To my beta readers Raj, Donna, Bobbie-Jo, Catherine, Wendy, and Bonnie, thank you guys for your interest. To Raj, Donna, and Wendy, your feedback is what made this story better. Thank you for your concern and your dedication to making my work better. I swear you guys helped write this novel. I can’t thank you guys enough for your critique, your correction and your ideas. Let’s see how it all turns out, huh?
To my kickass ladies and gentlemen of the Kastle, I can’t thank you enough for the distraction, entertainment, support and love. Thank you, to the Kween of the Kastle (and my lover), Kari for creating this group. You all have become my family and I can’t imagine that I went through 28 fricking years without knowing you guys. I love each and every one of you with an undying, unwavering love. Thank you all.
Nappi-boo, I can’t express how much I appreciate your friendship. Ladies and gentlemen, this woman is amazing and so very talented. She’s not my PA but I would sell every last one of my granny panties to have her services. However, God has placed her in my life as a friend (and lover) and I will take her any way I can get her. Thank you for all your support, ideas and work, my love!
To my Goodreads family who have stuck with me, thank you. You guys have been my backbone and I appreciate every word of encouragement. Thank you guys for always checking in on me and for always having my back through this period of my life. You guys were there for me through every challenge and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thank you!
To Angela and Eva, I stand amazed every day when I see how our friendship has turned out. You two are my family now…inextricably bonded by chocolate male chickens.
To my editor Charlie: you are my light. You illuminate my thoughts and allow me to see more clearly my very own story. Thank you for your faith in my writing. That has been the thing that has stood out to me since I’ve known you; the faith you have in my writing is unparalleled and I can’t thank you enough for that. It motivates and inspires me to keep writing…you motivate and inspire me to keep writing. Love you, Charlie boy!
To the other Charlie in my life: thank you for choosing me, thank you for caring and thank you for always being there when I had a crappy day…
Let me be there for you now.
Finally, and most importantly, thank you to the fans! Wish I could hug each and every one of you. Can I be cliché? You guys have been the wind beneath my damn wings throughout this whole journey! Thank you for purchasing and loving what I write. Thank you for telling others about me. Thank you for being fricking awesome!
Thank you to my KICKASS street team, Geezy’s Sinful Saints. You guys are beyond amazing!!!! Every day I stand amazed at how strong you ladies’ pimp hand is! I want you in my corner every day, and in the very same way, I will have your backs ALWAYS.
Thank you, Bri, for sharing your story with me. It was very heartbreaking, but inspiring. You have a story to tell my dear, and even if you never tell it, it deserves to be told. You are a survivor and I admire the heck outta you!
Each of you has something special to offer…don’t live this life and not show it to the world. I want to be able to cheer you on from my side of the world too.
TAINTED LOVE – BOOK ONE PLAYLIST
This is a list of songs and how they appeared in the novel. Music is an important driving force behind my writing. I draw a significant amount of inspiration from music based on where my mind goes during the writing process. Music is my escape, so enjoy this musical journey!
Tainted Love – Karen Souza
Swagger Jagger – Cher Lloyd
Sexy Bitch – David Guetta feat. Akon
Ain’t Too Proud To Beg – The Temptations
I’ll Be There – The Four Tops
Where Did Our Love Go? – The Supremes
Manic Monday – The Bangles
I Get Knocked Down – Chumbawumba
Is This Love? – Bob Marley
No Ordinary Love – Sade
Reason – Hoobastank
Jumper – Third Eye Blind
She’s Got Issues – The Offspring
One Week – Barenaked Ladies
I Can’t Make You Love Me – Bonnie Raitt
The Hymn of the Child on Awakening – Liszt
Sacrifice – Elton John
Luck Be a Lady – Frank Sinatra
Dream a Little Dream of Me – The Mamas and the Papas
Best I Ever Had – Drake
Addiction – Ryan Leslie feat. Fabolous
Promise – Ciara
Speechless – Beyoncé
Dance For You - Beyoncé
COMING SOON
Tainted Love - Book Two
Will Sullivan be found, or will she fall to the hands of the man she hates most? Will Ben ever discover that Sullivan is missing? Will he care? Will her secrets finally be revealed even as she faces death or worse…going back to the life she left with Rick? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel!
Luke & Lydia’s Story
Luke
My mom left my Dad and me when I was 15, saying that we were “holding her back”; around the same time my girlfriend of two years, Penny, moved away because her Mom got a promotion in San Francisco. She didn’t even tell me that shit. She knew I loved her more than life itself and she didn’t even tell me. Women are selfish bitches, and ever since I learned that lesson, I haven’t let any of them close enough to leave me again.
Moving to San Francisco with my best friend Collin was not just for job-related purposes. I wanted to see Penny again. All those years and I still missed her, still loved her. But what I found when I got here was women, women and more women. And God, do I love the women! God’s greatest creation since condoms and paternity tests. Am I right, guys?
Little did I know that I would also find THE woman. She’s crazy and, hell, is she beautiful! She’s my crazy fucking Amazon and if anyone tries to take her from me, it won’t be pretty. I’ve been hit over the head with a baseball bat called love and there’s no turning back. The guys are gonna have a damn field day with this shit. Fuck me.
Lydia
My ex-fiancé is a rich, douchebag fag. No, really, he’s a fag. I caught him getting it real good by a buff dude in OUR bed. I couldn’t get the image burned out of my head fast enough as I high-tailed it out of there and into the arms of my best friends. The high life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be with all its secrets and lack of love. That’s what it was between James and I and I won’t do it anymore…not until I find someone worth of my heart and my…um, other intimate parts.
I’ve been celibate for the past two years and doing well in my quasi-virgin, man-hating existence, until…boom! I saw him and it was over. Love at first sight doesn’t happen to me, but shit if my heart isn’t caving to Luke Somerville. He’s the one. My destiny; and if I have to fight, maim and behead every bitch who thinks they have a right to him, then I will. Sluts, be warned.
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR
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MORE BOOKS FROM THE AUTHOR
These books are currently in the pipelines:
MC Romance Series:
(Sinner and Saint, Cruiser’s Woman, Law and Lady)
Connor’s Story
(From South Row)
FINAL NOTE
Abuse is very real in ou
r society. It is more than bruises and broken bones…it is about one broken person breaking another. While physical abuse might be most visible, there are other types that you may not see or even notice, that leave deep, lasting scars. Addressed in this novel were issues of abandonment, sexual abuse, domestic violence and drug abuse; issues of which hit some of us – even this author – in very personal ways. The earlier those abused get help, is the greater chance they have to heal.
I don’t know what you’re going through or what you have gone through, but you are NOT alone. You are only alone if you choose to be. You are NOT weak. It was…is NOT your fault. You are NOT what happened to you. You are NOT damaged goods. You are NOT tainted. You are STRONG. You went through a storm and you’re still standing. I am so damn proud of you for that.
It’s time now to weaken your past. There is no self-fulfilling prophecy based on what happened to you. Do not keep silent and give your demons strength. The Bible tells us in James 5:6 to confess our faults one to another so that we may be healed. It’s time to speak up and speak out against those things, those persons who hurt us. GET HELP. Seek counseling.
If you know of someone being abused in any way, shape or form, GET THEM HELP. It could be the difference between life or death.
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