Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving! As we celebrate today, let's remember that this occasion is not just about enjoying delicious food, but also about spending quality time with our loved ones and expressing gratitude. I have so much to be thankful for, and I strive to celebrate that not just today, but every day.
I know The Book Catalog was supposed to be finished, but I have been extremely busy with my full-time job and haven't been able to post. I still want to complete the top three, but not today. Instead, I would like to share some honorable mentions that were not included but I believe still had a significant impact on my book collection.
In no particular order, here are five of those books:
One Shot With A Baller: The Complete Series
Among all the spin-offs from Love, Life, & Happiness, I believe this one stands out as one of the wildest and most unpredictable series from that era. The story revolves around Jayden and Zack, who are players for the newly formed professional basketball team, the Baker Tojans. Excited to play for their college town, they are unaware of the challenges that await them. With newfound fame and fortune comes a host of consequences, leading the two to question their morals throughout this three-part series.
This series was written during my urban phase, which led me to change some elements from the LL&H series. I know that many readers were likely shocked by the craziness involving Britney, Jayden, Zack, and Dominique. This also caused readers to view some characters, especially Dominique, in a different light. If you’ve read Real Love, you’ll understand why I mentioned her.
This series really pushed my boundaries. While I attempted to alter my writing style a bit, I always wanted to maintain the most important element: the bond among the characters. No matter what challenges they faced, they stood by each other, which is something I aimed to convey in every book.
Unconditional Love
Unconditional Love is the third book in the Love, Life, & Happiness series, featuring the characters Jayden and Britney. This story stands out from the others in the series because it highlights what true love really means for the two of them. While the previous books focused on redefining love or experiencing love after challenges, this one delves deeper into the essence of genuine love between the characters. The two characters were innocent towards each other, which is why readers love this couple so much. They truly exemplified the term "college sweethearts," as they waited for each other, which I believe is incredibly romantic. However, the story also highlights Jayden's growth from being an angry individual to recognizing the errors in his ways and finding methods to cope with his anger. Despite facing numerous challenges that may have pushed him, Jayden managed to overcome them through his love for Britney and the personal tragedy he experienced with one of his friends.
When it comes to discussing death in this story, it was a topic I wanted to avoid because I loved all the characters. However, I felt it was necessary to include. I won’t reveal who passed away for those who have not yet read the story, but for those who have, you'll understand why this element is significant.
Random Fact: If anyone has read both this series and The Love Chronicles, you might be wondering why I gave two characters the same name in both series. It was just a coincidence, and no, they are not the same person! Lol.
Believe In Love
Believe in Love is another installment in the Love, Life, & Happiness series, focusing on Cheryl and Marcus' journey. It continues the story from Real Love, as the couple navigates life as a married pair with two young children and burgeoning careers. When Marcus' mother unexpectedly moves in with them, Cheryl and Marcus find themselves confronting not only their daily challenges but also the complexities of dealing with an interfering parent.
I enjoyed writing this story because I wanted to portray Cheryl and Marcus as a married couple facing both personal and relational challenges. The couple struggled to find time for each other and their family due to their demanding careers, which led to doubts about their marriage. Marcus and Cheryl are struggling with their pasts and family drama, especially with Marcus' parents and the revelation that Cheryl has another sibling. This story resonated with me due to the challenges the two characters faced and how they dealt with them. It demonstrated that their love for each other never wavered, which is something I truly appreciate about this couple, as well as the other couples in this series.
Redemption
Redemption is Nathan’s story, as he is the only character from the Love, Life, & Happiness series to receive a personal narrative. This story was necessary to explore the issues Nathan faced following his encounters with Riana and the reasons he involved Shawn in helping him with her. It delves into those significant moments and explains Nathan's complicated relationship with his parents, leading to a shocking discovery that forced him to reevaluate his life.
This narrative reveals the struggles Nathan dealt with and clarifies why he behaved as he did throughout the series. Additionally, it develops his relationship with Rachel, who is Shawn’s ex from Love Unbroken. I am considering doing a spin-off featuring the two of them, which could be released next year.
Something Just Ain’t Right
Something Just Ain't Right was the first story in urban fiction that offered a unique twist on the classic tale of Bonnie and Clyde. Hayley and Morgan found true love in one another while evading gunfire from Morgan's family members and struggling to figure out whom they could trust throughout their journey.
This series is one of my favorites because it pushed me to write scenes I didn't know I was capable of creating. It also encouraged readers to see me not just as a romance author, but as a diverse writer. There was originally supposed to be a spin-off featuring Lamar and Tamara, which I have not yet released. However, I'm not ruling it out, so you never know—it could be released next year.
Random Fact: Something Just Ain’t Right was not the original title or concept of the story. It was initially titled Resisting Temptation and was intended to be a new adult series. However, after submitting it to my publisher in 2015, I had to change the concept to align with the urban fiction theme. As for the title, I put it for another story, which I released three years later.
I will reveal the top three stories on Saturday. Please come back to see which three books I reveal and which book is number one in The Book Catalog.
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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