Guyanese Girl

This book is about a woman’s struggle to make it in America after immigrating from Guyana in South America. It deals with issues which she had to overcome to survive in Brooklyn, New York. The stories are all true but names have been changed to protect the identities of relatives and close friends. The events take place in urban settings and they are not typical of all immigrants. The book shows that anyone can overcome adversity if he or she is determined to work hard and remain focused on personal goals. Queen Hadassah

‘This is a beautiful, mesmerising work of fiction that makes you think about the past and the history of slavery… Sharon Maas is an author to look out for with regards to historical, romantic fiction.’ Krafti Reader

1910, Guyana. A time of racial tension and poverty. A time where forbidden love must remain a secret.

Winnie Cox lives a privileged life of dances and dresses on her father’s sugar cane plantation. Life is sweet in the kingdom of sugar and Winnie along with her sister Johanna, have neither worries nor responsibilities, they are birds of paradise, protected from the poverty in the world around them.

But everything can change in a heartbeat…

When Winnie falls in love with George Quint, the post-office boy, a ‘darkie’ from the other side, she soon finds herself slipping into a double life. And as she withdraws from her family, she discovers a shocking secret about those whom are closest to her. Now, more than ever, Winnie is determined to prove her love for George, whatever price she must pay and however tragic the consequences might be.

A breath-taking love story of two people fighting to be together, in a world determined to break them apart.

‘I absolutely love Sharon Maas writing style– you can just picture the setting and the relationships between the characters in such a vivid world.’Bookworms and Shutterbugs

‘Superb book about love in a different age against all the odds. Brilliant.’ Baatty about Books

‘Intriguing and compelling …a page-turner that had me drawn into a previously unexplored world. An emotional drama’ Natalie-Meg Evans

‘This rich story grabbed me from the start! It is powerful, fulfilling, thought-provoking and a whole lot more. Definitely a must read! Totally engrossing!’ Great Historical Fiction Review Blog

‘A beautifully written book – one which transports you to the place it is set in. The plot, the twist, the setting, everything was perfect.’ Any Excuse to Read

‘I hope many people will pick up this book and see just what magnificent writing and storytelling abilities Sharon has. Right from the outset the writing in this book is beyond beautiful and resonates such a chord. A deeply satisfying read of love, loss and determination.’ Shaz’s Book Blog

‘A beautifully written story of love against all the odds.’ Portobello Book Blog

‘A beautifully written story of forbidden love…I fell in love with Winnie … the book is written with sensitivity and heart-aching honesty’ The Bookshelf Blog

Acclaim for Sharon Maas:

’A terrific writer.’ Barbara Erskine

‘A page-turning story, full of humanity, crossing cultures and continents, reminiscent of Andrea Levy.’ Katie Fforde

‘Beautifully and cleverly written. A wondrous, spellbinding story which grips you from the first to the last page… I can’t recall when I last enjoyed a book so much.’ Lesley Pearse

‘An authentic reflection of a world full of sadness, joy and surprise.‘ The Observer

‘A beautiful story about tragic love and ultimately about forgiveness… with powerful messages about love, life and learning to let things go in order to be happy.’ Life With Joy

‘Rich in detail and emotion and has the most beautiful and real description of loss I have ever read.’ Shaz’s Book blog

‘Wow what a very touching story that was filled with super characters and important real-life issues…’ AJ Book Review Club

‘If you are fond of family dramas that span generations, continents, and cultures, you will find this to be a worthwhile read. I found the shift in attitudes toward gender and ethnicity across generations and cultures to be particularly interesting.’ janetursel.com

The Slipper is a classic tale of love and loss portrayed in the most unconventional style. Included are lovable, colorful characters such as Meetu, Vishnu, maa and baap who’s humor infuses a serious subject matter in a very unique, warm and touching manner. What happens when a headstrong teen falls for an unsuitable suitor? What becomes of her future when her strict parents desire another path? And what ensues years later when Meetu’s past catches up with her future? You think you have all of the answers but the story-line is anything but standard.

Lina LaRay Char was introduced to a different chapter of her life after ending up homeless. Experience taught her to work twice as hard to achieve her goals and work ten times harder to keep what she succeeded in gaining. Struggle motivates you to make a difference but what comes after success? What happens after you reached your goal? Just when Lina seemed to be moving in the right direction, she met Christopher Alack: A Narcotic Detective. Lina’s life took a drastic turn which consisted of love, lies, surprises and broken promises. The sweetest enemy is usually the person who is fairly close to you. Lina realized that love can pave the perfect path for enemies to do the unthinkable but only faith in God can bring you out of the toughest situations. Lina grew accustomed to dealing with the unexpected but she eventually questioned what comes after experiencing the worst?

This was Keman’s first experience of Toronto’s annual Caribbean Carnival. The excited 8 year old and his Mother enjoyed the rituals at the Caribbean celebration, such as picking a flag to wave, the Caribbean influenced foods, dancing, costumes and music.

This was Keman’s first experience of Toronto’s annual Caribbean Carnival. The excited 8 year old and his Mother enjoyed the rituals at the Caribbean celebration, such as picking a flag to wave, the Caribbean influenced foods, dancing, costumes and music.

Femi and her friends planned to leave a few traditional Caribbean treats out for Santa, including Black Cake. The Kids shared warm wishes for their favourite dishes, while enjoying winter activities at the Christmas fair.

LIVING WITH INTENTION –Commit, Contribute, Celebrate Determination, faith, focus, self-discipline and consistency can really make anything a reality. LIVING WITH INTENTION offers readers a glimpse into that world that makes every day a masterpiece, even with life’s challenges – the struggle, strength, survival and endurance, but also commemorates the beauty, honour, love, compassion and forgiveness. This book takes you to the core of survival, to the importance of how to love yourself and why we celebrate. LIVING WITH INTENTION will inspire you to want to do because in the doing you become. This book will motivate those who are still struggling to be the best version of themselves. This book encourages readers to take a moment to peek into the reality of my world. LIVING WITH INTENTION holds in its hands, the importance of adding value to others, the benefits of personal growth, the capability to heal, to reflect, to embrace, to build, and to gently nurture all who reads it. My attitude to life and all its manifestations have been adjusted and my expectations on living and all its interactions have been realigned. I have recognized that the human resource is the most valuable resource there is. I feel poised to share some of my new-found strengths and distribute my unique methods of sustainable cooperation within a world prone to maximizing profit and winning material conquests. This Book is a testimony of my faith in a stellar journey, indeed – when God made a way when it seemed there was no way.

Breakout by Sukree Boodram is a stunning memoir about an Indian woman who survives abuse and alcoholism and winds up triumphant. There have been many books about breaking free from an abuser or an alcoholic, but now, in Breakout, Sukree Boodram tells the story of how she, a woman from the West Indies, had to shatter the traditions she grew up to appreciate in order to free herself emotionally and physically. A naïve young wife, she was married for twenty-one years to an alcoholic husband who was verbally and emotionally abusive. Enveloped by her culture and her tradition not to reveal any personal problems or suffering to outsiders, choosing not to ask for help or to stand up to her husband, Boodram found herself in a bind without any real support. As her children grew into their teens, she finally made a crucial decision. Relying on her own optimistic nature, strength, and bravery, she reveals how she was able to break free from the painful structure of her marriage, to leave it behind and attempt to build a new life. Deeply honest, beautifully written, and brave, Breakout by Sukree Boodram shows readers how there is always hope, no matter how dire the circumstances. As Boodram charts her emotional growth, she shows step-by-step how she was able to protect her children and herself and exit her marriage safely. A revelatory story of a person’s courage, Breakout is also a gorgeous story of heartbreak, disappointment, and survival, showing that our own inner strength can always be counted on, and that one can always triumph over the odds.circumstances. Some Excerpts/Quotes Below: “Facing the Truth: Alcoholism” “Our problems are ours to fix, not someone else’s responsibility.” “Throughout the process, I have learned a lot about alcoholism. I learned that alcoholism is a mental illness and a disease. It can be caused by a family history of drinking, drinking being viewed as an acceptable social behavior in a culture or community, or keeping company and drinking with others who are already drinking heavily. Alcoholism is a progressive disease, becoming worse over time, and can eventually be fatal. Overuse of alcohol can cause both physical and psychological problems for the drinker. Physical signs can include withdrawal symptoms like ‘the shakes’ that can be observed visually when an alcoholic suddenly stops drinking. Other physical health problems can include liver disease, gastritis, anemia, and nervous disorders. There could also be psychological problems such as impairment in thinking, and changes in mood and behavior. These changes can sometimes lead to issues such as strained interpersonal relationships, marriage problems, child abuse, and domestic abuse. In many cases a person can begin to have issues with work or school, sometimes leading to costly legal and financial problems. I learned that denial is a key part of the disease and becomes a major obstacle to recovery. Denial can cause a person to believe they have control over drinking and how much they can drink, this impairment in thinking can cause a person to deny having a drinking problem. The denial may not be intentional; to those who are outside of the disease, it could appear that the alcoholic simply does not want to make a change.” ______________________________________________________________________ “As I continue to learn about the disease, I am also trying really hard to keep an open mind and not to blame the person or the disease. This can be very difficult at times, but I know my knowledge is in its infancy stages and it would be premature to blame either. However, I have resolved never to give power over my life to someone else.” “You may never know what results come of your actions, but if you do nothing, there will be no results.”-Ghandi