After turning twenty-one, Maya sets out to find the birth mother who might explain everything. A violent encounter with a mysterious man plunges her into a darker world. He is as haunted as she is-fierce, damaged, terrifyingly tender. Their chemistry is immediate and volatile: refuge that threatens control. As Maya digs into the past, buried secrets fracture her identity and force impossible choices. Trauma refuses neat endings. Love becomes both lifeline and liability-can redemption survive, or will the darkness destroy them both? What will Maya uncover about herself and his past as she tumbles down this dark path? Is he her safe place to land? Chapter 17 Peek: Shame slithered up my neck like ice water, freezing me in place. Then Mom: "Jacob, I'm disappointed in you." The words landed like a slab of concrete on my chest. "Not because you're broken-because you KNEW BETTER and still chose to hurt. You hurt Maya. Danny. Your father and I. Worst of all, you hurt yourself." Her voice trembled, not with anger-but with the kind of sorrow that comes from loving someone who's become unrecognizable. 'She's crying. Because of me.' My chest split open. I wiped my face with my palm, salt stinging my lips. "I know," I choked, voice barely a whisper, splintering into nothing. "I hate myself for it." "We don't want you to hate yourself, son," Dad cut in, his voice rough with emotion now, the ache raw and unguarded. "Hate won't fix this. RESPONSIBILITY will. You don't get to drown in self-pity-that's just another escape. You OWN it. You CARRY it. And you EARN your way back-one brutal, honest step at a time." A pause, heavy with the weight of a father's love stretched to breaking. "We didn't raise a coward. So stop acting like one."

A love like this, only comes once a lifetime, and if you don't take your chance and cherish it with all your heart, then you missed out on the best love story of your life. For with love, comes heartbreak, but eventually it becomes healing and understanding. Book preview... "Why can't they just understand? I want him back- I need him back." I sighed just as Jordan's rap started to come on. "Glad someone thinks so." My mouth dropped open and I turned to find him standing there. A grin stretched across my face, "Jordan?" He approached me smiling and I ran to him and he kissed me passionately. "Mia, I never want you to think I'm not in this. I will always be here- I love you, I'm here to stay, it doesn't matter what we agreed on when we first started dating, I'm here for you now, and right now, that's the only place I wanna be. Mia, I love you too much to allow you to think that I don't care." He proclaimed this as I grinned bitting my bottom lip and he held my waist with one arm and his other hand cupped my face. "I know and I love you too Jordan, so much. I think I was just worried about what the others thought. That and I was worried about where we were going, I'm not ready to give this up- not yet." He grinned wiping my tears away and kissing me, then hugging me close.

Life for Leah is changing, she's with the love of her life, and her business is taking off, but will it all fall apart before her life comes together? In this book you will see Leah mature as she allows God to show her the way. Book Preview... 'I held Leah close as she sobbed in my arms, "Shhh... it's okay princess, it's okay." I held back the tears holding her, this was my fault, all of it. I broke her. I had broken her, how could I have been so blind? How could I have not seen it? I looked down to see she had fallen asleep again, I stood gulping back the tears and I headed downstairs and out the door- "Riker, where are you going?" Liam stopped me grabbing my arm as I turned back to him. "Liam, this is my fault- I screwed up. I broke her. That's why she's upstairs having nightmares about me." The tears fell down my face as he shook his head, "You still don't get it, do you?" "What do you mean? She hates me." He looked down at his feet then back up at me, "No. She loves you more than you could ever imagine. That's exactly why she's going through all of this right now." '

She's finally graduated and is ready to start her career fully. But, her heart is heavy and she refuses to let the others in. Her world isn't what it used to be, and she's afraid of what it'll become- what she'll become. Two guys, one future. Who will she choose? What will she decide? This is the third book in the, 'Finding Love' series. Book Preview... "Where are they?" I asked Ross when he answered the door. "Outside." He replied letting me in, I marched straight past Ratliff Rydel, and Courtney in the living room- heading into the backyard. "Leah?" They both asked in unison as they stared at me, getting out of the pool. "You're right. Okay, you were right- I do need to make a decision, but that gave you no right to come to me and try and force me to decide right then and there." I shook my head- and kept talking before they had a chance to respond, "I still like you both, a lot. I care about each of you- but don't ever do that to me again. But I do promise you this, I will have a decision for you before the end of the summer, but whatever the outcome, just know that I care about you both so much." My voice broke at the end, and I didn't give them a chance to respond as I headed back through the house, running straight into Liam.' (Rated PG, no inappropriate language, or scenes)

She's starting over... but when she thinks all is going well, will her world come crashing down? She knows this is where God has placed her, but she doesn't know why... see what happens when she's attending a college she never dreamed she could get in to. She's finally taking a stand and making a decision for herself. She knows she has a lot to live up to and needs to prove herself, can she do it? Or will she dig herself into a bigger hole? Love will find her again, and when it does... will she take the plunge? This is the second book in the series, 'Finding Love'. Book Preview... "Leah... talk to me." He pleaded and I looked down at my lap gulping before he reached over and lifted my chin making me look up at him. "Why are you here?" I whispered. He sighed and moved his hand, "I like you- a lot." He replied pursing his lips and looking down. "I- I should go." He stuttered and started to leave, but I quickly got up and grabbed his arm before he reached the door. "Wait!" I exclaimed and he turned to face me as I got off the bed and stood in front of him. "Tell me what you're thinking." He said with a small smile. "You wouldn't understand..." I trailed off in a whisper looking down. "You'll never know if you don't try." He told me. I looked up into his eyes knowing what I had to do. "I like you too- but it's complicated." I replied gulping as I felt the tears forming and before I knew it he was leaning in, my mouth was slightly open as my eyes kept there intense stare and my heart rate picked up, he then leaned in as I gasped slightly then I felt his hand on my cheek and he kissed me passionately. I found my arms going around his neck as his wrapped around my waist. Once he pulled away I smiled at him as I felt myself blush. (Rated PG, no inappropriate language, or scenes)

There ready to have a long summer romance, but when their pulled away from each other, will they work it out, or give up trying? This is the 2nd book in the, 'I Promise...' series. Book Preview... "But there's something I need to tell you..." I said as I heard Rydel clear her throat in the background before she left the office. "Yeah? What is it? You know I missed you at our tree this morning!" She grinned. "Me too..." I sighed and I sat her down in the chair and I pulled my own chair out and sat across. "Mariah... we need to breakup!" I blurted out. "W-what are you talking about?" She whispered stunned as she stood up and started to back away from me. "I'm sorry." I replied looking into her eyes as I slowly started to come her way. "Stop!" She said putting her hand up in defense. "What ever happened to 'I love you!' and, 'I'm never letting go!' and the best and most important, 'I promise...' huh?" She asked with tears streaming down her face. "Mar-" I tried to say but she cut me off. "You need to go...Now." She said softly, I turned and left. (Rated PG no inappropriate language, or scenes)

She's falling for him. She has everything she needs, except for him. But when secrets creep in and the truth comes out, will she lose him... or will she know he's what she needs? This is the 1st book in the, 'I Promise...' series. Book Preview... I call out to God, 'Why do I feel this way!? He was my everything! I'm in love with Riker!' "And I'm in love with you!" I turn to see Riker standing behind me and breathing hard. "I want you every minute of everyday! You're my everything! I should have never let you go! I promise..." He yells. "I love you! I should have never let go! I promise..." I yell back and we both have tears streaming down our faces. We run to each other and he takes my hands and then picks me up as I lean my head back and he swings me around, with my arms around his neck. "I promise..." we both exclaim and he kisses me passionately. (Rated PG no inappropriate language, or scenes)

Planning a life together is hard and when someone threatens her life will she be able to keep her strength? When they're focusing on trusting one another one hundred percent, will they stick through it? She's overwhelmed, and he's worried sick, about her. This is the 3rd book in the, 'I Promise...' series. Book Preview... "Now what's on your mind?" He asked as he laid back on his pillow and I did the same. "Strength." I sighed, we were both silent for a couple minutes. "What do you mean?" He asked. "I'm stronger. I hadn't said anything yet, but I've changed so much this month- that we've been separated. Those devotionals, I've been feeling stronger." I rambled. "That's amazing!" He sighed happily. "I also know that I'm more in love with you." I added gulping, and I sat up leaning over him. "Oh really?" He asked smiling as he searched my eyes. I nodded biting my lip and kissed him. "I love you so much! Why didn't you tell me?" He asked sitting up and pulling me into his lap. "I thought it might change things." I shrugged. "Even if it does. It's not going to change how I feel about you. I had a feeling- a good one. I could tell, you were different." He smiled and kissed me again, we both fell back laughing. "I'm glad you're stronger." He smiled. "I love you so much!" I shook my head. After that we sat there talking to each other about everything that happened in the past month, and I knew we had both changed. (Rated PG no inappropriate language, or scenes)

Are they really ready to start a family? His band is taking off, and she's wanting a family- will it tear everyone apart? Old fears reappearing... and he just wants to protect her. This is the 4th book in the, 'I Promise...' series. Book Preview... "We'll be back." I told the group and led Mariah away and out into the front yard- I sat down on the porch swing and she joined me. "Feeling ok?" I asked as I started swaying the swing with my foot, and she nodded with a smile. "Well- what's on your mind? You've been a little distracted today." I pointed out and she huffed a breath. "Sarah." She answered. "Felix's sister..." I trailed off- and she nodded. Even though I didn't know the full story of those two- I still knew that Sarah had always meant a lot to Mariah. "She and I both loved hanging out on New Years, because it meant, new resolutions, new chances, ways to change who you are for the better." Mariah smiled. "She always told me, 'Live for what's ahead- don't worry about your heartbreaks or your past mistakes. Live for now.' I always smiled when she said that. She wanted me to know that it shouldn't matter if someone has hurt you- if you're stronger than their actions. She also taught me that." Mariah added- as a tear fell down her cheek and I wiped it away with my thumb. I pulled her close to me and we snuggled as we looked up at the stars and also saw the fireworks. "Ten... Nine..." As people started counting down to the new year- Mariah sat up and looked at me with passion. "THREE... TWO... ONE! HAPPY NEW YEAR!" Everyone chanted and Mariah smashed her lips into mine and I kissed back with a soft fire passion. "Let's always live for what's ahead." I smiled pulling back. "Always." She grinned- then I kissed her deeply. (Rated PG no inappropriate language, or scenes)