Victoria Christopher Murray

The best of friends.... Since they were five years old, Jasmine Cox Larson Bush and Kyla Blake had a bond that could not be broken. They shared secrets, marked milestones, and held each other up through life's adversities. It was a friendship that they both thought would last forever. But when Jasmine's jealousy led her to seduce Kyla's husband, Dr. Jefferson Blake, that bond was severed and their friendship was damaged forever.... The worst of times.... Now, twenty years later, a major tragedy brings the two together when Jefferson, in New York for a medical convention, is shot in an attempted robbery. It's the love that Jasmine once had for Kyla that sends her rushing to the hospital to be by her friend's side. Kyla, despondent and distraught, just wants answers....and when a mysterious woman appears, it's Jasmine who believes that woman may hold the key to what happened to Jefferson. While Kyla doesn't believe that this woman has any meaning, Jasmine is not so sure. Will Jasmine uncover a secret that Jefferson is hiding? And when she does find out the truth, what will she do with it? Will she destroy Kyla's life or will she do anything to protect her friend from the same devastation that she caused her twenty years before? In a riveting twenty-year anniversary sequel to the bestselling Temptation, Victoria Christopher Murray weaves a tale of what happens once friendships are bonded, then broken and all the consequences of the aftermath.

First ladies of the Baptist church and sworn frenemies Rachel Jackson Adams and Jasmine Cox Larson Bush are stunned to learn they may have more in common than they thought--like who's their daddy--in the scandalous new collaboration between national bestselling and award-winning authors ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray. A heated American Baptist Coalition election. A murky murder cover-up. An outrageous reality TV show. What in heaven's name kind of drama will holy rivals Rachel Jackson Adams and Jasmine Cox Larson Bush--prominent first ladies of the Baptist church--get themselves into next? Since he first met Jasmine, Rachel's father Simon Jackson has had a funny feeling about her. She eerily resembles his first teenage love. After doing some digging, Simon makes a shocking revelation--Jasmine may be his daughter. Rachel thinks the idea is absurd, but to pacify her ailing father, she sets out to debunk his theory. When Jasmine discovers what's going on, she heads to the Jackson Family Reunion in Smackover, Arkansas, in search of the truth. With her sidekick Mae Frances by her side, this big city girl isn't ready for the country...or for the over-the-top family that she may have to claim as her own.

The 7 Deadly Sins series that inspired four Lifetime original movies begins with this unputdownable novel about a woman caught between an entertainment mogul with a shady past and his childhood friend who is out for revenge--from the NAACP Image award winner and national bestselling author of The Personal Librarian. Is lust a sin? Tiffanie has lived a sheltered life in a very strict household with her pastor grandfather and her grandmother in Washington, D. C. But when she meets Damon, she falls for the successful entertainment businessman despite his history as a drug dealer. Everyone sees a bright future for the couple--yet when Tiffanie meets Trey, her lustful feelings leave her confused just days before her wedding. Trey is Damon's childhood best friend with whom he built a successful drug business. But when the game got hot and Damon decided to leave, Trey stayed and continued to sell drugs until he was arrested and spent seven years in prison. Now he's out and able to attend the wedding. While Damon is thrilled to have Trey back and hopes to bring his best friend into his business, Trey has other plans. And in the end, there will only be one man standing... Includes a reading group guide with an author Q&A and discussion questions for book clubs.

Lights, camera, action... Tamara Collins is poised to become the next great American actress. The problem is Hollywood doesn't know that just yet.....and since her bills aren't paying themselves, Tamara signs on to star in the new stageplay, It Should've Been Me. Get in, get out, get paid...that's all Tamara wants to do. But her co-stars - including Donovan Dobbs, her ex that left her at the altar and Camille Woods, a young starlet with a serious grudge - could make this the worst decision Tamara's ever made. Whatever it takes... Playwright/producer Gwen Tanner Weinstein has decided if her neglectful husband can't give her love, she'll take his money. And use it to make her stageplay dreams come true. She's put together an amazing cast, sold out shows across the country and is ready to take her rightful reign as one of the top play producers in the country. If only she can keep the drama contained to the stage....and that sexy young merchandising guy out of her bed.... From shady crewmembers, to unscrupulous paparazzi, It Should've Been Me is bound to be turned into real life drama that will rival anything that could ever happen on the stage.

From the #1 "Essence "bestselling and award-winning author Victoria Christopher Murray comes a new novel about three women forced to grapple with their faith and their belief in the justice system when they become involved in a high-stakes murder trial. Three women. Three perspectives. One inspirational story of truth and justice. Janice Johnson is living every mother's worst nightmare. Her sixteen-year-old son was murdered in the parking lot of a convenience store and the shooter hasn't been arrested. Janice and her husband want justice for their son, but disagree about whether to trust the police investigation--or take matters into their own hands. Shelly Vance cannot believe the nightmare that has become her life. Her husband is facing murder charges for shooting a sixteen-year-old who he says attacked him in a parking lot. This tragedy is only magnified by the racial divide it has created, and Shelly feels herself being judged by everyone from her employer to her friends. She's vowed to stand by her husband no matter what, but how can she keep quiet when she's keeping a secret that could blow the whole case wide open? Alax Wilson would rather be anywhere else but on the jury of this highly charged case. Not only is she missing work--which she can't really afford to do--but she's been chosen as the jury's foreman, which means she has to take her role seriously if there is any hope of reaching a verdict. Faced with the tragic death of a teenager and a dramatic trial that has turned into a media frenzy, Janice, Shelly, and Alax are forced to face their own prejudices and those of the world around them. But will the truth come to light?

From the author of The Personal Librarian, three Los Angeles women who’ve helped each other overcome heartbreak are reunited eight years later when their troublesome exes come back into the picture in this follow up to Victoria Christopher Murray’s bestselling novel The Ex Files. Sheridan, Kendall, and Asia first bonded when they met seven years ago at a church prayer support group and now, their friendship has blossomed into a strong sisterhood. They''ve helped each other through the tragedies of their breakups and together, they''ve celebrated their triumphs. But now, their exes are back, wreaking havoc on lives they''ve work so hard to rebuild. Sheridan has found love again after her ex-husband left her for a man. But old wounds are reopened when her ex-husband appears with his fiancée—a woman! And all of Sheridan''s insecurities and doubts come rushing back. Kendall''s former husband is now married to Kendall''s sister, Sabrina. And though Kendall has refused to interact with either one in the last seven years, she''s forced to reunite with Sabrina when their father is diagnosed with cancer. Asia has done her best to move away from her married boyfriend, a former star with the LA Lakers. But when they share a kiss, old desires are rekindled and Asia decides that it''s time for her and Bobby Johnson to get back together again. With her trademark writing that “has the kind of momentum that prompts you to elbow disbelief aside and flip the pages in horrified enjoyment” (The Washington Post), Forever an Ex is Murray''s best novel yet.

In this emotionally charged and inspiring novel from the author of The Personal Librarian, a passionate and dangerous love affair threatens to destroy both a marriage and a friendship. When Miriam's fireman husband, Chauncey, dies while rescuing students from a school fire, Miriam feels like her life is over. How is she going to raise her three children all by herself? How will she survive without the love of her life? Luckily, Miriam's sister-friend Emily and Emily's husband, Jamal, are there to comfort her. Jamal and Chauncey grew up together and were best friends; Jamal and Emily know they will do all they can to support Miriam through her grief. Jamal steps in and helps Miriam with the funeral arrangements and with her children, plus he gives her hope that she has a future. But all the time that they spend together--grieving, sharing, and reminiscing--brings the two closer in ways they never planned... Includes a reading group guide with an author Q&A and discussion questions for book clubs.

Bestselling and award-winning novelists ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray bring their favorite heroines together in a novel that's "double the fun...a match made in heaven" ("Grace Magazine"). The drama is still fresh between Rachel Jackson Adams and Jasmine Larson Bush after each woman attempted to get her husband elected to the coveted position of President of the American Baptist Coalition. Now, everyone's favorite First Ladies are going at it again. When Rachel learns that Jasmine is going to be featured on a national television interview--thanks to the publicist she hired--the gloves are off and Rachel is set to do battle. But unexpectedly Rachel finds herself caught up in a much more ominous plot--one that involves murder--and must navigate these troubled waters with her least-expected ally, Jasmine. Combining light-hearted action with a message of faith, this book is a delightful read featuring two beloved characters from two exceptional authors.

TEAM JASMINE or TEAM RACHEL? Bestselling and award-winning novelists Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley bring their favorite heroines together in a novel that will delight their legions of fans. Jasmine Larson Bush and Rachel Jackson Adams are not your typical first ladies. But they've overcome their scandalous and drama-filled pasts to stand firmly by their husbands' sides. When a coveted position opens up--president of the American Baptist Coalition-- both women think their husbands are perfect for the job. And winning the position may require both women to get down and dirty and revert to their old tricks. Just when Jasmine and Rachel think they're going to have to fight to the finish, the current first lady of the coalition steps in . . . a woman bigger, badder, and more devious than either of them. Double the fun with a message of faith, Sinners & Saints will delight readers with two of their favorite characters from two of their favorite authors.

From the bestselling author of The Personal Librarian, comes a story of a young couple who, when confronted with financial troubles, is faced with the question—what would you do for five million dollars? Adam and Evia Langston have lived in their own little garden of Eden since the two married at the age of seventeen. Working their way up from the humblest of beginnings, the Langstons have thrived beyond anything they could have ever imagined. Now they live in the finest home, drive the best cars, and indulge in all the trimmings that signify their massive success. But then the recession hits and rips apart the family’s financial stability. Unable to support their three children and other relatives, Adam and Evia find themselves drowning in financial trouble and teetering on the brink of complete disaster. With nowhere to turn, the Langstons have no idea what to do. Until Shay-Shaunté, Evia’s multimillionaire boss, comes to the Langstons with a five-million-dollar offer that seems so hard to refuse. Will the Langstons make this deal? Or will they recognize that the glitter of five million dollars may be far from gold?

Have the sins of the mother come upon the daughter? Jasmine Larson Bush is finally living a drama-free life. She's left her lying, cheating, stealing stripper days behind and is standing by her husband's side as the first lady of one of the largest churches in New York City. The Bushes have been blessed with the best of everything--including two lovely children. But just when Jasmine has committed her life completely to God, her daughter Jacqueline is kidnapped from a mall the day after Thanksgiving. The police and the church community join in the frantic search to find the four-year-old. As the days pass without any sign of her daughter, Jasmine begins to crack under the strain and turns to Brian Lewis, Jacqueline's biological father, for solace. Has Jasmine's past finally caught up to her? Will her daughter be found or will Jasmine pay the ultimate price?

The beloved--and hated--Jasmine Larson Bush returns to battle her own past in a compelling new novel of love, faith, and shame from the Essence bestselling novelist of The Personal Librarian. In Temptation, A Sin and a Shame, and most recently, Too Little, Too Late, Jasmine Larson Bush--a scheming, manipulative, man-stealing diva who was "saved" just in time to become a preacher's wife--entertained fans with her conniving ways and acts of redemption. In Lady Jasmine, a desperate time from Jasmine's past threatens the family and the future she worked so hard to build. In order to save her marriage with Reverend Hosea Bush, Jasmine was forced to reveal every secret that remained in her past to him--her real age, her real weight, her real shoe size. She thought she had told Hosea everything. But when Jasmine is blackmailed about a terrible truth from her past that she "forgot" to tell Hosea, more than just her marriage is in jeopardy. Determined to keep the life she fought so hard to save, Jasmine is willing to commit any sin, even murder, to leave her past behind her. No one can know the truth about the First Lady of City of Lights Riverside Church. No one can know that, beneath Jasmine's veneer of a redeemed Christian wife, there lies a sinner--especially her trusting husband.

The Gossip Girls meets Dreamgirls in this series about a high school foursome and the many day-to-day obstacles they face as they try to survive high school and make their way in the real world. 15-year-old gospel singers Diamond, India, Veronique and Aaliyah put their initials together to become The Divas, and are competing in a nationwide talent search to win a music contract. The daughter of a former model, India is plagued by confidence issues and an eating disorder - trying to prepare for the competition by binging and purging - and risking her chance for fame.

"Essence"-bestselling author Murray brings back her most notorious character, the equally beloved and despised Jasmine Larson Bush, from "A Sin and a Shame."

There are four ways a woman can handle heartbreak: She can fall apart, seek revenge, turn cold, or move on. The Ex Files follows the reverberations of heartbreak in the lives of four women. When Kendall Stewart finds her husband and her sister in bed together, she vows to never let anyone get that close again. But when she is faced with saving the life of the woman who destroyed hers, will she be able to forgive? In another thread, NBA superstar tells his mistress, Asia Ingrum, that he's decided to honor his marriage vows, her shock quickly gives way to revenge--but her decision may come back to haunt their five-year-old daughter. Then there's Vanessa Martin, whose life revolves around obsessing over why her husband has committed suicide. Even worse, she contemplates joining him in eternity. Will Vanessa be able to gather the strength to live again? And Sheridan Hart is finally finding her way after a lie destroyed her seventeen-year marriage. Her new love is ready to get married, but will she commit to this younger man or is her ex-husband taking up too much space in her heart? When their pastor asks Kendall, Asia, Vanessa, and Sheridan to meet weekly for prayer, they can't imagine they will have anything in common. But then a devastating tragedy strikes, and these strangers are forced to reexamine their choices. Will they find true friendship, or will prayer--and their union--fail them?

From the bestselling author of The Personal Librarian, the ever-scheming Jasmine Larson, from the Essence bestseller Temptation, has sworn off all the lying, manipulating, and cheating that got her into trouble in back in Los Angeles--but will turning to Christianity truly change her? After fleeing Los Angeles when her attempt to break up her best friend's marriage fails, Jasmine is now a changed woman...and a Christian. She vows to attend church every Sunday, swears off married men, and begins her search for the soul mate she is sure God has for her. Now living in the Big Apple, she has shed twenty-five pounds, shaved ten years off her age, filled her expensive apartment with designer clothes...all to begin her man-finding mission. She quickly meets her dream mate--a preacher--who falls head over heels in love with her. Surely, God is good But things start slipping when another man from Jasmine's past refuses to stay there, and an unexpected pregnancy threatens to sabotage all of her dreams. Will Jasmine's lying and scheming continue? Or will she finally learn that honesty is the only path to redemption?

A perfect family finds its perfect life in turmoil when husband and father reveals that he has slowly been falling in love with someone else and that someone else is a man.

Recently elected to the L. A. city council on a Christian platform, Grace Monroe finds her happy home life and successful political career shattered by her discovery that her husband had fathered a child by a another woman, a situation exacerbated by her conflict with her older sister, Starlight, a motivational/inspirational speaker. Original. 50,000 first printing.

Married for 16 years, Kyla and Jefferson Blake have been there for each other through all of God's blessings. They have a wonderful daughter, Jefferson's successful career as a doctor, and a relationship that only grows stronger each day. They are an inspiration to their friends-independent businesswoman Alexis Ward and freewheeling doctor Brian Lewis. But suddenly, Kyla and Jefferson's marriage is in danger. Now Kyla Blake faces devastating betrayal and an unknown future, while her husband must find the strength to confront his weaknesses. And their friends Alexis and Brian are also pulled between the lure of lust and a future built on the promises of God, the Blakes will find their trust and faith stretched to the limits-as they struggle through, and strive to rise above...