SECRET LOVERS: AN ANTHOLOGY OF HOPE

Irresistible Flames: story one

How do you define the perfect partner in life? How do you know if this person is truly the one? Secrets, lies, betrayals and uncertainties surround and envelope the life of Kelly Wilson as she looks hard in her mirror of life, deeply in the pain of clouded glass to uncover the truths that she so boldly wanted to hide as author Patricia Anne Phillips teaches many lessons to both adults and teens when we uncover the what’s behind the fire and smoke when the heat is turned up in her story tit: irresistible flames.

Engagements are exciting but Kelly seems to have a gnaw biting inside her stomach that eats away at her resolve and makes her wonder if the msn supposedly of her dreams, Byron is the one for her. Handsome, rich, indulgent and overpowering plus wanting complete control of her life and every move, Kelly is apprehensive about says the final I Dos. Tracking her down , controlling her free time yet having evenings with other lawyers so he claims, Bryon appears to care about her but as the story progresses you the reader as well as Kelly will get an uneasy feeling that there is something hidden beneath the handsome veneer.

Angie , her cousin along with Brenda who handles the files and reception work, are partners in a law firm that handles workmen compensation cases.

An unexpected event would change the course of her life and Kelly will come to a powerful crossroads and must decide which path to take.

Byron demands her undivided attention and time and Kelly at first adheres to his demands until she accidentally meets Jonas. Thinking she hit him with her car she feels s certain responsibility even when she learns it was not her fault that he was badly injured. Yet, for some reason she was drawn to him. Angie, her cousin has her own selfish agenda and helps to create doubts in Kelly’s mind about Byron. But, Angie has her own thoughts about Byron and convincing Kelly that he’s so perfect, rich and all she needs yet agreeing that a two week time out might clear her thinking and help her decide if he’s the one, hoped she would enter his world and recreate her own path eliminating Kelly.

Kelly decided to visit Jonas in the hospital and what started as a hostile encounter turned into a solid friendship. The author takes readers deep inside the minds of Kelly, Byron and Angie as we hear their innermost thought, desires, wants and needs hoping to overcome any obstacles and finally enter a world and life they each want, need and feel they deserved.

Family loyalties are frayed, deceptions are revealed, and Kelly learns a hidden truth about Byron that will shock readers, unsettle and unravel her world. Angie is cunning and thinks she has Byron wrapped around her fingers, but greed, manipulation and power are his methods of control and her goals just might backfire. The ending is shocking and choices are made as Kelly has to decide which man really had her heart: Jonas or Byron and just who is Jonas and what about his life and past will be revealed to you the reader when the smoke clears, the flames are burning slightly as four people learn the true meaning of the deception behind the Irresistible Flames that will give one love and the other ashes.

Fran Lewis just reviews

Second Chances

Sometimes relationships that began with love and respect often turn into a wintry ice storm. Lies are told, false words are spoken, and a marriage is in dire need of either repair or dissolution.

Caprianna and Marquise have been married for 2 years yet they’re almost like strangers. Events happen and Capri’s business is failing and the next thing we see is some aiming a shotgun at her and she walked up 2 months later in a nursing facility having no idea what happened.

Elijah Woods is her massage therapist and from the moment we meet him we can see an underlying kindness and caring for Capri. But, her life was hanging in the balance and the papers the doctor gives her creates an outburst and anger that allows readers to learn that she is all alive, her husband filed for divorce and when calling the police precinct where he worked she learns he’s no longer there. Family members are no help and Elijah seem to be her only salvation but why?

Can you rewind your life and restart it from where the downfall begins? Author Maxine Thompson takes us deep inside the heart and mind of Capri and allows us to endure her stress, struggles and fears along with her.

Told from three viewpoints you get to hear Capri and what she feels, her fears and the shock of being questioned by internal affairs regarding her husband and the man who shot her but where us her? Is she in danger as the author switches to Elijah and his own conflicts and feelings for his patient giving her an option for when and if she’s released? Then Marquise her husband’s voice, self-serving, self-absorbed and almost like a confession with no remorse or empathy. Sidra is who he wants and a life without Capri is the answer but how can you just take off to parts unknown when your wife might not make it?

Each voice has their own needs and wants but are second chances in the cards for all three?

As Capri reflects on her life and needs time to decide where belongs, she leaves the safety of Elijah’s home, his son Cinque who adores her, his sister and her family to decide where the circle of life will take her but first she has to rebuild hers, her business and say her farewells to Nadine and Mica. Where will she find herself at the end? What path will she take? Sometimes as the author states: an old part of us must die for a new person to get out. Second chances: do you believe in them? Better yet do you believe in love. A story told from the heart of both Capri and Elijah but in the end will they be one?

Fran Lewis: just reviews

Story 3: Detoured

Life takes on many different turns as we meet Justin, Sonnet and Leita, three young teens each facing their own trials. Justin and Sonnet are best friends and even though she is overweight and eats too much, Justin finds himself just glad to be her friend. Justin is smart, respectful and his mother is quite protective of him. Talented in so many ways, playing instruments comes natural to him, yet why doesn’t his mother give him the true praise he deserves?

Sonnet and her sister, Margaret had secrets of their own as her sister had an eating disorder and their mother, Yolanda a victim of abuse. Together the girls tried to hide their fears by pigging out on cookies, yet Sonnet begins to change, reflect on her friendships and decides it’s time for a change but why? Often ignored or ridiculed for being obese, yet her family seemed to ignore it, Sonnet will undergo a huge detour that will send her in many directions.

Thinking the solution to bring popular was being thin and her father made sure she had diet pills. Addictions are different for everyone and her sister Margaret had her own health issues to deal with. But something snapped when her friend was over, and her father was brutally beating her mother. Finally, the call to 911 and their whole life would change but Sonnet would learn an even harder lesson from one night.

Friendships were broken, Justin had a new life living with his grandparents and becoming part of a band and more. But just like Sonnet he falls prey to one band member’s wiles but will his one mistake take him on the same path as Sonnet’s.

Author Michelle McGriff teaches teens many lessons as the issues of bullying, acceptance, weight loss, friendships, abuse and loyalty are paramount in this last story. Taking that long about route to avoid someone or something can often lead you to a detour you will regret. Take the detours with Sonnet, Yolanda and Margaret learn how they try to overcome roadblocks as Yolanda faces someone from her past, Sonnet learns a life changing secret and Margaret must come to terms with her eating disorder. All three stories deal with second chances, life changing events and children that must deal with parents that face adversity but in the end answer this question: do you believe in love?

Each story will endear you to Kelly , Yolanda and Capri. Take the journeys the author created and learn from their mistakes and successes of these Secret Lovers.

Fran Lewis just reviews