The latest book edited by the Written Word to be published
By A.L. Smith
In the middle of her thirty-minute elliptical workout, she found herself staring into the reflected eyes of a gentleman who was not only drop-dead gorgeous, but eerily familiar. She tried to look away, but it was impossible.
He, on the other hand, didn’t bother trying to look away. She managed to finish the last fifteen minutes of her workout without falling off the machine. When it was over, she made a beeline for the nearest exit and found herself standing face to face with the handsome gentleman. His skin was the color of ebony and even more flawless than it appeared from a distance. His teeth were glistening white, and his body was the closest thing to perfection that she’d ever seen. Everything was accentuated by the beautiful flowing locks that fell to his shoulders and the perfectly kept beard. Black Jesus.
“Excuse me if I’m out of line here, but I had to commend you for your work ethic.”
“My work ethic?”
“Yes, I can tell you understand the importance of incorporating a little cardio with your workout. You’re proof that it works.”
“Is that right?”
Naturally, she was flattered by the compliment, and she tried not to let on, but his presence was overwhelming.
“So, let me say this. I’m not a stalker, but I would be lying if I didn’t tell you I’ve been checking you out for the last month.”
“For a month?” She was at a loss for words.
“Yes, an entire month.”
Impossible, Angel thought to herself. Why hadn’t she noticed him? It had to be a pick-up line. She should have walked away, but she didn’t. Instead, she played along. A little flirting was harmless. Or was it?
Malicious Intent
World-renowned Attorney Alexandra Phillips has a knack for turning open and shut cases for the prosecution into wins for the defense. In the third installment of the Behind Closed Doors Series, Attorney Phillips defends another victim who is accused of murdering her abuser.
With the world still reeling from the effects of COVID-19, Protagonist Attorney Alexandra Phillips is determined to uncover the truth behind the mysterious HIV strain that is discovered as she searches for a key piece of evidence to exonerate her client. Her client, an adulterous Dallas housewife is accused of murder. Motive? As it turns out, her slain lover was HIV positive and the primary purpose of his seduction was to maliciously expose her to the disease. As a crime of passion attorney, Attorney Phillips is convinced that a Texas jury would exonerate her client if she could prove the decedent’s intent to expose her client to the disease…but there’s one problem. Her client is innocent, and without a confession, the crime of passion defense isn’t an option.
With her client’s freedom hanging in the balance, Attorney Phillips concedes to the fact that the only viable defense is to find the killer…
Follow Attorney Phillips as she untangles a multilayered conspiracy of cover-ups, betrayal, and revenge. Combining elements of murder-mystery and medical drama with an urban twist, this captivating page-turner is sure to leave die-hard readers wanting more.
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About the author
A.L. Smith is a practicing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves. She attended Grambling State University on a basketball scholarship and later became the first nursing cadet to receive a commission in the Army Nurse Corps. In 2020, she completed a deployment to Kuwait at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, gaining first-hand knowledge of the global impact.
Smith is the author of the critically acclaimed novel, Behind Closed Doors 2: Dana’s Story, which is the subject of the multi-award-winning short film, Dana’s Story. The story was inspired by her experience in Haiti during the devastating earthquake in 2010. Smith’s interest in filmmaking was spawned by her decision to create cinematic book trailers to market her work. In 2022, she was selected as a semi-finalist for the groundbreaking new show “America’s Next Great Author.”
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