Illusions

Excerpt:

Prologue

Bryce, having been married for a little over three years, stared appreciatively at the bare woman before him. By all accounts, she was everything he physically desired in a woman; ample and curvaceous from top to bottom. Her honey colored legs seemed to go on forever. He could look at her perpetually and never get tired of the view she provided. Bryce had an arsenal of beautiful women at his disposal, but she was his favorite. He could drink the sweetness of her lips through eternity and still thirst for more.

Bryce often wondered how he ended up with such a beautiful and voluptuous woman, considering he was just an average looking man, and short at that. Bryce was only 5'9'' tall. He didn't house the physique of a body builder, but he did wear his 200 pounds well. Thanks to his love for Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia, Bryce didn't have a six pack, but a slightly budding pot belly. None of that mattered to the woman before him, though. To her, he was perfect. He was strong and secure. He was her king. Bryce was by far the best lover she'd ever had, and each time that they came together was always better than the time before.

Bryce blocked everything from his mind except her. He moaned deeply as his mind focused on the soft kisses she planted all over him and as her hands massaged him in places only known to her. He leaned back, allowing her full access to all parts of him. Bryce was hers and she could do whatever she wanted to do with him. The semi-sweet chocolate brother was all hers and she knew it. Bryce was so engrossed in his woman, he lost track of time. The knock on his office door brought him back to reality.

"Are you ready, Sir?" The voice on the other side of the door asked.

"I'll be right out," Bryce responded after steadying his breath.

He quickly closed the magazine and discreetly tucked it away in its hiding place between the wall and the tank of the toilet. After fastening his pants and belt, he washed his hands without looking in the mirror. He could never look himself in the face after an encounter with the woman he nicknamed, Daija.

Back at his desk, Bryce hurriedly put on his suit jacket and tucked his Bible and notebook under his arm then headed for the sanctuary. It was time for Pastor Bryce Hightower to preach the Word of God. 

Reviews:

"Although fiction, Illusions not only exposes a very real secret addiction that many Christian men face, but also offers an insightful resolution that will point them to the road of recovery.  It is an eye-opener that should be required reading for men's ministries everywhere."

~ Kendra Norman-Bellamy, national bestselling author of Crossing Jhordan's River, More Than Grace, and In Greene Pastures.

 

"Illusions is a definite page-turner which reveals the naked truth about the effects of pornography and church leadership. Wanda B. Campbell dares to bring this taboo topic true-to-life as she brilliantly describes the sexual struggles of a young, sincere pastor, and an initially hopeful but now seemingly hopeless and heartbroken first lady. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next!"

-Kim Brooks, author of, He's Saved...But is He for Real? and He's Fine...But is He Saved?

 

Illusions will have you on the edge of your seat. You will not want to put this book down until you find out what happens. Campbell has no problem digging deep into some of the troubles of today's church leaders. Although fiction, the situation is REAL. I definitely recommend this book to others. I cannot wait to see what else Campbell has in store for us.

 -Donnica Copeland
APOOO BookClub

 

Illusions is another winner for Ms. Campbell. She has taken a controversial situation and allowed the reader to walk in her characters' shoes and feel and see what they do. Courage, strength, faith and love are just a few of the characteristics we see. This is such a touching story of the perfect facade we can put up for others to see in spite of our broken spirits. You cannot help but think, learn and grow with this story as it unfolds. I highly recommend this and any other books Ms. Campbell writes. Her stories are that exceptional.

 

-Matilda
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance

 

The First Sunday In October

Excerpt:

It's time to hear a word from the Lord. Let's all stand and receive our Pastor at this time. God bless you Pastor Pennington. The young minister smiled as Pastor Pennington stepped to the podium.

Julia was not prepared for what she saw next. Nikki had raved so much about how much she loved Pastor Pennington and how much she'd learned from him, Julia assumed he was a much older man. Nikki respected him as being a wise father figure who knew how to relate to his members in the areas they needed most. Pastor Pennington may be all of those things to Nikki, but to Julia he was the finest man she'd ever laid eyes on.

From her seat on the fifth row, she estimated him to be about six-three or six-four and about two hundred and fifty pounds. His smooth dark-chocolate skin matched perfectly with his dark brown eyes. His neatly trimmed goatee outlined a perfect pair of full lips that when parted revealed the sweetest smile she'd ever seen. His teeth were perfectly straight. She wondered if they had naturally grown that way or if he'd worn braces. His ministerial cassock couldn't hide his perfectly chiseled body. By the cuts in his massive upper body, she could tell he worked out on a regular basis. Looking at him was like looking at Wesley Snipes and Morris Chestnut all rolled up into one. His voice was deep and melodious. When he spoke he reminded her of a young Billy D. Williams in Lady Sings the Blues.

Nikki tapped her on the arm and asked if she was alright. Julia didn't notice that the rest of the congregation was already seated and she was the only one still standing.

 

Reviews:

Wanda B. Campbell has done a wonderful job with FIRST SUNDAY IN OCTOBER, her debut novel. She told a story of two people who had never experienced true love and how with forgiveness and reconciliation of past wrongs true love it is really worth waiting on. She pulled you into the lives of the characters and made you feel as though you knew them. I look forward to her next project. The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

 

In times when filth is all around, people are swimming in the muck and mire, it is refreshing to read a book such as First Sunday in October.  Campbell tell a compelling story of how GOD's redemption and one's own personal self love/strength will always be enough to carry one through life's trials and tribulations.

Filled with honest and real situations that the reader can identify with, Campbell compels the reader to actually walk a mile in these characters' shoes.  Campbell does an outstanding job of demonstrating real family dynamics and how important family is to one's personal growth. C&B Distribution

 
First Sunday in October is a realistic portrayal of Christians in love. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this realistically, portrayed book of how Christians date, while also seeing portrayals of real people and their struggles. Ms. Campbell penned a wonderfully, romantic, spirit-filled first novel. I recommend First Sunday in October to those who enjoy Christian Fiction and to anyone who enjoys a well-told romantic story. APOOO Book Club

Absolutely spectacular! First Sunday in October was the most moving book I have ever read. I cried many tears while reading it. What an emotional rollercoaster Ms. Campbell sets you on. The words run fluidly through you and you too will walk away with tears for the highs and the lows this couple goes through. This is a very inspirational read with many life lessons sprinkled in that make you stop and think. It is a well-thought-out concept of two beautiful, yet flawed people who follow their Christian beliefs. If I could award more than five cups to this story, I would not hesitate to do so. Coffee Time Romance


Excerpt:

Right Package, Wrong Baggage

Chapter 1

Pamela pressed her notary seal firmly into the document, then glanced at the clock on the wall. Almost done, she thought, looking in the direction of her clients. She loved assisting first-time homebuyers the most at the title company, where she worked as Senior Escrow Officer. Pamela took pleasure in helping new homeowners purchase their piece of the American dream. Particularly, single mothers like her.

At age twenty-nine and widowed, Pamela understood, firsthand, the pressure of making ends meet. If it weren’t for her parents’ help with a down payment after the untimely death of her husband, five years ago, Pamela would still be renting a one-bedroom apartment instead of owning a three-bedroom townhouse in Berkeley.

Today her clients were newlyweds, married seven months and already purchasing their first home. Every so often Pamela would look up from the pile of documents and catch a glimpse of the couple’s interaction. The husband and wife constantly touched one another and addressed each other by cute nicknames. The wife blushed constantly. Ever so often the husband kissed her cheek.

Pamela wondered what that kind of love felt like. What did it feel like to love a man and for him to love her back? That question made her check the clock again. If she didn’t hurry, she may never find out.

Thirty minutes later, Pamela stood at her desk, buttoning her coat, or at least trying to button her coat. Her hands trembled and her palms dripped with perspiration.

“Girl, let me help you with that.” The offer came from her best friend and fellow escrow officer, Jessica.

“Are you nervous?” Jessica asked, and then rescinded when Pamela twisted her face and at the same time rolled her eyes.

“You’re right, that’s a stupid question. A blind man with two seeing-eye dogs can see that you’re nervous. You almost look petrified.” Jessica laughed.

Pamela waited until Jessica finished buttoning her coat for her before she smacked her lips and said, “Forget you.”

“Watch it now. I’ll let you go on this date looking like John Witherspoon in Boomerang.” Pamela couldn’t help but laugh at that scenario. “Jessica, I’m just so nervous about tonight,” she said, now serious. “I haven’t been on a real date in years. Up until yesterday I wasn’t aware that such a thing as ‘dating etiquette’ existed. I don’t know how to dress for the occasion without sending the wrong message.” Pamela took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her nerves. “Thanks so much for helping me select a dress and shoes for tonight. I probably would have worn one of my Sunday-go-to-meeting suits if you hadn’t intervened.”

“I know,” Jessica said as she reached for her own coat. “Why are you so nervous? You and Micah have been hanging out for over a month now.”

“But this is the first time we’re going somewhere without Matthew,” Pamela explained. Jessica shrugged her shoulders. “I still don’t get it.”

“It’s easy to talk with Matthew around. We focus our attention and conversation on him. With him gone, I don’t know if we’ll have anything to talk about.” Pamela wrapped her scarf around her neck.

Jessica shook her head. “Girl, you are really letting your nerves get the best of you. I think the two of you will have a whole lot to talk about with Matthew away with your parents for the weekend. I bet Micah is ecstatic to finally have some one-on-one time with you.”

“I hope so. I’m just so out of touch with this dating thing. I don’t know what an appropriate or safe subject is anymore. I usually limit the scope of our phone conversations to church or the Bible.”

“That won’t be the case tonight.” Jessica paused to tie her coat belt. “But just in case you can’t find anything to talk about, ask that fine, saved man if he has a single brother for me.” Pamela laughed.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Jessica, you are too funny.”

“Girl, I am not playin’. I need God to send my soul-mate while I can still produce eggs.”

Pamela finished laughing and placed her arm around Jessica’s shoulder. The two headed for the door. “I know he doesn’t have a brother. He told me he’s an only child.”

“What about a cousin, or an uncle?” Jessica persisted. “I’ll ask, but I believe Micah Stevenson is one of a kind.” Pamela prayed and hoped he was authentic.

The cold January wind beat against Pamela’s face the moment she stepped from the building. Pamela pulled her scarf up over her face and braved the blustery weather. By the time she’d made it across the parking lot and into the confines of her Altima, she was so cold her bones ached. That’s the only thing she disliked about the Bay Area, the traditional January winds and rainstorms. On the drive home, she was more cautious than normal. At yellow lights she applied the brakes, instead of speeding through the intersections. Pamela prayed all the way home against mechanical failures and unexpected traffic delays. Arriving late might cause her to miss her destiny.


Reviews:

Wanda B. Campbell has done it again.  Another explosive novel that'll take readers on an emotional rollercoaster.  From cover to cover, Campbell delivers a captivating storyline that keeps the pages turning.  Get ready to laugh, cry, become angry, and blissfully happy as the characters deliver nothing short of what we can always expect from the gifted author.  I consider Right Package, Wrong Baggage to be one of the greatest novels I've ever read. Nikita Lynnette Nichols, Author of A Man’s Worth and Amaryllis

Right package, Wrong Baggage is an intricate tale that unfolds like an Alfred Hitchcock film. When Micah's past is revealed, the reader will not want to put the book down. Wanda B. Campbell has penned another captivating story. Dijorn Moss, Author of My Father’s House

Wanda B. Campbell has once again taken us beyond the veneer of Christian life and made us take a look at ourselves. Right Package, Wrong Baggage introduces us to Micah Stevenson, a great man of faith who has overcome his past to become a new creation in Christ. Micah is the perfect package for any sister including Pamela Roberts and it seems that the two are moving toward a common destiny until a disclosure by Micah threatens to derail his budding romance with Pamela. The innocent victim in this tale is Pamela's son Matthew who adores Micah and loves his mother. Micah must press on in spite of Pamela's perceptions. Pamela must be freed from a mindset that may cost her more than she realizes and the two must find unity for Matthew's sake as danger surrounds him. Bernard Boulton, Author of Do You Wanna Be Made Whole?