Love Strengthens: What Love Can Do, #1

By Stephany Tullis

~It's all about what love can do~

A second chance romance...

 

Love Strengthens, Book 1 in The What Love Can Do Series. There are two stand alone books in this series. Love Rescues is Book 2 (See bonus excerpt at the end of this book).

When stunning Deidre Torres, the new HR Director, introduces herself to Kevin O'Connor at an Executive staff meeting, Kevin's heart forewarns danger.

When he invites her to have coffee with him the next day, she hesitates but accepts.

The following week, she flatly refuses his dinner invitation citing company policies that prohibit co-worker dating in the office.

After six months of Kevin's non-stop persistence, Deidre risks her job and agrees to have dinner.
Deidre and Kevin follow their hearts despite the objections and advice of well-meaning family and friends who advise of the complexities of interracial dating. In a fairy tale-like wedding, they vow to each other and before the many doubting wedding guests that nothing will ever separate them.

Six years later, they not only violate their vows but for the first time question the depth of their love for each other. Previously unknown racial stereotypes, beliefs and differences threaten to destroy their marriage when their three-year-old son is killed by a stray bullet at a local community event.

Can Kevin and Dee's marriage survive the loss of one of God's greatest gifts? Just what can love do?

 

The What Love Can Do Series:

Love Strengthens, Book 1 (A Story of Love, Heartbreak, Forgiveness & Inspiration).

Love Rescues, Book 2 (A Story of Love, Life & Second Chances). See BONUS excerpt at the end of Love Strengthens).

Love Understands, Book 3 (A Story of Love, Compassion & Commitment). Coming 2023.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephany Tullis
• Release date: Aug 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201355029

Stephany Tullis

Stephany's life changed dramatically in the fall of 2008. The professional contract and business writer was unable to find the senior manager job she expected to easily find after her relocation to Atlanta, Georgia. The move was for family reasons and a little sooner than expected but was a part of her personal life plan. Refusing to succumb to the heavy disappointment of not advancing her career in a city with such promise, Stephany struggled to understand purpose behind sudden and unexpected life changes. When her oldest son asked, 'why don't you just write a book? Do what you love to do?', after a few weeks of thought, she decided to give it a shot.  She loved to write and realized that one of the reasons she succeeded as a proposal writer was because of her ability to 'create programs and program designs' ---so effectively that they were loved by her business clients and convincingly presented to and funded by grant sources! From inception to publication, Stephany worked for four years on her first novel, The Master's Plan, A Novel About Purpose. When thinking about how much she continually enjoys reading her debut novel, she writes, "I still laugh at all my favorite chapters and have yet to decide who is my favorite or least liked character. It's amazing! I was able to spin a tail around two frameworks that have had a major influence on my life: church and government politics. In writing The Master Plan, I was reminded of what a blessed life I have had and that despite what appeared to be very dismal circumstances, I was able to use my creativity and love of writing in a different way. Truly, I can see and believe, it was all part of a master plan."

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

~It’s all about what love can do~

A second chance romance...

Love Strengthens, Book 1 in The What Love Can Do Series. There are two stand alone books in this series. Love Rescues is Book 2 (See bonus excerpt at the end of this book).

A black and white image of a pair of glasses Description automatically generated with low confidence

When stunning Deidre Torres, the new HR Director, introduces herself to Kevin O'Connor at an Executive staff meeting, Kevin's heart forewarns danger.

When he invites her to have coffee with him the next day, she hesitates but accepts.

The following week, she flatly refuses his dinner invitation citing company policies that prohibit co-worker dating in the office.

After six months of Kevin's non-stop persistence, Deidre risks her job and agrees to have dinner.

Deidre and Kevin follow their hearts despite the objections and advice of well-meaning family and friends who advise of the complexities of interracial dating. In a fairy tale-like wedding, they vow to each other and before the many doubting wedding guests that nothing will ever separate them.

Six years later, they not only violate their vows but for the first time question the depth of their love for each other. Previously unknown racial stereotypes, beliefs and differences threaten to destroy their marriage when their three-year-old son is killed by a stray bullet at a local community event.

Can Kevin and Dee’s marriage survive the loss of one of God’s greatest gifts? Just what can love do?

The What Love Can Do Series:

Love Strengthens, Book 1 (A Story of Love, Heartbreak, Forgiveness & Inspiration).

Love Rescues, Book 2 (A Story of Love, Life & Second Chances). See BONUS excerpt at the end of Love Strengthens).

Love Understands, Book 3 (A Story of Love, Compassion & Commitment). Coming 2023…

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my niece, Janelle and her husband, Brian who in making their vows committed themselves to each other and God. In so doing, they birthed a new family with unbreakable ties and new-found relationship.

Dear Reader,

Thank you so much for reading Love Strengthens.  In dedicating this book to my niece and her husband, I also acknowledge the challenges faced by others who choose to love each other despite their ethnic, racial, and religious differences. Kevin and Dee (one of my favorite couples) are a powerful example of ‘what love can do’.

I hope you enjoy reading their and I’ll be forever grateful if you would write a review (a short one would be quite okay) on the site from which you purchased this book.

Happy Reading,

Stephany T.

Shape Description automatically generated with medium confidence

LOVE

"Love is patient and kind;

love does not envy or boast;

it is not arrogant or rude.

It does not insist on its own way;

it is not irritable or resentful;

it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,

…but rejoices with the truth."

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

DEDICATION

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

INTRODUCTION AND BONUS EXERPT

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

OTHER BOOKS BY STEPHANY TULLIS

PROLOGUE

Two and one-half years ago...

Dee blamed herself for her son's death. She'd suggested they take Kyle with them to the local peace rally. Dee's organization, a local not-for-profit that focused on community health care, had partnered with several  not-for-profits, and with private sector support, organized a demonstration in support of the homeless. It was a community-based event and expected to be fun. Volunteers arrived early at their allocated spaces to set up their stations. Private companies had donated clothing, sleeping bags, toiletries, and other necessities. Local pastors and their church members from various denominations volunteered to assist—some bringing their choirs and musicians. Barbers, physicians, dentists, and other service-oriented professionals volunteered as well. All were primed for a great day of giving!

The event was held Thanksgiving week, and everyone was excited about sharing their bounty in the spirit of helping those less fortunate than they. Dee's staff was responsible for checking in volunteers and assigning them to predesignated stations. Once she touched base with her staff, she and her family mingled with the crowd, greeted agency volunteers and chatted with those in need of services.

A black and white image of a pair of glasses Description automatically generated with low confidence

There had been no forewarning. Kyle O'Connor, little KO, was giggling, arms wrapped tightly around his father's neck. Kevin O'Connor, Dee's husband, held his son's legs promising one last spin before they helped mommy clean up. They learned later that more than an estimated three thousand people attended the rally. An outsider may have mistaken the event for a huge outdoor festival based on the live music, array of mouthwatering food, and camaraderie of attendees. Local community police wandered in and about the crowd cheerfully shaking hands and stopping periodically to chat—some officers walking, others whizzing in and around the crowd on motorized mini-scooters. Those riding horseback received the most attention—many attendees asking the officers for photo ops.

Fear, paranoia, and bedlam massacred the peaceful gathering that local news reporters had already promoted as a success. The once relaxed and cheerful attendees screamed and scrambled in multiple directions knocking each other down to escape the unknown source of a barrage of gun shots.  Squealing tires, shouts of fear, sirens and a flurry of blue uniforms dominated the festival site. Officer commands to Get down! Get down! replaced the laughter and joy.

Kevin didn't know what was more frightening, the look on his wife's face as she covered her mouth in a futile effort to prevent the screeching