CADS

Genres: African American; African American Urban

Synopsis

From Book 0:

Livin Ain't Easy is a story of self-evaluation, heartache, and renewal-all wrapped up in suspense and murder. The story chronicles approximately seven months of the lives of Devlin Carter and Simone Jackson.

Devlin is a 32-year-old former schoolteacher whose development of a line of educational tools has made him a very wealthy man. His dreams in life had basically been to teach and to help students achieve their maximum potential. He also wanted to be able to provide the finer things in life for his grandmother, who raised him, and for Leslie, the love of his life. Sadly, his grandmother died five years before his financial achievements, and Leslie couldn't wait around for him to become successful. She married another man for his money. In spite of her marriage, though, Leslie has heard of Devlin's new wealth and she's trying to keep their on-again, off-again affair alive.

Simone Jackson is a 31-year-old local television talk show host whose show is in the verge of going national. She is happy about the success she has accomplished in broadcasting, but her dreams of love of and for a man have been nonexistent, due to her sexual orientation. Since her first experience in college ten years earlier, she has lived the life of a lesbian. She is now at a crossroads in her life. She is no longer happy with her personal choices, and when she meets a future guest on her show, Devlin Carter, her interest in him creates feelings she had only dreamed of in the past. At the same time, she's looking to end the relationship with her lover, Trinity.

When Devlin and Simone meet the day his best friend dies, she immediately becomes the friend that he needs, and he becomes the dream she'swished to have for years. As they begin to form a bond, they are both confronted with issues of overbearing, vindictive ex-lovers, as well as the surprising emergence of Devlin's long-absent father. When an attempt is made on Devlin's life and then one of their ex-lovers ends up dead, will it rip them apart, or bring them closer together?