#SampleSunday - See Me, Too

Please enjoy another snippet from See Me, Too!!

He was a successful lawyer who, at sixty-plus years old, had passed retirement age but refused to retire. He loved his work, and since divorcing his wife of many years, he loved his life, too. But the guilt of what his son became, what his son was, ate at him on a daily basis. Therapy hadn’t helped him let go of the pain he experienced knowing he’d failed his only child. He dealt with the consequences of his actions nearly every second of every day—wondered if things would have been different had he dedicated more time to his family than he had his career. But back then, he’d felt an overwhelming desire to excel and succeed, to prove to his wealthy wife’s wealthy family that he was worthy of her hand. That he was more than a poor-white-trash Memphis boy from the wrong side of town, raised in a black community.

Even his love for David’s mother hadn’t been enough to make him change his ways. He’d taken the blessing of an unplanned pregnancy and used it to appease Jessica, to make her happy in some way. To this day he didn’t understand himself why he’d so desperately tried to be accepted into a family that looked down on him, or a wife he never really loved. He’d broken Mary’s heart when he took David from her. And at the same time, he’d sealed David’s fate. He’d ruined his brilliant son’s life.

He sighed, adjusted in his seat, and recited his therapist’s words in his mind: “You cannot change the past. You can only choose to make better choices in the present.” That was what he’d spent the years since Olivia showed up at his office doing—helping others, giving his time and money to the David Moy foundation. But it didn’t feel like he was doing enough. At times, he wondered what would be enough to atone for what David did to Olivia. Would anything be enough?

He smiled as her name skated across his mind. The thought of the beautiful woman who had captured his son’s heart and become his muse always put a smile on his face. From the moment he laid eyes on her, he understood David’s obsession with her. His son’s words, which he had read countless times, came alive on the pages now that he had seen David’s Olivia in the flesh. There was definitely something about her, something that could drive men wild, make them want to possess her...

Kindle and paperback: https://amzn.com/B01HYX6DGU

Nook: http://ow.ly/DWE7301ZxX2

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HYX6DGU

Goodreads: http://ow.ly/TXCz301Wz9W

#SampleSunday - See Me, Too Cover Reveal

Coming 7/5/16

"There was definitely something about her, something that could drive men wild, make them want to possess her..."

In this sequel to the controversially explosive novel, See Me, we revisit the Moy family and learn that the legacy of dysfunction left behind by the brilliant Dr. David Moy is more entrenching than one could ever imagine. 

Olivia has moved on with Bennett Paul but finds that letting go of the past is not at all easy. 

A newly married Jason Moy finds himself battling demons of his own.

Avery Moy is tangled in emotions he can't seem to control. 

New characters are also introduced, and new secrets are revealed in See Me, Too.

Read See Me to be ready for See Me, Too!!

Kindle: http://ow.ly/ePcsF

Nook:  http://ow.ly/ePcxS

Kobo: http://ow.ly/eQd0T

Amazon UK: http://ow.ly/miEX8

Happy Valentine's Day from Mona and Corey - #BeenSoLong4

In honor of Valentine's day, I'm giving you all an unedited sneak peek at Been So Long 4 (Coming later this year). Enjoy!!!

I had just finished taming my baby girl's hair and was following her and my mother-in-law out of the room when Corey met me in the hall and pushed me back inside, closing and locking the door behind us. He backed me against the door and kissed me deeply. When he finally came up for air, he said, "You all right?"

"Yeah, what was that for? Why are we locked up in here?"

He gave me a lopsided grin as he untied and pulled down his gym shorts. "There was something I forgot to do last night."

I raised my eyebrows. "Oh, well uh, where we gon' do it? The princess canopy bed or the air mattress your parents have been sleeping on?"

He lifted me from the floor and I wrapped my legs around his waist." You should know by now that I don't need a bed to get the job done."

I closed my eyes and grinned. "Well, shoot. I'm down with--ohhhhhhh…"

Then I forgot just about every word in my vocabulary.

#SampleSunday - No Pain, No Gain Soundtrack and Book Trailer

No Pain, No Gain is coming 2/16/16, but in the meantime, please enjoy the book's soundtrack and trailer!!

Soundtrack:

“I Get Lonely” Janet Jackson featuring Blackstreet

“Something in the Past” Jesse Powell

“Here I Go Again” Glenn Jones

“How You Gonna Act Like That” Tyrese

“Think It Over” Angie Stone

“Begin Again” Angie Stone featuring Dave Hollister

“Family Affair” Sly & The Family Stone

“Lately” Jodeci

“Prior to You” Tyrese featuring Tank

“Love Under New Management” Miki Howard

“What Am I Gonna Do” Tyrese

“Real Life” The Weeknd

“Hey Daddy” Usher

“Reunion” Maxwell

“Another Round” Jaheim

“Smooth Criminal” Michael Jackson

“Bloodstream” Stateless

“Matrimony: Maybe You” Maxwell

“You” Jesse Powell

“...Til The Cops Come Knockin’“ Maxwell

Book Trailer:

Thanks for dropping by!!

Cover Reveal and #SampleSunday - No Pain, No Gain

Book 2 of the Latter Rain series is coming 2/16/16 so I thought I'd share an unedited sample to whet you appetite. Enjoy!!

He walked down the row, stopped at the girl next to me, and I inadvertently rolled my eyes. She was a cookie cutter version of the other girls—tall, lean, and light, bright, damn near white. I scoffed softly when he leaned in and whispered in her ear. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his head snap up and in my direction. His soft eyes met mine and something inside of me melted a bit. “Did you say something?” he asked.

His voice.

I’d heard it before, knew it well, but there in the same room with me, it was so soft, so gentle, so… sexy. I was left speechless.

“Okay,” he said. “Let’s try this: what’s your name?”

“Chelly,” I said, giving him my self-assigned professional name.

“Chelly. I like that.” He left the girl next to me and stood directly in front of me, a couple of inches taller than me in my uncomfortable heels. I stared at him against my will and my eyes took in those sad brown eyes, smooth tan skin that boasted his half-black, half-Puerto Rican heritage, and thin lips that I already knew would eventually part into a pristine white smile. No facial hair. He was a beautiful man, more beautiful than any woman I’d ever seen. He leaned in close to my ear; minty breath brushed my skin as he whispered, “I think we’d go good together. You?”

Final #SampleSunday from After the Pain

Here's the final sample from After the Pain before its release this Tuesday, Jan. 12. 

Enjoy!!

It was a peaceful walk, and I did feel myself relax as I wandered among the towering trees and listened to the rustling of leaves as small squirrels scurried about and birds fluttered from tree to tree. I became lost in thoughts of my life back home, my childhood, and my marriage. Thoughts of the handsome, copper-skinned Wade Ingram inundated my mind, and so lost was I in those thoughts that I lost awareness of my surroundings. So when I heard his voice, I was startled into paralysis. 

“Hi, there,” he said. 

I stood still, my heart pounding fiercely as if attempting to escape my chest. I turned and saw him sitting on the ground, his back against a tree as he twirled a stick around in his hand. Somehow, with sweat shimmering on his brow, he looked even more handsome. 

“Nice day for a walk,” he continued. 

I nodded, still glued to that spot on the path. “Yes, it is,” I managed to say. 

He sat there with a smile on his face, his eyes fixed on mine. In return, I stared at him, letting my eyes follow him as he got to his feet and slowly walked toward me. My breath caught in my throat when he stopped right in front of me...

Be sure to grab your copy on January 12!!!

#SampleSunday - After the Pain

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and if you didn't celebrate, I still hope you had a wonderful week! Here's a sample from my forthcoming book, After the Pain, which is Book I of my new Latter Rain Series-coming January 12, 2016. 

Enjoy!!

It smelled like rain the day I lost my mind.

As a matter of fact, the scent of rain clung to the air like an unfulfilled promise until the sun set. I spent that day, the entire day, sitting on my front porch, staring at nothing in particular. I can’t say I was deep in thought because I wasn’t. As a matter of fact, all that seemed to fill my head was static—white noise. It was as if someone had flipped the switch in my head from on to off. 

I just sat there and rubbed my hand over my freshly-cut hair, the hair I’d had cut because I just didn’t have the desire to keep it up, to go the beauty shop every week like I had in the past. I didn’t eat or drink anything. I didn’t use the toilet. I didn’t answer the phone when it rang. I didn’t smile or return the mailman’s hello. I didn’t wave when my neighbor greeted me. I didn’t utter a word or move a muscle until the sun began its daily descent. And once the moon took its place in the sky, I stood from my seat, walked out into my yard and fell to the ground. Pressing my face into the grass, I cried for the rain, begged for it to stop playing around and go ahead and pour down on me. In my mind, the rain would make things better, maybe water down some of the pain. I writhed on the ground, pulling up handfuls of grass until my tears dried and transformed into soft wails.

“LaVonda? You all right?” my neighbor, Bunny, shrieked when she stepped outside her house and saw me. What a dumb question that was. I was rolling around on the ground begging for rain, wasn’t I? Of course I wasn’t okay. And then I saw the worried expression on her face and the ugly dress on her body and all I could do was laugh. I laughed so hard that I started to cry again...

#SampleSunday 2 from Sedução (Seduction)

Please enjoy another short sample from Sedução (Seduction). And CLICK HERE to pre-order your copy today!!!

As Victor stood in line with the others, confusion spread across his face. What was going on? A second later, the door that led from the kitchen to the dining area flew open and in walked the hotel’s general manager, followed by a white woman wearing a navy blue gown and long, white gloves. She was pretty in a plastic surgery kind of way. Her tanned, taut skin and obviously-bleached blond hair alluded to the fact that she was much older than she wanted to appear. Her face was stoic as her eyes roamed the kitchen staff. That is, until she fixed them on Victor. When her gaze met his, her eyebrows lifted ever so slightly and then she let her eyes glide over his entire person.

His facial hair belied his age, made him appear older, but she could tell he was much younger than her… and she liked that.

She shifted her focus to the chef and offered him her hand. Before she could speak, the hotel’s manager said, “This is Mrs. Jennings. She wanted to pay compliments for her meal.”

Mrs. Jennings smiled as she firmly gripped the older man’s hand. “Yes, it was absolutely divine, Chef. The best meal I’ve had in ages. And the service was impeccable.” She released his hand and turned to the manager. “I do have a question for you, though.”

He nodded vigorously. “Yes?”

She slowly sauntered over to where Victor stood, her eyes trained on him. “Why is this young man not on the wait staff?”

“Uh-um…” he stuttered, turning to face the chef who shrugged in response. “I’m not sure. He is new here.”

She tilted her perfectly made-up face to the side and said, “He would make a good addition. He would certainly brighten things up out there.” She reached for his hand. “What is your name, young man?”

Victor understood English well, but the sudden attention had taken him aback, so he stared at the woman’s outstretched hand and remained mute.

“Falar!” the manager said gruffly, which translates to “speak” in English.

“Does he not speak English?” Mrs. Jennings said in horror, as if she weren’t in Brazil and the national language was not Portuguese.

“Yes, I do,” Victor said softly. “My name is Victor.”

She smiled, raised her hand a little to remind him that it was there.

He took her hand in his and squeezed gently.

Mrs. Jennings pulled away, her eyes glued to the young man.  “Victor, how nice. Hmm, I’d like for him to serve me in my suite tonight, that is, if he is available. I’m willing to compensate him myself. Would you like that, Victor?”

CLICK HERE to read another sample from Sedução!!

Thanks for dropping by and until later... be blessed!!

#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!!

#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!!

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!!

Final #SampleSunday for Summertime

Please enjoy this final little snippet (I'm trying not to share any spoilers) from Summertime before it's released this Tuesday (06/02/15)!!!

“That’s a lovely voice you got there, girl. I might have to start calling you ‘songbird.’”

I jumped a little, startled by his voice. “You could hear me? I didn’t think I was that loud.”

“You weren’t loud at all, lovely. I just got good ears when it comes to music. I heard you all the way from upstairs. Left a good card game to see where that heavenly sound was coming from.”

I tilted my head to the side. “You couldn’t hear me from up there.”

He rubbed his hand over his wavy hair and then rubbed his chin as he approached me. “You might be right. Maybe I just wanted to see you...”

CLICK HERE to pre-order!!

Add Summertime on Goodreads!!

#SampleSunday #2 from Summertime

Here's another little snippet from Summertime. Enjoy!!

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

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

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

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

“Something like making you my woman.”

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

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

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

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

“John?”

He smiled. “Yeah, I like that.”

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

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

“I’m not wearing any perfume.”

“I didn’t think you were.”

CLICK HERE to pre-order your copy of Summertime!!!

#SampleSunday #1 - Summertime

Check out this short excerpt from Summertime!! Enjoy!!

I woke up with a start. The room was pitch black and very still. Eerily quiet. So what had awakened me? I lay still, listening and wondering. That’s when I heard the music. Horns were blaring and a piano’s keys were trilling loudly—upbeat jazz, the likes of which I’d never heard before. I stumbled to my feet and slid them into the shoes that sat next to my bed. I opened the door and my room partially filled with the light from the hallway. Placing my hand on the bandage that still covered the side of my head, I slowly stepped out into the familiar hallway and cautiously made my way to the staircase. With every step, the music grew louder and louder. At the bottom of the stairs, I took in the scene with awe.

There were wall-to-wall black folks. The women were dressed to the nines in flouncy dresses and hats with feathers, long white gloves on their hands and big gaudy rings on their fingers. They wore bright red lipstick and rouge, and nursed glasses of brown liquor. The men wore suits and hats and looked like they’d just stepped out of a gangster movie. Loma was behind the bar smiling brightly and pouring drinks. Linda, or Lila, was dressed in a tight little gold dress and was walking around hawking cigarettes. She spotted me and headed my way. “What you doing out of bed?”

CLICK HERE to read advance reviews of Summertime on Goodreads!!

CLICK HERE to Pre-Order!!!

#SampleSunday - Summertime Cover and Soundtrack Reveal

Coming 06.02.15

Blurb:

An unlikely journey… an unlikely love.

J'Nay Walker is a talented singer, driven toward success by a promise she made to her late mother. One gloomy day, on the tail of some disappointing news, tragedy strikes, threatening not only to derail her plans, but to end her life. As a result, she soon finds herself on an unlikely journey with an unlikely love.

Soundtrack:

“Summertime” Ella Fitzgerald

“Night and Day” Frank Sinatra

“You and the Night and the Music” Frank Sinatra

“Stormy Weather” Lena Horne

“What a Difference a Day Made” Dinah Washington

“New Orleans” Hoagy Carmichael

“Jive at Five” Count Basie

"After Hours" Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, and Sonny Stitt

“Round Midnight” Thelonious Monk

“Jump, Jive an' Wail” Louis Prima

“Fools Rush In” Frank Sinatra

“Hot House” Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker 

“S’ Wonderful” Shirley Bassey

“My Heart Stood Still” Ella Fitzgerald

“The Man I Love” Billie Holiday

“Blue Moon” Frank Sinatra

“Good Morning Heartache” Ella Fitzgerald

“They Can’t Take That Away From Me” Ella Fitzgerald

“Love Walked In” Louis Armstrong

#SampleSunday 2 - Home

Please enjoy this second sample from Home!! Release date: 3.2.15. Now available for pre-order. CLICK HERE for your copy!!

Excerpt:

I sat there and tried not to let my eyes glaze over as another young, attractive, African American female rattled off her qualifications to me in an effort to convince me to hire her as my administrative assistant since, unfortunately, I’d had to fire Alma. One night was all I was trying to give her. But after that night, she started strutting around the office like she owned the place, typed on the keypad of her cell phone more than she ever did the computer. I just couldn’t afford to keep her, or her attitude, around after I told her we were through.

So there I sat, just three months after hiring her, seeking her replacement, listening to Jazzmine, who was thicker than a six-pack of Snickers. As she rambled on about her experience in Atlanta, I penciled an “x” beside her name. She wouldn’t do at all. She was too fine. So were Kammera, LaShay, and Amber—fine, finer, and finest. I had to find someone unattractive to hire if I was going to keep any help around here.

I stood and shook her hand once the interview was over, gave her the “I’ll be in touch” lie, and settled back down in my executive chair. I loosened my tie and released a long, belabored sigh. More interviews tomorrow. I was just about to pray that a homely girl with impeccable organizational and typing skills would show up at my door when my cell phone rang. I recognized the area code but not the number. The call was coming from Arkansas.

My whole body stiffened. The only time I got calls from Arkansas was when my mother, who was suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s disease, happened to get ahold of the phone and hit the speed-dial for my number, and even then, she swore I was my daddy, and those conversations were awkward to say the least. If she wasn’t whispering sweet nothings to me, she was crying or cussing about some woman she was sure I/my father was with. The only other time I got a call was on my birthday, and that call came from my Aunt Erma. Well, it wasn’t my birthday, so it was more than likely my mother who’d probably gotten her hands on someone’s phone. And as much as I loved that woman (and I truly did) it was almost too painful for me to speak to her, knowing she had no idea who I was.

Soundtrack Reveal and #SampleSunday - Home

Happy Sunday!! Today I'm revealing the soundtrack and sharing a short sample from Home, which is available for pre-order. CLICK HERE to pre-order your copy. Price increases on 3/2/15.

Soundtrack:

“Again” John Legend

“The Beginning…” John Legend

“Coming Home” John Legend

“Good Morning” John Legend

“Green Light” John Legend

“Comin’ From Where I’m From” Anthony Hamilton

“Hard Times” John Legend & The Roots

“Used To Love U” John Legend

“Dreams” John Legend

“Life Has a Way” Anthony Hamilton

“Better Days” Anthony Hamilton

“Another Again” John Legend

“Blame Me” Jaheim

“Baby Girl” Anthony Hamilton

“The Truth” Anthony Hamilton

“Sista Big Bones” Anthony Hamilton

“Since I Seen't You” Anthony Hamilton

“Just Don't Have A Clue” Jaheim

“Caught Up” John Legend

“So Gone” John Legend

“The News” Anthony Hamilton

“Matter of Time” Kem

“Why” Anthony Hamilton

“Hard to Breathe” Anthony Hamilton

“Everybody Knows” John Legend

“Satisfaction” John Legend

“Each Day Gets Better” John Legend

“Send it On” D’angelo

“Show Me” John Legend

“Save Room” John Legend

Excerpt:

Prologue

Mrs. Roundtree was my sixth grade teacher. Now, one thing you need to know about a twelve-year-old boy: anything can translate into sex. With Mrs. Roundtree, it was her smile. She had the sexiest smile. I don’t think Mrs. Roundtree meant to be sexy. She just was. She had a talent for making everyone feel special with her smile. But to me, her smile said, “I want you, Ivan.” I spent my days fantasizing about what it would be like to touch Mrs. Roundtree’s legs. She always wore skirts and dresses and those soft, full legs mesmerized me. I wanted to taste those full lips of hers, too.

Once, I won a school-wide spelling bee, and Mrs. Roundtree hugged me. I dreamt about her soft body from that day forward. She hugged me again when I lost at district. See, she did care. When the school year was over, she kissed me on the cheek for being such a good student.

She was smart, too. She interjected a little black history into every lesson, whether it was math, English, or science. She taught me that black people could be whatever they wanted to be.

I never forgot Mrs. Roundtree or her mind or her body.  She became the perfect model of a woman for me. A brown goddess with a good mind, a nice smile, nice legs, wide hips, and full breasts. She made me fall in love with women, brown women to be exact. So I think Mrs. Roundtree is to blame for me being the way I am. Yeah, it all started with her.

Pre-order your copy today!!

Sample Sunday #3 - Ain't Nobody

Here's the third and final sample from Ain't Nobody! Enjoy and don't forget that it's still available for pre-order. Price increases after its release.

I was in no mental state to be writing, and I knew it. But writing was my passion and my refuge and when all else failed, only it could lift my mood. But somehow, the depression I’d slid back into as soon as my plane hit US soil had superseded the healing effects of writing. Sitting on my computer screen was not the elegant string of words I was known for, but a string of obscenities. Nothing but angry words lined the page. 

I sighed, closed my eyes, and prayed for a brief moment. Then I clicked on the iTunes icon and began to scroll through my music, hoping that a soothing tune would inspire me. Why the hell did I own so many stupid love songs? I scrolled and scrolled until my only option for music was a Lil’ Wayne album that Quincy had downloaded to my computer, and I couldn’t even stand to listen to that because it reminded me of him.

I stared at the songs listed on the computer: “What You Won’t Do For Love,” “Can’t Hide Love,” “Love And Happiness,” “Sweet Love,”  “When We Get Married,” and the one that really sent me over the edge: “All True Man.” That did it. Next thing I knew, I was deleting my entire iTunes library. Then I deleted the page of obscenities. 

Then I unplugged the laptop and threw it across the room. Somehow it landed on the couch and just as I was walking over to it with intentions of thrusting it against the wall, my doorbell rang. At first I stood there as if I didn’t know what to do. Then I slowly made my way to the door, smoothing my hand over the raggedy braids on my head. I peered through the peep hole and felt my blood instantly begin to boil. I snatched the door open and shrieked, “What the hell do you want?!”

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Sample Sunday #2 - Ain't Nobody

Here's another sample from Ain't Nobody. Now available for pre-order at amazon.com. Price increases after January 27, 2015.
Enjoy!!

I was sitting in my mother’s living room enjoying our weekly visit when she decided to ruin it for me.

“He calls me every day. Sounds like he’s crying half the time,” she said out of the blue.

“Who?” I asked as I picked up a People magazine from the coffee table and studied the cover like I was going to be quizzed on it later.

“You know who. When you gon’ make up with him?”

“I’m not. We’re over.” 

Mama leaned forward in her recliner and shook her finger at me. “A man is hard to come by—especially one with a job. He ain’t got no kids and he’s got his own place. I don’t know what else you could want, Alex.”

I turned my head towards the TV, which was playing a Tyler Perry DVD with the volume muted. “Commitment.”  

“Ain’t y’all engaged?”

“Yes, but if I leave it up to Quincy, we’ll be engaged forever. I mean, by the time you were my age, you’d already been married twice. Farrah’s younger than me and she’s already been married and divorced. And look at Gwin. She’s been married forever. I just want my chance to have a family.”

Mama frowned. “Well, hell, ain’t none of that worth bragging about. Farrah’s divorced, I’ve been married twice, and Gwin’s husband won’t even go to church with her. What kind of marriage is that? I don’t know what you think marriage is, but let me be the first to tell you, it ain’t no fairy tale. It’s a bunch of work. Sometimes it’s worth the trouble and sometimes it’s not. But one thing’s for sure, you ain’t gon' get no closer to marrying the man by quitting him. That just don’t make no sense to me.”

I sighed. “Mama, I really don’t want to discuss this.” I pointed to the TV. “Which one is this? I Can Do Bad All By Myself?”

“Naw, Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Alex, you’re making a mistake.”

Before I could answer, I heard the front door open and close, and seconds later, my younger sister, Farrah, walked in wearing tight jeans and a tank top. She was six years my junior and she was gorgeous. She was petite with the smoothest brown skin and I’d literally kill for her body. She’d already had one husband, two kids, and two baby daddies, but she looked like she was still in high school.

“Hey, y’all,” she said as she plopped down on the sofa next to me. “Where the kids?”

“They in the family room playing one of those video games,” Mama said.

“Well, can they stay here tonight? I got some stuff I need to do,” Farrah asked.

“Someone you need to do,” I said under my breath.

“I heard that, Alex. Don’t hate on me just because you ain’t got no man. Oh, that’s right, you had one but you threw him away,” Farrah countered.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about. Why don’t you worry about raising your kids and stop leaving them on Mama all the time?” I said through my teeth.

“That’s enough!” Mama shouted. 

We were all startled by the ringing of the doorbell.

“I’ll get it,” I said. I cut my eyes at Farrah as I headed to the front door. Mama shook her head as I passed by her. I opened the door and wanted to scream. Mama had planned this and I knew it. Standing on the other side of the door was Quincy.

“Mama! I think you have company!” I yelled as Quincy stood there and stared at me.

“No, I don’t. That’s your company,” she called back.

I rolled my eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. “I don’t know why Mama did this. What is it, Q?”

He smiled. “You’re the only person that calls me that, you know?”

“Then I’ll stop.”

He dropped the smile and his shoulders. Quincy Wright was a nice-looking man. He was tall and husky with pale brown skin. His mustache and goatee were always neatly trimmed as was his thick hair, and he always smelled like Armani Code. He looked so good standing there in his business suit that I had to fight to stay in character. Oh, yeah. Did I mention he’s a lawyer and a successful one, at that? Yeah, I know.

“Alex, why won’t you talk to me?” he asked.

“Because I’m done, Quincy.”

“Can you tell me exactly what I’ve done to deserve this?”

I glanced behind me. I really didn’t want Farrah and Mama any deeper in my business than they already were. “Let’s step outside.” I closed the door and sat down on one of the resin chairs on Mama’s porch. Quincy sat down beside me. “Quincy, do you love me, I mean really love me?”

“Of course I do. You know that.”

“And you like being with me?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“Then why won’t you marry me?”

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