 It starts with a naughty promise… “I want to see you every minute of every day.” ~ Clifton With his emotions twisted and a dodgy past as long as his arm, Clifton Rutherford starts over as a waiter aboard a yacht. He does not count on getting fired and hired in the same breath. Now, he intends to keep his head down with his new female employer. But working as her private waiter, it is impossible for their eyes not to clash and for her fingers not to brush his own. Yet, he must keep out of her way or risk losing the only thing that means something. From the moment workaholic sensation and co-yacht owner, Kemi Adenuga hired, Clifton as her private waiter, tension simmered between them like a cracking flame. She can have any man she wants at the click of her hard-working fingers, but she does not date her employees. When he makes her a naughty promise and becomes a thorn in her skin, her body tickles during the day and her nights are dominated by his sculpted physique and eyes that make her feel something new. There is no way she is falling for her waiter. But as days grow into weeks, she finds him hard to resist. Will Kemi and Clifton trust each other with their pasts and future? Excerpt...“Wow!” Kemi laughed, as she threw the towering internal double doors open. “I’m going to enjoy stripping off my clothes just for you, Clifton.” Instantly, his eyes dimmed with desire. Clifton stood and watched her float around the lounge. “No way. I’ll strip you myself,” he contradicted with a mischievous wink. “My teeth are ready to tear off your panties.” An electric jolt surged from her heart to the spot between her thigh. Tingling heat started inside her. “Come in here, Clifton,” she called out when she opened the gilded double-door to the bedroom. When Clifton got to her side, he took her hand and they strode to the huge bed made with gold and blue sheets, coverlets and so many pillows. They looked at each other for a few seconds. “Ready?” he asked with a grin. “Yeah!” “One, two, three!” he roared and they jumped and fell backwards on the bed. The mattress felt like a super-thick bed of cotton wool beneath her body. Clifton rolled over and hugged her on the bed. His eyes blazed with passion, locked in for months. Her body roared with an intense need of her own. Slowly, he unzipped her sexy Bardot red puff-sleeve dress while she arched her back. Then he pushed down her sleeves, but he did not uncover her breasts. Her nipples peaked while waiting for his lips to wrap around their excited tips. “I’ve waited for months to see your body.” She slipped her hands inside his fitted shirt. “Same here, Clifton. It’s been sheer torture watching you wear tight pullovers and t-shirts.” “You could have taken off my top anytime.” Smiling, Kemi unbuttoned his white shirt. Without waiting to complete the unbuttoning, she spread her palms across his bare chest, moaning as she reached his nipples. “To give you an excuse to take off my clothes.” He grazed her earlobe with his teeth while he pushed one hand up her thigh. “Why didn’t you ever tell me you wanted me to take off my top?” “Take off my dress now.” She moaned softly, impatient to feel his skin on hers. She caressed every inch of his chest, shoulders and biceps with her fingers. Raw heat spread through her arms lighting up her chest and powering down to her sweet spot. Coating her neck and shoulders with his heated breath, he caressed her backside and fiddled with her thong. “There’ll be time for that, spitfire.” She could not wait. Why waste any more precious time? Lifting herself off the bed a little, she covered one of his pink nipples with her mouth and sucked. Then she flicked her tongue across his nipple slowly. Clifton jerked against her, rubbing his crotch across her mound. His bulge brushed her thigh too, making her pulse do a double dive. “I like it,” he breathed heavily, groaning as she swirled her tongue around his nipple and then nipped the soft skin gently. He worked his fingers to her partially waxed frontal and hot shock sliced through her. She whimpered and writhed, just waiting for him to screw her. Then he flipped his fingers across her thudding sweet spot. She inhaled sharply, moaning louder. With his eyes hinged to hers, he squeezed her breast through her dress and she wanted to kill him for torturing her this way. Pushing down along her body, Clifton lifted her dress and moved his face down to her thigh. With his fingers and lips, he teased, caressed and stroked her inner thigh while his other hand still brushed against her breast. Loud moans rocked out of her mouth as she wriggled against him. Strangely, the fact he had not stripped off her dress felt wonderful. It felt as if they were stealing a quickie in a room hoping they might or might not get caught. Quivers boomed inside her belly, exploding through her spine. “When are you going to screw me?” Her voice did not sound familiar. It was breathy and low. To answer her question, he snatched her thong with his teeth. Her heart almost stopped. Download...Purchase Links Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NPJT738 Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07NPJT738 UBL: https://books2read.com/u/bOZ62o Kobo:https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/naughty-promise-a-bwwm-sweet-steamy-romance Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130565400?ean=2940156228553 Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/399522236/Naughty-Promise-A-BWWM-Sweet-Steamy-Romance Playster: https://play.playster.com/books/10009781386793854/naughty-promise-a-bwwm-sweet-steamy-romance-stella-eromonsere-ajanaku Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07NPJT738 Amazon AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07NPJT738 Paperback: https://amzn.to/2GrrqfR Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/923220 Okada Books: https://publish.okadabooks.com/book/about/naughty_promise__a_bwwm_sweet__steamy_romance/25870 About Stella... I'm Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku, author of several captivating & heart-fluttering Flirty & Feisty Romance Novels. I love and enjoy writing Interracial/Multicultural, African-American Romance as well as Historical & Paranormal Romance Stories. My heroes are super-sexy men with great sense of humour and the heroines are independent & feisty. All my stories are page turners, a breath of fresh air, dotted with unexpected twists and turn, sure to make you will laugh, cry, get a thrill and a message. My novels are the perfect gifts for your friends, family and colleagues. There are now 24 published books so far. Just so you know, I'm a romantic freak, mum of two children; one vivacious adult child and one energetic teenager and I’m married to my gorgeous husband, my hero and best friend. We live in London, UK. Swimming on my back like a star-fish is one of my skills. Please write or connect with me on social media. I love hearing from you. CONNECT WITH STELLA: Blog: http://flirtyandfeistyromance.blogspot.co.uk/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4538936.Stella_Eromonsere_Ajanaku Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flirtyandfeistyromancenovels?v=wall&ref=pdem Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/106790524289597144280/posts Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/eromonsereajana/ All Flirty & Feisty Romance Novels are available on: Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Stella-Eromonsere-Ajanaku/e/B004LXE09E Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stella-Eromonsere-Ajanaku/e/B004LXE09E Okada Books: http://okadabooks.com/search?term=Stella+Eromonsere-Ajanaku Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/interview/StellaE1 Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/stella-eromonsere-ajanaku?store=allproducts&keyword=stella+eromonsere-ajanaku Website: http://www.flirtyandfeistyromancenovel.co.uk/ Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March #giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the #giveaway! To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner. 
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 Today's Marvelous March post is a sweet, tempting treat from Victoria Kennedy. Don't miss out on this snippet, enough to wet your appetite. Leave a comment on the post to be entered into the #giveaway... About Don't Walk Away...“Finding love was never part of the plan.” Leah Phillips doesn’t think she deserves happiness. For ten years, she’s blamed herself for the disastrous end of her marriage. After so much pain, she can’t imagine finding joy. Morgan Alexander is a corporate Superman with a reputation for swooping in and saving the day. He’s created a blueprint for success. But he has no idea the biggest challenge he’ll meet is in the form of a 5’4” honey-skinned, single mom named Leah. When their worlds collide, clever plans prove no match for the demands of love. Do they follow the new path placed before them or do they walk away? Excerpt...The candlelight from the votive on their table created an ambience that relaxed Leah and made her glad she’d accepted the dinner invitation. The seafood restaurant he’d chosen was located right above the marina at the Inner Harbor. Floor to ceiling windows framed an endless view of black with occasional twinkles on the face of the water. Except for three other couples, the place was almost empty. Leah was glad for that. She liked the idea of having Morgan all to herself, but she couldn’t forget her own rule about them not dating. She had no right to yearn for his kiss again, yet she couldn’t shake the reminiscence of tasting his succulent lips. “Did you enjoy your food?” His eyes communicated something else, a question where he asked for permission to touch her and even though the words were not spoken, he reached across the table to take Leah’s hand. “Yes, very much.” “You have very soft hands. You know that?” The steady rhythm of his hand rubbing hers was doing things that made being in a public place uncomfortable. Each stroke of his flesh across hers made her mouth drier and her panties wetter. Leah crossed her legs and cleared her throat. “No. But I’ll take your word for it.” She withdrew her hand from his. Morgan smiled. “You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you?” “It seems you’ve got the impression this is easy for me.” She raised her brow in a questioning gesture. “It’s not, Morgan.” “Well, let’s make it easy.” About Victoria... Victoria Kennedy is Baltimore-based writer who writes about the complexity, resilience, and beauty of Black love. In Where Love Goes (2016) she explores the dynamics of love across the Diaspora. Included in this is The Uninvited Guest a short story which has been adapted into an eponymous stage play. Her debut novel, Sometimes Love, was published in 2017 by Brown Girls Books. Victoria’s work can also be found in The Dating Game (Brown Girls Books), Welter, and on her blog victoriakennedywritenow.wordpress.com. She is the founder of Zora’s Den, a sisterhood of Black women writers who gather virtually and in person to provide support, encouragement, and sisterhood within the local and global community of black women writers. What started as an invitation-only Facebook group, has grown into a writing workshop series, a monthly writers’ circle, and a reading series, In Our Own Words. Victoria holds an MFA in Creative Writing & Publishing Arts and her second novel Don’t Walk Away, was released in March 2019. Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March #giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the #giveaway! To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.   Marvelous March takes a turn down an enticing road on a remake of an old favorite. Check out Y. M. Sheree's excerpt from Fantasy Island. Leave a comment on the post to be entered into her #giveaway... About Fantasy Island...If you were given the opportunity to fulfill all of your fantasies, would you take a chance of a lifetime? Are you in need of a spark of excitement in your life again? With the possibility of winning a trip to Fantasy Island you realize that there is more to this island than just its name. Four unsuspecting winners of the contest are about to embark on an adventurous journey that will forever change their lives. Meet the Contest Winners: Melody Edwards, Johanna Michaels, Makayla Washington, and Jacob Winters. Melody is a wife of three years who has found herself having self-image issues. Johanna, is cursed with not being able to sustain relationships. Makayla is the soon to be wife, yet she never seems to be satisfied with her life. Jacob, is the widower who longs for love again but unsure if anyone would be able to fill that void. Although, their reasons may vary they all have one goal in common: escaping reality. Can this luxurious island fulfill all of their desires or will it leave them craving for more? Fantasy Island is full of twists, turns, and sensual moments to keep you on edge…. Excerpt...Disclaimer In today's society, everyone has certain ideals they feel everyone should live by. Where others have fantasies that they have wanted to explore and live out without having to be judged by friends or family? If given a chance would you take that leap forward to give in to every fantasy you've ever dreamed of? Would you give over complete control to the individuals capable of satisfying your every need and desire? Open yourself physically and mentally to an adventure of a lifetime. I established Hidden Treasures, but my identity doesn't matter at this moment. Just know that your desires being sated gives me complete and utter satisfaction. Unknown to you, I have a lot invested in this island. I feel that it is natural to give unto your deepest and darkest fantasies. Please enjoy yourself as my staff indulges in your insatiable appetites. Lady N Prologue "Corbin, can you come in here please?" Lady N requested. Corbin Brooks joined his employer into her adjoining office. He couldn't help but drink in her beauty as he took a seat beside her on the couch. The scent of Jasmine drifted in the air as the breeze blew in from the patio doors. He met Lady N almost three years ago when she was penning her first novel in Starbucks. Being the bold and charismatic individual he was, he sashayed over to her and asked what she was writing. Lady N being the outgoing person she was, answered him without hesitation and explained to him she was writing an Erotic novel. Corbin being intrigued had sat with her for almost two hours that day, and they have become the best of friends over the years. Lady N gave him the position of being her assistant, and he was her confidant as well. "You rang?" He nudged her slightly with his shoulder. He knew she was in the process of beginning her fourth novel, but had writer's block. "This writer's block is killing me, and I have a deadline of June 1st to meet for my publisher. I know the concept of my story, but it's how to begin it and end it. It is already March, so we need to devise a plan." "What do you need me to do?" "I need you to help brainstorm with me on how to set my plan in motion." "Alright, what are the details?" Corbin asked as he walked towards her desk to grab a pad and pen so he could jot down their ideas. "You know that I am trying to write an Erotic story bigger than my prior books." Corbin nodded his head in agreement before Lady N continued. "I have this big island with people that invested in timeshares so why not use that as an advantage to help me write my book." "Ok so far I am following you but how would you do that?" "Do you remember that TV show back in the early 80's I think it was called Fantasy Island with Mr. Rourke and Tattoo? You know they came to the island for a fantasy. Once they left the island what they wanted had been fulfilled in one way or another." "Yea, I loved that show, but now when you watch it, it's a bit corny. My questions to you are how is that going to help you with your book? Also, how would you get people to come here?" "I was thinking I could have you post a writing contest about sexual fantasies and choose about four winners to come here. Maybe even have them fill out a short little questionnaire about themselves. I can use their experiences as feedback for my book." Corbin jotted down the information on the paper before giving his input. "If you can pull this off I think your book will be epic. This might be the one that someone wants to turn into a movie, and it's a different spin on the old television show. Are you going to let anyone know your real identity?" "Not at all, that's where you will come in. You will be my Tattoo but cuter." She pinched him on his cheek. She loved her friend. He was like the sister she never had. When she met Corbin, he was a ball of energy and carefree about whom he was. Lady N fell in love with his personality, and there was nothing that they didn't know about each other. "I will have you meet the winners and make sure that their needs are met. Let's get started, I only have a few months to get this book completed." About Y. M. Sheree... Y. M. Sheree is an Army veteran who currently resides in Portsmouth, Virginia. She is a proud mother of two daughters and three fur babies. A graduate of Colorado Technical University she has received two MBAs, one in Business Administration and the other in Project Management. While in High School a short story written about, King Author gained attention of the librarians. She switched her knight to a female and the damsel had been a male. Her best friend co-authored a book when they attended High School together. While stationed in Germany, she tried her hand at poetry that she sent to a publishing company that turned her down stating her writing was journal entries and not poetry in 2009. Her spirit crushed she put her pen down and stopped writing until 2015. Mary B. Morrison challenged aspiring writers to write a book in ninety days on Facebook. Y.M. Sheree took the challenge as a hobby to pass her time not knowing that later on that year her first published work Purple Haze would release in October 2015. She now has five published books on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com, Purple Haze, Purple Haze 2, The Switch Up, Fantasy Island, and Lady Guardians Hampton Roads Isis. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music, playing video games on her Xbox one, and she is a diehard Baltimore Ravens fan and Golden State Warriors. Known for writing Erotica she plans on being versatile and write in different genres. CONTACT Y.M. SHEREE: Visit my website at https://authorymsheree.wordpress.com/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14556193.Y_M_Shere Instagram https://www.instagram.com/y.m.sheree/ Twitter https://twitter.com/YMSheree Email: ymsheree@gmail.com Facebook Pages: https://www.facebook.com/VABredSag https://www.facebook.com/ymsheree https://www.facebook.com/groups/203213460015153/ Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March #giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the #giveaway! To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.   Today's #marvelousmarch is about a second chance at love. But will our hero be able to convince the heroine to take a second chance? Read Sheryl Lister's snippet and leave a comment to be entered into the #giveaway. About Sweet Summer Days...Celeste Williams has finally gotten her life back on track and the last thing on her mind is dating again. Then she meets Thaddeus Whitcomb, a man as caring as he is handsome. The chemistry between them is instant and irresistible. Celeste thought no man could move her as deeply as her late husband, but Thad rekindles a passion she never believed she’d feel again. Since his divorce years ago, Thad has lived a full and successful life. The moment Celeste crosses his path, he realizes she’s the piece he never knew had been missing. As friendship blossoms into more, Thad discovers a second chance at romance. But Celeste begins to retreat. Once he uncovers her reasons for becoming distant, he’ll do whatever it takes to convince the sensual beauty that nothing matters more than their love. Purchase link: http://bit.ly/SweetSummerDays Excerpt...“Penny for your thoughts.” “My thoughts are worth far more than a penny.” Thad laughed. “Okay, then. Ten dollars for your thoughts.” She held out her hand. “Pay up and I’ll tell you everything you want to know.” He stopped. “Excuse me?” “You said ten dollars for my thoughts.” She shrugged. “I’m waiting on the money before I divulge my secrets.” She cracked up at the stunned look on his face. Celeste gave him a winning smile and wiggled her fingers. It was her turn to be surprised when he pulled a twenty-dollar bill from his wallet and placed it in her hand. “Double the money, double the thoughts.” Her mouth fell open. “I’m waiting, Miss My-Thoughts-Are-Worth-More-Than-A-Penny.” He folded his arms and lifted a brow. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. She couldn't stop the laughter spilling from her lips. He joined her and the two of them stood on the beach doubled over. It had been a long time since Celeste experienced such freedom and peace. The man in front of her had a lot to do with it. She wiped tears of mirth from her eyes. “You are so good for me, Thaddeus Whitcomb.” A look of tenderness filled his face. “And meeting you, Celeste, has been the best thing to happen to me. Thank you for coming into my life.” “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” The kiss that followed expressed every emotion she felt at that moment. His kisses had always been passionate, but she sensed something different this time. Something that let her know this was anything but casual. Desire raced through her and grabbed her with such force, her body trembled. She broke off the kiss and rested her head against his shoulder. Deborah’s words came back to her. Don’t be afraid to tell Thad what you want. Chances are he’s going to wait for you to say it. Today, she would take a page out of her sister’s book. “I’m ready to go back to the hotel.” Thad’s brows knit in concern. “Are you okay.” “I will be once we get to the room.” Celeste saw the instant he understood. “We should probably push back those dinner reservations.” They had been at the beach for less than an hour, but she didn’t want one second of their time to be rushed. He took out his phone at the same time he started walking. By the time they reached the car, he’d accomplished the task. “I changed it to eight and that gives us an additional hour and a half.” “I’m certain that’s enough time. For now.” “If it’s not, there’s always room service.” About Sheryl... Sheryl Lister is a multi-award winning author and has enjoyed reading and writing for as long as she can remember. She is a former pediatric occupational therapist with over twenty years of experience and resides in California. Sheryl is a wife, mother of three daughters and a son-in-love, and grandmother to two special little boys. When she’s not writing, Sheryl can be found on a date with her husband or in the kitchen creating appetizers. For more information, visit her website at www.sheryllister.com. CONTACT SHERYL: Website:www.sheryllister.com Facebook:www.facebook.com/sheryllisterauthor Twitter:www.twitter.com/1slynne Instagram: sheryllister Website:www.sheryllister.com Facebook:www.facebook.com/sheryllisterauthor Twitter:www.twitter.com/1slynne Instagram: sheryllister Website:www.sheryllister.com Facebook:www.facebook.com/sheryllisterauthor Twitter:www.twitter.com/1slynne Instagram: sheryllister Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March #giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the #giveaway! To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.   It's a new week of Marvelous March and my friend, Te Russ is heating it up with a spicy excerpt from Vigilante Love! Check it out and leave a comment to be entered into the #giveaway. About Vigilante Love...Newly appointed District Attorney Trish Barnes is determined to win the biggest case of her career and nothing is going to stop her...not even her life being in danger. When Boomer Thompson steps up to protect her, Trish quickly realizes that the man who once had her heart, just might still have it. Boomer never thought Trish would ever be back in his life, but here she is and she needs him now more than ever. He’ll do everything in his power to keep her safe, but he realizes that he’s also in danger...of falling in love with her all over again. Excerpt...Boomer Thompson adjusted the mask on his face as he strolled the outer perimeter of the ballroom where the Mayor’s Masquerade Gala was being held. Officially he was only there as a guest. Unofficially he, along with Silas Stone, were there on behalf of McAllister Security, as their branch was the hired protection for the evening’s events. They had men scattered throughout the room, blending in as if they were guests, but ready in case anything went down. Boomer didn’t foresee anything bad happening, but with so many prominent figures in one room, he wasn’t about to let his guard down. He was ready for anything. Well...almost anything, he thought to himself as he froze. It didn’t matter that she was wearing an intricate mask, he recognized her instantly as she entered the room, on the arm of a man who was wearing a tux that was obviously a rental. He took his time openly taking her in from head to toe. Her hair was up high, showing off her neck – one of his favorite body parts on her. She looked amazing in the cream, strapless gown that hugged her waist before flaring out all around her. Looking at her in that dress, he couldn’t help but imagine what it would have been like to see her walking down the aisle...towards him. “You good, man?” he heard Silas ask him. He’d obviously seen her too. “Never better,” Boomer replied, watching her date hold her chair out for her. “Don’t do anything stupid, Boom,” Silas warned. Boomer gave Silas a smirk as he finished off the drink in his tumbler. Since he wasn’t technically on the clock tonight, he definitely wasn’t about to turn down a perfectly good glass of bourbon. He placed his glass on the tray of a passing waiter and weaved his way through the crowd. It had been years since Boomer had seen her in person, but dammit if that woman didn’t still make his heart skip a beat whenever he was in her presence. He probably should just leave her be, especially since she wasn’t alone, but he couldn’t seem to stop his feet from making their way over to her table, where she’d just settled down into her seat. “District Attorney Barnes,” he said, and her head whipped around at the sound of his voice. He watched as those beautiful brown eyes of hers grew wide with shock as her gaze quickly swept over him. “Andre,” she nearly whispered. Not many people called him by his first name, but she’d always insisted on it. And it always sounded good rolling off her lips. “Been a long time, Trish,” he said. “It has,” she replied, her eyes still locked with his. The sound of the man sitting next to her clearing his throat forced them to sever their eye contact. “Oh...umm...Andre, this is Dr. Connor Dickenson. Connor, this is Andre Thompson. My...” His eyebrow raised out of curiosity on how she intended on finishing that phrase. “Dear, old friend,” she finally said. “Nice to meet you,” Connor said, holding his hand out to Boomer. He took Connor’s hand and firmly gripped it. “Likewise,” he said. He released Connor’s hand and turned back to Trish. “I do hope you save a dance...for your ‘dear, old friend’.” And then he turned and walked off. He made his way back to the bar and ordered another drink. He turned and found her eyes on him. She quickly looked away, trying to focus on whatever it was her date was talking about. He grinned as he picked up his drink, nodding his thanks to the bartender. Tonight was going to be more fun than he’d anticipated. She’d felt his eyes on her all night. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t steal a few glances of her own. Why did he have to look so damn good, she wondered as she took another sip of her wine. Connor didn’t seem to notice any difference; of course he’d been spending most of the evening droning on about the surgery that had forced him to cancel their dinner plans several nights ago. He was a nice enough guy, but sometimes Connor seemed a little self-absorbed. She’d actually been glad when a phone call pulled him away and she’d taken the opportunity to go to the ladies room. Upon returning to the ballroom and realizing that Connor was still preoccupied on the phone, Trish decided to circulate and speak to a few familiar faces, including the mayor. “Congratulations, District Attorney Barnes.” “Thank you, Madam Mayor. As usual, you’re throwing a lovely event.” “Of course it’s the biggest benefit of the year for raising awareness, and funds, to help students who are looking to go to college.” “And we’re behind you one hundred percent. Not only has the DA’s office made a contribution, but I’ve personally made one myself.” “We appreciate that so much.” The mayor’s eyes lit up and the hairs on the back of Trish’s neck suddenly stood up. “Mr. Thompson!” the mayor exclaimed. “Madam Mayor,” Boomer said, gracing her with that charming smile of his. “Wonderful event.” “Thank you, Mr. Thompson,” the mayor responded. Was she blushing?! Trish refrained from rolling her eyes. The man was too charismatic for his own good. “I just wanted to see if I could steal DA Barnes away for a dance. But if I’m interrupting...” “Not at all!” the mayor exclaimed. “You two go on.” Trish turned and looked up at Boomer, who had his hand outstretched towards her. “May I have this dance?” Trish swallowed hard and then took a step forward, placing her hand in his. Heat shot through every cell in her body; and when he pulled her flush against his body and placed his hand dangerously low on her back, she couldn’t fight the tremor that raced down her spine. They danced for a few minutes in silence before he spoke. “‘A dear, old friend’,” Boomer murmured into her ear. “So that’s how you introduce me?” She should have known he wasn’t going to just let that slide. “Andre,” she sighed. “How else was I supposed to introduce you?” His eyes shot up to the ceiling in thought and she couldn’t help but study his face. The mask he was wearing did nothing to hide his strong jawline. She’d always been mesmerized by his eyes. And his lips. Full, sensuous lips that used to do wickedly, wonderful things to her body. As if reading her mind, he looked down into her eyes before he pressed his lip close to her ear again and whispered, “You could have told him that I was the best lover you’d ever had.” Trish couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped her lips. “I see you’re still a smug son of a bitch.” “I’m only repeating words that came from your sexy ass mouth, baby,” he said, a teasing grin on his lips. “I am curious as to whether or not someone new has taken up the mantle...” “That’s really none of your business,” she snapped. His comment hadn’t irritated her as much as the way her body was responding to the gentle way his fingers were circling her back had. “I suppose not,” he said, with a nonchalant shrug. Changing the subject, he looked at her again and asked, “Did you get my flowers?” “I did,” she said, nodding. “Thank you, Andre. They were beautiful.” “I’m proud of you, Trish. I hope you know that.” His words sent warmth through her body. He’d always been supportive of her dreams and goals. She licked her lips and she felt his hold on her body tighten. “Don’t do that, Bee,” he growled. She drew in a sharp breath at the nickname she hadn’t heard in years. He used to call her his ‘honey bee’. Because even though she was tough as hell and her words could sting like an aggravated bee, she also had a sweet side, like honey. His honey. “Dre,” she sighed, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment before opening them again, only to find him staring at her heatedly. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Trish heard, “Mind if I cut in?” She looked over her shoulder and saw Connor standing there. “Not at all,” Boomer said. She shouldn’t have been as disappointed as she was when Boomer released his arm from around her waist, and she hoped it didn’t show on her face. “Thank you for the dance, DA Barnes,” Boomer said, lifting her hand up to his mouth and placing a kiss there, never taking his eyes off of her face. Before he released her hand, she felt him discreetly run his thumb over the bracelet she almost never took off, and he gave her a knowing grin. She watched as he disappeared into the crowd and nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt Connor’s hand on her shoulder. She plastered a smile onto her face and moved into Connor’s arms, not feeling an ounce of spark like what she’d felt the moment she’d touched Boomer’s hand. DOWNLOAD... About Te... Té Russ is a contemporary romance author who focuses on stories centered around black love. With over 30 projects under her belt, she continues to bring soulful tales to life. In addition to writing, Té is also a certified aerial yoga instructor and teaches at a local studio. She enjoys spending her free time with her family, baking or reading. CONNECT WITH TE: Facebook: www.facebook.com/TeRussNovels & www.facebook.com/TeRussAuthor Twitter: www.twitter.com/TeRussNovels Blog: www.terussnovels.blogspot.com Email: terussnovels@gmail.com Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March #giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the #giveaway! To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.   About The Heart of Things...One man knows what he wants, and he's willing to go to any lengths to make her his. J.L. Campbell brings us a spicy excerpt from an island romance today on Marvelous March. Leave a comment on the post to be entered into the giveaway. After a year-long Jamaica-Miami romance, Douglas Blythe succeeds in putting a ring on Khalila Skyers’ finger. Though gun-shy, Khalila is willing to marry Douglas, under one condition. She wants a baby. Doug can’t go back on his promise to give her anything she wants but sees trouble on the horizon with two teenage girls, a hectic business schedule, a devious ex-wife, plus a household turned upside down by a baby he doesn’t want. Their commitment to each other is unquestionable, but will this couple’s differences bind them together…or force them apart? Excerpt...Dinner consisted of us talking about what my daughters were doing and the strides Khalila was making with her business. We watched television and sipped wine, to Khalila’s disgust. I deliberately kept things at my pace to enhance her excitement. At bedtime, she showed me exactly why I missed having her with me each night. I took my time making love to her and prolonged the tension between us, until we both crashed over the edge in a sweaty pile. As she continued to shudder, I pulled out the ring I’d stuck under the pillow and slipped it on her finger. “I love you, Khalila. Marry me…please.” She curled her fist, then flexed her fingers and brought the ring close to her face to peer at the 24-karat gold ring with a cluster of diamonds nestled in a channel. The diamonds, arranged in a circle, winked as flashes of light danced off them. Khalila’s mouth opened and she licked her lips. Then she curled on her side, faced me, and sighed. I kissed her, knowing she was coming up with something I didn’t want to hear. “Doug…” “I’m not taking no for an answer,” I said, letting my breath out in a harsh gust. “You know how I feel about what we’re doing. I haven’t pressured you, but I want you for keeps. You know what.” She sighed again. “Yes, I do.” “So, what’s keeping you from making me a happy man?” Our eyes met in the darkness broken by the light from the window, and she cupped my cheek. “I’m not ready to tell you. Let’s sleep on it tonight and we’ll talk in the morning.” I pulled away to look at her. “You’re kidding me, right?” She shook her head as she trailed a finger down my stomach. “I’ve never been more serious.” When her hand found its target, I sucked in a deep breath and cleared the huskiness from my throat. “You’re gonna play dirty too?” Her laughter was soft and sultry. “If that’s what you call it.” “With all this diversion you’re doing, this has to be something big.” She refused to look at me as she traced a path to my belly button, but her smug expression told me she had a secret. “Stop fishing and let’s enjoy each other.” I brushed her neck with my moustache, and as she shivered, I whispered, “Whatever you want, Kally.” She moaned and pulled me closer. “I like the sound of that.” I kissed the soft globes of her breasts, mumbling in between. “As long as you’re gonna marry me, you can have anything you like.” She gripped my head between her hands to look me in the eyes. “Anything?” Without hesitation, I nodded. “Anything.” Download: https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Things-Medias-Res-Book-ebook/dp/B07PF2VW8D About J.L.... J.L. Campbell is an award-winning Jamaican author who has written over thirty books. She writes contemporary and sweet romance, romantic suspense, women's fiction, as well as new and young adult novels. Campbell, who features Jamaican culture in her stories, is fascinated with the island's flora and has hundreds of photos in her collection. She is a certified editor and also writes non-fiction. CONNECT WITH J.L. Amazon: amazon.com/author/jlcampbell Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-l-campbell Twitter: @JL_Campbell FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/jlcampbellwrites/ Newsletter Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/n29ZH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jl.campbell/ Website: www.joylcampbell.com Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March #giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the #giveaway! Join us tomorrow for Marvelous March, the giveaways begin! To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.   A little bit of flirting has never hurt anyone. And when one man's bold flirtatious statement elicits a bold reaction from one woman, where will it lead? Read S. Taylor's excerpt on today's Marvelous March post and leave a comment to be entered into the giveaway! About Honeydew...Clarisse Jordan is a young single mother, who after the death of her fiancé, poured blood, sweat, and tears into her business, Honeydew Café, to provide for her children. A catering gig for successful and super sexy Dylan Price is the opportunity of a lifetime. But she quickly learns that Mr. Price is interested in more than her Southern cuisine. He has his sights set on her. Dylan has been in love with Clarisse for years and would do anything to have her—even if it means forcing her into marriage. Lucky for him, the instant chemistry between them is hotter than a mid-summer day beneath the Georgia sun. Yet Dylan is not completely honest with Clarisse, and when she learns the painful truth, will their love affair end? Or will they be able to find their way back to each other? Excerpt...The short elevator ride only amps up my excitement, which now has the fingers of my right hand drumming the side of my leg. When the doors finally open, I dash off in the direction of the banquet hall. When I round the corner, I stop short when I see Clarisse pacing near the doors. She’s taking a call, and I advance at a much slower pace, attempting to eavesdrop on her conversation. “I’m happy you enjoyed the movie Uncle Connor took you and FJ to see,” I hear when I move even closer, taking advantage of her back to me. She’s so consumed with her call—from her daughter, I believe—that she doesn’t know I’m standing mere feet from her. “No, I’m not on my way, Riley…It’ll be late when I make it home.” She huffs out a little chuckle. “I’m happy you called me to say goodnight. Do you think your brother wants to say goodnight too?” Her right hand slides over the back of her neck and gives a squeeze, then slides back to her shoulder and gives another firm squeeze, attempting to knead her tight muscles. She’s tense and my fingers twitch at the thought of massaging her there. “I wasn’t going to call you beautiful…yeah, yeah, I know it’s for girls. I love you my handsome son. Is that better?” The deep chuckle that escapes my lips startles her and she faces me with wide beautiful eyes. “I have to go sweetheart, goodnight. Tell Uncle Connor I’ll see him later.” The sweet tone in her voice from seconds ago is replaced with a tight professional one. “Taking a break?” I’m still smiling when I ask because she looks so adorable, like she was caught passing notes in class. “My daughter called me. It’s the first night I wasn’t home to say goodnight.” She offers a nervous smile, then tucks the hair behind her left ear, exposing more of her lovely face. “I see. Was she satisfied?” “What?” “Your daughter, was she satisfied with your goodnight over the phone?” She smiles again, this one more relaxed. “No.” She giggles and shakes her head when she answers, then fingers her hair behind her right ear. “But she’ll be okay,” she adds. “Are you okay?” “Of course, I’m wonderful, Mr. Price. Thanks for asking. You know, I should get back in there.” She backs away from me, but there is no way in hell I’m letting her get away now that I have her to myself. “It must be challenging?” I call out and she stops. I close the distance between us. “Being a working mom.” “It has its challenges, but I love working, owning my own business, being able to build something from the ground up.” “And you’ve built something amazing, Ms. Jordan.” “With all due respect, Mr. Price, you still haven’t tried the food.” She smiles up at me. “You got me, no, I haven’t tried the food tonight. I had some work in my office I had to see to.” “You should have said something. I would have brought you a plate.” Her smile slips away. “I mean, I would have sent you up a plate.” “I wouldn’t have accepted a plate from anyone but you.” With a slight tilt of my head, I’m able to see more of her face since she lowered her gaze after my bold statement. “It’s not every day a guy has a hot meal brought to him by a very beautiful woman.” “Thank you.” She fingers the hair that’s slipped free back behind her ears, and I can see her blush. I bend closer to her ear and whisper, “Should I head back up to my office in hopes of you coming to me?” She lifts her head and stares into my eyes, her expression a surprised gaze, and I’m thinking I may have gone too far with my comment. But Ms. Clarisse Jordan surprises the hell out of me when she stretches her neck and brings her face closer to mine. “Maybe you should.” Her warm breath kisses my ear lobe. She pulls away, and her smile shakes my insides. Sales links: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N96L5N1 Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/honeydew-s-taylor/1130422329?ean=2940161342558 Apple: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/honeydew/id1451116225?mt=11&at=1000ldsT Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/honeydew-7 Universal: books2read.com/Honeydew About S. Taylor... S. Taylor discovered a love of storytelling at the age of twelve. She would entertain her cousins with exciting adventures and tales of young love; which changed over the years from telling tales at sleepovers to writing several short stories. For S. Taylor writing remained a hobby until 2009 when she decided to share this love with others. She writes love at first sight romance novels full of passion, erotic moments and emotional conflicts with a satisfying happily ever after ending. She is a Texas native, wife and busy mother of five daughters. She spends her free time mediating sibling arguments, relaxing with yoga and discovering new and tasty vegan dishes she enjoys cooking for her family. Contact links: Website – www.staylorromance.com https://www.instagram.com/s_taylor2013/ https://twitter.com/s_taylor2013 Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March #giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the #giveaway! Join us tomorrow for Marvelous March, the giveaways begin! To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.   Suzette is giving us a glimpse into her Night series with an intriguing intro. A little bit of suspense and intrigue is the order of the day on today's Marvelous March post. Remember to leave a comment to be entered into the giveaway. About Seductive Nights...Local celebrity chef and restaurateur, Julio Castro is living his dream. He’s satisfied with his professional life and now wants a family of his own, but Julio’s biggest regret is rejecting love to advance his career. Alexandria (Alex) Lawrence is raising her three-year-old daughter, Maliah, and running two businesses. She also has misgivings because she’s kept her child a secret, with good reason. Fate intervenes, and Julio feels betrayed when he meets his daughter. He falls in love with Maliah and is determined to win Alex’s heart. As they co-parent, Alex rediscovers the spark that brought them together years ago. When the opportunity comes for Julio to rise to national celebrity chef status, will he choose Alex and Maliah? Or his chance to make it big? Coming Soon...About Suzette... Suzette Riddick is a wife, mother and nurse practitioner who enjoys writing about flawed characters on a quest for love. She is an Amazon Best-Selling Author of Multicultural Romance and was a featured author in USA Today ~ Happy Ever After. A native of Philadelphia, PA, Suzette loves to travel, read, and is addicted to Chanel parfum. To learn more about Suzette visit her website at www.suzetteriddick.com. Visit her Amazon author page: http://bit.ly/suzettebooks Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March #giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the #giveaway! Join us tomorrow for Marvelous March, the giveaways begin! To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.   It's the second week of Marvelous March and Angelia kicks off the week with a man who's dealing with heartache in the only way he knows how. His attitude and outlook on love may just create a challenge for his therapist. Read on and leave a comment to be entered into the giveaway. There may be two winners today, don't miss your chance! About Confessions of a Love Addict...Marcus Albright is devastated when his marriage ends and painful truths are revealed. To deal with it, he goes on a falling in love marathon only to discover he can’t maintain it but for so long... his therapist, Augusta Melba says he’s a love addict but is it that simple? He has to confess some things first. Excerpt...Marcus Albright sat across from his therapist. After weeks of therapy he was still uncomfortable. As a thirty four year old black man, sitting in front of a therapist wasn’t how he saw his future. But here he was pouring out his heart to a woman who seemed to see his soul. Augusta Melba was highly recommended and after another breakup he had to talk to someone. He was starting to feel like a Love Addict. Augusta made a few notations before glancing up at her newest patient. Marcus was a contrast of looks. He was clearly a black man but his curly/ straight hair that was cropped short indicated a bit of Asia flowing through his blood. His skin was dark, his eyes and hair black and his features prominent. But he had yet to make full eye contact. She watched him, shift his body under her gaze. “Would you like water or something Marcus, you seem slightly uncomfortable.” Marcus set up straighter, pulling on the legs of his baggy jeans. He ventured a glance at her and her eyes beneath the huge Jackie O glasses were fixed on him but her expression was inscrutable. “What I would like is for you to not look at me so damn hard!” He said. Augusta didn’t adjust her glance. DOWNLOAD About Angelia... Angelia Vernon Menchan is wife, mother, nana and mentor. Since January 2006, she has published 34 printed books and an additional 124 ebooks through her small publishing company, MAMM Productions. She is also the Co-founder of Honorable MENCHAN Media, through which she has published books for 15 authors to date. Her personal motto is, 'There is abundance through God for all of us; we simply have to be open for our blessings.' CONNECT WITH ANGELIA... Twitter: @angelmenchan Instagram: @angeliamenchan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angeliam Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AngeliaVernonMenchan/ Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00474HCEC Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March #giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the #giveaway! Join us tomorrow for Marvelous March, the giveaways begin! To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.   It's the end of the first week of Marvelous March, and Celeste is closing us out on a romantically sweet note. When one woman has designed her life in such a manner that she is independent of others, the thought of someone taking care of her heart might seem a bit unsettling. Or is it? Read on and don't forget to comment to be entered into the giveaway. About I Am Moore...One family. Eight sisters, tangled in romance. Emery Moore moved away from home after finishing her juris doctorate. She was a successful corporate attorney and had been living in Washington D. C. for the past five years. It wasn’t often that she returned home to Atlanta, but the love of her family drew her back. Emery had success in so many facets of her life, but she hadn’t been as lucky in love. The word love was unsettling for Emery; it was loaded with notions of submissiveness and sacrifice, the loss of self and being dependent on another person. Notions Emery wasn’t sure she wanted. Yet, there was someone Emery couldn’t shake her soul loose of and she tussled with her heart and the sensible tug in her mind daily. Evan Stanton Esq. had been an integral part of Emery Moore’s life for the past six months. He like she, was an attorney. During the day, the attorneys at law litigated from different sides of the aisle; fighting with everything they had for their clients. But for the past few months, business was left at the door, and the fighting ended as Evan and Emery delved into uncharted territory. Evan loved how Emery felt in his arms. The curve of her hips, the arch in her back made it difficult to keep his hands off her. It wasn’t always like this. Emery had to be pursued, and although Evan was attracted to her unapologetic disposition in the courtroom, along with her sophisticated air, Emery was a challenge; one that Evan planned to take on full steam ahead. Excerpt..."Emery felt the coolness of the marble floors under her feet. Evan lifted his arm, inviting her to wrap hers around his as she had done so many times before. They stepped down together and Emery felt the coolness replaced by the warmth of the sand under her feet. As they moved along the beach, Emery’s heart pulsed at a steady beat. Adrenaline coursed through her as the familiar feeling of being safe in Evan’s arms assaulted her senses. When Evan paused, Emery paused with him. Stepping from behind him, the reason he stopped came into view. It took Emery a moment to take it all in. “I hope you like it,” Evan said as he moved a step closer. Emery’s eyes danced as she looked at what Evan had done. The secluded area of the beach was lit with flaming torch lamps. There were blankets on the sand with baskets of food and a vat of wine. She didn’t notice it at first until she heard the soft strumming of an acoustic guitar being played by a musician not far away. “It’s a picnic,” she mused, as a smile spread across her face. Seeing that smile warmed Evans' heart. Placing his hand on the small of her back, Evan escorted Emery onto the blankets and held her hand as she sat down. “Are you surprised,” Evan asked, sitting down across from her. “I am,” Emery replied. Evan had always been generous. He had exquisite taste and didn’t mind lavishing Emery with the finer things. She thought he would do something to try and impress her, something over the top. But this? Emery had not anticipated. She was pleasantly surprised. “I just wanted it to be you and me,” Evan began. “Well, him too,” Evan smirked, looking back at the guitarist. Emery smiled with him. “Seriously Emery, I wanted us to have a chance to leave everything and everyone else behind and it just be us. I miss us.” “I miss us, too,” Emery sighed. “That’s good to hear,” Evan replied. There was a genuine soul-stirring smile that eased across his lips. Seeing him, Emery smiled with Evan." Download: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079LG6N4W/ About Celeste... Love. It is a many splendid thing, isn’t it? Yet, it’s not a straight path from one heart to another. Most often, love is a tangled mess that challenges our thoughts, beliefs, and challenges us to prove over and over that we are more than enamored with an individual. Love is a tangled conglomeration of what the mind thinks, what the soul feels, and what the heart knows. And I write about it... Feel free to follow me on Amazon at The Celeste Granger and join my Facebook group @ Facebook. You can also become a part of my newsletter @newsletter. https://www.amazon.com/Celeste-Granger/e/B079DCSLGR/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1943300475969127/ Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March #giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the #giveaway! Join us tomorrow for Marvelous March, the giveaways begin! To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.   It's another Marvelous March post and IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!! The one-night stand with Maxwell Emerson, left her hungry for so much more. Deciding to take matters into her own hands, Bristol shows up on his doorstep to claim what she's been hungering for. Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered into the #giveaway. Romance columnist, Bristol Collins wants to heal her broken relationship with her fiancé, Joe after the loss of their daughter Camden. When she discovers treachery in her inner circle, she seeks solace in her professional life. Longing for more, she discovers within herself a secret passion to join The Lady Guardians, a strong, independent female motorcycle club. On her quest, she meets Rogue and one passionate night leads to more, and her search for freedom unlocks secrets in her life and his. Firefighter, Maxwell “Rogue” Emerson loves his bike and his music, but lately he’s wanted one thing. One night with the beautiful but broken-hearted vixen named Wyked, has him wanting more than he’s allowed himself to dream of in the last five years. When Wyked and Rogue join forces his love frees her to explore the woman she wants to be and uncover the woman she is destined to become. Will their love be strong enough to give her the healing she desires, even after she learns the truth about Rogue? Excerpt... “Hi,” he greeted, standing in his doorway wearing jeans sagging low on his hips. The sun shone through the open doorway, highlighting the red and orange ink of the musical notes dancing from the globe tattooed on his chest. Full lips turned up in a surprised smile as his arms clenched both sides of the doorway. “Hey yourself. I figured I’d drop by to see you in person. All this texting back and forth is getting kind of old,” Bristol stated, walking closer to him. She had no idea if he had company or not, and she didn’t care. As his arms dropped down to his sides, her eyes went to the dragon tattooed on the right bicep. “Come in. I was just getting ready to cook,” he said, opening the door wider for her to step inside. “Expecting company?” “Nah. But I’m glad company dropped in,” he said, his eyes raking over her, as he reached for her coat that she removed. “Good,” she replied, stepping out of her heels and unzipping her designer jeans. “Damn, like that?” “Mmm, like that,” she replied, shimmying out of her jeans and standing back up to remove her silk wine-colored blouse. “Wait,” he said, resting his hands on her lacy bra, gently pressing his thumbs over the ridged material. “Don’t wanna,” she remarked, removing his hands and then unhooking her bra. Bristol released a sigh of relief when his lips covered her breast and his tongue greedily lapped at her nipple. “Mmmm,” she moaned, purring at the touch of his large hands between her legs. If this was all he wanted, then she was willing to give him just that. She’d had enough of broken hearts and deceptive relationships to last a lifetime. Her relationship with Joe had been the only serious one in her life, but his scars and deceit had left her wounded for a lifetime. And if Breezy thought sending a warning about Emerson’s mischievous behavior was enough to ward her off, then she had another thought coming. He was just the perfect amount of wickedness that she needed in her life, she thought, as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Emerson made his way to the dining area with her wrapped tightly around him, balancing her along the way. When he laid her down on the cool glass of the table, breaking their kiss, she instantly reached out for him again. He moved out of her grasp and begin unbuttoning and unzipping his own jeans. Bristol moved her hands seductively down her sides, until her fingers caught the edges of her panties. Tugging them down, she arched her back to lift her hips from the table. Emerson reached out to grab her panties just as she got them in the groove behind her knees. With one fierce tug, he ripped them off her. Emerson laughed at the shocked expression she wore. “I don’t want nothing to come between me and my meal,” he said, as he kneeled and pushed her legs up and spread her thighs apart. Bristol hissed at the feel of his mouth on her throbbing vulva. Hungry was not the word to describe Emerson. The man was famished as he greedily sucked her in, his head moving from side to side as he tried to get enough of her juices. Her hands had a mind of their own as they alternated between grabbing his head and pushing him further into her and squeezing her breasts to her own pleasure. Emerson stoked a fire in Bristol she had never experienced before and made her open to doing whatever he wanted. The woman that Joe described, no longer existed. The woman that lie here on this table spread-eagle for Emerson was ravenous, desperate for attention and sexual nourishment. Purchase Now: https://www.amazon.com/Lady-Guardians-Wyked-Chelle-Ramsey-ebook/dp/B07ND8N643 Download...About Chelle... Women's fiction author and blogger, Chelle Ramsey lives in the metro Atlanta area with her husband and three children. Chelle wants readers to become empowered to rise above life's adversities, with faith in the Almighty God, and belief in themselves. She hosts the annual 20 Days of Love authors’ blogging campaign, March Madness authors’ giveaways campaign, and showcases other authors on her blog at www.chelleramsey.com/beautifully-inspired-blog. Her novels can be found online at Chelle Ramsey Amazon. LINKS: WEB: www.chelleramsey.com EMAIL: chelleramseywrites@gmail.com FACEBOOK: ChelleWrites TWITTER: @UndeniablyChell PINTEREST: ChellesBooks INSTAGRAM: UndeniablyChelle Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March #giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the #giveaway! Join us tomorrow for Marvelous March, the giveaways begin! To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.   Two people sharing a meal together, not looking for more than friendship. One simple question breaks down the barriers and they share their most intimate secrets. Yasmine and Zachariah may just be destined to be. My friend, M.J. Kane takes over Marvelous March with one of my favorite stories. Read on and leave a comment to be entered into the #giveaway. JADED (BUTTERFLY MEMOIR, BOOK 2) BLURB: A devastating breakup leaves Yasmine Phillips in shambles. Unable to trust another man with her heart, she focuses on the one thing she can control — starting her own business. When her computer crashes, taking months of hard work with it, she must rely on computer genius Zachariah Givens to save her. A complete opposite of the men from her past, she doesn't expect the passion that ensues. But just as she finds happiness, she learns the truth about the other woman in Zachariah's life. SALES LINKS: KINDLE NOOK GOOGLE PLAY iBOOK KOBO SMASHWORDS Website: https://www.mjkanemedia.com/books Zachariah The restaurant she’d chosen was known as ‘the’ spot for romantic interludes. For someone who claimed not to be interested in dating, coming here was an unexpected choice. The lights were low throughout the dining room. Along the walls were booths with high backs for privacy and trellises wound in faux flowers giving the illusion of an evening spent outside on a Venetian terrace. During the day, soft lights glowed from overhead, illuminating the area. In the evening, the light source came from wall sconces set to low. Our orders placed, Yasmine studied the painting on the wall next to the booth we occupied. The re-creation of sitting high above the cliffs of Italy, peering over a hedge of flowers, down a steep cliff into a harbor where boats drifted on the deep blue ocean, was beautiful. The artist’s work, while well executed, would never surpass the beauty of the woman sitting across from me. In the low light, Yasmine’s cream-colored skin and grey eyes seemed to glow, bringing a sensual side begging me to savor and explore. What were two people who were not searching for any kind of relationship doing here? I should have suggested dinner at McDonald’s or an all-you-can-eat buffet. Instead, my desire to please her kept my mouth shut. When she faced me, I could tell she was nervous. “Maybe this was a bit too much.” I leaned back in the booth, clearing my thoughts and forced a smile. She studied me. “You don’t want to be here, do you?” “Am I transparent?” A chuckle escaped as I willed myself to relax. “If you want we can go somewhere else.” “No, we’re good. It’s just…this place holds a few memories.” She didn’t reply, but appeared as if she wanted me to continue. “I proposed to my fiancée here, well, ex-fiancée.” Yasmine covered her mouth. “Oh no, come on, let’s go.” She reached for her purse and the jacket she’d removed. “No.” We both looked at my hand now resting on her arm. Damn, her skin was soft. I forced myself to let go. “We don’t have to leave.” Her finely arched eyebrows creased. “Are you sure?” “I’m good. Maybe being here with you will erase the negative image stuck in my head. After all, they do serve the best shrimp risotto.” The expression on her face said she didn’t believe me. We sat in silence before she spoke again. “You were engaged?” “Surprised?” I reached for my glass of water. Yasmine didn’t rush to answer. “No…yes…,” she laughed. “I never thought about it. What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?” I studied her. Her question wasn’t demanding, only curious. Not many people were aware of the true reason behind my breakup with Melissa. “Melissa and I dated in high school. Our families were close, and we were friends before we became lovers. As we got older, marriage seemed the next step. Everything was good until my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I spent every available moment taking her to doctors’ appointments and holding her hair out of the way while she threw up. I slept there more than I did at the condo Melissa and I shared. My life became working and caring for my mother. We didn’t have family or friends available to help,” I huffed. “It’s funny how a life threatening-illness will weed out the ones who love you from the ones who don’t.” My eyebrows creased in thought. As many people as my mom knew within the community, not many stuck around to hold her hand when she needed support. “Nobody helped?” she asked in disbelief. “You know how it is. People learn about the diagnosis and come share their sympathy. It’s not their job to stand by twenty-four-seven. The one person I should have been able to rely on pushed both of us away.” My lips tightened. To this day, the last words Melissa spoke to me still pissed me off and broke my heart. “Let me get this right, your fiancée left because your mom got sick?” I nodded, unable to say anything further for fear of calling her a ‒ “That bitch,” Yasmine spat. I sat back in the booth and laughed. “And here I was trying not to say it.” Yasmine’s expression remained the same, one of disgust. “She knew your mother since she was a little girl?” “Yep,” my throat dry, I reached for my water again. “Don’t tell me her last name. I’m liable to Google her ass,” she warned. I held a hand up. “Whoa, it’s going to be okay.” A completely different side of Yasmine emerged. Hot tempered and passionate. I liked it. Her breathing sped up as she leaned forward, her hands flat on the table. Damn, she was sexy when angry. “How could she do that to you? To your mom?” I shrugged, and struggled to ignore the increased attraction for the woman sitting across from me. “Melissa was selfish since the day we met. I knew, but I loved her. I never thought she would be that bad. My mom says things happen for a reason.” I felt my expression go sour. “Her illness in order to break us up is not one of them.” “Zack,” her hand rested on mine. Her bright skin appeared delicate on my large, darker palm. “Your mom is right. Sometimes things do happen in order for us to see the worst in people close to us.” Her lips tightened. “Even if it does hurt like a bitch.” I forced myself to keep still and not reach to cup her hand in mine. The contact of her skin and concern for my mother went straight to my chest. I ignored the heat building and cleared my throat. Why hadn’t Melissa been this way? “Spoken like a woman who’s experienced it, too.” Yasmine noticed the contact and froze. She removed her hand. “More than once.” The loss of contact left me drifting. I didn’t realize I’d felt grounded until the warmth of her hand left. A full minute of silence passed as she gazed into the dark room. “I was engaged for all of four hours. Technically I can say I’ve never been asked,” she laughed sadly. “I wish I could forget that night.” “Four hours? Damn, what happened?” Yasmine straightened in the booth; her hands settled in her lap. “I discovered my fiancé was a rapist.” I felt my mouth drop open. A cheating boyfriend or an unknown baby’s momma were what I expected. A rapist fiancé? “You’re kidding.” When her eyes met mine again, they were hard as steel. “No, I’m not making this up. He was the roommate of the man my best friend dated. Her boyfriend left town for a few months for work. My friend went to his house to get something she left behind, and my son-of-a-bitch fiancé raped her. The bastard lied to his roommate and me to cover his ass. In the end, we both believed her. The revelation happened after he proposed…,” her voice faltered. My fist tightened. “How long ago?” “Over three months.” “That motherfucker…” I’d meant to cut myself off before the rest of the word slipped out. She smiled slowly. “Why Zachariah, who knew you had such a dirty mouth. And all this time I thought it was just me.” I ignored her comment. “Please tell me the bastard is in jail,” I said, my teeth clenched. “He served some time, but in the end, got away with it because there was no evidence. He did, however, lose his job and left California.” She sat up and glanced around. “Didn’t we order some wine? I could seriously use a drink.” “Me, too.” I spied our server, waved him over, and inquired about our order. A few minutes later, we sat with two freshly poured glasses of wine. I told the server to leave the bottle. Yasmine held her glass high. “I propose a toast.” “Okay,” I mirrored her action. “To our bastard and bitch exes. I hope wherever they are, they realize they fucked up when they screwed us over.” Firm resolve was in her voice. “Interesting choice of words; I second that.” We clinked glasses and watched each other as we drank. Neither of us sipped. I swallowed hard. “You are an interesting woman, Yasmine Phillips,” I poured a second round for the both of us the moment her glass touched the table. “Really?” she smirked. I nodded. “You are beautiful, smart, have a body that’s hot, and the mouth of a sailor.” Yasmine froze mid sip; laughter burst from her. “Sorry, it’s my mom’s Irish side of the family.” “Irish? You have black family members from Ireland?” She smiled. “No. The Irish comes from my mother’s side; she’s white. My father is black.” The expression on her face at the explanation of her heritage seemed apprehensive. “That explains a few things.” Her eyebrows rose. “Like what?” “Like where you get those grey eyes? I thought you wore contacts. It also explains the beautiful color of your skin.” Her cheeks flushed under the low lights. “Thank you.” She avoided my gaze. I’d never been this forward when sharing my thoughts with women I found attractive. For some reason, talking to Yasmine was as easy as breathing. “I’m sure you were told that a lot while growing up.” She ran a finger along the rim of her glass. “Not really. Most comments were negative. Believe me I’ve heard them all. ‘Oh, that’s why you’ve got such light skin’ or ‘didn’t your parents know not to reproduce?’” She shrugged. I shook my head in disgust. People could be so ignorant. “The majority of my white family disowned my mother for marrying a black man. We rarely spent time with them. The black side welcomed us. I’ve spent more time trying to decide which side of the family I could identify with most.” She held up a hand and studied her skin in the low light. “I don’t favor any particular side. Honestly, it was harder for me than my brother. He looks more like a black man than a white one. Me? I guess I’m just…me.” I waited until her gaze met mine again. “Your parents did an amazing job when they made you.” Yasmine stared at me, a sense of appreciation on her face. I could feel something change in the air between us. We connected on another level. It was comforting and nerve-racking at the same time. “You’re the only one besides my best friends who know I was ever engaged.” Her eyebrows scrunched as if she couldn’t believe the secret she’d shared. “You never told your parents?” “No, they weren’t aware I was seeing anyone. Not even my brother knows.” “Are you close to your family?” Yasmine laughed lightly. “We’re close, and they are aware I date, make that, dated in past tense. I have a bad history with men. It could be a curse,” she muttered. “The relationship between Javan and me was...” She inclined her head in what seemed to be embarrassment. “We weren’t officially dating at the time. We were more like…cut buddies.” “Oh, friends who have sex, huh?” “Yes, it’s what I chose. The first man who wanted to marry me felt he needed to be with more than one woman. My experiences taught me men do what they want with anybody they want. Why can’t I do the same? Don’t misunderstand. I don’t sleep with just anybody. I have standards. I think it’s unfair that I am considered a ‘ho’ because I like sex with more than one partner.” I couldn’t help it; both eyebrows rose in surprise. Yasmine rolled her eyes. “Not at the same time…what I mean is men have a little black book, so do I,” she shrugged and sipped her wine again. Defiance mixed with pain shown on her face. Oh yes, Yasmine Phillips was definitely in a league all by herself. Normally I would have taken what she said and looked at her differently. However, with her hurt past…I could understand her reasoning. “That’s where we differ,” I said. This time her eyebrows rose. “I’m old fashioned. I believe in monogamy. If I’m with you then I expect the same. If I’m not happy with the relationship, I’d be honest and end it.” “Good for you,” She tilted her head as if to study me. “You think I’m wrong for feeling this way, don’t you.” Her reply was more of a statement than a question. I considered her words before responding. “Yasmine, we make decisions based on what is best for us. You were unable to find what you were searching for and decided not to let it deter you from finding some happiness. You protect yourself, physically and emotionally. I can respect that.” I chuckled. “It sounds like way more fun than self-imposed celibacy.” I drained my glass. “Wait, did you say you are celibate?” she didn’t hide her laugh. “Yeah, got a problem with that?” I laughed, too. Guess it did sound unbelievable. “No…,” she rested her elbows on the table, lowered her head in both hands, and tried her best to keep her laughter contained. “Zack, how crazy is this? Here we are, two attractive people whose hearts have been ripped out, eating dinner in one of the most romantic places in town. Neither of us has had sex in…for me it’s been over three months. How about you?” This conversation got weirder and weirder. “I stopped counting after the twelfth month.” Her head rested on the table as my admission broke her dam. Talk about embarrassing. I confessed to a sexy woman I was in a sexless period of my life. It felt like I admitted impotency, which was not the case. My ego should have been hurt, but instead, I was seriously aroused. Go figure. “Zack,” she paused to catch her breath. “You see what the problem is, right?” “I should be the one with the three month set back and you should be the celibate one?” Yasmine nodded and put a hand across her mouth. All attempts to quit laughing ceased. “Oh, Zack, we’re pathetic.” I poured another glass of wine and raised it in a new toast. “To single people who have no intention of sleeping together.” Where did that come from? We clinked our glasses and sipped our wine, all the while contemplating each other. “Can I ask you a question?” Yasmine’s stared at her glass. “Why not, we’re putting everything out on the table tonight.” She smiled and ran her finger over the glass rim. “Remember the best friend I told you about?” I nodded. “They’re getting married in a week. I don’t want to go alone. Would you mind—” “I’d be honored to be your date for the evening.” Yasmine looked up and smiled softly. I didn’t miss her relieved expression. “Thank you, Zack.” “For you, it’s my pleasure.” #### About M.J. Kane M.J. Kane stumbled into writing. An avid reader, she never lost the overactive imagination of an only child. As an adult she made up stories, though never shared them, to keep herself entertained. It wasn’t until surviving a traumatic medical incident in 2006 that she found a reason to let the characters inhabiting her imagination free. Upon the suggestion of her husband, she commandeered his laptop and allowed the characters to take life. It was that, or look over her shoulder for men caring a purple straitjacket. And the rest, as they say, is history. MJ’s debut novel, A Heart Not Easily Broken (Butterfly Memoirs, Book 1) became an instant Amazon Bestseller in Multicultural Romance and African-American Literature and Fiction within hours of publication. It has also spent time on the African-American Women’s Fiction and African-American Romance Bestsellers lists. MJ can be found online connecting with readers and other authors sharing her writing, talking about music, life, and family. She’s always excited to meet new people. Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the giveaway! To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.   It's the end of the first week of Marvelous March, and Celeste is closing us out on a romantically sweet note. When one woman has designed her life in such a manner that she is independent of others, the thought of someone taking care of her heart might seem a bit unsettling. Or is it? Read on and don't forget to comment to be entered into the giveaway. About I Am Moore...One family. Eight sisters, tangled in romance. Emery Moore moved away from home after finishing her juris doctorate. She was a successful corporate attorney and had been living in Washington D. C. for the past five years. It wasn’t often that she returned home to Atlanta, but the love of her family drew her back. Emery had success in so many facets of her life, but she hadn’t been as lucky in love. The word love was unsettling for Emery; it was loaded with notions of submissiveness and sacrifice, the loss of self and being dependent on another person. Notions Emery wasn’t sure she wanted. Yet, there was someone Emery couldn’t shake her soul loose of and she tussled with her heart and the sensible tug in her mind daily. Evan Stanton Esq. had been an integral part of Emery Moore’s life for the past six months. He like she, was an attorney. During the day, the attorneys at law litigated from different sides of the aisle; fighting with everything they had for their clients. But for the past few months, business was left at the door, and the fighting ended as Evan and Emery delved into uncharted territory. Evan loved how Emery felt in his arms. The curve of her hips, the arch in her back made it difficult to keep his hands off her. It wasn’t always like this. Emery had to be pursued, and although Evan was attracted to her unapologetic disposition in the courtroom, along with her sophisticated air, Emery was a challenge; one that Evan planned to take on full steam ahead. Excerpt..."Emery felt the coolness of the marble floors under her feet. Evan lifted his arm, inviting her to wrap hers around his as she had done so many times before. They stepped down together and Emery felt the coolness replaced by the warmth of the sand under her feet. As they moved along the beach, Emery’s heart pulsed at a steady beat. Adrenaline coursed through her as the familiar feeling of being safe in Evan’s arms assaulted her senses. When Evan paused, Emery paused with him. Stepping from behind him, the reason he stopped came into view. It took Emery a moment to take it all in. “I hope you like it,” Evan said as he moved a step closer. Emery’s eyes danced as she looked at what Evan had done. The secluded area of the beach was lit with flaming torch lamps. There were blankets on the sand with baskets of food and a vat of wine. She didn’t notice it at first until she heard the soft strumming of an acoustic guitar being played by a musician not far away. “It’s a picnic,” she mused, as a smile spread across her face. Seeing that smile warmed Evans' heart. Placing his hand on the small of her back, Evan escorted Emery onto the blankets and held her hand as she sat down. “Are you surprised,” Evan asked, sitting down across from her. “I am,” Emery replied. Evan had always been generous. He had exquisite taste and didn’t mind lavishing Emery with the finer things. She thought he would do something to try and impress her, something over the top. But this? Emery had not anticipated. She was pleasantly surprised. “I just wanted it to be you and me,” Evan began. “Well, him too,” Evan smirked, looking back at the guitarist. Emery smiled with him. “Seriously Emery, I wanted us to have a chance to leave everything and everyone else behind and it just be us. I miss us.” “I miss us, too,” Emery sighed. “That’s good to hear,” Evan replied. There was a genuine soul-stirring smile that eased across his lips. Seeing him, Emery smiled with Evan." Download: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079LG6N4W/ About Celeste... Love. It is a many splendid thing, isn’t it? Yet, it’s not a straight path from one heart to another. Most often, love is a tangled mess that challenges our thoughts, beliefs, and challenges us to prove over and over that we are more than enamored with an individual. Love is a tangled conglomeration of what the mind thinks, what the soul feels, and what the heart knows. And I write about it... Feel free to follow me on Amazon at The Celeste Granger and join my Facebook group @ Facebook. You can also become a part of my newsletter @newsletter. https://www.amazon.com/Celeste-Granger/e/B079DCSLGR/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1943300475969127/ Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March #giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the #giveaway! Join us tomorrow for Marvelous March, the giveaways begin! To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.  I'm so excited about another Marvelous March post! Today Aja is bringing some serious heat into the ring! Frankie is bringing some serious taps into this story, but...you'll have to read on to find out what I'm talking about. Don't forget to leave a comment below to be entered into the #giveaway. Francine "Frankie" Waters only wanted three things in life when she was a girl: to be a female boxer like Laila Ali, to marry Jackson Knight the cutest boy she had ever known, and to one day have his babies. So far those dreams have not come true but her late father may have willed her with more than his gym called Taps. Her inheritance comes with a stipulation she thought she would never have to deal with again. Jackson 'The Punisher' Knight was known for a couple of things: knocking out his opponents in the ring and loving on Francine outside of it, but years ago both became a thing of his past. His future however, seems to be pulling him back into the world of boxing and into Frankie's fire which he never seemed to mind until he got burned. Love Taps will be available March 29th but can be pre-ordered NOW. Link: bit.ly/LoveTapsAja  Excerpt...Hard, plopping and continuous beating against the pavement. The rhythm, soulful, musical and sexy, all reminiscent of the cadence of faraway rainforests never physically visited, yet the recordings of the sounds bore knowledge. Even though we were ensconced inside away from it, the signs were still there. The big drops hit relentlessly and steadily, with periodic gusts of wind that whipped the water against the metal gate that protected us from being seen to anyone passing by the gym. They had no idea what passion could be found out of view.We were shielded against being seen or being caught since my dad was on the other side of town handling business. Even if he had returned unexpectedly, we’d have enough time to remove ourselves from inside of the ring where I was suspended in his big arms that cupped my ass. His strength always amazed me even though it shouldn’t have. His body was a work of art and his body was his business. A heavyweight boxer. Six four, two hundred twenty-five pounds of chiseled dark chocolate. Ebony dreads that reached his erect shoulders, dark brown eyes, the lazy dimpled smile that turned him boyish in an instant when a moment earlier he appeared to be a ruthless killer. It was that smile that moistened me, warmed me, making me drip and saturate my pink functional cotton briefs that he pulled off slowly before picking me up off my feet and impaling me deliciously. Jackson Knight was a wet dream and I feel like I’ve known him my whole life. If you consider meeting twelve years ago when we were both eleven years old, our whole lives, then yeah, I guess we did. From the moment we met, I knew he’d be the one I’d spend my life with in some way. Even then, at such a young age, I knew. Though he was a boy and me a girl, we hit it off. Getting along, playing together, talking a lot and then training together. That training is when the sparks, that we had always been avoiding, became impossible to pretend away. The constant contact between us was an aphrodisiac. The musk from our sweat comingling. The way we moved in harmony as we snuck off and sparred. All of those things were a recipe for disaster. But it really was the fact that we were sneaking to train together that made these moments possible. Daddy forbade me to step inside the ring, except to pick up a towel. Knight, though apprehensive, never wanted to deny me anything. He always said yes, always finding a way to please me. Not that I asked for much, if anything, but he provided me with the best, like right now. His ability to master me, stroke for stroke, pulling me up and down on his thick rod was why there could be no other man for me. I gushed around him and felt my body squeeze and massage his hard flesh in an effort to pull life from him, but he kept working us against each other without missing a beat. I shuddered and held onto his neck, his locs held between my fingers, my mouth moving to his dark shoulder and my teeth bit into it gently to keep from screaming out too loud … just in case. His rock-solid body provided security and stability for me as I started to work myself up and down as he chanted, “Yes, baby, give me that pussy. Cum for me.” It was too much, it always was, and I came undone, unraveling into some space where I couldn’t even tell you when he came, only that I was still in his arms twitching when my awareness reappeared. We were both panting, and his usual growl was now a low hum as he came down from his own high. We were flying, as he would call it, and we had landed. Together. About Aja... Aja is the writer of sensually erotic and passionate women’s fiction. Her stories allow readers to experience realistic, inspiring, and soulful interactions and intense passion while overcoming life’s challenges. She is inspired by soulful music and sensual art to craft her stories. Her published works include the Love & Passion, Love & Redemption, and Unexpected series. Author Links: Aja's website: http://www.ajathewriter.com Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/Aja/e/B00K30K138/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aja_thewriter/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AjaTheWriter FB Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/ajathewriterbooks/ Sign up for Aja's mailing list here: http://eepurl.com/cnEs1f Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the giveaway! To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.   Welcome to the first Marvelous March giveaway! This is your opportunity as a reader to sample new and old goodies, interact with your favorite and new authors, and be entered into the giveaway. Today's featured author is Darliss Batchelor, and she's confronting a topic that will arise in most women's lives at some point. Read on, and don't forget to leave a comment to be entered into the #giveaway. About Twice Bitten...Chriselle is a woman staring at an empty nest. Her once busy household has become a center of loneliness and boredom. When Chriselle unexpectedly reunites with a former love, he brings the opportunity for the exciting lifestyle she desires. Suddenly, Chriselle realizes her heart beats not just for her husband but also for her almost-fiancé. Will Chriselle stay “safe” with her husband or move on to live the life she desires with her former boyfriend? Excerpt...Chriselle labored up the stairs. She walked past a few empty bedrooms and a full bathroom to the last room on the left. It was her daughter Leslie’s bedroom. She entered the room with its soft orange sorbet colored walls, wood floors, white bedroom furniture and orange and fuchsia floral comforter. Sitting in the cantaloupe‐colored chair near the window, Chriselle began to think about Leslie and Bryce’s wedding earlier that day. “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Chriselle reminisced about her daughter’s wedding while pulling a tissue from the box sitting on the side table. Those words were life changing. They changed Chriselle’s life when she said them over thirty years ago, and they changed her child’s life today. Her last child, Leslie, was now officially someone’s wife, complete with a change of address form and a moving van. Chriselle remembered all those years ago when she said those same vows. She had dreams and thoughts about what her life would be like as a Mrs. She just didn’t know how big those dreams were at the time. The look of love in the eyes of Leslie and her new husband, Bryce, said it all. Their deep love and commitment was evident today. No one and nothing in the world could come between them today. Their minds couldn’t even comprehend that anything in life could be better. However, sometimes things indeed change and you find out that “forever” means something much shorter. The traditional wedding vows include a promise to stay together until death. Chriselle wondered if anything other than physical death counted. She felt like she died as a person, as a woman. All those years of raising children, taking care of a house, and over thirty years of being a wife caused her to forget what her life was like beforehand. Gazing out of the nearby window overlooking the family’s swimming pool, Chriselle realized Leslie wouldn’t be home making blueberry pancakes for breakfast tomorrow morning. She wouldn’t be sitting with Chriselle in the adult Sunday school class as she’d been doing since she became old enough to join her. Instead, she’d be in some exotic location enjoying her first days of marriage not even thinking about the fact Chriselle felt lost. Chriselle moved to the bed and stretched her body across it, inhaling the residual signature scent of her youngest daughter. Her thoughts shifted to the nights she sat in this bed with Leslie and read Bible stories. She recalled kneeling on this very floor with her to pray. The memory of Leslie announcing her engagement came to mind. That was when Chriselle felt she’d lost her purpose. All of her children— three sons and two daughters—had gone on with their lives. How dare they do that? They must have forgotten everything she’d done for them. She wiped runny noses, spent more time in the emergency room than she cared to remember, attempted to mend broken hearts, kept them clean and presentable, and introduced them to Jesus Christ. And what did she get in return? She got an empty house. And she found herself resentful of it. Yes, they often came to visit and brought their spouses and children. Still, Chriselle was overcome by emotional and physical emptiness. Drew, Chriselle’s husband, came into the room just as she crushed her tissue and added it to the pile already established on the bed. She didn’t want him to see her like this. She didn’t want him to know about her pain. After looking into his eyes, she realized he already knew this pain almost as intimately as she did. He held her in his arms and stroked her hair, his best effort at comforting her. She didn’t think he could feel it as deeply as she did. He had a life. She’d been a housewife and mother all these years. Now that the demands were different, Chriselle didn’t know what to do with herself. Surrounded by Drew’s arms, Chriselle couldn’t remember the last time she felt the spark she and Drew once shared. She realized she didn’t even feel a tingle. What happened to me? What happened to us? Hell is a Skyscraper: A Trio of Novelettes Buy Links: Autographed Print: http://www.darlissbatchelor.com/hell-is-a-skyscraper.html Amazon: http://amzn.to/1ZUy2D3 Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/28IjA77 E-book Kindle: http://amzn.to/1UBvXI8 Nook: http://bit.ly/1sIkHTR About Darliss... It was on a white sand beach in Cozumel, Mexico that Darliss received the call to write her first book. Secrets was born ten years later and she hasn’t stopped. Her books, Hell is a Skyscraper: A Trio of Novelettes, Something Else to Want, and The Make-Believe Wives followed. Her newest release, The Make-Believe Family, joined her book family in the summer of 2018. Currently, her books are listed as both required and optional texts for a university-level Oral Communications class. Walking in the footsteps of her Christian playwright grandmother, Darliss was also commissioned to write and witnessed the performance of her short play, One Simple Yes. Darliss is also a dynamic speaker for both church and secular groups on various subjects including overcoming sexual abuse and emotional healing. A passionate writer, Darliss desires to write stories of fiction that have a profound and lasting impact on the lives of her readers. She is committed to continue to write entertaining and inspirational fiction for years to come. When she is not writing, she can be found spending time with her husband of over thirty years, Greg, her son, Brandon and grandson, Bentley. She also enjoys reading, cruising, Detroit Pistons basketball and watching court shows on television. You can find more information about Darliss at her website www.DarlissBatchelor.com and on social media at www.FaceBook.com/BooksbyDarliss. Thanks for joining us for another annual Marvelous March and don't forget to leave a comment to be entered into the giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, we would love to hear from you! To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.  |
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Inspirational women's fiction author, writing the script to my beautifully inspired life! Be Inspired, Follow Me!Archives
June 2019
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