Amazon Category:  Inspirational Publisher: Urban Books ISBN-10:  1601629672 Type: Fiction Pages: 332 Copyright: July 29, 2008 ISBN-13: 9781601629678 A minister's son and drug distributor's daughter meet and fall in love while attending college. The Legacies unfolds with Chicago teens, Morgan Foster, and Noah Stevens about to embark on their first year of college in downstate Illinois. Both are trying to escape their family legacies.   Morgan has led a life of luxury, and the heiress is poised to take the reins of the family's illegal pharmaceutical business. Noah's father is optimistic that his son will join him in the pulpit. Noah and Morgan hope to become anonymous faces in the crowd. Cupid shots an arrow through the young couple's heart and they soon fall in love.   In the twinkling of an eye, four years have elapsed and it's time for Noah and Morgan to face the music. But, as their parents discovers the hard way, ala Murphy's Law, that life doesn't always go as planned.   Noah's mother perishes in a terrible automobile accident, forcing the young man to make a deathbed promise. Morgan's mother finds herself on trial after the Feds through a terrible betrayal make a strong case against the elder Daniel's woman, which climaxes in a sensational murder trial.   Family drama, greed, feuds, power plays, teem in the tale of The Legacies and most of all tell the readers how God sends angels our way to help aid us through the trials and tribulations of life.   Most of all The Legacies  hammers home the fact of God's merciful redemption, and how we are all God's children regardless of our circumstances and how he helps us weather the storms of life. Excerpt Chapter 1 Seventeen year old Morgan Daniels-Foster oohed and aahed as she mugged prettily in the mirror. She lifted her mane of dark weaved hair off her neck and then released it. The hair streamed like a river down the middle of her back. She finger combed her bangs. Then Morgan smiled and rolled her neck, tossing her mane from side to side. Morgan’s eyes swept the room until they landed on a pile of designer luggage neatly stacked against one of the walls of her domain. Morgan occupied the third story of her mother’s gray stone home located in the Lake Park community of Chicago. Morgan’s black and white painted space was actually an open area like a loft apartment. The brownstone’s dimensions measured five thousand square feet and included five bedrooms and four bathrooms. The garage provided space for four cars easily. Jernell, Morgan’s mother had built a small coach house behind the gray stone where her bodyguard resided. Gentrification had yet come to the Lake Park community but when it did, the Foster’s residence would definitely fit the mode. Morgan’s eyes rested on the partially opened cedar closet door. The inside was almost totally devoid of her belongings. She heard the click clack of footsteps on the hardwood staircase, which indicated someone was on their way upstairs. Morgan’s eyes were drawn to the partially obscured figure walking her way. Lucinda Brown, the Foster family’s housekeeper and Morgan’s former nanny stopped in front of Morgan. Her eyes threw tears at her former charge. “So are you all packed and ready for college?” She walked over to the suitcases and looked down at them. “Make sure you put nametags on all the bags.” Lucinda pointed to Morgan’s desk. “I put a stack that I wrote out personally for you over there. I can’t believe you’re leaving us, Morgan. I remember the day Jernell brought you home from the hospital. And here you are all grown up and about to leave for college.” “Well, it had to happen one day,” Morgan quipped. “It’s not like I’m going that far; just downstate to Bradley. I wanted to go to Howard, but Momma wouldn’t let me,” the young woman complained. Her nose crinkled in disgust. “It could have been worse, just think if you mother couldn't afford to send you to college.” Lucinda informed the young woman. "Be grateful for your blessings." She swatted Morgan with the dishtowel that she’d slung over her shoulder. Lucinda was a honey colored big boned woman. A pair of deep dimples framed her cheeks. She was short in stature, and a pleasant looking, woman with medium length brown hair. Lucinda was totally devoted to her boss/friend, Jernell, and the only child of the house. Morgan was about five feet, nine inches tall. Her complexion was a deep, dark chocolate color. Morgan’s looks were striking. Huge doe shaped eyes and a wide tapering nose made up her facial features. She had a medium build with long legs that seemed to stretch forever. Graceful were her hands and feet. “Are you ready for dinner this evening with your relatives and family friends? Your mother is so proud of you that I think she’s invited everyone she knows.” Lucinda picked up a blouse off the floor and dropped it inside a clothes hamper. “I guess so.” Morgan sighed as she closed the dresser drawers. Then she sat on the side of the salmon pink and white striped canopy bed. The walls were covered with pinups of her favorite musical artists; Tupac Shakar, Destiny’s Child, Nelly, and her favorite of them all, Sean Puffy Combs. Lucinda stood motionless in the middle of the room. Her eyes dropped to the floor and then focused at Morgan. “Well, you know how that goes. Your mother has gone through a lot of trouble to plan a great evening for you.” “I’m sure she has. Momma has always been generous with her money.” Morgan kicked a shoe under the bed. “You know Jernell has to send her only child off in style. Times have sure changed. I can’t believe your mother is hosting what you young folks call a trunk party. People just called them going away parties back in my day.” Lucinda observed as she shook head from side to side. “Hmmm, I guess so. Yeah, I’m ready for the tribe. It’s too bad that Daddy’s side of the family couldn’t join us for dinner today along with Momma’s. For once in my life, I wish all my family could get along. I had to go visit Daddy’s side of the family last week. Why do I have to be the one to suffer because of everyone else’s issues?” “Chile, we all have our crosses to bear,” Lucinda remarked. She turned and said, “I have to get back downstairs and check on dinner.” She walked to the staircase and headed down. “Call me when everyone gets here.” “Will do,” Lucinda hollered as she walked downstairs. Morgan walked over to the messy bed and laid down on her stomach, with her legs entwined in the air. She really didn’t feel like socializing with the relatives. But since she wasn’t returning home until Thanksgiving, it was best that she grace the family with her presence. Jernell had informed her daughter that she could come home sooner if she felt homesick. Morgan would be the first person in the Foster family to attend college. Jernell and her sisters, who owned the family business didn't attend secondary school. The maternal aunt, who raised Jernell and her siblings felt continuing their education was a waste of time since they were expected to work for the family anyway. Young Miss Foster could hardy wait to leave the city of Chicago and Lake Park to become another anonymous college freshman in the crowd. She felt it would be nice to go somewhere where no one knew her or her story. Morgan’s maternal relatives tended to be loud and overbearing when they gathered together. Someone was always trying to outdo the other one. Music blared from the speakers and the aunts loved to eat and drink their favorite cognac Martel as they gossiped. The sisters were generous by nature and would come bearing lavish stacks of gifts for the party. Morgan’s eyelids dropped and she fell asleep. She awakened half an hour later from a gentle tug on her arm. Morgan opened her eyes and spied her mother’s face staring down at her. Jernell smiled at her daughter, who beamed back at her. Jernell Foster was a strikingly beautiful woman. Her features were a mixture of African American and Caucasian nationalities. Jernell’s complexion was high yellow. Her nose was small and she has thin lips. “The family will be here in half an hour,” Jernell informed Morgan. “You need to get up and dressed.” Morgan yawned, rolled over and then sat upright. She stretched her arms over her head and then covered her mouth, stifling another yawn. “It won’t take me long to get ready. I’ll hop in the shower and be downstairs in no time.” Jernell scratched the side of her head with a long cerise colored, gold tipped fingernail. “Get up out of the bed now, Morgan. Time is running out.” Her baby fine long hair was pulled into a ponytail atop her head. The doorbell chimed. Jernell walked over to the intercom on the wall and pushed a button. “Who is it?” she asked. “It’s Big Momma. Open that door, gal.” Jernell pressed another button. “I’m on my way down.” Her eyes shifted to her daughter. “Big Momma’s here, so hurry up and get dressed.” “I’m going to the bathroom now. I’ll be down in twenty minutes.” “See that you are.” As Jernell walked toward the staircase, Morgan arose from the bed and headed to the shower. After she bathed and changed clothes, Morgan went downstairs where she found a good number of her family members scattered in various rooms around the house. Everyone snacked on appetizers and sipped either alcoholic beverages or soft drinks. Morgan greeted all of her aunts and cousins in the living room and then walked into the dining room. The stereo was turned on as Morgan knew it would be. Aretha Franklin crooned “Daydreaming” softly from the speakers. Yes, her grandmother was definitely in the house; she loved old school R&B music. “Where’s Big Momma?” Morgan asked Jernell who sat with her sisters around the dining room munching on crab cakes. “In the den,” Jernell replied as she wiped her hands with a cloth napkin. “Go in and speak to her.” “I will,” Morgan promised as she walked out the room. A tall, almost obese, light brown skinned woman sat in the middle of the sofa. She wore a mauve and beige floral print dress and a matching head band around her short, black coarse trimmed hair. Her face lit up when she saw Morgan and she held out her arms. When Morgan walked over to her and bent over, the older woman folded the young woman in her arms. “How are you doing, baby? Are you nervous about leaving home?” Big Momma asked. “No, I’m fine,” Morgan answered Jernell’s surrogate mother. She was really Morgan’s great aunt. “Good. Then you’ll do fine at college.” Big Momma smiled at Morgan. “Come sit by me.” She patted an empty spot on the tan and beige micro fiber sofa. After Morgan sat down, she noticed the gifts lying in and around the steamer trunk that Jernell purchased a few days ago. “Momma should have scheduled dinner last week. There’s no way in the world I can take that stuff with me. I’ve already packed for school,” Morgan said to Big Momma. “See, what you’re not taking into account is that you don’t know what’s in those bags and boxes.” Big Momma shook her head. “Maybe there’s stuff in them that can be sent to you while you’re at school at a later date.”

This is My Destiny
This is My Destiny, July 29, 2008
By Jennifer Coissiere (Georgia) - See all my reviews


We are all predestined to do something in our lifetime, planned before the conception of our life. It is our duty to follow what God has in his master plan, even if it is not what we believe to be the right direction. The Legacies by Michelle Larks is a written testimony of God's will finally being done.

Growing up in a family where certain laws are in place which include; who is to take over control of the family business, to not get too close to anyone outside of the family and other such rules would prove to be very difficult for Morgan Daniels-Foster. She was an only child with a legacy she had to fulfill after she completed college; a legacy she had been groomed for since birth. On her way to college she comes across a young man, Noah Oliver Stephens and his parents, stranded along the side of the road. Noah grew up in the church, and was expected to stand beside his father in the pulpit. Noah and Morgan, each running away from their future, even if is for a little while, trying to be what they consider to be normal for a time. Was it by chance they met, shifting what was already in store for them? Or was it already a part of God's master plan?

Two young people from two different walks of life, falling in love for the first time, Noah the preacher's son and Morgan, the next in line to run her family's drug trade business. Are they still compatible or will their lifestyle differences be too much, and will they have to let go what they share?

The character development was great; when the story began Morgan was seventeen years-old and Noah was eighteen, they had the behavior of typical teenagers and their first love. As they became older, the maturity was evident in their behaviors and the manner in which they spoke. Every time I thought I knew where the plot was going, another shocking twist took me in a different direction. There were some errors within the galley copy I read, however, I hope Michelle Larks had the book properly edited before it was printed. I believe The Legacies has two genres it could fall under; Urban Christian Fiction and Urban Fiction, and I would recommend it to readers of both genres.

Jennifer Coissiere
APOOO BookClub


A Great Read
By Urban-Reviews.com (Urban-Reviews.com) - See all my reviews

Morgan Daniels-Foster was excited about going away for college. She knew this would be a challenge since she has been groomed for the family business since she was born. Morgan grew up in a family that kept to themselves. They rarely dealt with people outside of the family. Every single detail of Morgan's future was planned for her. That was until she met Noah Oliver Stephens.

Noah's future was basically the same except his life was headed towards the pulpit. His dad was a minister and his mom just knew he was going to follow in his dad's footsteps. Noah had other plans, and just didn't want to break his parents' hearts. When the two freshmen crossed paths by an unfortunate circumstance, their future plans changed and tragedy hit both of there families. Two young people with different lifestyles fall in love. Both have a strong faith in God, but will their upbringing push them further apart or pull them closer together?

I thoroughly enjoyed how Michelle Larks developed the main characters Noah & Morgan. Through their lives, you could see how they matured from the first time they met when Morgan was seventeen and Noah was eighteen. As they matured in age, you could read how their dialogue changed. Every time you would think that the plot was becoming predictable, it would change and make the plot a lot more interesting. The Legacies was indeed a great read.

Reviewed by Jackie
for Urban Reviews

Exciting Legacies
By An Island Leo... "Debs" (Bowie, Maryland) - See all my reviews

I really enjoyed this novel. It was my first time reading one of Ms. Lark's books, and I do plan on checking out others she has written. The storyline was amazing; I loved the way she captured the "family business" by allowing us to see how emotionless and ruthless one has to be in this business. Morgan and Noah's romance was adorable and without them becoming intimate, helped them to see the real heart of each other. The twists towards the end were page-turning and believable. I wish there was a part 2! Great read!!