Southern Comfort

by Naleighna Kai, Janice Pernell (Editor)

USA Today Bestselling Author, Naleighna Kai, brings another unconventional story about finding a deeper love in the most unlikely places. The moment Joy’s estranged mother shows up on her doorstep and drops off a mysterious child, she’s forced to put her first year in college on hold. Two years later, she totally abandons her dream of becoming a civil engineer altogether, when her mother reappears with yet another child from her drug-addicted sister. Twice is enough, and the third time isn’t a charm as Joy’s outright refusal makes her an outcast from her crime-riddled family. With so much responsibility at a young age, she’s never allowed herself to dream of having an intimate relationship. Until a chance meeting ten years later at the most unlikely of places.

Ali serves as the bridge that brings his father back into the family fold, by marrying the woman they choose for him. Now, the last child is off to college and his multi-million dollar businesses are thriving, his wife reunites with the man she abandoned to fulfill her family’s wishes, freeing Ali to embark on a journey to find the love he deserves. When he lays eyes on Joy, one word comes to mind—lost. Until that moment, he didn’t realize he has a “savior complex”, but something about the elusive woman pulls at Ali’s heartstrings and makes him take a risk.

Joy and Ali are forced to navigate the murky waters of obligation, karma, and other more deadly challenges to find their way to love.

87 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 9, 2019

About the author

Naleighna Kai is the USA TODAY bestselling author of Every Woman Needs a Wife, Open Door Marriage, Kings of Devon, Slaves of Heaven, and Kings of the Castle. She is a contributor to a New York Times bestselling, Mercedes Benz and the E. Lynn Harris Author of Distinction. She started writing in December of 1999, independently publishing her first two novels before acquiring a book deal with an imprint of Simon & Schuster and then a book deal with an independent publishing house founded by two national bestselling authors.

Naleighna is the CEO of Macro Marketing & Promotions Group, the founder of the author support group M-LAS, as well as the marketing consultant to several national bestselling and aspiring writers. She is also the brainchild behind the annual Cavalcade of Authors event which takes place in her hometown of Chicago. Naleighna pens contemporary fiction, erotica, and speculative fiction and is currently working on her next novels. Visit her on the web at www.naleighnakai.com, Face Book and Twitter under Naleighna Kai.

Reviews

[Dj · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unconventional story about finding a deeper love in the most unlikely places. The moment Joy’s estranged mother shows up on her doorstep and drops off a mysterious child Jason, she’s forced to put her first year in college on hold. Two years later, she totally abandons her dream of becoming a civil engineer altogether, when her mother reappears with yet another child Lyric, from her drug-addicted sister Ebbie. Twice is enough, and the third time isn’t a charm as Joy’s outright refusal makes her an outcast from her crime-riddled family. With so much responsibility at a young age, just 18, she’s never allowed herself to dream of having an intimate relationship, especially after discovering she had an STD at age 5 and the neighbor who saw how sick she was and helped was burned out and killed by her mom prompting her to leave home at age 12. Until a chance meeting ten years later at the most unlikely of places, a cuddle club. Ali serves as the bridge that brings his father back into the family fold, by marrying the woman they choose for him. Now, the last child is off to college and his multi-million-dollar businesses are thriving, his wife reunites with the man she abandoned to fulfill her family’s wishes, freeing Ali to embark on a journey to find the love he deserves. When he lays eyes on Joy, one word comes to mind—lost. Until that moment, he didn’t realize he has a “savior complex”, but something about the elusive woman pulls at Ali’s heartstrings and makes him take a risk. Joy and Ali are forced to navigate the murky waters of obligation, karma, and other more deadly challenges (her sister tries to sells her niece and nephew to pay a debt) to find their way to love.

[Cassandra Haywood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this novella of how when you don't allow what has happened to you as a young child dictate your future. The main character Joy was exposed as a child to the traded for sex that her mother Ella subjected Joy and her sister Ebbie to. Joy was able to runaway unfortunately her sister stayed and became addicted to drugs and sex slave where she winded up having 11 children. Joy has the first two that her sister had as babies which Joy's mother forced on her to take care of.
Since Joy was raising her nephew and niece she put her love life on hold and then she meets Ali at a cuddle party.
I love how they took their time getting to know each other. You can feel the emotions that these two characters were feeling for each other.
If you love a storyline that has love and compassion along with some eye opening situations that sometimes happens to a person. I highly recommend this book to read.
Cassandra H.

[Dee Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story was a great read that I finished quickly. Characters were realistic & situation relatable. The storyline gave sufficient background information about Joy and her family dealings as well as her present situation. Ali's kindness was shown and he was a definitely a winner. Enjoyed this story.

[Burgundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love

This was another great story from Naleighna Kai. I liked the characters and that even though people try to break you. You can bounce back.