September 25, 2015 | Psychological Thriller
Have you ever loved someone so much that you ignored what was right in front of you?
After a decade of friendship, Zaniel Baker finds himself envious of his best friends, Micheal, Ryan and Trevor. Even with a dark cloud of unspoken tragedy lingering over their friendship, his friends have managed to find everything that Zaniel wants for himself...happiness and love.
Then he meets Anastasia. Love at first sight soon turns to a licentious obsession.
When tragedy strikes yet again, Zaniel's blinders are ripped off, leaving him in a web of lies, deception, and betrayal.
Can he come back from something that has turned his life upside down? Will his past be a part of the problem or the solution?
{ about taabia dupree } .
Amazon Bestselling Author Taabia Dupree was born in the United States and grew up on the Eastern Seaboard. Her love of books and anything with words came from her parents. As a young person, Taabia read anything she could get her hands on, from cereal boxes, to the Encyclopedia Britannica, to the National Geographic, to the business section of the local newspaper. Yet some of her favorite reads came from writers; L'Amour, Tolstoy, Eddings, Tolkien, Hugo, Wright, Dickens, and Hemingway.
In 1999, Taabia started writing erotic fantasy stories for online story groups. She self-published her first erotic story in 2011.
Today, Taabia Dupree writes poetry and erotic short stories. Her books can be found in several genres, including coming of age, mystery & psychological-thrillers, fantasy, and paranormal. She's currently working on a crime novella and a sci-fi fantasy novella.
{ excerpt } .
“Lesson number one dumbass, never try to hit a pissed off motherfucker. Lesson two, never leave your friends behind like you and Ryan left us, and that fucktard is the reason Paul was killed. It should have been you, you prick! Stay the fuck away from me and believe me, you will get yours one day Zaniel Baker.”As Michael turned away, Zaniel grabbed his ankles and down Michael went. Zaniel had little time to get up and pommel him because Trevor and Ryan were doing their best to separate the men as they tussled on the floor.
When they pried them apart, Michael was last heard saying, “You’re a dead man Zaniel, a dead man!” Trevor struggled to pull him out of the bar but had been successful while Ryan kept Zaniel from going after Michael.
One of the waitresses came over to help clean up things in the other waitress’ area. They both gave the guys evil stares. As Ryan tried to get Zaniel straight, one of the bar attendants came over. “Hey guys, I got a call from the owner, he watches on the cameras and he asked that you guys leave. I know you are regulars, but we don’t need this kind of hassle around here, maybe in a few days come back, but without the bullshit.”
Zaniel was up from the both and pushed past the attendant. Who was at least five eleven and looked like he could have played lineman for some professional football team. He kept his cool and let Ryan walk past him without another word.
Ryan caught up with Zaniel as he headed towards the parking lot. He looked around wearyingly for Michael and Trevor. He didn’t want a repeat scene out there on the parking lot. There were no other disturbances. He jogged up to Zaniel and asked him, “Bro, come on you going to be pissed all night?”
Zaniel turned on him and Ryan instantly backed up. “Wow, really? That is all you have to say?”
“What you want me to say Zaniel? You brought this bullshit on yourself? Huh, you know you did! Bringing up that old shit. No one wants to talk about that day. Ever! We have our own lives now and the last thing I would want on my birthday is to talk about my plan to go rob something that turn to shit and one of my best friend got killed because of my plan. You want me to say more Zaniel?”
Zaniel stood there and looked at Ryan. “So, it’s not just Mike that feels some kind of way about that day huh? You, and Trevor too? You all think I should have been in that alley?”
“What? What the hell are you talking about Zaniel? Man, we came here tonight to our spot to have drinks and laughs. All this shit that just happened didn’t have to and it doesn’t have nothing to do with you staying back and helping me out. Don’t you think Mike feels guilty enough? Man, he doesn’t want to relive that day because of how guilty he feels. We all do Zan, we all do! But you know what. You go do you. Tell your mom I said what’s up this weekend when you go visit. Char and I are taking the kids to the beach.” Ryan shook his head and walked off.
Zaniel stayed in the parking lot another five minutes before he got into his car and drove off.
{ coffee date with taabia } .
I'm loving my coffee dates! Today I'm drinking a strawberry acai refresher with lemonade, while waiting for Taabia to come back with her drink of choice. She sits down with a Caramel Macchiato, soy, with extra sugar, cream, and whipped cream -- that looks pretty delectable to me. I might have to look into that one next time!
So! Ms. Taabia (because I put 'Ms.' and 'Mr.' in front of everyone's names...), let's begin to get to know you...
1. What are 5 words to best describe you?
Introvert
Silly
Spirited
Intellectual
Thoughtful
2. Who would play you in the movie of your life?
Melissa McCarthy, only because of how she has evolved as an actress. She’s not just a comedian.
3. What are 5 words to best describe your writing style?
Readable
Sexy
Attention-grabbing
Idiomatic
Psychosomatic
4. Where’s your favorite place to write?
My bedroom is my favorite place to write, and second best, my dining room table.
5. If you couldn’t write, what would you be doing (or, what do you do aside from writing)?
I would like mentor teenagers, as I have done in the past.
Love this answer!
6. We all have our book boyfriends… Who is your current one? What about him draws you to him?
Due to writing, I haven’t had an opportunity to read much, but because of my writing, I am able to talk with some of the hottest cover models, John Quinlan, and Jimmy Thomas, just to name two.
I may have to say the whole cover model thing is a definite incentive to finding time to get my own books written ;)
7. Of your characters (your ‘babies’), who are you ‘closest’ to?
I would have to say, crazy Jessica. I birthed her, and helped her grew up into a much more crazier human being. *wink*
8. Was there anything in this book that caused you to pause, that was difficult to get past? Any annoying character flaws you had to push through?
This particular book has been one the hardest to write. The muses were very strong. They had plenty to say, and as a writer, I feel as though I am in control but not this book. There were more conversations going on in my head, it drove me a little crazy. I became aggravated because they would not listen to me. *smile*
I know all about the characters not listening to what you have to say... But I love strong characters and definitely am going to look for these things when I read CALLOUS TRUTHS.
9. Lastly… you get to take a breather from writing – what do you do?
Between writes, I almost always binge on Netflix.
10. Last 5-star book you read?
Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
So! Ms. Taabia (because I put 'Ms.' and 'Mr.' in front of everyone's names...), let's begin to get to know you...
1. What are 5 words to best describe you?
Introvert
Silly
Spirited
Intellectual
Thoughtful
2. Who would play you in the movie of your life?
Melissa McCarthy, only because of how she has evolved as an actress. She’s not just a comedian.
3. What are 5 words to best describe your writing style?
Readable
Sexy
Attention-grabbing
Idiomatic
Psychosomatic
4. Where’s your favorite place to write?
My bedroom is my favorite place to write, and second best, my dining room table.
5. If you couldn’t write, what would you be doing (or, what do you do aside from writing)?
I would like mentor teenagers, as I have done in the past.
Love this answer!
6. We all have our book boyfriends… Who is your current one? What about him draws you to him?
Due to writing, I haven’t had an opportunity to read much, but because of my writing, I am able to talk with some of the hottest cover models, John Quinlan, and Jimmy Thomas, just to name two.
I may have to say the whole cover model thing is a definite incentive to finding time to get my own books written ;)
7. Of your characters (your ‘babies’), who are you ‘closest’ to?
I would have to say, crazy Jessica. I birthed her, and helped her grew up into a much more crazier human being. *wink*
8. Was there anything in this book that caused you to pause, that was difficult to get past? Any annoying character flaws you had to push through?
This particular book has been one the hardest to write. The muses were very strong. They had plenty to say, and as a writer, I feel as though I am in control but not this book. There were more conversations going on in my head, it drove me a little crazy. I became aggravated because they would not listen to me. *smile*
I know all about the characters not listening to what you have to say... But I love strong characters and definitely am going to look for these things when I read CALLOUS TRUTHS.
9. Lastly… you get to take a breather from writing – what do you do?
Between writes, I almost always binge on Netflix.
10. Last 5-star book you read?
Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
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Thank you for hosting CALLOUS TRUTHS
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