Life Of A Star Before The Fame
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Life Of A Star Before The Fame
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Lilly DuPont clawed her way from bartending in LA to Grammy nominations.
She confessed her darkest secret. Now she has to live with the fallout.
A raw, explicit Black contemporary romance about the price of fame and the cost of honesty - Book 3 of the Journeys of the Heart series. Heat Level 5. Trigger warnings forward.
Lilly DuPont has everything she ever dreamed of: a record deal, a fiancé who adores her, and a tour that's launching her into superstardom. But the past she buried to get here is clawing its way back.
Before the sold-out shows and the Grammy nominations, Lilly was surviving - bartending at Cheetah's strip club, falling for a drug dealer who broke her heart, and making choices she's spent years trying to forget.
Now, engaged to producer Eric Powers and on the verge of mainstream success, Lilly is haunted by the secrets she's kept from everyone she loves:
▸ The abortion she had after her dealer boyfriend ghosted her
▸ The casual relationships that made her feel wanted but left her empty
▸ The drunken threesome in Turks & Caicos - with her best friend's husband
When the guilt becomes too heavy to carry, Lilly makes a choice that changes everything: she tells the truth.
But honesty has a price. Her best friend Mary won't speak to her. Her fiancé Eric questions whether he can trust her. And Lilly has to face the possibility that some secrets are meant to stay buried.
This isn't a soft love story. It's a reckoning. A rise-from-the-ashes, burn-it-all-down, confess-your-worst-self kind of book - the one you'll finish at 3 AM and immediately text your group chat about.
Perfect for readers who love: dark past redemption arcs, celebrity romance, music industry drama, forbidden confessions, found family tested to the limit, and emotionally devastating Black contemporary romance you can binge on Kindle Unlimited.
For fans of Kennedy Ryan's Hoops and Skyland series, Christina C. Jones, and Tia Williams.
Enter the fire. Book 3 of 9 - free with Kindle Unlimited.
Content advisory: This novel contains explicit sexual content, abortion, drug use, infidelity themes, references to sex work, emotional manipulation, and past trauma. Heat Level 5. Recommended for mature readers only.Series: Journeys of the Heart
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INFORMATION
ISBN: 9798348442804
Publisher: Coins and Connections (R)
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 14 March 2026
Imprint: Coins and Connections (R)
Edition: Special ed.
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 19.0mm
Width: 140.0mm
Height: 216.0mm
Weight: 376g
Pages: 324
About the Author
Cinquanta Cox-Smith is a dedicated entrepreneur and Army veteran whose passion for storytelling has captivated readers nationwide. Her acclaimed series Journeys of The Heart has resonated deeply with audiences, establishing her as a compelling voice in contemporary fiction. She has also authored two provocative short story collections that showcase her versatility as a writer.Originally from Georgetown, South Carolina, Cox-Smith now calls North Carolina home, where she lives with her husband and two children. Drawing from her diverse life experiences, she brings authenticity and depth to her work while balancing her roles as author, entrepreneur, and family woman.Her nonfiction release, How To Self Publish A Book Under $100, reflects her commitment to empowering fellow writers with practical guidance for their publishing journeys.
Also by Cinquanta Cox-Smith
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