Illusions
Prologue
Bryce, having been married for a little over three years, stared appreciatively at the bare woman before him. By all accounts, she was everything he physically desired in a woman; ample and curvaceous from top to bottom. Her honey colored legs seemed to go on forever. He could look at her perpetually and never get tired of the view she provided. Bryce had an arsenal of beautiful women at his disposal, but she was his favorite. He could drink the sweetness of her lips through eternity and still thirst for more.
Bryce often wondered how he ended up with such a beautiful and voluptuous woman, considering he was just an average looking man, and short at that. Bryce was only 5’9’’ tall. He didn’t house the physique of a body builder, but he did wear his 200 pounds well. Thanks to his love for Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia, Bryce didn’t have a six pack, but a slightly budding pot belly. None of that mattered to the woman before him, though. To her, he was perfect. He was strong and secure. He was her king. Bryce was by far the best lover she’d ever had, and each time that they came together was always better than the time before.
Bryce blocked everything from his mind except her. He moaned deeply as his mind focused on the soft kisses she planted all over him and as her hands massaged him in places only known to her. He leaned back, allowing her full access to all parts of him. Bryce was hers and she could do whatever she wanted to do with him. The semi-sweet chocolate brother was all hers and she knew it. Bryce was so engrossed in his woman, he lost track of time. The knock on his office door brought him back to reality.
“Are you ready, Sir?” the voice on the other side of the door asked.
“I’ll be right out,” Bryce responded after steadying his breath.
He quickly closed the magazine and discreetly tucked it away in its hiding place between the wall and the tank of the toilet. After fastening his pants and belt, he washed his hands without looking in the mirror. He could never look himself in the face after an encounter with the woman he nicknamed, Daija.
Back at his desk, Bryce hurriedly put on his suit jacket and tucked his Bible and notebook under his arm then headed for the sanctuary. It was time for Pastor Bryce Hightower to preach the Word of God.
"Although fiction, Illusions not only exposes a very real secret addiction that many Christian men face, but also offers an insightful resolution that will point them to the road of recovery. It is an eye-opener that should be required reading for men's ministries everywhere."
~ Kendra Norman-Bellamy, national bestselling author of Crossing Jhordan's River, More Than Grace, and In Greene Pastures.
"Illusions is a definite page-turner which reveals the naked truth about the effects of pornography and church leadership. Wanda B. Campbell dares to bring this taboo topic true-to-life as she brilliantly describes the sexual struggles of a young, sincere pastor, and an initially hopeful but now seemingly hopeless and heartbroken first lady. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next!"
Kim Brooks, author of, He's Saved...But is He for Real? and He's Fine...But is He Saved?
The First Sunday In October
It’s time to hear a word from the Lord. Let’s all stand and receive our Pastor at this time. God bless you Pastor Pennington.” The young minister smiled as Pastor Pennington stepped to the podium.
Julia was not prepared for what she saw next. Nikki had raved so much about how much she loved Pastor Pennington and how much she’d learned from him, Julia assumed he was a much older man. Nikki respected him as being a wise father figure who knew how to relate to his members in the areas they needed most. Pastor Pennington may be all of those things to Nikki, but to Julia he was the finest man she’d ever laid eyes on.
From her seat on the fifth row, she estimated him to be about six-three or six-four and about two hundred and fifty pounds. His smooth dark-chocolate skin matched perfectly with his dark brown eyes. His neatly trimmed goatee outlined a perfect pair of full lips that when parted revealed the sweetest smile she’d ever seen. His teeth were perfectly straight. She wondered if they had naturally grown that way or if he’d worn braces. His ministerial cassock couldn’t hide his perfectly chiseled body. By the cuts in his massive upper body, she could tell he worked out on a regular basis. Looking at him was like looking at Wesley Snipes and Morris Chestnut all rolled up into one. His voice was deep and melodious. When he spoke he reminded her of a young Billy D. Williams in Lady Sings the Blues.
Nikki tapped her on the arm and asked if she was alright. Julia didn’t notice that the rest of the congregation was already seated and she was the only one still standing.
Wanda B. Campbell has done a wonderful job with FIRST SUNDAY IN OCTOBER, her debut novel. She told a story of two people who had never experienced true love and how with forgiveness and reconciliation of past wrongs true love it is really worth waiting on. She pulled you into the lives of the characters and made you feel as though you knew them. I look forward to her next project. The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
In times when filth is all around, people are swimming in the muck and mire, it is refreshing to read a book such as First Sunday in October. Campbell tell a compelling story of how GOD’s redemption and one’s own personal self love/strength will always be enough to carry one through life’s trials and tribulations.
Filled with honest and real situations that the reader can identify with, Campbell compels the reader to actually walk a mile in these characters’ shoes. Campbell does an outstanding job of demonstrating real family dynamics and how important family is to one’s personal growth. C&B Distribution
First Sunday in October is a realistic portrayal of Christians in love. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this realistically, portrayed book of how Christians date, while also seeing portrayals of real people and their struggles. Ms. Campbell penned a wonderfully, romantic, spirit-filled first novel. I recommend First Sunday in October to those who enjoy Christian Fiction and to anyone who enjoys a well-told romantic story. APOOO Book ClubAbsolutely spectacular! First Sunday in October was the most moving book I have ever read. I cried many tears while reading it. What an emotional rollercoaster Ms. Campbell sets you on. The words run fluidly through you and you too will walk away with tears for the highs and the lows this couple goes through. This is a very inspirational read with many life lessons sprinkled in that make you stop and think. It is a well-thought-out concept of two beautiful, yet flawed people who follow their Christian beliefs. If I could award more than five cups to this story, I would not hesitate to do so. Coffee Time Romance