Tyora Moody's Blog, page 4

Holding On To Love (Victory Gospel Short 6)

March 29, 2022

Sequel to When Love Finds Me

Tangie Nelson is officially engaged to former NBA star Nathan Chambers. When Nathan is featured on a national talk show for his successful work with underprivileged youth, someone from his past shows up on his doorstep. The former groupie claims Nathan is the father of her son.

With this new development, Tangie pulls the brakes on the wedding planning despite Nathan’s protests. He earnestly believes the woman is after his money. Tangie’s not so sure, but until the dust settles, she’s hoping she can hold on to love.

Holding Onto Love (Victory Gospel Short 6)

March 2022

Sequel to When Love Finds Me

Tangie Nelson is officially engaged to former NBA star Nathan Chambers. When Nathan is featured on a national talk show for his successful work with underprivileged youth, someone from his past shows up on his doorstep. The former groupie claims Nathan is the father of her son.

With this new development, Tangie pulls the brakes on the wedding planning despite Nathan’s protests. He earnestly believes the woman is after his money. Tangie’s not so sure, but until the dust settles, she’s hoping she can hold onto love.

Angela’s Literary Tea with Tyora Moody

I had the opportunity to discuss Faithful Heart on Angela’s Literary Tea. Check out the interview below along with the host Angela Anderson and guest book blogger, Shannan Harper.

Dangerous Confessions, Serena Manchester Mysteries, Book 2

January 25, 2022

The case from last month is still far from over for private investigator Serena “Rena” Manchester. Not just because she found herself in yet another life-threatening situation, but because the fall-out still has not been dealt with by the authorities. Determined to see justice to the end, Rena steps up her investigation along with her new young attractive associate.

During a surveillance job, Rena runs into a very unpleasant woman from her past life as a reporter. A few hours later, when the woman falls to her death from a beach condo balcony, Rena finds herself switching directions with her investigation. The more she digs into her past news story, the more she starts to see parallels to her current case. Unfortunately, Rena is receiving more resistance from law enforcement and someone else is not happy about her digging around either.

Minister Trey Evans, wants to support her career, but Rena’s attraction to danger is pushing their struggling relationship to the limit. While she’s striving to pursue justice, Rena may have to endure another devastating blow to her personal life.

Go to topRead an Excerpt

From Chapter 1…

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Friday, January 3, 9:43 pm

I was past ready for something to go down. Anything.

My phone chirped for the third time. I didn’t even bother to look at it this time. I knew it was Trey. We’d argued before I left town this morning. My long-time friend and current love interest claimed he supported me. But it was becoming obvious to me that my choice of profession as a private investigator got under his skin. He was a minister with a very prominent standing in our community. My cases often brought eyebrow raising, deep sighing and extended lectures on how I endangered my life.

I have always had this driving force to expose the truth. Unfortunately, revealing someone else’s ugliness can backfire. I’d managed to find myself in life-threatening situations more times than I liked to admit. Still I knew without a doubt God’s purpose for me was to do exactly what I was doing. Somebody had to be an advocate for victims of injustices. Thanks to my newly formed relationship with God, these days I sought justice with a lot more scruples than I had as a reporter in my past life.

I sighed deeply and lifted the glass of soda water to my lips. I’d been sitting at the bar for about forty minutes now. Earlier this week, I had conversations with the bartender and the waitress currently on the clock. Both told me what I needed to know.  

So, I continued to wait. In my earpiece, I heard the tired voice of my young associate Amir Wright. “Do you think this is the right night?”

I smiled. Amir was young, but definitely had skills. I wouldn’t have ever considered tonight’s stakeout without him as backup. Something that Trey didn’t like either. I turned away from a trio of young women who’d appeared at the bar. They were dressed for a night out on the town, all adorning black dresses and stilettos. I pulled out my phone, pretending to talk. I spoke softly. “I’m wondering the same. I haven’t seen any of the subjects yet.”

Amir countered, “Didn’t both the bartender and the waitress mention first Fridays of the month? Maybe they meet up later than we suspected.”

The group of women’s chatter was too much in my ear, so I walked away from the bar, headed towards the lobby. “It’s almost ten o’clock. You think you can make it another hour?”

“Hey, I’m all in with you.”

On our first case together only a few months ago, Amir had been shot, on Black Friday, of all days. While he was back in the swing of things, I knew sitting around in a hotel room with the surveillance equipment was probably not good for his body. Then again, the man owned a cybersecurity company. He was in his element, and I knew he wouldn’t have it any other way.

I scolded softly, “You really shouldn’t being doing this. Let’s wrap this up so you can get some rest. Plus, you know this old lady can’t hang too long.”

Amir chuckled, “Past your bedtime, huh?”

“Not really. I’m definitely disappointed though.” Especially after I did my homework and prepared for this night for weeks, even through the holidays. It didn’t help that I was feeling slightly guilty about my argument with Trey. I really needed to return to my room and call him back. Never let the sun go down on your anger. That was something we both agreed to do.

The hotel was buzzing with activity, people arriving bedraggled from traveling or heading out for the local nightlife. I looked up to see a woman dressed in a fuchsia pants suit walking in my direction. Our eyes connected and I immediately had the sense I’d seen her before. She was tall, thin like a super model, except this woman wasn’t a young thing. Her bobbed hair was almost a white blond. She’d loosened her orange scarf so that it hung down, exposing a scrawny neck.

When she looked at me, recognition reflected in her eyes.

I heard an audible gasp from her and was surprised to see her stop in the middle of the lobby. Curious about who she was and how she knew me, I paused mid-stride and faced her.

When the woman spoke, her Southern drawl came out deep and throaty. “Serena Manchester?”

I raised an eyebrow, because it was when she spoke that the cobwebs in my mind started to glide away. I knew this woman a long time ago, back during my crime reporting days in Charlotte. She was a major part of one my most popular stories.

I inquired, “Deena? Deena Huffman?”

Deena’s smile wasn’t warm and inviting, more like the kind you gave your worst enemy. Her gesture was meant to be polite, but she was not happy to see me. “You remember me?”

I nodded, “How could I not? You moved out the spotlight after the trial. Have you been here in Myrtle Beach all this time?”

Her eyes shifted behind me. “I’ve been a lot of places, but I do have a beach home here that belonged to my … husband.”

“Your deceased husband.” The one who she in fact was accused of killing.

Her eyes flashed as if she read my mind. “I was acquitted you know.”

I couldn’t wipe the smirk off my face. “I’m well aware. I sat in the courtroom everyday covering the trial.”

Her lips thinned. “You were also the one to break the story for the police.”

“I’d been following your husband for over a year. Brent Huffman was quite the character. If I remember, money laundering was his thing along with a heroin addiction.”

Deena’s eyes were cold. “I don’t miss him. He wasn’t a good husband.” Her eyes shifted behind me again as though she was watching for someone. “He wasn’t a good man at all. I’m sorry he died the way he did.”

I narrowed my eyes, “Which you still claim to know nothing about?”

Her eyes flickered on my face. “I didn’t kill him. But I have my suspicions.”

Interesting. “Did you ever share them with the police?”

“No.” She shook her head and dropped her voice, “I’m not crazy. I love my life.”

I frowned at this unexpected revelation. Deena was scared of her husband’s true killer. But she stood trial for his murder. Why?

Deena openly eyed something or someone behind me, her eyes had widened. Her nervousness rubbed off on me.

Why was she really here? This impromptu meeting didn’t seem like a coincidence. I turned my head slightly to observe three suited men walk into the lobby. They each had a young beautiful woman on their arms.

Too young. In fact, these were the same women who were sitting at the bar a few minutes ago. Were they escorts of some sort?

My skin prickled as thoughts of my last case loomed. A young woman had been murdered. As I studied her life, I’d found some unsavory elements that lead me here tonight. I was pretty sure the men that arrived were in the center of my investigation.

And Deena seemed to recognize them. Her stance was still as she clutched her large designer purse in front of her.

Before I could ask her anything, Deena spoke, her words rushed. “It was good to see you again. I have to go.” She took off behind the men, all heading towards the elevators.

I held my phone up to my ear, “Amir, you still there?”

“Yeah, what was all that about? You ran into someone you knew?”

“I did, but we can talk about her later.” I took in a sharp intake of breath as I scoped out the men in suits. “Right now, all of the men are here. I’m going to follow.”

Amir responded, his stressed tone reminding me of Trey’s earnest pleas earlier. “Rena, be careful.”

“Don’t worry, Amir. I got this.”

If Deena Huffman was associated with these men, I knew we were in for a night of revelations. Her fear should have made me pause. Instead, I headed towards the elevators too, praying that Trey’s worst fears about my job would not come to light.

A Southern Delights Christmas (Victory Gospel Short 5)

December 2021

Sequel to Southern Delights.

Author Nia Michaels is living a blessed life, celebrating her highly anticipated romance novel. Her own real-life romance with Brendan McCormick has been a delight the past six months. Nia’s hypersensitive emotions begin to flare up when Brendan begins to show signs of not being into her anymore. Is her history with men about to be repeated?

To make matters worse, her ex-boyfriend returns to town and he doesn’t seem to care that Nia has moved on with a new man. With the way Brendan is acting lately, Nia is wondering if a break-up is inevitable.

With her favorite holiday around the corner, all Nia wants for Christmas is the same happily ever after that she writes about in her books.

Falling For You … Again (Eugeena Patterson Family Short 3)

TBA

Can a broken relationship be redeemed?

Leesa Patterson has a young son with Chris Black. Both have worked hard to co-parent both their son and Leesa’s daughter. When Chris suggests that they try again with their relationship, Leesa shuns the idea. Their first go-around in a relationship resulted in Leesa breaking up with Chris. Since the break-up, they’ve developed a comfortable friendship for the benefit of the kids.  

But as Chris sets out to woo her, Leesa struggles to keep her walls up. Is she really falling in love… again?

An Unsavory Mess, Eugeena Patterson Mysteries, Book 5

October 26, 2021

Eugeena Patterson usually doesn’t have a problem putting her nose where it doesn’t belong. After her last mystery busting incident, she’s determined to hang up her amateur sleuth hat.  Or at least that’s what she’s telling Amos and her family.

When her long-time friend, Rosemary Gladstone, encourages her to attend their high school reunion, Eugeena decides it wouldn’t hurt.  All is well, until Eugeena and Rosemary face off with their number one enemy from high school. What should have been a celebration, hits a sour note when their nemesis is found dead, not too long after a very public disagreement. 

There is no rest for the weary as Eugeena dives into another mystery. She doesn’t have a choice since she has to clear her and Rosemary from being considered murder suspects.

Nobody’s Replacement (Victory Gospel Short 4)

February 2021

Donna Madison has been enjoying a whirlwind romance the past nine months with her childhood friend, Maxwell Anderson. Despite her budding relationship, she has fought to reign in her insecurities. Maxwell had a wife and a family before she entered his life again. The occasional tension that arises between Donna and Maxwell’s teenage daughter painfully reminds her of the devastating loss in the Anderson family.

Tensions increase when an unexpected visitor comes to town. The presence of Maxwell’s sister-in-law, a woman who looks hauntingly like his deceased wife throws Donna for a loop. Will Donna trust God or will she make a move that she may regret for the rest of her life? 

Because she’s definitely nobody’s replacement.

A Blended Family Christmas: A Short Story Audiobook

Eugeena Patterson is marrying her neighbor and companion, Amos Jones. Her family and friends are happy to finally see the couple walk down the aisle. But there’s something missing.

Since his wife’s death, Amos has been estranged from his two daughters. Eugeena encourages Amos to reach out to his daughters by inviting them to spend Christmas with him.

Will Amos’ family accept the invitation and will they accept the pending nuptials?

Lemon Filled Disaster Audiobook

Narrated by Sharell Palmer

Retiree Eugeena Patterson has picked up some new activities which include volunteering at an afterschool program and helping her future daughter-in-law plan a wedding. Eugeena is more than thrilled to see her son, Dr. Cedric Patterson, a longtime bachelor soon wed his girlfriend, Carmen Alpine.

During wedding planning errands, Eugeena notices a man is tailing her and Carmen. When Eugeena finds out the man is Carmen’s ex-husband, this lessens her enthusiasm for the upcoming nuptials, especially since Carmen had failed to share this information about her past. Later, when that man is found dead, Carmen becomes a suspect. As Eugeena begins to investigate Carmen’s past, she’s wondering if this wedding will ever happen.