Mz. Robinson,
born in Huntsville, Alabama is a licensed Realtor and the author of the tantalizing Love, Lies, and Lust Series. Mz. Robinson is an avid reader and
advocate for literacy. Although, she began writing as a child, it was not until
much later in life that she began to pen short stories. After falling in love
with the characters she created, she turned one of her short stories into her
debut novel: What We Won't Do For Love. After completing her first manuscript,
Mz. Robinson took a break from writing to pursue other career opportunities.
Five years later deciding to pursue her passion, she secured a home with G Street
Chronicles. Today Mz. Robinson has seven published novels. When she's not
writing Mz. Robinson enjoys reading and shopping. She is currently working on
her next title and other projects.
Get to know Mz. Robinson........
1. What would you say is your current
writing style?
I say my current writing style is
contemporary with an urban flare.
2. What inspired you to write this book?
My own real life experiences.
3. Is there one of your characters that
you most identify with? If so, why and which one?
I can identify with both Toi and Lisa.
Toi because I know how it is to find a man who seems perfect for you and
discover he's married. Lisa because I know how it feels to discover your man is
not who you think he is.
4. What do you want readers to gain from
reading this book?
I want them to find the courage to
honestly evaluate their own lives, the people in them, and the relationships
they share.
5. How long did it take to write this
book from start to finish?
Two months.
6. Where did you draw the story line,
plot and setting for this book from?
I took actual events from my life and
gave them a sick twist.
7. What do you think makes your book
stand out from others in the same genre?
My voice. The way I spin the twist and
turns.
8. Do you think that giving back to your
readers is important? If so, why/why not?
Yes. Giving back is my way of letting my
readers know that I appreciate the love and support they've shown me and it's
my way of letting them know I love them too.
9. What is the most valuable lesson that
you have learned from this literary journey so far?
Sometimes a stranger can be your biggest
blessing.
10. What is the most “Unique Xperience”
that you have had in your literary career?
I've had a lot of unique experiences
since entering this industry, so, it's hard for me to narrow them down to just
one. I will say that I'm thankful and grateful for each and every one.
Synopsis
Finding a man has never been a problem for Toi Underwood. Finding a man who
understands and respects her devotion to her career, lack of availability, and
need for her me time is another
story. Toi is so career driven that when she meets a man she either intimidates
him or she pisses him off.
When Toi meets Carlton Thomas she begins to think that her prayers have
been answered. Not only is Carlton attractive, he’s hardworking and understands
her busy lifestyle. He’s patient and respects that Toi can’t be readily
available to him due to other commitments. After all, he has his own
extracurricular activities. Toi thinks she has met her match until she
discovers that one of Carlton’s extracurricular activities, just so happens to
be another woman—his wife, Lisa.
Toi knows in her heart that walking away is the best option, but sometimes
the right thing to do is also the hardest, especially when emotions and
feelings have gotten involved. Toi’s mantra becomes, It is…what it is. Toi’s not looking for a ring and currently she
could care less about being anyone’s wifey. To be honest she could care less
about Lisa. It’s obvious that she’s doing something wrong that would make her
man have to look elsewhere. Right? And what Lisa doesn't know can’t hurt her.
As long as everyone is happy, what could possibly go wrong?
For six years Lisa waited anxiously for Carlton to propose. Now, two years
later, she has the ring and the papers. Granted, marriage hasn't been what she
expected, but she’s determined to make the best out of it. When she discovers
Carlton has not only been playing the field but that he and Toi refuse to end
their affair, Lisa becomes a woman on a mission. Lisa throws all logic and
reasoning out the window and decides it’s time to teach some unforgettable
lessons.
Toi quickly learns that ending her affair with Carlton is not only the
right thing to do but could possibly save her life. However, some awakenings
come a little too late. Toi will see that when the right woman gets fed up she
can truly be Havoc on a Home Wrecker.
Excerpt
Chapter 1—Toi
I
flipped open my compact, quickly checking my reflection in the mirror. I looked
into my brown eyes. Damn I’m fine, I
thought. I know what you’re thinking, but please don’t confuse my confidence
with conceit. However, if you could see me right now—smooth, dark skin with
high cheekbones, full lips, dark brown eyes with long, curly lashes and a 5'5''
frame with a banging “you can tell she works out” body—you would agree. I
smiled when I saw everything was as it should be—intact and fly—then dropped
the compact back in my bag. I’d decided to wear my red wrap dress that stopped
just above my knees for the evening, and the more I thought about it the more I
was convinced it was an excellent choice. Not only did the dress have a V-neck
that showed just a glimpse of my cleavage, it hugged my hips and complemented
my behind perfectly. It was sexy but classy.
I
tapped my heels under the table. I was as nervous as a virgin in bed with a man
working with 12-inch wood as I waited for my boyfriend, Justin, to return from
the men’s room. All week leading up to tonight, Justin had been acting a little
out of character. Don’t get me wrong; he was still the loving and affectionate
man I had come to know and love, but I kept getting the feeling that there was
something on his mind. This morning I found out what when I stopped by his
apartment with croissants and coffee for our daily breakfast ritual. The two of
us engaged in light conversation throughout our meal but I could still sense
something was on his mind. After breakfast, I was putting away dishes when I
found a small, velvet-covered box stuffed at the back of the towel drawer. The
same towel drawer that just yesterday contained nothing but towels. My
curiosity got the best of me so I opened the box to find inside a beautiful,
heart-shaped diamond with a vintage-style platinum band. Although the ring
wasn’t what I consider my taste—I always envisioned something a little flashier
or better yet, bigger—it was beautiful and yes, it was an engagement ring!
The ring
took me by surprise. Over the course of our three-year relationship, Justin and
I discussed marriage and having children frequently and agreed that we wanted
to have both, but we’d never had the discussion of when. However, I knew that
family was as important to him as it was to me. The two of us had been taking
our time, allowing the relationship to flow naturally, and things had been
going along without a hitch. We had our disagreements, mainly about his desire
to live together before marriage. I absolutely refused to shack up. If a man
wanted to partake in my live-in benefits, then I needed to be his wife. Justin
thought a bit more liberally; his parents had been shacking up for 20+ years.
That might be good for his mama but it was definitely a no-go for me. During
our disagreements about our living situation, there were moments when I
wondered, 'Is he the guy?' However,
for me the good definitely outweighed the bad and I can say, 'Yes, he is' without a doubt.
I still
vividly remember the night we met. I was at the Green Room with my two best
friends, Anitra and LaShay. The three of us were getting it in on the dance
floor, having a good time, and celebrating the weekend. Finding a man was the
farthest thing from my mind, but when I looked across the dance floor and
spotted the tall, dark-chocolate, beautiful specimen of a man staring at me, I
felt compelled to introduce myself. After leaving the club, Justin and I had an
early morning breakfast at IHOP, followed by our first official date later that
day. After that first date we became practically inseparable, and we’d been
together ever since.
I looked
at my watch, wondering if something had happened to him. He’d been gone for
well over ten minutes. I decided to keep waiting. Maybe I was just being
impatient. Anxious about what was to come. When Justin asked me to meet him for
dinner at Carrabba’s, I knew that he was ready to pop the question. Carrabba’s
was our little spot for all things romantic. We came here for our first date,
then four months later, we came here when Justin first told me he loved me. We
even came here for dinner the night we first made love. It had become tradition
for us to dine at the establishment only for special celebrations.
After
waiting another ten minutes, I grabbed my bag and went to check on him. I’d
heard of cold feet, but it was obvious Justin’s had turned frigid. I had a
waiter check the men’s room, only to find it empty. I proceeded outside and
found Justin in the parking lot engaged in what appeared to be a heated
discussion with another woman. The woman was petite with short, layered hair,
and a caramel complexion. She stood with one hand on her hip and the other
pointed at Justin. She wore shorts that barely covered her coochie and a white
tank top with the word BITCH printed in bright red letters across her breasts.
“I’m not playing with
you, Justin,” she continued to rant as I approached. “This is your last…” She
stopped when she saw me coming.
“Is that her?” she
asked, nodding in my direction.
Justin looked over his
shoulder at me quickly, then turned back around, mumbling something lowly.
“You better handle that
shit,” she said, folding her arms across her small breasts and looking in my
direction. When Justin turned around a second time, he stared at me directly in
the eyes.
“What’s going on?” I
asked, stopping in front of him.
“Toi, I was just on my
way back in,” he said quickly.
“You never answered the
question,” I reminded him. I looked past him at the chick throwing me glares
from hell. “What’s going on?”
“Toi, I—,” he
stuttered.
“Justin, you need to
keep it one hundred,” she said, cutting him off. “Ain’t no time like the now.”
I wondered what proud institution could take credit for her fine lack of
vocabulary.
“Justin, who is she?” I
questioned. I was trying my best to remain calm. I knew in my heart that any
explanation Justin provided was not going to weigh well in my favor, but I
still wanted to give him and his little hood rat the benefit of the doubt.
“Toi,” he said, putting
his hands up. “Just give me another minute. Please.” He looked like he wanted
to cry. Hell, no! I felt my blood
pressure rise in less than sixty seconds. Now I wanted an answer and I wanted
it right now!
“Your minute is up,” I
said, pissed. “Who in the hell is she?”
Justin rubbed a hand
across his forehead while exhaling deeply. He was stalling, wasting time. Are you serious? I asked myself.
“Answer the question,
Justin,” she said, smacking her lips. “Tell her who I is.”
“Peaches!” he snapped,
spinning around to look at her.
Peaches? What kind
of name is
Peaches? I thought.
“Can you be quiet for
just a second? Please!”
Peaches lowered her
eyes at him, frowning.
“Naw, fucks that!” she
snapped, rolling her neck. “You had four months! I’m tired of playin’ wit you.”
She stepped past him, looking at me with wide eyes. “Justin and me is
together.”
I stared at her. She
was cute, I gave her that, but she couldn’t possibly be Justin’s type. Justin
was a business owner and a shirt-and-tie kind of brother. She looked more like
a video hoe, minus the video.
“Together?” I asked
sarcastically. “You can’t be serious.”
“Tell her, Justin.”
Peaches egged him on, staring at him. “Tell her.”
He loosened the silk
tie he wore while shaking his head back and forth. No the hell he didn’t, I thought.
“I’m waiting,” I
snapped. I placed one hand on my hip and extended the other out to my side,
ready to go into “slap the shit out of him” mode.
“Toi, I’m sorry,” he
began. He looked at me with apologetic eyes. “I didn’t mean for you to find out
like this, but Peaches and I are together.”
I looked at Peaches.
The look of victory on her face was compelling me to slap the hell out of her,
but I refrained. Besides, she was not my problem. Granted, she’d been involved
with someone who I thought was my man, but my issue was not with her. Justin
and I were in the relationship and he was the one who held an obligation to me,
not Peaches.
“Since when, Justin?” I
questioned.
“Off and on for eight
months,” he said lowly.
“You’ve been cheating
on me for eight months?” I asked, raising my voice. “Why didn’t you tell me you
wanted someone else? You could have told me from day one, Justin. That’s
something I could have respected. Instead, you bring me to our restaurant and I
have to find out from this hoe?”
“Who you callin’ a
hoe?” Peaches jumped in. She took a step toward me and Justin immediately
stepped in between us. I stepped to the side so Peaches could still see me. I
gave her a look that told her not to take my looks and class for weakness.
“Who do you think?” I
asked, looking at her. “You are the hoe and obviously one who doesn't
understand proper English. Hoe!”
Peaches began to rant
and rave while waving her hands in the air. “You don’t know me,” she babbled.
“I will fuck you up.”
Every word that
followed after that sounded like blah,
blah, blah, to me. I was no longer listening to nor interested in what
Peaches had to say. I was too busy staring at the heart-shaped diamond on her
ring finger.
“Peaches!” I heard
Justin say, breaking my trance. I looked around and saw that there were a few
people passing by, watching the three of us. I felt a rush of embarrassment as
I realized what should have been a private moment was turning into a public
spectacle. I turned and walked away as Justin continued his attempt to calm
down Peaches. My heart was beating a mile a minute as I began to process
everything that was happening.
“Oh, so now you chasin’
after her, Justin?” I heard Peaches yelling behind me.
“Toi!” Justin called my
name. His voice was growing closer, my clue that he was following me.
I reached my car and
quickly unlocked the doors. I climbed behind the wheel, slamming the door. What
just happened? I asked myself. A few seconds later Justin stood outside my car,
tapping the driver’s side window.
“Toi, let me talk to
you,” he practically begged. “Please, Toi. I’m sorry.”
I started the engine of
my Camry, then lowered my window.
“I didn’t want you to
find out like this,” he explained. “I—”
“I found a ring in the
towel drawer this morning,” I informed him. “Is that the ring she has on her
finger?” I stared straight ahead, looking out the windshield. I couldn’t bring
myself to look at him.
“Toi, I—”
“Is that the ring?” I
demanded, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
He paused, then
exhaled. “Yes.”
“You proposed to her?”
I questioned.
“Toi, yes, but I—”
“You what?” I yelled.
“We were supposed to get married. We’ve always talked about marriage and
starting a family. Us, Justin.”
“Yes, we’ve talked
about getting married,” he said slowly. “But we never said we were going to
marry each other.”
Come again? I thought. “What?” I asked, finally forcing myself to look at
him. I stared at him in disbelief. I thought some things were just understood.
One of them being that if you’re discussing marriage with your girlfriend, it’s
because you plan to marry that girlfriend someday. Justin had just informed me
that I was wrong.
“Toi, I asked Peaches
to marry me today at lunch,” he advised me. “I’ve been trying to tell you about
her for a while now but I didn’t know how.”
“How about, I’m in love
with another woman!” I yelled. “What’s wrong with that? That would have worked
for me!” Justin could have chosen any method he desired as long as he chose
one.
“It’s not that easy,”
he said, standing with his hands in his pockets.
“I thought you loved
me,” I said. I was becoming more and more emotional. I could feel myself on the
verge of tears and the last thing I wanted to do was cry, especially
considering Peaches was still standing in the parking lot watching us.
“I do love you,” he
said. “But—”
“But what?” I asked,
cutting him off. “What?”
“Peaches is different,”
he said.
I wanted to say 'Yeah,
ghetto,' but I refrained.
“She’s exciting and
fun,” he continued. “Plus—”
“So, you cheated on me
because you think I’m boring?” I interrupted.
“You’re predictable,”
he said. “I mean you’re a great woman but predictable…”
“That’s something that
can be changed,” I said. “Easily—”
“It’s not just that,”
he said. “Toi, Peaches is pregnant. Four months.”
I’ll confess: until
that very moment, thoughts of Justin and I working through this situation
danced in my head, right along with thoughts of how I could get even. It was
selfish and immature, but it was true. I loved him so much that I could
overlook the obvious foolery of his cheating, and even overlook the
embarrassment I felt from the scene we’d caused in front of spectators leaving
the restaurant. Still, my forgiveness would come with consequences—the
consequence of payback. Just because I granted forgiveness did not mean he
would not reap the same bullshit he sowed. Regretfully, there was no getting
past this one.
“You got her pregnant?”
I asked. I was in utter disbelief. “So not only are you a lying, cheating-ass
dog but you’re a stupid one at that.” Justin looked slightly shocked by my
choice of words. I normally kept myself poised with a certain amount of grace
but screw that; my grace went out the window when he announced that he was having
a baby with the hood rat.
“Toi, it was an
accident that I’m trying to make right,” he said. “You have to respect that.”
“You’re out of your
damn mind if you think I respect that you were running up in that bitch raw
while you were with me!” I yelled. “Fuck you, Justin!”
“Toi—” he didn’t get
the opportunity to finish his sentence. I shifted into drive, then peeled off.
I whipped out of the parking lot with tears streaming down my face.
“Peaches is pregnant…she’s
exciting and fun…you’re predictable…” Justin’s
words hurt me over and over, echoing through my mind. I decided to go back and
let him know exactly how I felt. I cut my wheel to the left, making a U-turn in
the middle of the street. I made it back to the restaurant in what felt like a
blink of an eye.
Justin was walking
across the parking lot with his back to me. He was walking toward his car and
appeared to be oblivious to his surroundings. There was no sign of Peaches. I
pulled into the parking lot and slammed on my brakes, bringing my car to a sudden
halt. I was hurt, and still shocked by how Justin had played me. And he
expected me to be all right with it? Really? I slowly eased on the gas. As I
drove toward Justin, I thought of all the times we had made love. I could
barely feel Justin when he was inside of me, and he had the nerve to cheat on me? I increased my speed as I approached
him.
“Predict this bitch!” I
said aloud.
He turned around,
looking over his shoulder and finally facing me. I could see his face through
the glare of my headlights; he looked scared shitless. I thought about his body
rolling in the air as I hit him doing 50MPH.
Author
website info: www.gstreetchronicles.com
Social
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Info
about where book is sold: www.gstreetchronicles.com
