Love and the Business: Ceecee and Lance (BOOK ONE)
Book One in the Love and the Business Series...
Ceecee, a highly sought-after choreographer, obsesses over perfection to the point of having to hide a pill habit from her super-producer husband Lance. When the couple is overwhelmed by a flood of opinions from their in-laws, they come to a startling realization: their greatest challenge isn’t public judgment, but the judgment of their own families. As they confront generational trauma and deep-seated family expectations, they have to find the strength to persevere. If they can survive the pressure from their inner circle, nothing will stand in the way of them becoming young Black power couple.
Ceecee, a highly sought-after choreographer, obsesses over perfection to the point of having to hide a pill habit from her super-producer husband Lance. When the couple is overwhelmed by a flood of opinions from their in-laws, they come to a startling realization: their greatest challenge isn’t public judgment, but the judgment of their own families. As they confront generational trauma and deep-seated family expectations, they have to find the strength to persevere. If they can survive the pressure from their inner circle, nothing will stand in the way of them becoming young Black power couple.
Love and the Business: Mike and Tarrah (BOOK TWO)
Book Two in the Love and the Business Series...
Mike, a photographer, struggles to win back his supermodel wife Tarrah after betraying her. On the heels of his best friend welcoming a new baby into the world, Mike finds out he’s about to be a father too, but the mother is not Tarrah. When Tarrah catches wind of this, she is done. Deeply hurt, but ready to move on, she packs her stuff and immediately presents Mike with divorce papers. Mike refuses to sign them, because baby on the way and all, he is determined to get her back.
Love and the Business: Zara (BOOK THREE)
Book Three in the Love and the Business series...
Zara, a popular hip-hop dancer, is living a double life. To the public she is the longtime girlfriend to a principal dancer Ashton Engles, and little sister to acclaimed choreographer Ceecee Mack. Living in the shadows of Ashton and Ceece is becoming a bit claustrophobic, and little by little, Zara wants to be who she really is. Like her sister Ceecee though, she too has to override the traditional expectations of their mother. She also has to live life on her own terms, and not that of her secret girlfriend Kaitlyn.
Reader Reviews
While navigating life as a ballerina, Zara Marshall lived most of her life in the shadows. From a family of dancers, Zara watched her mother & sister give up their dance dreams to create a family. It's expected she does the same when the time comes and stops trying to achieve the same level of fame as her friends around her.
As Zara is hit with situations forcing her into a special spotlight, she finds herself and explores a different meaning of love. Vanessa Moore paints the rollercoaster lifestyle of the up-and-coming ballerina belonging to the "Love & The Business" universe, including famous producers, models, and entrepreneurs.
In both her career and personal life, there is a need for Zara to stand in her truth, and at one point, her girlfriend, Kaitlyn, says, "I don't believe how naive and how much of a chicken you are" (Zara). Kaitlyn is a reasonably new girlfriend to Zara, who finds it unsettling that she hasn't come out yet to the public, close friends, and family. Instead, Zara clings to her best friend and beard, Ashton.
Unlike other love stories, Zara is about the love found in friendships and family members. While the characters face life-changing issues, it's not the romantic relationships that hold them together; it's the cousins, siblings, and in-laws. While Zara supported her best friend, Kaitlyn couldn't understand how the love between two people who aren't romantically linked could be so strong. When Ashton's secret is revealed, he turns to Zara to pick up his pieces, not a lover.
Each character is on their journey to self-discovery and finding their footing in the world. Vanessa Moore gives the audience front-row seats to some of the most unsettling times in these characters' lives, unable to do anything besides hold back tears and pray for people that may exist in their own lives.
The theme of Zara is friendship, gay love, and creating a foundation with people outside of romantic relationships. This book examines toxicity and recognizes the signs of unsupportive people compellingly and descriptively. With a focus on LGBTQ issues, Moore handles them with care and doesn't read as stereotypical.
"Love and The Business" is a connected universe that follows characters in the music industry and is set in the beautiful state of New York. The fast-paced descriptions of living in Harlem and traveling to the White Plains and different locations worldwide are beautifully depicted throughout the series. Moore's upbringing in The Bronx, NY, and being surrounded by creatives came through in this series. To read more about Zara Marshall and discover new characters, check out the rest of the series:
CeeCee & Lance
Mike & Tarrah
Zara
Lynda Lovence
Amayah & Quincy
-Jasmine
As Zara is hit with situations forcing her into a special spotlight, she finds herself and explores a different meaning of love. Vanessa Moore paints the rollercoaster lifestyle of the up-and-coming ballerina belonging to the "Love & The Business" universe, including famous producers, models, and entrepreneurs.
In both her career and personal life, there is a need for Zara to stand in her truth, and at one point, her girlfriend, Kaitlyn, says, "I don't believe how naive and how much of a chicken you are" (Zara). Kaitlyn is a reasonably new girlfriend to Zara, who finds it unsettling that she hasn't come out yet to the public, close friends, and family. Instead, Zara clings to her best friend and beard, Ashton.
Unlike other love stories, Zara is about the love found in friendships and family members. While the characters face life-changing issues, it's not the romantic relationships that hold them together; it's the cousins, siblings, and in-laws. While Zara supported her best friend, Kaitlyn couldn't understand how the love between two people who aren't romantically linked could be so strong. When Ashton's secret is revealed, he turns to Zara to pick up his pieces, not a lover.
Each character is on their journey to self-discovery and finding their footing in the world. Vanessa Moore gives the audience front-row seats to some of the most unsettling times in these characters' lives, unable to do anything besides hold back tears and pray for people that may exist in their own lives.
The theme of Zara is friendship, gay love, and creating a foundation with people outside of romantic relationships. This book examines toxicity and recognizes the signs of unsupportive people compellingly and descriptively. With a focus on LGBTQ issues, Moore handles them with care and doesn't read as stereotypical.
"Love and The Business" is a connected universe that follows characters in the music industry and is set in the beautiful state of New York. The fast-paced descriptions of living in Harlem and traveling to the White Plains and different locations worldwide are beautifully depicted throughout the series. Moore's upbringing in The Bronx, NY, and being surrounded by creatives came through in this series. To read more about Zara Marshall and discover new characters, check out the rest of the series:
CeeCee & Lance
Mike & Tarrah
Zara
Lynda Lovence
Amayah & Quincy
-Jasmine
Love and the Business: Lynda Lovence (BOOK FOUR)
Book Four in the Love and the Business series:
The international supermodel, Lynda Lovence went from being famous for her looks and power moves, to dodging questions and criticisms about her her philandering rapper husband D-Structive. Just when she feels like she's hit rock bottom, a chance encounter peppers her life, and reminds her of her own fierceness. D-Stuctive is about to fall on his own sword, but with his wife’s support, he can pull through. The situation forces Lynda to finally face her demons head on, and makes decisions that remind everyone why she's a legendary name in the first place.
Love and the Business: Amaya and Quincy (BOOK FIVE)
Book Five in the Love and the Business series...
Amaya and Quincy are captivated by one another’s pics on a dating app, triggering a love story full of missteps, miscommunication, and misunderstandings. Quincy has a lot on his plate, new to the music industry as Lance Mack’s protégé, and the father of a two-year-old daughter he shares with an ex-girlfriend, determined to make fast money in the street life. Amaya has almost given up on love, thanks to her self-esteem being destroyed by her two-year-old daughter’s father. Her cousin, insistent on pushing Amaya to be both an overachieving law student, as well as a social butterfly, encourages her to go on a date with Quincy. An imperfect tale of love spins as the two realize it’s okay to come together in pieces when love is the foundation.