A Black nurse with a teenager to raise. A white cop hiding a tender heart. Do they have what it takes to indulge their forbidden passion? Caregiver Belle Jones always puts her own needs last on the list. As a busy nurse and sole provider for her teenage brother, she has no time for meaningless hookups. And when her younger sibling arrives home in the backseat of a police car, the fury she feels for his strutting uniformed escort far outweighs her spark of desire. Sheriff Bently Evans works hard to protect his town… and keep his emotions locked away. When it comes to relationships, that means burying his real feelings behind crass humor and his flirtatious playboy reputation. But after driving a stranded African American teen home, he meets a stunning woman who makes it impossible to sustain his act. As Belle slowly falls for the rugged lawman’s true gentle nature, she fears he’s not the type to ever commit. And just as Bently is ready to be vulnerable, an ominous warning forces him to push the woman he desires away from a deadly risk. Will a judgmental society drive a wedge between them, or can they conquer all with their powerful love? Defying Gravity is the tantalizing third standalone novel in the Shattered Cove contemporary romance series. If you like off-limits passions, socially relevant reads, and couples who triumph over adversity, then you’ll adore A. M. Kusi’s page-turning tale. Buy Defying Gravity to find hope and healing today! ***No cheating. HEA guaranteed.***