Carol Ann Culbert Johnson
THE 'I CONFESS' SERIES AND BOOKS OF ROMANCE
Torn Between Two Lovers
$A novel introducing Candy Thomas who thought she had found her soul mate in the name of Mace James. When she meets the new attorney at her law firm, Jordan Hayes, Candy is beginning to wonder if Mace is her soul mate after all when he starts to take their relationship for granted. Who will Candy choose?
PROLOGUE
Mace was my chocolate brother, fifty-three to my forty-two, a heavy-set, nice looking man who found the humor in every situation. I was his opposite, a serious woman who viewed most things in a negative light, and it showed on my always-frowning face. Mace was not my type, but he continued to pursue me. Then one day when we were talking on the telephone, I realized I was laughing. He made me laugh every time we talked and I liked this new side of me. I still couldn't believe we were so hopelessly in love with each other.
Mace showed his love for me by cooking breakfast for me, cheerfully getting up an hour or so before me so that breakfast would be waiting when I walked into the kitchen. I showed my love for him by cleaning up the enormous mess he made when he cooked my breakfast. When he moved into my apartment on the lovely south side of
I was the luckiest woman in the world. Who could want for more? As great as he was, let me tell you, Mace did have his faults. He belonged to the school of thought that a man was king of the castle and the woman was his follower. Mace and I got into heated arguments when I refused to follow his orders. No one told this grown woman what to do and got away with it. Despite our disagreements, we loved each other and were able to work past them. I was happy and felt blessed.
It seems that when things are going fine, something will always come along to turn your world upside down. I was no exception to the rule.
I worked as a paralegal at a prestigious law firm on
It was a sunny Monday in April and
"Come in," I said, not looking up. "I'll be with you in just one more minute."
"Take your time," replied a smooth male voice. "I'll just enjoy the view."
Jordan Hayes was a newly hired associate attorney at the firm. I had seen him at a distance, but had not yet met him. The women in the office were all abuzz about him, taking bets on who was going to get into bed with him first. When they saw I was scheduled to work with him this week, they all teased me, telling me to remember Mace and not let my head get turned by
I looked up into the most beautiful pair of green eyes I had ever seen. The eyes matched the rest of him. He wasn't exceptionally tall, just about 5'9", but he had a lean muscular body, surprising on a forty-five year old attorney. Few of the other men in our office could boast of a body like his.
"Are you Candy Thomas?" he asked. "I'm Jordan Hayes. I'm sorry to be so late but I've never worked in an office this large before. It took me some time to find you."
"Yes I'm Candy. Don't worry about being late. Mr. James needed me to get this 'Motion to Strike' ready for him anyway. I'm just finishing it now and I need to run it over to his office." I was surprised at how normal I sounded. My insides were shaking and I felt like my body was burning up. I had to get away from him for a minute to calm myself down. All thoughts of Mace left my mind as I sneaked another peek at Jordan Hayes. He had an olive complexion that went well with his dark blonde hair. I didn't know what was happening to me. I'd never felt like this before, especially about a white man.
"I'll wait for you as long as you want me to," he said. "But once we start, we're going to be glued to each other for at least the next twenty-four hours. Do you need to let someone at home know you're going to be working some serious overtime?"
"I will need to make a phone call later tonight, but my friend is a chef and he sometimes stays at the restaurant long after they close, trying out new recipes. Sometimes he gets so caught up in his work that he doesn't get home until sunrise." Why was I babbling? A simple 'yes' would have answered the question. The man was going to think I was an idiot.
"Do you want to meet me in my office when you're finished or should I wait for you here?
"How about if we stop by your office and I'll get you set up with an office manual and a recorder and tapes? Then I'll be back to see you in about ten minutes or so."
"Okay, sounds good. I have a couple of letters that have to go out this morning and I'm hoping you can make some big inroads into a pile of research I need. Mr. Taylor told me you were the best in the business and they were glad to have you. I probably shouldn't tell you this, but he said they paid you way over scale for your services and would be willing to pay even more to keep you."
I was extremely flattered to hear that. I worked my ass off and that's how I kept my job, not by spreading my legs like some of the other women in the office. I settled him in his office and left him there puzzling over the instructions for the recorder. I shut the door and leaned against it. Jordan Hayes was going to be a big problem for me, maybe more than I could handle. What in the hell was I going to do?
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REVIEWS
Passion in all sizes and shapes, November 20, 2006
| Reviewer: | Reader Views "www.readerviews.com" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews |
"Torn Between Two Lovers" is a moving story of three black women who share their lives and passions with each other, no matter what the outcome. As the author gives us an inside look at each of the women in the story, we begin to realize the ups and downs of relationships no matter who is involved. The plot is touched with a hint of reality that keeps the story down to earth and realistic, the author combines just enough romantic desire and passion to bring the characters into full light. Women who fit all shapes and sizes meet men of all categories, some to find love and some to find pain.
Candy has Mace, the man she knows she loves with all her heart, but something is very wrong. He no longer seems to care about her and doesn't complete her like he used to. But, he loves her without question and adores her plus size body. When she's confronted with a very sexy new attorney, Jordan, at the law firm she works for she knows she's gone crazy because she finds herself thinking about him non-stop. But Jordan isn't exactly looking for a woman like her. She's black, he's white. She's heavy and he goes for model types. But yet something is still there and both have to deal with their feelings. Will she give in to sheer sexual desire and lose the one man she knows she was meant to be with, simply to have a quick, explosive affair with someone she knows can never love a woman like her?
Helen has the man every black woman dreams of, handsome and rich but is that all she needs in life? She loves being a mother to her two kids but is it fair that she has to turn her head and dismiss all the affairs her husband has, simply to keep a marriage and family together? What about her? Is she strong enough to walk away and leave the life she dreamed of or is she really living a nightmare, putting up with the abuse by being the lonely wife left behind? She has to make decisions and stand up, but will her friends support her and will that be enough to keep her strong? Will there be someone else out there that will put up with her fat body or will she forever be alone?
Lisa's the woman every man dreams about. Unlike her two best friends she's hot and sexy and knows it. Thin and loving to play the field, she beds man after man to get what she wants in life. Now she lives a life of fame as a hot soap opera star, sleeping her way into the movie scene. Marriage and Lisa? Never! But can one man change that? Is there really a soul mate out there for her? And what does she do if she ruins the one relationship she's had that really was worth keeping, only to sleep around and get pregnant by another man? Being a mother is not in her plans and no matter how much support her two best friends give her, she's not going to do it... or is she?
You will find yourself secretly wishing for a certain outcome while often being surprised by the final ending.
These three women are the strength for one another as they go through everything from pregnancies to breakups, divorces to marriage. And just when you think you know who's ending up with whom, you find out you're wrong. Laugh at their antics, cry with their pain and grow with their knowledge as they find out what love is really about.
Touching, realistic and somewhat of a "Cinderella" story about what relationships are all about, no matter who you are. After reading "Torn Between Two Lovers" you'll walk away feeling even stronger as a woman... no matter what your race or size.
http://www.letstalk honestly. com/page/ page/3935548. htm
Review
http://www.beautyqueen.biz/article.cfm/id/143693
Three African American Women
Contemplate their Love Lives
Oak Lawn, IL (PRWeb) January 22, 2007 -- Carol Ann Culbert Johnson releases her highly anticipated novel
"Torn Between Two Lovers" (ISBN 978-1430300823, Lulu.com, 2006). A hopeless romantic since the nine
grade, Johnson spent her free time reading Harlequin Romances, and Black Romance Magazine, and now
at forty-four, there isn't a day that passes without a romance novel in her hand.
Johnson's forth novel trails Candy Thomas and her best friends Helen and Lisa. Candy is overweight yet
confident, and her romantic heart believes there is a soul mate out there for everyone. She's in love with
Mace James, but when he takes their relationship for granted, she begins to question it. She meets Jordan
Hayes, a new white attorney at her law firm, and the sparks between them are evident. She ultimately is left
with choosing between Mace and Jordan - will she give in to pure sexual desire and lose the one man she
thought she was meant to be with?
Helen has the man every woman dreams of, handsome and rich, and a means to the life she always wanted.
She has been with her husband for years and loves being a mother to her two kids, but having to turn her head
and dismiss her husband's affairs has left her bitter and angry. She contemplates whether she is strong enough
to walk away and leave her life of luxury. Will she become the lonely, overweight wife left behind? Will her friends
support her and help her stay strong? She vows to never let herself love again.
Lisa is the woman every man dreams about. Unlike her two best friends, she's hot and sexy and knows it. An actress,
she loves to play the field, bedding man after man to get what she wants in life. Lisa would never think of marriage, but
would the right man change that? She faces sabotaging the only relationship she has worth keeping to sleep around
and end up pregnant by another man. Being a mother is not in her plan. Will this dramatic life change the reality check
she needed?
"Torn Between Two Lovers" is an exciting and romantic story of love that will leave readers secretly wishing for a certain
outcome, but surprised at the ending. Candy, Helen, and Lisa offer each other their unconditional support as they each
love and lose love, experience pain and joy, and learn to accept themselves, whatever size. These women laugh and cry,
and clearly express the inner strength of every woman.
Carol Ann Culbert Johnson resides in Oak Lawn, IL. Johnson's passion is reading and writing. She has written three previous
novels - "I Confess," a collection of twenty-two short stories about modern romance, "Rejection," about an unconditional love,
and "Articles for the Soul," a self-help book on everyday issues. "Torn Between Two Lovers" (ISBN 978-1430300823, Lulu.com, 2006)
can be purchased at online bookstores, or visit www.carolannjohnson.net
Interview with Carol Ann Culbert Johnson
Torn Between Two Lovers
Lulu (2006)
ISBN 9781430300823
Reviewed by for Reader Views (11/06)
Reader Views talks with Carol Ann Culbert Johnson, author of romance fiction novel, "Torn Between Two Lovers."
Carol is being interviewed by Juanita Watson, Assistant Editor of Reader Views.
Juanita: Thanks for talking with us today Carol. We are excited to hear more about your book "Torn Between
Two Lovers." Would you tell your readers the storyline of your new novel?
Carol: My novel is based on Candy Thomas, and her friends. Candy is torn between two lovers. She's in love
with Mace James, but when he takes their relationship for granted she begins to question it. In the midst of this
she meets Jordan Hayes, a new white attorney at her law firm, and the sparks are evident. Who will Candy choose?
Candy has two best friends, Helen and Lisa, and they meet to discuss their lives. Helen is fed up with her husband
and his cheating ways; Lisa is a wild girl, but when something happens to change her life, she rethinks it. This is a
story of having two men, and trying to find your soul mate, and friendship; the trials and tribulations of trying to deal
with the stresses of your existence.
Juanita: What inspired you to write this story?
Carol: I am a romantic person, and I was probably watching or reading something and this inspired me to write this
story. I got on my laptop and Torn Between Two Lovers was born. The story was geared to Candy Thomas making a
choice between the two men in her life, but along the way it developed into more than just Candy. I introduced Helen
and Lisa who added some spice of life, and devoted chapters to them and their lives.
Torn Between Two Lovers is a book about issues - divorce, finding your soul mate, challenges, and changes, finding
love, respecting and loving yourself, fighting for your belief, children, and romance, with some happily ever after endings.
It's about being in a marriage since high school, and trying to make it work, but finding out that your husband didn't love
you enough. I wrote this book to focus on the many conflicts that most of us are experiencing. I wanted someone to be
able to relate to the same story of divorce or being in love with two men, and making a difficult choice.
Juanita: Would you tell us about your three leading women and their distinctive personalities?
Carol: Candy is a laid back plus-size woman. She has not a lot of confidence in herself, and she settles for
Mace James who likes her healthy body. She's in her forties, and she loves her job as a paralegal. It's the essence
of her life until Jordan happens upon the scene. She's a romantic at heart and wants to find unconditional love.
Lisa is a wild child. She's in her thirties and men are her game. She loves men, and after falling in love with two men,
and having her heart broken into tiny pieces; she decides to have fun with men, and never fall in love again. Her life is
all planned - no children, and no husband. When she meets James King her entire life changes, and she's having a
difficult time dealing with it. Lisa is not afraid of expressing her opinion and having a good time in the process. Lisa
is an actress on a soap opera and when she graduates into movies, she is able to showcase her talents.
Helen is in her forties and also a plus-size woman. She loves her body and has no intention of changing it for anyone.
She's a fashion designer, with dreams of owning her own boutiques and making a name for herself in the designing
world. She married right out of high school and loves her husband, but when he continues to cheat on her, she has
to reevaluate her marriage. She has two children and she's contented with her marriage, until her husband turns
her world upside down.
Juanita: What is each of their unique situations in the area of love?
Carol: Candy is the most romantic, and she thought she had found love in Mace. She's searching for her soul mate,
but then there's Jordan.
Lisa doesn't believe in love until her life changes and she has a realization, and a reality check.
Helen loved her husband for years, and now she's so angry with him, and the concept of love. She doesn't believe in
it anymore, and will never let herself fall in love again.
Juanita: How did these three women evolve as characters in your book, and in the writing process? Were they
based on anyone you know?
Carol: I would say Candy is like me. She's overweight, and confidant to some extent, and she believes there's a soul
mate out there for everyone, and size or color shouldn't be an issue. She doesn't believe that a black man could be
unconditional, and this is how she so easily falls in love with a white man.
Lisa and Helen came about as a friendship tool. I don't have any close girlfriends, anymore. I had a few, but they
stabbed me in the heart, and I learned my lesson. I wanted to bring these three women into the story as best friends,
no matter what, and to let my readers know that there are women who can be true and deep friends. Candy, Helen,
and Lisa share a bond that will last forever. Although Lisa and Helen had a moment, but their friendship will handle
the cracks, and will last.
Juanita: How long of a time frame do we follow the lives of these three friends?
Carol: This is a friendship forever. The chapters are elements of each friend, and their separate entities.
Juanita: How does race and physical diversity play a part in the stories of these women? What are your personal
statements towards these aspects of "Torn Between Two Lovers"?
Carol: Race isn't an issue in Torn Between Two Lovers, but it does come up with Candy meets Jordan who is white.
Another issue of weight is also in the novel. Jordan is usually dating petite women, and he finds himself attracted to
Candy and it's a major concern with him. He has never dated a black woman, or one that is curvy and he has to
come to terms with this new avenue of his life.
I don't believe that color or size should be a stumbling block when love is the contributing factor. We can't help who
we fall in love with, and sometimes, love is very blind. We are all human beings made from God, and it just doesn't
matter to me. Jordan came along at a time when Candy was torn about Mace, and he just happened to be white.
Sometimes my characters run amonk, and I just have to go with the flow.
Juanita: What is the importance of the women's friendship as they move thorough their relationships with the
men in their lives?
Carol: They have a bond, and the elements of relationships are like a therapy session for each woman. Helen
and Lisa learn something about Candy's relationship. She's living with a man, and she's in love with another one.
Lisa and Candy consoles Helen on the breakup of her marriage, and the years she spent with this one man, and
his cheating ways. Candy and Helen follow the path of Lisa falling in love against all her odds, and a major event
happening to her, which she didn't plan. The fact that she's an actress and a celebrity to them is another part of
their friendship. These three friends learn from each other in a quest to find happiness.
Juanita: Would you comment on the women's unfolding self discovery process?
Carol: Candy has doubts about her weight. She settles for Mace because of this fact, but she's not happy with
the relationship. She feels that Mace is with her, so she should be happy, or the fact that he's the only man out
there for her until she meets Jordan. Candy discovers that love is blind, you can't help who you fall in love with,
and that she is a beautiful woman worthy of finding love at her size. She also discovers that she does not have
to be skinny to find romance.
Helen is in love with her body, but she doubts herself when her husband puts her down by calling her fat. She
also wonders why her husband needs to cheat on her, and she lacks self-confidence in herself. She believes
that she wasn't kinky enough for her husband, or she wasn't giving him enough at home to make him find the
comforts of other women. Helen has to really come to terms with herself, and realize that you can never please
a man.
Lisa is a wild and crazy woman, and she compliments Helen and Candy. Her antics blow their minds, and she
leads entertainment into their lives. She's a playa and proud of it, and men are just sex to her. She loves herself,
is vain at times, and her body is perfect in her eyes. Men will worship the ground she walks on. Of course I had
to bring her down a peg or two in the novel to show her that love blossoms everywhere, and she's not exempt from it.
Juanita: What statements are you making towards love in "Torn Between Two Lovers"?
Carol: Race and size is not an issue when falling in love; love will bite you on the ass when you least expect it;
making a choice, and hoping it's the right choice; getting what you want out of a relationship, and that romance
exists for everyone, and there's someone out there right around that corner.
Juanita: I believe "Torn Between Two Lovers" is your fourth book, what are your favorite aspects of this particular
novel?
Carol: Torn Between Two Lovers is my fourth book, and this is my favorite book. I love the story with Candy and
her friends, and the fact that she has two men in her life, and she has to make the choice, when in reality this
doesn't happen often. I had a thrill writing this book in less than one month. I spent a lot of time revising this
book, and I got to really care about Helen, Lisa, and Candy and their friendship. I was sad when the book ended,
believe it or not.
I love the interracial relationship between Candy and Jordan; the marriage woes with Helen and Joseph, and Lisa f
inding love against her wishes, and confronting a major issue in her life with dignity. I usually write in the first
person, so I was able to create this book in the first and third person voice, and this was definitely a challenge f
or me.
Juanita: What is the underlying message of "Torn Between Two Lovers"?
Carol: Love comes in all shapes and colors, and when it comes, watch out!
Juanita: Carol, you have written a number of books to date, and have many in the works. Would you comment
on your love of writing, and your preference to the genre of romantic fiction?
Carol: I have written four books so far, I Confess, a collection of twenty-two confession stories about romance
and relationships. Rejection, a short story taken from I Confess, which developed into a novella about unconditional
love, and my focus on weight. I was so in love with the characters Rejina and Adonis. Articles for the Soul, is about
topics and articles of interest to me that is like a therapy session to me of everyday life.
My fascination for romance began when I was fourteen years old. I was in the ninth grade, and on my lunch break
I used to spend time reading Harlequin Romances, and Black Romance Magazine. I fell in love with happily ever
after, and was hooked on romance to the present, and I am forty-four years old now. There's not a day that passes
me by without a romance in my hand. I wanted to write romance, and I did. I am blessed to write a romance column
for www.myshelf.com/beneaththecovers/column.htm.
Juanita: Carol, how can readers find out more about you and your books?
Carol: My website is like a bio of my life, and this is the perfect place to learn about me. My readers can visit me at
www.carolannjohnson.net and sign my guestbook, and follow the links to my life. I can also be emailed at
greeniconfessbooks@yahoo.com for comments from my readers which would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you Juanita for this interview and God Bless!