by Nola Marie
I’m pretty sure my face just paled about ten shades. I haven’t ‘dated’ in nearly ten years. I’m not sure if what I did before counts as dating either. I was basically a kid. It sounds like a lot more work than I am interested in.
“Not sure I have time for that,” I tell her honestly. “Label wants us in the studio and then back on the road soon. While I’m in town, I need to take care of some things in the shop. I mean it is my shop. I need to do something.”
“Nope. Not having it,” she tells me as she shakes her little head at me. “You, Mr. Pierce are too hot, too good, and too sweet to stay single.”
“I’m also too busy. And I still have sisters that I prioritize over everything,” I continue to argue as my heart pounds and sweat breaks across my forehead.
“All I’m hearing are excuses. I will find you a girl,” she tells me with a sly grin.
All I can think is what have I gotten myself into with this firecracker of a woman.
Kind Campaign
Bullying can be found in every school, every grade, and every demographic across the country. It affects all genders, races, and creeds. But some of the most rampant is girls bullying other girls. It’s become something of a joke in our society that women can’t be friends. That there’s always competition, sabotage, or catty, backstabbing behavior. But this isn’t funny. It starts while girls are young. That need, for whatever reason, to knock another girl down or make her feel inadequate, inferior, or unloved. The things girls hear when they’re young stay with them into adulthood. Even if they don’t think about or even recall the original incidents, those words, the insults and pain, linger insidiously. They keep battering at a girl’s self-esteem long after physical bruises have disappeared. Cruel words, demeaning acts, and humiliation cause mental, emotional, social, and sometimes behavioral problems for victims of bullying that can last a lifetime. They say the pen is mightier than the sword. A blade can cut a physical body. But words can either uplift a spirit or slash a soul to ribbons. So think before you speak. Teach your children that just as kindness uplift us all, cruelty drags everyone down. The Kind Campaign is a non-profit organization that wants to help counteract the lingering effects of girl-on-girl bullying. Check them out.
Coming July 2021
Bed of Nails
Books By This Author
Fighting for His Life
Jax and Zoey
Protecting His Night
Rory and Layla
Preserving His Truth
Bastian and Verity
Taking His Victory
Zane and Tori
Would you like a signed copy? Email me at [email protected] for your signed book plate.
Acknowledgement
This book was born from my first series. It's a continuation of sorts, to characters that I can't seem to let go of. Sionna, C. M., and Charm, thank you for encouraging me to chase those characters. You have sat up late nights with me discussing plot, deciding cover, and even catching all my god-awful typos. Thank you for every opinion and all the help because, honestly, it has helped me move forward with this project. Your support has meant the world to me.
To Andrea, Michelle, Anastasia - thanks for the kind words and support. Thanks for everything you guys do to support our little community. It means so much to all of us because we know many thankless hours are put into what you do absolutely free of charge.
About The Author
Nola Marie
Nola Marie has been writing her entire life but has authored nine books in the last year, four of which are published as her steamy mafia romance series, The Men of River City. Currently she is working on her Sons of Sin series which promises to be just as bold and exciting.
She also holds a bachelors degree in IT Management and an MBA in Leadership and Strategy.
She has spent her entire life in Louisiana, and absolutely loves everything about it from the crawfish to the swamps. She has a hard-working, completely devoted husband that encourages her to do what makes her happy, three smart, kind, intelligent children that are her best friends, and an assortment of pets.
When not spending time with her family, she reads, writes, listens to music, doing amatuer graphic design, and plays video games.
