“Family Matters (In the Best Interest of the Child Book 2)”
Olivia Chandler’s day of reckoning fast approaches.ย Start her journey from the beginning!
“In The Best Interest of the Child Book 1”
Olivia Chandlerโs latest client is eleven-year-old Rena Averest.
Rena and her parents were involved in a weather-related, multi-car accident. Her mother was killed and her father was severely injured and comatose for several weeks and remains hospitalized indefinitely.
Rena suffered extensive injuries and was also hospitalized for several weeks. When she was well enough to be discharged, the hospital ran into major obstacles. Her motherโs only living relative was an older brother who lived two thousand miles away. Suffering from chronic cystic fibrosis, he was unable to care for Rena and had in fact, even missed his sisterโs funeral. Rena has grandparents, and two aunts on her fatherโs side of the familyโฆand they want absolutely nothing to do with her.
A benevolent judge, taking into account all that Rena is currently dealing with, allows her to be placed temporarily with Courtney and Marissa Bellamy, friends of her parents since college, and Renaโs godparents. Not knowing how her fatherโs medical situation will resolve itself, the judge feels Rena needs the stability and familiarity of the Bellamy home. The Department of Childrenโs Services disagrees and take legal action to remove Rena from the Bellamy home and place her in foster care. The presiding judge spurred on by the irony of DCS wanting to remove Rena Averest from a non-relative home only to place her in a non-relative home, stays the case and appoints a child advocate attorney to research the case and protect Renaโs interest.
And thatโs exactly what Olivia intends to do.
Rena Irene Averest
Age: 11
DOB: May 6, 2003
Parents: Duncan and Irene (Deceased) Averest
Siblings: None
Favorite color: Yellow
Favorite music: Todrick Hall and all songs Disney-related
Favorite Book: The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
Pets: A turtle named Brutus
BFF: Margie Macy
Wants to be a surgical nurse when she grows up
“In the Best Interest of the Child”
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Dynamic and vivacious Margot Schultz never met an obstacle she couldnโt overcomeโฆ or knock down. Executive assistant/office manager to Olivia Chandler, Margot always seems to know the right amount of charm, wit, and panache to use when dealing with anyone from grumpy judges to cagey Department of Childrenโs Service employees to Oliviaโs peers โ some of whom are less-than-ethical.
Early in her career, Margot worked for some of the less than-ethical-crowd. While they could be gods and magicians in the courtroom, pulling out wins from seemingly unwinnable cases, outside the courtroom was another matter. Margot could remember each and every personal errand sheโd had to do, each gift sheโd had to buy for multiple girlfriends and mistresses, and every lie sheโd told to one of her bossesโ wives.
When Margot heard through the courthouse grapevine that the executive secretary of a successful young, female child advocate attorney was retiring for health reasons and had no replacement, she grabbed her resume, took an extended lunch and went in search of Olivia Chandler. Despite her unusual approach, Margot and Olivia clicked immediately.
The two women have worked side by side for ten years. Olivia admired Margotโs work ethic. She encouraged Margot to continue her education when time allowed, and even paid for it, calling it a โsound investment.โ Margot would eventually advance from executive legal secretary to executive assistant and office manager.
Margot knows Olivia has no family and was a foster care kid. She doesnโt know the intimate details, but she does know Oliviaโs adolescence was bad enough for Olivia to keep herself closed off to most people. Her boss seems to โliveโ when focused and working on a case for their minor clients. The rest of the time, Olivia just seems to exist.
The divorced office manager is not one of those people who believe a woman needs a man in her life to be complete, but Bruce Bellamy has suddenly appeared in Oliviaโs life, and Margot will do her part to keep him there.
Things are going to get interesting.
Margot Rose (Parker) Schultz
Age: Sheโs not telling โ but probably mid to late 40s
Born: New York, New York
Marital Status: Divorced โ has adult twin sons who are both Marines
Is two classes away from a Bachelorโs degree in Business Management
Loves to dance and can be found on a dance floor most Saturday nights
Collects souvenirs from the Roaring 20s โ always says she would have made a great Flapper
Plays acoustic guitar, but rarely does as it reminds her of her musician ex-husband
Is somewhat estranged from her parents and siblings since she dropped out of college nearly 30 years ago to elope with her now ex-husband
“In the Best Interest of the Child”
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After their initial visit to the hospital where Rena has daily physical therapy, she and Olivia meet hospital volunteer, Martin โMartyโ Knight as they leave. Marty is concerned about the sadness in Renaโs eyes and tries to cheer her up as he helps her into the car. He is shocked to find out that Renaโs injuries and the death of her mother were caused by the same weather-related, multi-vehicle accident that claimed the life of his best friend, Victor Roddy.
During Marty and Renaโs conversation, Olivia finds herself staring at the man, convinced they have met before. She just cannot remember where. Marty also cast several glances in Oliviaโs direction trying to figure out why she looks so familiar. His memory fails him.
As the story unfolds, Marty Knight will not only become a good friend and โgrandfatherโ to Rena, he will play a pivotal role in Olivia Chandler sorting out her pastโฆand navigating her future.
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As best friends to Duncan Averest and his late wife, Irene, Courtney and Marissa Bellamy knew they would stand by Duncan. Whatever it took to help him through the loss of his wife and the serious injuries sustained by him and daughter, Rena, the Bellamys would do. And, as Renaโs godparents, of course she would live with them until her father was well enough to take care of her. They took their vows as godparents very seriously. But someone is trying to stop them. Someone is trying to keep them away from Duncan and make sure Rena gets sent into the foster care system.
Court-appointed child advocate attorney Olivia Chandler is the answer to their prayers. Theyโre moved by her genuineness and promise to โdo right by Rena.โ There is an immediate bond between the attorney and her young client, and Marissa cannot help but wonder if it has more to do with the flashes of sadness she sees in Oliviaโs eyes than with simple job commitment.
The instant interest in Olivia by his cousin, Bruce, hasnโt been lost on Courtney. Abandoned by his ex-wife when their children were mere toddlers, Bruce hasnโt shown little more than a passing, casual interest in any woman since. Olivia will be spending quite a bit of time with the Bellamy family in the near future, and Courtney thinks itโs just enough time to do a bit of matchmaking. And, where you find Courtneyโฆyou find Marissa.
Let the games begin!
Courtney Ardan and Marissa Anne (Monroe) Bellamy
Met in Botany 101 during their freshman year of college
Married November 30, 1996
Two sons โ Bishop, 18 and Brian, 16
Courtney works in IT/Computer Systems for the local school district, Marissa is head of Library Sciences for Hennepin County Public Libraries
Courtney (Caucasian) and Marissa (African-American) are an Interracial couple who havenโt suffered much of the disdain shown to interracial couples by some of society due to their steadfast commitment to each other and the love and total support of their families.
A former amateur race car driver, and current owner of a successful chain of auto repair shops, Bruce Bellamy is a cousin to Rena Averestโs current caregivers. He and Olivia meet for the first time when she gives Rena a ride home from physical therapy, and he is there trying to diagnose the problem with his cousinโs car.
Bruce is instantly smitten with the attorney. Her voluptuous body pulls him right in, but itโs the guarded sadness in her eyes that propels him to get to know her. She has a beautiful smile, and he thinks she should use it more often.
The easy going business owner has been alone for nearly two decades, when his ex-wife walked away from him and their four children in search of a more affluent lifestyle. Her callous, mercenary heart caused him to close his off, and heโs not been in a relationship since, nor had any involvement with women worth mentioning, choosing instead to concentrate on raising his children and making his business successful. So when Olivia gets his attention, the entire Bellamy clan takes notice, and proceeds to help him win her over.
Having spent her adult life avoiding romantic entanglements, Olivia knows sheโs walking a tight rope by allowing Bruce to get too close. Renaโs case has brought Oliviaโs childhood back to the forefront of her mind, making her believe she has nothing to offer Bruce.
He seems to think otherwise.
Bruce Ambrose Bellamy
Age: 42
DOB: June 28, 1972
Place of Birth: Duluth, Minnesota
Divorced
Has four (adult) children
Owns a chain of successful auto repair shops
Loves โI Love Lucyโ and โMarried with Childrenโ reruns
Has a BA and MA in Business earned while attending night, and online classes
Hates golfs and considers it pointless
Loves football and is a diehard Minnesota Vikings Fan
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Welcome to the 2017 edition of the COLOR OF LOVE Blog Hop co-hosted by Empi Baryeh, Kiru Taye, Nana Prah, and Love Bites and Silk. This year’s hop is on from today 23 November to 3 December 2017.
We’re celebrating People of Color in romance and offering you a chance to discover new books and new authors, as well as giving you a chance to win prizes.ย We have 30 blogs participating this year, each featuring anย interracial or multicultural romance book!
This year, we’re doing things a little differently. We’ve separated the cash and book prizes so more people can win:
Here’s what’s up for grabs:
BOOK PRIZES
Weโre introducing daily book prizes. Be sure to comment on blog posts and join the conversation on ourย FACEBOOK EVENT PAGEย for a chance to win one of our 24 book prizes.
CASH PRIZES
Enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win:
ยท 1st prize $50 GC
ยท 2nd prize $25 GC
ยท 3rd prize $15 GC
ยท 4th prize $10 GC
One lucky visitor to my blog will win digital copies of three great reads by three great authors!
Once Upon a Princess Duet by Deborah A. Bailey
Cinderella and the Wolf Prince by Siren Allen
To enter for a chance to win, all you have to do is:
On Monday, December 4th, a random winner will be chosen and receive all three books!
My 5-Star Review ofย Once Upon a Princess Duet
Fairytales were my first favorite childhood genre, and in my later years, I havenโt strayed too far from them. The list continues to grow of fairytale mash-ups, retellings, dark, and inspired versions. A few missed the mark, but most get it right. Once Upon a Princess Duet nails it!
In Heart of Stone, we have Leesa, princess leader of a kingdom in ruins. Those who killed her family and destroyed the land are gone too. Leesa ekes out a living for her grandmother and the people of her village the best way she can.
This leads Leesa to search for treasures at Silver Palace, also in ruins and once home to her betrothed who never returned from the war.
Leesa is caught by Willem, the gargoyle, self-proclaimed guardian of the castle ruins. He makes Leesa an offerโstay with him in the castle for three weeks and he will give her all she needs to care for her village.
This grownup version of Beauty & the Beast doesnโt deliver a wide-eyed, naรฏve ingenue and a loathsome beast, but a thirty-year-old woman whoโs left her days of royalty and privilege behind and a snarky, supernatural creature who may or may not be just a bit pervy. *HA! *
The bargain is not an easy one even as a guarded trust grows between the mismatched couple.
Trouble arrives in the forms of Lester and Sir Kyle, whoโs determined to take the castleโs hidden richesโฆ and Leesa as his wife.
With problems temporarily abated, Willem releases Leesa from their agreement, insisting she leaves before the nefarious Kyle returns with backup. Leesa is reluctant to leaveโshe has come to care for the gargoyleโand wants to fulfill her part of the agreementโฆ and perhaps even help free Willem from the enchantment which binds him to the castle.
Trouble returns, and it is chaotic. Leesaโs resolve weakens as she believes sheโs lost someone else important to her. It builds to an excellent ending, which for me, could have gone on and on.
While she only appears in a few pages near storyโs end, Polly, a no-nonsense barmaid from town, leaps to the top of my favorite characters list. Polly wasnโt up for any foolishness and did not suffer fools lightly.
In Beauty and the Faun, Kayla and her mother are taken in by her uncle after Kaylaโs father dies.
Although they are equals, Kayla and Julia, her mother, are treated as servantsโฆlike Cinderella. The good-natured women donโt mindโฆ much, as they both miss their life living in the woods with Christopher, Kaylaโs late father.
When Julia fell in love with Christopher, a woodsman, her family didnโt consider him good enough for Julia and she had to chooseโher wealthy family and easy life or poverty with Christopher. Of course, Julia chose love with no regrets. But illness took Christopher all too soon.
Now Kayla learns Sir Frederick, her uncle, and a habitual gambler is ready to marry her off to help settle his gambling debts.
The plan is to marry Kayla off to the son of a king. Usually a coveted betrothal, King Reynard has been unable to find a bride for his son because Reynard is a wolf-shapeshifter and his sonโฆ changes into things. The young prince is also said to be wild and disappears for weeks at a time.
Despite Kayla and Juliaโs objections, the wedding plans proceed, so Kayla decides to solve her own problem.
Striking a deal with fellow servant, Jackon, Kayla plans to go into the village and find a job so she can take care of her mother and be away from Frederickโs control. Jackon tricks Kayla and leads her into an attempted kidnapping. Kayla escapes and eventually ends up with Del, a woodland faun.
Loved the twists and turns of this quick read which included a wedding ball, a fairy godmother andโฆ pomegranate.
Leesa and Kayla are two great charactersโwomen just trying to figure it all out. Theyโre not sitting around waiting to be rescued, but Prince Charming does arriveโฆ in his own way! Youโll enjoy rooting for their happily-ever-afters.
I highly recommend these two engaging fairytale sendups. But, donโt buy them for your twelve-year-old. Yes, thereโs sex, (but itโs not over-the-top). We grow up, why canโt our fairytales?
Enjoy!
Color Of Love 2017 Featured Books
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| 1. | Author Kiru Taye (INT) | 11. | Georgia Lyn Hunter | 21. | Tasha L. Harrison | |
| 2. | Author Nana Prah (INT) | 12. | Sharon C. Cooper | 22. | Kay Blake | |
| 3. | Author Empi Baryeh (INT) | 13. | Reana Malori | 23. | J.L. Campbell | |
| 4. | LBAS Book Blogs (INT) | 14. | Elle Wright | 24. | Sheena Binkley | |
| 5. | RWOWA (INT) | 15. | Candace Shaw | 25. | Bex n Books (INT) | |
| 6. | Sexy Romance Novels (INT) | 16. | Author/Blogger Shonda Brock | 26. | Natalina Reis | |
| 7. | Felicia Denise, Author | 17. | L. Loren (INT) | 27. | Dahlia Donovan (Int) | |
| 8. | Sharita Lira, Author | 18. | Koko Brown | 28. | Debra Elise | |
| 9. | Freddy MacKay | 19. | Siren Allen | 29. | Kim Golden | |
| 10. | Platypire Reviews | 20. | Amaka Azie | 30. | Kai Tyler (INT) |
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For almost forty years, the Chase-Holland Veteranโs Outreach Center warmly welcomed military veterans from all over the country.
Named for Graham Chase and Lawrence Hollandโtwo twenty-one-year-old Army privates killed in action during the Vietnam War, the center never charged veterans for any services received, and they never turned anyone away.
As a twenty-two-year-old Army clerk, Richard Chase, who was ten when his older brother was killed, found out Graham and another soldier, Lawrence Holland, had sacrificed their lives by drawing fire away from a small group of women and children fleeing an attack on their village.
An unpopular war with much of the U.S. in the sixties, countless acts of courage and bravery were never acknowledged.
After leaving the Army two years later, Richard Chase enrolled in college full-time. While studying to become a history teacher, he began a campaign tell the story of his brother, Holland, and so many others who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in Vietnam. A university professor whoโd lost an older brother in the Korean War joined Richardโs campaign and steered his influential friends and university alumni to Richard. What started out as an idea for a book grew into a fund for a memorial.
When it was learned the growing homeless population included veterans, Richard knew what his โmemorialโ would beโฆ a center where vets could go anytimeโday or nightโ and receive a meal, a place to rest, and assistance to end their homelessness.
Two wealthy brothers heard about the campaign and wanted to help. One made a sizable cash donation and the other donated a piece of property just outside of West Hollywood.
The Chase-Holland Veteranโs Outreach Center opened its doors in March of 1990 and served tens of thousands of veterans over the years by helping them find housing, apply for vet benefits, and get medical and psychological treatment.
Quinn Landon was relieved to find street parking in front of the center. More than a few car doors and fenders had received nicks, dents, and scratches in the tiny center parking lot located behind the building.
โHey, Fred. Our girl is back.โ
Grinning, Quinn didnโt have to turn around to know who was shouting from across the street–Noel Adams, Vietnam war vet, cancer survivor, dialysis patient and recently, diagnosed with diabetes.
A well-known figure at the center and in the community, seventy-year-old Noel sat in his wheelchair on the tiny porch of his bungalow across the street from Chase-Holland.
Fred Alizo waved to Quinn as she exited her car.
โWoman, if I could run Iโd hightail it over there and kiss you.โ
More reserved than his neighbor, Fredโs remark surprised both Quinn and Noel.
Shaking her head at her two favorite troublemakers, Quinn crossed the street to hug Fred. She crossed their short side street to hug Noel.
โWe thought youโd forgotten about us, youngโun.โ
Fred spoke up before she could respond.
โWhat he said was you probably had a baby and mommy-duties.โ
Noel flipped Fred off as Quinn looked back and forth between the two men.
The realization her pending divorce no doubt cost her a chance at being a mother flashed through Quinnโs mind. She pushed it aside and chuckled.
โSorry, guys. Life got busy… Super busy. While I do love my job, I realized I missed doing other things I love too, like spending time with friends.โ
The two men beamed.
Leaving Noelโs yard, she backed the few short steps to the corner, still talking to the vets.
โLet me get inside, get caught up and work for a few hoursโฆโ Quinn stopped at the corner. โAnd when Iโm done,โ she pointed at each man. โโฆand if youโve managed to stay out of trouble, maybe I can catch up with you guysโฆ over pastrami burgers.โ
โDonโt worry, Quinn. Iโll keep Noel out of trouble.โ
Giving Fred the โthumbโs upโ gesture, Quinn roared with laughter at the annoyed look on Noelโs face.
She was still laughing as she entered the center.
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A peaceful mind can make a wonderful quote.
Bez poลpiechu, prosto z serca โ po prostu Antonina pisze.
bliskoลฤ, ktรณra ma znaczenie
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