Thursday, January 24, 2013

Tempted by Love

Chapter 1 

Excerpt


Chapter One

Constance maneuvered her five feet, four inch frame, shifting her generous body weight from one leg onto the other to allow the blood to circulate in the leg that had been curled up underneath her for the past half hour or so. She sat perched on the padded floral patterned bench in front of the huge picture window overlooking a forest of trees lining the property along the back of her house, but her mind was on another trip through the memories of her past, something that was becoming a part of her normal routine.

In the world according to Constance Alexander Brown, there were three groups of people: pessimists, optimists and realists. She considered herself an elite member of the middle group. She’d always been that way, always opting to see the glass as half full instead of half empty.

That outlook carried throughout her personal and professional life, which was one of the reasons why’d always she held on to the notion, mostly subconsciously, and held for many years the slightest glimmer of hope concerning her and one man, her first true love, Tallen Alford. It didn’t matter that Constance was already married and had been for the past twenty-nine years to Phillip. And as far as she knew so was Tallen.

‘Isn’t it ironic how the thought of one particular person whom you’ve crossed paths with in life can occupy and rent space in your mind from time to time?’ Constance thought.
She, a latte-complexioned girl, whom, if she spoke one iota of Spanish, could easily pass for someone of Spanish descent with her dark eyes and coal black shoulder length hair, found herself yet again daydreaming about Tallen. Her smile widened as the boyish image of his handsome face flooded her mind.

Through her almost fifty years of life, Constance had often heard women admit that they too had sometimes frequent, recurring thoughts of their first love, thoughts that made them wonder about the ‘whats’ concerning their exes - what their exes current status was; what they looked like now; who they were with; what their mates looked like; did their exes ever think of them - too. And it didn’t matter how many eons had gone by, or how many other encounters of love they’d experienced since their first loves, many admitted they’d always hold a special place in their heart for that one person.
Constance smirked. Although she’d never admit this to anyone except her best friend, Randi Lynn, it certainly was no different for her. Those questions often plagued her mind when she thought of him. He was the first man who had captured her heart, her mind, and her soul, and had held them prisoner in some form or fashion ‘til this very day.

Constance’s mind conjured up another image of Tallen, a five foot, nine inch bow-legged track runner from her high school days. Her mind vividly recalled his soft brown eyes, his smooth complexion, the shade of toasted cinnamon, his not- too-thick yet not-too thin lips, and perfect white teeth that when he smiled, brightened the darkest midnight sky.
Was his hair showing signs of getting gray, as was hers? She chuckled. Hell, he might not have any hair at all! Had he retained his boyish, yet muscular frame or had gravity set in around his midsection? Constance shook her head to erase the smiling boyish image from her mind.

After almost thirty years, and as hard as she tried to forget about him, Constance had resigned herself long ago that Tallen still owned parts of heart and soul, but not her body. That had been freed many eons ago by a careless act of his own doing. As far as her mind was concerned, she couldn’t help but allow him to take up residence in there, and lately it was happening more times than she cared to admit, event to herself. The space he had staked out in her heart all those years ago would probably be there for all eternity, she surmised.


Buy Link: http://redrosepublishing.com/books/index.php?manufacturers_id=169&osCsid=7omk6gih7v371fefbulms9ub01

Wednesday, January 16, 2013



Tempted by Love

Mainstream Romance: Interracial/Multicultural, Contemporary
ISBN: 978-1-4543-0252-0
Cover Artist: Shirley Burnett
Editor: Ravem Black
Line Editor: Merris Hawk
Word Count: 66,450
Pages: 303
Release Date: January 10, 2013


Feeling frustrated and neglected by her husband, Constance begins having frequent thoughts of her first love, Tallen Alford, the man who, more than twenty six years ago, promised to wait for her to finish high school and join him in Texas where he attends college. A few months later Constance is heartbroken when she learns through Tallen’s best friend, Gerald that he married someone else and didn’t bother to tell her.
 Unbeknownst to Tallen, he left behind more than a high school sweetheart with a broken heart. The two will come face to face at their 30-year high schools reunion. Constance will discover she still harbors feelings of anger and betrayal towards Tallen for abandoning her. Emotions will erupt, truths will be revealed, love will be tested. 
Will that proverbial line of infidelity be crossed? Will Constance allow herself to be seduced by her first love or will she be able to resist the temptations and remember her vows to Phillip to love...for better or for worst?

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

A Poem in Honor of Valentine's Day


ARRESTED LOVE

I'm sorry to be the one to inform you
but a warrant has been issued for your arrest
and I'll have to take you into custody
until you can see the judge.

What are the charges, you ask
Battery on an unarmed woman
with your eyes you seduced me
with your touch you enslaved me
with your tongue you ignited my fire with the tip of your flame
your hot breath filled my lungs with much needed air
as our bodies mended into one
and your sweet nectar gushed freely
causing my woman-ness to releases its own juices
as your love stick handcuffed my soul

But you were a willing participant, you offer as your defense
Yes, willing to surrender to your every command
as I was under sexual duress, hypnotized by your love

By the way, I'm your judge and jury
Guilty as charged, you admit freely,
And you have not been forced or coerced in any way to confess, you agree.

Well, for the crimes lodged against you
I sentence you to the maximum sentence allowed by love
a lifetime of loving me wholly, completely, for eternity
and that's without the possibility of parole

Your sentence begins immediately
and the punishment will be harsher
if you fail to comply, but you won't
And I promise to be gentle for the duration of your sentence

But be forewarned, good behavior will get you two for one
That's two shots at achieving new heights of pleasure
For each and every attempt.
© 062106 Vanessa A. Johnson

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Vanessa A Johnson's Books Published Through Red Rose Publishing


Sacrifices in the Name of Love    
Mainstream Romance: Multicultural/Interracial Contemporary
ISBN: 978-1-60435-712-7
Cover Artist: Shirley Burnett
Editor: Deatri King Bey
Word Count: 81,406
Release Date: June 3, 2010 by Red Rose Publishing

Uncommon Bond
Mainstream Romance: Women's Fiction, Contemporary
ISBN: 978-1-4543-0077-9
Cover Artist: Shirley Burnett
Editor: Zena Gainer
Line Editor: Red Rose™ Publishing
Word Count: 18,588
Release Date: July 28, 2011 (**My Birthday**) by Red Rose Publishing




Under the Mistletoe
Mainstream Romance: Contemporary, Interracial/Multicultural, Holiday: Christmas
ISBN: 978-1-4543-0134-9
Cover Artist: Shirley Burnett
Editor: Zena Gainer
Line Editor: Pam
Word Count: 10,396
Release Date: December 19, 2011 by Red Rose Publishing

http://redrosepublishing.com/books/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=vanessa+alexander+johnson&osCsid=9rov5evd8beqlk7n6rtcapial6&search.x=0&search.y=0






Thursday, January 19, 2012

Come and Chat with Author Mickey Sherwood and Me on Saturday, January 21ST

Upcoming Chat with Louisiana Authors Mickie Sherwood and Vanessa A Johnson Coffee Time Romance and More, Saturday, January 21st 6-8 PM CST/7-9 PM EST @ http://karenfindoutaboutbooks.com/. Please mark your calendars and stop by for some good book conversation and some freebies too. Hope to see you there. ♥

Sunday, January 08, 2012




New Year To Be The Best Me I Can Be

Happy New Year. As I sit and ponder what I'd like to talk about, I've read many people write about their new year resolutions. I haven't made any new year resolutions. As a matter of fact, I haven't made resolutions in a number of years. Why? Because I've often fallen short to carry through on accomplishing many of them. For years, I resolved to lose weight as many of you have and for years, instead of losing weight, I'd end up gaining some. In 2008, I gave in and had gastric bypass surgery. It was a tough decision I had to make if I wanted to have a better quality and quantity of life.

Now, instead of making a resolution to lose weight, now I've opted to take one day at a time and to do the best I can with each day in order to be the best I can be for myself, my husband, my children and my grandchildren.

One thing I'd like to do is make a bucket list. There are so many things I'd like to do, to accomplish before my number is up. I'd love to be on somebody's best seller list with my writing, I'd love to visit New York for Christmas/New Year to watch the ball drop, I'd love to take a honeymoon with my husband. We're about to celebrate our 34th anniversary on July 18th and never took a honeymoon all those years ago. I'd love to take the Amtrak up the East Coast and make stops along the way. I'd love to visit Hawaii, I'd love to take a 10-14 day cruise on Royal Caribbean Cruise line. These are just some of the things that would be on my bucket list.

Have you made any new year resolutions or made a resolution not to make any particular resolution?
What have you decided to do to be the best that you can be? Do you have a bucket list? What's on Yours?

Tuesday, January 03, 2012


Upcoming Chat with Coffee Time Romance and More, Saturday, January 21st 6-8 PM CST/7-9 PM EST @ http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/ctr_chat.htm.

Mark your Calendars. Books/ebooks prizes given away throughout the chat. You must be in it to win it.