Happy Memorial Day!

Have A Happy & Safe Holiday!

Memorial Day is a holiday for remembering of our troops who are no longer with us. It is also a holiday that most families take time to remember their loved ones that have passed on. It is a holiday of remembrance, love, and honor. Please do not forget to pay tribute to those who have served and given up their lives for our country.

Share with us family members you want to honor today!

Authors & Readers Book Corner

Double Feature Book Review: That One Moment

5 Stars for That One Moment by Terese Lorae Smauldon

In That One Moment by Terese Lorae Smauldon, readers are introduced to Lia, Dee Dee, Rena, and Jas, four friends dealing with different issues in their lives. These women have the task of coming to terms with decisions that cannot be ignored.

Lia is a half-black, half-Korean beauty that is used to the finer things in life. She is a VP for Virgin Records and has everything she needs except a love life. Ty is a new tenant in Lia's building that she cannot stop thinking about. Ty is a businessman that has his life together but who is also looking to settle down. Will both give in to the attraction they feel for each other?

Dee Dee is married to a wonderful man but not satisfied. Dee Dee's husband, Deron, has been distant making her question their union. When Dee Dee's ex-boyfriend, Manny, comes back around she is faced with a harsh decision. Will she make the right one?

Rena is a professor at a well-known university, a mother, and living with her boyfriend, Tak. The couple seems to have it all until Tak makes a decision that changes everything.

Jas has been dealing with some painful memories from her past. Those memories have controlled a big part of her life until she meets Asaji. Asaji is everything she wants and needs in a man, but Jas's issues are causing problems.

That One Moment is a story about friendship, family, and acknowledging true love. The characters were well developed giving readers a realistic look into their lives. The author did a wonderful job in creating a believable storyline that is thought provoking yet entertaining. I could not put this book down. I look forward to reading more from this author. I recommend That One Moment to others.

5 Stars for That One Moment 2 by Terese Lorae Smauldon

In book two of That One Moment, by Terese Lorae Smauldon, readers revisit Lia, Dee Dee, Jas, and Rena, four friends dealing with new issues. What goes around comes around and these four women find this out the hard way.

Lia has moved to Chicago, with husband Ty, and she could not be happier. Lia's only concern is her mother-in-law's criticisms and her rude behavior. Lia and Ty have family over for dinner and when an uninvited guest arrives Lia and Ty's lives change forever.

Jas is trying to adjust to being a celebrity's wife. Asaji is busy promoting his career and trying to keep his wife happy. Jas receives a phone call from her younger sister and soon realizes she may have bitten off more than she can chew. If dealing with her sister is not enough Jas must face her insecurities in her marriage.

Rena is still trying to come to terms with her failed marriage. She is adjusting to being a single mother and believes she has everything under control. Tak still loves and misses his wife, Rena, but cannot get over what happened between them. However, Tak is fighting with himself about information that he has kept from Rena. Will she forgive him once his secret is revealed?

Dee Dee is having a hard time getting over her ex-husband, Deron. Dee Dee refuses to believe he has moved on with his life. Dee Dee finds an outlet to cope with her pain, but it also starts her on a destructive path. When all is said and done, Dee Dee will have to deal with the consequences.

That One Moment 2 is a page-turning book of peer excitement. The characters are dealing with bigger issues than in Book 1 that calls for harder decisions. The author gives readers a different look into the lives of these four women's stories. That One Moment 2 was full of entertainment, suspense, and drama until the end. I could not put this book down for fear of missing something. I recommend That One Moment 2 to others.

Both reviewed by Teresa Beasley

To learn more about Terese Lorae Smauldon and her work, visit her website at www.teresesmauldon.com

Author of the Week: Shani Dowdell

How did you become a writer?
My passion for reading, expression, and communication led me to write my first book.

Where does your inspiration for your characters come from?
Different life experiences and interesting people that I encounter.

What are you hoping readers take from your book?
 I want them to be entertained but also captivated by the subliminal messages that are meticulously placed in the storyline.

If you were to write a book about a controversial topic, what would it be?
Interracial dating or racial equality.

Most writers have a process or method for writing their books, what is yours?  
Aside from having to find time during my busy schedule to write, I write when I am feeling the characters speaking to me or when a musing is begging to be captured like a picture during a photo shoot onto my writing pad or laptop. 

What is your favorite genre of books?
Urban books and then how-to and self help books.

Are you an avid or occasional reader?
Occasional reader, only because my schedule does not allow me to read more at this time.

What are two things you want your readers to know about you?
1) I truly enjoy what I do and
2) I love to hear from readers and interact with them.

If you could interview one of your favorite authors, who would it be? Why?
Darrien Lee to ask her when she is going to write another book and I’d like to know her thought process for her characters and her writing.

What is or was your dream job?
Growing up, my dream job was to become a nurse, but once I started clinical in college I realized quickly that nursing was not the career for me. I much rather work behind the scenes in the medical field, so I became a medical transcriptionist where I developed a love for words. I think that was all a part of God’s plan to bring me to my true passion for writing and communications.

What new projects are you working on?
Currently, I’m working on expanding the Secrets of a Kept Woman stage play into more markets. I also have a few book ideas that I’m developing even as we speak.

Where can readers find you?
Facebook .com/shanibooks, www.shanibooks.com or http://www.nayberrypublications.com/

Authors & Readers Book Corner appreciates your time!

Thanks for the interview.

Book Review: Encounters In Paris





Encounters in Paris

Carolyn Moncel

4 Stars

In Encounters in Paris by Carolyn Moncel, readers are treated with a wonderful collection of short stories about Ellery Roulet. Ellery is a Public Relations Executive living in Paris and married with two children. We never know how each day will turn out, which happens to be the case in Ellery’s life.

The different encounters Ellery experiences teach her valuable lessons. It is how Ellery deals with these lessons that will shape the woman she becomes. Ellery takes readers on a journey through life issues, hard decisions, and finding peace.

Encounters In Paris is a collection of memorable stories that detail a woman’s life. The author does a wonderful job capturing readers into the life of the main character. The descriptions of Paris will have readers believing they are actually there. I recommend this book to others.

Reviewed by Teresa Beasley

Book Spotlight: All Up In My Business



Purchase at Amazon.com



Lutishia Lovely serves up a sizzling behind-the-scenes tale of rivalry and scandal in a family's booming soul food dynasty. . .

With brothers Malcolm and Toussaint Livingston at the helm, business at Taste of Soul is thriving and the family seems to have it all. But jealousy and competition threaten to tarnish their picture-perfect image.

 

Toussaint is a risk-taker, determined to expand the restaurant chain at a record pace, but levelheaded Malcolm insists on challenging Toussaint's goals. And at home, there's more heating up than grits and collard greens. Malcolm is growing weary of his marriage and his ever-expanding brood of children. His brother's Casanova lifestyle looks more and more appealing. But Toussaint's playboy days aren't as carefree as Malcolm thinks. Toussaint's met his match in interior designer Alexis St. Clair, a woman who refuses to become just another dish on this player's mating menu. But if Toussaint has his way, the happenings in both the boardroom and the bedroom are all about to change. . .

About The Author

Lutishia Lovely is an award-winning author of ten novels, four of which are romance titles written under her alter-ego pseudo, Zuri Day. In addition to her wildly popular Hallelujah Love Series, Ms. Lovely is busy creating a brand new series - The Business Trilogy - that revolves around a soul food dynasty. To learn more about Lutishia Lovely visit her website at www.lutishialovely.com

Author of the Week: Sindee Lynn

How did you become a writer?
I've been reading romance novels since I was about 11 years old. When I was 13 I decided I wanted to be a romance writer and sat down to write my first romance novel. It took a few years to make it happen but here I am.

What are you hoping readers take from your book?
I want them to be transported to another place whe they pick up one of my books. That is why I read...as a means of escape so I want to give that same feeling to my readers. A nice little getaway without leaving the comforts of home.

Who is the hero in your life? How does your hero inspire you?
I do not really have a hero.

What are two things you want your readers to know about you?
That I love to read romance novels as much as I enjoy writing them and I listen to rap music when I write my love scenes (smile).

What are your favorite marketing and/or promotional tools?
I'm still learning when it comes to marketing and promoting myself as a writer. But currently I use Facebook-I have a separate page set up for me as the writer and I have a website. With this New Year I plan on doing a lot more connecting with the local bookstores in my area and I'm going to do a few more literary festivals.

What is one thing you have learned about the publishing industry?
That apparently not all publishing companies are the same and that the work does not stop when the manuscript is submitted as I foolishly believed. But thankfully I have a wonderful publishing company, Passionate Writer Publishing (PWP), that has been there every step of the way to guide, nudge or just plain old point me in the right direction.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?
Just do not give up and have faith in your writing. It took me a lot longer than I thought it would to get published and though there were a few turn downs a lot of it had to do with me not putting my work out there because i doubted my own abilities as a writer. So you have to have faith in what you are putting on paper and then just go for it.

Who was the first author you read? What was the title of the book?
Wow that was a long time ago and I honestly could not even begin to tell you.. Lol. I can tell you who I have on my nightstand right now. I am playing a little catch up in the Dark Hunter Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon and reading Infinity: Chronicles of Nick

Tell us what new projects you are working on?
My next book "Unexpected Packages" just got accepted for publication so that will be out in a few months and I am working on my second in the Donor Series: Donor Experiment.

Where can your readers find you?
I am on Facebook under Sindee Lynn and they can always visit my website: www.sindeelynn.com and they can always find me on my publishing company's website: www.passionatewriterpublishing.com

Book Review: Satan's Sisters



Purchase at Amazon.com

 Satan's Sisters
Star Jones
4.5 Stars

I have not been a fan of talk shows but after reading Satan's Sisters by Star Jones, I have since changed my mind. The Lunch Club is a daytime talk show hosted by several personalities, attitudes, and power seekers. The women of this show have no problem with dishing out the dirt on others while providing their viewers with gossip.

A special guest, Heather Hope, visits the couch and all hell breaks loose. The normally composed co-hosts are beside themselves once the cat is out of the bag. The women of the Lunch Club have secrets and they are the type of secrets that can make or break their careers. These women will do whatever it takes to keep their secrets hidden.

Satan's Sisters is about drama, betrayal, and past discretions. This is a page-turning book of shear entertainment and outstanding mischief. Satan's Sisters takes betrayal, secrets, and drama to another level. I recommend Satan's Sisters to others.

Teresa Beasley
A&RBC Reviews
Amazon: 4

I am