Love isn’t just a spark—it’s the work that happens after the fire starts.

In the high-stakes world of New York City medicine, the sleek boardrooms of Toronto, and the soulful streets of Chicago, twelve stories prove that "happily ever after" is only the beginning. From the tension of fake dating to the heartache of a second chance romance, these interconnected tales explore the beautiful, messy reality of choosing to stay.

Discover a world where love is a reckoning:

• The Second Chance: Twenty years ago, Nadine was persuaded to walk away from the love of her life. Now, a chance encounter gives her one shot to reclaim a future she thought was lost forever.
• The Fake Date: Ari Parker is a professional "fixer" who can handle any corporate crisis—except the one involving her own heart when a pretend relationship starts feeling far too real.
• The Guarded Heart: Amara Brooks is a brilliant NYC surgeon who saves lives with precision. But when a new connection challenges her defenses, she must learn that some wounds can't be healed with a scalpel.
• The Found Family: Across the Black diaspora—from Ghana and Trinidad to North America—friends become family and secrets become bridges in this exploration of interracial romance and love after loss.

Beyond First Glance is a mature, character-driven journey through the psychological nuances of modern connection.

Perfect for fans of literary Black fiction and contemporary romance, this collection is for anyone who knows that honesty is a practice and the truest love is found when we finally dare to look again.

Are you ready to look deeper?

Scarlet Yearnings: Beyond First Glance is a collection of twelve interconnected contemporary short stories exploring what happens to love after the moment of first attraction. The stories examine marriage in repair, second chances, found family, and the choices that sustain relationships over time.

The book will be published with two distinct covers: a Trade Edition and a limited Collector’s Edition, each offering a different visual interpretation of the themes in the collection.

The author is especially interested in thoughtful reader feedback about individual stories and characters, as the collection is designed to spark discussion. Early reviews posted on Goodreads before publication are greatly appreciated.