Today I have the honor having author D.L. White visit today to spotlight her latest release, Beach Thing!

About the Book: 



When Ameenah Porter moves to the beach town of Black Diamond Isles to fulfill her dream of opening a smoothie shop, she encounters a man who is tall, dark and extremely handsome with a wicked taste for orange flavored beverages. She doesn’t need the distraction of a new man but Wade, who’s staying in the giant sized home at the end of her block, is irresistible. 

Wade Marshall was supposed to spend the summer on Black Diamond Isles getting away from the rush of Brooklyn, ridding himself of the distractions that had been impacting his work so he can do what he does best-- make beats.  But the day he meets Ameenah, he becomes consumed by an entirely different and more attractive distraction--his bold, beautiful, sexy neighbor with the “glorious hips” and a penchant for ice cream. 

Ameenah's days at Tikis & Cream, her beachside smoothie shop, are spent cooling off her customers with her gourmet smoothie blends. Her nights on the shores of quaint Black Diamond Bay are enchanting and romantic and soon Wade and Ameenah find themselves in the middle of a Beach Thing, a fun, meaingless fling that will end when the summer is over. 
Or will it? 

Wade is returning to Brooklyn at the end of the summer. Ameenah lives on Black Diamond. Neither want this Beach Thing to end... so is this fling really a fling or is it the beginning of something real... and will they realize it in time?
If you're not yet ready to say goodbye to summer, join me for a trip to Black Diamond.

Excerpt: 

I heard music blaring from inside the house, so I wasn’t sure if Wade could even hear the doorbell, but I kept trying it. He’d been coming by the shop every few days. I’d try to talk him into something new; he’d still choose the Frozen Sunshine, but promise that he’d try something new soon. I quickly learned that orange was his favorite flavor.
Which led to me standing at his front door with a plastic container of orange cranberry muffins, leaning on the doorbell like my life depended on it. I’d almost given up when I heard the music cut out. I pressed the doorbell button again, this time hearing it chime throughout the house.

I stepped back and waited for the footsteps that eventually came and for the door to swing open. The surprise on Wade’s face as he opened the door made me giggle. That I knew of, he didn’t know anyone else on Black Diamond— who else would be at his door?

“I’ve been standing out here so long, these muffins are probably cold.”

He eyed the container and stepped aside to let me into the house. “Sorry, I couldn’t hear, with the music going. What’s up?”

“Not too much. I just whipped these up for the shop.” I gestured toward the container. “I thought I would bring you a few. They’re orange cranberry.”

The slow, sexy smile that spread across his face did things to my body, made it tingle in a way it hadn’t in awhile. I’d been so head down for the past few years, working two, sometimes three jobs to save enough to move to Black Diamond and open Tikis & Cream. I’d cut out dating and most forms of socializing. I only saw Paige when she dropped into the bar where I served drinks. I could catch my family at the weekly, non-negotiable Sunday dinner. Otherwise, unless I worked a shift with one of them, I rarely saw them.

Wade took the container and nodded his head for me to follow. I looked around while trailing him to the kitchen, my eyes wide at how the other half lived— Italian tile, dark marble, huge rooms with sweeping views. I thought I had a nice view of the beach from my little house, but the windows alone blew me away.

“So… Gage just lets you live in his house?”

“Yeah,” he answered, pulling the lid off of the container and plucking a mini-muffin from inside. He grinned, then sniffed it, then popped the whole thing into his mouth. “Uhmm… mmmm...these are good,” he mumbled around a mouthful of muffin.

“Hey, don’t choke. I’m not doing the Heimlich on you.”

He chuckled, then reached for two more muffins. “These won’t last the night. Guarantee. They’re really good.”
“Thank you,” I said, feeling proud.

“Let me show you around. Gage and his wife don’t really use the house as much as they thought they would. Her family has a spot down in Jamaica and she’s used to going there. Happy wife, happy life is Gage’s motto, so…”

He led me out of the kitchen, through a spacious dining room with a long cherry wood table and stately chairs covered in white fabric. We passed a formal sitting room and living room, ending up in what I supposed was the family room. It was much more casual and laid back— still upscale, but the room at least looked like it had been used.

“The house is here, sitting empty. I needed some time away from the city. Here I am.”

He walked toward the patio doors and pushed them open, revealing a large wooden deck that put mine to shame. The sunset in the distance, only slightly obscured by clouds, gave us a gorgeous light show across the Bay.

He gestured toward a seat at the patio table, which had an colorful umbrella shading it, its panels flapping in the light breeze. “Can I get you something to drink? I can’t make that orange thing, but I could grab you some water, juice or soda. Or I have some blood orange San Pellegrino, actually.”

“I’m flattered that you would share your own orange concoction with me. I’ll have one of those.”

He left and returned with the container of muffins he’d left in the kitchen and two bottles of San Pellegrino. I took one and twisted it open, then gulped down a delicious swallow, tart and rich with orange flavor.

“Ooh, these are good. I might have to think of a reason to order them.”

“You could create a drink with it. That would be amazing.” He uncapped his bottle and practically poured half of it down his throat, then reached for another muffin. “These are all for me, right? Because I plan on eating all of them.”

“Yes, Wade,” I answered, laughing. “I was messing around in the kitchen, trying to create some things I could carry in the shop. I was thinking about your love for all things orange and remembered I had my grandmother’s recipes. I decided to make a few dozen, try them out over the next few days.”

“Well,” he said, popping another one into his mouth. “These will be a hit.”

“I’m so glad you like them.” I paused, letting an awkward, too-flirtatious moment pass. “Uh...I heard music when I walked up. I hope I’m not cutting into your work time.”

“Nah,” he said, waving me off. “Don’t worry about that. I’m always working, but you’re never an interruption.”
I blushed. Just a little. Obviously two were playing this flirting game. “Noted.”

“Especially if you’re going to bring me treats.”

He popped another muffin into his mouth and rubbed the palms of his hands together. “So, you said you just moved out here, but you know so much about the island. Is Black Diamond that small? You already made your rounds?”

“Oh, no. I used to come down here when I was a kid. My grandparents scrimped and saved to be able to buy a little place to retire to. They’re long gone, but I inherited the house when my grandmother died.”

He turned his head to give a respectful gaze to the little red wooden house with the much smaller wooden deck. “That’s nice. Real nice. Your folks are proud of you, I’m sure.”

I almost laughed, but caught myself. “My folks think I’m out of my mind and making a huge mistake. We’ll see, though. What about you? Have you already… made your rounds?”

He chuckled, weaving his fingers together. “I haven’t done much since I’ve been down here but work. I probably need to take you up on that tour you offered.”

“Probably,” I said, nodding.

“What are you doing tomorrow night?”


Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Beach-Thing-DL-White-ebook/dp/B01LX845U6
Lulu (paperback): http://www.lulu.com/shop/dl-white/beach-thing/paperback/product-22868426.html

About the Author:

As the daughter of a serviceman, I am formerly from all over the place, however I have lived in the grandest city in the south, Atlanta, since early 2003. I'm a Northwest girl at heart but I think I've finally got this southern thing down... the tea is sweet and the fish come with grits!

By day I am an Executive Administrative Assistant at a world renowned beverage company, working for one of our top five customers. By night, when I'm not writing books, I'm devouring them. I blog my reviews and thoughts on writing at www.TheSweetEscape.net.

I love coffee and Sunday Brunch, especially on a patio, but my true obsession is water-- lakes, rivers, oceans, waterfalls! And sand... dig your toes in, soft!  On the weekend, you'll probably find me near water and if I'm lucky, on an ocean beach. 

For as long as I can remember, I would much rather be in my room reading and writing than doing anything else, but I began seriously pursuing a writing career in 2011. My debut, a women's fiction novel about three lifelong best friends in Atlanta, was published in 2015 and was well-received. Beach Thing is my fifth novel, with many more to come!