Chicki Brown's Blog, page 43

Author Spotlight - Norma Jarrett

Norma L. Jarett is my guest today in the author spotlight.

Blurb

Inspired by faith based fiction bestselling novels Sunday Brunch and Sunday Brunch Diaries by Norma L. Jarrett. Brunchspiration is a fun, faith filled, witty encouragement filled devotional for anyone seeking an uplifting word! With personal and real world examples of contemporary culture, author Norma will have readers laughing, smiling and crying as she delivers Brunch wisdom - girlfriend style! Norma's books have gained attention in Essence, Ebony, USA Today, Upscale, Southern Living and other media.


Book Link: http://amzn.to/SW9uLL
 Website: www.normajarrett.net  
Here is an excerpt from Brunchspiration:

Here is just a little "taste" of Brunchspiration for your motivation...
WHEN YOU AND GOD HAVE THE LAST LAUGH
Thanks to YouTube, no faux pas remains private. How many times have we seen the video of a beauty pageant contestant or a singer taking a tumble? How about the much publicized Ashley Simpson lip sync flub on Saturday Night Live? It happens. We all may have had one of these moments, but often you and God have the last laugh. I am convinced; if you are on your purpose path there will be some less than stellar moments. There will be moments when you want to just melt, cry, or do both. If you are lucky, they won’t be recorded on social media. News flash! We are all human. The minute we send another person’s failure into the viral stratosphere, we are sowing seeds of judgment for ourselves. No one is exempt. Embarrassed moments may occur if we aren’t as prepared as we thought. Or maybe we didn’t listen to Him because we were too busy basking in the light of our own glory. Other times we need a little piece of “humble pie”. God is in control.In these situations, we can be honest, laugh at ourselves and learn the lesson. We can grow as we go. Let others on the sidelines, who have nothing to do with your purpose, watch. Let them have a good laugh. Pretty soon, you and God will have the last laugh when those who laughed will be trying to connect with you to get a hook up. Besides, you’d be in good company:Oprah Winfrey was ridiculed about her hair, her weight, her marital status…you name it. I’m sure she’s having the last laugh now. Bishop T.D. Jakes was preaching prosperity when he could barely put food on the table. I’m sure he could have a big laugh, but he is too busy with his worldwide ministry, his books, his speaking engagements, and his film company. Many people ridiculed and laughed at a then little known Senator Obama. He has been called everything in the book. He is laughing all the way into the history books, as a great president, despite the naysayers, opposing party member, and the doubters and….yes, the racists. Michelle Obama was painted in a negative light, made fun of, and talked about. They mocked her features…she is having the last laugh as one of the most poised, intelligent , beautiful and yes, photographed first ladies in our nation’s history. India.Arie was mocked because of her hair. They laughed about her lyrics in Video. She can have a laugh because her song, I Am Not my Hair is a timeless “self love” anthem for women with all hair textures. When we have moments when we ask, “How am I going to come back from this?” Or highly embarrassing incidents when we know we are doing the right thing, God has a plan. He wants us to have thick skins because we are going to need it. The higher you grow, the more resilient you need to be. Victory shows less mercy and success is not for weaklings! A Brunch Lady knows how to dust herself off and try again! She uses failure as momentum for future success!Copyright 2012 Norma L. Jarrett

Author Spotlight - Monique DeVere

The author spotlight is smoking today with a hot new romance by Monique DeVere!


Monique and I have known each other for years and were briefly part of the same critique group. She has traditionally published and is making her debut as an indie author with More Than Friends.

 Monique grew up on a plantation on the beautiful island of Barbados, where her childhood was all about exploring and letting her imagination run wild. She spent her teen years in the UK where she still lives with her amazing hero husband, four beautiful children, and two incredible grandkids.

She wrote her first novel at age fifteen but had her heart set on becoming a doctor until she discovered that raising her kids was far more desirable. Since writing had always been her favourite pastime, she naturally turned to writing as her preferred job and has had short stories published and read on radio.

Sure that medicine is her second calling, she still has a desire to heal, and has gained degrees in Homeopathy and Herbalism and currently has her eye on a Holistic Nutrition degree course.

However, her first love will always be writing. She loves to create fun, emotional romances and movie scripts. Her stories come in three categories: sweet, sensual, and sizzling Rom-Coms.

Monique loves to hear from her readers. You can contact her by visiting her website: www.moniquedevere.co.ukor blog: http://moniquedevere.blogspot.co.ukto learn more about her and check out her other books.

*~*~*
She just broke the Best Friends’ Code of Honour!
What do you do when your best friend’s fella dumps her?
You get drunk, catch a cab to his place, offer to bop him on the nose, then... sleep with him?
Lily Harper should have taken her secret attraction to Justin Knight into consideration before rushing to his swanky apartment. Now she’s caught in a dilemma. Lose her best friend, or the out-of-this-world sexy guy who could be The One.
Justin fell for Lily almost from the moment he met her, but she was with someone else and he'd  just started seeing her best friend. Now Lily is available, and so is he, only, he isn’t having much luck making her see that sometimes when loyalties collide, a girl has to choose love!
*~*~*
Excerpt:
“The fact of the matter is—” he nuzzled her ear “—I’m going to kiss you and every guy in this place is going to go wild with envy because I’m the lucky sod who gets to do it.”
Lily sucked in a breath, missed a step. He was making love to her, disguised as a dance. People were beginning to take an interest.  He’d made her a spectacle.
“Justin, people are watching.”
“Sweetheart, that’s nothing new, they’ve been riveted from the moment you first walked in the room.”
“Are you sweet talking me?”
He pulled back, his gaze darkening.  “Only if it’s working.” While his hand caressed her back where the dressed dipped, he stroked his other thumb against her palm.
Goose bumps raised her flesh. Oh, it was working. That and the off-the-wall chemistry between them. Every part of her craved his touch.
He turned her, dipped his head, and took the kiss he’d warned her he was going to take. It was as if everything stood still, the room, the hum of conversation, the mellow music, Lily’s heart—everything.
*~*~*
Purchase Links:
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/More-Than-Friends-ebook/dp/B009MQ41Q2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1349675960&sr=8-3
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/More-Than-Friends-ebook/dp/B009MQ41Q2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1349676095&sr=8-4&keywords=monique+devere
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/More-Than-Friends/book-RwR2dSv9s0W7KQssxwnA8Q/page1.html
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/242710
Monique’s Hangouts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moniquedevere
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/MoniqueDeVere
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MoniqueDeVere
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/monique-devere/18/96a/4b9

Author Spotlight - Phoenix Brown

Phoenix C. Brown is sitting in the author spotlight today! Phoenix is another of my wonderful online buddies.         She is the author of two contemporary fiction novels, Beautifully Imperfect and All that Matters in the End and two short stories, Damaged Goods (urban) and Tangled (erotica).  A California native, Phoenix  spread her childhood between two cities that she loves; Long Beach and Riverside. Growing up she was a shy person who spent a lot of her time reading and writing. She credits her high school teacher, Erin Gruwell, as the person who lit the fire under her to eventually publish her novels. After she was rejected by a few publishing companies she refused to let them telling her "no" deter her from her dreams. She believes that God has a purpose for her and all she wants to do is fulfill it. Her advice to other inspiring authors/writers is to keep the faith and never give up on your dreams because if it's for you...then HE will make a way. She resides in Anaheim, CA with her husband and two sons. 

Synophisis of Beautifuly Imperfect:
All it took was one phone call to change the lives of four people. Be the fly on the wall as Rebecca Thomas, Malik Thomas, Natalie Hunter & Jennifer Nilon find out that what's done in the dark will always come to the light. Secrets will be revealed! Tears will be shed! Hopes will be extinguished! Dreams will be shattered! Find out what happens and get caught up in the page turning drama as you learn... That life is Beautifully Imperfect.
Excerpt from Beautifully Imperfect Rebecca

“You’re still mad at me?” He stopped watching the game to study my face.

“Yes and I probably will be for a while.” I started picking up the clothes he had left on the floor after his shower. “You need to learn how to pick up after yourself.”

“I was going to get to those later but right now I want my wife to come and lay down with me.” He pulled me down beside him on the bed and moved his body on top of mine.

“What can I do to make it up to you baby?” He murmured as he began kissing my neck. I was about to reply when the phone rang.

“Ignore it.” He said as he kept kissing me.

I wanted to give into temptation but I knew Natalie would just keep calling if I didn’t answer. I picked up the phone and covered the receiver. “Give me ten minutes and you can have the rest of the night to make it up to me.”

I smacked him on the butt as he walked out of the room frustrated.

“This better be good girl.” I leaned back on the bed to prepare for the next chapter in my best friend's life. “Malik was ready to get it on.” I giggled. “Hello?” I could hear breathing on the other end. “Natalie?”

“No, this isn’t Natalie. Can I speak to Malik please?” The woman’s voice on the other end didn’t sound familiar. I checked the caller id and the number was showing as unknown.

“Who is this?” I glanced at the clock on the dresser and saw that it was a quarter to ten.

“Jennifer.” She responded with an attitude.

“And what is this about Jennifer?” I questioned as I walked into the kitchen where Malik was warming up leftovers. The expression on his face left a bad feeling in my heart.

“This is between me and Malik.” She answered with annoyance. “But if you really need to know.” She paused. “I'm calling regarding our child.”

Where to buy:
Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-C-Brown/e/B0068OPH6E/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Nook:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/phoenix-c.-brown

Contact Phoenix C. Brown:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/phoenix.c.brown
GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/5416598.Phoenix_C_Brown
Twitter: twitter.com/pcbrown09
Pinterest: pinterest.com/pcbrown09/

 

Author Spotlight - Angel Washington

Today, I am featuring a very special lady who has heart for children. I met Angel in a Facebook group last year, and I am so impressed with the books she's written to help children deal with difficult situations in their lives.


A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, she was reared in a home in which her parents were prominent professionally and in the community. They instilled the importance of love, education, humility and integrity.

I'll let her describe the series...

The Always Remember, You are Loved children's books series was written with the intent to protect the innocent hearts of children. As a mother, I understand that unfortunately, they face a larger struggle than they've ever had to in the past. There are more single parent homes than ever, there's more bullying than ever, there are predators and abusers EVERYWHERE, all of which are attacking our children. The Always Remember, You are Loved children’s book series encourages children to seek out guidance and assistance from parents, mentors and responsible adults when they are faced with difficult situations. Volume One, ARYAL: A Child's Curiosity About the Absentee Parent and Volume Two, ARYAL: A Child's Curiosity About the Loss of a Loved One are currently available.       Volume Three, Always Remember, You are Loved: When a Child Seeks Guidance about Cyber and Peer Bullying will be available Oct. 5, 2012.    Volumes Four and Five, which specifically deal with Emotional/Verbal Abuse, and Inappropriate Touching will be available in Spring 2013.  These books have been supported and endorsed by members of the therapy communities that currently work in the field, as well as being utilized by therapists in their practices.  

Excerpt from ARYAL: A Child's Curiosity about the Loss of a Loved One
by Angel D. Washington
What do I do when I'm lonely and my Mommy is gone?
Who do I go to when I need to question what's right and wrong?
I need her, I love her and I miss her so much
I want to hug her and kiss her, I need to feel Mommy's touch...
*************She loved you from the moment she held you in her arms
Your mother’s strength and love will help you carry
She's here in spirit and she’s watching from above
Please, Always Remember, You are Loved…
Available at: www.angelsdiary.com, Amazon.com and BN.com.

Author Spotlight - Regina Duke

Today, the author spotlight is shining on author Regina Duke, one of my tweethearts, a faithful Twitter friend.

Regina Duke has been writing stories and novels since she was thirteen. Throughout her career in higher education, she continued to write, write, write, on weekends, nights, and vacations. When she’s not writing, she is playing with her dogs. She loves writing romance, mystery, and even a little horror and science fiction. You can learn more about her at http://www.reginaduke.com.
The Wedding Wager
Kevin Wake hates being rich. He despises everything his father stands for, but he can’t abandon his kid sister and baby brother. Their future is tied to his own. When his father threatens to rob them all of their mother’s legacy, Kevin takes bold action to protect what should be theirs.
Megan Mully is out of the hospital at last. But she’s homeless, jobless, broke and alone. Love is the last thing on her mind. Kevin is just a means to an end. She never expected him to steal her heart!
Excerpt: 
“Look, Megan, I think you have a real chance at this job. There are some aspects of it that I need to explain before you make your final decision. Are you an open-minded person?”
“That depends. If you are the head of a secret cult, then no, I’m probably not open-minded enough for you. If you’re a legitimate employer, then yes, I may fit the bill.”
“Oh, this is a legitimate offer of employment. But the duties may vary a bit from what most people consider appropriate for a personal secretary.”

This time it was Megan who slumped in her chair. “Please don’t tell me you’re just looking for a date or a masseuse.”
“No, that’s not it at all.” Kevin liked Megan more and more, every time she opened her mouth. She was funny and direct and fresh. She was perfect. Now if only he could convince her to take the job.
“There’s nothing sexual or inappropriate involved in this position at all. It’s just not exactly a secretarial position in the traditional sense. You see, I need someone who can listen when I talk and retain information about my family and my business interests. I need someone who can comport themselves with dignity and composure in social situations. I need someone who doesn’t hate small boys.”
It was Megan’s turn to laugh. “That’s a good one. Fairly specific, too.”
Kevin offered a crooked smile. “I have a little brother.”
“What else do you need?” Megan was enjoying the way his face shifted from sternly serious to truly amused. When he was stern he looked like he might be thirty-something, but when he smiled, she guessed his age to be close to hers. And when he laughed, he looked like a little boy. It was an attractive mix.
Kevin hesitated. Twice he’d gotten this far, and twice the candidates had stomped out in fury. He chose his words carefully. He did not want Megan to hurl epithets and flee.
“I have a complicated family situation,” he began. “My parents are not in Guatemala. They are very much here in the States. And there is a hundred-year-old legal arrangement governing my inheritance. I need your help to guarantee that I meet those legal requirements. In exchange, I will pay you handsomely, cover all housing and transportation, and when everything is secure, there will be a large bonus in it for you.”

Megan tilted her head to one side and narrowed her gaze. “Are you sure there’s no sex involved?”
“I’ve had a legal contract drawn up for you examine, if we get that far. The no sex part is written into the contract. You will not be forced or coerced to do anything you do not want to do.”
“You were right. It’s not what I would expect from a job as personal secretary.” She tilted her head to the other side. “On the other hand, if you have lawyers involved, the chances of you being a serial killer are much reduced. They tend to work alone.”
Kevin smiled again. “We seem to have a rapport,” he said. “That is encouraging.” 
###
THE WEDDING WAGER available at  
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094KFI7W

Cover reveal!

I am so pleased with the cover for Ain't Too Proud to Beg !

http://pinkcashmerepublishing.webs.com/ did a great job at capturing the story concept.

Author Spotlight - MJ Kane

Today the author spotlight is shining on debut author MJ Kane.


She resides in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia with her high school sweetheart, four wonderful children, and two pit bulls. MJ can often be found hanging out at the local library where she is director of a local writer’s group, or online connecting with readers and other authors. Other activities she enjoys include: creating custom floral arrangements, assisting her children in their creative pursuits of music and art, and supporting her husband’s music production business. You can find MJ on social networking sites, sharing writing tips, talking about music, life, and family.

Her debut novel, A Heart Not Easily Broken released last week. Here's a synopsis:
 
Ebony is a smart, sexy, career-oriented black woman who wants nothing more than a summer fling with a man who challenges her mind and body. What she doesn’t expect is a blond haired, blue-eyed bass player—who won’t take “no” for an answer—to accept the challenge. When Ebony’s attempt at a brief fling turns into more, despite negative reactions from friends and family, she finds juggling love, family, and career are nothing compared to the ultimate betrayal she endures. Now her dreams spiral into lies and secrets that threaten her future and her best friend’s trust. 

Excerpt:
Her attention appeared to be on something in her purse as she walked my way, so she hadn’t seen me yet. She was not dressed as she was Saturday night. Her hair wasn’t flowing over her shoulders, tempting my fingers to get lost in its waves. Her legs were not bare, nor did she wear a skin tight, short dress, showing off shapely calf muscles, as she had the other evening. Instead, she wore a baggy shirt over pants with some kind of printed design, something like standard medical wear. She wore her hair in a ponytail, and her feet were in tennis shoes. She struggled to balance an armful of books of various sizes and a book bag over her shoulder. Ebony was still sexy as hell.“I’m glad you haven’t got started yet. My roommate called me at the last minute and told me you were coming. I don’t have any cash on me. Do you take checks or−?” Her voice faltered when she saw me. “Brian? What are you doing here?”I caught a hint of fire in her eyes and something else. Maybe guilt for not meeting me in VIP?“I’m here to cut your grass.” I screwed the top back on the gas can, fighting the urge to laugh at the irony of the situation.Play it cool. I was not about to let her know how disappointed I’d been sitting alone. What happened a few nights ago had nothing to do with the money she was about to put in my pocket.“I thought you were a musician.”I pulled goggles and gloves out of the driver’s side door pocket. “I am, but it doesn’t pay the bills just yet. This is my day job.”Ebony’s eyes traveled to the truck and my cousins before settling back on me. “This is my business,” I added, watching her thin eyebrows arch.Since I hadn’t questioned her about the VIP incident, she seemed to relax. The sound of a lawnmower cranking up broke the awkward silence.“Well, I’ll get out of your way.” She backed away from the truck and headed for her house. It dawned on me I did not answer her question regarding the form of payment. At least it would give me something to talk about when we were done. Saturday night, Ebony disappeared like Cinderella, without leaving a hint of a glass slipper. Now, barely two days later, I found where she lived. What were the chances? This was fate.I took the opportunity to appreciate every inch of her hidden under baggy clothes. The image of her in the black form-fitting dress revealing every curvy inch of her body had haunted my dreams.Outside the club, in natural light, Ebony did not disappoint. Her almond shaped eyes were a rich shade of brown, dark and mysterious. She wore no makeup on her caramel skin, and her lips were naked, with no hint of gloss. I chuckled when she finally got her front door unlocked. It appeared she’d run into some trouble with her key. Flustered perhaps? I hoped so. With a little luck, I just might have a chance to get her to talk to me about more than grass.###

Available from 5 Prince Publishing! Buy Now! You can connect with MJ here:  Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
This Writer’s Life Blog
The Butterfly Memoirs Blog
Google+
Linkedin
Email

Author Spotlight

Today the author spotlight is shining on debut author MJ Kane.


She resides in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia with her high school sweetheart, four wonderful children, and two pit bulls. MJ can often be found hanging out at the local library where she is director of a local writer’s group, or online connecting with readers and other authors. Other activities she enjoys include: creating custom floral arrangements, assisting her children in their creative pursuits of music and art, and supporting her husband’s music production business. You can find MJ on social networking sites, sharing writing tips, talking about music, life, and family.

Her debut novel, A Heart Not Easily Broken released last week. Here's a synopsis:
 
Ebony is a smart, sexy, career-oriented black woman who wants nothing more than a summer fling with a man who challenges her mind and body. What she doesn’t expect is a blond haired, blue-eyed bass player—who won’t take “no” for an answer—to accept the challenge. When Ebony’s attempt at a brief fling turns into more, despite negative reactions from friends and family, she finds juggling love, family, and career are nothing compared to the ultimate betrayal she endures. Now her dreams spiral into lies and secrets that threaten her future and her best friend’s trust. 

Excerpt:
Her attention appeared to be on something in her purse as she walked my way, so she hadn’t seen me yet. She was not dressed as she was Saturday night. Her hair wasn’t flowing over her shoulders, tempting my fingers to get lost in its waves. Her legs were not bare, nor did she wear a skin tight, short dress, showing off shapely calf muscles, as she had the other evening. Instead, she wore a baggy shirt over pants with some kind of printed design, something like standard medical wear. She wore her hair in a ponytail, and her feet were in tennis shoes. She struggled to balance an armful of books of various sizes and a book bag over her shoulder. Ebony was still sexy as hell.“I’m glad you haven’t got started yet. My roommate called me at the last minute and told me you were coming. I don’t have any cash on me. Do you take checks or−?” Her voice faltered when she saw me. “Brian? What are you doing here?”I caught a hint of fire in her eyes and something else. Maybe guilt for not meeting me in VIP?“I’m here to cut your grass.” I screwed the top back on the gas can, fighting the urge to laugh at the irony of the situation.Play it cool. I was not about to let her know how disappointed I’d been sitting alone. What happened a few nights ago had nothing to do with the money she was about to put in my pocket.“I thought you were a musician.”I pulled goggles and gloves out of the driver’s side door pocket. “I am, but it doesn’t pay the bills just yet. This is my day job.”Ebony’s eyes traveled to the truck and my cousins before settling back on me. “This is my business,” I added, watching her thin eyebrows arch.Since I hadn’t questioned her about the VIP incident, she seemed to relax. The sound of a lawnmower cranking up broke the awkward silence.“Well, I’ll get out of your way.” She backed away from the truck and headed for her house. It dawned on me I did not answer her question regarding the form of payment. At least it would give me something to talk about when we were done. Saturday night, Ebony disappeared like Cinderella, without leaving a hint of a glass slipper. Now, barely two days later, I found where she lived. What were the chances? This was fate.I took the opportunity to appreciate every inch of her hidden under baggy clothes. The image of her in the black form-fitting dress revealing every curvy inch of her body had haunted my dreams.Outside the club, in natural light, Ebony did not disappoint. Her almond shaped eyes were a rich shade of brown, dark and mysterious. She wore no makeup on her caramel skin, and her lips were naked, with no hint of gloss. I chuckled when she finally got her front door unlocked. It appeared she’d run into some trouble with her key. Flustered perhaps? I hoped so. With a little luck, I just might have a chance to get her to talk to me about more than grass.###

Available from 5 Prince Publishing! Buy Now! You can connect with MJ here:  Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
This Writer’s Life Blog
The Butterfly Memoirs Blog
Google+
Linkedin
Email

Author Spotlight - C. Michelle Ramsey

Right now I am under the gun to wrap up Ain't Too Proud to Beg and get it to my editor, and I'm frighteningly behind. So...I've asked some of my writer friends, new and old, to visit and share something about their books. From now until November, you will meet some wonderful people and learn about some fabulous stories.

Today, I am so happy to welcome C. Michelle Ramsey.

 C. Michelle Ramsey writes fiction stories that delve into the inner soul of a woman: her deepest secrets; her wildest dreams; and her darkest fears. She has a passion for creating works of art that entertain and take readers on an emotional roller coaster ride.
Ramsey is a native of Atlanta, GA where she currently resides with her husband and three children. She enjoys reading various fiction genres especially mysteries. A passionate NBA fan, she reserves a special place in her heart for the Los Angeles Lakers. “Reflections of Promises” is her first published novel.
She is currently preparing the release of her second novel: “Real Secrets” in the fall of 2012.

 REFLECTIONS OF PROMISES EXCERPT Patricia laid her lime green Gucci bag on the table.  Sitting her car keys next to the bag on the table in the foyer, Patricia began to riffle through the stack of letters that she had gotten out of the mailbox.  The fourth letter drew her interest and immediate attention.  Written in a rushed and somehow distantly familiar handwriting, was her name and address and at the top where the return address should have been it was blank.  However, she saw that the postmark was from Atlanta.  She never received any mail from Atlanta here at the house, it was always sent to her Post Office Box, so her curiosity was aroused.  Tossing the other letters down next to her purse, she sat on the chair next to the table and slipped one Orange Opal manicured fingernail under the envelope’s seal to begin opening it. Trisha,
        It’s been so long and I hate to disturb your new life, but there is a crisis at home and we can no longer manage without you.  I have been able to do this for a while but I can’t keep on.  The Lord is calling me home with Him and I am tired and anxious to be there. I tried to think of other alternatives, but you were my only choice.  I hope this situation doesn’t bring you grief in your new life but we desperately need you here.  Not more money, but we need you.  I’m tired baby.
Your Loving Mama
No!!!!!! This couldn’t be happening, not now.  Jared’s and her marriage was already strained and she had been contemplating a separation.  However, she did not want a divorce but she knew that their marriage could not endure this.  The lies that she had told, the affairs that he had had and coldness she had exerted towards him had done enough devastation.  There was no way that they would endure under this new pressure.  She would call Mama from a phone booth.  Mama didn’t have her number and she didn’t know how she had gotten her address.  Everything to do with home was sent to her P.O. Box that Jared didn’t know about.  If she called home from the house or her cell phone, he would surely see it on the phone bills. He was under the illusion that she no longer had any ties to Atlanta after the death of her grandparents.Picking up her keys from the table, she stuffed the letter in her handbag and began heading out the door just as Jared pulled up.   Oh God, not now, she thought to herself. 
Sometimes we make choices to avoid drama in life. But what happens when the road we take to avoid it becomes the road that brings us face to face with it? Reflections of Promises is a tale of deception and betrayal that invokes passions deep within from page 1. When foundations are built on untruths, and cover-up, can everything that appears to be solid still stand?  PURCHASE LINKS:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Reflections-of-Promises-ebook/dp/B008F5LS0I/ref=la_B008NNQV6S_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348520575&sr=1-1  Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reflections-of-promises-c-michelle-ramsey/1111933073?ean=9781468908152Booktango: http://bookstore.booktango.com/Products/SKU-000590124/Reflections-of-Promises.aspx Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Reflections-of-Promises/book-3U1p6BGwXUauCzhZtojRJA/page1.html?s=IB4pu0OZ3Ee_b6OJK32SKA&r=1

Saturday Sneek Peak #8

Here's this week's unedited peek into Ain't Too Proud to Beg. Vaughn and Trenyce finally meet! I know. I can hear some of you saying, "It's about time!" but I wanted the reader to meet both of them before they met each other. Enjoy!

*** 
When I woke up, Devon had come back into the room and was texting on his phone. I felt bad about asking him to leave earlier, but I hadn’t known what else to say after being hit with the news.
“How you feeling, man?” Devon asked in response to my groan when I tried to move.
“Like I ran into a mountain. Sorry I put you out before.”
“Hey, it’s not the first time, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.” Devon’s understanding laugh filled the room. “Listen, V, I know all of this is probably hard to digest, but if you’re up to it, we need to talk about your plans. Since tomorrow is my last day here, I want to do what I can to make sure you’re settled.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about you coming back to L.A. According to the doctor and the physical therapist, it wouldn’t just cost a fortune, but it might be dangerous.”
She said we’d talk about it later, and I want to hear what she has to say for myself.” The idea of being stuck in a hospital was bad enough, but being stranded in Telluride was enough to make me lose it. “For one thing, I don’t want a woman for my physical therapist.”
Devon’s eyes widened. “Are you kidding me?  You, the lover of all things female?” He snickered.
“Not when I’m incapacitated.”
“I just met her. You’d change your mind if you saw her.  She’s beautiful. If I was single, I wouldn’t need to be convinced to let her massage me.” That got a snort from me. “Since when have you ever had a problem with a beautiful woman?”
“Look at me, Dev. I can’t even take a piss by myself, and for all I know, I might look like Freddy Krueger under these bandages. Not very sexy.”
 “Oh, that legendary Breland pride is getting in the way. Tell me why you need to be sexy with your therapist. You wouldn’t start working with her until you’re on your feet anyway. Think about it, V. Don’t make any hasty decisions you’ll regret. You’ll need every penny you have to pay this hospital bill.”
“I have insurance with the studio.”
“That’ll cover a portion of it, but spending a small fortune to have them move you is crazy.
“Take some time to think about it. In the meantime, I’ll call the police department to find out where your car is, so I can take some pictures and e-mail them to your insurance company.”
“Appreciate it, man, but if the car was totaled like they said, you might not be able to get the papers from the glove box. Grab anything else that might still be in there.”
“No problem. Who’s your insurer?”
“Republic Mutual, the office on Alvern Street in L.A.”
Devon typed the information into his phone. “I don’t think word has gotten to the press about the accident yet, but sooner or later you’ll probably get a visit from someone claiming to be your cousin. I remember when Q Edwards attacked Kinnik Bradley, the press tried all kinds of crazy stuff to get pictures of her in the hospital. If you want, I can alert the hospital about the possibility of that happening.”
“How’d she stop them?”
“Jerome Bradley hired private security to stand guard at her door.”
“Not an option. I don’t have that kind of cash.” I cringed, gritted my teeth and groaned when a lightning pain shot up my leg. “The meds are wearing off.”
“You want me to get a nurse?”
“They can’t do anything. The drip is timed. Just have to wait for the next hit. Do me a favor. Call my cell. I’ll give you the code, so I can listen to my messages.”
Devon did as I asked. After he dialed the code, he carefully put the phone up to my ear. There were a couple of messages from my business manager. Reese was the only woman who’d called, but what did I expect? Only a handful of women had my private cell number. The only reason she had it was because we worked together. I didn’t give the number out to the women I dated in general, because I didn’t want the harassing, “Why didn’t you call? When will I see you again,” etc. questions. That kind of possessiveness made me gag. So, how did I expect any of them to call and show concern for me when I hadn’t been interested enough to share my contact information with them. I thought of it as protecting my freedom when actually all I’d done was wall myself off from any real contact other than strictly sexual.
Just as the messages ended, the door opened and a woman poked her head in. A black woman – something I hadn’t seen since waking up in this God-forsaken place.
“Is this a bad time, Mr. Breland?”
“There hasn’t been a good time since I got here,” I grumbled. “Who are you?”
“Trenyce Clark, the physical therapist assigned to your case. Mr. Burke asked me to talk to you about a possible transport to a hospital in California.”
I sent Devon a questioning glance. “Come in.” She approached the bed, and I tried to focus my one unbandaged eye on her.  Devon hadn’t lied. Her body was hidden under typical hospital scrubs, but she appeared to be slender but not skinny. Her long reddish hair was pulled back into a bushy ponytail. From what I could tell, she seemed quite attractive. And tall. I liked tall women. She could have been a model or an actress. Her choice of this profession seemed to be a waste of such beauty.
“First of all, I’m so sorry about your accident. Since you’ll be with us for a little while, it will be my job to help you regain your strength and muscle function once you’re mobile again.”
I blinked and strained to focus on her face. “I have to go back to California.”
Now she and Devon exchanged a glance.
“My recommendation is that you give your body time to heal. In order for the bones in your legs to mend properly, you don’t want to do anything to jeopardize the process. Devon said you might be able to stay in Telluride for your recovery. A local move wouldn’t be quite as traumatic. If I were you, I’d seriously consider that option.”
“Well, you’re not me, are you?” I snapped when another pain hit. “You’re not the one stuck in this thing. How long do I have to be in this anyway?”
“Six to seven weeks. During that time, the doctor will put you on a diet that’s high in iron and calcium to aid healing. After you have the surgery to remove the rods, physical therapy would begin. The plan starts with range of motion exercises, stretching and massage. From there we will work on rebuilding muscle tone then muscle strength. You’ll be on crutches and won’t be able to take the stairs.”
I recalled Devon’s earlier words. “You’re not a doctor, are you, Miss Clark?”
A muscle in her jaw ticked. “No, Mr. Breland. I am a licensed clinician. I graduated with honors from a one-year orthopedic physical therapy residency program accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association. After graduation, I provided care to patients under the guidance of a senior mentor.”
“Whoa! Whoa!” I held up my hand to stop her lecture. “It wasn’t meant as an insult. I just don’t particularly care for doctors. They think they know everything.”
That brought a smile to her smooth cocoa-colored face. “It’s an occupational hazard. Do you have any questions you want to ask me?”
“Yeah, can you see what you can do about getting this morphine increased?”
She sighed. “You’re on the maximum dosage allowed. Did they inform you that the morphine drip is only for three days?”
My mouth fell open at the prospect. “Hell no. Nobody told me anything. Why?”
“That’s the limit allowed in order to avoid dependency.”
“What happens then?” I despised the panic in my voice but couldn’t disguise it.
“You’ll be switched to another pain medication. Have you ever had addiction issues?”
My gaze again shot to Devon’s. “Not recently. It was at least ten years ago.”
“Hmm. I’ll make a note of that, so Dr. Liu is aware,” she said without any hint of judgment in her voice.
Actually, it had only been seven years since I’d done a stint in a Los Angeles rehab center for cocaine addiction, but ten sounded better. That was before I’d met Devon, but he knew about my thirty days in the voluntary rehabilitation program. That was a period in my life I would rather forget. At the time, I was new to Hollywood. It hadn’t taken me long to discover how bountiful and easily accessible drugs were and how well they numbed the rejection and near poverty experienced by struggling young actors. But all it took was one traffic stop and a short stint in the LA/Orange County jail to make me see that I had a problem I couldn’t control. Immediately, I checked into the center. Since then I hadn’t touched the white powder or any other illegal substance, but Devon often told me it seemed as though I had substituted sex for cocaine. Maybe there was some truth to his accusation, but at least I could control the who, when and where of that habit. Most of the time, anyway.
“Any other questions?” The statuesque therapist asked.
“No.” She smiled, and I could have sworn I felt a familiar stirring, if it hadn’t been for the pain pushing it away. I studied her face with my good eye. She’s definitely attractive. Could even be beautiful with her hair and makeup done.And she smells like good perfume. Wonder what she looks like with her hair loose. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet.” 
“We can talk about this another time. I don’t want to tire you out. If you need ask me anything else, just have one of the nurses contact me. My office is just upstairs. Please give serious consideration to putting off the move to California.”
She left the room, and as soon as the door closed, Devon said, “I’m with her, V. Craig was serious about his offer. It would be cheaper and safer. I know the idea of staying here Ski-ville doesn’t thrill you, but you’d be living in luxury.”
“I guess I’d need a nurse,” I thought aloud, finally giving the option consideration for the first time.
“Yeah, until you can get around by yourself. I’m sure the hospital can arrange private duty. Do you want me to check into it?”
“I’d appreciate it, man.” I hesitated. “And I don’t want that woman as my physical therapist. You got me?”
“Maybe they can find you another PT. One that’s less attractive.” Devon snickered. “That’s up to you, V. Just tell me what you need me to do.”
“Get Dr. Liu for me. He can tell give Ms. Clark my decision.”
“All right, I’m going to the nurses’ station to see if someone knows where to find him. You’re such a punk, you know that?”
Devon exited the room, and I blew out a long sigh. The expense of transport back to LA had made the decision for me. Although it had been years since I’d lived under someone else’s roof, I decided to take Craig up on his offer.
 Ain't Too Proud to Beg - Coming this November to Kindle, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords!