Epitome of Hypocrisy by Kenny McGhee Epitome of Hypocrisy: Sex, Drugs and the Real Birth of Rock & Roll is an unflinching autobiographical journey through the tumultuous landscape of the 1960s and 70s music scene. The author delves into personal experiences marked...
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FEATURED: Bossy: Boulder Billionaires Complete Series by Mia Mara
About Featured Book: Bossy: Boulder Billionaires Complete Series by Mia Mara Four filthy rich bosses. Four forbidden flings. One addictive collection. They never meant to lose control. Until they did. JACKSON: The grumpy tech billionaire who vanished after one night…...
FEATURED: Desiree’s Revenge by K.C. Carson
Prologue
November 28, 1972
What the hell just happened? wondered Tony Marino.
Tony had been walking home from a poker game in Brooklyn’s Little Italy, the Bensonhurst section. The private detective was enjoying the midnight peace and quiet on the neighborhood’s normally busy Eighteenth Avenue. The street at that hour was mostly deserted, lit only by streetlights, a few bars and, on nights like this one, the moon. He was taking his time, minding his own business.
Around 77th Street, though, a lone figure on the other side of the street caught his eye. This was a woman, a tall, slender one, wearing a waist-length bolero-type leather jacket, tight jeans and low-heeled boots. She carried no handbag or purse, which struck him as unusual for any woman, anywhere. Her relaxed, confident stride was that of a dancer, he mused, or maybe a runway model. An image of an Arabian thoroughbred flew into his head.
That probably would have been enough to draw his attention, but there was something else. This was a Black woman, walking by herself in Bensonhurst late at night. One of the things Tony’s mother taught him to despise about his neighborhood’s culture was its insularity, especially its often-virulent racism. Black people risked their lives by venturing there. Any Black person out alone at any time, but especially a woman late at night, had to be in danger. He decided to keep an eye on this one. What was she doing here? he wondered. Where could she possibly be going?
He watched a patrol car slow to a crawl as it drew up close. He thought the cops might hassle her, but the car drove on.
As she crossed 80th Street, three men tumbled out of Giovanni’s Bar, laughing and play-fighting with one another. One was tall and thin, another short and pudgy. The third looked like a bodybuilder. Their laughter stopped when they saw the woman coming up the block. In an instant, they had her surrounded. She stopped walking. They closed in. The muscleman gestured toward an alley between two buildings. Tony couldn’t hear what they were calling to her or at her, but he could tell she was in trouble. He started running towards them. By the time he was halfway across the street, she’d dispatched the short one with a straight kick to the groin and a vicious chop to the neck, and the tall one with a roundhouse kick to the chest. When she turned to the muscleman, though, he pulled a gun out of his waistband. Tony closed the last few yards in seconds, just in time to bring the butt of his own .45 down on the back of the man’s head.
As the predator crumpled to the ground, Tony asked the woman, “Are you all right?”
This was the first time he could see her in full light. She was a couple of inches taller than his five-ten, athletically built and dark-skinned, with high cheekbones, full lips and big black eyes. He was mesmerized. Those big eyes were blazing though, not with gratitude but with anger.
“Just what the hell you think you’re doin’?” she barked. This was the last thing he expected to hear.
“This guy had a gun,” he stammered. “You were in trouble.”
“And who asked for a white knight to ride in and rescue this damsel in distress? I’m pretty damn sure it weren’t me!”
“But he had a gun. He was turning to point it at you.”
“I know that. And that gun would’ve been flyin’ out of his hands in a split-second, if you didn’t show up and ruin everything.”
Tony didn’t know what to say. What did she mean, “ruin everything?” He thought he might have saved her life. But she turned and marched away, fast. He caught up and asked, “Can I give you a lift? My car’s on the next block.”
“No. I don’t need nothin’ from you. Get away from me. Go!”
He was totally perplexed by her fury. At the same time, he was thinking, God, she’s beautiful!
The episode ended when they reached the subway station. She turned, pointed her finger at him, and commanded, “Don’t even think about followin’.” Then she disappeared down the stairs.
The rest of the way home, the rest of the night, Tony couldn’t get her out of his mind. Who was this woman? he wondered. And what the hell just happened?
FEATURED: The Weasel by Ana Aria
The Weasel by Ana Aria Anna lives a picture-perfect life as a school principal, wife, and mother—until a strange animal repeatedly crosses her path, sparking an eerie obsession. For a year, the furry creature appears like clockwork… then vanishes on her 40th birthday,...
FEATURED: Nothing and Everything by Engin Ozertugrul
About Featured Book: Nothing and Everything by Engin Ozertugrul In Nothing and Everything, a new poetry collection by Dr. Engin Ozertugrul, the reader is invited into a deeply personal exploration of human existence, where paradox and transcendence coexist. Known for...
FEATURED: EAT!: A Guide to Radiant Recovery Using Food and Amino Acids to Repair the Addicted Brain and Reduce Cravings by Christina Veselak
EAT!: A Guide to Radiant Recovery Using Food and Amino Acids to Repair the Addicted Brain and Reduce Cravings by Christina Veselak EAT! Fuel Your Brain, Transform Your Recovery is a groundbreaking guide that connects nutrition to successful addiction recovery....
FEATURED: Jesus Descended to Hell and Was Rescued by the Father by Kevin Coyle
Kevin Coyle is the author of the book Jesus Descended to Hell and Was Rescued by the Father: Seventeen Subterranean Passion-of-Christ Mysteries Solved, which is the second installment in the “Jesus Descended To Hell” series.
In his writings, Coyle explores interpretations of biblical passages and early Christian teachings concerning Jesus’s descent into the underworld, a theme referenced in the Apostles’ Creed and various theological discussions throughout Christian history. His approach seeks to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the significance of this event within the broader context of Christian soteriology.
While specific biographical details about Kevin Coyle are limited in publicly available sources, his contributions through this series indicate a focus on theological inquiry and a commitment to exploring complex aspects of Christian doctrine.
FEATURED: Why Your Relationship Sucks (and How to Fix Your Marriage): A Christian and Secular Marriage Workbook for Couples by Amara Wisen
About Featured Book: Why Your Relationship Sucks (and How to Fix Your Marriage): A Christian and Secular Marriage Workbook for Couples by Amara Wisen If your relationship feels more like a roommate agreement than the perfect marriage, you’re not alone—and you’re not...
FEATURED: Generational Fusion: How to Master the Multi- Gen Workforce: Uniting Strengths Across Ages by Nikhil Raval
Generational Fusion: How to Master the Multi- Gen Workforce: Uniting Strengths Across Ages by Nikhil Raval Are you prepared to lead across generations? In this essential guide, leadership expert Nikhil Raval dives into the Points of Difference (PODs) that define...
FEATURED: The Courage To Leave: Breaking Free from Toxic Workplaces by Jeff Davis
About The Courage To Leave: Breaking Free from Toxic Workplaces by Jeff Davis: The Courage to Leave pulls back the curtain on the hidden realities of toxic work cultures. Through raw, unfiltered storytelling and research-backed insights, Jeff Davis gives a voice to...
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FEATURED: A Portion of Malice: Ages of Malice, Book I by Lloyd Jeffries
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FEATURED: Inked Daddies by Liz Archer
About Featured Book: Inked Daddies by Liz Archer Three silver fox tattoo artists… Are about to turn the fantasies of one curvy librarian… Into reality. I’m the preacher’s daughter for Christ’s sake. I shouldn’t be fantasizing about my father’s three hot-as-sin best...
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Featured Post: Times of Clouds and Sun by michael hager
Michael Dane Hager writing credits include a novel, poetry, short stories, theatrical plays, and film scripts. He was formerly Managing Editor for the largest English newspaper in Mexico. His first novel Just Beyond the Edge, was published in 2011. In August, 2008, his play The Last Ride premiered at an international regional theater. In 2020, he completed his second novel In the Times of Clouds & Sun. He has won awards and grants for his poetry and published an anthology of his poetry titled, Reckoning of the Heart. His film scripts have received numerous laurels from major film festivals. He is currently working on a short story collection titled, Wayward Messages. In addition to his writing credits, he is an accomplished songwriter with over 40 songs recorded by a variety of artists. He lives with his wife of 52 years, Christina, in Fort Collins, Colorado.
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I am an award-winning Life Purpose and Business Coach, empowering women to create 6- and 7-figure soul-aligned businesses while expressing their true purpose. Through coaching and speaking, I help soulful entrepreneurs scale their businesses into global empires, leave their 9-to-5 jobs, and earn a lucrative income doing what they love.
With a BS in Psychology, a Master’s in Business Management, and over 12 years of international business leadership experience, I built a multi-million-dollar coaching business in just four years—while raising two kids. My passion is guiding women to transform their lives by creating successful, purpose-driven businesses.
A cancer survivor, single mom, and former corporate professional, I know firsthand the challenges of building a business under pressure. I scaled my business to six figures while recovering from cancer and breastfeeding my baby, then grew it to seven figures while navigating a divorce.
I’ve traveled to over 50 countries, lived in Australia for 10 years, and turned my hardships into a powerful mission—helping women worldwide achieve financial freedom and purpose-driven success.
FEATURED: Forbidden Vows by K.C. Crowne
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Featured Post: Reaching for Forever by Tara Eldana
I am a recently retired, multi-award-winning staff writer for a weekly community newspaper chain in metro Detroit. I became hooked on romance fiction when my 11th-grade English teacher rejected my book report, saying the book was much too easy for me, and insisted I read and report on Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca.
After some life-changing health issues, and covering over a dozen murder and criminal sexual conduct trials, I decided to write the kind of stories I like to read, stories with happy endings.
I love the romance genre and love letting my characters take control of their stories. I write under the pen name of Tara Eldana.