Cheris Hodges's Blog, page 25

Publisher's Weekly reviews Love After War

I'll admit it, reviews make me nervous. I get all up in my feelings about reviews -- not enough to become one of those authors behaving badly, though. 



So, when I was alerted to Publisher's Weekly review of Love After War,  I was a little nervous.







Then I read it.

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.

Then, I was feeling like this:



                                           Credit Erica Singleton

 I'm ready for November! Are you? Pre Order Love After War now!!

A Message from Iris Bolling: (Kick) Start me up!

Award winning author, Iris Bolling is bringing her popular Heart series to TV!!







Here is your opportunity to be an intricate part of
bringing the characters you love to television and DVD. It is also your
ticket to join us through the process and of course the celebration at
its completion. Take a look at the project, then select your pledge. We
at Siri Enterprises, and IPE thank you for your time and consideration.
Let's bring, JD, Tracy, Ashley, Cynthia, Roz, James, and yes, Carolyn to
a television near you. Click this link to view the project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/769817080/the-heart-tv-series
































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Chatting with Pat Tucker: Sideline Scandals

                                                                                                                                                            Credit Yolanda Gore




Let's start this with a special announcement from Pat Tucker about her successful books! 




 I want to announce that we have
finally received the contract for Football Widows-the movie based
on my novel by the same name. I'm so very excited, because in honor of this,
the publisher has agreed to do a one-time promotion for readers who may not
have read the book yet. The ebook price of Football Widows is being reduced to
$3.99 for the week ofSept. 2nd -Sept. 9th! We
need your help to spread that message to your followers. If you can help us by
posting the link on your social media sites, tweeting, several times during the
sale, as well as include it in your blog that would be great. We are asking
people to share the news and will be running several contests during that time.
I plan to do three Amazon gift cards, as well as a gift card from my favorite
store, Victoria's Secret.






The game’s afoot once again in this sizzling sequel to Football Widows, with new members and new drama, courtesy of the women behind the NFL’s biggest stars, and play is getting dirty on and off the field...

Sasha Davenport is riding her popular Football Widows social club all the way to the top. She’s got the right look, the high-profile job, and a glamorous public image that belies all her previous salacious activities. The one thing that eludes her is the star player she needs to complete the cast of her made-for-reality TV life. Los Angeles Sea Lions NFL wife Tatayna Bacall has been faking enthusiasm for the game for too long. Now she wants her star quarterback husband to find a job as a sports analyst so their life can take on some kind of normalcy. Joining the Football Widows Club gives her hope that there is life outside the huddle. But when Tatayna realizes that her husband is a target, she’s ready to break the rules with some foul plays of her own…




The wonderful Pat Tucker took the time to chat with me about her book! 




1.       You shine a light
on a side of professional sports the average fan doesn't see.
Where did you get the inspiration for this series? 




My
inspiration for the series comes from being the wife of a Head Football Coach
for the past 12 years. Although he doesn't coach in the NFL, my husband's job
is quite demanding. I've got enough inspiration to last several series.




2.       What is Sideline
Scandal about? 




Sasha Davenport (Football Widows) is riding her popular Football
Widows social club all the way to the top. She’s got the right look, the
high-profile job, and a glamorous public image that belies all her previous
salacious activities. The one thing that eludes her is the star player she
needs to complete the cast of her made-for-reality TV life. Los Angeles Sea
Lions NFL wife Tatayna Bacall has been faking enthusiasm for the game for too
long. Now she wants her star quarterback husband to find a job as a sports
analyst so their life can take on some kind of normalcy. Joining the Football
Widows Club gives her hope that there is life outside the huddle. But when
Tatayna realizes that her husband is a target, she’s ready to break the rules
with some foul plays of her own




3.       What
has the response to this series been? 




Response to the series has been very
positive. People have loved the glimpse into the lives of women behind the
Coaches and players.




4.       What’s
next for the ladies? 




In Sideline Scandals I introduce you to a new group of
women. But, I am so excited to announce that we finally have a contract for the
movie Football Widows, based on my novel by the same title. So, I can proudly
say that the big screen seems to be the next step for these ladies and I'm
excited to take readers along for the ride.















5.       How can
readers follow you online? 




I am always on Facebook. Find me under my name
Pat Tucker or Pat PL Wilson Tucker. Please, please follow me on twitter. My
handle is @authorpattucker It's important to keep up with me on Social media as
this is where I plan to make announcements as it relates to the move, when
casting will begin and where, as well as the chance for readers to help figure
out who should be cast in the movie. Also I can be reached personally at sylkkep@yahoo.com

Going on a break! Video Blog

Follow me and my Hot Mama Land sisters! hotsouthernwriters.blogspot.com







Love After War is coming in November!


"Count on Cheris Hodges to deliver a sassy, sexy romantic read." --Farrah Rochon, author of Always and Forever



When
club owner Adrian Bryant discovers his biological father is hotel
magnate Elliot Crawford, his life unravels. Shunned by Crawford while he
and his mother struggled, Adrian hatches a high-profile plan to destroy
the Crawford name--and the reputations of his two half-brothers. But to
shield the woman he loves from the hell he intends to unleash, Adrian
has to let her go.

Photographer Dana Singleton is heartbroken and
confused by Adrian's behavior. But just when she's given up on their
relationship, she begins to discover the truth--and a dark side of
Adrian she never knew existed. As the stakes get higher, she will have
to ask herself if she can love a man who is capable of such
vengeance--or if he can learn to forgive...

"Hodges makes magic with this troupe." --Publishers Weekly on His Sexy Bad Habit

"A
fun and romantic story. . .Recipe for Desire has a touch of drama,
humor and lots of sensual tension to keep readers turning page after
page." --APOOO BookClub on Recipe for Desire

"Hodges does a
wonderful job of writing stories that have a positive message
underneath all that passion. Great read!" --Urban Reviews on Recipe for Desire

Meet Cassandra Baker-Durham: Video Blog

Christian fiction author and all around good person, Cassandra Baker-Durham is a woman to know.

But don't take my word for it, just check her out:

The Carmen Chronicles: Clara confronts Solomon Crawford

Solomon was pissed by Clara’s cool demeanor when she walked
into his office. She sat across from his desk without an invitation to sit down
and crossed her long legs. Before he married Kandace, he would’ve been struck
by her quiet beauty, café au lait brown skin, cropped curly hair and sparkling
brown eyes.

Through his married eyes, her figure, which reminded him of
a figure 8, was just all right. Nowhere near as exquisite as his wife’s. But
that was neither here nor there. What in the hell did she want?

“You got five minutes,” he growled.

“Mr. Crawford, Carmen De La Croix was a woman with serious
mental issues,” she began. “And I know she caused you and your family a lot of
pain but . . .”

He threw his hand up. “She tried to kill my wife and me –
but her brain was defective so I’m supposed to give a fuck?”

“At least let me tell her story. She deserves to have some
sympathy.”

“I’m not Mick Jagger. I have no sympathy for the devil or
her minions. Why is this story so important to you? Hoping to win some kind of
award for dredging up my family’s pain? That’s how you journalists operate isn’t
it?”

She folded her arms across her ample chest. “Mr. Crawford,
this story isn’t about you. It is about a brilliant, yet disturbed woman.
Carmen wasn’t born this way. She was created by people who didn’t care about
her or her life. She was mistreated and stomped on her whole life. Until she
met you. Even as Chelsea, you showed her a bit more kindness than the people
who were supposed to love her. Then when she transformed herself, she felt as
if you . . .”

“Get the hell out of my office.”

“There must have been something about her that you saw value
in. Otherwise, you would’ve never made her such an integral part of your life.
Don’t you want to issue some kind of comment on the woman she was?”

“Again, get the hell out of my office and my life. That
woman was a murderer, that woman was a serial killer and tried to kill my wife.
And what was this information that you wanted to give me about her. Or was that
your false pretense to get into my office?”

Clara reached into her purse and pulled out a file. “Carmen
should have been in an institution. I’ve found her real family and they’re
going to sue the state of New York. That’s what this series is about. I just
want you to know another side of her.” She rose to her feet and smiled at
Solomon. “Again, this isn’t about you. I just hope you won’t use your influence
to stop me from doing my job.”



That was exactly what Solomon planned to do. Of course, he
wasn’t going to tell her that. But this story was going to die. 










Check out No Other Lover Will Do for more about Carmen, Kandace and Solomon. 

The Carmen Chronicles: Solomon meets Clara

Solomon Crawford pounded on his desk. Who in the hell was
Clara Flowers. Fields. Whatever. Why was she bringing this shit up again?
Really, who gave a damn about Carmen and her insane ass? She was dead.

New York Daily Observer was a tabloid rag anyway. Was this the only way those hacks could sell
papers?

“Mr. Crawford,” his
assistant said over the intercom. “You have a guest.”

“Does this guest
have an appointment?”

“She said no but
you would want to see her. It’s Clara Fields.”

He muttered a
string of curse words that would shame a sailor. “I don’t want to see her.”

“Mr. Crawford,” an
unknown voice, which he assumed was Clara’s, said. “I have some information
about Carmen De La Croix that I think you should know.”

“Why don’t you print it in your next installment of the Carmen Chronicles?! “he
boomed.

“Mr. Crawford, you
really should talk to me in private about this.”

“Fu—You know what,
come on in. I have a few things I’d like to say to you in private as well.”

The Carmen Chronicles: A Monster emerges

Chelsea’s life with her “mother” wasn’t easy. Anita wanted a
family – more specifically a husband. She led little Chelsea to believe that
they were biologically related. But when Anita had a man in her life, she
ignored her daughter and seemingly turned a blind eye to the sexual abuse
Chelsea suffered starting at the age of ten.

Jimmy Peterson had been Chelsea’s last abuser. She’d been 15
at the time that he moved in with Anita.

“That house was clocked in evil,” said former neighbor Betty
Wallace. “I’d hear that poor child crying out for help at night. When I tried to
talk to Anita, she told me to mind my damn business. I tried to call the
authorities but they didn’t follow up.”

Then the fire happened. Details of that night are sketchy,
but Anita and Jimmy were locked in the basement as the house burned. It was ruled
an arson and Chelsea was the only suspect. When the story made the papers, her
aunt Lucy Washington found her. Lucy had been Chelsea’s real father’s sister
and she ran a successful catering business in New York City. She went to court
on her niece’s behalf and promised the judge that she would provide a stable
home for the girl.

She even changed Chelsea’s last name and it looked as if
things were going to turn around for her. But Chelsea was damaged and her aunt
never followed up on the court ordered therapy. Chelsea grew angrier as the
years passed. She dropped out of school, despite the fact that she was a
brilliant child with an IQ of 150.

Life with Lucy meant a lot of work for Chelsea and little
reward. Her clothes were hand me downs and she had a few burn scars on her neck
from the fire. Chelsea blended in the background and her aunt reminded her of
that a lot.

Chelsea was trying to earn money to get a place of her own,
but Lucy stopped paying her right before Solomon Crawford’s ill-fated wedding.
Crawford had been abandoned at the altar and according to one of the other
workers, he and Chelsea had an encounter in the kitchen.

“She acted as if he was a superstar,” said Damien Bright. “He
was drunk and cussing. Knocked the cake over and fell on her. You would’ve
thought it was the highlight of her life. She helped him out of the center
through a back door and from that day on, she was all about that man. Lucy told
her she wasn’t in his league. She told her that the only thing she’d ever be
able to do for Solomon Crawford is change the sheets at his hotel. Said that in
front of everyone and little Chelsea socked her. It was such a shock. Next
thing we know, Lucy was missing.”




--Clara Fields 

Please check your funk!

Need cheap soap, click here!

The Carmen Chronicles

The Carmen Chronicles

Five years after the death of Carmen De La Croix, New York Daily Observer reporter, Clara
Fields uncovered what drove Solomon Crawford’s former right hand woman to
madness.

This is what she found out:

                The
violent end to Carmen De La Croix’s life seemed to be a self fulfilling prophecy.
Born Chelsea Rodriguez, the little girl was placed up for adoption at the age
of three. She was raised by a woman who she thought was her mother, but Angela
Chavez was one of the New York City Department of Child Services foster
parents. During the 1980s, there were some women who used the foster system as
a way to supplement their income and Chavez was one of the worst.

                According
to county records, Chavez had collected payments in excess of $40,000 for
children who were no longer in her care. Because there wasn’t a great system of
checks and balances, it was years before the fraud was discovered and too late
to save Chelsea from abuse that she suffered at the hands of Angela and her
husband.

Coming soon: A monster is created, not born



Clara Fields. 




If you're asking yourself, who is Carmen De La Croix, check out No Other Lover Will Do!