Diamonds and Prey

By Sarita McGhee

Written with a gripping, subtle sinister twist, Diamonds and Prey, tells the story of an urban trust-fund young woman who is emerging into early adulthood. She begins to desire to blossom into herself and find her own identity once she has reached the age of 18, but faces the reality of the unyielding expectations that accompany her family name, and her domineering father's well-laid plans for her future.

Inheriting the family empire is the last thing that is on Bolanna Carlisle's mind as she returns home from a short stint at a mental institution. With the true desire to live in solitude, Bolanna is thrust into the limelight of her father's demands that she "act normal and smile" as her 18th birthday arrives. The looming demand for her to meet the expectation of marrying her charming but strategic suitor becomes a reality that is rapidly impeding. She finds herself both despising and in love with her chosen future husband, Deckner, who has been her father's long-time protege. She also realizes that her stalling techniques have a fast-approaching expiration date that is incongruent with her desire to connect to who she truly wants to become.

Feeling smothered, Bolanna carries the burden of knowing her decisions will affect her family's fortune, her father's level of approval, and also her very own sanity. She unravels as she attempts to escape the guilt of being responsible for a friend's recent death, being faced with the demand to become an independent-minded adult, and also cope with the damage of having been repeatedly molested by Deckner at an early age, right under her father's nose. After years of spending her privileged childhood alone but brazen, Bolanna takes control of the sexual violation by inviting Deckner into her bed willingly, which sparks an internal fire that is fueled by her brewing disdain for her father.

After hiding the truth of an illicit long-term affair with Deckner from her father for several years, Bolanna is faced with the choice to accept her fate as Deckner Lovelace's wife, or go against the grain of expectations and speak up for her own personal desires for her life. Chasing her freedom, she faces the dilemma of revealing the truth about her delicate history with Deckner and their secrets, which have nearly destroyed her.

Bolanna journeys to determine her true feelings about Mr. Lovelace as she begins to escape the bondage of lies, loyalty and love that exists between them. Over her journey of running from the shadows that consume her, Bolanna becomes more powerful as she welcomes the ominous realization that becoming a woman means truly embracing the darkest part of herself.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B095GQG8FQ
• ISBN13: 9798508617011
• Release Date: May 2021
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 316 Pages
• Weight: 0.93 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"