Showing results for title "Presence" in Anthologies & Short Stories

When Desa Rae Jenkins ended her tumultuous relationship with Roc, it seemed like the appropriate thing to do; but now she's second-guessing her decision. Roc moved away to Kansas City, leaving street life back in St. Louis up to the brothas who can handle it. He continues to live his life on the edge, though, and when he returns to St. Louis, Desa Rae shows up at his doorstep to reconcile. Roc is reluctant to go there with the one woman who ripped his heart from his chest.

Desa Rae Jenkins and her 20-something-year-old playmate are back with drama only the two of them can bring. Roc has been released from prison, and he's trying to show Desa Rae that his past life is well behind him, but his baby mama and his playa-hating uncle want Desa Rae out of the picture. Chyanne Johnson has tried to steer clear of drama since she was old enough to be out on her own. She's content with her mundane position at Atlanta's top marketing firm, but all of that changes when sexy CEO Aric McHale promotes her to be his executive assistant.

In the outskirts of Tuscany, a fuse sparked, leaving behind the entrails of an undesirable fire, slowly burning away the remains of those left behind. The love between Sophie and Alessandro seemed shallow and childish at best. From their initial confrontations to their constant arguments and differences, the gap between their relationships continued to push them further apart. Left with nothing more than a surreal dream with lingering desires, what will Sophie and Alessandro do when the reality of life finally takes over the world of fancy and dreams?

Two novellas, previously published individually, now together in one volume. A CHRISTMAS ANGEL Ten-year-old Annie, stuck in a wheelchair since a fall from the barn loft, hopes for a beautiful angel to go atop the Christmas tree, but God's answer to her prayer is completely unexpected. Annie's widower father, Mick, hated to ask his in-laws for help, but he had no other choice. He never imagined they would send his wife's stepsister, Jennifer, to care for his daughter. Nor did he foresee the love she would bring into their home. Did he and Annie dare hope that Jennifer might choose to stay? A...

If you are a person who sees failing not as a negative thing but a learning experience, this story will resonate with you. “Love Doesn’t Exist” is a story about an 18-year old boy named Bruno who experiences a lot of embarrassment and faces a lot of his internal demons only to achieve one of life’s greatest joys - searching for that eternal love. After suffering from a devastating rejection from Maria, Bruno decides to do whatever it takes to find the girl of his dreams. He found a book that he believes will cure his awkwardness with girls.

Cora and Lewis, two youths with seemingly nothing in common, come together in spite of their peers. Unlikely friends fall in love, and four years later, their life together seems perfect: Lewis has a high-paying job, the two share a luxury apartment in the city, and Lewis is ready to ask Cora to marry him. But what happens when Cora disappears without a word? How does Lewis react when he sees her lurking in the doorway at one of his conferences?

Never Been on Broadway is a romantic short story about the reality of fame and about how far away from reality the famous can be. The story follows the first day of Evelyn Alford’s first ever trip to New York City. The allure of Broadway, the millions who come each year seeking fame but the few who truly understand the luck and the randomness involved. Never Been on Broadway goes behind the closed dressing rooms doors and shows the true fears and attitudes of today’s stars living in a 24 hour social media world.

On the Way to New York is the story of a workplace romance that takes more than seven years to develop. Ella is an ambitious, advertising executive vying for a promotion to an office in New York City, effectively escaping Cleveland, Ohio. Only one man stands in the way of her realizing her dreams.

Jillian lives with a trusted and dependable friend, Charlie. They have a unique friendship and a comfortable living arrangement they both enjoy. Jillian, although happy with the arrangement, feels that one day it will end. She wants a typical life with a husband and family and does not see that as something Charlie desires for his future.

Celest didn’t expect to start her new life with the love of her life on such a devastating note. Luckily for her, Dina, a lifelong friend, is always by her side to support her. In her journey to recovery, a handsome stranger moves into the neighborhood. If only she knows how much they have in common.

One of the most miserable and lonely places in the world is in a prison cell. One of the hardest decisions is figuring out exactly what path you will take once released from prison. This is vital because essentially the release date is the first day of the rest of your new life. The main character must make this decision but has to use his heart to guide him.

Livy and Greg own an interior design business together. They have worked together day in and day out for more than 10 years. Greg is steady, responsible, and detail-oriented, while Livy is the creative genius of the pair. They spend not only their working lives together, but they are best friends, too. Although Greg and Livy are a perfect team, Livy goes on dates trying to find her Mr. Right. Then one day, it finally dawns on her that Mr. Right has been right in front of her all along.

"A Sworded Love Affair" is the story of a young woman who is looking for a good guy and a new hobby. She takes up the sport of fencing and finds that her coach and instructor is the man who she's been hoping to find for years. He is nice, good looking, smart, and witty. Their first lesson lasts for hours instead of just an hour. He cooks her a meal and they chat, even meet up the next day for a second lesson. It is that day when she takes a chance on love and asks him out. Listen and meet Sierra and see how she finds John, her instructor for fencing.

A grungy, edgy rock star famous since he was 12 and a young model, innocent in her ways and just coming into her own. They didn’t have much in common, except for fame...and the inability to properly breathe. While Olympia’s father does everything to keep her cystic fibrosis under control, his healthy ways won’t give her immortality. Meanwhile, Michael has chosen to live life like a fast-burning torch, since he’ll be dead soon either way. Will Michael’s flamethrower ways destroy Olympia, or will her slow-burning candle save him before it’s too late?

"Across the Ocean" is not just any regular romantic love story. Because many people often do not specialize in listening specifically only to love stories, this story also incorporates some very interesting and captivating fantasy parts.

Maya returned to her home state of Indiana after many years of moving around and seeing the country. Lucas was the one man in her past that she never got over. As kids, they were intimate with each other and had a very close friendship. Without warning, Maya left Lucas behind. She pined for him for years. He waited for her to return.

The Golden Kings, a group of musicians thought to be the greatest since Coldplay, has a distinct reputation for practically disowning their bass player on stage. Dean, following Tony's short bass tenure for the group, has gotten tired of being taken advantage of. After almost going crazy over his decision and literally falling over his new love, he tells new producer Mr. Wisely he will stop his contract with the old group and form a duo with his girlfriend, Destiny, and share a life of romance and music together.

Dating My Boyfriend’s Brother is an example of what can happen in a relationship that begins online and what can happen when you match a determined, driven single woman ready for a man to put a “ring on it” with a divorced man who although is lonely and looking for companionship, also has a weird way of showing how much he needs Skyy. Maybe it is indeed his fault she begins to fall for his brother.

This story follows Sandy, a 19-year-old woman, as she makes the difficult transition from living in an insular religious community to “outside” life in a college town.

When a grieving Todd brings Veronica, the secret daughter of Joy, to the hotel and introduces her to the world in the same spot he introduced her mother, they can’t help but be shocked. As their visit goes on, the staff feels like it's seeing ghosts, transported back to a time five years ago when Joy was alive. Veronica’s looks, movements, and actions imitate Joy’s so much, it sends shivers down their spine. She truly is her mother’s child.