Rochelle Alers - Twice the Temptation

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Kimani Romance

Bittersweet Love

Sweet Deception

Sweet Dreams

Twice the Temptation

ROCHELLE ALERS

has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today’s most prolific and popular African-American authors of romance and women’s fiction.

With more than fifty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, Ms. Alers is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, is regularly chosen by Black Expressions Book Club and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including a Gold Pen Award, an Emma Award, a Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, an RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award and a Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award.

She is a member of the Iota Theta Zeta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and her interests include gourmet cooking and traveling. She has traveled to Europe and countries in North, South and Central America. Her future travel plans include visits to Hong Kong and New Zealand. Ms. Alers is also accomplished in knitting, crocheting and needlepoint. She is currently taking instruction in the art of hand quilting.

Oliver, a toy Yorkshire terrier, has become the newest addition to her family. When he’s not barking at passing school buses, the tiny dog can be found sleeping on her lap while she spends hours in front of the computer.

A full-time writer, Ms. Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.

They’re back…

It’s time for another Eaton family reunion, and this time it’s Denise Eaton who takes center stage.

Denise, the executive director of a D.C.-based childcare center, is offered a second chance at love with the man to whom she’d once pledged her future.

However, she is unaware of Rhett Fennell’s plan to seduce her and then walk out on her as she had done to him years ago. Even the best plans can backfire, and Rhett is forced to abandon his sweet revenge once he realizes he has never stopped loving Denise. Twice the Temptation is twice the love and twice the passion as another Eaton finds a love that promises forever.

Look for sexy ex-military officer Xavier Eaton in 2011, as he romances a beautiful chocolatier in the first of a two-book wedding series set in South Carolina’s low country.

In the second book Dr. Mia Eaton will discover that she doesn’t have to sacrifice her medical career for a chance at love when she encounters a hunky lawman in West Virginia’s mining region.

Don’t forget to check out my new Web site at www.rochellealers.org.

Yours in romance,

Rochelle Alers

“Denise? Oh, I didn’t realize you were on the phone.”

Denise Eaton’s head popped up and she waved away the woman who’d come into her office. She couldn’t talk to the social worker, because if she didn’t resolve what had become a dilemma there would be nothing to discuss.

“Are you certain I have no recourse, Myles?” she asked, continuing with her telephone conversation.

After she’d opened the certified letter, reading it not once but twice, she’d called her cousin, Myles Eaton, who taught constitutional law at Duquesne University School of Law, before she’d faxed the letter.

“I’m sorry, Denise. I wish I could give you more encouraging news, but the new owner can legally raise the rent. You approved the clause in your original lease that allows him to do it.”

“He had to have known he was going to sell the building when I signed the lease. What I can’t understand is why the new owner wants to double the rent. He has to be aware of prevailing rents for this neighborhood.”

Denise had chosen the less-than-desirable D.C. neighborhood because the working parents who lived there needed the services she offered, and the rent for the building where she’d set up her business was one she could afford.

“Maybe he knows something you don’t, Necie.”

“Like what, Myles?”

“Perhaps the area is targeted for gentrification and he wants you to vacate so he can use the property for something other than a child care center. Do you know anyone in D.C. who can advocate on your behalf?”

She rubbed her forehead with her fingers as she felt the beginnings of a tension headache. “Like who?”

“Like someone with political connections.”

Denise did know someone, but there was no way she wanted to be beholden to Trey Chambers. “No,” she lied.

“If you were my client, I’d recommend you contact the owner and see if you can negotiate a deal that would be reasonable for both parties.”

“What’s reasonable is I can’t afford even a hundreddollar increase in rent. I’m barely breaking even.”

“Call the new owner of the property, Denise, and if you’re unable to talk to him, then call me back. I’ll look up some of my old law school buddies who practice in the District and see if they’ll represent you.”

“How am I going to pay them, Myles?” She only had three months of budgeted funds for New Visions Childcare and less than a thousand dollars available for legal expenses.

“Don’t worry about paying them. I’ll cover the fees.”

Denise panicked. There was no way she was going to let her cousin subsidize her business. She hadn’t accepted any monetary support from her father and mother, deciding instead to take out a business loan to set up the progressive child care center in a D.C. neighborhood where poor and working-classes families desperately needed the services.

Her delicate jaw hardened when she clenched her teeth. “No, you won’t.”

“Stop being so muleheaded, Necie.”

“Thank you, cuz. I’ll call and let you know how everything turns out.”

“Necie, don’t…”

Denise cut off whatever Myles was going to say when she hung up. She wasn’t completely destitute. Instead of subletting or renting the one-bedroom Philadelphia co-op her cousin had given her when she moved out after marrying celebrated playwright Preston Tucker, Denise had decided to sell it. After several deals had fallen through, she was finally set to close on the property. But that was three weeks away.

She had to decide whether she wanted to invest the money in the business. The profit she stood to make was enough to cover salaries, utilities, rent and other essentials for operating the child care center. The first year, New Visions had made a modest profit, but this year it was projected to increase by ten percent.

Drumming her fingers on the top of the desk, Denise stared at the framed prints of children from around the world in their native dress. She’d fulfilled a childhood dream of becoming a teacher, but hadn’t stopped there. Setting up the child care center was the second stage of her plan and the third and final component was to eventually establish a school for at-risk, underprivileged boys.

However, everything she’d sacrificed and worked so hard for was about to implode. The new owner of the property had given her ninety days to accept the terms of the rental renewal agreement or vacate the property. And there was no way she could find another building, renovate it and secure the necessary permits to run a similar facility in three months.

She stared at the letter for a full minute. Reaching for the telephone, she picked up the receiver and dialed the number on the company’s masthead. “Capital Management. How may I direct your call?” asked the woman who’d answered the telephone.