Fatal Opposition by Tracee Lydia Garner - Book Tour
Creative Expressions Literary Services is pleased to announce Virtual Book Tour for Fatal Opposition by Tracee Lydia Garner. The tour will run November 27-December 8, 2017.
Author Name: Tracee Lydia Garner
Book Title: Fatal Opposition
Book Release Date: November 27, 2017
Genre: Multicultural, Inspirational, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense
About the Author
Tracee Lydia Garner is a bestselling, award-winning author who writes stories full of complex heros and heroines, relationships and families that experience tough but realistic life challenges in their quest for love. Born and raised in a suburb of the DC metro area, Tracee works in health and human service by day, has a degree in Communication and is a speaker and advocate for people with disabilities. Find Tracee on the web at www.Teegarner.com, or connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
About The Book
Synopsis
More than anything, she wants to be a part of something that feels right....
Cashell Bruer has lived a sheltered life. When she meets handsome NFL rookie James Parker on her birthday, she's smitten. With him, she can truly begin to live. But will he want her when he discovers she has a heart condition? Not to mention her new job involves polishing his bad boy image!
He longs to make his adoptive family and his team proud, while making peace with his past…
James Parker has it all, a family who chose him, and a coveted spot on an NFL team. When lovely, spirited Cashell keeps turning up in his life, he wonders if she's the one to share it all. But what if her only interest in him is status? And even worse, what if his search for his real family ends up putting her in danger?
Social Links
Tour hosted by Creative Expressions Literary Services
Excerpt
Chapter One
James Parker yawned for the fourth time that evening. This wedding
reception wasn't like the bachelor parties he'd been used to attending back in
his college days, and that was not a good thing. The most exciting thing that
had happened to him so far was playing counselor for his friend and fellow
football player Braxton Denton, who seemed increasingly inebriated, regarding
his problems with women. The game highlights on the big screen across the room
were the only other entertainment available, and the whole situation had James
certifiably bored out of his mind.
Truth be told, he should have
been studying. There was plenty of information he needed to review for a series
of upcoming meetings, as well as checking he had the right attire for his new
home in Virginia. Goodness knows he needed to be well-dressed for the
interviews his coaches had apparently lined up now that they were in the off
season. His lack of a definite contract so late into the season was playing on
his mind. Beyond that, he was growing tired of playing counselor to his friend
and just wanted to leave.
Lifting his glass, James took
another sip of iced tea and tried not to wince. The drink needed more sugar if
it was going to come even close to the kind his adoptive mother, Georgia
Parker, used to make. This bitter, too-lemony-tart version would have to do. He
set the glass down on the bar with distaste.
James couldn't just sneak off
to find a nice warm bed in one of the hotel's many rooms, though, because he'd somehow
been tapped - again - as the designated driver for the loud knuckleheads around
him. The more sloshed he watched everyone get, the more crowded James knew his
truck was going to be. Irritated, he picked up his phone and searched to see if
there were any on-demand transit services in the area. Maybe, he thought, he
could just grab a hotel room for the night until everyone was accounted for,
then mete out coffee and showers to the sore-headed ones in the morning before
then, and only then, handing them back their keys.
There was a time when James hadn't been
the responsible one, but things change. He had witnessed tragedy and he had
grown up. Fast.
"Jay, I think we can work
it out."
"Yeah?" James was
pulled back to listening with half an ear to the dragging conversation: an old
standard with his pal Braxton, about love. He fumbled for his usual response.
"Definitely try. I mean, you're getting older, time to settle down."
"What's that, Jay? Now I'm
old? What the heck, man?" James could almost see Braxton's hackles raise.
"No man, come on..."
James rolled his eyes at the drunken state of his teammate. The booze explained
this tendency to get insulted easy and early.
James took a deep breath and
looked around the lounge area. Today's wedding had been nice enough, but now it
was over. His friend Carl had gotten married to his longtime girlfriend
Blakely. Now the happy couple were likely upstairs changing outfits while
everyone else danced, stuffed their faces and waited for their reappearance.
Yes, he thought, it was
official: he was stuck there, with nothing to do but babysit two idiots that
were still reigning supreme in bachelorhood. From his vantage point, their
situation looked pretty depressing. He himself hadn't gotten married either,
but unlike them, he told himself, he finally had his priorities straight for
once. He would get married, went his mantra, and he swore he was ready to do so
now. He was done with a life of partying and drinking. For the most perfect
examples of a loving marriage and family, all he had to do was look around his
own family: first and foremost at his adoptive parents, now deceased, who'd
taken him in as a baby. Now that they were gone, he had his brother Cole and
his wife Allontis to look to.
James was on good terms with Adrian, his
eldest brother, but his relationships with Dexter and Cole were especially
close. The fifth brother, Deon, was in jail. If Cole, who'd been a bachelor
just a few short years ago, and Dexter, whose wife had died tragically after
having been unfaithful to him, could find it in themselves to love again in
spite of everything, then James believed that someone could love him too. His
faith taught him that married life was sacred, and settling down appealed to
James on many levels. Now, just to find the right person.
He could find love, he was
sure; but of late, he hadn't been all that inspired to look. He certainly
couldn't in the company of his current comrades. He eyed his drunk friend
again, annoyed at being forced to play chaperone. Braxton's eyes were open, but
his face rested atop his glass, half full of brown liquid. The end to James's
night couldn't come quickly enough.
James smiled as he mentally
dismissed his current companions and turned his thoughts to his brothers and
their love interests. James had only known Leedra Henderson since that past
Christmas, and the first thing he'd learned about her was that she baked a lot.
Each time their paths had crossed, she'd filled him with coffee cake, muffins
and warm banana bread. More importantly, though, she made Dexter and his
daughter Kira happy, and she and James had soon become fast friends. She seemed
the perfect foil to both Dexter's quiet nature and Kira's preteen tendency to over-dramatize
just about everything.
James took a deep breath. He
loved his family and missed them all very much. Being on the road so often for
games was taxing, and he was happy that his schedule would allow him to spend
time at home reconnecting with them for a few months over the summer before
training camp started back up. He was looking forward to the start of a whole
new chapter with his new team. Present company excluded, that is, he mused
wryly.
When cheers rang out, James
stood up with everyone else and looked to the entrance of the ballroom. The
crowd of revelers rushed to greet the newlyweds as a mellow song came on for
their first dance.
He was happy they'd finally
arrived: that meant he wouldn't have to stick around much longer. A toast, a
father-daughter dance, another few rounds of drinks for Brax no doubt, then he
was home free. The couple would depart for some tropical island honeymoon and
that meant James could exit too, with his rowdy brood of adult children in tow.
He sat back on the barstool, counting the minutes.
"I'm'a call 'er."
Braxton had finally managed to
sit up straight, but the red-rimmed eyes betrayed his condition. James eyed him
wearily. "Look, uh, why don't you wait until you're sober before you do
that? You might say something you regret."
"Om boy, that'sha good
idea. You're smart, friend."
James rolled his eyes.
"How can I gets sobered
fasser?" Brax slurred.
"Um, sleep usually I
guess, but this stuff, Braxton, won't help," James responded, sliding the
glass out of his friend's reach despite his protests. "Bartender?" He
caught the server's eye and motioned him over. "Coffee for this one - and
please, no more alcohol, okay?"
Though the bartender nodded,
James saw the mischief in the man's eyes, as if to say: "Sure thing, but
that's what hotel rooms are for." James sighed. Drink responsibly was just
a catchphrase. Encourage endlessly was the real tag line. James nodded his
thanks when the server set a mug of steaming black java before Braxton and
surreptitiously emptied the highball glass into the bar sink.
Standing to look out over the dance floor
to check whether they had reached an acceptable juncture to leave, James
noticed an attractive woman enter with her phone to her ear. He followed her
with his eyes as she sat down at the other bar on the opposite side of the
large ballroom. James waited to see if someone else would join her, because
surely someone would.
There was a familiarity to her,
but he couldn't place where he might know her from. Musing a little, James
looked back at his phone. He tapped a series of icons to pull up a recent
broadcast: not interested in what was being said, only searching through the
faces that appeared on the screen. One beautiful face he sought in particular.
He had to figure out if that was her or not. Intrigued, he looked back across
the room and found the woman, still alone, was still on the phone. Although he
was now sure they didn't know each other, it seemed a perfect time for him to
introduce himself.
James Parker yawned for the fourth time that evening. This wedding
reception wasn't like the bachelor parties he'd been used to attending back in
his college days, and that was not a good thing. The most exciting thing that
had happened to him so far was playing counselor for his friend and fellow
football player Braxton Denton, who seemed increasingly inebriated, regarding
his problems with women. The game highlights on the big screen across the room
were the only other entertainment available, and the whole situation had James
certifiably bored out of his mind.
Truth be told, he should have
been studying. There was plenty of information he needed to review for a series
of upcoming meetings, as well as checking he had the right attire for his new
home in Virginia. Goodness knows he needed to be well-dressed for the
interviews his coaches had apparently lined up now that they were in the off
season. His lack of a definite contract so late into the season was playing on
his mind. Beyond that, he was growing tired of playing counselor to his friend
and just wanted to leave.
Lifting his glass, James took
another sip of iced tea and tried not to wince. The drink needed more sugar if
it was going to come even close to the kind his adoptive mother, Georgia
Parker, used to make. This bitter, too-lemony-tart version would have to do. He
set the glass down on the bar with distaste.
James couldn't just sneak off
to find a nice warm bed in one of the hotel's many rooms, though, because he'd somehow
been tapped - again - as the designated driver for the loud knuckleheads around
him. The more sloshed he watched everyone get, the more crowded James knew his
truck was going to be. Irritated, he picked up his phone and searched to see if
there were any on-demand transit services in the area. Maybe, he thought, he
could just grab a hotel room for the night until everyone was accounted for,
then mete out coffee and showers to the sore-headed ones in the morning before
then, and only then, handing them back their keys.
There was a time when James hadn't been
the responsible one, but things change. He had witnessed tragedy and he had
grown up. Fast.
"Jay, I think we can work
it out."
"Yeah?" James was
pulled back to listening with half an ear to the dragging conversation: an old
standard with his pal Braxton, about love. He fumbled for his usual response.
"Definitely try. I mean, you're getting older, time to settle down."
"What's that, Jay? Now I'm
old? What the heck, man?" James could almost see Braxton's hackles raise.
"No man, come on..."
James rolled his eyes at the drunken state of his teammate. The booze explained
this tendency to get insulted easy and early.
James took a deep breath and
looked around the lounge area. Today's wedding had been nice enough, but now it
was over. His friend Carl had gotten married to his longtime girlfriend
Blakely. Now the happy couple were likely upstairs changing outfits while
everyone else danced, stuffed their faces and waited for their reappearance.
Yes, he thought, it was
official: he was stuck there, with nothing to do but babysit two idiots that
were still reigning supreme in bachelorhood. From his vantage point, their
situation looked pretty depressing. He himself hadn't gotten married either,
but unlike them, he told himself, he finally had his priorities straight for
once. He would get married, went his mantra, and he swore he was ready to do so
now. He was done with a life of partying and drinking. For the most perfect
examples of a loving marriage and family, all he had to do was look around his
own family: first and foremost at his adoptive parents, now deceased, who'd
taken him in as a baby. Now that they were gone, he had his brother Cole and
his wife Allontis to look to.
James was on good terms with Adrian, his
eldest brother, but his relationships with Dexter and Cole were especially
close. The fifth brother, Deon, was in jail. If Cole, who'd been a bachelor
just a few short years ago, and Dexter, whose wife had died tragically after
having been unfaithful to him, could find it in themselves to love again in
spite of everything, then James believed that someone could love him too. His
faith taught him that married life was sacred, and settling down appealed to
James on many levels. Now, just to find the right person.
He could find love, he was
sure; but of late, he hadn't been all that inspired to look. He certainly
couldn't in the company of his current comrades. He eyed his drunk friend
again, annoyed at being forced to play chaperone. Braxton's eyes were open, but
his face rested atop his glass, half full of brown liquid. The end to James's
night couldn't come quickly enough.
James smiled as he mentally
dismissed his current companions and turned his thoughts to his brothers and
their love interests. James had only known Leedra Henderson since that past
Christmas, and the first thing he'd learned about her was that she baked a lot.
Each time their paths had crossed, she'd filled him with coffee cake, muffins
and warm banana bread. More importantly, though, she made Dexter and his
daughter Kira happy, and she and James had soon become fast friends. She seemed
the perfect foil to both Dexter's quiet nature and Kira's preteen tendency to over-dramatize
just about everything.
James took a deep breath. He
loved his family and missed them all very much. Being on the road so often for
games was taxing, and he was happy that his schedule would allow him to spend
time at home reconnecting with them for a few months over the summer before
training camp started back up. He was looking forward to the start of a whole
new chapter with his new team. Present company excluded, that is, he mused
wryly.
When cheers rang out, James
stood up with everyone else and looked to the entrance of the ballroom. The
crowd of revelers rushed to greet the newlyweds as a mellow song came on for
their first dance.
He was happy they'd finally
arrived: that meant he wouldn't have to stick around much longer. A toast, a
father-daughter dance, another few rounds of drinks for Brax no doubt, then he
was home free. The couple would depart for some tropical island honeymoon and
that meant James could exit too, with his rowdy brood of adult children in tow.
He sat back on the barstool, counting the minutes.
"I'm'a call 'er."
Braxton had finally managed to
sit up straight, but the red-rimmed eyes betrayed his condition. James eyed him
wearily. "Look, uh, why don't you wait until you're sober before you do
that? You might say something you regret."
"Om boy, that'sha good
idea. You're smart, friend."
James rolled his eyes.
"How can I gets sobered
fasser?" Brax slurred.
"Um,
sleep usually I guess, but this stuff, Braxton, won't help," James
responded, sliding the glass out of his friend's reach despite his protests.
"Bartender?" He caught the server's eye and motioned him over.
"Coffee for this one - and please, no more alcohol, okay?"
Though the bartender nodded,
James saw the mischief in the man's eyes, as if to say: "Sure thing, but
that's what hotel rooms are for." James sighed. Drink responsibly was just
a catchphrase. Encourage endlessly was the real tag line. James nodded his
thanks when the server set a mug of steaming black java before Braxton and
surreptitiously emptied the highball glass into the bar sink.
Standing to look out over the dance floor
to check whether they had reached an acceptable juncture to leave, James
noticed an attractive woman enter with her phone to her ear. He followed her
with his eyes as she sat down at the other bar on the opposite side of the
large ballroom. James waited to see if someone else would join her, because surely
someone would.
There was a familiarity to her,
but he couldn't place where he might know her from. Musing a little, James
looked back at his phone. He tapped a series of icons to pull up a recent
broadcast: not interested in what was being said, only searching through the
faces that appeared on the screen. One beautiful face he sought in particular.
He had to figure out if that was her or not. Intrigued, he looked back across
the room and found the woman, still alone, was still on the phone. Although he
was now sure they didn't know each other, it seemed a perfect time for him to
introduce himself.
1 Comments
Jasmine thank you so much for hosting the Fatal Opposition Blog Tour.
ReplyDeletePlease try not to spam posts with the same comments over and over again. Authors like seeing thoughtful comments about their books, not the same old, "I like the cover" or "sounds good" comments. While that is nice, putting some real thought and effort in is appreciated. Thank you.