Character Q&A: Amir Jones

We’re in Amir Jones’s Manhattan suite overlooking the city skyline, just blocks away from Madison Square Garden where he’ll close out his international tour tonight. The suite, much like the man himself, is immaculate yet warm, sleek black marble countertops, deep gray walls accented by gold fixtures, and floor-to-ceiling windows revealing a glittering Manhattan afternoon. A soft playlist hums from a hidden speaker system, the kind of smooth R&B that has carried his name across decades and continents.

Amir lounges across from me in an oversized leather armchair, his posture relaxed but commanding. He’s in a crisp black hoodie, diamond studs in both ears, and a watch that catches every glint of sunlight. On the side table beside him sits a cup of hot tea with honey and a glass of lemon water, untouched for now.

“I love you, and you know that,” he says, flashing that world-renowned smile that has melted hearts since his first album. “But even you will have to wait for the right time to hear about it.”

He’s talking about the movie he’s currently filming… one he’s tight-lipped about despite my best efforts to pry. He takes a slow sip of his tea and leans back, ready to indulge me for a few questions before heading to soundcheck at the Garden.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

The Turning Point: Summer McKoy’s Choice in Pride

To say that Summer McKoy was one of my least liked FMCs would be an understatement. She wasn’t written to be loved in the traditional sense. Like most of the main characters in the Love Is Cure series, she was flawed — shaped by her vice — but within that flaw lived the catalyst for her transformation.

Throughout Pride, Summer made it clear that she believed she was above everything and everyone. From the guy she’d secretly crushed on since freshman year, to the interns she competed with for a job she only wanted because her mother told her to, Summer moved through life convinced she was untouchable. Too good. Too prideful to care.

Until everything came crashing down the night she ran into her father… while on a date with the very man she swore she’d never fall for. That moment became one of the biggest turning points in Pride, shattering her illusions and beginning her healing.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Inside the Character: Getting to Know Alexis Hamilton from Second Serving

Alexis Hamilton wasn’t as new to my book world as some readers initially thought. She made her first brief appearance in my Christmas story Rekindled, and her line about heading to her parents’ home for Christmas dinner was enough for me to put a mental bookmark on her character, promising I’d return to her when the time was right. When I began brainstorming a Thanksgiving story (I’d told myself the year prior that I wanted to release one), she immediately came to mind—and I’m so glad she did. Once I finished outlining her backstory, I became a fan. Her friendship with her best friend Keith and how it formed was one of my favorite things to write. It was so pure, so natural, that I couldn’t wait to explore it further. If you’ve yet to meet her in Second Serving, hopefully this gives you a reason to.

Let’s get to know Alexis a little more intimately.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Alternate Story Ending: Trey & Serenity (In Love, I Trust)

If there was ever a couple I could revisit time and time again, it’s Trey and Serenity. We’ve already checked in with them in From Friends to Forever, Back to Us, their earlier alternate ending, and Glimpses. But this time, we’re checking in with them through Trey’s eyes! 

Their love story has always held a special place for me, not just because of how they met, but because of how they learned each other. Serenity’s growth from guarding her heart to giving it freely, and Trey’s quiet strength through it all, have made their journey one worth returning to. So this alternate story ending is a little peek into their peace. A night that begins with laughter and ends with love, and maybe… the start of something new. Enjoy!

TREY

I leaned over the sink to splash another handful of water over my face, clearing it of my face wash before turning off the running water.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

In Love, I Trust Chapter 6: “He was here!”

In Love, I Trust is one of my few stories set outside of the five boroughs of New York City. When my writing partner for this series, ShanicexLola, pitched the idea of writing a small-town-ish romance, I jumped at the chance. I’d been wanting to explore a story in a quieter city setting for a while, and I knew exactly which characters I wanted to bring to life for it.

Trey and Serenity had been sitting in my story folder for some time, waiting on the right moment. This was it. And the chapter I couldn’t wait to write? The one where they meet in person for the first time. Because in that moment, everything changes. That first meeting? It tells them everything they need to know: they’re falling… and they’re falling hard.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Archetype Deep Dive: Eryn Peters

From Eryn Peters’s first appearance in Gluttony, we all knew she would be a character to remember. She gave fun, flirty, spitfire energy—but also hinted at something deeper. She was secretive, especially when conversations drifted toward her ex-boyfriend, Simeon. When it came to love, she appeared apathetic. But when it came to her brother? Eryn was fiercely present. She was one of the major reasons Everett left California after heartbreak and returned to New York.

She makes plans for the future but expects the worst, sometimes practicing disappointment before it even has a chance to arrive.

So what archetype does that make her?

The Skeptic.

Eryn Peters’s Archetype(s)

Primary: The Skeptic
Secondary Influences: The Seeker, The Caregiver

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Character Q&A: Serenity Payne

We’re at Bellyful, the Rose Hill, NY location that started it all. The scent of jerk chicken, warm patties, and spices fills the air. The exposed brick wall gives the Caribbean-African fusion bistro its signature rustic charm, while the open kitchen hums with life. From the register, you can see the cooks at work, calling orders over the sizzle of pans as waitstaff weave between tables. The name Bellyful is written in white script across the front window, catching the sunlight from the busy street outside.

It’s the weekend—one of the restaurant’s busiest times—and Serenity Payne, owner and head chef, is right in the thick of it. She’s behind the counter, hands dusted in flour, rolling dough for patties while directing her team with practiced ease. Every so often, she glances toward the front to check the flow of customers before returning to our conversation.

“The weekends are our busiest,” she says with a laugh. “Here in Rose Hill and in Hoboken, out there in Jersey. Trey’s there now. We hardly speak on weekends when we’re at the restaurants, which makes the meet-up later always fun.”

It’s loud, the kind of organized chaos that comes with success. Between the clatter of plates and the rhythm of her rolling pin, Serenity still manages to share pieces of her story.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

The Turning Point: Eryn Peters’s Choice in Sloth

Throughout Sloth, we’d come to understand that our girl Eryn Peters was stubborn… and, well, lazy. Not with things, but with doing the work to confront past decisions and how they’d affected her life. She skated past hard discussions, hid her feelings behind lies, and avoided every chance to face the truth. Her resistance to open up to the people who mattered most—her mother, brother, and first love, Simeon—defined much of Sloth… until this turning point moment, when she finally revealed the secret she’d been keeping and everything shifted.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Inside the Character: Getting to Know Micah Black from How to Lose Control in 42 Days

To say Micah Black is a new favorite of mine would be an understatement. He’s one of the few MMCs leading us into a new era in my book world, and prayerfully, you’ll love him as much as I do. When developing his character, I let his personality do the heavy carrying. He truly is a man among men, with heart and soul like no other. From the moment he appears on the page, it’s impossible not to want to see him again. His presence in How to Lose Control in 42 Days is not only a treat for our FMC, Arielle St. James, it’s a treat for us, too. Though his role in the story is both poignant and pivotal, there’s still more to learn about the soulful bartender at The St. James’s bar and lounge, Vesper.

Let’s get to know Micah Black a little more intimately.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Resuscitate My Love: Episode 16 – Second Opinion

DEION

My car’s wheels crunched over the shell-covered driveway as I eased to a stop. The air was brisk… that in-between kind of autumn that still carried whispers of summer, but no promise it would return anytime soon. The sun was high, spilling light over my childhood home.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Release Day Audio Diary: How to Lose Control in 42 Days

It’s release day! 🎉

My age-gap romance, How to Lose Control in 42 Days, is officially available for download.

And as promised, I’ve shared an exclusive audio diary on my YouTube channel just for my Brooklynite Daily subscribers. In it, I’m reflecting on this release, the journey behind the story, and what it means to finally share it with you.

Thank you for being here and for continuing to take this journey with me,  release after release. 💛

Click the link below to start listening:

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Loveless Chapter 11: “I want to go to your place.”

Out of all the chapters in Loveless, this one is both one of the shortest and one of the most impactful. Chapter Eleven shifts everything for Joi. It’s the moment she begins to see Jeremiah differently… not just as a man who treats her kindly, but as someone who sees her.

From the beginning, Joi sensed there was something different about Jeremiah. He wasn’t like the other men she’d been entangled with. He kept his eyes on her eyes. He spoke with care, intention, and respect. But in this chapter, that truth becomes undeniable. His words—not just what he says, but how he says them—steal her breath and start to unravel the walls around her heart.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Archetype Deep Dive: Simeon King

Simeon King’s archetype was written between the lines from the very beginning.

We first met him in So This is Love… smooth, confident, easy to like. But in Sloth, when faced with a scandal that could have unraveled everything he built, Simeon didn’t just rise to the occasion, he envisioned a way through it. One that required not just strategy, but heart.

It’s clear now that Simeon is more than a sports agent with a silver tongue. He’s a man who lives in possibility. Who dares to believe in second chances. Who sees what could be, even when it isn’t there yet.

So what archetype does that make him?

The Dreamer.

Simeon King’s Archetype(s)

Primary: The Dreamer

Secondary Influences: The Charmer, The Survivor

Why This Archetype Fits

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Alternate Story Ending: Eryn & Simeon

Catching up with these two in their Glimpses wasn’t enough for me! I really loved their journey back to each other and have always thought about revisiting them, even after I typed The End. That’s one of the reasons I’m so grateful for these alternate story endings. I love being able to continue the story without going through the eventful process of creating an entire book. Sometimes a quick peek at what our couples are up to is all it takes to feel satisfied. And this is definitely one of those peeks. I loved creating this so much, and I hope you will too. Enjoy!

ERYN

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

The Turning Point: Clarke Ali’s Choice in When Life Gives You Sunsets

Throughout When Life Gives You Sunsets, Clarke was faced with what her grandmother perfectly called “a beautiful present wrapped in sandpaper.” She arrived on a breathtaking island and met an incredible man, Yusuf Baldwin… a widower who was still in love with his late wife. Both Clarke and Yusuf came to the island for their own reasons, but somehow, they found each other.

It wasn’t easy for Clarke to look past how imperfect the situation seemed. Still, love has a way of peeling back layers we think we can’t touch. Her turning point came when she realized that the love she’d been searching for didn’t need to look perfect. It only needed to feel true.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Inside The Character: Getting to Know Arielle St. James from How to Lose Control in 42 Days

Arielle St. James will be a new addition to our world. Mentioned briefly in My Only, the heiress and CEO of one of New York City’s premiere hotels, Arielle’s life—when we meet her—is built on structure, control, and order. On the surface, she appears to have it all together. That’s because she does, and it’s exhausting. But someone has to do it, and Arielle has been that someone for far too long, prioritizing everything and everyone outside of herself… until now. You’ll get to know her fully in How to Lose Control in 42 Days, but for now, let’s explore what makes Arielle St. James the woman in control.

Let’s get to know Arielle a little more intimately.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Character Q&A: Trevon “Trey” Everest

I meet Trey at the Hoboken location of Bellyful, the bistro he now co-owns with his wife, Serenity Payne. The café is vibrant and full of energy, yet retains the charm of a small, well-loved eatery. Exposed brick lines one wall, and a wide window lets in the late summer light, casting a warm glow over the polished wooden tables. Behind the counter, patrons can watch the cooks at work, shouting orders back and forth with the cashiers at the register. Outside, there are tables for those who want to enjoy their meal in the fresh air, while inside, the scent of jerk chicken, patties, and freshly baked pastries fills the room. The name Bellyful is spelled out in elegant script on the front window, a testament to the brand they’ve built from the ground up.

“This place feels like my first kid, to be honest,” Trey admits, glancing around the bistro. “I’ve worked in business acquisition, buying companies with my partner, but to actually run one? That’s a whole different story. I’m blessed to see all aspects of running a business. My wife’s incredible. She was doing all this on her own before, and now we get to do it together.”

Among conversations about food and business, we dive into marriage, family, and the future with Serenity.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Last Comes Love Chapter 16: “Is there something I can make for you… or give you?”

At the start of Last Comes Love, it almost seemed like Rylee and Lennox would have the hardest time going from just friends to something more. These two had known each other since they were kids and had never crossed that line… at least Rylee hadn’t. Even when Lennox’s date once questioned the nature of their friendship and whether they’d ever been involved, Rylee gagged at the idea.

Lennox, on the other hand, had seen her that way once when they were teenagers, but he let those feelings go, choosing friendship over something he assumed would be fleeting. All of that shifted after they had their daughter. That shared experience opened the door for Lennox to finally fall for the person who had always been right there… his best friend.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Inside the Character: Getting to Know Jordan Gabriel from Indecent Arrangement

Oh, Jordan Gabriel. The handsome villain who gave off the illusion of being a knight in shining armor. Many readers were shocked at the turn of events in the continued story Indecent Arrangement. When readers first met Jordan in the short story from Forbidden: An Anthology, which Indecent Arrangement picks up from, it seemed as though Joelle was leaving a bad marriage for a relationship with promise. But in truth, she was jumping from the frying pan straight into the fire… and the fire was Jordan Gabriel. Because Jordan never received a POV in Indecent Arrangement (the story was told entirely from Joelle’s perspective), we didn’t get to know him all that well. So, let’s dive deeper into his background to see what shaped the man we met.

Let’s get to know Jordan Gabriel a little more intimately.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Resuscitate My Love: Episode 13 – Cardiac Drift

 WHIT

I twisted my head on the emerald suede cushion to focus on the coffee table an arm’s length away. My phone lit up. Deion. I pressed my tongue to my cheek and let it buzz itself quiet. Then it rang again.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Sneak Peek: How to Lose Control in 42 Days

It’s wild to think that in just three weeks, How to Lose Control in 42 Days will be out in the world. Not only is it my first birthday release, but it’s also a new genre for me. Next month, you’ll get to know the characters even more, not just in their story, but through their character backstories scheduled for October.

But for now, here’s a sneak peek at the story: a scene that captures the moment things shift between the hotel heiress and her bartender. Enjoy!

ARIELLE

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

The Turning Point: Everett Peters’s Choice in Gluttony

I didn’t expect Gluttony to become what it did when I first brainstormed the standalones for the Love Is Cure series. Honestly, I was nervous! How do you make the sin of Gluttony interesting? But I was happily surprised. By the time I started writing Everett and Apryl, I found myself looking forward to penning the fifth book in the series.

Everett’s first pivotal moment was when he left Los Angeles after discovering the truth about the woman he was ready to propose to. New York was meant to be a temporary escape. Instead, it became the place where he rebuilt himself, where he met Apryl Wilde, and where he found a version of himself he didn’t know existed. His true turning point, though, came later — at a dinner table in California, with Brielle.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Inside The Character: Getting To Know Levi Weston From Cali & Lee

When it comes to Levi Weston, you either love him or hate him. Impulsive, secretive, and a lover boy, Levi made his first appearance in my book world in Cali & Lee and has been unforgettable since. His growth in my first serialized romance was beautiful to watch, and seeing that growth carry into My Only was a rewarding continuation. Though Levi wasn’t shy about revealing plenty in his serialized romance, there are still parts of him left to uncover… pieces that give deeper insight into his personality.

So, let’s get to know Levi more intimately.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Character Q&A: Levi Weston

I stop by Levi’s office in Bryant Greene’s commercial building, a sleek tower of glass and steel that gleams against the Manhattan skyline. Inside, the lobby is an airy mix of marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and minimalist furniture that blends form with function. Natural light spills in, catching the edges of modern art installations that line the walls. The hum of professionals, muted conversations, and the occasional clatter of heels on polished floors gives the space energy, yet it’s calm enough to make you pause and appreciate the design.

Levi’s office is perched near the top floor, a panoramic view of the city behind him. He glances to his left at a 3D architectural model of Greene Gardens, eyes lighting up.

“Greene Gardens is one of the most beautiful places in New York already,” he says, small smile wide and genuine. “And we’re not even done yet! Can you imagine once everything’s complete? It’s a beauty. I’m grateful to be a part of history.”

Among discussions of architecture and Greene Gardens, the conversation naturally turns to marriage, life with his wife Calese, and his vision for the future.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Girl Code Chapter 3: “Hey, stranger”

Girl Code is one of those stories I always say is one of my favorites. All of my stories are, honestly. But Girl Code is one of them ones for me! And it’s because of this scene between Melodee and Amir in Chapter 3. While the entire book has moments worth remembering, their reunion—the first time they see each other after years apart—lives rent-free in my head. It set the tone for everything that happened after, giving us a love we were rooting for from the very beginning.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Inside the Character: Getting to Know Calese Monroe

Ms. Calese Marie Monroe had been a character I’d plugged into so many potential stories, but Cali & Lee was the perfect fit for her after much deliberation. Her personality was one I loved because she was adventurous, daring, and a free spirit who didn’t take life too seriously. That sometimes led to questionable decisions, but Calese was Calese, and always entertaining to write. We learned a lot about her in Cali & Lee, but as always, there’s more beneath the surface to uncover about the woman we met and what makes her tick.

Let’s get to know Calese a little more intimately.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Alternate Story Ending: Jaide & Lucky (From One Mic)

Jaide and Lucky. Lucky and Jaide. A pair who refuse to fade into the background. This alternate story ending drops us right into tour life, into the noise, the laughter, and the intimacy only they can create. If you’ve read From Friends to Forever, this takes place during the tour Ryder comes home from. Enjoy! And if you haven’t read One Mic, now is the perfect time to start.

 JAIDE

Jaide laid curled up in the bottom bunk on the tour bus she’d called home for all of three weeks. She, along with the other contestants in the upcoming reality music competition One Mic, had been on tour promoting the new show before its debut in a few months.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

The Turning Point: Juliette Hart’s Choice in When Luke Met Juliette

The prologue in When Luke Met Juliette was the perfect setup for a love story destined for greatness. College kids bumping into each other in a parking lot, both feeling the same spark at the same time. Strangers, but not really — because they didn’t try to hide what they felt. That was the spark. The flames came later.

Though there were at least three major turning points in this story, only one — the final one — shifted everything toward Luke and Juliette’s happily ever after.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Inside the Character: Getting to Know Lucas “Lucky” Cassidy from One Mic

Much like Jaide Belair’s character, Lucas “Lucky” Cassidy was also an amalgamation of magnetic reality show stars and male singers I’ve admired over the years. He’s mysterious, talented, and holds so much to himself, yet he isn’t the hardened man his experiences could have shaped him into being. Lucky is likable, layered, and compelling—an MMC who truly earns the happily ever after he gets. He’s one of my favorite male characters I’ve developed, maybe even the quintessential one. Flawed but still soft for the person he feels most comfortable with. There’s so much to him beyond what One Mic revealed.

So let’s get to know Lucky a little more intimately.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Character Q&A: Calese “Cali” Monroe

I meet Calese at a charming consignment shop tucked into a quiet Brooklyn street. The storefront is painted a soft, buttery yellow, with a dark green awning that sways gently in the late summer breeze. Inside, racks of carefully curated designer clothing line the walls, while polished wooden tables display shoes, handbags, and accessories—all tagged with small hints of their original high-end price. Sunlight streams through tall windows, casting a warm glow on the herringbone floors and eclectic mix of vintage and modern décor. It smells faintly of new leather and polished wood, a comforting mix that makes you want to linger.

Calese is on a mission, her eyes scanning racks and shelves for hidden gems she can wear, photograph, and sell online… her side hustle that she still adores.

“It’s a hustle I’m still obsessed with,” she reveals, balancing a sequined jacket over her arm. “Even though I really don’t need to hustle anymore. But I genuinely like it. Plus, Levi loves when I come home with something that has an original price tag that makes him raise his eyebrows.”

She’s in great spirits, soaking up the final days of summer, and excited to share all she and Levi have been up to since the end of their story.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

One Mic Chapter 3: “… everyone in the room noticed”

With this month’s theme being all about the very first time the FMC and MMC see each other (or reunite) in their story, I had a lot of stories to choose from. The very first sight of each other—the meet-cute—is, to me, like the moment we see Morris Chestnut for the first time in The Best Man. It’s a moment of pause. You feel it and you remember it. And I wanted to deliver that in all of my stories, especially in One Mic.

One Mic was the first of its kind for me. A series that reads like a reality show competition? Who does that? Me, lol. And to make the first look between Jaide Belair and Lucas “Lucky” Cassidy stand out took a lot of coordination and focus, and quickly became one of my favorite scenes to write.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Inside the Character: Getting to Know Jaide Belair from One Mic

When I got the idea to write a story in the form of a reality show, I had all the characters mapped out in my head before writing a single thing down. Though the plot was the centerpiece of the story, the characters were my focus—especially Jaide Belair. She was an amalgamation of women I’ve seen on reality TV who I adored and who were universally lovable. She’s a wildflower, one to admire and leave as is, and while we got to know her well in One Mic, there’s still more to discover about this optimistic beauty.

Let’s get to know Jaide a bit more intimately.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Alternate Story Ending: Joi & Jeremiah (from Loveless)

I couldn’t wait to catch up with these two again. When two worlds combine, something beautiful happens. When I decided to continue Joi’s story from Forbidden: An Anthology, I knew exactly who I wanted to pair her with… Detective Jeremiah Rhames from the No Fraternizing series. The matchmaking was just what she needed. Jeremiah is Joi’s balance, and Joi is Jeremiah’s excitement. In a recent Q&A, Joi was asked about her future with Jeremiah. Let’s take a look at what happens when that future feels a little closer to the now than she realized. Enjoy!

JOI

I hummed as I closed the distance between myself and the building’s front door. My eyes settled on the two potted plants that flanked the lobby’s outside entrance. I was still getting used to those things.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

The Turning Point: Ayanna Dale’s Choice in So This is Love

Ayanna did not make it easy to give her a happily ever after — and that’s probably why I love her so much. She started her love story with conflict. What was supposed to be a one-night hookup with her friend Dallas — payback for his older brother Dominick, who she was dating at the time — ended up being the prelude to a love story that was destined with Dallas.

Unconventional? Yes. Messy? Definitely. But real. And Ayanna’s turning point came in a Manhattan hotel suite, during Dallas’s first-ever interview.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Inside the Character: Getting to Know Monah from Chateau Luxure

I swear Monah’s story started off with me just bringing to life a news story I stumbled upon online. I wondered what it would be like to have an adult playhouse where women could go and be catered to their every need. Monah felt like the perfect choice for a new guest. Her fish-out-of-water perspective helped us experience this unfamiliar environment right along with her. Her character first took shape in her original short story, Chateau Luxure. But with the Author’s Cut, I got the chance to dig deeper into her backstory and give it more weight. I’m glad I did, because I fell in love with her story all over again and brought new tone and texture to it. And as always, there’s more to uncover about the woman who followed her friends into an adult playhouse.

Let’s get to know Monah a little more intimately once more.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Character Q&A: Leo Vanguard

We’re sitting outside one of the newest additions to Greene Gardens, a quaint café with a cheerful charm. Its exterior is painted a soft mint green with large glass windows that let in the morning sun, and inside, polished wooden tables and mismatched chairs give it a cozy, inviting feel. The smell of fresh pastries wafts from the counter, and a soft indie playlist hums in the background. It’s the kind of place that feels new but already full of promise, much like the town itself.

Leo has a chocolate croissant in hand, and I’m sipping on a hot chocolate/coffee mix. Today is his cheat day, he admits, and Baby Love is with us. Ivy had a meeting in the city, leaving Leo on full “dad duty.”

We’ve agreed to refer to the baby by his nickname for readers who haven’t read their story yet.

“It’s just us guys today,” Leo says, tugging Baby Love’s tiny sneaker, which matches his own sneaker. “We’re headed to the park after this, then a Smurf movie when we get back home. Jealous, BK?”

We share a laugh before jumping into the questions.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Wrath Chapter 30: “I wanna leave… can we leave, though?”

Wrath, the sixth book in the Love is Cure series, was full of moments that made my heart do leaps. I was very intentional with creating scenes that would be progressive happily ever afters for a character who had gone through enough and had been tested. Though this moment in Wrath may have seemed like a burden at first, it ended up being a true blessing. Sticking with the theme of “when they knew,” this “when they knew” showed itself in Lauryn and Asher deciding to accept a life milestone they didn’t plan for, but chose to embrace—embarking on the journey of parenthood together.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Inside the Character: Getting to Know Leo Vanguard from Raising Love

Leo Vanguard’s transformation in Raising Love wasn’t easy. Change was never something he embraced—he was slow to it, resisted it even—but beneath all that stubbornness was a man with a soft heart. A big kid at heart, Leo didn’t take life too seriously until he was faced with a shift that pulled him from single and carefree to a guardian with responsibilities. We got to know him well in Raising Love, because he was written that way—layer by layer. But let’s get to the roots of the man behind the jersey to uncover the pieces that made him who we met.

Let’s get to know Leo more intimately.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

Alternate Story Ending: Lena & Maurice (Lena’s Ex-File)

When I decided to work on the Author’s Cuts versions of my stories, Lena’s Ex-File was one I knew I wanted to revisit. It was a short story, but with all the experience I’ve gained over the years, I saw places where I could enhance their journey—one of the biggest being giving Maurice a voice.

From the very start, one thing about Lena was certain: she wanted to be married. Period.

This alternate story ending captures the moment Maurice finally puts action behind the promise he made in both the original Lena’s Ex-File and the Author’s Cut. And let me tell you… it’s a moment.

Enjoy! ❤️

LENA

The car’s wheels came to a gradual stop, making the ride-share vehicle sway a little on the cobblestone street.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

The Turning Point: Romello “Mello” St. Claire’s Choice in They Call Me Mello

When Romello “Mello” St. Claire stepped into Chapter Three of No Fraternizing, Pt. 2, readers wanted more. That wasn’t the plan, but when it comes to Mello, plans tend to change. After the conclusion of No Fraternizing, Pt. 3, reader emails poured in asking if Mello would get his own story. I already knew what I’d be working on next.

Mello is the quintessential ladies’ man—charismatic, stylish, and irresistible—but in They Call Me Mello, he meets his match. When he escapes to Miami to lay low while the heat in New York dies down (and no, we’re not talking about the weather), his stay is supposed to be temporary. He makes sure to remind us of that at every opportunity. But somewhere along the way, things shift. He finds more than a safe haven… he finds love.

Subscribe to continue reading

Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.

1 2 3 4 … 7