Simply Cheris. . .

#IHeardARumor Friday teaser:  Zach was happy to see sports on the television above the bar as he sipped his whiskey. He had to stop drinking because he was supposed to be relaxing. Still, the news report about his ex got under his skin. Would someone who mattered in Charleston see the national reports and put two and two together when he started to do business?   Forget about it. You haven’t even found an opportunity yet, he thought as he waved for the bartender.   “Yes, sir?” the perky blond asked with a smile.   “I think I need some food to go along with this drink. What would a pretty lady like you suggest?” Zach smiled and she leaned forward.   “You can never go wrong with shrimp and grits,” she said with a smile.   “Then I’d like an order of shrimp and grits.”   “All right, sugar, I’ll put that in for you. Want another Crown?”   He shook his head and handed her a twenty-dollar bill. “Thank you for your sugge...

The heart of the Precious Jewels Security Agency, Pearl Nicolas’s life has become one undercover assignment after the next. Happy, yet jealous, that her sisters are finding their  soulmates , Pearl reluctantly accepts there is no  soulmate  out there for her… Or is there?   Tariq  Suárez   Anzar’s  life changed when he became a single father of a teen. When a possible drug ring is suspected on his daughter’s prep school campus, the Precious Jewels are called in to find out exactly what is going on. But Tariq discovers so much more—Pearl. From the first moment they met, everything within him screamed, “She is your  soulmate !”   Timing would be perfect for Tariq to go after his  soulmate  except one tiny thing—his daughter is Pearl’s only lead in the case. Patient as much as he is determined, he will not let this once in a lifetime chance slip by to have the family he wants.   Available in:  Kindle  http://tinyurl.com/...

I watched the Emmys on Sunday for the first time in many years. And just like everybody else, I was blown away by the sisterly love shown to Regina King and Viola Davis as they picked up golden hardware.  Then I felt something, something familiar —I felt like I'm already a part of a sisterhood just like that. It's called being a romance writer. Yep, as much as people talk about writer beefs on social media and what not, I am HAPPY to say that Romance writers are different.  Exhibit A: Beverly Jenkins and Brenda Jackson. Romance royality. They treat everyone with such respect and a happy to drop knowledge to up and coming writers. Yes, these best selling authors are the most down to Earth ladies you could ever meet and they let me call them auntie! These ladies are the role models, the gold standards. The ones who are opening doors and reaching back to bring others along for the ride. Why? BECAUSE they are freaking awesome. Point blank. Period.  Exhibit B: Sisters stick to...

Y'all... Y'all... Y'all... If you glance at my profile pic you know I'm a thick'ems. And honestly, though I have my insecure days, overall, I wear my weight proudly. It took a lot for me to get to a point where I could love myself and the body I'm in. That being said, the body I'm in isn't exactly loving   me, so before something bad happens, I decided to get to a healthy weight that isn't on that BMI chart. Because that mess will have me looking like a strung out meth head looking for a fix. I'm 5'1 -and a half thank you very much - and I think getting to 155 would be a good weight for my body type. Now Ashley, why are you telling me all this boring mess? Well I'm glad you asked reader! I said all of that to say, those fit folks - you know the ones that get up at 4:45 every morning to go for a 5 mile run. Then, they get home and have the audacity to eat some nuts and freaking berries while I'm over here chomping on bluebe...