Delana Crawford was livid with her twin brother's news. She couldn't believe after thirty plus years as a widower, he was in love and planned to get married. At fifty-eight years old, please! There was nothing wrong with having a friend and companionship, but marriage? She just didn't understand. Why, after all this time?

Yes, that was how she felt until the wedding and she bumped into a gorgeous, sexy gentleman by the name of Charles Johnson. Fine syrupy brown, six-feet plus, mingled gray, HUNK with a firm handshake and a smooth baritone voice.

After meeting the savvy handsome Charles Johnson, sister girl is now singing a different song.

But why is she being so hard-nosed and difficult at fifty-eight years old? Somebody please tell me?

I have spent my life as an advocate for women, starting with myself. As a young girl because I was bold, outspoken and sometimes provocative and it was often thought that I was 'fast'... the irony of that is it was only my family who thought so.

By my classmates and friends, I was always seen as the smart, quiet girl who was thought of as stuck-up by some and just plain weird by others but for whatever reason boys and men viewed me as someone to have whether it was to breakdown and 'get' or in later years or as marriage material, whatever that meant. What it meant to me was that ultimately, only I was responsible for me and I made up my mind to work hard, study hard, not 'have people talking under my clothes all over town' which meant no promiscuous sex and to say it to whomever would listen.

Here I am more than forty years later, still spreading my message and being asked by others to speak on issues. Recently Aja Graves approached me about writing to the issue of being so provocative in how we dress and represent as young women and Edwina Putney cosigned, as did others and this is my effort in that way.

While writing, another situation occurred that I had to add to this and it is our value as humans, as African American women and how we are valued and devalued. A young woman was literally thrown around a classroom by a police officer and what I found most stunning is the ways in which it was made to be her fault... more startling to me by other African American women. I do not condone being a victim, ever. However in the case of an adult and a child, my expectation is always that the adult makes the better decision.
#JUSTLOVE

Does his offer of friendship Host a hidden motive?

Religion is an important part of Nita Johnson's life. Whenever confronted with a difficult or unsure situation, she seeks God's direction and guidance. When Nita finds herself attracted to the agent training her, she questions if he is the one for her...after all, not only is he known as "The Resident Torturer" by his trainees, but his relationship with God isn't on friendly terms.

A traumatic event forced Agent Craig Sawyer to give up on God. Having experienced the deep sting of loss, he vows never to develop a close bond with anybody ever again. He battles his desire to pursue a relationship with Nita, but loses the fight. When her life is in danger, will he turn back to God?

The full-figured Esther Redding doesn't realize it, but she desperately needs a change. Her Cinderella tiara is tarnished, and her glass slippers are cracked.

Briggs Stokes has always had a soft spot for Esther. She was in his blood, and he didn't want a transfusion. When he returns to Detroit, he decides that nothing will keep him from her door. Well, nothing but once reformed bad girl Monica Stokes Custer.

She's Briggs's ex, and she wants to be his "give me one more chance again" wife. The tug of war that ensues may be the catalyst that destroys the person they both love the most.

Don't blink--pray. These shenanigans are too juicy to miss.

Building Online Relationships by LaShaunda C. Hoffman is the most comprehensive guide for online promotions on the market today. Hoffman gives writers step by step tips on how to successfully promote your book online while continuing to focus on the primary goal of writing.

There is a wealth of information including how to successfully do a blog tour, how to create an online promotional budget, and figuring out who your reader is.

Hoffman also includes schedules and worksheets to help the writer to achieve specific goals on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis.

This book is not something to be read in one sitting. The book is meant to be read in stages so that you can complete the worksheets and calendars according to the different goals you're trying to reach.

One of the many stand out tips of this book is to not become a "drive by" author in different social media groups and forums. Many writers need to definitely take heed of this advice.

Building Online Relationships provides excellent information not only for writers but other literary professionals can benefit from some of these tips as well.

 

Radiah Hubbert 

Urban Reviews