Do you think this cover is too seductive?

Mar 20, 2023 11:01 am

Hello! I hope this email finds you well.

You won't believe me when you see the cover one retailer won't allow me to advertise. It's silly that covers with half-naked men with their pants unzipped can be advertised, but not this cover because (oh my goodness) female shoulders!

But do you know what was advertised on the same page of this particular book?

Multiple shirtless males
A bare-chested man with his hands on a woman's throat
A clothed male with his hands around a woman's throat
A shirtless man with a half-dressed woman in an unbuttoned shirt scrunched to her butt with her thighs around his waist

Those covers don't offend me, but that last one was way more seductive than my cover below. To be fair, I scrolled through the sponsored and recommended reads on my book's page and found The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Where the Wild Things Are, so I'm not sure this retailer is paying much attention to products related to my book.

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I'm digging deep today and sharing a bit of my childhood with you in the spotlight section, so keep scrolling.

INSTALOVE SPOTLIGHT'S ON...

Black Tie Affair! friends to lovers, steamy sweet, wedding romance with a back history of bully behavior (but let me explain.)

Why I wrote it: I grew up in a single-parent home, poor, relying heavily on the generosity of strangers for food, shelter, and clothing. My family was also religiously strict. I never realized how different I was from others my age until the first day of public school. My first teacher set the tone for how I was to be treated from day one. She reprimanded me for the way I sat at my desk, like a lady with my legs crossed and ankles tucked. That was the first of many things she'd pick at. Needless to say, my classmates followed her lead. I was the last chosen for teams, no one wanted to stand by me for class pictures, and kids called me names on the playground. This lasted throughout elementary.

By middle school and high school, I'd become withdrawn and painfully shy. I had a handful of teachers who treated me unfairly due to my family's religious preferences and peers who teased me about where I lived, what I wore, that I used the free lunch program ticket, etc. I studied hard and graduated early. And you know what my "friends" and classmates told me to my face. They thought I graduated early because I was pregnant, not because I studied hard.

Bullying isn't only defined by physical markings of bruises and scars. It's emotional, too. When we see it, know it, and hear it, we should say something, do something, and show those who are weaker that they are special, important, and loved.

Black Tie Affair touches on bullying and not standing up for those who need our help the most. Our hero in this story is not a bully, but he watched in silence as his best friend was bullied out of fear he would be treated the same. He knew better, but his true remorse makes him worthy of redemption, and only our heroine can give him that. Phoebe and Xander's story is about redemption, forgiveness, love, and acceptance. I hope it touches your heart.

Extras:

Amazon won't allow this book to be advertised. They informed me the cover is too provocative, with the woman's shirt pushed over her shoulders with straps showing. What do you think?
Readers have emailed me after reading this book to say they never got closure in real life, but Phoebe and Xander's story helped heal a little bit of their heart. I think about those emails every time I sit down to write a story.

You are welcome to hit reply and reach out to me any time you want to share something with me, whether it's happy or you're feeling down. I read every email and keep them close to my heart. I don't have all the solutions, but I do have a listening ear. 💜💜💜

Black Tie Affair - one click or KU

Scroll to read the first chapter. Hit the button above to read more.

Black Tie Affair contains copyright material.

Chapter 1

Phoebe

The last thing I ever thought I would do is come back to this hell hole of a town. It holds too many bad memories for me. Sure, there are good ones, but not enough to make up for the bad, except for Grandpa. He's my hero. He encouraged me to follow my dreams on my darkest days when I needed his support the most. It's why I couldn't say no when he asked for my help. I had to come back while he heals in rehab. Otherwise, he could lose the business he's spent a lifetime building.

Grandpa Joe opened Black Tie Affair when he was a young man. He dreamed that his son, my dad, would take over the business one day. But Dad had no interest in becoming a tailor. He barely acknowledged my interest in the fashion industry. He kind of lost interest in most things after Mom lost her battle with cancer. The house fire didn’t help matters either. I think he felt like less of a man having to take charity from strangers while we got back on our feet.

Dad wasn’t the only one who felt the consequences of losing everything. The generosity of strangers saved us in the aftermath of those dark days. But wearing classmate’s hand-me-down clothes came with a price. I bore the brunt of their jeering remarks and lost friends I thought I’d have forever. Grandpa helped me pull through it, though. He taught me everything he knew about sewing and altering clothes. That’s how I found my niche in fashion design and redesigning secondhand clothing. It became necessary for survival, and now it's my true calling.

My bosses at The Fashion Institute completely understood my need to take a few weeks off to help Grandpa. They’re letting me use this time as part of my training rather than take a leave of absence. I’m grateful for that. I’ll check in with my mentor in a few weeks, and we'll see how it goes from there. I’ll also need a letter of recommendation from Grandpa detailing my duties here at Black Tie Affair. By that time, I'll have a more professional experience under my belt, which will go a long way in getting my own fashion line one day.

At least that’s my hope.

The old place looks the same as when I left several years ago. I'm glad I stopped in over the weekend to refamiliarize myself with the place. Much of it is the same, with a few new perks in place thanks to Jasmine talking Grandpa into a few updates. Jasmine owns Forever After, the bridal boutique next door. She's been a big help to Grandpa this past year. I can see why he took to her so quickly when she set up shop next door to his. She's lovely, the warm and friendly type. It tugs at my heart knowing I haven't been here for him, but I'm happy someone like Jasmine looks out for him, too.

I take my time perusing the shop to get my thoughts in order before opening. I run my hand along the alterations counter and grab a measuring tape from the jar. An instant rush comes over me as I slip the measuring tape across the back of my neck. I feel at home in my element. Time to get to work.

Grandpa is meticulous about everything having a proper storage place. I reach under the front counter without looking and know that's where I'll find the lint brush. I smile to myself, thinking of Grandpa and me working side by side evenings and summers. I make the rounds, brushing over shoulders and suit backs, sprucing up the tuxes, making sure they’re all in pristine showroom shape.

I'll get up the nerve to design a tuxedo from template to pattern to the real deal fashion piece one of these days. Until then, I'll keep honing my skills at tailoring a tux for the perfect fit.

Once the tuxes are all in tip-top shape, I check the calendar for the day to see who’s on the books and which pieces I need to pull for their appointments. The day goes by quickly with a steady stream of grooms and groomsmen. Wedding season is Black Tie Affair’s busiest time of year. My last appointment for the day should arrive anytime. A private fitting for the Griffin—Slater wedding. The wedding is two weeks away, and the guy hasn’t been in for a single fitting. The tux better fit him like a glove because two weeks is cutting it close for anything but simple alterations.

The door chimes as I’m tidying the fitting room from the last group of groomsmen.

“Be right there,” I call out, hoping it’s my final appointment of the day.

“Take your time. I’ll look around.”

The low rumble of his voice triggers goosebumps along my arms. It's warm and smooth, like soft caramel with a sprinkle of sea salt. Yummy. This gig has its advantages with its primarily male clientele. Luckily, most of them are already on their way to the altar, so I can enjoy the view without fending off unwanted passes. Not that anyone’s hit on me in forever.

I straighten the measuring tape around my neck and walk into the showroom to greet the man behind the sultry voice. If his delicious backside indicates how delectable he is face to face, then Houston, we may have a problem. He turns, and he is indeed as gorgeous as I'd hoped.

What I don't expect is Xander Griffin, my high school crush and former best friend. The boy who broke my heart and abandoned me when I needed him the most.

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Continue reading.

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Continue Reading Black Tie Affair

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