The Stone Necklace braids together the stories of a grieving widow, a struggling nurse, a young mother, and a troubled homeless man, reminding us of the empowering and surprising ways our lives touch one another and how, together, we can recover from even the greatest of losses. Carla Damron weaves the stories of four people in Columbia, South Carolina, whose seemingly disparate existences intersect through tragedies realized and tragedies averted. Lena Hastings survived breast cancer and marital infidelity but now faces an uncertain future and crises with her teenaged daughter Becca without the support of the one person she has always counted on. Intensive care nurse Sandy Albright, newly released from drug rehab, confronts temptations from her past and false accusations threatening her career, leaving her to wonder if a drug-free life is really living. Tonya Ladson, a mother whose child is injured in the wreck, must decide if her domineering husband is right and a lawsuit will solve their financial problems. Joe Booker, a homeless man who sleeps in a graveyard, loses his gentle benefactor and must either succumb to the real and imagined evils of his world or find the heretofore-untapped courage to care for himself and for others as a stranger once cared for him. Weighted down by their respective pasts, the characters must make life-altering choices that reverberate into the fates of the others, ultimately bringing them together in unexpected but healing acts of compassion, forgiveness, and redemption.The Stone Necklace includes a foreword from novelist Patti Callahan Henry.

    After the death of her father, fourteen year old Kala, an exceptional student who dreams about the future before it happens, takes on the responsibility of raising three younger brothers and a sister while struggling to survive the "concrete jungle" they call home. Kala, who will do anything to save her siblings from suffering, comes up with a plan to keep them together amidst the challenges of poverty, government interference, and a drug addicted mother. When one of the eight years old twin boys begins to set deadly fires and is saved from the police by their bank robbing neighbor, Kala finds in him a friend and confidante. Their lives continue to unravel after their mother is killed, but Aunt Charlie, their gay, ex-marine corps uncle, arrives just in time to rescue the family and to show Kala that true parental love really does exist.Kevin Hart (comedian, actor, writer), Charles Fuller (Pulitzer Prize winning playwright), and Leslie Esdaile Banks (author of the Vampire Huntress Series), all love – “Fish and Grits” – the first novel by independent publisher and author, Tina Smith-Brown.

    An unexpected event sends her reeling - even more so when a pregnant mistress steps forward. Marcel survives a divorce, but there’s no solace when he loses his only child. Love has caused Donna and Marcel nothing but pain, but it may be the only thing powerful enough to heal their broken hearts. ●●●●● EXCERPT ●●●●● She cried out in shock and reflexively wrapped her legs around his waist. Marcel backed her against the counter and set her on top of it. Now they were the same height. He looked into her eyes and smiled when he saw Donna’s expression of shock and wonderment. Her legs were spread wide to accommodate him. With the counter supporting her, he was able to release her ass and undo the buttons on his shirt. Donna watched, still somewhat in a daze. She barely felt him lift her off the tiles. And she wasn’t a small woman. She knew he was strong, but… Marcel got his shirt off, and everything became crystal clear. Of course he didn’t have any trouble lifting her. Under the bright lights in the kitchen, Donna saw that every muscle he’d been hiding under his tee-shirts was as beautifully sculpted as she imagined. His massive pectorals were the most impressive, but his arms and shoulders were equally enticing. Every bulge fought for her attention. Donna wasn’t aware that her mouth hung open. Marcel stepped closer, and she held both hands up – not to stop him, but to feel the goose bumps that were scattered across his chest. She sucked air between her teeth the moment her hands came in contact with his dark flesh. He was so hot. And hard! She felt his powerful muscles ripple beneath her fingertips. She felt his heart thumping strong against his sternum. Her bottom lip slipped into her own mouth as she fondled him at will. His nipples were big and dark. She couldn’t resist tasting them. Marcel’s hand moved to the back of her neck as she ducked down and suckled his nipple unexpectedly. He looked up to the ceiling and took a deep, slow breath. Donna licked one nipple, and then the other. She sucked them both and nibbled them softly. She stopped when the heaving of his chest became more pronounced. She looked up at him, her lips wet, her face flushed with heat. “I want you,” he said. “I need you. Now.” His eyes were low and drunk with passion. The yearning between Donna’s legs was white hot. She nodded and grabbed hold of his shoulders, so he could help her off the counter. ●●●●● © Keith Thomas Walker

    A story of redemption, forgiveness, and never forgetting your one true love. ONE NIGHT WITH HARRISON, a novella that introduces us to a young Harrison James and what happens when a meet and greet with some fans turns into something far bigger than he ever anticipated MY UNEXPECTED FOREVER, a novel that finds two families torn apart for different reasons, one is dealing with heartache and loss, the other is trying to find acceptance. Join them in this story as they come together against all the odds to find the happiness they deserve. FINDING MY FOREVER, a novel, which tells the true meaning of love. Sacrifice, trust, devotion and taking chances all play keys roles in this story of how two people come together while dealing with a threat that could ruin their lives forever.

    Given this theme, Gibson, Ivancevich, Donnelly, and Konopaske, present and interpret organizational behavior theory and research so that students can comprehend the three characteristics common to all organizations-behavior, structure, and processes-as affected by actions of managers. The text is organized and presented in a sequence based on behavior, structure, and process. Each part has been presented as a self-contained unit and can therefore be presented in whatever sequence the instructor prefers. The text is easily adaptable to these individual preferences. This edition emphasizes that the most successful managers in the global economy will be those who can anticipate, adapt, and manage change.

    Cyril Wecht and award-winning journalist Charles Bosworth, Jr., have written a riveting narrative that exposes the disturbing truth behind the Christmas Day murder of six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey. Dr. Wecht's expert analysis of the public record leads to shocking new conclusions divulged here for the first time. There is evidence that the child beauty queen's death was a tragic accident, not a deliberate murder. Autopsy evidence is consistent with sexual abuse prior to her death, and certain crime scene evidence contradicts the "intruder theory.” Was the murder scene compromised? Discover who Dr. Wecht believes is really responsible for JonBenet's death. Includes the complete ramson note and autopsy report. “Cyril Wecht is the Sherlock Holmes of forensic medicine,” according to famed attorney Alan Dershowitz.

    The novel begins as ?The Great War? is coming to an end. As Robert Parker?s body is lowered into the grave, Herman Camm introduces himself to the mourning family. He is a beady-eyed, small-framed, well-dressed man with a mysterious stare?and he is about to drastically change the lives of three women: Mae Lou Parker; her daughter, Carrie; and Pearl Brown. On Christmas Eve in Jefferson County, Virginia, trouble arrives when Carrie reveals a disturbing secret that will haunt and change their lives forever. Mae Lou is fed up with Herman spending time with other women and she goes to confront him. Everybody wants a part of him, including Willie; however, the tables are slightly turned when Willie ends up with a gun pointing directly at him. All of the stories converge when Herman is found dead from a shotgun wound. There are many people Herman has offended. And all three women are suspects in his murder. An investigation is launched. But no one really cares, including the police. Blackberry Days of Summer is a brilliantly crafted story of family secrets, complexity and the courage of forgiveness.

    Mother of Prevention by Lori Copeland released on Feb 22, 2005 is available now for purchase.

    Yule-tide carols are playing on the radio, but all Nedra Brooks wants for Christmas is a night of satisfaction. Recently separated from her on again, off again boyfriend, Darryl, Nedra finds her self in the arms of the most unlikely candidate, her handsome neighbor, Justin Steele. Years of sexual tension finally come to a head when she seeks, and finds, temporary satisfaction in Justin’s arms. After the climax settles, deeper feelings are unearthed, and they stumble into more than either of them had bargained for. Will the two of them be able to leave it in the bedroom and move on? Or will this sexy Christmas gift exchange turn into something more?

    Sheltered by her single mother and educated in an exclusive private school in Detroit, Grace was not ready for the harsh realities of an unforgiving world. Grace's naiveti coupled with her desire to experience life on her own terms leads her down a path of emotional devastation and physical abuse. Through a chance encounter Grace meets Mike, a successful design artist who introduces her to a relationship very different from her usual one-night-stands and affairs with married men. Things take a turn for the worse however when Grace's roommate walks in on her and her married personal trainer in their apartment. This betrayal tears apart Mike and Grace's romance and shatters the trust and friendship between Grace and Trina. In the midst of torn relationships and a life-shattering loss, Grace is left with no one to turn to except the God she thought had long since abandoned her.

    The great Civil War has ended, but on the wild Staked Plains of Texas, another ancient struggle continues as white buffalo hunters slaughter herds of bison and the Commanche nation fights back with strength and guile.

    They’ve spent four passionate years together and during that time, they experienced unique events that drew them closer together than most couples their age. Jarvis and Venice have no choice but to trust that the love they share will withstand any challenge. Heading off to separate colleges would undoubtedly be a test of their undying love and fiery passion. Even though they have agreed to see other people during college, Venice is not counting on falling in love with another man. That is, until drop dead gorgeous Craig Bennett, a junior architecture major, enters her life like a hurricane. From the moment their eyes meet, Venice realizes that she is in trouble. Craig stirs feelings inside her that she has only previously felt with Jarvis. Within weeks, Venice finds herself in a full-blown love affair. At the same time, she is hoping and praying that her secrets will not destroy her new relationship with Craig or cause Jarvis any undeserved pain. Torn between the two most passionate men that she has ever met, Venice has to make a decision. But at what cost?

    It will be a ride they never forget.

    However, when ten thousand birds fall dead from the New Mexican sky, the woman he loves, an ornithologist with severe facial deformity, begs him to decipher the cause. He grudgingly agrees, a decision that plunges him into a tangle of weirdness as old as the American Southwest. Stick’s investigation reveals that the birds’ mass death is an offshoot of a much larger conflict. On one side, the Good Friends, an underground railroad for undocumented immigrants, wants Stick to oust the man they believe responsible for killing the birds and persecuting immigrants. This same man leads The Minutemen Militia, which covets Stick’s expertise in handling their genetically mutated immigrant-tracking monsters. Meanwhile, a beautiful animal theologian tries to seduce Stick into believing his existence is key to balancing an off-kilter universe. Shady characters whisper of chupacabras loose in the desert. The exsanguinated corpses of strange beasts begin to turn up, some of them Stick’s close pals. At the center of it all lurks an enigmatic antagonist who, so they say, has harnessed the power of God in an ancient hot springs and is using it to herald doomsday.Stick’s journey upends his stable life, shakes apart his fragile relationships, and sets him on a collision course with his family’s secret ancestry. Ultimately, as chupacabra-like monsters, Minutemen, and Good Friends head toward a final showdown, Stick must make a hard choice about his own identity and values.

    Thanks to an inheritance, she can start her own interior design business. It's not quite the life Susan hoped for, but she's determined to chart a new course...and shake things up.When architect Lucas Hamilton accepts Susan's dinner invitation, the result is a night of seduction neither can forget--yet neither intends to repeat. While Susan focuses on her new life, Lucas focuses on becoming wealthier than the absent father he resents. But when his father resurfaces, Lucas finds himself turning to Susan for counsel. And as their paths cross repeatedly, their feelings for each other strengthen. Yet the secret Susan is hiding may destroy any future they share..."A love-conquers-all story with a few twists and turns to keep readers turning the pages. I enjoyed it from cover to cover. Getting Some of Her Own is classic Gwynne Forster." --The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers