The Ex Files
Authors: Victoria Christopher Murray
Tags: #Fiction, #Literary, #Romance, #General, #African American, #Christian
“
The Ex Files
is a moving-on song in four-part harmony.”
—Donna Grant and Virginia DeBerry, authors of
Tryin’ to Sleep in the Bed You Made
“Once again, Victoria Christopher Murray has crafted a compelling, intriguing, and page-turning story that stays with you long after you’ve finished the book. This wonderful tale of four different women from vastly different backgrounds shows how we can all be bound by the common thread of faith.”
—ReShonda Tate Billingsley, bestselling author of
Everybody Say Amen
and
I Know I’ve Been Changed
“My girl, Victoria Christopher Murray has done it again! I love her work and this book will bless you, so read it.”
—Michele Andrea Bowen, author of
Church Folk, Second
Sunday
, and
Holy Ghost Corner
“Murray has always impressed me with her ability to live the life of her characters and make them come alive with each turning page.”
—
The Indianapolis Recorder
Praise for
A Sin and a Shame
“As with Murray’s previous novels,
A Sin and a Shame
is intriguing and well written. If you loved and hated Jasmine in
Temptation
, you’ll love and hate her again.”
—
The Indianapolis Recorder
“It raises a lot of issues, particularly as the story draws to a close, that are likely to make for some heated debates. As a result,
A Sin and a Shame
is likely to be a much-talked-about book.”
—Rawsistaz.com
“Riveting, emotionally charged, and spiritually deep…What is admirable is the author’s ability to hold the reader in suspense until the very last paragraph of the novel!
A Sin and a Shame
is a must-read…. Truly a story to be enjoyed and pondered upon!”
—RomanceInColor.com
“
A Sin and a Shame
is Victoria Christopher Murray at her best…. A page-turner that I couldn’t put down as I was too eager to see what scandalous thing Jasmine would do next. And to watch Jasmine’s spiritual growth was a testament to Victoria’s talents. An engrossing tale of how God’s grace covers us all. I absolutely loved this book!”
—ReShonda Tate Billingsley,
Essence
bestselling author
of
I Know I’ve Been Changed
Praise for
Grown Folks Business
“
Grown Folks Business
is a wonderful testament of love, faith, and forgiveness and readers will find themselves still thinking about the characters long after they’ve turned the last page.”
—Kimberla Lawson Roby, author of the
New York Times
bestseller
The Best-Kept Secret
“Christopher Murray is known across genres for her ability to help the reader connect with the characters, offer compassion, and open one’s eyes to all facets of a situation. Because of its subject matter, it should be read by everyone, not just by those merely looking for entertainment, as it offers so much more.”
—Rawsistaz.com
“
Grown Folks Business
is a worthy addition to this talented author’s body of work. Fans of Ms. Murray will enjoy this inspiring story of forgiveness, compassion, understanding, and love.”
—RomanceInColor.com
“You know a book is good when you hate to see it come to an end.
Grown Folks Business
is a well-written novel about a faith-filled woman’s struggles to rebuild her shattered life—a novel that readers should widely embrace.”
—Cydney Rax, Book-Remarks.com
“Victoria Christopher Murray provides a richly detailed backdrop to a story of faith, hope, and love in the face of betrayal sure to delight and challenge readers.”
—Jacquelin Thomas, author of
Soul Journey
and
Saved in the City
“Victoria Christopher Murray has written an explosive story about picking up the pieces when a longtime love goes really, really wrong.
Grown Folks Business
rattles the relationship cage and gets to the heart of what’s serious and painfully real.”
—Lolita Files, author of
Tastes Like Chicken
“A moving and realistic portrayal of a woman’s journey from betrayal to triumph while never losing sight of God’s grace and mercy.”
—Francis Ray, author of
Like the First Time, I Know Who
Holds Tomorrow
, and
Trouble Doesn’t Last Always
“Hard-hitting. Thought provoking. Attention grabbing. Hands down, Ms. Murray’s finest writing.”
—Patricia Haley, author of
No Regrets
and
Still Waters
LSO BY
V
ICTORIA
C
HRISTOPHER
M
URRAY
A Sin and a Shame
Grown Folks Business
Truth Be Told
Temptation
Joy
Blessed Assurance
(contributor)
TOUCHSTONE
Rockefeller Center
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2007 by Victoria Christopher Murray
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
T
OUCHSTONE
and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-4562-0
ISBN-10: 1-4165-4562-X
Visit us on the World Wide Web:
http://www.SimonSays.com
To my mother, Jacqueline Christopher.
I always knew your heart was solid—made of gold—
but these last few years have shown me that your spirit is the
same. I know you miss Daddy most of all, but you have
stood with a strength that makes me proud to be your
daughter. I will love you always
.
My editor has been waiting for my acknowledgments for almost two months. But no matter how many e-mails she sends me, I resist this process. I can write a book faster than I can do these pages, which are designed to thank those who have helped me. How can I (in just a few lines) thank everyone? And how can I (at my age) remember everyone? There is always someone who is left out, someone who feels they should have been included. This is just not a pretty or pleasant process for me. But since this book is going to press soon, I have to do this. So, as snow is falling outside my window (no, I’m not in L.A.), this is what is in my heart right now….
To my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He loved me enough to die for me, so I dedicate my life to live for Him. I write these books to share the love and hope and faith I have. I want the world to have the gift of knowing Him.
To my family who is always there: my mother, Jacqueline; my sisters, Michele, LuCia, and Cecile; and my mother-in-law, Delores. I can’t imagine another author who has the strength of the support system that I have in my family: my aunt, Joan Yearwood; my nieces, Ta’shara Murray Riedel and Eutopia Johnson; my cousins, John Short, Jerilyn Taylor, Donna Simpson, Veronica Clark-Tasker, Theresa Arrington, and Christina Grant. I thank all of you for spreading the word the way you do and loving me always.
I am also blessed with friends who go beyond having my back: S. James Guitard (always there), Lolita Files (bestest), Kimberla Lawson Roby (no one believes in me more!), Veronica Spencer Austin (no one’s been with me longer), Tracy Downs (much more than my friend, my spiritual sister), Parry Brown Abraham (we’re not getting older, just better) Marissa Pointer (you’ll always be my MM), Courtney Parker (Mini-me!). I hope I provide all of you with just half of what you each give to me.
And then there are the folks who walk this walk with me and lift me up with not only the words in their books, but with their personal words to me every time we talk: E. Lynn Harris, Eric Jerome Dickey, Jacqueline Thomas, Michele Bowen, Jihad, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Victor McGlothin, Mary B. Morrison, Travis Hunter, Stephanie Perry Moore, Kendra Norman-Bellamy, Tia McCollors, Stacy Hawkins Adams, and Sherri Lewis.
Finally, but most important, the team who has worked to shape my career: Elaine Koster, my agent. There is just no one better. Cherise Davis, you have moved onto bigger things but I will never forget all you’ve done. Thank you for your never-ending belief in me. Shida Carr, I am so grateful that Touchstone assigned you to me. We’ve grown together and you are by far the best publicist in the business. I know this and everywhere I sign, people rave about you! Meghan Stevenson, I am so blessed to have you on my team. Your enthusiasm for my books always makes me want to do even better! And to the rest of the team at Touchstone/Fireside, I hope you can tell how much I love working with all of you.
To the book stores that hand-sell my novels, and to the readers who pass the word—your names are too numerous to list—please know that there are not enough words to express my gratitude.
And to Monique—even at seventeen, you still make my heart sing! I love you!
So now if you’ve read these acknowledgments and your name is not here, it’s not because I don’t love you. At the beginning, I told you that there is always someone not listed—not because of what’s in my heart, but because of all the stuff that takes up space in my head!
Okay, that’s it. Now, turn the page and get to the real drama….