This romance novel is based in St. Louis, Missouri and later connected to New York.  Five good friends practically inseparable, experience life’s many challenges doing only as teenagers do, getting into constant mischief.  Eann and Jennifer are high school sweethearts who eventually separate due to Eann’s reckless drinking, drugs and selfish behavior.  Determined to move on with her life she accepts the attention from the son of one of her father’s friends.  Refusing to be two-timed, Eann confronts her and they end up making love.  Vowing to change his ways he leaves St. Louis and go to California, promising to return soon.

Discovering that Eann had left her pregnant, Jen had to raise their son alone.  In a ten-year span they both became highly successful people. Him a well-respected attorney in New York and she an entrepreneur owning two lingerie stores in St. Louis, Missouri.

Though a decade had passed they found their way back together only to be challenged by a long legged brown-eyed beauty by the name of Mandy.  Determined to marry Eann, Mandy stooped to pulling the oldest trick in the book.  Not to be fooled Jennifer exposed her for what she was.

Jo Anne Y. Long – I am a middle class ethnic female who has been working for the U.S. Federal Government for the past 21 years.  I am the wife of an Army Retiree, mother of three, and grandmother of two very precious granddaughters.  I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and once my husband retired from the military, we moved back here. 

Being a military family we’ve traveled and lived in various states and overseas, encountering numerous cultures in areas such as Atlanta, North Carolina, California, Guam, Philippines, Japan, and South Korea. 

Being an avid reader of romance (authors such as:  LaVeryle Spencer, Heather Graham, Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber, Catherine Coulter, and the many other authors out there writing this type of literature), gave me the courage and inspiration I needed.  I enjoyed writing this novel because it gave me a purpose in accomplishing something that I would never have thought myself capable of doing. (Awesome is what I say)

Stepping out the doorway feeling the coolness from the air conditioner on the inside and the heat rushing in from the outside, Eann looked up towards the sky. Lifting his hand to shade his eyes from the rays of the sun he mumbled, “Hot. This is going to be another blazing summer here in the Big Apple.” Realizing nothing was going to change within the next few minutes, he darted out the door of the law firm Mathews and Michaels, where he'd made junior partner. Swiftly, he nabbed the taxi that came into view before the man in the navy blue suit grabbed it first. Rushing, he got in and informed the driver that hailing a taxi here in Brooklyn, New York, was like standing on a freeway trying to hitchhike. As he was rambling and complaining the taxi driver was eyeing him in the rearview mirror wondering if the guy sitting in his back seat was a nut case.

The driver then asked, “Where to?”

Eann simply said, “Park Avenue.”

Settling back enjoying the air conditioner he glanced at his watch. He had an hour and a half before a social gathering honoring and welcoming a new judge to the bench. He had been tied up in meetings for most of the day with the other partners and hadn’t had a chance to check his messages. Recalling how persistent a female Mandy was, he figured she’d probably left numerous messages everywhere reminding him to be home on time.

Approaching the entrance to the high rise where he lives he noticed the smile on the bellhop’s face.

“Hi George.”

“Mr. Franklin you have a visitor. I knew you wouldn’t mind, so I let the pretty lady in.”

Scouring with arched brows Eann scolded, “George, how many times do I have to tell you...”

Chuckling, George waves him in saying, “Yeah, yeah I know. If I keep it up you won’t share any more of that spectacular lasagna you make with me. Which by the way you haven’t made in a while,” he said smiling.

“At the rate you’re going I’ll never honor you with it again,” said Eann walking into the building and getting in the elevator. Watching the numbers climb higher and feeling the incline of the elevator he prepared himself for the invasion he’d encounter once he reached his apartment.