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Empty

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Empty is an endearing love story about soul mates who didn’t realize how lost they were until they found each other.

Forty-five year-old Sacramento Social Psychology Professor Bella Terry has developed a feverish attraction for her twenty-four year-old student, Cameron Moore. Despite their differences, Cameron finds the elusive Bella irresistible and stops at nothing to get closer to her.

Their interest for each other turns into a fascinating bond neither expected. They share their deepest secrets, and Cameron realizes there is more to Bella than he ever imagined. Bella has not had an easy life, and because of this, she’s built a wall around her heart. Bella pushes Cameron away, but Cameron refuses to give up on love.

After a traumatic experience, Bella realizes she loves Cameron and can’t afford to walk away.

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First published September 13, 2014

3 people are currently reading
57 people want to read

About the author

Stacy-Deanne

169 books327 followers
Stacy-Deanne (pronounced Dee-Anne) is an award-winning and bestselling novelist of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and women's fiction novels.

Her work includes Everlasting, Melody, Bruised, and Captivated. Stacy is a 2011 and 2012 African-American Literary Award nominee.

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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for Mspraise50.
1,597 reviews66 followers
July 30, 2014
My Review of Empty by Stacy Deanne

I have known this author for a while and have even brought a book of hers recently which I have not yet read. An opportunity presented itself to read an advance reading copy of her latest book. I volunteered to review this book and give an honest review.

Where do I start? I had assumed from the blurb of the book that this was a story about a younger man and an older woman and the barriers they would need to overcome in order to make their relationship work and get their happy ever after. Well this story is soooo much more than that to me!!

This is Bella and Cameron’s story.

Bella is Cameron’s professor, she is older than him by 20 plus years, she is black and he is white. Well that would be enough to work through in any relationship.

Bella is attracted to Cameron but she fights this because she feels it is inappropriate and unprofessional for her to get involved with one of her students.

Cameron is in love with Bella and as far as he is concerned love is all that matters. Their love for each other should be able to conquer all the obstacles to their being together. What I love about Cameron is that he is so single minded in trying to get Bella to submit to her feelings for him and to giving their relationship a chance. He tries to reason with her about all the roadblocks she is putting up in order not to surrender to her feelings for him. I loved the fact that he was not afraid to show her his emotional side, he let her see the pain her refusal to acknowledge their love for each other, was doing to him.

This story had me from the first page (exactly how I love my stories). It had tragedy, heartache, loss, addictions, regret, love, forgiveness, death, real life realities that affect us all. This was an emotional roller-coaster of a story.

The story was so thought provoking it had me looking at relationships and all the internal baggage we bring to them. Never mind the external issues of race and age, what about childhood issues of abandonment, neglect , parental/family issues that continue to affect us in adulthood. We bring these internal problems into our relationships as well. This book was so much more than a story about an older woman and a younger man dealing with the age difference in their relationship. This was a story about all relationships, if they are worth fighting for. Dealing with all the emotional baggage we all bring to our relationships and how we need to work through these, sometimes very difficult and painful situations, to arrive at our happy ever after!

For me this story represented working through all sorts of relational matters to arrive at a mature and long lasting relationship and that love truly can conquer all, if we are willing to face the realities of what love can bring into our lives.

Although this is a short story it was so fulfilling. I would rather read a short story like this, that speaks to me on several different levels than read a book of over 200 pages plus but did not move me like this short story did.

This is a fantastic read. I would recommend this book because it will speak to everyone who believes in real life overcoming love!

Congratulations Miss Deanne in writing such a very powerful story. I wish this book much success!
Profile Image for Anni Jaye.
14 reviews11 followers
July 27, 2014
A provoking, engaging read 4.5 stars

The author provided a pdf for reviewing purposes only

I love an author who takes calculated risks in the quest of sharing their written word with the world. It’s rare to find an author who stares down the status quo and delivers not only an engaging, thought provoking read, but also a read with a healthy amount of humility.

The premise of Empty was the attractant: A forty-five year old professor falls in love with her twenty- four year old student. Initially, I was intrigued because May- December romances are a rare occurrence in the I/R MC Genre, especially an older woman/younger man relationship dynamic. As I continued to read, I discovered that the story was about more than just the age gap. It was about finding forgiveness, absolution and, love. Bella, despite her attempts to maintain a carefully crafted façade, harbors the burden of her past actions; she’s survived a debilitating addiction and a substantial loss but she’s essentially condemned herself to a life devoid of any happiness, even after she’s taken responsibility for her actions. Conversely, Cameron has experienced a painful past but has risen above it all, determined to do more than just survive but still retains a sort of naiveté that petrifies Bella. Despite these glaring differences, their mutual attraction builds but hesitation and fear threaten to derail what could be a beautiful relationship before it even begins. And that is when the story truly takes flight.

In such a short span of time, Ms. Deanne propels the reader into the thick of the human condition. When threatened, we either fight or take flight. When hurt, we lash out. When we love, we love with all of our heart. This visceral display of emotions is what kept me engaged and invested; turning page after page, hoping that both Cameron and Bella got out of their own way and let love set the course.

It was a fulfilling read and the characterization was spot on. Personally, I love flawed, three dimensional characters; it is these types of characters that maintain an organic flow to the story without the fluff or filler. I loved that the protagonists were so richly conflicted yet resolved to their roles in this burgeoning relationship and the outcome. Ms. Deanne’s fluid and concise writing style coupled with great editing made the reading experience just that much more satisfying. The only qualm I had was that it was over far too soon. But that is a testament to what makes a great writer; engage, entertain, leave them wanting more.

Ms. Deanne has done an exceptional job at all three.

Excellent work!
449 reviews
August 6, 2014
The author provided a pdf for reviewing purposes only

Empty was a story I dove into from the first page because It is something I have done: stalked someone. Innocently of course, but putting yourself into a position to see and be seen by someone is still stalking. Bella Terry is trying to get a glimpse of a student of hers named Cameron Moore at her gym. Although she knows the relationship is totally forbidden, she can't help but to be drawn by him. What she doesn't know is that Cameron is just as interested.

Cameron has noticed his Professors long stares and is positive that she is the one for him. With a little persuassion and conversation, he invites Bella over to his house with the primise of a Ping-Pong match but the promise of more.

During the 'date,' Bella and Cameron open up to each other about their pasts. Can the feels they have still survive some startling revelations on each of their parts?

This book was so deep and beautifully written, I was right there with each other of the characters. Even when they had hardships, I cried with them. I liked how Ms Deanne gave them flaws and history for them to overcome. The story is short but it was full at the same time. After I read the last page, I felt as if something was missing but I couldn't put my finger on it. I still can't! Otherwise, I enjoyed the chemistry of the May/December lovers and their openness to each other. Can't wait to read the next story!
Profile Image for Jennifer.
Author 5 books13 followers
September 15, 2014
Heading: Lessons of the Heart

In Empty by Stacy-Deanne the story begins with Professor Bella Terry sits watching her student Cameron Moore. She was attached to him, but that did not mean she could not admire his beauty from a distance. With some coaxing from Cameron, Bella throws caution to the wind. However, before anything serious could get started Bella pulls away from whatever is growing between them. She wanted nothing more than at a teacher student professional relationship. Will she allow herself to love him even though he is her student?

Cameron knows what it is to feel true love. He knows in his heart position and age does not dictate who he falls in love with. He continues to fight to have a relationship with Bella, but he is human and can only take so much. When Bella pushes him away one to many times Cameron backs off reluctantly. Was Bella a moment in time and not a forever in his heart?

Stacy-Deanne writes a story that we can easily see happen from day-to-day. There were some scenes I thought should have occurred differently. One particular scene, I felt was included to shock the reader and allow Bella to respond to the matters of the heart differently. Empty was an enjoyable novella. Readers of May-December romances will find the story enjoyable.

The author provided a .pdf copy for review purposes.

Jennifer Coissiere
Words Mosaic Review
Profile Image for Noreen Joseph.
65 reviews5 followers
September 15, 2014
I continue to love the risk that this author is taking when it comes to real life issues. In Empty you have an older woman who is in recovery. You have an younger male who is one of her student who has feelings for her. Bella who is still suffering from the guilt of her addiction and what she did won't allow herself to be happy. This is a true fact of addiction to punish oneself and finds it hard to forgive. There was some realistic issues of not keeping secrets while in recovery because it put one's recovery at risk. The unrealistic part that got to my heart was when her son who is addicted to cocaine holds a gun to his mother's head so she can give him money to get high. Things like this happens but to not do anything about it just adds to her guilt and should've been fleshed out thoroughly. Cameron although younger seemed more mature and was more honest in relaying his feelings.I think with more chapters and more research this would have been a great story. I want to say Bravo to the author for touching such a topic. Continue bringing these type of subject matter to romance. I gave it a 4 for subject matter and concept. I was given an advance copy for my honest review.
Profile Image for Lala Prsbry.
72 reviews1 follower
July 14, 2019
I'd love to see the story between Cameron and Bella expanded. This short was sweet but I longed for more. I'd like to see more growth of their relationship and learn more about their stories individually as well as see more meatiness to the story of how they come together. I like to take the journey with the characters so going through the build up with them creates a bond between me and the story.
Profile Image for ReadToBreathe.
870 reviews32 followers
May 25, 2020
3 Stars
This book was heavy and dealt with strong topics which I didn't expect because I didn't read the synopsis since reading it would sometimes ruine the book for me. It will definitely make you shade some tear.

This is an age gap romance between a student and his professor. I'm not used to reading this kind of troops so I didn't like it that much.

My biggest problem is that I didn't like any of the characters. Bella should have tried to save her son rather than just saying she took the responsibility and that's it, she didn't do anything and for me she was really selfish and Cameron said something at a weird time which made me wish to punch him in the face. If this was a longer book and the characters had the time to develop their emotions for each other I would have probably loved it more.

Content Warning: drug, alcohol, self harm.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Stephanie Jynelle.
1,252 reviews8 followers
Read
August 19, 2019
A mind set

We sometimes get hung up on the wrong things. We don't think much of a man marrying a woman 20 plus years his junior. If a woman does it we cry scandal. Why? Love has no age after 21 and it is made up of every color possible.
The drag was how much angst and pain there was. Love doesn't have to hurt. Glad she figured it out before it was too late. There was so much throughout and the ending felt flat. Real but too easy.
Profile Image for Linda Collins-Crawford.
33 reviews6 followers
June 12, 2021
Empty

I enjoyed this short story about an older woman and younger man. I would have been interested in a little bit more of their story..this was my first ebook from this author. I will 😊 definitely be reading more of her work.
Profile Image for Valerie.
259 reviews7 followers
September 9, 2017
Sweet story

Loved this story. It was very realistic...very funny at times and heartbreakingly sad at others. Wished that it could have been a little longer!
4 reviews
April 27, 2019
Very romantic

Reason for 4 stars very romantic, liked the old story line older woman, younger man, with a twist. Ended too quick
1,575 reviews2 followers
July 22, 2019
Ok

Nice story, a little disappointing as there was areas that could have been developed more. Not as good as some of this author's work.
Profile Image for Kim.
Author 23 books268 followers
September 20, 2014
The idea of opposites being attracted to one another is one of the reasons why I've always been a fan (and a writer) of interracial/multicultural fiction. Peeling away the superficial layers of what makes us different until we find the commonalities is what makes life and love so interesting. Stacy-Deanne is one of those writers who excels at taking on this topic.

In her latest publication, Empty, not only does she look at racial differences, she also tackles age differences, societal norms and the consequences of what could be an illicit relationship. And the story that she spins from it gives you pause and forces you to think about friendship, love, emotional baggage from the past and its consequences. And it makes for a page-turning read.

The focus of Empty is on Bella and Cameron and their mutual attraction. Bella is a professor at Elrod University. In her mid-forties, she knows that embarking on a relationship with a student will not only be frowned upon, it would be grounds for her losing her position. She's having a hard time denying the feelings she has for her twenty-something student. Cameron feels the attraction just as much as Bella but, unlike her, he's willing to take the risk to be near her.

But don't dismiss Empty as a simply May-December sexual attraction story--there is more to this than meets the eye. As the story progresses, we come to learn more about both Bella and Cameron and how the past has shaped them into the people they've become. We learn how Bella's painful past has led her into a life devoid of love and of happiness. The put-together facade she relies on hides a multitude of sorrow and guilt and soon the story begins to flourish into a tale of finding love and forgiveness.

Don't let the fast pace at the beginning of the book put you off--by chapter three you'll be hooked and you'll appreciate how quickly you come to know and empathize with Bella and Cameron and their circumstances. The story flows so well and the characterization is spot on. I only wish the story could have gone on a little longer--but then, that's always the case with any good book. It's never long enough. :)

Bravo to Stacy-Deanne for taking on the sort of story we don't often get to read about in the IR/MC genre. This was an enjoyable story, and I look forward to her next release!


Note: author provided a pdf of Empty for review purposes only.
Profile Image for Musings of A Romance Junkie.
311 reviews92 followers
November 14, 2014
When you’re looking for a quick read to fill some free time, then I highly recommend this book. I usually don’t have much expectation of “quickies,” but this short story packs more romance and drama than many full-length novels I’ve ever read. This is a very well-written, evenly paced, sensual romance that’s more than just about a man and woman hooking up. There are so many facets to this story. Cameron is a 24 year old college student who is helplessly in love with his professor Bella (love that name!). She’s not only his teacher, but she’s a 45-yr old black woman battling some demons even her own psychology expertise can’t resolve.

When you first start reading this story, you think to yourself, oh I know what’s going to happen here-I’ve read the older teacher/younger student thing before, but honey, that’s just the backdrop and doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface! Cameron and Bella both misjudge one another and through the sharing of personal tragedies, the initial attraction they both feel towards one another blossoms into something deeper and impenetrable. I will not give this story away because I encourage you to read it and personally experience the layers as they unfold, but I will leave you with a few memorable gems to entice you:

“I should be ashamed of myself. My old black ass has no business even thinking about this boy…” Chile, if that ain’t me!

“He’d peeked into her soul but longed for her heart.”

“She’d assumed she’d have to take control being so much older, but Cameron had taken her body as if he’d created it.”

4.5 stars (wish it were longer) 1-click this today!
Profile Image for Romance Novels in Color.
347 reviews249 followers
April 3, 2015


Empty, by Stacy-Deanne, was a short story (only about 60 pages) of a middle-aged college professor, Bella, with a very troubled background. She is infatuated with one of her students, but believes in her heart that their relationship would be wrong. Not only is she twenty years older than Cameron, but she is Black, he is white and he is currently a student in her class.

As one can see this short story tackled a lot of major issues. In addition to the ones already mentioned, alcoholism, drug addiction, parenting and death were also thrown in. What I most enjoyed about this story was the realism. In a very few pages, the author did not sugar-coat any of the issues; she embraced them and was able to allow the readers to get a feel for all characters. We were given a sense of their backgrounds, which created the people they became.

I have read other works by this author and like her style of writing. She pulls no punches and tells the story like it is. In this book she lets the reader know that whether you were a 25 year-old college student or a 45 year-old college professor, your past should not dictate your future. It also let us know that age is really just a number and we shouldn’t assume that because someone is young they don’t know their heart.

I recommend this book, and the author’s other works, to all readers.

-Reviewed by: Selina
180 reviews
October 4, 2014
I came across this book while scrolling through Amazon and decided to read it because of the storyline of the book: "A 45 year old college professor falls for her 24 year old college student." I wanted to find out what possibly could have drawn these two together, and the fact it was an interracial romance was even better.

The book is a short story so I realize that it is hard to get to know everything about the main characters, and even harder to feel the complete chemistry between the hero and the heroine. However, in this story I was able to really feel the heroine (Bella). We see the guilt she has over her deceased husband (no spoiler here), we see the problems that she is having with her young adult son (again no spoilers here), and we also get to feel her concerns about her feelings with the hero (Cameron). The problem I had was I didn't get to completely feel the hero. We got a glimpse into some issues that he had with his childhood, but we really don't get to feel and understand why he is so in love with Bella his professor. Because of this I was not able to truly feel the chemistry between Bella and Cameron.

If the story had been expanded so you could see a more in depth view of the relationship I think it would have been more than an "Okay" read to me.
Profile Image for T.A. Beasley.
Author 7 books117 followers
October 1, 2014
Bella Terry can’t control her desires in Empty by Stacy-Deanne. Bella is a professor of Psychology at Sacramento College. She enjoys teaching especially student Cameron Moore. Bella tries to ignore the attraction between them but soon starts second guessing the decision. It doesn’t help that Cameron is all for them getting to know each other better. Will Bella give into her desires?

Cameron Moore can’t help but notice his professor. Cameron lets it be known that their age difference won’t keep him from pursuing Bella. When Bella starts to question their intentions, she decides to take drastic measures. Will Cameron honor her decision? Or will he convince Bella that there is nothing wrong with being in love?

It has been said that sometimes you can’t help the one you fall in love with and this is true in Empty by Stacy-Deanne. This book was an entertaining book about love, relationships and pursuing what you want. The characters were well-developed and brought life to the storyline. It was a quick read but I loved the back and forth and suspense in Bella and Cameron's relationship. I recommend this book to others.

This book was provided by the author for review purposes only.

Teresa Beasley
A&RBC Reviews
4 Stars=Great Page Turner
Profile Image for Adrienne Thompson.
Author 40 books235 followers
September 15, 2014
In Empty, Stacy Deanne has given the reader a short glimpse into the lives of a seasoned and respected professor and her handsome, amorous younger student. I could feel their attraction right away and instead of penning a superficial romance, Deanne has added layers and depth to the story, making the character's connection clearer. I would've liked to have known more about their initial meeting and prior interactions and at times, the profanity was a bit much for my personal taste, but overall, this was a good read that I would recommend to others.

4 Stars

I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Adrienne Thompson
Author of Your Love Is King
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews

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