Tenderness, passion, and mystery shine through in When I’m With You. Marcel and Caitlyn are destined to be together no matter the twists and turns in the road to happily ever after. Official Review by Multicultural Romance- Rating 8
Fire and Passion Ignite in When I’m With You
In Major Stores – November 2007
A funding request brings Marcel Baptiste, a wealthy entrepreneur and philanthropist and Caitlyn Thompson, the head of a struggling Oakland youth center head-to-head. He’s smitten, but she’s gun-shy and on the run from her controlling ex. Can he vanquish the ghosts of her past without risking her life?
When your life has been terrorized by violence, how do you manage to go forward, looking over your shoulder at every turn? This is the daily question that haunts Caitlyn Thompson. She has been in hiding from an ex-boyfriend for three years, always careful not to slip up and allow him to find her again. Working for a neighborhood youth center, she has found her niche.
This is something she believes in, having grown up in inner-city New Jersey herself. Submitting a grant request to a wealthy philanthropist foundation, Caitlyn is soon to meet the man who will make her want to stop running, want to trust and love again- Marcel Baptiste. It will take a will of iron and a courage she didn’t know she possessed to battle her fears and open up to the wealthy entrepreneur.
Excerpt
Caitlyn tore her gaze away and stared out the front windshield. Fear from the past reared its ugly head. At this point in her life, she didn’t want to feel an attraction for any man, and she certainly didn’t want to feel it this soon for the one sitting next to her. She’d experienced one disastrous relationship all because she’d foolishly placed her confidence in someone she thought she could trust. That error had nearly destroyed her, and it was one she’d vowed to never make again.
She sucked in a deep breath. “Marcel, I-I don’t think we should see each other anymore.” The words came out hoarse and choked, despite her best effort to maintain a rock-steady tone.
Marcel frowned. “Why?”
“I-I’m not the right person for you to get involved with.”
He shook his head. “You’re wrong on that one, Caitlyn.” He grabbed her left hand. “Can you honestly sit here and tell me I’m solo in what I’m feeling?”
It was a long while before she could say anything. She could no more deny the attraction she felt for Marcel than not take her next breath. “No, and if I knew how to stop my emotions right now, I would.”
Professional Reviews
Official Review by Multicultural Romance/ Rating 8
“Tenderness, passion, and mystery shine through in When I’m With You. Marcel and Caitlyn are destined to be together no matter the twists and turns in the road to “happily ever after”.
Romance In Color Rating 4+/5
“WHEN I’M WITH YOU is a story about the damage caused when someone is in an abusive relationship, and what happens when the person suffering the abuse is too scared to tell their loved ones what’s going on. It showcases the difficulties one faces when learning to trust after having suffered the shame, embarrassment, and betrayal during the relationship, and the importance of being able to forgive and forget while moving forward with your life. There is also a lesson about why you should know your family history.
This is a fast-paced story with a plot that focuses on family, trust, and redemption. It was interesting to see the history of abuse and the similar reactions that the abused characters had. There were also parts that are heart-warming and funny. WHEN I’M WITH YOU is a quick and enjoyable read, and Ms. Taylor-Jones handled a distasteful subject well.”
