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Author: Francis Ray | Website
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Francis Ray is a native Texan. A graduate of Texas Woman's University, in 1999 and 2000, she was nominated for Texas Woman's University Distinguished Alumni Award. She gave Texas Woman's University 2010 Winter commencement address. Ms. Ray's titles consistently make national bestseller's lists. INCOGNITO, her sixth title, was the first made-for-TV movie for Black Entertainment Television. She has written forty-seven books to date. Awards include Romantic Times Career Achievement, EMMA, The Golden Pen, Atlantic Choice, Borders 2008 Romance Award for bestselling Multicultural Romance for NOBODY BUT YOU. IF YOU WERE MY MAN was selected as Written 2010 Book of the Year. THE TURNING POINT, her first mainstream, was a finalist for the prestigious HOLT Medallion Award. At the release event for THE TURNING POINT in May 2001, Ms. Ray established The Turning Point Legal Fund to assist women of domestic violence to help restructure their lives. The fund is administered by The Family Place in Dallas,TX. February 2005 heralded a personal triumph with the release of her first Christian fiction anthology, HOW SWEET THE SOUND. Ms. Ray had four books published or re-released in 2011, and six scheduled thus far for 2012. She enjoys writing fiction, where intelligent women through hard work and perseverance triumph over adversity, just as they do in real life.
Published Works & Book Reviews
Sing to My Heart
Then Sings My Soul Francis Ray Tempers flare and sparks fly when Summerset Junior College's hip band leader and Peaceful Rest Church's prim choir director are teamed up to organize a musical for a college celebration. It seems opposites do attract. Soon Grace Thompson and Caleb Jackson are meshing more than just their music. Make a Joyful Noise Jacquelin Thomas Bradley Rhodes knows that the Peaceful Rest Church choir is his ticket back to the big time, but he arrives at the church to find that the current standout voice in the choir stands out for all the wrong reasons. Yet as he helps Desiree Coleman, her music starts to work on his soul…and his heart. Heart Songs Felicia Mason Reverend TC Holloway, Peaceful Rest Church's most famous alum and a renowned television evangelist, finds a second chance at love at his reunion with Carys Shaw. Can TC's and Carys's musical talents combine to create a love song that will last forever?
When Morning Comes
New York Times bestselling author Francis Ray introduces a brand new series featuring long lost siblings who find family, friendship, forgiveness and love.
A Dangerous Kiss
HE'S GOT SUMMER ON HIS MIND. Sexy, single sports consultant Payton "Sin" Sinclair has tackled the world's most valuable players--and most eligible women. But ever since his two best friends found love, despite his dangerous secret, he's tempted to take a chance himself. And that temptation is a woman named Summer... SHE'S GOT SIN IN HER HEART. A self-made restaurant owner with a painful past, Summer has always counted on Sin. Beneath his smooth charm--and hard body--lies a tender-hearted friend who always keeps her going when the going gets tough. But now, swept up in her cousin's wedding plans, she's trying not to let the champagne--or Sin's innocent passes--go to her head. Because one dangerous kiss will only lead to another...
With Just One Kiss
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE Cicely St. John is not impressed by her friend C.J. Callahan's so-called passion in life: running a New York City bar that he inherited from his uncle. So why can't Cicely stop thinking about the dance they shared at their mutual friend's wedding-or the mutual attraction she felt in C.J.'s arms? TO GIVE LOVE A CHANCE As far as C.J. is concerned, Cicely is a snob whose "passion" in life-writing for fashion magazines-is as pretentious as she is. So why can't he keep his eyes off her? C.J. has a business to run. And Cicely has a job opportunity in Paris. Neither of them even has time to think about romance right now. But maybe, just once, the two could test their friendship...with just one kiss.
Reviewer: Terri
Review: Apr 19, 2012
Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance, Multicultural / Minority
C.J. Callahan enjoys running the bar his uncle started. It’s nothing fancy but it’s a great place for guys to hang out. His grandfather started a computer company which his father heads and his brother did work for until health issues forced him to leave it. In just days C.J. is going to have to take the position of CEO of it even though he would prefer staying working at the bar. And, it’s not like C.J.
A Seductive Kiss
YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON FRIENDS Dianna Harrington is known throughout the world as "The Face"-the stunningly beautiful spokesmodel for her family's fashion empire. She could probably have her pick of any man she wants. But Dianna would rather kick back and relax with a good friend-namely Alex Stewart, who she's known, and harbored a crush on, her whole life... BUT CAN YOU TRUST YOUR HEART? Ever since they were kids, Alex has been Dianna's protector and pal, a shoulder to cry on. But as the brother of her best friend, Alex always seemed untouchable. Now a handsome, successful New York lawyer, Alex never realized how lonely Dianna's life has been-or how innocent she is in the ways of love. Alex wants more than anything to reach out to her, to heal her heart. But is his desire worth the risk? After a lifetime of longing building up between them, somethings gotta give. Maybe all it takes is just one kiss...
Reviewer: Reese
Review: Feb 19, 2012
Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance, Multicultural / Minority
Seductive Kiss is part of Francis Ray's Grayson Friends series. The author does such a great job on background information that readers do not need to read a previous book in order to enjoy this one. I rated this as a 3.5 because the others in this series are just to die for and I found that while I enjoyed SK, not as much as the others.
Alex is an awesome hero, he has been friends with the heroine much of
Trouble Don't Last Always
Desperate to escape her abusive marriage, Lilly Crawford files for divorce, then slips away from her small east Texas hometown with little more than the clothes on her back. She points her twelve-year-old car east, hoping to find a new beginning. When her car breaks down in Louisiana, Lilly finds unexpected employment as the caregiver for a wealthy neurosurgeon named Adam Wakefield, who lost his sight in a recent carjacking. At first, this handsome, brooding man reminds her too much of the angry husband she left behind and she reminds him of how far he has fallen from the self-assured man he once was. But as the two spend long days together, an unexpected bond develops--one that will be deeply tested. For Lilly must confront her violent husband before she can ever hope to move on and truly discover a second chance at life and love.
Originally published April 2001 under the title THE TURNING POINT and then January 2004 in trade paperback under TROUBLE DON'T LAST ALWAYS.
It Had to Be You
From New York Times bestselling author Francis Ray comes a dazzling new novel of the Grayson family and their friends—a duo destined to make beautiful music together…
IT HAD TO BE HER
Most musicians would do anything to work with the hot, young record producer known as “Rolling Deep.” R.D. can pick and choose any artist he wants—and he wants Laurel Raineau. A classical violinist, Laurel plays soaring music that touches R.D. to his very soul. But the last thing Laurel wants is to work with someone whose exploits with the ladies appear in the tabloids every week.
IT HAD TO BE…WHO?
Not one to take no for an answer, R.D. keeps trying—and failing—to let Laurel know that he’s not the player he’s made out to be. So he introduces himself to her by his real name, Zachary Wilder, hoping to win her over. But it’s Zach who falls under this beauty’s spell. Now it’s only a matter of time before Laurel learns who the man she’s losing her heart to really is—but can she walk away from a passion that feels so right?
Reviewer: Reese
Review: Apr 22, 2010
Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance, Multicultural / Minority
The Grayson Friends is a particular favorite series of mine. In IT HAD TO BE YOU we get a birds eye view of Zack, a famous music producer, as he falls for classically trained Laurel. Laurels music touches him in a way the hip-hop he produces doesn’t. To bad Laurel is anti anything that isn’t classical and rebuffs Zack continually until he has to reach out to the famous Grayson connecti
If You Were My Man
Nathalyia Fontaine has been the sole proprietor of the restaurant Fontaine since her husband died four years ago. She hasn’t dated anyone in all those years, choosing not to open her heart again, or risk revealing her dark past. That is, until she meets Rafael Dunlap.
Rafael is a hostage negotiator with his own set of problems. Though he loves women, he vows he’ll never marry because his job is just too unpredictable. He can’t imagine leaving a widow and children behind. But his thinking and game plan of loving and leaving changes when he meets Nathalyia. Though she tries to resist him, Rafael sweeps her into a whirlwind romance. When the unexpected happens, and Natalya is forced to keep it a secret, she ends things with Rafael before he can break her heart. But when Rafael is in harms way, will Nathalyia resolve to tell him the truth before it’s too late? Or will past demons keep them apart forever?
Reviewer: Reese
Review: Apr 22, 2010
Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance, Multicultural / Minority
Frances Ray is just one of those authors that just nails it. I loved reading about Nathalyia. She was savvy and didn’t let Rafael's hot looks sway her initially, which was great since Rafe was used to women falling over him due to his appearance. Ray does an excellent job by building the romance in an old fashion way with the hero and heroine going on dates and making out. I l
Nobody But You
NASCAR star Cameron Dunlap is poised to win this year’s Sprint Cup. But being a successful race-car driver comes with a price: His own life. Cameron knows that his profession puts him at high risk. Thankfully, his latest visit to the hospital left him intact. That is, until he bumps into Caitlin Lawrence…and is thrust back into his painful past.
The one-time love of his life who left him at the altar, Caitlin could never accept Cameron’s fast and furious existence. The threat of losing him on the racetrack was just too much for Caitlin—and the young son Cameron never knew he had. Now that this chance meeting has changed their lives forever, will Caitlin and Cameron find a way to recapture what might have been?
Reviewer: Melinda
Review: Feb 4, 2009
Cameron Dunlap is at the top of the world. He is going to be the first African American to win a NASCAR gold cup. Yep everything is going great for him if only he hadn’t seen his Caitlin at the hospital emergency room. He thought is life was complete, but now he is feeling incomplete. Caitlin left him at the altar years ago and though it almost ruined his career Cameron is determined now to have her in
The Way You Love Me
Nothing gets to Shane Elliott. A former Army Ranger, now head of security for a wealthy real estate tycoon, Shane can handle whatever life throws at him—until he meets the beautiful, kindhearted Paige Albright. She's about to inherit a fortune, and Paige's mother has asked Shane to investigate her boyfriend. It should have been a simple, standard assignment for Shane...if only Paige's seductive mix of strength and vulnerability didn't leave him wanting her for himself.
All her life, Paige has put others' needs before her own, even going so far as choosing a man to please her father. Now her mother's mysterious houseguest is tempting her to go after what she truly wants...even if it's the cool, assertive, irresistible Shane himself. But is he who he appears to be? And how can Paige know whether to trust her own judgment—and their red-hot attraction?
Reviewer: Angi
Review: Jul 26, 2008
Paige Albright is high society; Shane Elliott is a hired investigator and bodyguard. Only Paige doesn’t know that Shane has been hired by her mother to investigate and get rid of Paige’s current beau. A man her father picked out for her. But there are family secrets causing problems for Paige too.
This is a story of intrigue, romance and what secrets can do to a family and the relationships there
Only You
Sierra Grayson is next in line for love. If her four older brothers managed to get married off, surely Sierra can't be far behind. At least that's the outcome her matchmaking mother, Ruth, is hoping for…whether Sierra--smart, too sexy for her own good, and stubborn to a fault--wants it or not. But little does Ruth know what else fate has in store.
After a chance meeting billionaire real estate mogul Blade Navarone 'wins' Sierra at an auction. Both are stunned by the intense sexual attraction and fight it for different reasons. A legend in the industry, Blade is known to be ruthless and relentless--a cruel twist of fate taught him to be no other way. But can Sierra trust him to treat her as more than just another acquisition? And if Blade does allow himself to care for her, will Sierra herself be willing to give up her hard-won independence and make a lifelong investment? Or has a mother's luck run its course?
Reviewer: Marta
Review: Sep 21, 2007
Sierra Grayson, the only girl amongst four older brothers, is determined to not allow her mother to marry her off as she has done with her brothers. Accustomed to a single and independent lifestyle, she is unwilling to be tied down to a man and cater to his every need. As fate would have it, Sierra's determination to stay unattached is derailed when she meets real estate mogul Blade Navarone, a man known fo
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