This book blast tour includes a giveaway. The author is giving away a $10.00 Amazon gift card, one signed autograph copy, and one e-book copy of When Ice Melts.
Paperback:
294 pages
294 pages
Publisher:
Al Tonya Washington (January 3, 2014)
Al Tonya Washington (January 3, 2014)
ISBN-10:
0989145557
0989145557
ISBN-13:
978-0989145558
978-0989145558
Genre:
Romantic Suspense/ Women Fiction
Romantic Suspense/ Women Fiction
Age
group: Adult 18+
group: Adult 18+
About
The Book
The Book
Icia Graham’s love affair with Rakim Transou had the
makings of a fairy tale romance with the happily ever after ending, until the
night of Rakim’s college graduation party. For Icia, it was the night her life
was forever changed. So desperate to escape the horrific memories she’d
suddenly been saddled with, Icia left school and the man she loved. The years
passed and; in that time, both Rakim and Icia reached goals that carried them to
the heights of success. For Rakim it was a powerful advertising agency that
brought him a respected and revered name in the business. Icia’s accomplishment
was a bit darker, but no less revered and she had no desire to revisit the past
and be tortured by thoughts of love lost with the only man she’d ever wanted. A
series of events however, would bring Icia right back to where she swore she’d
never return. Once more Rakim Transou was back in her life and she was
simultaneously overjoyed and distraught. How could she start anew with the man
who still meant everything to her, when there were so many secrets between
them? When the need for vengeance on those; who were still very much a part of
Rakim’s life, still raged so viciously inside her?
makings of a fairy tale romance with the happily ever after ending, until the
night of Rakim’s college graduation party. For Icia, it was the night her life
was forever changed. So desperate to escape the horrific memories she’d
suddenly been saddled with, Icia left school and the man she loved. The years
passed and; in that time, both Rakim and Icia reached goals that carried them to
the heights of success. For Rakim it was a powerful advertising agency that
brought him a respected and revered name in the business. Icia’s accomplishment
was a bit darker, but no less revered and she had no desire to revisit the past
and be tortured by thoughts of love lost with the only man she’d ever wanted. A
series of events however, would bring Icia right back to where she swore she’d
never return. Once more Rakim Transou was back in her life and she was
simultaneously overjoyed and distraught. How could she start anew with the man
who still meant everything to her, when there were so many secrets between
them? When the need for vengeance on those; who were still very much a part of
Rakim’s life, still raged so viciously inside her?
About
The Author
The Author
AlTonya Washington has been a published romance novelist
for 10 years. In 2013, her Harlequin Kimani novel “His Texas Touch”
won the Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Series Romance
of 2012. In addition to being an author, AlTonya also works as a college
Reference Librarian. Writing as T. Onyx, AlTonya released her latest erotica
“Ravenous: Ruler of Perfection II” in 2013.
for 10 years. In 2013, her Harlequin Kimani novel “His Texas Touch”
won the Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Series Romance
of 2012. In addition to being an author, AlTonya also works as a college
Reference Librarian. Writing as T. Onyx, AlTonya released her latest erotica
“Ravenous: Ruler of Perfection II” in 2013.
Her newest title with Harlequin Kimani is
“Provocative Passion” nominated for an AMB Ovation Award for Outstanding
Interracial Romance and the sequel to the January 2013 release
“Provocative Territory”. In November she will release “A Lover’s
Debt”, the 17th title in the Ramsey Tesano saga.
“Provocative Passion” nominated for an AMB Ovation Award for Outstanding
Interracial Romance and the sequel to the January 2013 release
“Provocative Territory”. In November she will release “A Lover’s
Debt”, the 17th title in the Ramsey Tesano saga.
Buy
Links
Links
Social
Links:
Email: altonya@lovealtonya.com
Website: http://www.lovealtonya.com
Website: www.alsreaders.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/altonyaw
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Ramseysgirl
Author Tour Schedule: http://wnlbooktours.com/altonya-washington-when-ice-melts/
EXCERPT:
Houston, Texas~
“Here you go, Val,” Rakim Transou was saying to
his assistant as he signed the last of the three contracts on his desk. “I
don’t have time, man,” he grumbled to his Vice President.
his assistant as he signed the last of the three contracts on his desk. “I
don’t have time, man,” he grumbled to his Vice President.
Charles ‘Cory” Henderson shook his head at his boss
and best friend, before perching his lean body on the edge of the desk.
“You need to think about this, Kimm.”
and best friend, before perching his lean body on the edge of the desk.
“You need to think about this, Kimm.”
“Is that it, Valerie?” Rakim sighed, pleased to
see his mound of work slowly dissolving.
see his mound of work slowly dissolving.
Val scanned the documents and smiled. “That’s
it,” she sang and headed out of the office.
it,” she sang and headed out of the office.
“Kimm, what’s the point of owning this place if
you’re not gonna have fun runnin’ it?” Cory asked, once Val was gone.
you’re not gonna have fun runnin’ it?” Cory asked, once Val was gone.
Rakim ran both hands over his soft, close-cut hair.
“The last thing I need to do is waste my day looking at pictures.”
“The last thing I need to do is waste my day looking at pictures.”
“Of models,” Cory pointed out, smiling devilishly.
“Do you know how stress-relieving that can be?”
“Do you know how stress-relieving that can be?”
Rakim groaned. “Here we go,” he said, leaning
back in his leather swivel chair. “You know I get tired of you telling me
how sad my life is. If I hadn’t been focused on business all these years, you wouldn’t
be working for one of the most successful ad agencies in the country.”
back in his leather swivel chair. “You know I get tired of you telling me
how sad my life is. If I hadn’t been focused on business all these years, you wouldn’t
be working for one of the most successful ad agencies in the country.”
Cory nodded, familiar with the speech. He cleared his
throat and braced his hands on top of the polished cherry wood desk. “And
given that you own one of the most successful agencies in the country, why
can’t you have some fun?”
throat and braced his hands on top of the polished cherry wood desk. “And
given that you own one of the most successful agencies in the country, why
can’t you have some fun?”
Rakim leaned forward to pin Cory with his deep, obsidian
stare. “I don’t want one of the most successful agencies. I want the most
successful agency, period.”
stare. “I don’t want one of the most successful agencies. I want the most
successful agency, period.”
Cory slapped a hand against his bald head. “Man,
thinking like that’ll never get you a steady woman.”
thinking like that’ll never get you a steady woman.”
“I can live with that,” Rakim easily replied,
focusing his attention on the appointment book lying open on the desk.
focusing his attention on the appointment book lying open on the desk.
“I give up,” Cory mumbled and walked out of the
plush, twentieth floor office.
plush, twentieth floor office.
Alone, Rakim allowed the facade to fade. He massaged the
bridge of his nose, then opened the bottom desk drawer and pulled a tattered
envelope from the back. The expression was fixed, intense on his handsome,
dark-chocolate face. His midnight gaze was riveted on the contents of the note
he knew by heart.
bridge of his nose, then opened the bottom desk drawer and pulled a tattered
envelope from the back. The expression was fixed, intense on his handsome,
dark-chocolate face. His midnight gaze was riveted on the contents of the note
he knew by heart.
Rakim,
I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there today. Something’s
happened and I have to leave. I’ll be changing schools. Don’t try to find me.
My parents won’t tell you anything. I hate doing this to you, but I can’t see
you again. I just can’t. I do love
you-so much. It’s really better like this. I love you, but if you hate me now,
I understand. Coco.
happened and I have to leave. I’ll be changing schools. Don’t try to find me.
My parents won’t tell you anything. I hate doing this to you, but I can’t see
you again. I just can’t. I do love
you-so much. It’s really better like this. I love you, but if you hate me now,
I understand. Coco.
As
usual, once Rakim finished reading the letter, he pressed the page to his nose.
He swore he could still smell her perfume clinging to it.
usual, once Rakim finished reading the letter, he pressed the page to his nose.
He swore he could still smell her perfume clinging to it.
The relationship they shared had been so right. She was
everything to him and he trusted her with his life. When he walked into his bedroom
the afternoon of the graduation, his entire world changed. He found the note
lying in the center of the bed. Icia Graham had taken anything else that would
have reminded him of her-including all the pictures. The brief letter provided
no answers. It was most effective; however, in helping him lose his temper.
Rakim grunted as he remembered the way he demolished the house. Cory and Fred
had been so spooked by his mood that they left him alone for a week.
everything to him and he trusted her with his life. When he walked into his bedroom
the afternoon of the graduation, his entire world changed. He found the note
lying in the center of the bed. Icia Graham had taken anything else that would
have reminded him of her-including all the pictures. The brief letter provided
no answers. It was most effective; however, in helping him lose his temper.
Rakim grunted as he remembered the way he demolished the house. Cory and Fred
had been so spooked by his mood that they left him alone for a week.
Just then, Cory’s earlier comments filtered his mind. He
had completely buried himself in work after Icia left. He took the job he’d
been offered in Richmond and worked there while obtaining his Masters degree.
Afterwards, he went back home to Houston and put everything he had into
building his company. Now, The Transou Agency was respected by its competitors
and clients alike.
had completely buried himself in work after Icia left. He took the job he’d
been offered in Richmond and worked there while obtaining his Masters degree.
Afterwards, he went back home to Houston and put everything he had into
building his company. Now, The Transou Agency was respected by its competitors
and clients alike.
Of course, Rakim acknowledged that his private life may
have suffered. Not that there weren’t women. There had been several.
Unfortunately, he only had to be in the relationship for a matter of months,
before he began to compare his companion to Icia. Not even that flaw could keep
the women away, though. Rakim Transou’s good looks seem to intensify with age.
He stood well over six feet and had been blessed with a flawless deep chocolate
complexion and the type of lean, muscular frame that flattered everything he
wore. The thick, curly afro he used to sport had been trimmed to a close-cut
fade. The style only enhanced his pitch, deep-set eyes and sleek brows. His
wide mouth was made more enticing by the set of double dimples which appeared
whenever he spoke or smiled.
have suffered. Not that there weren’t women. There had been several.
Unfortunately, he only had to be in the relationship for a matter of months,
before he began to compare his companion to Icia. Not even that flaw could keep
the women away, though. Rakim Transou’s good looks seem to intensify with age.
He stood well over six feet and had been blessed with a flawless deep chocolate
complexion and the type of lean, muscular frame that flattered everything he
wore. The thick, curly afro he used to sport had been trimmed to a close-cut
fade. The style only enhanced his pitch, deep-set eyes and sleek brows. His
wide mouth was made more enticing by the set of double dimples which appeared
whenever he spoke or smiled.