Juicy Reads Vol 1 #2

Table of Contents

Interviews: Cherish Amore Talena Tillman Tanzania Glover Christina C. Jones Book Reviews Unblock Your Mind

Editor's Note She Reads Fire

Thank you so much for your support. The main reason I started this magazine is that I love to read. There are millions of readers like me, looking for books to read and reading about their favorite authors. This magazine is dedicated to bringing you dope content. Author interviews, book releases, and more book-related topics. I started this magazine to help authors gain more exposure and find an appreciative audience. If you love reading and are looking for juicy novels of diverse genres written by African American authors, look no further than this magazine.

CEO

Darlene

www.shineyourcrown.com Twitter: @ShiningMyCrown Instagram: @ShiningMyCrown Facebook: Queen Rae The Author

CHERISH AMORE INTERVIEW

Cherish Amore

Borrowed for Christmas Having not been home in over two years, the opportunity presents itself for Lennox to do so. Not wanting to still be the girl with no man, she almost backs out from going—that is, until her coworker, Keizer, volunteers as tribute. Immediately shutting him down, Lennox goes about her way. Seeing her sister has some big news, she reluctantly takes Keizer up on his offer. He’d be her borrowed boyfriend for a full seven days.Once back in her hometown, Lennox realizes why she hadn’t been home in forever and instantly wishes she would have stayed away. Keizer is cool with the fake boyfriend role he’s playing, but problems arise when he realizes what is taking place around him. Not being one to keep quiet, he speaks up, some of which causes problems. Lennox realizes maybe Keizer is more than just a borrowed boyfriend, though she fights the urge.What is supposed to be a jolly time, turns out to be much more of a nightmare. Secrets are revealed, and parts of the past that have been buried resurfaces.

When the seven days are concluded, will Lennox regret the idea of a borrowed boyfriend, or will it turn out to be the best choice she’s ever made?

A Rose for Two Has there been a time that something was predetermined in your life, even if you didn’t agree with it? For Quest Rose, that explains his life to a tee. Before being born, Quest already had a name, was enrolled in private grade school, the college he’d graduate from was picked already, even his major was chosen all before he had taken his first breath. Quest had very little input in anything in life, including who he’d spend it with.Kyler Wright is young, beautiful, adventurous, and she knows exactly what she wants in life. She’s irresistible, and men flock to her, all wanting a chance. However, they don’t touch the surface.

Women envy her, but that doesn’t stop Kyler from being her true self.Quest and Kyler cross paths, and the attraction is instant. They are drawn to each other like magnets. With Quest not admitting he is engaged and Kyler neglecting to mention an on-and-off-again boyfriend, they are in for more than either of them have bargained for. Feelings neither of them expected arise, forcing them to face reality. A week before Quest’s arranged wedding, his secret is out, which Kyler isn’t happy about. Kyler may be mad, but with her ex back on the scene, she has to own up to her own lies.With secrets exposed, and hearts on their sleeve, will Quest follow his life’s plans that he had no say in? Or will he fall for the girl whose heart someone else holds the key to?

Contact the Author EMAIL novelsbyauthorrobin@gmail.com INSTAGRAM@robintheauthor

Live in

LOVE

Try Something New: Wattpad Darranica is a great unsigned author. I read her novel In Love With a Savage and couldn't stop reading it. She's got talent by fucking far! She is a full-time student and spends much of her free time reading a good book or writing. She has written eight books to date and has a ninth one in the works. Please check out this young lady's stories on Wattpad right now. It is a place for writers to write new user-generated stories.

Wattpad aims to create a community around stories for both amateur and professional writers. Darranica dreams of becoming an author because “it is something I find comfort in. Writing in fantasy and sharing my craft with the world is exciting. I want to make people happy and help them overcome whatever circumstances they're facing." As she herself writes, “My stories must be shared in the literary world, as I am writing for black women.

I show representation to dark-skinned women who are rarely described in books as the main female character.

I write about imperfections, creating a realistic story that people will read thoroughly.” Be sure to check her out!!!

IN LOVE WITH A SAVAGE Jersey Coleman has faced many hardships. From being raised in a brothel to becoming a dope-fiend. She finally gets her life on the right path until she is faced with a situation that might ruin her life.

Darraneica Robinson

THINK, WRITE, CREATE

UNBLOCK YOUR MIND

Tips and tricks to remove your writer's block

WRITE You probably thought that I would give you a bunch of tips, but I won't. All you have to do is pick up the pen or type on your computer or whatever device you use and simply write the book just write. I noticed some people have lost their spark and that just means your mind needs a break. Take a break and then come back to it and start.

We're all writers, believe it or not. Everyone has a story to tell. So don't force yourself to write, let it happen naturally. Writing isn't hard, we all are writers. Write short stories.Enjoying some music.Take a walk. Write anything.

Writing Exercise 500-WORD ANALYSIS ON THE FOLLOWING: A waitress, who has a heart of gold. A tattoo artist, who has a good sense of humor. It's a contemporary romance story about how all's fair in love and war. It kicks off in a café with someone accidentally playing "Call Me Maybe" over the loudspeakers. (Note that: both protagonists in the story carry emotional baggage from past relationships.) And there's a twist! What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Slow down and read a book Enjoy the pages. No need to rush.

FAIRYTALES & ROMANCE Since she could remember, Tanzania has been inspired by romance, so it was no surprise when she started writing as a preteen. She wrote her first novel at age 14 and a few more before graduating high school, but was discouraged by many outside sources and stopped writing when she started college.

She began selfpublishing in 2018 and is now working on her eighth book.

Like many fans, we fell in love with her novel series called The Faded Fairytale. The set focuses on the Logan brothers, who set out on their own mission to conquer love.

The Faded Fairytale Series was inspired because “unambiguous black women and teen girls are severely underrepresented in mainstream depictions of healthy love and romance.

Disney has little girls covered, but the kind of fairytales that grown women need aren’t being shown to wider society. With my stories, I tried to show black women being less than perfect but knowing their worth and still getting the love that they deserve. The world needs to see black women in all forms being celebrated just for being them and I hope that readers got that with this series.” said Tanzania.

When writing this series how did you keep things fresh for yourself and the reader?

In general, I enjoy taking common book tropes and adding my own twist to them, but for the fairytales, I wanted to do them justice by adding elements that directly affect many black women. But as much as I love providing a platform for the different types of oppression that we face, I am also solutionoriented and a person who enjoys laughing so I made a point to put humor and real-life gems in all of my books but especially these since fairytales always have a life lesson.

Which of your book out of the series was the most enjoyable to write?

Sleeping Cutie of The Faded Fairytales was by far my most favorite book to write and I am happy to see that it has become a favorite of my readers. I think it was because I got to write from a very mean-spirited male character’s point of view and this allowed readers to see him be humbled in many ways and find the happiness that he had been running away from all of his life.

You wrote "I am a writer that creates stories and characters for black girls and women who never got to see themselves as the protagonist.

Whether you were told that your skin was too dark, your hair was too nappy, your body was too big or too tall or all of the above, I’m here to tell you it was all a lie and I have something written just for you. For us." I like that you are highlighting the overshadowed full-figured women who are an overlooked character to write about. Why do you think it is important to write for those readers who have those characteristics?

I think that everybody is deserving of positive representations of themselves when it comes to all forms of media but especially literature. For so many of us reading is an escape from real-world problems, but as we all know books don’t exist in a vacuum so a lot of discrimination, intentional and unintentional, ends up in these stories especially romance. And when readers see the same type of person over and over being declared the standard it’s almost like telling people who don’t fit that mold that they are undeserving of seeing someone who looks like themselves find love even in the fictional world. But I’m a big believer in life imitating art so I do my part to write the world that I want to see.

Have you found your Prince Charming yet?

Even though I do enjoy writing books about Prince Charming, finding one is currently not on my to-do list. In the meantime, though I encourage women to put themselves and their needs and happiness above anyone else’s because with or without a partner we should strive to be the best and most complete version of ourselves so that everything else is just the cherry on top.

What do you have in the works right now for 2021?

My first goal of 2021 was to have all of my books available in paperback format and I’m happy to say that became a reality the first day of the year. As for new projects, so far I have a Valentine’s Day standalone novella coming out and I plan to write one more installment to both The Soundtrack Series and The Faded Fairytales. If time permits I also have another standalone novel outlined, but if not that one should definitely be released in the first quarter of 2022. I hope to have my entire catalog on audiobook by the end of the year, but so far I am waiting for my first novella to be put up and the fairytales are currently in production..

Laundry Daze

Like a good neighbor, Sidney is thereNeither Daren nor Sidney began Valentine’s Day expecting to end the night alone, but a long day of disappointments help make room for their standing weekly laundry date to continue as scheduled only this time the clothes won’t be the only thing coming clean in the wash.

Niki Jilvontae

Joint Custody Joint Custody, defined as a legal situation were both parents share major decision making regarding their shared child’s education, medical care, and religious upbringing. It can be an ideal situation for two people who have found they are no longer compatible but have a child together and want what’s best for that child. However, how does joint custody work out when the child is the least of their concern? What happens when drugs, jealousy, vindictiveness, and egos get involved then the jail time, lies,cheating, fights, and even murder ensues? Who will be there to protect the innocent child like the Joint Custody order was supposed to? Come on this turbulent, drama-filled, thrill ride with Diva, Majesty, and their five-year-old son MJ to find out if simple separation is better than... JOINT Custody!!

COMING SOON

Author DAK

BOOK RELEASE 3/20/2021

"IN ALL OF MY BOOKS, I LIKE TO HELP READERS ESCAPE THEIR REALITY AND BE ENGROSSED IN SOMEONE ELSE’S. (EVEN IF THEY AREN’T REAL LOL) MY CHARACTERS ARE RELATABLE IN A WAY THAT HELPS READERS LOOK FROM ALL DIFFERENT CHARACTER PERSONALITIES, DIFFERENT MINDSETS, AND ASPECTS. MY BOOKS PROVIDE A SENSE OF DETAIL THAT ENGAGES READERS." -DAK

A diamond is still a diamond no matter how dirty it is.

Diamond Kane’s past has shaped her, turning her into the killer she is. Diamond lives by the motto get that bread get that head then leave.But Diamond’s life isn’t as glitz and glam as it may seem. Getting her pay back one kill

at

a

time.

The

people

closest

to

her

turn

envious.Diamond’s vengeance becomes her peace of mind as her heart grows cold.When one of the bodies she is about to drop is someone she once knew, Diamond’s entire life is changed. As Justice “Ice” Russ reentered her life Diamond wonders if he will be able to save her, or add to the damage already done.Will Diamond continue on her path of hate or will she finally find the peace she’s been searching for?

SNEAK PEEK “Crissy, I’m about to run downstairs and get some food. Cover for me,”Diamond told her identical twin sister. As she quickly slipped into a pair of ripped jean shorts and slid into her flip flops.“Girl who is bringing you food?” Cristal asked while kicking her feet up sitting up on her bed. “I know you better be sharing,”her fraternal sister Gem commented without looking up from her book. Triplets. Diamond, Cristal, and Gem were best friends before they’d entered the world. In their mothers womb the unbreakable bond had been created.

Diamond and Cristal, split from one egg, while Gem who was the oldest, her fertilized egg dared to be different. She’d come out looking different, and acting different. While Cristal and Diamond both like to hang out with their friends and entertain boys and drama. Gem stayed to herself, her head stayed in books and she was determined to make it out of the hood.

She was the oldest and wisest of the three.

The only one with a plan. Gem loved her sisters but she had to make it before she could help them. So she steered clear of all their plans to sneak out. “I know your greedy ass better distract mommy if she comes in here looking for me, first one to ask for a piece, last one to hold it down” Diamond answered, rolling her eyes. She softly twisted the nob while tiptoeing out of her room and past her parents hurrying out the house. Diamond stepped outside and the warm spring breeze caused slight goosebumps to arise on her arms. She looked down the block and she could see her boyfriend Justice walking towards her at snail's pace. She skipped down the stairs of her parents brownstone deciding she was gonna meet him halfway

Before Diamond could take another step forward the streetlight revealed the identity of the person walking in her direction. A shock of fear zipped through her heart as she doubled back. “Why you running from a nigga? You was just walking your fine ass towards me.” Rod taunted quickly grabbing her by the arm and spinning her around. Diamond’s heart filled with panic as he tugged on her shorts. “No, stop.” She protested trying to fight him off but Rod had her beat in height and weight.

He used his weight to press her down onto the stairs and covered her mouth while using his other pants to pull her shorts down. Diamond’s eyes widened as her short betrayed her and she felt Rod’s rod against her inner thigh. Skin to skin, no protection.

Diamonds thoughts ran wild. Why was he doing this? Why wouldn't he just stop?

What if he had aids? Vomit filled the back of her throat as he rammed himself into her.

Her arms and back felt like it would break from all the pressure he was applying on her. She tried fighting him off but it was of no use. ***“Stop...it” Justice heard Diamond's voice and he began rushing to her building. Diamond's hands were pinned above her head and her legs were spread open as the person in front of her took her innocence. When Rod turned around showing them his face, Justice pulled out his gun and put a bullet in his head. “Ahhh,” Diamond screamed, making Justice’s heart speed up. Cleo stood back shocked. And Justice rushes over to Diamond placing his hand softly around her mouth. “Please Diamond,” he pleaded with wide eyes. He’d just caught his first body at 14 and he was numb. Diamond was frightened but not of him. She nodded her head then stood up quickly putting on the shorts and panties that Rod had snatched off of her.

SNEAK PEEK She wiped her tears away quickly as she used her shirt to wipe the blood off her face. Justice gave her the food and kissed her on her lip as he backpedaled and grabbed Cleo’s arm and they trotted down a shortcut to Ms. Debbie’s house.Diamond stared into the night sky admiring the stars. She couldn't sleep. Every night for five years the events of that night replayed in her mind like a cassette that never broke. It was the day everything had changed in Diamonds life. The feeling of being violated had made her become a shell of the timid person she’d once been. She’s changed, towards everyone. Everyone but Justice. The only person who had ever made her feel safe was in a world of his own. Justice Russ, her first love.

The first boy she’d given her body to willingly had vanished like thin air. After Justice’s family was targeted by the feds, they picked up and left. Never giving Justice and Diamond a chance to properly say goodbye. She was fourteen carrying a baby and his father was nowhere in sight. Diamond’s odds were against her as she made her way to the abortion clinic getting rid of the only thing that filled her void.The pain that Diamond felt for so long had numbed her.

Justice moving had changed her life for the worst. She no longer had her protector.

Everyone that had a score to settle with Justice and his family brought their smoke to Diamond.

The men took from her while paying women to jump her. Diamond had become most hated because she was guilty by association. Things had gotten so bad that Diamond was sent away to Atlanta to live with her aunt. But it was too late. Diamond’s life experience at fourteen made her want to die. The love of a boy had been everything to her. The only thing she felt like she needed to breathe. And when that love was lost Diamond’s torture began. Her entire life had been flipped upside down. Tired

of being the victim, once Diamond got to Atlanta she’d become the problem. She was the new girl which meant she had the advantage.

Becoming the problem was less painful, a little traumatizing, but Diamond’s trauma began way before she made it to Atlanta. Men made her blood boil. They used their strength to take.

Diamond had been abused so much that she’d learned the game in her own way. She figured out that pussy power was real. Diamond played a dirty game of give and take and over the years she’d mastered it. She tossed the rest of her blunt over the balcony while blowing the smoke into the air. Diamond reentered the bedroom and the sight of her two week fling Marcus aka Mar sprawled out on the bed with his mouth open, ass naked, and snoring disgusted her.

She’s thrown that dope pussy at him and put him to sleep. I'm convinced this pussy laced with melatonin. She thought to herself as she put her pants on over the babydoll lingerie she wore. She reached into her purse grabbing her pussy pink pistol. Diamond stared at Mar while shaking her head as she screwed on the silencer. She’d given him the last piece of pussy he would ever have and he didn't even know it.

He laid there carefree snoring like a bear. Her lips turned up into a smile. The feeling of having the advantage made her feel good. She felt relief in playing with men's lives. She had a specific type of men that she preyed on killing.

It was men who hustled, street niggas. They were the ones that had taken so much from her.

Skum of the earth in her eyes. They poisoned people to make a living and did it so easily. Even with the money, cars and clothes, they still stole women’s pride. Deciding that they’d take the one thing they couldn’t have. Diamond's way of thinking had transformed from the fourteen year old naive little girl to a nineteen year old killer. Like Madea, she would rather get someone first before they got her. The game had no rules any longer and she was playing by her own. Men and their fetishes. Diamond thought to herself while slipping into her Christian Dior sneakers.

SNEAK PEEK Pew! The whizzing sound of the silent bullet went into Mar’s leg causing him to howl. His eyes widened in fear as the burning sensation confused him. This bitch just shot me. He thought to himself as blood saturated his sheets. “Don’t even think about it, I already moved all the guns. So let’s make this quick. Get the fuck up.” Diamond ordered as she stepped closer to him. Mar’s head spun as he tried thinking fast but the reality was he’d been outsmarted by a woman. Diamond had come to New Orleans, found out who the money man was and laced him with her gold cat. Her well maintenanced pussy seemed to put a spell on every single man she’d put it down on. She made niggas let down their guard and right before they knew it she fucked their entire life up. Pew!Another shot to the ass, Mar howled like a wolf transforming in a full moon, while bucking forward. “Hurry the fuck up. The next one is going through your head.” She told him in a steady tone. Diamond didn’t have time for games. She had a bag to fill up and a flight to catch. Mar’s face turned into a scowl as he led the way to the safe. Diamond's face was etched in his brain. He would humble himself and give her what she wanted then he would find her and kill her. He couldn’t believe a woman had caught him slipping. Diamond followed a limping Mar and his trail of blood into his walk in closet. She watched as he slid his clothes to one side of the wall revealing the steel maximum security safe, that contained his entire life savings. Diamond put the gun to the back of his head ready for him to hurry up and open it. This was the part of the game that gave her an adrenaline rush. “I got kids,” Mar began trying to negotiate just as he was about to place his thumb on the fingerprint pad. Diamond rolled her eyes because it never failed. “The only way you’ll ever see them again is if you open this safe up.” she lied as the side of her mouth quirked up.

“What type of game are you playing?” He asked and Diamond struck him with her piece.

“Enough with the questions. Open the fucking safe. Do I need to put another hole in you to speed up the pro—“

Before Diamond could finish her sentence Mar used all his strength to overpower her. She stumbled backward as he tried reaching for her gun. She kicked his wounded leg causing him to fall. The butt of her gun went across the side of his face, and Diamond used her advantage to pounce on him. All her years of pain, she released onto Mar without giving him a chance to recover. “Die what the fuck!” Cyann, Diamond's partner in crime voice fussed in alarm causing Diamond to snap out of her trance. Mar laid in a pool of blood unrecognizable and dead. “This wasn’t part of the plan, you were supposed to be in and out.

And you killed him before he even opened the safe.” Cyann added. Diamond kneeled down to Mary’s lifeless body while pulling out a pocket knife. She cut his thumb off and walked over to the safe placing it on the pad. “Please let this shit work.” She whispered to herself as she held Mar’s finger down. After five seconds the sound of the safe unlocking was music to her ears. The sight of half a million dollars caused her eyes to bulge. Mar was her biggest lick yet. She grabbed duffle bags that sat on the ground and filled them both up. “Unh unh, take the jewelry too,” Cyann said as her brows furrowed together.

Diamond raised one of her brows before responding. “Jewelry is traceable. Not money.”

She walked out of the closet with the two bags in her hand leaving Cyann to do her own dirt.

Jewelry was tricky when taking it. You had to sell it to make your coins and that was a risk.

Wasn't no telling who’d get caught wearing the next man's pieces. Cyann quickly grabbed the Nike bookbag and stuffed the jewelry that was worth millions of dollars. She met Diamond atthe door and they both walked out placing their shades over their eyes. The ladies both hopped into the blacked-out 2021 Ashton Martin and into the sunrise. Diamond reclined her chair wondering in what ways she could flip her money.

SNEAK PEEK The store was quiet, I’m assuming because it was the middle of the day and the location was so remote. Taking care of my hygiene, I washed my hands and headed out of the bathroom.

Stepping inside the convenience store, I grabbed a small cup of pineapples for me to munch on while on the road. Passing the women’s restroom on my right side before I walked out of the building, I heard what sounded like someone crying. Never the type of man to leave a woman helpless, I tapped on the door to make sure she was ok. “Everything aight in there?”“Yea…yes, Thad I’m…I’m ok,” Lyric replied shakily.“Lyric? You sure? I’m coming in to check on you,” I called out gently while opening the door slowly, stepping inside cautiously.

“You in here by yourself?”“Ahhh…I…mmmm….I think so,”“Am I interrupting something?” I turned the deadbolt on the door and pushed the garbage can against it just in case. I didn’t need to catch no case out here in the country, but Lyric sounded like…Checking underneath the stalls for her feet, I saw one of her stilettos planted firmly on the floor with her pink lace thong around her ankle in the handicapped stall. Hearing her heavy breathing led me to the only conclusion feasible: Lyric was in the bathroom stall at the Pilot gas station fingering that sloppy, wet pussy. I heard her fingers as they eased in and out of her slit, my ears picked up her tiny moans each time her fingers plunged inside. SHIT! The whole damn bathroom smelled like that sweet honey and I wanted to taste that juice on my lips.“Nooo…mmmm…Thad you…you….”“Unlock the door, baby,” I mumbled lowly, jiggling the door slightly.“I…I can’t…”“Yes you can. Raise your free hand up and lean forward. Slide the lock to your right,” I coached, hearing her follow my direction as the door to the stall swung open. “That’s a big girl,” I mumbled, joining her quick session. “Daddy so proud of you. Lemme give you a present for being my big girl,” I ran my free hand through her dreads as my hand found her sugary spot.

Resting my growing rod against her stomach, I tickled her stickiness as she moved back and forth against my two fingers, moaning in ecstasy. Tilting her head to the right, I ran my tongue down the side of her neck, the salty taste of her skin had me ready to slide inside her softness.

The heat from her skin told me she wanted me, feeling her cream pool in my palm I gently bit her shoulders while she whimpered for me to stroke that kitty some more.“Thad… mmmm….”BAM! BAM! BAM! “Hey, you gotta open this door, it’s people out here that gotta pee too!” a woman’s voice yelled with a country twang. “What you doing in there anyway, lady!”

NEW W E N

NEW W E N W E N W E N

NEW NEW NEW W E N

a n e l a T man l l i T

NEW AUTHOR

About Talena I'm an author who researches everything I write. As soon as I come up with a story-line, I'm making sure to cross all my t's and dot all my i's. My writings always have meaning behind them, and can often speak volumes about the way in which my mind thinks. My focus is to use feelings and emotions in a way that creates an equally emotional response in the reader.

She began reading novels at a very early age and always wanted to write her own story one day. Finally, she took the courage to do it. Based on Talena's first novel, I gained some insight into who she is as a writer. She's a big fan of love stories. In her words “The book I've written for this month is called Yasmine & Romeo: A Valentine's Day Short. I truly enjoyed writing this short love story because it teaches you valuable lessons and I stay dropping gems throughout the story. I wrote a character name,d Benjamin Wilson, Oh my God! That man is hilarious. I loved writing his scenes. Also, Yasmine and Romeo will forever live in my heart. Their story really touched me when I came up with it.” It took me one night to finish this short Valentine novel, but I was impressed. I found myself giggling and smiling when I read her story. Be sure to check it out. Available on Amazon.

Book Review BOOK REVIEW

Yasmine & Romeo: A Valentine’s Day Short Twenty-six-year-old Yasmine Wilson decides to finally leave her worthless boyfriend Alonzo.

She’s determined to take back control of her destiny. Yasmine moves to San Antonio for a fresh start. Two weeks before Valentine’s Day, she cross paths again with the unforgettable Dr. Pierce A.K.A Romeo from her past.

I Love It! Talena Tillman is a new author on the block, and she came in with a short dotty valentine's day novel. In this story, Yasmine moved away from her ex-boyfriend and kicked him to the curb to start fresh. Love often appears unexpectedly in those beginnings. Since life is too short to be committed to a bad boyfriend, I was intrigued by the first chapter. It was impossible for me to stop reading the book after I started.

This story is a romantic comedy of sexiness. The author gave her characters personalities I could relate to. My favorite was Ben, her pops, who kept me laughing throughout. The ending of the story was so touching. It was nice to see that Yasmine won and found true love with Romeo because he truly spoils her every time he gets the chance. My favorite part of the novel was its well-written plot and realistic f

INTERVIEW CHRISTINA C. JONES A SUCCESSFUL INDEPENDENT AUTHOR

A Successful Independent Author Christina C. Jones Christina C. Jones is a mother of two girls, a wife for almost thirteen years, and a creative Author. After eight years as an independent author, she has published sixty-five novels.

Many have been moved by her stories of Black people in love. Among all her creative endeavors, from graphic design to party planning, writing romance novels is the one she is most passionate about.

Almost everyone can agree that Christina's Contemporary romance novels are captivating. Her writing is not limited to contemporary romance, but she also writes about Black people in love. I love that because although I am a lover of a good hood drama, I also enjoy novels that have a more realistic romance. In January, Maybe Next Time, her latest release, was released. There is a rocky stage in Denver and Kensa's marriage in this story. They are trying to figuring out how to overcome a rift that has left them barely speaking to each other, so they can find their way back to the love that brought them together in the first place. It was a novel I read that I felt connected to both the characters and the story itself. (Check out my book review too.)

She's written stories with the hope to touch many people who can relate. In her own words, CCJ said I don't know that I write with any specific message in mind - just a desire to get the stories from my head onto the page.

My biggest hope is that the myriad readers you choose my work can walk away from it feeling like the characters are familiar - that they see themselves and people like them overcoming roadblocks, large and small, to find their way towards healthy relationships that help make up the whole of whomever they are.

MAYBE NEXT TIME

Because of her knowledge of her craft, Christina is independently successful. Being an independent author, she has experienced trials and tribulations. Freedom as a writer is the best choice. In her own words, CCJ said “I write independently because I love the freedom of not having my art filtered through anyone else's lens first. It's straight from me to the reader, with no sanitizing to make it more palatable for a mainstream audience. All of my work contains some exploration of interpersonal romance, but it spans many genres within the "romance" umbrella. Maybe someday that will change, but for now, I have many more love stories to tell.”

For many Authors on the horizon, Christina is a Hidden Gem. The reason I say this is because she has a very resourceful YouTube channel called Christina C Jones and she shares almost everything related to publishing a book. She presents various useful resources that can be used to become another successful independent author. If becoming an author is of interest to you, you should definitely check out her channel as she imparts her knowledge.

Book Review BOOK REVIEW

Maybe Next Time For better or worse…That was the promise Denver and Kensa made, but it’s a sentiment they’ve somehow lost along the way. What started as a passionate wildfire has diminished to a flicker, all but snuffed out by unspoken fears, perceived betrayal, and a complete breakdown in communication.Can either of them tuck their ego away long enough to rekindle their flame?

For Better or Worse Since I am married and have experienced miscommunication, I could relate to Kensa’s perspective, as well as Denver’s as well. Signing the marriage certificate is more than just signing to establish you and your spouse are now one and changing your last name. You are committing yourself to your significant other. All the battles to come ahead will be fought together.

Wow. This novel was really good. I felt I was reading a real-life story. It was relatable as someone who had experienced miscommunication in marriage. I enjoyed this short read. Marriage isn't easy, but it's worth it.

She Reads Fire Book Review

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