Chelle Ramsey's Blog, page 36

SAMPLE SUNDAY_MY BUSINESS

I'm sharing a sample from Book II in The House of BeJeweled series. The second book, entitled What A Tangled Web We Weave, is scheduled to come out next month. In the meantime, here's a sample for you to enjoy...


CHAPTER ONE EXCERPT:
MY BUSINESS

She inserted her dollar into the vending machine and pushed the Dr. Pepper button to retrieve her soda.
“Whas’ up, l’shorty?”
Nikki turned around and greeted Wesley with a “nothing much,” while twisting the cap off her soda bottle.
Wesley plopped his books onto the table and slid his dark, chiseled body into the chair and laid his head on top of his books.
“Somebody seems tired. Books kept you up all night, college boy?” Nikki teased. She enjoyed giving Wes a hard time, because he could take it as well as he could dish it out.
“You don’t know the half of it,” he mumbled.
“Had a hot date to top it off?” she inquired, sitting in the chair next to him.
He turned bloodshot, hooded eyes her way. “Pssh, man, I wish. At least then I could say fun contributed to making me feel this way. As it stands, I’m suffering from sleep deprivation between this job and school. But that’s only because I have finals coming up, so I’ve been studying later than normal.”
“Muchacho, you always tell me that it’ll pay off in the end. So keep your head up.”
“I know. But sometimes it gets the best of me. What’s going on with you, baby girl?”
“Nothing much, just chilling until my next client comes. I’m tired, too.”
“Late night of rough loving?” Wesley asked, eyeing her.
Nikki knew that Wesley was teasing her, but she still felt uncomfortable. Her discomfort resulted from the fact she knew there was more fighting than loving going on in her house last night.
“I’m like you, Papi. I wish.” Nikki took another swig of her soda and then pointed at Wesley’s open book. “What you studying there?”
Wesley sat up and looked at Nikki with half-closed eyes. “Well, I supposed to be study—” Wesley pulled back and then leaned in close to Nikki again. He lifted her long, curly black hair away from her neck. Instinctively, Nikki pulled away.
“What’s that, Nikki?” he asked, in a sobering tone. The light, teasing tone he had just used in their conversation was replaced by a serious, dark pitch.
She repositioned her hair around her neck again and gave Wesley a dismal glance. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lied and stood to leave the room.

Wesley grabbed her tightly by her wrist but instantly released when he saw her flinch. “That bruise around the back of your neck going up behind your ear.”  
She had done a great job of applying the makeup this morning, but never thought she had to apply it to the back of her neck, or behind her ears. The way she had styled her long hair, she was sure people wouldn’t notice it. But in the brief moment that he had been preparing to explain his studies, Nikki had gathered her hair in her hands. She had quickly forgotten the bruises, which decorated her neck like a tattoo, allowing Wesley a glimpse into her private hell.
“That’s none of your business, Wesley,” she replied in a nasty voice.
“It is my business if someone’s hurting you. I’m your friend, Nikki. You should be able to trust me with anything. Is your husband abusing you?” he questioned her point blank.
“No! We just have very intimate and frisky ways of making love. But that’s not for you to put out there to anybody, do you understand me?” she asked.
“Whachu mean, frisky ways of making love?”
“You know, like…like, S & M…?” Nikki lied. She held her breath for a brief moment. She slowly released it as she saw the realization of what she was telling him dawning in Wesley’s eyes.
“Ohhh, you mean like whips and chains and that kinda freaky stuff?” Wesley asked, furrowing his eyebrows.
“Exactly! But don’t be telling nobody my business.”
“I didn’t know you was that kinda girl. I know I’ve heard things about y’all Hispanic women, but dannng, Nikki. For real girl I had no clue.”
“You didn’t need to have a clue. It’s none of your business. And I don’t want everyone in my bedroom, is that understood, Wesley?” Nikki had her hands on her hips. Her eyes were shooting sparks of anger at her friend.
She was glad that he had believed her story but thought it was best to get out of dodge now before he began asking too many questions. They were really good friends, but she had never shared that side of her life with him before. Nikki had heard the rumors flying around about her abusive marriage, but it was only guesses. No one knew anything for sure. And she sure as hell wasn’t going to convince them otherwise.
“Dang, baby girl, I get it. I guess that I have to go and get me a Puerto Rican girl, too. I want her to do some freaky stuff to me. I don’t want the whips and chains, but I can think of some other things she can do to me.” Wesley rubbed his hands together and licked his lips, teasing his friend.
“How do you know that’s not my black heritage coming out in me? Who’s to say it’s my Puerto Rican heritage? Or maybe it’s a combination of the both. You won’t find out,” she heckled, rolling her neck and pointing a finger at him. “Besides, all I can tell you is to try and find a woman who’s caliente like me!” Nikki licked the index finger of the right hand, rubbed it down her breasts and to her stomach and made sizzling noises to show how hot she was.
“Damn!” Wesley smiled and shook his head.
Nikki looked at him one last time “Men!” she exclaimed and walked away.   I hope you enjoyed this post. If so, please share with others by clicking the social media icons below. Thank you for dropping by and don't be shy. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I love chatting with you. You can connect with me by using the social media icons on the left panel and above. Until the next time, I'm just...

WRITING MY DREAMS,

 CHELLE RAMSEY  

CELEBRATING MY MOM_#TBT

My mother celebrated her 59th birthday last week and I didn't get a chance to do a #tbt on her. So, today I'll just do a little photo pic celebration.


1994


2005


2007







Here's one of her favorite songs. Every time I hear this I want to pick up the phone and call her. As I'm writing this I think I might...but then again it's 10:20 at night. Don't wanna disturb her beauty rest.




I hope you enjoyed this post. If so, please share with others by clicking the social media icons below. Thank you for dropping by and don't be shy. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I love chatting with you. You can connect with me by using the social media icons on the left panel and above. Until the next time, I'm just...


WRITING MY DREAMS,

CHELLE RAMSEY 

THE OTHER WIFE_TAKE A PEEK TUESDAY

http://www.thedivinsfirm.com/blog/Tomorrow I will be joining Barbara Joe Williams at her blog and would love for you to come and check me out. In the meantime, I will share my usual #writerwednesday post with you on today, and we'll call it #takingapeektuesday.

I made the decision at my husband's urging to allow my daughter to finally read one of my books. As protective as he is of her it came as a shock when he made the request. She's been bugging me about it for years now, and both of our answers have been a staunch no. But he and I discussed it and he explained why he had changed his perspective, which enlightened me and I agreed with him.

Other than that, she recently turned 15 and is quite mature for her age. We have a close relationship where we talk about everything, and she often brings her questions and curiosity to me when she's searching for understanding.

So on Friday, I dedicated a paperback copy of BeJeweled: The Flight of an Angel to her and handed it to her, much to her surprise. She's loving it and has told me to hurry up and release the second book in the series, BeJeweled: What A Tangled Web We Weave, before she finishes the first. Needless to say that won't happen. But, I thought maybe I'd share a sample with you.

Let's take a peek...

CHAPTER THIRTEEN EXCERPT_THE OTHER WIFE

Olivia called Angel and went over some minor details about their meeting tomorrow and hung up, going to check on her husband.
As she passed her room, heading back downstairs, she noticed Raymond was sitting in the bedroom, staring at the silent TV with his hands clasped in front of him.
“Hey baby, is everything okay?” she asked, with a worried frown on her face.
“Uh-uh,” he replied.
“What’s going on? I heard you and Beth arguing.”
Raymond’s body tensed up at the mention of his ex-wife’s name. “She’s giving me a hard time about letting the kids come down next weekend.”
“Why?”
“She said the environment I was trying to raise them in isn’t beneficial to them.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, Ray?”
“Apparently, Isis told her about the altercation at the wedding, with Nikki’s husband. According to Beth, when Isis tried to explain what happened at the wedding, my baby became emotional. Then Nico decided to smooth it over and try to explain how it wasn’t as bad as Isis made it. So Beth stated that I was raising her son to be a liar and wanted to know how much had I paid him to take up for me.”
“What?” Olivia was in a state of disbelief. She was sitting next to her husband, rubbing his back and trying to calm his nerves. She could not understand why Bethany would try to attack Raymond’s character in such a manner and use his kids against him.
“Yeah. Then she went on to state that we had her daughter around a drag queen.”
Olivia let out a small laugh at that one. “Tyrone would be honored.”
Raymond jerked his head up and looked at his wife with a look of fury. “Ivy, this is no laughing matter!”
“Okay, honey, I’m sorry. I never meant it to be. I just…never mind,” she replied, after seeing the look of dismay on Raymond’s face.
“So what type of resolution did you all come to?” Olivia inquired.
“We didn’t. She shouted at me some more about how I had changed since I married my other wife.”
“What does she mean, your other wife? You only have one…and that’s me,” Olivia exclaimed in a haughty voice. There was a lot she could put up with, but sometimes things went too far. It was not her fault that Bethany did not nurture her marriage, but Olivia was going to protect hers with everything in her.
“She was just being foolish. Talking about how she will always be my first wife, and that you would always be the ‘other wife.’ She seems to have tricked herself into believing that I only married you to get back at her for what she had done. She thinks I am going through some kind of phase, and when I get over it, I will leave you and come back to her.”
For the first time in a long time, Olivia felt doubt and fear surge up within her. She never allowed the enemy to take a foothold in her mind. But at this moment, she wondered if Bethany’s words were true. Raymond had never really been open to talking about his feelings over how his first marriage had dissolved. He had shared with her the details behind the divorce, but not all of his true feelings on it. Olivia began to think maybe she had been foolish to get married without insisting on that conversation. She had never taken the time to ensure the man had healed from his pain.
“Ray…do you still have feelings for her?” Olivia asked with uncertainty threaded throughout her voice.
I hope you enjoyed this post. If so, please share with others by clicking the social media icons below. Thank you for dropping by and don't be shy. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I love chatting with you. You can connect with me by using the social media icons on the left panel and above. Until the next time, I'm just...


WRITING MY DREAMS,

CHELLE RAMSEY 

LOOKING WITHIN_MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY MOMENT

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/04/19/fear-alone/The only journey is the journey within.
Rainer Maria Rilke
I have often wished that I had begun my personal journey to self-discovery years ago. Yet, it's always better late than never. Failing to do so can cause a world of confusion and pain not only to you, but to those around you. A difficult lesson to learn is that you are no good to anyone else, if you're no good to yourself. And the only way to know if you're at that place to be good for someone else, is to know who you are within.

Never be afraid to face your fears, never be afraid to embrace your challenges, never doubt your strengths or allow your weaknesses to hinder you. Never fail to take "me time" to reflect within and become more intimately acquainted with your true self.

Discovering who you are on the inside may entail:

Asking yourself the tough questions about why you feel the way that you feel. Understanding that sometimes the way you feel may not gel with the way the majority feels. This can be difficult when the way you feel is perceived as flawed by society.Taking time away from relationships to learn to love yourself and identify your own views separate from someone else's.Identifying what matters most to you in this life, and discovering how far you are willing to go to make a stand for what is right. Accepting others who may or may not view life in the frame of mind that you do, yet allowing them the freedom to be who they are, and supporting them when you can.Ascertaining your flaws that prevent you from being the best and keeping it real with yourself when you see these aspects of your personality. Work with them, they are a part of you.
Taking time out to learn who you are, what makes you tick, and what you like or dislike (whether good or bad, right or wrong) enables you to learn to love yourself. When you learn to love yourself then you have the world to offer someone else. You are complete because you know who you are, what you stand for, your value and self-worth. No one else can define you or take away from who you are. You're empowered to grow, mature, live, and love!

I challenge you to take at least one hour this week to look deep within yourself and deal with some things you have been running from. Love you no matter what you find!

Be Blessed!

I hope you enjoyed this post. If so, please share with others by clicking the social media icons below. Thank you for dropping by and don't be shy. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I love chatting with you. You can connect with me by using the social media icons on the left panel and above. Until the next time, I'm just...


WRITING MY DREAMS,

CHELLE RAMSEY 

PRAYERS UNHEARD_WRITER WEDNESDAY

Welcome to Writer Wednesday...another thing that we haven't done in a while. Today I'm sharing with you a fresh new excerpt from Book II of The House of BeJeweled. Book II is entitled What A Tangled Web We Weave. And you know how the rest of that saying goes.

Well, today, Nekana "Nikki" has just found herself at a turning point in her life. A point where she's fed up with the choices she's made, as well as those that have been made for her. She decides she's going to talk to a God whom she doesn't really believe in. And it's at this point where she not only begins to deceive others, but herself as well. Take a peek...


CHAPTER SEVEN_PRAYERS UNHEARD

Nikki was searching for a way to get back home to her husband. She knew that it was pointless to try and convince Wesley. He had shared with her on the drive to Olivia’s home that he wanted so desperately to get her out of the clutches of her alcoholic husband until he could get the help that he needed.
“Alright, let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you. I’m heading home for the night, but you’ve got my cell phone number.” He had stayed at Olivia’s house with Nikki for about 45 minutes, just listening to her talk, before deciding it was time to head home.
“Thanks, Wes. I really mean it, thanks for everything.”
Wesley’s eyes softened as he looked into Nikki’s. “Baby girl, I’m just doing what anyone would do. Friends are supposed to have each other’s back, and that’s all I’m doing. I know you’d be there for me, if I needed it.”
Nikki smiled at Wesley. “I would do whatever I could. Thanks, again.” She walked Wesley to the door of the townhome and gave him a hug.
“And Nikki…say a prayer, okay? He hears you.”
Nikki simply nodded, smiled at Wesley, and closed the door behind her. She didn’t know about Him hearing her. If He heard her, He would change her husband. He wouldn’t let them keep failing to have kids year after year, or let Carlos beat on her week after week. She shook her head and pushed those thoughts to the back of her head. All she wanted was to rest for the night and find a way to get back home.
Nikki closed the door of the guest room and sat down on the full-sized bed. Looking around the bedroom, she couldn’t help but think how everything was much nicer than her own. The sage and grey bedroom curtains were made of a thick linen material, much better than the white sheets with green flowers hanging up at her own windows. The crème walls showcased pictures highlighted in white and tan frames, looked freshly painted and were missing the scuff marks from thrown shoes and holes punched into the wall to mark a new fight between her and Carlos. The wall to the left of the bed sported taupe paint with white airbrushed flowers all over it. A simple, four-poster bed, an armchair covered in a fabric the same shade of sage and grey as the curtains faced the bed. The mahogany dresser and mirror set with a deep merlot finish, were absent the nicks and scratches of her own homely dresser at home and still had all of its knobs.
Her shoulders shook with anguish as she contemplated the day. Her simple decision to enjoy a day to herself had turned into a nightmare. The entire salon crew had witnessed her husband’s drunken rage and her subsequent embarrassment. Wesley had been hurt by her decision to go after her husband and refuse his assistance. And she knew her husband was livid and wanted nothing more at the moment than to place his fingers around her neck and squeeze tightly and slowly.
Nikki wondered if Carlos had seen her with Wesley and drawn his own crazy conclusion. She wondered if he had seen Wesley preparing to defend her honor. Maybe that’s why he was so angry, she thought. No one had ever given him a chance to explain himself, and they definitely had not given the two of them the chance to talk. Who did they think they were, anyway? This was her life, and no one had to live it but her.
Nikki sunk down on her knees the way she had seen her own mother do and clasped her hands together. She sighed, feeling stupid for talking to someone she could not see. She decided to pray inside of her head.
Lord, are You real? Do You hear me? Cuz if You are, how come You’re never there for me? I mean…I know Mama, Mrs. O, and Wes believes in You, but I don’t know what to think. I mean, I feel like I’m still being punished. Okay, so I got pregnant at 16 and dropped out of school and had an abortion. But if You know anything, You know it was for the best. With Mama working two jobs to take care of me and my sister, Yamile, I couldn’t bring a child in on her. She could barely take care of us. Besides, I was wild back then and I didn’t know who the father was. But I’ve changed now, I’m not the same person I used to be. So why are You still punishing me for that? Why is my life such a disaster? All I ever wanted was to be loved. This was not the life I envisioned for myself. I wanted a husband and children and a normal life. I didn’t want all this violence. I’m so tired of it. So tired. Why can’t You just make Carlos okay again? Why can’t You help us have a normal life? Why did You give us so much pain, God?
Nikki shed the tears that had built up throughout the years, tears no one had ever seen, not even her husband. Tears for a pregnancy she had terminated, tears for her past promiscuous behavior, tears for a failed marriage, and tears for lost hopes and dreams.
I hope you enjoyed this post. If so, please share with others by clicking the social media icons below. Thank you for dropping by and don't be shy. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I love chatting with you. You can connect with me by using the social media icons on the left panel and above. Until the next time, I'm just...

 WRITING MY DREAMS,


CHELLE RAMSEY 

RISE UP AND SOAR_MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY

"And I Will Not Let What I Cannot Do Interfere With What I Can Do"- Edward Everett Hale
Happy Marvelous Monday people! It's the first Motivational Monday we have had since January. Welcome back, I've missed sharing these posts with you.

Quite often I find myself becoming exasperated by my circumstances, or hindrances that prevent me from accomplishing my goals. I look at my failings or limitations and become stuck in a way of thinking, which deceives me into believing I cannot rise above my current situation. This limited way of thinking allows me to become stuck, frustrated, and give up on the mission that is in front of me.

This week's quote makes me think about the limitations that I set on myself. We have all been blessed with various gifts and talents for our own personal journey in life. We have also been blessed with people in our lives who can accompany us on our journey and bless us with their strengths in the areas where we are weak. Alternatively, we can use our strengths to complement them in the areas where they are weak.

It is not for us to become stuck in a limited view point, but we are to position ourselves in a strategic place, which allows us to give our best and receive the best in life.

If you're finding yourself questioning your abilities and wondering about your direction in life, keep giving your best. Focus on what you are able to do, and not what you're incapable of doing. And then surround yourself with people who have strengths, which nullifiess your weaknesses. Now you can rise above your limitations and soar.

Have a blessed and prosperous week!

Be blessed mighty people!

I hope you enjoyed this post. If so, please share with others by clicking the social media icons below. Thank you for dropping by and don't be shy. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I love chatting with you. You can connect with me by using the social media icons on the left panel and above. Until the next time, I'm just...

 WRITING MY DREAMS,

CHELLE RAMSEY 

GENEROSITY & BLESSINGS

I've had an exciting start to the first quarter of blogging. The month of January was my return to diligently blogging my way back into the scene. I had taken some months away to handle "life." Not that I didn't blog here or there, because I did, but not on a daily basis.


Today starts a new quarter and here's a brief update on what's been happening, as well as some special words of gratitude...





In January I shared blog posts centered around specific themes such as, friends to lovers, girlfriends, and gossip.

In February I brought you 20 wonderful authors who shared their great talent in romantic posts for our 20 Days of Romance theme.

And then these wonderful authors plus some new ones came back during the month of March to help celebrate my birthday. For March Madness 20 authors collaborated with me to give away gift cards, books and more to those who were faithful to leave comments on the blog post. I have had a wonderful three months of blogging.

CONGRATS:
Some of the winners for the March Madness event were:
Orsayor SimmonsBrianna CollinsKa'Lua UnderwoodChicki  BrownPaulette HarperMel BynumLaToya MurchisonLucy MusiyiwaSonya VisorShay RoyEy WadeStella Eromonsere-AjanakuKay Edmondson

Congratulations to all of these fabulous winners and I appreciate them for coming out to support our authors and blogging event.


THANKS: 
But the primary point of today's post is to give thanks. Thanks to my readers and commenters for their support, and thanks to a very special, group of talented ladies.



Adrienne ThompsonTia McCollorsZee MonodeeRhonda McKnightMichelle StimpsonEartha Watts HicksImani WisdomBarbara Joe WilliamsStella Eromonsere-AjanakuChicki BrownRae LamarPaulette HarperMichelle Lindo-RiceTè RussLisa WatsonPhyllis BourneInez ReillyDalia FloreaChristina JonesTyora Moody

I appreciate the generosity you showed the readers and the support you gave me throughout the month of March. I don't take it lightly nor for granted and pray that if you ever need me, I will be able to answer the call for assistance as you did for me. May God bless each of you, and cause you to prosper in life and achieve your greatest dreams.


I hope you enjoyed this post. If so, please share with others by clicking the social media icons below. Thank you for dropping by and don't be shy. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I love chatting with you. You can connect with me by using the social media icons on the left panel and above. Until the next time, I'm just...





WRITING MY DREAMS,

CHELLE RAMSEY 

SAYING GOODBYE WHILE SAYING HELLO_MARCH MADNESS

It seems as if I've been waiting forever for the release of this book, and it's finally here! Happy Release Day, Tyora Moody, and it's so good to see you, Serena Manchester! 


Today is the final day of March Madness, and what better way to say goodbye to this spectacular blogging event than to say hello to a new series. I hope that you've enjoyed the wonderful line up of authors I've brought you this month, along with the great gifts they've been sharing.


Leave a comment on this post and Tyora's going to bless someone with a gift today.



Letting the Bad Girl Have Her Way


When I started writing my first novel, When Rain Falls in 2006, I knew I was at the beginning of a series that would consist of only three books.  I had a small bulletin board in my office and I created all these character profiles on colorful index cards for each of my main three characters in the Victory Gospel Series.




I had cards for all my minor characters too. While I studied the pinned cards on the board, I also wrote down possible story lines and how these characters would interact over a three year period. At that time it occurred to me that one of the “minor” characters shows up in all three books.  Most of the time she usually had a run-in with the other main characters.

She was my bad girl. You know that one chick who liked to start trouble just because she could. It didn’t help that her profession was being a hard-nosed television reporter. That just made her role as resident bad girl all the more enticing to write because she would ask the hard questions and get to the bottom of secrets and lies. This character seemed to be demanding her own story. Not just her own story, but her own book series. 

After concluding the Victory Gospel Series in the third and final book, When Perfection Fails, there was a sense of excitement for me. You see while I made sure to wrap up the main characters’ storylines, I purposely left this character’s story open-ended.



On March 31st, Serena Manchester will debut her own book series.  Hostile Eyewitness  is the first book in the Serena Manchester series. Picking up a year after When Perfection Fails, Serena finds herself hiding out in her hometown, a place she despised and ran away from over twenty-five years ago. She has quite a homecoming that’s filled with murder and family dysfunction galore oh yeah… and her first love who is now a minister. 



Here is an excerpt from Chapter 3



I drained the cup of coffee. It was time to head home. I walked over to the cash register and paid for the coffee. After I received the change, I returned to the table to leave a dollar tip for Iris. As I swung around, my eyes caught a man as he walked through the door.

I sucked in my breath.

I’d been avoiding church, despite my sister’s persistent invitations, but surely, God wouldn’t do me like this. Not tonight.

At first I thought the man was my second ex-husband, Benjamin Manchester. As the shock wore off, I realized that it was not him and that the man bore a striking resemblance to Benjamin. The man must have felt me staring, because he turned.

A huge grin broke out on Trey Evans’s face. “It’s that you, Rena?”

“Hey, Trey. I almost . . .”

He walked over to me. “Mistook me for Benny, right? I know. I decided to shave my beard, and now everyone keeps telling me how much I look like my half brother. I still don’t see it.”

Despite my weariness, I felt a smile tug at my face. Trey was the half brother of my second ex-husband, Benjamin “Benny” Manchester. The two men had grown up in separate counties and didn’t know the other existed until they played high school football. They were both top athletes, and people couldn’t help but talk about their similar looks. Neither boy had a problem catching the ladies’ attention. I had always thought Trey was more intelligent and more of a gentleman than his brother.

 I grew up with Trey and had the biggest crush on him back then. By the time I became involved with Benny, Trey and I had long grown apart, I had been married and had divorced, and I was enjoying my career in Charlotte. When I thought back on it, I had to wonder if I had been on the rebound from my first marriage when I fell for Benny. Or had I been looking for something I’d always wanted?

Trey certainly was looking good. He appeared to be as fit as he was in high school. “You’re wearing a beard. Seems like at one time you couldn’t grow one.” He’d always had a bit of a baby face, with his round cheeks and dimples.

“Ouch. You sure haven’t lost your sharp touch, Rena. I’m much older, and that beard has a bit more gray in it than I expected. Goes to show, it has been a long time since I’ve seen you.”

“Yeah, well, life moves by pretty fast.”

His smile disappeared, but his eyes were warm, reminding of the time long ago when I would hang on his every word. He said, “I imagine your Aunt C passing brought you back home. I’m so sorry. Everyone loved your aunt.”

My aunt was something of a town treasure, since many people either were in her fourth- grade class or were at McDonald Elementary School while she was the principal. “Yeah, it’s weird but comforting to be home.” I hadn’t admitted that to anyone else.

“Well, it’s good to see you. What has you out this late?”

The brief euphoria I had experienced from seeing Trey faded. My first thought was to say something snappy, like “What are you doing out this late?” Now wasn’t the time to hide behind my sarcastic shield. I didn’t want to run Trey off, so I pretended to yawn. “I just needed a change of scenery, but I do need to head back home now.”

“Where are you staying?”

Suddenly conscious that we were standing at the front of the restaurant, I wanted to bolt. I glanced over at the booth where I had sat and saw Iris staring at me. Or is she staring at Trey?

I looked back at Trey. “My aunt’s house. It was good seeing you. Maybe we can catch up another time.”

He smiled. “I look forward to seeing you again.” He reached over and opened the door for me. “Be safe out there.”

My cheeks felt awfully warm as I brushed by him, catching a whiff of his cologne. Another good-smelling brother in only an hour. What was going on? At least this experience was more pleasant than my conversation with Investigator Moses and Investigator Baldwin. After the night I’d had, I didn’t mind running into an old friend who was pleasing to the eye and the senses.




If you want to know more about Hostile Eyewitness, I invite you to read the synopsis and download a free chapter.




About Tyora Moody


Tyora Moody is the author Soul-Searching Suspense novels in the Serena Manchester Series, Victory Gospel Series and the Eugeena Patterson Mysteries.  As a literary-focused entrepreneur, she has assisted countless authors with developing an online presence via her design and marketing company, Tywebbin Creations LLC.  

 She is also the author of the nonfiction book, The Literary Entrepreneur’s Toolkit, and the host of The Literary Entrepreneur Podcast. For more information about her literary endeavors, visit her online at TyoraMoody.com

I hope you enjoyed this post. If so, please share with others by clicking the social media icons below. Thank you for dropping by and don't be shy. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I love chatting with you. You can connect with me by using the social media icons on the left panel and above. Until the next time, I'm just...



WRITING MY DREAMS,
CHELLE RAMSEY 

RELEASING GIFTS_MARCH MADNESS GIVEAWAY

Today's March Madness post comes to us from Author Christina Jones. I can say from personal knowledge that the book she's sharing won't disappoint. She serves up delectable drama, mouthwatering mystery, aromatic adventure, and steaming sensuality all on a bed of hot romance.


This is Christina's latest release and my first exposure to her as an author. I can promise you that I have added a new author to my favorite list. This is the second book of a two book series. Mrs. Jones is giving away a $5 gift card, along with a copy of the book today in honor of my March Madness birthday celebration. Leave a comment for your chance to win.




RELEASE ME IF YOU CAN OVERVIEW:



Secrets always have a way of coming to light. 

Special Agent Renata Parker learns this the hard way, when the secret she’s held close for many years is finally revealed, exposing her as traitor to the team of thieves, spies, hackers, and federal agents who thought they shared a common goal — take down Damien Wolfe. Her dedication to their cause doesn’t quite stand up to scrutiny — especially for Quentin, a fellow hacker who was drawn to Renata’s quiet energy before her true identity was exposed. 

With her loyalty in question, Renata finds herself in a position where she’s forced to rely on help from the very people she may have unwittingly betrayed. 

Quentin wants to trust Renata, but repairing their friendship — and possibly taking it further — requires the healing of past wounds, answering unresolved questions, and revealing unknown connections that bring new light to Damien Wolfe’s misdeeds. 

While Quentin and Renata search for common ground, Marcus and Naomi navigate unexpected circumstances in their budding relationship, and Inez tries to resist Kendall’s magnetic, dangerous appeal. 

Romance, danger, a little hacking, and a bit of espionage ensue as the team struggles to be released from the traumas of their past. 





RELEASE ME IF YOU CAN EXCERPT: 

“He’s Taylor’s father.”


For a lingering moment, those words hung in the air, garnering no response.


Hot tears pooled in Renata’s eyes as she swallowed the urge to let them fall. It wasn’t a good time for tears. She wished Quentin would do something. Yell, scream, curse her out… anything had to be better than the look of cold disgust twisted into his handsome face.


He was perfectly still. So still, in fact, that Renata wondered for a second if he was even breathing, but then he finally exhaled, and what she read as disgust twisted into a look of such profound disappointment that it took her breath away.


“You slept with Damien Wolfe?”


There was no emotion in his voice, no inflection to give her even the tiniest of clues to what he was feeling — other than the disappointment. His question… and it wasn’t even a question, the way he delivered it, with none of his usual good-naturedness in his eyes, and his mouth set in a harsh line after… he wasn’t really asking, he was just saying it out loud for the opportunity to have his suspicions confirmed.


Renata didn’t know how to answer that question. If he wanted to phrase it that way… yes. But Renata didn’t feel it fair to characterize Taylor’s conception as if it were some act of shared love, or even passion. Just the thought of it made an old — but very familiar — sense of shame heat her cheeks, and she dropped her gaze to her hands.


“He’s her father,” she repeated, offering only what was already established as fact.


“So you had a personal connection with Wolfe all this time? You’ve… what, been feedin’ him information about us? About our team? About Naomi?”


Her gaze shot up, and she shook her head. “No.  Never. Not… not intentionally. It’s always been hypotheticals, veiled questions. I’ve never knowingly told anyone outside of this team a single thing about this team. First rule of fight club, right?”


Quentin’s expression remained impassive, and Renata’s attempt at injecting a bit of humor slid right off him, shattering on the floor, along with her resolve not shed any tears.


“Why should I believe that?” he asked, in what was nearly a growl, despite his outwardly cool disposition. “From where I’m standin’, it looks like you sought me out for help, knowin’ the connection to Wolfe and Naomi.”


Again, Renata frantically shook her head. “No. I had no idea of your link to Wolfe until I joined this team, months after he took Taylor from. I sought you out because I needed someone I could I trust, and I thought… Quentin, we’re friends.”


“Were friends. Yeah, you could trust me, but it looks my trust was misplaced. I’m supposed to believe this is just coincidence?”


She lifted her hands, attempting to touch him — the only thing she could think of to assuage his fears. He backed away, shaking his head, and Renata swallowed hard. She wanted to not take it personally, to accept that he had a right to feel angry — even betrayed, but… fact remained that the repulsion on his face made a stony sense of rejection settle in her stomach.


“It is a coincidence. I swear to you that I didn’t know my friend,” — maybe if she kept saying that, kept emphasizing that she wasn’t a stranger, something would click for him — “CrawDaddy, and you, Quentin LaForte, were the same person. We made a promise to each other, that we would never do that— look each other up—, unless we decided together. I didn’t break that, not really.”


Quentin scoffed. “Not really?”


“Yes. When I was invited onto the team, and you and I met that day… you just felt really familiar to me, like we already knew each other. And then, as I found out more about you — that you were from Louisiana, you being a hacker, that you love crawdads… Quentin, it wasn’t exactly a stretch to figure out.”


With his arms crossed, and face pulled into a stern scowl, Quentin seemed far removed from the charming, flirty man Renata had encountered on her first visit to Five Star Fitness to join he and Naomi’s team. She watched his expression for any hint of a crack in his armor, any sign that he didn’t want to stick her somewhere in a dungeon to rot.


She found none.


Come back tomorrow for the final March Madness giveaway.


I hope you enjoyed this post. If so, please share with others by clicking the social media icons below. Thank you for dropping by and don't be shy. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I love chatting with you. You can connect with me by using the social media icons on the left panel and above. Until the next time, I'm just...

WRITING MY DREAMS,
CHELLE RAMSEY 

SECRETS IN THE HOUSE_MARCH MADNESS GIVEAWAY

It's a Fabulous Friday and the last Friday in our March Madness blog event. We've had several great authors lined up this month, giving away books, gift cards, the right to name the next character in their book, and a guest appearance in their books. We've also had several winners and repeat winners, and it's been an enjoyable time.

Today, I would like to share with you an excerpt from BeJeweled: What A Tangled Web We Weave. This book was originally supposed to come out in the fall, but due to life it had to be placed on hold. It's still coming this spring and I just want to share with you, what you can expect...






BEJEWELED: WHAT A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE  (2nd Book in Series) EXCERPT:


“So Mami, a little birdie told me you’re expecting un bebé,” Gabriela announced in a somewhat loud voice.

“Shhh,” Nikki warned, putting a finger to her lips and frowning at her cousin.
“What’s the secret? Doesn’t Aunt Gianna know?” Sofia asked.
“Yes, she knows, but her husband doesn’t,” Yamile explained, crossing her arms in front of her and turning her lips down in disapproval.
“What?” Valentina hollered out.
“Shh, keep your voices down,” Sofia warned. “So, chica what’s going on?” she asked, wanting to get to the bottom of it.
“Sofia, you don’t wanna know,” Yamile said, shaking her head and sighing deeply.
“Look, I haven’t told my husband yet, because there’s some things I have to work through. It’s complicated,” Nikki replied in a soft voice. These women, she could drop her guard with; these women, she didn’t have to be strong with. They knew the frightened little girl she had been, the defiant teenager she grew to, and the glowing young woman she had become in her earlier years. But she didn’t want to share the complications surrounding her pregnancy. They weren’t aware of the troubles her marriage endured now, and she had extracted a promise from Yamile that she would never tell anyone. But they knew her heart.
“Todo va estar bien, mi amor,” Sofia declared, clucking her tongue and patting Nikki on the back.
“How can you say it’s going to be okay when she hasn’t told her husband?” Valentina asked with outrage.
“Because, chica, she has to work this out the best way she knows how. It’s not for us to tell her,” Sofia argued back at her older sister.
“Are you thinking of leaving him or something?” Valentina asked.
“No! I wouldn’t leave my husband; I love him too much,” Nikki expressed.
They had gathered outside on the back deck of her mother’s home and kept looking at the door to make sure no one had approached.
“Then why not tell him about the bebé?” Valentina asked.
“Valentina, leave well enough alone. She obviously doesn’t want to discuss it,” Gabriela said, waving her sister off.
Suddenly, as if a light bulb went off in her head, Valentina sucked in a deep breath and placed her hand to her chest. “It’s not his baby, is it?”
No one had to say another word, the way Nikki and Yamile’s eyes suddenly grew large told the whole story.
“Oh, Mami, what are you going to do?” Sofia asked.
“Does Aunt Gianna know?” Valentina continued to drill. “This is going to be the death of her!” she exclaimed.
“No, it’s not, because you won’t say a word, and neither will anyone out here! If Nikki decides to tell anyone, it will be her decision, and not ours. Is that understood?” Yamile asked with a ferocity reserved for protecting her older sister.
“But she took vows to that man!” Valentina declared.
“And he took vows to her, too! You have no idea what she’s been going through in her marriage, so don’t you dare judge her. If you want to pretend like your life is perfect, then fine. But don’t dare take my sister through anything more than she already has been through! You haven’t been home in years, and now you come back and want to pass judgment on someone? How dare you!” Yamile was huffing and puffing with anger.
“Stop, both of you! It’s Christmas, and this isn’t how we’re going to spend this day. We’re familia and we support familia. Now, I don’t know what you’ve been through, or the circumstances around this bebé, but I know that I love you, and if you need me, I’m here. I believe whatever you and Carlos are going through, you’ll work it out. And Yamile, you’re right, it’s not for us to pass judgment. But at some point, Nekana, you have to be truthful with that man. You cannot deceive him or raise the bebé in deceit. I really wish you the best, and I am so sorry that the situation is what it is. But we’re going to celebrate today. And you two are going to hug and make up, because you love one another, is that understood?” Gabriela stood between Valentina and Yamile trying to regain control of the situation before they drew attention to themselves.
They both stood with arms crossed and an attitude of contempt towards one another. “I mean, now!” Gabriela declared.
Valentina made the first move towards her cousin, and they exchanged apologies and hugs.
“By the way, we never said it wasn’t his bebé; we’re just unsure if it is or not.”
“Mi Dios!” Valentina exclaimed.
“We’re going to love you and your little one regardless,” Sophia stated with a loving smile on her face as she stretched forth her hand to rub Nikki’s belly.
“Look, we have to get back in, because everyone’s going to be looking for us soon,” Gabriela stated. “And we’re going back in with peace and love, ladies.”
Thank you for joining me today. If you haven't had a chance to read the first book in The House of BeJeweled series, BeJeweled: The Flight of an Angel, before this second book drops, I would love to share a copy with you.


Simply leave a comment in the comments section, and we'll see if you're chosen to win a copy. You have to catch up on book 1, to follow book 2 when it releases. Best wishes!

Check out my books here: CHELLE RAMSEY and here: C. MICHELLE RAMSEY




I hope you enjoyed this post. If so, please share with others by clicking the social media icons below. Thank you for dropping by and don't be shy. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I love chatting with you. You can connect with me by using the social media icons on the left panel and above. Until the next time, I'm just...
WRITING MY DREAMS,CHELLE RAMSEY