From Friends to Forever: Episode 7 – Trying and Failing

RYDER

Humming a melody I couldn’t get out of my head since that morning, I tightened my grip around the stems of the flowers I carried in my hand as I followed the scent of clay down my condo’s corridor. When I walked into the condo, I inhaled the air, smiling to myself at the vision of Kelli working at her pottery station in her bedroom. I don’t know how Kelli was taking the whole “let’s chill on this” life we’d found ourselves in, but I wasn’t taking it well. For the third night in a row, I didn’t fall asleep until I got tired of tossing and turning in bed. And when that didn’t work, I sat at my desk with my notebook, jotting down random lyrics and ideas for songs until my eyes got heavy.

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From Friends to Forever: Episode 6 – Trying to Keep a Friend

KELLI

I opened my eyes to the tiny disco ball hovering overhead and hanging from the ceiling. Closing my eyes, I exhaled and held my lids tightly closed while shaking my head. For another night, the third night in a row, I’d fallen asleep beside Ryder. Without even turning to check beside me, I knew I’d slept in the same bed as him because this was his bed. His disco ball. His room. And we’d had sex together again.

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Character Q&A: Romello “Mello” St. Claire

On a sunny afternoon in Miami, Florida, I watched as Mello settled comfortably in a plush outdoor armchair, positioned under the shade of a large umbrella near the poolside. At his insistence, we sat in the backyard of his sprawling oasis in the heart of Miami.

“I would’ve gone bigger, but my wife is modest. ” Mello chuckled over the rim of his iced tea. “Anything she wants though, she’s got it.”

Dressed in casual yet impeccably tailored attire—a linen shirt paired with tailored shorts and crisp Jordans on his feet—his demeanor was confident yet approachable, reflecting the blend of New York grit and Miami cool that now defined his character.

What he called modest was sincerely beautiful from every angle. Their Mediterranean-style home featured stucco walls, arched windows, and terracotta roof tiles, making the backyard feel like its own private retreat. The entire ambiance was relaxed yet sophisticated, a testament to Rayelle’s impeccable taste.

With the low hum of R&B playing from hidden speakers, the mood was set, and Mello was more than forthcoming with his answers to my questions.

Q: Mello, it’s great to catch up with you. How’s life treating you as a family man in Miami?

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Wrath Chapter 11: “Let her go”

Let me start by saying that I love that we all agree on one thing – Asher is that guy. It usually is a toss-up when it comes to my book baes. I personally love them all, from the picture of perfection heroes to the flaws-and-all guys, but sometimes what I find to be redeeming qualities aren’t what some readers agree with, and I can respect that.

When I first developed Asher Truesdale’s character on the page, I fell in love with him. As his story in Wrath unfolded and he showed, more than told, just how incredible he was, he skyrocketed to the top of my book bae list, a spot that was kept warm for many, many years by my absolute fave, Amir Jones.

This scene in Wrath that appears in Chapter 11 is a testament to why I love this guy so much, and for two reasons. He’s not who you think he is at first sight and, as they say, he stands on business.

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Inside the Character: Getting to Know Simeon King from Sloth

Simeon King made his first appearance in my book world in the friends-to-lovers story So This is Love. At the end of that story, and in the author’s note, I mentioned to readers they would see him again in a story of his own. Sloth is that story.

When I first wrote my character summary of Simeon as a side character in So This is Love, I knew I wanted to develop him further. He was a dreamer, relying heavily on his dreams and confidently attesting to doing so. That alone made me want to know more about the smooth-talking sports agent who got Dallas to let down his guard, set aside his jaded view about sports agents, and actually hear what Simeon had to say.

Let’s get to know the MMC that stole my heart from his first appearance in my book world.

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From Friends to Forever: Episode 5 – Trying to Make Sense of it All

RYDER

I lowered my black shades over my eyes the moment I stepped out of my building’s front door. Showered, fresh, and in need of both answers and food, I stepped to the curb to cross the street.

“Hey Ryder,” I heard as I crossed. The voice was from one of our town’s newspaper vendors who waved as well.

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From Friends to Forever: Episode 4 – Trying to Avoid

KELLI

I blinked my eyes awake and groaned the second my tired eyes caught a glimpse of the sunlight pouring in through my windows. 

I inhaled the air and detected traces of the earthy clay I worked with and the natural oak wood of my shelves where I stored my pottery projects, both completed and in progress. My lavender and eucalyptus essential oils lingered in the air as well, but there was something new I smelled.

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From Friends to Forever: Episode 3 – Trying to See Something

KELLI

I balanced the takeout bag in one hand while trying to slide my key into the front door’s lock.

The Thai restaurant I stopped by earlier was short on staff, so I couldn’t help but volunteer to assist them with their late afternoon and evening rush.

The restaurant’s owner, Anong, was so grateful for my help, and I was happy to give it.

There wasn’t a business in Rose Hill I didn’t help in. We were a town of small businesses. Our shop owners relied on the people of Rose Hill to keep things opened and running. Young and old, and of all races, we were a community, and that’s what I loved the very most about Rose Hill.

Which is what I always try to explain to Ryder.

As soon as I got the key in the lock and turned it, the door gave way and opened to the view of Rose Hill and the man who was just on my mind, Ryder, sitting on the couch, staring at the TV. A TV that was off.

I glanced at the TV, then back at Ryder. “Hey?”

He looked over at me and chucked his chin, refocusing on the blank screen.

“Okay.” I snickered to myself. “It’s that kind of Rose Hill return, yet again.”

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From Friends to Forever: Episode 2 – Ryder

RYDER

“Thank you,” I said to my driver as I pushed the door open. “Have a great rest of your day.”

The moment my feet touched the concrete of the sidewalk, I inhaled a valiant breath. My chauffeur, who picked me up from the airport, dropped me off in front of the building that housed my condo.

Mine and my best friend Kelli’s condo.

I sighed.

I was back in Rose Hill, New York. Again. Always back in Rose Hill when things didn’t go as planned.



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From Friends to Forever: Episode 1 – Kelli

KELLI

“Have a good one, Robin,” I said to a customer as I handed her a Bellyful logo bag. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She smiled back at me, accepting her bag. “Yes, you will.”

I snickered as I closed the register and walked from behind the service counter.

“It’s all yours, Shawn,” I said to one of our cashiers. I pointed at him next. “And remember what I told you.”

He chuckled, then licked his lips. “No flirting. Got it. I’mma be good, promise.”

I rolled my eyes while suppressing my smile. “Yeah, okay. Hard to believe when you’re doing the very thing I told you not to do right now. Stop licking your lips, okay? Because why are you licking your lips?”



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Inside the Character: Getting to Know Eryn Peters from Sloth

Eryn Peters has been a character I have truly looked forward to working with. From the moment I created the summary of her character for her appearance in Gluttony (the fifth book in the Love is Cure, Vol. 1 – Vices & Virtues series, and her brother’s book), I knew she would be a character worth developing.

Though she was a side character in Gluttony, Eryn is the definition of main character energy. Let’s dive into the character known as Eryn Peters to get to know her intimately.

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Girl Code Chapter 8: “I don’t want to be your friend anymore, Mel”

On the heels of writing their anniversary short, I have to say, Melodee and Amir are still my favorites 🥰. I love them deeply. Their love is one that seems wrong on paper, but once you peel back the layers, you really can’t help but get all warm and cozy in what they are. Literally friends to lovers, in its purest form. And this chapter exuded that. 

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