Author and journalist Cheris Hodges is back with the latest installment of her Richardson Sisters series. I recently spoke with her about Can’t Hide Love.
Tell me about your latest book.
Can’t Hide Love is the final book in the Richardson Sisters series.
Here’s what it’s about:
No matter what, the four very different Richardson sisters always uphold their family’s reputation and legacy—a historic bed-and-breakfast in Charleston, South Carolina. But romance that one sister never saw coming will up-end all their expectations.
She’s the responsible sister, making sacrifices to run the family’s treasured B&B. But for once, Alexandria Richardson decides to take a vacation—a singles’ cruise, where she throws caution to the wind. And the handsome stranger she meets is just what she needs to make every moment sizzle—for all seven wildly sexy days. Energized and refreshed, Alex returns home—only to discover her holiday hottie is also the renowned architect tapped for the B&B’s major renovation project. How is she supposed to manage a business—and an all-consuming desire?
Wesley Prescott knows how easy it is to put success above everything else. And he has a lot riding on the prestigious Richardson deal—and on working smoothly with the suddenly serious, buttoned-down Alex. But he can’t resist teasing out the daring, adventurous—and lovable—woman he knows she truly is. Will mixing business with way more than pleasure convince them both that this is one fling that won’t be so easily flung?
Why did you decide to write it?
I knew when I started this series that I had to tell Alexandria’s story. I wanted to save her for last because Alex has been all up in her sisters’ business since book one, Owner of a Broken Heart. Now the tables have turned, and Alex is doing something that she’d never thought she’d do—lose control.
What do you want readers to learn from the story?
Always step out of your comfort zone, and you don’t have to live up to other people’s expectations of you.
What do you want readers to learn from your life?
If someone tells you no, do it anyway. With faith and passion, you can do anything. Also, if something hurts you, deal with the pain and heal for you, not because that’s what people expect you to do.
If you could pick another profession, what would it be and why?
Man, I could not see myself doing anything else. Writing is my life. I’ve tried other careers, but I keep coming back to the written word. Whether it’s fiction or journalism. Once upon a time, I did want to be a doctor, but the sight of blood makes me faint.
When did you fall in love with the written word?
When I was in kindergarten, I wanted to be Snow White in the play. But I was the only four-year-old in the class who could read well. So, I was the narrator. Everyone was hanging on what I said. And I didn’t know it at the time, but that was powerful. And my picture ended up in the paper, not Snow White’s. It’s like I was the star because I could read. That shaped me.
What’s something readers would be surprised to know about you?
I think the most surprising thing about me is the fact that I’m from the south, and I hate grits. If you ever see me on social media with a bowl of grits, I’ve been kidnapped.
What books have you read lately and loved?
There have been so many!
Summoning Up Love by Synithia Williams, Her Name is Knight by
Yasmin Ango, The Hook-Up Plan by Farrah Rochon, Carolina Built by Kianna Alexander, Island Queen by Vanessa Riley, Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley, Not Business as Usual by Sharon C. Cooper, The Love Con by Seressia Glass.
What books are you excited to read?
I cannot wait for [Kwana] Jackson’s Knot Again.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on something totally different—it’s not even a romance. But, like Alex, I’m moving out of my comfort zone to try something I’ve been thinking about for years. So, stay tuned.
Do you have anything you would like to add?
I want to thank you for allowing me to visit your blog and talk about my book. I especially want to thank the readers who have supported my career over the years. Writing is a solo gig, and it’s a blessing to have people out there looking forward to reading your work.
So, thank you to everyone who has ever picked up one of my books.
Use the Black Fiction Addiction affiliate link to purchase your copy of Can’t Hide Love.
To learn more about author and journalist Cheris Hodges, visit her website, email her or connect with her on social media:
Website: www.thecherishodges.com
Email: cheris87@bellsouth.net
Twitter: twitter.com/cherishodges
IG: instagram.com/cheris87
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorcherishodges
TikTok: @cherishodges