Hurricane

by

Taige Crenshaw

Love has no color or boundaries. I start with that statement when someone asks me why I write interracial and multicultural romance. Then I follow that up with the next words, which usually get a befuddled and wide-eyed look from who I am telling it to.

When I was growing up I never saw a person’s color.

You probably have that same look right now. LOL.

Let me start with some background.  I was born on the beautiful island of St. Thomas, USVI. When I was growing up my parents raised me to see the people and not their skin tone. At the time, I didn’t realize that was what they were doing…that is until I moved to New York. I’ll get to what happened in NY in a bit. 🙂 Growing up I saw many people, families and couples in many types of mixtures of skin tones. It didn’t matter to me what their skin tone was since all I saw was the love and care that they had for each other.

The gift of being “color blind” is a wonderful gift my parents gave me of not seeing skin tones and instead seeing people. My parents also had a huge family, as well as people who were family by choice even if not related to us by blood. We have a large extended family. Each shaped me in some way and instilled in me the love of family and acceptance of people as just that—people.

This leads me to when I came to New York to college. That is when someone pushed the idea of skin tone being relevant on me. It was baffling to me since I wasn’t raised that way. When it was brought into my face, I evaluated how I felt about it…in the end I decided it still didn’t matter. I see people and not what is the skin tone. This moment created the motto I started this post with and this is what I live by.

The way I was raised has been my steady-fast compass of life—love has no color or boundaries. I got my love of reading from my oldest sister and mom. Another precious gift that I still enjoy. 🙂  The more I read the more my mind filled and I used to make up my own stories. Eventually I found romance books and a world opened up for me and I’ve been a lover of it ever since. In the books I read, I only cared about the story. The skin color of the characters didn’t matter.

This has extended to my writing. In my books, skin tone is not a factor. I write books that have multicultural and interracial characters. It doesn’t matter what color is the skin tone. It’s about what is in the heart. The importance is finding someone to love. Finding the one who makes the person’s soul complete. That individual who causes their pulse to race and them to catch their breath, with the very idea of that other person. It is all about the romance and that journey the characters take to find it. The ups and downs that shape that couple.

Hurricane (Singleton, Book #1) is a book and part of a series of my heart. Well all my series and books are that. But the series features a large family that is originally from St. Thomas.  Hurricane (Singleton, Book #1) features an interracial couple and was written to encompass all shades of love.

Julianne my heroine is a woman who has suffered a deep loss but has been surviving but not actually living. She is brought out of that shell by a man who makes her live again. Keenan is drawn to the sassy woman who stimulates him not just physically but mentally. In my opinion the most erotic of seductions starts mentally. Finding a way to entice the mind of someone you want is sensual and so delicious. Julianne’s sharp wit and intellect is just as attractive as the woman herself.

The characters of Hurricane (Singleton, Book #1)  is a mixture of so many of my friends, family and those who are family I choose. And it has some of me in there…okay a whole lot of me. The story also has the theme of family (both again by blood and those by choice). The Singleton series has and will have a mixture of interracial and multicultural books. They all explore love without the thought of the color of your skin. That love isn’t about the surface of the skin but what is beyond that.

I will wrap up with the same statement I started with—love has no color or boundaries.

– Taige Crenshaw

…increasing the sizzle factor

About the Book:

When life gives you a second chance how do you decide what to do? 

Julianne Locke knows the pain of loss and what it can do to a soul. She has refused to let any man close…until an accident puts a man in her path who will change her life forever. Keenan is the one man she cannot seem to keep at a distance. Whether it’s fate or coincidence that brings them together, Julianne cannot walk away from this man who pushes all her buttons and makes her want to believe in hope once again.

Keenan Callaghan’s first look at Julianne makes him forget that he’s supposed to be all about business. The instant attraction and connection he feels for her leaves him unsettled. He quickly comes to the realization that he wants to know more about the woman who not only tempts him, but makes him forget all else but her. Julianne might be trying to keep him at arm’s length, but he’s a patient man. He knows the best way to weather a Hurricane is to hold on and ride out the storm together…forever.

Excerpt: 

“And you’re curious…why?” She smiled…

“Just wanted to know more about you.”

Julianne controlled her expression, not wanting him to see her shock. Keenan’s smile, that same damn affable one, made her know that he was aware he’d unsettled her. She didn’t like it one bit. His hands rested on the table. Her mind flashed, imagining his fingers on her skin. Julianne stiffened.

“Well, now you know a bit. I would offer you a tour of the place, but I really need to get to work.” Julianne stood.

She gasped as Keenan moved to hold out her chair for her. For such a big man, he was fast.

“Thanks. Let me see you out.” She strode towards the door and reached to open it.

His hand on her arm stopped her. Julianne held in the shudder at his touch. She closed her eyes briefly and when she opened them she’d blanked her face into the business persona she used with a difficult client. It kept them at bay and offered her a shield of control. She glanced at him with a cool look. “Is there something further?”

“Trying to put up a barrier against me won’t work.”

“I don’t have any idea what you mean.” The lie rolled off her tongue easily.

Internally, she cursed. She was usually blunt and able to handle things.

“You do. It was the same reason that I was so rude at the hospital when I spoke with you. There’s a spark between us, Julianne.” Keenan’s smile was gentle and his look knowing. The sound of her first name in his sexy voice was almost her undoing. Julianne refused to let him affect her—she pulled her arm away from his. Keenan stroked her skin before her released her.

“All we have is business. And, since that’s done, we have nothing further to say,” she replied.

“We had business. I didn’t want to pursue anything while I was doing my investigation. Now that it’s complete, there’s a lot for us to discuss. I want to get to know you better, Julianne. Have dinner with me?” Keenan’s light green gaze was intent.

“I don’t date,” she said, firmly.

“Why?” he fired back.

Julianne gritted her teeth. It figured he would push the issue and question her. “None of your business. Even if I did date, I don’t like aggressive men.”

“That’s good to know, since I’m not aggressive.” Keenan grinned affably.

“Could have fooled me,” Julianne muttered.

“I do go after what I want,” he said softly.

Julianne was caught by the look in his eyes. It was tender and possessive. She clenched her fist. He had no right to have such an expression. They didn’t know each other.

But you want to, her inner voice goaded.

No, I don’t, she countered.

Keep lying to yourself. You want to go out with him, the infernal voice said.

No, I do not. He’s already driving me to talk to myself. I don’t need the hassle, she told herself firmly.

Julianne wrenched open the door, gesturing for him to leave. Keenan took her silent urging and passed her. Julianne followed. He turned suddenly, crowding her. Gasping, she stepped back instinctively before she caught herself and stood her ground. Scowling, Julianne glared at him.

“I unsettle you.” His grin was smug.

“You startled me,” she retorted.

“Deny it all you want, but you’re intrigued by what there might be between us. I’m a patient man. I can wait until you come around. You have my number. Call me when you change your mind.” Keenan shrugged, turning, then strode away.

Buy the book here.

About the Author:

Taige Crenshaw has been enthralled with the written word from time she picked up her first book.  It wasn’t long before she started to make up her own tales of romance. With  interracial and multicultural novels set in today, in alternate dimensions, or in the future she writes with adventure, fun sassy heroine’s, and sexy heroes. Always hard at work creating new and exciting places Taige can be found curled up with a hot novel with exciting characters when she is not creating her own. Join her in the fun, frolic, interesting people and far reaches of the world in her novels

You can find out more about Taige. 

Website: https://www.taigecrenshaw.com 

Blog: https://www.taigecrenshaw.com/blog. 

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Taige-Crenshaw/110652119026620. 

Or twitter: @TaigeCrenshaw