Title:         Sinners & Saints (aff link)

Author(s): Victoria Christopher Murray &
                  Reshonda Tate Billingsley

Release:     January 10, 2012

Description: TEAM JASMINE or TEAM RACHEL? Bestselling and award-winning novelists Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley bring their favorite heroines together in a novel that will delight their legions of fans.

Jasmine Larson Bush and Rachel Jackson Adams are not your typical first ladies. But they’ve overcome their scandalous and drama-filled pasts to stand firmly by their husbands’ sides.

When a coveted position opens up—president of the American Baptist Coalition— both women think their husbands are perfect for the job. And winning the position may require both women to get down and dirty and revert to their old tricks. Just when Jasmine and Rachel think they’re going to have to fight to the finish, the current first lady of the coalition steps in . . . a woman bigger, badder, and more devious than either of them.

Double the fun with a message of faith, Sinners & Saints will delight readers with two of their favorite characters from two of their favorite authors.

Title:         Real Wifeys Get Money (aff link)

Author:      Meesha Mink

Release:    January 10, 2012   

Description: Success is the Best Revenge, and Luscious Will Do Anything to Settle the Score....

In the new novel from the author of Real Wifeys: On the Grind, rapper Make$’s wifey, Harriet “Luscious” Jordan, finds herself out in the cold financially after Make$ is imprisoned for his role in the brutal rape of Luscious’ friend and his business partner, Kaeyla “Goldie” Dennis, a misguided young woman who once ran a strip club out of her apartment. But Luscious is a first-rate hustler and soon becomes a successful party promoter. There is really only one thing on Luscious’ mind: destroying Goldie. Luscious has never forgiven Goldie for sleeping with Make$ behind her back before the rape, and she’ll stop at nothing to exact revenge. Yet how far can Luscious go in her blazing quest for payback without destroying herself, too? Real Wifeys: Get Money is the second installment in a fierce and gritty new trilogy from one of the most daring voices in street lit.

_Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Touchstone, A Division of Simon and Schuster. I was not required to post and/or to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Sandra loved connecting with people. She would sit back watching them relax while taking pleasure in drinking her coffee. It was like personally inviting people into your home. Life taught her, more than once, that anything and everything could be solved over a good cup of coffee.

“Was it that bad?” She looked into his eyes and read his misgivings.

“Are you crazy? I loved it. I’m sorry I got lost in my thoughts. I have a feeling I’m going to lose you soon.”

He sat their cups on the table, a deep crease forming between his full brows. She wrapped her hands around the cup finding comfort in its warmth.

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” He chuckled. “Things are going good, but I don’t plan to quit my day job until I see more zeros on my checks. Besides, I won’t leave you hanging, I want to make sure you have a solid replacement.”

“Well, they’re coming. I’d bet my shop on it.” They shared another laugh.  “And don’t worry about me, I’m a big girl.”

They chatted about the shop and the current employees. She may have to place an ad in the paper and start interviewing soon.

“So, what’s up with you? You seemed out of it tonight.”

Sandra crossed her legs and leaned closer into the table. She could smell the warm cinnamon rising from his cup. She relaxed in the chair, placing her chin in the palm of her hand.

“I feel like I don’t have much of a life. I’m here from sun up to sun down. And I’m not complaining because I love my business, but I always thought I would have kids by now and I don’t even have a boyfriend.” She fell back in the chair, crossing her arms in her lap.

“Girl, you act like you’re a hundred years old. It’s not too late.” He took a drink of his coffee. “How about I set you up with someone?”

Sandra lifted her hands in protest, “Oh, no, no, no…I am not turning into a charity case.”

“Whatever.” He dismissed her response, and she could see the wheels in his head turning. She had to stop him. She could just imagine some young kid, strolling in with his pants hanging to the floor, showing his expensive drawers to the world, and Lord help her if he showed up with a mouth full of fancy hardware. She was too old for that. She needed a nice, respectable guy, the problem was how would she find him?

“Earth to Sandi,” Bruce snapped his fingers trying to regain her attention.

“You know what, thanks, but no thanks. I don’t think I’m the young hip-hop kind of woman. I need a nice settled man.” Her list of qualities for her ideal man was short. She knew he had to love her independence, her hectic work schedule, her family, and most importantly, her girls.

“Dang, don’t you trust yo boy? I got you. Really, give me a chance.”

Sandra paused. She knew she had to try, but something whispered brace yourself. Her thirty-fifth birthday was months away and things would remain the same if she didn’t at least try.

“Okay, I’ll give you a chance. But I don’t want a—“

He held up his hand, cutting off her impending checklist. “No, thanks. I got this.”

Sandra picked up her cup and drained it. She couldn’t believe Bruce was playing matchmaker and setting her up on a blind date. She stood to throw her cup in the trash, but slumped back into her still warm chair upon realizing she didn’t know any of his friends outside the shop. He could find her some crazed lunatic.

“Actually, I don’t know if this is a good idea,” she said, her voice just above a whisper.

“I know the kind of guys you like.” He leaned back in the chair and assessed her. She squirmed under his watchful eye. He continued, “You like those conservative, educated, I want to take you to a jazz club kinda dudes.” He laughed. Her nerves prevented her from joining in.

“Sandi, I got you. Really. I have someone that’s perfect. Let’s get through having Marques here this weekend and I’ll set something up for next week.”

He stood and she follow suit. Bruce grabbed their cups and started gathering the trash. It was past midnight and he was probably heading to the studio. She planned to head home and pray. She knew without a doubt that she trusted him with her business, but could she trust Bruce with finding her a date?

JA Adams is hitting the web for a virtual book tour featuring the re-release of Purple Haze. In Purple Haze, a car accident ends the lives of a young couple and no one suspects foul play until another body surfaces leading the people of Pineview, TX to believe a killer is in their midst. Twins, Landan and Janda Colquin try to uncover the identity of the killer as a complicated haze settles between life as they envisioned and the one that they now know exists.

Title: Purple Haze

Author: JA Adams

ISBN: 978-0976200505

Release Date: February 17, 2011

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Page Count: 300

Publisher: Shaw Harris and Associates

Website: www.jaadamsauthor.com

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.

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.

Starless Sky is about a girl, Kahlen, who is experiencing the loss of a friend. Kahlen feels alone and lonely, but she also gets tired of people feeling sorry for her and giving her sympathetic looks. Going to Dean's Creek is the only place she finds solace. Well, at least it WAS the only place until Kennley showed up. Now she can't even find solace there...or can she?

In the midst of loss, there is life; a sentiment Kahlen was not quick to accept. But in the process of the daily routine of school, dropping grades, frustrated parents, and pain, Kahlen begins to gain insights (the kind that comes from fortune cookies or good friends). Her new found wisdom and the strain of dealing with Kennley and his troubling past lead her to an exciting new phase of life.

Starless Sky is a genuine portrayal of grief and loss, yet comforting and filled with hope and expectation. It is a book of encouragement through following the lives of high schoolers.

What inspires you to write?

What inspires me to write is my love for books. Every time I read a good book, I think about my own, I think about how I can improve my writing skills, I think about how one day I want someone to read the final page of my book and just say ―wow‖ the same way I do with others. I love stepping into others’ worlds in the realm of literature. I just hope other people enjoy the adventure as much as I do.

Where did you get the idea for Starless Sky?

Sitting bored watching TV is when I generally come up with an idea for writing. I wanted to take on the challenge of writing a book about death that wasn’t entirely sad. In addition, the story gave me an opportunity to draw from my own very real pain of having recently loss someone I loved so much.

What makes Starless Sky unique?

How many times have you read a book or seen a movie where a character dies and you can’t help but bawl your eyes out? (Never? Well then, may I recommend Nicolas Sparks? Great writer, but grab a box of kleenex). Because I have experienced my share of tears reading and watching movies, I wanted to write a story where I could tap into something as deep as death, but instead of leaving the reader in despair, I would portray hope. This makes Starless Sky unique.

Is any of the book from your real life?

It is funny when people who know me think the book is all about my real life just because they know about the loss I experienced. There are bits and pieces that come from real people, but the book is not a replica of my life. For example, the ―Random‖ game in the book comes from a game a friend and I made up while bored and waiting for track practice to come up. However, the character is not like my friend. Another example occurs when the parents and Kahlen go to the movie theater; in real life, we laugh about movies my dad wants to see. However, the parents in the story are not the same as my parents. Most genuine are the feelings of Kahlen; I felt those feelings and I experienced that pain when my friend died.

What advice can you give to a teenager who is grieving?

Talk about your loss, write about it if you are not a talker, but get it out somehow. Share your feelings with someone who can help you and that is not always peers as their knowledge may be limited regardless of how mature or well meaning. Ask to speak with a counselor for additional support. Know that the stages of grief and loss are not really stages that happen in a specific order; know that you are not losing your mind. Healing takes time and it is a deliberate process. Healing does not truly happen just because you will it. Mostly, I am saying, do not go through it alone – let others help you – take some time to be alone if needed but balance it with self care and support.

What can you tell us about your next book?

My next book is titled Seven; it is a fiction, mystery, suspense-thriller. Seven tells the story of seven people whose lives come together because of a kidnapper. The story of each individual leads to the time they all come together. For example two characters are escaping an abusive childhood home and one character is an attorney without much direction. In the book there are clues (or things that appear to be clues) that mislead reader thus building the suspense. A common thread I have recognized in this book (as in Starless Sky) is self exploration among both the teens and the adults in the book. Each of the seven characters is forced (literally) to look at their own talents and lives in order to escape. Not all of them are willing. So, will they all be freed from the grips of the kidnapper? Want to know the answer? Great, read Seven.

Paige wrote her first book, Starless Sky at age 15 and published it in January of 2010. Her sense of humor and from the heart personality shines through her writing. She was born in Michigan.  Her compassion and sense of humor is in all of her writings. When Paige is not writing, she enjoys sports, dancing, singing, playing the piano, reading and attending her brother's college football games.  In addition, spending time with family, friends, and her dog, Tigger are important to her.   She is also actively involved in her church and community.  Paige is currently working on other books.

For more information about Paige and her books visit www.paigeagnew.com.

Happy Holidays!!! Although we are on a mini-holiday break I wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We will launch the new additions to the website on January 1st. We will also have new features.

Stay tuned. Thanks!!!