Tanya Black's perfect lifea fulfilling career, a lovely daughter, a beautiful home, and a charismatic husband, the pastor at a local Baptist churchis tthreatened when she stumbles upon some disturbing secrets about her husband and learns painful lessons about love, betrayal, and temptation. Roby, Behind Closed Doors (1997) and Here and Now (1999), tackles the subject of marriage and the black church. Tanya and Curtis Black are the first family of a prominent Baptist church in Chicago. The family's move from a small church in Atlanta was the appropriate step up for Curtis' career. Although Curtis had dreamed of this type of advancement, he is not prepared for the changes and sacrifices that it requires. While Curtis succumbs to the temptations (women and money) his newfound power affords him, Tanya battles to save her marriage. She is forced to deal with some painful and unexpected truths about herself that help her deal with her circumstances and relish her independence. Revenge, greed, lust, and dishonesty are at the root of Tanya and Curtis' problems; yet, they learn that even in the most tempting situations, acting out negative feelings and impulses always results in negative consequences. They learn to value the important things in life and are able to start life anew. Lillian Lewis A fresh insightful voice in African-American fiction, Kimberla Lawson Roby has won raves from readers and critics alike. Reviewer's Bookwatch called BEHIND CLOSED DOORS a truly uplifting account of struggle and adjustment. Eric Jerome Dickey, New York Times bestselling author of Milk in My Coffee, praised the unforgettable characters of HERE AND NOW, and called Roby a true writer, a storyteller at the top of her game. Now Kim Roby is back with the powerful story of a woman torn between salvaging the marriage which has given her both happiness and heartbreak, and savoring her first sweet taste of independence. Tanya Black has everything a woman could want: a fulfilling career, a beautiful daughter, an elegant home and a handsome, charismatic husband who is pastor at a prominent Baptist church. And yet, Tanya can no longer deny that the calm surface of her life hides a growing turbulence. Her husband Curtis, once a supportive partner and passionate lover, has grown remote, and Tanya has the uneasy feeling that her comfortable life is about to change forever. When Tanya uncovers disturbing truths about Curtis, she is plunged into a bittersweet journey of discovery. For while she learns painful new lessons about love, betrayal and sensual temptation, she also discovers, within herself, the wisdom to celebrate the victories that are hers alone. CASTING THE FIRST STONE is a rich and compelling story filled with complex characters. Told with humor and unflinching honesty, this wise, moving tale of one womans poignant awakening celebrates every womans life and establishes Kimberla Lawson Roby as one of the most original African American novelists at work today. KIMBERLA LAWSON ROBY is the Blackboard Bestselling author of two acclaimed novels, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS and HERE AND NOW. BEHIND CLOSED DOORS was nominated for Blackboard's 1998 Fiction Book of the Year Award, and Roby received the 1998 First-time Author Award from Chicago's Black History Month Book Fair & Conference. She lives in Rockford, IL with her husband, Will.