Monday, August 31, 2015

#MondayMotivation


Sunday, August 30, 2015

#SampleSunday 3 - SEPTEMBER (The Christina Dandridge Story)

Here's the final sample from SEPTEMBER before its release. Enjoy!!






Mama had to pry Kenny’s arms from around her neck and when she stood to her feet, I could see the wet spot on her blouse left behind by Kenny’s tears. Kenny’s cries became shrill and louder as Mama backed away from us, moving toward the car door. Grandma Orene stepped forward, and when she wrapped her thick fingers around Kenny’s little arm, his knees buckled and landed on the gravel of the makeshift driveway that made up most of our grandmother’s front yard. His cries transformed from shrill sobs to pained wails.
I reached for him but Grandma Orene shook her head. “You let me take care of him, sugar,” she said warmly. “Now come on here, big boy. I got some cake in here and I think you’ll like it. It’s chocolate. Your mama told me you love chocolate cake.”
Kenny’s wailing stopped almost the second she spoke the words “chocolate cake”. His wet eyes widened and he stood to his feet.
Our grandmother turned to me and winked. “Let’s go get us some cake, Chrissy.”
I smiled as I followed her into the old, paint-stripped house.

***

Grandma Orene’s house was larger than the little house in the woods where Kenny and I had spent our lives up until that point, but it was full of furniture and knick-knacks. It smelled like food and was so warm, much warmer than our house. It was an old house, but the floors didn’t creak like at our house and the air didn’t seep in under the doors and the windows didn’t rattle when the wind blew. The furniture was old, but not raggedy. The couch sagged but was covered with a clean quilt. The coffee table was chipped, but there wasn’t a speck of dirt on it. The house was lived-in, but not run down. It had taken on the characteristics of a true home rather than just a building.
When I walked into the kitchen and saw all of that food on the table, I couldn’t believe it. I had never seen so much food in one place and intended for one meal in my whole life! Fried chicken, greens, pinto beans, cornbread, boiled okra, potato salad, and of course, a triple-stacked chocolate cake with chocolate icing. I looked over at Kenny whose eyes had grown so wide, I thought they were going to pop out of his head.
“We gon’ eat all this?” he asked excitedly.
“As much of it as you want,” Grandma Orene answered. “Now, go wash your hands over at the sink. We gon’ eat soon as your Aunt Joyce and your Uncle Larry get back.”
I took Kenny’s hand and inched toward the sink. “Who is they?” I asked.
“They your daddy’s sister and brother. Now go on and wash them hands.”
“Where they at?” I said as I turned the water on in the faucet and lathered my hands with soap.
“Down the road a bit. They be back shortly.”
I nodded. “You my daddy’s Mama, right?”
She smiled at me and nodded. “Yes, I am, smart girl.”
“Where his daddy at?”
     A sadness swiftly filled her eyes. 




CLICK HERE to pre-order your copy now!! Price increases 9.1.15!!!!

CLICK HERE to add this book on Goodreads!!

Friday, August 28, 2015

#Book Review - Redemption Song

Redemption SongRedemption Song by Bertice Berry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an incredible read! It evoked so much emotion, was immediately engaging, and positively burgeoned with wisdom, wit, and truth. I could not put it down and hated to see it end. This author has been added to my list of favorites, right beside Bernice McFadden and Alice Walker. If you have not read this book, do yourself a huge favor and purchase it right now! It just might change your life and it will definitely feed your soul.

Adrienne Thompson
Author of Summertime

View all my reviews

Thursday, August 27, 2015

#Amwriting - Writing Playlist

Hello, all!! Today I wanted to give a quick writing update and share my current writing playlist.



I recently finished writing Sedução (Seduction), my Ain't Nobody prequel. All I have to do now is name the chapters and send it to my beta readers. I am still working on See Me, Too (A sequel to my novel, See Me) and it's coming right along. I've also been writing a lot of poetry lately and am thinking about publishing a short book of poetry via eBook only later this year.

So here's my current playlist. This is music I listen to as I write that doesn't necessarily inspire or reflect what I'm writing but provides background noise that keeps me motivated. Be sure to click on the song titles and check out the songs on YouTube. Enjoy!!





"Appletree" by Erykah Badu
"Didn't Cha Know" by Erykah Badu
"Other Side of the Game" by Erykah Badu
"Super Chris" by Chrisette Michele
"Retrograde" by James Blake
"More Than a Woman" by Angie Stone feat. Calvin Richardson
"Never Too Much" by Luther Vandross
"Inside My Love" by Minnie Riperton
"I Get Lonely" Remix by Janet Jackson feat. Blackstreet
"How 'Bout Us" by Champaign


photos via stocksnap

Sunday, August 23, 2015

#SampleSunday 2 - SEPTEMBER (The Christina Dandridge Story- a Been So Long companion novel)

Here's another sample from my forthcoming novel, SEPTEMBER  (The Christina Dandridge Story - a Been So Long companion novel). Enjoy!!





We went to live with our father’s mother, Grandma Orene Greene. Grandma Orene was tall and big and dark and downright scary to look at. She looked like she enjoyed whooping kids and those big hands didn’t look like they’d show us any mercy if we got out of line. I was so scared when Mama pulled us out of the car and stood us in the yard in front of her, I almost peed on myself.
But then she opened her wide mouth and gave us a smile so warm that I couldn’t help but smile right back at her. Then she started laughing—a big, belly laugh. And I laughed, too.
“Lord, I ain’t seent these two babies in so long, I almost forgot how they looked! Beautiful chirrin’, they are. Just look at ‘em. Just like two little peaches with that orange skin. And those green eyes! Y’all come on over here and give your granny a hug.”
I was the first to move. I walked over to her and let her wrap her big, heavy, warm arms around me. I will never forget how she smelled—like talcum powder and fried chicken. From the moment I met Grandma Orene and felt what it was like to be in her arms, I fell in love with her.
My brother was always shy and I think our grandmother’s imposing appearance frightened him, too. After she let me go and waited for Kenny to walk over to her, he just stood there with his head hung low. I could tell he was about to cry. My first thought was to call him a cry-baby, and then I realized he was just four and all he knew was our Mama. He wanted to be with her and so did I. But if she had to leave, I had a feeling we were going to be in good hands with Grandma Orene.
I walked over to him and wrapped my arm around his shoulder. “Come on, Kenny Ray,” I whispered. “It’s all right.”
Kenny Ray shook me off of him and ran to our mother. He gripped her skinny legs and cried and shouted, “Mommy, don’t go!”
Mama looked down at him with tears in her eyes. She rubbed her hand over his hair and then squatted down to face him. She pulled him into her arms and whispered, “Be a big boy, Kenny Ray. I’m just going to bring Daddy home. I’ll be back before you know it.”




CLICK HERE to pre-order your copy now!!

CLICK HERE to add this book on Goodreads!!






Monday, August 17, 2015

Knight Errant Release Blitz




Historical Romance / Medieval Romance
Date Published: August 17, 2015

 photo add-to-goodreads-button_zpsc7b3c634.png

Lady Juliana Verault gladly left England—and its men—far behind in her quest to live as a Beguine. But the Christian community ceases to provide a safe haven when she’s called to travel to Palermo, Italy, where she’s entrusted with a letter from the pope that could radically change the church’s stance on women. Juliana holds the key to upending the power structure throughout Europe, but only if she can dodge her cousin, King Edward I of England, and his plans to marry her off as political leverage.

Edward sets Sir Robert Clarwyn, a knight errant and loyal hunter of criminals and traitors, on Juliana’s trail to retrieve her. Robert has never failed to bring home his target before … but then, he has never encountered a quarry like Lady Juliana, who can befuddle and bemuse him with just a smile.

If he can’t find a way to compel her to return to England, he’ll lose any chance of regaining his family lands and redeeming his heritage. Yet Juliana must complete her mission or risk endangering her gender’s future in the faith.

With danger and intrigue mounting, Robert and Juliana must rely on each other and be willing to risk everything … including their hearts.





About the Author


Author of historical, contemporary, and erotic romances, Rue Allyn fell in love with happily ever after the day she heard her first story.

Contact Links




GIVEAWAY
$5 Amazon Gift Card





 photo readingaddictionbutton_zps58fd99d6.png

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Sample Sunday - SEPTEMBER (The Christina Dandridge Story)

Hello, all!! 
Please enjoy this snippet from SEPTEMBER (The Christina Dandridge Story), coming 9/1/15!!





Prologue


2012

I am dying. That is a blunt way of putting it, but it’s the truth. I’m dying from lung cancer. I’ve basically smoked myself to death. I’m responsible for my own demise, to be honest. So, I’m not angry; there would be no sense in it if I were. No, I’m not angry, but I’m very aware that my time is running out, and at the same time, I feel like there is too much time on my hands. Too much time for me to think, to remember, and to regret. My life keeps playing over and over again in my mind like an old raggedy video tape that skips some parts and repeats others.

In an attempt to delete the images and silence the voices in my head, I began to write my story and hid it between the jackets and spines of some of my favorite books. If you’ve found this particular part of my story, you’ve found my deepest secrets, the ones I didn’t intend for anyone to ever know about. I omitted some things from the other journals—parts that included my brother—because it was too painful for me to write about him at first, but this journal tells my story in its entirety—my story and his story. I left this journal with my dear friend, Dulcina, for her to keep apart from the others. For her to keep from my daughters, from everyone. But if you’ve found it, then you must be meant to read it. Read it carefully. Learn from it. Tell others about my life.



CLICK HERE to pre-order your copy now!!

CLICK HERE to add this book on Goodreads!!

Friday, August 14, 2015

Short #Book #Review - The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

The NightingaleThe Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a hauntingly beautiful read!! An absolutely brilliant and heart-wrenching portrayal of a very disturbing time in world history told from the perspective of unsung heroines. This is a must read, but I must warn you, it is a tearjerker.

Adrienne Thompson
Author of Home

View all my reviews

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

#Book Spotlight - What You Won’t Do For Love by Keleigh Crigler Hadley

NRCWHATYOUWON'TDOFORLOVEBANNERPHARPER (1)


Author: Keleigh Crigler Hadley 
Title: What You Won’t Do For Love 
Genre: Christian Fiction 
Book releases nationwide August 18, 2015 
Publisher: Brown Girls Publishing 
ASIN: B013CIK60K



About the Author 
keleigh headshot2 


Keleigh Crigler Hadley is an author, speaker, and teacher who is thankful God can use her messes for His glory. 

She has always loved stories, and she believes the story of the Bible contains the biggest, the most redemptive dose of grace humankind has ever, and will ever, experience. She is the Christian Fiction author of the Preacher's Kids series, Revenge Inc., and What You Won't Do for Love with Brown Girls Faith. 

If she were to define herself in one sentence, she would say, "I'm a girl who loves to see God working." Keleigh writes soul-stirring fiction, with real characters that stay with readers long after they have closed the book, (or turned the e-reader off.) The only thing she loves more than writing is reading, so contact her on social media and let her know what you're reading!


  About the book WhatYouWontDoForLove[1]



Eden Price, an unlucky-in-love nurse finds herself in the midst of a heated love triangle. Globe-trotting missionary, Gabe Clark ignites her soul. Who doesn't want a man with a connection to God? Hard-working, Nemo Gates speaks to her heart. His past has caused a rift between him and God and Eden wants to help him heal. 

She ultimately chooses the man that makes her passions come alive, but did she make the right choice? Her husband stuns her with a desperate plea; to prove her love for him in the most unthinkable way - to help him die with dignity.



  excerpt 

“There goes that Price girl again.” Verdeen Washington exclaimed to her hard-of-hearing sister, Pearleen. They rocked in unison, in the twilight air on their front porch. 

Eden Price noted the puzzlement in Verdeen’s booming voice as she steadily passed them by. Heck, the whole neighborhood could hear it. 

“She’s a strange bird, if I ever saw one.” Pearleen looked over her thick glasses and pursed her wrinkled lips. 

“Good evening, Washington sisters.” 

Eden smiled, nodded and kept her legs pumping. She knew they shook their gray wigs as she passed them, but her jogging pace didn’t diminish and she kept on singing. 

She knew she was a sight to see and hear. 

“Wishing, and hoping and thinking and praying... 
planning and dreaming each night of his charms…” 

That’s it, Dionne. 

Eden sang the tune to Dionne Warwick’s 1950’s classic song. The lyrics had been stuck on repeat in her head all day and the only way to get a song out, is to sing it. So in between breaths, she belted out the infectious tune. 

So Dionne, is this the formula for catching a man? The cushion in her Nike trainers flattened and rebounded as she reduced her pace from a slow jog to a brisk walk. She was two blocks from home and needed to start her cool down. 

“...do the things he likes to do… wear your hair just for him… 'cause you won’t get him, 
thinking, 
and praying, 
and wishing, 
and hoping...” 

 Her worn out sports bra allowed too much jiggle and wiggle room for her girls. She could never hope to get a good run in anymore wearing three year-old running shoes and a five year-old bra, but budget constraints did not allow for such luxuries. 

Eden adjusted ‘Ben and Jerry’ again to the safe confines of her bra, before she was arrested for exposing herself. Eden hunched over for a moment to catch her breath. Just a few more feet to go. She righted herself, hit her corner, and turned at the intersection of Third ave and 33rd place. 

Three threes. The number meant something to her father, God rest his soul. It was his favorite number and one of the reasons he purchased a house on this block. But today, the number three held relevance to Eden too. 

This was her thirty-third year of life, she was suffering from her third night of insomnia, and on March third, in three days her life would change - “for better or worse.




  connect with the author
  Facebook 




grab a copy
download (5)




tour hosted by
WNL banner

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

#TeaserTuesday - September (The Christina Dandridge Story)

Hello, all!! Today's Teaser Tuesday features all things related to my forthcoming novel, September. Enjoy!!





Blurb: 


Born to an interracial couple in Arkansas circa 1960, Christina Dandridge’s life was tumultuous from the start with things only growing worse as the years passed. Wrought with abuse and abandonment, Christina’s life is a journey of ups and downs and trials and triumphs. 

This is a companion novel to the Been So Long series, chronicling the life of Mona-Lisa’s mother and setting the stage for the dysfunction that plagued the lives of both Mona-Lisa and her sister, Cleo.


Soundtrack:


“C’mon Children” Earth Wind & Fire
“Sweet Sassy Lady” Earth Wind & Fire
“That’s the Way of the World” Earth Wind & Fire
“Runnin’” Earth Wind & Fire
“Evil” Earth Wind & Fire
“Mom” Earth Wind & Fire
“Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” Marvin Gaye
“Departure” Earth Wind & Fire
“Sad Tomorrows” Marvin Gaye
“Remember the Children” Earth Wind & Fire
“Reasons” Earth Wind & Fire
“You Went Away” Earth Wind & Fire
“Fantasy” Earth Wind & Fire
“Sunshine” Earth Wind & Fire
“Black Man” Stevie Wonder
“Getaway” Earth Wind & Fire
“The Changing Times” Earth Wind & Fire
“Where Have All the Flowers Gone” Earth Wind & Fire
“Deep In It” Marvin Gaye
“Save the Children” Marvin Gaye
“Devotion” Earth Wind & Fire
“Power” Earth Wind & Fire
“Shining Star” Earth Wind & Fire
“All About Love” Earth Wind & Fire
“Keep Your Head to the Sky” Earth Wind & Fire
“After the Love Has Gone” Earth Wind & Fire
“Spread Your Love” Earth Wind & Fire
“You” Earth Wind & Fire
“The Speed of Love” Earth Wind & Fire
“Here Today and Gone Tomorrow” Earth Wind & Fire
“Build Your Nest” Earth Wind & Fire
“System of Survival” Earth Wind & Fire
“They Don’t See” Earth Wind & Fire






Book Trailer:




CLICK HERE to pre-order. Price will increase Sept. 1.

CLICK HERE to add this book on Goodreads.

Friday, August 7, 2015

#Book #Review - Cover by W Frank Mooney

CoverCover by W Frank Mooney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Intriguing and thought-provoking, Cover is a well-written tale of what could possibly occur on the streets of any modern city today. Mooney provides masterful descriptions and spins a suspenseful story, making for a very strong debut. He is one to watch.

Adrienne Thompson
Author of Home

View all my reviews

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Love, Defined #Book Blast and #Giveaway!!

NRCLOVEDEFINEDPHARPERBANNER


Enter Giveaway: One winner will receive an autographed copy of Love, Defined 



Author: Leila Martinez
Book Title: Love, Defined 
 Paperback: 242 pages
 ISBN-10: 1680582313 ISBN-13:978-1680582314 
 Publication Date: August 4, 2015 
 Genre: Christian YA Romance


About The Author
    110   

 Leila Tualla is a Christian blogger and writer. She blogs at www.tuallaleila.blogspot.com and writes about her misadventures in faith, in motherhood, and whatever else inspires her. She holds a membership to the American Christian Fiction Writer. Her current project is a YA Christian Romance.



About The Book
lovedefinedebook 

 Into their final summer before graduating college, three childhood friends, Alex Makapulo, Lori Hanson, and Andy Taylor had each expected an uncomplicated transition to adulthood. Alex had recently professed her love for Christ and is toying with the idea of leaving the Catholic Church and becoming a member of her best friend, Jack Page’s church. Jack wonders what is keeping Alex from being baptized and fully accepting a new life with Christ. Alex wonders the same thing and believes that she needs to be 100 % in her conviction before fully committing to a new Christian life. Like everyone she has doubts and wants to make sure she’s doing the right thing in her spiritual walk. Her new found beliefs disconnects her from her roommates and while they feel she is intentionally separating herself from them, to Alex, she is trying to figure out what is Christian and what isn’t. For Lori’s twenty-second birthday, her grandfather Pete Hanson presented her with a summer vacation to England. While looking up various tourist spots, she meets and befriends Colin Watson, a British musician, online who then suggest they meet when she lands in London. They hit it off instantly but Pete is angry and believes that she only used him as a means to meet Colin. When he finds out that Lori met Colin online, he forbids Lori from seeing Colin entirely. Lori, who has fallen in love with Colin, is heartbroken. Pete threatens to leave England with Lori’s passport. Colin and Lori try to arrange meetups where they can see each other but Pete catches on. Lori takes this as a sign that it wasn’t meant to be. She unhappily finishes her trip with Pete and goes home vowing not to forgive her grandfather. Andy reconnects with her old crush, Miles Webber and decides she wants a more meaningful relationship with him. She tells Alex about the situation and Alex truthfully tells Andy that Miles only wanted her for sex. This angers Andy and she walks out of the apartment. Andy ends up walking to the coffeehouse and comes up with an idea to throw a surprise birthday party for Alex. She believes that if Alex and Jack were to hook up, the focus would shift from Miles and her. Andy spikes all the drinks for Alex’s party and leaves her friend while she goes in search of Miles. He shows up at the bar with another girl. In an effort to soothe her wounded ego, she goes home with someone else. When she wakes up the next day, she realizes she’s in bed with Alex’s young boss from the coffeehouse, David Roberts, Jr. They return home from their trip with Alex asking Jack to baptize her. Andy confronts David and Lori both forgives and asks for forgiveness from Pete.




  Social Links: 


Buy Links



Tour hosted by WNL www.wnlbooktours.com
      WNL banner 
 Follow the tour here: http://wnlbooktours.com/?p=5650 



 Enter Giveaway: 

One winner will receive an autographed copy of Love, Defined. 


 Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author Leila Tualla and is hosted and managed by Paulette from Write Now Literary Book Tours. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send an email to Paulette @pharperjohnson@gmail.com