Crimson Footprints, Shewanda Pugh: Spotlight, Excerpt & Giveaway! ~ '

Title: Crimson Footprints (Part I)
Author: Shewanda Pugh
Publisher: Delphine Publications
Length: 87,000 words
Genres: Contemporary Interracial/Multicultural Romance/Women's Fiction
Heat Level: Steamy

AVAILABLE AT: Amazon | Smashwords

When an insecure woman begins a cloak-and-dagger love affair with a Japanese American man, she is intent on keeping her bigoted family in the dark albeit with devastating consequences. On the night of her brother s murder, Deena Hammond stumbles upon Takumi Tanaka, lost and on the wrong end of a .32. After rescuing him from the certain fate driving through the hood in a Porsche will bring, a sweet kind of friendship begins. A balm for her grief. Maybe, Deena likes to think, it happened the day her white mother killed her black father. Or maybe, it was always a part of them, like DNA gone bad. Whatever the case, Deena knows that her family would never approve, hell, never acknowledge her fast-growing love for Takumi. And had he never made love to her that way, in that unraveling, soul-searching sort of way, she couldve done the same. But loves a devil that way. So, their game begins. One where they hide what they are from everyone. Anyone. And Tak understands this for now. After all, Deenas career hinges on the favor of her mentor and boss, his hard-ass of a father. And the Hammond family is already stretched thin with grief. Yet, each step Deena takes toward family and career brings her closer to an acceptance shes never had. And away from him.

Deanna Hammond is a bi-racial woman that has suffered the loss of both parents therefore being raised by a family that looks down on her bi-racial heritage but certainly enjoys the money she gives to support them. She graduates college and lands her perfect job as an Architect. Then her brother is murdered, opening up old wounds from her Father’s murder that never completely healed. She has achieved her success through hard work and strong character though life and circumstance have left her with very little self esteem.

Takumi Tanaka is a Japanese American man that has suffered loss of a different kind but just as damaging. A very successful artist in his own right he hasn’t faced the hardships in life or the suffering brought on by a less than loving family but, his emotionally absent father has left his mark on this young man. When he finds himself staring down the barrel of the gun with Deanna’s brother on the other end, this odd couple share an instant attraction that won’t be denied.

As you read you learn more and more about the two, their families, how they grew up and became the people they are today. Their love story slowly builds as they attempt to lay a solid foundation, growing more and more comfortable with each other every day. All the while though, they are hiding their love affair from almost everyone in their lives. What will happen when their two worlds collide, will they live happily ever after? Will the love Deanna craves so desperately continue to grow or crumble at her feet?

Once you throw in Deanna’s overbearing boss, who just happens to be Tak’s emotionally absent father, it would seem the deck is stacked against this pairing and they are doomed from the start. I will tell you the ending shocked the hell out of me, totally didn’t see it coming. Bonus points to Pugh for knocking my socks off with that twist.

This is a slow story, I’m telling you it will not be rushed! In the end I was glad for it. Pugh is very descriptive with her characters and their development, side characters, plots and background. I read another review where it was stated that it was like reading a movie, I would completely agree, I could visualize every scene it was so well described. I give this one 4/5, but that’s just my two cents!

Excerpt from Crimson Footprints:

A slender, striking man of Asian descent was on the wrong end of Anthony’s .32. With arms raised, his hands
were splayed in a show of defenselessness. His expression was calm, despite the growing crowd of onlookers
and the pistol in his face. Behind him, an old woman made the sign of the cross.

“Anthony!” Deena cried, rushing towards them. Her brother cast a single sideways glance but kept his gun level.

“Get back in the house,” he said.

Deena turned her attention to the Asian man. She was struck by his eyes, wide and heavy-lidded. His mouth
was generous, his square face softened by layers of thick black hair. He had boyish good looks and a long, lean
athletic frame.

Japanese.

She was certain he was Japanese.

Deena turned to her brother. “Will you put that thing away?”

The two stared at each other, older sister, young brother, eyes narrowed. When he didn’t move, Deena stepped
between the gun and the stranger, her eyes level with the barrel. Anthony lowered the gun with a sigh and Deena
seized the opportunity to snatch it.

She turned to the stranger. “I assume that’s your car,” she said, nodding towards a sleek gray convertible parked
haphazardly, a shiny nickel in a murky puddle. He nodded, his glossy black tresses falling into wide almond eyes.

“Yeah, um, about that.” He cleared his throat. “He uh, took my keys.”

Deena turned to her brother, hand extended. He dropped the keys in her palm with a sigh, a new Ferrari slipping
from his grasp with reluctance.

She passed the keys to the stranger and their fingertips brushed. Something warm and foreign turned over in
her and her lips parted in surprise. She thought she saw the makings of a smile in his eyes, but she dismissed it.
He took the keys and thanked her. And as she watched him peel off with the top down on his sleek convertible,
Deena’s pulse skittered then and long after.

Shewanda Pugh is a native of Boston's inner city, though she now calls Miami, Florida home. She has a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Alabama A&M University and a Master's in Writing from Nova Southeastern University. Fueled from a young age, her passion for crossing societal boundaries like race, class and culture, is the inspiration for both her cluttered bookshelf and her writing. When she's not busy obsessing over fiction, she can be found traveling, nursing her social networking addiction or enjoying the company of loved ones.

Crimson Footprints Blog Tour sponsored by:

CBLS Blogspot