GETTING TO KNOW VICTORIA

If you could go back in time, where would you go and who would you like to see?

I would go to Portsmouth, VA to meet my paternal grandmother. She died when I was just three years old. I would love to interview her about what it was like being a black nurse in the 1940’s until she retired.

If you could have dinner with one person, who would it be and why?

It would be with my maternal grandmother. I was just 17 when she died from a massive heart attack. She was my best friend and I miss so much. I would want to have dinner with her so I could tell her I listened to her when she told me to go to school and get my education so I could become “somebody.” I would tell her that I never, ever wore red lipstick again after she told me, “Take that mess of your lips looking like a chicken’s ass.” LOL Her words, not mine. I would tell her how I keep her memory and legacy alive by telling my children, nieces and nephews everything she taught me. I would tell her I love her and my heart still hurts because she’s not here.

Who is the one person in the world you admire the most and why?

I can’t say that I admire one person, because I admire two. And those two people are my parents. I love and admire my mom and dad because they’ve made lots of sacrifices for me and my siblings. My mom was a stay-at-home mother, while my dad was the sole provider for our family. I’m sure it wasn’t easy raising six kids on one income, but my parents made it look easy.  If they were struggling we never knew it. Whenever or whatever we needed my parents always came through for us.

Another reason I admire my parents is because they have been together for over fifty years and are still going strong. Of course they fuss like any other couple, but I must tell you their fussing is like a comedy show. One of them will say something really crazy and the other will burst out in laughter.  LOL! Yep, they’re the best.

ABOUT THE BOOK

As a young widowed mother, love is the last thing on Karen Johnston’s mind. Her busy life revolves around caring for her two young children, which becomes even more challenging when her children begin to show signs of needing a father in their lives. Just as things start to go haywire in the Johnston household, in walks ruggedly handsome Dominic Peretti, Jr. The attraction between the two is undeniable. Karen spends restless nights dreaming of his touch. As he begins to crowd every space of her life, will she give in to her sensual desires? Or will she sacrifice her desires for the sake of her children?

Dominic ‘Dom’ Peretti, Jr. isn’t looking for a serious relationship when he accepts the task of surrogate father to Karen’s children. But he can’t get the ever so lovely and sexy woman out of his mind. His intention is to have nothing more than a hot, steamy fling to satisfy his appetite. However, as he gets a taste of life with the Johnstons, he has a decision to make. Will he give love a chance? Or will he walk away, leaving Karen and her children in harm’s way?

AUTHOR BIO
Victoria Wells resides in Philadelphia with her husband and three children. She has a Master’s Degree in Nursing and works as an adult nurse practitioner caring for adults with sickle cell disease. She is an active member of Theta Chapter, Chi Eta Phi, Sorority, Inc. Victoria enjoys reading, writing, knitting, crocheting, volunteering, and hanging out with family and friends. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached at author@victoria-wells.com.

5 Top Reasons to READ this book

1. Sensual Cover!
2. Rugged, Sexy AND Fine hero!
3. Sweet, Sassy AND Independent heroine!
4. Love IS better the SECOND time around!
5. FULL length novel $2.99!

STAY CONNECTED:
http://www.victoria-wells.com
http://www.facebook.com/vickiwe
http://twitter.com/vickiwe

Be sure and follow the tour each day to learn more about Victoria.  Leave a comment each day to be entered to win a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card courtesy of Victoria!

Residents of Pineview, Texas suspect no foul play when a popular young couple dies in a car accident. However, years later, when another friend of Landan and Janda (the Colquin twins) turns up dead, the twins mull over the possibility of a killer in their midst. Fearing for their lives, can the twins and their friends figure out the identity of the killer before there is another murder?

For all involved, they soon learn life is seldom played by its precedent rules as a haze between the world in which we live and the one in which we wish we did emerges.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JA Adams, author of three psychological suspense novels, uses personal and professional experiences to bring awareness to psychological issues that affect our relationships.

For 30 years, Adams has worked with traumatized victims of violence and crime. Adams’ experience, paired with her writings, allude to healing the spirit and soul of victims.

In 1993, Adams decided to marry her cause with her passion for writing, beginning with contributions to the teacher modular curriculum, Responding to Violence in the Lives of Young Children, at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University), Educare Training Institute.

Adams currently resides outside of Austin, Texas. She continues to write and volunteers with numerous organization bringing awareness to teen dating violence and women issues, as well as, advocating against intimate partner and family violence. Such organizations include the Ortralla Foundation and Recovery Ministry at Gateway Church. Moreover, she regularly speaks and mentors women using her life as proof that one can love again after trauma.

Stay Connected
Website: http://www.jaadamsauthor.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jaadamsauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjaadams

Just in case you missed debut author Carolyn Moncel & the release of her short story collection Encounters in Paris, we’re showcasing her fall 2010 press release.

PRESS RELEASE

New Short Story Collection Confronts Love and Lost in the City of Light

First-time Fiction Author Carolyn Moncel Releases Encounters in Paris – A Collection of Short Stories

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND, November 9, 2010 — African-American author, Carolyn Moncel announced today the release of Encounters in Paris, her first collection of short stories.

Ellery Martin-Roulet, a 35-year-old American public relations executive living and working in Paris has the perfect life. She is married to a handsome Frenchman, has adorable twin daughters and a successful bilingual PR firm located in one of Paris’ trendiest arrondissements. Unfortunately, Ellery soon realizes that life isn’t always perfect. When betrayal, loss, and regrets enter Ellery’s world at five different periods of time over a ten-year span, she quickly learns that it is how she chooses to deal with life’s trickiest situations that shapes her soul.

“We all have fallen in and out love or encountered life’s various disappointments, but both good and bad experiences make us who we’re meant to be,” says Moncel, a Chicago native, who has lived between Paris and Lausanne, Switzerland for the last eight years. “Working through real-life problems is never neat and tidy. In fact, it can be quite a messy affair but problems remain until they are confronted and resolved one way or another.”

Moncel is a life-long storyteller. She admits that choosing to write a collection of short stories instead of a novel–an even riskier endeavor for any aspiring author in a down economy–was no accident. In today’s fast-paced society, Moncel believes her fans will want more short stories because they provoke introspection. “To really enjoy a short story, one must slow down and think about the characters and their circumstances,” says Moncel. Short stories are more affordable and easily digestible in one sitting; and can be downloaded and read quickly from eBook readers or smart phones.

“Writing short stories provides the perfect format for inviting readers to take a peek inside the lives of others, if only for a brief moment,” says Moncel. “Stylistically, I am allowed to say my peace, get off the page, move on to another story, and I love it!”

About Carolyn Moncel
A virtual media and web consultant by day and author by night, Carolyn Davenport-Moncel moved to Paris from Chicago, her hometown, in 2001. Known for her online articles on media relations, Moncel owns MotionTemps, LLC (www.motiontemps.com), a Digital Project and Web Content Management firm, and its subsidiary, Mondavé Communications (www.mondaveinc.com), a media relations and publishing company. S

he has written, placed articles and been featured in such diverse publications as Entrepreneur.com, Expatica.com, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, Wired News, International Herald Tribune, Wall Street Journal, Working Mother, Bonjour Paris and PrissyMag. She currently resides in Lausanne, Switzerland with her husband and two daughters. Encounters in Paris is her first work of fiction. Her next collection of short stories, 5 Reasons to Leave a Lover will debut in fall 2011.  Discover her other works at www.carolynmoncel.com.

About Encounters in Paris
Published in October 2010 by Mondavé Media via CreateSpace, Encounters in Paris – A Collection of Short Stories is now available in paperback and also in digital format for Kindle at all major online bookstores including,

Amazon.com (http://bit.ly/cB9bfR). The retail price for paperback is $17.99. The Kindle edition is $9.99. Single story downloads start at $2.99. The ISBN number is: 978-1-4538-9821-5. Ms. Moncel is available for appearances, book club discussions and interviews.

# # #

TIP FOR WRITERS:
There has never been a better time to become a writer. Everyone has at least one story to tell. Keep writing and never give up.

BOOK TRAILER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD6P8P9AoU0

STAY CONNECTED
Website: http://www.carolynmoncel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Encounters.in.Paris
Twitter: http://twitter.com/carolynmoncel
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/motiontemps

AUTHOR BIO

Angela Nicole Parker is a freelance writer who currently lives in Los Angeles, California. She is the author of Tethered and writes Under the Hill, a column that takes an irreverent look at life as a thirty-something singleton.

TETHERED SYNOPSIS

Madison Baldwin is having a bad year. Her fiancé, the commitment-phobic Spencer Newman, is getting cold feet. Her divorced parents can’t seem to stop fighting or, much to her chagrin, making out. To make matters worse, her “perfect” half-sister Jaqueline has flown all the way from across the pond to make her feel even more inadequate. The only bright spot in her life is Craig Barnett, her life-long friend and champion, whose cool demeanor and playful sarcasm is masking a secret that will change Maddie’s life [Tethered] forever…

LINKS

Angela Nicole Parker’s Facebook Page

Angela Nicole Parker Online, Angela Nicole Parker’s official website

Angela Nicole’s Parker Twitter Page

Under the Hill Blog, an irreverent column on life as a thirty-something singleton

The Parkerverse, Angela Nicole Parker’s official writer’s blog

FROM THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE BOOK

Shelia Rushmore thought she’d be the last woman standing when it was time to fight for her man. Instead Ace, her boyfriend of two years, chose to reunite with his ex-wife, leaving Shelia emotionally devastated. It’s a year later when Sheila is convinced that sneaking into their wedding ceremony will put closure on the gaping hole in her heart.

But it’s on the back pew of the church where a new relationship begins for Shelia. She can’t explain the touch she received from God on that day, but she’s determined to be a better woman-a woman of faith. Since high school, Shelia has been chasing her definition of the good life – it’s left her with no home, no man, and no money. But now that’s she’s living life for God, things should get better, right? Shelia learns that living a faith-filled life isn’t always easy.

With faith, tough love, and some tough decisions, Shelia realizes that the life she’d been praying for she could have for herself is actually attainable. Being wrapped in God’s arms, she decided, was by far the safest place she’d ever been.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TIA MCCOLLORS is a national bestselling author who secured her spot in the publishing industry with the release of her debut novel, Zora’s Cry. She received her B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina. After ten years as a public relations professional, Tia emerged as an inspirational speaker and author of faith-based novels. Her other titles include The Truth About Love and A Heart of Devotion. She continues to pen inspirational works and is currently writing a series of children’s early reader chapter books targeted towards girls, ages 7-9.

In addition to being a novelist, Tia is a motivational speaker and instructor for writing workshops. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers organization, and serves as the vice president of Visions In Print. Tia was voted as the Breakout Author of the Year by the Open Book Awards of the African American Literary Awards Show.

Tia lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area with her husband and son. For more information, visit her online at www.TiaMcCollors.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Visit the author online at http://www.tiamccollors.com.

View the blog tour schedule at http://bit.ly/SteppinIntotheGoodLife

We are featuring our review of her book, as well as the author’s video in which she shares more about her book and how we can live life completely and deal with issues.

BOOK REVIEW

COMPLETELY WHOLE BY Paulette Harper
Thy Word Publishing, August 2010
145 Pages, Paperback, $15.95
ISBN: 978-0-615331010  |    BUY IT

Genre: Christian/Non-Fiction

RAW Rating: 5 (out of 5) – **A TRR Favorite

You Can Be Whole With Christ

There are hundreds, even thousands of Christian self-help books on the market today.  Obviously, Christians often forget that what is needed is to live by the Word and not in the world.  Paulette Harper has a unique voice that reminds the reader that we must be whole in order for God to bless our lives.  She has written a down to earth and discerning self-help guide that is Biblically based.  The format will open your heart and enable you to find answers to your everyday issues.  COMPLETELY WHOLE clarifies how we should seek that fulfillment using scripture.

Harper has the gift to touch each reader at their pain.  The journey the reader is able to take will be based upon where they are in their life.  The prayers and confessions help keep you focused on the change you need to be complete.  The scripture and simple explanations make it easy for the reader to further their Bible study.  COMPLETELY WHOLE is a book you keep and refer to often.  A must have for everyone looking for redemption.

Reviewed by Deltareviewer
for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

FROM THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE BOOK

On receiving the very thing she wants—a divorce and the power to sell their house—over which they have fought the past year—Anna Manning learns that Edward, her soon-to-be ex-husband is dying from cancer.

A faithful wife for three decades, and stay-at-home mother of four children, Anna endured Edward’s constant absence due to travel for his international real estate firm and numerous extra-marital affairs. With their children now adults, Edward has less than six months, possibly three, to live.

Anna takes him home to die in the house she has fought so vigorously to sell. But letting go of someone who has caused so much pain in your life doesn’t come easily. Edward has changed. There are Anna and Edward’s four children, three of whom who are married and struggling to endow their families with meaning and purpose.

News of Edward’s terminal illness provokes her to understand the present, rooted in a wellspring of the past and pouring into a future without him.

The House shows what happens when one adopts the belief that: All hold regret and are seeking forgiveness. Our salvation rests in the hands of others—most particularly the ones we love, and who have treated us wrongly.

Purchase the Book Online at: http://www.anjuellefloyd.com/books/the-house

CHARACTER SKETCH: Meet Anna Manning

Have you ever wondered how a writer comes up with her characters? Author Anjuelle Floyd provides a peek inside the profile of her main character, Anna Manning.

Anna’s mother, Elena, was emotionally distant. That she marries Edward, who holds his own secret hurts is not coincidence.  I wonder if Anna, when she was in her twenties, could have accepted Inman and all he had to offer.

Anna is very similar to the description she gives Inman of Millicent’s mother, Henrietta Regarde. Hearing Inman’s story pierces the surface of Anna’s defenses.

With Edward gone in the wake of his quiet penitence and regret she can but look within. The distant stance she takes with Inman provides space and time within which to examine herself, something she has not had the luxury of doing here-to-fore. Prior to Inman, Anna was busy being either someone’s daughter, husband, mother or all three.

It is amazing what we as women can recognize about ourselves when confronted with acceptance and love despite our foibles.

And yet often times this does kind of heart jolting and transformative experience does not often come until we are older.

Again, as with Anna, I wonder if somehow wifedom and motherhood hold the ability to prime us for surrendering to this when presented, or if perhaps it is but a matter of age, that for all individuals kneads our defenses leaving us little, if any, energy to fight and resist accepting that which for which we have always longed.

In many ways, Inman as Anna’s friend and lover was the mother for whom she had yearned.

DISCUSSION: In the comments section below, answer the question, if you were in Anna’s shoes, what would you have chosen to do? Remember – On receiving the very thing she wants—a divorce and the power to sell their house—over which they have fought the past year—Anna Manning learns that Edward, her soon-to-be ex-husband is dying from cancer. Anna takes him home to die in the house she has fought so vigorously to sell.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anjuelle Floyd is a wife of twenty-eight years, mother of three, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in mother-daughter relations and dream work.

A graduate of Duke University, she received her MA in Counseling Psychology from The California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco. She has attended the Dominican Institute of Philosophy and Theology, Berkeley, California, and received her MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College, Port Townsend, Washington. She has received certificates of participation from The Hurston-Wright Writers’ Week and The Voices of Our Nations Writing Workshops.

A student of Process Painting for the last decade, Anjuelle has participated in The Art of Living Black Exhibitions 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 held at the Richmond Art Center, Richmond, California.

Anjuelle facilitates writing groups and provides individual consultation of fiction projects. She also gives talks on The Need for Family, the Writing Process as a Path Toward Self-discovery and Healing.

WIN A FREE KINDLE!

To celebrate the release of her novel, The House, author Anjuelle Floyd is offering a (1) Kindle Wi-Fi (retail value: $139.00) as a part of her promotional blog tour. A WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED DECEMBER 1, 2010.

TO REGISTER ONLINE - http://bit.ly/TheHouseKindleGiveaway

For More Information

• Visit the author online at http://www.anjuellefloyd.com

• View the blog tour schedule at http://bit.ly/TheHouseBlogTour

Rosa Elmore Ferguson is the author of LOVED TO DEATH: A Different Kind of Love Story and LOVED TO DEATH: The Truth Unfolds. LOVED TO DEATH: The City Speaks will be out in early 2011.

Born Infant Sleigh, Mrs. Ferguson, an adoptee, has been searching for her biological parents for over forty years. Rosa uses her writing to release the frustration and anger caused by failed attempts to find out who she is and where she came from. She would like her readers to have a better understanding of what can happen when they become a part of an unsuccessful adoption triad.

She is the proud mother of two sets of twins and currently resides in Olive Branch, MS with her husband.

In LOVED TO DEATH: A Different Kind of Love Story and the sequel, LOVED TO DEATH: The Truth Unfolds readers are introduced to a fictional Gaston City, Indiana and will see it through the eyes of Morosa Denise McKinley.  Morosa is the adopted daughter of Morrow and Rose McKinley.  Adoption, love, murder and intrigue seem to rule the day with the underlying theme being the pitfalls of adoption and what happens when a person isn’t allowed to know the truth about themselves.  These are the first two books in the LOVED TO DEATH short story trilogy.

Website:  www.RosaFerguson.com

——————

Join the conversation and be entered for a chance to win a copy of LOVED TO DEATH: A Different Kind of Love Story and LOVED TO DEATH: The Truth Unfolds courtesy of the author. The winner will be announced at the end of the tour.

Shawneda Marks

Over the years she found emotional healing through disciplined intimacy with Christ and now wants to empower emotionally traumatized girls and women to do the same. For more information on bringing Diamond Butterfly to your church go to www.diamondbutterfly.info.

Emotional trauma at any age is devastating; at a young age it is brutal. You need a safe place to share what you’re going and have been through. Being open about the pain, hurt, anger and other myriad of feelings present after being grossly neglected, hurt, abused, molested, and betrayed is an important part of being able to heal.

She prays over time you encounter on theses pages and in every area of your life what is needed for God to wipe away the pain until you sparkle and shine. Let the Lord lift every burden and free you from your pain. God protected you against things that have taken many others out. He can give you what you need to mount up on wings like an eagle and let the world see the beauty of your wings when you fly.

Love, life and the capture of joy is not only attainable but guaranteed in life when you decide to commit to an intimate relationship with Christ. Join in the discussion about loving beyond hurt, life after pain and joy instead of bitterness. Abuse, neglect and betrayal are not the end of the world. How you respond is can be the beginning of life more abundantly promised in the Word of God.

Visit her website at http://www.shawneda.com.

For Advanced Reader Copy Excerpts – http://bit.ly/smpeeks

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Multi-published author, teacher, wife and mother, Sherryle seeks to be a fresh voice in Christian Fiction. Her triumphant debut novel, Soon and Very Soon (2007) was followed up by her sophomore release, The Manual (2009). Soon After marks the return of her franchise characters, Pastors WIllie and Vanessa Green and the Harvest Baptist church saga. Sherrryle is currently working on her fourth novel for Urban Christian (Urban/Kensington) titled Taylor-Made. She currently lives in Maryland with her husband and two children.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Ministry birthed by one will be exploited by another. Can Willie Green stand idly by and let that happen?

When Pastors Willie Green and Vanessa Morton got married and moved to merge their churches, they never expected so much resistance. Now it seems someone is sending a strong message by setting fire to the Harvest Baptist Church building.

The newly unified Pleasant Harvest Baptist Church is no more than four months into business as usual before Co-Pastor Willie Green is drawn into the middle of an arson investigation. Alexis Montgomery, an overzealous reporter, sees the experienced pastor as a great source to latch onto as she tries to unearth the stories that might solve the crime. Instead of being bothered by the presence of this woman, Co-Pastor Vanessa uses it as a distraction to help conceal her own secrets.

Orchestrating the unification rift makes Deacon Charley Thompson a prime suspect. His unexpected silence only fuels the accusations of guilt, and his meek wife becomes his unlikely spokesperson. Meanwhile, his nephew, Abe Townsend, couldn’t care less about family allegiances. Led by an anonymous publicist, Abe and the remaining displaced members of Harvest Baptist Church gain notoriety when news reports garner an outcry of sympathy and support.

What should have been a simple unification of two churches has turned into something much more complicated, and it will take plenty of faith to hold it all.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Visit the author online at http://www.sherrylejackson.com.

• View the blog tour schedule at http://bit.ly/SoonAfterTour.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chizellé T. Archie is  an author, registered school nurse, mother and wife for thirteen years to her husband John Archie.  She works for a private school and lives in Atlanta, GA with her family.

Several years ago, after noticing the alarming statistics of the HIV rate of African American women, Chizellé became fed up with the way her African American  brothers  and sisters (young alike), were beginning to settle for any and everything, in that having safe sex was not an option anymore. As far as the women, as long as he drove a nice car, lived in a fine home, of better yet if he was able to “make it rain,” that was satisfaction enough.  As far as the men, as long as she had a car, maybe a job, or had enough money to pay for her “own drink in the club,” then … everything was good. Furthermore, seeing how the women that have remained faithful to their UNFAITHFUL husbands/boyfriends were contracting this deadly disease, and yet only being guilty of loving someone they thought loved them back.

Lastly, what disturbed her most was that there are so many people sitting in the church pews every Sunday hurting, because of the stigma associated with this epidemic, and yet the one place they feel most comfortable is the one place that leaves them feeling so alone.

Chizellé lands on the literary scene with authority, and it is with great fortitude that she pens her debut novel, The Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Diamond, in which her life experiences have allowed her to grab hold and take nothing less, realizing she is a Diamond!

ABOUT THE BOOK

The posh, yet chic Victoria Cartiér, is an Investment Advisor for a prestigious firm in Manhattan. Residing in the affluent Hamilton Heights of Harlem, seemingly she has it all; success, money, VIP status on 5th Avenue, and a loving husband Malcolm, so she thinks…

Apparently, Victoria feels her marriage is quickly headed for trouble and the day she plans to deliver life changing news to Malcolm, she gets deathly news of her own. The uncovered trails of lies,deceit, and betrayal, changes their lives forever, causing her to loose trust in everyone she loves, even God!

After losing everything, except her new baby, will Victoria’s love for God, her family, her best friend (tell-it-like-it-is Lucy), and her new beau, the God-fearing, charismatic Marcel Bouviér, be enough to convince her exactly how much she is worth, and that if she can only trust God, then she’ll see life is truly worth living?

MORE FROM THE AUTHOR

Chizelle Archie talks about The Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Diamond –>

Chizelle Archie talks about what she hopes the readers will learn from reading The Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Diamond. –>

VIDEO EXCERPT

PURCHASE THE BOOK ONLINE AT:

• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Borders
• Books A Million
• Indiebound

FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Visit the author at http://chizellearchie.com

• View the blog tour schedule at http://bit.ly/DiamondBlogTour

*A Tywebbin/DeeGospel PR Blog Tour

Shana Johnson Burton is the best-selling author of Suddenly Single, First Comes Love, and Flaws and All. She lives in Georgia with her family and is currently a high school English and Journalism teacher and the co-host of “The Lovely Magazine” radio show . She was a 2009 Georgia Author of the Year nominee for Best Fiction (First Comes Love). Her next novel, Catt Chasin’, will be released in 2011.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Faith, family, and friendship have always been top priority to lifelong friends Lawson, Reginell, Sullivan, Angel, and Kina, but each one is about to be put to the test during one turbulent year.

Lawson Kerry is a struggling single mother who has finally gotten her life together. Now, a fierce custody battle with her ex threatens to the tear apart everything she’s built.

Reginell Kerry is a starry-eyed singer determined to make it to the top of the charts, but will she change her tune when a chance at fame means shedding her clothes and her self-respect?

Sullivan Webb is the pampered wife of a charismatic pastor with political aspirations, but she just might destroy her husband’s campaign and their marriage if she can’t control her wandering eye.

Angel King has dedicated her life to nursing following the destruction of her marriage. Can she maintain her professionalism when she discovers that her newest patient is the woman who stole her husband?

Kina Battle has had enough of her husband’s verbal and physical abuse. When she’s pushed to the edge, the situation heads in a deadly direction, and there’s no turning back.

Nothing is sacred, all bets are off, and the lives of these ladies will never be the same. Will they have the strength to hold on to their friendships and put their trust in God?

Shana Burton talks about her latest novel, Flaws and All, and shares an excerpt.

Click Here to Listen

Chapter 24 (Excerpt from Flaws and All)

“A true lady never kisses and tells.”

—Sullivan Webb

“Wow, Sullivan, you’re glowing!” noted Lawson over lunch the next day, poolside at Sullivan’s estate. “I guess ol’ Chuck hasn’t lost his touch.”

Angel lowered her shades. “She does have that morning after look, doesn’t she?”

Sullivan grinned and stretched out on the lounge chair next to Kina. “A true lady never kisses and tells.”

“But a freak details it blow by blow!” jeered Reginell, laughing and slapping hands with Angel. “Go on and tell us what happened.”

“Yeah, Sullivan, tell us which of the commandments you broke this time,” pushed Lawson, biting into a ring of pineapple.

Sullivan pinned her hands behind her head. “I can’t. It’s personal.”

“Personal gets checked at the door. You know that. Now, start talking.”

Sullivan cleared her throat and sat upright in her chair. “Well . . . I cheated on Charles,” she revealed.

Lawson nearly choked on her pineapple. “You did what?”

Reginell leaned back and crossed her legs. “Umph. I always knew there was a straight-up ho underneath all them designer clothes and foreign weaves.”

“It takes one to know one,” fired Sullivan.

“Sully, I can’t believe you would do that to Charles,” said Kina.

“Oh, I can believe it,” said Angel. “I just want to know with who.”

Sullivan smirked. “Vaughn.”

Lawson’s jaw fell. “The same Vaughn you said was rough around the edges?”

“He’s not so bad.” Sullivan giggled. “Actually, he was quite good!”

“It looks like Skankville just got a new resident,” muttered Angel.

“Hold up, now,” cut in Reginell, raising her hand. “I’ve got to side with Sully on this one. Sometimes you need to switch it up some. Variety is the spice of life.”

“Good. She can put that on a T-shirt. It’ll give her something constructive to do while she’s roasting in hell,” said Angel.

“God knows my heart,” rationalized Sullivan.

“You have one of those?” asked Reginell.

“Look at you. You don’t even feel guilty, do you? No repentance, no remorse,” charged Lawson.

Sullivan shook her head. “I can’t explain it. I do feel guilty, but it’s only because I feel bad about not feeling guilty at all. I feel . . . liberated, if you can believe that.”

“Sullivan, even if Charles never finds out, God knows, and He was watching you in the very act,” scolded Kina.

Sullivan poured a glass of juice. “Kina, that thought is disturbing on so many levels. Vaughn is so amazing, and I’m not just talking about the sex. He’s an artist, and he’s so intuitive and creative. He makes me feel more alive than I ever felt in my whole life. In the past three weeks that we’ve been spending time together, I haven’t had a single drink. I get love-drunk instead.”

“Enjoy it now. It may be hard to feel alive once Charles finds out, because he’s going to kill both of you,” replied Lawson.

Sullivan kicked back her heels. “I don’t even care if he finds out. I might even tell him myself. Maybe then he’ll finally divorce me.”

“All right, be careful what you wish for,” prophesized Angel. “The Bible says that you shall have whatever you say. Life and death are in the power of the tongue.”

Sullivan sighed. “Don’t even get me started on the power of Vaughn’s tongue.”

“Sully, you’re nasty,” said Kina with a frown.

This excerpt was posted with permission from the author. 2010 © Copyright. Shana J. Burton. All Rights Reserved.

Purchase the Book Online at:

• Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Flaws-All-Shana-Burton/dp/1601628528/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281193452&sr=8-1
• BarnesandNoble– http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Flaws-and-All/Shana-Burton/e/9781601628527/?itm=1&USRI=flaws+and+all+shana+burton
• Borders – http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=1601628528
• Books A Million – http://www.booksamillion.com/product/9781601628527?id=4715246323067
• Indiebound – http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781601628527

FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Visit the author at http://www.shanaburton.com/

• View the blog tour schedule at http://bit.ly/FlawsandAll.

PATRICIA HALEY is the trailblazing, #1 Essence bestselling author of seven faith-based, novels, including Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, No Regrets, and Chosen. She’s a project manager with degrees from Stanford University and the University of Chicago. She is a born again believer and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Patricia lives with her husband and daughter in Philadelphia.

Visit her at www.patriciahaley.com or become a fan on Facebook.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Destined by Patricia Haley is the second novel in the Chosen series, inspired by the popular biblical kings David and Solomon.

Don, the eldest son and rightful heir to the ministry, returns from South Africa after three years of self-imposed exile. With a renewed zeal to reclaim the leadership of his late father’s multi-million dollar ministry, his plans are short-lived when a stock transfer agreement goes wrong, rendering Don powerless. Don’s little brother Joel continues as CEO, careening down the path of personal, professional, and spiritual demise, as he drags the ministry down with him. The only hope to save their father’s legacy is Don’s intervention, and so clinging to his self-worth and faith, Don is torn between fighting for a company he wasn’t chosen to run and fleeing back to his South African refuge, a place where his peace, his growing relationship with Naledi, and his dignity aren’t in question. After much soul searching, Don comes to realize that his destiny is inescapable and that his future lies in his family’s legacy.

Combining spiritual themes with family tension, corporate intrigue, and romance, this series is an exciting addition to the faith-based fiction market.

EXCERPT – Chapter 33

(taken from Destined by Patricia Haley)

Thirty years.  Every grueling minute of those years had been met with accusations, put downs, and flat out mean spiritedness mostly waged by Madeline. Loving Dave Mitchell was her joy in the beginning but realism had a way of stamping out the flame, leaving a smoldering whiff of love between them.  Sherry tidied her desk in preparation for the upcoming trip to India.  Her support for Joel was unquestionable.  The decision he was making for his personal life was very questionable.  She was overcome with doubt.  Sherry went downstairs to Abigail’s office hoping for something, not sure what.

Abigail was finishing up a conference call but beckoned for Sherry to come in anyway.  The wait was brief.  “You were looking for me?” Abigail asked ending her call.

Sherry meandered to the windows located on one side of Abigail’s office.  “You know Joel is,” she said and caught herself.  She remembered Joel telling her the board of directors didn’t know about the trip to India, which probably meant Abigail didn’t know either.  She needed to confide her concerns with someone but couldn’t risk betraying Joel’s confidence.

“I know Joel is what?”

The awful distress swirling inside threatened to overtake her hopes for Joel.  She’d lived out a distressed marriage for what seemed to be the right reasons.  Inhaling air of independence and self worth transformed her view of those years.  She saw the marriage with Dave for what it was, awkward from the beginning and straight through until the end.  There was more for her son and she wanted him to have it now, not waiting until he was fifty five years old to start living like she had.

“If the merger ever goes through with that Indian company, you know he’s going to marry the daughter.”

Abigail acknowledged Sherry’s comment through eye contact but didn’t respond.  Maybe it was Abigail’s heartache, or her confusion, or worse, her lack of interest in Joel.  Sherry wasn’t sure what the driving factor was behind the lack of interest.  “Did you hear me?” she said turning her body to face Abigail, but staying by the windows with her arms clasped.  “He’s going to marry another woman.”

“And what do you want me to do about it?  Hmm,” Abigail said firmly setting her pen on the desk.  “Do you want me to go and plead for his love, hmm?”  Sherry kept her arms locked and looked away into the sparsely cloudy sky. “Do you want me to wrestle him to the floor or better yet, how about this.  What if I clobber him over the head and tow his limp body back to my cave and make him mine.” Abigail let her gaze roll up to the ceiling and crash down to the desk.

“I know you love him,” Sherry said taking a few steps towards the desk.  “You are what he needs, stability, and genuine love.  I want my son to experience happiness every day of his life. The prospect of him engaging in a marriage for business purposes is absolutely frightening to me.  I know Joel.  Nothing good can come from that kind of arrangement.”

“Well,” Abigail said seemingly distracted, “maybe you’re worrying prematurely.”

“What do you mean?”

“If the board is effective, Joel won’t have the backing to finalize the merger.

They’ve blocked his funding, stalled his legal review, and turned down his request for approval.  Unless he creates a miracle, the deal isn’t happening.”

Sherry wanted to share the truth with Abigail but couldn’t risk it.  “I know it looks hopeless, but my son is Dave Mitchell’s child.  Miracles aren’t beyond them.”

That got Abigail’s attention.  “No disrespect to you Sherry, but Dave and Joel are very different leaders.”

“As they should be.”

“Well, Dave’s miracles came from the favor he had with God.  I can’t begin to guess where Joel would find a miracle, but I’m pretty certain it’s not from God.  At least not the same God that Dave and I serve.  Joel has his own way of doing things.”

“I didn’t come here to demonize my son.  Maybe I was wrong coming to you.  I believed he meant something to you.”

“You’re right, he did, but that’s ancient history.  I’ve accepted his choice, perhaps it would be helpful to all of us if you did too,” Abigail said and pushed the power button on her laptop

Sherry read the signal and departed gracefully refusing to let her son be maligned by anyone.  She shifted energy to the India trip.  There was much to be done for Joel and such little time.

Question taken from Reading Guide in back of book: Abigail was hurt by Joel’s rejection and marriage to Zarah. Will she ever be freed from Joel emotionally?

View the blog tour schedule at http://bit.ly/DestinedBlogTour.

*A Tywebbin Blog Tour

What is your definition of a Holy Roller? Join us today as we chat with ReShonda Tate Billingsley about her new release, Holy Rollers!  **This is not a book discussion, so no need to worry about not having read the book.**

Get your copy of Holy Rollers!!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Holy Rollers tells the story of three life-long friends—Coco, Audra and Nita—and their quest to find true love. The three women have endured their share of heartache: Coco is abused by her boyfriend Sonny; Audra is a single mother who only seems to meet unreliable men; and Nita can’t get over a married man who wants to keep her as his mistress.

Deciding to take fate into their own hands, the three women attend a conference for ministers, hoping to meet men who are God-fearing and wholesome. The results are varied, but the experience with the church changes the lives of these three women in this hilarious and heartbreaking story.

BOOK EXCERPT

“Those preacher men ain’t ready for me.” Nita wiggled her hips in the full-length mirror. She wasn’t trying to be vain, but she looked good. Real good. The mini-skirt hugged her size ten frame in all the right places. She’d taken Audra’s advice and covered up her 38 Triple D’s, but she still wore a form-fitting white ruffled jacket. As always, her honey brown curls cascaded down her back.

“If you say so,” Coco responded. “But what’s with the white suite? I know you’re not going for a virginal look.”

Nita placed her hands on her hips. “And if I were?”

Coco and Audra exchanged looks, then burst into laughter. They were in Audra’s bedroom, where they’d all gotten dressed for their night of ‘holy rolling’ as Audra had dubbed it.

“I have the red shoes to give a hint of bad girl,” Nita said, sticking out her leg to reveal the high-heeled strappy pumps.

Both Audra and Coco shook their heads. Nita waved them off and leaned into the mirror to check her reflection one more time. After licking her thumb and running it over her eyebrow to smooth it down, she turned to face her friends. “Laugh all you want. I’m going for a pure look if you must know. And when I have all these preachers falling all over me, you’ll wish you hadn’t worn that old demon red,” she said, pointing at Audra, “and that library-navy blue,” she added, pointing at Coco.

“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” Coco said, glancing down at the navy knee length dress with a white lace collar.

“You look like a school marm,” Nita deadpanned. “We’re supposed to be going to catch, remember?”

“I thought this was a look ministers would like – you know, kind of First Ladyish,” Coco said, motioning toward her outfit.

“Girl, I know I haven’t been to church in a long time, but I don’t think that’s what First Ladies dress like. Maybe the First Ladies’ grandma,” Nita said.

“Yeah, Coco,” Audra chimed in. “It is kind of old and homely looking.”

“Whatever,” Coco said. “I think I look cute.”

“If you say so.” Nita walked over to her purse, which sat on Audra’s nightstand, pulled out a Bible and tore the plastic off. “Let’s go. We’ve got some men to snag,” she said, slipping the Bible under her arm.

“Shameful. Just a shame fo’ God,” Miss Bea said when they walked into the living room. She was sitting on the sofa watching “Wheel of Fortune.” Andrew was asleep next to her.

“What’s a shame, Miss Bea?” Coco asked. While Miss Bea gave them all a hard time, each of them loved the cantankerous old woman. Nita would never admit it, though. The two of them were always going at it and Audra swore it was because they were exactly alike.

“Y’all actually going through with it? You actually goin’ hoing rolling.”

“Holy rolling,” Audra corrected.

“I said it right,” Miss Bea tsked. “Blatantly going after a man of God.” She eyed Nita’s five-inch heels. “And you’re even wearing hooker shoes.”

“Operative word, man,” Nita replied. She held out her foot and wiggled it. “And I’ll have you know, these are Christian Louboutin.”

“Christian Lou-booty who?”

“Christian Louboutin,” Nita snapped. “Designer, seven hundred and eighty dollars.”

Miss Bea shook her head in disgust. “That just don’t make sense. That’s my rent for two months.” She eyed the heels again. “And ain’t nothing Christian ‘bout them hooker shoes.”

“They were a gift,” Nita said. “I didn’t pay for them.”

“Oh, you paid for them all right,” Miss Bea replied, shaking her head. “You paid one way or another.”

“Okay, on that note,” we’re going to go,” Audra said.

Of course, Nita couldn’t let the issue drop. “Don’t start judging us,” she said.

“I’m not judging. I leave that to God. But I’m tellin’ you, this ain’t the way to find a man. Hawaiian Luau,” she said, solving the “Wheel of Fortune” puzzle.

“Well, I guess you would know how to find a man, seeing as how you’ve been married four times,” Nita chuckled.

Miss Bea didn’t see anything funny. “If I’ve been burned enough, it seems like you’d listen to me when I tell you to stay out the fire,” she said, not taking her eyes off of the TV.

“Maybe I like it hot,” Nita said. She always enjoyed getting under Miss Bea’s skin.

“Then you’ll fit in just fine in hell,” Miss Bea said before turning the volume up even more.

Want more? Order your copy today at www.Amazon.com, or wherever books are sold!

View the blog tour schedule at http://bit.ly/HolyRollersBlogTour.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ReShonda Tate Billingsley is a national bestselling author of 19 books, all published by Simon and Schuster/Pocket Books. In 2000, after numerous rejections from publishers, ReShonda stepped out on faith, established her own publishing company, and self published her debut novel, My Brother’s Keeper. The book caught the attention of one of the country’s top literary agents, who secured a deal for ReShonda with megahouse publisher, Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books.

The rest, as they say, is history.

ReShonda went on to sign one deal after another with Simon & Schuster and to date, is considered one of the country’s top inspirational authors. Her sophomore novel, Let the Church Say Amen, is being made into a movie of which she is Executive Producer and actress Regina King is the director. ReShonda’s literary career is such a success that in 2007, she was able to leave her job as a reporter with Fox 26 News in Houston to write full time.

ReShonda has appeared on the Essence Bestseller’s list more than 20 times, as well as The Washington Post, Dallas Morning News and Ebony Magazine Bestseller’s lists. Her books include The Devil is a Lie, Can I Get a Witness, The Pastor’s Wife, Let the Church Say Amen, Everybody Say Amen, I Know I’ve Been Changed and My Brother’s Keeper. Her inspirational teen novels include Nothing But Drama, Blessings in Disguise,With Friends Like These, Getting Even, Fairweather Friends, Friends ‘Til the End, and Caught up in the Drama. She has one non-fiction title, Help! I’ve Turned into my Mother. ReShonda has won numerous awards for her journalism, fiction and poetry writing skills. She is a five-time winner of the National Association of Black Journalists Spirit in the Words competition, one of Rolling Out Magazine’s Top 25 Women in Houston and H-Texas Magazine’s Top Professional.

ReShonda’s upcoming projects include Holy Rollers (July 2010), Say Amen, Again (July, 2011), the teen novel Drama Queens (Fall 2010), and two travel suspense novels. The Houston native also serves as a freelance editorial and marketing consultant. She has ghostwritten four fiction projects and five non-fiction projects. She is married with three small children and does not hide her addiction to Reality TV and Facebook.

She welcomes readers to her website at www.reshondatatebillingsley.com.

**A Tywebbin Blog Tour

ABOUT THE BOOK

In Daddy’s Delight, Dr. Karia Bunting reminds women that they are God’s workmanship, His masterpiece, His “poema”. That God has intricately woven together every fiber of their being and created each one special and unique. That God, having completed His work of art, gave her to mankind as a gift.

Evident in this great care God took in fashioning woman is the importance and value of each one. So why do so many women struggle with God’s design, wishing they could change just this or that one thing about themselves?

Dr. Bunting challenges each reader to accept and embrace the truth that, regardless of what season of life she’s in, she is God’s masterpiece-not her own work of art. When God sees her, He sees His beautiful creation. A creation that yes, has some wrinkles needing to be smoothed out and yet, is one in whom is His delight to love to perfection.

Your Name is Victory

For a number of reasons, maybe you don’t feel like a work of art on this particular day.   In your opinion you’re either too skinny or too fat.  You may have PMS symptoms that are causing you to be bloated and grouchy.   You may have PMS symptoms that are causing you to be bloated and grouchy.  As this moment you might just feel like pulling off every piece of clothing you’re wearing because you are having the biggest hot flash this side of heaven!  Maybe you are in your ninth month of pregnancy, feeling like an overinflated balloon with nowhere to turn for comfort.  Nevertheless, in whatever way you describe yourself, in God’s eyes you still reflect His greatest creation.

As a single person, did you ever have to endure the experience of someone else’s wedding celebration    at a time when you were longing for a mate?  You probably sat there with a smile on your face while silently your heart was aching.  In situations like that, it’s easy to feel like you are nothing special.  But you are.  Maybe your husband or boyfriend cheated on you and now you are wondering why you weren’t good enough.  You were.  Maybe that costly mistake you made makes you feel worthless.  You are still a masterpiece.  Maybe you were abused and nobody else knows about it.  You think, If I am such a masterpiece, how could that have happened?  I might be a torn work of art, but never the real thing.  Know that you are precious to God.  He delights in you.  You are His work of genius.

Whatever your state of mind may be, God wants to have an intimate relationship with you.  He wants to bless you, redeem you, and heal you.  In fact, your heavenly Father has planned a lifetime of good things for you to do.  To make sure that you accomplish them, He will orchestrate the events of your life so that you will use everything you have experienced for His glory.  For this reason, it is important that you recognize how valuable you are to God.  He wants you to listen to what He is saying to you through your daily trials.  Reach out to Him for answers that will transform and improve your life.  He is reaching out to you.

But you say, “What about how I feel?”  You must understand that your feelings are not reliable and they don’t always reflect the truth.  Only the Word of God is truth – it is dependable and trustworthy – and it never changes.  Have you ever felt one way about something and, after you got more information, you reacted in a completely different way?  A shift in circumstances can cause a change in your perception about a given situation.  Even though you can’t always depend on them, the Lord understands that your emotions can sometimes get the best of you.  Scripture even tells us that Jesus is touched by our feelings: “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize without weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we re, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15)

Jesus knows how you feel because He shared those same feelings.  But, as the Son of God, He has the power to help you defeat everything that hinders you from moving forward.  He wants you to move past your emotions and rely on Him so that you can see your circumstances in a different light- the light of His loving concern.  It’s not about the way that you feel about a problem; it’s your faith in Jesus’ power that will conquer every challenge.  Faith will allow you to depend on His strength to overcome those stubborn feelings that would keep you stuck in the past.  Jesus wants you to live a victorious life.  Always have these words on your lips and remember to say of our Lord, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13)

The truth of the matter is, even when you feel like God doesn’t love you, He does.  His love is a fact.  His love for you is true – regardless of what you are going through.  Love Him back. He’ll show you who He is and how much He really does care.  Even during the times when you might want to quit because you feel like you are too far behind, finish the race.  You will win.

You will be able to echo the words to Jonathan Nelson’s song “My Name is Victory”.[1]

I’ve got evidence

I’ve got confidence

I’m a conqueror

I know that I win

I know who I am

God wrote it in His plan for me

MY NAME IS VICTORY!

As a believer in Christ, victory belongs to you. The good works you are going to perform are already ordained for you.  Breathe in and step out.  Do what God tells you to do and He will do the rest.  Remember, your name is “Victory”.

1. What is meant by “Victory”?  I have known peope who have claimed victory, but never been healed, and never seemed to experience “victory”.
2. I have been in a number of bad relationships, and now I feel worthless.  How do I begin to feel like I am worth something again?
3. You said I have to move past my emotions.  How do I do that?
4. I don’t know who I am anymore, or what I am supposed to be doing with my life.  How do I find out?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KARIA BUNTING is an expository Bible teacher whose mission is to communicate the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ so that people are saved, and disciples are developed. She is the founder of Focused Forward Ministries, a communication and media ministry, and a member of several community and ministry organizations. She also partners with her husband, George, in his management & financial consulting company.

Karia received her master’s degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and a doctorate from Louisiana Baptist Theological Seminary. She’s currently receiving a second doctorate from the University of Texas. She serves as an adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University and enjoys ministering the Word and its’ principles through her lecture series and power lunches held throughout the year.

Karia and George, her husband of 26 years, live in Dallas, Texas where she teaches the Word weekly in the women’s Bible study at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. Mother of three children, Karia is also a mentor to many young women. She enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with family and friends.

Visit her Dr. Karia online at focusedforwardministries.org.

View the blog tour schedule and read an excerpt at http://bit.ly/DaddysDelight.

*A Tywebbin Blog Tour

C. M. Jones is well on her way to becoming a household name. She has just completed her second publication, Nothing Is Too Hard for God, and launched a publishing company with her family, HortonJonesInc., that also mentors young writers. In addition she has begun to offer writing seminars and motivational speaking services. When asked about her endeavors, C. M. Jones has said that writing and mentoring is her ministry and she does it all to the glory of God.

Her debut novella, I Still Do, which was published through Author House but is now apart of the HortonJones, Inc. portfolio, sold thousands of copies in the United States and abroad. This Christian ficton writer indeed is no stranger to writing creative and inspiring stories. She began writing at the young age of eight years old while acting in her elementary school drama club. C. M. Jones has written countless poems, musicals and short stories that include themes of redemption, forgiveness and a real picture of the things that can happen in life, when you have faith in Jesus Christ.

Visit her online at http://www.cmjonestheauthor.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Nothing Is Too Hard for God is the sequel to the novella I Still Do. These three best friends are back to take you on a journey through their past and into their future. This book is full of truth, faith and testaments to what God can do when we submit our lives to Him.

Do you want to know how God brought Deborah through her haunted past and into His saving grace? Would you like to know why Damien was disloyal to Karen and if their marriage can really survive after his affair? Last, but not least, if you want to know how Leslie’s heart went from being as cold as stone to being full of love, then you must read Nothing is too hard for God.

Just when you think you have it all figured out, this novel will take another turn.

AN EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 14 of Nothing Is Too Hard For God

“No, I don’t want to talk about it; let’s just pretend that I came here to help you pick out your clothes and that you didn’t call me over so we could talk about Charles,” Leslie whimpered.

“Child, please, you think you know everything. Let’s go inside and talk, and I’ll let you see my outfit for the wedding,” Vicky snickered.

Leslie knew that she was right about Charles calling Vicky, so she decided to tell her everything.

“Ma, do you remember when Vernon left you for that white woman? I never got over that.” Leslie continued without giving Vicky a chance to respond. “I hated him for it. We were a family, and he just left us. I remember it like it was yesterday. I came home early from volleyball practice, and he was packing his bags. I asked him where he was going, and he lied to me. He said he had a trip to go on for work and that you probably forgot to tell me about it.” Leslie stood up and started pacing about the room.  “You know Ma that was the day I learned how to tell when a man is lying. Yup, Vernon taught me that if a man starts trying to explain himself for no reason, he’s lying.” Leslie had begun to cry but couldn’t understand why Vicky appeared to be frustrated.

“Leslie, what does any of this have to do with Charles?”

“Well, Charles and I are going on a vacation after the wedding. We are going to Florida, and since his parents live there, he wants to take me to meet them, but we got into an argument when he told me that his mother is white.”

“What kind of argument, Leslie, and what difference does it makes what race his parents are?” Vicky said in an irritated tone.

Leslie could hear the irritation in Vicky’s voice, so she thought that she should tread carefully. She had the feeling that she was in for a verbal whipping.

“Well, Ma, I just don’t approve of interracial relationships. I just don’t see why our black men can’t ¾ ”

“Our black men?” interrupted Vicky. “Let me tell you something. Girl, whether you are Black, White, Hispanic, or Interracial, it doesn’t matter; we are all God’s children. And, let me guess, when you learned that Jason’s father was married to a white woman, that brought back all of the memories of Vernon?” Vicky yelled.

“Well, yeah!” Leslie said in a confident tone. She was trying to reassure herself that she had a right be angry.

Vicky stood up and walked around to the side of the bed where Leslie was now sitting.

“You know what, Girl?  You are the most educated yet foolish person that I know.  Are you trying to tell me that you are going to let something that happened when you were in high school keep you from marrying the man of your dreams, the man that you know God has given you? Les, I don’t know why Charles puts up with your stubborn rear. You need to grow up and apologize to that man and go and meet your mother- in- law. After all, you should know what it’s like to fall in love with someone regardless of his or her race. You love Charles, and he is interracial,” Vicky said in a reprimanding tone, although, she knew that sometimes Leslie didn’t take correction too well.  Vicky was hoping that Leslie wouldn’t leave because she still hadn’t told Leslie the real reason why she’d asked her to come over.

Leslie listened to Vicky, and it was as if a light bulb had come on in her head. Charles was the best thing that had ever happened to her; he was the one that had led her to Christ two years ago. They loved each other, they worshipped God together, and he was so patient with her. Not to mention that, he loved Jason like he was his own. Jason would be turning seven years old in July, and he hadn’t spent any time with his father since he was one year old. He was, however, very fond of his soon-to-be stepfather. Leslie thought about all of these things, and she also thought about when she and Charles first met. It was a feeling that warmed her soul.

In this particular passage, Leslie is dealing with her feelings about black men dating/marrying white women. How do you feel about interracial relationships? Does it bother you when you see black men with white women or white men with black women? Why?

View the blog tour schedule and read an excerpt at http://bit.ly/NothingisTooHardforGod.

DEVOTIONAL EXCERPT (taken from Ch. 2 of Who Speaks To Your Heart?)

In my early adulthood, I thought living by the “thou shall nots” in the Ten Commandments was the answer to salvation. As I’ve matured and experienced life’s highs and lows without being abandoned by God, I’m continually reminded that “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,”  and that it is mine to be explored and appreciated, because God created it for all of his children, including me. That means we can walk this journey of faith hand in hand with God, with joy and an open heart, trusting that as we listen for his instructions and obey him when he speaks, he’ll tell us when to run, and where.

Esther must have longed for God to speak when the man who had raised her, her uncle Mordecai, came to her and insisted that she approach the king and save the Jews. Esther knew what had happened to the queen who preceded her. Vashti had made the king angry and lost her head.

Esther wasn’t willing to walk smack dab into a similar fate. But when Mordecai warned her that she might face death anyway if she didn’t try to save her people, she did what her uncle had trained her to do. She instructed Mordecai and every Jew in the city to fast and pray on her behalf. She too turned to God in prayer and fasted with her maids for three days.

Notice that after this period of dwelling with the Lord, Esther didn’t rise and immediately approach the king. God seems to have instructed her how best to soften the King’s heart. Esther made herself as beautiful as she could, then she went to the king and prayed that he would extend his golden scepter, giving her permission to approach him….

Put yourself in her place. What would you have done? Esther had to run this race before she felt ready, finally understanding that maybe, just maybe, God had put her in this place for this very reason. She was going to run with him holding her hand all the way.

Whatever stage of the race you’re in, slow down enough to see if God is ready to give you direction and move you into your purpose. Don’t rush the process; his timing is perfect.

If you are sprinting in your faithwalk instead of pacing yourself, maybe it’s time to slow down and wait for God to speak. If you’re jogging, maintain your steady pace but know that only when you’re paying attention will you see and hear what God has to say to you. If you’re walking, be patient. God is grooming you for your season and your time.

© Stacy Hawkins Adams.  Excerpted from Who Speaks To Your Heart? Do not reprint or publish this excerpt without full attribution to the author or without express permission from the author or publisher, Zondervan.

ABOUT THE BOOK

With insight, inspiration, and practical ideas in her new book—Who Speaks to Your Heart?—, author Stacy Hawkins Adams shows you and all women—regardless of the labels placed on you—that your best and most important title is the one given by God … chosen vessel.

“I wrestled with whether a God that I couldn’t see or touch would be willing to single me out from the millions of other people who wanted love, attention and help.”

To women all over the country, from all walks of life, this uncomfortable uncertainty is all too familiar. Now—for inspiration, for affirmation, for a divine connection—you have a new place to turn … to this authentic look at what it takes to pursue God with abandon, by acclaimed author Stacy Hawkins Adams.

Offering insight, inspiration, and practical ideas on how to connect more often and more deeply with God, Adams helps give you and women the world over the courage to go deeper and grow deeper in God’s word to hear Him more clearly. Women young and old will be empowered and renewed by Adams’ reminder that—regardless of the labels placed on you by society, your family, your friends, and even yourself—your best and most important title is the one given by God … chosen vessel.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stacy Hawkins Adams is a nationally-published, award-winning author and speaker. Her contemporary women’s fiction novels are filled with social themes and spiritual quests that take readers on journeys into their own souls.

She holds a degree in journalism and served as a newspaper reporter for more than a decade before turning her full attention to penning books, speaking professionally and writing freelance articles.

Stacy lives in a suburb of Richmond, Virginia with her husband and two young children. Visit Stacy online at stacyhawkinsadams.com.

View the blog tour schedule and read an excerpt at http://bit.ly/WhoSpeaksToYourHeart.

*A Tywebbin Virtual Tour

Vanessa Richardson is an author, poet, and playwright. Vanessa has written several stage productions and have been blessed to perform them at various venues. Her stage productions includes: Someone To Love Me, Why Do Bad Things Happens To Good People?, Lord, I Don’t Understand, and The Fullness Of Time.

Vanessa wrote her freshman nonfiction inspirational novel titled, The Certain Ones. A spiritual impacting novel that inspires her readers to know that not everyone are called into greatness. Fact: Many can not handle the process that goes along with becoming great. Only the certain ones, who endures; can obtain destined greatness. She is currently working on the second installment of her, Inspirational Suspense Love Series titled, Love Lifted Me.  Visit Vanessa online at vanessarichardson.net.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Mike Montgomery once lived the American dream. Gainfully employed, beautiful home, and a wonderful loving wife. Growing up in a loving family whose faith was unbreakable was his source of strength. Mike’s faith would one day be shaken after losing the love of his life in an unexpected tragedy. Mike thought he would never love again until he meets Sheila Lawson. Everything about Sheila made him want to love again. Could he risk his heart again?

Sheila Lawson, a woman’s health advocate was strong and independent, yet something was missing in her life. Immersing herself in her work, she vowed off any relationships. Sheila would find her self-made decree shaken when she meets tall, dark, and handsome Mike Montgomery. There is an evil lurking in the shadows. Mike and Sheila will have to unite to overcome evil forces trying to keep them apart. Will their love be enough to see them through the testing of their faith?

LOVE FOUND ME EXCERPT & DISCUSSION QUESTION

“Today, beloved, I want to speak to your heart. I pray that you allow me to do so. Allow me access to your spirit. I want to get past the many layers of hurt so you can hear me. Past the rejections so you can receive me. What you’re carrying is too heavy for you,” Pastor Bryan stated.

Sheila felt a stirring within. It felt as though he was talking directly to her. She was tired of being a carrier of rejection. She wanted desperately to be free, but how? She had been carrying this burden for so long, she did not know where to begin for the healing to take place. She saw something white out of her peripheral vision.

Turning, she saw Mike offering her his handkerchief. Sheila touched her cheeks. She was shocked to find them wet. Nodding her head, she accepted his offering. Straightening her shoulders and lifting her chin, she vowed she would not feel embarrassed. This was her moment of renewal, and she would embrace it.

Mike’s eyes moved over Sheila’s face. He could see the inward battle she was facing. Her face was just that transparent. He wanted desperately to take away her pain. Mike shook his head at that revelation. This woman was a stranger. Yet, he felt like he knew her somehow. Something about her was calling to him, and he wanted to answer the call.

Hazarding another look at Sheila, he was struck by how beautiful she was. Her skin was clear and healthy. Her hair was full and shiny, softly resting against slender shoulders. Yet, he sensed a hurt within her. Mike wanted to know what caused her hurt. He wanted to know the core of her. What was her love level for God? That was of extreme importance to him.

Realizing it was going to take patience and prayer on his part, he smiled. Mike quickly offered up a prayer for guidance to win the heart of Sheila. That acknowledgement caused Mike to briefly stop breathing. Where did that come from? Why would he want to win the heart of a stranger? It was strange, but he could have declared he’d met Sheila somewhere before. It felt as though he knew her. Expelling a shaky breath, Mike felt the need, and it was a need to pursue this lady next to him, and that he would.

He knew the exact moment Sheila won the battle over her inward war. She was a true warrior. Mike was proud of her, and wanted to tell her so, but felt that would only make Sheila feel ill at ease. Therefore, he did what he wanted to do most. Very gently, he reached out and held her hand and she let him. His heart soared. Hers rejoiced. They looked at each other and smiled in unison. Oblivious to the many stares cast their way. If they had looked around they would have noticed the frowns and scowls of saints and aint’s. Had they looked around they would have noticed the smiles of approvals from the mothers of the church. But they didn’t in truth maybe they didn’t need to.

DISCUSSION QUESTION: Love is such a broad topic with many, many, many layers. The love of family, friends, self, relationships, God; and the battle to overcome evil- with good, makes for a delicious recipe in writing a novel.  Sometimes we do not have to go in search of love. Love has away finding us at the opportune time. Although to the ones experiencing it, their feelings may feel otherwise. Smile.  I think I can see you nodding your heads. Love is risky and scary. Especially when you didn’t grow up with it around you, such is the case with Sheila Lawson in “Love Found Me.”   Unlike Mike Montgomery, our hero; who grew up in a loving family and was blessed to have married the love of his life. An unexpected tragedy occur challenging Mike’s faith, making it hard for him to love again.  Which is better/worst: To never have loved or to have and lost love?

BOOK TRAILER

View the blog tour schedule and read an excerpt at http://bit.ly/LoveFoundMeBlogTour.

Three of her novels have been adapted for television.   She has been featured in Essence, the New York Daily News, USA Today, Today’s Black Woman, and Black Enterprise among many others.   In 2010 she celebrates her 20th anniversary in publishing.

So Donna…

Mention some incidents when you laughed at yourself?

When I can’t find my glasses.  All the time.

If you were given one million dollars, how would you spend it?

Pay off all my bills and take care of my mom in style.

If you were granted one wish to change the world what would it be and why?

Remove prejudice from the world.

Now, listen to a brief excerpt from What Mother Never Told Me

Donna Hill – Audio Exceprt

Book Synopis

What Mother Never Told Me is the long-awaited sequel to Rhythms that brings Parris McKay face to face with a past that has eluded her and brings two women into her life that have their own troubling issues with their mothers.  It is a book of hope, heartbreak and healing.   A book for every woman, daughter, mother, every family.

Join in the discussion and be entered to win an autographed novel courtesy of Donna Hill!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sherri Lewis’ writing was put on hold while she attended Howard University as an undergraduate, then medical school at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. After working almost fifteen years in the medical field, Sherri left her position as a staff physician at a Georgia Department of Corrections’ Women’s prison to pursue writing and ministry full time.

Sherri is co-founder of the Faith-Based Black Fiction Writers of Atlanta with Essence Best-Selling author Tia McCollors. Selling My Soul is the anticipated sequel to Sherri’s debut novel, My Soul Cries Out. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia.  Visit Sherri online at www.sherrilewis.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Trina Michaels steps off the plane after her two-year missions trip in Africa, she realizes that other than longing to see her mother and her best friend, her heart aches to fly back to the place that now feels more like home than anywhere she’s… ever lived. And to the man who’s stolen her heart.

Her dream of a quick return to Mozambique fades within hours when Trina discovers that her mother has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Trina is forced to go back to her job as a publicist to cover her mother’s health costs.

She’s assigned a damage control client, Bishop Walker, a megachurch pastor accused of covering up a church sex scandal within his church involving the molestation of young boys. Representing him could cost Trina her most valued friendship, the love of her life, and her soul.

AN EXCERPT FROM SELLING MY SOUL

Before Trina Michaels can get out of the airport after returning from her two year missions trip in Africa, she finds out that all hell has broken loose in her best friend Monica’s life. Little does she know, she’s about to become a part of the problem…

My eyes fell on The Washington Times. My heart fell as I read the large front-page headline. “Church Sex Scandal.”  I glanced down at the picture of two men in handcuffs, being led away by policemen. One guy had turned his head to shield his face but the other had been captured dead on.

I gasped. It was the head deacon at Love and Faith Christian Center, the church I had gotten saved at and the church that Monica had been a member of before she moved to Atlanta. Her husband, Kevin, had been the minister of music there for years, but after everything that happened with them, he had moved to Atlanta about a year after she went.

I scanned the article. The head deacon at Love and Faith and the pastor of their daughter church in Alexandria, Virginia had been arrested the day before. The men were accused of molesting little boys in the church for as long as twenty years. I remembered Monica telling me that Kevin had been molested at the church when he was ten years old. I was sure that it had been by one of those men. The article said the arrest came after the ministry council governing the churches received a letter from a man who had been molested there as a child. He had finally spoken out after God had begun taking him through a healing process.

Monica had told me that as part of his therapy, Kevin had mailed a letter to the Bishop’s council overseeing Love and Faith Christian Center. In spite of his fears that his celebrity status as a gospel artist would be affected by the admission, he couldn’t stand the thought of any more boys being molested.  He felt guilty that he had kept the secret for so long. I was glad they kept the source of the letter confidential in the article. Monica would die if the truth about Kevin’s past life got out.

I read the article further. Since the ministry council had begun their investigation, they discovered that several boys at Love and Faith DC and Alexandria had been molested.  They expected that as the investigation continued, more would come forward.

My stomach churned. Twenty years? How had they gotten away with it that long? How come no one came forward before Kevin had? How many other mens lives had been affected like Kevin’s? How could their pastor, Bishop Walker, not have known what was going on?

Did Monica know that the men had been arrested? How was she going to handle it when she found out? Was it possible to keep Kevin’s past out of the press or would he be exposed and affected by this as well? If he was exposed, how would Monica handle it?

I tucked the newspaper into the front pocket of my suitcase and grabbed both bags and ambled slowly toward the front door to look for my sister and my car.

I was ready to go home. I had hoped to be able to relax for a few days when I got back, but already I had issues to take care of. First order of business was getting up to Baltimore to see how my mother was doing. Second, I had to call Monica to find out what was really going on.

DISCUSSION QUESTION: Trina comes home from Africa to find that her mother has terminal cancer and can’t afford the medical treatment that can keep her alive. Also, Trina’s little sister hasn’t kept up with her mortgage while she was gone, so she’s in danger of losing her house. She has to return to her career as a public relations specialist and is assigned a damage control client, Bishop Walker whose top priority is to keep his reputation intact so he can maintain his mega church status. If Trina refuses to represent him, the bishop threatens to expose Monica’s husband’s past.

Trina has to decide between covering her mom’s medical bills, keeping her house, and protecting her best friend’s family at the risk of selling her soul to the devil. Faced with such a decision, what would you choose to do?

View the blog tour schedule at http://bit.ly/SellingMySoulBlogTour .

*A Tywebbin Blog Tour

LaShawnda Jones is the publisher and author of Jazzy Media LLC. Her latest publication, My God and Me: Listening, Learning and Growing on My Journey is full of inspiration and testimony of personal growth.

Jazzy Media’s early publications brought local recognition to LaShawnda Jones’ work and requests for speaking engagements poured in. In 2004, she began facilitating body image and self-esteem workshops. Over the years, she has facilitated workshop discussions on the effects of family, friend, media and societal influences on our body image, self-esteem. She combines all that and more in My God and Me as she addresses, explores and strengthens her and her readers’ identity in Christ.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Relationships change with the tide of life. When your relationships ebb more than flow, do you find yourself asking, “Were my dying relationships ever real relationships? Are the people who maintain contact, but with whom there is no connection, worth holding on to? Should I expect a person’s presence in my life to equal dependency in my time of need? Does the quality of interaction determine the level of importance?”

These questions and many more flow through the interactions shared in My God and Me: Listening, Learning and Growing on My Journey.

AN EXCERPT FROM My God and Me

Young daughter, as you grow into an inquisitive little girl, a precocious teen and a delightful young woman you may have moments of self-doubt. We all do. But, never forget, life is a never ending journey that began in love. Keep that knowledge – build on it, grow from it, use it to gather strength as you mature on your walk.

Days may come when you question your purpose. Know that your purpose is for greatness and you were born with everything you need to fulfill it. Every step of your journey is preparation for everything to come. You’ll climb mountains and tumble into valleys; you’ll rest in fragrant pastures and be refreshed with cleansing waters. You may feel like you’re completely alone, but your Big Brother is walking with you. You may feel as if there’s no reason for all the walking and falling, or the long rests and waits, but your Father has a plan. You’ll rejoice with laughter and rant in tears. Give equal thanks for your troubles and your blessings, for even your pain will benefit you.

Don’t be fooled when you view others from the distance of your height or depth or through the lens of your grief and solitude. Their route may look smooth and uneventful. You may be tempted to pray for their ease, swiftness and surefootedness. Don’t. Pray instead for wisdom, guidance, and strength or other characteristics of Grace that will help you through your whole journey, not just a portion of it. Pray that the obstacles you encounter, the enemies you face and the many disappointments that weigh you down become opportunities to fellowship deeper with God. Stay focused, remain faithful, keep moving and your life will be a blessing to others.

View the blog tour schedule and read an excerpt at http://bit.ly/MyGodandMe.

*A Tywebbin Blog Tour

Last week, we chatted briefly with author Vanessa Miller during her Celebrating Women in Ministry Blog Tour, but unfortunately our site went down several times.  So, my apologies to those who tried to join us, but were unable to do so.  We’re back today to wrap up with Vanessa.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vanessa Miller of Dayton , Ohio is an Essence best-selling author, playwright, and motivational speaker. Her stage productions include: Get You Some Business, Don’t Turn Your Back on God, and Can’t You Hear Them Crying and Abundant Rain. To date, Vanessa has written the Rain Series and the Storm Series. The books in the Rain Series are: Former Rain , Abundant Rain, and Latter Rain. The books in the Storm Series are: Rain Storm and Through The Storm . These books have received rave reviews, winning Best Christian Fiction Awards and topping numerous Bestseller’s lists.

BOOK TRAILER (Yesterday’s Promise)

Yesterday’s Promise is the first book of a series entitled, Second Chance of Love. Whitaker House plans to release the next two books in October 2010 and January 2011. Visit her online at www.VanessaMiller.com.

Also read the excerpt of Yesterday’s Promise and answer the questions Vanessa brought posed last week:

What do you think about women preachers? Should they preach the gospel or do you believe God has designed another path for women in the ministry?

Celebrate Women in Leadership Series

During the month of March 2010, Dawn McCoy, author of Leadership Building Blocks will highlight great women in leadership during Women’s History Month.

Tee, Thank you for allowing me to be a guest blogger today at RAWSISTAZ. Today, in the Celebrate Women in Leadership series, I want to highlight Dr. Dorothy Height.

On Wednesday, March 24, civil rights icon Dr. Dorothy L. Height celebrated her 98th birthday at a Washington, DC hospital where she was recovering from a brief illness. Interestingly enough, her birthday occurs in Women’s History Month and it is worth noting that she has made contributions to the advances for women of all races and backgrounds by advocating tirelessly.

Known to many as the “godmother of the civil rights movement,” Height has received numerous international honors, including the NAACP Spingarn Medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom award, the Congressional Gold Medal, among others. She is the president emerita of the National Council of Negro Women, a position she held for more than fifty years. She is also the primary force for launching the annual Black Family Reunion, a national celebration held on the National Mall in Washington to celebrate African-American family values.

During the civil rights movement, she was the only female frequently identified as an equal among the civil rights leaders including Martin Luther King, Jr., Whitney H. Young, A. Philip Randolph, Roy Wilkins and Floyd McKissick.

In 1937, Mary McLeod Bethune who founded the National Council of Negro Women noticed a young Height who was at the time an assistant executive director of the Harlem YWCA. Bethune invited Height to join the cause to advocate for women’s rights for equal pay and education. From 1944 to 1977, Height served on the staff of the National Board of the YWCA of the USA and held several leadership positions, such as director of the National YWCA School for Professional Workers. In 1965, she became director of the Center for Racial Justice.

In 2002, in honor of Height’s 90th birthday, a gathering of friends that included entertainment moguls and civil rights veterans pledged $5 million to pay the mortgage of the NCNW headquarters building located on Pennsylvania Avenue. At an annual fundraising in 2009, she said that “Young people need a sense of strategy. They must learn the big task is to take hold and move … that silence is not the position we need to take. We need to make our voices heard, but we need a sense of timing.

What makes her so profound it that she knows how important it is that young people have a sense of the issues in injustice, how to articulate inequity, and learning to be advocates. Dr. Dorothy Height is a beloved African-American but more importantly and true “sheroe” for her dedication to supporting the development of women.

TOUR GIVEAWAY: Blog visitors who leave comments  OR radio callers with questions for Dawn are eligible to win an autographed copy of Leadership Building Block and a copy of the Effective Community Engagement CD.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dawn McCoy is author of Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success. As one of the youngest elected African-American elected to the Sacramento City Unified School Board, McCoy shares seven leadership fundamentals in her book. Inspiring readers to be top in their field, Dawn shares her insights based upon twenty years serving as a nonprofit and government executive.

A motivational speaker, coach, and founder of Flourish Leadership Group, a leadership development and communications firm, Dawn is dedicated to transforming ordinary people into extraordinary leaders. In recent years, she has worked with organizations to develop their vision and create phenomenal results. Dawn has worked with hundreds of individuals to help them capture their spirit of leadership and truly become the effective leaders they were meant to be.

Visit Dawn online at FlourishLeadership.com.

Read an excerpt online and visit the tour schedule at http://bit.ly/LeadershipBuildingBlocks.

*A Tywebbin Blog Tour

Yesterday’s Promise by Vanessa Miller

Melinda Johnson has always felt called to ministry. So, when her father, Bishop Langston Johnson, decides to step down after thirty years of leadership at Omega Christian Center, it seems only natural for her to take his place. But Bishop Johnson feels led by a God who has other things in mind, and to succeed him, he appoints Steven Marks-a man who is opposed to female pastors, not to mention the fact that he is Melinda’s ex-fiancé.

Feeling defeated, Melinda nevertheless maintains her position as the church’s Missions and Community Outreach Director. Frequent interaction with the new bishop incites bitter sparring-and rekindles long-suppressed attraction, which grows only stronger when Melinda develops a relationship with Steven’s precious daughter, Brianna, who’s still struggling with the death of her mother.

Can Steven and Melinda set aside past pains, forgive each other, and learn to love again? Or will their opposing positions regarding women preachers keep them forever at odds?

Read an Excerpt from Yesterday’s Promise

Anxious to see her father and make sure he was all right, Melinda rushed down the hospital corridor that led to his room. He had been admitted to the hospital three days prior, complaining of chest pains. After several tests, the doctor had confirmed that no sign of a heart attack had been detected. Melinda was thankful that her father was recuperating and doing well. She was also excited to tell him about some wonderful, unexpected news she had received that morning.

Her father’s eyes were closed when Melinda walked into his hospital room. As she approached his bed, she noticed for the first time that his hair was no longer salt-and-pepper but completely white. The wrinkles beneath his eyes, which had long made him look distinguished, were now more pronounced and distracting. When did all of this happen? Melinda wondered as she picked up her father’s frail hand and pressed it to her cheek.

Bishop Johnson’s eyes fluttered as he turned toward his daughter. “Hey, baby girl. When’d you get here?”

“Just a few minutes ago. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get here earlier.”

“You had to handle my responsibilities at the church. Don’t worry about it. I had plenty of visitors this morning.”

Melinda sat down in the chair next to her father’s bed and hung her purse on the arm of the chair. “I have some good news, Daddy. I’ve been asked to speak at the Women on the Move for God conference in August!”

“That’s great, baby girl! But I have even better news.”

Melinda raised her eyebrows. “What, the doctor gave you a clean bill of health and said that you’ll live to be a hundred?”

Bishop Johnson shook his head and then blurted out, “I found you a husband.”

“Excuse me?” Melinda said in as even a tone as she could manage. After all, she was a thirty-seven-year-old woman living in the twenty-first century. Fathers didn’t go out and find husbands for their daughters in this day and age. “Please tell me you’re joking, Daddy.

“No joke to it,” Bishop Johnson said as he hoisted himself into an upright position. “I’m an old man, Melinda. I haven’t got many years left. I’d like to see at least one of my grandchildren before I die, you know?”

Melinda couldn’t deny that her father was showing signs of aging. But that didn’t mean death would sneak into his hospital room and suck out his last breath while she stood there and watched. “You talk as if you’ll die tomorrow.”

“I could. The next heart attack could be my last.”

Melinda rolled her eyes. “It was an anxiety attack, Daddy. Stop being such a baby. The doctor says you’re fine.”

Bishop Johnson shook a shaky finger at Melinda. “Now, you listen to me. I’m eighty-two years old. I know what’s best for you, and that’s why I called Steven Marks.”

Melinda bolted out of her chair and moved away from her father’s bed. She put a hand to her mouth and shut her eyes, trying to block out the same feeling of humiliation she’d experienced when Steven had dumped her ten years ago. This has to be some kind of horrible joke, Melinda thought. But her father was a serious man who rarely joked with anyone.

“Calm down. It’s not as bad as you think,” he said. “I didn’t come right out and tell Steven I wanted him to marry you. He’s a smart young man…he’ll come to that decision on his own.”

“Why are you even talking to me about Steven, Daddy? That man walked out on me and married someone else. Do you really think I’d want him back now, just because his wife is dead?”

“Pride goes before destruction, Melinda.”

She really hated it when her father tried to rein her in by quoting Scriptures. “What does being prideful have to do with not wanting to marry a man who rejected me?”

“I have more to tell you. Would you please sit back down?”

Melinda inched back to her seat and slowly settled into it. If this marrying Steven Marks thing was supposed to be a buffer for the rest of her father’s message, then she was truly petrified. She glanced at her father with a look of apprehension.

“This last hospital stay has convinced me that I need to retire.”

Melinda rolled her eyes. “I’ve been telling you for years now to retire. I can pastor Omega, and Pastor Lakes can take over as bishop.”

“Let me finish,” Bishop Johnson said, holding up a hand to silence Melinda. “I know the ministry goals that you have. I also believe that there is a way for you to do God’s will and also have a family. Plus, Steven’s church did not support him during his grieving process. They want him to leave, Melinda. So, after prayerful reflection, I’ve asked him to take over for me as bishop.”

Melinda must not have heard him right. He couldn’t have just said that Steven Marks—the man who’d called off their wedding because she’d refused to give up her dreams of preaching the gospel—was going to be the new bishop of Omega Christian Church. In Melinda’s mind, this could mean only one thing: her sin had finally caught up with her.

DISCUSSION & GIVEAWAY

What do you think about women preachers? Should they preach the gospel or do you believe God has designed another path for women in the ministry?

Participants will be placed in a drawing for an autographed copy of Yesterday’s Promise by Vanessa Miller and a $25 Gift Card.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vanessa Miller of Dayton , Ohio is an Essence best-selling author, playwright, and motivational speaker. Her stage productions include: Get You Some Business, Don’t Turn Your Back on God, and Can’t You Hear Them Crying and Abundant Rain. To date, Vanessa has written the Rain Series and the Storm Series. The books in the Rain Series are: Former Rain , Abundant Rain, and Latter Rain. The books in the Storm Series are: Rain Storm and Through The Storm . These books have received rave reviews, winning Best Christian Fiction Awards and topping numerous Bestseller’s lists.

Yesterday’s Promise is the first book of a series entitled, Second Chance of Love. Whitaker House plans to release the next two books in October 2010 and January 2011. Visit her online at www.VanessaMiller.com.

View the blog tour schedule and read an excerpt at http://bit.ly/WomeninMinistry

*A Tywebbin Blog Tour

ABOUT THE BOOK

Many believers have a hard time accepting transformation is a part of God’s plan for their lives. Changes happen every day. We accept address changes, income changes, management changes, and we even agree that our physical appearance changes, but we do not embrace that God wants to change our sinful nature to that of a Holy people. Change is something we all need; however, few are willing to make the change from mediocre to greatness.

Prophetess Lori McKenney shares about the four stages a caterpillar must achieve before it transforms into a beautiful butterfly. In correlation, she imparts how the heart and mind is connected to the complete metamorphosis process. The powerful scriptures and motivational quotes found in “Transformation” also reveal the treasures of how God wants you to have a successful life. A must have for your personal library and chat groups. “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”(Psalm 37:5)

Transformation can be found at most online bookstores and www.amazon.com or at her website: www.lsktransformation.com.

Listen to an excerpt from Pastor McKenney

View the blog tour schedule and read an excerpt at http://bit.ly/TransformationBlogTour.