Chelle Ramsey's Blog, page 2

Marvelous March Presents, Angelia...

It's the second week of Marvelous March and Angelia kicks off the week with a man who's dealing with heartache in the only way he knows how. His attitude and outlook on love may just create a challenge for his therapist. Read on and leave a comment to be entered into the giveaway. There may be two winners today, don't miss your chance! About Confessions of a Love Addict... Marcus Albright is devastated when his marriage ends and painful truths are revealed. To deal with it, he goes on a falling in love marathon only to discover he can’t maintain it but for so long... his therapist, Augusta Melba says he’s a love addict but is it that simple? He has to confess some things first. Excerpt... Marcus Albright sat across from his therapist. After weeks of therapy he was still uncomfortable. As a thirty four year old black man, sitting in front of a therapist wasn’t how he saw his future. But here he was pouring out his heart to a woman who seemed to see his soul. Augusta Melba was highly recommended and after another breakup he had to talk to someone. He was starting to feel like a Love Addict.

Augusta made a few notations before glancing up at her newest patient. Marcus was a contrast of looks. He was clearly a black man but his curly/ straight hair that was cropped short indicated a bit of Asia flowing through his blood. His skin was dark, his eyes and hair black and his features prominent. But he had yet to make full eye contact. She watched him, shift his body under her gaze.

“Would you like water or something Marcus, you seem slightly uncomfortable.”

Marcus set up straighter, pulling on the legs of his baggy jeans. He ventured a glance at her and her eyes beneath the huge Jackie O glasses were fixed on him but her expression was inscrutable.

“What I would like is for you to not look at me so damn hard!” He said. Augusta didn’t adjust her glance.

DOWNLOAD About Angelia... Angelia Vernon Menchan is wife, mother, nana and mentor. Since January 2006, she has published 34 printed books and an additional 124 ebooks through her small publishing company, MAMM Productions. She is also the Co-founder of Honorable MENCHAN Media, through which she has published books for 15 authors to date.  

Her personal motto is, 'There is abundance through God for all of us; we simply have to be open for our blessings.' ​

​CONNECT WITH ANGELIA...
Twitter: @angelmenchan
Instagram: @angeliamenchan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angeliam
Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AngeliaVernonMenchan/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00474HCEC
Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March #giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the #giveaway! Join us tomorrow for Marvelous March, the giveaways begin!

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Marvelous March Presents, Celeste...

It's the end of the first week of Marvelous March, and Celeste is closing us out on a romantically sweet note. When one woman has designed her life in such a manner that she is independent of others, the thought of someone taking care of her heart might seem a bit unsettling. Or is it? Read on and don't forget to comment to be entered into the giveaway. About I Am Moore... ​One family. Eight sisters, tangled in romance. Emery Moore moved away from home after finishing her juris doctorate. She was a successful corporate attorney and had been living in Washington D. C. for the past five years. It wasn’t often that she returned home to Atlanta, but the love of her family drew her back. Emery had success in so many facets of her life, but she hadn’t been as lucky in love. The word love was unsettling for Emery; it was loaded with notions of submissiveness and sacrifice, the loss of self and being dependent on another person. Notions Emery wasn’t sure she wanted. Yet, there was someone Emery couldn’t shake her soul loose of and she tussled with her heart and the sensible tug in her mind daily.

​Evan Stanton Esq. had been an integral part of Emery Moore’s life for the past six months. He like she, was an attorney. During the day, the attorneys at law litigated from different sides of the aisle; fighting with everything they had for their clients. But for the past few months, business was left at the door, and the fighting ended as Evan and Emery delved into uncharted territory. Evan loved how Emery felt in his arms. The curve of her hips, the arch in her back made it difficult to keep his hands off her. It wasn’t always like this. Emery had to be pursued, and although Evan was attracted to her unapologetic disposition in the courtroom, along with her sophisticated air, Emery was a challenge; one that Evan planned to take on full steam ahead. Excerpt... "Emery felt the coolness of the marble floors under her feet. Evan lifted his arm, inviting her to wrap hers around his as she had done so many times before. They stepped down together and Emery felt the coolness replaced by the warmth of the sand under her feet. As they moved along the beach, Emery’s heart pulsed at a steady beat. Adrenaline coursed through her as the familiar feeling of being safe in Evan’s arms assaulted her senses. When Evan paused, Emery paused with him. Stepping from behind him, the reason he stopped came into view. It took Emery a moment to take it all in.

“I hope you like it,” Evan said as he moved a step closer. Emery’s eyes danced as she looked at what Evan had done. The secluded area of the beach was lit with flaming torch lamps. There were blankets on the sand with baskets of food and a vat of wine. She didn’t notice it at first until she heard the soft strumming of an acoustic guitar being played by a musician not far away.

“It’s a picnic,” she mused, as a smile spread across her face. Seeing that smile warmed Evans' heart. Placing his hand on the small of her back, Evan escorted Emery onto the blankets and held her hand as she sat down.

“Are you surprised,” Evan asked, sitting down across from her.

“I am,” Emery replied. Evan had always been generous. He had exquisite taste and didn’t mind lavishing Emery with the finer things. She thought he would do something to try and impress her, something over the top. But this? Emery had not anticipated. She was pleasantly surprised.

“I just wanted it to be you and me,” Evan began.

“Well, him too,” Evan smirked, looking back at the guitarist. Emery smiled with him. “Seriously Emery, I wanted us to have a chance to leave everything and everyone else behind and it just be us. I miss us.”

“I miss us, too,” Emery sighed.

​“That’s good to hear,” Evan replied. There was a genuine soul-stirring smile that eased across his lips. Seeing him, Emery smiled with Evan."



Download: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079LG6N4W/ About Celeste... Love. It is a many splendid thing, isn’t it? Yet, it’s not a straight path from one heart to another. Most often, love is a tangled mess that challenges our thoughts, beliefs, and challenges us to prove over and over that we are more than enamored with an individual. Love is a tangled conglomeration of what the mind thinks, what the soul feels, and what the heart knows. And I write about it... Feel free to follow me on Amazon at The Celeste Granger and join my Facebook group @ Facebook. You can also become a part of my newsletter @newsletter.



https://www.amazon.com/Celeste-Granger/e/B079DCSLGR/


https://www.facebook.com/groups/1943300475969127/ ​Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March #giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the #giveaway! Join us tomorrow for Marvelous March, the giveaways begin!

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Marvelous March Presents, Chelle...

It's another Marvelous March post and IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!! The one-night stand with Maxwell Emerson, left her hungry for so much more. Deciding to take matters into her own hands, Bristol shows up on his doorstep to claim what she's been hungering for. Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered into the #giveaway. Romance columnist, Bristol Collins wants to heal her broken relationship with her fiancé, Joe after the loss of their daughter Camden. When she discovers treachery in her inner circle, she seeks solace in her professional life. Longing for more, she discovers within herself a secret passion to join The Lady Guardians, a strong, independent female motorcycle club. On her quest, she meets Rogue and one passionate night leads to more, and her search for freedom unlocks secrets in her life and his.

Firefighter, Maxwell “Rogue” Emerson loves his bike and his music, but lately he’s wanted one thing. One night with the beautiful but broken-hearted vixen named Wyked, has him wanting more than he’s allowed himself to dream of in the last five years.

When Wyked and Rogue join forces his love frees her to explore the woman she wants to be and uncover the woman she is destined to become. Will their love be strong enough to give her the healing she desires, even after she learns the truth about Rogue? 
Excerpt... ​“Hi,” he greeted, standing in his doorway wearing jeans sagging low on his hips. The sun shone through the open doorway, highlighting the red and orange ink of the musical notes dancing from the globe tattooed on his chest.

Full lips turned up in a surprised smile as his arms clenched both sides of the doorway.

“Hey yourself. I figured I’d drop by to see you in person. All this texting back and forth is getting kind of old,” Bristol stated, walking closer to him.

She had no idea if he had company or not, and she didn’t care. As his arms dropped down to his sides, her eyes went to the dragon tattooed on the right bicep.

“Come in. I was just getting ready to cook,” he said, opening the door wider for her to step inside.

“Expecting company?”

“Nah. But I’m glad company dropped in,” he said, his eyes raking over her, as he reached for her coat that she removed.

“Good,” she replied, stepping out of her heels and unzipping her designer jeans.

“Damn, like that?”

“Mmm, like that,” she replied, shimmying out of her jeans and standing back up to remove her silk wine-colored blouse.

“Wait,” he said, resting his hands on her lacy bra, gently pressing his thumbs over the ridged material.

“Don’t wanna,” she remarked, removing his hands and then unhooking her bra.

Bristol released a sigh of relief when his lips covered her breast and his tongue greedily lapped at her nipple.

“Mmmm,” she moaned, purring at the touch of his large hands between her legs.

If this was all he wanted, then she was willing to give him just that. She’d had enough of broken hearts and deceptive relationships to last a lifetime. Her relationship with Joe had been the only serious one in her life, but his scars and deceit had left her wounded for a lifetime.

And if Breezy thought sending a warning about Emerson’s mischievous behavior was enough to ward her off, then she had another thought coming. He was just the perfect amount of wickedness that she needed in her life, she thought, as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

Emerson made his way to the dining area with her wrapped tightly around him, balancing her along the way. When he laid her down on the cool glass of the table, breaking their kiss, she instantly reached out for him again. He moved out of her grasp and begin unbuttoning and unzipping his own jeans.

Bristol moved her hands seductively down her sides, until her fingers caught the edges of her panties. Tugging them down, she arched her back to lift her hips from the table. Emerson reached out to grab her panties just as she got them in the groove behind her knees. With one fierce tug, he ripped them off her.
Emerson laughed at the shocked expression she wore.

“I don’t want nothing to come between me and my meal,” he said, as he kneeled and pushed her legs up and spread her thighs apart.

Bristol hissed at the feel of his mouth on her throbbing vulva. Hungry was not the word to describe Emerson. The man was famished as he greedily sucked her in, his head moving from side to side as he tried to get enough of her juices.

Her hands had a mind of their own as they alternated between grabbing his head and pushing him further into her and squeezing her breasts to her own pleasure. Emerson stoked a fire in Bristol she had never experienced before and made her open to doing whatever he wanted. The woman that Joe described, no longer existed. The woman that lie here on this table spread-eagle for Emerson was ravenous, desperate for attention and sexual nourishment.

Purchase Now: 
https://www.amazon.com/Lady-Guardians...
​
Download... About Chelle... Women's fiction author and blogger, Chelle Ramsey lives in the metro Atlanta area with her husband and three children. Chelle wants readers to become empowered to rise above life's adversities, with faith in the Almighty God, and belief in themselves. 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 us for another Marvelous March #giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the #giveaway! Join us tomorrow for Marvelous March, the giveaways begin!

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

Marvelous March Presents, M.J.

Two people sharing a meal together, not looking for more than friendship. One simple question breaks down the barriers and they share their most intimate secrets. 

Yasmine and Zachariah may just be destined to be.  My friend, M.J. Kane takes over Marvelous March with one of my favorite stories. Read on and leave a comment to be entered into the #giveaway.  JADED (BUTTERFLY MEMOIR, BOOK 2) BLURB:
A devastating breakup leaves Yasmine Phillips in shambles. Unable to trust another man with her heart, she focuses on the one thing she can control — starting her own business. 

When her computer crashes, taking months of hard work with it, she must rely on computer genius Zachariah Givens to save her. A complete opposite of the men from her past, she doesn't expect the passion that ensues. But just as she finds happiness, she learns the truth about the other woman in Zachariah's life.

SALES LINKS:
KINDLE
NOOK
GOOGLE PLAY
iBOOK
KOBO
SMASHWORDS

Website:
https://www.mjkanemedia.com/books
Zachariah

The restaurant she’d chosen was known as ‘the’ spot for romantic interludes. For someone who claimed not to be interested in dating, coming here was an unexpected choice.

The lights were low throughout the dining room. Along the walls were booths with high backs for privacy and trellises wound in faux flowers giving the illusion of an evening spent outside on a Venetian terrace. During the day, soft lights glowed from overhead, illuminating the area. In the evening, the light source came from wall sconces set to low.

Our orders placed, Yasmine studied the painting on the wall next to the booth we occupied. The re-creation of sitting high above the cliffs of Italy, peering over a hedge of flowers, down a steep cliff into a harbor where boats drifted on the deep blue ocean, was beautiful.

The artist’s work, while well executed, would never surpass the beauty of the woman sitting across from me. In the low light, Yasmine’s cream-colored skin and grey eyes seemed to glow, bringing a sensual side begging me to savor and explore.

What were two people who were not searching for any kind of relationship doing here? I should have suggested dinner at McDonald’s or an all-you-can-eat buffet. Instead, my desire to please her kept my mouth shut.

When she faced me, I could tell she was nervous. “Maybe this was a bit too much.”

I leaned back in the booth, clearing my thoughts and forced a smile.

She studied me. “You don’t want to be here, do you?”

“Am I transparent?” A chuckle escaped as I willed myself to relax.

“If you want we can go somewhere else.”

“No, we’re good. It’s just…this place holds a few memories.” She didn’t reply, but appeared as if she wanted me to continue. “I proposed to my fiancée here, well, ex-fiancée.”

Yasmine covered her mouth. “Oh no, come on, let’s go.” She reached for her purse and the jacket she’d removed.

“No.” We both looked at my hand now resting on her arm. Damn, her skin was soft. I forced myself to let go. “We don’t have to leave.”

Her finely arched eyebrows creased. “Are you sure?”

“I’m good. Maybe being here with you will erase the negative image stuck in my head. After all, they do serve the best shrimp risotto.”

The expression on her face said she didn’t believe me.

We sat in silence before she spoke again. “You were engaged?”

“Surprised?” I reached for my glass of water.

Yasmine didn’t rush to answer. “No…yes…,” she laughed. “I never thought about it. What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”

I studied her. Her question wasn’t demanding, only curious. Not many people were aware of the true reason behind my breakup with Melissa.

“Melissa and I dated in high school. Our families were close, and we were friends before we became lovers. As we got older, marriage seemed the next step. Everything was good until my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I spent every available moment taking her to doctors’ appointments and holding her hair out of the way while she threw up. I slept there more than I did at the condo Melissa and I shared. My life became working and caring for my mother. We didn’t have family or friends available to help,” I huffed. “It’s funny how a life threatening-illness will weed out the ones who love you from the ones who don’t.”
My eyebrows creased in thought. As many people as my mom knew within the community, not many stuck around to hold her hand when she needed support.

“Nobody helped?” she asked in disbelief.

“You know how it is. People learn about the diagnosis and come share their sympathy. It’s not their job to stand by twenty-four-seven. The one person I should have been able to rely on pushed both of us away.” My lips tightened.

To this day, the last words Melissa spoke to me still pissed me off and broke my heart.

“Let me get this right, your fiancée left because your mom got sick?”

I nodded, unable to say anything further for fear of calling her a ‒

“That bitch,” Yasmine spat.

I sat back in the booth and laughed. “And here I was trying not to say it.”

Yasmine’s expression remained the same, one of disgust. “She knew your mother since she was a little girl?”

“Yep,” my throat dry, I reached for my water again.
“Don’t tell me her last name. I’m liable to Google her ass,” she warned.

I held a hand up. “Whoa, it’s going to be okay.” A completely different side of Yasmine emerged. Hot tempered and passionate. I liked it.
Her breathing sped up as she leaned forward, her hands flat on the table. Damn, she was sexy when angry.

“How could she do that to you? To your mom?”

I shrugged, and struggled to ignore the increased attraction for the woman sitting across from me. “Melissa was selfish since the day we met. I knew, but I loved her. I never thought she would be that bad. My mom says things happen for a reason.” I felt my expression go sour. “Her illness in order to break us up is not one of them.”

“Zack,” her hand rested on mine. Her bright skin appeared delicate on my large, darker palm. “Your mom is right. Sometimes things do happen in order for us to see the worst in people close to us.” Her lips tightened. “Even if it does hurt like a bitch.”
I forced myself to keep still and not reach to cup her hand in mine. The contact of her skin and concern for my mother went straight to my chest. I ignored the heat building and cleared my throat. Why hadn’t Melissa been this way? “Spoken like a woman who’s experienced it, too.”

Yasmine noticed the contact and froze. She removed her hand. “More than once.”

The loss of contact left me drifting. I didn’t realize I’d felt grounded until the warmth of her hand left.
A full minute of silence passed as she gazed into the dark room.

“I was engaged for all of four hours. Technically I can say I’ve never been asked,” she laughed sadly. “I wish I could forget that night.”

“Four hours? Damn, what happened?”

Yasmine straightened in the booth; her hands settled in her lap. “I discovered my fiancé was a rapist.”

I felt my mouth drop open. A cheating boyfriend or an unknown baby’s momma were what I expected. A rapist fiancé? “You’re kidding.”

When her eyes met mine again, they were hard as steel.

“No, I’m not making this up. He was the roommate of the man my best friend dated. Her boyfriend left town for a few months for work. My friend went to his house to get something she left behind, and my son-of-a-bitch fiancé raped her. The bastard lied to his roommate and me to cover his ass. In the end, we both believed her. The revelation happened after he proposed…,” her voice faltered.

My fist tightened. “How long ago?”

“Over three months.”

“That motherfucker…” I’d meant to cut myself off before the rest of the word slipped out.

She smiled slowly. “Why Zachariah, who knew you had such a dirty mouth. And all this time I thought it was just me.”

I ignored her comment. “Please tell me the bastard is in jail,” I said, my teeth clenched.

“He served some time, but in the end, got away with it because there was no evidence. He did, however, lose his job and left California.” She sat up and glanced around. “Didn’t we order some wine? I could seriously use a drink.”

“Me, too.” I spied our server, waved him over, and inquired about our order.

A few minutes later, we sat with two freshly poured glasses of wine. I told the server to leave the bottle.

Yasmine held her glass high. “I propose a toast.”

“Okay,” I mirrored her action.

“To our bastard and bitch exes. I hope wherever they are, they realize they fucked up when they screwed us over.” Firm resolve was in her voice.

“Interesting choice of words; I second that.”

We clinked glasses and watched each other as we drank. Neither of us sipped.
I swallowed hard. “You are an interesting woman, Yasmine Phillips,” I poured a second round for the both of us the moment her glass touched the table.

“Really?” she smirked.

I nodded. “You are beautiful, smart, have a body that’s hot, and the mouth of a sailor.”

Yasmine froze mid sip; laughter burst from her.
“Sorry, it’s my mom’s Irish side of the family.”

“Irish? You have black family members from Ireland?”

She smiled. “No. The Irish comes from my mother’s side; she’s white. My father is black.” The expression on her face at the explanation of her heritage seemed apprehensive.

“That explains a few things.”

Her eyebrows rose. “Like what?”

“Like where you get those grey eyes? I thought you wore contacts. It also explains the beautiful color of your skin.”

Her cheeks flushed under the low lights. “Thank you.”

She avoided my gaze. I’d never been this forward when sharing my thoughts with women I found attractive. For some reason, talking to Yasmine was as easy as breathing. “I’m sure you were told that a lot while growing up.”

She ran a finger along the rim of her glass. “Not really. Most comments were negative. Believe me I’ve heard them all. ‘Oh, that’s why you’ve got such light skin’ or ‘didn’t your parents know not to reproduce?’” She shrugged.

I shook my head in disgust. People could be so ignorant.

“The majority of my white family disowned my mother for marrying a black man. We rarely spent time with them. The black side welcomed us. I’ve spent more time trying to decide which side of the family I could identify with most.” She held up a hand and studied her skin in the low light. “I don’t favor any particular side. Honestly, it was harder for me than my brother. He looks more like a black man than a white one. Me? I guess I’m just…me.”

I waited until her gaze met mine again. “Your parents did an amazing job when they made you.”

Yasmine stared at me, a sense of appreciation on her face. I could feel something change in the air between us. We connected on another level. It was comforting and nerve-racking at the same time.

“You’re the only one besides my best friends who know I was ever engaged.” Her eyebrows scrunched as if she couldn’t believe the secret she’d shared.

“You never told your parents?”

“No, they weren’t aware I was seeing anyone. Not even my brother knows.”

“Are you close to your family?”

Yasmine laughed lightly. “We’re close, and they are aware I date, make that, dated in past tense. I have a bad history with men. It could be a curse,” she muttered. “The relationship between Javan and me was...” She inclined her head in what seemed to be embarrassment. “We weren’t officially dating at the time. We were more like…cut buddies.”

“Oh, friends who have sex, huh?”

“Yes, it’s what I chose. The first man who wanted to marry me felt he needed to be with more than one woman. My experiences taught me men do what they want with anybody they want. Why can’t I do the same? Don’t misunderstand. I don’t sleep with just anybody. I have standards. I think it’s unfair that I am considered a ‘ho’ because I like sex with more than one partner.”

I couldn’t help it; both eyebrows rose in surprise.
Yasmine rolled her eyes. “Not at the same time…what I mean is men have a little black book, so do I,” she shrugged and sipped her wine again. Defiance mixed with pain shown on her face.

Oh yes, Yasmine Phillips was definitely in a league all by herself. Normally I would have taken what she said and looked at her differently. However, with her hurt past…I could understand her reasoning.

“That’s where we differ,” I said. This time her eyebrows rose. “I’m old fashioned. I believe in monogamy. If I’m with you then I expect the same. If I’m not happy with the relationship, I’d be honest and end it.”

“Good for you,” She tilted her head as if to study me. “You think I’m wrong for feeling this way, don’t you.”

Her reply was more of a statement than a question.

I considered her words before responding. “Yasmine, we make decisions based on what is best for us. You were unable to find what you were searching for and decided not to let it deter you from finding some happiness. You protect yourself, physically and emotionally. I can respect that.” I chuckled. “It sounds like way more fun than self-imposed celibacy.” I drained my glass.
“Wait, did you say you are celibate?” she didn’t hide her laugh.

“Yeah, got a problem with that?” I laughed, too. Guess it did sound unbelievable.

“No…,” she rested her elbows on the table, lowered her head in both hands, and tried her best to keep her laughter contained. “Zack, how crazy is this? Here we are, two attractive people whose hearts have been ripped out, eating dinner in one of the most romantic places in town. Neither of us has had sex in…for me it’s been over three months. How about you?”

This conversation got weirder and weirder. “I stopped counting after the twelfth month.”

Her head rested on the table as my admission broke her dam. Talk about embarrassing. I confessed to a sexy woman I was in a sexless period of my life. It felt like I admitted impotency, which was not the case. My ego should have been hurt, but instead, I was seriously aroused. Go figure.

“Zack,” she paused to catch her breath. “You see what the problem is, right?”

“I should be the one with the three month set back and you should be the celibate one?”

Yasmine nodded and put a hand across her mouth. All attempts to quit laughing ceased. “Oh, Zack, we’re pathetic.”

I poured another glass of wine and raised it in a new toast. “To single people who have no intention of sleeping together.”

Where did that come from?

We clinked our glasses and sipped our wine, all the while contemplating each other.

“Can I ask you a question?” Yasmine’s stared at her glass.

“Why not, we’re putting everything out on the table tonight.”

She smiled and ran her finger over the glass rim. “Remember the best friend I told you about?”

I nodded.

“They’re getting married in a week. I don’t want to go alone. Would you mind—”

“I’d be honored to be your date for the evening.”

Yasmine looked up and smiled softly. I didn’t miss her relieved expression. “Thank you, Zack.”

“For you, it’s my pleasure.”
####
About M.J. Kane  M.J. Kane stumbled into writing. An avid reader, she never lost the overactive imagination of an only child. As an adult she made up stories, though never shared them, to keep herself entertained. It wasn’t until surviving a traumatic medical incident in 2006 that she found a reason to let the characters inhabiting her imagination free.  Upon the suggestion of her husband, she commandeered his laptop and allowed the characters to take life. It was that, or look over her shoulder for men caring a purple straitjacket. And the rest, as they say, is history. 


​ MJ’s debut novel, A Heart Not Easily Broken (Butterfly Memoirs, Book 1) became an instant Amazon Bestseller in Multicultural Romance and African-American Literature and Fiction within hours of publication. It has also spent time on the African-American Women’s Fiction and African-American Romance Bestsellers lists. 


MJ can be found online connecting with readers and other authors sharing her writing, talking about music, life, and family. She’s always excited to meet new people.

Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the giveaway!

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

Marvelous March Presents, Celeste...

[image error] It's the end of the first week of Marvelous March, and Celeste is closing us out on a romantically sweet note. When one woman has designed her life in such a manner that she is independent of others, the thought of someone taking care of her heart might seem a bit unsettling. Or is it? Read on and don't forget to comment to be entered into the giveaway. About I Am Moore... ​One family. Eight sisters, tangled in romance. Emery Moore moved away from home after finishing her juris doctorate. She was a successful corporate attorney and had been living in Washington D. C. for the past five years. It wasn’t often that she returned home to Atlanta, but the love of her family drew her back. Emery had success in so many facets of her life, but she hadn’t been as lucky in love. The word love was unsettling for Emery; it was loaded with notions of submissiveness and sacrifice, the loss of self and being dependent on another person. Notions Emery wasn’t sure she wanted. Yet, there was someone Emery couldn’t shake her soul loose of and she tussled with her heart and the sensible tug in her mind daily.

​Evan Stanton Esq. had been an integral part of Emery Moore’s life for the past six months. He like she, was an attorney. During the day, the attorneys at law litigated from different sides of the aisle; fighting with everything they had for their clients. But for the past few months, business was left at the door, and the fighting ended as Evan and Emery delved into uncharted territory. Evan loved how Emery felt in his arms. The curve of her hips, the arch in her back made it difficult to keep his hands off her. It wasn’t always like this. Emery had to be pursued, and although Evan was attracted to her unapologetic disposition in the courtroom, along with her sophisticated air, Emery was a challenge; one that Evan planned to take on full steam ahead. Excerpt... "Emery felt the coolness of the marble floors under her feet. Evan lifted his arm, inviting her to wrap hers around his as she had done so many times before. They stepped down together and Emery felt the coolness replaced by the warmth of the sand under her feet. As they moved along the beach, Emery’s heart pulsed at a steady beat. Adrenaline coursed through her as the familiar feeling of being safe in Evan’s arms assaulted her senses. When Evan paused, Emery paused with him. Stepping from behind him, the reason he stopped came into view. It took Emery a moment to take it all in.

“I hope you like it,” Evan said as he moved a step closer. Emery’s eyes danced as she looked at what Evan had done. The secluded area of the beach was lit with flaming torch lamps. There were blankets on the sand with baskets of food and a vat of wine. She didn’t notice it at first until she heard the soft strumming of an acoustic guitar being played by a musician not far away.

“It’s a picnic,” she mused, as a smile spread across her face. Seeing that smile warmed Evans' heart. Placing his hand on the small of her back, Evan escorted Emery onto the blankets and held her hand as she sat down.

“Are you surprised,” Evan asked, sitting down across from her.

“I am,” Emery replied. Evan had always been generous. He had exquisite taste and didn’t mind lavishing Emery with the finer things. She thought he would do something to try and impress her, something over the top. But this? Emery had not anticipated. She was pleasantly surprised.

“I just wanted it to be you and me,” Evan began.

“Well, him too,” Evan smirked, looking back at the guitarist. Emery smiled with him. “Seriously Emery, I wanted us to have a chance to leave everything and everyone else behind and it just be us. I miss us.”

“I miss us, too,” Emery sighed.

​“That’s good to hear,” Evan replied. There was a genuine soul-stirring smile that eased across his lips. Seeing him, Emery smiled with Evan."



Download: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079LG6N4W/ About Celeste... [image error] Love. It is a many splendid thing, isn’t it? Yet, it’s not a straight path from one heart to another. Most often, love is a tangled mess that challenges our thoughts, beliefs, and challenges us to prove over and over that we are more than enamored with an individual. Love is a tangled conglomeration of what the mind thinks, what the soul feels, and what the heart knows. And I write about it... Feel free to follow me on Amazon at The Celeste Granger and join my Facebook group @ Facebook. You can also become a part of my newsletter @newsletter.



https://www.amazon.com/Celeste-Granger/e/B079DCSLGR/


https://www.facebook.com/groups/1943300475969127/ ​Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March #giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the #giveaway! Join us tomorrow for Marvelous March, the giveaways begin!

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Marvelous March, Presents, Aja...

I'm so excited about another Marvelous March post! Today Aja is bringing some serious heat into the ring! Frankie is bringing some serious taps into this story, but...you'll have to read on to find out what I'm talking about. Don't forget to leave a comment below to be entered into the #giveaway. Francine "Frankie" Waters only wanted three things in life when she was a girl: to be a female boxer like Laila Ali, to marry Jackson Knight the cutest boy she had ever known, and to one day have his babies. So far those dreams have not come true but her late father may have willed her with more than his gym called Taps. Her inheritance comes with a stipulation she thought she would never have to deal with again.
​
Jackson 'The Punisher' Knight was known for a couple of things: knocking out his opponents in the ring and loving on Francine outside of it, but years ago both became a thing of his past. His future however, seems to be pulling him back into the world of boxing and into Frankie's fire which he never seemed to mind until he got burned.

Love Taps will be available March 29th but can be pre-ordered NOW.

Link: bit.ly/LoveTapsAja Excerpt... Hard, plopping and continuous beating against the pavement. 

The rhythm, soulful, musical and sexy, all reminiscent of the cadence of faraway rainforests never physically visited, yet the recordings of the sounds bore knowledge. Even though we were ensconced inside away from it, the signs were still there. The big drops hit relentlessly and steadily, with periodic gusts of wind that whipped the water against the metal gate that protected us from being seen to anyone passing by the gym. They had no idea what passion could be found out of view.We were shielded against being seen or being caught since my dad was on the other side of town handling business. Even if he had returned unexpectedly, we’d have enough time to remove ourselves from inside of the ring where I was suspended in his big arms that cupped my ass. His strength always amazed me even though it shouldn’t have. His body was a work of art and his body was his business.

A heavyweight boxer. Six four, two hundred twenty-five pounds of chiseled dark chocolate. Ebony dreads that reached his erect shoulders, dark brown eyes, the lazy dimpled smile that turned him boyish in an instant when a moment earlier he appeared to be a ruthless killer.

It was that smile that moistened me, warmed me, making me drip and saturate my pink functional cotton briefs that he pulled off slowly before picking me up off my feet and impaling me deliciously. Jackson Knight was a wet dream and I feel like I’ve known him my whole life. If you consider meeting twelve years ago when we were both eleven years old, our whole lives, then yeah, I guess we did. From the moment we met, I knew he’d be the one I’d spend my life with in some way. Even then, at such a young age, I knew.

Though he was a boy and me a girl, we hit it off. Getting along, playing together, talking a lot and then training together. That training is when the sparks, that we had always been avoiding, became impossible to pretend away. The constant contact between us was an aphrodisiac. The musk from our sweat comingling. The way we moved in harmony as we snuck off and sparred. All of those things were a recipe for disaster. But it really was the fact that we were sneaking to train together that made these moments possible.

Daddy forbade me to step inside the ring, except to pick up a towel. Knight, though apprehensive, never wanted to deny me anything. He always said yes, always finding a way to please me. Not that I asked for much, if anything, but he provided me with the best, like right now. His ability to master me, stroke for stroke, pulling me up and down on his thick rod was why there could be no other man for me. I gushed around him and felt my body squeeze and massage his hard flesh in an effort to pull life from him, but he kept working us against each other without missing a beat. I shuddered and held onto his neck, his locs held between my fingers, my mouth moving to his dark shoulder and my teeth bit into it gently to keep from screaming out too loud … just in case.

His rock-solid body provided security and stability for me as I started to work myself up and down as he chanted, “Yes, baby, give me that pussy. Cum for me.”

​It was too much, it always was, and I came undone, unraveling into some space where I couldn’t even tell you when he came, only that I was still in his arms twitching when my awareness reappeared. We were both panting, and his usual growl was now a low hum as he came down from his own high. We were flying, as he would call it, and we had landed. Together. About Aja... Aja is the writer of sensually erotic and passionate women’s fiction. Her stories allow readers to experience realistic, inspiring, and soulful interactions and intense passion while overcoming life’s challenges. She is inspired by soulful music and sensual art to craft her stories. Her published works include the Love & Passion, Love & Redemption, and Unexpected series.
Author Links: 

Aja's website: http://www.ajathewriter.com

Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/Aja/e/B00K30K138/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aja_thewriter/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AjaTheWriter

FB Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/ajathewriterbooks/ 
Sign up for Aja's mailing list here: http://eepurl.com/cnEs1f

​ Thanks for joining us for another Marvelous March giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, to be entered into the giveaway!

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

Marvelous March, Presents Darliss...

Welcome to the first Marvelous March giveaway! This is your opportunity as a reader to sample new and old goodies, interact with your favorite and new authors, and be entered into the giveaway. Today's featured author is Darliss Batchelor, and she's confronting a topic that will arise in most women's lives at some point. Read on, and don't forget to leave a comment to be entered into the #giveaway.
​ About Twice Bitten... Chriselle is a woman staring at an empty nest. Her once busy household has become a center of loneliness and boredom. When Chriselle unexpectedly reunites with a former love, he brings the opportunity for the exciting lifestyle she desires. Suddenly, Chriselle realizes her heart beats not just for her husband but also for her almost-fiancé. Will Chriselle stay “safe” with her husband or move on to live the life she desires with her former boyfriend? Excerpt... Chriselle labored up the stairs. She walked past a few empty bedrooms and a full bathroom to the last room on the left. It was her daughter Leslie’s bedroom. She entered the room with its soft orange sorbet colored walls, wood floors, white bedroom furniture and orange and fuchsia floral comforter. Sitting in the cantaloupe‐colored chair near the window, Chriselle began to think about Leslie and Bryce’s wedding earlier that day.

“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Chriselle reminisced about her daughter’s wedding while pulling a tissue from the box sitting on the side table. Those words were life changing. They changed Chriselle’s life when she said them over thirty years ago, and they changed her child’s life today. Her last child, Leslie, was now officially someone’s wife, complete with a change of address form and a moving van.  Chriselle remembered all those years ago when she said those same vows. She had dreams and thoughts about what her life would be like as a Mrs. She just didn’t know how big those dreams were at the time.

The look of love in the eyes of Leslie and her new husband, Bryce, said it all. Their deep love and commitment was evident today. No one and nothing in the world could come between them today. Their minds couldn’t even comprehend that anything in life could be better. However, sometimes things indeed change and you find out that “forever” means something much shorter.

The traditional wedding vows include a promise to stay together until death. Chriselle wondered if anything other than physical death counted. She felt like she died as a person, as a woman. All those years of raising children, taking care of a house, and over thirty years of being a wife caused her to forget what her life was like beforehand.   

Gazing out of the nearby window overlooking the family’s swimming pool, Chriselle realized Leslie wouldn’t be home making blueberry pancakes for breakfast tomorrow morning. She wouldn’t be sitting with Chriselle in the adult Sunday school class as she’d been doing since she became old enough to join her. Instead, she’d be in some exotic location enjoying her first days of marriage not even thinking about the fact Chriselle felt lost.

Chriselle moved to the bed and stretched her body across it, inhaling the residual signature scent of her youngest daughter. Her thoughts shifted to the nights she sat in this bed with Leslie and read Bible stories. She recalled kneeling on this very floor with her to pray. The memory of Leslie announcing her engagement came to mind. That was when Chriselle felt she’d lost her purpose.

All of her children— three sons and two daughters—had gone on with their lives. How dare they do that? They must have forgotten everything she’d done for them. She wiped runny noses, spent more time in the emergency room than she cared to remember, attempted to mend broken hearts, kept them clean and presentable, and introduced them to Jesus Christ. And what did she get in return? She got an empty house. And she found herself resentful of it. Yes, they often came to visit and brought their spouses and children. Still, Chriselle was overcome by emotional and physical emptiness.

Drew, Chriselle’s husband, came into the room just as she crushed her tissue and added it to the pile already established on the bed. She didn’t want him to see her like this. She didn’t want him to know about her pain. After looking into his eyes, she realized he already knew this pain almost as intimately as she did. He held her in his arms and stroked her hair, his best effort at comforting her. She didn’t think he could feel it as deeply as she did. He had a life. She’d been a housewife and mother all these years. Now that the demands were different, Chriselle didn’t know what to do with herself. Surrounded by Drew’s arms, Chriselle couldn’t remember the last time she felt the spark she and Drew once shared.

She realized she didn’t even feel a tingle. What happened to me? What happened to us?



Hell is a Skyscraper: A Trio of Novelettes Buy Links:
    Print
        Autographed Print: http://www.darlissbatchelor.com/hell-is-a-skyscraper.html
        Amazon: http://amzn.to/1ZUy2D3
        Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/28IjA77
    E-book
        Kindle: http://amzn.to/1UBvXI8
        Nook: http://bit.ly/1sIkHTR

​ About Darliss... It was on a white sand beach in Cozumel, Mexico that Darliss received the call to write her first book. Secrets was born ten years later and she hasn’t stopped. Her books, Hell is a Skyscraper: A Trio of Novelettes, Something Else to Want, and The Make-Believe Wives followed. Her newest release, The Make-Believe Family, joined her book family in the summer of 2018. Currently, her books are listed as both required and optional texts for a university-level Oral Communications class. Walking in the footsteps of her Christian playwright grandmother, Darliss was also commissioned to write and witnessed the performance of her short play, One Simple Yes.

​Darliss is also a dynamic speaker for both church and secular groups on various subjects including overcoming sexual abuse and emotional healing.

A passionate writer, Darliss desires to write stories of fiction that have a profound and lasting impact on the lives of her readers. She is committed to continue to write entertaining and inspirational fiction for years to come.

When she is not writing, she can be found spending time with her husband of over thirty years, Greg, her son, Brandon and grandson, Bentley. She also enjoys reading, cruising, Detroit Pistons basketball and watching court shows on television.

You can find more information about Darliss at her website www.DarlissBatchelor.com and on social media at www.FaceBook.com/BooksbyDarliss. Thanks for joining us for another annual Marvelous March and don't forget to leave a comment to be entered into the giveaway! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, we would love to hear from you! 

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

20 Days of Love, Diva Writers...

We have celebrated love in its various forms all month long. I want to thank each of the authors for their support of one another, and bringing their stories to you, our readers. You can check them out further by clicking on their links below. May your hearts be filled with love, and come back for Marvelous March on tomorrow.


W PARKS BRIGHAM

KIM GOLDEN

NIA FORRESTER

CELESTE GRANGER

AJA

SUZETTE HARRISON

SYDNEY AALIYAH

DELANEY DIAMOND

CHICKI BROWN

CHELLE RAMSEY

S. TAYLOR

M.J. KANE

SUZETTE RIDDICK

ANGELIA MENCHAN

ANITA ROSEBORO

TIYE Thanks for joining us for another annual 20 Days of Love! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, we would love to hear from you! Join us tomorrow for Marvelous March, the giveaways begin!

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

20 Days of Love, Tiye...

About Essence Of You...
Jasmine Green has been unlucky in love for as long as she can remember. When she is dumped unceremoniously by text three years ago, she decides to only focus on friends, work, and law school and not necessarily in that order. But that suddenly changes while on her first girls' trip to Essence Festival when she literally bumps into Montana Keyes, a handsome, charming, and wealthy professional basketball player. There is instant chemistry between them and they enjoy a no-strings attached, passion-filled weekend. While she is content to leave their weekend as a pleasant memory, Montana wants more and promises a future. And although she finds herself irrevocably drawn to him, she decides not to risk her heart on a man who can and has practically had any woman he wanted. As time passes Jasmine is unable to forget Montana and when they meet again she is surprised to discover he still feels the same. She now must make a choice to remain in her comfortable world or explore a new one full of passion and romance where the stakes are higher than she has ever known. Will she trust Montana, and more importantly herself enough to take a chance on love?    
Excerpt...
Montana focused on my lips. "Like, I said, I'm in front of you right now."

"Oh, so you trying to tell me you still want to be with me?"

"What do you think?" He leaned to kiss me slowly and the moment his lips touched mine I was lost in emotion and I welcomed his kiss. We kissed heavily for a while as the ocean continued to wave around us. Montana then began to use his tongue and had moved on top of me in between my legs. It was almost like we were naked since his pants were thin. I had both hands rubbing the back of his head enjoying the kiss and the passion he could evoke from me. He ran his hand up my bare thigh and toyed with the edge of my thin fabric. Then reality dawned that we would soon be making love and I wouldn't be able to leave him again.

I pushed him off of me before I succumbed to my need for him. "Please, stop. It's me and not you, okay? You have done nothing wrong but I can't do this. "

"Damn it, Jasmine!" He cursed in frustration. "Why are you such a coward?"

I flinched at his anger and quickly got up and took off running in my bare feet back to my suite. I could hear his footsteps behind me and I only ran faster. I couldn't let him catch me...

DOWNLOAD:
https://www.amazon.ca/Essence-You-Tiye-Love-ebook/dp/B07L2HXDGP

About Tiye...
Tiye recalled reading romance ever since she was a young child and would sneak and read the Western love stories, her grandmother kept on her bedside table.  Although she didn’t understand half of the words she read at the time, something about those books captured her attention and as she grew older, her love of romance expanded to other genres and she became a fan of anything remotely related to reading and book such as libraries, bookstores, and the coffeeshop around the corner.  She loves to travel and has lived in several cities, including New Orleans, Washington D.C. and Houston and finds inspiration for her stories from every place she has had the fortune to visit or inhabit. When Tiye is not obsessed with her latest characters, she spends time with herself, family and friends doing whatever she can to create her best life possible.  

CONTACT:
Website: tiyelovebooks.com
IG: @tiye28always
FB: Tiye Love Books@lovetiye
Email: tiye28always@gmail.com Thanks for joining us for another annual 20 Days of Love! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, we would love to hear from you!

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

20 Days of Love...

About I'm Yours...
Peggy Jordan had long ago closed the door on her heart’s desires, accepting she would never have a
loving husband and family of her own. Then a friend asks her to care for an orphaned little girl, and
she meets the child’s last living relative. With him, her patience is tested, her desires are unleashed,
and she gets the first taste of a life she’d always felt was out of reach.

Years ago, Trevor Duncan left Savannah and vowed never to return. He traveled to remote corners
of the globe, helping people, and helping himself to countless women in emotionally-empty
relationships. A phone call in the middle of the night changes his entire life. He has a niece who
needs him, and when he meets the woman caring for her, he’s consumed with having her all to
himself.

Their desire is strong. Their love is instant. But can they learn to trust each other and survive the
road to happily-ever-after?
Excerpt...
When I pull the pie from the oven and place it on the cooling rack, I hear Adeline’s laughter
over my music. It’s the fourth or fifth time I’ve heard that sweet sound, and I know she’s going to
be okay. Life for her here on out may not be the normal she’s used to, but it will be normal enough.

I wonder what they’re doing and find myself yearning to be a part of their fun, to be a part of their lives. I want to burst out of these walls that I’ve made my prison. I want a piece of heaven for myself. I want it with Adeline and Trevor, but the idea is foolish and I shoo it away with the flick of my hand. I’m left fighting a sadness that consumes me. I take a deep breath, brushing a tear from my lashes. I’ll push forward as always, so I get back to chopping the rest of the veggies for the pizzas.

Warm, strong hands squeeze my shoulders the same way he did earlier. Trevor starts kneading my tight muscles, working out the tension I was unaware of. I still the knife over the bell pepper and close my eyes, releasing a moan.

“That feels amazing,” I say.

He continues to work out the knots in my shoulders, occasionally sliding his thumbs up my neck like before. The way he sees to my comfort melts me and makes me want to cry. The thought enters my mind to shoo him away and demand he stop being everything I ever wanted from a guy. I want to warn him that if he continues to be this guy, I’ll fall head over heels, so for his sake, he’d better show his asshole side fast or he’ll be stuck with me along with Adeline.

I move one of his hands from my shoulder and step away from him. “Thank you, but I’m good. They’ll just tense up again, so you’re wasting your time.” I walk to the cupboard and grab a glass and fill it with water from the tap.

“I’m sorry for not helping with dinner,” he says, and my thoughts of warning him off melt away.

“You were where you needed to be.” I turn and give him a weak smile.

He leans against the island, staring at me. The look on his face is one I can’t place into words. It’s intense, searching for an answer to a question he has yet to ask. I can’t take my eyes off him. He pushes off the island and moves across my kitchen and stands in front of me. He doesn’t say a word but moves his hands to the sides of my neck, forcing me not to look away.

“I loved my brother, even when we didn’t see eye to eye, but I never thought I could feel love like this before I came here.”

“That’s Adeline.” I smile.

He rubs the back of my neck, slowly pulling me to him. I step forward, hating the distance between us. I want to burst into tears and ask him to want me, to stay with me. I rest my hands on his broad chest as the music of Stanaj floods my kitchen, giving voice to what I feel for Trevor Duncan—“Ain’t Love Strange.”

Out of nowhere, a tear falls onto my cheek.

SALES LINKS:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N8JFVSH

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/im-yours-s-taylor/1130422261?ean=2940161342527

Apple: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/im-yours/id1451080717?mt=11&at=1000ldsT
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/i-m-yours-13
Universal: books2read.com/ImYours

About S. Taylor...
S. Taylor discovered a love of storytelling at the age of twelve. She would entertain her cousins with exciting adventures and tales of young love; which changed over the years from telling tales at sleepovers to writing several short stories. For S. Taylor writing remained a hobby until 2009 when she decided to share this love with others. She writes love at first sight romance novels full of passion, erotic moments and emotional conflicts with a satisfying happily ever after ending. She is a Texas native, wife and busy mother of five daughters. She spends her free time mediating sibling arguments, relaxing with yoga and discovering new and tasty vegan dishes she enjoys cooking for her family.


CONTACT:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N8JFVSH

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/im-yours-s-taylor/1130422261?ean=2940161342527
Apple: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/im-yours/id1451080717?mt=11&at=1000ldsT
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/i-m-yours-13
Universal: books2read.com/ImYours

Thanks for joining us for another annual 20 Days of Love! Please be so gracious as to leave a comment below, we would love to hear from you!

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