Böcker av Cindy Butler

Charles and Elsa should have been uncomfortable breaking southern social tradition. Charles was Irish and Elsa had the beautiful features of a Quadroon. Charles knew it was acceptable for him, as a plantation owner''s son, to take a Quadroon as a mistress. But Elsa wanted marriage and all of her man. And she had her sights set on Charles. Elsa lived on the docks, by the Mississippi River. In the 1850''s i New Orleans, the docks were not safe for white people. And particularly not safe for white men encroaching on their women. The first Shanghai attempt on Charles was stopped by Elsa''s brother, even though he secretly led the local Shanghai gang. Charles'' need for revenge, and his suspicions of Elsa''s brother, put a wedge between Charles and Elsa that grew bigger with each accusation and threat. Charles had started to pursue Elsa as a potential mistress, but Elsa balked at every turn. She refused to accept anything less than a true public partnership.Charles tried to walk away, but the draw his heart felt for Elsa just grew with time. Rumors flew, and sides were chosen. Charles'' innocence as to what he wanted, and Elsa''s dreams, seemed to be stopped at every turn.

Messalina considered herself just another woman searching for personal happiness and fulfillment. What Messalina did not expect was the bitter survival situations life would throw at her in her quest. Before Messalina could process her own motives, she found herself imprisoned and branded a murderer. Life became brutal as she fought through prison riots, betrayal and near death negotiations with the prison rats. Messalina survived her prison term only to find herself alone and still wondering where her personal happiness was hiding. She vowed to take charge of her life and become that elusive, contented, and fulfilled woman that she knew was just around the next corner. But as she navigated those corners, and began to touch the skirts of the self-fulfillment, revenge and destruction stepped right in her path. Ditch Dreams is filled with real life experiences and self-discovery as Messalina breaks free and embraces her journey. Through this journey she learns to accept the present and appreciate her own self-worth.