Hard-working corporate attorney Axel Becker has tried settling down in the past, but when the relationship didn’t work out, he focused on his career to the exclusion of everything else. Enter, Naphressa St. James. The sexy project manager is a former lover and reminds him of what his life could be—fun, exciting. She’s just the woman he might need to shake him out of a rut, but convincing her they belong together will be a lot harder than he expected.
​
Naphressa admits she and Axel have chemistry, but she’s not looking for marriage—again. Been there, done that. Except the more time she spends with Axel, the more she finds the idea of settling down with him to be downright…irresistible.

Just when he thought finding a wife was out of his reach…

Colton “Cole” Eubanks is laser focused on building wealth and settling down with a special woman before he turns forty. Accomplishing one out of two isn’t bad. Unfortunately, there’s no ‘love of his life’ on the horizon, unless he counts the one woman who’s been starring in his nightly dreams—Malaya Radcliff.

After being dependent on one person after another for years, Malaya has finally learned to stand on her own. There’s only one thing she hasn’t been able to accomplish—gain full custody of her daughter. Her ex-husband never fights fair. His wealth always wins. This time Malaya’s determined to come out on top.
​
So when Cole, the man she’s been secretly in lust with for over a year, makes her an offer she’d be crazy to refuse, Malaya wants to say yes. But that means sacrificing her newfound independence. Yet, his enticing proposal has her thinking—why not?

Good morning! Seasoned is live and you don't want to miss my latest release! Three women, three happily ever afters. The first two stories are interracial and the third is a black romance. Settle down for three sexy stories about finding love in your 40's and 50's. I hope you love them as much as I enjoyed writing them. 

For photos that inspired the story, visit the Pinterest board for Seasoned. Happy reading!
​

Subscribe to my blog so you don't miss future blog posts. Then hop to the next four blogs to see what the other authors came up with. 
J.L. Campbell:  joylcampbell.com ​
Tiye Love:  tiyelovebooks.com
Nyora René:  nyorarene.com
​S. Taylor:  staylorromance.com

Subscribe to my blog so you don't miss the next  writing prompt. Then hop to the next four blogs to see what the other authors came up with. 
Nyora René:  nyorarene.com
Tiye Love:  tiyelovebooks.com
J.L. Campbell:  joylcampbell.com ​
​S. Taylor:  staylorromance.com

“Chug-a-lug, chug-a-lug, chug-a-lug!”

Layla shot daggers across the table at her two best friends who softly chanted the words at their booth in Dilligan's Sports Pub. The popular hangout was about halfway full, with empty tables and seats at the bar that would be full within a couple of hours.

“This game sucks,” she said with a pout.

They were on round one of the game Never Have I Ever, and she already had to steel herself to toss back a vodka shot. Layla glared at her friend, Tamika, who wore a cute pixie cut and a denim jacket over a tank top. She had been the one to say, “Never have I ever had a one-night stand.”

Tamika smirked. “Drink up, Miss One-Night Stand.”

Layla took a deep breath and tossed back the liquor, grimacing as it burned on the way down. She slammed the glass on the table and shivered. Whew, that was strong stuff. Now part two. She had to ask the next man who came through the door out on a date.

“Whose idea was this again?” she asked.

Dana, plus-sized and wearing glasses and an off-the-shoulders blouse, giggled. “Yours,” she reminded Layla.

“Oh yeah,” Layla muttered. She thought a drinking game with a challenge would be a nice way to spice up their Friday night out. Lesson learned.

While they waited, they chatted and within a few minutes, Tamika nudged Dana. “There’s our victim.”

Layla turned around in her seat, and her heart stopped. No. She immediately recognized the buzzed cut, the smooth, handsome face, and the easy-going stroll that suggested he had all the time in the world.

She quickly turned back around. “Um, can I ask out the next guy?”

“The next guy? What’s wrong with him?” Tamika asked, looking at Layla as if she’d lost her mind.

“He’s foine,” Dana said, leaning sideways out of the booth to get a better look.

“The next guy would be better.” Layla wiped clammy hands on her jeans.

Tamika leaned across the table. “The deal was, you have to ask out the next guy that comes through the door, not the second next guy. And frankly…” Tamika’s eyes shifted over to the bar. “You could do a lot worse than that fine ass man.”

“Go get your man,” Dana said.

Knowing they wouldn’t budge, Layla pressed her lips together. “Just so you know, we’re not best friends anymore.”

“Whatever,” they said in unison.

Layla slid sideways out of the booth and stood. She smoothed a hand over her long hair, happy she’d been to the salon earlier so that her hair looked and smelled good, and the green halter top tucked into her skinny jeans was flattering. Heck, she looked good.

With bolstered confidence, she strutted over to the bar, ignoring a couple of men who looked appreciatively in her direction. As she drew closer to Chance, her heart beat faster. He’d taken a spot near the end of the bar and sat with his back to her—a broad back she recalled clawing two weeks ago as sweat beaded her forehead and she moaned from intense pleasure.

Rebound sex. Mind-blowing, nipple-clenching, rebound sex.

Her breathing stuttered and she swallowed hard.

Rebound sex after she and her ex-boyfriend mutually agreed they should split because the relationship had simply fizzled. Despite agreeing, losing him had hurt. They’d been together for almost two years.

But here was Chance Lopez, a friend of a friend had introduced them on her rare night out to a nightclub to forget her aching heart. Chance had made her mindful that she should never settle for fizzling again. She touched her neck at the memory of his lips whispering over her skin.

Layla stepped up to the bar and squeezed between two stools. “Hi, Chance.”

The moment he turned and faced her, sparks thickened the air between them, and she was once again struck by the beauty of his brown eyes. One eyebrow lifted higher and a slow smile slipped across his lips and caused between her thighs to blossom with heat. Damn him.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Layla Strong.”

He spoke with a thick accent though he said his family moved from Colombia when he was in elementary school. She was pretty sure he kept the accent because it was sexy and drove women like her wild.

Layla held up her hand. “Before you start, I need to tell you that I approached you for one reason and one reason only. I’m sitting over there with my two girlfriends playing a drinking game, and I had to ask the next man who came through the door on a date. That happened to be you. It’s ridiculous, I know.”

Chance glanced in the direction she indicated and saw her friends staring unabashedly at them. His smile widened to reveal pretty white teeth, and he folded his arms over his chest. “Ask me.”

“Ask you?”

“Yes.”

“You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“Ask me,” he said softer, looking steadily into her eyes. He had a way of repeating sentences to get you to do what he wanted. It worked.

“Would you go out with me?”

“When?”

Her heart started racing again. This time not from nervousness but from excitement. “Tomorrow night.”

“Hmm.” Chance lifted his eyes toward the ceiling. “Tomorrow night I have plans.”

“You jerk!” With a laugh, she swatted his arm.

“I’m kidding. I accept.”

He hooked a finger through a loop in her jeans and tugged her between his legs. They were way too close, but she didn’t mind. He smelled divine, and when she rested her hands on his thighs, she was reminded of how he’d repeatedly powered into her.

“It’s good to see you, Layla, considering last time I saw you was the morning you rushed out of my house with barely a goodbye, and you didn’t leave your number.”

“I don’t know why I left like that.”

“Good to know it wasn’t something I did.”

“Definitely not. Everything you did was…perfect.”

“Oh really? In that case…” He lowered his voice and pulled her so close their breaths mingled. “How about we get out of here and go back to my place for a repeat of that night?”

“I’m here with friends. I can’t just leave them.”

“You can.”

“Chance, I can’t.” But she wanted to.

“You can. Then we can go back to my place for a repeat of that night.”

That repetition thing again, in that sexy Colombian accent. Her resistance crumbled.

“Give me two seconds.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Layla rushed back over to her friends. “Sorry girls, but I have to bail on you. I’m leaving with him.”

“You can’t leave with a complete stranger!” Tamika said.

Layla fit her cross-body bag across her chest. “Actually, he’s not a stranger. He’s my one-night stand.”

Their mouths fell open.

“Ta-ta,” she said with a wave, walking away before they could say a word.

As she approached Chance, he stood, his brown eyes sweeping over her in renewed appreciation, as if he were already imagining her naked. She did the same to him, biting the inside of her lip as she recalled in vivid detail the muscled abs, his firm thighs, and the way he worked his hips to give her multiple orgasms in one night.

Chance let her precede him to the door and rested one hand in the small of her back. Heated anticipation filled her skin.

“Can’t wait to get you home,” he whispered near her ear.
​
She tossed a flirtatious look over her shoulder. “I can’t wait, either."

Subscribe to my blog so you don't miss the next three writing prompts. Then hop to the next four blogs to see what the other authors came up with. 
J.L. Campbell:  joylcampbell.com 
Tiye Love:  tiyelovebooks.com
Nyora René:  nyorarene.com
S. Taylor:  staylorromance.com

Hi! How are you holding up? We're all going through a very rough time right now with the Coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the world, but my hope is that Queen of Barrakesch can whisk you away for a few hours and provide the escape you crave.​

The novel takes place in Barrakesch, a fictional Middle Eastern country where they speak English and Arabic. Make sure you don't miss the translations at the beginning of the book to help you understanding the meaning of the words in the dialogue. 

Tropes: fake relationship, forced into marriage

Characters: Arab hero, Black heroine

​Blurb: They had no idea how much their lives would change…forever.
Imani Karunzika is fiercely independent and refuses to be forced into a loveless marriage with the domineering man her parents want for her. When her friend Crown Prince Wasim al-Hassan of Barrakesch learns he’ll be passed over for the throne because he has no wife, she suggests a plan where they enter into a fake engagement. He can then secure his birthright, and she can get her parents off her back.
But the marriage must proceed as planned. Wasim becomes the king, she becomes the queen and is now under the rule of a man whose power and authority is unmatched. But Imani’s greatest struggle lies not within the walls of the palace, but inside herself as she fights to keep the ultimate secret—that she’s madly in love with the king.

Buy links:  Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Paperback
_____
This is the last book in the series. Like the first two, it will only be available on Amazon. Eventually, the books will be available at other retailers, but not for a while. To read them now (they're free with the Kindle Unlimited subscription) without a Kindle, download the free Kindle app to your computer, phone, or tablet. 

Wasim crisscrossed the lawn, mingling with the guests and stopping to tease the children. As he greeted a small group of adults playing horseshoes, his sentence trailed off when Imani exited the house and stood at the top of the steps.
For a moment, he was speechless. He’d never seen her hair like that before, parted on one side and flipped up at the ends. She wore a mustard-colored tunic and matching pants. Brownish-red lipstick complemented her bronze complexion and coated the fullness of her lips, drawing his eyes and hurtling him back in time to the taste of that same mouth and how much he’d enjoyed kissing her.
He quickly abandoned the guests and walked over to her. Smiling, she stepped down onto the grass.
“Hi.”
“You finally decided to make an appearance. How nice of you to show up…late.”
“You didn’t give me a specific time, and you should be glad I’m here considering you begged me to come.”
“Let’s not exaggerate. I invited you.”
“Because this wouldn’t be much of a party without me. You’re welcome.”
“I didn’t thank you.”
“You were about to.”
Wasim laughed. He’d miss their verbal sparring when she went back to Zamibia.
“I see you’re doing something different with your hair.” He hadn’t planned to comment on her hairstyle, but the words just came out of him.
Imani fingered the strands, suddenly more subdued. “I’m trying something different.”
“I like it.”
She glanced at him. “Thank you.”
“You’re wearing a different scent, too.”
Her eyebrows raised a little in surprise.
She had no idea the close attention he paid to everything about her—her clothes, hair, the scents she wore.
“I am wearing a different scent. Normally it’s shea butter infused with passionfruit, but I’m trying a new fragrance from a line of creams and lotions made locally by the women’s cooperative of Zamibia. This one is shea butter infused with mango.”
She was truly amazing. Imani didn’t only publicize and encourage the women’s work, she supported them by buying their products. She’d also worked out a way to invest in their businesses with money from the oil revenues once they started pouring in.
“I like it,” Wasim said. She smelled so good he wished he could carry the scent of her with him at all times.
“You’re full of compliments today.”
“You deserve every one.”
Before she could reply, Malak ran over, squealing excitedly at the sight of Imani. Dropping to her haunches, she gave him a big hug and kissed both of his cheeks. “Oh my goodness, look at you! You’re getting so big. How old are you now?”
“Four.” He held up four fingers.
Her eyes widened. “I better be careful or you’ll catch up to me soon.”
Malak’s little face brightened from laughter. “Do you want to see my chimpanzees?” he asked.
“Wait a minute, they’re your chimpanzees now?” Wasim asked.
“Yes.” The little boy giggled.
Wasim folded his arms across his chest and affected a stern expression. “You bought them?”
His nephew nodded vigorously.
“Where did you get money?”
“When I went to the hotel to work with Baba,” he replied.
“Now you know,” Imani said with a laugh as she let Malak pull her away.
Wasim kept his eyes on her regal walk. Rubbing his bearded cheek, he let his gaze swing back and forth with the movement of her hips. She could make any outfit sexy—including a loose-fitting tunic and pants that did more to hide her figure than display it.
Her legs were completely covered, yet he couldn’t help but notice how she moved with effortless sensuality. Perhaps because he knew what lay under the clothes. Outside of Barrakesch, he’d seen her toned legs in fitted skirts that showed off her curvaceous shape and plump bottom. He’d had many thoughts about getting his hands on that ass.
Imani sat down on a rug on the lawn and proceeded to play with Malak and five other kids. They fed bananas to the chimp and cuddled with the lion cub, who practiced its roar—which sounded more like a squeak.
“You made a good choice.” Yasmin had sidled up beside him.
“You think so?” Wasim shifted his gaze to look at his sister. At four months pregnant, she only had the smallest baby bump.
Yasmin nodded. “You’re the perfect match. I don’t think you could have done better. We all like her.” She sauntered over to a bench where Farouk sat and joined him.
Wasim went back to mingling with the guests but remained attuned to Imani’s every movement. His sister’s words resonated with him.
Imani was perfect. Where would he find another woman who fit so perfectly within his culture and life? An equal. A woman whose deep love for her country made her put in long hours on the oil drilling project because it would improve the country’s economy. There was no better woman to have by his side as a life partner.
But their entire relationship was fake. Made up. Not real.
But what if it wasn’t?
___
Read the rest of the story on Amazon.  Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Paperback

Catch up with the other books in the Royal Brides series:

​Princess of Zamibia (Royal Brides #1), between Dahlia Sommers and Crown Prince Kofi Karunzika—a secret baby romance where the prince comes to claim his heir.

Princess of Estoria (Royal Brides #2), between Angela Lipscomb and Prince Andres Luis Vasquez Alamanzar II—inspired by current events.
​

Hi all,
I'm going to update this space to list freebies or other helpful information we can use during the Covid-19 pandemic. Google is also a good way to find resources, particularly for your specific state. If you're aware of other resources, share it in the comments. Let's follow the CDC instructions on how to protect ourselves, listen to health care officials, be considerate of others, and stay safe! 
​

You can now download over 300,000 books from the NYPL for free: https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/you-can-now-download-over-300-000-books-from-the-nypl-for-free-031820

2 months free Kindle Unlimited for new signups (expires 4/30/2020): https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/promoLanding?promoCode=7cad7d39-c2cf-4e3d-9b17-4ebafbb03a41&tag=tbpre-20&ascsubtag=04OaMT4pCIueEBs5uDqI2En&fbclid=IwAR0AxSc1bzkootLKNGWEcpSxLxKxaVsCK8QuiXT4wHdai-7oKPMS_AQuRs8

My Royal Brides series and Quicksand series are in Kindle Unlimited, so you can read them for free with the 2 months free KU special. 

All Garden Avenue Press author titles are in Kindle Unlimited, so you can read them free with the 2 months free KU special.

With a Hoopla and Overdrive account, access audiobooks and ebooks for free through your public library (where available).

Open-Access JSTOR Database Accessible to the Public: http://www.universitytimes.ie/2020/03/jstor-makes-database-accessible-to-the-public/ 
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​Added 4/1/2020: A curated collection of more than 150 free Udemy courses to help students adapt to working from home, search for a job, maintain balance, and more: https://www.udemy.com/courses/free/ 

Added 5/15/2020: Google launches free digital training platform for job seekers and entrepreneurs impacted by COVID-19: ​https://www.blackenterprise.com/google-launches-free-online-digital-skills-training-platform-for-job-seekers-and-entrepreneurs-impacted-by-covid-19/
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Free internet for the next 60 days from Spectrum if you have K-12 kids or college-age students: https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-free-spectrum-internet-wifi-offer-student-households-promotion-2020-3  

YMCA launches free online classes for at-home exercise: http://ed.gr/ca2xi

United Way Worldwide Launches COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund: https://www.unitedway.org/the-latest/press/united-way-worldwide-launches-covid-19-community-response-and-recovery-fund
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Added 4/1/2020: Free online fitness classes: https://www.cbc.ca/life/wellness/these-are-the-free-no-equipment-online-fitness-classes-you-need-right-now-1.5500751 
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Added 4/10/2020: Cardi B and Fashion Nova giving away $1000 per hour to help those impacted by COVID-19 until May 20.  https://www.fashionnova.com/pages/cares

Added 5/23/2020: Lowe's to assist minority-owned businesses with $25 million in grants. wes-to-assist-minority-owned-businesses-with-25-million-in-grants
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List of free  educational resources during the outbreak, for kids of all ages: https://abc7ny.com/6035120/

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo offering free online biology classes for children: 
https://www.cleveland19.com/2020/03/17/cleveland-metroparks-zoo-offering-free-online-biology-classes-children-during-coronavirus-school-shutdown/
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List of Georgia schools offering student meals during the outbreak: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/list-of-georgia-schools-offering-students-meals-during-coronavirus-outbreak
​
Free Audiobooks for kids on Audible for as long as schools are closed: https://stories.audible.com/start-listen
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Free resources for schools: https://thejournal.com/articles/2020/03/13/free-resources-ed-tech-companies-step-up-during-coronavirus-outbreak.aspx

Where to get free financial assistance, food, and more: https://laist.com/2020/03/20/where_to_get_financial_assistance_food_and_more_during_the_coronavirus.php

Free cooking classes by Michelin-star chef Massimo Bottura: https://www.sunnyskyz.com/positive-good-news.php?newsid=3699/Stuck-At-Home-This-Award-Winning-Chef-Is-Teaching-Free-Cooking-Classes-On-Instagram 

Added 4/24/2020: Check your credit report for free every week for the next year. Expires April 20, 2021. https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/check-credit-report-free-weekly-coronavirus-2020-4

​When you're finished signing up, listen to the audio samples below. Yes, the Brooks Family series is finally coming to audio! The first books have been completed: A Passionate Love and Passion Rekindled. Much thanks to Producer Tove Audiobooks and Narrator Sean Crisden. Enjoy a little taste of each while we wait for ACX to approve the files. 
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