Chelle Ramsey's Blog, page 10

That Continual Moment of Perfect Peace...

 “You will keep in [a]perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both [b]inclination and character],
Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation]. Isaiah 26:3, AMP
When I first considered writing this blog post, I thought I would be writing from Psalm 91, my favorite passage of Scripture. If you know like I know, our plans can easily be altered by the Lord's purpose and will. If you have not experienced that in life, Proverbs 19:21 confirms that.

So, as I prayed on a passage of Scripture that I was supposed to write about, He led me to Isaiah 26, verse 3. This Scripture has brought me great comfort in challenging times, and it was brought back to my remembrance recently by one of my brothers.

I love the Scripture, but even more so the amplified version. It tells us the Lord will keep us in "perfect" peace, which means as good as good can be, and having all the desirable qualities and elements to bring the satisfaction we seek and desire. Then it goes on to say, "constant," that means that it is a continual supply of peace. His peace will never end, it does not run out like the store may run out of your favorite bottled water. No, the supply of the Lord's peace is continual and plenty, sufficient to satisfy all of our desires.

Yet, this peace does not just come to us naturally. There is a small, minor part we must play. We must choose to allow our thoughts, the intents of our heart, and desire to remain on the Lord. Well, how can I do that you ask? Yes, we are surrounded by worldly desires and intents. Yes, we will have troubles in this world, but they are not meant to last. You can make a decision each and every day to focus on the Lord. What does this focus look like?Determining that you will pray over every decision before you make it.Choosing to allow the choices you make to align with what the Word of God says about that choice.Allow every interaction with others to be driven by love and only love.When evil, negativity, temptation, and trouble rises up, pray and trust in God Almighty to provide the answer and a way out.Eat His Word and let the fruit produced be a reflection of that Word. Spending time reading His Word, will guide your thoughts and the intents of your heart, and subsequently your actions and behaviors.Stay in prayer throughout the day, and ask someone you trust to cover you in prayer. Be transparent, so that your issues can be properly prayed for.

Why does the Lord want to grant you this peace? Because we trust and hope in Him. We trust or have faith that the Lord is who He says He is, and will do what He says He will do. We hope that He will grant us the desires of our heart, and give us the peace that we seek, but we have faith (believe and act on it) that He will do it, because the Lord is true to His Word and cannot lie. So, we confidently expect Him to reward that faith, with His precious peace.

There have been times that this passage of Scripture has brought me great comfort. If any of you have been following this blog for any period of time, then you know that in September 2014 my family experienced a house fire and we were out of our home for six LONG months. My emotions were all over the place. However, one day I was praying to the Lord and asking Him to guide me, give me strength, and peace. This Scripture along with Proverbs 3, verses 5 through 6 gave me great comfort during that time. At the end of my prayer, I heard a voice clearly say, "Trust God." I looked up, thinking my husband had entered the room but no one was in the room, except for me. A peace descended upon me like I had never experienced and remained with me throughout that process.

I often recall that time when challenges arise. I also recall this Scripture when I'm troubled about something and I pray for His peace, and He lovingly grants it to me. I pray that whatever you are going through today, the Lord Almighty will grant you perfect peace and keep it constantly flowing in your life. Simply remember to make Him your primary focus, and allow your desires to be in align with His Word.
Women's fiction author and blogger, Chelle Ramsey brings a refreshing perspective into the lives of her readers and wants them to find entertainment, healing and inspiration in each novel. Using real problems and challenges faced by ordinary people, Chelle wants readers to become empowered to rise above life's adversities, with faith in God, and belief in themselves.

Her stories are relatable to individuals of diverse demographics, who have suffered a loss, been hurt, have low self-esteem, have lost hope, or need a word of encouragement. She strives to take your emotions on a roller coaster ride, one page at a time. Chelle holds an MBA in Human Resource Management, which she puts to use in her Human Resources role by day, while she writes her fiction novels at night. And in her spare time, she’s a blogger, freelance writer, and ghostwriter.
Her most important roles are those of a wife and mother of three. During her “me time,” she becomes enraptured with the enthralling stories of Terry McMillan, Nora Roberts, James Patterson and Stuart Woods. Chelle Ramsey resides in a rural community in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoys writing, family time, and watching NBA games.

She hosts the annual 20 Days of Love authors’ blogging campaign, March Madness authors’ giveaways campaign, and showcases other authors on her blog at www.chelleramsey.com/beautifully-inspired-blog. Her novels can be found online at Chelle Ramsey Amazon.

LINKS:
WEB: www.chelleramsey.com
EMAIL: chelleramseywrites@gmail.com
FACEBOOK: ChelleWrites
TWITTER: @UndeniablyChell
PINTEREST: ChellesBooks
INSTAGRAM: UndeniablyChelle
Thanks for joining me for another Motivational Monday Moment! Please leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you!
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March Inspirations, Christina...

It's day 6 of March Inspirations and Christina Jones is hanging out with us today to share her novel, Love Notes. Yes, it's flirtatious, steamy, and just enough to wet your...well, read on...

Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered into her #giveaway!
“Okay,” he nodded. “I see what’s happening here, you with the smile, and the hair, and the dimples, all of that.”

I smirked. “Do you really though? Cause I’m pretty sure I caught you all the way off guard just now. Or are you gonna front on me again?”

“I didn’t front on you a first time,” he countered, with the kind of smile that made it very easy to remain in a seat that very well could’ve belonged to another woman. Before I could find out, a server came past, asking if we wanted refills on our drinks.

He said yes, asking for another Hennessey and Coke, and because I was a sucker for a dark man drinking dark liquor, I said yes as well, opting for Sprite and vodka.

“So… am I in someone’s seat right now? In danger of getting swung on?” I asked, meeting deeply amused eyes that were the same color as deep roast in the light from the stage, but seemed glossy black when he turned to fully face me.

“Not really. My boys are off chasing ass, so I doubt they’ll mind.”

“Why aren’t you off doing the same?”

His response was delayed by the delivery of our drinks, and I offered no argument when he instructed the server to put them both on his tab. Once she left, I raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for his response.

“Well?” I prompted, when he still didn’t answer.

“Well what?”

“Why aren’t you off chasing ass like your boys?”

He shrugged, then took a sip from his fresh drink. “Don’t have to. It usually comes to me,” he suggested, giving me a pointed look that made me laugh.

“So you’re caught up now, huh?” I teased. “Welcome to this conversation.”

I raised my glass, and to my absolute delight he met me halfway, clinking his drink against mine.

“Happy to be here.”

“Are you really though?” I asked, then took a swallow from my drink. “Cause a few minutes ago, you tried to—”

“I wasn’t trying to front on you,” he interrupted, with a warm chuckle that gave me a tingly feeling akin to the soda bubbles exploding on my tongue as I drank again. “You gotta stop saying that shit.”

I raised a hand, spreading my fingers wide. “Hey, I’m just standing in my truth here… you should try it.”

“Damn, it’s like that?”

“Yup.”

He nodded, then raked his free hand through his beard. “Okay. The truth then.”

I leaned in, into his personal space, and he didn’t flinch, falter, or pull back, just kept with that cool, penetrating gaze. “Please,” I uttered, sounding it out slowly, as his regard fell to my lips.

“The hair is what got my attention,” he insisted, once our eyes were locked again.

“But…?”

A yielding sort of smirk spread across his lips as he conceded, “But… the pretty face is what kept it. I’ve never seen you before, so… I was curious.”

“Finally, he admits it!” I laughed, dropping my hand onto his knee and squeezing. “I love it when I’m right!”

“It’s all good,” he granted. “Live it up at my expense, I can take it.”

Still grinning, I told him, “So can I…” with a wink that made him suck in a little breath before he pulled his bottom lip between nice, even white teeth.

“You’re really not from around here are you?” Download...
About Christina...
Christina C. Jones is a modern romance novelist who has penned almost 30 books. She has earned a reputation as a storyteller who seamlessly weaves the complexities of modern life into captivating tales of black romance.

Prior to her work as a full time writer, Christina successfully ran Visual Luxe, a digital creative design studio. Coupling a burning passion to write and the drive to hone her craft, Christina made the transition to writing full-time in 2014.

Christina has attracted a community of enthusiastic readers across the globe who continue to read and share her sweet, sexy, and sometimes scandalous stories.
Thanks for joining us for March Inspirations ! Please leave a comment below, Christina would love to hear from you, and you will be entered into today's giveaway!

To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.

March Inspirations,Ariel Marie...

Today's March Inspirations post is an excerpt designed to tap into your animal instincts, bringing out the wild in you. Ariel Marie is sharing her latest novel, Tiger Haven and giving away a signed copy to a lucky reader who resides in the U.S. and leaves a comment... About Tiger Haven... Biologist Dr. Charlee Black is on a mission to save the animals. When she discovers Amur tigers are being hunted by poachers in Russia, she travels to a national park within the country to study them, and to prevent the tigers from going extinct.

Weston Rogavac is a billionaire tiger shifter with royal bloodlines, and a sworn duty to ensure the survival of his kin. When he and Charlee meet en route to the sanctuary, sparks fly, and both of them are swept up in a sexy and steamy romance they can’t untangle from.

But love isn’t enough to stop what’s coming. The Russian mafia has a special interest in selling tiger skin and bones on the black market, and have put a hit out on Charlee to stop her conservation work. Weston is her only hope of survival, but as the hitmen grow closer Charlee is shocked to find she has ties to the mob and is attached to a past she cannot escape.

Will Weston be able to protect her? Or will Charlee lose her tiger shifter lover and her life?

With action and adventure at every turn, Tiger Haven is a suspenseful paranormal romance novel that will thrill and shock readers. Fans of author Ariel Marie will fall for this love story that provides plenty of heat and a happily-ever-after ending. Excerpt... Silence filled the air, except for a few snores. West was restless and unable to sleep as thoughts of Charlee filled his mind. His tiger was restless too. It knew they were in the jungle, and he wanted to be let free so that he could roam the humid forest. He stood silently and wandered over to the end of the camp. Luka leaned back against a tree and nodded when his eyes met West’s.

The fire in the pit in the middle of the clearing had finally dwindled to just smoldering embers. He glanced to where Charlee should have been sleeping, but found her bedding to be empty. His eyes shot to Luka and found his friend pointing to a place behind him. He turned and found Charlee emerging from the trees.

“I needed to use the facilities,” she murmured, a sheepish look coming over her face.
He chuckled as he walked toward her. His tiger paced back and forth with the knowledge that she was close. Her hair, piled on top of her head, had his fingers itching to remove the bun. He wanted to see her thick locks spill out onto her shoulders and back.

He grabbed her hand and entwined his fingers with hers.

“Walk with me,” he murmured. Her face softened as she nodded her head. He looked over his shoulder at Luka to see him give a small salute. He pulled her behind him as they entered the dense wooded area.

“How can you see?” she asked, bringing her other hand to rest on the small of his back as he led her farther away from the others. His eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness of the forest. The sounds of nature greeted them as they continued to walk.

“There’s a little moonlight,” he murmured, making an excuse. There was no way he could tell her the truth. He kept them moving, knowing exactly where he wanted to take her. He had discovered a beautiful little cove that would be perfect for them to have time alone, and he couldn’t wait to get her there.

He knew that Charlee was in love with everything about the rainforest, and his tiger was pleased by this. Every new discovery, her camera wasn’t far from her hands. Her appreciation of what nature had to offer was evident by her passion, in not only preserving the tigers, but in everything he had come to know that she stood for.

“Where are we going?” She released a nervous chuckle. His animal could pick up that she was a little antsy. His thumb drew small circles on her inner wrist in an attempt to calm her nerves.

“It’s a surprise,” he announced. “I found something earlier that I wanted to share with you.”

“Oh, shoot. Maybe I should have grabbed my camera,” she said.

“Don’t worry—” The sound of a twig snapping grabbed his attention. His tiger instantly went on alert. He hadn’t picked up on the trail any other animals in the area. Charlee instantly sensed that something was wrong. His body drew tense as he waited and listened, willing his heart to slow down.

“What was that?” she whispered. The smell of her fear permeated the air.

He held a finger up to his lips as he turned to her, not sure if she was able to see the motion. He listened again, and another snap echoed through the air. His head snapped in the direction of the noise, and he pushed Charlee behind him. He could feel both of her hands on the small of his back. His ears perked up as he waited.

His eyes met those of a tiger, peering out of the trees fifty feet from them. His amber eyes glowed in the dark as he assessed West and Charlee.

“Oh my God,” Charlee gasped, having peeked from behind him.

“Stay behind me,” he ordered, pushing her back. His tiger pushed forward with a roar as they stood there and stared down the tiger.

The tiger nodded his head, and West released the breath he didn’t know he had been holding.

Drago.

Drago’s tiger disappeared back into the trees without a sound. West knew that Drago had caught sight of Charlee and would give them privacy, and also ensure that no other dangerous animals were in the area.

“He’s gone,” West murmured, holding still to make sure Drago had left.

“Was that Bubo?” she asked, eyes wide. Her grip tightened on his hand.

“I’m not sure,” he lied, pulling her behind him. “It could have been. But I’m sure you know that tigers can be shy animals. He’s probably moving through the area.

“Maybe we should try to follow him. He could lead us to his den—”

“No.” He held up a hand to cut her off. “We are not following a tiger in the middle of the jungle at night. Smart people like ourselves will keep on moving and put as much distance between us and a tiger who could eat us whole.”

“Oh, yeah. I guess you’re right. I just got excited,” she laughed. Her excitement over tigers was infectious. He ached to be able to share his other half with her. His tiger would love to have the feel of her hands on his head and rubbing between his ears.

Not yet, he snapped to his tiger, pushing his animal down. It was too soon. His tiger scoffed at the notion of waiting. He was getting impatient, and it was taking a lot of energy to keep his tiger at bay.

“Here we are.”

​Download now: https://www.books2read.com/u/3k0nBW
About Ariel Marie... Ariel Marie is an author who loves the paranormal, action and hot steamy romance. She combines all three in each and every one of her stories. For as long as she can remember, she has loved vampires, shifters and every creature you can think of. This even rolls over into her favorite movies! She loves a good action packed thriller! Throw a touch of the supernatural world in it and she’s hooked!

She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio where she currently resides with her husband and three beautiful children.

Want to know more about her and her books?

Sign up for her newsletter --> http://eepurl.com/clg-H1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/the_ArielMarie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arielmarie_author
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/the_arielmarie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorarielmarie

Thanks for joining us for March Inspirations ! Please leave a comment below, Ariel Marie would love to hear from you, and you will be entered into today's giveaway!

To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.

March Inspirations, Stella...

Today is my birthday and we're celebrating with March Inspirations. Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku is sharing her novel, Guilty of Love. Drop in and watch the pages steam up and don't forget to leave a comment to be entered into her giveaway to win a copy of, All Of Me, and an ARC of my novel, A Woman's Design: Redemption.
Taking a quick break from his search for the man who put his dad behind bars, Adam meets a curvy, dark-haired, intelligent beauty with a lovely sense of humour. She sets his body on fire and shakes him to his core. He longs for her and will move mountains to be by her side. But when he finds out the family responsible for wrecking his dad’s life, his heart is at war with his head as the identity of the woman he is up against throws him into a dilemma.

Letitia wants to get back at the man who made her family suffer. She will do anything to see the man return to jail. A quick stopover on holiday brings her across a hot, sculpted and protective bloke who stirs something deep within her and leaves her body and soul aching with a sharp need. When she eventually confronts her enemy, recognition dawns and every locked-up emotion comes crashing down.

Will Letitia and Adam be found Guilty of Love?

~ From the Author of All of Me: A Sweet & Steamy Romance ~

“Did I scare you?” Adam joked from behind Letitia while they both kicked out their legs softly to keep afloat in the swimming pool.
 
She shook her head to dislodge water from her ears. “Not really. I wondered who had the nerve to hold me from behind.”
 
Swirling around to face him, she watched him flick both hands over his wet hair and his eyes grinned at her.
 
“How old are you?” he mouthed just as two men raced past doing the front crawl with their arms under water.
 
Lifting her hands out of the water, she pushed her hair out of her face. “All of twenty-nine.”
 
Floating closer to where she was, he chuckled. “You don’t look a day older than twenty-three.”
 
Even though she knew he was being a gentleman, she giggled as warmth crept up her neck.
 
It felt good to receive such glowing compliment from a man who wanted nothing from her. He hardly knew her.
 
“Thank you. I feel twenty-nine for sure.”
 
“What does that even mean?” His lips formed into a wide grin as if he had no clue what she meant.
 
Three young men swam past, but one of them winked at her as he lifted his head to take in air.
 
Adam had his back to them, so he did not notice.
 
And she tried not to grin. “You know, like I don’t feel the same as I did when I was fifteen. And you, how old do you feel?”
 
With one arm, he circled her waist and he led her to the pool edge. “Swimming here with you now I feel like I’m eighteen again. But I’m only thirty-five.”
 
He hauled himself to sit on the poolside.
 
“Come and sit beside me,” he told her giving her his hand to help her up the side of the pool.
 
She took his hand and she joined him on the cool tiles. “I would not have guessed your age. I thought you were under thirty.”
 
For her accolade, he caressed her shoulders with two fingers and made his way toward her neck. She skewed her head as she burst out giggling.
 
Already, sweet tickles dripped from his fingers through her cleavage with far too much speed.
 
Feeling self-conscious at his closeness, she tightened the rope of her bikini top and bottom when she stopped laughing.
 
“It feels good to hear you say that, Letitia. Are you dating actively at the moment?”
 
For several seconds she stared at him wide-eyed. Adam’s gaze was relentless as he waited for her reply.
 
“I’m keeping that close to my chest.” She got a kick out of needling him since she just found out he had man-sized jealous bones in his sculpted body.
 
“Don’t make me crawl through your chest in search of my answer.” The words spoken gruffly carried an underlying threat.
 
Unable to contain her shock, her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Not in front of everyone, you wouldn’t, Adam.”
 
When he leaned forward, his eyes assured her he intended to carry out his threat, so she promptly changed her response.
“Okay. I’m dating.”
 
No emotion flashed through his face as he asked. “Are you seeing someone in particular?”

Download...
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2rQdEgd
 
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guilty-Love-Sweet-Steamy-Romance-ebook/dp/B078X22Q6F/
 
Okada Books:
 https://okadabooks.com/book/about/guilty_of_love__a_sweet__steamy_romance/17317
 
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/784486
 
Amazon CA:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guilty-Love-Sweet-Steamy-Romance-ebook/dp/B078X22Q6F/
 
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Guilty-Love-Sweet-Steamy-Romance-ebook/dp/B078X22Q6F/
About Stella...
I'm Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku, author of several toe-curling & heart-fluttering Flirty & Feisty Romance Novels consisting of Contemporary/Interracial/Multicultural Romance as well as Historical & Paranormal Romance Books. I write about super sexy heroes and flirty & feisty heroines. My stories are a breath of fresh air, dotted with unexpected twists and are set in fascinating Africa, enticing Europe and enchanting America. An emotional spin is what you get when you read my books. GUILTY of LOVE is my hot new release and it makes the perfect gift for your family, friends and colleagues.
 
There are now 21 published books so far. Just so you know, I'm a romantic freak, mother of two fun - loving teenagers, married to my gorgeous husband and best friend and we live in London, UK. If my teens had their way, they would fill our home with a dozen pets. Swimming on my back like a star-fish is one of my skills. Please write or connect with me on social media. I love reading from you.

Connect with Stella...
Blog: http://flirtyandfeistyromance.blogspot.co.uk/ 
 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4538936.Stella_Eromonsere_Ajanaku
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flirtyandfeistyromancenovels?v=wall&ref=pdem
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/106790524...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/eromonsereajana/

Thanks for joining us for March Inspirations ! Please leave a comment below, Stella would love to hear from you, and you will be entered into today's giveaway!

To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.

March Inspirations, Brynette...

It's a love TKO on today's edition of March Inspirations. Brynette Turner's, Restoring Love finds a woman in a predicament of having to choose between the love of two men. Will she buckle under the pressure, or will she stand strong and make the right choice?

Read on and leave a comment for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card... About Restoring Love...
Amina is 49 and ready for a second wind to blow some excitement into her love life. Too bad Jason, the tall, dark, piece of sweet chocolate was so much younger. Fifteen years is a deal-breaker right?
 
Obviously not to the very persistent and sexy Jason. He was captivated by Amina's ageless face and shapely body, even if she did try blowing him off. But, fate was on his side. The gorgeous project manager was actually in charge of the renovation of a building his electrical business was contracted to rewire. There was no way he wasn’t going to use seeing her every day to his advantage.
 
If Jason thought he’d be Amina’s only admirer, he needed to think again. Her boss Wesley—patient, observant, and aware that he might have allowed Amina to take his interest in her a little too lightly—refused to step aside for a young man who didn’t realize her worth.
 
Thanks to one twist of fate, a mistake Jason may not be able to correct, and an opportunity Wesley won’t let slip away, Amina finds herself with more attention than she ever would have imagined.
 
The choice is hers to make. Who to love? Who to choose? No deadline. No pressure.
 
No pressure? Yeah, right.

On Tuesday, Amina was surprised to look out the window and see Jason leaning against his truck outside the Victorian manor. The fixtures he needed to install wouldn’t arrive for another week. She took a deep breath, went outside, and walked across the lawn to where he was parked.

“What are you doing here?” She pulled sunglasses out of her pocket and put them on.

“We need to talk.” He reached a hand towards her but dropped it when another contractor pulled up behind him.

“There’s nothing to discuss; and even if there was, I wouldn’t do it on a job site. I broke my rules; it was a mistake. I learned my lesson the hard way.” She hoped the glasses hid her pain. “I hope our business relationship won’t be too awkward going forward.” She watched as he looked away, his jaw clenching and his eyes getting dark. What does he have to be mad about? she thought.

“We need to talk, Amina.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “There are things I didn’t get a chance to say the last time I was at your house. Important things.”

She saw Wesley pull into the driveway and get out of the car. He was holding a canister but stood there leaning on his car watching her. Watching Jason with her. Her stomach flipped.

“Don’t do this, Jason. You disappeared on me and you’ve explained. I understand, all right? You want to hold on to us; but you don’t need to. I don’t want you to. I just want to forget and move on.” Is that pain in his eyes? she wondered.

He admitted, “I’ve tried to give you some time and space hoping that maybe we could work things out eventually. But honestly, I’m miserable without you. This isn’t working for me and I don’t believe you’ve stopped caring either. What we have is stronger than one mistake and a few weeks of separation.”

Amina stared at him long enough to be moved by the silent pleading in his expression. Still, she said, “I have to go,” because that was all she could manage. She turned and walked toward her boss.

“I brought the drawings for your meeting with the landscaper. Eric said you forgot them.”

“Thanks for saving me a trip back to the office.” She tucked the canister under an arm.

Wesley looked at her with a puzzled expression, looked at Jason—who was still leaning against his truck—and then back at Amina. Even though she still had on the glasses, he could see her sadness in the way her head tilted down slightly and her shoulders slumped. He had promised he would fix her broken heart. “Does that mean you have time to go to lunch with me?”

“You’re always feeding me,” she complained lightly.

“That’s because I like your curves and I know you don’t eat right.”

She allowed herself to be escorted to the passenger side of the car, well aware that Wesley had possessively placed a hand on her back.

“Is it over?” he asked as he slid behind the wheel.

“Yes.”

“Does he know that?”

“I told him.”

Wesley waited for her to say more. When she didn’t, he started the car and reached over to hold her hand as they drove to the restaurant.

Lunch was uncomfortable. Wesley decided to talk about his latest efforts to interview architects to replace one who would be retiring at the end of the year and Amina did her best to be attentive. She offered suggestions because that’s what she’d always done and what he expected. But she avoided meeting his eyes as often as she could get away with. She barely ate.

“I should have realized it was him, Amina. It’s always been obvious to me that he was attracted to you. Still, I didn’t take it seriously. And now, well, I didn’t consider that your relationship might not be over.”

“It’s over, Wesley.” She pushed a chunk of tomato around her plate.

“No, it isn’t. He still wants you, and you’re still too hurt to really let go. And then, there’s the fact that you need to interact with him; it won’t be easy.” Amina swallowed hard but didn’t say anything. “I don’t want to know details, but do you think he can make the same mistake twice?”

“Not exactly,” she answered after a long silence. “But, I also don’t know whether I can forgive him or go back to wanting what I thought we had. Some mistakes can’t be undone.” It was Wesley’s turn to be silent. Because they were trembling slightly, Amina folded her hands in her lap. “What happens next—between you and me?”

“What I feel and want haven’t changed.” He squeezed her hands reassuringly. “I already knew that you were coming out of a bad relationship and that it’ll take a little time for your heart to heal.” He rested his arm across the back of her chair and gently caressed her shoulder. “I still want to date you because you’re an amazing woman. I’m not thrilled about the prospect of having to compete; but if that’s the situation, there isn’t much I can do about it. As for our professional relationship, I promise that if things don’t work out between us, I’ll be mature about it, suck it up, and step back. But you’ve got to promise to always be honest with me, all right?”

“All right.” The thought crossed her mind that maybe Wesley didn’t deserve to be pulled any deeper into her drama. He’s a good man, she reminded herself. Do I even deserve him? She excused herself from the table and headed for the Ladies Room so that she could pat her face with some cold, wet paper towels.

What was happening? Jason obviously wasn’t willing to walk away from what they’d shared, but neither was Wesley. The realization confused her. Both men were right about her still having feelings for Jason. If she was honest, didn’t she also have feelings for Wesley? Could she juggle both men? Should she? Just the idea made her feel overwhelmed.

Amina emerged from the restroom as Wesley was handing their server the leather folder with his credit card in it.

“I asked her to bring a box for your meal,” he said as soon as she was settled in her chair. “Do you want me to take it back to the office for you? I can put it in my fridge; you might be hungry later.”

“Thank you.” She reached over and put a hand on his arm. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” she admitted.

“Really?” He gave a teasing grin. “I don’t believe for a second that this is the first time you’ve had two men vying for your attention.” He leaned sideways in his chair so that he could give her an appraising look from head to toe and back up. “Naw; I don’t believe it.”

Amina laughed and told him how ridiculous he was. Then, she leaned over and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek. About Brynette...
Brynette Turner, primarily writes contemporary and African American romances. Her featured project is Restoring Love, a full-length novel about a career-minded woman who is ready for a second chance at romance and excitement after her daughter is grown. What she finds instead is a love triangle that forces her to confront what she really wants from a relationship. What she learns about herself and who she chooses surprises even her. 

Prior to releasing Restoring Love, Brynette was most proud of her three-book paranormal (psychic) romantic suspense series. The Dream Catcher Series is comprised of Premonitions, Loving Night, and Heart Shadows. In 2014, she published the companion stand-alone books Time for Tenderness and Monica's Healing about African American sisters with very different personalities. These women surprisingly find that, even though they aren't close, being damaged by the same upbringing means they actually might need each other to figure out how to maneuver through some of life's pitfalls. Detour, Brynette's debut novel, was also published in 2014. In it, a sassy and ambitious business woman learns that life's goals sometimes take a turn for the better when you run into love on a business trip, but that doesn't mean the change in plans make for a smooth path. After publishing Restoring Love, Brynette published a series of short reads (novellas) that deal with a variety of romantic situations. As her readers will attest, Brynette writes about romance with the some very steamy sex scenes! She honestly believes in love at first sight, the perfect match, and happily ever after. 

Brynette is the mother of two grown daughters, lives in central Ohio and is trying desperately not to become the Crazy Cat Lady although she loves the animals, has two, and can't resist feeding any strays that wind up on her doorstep. When she's not reading, attending festivals, or watching movies, she's working on those decades worth of story ideas and half-finished novels. She has great plans for sharing her writing talent with the world. 

Contact her:
Website - www.brynetteturner.blogspot.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/brynettelturnerauthor
Email - btromancewriter@gmail.com
Twitter - @btromancewriter
Amazon - www.amazon.com/author/brynetteturner
Mailing list - http://eepurl.com/6GFSj

Thanks for joining us for March Inspirations! Please leave a comment below, Brynette would love to hear from you, and you will be entered into the giveaway!

To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.

The Gift...

Happy Monday! Today's Motivational Monday Moment is right in alignment with this month's focus. All month long we're hosting, March Inspirations, allowing authors to share their gifts to encourage readers to pursue their dreams, and we're giving away gifts at each March Inspiration post.

Tracee is with us today discussing spiritual gifts given to us by the greatest Giver of all. She breaks down various points of Matthew 24 and leaves you with a message to motivate you not only for this week, but for a lifetime. Read on... Greetings Everyone!
 
To echo others over the course of these Motivational Mondays, Thank you SO MUCH, Chelle Ramsey our host and purveyor, for having me on the blog today. I love coming to Chelle’s blog and seeing all the beautiful Black women that she curates for us and the graphics she has taken time to cultivate.  It’s really a feast for the senses and a reminder of our individual and collective beauty.
 
So what is up? I’m truly honored to talk this Monday Motivation about a scripture that every single time I speak about it at churches, research what others have to say about it through study/commentaries and just consider what God plants in my heart about The Parable of the Talents, I learn something completely new and it resonates so much with me, showing new, hidden messages within each read of this full text.
 
I LOVE this passage, lets take a look at the story:
 
Matthew 24
14  For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16  Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17  And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18  But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19  After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20  And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22  He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24  Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25  And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27  Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury (interest).
28  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
 
Now for my observations, just five of them, let’s explore.
 
1. God gave you THE GOODS
 
There is NO ONE that God has not blessed with a talent (I believe every single person has more than one). If we could conduct ourselves and truly believe that each of us has a gift, we'd have only an eye for cultivating and growing that God-given gift at every opportunity. Dare I say that we might even feel a sense of urgency. I feel that urgency every day and that is why self-publishing is so awesome to me. Many would argue that any of us that have had a traditional contract in the past, why not pursue another? Absolutely, I do plan to do that, but in the mean time just as sure as I could get another contract, I could also write, publish and produce my own work and move forward with my writing career. How many of us will die with projects and dreams partially finished, never started waiting on some component we think that we need and it’s just in there, in us. When we really understand that tomorrow is not promised, you'll develop a sense of urgency that helps you hone your talent, realize your goal and each and every day, seek and then work to do something that moves you closer. 
 
2. There was no comparison among the servants, each went and did whatever he saw fit to do with the gifts, whether that was good and certainly bad.
 
 
 
There is nothing in the scripture that suggest the servants looked and turned up their nose at one another asking, why can't I have five Lord? Other books show us the potential for jealousy among God’s people and the ill effects, but not here. Each one took what he had and moved forward, not prideful about someone else having more or less than they.
 
Comparison is the downfall of all blighted success stories. We all do it and some may argue that it can be a good motivator but not if it motivates you only to try your hardest to do what you feel is better than someone else. It is a constant struggle for me not to compare the number of books I have against someone else. Everyone is working at his or her own pace. Some work full time and others have day jobs - see? That's a comparison. Why does it matter how you arrived at your destination? You are still there. I also want to remind you that Ecclesiastes 9 verse 11, says the race is not given to the swift nor the strong, but those who endure until the end . I believe the end will see some of us limping, dragging, but assuredly still there.  When we reach of the end of our race, no one will complain to the Lord about the way in which we came to reach the end of our journey, we’ll be too busy shouting together that we made it.
 
3. When someone trust you with something, it seems burdensome until
you learn how AND that you CAN properly use it.
 
There is some burden in opportunity. What will I do with it? Can I handle it? How do I make the best use of it? Why me? If the gift is not what you thought you should have, it seems underrated and it just wasn’t what you had in mind. Thus, your first response will be to reject it, to have reservations and in many cases, to bury it somewhere and repress it’s very presence. Funny thing is, it keeps turning up in some fashion, often in a kind of reminder, year after year that it is still there. Bury it all you want, it will rear its head again and hopefully, next time you'll be ready.
 
The evidence is clear. Many of us are called to do things and we're like, really God? This isn't really what I had in mind. What am I supposed to do with this? The gifts are easier when they come with instructions and a picture of the end result but what fun is that? When you learn to trust that this is the right gift for you, you will find the passion for it. It will and should be fun, you will learn so much and can begin to trust God more to lead you to new and more awesome things.
 
4.  Others will take whatever you had (not the literal thing) but similar to what you were doing and decide to do it or make it (or a version of it) on their own.
 
There are many similar businesses and the amount of choice we have today should show you that while people are doing businesses that look the same, why are some able to be more successful at it than others? There's that comparison thing again. But my point is that, why not learn from someone how to do something you also want to do? What happens if as adults we could be open to more mentorship, not just receiving but as a successful business in whatever field, desiring to be a giver of mentorship?  What if the servant had asked his fellow brothers to show him how and to share what they planned to do with the talent? Yes, there could be rejection but the worst answer we can hear is “No” and we're really not any worse off for asking. And we let one "No." in any situation, deter us from asking anyone else. At many book signings I attend, this is a skill all future authors will learn, that every door to door salesman and telemarketer has already learned. Booksignings are two hours, often longer, if I packed up at the first no, I'd never sell any books. More "No's" will come than "yes's" but with each new person, comes from me a new  smile and a new invitation to them to keep sharing and yes, one sale  boost confidence for the next but we have to develop our rejection muscles that helps us to keep going after every negative experience. I did not post verse 30 but God " ...cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’’
 
That is not a good look.
 
5.  NOT one of the servants frowned upon what God gave him nor did they utter “What is that and what I’m supposed to do with it?”
 
Years ago, I was told that my disability is a gift. This from a counselor I visited in my early thirties. As I age, I go through what I call occasional trouble spots and I appreciate seeing a counselor and getting a different perspective on my thoughts, which are sometimes erroneous. We should all work hard to reduce the stigma talking to professionals can have especially in the Black community.
 
My counselor went on to tell me that disability enhances my ability to feel others pain and helps me in my advocacy efforts and my employment where I am a Peer Counselor.
 
Say what?
 
My response: Girl you tripping. Can’t God (the original Creative) get the glory some other way and give me a better gift?
 
I believe the latter part of my then counselor’s estimation. Even one of the many disabled people depicted in the Bible, spectators, and onlookers assumed that due to some issue of sin by the blind man's parents, ancestors or himself, that the man would be born into adversity, with disease, lack or whatever plagued people during biblical times. Unfortunate past sin of our ancestors having a negative affect on someone is still a wrong and sad belief, held by many people today.  Jesus's response, in John 9:3 tells us that Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him.”
 
What might all of us be without the thorns that bind us? The illness, the limp, the financial lack, the mediocre job, the sick child...all of these could be considered deficiencies, yet whatever the servant was given, he did what he considered good for it with whatever social status each possessed, with whatever pedigree, knowledge and abilities each of them had. He moved forward with it. 
 
I won’t pretend to embrace this notion of disability held by my counselor as a gift all the time because I don't (and that is okay, make peace with it). What is important that is whatever I have, whether labeled gifts (or “adversities”), I choose not to dwell on it and make a conscious effort to move forward with it. Like life, my acceptance ebbs and flows, much like that of some single people who yearn to be married or some childless people that yearn for a family of their own making, and yet some that have all of that, may wish for none of it. It isn't what you have, it's what you do with whatever you have and it is the trying involved and your conscious effort to work through it no matter what.
 
The gift should not define you, it is only a part of your witness, your testimony, your blessing and your journey. Find whatever way you can to use it as best you can, to bless others and ultimately to give God the glory and of course, you know, to keep yourself out of that whole gnashing of teeth situation.
 
Be blessed and thanks again for joining me as a guest on the Beautifully Inspired Blog today.
 
If you desire to discuss my commentary further, please leave a comment to tell me your thoughts, comments and/or questions.
 
Until next time...  
Thanks for joining us for another Motivational Monday Moment! Please leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you!

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March Inspirations, Pastor Henry McMullen...

Welcome back to day 2 of March Inspirations. We all face adversity and trials. We all look forward to the light at the end of the tunnel, that moment of victory. And most of us question, "Why me, Lord?" as we go through.

Today, Pastor Henry McMullen is here to share his book, It Hurts But It's Necessary, that will give you guidance and may even answer some of those, "Why me, Lord?" questions. Leave a comment at the end of the blog post for him, and you may be selected to win a signed copy of It Hurts But It's Necessary and a journal. Read on...
Have you ever questioned why God appears slow to respond in times of our greatest crisis? Have you ever felt like He's forgotten all about you? Within the pages of this book, Pastor Henry McMullen helps readers to navigate their way during seasons of life when God appears distant. "It Hurts But It's Necessary" is designed to encourage readers that even in our darkest hours, God is yet with us. Within the pages of this book are examples of individuals in the Bible who too have encountered hurt that many of us can identify with today. God brought them through and with the application of principles within this book, you too will increase understanding that while unexpected challenges often appear to stifle us, "It Hurts But It's Necessary." May your hope be restored and faith be renewed. Where do I begin? At one point, I arrived at a place in life that was filled with all of the twists, turns, ups and downs that would make for the most thrilling rollercoaster ride one has ever ridden. I was carrying so much pain that I needed a way to relieve myself of the many burdens that were weighing heavily upon me. My heart was broken from emotional burdens. My inability to make sense of the abrupt changes in my life was causing mental strain. Not to mention financial woes had set me back, as well. As a minister of the Gospel, I found solace in opportunities to express my hardships in sermon form. This also became therapeutic for others who were undergoing similar challenges. If you permit me to be transparent, life's difficulties had backed me into a corner to such a degree that several times I contemplated walking away from ministry altogether. 

It all began on my 29th birthday. Prior to this point, I had been coasting through life quite easily. I was married, had a son, and living in my newly built home. Life was peaceful and uneventful. My birthday fell on a Sunday that year. My entire family gathered at my home. However, a celebration wasn't at the top of our to-do list. As much as we wanted to celebrate my life, we couldn't help but mourn my sister's death. My birthday just happened to be on the eve of my 33- year-old sister's funeral.  Download...
About Pastor Henry...
Pastor Henry McMullen is Senior Pastor of Renewing Faith Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. McMullen’s unique style in translating God’s message with practicality has opened many doors for him to speak throughout the country. He is the founder of the Be Renewed Movement, a collective group of a diverse individuals who link together for outreach initiatives within the city of Indianapolis. It Hurts But It's Necessary is his debut novel.

Social Links:
Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/pastorhpmac79
Twitter-@BeRenewedNow, Email-pastormac79@gmail.com 
Thanks for joining us for March Inspirations ! Please leave a comment below, Pastor Henry would love to hear from you, and you will be entered into today's giveaway!

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March Inspirations, K.K. Harris...

Welcome to our annual March takeover campaign, formerly known as March Madness, now known as March Inspirations! The campaign kicks off with K. K. Harris' Secret Admirer.

Every weekday throughout the month there will be #giveaways for a lucky reader. Simply leave a comment to be entered. There will be two lucky winners today, who will receive one of two ebook copies of Secret Admirer. Read on... Gabriella's live-in boyfriend, Darnell, was gunned down in the streets and she was listed as the next of kin. Deep dark secrets are revealed in the wake of his fall and Gabriella is left holding the bag. 
The many enemies he made during his rise, sought out his leftovers after his demise and Gabriella has no clue what the newly acquired stalkers seek.

Admirers have come forward with the intent to keep her safe from the evil that lurks in the shadows. But at what cost?
Download Now...
Kindle - https://goo.gl/SxAzZj
iBooks - https://goo.gl/JWaq2S
NOOK - https://goo.gl/Gm2AZR
About K.K. Harris...
For the love of LOVE…
Hopeless romantic, K. K. Harris is a self-published author with seventeen established titles. Besides grinding the keys producing the next great read, she is busy assisting other writers in accomplishing their self-publishing goals. Romance, Paranormal, Urban, and more are just a few genres to tickle the avid readers fancy but there is so much more to come.
www.author-kkharris.com
Thanks for joining us for the kickoff of March Inspirations! Please leave a comment below, K.K. would love to hear from you, and you will be entered into the giveaway!

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20 Days of Love, Chicki...

 What would make a normally peaceful man lose his cool? Someone disrespecting the woman he loves, even if he didn’t realize he loves her until this happens. It's another 20 Days of Love, and Chicki Brown's A Song For You is heating up the pages...
I grabbed Breelyn’s hand and pulled her back into the mass of bodies moving to the music for two more songs before I put my arm around her waist and walked her back to our table. The club had gotten crowded, and someone else had taken our seats even though we’d left our glasses there.

“Excuse me, man,” I said to the greasy-looking dude wearing a loud Hawaiian print beach hat who was reclining with his legs splayed out in front of him in the seat I’d vacated. “This table was occupied.”

He picked up his drink and took his time draining the glass. “It wasn’t when I got here.” His words
slurred slightly,

“Come on, man. You knew someone was sitting here, or the glasses would’ve been cleared away.”I tried to reason with him.

“Go to hell!” He returned to his slouched position with his meaty arms folded as though he owned the place.

Breelyn’s body tensed against my side. I squeezed her waist before I released her and took a step toward the visibly tipsy guy. If the place hadn’t been so crowded, I might have found another place to sit, but this was a matter of principle. The stupid shit-eating grin he sent me pissed me off.

“I’m going to say this one more time,” I said, standing over him. “The lady and I were sitting here. Find yourself another spot.”

“Take that yellow ho somewhere else. I ain’t moving.”

By now we had drawn the attention of people around us. If he’d merely disrespected me, I could’ve let it slide, but he’d insulted Breelyn in the vilest way. My face was burning. I grabbed the front of his sweaty t-shirt and slammed him back in his seat. His head hit the wall with a loud thump. Breelyn gasped and jumped back when the chair came out from under him and jostled the table. Our glasses went flying and crashed to the floor in a hail of ice cubes.

He was big, but he was fat not fit. He lifted his considerable bulk, swung at me and clipped my jaw. Automatically, I hit him with a sharp right cross to his left cheekbone. A string of curses shot out of his mouth. He came for me with a fury. I widened my stance, dropped into a crouch and swiped his leg. The kick took him off his feet and sent him crashing into the tables behind him.

Before he could struggle up from the floor and retaliate, club security had pushed through the crowd.

“What the hell is going on here?” one of them asked.

Spectators sitting near all jumped to answer his question squarely laying the blame on big boy. Two security men picked him up and dragged him to the exit. I turned around and found Breelyn looking stunned and breathing hard. Her eyes stretched wide and one hand covered her mouth. The other was twisting a strand of her hair around her index finger.

My immediate response was to wrap my arms around her. “I’m sorry. I certainly didn’t mean for this to happen on our first date. Maybe we should leave.”

“We can go back to my apartment,” she said softly and licked her bottom lip.

I don’t know if it was my imagination, but I thought I saw a sparkle in her eyes. She took hold of my arm, and we started towards the exit. On the way, a brother approached me and introduced himself as the club manager. Are you and the lady all right? My security men just told me what happened. I want to apologize on behalf of Jazzy Bones.”

“We’re fine. Appreciate the apology, though.”

“We’ve had trouble with that clown before. From now on he’s banned from the club. You don’t have to leave. Stay and have another drink or dinner on us.”

Breelyn shook her head.

“Thanks, but I’m going to get her back home.”

“No problem. One of the guys will follow you outside and make sure he didn’t come back. If you’re ever looking for a job, our security staff could use somebody with your skills.”

I laughed at the thought. “Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind.” We worked our way through the crowd and outside to the parking lot. The security man waited until I got Breelyn into the car and pulled off before he went back inside.

After a few moments of silence, she said, “What you did in there was unbelievable.” Her voice held a hint of wonder. “You didn’t even break a sweat.”

“One of the benefits of MMA, my regular workout. This is the first time I’ve ever had to use it outside of the gym. I’m sorry he disrespected you.”

“I’ve been called worst.” She rested a hand on my knee, leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Thank you for standing up for me.”

One of the hardest parts of interacting with women was learning to read their signals. If you misread an action, it could ruin not only an evening but the possibility of a relationship. I had the feeling Breelyn wanted to get closer, but I had to play this carefully. The kiss could’ve merely been a thank you for my chivalry, but I needed to know for sure, so I hooked a finger under her chin and turned her face to mine. My lips brushed hers. Nothing deep or frenzied, just a light gentle touch. “It’s not even eleven yet, is there somewhere we can go for coffee?”

“I have coffee at home. Tangie bought a Keurig for her store, and it convinced me to get one for my kitchen. If you really want coffee, you can have some there.” Her voice took on a low, sexy tone.

No, I hadn’t read her wrong. 
Contemporary women’s fiction/romance author Chicki Brown has been featured 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. Her novel, Don't Stop Till You Get Enough, was chosen as a USAToday 2016 HEA Must-Read Romance.

Nia Forrester, Beverly Jenkins, Lisa Kleypas, J.R. Ward are among her favorite authors.

A transplanted New Jersey native who lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
Connect with Chicki...
Blog - http://sisterscribbler.blogspot.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/chicki.brown
Twitter - https://twitter.com/Chicki663
Google+ - http://plus.google.com/u/0/+ChickiBrown/

Thanks for joining us for another 20 Days of Love! Please leave a comment below, Chicki would love to hear from you!
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20 Days of Love, Té...

Welcome back to 20 Days of Love, where featured author, Té  Russ is sharing her novel, Runaway Love. She never fails to entertain us with her feisty heroines and smooth heroes, and today's excerpt is no exception...
About Runaway Love...
Michelle Drake manages everything and everyone to perfection. Everyone except herself. When it lands her in the hospital, she has no choice but to follow doctor's order: decompress. When her best friend helps her "runaway from home", her only plan is to chill out and enjoy her long overdue time off. But an unexpected visitor on her doorstep and her sexy as sin neighbor shake up those plans.

Those stony glares and razor sharp tongue of hers may intimidate other men, but Lucas LeRoux is unfazed by them. He knows beneath that tough exterior there's a softness, like the curves of her body he felt when she accidentally landed in his arms. He's determined to make her his and he's just the man for the task of tearing down the walls she's built up and get her to finally let her hair down and enjoy life, not just manage it all of the time.

"Anyway, I'm more interested in the way talking about him has you all flustered."

"I am not flustered," Michelle argued.

"You were literally just stumbling over your words a few minutes ago," Laurel pointed out. "What's the deal between the two of you?"

"There's no deal...Like I said I've run into him a few times."

"And what was your conversation about today that's got you so riled up."

"He bought me shoes."

"That bastard," Laurel gasped, feigning shock. "Why would he do such a thing?"

Michelle went on to explain to Laurel their run-in at the park. 

"So, wait," Laurel said. "You mean to tell me, that he bought you some sensible shoes after you nearly broke your ankle? Oh yeah, he's a terrible, terrible man, Michelle."

"Whatever, Lo," Michelle said, as she looked down at the shoes. 

"I wonder if the actual issue is it that you like him, and it's freaking you out?"

"I do not like him."

"You've never been a good liar, sweetie."

"I can't like him, I don't even know him to like him.”

"Well...change that. You're there. He's there. Get to know him. You're obviously attracted to him. Why not find out if the feeling is mutual?”

~~~~~



"The big dipper actually isn't a constellation, it's an asterism...a pattern or group of stars. It's part of the Ursa Major, also known as the celestial Great Bear. There are many different mythos on the constellation and..."

Michelle looked up at the sky and squinted as the guide continued on. She decided at the last minute to come out on the stargazing hike she'd read about online.

She sighed, looked down at the pamphlet they'd given her when she'd first arrived and then looked back up.

"Having trouble?"

At the sound of Luke's voice, Michelle whirled around and found him staring at her.

"Hi," Luke said, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Hello, Luke," Michelle said, as she began to walk again.

"I gotta admit," Luke said, walking in stride alongside Michelle. "I wouldn't have imagined you to be into astronomy."

"You shouldn't make assumptions about people you don't know, Mr. LeRoux," Michelle said. It didn't matter to her that his assumption was dead on, she was still annoyed by it. "And you're slowing us down, we're missing the guide's storytelling."

"I can tell you stories about the stars," Luke said with a grin.

When Michelle didn't respond, he continued on, pointing up at the sky. "That constellation there is called Andromeda."

Michelle stopped again and looked up to where he was pointing.

"It's said that her mother, Queen Cassiopeia, boasted that she was more beautiful than the Nereids, sea nymphs. Well that shit pissed off the Nereids, and they went to Poseidon, who decided to send a sea monster to destroy their land. The king went to an oracle to find out how they could save their land and was told that they'd have to sacrifice Andromeda. His punk ass went along with it and they tied her to a sea cliff to await her death."

Michelle glanced over at Luke and found him staring at her again.

"So...that's how she died?" she found herself asking.

Luke's lip quirked up and he shook his head. "Nah, as she was out there waiting to die, Perseus rolled up on her. He'd recently completed a life-threatening mission, killing Medusa. You've heard of her, right?"

"The one who turns people to stone," Michelle said.

Luke nodded, "I bet with that glare of yours–"

"Finish the damn story."

"Anyway," Luke continued. "Perseus saw Andromeda, heard her screaming for her life and went to rescue her. He pulled out Medusa's severed head and held it up to the sea monster, turning it to stone. Perseus freed Andromeda and they instantly fell in love and got married."

"No such thing."

"Pardon?"

"Instantly falling in love," Michelle grumbled. "There's no such thing."

"That's another debate for another time," Luke chuckled. He looked up to the sky again. "After Andromeda's death, Athena placed Andromeda's image in the sky, between Perseus and Cassiopeia."
Michelle let out a scoff. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that bitch, in life or the afterlife. Leaving me to die?"

Luke threw his head back and laughed.

"You are something else, Nubia."

She remembered him saying that to her at the park.

"Why do you keep calling me that?" she asked as they started walking again.

"You've never heard of Nubia?" Luke asked. "From the comic books...black Wonder Woman?"

"Comic books?" Michelle repeated. "Figures you'd be into that kinda thing."

"Figures...what is that supposed to mean?" Luke asked. He stopped and turned to face her. "Ooooh, you finally looked me up, didn't you?"

"No," Michelle huffed.

"You're a terrible liar, Michelle," Luke taunted. "You did your little Google search and figured that it must automatically mean that I'm into all things nerd, like comic books, right?"

"That's not–"

"Didn't you just say a few minutes ago that you shouldn't make assumptions about people you don't know?"

As Michelle opened her mouth to say...she wasn't quite sure what she was going to say, the guide spoke up.

"That concludes the end of our tour. You're free to stay out and stargaze a while longer, or you can head back to the lodge. We have a few refreshments and hot cocoa."

She wanted to be annoyed with Luke for making her miss the last portion of the tour, but she honestly wasn't. Although she was annoyed by the way he'd managed to get her flustered...again.

"You have an...interesting way of storytelling," she said.

"And you have an interesting way of deflecting."

They stood staring at each other for several long, heated seconds.

Luke was the first one to break their eye contact. Michelle watched as he looked down and smiled.

"Nice shoes," he said.

"Oh...yeah...well, I figured they wouldn't be completely useless out here."

"You have a funny way of saying thank you."

"Thank you, Lucas, for the shoes. They're quite comfortable. And..."

"And...what, Michelle?"

"I apologize for the way I reacted over them the other day."

"Apology accepted. On one condition."

"What condition?" Michelle asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Have dinner with me. Tonight."

Download Runaway Love: Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079T2T121/


About Té ... Té Russ found reading as a solace at a young age and a vehicle which broadened her horizons. As an adolescent she used writing to express her unspoken words. Since then, she has gone from writing stories in diaries to attending college for journalism and falling in love, which has allowed those youthful words of love to blossom into a series of stories in her romance novels. This Texas wife and mother of three can be found reading, skydiving, cheering for her MMA fighting husband at, buzzing down the interstate on the back of motorcycles, or kayaking.

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