorated condo like a big girl with not one insecurity. And trust me, I didn’t have many anyway, but he was older. I mean judging by what I can see, old enough to maybe not be my dad since my parents are in their mid-sixties but shoot, maybe an older cousin or uncle or something. You get my point. And here I was with about six good years of sexual experience to his probably twenty-five. But I’d pretend I had enough experience if it killed me.

But it didn’t kill me unless I considered how out of breath I was with him standing in the middle of the floor with my ass now situated inside of the big palms of his hands that lifted me up and down on his hot hard shaft. My legs, wrapped around his waist, provided me with some leverage to do some arching, twisting and rocking but mostly he handled it and me like a pro. He was so damn thick and ready and I was so wet for him. Wet enough that I could feel my essence ooze out of me on each impale.

I never had a man do this to me and I admit that all my jitters were now gone as he pulled me back and forth hard and harder, manipulating my body so expertly that the tension building had to release somehow, someway or I would die … I exploded around him, screaming out a strangled cry, falling apart in his secure hold. He paused then, allowing me a moment to stop shaking, and I noticed that the only sign of his hard work were the beads of perspiration on his brow and the clench of his jaw, but he had amazing stamina, which dispelled a myth I held about older men.

He leaned into me, the taste of my honey from being spread open by his mouth earlier, in his kiss. I accepted the unique flavor and his tongue before he let me down to get on my unsteady feet.

I stood there grinning at him like an idiot and to my credit, he grinned too before he said, “How was that for starters?”
 
Excerpt from Begin Again in Loves Stages
 
Plopping down on one of the leather chairs, Malva let out a deep breath. She was exhausted but she had gotten everything set up as she wanted it. She could now start working whenever she chose. The door opened, startling her and a man walked inside. Hurriedly, she stood, flipping on the lights with a remote. Soft lighting filled the room and she could see a tall, bulky but fit man with milk chocolate skin and bald head.
 Her breath literally caught in her throat.

“Can I help you?” Malva asked. The man stood, staring at her openly before responding.

“Good evening, I am Desmond Trainor. I own the lighting shop next door. I heard I had a new neighbor and wanted to drop in. I have been traveling the past couple of weeks.”

“I am Malva, Malva Oscar and welcome to my small studio. I’m an artist and I'm planning shows and there will also be art for sale, African, mostly Ethiopian, since that is my home and African American.” She said quickly.

“That’s cool. There are several cool shops moving in. I specialize in unique lighting. I also sell standard lighting to contractors. Next to me is a Middle Eastern grocery store that also has a restaurant and next to that is a shop that specializes in ethnic toys. What's the name of your place?”

“I have no idea.” Malva admitted. “I thought of The Artist’s Lair…”

“That’s catchy. My spot is Get Lit… would you like to take a look?”

“Sure, let me grab my bag and lock up. I'm tired anyway.” She said and gathered her things feeling self-conscious. Desmond’s eyes were all over her.

Walking into his shop Malva gasped at the lighting and how he had everything arranged. He had removed the second floor and the ceilings were over twenty feet high. There were lighting fixtures, table lamps, floor lamps, outside lighting, and floor lighting. More than she ever knew there was to light.

“Oh, my goodness, this is amazing! How does one decide to have a business such as this?” Malva asked as she turned to face Desmond and she startled because he was only inches away from her and smelled of man, soap and French cologne.

“My dad was an electrician and trained me as a young kid. I was always fascinated by lights and lighting. I majored in history, believe it or not, but this was always what I wanted and aspired to. Most of my clients build homes and want something unique but I also have a nice clientele who roll through and shop for lamps and such. There is also significant online purchasing.  I travel the world looking for unique lighting. You are so damn pretty.”

“Thank you. I need to go. I'm so hungry…” Malva said, suddenly feeling heated.
 
Buy Link: http://amzn.to/2kH1xLy

About the Authors:
 
Aja is the writer of sensually erotic women’s fiction. Her stories allow readers to experience realistic, inspiring and soulful interactions between her characters and intense passion between couples overcoming life’s challenges.
 
Angel aka Angelia Vernon Menchan is an author, publisher entreprenuer who is about forward motion while remembering history...

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Love is borne from a place deep within our souls and stems from a place of light, chasing away all evil and darkness. Love is not simply the relationships we as women enjoy with a man, it is the emotions, attitudes, and behavior representative of the Lord God Almighty, which causes us to share them with our parents, spouses, children, siblings, neighbors, and other races of people.

Love is deeper than we can describe, more powerful than what we can feel. Today's 20 Days of Love post is reflective of a deeper love. Read this work of art comprised by a variety of authors...

LOVING BLACK MEN ANTHOLOGY BLURB:

"Above all, the American flag is supposed to represent a free people, who live in a nation where the government works for us and our best interests. And if they don't, we speak. We protest. We vote. Because as Americans, it's our right. But look at us. So here is a voice, a collective, assembled in consideration of the plight of black men in America. It is an illustration based on our points of view. We hope that like all art, you will examine these pieces closely. Consider them, and the artist’s motivation for creating their images in words. Their motivations come from a real place. It’s a place called America."

Loving Black Men: An Anthology" by Christopher Bynum, Mel Bynum, Ariel Diamond, Kim Golden, Eartha Watts Hicks, Sekinah J, Author Untamed, Akil Victor -

"A Last Good Act"
 Christopher Bynum 

"Johnny always figured if something was going to get him it would be that laminating machine, and as he watched the Maryland state police cruiser roll to a stop in front of his granddaughter’s house that damned device was what crossed his mind. Two cops slid out of the police cruiser. Keeping the front porch rocker back and forth Johnny watched them.

 Yep, they had to be coming for him. His granddaughter was a good girl—a registered nurse by profession. They weren’t here for her; he was pretty sure about that. Not unless something had happened to her at work. Johnny was ashamed of himself that that possibility gave him a little bit of hope.

 The police officer who’d been behind the wheel was black, and wore a state trooper’s uniform. The other officer was white. He wasn’t wearing the colors of the state or this city. So he wasn’t local. That one got out on the curb side of the police car so he made the walkway leading to the front porch first.

 As the white officer ambled up the walkway toward the porch Johnny noted the deep lines etched in a face topped by iron gray hair shot with a few last strands of blonde. Despite his advanced years the officer was slender and looked fit and as sharp as a tack in his hard-starched uniform. When he reached the foot of the porch steps he stopped and nodded at Johnny. “Afternoon there,” he drawled. He didn’t smile but he didn’t look hostile, either. If not for the uniform, by the nonchalance of his manner he could have been anybody, like a neighbor just dropping by to say hello. Johnny had seen too many of the same kinds of stories on the news about black men’s encounters with the police lately, so he kept his hands gripping the arms of the rocking chair and clearly visible as he nodded back. “Afternoon, officer.” 

Now the black state trooper was coming up the walk. He didn’t look so friendly. He walked scowling, like he’d been backed up for two or three days and it was starting to cramp him up. A man can’t be at his best at anything—not work, not sports, not sex, and not making an arrest—when he’s backed up too much. The state trooper was built like he could slap on shoulder pads right now and go line up at defensive end for the Ravens. He stopped just behind the white officer’s right shoulder, popped the strap on his holster and scowled harder. Yep, my time is up."

Start reading this book for free: http://a.co/0wJYJIH
Loving Black Men on #Kindle: http://amzn.to/2dpojYn
Loving Black Men on #Nook: http://bit.ly/2d3SYee

AUTHOR CONTACT LINKS:

Christopher Bynum: TheBlackWriter.wordpress.com
Kimberly Golden: http://kim-golden.com

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It's another lovely day of 20 Days of Romance! Today a familiar and friendly face is back to celebrate with us one of the loveliest seasons of the year. Té Russ drops by to share an excerpt from her novel, Noble Seduction.

She's delivering all of the spice and drama she always dishes up, and you won't be disappointed! Take a peek...

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It's another 20 Days of Romance post, and today's excerpt makes you take a look within. Why do we pretend, when we're faced with what we want, and we know what we want, but we continue to deny ourselves?

Rae's excerpt is a bit of steam, a bit of attitude and spunk, and a bit of introspection. I love her writing style and flow. Check her out!

Blur by Rae Lamar 
 
GIVEAWAY: 
A Kindle copy of Blur by Rae Lamar
 
  
Book Synopsis | Blur by Rae Lamar
 
Jade Warner is back home. The bad part? Starting over. The best part? Reconnecting with Kyle Malone. Picking up where they left off years ago, it feels just like old times…except for the mutual attraction and questionable feelings, which are all brand new. For Jade and Kyle, it’s unthinkable to hook up given the history of their fail-safe friendship but anything can happen when you live under the same roof… and once that line between platonic and romantic is crossed, all bets are off.
 
What starts as bliss soon turns bleak when the blinders come off. Jade and Kyle have always been opposites, but they soon realize that it’s going to take a lot more than attraction and assumptions to reach happily ever after.
 
The easy choice? Return to what’s left of their friendship.
 
The hard truth? Sometimes you can’t go back.
 
 
 
AN EXCERPT FROM BLUR
 
Jade was still posing when Kyle cut the music, a distant look in his eyes before he lowered his camera and straightened from his crouched position on the carpeted floor. In seconds, he stood and flipped the switch to kill the lighting, causing her to blink at the sudden change in illumination.
 
Even as her vision adjusted and Kyle began putting things away, Jade kept smiling.
 
She was feeling fantastic.
 
Better than she had in a long, long time.
 
Something about the combination of the heels, the camera, the music, and the atmosphere had her soaring. It was so much fun and so incredibly intoxicating and so… perfect.
 
Jade had definitely held on to her nervousness at the start, but Kyle worked his magic and had her flaunting and posing like she’d been modeling for years. She couldn’t remember the last time that she’d felt so bold and free, so glamorous and sexy… and it was all because of him.
 
He’d told her she was beautiful.
 
With his words but more so with his eyes.
 
Like right now.
 
“We’re done?” she asked, knowing the answer but hoping to continue. “Already?”
 
“Yeah.” He looked at her… through her. “I have everything I need.”
 
Standing tall in her heels, she pinned him with a welcoming stare. “You sure?”
 
Responding to the glint in his eyes, Jade took one step after another, slowly closing the distance between them as Kyle stood rooted in place, loosely gripping his camera. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest but she kept moving forward, step by step, compelled by what she believed she saw in his eyes… but the closer she got to him, the more that glint dimmed.
 
And, in a way, so did he.
 
“Get dressed,” Kyle said, his face expressionless. “I’ll see you upstairs, okay?”
 
Jade hesitated, wanting to reverse whatever just ruined the moment. Instead, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and nodded. “Okay.”
 
She retreated to her room and slowly undressed, careful not to remove her makeup and newfound confidence. A short while later, she returned to the family room in boy shorts and a tank top and found Kyle casually sitting on the arm of the sofa, camera in hand, scrolling through what she was pretty certain were the pictures he’d just taken of her.
 
She plopped down on the cushion beside him. “Did they turn out all right?”
 
“They’re perfect.” He glanced at her. “You wanna take a look?”
 
“Nah. It was hard enough actually doing it. Let me have that small victory for a little while… I’ll tackle the seeing part later.”
 
After an uncomfortable laugh, silence covered them. Not knowing what else to say, Jade took off for the kitchen. “I’ll be back. I need some water.”
 
“Grab me a bottle.”
 
“Okay.”
 
When she reached the island, Jade braced her hands against the countertop.
 
This was dumb.
 
Dumb, dumb, dumb.
 
She opened the refrigerator and snatched two bottles of water with both hands before kicking the door shut. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and began bouncing around in place as she tilted her head from shoulder to shoulder like she was getting ready for a title fight.
 
Soon, Jade was still again.
 
Cool and collected, her eyes finally opened.
 
All this pretending was no longer an option.
 
She wanted him.
 
 
 
PURCHASE LINKS
Kindle | http://amzn.to/2hAb6tm
Paperback | http://bit.ly/2kaR1xl

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 
Rae Lamar is a mild-mannered consultant by day and fiction writer by night who calls Atlanta home. She is the author of the Aris series along with other works of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. On a perfect day, Rae can be found on the top floor of a swanky beach resort, sitting on the balcony of an ocean-front suite with a book in her hands and food at her fingertips. SN: She rarely has perfect days. Visit her at RaeLamar.com.
 
Website/Blog:  RaeLamar.com
Facebook Author Page: facebook.com/RaeLamarBooks
Follow Rae @ instagram.com/rlbookworm
Follow Rae @ twitter.com/rlbookworm

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It's another fabulous 20 Days of Romance! February is hot and sizzling, and Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku promises to heat it up even more. She's definitely bringing the spice in today's excerpt. Read on...

Blurb 
A dangerous attraction…is mounting
Replaying her hip-wriggling dance steps in his head, Mofe is on the trail of a dancer he saw in a beach club in Europe. No one seems to recall who she is, not even the beach club owner. But he has her picture on his phone. When he walks into the city’s courtroom and sets eyes on the female District Judge presiding over his brother’s case, he knows he has found the elusive dancer. Whether or not his brother receives a jail sentence is in her hands.
 
Caring for her little sister takes up most of Ronke’s free time, but she knows how to juggle work with having a good time abroad dancing on bar tables. The moment Ronke locks gaze with the dark, gorgeous man with rippling muscles and tattooed arms, a dangerous attraction sizzles inside her. With no plans to forgo her current no-strings secret affair, she disappears without a trace, hoping never to see the stranger again. But when he walks into her courtroom, her stomach walls tighten and she can barely breathe.
 
Can Mofe convince a woman who holds the key to his brother’s future to date him? And will Ronke deny her attraction to protect her reputation?
 
~ From the Author of Love at Christmas & His Ring ~

 
“Ronke, I gave you the easy way out, to get lost and not return, you decided to stay. So shut up and answer the question. Who told you?”
 
Cowered by his rage, she sat down again and whispered. “My dad.”
 
Mofe whistled and sat down, exhaling from his mouth. It was as if a hot air balloon had been pricked while floating.
 
“Your dad told you? No wonder you didn’t bother to ask questions. Still, you had no right to keep me out of your house. That was humiliating.”
 
“Did my dad lie to me?”
 
“What does it matter? You believed him. Go to him to get the truth.”
Buoyed by his less formidable mien, Ronke got up and sat next to him.
 
“Mofe, I’m not going to listen to anyone else again. Please tell me the truth.”
 
“Why? Our relationship is over. It doesn’t matter either way, Ronke.”
 
“Oh, not so fast, Mofe. You told me in Oblix Lounge in the Shard that you didn’t have a game plan. You said, all I want is to be the one you run to when you want to laugh or cry. Well, now I want to cry because I have been a fool. Are you going to let me cry on your shoulder?”
 
Mofe rushed to his feet and stretched his vest. “Did you remember I had a shoulder to cry on when you ran off to Quent? Did you?” he asked, his nose flaring. “To think you told me to my face you could not trust me.”
 
Holding her head with both hands, she sighed. “Haven’t you tormented me enough, Mofe? I did one stupid thing. Okay, two stupid things. I said I didn’t sleep with him. Are you going to make me hurt forever? What do you really want?”
 
Nodding at her, Mofe raved. “Good question. Go back to Quent and leave me the hell alone! How many times do you want me to say it?”
 
Ronke winced as new pain cut through her chest. “Do you really mean that? You’re breaking my heart, Mofe.”

~ New Release ~ 
Read Naked Attraction to find out how a hot & sexy Café owner tempts and pursues a feisty & sassy female District Judge until she submits in his bed.
Naked Attraction is out now on Amazon, Okada & Smashwords.
 
Purchase Links 
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2jsEUc6
 
AmazonUK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Naked-Attraction-Sweet-Sexy-Romance-ebook/dp/B01MS78RRP/
 
Okada Books: http://okadabooks.com/book/about/naked_attraction__a_sweet__sexy_romance/13037
 
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/698655  

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Shattered Vows: Love, Lies & Consequences Book 3

Chloe exhaled when she heard his footsteps on the wooden stairwell. She didn’t realize that she'd been holding her breath ever since she felt his hands on her body. I have to stop doing that, she chastised herself. She knew he was feeling rejected. But how did he think he made her feel when that woman showed up at the coffee shop carrying his child?

She pulled on her dress and fidgeted with it until she slid the zipper into position. She slipped into her shoes and turned around in front of the mirror, giving her clothes, makeup and hair a once-over before meeting Rico downstairs.

Rico let out a low whistle as Chloe descended the stairs with her matching camel-colored clutch under her arm.

“I’m the luckiest man in the world to have you on my arm tonight. You look beautiful, sweetie,” Rico complimented as he took her hand when she descended to the last three steps. When she made it to the bottom, he lifted her hand and brushed her wedding band with his fingers before planting a kiss on her hand.

“Thank you.” Chloe blushed a little and returned the compliment. “You look nice, too.” She noticed that he was wearing her favorite cologne as well, but didn’t make mention of it. Rico placed her hand around his arm and escorted her to the car. Their drive to the Improv was filled with chatter from Rico about what they did on previous anniversaries. She didn’t add much to the conversation, only nodded and smiled mostly. She had to admit that those times were nice, but this one was much different. In her mind was the insurmountable obstacle in front of them.

Rico had purchased their tickets online so they walked straight past the ticket booth to the entrance, where they were greeted by a hostess and shown to their VIP table near the stage. Noting the dim lighting, soft R&B music and the newly renovated facility, Chloe remembered their first date at the Improv, where they saw the comedian Arnez J in standup. They laughed until their stomachs and throats were in pain. She was hoping she would get another whiff of that tonight, although she didn’t know who the comedian was going to be. She just knew that she could use a laugh right about now. And not just any laugh, but a magic laugh that would take away all of the pain that she was feeling and trying so hard to push aside. The type of laughter that would somehow wipe the slate clean for the two of them. She was sure there was no such thing, but she was ready for the magic she hoped the night would bring for her.

She ordered a Caesar salad and he ordered buffalo wings to enjoy before the show started. On cue, the show began when the waitress came to take away their empty plates. They were tickled a little by the warm-up acts but nothing like what she was waiting for. However, she was feeling more relaxed and her body didn’t stiffen as it did earlier when Rico pulled her chair closer to his and put his arm around her.
There were still a few residual laughs from the crowd as the host appeared onstage to announce the headliner for the night—Will the Thrill. Chloe didn’t recognize the comedian’s stage name, so she knew she hadn’t heard any of his jokes before. New material. Great.

Will the Thrill jumped straight into his routine after the round of applause subsided. His first joke was about dating and how he wasn’t ready to commit to his girlfriend by getting married.
“C’mon now men. Y’all know how much extra work it is to hide the side woman when you get married. Gotta put all these codes in your phone, use aliases and lie, lie, lie. Even when you get caught, stick to the lie. Ain’t that right my man?” he joked as he gestured toward Rico.

Her anticipation waned at those jokes. In fact, they weren’t funny at all. Bad choice in her mind. What began to tick her off was that Rico was doubled over in laughter . . . clearly, something he shouldn’t have been laughing at given the situation they were in.

“What in the hell is so funny, Rico?” she sneered, leaning to the side to look up at him wiping tears from his eyes.

“What?” Rico asked, clearly confused.
“So cheating is funny?”
“Sweetie, these are just jokes. C’mon now.”

“I’m glad you think ruining our marriage and our lives is funny. I’m getting out of here!” Chloe scooted away from the table, snatched her purse and walked away with Rico following close behind.

“Looks like someone got caught doing what I just said not to do!” the comedian joked to their retreating backs as they exited the room, causing an uproar in the crowd.

Rico grabbed her hand and she spun around. She yanked her hand back and folded her arms across her chest. The look she gave would have killed him if looks could kill. Infidelity was a sore spot with her and definitely not a laughing matter. Rico couldn’t understand why she took it so seriously. Everyone in the room, except her, knew that those were only jokes. There was no reason to get upset over nothing.

But to Chloe it wasn’t nothing; it was the reason her life was turned upside down.

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