Acknowledgments

Thanks be to God. I could not have written this book without His grace. As always, I have many people to thank. To my patient, incredible son, Jamaal—thank you for continuing to bring laughter and joy to my life. To my family, the fabulous McCarthy folk, whose love, support, and good advice continue to sustain me. Thanks for always taking my late night phone calls. My sister friends—Kathi, Stephanie, Heather, Angie, Guilene, Diane, Estomarys, Joyce, Lessie, Robyn, Vonda, Latisha, Leah, Joy, Lynne, Linda, and Charmaine; my DCH crew, Lisa, Meredith, Betsy, and Teri—thank you for showing me that friends are simply angels in disguise. Blessings to you and to your families. To Frank and Marla, our friendship means the world to me! I want to send a special thanks to my editor, Karen Thomas, for being so wonderful. Karen, you know wherever you go, my deepest gratitude will always follow you! Thanks, Manie Barron—in the parlance of my favorite rap singer, “you da bomb!” To every reader who has ever read any of my books—thank you, thank you, thank you! Finally, to my Daddy, Voldie Osmond McCarthy—Daddy, you know that sometimes times were hard in the boulevard, but I know you kept on whispering and encouraging me. I love you and I miss you. My sincerest thanks. Peace out.

Janette