Cheris Hodges's Blog, page 24

GoodReads giveaway Love After War

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\ Goodreads Book Giveaway\
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\ Love After War\
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\ by Cheris Hodges\
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\ Giveaway ends November 27, 2013.\

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\ See the giveaway details\ at Goodreads.\

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\ \ Enter to win\ \
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Now I see why old men like it when young women flirt with them. . .

Aww, HBCU homecomings, there is nothing like going back and seeing your old friends. This past weekend, Johnson C. Smith University celebrated homecoming. As a proud Golden Bull alum, I hung out a little.

Friday night was happy hour and I was about to order a drink when this guy approached me and asked did we graduate together.

I had never seen this chocolate tenderoni before, so I asked, "What year did you graduate?"

"2004."

In my head I did a backflip, a split and a handstand. Outwardly, I had to play it cool. "No. I graduated in 1999."

"Really? But you look so young."





In my head, I was moonwalking. That almost makes up for me not getting carded when I ordered my wine.



I used to have this love/hate relationship with growing up and growing old. I lied about my age for years. When I was 30, I told my niece and nephews I was 24. They thought  I was 24 for five years.

Then I realized something, I getting older means you're still living. I'm not some Hollywood actress who's getting passed over for roles because I'm 36. And honestly, I wouldn't want to do my 20s over again. No. Thank. You!



So, the younger man thought we were the same age. That was really cute. No wonder Hugh Hefner surrounds himself with girls his granddaughter's age.

Love After War giveaway!!

The story behind Love After War. . . .







Most of my brilliant ideas start at a corner table in Starbucks. While sipping on a grande Italian Roast, I thought what would happen if the lights went out and I was stuck in here with the last person I wanted to see. Suppose it was an old rival from high school. Would I toss my coffee in her face? Heck no! Cheris Hodges does not waste coffee!



High school rivalries are old hat, I told myself as I took a sip. What if I was trapped in Starbucks with an ex? I took to my iPad and started sketching ideas. The first thing I thought was, let's move this story to Los Angeles. California is known for rolling brown outs and Starbucks. I had to remove myself from this story because I write romance, not revenge killing tomes.



A character from Too Hot For TV popped into my mind, Dana, Imani's photographer best friend. Fitting because one of my best friends is a photographer. And when I found out that Dana didn't have a last name -- I gave her my home girl's surname. Dana was talking to me, telling me that if I wrote about her, she'd better be kick ass and ride a motorcycle. She even has me wanting to get a Fat Bob now. My father does not approve.

The scene with Dana and her ex came together so quickly, that I couldn't wait to see how this love story would play out. I just needed to know what her man's name was.

Adrian. Adrian Bryant.



So, what's his story? Glad you asked. Adrian needed a damned good reason to let a woman like Dana go. On my third-- maybe 23rd -- refill, another idea jolted me into action.

War! War! War. Not the violent kind of war that requires an Army, but something deeper. As the auntie of three big boys, I know one thing for sure: You don't mess with Mom!



Well, somebody messed with Adrian's mom and he's out for revenge. It's war! But can Dana's love change him?



Find out on November 4th in Love After War!



Can't wait? Want to win a signed copy of my new book? 

Answer this question in the comments section and three winners will be randomly chosen from the correct answers! 



Dana made her debut in TOO HOT FOR TV, where did she live and what did she and Imani do before Imani went to Hawaii to film a reality TV show?

Love After War teaser

Love After War preview :




The last thing Dana Singleton ever
wanted was to find herself alone with the man who’d broken her heart two years
ago. She’d put three thousand miles between them twenty-four months ago only to
find that the moment she returned to Los Angeles, she was trapped with him in
the middle of a brownout.

Adrian Bryant.

 God, she thought, why do you hate me?

            “This
is insane,” Adrian said, then looked over at Dana. And a slow smile spread
across his face when he recognized her. “Long time no see.” When he reached out
to embrace her, Dana pushed back.

            “Don’t
you dare touch me,” she said. “How dare you even look at me or expect me to be
thrilled to see you?”

            “Don’t
act like that,” he said, offering her a sizzling smile. In the near darkness of
the coffee shop, his smile damn near lit up the place.

            “Act
like what? Like I can’t stand to be in the same room with you? Trust and
believe, it is not an act,” she snapped. Oh, she hated him and the way he still
made her heart flutter with a powerful yearning to fall into those strong arms
and press her mouth against his while he slowly kissed her until her body
melted against his. Looking away from him, she forced herself to remember being
dumped by text message. It’s for the
best. I’m moving on and you should do the same, the message had read. She
closed her eyes and rubbed
her temples. That
night replayed in her mind like a bad movie in a broken DVD player. She’d felt
stupid, confused, and disappointed. But she had taken the hint and left. If
only she’d told Imani and Universal Studios no. Then she’d still be in New York
and not running into Adrian on his home turf, Los Angeles.

 She expelled a frustrated sigh because when
she opened her eyes, he was still there. Still staring at her with that
spectacular smile on his face.

            “Dana,
I know I owe you a huge apology and an explanation as to why—”

            “You
don’t owe me a damned thing, and I definitely don’t want to hear any apology
you took two years to come up with.”

            Adrian
stared at her, soaking up Dana’s unique beauty. The long dreadlocks were new
and very sexy. She had caramel-colored skin that made him salivate as he
thought about all the places he used to lick and how sweet she tasted between
her thighs. Letting her go had been the worst thing he’d ever had to do. But it
was necessary. He only wished he could come clean with her now. But his mission
wasn’t complete and the last thing he wanted was to get her caught up in his
plan.

            Dana
snapped her fingers in Adrian’s face. “Thinking of a pretty lie to tell me?”

            “Can
we talk about it over a cup of coffee?” he asked, smiling at her and making
Dana snarl in response.

            “You
know what, Adrian? I’ve grown up since the last time I saw you. Decided that I
deserve someone who knows how to treat me and that isn’t you. So, hell no. I
don’t want to talk to you over coffee. I don’t want to talk to you period.”

            “I
was trying to protect you, Dana,” he said, his voice low, a sexy growl that
made her body twitch. The same voice that he used to whisper sweet promises in
her ear. Turning her back to him, Dana tried to pretend she wasn’t affected. As long as he doesn’t touch me, I’ll be
fine, she thought. Then she felt his hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry,” he
said. “Sorry for what I did and the way things looked. But it was for the
best.”

            “It
was. And when the power comes back on, we can pretend you’re still gone.”

            Adrian
spun her around, drinking in her delicate features. Though her eyes flashed
anger and resentment, she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
The love of his life. The only thing not touched by his need for revenge. What
could he say to her to explain what his life had become?

“What?”
she snapped, locking eyes with him.                                                                       

            He
knew the right thing to do when it came to Dana was to leave her alone, to walk
away and continue his quest. But at that moment, in the silence of the darkened
coffee shop, all he wanted was a sweet taste of his past. A kiss from Dana. He
leaned in, pressing his lips against hers. He felt her heat, passion, and want.
When her lips parted and his tongue slipped inside, her sweetness nearly brought
him to his knees. Closer. He had to be closer to her, and he wrapped her in his
arms as if he were a blanket. She didn’t resist him, didn’t push him away.
Instead, she kissed him back as if no time had passed since their lips last
touched. She made him feel as if her mouth had been waiting for his. That
couldn’t be the case . . . could it?

            Dana’s
brain clicked and she realized she wasn’t dreaming about kissing Adrian; she was kissing him. Relishing in the touch
of his tongue against her lips and savoring the hint of mint that his mouth
always held. She wasn’t imagining that his fingers were gliding up and down her
spine; it was actually happening. The man she loved. The man who’d broken her
heart with a text message. Kiss over. She pulled back, snatched away from him,
and angrily eyed him. “What in the hell is wrong with you?” Dana demanded.

            “Me?
I didn’t kiss myself and from what I felt, you’re happy to see me.”

            “You
cocky son of a—”

            “I
know I am. Glad you agree,” he quipped.

A Cocoa Classy event! Meet your readers

Tressia Cocoa Classy Gibbs has an event and message for you!


Your Readers Want to Meet You!!!!

I’d like to invite you to attend the Cocoa Classy Local Authors Event. The
event will be held October 26th from 2 pm-5 pm at the Diamond
Kollection Ballroom (located next to the Parklane Road entrance of Columbia
Mall) and is designed to give you the opportunity to meet and greet your
current readers, as well as build your fan base by selling and autographing
copies of your work.

The cost is to reserve your table is $40 (which has been
extended to Wednesday, October 16). In addition to your table, you will receive
the following:

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Your information included in the souvenir
booklet for the event  which will be
provided to attendees;

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10 minute on-stage session that may be used
to read a section from your work, talk about your work or anything else you’d
like to discuss;

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An ad on the Cocoa Classy website (www.cocoaclassy.com) and link to your
site.

This is planned as an event of fun, socializing and
networking. Reserve your table now at http://www.cocoaclassy.com/author-meet-and-greet.html.


Need more information? Call/Text me at 803-466-1443 or email
me at cocoaclassy@ymail.com.

Thank you in advance,

Tressia “Cocoa Classy” Gibbs

October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Every year, I have to do this post.



 I love football and I applaud the NFL for going pink for Breast Cancer in October. I love the new NFL commercial with the Jets's fan who found a lump in her breast after watching a Monday Night Football game where she saw her J-E-T-S in pink.



That being said, the NFL continues to ignore domestic violence. Hell, I live in a state where animal abuse is a felony, but hitting your partner is a misdemeanor. Sucks to be a Tar Heel with an abusive partner.



And it also sucks to be the partner of an NFL player and get abused. Why? The media and the fans will blame You.



Case in point, the tragic death of Kasandra Perkins, killed at the hands of her NFL boyfriend, Jovan Belcher.
Just last season, the NFL was rocked by the murder/suicide, but the day after the tragedy, games went on. The NFL continues to ignore the fact that there is a problem with domestic violence. According to The Slate, in 2012:

21 of 32 NFL teams, at one point this year, had employed a player with a domestic violence or sexual assault charge on his record.

Why aren't we seeing a sea of purple and pink in October?

Here's why we should:



Every 9 seconds in the US a woman is assaulted or beaten.
Everyday in the US, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends.
Domestic violence victims lose nearly 8 million days of paid work per year in the US alone—the equivalent of 32,000 full-time jobs.
The costs of intimate partner violence in the US alone exceed $5.8 billion per year: $4.1 billion are for direct medical and health care services, while productivity losses account for nearly $1.8 billion
Men who as children witnessed their parents’ domestic violence were twice as likely to abuse their own wives than sons of nonviolent parents.    ---Source http://domesticviolencestatistics.org

One month away from the release of Love After War

Ah, October. Halloween. My chance to live my superhero dreams. But most importantly, one month til the release of Love After War!! 



Have you preordered your copy yet? If you'd be so kind and click here.




From Publishers Weekly

This neatly plotted and well-written urban romance is packed with Hodges's trademarks: sensuality, standout characters, and sophisticated drama. While on assignment in Los Angeles, photographer Dana Singleton runs into her charming ex-boyfriend Adrian Bryant, who owns a club there. An unexpected kiss arouses old longings, but Dana wonders whether Adrian will break her heart again. He wants to come clean with her about his side of their breakup and his plans to exact revenge upon the wealthy father who abandoned him and his mother, but Adrian always stops short of the full truth. Despite their passionate lovemaking, old conflicts rear up again, and an exciting project in New York may provide Dana with the escape hatch she needs. Meanwhile Adrian has to confront a family crisis while learning how to give Dana what she needs and deserves. Dynamic secondary characters make the story soar. This soul-satisfying romance will captivate and entertain new readers and returning fans alike. (Nov.)

A Hauntingly Sexy event . . .October 19

This is a free event, but you must register! Log on to ncauthorevent.eventbrite.com/ to get your free ticket.

Everything I learned about dating, I learned from Soap Operas. . .That's why I'm single

The older I get, the more people ask questions about my love life. It's as if a woman over 30 has to be married, engaged, pregnant or already a mother for her life to be meaningful.
And then there's the fact that I write romance novels.

Girl, don't you have a man? Well, if I hear that question one time, I'm going to slap somebody.  But, who wants an assault charge because she hit Ms. Mary from the church?

So I have a surefire way to stop all of these questions.

Number one:  Because I'm secretly Catwoman and I'm waiting for Batman to come and make my life better.



 Number two: Everything I learned about dating, I learned from watching Victor and Nikki on The Young and The Restless. I just can't find a man rich enough and dramatic enough to make me want to be in a relationship.
Number three: Not old enough to be a cougar yet. I want to combine a relationship with motherhood without the stretch marks.
Number four: My parents like everyone that I date, what is the fun in that?
Number five: No one understands my book collection!
Number six: All of the baristas in Starbucks are women I can't date a man who doesn't love coffee!
And finally, number seven: You have all these questions, but do you have a man in your back pocket for me?

There's nothing wrong with being single. There's nothing wrong with being 36 and single! The problem is, we live in a society where women have to follow rules that don't apply to men. A 36-year-old man who is single, has no kids, and has a career is the man! A woman in that same situation; hey, something must be wrong with her.



I tell you what though, I'm not making any damn sandwiches to get no engagement ring! Okay, rant over.

The Last Time I Saw You

              


The last time I saw you, you were looking fresh to life,
man! Sharp white tux and that peach shirt that gave you an angelic glow—or maybe
it was just the joy of celebrating ten years with your beautiful wife. I gave
you a hug and I swear some of your happiness rubbed off. I’m a romance
novelist, but my belief in happily ever after wavers sometimes. Not when I saw
you and Sonya together. You two made me realize that real love is actually
real. You two were always smiling, laughing and joking.




                Being
around you two, there was always so much love in the air. You couldn’t help but
smile. And you were always making people smile because when God made you, He
broke the mold. Forget Raymond, everybody loves Pete.

                When my
paranoid tail wanted to go see The Dark
Knight Rises, who rolled with me to ease my mind? I thought you were pretty
unbreakable. Motorcycle crash, you’re good. Car totaled on ice, you still
celebrated your friend’s birthday – the same night! Superman status. I still
can’t process the senseless of it. The fact that my beautiful cousin is gone.
We were supposed to be picking out a movie to go see. Talking football junk.
Eating wings while you threaten me with pork chops.

                But you’re
in God’s hands now, taken too soon but you will never be forgotten. You will
live on in our hearts. We’ll remember your smile and the goodness you shared
everywhere you went. We’ll watch over your baby and hold her when she cries.
You’ll guide us and keep us on the right path. When we feel as if that
emptiness in our hearts is about to take over, you’re going to fill us all with
the good memories, the good times we shared. And when the time comes, we’ll see
you again.

                My dear
cousin, we love you and we will never forget a moment we shared.