Author Empi Baryeh's Blog

Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan Narrated by Jakobi Diem and Mia Ellis A deeply emotional standalone romance set in the worlds of professional basketball and high fashion. Divorced. Single dad. Traded to a losing squad. Cheated on, betrayed, exposed. My perfect life blew up in my face and I'm still picking up the pieces. The last thing I need is  her . A wildflower. A storm. A woman I can't resist. Lotus DuPree is a kick to my gut and a wrench in my plans from the moment our eyes meet. I promised myself I wouldn't trust a woman again, but I've never wanted anyone the way I want Lo. She's not the plan I made, but she's the risk I have to take. A warrior. A baller. The one they call Gladiator. Kenan Ross charged into my life smelling all good, looking even better and snatching my breath from the moment we met. The last thing I need is  him . I’m working on me. Facing my pain and conquering my demons. I've seen what trusting a man gets you. ...

Hello folks! Welcome to another #LoveNotes post. The theme for today's snippets is the butt (ass) grab, inspired by this RWOWA post about butt (ass) grabs in romance novels. In this snippet from Expecting Ty's Baby, my hero, Ty, is contemplating performing a butt grab. Enjoy! He’d never heard her sing before, and as he absorbed its quality, his stomach growled drawing his attention to the aroma of food tickling his nostrils. He followed the sound and smell, only stopping when he reached the entrance to the kitchenette. Taking full advantage of the fact that she had her back to him, Ty leaned against the wall, admiring the gentle sway of her hips as she danced to her own tune while attending to something on the stove. A smile crept to his lips as he considered the merits and demerits of walking up behind her and squeezing her perfectly shaped ass. Perhaps not a good idea, he conceded, since she was working with hot oil. *** I hope you enjoyed the sni...

BLURB “Maybe friendship is all that’s realistic for us right now.” With those words, Zora ended their long-distance relationship, shattering Deuce’s vision of a life with the only woman he’s ever loved. But after months of silence, he thought he was over it. He’d moved on, hadn’t he? And as far as he knew, she might have done the same. Now Zora is back from California, and he’s thrown into an immediate tailspin. Nothing’s changed. She’s the one, the only, his rhyme, and his reason … But this ain’t no college romance. There are serious, grown-folks’ obstacles standing in the way, and the other woman in his life isn’t even the half of it. And sometimes growing up might mean moving on … Over a few short summer weeks, Deuce and Zora will have to decide whether the great love they shared in the past, is enough of a foundation to build a future.   Available On: AMAZON | FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED Excerpt Zora looked a little disoriented when she first walke...

The LIFT 4 Autism Auction is open for bidding! Get your bid on here! charityauction.bid/lift4autism "My oldest was diagnosed with autism in 2009 just days before my husband left for Afghanistan. He was gone for eight months while I navigated the autism world alone with a two-year-old and a baby. I turned to romance books to keep my sanity. I found out about LIFT and felt so empowered that the community that helps keep me sane as I walk through autism was raising money for autism!" -- Michelle, Romance Reader & Autism Mom A banquet for the bookish, the online auction features more than 300 signed paperbacks, hardcovers, full series sets, out-of-print covers, foreign editions, cannot-even-buy event tickets . . . and MORE, all donated by authors, publishers, bloggers, readers. Just people who wanted to be a part of something to help autism families. Since 2016, LIFT 4 Autism, a charitable initiative organized each April by authors Ginger Scott and Kenn...

Til I Overflow by B. Love She tried to fill him with love and drowned in the overflow. It was ironic. Poetic Justice, maybe? Whatever the case, Rakeem Owens escaped the streets, and at his retirement party, his home was raided, and he was arrested for a crime he didn’t commit. After spending seven years in prison, he is given the opportunity of early release with two major stipulations – probation and volunteer work to give back to the community the Judge believed he took so much from. With no hesitation, Rakeem agrees, but when he finds out that he’ll be serving under Maliah Dixon… jail seems to be a better option. It was karma. Fate, maybe? Whatever the case, Maliah Dixon is thrilled when she finds out Rakeem will be volunteering with her organization. She started it with her best friend before he went to jail, and it has been her main priority ever since. It was during a visit to see her best friend that she first set eyes on Rakeem, and now that he’s a free man, Maliah ...

Happy Saturday and welcome to #LoveNotes. I'm sharing another snippet from Mr Hot Mocha Perfection, which is featured in the Be My Valentine Anthology from Love Africa Press. This snippet continues from last week's excerpt. My hero, Adinkra, decides to invite himself to my heroine's table for lunch. Smooth moves. 😊 Happy reading! Mr Hot Mocha Perfection © Empi Baryeh 2019 She was doing a crossword puzzle in the magazine, Adinkra noted upon reaching the table. It appeared she hadn’t noticed his presence. “Hi,” he said. She raised her head and met his gaze. He didn’t miss the sharp intake of breath as recognition poured into her brown eyes. Even without the benefit of touch, awareness sizzled between them, and once again, he had to close his mind to the intimate images forming in his head. She offered a tentative smile. “Hello, Prof—uh…Adinkra.” God, his name sounded so good on her lips, he had to force himself not to think about all the things he could ...

It's Friday and you know what that means.  It's #LAPLoveNotes day! I'm sharing a new snippet from  Mr Hot Mocha Perfection , my novella in the  Be My Valentine Anthology  from Love Africa Press.  In this snippet, my hero and heroine have their third encounter in one day. Is it a case of fate acting in one's favour or cupid being up to no good? 😊 Happy reading! Mr Hot Mocha Perfection © Empi Baryeh 2019 He paused to enjoy the simple pleasure of watching her. She sat alone, reading a magazine. Just like in class, he could only see her sleeveless, buttoned-up top that didn’t show any cleavage but hugged her breasts in a most enticing manner. His gaze lingered there. He shouldn’t be looking at her like that; like he wanted to slowly unfasten each one of those square buttons and release her breasts to his caress. He shouldn’t want to discover how she’d respond to his touch, or the sounds she’d make if he teased her nipples with his tongue. The ti...

BLURB An ambitious heir will do whatever it takes to be the next CEO, even play fake fiancé to his childhood nemesis. “That’s the deal, Abbott. Take it…or leave it.” How far will an ambitious heir go to secure his future? Parker Abbott will do whatever it takes to be the next CEO of King’s Finest Distillery, even play fake fiancé to his childhood nemesis, Kayleigh Jemison. Yet as he and the fiery redhead get reacquainted, sparks fly and real passion emerges. But when her ex wants a second chance, who will Kayleigh choose? MY REVIEW Engaging the Enemy is book three of the Bourbon Brothers series by Reese Ryan. I haven't read the first two, and although this is a standalone, the heroine from book one features quite a bit and the references to book one definitely make me want to read book one. The story combines both an enemies-to-lovers and a friends-to-lovers tropes, since Kayleigh and Parker used to be best friends until he did something to lose her trust. T...

TEMPTATION BY CHIQUITA DENNIE Age ain’t nothing but a number. Gabriel McCollough is the star basketball coach, Top draft pick that played in one season and retired from the game of basketball from a injury and the twenty-five-year-old alpha male every young woman in town can’t help but like. Desiree Spence is a good teacher, a good person, a quiet, reserved soul, but a chance meeting with a handsome coach, ten years her junior, tests her limits and stirs up a controversy she could’ve ever anticipated. He wants her. She wants him. Everyone in their lives is against their relationship. Will they give into societal pressures or follow their hearts’ desires? Note: Chiquita writes stories with explicit language and adult content.   AVAILABLE ON: AMAZON | BOOKS 2 READ   ENTER TO WIN Heart of Stone 1 (e-book) & $10 Amazon gift card CLICK HERE a Rafflecopter giveaway EXCERPT

A deeply emotional standalone romance set in the worlds of professional basketball and high fashion.  Divorced. Single dad. Traded to a losing squad. Cheated on, betrayed, exposed.  My perfect life blew up in my face and I'm still picking up the pieces. The last thing I need is her. A wildflower. A storm. A woman I can't resist.  Lotus DuPree is a kick to my gut and a wrench in my plans  from the moment our eyes meet. I promised myself I wouldn't trust a woman again,  but I've never wanted anyone the way I want Lo.  She's not the plan I made, but she's the risk I have to take. A warrior. A baller. The one they call Gladiator. Kenan Ross charged into my life smelling all good, looking even better and snatching my breath from the moment we met.  The last thing I need is him. I’m working on me. Facing my pain and conquering my demons. I've seen what trusting a man gets you. I. Don't. Have. Time. For. This. But he just keeps coming for...

Amara's Calling: A Billionaire's Club Novel (Billionaire's Club Series Book 1) by C.L. Donley BLURB He's a brilliant, bullied computer nerd turned handsome playboy, with a penchant for blondes. She's the assistant to the assistant, who works on the third floor and is... not blonde. And secretly obsessed with him. Complete with all the classic "plain Jane" tropes you thought were hopelessly overdone, read the smart, sexy, bingeworthy debut exceeding "billionaire romance" expectations! Amara's Calling  is the first book in the Billionaire's Club series of sinfully sexy romances. If you like unexpected love, lucrative deals, and billionaires with as much prowess in the bedroom as the boardroom, then you’ll love C.L. Donley’s steamy office affair. MY REVIEW Amara's Calling is like Indecent Proposal meets Pretty Woman. Amara is the assistant to the assistant, is dissatisfied with her job of a few months and is already think...

Welcome to this week's #LAPLoveNotes where writers share teasers from the work-in-progress or published stories. If you're a writer and want to join in the fun, add the link to your post HERE . This week's teaser is from one of my favourite scenes in His Inherited Princess . Omar had no idea how he’d managed to leave a naked India on the bed and make his way to the living room where he now stood nursing the sting of her rejection—the cherry on top of the cake of a failed day. He was no closer to avenging his brother, and he’d still not found a viable way of preventing his uncle from challenging him for the throne. Not unless he slept with India. Finding out she’d rather satisfy her needs with a toy than ask him cut deeper than his other failures. And that damned tape kept echoing in his head. What was India up to? *** Did you enjoy that snippet? His Inherited Princess is currently 40% off  at Love Africa Press .

ENGAGING THE ENEMY BY REESE RYAN An ambitious heir will do whatever it takes to be the next CEO, even play fake fiancé to his childhood nemesis. “That’s the deal, Abbott. Take it…or leave it.” How far will an ambitious heir go to secure his future? Parker Abbott will do whatever it takes to be the next CEO of King’s Finest Distillery, even play fake fiancé to his childhood nemesis, Kayleigh Jemison. Yet as he and the fiery redhead get reacquainted, sparks fly and real passion emerges. But when her ex wants a second chance, who will Kayleigh choose? AVAILABLE ON: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | ITUNES | GOOGLE PLAY | KOBO | BOOKS-A-MILLION | AMAZON UK EXCERPT “So, where were we?” Kayleigh seemed distracted and her hair looked even wilder than it had when she’d disappeared behind the curtain. As if she’d just tumbled out of bed and she hadn’t been alone.             He swallowed hard, fighting off the image of Kayleig...

A deeply emotional standalone romance set in the worlds of professional basketball and high fashion. Divorced. Single dad. Traded to a losing squad. Cheated on, betrayed, exposed. My perfect life blew up in my face and I'm still picking up the pieces. The last thing I need is  her . A wildflower. A storm. A woman I can't resist. Lotus DuPree is a kick to my gut and a wrench in my plans from the moment our eyes meet. I promised myself I wouldn't trust a woman again, but I've never wanted anyone the way I want Lo. She's not the plan I made, but she's the risk I have to take. A warrior. A baller. The one they call Gladiator. Kenan Ross charged into my life smelling all good, looking even better and snatching my breath from the moment we met. The last thing I need is  him . I’m working on me. Facing my pain and conquering my demons. I've seen what trusting a man gets you. I. Don't. Have. Time. For. This. But he ju...

BLURB Kamali Danladi has sworn never to get married again. But his meddling mother is bent on hitching him to any eligible female that comes along to the next family gathering. There's only one thing for it. Get fake-hitched to his executive assistant. If anyone is more averse to marriage than he is, it's her. So they'll be perfect together. Or at least, they'll fake perfect together. Ebun Forson doesn't do families. She certainly doesn't do festivities. So when she has to spend a week playing fiancée to her boss, how is she going to cope with the extensive Danladi kinsfolk without breaking out in hives? Her next shopping trip funded by the bonus he's giving her should more than make up for the inconvenience. However, she soon finds the real threat is to her heart. The dark and intense Kamali behaves as if he sees through to her soul, making her almost forget that this is all an act. In any case, someone with a past like hers doesn’t deserve a happ...