Patricia Haley, national bestselling author of Nobody's Perfect and No Regrets, returns with a bold and provocative story about two people who follow their hearts and souls into unexpected love. . . Courtney Young is caught between two worlds. The first of her family to attend college, she's made her way through a largely white university on an academic scholarship, while still relating to the Black working class neighborhood she grew up in and returns to every night. Yet though her upbringing exposes her to both races, she feels fully at home in neither. Her cousin introduces her to Roger—handsome, Black, successful, and a born-again believer—and Courtney's friends are immediately convinced she's met her soul mate. But though Courtney knows that Roger is a great catch, her feelings for him don't run as deep as she'd like. Then there's Sebastian Whittington. Wealthy, upper-class, New Englandbred, bi-racial but looking white—the differences between them are too obvious for Courtney to consider him romantically. Only when the two spend time together after graduation does Courtney start to see him through new eyes, cherishing their easy understanding and shared beliefs. But the eyes of the world are less approving, and Courtney's family and friends—even the members of her church—frown on their budding relationship. Now, Courtney must come to grips with the assumptions about race and class that prevail among Blacks and Whites alike if she's to figure out which path is right for her. It'll take courage, strength, and the faith that Courtney has always possessed to walk away from bias and fear, and into the arms of love. . .
Author
Patricia Haley, an award winning national bestselling author, earned the title of ‘trailblazer’ after achieving remarkable success with her first faith-based novel. She self-published her debut novel, Nobody's Perfect, in 1998 and immediately sold nearly 20,000 copies in an industry where selling 5,000 copies at the time was highly regarded. The novel was the first of its kind to repeatedly make numerous national best sellers list, including #1 on the Essence (national African-American) list. Her next book, No Regrets, was popular among readers and followed Nobody’s Perfect onto the best seller’s list. Originally from Rockford, IL, Patricia now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Jeffrey and their daughter. With an engineering degree from Stanford Univ. and an M.B.A. in marketing and finance from the Univ. of Chicago, readers are often surprised to hear that Patricia is writing novels, given her technical and business background. When asked what led her to writing, her response is, "I was always good at creative writing in high school, but my interest was in math and science. I wasn't big on writing classes in college either. Engineering and graduating in four years was my primary focus. In the 90s, I went through a time of personal challenge. Writing became an unexpected tool of therapy. My first attempt at writing was a non-fiction (self-help) book. I got about halfway through it in 1994 and stopped. I set the book aside because a relationship storyline kept playing in my head. So I just sat down one day and wrote the first page. A few weeks later, another page and so on until nine months later I had completed my first novel, Nobody's Perfect. I questioned whether it could be any good, because the writing came very easily. Everything flowed so well. Without consciously trying, I was basically writing what I wanted to read and wasn't able to find in the stores—clean fiction (without the sex and profanity), set in modern day, addressing real issues, and filled with a spiritual twist that honors God and gives people hope that they can get through their tough times. Everybody is bound to have at least one challenge in their life. "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33 (NIV Holy Bible). My writing is intended to remind people of the hope and peace that come from personally knowing Christ Jesus. I knew God had called and equipped me to write from the beginning. However, I realized in 2007 that God called me to write not for the sake of becoming a career author, but for the explicit purpose of encouraging others through motivational speaking, one-on-one mentoring, writing workshops, and of course the messages in my books. So writing is my gift and encouraging others is my purpose. In case you're wondering what is the difference between the two, gifts, talents, and strengths are the tools you're given to help fulfill your purpose." Her published titles are Chosen (2009), Destined (2010), Let Sleeping Dogs Lie (nominated Best Inspirational Fiction of 2006), Still Waters, No Regrets, Blind Faith, short stories in Blessed Assurance and the Midnight Clear anthologies, and her trailblazing bestselling first novel, Nobody's Perfect (1998), which is currently out of print. Her future plans include releasing a revised as well as a sequel. Beyond her literary endeavors, she is a born-again believer in Christ Jesus and has a great love for the Lord, her beloved husband, daughter, family, and membership in Delta Sigma Theta Public Service Sorority, Inc., where she previously served as Chaplain in the Valley Forge Alumnae Chapter as well as a past committee chairperson. She is honored to be a charter member of both the Omicron Chi Collegiate chapter at Stanford University and the Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates (IL) Alumnae Chapter. Patricia spends part of her time working in Corporate America as a project manager. Formerly a member of the gospel choir, building committ
