When the World Falls Apart . . . Will You Be Ready?
What Writing Love Beyond His Walls Taught Me about Survival and Being Prepared!
Let’s be honest—most of us don’t expect disaster to strike while we’re picking out wine. But that’s exactly how it begins for Dr. Meena Jackson in my new romantic suspense novel, Love Beyond His Walls.
She thought she was moving into a calmer, simpler life. Instead, she’s thrust into a world of craziness, survival, and slow-burn tension with Ethan Christensen, a man who’s been preparing for SHTF (sh*t hit the fan) scenarios for years. And suddenly, Meena has to play catch-up fast.
That got me thinking…
💡 What if SHTF tomorrow? Would you be ready?
Recently, we’ve seen crazy flash flooding in Texas, North Carolina, New Mexico, and here in Chicago. Can you be ready to go at a moment’s notice?
Here are 5 basic prepper must-haves inspired by scenes from Love Beyond His Walls that every beginner should keep in mind:
✅ 1. The Go Bag is Non-Negotiable
Meena didn’t have one!
Your go bag should be packed and easy to grab in a hurry. It should include:
First aid kit
Flashlight & batteries
Copies of IDs
Portable charger
Water & snacks
And yes… maybe even a book. Because even in chaos, we all crave stories.
✅ 2. Know Who You Can Trust
Inside Ethan’s compound, not everyone is who they claim to be.
Prepping isn’t just about stuff—it’s about people. Build your circle wisely. In an emergency, you’ll need allies who bring skills, not drama.
✅ 3. Learn Basic First Aid
Meena’s a doctor. Most of us aren’t.
But knowing how to treat wounds, stop bleeding, or spot the signs of distress could be the difference between life and death. Sign up for a class. Watch a tutorial. Get confident.
✅ 4. Secure Your Space
In the book, Ethan’s compound had reinforced walls and surveillance systems.
We’re not saying you need a doomsday fortress but knowing how to lock down your home, fortify weak points, and stay alert is smart. Because sometimes danger doesn’t come from the outside.
✅ 5. Stock for 2 Weeks, Minimum
Start small. Water, shelf-stable food, medicine, hygiene supplies.
The world might not fall apart overnight, but supply chains can and have. Being prepared means fewer panicked grocery runs and more peace of mind.
🖤 Why Prepper Romance?
Because even when the world goes to hell, the heart still wants what it wants.
Love Beyond His Walls is more than a romance, it’s a survival story about resilience, loyalty, and trusting the wrong person at the right time.
If you love:
Alpha survivalists with tender hearts
Mature Black heroines with brains and vulnerability
Emotional slow burns in high-stakes settings
…then this is the romance for you.
Pre-order Love Beyond His Walls now and dive into a world where survival and soulmates collide.
And in the meantime… go pack that go bag. Just in case. 😉
LVP Book Club
(Click on the image to take you to full blurb and purchase page)
Help decide which book to read in February! Cast your vote for one of these fantastic titles:
Talk Vino to Me by Nika Stone
Genre: Romance
Blurb: A captivating love story intertwined with wine, passion, and second chances.When The Smoke Clears by Kenya Wright
Genre: Thriller/Romance
Blurb: A gripping tale of love and survival in the aftermath of chaos.The Blood Moon Heir (Dominique LeRoy Vampire Series Book 3) by Mahogany SilverRain
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Blurb: Dive into a thrilling vampire saga filled with intrigue, power, and forbidden love.Rising (State of the Union) by Nielle Nikole
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Blurb: A powerful story of love, politics, and personal growth.
February Is Packing A Punch!!
It’s 2024. It’s Black History AND my birthday month (just so we’re clear, I will be celebrating all twenty-nine days)😉! The shortest month of the year packs a punch, and I plan to use every bit of the extra 24 hours in this leap year!!
I’m in a great headspace! It’s taken a bit, but HERE I am! Singing offkey to Beyonce’s CUFF IT 🎵 I'm in the mood to f*ck somethin' up tonight, I'm f*ckin' somethin' up, baby 🎵! I’m writing, I’m vibing, and I’m THRIVING!
The good news is I’m working hard on Full Throttle 2. Vroom vroom!! I would say I’m 2/3 of the way done with the first draft. I hope to release it in March. We’ll be checking in with Colby, Liam, & the Lockwood Racing team, but Lila and Brian’s got next!
CHECK OUT THE EXCERPT BELOW & LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS!!
What the h*ll is ORIGIN??
Origin is a new movie directed by the amazing Ava Duvernay (I'm a huge fan!). Have any of you seen it? I have to confess, at first, I wasn't really interested. Why? In today's world, I think most of us just want to be entertained instead of educated, even though education is so important right now.
But the curious side of me couldn't resist. The press tour was so mysterious that I couldn't quite figure out what the movie was about! What was the human story behind it? So, I did a little investigating. And guess what? I just bought my ticket for the upcoming show on Tuesday!
First of all, it stars Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (from The Clark Sisters, The Color Purple, & King Richard) and Jon Bernthal (you may know him as Shane from The Walking Dead). That alone should be enough to get you excited (I admit, I'm a little superficial ), but ultimately, it's a deeply human story about love, the need to belong, and acceptance. These are the things that unite all races and cultures.
In its simplest terms, Aunjanue plays Isabelle, a journalist who falls in love with her neighbor Brett (Jon Bernthal) during a time when interracial relationships were not widely accepted. But here's what's interesting: Duvernay goes beyond the typical portrayal and delves into the reasons behind people's reactions to their relationship. That's where the title "Origin" comes in. From the trailer, it looks like Duvernay takes you on a journey through the human stories that Isabelle investigates. And she does it in a way that makes you really "feel" the emotions behind those stories, while also trying to answer the age-old question: what are the root causes of the ‘isms’?
I think the press tour might not have done justice to the potential brilliance of this film. Maybe? Maybe not. I'll check in later and let you all know what I think after I've seen it! Can't wait!
Happy 2024!!
2024 Out with the old and in with the NEW!
2023 is gone and 2024 is HERE!
2023 wasn’t exactly bad, but it wasn’t great. Still, I’m thankful to be healthy and of sound mind in this brand-new year!
As I fully embrace ‘out with the old and in with the new’, figured I’d throw out a couple of traditions that haven’t seemed to work. You know the one about eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day? I heard it’s supposed to bring prosperity. I’ve been eating a tablespoonful on New Year’s Day for YEARS. I can’t tell you how much I loathe them. Honestly, I don’t think what I’ve gained in prosperity was enough of a trade-off. This year, I left them in the pot (sorry Aunt Bobbi). More for others to enjoy! I also washed two loads of clothes. I’m going to leave it to y’all to Google why I shouldn’t have done that. Promise, I’ll let you know how bucking tradition works out at the end of 2024! Keep me in your thoughts AND prayers 🤣!!
This year, I’m doing something a little different. I’m manifesting the FANTASTIC! I can barely sit still from all the exciting things I have in store. I can’t share with you just yet (what’s the fun in that) but I can give you a hint. Let’s just say this is the year of MORE. More books about sexy, black women with purpose, and the men who adore them! And that’s not all. I have several other surprises coming your way!
I’m REFRESHED, RENEWED, & UNLEASHED!
From LaShawn Vasser Publishing to you and yours get ready and
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I STILL BELIEVE IN LOVE
Mary J Blige
