"Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it's holy ground. There's no greater investment."
--Stephen Covey
Monday, November 28, 2016
Monday, November 14, 2016
#Book Spotlight - Inner City Blues by Chicki Brown
Release date: November 6, 2016
Blurb:
Dr. Jesse Stafford, successful surgeon, husband and father of three lives in an exclusive enclave in Atlanta. He volunteers his time at a neighborhood free clinic in one of the roughest parts of Atlanta where his wife, Cydney's family still lives. When an unarmed thirteen-year-old boy is shot and killed by the police in this neighborhood, Jesse finds himself in an ethical dilemma and at odds with some family members. His involvement puts everything he’s achieved on the line.
Excerpt:
“No kidding. That’s major.” Jesse paused for a moment. “Mama
and Daddy taught us well. That’s why I can’t wrap my head around why he wants
me to separate myself from what’s going on in the Hollowell area.”
“It’s because you’re personally
involved. He’d be happy if you were just sending a check.”
“This is a different situation, though. Money isn’t going to
bring that kid back. Only visible, vocal protests will keep the media focused
on the case. Black men have to be seen and heard speaking out against what’s
happening with the police in our neighborhoods.”
“Just be careful, man.” Marc slapped him on the back. “Bullets
don’t discriminate.”
A few nights later, Jesse’s skin prickled with trepidation
as his brother, Marc’s words echoed in his head. Even though he had performed
hundreds of surgeries in the past ten years, the prospect of this one scared
the hell out of him. He took pride in the work he’d done as an oncology surgeon
helping patients battle the most dreaded disease on earth. These two patients
were another story. He’d never found himself in this situation.
For the past four decades Atlanta had been known as the
Mecca of the South. The city and its surrounding suburbs had seen an
unprecedented pilgrimage of African-Americans from other parts of the country
seeking their part of the area’s employment and minority business prosperity.
Black millionaires like entertainers Tyler Perry, Ludacris, and Usher,
entrepreneurs like Herman Russell and the Bronner Brothers along with many
others in business, entertainment and sports had made their city home.
But the presidency of
Barack Obama had spawned a rise in hate groups that had once ruled the South.
Young white men and women alike were proudly donning confederate gear and white
robes and hoods in a backlash over the black pride for which Atlanta was known.
Several small crosses had been planted and burned in conspicuous locations,
supposedly as a warning to residents. A church which had been in the area for
nearly one hundred years, mysteriously caught fire in the middle of the night
and burned to the ground. The boldest of these domestic terrorists had the
audacity to ride through the neighborhood with huge flags flying from the back
of their pickup trucks doing the rebel yell, the battle cry used by confederate
soldiers during the American Civil War. Historically, the soldiers used the
yell during charges to intimidate the enemy and boost their own morale. Little
did they know they weren’t dealing with the terrified blacks of the early
1900s. A new breed of young African-Americans¾both educated and unlearned¾refused
to cower in fear against these threats. And as a result of the rabid redneck
support of gun rights, these young blacks were also well armed.
It had seemed at one point that things had calmed down until
confederate flags suddenly showed up around the damaged urban landscape.
Comment below for a chance to win a copy of this book!!!!!!!
Buy
links:
Kindle - http://amzn.to/2fssIXM Nook - http://bit.ly/2eFLdcr
Coming soon in paperback on CreateSpace.com
About the Author
Contemporary women’s fiction/romance author Chicki Brown has
been featured twice in USAToday. She was the 2014 B.R.A.B. (Building
Relationships Around Books) Inspirational Fiction Author and also the 2011 SORMAG (Shades of Romance Magazine) Author of the
Year. Chicki was also a contributing author to the Gumbo for the Soul: Men of
Honor (Special Cancer Awareness Edition).
A transplanted New Jersey native who lives in Atlanta,
Georgia, Brown still misses the Jersey shore, the pizza and the hot dogs.
Nia Forrester, Beverly Jenkins, Iris Bolling, Lisa Kleypas,
and J.R. Ward are among her favorite authors.
Online
contacts:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/@Chicki663
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chicki.brown
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/chicki663/
Amazon Central Author Page: http://amzn.to/l2kjXQ
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/qcsiMD
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
On Top Of The World (Until The Bell Chimes) Virtual #Book Tour
Please join author David Lamb as he tours the
blogosphere with Write
Now Literary Book Tours and his new release On Top Of The
World, (Until The Bell Chimes) October 24- November 4, 2016.
Genre:
Romantic Comedy, African-American Romance, Contemporary Romance,
Humor
& Satire, Re-tellings
ISBN-10: 0986445304
ISBN-13: 978-0986445309
About The Author
David Lamb is a native New Yorker, born and raised,
bitten with the writing bug since he was in elementary school and had
handwriting nobody could decipher. Like Charles Dickens, David grew up a poor
boy in the big city who found that the pen really is mightier than the sword.
In middle school Lamb's hero was David Lampel whose velvet voice could be heard
reporting the news over David's grandmother's radio. Whenever he heard him on
the radio, David would substitute Lamb for Lampel and pretend he was delivering
the news. Sure that he was destined to be a famous reporter David was happy to
go to a high school with a journalism program. Like most kids, by the time he
finished high school he had a whole new career in mind. After high school he
went to Hunter College and majored in Economics because he wanted to be cool
like that college kid who came to speak at his last year of high school. He was
an Economics major, he was dressed sharp and above-all the girls thought he was
the man! So like any unreasonable high school boy fueled by overactive hormones
David figured if he majored in Economics they'd think he was cool. After
finishing college David went on to law school at NYU, but all the time writing
was still his heart. While working as a lawyer by day, at night he transformed
into a writer and eventually wrote and produced the award-winning hit off-Broadway
romantic comedy Platanos Y Collard Greens. Being a writer and having the chance
make people laugh out loud while challenging them to think about the world
around them, and inspire each of us to believe in the power of love and our own
ability to overcome life's challenges is a great gift that David truly enjoys
and thanks you for allowing him to share with you in On Top Of The World (Until
The Bell Chimes).
About The Book
WINNER 2016 BEST FICTION-Pacific Book Awards. From
award-winning playwright David Lamb, creator of the hit play Platanos Y Collard
Greens, comes a fast and fun modern spin on Dickens that perfectly combines
laughs and love in a satire about race, class and celebrity worship. Scrooge,
or rather Scrooje, is music's biggest superstar, with one hundred million
albums sold and twenty-five million Twitter followers. Belle is a take no
prisoners legal shark whose beauty causes traffic accidents as she stylishly zips
through the sidewalks of Manhattan. They never imagined being music's most
powerful couple, but that's what happened when Belle fell head over heels and
gave the Coke-bottle glasses wearing, biggest nerd on campus the ultimate
makeover, turning him into
a fashion impresario whose style sets trends from Milan to NY Fashion Week.
Then it happens. Belle realizes too late she's created a chart-topping monster
as Scrooje ego explodes. Now, it's been three years since they’ve spoken. But
tonight at Hollywood s biggest red carpet event they'll be given a second
chance. With twenty-five million viewers tuned in will Scrooje finally shed his
ego, jeopardize his image and declare his love for Belle? Will Belle even give
him a chance? The Romantic Times says On Top of the World is "hilarious,
highly entertaining, incredibly fun," and ESSENCE best-selling author,
Nancey Flowers, proclaims that its a "Fun and Entertaining story of
fighting for love against all odds!" While music star Talib Kweli says
that On Top Of The World is a "Dynamic novel about the price of fame
packed with so many laughs and so much heart I couldn't put it down."
Connect Socially
Website: http://davidlambbooks.com
Buy Links
Follow the tour http://wnlbooktours.com/david-lamb/
Friday, October 21, 2016
#Book Blast - The Final Ultimatum
Please join author Unoma Nwankwor as she tours the blogosphere with Write Now Literary Book Tours and her new release The Final Ultimatum, October 21, 2016.
Book Title: The Final Ultimatum
ASIN: B01LQO2F60
Author: Unoma Nwankwor
Publication Date: Oct 21, 2016
Genre: Christian Romance
About The Book
For the second time in Olanma Obinze-Rice’s life love hasn’t been good to her. Five years ago, a repossessed car and the looming threat of eviction, left Olanma Obinze-Rice in dire need of cash. Then out of the blue, she landed an interview of a lifetime that would solve all her problems. But she had to go through former bad boy and heir of Rice Holdings, Abayomi Rice. One ultimatum, a whirlwind romance and a life scare later, Olanma and Abayomi were married.
Now all Olanma wants is to be free. Free from her rocky marriage, manipulative husband and overbearing father. If everything goes according to plan, she’ll be divorced and free from her father’s clutches by her thirtieth birthday. All she has to do is wrap up one last business deal. Once he gets divorce papers, Abayomi Rice knows his wife has called his bluff. He didn’t mean to manipulate her but her broken promises and inability to stand up to her father tore them apart.
Despite their present state, the finality of a divorce is not an option. He wants his wife back. With his sister’s wedding coming up, he sets his plan in motion and issues one final ultimatum- pretend to be a happy couple one last time. Their farce leads to unexpected healing of their hearts, but then life throws another wrench in the plan. An ultimatum brought them together will this final one tear them apart?
About The Author
Born in Akron, Ohio to Nigerian parents, Unoma Nwankwor is a multi-published author and 2015 winner of the Nigerian Writers’ Award for Best Faith Based Fiction. Her readers are in love with her unique story telling that fuses faith, romance and African spice, capturing the essence of her present home base; Atlanta and her Nigerian culture. She is also the COO ofKevStel Group LLC and resides in Atlanta with her husband and two kids.
Excerpt
“Nma, so where’s this husband you keep saying you have?” Abayomi heard the man say as he approached.
Olanma giggled and then abruptly stopped. Abayomi knew that in that moment she sensed his presence. She turned sideways, but the man she was with was so busy checking her out that he didn’t see Abayomi walk up.
“If he’s not taking care of…”
“I hear you’re looking for me and I take care of my wife just fine.” Abayomi came to a halt between Olanma and the man.
The look of shock on both their faces was satisfying. Nma? He couldn’t believe she allowed another man to call her that. Not even her father called her “beauty.” Only two people had that privilege – he and her grandmother. Or so he thought.
Abayomi snaked his arm around his wife’s waist and kissed her hair. He then stretched out his other hand to the man. “Abayomi Rice, said husband.”
The expression on the man’s face switched from shock to embarrassment. At least he had some shame.
After a few moments, he heard his wife say, “Yomi, this is Emeka Maduka, an old friend.”
Old friend? That’s what she thought. The man wanted her. Abayomi wasn’t fooled. He wrote the book on old friends. It was time to cut this little reunion short. “It was nice meeting you. I’ll take my wife now.”
Abayomi didn’t wait for a response before he ushered Olanma out of the ballroom. He found a secluded area where they could talk. He stared at her and began to pace. He had never been good at hiding his possessive nature.
“Yomi, that was rude and what are you doing here?” Olanma asked in a hushed whisper.
“Apparently, reminding you that you’re still my wife.”
She stared at him in disbelief. “No, I’m not doing this with you.”
“Really? Nma,” Abayomi said, his tone laced with irritation and sarcasm.
“You’ve got some nerve. You pop into Lagos two days ago, and then you don’t come home…” Her voice was shaky with rage. “I’m not doing this with you. Not here.” She began to walk away.
Abayomi exhaled. He was messing this up. “Olanma, wait.”
She stopped, but didn’t turn around.
“I’m sorry. I saw him touch you and then you laughed with him. I haven’t heard that sound in ages and I saw red.”
He hadn’t meant to reveal all that, but masked feelings were what had brought them to this point. If there was going to be a chance for them, they would have to lay down the masks. And since he was the one that was served with divorce papers, he had to take the first step. His prayer was that his vulnerability would lead them back to the intimacy they once shared. Where their souls were tied as one and hopefully rebuild their trust. He hoped she would see that.
Olanma walked back to him and stared at him intently. “It’s been a year. What did you expect? That I’d curl up and die?” She turned and walked away.
Her heated eyes showed him her soul. She was hurt, but so was he. This wasn’t what he imagined for them. Past the pain and anger he saw in her eyes, he also saw longing and love. It was clearer to him that restoring his marriage would be an uphill battle. Losing, however, wasn’t an option.
Connect Socially
Amazon (Kindle) ITunes, Nook, Kobo
Tour hosted by Write Now Literary Book Tours
Monday, October 17, 2016
#MondayMotivation - #Quote
"Change is not a threat, it’s an opportunity. Survival is not the goal, transformative success is." – Seth Godin
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
#Book Blast - Taffy
Please join author Suzette. D Harrison as she tours the blogosphere with Write Now Literary Book Tours
and her new release Taffy on
October 4, 2016.
Author: Suzette D. Harrison
Genre: Historical Fiction; Historical Romance
Book Title: TAFFY
Publication Date: February 11, 2016
ISBN-10: 1523298251
ISBN-13: 978-1523298259
About The Book
Welcome to the sleepy, all-Black southern town of Bledsoe, where Colored residents proudly declare "ain't nothing white here 'cept milk and teeth." It's 1935. A press-and-curl costs a quarter. Records play on phonographs. And a telephone is a luxury.
Meet twenty-three-year-old Taffy Bledsoe Freeman. She doesn't need her gift of second sight to know her "mockery of a marriage" to a man twice her age is far from good. After a seven-year exile Up North, Taffy travels down-home to the small town bearing her family's name, plotting her escape from a marriage not worth the price of a press-and-curl. She only needs to retrieve the son her husband banished to her parents' care, before boarding a train headed for the Windy City filled with liberty and opportunity. Instead, Taffy stumbles into Roam Ellis: the man Taffy meant to marry.
Twenty-six-year-old Roam Ellis is a "broad-shouldered, hard-bodied" Pullman porter riding the rails coast-to-coast, outrunning the bitter heartbreak Taffy left behind. Now, after a seven-year absence, Roam is face-to-face with his first love. Anger ignites. Old wounds are exposed. But when pain subsides, passion rises, thrusting Taffy and Roam into a hurricane of buried secrets and lies.
Reminiscent of the works of Bernice McFadden, Bertice Berry, and Andrea Smith (The Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner) this Historical Romance is bathed in southern lore and sweeping imagery. Lyrical and powerful, Taffy is a story of restoration and redemption that you won't soon forget.
About The Author
Excerpt
Taffy made ready to fuss him out only to reconsider.
That steel-headed man won’t move. She would. Taffy eyed the fence, knowing
she’d earlier hopped it with ease. But she couldn’t hike her dress up before
present company.
“Go ahead,” Roam goaded, popping peppermints in his
mouth, ready to enjoy the spectacle. “I’d like to see you try.”
Options were few with the opposite side of the road
lined by a ditch and a frighteningly out-of-control briar patch. Taffy could
reverse her path. I’m not! Taffy had long ago learned how to do what she had
to.
“You ‘bout to break something,” Roam warned, shaking
his head as Taffy prepared to climb. “Gal, quit acting up and walk this way.”
Ignoring Roam, Taffy hoisted herself onto the bottom
rail. Fumbling, she tried climbing with shoes in hand, finally dropping them
over the fence, onto the other side.
Roam moved quickly before Taffy, too, was beyond reach.
Taffy felt an arm snake about her waist, effortlessly
hauling her backward as if it didn’t cost Roam a thing. “What’re you doing?!”
“Whatever I want,” Roam responded, setting Taffy on her
feet, anchoring an arm about her waist when Taffy spun, spitting heat.
“Move, Roam.” Taffy strained against Roam’s iron hold.
“Get off me before I hurt you!”
“Already did.”
Her fire fizzled. Voice softened, tongue tasted regret.
“Roam, what do you want?”
“You.” Taffy stilled. Roam reinforced his hold. “Two
things I won’t do with you: mince words or waste time.” Lifting her chin,
claiming her mouth, Roam proved his point.
His lips were hot, soft, sweet. Taffy got lost savoring them and him, and the bombarding emotions of mere moments before became nonexistent. Oh my blessedness, Taffy inwardly purred, feeling a slow, unsanctioned melting. They’d shared quick, quaint kisses in adolescent sweetheart days. Never this. Never with man-to-woman savoir faire. Resuscitated passions exploded and multiplied. Taffy could barely breathe let alone think, so she followed love’s lead and held on for the ride.
Connect Socially
Buy Links
Tour hosted by WNL Book Tours
Monday, October 3, 2016
#MondayMotivation - #quote
"When I dare to be powerful - to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid."
--Audre Lorde
--Audre Lorde
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